What Happens When Leaders Pause? Mindfulness as a Leadership Tool, with Rebecca Wilson

In this episode of the Spirituality in Leadership podcast, host Andrew Cohn sits down with Rebecca Wilson, executive coach, mindfulness teacher, and founder of Arborvida, an organization dedicated to helping leaders cultivate self-awareness, purpose, and conscious leadership from the inside out.

Together, they explore what happens when leaders slow down, cut through the noise, and reconnect with their deeper sense of meaning. Andrew and Rebecca dive into why leadership is ultimately an inner journey and how greater self-awareness, intention, and presence can transform the way we lead, make decisions, and show up for others.

They also unpack real challenges leaders face, like burnout, overwhelm, and the constant pressure to “do more,” while offering practical tools to lead with clarity, impact, and fulfillment, whether it’s honoring silence in meetings, setting clear intentions, or creating space for reflection.

Rebecca also shares details about her latest initiative, The Conscious Leaders Collective – a peer-driven community supporting mindful, purpose-driven leaders navigating today’s fast-paced, high-pressure environments.

If you’re a leader looking to expand your impact, avoid burnout, and lead with more presence, this episode offers valuable insights and inspiration for the journey.

Key Takeaways

• Leadership is an inside job. True leadership starts with self-awareness, reflection, and intentional action.

• Quiet the noise to hear your inner compass. Slowing down reveals the subtle insights that guide purpose-driven leadership.

• Small practices create big shifts. Moments of silence, pausing to set intentions, and simple reflective questions help leaders reconnect with what matters.

• Leaders shape culture through energy, not just words. How you show up impacts your team as much as what you say or do.

• Spirituality in leadership is human, not hierarchical. It’s about connection, fulfillment, and meaning, not religion or exclusion.

• Community matters. Peer-to-peer spaces for reflection help leaders stay anchored in their values and purpose.

  
  

  In This Episode:

  • [00:00] Introduction to the invitational approach

  • [00:39] Value of language in spiritual development

  • [01:19] Podcast introduction and guest background

  • [03:00] Rebecca’s journey into spirituality and leadership

  • [03:42] Challenges of spiritual language in the workplace

  • [06:05] Rebecca’s coaching approach and client resonance

  • [08:14] Practicality and inclusivity in coaching

  • [09:27] Examples of coaching work and client challenges

  • [12:34] Case study: burnout and reconnection

  • [17:40] Depth and root causes in coaching

  • [18:13] Encouraging leaders to foster deeper conversations

  • [19:14] Embodiment and leading by example

  • [20:37] Simple practices for leaders: silence and questions

  • [23:30] Intention setting in leadership

  • [27:12] Self-awareness and flexibility in leadership

  • [30:12] Rebecca’s coaching model and peer groups

  • [33:18] Sustaining growth through community

  • [35:00] Finding Rebecca and final reflections

  • [36:40] Closing remarks and podcast outro

    
    

    
    

    Resources and Links

    
    

    Spirituality in Leadership Podcast

    • https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spirituality-in-leadership/id1713365406