Illustrating Leadership Lesson: When Life as You Know It is Over
Release Date: 12/11/2024
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_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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