Surviving and thriving after a PIP — Imperfections are not inadequacies; they are reminders that we’re all in this together. -Brene Brown I’ve had many amazing people come to me for support and advice after being put on some form of a "Performance Improvement Plan" or "Coaching Plan." Often, they were in a role that wasn’t a…

There’s an epidemic of weak leadership—and organizations can break the cycle by building and rewarding “soft” skills — A star wants to see herself rise to the top. A leader wants to see those around her become stars. -Simon Sinek I’ve been lucky to have had some amazing bosses throughout my career. However, I’ve also experienced bad ones — and seen the magnitude of their negative impact. Weak…

This is part 4 of the Twin-Peaks-style saga, Retirement Isn’t All Sunshine and Palm Trees, following part 1, part 2, and part 3. During our chats with people preparing for or in early retirement, many mentioned that they wouldn’t be able to afford to retire without Social Security supplementing their…

As head of UX, I’ve learned a valuable lesson: No one likes being controlled; they want to be inspired. When I started as Director of UX, I ran off on my own and wrote clear, measurable team goals that tied to our Tech team strategies. They were amazing! They were…

If we want people to fully show up, to bring their whole selves including their unarmored, whole hearts — so that we can innovate, solve problems, and serve people — we have to be vigilant about creating a culture in which people feel safe, seen, heard, and respected. …

Conway’s Law: “organizations which design systems … are constrained to produce designs which are copies of the communication structures of these organizations.” It’s amazing how much a company’s culture seeps into and shapes the customer experience. If your company fosters a positive culture, employees will go above and beyond to…

There is a tradition in the Type 1 Diabetes community to celebrate each year on the day of diagnosis. My 6-year-old daughter’s first “Diaversary” just came and went. Last December, we found out our five-year-old daughter’s increased thirst and hunger wasn’t from a growth spurt. Her body’s immune system had…

Establishing gender balance throughout all levels of an organization is the right thing to do — and it pays. Gender diversity provides better business results As businesses compete for market share and increasing profitability, creating great products and services that can be marketed to a broad audience is essential. Embracing gender diversity is a powerful way…

My name is Betsy and I’m addicted to triathlon. I’ve been racing for almost 10 years (through two pregnancies). I’ll never be a professional triathlete, so I’m forced to have a day job to pay for my hobby…my very expensive, time-consuming hobby. Thankfully, I have a job I enjoy that…