There’s a certain clarity that comes at year’s end and it has me thinking about the road we have all taken to arrive here. 2025 was a year that rarely stayed still. It surprised us, stretched us, and at times demanded more creativity and resilience than any of us anticipated. Yet even in the midst of that constant motion, the year also revealed what becomes possible when we choose to lean into change with intention rather than hesitation.

Across industries, leaders felt the ground shifting beneath them. Technology continued its rapid march, reshaping not only how work gets done but how people expect to experience it. AI became more integrated and more scrutinized. Talent needs evolved faster than traditional systems could respond. And organizations everywhere found themselves wrestling with a simple but profound question: How do we build structures that honor both efficiency and humanity in equal measure?

In the center of all this movement, IA evolved its rhythm, and you all played a central role. The work we did together wasn’t just about solving discrete problems or deploying new tools. It was about rethinking our foundations: how we operate, how we serve our people, and how we prepare for what’s next. I watched teams navigate ambiguity with a steadiness that made me proud. You all asked the hard questions, challenged assumptions, and never lost sight of the humans behind every process, decision, and transformation.

Internally, what struck me most this year was the sheer range of challenges we faced. One day we were helping a global organization reimagine its workforce experience; the next, we were guiding a leadership team through a complex operating model shift; and in the same breath, we were making sense of evolving capabilities that hadn’t existed a year before. Through it all, we showed our clients – and one another – that clarity is always possible, even when the landscape is unfamiliar.

As much as this season invites reflection, it also forces us to look ahead. In January, IA will mark its 20th anniversary. It’s a milestone worth acknowledging, though I’m careful not to let it take over the story. Longevity alone isn’t the accomplishment; what matters is what we’ve done with those years, and what we intend to do with those yet to come.

When IA was founded, the world of work looked very different. Even so, the belief that organizational success begins with understanding people has remained our compass. It has guided us through periods of rapid change, moments of uncertainty, and the countless transformations we’ve supported across two decades. Now, as we enter our third, that belief feels more relevant, and more urgent, than ever.

For the foreseeable future, leaders will keep wrestling with the tension between innovation and responsibility, striving to move forward without losing sight of their people. Employees will expect workplaces that are more adaptive and more attuned to the pressures they’re carrying. And organizations will need to make choices not just about what they build, but why. Through all of this, IA will be right there, helping navigate with clarity, courage, and compassion.

My hope for the coming year is simple: that we stay curious, stay bold, and stay grounded in humanity. That we continue to be advisors who tell the truth kindly, who simplify what feels unwieldy, and who create calm in environments that don’t always reward it. Our anniversary is a moment to honor where we’ve been, but the real story is the one we’re still writing…together.

Thank you for your trust, partnership, and perspective. Your engagement in this work, and your willingness to rethink, reimagine, and evolve, continues to inspire us each and every day. As the year comes to a close, I’m filled with both gratitude and anticipation. We have an extraordinary opportunity ahead of us, and I look forward to what we’ll build in the years to come.

With the warmest regards and best wishes for the holidays,

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THE LATEST

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The close of the year offers a natural moment to reflect on progress, performance, and priorities.

In this month’s featured PM Corner post, Sammye Walton presents a high-impact retrospective framework for project leaders. She explores how project leaders can translate lessons learned into sharper priorities, better governance, and more intentional planning for the year ahead.

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OF INTEREST

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reality, not assumptions.

We believe that solutions need to be built around your unique business, not some trendy framework. So we don’t pre-package services for you before we’ve gotten to know you – but we can show you the possibilities.