Stephanie Hildreth: Leading Startups with Heart and Strategy

Stephanie Hildreth is an accomplished executive and former CEO of Mindful magazine, now serving as Chief of Staff and Head of Customer Success at a rapidly growing tech company. In this episode, Stephanie shares her journey from media to health tech and SaaS, offering deep insight into what it takes to lead high-performing teams through change. Her approach blends strategy with emotional intelligence, and her story is a powerful guide for anyone navigating career pivots or leading transformation from within.

Key Takeaways:

• Why strong leadership starts with self-awareness and trust
• How to use feedback loops to build stronger teams and cultures
• What to look for when making a career pivot into a new industry
• How to lead strategic change without losing human connection
• The mindset shift that helps you thrive in high-growth environments

Meet Stephanie Hildreth
Stephanie Hildreth is a high-impact executive known for leading with both heart and precision. Formerly CEO of Mindful magazine, she now serves as Chief of Staff and Head of Customer Success at a fast-growing tech company. With experience across SaaS, media, and health tech, Stephanie is passionate about operational excellence, leadership development, and building cultures rooted in emotional intelligence and transparency.

Meet Stephanie

How She Pivoted

Stephanie Hildreth’s career has never followed a straight line—and that’s by design. After a winding path into her first leadership roles, she realized her true strengths were rooted in emotional intelligence and the ability to lead through change. As CEO of Mindful magazine, she navigated a major transformation, growing the business while realigning its vision and ultimately leading it through a successful exit.

“There was a moment when I said, if not me, then who? And that changed everything,” shared Stephanie Hildreth on episode 28 of the Rhonda Coleman Wandel podcast.

That clarity has guided each step since. Whether transitioning into new industries or taking on dual leadership roles in tech, Stephanie has stayed grounded in her core values. Her career evolution shows that you don’t have to choose between performance and purpose—you can build a path that honours both.

Insights for Ambitious Women

Stephanie’s story is a blueprint for leading with intentionality and grace. She believes success isn't about proving your worth—it’s about aligning your work with who you are. From navigating imposter syndrome to embracing risk, her insights help ambitious women show up with more confidence and clarity.

“Leadership isn't about being the loudest in the room. It's about being the clearest,” encouraged Stephanie Hildreth on the RCW podcast

Her career pivots remind us that growth often begins with a question—and that reinvention starts when we stop waiting for permission and start trusting our capacity to lead.

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