🌱 Grow and Gather—What Leaders Really Need Now

Dear Leaders, Members & Community Allies,

By now, you’ve probably seen the word growth on every leadership slide deck, conference banner, and motivational meme.

But at AWL, we think it’s time to go deeper.

“Just keep growing.”

It’s a phrase we hear often in leadership. But what we’ve learned—through coaching, training, and lived experience—is this:

Growth that isn’t supported eventually turns into burnout.

That’s why this month, we’re returning to the first pillar of the G.U.I.D.E. Leadership Method:

G – Grow and Gather

Because growth doesn’t happen in a vacuum.

It happens when we gather the tools, people, mindsets, and support systems that allow us to stretch without snapping—and to succeed without sacrificing ourselves in the process.

As we move into the second half of the year, this is your invitation to pause and check in with yourself—not just on what you’re doing, but on what (and who) you’re growing with.

Here are three reflection questions we’re inviting you to sit with this season:

Reflection Questions for the Month:

1. What am I actively doing to support my growth—not just my output?

2. Who is in my corner, and do they reflect the kind of leader I’m becoming?

3. What skills, habits, or support systems do I need to gather to get to the next level—without losing myself along the way?

Growth isn’t just about moving forward—it’s about moving forward with intention.

When you gather what truly supports you, growth becomes sustainable, not just impressive.

At AWL, we don’t believe in growth for growth’s sake. 

We believe in growth that’s grounded—growth that’s thoughtful, inclusive, and rooted in emotional intelligence.

That’s what we’ve designed our Actually, I Can Masterminds around.
That’s what we build into every Let’s Get Intentional session.

And that’s what you’ll find throughout this month’s newsletter.

Let’s dig in—and grow with purpose.

Ready to Lead with Purpose—and the Right Support?

This newsletter isn’t just a recap—it’s a reminder that leadership growth doesn’t happen alone.

Because developing as a leader isn’t just about knowing more—it’s about intentionally gathering the insight, community, and resources that help you grow with clarity and direction.

So whether you’re investing in your emotional intelligence, building your confidence, or looking for spaces that support real, inclusive growth—this month is your opportunity to pause, refocus, and choose what (and who) you bring with you into this next season.

From leadership masterminds to upcoming events, what follows is designed to give you more than information—it’s here to support your transformation.

Let’s begin.

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

It’s been a full and exciting month here at AWL!

Melissa is currently in Africa and will have plenty of stories and updates to share when she returns—stay tuned for that!

As for me, I’ve been back in my psychotherapy practice full time, and I have to say, I’m loving every minute of it. It’s such a privilege to walk alongside the incredible clients who are trusting me with their journey toward wellness.

I’ve also had the opportunity to continue supporting women in the trades through our ConnectHer programming. One of the things I’m most proud of is the custom curriculum we’ve created to help women navigate male-dominated spaces. (Did you know we actually create custom curriculum? We LOVE doing this work!) I’ve been meeting with groups of women three times a week to dive into these modules—and the conversations have been powerful.

On top of that, I’ve been on the road to Toronto and connecting virtually with leaders from across the country, facilitating training through the Crisis & Trauma Resource Institute (CTRI) and the Achieve Centre for Leadership. I absolutely love being in facilitator mode—guiding teams through topics like Change Management, Adverse Childhood Experiences, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

If your organization is looking for practical, evidence-based training in workplace mental health, leadership, or organizational development, CTRI and Achieve are fantastic partners.

Coming up later this month, I’m excited to be back at King’s University College delivering AWL’s Anti-Bias Training to 50 of their student leaders. I can’t wait to see the impact this work will have on campus.

Meanwhile, Melissa has been making an impact both on campus and in the broader business community.

She recently spoke to student leaders about the power of Emotional Intelligence—helping them explore how to manage their own emotions and lead others with greater self-awareness and empathy. At the Gender Equality Coalition’s ConnectHER event, she led her signature “Be a Good Human” workshop—reminding participants that strong leadership and compassionate leadership aren’t mutually exclusive.

Melissa has also been deep in strategy with several of our business development coaching and consulting clients, helping them attract aligned customers while staying grounded in emotionally intelligent practices.

We appreciate you being part of our AWL community—stay tuned for more updates, and as always, thank you for your continued support!

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 You Don’t Want to Miss

1. Let’s Get Intentional: Jump In – Embracing Unexpected Challenges

📅 June 16, 2025 | 🕔 5:00 PM EDT | 💻 Virtual

Join us for an inspiring Let’s Get Intentional session that explores what it takes to step into unfamiliar territory with confidence—and how doing so can lead to extraordinary professional growth and personal fulfillment.

Featuring:

Cristina German — With a career spanning Arctic health policy, global digital transformation, and blockchain strategy, Cristina brings a powerful perspective on navigating vastly different professional landscapes. She’ll share how she found the courage to say "yes" to bold opportunities—and the strategies she used to thrive along the way.

What You’ll Discover:

• Practical tools for managing major career transitions

• Strategies to build confidence when the path ahead is unclear

• Insights on navigating diverse teams across cultures and industries

• A framework for identifying and acting on unexpected opportunities

This isn’t just another webinar—it’s a space for real stories, real growth, and real leadership.

✨ Community members will also receive access to our exclusive live After Party on July 2, 2025 at 12:00 PM EDT for deeper discussion.
(Must be a member of the Actually, I Can Leadership Hub™ to attend.)

Register today: awlpartners.com/events

2. The Art of Leadership Women - Ready to elevate your leadership?

The Art of Leadership Women is returning to Calgary, Vancouver, Ottawa, and Toronto AND AWL PARTNERS will be attending!

Will you be there too?

This one-day conference features an inspiring lineup of speakers sharing actionable strategies and insights on today’s most critical leadership challenges.

Don’t miss this invaluable opportunity to develop your leaders, engage your talent, and build high-performing teams.

Join us for an empowering day of learning, networking, and women’s leadership. Use promo code AWLP45 and save $50 per pass, or save $100 per pass for groups of 5 or more. 

Register at: https://info.theartof.com/25LW/AWLP45.html 

3. Actually, I Can Leadership Masterminds – Save $275
Ready to invest in your leadership? These small-group, high-impact mastermind tracks are designed to meet you where you are—and take you further.

Choose your track:

✔ The Emotionally Intelligent Leader – Starts June 9th 
✔ Business Development & Growth – Join the waitlist >> WAITLIST
✔ The Confident Leader – Starts June 10th

10 spots per cohort. Morning + afternoon times.
Use code AIC275OFF to save $275.

📍 Learn More and Register Here: https://awlpartners.com/leadership-mastermind
📩 Want to explore if it’s the right fit? Email hello@awlpartners.com 

Jen and Melissa, 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. You can take advantage of the Multiple Payment option, basically splitting your cost over 3 months OR
2. We can work with you to securing the Canada-Ontario Job Grant (COJG) | ontario.ca to help mitigate all or a protion of the cost. You know what to do :-), if you would like more details on how we can support you, email us hello@awlpartners.com 

Thought Leadership: The Hidden Burnout Crisis in Leadership

Burnout isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a very real and growing crisis among leaders.

In her latest article, The Hidden Burnout Crisis in Leadership—And What to Do About It, AWL Co-Founder Jennifer Slay, M.S.W., R.S.W., shares the truth behind the mental and emotional exhaustion so many professionals are silently carrying—and the steps we must take before it breaks us.

This isn’t about bubble baths or motivational quotes. It’s about real, sustainable leadership.

Here’s what you’ll take away:

✔ Why 82% of senior leaders report feeling burned out—and what that actually means
✔ What Jen’s own experience with burnout revealed about how we’re living and leading
✔ Three hard-earned truths that could shift how you approach stress and decision-making
✔ Why reflection, therapy, and rest aren’t indulgences—they’re necessities for effective leadership

This piece is a powerful reminder that emotional intelligence isn’t just about navigating others—it’s about honestly checking in with yourself before the warning signs turn into consequences.

📖 Read the full piece on LinkedIn: ARTICLE

Want to talk about burnout and leadership in your workplace? Reach out to book Jen for a custom session: hello@awlpartners.com

💬 Join the Conversation

It started with a simple lunch. (No charcuterie board—at least not at first.)

In their newest video, Jen and Melissa reflect on how one candid conversation turned into a movement—and how All Women L.E.A.D. evolved into what AWL Partners is today:
A leadership and training firm that supports emotionally smarter workplaces—for women, for teams, and for the future of work.

They share the vision, the turning points, and how they’re now helping HR leaders, entrepreneurs, and organizations grow through workshops, coaching, keynotes, and more.

🎥 Watch the video here → → JOIN THE CONVERSATION

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

What kind of support do you wish you had when you first stepped into leadership?

Drop your thoughts in the comments—or share the video with someone who needs it.
And yes... we’re still laughing about the charcuterie joke.

💡Did You Know?

The Authentically Yours Community has evolved into something even more powerful:

Introducing the Actually, I Can Leadership Hub™.

This isn’t just a rebrand—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 membership options here → HERE

Growth Looks Different for Everyone

Some leaders need space to move forward.
Others need space to process, heal, and recalibrate.
At AWL, we support both.

Coaching is about clarity, goals, and strategy.
Counselling is about reflection, resilience, and healing.

Both are valid. Both are powerful. And both are available to you.

📩 Not sure where to start? Let’s figure it out together: hello@awlpartners.com
🔗 Learn more at: 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. 

This month wasn’t just about growing.

It was about gathering what you need to do it well.

Because leadership isn’t just about showing up stronger—it’s about surrounding yourself with the people, tools, and support that help you stay steady while you do it.

If you’re feeling the pull to expand, to step more fully into your leadership, or to finally invest in your own development—listen to it.

Gather what you need.
Let go of what you don’t.
And remember: growth doesn’t require perfection. It requires intention.

Whether you join a mastermind, attend an event, or simply make space for your own reflection—you’re not doing it alone.

We’re here to grow with you.

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