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
Jan 14, 2022 • 32min
E196: The Why's and How's of Second Chance Hiring with Sue Mason and Catherine Goetz
This episode, originally recorded as a DEI Community Call, features a conversation between Sue Mason, Co-Founder and Executive Director of What’s Next Washington, and Catherine Goetz, Global Head of Diversity Recruiting at LivePerson. Sue and Catherine discuss the challenges and opportunities of making a commitment to operationalize second chance hiring in a heavily regulated field. Discover why AI and talent leaders need to be focused on accessing the talent pool of people with conviction histories, and how organizations can accompany operationalized second chance priorities as part of their DEI recruiting strategy.
Jan 7, 2022 • 1h 5min
BEST OF THE WILL TO CHANGE: How to Tap Into Your Superpowers: With Julie Lythcott-Haims
From the "Best of the Will to Change" In this episode, originally recorded as a TONE Talk, Julie Lythcott-Haims joins Jennifer Brown for a conversation about 3 "superpowers" that everyone possesses and how to unleash them. Julie is the New York Times bestselling author of the anti-From the helicopter parenting manifesto How to Raise an Adult. Her TED Talk on the subject has more than 5 million views, and in 2020 she became a regular contributor with CBS This Morning on parenting. Her second book is the critically-acclaimed and award-winning prose poetry memoir Real American, which illustrates her experience as a Black and biracial person in white spaces. A third book, Your Turn: How to Be an Adult, will be out in April 2021. To learn more about TONE Networks, visit https://www.tonenetworks.com/
Dec 31, 2021 • 34min
Fireside Chat #1: End of Year Reflections from Jennifer
As 2021 comes to a close, Jennifer Brown shares her thoughts on lessons learned in 2021 and what leaders need to think about for 2022.
Dec 24, 2021 • 58min
E195: Leading Systemic Change with Former Diversity Officer Rohini Anand
Dr. Rohini Anand, Founder and CEO of Rohini Anand LLC, joins the program to discuss her new book, Leading Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: A Guide for Systemic Change in Multinational Organizations and what it takes for organizations to ensure that their cultures are diverse, inclusive and equitable in a sustained way. Rohini also reveals how individuals in organizations who may be limited by organizational structures and positional power can still work to create positive change.
Dec 17, 2021 • 55min
E194: Leading with Empathy and Allyship: Jennifer and Rohit join Change Catalyst's Melinda Epler
This episode was originally recorded on the Leading with Empathy and Allyship podcast with host Melinda Briana Epler. In the episode Jennifer and Rohit Bhargava, discuss their new book Beyond Diversity: 12 Non-Obvious Ways To Build A More Inclusive World. Jennifer and Rohit share their personal experiences and perspectives on creating a more inclusive world; present key learnings from their book on storytelling, retail, and leadership; and reveal their own educational moments from writing the book and how those moments helped them grow as allies. To order your copy of Beyond Diversity, or get the audiobook or ebook, visit: https://www.nonobviousdiversity.com/
Dec 10, 2021 • 48min
E193: DEI Year in Review with the JBC Team
This episode was originally recorded as a DEI Community Call and features a year-end conversation between Jennifer Brown and JBC Consultants La Mikia Castillo, Elfi Martinez and Gearah Goldstein, for a panel conversation about top diversity, equity, and inclusion trends from 2021 and what we can expect in 2022.
Dec 4, 2021 • 60min
E192: The Attributes of Inclusive Leaders: With Celeste Warren, Vice President, Global Diversity and Inclusion, Center of Excellence at Merck, and Becky Robinson, Founder and CEO of Weaving Influence
This episode was originally recorded as a webinar, sponsored by SmartBrief and moderated by Becky Robinson, Founder and CEO of Weaving Influence. Tune in as Jennifer Brown and Celeste Warren, Vice President, Global Diversity and Inclusion, Center of Excellence at Merck, discuss what it means for a leader to be inclusive, and how to determine if your organization and leaders are inclusive. You'll also discover the behaviors that leaders need to exhibit to create an inclusive organization and how to incorporate those behaviors into your organization and weave them into your practices.
Nov 20, 2021 • 33min
E191: On Power and Privilege with Jennifer: Erin Weed Joins the Will to Change
Speaker and strategist Erin Weed does a takeover of the podcast and interviews Jennifer Brown on a variety of topics, including Jennifer's new book "Beyond Diversity," the importance of self-care, and the need for allyship. Jennifer also reveals what has shifted in her work over the years, the increasing awareness of various diversity dimensions at work, and shares her thoughts about the future of DEI work. To learn more about Erin and her work visit: https://www.erinweed.com
Nov 12, 2021 • 49min
E190: How Can I Be Helpful: The Lost Art of Connection with Susan McPherson
This episode features a conversation with Susan McPherson, Founder and CEO of McPherson Strategies, and author of The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Relationships. Susan shares tips for how we can revitalize our professional relationships and networks post-pandemic, and reveals the Gather, Ask, Do Method for building meaningful business and personal connections. Discover why asking "how can I help?" is the optimum way to build your network- even virtually.
Nov 5, 2021 • 40min
E189: The Allyship Gap: The Opportunity for White Women with Adrienne Lawrence, JBC Sr. Consultant
This episode features a conversation between Adrienne Lawrence, JBC Sr. Consultant, and Jennifer Brown, as they discuss why is there such a disconnect between how white women view their support and how black women are experiencing it. Discover why white women are often afraid of stepping up to be an ally, and what white women can do to bridge the allyship gap by 2031.
