Lessons in Leadership, Courage & Growth with Hildy Schneider

In this heartfelt and hilarious episode of Unleash Your Unique Genius, I sit down with someone very close to my heart—my daughter, Hildy—for a raw and honest conversation about life, leadership, courage, and growing up with an entrepreneur mom. From managing a restaurant team at just 21 to jumping out of airplanes and traveling solo to Hawaii, Hildy shares her unique perspective on navigating early adulthood, leading people her age and older, and what it’s really like being raised by a mom who was always “working or winning.” We also dive into what entrepreneurship looks like from the outside, how it impacts family dynamics, and the uncomfortable truths about showing up for the people you love while chasing big dreams. 🔥 Here’s what we cover: Young Leadership & Gaining Respect How Hildy went from host to manager, learning to lead peers and older employees with confidence.The balance between being a friend and being a boss—and how to have hard conversations when you're the youngest in the room. Customer Service & Real-World Skills The value of learning to de-escalate conflict, write professional emails, and solve problems on the fly in a high-stress service environment.Why “the customer is always right” still requires boundaries and strong leadership. Courage to Travel, Solo Adventures & Skydiving Hildy’s decision to plan and take a solo trip to Hawaii—without telling her mom until she landed.Her philosophy on saying yes to bold experiences, including a spontaneous skydiving trip booked over cocktails. What It’s Like to Be Raised by an Entrepreneur A candid conversation about the highs and lows of being raised by a business-owning mom—from dance studios and pink Cadillacs to missed moments and working-from-home chaos.What Hildy wishes I had done differently (hint: put the phone down) and what she learned from watching me build and rebuild businesses. Owning the Mess, Healing, and Rebuilding An open discussion about emotional avoidance, what it takes to do the inner work, and how our relationship has evolved through the grind, growth, and grace. 💬 Favorite Quotes: “If someone’s paying for you to do something wild—just jump.” “Being a leader means having the hard conversations, even when it’s awkward.” “You were always either working or winning—I never knew which one.” 💡 Want to Reflect? At the end of every episode, we ask one question: What’s one thing you need to do this week to get uncomfortable? Whether it’s a conversation you’ve been avoiding, a new adventure calling your name, or a leadership step you’ve been holding back on—write it down and go do it. 🙌 Stay Connected Love this episode? Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen.Join our Facebook group for more behind-the-scenes and live shows.Share this episode with a friend who’s balancing parenthood, leadership, or a whole lot of bold dreams.