Meet Rya Hazelwood
I believe in the power of a well-timed reframe.
Sometimes the circumstances do not change. The story we tell ourselves about them can.
I'm Rya Hazelwood, and I write about family, adversity, identity and the choices we make about what comes next. I'm the author of Relentless Optimism & Other Life Goals and have completed my first novel, Natural Weather, a multigenerational family saga.
It centers on Alice Swanson, who ice skated around the trees in her childhood backyard, raised an infant in an Army tent at the edge of a redwood forest on other people's fruit and borrowed lumber, and decades later must rediscover the fearless young woman she once was without repudiating the beautiful, complicated life she built in between.
“Relentless Optimism is my non-negotiable and the foundation of my work. Not blind positivity, but the kind of optimism that keeps you moving even when the road is steep."
- Rya Hazelwood
Imagine a Culture …
Where leaders and professionals embrace resilience, adaptability and practical optimism.
Where teams navigate challenges with confidence, turn setbacks into steppingstones and grow stronger through adversity.
Where obstacles become opportunities and organizations move from reactive to resilient.
Because the way we think shapes the way we succeed.
When your team thinks differently, they perform differently.
Let’s build a culture where resilience, adaptability and optimism drive lasting success.
Interested in bringing Rya to your organization?
Let’s start the conversation.
Our first Bookmark That! Author Series was incredible. I couldn't have asked for a better topic or author to kick things off. Rya's personal story is powerful, and how she connected it to living our daily lives struck a chord with me, and the many others who attended.
- Kim Miller
Founder of FemFoundry
In my line of work, I have the opportunity to work with many fabulous professionals. Without question though, Rya is in a class of her own. Besides being freakishly smart, Rya is kind, incredibly organized, thoughtful, supportive, responsive and everything that you could ever hope for ... To say that I loved my time working with her would be the understatement of the century. If you have the honor of working with Rya, you are in for a world-class experience.
- Shola Richards,
International Keynote and TEDx Speaker, Author of Civil Unity
I have known and worked with Rya for over 16 years and deeply value our professional relationship and more importantly, our friendship. Rya's determination and loyalty is second to none. She is passionate about her work, helps companies thrive and does it all from a place of service.
- Ashley Snyder
Principal at Cresa