Leadership Tea

Navigating Difficult Times with a Game Seven MentalityIn this episode of the Leadership Tea Podcast, hosts Shelby and Belinda reflect on managing personal and professional lives amidst the prolonged government shutdown. They discuss its impacts, such as the end of SNAP benefits and continued layoffs at major companies. Shelby and Belinda also draw parallels between the resilience seen in the World Series and the mindset needed to navigate challenging times. They emphasize the importance of mutual support, filling each other's cups, and maintaining a 'game seven mentality' to stay motivated and impactful. The episode concludes with a call for listeners to share their thoughts and strategies for approaching 2026.00:00 Introduction to the Leadership Tea Podcast00:10 Reflecting on the Government Shutdown01:35 Personal Impacts and Client Success Stories04:04 Mentees and Restoring Faith07:42 Lessons from the World Series14:11 Filling Each Other's Cups18:15 Conclusion and Call to ActionSend us a comment!Leadership isn’t easy and sometimes, the podcast isn’t enough. That’s why we’re creating The Leadership Lounge, a members-only community designed for leaders who want to go deeper, reflect more, and stay grounded.What do you get? A monthly group coaching session led by the Leadership Tea Podcast hosts and monthly virtual community connection sessions, as well as leadership resources and articles.We publish new episodes every other Wednesday. Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube! Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights. Get your FREE copy of our Strategic Change WorkbookLearn more about us at stirringsuccess.com

Check out the Leadership Lounge here.In this episode of the Leadership Tea Podcast, Shelby and Belinda welcome a special guest, Ellen Tannor, a former senior diplomat who recently participated in the 'Repose, a Day of Reflection' retreat at Salamander Resort in Middleburg. Ellen shares her rich career experiences, including her service as a special agent and protective detail member for Secretary of State Colin Powell. Now pursuing a master’s degree in journalism at American University, Ellen reflects on her transition from being a diplomat and the importance of mental and spiritual refreshers. The discussion highlights key takeaways from the retreat, such as the importance of moving with purpose, making 'better mistakes tomorrow,' and the benefits of lifting others as a way to protect one's mental health. The episode encapsulates the essence of intentionality, community, and forward-thinking, leaving listeners with valuable insights on how to thrive in their personal and professional lives.00:00 Welcome to the Leadership Tea Podcast00:05 Introducing Ellen Tannor01:40 Reflecting on the Repose Event04:01 Key Takeaways from the Retreat06:28 The Importance of Being Intentional08:00 Executing Big Ideas11:09 Transitioning from Diplomacy to Journalism19:20 Maintaining Mental Health and Resilience22:47 Final Thoughts and GratitudeSend us a comment!Leadership isn’t easy and sometimes, the podcast isn’t enough. That’s why we’re creating The Leadership Lounge, a members-only community designed for leaders who want to go deeper, reflect more, and stay grounded.What do you get? A monthly group coaching session led by the Leadership Tea Podcast hosts and monthly virtual community connection sessions, as well as leadership resources and articles.We publish new episodes every other Wednesday. Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube! Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights. Get your FREE copy of our Strategic Change WorkbookLearn more about us at stirringsuccess.com

Rising From the Ashes: Finding Hope During CrisisIn this episode of the Leadership Team Podcast, Belinda and Shelby discuss the ongoing challenges of the government shutdown and share personal strategies for maintaining hope and resilience. They reflect on the inspiration drawn from historical figures like Harriet Tubman and the symbolism of the Phoenix rising from the ashes. The conversation emphasizes the importance of fighting for joy, seeking peace, and building a support system during tough times. They also preview an upcoming episode about their recent experience at 'repose' and how it has reinvigorated their spirit.00:00 Introduction to the Leadership Team Podcast00:25 Embracing the Phoenix Mode01:54 Drawing Strength from Harriet Tubman03:38 Celebrating Repose and Choosing Hope04:03 Fighting for Joy Amidst the Shutdown07:55 Finding Peace in Unprecedented Times09:02 Wrapping Up and Looking AheadSend us a comment!Leadership isn’t easy and sometimes, the podcast isn’t enough. That’s why we’re creating The Leadership Lounge, a members-only community designed for leaders who want to go deeper, reflect more, and stay grounded.What do you get? A monthly group coaching session led by the Leadership Tea Podcast hosts and monthly virtual community connection sessions, as well as leadership resources and articles.We publish new episodes every other Wednesday. Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube! Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights. Get your FREE copy of our Strategic Change WorkbookLearn more about us at stirringsuccess.com

Connect with Afua on LinkedInLearn More about the Leadership LoungeWhat if a shutdown could be your reset button? We sat down with digital strategist and communicator Afua Riverson to explore how a forced pause can surface buried passions, heal old narratives, and point you toward work that actually feels like yours. The conversation starts with a candid check-in on grief, time, and why a week of D’Angelo and 90s R&B can do more for your spirit than another round of headlines. From there, we trace a path many first-gen leaders know too well: the pressure to choose “serious” careers, the habit of overperforming to earn love, and the quiet cost of shelving creative callings.Afua lets us into her turning point - health challenges and the radical question: Who am I without the titles? What she finds looks like a treasure chest: sketchbooks, museums, movement in nature, the old dream of fashion and creative direction. She builds a “joy list,” a simple, repeatable practice that grounds her when anxiety spikes and imposter syndrome knocks. We dig into the leadership skills that emerge from this reset - creative direction, innovation, and culture-building - and how those gifts translate into real value for teams and brands. If you’re navigating the prestige treadmill or wrestling with immigrant expectations, this is permission to pivot without apology. If this conversation gave you language for what you’re feeling, hit follow, leave a review, and pass it to a friend who needs a hopeful nudge today.Send us a comment!We publish new episodes every other Wednesday. Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube! Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights. Get your FREE copy of our Strategic Change WorkbookLearn more about us at stirringsuccess.com

Kimya Imani Jackson, PhD, joins Belinda and Shelby to discuss the emotional impact of professional grief. Amid the government shutdown and massive layoffs, it can feel impossible to move forward. How do you begin to build a new career when you're feeling a profound sense of loss? Kimya shares how she has found the motivation to pivot and reinvent herself throughout her storied career. And she provides science-backed strategies for processing professional loss and professional grief while simultaneously opening the door to new possibilities. This conversation can help you if you’re experiencing professional loss, corporate grief, and a sense of overwhelm after sudden career-ending changes. Also in this video:Practices that include the burden tree, daydreaming, and dream journalsHolistic approaches to calm hyper-activated nervous systemsHow professional grief affects not just people who are leaving, but also those left behindCultivating community through hobbies and maintaining contact with friends and loved onesFind Dr. Jackson at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimya-imani-jackson-phd JOIN THE LEADERSHIP LOUNGEIf you're a leader who wants more than surface-level advice, join Shelby & Belinda for exclusive content, practical tools, and a supportive community that fuels your growth. Learn more at https://www.stirringsuccess.com/leadershiploungeSend us a comment!We publish new episodes every other Wednesday. Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube! Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights. Get your FREE copy of our Strategic Change WorkbookLearn more about us at stirringsuccess.com

Shelby and Belinda discuss our personal experiences and emotional journey during the ongoing government shutdown. We share how the shutdown is affecting our households, businesses, and mental health. We talk about the importance of mental resilience and practical steps to cope with financial and emotional stress during uncertain times. We also introduce the Leadership Lounge, our new initiative created to build a supportive community for personal and professional growth.JOIN THE LEADERSHIP LOUNGELooking to build your leadership community? Join our exclusive membership area for leadership resources and deeper, unconstrained conversations. You'll get a monthly bonus episode of the Leadership Tea Podcast, group coaching sessions for Lounge members, and quarterly Q&A episodes with Shelby and Belinda.Learn more and join at https://www.stirringsuccess.com/leadershiplounge00:00 Introduction to the Leadership Tea Podcast00:21 Impact of the Government Shutdown02:00 Personal Reflections and Financial Concerns08:46 Coping Strategies and Community Support17:08 Leadership Lounge and Community Building20:56 Final ThoughtsSend us a comment!We publish new episodes every other Wednesday. Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube! Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights. Get your FREE copy of our Strategic Change WorkbookLearn more about us at stirringsuccess.com

Shelby and Belinda discuss the need to shift focus from operational excellence to survival strategies in difficult times, such as the current federal government shutdown affecting many in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. We emphasize the importance of community, resilience, and mental health, and introduce our new Leadership Lounge on Substack, where you'll find deeper discussions and group coaching. We also highlight the emotional and financial impacts of furloughs on individuals and businesses, and offer advice on staying connected within communities during crises.This episode is dedicated to all those impacted by the 2025 federal government shutdown in the United States.You can also watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_IHTJmvsAL4Join the Leadership Lounge!Looking to build your leadership community? Join our exclusive membership area for leadership resources and deeper, unconstrained conversations. You'll get a monthly bonus episode of the Leadership Tea Podcast, group coaching sessions for Lounge members, and quarterly Q&A episodes with Shelby and Belinda.Learn more and join at https://www.stirringsuccess.com/leadershiplounge Send us a comment!We publish new episodes every other Wednesday. Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube! Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights. Get your FREE copy of our Strategic Change WorkbookLearn more about us at stirringsuccess.com

In our 50th episode 🎉, Shelby and Belinda discuss why courage is essential in today's professional landscape, and what it looks like when leaders are radically honest with themselves when "outwit, outlast, outplay" isn’t working. We share personal moments of reckoning, from defining what we don't want, to realizing when to leave work environments that no longer serve us. If you’re stuck in analysis paralysis and fear of the unknown, this conversation can help you find the courage to move forward, even if you don’t have a perfect plan.Also in this episodeShould you play the game, try to change the rules, or create your own game?Being good at something doesn't mean it needs to be your next thingFinding clarity and clearing the clutter as you plan your next stepsThe courage to move forward without a perfectly formulated plan Resources MentionedLeadership Lounge: https://www.stirringsuccess.com/leadershiplounge Join our exclusive membership area for resources and deeper, unconstrained conversationsBelinda's LinkedIn post where she asks “Will I be the only one brave enough to step up?”: https://bit.ly/4nQlk9m Send us a comment!We publish new episodes every other Wednesday. Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube! Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights. Get your FREE copy of our Strategic Change WorkbookLearn more about us at stirringsuccess.com

Shelby and Belinda welcome special guest Boniswa Siwundla Madikizela, a transformational leader from South Africa, for a conversation on how to stay grounded and aligned in a world that feels chaotic. Boniswa shares her personal practices for protecting herself from energy vampires, defining (and refining) her core purpose or "golden thread," and the joy of setting boundaries. ALSO IN THIS EPISODEStaying grounded in an off-kilter worldPausing before you commit to a decisionLeaving a place that doesn’t align with your valuesRecognizing and overcoming the hesitation to shineABOUT BONISWA Boniswa Siwundla Madikizela is a South African financial expert, educator, and advocate known for her work in financial literacy and accounting education, holding a CA(SA), MCom, and is a PhD candidate. She is a senior lecturer in accounting at the University of Johannesburg and is the founder of the Financial Literacy and Inclusion Center of Southern Africa (FLIC_SA). Find Boniswa at https://linktr.ee/Boniswa_MSend us a comment!We publish new episodes every other Wednesday. Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube! Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights. Get your FREE copy of our Strategic Change WorkbookLearn more about us at stirringsuccess.com

Career transitions can be emotionally challenging, but with the right community and strategic approach, they become opportunities for growth, authentic connection, and clarity. In this bonus episode:Shelby shares her experience being laid off after a 26-year career and launching her business, The Fendall Collaborative.Belinda introduces her new Clarity Lab initiative -- a group coaching program designed to help professionals navigate career transitions through community connections.Shelby and Belinda emphasize the importance of recalibrating based on new information rather than sticking rigidly to outdated plans, the value of authentic community, and the importance of grieving losses while moving forward."Repose: A Day of Reflection" - October 25, 2025 We're excited to announce our in-person event, "Repose: A Day of Reflection." This will be an intimate gathering at Salamander Middleburg (Virginia) for professionals seeking community in a safe space where they can pause for reflection, strategic thinking, and networking.Join us! Tickets are available now (and prices increase in October): https://www.stirringsuccess.com/reposeMentioned in this episode:The Fendall Collaborative: thefendallcollaborative.comThe Clarity Lab: sweetgrassadvisorygroup.com/the-clarity-labFemme Factor: thefemmefactor.com/eventsSend us a comment!We publish new episodes every other Wednesday. Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube! Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights. Get your FREE copy of our Strategic Change WorkbookLearn more about us at stirringsuccess.com