The Inner Compass: Leadership from Within

3 Lessons from 11 Years of Leading nOMad

Dear Ones, 

This month, nOMad turns 11 years old. 

It’s hard to put into words what this journey has meant — not only for me personally, but for all of us who’ve walked this path together. When I first envisioned nOMad, I didn’t have a detailed plan — only a deep, intuitive knowing that I wanted to create spaces where people could heal, transform, and remember who they truly are.

Looking back, these 11 years have been a true shamanic journey of leadership — filled with clarity, darkness, growth, and grace. As I reflect, three lessons stand out that I hope will inspire you, whether you’re leading a movement, a retreat, or simply your own life.

Lesson 1: You Don’t Have to See the Whole Path — Just Take the First Step

When I started nOMad, I didn’t have a business plan or a roadmap. What I had was a vision — a collective of healers, teachers, coaches, and guides coming together to hold space for transformation all around he world.

That vision was born from intuition and a deep trust in something larger than myself.

Leadership, I’ve learned, isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about listening to the whisper that says, “Go this way,” even when you can’t see where it leads. It’s about the courage to move forward when the outcome is uncertain.

Each bold step forward has opened new doors, revealed new possibilities, and brought in the right people at the right time. If you’re waiting for clarity before you act, remember — clarity comes through movement, not before it.

Lesson 2: The Shadows Are Part of the Journey

I often say that leadership is a shamanic path — because when you step into it, your shadows will rise to meet you.

Over the years, I’ve met fear, doubt, shame, guilt, and anger — all the emotions that challenge us to question our worth and direction. These moments have taught me that leadership isn’t about being fearless. It’s about being willing to feel everything and keep showing up anyway.

Perfection has no place in true leadership. Vulnerability does. Messiness does. The willingness to be seen in your truth — especially when things don’t look “put together” — is where your greatest power lives.

So if you ever feel the weight of your own humanness as you lead, take heart. That’s where the alchemy happens.

Lesson 3: Intuition Is the Compass — For You and the Collective

The longer I’ve led nOMad, the more I’ve learned to trust the rhythm of intuition. There have been moments when I knew it was time to pause, to pivot, or to plow ahead — not because logic said so, but because something in my body knew.

That intuitive dance has led nOMad through so many beautiful evolutions: from founding  TRIBE, a nonprofit that brings mindfulness tools to the military, to developing curriculums and leading 200/300 hour yoga teacher trainings, to creating retreats, to birthing Dear Radiant One and Mvt109™.

Every shift was guided by listening — not just to what I needed, but to what the community needed.

True leadership is a living, breathing conversation between your inner voice and the collective you serve. When you listen deeply, the path unfolds exactly as it should.

As we celebrate 11 years of nOMad, I am more certain than ever that this journey — with all its twists and turns — has been about one thing: TRUST.

Trust in intuition.

Trust in community.

Trust in the messy, magnificent process of becoming.

And as we step into this next chapter, I invite you to celebrate with us. Join our 11th Anniversary Live Event on October 29th from 11 AM to 3 PM ET — a gathering for seekers and leaders alike, where we’ll move, reflect, and dream into what’s next.

👉 Reserve Your Spot for the Celebration