The Leadership We Need Now

Stacie Dei

The Leadership We Need Now is hosted by Stacie Dei, nonprofit leader, coach, and founder of the Appalachian Innovation Collective. This show is for the people holding it all together: nonprofit directors, middle managers, consultants, and quiet changemakers navigating the messy middle of leadership. Rooted in rural resilience, it’s about care as power, empathy as strategy, and kindness as clarity. Real talk for leaders ready to lead with heart, clarity, and courage.

  1. JAN 20

    Running on Fear: The Hidden Cost of Leadership Today

    If you’re leading a team, an organization, a community—or even your household—you’re probably feeling it: the constant instability, the pressure to make the right decision, the fear of what could change tomorrow. In this video, I talk honestly about the emotional and nervous-system cost of leadership right now. We’re navigating rising costs, shrinking resources, shifting systems, and higher and higher expectations that never seem to slow down. Many leaders are operating in a constant state of vigilance—making decisions without certainty, absorbing risk, and carrying responsibility without enough support. This conversation explores:• What it means to lead when everything feels unstable• How fear quietly drains capacity, creativity, and resilience• Why comparison and “expert advice” can sometimes make things worse• The urgent need for community, shared strategy, and collective leadership• How helpers can stop surviving in isolation and start thinking together This isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about naming what’s happening, telling the truth about the cost, and beginning to imagine what leadership could look like if we stopped doing this alone. If you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, or questioning whether you’re doing enough—this conversation is for you.👉 Subscribe for conversations about kind, caring, courageous leadership👉 Learn more about our work at https://appalachianinnovation.org

    17 min
  2. 12/29/2025

    People-ing at Work is Messy and That's Okay

    Staff management can break your heart as you build your capacity as a leader.In this video, I talk honestly about the emotional and strategic weight of managing people—especially in mission-driven work.You’ll hear real lessons from my own leadership journey, including: The Reality of Managing People (0:41 – 2:24)Every Team Is a Science Experiment (2:21 – 3:18)Balancing People and Process (3:00 – 5:32)When Leaders and Staff Struggle (5:32 – 7:42)Facing Conflict & Hard Truths (7:42 – 9:54)Feedback & Leadership Styles (9:35 – 10:36)The Weight of Leadership Responsibilities (10:36 – 12:20)Key Takeaway: No Perfect System (12:42 – 14:16) No one is perfect at managing others. Leadership is messy and constantly changing. Leaders bring their personal lives into work (stress, distractions, emotions), and so do staff. Each project, team, or day is unpredictable. Different people + different circumstances = different results. Leaders must give themselves grace and focus on doing the right thing, not perfection. Leaders juggle two responsibilities: The human side (emotions, relationships, compassion). The process side (contracts, outcomes, programs, funders). You can control process outcomes, but you cannot fully control people. Knowing when you lack clarity and focusing on regaining “sea legs.” Communicating openly about personal struggles without making excuses. Supporting staff through struggles and sharing responsibilities. Hard conversations are necessary, though uncomfortable. Some people may not be right for the job — and leaders must face that reality. Compassionate leaders often resist conflict, but conflict management is essential. Safe spaces for honest talk are critical to healthy teams. Leaders must consider how feedback is given vs. received. No one is perfect in conflict or feedback delivery — sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Leaders juggle contracts, deadlines, and high workloads. If one staff member under performs, others notice and it impacts morale. Balancing compassion with accountability is a constant act. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to staff management. Relationships, communication, and vulnerability are the ongoing tools. Leadership is an experiment, not a formula.

    15 min

About

The Leadership We Need Now is hosted by Stacie Dei, nonprofit leader, coach, and founder of the Appalachian Innovation Collective. This show is for the people holding it all together: nonprofit directors, middle managers, consultants, and quiet changemakers navigating the messy middle of leadership. Rooted in rural resilience, it’s about care as power, empathy as strategy, and kindness as clarity. Real talk for leaders ready to lead with heart, clarity, and courage.