20 | Redefining Failure: The Mindset That Turns Setbacks Into Forward Steps

What if the moments you’ve labeled as failure are actually your greatest untapped resource?In this episode of the Ripple Effect Leadership Podcast, Jen Brown and Hugo Rodriguez—former U.S. diplomats, leadership coaches, and educators—challenge the way leaders define, experience, and recover from failure.Drawing from their own careers navigating high-stakes environments, they share the mindset shift that turns setbacks into forward steps: it’s not about what happened—it’s about what you do with it.In this conversation, they explore:Why failure is a matter of perspective—not factHow to stop competing with others and start measuring against your own growthWhat grit, grace, and gratitude actually look like in practiceHow leaders can define success clearly—for their teams and themselvesWhy discomfort isn’t the obstacle—it’s the doorwayIf you’ve ever felt stuck or defined by a moment that didn’t go as planned, this episode will give you a new way to see it—and move forward.Your challenge:Where can you reframe “failure” into a forward step—starting today?Mentioned in this episodeHow to Get a Return on Failure by John C. MaxwellInner Excellence by Jim Murphy