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 the Illustrating Leadership Podcast! In today's episode, we are thrilled to welcome Melissa Cade Garcia, a lifelong educator, trainer, coach, speaker, and most recently, a published author. With an extensive career dedicated to leadership development, behavioral awareness, and academic enrichment, Melissa shares her incredible journey and insights with us.
Melissa's career has been a beacon of leadership and development, rooted in the scenic backdrop of Southwest Florida, where she resides with her husband, David. Her dedication to fostering growth and leadership in various spheres is truly inspiring.
Greatest Leadership Example: Jim McDevitt Melissa shares an impactful story about Jim McDevitt, a former principal and at-risk school consultant. He transitioned from Colorado to a small charter school in a rural agricultural community, predominantly consisting of economically disadvantaged students, many of whom were English language learners. Under Jim's leadership, the school not only improved its grades but also transformed its atmosphere. His approach included regular classroom visits, genuine connections with students and staff, and instilling a culture of goal-setting and self-awareness.
Key Leadership Traits: Transparency and Self-Awareness Two pivotal traits that Jim McDevitt exemplified were transparency and self-awareness. Melissa emphasizes how these traits created a safe and trusting environment, allowing both students and staff to openly discuss their strengths and areas for improvement. This environment of honesty and ambition propelled the entire school community towards excellence.
Jim's belief in Melissa's potential led her to step out of her comfort zone and embrace new challenges. Despite initial self-doubt, she became a coach, trainer, and eventually, an author. Melissa reflects on the transformative power of self-belief and the importance of having leaders who can see and nurture potential in others.
The Power of Visionary Leadership Melissa highlights the importance of visionary leadership, where leaders hold a clear vision of success and guide others towards it. Jim McDevitt's ability to paint a picture of possibilities and inspire his team was instrumental in the school's turnaround. Melissa discusses how this type of leadership can help individuals see beyond their current limitations and strive for greater achievements.
Building Genuine Connections One of the most touching stories Melissa shares is about Jim McDevitt sending Mother's Day cards to the mothers of his staff, thanking them for raising great teachers. This act of genuine care and thoughtfulness exemplifies the importance of building authentic connections in leadership. Melissa emphasizes that true leadership is about caring deeply for the people you lead.
Melissa's Current Endeavors: Transformative Connections Today, Melissa runs a business called Transformative Connections, focused on closing connection gaps in various settings. Through training, coaching, and consulting, Melissa helps individuals and organizations improve productivity, work-life balance, and overall well-being by fostering authentic connections. She believes that self-awareness is the starting point for building meaningful relationships.
Advice for Building Strong Connections For those feeling disconnected or lonely, Melissa advises starting with self-awareness. Understanding oneself is the first step towards building stronger connections with others. She also discusses the importance of investing time and effort into developing relationships, both in personal and professional contexts.
Conclusion Melissa Cade Garcia's journey is a testament to the power of effective leadership, self-belief, and genuine connections. Her story underscores the impact that visionary leaders can have on individuals and communities. Connect with Melissa and learn more about her book on her website, or follow her on LinkedIn and Instagram.
Your host, Jessica Wright, is a Life & Career Development Coach for Leaders and the Founder of Wright Life Coaching, LLC. You can follow her on LinkedIn and Instagram. Learn more about Leadership Masterclass, the private podcast and community at www.jessicawright.online/leadership-masterclass.
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