Bold Horizons: One Journey, Many Lessons

In April and May 2025, I spent 35 days at sea—travelling from Sydney to Seattle via New Zealand, French Polynesia, Hawaii, and Alaska. What began as a cruise turned into a leadership journey that shaped my thinking in profound ways.

Every day, I recorded a video and reflected on what I was learning—not just about travel or adventure, but about leadership, resilience, connection, and purpose. What emerged was more than just a log of the trip. It was a portrait of bold leadership in real time.  Find the full Playlist on YouTube, see the Reels on Instagram or check out my new TikTok! 

If you're leading a business, a team, or simply yourself through change, transition, or growth—I want to share five lessons that may help you pause, realign, and lead with more clarity and confidence.  Lessons I learned from my many days at sea and seeing sites and countries I had never been to before.

5 Leadership Lessons from 35 Days at Sea

1. Rhythm Is Powerful

Leadership isn’t built in sprints—it’s sustained in rhythm. During long stretches at sea, I found that repetition created clarity. Daily walks, coffee rituals, and yes—cake every day after lunch—gave my days a comforting cadence. This rhythm wasn’t just helpful—it became the container for deeper thinking, more intentional presence, and steady leadership focus.

See this in action: Days 2, 7, 15, 22, 24

Try this: What rhythm could you reintroduce into your day to anchor your leadership?

2. The Best Leadership Is Often Unseen

True leadership isn’t always visible. It’s in the quiet decisions, the long-forgotten plans, and the foundational work others build upon. Whether it was voting overseas, standing where early leaders shaped cities, or learning about the surveying feats behind the Yukon railway, I was reminded that bold leadership doesn’t always seek the spotlight—it creates space for others to thrive.

Watch: Days 5, 17, 19, 29, 31

Reflect on this: Who are the quiet leaders in your world? Have you thanked them lately?

3. Stay Anchored to What Matters

Packing my tea may have seemed small—but it became my anchor. Through cabin changes, rough seas, and busy days, it was the familiar rituals—and my husband Martin’s support—that kept me grounded. Strong leaders know what holds them steady. And they return to those anchors regularly, even (and especially) when things change.

See grounding moments: Days 1, 8, 16, 27, 35

Ask yourself: What anchors do you rely on—and how often do you honour them?

4. Wonder Is Fuel

Some of the most profound insights came from quiet, beautiful moments—snorkelling beside turtles, watching waterfalls, or seeing a whale breach in the distance. Wonder has the power to soften us, open us, and reorient our perspective. Leadership doesn’t always come from pushing forward. Sometimes it emerges when we stop, notice, and breathe in what’s around us.

Explore wonder: Days 9, 10, 20, 26, 32

Pause here: When was the last time you let awe interrupt your leadership path?

5. Full Circle, Full Heart

By the end of the journey, especially as we stood atop the Seattle Great Wheel and later reflected on 35 years of marriage, I realised how deeply the experience had changed me. The distance travelled was physical—but also emotional and professional. This wasn’t just a cruise. It was a reset. A reminder that leadership isn’t separate from life. And that love, legacy, and purpose are deeply connected.

See reflections: Days 18, 28, 30, 33–35

Final thought: What chapter are you closing—and what new one might be beginning?

Want to See the Journey in Motion?
Follow the daily reflections, stories, and moments on:

• Instagram – @MichelleBlicavs
• YouTube Shorts & Videos - @MichelleBlicavs
• TikTok – @unique_leaders

Whether you're leading a team or navigating change, these lessons aren’t just mine—they’re for all of us.

Because leadership doesn’t pause when you go on holiday. Sometimes, it gets sharper.

#BoldHorizons #LeadershipJourney #WomenWhoLead #UniqueLeaders #LeadershipReflection #CEOlife