Dear Colleague,

Happy New Year!! As we step into the year ahead, many of us are carrying a mix of hope, uncertainty, and responsibility at work and in life. The pace of change around us is real, and it can feel heavy at times. Yet it's often in these moments that we're reminded of what matters most: how we lead, how we treat one another, and how we stay grounded when the path forward isn't fully clear. This new year offers a chance to move ahead with optimism that's honest, compassion that's intentional, and a shared commitment to navigate whatever comes next-together.

Kicking of 2026 is a natural time to pause and reflect on where we're headed and why. Clarity of purpose becomes a powerful anchor and aligning our actions with what we value most. Goals matter, but not just the kind that live on a strategic plan. The most meaningful goals are grounded in purpose-how we want to show up, what we want to contribute, and the kind of impact we hope to make and be remembered. Being intentional about our choices this year matter, both big and small, and can help us move forward with clarity even when things may not feel certain. More than ever, knowing and staying true to our personal brand will be a strong foundation to allow our best authentic selves to guide us.

Equally important is remembering that none of us does this work alone. Strong relationships, trusted partnerships, alliances we nurture, and the support systems we lean on and offer others are essential sources of resilience that sustain us through change. In times of uncertainty, connection becomes a source of strength-offering perspective, encouragement, and resilience when we need it most.

As we step into the year ahead, investing in one another may be one of the most powerful things we can do.

Thank you for your continued support as I start my 21st year in business! I lead 2026 with gratitude, optimism and compassion focused on my purposeful goals for the year which inspired my word for this year - 'focus'. What is your word for the year? Please share with me as well as your updates. I look forward to continued partnership!

Best Regards,

Rita Balian Allen

My Books

My PERSONAL BRANDING AND MARKETING YOURSELF COMPANION WORKBOOK launched last year and is available here, as well as on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. It is a sequel to my first book, Personal Branding and Marketing Yourself and will equip readers with the tools they need to actualize the career they aspire to achieve. The duo will serve as a one-stop resource for managing your career yet can be used independently or collectively.

I will be joining Meghan SteinbergHR book club on February 23rd to discuss my new book. Please reach out if you would like me to present an interactive session at your organization, for your team, a book club, at your local book store and/or your professional or community association. I welcome your requests and can be reached at rita@ritaballenassociates.com.

On my website, you can see several sessions I have led on this topic in many different venues. You can also find several other resources; articles, blogs, radio interviews, videos, and more on my website.

Personal Branding Group Coaching Program

I also have a new Personal Branding and Marketing Yourself Group Coaching Program for small Co-Horts. It will provide an opportunity for a deep dive into establishing, building, articulating and enhancing your personal brand while connecting and networking with other participants, peer coaching and learning together. This program will offer tools, resources, and best practices to identify your value-add, your best authentic self to achieve career fulfillment and influence effectively. If you are interested in attending, or have a team member you would like to attend, please reach out to me at rita@ritaballenassociates.com to learn more.

20 Key Lessons Learned Over 20 Years in Business

As I celebrated this milestone last year, I so enjoyed reflecting on and sharing
20 Lessons Learned over 20 Years
of starting and growing my business! The year went by so fast yet these reflections enabled me to step back and truly gain focused insight on getting here to empower me to start the next phase! Stay tuned for more ways I hope to make these learnings available to you! And, as always, I welcome and encourage you to share your insights and experiences with me so I can learn from you too!

Power of Strategic Alliances and Partnerships

I am proud to partner with the following organizations:

• Whole Balanced Nutrition
  Start the New Year with Balanced Nutrition - Achieve your health goals this new year with meal plans, workbooks, and bundles designed for real, sustainable results by a Registered Dietitian. Create a balanced new year meal plan and mindful nourishment workbook to help you start the year feeling nourished and supported; as well as to find balance, build awareness, and reconnect with your body. Learn how to build balanced habits and a healthy relationship with food. Reach out to Registered Dietitian, Jillian Robillard at jillian@wholebalancednutrition.com.

• The Leadership Wellness Group
  An ICF-accredited program I completed to be a Resilience Coach which helped me (and my clients) build resilience, navigate challenges, and find more balance in life. I always felt I had strong tools to help my clients (and myself) yet I gained a proven framework, professional growth and personal transformation through this 12 week certification program - a real game-changer. Contact me at rita@ritaballenassociates.com if you would like to learn more about this program!

• Seeding Labs
  Seeding Labs equips scientists everywhere to lead the way to brighter and healthier futures. Science transforms lives. Everyone deserves access. If you would like to get involved, volunteer, contribute resources, equipment, and/or funds, please contact me at rita@ritaballenassociates.com to learn more.

• Kind Cards
  Kind Cards, created by my colleague and friend, Jamie Gracefffa, is a simple yet effective way to help individuals and teams develop their kindness skills and create a kinder workplace, ultimately making an exceptional employee experience for everyone. Kind Cards are a powerful resource for all leaders. If you would like to learn more, please contact me at rita@ritaballenassociates.com.

Getting Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
Discussion Series Continues

I am thrilled to say I will kick-off the seventh year of leading my discussion series that I started in 2020. My objective is to provide a forum to discuss important topics of the moment with a panel of influential leaders who share their experiences, stories, learnings and best practices. I am honored to share I have had conversations with over 85 leaders on 29 different topics with a strong mix of attendees from a variety of backgrounds. Stay tuned for the details on the next one coming soon! You can view recordings of all the previous discussions at
www.ritaballenassociates.com/discussionseries.html.

About Rita

Rita Balian Allen is the president of Rita B. Allen Associates, an international career management firm specializing in executive coaching, leadership development, management training and career development. She is a lecturer at Northeastern University, a sought-after speaker and presenter, the author of numerous articles, blogs and the books; Personal Branding and Marketing Yourself: The Three Ps Marketing Technique as a Guide to Career Empowerment, and Personal Branding and Marketing Yourself: The Companion Workbook. Her mission is to help empower individuals to take charge of their careers and organizations to maximize their talent potential. Rita brings much human resources experience to her practice and has worked with leaders across all industries and professions. She holds an MS in Organizational Leadership and a BS in Business Administration; is an Advanced Certified Personal and Executive Coach, a Certified Resilience Coach, and a Professional Certified Coach (PCC). Rita currently serves as a member of the Board of Bar Overseers of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court as well as the Board of Directors of Seeding Labs.

Services

Rita B. Allen Associates offers customized career management consulting and coaching services to individuals and organizations with specialties in a variety of talent management content areas including: