Three Lessons I Learned in 2025

2025 didn’t just test me, it refined me. It was the year I trusted my gut more than my comfort. The year I chose progress over familiarity. The year I learned that starting over isn't a setback, it's a strategy. I walked away from a role at the top, moved my entire family to a new state, faced uncertainty head-on, and discovered what I’m capable of when I lead with courage, vulnerability, and resilience. It wasn’t easy, but growth rarely is. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Amazon Prime NBA Launch 2025

1. growth requires courage, even when the next step isn't clear

This year I made one of the boldest decisions of my career. I walked away from a C-suite role working alongside two of the most iconic teams in sports. I had built something meaningful, a successful revenue organization, deep relationships, and a sense of belonging. But I could feel it: I had grown as far as I could there. The ceiling wasn’t glass; I had simply reached it.

Leaving wasn't glamorous. It was emotional, complex, and scary. I packed up my life, uprooted my family, said goodbye to our home, our friends, our community. I grieved the life I built while choosing to bet on the next one.

And on the other side of fear? Growth.

The move reenergized me. I landed a new role in an entirely new environment, with new challenges, new learning curves, and new goals, bigger than the ones before. I’m being stretched in the best ways. I’ve learned more in the last year than I imagined possible, and I’m proud I listened to that quiet inner voice that said it's time. Growth rarely feels comfortable, but it is always worth it.

2. vulnerability is a strength, not a crack in the armor

For most of my career, I believed leadership meant always being strong, composed, sure of myself. “You’re a LaBella — and LaBellas are tough,” my grandfather would say. And I carried that with pride.

But this year, vulnerability taught me a different kind of strength. The kind that shows up when you admit you don’t have all the answers. The kind that allows you to say, “I’m struggling right now.” The kind that invites authenticity instead of perfection.

I let walls down. I asked for help. I had honest conversations with friends, colleagues, and family, not just about success, but about uncertainty, fear, change, identity.

I learned that vulnerability isn’t weakness. It’s courage in its purest form. It’s choosing connection over image, growth over armor. And it’s one of the most powerful leadership tools I have today.

3. resilience is built in the lows, not the highs

2025 wasn’t all highlight reels. It was heavy at times. There were days I felt lost, unmotivated, unfocused, unsure who I was becoming. There were weeks where Crush Monday sat untouched, ideas muted by fatigue and doubt. There were moments where I couldn’t find myself at all.

But even then, showed up for me. Not perfectly. Not loudly. But consistently. I journaled. I reflected. I got out of bed. I kept trying.

Progress wasn’t linear. I stumbled. I backtracked. I questioned everything. But I never stopped moving, even if the movement was small. And slowly, my spark returned. I found my voice again. I built new habits, new direction, new purpose.

And on the other side of that darkness? Clarity. Strength. A deeper sense of who I am.

Resilience isn't about never falling. It’s about refusing to stay down.