Shameless Leadership

Jamie Lee is an executive coach who specializes in women and underrepresented leaders who are "allergic" to risky conversations and office politics. She focuses on helping them get promoted and better paid without compromising their integrity or throwing anyone under the bus. In her practice, she blends proven self-advocacy strategies with evidence-based neuroplasticity tools. For over a decade, Jamie has trained thousands of professionals in effective self-advocacy at leading organizations, including Citi, Unilever, Association of Corporate Counsel, American College of Cardiologists, UC Berkeley School of Business, and Smith College. She's also the host of the Risky Conversations podcast, where she has honest talks with thought leaders on topics often considered taboo or "too risky" at work -- negotiation, mental and reproductive health, office politics, social injustices, and unconventional ways smart women navigate their path forward despite a flawed workplace. Listen in to hear Jamie share: How deepening her understanding of herself and her identity as a Korean immigrant woman helped her become a better self-advocate when she realized she was being significantly underpaid at work How our development of self-advocacy is not just about us, but also an act of service How she overcame the assumption that women need to earn their power in order to see that women actually need to claim their power The connection between self-advocacy, shame, and power How women can use anger to activate motivation The science of successful negotiation by decentering yourself How to use Zen practices and neuroscience to inform to rewrite your internal narratives and unlock your greatest potential  Links Mentioned: Connect with Jamie: https://www.jamieleecoach.com Jamie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leejieunjamie Jamie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamieleecoach Listen to Jamie’s interview with Sara on Risky Conversations: https://podcast.jamieleecoach.com/ Book: The Heart Sutra Book: Open Focus Brain Connect with Sara: saradean.com Watch Shameless Leadership episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@saradeanspeaks Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Public failures and fumbles are painful to say the least.  I’ve recently had a handful of clients come to me feeling crushed after making a mistake, fumbling, or failing publicly. The most prominent outcome in all of their stories? SHAME. Their instinctual behavior to manage the shame? Hide, deny, or deflect. Fun fact, people don't actually trust leaders who never admit to making mistakes. Mistakes are a demonstration of humanity, authenticity, and vulnerability. We trust people who we see as human, fallible, and REAL. We trust people who aren't afraid to take accountability. We trust people who don't shy away from saying sorry. At the end of the day, our public mistakes don’t have to be the end of our credibility. In fact, they can become a powerful part of the evolution of our growth and credibility as a leader. In this episode, I’m digging into how public fumbles can actually make you a better leader, and I’ll walk you through the four steps (borrowed from restorative justice practices) to move through mistakes in a way that builds, rather than breaks, your credibility: Take responsibility for your part in the mess. Apologize for any harm done. Share and demonstrate what you’ve learned. Commit to the steps you’ll take to do better next time. By taking these steps, you are modeling humility, integrity, strength, grace, and a healthy sense of ego. When you model these things, people trust you MORE. People see you as more credible and authentic. People feel more connected to you. You become the kind of leader people remember and emulate.  I’ll also talk about how to let go of the shame of failure as an essential step for moving forward. The reality is, being a great leader is far more about being real than being perfect. Processing the shame is part of being real and giving yourself the grace to be imperfect. If you’ve ever found yourself in the spotlight for the wrong reasons—or feared what might happen if you do—this conversation will give you a roadmap for navigating those moments with integrity, humility, and strength. Links Mentioned: Attend my Influence & Ignite Retreat for Women Business Owners: saradean.com/retreat Hire me to speak: saradean.com/speaking Coach with me: https://saradean.com/executive-coaching-services Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradeanspeaks Watch Shameless Leadership episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@saradeanspeaks Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When you hear the phrase thought leader, what comes to mind? For a lot of people, it’s someone with a massive following, a bestselling book, or a keynote spot at a big conference. But here’s the truth: thought leadership isn’t about popularity, perfection, or being the smartest (or loudest!) person in the room. It’s about having the courage to share ideas that shape or shift how others think, act, or lead. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what actually makes someone a thought leader—and what doesn’t. I’ll walk you through some of the biggest myths about thought leadership, like the idea that you need a huge audience, massive expertise, or flawless content before you can make an impact. Spoiler: you don’t. Then, I’ll break down the traits that really define thought leadership—clarity, consistency, courage, and a commitment to service. I’ll also share examples of leaders (many without fancy titles) who are shaping culture and conversations right where they are. If you’ve ever wondered whether your voice matters enough to share publicly, or if you’ve doubted whether you’re “qualified” to be seen as a thought leader, this episode is for you. You’ll leave with practical ways to start building credibility and influence, even if you’re starting small. Thought leadership isn’t about ego or self-promotion. It’s about generosity, contribution, and showing up consistently with ideas that matter.  Anyone can be a thought leader, and your path to thought leadership can begin today! Episode Highlights: Why thought leadership is about service, not self-promotion The biggest myths (and truths!) about thought leadership The four traits that make someone a trusted and influential voice How to know if you’re already showing up as a thought leader without realizing it 5 practical steps you can take to begin sharing your ideas with more confidence and consistency Links Mentioned: Jalonni Weaver on IG: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jalonniweaver/ Attend my Influence & Ignite Retreat for Women Business Owners: saradean.com/retreat Hire me to speak: saradean.com/speaking Coach with me: https://saradean.com/executive-coaching-services Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradeanspeaks Watch Shameless Leadership episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@saradeanspeaks Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A few months ago, I shared some of my personal experiences in perimenopause.  Today I am back with a big update. Since the last episode on this topic, I had a severe shift in my mental health, including a raging comeback of my lifelong anxiety and panic.  On top of this, I started having emotional responses to situations that I could tell were very much disproportionate to the situation, yet I couldn’t seem to talk myself out of severe and dark emotional states. Initially, I thought this was all due to general life stress and the relentless state of the world. After a few months of waking up in sheer panic night after night, I asked my doctor if we could recheck my hormones. WOW, did those lab results paint a picture!  I received my lab results via email on a Friday afternoon. Since my follow-up with my doctor wasn’t until the next week, I did what any anxiety-ridden perimenopausal 49-year-old woman would do. I went straight to my pal, Chatty (ie: ChatGPT). Chatty broke everything down for me and told me that, based on my lab work, I was very likely in the final stages of perimenopause or early stages of menopause. Chatty also noted that my lack of estrogen (which was so low it literally did not register on the lab work) may have me experiencing the following: Tearfulness or crying more easily Feeling raw, edgy, or like your “emotional skin is thinner” Mood crashes that feel out of proportion to the trigger Moments of despair or hopelessness that feel unfamiliar Feeling more reactive or “on edge” without clear cause Loss of resilience in situations you used to handle with ease CHECK. CHECK. CHECK. CHECK. I didn’t even realize how incredibly awful I had been feeling until I saw this list and realized that every single item was ME! I took the list to my husband, who lovingly verified that he had seen this all in me in recent months and shared, “You really haven’t been yourself for a while.” The next week, I had my lab review appointment with my doctor, who told me, “We are going to fast-track HRT for you. You need estrogen asap!” She called in my prescription and warned me that it would take a few weeks, maybe longer, before I noticed any significant changes in how I felt.   I put on my first hormone patch at 4 pm on a Tuesday. By Wednesday at 8 am, I felt like a new woman! I felt energetic, optimistic, motivated, and at ease. No panic, no anxiety. The sun shone brighter, the chirping birds made me smile (instead of annoying me), I didn’t want to scream at my family for no reason, and I couldn’t wait to tackle my To Do List for the day. I immediately realized how horrible my quality of life had become over the last few months. In short, HRT brought me back to myself in 16 hours.   In this episode, I share more of my story and provide a few recommendations for you to get the proper support during your own perimenopause/menopause journey. I’m so lucky to have a fantastic doctor, which I know is not the case for so many women. I hope my story will help you find the support you need during this season. If you are a woman between the ages of 35 and 55, this episode is for you!  Links Mentioned: Join my Influence & Ignite Retreat for Women Business Owners: saradean.com/retreat Shameless Leadership Ep 924: More Talking About Menopause Please Dr. Mary Claire Haver on IG: https://www.instagram.com/drmaryclaire Hire me to speak: saradean.com/speaking Coach with me: https://saradean.com/executive-coaching-services Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradeanspeaks Watch Shameless Leadership episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@saradeanspeaks Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Empathy is one of the most critical leadership skills we can have—but like any strength, it can become a liability when it’s out of balance. In this episode, I’m diving into the dangers of both too much and too little empathy as a leader. Because here’s the truth: leaders without enough empathy lose trust, connection, and team cohesion… but leaders with too much empathy risk burnout, decision fatigue, and losing their leadership edge. We will dig into what happens when empathy turns into emotional over-functioning, when we’re not just feeling with our people, but we’re carrying their feelings as our own. This is especially common for leaders who are natural caretakers or people-pleasers, or who’ve been taught that being liked equals being effective. I’ll also break down how leaders with too little empathy often miss opportunities to connect, inspire, and build loyalty. Most importantly, I’ll walk you through practical ways to find your Goldilocks “just right” empathy zone. You’ll learn how to be compassionate without losing your boundaries, how to acknowledge people’s experiences without absorbing their emotions, and how to lead with both heart and backbone. This is the work of becoming a leader who is deeply human and deeply effective. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re caring too much—or not enough—about the emotional side of leadership, this conversation will help you recalibrate so you can lead with clarity, confidence, and courage. Links Mentioned: Register for Sara’s October Influence & Ignite Retreat for Women Business Owners: saradean.com/retreat Hire me to speak: saradean.com/speaking Coach with me: https://saradean.com/executive-coaching-services Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradeanspeaks Watch Shameless Leadership episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@saradeanspeaks Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I was thrilled to interview Themba Dayton, whom I was introduced to by Elena Joy Thurston, a past guest of the show and a friend. When I learned about Themba’s track record in building and guiding diverse teams, I immediately had a ton of questions for him. This conversation is a treasure trove of sage advice around the power of diversity in professional environments and why diverse teams will always have a leg up, no matter the state of the world.   Themba Dayton is a 30-year insurance professional in the employee benefits industry, living in the Pacific Northwest. In an industry that is known for being overwhelmingly male, Themba has been a part of and has had the honor of leading extremely diverse and dynamic teams that have been innovative and successful in their roles. Teams at their best are varied, have full engagement, and the group is committed to the success of the whole more often than the success of the individual. In his current role, Themba looks for opportunities to ensure all voices are allowed to be heard, to allow for more robust discussions, and to pave the way for more meaningful outcomes. Listen in to hear Themba share: How to leverage diversity to build effective and successful teams His secret in helping each member of diverse teams feel seen, heard, held, and valued - getting to know each person individually, developing strong 1:1 relationships How he is sensitive to his industry being “pale, male, and stale” and how he, as a Black man, leads with this sensitivity in mind How he looks for opportunities to amplify women’s voices How highlighting someone else not only amplifies their voice but also helps you shine brighter as a strong leader Links Mentioned: Connect with Themba on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themba-dayton-ab956b5/ Register for Sara’s October Influence & Ignite Retreat for Women Business Owners: saradean.com/retreat Hire me to speak: saradean.com/speaking Coach with me: https://saradean.com/executive-coaching-services Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradeanspeaks Watch Shameless Leadership episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@saradeanspeaks Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you ever found yourself staring down a big decision, maybe making a move, a new job offer, a promotion, or even staying in a role that no longer fits — and thought, “How do I know if this is the right move?” In this episode, I walk you through four powerful questions I ask myself (and my clients) before making a big personal or professional decision. These questions help cut through the noise, slow down the overthinking spiral, and get you grounded in what you truly want and need. I will walk you through these questions, applying them to an example from my personal life, and then use a professional example that will likely be familiar to you. This episode will help you become a better decision maker and action taker, providing objective clarity to get you through tough decisions. Being able to make value-aligned decisions, guided by simple questions, will enhance your leadership, save you a ton of decision fatigue and mental energy, and open up space for you to do more of your best work.  In this episode, you will learn: The question I ask that always brings me back to clarity How to assess if a decision is additive or draining Why getting honest about the costs of a yes is just as important as the benefits How to make choices from purpose, not pressure Whether you’re weighing a big move or a small shift, this episode will help you trust yourself more in the process. Links Mentioned: Register for Sara’s October Influence & Ignite Retreat for Women Business Owners: saradean.com/retreat Hire me to speak: saradean.com/speaking Coach with me: https://saradean.com/executive-coaching-services Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradeanspeaks Watch Shameless Leadership episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@saradeanspeaks Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Having a boss who causes harm or holds leadership values that clash with yours is rarely a positive experience. But time and again, I’ve seen how negative role models can motivate people to lead better and do better. Poor leadership often sparks a commitment to do things differently and more effectively as we grow. So maybe, in the long run, even bad leaders leave us with something valuable? When I learned of Dr. Karen Hills Pruden’s work in leadership, partly inspired by her experience of having endured two incompetent leaders in close succession, I was eager to hear her story and learn from her.  In this episode, she shares her incredibly valuable lessons learned. Dr. Pruden is the CEO of Pruden Global Business Solutions Consulting (PGBSC), a premier professional development and leadership training company. With over 30 years of experience, Dr. Pruden has created trademarked frameworks that drive transformational change for leaders and organizations worldwide.  PGBSC programs are built on powerful, proven methodologies, including the Amplify Your Value framework, which helps leaders leverage their expertise to advance; the LPT (Learn, Practice, Teach) framework, designed to create a continuous cycle of learning and growth; and the PE (Professional Equity) framework, which empowers professionals to convert their experience into measurable business success.  Pruden Global specializes in cultivating leadership excellence, ensuring that our clients are not only seen and heard but also positioned to make a lasting impact.  Dr. Pruden is a Bestselling Author, published over 30 times, a sought-after Global Leadership Speaker, and a guest on radio, podcasts, and television. Listen in to hear Karen share: What women really need to make the leap into the C-suite, and how women sell themselves short when reaching for C-suite roles  What she learned about the “Dos and Don’ts of Leadership” after having two incompetent leaders in two years Her philosophy that “silence is not a superpower” and how to use your voice in strategic ways when you’re working under an ineffective or incompetent leader How to maintain your professional integrity and motivation when faced with leadership that doesn’t align with your organization’s values or your own leadership standards  How her experiences with poor leaders allowed her to create her own leadership methodologies and frameworks Links Mentioned: Register for Sara’s October Influence & Ignite Retreat for Women Business Owners: saradean.com/retreat Hire Sara to speak: saradean.com/speaking Coach with Sara: https://saradean.com/executive-coaching-services Connect with Dr. Pruden: drkarenhillpruden.com Get Dr. Pruden’s Free Download: 20 Things to Ask for to Raise Your Total Compensation Package: https://pro.speakerhub.com/speaker-feedback/?qr=d2fcc364-e93d-46fc-9eb3-2d7145a99535 Connect with Dr. Pruden on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkarenhillspruden/ Sister Leaders Community: sistersleadersconference.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Last year, Google invited me to come lead trainings for Aging Awareness Week. This was a truly enjoyable opportunity to work with some brilliant leaders. When I asked about who to expect in the audience, I expected to be told, “People over 55.” Instead, I was told, “This ERG is for folks over 40.”  40!  I don’t think of 40 as “aging” just yet. But, I guess it is when society and culture start to stigmatize us, isn’t it??   If you are a woman over 40 who is done shrinking and ready to lead with the clarity, power, and confidence that comes from your decades of wisdom, with zero apologies, this episode is for you! In this episode, I’m speaking directly to women over 40 who are ready to start leading with the full force of their lived experience. I know what it feels like to be in rooms where youth, speed, and loud voices are mistaken for leadership - but I’m here to tell you that your depth, clarity, wisdom, perspective, and emotional intelligence are exactly what’s needed right now. We’re not the past. We are the future of work. And, data backs this up: 42% of labor force growth in the next decade will come from people 55 and older, mostly women. Together, we’ll explore how to navigate the double bind of age and gender, where you’re expected to stay relevant but not be perceived as “too much.” I identify the forces at play (such as the intersectionality of ageism and sexism) and provide tools to help you reclaim your space with power and intention. You’ll hear how your ability to read a room, speak with clarity, and lead for legacy, not ego, is your greatest asset. Your ability to listen deeply, ask better questions, and build meaningful collaborative (not competitive) relationships? That’s the edge younger leaders are still learning. This episode is your reminder that you don’t need to fight for a seat at the table—you are the table. Your leadership is expansive, rooted, sturdy, and deeply needed. So if you’ve been waiting for permission to own the room, this is it. Links Mentioned: Hire me to speak: saradean.com/speaking Coach with me: https://saradean.com/executive-coaching-services Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradeanspeaks Watch Shameless Leadership episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@saradeanspeaks Article: Five Facts on Older Women in the Labor Market Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When the world feels heavy and hard, it can feel wrong or even selfish to feel joy amidst the suffering. But in this episode, we explore a powerful reframe: What if joy is not an escape, but an act of resistance or perhaps even revenge? As a leader, what if reclaiming your joy isn’t just allowed—it’s essential? As I’ve witnessed global unraveling happening alongside so many people’s individual pain and heartbreak, I’ve seen firsthand how joy has shown up not in spite of this season, but through this season and these events. In this episode, we dismantle three major myths about joy and leadership, including the belief that modeling joy is tone-deaf or that it diminishes the seriousness of the world’s pain. Instead, I make a compelling case for why joy is a mental health necessity, a leadership superpower, and a radical tool for personal and collective resilience. Backed by neuroscience and wisdom from some brilliant people who work in the field of joy and resilience research, this episode explores how joy rewires your brain (literally), boosts your team’s ability to thrive, and helps you lead with more presence, empathy, and clarity, even when everything feels uncertain. You’ll walk away with six tangible joy practices, such as joy hits, daily rituals, and joy-driven leadership tools, that will help you cultivate joy that is not only supportive of your own mental and physical health but contagious to those around you. Joy is not a betrayal of the pain. It’s a balm. It’s a strategy. It’s your birthright—and it might just be your most powerful form of leadership. Links Mentioned: Women Business Owners, join me for a free business-building workshop on July 16th, Focused & Fierce: Lead with Purpose and Build Your Business in a Noisy World: saradean.com/fierce Hire me to speak: saradean.com/speaking Coach with me: https://saradean.com/executive-coaching-services Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradeanspeaks Watch Shameless Leadership episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@saradeanspeaks Book: Joy is My Justice by Tanmeet Sethi Book: Hope in the Dark by Rebecca Solnit Book: Ritual Roadmap by Erica Keswin Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When I decided to start inviting guests onto Shameless Leadership, I immediately knew I wanted my dear friend and speaking colleague Elena Joy to join me. The work Elena Joy does around inclusion always captivates me. She is smart, witty, and strategic in all the best ways - as you’ll hear in this conversation. She knows what needs to be done to get the work done. Her unflinching commitment to tackling tough conversations while upholding human dignity always blows me away. While her knowledge around inclusion and its connection to burnout is robust, her methods for tackling challenges where these areas intersect are approachable and welcoming. This is all to say, Elena Joy makes me want to be a better human, and I suspect she will have the same impact on you.   In an official capacity, Elena Joy Thurston, she/her, is the CEO of LATITUDE, a boutique HR consultancy specializing in creating sustainable leadership pipelines through burnout prevention and emerging leader programs. A Mormon mom of four who lost her marriage, her church, and her community when she came out as a lesbian, her viral TEDx talk on surviving conversion therapy has attracted clients such as the Denver Broncos, Peloton, and Planned Parenthood. She is featured in the award-winning documentary CONVERSION, recently launched on AppleTV and Amazon. Elena Joy lives in Arizona with her four children and spends her spare time dreaming of her next fly-fishing trip. Listen in to hear Elena share: How she saw the writing on the wall with DEI and made an intentional pivot in her work in order to continue to achieve her goals around inclusion in the workplace  The truth about the state of DEI - what has been taken from us and what we still have to work with, and what it all means in terms of sustainable leadership  How understanding our co-workers' identities opens the door to communication and decreases burnout What burnout looks like in 2025 and how it looks different for Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z How burnout is universal and individual at the same time The importance of creating positive emotional experiences to counter the feelings that trigger your burnout How to use the Release & Restore Method to shift your energy daily, weekly, monthly, yearly Links Mentioned: Women Business Owners, join me for a free business-building workshop on July 16th, Focused & Fierce: Lead with Purpose and Build Your Business in a Noisy World: saradean.com/fierce Hire me to speak: saradean.com/speaking Coach with me: https://saradean.com/executive-coaching-services Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradeanspeaks Watch Shameless Leadership episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@saradeanspeaks Work with Elena Joy: https://latitudeleaders.com/ Get Elena Joy’s Free Burnout Starter Kit: https://latitudeleaders.com/burnoutstarterkit Attend Elena Joy’s Free Office Hours: http://joyfulofficehours.com Latitude Leaders on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/latitude-leaders/ Latitude Leaders on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latitudeleaders Elena Joy on on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenajoythurston/ Elena Joy on Instragram https://www.instagram.com/elenajoyspeaks/ Elena Joy’s TEDx talk on Youtube: https://youtu.be/rIhPZMC4UEg Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sometimes your boss is the biggest obstacle to your leadership growth. Whether they’re dismissive, manipulative, or flat-out toxic, their behavior or opinion of you does not define your worth. After watching too many women leaders suffer under harmful male leadership recently, it feels crucial to share actionable strategies to help you trust your instincts and keep your intuition grounded in truth. It’s time for you to reclaim your power even in environments designed to diminish it.When your boss won’t advocate for you, it’s time to advocate for yourself—boldly and strategically. In this episode, I share how to get visible beyond your direct boss, surround yourself with mentors and allies, and cultivate your leadership brand regardless of what your boss says (or doesn’t say) about you. You’ll learn how to set unapologetic boundaries, document manipulative behavior, and protect your emotional safety.  We talk about how to navigate power dynamics with intention. By understanding your boss’s motivations and insecurities, you can learn to protect your own energy and make more informed, strategic choices about how to engage. This clarity will allow you to choose your battles wisely, preserve your peace, and lead yourself first. In doing so, you will model a more grounded and powerful style of leadership for those around you, even in the absence of support from above.Remember, you always have a choice. Sometimes, navigating a “strategic stay” is the right move for right now. Other times, the best thing you can do is leave.  This episode is an invitation for you to consider what growth, alignment, and success look like on your terms. Because even when you’re being held down, you are still leading.  Your job is not to shrink in the shadows of someone else’s smallness. Your job is to stand tall in your truth, build your brand, and be the leader of your life. Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com. Links Mentioned: Women Business Owners, join me for a free business building workshop on July 16th, Focused & Fierce: Lead with Purpose and Build Your Business in a Noisy World: saradean.com/fierce Hire me to speak: saradean.com/speaking Coach with me: https://saradean.com/executive-coaching-services Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradeanspeaks Watch Shameless Leadership episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@saradeanspeaks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Over the last few years, I’ve been developing curriculum and resources that help leaders establish trust with their teams and enable teammates to build trust with one another.  Because different people have different needs around trust, it can feel tricky to know exactly the right formula to help build trust with others.  In spite of that, there are plenty of small things you can do every single day to help people understand who you are, how you operate, how you hold space for others, and how you navigate messiness that will inevitably help you build trust in any relationship. When people understand these pieces of you, they have the information they need to know if you are someone they can trust over the long haul.  In this episode, we explore what a lack of trust looks like in an organization (perhaps this will look and feel familiar to you?).  We talk about why trust is a foundational element required for high performance and a healthy culture, and what outcomes you can expect when you take the time to build trust within a team environment. Then, I give you simple, practical steps you can take to start building more trust today, no matter the current state of your team or organization.  There is a common misconception that trust and the vulnerability required to build it are “soft,” but I would like to invite you to view trust as one of your key strategies for building authentic, meaningful relationships that yield great outcomes.   Episode Highlights: 00:00 Building Trust: An Introduction 02:49 The Importance of Trust in Teams 06:05 Signs of a Lack of Trust 12:06 Leadership's Role in Trust Building 15:51 Practical Steps to Build Trust 21:05 The Outcomes of Teams that Trust  25:47 How to Run Team Trust Diagnostics 29:59 Connecting Values Around Trust to Action Links Mentioned: Hire me to speak: saradean.com/speaking Coach with me: https://saradean.com/executive-coaching-services Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradeanspeaks Watch Shameless Leadership episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@saradeanspeaks Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I was recently sitting in one of my Change Leadership classes for my Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership, and my teacher asked us, “What would it look like if, as change leaders, we were to suspend certainty more often?”  I immediately made a note to myself, “podcast episode on suspending certainty!”  As someone who craves certainty but understands that nothing is certain, I often think about becoming more comfortable with impermanence.  I’ve never heard this referred to as “suspending certainty”, but this term struck me, and I knew I wanted to dig into it with you all!   In this episode, we talk about the importance of suspending certainty in leadership and personal growth. We talk through the benefits of embracing uncertainty, including: Increased curiosity Access to new perspectives Openness to learning and new opportunities Increased surprise, delight, and joy Gifts that come when we step out of our “I got it all figured out” ego Resilience, resourcefulness, tenacity, creativity, fun, and JOY are all born out of figuring out new things, embracing new realities, letting go of the old, and stepping into new opportunities where we don’t know exactly how things will go.  What might happen for you if you felt prepared to step into uncertainty at any time?  Suspending certainty will help you with this preparation.  Episode Highlights: 00:00 Introduction and Exciting Updates 03:35 The Concept of Suspending Certainty 04:03 Understanding the Gifts of Suspending Certainty 11:10 Benefits of Embracing Uncertainty 20:10 Navigating Personal and Collective Uncertainty 30:30 Conclusion and Upcoming Workshop Links Mentioned: Attend my free workshop for women small business owners, Focused and Fierce: Lead with Purpose and Build Your Business in a Noisy World: saradean.com/fierce Watch Shameless Leadership episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@saradeanspeaks Hire me to speak: saradean.com/speaking Coach with me: https://saradean.com/executive-coaching-services Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradeanspeaks Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I met Maria Ross 12 years ago when we shared the stage at a women’s event. Her work is centered around human behavior and empathy in the workplace. What I love about talking to Maria is how she can dig into the nuts and bolts of concepts and theory while also making tricky concepts very approachable and applicable to everyone. If you want to cultivate more empathy or help others cultivate more empathy, Maria is your gal.   Maria is a speaker, facilitator, author, strategist, and empathy advocate who believes cash flow, creativity, and compassion are not mutually exclusive. She’s spent decades helping forward-thinking leaders, teams, and brands connect and engage through empathy to accelerate growth. Maria has authored multiple books, including her newest, The Empathy Dilemma: How Successful Leaders Balance Performance, People, and Personal Boundaries, Her previous book, The Empathy Edge sparked a movement and she now hosts the top-rated The Empathy Edge podcast, speaking with leaders, changemakers, authors, and activists on how to achieve radical success through empathy.  Listen in to hear Maria share: Navigating the empathy dilemma of balancing empathy with performance What empathy is and what it’s not Why empathy is now especially challenging in our multigenerational workplaces  How you can uphold empathy when it feels like it’s being “canceled” The 5 Pillars of Effective Empathetic Leadership Links Mentioned: Book: theempathydilemma.com Connect with Maria: www.red-slice.com Maria’s Podcast, The Empathy Edge: www.TheEmpathyEdge.com Maria's new 2 day mastermind event for high-achieving leaders who want to balance empathy with performance: www.TheEmpathyEdge.com/event Maria’s LinkedIn Learning Course: Leading with Empathy Maria on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariajross/ Maria on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redslicemaria/ Maria on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redslice Maria on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Redslice-MariaRoss Maria’s Tedx Talk: https://bit.ly/MariaRossTEDx Hire Sara to speak: saradean.com/speaking Coach with Sara: https://saradean.com/executive-coaching-services Connect with Sara on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradeanspeaks Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stephanie Chung is a leader, fighter, survivor, breast cancer warrior, and barrier-breaker in corporate leadership who consistently embodies resilience and courage.  I knew from the moment we met online that this would be a special conversation, which is why Stephanie is the first guest to join me on Shameless Leadership! As a pioneering woman of color in the aviation sector with 35 years of aviation experience, Stephanie has ascended to top executive roles, including her tenure as Chief Growth Officer at Wheels Up and as the first African-American President of a private aviation company, JetSuite, marked by innovative strategies that significantly expanded membership and redefined brand positioning. She led a private aviation sales team that consistently exceeded its quota of almost $1 billion every year.  Stephanie is also a sought-after keynote speaker and #1 international best-selling author, whose work in applying neuroscience to sales and leadership offers groundbreaking and practical strategies for professional growth.  This conversation is high-energy, high-impact, and a lot of fun.  Be prepared to learn, challenge yourself, and walk away with some important action steps!  Listen in to hear Stephanie share:  Her 40-year career in aviation - starting at the bottom and working her way to the very top How one leader saw something special in her early on that changed the course of her career The long-term career impact of owning your power and accomplishments in front of your peers and other leaders How to be powerful and noticeable when advancing your leadership in rooms where people don’t look like you What "Ally Leadership" is and why it’s so crucial for today’s diverse workforce actionable steps a leader can take tomorrow to begin leading more equitably and build trust across a more diverse team How to spot the difference between performative and authentic Ally Leadership Links Mentioned: Connect with Stephanie: https://stephaniechung.com/ Get Stephanie’s Book: Ally in Leadership: How to Lead People Who Are Not Like You  Your Ally in Leadership Substack: https://www.yourallyinleadership.com/ Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/TheStephanieChung/ Connect with Stephanie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheStephanieChung/ Connect with Stephanie on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheStephanieChung/ Connect with Stephanie on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thestephaniechung Connect with Stephanie on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Coachstephaniechung Hire Sara to speak: saradean.com/speaking Coach with Sara: https://saradean.com/executive-coaching-services Connect with Sara on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradeanspeaks Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Consistency is pretty boring. It might be the least glamorous component of leadership.  This is probably why it tends to be an underrated leadership superpower. However, consistency is a key ingredient to leadership success, primarily because it allows you to create compounding interest. Your tiny gains over time build up to massive outcomes.  Consistency also thwarts perfectionism. Showing up repeatedly becomes more important than showing up perfectly. This consistent showing up creates growth that casts perfectionism to the side, as it’s no longer needed as a tool for success. You start to realize that success is much more about showing up, getting it done, and building momentum on an ongoing basis.  What if small, repeated actions became the backbone of sustainable success in both your personal growth and leadership? For example…  For the last 27 years, I've worked out 6 days a week. That's about 7,776 workouts. Most of them have been pretty average, mid-level efforts. A lot of them have been just going through the motions. Every now and then, there is a really amazing one. The impact has been massive on my mental and physical health. I have no doubt that I have added years to my life. For the last 9 years, I have released 1-2 podcasts a week, depending on our production schedule. That's 940 podcast episodes. Some have been fantastic, even noteworthy. Many have been valuable and helpful to my audience, but not necessarily earth-shattering. The impact on my business and credibility as a thought leader, speaker, and coach has been invaluable.  Consistency creates scaffolding in your life and leadership. By developing reliable habits, you reduce decision fatigue, lessen your mental load, and streamline internal negotiations. When you're consistent, you become a person who gets things done, who finishes what you start, and who builds trust in yourself. That identity shift, from someone who dabbles to someone who delivers, is transformational. Consistency also strengthens your leadership reputation. Leaders known for their follow-through and reliability foster trust, credibility, and psychological safety for their teams.  Showing up again and again says to the world, “I’m here, I belong here, and I’m not going anywhere.” This episode will inspire you to lean into consistency as a courageous act of leadership and self-trust. Episode Highlights: 00:00 The Power of Consistency in Leadership 05:09 Powerful Examples of the Payoffs of Consistency 10:12 Building Relationships Through Consistency 15:17 Consistency as a Tool to Build a Stronger Personal Identity and Leadership Identity 20:44 The Impact of Consistency on Trust and Visibility Links Mentioned: Book: Atomic Habits by James Clear Book: Finish by Jon Acuff Book: Soundtracks by Jon Acuff Hire me to speak: saradean.com/speaking Coach with me: https://saradean.com/executive-coaching-services Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradeanspeaks Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

During a recent retreat I led for my business coaching clients, we had the opportunity to do a deep dive into visibility avoidance.  We discussed this phenomenon that happens when we want to grow in new ways, but the prospect of heightened visibility holds us back.  Sometimes, when we take steps into higher visibility opportunities, we are excited by the outcomes.  But, shortly after the perceived win, we feel a sense of vulnerability that pulls us back to our pre-visibility zone of comfort, and we determine that pre-visibility space is the safer or more appropriate place for us to stay for the time being.   Visibility can be wildly uncomfortable.  It can bring up a lot of thoughts, feelings, and beliefs in which we create swirling narratives that are more harmful than helpful.  When we get stuck here, we stunt our own growth.  We shrink ourselves.  We play small.  We allow ourselves to tap into only a fraction of our full potential.   In this episode, we explore the concept of visibility avoidance and highlight the common underlying self-limiting beliefs that hinder your personal and professional growth. I talk through how specific thought patterns undermine behavior patterns, keeping you accepting less than the best for yourself.  Then, I give you simple steps for overcoming visibility avoidance that will allow you to strategically increase visibility through small steps over time, allowing you to reach those goals you’ve been dreaming of in a way that feels exciting and rewarding!  This episode will help you recognize the payoffs of stepping into your full potential when you do it in a way that feels safe and aligned with who you are and where you want to go.  Episode Highlights: 00:00 The Magic of Expansive Time 04:14 Understanding Visibility Avoidance 12:03 Overcoming Self-Limiting Beliefs 16:18 Strategies for Increasing Visibility 24:47 Embracing Vulnerability and Growth Links Mentioned: Hire me to speak: saradean.com/speaking Coach with me: https://saradean.com/executive-coaching-services Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradeanspeaks Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I’ve recently been in a few conversations about executive presence with colleagues and coaching clients.  These conversations keep coming up because of major misconceptions about executive presence.  When we think about executive presence, we tend to think about traits that allow for high control, high volume, and high power.  However, executive presence is not about dominance or taking up more space than the people around you.  It’s about far more.  And, it’s quite nuanced.     Unfortunately, many of us don’t have great examples of executive presence around us.  This is why we don’t have a clear understanding of what it entails and how to develop it.  Without strong mentors and role models, it’s hard to know what you’re even striving for, right?! In this episode, we will talk about what leaders are getting wrong about executive presence, the components of executive presence that matter most, and specific steps you can take to strengthen your executive presence.  We will also discuss how executive presence has long been weaponized as a gatekeeping tool and to uphold bias.   Please know executive presence is not just for executives!  This is a way of carrying yourself in order to have a commanding presence that calls people in to work with you and listen to you.  Your executive presence at any level, regardless of role or rank, can position you to build trusting relationships, enter into collaborative opportunities, and set yourself up for powerful next steps in your leadership legacy.    Episode Highlights: How executive presence is learned and developed over time Why quiet confidence goes a long way Why executive presence requires balancing confidence with humility Why executive presence has nothing to do with being the loudest or most dominant in the room True executive presence is about how you make others feel How and why to leverage authenticity more than conformity in your leadership Recognizing the role of gatekeeping and bias in many current models of executive presence Links Mentioned: Hire me to speak: saradean.com/speaking Coach with me: https://saradean.com/executive-coaching-services Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradeanspeaks Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We have all been in situations where we are asked a question or called out in a moment, and we completely freeze.  We can feel the room go silent as the spotlight shines brighter and brighter on us, and we can’t overcome the silence that has invaded our bodies. It feels like time has stopped, and it is up to us to make it start again, yet we feel completely unable to access the tools to do so. This can feel scary, overwhelming, and immobilizing.  In this episode, we explore why our brains sometimes freeze in high-pressure moments. I share a little about what happens to your nervous system in these moments and how freezing is a protective reaction, not a personal failure. This can help you move away from shame and discomfort and toward self-acceptance and self-compassion in those moments of silence. You'll learn practical strategies to set new default behaviors when you feel a freeze response coming on. From grounding techniques like deep breathing and pausing before speaking, to simple phrases that buy you time to think, these tools will help you stay centered and regain your voice in critical moments and after the fact so you can reclaim your agency and influence, build credibility and authority in high-stakes situations, and honor your unique brain and personality when things get a little sticky.   Let’s reframe your “freezing” not as a flaw, but as an opportunity to strategically access your power through intentional presence. With practice, you can move from stuck and silent to calm and clear - even in moments that catch you off guard.  If this episode resonates with you, share it with a colleague, team member, or fellow leader who needs a reminder that freezing doesn’t mean failing! Links Mentioned: Hire me to speak: saradean.com/speaking Coach with me: https://saradean.com/executive-coaching-services Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradeanspeaks Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices