073: Body Intelligence as Leadership Data

In this grounding episode, Elena Armijo welcomes Megan Akatu, executive coach and somatic leadership guide, for a conversation on body intelligence, self leadership, and the kind of confidence that does not require pushing or proving. After twenty years in corporate leadership, Megan followed what she describes as a clear inner call toward coaching, building a practice rooted in helping leaders trust the wisdom already living within them. Check out Elena's website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you. Elena opens with a coaching reflection centered on a powerful question: when the pressure is highest, what would it mean to trust your body before your strategy? She names the body as a source of leadership data, reminding leaders that tension, heat, stillness, breath, and discomfort are not distractions. They are signals worth learning. Megan shares how her own transition began during a season of exhaustion and uncertainty, when her body signaled that something was no longer aligned before her mind could explain why. That moment became a turning point into coaching, somatic leadership, and the deeper work of helping people identify patterns, release old stories, and take the next aligned step without forcing certainty. The conversation also explores how leaders can create safety in themselves before trying to stabilize a room. Megan offers simple practices, including tracking body sensations, noticing personal cues, pausing before responding, and building the capacity to sit with discomfort long enough for clarity to emerge. This episode is an invitation to slow down, listen inward, and recognize that the body often knows before the strategy forms. It offers a steady reminder that leadership begins with the capacity to stay present, especially when things feel uncertain.   Let's Get Social!  Want to hear more from Elena? Click here! Learn more about The C-Suite Collective Connect with Elena on LinkedIn Schedule a complimentary session: Click here   Megan Akatu: LinkedIn  |  Website  |  Instagram  |  YouTube  |  The Way She Leads Podcast   This podcast was produced by the following amazing team: Ulrich Wolvaardt, Audio Engineer Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron's music via Instagram) Jo van Eeden, Project Manager