The Fosgail Mindset

In this second episode of Season 2 of The Fosgail Mindset, Myka Kennedy Stephens builds on Attendant Leadership by turning toward its relational core. Using a story from her early years as a seminary librarian tasked with “right‑sizing” a 200,000‑volume theological library, she explores how even seemingly technical projects are deeply relational—touching staff, students, alumni, institutional lead...

In this Season 2 opener of The Fosgail Mindset, Myka Kennedy Stephens names how control‑focused, top‑down leadership is eroding trust and fragmenting community in libraries, higher education, and other mission‑driven institutions. Drawing on a recent committee meeting and wider political patterns, she connects today’s leadership dysfunction to the crisis that prompted Robert Greenleaf’s Servant Le...

In this special extended episode, host Myka Kennedy Stephens sits down with Jessica Zairo to explore how embracing the value of sharing can positively impact communities. Drawing heavily on Jessica's experiences with open-source software support and development, particularly with the Koha integrated library system, this conversation highlights the power of collaboration, reciprocal giving, and com...

In this episode of The Fosgail Mindset, host Myka Kennedy Stephens explores the nuanced role of **sharing** as a leadership virtue. Drawing from life experience, organizational theory, and research, Myka challenges both the old command-and-control mindset and the pitfalls of excessive, boundary-less sharing. Discover why the real answer lies in **collaborative leadership**, a balanced approach whe...

In this episode of The Fosgail Mindset, host Myka Kennedy Stephens sits down with Neil Mackinnon, a seasoned leadership and executive coach whose journey from professional musician to creative industry leader offers a wealth of inspiration. Neil discusses powerful lessons from his transformative 12 years at London’s Southbank Centre. Together, Myka and Neil unpack what genuine creativity means in...

Have you ever wondered how to engage elected representatives to advocate for a cause you feel passionately about? In this special extended episode of The Fosgail Mindset, Myka Kennedy Stephens sits down with author and non-partisan activist Cynthia Changyit Levin to explore how advocacy can unlock personal and collective potential, even amid uncertainty and political polarization. Cynthia shares h...

This episode explores the nuanced relationship between potential, possibility, and purpose, and how understanding these concepts can empower individuals and organizations—especially in libraries, theological education, and higher education—to cultivate professional wellbeing and inspire positive change. Quote of the Episode: “Potential is, full stop. And potential will always be there no matter wh...

In this extended episode, Kelly Campbell and I have a conversation about the Leadership Development for Theological Librarians program that we co-facilitate. This has been a unique opportunity for theological librarians to grow in self-awareness and connect with other librarians in a 10-month cohort experience that combines mentoring workshops, 1:1 executive coaching, and an in-person retreat expe...

In this episode, I share a personal story that illustrates how disruptive changes—invited or not—can become catalysts for growth and self-discovery. Reflecting on both the challenges and unexpected gifts of disruption, listeners are invited to consider how experiences of disruption can help us to clarify our priorities, anchor ourselves in the present, and transform chaos into creative opportunity...

Discover how embracing an attitude of intentionality can transform your responses to chaos and uncertainty. In this episode, I reflect on how to shift from a state of reactivity and stress to a state of response-driven action. Hosted by Myka Kennedy Stephens. Recorded April 9, 2025 with Descript. Read the companion blog post: https://www.fosgail.org/blog/2025/04/09/2025-04-09_starting-with-intenti...