I recently soft-launched The Intimate Instinct through a 10-week pilot program. The Intimate Instinct is a wellness space specifically centered around sexuality, intimacy, and relationships. In small, intimate settings, we come together as a group of women to explore these topics through two key lenses: the psychological dynamics of masculine and feminine energy and the physiological impact of hormones and neurotransmitters.

This pilot program wrapped up last week, and over the past few days, I’ve taken the time to reflect on what I learned—not just about the content I taught, but about the experience of running a program like this for the first time. While the program exceeded my expectations, there are 10 key things I took away from these 10 weeks:

1. Organization and Systems Matter

Having structured systems in place made everything smoother. I used pre-session and post-session checklists to keep track of my tasks, added the corresponding workbook page numbers to my presentation slides, prepared detailed agendas, and updated calendar invites with the resources, topics, and timing for each session. These small touches helped guide my participants throughout the program.

2. Be Comfortable Saying "I Don't Know"

As a generalist and someone new to leading a program like this, I had to get comfortable admitting when I didn’t have an answer. It’s far better to say, “I don’t know, but I’ll look into it,” or “This is just my theory,” than to present guesses as facts.

3. Silence Creates Space for Depth

As humans, we have become so conditioned to think that silence is a bad thing, and all too often, we jump to fill a void in conversation—even if it means repeating ourselves unnecessarily or adding something that isn’t useful. I need to become more okay with the silence. Those pauses aren’t empty—they are opportunities for participants to process, reflect, and gather their thoughts so that they can contribute more meaningful insights to the discussion.

4. Time Moves Differently for a Teacher Than for a Student

When you're deeply familiar with a subject, it's easy to assume others will pick it up quickly. But new concepts take time to sink in. I have to slow down my lessons a bit, not pack my sessions too tightly with material, and leave more space for discussion.

5. Show People Where You're Taking Them

Whether for a single session or an entire program, setting expectations is key. Show participants the destination first, then guide them through the journey step by step.

6. Build in Breaks

Running a new program with new material for 10 consecutive weeks was intense. I thought one week between each session would be enough time to get myself prepared for the next round—it often wasn’t. In the future, I am going to include planned breaks—for me and for participants—to allow for better preparation and deeper processing.

7. Find the Right Balance for Feedback

I wanted to collect as much feedback as possible, but 13 surveys in 10 weeks was too much for my group. Response rates and the quality of feedback dropped over time. The lesson? Be strategic about when and how often you ask for feedback.

8. Authenticity Creates Comfort

This wasn’t meant to feel like school at the end of a long workday—it was meant to be intimate and engaging. In the future, I’d like to introduce casual elements, like having a glass of wine together or eating our dinners together while on our call. Some of my best moments were when I was just myself—messy bun, no makeup, no bra on under my oversized sweatshirt. Because this was a safe space, those superficial things didn’t matter. What did matter was fostering an environment where people felt comfortable showing up as their true selves.

9. Leadership Presence Still Matters

While my physical appearance wasn’t important in this space, my leadership presence was. I had to be mindful of my energy, body language, and how I carried myself. In the first session, I was swiveling in my chair nonstop due to my relentless restless leg syndrome (IYKYK)—it was distracting for my audience! Being aware of how I show up on camera and how my presence influences engagement is something I’ll keep refining.

10. Be a Human First

Life happens. Participants had to miss sessions due to illness, family emergencies, vacations, and oversleeping. I was initially frustrated by imperfect attendance, but I learned that being understanding and accommodating creates a better experience for everyone.

Final Reflection: I’m Exactly Where I Need to Be

This experience reinforced something I already suspected—I love public speaking, community building, teaching, and working with these topics. Looking back on these 10 weeks, I’d take this over my years in corporate tech any day. Oftentimes, the best career move isn’t the one that looks good on paper—it’s the one that feels right in your soul.

For anyone thinking about launching their own program or stepping into a new career direction: trust yourself, be willing to learn as you go, and create the kind of experience you would want to be part of.

If you're interested in joining a community of like-minded women—a space where we come together to support each other, learn, laugh, and sometimes even cry—the next cohort starts on May 8. Applications are open now, and the enrollment deadline is May 3. Spots are limited as each cohort is capped at 10 women, and they’re filling up fast. Apply now to avoid the waitlist and increase your chances of getting into this next round.

➡️ Learn more at theintimateinstinct.com or go straight to theintimateinstinct.com/apply to get started.