Author Archives: carolyncustisjames

One of the lessons we learned quickly when we moved to Florida was that hurricane warnings are serious and call for decisive action. Recent tornado disasters in the central U.S.A. underscore the fact that storm warnings must be taken seriously. … Continue reading →

“A girl is not defined by what her society sees. A girl is defined by what she sees inside herself.”                                             —Girl Rising How I wish it were that simple. But the simple fact is a girl (at least most … Continue reading →

Here’s one of those positive emails that just arrived and makes me smile. It was written by a reader to a friend who shipped it to me. “Have you ever read the book When Life and Beliefs Collide by Carolyn … Continue reading →

“…when it comes to integrating career and family, planning too far in advance can close doors rather than open them. … Of all the ways women hold themselves back, perhaps the most pervasive is that they leave before they leave.” … Continue reading →

Last week’s Lean In post, “Seek and Speak Your Truth,” raised the subject of spiritual abuse on leadership teams in churches and Christian organizations. When spiritual abuse happens, the kind of open honest communication Sheryl Sandberg advocates becomes risky or, … Continue reading →

“Authentic communication is not always easy, but it is the basis for successful relationships at home and real effectiveness at work.” —Sheryl Sandberg Some Lean In blog followers are telling me that they’re “behind in their reading.” Others that they … Continue reading →

. Unexpected encouragement coming from Pastor David Swanson of First Presbyterian Church in Orlando, Florida who on Sunday delivered a fiery sermon on the ezer-warrior and quoted from Half the Church. He’s already experiencing this message firsthand in the strong … Continue reading →

As a child, I always felt my birthday was extra special because May 30th was Memorial Day. My father used to tell me all America celebrated the day of my birth and that was why everyone was flying the American … Continue reading →

“… searching for a mentor has become the professional equivalent of waiting for Prince Charming. … young women are told that if they can just find the right mentor, they will be pushed up the ladder and whisked away to … Continue reading →

“… ladders are limiting—people can move up or down, on or off. … The jungle gym model benefits everyone, but especially women who might be starting careers, switching careers, getting blocked by external barriers, or reentering the workforce after taking … Continue reading →