How Authenticity and Resilience Shape Leadership Success: Mandolen Mull’s Insights

My guest for Episode #294 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Mandolen Mull.

Episode page with video, transcript, and more

She has worked with global clients in various industries, helping organizations with change implementation and leader development training. The daughter of a master stone mason entrepreneur, Mandolen has a great appreciation for the responsibility of leaders in building trades and manufacturing realms. 

Mandolen has written a leadership handbook and is currently publishing her multi-series memoir titled Mullings, Mullivation, and MullMentum.

She was born in Fort Worth, TX, and inspired by her family's history in politics, she obtained a bachelor's degree in Political Science & Psychology and an MBA in International Business at McLane College of Business from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. 

Amassing over a decade of corporate leadership experience, she obtained her Ph.D. from the Soules College of Business at the University of Texas at Tyler in Organizational Development & Change. 

In this episode, we explore powerful leadership lessons drawn from personal experiences, including the importance of authenticity and earning credibility in challenging environments. Mandolen shares a defining moment early in her career when she stepped into a male-dominated workplace and made an impulsive decision that led to a valuable lesson about humility and resilience. She reflects on how listening, observing, and building trust with her team helped her become an effective leader, emphasizing that leadership is not about asserting authority but about connecting with people and addressing their needs.

We also delve into the impact of adversity on her leadership journey, including her experience with dystonia and how it shaped her perspective on resilience and empathy. Mandolen discusses the inspiration behind her memoir series, including themes of grit, transformation, and navigating complex relationships. Through candid stories about her personal and professional life, she offers insights into building trust, overcoming challenges, and fostering a leadership style that prioritizes connection, transparency, and growth.

Questions and Topics:

• Can you share an update on your memoir series? What themes are you exploring in these books?
• What’s the story behind your favorite mistake, and what leadership lessons did you take from it?
• Was your initial approach to listening and observing natural for you, or did someone advise you to take that approach?
• How did your father’s lessons and perspective shape your leadership style?
• What advice did your father give you to help overcome challenges in leadership?
• How did your team’s feedback inspire your transition to becoming a professor?
• What is it like coaching ironworkers to become effective leaders and instructors?
• How has your experience with dystonia and other health challenges influenced your leadership journey?
• What inspired the title and concept of your first book, Grit for the Pearl?
• What are the key themes of your upcoming books, and how do they connect to your life and work?