Lead Through It with Kim and Jada

Kim Andrews & Jada Willis
  • 5.0 (15)
  • CAREERS

Hosted by Kim Andrews and Jada Willis - two would-be competitors who chose collaboration over rivalry - Lead Through It is your weekly dose of real talk and practical wisdom for navigating leadership’s hardest (and most human) moments. Each episode features candid conversations with business owners and seasoned leaders who’ve led through the big pivots and the everyday grind. Whether you’re a service-based entrepreneur scaling early success (Jada’s sweet spot) or an organizational leader managing complex change (Kim’s jam), Lead Through It helps you get clear on where you're headed, build a resilient team that steps up, and weather the tough stuff no one warns you about. You’ll walk away with fresh insight, actionable takeaways, and just enough wit and charm to keep things interesting.

  1. 3D AGO

    Ep. 27 - Lyndsey Dowd on Shame, Comebacks, and Being Weird

    In this powerful episode of Lead Through It, Jada and Kim are joined by Lyndsay Dowd, a top-tier sales leader, coach, and the author of Top-Down Culture. With 23 years of experience at IBM and a family legacy in the corporate world, Lyndsay shares the raw, transformative story of an unexpected career turning point at age 50 and how that moment became the push that led her to build a thriving coaching business.  This conversation is a masterclass in modern leadership and emotional resilience, covering: The Myth of Perfection: Why Lyndsay is proud to admit she was fired and how "naming the shame" became her greatest source of power and authenticity.Irresistible Culture vs. Micromanagement: A deep dive into why micromanagement is rooted in insecurity and how the best leaders lead with trust and psychological safety.The "Maverick and Hustler" Approach: How to foster a team environment that celebrates "weirdness," unconventional ideas, and human connection through storytelling.The Personal Board of Advisors: Why every leader needs a "kitchen cabinet" of people who remind them who they are when their confidence is shaken.The One Question Every Leader Should Ask: Lyndsay shares the most humbling and effective question you can ask your team: "How can I be the best leader for you?"Whether you're navigating a career setback or looking to evolve your leadership style for the modern workforce, Lyndsay’s high-energy wisdom and practical tactics will leave you inspired to lead from the heart. If today’s conversation resonated, connect with us and be part of the community of leaders who refuse to lead alone. JadaWillis.com | KimAndrewsCoaching.com Jada@jwillisconsulting.com | Kim@kimandrewscoaching.com

    41 min

  2. MAR 4

    Ep. 26 - How to Nurture a Side Hustle with Caroline Pennington

    In this episode of Lead Through It, hosts Jada and Kim sit down with Caroline Pennington, a powerhouse in the world of executive recruitment and personal branding. Caroline shares her journey from placing entry-level temporary employees to working with Fortune 500 boards and C-suite executives. Throughout the conversation, the trio explores: The LinkedIn "Secret Sauce": How Caroline grew her following from zero to over 13,000 in two years and the specific strategies she uses to grab the attention of high-level decision-makers.The Art of the "Un-Salesy" DM: Why simple, sincere outreach is more effective than automated pitches.Navigating the Side-Hustle Transition: Tips for starting a business while working a corporate job, including how to communicate with your current employer and managing "moonlighting" policies.Embracing the "Suck": A candid discussion on why you must be okay with being imperfect when you first start out.Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur, a senior leader, or looking to supercharge your professional presence, this episode offers actionable wisdom on building a brand that resonates. If today’s conversation resonated, connect with us and be part of the community of leaders who refuse to lead alone. JadaWillis.com | KimAndrewsCoaching.com Jada@jwillisconsulting.com | Kim@kimandrewscoaching.com

    39 min

  3. FEB 25

    Ep. 25 - Building Culture is Not About You with Melanie Huggins

    What if the key to building a strong culture isn’t about you at all? In this episode, Kim and Jada sit down with Melanie Huggins, CEO of Girl Scouts of South Carolina Mountains to Midlands and former CEO of Richland Library, for a candid conversation about leadership, burnout, reinvention, and what it really takes to build a culture that lasts. With more than thirty years of leadership experience, Melanie shares hard-earned lessons from transforming a large public institution, navigating COVID-era exhaustion, and stepping into a new CEO role where culture change is still unfolding in real time. Together, they explore: Why culture is built in the details no one seesWhat it means to “operationalize equity”How brand promises must match internal behaviorsWhy culture change takes longer than you thinkThe tension between honoring legacy and leading transformationRecognizing burnout before it reshapes who you areCreating space to pause, reflect, and make brave decisionsMelanie offers a powerful reframe: culture is not about what leaders prefer or how they want to operate. It is about the people you serve. The customer. The member. The girl at camp. The parent who must trust you. If your organization is in a hard culture moment, if you are leading through change, or if you are quietly wondering whether it’s time for your own next chapter, this conversation will meet you there. Because building culture is not about ego.It is about alignment. It is about trust. And sometimes, it is about knowing when something is over so something new can begin. If today’s conversation resonated, connect with us and be part of the community of leaders who refuse to lead alone. JadaWillis.com | KimAndrewsCoaching.com Jada@jwillisconsulting.com | Kim@kimandrewscoaching.com

    46 min

  4. FEB 19

    Ep. 24 - Danielle Pickens on Pioneering a New Kind of CEO Role

    What does it look like to step into the CEO seat…and refuse to do it the traditional way? In this episode, Kim and Jada sit down with Danielle Pickens, a two-time CEO who is redefining what executive leadership can look like. After fifteen years as an independent consultant building her own company on flexibility and boundaries, Danielle stepped into the CEO role at Urban Schools Human Capital Academy. But she did not leave her independent work behind. Instead, she is pioneering something different: a fractional CEO model rooted in sustainability, clarity, and intentional leadership. Danielle shares what it really feels like to move from doer to strategist, from contractor to accountable executive, and from setting clean scope boundaries to holding ultimate responsibility for everything. She opens up about the mental shift of carrying organizational weight, the sleep-stealing pressure of “everything is in scope,” and the systems she has had to build both professionally and personally to make this new season work. You will hear: • What a fractional CEO actually does and how it challenges traditional leadership expectations • The four grounding questions Danielle returns to when urgency starts to take over • How to clarify a true North Star and eliminate work that does not align • Why not everything deserves an A effort and how a C+ can sometimes be exactly right • The reality of renegotiating roles at home and at work when your leadership season changes • How to lead former peers when you step into the top role • The danger of overfunctioning and how to design systems that prevent it • Why creating twenty minutes of reflective space each week can change your trajectory This is a conversation about boundaries, identity, sustainability, and courage. It is about leading in a way that feels aligned with who you are, not just what the role has historically required. Danielle reminds us that leadership does not have to mean burnout, and that pioneering new models is uncomfortable but necessary. If you are stepping into a bigger role, rethinking how you work, or trying to build something that lasts, this episode will challenge and encourage you. Press play and ask yourself: What kind of leader do I actually want to be? If today’s conversation resonated, connect with us and be part of the community of leaders who refuse to lead alone. JadaWillis.com | KimAndrewsCoaching.com Jada@jwillisconsulting.com | Kim@kimandrewscoaching.com

    40 min

  5. FEB 11

    Ep. 23 - How to Lead When Our Country is a Mess

    When life feels heavy, the news feels overwhelming, and everything seems just a little unsteady, leadership doesn’t get easier. It gets more human. In this episode, Kim and Jada get real about what it looks like to lead when both personal life and the world around us feel messy. From flat tires and pantry tears to national events that leave people emotionally drained, they unpack how leaders can show up with steadiness, care, and authenticity without pretending to have all the answers. They talk through practical ways to support teams during uncertain and emotionally charged times, why avoiding hard moments can erode trust, and how simple check-ins can make a meaningful difference. The conversation also dives into self-leadership, emotional regulation, and why leaders must take their own mental and emotional health seriously if they want to lead others well. This episode is a reminder that leadership right now isn’t about fixing everything. It’s about creating space, staying grounded, and showing up as a whole human for other whole humans. If you’ve been wondering how to lead with compassion, clarity, and stability when everything feels like a lot, this one’s for you. If today’s conversation resonated, connect with us and be part of the community of leaders who refuse to lead alone. JadaWillis.com | KimAndrewsCoaching.com Jada@jwillisconsulting.com | Kim@kimandrewscoaching.com

    28 min

  6. FEB 4

    Ep. 22 - Could I Be 2% Wrong Here?

    What if leadership growth doesn’t start with being right, but with being a little less certain? In this episode, Kim and Jada reflect on their recent conversation with Monty Robertson and dig deeper into the idea of perspective, ego, and self-leadership. They explore what it really means to lead people when you don’t have all the answers, how resilience is built through lived experience, and why letting go of control can sometimes be the strongest move a leader makes. From quiet strength and humility to understanding that people are acting from contexts we can’t always see, this conversation challenges leaders to pause and ask a deceptively simple question: What if I’m 2% wrong? That small shift can open the door to better communication, stronger relationships, and more effective leadership both at work and at home. If you lead people, work with people, or live alongside people, this episode is an invitation to soften your stance, expand your perspective, and lead through it with intention.  If today’s conversation resonated, connect with us and be part of the community of leaders who refuse to lead alone. JadaWillis.com | KimAndrewsCoaching.com Jada@jwillisconsulting.com | Kim@kimandrewscoaching.com

    11 min

  7. JAN 29

    Ep. 21 - Managing Your Ego with Monty Robertson

    In this episode of Lead Through IT, Jada and Kim sit down with Monty Robertson, Executive Director of the Alliance for Healthiest South Carolina, for an honest conversation about leadership, ego, and what it really takes to bring people together when the stakes are high. Monty shares his unconventional leadership journey, from growing up in a small South Carolina town to leading statewide coalitions and navigating moments that demanded humility, adaptability, and resilience. Together, they explore why managing your ego isn’t about shrinking yourself, but about knowing when to step back, listen differently, and reframe the path forward so real progress can happen. This episode dives into: Why lowering your ego can actually strengthen your leadershipHow reframing language and approach can unite people across dividesThe tension between having strong ideas and making space for othersLeading through uncertainty, rapid change, and moments you’ve never been trained forHow perspective, planning, and resilience carry leaders through their hardest seasonsMonty’s Lead Through It moment is a powerful reminder that leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about staying grounded, building trust, and continuing to move forward even when the path is unclear. If you’re leading teams, organizations, or communities and finding yourself stuck between conviction and collaboration, this conversation will challenge and encourage you in all the right ways. If today’s conversation resonated, connect with us and be part of the community of leaders who refuse to lead alone. JadaWillis.com | KimAndrewsCoaching.com Jada@jwillisconsulting.com | Kim@kimandrewscoaching.com

    35 min

  8. JAN 22

    Ep. 20 - Being a Humble and Credible Leader

    In this laser-focused episode of Lead Through It, Jada and Kim reflect on what it truly means to lead with both humility and credibility. Using insights from their conversation with Maia Molina-Schaefer, they explore how effective leaders balance listening and learning with confidently sharing perspective and direction. The discussion dives into values-driven decision making, building strong relationships, creating a trusted “kitchen cabinet” of advisors, and asking better questions of your team. This episode is a practical, honest look at how leaders can earn trust, stay grounded, and lead with impact without losing who they are.  If today’s conversation resonated, connect with us and be part of the community of leaders who refuse to lead alone. JadaWillis.com | KimAndrewsCoaching.com Jada@jwillisconsulting.com | Kim@kimandrewscoaching.com

    15 min
See All (27)

5
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

Hosted by Kim Andrews and Jada Willis - two would-be competitors who chose collaboration over rivalry - Lead Through It is your weekly dose of real talk and practical wisdom for navigating leadership’s hardest (and most human) moments. Each episode features candid conversations with business owners and seasoned leaders who’ve led through the big pivots and the everyday grind. Whether you’re a service-based entrepreneur scaling early success (Jada’s sweet spot) or an organizational leader managing complex change (Kim’s jam), Lead Through It helps you get clear on where you're headed, build a resilient team that steps up, and weather the tough stuff no one warns you about. You’ll walk away with fresh insight, actionable takeaways, and just enough wit and charm to keep things interesting.

Information

  • Creator
    Kim Andrews & Jada Willis
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Lead Through It with Kim and Jada
  • Show Website
    Lead Through It with Kim and Jada

You Might Also Like