#124 Leading Above the Line: How Conscious Leadership Shapes Culture

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In this week’s episode of The Culture Coach Podcast, Wendy Brand unpacks the power of conscious leadership—a philosophy popularized by John Mackey (Whole Foods), Steve McIntosh, and Carter Phipps—and how it connects directly to the CORE Culture™ pillars of Clarity, Energy, and Ownership.

Wendy explores what it truly means to lead above the line—where fear is acknowledged but not in control—and how awareness, alignment, and accountability fuel intentional cultures. Drawing from The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership, Dare to Lead, and her own coaching work with CEOs and leadership teams, Wendy breaks down three essential dimensions of conscious leadership:

• Vision & Virtue (Clarity): Defining purpose beyond profit and leading with integrity.
• Mindset & Strategy (Energy): Managing your inner world before you manage others—protecting focus, curiosity, and long-term perspective.
• People & Culture (Ownership): Empowering teams through trust, shared accountability, and continual growth.

This episode offers practical ways to integrate these concepts into your daily leadership practices—helping you move from reaction to intention, and from managing chaos to shaping culture consciously.

🔍 Key Takeaways

• Conscious leaders balance vision and virtue—they know where they’re going and why.
• Leadership energy sets the tone: grounded focus fuels creative, high-performing teams.
• The “above the line” framework helps you recognize and recover from reactive, fear-driven responses.
• Ownership isn’t control—it’s co-creation. Trust is the foundation of a self-sustaining culture.
• When clarity, energy, and ownership align, culture becomes your greatest strategic advantage.

🧭 Next Steps

If you’re ready to stop reacting to culture and start shaping it with intention:
 👉 Join Wendy’s free 3-part Culture Roadmap Webinar Series — begins November 11.
Get the full experience (or access replays) at culturecoachwendy.com/webinarseries

And if you’re a CEO ready for deeper transformation, join the waitlist for The Empowered CEO, a 6-month coaching program designed to help you lead with confidence, clarity, and conviction.
🔗 culturecoachwendy.com/ceo

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With 25+ years of leadership experience, spanning multiple roles across corporations and non-profits, I have gained a wealth of experience in understanding what makes organizations successful.

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