The Switchboard

Hello. Iā€™m Julia. Returning from my summer sabbatical, Iā€™m energized to share reflections, resources, conversations and workshops this fall. How was your summer? Reply to this email to let me know. As this summer winds down, Iā€™m reminded of one of my favorite songs. We sang it around the campfire at sleepaway camp while roasting marshmallows, but its message is much more serious than I realized as a kid.

This summer, I had the gift of time — one month off to recharge in a magical place, Switzerland. We hiked through mountains, sailed on lakes and sampled apple strudels, living as much like locals as possible. I’m grateful for this experience and everyone who helped make it possible. Yet, there were moments that tested me. Looking back, I want to share the 10 lessons that I’m taking with me from this trip that transcend life and work.

Hello. I’m Julia. Welcome to this edition of my newsletter. This year, Winnie-the-Pooh turns 100! The children’s book about a bear and his animal friends in the fictional Hundred Acre Wood has inspired kids and adults for a century. When I learned that its author, A.A. Milne, served as a signal operator, a communications leader in the British Army during World War I, it felt like a sign to learn more about his story and the leadership lessons from the books.

Hello. I’m Julia. Welcome to this career profile edition of my newsletter. I talked with Jessica about her career path and new role.

Congratulations to the Class of 2026! If The Switchboard gave a commencement speech, the message would be from leaders featured in the newsletter. That’s what I set out to curate in this edition. Our collective wisdom encourages curiosity, community, conversations, joy, reflection, purpose and more. Thank you to these leaders for sharing. No matter your graduation year, there’s something for everyone to learn from these reflections. What advice would you add to this list?

A Conversation on People, Purpose, and Organizational Effectiveness Hello. I’m Julia. Welcome to this career profile edition of my newsletter. I talked with Jessica about her career path and new role.

Hello. I’m Julia. Welcome to this edition of the newsletter — a playbook to support you. Being a leader doesn’t require a title. While a title may make it feel official, leadership is about your intentional actions, reactions and interactions. It’s the way you treat people at all levels, from the interns to the VPs and everyone in between. When you prepare, partner and produce, you become a leader without focusing on power.

Hello. I’m Julia. Welcome to this career profile edition of the newsletter. Brodie Bertrand is vice president of brand, marketing & stakeholder communications at Steelcase Inc., the company that helps people do their best work by creating places that work better.

Hello! It’s Julia. Welcome to this edition of The Switchboard. If you enjoy this newsletter, share it with a friend or colleague. Thank you for supporting my mission to champion communicators and connectors at work and beyond. It’s Administrative Professionals Day tomorrow, and I want to celebrate the critical contributions this role plays to support all of us at work.

Hi! It’s Julia. Welcome to this edition. Interested in contributing a quote to a future newsletter? Respond to this email to answer a mystery question. “Palaces for the People”—the name given to libraries in Eric Klinenberg's book —resonates with my experiences: researching my way to winning a space camp trip, seeking out sources for a college honors thesis and experiencing the wonder of medieval books while traveling.