Career Clarity Newsletter - December Edition
Reflect, Reset, and Lead with Confidence
Happy December!
As we move through the final weeks of the year, I've been reflecting on what actually sustains us—protecting our peace, choosing joy, and staying close to what strengthens us.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about my late Aunt Kathleen, whom we said goodbye to in November. Over her 90 years, she moved through life with steady joy and a deep appreciation for simple moments. From her, I learned that resilience isn’t just about pushing forward—it’s also about knowing what to hold onto and what to let go of gently.
That balance—between gratitude and honesty, celebrating progress while acknowledging what still needs to change—has stayed with me these past few weeks.
It’s the thread running through this month's edition: the transformations I’m witnessing in my clients, fresh perspectives on gratitude, and reflections that can help you end the year with a clearer, more confident view of yourself—and your work.
1 | WHAT’S NEW 🌟
2026 Leadership Accelerator – Now Accepting Applications
The Leadership Accelerator is a 10-week intensive coaching program for ambitious women of colour—both emerging and experienced leaders—who are done second-guessing themselves and ready to lead with clarity and confidence.
It provides what most leadership development programs miss for women of colour: personalized support, actionable guidance, and a community that truly understands your journey.
Here's what you get:
5 group coaching sessions (max 4 participants) for peer learning and encouragement
5 private 1:1 sessions for personalized guidance tailored to your goals and accountability
5 learning modules with practical tools and exercises that bring clarity to your next steps
Here's what changes:
Gain clarity about who you are as a leader—and the confidence to own it.
Articulate your value with authority—in meetings, interviews, and challenging conversations.
Create momentum toward the leadership outcomes you’re aiming for—whether that’s a new role, greater influence and visibility, or healthier boundaries.
Achieve all this—and more—while being supported by a coach and peers who understand what you're facing.
2026 cohorts now open:
January: Jan 21 – Mar 25 (Wednesdays)
February: Feb 17 – Apr 21 (Tuesdays)
Let's start with a free 45-minute discovery session. We'll explore where you are now, what you want next, and the kind of leader you're ready to become. This is where your next chapter begins.
2 | SPOTLIGHT 💬
How Karla Went from Uncertain to Unstoppable—and Got Promoted Earlier Than Planned
Karla had already built a strong leadership career. In Mexico, she led a statistics department in Parliament and advised Ministers and senior government officials. But after immigrating to Canada, she found herself starting over—and struggling to be seen for the leader she already was.
She joined the Leadership Accelerator with one clear goal: earn a senior manager promotion within 12 months. She achieved it before the 10-week program even ended.
What shifted?
Karla reconnected with the leadership presence she had developed in Mexico—but had quietly lost during her transition to Canada. She learned to speak about her experience with confidence instead of downplaying it. She showed up with clarity and authority in meetings. She also stopped waiting to be noticed and started making her value impossible to ignore.
In her words: "Before joining the program, sharing my leadership journey and ambitions felt impossible. Now, I can say who I am with confidence."
Her promotion came with a permanent role. But what she gained beyond the title was even more powerful: the certainty that she belongs at any table—and the skills to show it every time she steps into the room.
This is what becomes possible when you stop second-guessing yourself and step fully into your leadership. (See more client transformations here.)
3 | PODCAST RECOMMENDATION 🎧
The Science of Gratitude & 6 Surprising Ways You're Getting It Wrong (The Mel Robbins Podcast)
8 Simple Mindset Shifts to Feel Gratitude Even When Your Life Isn't Where You Want it To Be (On Purpose With Jay Shetty)
Gratitude is a powerful life skill—but many of us are practicing it in ways that don’t actually help. If gratitude is feeling like another task on your to-do list instead of something that nourishes you, these episodes will explain why—and what to do instead.
One of the most helpful insights from both podcasts is the difference between gratitude that fuels you and gratitude that drains you:
→ Toxic (forced) gratitude pushes you to ignore what’s wrong and “just look on the bright side."
→ Genuine gratitude allows you to appreciate the good and acknowledge what’s hard at the same time.
Example #1:
Forced: "I'm grateful to have so much responsibility—it means they trust me.”
Genuine: "I appreciate being trusted with important work, and I deserve support and resources to do it well.”
Example #2:
Forced: "I'm just grateful to have a seat at the table."
Genuine: "I'm grateful to be here, and my voice deserves to be heard and taken seriously.”
It's a simple shift—but a powerful one, especially if you want a career and a life that truly fit who you are.
4 | COACHING REFLECTION 🤔
The podcast episodes on gratitude got me thinking: how often do we practice gratitude out of obligation instead of authenticity—especially in our careers?
Real career satisfaction doesn’t come from forcing yourself to be grateful for things that aren’t working. It comes from honest reflection about what genuinely matters to you.
Reflection question: Where in my career am I practicing gratitude out of obligation rather than authenticity?
Try this 15-minute reset:
List 3-5 things at work that you're grateful for this week.
Ask yourself: "Is this genuine or forced?"
Rewrite any forced statements with honesty and balance.
Choose one small action that honours your genuine gratitude.
Example with one small action:
Forced: "I'm grateful to have so much responsibility—it means they trust me.”
Genuine: "I appreciate being trusted with important work, and I deserve support and resources to do it well. I'm going to schedule a meeting with my manager for support in prioritizing my projects."
This shift helps you see yourself—and your work—with more clarity and confidence. And that's where real momentum begins.
5 | LET'S STAY CONNECTED! ☕
There's still time to set yourself up for a strong start to the new year.
If you're ready to invest in your leadership and step into 2026 with clarity, strategy, and support, let's connect. Book a free 45-minute discovery session this month. We’ll discuss what’s working well, the challenges you’re facing, and how I can help you move forward.
And, as we close out 2025, I hope you offer yourself the same appreciation you give so freely to others. Gratitude grows when we recognize our own progress.
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