August 2026

We’re not ready for summer to end, but we love the energy of back to school season. 

We were certified in the Enneagram almost four years ago, and decided to take our practice to the next level by taking courses this spring (The Power of the Enneagram at Work for Marion and iEQ9 Professional Enneagram Accreditation for Miwa). Of course we called and texted each other after our first sessions to check in. One key takeaway? Our excitement. We loved what we were learning, and we also loved being students for those two weeks. We were reading, we were asking questions, we were practicing, we were stretching ourselves. 

There’s something so powerful about positioning ourselves as learners, whether we’re trying something brand new or diving deeper into something that fascinates us. Research on neuroplasticity shows the adult brain’s amazing capacity to grow and change. And the Zen Buddhist concept of beginner’s mind speaks to the value of opening ourselves up to something new. This idea that we can always grow and change is core to our work as coaches and facilitators. Whether it’s a small experiment with time management during the work week, a manager’s mindset shift about what it means to be a leader or a new understanding of our go-to patterns, it’s all learning and growth. And we’re thankful to both experience and facilitate that learning every day.

As we begin the turn into fall, here are some things we’re learning and trying between the two of us:

• parenting seniors – in high school and in college!

• continuing to leverage the Enneagram in our work by offering Enneagram typing and training to a wider range of audiences

• returning to a weekly writing practice

• experimenting with new project management tools

• maintaining a regular practice of strength training

If you were making this list for yourself, what would you include? Whatever it may be, big or small or just a spark of an idea, we’re excited to keep learning and growing with you.

Join us at Upcoming Events!

The Enneagram: An Introduction & An Invitation

A Virtual Enneagram Series:

September 23rd, September 30th & October 7th

Couldn’t make the in-person session this summer? No worries, now anyone can attend our virtual three session series offered on Wednesday afternoons this fall, in collaboration with our friend and fellow Enneagram practitioner, Cat McLaughlin of Rosemary Collaborative. Details and registration info coming soon.

Illuminate Collective 5th Anniversary Celebration

Friday, September 25th, 4 – 5 PM ET

You are invited to a virtual happy hour to celebrate five years of Illuminate Collective! Our work is all about community, and we’re excited to toast the amazing clients and partners who have walked alongside us and inspired us.

Lodge at Woodloch Enneagram Series

Friday, January 29th – Sunday, January 31st

We love helping the guests at  The Lodge at Woodloch deepen self awareness through the Enneagram, and look forward to returning from January 29 – 31, 2027 with our friend Cat McLaughlin of Rosemary Collaborative. We’d love to see you there!  

Illuminate at Work

The new Team PA leadership team, posing after co-creating their team charge and exploring the Enneagram as a tool for stronger team cohesion

Since we last were in touch, we’ve been honored to help a range of organizations, from cohort programs to leadership teams, in the following ways:

• Shared our CARE Model for navigating difficult conversations with a cohort of rising leaders as they manage from the middle and serve as bridges in their roles

• Supported a leadership team to make the turn from from scrappy, all hands coordination to intentional orchestration given their rapid growth

• Introduced a team to the Enneagram to help them build their own self awareness and their understanding of each other

• Helped a leadership team to align on a meaningful team charge and use their knowledge of the Enneagram to better navigate conflict

• Facilitated an interactive learning session to help over 100 small business owners understand their leadership patterns (with the Enneagram of course!)

Sound like something you or your team needs? Please reach out to schedule a call with one of us. We’d love to connect and explore how we can help.

Partner Spotlight

Jovian Zayne and Soft Landings for Hard Days

Our friend Jovian Zayne wrote a book! We’re excited to highlight Jovian and her new book, Soft Landings for Hard Days: Wisdom, Companionship, and Guidance to Encourage Your Spirit, which is available for pre-order now, arriving on October 27th.

Jovian lives life “on purpose,” generously sharing her joy, warmth and grounded leadership as a coach and speaker. Her book of reflections, stories and meditations is described by author Tiffany Dufu as “an urgent love letter that re-roots us in our humanity, across generations. It’s a much needed call to honor ourselves and to bloom from our imperfection and power.”

This sounds like the kind of love letter that all of us need to receive right now. We’re so grateful that Jovian is sharing her wisdom and insight with the world through this book and invite you to join us in pre-ordering it.

In the meantime, see below for what we’e been reading and listening to!

Summer Reading & Listening

Miwa’s Selections

Podcast:

Men in Blazers & After the Whistle, part of my World Cup summer!

Marion’s Selections

Podcast:

Hire Ground with Christina Greenberg of Edgility Search, and Josh Czupryk of Josh’s K12 Job Blast, sharing trends and learnings about all things talent!

Gratitude

We’ll never stop being grateful for the opportunity to support amazing leaders and teams who are continuing to learn and grow and make an impact no matter what landscape they’re moving through.

Keep shining,

Marion and Miwa