Girl, Take the Lead!

Yolanda Canny
  • 5.0 (22)
  • Management
  • Updated Weekly

Each week we explore Womanhood and Leadership with the goal to question the status quo and challenge our thinking so we celebrate every woman as a leader. Our episodes will interview leaders in the field, meet authors, explore books on the subject, hear inspiring stories, or talk with organizations leading the charge for women to lead. We’ll look at the different topics from different generational perspectives as my daughters, a Millennial and a Gen Z, will join me, a Boomer, from time to time. We hope to make you laugh and leave inspired as you hear our voices on this very important topic.

  1. 17h ago

    306. SOUND BITE: The Nature of Peace - What Changes When We Stop Looking Outward?

    We all say we want peace. But what do we really mean? After my conversation with leadership coach and author Erika Alessandrini, I found myself reflecting on a question we never actually defined: What is the nature of peace? For much of my life, I thought peace was something waiting for me somewhere in the future—after the deadlines, after retirement, after life finally settled down. But what if peace isn't something we find? What if it's something we cultivate? In this Sound Bite, I explore what I've been learning about peace through my own life—from leaving corporate leadership, to creating art, to spending time with family, and discovering that perhaps peace isn't the absence of activity... It's the absence of inner conflict. Join me as we reflect on where peace really comes from and what changes when we stop looking outward for something that may already be growing within us. In this Sound Bite you'll explore: Why we often confuse peace with the absence of pressureThe surprising places where peace quietly appearsHow striving can continue even after our circumstances changeWhy peace may be less about what's happening around us and more about what's happening within usOne question to carry with you this week:What changes when we stop looking outward? Related Episode 🎙 Episode 305: Pressure, Peace & the Hidden Cost of Always Being the Responsible One with Erika Alessandrini In this conversation, Erika shares how the hidden beliefs driving high achievers can quietly influence our relationships, leadership, and well-being—and why conscious choices begin by looking inward. Connect With Us 🌐 Websitehttps://www.girltaketheleadpod.com 💌 Join our newsletterhttps://www.girltaketheleadpod.com/newsletter 💬 Join the Girl, Take the Lead Facebook Grouphttps://www.facebook.com/groups/girltakethelead 🎨 Explore our guest-inspired cards & giftshttps://www.girltaketheleadpod.com/shop If today's reflection resonated with you, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Where do you feel most at peace? Sometimes the answer isn't a place at all. Sometimes it's a way of being.

    306. SOUND BITE: The Nature of Peace - What Changes When We Stop Looking Outward?

  2. 2d ago

    305. Pressure, Peace & the Hidden Cost of Always Being the Responsible One | Erika Alessandrini

    Have you ever found yourself being the one everyone counts on? The one who says yes. The one who steps in. The one who carries the weight because you know you can. From the outside, it can look like strength. But what if the very qualities that helped you succeed are quietly costing you your peace? In this thought-provoking conversation, leadership coach, facilitator, and author Erika Alessandrini challenges one of the most celebrated qualities of high achievers: always being responsible. Drawing from her new book, Maybe It's Me: Looking Inward to Create Real Change Through Conscious Choices, Erika explains how the very beliefs that help us succeed can quietly erode our relationships, our well-being, and our peace. Together, we explore why pressure so often leads us toward control, why many women feel responsible for everyone around them, and how looking inward can transform the way we lead, love, and live. One of the most moving moments comes when Erika shares a deeply personal story about her teenage son—a story that became the catalyst for changing not only her leadership, but her life. In this episode, you'll discover: The difference between limiting beliefs and self-sabotaging beliefsWhy high achievers often become trapped by over-responsibility and over-helpingThe hidden cost of always being "the responsible one"How pressure invites fear—and fear invites controlWhy compassionate curiosity can transform your relationshipsThe power of creating a pause before reactingWhat it means to take 100% responsibility—no more and no lessWhy the people we love most deserve the best of us—not what's left of usWhether you're leading a business, caring for a family, or simply trying to create a life with greater intention, this conversation offers practical wisdom you'll carry long after the episode ends. Connect with Erika Alessandrini 🌐 Websitehttps://www.erikaalessandrini.com 📝 Take the free Pressure Pattern Quizhttps://www.erikaalessandrini.com/quiz 📘 Maybe It's Me: Looking Inward to Create Real Change Through Conscious Choices Available wherever books are sold. 💼 Learn about Becoming a Leader at Peacehttps://www.aileron.org 🔗 LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-alessandrini/ 📧 Contacthello@maybeitsmebook.com Mentioned in this Episode Aileron — A nonprofit organization dedicated to helping privately held businesses and their leaders thrive through practical education, coaching, and leadership development. Becoming a Leader at Peace — Erika's six-month cohort experience designed for leaders ready to do the deeper work of leading themselves as well as they lead others. Continue the Conversation If today's conversation resonated with you, you won't want to miss this week's Sound Bite: The Nature of Peace: What Changes When We Stop Looking Outward? Inspired by Erika's conversation, we'll explore a question we often overlook: What is peace, really? And what if it isn't something we find... ...but something we cultivate from the inside out? Connect with Girl, Take the Lead! 🌐 Websitehttps://www.girltaketheleadpod.com 💌 Join our Newsletterhttps://www.girltaketheleadpod.com/newsletter 💬 Join the Girl, Take the Lead Facebook Grouphttps://www.facebook.com/groups/girltakethelead 🎨 Explore our guest-inspired cards and giftshttps://www.girltaketheleadpod.com/shop If you enjoyed today's episode, please follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone who may need this conversation. Because leadership isn't about carrying more. It's about choosing what matters most.

    305. Pressure, Peace & the Hidden Cost of Always Being the Responsible One | Erika Alessandrini

  3. Jul 16

    304. SOUND BITE: Compassionate Curiosity - Leaving Room for a Different Ending

    What if one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves—and the people we love—is the willingness to leave room for a different ending? Inspired by my conversation with Wani Iris Manly in Episode 303, this Sound Bite explores the quiet shift from trying to control outcomes to practicing compassionate curiosity. We all do it. We worry about someone we love. We imagine the worst. We convince ourselves we know how the story will end. But do we? In this reflection, I share why some of the biggest turning points in my own life—from moving across the country to beginning this unexpected chapter after retirement—could never have been predicted. And that's made me wonder... How often do we assume we know someone else's ending, too? In this Sound Bite, we'll explore: Why control often begins with love, fear, or the desire to protectThe difference between thoughtful planning and trying to control the outcomeWhy trust grows from experience—and what we do when there isn't enough evidenceHow compassionate curiosity creates space for growth, surprise, and possibilityWhy we may not know the ending as well as we think we doInspired by Episode 303 One thought stayed with me long after recording: Control assumes we know the ending.Compassionate curiosity leaves room for a different ending. Perhaps the invitation isn't to care less. Perhaps it's simply to stay curious enough to be surprised. Let Life Surprise You: What Happens When You Stop Controlling Everything Reflection Questions In my conversation with Wani Iris Manly, we explored change, trust, identity, and what happens when we leave room for life to surprise us. If you haven't listened yet, I invite you to begin there and then return to this reflection. Where in your life might compassionate curiosity serve you better than certainty? Is there someone—or even yourself—for whom you could leave room for a different ending? Connect with Girl, Take the Lead! 🌐 Websitehttps://www.girltaketheleadpod.com 🎧 Listen wherever you enjoy podcastshttps://www.girltaketheleadpod.com/listen ▶️ Subscribe on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@GirlTaketheLead 💌 Join our newsletter for leadership insights, Sound Bites, Aging with Intention, and At the Threshold reflections. Follow Girl, Take the Lead! on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube for weekly conversations that help women lead with courage, authenticity, and purpose. One final thought If this reflection resonated with you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who might need a reminder that not every story unfolds the way we expect. Sometimes the most meaningful chapters begin when we stop assuming we know the ending... ...and leave room for a different one.

    304. SOUND BITE: Compassionate Curiosity - Leaving Room for a Different Ending

  4. Jul 14

    303. Let Life Surprise You: What Happens When You Stop Controlling Everything

    What if the life you're meant to live begins when you loosen your grip on the one you've carefully planned? In this inspiring conversation, I sit down with Wani Iris Manly—TEDx and award-winning speaker, intellectual property attorney, change expert, entrepreneur, and bestselling author—whose remarkable journey from Miami to Paris transformed not only where she lived, but who she became. After building a successful legal career, Wani made an extraordinary leap of faith. She sold everything she owned and moved to Paris without knowing anyone, speaking the language, or having a backup plan. What she discovered wasn't just a new country—it was a new way of defining success, purpose, creativity, and trust. Together, we explore why change feels so uncomfortable, how our identities can keep us stuck, and why leaving room for life to surprise us may be one of the greatest acts of leadership we can practice. In this episode you'll discover: Why change often feels threatening—even when it's leading us somewhere betterWani's Change Blueprint for navigating life's biggest transitionsHow fear, identity, and uncertainty keep us holding on too tightlyWhy redefining success begins by defining it for yourselfThe connection between happiness, purpose, and living authenticallyWhy resilience doesn't require making life harder than it needs to beHow leaving room for life to surprise you can open doors you never imaginedWhether you're standing at the beginning of a new chapter, considering a career transition, or simply wondering what's next, this conversation offers encouragement to trust the journey—even when you can't yet see the destination. 🎁 Free Listener Gift Wani has generously shared her Change Blueprint Framework with the Girl, Take the Lead! community. Access the interactive version here:https://speakerhub.com/cta/2mhnZ1 Or download the PDF directly:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CbYniD-lSdJ2D-wNNtcRfwiuTogYLUIc/view?usp=share_link Connect with Wani Iris Manly 🌐 Websitehttps://www.wanimanly.com 📖 Bestselling BookGet Out of Survival Mode and Live the Life You Really Wanthttps://www.amazon.com/SURVIVAL-MODE-Live-Life-Really/dp/1511485876 💼 LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/wani-iris-manly-esquire-44510a5a/ 📸 Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/thelovelywani/ 📘 Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/WaniManly 📧 Speaking & Corporate Consultingwani@wanimanly.com Wani works with organizations, leaders, and entrepreneurs to navigate change, build resilience, and lead with confidence through keynote speaking, workshops, and consulting. Connect with Girl, Take the Lead! 🌐 Websitehttps://www.girltaketheleadpod.com 🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast platformhttps://www.girltaketheleadpod.com/listen ▶️ Subscribe on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@GirlTaketheLead 💌 Join our quarterly newsletter for leadership insights, new episodes, and reflections on Sound Bites, Aging with Intention, and At the Threshold:https://www.girltaketheleadpod.com Follow Girl, Take the Lead! on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube for weekly inspiration and conversations that help women lead with courage, authenticity, and purpose. If today's conversation resonated with you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who's standing at the edge of a change in their own life. Because sometimes the greatest transformations begin when we loosen our grip on certainty... …and leave room for life to surprise us.

    303. Let Life Surprise You: What Happens When You Stop Controlling Everything

  5. Jul 9

    302. AT THE THRESHOLD SERIES: Who Am I Now? The Hidden Gift Inside Every Transition

    Sometimes life's biggest transitions don't announce themselves. They arrive quietly. Not through one dramatic event... ...but through a collection of moments that slowly reshape us until one day we realize something inside has changed. In this personal At the Threshold reflection, Yo shares an unexpected experience of grief that surfaced seemingly out of nowhere. As she stayed with the tears instead of pushing them aside, they uncovered deeper questions about identity, presence, purpose, and what it means to live a life well. Inspired by her recent conversation with Kristine Frost, the work of Francis Weller, Susan Cain's Bittersweet, and a surprising lesson from The Sheep Detective, this episode explores why we don't simply "get through" life's transitions—we continue evolving throughout our lives. Perhaps the hidden gift isn't finding all the answers. Perhaps it's learning to ask better questions. In This Episode: Why some transitions arrive quietly rather than dramaticallyAn unexpected existential crisis—and the tears that followedThe grief that can accompany changing identitiesWhy staying with our feelings can reveal what we've been avoidingWhy achievement can't answer life's deepest questionsThe hidden gift inside every transitionWhy we are never "done" becoming Reflection Questions Is there a transition in your life that you didn't recognize at first?What feelings have been quietly asking for your attention?What question is life inviting you to ask in this season?How do you want to live the time you have?Resources Mentioned 📖 Francis Weller – Reflections on grief, identity, and life's transitions 📖 Susan Cain – Bittersweet Girl, Take the Lead! Book Discussion Part 1: Episode 23 (audio)https://girltaketheleadpod.com/episode/23-part-1-of-2-bittersweet-susan-cain-how-do-sorrow-and-longing-make-us-whole (We'll add Part 2 here as well.) 🎬 The Sheep Detective – A reminder that avoiding our feelings doesn't make them disappear. Connect With Us 🌐 Website: https://girltaketheleadpod.com 🎙 Listen on your favorite podcast platform:https://girltaketheleadpod.com/listen 💌 Subscribe to our newsletter:https://girltaketheleadpod.com/newsletter 💳 Explore the Girl, Take the Lead! Card Collection:https://girltaketheleadpod.com/shop 📺 YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@girltakethelead Coming Next Week Episode 303 Let Life Surprise You: What Happens When You Stop Controlling Everything Attorney, TEDx speaker, bestselling author, and entrepreneur Wani Iris Manly shares the extraordinary story of selling everything she owned and moving to Paris without knowing anyone, speaking the language, or having a backup plan. Together, we explore what happens when we loosen our grip on the life we've carefully planned...and leave room for life to surprise us. Thank you for walking this threshold with me.

    302. AT THE THRESHOLD SERIES: Who Am I Now? The Hidden Gift Inside Every Transition

  6. Jul 7

    301. When Our World Changes – Finding Our Way Forward

    What happens when the world around us changes—and we're left wondering how to move forward? In this thoughtful and timely conversation, I sit down with Kristine Frost—former Chief Human Resources Officer, attorney, executive advisor, and founder of Shattered Glass Advisory—to explore leadership, transition, identity, and the courage to remain true to ourselves during times of profound change. Drawing from more than 25 years leading people and culture in the automotive industry, Kristine shares her experiences navigating executive leadership as one of the few women in the C-suite, the personal impact of workplace trauma, and how stepping away from corporate life became an unexpected invitation to rediscover purpose, joy, and authenticity. Together, we explore what it means to shift from external validation to internal fulfillment—and why some of life's greatest transitions become opportunities to find our way forward. In this episode, you'll discover: Why transitions can become opportunities for transformation.How workplace experiences shape our leadership and identity.The difference between doing things right and doing the right thing.Why separating our identity from our job title matters.How journaling, meditation, and daily practices can help us navigate change.The importance of mental health in leadership and personal growth.Why moving from external validation to internal purpose changes everything.How courage allows us to choose what we will—and won't—accept moving forward. Memorable Quotes "There's a huge difference between doing things right... and doing the right thing." "Transitions can become opportunities for transformation." "I can be successful, and I can also be happy without needing something to be happy about." "I'm no longer trying to prove that I belong in those rooms. I'm deciding what I'm willing to challenge, what I'll refuse to normalize, and what the women who follow me should never have to tolerate." More About Kristine Kristine Frost is an attorney turned Chief Human Resources Officer who has spent more than 25 years leading people strategy within the demanding world of automotive manufacturing. Today, through Shattered Glass Advisory, she helps executives, boards, and emerging leaders navigate the realities of executive leadership while building organizations where people and performance thrive together. She is also a nonprofit board director, LGBTQ+ advocate, and is currently writing her first book exploring leadership, identity, transition, and the hidden costs of success. Connect with Kristine 🌐 Website: www.shatteredglassadvisory.com 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/shattered-glass-advisory 📧 Email: kristine@shatteredglassadvisory.com Kristine's Card Choice Kristine selected the "Be You... The World Will Adjust" card from the Girl, Take the Lead! collection—a beautiful reminder that authenticity isn't something we earn permission for. It's something we choose. What would Kristine tell her 20-something self? "Don't sweat the small stuff... and it's all small stuff." When your world changes, what helps you find your way forward? Join the Conversation Share your thoughts—we'd love to hear your story. Enjoying Girl, Take the Lead!? Please follow the podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with someone navigating change, leadership, or a new season of life.

    301. When Our World Changes – Finding Our Way Forward

  7. Jul 1

    300. SOUND BITE: The Evidence of Hope

    Welcome to Sound Bite—a short reflection inspired by conversations on Girl, Take the Lead. This week is a special one. It's our 300th episode. As I reflected on the past four years, I found myself asking: What evidence do we have that hope is justified? We live in a world where fear often makes the headlines. But what if there is another story unfolding quietly around us? In this Sound Bite, I reflect on: ✨ Why hope comes from evidence—not blind optimism ✨ What the World Cup reminds us about belonging ✨ Lessons from nearly 300 conversations with women leaders around the world ✨ Why community may be closer than we realize ✨ Looking at the totality of the evidence—not just the headlines Thank you for listening, for sharing these conversations, and for being part of this incredible community. You are part of the evidence. Reflection question: Where have you seen evidence of hope in your own life recently? Connect with Girl, Take the Lead! 🌐 Website: https://www.girltaketheleadpod.com 💌 Join our newsletter for leadership reflections and podcast updates. 👥 Continue the conversation in the Girl, Take the Lead Facebook Group. 📱 Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube. If this episode encouraged you, please consider following the podcast and sharing it with someone who could use a little evidence of hope today.

    300. SOUND BITE: The Evidence of Hope

  8. Jun 25

    299. SOUND BITE: Trust, Faith, and the Courage to Let Go

    A Sound Bite is a short reflection inspired by a recent Girl, Take the Lead! conversation—an opportunity to explore one idea a little more deeply. In this Sound Bite, host Yo Canny reflects on a question that emerged from her conversation with Andrea Mein DeWitt: What is the difference between trust and faith? Together, they explored generosity, boundaries, trust, and the challenge of holding life with open hands. But after the conversation ended, Yo found herself continuing to think about trust—not as a feeling, but as a practice. In this reflection, she explores: ✨ Why hope, trust, and faith are related—but different ✨ How fear and control often travel together ✨ Why courage is required whenever we release certainty ✨ What Andrea's "Open Hands" philosophy can teach us about leadership and life ✨ The question many of us face as we navigate relationships, aging, parenting, retirement, and personal growth: What do we do when we can no longer control the outcome? This Sound Bite was inspired by Episode 298: 🎧 The Generous Heart: Boundaries, Trust, and Letting Go of Resentment with Andrea Mein DeWitt Listen here:https://girltaketheleadpod.com/episode/298-the-generous-heart-boundaries-trust-and-letting-go-of-resentment-with-andrea-mein-dewitt About Andrea Mein DeWitt Andrea Mein DeWitt is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC), author, and creator of the Name, Claim & Reframe® methodology. She helps high-achieving women navigate challenging relationships and life transitions while leading from authenticity rather than armor. Learn more:https://andreadewittadvisors.com 💛 Connect with Girl, Take the Lead! Website:https://girltaketheleadpod.com Shop:https://girltaketheleadpod.com/shop Follow Girl, Take the Lead! on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube for leadership insights, guest highlights, weekly reflections, and inspiring conversations. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and never miss an episode. 🎙️ Coming Next Join us next week for another Sound Bite reflection as we explore belonging, community, and the moments that remind us we have more in common than we sometimes realize. Inspired by the spirit of the Fourth of July, we'll reflect on why belonging matters, what brings people together, and how connection may be one of the most powerful forms of leadership. Until then— Listen inward.Lead outward.

    299. SOUND BITE: Trust, Faith, and the Courage to Let Go
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5
out of 5
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About

Each week we explore Womanhood and Leadership with the goal to question the status quo and challenge our thinking so we celebrate every woman as a leader. Our episodes will interview leaders in the field, meet authors, explore books on the subject, hear inspiring stories, or talk with organizations leading the charge for women to lead. We’ll look at the different topics from different generational perspectives as my daughters, a Millennial and a Gen Z, will join me, a Boomer, from time to time. We hope to make you laugh and leave inspired as you hear our voices on this very important topic.

Information

  • Creator
    Yolanda Canny
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    309
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Yolanda Canny
  • Show Website
    Girl, Take the Lead!

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