A Post-Mother’s Day Reflection on Leadership and Letting Go

Mother’s Day has passed, but I’m still carrying the reflections that always seem to come with it — the joy, the chaos, the fierce love, and the lessons that sneak up on you in the most unexpected ways.

One of those lessons came years ago in what I thought was a simple conversation with my daughter, Lucy. She told me she wanted to be a living organ donor, at age 16! 

And I, doing what moms do best — trying to protect my child from anything that felt scary or out of my control — said, “Absolutely not.”  She might need both kidneys later in life.

Now, Lucy is not the kind of person who pushes back with drama. She’s always been thoughtful and steady. But this time, she stormed off. No shouting, no debate — just an intense silence that said everything she needed to say.

That moment stuck with me. Because I knew then that this wasn’t just about organ donation. It was about autonomy, values, and Lucy starting to step into her own.

A few years later, after turning 18, she took it a step further: Lucy joined Be The Match, the national marrow donor registry. And four years after that conversation, she received a call — she was a match. She became a stem cell donor, and in doing so, she saved someone’s life.

And I was the mom who once said “no.”

I wasn’t wrong. I was trying to protect her.
And Lucy wasn’t wrong. She was trying to live bravely.

That’s the leadership lesson that has stayed with me: Two truths can exist at the same time.
We can lead with caution and still leave space for courage.
We can love deeply and still need to let go.
We can protect — and empower — at the same time.

Leadership, like motherhood, often asks us to release control so others can step into their own strength. It requires us to listen, even when we disagree. And sometimes, the bravest thing we can do is to get out of the way and let someone else rise.

As we carry forward the spirit of Mother’s Day and look ahead to the 2025 Women’s Leadership Conference, I’m reminded that this year’s theme — Live Bravely — isn’t just a call to action. It’s a way of being. It’s how Lucy showed up in that moment — and how she continues to lead today.

So, to the mothers, mentors, leaders, and caregivers — thank you for loving fiercely and learning as you go. May we all continue to live (and lead) a little more bravely.