Lessons on Staying Rooted and Leading with Heart | Lynn Gallagher

What does it mean to lead with heart—and stay grounded when everything changes? In this warm and reflective episode, Dawn reconnects with her former boss and friend, Lynn Gallagher, former Secretary of Health for New Mexico.Together, they share stories of friendship, grief, leadership, and joy—from mismatched earrings and “Power Squad” calls to lessons learned through loss and career transitions. They explore what it means to redefine yourself after leadership, how to lead with kindness and courage, and why who you are matters more than what you do.This episode is a love letter to strong, compassionate women in leadership and a reminder that staying rooted is one of the bravest things you can do.🎶Lynn's additions to The Joyful Rebellion playlist:Fight Song by Rachel PlattenGirls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper📘 Books & Resources Mentioned:We Should All Be Millionaires — Rachel RodgersDesigning Your Life — Bill Burnett & Dave EvansAttention Span — Gloria MarkStart with Why — Simon SinekIt Starts with Us — Colleen HooverOf Mice and Men — John SteinbeckSlaughterhouse-Five — Kurt VonnegutThe Plague — Albert CamusA Different Kind of Power — Jacinda ArdernThe Passage — Justin Cronin💬 Key Quotes:“Who am I, if I’m not who I was?”“She changed people’s lives just by remembering their names.”“Staying rooted in who you are is part of boundary setting.”  Let’s Stay Connected🎧Subscribe to the show!📬Subscribe to The Joyful Rebellion Newsletter📸 Instagram: @workisthirdlife 📂 Section Markers01:07 Section 1: From Power Squad to Finding Purpose24:10 Section 2: The Legacy of Kindness and Leading with Heart 📌Episode Chapters/Timestamps00:00 Reconnecting and Catching Up02:26 Shared Experiences in Public Health Leadership06:39 Navigating Grief and Transition in Leadership10:07 The Impact of Political Changes on Public Health14:59 Personal Growth and Self-Discovery17:36 The Legacy of Kindness in Leadership29:13 The Importance of Rest and Recharge35:20 Work-Life Balance: Putting Work Third44:08 Celebrating Growth and Staying True to Yourself