Leadership, Rewritten

Leadership didn’t change overnight.
It changed year by year.

Because people did.

The last five years forced a reckoning most organizations didn’t plan for. What started as disruption turned into discernment. What looked like disengagement was, more often, clarity.

Here’s what leadership has really looked like…and what it’s becoming.

2021: The Year of Leaving

The Great Resignation wasn’t about a lack of commitment.
It was about a lack of care.

People left jobs that demanded endurance without dignity. Leadership, long rooted in control and convenience, was finally confronted with the cost of ignoring humanity.

Retention stopped being an HR issue.
It became a leadership one.

2022: The Year of Pulling Back

Quiet quitting entered the conversation and was misunderstood almost immediately.

People weren’t quitting.
They were stopping the overextension.

Boundaries replaced burnout as an act of self-preservation. Leaders were challenged to motivate without pressure and engage without manipulation

2023: The Year of Adjustment

Hybrid work didn’t create leadership gaps, but exposed them.

Trust gaps.
Equity gaps.
Accountability gaps.

Presence could no longer be measured by proximity. Intentions weren’t enough. Leaders had to rethink how power, access, and performance actually worked.

2024: The Year of Pressure

Technology moved fast. Expectations moved faster.

Leaders were asked to be innovative, empathetic, decisive, and endlessly available. Often times, this was without the systems or support to sustain it. Agility became essential, but exhaustion became common.

Leadership stopped being aspirational.

2025: The Year of Rest and Rebellion

Burnout turned into clarity.
Disengagement turned into choice.

Over 600,000 Black women left the workplace - not because they couldn’t do the work, but because they refused misalignment (along with some other things outside of our control).

Rest wasn’t retreat. It was resistance.

People stopped asking, “How much can I give?”
They started asking, “What is the cost of the climb?”

2026: The Year of Choice

2026 won’t be about intention or branding.
It will be about choice.

Leaders will be judged not by what they say they value, but by who and what they choose to protect.

Leadership is no longer about pushing harder, but about choosing differently.

Culture doesn’t change through statements or slogans.
It changes through daily leadership decisions.

That’s the work now.
And that’s where we’re headed.
Are you prepared for the shift?!

Truths 2025 Taught Me: A Year of Alignment, Audacity & Becoming

2025 wasn’t just a year - it was a classroom.
A refining fire.
A mirror.
A roadmap back to myself.

This was the year I learned that alignment is louder than effort. I’ve spent so many seasons running, building, pouring, and producing that I confused motion for meaning. But this year, my spirit kept whispering, “Move where you’re meant to be, not where you’re expected to be.” And the moment I listened, doors stopped resisting and started opening.

I learned that rest is strategic, not a luxury. Success without restoration is simply exhaustion dressed up in productivity. When I paused, I didn’t fall behind - I caught up with myself.

2025 reminded me that proximity matters. The people you walk with determine the pace and direction of your growth. I became more discerning about who gets access to me, my ideas, my energy, and my heart.

This year also reaffirmed that culture starts within. I spend so much time helping organizations elevate their workplaces, but none of it matters if my internal culture - my boundaries, my peace, my habits - is misaligned.

And perhaps the boldest lesson of all: Audacity is a leadership skill. Playing small doesn’t protect me; it silences me. It limits my impact and dims the legacy I’m actively building for my children and community.

I learned to honor closed doors as divine direction.
I learned that nurturing my network brings back opportunity in unexpected, beautiful ways.
I learned that my presence - grounded, confident, compassionate - is the product.

And I learned that legacy isn’t later. It’s now.
Every conversation. Every workshop. Every risk. Every boundary. Every yes. Every no. It all adds up.

2025 grew me. Stretched me. Softened me. Strengthened me.

And I’m walking into what’s next with more clarity, courage, and culture elevation than ever before.

Navigating Purpose, Pressure & Passion: A Leader’s Balancing Act

Some seasons of leadership feel like a three-way tug-of-war.
Purpose is calling you forward.
Pressure is pushing from all sides.
And passion - the fire that got you here - is flickering quietly in the background waiting for room to breathe.

If you’ve ever felt pulled in all three directions at once, you’re not alone. In fact, you’re human. And you’re leading.

Purpose: The Anchor

Purpose is the steady voice that reminds you why you started, who you serve, and what you’re building toward. It brings clarity when everything else feels loud. When purpose is present, your decisions become less about pleasing others and more about honoring your values, your people, and your mission.

Pressure: The Shaper

Pressure gets a bad reputation, but the truth is it grows us. It stretches our capacity, reveals our blind spots, and teaches us what we’re made of.

Pressure asks:

• How will you lead when the stakes rise?

• Who will you become when things get heavy?

The answer is rarely found in perfection. It’s found in resilience, self-awareness, and the willingness to pause long enough to recalibrate.

Passion: The Fuel

Passion is your spark. It’s the energy that makes the work feel meaningful instead of mechanical. But passion is also fragile and it needs room, air, and alignment to thrive. When pressure is high and purpose feels far away, passion is often the first thing to get buried. But passion isn’t gone. It’s waiting. And when you make space for it again, your creativity, courage, and conviction return with force.

When All Three Collide

Many leaders think that purpose, pressure, and passion must be perfectly balanced.
Not true.

The work isn’t about balance, it’s about awareness.

When these forces collide, it isn’t chaos. It’s clarity waiting to be found.

This is the moment to ask yourself:

• What matters most today?

• What can wait until tomorrow?

• What deserves my heart…not just my hustle?

Leadership requires honesty before strategy and alignment before action.

Showing Up With Intention

You don’t need to navigate purpose, pressure, and passion perfectly — you just need to navigate them honestly.

Show up with clarity.
Show up with courage.
Show up with compassion - for your team and for yourself.

Your purpose will steady you.
Your passion will sustain you.
And the pressure?
It is shaping you into the leader your next level requires.

Because transformation doesn’t happen in calm waters.
It happens right here - in the tension, the learning, and the becoming.

The Power of Pause: Leading with Presence and Purpose

We live in a world that glorifies hustle. Leaders are praised for how much they do, not how deeply they think, connect, or listen. But at HRemedy Consulting, we’ve learned that the greatest transformation doesn’t come from doing more.
It comes from pressing pause.

Why the Pause Matters

Pausing is not weakness, it’s wisdom.
When leaders take a beat before responding, they move from reaction to reflection. That small shift changes everything - conversations become more intentional, decisions become more inclusive, and people feel seen instead of managed.

A pause is the moment between what’s said and what’s understood.
It’s where empathy, clarity, and courage live.
It’s where real leadership begins.

Leadership Without Presence Isn’t Leadership

Too often, leadership is measured by performance metrics, you know, the deals closed, projects finished, goals hit. But culture doesn’t thrive on performance alone; it thrives on presence. Presence means showing up fully, not distracted by what’s next, but engaged with what’s now.
When leaders are present, teams feel it.

And when teams feel it, they give more than effort, they give energy, creativity, and trust.

Culture Work Is Human Work

Culture isn’t about perks or posters.
It’s about people. How they communicate, collaborate, and connect. It’s built (or broken) in the daily interactions that happen between meetings, in the hallway, or on the call after the call.

That’s why we approach every engagement through a human lens. Because culture work is human work. And humans deserve leaders who care enough to pause.

The Challenge for Leaders

If you’re leading a team right now, here’s your invitation:
Pause before you send the email.
Pause before you respond to feedback.
Pause before you assume intent.
That moment of mindfulness can be the difference between confusion and connection, between compliance and culture elevation.

Leadership is not about moving faster, about moving forward with intention.

Culture is Changing - Is Your Company Keeping Up? 🌍🔄

As we step into Women’s History Month, let’s take a moment to recognize how cultural shifts—especially those driven by women in leadership, business, and innovation—are reshaping the workplace.

📊 Did you know?
💡 Companies with gender-diverse leadership teams are 25% more likely to outperform their competitors in profitability (McKinsey & Co.).
💡 Women-owned businesses now represent 42% of all U.S. businesses, generating $2 trillion in revenue annually.
💡 Women control 85% of consumer spending, making them a powerful force in market influence.

Yet, despite this undeniable impact:
🚧 Women hold just 10% of Fortune 500 CEO roles.
🚧 Women earn 82 cents for every $1 a man makes—with even larger gaps for women of color.
🚧 Only 2% of venture capital funding goes to women-led startups.

💡 What does this mean for your company?
If your workplace culture, leadership structures, or DEIB efforts haven’t adapted to the evolving landscape, you’re already behind. Employees today expect equity, flexibility, and leadership that prioritizes purpose alongside profit.

📢 It’s time to evolve. Organizations that embrace these cultural shifts will thrive, while those that resist will struggle with disengagement, high turnover, and stagnation.

At HRemedy Consulting, we partner with companies to future-proof their culture, build inclusive leadership pipelines, and create workplaces where all employees thrive.

💬 How is your organization keeping up with cultural change?

Let’s talk.

📩 Connect with Dr. Dom and HRemedy Consulting to start the conversation!

Leadership is in Every Moment

Leadership isn’t just about the big, bold moments of decision-making or the spotlight of a stage. It’s also about the quiet, often unnoticed moments - the check-ins, the thoughtful gestures, the way you truly listen.

It’s in the calm of the snowfall, where everything feels serene and manageable. And it’s in the relentless rainstorm, when challenges pour down and test your patience, your resilience, and your resolve.

Leadership exists in the:
➡️ Big and small moments
➡️ Easy and hard decisions
➡️ Comfortable and uncomfortable situations

What ties it all together is empathy. Empathy is the heartbeat of leadership. It’s what allows us to step into someone else’s shoes, to truly see and understand them. It drives us to celebrate small wins, show up in the messiness of challenges, and support others even when the road is rocky.

True leadership asks us to:
💡 Be present - in both the high-profile presentations and the everyday conversations.
💡 Listen deeply - to the excitement and the discomfort.
💡 Take action - on bold ideas and subtle needs.

Every moment - whether it’s a calm snowfall, a relentless rainstorm, or the warmth of a sunny day - is an opportunity to lead with courage, grace, and compassion.

Let’s reframe leadership as a journey, not a destination...

2025 Culture Shift Blueprint

As we step into 2025, workplaces are evolving at an accelerated pace. The lessons of 2024 - where hybrid work became the norm, employee well-being emerged as a priority, and inclusivity proved its value - set the stage for leadership teams to lean into strategies that foster connection, innovation, and growth. But the question remains: how do we take these insights and elevate our workplaces in meaningful, sustainable ways?

The trends from 2024 offer a roadmap. Hybrid work models solidified their place, with 74% of companies adopting them permanently (Gartner). Employees made it clear that well-being matters most, with 73% prioritizing it over career advancement (Gallup). Inclusive leadership proved to be a differentiator, with organizations led inclusively being 1.8 times more ready for change (Deloitte) and 35% more likely to outperform peers financially (McKinsey). Technological advances like AI and automation reshaped the workplace, underscoring the need for adaptability, while addressing burnout and fostering psychological safety became non-negotiables for retaining talent and driving innovation.

Looking ahead to 2025, leadership teams must focus on integrating these learnings into actionable strategies. Consider these trends:

• Psychological Safety and Well-Being. With burnout costing businesses over $125 billion annually (Microsoft), prioritizing mental health resources and fostering open communication will remain critical.

• Building Connection Across Work Models. As hybrid and remote work persist, creating moments of belonging and connection through intentional team-building and inclusive policies will be essential.

• Equity and Flexibility. Leaders must ensure equitable access to opportunities, resources, and recognition, regardless of team members’ work arrangements or personal needs.

• Inclusive Leadership Development. Companies that embed DEIB into leadership practices will see stronger innovation, improved decision-making, and better financial performance.

• Recognition and Advancement. Transparent pathways to growth, combined with regular and meaningful recognition, will be key to retaining top talent and fostering engagement.

Take Action with the Culture Committee Toolkit

2025 is the year to turn strategy into action, and the Culture Committee Toolkit is here to help. This comprehensive resource provides everything you need to create impactful Culture Committees and Employee Resource Groups, equipping your organization to meet the challenges of the year ahead.

What’s Inside:

• Templates for mission statements, agendas, and policies.

• Discussion prompts to spark meaningful conversations.

• Frameworks designed to foster inclusivity and progress.

Why It Matters: Organizations that prioritize culture elevation see improved retention, engagement, and performance. The Culture Committee Toolkit makes it easy to take the first step or enhance your existing efforts.

Ready to Elevate Your Workplace? Visit www.hremedyconsulting.com or email domonique@hremedyconsulting.com to order the Culture Committee Toolkit and transform your workplace today.

Let’s make this the year of meaningful workplace transformation!

IQ, EQ, and WQ: The Leadership Trifecta That Drives DEIB and Culture

When we think about leadership, it’s tempting to focus on just one or two core traits—someone smart, charismatic, or action-oriented. But here’s the truth: great leaders who build thriving, inclusive workplaces bring more than one dimension to the table. They master the trifecta of IQ (Intelligence Quotient), EQ (Emotional Quotient), and WQ (Workplace Quotient). Together, these qualities create a foundation for leadership that supports Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) while fostering a culture that works for everyone.

Let’s break it down.

IQ: The Strategy

IQ is your leadership brainpower—the problem-solving, strategic thinking, and decision-making skills that help you connect the dots. Leaders with a strong IQ can analyze data, see the bigger picture, and craft smart solutions. In the world of DEIB, this might look like identifying gaps in representation or creating policies to remove systemic barriers.

But here’s the catch: IQ alone won’t cut it. If your leadership stops at strategy, you’re missing the heart of the work—how people feel and how they connect.

EQ: The Connection

This is where EQ comes in. Emotional intelligence is all about self-awareness and empathy—understanding your own emotions and tuning into others'. Leaders with high EQ don’t just listen; they hear. They create spaces where everyone feels seen, heard, and respected.

EQ is the secret sauce of belonging. It’s what helps leaders identify when team members are being excluded or overlooked, and it’s how they create relationships built on trust. Leaders who bring EQ to their work know that building an inclusive culture starts with how people feel when they walk into the room (or log into the Zoom).

WQ: The Execution

WQ, or Workplace Quotient, is the ability to navigate and adapt to the realities of organizational life. It’s about knowing the dynamics of your workplace, understanding how to connect DEIB goals to business goals, and making change stick.

High WQ leaders are action-oriented. They don’t just set big, bold goals—they make sure the systems, processes, and people are aligned to reach them. This is where leadership becomes transformational. You’re not just reacting to problems; you’re building sustainable solutions.

Why the Trifecta Matters for DEIB

When IQ, EQ, and WQ come together, the results are powerful. You’re no longer just managing people or checking boxes—you’re leading with intention, connection, and execution. Here’s how it plays out in real life:

• IQ gives you the vision. You know where the gaps are and how to close them.

• EQ gives you the relationships. You build trust and empower your people to show up fully.

• WQ gives you the plan. You connect DEIB efforts to the organization’s success and build systems that last.

Let’s take an example. Say you’re launching an initiative to create more equitable hiring practices. Your IQ ensures the metrics are solid and measurable. Your EQ helps you engage hiring managers in conversations about bias and representation. Your WQ ensures the process is sustainable and embedded in your company’s culture. Together, these elements ensure that the work is impactful, actionable, and lasting.

Leadership That Elevates Culture

When leaders prioritize IQ, EQ, and WQ, it’s not just the leadership team that benefits—culture transforms. People feel supported, seen, and valued, and that drives everything: productivity, retention, innovation, and belonging. This is the kind of leadership that doesn’t just manage DEIB—it brings it to life.

What’s Next?

If we want to build workplaces where everyone belongs, we need leaders who bring their whole selves to the table. Leaders who are sharp, empathetic, and action-oriented. Leaders who know that DEIB isn’t just a set of initiatives—it’s how we show up every day.

So ask yourself: How are you leaning into your IQ, EQ, and WQ? How are you using all three to create a culture where everyone thrives? It’s not just a nice-to-have—it’s what leadership looks like today. Let’s get to it.

An Unforgettable Experience

🙌🏾WE ARE FULL - literally and figuratively! Our first-ever Lunchtime Link Up was an incredible experience! Leaders, allies, and changemakers came together to connect, reflect, and grow in a space filled with meaningful conversation and inspiration.

Our theme, In Pasta Much?, challenged us to let go of imposter syndrome and embrace the truth that we are all perfectly crafted to lead with confidence and purpose. The insights shared and connections made truly set the tone for an impactful 2025.

📅 Save the Date!
We’ll be gathering again on March 6th, and this time it’s all about creativity! Together, we’ll craft our own signature scents, candles, and room sprays. Stay tuned for more details – you won’t want to miss it!

Thank you to everyone who joined this special journey. If you were there, share your thoughts or tag someone you connected with. If you missed it, I hope to see you next time! 🌠

Lead From Any (EVERY) Seat

Leadership isn’t just about a title or position - it’s about showing up for others in meaningful ways, no matter where you sit. Sometimes, the most powerful leadership moments come from navigating the tricky, unspoken dynamics of working with others.

I remember a time early in my career when I was on a team that struggled with personality conflicts. Two colleagues couldn’t seem to see eye to eye, and it started to impact everyone else. I was the youngest and least experienced on the team, so I didn’t think it was “my place” to step in. But one day, I decided to try something simple: I invited them both for coffee - just to talk about goals and frustrations in a casual setting. That one conversation didn’t fix everything, but it helped us find some common ground and gave us a starting point to play better in the sandbox.

What I learned? Leadership is less about fixing problems and more about creating space for solutions to happen. You don’t have to be in charge to lead; you just need to care enough to take action. 🌱

Today, look for opportunities to lead from your seat. Maybe it’s offering a kind word, helping smooth over a miscommunication, or being the voice of calm in a tense situation. Whatever it is, don’t underestimate the power of your influence.

Leadership isn’t reserved for the corner office - it’s a ripple effect that starts with everyday actions - lead from any (EVERY) seat.