Jackie Insinger - Spark Brilliance Spark Memos
Your weekly boost of practical leadership wisdom - rooted in neuroscience, backed by data, and crafted for real-world results. Each memo offers a spark of insight to help you lead with clarity, empathy, and purpose - especially when things get messy.
Standing at the edge of what’s next
Standing at the edge of what’s next As this year comes to a close, I’ve found myself reflecting less on milestones and more on chapters. Not what happened.But what each season asked of me. 2024 was hard. Not in a dramatic way.In the deeper, more humbling way. It stretched me in places I did not choose.It asked me to sit with grief.To face moments I could not fix.To accept that effort and intention are not always enough to make things whole. That year challenged me at my core.And it changed me...
The Year Clarity Became Connection
The Year Clarity Became Connection Hey Spark Family, As we step into a new year, I’ve been reflecting on what 2025 taught us - and how those lessons can shape the way we lead in 2026. This past year reminded me that leadership isn’t about doing more; it’s about being more.More clear.More grounded.More connected. We’ve navigated uncertainty, shifting priorities, and constant change. Yet through it all, the leaders who made the biggest impact weren’t the busiest, they were the ones who brought...
The Leadership Reset: Why Slowing Down Moves You Forward
The Leadership Reset: Why Slowing Down Moves You Forward Hey Spark Family, This time of year, most leaders are running full speed to the finish line - closing loops, finalizing budgets, planning for next year. But here’s what I keep hearing in coaching conversations:Leaders are moving fast but not forward. When your pace outruns your purpose, you lose clarity, connection, and creativity - the very things that make you effective. Slowing down isn’t falling behind. It’s creating the space to...
The ROI of Leadership Energy
The ROI of Leadership Energy Hey Spark Family, Every leader knows what burnout feels like.But fewer realize what it costs. When a leader runs on empty, it’s not just personal fatigue, it’s organizational drag. Decisions slow down. Communication gets foggy. Creativity fades. The ripple effect quietly spreads across teams, until exhaustion becomes culture. And the financial cost? It’s higher than most realize. The Research Is Clear ➡ Gallup (2025): 62% of managers report feeling emotionally...
The Leadership Reset: Ending the Year with Intention
The Leadership Reset: Ending the Year with Intention Hey Spark Family, As the year winds down, most leaders are doing one thing... sprinting to the finish line.They’re closing loops, hitting targets, checking boxes. But here’s the question I’ve been asking the leaders I work with:What if the most productive thing you could do right now is pause? Not to stop the work, but to shift the lens. Because great leaders don’t just plan the next quarter. They reflect on the one they just led....
The Gratitude Multiplier: Leading Through Appreciation
The Gratitude Multiplier: Leading Through Appreciation Hey Spark Family, This Thanksgiving, I’ve been reflecting on how gratitude isn’t just something we feel - it’s something we practice.And the most effective leaders I know don’t just express gratitude occasionally - they embed it into the way they lead. Because gratitude, when practiced intentionally, becomes a multiplier.It strengthens relationships. It builds trust. And it reminds teams - in the middle of deadlines, change, and stress -...
The Missing System in Business: Leadership
The Missing System in Business: Leadership Hey Spark Family, We’ve built systems for everything - operations, tech, finance, marketing.But the one thing that holds them all together?Still runs on instinct. Leadership is the only system most organizations leave to chance. We invest millions in strategy and transformation, yet most leaders are still operating from personality, habit, or outdated playbooks. That’s why execution often breaks down - not because the plan is flawed, but because the...
The Real Cost of a Meeting
The Real Cost of a Meeting Hey Spark Family, When was the last time you left a meeting thinking, “That was an excellent use of my time”? If you had to pause to think about it, you’re not alone. Meetings have exploded - up 252% since 2020, according to Microsoft research. And yet, most leaders haven’t stopped to ask the simplest question: “Is this the highest-impact use of my minutes?” For many, the answer is no. We’ve normalized meeting inflation - “standing” check-ins that no one questions...
Leadership Scarcity Isn’t About Headcount - It’s About Depth
Leadership Scarcity Isn’t About Headcount - It’s About Depth Hey Spark Family, Everywhere I turn, organizations are asking the same question:“Where are all the ready leaders?” It’s not that companies don’t have people - they do.They have high performers, rising stars, ambitious talent at every level. The real problem isn’t a lack of headcount.It’s a lack of depth. Too many leaders are promoted faster than they’re prepared.Too many managers are stretched thinner than they can sustain.And too...
Human Connection: The Advantage AI Will Never Have
Human Connection: The Advantage AI Will Never Have Hey Spark Family, We’re leading in a moment where technology can do almost anything - write code, create content, analyze data, even simulate empathy. But as leaders, we know something algorithms can’t replicate: the human connection that fuels trust, belonging, and brilliance. Because no matter how fast technology advances, people don’t thrive on automation... they thrive on authentic connection. And right now, that’s exactly what’s missing...
Your weekly boost of practical leadership wisdom - rooted in neuroscience, backed by data, and crafted for real-world results. Each memo offers a spark of insight to help you lead with clarity, empathy, and purpose - especially when things get messy.