Stand Tall & Own It - Empowering Purpose-Driven Women to Lead with Authenticity and Impact

<p>"Just be you!" they say. But for high-performing women, "just being you" hasn’t always felt safe or practical—whether it’s at work, school, church, or even at exclusive networking events. For <b>purpose-driven women</b> and <b>founders,</b> holding back can limit your impact and undermine your authenticity.<br /><br /></p><p>Even in a world that’s more welcoming to <b>strong female leaders</b>, feeling truly "safe" in your own skin is still a challenge. To lead with clarity and confidence, you must first understand your value, embrace your individuality, and recognize that the solutions you need are as unique as you are.<br /><br /></p><p>This podcast is for <b>modern women who lead with purpose</b> and are ready to embrace their full potential and <b>create an impact</b> that aligns with their vision and values. It’s time to find the clarity and confidence to <b>lead in a way that’s authentic to you. </b>Join me as we explore how to navigate challenges, honor your unique path, and make a lasting difference.<br /><br /></p><p>If you're ready to explore your <b>Core Values,</b> check out my Core Values Course and Core Values Coaching for tools and support to help you grow. Subscribe now and start owning your journey today!</p><p><br />To learn more about Andrea Johnson and Intentional Optimism, visit <a href="http://www.theintentionaloptimist.com/Links">www.theintentionaloptimist.com/Links</a>.</p>

Boundaries Are Leadership: Lead With Clarity, Not Apology

Feedback or Questions? Send us a text! 1 BIG IDEA Boundaries are not rejection—they are leadership. Setting and holding clear boundaries protects your energy, builds trust, and models integrity. For purpose-driven women, boundaries are not about being mean or difficult; they are about leading with clarity, courage, and care. 3 WAYS TO APPLY THIS Protect your energy: Identify one place where overextending is costing you and draw a line.Model healthy leadership: Communicate boundaries clearly s...

10-14
21:49

Joyful Defiance: Leading With Conviction

Feedback or Questions? Send us a text! 1 BIG IDEA What does resistance really look like in leadership? It’s not rebellion or rage — it’s conviction anchored in joy. In this episode, Andrea Johnson, The Intentional Optimist, explains how joyful defiance helps women leaders resist conformity, lead with authenticity, and protect their humanity in high-pressure environments. 3 WAYS TO APPLY THIS Hold firm to one Core Value this week, even if it costs you comfort or approval.Practice joy as resist...

10-07
17:50

Stop Reacting. Start Leading.

Feedback or Questions? Send us a text! 1 BIG IDEA Knowing your Core Values is just the beginning. The Recognize–Reflect–Respond rhythm is how you lead with intention instead of instinct—especially when things feel fast, loud, or reactive. 3 WAYS TO APPLY THIS Pause before responding—ask: “What value is at stake here?”Buy time with: “I need a moment to think about how I want to respond.”Check: Am I reacting from urgency—or responding from clarity?3 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF Where am I most rea...

09-30
22:57

What Most Leaders Miss: How to Think Clearly and Lead Bravely

Feedback or Questions? Send us a text! 1 BIG IDEA Clear thinking isn’t a personality trait—it’s a leadership practice. And most people were never taught how to do it. In this episode, we unpack the six tenets of Intentional Optimism and how they offer powerful lenses for leadership—helping you see what’s really going on, stay grounded in your values, and respond with clarity and courage even in the middle of pressure, conflict, or confusion. 3 WAYS TO APPLY THIS Identify the tenet of Intentio...

09-23
23:55

You’re Not Lost—You’ve Outgrown Their Map

Feedback or Questions? Send us a text! 1 BIG IDEA You’re not lost—you’ve just outgrown a version of success that was never yours to begin with. When you stop following other people’s maps and start trusting your internal compass, you begin leading from a place of clarity, not conformity. 3 WAYS TO APPLY THIS Recognize how Assumptions, Beliefs, and Conditioning (your ABCs) shape your default decisionsReconnect with your Core Values as the foundation for building your own leadership mapShift fr...

09-16
31:06

You’ve Been Taught to Ignore This Leadership Superpower

Feedback or Questions? Send us a text! 1 BIG IDEA Critical thinking is your responsibility—not rebellion. It’s how real leaders lead. This episode helps you reclaim your mind, challenge the assumptions shaping your choices, and use discernment as a powerful leadership tool. 4 WAYS TO APPLY THIS Pause before reacting—give yourself space to thinkUse your Core Values as a decision filterAsk better questions: Who benefits if I believe this?Pay attention to emotional signals and your body’s wisdom...

09-09
36:20

Navigate Hard Conversations with Confidence: Get Clear Before You Speak

Feedback or Questions? Send us a text! 1 BIG IDEA Hard conversations don’t get easier—but you can get steadier. When you root yourself in your values before you speak, you lead with integrity, courage, and connection, no matter the situation. 3 WAYS TO APPLY THIS Name your values first — before rehearsing or reacting.Clarify your goal — is it connection, boundary-setting, or repair?Own your part — take responsibility without carrying what isn’t yours.3 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF What value of ...

09-02
29:38

You Got the Results. Lead Strategically.

Feedback or Questions? Send us a text! 1 BIG IDEA Results aren’t the end—they’re the beginning. Strategic leaders know how to use outcomes to refine how they lead. This episode shows you how to read what your results are really telling you—and how to lead better because of them. 4 WAYS TO APPLY THIS Review recent outcomes—beyond the surface wins or missesAsk what each result reveals about your leadership patternsRevisit the Recognize. Reflect. Respond. framework for strategic growthAvoid comm...

08-26
27:44

The Leadership Strategy You’re Probably Overlooking: Trust

Feedback or Questions? Send us a text! 1 BIG IDEA Trust isn’t optional—it’s the strategic foundation of leadership that lasts. If you want results that scale and a team that thrives, you need to lead with trust at the center. 4 WAYS TO APPLY THIS Understand what trust actually requires from you as a leader—beyond likability.Recognize common trust breakers and learn how to repair them with humility.Model trust to shape your team culture and create psychological safety.Revisit your Core Values ...

08-19
21:57

Fall. Learn. Rise. Resilient Leaders Get the Real Results

Feedback or Questions? Send us a text! 1 BIG IDEA Setbacks don’t sideline real leaders—they shape them. If you want results that actually last, resilience isn’t optional—it’s the edge. 4 WAYS TO APPLY THIS Stop glossing over failure—name it, and let it teach you.Audit your last flop: What part of you was missing from that moment?Reconnect with your Core Values before you “try again.”Reset with one move that honors who you are—not what they expect.3 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF What’s one setback...

08-12
19:23

Legacy Is Earned—And It Starts with Results

Feedback or Questions? Send us a text! 1 BIG IDEA Leadership legacy isn’t built on good intentions—it’s built on results. Real, values-aligned outcomes are the evidence that your leadership is working and worth remembering. 3 WAYS TO APPLY THIS Define the results you want to be known forLet your Core Values shape the way you pursue those resultsCelebrate the small wins—they’re the real building blocks of legacy3 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF What result from the last 6 months am I most proud of?W...

08-05
16:18

Empower Your Team for Results: Leadership That Drives Performance

Feedback or Questions? Send us a text! 1 BIG IDEA You can’t reach bold goals alone. Empowered teams are how leaders multiply their impact—and that means creating the systems, structure, and trust they need to succeed. 4 WAYS TO APPLY THIS Clarify mid-year goals with your team—not just for them.Equip your team with tools and encouragement to own their part.Let go of control by modeling ownership, not micromanagement.Shift your mindset from solo operator to system builder.3 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOU...

07-29
17:59

Set Bolder Goals: Why Women Leaders Must Stop Playing Small

Feedback or Questions? Send us a text! 1 BIG IDEA Bold goals aren’t just strategic—they’re sovereign. When women leaders own bold, measurable goals, they don’t just reach new outcomes—they transform how they lead, influence, and thrive. 4 WAYS TO APPLY THIS Challenge the inner critic that says “just be grateful” or “stay quiet.”Recognize where you’ve softened your goals to stay safe or likable.Use the B.O.L.D. Framework to test if your goal is Brave, Owned, Leading, and Defined.Revisit your m...

07-22
17:34

How to Build a Resilient Team: Leadership that Fuels Long-Term Success

Feedback or Questions? Send us a text! 1 BIG IDEA Resilient teams don’t happen by accident. They’re built—on purpose—by leaders who understand that the culture they create directly impacts whether their people thrive or burn out. 4 WAYS TO APPLY THIS Create space for reflection—individually and togetherNormalize asking for help and naming limitsBuild in recovery rhythms after high-output seasonsFoster peer-to-peer support and shared ownership3 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF What signs of team burn...

07-15
20:40

Lead with Purpose and Performance: How Real Leaders Get Results

Feedback or Questions? Send us a text! 1 BIG IDEA You don’t have to choose between being authentic and getting results. When you lead from your values, your goals become more sustainable—and your leadership more impactful. 4 WAYS TO APPLY THIS Reframe goals to reflect how you want to show up.Use the HIPE Framework to assess what’s working.Reflect on where performance has outpaced integrity.Align goals with Core Values to reduce burnout.3 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF Where in your leadership are ...

07-08
20:30

Mid-Year Reset: How Purpose-Driven Leaders Recommit to What Matters

Feedback or Questions? Send us a text! 1 BIG IDEA Mid-year isn’t a crisis point—it’s a leadership checkpoint. Recommitting to your goals isn’t failure—it’s growth in action. 4 WAYS TO APPLY THIS Reflect, refine, and recommit with purposeUse SMART or HIPE goals based on your seasonLead with resilience, growth, and purposeChoose one goal to recommit to—or reshape3 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF What have I accomplished so far—even if it wasn’t what I originally planned?Where do I feel out of sync wi...

07-01
27:21

Think Like a CEO: Use AI to Clarify, Create, and Communicate with Confidence

Feedback or Questions? Send us a text! 1 BIG IDEA AI can serve as your Chief of Staff—helping you think, plan, and lead more strategically—if you use it with intention, strategy, and voice. 4 WAYS TO APPLY THIS Use AI to clarify your next step.Brainstorm and plan without starting from scratch.Refine your message before sharing it.Let AI support—not replace—your Core Values-led voice.3 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF Where do I most need clarity right now—in my strategy, communication, or creative f...

06-24
26:24

Reframe Your Mindset: How to Use AI to Quiet Your Inner Critic

Feedback or Questions? Send us a text! 1 BIG IDEA Your inner critic doesn’t have to run the show. In this episode, I share how I use ChatGPT as a reframing partner to challenge limiting beliefs, rewrite unhelpful narratives, and lead from a grounded, empowered mindset. 3 WAYS TO APPLY THIS Use the ABC model (Assumptions, Beliefs, Conditioning) to identify where your inner critic got its voiceTry my “Battery Check” to assess your emotional leadership capacity before the day beginsStart a morni...

06-17
25:35

Build with Intention: The Core Values Blueprint for Leadership Clarity

Feedback or Questions? Send us a text! 1 BIG IDEA Your Core Values aren’t a buzzword or a branding exercise—they’re your leadership blueprint. In fast-paced environments, they act as your internal compass, helping you stay grounded in who you are and lead with clarity, confidence, and conviction. 5 WAYS TO APPLY THIS Use your Core Values as a real-time decision-making toolBuild awareness around how micro-decisions shape culture and trustReflect after high-pressure moments to assess value alig...

06-10
20:06

Using AI Without Losing Your Leadership Voice | ChatGPT for Women in Leadership

Feedback or Questions? Send us a text! 1 BIG IDEA AI is a powerful tool—but it should never replace your leadership. When you root your use of tools like ChatGPT in your Core Values, you amplify your clarity without compromising your voice. 5 WAYS TO APPLY THIS Approach AI like a strategic partner, not a shortcutUse values-based prompts to clarify decisions, not make them for youDraft communications that sound like you, then refine with discernmentUpload foundational identity tools (DISC prof...

06-03
19:44

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