Shameless Leadership

I love having mentors.  Watching and learning as others navigate the world is one of my superpowers.  Sometimes I feel like a spy as I closely and quietly observe the behavior of others and think, “Oh, I want to be more like THAT.”  Because I love learning and growing personally and professionally, I have hired many mentors and coaches over the years - paying well over 6 figures to learn how to improve many aspects of my life.   However, some of the most important mentorships I’ve benefited from have been totally free and come from unlikely relationships.  In this episode, I talk about the mentorship I’ve received from one of my sisters-in-law.  On paper, our lives are wildly different.  We were born in different generations, have had very different career paths, and many different interests.  However, there is an overlap in some of our most important core values that has always made it feel like she just gets me.  That said, she approaches life with a quiet wisdom and deep curiosity that I don’t have (yet).  I pay close attention to how she asks questions, how she listens with her head and her heart, how she speaks with compassion, and how she is never afraid to learn or try something new.  I’m curious for you, who are the people you already have proximity to who might be your greatest teachers, even though they lead a very different life than you?  And, what might happen if you were to identify and adopt some of their greatest strengths as your next stepping stones of growth?  Listen in to learn how to find and learn from these kinds of unlikely mentors in your life.  Links Mentioned: [Open Enrollment] Join Sara’s Aligned Leadership Incubator: saradean.com/aligned Hire me to speak: saradean.com/speaking Coach with me: https://saradean.com/executive-coaching-services Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradeanspeaks Watch Shameless Leadership episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@saradeanspeaks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When I learned of Lauren Tetenbaum’s work around workplace menopause advocacy, I knew I wanted her to come on the show.  Talking about menopause at work is long overdue.  When there is something that directly impacts 50% of our population, 100% of us are impacted in some way.  We need to be talking about menopause at work.  Period.  Lauren Tetenbaum, LCSW, JD, PMH-C is a licensed clinical social worker, women's rights advocate, writer, and mom dedicated to supporting and empowering women through life transitions. With experience as both a lawyer and a psychotherapist, Lauren specializes in counseling women navigating identity shifts related to motherhood, career, and reproductive health. Lauren frequently contributes thought leadership to media and professional organizations; she is the author of the 2025 book Millennial Menopause: Preparing for Perimenopause, Menopause, and Life's Next Period.  Listen in to hear Lauren share: Why reproductive healthcare is a workplace issue The perimenopause/menopause symptoms that impact women at work Accommodations workplaces can make that support women in perimenopause/menopause (that benefit others too!) Benefits that workplaces can easily add to improve healthcare access for midlife women When and how to prepare for perimenopause instead of waiting for it to “hit you” in a way that profoundly impacts your life The costs we are seeing for employers who are choosing to NOT address menopause in the workplace How men can advocate for menopause friendly policies, education, and accommodations in the workplace Links Mentioned:  Connect with Lauren: millennialmenopause.com Get Lauren’s book: Millennial Menopause Lauren on IG: @thecounselaur: https://www.instagram.com/thecounselaur/ Lauren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenatetenbaum/ Organization: Let’s Talk Menopause Organization: The Menopause Society [Dec 9th and Jan 8th] Shameless Rising: a 2-part workshop series to release the noise, reclaim your voice, and reignite your vision in 2026: saradean.com/rising [Open Enrollment] Join Sara’s Aligned Leadership Incubator: saradean.com/aligned Hire me to speak: saradean.com/speaking Coach with me: https://saradean.com/executive-coaching-services Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradeanspeaks Watch Shameless Leadership episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@saradeanspeaks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I recorded this episode on the eve of my 50th birthday.  I’m writing this show description at 6:23am on the morning of my 50th birthday.  50 feels weird.  Maybe because for the first 48ish years of my life, it felt one million years away.  Then, suddenly it’s just… here…  For the past few months, people have been asking me what I plan to do to celebrate this monumental birthday and it’s felt overwhelming to decide on one thing.  I feel this pressure to make the BEST choice because I’ll always remember whatever I choose.  Therefore, it must be super special and memorable.  That’s just too much pressure.  To date, I’ve made no decisions.  I don’t know how I’m celebrating. I guess I’ll have to keep you posted in that arena.   Instead of making the perfect birthday plan, I’ve been thinking about what 50 means.  I have a few thoughts about this milestone and the apparent wisdom everyone says women unlock at this age.  In fact, I was sitting with a multigenerational group of people last week and laughing about how at every new age milestone (20, 30, 40, 50, etc.) we think we “finally” have it all figured out.  However, I think the older I get, the more I realize there is so much more to still figure out.  That actually feels really exciting.  In this episode, I’m sharing 5 things I’ve figured out so far.  But, honestly, I’m so excited to uncover so many new learnings in the years and decades to come!  Today, I’ll share the major lesson my 13-year-old keeps reminding me (that is as profound as 6-7), how I’m embracing messiness and the “worst” parts of myself, what I’m protecting most, and where I’m mining for magic.   THANK YOU to you for listening to the show and being a significant part of my life.  10 years ago, on the morning of turning 40, I had no idea I would launch a podcast that would be approaching 10 years and 1,000 episodes.  In fact, at this time 10 years ago, I was just starting to think about, “maybe I’ll do a podcast… someday….”  It’s an honor to be in your ear.  Thank you for listening, sharing, and making my work feel meaningful.  Meaningful work has always been and always will be one of the very best parts of my life.  I couldn’t do it without you.  Links Mentioned: Join me for Shameless Rising, a 2-part workshop series to release the noise, reclaim your voice, and reignite your vision in 2026: saradean.com/rising [OPEN ENROLLMENT] Join Sara’s Aligned Leadership Incubator: saradean.com/aligned Hire me to speak: saradean.com/speaking Coach with me: https://saradean.com/executive-coaching-services Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradeanspeaks Watch Shameless Leadership episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@saradeanspeaks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, I’m exposing the Authenticity Trap for you.  The Authenticity Trap is the mixed messages women get about “being themselves.” We’re told authenticity is the key to trust, confidence, and influence, yet many of us were conditioned to 1) think we need to lead like men if we want to make it to the top to serve, and 2) constantly abandon our own needs and wants to center and care for those around us. That means when we try to show up authentically, we often bump up against years of social conditioning that taught us to prioritize likability over authenticity. The authenticity trap is what happens when the call to “be yourself” collides with systems and expectations that were never designed to make room for your full, real self. In this episode, I unpack why so many women struggle with authenticity in leadership.  It’s not because we lack confidence or clarity, but because we’ve learned to perform leadership instead of embodying it in a way that is true to who we are. We’ve been rewarded for being agreeable, accommodating, and endlessly capable, even when that performance costs us energy, boundaries, and joy. The result of the Authenticity Trap is burnout, disconnection, and missed opportunities to share your best self with the world.  Of course, I’m not going to leave you hanging without an action plan.  We will dig into simple ways to begin reclaiming your authenticity as a daily leadership practice. We’ll talk about getting clear on your values and boundaries, noticing when you’re performing versus connecting, and experimenting with small, brave acts of honesty and self-expression. My hope is that you walk away knowing that authenticity isn’t a luxury or a buzzword.  It’s a muscle that, when strengthened, allows you to tap into who you truly are when you disconnect from all the noise around you. When you strengthen this muscle and step out of the Authenticity Trap, you not only lead with more joy, ease, and impact — you also give everyone around you permission to do the same. Links Mentioned: [NOVEMBER 20th] Join my 90-minute Leadership Roundtable, Thriving in Leadership in Uncertain Times: saradean.com/roundtable [LISTENER SURVEY] Let me know what Programs & Events you want me to host in 2026: saradean.com/survey Hire me to speak: saradean.com/speaking Coach with me: https://saradean.com/executive-coaching-services Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradeanspeaks Watch Shameless Leadership episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@saradeanspeaks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I was thrilled when I learned that past podcast guest Jessica Frew wrote an entire book on decision-making.  Decision fatigue is real and so very exhausting.  It holds us back from taking action, best leveraging our time and energy, and truly trusting ourselves.  Jessica is a firecracker and I know this conversation will give you some great AHA’s about becoming a more decisive person.   Jessica Frew is an author, speaker, coach, wife, ex-wife, mom, stepmom, and BOLD action taker.  She believes that you find true peace, connection and confidence by making your next best decision.  Jessica helps you make clear, confident, and concise decisions to lead a BOLD life that is in alignment with who you were created to be while leaving behind overthinking, people pleasing, and the need to justify your decisions through her proven Be.Be.Be Decision Making Formula.  Her new book, Shove Your Shoulds: Become a Decision-Making Badass & Live the Life You Deserve is all about unlearning the decision-making patterns we were taught (especially as women, mothers, and leaders) and embracing choices that actually feel aligned. Listen in to hear Jessica share: The power in giving yourself permission to evolve yourself and your work over time How your “shoulds” quietly hijack your decision-making and breed negative self-judgment How her narrative around being a stepmom held her back and how she unpacked this old narrative to write a new, better one How to unravel long-term narratives that keep us stuck and how writing your own narratives elevates you as a leader Why women hold so much fear around decisiveness The connection between indecision and fear and how to reclaim your power by embracing decisiveness The actual (simple) steps you can take in releasing an old narrative that is no longer serving you or possibly even harming you Links Mentioned: Get Jessica’s Book, Shove Your Shoulds: https://shoveyourshoulds.com/ Follow Jessica on IG: https://www.instagram.com/heyjessicafrew/ [NOVEMBER 20th] Join my 90-minute Leadership Roundtable, Thriving in Leadership in Uncertain Times: saradean.com/roundtable [OPEN ENROLLMENT] Join Sara’s Aligned Leadership Incubator: saradean.com/aligned [LISTENER SURVEY] Let me know what Programs & Events you want me to host in 2026: saradean.com/survey Hire me to speak: saradean.com/speaking Coach with me: https://saradean.com/executive-coaching-services Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradeanspeaks Watch Shameless Leadership episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@saradeanspeaks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"Sara, I tried one little thing you recommended in our session and it totally changed my interaction with a team member!" Back story…I was leading a training for a leadership team recently and we talked about how to practice active listening in leadership.  One of the leaders decided to put one of my recommendations into action immediately (Gold Star for this leader!) and he was so excited about the results.  Following our training, he shifted his default behavior of “getting right down to business” in a one-on-one meeting to starting off a one-on-one by asking a team member an open-ended question.  This led to a great conversation and important insights between the two of them.  By getting curious before getting down to business, this leader fast-tracked trust and paved the way for open and honest communication with their team member.  He was giddy sharing this win with me.  I love it when new behaviors lead to new wins!  Curiosity is one of the most underrated, yet most powerful, leadership skills you can develop. In this episode, we dig into how curiosity can completely shift the way you lead, communicate, and connect with others. Whether you’re managing up, collaborating across, or leading your team, curiosity opens up space for real conversation, minimizes assumptions, and builds relationships that feel grounded in care and respect. When you lead with curiosity, you create connection instead of disconnection, and you let the people around you truly shine. In this episode, I walk you through five ways to use curiosity to become a more emotionally intelligent leader. We’ll talk about how to ask before assuming, how to get curious about motivations instead of just outcomes, and how curiosity can bridge differences when perspectives clash. You’ll also learn how to replace performance check-ins with curiosity-driven conversations that make your people feel seen and supported, and why modeling curiosity publicly builds trust and psychological safety at every level of your organization. Ultimately, curiosity helps you become a leader who doesn’t just manage people — but inspires them. Tune in to discover how a few thoughtful questions can transform the way you collaborate, innovate, communicate, and lead. Links Mentioned: [NOVEMBER 20th] Join my 90-minute Leadership Roundtable, Thriving in Leadership in Uncertain Times: saradean.com/roundtable [OPEN ENROLLMENT] Join Sara’s Aligned Leadership Incubator: saradean.com/aligned Hire me to speak: saradean.com/speaking Coach with me: https://saradean.com/executive-coaching-services Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradeanspeaks Watch Shameless Leadership episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@saradeanspeaks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When it comes to giving yourself credit for your wins and accomplishments, how would you rate yourself?  Are you a strong self-promoter?  Do you share your accomplishments with others and routinely make it known that you’re up to great things?  Or, do you tend to shy away from shining too brightly in front of others? As women leaders, we’re often taught to keep our heads down, work hard, and let our results speak for themselves.  But here’s the truth: results don’t speak.  People do.  If we’re not willing to talk about our wins, we’re missing out on opportunities to advance our careers, inspire other women, and rewrite what leadership visibility looks like.  In this episode, I’m diving into why women need to brag more and how we can do it in ways that feel authentic, strategic, inspiring, and empowering to others. I’ll unpack how women consistently undersell themselves compared to men, even when they’re performing at the same or higher levels. We’ll explore how cultural conditioning, fear of backlash, and the “be humble” narrative keep women from taking rightful credit for their accomplishments. I’ll also talk about how self-promotion isn’t egotistical or arrogant, but rather a form of advocacy. It’s a way to own your impact, document your growth, and create a ripple effect that encourages other women to step into their power. You’ll walk away from this episode with tangible strategies to brag smart, from reframing your wins as stories of impact to finding ways to normalize sharing success within your teams and networks. Whether you’re climbing the ladder, leading a team, or mentoring others, this episode will help you show up more visibly, confidently, and unapologetically as the accomplished leader you already are. It’s time to stop playing small and start celebrating yourself because when women brag, we all rise. Links Mentioned: [TIME SENSITIVE] Join Sara’s Aligned Leadership Incubator: saradean.com/aligned [VIRTUAL EVENT] Join me on November 20th for my Leadership Roundtable, Thriving in Leadership in Uncertain Times: saradean.com/roundtable Hire me to speak: saradean.com/speaking Coach with me: https://saradean.com/executive-coaching-services Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradeanspeaks Watch Shameless Leadership episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@saradeanspeaks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One of the trickiest parts of leadership for women, and even more so for women of color, is the tension between being authentic and being “good”.  When we focus on being “good,” we often self-sacrifice and push ourselves to uphold someone else’s vision of who we “should” be as a leader.  This can be exhausting, unsustainable, and even damaging to our sense of self over time.  I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to discuss this topic with La Tonya Roberts.   La Tonya Roberts is the CEO of Harmony Consulting Group, where she transforms growth-focused organizations into high-performing businesses as a Fractional COO and HR Consultant. Drawing from 18+ years of experience across 30 countries, she helps companies scale operations, build inclusive cultures, and develop leadership teams that drive growth. Listen in to hear La Tonya share: Her pivotal moment of inviting women to be vulnerable in order to find their own form of authentic leadership Why leaders need to be “real people” to the people they lead How being vulnerable as a black single mom impacted her ability to be a more authentic leader Why leaders need to be able to see and hear what is and IS NOT being said How she made herself fit the mold of a “good leader” for many years and then broke the mold to find her authentic voice and a higher level of success How to get what you need as a woman leader to thrive in any given role.  Links Mentioned: Connect with La Tonya: harmonyconsultinggroup.org  La Tonya on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/la-tonya-roberts La Tonya on Instagram:  instagram.com/coachlatonyaroberts La Tonya on Facebook: facebook.com/coachlatonyaroberts   [TIME SENSITIVE] Join Sara’s Aligned Leadership Incubator: saradean.com/aligned Hire Sara to speak: saradean.com/speaking Coach with Sara: https://saradean.com/executive-coaching-services Connect with Sara on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradeanspeaks Watch Shameless Leadership episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@saradeanspeaks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who doesn’t love a roadmap or a step-by-step blueprint to get from Point A to Point B?!  Sometimes, as we are just going about our daily lives, we don’t realize that we are, in fact, following a path without even realizing it.  As I’ve been helping leaders build out intentional journeys in growth over the last few years, I’ve realized a handful of key steps that come together to create a powerful roadmap to leadership success.  When your path to leadership success is intentional rather than accidental, you position yourself for unshakable long-term success and legacy building.   I am in the process of more publicly sharing the leadership pathway I’ve been guiding my coaching clients on.  In this episode, I’m finally sharing my Shameless Leadership Ascent, a four-part roadmap to your leadership success. After seeing too many leaders with inadequate leadership development opportunities, I realized how much is being left on the table when leaders aren’t given specific growth opportunities.  I see leaders with so much untapped potential on the constant verge of burnout because they haven’t built a proper foundation from which to lead.  In my Shameless Leadership Ascent, I break down the four stages every leader needs to move through to build a leadership legacy that lives long beyond your current role: Awaken (how you see yourself), Amplify (how you share yourself), Advocate (how you bring others with you), and Advise (how you grow others). Listen in as I walk you through each stage so you can see exactly how to build your leadership legacy in a clear and conscientious way.   When leaders have a foundation of high self-awareness, strong emotional intelligence, and a deep understanding of their opportunity to influence others in a positive way, they build high retention cultures that are wildly innovative, engaged, and energized.   In contrast, when leaders ascend too fast without doing the foundational work, they lead from their ego instead of wisdom - gatekeeping, relying on authority over trusting relationships, hoarding opportunities instead of opening doors, and perpetuating the toxic work environments.  These leaders create high turnover, high burnout cultures that are devoid of trust, motivation, and engagement.  While these cultures are often masked as “high-performance”, they are commonly rife with fear and dissatisfaction to the point that many employees are constantly planning their exit strategies.   Whether you're doing your own leadership development work or you're responsible for building leadership capacity in your organization, the Shameless Leadership Ascent is your roadmap to sustainable, transformative leadership. Links Mentioned: [Open Enrollment] Join Sara’s 2026 Aligned Leadership Incubator: saradean.com/aligned Join Sara’s Next Business Coaching Cohort for Women Business Owners: https://saradean.com/influence-ignite-business-group-coaching/ Hire Sara to speak: saradean.com/speaking Coach with Sara: https://saradean.com/executive-coaching-services Connect with Sara on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradeanspeaks Watch Shameless Leadership episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@saradeanspeaks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode is especially for business owners and consultants, but the themes will resonate with anyone navigating leadership in challenging times. No matter your role, the struggles we face are often more similar than different, and there’s always something to learn from the stories of others. Recently, my business coaching clients and entrepreneurial colleagues have been sharing struggles that might feel familiar:  "What sold before is not selling now." "I am ready to make a pivot, but I'm feeling nervous and unsure about how to do so." "With the online space feeling loud and saturated, I'm feeling less confident in making myself more visible." "I need to grow my team, but I'm nervous about finding the right people and/or giving up control." "I'm struggling with boundaries and communication with my team." "I'm overwhelmed and exhausted by my business + the state of the world!" Over my 22 years as a business owner, the state of the world has forced me to reimagine (and sometimes rapidly pivot) my business, my offers, and my team multiple times. After a few moments (or days) of "WTF?! Why is this happening to me?!", I've always been able to find a path forward and often have found a stronger sense of purpose and drive because of this driving mantra: I know what I'm good at. I know I can create incredible outcomes for people. I have proven that I can be endlessly adaptable and resilient in my 49 years on this planet. This time is no different. LFG. In this episode, I’ll share 3 steps you can take right now to address these struggles head-on. Because the world being extra loud and extra messy does not diminish the need for your work. In fact, it amplifies it. Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Shameless Mom Academy? Email our sales team at sales@adalystmedia.com. Links Mentioned: Attend Sara’s Influence & Ignite Retreat for Women Business Owners: saradean.com/retreat Join Sara’s Next Business Coaching Cohort: https://saradean.com/influence-ignite-business-group-coaching/ Hire me to speak: saradean.com/speaking Coach with me: https://saradean.com/executive-coaching-services Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradeanspeaks Watch Shameless Leadership episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@saradeanspeaks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices