Yvonne Lee Hawkins

No Retreat, No Surrender? Actually, Please Retreat.

There’s a classic 1986 martial arts movie called No Retreat, No Surrender starring Jean-Claude Van Damme as the bad guy. It’s all about grit, determination, and pushing forward no matter what. The hero fights, stumbles, and eventually triumphs, because quitting? Not an option. It’s a great motto for movie montages and maybe a solid mantra

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CEO woman standing with arms crossed with a title that says The Power of Saying No

The Power of No

Leadership isn’t just about vision, action, or influence, it’s about judgment. And one of the most underrated tools in any leader’s toolkit is a simple, two-letter word: No. In our current hustle-harder culture, we glorify saying yes—to new projects, late-night emails, and “just one more thing.” We reward availability over boundaries. But real leadership isn’t

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Why Hiring People Who Have Been Fired Is a Talent Strategy Worth Adopting

There’s a quiet shame many people carry after being fired or laid off. At first it seems like a scarlet letter in the corporate world, a mark that too often whispers “not good enough” in interviews and inner monologues alike. But here’s the truth: I like hiring people who’ve been let go. In fact, I

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A man screaming at colleagues over a conference table with the title Emotional Intelligence (EQ): The leadership superpower we desperately need right now

EQ: The Leadership Superpower We Desperately Need Right Now

Why EQ Matters Now More Than Ever We are not in a “normal” moment. Workplaces are navigating political polarization, economic pressure, cultural tension, and hybrid disconnection—all while managing human beings who are more anxious, isolated, and overwhelmed than ever. In this environment, EQ isn’t optional, it’s essential. It’s what makes a leader not just effective,

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Burnout Is Quietly Breaking Up Couples—Here’s How to Reconnect

It happened three times in one week. Three separate conversations. Three different powerhouse women I know—smart, successful, driven—told me they were getting divorced. Each one of them said almost the exact same thing: “I just didn’t feel seen anymore.”“I was tired of doing everything alone.”“He’s a good guy… but I felt like I was already

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