Megan Akatu Coaching & Culture

At the top of the year, perhaps more than any other time, we often set idealistic goals for ourselves: personally, professionally, and health-wise. They feel easy to dream up and write down.𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻.Resistance can feel like many things: A literal heaviness 'I don’t want to do this' 'I can’t do this' 'I’m not ready' Resistance is not a character flaw or lack of discipline, so please stop beating yourself up. It is your brain's intelligent protection strategy.Your nervous...

At the time my career was taking off, I worked for a supportive leader. He would often say, “Focus on the glass balls, and let the rubber ones bounce.” He meant it kindly. He didn’t want me working 12-hour days or burning out. He wanted me to focus on what truly mattered. And yet, after every meeting, I would return to my office, put my head in my hands, and stare at my endless project list. Of course, in theory it made sense. But in practice, I would look at my tiny team, our outdated...

Two Years In: Reflections from Megan Akatu Coaching & Culture ✨ The most fun I had:Facilitating a multi-day retreat with women non-profit CEOs. It was everything you would expect: learning, laughter, deep connection, and leaving better equipped to guide their organizations through uncertainty. The hardest thing I did:There have been a few occasions where all the conferences seem to happen at once. I was in DC three times in four weeks to speak and hosted a day-long retreat in between. When...

Hi Reader, A deeply held belief of mine:The best leaders are the ones who are willing to do deep self-work. This wasn’t always my belief. It’s something that’s emerged over the past few years as I’ve worked with hundreds of leaders across industries. Over and over again, I’ve seen how often brilliant, capable people are still driven by old stories: what a former boss expected, what a mentor once modeled, or what they think they should do. When you don’t know what’s a true yes or no for you,...

San Sebastián, Basque Country, Spain Dearest Reader, I don’t know about you, but I so look forward to summer and imagine that every day will be spontaneous ice cream trips and endless hours outside. And then…reality. There are still schedules. Still responsibilities. Camp forms to complete and dishes in the sink. If you know me, you know how much I love to travel. Lately, I’ve been on the road a lot: beautiful places, beautiful people, beautiful experiences. It looks dreamy on social media,...