In October, more than 5,600 people gathered in Long Beach, California, for ICMA’s 2026 Annual Conference. Attendance set a record, the weather was perfect, the setting was divine, our keynote speakers were top-drawer, and the education sessions covered a wide range of the challenges local governments face and the solutions that work.

By most measures, that makes for a successful conference. But what we hope for most is that members leave feeling connected—to one another, to the roots of the profession, and to the association that is here to support them on their journey.

I loved watching members take advantage of the opportunities to learn, grow, and connect. Liz Bohannon’s closing keynote, “Collective Resilience,” however, hit me hard. While we talk openly about how hard the work is — and, of course, that #ItsWorthIt — we are less inclined to talk about how the rest of our lives affect our ability to do our best work. 

Liz asked attendees to answer one question anonymously: “What is something you don’t often (or ever) share out of fear of being a burden?” Nearly 250 people responded about the issues they are wrestling with. Liz shared the responses with ICMA, and I asked Copilot to help me summarize them.

The most common issue, by far, was some version of self-doubt: not feeling good enough, smart enough, or capable enough to lead. Close behind were struggles in marriages and relationships, loneliness, and mental health challenges like anxiety and depression. Many of you are also quietly carrying worries about your children, chronic pain or illness, financial strain, addiction, burnout, doubts about whether you’re in the right job, or uncertainty about aging and retirement.

What struck me most was how many of you said you feel isolated because of the leadership roles you hold; you’re expected to have it all figured out when you don’t. If there’s one thing I hope you take from this, it’s that you are not alone. The very things we hesitate to share are the things so many of our colleagues are of us. Part of ICMA’s job, and each of ours, is to make it a little easier to say “I’m struggling,” and to reach out to a colleague who might be.

That is why connection matters so much. I hope ICMA is a place where you find your people professionally, and I hope you have at least one best friend in the profession, someone you can be completely honest with. I also hope we can all get more comfortable raising our hands and saying, “I need help.” Showing vulnerability is one of the best ways to model authentic leadership. As ICMA past president Mike Land reminded us in his final address, “If you don’t take a break, you will break.”

ICMA is a big tent, and within it there are many places for all of us to gather. Our alumni networks bring together Leadership ICMA, Local Government Management Fellows, veterans, and graduate school alumni. Our domestic affiliates — including NFBPA, LGHN, CivicPRIDE, I-NAPA, and NACA — provide incredible opportunities for learning, growth, and connection. And groups within ICMA, like SheLeadsGov and the ACAO Committee, work hard to create meaningful connection. These communities are there for you, and I encourage you to find one and get involved. We are a better organization when our members are connected and engaged with us and with one another.

I will continue to sit with all of it: the energy that “Vibe City” brought to our Annual Conference, the messages of our keynotes, and the reminder of the very human struggles we all share. Whether we’re on the dais or in the back corner, everyone is carrying something, and you do not need to carry it alone. Thank you for an amazing time together. I’m already looking forward to Philadelphia.

JULIA D. NOVAK, ICMA-CM, is executive director of ICMA.