Illustrating Leadership Lesson: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
Release Date: 01/10/2024
Illustrating Leadership Lesson: Leading With Softness
Illustrating Leadership
In this episode of the Illustrating Leadership Podcast, I had the joy of speaking with Jodi Gagne, Energy coach, EFT practitioner, and former theater stage manager and wedding planner. Jodi’s career path is anything but linear, and that’s exactly what makes her leadership insights so powerful. From high-pressure environments where there are no second chances to the deeply introspective world of energy coaching, Jodi’s story teaches us that leadership isn’t just about strength, structure, or decisiveness. It’s also about softness, self-trust, and the courage to explore what’s...
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Illustrating Leadership Lesson: The Power of the Pause
Illustrating Leadership
A lot of new leaders feel pressure to have the right answer right away. And a lot of seasoned leaders get into trouble when they succomb to this pressure. In this solo episode of the Illustrating Leadership Podcast, I explore one of the most underestimated leadership tools out there: the pause. We live in a world that rewards speed. Fast replies, quick decisions, and constant motion. But some of the best leadership moves come not from rushing forward, but from taking a breath, slowing down, and leading with intention. Quick Doesn’t Always Mean Effective We often glorify leaders who...
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Illustrating Leadership Lesson: Listening to Your Body
Illustrating Leadership
In this episode of the Illustrating Leadership Podcast, I sat down with Joanna Lund-Pops, embodied career and leadership coach, to explore how reconnecting with our bodies can transform the way we lead, make decisions, and sustain our energy — especially in the nonprofit and social impact space. Joanna helps changemakers move beyond the “do more with less” mindset and instead reclaim the bold, impactful careers and lives they were meant to have. Her insights remind us that great leadership doesn’t come from the head alone — it comes from the whole self. What Embodied Leadership...
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Illustrating Leadership Lesson: The Leader as a Mirror
Illustrating Leadership
In this solo episode of the Illustrating Leadership Podcast, I explore one of the most transformative mindset shifts for any leader...moving from being the fixer to becoming the coach. When you step into leadership, it’s natural to think your role is to have all the answers. But true leadership isn’t about solving every problem. It’s about helping your team discover their own solutions and strength. From Fixing to Reflecting As leaders, it’s easy to fall into what I call the “fix-it” mindset: rushing in to smooth things over, solve problems, and protect your team from struggle....
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Illustrating Leadership Lesson: Lead Yourself First
Illustrating Leadership
In this episode of the Illustrating Leadership Podcast, I had the honor of speaking with Chris Kruger — retired U.S. Army infantryman and Black Hawk pilot turned author. Chris spent over two decades in the military, completing multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan before retiring and embarking on a new chapter as a writer and mental health advocate. His story is one of resilience, self-awareness, and the power of empathetic leadership — both in uniform and beyond it. A Career Built on Service and Growth Chris joined the Army in 2000, drawn to the challenge of infantry life and the...
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Illustrating Leadership Lesson: Balancing Empathy & High Standards
Illustrating Leadership
In this solo episode of the Illustrating Leadership Podcast, I dive into one of the biggest tensions leaders face: balancing empathy with effectiveness. Can you really lead with both heart and high standards? I believe the answer is yes — not only can you, but the best leaders do. Rethinking What It Means to Lead with Compassion Many new and emerging leaders fall into the false belief that they have to choose between being compassionate or being effective. They worry that being too empathetic will make them seem weak or that prioritizing results will make them seem cold. But the truth is,...
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Illustrating Leadership Lesson: Time is Valuable
Illustrating Leadership
In this episode of the Illustrating Leadership Podcast, I sat down with Tara Haislip, founder of Grounded Energy 111 and host of the upcoming Burn the Script podcast. Tara’s story is one of reinvention, resilience, and redefining what success really means. From professional dancer to paralegal to health coach and now entrepreneur, her journey reflects what happens when we stop following everyone else’s rules and start creating our own. A Nonlinear Path to Purpose Tara’s career path has been anything but traditional. She began as a professional dancer, performing at a high level but...
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Illustrating Leadership Lesson: Coming back from burnout
Illustrating Leadership
In this episode of the Illustrating Leadership Podcast, I had the joy of talking with Christy Nichol, burnout recovery specialist and former sports therapist. Christy shared her journey of navigating burnout—twice—and how those experiences shaped her passion for helping high-performing professionals and entrepreneurs reclaim their energy, restore balance, and rediscover joy. Her story is a powerful reminder that self-care and authenticity aren’t luxuries in leadership—they’re essentials. From Sports Therapy to Burnout Recovery Christy’s career began as a successful sports...
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Illustrating Leadership Lesson: Reframing Feedback
Illustrating Leadership
In this solo episode of the Illustrating Leadership Podcast, I explore one of the most essential—and often most challenging—skills for leaders: feedback. Whether you’re offering it or receiving it, feedback can stir up discomfort, self-doubt, or defensiveness. But when it’s done well, it becomes one of the strongest tools we have for building trust, growth, and connection on our teams. Reframing Feedback as a Leadership Tool Many leaders approach feedback as if it’s inherently negative or confrontational, but feedback is simply information. It’s not a judgment of your...
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Illustrating Leadership Lesson: The Importance of Company Culture
Illustrating Leadership
In this episode of the Illustrating Leadership Podcast, I sit down with Marianna Kinnee, founder of Might in Motion and Director of Facility Implementation at Vector. Marianna’s career journey—from internships in manufacturing to leadership in the tech startup and supply chain space—illustrates the power of diverse perspectives, intentional mentorship, and data-driven decision-making in shaping modern leadership. Learning from Internships and Early Lessons Marianna’s leadership story began with two pivotal internships. At a paper mill, she discovered that while chemical engineering...
info_outlineWelcome to another episode of the Illustrating Leadership Podcast! In today's insightful conversation, your host Jessica is joined by accomplished Author, Speaker, and Consultant, Mandy Schaniel. Mandy shares her journey and the leadership lessons she has learned along the way.
Giving Back through Leadership
Part of Mandy's mission involves giving back to the community. She donates 10% of the proceeds from her book to nonprofit organizations such as the Cancer Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Orange County, and the Wounded Warrior Project.
Mandy's Leadership Example: Ian Siegel
Mandy shares her admiration for Ian Siegel, the CEO and co-founder of ZipRecruiter.com. She recounts a pivotal moment when Ian's direct communication and support played a crucial role in shifting her perspective and boosting her confidence.
Mandy opens up about facing imposter syndrome in her first executive role. She discusses how Ian's direct communication and encouragement helped her overcome doubts and embrace her authority as a senior executive.
The conversation shifts to the importance of direct communication in leadership. Mandy emphasizes the impact of clear and honest conversations, citing instances where direct communication has resolved issues and fostered growth within teams.
Addressing Imposter Syndrome and Building Confidence
Mandy and Jessica explore the concept of imposter syndrome and discuss practical approaches to building confidence. They touch on the significance of mindset, self-reflection, and reframing negative thoughts.
The discussion extends to the concept of confident humility, emphasizing the balance between showcasing achievements and acknowledging the success of the team. Mandy shares her experience in navigating a male-dominated industry and promoting a culture of confident humility.
The Art of Difficult Conversations
Leadership involves having difficult conversations. Mandy provides insights into approaching these conversations with care and authenticity, highlighting the positive outcomes that can arise from honest communication.
Mandy's Book: "Faith Over Fear"
Mandy wraps up the episode by introducing her book, "Faith Over Fear." The book offers practical tips and insights on retraining the mind and heart, believing in oneself, and achieving goals with less stress and burnout resistance.
Connect with Mandy
Make sure to follow Mandy on Instagram and check out her website!
Your host, Jessica Wright, is the Founder and Career Transformation Coach at Wright Life Coaching, LLC. Have you ever found your unhappiness at work seeping into the rest of your life? Through one-on-one coaching, Jessica helps you make a decision about whether you want to stay at your current job and turn it into a more fulfilling place to be- or go and find new work that you love and pays what you want. She is then with you through the implementation of whatever you decide you you can create a much more joyful life.
Want to help make more of the Illustrating Leadership Podcast happen? Donate $5 at https://ko-fi.com/wrightlife. Thank you so much for your support!