ELEVATE

For the fourth year in a row, I attended the ELEVATE conference hosted by the TPN Network and led by my friend and colleague, Alexandra Silva LaBarr. This year felt especially meaningful because all of the JTI Gems attended as well, making it a shared experience for our entire team.

It was a full day of intentional programming, paired with opportunities for business leaders to gain exposure, build relationships, and recharge. The timing could not have been more aligned, as ELEVATE is our word for 2026.

At JTI, our core value is simple. GROW or DIE. This is an internal standard we hold ourselves to as a team, and experiences like this are one of the ways we actively live that out together.

Several moments stayed with me.

Sherif Tony challenged us to think beyond the immediate and ask,

“What are you doing today that will affect the next 100 years?”

Kyle Savage delivered a powerful reminder that growth requires courage. His story of resilience was moving, and his words stayed with me. “Don’t play small. Fear is a doorway, and you must walk through it.” He also shared, “We are not just born, we are built,” a statement that reinforces the intentionality I strive to bring into my behaviors, actions, and decisions.

The day was anchored by Sam Ghanem, who many of you know through SG Ink and her work with JTI. She created space for others in such an authentic way. One of my favorite reminders from her was, “Remember, our messes become our message.”

Matt Gross with Self Publishing pushed me in a very personal way. He asked us to write down the name of a book that changed our life. For me, it is The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown. In that moment, I decided to take the plunge that has been pulling me for years and commit to writing a book. His insight that over 80 percent of people believe they have a book in them, but only 1 percent actually write one, was the push I needed. And he had me fully engaged when he brought up mind mapping, one of my favorite ways to work through a challenge.

The women’s panel in Commercial Real Estate, led by Traci Miller of Miller Construction, brought a level of honesty that I deeply respect. Sydney Hughes spoke openly about the loneliness that can come with entrepreneurship and reminded us that “my energy speaks before I say a single word.” That level of ownership matters. Traci reinforced the importance of taking initiative and not waiting for permission to lead.

Juan Ortega closed one of the sessions with a statement I come back to often. “What got you here won’t get you there.” His perspective on leveraging AI across every facet of business encouraged the room to stay curious about how it can automate and augment our work.

There were many more moments throughout the day, but what stood out most was the collective energy in the room. We made several new connections with future collaborators and left feeling both inspired and grounded in our next steps.

All in all, it was a powerful day surrounded by a diverse group of business leaders, reinforcing that growth is not accidental. It is a decision we make, together, every day.

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