Coach MKay

05/14/2026

"The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities." -Stephen Covey

The Leadership Juggling Act: Work / Life Integration. That was the title of the keynote I gave yesterday morning for the North Carolina Tax Collector Association. So great to visit with one of my former Greensboro neighbors, Donna Bailey too and grateful she helped me at my book table.

In 75 minutes our group explored the top 10 leadership traits that are powerful for 2026. I asked them to star two or three key areas that they wanted to work on for the rest of the year and also highlight focus areas that their team members to develop.

Then we identified eight key life integration areas that included career, finance, family, friends, self, community, health and spirit. We discussed each category and gave a score from 0 to 10 on a wheel to evaluate opportunities for focus and improvement.

The third segment involved strategies to solve problems and set healthy boundaries. Sprinkled throughout the entire program I shared nuggets of wisdom from some of the books that I have read in the past 30 years.

Don Miguel Ruiz, author of The Four Agreements says it’s important first - don’t take things personally, second - don’t make assumptions, third - be impeccable with your word, and fourth - do your best.

What an impact throughout the globe if everyone would embrace these four principles. A very special moment occurred when Diane Gilliland surprised me by saying her husband Steve Gilliland was going to be in the audience. He’s one of my speaker heroes and his book, Enjoy the Ride has been an inspiration to me.

You are what you read, think, say and do. Be careful about the people you let into your circle. You become what you surround yourself with. Stay in Peace & Joy. Move away from Negativity and Toxicity.

If you want to go to the next level you gotta be willing to Learn. Grow. Lead.

Life’s a journey. Make every day count!

05/04/2026

Stretch your comfort zone! You never know what blessings will happen. You got this! P.S. Allison is my sister who plays golf with all these ladies and the person I dedicated my book to. My Year on the Inside, Creating Catalysts for Change. Available on Amazon if you want to check it out!

04/20/2026

Happy Monday! Coach MKay is super pumped today because there is sunshine ahead for a select group of individuals.

Are you ready to unlock your true leadership potential?

Who on your team is ready to make positive and purposeful change to go to the next level of performance?

In 30 days, I will be working with 16 people in a virtual professional development leadership series that include 4 live webinars, 4 live group coaching sessions and 2 private coaching sessions with me.

I created and delivered this series last fall and it was truly amazing to witness the growth and learning “AHA” moments of each participant in this collaborative program.

I’ve been dedicated to training and development for 30 years and have taken the best of the best content to help people Learn. Grow. Lead.

Four key focus areas: Foundation of Success, Human Factors, Communication Dynamics and Leadership Principles.

If you believe professional development is important to career success give me a big high five!

Session one Wednesday, May 20th 2pm EST-3pm EST. Private message me to schedule your introductory coaching call or email [email protected] for registration information.

COACH MKay Virtual Program Content Outline:
Module I: Success Principles Understand the Impact of Mindset and Identify Personal Core Values, Set and Achieve Meaningful Goals, Discuss Work / Life Integration - Counter Balance
Module II: Human Factors
Explore Ways to Connect and Build Stronger Relationships, Understand Different Generations at Work and Individual Motivations, Deal Effectively with Change
Module III: Communication
Learn Primary and Secondary Styles of Communication, Key Components of Emotional Intelligence, Importance of Giving and Receiving Feedback, Delegation Skills
Module IV: Leadership
Discover Strategies to Motivate and Inspire Others, Resolve Conflict Peacefully, Problem Solving Tools, Public Speaking Skills

2026 Spring / Summer Session on Wednesdays
2:00pm - 3:00pm EST
LIVE Webinars May 20, June 3, 17, July 1
GROUP Coaching May 27, June 10, 24, July 8

Email [email protected] or private message me for registration information.

04/14/2026

Excited to be in Charlotte, NC to present tomorrow morning keynote The Power of Team for the National MGMA Operations Conference! LOVE Networking to help some of my clients, business partners and potential vendors for NSCHBC. Building relationships to Build Business!

03/31/2026

So excited to present three Leadership Lunch-n-Learns in Greensboro! And to think I was going to retire and wait tables at my favorite restaurant here at OKI... Seating Limited, reserve your space today via private message or email! LEARN. GROW. LEAD.

03/18/2026

Super excited to join other experts speaking in Charlotte for the MGMA National Operations Conference!

The Power of TEAM - Achieving Next Level Performance
Learning Objectives:
1-Elevate YOUR Leadership: Identify 10 Qualities of effective leadership for 2026, discover principles for prioritization, self care and setting healthy boundaries.
2-Hold MEANINGFUL Conversations: Learn a conversation tool to strengthen relationships, improve your ability to have tough 360 degree conversations.
3-Strengthen the TEAM: Discover how established core values serve as a compass for team impact, explore strategies to appreciate & celebrate team success.


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02/26/2026

COACH MKay is stretching her comfort zone today and leaning into the GROWTH Mindset of Risk Taking by sharing my Breakthrough Moments in hopes my story helps others on this journey called life.

Thank you David Mohamed for inspiring me last night during our amazing conversation to Learn. Grow. Lead. You are a blessing to me and I'm deeply grateful for our time together as your coach and mentor.

From Surviving to Thriving: A Journey of Resilience and Purpose
In this heartfelt episode, Merikay Hunt shares her powerful life story—from childhood challenges to redefining success through coaching, learning & development, and self-awareness. Her insights are a testament to the transformative power of perseverance, faith, and intentional living. Whether you're facing setbacks or seeking inspiration to rise above life's storms, this episode offers practical wisdom and encouragement.

Key Topics:
*Overcoming childhood adversity and family dynamics
*The role of coaching, counseling, and continuous learning in personal development
*How faith and spirituality contribute to resilience
*Strategies for managing seasonal depression and mental health
*The importance of setting boundaries with technology to preserve well-being
*The power of journaling and letting go to release pain and stress
*Building purpose-driven goals with the catalyst methodology
*Embracing a growth mindset and taking risks for personal growth
*The significance of community, connection, and self-compassion

Resources:
Mindset by Carol S. Dweck
Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High
Fierce Conversations by Susan Scott
Robin Williams - Comedian & Actor
Robin Williams – Mental Health
The Four Agreements by Miguel Ruiz
Dale Carnegie Training
Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
The Catalyst Methodology

Note: This episode is packed with actionable insights, personal stories, and spiritual reflections designed to inspire you to live intentionally and rise above challenges. Don't forget to check out the resources to deepen your growth journey!


From Surviving to Thriving: A Journey of Resilience and Purpose

In this heartfelt Part One episode, Merikay Hunt shares her powerful life story—from childhood challenges to redefining success through coaching, continuous ...

02/24/2026

Leadership Impact Moments: Coach MKay Thought of the Day. How many times in your career have you had a leadership impact moment?

I’ve experienced several in this 30 year career of professional development. One of them was meeting George Clopton when I was facilitating a kick off retreat for a new class of Leadership High Point in NC.

I got the courage to call him after the event and request a meeting to learn more about his background, Polo Ralph Lauren and his team. Every time we met over a three year period we would share ideas for growth and development, books that were meaningful and ideas that would help people and the organization move forward.

What a blessing to work with his leadership team for a retreat to establish core values, create team alignment and focus on key areas of leadership development many moons ago.

Today was another one of those Leadership Impact Moments and I’m so excited that George is dedicated to equipping professionals to advance in their careers and leadership journey through the new Leadership Readiness Network Foundation. A two hour lunch meeting seemed like 30 minutes full of joy, a few tears and thought provoking dialogue.

Honored to give you a copy of My Year on the Indide, Creating Catalysts for Change and can’t wait until you get to the chapter that has a story about you. I look forward to reading your new leadership book as well.

George has been one of my cherished clients who knew when to push and when to listen, who became a mentor and a friend. I look forward to playing golf this spring too!

Who do you need to reach out to that will make a positive, purposeful impact on your business and in your life? Don’t wait, do it today!

02/23/2026

What a blessing to interview one of my author heroes on the final episode of season one of the Wondermous Leadership podcast! Thank you Dr. Bob Nelson - Leading Authority, Employee Recognition/Engagement for sharing your thoughts on your career and leadership journey (and the multiple conversations to get the technology correct ;-)

I love sharing your wisdom with my coaching clients and during speaking engagements. Two of my favorite books: 1001 Ways to Reward Employees and 1001 Ways to Energize Employees. I'm super excited about your new leadership book launching soon too!

PEOPLE are the most important asset in any organization. Take care of your people, develop them and help them Learn. Grow. Lead. Too many people are in leadership roles because of years of service or multiple initials after their name. It's critical that leadership development is made a priority.

Having meaningful conversations and asking your employees what they want is important, "people want to be part of a team and part of something larger than yourself, having someone that cares about your future."

In this episode of Wondermous, host Merikay Hunt interviews Bob Nelson, a renowned expert in employee recognition and motivation. They discuss the importance...