Why We’re Focusing on Early-Career Leaders in 2026

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about who is leading our organizations right now, and what we’re quietly asking of them.

I remember what it felt like to step into leadership and realize, pretty quickly, that the role was bigger and heavier than I expected. The responsibility didn’t just switch on at work, it followed me home, into weekends, into decisions I replayed long after the meetings ended.

I see versions of that moment everywhere right now.

So many people have stepped into leadership roles, sometimes earlier than they expected, and under conditions none of us would have chosen. They’re inheriting complex systems, stretched teams, and big responsibility at a time when the work feels more visible and demanding than ever.

And they’re doing it with care.

As we head into 2026, I keep coming back to the same thing: these early-career leaders don’t need theory. They need practical support that actually matches the reality of the work they’re doing.

What I see now are leaders who care deeply about their teams and communities. People who are thoughtful about impact and responsibility. People who want to do the work well, and stay in it.

The gap isn’t commitment or capability. It’s that leadership has changed faster than the supports around it.

Leading today often means holding a lot of complexity without clear answers. Making trade-offs in public. Carrying emotional, financial, and operational strain without passing it down. I remember learning those things on the fly, and wishing there were more places to talk honestly about what it actually felt like.

When that support is missing, good leaders don’t usually fail in obvious ways. They just get tired. Or quieter. Or start wondering if this work is sustainable for them.

That’s what I don’t want to see us lose.

Supporting early-career leaders isn’t just about individuals, it’s about the health of the whole system. When leaders are supported: teams steady, decisions become clearer, the work more sustainable.

So this year, my focus is on standing alongside early-career leaders, helping them make sense of complexity, navigate pressure, and build the kind of steadiness that lets them stay engaged in work that matters deeply to them.

That looks like practical tools, honest reflection, and language that helps people feel less alone in what they’re carrying. It also means being clear-eyed about constraints, and figuring out how to work within them without losing ourselves or our teams along the way.

If you’re early in your leadership journey and finding the work heavier than you expected, you’re not behind. You’re leading in a moment that asks a lot.

The posts and tools that follow are part of a simple commitment: to support leaders who care, so they can keep contributing their capacity, skill, and heart to this work — for the long haul.

- Andrea