Leadership POV: Conversations with Alkema & Friends

Alkema Lewis

Step into the world of transformative leadership with Leadership POV: Conversations with Alkema & Friends. Hosted by Alkema Lewis, founder of Alkema Lewis Consulting, this podcast explores diverse perspectives on leadership, growth, and innovation. Each episode features candid conversations with inspiring leaders, industry experts, and visionaries from various fields. Together, they delve into the challenges, breakthroughs, and strategies that shape effective leadership in today’s dynamic world. Whether you're a seasoned executive, an entrepreneur, or someone aspiring to lead with purpose, this podcast offers actionable insights, fresh ideas, and a dose of inspiration to help you lead from your unique point of view. Tune in to discover how to elevate your leadership journey and unlock your potential—one conversation at a time. For more insights and resources follow Alkema Lewis Website at alewisconsult.com Instagram @thealconsulting Facebook https://www.facebook.com/alewisconsulting YouTube @alkemalewis Email at alkema@alewisconsult.com 

  1. May 13

    When Identity and Role Collide with Ron Rapatalo

    Hey Friends! Send us a text! What happens when the leader you know yourself to be clashes with the role you’re expected to play? In this powerful episode of Leadership POV: Conversations with Alkema & Friends, Alkema sits down with leadership coach, author, publisher, and RONderings podcast Ron Rapatalo for an honest conversation about authenticity, integrity, and navigating leadership in environments that may not align with your values. Raised in Queens by Philippine immigrant parents and deeply shaped by the principles of kapwa and bayanihan — shared identity and communal support — Ron brings decades of experience helping mission-driven leaders grow through storytelling, authentic relationship-building, and equity-centered leadership. As the host of RONderings, Ron has built a platform rooted in curiosity, reflection, and meaningful human connection. Together, Alkema and Ron unpack the tension leaders experience when organizational culture, politics, or expectations begin pulling them away from who they truly are. Through candid reflection and lived experience, they explore: Defining your leadership identity beyond titles and rolesRecognizing when you are “doing leadership” instead of truly leadingHow to remain grounded when workplace values conflict with personal convictionsCommunicating with integrity in high-pressure or misaligned environmentsRecalibrating your leadership compass when testedRon also shares practical wisdom from his work in executive consulting, leadership development, career coaching, and publishing first-time authors of color, offering encouragement for leaders trying to navigate complex systems without losing themselves in the process. This episode is both a mirror and a map for leaders wrestling with the question: “When my organization’s values collide with my own, how do I stay true to who I am?” Whether you’re leading a team, an organization, a ministry, or simply trying to lead yourself well, this conversation will challenge you to reflect deeply, lead courageously, and anchor yourself in values that endure long after the title changes. Learn more about Ron’s work through Stronger Consulting and explore his leadership insights on RONderings Podcast. 🔗 Connect with Our Host & Guest Alkema Lewis Website: www.alewisconsult.com LinkedIn: Alkema Lewis Instagram/Facebook: @ALewisConsulting Ron Rapatalo LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rapatalo Facebook: RonRapatalo@Ron.Rapatalo Instagram: @phenomeron authentic leadership, leadership podcast, educational leadership, principal leadership, leadership development, psychological safety, leadership self-awareness, transparency in leadership, leadership communication, building trust in teams

    1h 2m

  2. Apr 22

    Leading Through Values with Pastor Chandler Bailey

    Hey Friends! Send us a text! What truly guides the way you lead—your own values, or the ones you’ve inherited? In this powerful episode of Leadership POV: Conversations with Alkema & Friends, Alkema Lewis continues the Season 4 journey of Unmasking Leadership Identity by diving into the heart of leadership: values. Through a thoughtful and transparent conversation with Pastor Chandler Bailey, this episode explores how values serve as the internal compass shaping not only what we do as leaders—but who we are becoming. Alkema opens with a personal reflection on a pivotal moment early in her leadership journey—realizing she was leading from expectations rather than authenticity. That moment sparked a deeper exploration into the difference between doing leadership and being a leader—a distinction that frames this entire conversation. Together, Alkema and Pastor Bailey unpack the difference between core values—those deeply held, conviction-driven beliefs—and inherited values shaped by culture, family, faith, and professional environments. Pastor Bailey shares his own leadership evolution, offering insight into the internal shifts required to realign with authentic values, even when it comes with challenges or costs. Listeners will gain practical strategies for navigating value misalignment within organizations, staying grounded in their leadership compass during pressure-filled moments, and leading with integrity in every season. As you listen, reflect on the guiding question: How do your values shape the leader you are today—and the one you’re becoming? This episode will challenge you to pause, reflect, and realign—so your leadership is not just effective, but deeply authentic. Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and follow Leadership POV: Conversations with Alkema & Friends. Download your free Leadership Identity Reflection Journal at alewisconsult.com to continue your journey. Because leadership isn’t just what you do—it’s who you are. 🔗 Connect with Our Host & Guest Alkema Lewis 🌐 Website: www.alewisconsult.com 💼 LinkedIn: Alkema Lewis 📱 Instagram/Facebook: @ALewisConsulting Pastor Chandler S. Bailey 🌐 Website: https://chandlerbailey.com/ 💼 LinkedIn: Chandler S. Bailey 📱 Instagram/Facebook: @chandlersbailey authentic leadership, leadership podcast, educational leadership, principal leadership, leadership development, psychological safety, leadership self-awareness, transparency in leadership, leadership communication, building trust in teams

    1 hr

  3. Apr 1

    The Power of Authentic Leadership with Principal Michael White

    Hey Friends! Send us a text! Leadership POV: Conversations with Alkema & Friends Season 4, Episode 3: The Power of Authentic Leadership with Principal Michael White What does it truly mean to lead with authenticity—and why does it require courage? In this powerful episode of Leadership POV: Conversations with Alkema & Friends, we dive into authentic leadership, exploring how courage in self-expression transforms the way leaders build trust, inspire engagement, and create meaningful impact within their teams and organizations. Joined by respected school leader Principal Michael White, this conversation brings real-life insight into what it looks like to lead with honesty, vulnerability, and intention—especially in today’s evolving educational and professional landscapes. Together, we explore: Why authentic leadership builds trust and increases team engagementHow to balance transparency and professional boundaries as a leaderThe critical role of self-awareness in leadership effectivenessHow leaders create psychological safety in the workplace and schoolsThe difference between leading with positional authority vs. relational authorityThrough storytelling, practical wisdom, and reflective dialogue, this episode highlights how leaders who show up as their true selves empower others to do the same—unlocking stronger connections, deeper trust, and sustainable growth. Key Takeaways: Authentic leadership starts with knowing yourselfTrust is built through consistency, honesty, and connectionPsychological safety begins with self-aware leadershipThe most impactful leaders lead through relationships, not titlesReflection Question: What would change in the way you lead if you showed up every day as your most authentic self—even when it feels uncomfortable? Free Resource: Download your Leadership Identity Reflection Journal to gain clarity and strengthen your leadership journey: alewisconsult.com Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and follow Leadership POV: Conversations with Alkema & Friends on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or iHeartRadio for more leadership insights, expert conversations, and real-world strategies. #AuthenticLeadership #LeadershipPodcast #LeadershipDevelopment #PsychologicalSafety #LeadershipSelfAwareness authentic leadership, leadership podcast, educational leadership, principal leadership, leadership development, psychological safety, leadership self-awareness, transparency in leadership, leadership communication, building trust in teams

    30 min

  4. Mar 17 ·  Bonus

    Fresh Start Monday | Leading in the Age of Noise

    Hey Friends! Send us a text! In this Motivational Monday message, leadership alignment partner Alkema Lewis invites leaders to slow down and create space for stillness in a world full of constant noise. With endless opinions, content, and demands competing for our attention, many leaders struggle not only with external distractions but also with the internal noise that creates confusion and chaos. Alkema reminds us that true leadership clarity isn’t found in the rush. It is discovered in moments of intentional pause, reflection, and listening for the quiet inner voice that brings direction and peace. As the week begins, she encourages leaders to step back before reacting or making decisions, anchor themselves in truth, and lead with clarity, courage, and calm. Start your week grounded, focused, and ready to lead well. ✨ authentic leadership, leadership podcast, educational leadership, principal leadership, leadership development, psychological safety, leadership self-awareness, transparency in leadership, leadership communication, building trust in teams

    2 min

  5. Mar 11

    The Mask We Wear

    Hey Friends! Send us a text! Leadership Point of View: Conversations with Alkema & Friends Season 4, Episode 2: The Masks We Wear In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Leadership P.O.V: Conversations with Alkema & Friends, Leadership Coach Alkema Lewis invites listeners into a quiet moment before a major presentation. Standing in front of a mirror, jacket straightened, notes in hand, she wasn’t checking her appearance. She was checking whether she looked like a leader. Confident. Composed. Unshakable. Inside, she felt uncertain. Tired. Pressured to perform. That moment became the doorway into a courageous conversation about performative leadership. Not deception, but protection. Not dishonesty, but survival. It is what happens when the role begins to overshadow the person. When we lead for approval instead of authenticity. When strength becomes performance rather than presence. In The Masks We Wear, Alkema explores three common leadership masks: The Fixer When worth becomes tied to solving every problem. What begins as helpfulness quietly turns into burnout and dependence. Leadership shifts from empowering to rescuing. The Expert When knowledge becomes armor. Competence creates credibility, but hiding behind expertise can isolate us from connection and collaboration. The Perfectionist When excellence quietly transforms into exhaustion. Flawlessness feels safe, yet it often steals peace and authenticity. Through heartfelt stories from her own leadership journey, Alkema reveals how each mask once felt like strength but eventually became a barrier. She reminds us that leadership is not about impressing people with performance. It is about building trust through presence. This episode invites you to pause and reflect: • Which mask do I wear most often? • Where did it come from? • How has it served me? • What might shift if I led without it, even for one day? Because when we remove the mask, we do not lose our strength. We rediscover it. And in doing so, we create space for others to lead freely, honestly, and fully seen. Discover Your Leadership Identity How do you lead when the pressure is on? Take the “What Kind of Leader Are You Under Pressure?” assessment and uncover how you naturally respond in challenging moments.  Then, go deeper with the "Leadership Identity Reflection Journal" — a guided tool designed to help you pause, realign, and grow in self-awareness and integrity. Connect with Alkema Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thealconsulting/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alewisconsulting TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@coachalkemalewis #LeadershipPOV #TheMasksWeWear #AuthenticLeadership  #UnmaskingLeadership  authentic leadership, leadership podcast, educational leadership, principal leadership, leadership development, psychological safety, leadership self-awareness, transparency in leadership, leadership communication, building trust in teams

    32 min

  6. Feb 18

    Who Are You When You Lead? Doing Leadership vs. Being a Leader: Identity, Authenticity & Impact with Dr. Shade

    Hey Friends! Send us a text! As leaders, many of us inherited a blueprint for what “good leadership” should look like. We learned it from mentors, past bosses, classrooms, and corporate cultures. But what happens when we realize we’ve been performing leadership instead of truly living it? In this powerful episode of Leadership POV: Conversations with Alkema and Friends, we explore the deeper question beneath titles, goals, and performance metrics: Who are you when you lead? Alkema shares a coaching moment that sparked an awakening, when a leader admitted, “I’ve been performing leadership instead of living it.” That realization opens the door to a transformative conversation about authenticity, identity, and the internal narratives shaping how we show up. Joining the conversation is Dr. Shade, Founder and CEO of The Leadership Synergy Institute. A distinguished research professor, consultant, speaker, and coach based in Canada, Dr. Shade empowers leaders, particularly immigrant women and technical professionals, to lead with clarity, courage, and purpose. She is also the author of Overcoming the Impostor Syndrome: How to Quiet Your Inner Critic, and a respected voice helping high-achieving women silence self-doubt and step fully into their leadership identity. Together, Alkema and Dr. Shade unpack: What we’ve internalized about leadershipThe difference between leading from expectation versus authenticityHow identity shapes leadership impactWhy unlearning can be just as important as learningWhat it truly means to embody leadership from the inside outThis episode is an invitation to slow down and reflect: Are you doing leadership… or being a leader grounded in who you are becoming? Free Resource: Download your Leadership Identity Reflection Journal at alewisconsult.com to assess your current leadership and gain clarity for your next level. Contact Alkema Lewis @ + Instagram: @thealconsulting + Facebook: A Lewis Consulting + YouTube: Alkema Lewis + Website: ALewisConsult.com If this conversation resonates, subscribe, rate, and follow Leadership POV: Conversations with Alkema and Friends on Apple, Spotify, or iHeart. Because leadership is not just what you do. It is who you are becoming along the way. #LeadershipIdentity #AuthenticLeadership #ImpostorSyndrome #WomenInLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment authentic leadership, leadership podcast, educational leadership, principal leadership, leadership development, psychological safety, leadership self-awareness, transparency in leadership, leadership communication, building trust in teams

    35 min

  7. Season 4 Trailer

    Season 4 of Leadership POV Podcast with Alkema & Friends - Unmasking Leadership Identity

    Hey Friends! Send us a text! Season 4: Unmasking Leadership Identity Welcome to Season 4 of Leadership Point of View: Conversations with Alkema and Friends — and this season, we’re going deeper than ever before. Our new series, Unmasking Leadership Identity, challenges the way we’ve been conditioned to think about leadership. Many of us have inherited definitions of what “good leadership” looks like — from mentors, former supervisors, organizational culture, and systems we’ve navigated. But have we ever stopped to ask: What have I internalized about leadership?Am I leading from expectations or from authenticity?What does it truly mean to be a leader, not just do leadership?This season, we’re pulling back the layers. Each episode will feature powerful national and international voices including Dr. Shade, Mr. Ron Rapatalo, Mr. Michael White, Mr. Chandler S. Bailey, and other dynamic leaders who are living and leading from the inside out. Together, we’ll explore what it means to lead with identity, heart, and purpose — because leadership isn’t just about performance. It’s about becoming. Season 4 officially launches Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Be sure to follow, subscribe, and share. Join us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeart as we shift the conversation on leadership and unmask what authentic leadership truly looks like. Let’s grow. Let’s reflect. Let’s lead from within.Contact Alkema Lewis @ + Instagram: @thealconsulting + Facebook: A Lewis Consulting + YouTube: Alkema Lewis + Website: ALewisConsult.com authentic leadership, leadership podcast, educational leadership, principal leadership, leadership development, psychological safety, leadership self-awareness, transparency in leadership, leadership communication, building trust in teams

    2 min

  8. Feb 2 ·  Bonus

    Fresh Start Monday - The Mirror You Avoid Shows the Growth You Need

    Hey Friends! Send us a text! In this First Start Monday reflection, Alkema invites leaders to face the mirror they’ve been avoiding—not a literal one, but the internal mirror of self-reflection. This episode challenges us to pause, look honestly at our habits, emotions, and mindsets, and confront the areas we often ignore while staying busy leading others. From defensiveness and procrastination to fear and pride, Alkema reminds us that avoidance doesn’t stop growth—it only delays it. Rooted in faith, self-awareness, and transformational leadership, this episode reframes reflection as refinement, not failure. You’ll be encouraged to take just five quiet minutes to ask a powerful question: What mirror am I avoiding? Because the mirror isn’t punishment—it’s preparation. When leaders lean into discomfort, they gain clarity, maturity, and the courage to grow into their next level of leadership. In this episode, you’ll explore: Why leaders often avoid self-reflection—and the cost of doing soHow the “mirror” reveals growth opportunities, not perfectionThe connection between inner transformation and effective leadershipA simple, practical reflection to start your week with clarity and courageStart your week ready to lead better—by looking inward first. authentic leadership, leadership podcast, educational leadership, principal leadership, leadership development, psychological safety, leadership self-awareness, transparency in leadership, leadership communication, building trust in teams

    4 min
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4 Ratings

About

Step into the world of transformative leadership with Leadership POV: Conversations with Alkema & Friends. Hosted by Alkema Lewis, founder of Alkema Lewis Consulting, this podcast explores diverse perspectives on leadership, growth, and innovation. Each episode features candid conversations with inspiring leaders, industry experts, and visionaries from various fields. Together, they delve into the challenges, breakthroughs, and strategies that shape effective leadership in today’s dynamic world. Whether you're a seasoned executive, an entrepreneur, or someone aspiring to lead with purpose, this podcast offers actionable insights, fresh ideas, and a dose of inspiration to help you lead from your unique point of view. Tune in to discover how to elevate your leadership journey and unlock your potential—one conversation at a time. For more insights and resources follow Alkema Lewis Website at alewisconsult.com Instagram @thealconsulting Facebook https://www.facebook.com/alewisconsulting YouTube @alkemalewis Email at alkema@alewisconsult.com 

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