Ep. 159 Unshakable Leadership How Strong Leaders Build Strong Businesses with Berkshire Group's Founder

Show Notes:In this episode of Business Growth Spotlight, host Heidi Schalk sits down with leadership expert and founder of Berkshire Group, Janet Kendall White, for a powerful and deeply honest conversation about what it really takes to build strong leaders, resilient teams, and sustainable businesses.Janet shares her journey from corporate leadership into entrepreneurship at a young age, including the mindset shifts required to fully commit to building a business without a back door. With more than 30 years of experience developing leaders across industries, she explains why leadership success always starts with intentionality, emotional intelligence, and communication.The conversation explores how leadership has fundamentally changed over the past three decades, especially in the wake of COVID, remote work, and ongoing global uncertainty. Janet discusses why many leaders fail when they are promoted based solely on technical skills and how organizations can better support new leaders instead of setting them up for burnout or failure.Janet also walks through her proprietary leadership development process, including assessments, emotional intelligence mindsets, meeting effectiveness, problem solving, and creating cultures where productive conflict and innovation can thrive. Heidi and Janet dive into the realities of balancing leadership, motherhood, entrepreneurship, and redefining success in different seasons of life.They also discuss founder-led marketing, the power of referrals when done intentionally, and how Janet rebuilt her visibility after COVID through LinkedIn, speaking, and relationship driven outreach.The episode concludes with a discussion of Janet’s new book, Unshakable Leadership, and what the next chapter looks like for Berkshire Group, along with a candid reflection on what can hold even the most experienced leaders back.This episode is a must listen for founders, CEOs, and leaders who want to build stronger cultures, lead with confidence, and create lasting impact.Bio:Janet Kendall White is the founder and CEO of Berkshire Group, Inc., a WBE and WOSB certified, award-winning organization with a three-decade track record of transforming leaders, teams, cultures, and businesses. She is the author of Unshakeable Leadership: A Map for Unlocking Strength, Strategy, and Success and has been featured in Entrepreneur, Fortune, and Bloomberg BusinessWeek.A sought-after speaker and facilitator locally, nationally, and internationally, Janet helps leaders unlock their potential, enhance emotional intelligence, and create lasting impact. She is a Past President of NAWBO Northeast Ohio, serves on the Board of Directors of the NAWBO National, the Board of Stark State College Foundation, and the Board of Cuyahoga Valley Association of Talent Development.In her spare time you will find Janet volunteering as a Trailblazer for Cuyahoga Valley National Park, coordinating the scholarship fund for Rolling Thunder Ohio Chapter 2 or hiking and cycling. To connect with our guest, click on the links below:LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/berkshiregroup/Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/berkshiregroupInstagram:  @janetkwhiteWebsite:  https://berkshiregroupinc.comGrab her Book:  Amazon.com: Unshakable Leadership: A Map For Unlocking Strength, Strategy, And Success eBook : Kendall White, Janet: Kindle StoreConnect with me:LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/