Illustrating Leadership Lesson: When Life as You Know It is Over
Release Date: 12/11/2024
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_outlinePlease enjoy this incredible conversation with Maggie Kang, a Healthcare and Life coach, and former radiologist. Maggie's journey reflects growth through life-altering challenges and can offer valuable lessons for everyone.
The Unexpected Journey
Maggie shares an intimate and heartfelt narrative about her daughter, Nell, who was diagnosed with Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum disease, a rare neurological autoimmune disorder. This diagnosis marked the beginning of a challenging chapter for Maggie and her family, as they navigated the complexities of living with a rare and incurable disease.
As Maggie recounts, the initial phase was filled with fear and denial. "My first response is always denial —no, that's a mistake, this can't be her," she recalls. Despite these natural reactions, Maggie later discovered a path of acceptance and purpose, largely inspired by her daughter's unyielding spirit and determination.
Leadership Through Adversity
Maggie identifies her daughter as her greatest source of inspiration. Nell's journey exemplifies leadership in its rawest form — courage and grace in the face of adversity. "She's unafraid to share her story, to help other people, to get out there and be in an uncomfortable place," Maggie notes. Nell's openness and strength sparked a transformation within Maggie, pushing her beyond the comfort zone of her previous medical career into rare disease advocacy and coaching.
From Medical Professional to Life Coach
Witnessing the transformative power of coaching, Maggie decided to get certified and now dedicates her energy to supporting others who walk the challenging path she once did.
She fondly speaks of The Sumaira Foundation, where she and Nell actively participate in rare disease advocacy, and underscores the profound connection and growth this advocacy work has provided for their entire family.
Learning Acceptance and Embracing Change
A significant theme throughout Maggie's narrative is learning acceptance. She candidly shares her struggles with accepting change and the mental journey to move past initial denial. "It took me more than a year to fully come to terms with accepting the reality of our life," she reveals. Her experience with coaching was pivotal in reaching this acceptance, allowing her to transform suffering into a proactive force for good.
Maggie emphasizes the importance of processing emotions and the power of being open about challenges within her family. This transparency has fostered a deeper family bond and cultivated an environment where difficult conversations can occur freely.
An Empowering Ending
For those who find themselves in similar situations, Maggie's story is a beacon of hope and strength. She offers her unique perspective, a combination of medical knowledge and personal experience, to help guide others through their own journeys. As she shares, "I like to offer my support and help to people if it's useful."
Connect with Maggie and Learn More
To get more of Maggie's insights, don't miss her TEDx talk, "The Truth About Pain and Suffering Will Change Your Life," where she expands on her stories and lessons learned. Also, check out Nell's book, "My Hospital Story," a heartfelt compilation of her experiences that resonates with both young and adult readers.
For those interested in connecting more with Maggie, her "Lobster Mom Collective Newsletter" is a resource for mothers navigating similar paths, drawing a powerful metaphor between life’s challenges and the growth process of lobsters.
To reach out or learn more about Maggie Kang's work, visit her website or connect on LinkedIn.
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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