What I Learned as a Man at Women Excelle: A Wake-Up Call for Leaders Everywhere
My Experience at Women Excelle
Imagine growing up as the youngest of five kids—and the only boy. My life was shaped by incredible female leaders: my mom, my sisters, my aunts, my grandmothers, my teachers, and later, my wife and our daughters. This upbringing taught me resilience, compassion, and determination, and attending SWFL’s Women Excelle 2024 was a powerful reminder of just how much women are accomplishing and the challenges they’ve overcome. Each story was a testament to progress, resilience, and a commitment to inspire and grow.
When my wife, Susana, was invited to attend by a friend at the SBDC (Small Business Development Center), I asked if men could join. When I found out they could, I decided to show up for the amazing women on our team. My plan was simple—to stay in the background, listen, and support. But what I learned went far beyond what I expected.
From Inspiration to Action
The women at Women Excelle 2024 were inspiring—no question. But beyond inspiration, I was reminded of something crucial—many people want to live authentically and align with their core values, but they don’t always know where to start. Knowing your core values is essential, but without practical tools, it's easy to feel stuck.
We often drift through life on autopilot—did you know that studies suggest up to 45% of our waking hours are spent this way? Even with good intentions, it's easy to fall into habits that lead to burnout and dissatisfaction. Dr. Ryan M. Niemiec, Education Director of the VIA Institute on Character, explains that overusing our strengths can have unintended consequences. Humor can fall flat if used at the wrong time, and kindness can become intrusive when it turns into unsolicited advice.
This made me realize the importance of a practical roadmap—something that helps move people from inspiration to action. Tools like CliftonStrengths® and the VIA Character Survey provide a clear way to define values and strengths, helping us live with more intention.
Putting Values into Practice
As a Gallup®-Certified Strengths Coach, I see an opportunity to connect these themes of core values and authenticity with actionable tools. CliftonStrengths® helps identify what you do best, while VIA Character Strengths helps reveal the values that drive you. Together, they offer a complete picture of who you are.
For example, imagine your top talent is "Activator"—you thrive on making things happen. Combine that with the character strength of "Hope," and you’ve got an incredible force for motivating and uplifting others. Activator helps you take the first step and break through procrastination, while Hope ensures you maintain a vision of a better future, even during tough times.
Without mindfulness, these strengths can easily be overused—Activator might lead you to rush without planning, and Hope could come across as unrealistic. But by being mindful—understanding when and how to use each strength—you can ensure your actions are effective and inspiring.
Key Takeaways and Practical Steps
Define Your Core Values: Take time to reflect on what truly matters to you. Use tools like VIA Character Survey to identify your core values and start living with greater purpose.
Identify Your Strengths: CliftonStrengths® is a great tool for understanding your unique talents. Knowing what you do best will help you align your actions with what matters most.
Practice Mindfulness: Pay attention to your actions and how they align with your values. Mindfulness helps you avoid overusing strengths and ensures you're making thoughtful choices.
Combine Values and Strengths: Look for ways to combine your values with your strengths to create meaningful impact. For instance, if your strength is Activator, use it in line with your core values to motivate others effectively.
Living with Purpose
In her book Grace & Grit, keynote speaker Jennifer Ann Johnson wrote, "Knowing your core values is key to life, because your core values guide our thoughts and actions." This resonated with me deeply. Core values aren’t just a vague sense of right and wrong—they’re tangible principles that shape every decision we make, every relationship we nurture, and the way we do business. Knowing your strengths and aligning them with your core values creates meaningful impact—not just at work, but in every aspect of life.
Finding Your Energy Again
Jennifer also shared that the relentless pursuit of "doing more" often leads to exhaustion. This is where knowing and using your strengths becomes essential. Donald Clifton, the father of strengths-based psychology, emphasized that success doesn’t come from fixing weaknesses—it comes from focusing on your strengths.
When you align your actions with your core values and do what you do best, you’re not just achieving—you’re achieving with purpose. If you stay on autopilot, you risk burnout and disconnection from your potential. But by knowing your strengths and values, you can take deliberate steps toward a life filled with clarity, purpose, and fulfillment.
Jennifer also talked about identifying her triggers before they led to frustration. That’s when it clicked for me: mindfulness is the key to aligning actions with values. Ryan Niemiec explains that mindfulness helps us move from awareness to values-driven action. It’s in that moment between action and response where we have the opportunity to choose a deliberate, thoughtful reaction—one that aligns with our strengths and values.
Embracing Authenticity
I left Women Excelle feeling an overwhelming sense of pride for the world these incredible women are building. It’s a world my two daughters are growing into, and I’m deeply thankful for the women who are paving the way for them. The progress and commitment I witnessed gave me hope—not just for my daughters, but for everyone working to create meaningful change.
Attending Women Excelle showed me that so many people are searching for authenticity and success on their own terms. It reinforced my belief in using tools like CliftonStrengths® to explore core values and the importance of creating environments where people can harness their strengths. At Strengths Worth Developing, we help people define their values clearly and live with intention—turning life’s lessons into a structured path for lasting change.
Ready to Make a Change?
Are you ready to break free from feeling stuck and start building a meaningful life? Here are some practical next steps:
Discover Your Strengths: Use CliftonStrengths® to identify what you do best.
Define Your Values: Complete the VIA Character Survey to gain clarity on your core values.
Take Action: Start applying your strengths in a way that aligns with your values.
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