Stepping Into your Leadership

The Leadership Program
  • 5.0 (23)
  • MANAGEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Are you ready to step into leadership with clarity, confidence, and authentic impact? Stepping into Leadership is your go-to podcast for practical strategies, real-life insights, and inspiring stories that empower you to lead with intention. Hosted by leadership mentor Christine Courtney, each episode blends genuine warmth, relatable experiences, and actionable advice designed to help leaders navigate challenges and embrace growth. You’ll gain fresh perspectives, tools for real-world scenarios, and a supportive framework to turn bold ideas into tangible results—bridging vision and execution seamlessly. Whether you're an experienced leader or stepping up for the first time, this podcast equips you to drive meaningful change in your life, your team, and your organization. Subscribe now and step confidently into your next level of leadership!

  1. 1H AGO

    Credibility on Command, Communicating When Stakes Are High

    Christine Courtney sits down with veteran journalist, longtime anchor, and journalism professor Monica Malpass for a lively conversation on what leaders can learn from life in the spotlight. Monica shares how she built a specialty by asking for opportunities, how she prepared for high-stakes interviews [including a memorable one-on-one with President Obama], and what it really takes to stay steady when the pressure is on. Together, they unpack practical behaviors that build trust fast, presence, posture, eye contact, and the quiet confidence of “i belong here.” Monica also offers a smart approach for asking better questions, keeping conversations from getting hijacked, and using preparation to stay flexible in the moment. If you’ve ever walked into a room with nerves, faced a tough conversation, or needed to hold the thread when someone tries to pull you off track, this episode gives you a clear, usable playbook. Youtube: News to the Street

    37 min

  2. FEB 11

    Stay at Baseline: Emotional Intelligence for Real-World Management

    New role. New pressure. Now what? In this conversation, Christine sits down with senior leader and coach Tom Armstrong to get practical about the first season of management—where emotional intelligence meets everyday execution. They unpack why your ability to hold “baseline” under stress changes the room, how weekly one-on-ones quietly prevent big problems, and what effective delegation actually looks like when you’re moving from individual contributor to people manager. You’ll hear the simple structure Tom uses with 10+ direct reports, the mindset shift that earns trust (not just compliance), and a reality check for new managers who feel like “doing it myself” is faster. If you’re ready to build real leadership habits—one repeatable behavior at a time—this one’s for you. (Plus, Christine shares a cringe-but-true early mistake you don’t have to repeat.) Show notes / Key takeawaysHold your baseline: regulate yourself so your team can co-regulate with you.Know the person, not the stereotype: everyone’s “baseline” looks different.One-on-ones are the operating system: 30 minutes weekly, they lead first.Delegation ≠ dumping: give stretch work that’s “small rock” to you, growth rock to them.Assume a quality dip at first; coach to the standard you need.Resist the “I’ll just do it” reflex—learning requires room to wobble.Monthly, add a 10-10-10: 10 min them, 10 you, 10 big picture (industry, role trajectory).Trust rides on consistency: scheduled, protected time beats ad-hoc drive-bys.

    33 min

  3. FEB 4

    Leading with Legacy: A Mother–Daughter Story of Reinvention and Continuity

    In this episode, we sit down with a mother–daughter leadership team whose story captures what this show is all about, how leaders grow, evolve, and hand forward a legacy with intention. Susan White Morrissey founded White & Warren nearly 30 years ago with a simple idea, make beautiful, lasting knitwear that women could live in. Today, her daughter, Catherine, leads the company through its next chapter, guiding a bold rebrand that honors the brand’s roots while moving it into the future. Our conversation explores what it means to build something that lasts, how leadership shifts across generations, and what happens when experience and fresh vision meet at the same table. We talk about family and business, the realities of leading together, and the courage it takes to trust the next evolution of your own work. If you care about legacy, reinvention, and the heart behind great leadership, this is a conversation you’ll want to be part of.

    34 min
  4. Stop Performing, Start Leading, Power Presence in Real Life

    JAN 28

    Stop Performing, Start Leading, Power Presence in Real Life

    What separates the leaders who keep climbing from the ones who plateau? Discipline, structure, and the ability to show up when motivation fades. In this episode, Christine sits down with Dre Baldwin, former pro basketball player turned entrepreneur, author, and founder of Work On Your Game University. Dre breaks down what “work on your game” really means beyond sports, why power presence matters more than perfect words, and what high performance actually requires in real life. You’ll hear Dre’s “Third Day” concept, the moment when the excitement wears off and the real work begins, plus five practical ways to build power presence immediately, without becoming a different person. You’ll learn: Why leaders need power presence, not just smart ideasThe “Third Day” decision that separates pros from amateursWhat high performance requires, structure over motivationWhy leadership means disappointing people at a rate they can accept5 actionable ways to increase your presence fastGet Dre’s book: The Third Day is free, you cover shipping at thirddaybook.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    38 min
  5. Management 101, The Real First Rule: Become the Student

    JAN 21

    Management 101, The Real First Rule: Become the Student

    What do new managers actually need to learn first, before the meetings, the metrics, the awkward feedback conversations, and the pressure to “prove” they belong in the role? In this episode, Christine is joined by crowd favorite Erica Petrelli-Bayh for a back-to-basics conversation on the fundamentals of managing humans, not just tasks. They revisit the core lessons from the Management 101 course they built years ago, and break down what makes the leap from individual contributor to leader so disorienting, and so fixable. You’ll hear: the first non-negotiable for new managers (hint: it’s not “have all the answers”)the biggest shock when you go from doing great work to leading people who do the workthe technical essentials that keep teams on target, and why “systems” matter more than any one toolhow to run better one-on-ones and meetings by tending to time and energyhow to give clear, kind feedback without avoiding it for six monthshow trust gets built quickly, using psychological safety as your compassIf you’ve recently stepped into management, or you’re promoting someone who has, this is your foundation episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    41 min
  6. Stop Debating RTO, Start Designing the Experience

    JAN 14

    Stop Debating RTO, Start Designing the Experience

    We’re back for 2026 with a new focus: leaders must stop debating return-to-office like it’s a policy issue and start treating it like an experience issue. Christine shares why culture is built in moments, not perks, why the next generation needs more intentional connection, and one bold action to take today, cut every meeting and rebuild only what matters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    14 min
  7. Start With a Story: The Leadership Skill That Changes Everything

    07/16/2025

    Start With a Story: The Leadership Skill That Changes Everything

    n this special episode of our Storytelling Summer Series, Christine Courtney unpacks one of the most underestimated leadership tools: the power of story. From a high-stakes Department of Education pitch to team-building icebreakers that actually work, Christine shares why storytelling isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a strategic skill every leader should master. You’ll learn: Why storytelling is 22x more effective than data aloneThe four elements every impactful story needsHow to bring stories into retreats, team meetings, and strategy sessionsEasy ways to get started, even if you don’t think you’re “a storyteller” Whether you’re planning a retreat or looking for fresh ways to deepen engagement, this episode will help you turn everyday moments into memorable leadership tools. 👉 Want to go deeper? Read our companion article on how to choose a retreat theme and thread story throughout. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    16 min
  8. Retreats With ROI: Make the Time Count

    07/09/2025

    Retreats With ROI: Make the Time Count

    Planning a retreat or offsite? This episode kicks off our special series on how to design experiences that actually shift your team’s energy, connection, and clarity. Christine is joined by Greg Shamie to unpack the real ROI of offsites—what works, what doesn’t, and how to make the time (and money) worth it. 🔗 Want more? We’ve bundled the full retreat series—including companion articles from Christine, Tatiana, and Greg—into one powerful resource: 👉 Read the full Retreat Issue at ledevpartners.com/the-retreat-issue Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    31 min
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Trailer

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About

Are you ready to step into leadership with clarity, confidence, and authentic impact? Stepping into Leadership is your go-to podcast for practical strategies, real-life insights, and inspiring stories that empower you to lead with intention. Hosted by leadership mentor Christine Courtney, each episode blends genuine warmth, relatable experiences, and actionable advice designed to help leaders navigate challenges and embrace growth. You’ll gain fresh perspectives, tools for real-world scenarios, and a supportive framework to turn bold ideas into tangible results—bridging vision and execution seamlessly. Whether you're an experienced leader or stepping up for the first time, this podcast equips you to drive meaningful change in your life, your team, and your organization. Subscribe now and step confidently into your next level of leadership!

Information

  • Creator
    The Leadership Program
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Leadership Program
  • Show Website
    Stepping Into your Leadership