Leading By Design: Relections from Season 3 & Looking Ahead to 2026

Season 3 of LeadSpeak was more than a collection of episodes—it was a shared exploration of what leadership really looks like for school‑based Speech‑Language Pathologists today.

In this special season wrap‑up episode, co‑hosts Judy Rich and Nathalie Lebrun reflect on the powerful conversations, mindset shifts, and practical leadership lessons that defined Culture by Design. From therapy rooms to district systems, this season highlighted how leadership shows up in everyday decisions—and how intentionality shapes the cultures we work in.

Across Season 3, our guests challenged us to expand how we think about leadership in schools:

• Trauma‑informed leadership and the importance of trust, transparency, and choice

• Redefining data and progress to reflect meaningful, student‑centered outcomes

• Using language and relationships to build strong, resilient teams

• Creating systems that support, retain, and grow SLPs

• Leveraging data and advocacy to influence instruction, policy, and legislation

Each episode reinforced a core truth: culture doesn’t happen by accident—it’s designed through daily leadership actions.

As we zoom out on the season, several themes rise to the surface:

• Intentionality matters. Culture is shaped by choices, not chance.

• Leadership is not a title. Influence lives in relationships, systems, and follow‑through.

• Connection drives change. Teams thrive when people feel seen, supported, and aligned.

• SLPs are system‑level thinkers. Our impact extends far beyond the therapy room.

• Values must become visible. When values turn into structures, sustainability follows.

We’re thrilled to share that LeadSpeak has been invited to deliver the 2026 Texas Speech‑Language‑Hearing Association (TSHA) Annual Convention Keynote in Fort Worth.

Our keynote, “Welcome Home: Where Your First Hello Grows the TSHA Constellation,” builds directly on the ideas explored throughout Season 3. It’s an invitation to reconnect—with one another, with our profession, and with the power of saying that first hello.

As we close Season 3 and prepare for what’s next—including the TSHA keynote and Season 4—we invite you to reflect:

• How are you designing culture where you work?

• Who benefits when you choose to lead—right where you are?

• What might change if you said hello first?

If LeadSpeak has challenged or inspired you:

• Follow the podcast so new episodes land directly in your feed

• Share an episode with a colleague you see as a leader—or one who’s becoming one

• Stay connected as we build what’s next, together

Thank you for being part of the LeadSpeak community.

Season 3 reminded us: leadership isn’t something we wait for—it’s something we design.