Breakthrough Conversations with Rhoda & Co

Rhoda Banks

Welcome to Breakthrough Conversations with Rhoda & Co., the podcast wherereal talk sparks real change.Hosted by Rhoda Banks—HR Executive, Certified Coach, Leadership Expert, and Two- Time Author—this show dives deep into the stories of women who have shattered barriers and lifted others along the way. From leadership lessons to candid conversations on resilience, sisterhood, andbreaking through the glass and concrete ceilings—especially for African Americanwomen—each episode delivers insights, inspiration, and actionable strategies for rising, leading, and lifting as you climb. Whether you're navigating the boardroom, pushing past career ceilings, or redefining success on your own terms, Breakthrough Conversations with Rhoda & Co. is your space to learn, grow, glow, and build a legacy worth remembering. Because every barrier is breakable.

  1. DEC 11

    The Future of Leadership is Human

    In this heart-centered and insightful episode, Rhoda sits down with former colleague and transformational leader, Erik Person, to explore why the future of leadership is increasingly human-driven, rooted in empathy, authenticity, and honoring people’s unique strengths. Erik shares:  His philosophy of building teams of “loveable misfits”  How empathy transforms outcomes in leadership  What human-centric leadership looks like in practice  How to lead teams through uncertainty and change  The role of mindfulness, resiliency, and authenticity in modern organizations  The legacy he hopes to leave for the leaders coming behind him This is a conversation for anyone who leads, wants to lead, or wants to be led by someone who truly sees them. Key Questions Explored  What does “The future of leadership is human” mean in today’s world?  How does empathy differ from simply “being nice”?  What does a human-centric leader look like in action?  How can leaders balance compassion with accountability?  Why is empathy essential during change and uncertainty?  What breakthrough insight would Erik offer to emerging leaders? Takeaways  Empathy is not a weakness, it’s strategic strength.  The best teams are built from unique, diverse gifts.  Leadership legacy is created one human moment at a time.  Resiliency begins with people feeling seen, valued, and supported.

    34 min

  2. NOV 27

    Panic-Free Leadership: Calm Power, Clarity & Conscious Confidence with Elle Ingalls

    In this episode of Breakthrough Conversations with Rhoda & Co., Rhoda sits down with peak-performance coach Elle Ingalls to explore how leaders move from reaction-based leadership to conscious, grounded leadership rooted in presence and self-regulation. They discuss:  Why reactive leadership happens, and how to break the cycle  Tools for leading with calm, clarity, and confidence  Women’s leadership and the “over-responsibility” pattern  The nervous system’s role in emotional presence and decision-making  Practical techniques for stress-free high performance  How to replace urgency with intentionality and self-trust Key Takeaway: Calm is not passive, calm is power. Leaders don’t rise by doing more; they rise by grounding more deeply in who they are and how they show up. Connect with Elle:  https://elleingalls.com/  Panic Free Peak Performance resources available on her site Connect with Rhoda: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/virtualrhodabanks Podcast: Breakthrough Conversations with Rhoda & Co.

    43 min

  3. NOV 20

    The Only Imposter is the Syndrome

    In this powerful episode, Rhoda sits down with leadership strategist and OD expert Joani Alsop to reframe one of the most pervasive challenges facing women in leadership: imposter syndrome. But Joani doesn’t believe you are the imposter. She believes the syndrome itself is lying to you, and today, she breaks down how to silence that false narrative while owning your power. In this episode:  Why self-doubt often rises with success, not failure  How systems, not individuals, can trigger the “imposter” feeling  Practical reframes and rituals for stepping into rooms with confidence  Language shifts that help you stop minimizing and start owning This conversation is for every woman who has ever over-prepared, over-apologized, or over-delivered just to feel worthy. You’re not alone, and more importantly, you were never the imposter. Call to Action  If this episode reminded you of your own quiet battles with confidence, take a moment to reframe the story you tell yourself. You were never the imposter, the feeling was.  Share this episode with a woman in your world who needs that reminder today and tag us using #BreakthroughConversations so we can cheer her on too. Stay Connected with Rhoda: Website: www.therhodaexperience.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/therhodaexperience/ Instagram: @rhoda.banks Podcast: Breakthrough Conversations with Rhoda & Co. Speaking Inquiries: breakthrough@therhodaexperience.com Tag us with your takeaways using #BreakthroughConversations

    28 min

  4. NOV 13

    From Pillars to People: How Chris Dyer Levels Up Leadership & Culture

    In this episode of Breakthrough Conversations with Rhoda & Co., Rhoda welcomes culture and high-performance leadership authority Chris Dyer, bestselling author, global speaker, and former CEO who led companies ranked “Best Place to Work” 15 times. Chris is widely regarded as the #1 Culture Speaker, creator of the evidence-based 7 Pillars of Amazing Culture, and author of The Power of Company Culture and Remote Work. His work helps leaders activate trust, transparency, listening, and accountability to build workplaces where people and performance thrive. Together, Rhoda and Chris explore what truly shapes culture in today’s evolving workplace, and how leaders can show up with clarity, humanity, and intention, even amid AI disruption, hybrid environments, and shifting employee expectations. In This Episode, You’ll Learn:  Why culture is a science, not just an art  The mindset shift that moved Chris from CEO to culture expert  The leadership behaviors behind companies winning “Best Place to Work” 15 times  How transparency transforms performance and psychological safety  Why listening and positivity are underestimated leadership superpowers  Tactical ideas for experimenting with culture (reverse mentoring, no-meeting days, etc.)  The future of leadership in an AI-driven world  Practical prompts for becoming a culture-driven leader today Who This Episode Is For This conversation is perfect for:  Senior leaders & executives  Culture and talent professionals  Future-focused HR and people leaders  Managers striving to build high-trust teams  Anyone passionate about workplace purpose, performance & belonging Connect With Chris Dyer Website: https://chrisdyer.com Books: The Power of Company Culture, Remote Work Speaking & Programs: https://chrisdyer.com/speaking Connect With Rhoda LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/virtualrhodabanks Podcast: Breakthrough Conversations with Rhoda & Co. If today's conversation sparked a leadership breakthrough, share it with a colleague or leader who is shaping culture where they stand.

    44 min

  5. NOV 6

    Leading with Empathy: Women in Leadership with Holly Golebiowski

    Join Holly Golebiowski as she shares her leadership transformation—from nearly losing her career to becoming a sought-after executive coach. We explore how empathy is a strategic asset, how women can assert themselves with awareness and compassion, and how self-coaching tools like DISC and “introvert safe words” help create inclusive leadership spaces. Key Insights:  Empathy isn’t weakness—it’s strategic business currency DataDrivenInvestor.  The power of self-awareness and coaching to pivot careers The Bliss Business PodcastSoundCloud.  Practical tools like DISC assessments and introvert safe words to create presence and clarity Facebook+15Powerful Introvert Podcast+15SoundCloud+15.  Balancing performance with psychological safety—leading with heart. Action Items for Leaders: 1. Learn to use self-awareness tools (like DISC) to uncover and adapt leadership style. 2. Frame empathy as performance—build trust, resilience, and innovation through authentic leadership. 3. For meeting equity—use introvert safe words to pause and reset dynamics. 4. Embrace self-coaching—ask, "What am I afraid of?" or "What does success look like?" as Holly recommends Facebook+11Powerful Introvert Podcast+11SoundCloud+11Facebook+4The Bliss Business Podcast+4DataDrivenInvestor+4. Connect with Holly:  LeaderSkills website (found via her profile) Apple Podcasts+5The Bliss Business Podcast+5SoundCloud+5  Highlights from recent episodes: From Burnout to Breakthrough, Role of Empathy in Leadership Powerful Introvert Podcast+3RSS.com+3The Bliss Business Podcast+3 Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share. Lead with empathy, clarity, and courage.

    22 min

  6. OCT 23

    From Grief to Global Impact: How Noura Ghazi Leads with Heart

    In this inspiring episode of Breakthrough Conversations with Rhoda & Co., Rhoda Banks welcomes Noura Ghazi, a Syrian human rights lawyer, activist, and founder of Families for Freedom and NoPhotoZone. Noura’s life has been defined by courage, growing up with a political prisoner father, marrying open-source advocate Bassel Khartabil through prison visits, and transforming unimaginable loss into a global mission to serve the detained and disappeared. This conversation isn’t just about advocacy; it’s about leadership. Noura shares what it means to stand tall as a woman leader, how she finds strength in service, and why the world needs women’s voices now more than ever. Call to Action If you’ve ever wondered how to turn adversity into action or how one woman can spark change, this is the episode you need. Listen, be inspired, and support the work at nouraghazi.org. Stay Connected with Rhoda Website: www.therhodaexperience.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/therhodaexperience/ Instagram: @rhoda.banks Podcast: Breakthrough Conversations with Rhoda & Co. Speaking Inquiries: breakthrough@therhodaexperience.com Tag us with your takeaways using #BreakthroughConversations

    26 min

  7. OCT 16

    Debt-Free & Denim: Crafting a Second Act with Purpose (with Tanja Huston)

    In this powerful conversation, Rhoda sits down with retired HR executive Tanja Huston, who has transformed her post-corporate life into a vibrant blend of storytelling, creativity, and financial wisdom. From launching a children’s literacy nonprofit (Tanja Huston’s Books) to upcycling denim and fabric into couture-worthy fashion pieces, Tanja shares how she built a second act rooted in purpose over titles. Topics We Cover:  How to emotionally and financially prepare for reinvention  Living debt-free by design, not by accident  Why creativity isn’t just a hobby, it’s healing and legacy  Turning pillowcases into purses & comforters into hoodies  The mission behind Tanja Huston’s Books and why literacy matters Connect with Tanja and/or Donate to Tanja Huston’s Books: www.tanjahuston.com Connect with Rhoda: @RhodaBanksOfficial | The Rhoda Experience

    26 min

  8. OCT 2

    The Power Shift: Leading Like an Ally with Julie Kratz

    In this powerful episode, Rhoda is joined by Julie Kratz—LinkedIn Top Voice, allyship expert, TEDx speaker, and author of seven books including her newest, We Want You: An Allyship Guide for People with Power. Julie shares her journey from feeling a lack of belonging in corporate spaces to becoming a national voice on inclusion. Together, they explore what real allyship looks like, how people with power can lead differently, and why the time for action is now. Topics Covered:  Julie’s personal “pivot points” from corporate life to allyship  The inspiration and message behind We Want You  How leaders can activate inclusive behaviors  Overcoming the fear of getting allyship wrong  Celebrating International Allyship Day Resources & Links:  We Want You: An Allyship Guide for People with Power – Available now NextPivotPoint.com Watch Julie’s TEDx Talk Subscribe to Breakthrough Conversations with Rhoda & Co.

    38 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Welcome to Breakthrough Conversations with Rhoda & Co., the podcast wherereal talk sparks real change.Hosted by Rhoda Banks—HR Executive, Certified Coach, Leadership Expert, and Two- Time Author—this show dives deep into the stories of women who have shattered barriers and lifted others along the way. From leadership lessons to candid conversations on resilience, sisterhood, andbreaking through the glass and concrete ceilings—especially for African Americanwomen—each episode delivers insights, inspiration, and actionable strategies for rising, leading, and lifting as you climb. Whether you're navigating the boardroom, pushing past career ceilings, or redefining success on your own terms, Breakthrough Conversations with Rhoda & Co. is your space to learn, grow, glow, and build a legacy worth remembering. Because every barrier is breakable.

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