Ripple Effect Leadership

Journey of Grace Coaching
  • 4.6 (11)
  • CAREERS

The Ripple Effect Leadership Podcast is for leaders at work, at home, and in the community who feel overwhelmed and want to grow with intention. Every other week, hosts Jen Brown and Hugo Rodriguez, drawing on 50+ years of combined leadership experience as U.S. Department of State Foreign Service Officers and as coaches, share real conversations, actionable insights, and practical tools to help you lead with clarity, courage, and connection. If you’re navigating doubt, burnout, or uncertainty, this podcast will help you create the ripple effect your leadership was meant to have.

  1. 2D AGO

    15 | Strategic Humanity: Leading with Calm, Courage, & Ethical Influence (with Carrie Muntean)

    In this episode of the Ripple Effect Leadership Podcast, Jen Brown and Hugo Rodriguez welcome special guest Carrie Muntean—former U.S. diplomat, executive coach, and author of the forthcoming book The Art of Strategic Humanity—for a powerful conversation on what leadership looks like when pressure is high and stakes are real. Together, they explore The Art of Strategic Humanity as a leadership framework that integrates analytical thinking (the head), compassion (the heart), and courage with boundaries (the spine). Carrie shares insights drawn from diplomacy, coaching, and her upcoming book—offering leaders a grounded way to lead ethically without losing effectiveness. This episode dives into calmness in crisis, emotional intelligence, ethical influence versus manipulation, and the often-overlooked leadership skill of the diplomatic apology. The conversation also highlights the importance of boundaries, self-reflection, and well-being as essential—not optional—components of sustainable leadership. Whether you’re navigating complex team dynamics, organizational change, or high-pressure decisions, this episode invites you to lead with clarity, humanity, and trust. 🎧 Leadership isn’t just about control—it’s about calm, courage, and character. Reach out to Carrie on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/carriemuntean The Art of Strategic Humanity coming soon on Amazon!

    45 min

  2. FEB 9

    14 | From Widget Mastery to Transformational Leadership: Making the Shift That Scales Your Impact

    In this episode of the Ripple Effect Leadership Podcast, we unpack one of the most critical—and misunderstood—transitions in leadership: the shift from doing the work to leading the people who do the work. High-performing professionals are often promoted because they’re excellent at execution. But staying stuck in “widget mastery” comes at a cost—burnout, bottlenecks, and teams that never fully step into their potential. True leadership requires a new skill set: strategic thinking, intentional communication, delegation, and people development. Using real-world examples (including the orchestra conductor metaphor), we explore how leaders learn to change hats—moving fluidly between management and leadership—while building trust, clarity, and long-term capacity on their teams. This episode goes beyond theory and into transformation. You’ll walk away with practical frameworks to: Communicate vision instead of just tasksDelegate without micromanagingDevelop future leaders instead of doing it all yourselfNavigate tough people decisions with integrity and confidence Whether you’re an emerging leader, a seasoned manager, or an entrepreneur scaling an organization, this conversation will challenge you to lead more intentionally—and with greater impact. 🎧 Lead smarter. Manage better. Build something that lasts.

    39 min

  3. JAN 26

    13 | Leading in the Middle: The Art of Mid-Level Leadership

    In this episode of the Ripple Effect Leadership Podcast, Jen Brown and Hugo Rodriguez go beyond talking about mid-level leadership—they model it in real time. Mid-level leaders often sit in the most complex seat in an organization, navigating pressure from senior leadership while carrying responsibility for their teams. In this episode, Jen coaches Hugo through the lived experience of being a mid-level leader, using vulnerability, reflection, and honest dialogue to bring the challenges—and solutions—into focus. Together, they explore why communication is the cornerstone of effective leadership, how vulnerability strengthens trust, and why clarity matters even when certainty is unavailable. Listeners also hear how strong mid-level leaders build influence by bringing solutions—not just problems—up the chain, while steadying morale below. This episode offers both insight and embodiment—a powerful reminder that leadership growth doesn’t just happen in theory, but in brave, real conversations.

    39 min

  4. JAN 12

    12 | Leading From Within: From Autopilot to Intentional Leadership

    So many leaders are successful on paper — yet feel reactive, exhausted, or disconnected on the inside. In this episode, Jen Brown and Hugo Rodriguez explore what it really means to lead from within by breaking free from autopilot reactions and shifting into intentional, present leadership — at work and in life. We unpack how common patterns like people-pleasing, perfectionism, harsh self-criticism, overachieving, and avoidance are often driven by inner “saboteur” voices — not character flaws. Drawing from Positive Intelligence®, we talk about how these patterns get wired in the brain, how they show up under pressure, and—most importantly—how leaders can disrupt them and rewire their thinking. This conversation offers both insight and hope. With greater awareness and simple mental fitness tools, leaders can quiet the inner critic, respond with intention instead of reactivity, and lead with more clarity, presence, and resilience. If you’ve ever felt stuck in autopilot or pressure to constantly prove yourself, this episode is for you. ResourcesTake the free Positive Intelligence® Saboteur Assessment:https://www.positiveintelligence.com/saboteurs/ Jen and Hugo also share how they support leaders in taking a deeper dive into intentional leadership and mental fitness.

    38 min

  5. 12/29/2025

    11 | From Reflection to Action: Leadership Strategies for 2026

    As the year closes, great leaders know clarity doesn’t come from rushing into goals—it comes from reflection first. In this insightful and practical conversation, leadership coaches and former U.S. diplomats Jen Brown and Hugo Rodriguez explore how intentional reflection, aligned goal-setting, and grounded leadership vision can shape the way you lead in 2026. You’ll hear why reflection is a strategic leadership tool, how to use feedback effectively, how to understand team dynamics, and why your leadership vision and inner circle matter more than you think. The episode opens with inspiration from Mel Robbins’ Yearly Audit and then dives deeper into practical strategies you can actually use. Resources & Links:Mel Robbins – Yearly Audit Episode: https://www.melrobbins.com/episode/episode-351/Want to go deeper in January? Join Jen’s Leadership Reset and enter 2026 with clarity and intention: https://resettolead.com/2026-leadership-reset-990661

    57 min

  6. 12/15/2025

    10 | Inside ‘Coming Home to Me’: Faith, Reflection & Renewal

    Join Jen Brown and Hugo Rodriguez for a heartfelt, behind-the-scenes conversation about Jen’s new devotional, Coming Home to Me: A Devotional Journey—a book crafted to help readers reconnect with God, themselves, and the life they’re called to live. In this episode, Jen opens up about the real story behind the book: what sparked the idea during a season of transition,how the book’s structure (daily scripture, reflection, and coaching prompts) supports intentional living,the role of values, stillness, and self-reflection in spiritual and personal growth,and the challenges of writing a year-long devotional while building a business, leading clients, and navigating life’s curveballs.Jen and Hugo explore how faith, leadership, and resilience shaped the writing journey—offering encouragement for anyone stepping into a new chapter of their own. If you're curious about the creative process, hungry for spiritual grounding, or simply celebrating the launch with Jen, this conversation will meet you right where you are. Find Coming Home to Me: A Devotional Journey, and its companion journal, on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0Is7h4C.

    37 min

  7. 12/01/2025

    9 | The Power of Slowing Down — Leadership Lessons from the Overwhelm

    As we step into the rush of the holiday season, this episode is like that deep breath you may not have realized you needed—or certainly haven’t made time for. Jennifer Brown and Hugo Rodriguez—two former diplomats turned executive and leadership coaches—explore a countercultural truth: sometimes the most powerful move a leader can make… is to slow down. They unpack the myth that constant hustle equals success, share stories from high-stakes diplomatic moments where pausing actually moved things forward, and explore how intentional slowing can sharpen focus, reduce burnout, and strengthen teams—especially when life speeds up around us. You’ll walk away with practical strategies to: Prioritize what truly matters (and release what doesn’t)Lead with calm clarity—even in the fast-moving swirl of the seasonCreate space for better decisions, deeper relationships, and more meaningful resultsIf you're ready to step off the hamster wheel, savor this time of year with intention, and lead from a more grounded, purposeful place, this conversation is your December reset.

    39 min

  8. 11/17/2025

    8 | Leading with Strategy & Soul: A Conversation with Emily Ledbetter

    In this episode of Ripple Effect Leadership, we sit down with Emily Ledbetter — founder of Ledbetter Marketing, host of the faith-based podcast Wrestling with Life, and consultant on the launch of the Ripple Effect Leadership Podcast. Emily’s story is one of boldness, purpose, and faith. After serving in corporate America, she stepped out in courage to build a business rooted in authentic storytelling and strategic content creation. She opens up about how her faith fuels her entrepreneurship, how she bridges intra-generational communication, and what it means to lead with both strategy and soul. Whether you’re a creative, an entrepreneur, or a purpose-driven leader seeking alignment between your professional goals and personal values, Emily’s insights will inspire you to take the leap — and trust the process. Tune in as we explore how faith, communication, and authenticity ripple through every part of her journey. Follow Emily on LinkedIn Follow Ledbetter Marketing Follow Wrestling With Life  www.ledbettermarketing.com

    53 min
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Trailer

4.6
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

The Ripple Effect Leadership Podcast is for leaders at work, at home, and in the community who feel overwhelmed and want to grow with intention. Every other week, hosts Jen Brown and Hugo Rodriguez, drawing on 50+ years of combined leadership experience as U.S. Department of State Foreign Service Officers and as coaches, share real conversations, actionable insights, and practical tools to help you lead with clarity, courage, and connection. If you’re navigating doubt, burnout, or uncertainty, this podcast will help you create the ripple effect your leadership was meant to have.

Information

  • Creator
    Journey of Grace Coaching
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Journey of Grace Coaching
  • Show Website
    Ripple Effect Leadership