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The Network for Social Work Management 4th Annual Forward Thinking Summit

By Nicki Sanders | Sep 10, 2025 | Comments Off on The Network for Social Work Management 4th Annual Forward Thinking Summit

  The Network for Social Work Management 4th Annual Forward Thinking Summit is happening virtually September 18-20, 2025. This year’s theme, Roots & Wings: 40 Years Strong, Building Bridges to an Equitable Future, honors NSWM’s legacy while focusing on the work ahead: mobilizing leadership across sectors to advance justice, inclusion, and systemic change. Just a few […]

My 2025 Travel Recap

By Nicki Sanders | Sep 3, 2025 | Comments Off on My 2025 Travel Recap

  Welcome to September! September Is: Self-Care Awareness Month International Update Your Resume Month Emergency Preparedness Month I’m back from my August travels and ready to join “The Great Lock-In”.  Are you locking in? Travel Enhances Leadership! New perspectives Restoration and rejuvenation Ignited curiosity My Travel Mantras: The world is my classroom The world is […]

Burnout Recovery Isn’t Enough – The Real Transformation Is Reclaiming Your Identity

By Nicki Sanders | Aug 13, 2025 | Comments Off on Burnout Recovery Isn’t Enough – The Real Transformation Is Reclaiming Your Identity

  Most people think of burnout recovery as catching their breath, lightening their workload, or taking a much-needed break. And while rest is essential, it’s not the whole story. Because burnout recovery is only part of the work. The real transformation happens when you reclaim your identity — when you stop living in survival mode […]

Say Yes To You – Leading Without Limiting Yourself

By Nicki Sanders | Aug 6, 2025 | Comments Off on Say Yes To You – Leading Without Limiting Yourself

  What if saying “yes” to yourself wasn’t selfish – but sacred? In this powerful and personal video, I unpack what it really means to lead without losing yourself. Inspired by the bold examples of Shonda Rhimes’ “Year of Yes,” and Jeannette Reye’s “Summer of Si’”, I explore how high-performing Women of Color in leadership […]

What Are You Holding That’s Not Yours?

By Nicki Sanders | Jul 30, 2025 | Comments Off on What Are You Holding That’s Not Yours?

  You’ve been carrying too much for too long – and not all of it is yours. That quiet pressure to always show up strong. The unspoken responsibility of managing everyone else’s emotions. The weight of needing to prove you belong in rooms you already earned your way into. Let’s name it for what it […]

Train Your Algorithm for Liberation: Curating Social Media for Soft, Sustainable Success

By Nicki Sanders | Jul 23, 2025 | Comments Off on Train Your Algorithm for Liberation: Curating Social Media for Soft, Sustainable Success

  Have you ever picked up your phone for a “quick break” only to find yourself spiraling down an endless scroll of hot takes, bad news, and content that leaves you feeling drained instead of inspired? You’re not alone. The digital world can be a source of burnout if we’re not intentional—but it can also […]

Is There Workplace Safety for Women of Color in Leadership?

By Nicki Sanders | Jul 16, 2025 | Comments Off on Is There Workplace Safety for Women of Color in Leadership?

  Is It Really Safe for Women of Color to Practice Soft Leadership? My Answer Will Surprise You You might’ve heard that soft leadership – leading with empathy, emotional intelligence, and collaboration – is a must-have skill in today’s workplace. But for Women of Color, it can feel risky. Is it safe to lead with […]

Reconnect with Yourself After Burnout

By Nicki Sanders | Jul 9, 2025 | Comments Off on Reconnect with Yourself After Burnout

  If you know my career story, you know that I experienced both compassion fatigue and professional burnout.  But for us high-performing Women if Color in leadership, sometimes what we call burnout is identity loss. Here’s how it may be showing up: ✅ You’ve been over-functioning for years, silence can feel unfamiliar or even scary. […]

Soft Is Strong: Why Women of Color Need a New Leadership Playbook

By Nicki Sanders | Jul 2, 2025 | Comments Off on Soft Is Strong: Why Women of Color Need a New Leadership Playbook

  We were taught that to lead well; we had to be twice as good. Twice as fast. Twice as composed. All while carrying the unspoken burden of holding it all together. But what if leadership didn’t have to be that way? What if leading with softness isn’t a liability, but a leadership superpower? Soft […]