Written by Nicole Webb

I had the privilege of seeing Oprah live on stage earlier this month. She was funny, engaging, preachy…she was perfect! She said something (actually, A LOT of things) that resonated with me. It went something like this: 

 “When you go for a walk, instead of focusing on the destination or how far you have left to go, stop and look back at how far you have come.”  

 What struck me most wasn’t just the sentiment, but how rarely we actually do this. As leaders, business owners, parents, humans – we’re wired to keep moving. The next pitch, the next deadline, the next goal. Progress becomes invisible because we’re always facing forward. 

 Oprah’s reminder feels like permission to pause – not to stop moving, but to acknowledge the ground already covered. 

 When I look back at 2025, what I’m most proud of isn’t just what we achieved, but who we became along the way. Watching Trish step into her role as Group Account Director has been a masterclass in leadership. Sofia, Kotori and Caitlin joining us as IMPACTERs brought fresh energy and ideas. Celebrating Lucia’s five-year and Victoria’s 17-year anniversaries reminded me how rare – and valuable – loyalty and growth are in an industry that moves as fast as ours. 

 2025 was also a year of change. Launching our AI audits required learning fast, asking better questions, and being okay with not having all the answers straight away. Looking back, I’m proud that we chose curiosity over caution. 

 And then there were the moments that reminded us not to take ourselves too seriously — like becoming the talk of Pyrmont in our Nup to the Cup inflatable costumes. Because if you can’t laugh together, what’s the point? 

 Looking back doesn’t mean standing still. It means acknowledging growth, resilience, and the people who made the journey possible. 

 As we head into 2026, I’m carrying Oprah’s words with me — not just on walks, but in work and life. Progress isn’t only measured by what’s ahead, but by how far we’ve already come. 

 To our clients, partners, and the incredible IMPACT team — thank you for walking this year with us. Here’s to taking a moment to look back, before we step forward again.