Andrea

The Belonging Gap: Why Connection Is Becoming the Core Leadership Skill "Increasing belonging across all settings is needed." Colorado Health Institute: https://www.coloradohealthinstitute.org/research/colorado-belonging-barometer In every program we run—from Academy to Mastermind to Elevate—one truth consistently emerges: leaders today are struggling more with connection than with competence. Across Colorado’s mountain and rural communities, leaders are managing more responsibilities with fewer resources. Many describe living in a constant state of time poverty—the chronic sense of having too much to do and not enough time to do it. Research out of UCLA calls time poverty one of today’s most pervasive emotional burdens, leaving people feeling [...]

Building Bridges, Not Walls: Fostering Collaboration, Trust, and Belonging in Our Tri-County Communities   The Aspen-to-Parachute corridor is shown here in a map provided by Aspen Community Foundation. On Friday, June 27, 2025, I had the privilege of presenting at the CIVICO Colorado Governors Fellowship 2025 Regional Gathering in Glenwood Springs, CO. This gathering's core purpose is to equip Coloradans for public service and civic leadership, with key outcomes including understanding our state's challenges, developing competencies, strengthening networks, learning from public officials, and implementing individual development plans. It was an honor to contribute to such a vital initiative. During the gathering, [...]

Navigating the Future of Work and Community – Part 2 Now Available A free resource for leaders ready to thrive through change and build stronger communities At Roaring Fork Leadership, we believe that leadership isn’t just a role—it’s a daily practice, and a community responsibility. That belief has guided us for over 37 years as we’ve worked to grow leaders who can adapt, collaborate, and lead with purpose. In Part 2 of our white paper series, Navigating the Future of Work and Community, we explore how leadership must evolve to meet today’s challenges [...]

📘 New eBook: Evolving Leaders for a Changing World What today’s leadership demands—and how to rise to the challenge The world of work has changed dramatically over the past decade. From AI and hybrid workplaces to shifting expectations around purpose and belonging, leaders are being called to show up differently—and more humanly—than ever before. Our newest eBook, Evolving Leaders for a Changing World, explores the essential workforce and leadership skills you need now and in the future. You’ll discover: ✅ How leadership skills have evolved from 2015 to 2025✅ What today's most effective [...]

Leadership + Luck: The Role of Fortune in Effective Leadership Great leaders often share stories of resilience, vision, and hard work. But what about luck? Is leadership purely about skill and strategy, or does luck play a crucial role? At Roaring Fork Leadership, we believe that while leadership is built on competence and character, luck can act as a powerful catalyst for success—if leaders know how to recognize and harness it. Luck: A Hidden Factor in Leadership Success Many successful leaders credit part of their journey to being in the right place at the right time. However, luck in leadership isn’t [...]

Harnessing Emotional Intelligence with Back Pocket Questions Conflict and discomfort are inevitable parts of relationships, whether at work or in personal life. These moments can be challenging, but they also provide an opportunity for growth and connection—if approached thoughtfully. That’s where back pocket questions come into play. What Are Back Pocket Questions? Think of back pocket questions as tools for your interpersonal toolkit. These are intentional, open-ended questions designed to guide conversations toward understanding and collaboration. They’re especially helpful when emotions run high, offering a way to keep discussions constructive instead of reactive. How Emotional Intelligence and Self-Awareness Play a Role [...]

The Gift of Growth: Why Professional Development is Key to Organizational Success As we step into a new year, there’s no better time to reflect on the future of your organization and the people who make it thrive. Investing in the growth and development of your team isn’t just a good idea, it’s one of the most impactful decisions you can make to ensure lasting success. Enter Roaring Fork Leadership’s CoLab, a unique initiative designed to meet the evolving needs of organizations in today’s fast-paced world. What Is RFL CoLab? The name “CoLab” encapsulates its essence: collaboration and laboratory. It’s a [...]

The RFL Academy 2025 cohort has taken on five impactful projects, each aiming to address specific challenges in the Roaring Fork Valley through community-focused initiatives. Here’s an in-depth look at the selected Civic Impact Projects: Aspen Camp for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Dedicated to creating an environment that goes beyond physical accessibility, Aspen Camp is implementing two major components: adaptive community engagement and physical site enhancements. The adaptive approach involves workshops, dialogues, and immersive experiences to broaden the community's understanding of challenges faced by the deaf, hard of hearing, blind, or deafblind. The project will engage local leaders and [...]

RFL Alumni Spotlight: Lizz Bailey Development Director at Roaring Fork Leadership We are excited to introduce Lizz Bailey, an alumna of Roaring Fork Leadership (RFL) and our new Development Director. Learn more about her journey, her experience with RFL, and what she’s passionate about in her new role. Q&A with Lizz Bailey Q: What year did you graduate from the Roaring Fork Leadership Academy and how did your experience with RFL impact your career and personal growth? A: I graduated from the RFL Academy in 2020, which was an incredibly impactful time to complete the program as COVID-19 shutdowns began. My [...]

The "Women in the Workplace 2024" report from McKinsey & Co. offers a critical look at the progress women have made in leadership over the past decade. Locally, these findings resonate deeply in the Roaring Fork and Colorado River Valleys, where women, especially women of color, remain underrepresented in leadership roles across key industries like hospitality, healthcare, and outdoor recreation. The report reveals a mix of gains and setbacks. While the number of women in leadership has grown, this progress is fragile, with many women facing significant barriers at the managerial level. At RFL, we see these national trends reflected in [...]