Leadership Tea

Shelby Smith-Wilson and Belinda Jackson Farrier
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  • EVERY TWO WEEKS

On Leadership Tea, we talk about what it takes to reach the executive level, and how to thrive when you get there. Powerful leaders share their journeys, insights, and triumphs in conversations with hosts Shelby Smith-Wilson and Belinda Jackson Farrier. Join us every other Wednesday to be inspired by the unvarnished stories of amazing executives who know what it's like to be "the only" at the table and who have succeeded regardless. They have proven leadership experience in their respective fields, from international affairs to the private sector to academia, and want to help others create their own success stories.

  1. 1 APR

    Crisis Management for Leaders: Calm, Clarity, and Hard Decisions

    What does leadership look like when the playbook breaks down? In this episode of The Leadership Tea Podcast, Shelby and Belinda reflect on what crisis management requires from leaders when events are unfolding in real time. Drawing from their own experience in high-pressure environments, they discuss calm under pressure, executive presence, hard personnel decisions, internal communication, and the practical ways leaders can keep teams steady when everything feels uncertain. They also highlight the importance of knowing your people before a crisis begins and accepting support when the usual playbook no longer applies. This is a grounded conversation about leadership, resilience, and what it takes to move people to action when the stakes are high. Reach out for Coaching The Leadership Tea Podcast is brought to you by Grounded and Global Advisory, LLC. Grounded and Global is led by two former senior U.S. diplomats with 50 combined years of experience managing crises in the world's most complex environments. Our services include executive and leadership coaching (see here for our premier Centered Leader Program), crisis management consulting, strategic advisory, and workshop facilitation. We serve high-performing individuals who operate in unique spaces, such as athletes, universities, small businesses, and non-profits. Please contact us at hello@stirringsuccess.com. Send us a comment! Leadership Lessons From The Great BooksUnderstanding great literature is better than trying to read and understand (yet)...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show We publish new episodes every other Wednesday. Subscribe to the Leadership Tea PodcastSubscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube!Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights.

    24 min

  2. 18 MAR

    AI Can’t Replace Leadership: Wisdom, Strategy, and the Human Edge

    AI is moving fast, but leadership still requires judgment. In this episode, Shelby and Belinda are joined by Nadeen Matthews, Founder and CEO of Crescent Advisory Group, for a thoughtful conversation about leadership in the age of AI. Rather than focusing on hype or tools alone, Nadeen explains why leaders need to connect AI to business strategy, customer impact, employee readiness, and organizational risk. She also breaks down what executive AI fluency really means, why bias and fairness remain critical concerns, and why women must take their seat at the AI table. This episode is a practical, human-centered look at how leaders can engage AI with more wisdom, responsibility, and clarity. NOTE: Since this episode's recording, Claude has surpassed ChatGPT in terms of Apple store downloads; some other data mentioned in this episode may have changed. Send us a comment! Leadership Lessons From The Great BooksUnderstanding great literature is better than trying to read and understand (yet)...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show We publish new episodes every other Wednesday. Subscribe to the Leadership Tea PodcastSubscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube!Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights.

    45 min

  3. 4 MAR

    How to Have Difficult Conversations at Work: Boundaries, Timing, and Leadership

    Hard conversations are part of the job, and avoiding them costs more than most leaders realize. In this episode, Shelby and Belinda share a practical framework for navigating difficult conversations at work with clarity, boundaries, and discernment. They share executive-level strategies for adapting communication styles across different contexts, setting boundaries without overexplaining, and using silence as a powerful tool. Shelby also introduces a practical framework for hard conversations, clarifying the What, the Why, and the How, so leaders can prepare intentionally instead of reacting in the moment. The episode also explores the limits of chat-based communication and why leaders must choose the right tool for the message to build trust and real community. Send us a comment! Leadership Lessons From The Great BooksUnderstanding great literature is better than trying to read and understand (yet)...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show We publish new episodes every other Wednesday. Subscribe to the Leadership Tea PodcastSubscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube!Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights.

    27 min

  4. 18 FEB

    Culinary Diplomacy: Leadership, Relationships, and Soft Power with Jeremiah Knight

    What can the kitchen teach leaders about influence, trust, and soft power? In this episode, Shelby and Belinda are joined by Jeremiah Knight, Foreign Service Officer and author of Diplomat in the Kitchen, to explore leadership through the lens of culinary diplomacy. Jeremiah shares how food, storytelling, and hospitality can build trust across cultures and serve as a powerful form of soft power in professional environments. He also reflects on what it took to create Diplomat in the Kitchen over several years, including the importance of building the right team, accepting honest feedback, and pursuing a passion project strategically while maintaining a full-time career. This episode offers grounded leadership lessons on influence, discernment, resilience, and building relationships that last. Send us a comment! Leadership Lessons From The Great BooksUnderstanding great literature is better than trying to read and understand (yet)...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show We publish new episodes every other Wednesday. Subscribe to the Leadership Tea PodcastSubscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube!Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights.

    40 min

  5. 4 FEB

    Outrage Is Not Leadership: Judgment, Discernment, and When to Speak Up

    What does it really mean to stand for something as a leader right now? In this episode of The Leadership Tea Podcast, Shelby and Belinda discuss the growing pressure leaders face to speak out, and why outrage alone is not leadership. They explore how judgment, discernment, and timing play a critical role in deciding when to speak up, when to wait, and how to create lasting impact without grandstanding. Through thoughtful reflection and real-world examples, this conversation unpacks the difference between performative action and strategic leadership, the value of incremental change, and the importance of trust built over time. This episode is for leaders navigating polarized environments who want to lead with intention, credibility, and real influence. Send us a comment! Support the show We publish new episodes every other Wednesday. Subscribe to the Leadership Tea PodcastSubscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube!Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights.

    22 min

  6. 28 JAN

    Choosing Yourself at Work: Skill Security, Power & Leadership

    Cathy Duffy joins us to explore redefining power at work, building skill security, and choosing yourself as a leader in today’s evolving workplace. In the Season 5 premiere of The Leadership Tea Podcast, Cathy reflects on leadership from inside complex organizations, sharing hard-earned insights on compensation, identity beyond titles, and why job security is no longer enough. She challenges leaders to focus on skill security, generosity, and self-trust, especially in moments of transition or uncertainty. This conversation is a reminder that leadership unfolds in seasons, and that choosing yourself is not selfish, but essential to sustaining impact, clarity, and purpose at work. In this episode, we discuss: Skill security vs. job securityUnder-compensation and knowing your valueSeparating identity from titles and rolesRedefining power as flexibility and “power with”Why happiness is fleeting — and what to pursue insteadChoosing yourself without guilt at different life stagesSend us a comment! Leadership Lessons From The Great BooksUnderstanding great literature is better than trying to read and understand (yet)...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Support the show We publish new episodes every other Wednesday. Subscribe to the Leadership Tea PodcastSubscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube!Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights.

    38 min

  7. 14 JAN

    How Senior Leaders Win Q1: 4 Strategic Moves for a Productive First Quarter (2026)

    Ready to start 2026 with clarity instead of chaos? Belinda & Shelby lay out a four-move blueprint to make your first quarter productive and sane: choose a small number of strategic bets, audit and activate your influence architecture, fix friction in your systems, and lead at the pace of judgment. Rather than sprinting into January, we unpack how deliberate choices, cleaner processes, and thoughtful outreach create momentum that compounds into Q2 and Q3. Our four tips shape a practical, leader-ready playbook for Q1. If this episode resonated, follow us, share it with a colleague who’s planning their quarter, and leave a review with your top Q1 move—what will you prioritize first? Send us a comment! Support the show We publish new episodes every other Wednesday. Subscribe to the Leadership Tea PodcastSubscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube!Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights.

    12 min

  8. 21/12/2025

    Before You Plan 2026, Reflect on This About 2025

    In this Leadership Tea Podcast episode, Belinda and Shelby take stock of 2025 with clear eyes, celebrate wins, acknowledge lows, and set 2026 on two pillars: abundance and audacity. We trade scarcity for flow, set targets for brave action, and commit to celebrating progress while we implement at full speed. Here are the highlights: • review of our 2025 focus words and what they produced • identity shift after career change and entrepreneurship growth • choosing abundance over scarcity as a mental model • audacity as the engine for implementation in 2026 • embracing no’s as data and momentum • dreaming bigger and designing a life with flexibility • visualizing New Year’s Eve 2026 as a scoreboard • practical prompts for listener reflection and planning Please like and subscribe, and head to our website to find different programs and tools that we have available to hopefully get you ready for 2026! Send us a comment! Support the show We publish new episodes every other Wednesday. Subscribe to the Leadership Tea PodcastSubscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube!Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights.

    23 min
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Trailer

About

On Leadership Tea, we talk about what it takes to reach the executive level, and how to thrive when you get there. Powerful leaders share their journeys, insights, and triumphs in conversations with hosts Shelby Smith-Wilson and Belinda Jackson Farrier. Join us every other Wednesday to be inspired by the unvarnished stories of amazing executives who know what it's like to be "the only" at the table and who have succeeded regardless. They have proven leadership experience in their respective fields, from international affairs to the private sector to academia, and want to help others create their own success stories.

Information

  • Creator
    Shelby Smith-Wilson and Belinda Jackson Farrier
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    74
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Leadership Tea
  • Show Website
    Leadership Tea

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