The thought struck me with perfect clarity one morning while I was sitting in my car watching a cold drizzle fall around the building where I worked. I had been sitting in my car for nearly half an hour, watching the clock creep closer to 9 am.   

I loved my job. I literally jumped for joy when I got the official offer and called everyone I knew because I couldn’t wait to share the news. How did I go from being so passionate about my dream job to practically crying at the mere thought of spending eight hours in what felt like a nightmare?   

There were some leadership changes while I was at this company, and the culture had taken a dramatic turn for the worse. It ended up being almost a year before I officially parted ways with a job I described as soul-sucking on more than one occasion.   

As I reflect on that moment, I am grateful to have had the experience. As I stared with dread at the time clock that morning, I knew there had to be something more. So, I embarked on a journey to hone my skills professionally and discover what motivates people to take action and create communities capable of moving mountains.   

Today's definition of leadership is far different from what we expected from the people in charge just 20 years ago. Not only are the needs of employees changing but so are our audiences'. Leaders must be willing to embrace the inevitable change and rise to the expectations of a changing workforce.

We need to take thoughtful, creative action if we, and the generations who follow, are to thrive. We are here to create communities and movements that matter.

You're going to want a leader who can deliver.