How Not to Give Up in Late-Stage, Extractive Capitalist Models: We can give up on the model but not the humanity.

Let’s take a moment, shall we? 

( inhale, exhale, repeat) 

OK now, if you’re staring down the start of 2025 and feeling like you’re juggling collapsing systems, overbooked calendars, and the slow realization that the way things have always been just isn’t cutting it anymore—you’re not alone. 

                       But hear me out: now is not the time to give up!

If 2024 left you feeling drained and disillusioned, I get it. But this is your sign to hit the reset button.
 

Here are five tips to help you shift gears, reclaim your energy, and lean into the kind of leadership that will actually carry us forward as women leaders to ensure our communities move beyond surviving and begin to thrive.

 

Step 1: Please Don’t Give Up! Rest and Reset, But Don’t Lose Hope

Take a deep breath. Seriously. Go ahead, I’ll wait. Ok, I'll also take some deep breaths, too.  

I know it’s tempting to tap out when things feel overwhelming, but if I may kindly remind us: 

what we’re building together matters!  

The systems we’re challenging didn’t break overnight, and the new ones we’re building won’t happen overnight either. That’s why rest isn’t just a luxury—it’s resistance.

Rest, reflect, & reset your focus. Shoutout to The Nap Ministry and the brilliant Tricia Hersey for teaching us that rest isn’t just recovery—it’s revolutionary. 

And when you’re ready, we will get back to work.

Step 2: Retire the Ego Olympics

Ego-driven leadership? Played out. 

No one wants to work for (or with) someone who’s more interested in their own clout than collective progress. The New Gold Standard is our humanity. It is what sets us apart from the robots and for that matter anyone not properly valuing human for our goodness. 

The real leaders of 2025 won’t be the loudest in the room. 

They’ll be the ones empowering others, building trust, and focusing on connection. 

If you’re caught up in showing off instead of showing up, it’s time to let that go. 

Let’s prioritize trust and teamwork over titles and trophies.

Step 3: Join Me in Building New Leadership Models for 2025 and Beyond

Forget the cliques and the gatekeeping vibes of the past—it’s time for leadership that’s collaborative, inclusive, and regenerative.

Portland, Oregon based groups like Rose City Techies and AI Portland are already showing us how to redefine what innovation looks like by centering connection and community, possibly putting gender aside and still building spaces where everyone feels welcome!

Nation wide orgs like WBENC, AWBC and OWBO give more than box checking when it comes to prioritizing women in business specifically.

 

✨ Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)
Though not a government agency, WBENC is a powerhouse when it comes to certifying women business owners. It is particularly helpful if your goal is to supply major corporations. Get certified, for a fee, attend a conference, and network with fellow women business owners through WBENC.

✨Association of Women's Business Centers (AWBC) Though a non-profit, rather than a government agency, the Association of Women’s Business Centers is recommended by the SBA. The organization manages 100 centers nationwide dedicated to encouraging and supporting female entrepreneurs. The directory at the site of local women’s business centers is a good starting point for consulting and guidance.

✨Office of Women’s Business Ownership (OWBO)

This agency oversees the US government’s efforts to support women business owners through counseling, mainly. It is an office within the Small Business Administration.

This shift in envisioning new leadership is not about ego; it’s about shared impact by staying curious and collaborative. If this resonates with you, let’s build this vision together. 

✨Check out how we can work together here—whether it’s through coaching, workshops, or the     

✨ Business 4 Good Boost Camp

Step 4: Your Net Worth Is Your Collaborative Network - Dump the Rest of Those Jerks, seriously.

Listen, life is too short to keep jerks in your network. Your real value lies in the people who challenge, inspire, and support you.

Find collaborators who are as invested in your growth as you are in theirs. 

These are the people who will help you build something sustainable, not just profitable. And the ones who drain your energy or pull you back?

 

It’s time to let them go. Seriously. Bye boy, bye.

Step 5: Ditch Extractive Models and Focus on Relationships

Let’s face it: the old playbook of extractive leadership is not only unsustainable—it’s harmful. The future of leadership is regenerative....call it female, call it collaborative just don't call it the same shit with a different look. Am I right?

That means creating systems that replenish instead of deplete!

It’s about investing in communities, prioritizing equity, and building connections that endure. Looking at women-led initiatives like Xcelerate Women, we’re seeing what’s possible when leadership is rooted in relationships, not transactions.

The good news? You can be part of this shift. It starts with prioritizing real, meaningful connections.

BONUS NOTION: Business 4 Good big idea... The New GOLD Standard. Our Humanity.

As we reset for 2025, let’s remember: the most valuable resource we have is our humanity. That’s what we’re centering in this new era of leadership—our ability to connect, create, and care for one another. To celebrate this mindset, I’ve designed the New GOLD Standard hat—sourced, made, and designed by all-women companies. It’s more than merch; it’s a reminder of the kind of leadership we’re embracing.

✨ Get your own customized GOLD Standard hat here!

Wear your commitment to building business for good. ✨

The Time Is Now.Friends, the systems around us may be crumbling, but that’s exactly why we need to step up. This is the moment to reset our operating systems and build the world we want—one rooted in empathy, collaboration, and sustainability.

So Please Don’t Give Up! Rest when you need to, but don’t lose hope. The future we’re building matters! Take a breath, reset, and then let’s get back to work.

With you always,
Rose

P.S. Ready to start 2025 on your terms? Join me for the Business 4 Good Boost Camp happening Jan 14–28. Together, we’ll explore how to reset your leadership and make technology work for your values. Register here—and if you sign up before Dec 31, you’ll get a complimentary 1-hour 1:1 session with me. Let’s build 2025 together!