The Rooted Leader - Minisodes for Leaders on the Go

In this episode of Leader Journeys, I talk with Amanda Byrd, a former corporate sales executive turned interfaith minister, executive coach, and hospice chaplain. She offers executive coaching and counseling with a spiritual lens.Amanda shares her "non-linear" journey toward a career of more meaning and truth. She shares her experiences, her continued education to lean more into what was driving her from within, after a very successful career in sales.We talk about the doubt that surfaces as we move into a new career not defined by title nor salary. We have a little fun talking about birds, the beach and a desire to read more fun books.00:45 Welcome01:59 Amanda Byrd, the Experimenter03:53 Leaving Corporate Life08:03 Taking care to replenish10:33 Spirituality & Chaplaincy13:11 Finding New Support Systems14:41 Following a Long Career of Really Hard Work15:28 Self-doubt & Identity19:30 Advice to Others23:47 Experimenting to find your path Get full access to The Rooted Leader at aspiretogrow.substack.com/subscribe

Kathleen Wisemandle interviews Sarah Brown, PhD, as the first guest on The Leader Journeys podcast, sharing how they met through a former community for leaders ready for a new chapter. Sarah, a school psychologist with a PhD and a two-time (soon three-time) author, describes her current threefold work: writing, speaking, and partnering closely with schools to improve outcomes by strengthening systems and supporting teachers, with a focus on ensuring all children learn to read. Her best-selling books are:* Effective Universal Instruction* MTSS for Reading ImprovementShe contrasts this with her prior role in educational technology and assessment, and explains her pivot was driven by valuing time differently after her father’s death, Zoom-heavy workdays, a desire for flexibility, and the need to write a book. They discuss fears about perception and steady work, boundary-setting, motivators like problem-solving and planning, inspirations and mentors, advice to treat experiences as building blocks, and Sarah’s “lightning round” preferences and non-negotiables. Get full access to The Rooted Leader at aspiretogrow.substack.com/subscribe

Leading with Empathy and Curiosity: Human-Centered Design for a VUCA WorldKathleen Wisemandle discusses empathy as a core leadership skill and explains how human-centered design thinking—rooted in empathy and curiosity—can be applied beyond product development to process design, leadership, development conversations, and networking.She highlights IDEO and the Kelly brothers’ concept of “creative confidence,” the Stanford d.school mission, and the iterative design thinking cycle of empathizing, defining the problem, ideating, prototyping, and testing with users. In a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) world, curiosity helps leaders challenge assumptions and understand stakeholders’ needs, desires, and motivations, illustrated by her leadership during COVID in pharma. She shares a “seesaw” approach to connection from the “Think Fast, Talk Smart” podcast: Choose Connection Over Perfection —asking curious questions and actively listening.We end with your own personal mini coaching session with three takeaways and reflection questions to build trust, psychological safety, and stronger relationships.00:00 Design Thinking in Leadership: Leading with Empathy and Curiosity01:01 Welcome01:31 Human Centered Design Thinking03:38 Design Thinking06:55 Design Thinking in Leadership11:46 Three Takeaways:13:16 Reflection14:56 Closure15:35 Resources and CommunityThe Rooted Leader Podcast Substack Get full access to The Rooted Leader at aspiretogrow.substack.com/subscribe

Today's leadership reflection is from Ashley Johnson. Ashley and I worked together on a change initiative when I was consulting with Shambaugh Leadership, and I was so excited to meet her. We both aligned on the idea of navigating change from a human lens. Ashley is the founder of Brightwell Leadership and she helps newly formed leadership teams align and lead together.She's an executive coach with over 15 years of leadership development experience within multiple industries, and she has her master's degree in organizational leadership. On top of that, she's a mom of three living in North Carolina and like so many of us running on a little coffee and a big dream. I'm really excited for you to hear Ashley's take on the human side of change today. If you're interested in learning more about the human side of change, please check out The Rooted Leader Podcast, Season 1, episode 4: The Human Side of Change, and thank you so much for joining. As always, I hope that you stay rooted in authenticity and empathy. Get full access to The Rooted Leader at aspiretogrow.substack.com/subscribe

ADHD in Women: Strengths, Hormonal Shifts, and Rest for High PerformersKathleen Wisemandle introduces a Rooted Leader minisode on how ADHD often presents differently in women, leading many to go undiagnosed as girls because symptoms are more mental (racing, hyperactive minds) than physically disruptive as often seen in boys. Resources from the January 2024 issue of the leadership newsletter, The Root: ADHD in Women.If you'd like to share a thought or a question for a future episode, you can email me at [email protected] reply directly on The Rooted Leader Substack.And if you might benefit from connecting with other leaders, the Rooted Leader Community is a private space where you can ask real questions and get real perspectives from other leaders. Every month we gather for the Rooted Leader Round Table, where we reflect on a leadership topic of the month for personal insights, connection, and private conversation, all for the cost of a great locally roasted latte per month.Follow or subscribe to The Rooted Leader podcast, so you don't miss a future episode.00:00 The Strengths of ADHD in High-Performing Women01:16 Welcome01:47 The Types of ADHD02:24 High Performing ADHD Women Professionals03:15 The Hyperactive - Impulsive Side of ADHD04:41 Positive Attributes: It's not all about the deficits06:59 Impact of Hormonal Shifts07:29 Well-Being09:53 ADHD or not?10:46 Three Takeaways11:52 Reflection13:33 In Closing14:32 Resources and Community Get full access to The Rooted Leader at aspiretogrow.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of The Rooted Leader podcast, I discuss the “above the line/below the line” framework, drawing on Brené Brown’s work, to help leaders recognize reactive patterns like the victim-hero-villain Drama Triangle and shift into more generative “above the line” thinking. Below the line responses are described as defensive, threat-based reactions (fight, flight, freeze, fawn) linked to an “amygdala hijack,” often accompanied by anger, fear, anxiety, or panic. The episode contrasts the Drama Triangle with the Empowerment Dynamic (victim to creator, persecutor to challenger, rescuer to coach), sharing examples from parenting, coaching clients facing job-search overwhelm, and group coaching, and closes with three takeaways and reflection questions to build compassion and faster recognition of reactive states. Get full access to The Rooted Leader at aspiretogrow.substack.com/subscribe

A little bit about the why, and the why now behind The Rooted Leader Podcast. Get full access to The Rooted Leader at aspiretogrow.substack.com/subscribe

Neeta Jain is a leadership advisor and keynote speaker who helps leaders and organizations build high-performing teams by reducing friction, rebuilding trust, and improving the quality of leadership decisions under pressure.Neeta works with organizations through keynotes and workshops, drawing on emotional and moral intelligence as practical frameworks to help teams make better decisions when the stakes are high and trust is on the line. She has worked with organizations including GE Aerospace, Amazon, Microsoft, Morgan Stanley, and Yale University.Neeta is also a TEDx speaker (TEDxOcala), where she challenged audiences to examine how leadership decisions shape culture from the inside out.The Rooted Leader Podcast, Leader Reflections.Send questions to [email protected] this bonus episode and all episodes on The Rooted Leader Substack or anywhere you find your favorite podcast. Get full access to The Rooted Leader at aspiretogrow.substack.com/subscribe

Resetting Your Compass: The 5 Ps of Purposeful LeadershipKathleen Wisemandle welcomes listeners to a Rooted Leader minisode on pausing autopilot to reflect on what is purposeful. Drawing on Amy Jen Su’s book "The Leader You Want to Be," she highlights common “just” traps and introduces the five Ps—Purpose, Process, People, Presence, and Peace—as internal and external levers for resetting your compass through self-awareness, prioritization/delegation, boundaries, nervous system regulation and pattern-spotting, and leading with trust and gratitude.May 2023 The Root Newsletter: Leading with PurposeSend questions to [email protected] or The Rooted Leader substack00:00 Our Compass00:58 What Does Living More Purposefully Look Like03:04 The 5 P's07:18 Benefits of Living More Purposefully10:55 Being More Purposeful Takes Time13:11 Three Takeaways14:20 Other Ways to Find Purpose14:55 Reflection Questions16:04 Resources Get full access to The Rooted Leader at aspiretogrow.substack.com/subscribe

This is a video about Leading with Compassion over Compliance00:00 Leading with Compassion over Compliance02:47 Compassion vs. Compliance04:49 The Importance of Relationships05:43 Building PEA06:42 Showing Up with Compassion08:18 Three Takeaways09:46 Reflection: Your Personal Coaching Moment11:12 Insights and Action12:13 ResourcesAdapted from The Root Newsletter: Volume 4, Issue 3: Leading With Compassion from March 2025Questions or ideas please respond in The Rooted Leader Substack or email me at [email protected] full access to The Rooted Leader at aspiretogrow.substack.com/subscribe Get full access to The Rooted Leader at aspiretogrow.substack.com/subscribe

This Episode of The Rooted Leader addresses the Human Side of Change00:00 The Human Side of Change01:11 What Qualifies as Change?03:50 What Problem are We Trying to Solve for?04:19 The Three Phases of Change07:51 Leadership Tips08:30 Three Takeaways09:05 Reflection10:16 ResourcesAdapted from The Root Newsletter: Volume 1, Issue 3: Transition and the Change CurveQuestions or ideas please respond in The Rooted Leader Substack or email me at [email protected] Get full access to The Rooted Leader at aspiretogrow.substack.com/subscribe

Sometimes we meet people on LinkedIn who align with our spirit, and Mark Holden is one of the many I’ve been lucky to connect with. He is a self-proclaimed “Lemonade maker”, and once you listen to his reflection on what courage means to him, I think you’ll know why.I introduce Mark, the leader, advisor, volunteer and dad, and he begins his reflection at 0:50.Enjoy! Get full access to The Rooted Leader at aspiretogrow.substack.com/subscribe

Stepping into CourageBased on The Root newsletter, March 3, 2025 - Stepping into CourageThe Courage Gap: Five Steps to Braver Action by Dr. Margie WarrellDr. Warrell's Courage QuizPlease send questions to or thoughts for future episodes [email protected] or reply within The Rooted Leader Substack 🌿 Get full access to The Rooted Leader at aspiretogrow.substack.com/subscribe

In this micro episode of The Rooted Leader Podcast, Pamela Isom, Award winning CEO and AI/Data Strategy Consultant, shares her recent experience with self-doubt and imposter syndrome as an extension of our Episode 2 on Imposter Syndrome.She shares how closely doubt can be triggered by the past need for people pleasing vs. knowing our own worth and boundaries.Check out Episode 2 on Imposter Syndrome and Self-Doubt wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. Get full access to The Rooted Leader at aspiretogrow.substack.com/subscribe

Exploring Imposter Syndrome: Insights and ReflectionsIn this episode of the Rooted Leader Podcast, Kathleen Wisemandle explores the concept of imposter syndrome, tracing its origins and examining its impact on various demographics, particularly women, non-white individuals, and LGBTQIA+ communities. She delves into historical research from 1978 by Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Imes, as well as insights from Dr. Valerie Young's book 'The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women.' Kathleen highlights the systemic factors contributing to imposter syndrome and shares strategies to overcome self-doubt, encouraging leaders to foster inclusive, psychologically safe environments. She concludes with reflective questions to help listeners navigate their leadership journeys with authenticity and empathy.00:00 Introduction to Imposter Syndrome01:05 Historical Background of Imposter Syndrome02:01 Modern Perspectives and Research03:13 Systemic Issues and Workplace Dynamics04:16 Personal Reflections and Coping Mechanisms06:38 Individual Lens06:38 Addressing Self-Doubt and Growth08:40 Practical Takeaways and Final Thoughts10:28 Conclusion and Reflection The Imposter Phenomenon in High Achieving Women: Dynamics and Therapeutic Intervention - 1978, Pauline Rose Clance & Suzanne ImesThe Secret Thoughts of Successful Women, Valerie Young, EdDStop Telling Women They Have Imposter Syndrome, 2021, Ruchika T. Malhotra and Jodi-Ann Burey, HBREnd Imposter Syndrome in Your Workplace2021, Ruchika T. Malhotra and Jodi-Ann Burey, HBRDare to Lead Podcast, Brene BrownImposter Syndrome with Ruchika Malhotra and Jodi-Ann BureyEmail questions to [email protected] or at the Get full access to The Rooted Leader at aspiretogrow.substack.com/subscribe

In our first minisode, we discuss the foundational idea of a Growth Mindset. 🌿Strong leadership is rooted in curiosity and empathy. What do legendary basketball coaches like John Wooden, Phil Jackson, and Dawn Staley, and players like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant have in common? They all use growth mindset principles to develop hard work and good habits over innate talent in their teams. They embrace mistakes as a way to learn, as well as build the mental mindset to create resilience through continuous improvement.Carol Dweck, a Stanford University psychology professor work is widely discussed among coaches, specifically those related to building a team culture that values passion, effort, and improvement where mistakes create learning opportunities.Today’s minisode talks about growth mindset.Carol Dweck is a social and developmental psychology rockstar, in my opinion. Her research on mindset growth detailed in her book called Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. How We Can Learn to Fulfill Our Potential is core to many aspects of life. According to Dr. Dweck, everyone can change and grow through experience and application.It’s the idea that intelligence and practical knowledge can be learned through experience. Her work is one of the key foundations of individual and organizational learning, and she’s one of my favorite psychologists. When we are learning and growing, it’s normal to be uncomfortable.That specific discomfort is a sign of doing something new.Hint. When it feels tough, remember, you are learning, so don’t give up. You are growing new skills and it will be uncomfortable for a while. She reminds us that we don’t just arrive with that mindset. It’s a journey. It includes accepting our mistakes as part of learning.It’s the idea of reflecting on mistakes or lost opportunity to say, what did I learn from this and what could I do differently next time?🌿This also works really well with parenting.As leaders, we can help foster growth mindsets for our teams and our employees by building in a group reflection, such as after action review or lessons learned.After key milestones, teams can reflect, learn, and iterate for future projects. It’s a safe space to identify where opportunities could be in the future. The process helps teams build confidence and collaborate to learn and innovate.🌿It’s like a muscle. It helps them get stronger at doing this.Dweck reminds us that we have both growth and fixed mindsets. The key is identifying the triggers that may keep us in the fixed mindset at the wrong time.And the fixed mindset is one where we don’t want to think differently. We want to stay in what is comfortable and what is known. If we are in the fixed mindset, think:. Are we too concerned with meeting a deadline? Are we afraid of hearing a different point of view? Or are we just afraid to fail?Dweck calls this our fixed mindset persona. Identify the triggers in your persona that could get you stuck at a fixed mindset when you might need to be considering change or growth.Satya Nadella, MicrosoftNow, a real world example is, provided by Satya Nadella, the Microsoft Chairman and CEO, in an interview from the Worklife podcast with Adam Grant, where they discuss Microsoft’s culture building the future from May 24th, 2022.In it Nadella speaks to how the internal culture of Microsoft changed from competition to collaboration. Satya brought in Carol Dweck’s growth mindset to help them build a culture to aspire to. By doing so, they assessed the internal systems, processes, and behaviors they wanted to reinforce.Part of this was the model for management, including three key pillars. One was model, second was coach, and the third was care. The direct manager is key to this model.The direct manager would model good behavior and practices and coach employees to deliver success, learn and care. These together created an environment of psychological safety, where people feel safe, to be vulnerable and admit mistakes. They called them safe zones.Nadella calls psychological safety, a first class thing of successful companies. When we talk about first class organizations, rarely do we assume the organizational learning component.I was cheering from my car when I was listening.He acknowledges that not everyone feels represented to speak up safely in these cases.Direct managers play a key role in creating that safety, which is the care to build those behaviors in safe zones. So this is so important for inclusion of diverse thoughts, and employees who don’t always see themselves in positions of power.It’s hard to acknowledge a growth mindset all the time, as many of us work in productivity based environments. But [00:06:00] do take the time to reflect, listen, and consider other points of view.In the long run, it may save time and is a real key behavior in innovation.Three key takeaways.1. Growth can feel uncomfortable when we try new behaviors or new skills. Recognize and name the discomfort and keep trying.2. Growth mindset reminds us that making mistakes is an opportunity to grow and learn. And3. Safe zones and psychological safety offer teams and individuals courage to try and discuss different ideas without fear.As you navigate new projects, how might you build in a practice for shared learning?How could you build something into your next team meeting or a one-on-one to ask the question:* What did you learn this week* Why is that important to you? * Why is that important to us/the team/the business?ReflectReflect on a time you or someone might have been acting in a fixed mindset.* What might have been the cause?* Was it a new challenge that was uncomfortable?* Or could it have been a conflicting corporate goal or competing incentive that changed their motivation?I hope these insights help you stay anchored in authenticity and rooted in purpose.🌿Adapted from the August 1, 2022, newsletter of the Root, Volume 1, Issue 1. Get full access to The Rooted Leader at aspiretogrow.substack.com/subscribe

 We’re all moving at the speed of light in our personal and professional lives, and that’s why I wanted to create the Rooted Leader, minisodes of Leadership Insights for Leaders on the Go.Welcome. I’m Kathleen Wisemandle. I’m a biochemist and former senior leader for 30 years turned organizational psychologist and leadership coach.As a leader and scientist working in the life sciences industry, I always knew I loved working with and leading people, collaborating with others to solve problems while maintaining a sense of humor and humanity. It wasn’t until I learned more about the research side of leadership that I realized many leaders don’t have access to.Mid-career. I began my journey into organizational leadership and psychology during graduate school. I knew the MBA wasn’t the path for me. For me, it was about the people and how to lead them through challenge and change. After decades in the fast-paced world of drug development, I’ve had the privilege of leading teams, supporting growing organizations, and navigating the intensity and uncertainty that come with high priority work.And along the way, I learned something important. For me, leadership isn’t just about strategy and timelines. It’s about the people and how to help them. This podcast is for leaders who want to stay grounded on navigating complexity. Leaders who care about their teams and their mission, and leaders who want to keep growing personally while developing their peopleEach episode pulls a topic from my Leadership newsletter, the Root, where I summarize key leadership insights of real challenges I’m seeing with my clients. With insights from organizational psychology and authentic leadership. Because leaders are busy, you’ll get simple, practical takeaways and micro actions you can use right away in your next meeting, your next conversation, or your next decision.If you value clarity, empathy, and real world leadership that actually works, you are in the right place.So whether you are on a walk, on your commute, or waiting for your child’s extracurricular activity, I want to bring you new insights to grow and practice new skills.This is the Rooted Leader where grounded leadership is anchored in empathy and authenticity. Get full access to The Rooted Leader at aspiretogrow.substack.com/subscribe