My new adventure 🌈 All Pride, No Ego Newsletter

Hello beautiful people!

July came and went in a flash! Recovery from knee surgery has been slow but steady. This month I have traveled to both coasts for work and speaking engagements.

There’s been no summer break for me this year, but I am thankful for the opportunities work with incredible people and spread the word about authentic leadership!

This week, I want to share my next adventure:

✅ One Big Thing: My Next Adventure

Lesson #2 in All Pride, No Ego is “Be a Lifelong Learner and Stay Constantly Curious.” I have always sought out growth opportunities in my work and personal life.

Last week, I announced my next learning adventure: I AM GOING BACK TO SCHOOL!

I have been accepted into Emory University’s Goizueta Business School to earn my diploma in Executive Coaching.

Ever since releasing my book last year, I have had the privilege to meet hundreds of executives, managers, and aspiring leaders around the country. These folks believe in the power of authentic leadership… but we all need a little help to become the best versions of ourselves. As an executive coach, my goal is to support and inspire the next generation of leaders as they create safe, inclusive, and authentic workplaces for ALL.

I have benefited enormously from coaching relationships over the years. My wonderful executive coach at Disney, David Oldfield, is the person who changed my life with the phrase, “Do not let anyone dim your light.” If I had to pick one moment that catalyzed my belief in authentic leadership, that would be it.

If I could have even a fraction of the impact on someone that David had made on me, I would consider it a success.

I am thrilled to be heading back into the classroom, surrounded by brilliant, eager classmates, working together to change the way we work. While I will not be taking full-time clients for a few months, I will have to complete a few supervised coaching sessions as part of my course work!

If you are interested in working together, please reach out.

🌟 Leader Spotlight: Bree Fram

Bree Fram (she/her) is an author, podcaster, keynote speaker, and active duty colonel and astronautical engineer in the United States Space Force. Bree also co-leads the Department of the Air Force LGBTQ+ Initiatives Team, dedicated to eliminating barriers to LGBTQ+ military service in the Air and Space Force.
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​Bree is currently stationed at the Pentagon to lead space acquisition policy development for the Department of the Air Force. Prior to recommissioning into the Space Force in 2021, she served 18 years in a wide variety of Air Force positions including a Research and Development command position and an oversight role for all Air Force security cooperation activity with Iraq. In earlier assignments, Bree served in the Air Force Directorate of Strategic Plans, as a Legislative Fellow at the US Capitol on the staff of Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo, several tours as a program manager for satellite and technology programs, and deployed to Qatar and Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

​Bree came out publicly as transgender on the day the transgender ban in the military was dropped in 2016. She transitioned while in a command position and served through the re-imposition of a transgender ban from 2019-2021. She is currently one of the highest ranking out transgender officers in the United States military.

Bree has appeared on national and international media, including ABC and NBC Nightly news, France 24, BBC, PBS News Hour, and NPR’s All Things Considered, Morning Edition, and 1A. Her writing has been featured in the Washington Post, Military Times, Inkstick, and LGBTQ Nation. 

Bree is an editor of With Honor and Integrity: Transgender Troops in Their Own Words from NYU press which released in November 2021 and an author of Forging Queer Leaders: How the LGBTQIA+ Community Creates Impact from Adversity, from Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
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Bree has been married for 19 years to Peg Fram and they have two kids.

Bree's previous work includes serving in leadership roles in SPARTA, a non-profit that advocates and educates about transgender military service, from 2015-2023, culminating as President and Board Chair. Her work for SPARTA focused on national-level policy and advocacy to develop a more inclusive military. Bree served as a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics’ Diversity Working Group from 2019-2023 and developed programming to increase diverse representation in STEM and aerospace.

Follow Bree on Instagram

Listen to Bree’s Podcast

🌈 What I'm LOVING ❤️❤️❤️

• Hoosier Olympians! I am always excited to watch the Olympics, but this year is extra special. TWENTY Olympians will be representing Indiana University in the Olympics. Of the athletes, 10 will be representing Team USA, while the other 10 will represent their home countries of British Virgin Islands, Singapore, Lithuania and the Netherlands. IU athletes will also compete for Egypt, Germany, Israel and Canada.

  • While I will certainly root for my Team USA, I will be rooting for ALL my fellow Hoosiers in Paris! Bon Courage!

✊ What's Worth Fighting For

• Public perception of LGBTQ+ community shifting… and not for the better. According to a Gallup poll, Republican support for same-sex marriage has declined 9 points, from a high of 55% in 2022 to 46% today. That’s a nearly 20% decline in support. Nationwide, support is down 10%. This backsliding of our rights is very real and very scary.

  • We cannot sit back comfortably and watch. We must be VISIBLE, VOCAL, and VOTING.

  • Thank you, Wesley Bizzell for bringing this starting trend to light.

🏳️‍🌈 Read All Pride, No Ego. A USA Today Best Seller!

• Allstora (Queer-owned online bookstore)

• ​Amazon​

• ​Barnes and Noble​

Love the book?? It would mean so much if you would leave a review.

Last thing...

Do you work with an executive coach, or have you in the past? I am wondering what you appreciate or value most in a coaching relationship. Please reply to let me know!

Until next time...

Jim