The JOY CEO

Summary:In this honest and deeply empowering conversation, Lori sits down with divorce and relationship coach Kara Francis to talk about what really happens when women stop living the life they’re “supposed” to live—and start choosing themselves instead.Kara shares how witnessing her sister’s divorce first inspired her to become a divorce attorney, and how years later, her own divorce pushed her into a profound identity reckoning. After realizing many women didn’t just need legal guidance—but emotional support, clarity, and healing—she transitioned from law into coaching.Together, Lori and Kara unpack the fear, grief, people-pleasing, and identity loss that often come with unhappy marriages and major life transitions. Kara walks listeners through her four-phase coaching framework and explains why reclaiming your truth is often the first step toward reclaiming your power.This episode is a powerful reminder that you don’t need permission to want a different life—and that choosing yourself doesn’t make you selfish. It makes you honest.🔑 Key Takeaways:Your Identity Can Get Lost Inside “Supposed To”Kara shares how years of people-pleasing and following a traditional life script left her disconnected from herself before her divorce.Audience follow-up → Where in your life are you making choices based on expectation instead of truth?Divorce Is Emotional—Not Just LegalAs a former attorney, Kara realized many women weren’t struggling most with paperwork—they were struggling with fear, shame, grief, and uncertainty.Audience follow-up → What kind of emotional support do you need during hard transitions that logic alone can’t solve?Fear Usually Centers Around Kids and FinancesKara explains that the two biggest fears women often face when considering divorce are:“Will my kids be okay?”“Will I be financially okay?”She shares why clarity and support matter more than having every answer figured out upfront.Audience follow-up → Are you waiting to feel 100% certain before allowing yourself to make a decision?You Don’t Need a “Bad” Partner to LeaveOne of the most powerful parts of the conversation centers around women feeling guilty for leaving relationships that look “fine” from the outside.Kara reminds listeners that unhappiness, disconnection, or losing yourself are valid reasons to reevaluate your relationship.Audience follow-up → Have you been minimizing your own needs because someone else isn’t “bad enough” to justify change?Reclaiming Your Power Happens in PhasesKara walks through her four-phase coaching framework:Own Your RealityReturn to Your TruthReclaim Your PowerMove Forward in WholenessShe explains why healing isn’t about becoming someone new—it’s about reconnecting with who you already are.Audience follow-up → Which phase are you currently in right now?Staying Small in Relationships Doesn’t Mean You’re WeakMany high-achieving women feel confident professionally but small, silenced, or disconnected inside their relationships.Kara explains how self-abandonment can quietly happen over time—and why awareness is the first step toward change.Audience follow-up → Where have you learned to shrink yourself to maintain peace or approval?🔎 Mentioned in the Episode:Kara’s transition from divorce attorney to coach after recognizing the emotional gaps in traditional divorce supportHer personal divorce journey during 2020 and major move from Chicago to New York CityThe emotional toll of people-pleasing and losing your sense of self in relationshipsKara’s four-phase coaching framework for navigating divorce and identity rebuildingListener Q&A about long-term unhappy marriages, “good” partners, and fear around leavingThe importance of building support, clarity, and self-trust before making major life decisions✨ Reflection Prompts:What truth about your life have you been avoiding?Are you making decisions from fear—or from alignment?Where have you confused keeping the peace with keeping yourself?What would choosing yourself actually look like right now?If you fully trusted yourself, what decision would become clearer?🧠 Who This Episode Is For:Women navigating divorce, separation, or relationship uncertaintyHigh-achieving women struggling with people-pleasing or identity lossAnyone feeling disconnected from themselves inside a relationshipWomen questioning whether they’re allowed to want something differentListeners rebuilding confidence, self-trust, and emotional clarity after major life transitions📩 Want to Go Deeper?Follow Lori on LinkedIn to continue the conversationBook a Leadership Strategy Call with Lori: loripine.comConnect with Kara Francis on her Website, Instagram🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast⭐️ Leave a review to help other heart-centered leaders find the show📲 Share this episode with someone who’s navigating pressure and wants to do it with more grace

Summary:In this deeply personal solo episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what visibility really requires—and why it’s not just about strategy, but identity.I share a defining moment from my childhood that shaped how I learned to be seen, and how that experience quietly turned into a “vow” to stay safe by overachieving instead of fully expressing myself. If you’ve ever found yourself doing all the right things but still holding back your voice, this episode will likely hit close to home.I walk you through how your brain is trying to protect you (even when it’s keeping you small), and introduce one of my favorite tools—the “hula hoop” concept—to help you separate what’s actually yours to carry from what isn’t.Most importantly, I offer three simple but powerful shifts that will help you own your narrative before anyone else does—so you can stop waiting to be recognized and start showing up as the leader you already are.This isn’t about becoming more visible by doing more. It’s about becoming more visible by deciding who you are before the room does.🔑 Key Takeaways:Visibility Is an Identity PracticeI’ve learned that being seen isn’t just about speaking up—it’s about who you believe you are when you do. When your identity feels safe, your visibility becomes natural. 👉 Audience follow-up: Where in your life are you still tying your visibility to validation instead of self-trust?The “Vows” You Didn’t Know You MadeI share how a childhood moment shaped the way I showed up for years—and how many of us create invisible rules about staying safe by not being fully seen. 👉 Audience follow-up: What’s a moment from your past that may have influenced how you show up today?Your Brain Is Trying to Protect YouThat hesitation you feel? It’s not weakness—it’s protection. But what once kept you safe might now be keeping you small. 👉 Audience follow-up: Where might your protection patterns be holding you back from real visibility?The Hula Hoop ConceptI use this tool to remind myself what’s in my control—and what’s not. Other people’s opinions live outside the hoop, but the meaning I assign to them stays inside. 👉 Audience follow-up: What are you currently carrying that doesn’t belong in your “hula hoop”?Own Your Narrative Before Anyone Else DoesI break down three simple moves: name what you’re bringing, decide who you’re there for, and choose what it means about you—before anyone else gets to decide. 👉 Audience follow-up: Before your next meeting, how can you intentionally define your role and voice?Visibility That CompoundsEvery time you show up as yourself, it builds. Real visibility isn’t a one-time act—it’s something that grows with every honest expression. 👉 Audience follow-up: What’s one small way you can show up more fully this week?🔎 Mentioned in the Episode:The “hula hoop” framework for boundaries and controlHow identity shapes visibility more than strategy ever willThe concept of “protective patterns” and overachievementThree practical moves to own your voice and narrative✨ Reflection Prompts:Where am I performing instead of expressing?What story have I been letting others write about me?What would it look like to decide who I am before I walk into the room?🧠 Who This Episode Is For: Ambitious women who are doing all the right things—but still feel unseenLeaders ready to stop overperforming and start expressingProfessionals navigating visibility, confidence, and self-trustAnyone who wants to own their voice, story, and presence—fully and unapologetically📩 Want to Go Deeper?Follow Lori on LinkedIn to continue the conversationBook a Leadership Strategy Call with Lori: loripine.com🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast⭐️ Leave a review to help other heart-centered leaders find the show📲 Share this episode with someone who’s navigating pressure and wants to do it with more grace

Summary:In this strategic and empowering conversation, Lori sits down with Kate Haranis—a reputation and public relations strategist—to unpack what it really means to be visible in a way that feels aligned, intentional, and impactful.Kate shares how her work centers on helping leaders “tell better stories” so their external reputation reflects their true value—not a curated or performative version of success. Drawing from her experience across nonprofits, PR agencies, and Fortune 500 companies, she breaks down how visibility isn’t about being the loudest in the room—it’s about showing up in the right rooms, with clarity and purpose.This episode is a must-listen if you’ve ever felt stuck being “known” only within your inner circle or unsure how to step into a bigger conversation without losing authenticity. It’s not about chasing attention—it’s about building a reputation that opens doors.If you’re ready to be seen for your real work—and leverage that visibility for growth—this episode will show you how.🔑 Key Takeaways:Visibility Is a Strategy—Not a Personality Trait You don’t need to be loud, viral, or everywhere. The key is being intentional about where and how you show up. Audience follow-up → Where am I currently visible—and is it aligned with where I want to go?Start With What You Want to Be Known For Before jumping into platforms or tactics, define your reputation goals and what opportunities that visibility will unlock. Audience follow-up → What do I want people to associate with my name—and why does it matter?Build Signature Ideas, Not Just Content Strong reputations are built on clear, repeatable ideas that position you as a thought leader—not scattered posts. Audience follow-up → What are 1–2 ideas I can consistently speak about and own?Don’t Get Stuck in the “Tactics First” Trap Jumping straight into posting or pitching without a clear narrative leads to misalignment and burnout. Strategy comes first. Audience follow-up → Am I creating content with intention—or just to stay visible?Your Inner Circle Isn’t Enough Being well-known in your current environment doesn’t always translate to new opportunities. Growth requires expanding your audience. Audience follow-up → Who needs to know about my work that currently doesn’t?Authenticity Doesn’t Mean Staying Small Showing up as yourself doesn’t mean playing it safe. Growth often requires stretching—but not abandoning who you are. Audience follow-up → What would it look like to expand my visibility without feeling like I’m “performing”?🔎 Mentioned in the Episode:PR Hype Girl – Kate’s platform offering tools and resources to help founders and leaders build their visibility and reputationLinkedIn Strategy Example – A leader leveraging LinkedIn to turn experience into a consulting businessWomen’s Health Founder Story – Using visibility to shape a broader industry conversation, not just promote a product✨ Reflection Prompts:Where am I relying on being “known” instead of being visible?What story am I currently telling—and is it aligned with where I want to go?Am I choosing visibility strategically… or avoiding it altogether?🧠 Who This Episode Is For:Founders and entrepreneurs ready to expand their visibilityCorporate leaders who want to own and shape their professional narrativeWomen who want to grow their influence without sacrificing authenticityProfessionals looking to build a reputation that creates new opportunities📩 Want to Go Deeper?Follow Lori on LinkedIn to continue the conversationBook a Leadership Strategy Call with Lori: loripine.comCheck out Kate Haranis website: https://www.prhypegirl.com/ 🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast⭐️ Leave a review to help other heart-centered leaders find the show📲 Share this episode with someone who’s navigating pressure and wants to do it with more grace