Reflections from 2025

As I take some time to look back on 2025, I notice that my biggest learnings didn’t come from pushing harder or doing more. They came from slowing down, creating structure, and paying attention to what was already there.

At the start of the year, my New Year’s Evolution was simple.

Structure to thrive.

Not structure that confines, yet structure that supports. Structure that creates space to lead with clarity, energy and heart.

Here are 10 reflections I’m carrying forward from the year that was:

Intention shapes how we show up. Inspired by Oprah who I was thrilled to see live in Sydney recently, I began setting a daily intention using Insight Timer. Instead of jumping straight into my to-do list, I asked myself what my intention was for the day. Embrace family. Be present. Be grateful. Embrace my inner child. Recover. It’s a small practice, yet it’s helped set up my days and the way I show up.

Presence turns ordinary moments into meaningful ones. In Bali recently, I watched locals sweep leaves each morning with quiet purpose. No rushing. No distraction. Just presence. It reminded me that leadership isn’t only about the big moments. It’s about how we show up in the small ones too.

Growth lives just beyond comfort. This year stretched me in unexpected ways, from a snake bath to Tour de Cure! Neither felt comfortable yet were deeply affirming. Growth doesn’t wait for confidence. It asks for willingness. Each time we step outside our comfort zone, we expand our belief in what’s possible.

Belief is a leadership lever. One of the most powerful insights I took from a high-performance program with Andy Meikle in 2025 was this: believing without proof doesn’t guarantee success, yet disbelief almost guarantees failure. In our work at Abundium, we see this constantly. Capability is rarely the issue. Mindframe is. When leaders shift what they believe is possible, performance follows!

People want to be seen. Another reminder from Oprah that stayed with me this year is that people simply want to be seen. In an on-demand world, presence is becoming one of the most generous things we can offer. How often are we truly there, without distraction, for the people who matter most?

Recovery is not a luxury, it’s a superpower. Through our emerging leaders ‘corporate athlete’ themed summit, we brought to life the idea of the corporate athlete. High performance doesn’t come from constant intensity. It comes from balancing effort with recovery. Sleep, strength, stillness and spirit matter. Sustainable leadership depends on how well we recharge, not just how hard we push.

Kindness and hard conversations can absolutely co-exist. One of my biggest reminders this year, brought to life through Steve Vamos’ Through Shifts and Shocks, is that culture is revealed most clearly when things feel stretched, uncertain or uncomfortable. In those moments, trusting your intuition isn’t “soft” leadership, it’s a skill that helps you act with clarity and care. More than ever, 2025 reinforced for me that culture isn’t a nice to have. It’s the engine that drives everything else.

Boundaries are a form of self-respect. One lesson that continued to deepen for me this year came from Awake Academy leaders Layne Beachley and Tess Brouwer at our WIM Summit, through their simple yet powerful idea of “hell yes or f no.” I’ve learned that boundaries aren’t about shutting people out, they’re about staying true to what matters most. If something isn’t aligned, energising or meaningful, it’s okay to say no without over-explaining. Clear boundaries create clarity, trust and sustainability, for ourselves and for the people we lead.

Progress doesn’t have to come at the cost of people. As a people leader, I’ve felt that tension firsthand this year, the pull between moving quickly and taking care of the humans doing the work. What I’ve learned is that real performance doesn’t come from pressure, it comes from trust. Leaders like Deanne Stewart have reinforced for me that care, inclusion and psychological safety aren’t soft concepts, they’re essential infrastructure. When people feel safe, valued and truly seen, they don’t just cope, they contribute fully and the culture can protect them when things are too much.

Space creates clarity One of the most valuable things I did all year was take a properly unplugged holiday in Bali with the family, inspired by Professor Michelle Haber. Stepping away created space to integrate, reflect and reset. I came back clearer, more grounded and more connected to what matters.

A few things that inspired me along the way. Aspire with Emma Grede became a favourite listen this year, the Abundium sisterhood network and daily audio notes with some trusted friends and inspirations. Honest conversations, thoughtful ambition and leadership with heart!

As I look ahead to 2026, my intention is simple.

Ask. Believe. Receive.

Less forcing. More trust. Less urgency. More alignment. More leading with love, and remembering that we’re always better together.

If 2025 taught me anything, it’s that when we create the right structure, slow down enough to listen, and believe in what’s possible, we don’t just perform better, we live better.

Here’s to the intention of carrying that forward!

As we transition into 2026 I would love to hear any of your reflections and any intentions you are carrying forward.