Fairness in the Workplace after DEI with Lily Zheng
The Made Leader
The way we’ve been approaching workplace fairness might be fundamentally broken. After years of performative diversity initiatives and corporate virtue signaling, many organizations are abandoning DEI altogether—but that doesn’t mean the work isn’t still needed. The real challenge isn’t whether fairness matters, it’s how we actually create it. Lily Zheng joins the Made Leader podcast to discuss their new book, Fixing Fairness: Four Tenets to Transform Diversity Backlash into Progress for All. complaining with people like you, and what early leaders can do to create change even...
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How New Leaders Can Build Collaborative Teams with Harper Ray Wagner
The Made Leader
In this conversation, Harper breaks down why some people thrive in collaborative environments while others resist—and it's not what you think. He explains the collaborative operating system he teaches, why ownership and alignment matter more than motivation, and how your emotional state as a leader impacts everyone around you. You'll learn practical techniques from the HeartMath Institute for regulating your emotions in real time, why resistance often shows up as disengagement, and how to create psychological safety through simple processes like council questions. This episode goes beyond...
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Leaders: You Don't Have to Sacrifice Yourself with Alli Murphy
The Made Leader
What if everything you've been told about success is wrong? Alli Murphy breaks down the dangerous myth that you must sacrifice yourself to lead well—and shares exactly how to reclaim your time without sacrificing performance. As the founder of Work & Thrive HQ and a former Managing Director who took 5+ weeks of work-free PTO while scaling 7-figure programs, Alli knows that ambition and balance can work together. You'll discover what happens when you stop checking email first thing in the morning, how internal pressure fuels overworking, and practical strategies for building...
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Power Up Your Executive Presence with Jennifer Jensen
The Made Leader
What does executive presence actually mean, and how do you develop it when you're stuck in the middle? Today’s guest, Jennifer Jensen, author of “Developing Authentic Leaders”, breaks down the specific mindset shifts that separate directors from VPs—and why most middle managers stay focused on the wrong things. You'll discover why strategic thinking isn't a natural talent but a learnable skill, the mistakes that keep talented people invisible, and how to influence without formal authority. Jennifer also shares the truth about advancing when your organization won't...
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How to Build Connection Over Authority with Andrew Stoute
The Made Leader
Building rapport with your team shouldn't feel like another task on your to-do list, but many new leaders treat it that way—or skip it entirely. In this episode, Andrew Stoute explains why relationship-building is the foundation of effective leadership and how to do it without burning yourself out. You'll discover how to start small (even a quick "good morning" counts), read the room to adjust your approach, and stay consistent without forcing interactions. Andrew shares practical strategies for introverts, tips for handling awkward moments, and advice on where to focus your...
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Build Your Confidence as a New Leader with Simone Knego
The Made Leader
New leaders struggle with confidence every single day - second-guessing decisions, staying silent in meetings, and saying yes to everything because they can't set boundaries. But here's the truth: confidence isn't something you're born with. It's a skill you build through taking action. In this episode, Simone Knego, keynote speaker, author, and podcast host breaks down her REAL method for building unshakable confidence and shares practical strategies like the Control-Alt-Delete mindset hack, why you need to drop the word "just" from your vocabulary, and why "fake it till you make it" is...
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The Hiring Mistakes Most New Leaders Make with Mitch McDermott
The Made Leader
Desperate to fill an open role? That's exactly when you make your worst hiring decisions. In this episode, Mitch McDermott, Founder of Talent Ascension Group, reveals the hiring traps that sink new leaders and how to avoid them. You'll discover why you're probably interviewing resumes instead of people, the three types of candidates (and which one you actually need), and why learning from a candidate's questions matters more than their perfectly rehearsed answers. Mitch also tackles the tough stuff: handling job hoppers, dealing with senior leaders who overrule your decisions, and why you'll...
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Why Women Leaders Face Hidden Career Roadblocks with Kae Kronthaler-Williams
The Made Leader
Are women really playing on a level field at work? Spoiler: they're not. And that lie is costing talented women their careers. In this episode, tech executive Kae Kronthaler-Williams reveals how bias shows up in promotions, networking, and leadership definitions - and what to do about it. With over 30 years in the industry, Kae shares the hard-won lessons from her new book "Not Made for You." You'll discover why "reading the room" is essential for women leaders, how to stop waiting for permission to advance your career, and practical strategies to build visibility without compromising who you...
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Psychology-Backed Strategies for Leadership Success with Sébastien Page
The Made Leader
Most leadership advice is based on opinion, not science. So how do you know what actually works versus what just sounds good? In this episode, Sebastian Page, Chief Investment Officer at T. Rowe Price and author of The Psychology of Leadership, shares research-backed strategies that will change how you think about leading. You'll discover why listening matters more than talking, how goal-induced blindness can derail your career, and the weekly communication habit that takes 30 minutes but transforms your effectiveness. Whether you're a new leader or thinking about stepping into...
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Leading and Parenting with Jessica Toussaint
The Made Leader
Can you be a great leader AND a great parent? Jessica Toussaint, Director of Product Management and mom of three, proves you absolutely can—but not in the way you think. In this real-talk episode, Jessica shares how parenting made her a better leader (hello, patience!), practical strategies for setting boundaries without killing your career, and why balance doesn't mean 50/50 all the time. You'll learn the outcome test for deciding what's actually urgent, how to use your phone's focus mode to protect family time, and why curiosity beats having all the answers. If you're juggling leadership...
info_outlineThe way we’ve been approaching workplace fairness might be fundamentally broken. After years of performative diversity initiatives and corporate virtue signaling, many organizations are abandoning DEI altogether—but that doesn’t mean the work isn’t still needed. The real challenge isn’t whether fairness matters, it’s how we actually create it.
Lily Zheng joins the Made Leader podcast to discuss their new book, Fixing Fairness: Four Tenets to Transform Diversity Backlash into Progress for All. complaining with people like you, and what early leaders can do to create change even without organizational power.
Lily breaks down the biggest misconceptions about equity work, reveals why post-2020 DEI initiatives were destined to fail, and provides practical strategies for removing barriers and creating workplaces where everyone can thrive.
Follow The Made Leader for more leadership insights and strategies.
For links mentioned, visit www.growthsignals.co
Connect with Lily: https://www.lilyzheng.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lilyzheng308/
Connect with Jen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenparnold/