Hello!

Summer's moving fast, and there's a lot on deck this month. Here's what's worth your attention before your calendar fills back up.

Warm regards,

Shelby & Belinda

Rooted & Rising: Cape Town, A Curated Voyage
January 17–22, 2027

Why should you attend Rooted & Rising?

It's a room full of people who understand what it costs to excel and lead well, and a city that will remind you why the climb has been worth it. We're bringing together a community of local leaders, along with the Leadership Tea Podcast and Grounded & Global communities, to reflect, plan new chapters, and rediscover what matters.

Reservations are now open and include a fully curated ground experience, luxury accommodations, select meals, private transportation, and concierge services (airfare booked separately).

You already know this is for you.

Now's the time to commit to yourself and your future.

Want to Learn More About the Cape Town Trip?

Join us live on Wednesday, July 16 at 11:30 AM ET on the Leadership Tea YouTube channel. We'll walk through the full itinerary, answer your questions in real time, and share details we haven't posted anywhere else, including day pass options if you'll already be in South Africa this January.

Can't make it live? Reply to this email with your question, and we'll answer it during the stream.

Your Toolkit:

Navigating a Transition

Whether you're actively searching, quietly exploring, or just keeping your options warm, here are three things worth doing this month:

• Audit your "proof points" before you need them. Keep a running list of wins, metrics, and turnarounds you've led not just for a resume, but so you're never scrambling to remember your own impact.

• Rebuild your network before you need it to work for you. One genuine reconnect a week (not an ask, just a check-in) compounds faster than any cold application.

• Rewrite your narrative, not just your resume. Practice answering "why are you making a change" in one confident sentence that centers what you're moving toward, not what you're leaving.

If you want a deeper walkthrough, we're available to connect and discuss how we might support you.

Repose: Middleburg, VA

October 24, 2026

Who should attend?

Those of you who have been under exceptional pressure. Exceptional doesn't mean you aren't exhausted.

Repose returns to the Salamander at Middleburg this October for a full day built for leaders who need more than a vacation. A structured space to think, reflect, and reconnect with the leader you actually are, not just the one managing this week's crisis.

What's included:

• A private, intimate setting at the Salamander in Middleburg, Virginia

• Plated breakfast and High Tea service

• Guided reflection exercises for senior leaders navigating complexity

• Curated gift collection

• Complimentary valet parking

• A community of peers who understand the weight of where you sit

Last year sold out. We expect October to do the same.

A Moment to Reflect

Before you close this email, sit with one question:

If nothing about your role changed for the next twelve months, would that be relief or resignation?

There's no wrong answer, but your honest one is worth writing down somewhere you'll see it again.

Clarity doesn't happen by accident. It happens in the room with someone whose job is to ask the question you've been avoiding.

If you're ready for more than a newsletter nudge, our 1:1 coaching packages will pair you with an ICF-trained executive coach for ongoing, personalized support, not a one-time session, but a partnership through the transition.

One more thing, if you're not already following along on YouTube, that's where you'll find weekly leadership strategy and real conversations with people navigating exactly what you're navigating. Come say hi and subscribe so you don’t miss important updates and exciting episodes.