The Inner Edge: Leadership, Self-Mastery, and Reinvention for a New Era

“ I have been a card carrying member of the Walking Dead myself. I know what that is like. That's why I do the work that I do today, which is to awaken people to their passion and purpose and then inspire them to make a contribution worthy of their one precious life.” - Dr. Alise Cortez In this episode, I talk to Dr. Alise Cortez, the Chief Ignition Officer at Gusto, NOW!, an inspirational sp...

“ Leadership isn't just about doing great work. It's about building relationships,  understanding the dynamics around you, and strategically positioning yourself and your ideas.” In this episode, I talk about something lots of people dread: workplace politics. To help you better navigate workplace dynamics with integrity, I’m sharing the story of a client who faced the challenge of engag...

“ Uncertainty is part of the journey,  but it doesn't have to derail you. When you do the inner work to remain centered and grounded, you lead with courage, clarity, and calm, even in the face of the unknown.” Nothing in our world is certain. While we like to believe we have things under “control”, our environment is filled with unexpected influences that topple even the best intended plans,...

 ”You still believe in your bones that this work matters. This is what you have been advocating for. You've been sponsoring these [programs]. So what do you do [when they’re axed]? Do you stay silent to keep your job? Do you push back and risk being fired, risk your position, and then your livelihood? Or is there another way?” In this episode, I talk about  something that almost every leader...

“ If there's a starting line of status, women are not starting at the same place. We're starting several steps back because people ascribe more respect to one category [men] than another.” - Alison Fragale  If you're a woman leading an organization, you cannot miss this episode.  Today, I talk to Alison Fragale, an organizational psychologist, professor, international keynote speake...

“ Staying calm under pressure isn't about being emotionless. It's about being intentional. When you regulate your emotions, you create an environment where trust and collaboration can thrive.” In this episode, I talk about the ability to regulate your emotions, which is a life skill that can make or break your effectiveness as a leader. I share the real story of a woman leader I worked w...

“Leadership is full of moments where your first reaction is not your best reaction. And I know you know what I mean. But when you pause, you create space to lead with clarity, empathy, and purpose.” In this episode, I talk about why pausing is so powerful, how it can transform the way you lead, and practical ways you can start using it right away. In this episode: A moment when my inability to pau...

“Storytelling is, of course, the best way to influence someone. People don't care about your facts. They don't want any more of your damn information. They’ve got too much to deal with right now. But what they need and what they crave in you is faith.” In this episode, I talk to Annette Simmons, an expert on the power of storytelling, public speaker, trainer, and author. You'll hear...

“Great leadership begins with mastering the inner work.” Welcome to the first episode of the new season of Leadership Presence | Mastering the Inner Work of Leadership. In this episode, we're going to dive into the foundation of self-mastery: the inner work of leadership. We'll discuss why the most important work you'll ever do isn't about becoming smarter, more accomplished, o...

“Every great leader begins by mastering the voice within.” - Janet Ioli Welcome to this special and last episode of the season. In this episode, we're tackling a challenge even the most successful leaders face: self-doubt. We’ll revisit important lessons from my Power Talks interview series from the very early episodes of this podcast. You'll hear excerpts with relatable wisdom from inte...

“People and organizations collectively can waste a lot of time being in denial and not facing reality, or explaining away why things are the way they are, rather than dealing with reality and taking action.” If you are leading change and transformation in any organization, today’s conversation is full of tips and ideas on how to be sure you are doing it successfully. In this episode, I talk to Ian...

“ He said, ‘Well, Janet. I'll say what I really thought of you when I first saw you. The first thing I thought is, “Oh, here's blonde bimbo. And what is she going to say?”’ [...] Then he goes, ‘You talked and I thought, Wow, Barbie has a brain. ’” In this episode, I talk about something women leaders are unfortunately no strangers to: being underestimated or stereotyped because of their...

“The research shows that many of us do not develop new convincing techniques past the age of six. So, wherever your set point is in kindergarten or first grade, that's pretty much what you're going to do from a convincing strategy as an adult because most of us are too scared to try something new. We're only going to do what worked in the past.” - Adele Gambardella If you want to ha...

“That 90-year-old woman was once 9 years old. I think people forget that they were once that age.” In this episode, I talk to my goddaughter, Ariel Debeniotis, a 16-year old high schooler, to get her thoughts about what Gen Z is expecting from the world of work. As someone who is working in her first job, you’ll learn about what Generation Z is thinking about the workplace and get a window into th...

“ Look for the extraordinary, the simple, delicate extraordinary. But to see, to find it in nature and in other people and in situations, and in organization state, there's almost always something you can find that is precious, but you have to look. ” When I first started studying human development, I encountered Dr. Cook-Greuter’s books and theory of ego development. I was enlightened by her...

“ It's not about completely eliminating ego, but about recognizing when it's taking over and consciously choosing to realign with a soul-driven purpose. “ In this episode, I talk about the delicate balance between ego and soul in leadership. Let’s explore when ego may be beneficial and when it may get in the way, as well as how we can lead from a place of soul instead. In this episode: E...

“I know that right now leading is tough,  and that there is a pathway to more ease and more joy along with more success. We just need to forge a different way of leading.” In this episode, I talk to Dr. Jennifer Garvey Berger, one of the leading experts in the world on  human development and leadership, and the co-founder and CEO of Cultivating Leadership. Dr. Garvey Berger works with leaders to h...

“Can you show yourself the same respect that you show your parents, your teachers and military leaders, your coaches, and your bosses? That's the biggest challenge that most people have.” If you're trying to up your game in work and in life, you definitely don't want to miss this episode. I talk to Dre Baldwin, a former professional athlete turned author, speaker, and CEO and founde...

I’m excited to bring back one of our most popular episodes from last year. Whether you're hearing it for the first time, or you're giving it a second listen, I hope you enjoy this insightful conversation. In this power-packed episode, I talk to Julia Boorstin, CNBC’s Senior Media & Technology Reporter and creator of CNBC’s ‘Disruptor 50’.  Julia has over two decades of experience as...

You might have missed some of our earlier episodes with powerhouse thought leaders and experts. I’m excited to bring back one of our most popular episodes from last year for an encore. Whether you're hearing it for the first time, or you're giving it a second listen, I hope you enjoy this insightful conversation. In this episode, I talk to the legendary Dave Ulrich. Dave is a well-known,...

I know many of you might have missed some of our earlier episodes. So today I’m excited to bring back one of our most popular episodes from last year. Whether you're hearing it for the first time, or you're giving it a second listen, I hope you enjoy this insightful conversation. In this episode, I have a great conversation with Candace Nelson. She is a Serial Entrepreneur, NYT Bestselli...

“Part of the work of becoming a better leader is doing inner work.” Since great leadership starts from the inside-out, I have been inviting therapists and mental health experts on the podcast to talk about deeper issues that may impact the way we lead. While building leadership skills and competence is important, how we show up every day is driven largely by factors that are unconscious to us. The...

“You carry a virus that spreads to your co-workers. It spreads wherever you are, but it definitely spreads at work. So, what is the result of the virus you carry?” In this episode, I talk about emotional contagion and how our emotional and energetic tones are picked up by those around us. Emotions are contagious. Do you ever find yourself energized and inspired when you're listening to an upb...

Does childhood trauma impact leadership in organizations? Rarely is this topic discussed, which is why I'm eager to bring this episode to you today. To discuss this complex topic, I invited Kelly Campbell, trauma-informed leadership coach and author of the book "Heal to Lead". Kelly shares her personal journey of healing from childhood trauma and how that inspired her to do the work...

“Respecting others may be your intention. But your actual words and actions demonstrate  intentions to others.” In this episode, I discuss the difference between your intentions and your actual actions as a leader, particularly in the context of showing respect to others. "She may be smart, but she doesn't respect others."  This was an actual comment written on a feedback assessment...