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What This Year Taught Me About Leading Through Loss 

 December 30, 2025

By  Kathi

As 2025 wraps up, I want to take a moment to reflect—not just as a coach and speaker, but as a human being.

This year brought a deeply personal loss: my mother passed away.

In the weeks and months that followed, I found myself navigating not just grief, but a complete disruption of rhythm. Business plans stalled. Momentum halted. Focus scattered.

At first, I tried to push through.

But I learned something more valuable instead:
Sometimes leadership looks like slowing down.
Sometimes the best next step is no step at all—just being present.

This wasn’t the year I expected. But it was the year I needed to remember that:

  • Leadership isn’t always forward motion.
  • Strength includes stillness.
  • The pause is part of the process.

If you’ve had a year that didn’t go as planned, I hope you’ll allow yourself the grace to reflect, rest, and reimagine.

I’ll be stepping into 2026 with renewed energy—and deep gratitude for the people and experiences that reminded me what really matters.

Wishing you a peaceful holiday season and a powerful start to your new year.

Kathi

About the author

Kathi Kulesza learned that to be a successful leader, you must be confident. She spent three decades in the hospitality industry, moving up the ranks in management, training, customer service, loyalty, marketing, and leadership. Now, she spends her days inspiring her clients and audiences to get out of their own way and lead without apologizing.

Kathi has shared these lessons with more than 20,000 leaders at 600 plus in-person and virtual events. She understands the challenges you and your team face as you attempt to obtain a sense of normalcy and can help you navigate these uncertain times.

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