Living by Design: Dana Williams on Authentic Leadership

In this heartfelt episode, I sit down with Dana Williams, an executive coach, speaker, author, and founder of Dana Williams Consulting. After 25 years in leadership at Southwest Airlines, she now helps leaders move from performing to thriving by aligning their strengths, core values, and purpose.Influenced by her pioneering mother — a broadcast executive who returned to college at age 80 — Dana learned early that perseverance and creativity can reshape any life stage. Her own career at Southwest Airlines gave her deep insight into culture, leadership, and customer service. But the turning point came later, when she stepped away from corporate life to raise her daughter, returned to a shifting workplace, and faced her husband’s battle with cancer alongside financial and marital strain.Through those challenges, Dana discovered the power of authenticity over productivity. By doing the deep inner work, she not only rebuilt her marriage but also found a new calling: helping leaders stop living by default and start leading by design.Her story is both practical and inspiring — a reminder that transformation begins within, and that intentional living can spark change across our workplaces, families, and communities.“You don’t need to be more productive. You just need to be more you.” — Dana WilliamsConnect with Veronica:https://capstrata.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronica-malolos-ccim-401649218/Connect with Dana:Learn more about Dana’s work at www.danawilliamsco.comLearn more about The Internal Revolution: Lead Authentically and Build Your Personal Brand from Within at www.danawilliamsco.com/bookGet your copy of The Strengths Journal™ at thestrengthsjournal.comListen to the Dominate Your Day podcast at www.danawilliamsco.com/dominate-your-day-podcast#womeninbusiness #CRE #commercialrealestate #businesspodcast #realestatepodcast #commercialbroker #entrepreneur #CCIM #TheInternalRevolution