The Noll Wilson Group

06/05/2026

One of the best strategy sessions I've had lately didn't happen in a conference room. It happened on a walk around Raccoon River with my business mentor, Mary Ward.

Just fresh air, honest conversation, and the kind of questions that make you stop and think.

As leaders, it's easy to believe we need to push harder to find answers. But sometimes clarity comes when we step away from the desk and create space to reflect.

During our walk, we talked about growth, challenges, opportunities, and the things that don't always fit neatly into a strategic plan. The conversation reminded me that some of the most important breakthroughs happen when we slow down enough to hear ourselves think.

And walking around a beautiful lake doesn't hurt either!

Leaders spend so much time carrying responsibility for others that they rarely have dedicated time to process their own challenges. Creating room to think differently often creates room to lead differently.

Grateful for mentors like Mary who challenge, encourage, and help me see around corners.

Who is someone that helps you gain perspective when you're facing a big decision?

06/05/2026

Everyone seems to be talking about AI right now.

The pressure to keep up is real. But in the rush to start experimenting, are we skipping an important step?

This week in Letters to Leaders, Sarah Noll Wilson explores why meaningful experimentation starts with exploration—asking better questions, challenging assumptions, and getting clear about what success actually looks like.

For leaders, the challenge isn't simply adopting new technology. It's helping people learn, adapt, and navigate uncertainty well.

Before asking, "What should we build?" consider asking, "What are we trying to learn?"



https://bit.ly/4dQVvUL

05/29/2026

AI isn't failing because the technology isn't powerful. It's failing when organizations expect it to replace judgment instead of supporting it.

As I shared with Tony Case in his WorkWire Substack:
"We are still learning how to best and when to best utilize AI. The bubble that's about to pop is the realization that AI is not the solution for every single situation."

Right now, many leaders feel pressure to "do something with AI" before they've slowed down enough to ask:
- What problem are we actually solving?
- Where does human judgment still matter most?
- What skills do our people need to use these tools responsibly?
The organizations that navigate this well won't just invest in technology. They'll invest in discernment, trust, and capability-building alongside it.

Proud to contribute to this conversation.

Half of Bosses Think the Gassy Dirigible That Is AI Is About to Pop

They keep pumping money into it anyway.

05/29/2026

A younger version of me spent a lot of time trying to fit.

This version of me? She takes up the space she's meant to take up.

Because one of the most important lessons I've learned is this: Not every environment knows how to see your value.

This week in Letters to Leaders: Sarah Noll Wilson shares a personal story about the mentor who helped her realize that sometimes the problem isn't you—it's the environment that's asking you to shrink.



Letters to Leaders: When An Environment Starts Shrinking You https://bit.ly/4dzFgv6

05/28/2026

Thousands of leaders join us each week for small moments of reflection on leadership, relationships, trust, communication, and the conversations that shape culture.

One subscriber recently shared: "Your weekly newsletters are like my personal leadership pause. It helps me reflect so I can show up more intentionally."

If you've been looking for thoughtful leadership insights that feel human, practical, and honest, we'd love to have you join us.

https://bit.ly/4dSgCoq

05/28/2026

We're incredibly proud to celebrate our colleague Teresa Peterson, EdD on receiving the HEAL Workshop of the Year Award from UNMC's Health Educators and Academic Leaders (HEAL) program.

HEAL is a highly respected professional development program through the University of Nebraska Medical Center focused on preparing and strengthening the next generation of healthcare educators and leaders. The award recognizes excellence in teaching and facilitation across the program and is especially meaningful because it was selected through participant voting.

Teresa co-facilitated the workshop alongside Dr. Thompson, helping healthcare leaders and physicians strengthen the human side of leadership and communication — work that is deeply needed in healthcare environments navigating complexity, burnout, and change.

Last year, Teresa and her colleague were also invited to present the program and its outcomes to physicians in Quebec City, highlighting both the impact of the work and the growing interest in creating more relationally healthy healthcare systems.

Anyone who has worked with Teresa knows this recognition reflects exactly who she is:
Thoughtful.
Grounded.
Generous with her expertise.
Deeply committed to helping people lead with both rigor and humanity.

One of the things we admire most is her ability to create spaces where people feel both challenged and genuinely supported at the same time.

Congratulations, Teresa. This recognition is so well deserved, and we're grateful to witness the impact you continue to make on leaders, educators, and healthcare teams.

05/27/2026

05/25/2026

Diane Dornburg

For the last two years, The Noll Wilson Group has been honored to partner with Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa to help amplify the voices and stories of the Inspiring Women of Iowa finalists through podcast conversations and storytelling.

Today, we're honored to celebrate Diane Dornburg, finalist and winner for the Inspiring Advocate for Women Award.

What struck us most about Diane's story is her commitment to making sure people feel seen, heard, and advocated for—especially in moments where systems can feel overwhelming or unfair. The kind of work she does may not always make headlines, but it absolutely changes outcomes.

Diane, thank you for the way you continue to advocate, lead, and create impact across Iowa.



To Watch:
https://bit.ly/4dOQESF

To Listen:
https://bit.ly/3PD6Tu6

Diane Dornburg is a Managing Attorney at Iowa Center for Children's Justice. She is a finalist for the Inspiring Advocate for Women Award.

05/22/2026

This week in Letters to Leaders, Teresa Peterson explores how rigid thinking around trust can quietly block growth, credibility, and connection.

Read the latest blog post for a fresh perspective on rebuilding trust at work.

Letters to Leaders: The Problem With Seeing Trust as Binary https://bit.ly/4fwyvLS

05/22/2026

Job hopping isn't always about disloyalty.

Sometimes it's about growth, alignment, opportunity, or financial survival.

Younger generations entered the workforce during layoffs, economic uncertainty, and massive workplace shifts. That changes how people think about stability.

Honored to have our own Sarah Noll Wilson quoted in this MSN article around work, leadership, and what employees are really looking for today. Shout out to .R. Duren for highlighting this important topic.

Why job hopping is the key to financial stability in younger generations - A lack of loyalty isn’t the reason younger generations are switching jobs early in their career