Ask to Elevate: How Curiosity-Driven Leadership Accelerates Your Career

Getting results is important. But you don't have to have all the answers.In this episode of the Leadership Sovereignty Podcast, host Ralph Owens and co-host Terry Baylor introduce Shachella James — VP of Enterprise Systems at CenterPoint Energy and 17-year technology executive — for a five-part conversation on one of the most underrated career accelerators in leadership: strategic curiosity. This is Part 1 of 5.Shachella introduces three curiosity-driven leadership principles that have shaped her career and the careers of people she has led — including the concept of asking to elevate, building a culture of curiosity, and bending your personal arc from know-it-all to learn-it-all. She shares what it means to be the only woman, the only person of color, or the youngest person in the room — and how asking the right question changes everything.What you will learn in this episode:- The three curiosity-driven leadership principles that separate promotable leaders- How to ask questions that elevate others instead of exposing gaps- Why being a learn-it-all beats being a know-it-all at every level- How to shift problems into possibilities using one reframe- Why curiosity is a career accelerator — not just a personality traitThis episode is for you if:- You want to be seen as a strategic thinker at the leadership table- You are early in your career and want to build visibility fast- You lead teams and want to model curiosity-driven culture- You are the only one in the room who looks like you and want tools that work👤 View Shachella James's guest profile🧾 Chapters(00:00) - The Power of Curiosity in Leadership (01:06) - Meet Shachella James (03:19) - Why Curiosity Matters in Your Career (03:55) - The Personal Side: Half Marathons and Resilience (05:32) - Defining Curiosity for High-Level Leaders (07:38) - Guiding Young Professionals with Curiosity (09:11) - Three Curiosity-Driven Leadership Principles (11:14) - Asking to Elevate, Not Incriminate (13:46) - Building a Culture of Curiosity (14:57) - How Curiosity Builds Confidence and Visibility ***********************************📺 Watch This Episode on YouTubeClick here to watch the full video of this episode. ***********************************🌐 Visit the Leadership Sovereignty HubEverything you need to lead with clarity, confidence, and strategy — in one place.https://www.leadershipsovereignty.com- Listen to or watch our full episode library- Download free leadership frameworks, guides, and tools- Read in-depth show notes and guest takeaways- Submit your leadership questions or episode topic suggestions***********************************📩 Get Every Episode Delivered to Your InboxJoin the Leadership Sovereignty newsletter and get new episodes, leadership insights, and exclusive resources — plus get instant access to our free AI Toolkit: the practical guide smart professionals use to think clearer, communicate better, and make smarter decisions at work.*Sign up for our newsletter************************************⭐ Help a Leader Find This ShowIf this episode added value to your leadership journey, take 60 seconds to leave a rating or review. Every review puts this content in front of another professional who needs it.🟣 Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts🟢 Leave a Rating on Spotify✍️ Leave a written Review***********************************🔁 Know Someone Who Needs to Hear This?Share this episode with a colleague, mentor, or team member who would benefit from this conversation. Leadership grows when we invest in the people around us.***********************************📲 Follow the ConversationStay connected and join the leadership conversation on social media.▶️ YouTube🔗 LinkedIn📸 Instagram🎵 TikTok🧵 Threads🐦 X📘 Facebook***********************************🎤 Work With Ralph & TerryLooking for dynamic speakers for your next event or leadership summit? Ralph and Terry bring executive-level insight, real-world leadership strategy, and an engaging presence that moves audiences to action.*Connect with us************************************💰 Support Independent Leadership MediaThis show is independently produced to keep the content unfiltered and audience-first. If these conversations are helping you lead better, your support directly funds the next conversation. ★ Support this podcast ★ ***********************************📄 Full Episode TranscriptClick here to view the episode transcript.