More Than Just a Song: A Leadership Journey Through Uncertainty
Mar 6th, 2025 | Hire Wire
It's hard to believe that five years have passed since the world suddenly stopped. What was supposed to last two weeks stretched into months that felt like forever.
As the CEO of a professional services company, I remember that first day of remote work with perfect clarity. The questions weighed heavily: Would we be okay? Would tomorrow even happen? With people falling ill around us, would my family and team survive? There were so many questions and so few answers.
That first Monday, coffee in hand, I sat on the floor with my laptop, unsure where to begin. I scrolled through Instagram, seeking some connection to the outside world. That's when I discovered it—a simple video of a girl singing "Hold My Hand" by Jess Glynne. You might know it: the one where she sings in the kitchen while her father dances with her, playfully hiding and reappearing. Something about that song reached into my soul and wouldn't let go. I played it over fifty times that week, sharing it with everyone I knew. In a sea of negative news, I desperately wanted to circulate something positive, something hopeful.
Every time I heard those lyrics, it felt as if God himself was holding my hand—and I genuinely believe He was. Anyone who knows me understands that my faith runs deep, and that song became my daily lifeline. Each morning, I would ask, "What's in store for us today, and what do I need to do?" As a leader, I carried the weight of being the cheerleader, keeping my team moving forward with faith and even finding moments of joy when every headline suggested otherwise. When you lead, your team looks to YOU for direction, so at TOC, we chose positivity, fun, and togetherness.
We launched weekly Zoom happy hours, where team members took turns choosing conversation themes: prom week, our kids week, fur baby week, wedding week—anything to inject some lightness into those heavy days. We looked forward to seeing each other's faces and sharing pieces of our lives during an otherwise-isolating time. We discovered personal sides to one another and grew closer than ever before. This team wasn't just connected; we were holding each other's hands through the storm.
During long walks with my husband, my creativity flourished. This challenging period birthed our bi-monthly newsletter "The Connector," our Talent Talks, HR Roundtables, and CEO Cares Zoom calls. Suddenly, we became a beacon for HR guidance when companies needed people-focused leadership most. Professional organizations invited us to share expertise on compliance and best practices. We became trusted advisors, making new friends who later became clients. If we could keep our team motivated, we believed we could inspire our clients, too.
One of my proudest moments was surprising our team with care packages from Founding Farmers in King of Prussia. Each box contained a whole chicken, bread, vegetables, milk, eggs—everything needed to make nourishing soup—and yes, two precious rolls of toilet paper. To this day, this gesture stands as one of our most meaningful gifts: a tangible sign of hope, love, and that promise to "hold your hand."
A leader's job is to keep the team motivated, aligned toward common goals, and believing in themselves and each other. Through that tenuous time, I questioned weekly whether we would survive. A mentor once told me, "NEVER LET THEM SEE YOU SWEAT—because when you do, they end up taking a bath!" But vulnerability has its place, too.
During an EOS meeting with our coach Hank O'Donnell in June (yes, we maintained those meetings throughout COVID), we did our usual check-in. When Hank finally turned to me and asked, "Marsh, what's your update?" something unexpected happened. I simply said, "Well...we made it so far," and completely broke down. Tears flowed uncontrollably. I had to turn off my camera, compose myself, then return with an apologetic "I'm back!"
To my surprise, my team started applauding. Confused, I asked why. They explained they had worried I wasn't human—how had I maintained such composure under immense pressure? Looking back, I still have only one answer: God was holding my hand.
That song has become our anthem. Whenever we gather as a team, we play it to remind ourselves that we've faced darkness before, moved forward, and survived—together. On future days when the sun doesn't shine as brightly, when getting up feels impossible, when the light dims, I need only play those notes and remember: God is holding my hand. For that, I am eternally grateful. For me, it was so much more than just a song.
Warm Regards,
Marcia Zaruba O'Connor
CEO & Founder, The O'Connor Group