BOOKS BY STACY WINSETT

Keynote Speaker | Author | Executive Coach

  • LEADERSHIP BOOK

from Ashes to Influence:
Leadership Forged by Fire and Faith

A FIELD GUIDE FOR FAITH-DRIVEN, RESILIENT LEADERS

In her debut book, Stacy Winsett delivers a powerful manifesto for leaders who refuse to settle for mediocrity. Drawing from decades of experience in the trenches of organizational leadership, from Ashes to Influence: Leadership Forged by Fire and Faith is a raw, honest, and deeply practical guide for anyone who wants to lead with courage, conviction, and faith.

“If you lead people in any capacity, this book will challenge and change you in all the right ways.”

“Stacy writes like she speaks on stage — with fire, honesty, and a deep care for the people she serves.”

Book Excerpts

Chapter 1: The Fire Before the Smoke

The house was already burning before we understood what fire could take. It wasn’t dramatic at first. Not the way movies make it look. There was no warning soundtrack, no slow-motion moment of realization. Just the smell sharp and wrong cutting through the
ordinary. Smoke doesn’t announce itself with urgency. It arrives like confusion. Like something you don’t want to name yet.

Some leaders are trained in boardrooms. I entered the world already fighting. Born six weeks prematurely in Pasadena, Texas, my body arrived before it was ready. I carried three blood-filled tumors on the outside of my skin—one on my head, one on my chest, one on my arm. Doctors warned my mother that a single puncture could cause catastrophic bleeding.

Fire is not just destruction. It is a before-and-after you carry in your nervous system. By age four, instability returned. My grandparents moved to Amarillo for my grandfather’s work. My mother followed and married a man whose rage would leave permanent marks on our family. His past was violent. He had ties to the mob. Everyone knew it. No One stopped it.

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REVIEWS

What Readers Are Saying

This book speaks directly to people who have carried too much for too long—at home, at work, and in leadership. From Ashes to Influence is both deeply moving and deeply practical, offering a powerful reminder that strong leadership does not require self-erasure. It shows leaders how to lead teams with clarity, integrity, and presence—without losing themselves in the process.
Mary Anne (Wihbey) Davis Owner, Peak Performance Solutions
"I have been privileged to have known Stacy Winsett for almost 20 years. I have witnessed first-hand how she has grown as an executive and become an influential business leader. It has been a joy to have followed her career and success for all these years. My only regret is never having had the opportunity to hire her years ago as my Chief "People" Officer (CPO), at La Quinta. She is a remarkably talented and insightful woman and I am thrilled to witness her continued growth and success."
Wayne Goldbergformer Chief Executive Officer, LaQuinta Inns and Suites
"From Ashes to Influence shows how early adversity shapes leadership and resilience. Stacy explores both what she endured and its impact on her life. This clear, insightful book will appeal to leaders who have managed pressure before learning to rest, trust, or heal. It will also inspire young adults that may feel hopeless and scared to believe and pursue their aspirations and dreams despite life’s relentless challenges."
Jim WeelAirline Labor Relations Executive American Airlines
As a psychotherapist, I’ve spent years studying the effects of depression, anxiety, and the long-term effects of adversity. In the past decade, the research focus has shifted to resilience, regulation, positive coping and overcoming adversity. What stands out in From Ashes to Influence is its psychological depth and restraint.
Ronny PipesDepartment of Psychiatry, UT Southwestern
From Ashes to Influence is a thoughtful and credible reflection on leadership, showing how personal and leadership journeys inform each other. It treats leadership not as personal resilience, but as responsibility stewardship, discernment, ethics, and accountability for the long term consequences of how power is used. Drawing on Stacy’s incredible lived xperience, it offers a valuable read for senior leaders navigating complexity and change.
Cyril AubinSr Vice President, USA, Canada & UK - RATP Dev
Working directly for Stacy was one of the most formative leadership experiences of my career. She modeled strength without intimidation, clarity without cruelty, and faith without performance. In moments that required courage, she led with integrity—and in moments that required compassion, she created space for truth and growth. From Ashes to Influence captures the same leadership I experienced firsthand: principled, steady, and rooted in faith. This book is a gift to leaders who want to serve well without losing themselves—or their values—along the way.
Melanee CarlowPeople Business Partner - CAQH
As someone who had the privilege of working under Stacy Winsett’s leadership, I can say with confidence that the strength she writes about in From Ashes to Influence is real. Stacy leads with uncommon integrity, empathy, and courage—creating space for others to grow while modeling what it means to rise without losing yourself. This memoir is both beautifully written and deeply transformative, offering readers a powerful reminder that healing and leadership are not separate journeys—they are the same path.
Mary Slover-McMichaelAuthor of “Your Life Shoes
As an executive coach, I’ve worked with countless high-performing leaders who carry invisible stories beneath their strength. Stacy Winsett’s From Ashes to Influence is unforgettable—not only for its honesty, but for the profound leadership insight it offers. This book will challenge readers to redefine leadership through courage, boundaries, and wholeness.
Eric SpencerExecutive Coach | Leadership Expert

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Equip your entire leadership team with Leadership on Fire. Bulk discounts are available for orders of 25+ copies. Custom bookplates and signed editions available upon request.

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