Parenting With Vision, Leadership With Margin, and Leaning In with Michelle Harmon-Malone

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of the Peopling Podcast, Kristi Nowrouzi sits down with Michelle Harmon-Malone—author, speaker, coach, and transformational leader—to explore parenting, identity, resilience, and faith-driven leadership.From her small-town roots in southwest Louisiana to serving in the United States Air Force, to nearly 30 years leading middle and high school communities, Michelle shares how her lived experiences shaped her mission: helping parents, educators, and women leaders move from confusion to clarity and from burnout to breakthrough.This conversation is honest, faith-filled, and practical—especially for parents of teens and preteens.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why middle schoolers care most about friends and fairnessHow parenting requires a vision beyond the baby showerThe difference between punishment and purposeful correctionHow burnout shows up—and how to recognize it earlyWhat it means to “leave clean” when God is calling you forwardHow childhood wounds can shape adult leadership (and how to heal)Why sustainable leadership requires marginOne simple challenge to immediately improve connection: Lean InMichelle explains why parents must have a clear vision for who they’re raising—not just hopes, but intentional systems that build character, responsibility, and identity.Leadership Requires MarginWithout balance, even strong leaders falter. Michelle shares how recognizing her own signs of burnout led her to resign (not retire) and recalibrate her calling.Relationships Are the Currency of ImpactRaised in a small Louisiana town where “listening was leadership,” Michelle believes connection always precedes correction.Healing Shapes LeadershipMichelle vulnerably shares about early loss, father wounds, resilience, and how faith became her anchor. Her lived experience now fuels how she mentors women and parents.Be the Change ChallengeMichelle’s actionable takeaway:Lean in.Get curious. Ask better questions. See the person in front of you—not the label, group, or assumption.Connection begins when we move toward understanding instead of judgment.Get your subscription to Growth Day, like having World-Class Coaches in your pocket! https://www.growthday.com/referrals?via=h6l0rtAbout Michelle Harmon-MaloneMichelle Harmon-Malone is a transformational school leader, Women’s Ministry leader, and CEO of Better Twogether LLC. She is the bestselling author of The Parenting Playbook: Beginning With the End in Mind, a Certified Parent Empowerment Coach, and a sought-after speaker equipping parents, educators, and women leaders with practical systems that create clarity, confidence, and margin.With nearly 30 years serving middle and high school communities, Michelle has led schools, coached leaders, mentored teachers, and partnered with families to strengthen the bridge between school and home.Before founding Better Twogether, Michelle served in the United States Air Force and dedicated her career to public education. Today, she leads a thriving Women’s Leadership Development Institute through her church, discipling women to grow in faith, leadership, and identity in Christ.Her leadership is rooted in four enduring values:RelationshipsBalance (Margin)HonestyCommitmentGuided by Colossians 3:23, Michelle’s mission is simple and powerful:Help people live, lead, and parent on purpose—beginning with the end in mind and anchored in Christ.Connect With Michelle:https://www.linkedin.com/in/coach-michelle-malone/Buy her Book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0jdY6HitAbout the HostKristi Nowrouzi is a communication expert, author of Peopling, and host of the Peopling Podcast—helping people build deeper connection, stronger communication, and more meaningful relationships in work and life. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinowrouzi/Buy the Peopling Book: https://a.co/d/08Dzh6T1