Show Up As A Leader Archives

The Courageous Leadership Series: From Stuck to Sustainable: Future-Ready Leaders for Human-Centered Cultures

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The leadership pipeline is crumbling. Gen Z doesn’t want in. Current leaders want out. So… what now?

In this episode of the Courageous Leadership Series, Dr. Rosie Ward brings it all home with urgent, research-backed insights into what it truly takes to become a future-ready, human-centered leader. This isn’t just another chat. Rosie unpacks the "why" behind her years of research and gives a bold reality check: without rethinking how we lead, workplaces will continue to feel lonely, disconnected, and unsustainable.

With Nikki Lewallen Gregory guiding the conversation, Rosie dives into sobering data on burnout, disconnection, and the leadership pipeline crisis, but also offers a path forward. Learn about her three-pronged approach to future-proof leadership that begins with inner work, strengthens team trust, and embeds systems for real, lasting change.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or questioned your place in leadership, this episode will reignite your sense of purpose and provide practical tools to lead with courage, connection, and clarity. Let’s build workplaces where people actually want to show up.

Rosie in My Pocket podcast graphic featuring Dr. Rosie Ward on a pink background with gold accents and the episode title ‘Giving Extra Grace.

Rosie in My Pocket: Giving Extra Grace

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What if the key to stronger leadership isn’t pushing through, but slowing down?

Rosie gets personal about what it really takes to lead well when life gets messy. From unexpected stressors to brain fog and simple mistakes, Rosie shares how she’s learning to extend more grace, to herself and others, and how that shift is actually making her more effective.

She explores how to move from judgment to curiosity, chaos to clarity, and exhaustion to empowerment. By applying leadership tools like “above the line” thinking to her own challenges, Rosie models what it looks like to recalibrate without shame. It’s not about perfection. It’s about presence, intention, and progress.

Whether you're leading a team or just trying to get through a tough season, this one’s a must-listen reminder that giving yourself more grace isn’t letting go, it’s leveling up.

Mattering Is the Future of Leadership with Zach Mercurio

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What if the key to transforming workplace culture isn’t perks or programs, but one powerful, overlooked human need?

Rosie sits down with Zach Mercurio, author of “The Power of Mattering” and one of Inc.'s top 50 leadership experts, to explore why mattering might just be the most important leadership skill of our time.

Together, they unpack how feeling seen, valued, and essential isn’t just a “nice-to-have,” it’s a basic human need that directly impacts engagement, trust, and performance. Zach gives insights on why intuition doesn’t scale, how “soft” skills are now business-critical, and why the future of leadership depends on how we treat each other in the next interaction.

From practical tools like the “Noticing Notebook” to powerful mindset shifts that rehumanize the workplace, this episode is packed with soul and strategy.

Promotional graphic for the podcast episode “Redefining Leadership Through Love” featuring Gretchen Schott, Founder and Owner of Leading Well, with Show Up as a Leader with Dr. Rosie Ward branding.

Redefining Leadership Through Love with Gretchen Schott

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What if loving your job wasn’t a luxury, but your right?

Rosie sits down with growth strategist, executive coach, and keynote speaker Gretchen Schott to unpack the powerful idea of leading with love and why joy at work isn’t just possible, it’s a choice.

They dive into what it really means to feel affirmed and significant in your role, the difference between being nice and kind, and why being a loving leader doesn’t mean being soft.

Gretchen shares her leadership framework rooted in humility, confidence, and motivation, and offers practical, real-world ways to bring more meaning, energy, and connection to your work.

If you’ve ever wondered how to thrive (not just survive) in your career, this episode is your permission slip to lead, and live, with love.

Rosie in My Pocket: Turning to Wonder

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How often do you find yourself thinking, “They should know better,” or “Why would they do it that way?”

Rosie gets real about our human tendency to judge, and how that instinct quietly blocks us from truly showing up for others. She shares a transformative mindset shift inspired by the Center for Courage and Renewal’s Circle of Trust touchstone: When the going gets rough, turn to wonder.

Rosie invites us to pause judgment and instead lean into curiosity. What might be happening beneath the surface? What if there’s more to the story? These small shifts can dramatically improve how we lead, relate, and support those around us.

If you’ve been feeling disconnected, reactive, or overwhelmed lately, this episode offers a grounded, actionable path forward, rooted in compassion and courage. Let’s turn to wonder and see what opens up.

Every Leader Needs a Personal Board of Directors with Melanie Stuber

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What if the key to leadership isn’t having all the answers, but being brave enough to show up without them?

Rosie sits down with Melanie Stuber, former corporate exec turned culture guide and CEO of Cultivate and Thrive, to talk about the real work behind authentic leadership. From shedding the pressure to be “perfect” in a male-dominated industry to building a personal board of directors that actually fuels your growth, Melanie shares her journey of choosing courage over control and presence over polish.

Together, they unpack what it truly means to thrive as a leader in today’s world, where connection is currency, and vulnerability isn’t a weakness, but a superpower.

Melanie’s practical frameworks, reflection questions, and perspective shifts will leave you thinking deeply about how you show up, for yourself and your people.

Whether you’re navigating a career pivot, leading a team, or just tired of playing small, this conversation will give you the tools and the nudge you need to lead with purpose and power.

Rosie in My Pocket: Bucketing Your Time

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Feeling overwhelmed by your never-ending to-do list?

Rosie introduces a powerful four-bucket framework that helps you sort your work into what energizes you, what’s just neutral, what drains you, and what you wish you had time for.

This isn’t just about productivity. It’s about clarity, boundaries, and aligning with your strengths. Whether you’re a leader ready to optimize your team's gifts or simply craving more fulfillment in your day-to-day, Rosie shows you how this simple reflection exercise can open up honest conversations and create space for everyone’s sparkle to shine.

Scaling Culture Without Losing Soul with Tim Leman

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How do you scale a people-first culture without sacrificing speed or consistency?

Rosie dives into a real, transparent conversation with Tim Leman, CEO of Gibson, as he shares how embracing process became the unexpected accelerator for growth, speed, and consistency across a multi-location business.

From recruiting top talent using assessments like Kolbe and Working Genius to creating psychological safety through team-based transparency, Tim breaks down exactly how they’ve built a high-performance culture without losing their heart. He even gets vulnerable about ego, stepping back from a big opportunity, and how a good system can actually bring freedom.

If you think systems kill creativity, this episode might just change your mind.

Rosie in My Pocket: Put People First

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What if the way you label people is quietly eroding trust, connection, and collaboration in your workplace?

Rosie unpacks a powerful truth many leaders overlook: when we define people by their roles, titles, or conditions, we strip away their humanity. Whether it’s calling someone “a diabetic” or placing a CEO on a pedestal, these seemingly small habits can create distance and reinforce hierarchy. Rosie invites us to pause, shift our lens, and see the person first.

This isn’t about theory. It’s a real-world challenge to catch ourselves in those micro-moments when judgment creeps in and instead choose curiosity and connection.

Get ready for a refreshingly honest take on what it really means to lead with heart and re-humanize the spaces we work in.

Leading with Heart at Global Scale with Brian Garish

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What if the secret to scaling leadership across 70,000 people wasn’t strategy, but staying human?

Rosie catches up with Brian Garish, an unapologetically people-first leader who brings equal parts strategy, humility, and heart. From mopping floors at Walgreens at 16 to guiding global teams across 20+ countries, Brian shares real talk about staying grounded, leading with courage, and putting purpose over ego.

They dive into the art of listening at scale, why leadership is about how you make people feel, and how culture isn’t what’s on the wall, it’s what happens in the halls.

Laughter, reflection, and practical gems unfold, highlighting what it means to lead more humanely, whether at the helm of a global organization or creating impact in everyday spaces.