From the competition floor to the conference room: Lessons in business leadership from a dance mom

By day, I’m the US Chief People Officer at PwC. But last month during the firm’s July shutdown, I was at one of my daughter’s dance competitions with a title unlike any other on my resume – “dance mom.” Being a dance mom to my two daughters for nearly two decades has been an extraordinary journey. It's a role that requires immense commitment, support and sometimes comes with a few tears.

Behind the glitz and glamour of the stage, dancers face numerous challenges that push them to their limits both physically and mentally. While witnessing my daughter’s growth, triumphs and even their setbacks, I’ve learned a few important lessons for myself as a mother and HR leader. Here are four lessons that have translated from the competition floor to the conference room: 

1. Stay engaged, no matter what room you’re in

Whether you’re cheering on your kids or coaching a colleague, it’s important to be present, listen, watch with curiosity and figure out how you can make a difference in your role. These are the same lessons that thousands of PwCers have heard during our Leaders in Action speaker series, where we tune in to insights from distinguished thought leaders on the human dimensions of leadership and coaching — courage, inclusion and resilience.

As a business leader and dance mom, I’ve learned that showing up through those dimensions is key and requires going beyond your technical skill set or job description. It’s about demonstrating empathy, building trust with your colleagues and clients, and leading your team to their highest potential. That level of engagement helps my daughters and their dance teams deliver their strongest performance, and I’ve seen how it transforms teams at PwC as well. 

2. Preparation is key

One of the most crucial lessons my daughters have learned is the importance of preparation. Competitions teach the value of discipline, time management and the significance of setting achievable goals. When quick changes are required on the dance floor, it’s their tireless commitment to rehearsals and conditioning that make them better positioned to adapt. 

I encourage our people at PwC to do the same – even for the skills or behaviors that we feel proficient with. For example, our Inclusive Mindset badge includes a VR experience that provides employees with a judgment-free space to practice inclusive behaviors in live conversations and through role playing based on potential scenarios. It’s not enough that we know our values as a firm, it’s critical that we practice them and better ourselves each and every day. Watching my daughters and their peers pour themselves into their practice motivates me to find ways to do the same for soft and hard skills alike.

3. Be intentional about your growth

Like presenting on a project or pitching an idea to your colleagues, dance competitions are an opportunity to receive feedback from judges and industry professionals. While it can be challenging to hear critiques, learning to embrace constructive criticism is essential for growth. Competitions teach dancers to separate their personal worth from their performance and to use feedback as a tool to better hone their craft. Understanding that criticism is not a reflection of failure, but rather an opportunity for progress is a valuable lesson that extends beyond the competition stage. 

Learning how to receive feedback and use it to better focus on key areas moving forward is a key skill we all need to learn as we grow. It’s what inspired PwC to introduce an upward feedback tool, and it’s what inspires my daughters and their teammates to embrace feedback from all levels and audiences.

4. Embrace change and expect the unexpected

Things don’t always go as planned – in dance, unexpected obstacles like costume malfunctions, technical glitches, or even injuries often occur. These moments test a dancer's resilience and ability to adapt quickly. Competitions teach dancers to remain composed, improvise when necessary and focus on delivering their highest performance despite the challenges. 

Corporate America often talks about “putting out fires,” and dancers have taught me what it looks like to do that gracefully – a skill that dancers will undoubtedly carry with them throughout their lives, both personally and professionally. Just as I’ve watched a room of 200 dancers master new choreography in an hour or less, I’ve also seen our community of solvers at PwC deliver quick solutions and solve unexpected challenges with that same grace.

It is one of my greatest joys to be there for my daughters as they navigate their passion for dance, and like any parent, I am incredibly proud of the women they have become on and off the stage. If you know where to look, lessons on professional growth and development can come from everywhere – including dance competitions. 

My advice for any professional is to be like a dancer: don’t be afraid of feedback, give it your all at every turn, find your confidence and remember that you’re in the room for a reason.