Friend, As wildfires devastate Los Angeles, many of you in LA are facing unimaginable challenges, while others of us watch, wanting to help. If you’re looking for ways to support those affected, here’s a list of recommended organizations from the AP. My family chose to give to the Red Cross and World Central Kitchen, both of which are doing incredible work on the ground.

Thank you for any way you can support my neighbors in LA and the courageous first responders working tirelessly. It’s a bittersweet reminder that our hearts can break while still making space for hope.

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Lauren brings us three inspiring reflections that perfectly build on what Angela Duckworth shared about mentoring last week.

Without further ado—take it away, Lauren!

The Leader Inside: Stories of Mentorship to Inspire the Leader Within
by Lauren Kaufman

Wait, what was that you said, Lainie? Has it been six months already? It’s amazing how quickly time passes. Thank you for giving me this wonderful opportunity to share my thoughts with your incredible learning community. It’s a privilege to reflect on the journey of The Leader Inside and the impact it’s had so far.

1. There is a leader waiting to be discovered on your path.
Every person you meet has the potential to uncover the gifts within you, acting as lanterns that guide you to your next destination. 

Each interaction shapes the leader you are becoming, and often, it’s in the smallest moments where the magic happens.

Growth isn’t always easy, it lives in obstacles, too. The people who push you beyond your comfort zone can help you evolve as a learner and leader. This is why I invited incredible educational leaders, including Lainie Rowell, Stephanie Rothstein, Natasha Nurse, Meghan Lawson, and my 4th-grade teacher turned mentor, Linda Roth, to share their stories. Their perspectives remind us that leadership can begin with a single, meaningful connection.

So I will continue to ask: Where are you now, and where do you want to be?

2. Mentorship Matters! 

Mentorship has the power to transform the trajectory of others' lives. In my career, facilitating a mentor program allowed me to guide educators toward fulfilling careers while emphasizing the essential role of teachers in shaping tomorrow’s leaders.

Readers have shared how the book’s actionable ideas for building mentor programs and relationships inspired them to invest in others. Educators truly need each other to make a difference, and mentorship is one of the most impactful ways to do so.

How can you leverage your experiences to help others grow?

3. Leading and learning together is a privilege.  

When you salute the person and not the title, there is greater potential to find more leaders living among us. Readers have resonated with the idea that great leaders inspire confidence, empower others, and embrace collective growth.

True growth transcends individual limitations when you leverage the collective experiences and expertise of the people around you. When you limit your work to your own perspective, you build unnecessary barriers and miss out on invaluable insights that can propel your team toward success.

Never miss an opportunity to lead and learn together. You have the potential to rekindle and ignite the spirit and joy within others, and show them the leader inside.

How will you commit to creating spheres of influence that ensure teachers and leaders are leading and learning together?

It’s incredible to think that The Leader Inside has been out in the world for six months. Hearing what has resonated with readers is deeply humbling. My hope is that it continues to inspire those it’s meant to reach, guiding them to discover the leader that lives within themselves!

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