Dear Reader,

I’m standing in the cafeteria that doubles as a gym after the tables are folded up. It’s third period, and it’s dodgeball season. The teacher picks team captains and then lets these overly empowered 8-year-olds determine the fate of the rest of us. Each time, the boys get picked first. And then Toni Lombardo, because she’s strong and not afraid. Each time I pray to be picked. I try to act like I don’t care, but I care so very much.

The game starts and celebrates aggression and killer instincts and biceps. I don’t have these. My strategy... READ MORE​

- Julie

🗓️ Upcoming Events

🚀 The 12th Annual Women’s Leadership Summit is just around the corner on April 10, and we can feel the momentum building. 💛 Early bird pricing ends on March 2, making now the perfect time to say yes to yourself and your growth.

This is truly where personal and professional development collide, a space designed for lifelong learners in the world of business who are ready to expand their influence, deepen their connections, and sharpen their leadership. University certified and intentionally curated, there is nothing else like this in Northern Arizona.

We would love to welcome you into a room filled with driven, thoughtful people committed to growing together. Join us.

🚀 Happening this April 1 is The Moth GrandSlam in Phoenix at the Tempe Center for the Arts, where I and the other 2025 winners will share stories that inspire connection, courage, and reflection. It’s an evening designed to slow down, listen deeply, and celebrate meaningful leadership moments together. I'd love to see you there!

🚀 Join Me for "Book Club with the Author"! This spring, I’m hosting a special Book Club focused on Beyond Words. Across three guided sessions, we’ll dive into meaningful conversations, reflect together, and bring the book’s insights to life—both personally and professionally.

$29 for all three sessions (valued at $600). Just bring your copy of the book and your curiosity!

🍸 Leadership Looks Better Together

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for our Lancaster Leadership Client Appreciation Happy Hour at High Country Motor Lodge. It meant so much to gather in the same space, to share conversation, laughter, and a genuine moment of connection outside the day-to-day. We’re truly grateful for each of you and the leadership community we continue to grow together. ✨

📚 Resources

🖇️ Strong leaders don’t grow alone, they thrive in rooms that challenge them, expand their perspective, and hold them accountable. This blog is all about creating a high-impact mastermind group to sharpen strategy, stress-test decisions, and accelerate growth. Ready to build a mastermind that drives results? Read the full blog here and learn best practices, sample agendas, and strategies to make your group truly transformative.

🎙️ I had the pleasure of joining Chamber Bizz Buzz on Spotify with Greater Flagstaff Chamber President & CEO Julie Pastrick to talk about the adventure of leadership and the work we do at Lancaster Leadership. We dove into what it takes to create meaningful change, develop people with intention, and support leaders who are willing to stretch, grow, and lead with purpose.

I’d love for you to hear the full conversation, click here to listen, and let me know which part resonates most with you!

🎙️ Still smiling after this conversation! 💛 I joined Heather and Blakely on the Not All Business Podcast for a fun, thoughtful discussion about why real stories, lived experience, and relationships still matter, even in an AI-filled world. We laughed, went deep, and explored how storytelling can create influence in leadership and life. Curious? Listen to the full episode here and see which insights stick with you.

📝 Celebrating 10 Years of Spanish Adventure! This year, I had the incredible opportunity to remote work and spend January in San Carlos, Colombia, immersing myself in Spanish Adventure, a language program that feels less like a school and more like a bridge between cultures. Camilo, the heart of this organization, shared with me the story of building this community, working with family, and creating a space where learning is lived, laughed, and felt.

​Read the full interview to see why Spanish Adventure is so much more than a language program!

🎖️ Recognition

Celebrating Leadership with ATHENA Award Recipients!​
I’m so proud to recognize these incredible leaders from organizations we’ve partnered with at Lancaster Leadership. From inspiring directors to visionary city leaders, each nominee demonstrates the impact of thoughtful, authentic leadership.

✨ ATHENA Leadership Award Recipient​
​Joanne Keene, City Manager, City of Flagstaff

✨ ATHENA Private Sector Award Recipient​
​Sarah Milios, Owner, CycleBar Flagstaff

✨ ATHENA Young Professional Award Recipient​
​Caitlin Burd, Marketing Manager, Kinney Construction Services, Inc.