Leanne Meyer

How it started: Getting caught in a downpour hiking in the Smokies on a spring wildflower pilgrimage
How it’s going:Accidentally finding family cemetery in a clearing

For someone who thinks Dolly Parton is one of the greatest humans alive, this was not nothing.

Swipe if you’re a wildflower nerd. You know who you are. 🌿

There are weekends that feel full… and then there are weekends that feel nourishing.

This was the latter.

I spent it in Baltimore with one of my favorite people, standing in front of some of the most powerful paintings I have ever seen. Amy Sherald’s American Sublime at the BMA is extraordinary and I mean that in the fullest sense of the word.

If you know her work, you know she recently withdrew from a planned exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in response to what is happening in this country right now. This exhibit is completely sold out. Make of that what you will.

Sharing a few favorites from the exhibit and a few moments from the weekend.

Art, friendship, long conversations, and some very good food… the best combination. Grateful for it all 🤍

I’ve been feeling a sense of despair about what’s happening in the world and in this country.
So much feels torn apart and unrecognizable.
And I’ve honestly been unsure what to do…
How to move forward constructively when the divides feel so deep (and so values-based) that it can seem like there aren’t even bridges anymore.
Like trying to hear someone “on the other side” means selling out…
or being complicit…
or not standing true to what matters.
And then, in the middle of all this, I came across something that stopped me in my tracks. (Thanks, .)
A group of monks is walking from Fort Worth, Texas all the way to Washington, DC.
It’s not a protest.
It’s a message of peace, healing, and mindfulness. A quiet attempt to bridge division.
And I’ll tell you… it felt very different than the angry, belligerent thoughts I sometimes have about what I’d like to do with certain people and certain leaders. 😅
(Also—if you know me, you know I believe walking fixes almost everything.)
Yesterday, I stood on the roadside and shared in their journey for a moment.
There were crowds. Police. Helicopters. Drones overhead.
And yet… the overwhelming feeling was peace.
I was struck by the mix of people. Young and old, from all walks of life, lining the route to quietly honor them and be in community together.
No shouting. No drama. Just presence.
And I was also struck by the lack of transaction.
The world can feel like it runs on “this for that.”
Everything has an angle. Everything is a pitch.
But there was none of that here.
Nothing for sale. No speeches. Just a silent walk.
The monks weren’t chatting with the crowds. They simply kept moving forward, relying on handouts from communities along the way for food and shelter.
Such humble leadership… and yet so powerful in how it’s bringing people together.
A balm for the soul.
If you’d like to follow along their path, I’ll share the link in the comments.

Merry Christmas from our fam to yours 🎄

A belated thank you all for the birthday wishes!

We’re back from a full-blown celebration tour in Ireland… the kind where you lose track of what exactly you’re celebrating because everything is happening at once. 🇮🇪🎉🇿🇦

South Africa’s rugby win? ✔️Thanksgiving? ✔️My birthday? ✔️Josh’s birthday? ✔️A lively stretch with extended family? ✔️✔️

We even squeezed in a little clay pigeon shooting (promise: no real animals were harmed, only my pride when I missed more than a few!). And in peak “only in Ireland” fashion, we somehow stumbled upon a white kangaroo on a very green Irish golf course. 🦘

Thank you again for all the love. I’m so grateful.

With the busy season in full swing, and with so many organizations scaling back on professional development and fewer women’s leadership programs available, this is the perfect moment to pause, reconnect, and invest in yourself. 

Join me this Friday, October 17, from 12–1 PM ET, for a virtual workshop hosted by Fe league: a refresher on unlocking your leadership potential.

As the year speeds toward its finish, this is your chance to take a breath and we’ll explore: 
-Why women’s career paths often unfold differently from men’s
-How to shape a leadership identity that feels authentic and strategic
-Practical traction steps to finish the year strong: with clarity, confidence, and energy
If you’re craving an hour that refuels your purpose and gives you actionable tools for the months ahead, this one’s for you.

Register here: https://hubs.ly/Q03M8K8Q0

Thank you for playing along with us! For the grand finale, we wrapped up our adventure on the Amalfi Coast and in Sorrento. And I swear, I’m not being dramatic when I say you can literally smell the lemons in the air. It was the perfect ending.

And for those of us who have parents living in different countries… you’ll know this part. The hardest part of a wonderful trip is the goodbye. They always sting. That final hug before the airport can leave you wondering if the ache is worth it. I think every single moment was.

I’ll admit it, Rome wasn’t the city I was most excited about on this trip. But somewhere between the first glimpse of the Colosseum and the awe of the Sistine ChapeI, I fell in love.

The science and symmetry of ancient Rome, the artistry of Vatican City, the magnificence of St. Peter’s Basilica, it’s all staggering. You literally feel the genius and soul of centuries pressing in around you.This history has shaped so much of our world. Breathtaking in every way.

Mom’s verdict on Cinque Terre? 10/10 for views, 12/10 for fritto misto. 🍤😂

We retraced a few of my recent walking routes - San Gimignano, San Miniato, Siena- though let’s just say we traded hiking boots for spritz stops. Mixing sacred steps with sips, Tuscany style! 😉

I did miss my walking sisters (you know who you are👣), but Mom and I did our best to honor the trail. (one Brunello tasting and a few grappa shots at a time.😂)