Part 2 ,  Courage, Resilience, and Leading Through Crisis

Renie Cavallari faced one of her toughest leadership tests during the pandemic, when 60% of Aspire’s business, rooted in hospitality, collapsed almost overnight. March 22, 2020 became the most difficult day of her career: for the first time in 25 years, she had to lay off team members she deeply valued. Yet she and her COO quickly built a four-part resiliency plan grounded in realism, speed, and service. They preserved business where possible, shifted their work to virtual delivery by May 1, reevaluated every cost, including executive salary cuts, and focused fiercely on productivity for those who remained. Stand-up meetings, “word of the day” routines, and emotional-stress-reduction practices helped the team regain clarity and momentum.

Equally important was Aspire’s “give strategy.” They offered more than 500 free coaching hours and 86 free speeches to help leaders navigate crisis. That generosity provided unexpected insight: studying high-performing organizations revealed six pillars of intentional leadership that drove sustainable success during uncertainty. Cavallari also draws courage from her father’s advice - “Who you hang with is who you become,” and from her own history surviving recessions, failures, and reinvention. Tenacity, reflection, and realism form the foundation of her resilience.

Notable Quotes/Highlights

• “Success is freedom.”
• “Experience fuels courage.”
• “The disconnected side of the brain blinds us.”
• “How can I help you right now?”
• “Tenacity has served me my whole life.”

Closing Reflection

‍Renie’s story is a testament to courageous, service-driven leadership. She shows that resilience is built through clarity, authenticity, and the willingness to keep moving, especially when conditions are hardest. Her example reminds leaders that courage is not the absence of fear, but the choice to act with purpose, compassion, and unwavering tenacity.