Empowered Team Podcast

In this powerful episode of The Empowered Team Podcast, Kari Schneider sits down with executive coach and leadership mentor Valarie Sandjivy, founder of Ellipsus. With over 20 years of experience coaching C-suite leaders and entrepreneurs, Valarie offers a rare glimpse into the inner world of high-performing leaders. Together, they explore: Why “it’s lonely at the top” and how to find space for yo...

In this solo episode of the Empowered Team Podcast, host Kari Schneider issues a heartfelt and powerful call for presence. In a world dominated by tech, AI, and endless distractions, why do we feel more disconnected than ever before? She explores why presence is the most critical leadership skill today and how it fuels trust, creativity, and authentic connection. You’ll learn the 4 dimensions of p...

In this solo episode of The Empowered Team Podcast, Kari Schneider reveals the five non-negotiable habits she commits to every single morning, no matter the time zone, weather, or environment. Whether she’s in a cabin by a frozen lake or traveling internationally, these core practices set the foundation for her mental clarity, physical energy, and laser-sharp focus. Kari dives deep into how these...

In this solo episode, Kari unpacks the Motivational Triad - a powerful psychological model explaining why we avoid things we want to do. We’re wired to avoid pain, seek pleasure, and stay comfortable. But here's the twist: that wiring often sabotages our goals, habits, and even our identities. Kari shares: How our brain’s default setting creates resistance—even to the things we love The effort par...

This week on The Empowered Team Podcast, Kari is joined by one of the most sought-after leadership experts in North America—Steven Gaffney, CEO of The Steven Gaffney Company and author of Unconditional Power. With 30+ years of experience advising Fortune 500 companies and organizations ranked #1 in their industries, Steven reveals what it actually takes to build consistently high-achieving teams....

Saying no shouldn't come with guilt — but for high-achievers and people-pleasers, it often does. In this episode, Kari breaks down five powerful, practical ways to say no with clarity, integrity, and connection — without sacrificing relationships or self-respect. Learn how to: Break the cycle of burnout and resentment Set boundaries that build trust (yes, really!) Spot a “dirty yes” before it drai...

We’ve all heard the phrase: “It’s just business.” But in this episode, Kari blows the lid off this outdated myth—and exposes how suppressing emotions in leadership isn’t just cold... it’s costly. Drawing from over 20 years in business and coaching high-performance leaders, Kari unpacks: The hidden emotional labor leaders carry every day. Why suppressing emotion leads to poor decisions & burnou...

In this episode of the Empowered Team Podcast, host Kari Schneider welcomes Manny Fiteni, founder of Mind Growth 360 and a leadership transformation expert from Australia. With over 35 years of experience leading teams of up to 300 people, Manny has seen firsthand why most managers fail — and how real leadership is cultivated from the inside out. Together, they explore: The difference between mana...

In this solo episode, Kari Schneider, life strategist and host of the Empowered Team Podcast, dives deep into a question every leader faces: Do I need a fresh start… or is it time to let go? You'll discover: What the Fresh Start Effect really is (backed by psychology!), How unrealistic expectations sabotage even the best goals, A 3-part framework to reboot your momentum with clarity and courage, A...

In this high-impact solo episode, leadership expert and life strategist Kari Schneider drops a truth bomb: your future isn’t waiting for you—it’s being built right now. Through the powerful Triple Vision Framework—Now, Next, Far—Kari reveals how presence is your greatest superpower. From endurance races to personal setbacks, she shares raw stories that prove one thing: you can’t reach what’s next...

In this solo episode, host Kari Schneider dives into one of the most overlooked leadership landmines: misaligned definitions of success. You may think you’re winning, but if your team, partner, or client doesn’t see it that way, you’re headed for disconnection and disappointment. Kari shares personal stories (including a behind-the-scenes team mishap) and examples from high-level leaders and relat...

Is your career path more of a winding road than a clear ladder? Great news: you're exactly where you need to be. Today, Kari Schneider is joined by Desiree Goldey, the Director of Marketing & Culture at ZRG and an expert in talent and leadership development. Desiree’s own journey is a testament to embracing the messy, non-linear path to purpose and leadership. Desiree boldly shares how abruptl...

In this solo episode of The Empowered Team Podcast, Kari Schneider tackles a challenge every high-performer faces but rarely talks about: chronic stress and burnout. Are you stuck in survival mode? Feeling like you’ve been powering through for so long that burnout is now your baseline? Kari reveals how chronic stress hijacks your brain, drains your vitality, and derails your decision-making—and mo...

📚 Special Episode: Chapter Sneak Peek from The Human Algorithm In this special edition of The Empowered Team Podcast, Kari Schneider shares a full chapter from her newly released book, The Human Algorithm: Leadership and Ethics in the AI Era, co-authored with Alejandro Dabdoub. This isn't just theory — it's a transformational lens on leadership as AI becomes part of everyday life. In this episode...

Have you felt like you’re doing all the right things—setting goals, taking action, staying motivated—but something still isn’t clicking? Welcome to what I call the Miserable Maybe—the frustrating space between knowing what you want and actually getting there.  It is NOT the Messy Middle.  The “messy middle” means the messy chaotic action is happening and forward momentum is starting.  The “miserab...

What separates great leaders from the rest? Chris Dyer, a top culture expert, leadership coach, and high-performance consultant, joins us to break it down. In this episode, we explore: ✅ The surprising trait that makes entrepreneurs and CEOs stand out ✅ Why failure is a secret weapon (if you know how to use it) ✅ The moment Chris realized he had built the wrong culture—and how he fixed it ✅ Th...

Your money mindset affects everything—how you earn, save, and spend. But what if you could make financial decisions with zero stress and full confidence? In this episode, Kari Schneider shares 3 powerful strategies to shift your money mindset so you can: ✅ Make aligned financial choices—without guilt or second-guessing. ✅ Overcome scarcity thinking and step into an abundant mindset. ✅ Pre-decid...

In this episode of The Empowered Team Podcast, we sit down with Ishali Mulchandani—CPA and powerhouse CFO with expertise spanning Canada, the U.S., and the U.K. She’s on a mission to help business owners master their numbers, protect their cash flow, and stop overpaying on taxes. Here’s what we dive into: ✅ The biggest financial leaks draining your profits—and how to stop them. ✅ Why so many bus...

You’ve got big goals. A vision. A place you want to be. But then, like quicksand, you get stuck in the question: How do I do this? Welcome to the tyranny of how—a silent killer of progress, momentum, and dreams. In this episode, Kari Schneider breaks down why “how” is often the wrong question and what to ask instead. She introduces the concept of Triple Vision (now, next, and far vision) and revea...

What holds you back from stepping into your full potential? Confidence is the key, and yet, most of us unknowingly sabotage it. In this powerful conversation, Gaëlle Deschamps, executive coach, TEDx speaker, and founder of G Force, breaks down: ✅ The 17 Confidence Killers—and why 16 of them are self-inflicted 😳 ✅ Why women opt out of leadership—and how to change it ✅ The hidden power of sports...

In this episode of The Empowered Team Podcast, Kari dives into the concept of hidden values—the subconscious beliefs that shape your decisions, often without you realizing it. While you may consciously value things like peace, freedom, or connection, hidden values such as control, suffering, or self-righteousness might actually be dictating your actions. Kari explains how to identify hidden values...

Have you ever experienced a conversation that's gone completely sideways—causing tension, misunderstandings, and damaged rapport? We’ve all been there, and we know how much it can negatively affect our happiness, productivity, and even our bottom line. In this episode of The Empowered Team Podcast, Kari Schneider delivers powerful strategies to rescue relationships and repair damaged rapport, so y...

Have you ever reached a milestone only to feel like something essential is missing? In this episode, we dive deep into the trap of false proxies, those easy-to-measure numbers that look great on paper but can steer you away from your true goals. I share personal insights and real-life examples on how chasing metrics like a weight on the scale, a fancy job title, or social media likes might distrac...

AI is revolutionizing business, but are you leading with integrity in this new landscape? In this special episode of What’s Working Now with Katie Richardson, we dive deep into how AI is reshaping leadership, the ethical challenges it presents, and the mindset shifts CEOs must embrace to navigate this era effectively. Here’s what we cover: ✅ The AI revolution in leadership—what every CEO needs to...

In this episode of The Empowered Team Podcast, host Kari Schneider explores the often-overlooked leadership skill of apologizing – and why it’s essential for building trust, deepening relationships, and mastering self-awareness. With personal stories, actionable insights, and a practical 4-step apology framework, Kari helps you navigate those tricky moments when tension is in the air, but you're u...