When To Say YES

I was thrilled to have Karen Wells on the “Trust Your Voice” podcast as she is someone who profoundly inspires me!

As the CEO of Bridge Communities, the largest provider of transitional housing and support services for families experiencing homelessness in DuPage County, and the President and CEO of The AIW Group—a company she founded based on her passion for philanthropy, inspirational storytelling, and diversity, equity and inclusion—Karen is someone who truly leads from a place of courage and faith.

In my eyes, Karen embodies all that it means to Trust Your Voice! In some ways, I wrote my book to capture all of the facets through which Karen’s confidence radiates.

Below are some of the best moments from our conversation, highlighting her experience staying motivated and courageous during drastic changes in her career path, breaking glass ceilings in corporate and nonprofit leadership, and making a measurable impact on families experiencing homelessness in her community.

Saying Yes to Different Experiences

Karen’s career went from being an executive at McDonald's to owning a school to being an executive coach, to becoming the CEO of Bridge Communities. She has been able to navigate these different career paths because of her extraordinary ability to embrace new experiences and just say ‘yes’!

She insisted that her ability to say yes to different experiences “really hinges upon courage – the ability to move forward even though you may not know what the outcome is…even though they give me some trepidation.”

Karen is living proof that when we do not let the fear of the unknown or failure hold us back, we not only get to have new experiences but have the courage to create opportunities for ourselves that may not have seemed possible before.

Creating Opportunities

Sometimes, we as individuals have to create an opportunity instead of waiting for one to arise. But how do you evaluate something as an opportunity to seize, or to pass on?

“It's hard for me to sit still,” Karen admitted, speaking about the process of discovering new ways to apply her talents and help others. “What I found is that the leadership experience I have could help in the nonprofit space, could help in the healthcare space, and could help in higher education! I believed I could add value. I put my name in the hat and two years later here I am!”

When you find that there is a space where you truly believe you can add value, you have found an opportunity worth seizing. But, to understand where and how you can add value, you must cultivate self-awareness.

Knowing Yourself

There is a chapter in my book that discusses Human Nature, and one thing I emphasize is the importance of knowing yourself, how you make decisions, and how you approach your work. I encourage taking tests like the DiSC Workplace Self-Assessment test, which is designed to show how an individual prefers to interact with others, and how this affects their job performance. 

Karen, a DiSC coach, and mentor, also believes that the foundation of being a great leader is self-awareness. “I've used a variety of tools as a coach and as a leader to figure out how you can be a better leader and colleague with others,” she explained. “What makes the disc profile so powerful is that, if you do it within a team dynamic you can learn…how to be a better influencer, communicator, and leader.

Using tools like DiSC makes our path as leaders easier and more fulfilling. Only with a good understanding of ourselves can we truly appreciate and have a meaningful impact on others. 

Measuring Impact

There are so many facets where each of us can really make a difference in someone's life. 

When defining the metrics and measures of success for herself, Karen holds to three specific ideas: demonstrating courage and authenticity, acting with the benefit of others in mind, and endeavoring to impact one life at a time. 

Speaking at length about the last point, she said, “It’s not about the masses. Impact at least one life, whether it's mentoring, volunteering, no matter what.”

Build Courage Today

As leaders, we must have the courage to continue growing and expanding just like Karen Wells. If she had not stepped out of her comfort zone, many would have missed out on benefitting from her gifts.

Are you struggling to step out of your comfort zone? You aren’t alone! Subscribe now to my bi-weekly podcast, where I meet with other guests who share their inspiring stories about building courage, trusting their voice, and leading with confidence!

Who is someone that has inspired you professionally or personally to be courageous?