The Kilane Group, LLC

07/17/2026

She had no idea…

She had no idea she’d become a teen mom.

She had no idea she’d question herself, struggle, or wonder how everything would work out.

She had no idea she’d one day earn a college degree… then another… and another.

She had no idea she’d lead departments, speak on national stages or start a company with a mission to help leaders create workplaces where people thrive.

She just knew how to keep moving forward.

Looking at this picture reminds me that none of us can fully see what God has in store for our lives.

Sometimes the path is harder than we imagined.

Sometimes it looks nothing like we planned.

But every challenge has a purpose if we’re willing to grow through it.

If I could tell this little girl one thing, it would be:

Keep believing. Keep learning. Keep leading. One day, you’ll help change the way people experience work—and you’ll discover that every difficult chapter was preparing you for that purpose.

Maybe someone needed this reminder today…

Don’t let where you are convince you that’s where you’ll always be.

Your story is still being written.

07/16/2026

Over the past several months, I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on why I started The Kilane Group.

It wasn’t because I wanted to become a speaker or a consultant.

It was because I experienced firsthand what poor leadership can do to people.

I’ve seen talented employees lose confidence.

I’ve seen teams stop trusting one another.

I’ve seen people dread walking into work, not because they disliked their jobs, but because they weren’t being led well.

That experience shaped my mission.

I believe people deserve to thrive at work.

Not because every day is easy, but because they’re respected, challenged, supported, and inspired to grow.

Lately, I’ve been asking leaders one simple question:

How do people feel because they work here?

That question has become the foundation of my work because the answer reveals far more than engagement surveys or performance metrics ever will.

If you’re leading a team, an organization, or a department and you’re ready to create a workplace where people genuinely want to be, I’d love to have a conversation.

Whether it’s a keynote, leadership workshop, executive coaching, or a longer-term partnership, my goal is simple:

To help leaders create workplaces where people thrive.

If that sounds like the future you want for your organization, let’s connect.

07/07/2026

This week's newsletter is a reminder that leadership isn't measured only by what we accomplish, it's also measured by where we choose to be present.

After spending the past two weeks with my granddaughter, I found myself reflecting on a lesson many leaders need to hear: being constantly busy is not the same as being an effective leader.

In this edition, I share:
✔ Why presence is a leadership skill
✔ How stepping away can strengthen your perspective
✔ Four reflection questions to help you reset your priorities this week

If you've ever struggled to balance your professional responsibilities with the people who matter most, I think this one will resonate with you.

I'd love to hear your thoughts after you read it.

For the first time in a while, I intentionally stepped away. Not because everything at work was finished.

06/24/2026

People often ask me when I became a leader.

The answer might surprise them.

My leadership journey didn’t begin when I became a Director, launched The Kilane Group, or started speaking professionally. It began as the oldest of four girls.

Long before I had a title, I had people watching me. My sisters looked to me as an example, and that responsibility shaped many of the decisions I made.

When I became a teen mom at 18, I could have allowed that chapter to define my future. Instead, I made a commitment to create a different path. I pursued my education, built a career, and continued growing into the leader I wanted to become.

Looking back, I realize leadership is rarely born from titles. It is built through choices, resilience, accountability, and the willingness to keep moving forward when the road gets difficult.

Some of the most influential leaders I know learned leadership long before they ever managed a team. They learned it by overcoming challenges, setting examples, and choosing growth over excuses.

What’s a life experience that shaped your leadership before you ever had the title?

06/03/2026

I'm excited to be presenting at the 5th Annual Black Boys & Men National Symposium, taking place June 10–12 in Battle Creek, Michigan.

gvsu.edu/bbms

This symposium brings together educators, scholars, practitioners, community leaders, and students from across the country to engage in meaningful conversations and explore solutions that support the success of Black boys and men.

I'll be joining an outstanding group of presenters committed to sharing research, best practices, and actionable strategies that can make a difference in our schools, campuses, organizations, and communities.

I hope you'll join us for this important event. Learn more and register at gvsu.edu/bbms.

05/06/2026

Excited to share that I’ll be a Session Speaker at the Black Boys & Men National Symposium 2026 - June 10-12th.

My session, “Beyond Programs: Leadership Cultures That Change Outcomes”, will focus on how leadership behaviors, institutional culture, and accountability systems directly shape outcomes for Black boys and men. We’ll explore how to move beyond programs and create environments where success is expected, supported, and sustained.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the work helping shape the lives of Black Boys & Men.

Registration is still open: https://www.gvsu.edu/bbms/

05/03/2026

Seven years ago, I posted this memory from New York…

And reading it today, I realized something:
the message still holds true.

At the time, I wrote:
“It wasn’t all about fun, it was about growing myself as a leader.”

That hit differently this morning.

Because leadership has never really been about titles, positions, or recognition.

It’s about growth.
It’s about becoming the kind of person people trust, respect, and want to follow.

Back then, I was learning that leadership starts with leading yourself first.

Today, I still believe that.

Every workshop.
Every hard conversation.
Every long commute.
Every lesson in motherhood and leadership.

It all points back to the same thing:
build yourself so you can help build others.

Growth is never wasted.

Funny how memories remind us that sometimes we’ve been carrying the right message all along.

Thanks Kimberly Davis for Onstage Leadership!

What’s something you believed years ago that still guides you today?

04/28/2026

Sometimes growth doesn’t look like something completely different.
Sometimes it looks like choosing familiar… just at a higher level.

I recently bought a new car.

Not just any car—
the exact same one I already had.

A Ford Explorer.
Same color.
Same feel.
Just upgraded from 2011 to 2023.

And honestly… that felt like a leadership lesson.

So often we think growth means starting over.
A new title.
A new job.
A complete reinvention.

But sometimes growth is recognizing what already works—
and deciding it deserves an upgrade.

Better systems.
Stronger boundaries.
Higher standards.
More confidence.
Less settling.

Familiar doesn’t always mean stagnant.

Sometimes it means clarity.

I didn’t need a different direction.
I needed a better version of what was already aligned.

Leadership is like that too.

You don’t always need to become someone else.
Sometimes you just need to evolve the leader you already are.

Growth doesn’t always look like change.
Sometimes it looks like alignment.

And that’s where the real shift happens.

04/14/2026

There’s a conversation many leaders know they need to have…
But don’t.

Not because they don’t care.
Not because they don’t see the issue.

But because leadership also requires navigating discomfort, timing, and responsibility.

Over time, those delayed conversations become costly.

In this week’s edition of LEAD • RESET • RISE, I explore one of the most important—and often avoided—parts of leadership: having the conversations that create clarity, accountability, and growth.

Because strong leadership isn’t just about direction.
It’s about communication.

If you lead others or are responsible for developing leaders, I hope this reflection is helpful.

You can read the full article here:

There’s a moment many leaders recognize immediately. You notice something that needs to be addressed.

04/13/2026

Leadership doesn’t pause when you leave work.

This morning before I even opened my laptop…
I was already leading.

Making decisions.
Managing emotions.
Setting the tone.

Not in a meeting—
but at home.

And it reminded me of something we don’t talk about enough:

The best leaders aren’t just developed in boardrooms.
They’re developed in real life.

Because leadership is:
– patience when you’re tired
– clarity when things feel chaotic
– consistency when no one is watching

If you can lead there…
you can lead anywhere.

What’s one leadership skill life has forced you to build?