Amplifying Leadership

As 2025 wraps up, Tara takes a moment to say a heartfelt thank you to listeners, guests, and leaders everywhere for showing up, sharing, and leading with heart this year. Tune in for a warm reflection on celebrating wins, appreciating progress, and setting the stage for an energized 2026.

Are you ready to elevate your leadership style and truly inspire your team? In this episode of Amplifying Leadership, I sit down with Michael Kohan, founder of The Elevate Life Project and coach, to explore what it means to be a visionary manager. We dive into the subtle but crucial differences between compassion, empathy, sympathy, and resolve, and how understanding them can transform the way you...

Are you heading into the new year feeling overwhelmed, stuck in old habits, or running on autopilot? This week on our our Amplifying Leadership podcast's Tip Thursday with Tara, we’re flipping the script with the Stop Doing List. We consider this a secret tool every leader needs to reclaim time, energy, and focus before the year ends. Stop doing isn’t quitting. It is about leading smarter. Listen...

In a world that moves faster than ever, how do leaders and business owners stay grounded, focused, and truly present, both at home and at work? In this episode of Amplifying Leadership, we sit down with Madison Hollimon, Owner and Founder of Mad House Marketing, to explore the art of being present and why it’s a game-changer for leadership, productivity, and company culture. We dive deep into prac...

Feeling uncomfortable with feedback? You’re not alone. However leaning into it can transform your leadership. In this episode, I share a practical mini-framework for reflecting on feedback, turning insights into action, and improving team communication. Learn how to approach feedback with curiosity, focus on behaviors, and make small changes that build confidence and engagement. It's all about gro...

What if failure wasn’t something to fear, but was a chance to lead better? In this episode with guest Joe Kramer, Founder of Ruck On, Joe opens up about a personal mistake that became one of his greatest leadership lessons. He talks about the pressure leaders face to “get it right” and why embracing failure can actually drive improvement and trust within a team. We explore how your reaction to emp...

Leaders, are you overthinking every decision and feeling drained by the process? In this week’s Tip Thursday with Tara , we focus on decision-making strategies for leaders. Discover how to make better choices faster by using a practical framework based on facts, values, impact, deadlines, and intuition. Tara also shares energy-saving tips for leaders, helping you avoid decision fatigue. This episo...

Your leadership voice isn’t just about speaking. It is about showing up fully, connecting meaningfully, and influencing effectively. In this guest episode, with Dr. Laura Sicola, Founder of Laura Sicola Inc., we unpack: The difference between your literal voice and your figurative voice, and why both matter in leadership. The 3 C’s of executive presence: Command the room, Connect with the audience...

Leadership can feel lonely even when you’re surrounded by your team or peers. In this week’s Tip Thursday with Tara , we’re unpacking why so many leaders experience isolation and what to do about it. Tara shares one simple shift that helps you stay energized, supported, and connected as you lead. If you’re ready to stop leading alone and start leading with community, this episode is your invitatio...

Dreading that next tough chat at work? You’re not alone. Difficult conversations are inevitable, but they don’t have to be stressful. In this episode with guest Tucker Miller, President and CEO of Onward Leadership, we’re breaking down how to approach those moments with clarity, curiosity, and collaboration. We break down both the internal and external factors that turn a conversation tricky, and...

What if the key to better team performance, and more energy, wasn’t another big strategy, but simply noticing what’s already going right? In this episode of Tip Thursday with Tara, we are talking about the power of recognizing small wins, and why those quick moments of appreciation can make leadership feel lighter, smoother, and a lot more human As leaders, it’s easy to focus on the big milestones...

What can beer brewing teach us about leading teams? In this episode of Amplifying Leadership, with guest Kevin Dawson - Author and Leadership Consultant, we explore the art of purpose-driven leadership. We dive into understanding what truly motivates your team members, how to focus on their strengths and passions, and the leadership lessons that come from learning through failure. From celebrating...

Most leaders think they’re good listeners. But are they really? In this week’s Tip Thursday with Tara on Amplifying Leadership, we dive into why listening is the quiet superpower of great leadership. Tara unpacks how genuine listening builds trust, improves decision-making, and helps uncover solutions hiding in plain sight. She also shares simple, actionable ways to practice active listening, incl...

Strong communication, calm confidence, and steady results. Sounds boring, right? In this episode of Amplifying Leadership , Tara and guest Trent Gander, a writer and consultant, explore why effective leadership doesn’t always have to be loud, dramatic, or complicated. Great leaders know that calm, consistent communication and a focus on learning and not making assumptions builds trust and lasting...

Feeling stuck even though you and/or your team are giving it your all? You’re not alone. In this Amplifying Leadership podcast episode of Tip Thursday with Tara, we tackle how to keep your motivation higher when results aren’t coming as fast as you would like. Tara shares practical strategies to celebrate those micro-wins, reconnect to your purpose, and focus on consistency over perfection. With t...

Are you leading for numbers or for meaning? In this episode of Amplifying Leadership with guest Justin Goodbread, a globally recognized business strategist, bestselling author, and founder of multiple successful ventures, we explore how service-based leaders can create purposeful impact in their teams and businesses. Focusing solely on revenue or metrics can overshadow significance, identity, and...

Ever provided constructive feedback that didn’t land the way you hoped? You’re not alone. In this episode of Tip Thursday with Tara , we’re breaking down how to turn constructive feedback from an awkward moment into a trust-building conversation. Tara shares her simple four-step approach, starting with gratitude, using coaching questions, and ending with confidence. This helps you create feedback...

Youth are one of the most underrepresented groups at the leadership table. However that is starting to change. In this engaging and important episode, Tara and Eden Byrne, a Youth Advocate / Writer / Change Maker, explore the barriers young leaders face, from feeling intimidated to speak up to unconscious bias that can silence their contributions. You will hear strategies for creating space where...

Ever wish mistakes didn't feel like something you have to hide from everyone? What if we told you they could be your most powerful leadership tool ? In this week’s Tip Thursday with Tara , we dive into how leaders and business owners can turn mistakes - theirs and their team’s - into growth, learning, and stronger teams. Featuring Tara's quote: “Failure is Transformational. Listen to It. Learn fro...

What if the secret to saving money, improving efficiency, and keeping employees engaged wasn’t about perks or paychecks, but about the culture you build every day? In this episode of Amplifying Leadership with guest Matthew Stafford, a Chief Optimization Officer, we dive into the heart of Building Better Workplace Cultures . We explore why gratitude and vulnerability aren’t “soft skills” but power...

Think managing up means brown-nosing or sucking up? Think again. In this week’s Tip Thursday with Tara, Tara discusses how managing up is really about building clarity, alignment, and trust with your boss, without losing your integrity. You’ll learn three simple ways to keep your leader in the loop, tie your ideas to shared goals, and raise challenges without feeling awkward. Managing up isn’t suc...

Mental health isn’t just personal - it is professional. Too often, it’s a topic we avoid at work. Let’s change that. In this episode with guest Kyle Elliott, a tech career coach & trusted confidant to Silicon Valley’s top talent, we break down why mental health conversations are harder, how life and work impact each other, and practical ways leaders can start the conversation. Learn how to spo...

Feeling drained before you even get to lunch? Leadership can be exhausting, but the fix doesn’t always require a vacation or even a long break. In this week’s Tip Thursday with Tara , she is sharing a few simple 2-minute reset tools that helps you shake off stress, recharge your energy, and show up calmer and sharper for your team. Spoiler: it works anywhere, even in between back-to-back meetings...

How do female leaders rise above bias, break free from fear, and earn a seat at the table, without losing their voice? In this episode of the Amplifying Leadership podcast, we shine a light on what it takes for women leaders to succeed in male-dominated industries. Tara and her guest, Danielle Riddle, a CEO and Founder, explore the biases that persist, the fears many women face, and the strategies...

Most leaders are so focused on the finish line that they forget to cheer for the race itself. When you only celebrate the big milestones, you miss the momentum, confidence, and energy that come from the small wins along the way. ✅ Small wins fuel motivation. ✅ Small wins build confidence. ✅ Small wins shape a culture where progress is noticed. And no an expensive celebration is not needed every...