97: The Time For Your Voice To be Heard Is Now W/ Neelu Karr

If you’ve ever been told to “keep your head down and let your work speak for itself,” this episode is for you. In today’s fast-paced, AI-driven world, staying quiet can cost you influence, opportunity, and fulfillment.

In this inspiring conversation, Sean Patton talks with Neelu Kaur — executive coach, keynote speaker, and author of Be Your Own Cheerleader — about the power of self-advocacy, mindful leadership, and the importance of finding your authentic voice.

Neelu shares her journey from “staying under the radar” to helping leaders across Fortune 500 companies create inclusive, high-performing cultures. You’ll learn how to advocate for yourself with confidence, help your team share their best ideas, and lead with the one thing AI can’t replace — your human uniqueness.

💡 Episode Highlights

• Why “keeping your head down” is a recipe for being overlooked
• Cultural conditioning and how it shapes our ability to self-advocate
• Practical strategies for leaders to create psychologically safe spaces
• The “I vs. We” dial — how to balance individual and collective leadership
• The Lighthouse Effect and why self-advocacy is a generous act
• How to build mindful awareness and reclaim your creative energy in the AI era

Time Stamps:

00:00 – 00:57 Intro — Why “keeping your head down” can hold you back in today’s world
00:58 – 01:42 Meet Neelu Kaur — Executive coach, speaker, and author of Be Your Own Cheerleader
01:43 – 03:22 Defining self-advocacy for everyone, not just executives
03:23 – 05:25 Why self-advocacy feels uncomfortable — cultural and personal conditioning
05:26 – 07:33 How upbringing shapes our voice — the “silent generation” story
07:34 – 09:34 Creating psychological safety and “buckets of time” for team input
09:35 – 12:15 Knowing your team — tailoring leadership to each individual’s strengths
12:16 – 14:12 Energy management and the 70/30 rule for fulfilling work
14:13 – 16:25 The leader’s role in slowing down to speed up
16:26 – 18:28 Balancing intention with the fast pace of modern organizations
18:29 – 20:05 Using office hours and device-free time to recharge and refocus
20:06 – 22:16 How individuals can start practicing self-advocacy in low-stakes settings
22:17 – 24:38 Awareness as transformation — mindfulness and emotional ownership
24:39 – 26:02 The “I vs. We Dial” — shifting language based on context
26:03 – 27:27 Balancing servant leadership with self-leadership
27:28 – 28:45 Advocating for your own growth and development
28:46 – 31:06 How AI is changing leadership — what machines can’t replace
31:07 – 33:37 Staying human and creative in an AI-powered world
33:38 – 35:36 The Lighthouse Effect — how self-advocacy inspires others

No Limit Leadership is the go-to podcast for growth-minded executives, middle managers, and team leaders who want more than surface-level leadership advice. Hosted by executive coach and former Special Forces commander Sean Patton, this show dives deep into modern leadership, self-leadership, and the real-world strategies that build high-performing teams. Whether you're focused on leadership development, building a coaching culture, improving leadership communication, or strengthening team accountability, each episode equips you with actionable insights to unlock leadership potential across your organization. From designing onboarding systems that retain talent to asking better questions that drive clarity and impact, No Limit Leadership helps you lead yourself first so you can lead others better. If you're ready to create a culture of ownership, resilience, and results, this leadership podcast is for you.