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 another edition of Illustrating Leadership, where we bring you insights from some of the most thoughtful and experienced leaders in the field. Today, we are thrilled to share a conversation with Joanna Kozlowski, a remarkable leader with a diverse background spanning teaching, architecture, engineering, and consulting. Joanna's journey unveils a refreshing perspective on leadership, mentorship, and values, especially relevant in today’s evolving work culture.
From Teaching to Consulting: Joanna's Unique Leadership Journey
As Joanna recounts, "My first career was in teaching and training. My second career was in architecture, engineering, and construction, leading teams, working in marketing and business development. And then about six and a half years ago, I decided to take those threads and weave a whole new carpet and start my own consulting practice."
Embracing Leadership without a Single Role Model
A significant theme in the conversation with Joanna was the challenge of stepping into leadership roles without a clear, singular role model to emulate. Joanna shares, "What happens if you find yourself in a leadership role, and you don't necessarily have that shiny example of a person? How do you turn that into something inspiring for your own leadership?"
Joanna’s answer lies in the power of synthesizing various influences: "Reflect on how that's influenced your leadership… take pieces from everyone you've worked with, whether they were good or bad to work with… It takes a level of grace, intentionality, reflection, and patience to actually stop and think about what you're seeing."
Vulnerability as a Leadership Strength
In a candid discussion about vulnerability in leadership, Joanna emphasizes the importance of being transparent about mistakes and growth. "If we don't share our mistakes, we miss an opportunity to share our growth. Because if we got it right every single time from the first time, there's very little achievement in that."
Joanna’s perspective aligns with the emerging leadership model where leaders are more human and relatable. She notes, "The leaders we tend to connect with most are the ones who understand they're leading humans and are very vulnerable and transparent about their own humanity to the level that's appropriate."
The Impact of Context and Family on Leadership
Delving into her own upbringing, Joanna reflects on the influence of her culturally diverse background and her parents' leadership styles. "I grew up in British colonies and former colonies… My dad's a now-retired engineer who was very ambitious… My mom always had a job and her leadership skills showed up in civic responsibilities, in volunteering."
Her experiences underscore the notion that leadership is not only about embracing inherited values but also about consciously shaping them through personal growth and learning from various environments.
Defining and Living by Your Values
A critical aspect of effective leadership, as highlighted by Joanna, is defining personal values. "It is really important to me to be kind. It is not particularly important to me to be nice. Kindness or lack of kindness meant that there were mixed messages, a lack of clarity."
Joanna’s focused approach to her values allows her to lead with clarity, consistency, and courage. She emphasizes the importance of introspection and alignment in defining what truly matters to an individual and an organization.
Leadership in Practice: Teaching, Mentorship, and Beyond
Joanna’s love for teaching continues to be a significant part of her consulting practice. "Teaching was my first love. I have a degree in English literature with a minor in sociology... For me, teaching is like flying. It's a superpower. I love it."
Her dedication to teaching and mentorship reflects her commitment to fostering growth and development in others. Joanna's work includes leading retreats, facilitating, and providing professional development training, all aimed at helping ambitious professionals hone their leadership skills.
Conclusion: Embrace Your Unique Leadership Journey
Joanna Kozlowski’s story is a powerful reminder that leadership is a journey shaped by diverse experiences, intentional growth, and authentic values. By embracing vulnerability, synthesizing various influences, and staying true to core values, each of us can navigate our unique path to effective leadership.
To connect with Joanna and learn more about her work, visit Resolute Consulting’s website and follow her on LinkedIn! Joanna's passion for helping leaders find their voices and refine their skills makes her a valuable resource for anyone looking to enhance their leadership journey.
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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