Leadership Within

TK and Vanessa exploring the human side of leadership with honesty and heart.
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Welcome to Leadership Within, the podcast that dives deep into the human side of leadership. Hosted by Tomasz “TK” Kropiewnicki and Vanessa May, this series is a reflective space for leaders to explore authenticity, courage, and vulnerability in their journey. We offer honest conversations about the challenges and opportunities in leadership, inspired by our own experiences, thought-provoking ideas, and the occasional special guest. Whether it's a recent event, a personal story, or a listener's question, each episode is a chance to step back and reflect. If you’ve ever felt like leadership can be isolating or that your internal dialogue needs an external voice, this podcast is for you. Join us fortnightly to find inspiration, connection, and a deeper understanding of what it means to lead with heart. leadershipwithin.substack.com

  1. 2D AGO

    The Hard Choice Leaders Face in Toxic Cultures

    What do we do when the culture around us is not helping us do our best work? In this episode, we talk about a tough choice many leaders face. Do we stay and try to improve things? Do we leave and use our energy somewhere better? Or do we stay, complain, and slowly lose ourselves in the process? We explore how easy it is to blame the culture, the politics, or other people, while missing our own part in what is happening. We also talk about energy, agency, scarcity, and why poor culture can follow us if we do not stop and notice our own patterns. This is an honest chat about leadership, self-awareness, and the small choices that shape culture every day. And yes, there is also a surprisingly lovely lesson from geese🪿 If you’d like, I can also give you 3 shorter description options with slightly different tones, like more thoughtful, more direct, or more LinkedIn-friendly. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leadershipwithin.substack.com

    23 min

  2. FEB 22

    Do you have a preference for an Ask or a Guess Culture?

    In this episode, we talk about something that quietly shapes how we lead and work with others: ask culture vs guess culture. We explore why some of us ask directly for what we need, while others hint, soften, or wait to be read. We share real examples from coaching and client work, and we look at how power, pace, fear, and past experiences can all affect how we communicate. We also talk about why directness can feel uncomfortable, but still bring relief. Clarity helps. Guessing often creates stress. We reflect on performance conversations, “powerful questions”, and the reality that not everyone can answer big questions on the spot. Sometimes people need time. Sometimes we do too. This is a practical and honest chat about communication, leadership, and self-awareness. We end with a simple reminder: notice when we are guessing, forgive ourselves, and try a clearer ask next time 😊 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leadershipwithin.substack.com

    22 min

  3. FEB 8

    Getting Off the High Horse: Ego, Status, and Results

    In this episode of Leadership Within, we talk about what happens when a leader’s ego gets poked. That moment when we feel disrespected, overlooked, or “put in our place”. And suddenly we are sulking, overthinking, or making choices we would never make on a good day. We keep it real. We share how ego hijacks show up, why we are wired to track threat, and what it costs teams when leaders react instead of respond. Then we get practical. We explore small ways to pause, breathe, and get back to what matters. Results, relationships, and calm decisions. Even when it means bowing our heads a little. 😊🎙️ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leadershipwithin.substack.com

    26 min

  4. JAN 25

    Leading without Blame: Taking Your Part

    In this episode of we get into something that shows up at work and at home. Blame. We talk about that split second when something goes wrong and our mind jumps to “whose fault is this?”. We share real examples, including moments where we noticed the judgement rising and chose not to act on it. We explore what helps us step out of the blame cycle. Pausing. Getting curious about what we need in that moment. Asking, “What’s my part in this?” and “What assumptions am I making?”. And then making a clear decision. Do we want to invest in the relationship, or let it go? We also look at teams, when one person becomes the scapegoat, and how leaders can shift the tone from blame to care. 🙂 References * Beyond Blame: A New Way of Resolving Conflicts in Relationships by Jeffrey A. Kottler This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leadershipwithin.substack.com

    26 min

  5. JAN 11

    It Takes Two: Building a Better Relationship With Your Boss

    It’s a new year, and lots of people start thinking about work changes. There’s that old line: people don’t leave jobs, they leave bosses. In this episode, we look at the other side of it too. What if the relationship with your boss is something you can shape, not just suffer? We talk about the real stuff. Walking on eggshells. Picking the “right moment”. Feeling the power gap, and worrying how honesty will land. We explore boundaries and empathy, and why you often need both at the same time. We also get into vulnerability at work, and what “being authentic” can mean without turning every meeting into oversharing. You’ll leave with simple prompts to try, plus a cleaner way to say what you need, what you can offer, and what you can’t right now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leadershipwithin.substack.com

    24 min

  6. 12/21/2025

    Polished vs Real: Showing Up When It Matters

    In this episode of Leadership Within, we start with a simple moment, a barking dog in the background, and it opens up a bigger question. What happens when leadership is meant to look polished, but life is messy? We talk about the pressure to sound “professional”. The right tone. The right posture. The right words. And how that can get in the way when we need to admit we do not know, or when we need help. We explore what authenticity can actually mean in real life. Not as a perfect brand, but as a felt sense. We also look at the “internal manager” many of us carry, the part that edits us to stay safe and accepted. There’s also a practical edge, how language, accent, and “corporate” style can change how we come across, even when our intent is good. We finish with a simple reminder, the freedom to lead more like ourselves starts with us. 😊 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leadershipwithin.substack.com

    26 min

  7. 12/03/2025

    Strength, Flexibility and the Leader’s Stretch

    In this episode we talk about what it means to be strong and flexible as a leader. Vanessa shares a yoga story about wanting to jump in and rescue someone, and what it takes to stay in her lane instead. We explore how easy it is to over give, fix things for others, and then feel drained or resentful. TK talks about impatience, quick decisions, and learning to slow down so there is time to reflect. Together we look at the moment where you notice a pattern and choose a different move. We also share simple ways to build small pauses into busy days, so you can tell the difference between real pain and healthy stretch in your work. This is a gentle, honest conversation for leaders who care a lot and sometimes care a bit too much. 🧘😊 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leadershipwithin.substack.com

    23 min

  8. 11/16/2025

    When Your Curiosity Feels Like Judgement

    In this episode of Leadership Within we explore what happens when our team quietly feels judged by us, even when we think we are being “coaching”. We look at how judgement shows up in one to ones, how it affects trust and safety, and why we cannot simply remove it. We share simple ways to notice it, name it, and move back into real curiosity together 🤝 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leadershipwithin.substack.com

    29 min
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About

Welcome to Leadership Within, the podcast that dives deep into the human side of leadership. Hosted by Tomasz “TK” Kropiewnicki and Vanessa May, this series is a reflective space for leaders to explore authenticity, courage, and vulnerability in their journey. We offer honest conversations about the challenges and opportunities in leadership, inspired by our own experiences, thought-provoking ideas, and the occasional special guest. Whether it's a recent event, a personal story, or a listener's question, each episode is a chance to step back and reflect. If you’ve ever felt like leadership can be isolating or that your internal dialogue needs an external voice, this podcast is for you. Join us fortnightly to find inspiration, connection, and a deeper understanding of what it means to lead with heart. leadershipwithin.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    TK and Vanessa exploring the human side of leadership with honesty and heart.
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    32
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © TK and Vanessa
  • Show Website
    Leadership Within