Uncovering the Heart of Leadership
In this energizing episode, Joanne sits down with Cynthia Cleveland—a trailblazing CEO, brand builder, and longtime advisor to both Joanne and Greg in their Innersense™ journey. With decades of experience leading billion-dollar brands, Cynthia shares how she unexpectedly found herself in the C-suite and why psychology, intuition, and tools like Myers-Briggs have been central to her success. If you’ve ever wondered what truly makes a powerful leader—or how the people behind Innersense™ continue to grow—this conversation is rich with surprising insights and heartfelt connection.
Female Intelligence as a Superpower
Cynthia reveals how emotional intelligence and authenticity became her greatest strengths in male-dominated industries, and why being vulnerable is actually a power move. She shares stories of mentorship, moments of self-doubt, and why women-led companies often outperform. Her reflections offer fresh permission to lead from your values and embrace the uniqueness you bring to any room.
Breaking Myths and Building Legacy
With honesty and humor, Cynthia busts the myth that strong female leadership harms families—and shares how her kids became more resilient and independent because of it. She also offers her signature mindset shift—“Now what?”—to turn any crisis into a stepping stone for growth. Whether you’re building a brand or navigating tough decisions, her wisdom will leave you feeling grounded and capable.
Connect with Cynthia Cleavland: CEOCoachingInternational or on LinkedIn Cynthia Cleavalnd
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Leadership and Mentorship
02:35 Cynthia's Unintentional Leadership Journey
04:10 Understanding Personality Assessments in Leadership
06:35 The Importance of Team Dynamics and Diversity
08:00 Influences and Role Models in Leadership
09:30 The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership
11:44 Balancing Collaboration and Decisiveness
12:42 Navigating High-Pressure Situations
14:09 Shifting Perspectives on Challenges
17:30 Facing Gender Bias in Leadership
19:09 Imposter Syndrome and Its Impact
21:16 Advice for Women in Leadership
22:16 Busting Myths About Female Leadership
24:56 Legacy and Authenticity in Leadership
27:24 The Importance of Humor in Leadership
Let’s chat! podcasts@innersensebeauty.com
Join the Innersense™ Community
https://innersensebeauty.com/pages/newsletter-sign-up
Let’s Stay Connected
https://www.instagram.com/joannestarkman
https://www.instagram.com/innersenseorganicbeauty/
https://www.instagram.com/innersensepro/
https://www.facebook.com/InnersenseOrganic/
https://www.youtube.com/c/InnersenseOrganicBeauty
Clean hair care & body products
Use code JOANNE15 to save 15% on first purchases at https://innersensebeauty.com/
Want to elevate your salon? (New Pro Clean Color Line)
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Law & Order: Criminal Justice System - Season 1 & Season 2
Season Two Out Now! Law & Order: Criminal Justice System tells the real stories behind the landmark cases that have shaped how the most dangerous and influential criminals in America are prosecuted. In its second season, the series tackles the threat of terrorism in the United States. From the rise of extremist political groups in the 60s to domestic lone wolves in the modern day, we explore how organizations like the FBI and Joint Terrorism Take Force have evolved to fight back against a multitude of terrorist threats.