Adams Leadership Group

09/04/2026

Because I always have a story to tell. 😅 Wouldn’t be me if I wasn’t documenting and archiving moments. So, here we go…

This cover is from Fall 2017 at Spring Arbor University, and memories like this remind me just how far I’ve come.

After being a stay at home mom for over a decade (granted, I did A LOT of things outside of that too 😂), I graduated from SAU in 2014 with my undergraduate degree in Social Work. Fresh out of college, SAU gave me my first opportunity to work in higher education.

From there, the journey was anything but a straight line. In Michigan, I did community work, worked in traditional ministry, served as a geriatric social worker, moved more deeply into communications, and later returned to SAU to earn my master’s degree in Communication. Ministry leadership has also been part of my life since I was a young adult in my early 20s.

My higher education career eventually continued at other institutions in Michigan, and after our family moved to Tennessee, at the University of Tennessee and now Johnson University.

And somehow, I’m a student AGAIN.😆 Yeah, I have issues…ha! School just keeps calling, I guess.

But there’s something about leading while learning that has become an important part of my journey. I don’t believe leadership means you ever arrive at a place where there’s nothing left to learn. I’m leading, growing, stretching, studying, and still allowing God to develop me along the way.

Life looks so much different now than it did when this cover was published in 2017, but I can see how the pieces connect.

Social work. Ministry. Communications. Leadership. Christian higher education. None of it has been wasted.

And if I’ve learned anything, it’s this: don’t let anyone tell you what you should or shouldn’t be doing when you’ve heard clearly from God. Move how He guides you to move.

The world will put plenty of pressure on you to move a certain way, speak a certain way, lead a certain way, or follow a timeline that makes sense to everyone else. Don’t allow those external pressures to dictate your journey.

We all have a role to play. We all have an assignment. And everybody’s journey won’t look the same.

Stay faithful to what God has called YOU to do.

The fruit of your life will be evident.

Looking back at moments like this simply reminds me that God has been faithful through every season…and apparently, He’s not done with the school part yet. 😅 📖

08/19/2026

Someone is watching you. Not for applause, not for perfection, but to see if you'll keep walking in purpose when it's hard. Do what you were created and called to do. Your light needs to shine. Read the full article here. ⤵️😇

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/canenaadams_someone-is-watching-you-not-for-applause-ugcPost-7495897440957546496-Eywm/?utm_source=social_share_send&utm_medium=ios_app&rcm=ACoAABDu3XsBeZ7qAqosdf6mFuceQclv6IVnN7A&utm_campaign=copy_link

08/18/2026

Remember how I said I’d share moments of Leading While Learning? Well, here’s one of them. 😊

I’m officially prepping for the start of my first semester as a Johnson University graduate student.

Not as the Director of Marketing & Communications. As a student.😅

As a director, I’m pumped about the growth happening in my department and across campus. There’s so much happening at Johnson right now, and I’m grateful to have a front-row seat to it.

But as a student? I’m both eager to start and equally on edge about being in school again. And I LOVE school. Literally love it. 😂 But this is still uncharted water for me. It’s been a while since I’ve had to balance work, family, life, AND being a student at this level.

Yes, I’m geeked about what’s at the end of this program for me. But what I’m most looking forward to is the people.

Lots of colleges and universities are ramping up for the fall semester, and there are many great institutions out there. But even as a working, married adult with children, finding the right fit still mattered to me.

This photo was taken when I attended Johnson’s Ph.D. Leadership Summit, and honestly, the people I met there helped confirm that I had made the right choice.

These were regular people navigating real life.

Some had experienced family losses. Some had health issues arise. Some were navigating job changes and career transitions. Others were celebrating amazing moments in their lives.

We were all at different stages, with different responsibilities, different stories and different reasons for pursuing this degree.

But we shared a common goal: we wanted to keep leading well. And we were pursuing it right in the middle of life lifing. 😅

So, yep...that mattered to me.

I’m not entering this season with unlimited time, no responsibilities and a perfectly cleared calendar. Whew, not even a lil bit.😅 I’m entering it as a wife, mom, woman of deep faith, professional, leader and a person with a whole life happening outside of the classroom.

And so were they.

I’m looking forward to learning from professors, absolutely. But I’m equally excited about learning alongside people whose experiences, perspectives and journeys are different from mine.

That’s part of leadership, too.

You don’t stop learning because you’re leading. And you certainly don’t have to have everything figured out before you take the next step.

So here we go.

First semester loading… 📚

Leading while learning. Literally this time. 😅

08/13/2026

07/22/2026

The other day, I shared a video introducing Leading While Learning.

Today, I'm sharing a little more of the heart behind it.

This article explains why this phrase has come to describe my leadership journey and why I'm choosing to share that journey as I begin my Ph.D. this fall.

Welcome to Leading While Learning.

Read article here:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/leading-while-learning-canena-adams-m-a-bsw-8hrmc?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios&utm_campaign=share_via

07/20/2026

I took a few days off before the grind starts back… and apparently part of my brain forgot to clock out. 😅

For a while now, I’ve been thinking about creating a space to share what I’m learning about leadership. This fall, as I begin my Ph.D. in Leadership Studies at Johnson University it finally felt like the right time.

So, I’m starting something new: Leading While Learning. 💡😉

This is an ongoing series where I’ll share leadership lessons, reflections, ideas, and moments that challenge the way I think and lead. Some posts will be more thoughtfully crafted. Others will be authentic conversations on a walk (one of my favorite places to think), in my living room, or wherever inspiration strikes. It won’t always look the same, but it will always be genuine.👏🏽😉

I don’t have every detail mapped out, and honestly, I’m okay with that. I simply want to learn in real time and invite others along for the journey.

My hope is that this becomes a place where we can all grow together.

I’d love to have you along for the journey.

07/07/2026

What if the leaders we trust most aren't the most polished ones, but the most honest ones. That's the question behind my newest article. I'm sharing who I am, how I think about leadership, and why the gap between performing and leading matters more than we admit. Link below.

I am not here to impress you. I am here to walk with you.

05/07/2026

Your scars are your strategy. Your story is your credibility. AI is a tool... not a testimony. New article on why lived experience still wins — and what happens when leaders skip the work and just pop out polished. Read Here. ⬇️

Pop Out Leadership

04/22/2026

We often talk about education in terms of careers.
But what about the discipline, resilience, and leadership it builds along the way?

It’s more than a degree… it’s development.

We often talk about education in terms of careers. But what about the discipline, resilience, and leadership it builds along the way? It’s more than a degree… it’s development.

04/10/2026

Got this in the mail today…

As a first-gen, moments like this are always deeper to me than simply adding more letters behind my name.

I’ve never looked at work as just a paycheck. No matter where I’ve been, work has always needed to align with who I am, how God wired me, and the purpose He’s placed on my life. That’s why education has always been such a big part of my story.

Helping people grow, communicate, lead well, and become who they’re called to be has never just been work to me. It has always been part of the assignment.

So now, starting my next educational journey at Johnson University while also serving in a place that has already added so much value to both my career and my calling feels like another layer of God’s faithfulness.

Ultimately, my prayer is to be proof that you really can be exactly who God says you are.

And even if you have to pivot once, twice, or however many times, don’t ever let anyone put limits on what God planted inside of you.

Because no, this path is not always pie in the sky.

Sometimes it’s hard.
It’s work.
It’s sacrifice.
It’s being misunderstood.
It’s being falsely labeled.
It’s outgrowing people you thought would grow with you.
It’s feeling the pressure of always trying to explain your uniqueness and God-ordained difference.
It’s being disliked for no clear reason other than simply being your authentic self.
It’s being underestimated.
It’s being tolerated instead of respected for what you bring to the table.
It’s being valued for your gifts and talents, but not always appreciated for who you are as a person.

So just be exactly who God called you to be in every single area.

And guess what?

God already knew it would be heavy at times, and He still chose you.

That means your strength was never meant to come from yourself or from outside approval anyway.

Your validation doesn’t come from titles, applause, or people finally “getting” you.

It comes from Him.

So keep going.
Keep growing.
Keep becoming.
Keep trusting.

Because what God planted in you was never meant to be limited. Plus…it’s bigger than you. It’s not just for you…it’s so you can help others.

And as I step into this next layer, I’m so thankful for the JU community. For the support, the encouragement, and for being part of a Christian University that has been impacting lives for more than 130 years and equipping students to fully become who God has called them to be in both faith and career.

I’m also grateful to be part of a place that is foundationally solid in who they are while continuing to be innovative, creative, and intentional about growing as an institution and community. It’s been a meaningful part of my journey, and I’m genuinely grateful. 💙

Oh, and last, but certainly not least…Greg Adams —thanks for your endless love and support!🥰😘