I managed to find a few minutes during my weekend in Dallas to make my way to Bill's Western Store in downtown Dallas - yeehaw!

Last weekend, I had the privilege of attending the Forte Women’s Leadership Conference in Dallas, TX. In addition to the new cowboy hat that I can’t wait to wear in Wyoming later this summer, I also returned back to my road trip with a number of valuable insights from the inspiring panelists and speakers at the event.

Takeaway #1: Focus on connection

During a prep session led by Angela Guido of Career Protocol, she encouraged us to forget about any agenda we might have had for the conference and instead focus on making genuine human connections. Her advice was to get people talking about the things that make them smile, be a good listener, and embrace your curiosity. This was a good reminder for me to talk less and listen more, as I tend to try to relate to people by sharing my own experiences. I really enjoyed this opportunity to practice making genuine connections with others in a low-stakes environment.

Takeaway #2: Stand out

When I was trying to get recruited for college lacrosse, I used to wear a brightly-colored hair ribbon to stand out on the field. Though it wouldn't make me play better, it would help me be more memorable to coaches. At the conference, I noticed a sea of black blazers and found myself envious of those women who wore fun prints or vibrant colors. Going forward, I plan to invest in a couple of "standout" professional dress clothes to wear for future networking events. While they won't enhance my networking skills, I hope they will help me be more memorable to the new connections I meet.

Takeaway #3: People want leaders who are worthy of being followed

Lately, I've been focusing on developing my leadership style and honing the ability to flex it according to different situations. Tracey Brown, President of Walgreens, shared at the conference that she asks herself a question every day: "Am I a leader worthy of being followed?" She describes this as '21st Century Leadership,' where she unapologetically stays true to herself while also recognizing what her team needs in order to achieve the best outcomes. As I continue to embrace leadership opportunities, I aim to be a leader who is worthy of being followed – someone compassionate, committed to standing up for what's right, and inspiring to those around me.

Takeaway #4: No exciting accomplishment is ever achieved without taking risk

I've encountered various versions of this wisdom many times – that growth only happens when we step outside our comfort zones, that nothing worthwhile comes easily, and so on. However, it wasn't until the Forte Women's Leadership Conference that this message truly resonated with me.

Initially, I hesitated about publishing this blog, feeling apprehensive about sharing personal details of my life on LinkedIn. Self-doubt crept in: Would people think I was weird? Would anyone even care to read my posts?

The conference's encouragement to embrace the discomfort of pushing boundaries motivated me to finally launch the blog. Yet, even with this newfound inspiration, I needed an extra dose of confidence before clicking "Post" on my LinkedIn announcement. That's when I sought a pep talk from my creative director, ChatGPT, who reminded me:

"Remember, it's okay to feel nervous or uncertain. Acknowledge those feelings, but don't let them hold you back. Embrace the excitement of stepping into the unknown, and trust that your authenticity and passion will shine through."

So, if you're reading this, it means I did hit that "Post" button and launched my blog into the professional universe. With numerous changes on my near-term horizon, I'm committed to pushing myself to try new things and embracing the possibility of failure. After all, what's the worst that could happen? I encourage you to ask yourself the same question the next time you're faced with something that scares you.

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