Let's kick off 2026 with setting intention!

Take a listen to how I am doing so and how you can as well! We will start reflecting on how the past 3 years of setting a "Word of the Year" has been powerful for me, and then get to my 2026 Word. Then we will touch on how it can drive focus and impact for you.

I'll also tell you about my new program for mid-career leaders to be able to find your leadership voice to lead with more clarity and confidence!

Looking for help defining your word of the year, setting your intention or goals, and then making them happen? I am doing that for leaders and for companies, so reach out and let's talk about how we can partner together to make that happen.

Links & Resources:

Follow Suken on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sukenjain/

Email Suken at: [email protected]

Synergy Sync Website: https://www.synergysyncsolutions.com/

As we close out the year, let's spend some time reflecting on 2025 to acknowledge our challenges and celebrate our wins. We will then set goals for 2026 so we can lead through our year with intention and set ourselves up to celebrate what we want 12 months from now.

This is about Self Leadership - becoming the best versions of ourself for us and those around us.

If you are looking to dive in further for Self and Team Leadership, follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sukenjain/

If you are looking for support on setting and reaching your most important goals, message me on LinkedIn or email me at [email protected]

Today’s episode offers two immediately applicable ideas from leadership educator, author, and speaker Raquel Oliveira: First, the power of naming your values so you can lead yourself through uncertainty with clarity. Second, the practice of creating intentional space—through rest, curiosity, or stillness—to reconnect with your purpose when life forces you to start again. Raquel’s insights give leaders a framework for navigating both everyday challenges and life’s most destabilizing moments.

Raquel shares the five words that currently define her leadership approach—mindfulness, curiosity, love, community, and truth—and how each serves as an anchor when she faces complexity. She reflects on her childhood in Brazil, where limited resources but abundant community support taught her how belonging, creativity, and shared responsibility shape strong leaders. These early experiences became the foundation for how she works, teaches, and moves through the world today.

Her career path—rooted in languages, literature, and instructional design—highlights how unexpected mentors, diverse learning environments, and exposure to new perspectives prepared her to meet unimaginable loss with grounded presence. In 2021, Raquel’s husband and son were among the victims of the Surfside condominium collapse in Florida. She recounts the moment she returned home to find her building gone, and the unexpected clarity of the first words she spoke that day—words that continue to guide her healing and her leadership.

What followed could have led to disconnection, but Raquel chose a different path. She describes how accepting support from others shifted her understanding of community, how a one-year sabbatical helped her rebuild her identity, and why she spent months traveling the world asking strangers one question: How do you deal with death? Her reflections offer leaders a deeper understanding of resilience—not as endurance, but as the willingness to be changed by what happens.

Raquel makes it clear that she shares her story not to compare suffering, but to remind others that every person’s hardest moment is worthy of empathy and acknowledgement. Her message is especially meaningful for leaders navigating grief, transition, or seasons of profound uncertainty.

At the heart of her philosophy is a transformative leadership takeaway: you must be an active participant in your own life. Remaining in a place of victimhood removes your agency; choosing to engage, even imperfectly, restores your power. This shift is what enables clarity, resilience, and meaningful leadership to emerge.

Tune in to learn how Raquel rebuilt purpose from loss, the practices that continue to ground her, and her invitation to lead yourself—and others—with intentionality, courage, and truth.

Links & Resources:

Follow Suken on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sukenjain/

Email Suken at: [email protected]

Synergy Sync Solutions Website: https://www.synergysyncsolutions.com/

This episode was brought to you by Pivot Ball Change.

What happens when people raised in "we" cultures step into workplaces built for "I"?

In this episode, I welcome author, speaker, and workplace culture expert Neelu Kaur to explore how cultural values, especially around collectivism and individualism, shape how we show up at work.

Together, we unpack the silent struggles many face when moving between different cultural mindsets:
▪️ Why self-advocacy can feel uncomfortable for those from collective cultures
▪️ What leaders can do to create space for quieter voices
▪️ The personal cost of code-switching between "we" and "I"
▪️ Practical ways to develop your self-advocacy muscle — without selling out your values

Whether you identify with a collective upbringing, work with people who do, or want to lead with more cultural awareness, this episode will help you build deeper empathy, stronger teams, and a more inclusive work culture.

In this episode of the Sync Leadership Lab, I delve into the having conversations that matter with Dr. Kathryn Preston, a keynote speaker and corporate performance coach.

Dr. Preston shares her diverse background—from studying Spanish to a fashion institute, to dental school and craniofacial orthodontistry—before transitioning to her current role. The discussion covers the challenges and importance of effective communication within teams, the impact of avoiding critical conversations, and practical tips on how to approach and frame these conversations for meaningful outcomes.

You will gain insights into identifying conversational ticks, maintaining curiosity, and focusing on impactful dialogue to catalyze personal and organizational growth. As always, there are numerous takeaways for you to immediately implement in your conversations that matter!

AI is not a technology...it is a strategic imperative for any company who wants to thrive (or even survive) going forward.

Join me as I dive in with AI Strategy Expert Mike Welch to discuss how top companies are developing AI strategy and what that looks like in the 6-24 month horizon.

We discuss how AI will transform leadership roles, early career pathways, and senior level strategies. Mike shares insights on how AI should be viewed as intelligence rather than technology and provides practical steps for leaders to integrate AI into their organizations. We also explore critical skills needed for future success and the importance of maintaining curiosity and critical thinking in the age of AI.We even touch on what skills our teen/tween kids should be developing to be ready for the future workforce that they will enter.

If you are a mid-career leader, you do not want to miss this episode which goes well beyond the technology of AI and really looks at what that future AI Enabled workforce looks like.

I'm thrilled to welcome Tatiana Vlahovic, a leadership coach and founder of Nurturing Clarity to discuss the intersection of parenthood and leadership. We discuss how the challenges and skills from parenting can enhance leadership abilities.

Tatiana highlights five key areas where parenting can translate to better workplace leadership: presence, courage and creativity, stress tolerance and adaptability, helping people reach their potential, and prioritization. We delve into the complex dynamics of managing both roles and the gifts that parenthood provides, ultimately showcasing how parenthood can be an enhancer, not just a detractor, to professional growth. Tune in to discover the parallels between parenting and leadership, and how to leverage them for personal and professional development.00:00 Introduction to Sync Leadership Lab01:06 Meet Tatiana: Leadership Coach and CEO02:30 The Intersection of Parenthood and Leadership03:20 Navigating Parenthood and Work Challenges07:20 The Gifts of Parenthood in Leadership08:13 Presence: Quality Time Over Quantity15:54 Courage and Creativity in Leadership22:27 Stress Tolerance and Adaptability24:19 Emotional Intelligence in Parenting24:59 Empathy and Understanding in Relationships28:59 Nurturing Potential in Children and Teams37:56 Prioritization and Time Management42:33 Leadership Lessons and Personal Growth

Join me in this inspiring episode as we delve into the journey of resilience with Gaurav Valani. Discover how life's challenges can be transformed into stepping stones for success and personal growth.

Key Takeaways:

The power of resilience in overcoming life's hurdles. Personal stories of triumph over adversity. Practical advice on building mental strength and clarity. Insights into finding your "why" and staying motivated.

Guest: Gaurav Valani, a seasoned entrepreneur and career coach, shares his personal experiences and professional insights on navigating life's challenges.

Top Quotes:

"Resilience is not about avoiding challenges, but embracing them."

"Put yourself in a room with people who have what you think you want. You quickly realize how to get it, and then you realize if you want it.

"The faster you can get to what problems do I really enjoy solving. Then you can get so immersed in your work because now you're just learning how to solve a problem and getting so freaking good at it. "

Kicking off Season 4 with a preview of what is ahead in the coming months as well as highlighting some workplace trends around:

-Managing Overwhelm in the Workplace mentally and tactically

-AI and coaching

-Showing Up as Leaders

Enjoy and reach out if you want to discuss further or have topics for future episodes!

Yes, somehow we are at mid-year, so let's take some time together to reflect on the past 6 months and set some goals and intentions for the next 6 months so we can make the most out of 2025.

I'll also walk through a recap of Season 3 to see what grabs you to go back and listen to as well as a few topics that stand out to me right now as a fellow leader.

Enjoy!