Reflections

Somewhere along the way, leadership got loud. Push harder.Thicken your skin.Power through.Be decisive. Be certain. Be unshakeable. And for those of us who feel deeply, notice everything, and read the room before a word is spoken?That model quietly taught us to...

We've been taught the wrong standard for leadership. Clear. Composed. Confident. Controlling. Certain. But what if you didn’t need to have it figured out yet? What if not knowing wasn’t a liability, but the very thing that makes leadership real? Consider this your...

Early in life, I didn’t want to be a leader. Still, I held the roles.Captain. Point guard. Softball coach. Director.The one speaking up.The one people quietly followed. I equated leader with something I didn’t want to become. Someone controlling everything.Performing...

We spend much of our lives learning how to fit in — to color inside the lines, to follow the rules, to meet expectations that were often never ours to begin with. But what if success isn’t about fitting in at all?What if it’s about finding the shape that’s uniquely...

How Markus Found His Voice (Again) What happens when your soul remembers before your mind does? At three years old, Markus Newcomb pulled a chair into the center of his family’s living room and began to speak. Not to perform. Not for attention.But to share what he...

Unleash Your Presence, Stepping into the Power of Your VoiceWhat if speaking wasn’t about performing, but about being fully present?That’s the heartbeat of Instead Talks — creating spaces where leaders gather not to impress, but to connect, grow, and spark change.I...

From the moment we arrive in this world, the “shoulds” start stacking up. Be polite. Work hard. Get the gold stars.Follow the rules. Stay safe. Fit in.Don’t be too loud. Don't be too much. Don't take up too much space. Don't be too emotional.  In the Western...

From Good Girl to Wild Woman: Unleash Your RadianceToo often women silence their true voice to do everything “right.” In this intimate, interactive session, Lauri Smith guides the journey from Good Girl conditioning to Wild Woman sovereignty. Attendees will reclaim...

I’ve been hearing one thing a lot lately: “I’ve taken other visibility and speaking programs, but something felt off.” People come to me after trying to do it “right.” They’ve followed the formulas, mastered the frameworks, and still feel unseen — and maybe a little...