Glenda Adams is a Graduate from the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 Leadership Fredericksburg Program. This is a reflective blog essay written by Glenda Adams in collaboration with Maria Ortiz.
The Leadership Lesson I Didn’t Expect
“It Took Nine Months… and While I Didn’t Get a Baby, I Got a New Perspective on Leadership” – Glenda A., Senior Staffing Coordinator
Nine months ago, I walked into my Leadership Fredericksburg class, not fully knowing what to expect. Like many people, I hoped to grow professionally, make a few connections, and maybe learn a couple of leadership strategies along the way.
I didn’t expect the experience to challenge me so personally.
Leadership programs are funny that way. You sign up thinking you’re going to learn how to lead others better, and somewhere along the journey, you learn that leadership begins with leading yourself.
Growth Happens One Step at a Time
Over the past nine months, our class has spent time learning about our community, exploring different leadership styles, hearing from incredible speakers, working through team projects, and navigating the reality that leadership is rarely simple or comfortable. There were early mornings, long conversations, difficult questions, and moments that pushed all of us outside of our comfort zones.
And somewhere in the middle of all of that, growth happened.
Not overnight.
Not perfectly.
But steadily.
I learned that leadership is not about having all the answers. Leadership means showing up consistently, listening intentionally, and being willing to serve even when no one is watching. It is about building relationships, earning trust, and understanding that every person brings value to the table.
Leadership Beyond the Title
One of the biggest takeaways for me was realizing that leadership is deeply connected to the community. Through this experience, I gained a greater appreciation for the people and organizations working every day to make Fredericksburg stronger.
Our class project challenged us in ways I didn’t anticipate. Working in collaboration with Downtown Greens on a proposed community garden initiative, our team assisted with developing cost estimates, creating marketing strategies, and conducting community surveys to help assess the project’s feasibility and community interest. There were moments where things felt overwhelming, moments where plans changed, and moments where we had to figure things out together.
“Looking back, those moments were some of the most valuable because they reminded me that leadership is often less about control and more about adaptability.” – Glenda A., Senior Staffing Coordinator
Most importantly, this experience reminded me that leadership is not tied to a title.
- You can lead by encouraging someone. My team lead encouraged me to contribute more actively during discussions, which gradually helped me build confidence in sharing my ideas and perspectives.
- You can lead by supporting your team. My team rotated leading meetings and made a point to distribute work evenly, which helped ensure fairness, accountability, and shared ownership of the project.
- You can lead by speaking up. My team encouraged each other to answer questions, communicate and give input
- You can lead by listening. My team actively listened to one another, fostering open communication and mutual understanding.
- You can lead simply by caring. My team’s shared sense of care helped create a positive, collaborative environment where everyone felt valued and motivated to contribute. Our project was ultimately successful because of each member’s ownership, support, and encouragement for each other.
A New Perspective After Nine Months
Over these nine months, I gained more than professional development. I gained confidence, perspective, friendships, and a renewed sense of purpose. I became more intentional about how I communicate, how I support others, and how I show up both professionally and personally.
So no, after nine months, I didn’t get a baby.
But I walked away with a new perspective.
A stronger network.
A deeper connection to my community.
And a better understanding of the kind of leader I want to be.
And honestly, that feels pretty life-changing too.
Lead with Purpose. Start Today.
Your leadership journey starts with a single step. Learn more about Leadership Fredericksburg and apply today. Applications for the next class are open until July 3rd.