Whitney Faires, an internationally recognized executive coach and leadership expert, shares her inspiring journey from athlete to executive. She discusses the identity crisis of becoming a working mom and redefines success on her terms. Whitney highlights her Excellence Equation framework, focusing on the essential readiness reality check. She opens up about battling self-doubt and the importance of mentors, while also sharing powerful strategies to manage negative thoughts and promote resilience. Leadership, she asserts, is about courage, not titles.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
From Small-Town Athlete To Doubt-Fueled Drive
Whitney describes growing up in a small Indiana town and becoming a collegiate volleyball player on scholarship.
She credits mentors for helping her push through persistent self-doubt that lasted into her 30s.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Choosing A New Identity As Working Mom
Whitney shares the identity crisis she faced becoming a working mom and pivoting her career near a desired job that conflicted with family goals.
She intentionally defined a new leadership identity before leaving corporate life to start her business.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Do A Readiness Reality Check
Do a readiness reality check before a major career move to inventory your transferable skills and gaps.
Use that audit to craft a targeted plan to close gaps while leveraging existing strengths for momentum.
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🎧 Episode 173: How to Build Executive Presence, Resilience, and Real Influence with Whitney Faires (Part 1)
In Part 1 of this conversation, Whitney Faires shares her journey from collegiate athlete to executive leader to globally recognized coach—and the self-doubt, grit, and intentionality that shaped her path along the way.
With two decades of experience leading high-performing teams in healthcare, Whitney opens up about the mindset shifts that transformed her leadership—and how she now helps others do the same through her Courageous Leader Roadmap and Excellence Equation frameworks.
We explore:
The identity crisis that came with becoming a working mom—and how Whitney redefined what success looked like
The most overlooked but critical step in her Excellence Equation framework
How to perform a “readiness reality” check before a big leap
Whitney’s personal battle with self-doubt—and how mentors and mindset helped her rise
The truth about managing negative thought spirals (and why mindset mastery is like going to the gym)
How to separate emotion from action in moments of adversity
The 5 components of courageous leadership—and why fearless communication is a skill, not a personality trait
🔑 Key takeaways:
Leadership isn’t about titles—it’s about showing up with courage and conviction
You don’t need to feel ready to be ready
Self-doubt doesn’t disqualify you—inaction does
Resilience isn’t about avoiding emotion, it’s about channeling it into forward motion
đź’ˇ Quotes to remember:
“Courage and belief will ultimately fuel your success.” “Sometimes our minds just tell us lies.” “Don’t wait for the title. You can lead from wherever you are.” “Fearless communication isn’t about saying anything—it’s about saying the right thing in a way that can be heard.”
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