In this episode of Stories from the River, host and CEO Charlie Malouf welcomes keynote speaker and author Kristen Hadeed, fresh off her impactful talk at Broad River Retail's "Pioneering the Path - a Purpose 8:28 Experience" leadership event. Kristen opens up about her unexpected journey—accidentally launching the cleaning company Student Maid at just 19, navigating major failures, and discovering her passion for human-centered leadership. What began as a student side-hustle quickly became a laboratory for learning, where she uncovered how trust, communication, and belief in people can transform a culture.

Kristen reveals the pivotal conversation with her friend and colleague Monique that ultimately shifted her company's purpose, evolving from her cleaning company Student Maid to a leadership development organization. Her story sets the stage for a larger message: leadership isn't about perfection—it's about courage, connection, and owning our impact.

Charlie and Kristen also discuss how she prepares her keynotes, customizing every presentation to the culture and needs of her audience rather than delivering a pre-packaged speech. Together, they unpack themes from her session, including the power of a "resilience résumé," confronting imposter syndrome, and recognizing fear as a signal that something truly meaningful is on the line. Kristen's vulnerability, humor, and practical wisdom invite Memory Makers to lead with heart, take ownership, and collaborate boldly with courageous conversations.

From her first interactions with Broad River, Kristen says she immediately felt the authenticity and electricity of the culture. Part 1 captures that energy—an inspiring conversation about growth, intentional leadership, and the courage to build environments where people can thrive.

Come back for part two of this conversation on Thursday!

Additional Resources: 

Kristen's Leadership Development Company Website - https://www.kristenhadeed.com  

Permission to Screw Up by Kristen Hadeed - https://www.amazon.com/Permission-Screw-Up-Learned-Everything/dp/1591848296  

The Human Leadership Program by Kristen Hadeed -  https://www.kristenhadeed.com/humanleadershipprogram  

Kristen's Original 2012 TED Talk with over 3.3M Views: How to Retire by 20 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDvoGev5_tk  

Kristen Hadeed and Millennials on the Truly Human Leadership podcast: https://feeds.libsyn.com/67290/podcast/ep-19-kristen-hadeed-and-millennials  

Kristen Hadeed and Millennials on the Truly Human Leadership on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/truly-human-leadership/id992577373?i=1000581569564  

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield - https://www.amazon.com/War-Art-Through-Creative-Battles/dp/1936891026  

The Imposter Phenomenon by Dr. Pauline Rose Clance - https://paulineroseclance.com/impostor_phenomenon.html  

Silence the Imposter by Gary Frey - https://www.amazon.com/Silence-Imposter-Weapons-Syndrome/dp/B0CJLLLV61  

Combining Ministry and Football: The Unique Path of Pittsburgh Steelers Chaplain Kent Chevalier - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJuLje81LNE  

Arthur Brooks - The Power of Teaching, The Arrival Fallacy, The Mad Scientist Profile, Lifting Heavy Weights, & The Two Best Practices To Be Happy - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-learning-leader-show-with-ryan-hawk/id985396258?i=1000725431986  

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XOAGyXo5auw 

Visit https://www.storiesfromtheriver.com for more episodes. 

Broad River Retail brought this show to you. Visit https://BroadRiverRetail.com     

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