Twenty-five years ago, I left a corporate career I truly loved.
It wasn’t an easy decision. I was part of a creative, collaborative environment, working with people who shared my values and commitment to learning and development. But something unexpected happened. Colleagues began calling and saying, “When you’re ready to leave, we’re ready to hire you.”
The opportunity was there. So I took the leap and launched my consulting practice. For the past two and a half decades, I’ve worked as a learning and development consultant, helping organizations design programs that build capability and performance. That work has been meaningful and successful. But recently, something began to shift.
The calls I was receiving were different. Clients weren’t just asking for programs or workshops. They were asking for a strategic thinking partner. They wanted someone who could help them think through complex challenges, ask the right questions, map out options, anticipate risks, and build a strategy that would make an impact.
At the same time, I had just completed my doctoral studies, deepening my research into how leaders build trust—and how distrust forms when things go wrong. So the message became clear—it was time to relaunch Adams Learning with a renewed focus on what I do best:
Helping leaders grow through strategic partnership, executive development, and coaching.
At its core, my work is about creating the conditions for professional growth. The goal is the same in every engagement: I want to be present in the moment when something clicks—when a leader sees themselves, their team, or their situation in a new way. That insight leads to better decisions, stronger relationships, and greater influence. And those “light-bulb moments” are where real leadership growth begins.
Three Lessons From My Own Transformation
The journey to this relaunch wasn’t just a business decision, it was my own personal leadership transition. Along the way, three lessons became very clear—lessons that apply to any leader facing a state of growth, change, or uncertainty.
1. Start before you feel ready.
Every meaningful transition comes with doubt. When I left the security of my corporate job, I wondered whether I could build a sustainable business. More recently, I questioned whether I could master the new tools and technologies reshaping our field. But over the years I have come to realize: Uncertainty is expected, but staying stuck in it is optional. Progress begins when you move forward—even if the path isn’t perfectly clear.
2. Growth isn’t a straight line.
There will be surprises. Some will feel like successes … others will feel like failures. Both situations provide learning. One of my favorite lines from Shakespeare is: “There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.”
Your attitude in face of adversity shapes your future. The leaders who grow the fastest are the ones who don’t take every result personally. Rather, they treat every outcome as information they can act upon to make incremental progress.
3. You don’t have to do it alone.
One of the most important lessons from this transition was learning to get out of my own way. I realized that marketing and positioning were not my strengths, and that there were experts who could help me do it better and faster. Letting go of the need to “figure it all out myself” made a significant difference.
This is exactly what makes executive coaching powerful. There is more knowledge and experience in the world than any one person can hold. The fastest path forward is often a trusted partner who can provide perspective, challenge your thinking, and help you see options you might not see on your own.
Why This Work Matters to Me
I know what it feels like to face uncertainty about the future. I know the voice of imposter syndrome. I know what it’s like to pursue a goal—like achieving a strategic business objective or completing a doctoral degree—and wonder at times whether you are capable of finishing.
What made the difference was relationships. Even goals that look individual are achieved through the support, perspective, and encouragement of others. Trusting relationships create the safety to think out loud, explore possibilities, and keep moving forward when the path isn’t obvious. That’s the environment I work to create for the leaders I partner with—a place to think, a place to test ideas, a place to move forward with clarity and confidence.
Let’s Start the Conversation
Leadership growth isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about asking better questions, making better decisions, and moving forward with intention—even when the future is unclear. And you don’t have to do that alone.
If you’re at a point where your role is expanding, your challenges are becoming more complex, or you’re looking for a strategic thinking partner, I’d welcome the conversation. I encourage you to book a call with me to explore how we might work together.
This relaunch marks the beginning of a new chapter for Adams Learning. I’ll be sharing insights from research, practice, and real leadership challenges here on the blog. If you’re committed to growing your leadership and your impact, you’re in the right place.
Welcome. There’s more to come.