How to Engage, Elevate, and Lead with Intention

← Back to all posts

Welcome back to the AWL Partners G.U.I.D.E. Leadership Newsletter—your space to pause, reflect, and grow as a leader in today’s ever-changing world. Whether you’re leading a team, building your career, or showing up more boldly in your own life, you don’t have to do it alone.

At AWL, we believe that leadership isn't a title—it's a daily practice. That’s why we created the G.U.I.D.E. Leadership Method, a five-pillar framework built to support your growth with emotional intelligence at the core. Through growth, understanding, intentional inclusion, dialogue, and elevation, we help you lead with more confidence, connection, and clarity.

📍 New to G.U.I.D.E.? Catch up on the full framework here: G.U.I.D.E. METHOD

Each month, we shine a spotlight on one of the G.U.I.D.E. pillars to help you bring that leadership quality to life—in your work, your relationships, and your impact.

This month, we’re focusing on the E in G.U.I.D.E. >>

Engage & Elevate:

If you’re leading in 2025, you already know: people aren’t just looking for direction—they’re looking for connection, clarity, and culture.

And that starts with you.

When leaders are disengaged or simply going through the motions, it trickles down—energy, performance, and morale all suffer. But when leaders actively engage with their teams, communities, and even themselves?

Everything shifts.

Here are three powerful (but practical) ways to engage and elevate right now:

✔ Schedule one intentional conversation this week.

Not a check-in. Not a status update. A real, human conversation with a team member or peer that invites reflection, feedback, or celebration. Ask: “What’s been lighting you up lately?” or “Where do you feel stuck, and how can I support you?”

✔ Amplify someone else’s idea or effort.

Elevating others doesn’t require a grand gesture. Share a colleague’s insight in a meeting. Shout someone out in an email. Recommend someone for a panel, a project, or a stretch opportunity. Use your access to create access.

✔ Audit your leadership energy.

Are you showing up present and curious—or just performing your role? What would it look like this month to shift from reactive to intentional engagement?

Engage & Elevate is more than a leadership style—it’s a commitment. A decision to stay connected to the people and values that matter most, and to raise the bar not only for yourself, but for others.

The rest of this newsletter is filled with opportunities to help you put this pillar into practice—from free training and EQ insights to transformational group work and team-based workshops.

Leadership isn’t just about being in the room.

It’s about making the room better for everyone in it.

Let’s do that together.

Your March Recap >> Growth in Action

March was packed with powerful moments—from the It’s Time International Women’s Day Celebration to our After Party on March 19, we heard from incredible women leaders who are walking the talk. Here’s what a few attendees had to say:

“This was one of the most empowering events I’ve attended! The speakers didn’t just talk at us—they challenged us to take action.”
“I walked away with practical strategies I’m already applying in my leadership role. This was exactly what I needed.”

Paid but missed the event or your exclusive replay link?

Email us at hello@awlpartners.com to get access.

🎤Jen & Mel in Action: Speaking, Teaching, Leading

AWL’s Co-Founders, Jennifer Slay and Melissa Maloney, have been busy this month bringing impactful leadership conversations to diverse audiences across Canada.

Jennifer Slay led a series of dynamic keynotes and workshops focused on resilience, emotional wellness, and inclusive leadership:

Finding Calm in the Chaos – A keynote for the CAGP London Chapter, where Jen shared practical strategies for building joy and mental wellness in high-stress environments.
Prioritizing Self-Care & Building Resilience – A private interactive session at West Elgin Community Health Centre for healthcare professionals on shifting from burnout to boundaries, using her signature “L.I.E.S.” framework.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: How to Build a Thriving Workplace for Everyone – A full-day DEI workshop at the CCRR North Region Conference, helping organizations recognize gaps and create inclusive workplace cultures.

Melissa Maloney delivered a powerful keynote for Trackunit, one of AWL’s Business Members, titled:

Using Emotional Intelligence to Create More Space for Women in Leadership & Tech – A 45-minute talk followed by Q&A, delivered in-person and live-streamed to remote teams as part of their International Women’s Day celebration.

Looking to bring powerful, evidence-based conversations to your team or event?
We offer custom workshops, keynotes, and leadership development for companies and communities that want to elevate their impact.

Check out their 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.

5 Upcoming Events You Don’t Want to Miss

1. Let’s Get Intentional: Mastering Social Anxiety & Navigating Life’s Pivots with Grace
📅 April 21, 2025 | 🕗 8:00 AM EST | 💻 Virtual

Join us for a powerful Let’s Get Intentional session focused on two deeply relevant leadership challenges: managing social anxiety and navigating life transitions with confidence and clarity.

Managing Social Anxiety with Dr. Mary Grogan
Dr. Grogan—educator, consultant, and author of The 7 Cs of Global Leadership—will share actionable tools to help you manage social anxiety in leadership and networking spaces. Her psychological and educational expertise will help you transform fear into connection.

Pivoting and Prioritizing with Grace with Tammy Buss
Tammy Buss, founder of Buss Financial Systems and host of The Business of Family podcast, brings real-world wisdom on balancing life’s roles—entrepreneur, mother, wife—and making decisions that reflect your values and season of life.

You’ll walk away with:
✔ Practical tools to manage social anxiety in professional spaces
✔ Strategies to prioritize what truly matters
✔ Frameworks for navigating life’s inevitable pivots with intention
✔ Techniques to balance multiple roles with grace

Community members get exclusive access to the follow-up After Party on May 7 at 12:00 PM EST for deeper discussion.
📍 Register at: awlpartners.com/events

2. Quarterly Mastermind: Mastering Your Value Proposition & Personal Branding
📅 April 8, 2025 (Virtual) & April 10, 2025 (In-Person at TechAlliance, London ON)
🕔 5:00 PM EST | Facilitated by: Rikka Bouseh, CPHR

You know what you bring to the table—but can you say it with clarity, confidence, and authenticity?

Join us for this highly interactive 2-hour Mastermind, where HR leader and branding strategist Rikka Bouseh will walk you through refining your message, introducing yourself with impact, and building a personal brand that reflects your true value.

Session Highlights:

Craft your unique value proposition
Learn the “Power Intro” to confidently share who you are
Check your brand alignment (LinkedIn, website, etc.)
Tell success stories with humble confidence
Walk away with an action plan to implement immediately

If you’re ready to attract aligned opportunities without sounding boastful or overly rehearsed, this session is for you.

📍 Reserve your spot at: awlpartners.com/events

3. Free Training for Women in Trades: ConnectHER
Women in trades face unique challenges—from workplace bias to confidence gaps. That’s why we’ve partnered with ConnectHER at Fanshawe College to deliver a free, 6-module leadership program.

Who Should Join?
✔ Women currently in or considering a skilled trades career
✔ Employers + leaders committed to inclusion

Cohort 1 started March 17, 2025
💬 Live Recap Session for Modules 1 & 2: March 25 @ 7 PM EST
There’s still time to join—or join the waitlist for April.

📍 Register: Registration Link
📩 Questions? Info Link or email hello@awlpartners.com

4. 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 – April 29
✔ Business Development & Growth – April 23
✔ The Confident Leader – May 8

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

5. Jen’s Support Group for Single Women: Whole Before “We”
Designed for women who want to thrive in life before love, this six-week group blends self-reflection, confidence-building, and real support.

Starts: March 25, 2025 | Investment: $85/session (1.5 hours)
✔ Virtual & in-person options
✔ Limited spots available

📩 Interested? Email Jen directly: jen@awlpartners.com

Thought Leadership: Politics, Tariffs & AI—Oh My!

As the world shifts quickly, leaders must meet uncertainty with clarity and emotional intelligence.

In her new article, Melissa Maloney explores why EQ is the #1 leadership skill for navigating today’s complex landscape—including economic shifts, AI disruption, and workplace culture.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

✔ Why emotionally intelligent leaders outperform in coaching, retention & resilience
✔ How EQ impacts decision-making in the face of global uncertainty
✔ Real stats: 90% of top performers have high EQ
✔ How companies like Microsoft leveraged EQ for business success

🔗 Read the full article on LinkedIn: ARTICLE

Coming Soon: The Actually, I Can Leadership Hub

You asked for more than another online community—we heard you.

We’re transforming the Authentically Yours Community into the new Actually, I Can Leadership Hub, a space to access tools, sessions, and insights aligned with your leadership goals.

Stay tuned—details are on the way!

WHEW! YOU ARE UPDATED FOR SURE NOW!

We want you to remember that no matter how full your calendar is or how uncertain the world feels, the choice to engage and elevate is always yours.

You don’t have to do it all—but you do have to show up.

Show up for yourself, your team, and your community with presence, curiosity, and courage.

That’s how inclusive, emotionally intelligent leadership is built—not in one big moment, but in the small, intentional ones that compound over time.

So here’s your reminder:

Your leadership matters.

Your voice matters.

And when you choose to engage with intention and elevate those around you, you’re not just leading—you’re shaping what leadership can look like for everyone else.

Let’s keep growing, together.

Until next time,
The AWL Partners Team

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

How to Engage, Elevate, and Lead with Intention—Starting Now