NM: Affinity in MKE
I’m on this plane home, Friday afternoon, wondering: how can it possibly keep getting better and better each time?!?!
See I know exactly how I got here - I just never expected that I wouldn’t want to leave. That I would love this place, its people and its values soooo much.
This week was incredibly special - everyone agreed. See everything may be uncertain around us, but Northwestern Mutual’s commitment to making everyone feel like they belong and can manifest their impact here is intact. Everyone’s included: women, LGBTQ+, multicultural folks, even the white dudes too. We’re all welcome.
And notewothy, I’m here…. Working alongside one of my best friends. In my zone of genius. Listening. Watching. An outsider, inside. Coaching market - the Field - and corporate leaders who are committed to building wealthier communities, and exploring new ways to go-to-market. By working on themselves from the inside out, so they can be even more valuable out there. People who care deeply about sharing their messages transparently on big stages to inspire colleagues to action for the deep integral work ahead of us.
It was 17 of them this week. Allowing me to influence their work in service of moooooving audiences: spread confidence, strengthen community, dream big.
I saw months of work come alive right in front of me. Words we tweaked over and over again. Lines we ran through and through. Stage moves we marked and remarked.
Yet, I didn’t say one word in front of the audience. Not one. Sitting amongst them, it was the speakers’ words taking flight inaudibly on my lips. Still, my leadership vibe was everywhere. ✨
Lauren overcoming her fear of public speaking. Makenna’s declaring her love of public speaking. Viv spreading her positivity. Jennica dropping her corporate professor insights. Christy calling for every woman to connect and collaborate. Jess talking about the power of music in her own melody. Gladys prosing about community like a poet. KJ’s actual spoken poetry. Bethany’s beautiful faith journey. Tom’s lighthearted leadership and deep caring. Kisha coming alive in her element. Ray’s desire for people to see themselves at work. Andrea’s peaks, valleys, and incredible successes. Tina’s coast-to-coast confidence course. Bo’s transformation journey. Carrie’s relentless commitment to best-in-class experience. And Jo.
Jo St. John we call her. She is the one.
The one who sees me like no other leader ever has. The maker of my belonging, maximizer of my impact.
The one who sets the strategy. The stage.
The one who charts the course at home and carries the torch in the field.
She holds space for all the meanings. For everyone.
Lemme declare it right now: I’m ride or die with Jo St. John.
🫶🏼
And after this week of being me, amongst us, in this company, if I may, I’ve got a message too:
Don’t sleep on it. Get after it - right now NM. At home office, AND in the field.
Because here’s the deal: in a world full of despair, you are the star that rises above.
Spark this inspiration up.
Shape the narrative, the DNA of this organization.
Create the future you and your people always wanted.
We’ve got good stories to tell together. Roots and Wings.
« Bigger than your imagination things… » -Bo Tran. 