My Why
A number of years into my leadership journey, I left a decade-long career for my dream job. By the end of day one, I was mentally drafting my resignation letter.
Ultimately, I decided to stay but every morning was like waking up with an inexplicable pain in your side that you push through because there’s no obvious cause and therefore, no obvious solution.
I spent most of my day inside of a suffocating box called an office. I had no desire to connect with the people around me, contribute ideas, find solutions, or grow beyond what was required of me. I just wanted to get in and out. Then, a leader with a fresh perspective walked in, and it felt like someone opened the windows.
Inspired by the way this person built trust, led with care, and nurtured a collaborative (and dare I say fun?) team environment, I found the pain in my side subsiding. My energy shifted to asking better questions, seeking out new opportunities, and contributing in ways I hadn’t before. I didn’t have the language yet, but I was beginning to bloom!
I thought I hated my job but later realized I just hated the way I experienced my job. Now, when I reflect on the day I went from orientation to resignation, I wonder how many talented people leave, not because of the organization itself, but because of the leaders who shape the way they experience it?
I'm grateful to have met a different kind of leader. One who showed me that leadership is about far more than managing work. It's about growing people, strengthening teams, and shaping culture. I call such leaders Culture Cultivators™ because they understand The Secret Job Description™ and intentionally practice the five core capabilities that prepare them to meet every leadership moment with care and confidence.
Today, Lead2Bloom exists to help new and evolving leaders learn what everyone expects them to know but no one ever teaches. The lessons I've learned through trial and error are now the ones I teach on purpose. My signature talk, immersive workshops, and thoughtful mentoring shortens the leadership learning curve and prepares people to be the Culture Cultivators™ that every organization needs.🌱
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Marshawn Razor, MBA earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Howard University and her Master of Business Administration from Loyola University Chicago. She will begin her doctoral studies at Loyola in fall 2026. When not blooming leaders, she enjoys blooming indoor plants, recreating restaurant dishes, and getting lost in 90's music or offbeat documentaries.
