You know that feeling when you’re part of something that truly lights you up?

Maybe it’s a concert where the crowd sings every word in unison, a championship game that has everyone on their feet, or a night surrounded by people you love, laughing until it hurts.

You walk away feeling changed — fuller, clearer, more alive.

I felt that recently while seeing the musical Six.

If you haven’t seen it, it’s a bold, modern retelling of the stories of Henry VIII’s six wives — but instead of tragedy or rivalry, it’s a pop concert that flips the script. Each queen takes the stage to reclaim her voice and celebrate her own power, and by the end, the entire theater is vibrating with music, laughter, and collective joy. I could feel the sound moving through the crowd — an entire room of women and men standing together, singing, celebrating one another. It was electric.

And almost immediately, I thought: How do I hold onto this?

That’s how I’ve felt, year after year, watching thousands of leaders gather at the Simmons Leadership Conference. For one incredible day, the energy in the room is electric. We listen, we reflect, we cheer each other on and sometimes we even well-up together. Together, we leave with full hearts, minds awakened, and new connections that feel like the start of something lasting.

But then life rushes back in. Meetings pile up. Priorities shift. The spark we felt begins to fade.

Over the years, I’ve realized something important: inspiration alone isn’t enough. If we want that feeling — that clarity, confidence, and connection — to last, we need ways to sustain it.

What I’ve Learned Along the Way

1. Inspiration fades if it isn’t supported by structure.

Transformation rarely happens in a single day. It’s what we do afterward — how we make learning part of our rhythm — that turns insight into impact. The leaders I admire most aren’t just inspired; they’re intentional. They revisit what they’ve learned, apply it in real time, and share it with others.

I was reminded of that during the unforgettable conversation between Gloria Steinem and Trevor Noah at the 2024 conference. With humor, humility, and deep respect, Trevor honored Gloria’s legacy while challenging us all to think bigger about how change actually happens — through dialogue, curiosity, and listening. Together, they modeled what real learning looks like: two generations coming together to exchange ideas, question assumptions, and remind us that progress is built on connection.

2. Leaders are hungry for connection, not just content.

When I think back on our conferences, what stands out most isn’t a single keynote or framework — it’s the moments between the moments: a hallway conversation, a shared laugh, a sense of being understood. In a world that often pushes us toward independence, true growth still happens in community.

I’ll never forget our 2025 Simmons Leadership Conference when Cynt Marshall gifted everyone in the audience a tiara. We opened the mystery black box that had sat on our tables all day, and suddenly the room transformed. Thousands of women — and men — placed their crowns on at once, and the entire space shimmered. The sparkle wasn’t just from the tiaras, but from what they represented: joy, pride, unity, and the shared belief that each of us deserves to wear our crown. That’s the kind of connection that stays with you — the moments when we don’t just learn together, but shine together.

3. The world is changing too quickly for leadership to be a once-a-year conversation.

Between hybrid teams, evolving technology, and constant change, leadership today requires continual adaptation. It’s not about having all the answers — it’s about staying curious, grounded, and connected as the questions keep coming.

At last year’s conference, Dr. Nadya Zhexembayeva reminded us that disruption isn’t a phase to survive — it’s the environment we lead in. She challenged us to build reinvention into our daily rhythm: to anticipate change before it demands it, to hold “kill sessions” that clear space for what’s next, and to rewrite the rules that keep us stuck. Her message was clear — resilience isn’t reactive anymore; it’s a proactive, ongoing practice of renewal.

Carrying the Spark Forward

When I think about the Simmons Leadership Conference, I see it as more than a single event. It’s a moment of ignition — a place where leaders remember what they’re capable of. But the real magic is what happens next: when we take that energy home, back to our teams and our lives, and keep it alive together.

That desire to carry the spark forward is what inspired our next chapter — an ongoing journey designed to help leaders stay energized, connected, and growing throughout the year.

Because when we keep learning together, we don’t just thrive individually — we lift our organizations, our communities, and each other.

Thrive365 is the yearlong evolution of the Simmons Leadership Conference — a space where inspiration meets sustained growth through ongoing learning, reflection, and community. It’s how we help leaders not just lead, but thrive, every day.  Join us… you belong here.