Shameless Leadership

Shameless Leadership

Welcome to Shameless Leadership! This show is for women, transgender people, non-binary folks, and allies who are committed to advancing their leadership and the leadership of those around them. In this space, we believe everyone deserves to feel seen, heard, valued, and supported. Our mission is to help you foster these feelings within your own circles of influence to build trust, psychological safety, and a culture of belonging. In each episode, we dive into essential topics impacting women in leadership - everything from shutting down your inner critic and imposter syndrome to overcoming perfectionism to using your voice in new ways to advocate for yourself, your ideas, and other folks carrying marginalized identities. You'll hear practical tips, effective strategies, and inspiring stories that will not only enhance your leadership skills but also broaden your perspective to become a more confident, thoughtful, and empathetic leader. Our stories come from people carrying identities who are often underrepresented, underestimated, and excluded. By sharing their experiences, we aim to provide you with invaluable lessons that will transform your leadership journey. We are thrilled to have you join this community of Shameless Leaders who are actively creating a world where everyone, regardless of gender, can intentionally lead through a more curious, compassionate, and inclusive lens.

Episodes

January 6, 2026 27 mins
The Lean In and McKinsey & Company Women in the Workplace 2025 report claims that, for the first time, women are less likely than men to want a promotion, stating that 80% of women want to be promoted to the next level, compared to 86% of men.  They label this development an “ambition gap”, stating that women are currently less ambitious than men.  This label is wildly inaccurate, deeply offensive, and grossly irresponsible. Callin...
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In early 2025, my dear friend Jennifer started telling me about how she was preparing for her youngest child to leave for college.  She was celebrating this parenting milestone while also preparing for the grief.  Simultaneously, she was watching her father’s health deteriorate.  She knew 2025 would be a year of massive change.  And, it most certainly was.  I had the opportunity to connect with Jennifer throughout the year, and whe...
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As we head into a new year, I’m just as focused on breaking rules as I am on setting goals. In this episode, I share six leadership “rules” most of us have followed for years that I’m consciously unlearning as I step into 2026. These are the quiet, normalized rules that fuel burnout, decision fatigue, over-functioning, and self-silencing - especially for women and especially in midlife. This episode is both a reflection and an invi...
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There is no denying that 2025 has been a doozy for women and anyone carrying a marginalized identity.  AND… I’m seeing midlife women step into a completely new season of power, clarity, and momentum. We are the backbone of everything strong and sustainable, including our companies, our communities, and our families. For decades, we've been the stabilizers, culture shapers/shifters/carriers, and trust-builders, and now organizations...
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I love having mentors.  Watching and learning as others navigate the world is one of my superpowers.  Sometimes I feel like a spy as I closely and quietly observe the behavior of others and think, “Oh, I want to be more like THAT.”  Because I love learning and growing personally and professionally, I have hired many mentors and coaches over the years - paying well over 6 figures to learn how to improve many aspects of my life.   H...
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When I learned of Lauren Tetenbaum’s work around workplace menopause advocacy, I knew I wanted her to come on the show.  Talking about menopause at work is long overdue.  When there is something that directly impacts 50% of our population, 100% of us are impacted in some way.  We need to be talking about menopause at work.  Period.  Lauren Tetenbaum, LCSW, JD, PMH-C is a licensed clinical social worker, women's rights advocate, wr...
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I recorded this episode on the eve of my 50th birthday.  I’m writing this show description at 6:23am on the morning of my 50th birthday.  50 feels weird.  Maybe because for the first 48ish years of my life, it felt one million years away.  Then, suddenly it’s just… here…  For the past few months, people have been asking me what I plan to do to celebrate this monumental birthday and it’s felt overwhelming to decide on one thing.  I...
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In this episode, I’m exposing the Authenticity Trap for you.  The Authenticity Trap is the mixed messages women get about “being themselves.” We’re told authenticity is the key to trust, confidence, and influence, yet many of us were conditioned to 1) think we need to lead like men if we want to make it to the top to serve, and 2) constantly abandon our own needs and wants to center and care for those around us. That means when we ...
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I was thrilled when I learned that past podcast guest Jessica Frew wrote an entire book on decision-making.  Decision fatigue is real and so very exhausting.  It holds us back from taking action, best leveraging our time and energy, and truly trusting ourselves.  Jessica is a firecracker and I know this conversation will give you some great AHA’s about becoming a more decisive person.   Jessica Frew is an author, speaker, coach, w...
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"Sara, I tried one little thing you recommended in our session and it totally changed my interaction with a team member!" Back story…I was leading a training for a leadership team recently and we talked about how to practice active listening in leadership.  One of the leaders decided to put one of my recommendations into action immediately (Gold Star for this leader!) and he was so excited about the results.  Following our trainin...
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When it comes to giving yourself credit for your wins and accomplishments, how would you rate yourself?  Are you a strong self-promoter?  Do you share your accomplishments with others and routinely make it known that you’re up to great things?  Or, do you tend to shy away from shining too brightly in front of others? As women leaders, we’re often taught to keep our heads down, work hard, and let our results speak for themselves.  ...
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One of the trickiest parts of leadership for women, and even more so for women of color, is the tension between being authentic and being “good”.  When we focus on being “good,” we often self-sacrifice and push ourselves to uphold someone else’s vision of who we “should” be as a leader.  This can be exhausting, unsustainable, and even damaging to our sense of self over time.  I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to discuss t...
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Who doesn’t love a roadmap or a step-by-step blueprint to get from Point A to Point B?!  Sometimes, as we are just going about our daily lives, we don’t realize that we are, in fact, following a path without even realizing it.  As I’ve been helping leaders build out intentional journeys in growth over the last few years, I’ve realized a handful of key steps that come together to create a powerful roadmap to leadership success.  Whe...
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This episode is especially for business owners and consultants, but the themes will resonate with anyone navigating leadership in challenging times. No matter your role, the struggles we face are often more similar than different, and there’s always something to learn from the stories of others. Recently, my business coaching clients and entrepreneurial colleagues have been sharing struggles that might feel familiar:  "What sold ...
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I met Michelle Desmond a few months ago at a birthday gathering for a mutual friend.  As Michelle started talking about her work in dying, death, and grief, I had question after question. I realized quickly I had to get her on the pod. I was so excited and grateful when she said yes. This is such an important topic that impacts every single human, yet very few ever talk about it. Michelle is a corporate executive turned thanatolog...
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"Sara, some of my newer leaders are really struggling. I know they want to shine, but they need support, and I don't have the time or skills to give them. Can you help?"  This is a conversation I've found myself in more and more over the last year. So, how did we get here?  More and more managers are being promoted into leadership roles without the training or support to succeed. In this episode, I unpack why so many emerging lea...
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Jamie Lee is an executive coach who specializes in women and underrepresented leaders who are "allergic" to risky conversations and office politics. She focuses on helping them get promoted and better paid without compromising their integrity or throwing anyone under the bus. In her practice, she blends proven self-advocacy strategies with evidence-based neuroplasticity tools. For over a decade, Jamie has trained thousands of prof...
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Public failures and fumbles are painful to say the least.  I’ve recently had a handful of clients come to me feeling crushed after making a mistake, fumbling, or failing publicly. The most prominent outcome in all of their stories? SHAME. Their instinctual behavior to manage the shame? Hide, deny, or deflect. Fun fact, people don't actually trust leaders who never admit to making mistakes. Mistakes are a demonstration of humanity...
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When you hear the phrase thought leader, what comes to mind? For a lot of people, it’s someone with a massive following, a bestselling book, or a keynote spot at a big conference. But here’s the truth: thought leadership isn’t about popularity, perfection, or being the smartest (or loudest!) person in the room. It’s about having the courage to share ideas that shape or shift how others think, act, or lead. In this episode, I’m pull...
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A few months ago, I shared some of my personal experiences in perimenopause.  Today I am back with a big update. Since the last episode on this topic, I had a severe shift in my mental health, including a raging comeback of my lifelong anxiety and panic.  On top of this, I started having emotional responses to situations that I could tell were very much disproportionate to the situation, yet I couldn’t seem to talk myself out of se...
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