International Women's Day is coming up on March 8th! In this special episode Kristen shares her 2024 IWD talk from Google's Women Techmakers event on tackling imposter syndrome through improv techniques. While 75% of women executives report experiencing imposter syndrome, Kristen reveals how her journey from tech leader to improv performer helped her develop practical tools to manage self-doubt. She breaks down the five types of "imposters" and shares specific exercises anyone can use to build confidence and reduce imposter syndrome's power. From embracing mistakes to finding comfort in discomfort, listeners will learn actionable strategies they can start using today to show up more confidently at work. Perfect for anyone who's ever wondered "Do I really belong here?" or "What if they find out I'm not qualified?"

Podcast Website: www.loveandleadershippod.com
Instagram: @loveleaderpod

Follow us on LinkedIn!
Kristen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenbsharkey/
Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-s-364970111/

Learn more about Kristen's leadership coaching and facilitation services: http://www.emboldify.com

Ever wonder why some new leaders hit the ground running while others stumble? Kristen and Mike break down Michael Watkins' essential guide The First 90 Days - a book The Economist called "the onboarding bible." Whether you're stepping into your first leadership role or you're a seasoned executive making a change, this episode will help you avoid common pitfalls and set yourself up for success. Mike shares his recent experience applying these principles in his new role, while Kristen draws on her years of using this framework in executive coaching. Plus, some late-night recording session humor and a heated debate about the Oxford comma keep things light while diving into this meaty topic.

Highlights:

• The STARS Model: Understanding whether you're entering a Startup, Turnaround, Accelerated Growth, Realignment, or Sustaining Success situation
• Common traps new leaders fall into when using old strategies
• The "action imperative" trap: Why trying to make changes too quickly can backfire
• Building your team: When to keep people, when to make changes, and how to do it humanely
• Five essential conversations to have with your boss in your first 90 days
• How to identify and secure "early wins" that matter
• Managing the organizational "immune system" response to change
• Creating your personal support network and advice channels
• Balancing technical learning with cultural and political awareness

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• The First 90 Days by Michael D. Watkins
• Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
• What Got You Here Won’t Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith
• The Dichotomy of Leadership by Jocko Willink
• The Art of War by Sun Tzu
• Start With Why by Simon Sinek
• Boundaries for Leaders by Dr. Henry Cloud
• Influence by Robert Cialdini
• Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
• Managing Oneself by Peter Drucker

Get your FREE 5 Day Leadership Reset Challenge guide here: https://llpod.link/challenge

Podcast Website: www.loveandleadershippod.com
Instagram: @loveleaderpod

Follow us on LinkedIn!
Kristen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenbsharkey/
Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-s-364970111/

Learn more about Kristen's leadership coaching and facilitation services: http://www.emboldify.com

Ever wonder why some leaders seem to effortlessly build thriving teams while others struggle with constant turnover? In this episode, guest Candice Hahn, a veteran marketing agency executive with over 25 years of experience, shares her refreshing take on leadership in the fast-paced agency world. Candice opens up about why working for good people has been the guiding force in her career and reveals her unique approach to developing talent. She explains why there's "no such thing as a marketing emergency" and how this mindset shapes the way she leads. Whether you're managing a team or aspiring to move up the ladder, Candice's practical insights on everything from imposter syndrome to advocating for yourself will help you become a more effective and empathetic leader.

About Candice:

Candice Hahn has 25+ years of experience in professional services. Initially working in strategy consulting, then she pivoted to the digital world while living in San Francisco. She's worked and led strategy teams at global marketing agencies including Modem Media, Publicis Modem and iCrossing where she helped clients navigate and thrive in the digital world. Most recently, Candice spent nearly 9 years at R/GA, a global innovation agency, building a team and an office in Austin, TX. There she added new logos to the R/GA roster including Michaels, Whole Foods Market, Crocs and others, winning global awards including a Cannes Lion and Effie, and delivering profitable growth year over year during her entire tenure. After recording this episode she started a new role as VP of Consumer Electronics at OUTFORM.

Highlights:

• Why leading a people-based business requires focusing on internal team health before client needs
• The "three concentric circles" framework for career growth and why staying slightly uncomfortable is key to development
• Why good leaders recognize they're in the people development business and create environments where others can succeed
• The importance of transparency and over-communication in building trust with your team
• How to handle imposter syndrome, especially as a woman in leadership
• The shift from looking for "culture fit" to "culture add" when building teams
• The value of having clear, documented expectations for career advancement
• Why advocating for yourself is crucial, even though it can feel uncomfortable
• The power of reframing "failures" as character-building moments

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• Follow Candice on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candice-hahn-56a266/

Get your FREE 5 Day Leadership Reset Challenge guide here: https://llpod.link/challenge

Podcast Website: www.loveandleadershippod.com
Instagram: @loveleaderpod

Follow us on LinkedIn!
Kristen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenbsharkey/
Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-s-364970111/

Learn more about Kristen's leadership coaching and facilitation services: http://www.emboldify.com

Most leaders know feedback is essential for growth, but let's be honest - receiving it can be uncomfortable, even painful. In this episode, Kristen and Mike get real about their own struggles with feedback and share practical strategies to make the process less daunting. Whether you're dealing with a 360 review or an unexpected comment from a team member, you'll learn how to stay composed, listen effectively, and use feedback to become a stronger leader. Plus, discover why comparing different feedback styles to cookies might forever change how you think about giving and receiving feedback.

Download your free PDF of the receiving feedback model reviewed in the episode: llpod.link/feedback

Highlights:

• Three types of feedback from Marshall Goldsmith: solicited, unsolicited, and observational feedback
• Mike’sexperience learning about feedback in Chinese restaurant culture
• Pros and cons of different 360 feedback formats, from anonymous surveys to verbal interviews
• Harvard Business Review article on feedback, including tips for crafting effective feedback questions
• Creative discussion of different feedback styles compared to types of cookies (from the classic "Oreo" feedback sandwich to the raw, unfiltered "cookie dough")
• Kristen’s 9-step model for receiving feedback effectively, starting with awareness and ending with action
• The importance of taking time to process feedback rather than feeling pressured to respond immediately
• Tips for staying present while receiving feedback, like taking notes to maintain focus
• The value of following up after receiving feedback, whether you plan to make changes or not

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• Download the 9 Steps for Receiving Feedback PDF
• Harvard Business Review: How Leaders Can Get the Feedback They Need to Grow
• Zenger Folkman: Feedback - The Powerful Paradox
• What Got You Here Won't Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith
• Radical Candor by Kim Scott
• The First 90 Days by Michael Watkins
• It's Your Ship by D. Michael Abrashoff
• The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier

Related Episodes:

• #10: How to Give Difficult Feedback Effectively
• #16: Leadership Book Club: What Got You Here Won’t Get You There

Podcast Website: www.loveandleadershippod.com
Instagram: @loveleaderpod

Follow us on LinkedIn!
Kristen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenbsharkey/
Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-s-364970111/

Learn more about Kristen's leadership coaching and facilitation services: http://www.emboldify.com

Mike and Kristen break down Chris Voss's game-changing book on negotiation, Never Split the Difference. As a former FBI hostage negotiator, Voss brings street-smart tactics that work in real-world situations, not just theory. The couple explores how these techniques—from using the late-night FM DJ voice to mastering the power of "no"—can transform both business and personal interactions. Mike shares his experience applying these methods in restaurant management, while Kristen connects the dots between negotiation tactics and improv techniques. They unpack why getting to "yes" isn't always the goal and how understanding your negotiating style (are you an Accommodator, Analyst, or Assertive?) can make or break your success.

Highlights:

• The psychology behind the "late-night FM DJ voice" and why tone matters more than you think
• Why "no" is more powerful than "yes" and how to use it to your advantage
• The three negotiating styles: Accommodator, Analyst, and Assertive - and how to work with each
• Why asking "How am I supposed to do that?" can be your secret weapon
• The power of tactical empathy and why labeling emotions works
• Getting to "that's right" instead of "you're right" - and why the difference matters
• Using the Ackerman model for pricing negotiations (start at 65% and work up strategically)
• How to prepare a negotiation one-sheet that sets you up for success

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
• Getting to Yes by Roger Fish and William Ury
• Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
• Influence by Robert Cialdini
• How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
• The First 90 Days by Michael D. Watkins
• Jefferson Fisher on Instagram for negotiation tips
• Previous Episode: The Coaching Habit

Get your FREE 5 Day Leadership Reset Challenge guide here: https://llpod.link/challenge

Podcast Website: www.loveandleadershippod.com
Instagram: @loveleaderpod

Follow us on LinkedIn!
Kristen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenbsharkey/
Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-s-364970111/

Learn more about Kristen's leadership coaching and facilitation services: http://www.emboldify.com

What does it really mean to be an ally in today's workplace? For Amira Barger, Executive Vice President of DEI Advisory and Health Communications at Edelman, it's about going beyond being "nice." Growing up as the daughter of missionaries in Guam, Amira learned early on about meeting people's needs and building community. Now, she's challenging leaders to move past surface-level actions and ask the critical question: "What do you need to show up as your chosen self?" In this powerful conversation, Amira shares why "nice is not the measure" when it comes to creating real change, how behavioral communication shaped campaigns like "Don't Mess with Texas," and what it means to be a leader who truly builds capacity in others rather than just checking boxes.

About Amira

Amira Barger is a multi-award-winning Executive Vice President at Edelman, focusing on health equity, DEI, and employee engagement. She provides strategic communications counsel that mobilizes communities and inspires action. As a professor at California State University East Bay, she teaches marketing, communications, and change management. She leverages design thinking to advance DEI and writes about Black women in the workplace and actionable steps for Black liberation in publications like Fast Company and MSNBC.

Highlights:

• Growing up in Guam as part of a missionary family taught Amira the importance of meeting community needs, particularly in healthcare
• How iving through major events shaped her view that we're "whole humans, not just working humans"
• The power of the "platinum rule" - treating others as they want to be treated - versus the traditional golden rule
• Why DEI work remains vital despite backlash, and how everyday workers across political lines value inclusion
• The "curb cut effect" - how solutions designed for specific groups often benefit everyone
• Why "chosen self" can be more meaningful than "authentic self" in professional settings
• How middle managers shape workplace culture and why they need more capacity building, not just training
• Why "nice is not the measure" and the importance of being a co-conspirator rather than just an ally
• Using behavioral communication principles to create positive change

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• Learn more about Amira’s work:
  • LinkedIn Profile
  • Instagram (@amirabarger)
  • Writing Portfolio
• Fortune's Report on Accidental Managers (2024)
• Don’t Mess with Texas - Fabulous Thunderbirds Ad (1986)
• The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier

Get your FREE 5 Day Leadership Reset Challenge guide here: https://llpod.link/challenge

Podcast Website: www.loveandleadershippod.com
Instagram: @loveleaderpod

Follow us on LinkedIn!
Kristen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenbsharkey/
Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-s-364970111/

Learn more about Kristen's leadership coaching and facilitation services: http://www.emboldify.com

Love and Leadership is taking a break this week, but we're re-airing one of our favorite early episodes to help you set the tone for the new year! In this episode, Kristen and Mike dive into the evolving concept of leadership presence. They explore how traditional notions of executive presence are shifting, with a growing emphasis on emotional intelligence, authenticity, and inclusivity. Drawing from Kristen's improv-inspired leadership model, they discuss practical ways to enhance awareness, authenticity, and connection in leadership roles. This episode gives leaders at all levels practical tips to build a leadership style that works well in today's work world. Listeners will come away with actionable strategies to boost their leadership effectiveness and create more meaningful connections with their teams.

Highlights:

• The changing landscape of executive presence over the past decade
• The misconception that charisma is necessary for effective leadership
• The growing emphasis on inclusivity and respect for others in leadership
• The importance of authenticity in modern leadership
• The role of bias in leadership perceptions and decision-making
• Kristen's AdLib leadership presence model: awareness, authenticity, and connection
• The importance of mindfulness and different levels of listening in leadership
• Understanding and managing your inner judge to foster authenticity
• The power of "Yes, And" in building trust and fostering creativity
• How to recognize and appreciate team members effectively
• Leadership as an ongoing journey of learning and growth

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• HBR: The New Rules of Executive Presence by Sylvia Ann Hewlett
• Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
• Good to Great by Jim Collins
• The Five Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace by Gary Chapman and Paul White

Get your FREE 5 Day Leadership Reset Challenge guide here: https://llpod.link/challenge

Podcast Website: www.loveandleadershippod.com
Instagram: @loveleaderpod

Follow us on LinkedIn!
Kristen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenbsharkey/
Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-s-364970111/

Learn more about Kristen's leadership coaching and facilitation services: http://www.emboldify.com

As the year winds down, Kristen shares her tried-and-tested process for conducting a personal annual review - a practice she's refined over 15 years. Whether you're reflecting on your career progression or contemplating personal growth, this episode offers a straightforward approach to evaluating your year and setting meaningful goals for 2025. Plus, Mike shares his perspective on performance reviews from his executive experience and why the Marine Corps' evaluation system stands out as a model of excellence.

Want to make 2025 your best year yet? Download Kristen's free 20-page Personal Annual Review workbook and follow along with this episode. The workbook includes guided exercises, reflection prompts, and the full "Wheel of Life" assessment tool to help you create a clear vision for the year ahead. And, follow it up with a free 30-minute coaching session with Kristen (available for January only).

Episode Highlights:

• The perfect timing of the week between Christmas and New Year's for reflection and planning
• A simple but effective three-part process for conducting your personal annual review
• The importance of celebrating wins and acknowledging challenges from the past year
• How to use the "Wheel of Life" coaching tool to evaluate different areas of your life
• Tips for setting measurable goals while staying flexible in your approach
• The value of identifying energy-giving and energy-draining activities
• Why writing things down by hand can lead to deeper insights
• The power of choosing a theme word for your upcoming year

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• Free Personal Annual Review Workbook: llpod.link/2024review
• Book your free 30-minute coaching session with Kristen (exclusive January 2025 offer)
• The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan & Dr. Benjamin Hardy
• Jocko Podcast: 174 with Echo Charles
• Marine Corps Evaluation Form
• Sahil Bloom: The Personal Annual Review

Podcast Website: www.loveandleadershippod.com
Instagram: @loveleaderpod

Follow us on LinkedIn!
Kristen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenbsharkey/
Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-s-364970111/

Learn more about Kristen's leadership coaching and facilitation services: http://www.emboldify.com