Aspen Root Collective

05/28/2026

"We hired you on purpose. We believe in you. We are just not always great at showing it during the chaos of your first 90 days."

That is something onboarding managers think all the time and almost never say.

If you are currently in a new role and your start has felt a little rocky, please hear this: the awkwardness of early onboarding is rarely about you. It is almost always about a system that needs work.

And if you are the person responsible for bringing new employees in, this is your reminder that the small moments of clarity and connection in those first 90 days matter more than any checklist item on your onboarding plan.

Save this one. It is worth coming back to.

05/22/2026

Did you know your can look different depending on the role you're in?

Well, Gallup did! They just released updated versions of their role-specific Strengths reports, and to say we are impressed is an understatement! While we always recommend the deep insights you get from the Top 5 and Full 34 reports, we just took a peek at the new CliftonStrengths for Students, and all we can say is "Wow"!

Not only does this new report dig deeper into how your Strengths make you unique as a student, but it also takes it a step further by giving you ways that each of your Strengths shows up in specific areas of your life, like academics, relationships, leadership, and decision making.

If you're a student, manager, sales professional, or leader and want to learn more about how your Strengths can support you in your role, schedule a time to chat. We'd love to help you dig in!

https://aspenrootcollective.com/contact

05/14/2026

This week is International Coaching Week, and we want to talk about something that matters deeply to us. 🌱

Not every coach is the same.

Aspen Root Collective Co-founders, Amy and Sarah, are both Gallup Certified Global Strengths Coaches, a credential that requires hours of deep training, rigorous evaluation, real coaching sessions with real people, and a commitment to the ethical and professional standards set by one of the most respected research organizations in the world. Amy is also currently completing her ICF (International Coaching Federation) certification, which adds another layer of training, mentorship, and professional accountability to her practice.

We say this not to brag, but because we think it matters. And lately, we've been noticing something.

The word "coach" is everywhere right now. And while we love that people are waking up to the power of coaching, the truth is that there's no universal license required to call yourself one. That means the person offering to "coach" you might have deep expertise, rigorous training, and years of real experience - or they might have completed a weekend workshop and opened an Instagram account.

That's not a knock on passion or good intentions. But when you're making decisions about your leadership, your team, your career, or your life, you deserve someone who has done the work.

When you work with a certified coach, you're working with someone who:
✔️ Has completed accredited training and logged real practice hours
✔️ Is held to a code of ethics and professional conduct
✔️ Has been evaluated and credentialed; not self-appointed
✔️ Is committed to your growth, not their agenda

This week, ask your coach about their credentials. A great coach will be glad you asked.

💬 Questions about what certified coaching looks like? We'd love to talk. Drop a comment or send us a message.

05/13/2026

“What all great leaders have in common is that they did not strive to be someone who they are not. What they were all striving to be is the greatest version of themselves.” -Jon Clifton, CEO of Gallup

Strong leaders know their strengths and know how to use them. That kind of grounded confidence is the single biggest factor in a team’s overall success.

Is there a leader that you’ve worked with who has had a positive impact on your life? What did they do that made a lasting impact on you?

When people look back on the leader who changed the trajectory of their career, what was it about that person that made the difference?

Gallup research shows that the most effective leaders lead with self-awareness, build teams around a shared purpose, create hope and invest in what people naturally do best. They lead in a way that is authentic to who they are, and they’re intentional about the impact they have on others.

That kind of leadership does more than drive performance – it changes how people experience their work and their lives.

Discover how leaders use their greatest strengths to empower others and achieve meaningful outcomes: https://on.gallup.com/3QXojSx

05/08/2026

Internship season is here — and most leaders are missing the single most important thing their new team members need.

It's not a orientation packet. It's not a welcome lunch. It's not a tour of the office.
It's feedback. Specific, genuine, strengths-based feedback that says: I see you. I'm glad you're here.

Watch the video above and send us a DM to get our free First 30 Days Onboarding Checklist 🌱

05/08/2026

Today, Amy, Sarah, and our intern Avery, had the privilege of attending the DeKalb Chamber Partnership’s annual Prism event — a day designed to celebrate and connect women in our community.

This year’s theme? It was never a dress. 🦸‍♀️

That symbol we’ve all seen- the one that looks like a dress - reframed as a cape. And honestly? That reframe set the tone for everything that followed.

We were treated to incredible keynote speakers to open and close the day, the brilliant Christie Browning and Michelle Gladieux (Gladieux Consulting)- with a powerful panel discussion featuring Olivia Valencic-Miller, Jackie Henderson , and Lecia Brow, all masterfully held together by MC Kate Michelle High!

What made it even more special? So many of these women are people we’re lucky to call friends.

Days like this remind us why community matters - the kind built on shared roots, real conversations, and women who show up for each other wearing their capes.

Grateful for events that fill our cups so we can pour into others. 💙

05/07/2026

Happy National Teacher Appreciation Week! 🍎🌿

We couldn't let this week pass without celebrating the people who shape so much of who we become.

👉 Tag a teacher who made a real difference in your life. Drop their name in the comments. Consider sharing a bit about how they shaped your story. At the end of the week, we'll pull one winner for a gift card to their favorite coffee shop. ☕Now is a perfect time to share a coffee with someone who shaped your life! futures. No wonder she's so rooted in growing others.

Research shows that humans are wired for human connection. Teachers build that connection from day one. They're the ones who say, without always saying it out loud: "I see you. You're capable. You belong here."

That's the spirit we try to bring into every workshop, every coaching session, and every school and organization we partner with at Aspen Root Collective.

This week, we're asking you to help us say thank you.

👉 Tag a teacher who made a real difference in your life. Drop their name in the comments. Consider sharing a bit how they shaped your story. At the end of the week, we'll pull one winner for a gift card to their favorite coffee shop. ☕Now is a perfect time to share a coffee with someone who shaped your life!

Who's your person? We can't wait to read your stories.

05/05/2026

🌱 May's newsletter is here — and this one's personal.

As graduation season kicks off and a new wave of Gen Z professionals enters the workforce, we're asking a hard question: are we actually set up to welcome them well?

This month, Sarah dives into her own early career story, the Gallup data that should be keeping every leader up at night, and a free onboarding resource you can use right now. Amy and Sarah share the one App they can't live without.

Plus we offer your a free download: Feedback That Lands with Strengths — all 34 strengths, ready to use with your newest employees.

Read it here: https://aspen-root-collective.kit.com/posts/rooted-in-potential-they-re-not-the-problem-we-are

05/02/2026

Belief. Connectedness. Empathy. Responsibility. Positivity. 🌿
When we pulled the CliftonStrengths grid for the team at Love INC. of Newaygo County, Michigan — we got chills.
This nonprofit wraps people experiencing great need in community love, funded entirely by the people around them. And their strengths? A perfect mirror of their mission.
It was one of the most beautifully aligned team grids we’ve ever seen. And we’ve seen a lot of grids. ✨
This is the mission of our work- helping mission-driven teams see themselves clearly and lead from what’s already strong.
Grateful to travel for this one. Grateful for the longtime friend who made the introduction. Grateful for a team that is genuinely changing lives. 💛.

05/02/2026

We want to brag on a team for a second — because they deserve it.

We recently traveled to Michigan to lead a CliftonStrengths retreat for Love INC. of Newaygo County.

If you don’t know them, they’re a nonprofit dedicated to wrapping people in love and community support during their hardest moments…and they do it simply by bringing people together- as a collective. 🌱

When we saw their team’s strengths profile, it genuinely pulled on our hearts. Their number one collective strength? Belief. Followed by Connectedness, Empathy, Responsibility, and Positivity.

We’ve worked with a lot of teams. We’ve never seen one so perfectly matched to their mission. These aren’t just nice words on a report — this is who these people are.

Every day. On purpose.

It was also a treat to reconnect with a longtime friend who made this introduction happen. Thank you. 💛 Referrals, especially from a far, are always a tremendous compliment!

If you know a nonprofit, a school, or a team that needs to be reminded of what they’re made of — we’d love to help them see it. We will go wherever the work is. Just reach out.
Love INC of Newaygo County

04/25/2026

Today we went back to where it all began. 🏫✨
DeKalb High School — our alma mater, where Amy was an educator for 20+ years, our kids’ school — piloted their very first Career Discovery Meetings today. And we got to be there.
Students led the conversations. Community members showed up to listen. And the program they used? One we helped build — www.discoveryournext.org — in partnership with
Four questions. Infinite futures.
🔹 Who am I?
🔹 Where am I going?
🔹 How am I going to get there?
🔹 Why is this the path I’m taking?
More to come as DeKalb shares the magic from today. We are so proud of these students and this school. 🌱
www.discoveryournext.org