Evoke Greatness Podcast Lead Beyond Limits with Jennifer Koster (Part 1)
🎧 Episode 163: Lead Beyond Limits: Thriving with a Hidden Disability with Jennifer Koster (Part 1)
In this powerful episode, we dive deep with Jennifer Koster, an inspiring leader who shares her 30-year journey living with HEDS (Hypermobility Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome), a connective tissue disorder that remained undiagnosed until 2022. From college athlete to advocacy champion, Jennifer's story illuminates how personal challenges can become a source of unique strength and leadership wisdom.
We explore:
- The challenging path to diagnosis and validation
- Transforming limitations into pathways for empowerment
- The grieving process of adapting to progressive physical challenges
- Finding community and building your personal "tribe"
- Overcoming internalized ableism and shame
- Leading with curiosity instead of judgment
- Building resilient teams through diversity of experience
🔑 Key takeaways:
- Receiving a diagnosis can be empowering rather than limiting - providing validation, community, and better healthcare outcomes
- Reframing our challenges helps transform our relationship with them
- Intentional language choices can dramatically shift our perspective on disabilities
- Learning to ask "what if?" opens new possibilities beyond perceived limitations
- Leadership lessons from living with a hidden disability include adaptability, resilience, and authentic team building
💡 Quotes to remember:
"I'm empowered for independence." - Jennifer Koster's personal mantra
"I don't use that language anymore. I didn't hurt myself. I became injured because of my condition." - Jennifer Koster on changing self-talk
"She didn't see me as weak and barely hanging on... She saw me as a survivor." - Jennifer Koster on the power of others' perspectives
🌟 Featured Insights:
- How receiving a diagnosis after 30 years brought relief and community
- The importance of leading with curiosity over judgment in both healthcare and leadership
- Taking feedback as data rather than personal criticism
- Building teams of people willing to learn and journey together
- Practicing essential self-care to prevent burnout
📚 Resources: As May is EDS Awareness Month, look for Jennifer's planned 2025 campaign featuring fellow "zebras" (the symbol of the EDS community) Watch for Jennifer's talk: "Lead Beyond Resilience through the lens of a hidden disability"
Connect with Jennifer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-koster-mba-sphr-shrm-scp-1a648810/
A rising tide raises all ships, and I invite you along on this journey to Evoke Greatness!
Check out my website: www.evokegreatness.com
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