Newberry Solutions

⚽️The 2026 FIFA World Cup is here — and Dallas is right in the middle of it! My son and I went to the England vs. Croatia game yesterday. It's hard to put my experience into words. I'm so grateful to have this opportunity and to share it with my son.

Tens of thousands of people from different countries, different backgrounds, all there for the same thing. The energy was palpable.

A huge shoutout to the organizing committee and the sheer number of people who worked to bring something this big to Dallas (Monica Paul, Dan Hunt, Nina Vaca, Noelle LeVeaux, among so many others) … It was wonderful to see several of you there.

It's moments like this that are a reminder of what’s possible when people pull together toward something larger than themselves. I’m thankful for the chance to experience it all.

Are you going to any of the matches? I’d love to hear about your experience.

What does it take to bring 750 accomplished women leaders from 41 countries to one city for a few days?

I recently attended the International Women’s Forum Cornerstone Conference in London — the theme was “Tradition to Transformation” — and I'm still thinking about it.

There was such a rich variety of conversations: geopolitical shifts, AI, mental health, justice reform, and what it actually means to lead collectively. And London was the perfect backdrop.

What stayed with me most was simply being surrounded by women who have built careers, led organizations, navigated enormous complexity, and still showed up to keep learning from and supporting each other.

Oh, and the conference ended with a performance by Flo & Joan, a sister comedy duo who had the whole room laughing. If you haven't heard their music, do yourself a favor and check out the link in the comments.

One of the things I believe most deeply is that the people you surround yourself with shape how you think and grow. This was a reminder of why communities like IWF are so important.

I'm so grateful that we have an amazing IWF Dallas Chapter right here. It was wonderful to spend time with you Carine Feyten, Bets Lillo, NACD.DC, PhD, Debbie Dennis, Gertrude Van Horn, Kathy Cooper, Merrilee Cook, Janet Robertson, Karyl Innis, Janice Davis, Patricia Q. Rodriguez Christian, MPA, QRD, Lauren Hasson, Erin Dickes, Suzy Kriscunas, Valerie Freeman, Alice Rodriguez, Renda Mathew , and Barbara M. G. Lynn .

It's a lonely road if you feel like you have to know it all. So many of us underestimate the power of vulnerability and pulling others in to help.

Thank you again to Mark Benton and Patti Johnson for spotlighting this topic on your podcast. It's more timely than ever!

#arentyatiredof #careeradvice #leadership #collaboration | Mark Benton Aren’t Ya Tired Of…thinking leadership means carrying it all alone? One of the quiet traps of leadership is believing that confidence has to come before action. That if you are unsure, you should keep it to yourself. That if the situation is difficult, you need to have the answer before you brin...

🎧OUT TODAY: On the “Aren't Ya Tired Of…?” podcast, I talk with Patti Johnson and Mark Benton about what’s actually going on beneath the surface for managers and leaders, and more importantly, what you can do about it. Both Patti and Mark are longtime friends, and conversations with them are always insightful and energizing. Check out the podcast (link in comments) and let me know one takeaway you’ll put into action going forward.

Sending a late, but very heartfelt congratulations to all the honorees at the Texas Women’s Foundation Leadership Forum & Awards. Women juggle so much, and it’s not easy to perform at such a high level. That makes these women all the more extraordinary:

🏆Young Leader Awards:
Prisma Garcia
Amanda Valentine

🏆Maura Women Helping Women Awards
Debra Hunter Johnson
Kim Bizor Tolbert
Margie Aguilar
Olga Hickman, PhD
Thear Suzuki

A special shoutout to event co-chairs Cristal Retana Lule and Lynn McBee, as well as all sponsors, for an amazing event that challenged, inspired, and moved people forward.

The D CEO Women’s Leadership Symposium is June 16 in Dallas. This year’s theme, Built to Last: The Long Game of Leadership, couldn’t be more timely.

The symposium also has a powerhouse list of speakers. I know most of these women personally, and I can’t wait to hear their insights.

Gillea Allison | President, D Magazine Partners

Irish Burch | Founder & CEO, Irish Burch Co.

Karen Hughes White | President & CEO, Texas Women’s Foundation

Carine M. Feyten, Ph.D. | Chancellor & President, Texas Woman’s University

Erin Fischer | Chief External Affairs Officer, Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas

Renda Mathew | Dallas Market President, Truist

Cynt Marshall | President & CEO, Marshalling Resources; Former CEO of the Dallas Mavericks

DeDe McGuire | National Radio Hall of Famer & Philanthropic Trailblazer

Jennifer Sampson | McDermott Templeton President & CEO, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas

Rachel B. Simon | Keynote Speaker, Executive Coach & Best-Selling Author

Here’s what you need to know to attend:

🗓 Tuesday, June 16

⏰ 7:15 AM – Noon (Registration & Breakfast at 7:15) 📍

Renaissance Dallas Hotel, 2222 N Stemmons Fwy

Tickets are going fast. Get the registration link in the comments, and let me know if I’ll see you there.

😩Are you feeling overwhelmed with everything on your plate and frustrated that there’s never time for what really matters?

You’re not alone. In fact, this is the most common thing I’m hearing from leaders right now.

🕤I can’t add hours to your day. But I can give you a framework that makes the most of the hours you do have.

My latest article (link in comments) lays out the same process that has helped my clients transform their work lives, make a bigger impact and ease the stress that so often leads to burnout. It’s practical, straightforward and will help you remember all you bring to the table.

10 things all new managers need to know:

1. Success isn’t just about results now. It’s about relationships—with your reports, your peers, with executives.🤝

2. You’re in the invisible spotlight. Your team members are paying attention to EVERYTHING you do.

3. They are also drawing conclusions—accurate or not—from your actions. So make sure you “connect the dots” about why you’re doing what you’re doing.

4. Being busy does not equal being productive. 😩 Know your priorities and guard them.

5. You can’t do it all. Really. Delegating isn’t an admission of failure. It frees you up for the important work only you can do. And it develops your team’s capabilities.

6. Get in the habit early of celebrating successes, your own and others’. 🥳 The morale boost sustains you through tough times.

7. Another invaluable habit: Give feedback in the moment. Don’t let small issues become big issues.

8. Never stop learning and growing.

9. Get serious about your own well-being. Self-care isn’t indulgent. It’s essential.

10. Own your role. You earned it. ⭐️

Experienced managers, what would you add to this list?

If you’re finding your way as a first-time manager, or your organization needs a structure for supporting new managers, let’s talk. 📥These are the people who fill your leadership pipeline, and your investment in them will pay off.

🤖Will AI replace executive coaching? This is a question I hear more and more lately, and the answer is simple:

❌No.

AI can synthesize information, generate frameworks, even simulate certain kinds of feedback. But coaching isn't fundamentally about information. It's about the relationship between a coach and a leader. It’s about trust, accountability, the ability to hear what someone isn't saying and ask the question they didn't know they needed to hear.

🖥️That said, technology is changing the delivery of coaching in meaningful ways. Virtual coaching has made the process more accessible and flexible. Digital platforms can supplement the work between sessions. And smart coaches are using these tools to serve clients more effectively, not as a replacement for the relationship, but as an enhancement of it.

Since this ICF’s International Coaching Week, I'm sharing answer to some of the most common questions about executive coaching. Got something you’re wondering about? Just drop a comment⬇️ and I’ll address the topic in our upcoming content. And if you have specific questions about coaching for yourself or another leader in your organization, send me a DM📥. We’re deeply experienced, highly trained (I hold ICF’s highest certification) and, most of all, passionate about the real and lasting change that executive coaching creates for the leaders we work with.

✅5 things to ask an executive coach before you hire them:

1. What are your credentials and training?👩🏽‍🎓

ICF certification isn't the only marker of quality, but it's the most established standard the profession has. There are three levels: Associate Certified Coach (ACC), Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and Master Certified Coach (MCC). The difference between them reflects not just training hours but observed coaching competency and experience. An MCC, for instance, requires 2,500 hours of coaching experience and a rigorous performance evaluation. Ask about formal training from an ICF-accredited program, and take the credential level seriously.

2. Do you have real-world business experience?💼

The most effective executive coaches have led teams, mastered organizational politics and driven change themselves. This real-world expertise gives them a deeper understanding of their clients’ experiences, as well as a deeper well of proven strategies from which to draw.

3. What’s your approach?⚖️

Are they going to tell you what to do, or help you discover your own answers? Will they challenge you, or just validate whatever you're already thinking? Coaching that makes a lasting difference strikes a balance: It's deeply supportive and genuinely challenging at the same time. If a prospective coach can't articulate their approach clearly, that's a red flag.

4. What results have you gotten for clients?📈

Good coaches can speak specifically and concretely about the outcomes their clients achieve. What percentage of their clients have been promoted? How do they measure progress? What does a successful engagement look like from start to finish?

5. Are we a good fit to work together?🧩

This one is underrated. You will get far more from coaching when you feel you can be completely open with your coach about your fears, your blind spots, the things you're not sure you're handling well. If the chemistry isn't right, the depth of the work will be limited no matter how impressive the coach's resume is.

Since this is ICF’s International Coaching Week, I’m sharing answer to some of the most common questions about executive coaching. Got something you’re wondering about? Just drop a comment⬇️ and I’ll address the topic in our upcoming content.