E3 S13 Breaking Barriers in Leadership and Social Impact Careers

Episode 3 of Season 13 of the Social Change Career Podcast features Rachel Fry, a dynamic leader in positive psychology and leadership coaching. 

Rachel is a leading expert in mental performance, leadership development, and career growth. With over 16 years of experience, she has helped leaders, impact focused professionals, and athletes build resilience, confidence, and mental well-being to excel in their careers.

Rachel shares essential insights on breaking barriers in leadership, optimizing human flourishing, and enhancing performance for leaders, athletes, and changemakers.

Key topics discussed:

• Positive Psychology in Leadership: Rachel highlights how leveraging strengths—not just focusing on weaknesses—helps individuals and teams thrive.
• Burnout Prevention and Resilience: Effective strategies to overcome burnout and build resilience, especially critical for professionals in the impact sector, where passion can sometimes lead to overwork.
• Navigating Impact Careers: Rachel shares valuable tips on thriving in the social impact sector, offering advice on how to build confidence, maintain balance, and avoid burnout despite the challenges that often come with this field.

📚 Key Resources from the Episode:

1. Halcyon Incubator Program – A premier resource for impact-driven entrepreneurs.
2. Rachel Fry on LinkedIn – Connect with Rachel to learn more about her work in leadership and performance.
3. Strength-Based Leadership – A framework to help individuals lead by building on their natural strengths.
4. Mindfulness & Burnout Prevention – Tools like daily meditation and mindful walks to stay balanced and creative.

💡 Career Tip: Thriving in the impact sector requires not only passion but also the ability to set healthy boundaries, prioritize well-being, and seek out leadership opportunities that align with your strengths.

To stay updated with more career resources, stories, and opportunities in the social impact space, sign up for the free PCDN Weekly Impact Newsletter, offering the world’s best curated jobs, funding, and learning opportunities. 🌱

Listen to the episode on PCDN.global or any major podcast platform. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share if you find it valuable!

 

Bio

Rachel’s career has taken her across five countries, where she has worked with thousands of individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. She started as a Division One soccer player and then transitioned into coaching and teaching and then leadership development. Rachel also trained and competed in the sport of freediving which took her to different places around the world. Rachel currently coaches leaders, founders, athletes, and students, helping them develop key skills like motivation, confidence, and resilience. She’s based in Washington D.C., splitting her time between the U.S. and South America, and serves as Vice President of an environmental nonprofit. Rachel holds a master’s in Applied Positive Psychology, which is the science of human flourishing.