For more than 30 years, I have worked in higher education, leadership development, teaching, and organized learning. Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity and pleasure of working with students, faculty, staff, clients, and leaders, navigating everything from performance concerns and interpersonal conflict to conversations about identity, belonging, and organizational change. What I’ve learned is that most people don’t struggle because they don’t care about relationships or communication. They struggle because difficult conversations are just that - difficult! As an educator, facilitator, and leadership practitioner, I’ve spent much of my career helping people (and myself!) build the skills needed to communicate more clearly, to listen purposefully, and engage across differences with respect and curiosity. Since 2013, I have been exploring how the principles of Nonviolent Communication can help people move from avoidance and defensiveness toward greater clarity, connection, and understanding. Across all of my work, one theme continues to emerge: our ability to have meaningful conversations often determines the quality of our relationships, our leadership, and our communities.