Post by Sarah Huizingh

While most families spend their weekends on the sidelines of a soccer field or at a ballpark, my husband and I spend ours in dark theaters. Our family "team sport" is the stage. 🎭 This week, my oldest son wrapped up his high school production of Murder on the Orient Express, taking on the lead role of the eccentric investigator, Hercule Poirot. Watching him - and my younger son, who is equally active in theater - excel in these roles is everything to us. (And yes, seeing him commit to the slick mustache and a meticulously practiced Belgian accent for weeks was as entertaining as you’d imagine.) But this week, my "regular Mom pride" shifted into a bit of professional reflection. I’ve watched my boys step onto a stage in front of hundreds of people with a level of confidence, self-awareness, and presence that many professionals spend decades trying to cultivate. And to think, this is during those tough middle school and high school years! It made me think about my own "Early Career" self. If I could rewind the clock, I’d love to grant my younger professional self the same grounded confidence I have today. For me, that awareness was hard-won - built over 20+ years of navigating boardrooms, scaling teams, and having incredible mentors instill their trust in me until I learned to trust myself. My sons are coming out of the gate with life skills that will serve them in any career they choose: ✓ The ability to pivot when the "script" changes unexpectedly. ✓ The discipline to sweat the details during rehearsals so the performance looks effortless. ✓ The courage to own a room before they even say a word. I’m grateful they’re learning early that "presence" isn't about being the loudest person in the room - it's about the preparation and the passion you bring to the role. Proud of you, boys. Keep taking your light to the stage. I’ll be there cheering you on. 🌟 #ExecutivePresence #LeadershipDevelopment #TheatreLife #CareerGrowth #SoftSkills