Illustrating Leadership Lesson: Rebellion & Resilience
Release Date: 09/18/2024
Illustrating Leadership Lesson: Loneliness
Illustrating Leadership
“It’s lonely at the top.” It is a phrase most leaders have heard and many have quietly felt. Especially for new and emerging leaders, that loneliness can feel heavy. You are the one people come to for answers. You are expected to project confidence and clarity, even when you feel unsure, overwhelmed, or exhausted. You carry confidential information you cannot fully share. You navigate decisions others never see. Over time, leadership can begin to feel isolating. But leadership does not have to be lonely. In this solo episode of the Illustrating Leadership Podcast, I explore why...
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Illustrating Leadership Lesson: Aligning Your Inner & Outer Life
Illustrating Leadership
Some of the most impactful leaders in our lives do not come with titles, corner offices, or formal authority. They enter our lives through relationship. They challenge us, ground us, mirror us, and sometimes even break our hearts before helping us put ourselves back together with more clarity, self-trust, and wholeness. That truth sat at the center of this episode of the Illustrating Leadership Podcast, where I had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Brenda Brummond, an intuitive business coach for female entrepreneurs. What unfolded was not just a conversation about leadership, but about...
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Illustrating Leadership Lesson: Leading Different Personality Types
Illustrating Leadership
One of the most important and most overlooked truths about leadership is this: your team does not think like you. And while that realization can feel uncomfortable at first, it is actually one of your greatest opportunities as a leader. Leadership is not about getting everyone to work the way you do. It is about understanding how they work and creating the conditions for each person to thrive. In this solo episode of the Illustrating Leadership Podcast, I explore what it really means to lead different personality types with awareness, empathy, and flexibility, without losing your own...
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Illustrating Leadership Lesson: Authenticity Leads to Trust
Illustrating Leadership
In this episode of the Illustrating Leadership Podcast, I sat down with Cindy Spratt, a holistic nutritionist who supports women in rebuilding peaceful relationships with food, body, and self. Cindy’s story offers a powerful reminder that leadership is not about fitting into a predefined mold. It is about knowing who you are, honoring your values, and creating trust through authenticity. The Leader Who Gave Permission to Be Real Cindy shared the story of a leader who deeply influenced her path, Meghan Telpner, founder of the Academy of Culinary Nutrition. While Cindy initially sought Meghan...
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Illustrating Leadership Lesson: Finding your guiding light
Illustrating Leadership
When leadership feels steady, it’s easy to move forward with confidence. But most leaders don’t struggle when things are going well — they struggle when things feel messy, unclear, stressful, or conflicting. When you’re pulled in too many directions, when decisions feel heavier than usual, or when something simply hasn’t gone well in your organization or business. In those moments, it’s tempting to look for more information. Another article. Another framework. Another opinion. But what gets leaders through those seasons isn’t more information. It’s clarity. It’s alignment....
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Illustrating Leadership Lesson: Reframing Failure
Illustrating Leadership
In this solo episode of the Illustrating Leadership Podcast, I explore one of the most important and least discussed realities of leadership: failure. Every leader will experience it. The question is not if it will happen, but how you respond when it does. Failure does not mean you are a bad leader. It does not define your character, your capability, or your future. What it does offer is an invitation to reflect, learn, and lead with integrity and resilience. Separating Who You Are from What Happened One of the most damaging patterns leaders fall into after a misstep is personalization. A...
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Illustrating Leadership Lesson: Belief Sparks Possibility
Illustrating Leadership
In this episode of the Illustrating Leadership Podcast, I spoke with Pam Miller, a Life and Health Transitional Coach whose leadership story perfectly illustrates the transformative power of one person’s belief. Pam shared a defining moment from her twenties. A moment when fear was holding her back, her confidence was shrinking, and she fully intended to say no to an opportunity that terrified her. But one leader saw something in her she couldn’t yet see in herself. That single moment changed the entire trajectory of her life. When Fear Keeps Us Small In her twenties, Pam worked...
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Illustrating Leadership Lesson: Trusting Yourself as a Leader
Illustrating Leadership
In this solo episode of the Illustrating Leadership Podcast, I dive into one of the most essential, and most underrated, leadership skills you can ever develop: self-trust. Leadership will always include moments where the decision, the responsibility, or the next step ultimately rests on you. And in those moments, the voice you trust matters. But for many new and emerging leaders, that inner voice is clouded by fear, doubt, overthinking, or the urge to please others. In this episode, I walk through how to recognize and redirect your saboteurs, tune into your intuition, release...
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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...
info_outlineWelcome to the Illustrating Leadership podcast! Today, I'm delighted to introduce you to Heather Simpson, the dynamic founder and CEO of Her Connection Hub. Heather has cultivated a thriving community that serves as a workspace and a hub of inspiration and collaboration. Beyond her impressive professional accomplishments, Heather brings extensive experience in leadership and training leaders to our conversation.
Building A Community of Visionaries
As I shared in our opening chat, Heather's *Her Connection Hub* isn't just a place to work; it's truly a community of visionary people pursuing their goals and dreams. This space does more than provide a desk – it forges connections and promotes collaborative growth among entrepreneurs, side hustlers, and remote workers alike.
A Rebel With A Cause
One of the most intriguing parts of our conversation revolved around Heather's rebellious nature. While the word "rebel" might conjure images of defiance, for Heather, it represents the courageous questioning of norms and boundaries. This “rebel” spirit has been crucial in her journey as an entrepreneur, driving her to challenge limitations and pursue her vision unapologetically.
The Power of Questioning
Heather believes that every entrepreneur harbors a bit of that rebellious spirit—the audacity to ask, "Why can't I do this?" It's about pushing boundaries and seeking possibilities where others see walls. This concept resonated deeply during our discussion, especially when Heather highlighted how this mindset fuels significant growth both personally and professionally.
Resilience & Leadership
Another core topic we dived into was resilience. Building resilience, according to Heather, is about more than just enduring hardships—it's an active, continual process of moving forward and making decisions. Leadership, she notes, is essentially an inside job, one that relies heavily on emotional intelligence and the ability to learn from every experience, especially failures.
Developing Resilience
Heather shared that resilience involves constantly making decisions and moving through challenges rather than avoiding them. Indecision can hold us back, but by making the best decisions we can with the information available, we build the confidence to handle setbacks. This process strengthens us and hones our skills, better preparing us for future challenges.
Family and Rebellion
As parents, many of our listeners might find Heather's approach to fostering resilience and rebellion in her children incredibly insightful. Heather encourages her kids to explore, understand, and trust their own instincts. She provides guidance but allows them the space to discover their paths, a practice that has helped her daughter confidently pursue her dreams.
Looking Forward: Shattering Glass
Heather is working on an exciting new project—a book titled "Shattering Glass," set to release later this fall. This book encapsulates her journey and insights into overcoming resistance and breaking through personal and professional barriers. Heather encourages everyone facing resistance to lean into it, as it often signals a significant opportunity for growth and success.
Connect With Heather
To stay updated with Heather’s latest projects and insights, follow her on Instagram @HerConnectionHub and @WeShatterGlass.
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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