The Road Undefined (eBook)

A Woman's Guide to Leading with Authenticity

Sandi Edghill (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2025 | 1. Auflage
136 Seiten
Sandi's Edge (Verlag)
978-1-7353232-1-3 (ISBN)

Infos

Are you ready to lead without losing yourself in the process? In The Road Undefined: A Woman's Guide to Leading with Authenticity, Work-Life Wellness Coach Sandi Edghill shares her powerful story of rising from cleaning NYC subway stations to becoming an Assistant Vice President-without ever compromising her identity, personal values, or peace. This honest and empowering book is for women navigating change, redefining what success means, or simply wanting to show up more effectively in their lives. Whether you're leading a team, managing a household, launching something new, or rediscovering your purpose, Sandi offers practical wisdom, personal stories, and coaching insights to help you honor your truth, prioritize your well-being, and walk in your purpose-even when the path isn't clearly defined.

Sandi Edghill is an Executive Work-Life Wellness Coach, inspirational speaker, author, and retired executive with over 30 years of experience in public sector leadership. Her journey began with grit and heart-cleaning New York City subway stations as a young woman with a big vision-and culminated in leading complex field operations in a male-dominated transportation industry in New York City. Sandi knows firsthand what it takes to rise through the ranks without sacrificing your integrity, your family, or your well-being. As the founder of Sandi's Edge, she is dedicated to helping high-achieving, purpose-driven women create space for themselves without guilt. Through her signature blend of leadership experience, coaching expertise, and lived wisdom, she supports women in navigating transitions, redefining success, and showing up as their full selves in every room they enter. Sandi is an ICF-certified coach with multiple professional designations, including: Executive Coach, Psychology-Based Wellness Coach, and Neuro-transformational Results Coach. Her coaching style is deeply intuitive yet grounded in real-world results. She equips her clients with the mindset, tools, and support they need to move from burnout to wellness, from striving to intentional living. Whether through one-on-one sessions, group coaching, wellness workshops, or retreat experiences, Sandi creates safe, empowering spaces for women to rediscover their voice, power, and purpose. She is the author of two transformational books: The Road Undefined: A Woman's Guide to Leading with Authenticity - a powerful blend of memoir and leadership guidebook that challenges women to lead without losing themselves and Get An Edge in Life with Essential Oils - an uplifting and accessible guide for those exploring natural wellness and the power of plant-based support for the body, mind, and spirit Sandi also leads a growing wellness community where she educates others on the benefits of essential oils, movement, and everyday practices that support vibrant living-especially for women navigating career transitions or personal reinvention. At the heart of it all, Sandi is passionate about redefining what it means to 'have it all.' She believes that true success is not found in titles or to-do lists, but in peace, purpose, and the freedom to live a life that honors who you really are. She lives in Middletown, New York with her husband and four children, and she continues to lead by example-showing that you can be powerful and peaceful, ambitious and well, strong and soft. When she's not coaching or speaking, cheering from the sidelines of a basketball game, or enjoying a moment of quiet reflection with a journal and a diffuser nearby. If you're ready to rise without running yourself into the ground, Sandi's work offers a fresh, affirming path forward-one where you don't have to trade authenticity for achievement.

Textauszug

Chapter 1:

Let’s Get Real

 

 

 

 

My mind was filled with doubts as I began to write a book about leading with authenticity, simply because I am keenly aware that we often observe many leaders advancing in their careers while not being authentic at all. When nepotism, favoritism, and all the other “isms” seem to promote some a lot faster, one may wonder, “Why am I reading this book again?” Well, let me remind you.

Being authentic in leadership refers to the quality of being true to yourself and your values while leading others. It revolves around genuine and transparent behavior. It’s about leaders being sincere, honest, and unwaveringly consistent in their words, actions, and choices. Authentic leaders don’t put on a facade or conceal their true selves. Instead, they embrace their unique qualities and lead with integrity. This means being upfront about their strengths, weaknesses, and vulnerabilities, fostering trust and connection with those they lead. Overall, leading authentically empowers women to create a positive and lasting impact, both within their organizations and in society as a whole, and feel good about it. This is what kept me excited to go to work every day—the impact I had on my team and my organization, as well as on my personal growth. If this sounds like an aspiration for you, then keep following along.

Make no mistake, navigating a male-dominated industry as a woman certainly requires a unique approach, one that embraces honesty and confidence and also acknowledges the challenges that come with it. As you navigate this terrain, reflecting on your experiences and values will serve as your compass, guiding you toward a leadership style that feels true to who you are. Whether you’re just starting out or have years of experience under your belt, recognizing the importance of your individuality and perspective can empower you to navigate the road ahead with confidence and resilience.

Throughout this book, I will remind you that my road was filled with potholes and debris that challenged me along the way, and I am sure that you will have challenges of your own. Embrace them and grow from them, understanding that you cannot foster change without confronting the challenges that arise. This is a concept I wish I’d known when I first became a manager. It could have saved me years of swimming against the tide.

In the Beginning

I entered Bridges and Tunnels through the MTA’s Future Manager Program—an intense, two-year professional development program designed to identify and prepare employees to take on first-level management positions within the MTA’s operational agencies. The program offered management training with a demanding job rotation through different departments in our prospective agency. This experience was crucial in preparing me for future managerial responsibilities. Those who had the opportunity to go through this program were often better prepared to navigate the nuances of leadership. As a Future Manager, we had the ability to gain visibility, prove our worth, make mistakes, and still be forgiven. However, integrating into a new culture presented us with challenges that a program could not prepare us for. As I would soon learn, it takes time for established cultures to embrace newcomers.

During my early days, there was a situation in one of my rotations that tested my integrity, a quality that I held as a core value even then. The head manager gave me some administrative work to do. It was detailed work, and I was eager to learn it. One particular time, when I didn’t quite understand certain parts of the assignment, I asked the analyst for his assistance. He questioned why I was doing his work in the first place and immediately became upset with me. In an attempt to defuse the situation, I immediately apologized and turned the report over to him. Seeking guidance, I approached the next middle manager to explain the situation, but the response I received left me baffled. Instead of gaining clarity, I was instructed to admonish the analyst for the way he responded toward me, or I would have to deal with the head manager. I felt horrible because, in my opinion, this small incident didn’t need to escalate. And based on conversations I had overheard, I knew I was in the middle of office politics and was being used to further disciplinary action against the analyst. I voiced my concerns and stated that I didn’t believe it was appropriate for me, as a future manager, to confront the analyst.

However, the encounter took an unexpected turn; the head manager came into the office and began screaming at me from the top of her lungs. Despite the confrontation, I remained composed, reaffirming my commitment to maintaining my integrity and the process of learning. My response only made her angrier as she stormed out the door. I knew I would not have a successful rotation after that encounter. I immediately called my mentor, explained the situation, and asked to be reassigned. Before I left that facility, I had a conversation with the middle manager to state, “That as a Future Manager, I am a clean slate with the need to rely on the expertise of seasoned managers to teach me what I need to know to be successful. However, I walked in with my integrity, and I intended to walk out with it, and if this was the type of culture I am walking into, I am prepared to go back to my old agency.” At the very beginning of my managerial career, I boldly stood firm on what I believed was right, even in the face of severe consequences. Make no mistake, I did not walk away from that encounter unscathed, but I was able to advocate for myself and let others know I wasn’t afraid to do so.

This was just the beginning of challenging moments that would test my value system, and I wish I could tell you that I successfully navigated all of them. Nevertheless, I learned that identifying your tolerance level and knowing that there are always options available to you, even when it seems like there aren’t any, is crucial in overcoming challenging situations. My advice to you is this: If you have yet to identify who you are as a leader, then begin by knowing who you are not. As I reflected on the incident, I realized the importance of staying true to my values and principles, even in the face of pressure or discomfort. By recognizing my boundaries and refusing to compromise my integrity, I was able to maintain my sense of self-respect and dignity while setting the tone of how I intend to show up. It served as a reminder that embracing authenticity is essential in building a successful and fulfilling career journey.

Consider: How might compromising your values in the workplace impact your sense of self-worth and authenticity as a woman striving to make meaningful contributions?

 

Over the years, the concept of leadership has grown beyond the traditional paradigms of authority and control. Now more than ever, good leaders are expected to embody authenticity and purpose in their approach to guiding and inspiring others. These pillars of leadership are not only crucial for personal fulfillment but also for fostering trust, engagement, and resilience within teams and organizations. As leaders manage the complexities of their roles, particularly in environments with strict rules and regulations, the ability to authentically connect with others and align actions with purpose becomes key. It is within this space as an Operations Superintendent that I found myself dealing with the day-to-day challenges at a major bridge in New York City.

To have a productive environment, I knew it was critical that I foster strong working relationships with the uniformed staff. Adhering strictly to the rules wouldn’t always lead to the best outcomes, even though the workplace culture was built on adhering to the “rules and regulations.” I needed to connect with them.

As an “outsider” in the organization, I was presented with a lot of resistance and “trial by fire.” Managing a confrontational culture as a middle manager required me not only to secure the trust of the workforce but also to accomplish the objectives set by upper management. Drawing from my past experiences working simultaneously as both a represented employee in NYCT and a Lieutenant in the United States Army National Guard, I possess a unique understanding of the culture and leadership. Rather than operating as a conventional line manager, blindly following and giving orders, I embraced the role of a servant leader, drawing upon my military background and honing my skills in team building, development, and coaching. This allowed me to position myself as a resource for both the workforce and upper management. Navigating the middle lane was challenging, but my intentions were unwavering. I built genuine relationships, caring for the employees as well as focusing on the goals of the agency.

I distinctly remember the day I discovered my true purpose within my agency. On this particular day, a lieutenant came to my office for guidance. She was widely known for her focus on business and her determination to shatter every glass ceiling in her path. During our conversation, she confided in me something deeply personal. This allowed me to see her in an entirely new light. I listened attentively, providing her with the opportunity to express herself in a way that was unfamiliar to her, and she began to cry. I offered her a safe space to do so. However, once she realized her vulnerability, she quickly withdrew and left my office. It was at that...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 3.9.2025
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Beruf / Finanzen / Recht / Wirtschaft
• ISBN-10: 1-7353232-1-7 / 1735323217
• ISBN-13: 978-1-7353232-1-3 / 9781735323213