The Will to Change: Where Leadership Meets the Courage to Evolve
Jennifer Brown
Why is change so difficult and yet so necessary?
We live in a world that is increasingly complex, unpredictable, and demanding of our resilience. The challenges we face are not just external but deeply personal, asking us to redefine who we are, what we stand for, and how we lead.
Transformation isn’t just a possibility, it’s an imperative.
On The Will to Change, Jennifer Brown invites listeners to explore the deeper dimensions of leadership, resilience, and human connection. Each month, we feature both thought-provoking conversations with a guest who inspires new ways of thinking, as well as Jennifer’s reflective mini-episodes that dive deeper into themes like courage, growth, and the art of navigating uncertainty.
This isn’t just about leadership in the workplace - it’s about leadership in life. Together, we’ll examine the systems and beliefs that shape us and uncover how to lead authentically, inclusively, and boldly in a rapidly changing world.
If you’re ready to stretch beyond the familiar, embrace new perspectives, and discover the will to evolve—for yourself and others—this podcast is for you.
To learn more, visit http://jenniferbrownspeaks.com/
We live in a world that is increasingly complex, unpredictable, and demanding of our resilience. The challenges we face are not just external but deeply personal, asking us to redefine who we are, what we stand for, and how we lead.
Transformation isn’t just a possibility, it’s an imperative.
On The Will to Change, Jennifer Brown invites listeners to explore the deeper dimensions of leadership, resilience, and human connection. Each month, we feature both thought-provoking conversations with a guest who inspires new ways of thinking, as well as Jennifer’s reflective mini-episodes that dive deeper into themes like courage, growth, and the art of navigating uncertainty.
This isn’t just about leadership in the workplace - it’s about leadership in life. Together, we’ll examine the systems and beliefs that shape us and uncover how to lead authentically, inclusively, and boldly in a rapidly changing world.
If you’re ready to stretch beyond the familiar, embrace new perspectives, and discover the will to evolve—for yourself and others—this podcast is for you.
To learn more, visit http://jenniferbrownspeaks.com/
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 2, 2025 • 55min
E384: Humble Inquiry in a Noisy World with Author Peter Schein
In this episode, Jennifer is joined by Peter Schein, co-author of Humble Inquiry: The Gentle Art of Asking Instead of Telling (Third Edition). Together they explore how leaders can embrace curiosity, vulnerability, and openness to build trust and strengthen relationships. Peter shares how humble inquiry contrasts with diagnostic or confrontive questioning and why shifting focus from content to context is essential for effective leadership. The conversation highlights how practicing humble inquiry fosters inclusion, belonging, and more thoughtful decision-making in today’s complex and divided world.
Sep 25, 2025 • 29min
E383: Music and Mentorship: Part 2, Strategies for Inclusive Leadership from OutNEXT
This episode features highlights from a series of audio recordings originally created for OutNEXT, Out Leadership’s global LGBTQ+ leadership-development program. The first conversation dives into the creation of the inclusive anthem “It’s Raining Them,” reflecting on music as activism and the balance between self-expression and professionalism. The episode also explores the power of mentorship and sponsorship, showing how authentic relationships and reverse mentoring can help both emerging talent and seasoned leaders grow, adapt, and lead with purpose.
Sep 19, 2025 • 29min
E382: Owning Your Voice, Shaping the Future: Strategies for Inclusive Leadership From OutNEXT
This episode features highlights from a series of audio recordings originally created for OutNEXT, Out Leadership’s global LGBTQ+ leadership-development program. Captured live during the OutNEXT summit sessions, these conversations were designed to inspire and equip emerging LGBTQ+ leaders with tools for authentic leadership, community building, and inclusive impact. Listeners will hear reflections on resilience, mindfulness, and the power of intergenerational support—offering both inspiration and practical strategies for anyone ready to lead with purpose and heart.
Sep 12, 2025 • 1h 12min
E381: AI in Action: Practical Tools for Inclusive Work with Mishel Horta and Amber Kidd
Tune in for a lively, practical conversation about bringing artificial intelligence into everyday work and life. Jennifer is joined by Mishel Horta, Head of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging for DHL Express Americas, and Amber Kidd, an Innovation-Focused Operations & Marketing Consultant. Together they explore how different AI tools—like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Copilot—each have their own strengths and “personalities,” how to craft powerful prompts, and what it really takes to use AI safely, creatively, and inclusively. You’ll hear hands-on tips, privacy insights, and real-world examples to help you make AI a trusted partner in your own work.
Sep 5, 2025 • 53min
E380: All Bodies Welcome: Building Brands that Reflect Reality with Kara Richardson Whitely
Step into a candid conversation with Kara Richardson Whitely as she explores the realities of weight stigma, the buying power of plus size consumers, and why brands miss out when they fail to embrace all bodies. Kara shares her powerful story of resilience as a plus size adventurer and advocate, offering insights into how businesses can heal the customer journey and create meaningful inclusion. From the retail industry’s blind spots to cultural moments like the Cardi B controversy, this episode challenges assumptions and shows why body diversity is both a moral imperative and a business necessity.
Aug 29, 2025 • 25min
E379: Radical Presence: How Staying in the Now Helps us Navigate a Shifting World
In this minisode, Jennifer reflects on the themes from her upcoming book The Shape of Change, exploring what it means to face uncertainty, grief, stillness, and surrender with courage and presence. She shares personal insights on how we can loosen our grip on old identities, embrace radical presence, and find wisdom in the discomfort of transformation. Discover how to cultivate resilience in a rapidly shifting world, nurture hope in dark times, and reimagine the shapes our lives and work can take as we evolve.
Aug 21, 2025 • 1h 12min
E378: Holding the Door: Journalism, Democracy, and the Fight for Light with Mará Rose Williams
In this episode, Jennifer is joined by Mará Rose Williams, Assistant Managing Editor for Race and Equity at The Kansas City Star, to explore the role of journalism in telling the truth, fostering community, and protecting democracy. Mará reflects on leading the groundbreaking Truth in Black and White project and what it means to look back five years later. The conversation examines how storytelling can build empathy across differences, the importance of staying awake in turbulent times, and the power of individual action to create ripples that grow into waves of change.
Aug 14, 2025 • 48min
E377: Hospitality as a Superpower: Inside Kansas City’s Blueprint for Inclusion with Greg Valdovino, VP, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
In this episode, Greg Valdovino, Vice President of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, joins Jennifer for a conversation about how Kansas City is turning hospitality into a powerful driver for economic growth and community connection. He discusses how the city is preparing to welcome the world for the 2026 FIFA World Cup through its ambitious Welcoming City initiative. From breaking old stereotypes to creating lasting cultural and economic impact, Greg reveals how inclusive leadership, intentional planning, and community-wide collaboration are shaping a Kansas City where everyone belongs—visitors and residents alike.
Aug 8, 2025 • 55min
E376: Sacred Dissolution: Navigating Necessary Endings, Making Space for the Becoming with Futurist Elatia Abate
Tune in to this episode of The Will to Change as Jennifer is joined by futurist and founder of The Future of Now, Elatia Abate. Together they explore what it takes to thrive in the emerging wisdom economy and why the old knowledge-based models are no longer enough. Elatia shares insights on leading with resilience, flexibility, and purpose during times of disruption, and how to build organizations that center community, fulfillment, and human connection. Whether you are navigating personal change or leading transformation, this episode offers a bold and grounded vision for the future of work and leadership.
Aug 1, 2025 • 28min
E375: From Will to Wisdom: Redefining What It Means to Lead
In this special episode of The Will to Change, Jennifer introduces her forthcoming book, The Shape of Change, a powerful synthesis drawn from hundreds of episodes of the podcast. Jennifer also reflects on how the podcast itself became a body of work, rich with wisdom, vulnerability, and transformation. Listeners will hear about the inspiration behind the book, the collaborative process that brought it to life, and the evolution from teaching change to being changed. This episode invites us to loosen our grip on certainty, embrace the unknown, and discover the wisdom that emerges when we truly listen to ourselves, to others, and to the shape of change itself.
