Lead with Spark | Authentic Leadership for Women, Executive Presence & Career Confidence

Feel stuck in your head? Spinning, second-guessing, or riding waves of frustration and doubt? This episode reframes emotional intelligence as a daily, doable practice rooted in identity. You’ll learn why feelings are real but not always reliable, and how to treat them as data, not directors, so you can calm the noise and move the needle. We walk through simple tools you can use this week: a 60-sec...

When women lead, the room shifts. In this conversation with Dr. Ebony Stone—author, speaker, and coach— we unpack what it really takes to thrive as a woman in leadership today: grace over guilt, perspective over comparison, and “do it scared” over perfect timing. Ebony shares her PAUSE framework (Pause/Pray, Analyze, Understand, Strategize, Execute) and how it applies to real life—boardrooms, busy...

If your updates get lost, decisions stall, or you leave meetings exhausted from carrying the room, the problem isn’t just strategy. It’s how you show up. In this story-driven episode, Lynsey unpacks executive presence using three unforgettable rideshare moments from her latest trip to Destin, Florida: the disengaged “Mr. Earbuds,” the resigned “Miss Chaos,” and the intentional hostess with the mos...

What if the third most important day of your life is the day you start living your why, on purpose? In this episode, Lynsey breaks down intentional living as a series of tiny, faithful micro-movements (not cliff jumps) that add up to a life that feels like you. Drawing on John Maxwell’s take, “decide in advance who you will be and what you will give,”she connects it to the SparkLife formula: Value...

Moving from “I’ll just do it myself” to true leadership is a skill, and delegation is the lever. In this episode of Lead with Spark, Lynsey shares a simple four-step handoff loop - Select, Scope, Support, Spotlight - that turns tasks into growth without letting anyone down. You’ll learn how to use the Eisenhower model (urgent vs. important) to decide what to delegate, how to give a clear, kind ove...

If you’ve ever wondered why “be more relatable” sounds obvious but feels impossible in real life, this conversation with author and keynote speaker Rachel DeAlto will be your masterclass. We dig into what relatable leadership actually looks like day-to-day—clear communication, active listening, and honest transparency—and why respect is the trait teams are craving most. You’ll learn Rachel’s simpl...

Women in leadership are carrying too much invisible work; note-taking, scheduling, conflict smoothing, onboarding support, and the quiet “glue work” that keeps projects alive but rarely shows up on a dashboard. That hidden load stalls recognition, performance reviews, and promotion. In this episode of Lead with Spark, Lynsey shares a practical visibility playbook to end the invisible work tax with...

From the Grand Concourse to the boardroom, this leadership podcast episode turns the Iowa State Fair into a practical playbook for women in leadership. Lynsey Mulder weaves three generations of family tradition - Grandma’s one-section-a-day map, Grandpa’s steady hours in the livestock barns, and a new stop at Cowboy Bootcamp with her grandson - into ten blue-ribbon leadership lessons you can apply...

What does it take to lead with both curiosity and compassion? In this episode, I sit down with Malinda Shultice, professor at Iowa State University and Barcelona Executive Business School, licensed nursing home administrator, and founder of a consulting company dedicated to tackling high turnover in healthcare.   Malinda shares her bold career pivot from senior living to academia and entrepreneurs...

In today’s episode, we tackle something that many women professionals struggle with. Saying no. Constantly overcommitting to work, family, and social obligations can lead to burnout and a loss of focus on what truly matters. In this empowering episode, I dive deep into the importance of setting non-negotiables in your life. Learn how to align your boundaries with your core values and priorities, a...

In today’s fast-paced, tech-driven world, the idea of “work-life balance” feels outdated and out of reach. In this episode of Lead With Spark, we explore the evolution from work-life balance to work-life alignment, a dynamic approach that helps you integrate your career, family, and personal goals in a way that fuels your well-being and success. Join Lynsey as she shares her personal strategies fo...

Unleashing Your Superpowers: The Spark You’ve Been Missing What if the secret to more confidence, less burnout, and a life you actually love was already inside you? In this episode of Lead with Spark, Lynsey takes you step-by-step through the process of identifying and unleashing your unique superpowers, the strengths that make you brilliant, bold, and impactful. You’ll hear a heartwarming story a...

Are you secretly waiting for someone to find out you're not as capable as they think you are? You're not alone - in fact, studies show that 70% of people experience imposter syndrome at some point in their careers, and the number jumps even higher for high-achieving women in leadership. In this empowering episode of Lead with Spark, Lynsey breaks down what imposter syndrome really is, why it shows...

Are you living a version of success that doesn’t actually feel like your own? In this episode of Lead with Spark, Lynsey walks you through the very first step in the Discover Your Leadership Spark framework: identifying your core values. You'll learn why values misalignment can lead to burnout, stress, and disconnection and how clarifying what truly matters can help you lead with authenticity, res...

Are you leading, or just performing? In this powerful episode, Lynsey dives into what it really means to live and lead with authenticity, especially as a woman in leadership. If you’ve ever looked around your life and thought, “I’m doing everything I’m supposed to do, so why do I feel like I’ve lost myself?” This one’s for you. You’ll learn: Why ambitious women unknowingly drift out of alignment W...

Confidence isn’t something you’re born with; it’s something you build. In this episode of Lead With Spark, Lynsey shares 3 practical strategies to grow your confidence, reframe your mindset, and use your strengths to take bold action. Whether you’re leading a team, presenting to leadership, or simply stepping into something new, this is your guide to creating confidence that sticks. 🔗 Prefer read...

Miscommunication is costing professionals more than they think, especially in leadership roles. In this episode of Lead With Spark, we explore two powerful strategies to help women leaders improve communication and elevate their executive presence. You’ll learn how to mentally prepare for high-stakes conversations, avoid common language traps (like “I know” and “actually”), and use a listener blue...

Today’s episode is all about unexpected inspiration, and it comes with wings. Join me on my front porch, chai latte in hand, as I unpack five powerful leadership lessons inspired by the fierce, focused, and surprisingly wise hummingbird. From building momentum with tiny actions to learning the strength of stepping back, we’ll explore how this little bird can teach us about energy, boundaries, curi...

Welcome to the Lead with Spark Podcast — Authentic Leadership for Women Who Want More What does it truly mean to lead, not just in the boardroom or a team meeting, but in your actual life? I’m Lynsey Mulder, leadership coach, speaker, and former Fortune 100 Senior Vice President turned full-time champion for purpose-driven women. On the Lead with Spark podcast, we explore what it really means to l...