Message from AHVAP President-Elect

Courageous Leadership

As spring approaches and our trees and flowers are beginning their new growth, I can’t help but compare this to AHVAP. During the winter season, trees and flowers strengthen their roots systems to support and allow new growth and blooming in the spring. This compares to our AHVAP new growth and “blooming.” Our roots have supplied a foundation that supports our remarkable new membership growth, certification growth, and amazing new member programs. You will also not want to miss the exciting new future programs for AHVAP members.

As I reflect on AHVAP, I am also reminded of one of my favorite authors and storytellers, Brene Brown. Brown describes courageous leadership with four pillars: vulnerability, clarity of values, trust, and rising skills. She continues to describe courageous leadership as “courageous leadership is not comfortable.” You will not exceed in everything the first or even the second time trying. You may “skin your knee,” but with every intentional action, you will gain leadership skills and experience. One thing Brown shares is that “courage is contagious.” So, with every courageous leadership action we take in addition to strengthening our own courage, we also make everyone around us a little stronger and a little braver.

Your AHVAP Board of Directors continues to look for new ways to support you, our AHVAP Members, as our most treasured asset. We consistently challenge ourselves to act with courage that will continue to help AHVAP and our AVHAP members. We continue to build and strengthen our value analysis profession by building influence through trust, build our own and others’ accountability, and strengthen our collaboration and industry presence.

Tony Robbins once said, “When you have a strong enough 'WHY', you can tolerate any how.” Your AHVAP Board of Directors is working for you and our profession to strengthen and grow our “AHVAP WHY.” I invite you to join us in this courageous leadership journey.

Karen Niven, MS, RN, CVAHP™
President-Elect, Board of Directors
AHVAP