We’ve had issues with our managers, too!

What’s This All About?

There are moments in every career that make you question everything. Maybe it was when my manager threw me under the bus in front of senior leaders when they asked about the status of a project. Or the time I resigned, hoping for an honest conversation about next steps and wanting to set the team up for success — only to be asked to extend my notice, then abruptly told, “Actually, you can leave today.”

We’ve all been there. Frustrated. Disengaged. Wondering if leadership could be different. Knowing it should be different.

Here’s the truth: Leadership is broken in a lot of places. But it doesn’t have to be.

Who We Are & Why We Care

We’re Yvette Francis, PMP and Rachel Watts — two women who have spent years in non-people and people leadership roles, gaining firsthand insight from the many people leaders we’ve worked under. We’ve also led from where we were in the organization, trained thousands of professionals, and coached senior leaders on cultivating engaged teams. As trained adult learning leaders, we’ve worked with organizations of all sizes and seen firsthand the difference between outstanding leadership and toxic leadership.

The best leaders don’t just manage people, they empower them. But too often, people are put in leadership roles without the proper support, training, or mindset to succeed.

What We’re Doing About It

That’s why we’re launching Empower People Leaders — a cutting-edge, research-based leadership program designed to help leaders lead themselves and their teams to success. As leaders grow, organizations will benefit from stronger, more resilient, and high-performing cultures.

We’re not here to just talk about leadership. We’re here to document the journey. To be real about what it takes to build a leadership program that actually changes the game.

This blog will share:

✅ The leadership lessons we’ve learned (the hard way)

✅ Real stories of leadership wins and failures

✅ Actionable insights for becoming a people-first leader

✅ Research-based best practices

✅ Resources to enhance your leadership journey

If you’ve ever thought, “There has to be a better way to lead or be led,” you’re in the right place. Join us as we build something truly different. Welcome to Empower People Leaders — this is just the beginning of an incredible journey!