In the Cut
LEADERSHIP BLOG
An intro from Sheila.
Does Your Nonprofit Board Have Strategic Chops?
I’ve had the privilege of serving on 15 nonprofit boards focusing on arts and culture, economic development, entrepreneurship and spirituality. Focus areas that speak to me and are easy for me to get behind. And I’ve held leadership positions from Board Chair to leading marketing and strategic planning committees. It’s the last one that has my attention these days. Strategic planning.
Does Your Nonprofit Board Have Strategic Chops?
It’s Try Better Tuesday… and today nonprofit boards are on my mind.
I’ve had the privilege of serving on 15 nonprofit boards that focused on arts and culture, economic development, entrepreneurship and spirituality. Focus areas that speak to me and are easy for me to get behind. And I’ve held leadership positions from Board Chair to leading marketing to strategic planning committees. It’s that last one that has my attention these days. Strategic planning.
Live Life as You Dreamed It
When 3 or more things converge in my life, I’m called to stop to pay attention to them. On this Sunday morning, I’m taking a note from my brother, a dreamcatcher, my Mom and Jacob.
Leadership. It’s about being a good human. Period.
There are a gazillion books about leadership. Literally. A gazillion. And every year, people write new ones.
Over the years, I’ve been asked to consider writing a book on leadership. What I have siad in response is, “There are already a gazillion books about leadership.”
How’s that Leadership Coaching Working Out for You?
I hold 2 portfolios of work and they both make me happy.
One is consulting, where I’m hired to recommend to executives what I believe is best for them in setting growth strategies and preparing for organizational transformation. The other is coaching, where I help executive leaders reveal their truths as they work toward improving their leadership instincts and being better humans.
Thank You, Jan Farren
It’s Thankful Thursday and today I’m all about my dear friend, Jan Farren!
When I started, Flyin’ West, a firm that provided strategic and tactical marketing consulting services. My first client was Wells Fargo and I had the good fortune of meeting Jan.
Remember, You’ve Survived 100% of Your Hardest Days Ever
This line came from a guided meditation I did a few weeks ago and the words struck deep.
Say them again slowly. Remember. You’ve. Survived. 100%. Of. Your. Hardest. Days. Ever.
In the Cut Leadership Conversation with Tuti Scott
Born in a rural town and shaped by adversity and resilience, Tuti’s participation in basketball provided her with her first taste of belonging, leadership and achievement. Acknowledging her white privilege, Tuti forged a path of equity for women leading change in companies, nonprofit organizations and in the game of money and power. A lifelong feminist, Tuti’s passion for humanity and the survival of our planet are at the core of what motivates her.
Allow Me To Reintroduce Myself
I’m Sheila. Sheila E. to be exact and since there’s a brilliant musical artist who goes by that name, Sheila will do just fine.
I’m a strategist, builder and leader.
I’m a Midwest transplant to the west coast.
Create Your Future
Many of us start the new year with resolutions that typically require us to do something different or more than we did in the previous year. You know, go to the gym, reduce our sugar intake, drink less coffee, keep our closets organized, call our friends and family more. Whatever your resolution is, or resolutions are, they require you to yield to the notion that you have to do something different in order to create the outcome you desire.
And isn’t that the drumbeat of all change? Thinking and being in new ways until they become habits.
Agreement or Alignment: A Stacey Abrams Commentary
It’s Try Better Tuesday and today I’m writing about Stacey Abrams.
In September 2025, I heard her speak at the annual fundraiser for Seattle’s Homestead Community Land Trust. During her talk, she was asked about her time serving as the House Minority Leader in the Georgia General Assembly. Specifically, she was asked about how she was able to bridge differences in a conservative-led General Assembly.
Stacey replied, “Agreement isn’t the point – alignment is.”
You’re getting close. That’s why it’s getting tough.
Shoot, there’s something new that you’ve got to do. You’ve got to change the way you communicate with a peer. You’re having a very difficult time of it. It’s like you cannot even hear what he’s saying.
And, it’s not only him that needs to change. It’s you, too.
Happy New Year!
I start 2026 as I ended 2025, with gratitude to each of you who stopped by to read a post, send an article to someone you know or leave a comment to let me know my message touched you. Thank you!
Get some rest…
Sounds like an order.
Maybe a request.
However you receive it.
It’s for you.
Photo courtesy of Stockholm Paris Studio
The Opposite of Hopeless
Last evening I was invited by my brother and sister-in-law to attend the annual fundraiser for Seattle’s Homestead Community Land Trust. The event included Eric Liu in conversation with the amazing and brilliant Stacey Abrams.
At the conversation intermission, Marcus Harrison Green, a Seattle-based publisher and journalist, took the stage with an impassioned ask of all in attendance. His ask was simple. Move into action to help Homestead Community Land Trust continue their efforts to create permanently affordable home-buying opportunities for income-qualified households.
Moving On
In 2012, JG Larochette took a huge leap of faith to start Mindful Life Project (MLP), an organization dedicated to transforming schools from the inside out with innovative and comprehensive mindfulness based socio-emotional learning programming. He started without a budget or business plan. What he did have was a profound knowing that the organization had to be founded.
This summer, he announced his exit from MLP and the startup of Mindful Rising and I’m here for it!
Who is Your Best Boss Ever?
A few weeks ago, a former team member named me as her best boss ever which immediately made me ponder who was mine. It took seconds for me to name Lisa Nash as that person.
What I love most about Lisa is the ease in which she supports her team. We were all young in our careers, including Lisa, and capable of delivering at the highest levels. Lisa encouraged that in us and knew that our success, was her success.
“Yes, but…”
“Yes, but…” responses are used in conversation more frequently than you might think. It’s one of the most frustrating responses you can receive. Here’s why. When used, the “but” dismisses everything that you said in favor of what your conversation partner has to say. It reduces what you said to mere ash, as if you never said it.
A Vacation is Having Nothing to Do
In the early years of owning my first company, it felt like I worked every day of every month of every year, and I probably did. My clients were my priority and when they needed me, I was there.
But they were taking time off. Why wasn’t I?