Image credit: Morgan Harper Nichols

April 2025

Discouraged. Motivated. Overwhelmed. Anxious. Connected. We’re experiencing a range of feelings in these chaotic times. When Miwa had lunch with a coaching colleague earlier this winter, the first question her friend asked was, “What is keeping you grounded right now?” It was such a thoughtful invitation.

Grounded. Centered when you’re thrown off balance. Steady in the storm. Present when so much is swirling around you.

One practice that consistently grounds us is pausing to breathe. We’ve learned so much about the impact of mindful breathing as coaches and facilitators. We open many of our trainings with a Pause, Notice & Breathe practice. We invite everyone to plant their feet on the ground and settle into their seats. Take a deep breath in and then a slow exhale out. Pay attention to what is coming up for them. Be still for a moment.

What else is keeping us grounded right now? A baby niece’s laugh. A morning walk with neighborhood friends. Volunteering on Sundays. Coaching calls with resilient clients. Singing loudly in the car. Learning from wise women activists. 

Our next Collective Conversation will focus on practices that center us when we feel scattered (please see info below and join us if you can!). In the meantime, we invite you to consider what is keeping you grounded right now. And then share this question with someone else and prepare to be inspired.

Join us!

April Collective Conversation:

Staying Grounded in Chaotic Times

In our April Collective Conversation, we’ll explore practices that bring us back to center and help us to stay present in the midst of change and challenge. Our friend Cat McLaughlin of Rosemary Collaborative, psychotherapist and certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher, will lead us through exercises that give us space to pause, breathe and reflect.

Please join us on Thursday, April 17th at 12 PM ET to share and learn in community with others. We hope to see you there!

Illuminate at Work

So much of our coaching and facilitation work focuses on exploring how to stay grounded and present as a leader. This has shown up in multiple ways in recent months.

• We’ve explored organizational leadership as part of a manager training series, focusing on grounding in our purpose and values and holding the big picture for our teams as managers and leaders

• We’ve reflected on “conflict hooks” (based on the work of Tammy Lenski) and practices for understanding the perspectives of others with multiple groups of leaders who are seeking to deepen collaboration across teams

• We’ve supported a leadership team in creating a management vision for their organization by naming what strong management looks like and what it means for both the team member experience and the organization’s outcomes

If you’d like to learn more about what these offerings can look like at your organization, please reach out to schedule a call with one of us.  We’d love to connect!

Partner Spotlight

Maelle Fonteneau

Navigating a career transition can feel overwhelming. Having a thoughtful coach alongside you can help keep you grounded. We’re excited to feature our friend and colleague Maelle Fonteneau, a career and leadership coach, in our Partner Spotlight this month. Maelle has helped hundreds of leaders take their next professional step with clarity and confidence. She brings her experience as a recruiter and People Team leader to simplify the job search process and help you craft a strategy that plays to your strengths.

Whether you’re making a big career pivot, re-entering the job market after some time away or just need a boost in your search, Maelle offers flexible coaching options to fit your needs:

• Career Transition Coaching: A deep-dive program designed to help you clarify your priorities, build a targeted job search strategy and confidently pursue the right opportunities.

• Empowered Search Program: Perfect if you know what you’re looking for but need support in streamlining your search and networking effectively.

• One-off Sessions: Need expert guidance on interview prep or job search strategy? A focused, single session can give you the edge you need.

You can learn more about Maelle’s work at www.maellefonteneau.com.

Marion & Miwa Recommend

These are a few of the resources that have helped us stay grounded of late!

The Telepathy Tapes with Ky Dickens: A docuseries exploring consciousness and human connection that we learned about from thought leader Bob Anderson in our Re-imagine Leadership coaching course.

Gratitude

When we feel scattered, community always grounds us. Thank you for everything you do to stay steadfast in this work.  

Keep shining,

Marion and Miwa