Dialogue That Drives Development

Dear Leaders, Members & Community Allies,

For some of us, Summer might signal a time to slow down, but at AWL, we’re leaning into the kind of momentum that matters.

We’re talking about momentum fueled by dialogue, connection, and meaningful development. You know, the kind that doesn’t just move the conversation forward, but turns it into action.

This month’s G.U.I.D.E. spotlight is:

D – Dialogue and Develop

At AWL, we know leadership isn’t a solo act.

Real leadership lives in conversation—in those vulnerable exchanges, strategic brainstorms, and shared goals that push us to think bigger and lead better.

From courageous conversations about influence and identity, to cross-sector partnerships and intergenerational mentorship, June reminded us that progress happens when we listen deeply, speak with intention, and stay committed to co-creating what’s next.

So as you reflect this month, ask yourself:

🔹 How often am I engaging in conversations that stretch me—not just comfort me?

🔹 What ideas am I developing into action?

🔹 Who am I inviting into the dialogue that hasn’t had a voice before?

Pause with those.

Because when you lead with curiosity, collaboration, and emotional intelligence, dialogue becomes more than a tool—it becomes a catalyst.

This newsletter isn’t just an update—it’s an invitation to connect.
We’ve curated the updates, events, and reflections to help you stay in dialogue, with yourself, your team, and your growth goals.

Let’s take a look at what we’ve been building together.

What We’ve Been Up To at AWL – June Update, from Jen: 

Happy National Indigenous History Month! We want to acknowledge the cultural importance and deep contributions of our Indigenous friends, family, and colleagues. And while we celebrate in June, let’s remember that continuous learning is the real commitment. Just ask Auntie Google for events and resources in your area—she always delivers.

June has been a powerful month of momentum and movement. I’ve been facilitating Emotional Intelligence and Trauma-Informed Leadership trainings through CTRI, and travelling across the province to support teams in meaningful reflection and growth.

Some of my highlights:

• Wrapping the ConnectHer Train-the-Trainer sessions
• Co-developing new leadership collaborations with our Business Development and Client Relations Consultant Shirley Brooks
• Meeting with leaders across North America to expand our offerings
• Singing with the London Kids Community Gospel Choir!
• Supporting the City of London’s municipal equity task force

Checking in with Melissa, she has been diving deep with business development and leadership coaching clients this month, helping them with efining how they connect with ideal customers and lead their teams with emotional intelligence.

Some of Melissa's highlights:

• Led workshops and consultations on values-based selling
• Finalized our upcoming “Let’s Get Intentional” session for July
• Met with sponsors to support our fall programming and ERG leaders to support their employee engagement goals and strategies
• Supported CAPDHE’s first virtual conference
• Helped host international African leaders visiting Canada from Kenya

Other exciting news? 

AWL is officially expanding into Ottawa as I am preparing for my upcoming move! We’ll be partnering with JamFit to offer in-person masterminds that align body, mind, and leadership.

We’ve also finalized our IWD 2026 speakers and monthly session topics and trust me, this lineup is FIRE. 

Also, we’re almost full for our August pilot of the Small Group Mentorship group we are doing in collaboration with Julie Dupont of Reimagine Leadership, more details are below.  So if you’re curious, read further for more and reach out soon.

And yes, we’ve begun recording our upcoming podcast season!

Stay tuned for what’s next.

With gratitude,
Jen

P.S. Our summer bookings are filling up quickly. If you’d like us to come meet with your team, let us know—we’ll customize a leadership program just for you!

Check out our speaker pages:
Jen’s Speaking Page >> awlpartners.com/jen-slay/ 
Melissa’s Speaking Page >> awlpartners.com/melissa-maloney/ 

📩 Reach out to us at hello@awlpartners.com to explore what’s possible.

3 Upcoming Events + 1 New Upadte You Don’t Want to Miss

1. Let’s Get Intentional: Selling Without Selling: The Power of Emotional Intelligence in Everyday Influence

📅 Monday, July 21st | 🕛 12:00 PM EDT | 💻 Virtual

Join Melissa Maloney for a real talk session about how to influence without manipulation and how emotional intelligence is the secret to building trust and inspiring action.

What you’ll learn:

✔ How to communicate with empathy, not pressure
✔ Tools to build authentic, trust-based influence
✔ Strategies for boardrooms, teams, and yes, even family dinner

✨ Community members will also receive access to our exclusive live After Party on August 6th, 2025 at 12:00 PM EDT where the deeper conversations happen..
(Must be a member of the Actually, I Can Leadership Hub™ to attend the After Party or to attend Let's Get Intentional for free.)

Register today: awlpartners.com/events

2. Small Group Mentorship Program in collaboration with Reimagine Leadership

We’re launching a small-group mentorship program with Julie Dupont of Reimagine Leadership—and we want to hear from you.

This will be a high-impact, intimate space for new and emerging women leaders who want to who want to lead with more confidence, clarity, and courage and to grow together.

👉 Take 2 minutes to share your input

About Julie Dupont
Julie is a Principal Strategist, facilitator, and certified coach specializing in team development, EQ, and authentic leadership. Her contagious enthusiasm and courageous conversations make her a leader worth learning from.

3. Actually, I Can Leadership Masterminds - Waitlist Now Open

These small-group, high-impact mastermind tracks are designed to meet you where you are—and take you further.

Now enrolling interest for Fall 2025, Spring 2026, and Summer 2026 cohorts.

Choose your track:

✔ The Emotionally Intelligent Leader 
✔ Business Development & Growth
✔ The Confident Leader 

10 spots per cohort. Morning + afternoon times.

Each cohort is limited to 10 spots with morning + afternoon time options. Flexible 3-installment payment plans are available—book early to secure your seat and spread out your investment.

📍 Learn More and Register here: https://awlpartners.com/leadership-mastermind

📩 Interested, but not yet ready to decide just yet? Join the   WAITLIST . Also, if you want to explore which mastermind is the right fit OR to inquire about early bird discounts, email hello@awlpartners.com

I would love to attend these masterminds or send someone from my team, but with all the shifts happening right now, training is a priority but our budgets are slim. 

DON'T WORRY we have two options for you to explore: 

1. As an individual, you can take advantage of the Multiple Payment option, basically splitting your cost over 3 months OR
2. For teams. we can work with you to develop a custom quote if you would like more details on how we can support you, email us hello@awlpartners.com 

+1 .  NEW: Double Take with AWL – Weekly Power Sessions

Starting in July, we’re hosting free 30-minute virtual sessions called Double Take with AWL they will be led by Jen and Melissa.

These are fast, bold, and brilliant sessions designed to spark leadership insights and guide you toward action.

📣 Think of it as your weekly mindset reset, snack-sized strategy with EQ & soul.

Schedule & Topics:

• July 15 – Tame Your Inner Critic: How to Stop Holding Yourself Back

• July 22 – Process = Power: Systems That Set You Up for Success

• July 29 – Leading with Empathy: The Secret Skill You’re Not Using Enough

• August 5 – Say It Clearly: How to Set Expectations That Actually Stick

• August 12 – Confidence 101: Building It, Showing It, Owning It

• August 19 – Accountability Without Being the “Bad Guy”

• August 26 – Manifesting with Intention: From Vision to Action

• September 2 – Conflict Isn’t the Enemy: How to Face It, Not Fear It

📍 These free, 30-minute virtual power sessions delivering bold insights, real talk, and fast actionable takeaways will be hosted same time ever week at 12pm live on our LinkedIn, check the events section for details.

No registration required, just show up at 12pm EST. We are looking forward to seeing you weekly for these leadership and mindset resets.

Thought Leadership:  Before You Lead Others, Learn Yourself

Leadership isn’t just about what you do—it’s about who you are.

In her latest article, Before You Lead Others, Learn to Lead Yourself, AWL Co-Founder Jennifer Slay, M.S.W., R.S.W., explores how understanding your emotional patterns is the key to becoming a more grounded and effective leader.

✔ Why emotional self-awareness is the foundation of leadership success

✔ How early patterns shape how we lead—and how to break them

✔ What it means to pause, reflect, and respond with emotional intelligence

📖 Read the full piece on LinkedIn: ARTICLE

Want to talk about how early patterns shape how we lead and it's impact on leadership in your workplace?

Reach out to book Jen for a custom session: hello@awlpartners.com

💬 Join the Conversation

What does emotional intelligence have to do with high performance? According to our own Melissa Maloney—everything.

In her recent appearance on the Investornomy Podcast with Dr. Linda Pajoel, Melissa breaks down how emotional intelligence isn’t just part of what we do at AWL, it’s the foundation.

Whether we’re coaching individuals, facilitating team sessions, or leading equity and inclusion training, it all comes back to this:

How do we use our emotions to lead, connect, and decide with intention?

Because when you understand your emotions, they stop holding you back and start moving you forward.

That’s where real leadership growth begins.

🎥 Watch the video here → → JOIN THE CONVERSATION

After you watch, we’d love to hear from you:

How has emotional intelligence changed the way you lead?

Drop your thoughts in the comments—or share the video with someone who needs it.

💡New Resource Alert!

We’ve just added "Be Your Best Self: A Guide for Leaders" to the Premium Resource Libraries inside the Actually, I Can Leadership Hub™

This short, powerful guide by Melissa Maloney, helps you assess and recharge across four energy zones—mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual, so you can lead more grounded and energized.

Find it here:
▶ Leader’s Circle + Trailblazing Library
▶ Align with Equity Library

Remember, The Authentically Yours Community has evolved into something even more powerful Actually, I Can Leadership Hub™.

It’s a renewed commitment to support real growth for real leaders.

Inside the Hub, you’ll find:
✔️ CPD-accredited monthly leadership sessions
✔️ Time-saving tools, templates, and resources
✔️ Coaching, counselling, and curated content
✔️ A community built to grow with you, not perform at you

Whether you're stepping into leadership or scaling your impact, the Hub is designed to meet you where you are, and take you further.

📍 Explore individual and Employee Resource Group/Team membership options here → HERE

Want help building a leadership plan that protects your energy and supports your values?

Let’s talk: hello@awlpartners.com 

Coaching vs. Counselling: What's the Right Fit?

At AWL, we offer both and it’s one of the most common questions we get.

Coaching helps you move forward. It’s future-focused and designed to help you clarify goals, build strategy, and step into your potential.

Counselling helps you heal. It supports processing challenges like grief, anxiety, or trauma—and builds the inner resilience to grow from them.

Both are valid. Both are powerful. And both support leadership.

Did you know? 82% of senior leaders report feeling emotionally exhausted.

Mental health is leadership development.

That’s why we offer both.

📩 Not sure where to begin? Reach out anytime at hello@awlpartners.com  or visit awlpartners.com/coaching-and-counselling.html 

You’ve seen the what—now let’s pause on the why, and choose what’s next with intention. 

The conversations we choose shape the leaders we become.

This month, we didn’t just talk about leadership, we practiced it.

We sat down with each other, our community, and our partners to reflect, reimagine, and realign with purpose.

So if you’re feeling the pull to speak up, reach out, or finally take action on that idea sitting in your notes app, this is your nudge.

Because change doesn’t just happen in silence.

It happens in dialogue.

It grows through development.

And it thrives in communities like this one.

Until next time, keep showing up, speaking truth, and building what you believe in.

Rooting for your growth, always,

The AWL Partners Team
We help people and teams grow smarter with their emotions to work better and achieve more.

P.S. Missed last month’s newsletter? Catch up here and keep the momentum going: LAST EDITION