What if the biggest thing standing between you and your next level is not a lack of talent, experience, or opportunity, but an invisible limit you have placed on yourself?

In The Big Leap, Gay Hendricks explores why we sometimes retreat, overthink, or sabotage our progress just as we begin experiencing greater success, happiness, or possibility. He calls this the “Upper Limit Problem,” a pattern that can quietly keep us from achieving our goals and fully enjoying what we have worked so hard to create.

Join Christine Bongard and Sharan Hildebrand for an honest and engaging book club fireside chat about the ideas in The Big Leap and how they show up in our careers, leadership, relationships, and everyday lives. Together, we will explore the difference between doing work we are good at and stepping into our “Zone of Genius,” where our unique gifts, strengths, and purpose come together.

You do not need to have everything figured out, and you do not need to arrive with a perfectly highlighted copy of the book. Come ready to reflect, connect, and challenge some of the beliefs that may be keeping you safely inside your comfort zone. This will be a real conversation about fear, growth, ambition, self-doubt, and what becomes possible when we stop shrinking from the opportunities we say we want.

What You’ll Take Away

• A clearer understanding of your own Upper Limit behaviors and how they may appear when you are growing, succeeding, or stepping into something new.
• A fresh perspective on the difference between your Zone of Competence, Zone of Excellence, and Zone of Genius, plus questions to help you recognize where you may be spending most of your time.
• One practical commitment to help you challenge a limiting belief, create more space for your unique strengths, and begin making your own “big leap.”

Christine Bongard is the Founder & CEO of The WIT Network, a global nonprofit advancing women and their allies through leadership development, education, and community. A recognized technology and nonprofit executive, she brings more than 30 years of experience across the Microsoft and partner ecosystem, where she built and scaled businesses, led strategic alliances, and drove measurable growth.

Throughout her career - often as the only woman in the room - Christine developed a deep passion for creating spaces where women can connect, grow, and lead with confidence.Today, she leads a global community supporting thousands of members across industries and geographies, helping them transform experience into impact and confidence into influence.

Known for her warm, authentic, and direct style, Christine blends inspiration with practical, real-world insight. She is a sought-after speaker and leadership voice on topics including influence, sponsorship, career growth, and the evolving skills required to lead in today’s fast-changing workplace.

Her mission is simple but powerful: to ensure that every woman has the access, support, and opportunity to thrive and to lift others as they rise.