E123: Leading Teams Through Grief and Finding Authentic Strength
Description
When life delivers unimaginable heartbreak, how do you keep leading, showing up, and holding on to yourself?
In this tender and deeply human episode, Janet speaks with Lauren Stevens, a respected executive and former client, who lost her husband Chuck to glioblastoma after 19 months of courageous fighting. In the midst of grief and devastation, Lauren has had to keep leading her organization, caring for her daughter, and learning how to live in the “after” of loss.
This conversation isn’t about fixing grief. Grief cannot be fixed. It’s about holding space for what it means to endure the unimaginable, to find clarity in what matters most, and to discover authenticity and courage as a new inner edge.
In this episode:
✅ Balancing caregiving, motherhood, and executive leadership
✅ The difference between “healing” and “learning to live with” grief
✅ Why time doesn’t erase grief, but changes the way we carry it
✅ How transparency can help teams navigate challenges together
✅ What support actually helps someone in grief—and what often doesn’t
✅ The role of faith, presence, and authenticity in finding meaning after loss
Connect with Lauren:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-stevens-64189266/
About Janet Ioli:
Janet Ioli is a globally recognized executive advisor, coach, and leadership expert with over 25 years of experience developing leaders in Fortune 100 companies and global organizations.
She created The Inner Edge—a framework, a movement, and a message that flips leadership from mere success performance to presence; from ego to soul. Through her keynotes, podcast, and programs, Janet helps high-achievers find the one thing that changes everything: the mastery within.
Her approach redefines leadership presence—not as polish or tactics, but as the inner steadiness people feel from you and the positive imprint you leave on individuals and organizations.
Connect with Janet Ioli:
Website: janetioli.com
Linkedin: Janet Ioli
Instagram: @leadershipcoachjanet
If you want to become more grounded, confident, and aligned with your deeper values in just 21 days, check out Janet Ioli’s book Less Ego, More Soul: A Modern Reinvention Guide for Women.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Select “Listen in Apple Podcasts,” then choose the “Ratings & Reviews” tab to share what you think.
Produced by Ideablossoms