Beyond the Work Arrives October 26

By Samantha Pompey

My work speaks. But what is it saying?

That question captures so much of what my upcoming book, Beyond the Work, explores.

You can be good at your job, care deeply about your team, and consistently deliver results—and still have questions about how to grow as a leader. How do you get your ideas heard? What does executive presence actually look like? How do you build influence while staying true to yourself?

We talk a lot about performing well. We don’t always explain everything else that comes with leadership.

Beyond the Work makes room for that conversation.

Available for purchase October 26, 2026, in paperback, hardcover, and Kindle editions, it offers a practical journey to influence, impact, and leadership that lasts.

The Leadership Lessons Nobody Told You

There is an unwritten side of leadership that many people learn as they go. It shows up in how decisions get made, whose recommendations gain traction, and what people come to expect from you.

Sometimes the feedback is familiar: “Be more strategic.” “Build your presence.” “Delegate more.”

But what do those things look like on a Tuesday afternoon, when your calendar is full, your team needs answers, and another priority just landed?

That is where this book meets you.

Beyond the Work explores the connection between the work you deliver and the way you lead. It gives readers practical ways to understand their impact, make thoughtful adjustments, and grow.

What You Can Expect

Across twelve chapters, you’ll explore leadership through situations and questions you can connect to your own experience.

You’ll look at executive presence through how you manage yourself, connect with others, and bring a broader perspective to a conversation.

You’ll examine personal brand by considering what people consistently experience when they work with you. Your intentions matter. So does the evidence your behavior leaves behind.

You’ll practice communication that helps others understand your recommendation, why it matters, and what needs to happen next.

You’ll also explore organizational dynamics—the relationships, trust, and decision processes that affect how work gets done.

And you’ll consider a shift that can be especially challenging for high performers: learning when to step in, when to step back, and how to help someone else become more capable.

The book includes practical frameworks, examples, and reflection exercises to help you apply these ideas. You’ll carry one real leadership challenge through the chapters, giving you a way to connect what you’re reading with what is happening in your work.

Still You, With More Impact

My perspective as a woman and a Black woman is part of this book. Questions about visibility, voice, and how we are perceived can carry additional layers.

At the same time, this book welcomes readers across backgrounds and industries. You may be preparing for your first leadership role, learning to lead a team, or taking on responsibilities that require a different approach.

You don’t need to have every answer before you begin. You need a willingness to look at your habits, consider feedback, and try something different.

Space to Put It Into Practice

The Beyond the Work Companion Workbook will offer additional space to work through the lessons.

With guided exercises for all twelve chapters, reflection pages, practice activities, and a 30-day leadership plan, it will help you record what you’re learning and notice what changes. You can use it independently, with a coach, or as part of a leadership development group.

My hope is that readers leave with a clearer understanding of their leadership—and a few specific things they are ready to do differently.

Available October 26, 2026

Choose your format: paperback, hardcover, or Kindle. I look forward to sharing Beyond the Work with you.

Until then, consider this:

When people experience your leadership, what do you want them to take away?

Follow Catalyst Leadership Group for purchase links, release updates, and more conversations about the work of leadership.