The Rest We Need + A Leader to Learn From

Hey folks,

Welcome back! Like I mentioned in my last edition, I’ll be featuring some of your best and most brilliant peers in this newsletter — people I’ve learned a lot from and think you should know, too. My goal with this new section is to give you a window into how real leaders, people just like you, are growing, thinking, and navigating their careers in today’s landscape.

So today, I’m excited to introduce the very first edition of Peer-to-Know — a bi-weekly spotlight on someone in our community who is doing exceptional, thoughtful work.

I asked Kendall a few coach-y, reflective questions recently, and her responses genuinely made me pause. Before we dive into what she shared, here’s a bit about the work she’s leading inside CAPTRUST:

💬What have you learned most about yourself this year?

I joined the CAPTRUST team earlier this year, and joining a new organization with so much room to grow has been really exciting. I’ve learned that I’m at my best when I’m facing tough, ambiguous problems—especially in environments where there’s no set playbook.

The open-ended nature of my role means I get to build new programs, shape strategy, and solve challenges that don’t have obvious answers.

That sense of possibility is what gets me out of bed in the morning. I’ve realized I thrive when I’m pushed to think creatively and stretch beyond what’s comfortable.

💬What’s something you’ve learned from someone you admire at work recently — and how have you leveraged it?

Recently, I was asked to speak with the 2025 CAPTRUST internship class on communication skills. Their thoughtful questions during the Q&A left a lasting impression on me. The emotional intelligence, growth mindset, and strategic thinking they demonstrated made me genuinely excited about the next generation of leaders.

It made me realize how easy it is to underestimate what people are thinking about or what matters most to them. 

Since then, I’ve made a conscious effort to get more curious—asking open-ended questions and not assuming I know what my audience will prioritize. This shift has helped me design sessions that are more relevant and engaging, and it has reminded me yet again to listen more deeply before jumping in with solutions or advice.

💬What’s something you’ve unlearned lately that’s made you a stronger leader?

Lately, I’ve been rethinking the urge to avoid or mitigate tension in tough conversations. Strong Ground [Brene Brown's latest] is what's changing my perspective on this.

I’m now coaching leaders to recognize that good tension isn’t something to fix or escape—it’s often where the most valuable insights and growth happen.

Instead of trying to diffuse tension, I encourage leaders to lean into it, stay present, and see what new understanding can emerge. This shift has helped me—and those I work with—approach challenges with more curiosity and resilience.

→ If you’d like to be featured in an upcoming edition of this newsletter, send me a note. It’s a great opportunity to highlight your work, your expertise, and the leadership insights you’re developing.

From McKay’s Desk: A Thought for the Holidays

Going into the week of Thanksgiving, I keep hearing how everyone’s excited for a few days off, and same – but it’s also made me realize something I’ve avoided for years: I’ve never really known how to rest. 

I didn’t see it as important. I’m wired for “more”: more goals, more output. And rest always felt like the opposite of progress. Lately, I’ve been learning it’s a skill, not a default. And if I don’t practice it, I burn out and drift away from the work I actually love. In this reflection, it’s become annoyingly obvious that TV and scrolling still have their place, but they don’t restore me the way they used to. I’ve been craving rest that helps me keep going.

Lately, I’ve been sitting with this idea of “active rest” and trying to define it for myself. The goal is simple: build small rituals in my week that restore me without depleting me or leaving me feeling lazy or guilty or unproductive afterward.

For me, it’s beginning to look like reflection and meditation to take stock, a great film or novel to widen my emotional range, and a suite of body-first things—sauna, massage, long walks—that double as health goals and quiet thinking time.

Yours will look different. It doesn’t need hours; even 15–30 minutes can change the texture of a day. The point isn’t to ban TV or scrolling; it’s to notice what actually leaves you more alive and prioritize it just as much as you prioritize doing.

If you want light accountability, hit reply and tell me your one or two picks (and when you’ll do them). And if you want help thinking through how to dive into January with renewed focus on your career, drop me a line.

Wishing you a hygge Thanksgiving 🙂 

-McKay