Grounded and Aligned™

Karen Gombault
  • 4.6 (11)
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  • Updated Weekly

Grounded and Aligned™ is a podcast for people in senior roles who carry real responsibility - budgets, teams, visibility, and pressure that doesn’t switch off at the end of the day. If your role has grown faster than your comfort zone… If you’re managing up, setting boundaries, delegating, and absorbing more than you used to… If you care about being effective and human (without being inauthentic or pushing yourself past your limits), this show is for you. I’m Karen Gombault. I’ve spent decades working internationally in complex corporate environments, and today I work as an executive coach with senior professionals navigating expanded scope and expectations. Each week, I take one real situation and slow it down... not to analyze it, but to bring perspective, language, and judgment back into the picture. No hype. No generic advice. Just grounded conversations for navigating complex roles with composure and self-trust. 🎧 Subscribe and tune in weekly. Let's connect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karengombault/ https://www.instagram.com/karengombaultcoaching/ Email: Karen@karengombault.com For coaching inquiries or to learn more, visit: https://www.karengombault.com/workwithme

  1. Jun 16

    71. New Job? Spend Time on What Matters

    Stepping into a bigger role can be exciting - but it can also create blind spots that slow your momentum. In this episode of Grounded and Aligned, Karen shares four leadership patterns she repeatedly sees among senior leaders who have recently taken on more responsibility through promotion, growth, acquisition, reorganization, or expanded scope. Drawing from real client experiences, Karen explores why high-performing leaders often struggle to let go of operational work, underestimate the importance of relationships, over-explain their decisions, and overlook the human impact of change. If you're navigating a new leadership role—or preparing for one—this episode will help you avoid common mistakes and accelerate your impact. Key TakeawaysStop doing and start enabling. Bigger roles require more strategic thinking, delegation, and long-term planning—not more execution. Relationships become a leadership priority. As your scope grows, your ability to influence through others becomes more important than your individual contribution. Explaining is different from justifying. Provide context and visibility, but avoid slipping into defensive explanations that undermine your authority. Don't underestimate the human side of leadership. Change affects people emotionally, even when it makes sense on paper. Leadership transitions require intentional adaptation. The habits that made you successful in your previous role may not be the habits that will make you successful in your next one. Register for the Momentum Sprint starting June 18: https://karen-gombault-coaching-ffzda0.subscribepage.io Stakeholder Strategy: Reduce the Learning Curve of Your New Role. We start beginning of July: https://karengombault-stakeholderstrategy.subscribepage.io Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karengombault/

    13 min
  2. 70. Integrating Intuition into Strategy and Leadership [2026 Leadership Series]

    Apr 29

    70. Integrating Intuition into Strategy and Leadership [2026 Leadership Series]

    In this episode of Grounded and Aligned™, Karen Gombault speaks with Leah Goldman, founder of an advisory firm focused on integrating intuition into leadership and strategy. The discussion focuses on how leaders make decisions in environments where there is no clear cause and effect. If you’re working with incomplete or conflicting information, this episode looks at how intuition can be used alongside data to support clearer and faster decision-making. Karen and Leah look at: The limits of relying only on data in complex and uncertain situationsHow misunderstanding control leads to ineffective decision-makingIntuition as experience-based input, not guessworkThe impact of information overload on clarity and judgmentThe use of simple structures to support better decisions When data is not enough, decision quality depends on how well leaders use both analysis and experience to move forward with clarity. ----- Leah Goldman is the founder of The Intuition Strategist, an advisory firm helping ambitious leaders and organizations integrate intuition and strategy to achieve aligned success. She is the creator of Intuition Strategy®, teaching leaders to trust their gut to make faster, more confident decisions that lead to transformative results. A globally recognized authority on integrating invisible data – unspoken signals that algorithms can’t measure, like experience, conflict, trust, and interpersonal dynamics – into leadership and strategy, Leah helps visionary executives use innovative tools like Corporate Tarot Cards® to turn their Human AI — Actionable Intuition™ — into a competitive advantage. Her work reframes intuition as the most powerful form of intelligence for navigating a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world. Links: https://intuitionstrategist.com/ https://clarityblueprintwithleah.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahgoldman/ Connect with Karen: Karen Gombault | LinkedIn

    38 min
  3. 69. Leadership Bottlenecks That Disrupt Revenue Growth [2026 Leadership Series]

    Apr 22

    69. Leadership Bottlenecks That Disrupt Revenue Growth [2026 Leadership Series]

    In this episode of Grounded and Aligned™, Karen Gombault speaks with Kirsten Schmidtke, founder of a revenue leadership consulting firm focused on B2B technology companies. The discussion examines why revenue issues are often treated as sales problems when they come from how leadership is operating. If your growth targets are not converting into consistent results, this episode looks at how leadership structure, priorities, and decisions affect revenue, especially in the context of AI, remote work, and shifting buyer expectations. Karen and Kirsten look at: The gap between individual sales performance and the ability to generate revenue through a teamHow low trust in forecasting leads to inefficient inspection processes and slower deal cyclesThe effect of multiple or unclear priorities on execution quality and consistency across teamsLeadership-created bottlenecks that restrict deal progression and reduce responsiveness in the sales cycleThe shift from managing activity to coaching for judgment and decision-making in complex sales environments Revenue variability is usually driven by how leadership operates, not the market. Clear standards, consistent execution, and fewer internal obstacles determine how reliable results are. Kirsten Schmidtke is the founder of Kirsten Schmidtke Coaching & Consulting, a revenue leadership consulting firm serving B2B technology companies. With 15+ years in enterprise tech, including AWS, she has generated over $100M in revenue and carried multimillion-dollar quotas. She works with CEOs and CROs to close the leadership execution gap that stalls pipeline, burns out sellers, and keeps revenue unpredictable — helping them find the one problem that, when solved, unlocks revenue growth. www.linkedin.com/in/kirstenschmidtke/ www.instagram.com/kirstenschmidtke/ Connect with Karen: Karen Gombault | LinkedIn

    37 min

  4. Apr 15

    68. Authentic Visibility

    In this episode of Grounded and Aligned™, Karen looks at a common tension in senior roles: you are expected to be visible and well-connected, but much of the advice on how to do this feels unnatural. As expectations increase, visibility is no longer optional. It affects how often you are brought into discussions, how your work is recognized, and how decisions move along. The episode focuses on how to approach visibility and relationships in a way that is consistent with your innate personality, rather than adopting behaviours that feel forced. Karen looks at Why visibility is required if you want your work to be seen, supported, and acted onTwo practical ways visibility shows up: being consistently present and top of mind, or being more selective but clear when something mattersThe downside of forcing visibility tactics that don’t match how you naturally interact, and how quickly that becomes noticeable You do not need to change your personality to be visible, but you do need to be intentional. The key is to make sure people know you are there, understand your contribution, and hear from you when it matters. Next steps 🤝 Connect on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/karengombault/

    11 min

  5. Apr 2

    67. You Don't Have to Choose Between Integrity and Influence

    Most senior leaders who avoid the informal conversations — the individual check-ins, the quiet conversations before a decision needs to be made— aren't doing it because they're lazy or disorganised. They're doing it because it doesn't feel right. It feels like politics. Like pre-managing the outcome. Like their work should be strong enough to stand on its own. And that instinct, as understandable as it is, is quietly costing them. In this episode, Karen looks at what happens when strong work meets an audience that wasn't brought along and why the leaders who build the most genuine influence are also the most deliberate about their relationships. In this episode: Why a concern raised in private stays manageable — and the same concern raised in public becomes a positionHow your peers are forming a read on you, whether you're actively shaping it or notThe difference between being politically aware and compromising your integrityOne reframe and two practical things to do before your next significant ask If you've ever walked out of a meeting wondering what happened — this episode is worth your time. Next steps: Follow Karen on Substack where she writes about power, politics and influence: https://karengombault.substack.com/ Connect with Karen on Linkedin: Karen Gombault | LinkedIn

    16 min
  6. 66. From Compliance to Commitment in Team Performance [2026 Leadership Series]

    Mar 27

    66. From Compliance to Commitment in Team Performance [2026 Leadership Series]

    Organizations often respond to performance challenges by adding more accountability: additional metrics, more reporting, and closer monitoring. Yet in many cases, these efforts do not solve the underlying problem. In this episode of Grounded and Aligned™, Karen speaks with leadership researcher and author Patrick Veroneau about the difference between accountability and ownership in high-performing teams. Drawing on two decades of work with leaders and teams across industries, Patrick explains why many organizations struggle with engagement even while emphasizing accountability. The conversation explores a structural pattern Patrick has observed repeatedly. Teams that struggle, teams that perform at an average level, and teams that consistently excel all engage in three behaviors: they support each other, celebrate each other, and challenge each other. The difference lies in the sequence. Great teams begin with support. When people trust that others have their backs, challenge becomes constructive rather than defensive, and accountability shifts from external pressure to internal ownership. For leaders, the implication is significant. Engagement, ownership, and performance are not created through tighter oversight. They emerge when leaders create the conditions where people choose to take responsibility for the shared mission. Key discussion points:Why organizations that focus primarily on accountability often miss the deeper issue of ownershipThe three behaviors all teams demonstrate — support, celebrate, challenge — and why the sequence mattersHow the CABLES model builds trust and credibility through consistent leadership behaviorsThe five levels of the Accountability Staircase and how language signals where a team is operatingWhy compliance creates average teams, while commitment creates high-performing onesHow small improvements and declines compound over time through the “1% principle” High-performing teams rarely emerge from pressure alone. They form when individuals feel supported, valued, and connected to the mission. At that point accountability no longer needs to be imposed from the outside. People begin to take ownership for the success of the team itself. Connect with Patrick here:Patrick Veroneau website: www.emeryleadershipgroup.comFree leadership resources and downloads (CABLES model, team assessments, etc.): Resources - Emery Leadership Group - Portland, MECABLES model: CABLES Leadership ModelBook: The Missing Piece: What Great Teams Do That Others OverlookBook: The Leadership BridgeLinkedin: Patrick Veroneau, MS | LinkedIn

    42 min

  7. Mar 25

    65. Say The Actual Thing

    In this episode of Grounded and Aligned™, Karen examines something most senior leaders do but rarely admit: assuming the people around them already know what they need. Not because they're conflict-averse. Not because they're passive. But because at senior levels, asking can feel like a signal that something has gone wrong. The result is a pattern that quietly damages relationships in both directions — with the boss who doesn't know what support you need, and with the team working hard on the wrong version of what you wanted. Karen looks at: Why senior leaders avoid being direct about what they need and the specific belief driving itWhat the silence actually costs, with your boss, with your team, and in the relationships that matter mostThe difference between being direct and being blunt and why that distinction matters at this levelWhat it actually sounds like to ask clearly: the language, the framing, and the two things that make it workWhy most relationship friction at senior levels isn't conflict — it's accumulated assumption At senior levels, the people around you are busy, under pressure, and managing their own complexity. They are not going to guess correctly. Clarity is not a sign of weakness. Ambiguity is. Next steps: If you are postponing a conversation — with your boss, with a key stakeholder, or with someone on your team — and you want to think it through before you have it, book a Focus-15. In 15 minutes, you will clarify what you actually need to say, how to frame it, and what outcome you're working toward. You will leave with a clear direction and the confidence to move forward. https://www.karengombault.com/schedule Follow Karen's writing on Substack, where she examines the structural importance of relationships and alignment at senior levels. https://karengombault.substack.com 🤝 Connect on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/karengombault/

    17 min
  8. 64. Leading People Starts With Leading Yourself [2026 Leadership Series]

    Mar 20

    64. Leading People Starts With Leading Yourself [2026 Leadership Series]

    Leadership conversations often focus on strategy, growth, and organizational change. Yet the daily reality of leadership still comes down to something more fundamental: how effectively leaders manage people and themselves. In this episode of Grounded and Aligned™, Karen speaks with leadership coach Kris Plachy about what has — and has not — changed in leadership as we move into 2026. Drawing on three decades of work with female founders and CEOs, Kris argues that the fundamentals remain the same: leaders set direction, clarify expectations, and hold people accountable for results. What has changed is the environment in which those fundamentals now operate. Leaders are managing teams with shorter attention spans, greater emotional volatility, and increasing distraction. At the same time, many leaders struggle with the very conversations required to maintain accountability. The discussion explores why emotional regulation is not a “soft skill,” but a core leadership requirement. When leaders cannot manage their own emotional responses, they lose authority in difficult conversations and allow behavior patterns that ultimately undermine results. For senior leaders, the implication is direct: leadership effectiveness is less about new frameworks and more about mastering the internal mechanics that determine how you respond in pressure moments. Key takeawaysWhy the fundamentals of leadership have not changed, even as the external environment has become more complexThe growing challenge leaders face managing teams in a culture of distraction and shortened attentionWhy many leaders avoid accountability conversations, even when performance expectations are clearHow emotional regulation determines whether leaders maintain authority in difficult momentsThe connection between self-leadership, organizational performance, and business outcomesHow changing the way leaders interpret situations can transform both business results and personal freedom Leadership ultimately reveals how well someone can lead themselves. When leaders learn to regulate their emotional responses, they regain the ability to address problems directly, set clear expectations, and make decisions that serve the organization rather than their discomfort. That shift often changes both the trajectory of the business and the life of the leader. Connect with Kris:Kris Plachy website: https://thevisionary.ceoBook, The One Hour Leader: https://thevisionary.ceo/onehourleader Kris Plachy books : How to Coach a Difficult Person in Six StepsFive Truths for Thinking About Difficult People LinkedIn: Kris Plachy | LinkedIn

    44 min
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4.6
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Grounded and Aligned™ is a podcast for people in senior roles who carry real responsibility - budgets, teams, visibility, and pressure that doesn’t switch off at the end of the day. If your role has grown faster than your comfort zone… If you’re managing up, setting boundaries, delegating, and absorbing more than you used to… If you care about being effective and human (without being inauthentic or pushing yourself past your limits), this show is for you. I’m Karen Gombault. I’ve spent decades working internationally in complex corporate environments, and today I work as an executive coach with senior professionals navigating expanded scope and expectations. Each week, I take one real situation and slow it down... not to analyze it, but to bring perspective, language, and judgment back into the picture. No hype. No generic advice. Just grounded conversations for navigating complex roles with composure and self-trust. 🎧 Subscribe and tune in weekly. Let's connect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karengombault/ https://www.instagram.com/karengombaultcoaching/ Email: Karen@karengombault.com For coaching inquiries or to learn more, visit: https://www.karengombault.com/workwithme

Information

  • Creator
    Karen Gombault
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    72
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Karen Gombault
  • Show Website
    Grounded and Aligned™