What a 4-Hour Hike Up a Volcano in El Salvador Taught Me About Resilience

Volcano photographed on the hike

Earlier this year, I set out on a 4-hour hike to the top of Santa Ana Volcano in El Salvador, the country's highest stratovolcano, standing over 7,000 feet above sea level. I expected great views and a solid workout on the 5 miles hike. What I didn’t expect was a powerful reminder of what resilience really looks like, both in life and at work.

My friends and I were up at dawn, half asleep but excited. After what felt like an endless drive, we arrived at the park entrance. For $1, we rented walking sticks (the best dollar I ever spent). After instructions from our guide, we lined up in a single file and started the hike. I learned a few lessons along the way.

1. The journey is not always easy, but it is worth it

The hike started off with excitement. The weather was perfect, the group was energized, and the path seemed manageable. But as we climbed, the terrain became steeper, the sun hotter, and the air thinner. At one point, I thought, “Why did I sign up for this again?”

Resilience isn’t about always feeling strong. It is about continuing even when you don’t. In our careers, we often start with enthusiasm. But as challenges arise, the excitement can fade. That’s when grit kicks in.

Kokui hiking on a trail on Santa Ana Volcano

2. Pace yourself, not everything requires a sprint

Some hikers powered ahead, while others (like me) took their time, pausing to catch our breath. At first, I felt pressure to keep up. But I quickly realized: my pace was what would get me to the top.

At work, it’s tempting to match someone else’s speed or path. But resilience means knowing when to push and when to pause. Sustainable success is built on self-awareness, not burnout.

3. Encouragement matters more than you think

Along the way, we encouraged each other and were energized when strangers became cheerleaders. A simple “You’ve got this!” or “Almost there!” from fellow hikers gave me the energy to keep moving.

In the workplace, a few words of encouragement can make a huge difference. A quick message, a shared win, or recognition during a tough time builds morale and resilience in teams.

4. The view from the top is better when you've worked for it

Standing at the summit, looking into the immense turquoise crater of the volcano, I felt a surge of joy, pride, and deep awe for the power and beauty of nature. But it wasn’t just the view that moved me – it was the climb, the effort, and the challenge that made it all meaningful.

Llamatepec Lake at the Crater of Santa Ana Volcano

Resilience teaches us that the best outcomes aren’t always the easiest. They’re the ones we grow into, fight for, and earn.

Whether you're navigating a tough quarter at work, managing a career transition, or just climbing your own “volcano,” remember:

• Your pace is valid.

• Encouragement fuels endurance.

• And the reward is often greater when you’ve stretched yourself to reach it.

So, what’s your volcano right now – and what’s keeping you going?

#leadershiplessons #InsightfulSteps #careergrowth #resilience

Kokui at the summit of Santa Ana

The Power of Celebration: Fuel for What’s Next.

In the world of leading teams, it’s easy to finish a project and immediately jump to the next one. Deadlines move fast, priorities shift, and the to-do list never stops growing.

But if we don’t take a moment to pause and celebrate what we’ve accomplished, we risk burnout, low morale, and a team that’s too drained to bring their best to the next big thing.

Celebration doesn’t have to be grand, but it does need to be intentional. Here's why it matters, and how to do it in a way that motivates your team.

Why Celebration Matters

🔹 It boosts motivation – People want to know their work is seen and appreciated. Recognition recharges the team and helps them show up stronger next time.

🔹 It builds culture – When leaders celebrate wins, it creates space for others to do the same. That recognition becomes part of the way the team works.

🔹 It marks real progress – Without a pause to reflect, it can all feel like a blur. Celebration helps teams feel the impact of their effort.

🔹 It brings people together – Especially on cross-functional teams, celebrating wins strengthens trust and connection.

How to Celebrate Without Overcomplicating It

1. Reflect on the journey, not just the finish line Take 30 minutes with the team to talk about what you accomplished, what went well, what didn't go so well and what you learned. Retrospectives hold golden nuggets that can unlock continuous improvements.

🔸 Example: After a high-stakes software launch, I held a retrospective session capturing lessons learned. I then organized a celebration with food, cake and toasts, invited senior leaders and stakeholders to recognize my team’s hard work. You don’t have to organize an elaborate celebration; a small lunch offsite can do the trick. The goal is to pause and celebrate the team’s efforts.

2. Name names (in the best way) Shout out great work in front of others – Slack, a stand-up, a recap at a project leadership sync. People remember when their contributions are called out.

🔸 Example: “Thank you, Amanda and Mark, for the last-minute bugs fix. You saved the timeline.”

3. Celebrate the less visible wins too Not all impact shows up in metrics. Celebrate the moments when someone unblocked a team, simplified a workflow, or brought people together.

🔸 Example: If someone helped bridge gaps between teams or got the right people in the room to move things forward, spotlight it. That kind of work often flies under the radar, but it’s what keeps everything moving.

4. Make it human A thoughtful Slack DM. A team lunch. A handwritten note. Big or small, when it’s personal, it sticks. It also builds your brand as a leader who cares about their teams.

🔸 Example: I sent a short slack thank you note to someone who stepped up during crunch time. She appreciated that I saw her efforts, and this led to building stronger relationships over time.

5. Let the celebration carry into what’s next Once you’ve taken time to acknowledge the win, ride that momentum into the next phase. Remind the team what they’re capable of.

🔸 Example: “We did this together. Let’s tackle the next project with the same energy. We can do it!”

Final Thought

Getting the work done is important – but so are the people doing it. Celebrating the effort reminds your team that they matter. It recharges them. It sets the tone for what comes next.

Before you rush into the next big thing, take a breath. Look around. Say thank you. Then go build again – with a team that feels ready for it.

How do you like to celebrate wins with your team? Drop your ideas into the comments. I’d love to hear what works for you.

See it. Want it. Ask for it

Image via Canva.com

Over the Memorial Day weekend, I was helping a friend around her house, and as always, we got to swapping stories. One took me back to a summer job I hadn’t thought about in years, but the lesson still sticks with me.

Before I landed internships through the INROADS program, I took the best summer job I could find working at Six Flags amusement park. I needed to save up for school in the fall, and with two other jobs during the academic year, every bit helped. At Six Flags, I spent long hours in the heat, operating rides. It was honest work, and I was grateful for it. But after a while, I started to notice something.

Some employees worked indoors, in the A/C, helping clock people in and out. They weren’t standing all day, they were learning new skills, supporting their teammates and they earned a bit more money too. That sounded a lot better to me.

So, I asked.

I talked to the girls who worked inside, found out how they got the job, and kept that in mind for the next hiring event. When it came around the following year, I showed up, asked for that specific role, interviewed, and got it.

And honestly? It was exactly what I hoped it would be. That moment stuck with me because it taught me something simple but powerful:

Opportunities don’t always come to you. But if you stay curious, ask questions, and make the ask, you can create your own.

That mindset has shaped so many of my career decisions since. It’s not always about waiting for permission. Sometimes, it’s about noticing what you want and being bold enough to ask for it.

And yes, sometimes we hear “no.” But don’t let that discourage you. Let it be a prompt to pause and reflect:

• Do you need to upskill?

• Should you take on a project to prove what you can do or to learn something new?

• Are you asking the right person? The one with the power to say yes?

• Are you drawing the right connections between your current role and the opportunity you want?

A “no” isn’t always the end. Sometimes it’s feedback in disguise. Use it. Learn from it. Adjust and ask again.

When the timing is right, the right door will open – especially if you keep knocking with intention.

So, here’s my question for you: What’s one opportunity you’ve been thinking about but haven’t spoken up about yet?

Drop it in the comments or shoot me a message. I’d love to cheer you on.

#leadershiplessons #InsightfulSteps