Women Worth Following

I knew this experience had the potential to be transformational, but I had no idea how emotional I would become meeting this truly bada$$ group of 19 young, female sports/business professionals.

Over my 25 years in the business world, I’ve attended my fair share of leadership classes and seminars with the high hopes of conquering the world immediately following. Some were reaffirming in my quest to carve out my niche and others fell flat.

Something just felt different this time.

Even the title of our cohort is inspiring…. Women Worth Following! After quite frankly submitting an application at the 11th hour, I had high hopes of being worthy enough to join this group of nationwide candidates and immersing myself fully into a year of self-improvement to ultimately pay it forward.

After only 1 introductory zoom call, we all excitedly carved out 3 days in early October to converge together in the quaint town of Traverse City, MI with open minds…. ready for anything!

What if you could be totally vulnerable without the immediate threat of someone using your words or actions against you? What if you could quietly just absorb the intangible good vibes in the room and completely focus inward for once? What if….

Due to limited (affordable) flight options in the fall off-season, I had to arrive a day and a half early with plenty of remote work to keep me busy and plans to squeeze in a few hikes during prime leaf changing season (oh how I miss it!).

Our fearless leaders, Ryan and Amanda, graciously opened up their country home to me and it quickly became a safe haven. Even though a light rain hovered for most of the week, we took advantage of a few reprieves to opt outside and were excited to revisit the serenity of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore trails.

Renting 3 lovely lakeside cottages, all the ladies started arriving and hit it off immediately. How often do you get to focus on your own development with no outside world distractions and truly be around like-minded individuals? Finding a tribe isn’t talked about often but essential in taking your career journey to the next level.

A professional chef serves up an UNREAL welcome dinner and we cozy up by the crackling fireplace to dive into our first challenge together. And our unbreakable circle forms….

As a natural introvert, it’s always extremely unnerving to be open with complete strangers from the onset but, nonetheless, I embrace it.

For 2 full days, we listen to the most amazing stories of grit and passion. Not only do we have to unpack some of our most resilient professional triumphs, but have to dig even deeper to expose our most dreaded traumas. Any self deprecating thoughts are quickly squashed. A long-standing goal of mine is to become a more dynamic & polished speaker, and I literally get thrown into the deep end without a life preserver from the onset. Holy sh$&!

We laughed a lot!

We/I cried even more.

I talked (which is a feat in itself) until I was almost hoarse.

We jumped in the arctic cold lake at midnight, baked my fav pumpkin cookies, partook in an early pure barre group class, soaked in the hot tub under a sea of stars, feasted on more amazing cuisine, broke into small groups for numerous discovery sessions and enjoyed every last second. Sleep is overrated!

Our time together expires in a flash and we are unanimously sad to leave this refreshing retreat. So I tried to bottle up all the positive energy to help me power through my crazy season ahead, looking forward to our monthly zoom sessions and knowing we will return again to the Michigan shores in just a short 7 months.

How will we each evolve? What nuggets will we weave into our daily lives? What learnings will we impart on others? I truly can’t wait to celebrate everyone’s wins….

I will be eternally grateful for this opportunity to level up and even more excited to be on a lifelong journey with these fabulous ladies.

Remember the name…..WWF.