Brilliantly Resilient

“Being resilient is feeling the feelings and feeling the things and over time, figuring out how to deal with them.”

~ Allison Fumo: Senior Director of People & Culture at Next League

To Allison Fumo Resilience isn't something a fortunate few are born with; it's something we can learn, recognize, and develop.

Allison grew up believing that resilience was a learned behavior, modeled for her by her mother and strengthened through multiple life challenges. She doesn't pretend that difficult experiences are easy or that we must remain positive through every setback. Instead, Allison emphasizes acknowledging our feelings, working through hard experiences, and discovering through that process that we are capable of more than we may have realized. (She's also a Philly girl, so she's got some street cred to back this up!)

As we say in Brilliantly Resilient, challenges can become opportunities to recognize our existing strengths and build confidence—not because hardship is something we should seek, but because we can learn from how we respond to it.

Allison further endorses the B.R. principles of imperfect action and adaptability, openly acknowledging that she doesn't always know whether a decision will work, whether in parenting or leadership. Her approach is to trust her judgment, try something, learn from the outcome, and adjust when necessary. She elaborates that mistakes are part of learning and growth, and adaptability is essential in both work and life. By taking one step at a time, remaining flexible, and allowing ourselves to learn along the way, we can navigate change without demanding that we have every answer before we begin.

Finally, Allison's perspective strongly reinforces the importance of a Resilience Tribe and making room for our own needs. She credits her mother, friends, coach, therapist, and broader support network with helping her navigate difficult seasons. She also carries that lesson into her work, believing that organizations should be part of their employees' support systems and that people must be treated as human beings, not simply as workers.

Her candid admission that she sometimes pushes too hard—and needs to step back, let the inbox remain unfinished, and give herself room to recover—is especially consistent with B.R.'s message. Resilience doesn't mean carrying every burden alone or pushing without limits. It means recognizing when we need support, using the strengths around us, and giving ourselves permission to take the next step in a way that works for the life we're actually living.

For more of Allison's wisdom, visit her on LinkedIn, and listen to this week's episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast. Be sure to listen for these additional bits of Brilliance!

1. “To me, that (resilience) is just a learned behavior, similarly to how we learn to be kind, how we learn to be outgoing.”

2. “I was raised in a family where you had to find a way to keep going and continue to be resilient.”

3. “It's not that life's perfect. It's not that I put on a fake smile. It's not that I don't feel my feelings. It's doing it in a way that's productive.”

4. “I live my life not hour by hour, but minute by minute.”

5. “Learn from your failures. I say this all the time at work to our team members that are saying, I don't want to make a mistake. And I say, that's really nice, but you have to make a mistake to learn and to grow.”

6. “I do believe that an extremely important skill in work and in life, which is related to resilience, is being adaptable.”

7. “There are things you should be sure of and you should be sure of who you are and your core values and what you stand for.”

8. “I think being resilient is about having people around you that can help you get back up when you can't do it yourself.”

9. “Being resilient is feeling the feelings and feeling the things and over time, figuring out how to deal with them.”

10. “It's okay to not have the inbox down to 0 tonight. I need to just zone out and I need to take a step back for me.”

11. “Resilience is not doing it completely alone and saying, I did it and I got through it and I didn't ask for help. Please no, don't think that. Ask for help because you learn.”

Let's be Brilliantly Resilient together!

Mary Fran

“When you start to recognize the identities that you've been operating from, it's never about making yourself wrong or trying to erase that was who you were.” 

Dr. Kim Foster ~Identity Expert and Author of Redesigning You

Who are you—and who told you that's who you have to be? On this episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast, I welcome Dr. Kim Foster, former family physician, TEDx speaker, identity expert, and author of Redesigning You, for a fascinating conversation about the identities we build, the labels we accept, and the stories we tell ourselves about what's possible.

After 20 years practicing medicine, Dr. Foster made the difficult decision to leave a career that had become inseparable from her sense of self. Her experience led her to explore why even capable, motivated people struggle to make meaningful changes. As she explains, our identities can become invisible instruction manuals, shaping our choices and limiting our possibilities long after those old stories have stopped serving us.

Through her three-part framework—Recognize, Redesign, and Ritualize—Dr. Foster explains how small, consistent actions can help us gather evidence that change is possible, even when it initially feels unfamiliar or uncomfortable.

At Brilliantly Resilient, we believe that what has happened to us, what we've been told, and even what we've always believed about ourselves doesn't have to determine what comes next. Dr. Foster's message reinforces that belief with an empowering reminder: “Your past is not your prophecy.” Whether we're rethinking a career, releasing a role that has become too restrictive, or simply questioning the limits we've accepted, we have more choice than we may realize.

Resilience isn't about clinging to an old version of ourselves because it once helped us get through difficult times. It's about recognizing what still serves us, choosing what we want to carry forward, and taking small steps toward what Could Be. And perhaps the most encouraging takeaway from this conversation is Dr. Foster's simple reminder: “You are not fixed.”

For more of Dr. Foster's wisdom, tune into this week's episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast and visit her website. Be sure to listen for these additional bits of Brilliance:

1. “Doctor wasn't just my job. It was who I was entirely.”

2. “A story that was written at one point means it can be rewritten.” 

3. “When you start to recognize the identities that you've been operating from, it's never about making yourself wrong or trying to erase that was who you were.” 

4. “So you choose what I call a bridge identity.”

5.“But a stable identity can absolutely handle imperfection.” 

6. “You're not a failure. This particular thing failed.” 

7. “Your past is not your prophecy.” 

8. “You can choose, you can always choose again.” 

9. “What is one small way that I can show up as that person today?”

Let's be Brilliantly Resilient together!

XO,

Mary Fran

“One little tiny action restores A modicum of some control. Then that control begets more control.”

Colleen Freeland ~ Founder, Emotional Sobriety Coaching ; Host of It's Not About the Alcohol podcast 

What happens when the woman who can handle everything discovers that handling everything is part of the problem?

On this episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast, Mary Fran talks with Colleen Freeland, founder of Emotional Sobriety Coaching and host of the It’s Not About the Alcohol podcast, about why high-achieving women often turn to alcohol—or other coping mechanisms—not because they lack discipline, but because they’ve become very good at ignoring their own needs while managing everyone and everything else. Colleen describes her own experience of juggling work, family, a business and a packed life while drinking daily, and the realization that alcohol had become her “off switch.”

Colleen explains how to begin resetting with resilience by noticing what is happening now rather than racing ahead to solve tomorrow's problems. Instead of another complicated plan to “do better,” she encourages women to identify what they're feeling, determine what they actually need, and take one small action in the present moment. It's Control the Controllables through imperfect action at its most practical: you may not be able to solve everything today, but you can do something about the next few minutes. And as Colleen says, one small action that restores some control can lead to more control.

Most importantly, Colleen challenges the idea that a woman's value is measured by her output--something "responsible women" struggle with daily. She points out that many successful women have learned to override their bodies, emotions and needs in order to keep performing—and then wonder why they need something to help them shut everything down.

The alternative--stop demanding more from the “workhorse doer,” recognize that your own needs belong on the list, and trust yourself enough to take the next small step. Resilience isn't about proving how much more you can carry. Sometimes it's recognizing what you need right now and giving yourself permission to respond.

Change can be uncomfortable, but telling yourself the truth and moving forward one imperfect action at a time can create forward momentum that changes your life.

For more of Colleen's wisdom, tune into this week's episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast. Be sure to listen for these additional bits of brilliance:

Let's be Brilliantly Resilient together!

XO,

Mary Fran

“And that is another part of being resilient. You look within yourself for what you can give yourself that no one is giving you.”

Vani Kovitch ~ Certified High Conflict Divorce Coach and Host of the podcast Endgame: Mastering the High Conflict Divorce

What happens when one of the hardest experiences of your life forces you to discover strengths you didn't know you had? On this episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast, Mary Fran talks with high-conflict divorce coach Vani Kovitch about surviving what Vani calls “the fight of my life.”

While recovering from spinal fusion surgery, Vani entered an extraordinarily difficult divorce that lasted two and a half years. She describes reaching the bottom, making the decision to keep going, becoming strategic rather than reactive, and building what she calls her “dream team.” Eventually, the experience changed not only her life but her direction: she became a high-conflict divorce coach to help others navigate the same kind of challenge.

Vani's experience reflects the Brilliantly Resilient framework. As you Reset with Resilience at the beginning of a challenge, you identify the real issues while reducing the emotional spiral and dealing with what you can actually control. For Vani, that meant something as basic as breathing and calming her nervous system before trying to make important decisions.

From there, Vani got strategic: gather facts, understand the finances, protect your health, find the right attorney, and build a support system. That's Rise and Thrive in action—you don't have to know how to do everything yourself. You identify what you need, find the people whose strengths complement yours, and take the next step.

Perhaps the most Brilliantly Resilient part of Vani's story is what happened after the crisis. The skills she developed didn't disappear when the divorce ended. She learned to recognize when fear and anxiety were taking over, stop the spiral, identify the real problem, determine what she needed, and respond from a calmer place. Those became transferable skills she could carry into the next chapter of her life—and ultimately use in service to other people. 

While Vani's experience came about through divorce, it parallels a multitude of challenges. Vani's story is a powerful reminder that Resilience doesn't always feel like strength while you're living through the challenge. Sometimes it's simply taking the next moment, the next hour, the next imperfect action—and discovering afterward just how much strength you were building along the way.

To hear more of Vani's wisdom, tune into this episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast. Learn more about Vani here, and be sure to listen for these additional bits of brilliance.

Let's be Brilliantly Resilient together.

XO,

Mary Fran

Heading in any direction is better than heading in no direction.

Crispin Thompson ~ Founder, The Leadership Studio, Author: The Human Advantage: Emotional Intelligence in the Age of AI

Confidence isn’t about always knowing what to do. According to Crispin Thompson, founder of The Leadership Studio, it begins with knowing yourself well enough to trust what you bring to the moment. Crispin believes strongly in introspection—understanding our strengths, weaknesses, experiences and values—and using that knowledge when circumstances become uncertain. Just as we teach at Brilliantly Resilient, our past challenges aren't merely things we've survived; they're evidence. They remind us of the skills, wisdom and Resilience we've already developed and can call upon again.

Crispin also takes direct aim at one of confidence's biggest enemies: perfectionism. Waiting until we're certain of the perfect decision can leave us stuck, while taking imperfect action gives us something to learn from. His philosophy of becoming “better tomorrow than we were today” dovetails beautifully with Brilliantly Resilient's belief in taking one imperfect step, evaluating what happens, and allowing ourselves to evolve. As Crispin says, we cannot remain static in a dynamic world. Resilience isn't about getting everything right; it's about learning, adjusting and continuing to move.

And perhaps most importantly, Crispin reminds us that strong leadership isn't about having all the answers or proving that we're the smartest person in the room. It's about empowering others and approaching leadership with humility, gratitude and service--and trusting our emotional intelligence. Crispin believes leaders should focus less on what they can get and more on what they can give—a philosophy that aligns directly with Lead with Heart, Serve with Passion. When we know ourselves, trust our experience, allow others to contribute and use our gifts in service, leadership becomes less about a title and more about how we show up in the world.

Learn more about Crispin's methods and wisdom and order your copy of The Human Advantage here. Be sure to listen to this week's episode of the Brilliantly Resilient Podcast for these additional bits of Brilliance:

Let's be Brilliantly Resilient together!

XO,

Mary Fran

"Healing is not a thunderclap... it's all those tiny moments that build and build and build."

Nikki Mammano ~ Author of Breaking Good

Nikki Mammano has been lost--over and over again. 

Her story of abuse and abandonment is a worst-case scenerio--which is exactly what makes her redemption, strength and resilience all the more astonishing.

Nikki's journey is a powerful reminder that resilience isn't about avoiding hardship—it's about continuing through it. After years of losing herself to the wost a human can experience, including abuse, drugs (using and dealing), jail and prostitution, Nikki clawed her way back to create a stable life with sheer will--again and again.

Nikki shares how healing begins with awareness, whether that's recognizing generational patterns, acknowledging painful truths, or finally seeing ourselves clearly. As we say in Brilliantly Resilient, you can't fight an enemy you refuse to see. The truth is the beginning of the way home. Once we can honestly see where we are, we can begin choosing a different path.

With an emphasis on progress over perfection, Nikki reminds us that "healing is not a thunderclap," but a series of small, consistent steps that gradually transform our lives. That's exactly how resilience grows—not in one dramatic breakthrough, but in the everyday decision to keep showing up, to keep learning, and to keep moving forward even when the path feels uncertain.

After experiencing enormous lapses in familial support, Nikki still believes that resilience is strengthened in community. While resilience begins within us, she reminds us that sometimes all a person needs is one compassionate hand reaching back into the fire. In true Brilliantly Resilient fashion, we can recognize our own strength while using it to encourage, support, and lift others as they discover theirs. Together, those small acts of courage and kindness create lives—and communities—that are truly Brilliantly Resilient.

To learn more about Nikki and get your copy of Breaking Good, visit: https://www.nikkimammano.com/.  Be sure to tune into this week's episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast and listen for these additional bits of Nikki's Brilliance: 

Let's be Brilliantly Resilient together!

XO,

Mary Fran

“Confidence is the resolution of fear.”

Alyssa Dver ~ Founder of the American Confidence Institute and ERG Leadership Alliance and best-selling author of 8 books, including Confidence is a Choice and Kickass Confidence

How confident are you?

Confidence is a loaded word—we all want it, but we don’t always (or often) feel it, especially when it’s needed for something important to us.

Founder and head of both the American Confidence Institute and ERG Leadership Alliance and best-selling author of 8 books, Alyssa Dver is an expert who blends brain science, data and insights to help build confidence while creating lasting personal and cultural change.

While most of us think confidence is a personality trait you’re born with or without, Alyssa disagrees. She notes that confidence is actually a skill—one that can be learned, practiced, and strengthened over time. Drawing on brain science, coaching experience, and years of research, Alyssa shows how confidence is built not by eliminating fear, but by understanding it and responding to it intentionally. Alyssa believes that fear often masks deeper concerns about failure, rejection, or belonging, and dealing with the sources of fear can effectively build confidence.

One of the most compelling connections in relation to the Brilliantly Resilient mindset is the relationship between confidence and personal values. Alyssa argues that true confidence isn't about pushing through every challenge or saying yes to every opportunity. Instead, confidence comes from understanding what matters most and making decisions that align with those values. She encourages others to look beneath the surface of their fears, identify what is truly important to them, and use those priorities as guideposts. For women who often find themselves carrying responsibilities, meeting expectations, and putting others first, this perspective offers a powerful framework for making more intentional choices.

The place of confidence also relates to belonging, self-trust, and the freedom that comes with experience. Alyssa suggests that many of our fears are rooted in concerns about what other people think and how those fears can keep us from showing up authentically. By learning to identify the real fear, challenge it, and take ownership of the decision-making process, individuals can develop greater confidence in themselves and their choices one decision at a time.

Click here for more of Alyssa’s wisdom, listen to this week’s episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast, and be sure to check out these additional bits of brilliance:

Let’s all be Brilliantly Resilient together!

XO,

Mary Fran

“Anything that makes somebody feel less alone matters.”

Anne Putnam ~ Author of Make Do and Mend

Have you ever had your heart broken?

If you've been lucky enough to be in love, it's likely you've experienced the counterpart of starry-eyed bliss--heartbreak.

Having your heart broken is one of the most painful of human experiences. With no clear remedy for the pain, and no timeframe as to when it will end, heartbreak shapes and forms us in ways that last, even if we don't want it to.

Anne Putnam knows heartbreak, and she shares her experiences in her memoir, Make Do and Mend, with the pain, honesty and eventually, rise into a new, full and happy existence as she processed her experience and found new love.

Anne offers a heartfelt conversation about heartbreak, human connection, empathy, and the resilience born through suffering. Noting how pain can isolate us, she also recognizes how compassion and presence can reconnect us to one another in meaningful ways. Rather than trying to “fix” people, Anne reminds us of the power of simply saying, “I see you and I am here.”

Throughout this episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast, Anne shares profound insights about emotional honesty, grief, and the importance of allowing people space to experience pain without judgment or forced solutions. As we say in Brilliantly Resilient, imperfect is always a path forward, and Anne shows us that embracing imperfect humanity, releasing the pressure to have all the answers, and recognizing that connection itself can be healing are all relevant responses to the pains of being human. Further, it becomes clear that empathy requires courage — the courage to stay present even when we cannot solve someone else’s suffering.

As Anne reminds us that “everything we go through has its use” and “two things can be true,” this conversation offers listeners permission to hold both grief and growth at the same time. We receive an honest, compassionate exploration of what it means to move through hardship without losing one's humanity — and perhaps even discovering deeper connection and purpose along the way.

For more of Anne's wisdom, tune into this episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast. Learn more about Ann here, and pick up your copy of Make Do and Mend here. Be sure to listen for these additional bits of Anne's brilliance:

Let's be Brilliantly Resilient together!

XO,

Mary Fran

“Your purpose is not to sit in that comfort zone, but to step out and experience the world and find out where you can make an impact.”

~ Patrick Engasser, Speaker, Coach, and Author of If I Can Do It, You Can Do It! Inspiration for Eliminating Excuses, Overcoming Challenges and Succeeding in Business and Life

Do you like your comfort zone?

Most of us do, because it's, well, comfortable. But Patrick Engasser never had the opportunity to experience the comfort zone most of us share.

Blind since birth, Patrick has spent a lifetime navigating obstacles that sighted people never encounter. The skills he's amassed from that experience have informed and nurtured a mindset that recognizes "liabilities as leverage" and is wary of a comfort zone that encourages complacency.

Resilience has been a way of life for Patrick, and on this episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast, he shares how learning to navigate the world differently became one of his greatest strengths, teaching him creativity, adaptability, and the value of “doing hard things.” Further, Patrick notes that many of the limitations we face are not external obstacles, but internal stories rooted in fear, perfectionism, and the desire to stay emotionally safe.

Patrick also endorses imperfect action as a practical path towards growth and overcoming fear. He explains why growth rarely happens inside the comfort zone and why resilience is built through repetition, persistence, and a willingness to fail forward.

Releasing emotional burdens, utilizing transferable skills, leading with integrity and pursuing purpose-driven work that serves others also allowed Patrick to transform both his career and his life, underscoring why learning to separate feelings from action is essential for personal and professional growth. Patrick reminds us that resilience is not about perfection—it’s about trusting yourself enough to take the next step, even when it feels uncomfortable.

For more of Patrick's wisdom, tune into this week's episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast. Learn more about Patrick and his book here, and be sure to listen for these additional bits of brilliance: 

Let's be Brilliantly Resilient together!

XO,

Mary Fran

“I thought it was still just going to be my next job. I had no idea it was setting me up for an entirely different career path.”

~ Jamie Cooperstein, Author of True Hospitality: Lessons Learned from Behind the Concierge Desk, Founder: J.Cooperstein Hospitality Consulting

Has your life gone according to plan?

Jamie Cooperstein's didn't.

With a clear vision of becoming a sports broadcaster, Jamie thought she did everything right, and approached her after college job search with high expectations. But unenthusiastic feedback by a mentor along with external rejection stopped Jamie's dreams in their tracks, leaving her with confidence shaken and no idea of what to do next.

On this episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast, Jamie shares her pain and frustration, noting how she eventually moved forward on an unexpected yet fulfilling path. Jamie embarked on a career as a high-end hotel concierge, redirecting her transferrable and innate skill set as she evolved with resilience to ultimately start her own consulting business and teach at area universities.

Central to Jamie's story is the recognition and application of transferable, innate strengths—a cornerstone of the Brilliantly Resilient philosophy. Her journalistic skills--curiosity, asking meaningful questions, connecting with people—became the very talents that allowed her to thrive in hospitality and beyond, highlighting the importance of evolution through challenge.

Jamie faced repeated uncertainties that could have halted her progress. Instead, she chose forward motion—even if imperfect. Her decision to write her book during a time of forced pause (yep, the pandemic) is a perfect example of turning constraint into opportunity. Jamie’s story reminds us that resilience isn’t about avoiding disruption—it’s about responding to it with intention, creativity, and a willingness to keep going, even when the path looks nothing like what we originally planned.

For more of Jamie's wisdom, tune into this episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast. Learn more about Jamie at J. Cooperstein Hospitality Consulting, and order your copy of True Hospitality: Lessons Learned from Behind the Concierge Desk.

Be sure to listen for these additional bits of Brilliance:

Let's be Brilliantly Resilient together!

XO,

Mary Fran