Let me take you behind the scenes for a moment. I was working in a $1 billion healthcare system alongside an incredible team, asking one big, audacious question: What would it look like to make the world healthier—not just for patients, but for the planet, too?

I looked everywhere for answers. The food served to patients and staff. The materials used in the built environment. The way we managed waste. My vision was that the facilities would be the most sustainable in the nation while still having the best patient outcomes. 

As I read and learned, I uncovered a new finding in the Journal of Anesthesiology. New research had found that anesthesia gases used in operating rooms were being found at the North Pole in air samples. The most commonly used gas, desflurane, is more than 2,500 times more potent as a greenhouse gas as carbon dioxide. The research paper shared that several hospitals were beginning to make the switch to safer, lower-impact alternatives without any impact to patient outcomes. 

After I read the study, I felt excited about this new possibility. I knew I had to let someone know. I emailed one of the lead anesthesiologists asked they had considered switching anesthesia gases.  She brushed me off and let me know she wasn't interested, despite the science.

It felt awful.  I felt unseen by someone who was also a scientist.  I felt unheard. The opportunity to do something good for the planet big, but I was afraid if I kept speaking up, I would be rejected again.  I froze.  I shrunk.

What Courage Really Is
Courage isn’t some magical trait that a few lucky people are born with. It’s something we build, choice by choice, breath by breath. It shows up in small, often uncomfortable moments—the kind where your heart races, your hands shake, and you do it anyway. Or it might be the conversation you don’t want to have, the truth you speak even when it’s hard, the decision you make because it’s right, not easy.

Courage also grows over time. Like a muscle, it strengthens each time we choose it. The first brave act might feel shaky, but every time we act from that place of integrity, we reinforce the neural and emotional pathways that make future courage more accessible. Over time, what once felt terrifying becomes part of who we are. This is how courage compounds: not in grand gestures, but in daily choices that align with our values and stretch our comfort zones just enough to expand them.

Courage isn’t about fearlessness. It’s about what you choose despite the fear. For people who want to regenerate the earth, courage is the doorway to innovation, advocacy, and real change.

The Science of Courage
Our bodies are wired for self-protection. When we encounter stress, uncertainty, or resistance, our nervous system tends to default into fight, flight, or freeze mode. But that doesn’t mean we’re stuck there. Research by Jon Kabat-Zinn has shown that mindfulness—simple practices like breathing and noticing—can calm our stress response and create the internal space we need for clarity and grounded decision-making.

That internal clarity is essential for courageous leadership. Studies consistently link courageous behavior with increased resilience, higher levels of trust, and better outcomes across teams. Brené Brown’s research shows that vulnerability isn’t weakness—it’s the birthplace of courage. Leaders who are willing to risk discomfort and show up authentically foster stronger connections and more creative problem-solving.

And it’s not just mindset. Amy Cuddy’s work on embodied presence reminds us that how we carry ourselves—our posture, breath, and body language—can change how brave we feel. Even standing tall and breathing deeply for two minutes can help shift us from anxiety to confidence.

How the Story Ends
I could have given up on my project, packed my bags and moved on.  But I didn’t give up. I waited a few weeks, and scheduled a meeting with the head of Anesthesiology.  The day came, and I walked into his office that had a big bookcase full of textbooks and journals on the wall.  I took a deep breath, sat down on the other side of his desk and prepared to make my case. I reminded myself of all the good I could do if we could just make this switch.

I started my handing him a copy of the journal article.  I held onto my copy and walked him through the journal copy.  I slowly made the points in the article.  He agreed it was an easy switch and worth pursuing.  A few months later, the hospital adopted the new anesthetic protocols. The switch didn’t cost more. It didn’t compromise patient care. But it did reduce the hospital’s climate impact—an impact that had been invisible but real.

This wasn’t just a win for carbon emissions. It was a win for human health. For the planet. And it showed me that leadership sometimes about having the courage to try again.

Three Courage Practices You Can Use Right Now

1. Pause and breathe. When you feel yourself going into fight-or-flight, stop. Take three slow breaths. Let your body know it’s safe to choose wisely.
2. Anchor in your values. Ask yourself: What matters most right now? What would courage look like if I led from that place?
3. Take one bold micro-step. It could be a hard conversation, a brave question, or a gentle but firm no. Courage lives in motion, not perfection.

One Courageous Act at a Time
Courage isn’t just for heroes. It’s for anyone willing to keep showing up with heart. It grows in the everyday moments—when you raise your hand, take the mic, hold the boundary, or speak the truth you’ve been carrying for far too long. 

Every real change starts with a spark. One quiet act of courage. One clear decision to lead from your values instead of your fear.  his is how systems shift. How we write a better future.

Three Reflection Questions on Courage

1. When was the last time I acted with courage—even in a small way? What helped me choose to speak up, step forward, or stay true to my values?
2. Where in my life or leadership am I currently being invited to act with more courage? What am I avoiding, and what might open up if I faced it with heart?
3. What does courage look like for me right now -- even if it's single, meaningful step toward what matters most?

Want to Lead with More Courage and Clarity?
Get soul-fueled insights, practical tools, and early access to new offerings in the Leading for the Future: Insiders Newsletter👉 Join the newsletter.  Read Leading Though Fire: Resilient Leadership for People, Planet, and the Future on Kindle or on Audible.

​This week, Leading Through Fire became a #1 international bestseller in 10 categories on Amazon. The audiobook is now live, and the responses have been both moving and humbling. People from all walks of life—artists, teachers, nurses, founders—have reached out to say: “This book is just what I needed.”  Here’s what most people don’t know: This book almost didn’t make it into the world.

When a Platform Isn't Big Enough
Before I chose to self-publish, I did everything the traditional way. I wrote proposals. I pitched agents. I built a social media platform over many years—one rooted in integrity, service, and decades of leadership work. But again and again, I heard the same line:
“We love it. Come back when you have a million followers.”
Not, “This message is urgent.”
Not, “This could help people.”
Just, “Grow your numbers. Then maybe.”

For a moment, I questioned whether my work was enough. But I kept writing. And I remembered that courage has nothing to do with being viral. It has everything to do with being real.  

Putting your thoughts on a page requires something deep. It asks for vulnerability, honesty, and the willingness to be seen. When you write, you aren’t just sharing ideas—you’re making yourself available for misunderstanding, criticism, or indifference. You’re telling the truth in a world that often rewards silence.

Publishing this book wasn’t about my number of followers. It was about care. It was about honoring future generations, honoring the earth.  It was also about an urgent need to change systems and the severe lack of leadership that I believe we need. It was also a protest against burnout, disconnection, and the empty performance of leadership we’ve come to normalize. It's about my hope that we can reorient the western world from extraction to regeneration.

The Science of Courage and Why It Matters
In Leading Through Fire, I wrote: “Courage is not the absence of fear—it’s what happens when we feel fear and choose to act anyway.”  This is rooted in science.  Psychologist Cynthia Pury found in her research that courage isn’t about being fearless. It’s about choosing to act in the presence of fear. People are most likely to act courageously when they are connected to purpose—when something matters more than their comfort or control.  

Neuroscience supports this as well. Acts of courage activate the anterior cingulate cortex and the insula—areas of the brain associated with emotional regulation and self-awareness. Courage does not come from bravado. It comes from presence.

We see this in the people of Venice.  We saw this in the legacy of Rachel Carson. She was warned not to publish Silent Spring. She did it anyway. With facts. With grace. With love for future generations.

Three Ways to Practice Courage This Week

1. Anchor in purpose. Let your values speak louder than your fear.
2. Start where you are. One truth. One boundary. One act of clarity.
3. Breathe before you act. Regulate your body so your actions reflect your wisdom.

Three Courage Questions to Reflect On

• Where am I being called to show up more fully?
• What truth am I withholding out of fear?
• What does courageous leadership look like in my life right now?

The Audiobook of Leading Through Fire: Resilient Leadership for People, Planet and the Future Is Now Available
If you’ve been waiting to listen, the book is now available on Audible.
🎧 Listen on Audible
📘 Read the Kindle Edition

This book was written  as an act of courage.
It was written for the leaders who don’t always feel like leaders.
It is for those holding tension. Holding space. Holding hope.
Thank you for being here.
Thank you for being part of this work.
And thank you for staying human.

In Gratitude,
Brenna

​It’s Here! Leading Through Fire is Officially Launched
✨ Grab your Kindle copy for just $1.99 (today only)

I can’t believe I’m saying this… but it’s LAUNCH DAY.

Leading Through Fire is officially out in the world. This book was a labor of love. And yes, it’s also a protest.

A protest against extractive thinking.
Against a lack of compassion and humanity.
Against leadership that forgets people, the planet, and the values we hold dear.

But even more than that, it’s a vision of hope. It's an invitation for those of us who believe business can be done differently. And a bit of encouragement for those who know that leadership can be grounded in courage, clarity, and compassion.

Over the years, I’ve led through all sorts of challenges - economic, social, environmental, and pandemics. And one thing is clear.  Today, we are being asked to lead in ways we never have before.

We were taught to lead a certain way in the past.  And now, that style of leadership is inauthentic, ineffective, and not suited for our times. Too many leaders are being told to pick between performance and purpose, between strength and softness. But I believe you don’t have to choose.

You can lead powerfully and still stay true to your heart.
You can care deeply and still make hard calls.
You can show up fully and build something that lasts.

I wrote this book for the leaders who are doing that every single day.


What’s Inside the Book
This book is for leaders in motion. It’s structured with focused, fast chapters—each one packed with real stories, tools, and reflection questions you can use right away.  Perfect for your miracle morning or your morning read over coffee.

Here’s a peek at what’s inside:

Finding Your True North
Reconnect with your purpose, write your personal mission, and lead from your deepest “why.”

The Heart of Leadership
Explore compassion as a leadership superpower—including self-compassion, empathy, and care for future generations.

Grounding in Nature
Discover how nature can restore your clarity, health, and strength. This chapter is part science, part soul.

Beyond Perfection
Learn how to release perfectionism and embrace excellence. Your progress matters more than flawlessness ever will.

Communication with Courage
Speak with clarity, lead hard conversations with care, and build trust without losing your voice.

United We Thrive
Why diversity is strength and inclusion is non-negotiable for real leadership in today’s world.

Winning Together
How to lead cooperatively, build shared success, and create impact that lasts.

Momentum Matters
Action is a leadership habit. This chapter helps you break through inertia and build forward energy.

The Joy Factor
Joy is not optional. Learn how to find joy even in hard seasons—and why it’s a leadership advantage.


A Book for Reflection & Growth
Each chapter includes tools and reflection questions—designed to help you move from inspiration into action. Because I believe leadership is not just a mindset. It’s a daily practice.

If you’ve ever wondered:

• How do I lead or serve as a change agent without burning out?
• Can I stay compassionate and still make hard calls?
• What kind of leadership does the future actually need?

This book is for you.

📘 Leading Through Fire is available today only for just $1.99 on Kindle
👉 Click here to get your copy

If it resonates, I’d be so grateful if you’d share it with a fellow leader or leave a review. It helps more people find the book—and it means the world to me.

In Gratitude,
Brenna