🎧 L&D Leadership Edge

Sheree Comninellis
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Welcome to L&D Leadership Edge - the podcast for ambitious L&D professionals who want to step into leadership. Breaking into leadership takes more than being great at design, facilitation, or delivery. It takes visibility, business acumen, stakeholder alignment, and the confidence to show up as a partner to the business. That’s where L&D Leadership Edge comes in. Hosted by Sheree Comninellis — L&D Executive, strategist, and mentor to future L&D leaders — this podcast gives you the clarity and practical moves to grow from doing the work to leading the function. Here’s what you’ll get: ✅ Real-world insights on the dynamics you need to understand before landing your first leadership role ✅ Executive voices sharing their journeys into L&D leadership ✅ Practical steps to help you shift from execution to strategy with confidence 🎧 Subscribe now and start your journey into L&D leadership.

  1. Choosing One Leadership Focus for the Year

    4D AGO

    Choosing One Leadership Focus for the Year

    In this episode of L&D Leadership Edge, host Sheree Comninellis speaks to ambitious L&D professionals about why trying to work on everything at once often leads to stagnation, not growth. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by development goals or unsure where to focus your energy, this episode explains why leadership growth happens through depth, not breadth — and how choosing one clear leadership focus can accelerate your confidence, visibility, and impact. Sheree Comninellis is an L&D Executive, strategist, and mentor with 18+ years of experience developing leaders and building capability across industries. She founded Lead with Sheree to help ambitious L&D professionals step into leadership. What you’ll learn in this episode:00:51 Why too many development goals can slow your progress 01:26 How focus creates momentum and clarity in leadership growth 03:42 A career story about how I built my experitse during my career 05:28 How to choose a leadership focus that actually shows up at work Thank you for spending this time with me! 👉🏾 The best place to start? Subscribe to Executive Moves — my free weekly newsletter for ambitious L&D professionals. In just 5 minutes, you’ll get one bold insight, one practical move, and one resource to accelerate your journey into L&D leadership. Sign up here: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/589169/98676779613423573/share You can also connect with me here: ✋🏾 LinkedIn (Sheree Comninellis): https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheree-comninellis/ 🌐 Website: www.leadwithsheree.com 📧 Email: sheree@leadwithsheree.com 💬 Prefer a quick DM? Send me a message on LinkedIn - I’d love to meet you & hear about where you are in your journey into L&D leadership.

    9 min
  2. The Early Signs You’re Ready for Leadership (Before the Title)

    FEB 3

    The Early Signs You’re Ready for Leadership (Before the Title)

    In this episode of L&D Leadership Edge, host Sheree Comninellis challenges the idea that leadership readiness is something you suddenly feel, and explains why it actually shows up first in your behaviour. If you’ve been waiting to feel more confident, more certain, or more “ready” before stepping forward, this episode reframes readiness as a pattern of actions leaders already notice — often long before you recognise it yourself. Sheree Comninellis is an L&D Executive, strategist, and mentor with 18+ years of experience developing leaders and building capability across industries. She founded Lead with Sheree to help ambitious L&D professionals step into leadership. What you’ll learn in this episode:00:51 Why waiting to feel ready can delay your leadership growth 01:50 The three behavioural signals leaders notice as readiness 03:15 A personal story of acting like a leader before the title 05:26 Why confidence usually follows action - not the other way around Thank you for spending this time with me! 👉🏾 The best place to start? Subscribe to Executive Moves — my free weekly newsletter for ambitious L&D professionals. In just 5 minutes, you’ll get one bold insight, one practical move, and one resource to accelerate your journey into L&D leadership. Sign up here: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/589169/98676779613423573/share You can also connect with me here: ✋🏾 LinkedIn (Sheree Comninellis): https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheree-comninellis/ 🌐 Website: www.leadwithsheree.com 📧 Email: sheree@leadwithsheree.com 💬 Prefer a quick DM? Send me a message on LinkedIn - I’d love to meet you & hear about where you are in your journey into L&D leadership.

    7 min
  3. Why Clarity Matters More Than Goals Right Now

    JAN 27

    Why Clarity Matters More Than Goals Right Now

    In this episode of L&D Leadership Edge, host Sheree Comninellis speaks directly to ambitious L&D professionals about why clarity, not goals, is the most important thing to focus on right now if you want to grow into leadership. If you’re already busy, stretched, and delivering, this episode explains why adding more goals can create noise rather than progress, and how clarity helps you make better decisions, prioritise intentionally, and move forward with confidence. Sheree Comninellis is an L&D Executive, strategist, and mentor with 18+ years of experience developing leaders and building capability across industries. She founded Lead with Sheree to help ambitious L&D professionals step into leadership. What you’ll learn in this episode:00:49 Why setting goals without clarity can stall your growth 02:51 The difference between being busy and moving in the right direction 03:30 An example from my career that shows the importance of clarity 05:31 A simple exercise to identify your true leadership focus for now Thank you for spending this time with me! 👉🏾 The best place to start? Subscribe to Executive Moves — my free weekly newsletter for ambitious L&D professionals. In just 5 minutes, you’ll get one bold insight, one practical move, and one resource to accelerate your journey into L&D leadership. Sign up here: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/589169/98676779613423573/share You can also connect with me here: ✋🏾 LinkedIn (Sheree Comninellis): https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheree-comninellis/ 🌐 Website: www.leadwithsheree.com 📧 Email: sheree@leadwithsheree.com 💬 Prefer a quick DM? Send me a message on LinkedIn - I’d love to meet you & hear about where you are in your journey into L&D leadership.

    8 min
  4. 4 Things I Wish I Did Earlier in My L&D Career

    12/09/2025

    4 Things I Wish I Did Earlier in My L&D Career

    In this episode of L&D Leadership Edge, host Sheree Comninellis shares the four lessons she wishes she’d learned much earlier in her L&D career. Through personal stories and practical insights, Sheree unpacks the mindset and behaviour shifts that turn capable L&D professionals into strategic, confident, leadership-ready professionals. These are the exact shifts she will help L&D professionals make inside The L&D Professional Collective, her new membership for ambitious L&D professionals who want structured growth, mentorship, and community. Sheree Comninellis is an L&D Executive, strategist, and mentor with 17+ years of experience developing leaders and building capability across industries. She founded Lead with Sheree to help ambitious L&D professionals step into leadership. What you'll learn in this episode 01:22 Why leadership requires a different skillset — not just harder work 03:22 The cost of waiting for permission to grow 05:03 Why your network matters more than you think 07:28 The power of choosing yourself, especially during uncertainty 09:11 One practical action to take this week to build momentum Join the L&D Professional Collective If these lessons landed for you, this is exactly why The L&D Professional Collective exists. Doors are open until 15 December at the founding member rate of R550/month  Inside The Collective, you’ll get: ✨ Mentorship and guidance ✨ Monthly live coaching ✨ A structured leadership development path ✨ A private community of ambitious L&D peers ✨ Support to grow into L&D leadership in 2025 Join here: https://leadwithsheree.com/ldprofessionalcollective/   Thank you for spending this time with me! 👉🏾 The best place to start? Subscribe to Executive Moves — my free weekly newsletter for ambitious L&D professionals. In just 5 minutes, you’ll get one bold insight, one practical move, and one resource to accelerate your journey into L&D leadership. Sign up here: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/589169/98676779613423573/share You can also connect with me here: ✋🏾 LinkedIn (Sheree Comninellis): https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheree-comninellis/ 🌐 Website: www.leadwithsheree.com 📧 Email: sheree@leadwithsheree.com 💬 Prefer a quick DM? Send me a message on LinkedIn - I’d love to meet you & hear about where you are in your journey into L&D leadership.

    11 min
  5. Why Your Next Career Move Needs a Roadmap — And How to Build Yours

    11/25/2025

    Why Your Next Career Move Needs a Roadmap — And How to Build Yours

    In this episode of L&D Leadership Edge, host Sheree Comninellis speaks directly to ambitious L&D professionals about why clarity — not skill — is the missing link in most career journeys. If you’ve ever felt ready for more but unsure what to do next, this episode explains why that happens and what you can do about it. Sheree shares the thinking behind her upcoming 3-day workshop series, designed to help you understand what L&D leadership really requires, how to position yourself in the market, and how to build a clear, actionable career plan for 2026. Sheree Comninellis is an L&D Executive, strategist, and mentor with 18+ years of experience developing leaders and building capability across industries. She founded Lead with Sheree to help ambitious L&D professionals step into leadership. What you'll learn in this episode: 00:28 Why clarity — not talent — keeps most L&D professionals stuck 01:27 The real reason created the 3-day workshop series 02:46 What you can expect across all three days 07:03 Who the workshop is designed for 09:00 The benefits of building a real roadmap for your next career move Join the 3-Day Workshop Series🎙️ Your Roadmap to L&D Leadership — 1 to 3 December Across three days, you’ll learn: ✨ What L&D leadership really requires ✨ How to position yourself for internal or external opportunities ✨ How to build your 2026 career roadmap ✨ Insights from senior L&D, HR & OD leaders ✨ Community, clarity, and confidence It’s free. It’s live. It’s interactive. It’s not recorded. Register now: https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/589169/171620247592240790/share And if you're interested to learn more about the L&D Professional Collective, visit this: https://leadwithsheree.com/ldprofessionalcollectivewaitinglist/   Thank you for spending this time with me! 👉🏾 The best place to start? Subscribe to Executive Moves — my free weekly newsletter for ambitious L&D professionals. In just 5 minutes, you’ll get one bold insight, one practical move, and one resource to accelerate your journey into L&D leadership. Sign up here: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/589169/98676779613423573/share You can also connect with me here: ✋🏾 LinkedIn (Sheree Comninellis): https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheree-comninellis/ 🌐 Website: www.leadwithsheree.com 📧 Email: sheree@leadwithsheree.com 💬 Prefer a quick DM? Send me a message on LinkedIn - I’d love to meet you & hear about where you are in your journey into L&D leadership.

    13 min
  6. Are You Building a Career — or Just Doing a Job in L&D?

    11/18/2025

    Are You Building a Career — or Just Doing a Job in L&D?

    In this episode of L&D Leadership Edge, host Sheree Comninellis explores one powerful question: Are you intentionally building your L&D career, or are you unintentionally stuck just doing a job? Sheree breaks down the difference between being busy and being strategic, highlights the signs that you’re operating reactively, and shares what building a career actually looks like when you want to grow into leadership. Sheree Comninellis is an L&D Executive, strategist, and mentor with 17+ years of experience developing leaders and building capability across industries. She founded Lead with Sheree to help ambitious L&D professionals step into leadership. What you'll learn in this episode: 00:38 The question that can shift your L&D career 01:07 The difference between doing a job vs. building a career 02:51 Three signs you may be stuck in “doing mode” 04:26 What intentional career building looks like in practice 07:17 A practical reflection to shape your 2026 roadmap Go deeper - live with Lead with Sheree 🎙️ Join me 1–3 December for the Your Roadmap to L&D Leadership Workshop Series, where we’ll design your actionable career roadmap for 2026. Join the mailing list to get the info: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/589169/98676779613423573/share   Thank you for spending this time with me! 👉🏾 The best place to start? Subscribe to Executive Moves — my free weekly newsletter for ambitious L&D professionals. In just 5 minutes, you’ll get one bold insight, one practical move, and one resource to accelerate your journey into L&D leadership. Sign up here: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/589169/98676779613423573/share You can also connect with me here: ✋🏾 LinkedIn (Sheree Comninellis): https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheree-comninellis/ 🌐 Website: www.leadwithsheree.com 📧 Email: sheree@leadwithsheree.com 💬 Prefer a quick DM? Send me a message on LinkedIn - I’d love to meet you & hear about where you are in your journey into L&D leadership.

    11 min
  7. The Mindset Shifts You Need to Be Seen as a Strategic Partner

    11/04/2025

    The Mindset Shifts You Need to Be Seen as a Strategic Partner

    In this episode of L&D Leadership Edge, host Sheree Comninellis unpacks the mindset shifts that separate doers from strategic partners. If you want to grow your influence in L&D, you need to think differently. But the biggest change isn’t in your skills — it’s in your mindset. Sheree walks through three powerful shifts that will help you be seen, heard, and trusted as a true strategic partner in the business. Sheree Comninellis is an L&D Executive, strategist, and mentor with 18+ years of experience developing leaders and building capability across industries. She founded Lead with Sheree to help ambitious L&D professionals step into leadership. What you'll learn in this episode: 00:29 Why thinking like a strategic partner starts with mindset 01:25 The shift from “I’m just L&D” → “I’m a trusted advisor” 03:15 How to move from service provider to strategic contributor 05:53 Why visibility builds credibility and how to own your influence 06:56 One practical move to apply these shifts this week Thank you for spending this time with me! 👉🏾 The best place to start? Subscribe to Executive Moves — my free weekly newsletter for ambitious L&D professionals. In just 5 minutes, you’ll get one bold insight, one practical move, and one resource to accelerate your journey into L&D leadership. Sign up here: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/589169/98676779613423573/share You can also connect with me here: ✋🏾 LinkedIn (Sheree Comninellis): https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheree-comninellis/ 🌐 Website: www.leadwithsheree.com 📧 Email: sheree@leadwithsheree.com 💬 Prefer a quick DM? Send me a message on LinkedIn - I’d love to meet you & hear about where you are in your journey into L&D leadership.

    9 min
  8. Why Communicating Well at Work Feels So Hard — and How to Get It Right

    10/28/2025

    Why Communicating Well at Work Feels So Hard — and How to Get It Right

    In this episode of L&D Leadership Edge, host Sheree Comninellis explores why communication — one of the most critical leadership skills — can also feel like one of the hardest to master. Sheree unpacks the three challenges that make communication difficult and explains how the key to communicating well isn’t perfection, it’s mindset. You’ll also learn three practical shifts to help you speak with more clarity, confidence, and authenticity at work. Sheree Comninellis is an L&D Executive, strategist, and mentor with 18+ years of experience developing leaders and building capability across industries. She founded Lead with Sheree to help ambitious L&D professionals step into leadership. What you'll learn in this episode: 00:40 Why communication can feel so difficult, even for capable professionals 01:38 The three challenges that hold people back from speaking with confidence 03:37 The mindset shift that separates strong communicators from hesitant ones 04:44 Three practical ways to communicate with more clarity and calm this week Thank you for spending this time with me! 👉🏾 The best place to start? Subscribe to Executive Moves — my free weekly newsletter for ambitious L&D professionals. In just 5 minutes, you’ll get one bold insight, one practical move, and one resource to accelerate your journey into L&D leadership. Sign up here: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/589169/98676779613423573/share You can also connect with me here: ✋🏾 LinkedIn (Sheree Comninellis): https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheree-comninellis/ 🌐 Website: www.leadwithsheree.com 📧 Email: sheree@leadwithsheree.com 💬 Prefer a quick DM? Send me a message on LinkedIn - I’d love to meet you & hear about where you are in your journey into L&D leadership.

    10 min
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About

Welcome to L&D Leadership Edge - the podcast for ambitious L&D professionals who want to step into leadership. Breaking into leadership takes more than being great at design, facilitation, or delivery. It takes visibility, business acumen, stakeholder alignment, and the confidence to show up as a partner to the business. That’s where L&D Leadership Edge comes in. Hosted by Sheree Comninellis — L&D Executive, strategist, and mentor to future L&D leaders — this podcast gives you the clarity and practical moves to grow from doing the work to leading the function. Here’s what you’ll get: ✅ Real-world insights on the dynamics you need to understand before landing your first leadership role ✅ Executive voices sharing their journeys into L&D leadership ✅ Practical steps to help you shift from execution to strategy with confidence 🎧 Subscribe now and start your journey into L&D leadership.

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