Kimya Imani Jackson, PhD, joins Belinda and Shelby to discuss the emotional impact of professional grief.

Amid the government shutdown and massive layoffs, it can feel impossible to move forward. How do you begin to build a new career when you're feeling a profound sense of loss?

In our 50th episode 🎉, Shelby and Belinda discuss why courage is essential in today's professional landscape, and what it looks like when leaders are radically honest with themselves when "outwit, outlast, outplay" isn’t working.

Boniswa Siwundla Madikizela, a transformational leader from South Africa, speaks with us about how to stay grounded in a world that feels chaotic. She shares her personal practices for protecting herself from energy vampires, defining (and refining) her core purpose or "golden thread," and the joy of setting boundaries. 

We pull back the curtain and candidly discuss our recent professional and emotional transitions. We share thoughts on big shifts in our careers and personal lives, including a layoff, new entrepreneurial freedom, and how we’re creating community to prevent isolation. 

We introduce two new ventures—The Findall Collaborative and The Clarity Lab—and share details about an in-person event that will offer a moment of repose and connection for professionals.

Lisa Povoni, a therapist and coach with a specialty in trauma, discusses how leaders can recognize and manage chronic stress and burnout in themselves and their teams. She shares actionable micro-practices and how to create space for people to be human in quickly changing, high-pressure environments.

Belinda and Shelby introduce this oldie-but-goodie by catching you up on what we're doing this summer. And in the episode, we talk about how to master the first 90 days in your new role, as you transition from colleague to commander.

Are you navigating a career pivot or a layoff? It’s not uncommon these days. If you’re looking ahead to what’s next, Shelby and Belinda want to remind you that times have changed, so what worked for you before won't necessarily get you where you want to go. In other words, the tools and mindset that brought you success in the past might need a serious overhaul. 

Whether you're facing a forced career pivot, adapting to a restructured team, or aspiring to higher levels of leadership, this episode is a call not just to let go of habits that no longer serve you, but also to uncouple your identity from your career.

Recent high school grad Viola Wilson speaks with Shelby (her mom) and Belinda to share a fresh perspective what leadership means to her.  Viola speaks fluent Spanish and had lived in four countries by the time she was 9 years old. She graduated from high school with honors, earning a 4.3 GPA while excelling in varsity swim, varsity track and field, swimming on a year-round travel swim team, doing extra-curricular activities, community service, and working part-time as a lifeguard. She will enter Virginia Tech this fall as an engineering major. 

Belinda and Shelby acknowledge the current speed of change and wild news cycle, and the emotional toll that it can take. They share practical steps they are taking to prevent crashing out and to improve their well-being.

Ambassador Robert Gilchrist is a distinguished former diplomat and senior leader. He shares insights gleaned from a career spent navigating complex global challenges, from leading teams under intense pressure in Iraq to advocating for democracy and human rights in Eastern Europe.

Belinda and Shelby continue their "Shoot Your Shot" series by exploring the role of risk management when empowering others. They discuss situations when they’ve given team members opportunities to shine, both when it’s led to success and when it has failed. They also share personal stories of how others took a chance on them.

What are some of the core qualities that differentiate exceptional leaders? And what strengths do you bring to your leadership role? From staying calm under pressure to leading with empathy, understanding your leadership genius is key to thriving at the executive level.

This episode is about calculated risks and proactive steps towards your goals. Inspired by their previous coaching session, Belinda and Shelby challenge you to take action and step out of your comfort zone to achieve your goals.

Middle managers face unique pressures in the "messy middle" between the demands of upper management and the needs of their teams. Drawing from their own experiences, Shelby and Belinda offer practical advice on navigating the messy middle.

Belinda and Shelby turn the tables and engage in a coaching session with each other. They open up about their professional challenges and discuss strategies for navigating roadblocks and pursuing entrepreneurial goals, providing listeners with insights and actionable advice.

When Cathy Duffy received an unexpected "early retirement" from her executive position at a major insurance company, she faced a choice: retreat and hide or embrace transparency and reinvent herself. Her decision to accelerate her plans to study at Oxford University reveals powerful lessons for anyone navigating sudden professional transitions.

As they celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Leadership Tea Podcast, Shelby and Belinda reflect on their personal responses to and offer practical advice for navigating the current challenging political climate.

Belinda and Shelby speak with Heather A. Kollar, an entrepreneur and coach who shares her journey, highlighting the crucial role of integrity in building meaningful business relationships.