Five leadership lessons from The Breakfast Club feud, showing how conflict—when navigated with honesty, empathy, and relational trust—can strengthen team culture.

Building social capital is about bridging between two equally valuable networks, not about networking.

Too many leaders prioritize efficiency over connection, control over trust, and results over relationships. But leadership isn’t about managing people like machines—it’s about building trust, creating belonging, and leading with authenticity.

For those like me who care deeply about people and about America, the place they call home, “So what now?” feels like the million-dollar question. It’s the question I’ve been wrestling with as we celebrate the love, unity, and hope of MLK Day while simultaneously watching the deep divisions that define our country on display in today’s inauguration.

As Bridge Builders, our work often asks us to reflect on where we’ve been so we can move forward with purpose. I know my short memory of all the good that has been can sometimes cause me to sabotage what’s to come. Let’s not allow our fears of what may be, blind us to all that has, is, and will be good.