Sequan
Editorial
-Alaya
Brown
Strength in Truth, Power in Action
Resiliencetakesmanyforms,andthestoryfeaturedinthisissue
remindsushowpowerfulonevoicecanbewhenitrefusesto stayquiet.Theindividualatthecenterofthiseditionhas turnedpersonalchallengesintopurposefulaction,showingthatreal changeoftenbeginswithspeakinghardtruthsoutloud.Asarecovery coach,harmreductionnavigator,peersupporter,publiceducator,and HIVadvocate,sheworksonthefrontlinesofissuesthataredeeply personalandwidelymisunderstood.
Inthe LOUD.RELENTLESS.UNSTOPPABLE-SEQUAN KOLIBASISTHEMOVEMENTedition,wefollowhermissionto opendoors,pushboundaries,andbuildbridges.Shestandsfirmin spaceswhereothersmighthesitate,creatingsupport,sparking dialogue,andhelpingindividualsreclaimtheirstories.Hervoiceisn’t justloud.Itisclear,direct,andunapologeticallyfocusedonreal, humanneeds.
Herworkisshapednotonlybytrainingbutalsobyreal-world experiencethatinformshowshesupportsandupliftsothers.Shedoes notspeakforpeople.Shestandswiththem.Throughpubliceducation, one-on-oneguidance,andcommunityoutreach,sheoffersconnection whereitisoftenmissing.Hercommitmentmakesadifferencedaily,in waysthatcannotbemeasuredbytitlesorrecognitionbutbytrust, safety,andhope.
Thiseditionfeaturesawomanwhoserelentlessenergychallenges silence.Herpresenceintherecoveryandadvocacyspaceisnotjust impactful.Itisnecessary.Shebringshonesty,empathy,andgritto conversationsthatdemandmoreattention,remindingusthatvoices likehersareneedednotjusttoday,butalways.Whatshebuildsisnot justawareness,butconnection,dignity,andbelongingforthosewho oftengounseen.
Weareproudtoshareherstoryandcelebratethestrength,clarity,and purposeshebringstoeveryrolesheholds.Hermovementisloud.Itis relentless.Andaboveall,itisunstoppable.
Relentless Hope on T.T.a.P.P.–Sequan Kolibas’ Journey to Healing a Nation
ARTICLES
The Hustle Within: Why the Personal Growth Revolution is the Only Way Forward
Unquiet Greatness: How Loud Leadership Traits Outlast the Trends
Art
Business
Business
Digital
Co-designer
Marketing
Sequan Kolibas Founder and Execu ve Director Hope on T.T.a.P.P
ANation will be healed. Every despair will be
vanquished. When your willpower rises, every obstacle will vanish. As a resilient survivor—who hasbecomea Nonprofit Owner, Movement Starter, Recovery Coach, Peer Supporter, Harm Reduction Navigator, HIV Advocate, and Public Educator—Sequan Kolibas holds the power to transform every moment into hope and change the realityforthebetter.
Today, the Founder and Executive Director of Hope on T.T.a.P.P.,hertransitionfromlivinginsilencetobecominga vocal advocate, is empowering a new generation of social leaders. Behind Sequan’s transformative leadership lies an enthralling journey of grit, resolve, confidence, resilience, positiveattitude,patienceandperseverance.
APastthatIgnitedHerLeadershipSpirit
It began twelve years ago. Sequan was given an HIV+ diagnosisin2013andlivedthroughyearsofself-stigmatizing thoughts and shame. She also endured discrimination from medicalprovidersoncetheylearnedofherhistoryofinjection drug use. “I had heard horrible stories from others in my community about their negative experiences with providers while trying to seek out medical attention. These interactions had left them feeling helpless and devalued. Some of them eventually passed away because of their untreated conditions,”expressesSequan.
It infuriated her that these people compassionate, intelligent, and carrying stories that could move mountains were being silenced. While others received dignity, respect, and care, they met with judgment and neglect.Theirstrugglesweredismissed,theirvoicesunheard, and if help came at all, it arrived stripped of empathy and equality
BecomingaVoiceoftheVoiceless
WhenSequanstartedtorecover,itbecamehermissiontobe the voice of her community, to be the voice that would be listened to and the voice that would not leave until it was heard!Inherwords,sheupsetsthecurrentmedicallandscape by challenging providers to see every person who walks throughtheirdoorsasanequalanddeservinghumanbeing.
She reminded them of the oath they took when becoming a healthcare professional; the oath to help people who were sick, regardless of their personal biases, and to treat them without judgment. So, she decided to start a nonprofit that specializesinstigma-freehealthcareforHIVandhepatitisCpositiveindividuals.
“At Hope of T.T.a.P.P., we offer everything that is involved with HIV and hepatitis C care.”
T.T.a.P.P. stands for Testing, Treatment and Peer-led Prevention. “It’s life-changing when you can have a relationship with your healthcare provider, in which you feel safe enough to tell them the truth about what you have been doingandthechoicesyouhavebeenmaking.”
Being able to be open and candid about your sexual health without being looked down upon or questioned leads to conversations about prevention options and harm reduction. The majority of people, when they think of ‘harm reduction,’ they think of ‘syringe exchange.’But anything that keeps you safe is harm reduction, such as wearing a seatbelt while in a vehicle, wearing a helmet when riding a bike, wearing a condom during sex, and taking a pill every day,likePrEP,tolowerthechancesofcontractingHIV
Breaking the Cycle: How She Is Redefining Care and CommunitywithHoT
As the power behind Hope on T.T.a.P.P (HoT), Sequan shouldersmorethanjustadministrativeresponsibilities—she is the soul of the mission. What began as a deeply personal fightagainststigmaandneglecthasnowevolvedintoalifeaffirming movement spreading across nine counties with a powerful,mobile,judgment-freehealthcaremodel.
Frommanagingpartnershipswithmedicalclinicstoensuring providers are upholding the values of empathy and respect, Sequan’s role is hands-on and heart-first. “We’re the only mobilerapidpoint-of-careproviderforHIVandhepatitisCin the entire state, ” she says with pride. Despite limited resources,sheandhersoleteammember—bothwomenwith livedexperience—keepthegearsturning.Theycarefullyvet clinic collaborations to maintain integrity in service and maximize impact. “We don’t overextend. Every decision we makeiswithourcommunity’ssafetyanddignityinmind.”
But Sequan’s mission isn’t just about offering services—it’s aboutshiftingculture.
Withinthecommunitiestheyserve,HoTisn’tjustamedical service; it’s a safe space.The secret to building that safety? Rawhonestyandradicalrelatability Sequanandherteamlive the stories they advocate for They’ve walked the same roads—through addiction, through incarceration, through dehumanizing healthcare systems—and emerged with a fire tocreatebetterpathsforothers.
“Our strength is in our scars,” Sequan often says. “Because we’ve been there, our clients don’t have to explain the shame—wejustgetit.”
To break the cycle of stigma, HoTleads with conversation. They talk openly about drug use, sexual health, HIV, and hepatitis C—not in hushed tones, but boldly, publicly, and withoutfear They humanize theseissues,strippingawaythe shame and replacing it with dignity That’s how Sequan believes the fear of testing, the fear of diagnosis, the fear of beingseen—allstarttounravel.
And when someone takes the brave step to walk into a provider’s office, they’re not alone. Sequan or her coworker will be right beside them like training wheels on a bike—making sure the ride starts with confidence and ends with empowerment. “Eventually, they ride solo,” she says, “because we’ve shown them how to advocate for their health andworth.”
That’stherealheartof Hope on T.T.a.P.P.:notjustsurviving, notjustaccessingcare,but owning yourvoiceinaworldthat toooftensilencespeoplelikeSequan.
Raising the Volume: A Fierce Fight Against Silence and Stigma
Sequan’smissionwithHopeonT.T.a.P.P.isnotjusttoprovide care—it’stodismantlethemyths,challengethenarratives, andignitetruthinthefaceofentrenchedignorance.Andina world where silence still kills, she has no intention of loweringhervoice.
“We recently partnered with the Utah
Department
of
Corrections
to address the high prevalence of hepatitis C within our incarcerated populations.”
“The biggest challenges we face today are both how uneducated the general public is in our state about HIV and hepatitis C and the misinformation that is widespread.”
Among her toughest challenges is the gaping void of educationsurroundingHIVandhepatitisCinherhomestate. Misinformation isn’t just common it’s the norm. And layered over that is the weight of outdated, stigmatizing laws that criminalize HIV based on fear, not science. These laws punish people, not protect them. They uphold silence insteadofencouragingawareness.Andtheydirectlycounter thelife-savingworkSequanfightsforeveryday
Whenshetakeshermobileclinicintoruralcommunities,she often meets resistance. Townspeople sometimes claim, “We don’t have that kind of problem here.” Sequanknowsbetter. “Not talking about something doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist,” she says The pushback only sharpens her focus Her resilience doesn’t just come from surviving her past—it comes from the fire of knowing how much is at stake “Pushback doesn’t stop me,” she says firmly. “It propels me forward.”
Andthatforwardmotion?It’smakingwaves.
In just a short time, Hope on T T a PP has reached a monumental milestone 100 individuals successfully curedofhepatitisC Thesearenotjustnumbers.
These are people—many of whom were battling addiction, homelessness, and deep despair when Sequan first found them.Throughhercare,theyrediscoveredtheirworth.They reconnected with family They got clean. They started new chapters.Anditallbeganwithonepersoncaringwhenthey couldn’tcareforthemselves
“That’swhatI’mmostproudof,”Sequanreflects.“Notjustthe cures—butthetransformations.”
She’salsoproudofthenationalstageshe’searnedasatrainer and educator From coast to coast, Sequan teaches healthcareprovidershowtotreatpeoplewhousedrugswith dignity and respect. She teaches them to use person-first language, to adopt person-centered approaches, and to be awareofhoweventheirbodyposturecansendmessages of judgment or compassion. The impact is tangible. Providers leave her training forever changed many realizing,forthefirsttime,howdeeptheirbiasesrun.
“Yes, stigma is alive and well,” Sequan says, “but so is the capacity for change.”Andshe’llnevershyawayfrombeing the one to open that door—even if she has to kick it open herself.
In every county she drives through, in every clinic she partnerswith,ineverypatientshestandsbeside—Sequanis rewritingthescript Andshe’snotdoingitquietly
The Fire Within:ARelentless Journey ofAdvocacy and Self-Preservation
ForSequan, Hope on T.T.a.P.P. wasneverjustajob—itwasa lifeline. A movement. A revolution forged from her own survival. But in the early days, that revolution consumed everything.
“There was no personal life,” Sequan admits. She poured every ounce of herself into launching the nonprofit, often blurring the line between home and work until there was no line left. Her home was her office. Her phone never stopped ringing.Herboundarieswereasnonexistentastheresources shewasscrapingtogethertomakeitallwork.
But over time, the cost of such self-sacrifice became too heavy The same woman who fought to restore health and dignitytohercommunitywasneglectingherown.
That’swhenSequanmadetheboldestmoveofall:shestarted sayingno
Sherelocated,reclaimingherlivingspaceasasanctuary,nota service center She began scheduling client interactions rather than living at the mercy of incoming calls.And most importantly, she prioritized her mental and physical wellbeing—because, as she puts it, “How can I advocate for my communitytotakecareoftheirhealthifI’mnottakingcareof myown?”
Vacations. Family dinners. Laughter with friends.These are nolongerluxuriesforSequan—they’relifelines.Theyallow hertoservehercommunitywithenergy,clarity,andlove
To those who want to follow in her footsteps, especially in hard, stigmatized spaces, Sequan offers heartfelt advice: “Don’t give up when it gets tough. And it WILL get tough.” Criticswilltellyouyourvisionisimpossible.Systemswilltry to shut the door But Sequan insists: don’t let the world convinceyouyourtruthdoesn’tmatter
“Use your past to your advantage, ” she says. “Lived experienceispower.”
Andherpowerisjustgettingstarted.
Hope on T T a P P recently partnered with the Utah DepartmentofCorrections,targetingoneofthemosturgent yetoverlookedpopulations:incarceratedindividuals.
Sequan understands that if we’re serious about ending hepatitis C, we must treat those inside the system, especiallyastheypreparetore-entersociety Hergoalisto provide treatment in the final months of incarceration—a bridgetofreedomandhealingthatcouldchangethecourseof countlesslives.
Beyond that, Sequan continues to educate healthcare professionalsacrossthecountry,armingthemwithtoolsto combat bias and stigma. Her trainings are not just lectures —they’re transformations. Her hope? Every marginalized person walks into a clinic and is met with dignity, compassion, and care. That no one has to choose between tellingthetruthandbeingtreatedlikeahumanbeing.
“It starts with one act. One provider One patient. One shift in toneorlanguage,”shesays.Thatripple?It’sunstoppable.
Because Sequan Kolibas isn’t just changing conversations she’schangingoutcomes.
Why the Personal Growth Revolution is the Only Way Forward
Amidsttheeraofdigitaldisruption,burnout,andcultural reconsiderationofsuccess,oneunderstatedbutpotent changeisoccurringbythequietestofrevolutions:the personalgrowthrevolution.Itisnotatemporaryexistingfashion;it isthepatternofhowpeopleandsocietywillthriveinthepresent.
FromHustleCulturetoSustainableGrowth
Hustleculture,theethosofworkinglonghoursandthevirtueof output,haslongofferedsuccessasthereturnonhustling. Nevertheless,agrowingbodyofevidenceshowsthesameculture regularlycomplimentsburnout,work-lifeimbalanceand disillusionment.Expertsstatethatworkburnoutisanegativesetting intermsofpsychologyandperformance,butconsideredwork,e.g., prioritizationofworkanddowntime,preservestheconditionand efficiency.InIndiaandallovertheworld,theburnoutisnotabadge ofhonoranymoreandpeopleturntosmarterandmoreintentional workingstyles.
WhatIsthePersonalGrowthRevolution?
Therevolutionofpersonalgrowthisacomprehensiveandlifelong wayofself-developmentbasedonemotionalintelligence,selfawareness,andtheabilitytoadapt.Thisrevolutionpromotes incrementalaction,purposefultasks,andinternalsatisfactionrather thanbelievingthatsuccessisasprint.Itispoweredbynew movementslikeAI-assistedlearning,microlearning,andholistic wellbeingthatmakedevelopmentindividualizedtotheneedsand goalsofeveryindividual.
Thisrevolutioniscompatiblewithpsychologicaltheories likethegrowthmindsetpsychologicaltheorybyCarol Dweck,wherelearningandeffortarerewardedratherthan inherenttalent,andtheself-expansionmodel,wheregrowth isanintrinsichumandrivethatextendsbeyond relationshipsandintopersonalandoccupationalspheres.
TheDriversBehindtheRevolution
• AI-PoweredPersonalization
Currently,AIplatformsandMLtoolsexaminepersonal preferencesandhabitstoprovidethemwithcustomized guidanceandlearning.Suchtoolsenhancepersonal developmenttobeefficientandeffectivebytailoring contentontheflytopersonalities.
• Bite-SizedandAgileLearning
Trainingsintheformofmicrolearning,i.e.,shortand focusedmodules,videos,orin-appexercises,involvethe learnerstoagreaterextentascomparedtotraditional courses.Ithelpstomanageslowbutsteadyprogress withoutthepressureofaddingtoyourschedule.
• EmotionalIntelligence&MentalHealthFocus
Nontechnicalskillslikeempathyandconflictresolutionare gainingimportanceovertechnicalprowess.Development programsarebasedontheconceptofmaintainingresilience throughbalancelikemindfulness,journaling,stress managementandmeditation.
• Community,Coaching&SharedGrowth
Personaldevelopmentisnolongeranactivitythatcanbe conductedjustinisolation,butitisincorporatedinpeer networks,mentors,andcoaches.Learningcommunities allowsharedknowledgeandaccountability;therefore, learningiscommunitybased,andassistive.
• HolisticIntegration
Therevolutionsynthesizesmind-body-spirittraditions, meditation,breathwork,wellnessrituals,strengths-based lifestylecongruency,andmakesgrowthpersonally importantandsustainable.
WhyIt’stheOnlyWayForward
• AResponsetoBurnoutandDisillusionment:The declineinthecredibilityofthehustlecultureleads individualstowantmoreoutoflifethanbeing
productive.Thepersonalgrowthrevolutionpresentsa moredown-to-earth,solidwaytoactualsuccess, whichismeasuredbywell-being,meaning,and sustainablegrowth.
• EmpowersLifelongAdaptability:Lifelonglearning hasbecomecrucialduetothefast-pacedchangesin jobrolesandeconomies.Therevolutionisabout makingpeoplenotonlyfittostayonboard--butseek transitions,reinventions,andnewopportunities.
• BuildsDeeperMeaning:InnerDevelopmentGoals framedprogramspromoteself-awareness,empathy, andintentionalaction.Growthisnolongeronlya matterofstatusormoney,butofsignificanceand contribution.
• Inclusive,Data-Driven,andFlexible:Theaudience canbeofanyage,andanyonecanparticipate.Growth ondigitalplatformsandwiththeuseofAIisscalable, measurable,andpersonalized.Theseresourcesfind individualswheretheyareandpropelthemwhere theydesiretobe.
ChallengesandBalancedPerspective
Therevolutionofpersonalgrowthdoesnotlackcritics. Otherswarnofshallowobsessionwithoptimizationtoolsor thecommercializationofself-improvement.Somecaution thatAItoolsmustpreserveprivacyandminimizethe strengtheningofbias.Moreover,sustainabledevelopment impliesmoralleadershipandsocialaccountability-notjust personalgain.Yetinsuchpromisesofescapingburnout cultureandrestinginflourishingliestherevolution,when groundedinauthenticityandethicalworldviews.
FinalWords
Personalgrowthrevolutionisnotjustatrend;itisthe inevitabletransformationofourattitudestowardwork, learning,andmeaning.Insteadofsubscribingto unsustainablehustleandredefiningthemeaningofsuccess asawoman,men,andwomengrowhealthierandmore successfulbyprioritizingconstantgrowth,mentalhealth, andpurpose.Thisrevolutionisnotoptional;itisthesole wayforwardtoafuturewherepeopleandsocietieswill prosper
How Loud Leadership Traits Outlast the Trends
Theworldofleadershipisrapidlychanging,andthe trendsvaryhereandthere,butcertaintraitsremain exceptionallylong-lasting.Theseattributesinclude loudleadershipqualities,e.g.,assertiveness, conspicuousness,andvocalaffability,whicharestill staggeringlyaffectingleadershipproficiency Asthemodern leadershiptheoriesbecomemorefocusedonemotional intelligence,inclusivity,andresponsiveness,thetraitsofa loudleadershipapproachhaveprovedsurprisingstaying powertostayaheadoftrendsandbeapplicableacross sectorsandorganizationalstyles.
DefiningLoudLeadershipTraits
Loudleadershipqualitiessignifyleadertraitsthatmake themnoticeablewiththeirenergy,decisiveness,andthe abilitytocommandattention.Thisentailsadispositionto taketheinitiative,speakout,andactivelyleadgroups.The loudleaderstendtobeverycharismaticanddynamicin theirpositionsandcaninspireateamthroughtheircertainty intheirgoalsandtheirself-confidence.Thesestylesare antitheticaltolessaggressiveleadershipstyles,onesthat uselistening,reflection,andunspokeninfluence.
Loudleadershiphashistoricallybeenattributedto traditionalnotionsofleadership,bold,directive,andusually
extrovertedleadership.SuchleadersasWinstonChurchill orMartinLutherKingJr.havesuchcharacteristicsthat makethemfocusattentionthroughtremendousspeeches andclearactions.Ontheotherhand,lower-keystyleshave becomemorecommonoverthepastfewyearsas companiesappreciatethepowerofempathyandteamwork. Regardlessofthistransformation,loudleadershipqualities presentanindispensabilityandeffectivenessinnumerous situationsofleadership.
TheEnduringAdvantagesofLoudLeadershipTraits
Thepersistenceofloudleadershiptraitsisexplainedpartly bytheirevidentusefulnessinstimulatingactionandgiving direction.Clearandfirmcommunicationfromleaderscan createclarityandestablishtrust.Thisisespecially significantindynamicsettingsthatcallforrapiddecisionslikeinatensesituation,organizationalchange,orawar A confidentandvocalleadermayprovidearallypointtoboth teamsandstakeholdersalike.
Thevalueoftheloudleadershiptraitsstillexistsin research.Researchindicatesthatwhencomparedto introverts,extrovertshaveagreaterchanceofbeing appointedasleaders,mainlyduetotheirpersuasivenessand dominantcharacter,whichmakesthemeasilyvisibleand convincing.Togiveaspecificexample,aSuttonTruststudy byaUKresearchorganizationhasdiscoveredthatvery extrovertedindividualsenjoyedarespective25%increased probabilityofholdingbetter-paidemploymentand leadershiproles.Thisrelationshipimpliesthattheloud leadershipcharacteristics,althoughtheymayberegardedas lesssubtle,havesomerealbenefitsintermsofcareer successandpower.
PotentialDrawbacksandMisconceptions
Althoughloudleadershiphasitsadvantages,italsohas certaindisadvantages.Intheiruncontrolledform,loud leadershipmaydiminishthevoiceofotherpeople,creating anatmosphereinwhichcollaborationandvarietyof opinionareundermined.Excessiveemphasisonvocal dominancecanleadtoasituationinwhichonlythemost vocalvoicesareheard,whetherinfavorornot.Thishasthe potentialtoimpedecreativityandhamperpsychological safety-twoimportantelementsofinnovativehighperformanceteams.
Moreover,aggressiveuseofloudleadershipcharacteristics mayalsocausestressandburnoutononeside.Thereisa possibilitythatanauthoritarianorconfrontationalstyle decreasestheengagementofemployees,raisesturnover, andinhibitsinnovation.Ratherthanrisk-taking,team
memberscangointoself-protectioninsituationswhen leaderscriticizeordominatetoofastortoomuchin discussions.Thatpreventstheteamtolearnandbeing adaptable.
ThePowerofBalancingLoudandQuietLeadership Traits
Thecontemporarystudyofleadershiptendstorefertothe relevanceofcombiningtheloudandquietcharacteristics. Althoughloudleadershiptraitsoffervisibility,direction, andenergy,quieterattributessuchasempathy,active listening,andhumilitycontributetotrustandcollaboration. Effectivelong-termleadershipcanbeachallenging balancingact,andgreatexecutivesalsoknowwhentoask, ratherthantell.
WhyLoudLeadershipTraitsOutlastTrends
Leadershipstylescanchangeaccordingtotrendingculture andemergingresearchinformation,butloudleadership characteristicsareingrainedinthattheysatisfyultimate humanandorganizationalrequirements.Inuncertaintimes, peopleseekstrong,identifiableleaderstofollow.Suchloud traitsintheleadershipdepartmentindicatestrength, decisiveness,andcommitment,whichareeternalintheir attractiveness.
Inaddition,loudleadershipqualitiesareflexibleandfitthe growingrateanddynamicsofcontemporaryworking societies.Thequickpaceoftechnologicalchange,the competitiveworldscene,andchangingemployeedemands tomaketheirvoiceheardmeanthatleaderswhoactupon bigideasandcanslashthroughallthenoiseandclutter holdauniqueedge.
EndNote
Summingup,loudleadershipattributeshavestoodthetest oftimeinsolvingthecoreofleadershipissues,including visibility,decisiveness,andinfluence.Althoughthe leadershipenvironmentisbecomingmoreaboutemotional intelligenceandteamwork,thetraitsofloudleadersare indispensableinnumeroussituations.Themodern challengetoleadersisnottolosetheloudqualitiesbutto learntocombinethemcleverlywiththequietleadership qualities.Leaderscanpotentiallyrealizeunquietgreatness byadoptingawhole-personleadershipstylethatis adequatelybalancedbetweenboldnessandempathy.
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