Following in the footsteps of eight previous series where thought leaders responded to questions on my blog over the last several years to discuss leadership, marketing, reading, and the Olympics, I'm thrilled to announce that it's time for my 9th series!
During the Fall season (each Monday from September 28th through December 20th), I'm welcoming a dozen thought leaders to share their insights about reading, books, personal branding, and leadership. Today, Heather Hackett is my featured expert. I met Heather through my participation in the "Leaders Who Fiction" virtual book club in November 2023. Heather is a consultant with 20 years of experience in organizational management, marketing, and community engagement across the for-profit, nonprofit, and cooperative sectors. Heather attended the University of Pittsburgh, receiving BAs in English and communications and a master's in public policy and nonprofit management. Her creative work includes nonfiction, fiction, and poetry, all published under the pen name Hez.
Before we begin, I'd like to share my two favorite reading quotes to set the stage:
"If you give a person a book, you give him the world." ~New York Times bestselling author Kristin Harmel (from her work of historical fiction, "The Paris Daughter")
"For you unlock magic that is hidden within, and opening the cover is how you begin. Oh, all the worlds and the places you'll see; when you hold a book, you hold the key." ~Caroline Derlatka
And now, let's begin.
QUESTION: What was the last book (fiction or non-fiction) you read? What stood out as memorable, and would you recommend it?
HEATHER HACKETT: "The Names" by Florence Knapp begins with a mother, Cora, traveling to a government office where she must register a name for her newborn son. Cora deliberates three options, only one of which her abusive husband deems acceptable. The book then depicts the starkly different trajectories of her family if her son is named Bear, Julian, or Gordon.
The novel makes a strong case that nurture, not nature, most influences a child's development. Despite identical genetics, Bear, Julian, and Gordon develop wildly different personalities, lifestyles, and choices.
A memorable lesson that emerges in "The Names" is that we all have a say in our lives. It is never too late to take stock and consciously choose to shift our trajectory. Cora's initial naming conundrum, along with countless other characters' choices throughout the novel, shows how a single decision can lead to vastly different outcomes. Readers also see how a change in one person's life inevitably influences the circumstances of everyone around them.
The book also reminds readers that there are always people willing to help us in difficult situations. We will all find ourselves in a position beyond our control at some point or another. When those times come, leaning on others is one of the bravest things we can do. The heavy theme of domestic violence is woven into all three plot lines. Yet "The Names" also invites readers to reflect on universal human experiences, like exercising our agency, recognizing our interconnectedness with others, and finding the courage to be vulnerable.
QUESTION: Which book (fiction or non-fiction) is on the top of your to-be-read pile (or first in your digital reader), and why?
HEATHER HACKETT: After 3+ months of patiently waiting, I'm excited to be #2 on the library wait list for "The Land and Its People," the new book by bestselling author and humorist David Sedaris. My first introduction to Sedaris came during college, when a professor assigned "Me Talk Pretty One Day" as part of my Creative Nonfiction curriculum. Since then, I've read over half of his published works.
I admire his knack for disarming readers. One moment, you're laughing so hard you start crying at his irreverent comments. Then, out of nowhere, he hits you with gut-wrenching observations about life, love, grief, and heartbreak, and you find yourself overcome by tears of sorrow.
I was fortunate to see him on tour this spring while he was promoting "The Land and Its People." I left the show excited to get my hands on it. My curiosity is especially piqued by the essays about his travels, since I've been living as a digital nomad since 2021.
QUESTION: With all the streaming services available, many works of fiction are now adapted into films or TV series. During the last year, have you watched a film or TV show and been impressed and/or inspired by the adaptation? (If you haven't watched any adaptations, are you looking forward to any currently in the planning or production phases?)
HEATHER HACKETT: The TV series adaptation that impressed me the most over the past year was "Murderbot." Star and producer Alexander Skarsgård plays Sec Unit, a robotic security agent. When Sec Unit hacks his "governor module" to regain his autonomy, he begins to free himself from the corporation that owned him and frequently deployed him for unethical operations.
The sci-fi series is based on the novels by Martha Wells, who also serves as a consulting producer on the show. Involving authors in adaptations seems to support an effective transition from the page to the screen. It is a strategy that has certainly proven successful in other recent high-profile adaptations, such as "Project Hail Mary" and "The Last of Us."
As with the book, the dialogue and character development are rich. In both formats, I found it interesting to see Sec Unit's human-like elements evolve as he began to interact more with people. Though he finds his growing spectrum of emotions to be anxiety-evoking, Sec Unit's leadership and decision-making improve as he develops more self-awareness and deepens his relationships with other characters. Even in this non-human entity, emotional intelligence proves to be a catalyst for better judgment.
QUESTION: If you're a fan of the TED LASSO series on Apple TV, have you watched the new season (that returned on August 5th)? If yes, what stands out about Ted's leadership lessons or leadership style from the new season? Alternatively, if you're not a fan of the show or have not yet watched it, is there another CURRENT TV show that showcases inspiring leadership?
HEATHER HACKETT: A friend's recommendation sent me on a week-long binge of "Ride or Die." This action-adventure comedy stars Octavia Spencer and Hannah Waddingham, who also serve as executive producers. The series begins with Judith's secret life as an assassin being revealed to her best friend Debbie, who is the wife of a high-ranking government official. The women are forced to go on the run as they flee a mob family, Interpol, and a mysterious enemy who is somehow constantly a step ahead of them.
The show centers on their friendship and how it changes when their secrets come to light. While the illegality of many plot points certainly shouldn't inspire us as leaders, several important lessons emerge as Judith and Debbie navigate one tricky situation after another, such as:
(1) Realizing hyper-independence serves no one well—we all need to seek out partners and collaborators whom we can trust and rely on.
(2) The vital importance of honesty and transparency—without these, any relationship will be vulnerable.
(3) The necessity of being willing and able to repair ruptures in any relationship we value—this takes intentionality, effort, and consistently showing up even when it's hard.
(4) Balancing the need for a plan with the agility to pivot—circumstances can, and will, shift, making rigidity a hazard.
(5) Recognizing that others' expectations do not define us—we must not let outside influences lead to self-limiting beliefs.
QUESTION: Which author (either from history or currently writing) would you choose to have dinner with, and what would you discuss?
HEATHER HACKETT: As an entrepreneur and fledgling writer, I would love to sit down with science fiction pioneer Ursula K. Le Guin (1929-2018) for a leisurely dinner accompanied by pearls of wisdom. I most desire her insights on time and capacity management. She was notorious for strictly protecting her mornings for writing. She didn't rush into the day, yet still found time for fulfilling leisure activities and mundane necessities.
Like many entrepreneurs and creatives, I never have enough time for my many aspirations. Balancing competing priorities became even more complex when I became a full-time nomad. The variable schedule created by my travels is further complicated by relying on several part-time jobs and contracts. I'd ask how she arrived at her daily routine and would seek her advice about preserving space for creativity within my unusual lifestyle.
I'm also curious about her experience with feminism and how she processed the polarized critiques of her work. She was outspoken about gender equality, often incorporating radical concepts into her books. Yet she faced criticism from both sides—from those upset by her unconventional presentation of gender identity and roles, as well as from women who identified as feminists and disagreed with her approach. Visionary thinkers, creatives, and leaders often get blowback from multiple directions when they disrupt the status quo. We can learn a great deal from our predecessors about holding firm within such tensions.
SHARE THIS: Visionary thinkers, creatives, and leaders often get blowback from multiple directions when they disrupt the status quo. ~Heather Hackett #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #ReadingInspires #DebbieLaskeysBlog
My gratitude to Heather for participating in this year's fall back to reading series and for sharing inspiring recommendations! Until next time, happy reading!
SHARE THIS: If you give a person a book, you give him the world. ~@KristinHarmel #ReadingOpensMinds #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #DebbieLaskeysBlog
SHARE THIS: A bibliophile is a lover of books, while a lectiophile is a lover of reading. The distinction is due to the object versus the activity. #FunFact #ReadingIsMySuperPower #FallBacktoReadingSeries2026 #DebbieLaskeysBlog
Image Credit: Mariana Serdynska/Shutterstock via Portland Monthly.
Meet Heather at this link:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-lynn-hackett
Read Heather's previous appearance on my Blog:
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2025/10/fall-back-to-reading-series-2025_01470712806.html
Read more about Ursula K. Le Guin:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ursula-K-Le-Guin
Check out these related recaps here on my Blog:
Highlights of My #FallBacktoReadingSeries2025 (December 21, 2025):
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2025/12/highlights-of-fallbacktoreadingseries20.html
Highlights of My #FallBacktoReadingSeries2023 (January 31, 2024):
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2024/01/highlights-of-my-fallbacktoreadingseries.html
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