Why Self-Leadership Starts with Knowing and Living Your Values with Dr. Robyne

What happens when two podcasters decide to slow down, join forces, and have the kind of conversation many leaders are quietly craving right now? This week, I am doing something I have never done before. I am collaborating with my friend and colleague, Dr. Robyne Hanley Dafoe, on a shared episode that will be available on both our podcasts. This is not an interview swap or a highlight reel. It is a real, unscripted conversation between two women who care deeply about leadership, resilience, and what it actually takes to stay grounded in a world that feels loud, divided, and emotionally exhausted. We talk openly about why self-leadership feels harder right now, why so many capable people feel stuck waiting for permission, and why caring leadership cannot stop at the edges of our organizations. Together, Dr. Robyne and I explore the connection between values, self-worth, perfectionism, and hope. We explain why hope is often dismissed as unrealistic, even though science suggests it may be one of the most practical tools we have. We also reflect on what it means to lead when you are tired, under-resourced, and still figuring things out yourself. You will hear us wrestle with real questions leaders face every day. How do you stay steady without pretending you are fine? How do you care for others without abandoning yourself? How do you build resilience without turning it into another performance metric? And how do hope, compassion, and self-leadership actually show up in daily choices rather than big statements? This conversation is personal, reflective, and deeply human. It is for leaders, caregivers, parents, and professionals who are trying to do good work without burning out. If you have ever felt pulled between responsibility and self-preservation, or wondered how to stay unshakable without becoming hardened, this episode is for you.  I look forward to your listening, reflection, and sharing what resonates most with you.