The JOY CEO

Lori Pine
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The Joy CEO is the podcast for high-achieving professionals who are done chasing titles and tired of playing by outdated leadership rules. Hosted by former corporate VP turned Executive Coach Lori Pine, this show is your invitation to redefine success—and lead with more clarity, confidence, and joy. Each week, you’ll hear bold, honest conversations with executives, trailblazers, and changemakers who are rising on their own terms. You’ll learn what it really takes to thrive at the top—from emotional intelligence and self-reflection to presence, purpose, and powerful leadership. If you're ready to grow your impact and your well-being, hit subscribe. Because joy isn’t just personal—it’s a leadership superpower. And your rise starts here.

  1. 5d ago

    Women Mean Business: How Heather Bell Turned "Mean Women" Into A Movement

    In this inspiring conversation, Lori sits down with Heather Bell, CEO of the Orange County Chamber, to talk about resilience, leadership, entrepreneurship, and what it really takes to build something that lasts. Heather shares the winding path that brought her to leadership—from being a single mom who went back to school at 30, to building a career at Heineken, taking a leap into entrepreneurship, leading at the YMCA, and eventually stepping into the CEO role at the Chamber during the chaos of 2020. Four years later, the Chamber was named New York State’s Chamber of the Year. But this episode isn’t just about professional success. It’s about knowing when to take a risk, surrounding yourself with the right people, building a team instead of trying to do everything yourself, and leading with compassion without compromising accountability. If you’re building a business, leading a team, or wondering what your next chapter could look like, this conversation is full of reminders that resilience, connection, and knowing your “why” can change everything. 🔑 Key Takeaways:You Don’t Build a Career or Business Alone Heather’s journey is a powerful reminder of the importance of mentors, connections, and knowing when to ask for help. From leaders who saw potential in her to hiring the right people as an entrepreneur, she learned that success isn’t about doing everything yourself—it’s about surrounding yourself with people who can help you grow. Resilient Leadership Means Knowing When to Adapt When Heather stepped into the CEO role, the Chamber was struggling financially and lacked a clear vision. She created a 90-day plan, rebuilt the team, focused on delivering real value, and stayed committed through the challenges. Four years later, the Chamber was named New York State’s Chamber of the Year. Joy Comes From Knowing Your Why—and Lifting Others Up For Heather, joyful leadership means loving what you do, knowing who you’re doing it for, and seeing the impact of your work. She finds particular joy in watching her team grow and succeed, believing that great leaders don’t need to be the center of everything—they create space for others to shine. 🔎 Mentioned in the Episode:Orange County Chamber – Heather’s work building membership, partnerships, programs, and community impact.Heineken USA – Where Heather began developing her corporate relations, government affairs, and community relations experience.YMCA – Heather’s leadership experience, including Executive Prep Institute and growing programs by 80%.Chamber Grow – Heather’s entrepreneurial success program, designed to help business owners understand the value of investing in support and professional expertise.Launchpad Program – A business academy for graduating seniors interested in entrepreneurship, culminating in a Shark Tank-style pitch competition with a $5,000 prize.Women Mean Business – A Chamber initiative focused on Mentoring, Empowerment, Authenticity, and Networking.New York State Chamber of the Year – The prestigious recognition the Orange County Chamber received after Heather’s leadership helped transform the organization. ✨ Reflection Prompts:Where are you trying to do everything yourself instead of asking for help?Who are the mentors who helped you become the leader you are today?Are you leading people—or simply managing tasks?Where could you create more space for your team to step up?What is your “why,” and is your current work actually answering it? 🧠 Who This Episode Is For:Entrepreneurs who are trying to grow without burning themselves outCEOs and leaders building stronger, more empowered teamsWomen navigating a career pivot or second actBusiness owners learning when to delegate and invest in supportLeaders who want to build with compassion, resilience, and purposeAnyone wondering what their next chapter could look like 📩 Want to Go Deeper?Follow Lori on LinkedIn to continue the conversation Book a Leadership Strategy Call with Lori: loripine.com 🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast ⭐️ Leave a review to help other heart-centered leaders find the show 📲 Share this episode with someone who’s navigating pressure and wants to do it with more grace

  2. Aug 26

    What If Your Biggest Changes Are Already Happening?

    In this episode, I’m checking in halfway through the Fire Horse year and reflecting on the intentions I set back in February: to speak more and move my body more. Six months later, I can see those intentions have unfolded in ways I never expected—from speaking at Google and being invited back to Harvard, to growing The Connect, hosting my first retreat, and becoming stronger both physically and emotionally. I also share what I’ve been seeing with my clients—women stepping into dream opportunities, leaving rooms that no longer fit, taking time to rest, and building something new. This episode is really an invitation to pause and take inventory: What has changed in your life since February that you never could have predicted? Sometimes the next right step is all we need to take before life starts surprising us. 🔑 Key Takeaways:Your Intentions May Be Bigger Than You Think Lori reflects on how her two simple intentions, speaking more and moving her body more, ended up representing something much deeper.Speaking became about sharing her truth and years of hard earned wisdom, while movement became about moving energy and becoming stronger emotionally and physically.Audience follow-up → Go back to the intentions you set earlier this year. What might they actually be asking of you now? You Don't Need Ten Priorities Lori revisits the idea that a high energy year requires focus, not an endless list of goals.Her approach was to choose two priorities and stay intentional about taking the next step.Audience follow-up → If you could only focus on two things for the rest of the year, what would they be? Sometimes You Need to Rest Before You Sprint One of Lori's clients took an entire year away from work and is now choosing between two dream senior level opportunities.Another accelerated her corporate exit and moved into consulting while building a business of her own.Audience follow-up → Where might rest, space, or a pause actually be preparing you for your next move? The Room You're In Shapes What You Believe Is Possible (revised header) Lori shares the story of a client who left a larger company for a smaller organization where her creativity, diversity, and thinking are truly valued.Another client finally declared that it was time to leave, and that decision expanded what she believed was possible.Audience follow-up → Are you in a room that recognizes and values what you bring? Pay Attention to What Has Changed Six months can create an enormous amount of movement when you consistently take the next right step.Lori encourages you to look beyond the goals you remember and notice the unexpected ways your intentions may already be showing up.Audience follow-up → What has changed in your life since February that you couldn't have predicted? 🔎 Mentioned in the Episode:The Fire Horse Year – Lori’s reflection on the rare energy and intensity associated with this lunar year.Speaking More & Moving More – Lori’s two personal intentions for the year and how they evolved beyond their original meaning.The Connect – Lori’s community for women, which has grown largely through referrals.The Connect Retreat – Lori’s Hudson Valley retreat and the powerful response from the women who attended.The Next Right Step – Lori’s reminder that intentional action doesn't require knowing exactly where everything will lead. ✨ Reflection Prompts:What intentions did you set at the beginning of the year?What has happened since then that you never could have predicted?Where are you stronger than you were six months ago?Do you need to sprint right now—or do you need to rest?Are you currently in a room that values what you bring?What would happen if you trusted your next right step? 🧠 Who This Episode Is For:Ambitious women reflecting on their goals and directionLeaders navigating a season of change or transitionWomen who feel like they’ve lost sight of their original intentionsHigh-achievers who need permission to slow down and reassessAnyone looking for more joy, movement, and possibility in the second half of the year 📩 Want to Go Deeper?Follow Lori on LinkedIn or Instagram to continue the conversation. Explore Lori’s coaching, retreats, and community at loripine.comConsider joining Lori’s upcoming Hudson Valley retreat, October 14–16, for women ready to think differently about leadership and bring more joy into how they lead. 🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast ⭐️ Leave a five-star review to help other heart-centered leaders find the show 📲 Share this episode with someone who needs a reminder to pause, take inventory, and trust what’s unfolding

  3. Aug 19

    Ambition, Anxiety, and Motherhood: Strengthening Relational Intelligence with Kate Kripke

    In this honest and candid conversation, Lori sits down with Kate Kripke, a clinical expert who has spent more than 20 years working with mothers, to explore the relationship between ambition, anxiety, and motherhood. Together, they unpack what happens when achievement becomes tied to self-worth, and how beliefs we learned early in life can quietly fuel the pressure to get everything right. Kate shares her path from clinical work with teenagers and mothers to founding the Postpartum Wellness Center, now the Parent and Family Wellness Center. She explains why anxiety is a normal response to uncertainty, how children can "borrow" our nervous systems through co-regulation, and why postpartum anxiety often goes unrecognized. The biggest shift in this conversation is moving from strategic intelligence to relational intelligence. Motherhood isn't something to solve. It's a relationship to build, and that asks something different of the part of you that's used to fixing things. If you're a high-achieving woman, a mother, or someone who has spent years managing uncertainty by becoming more capable, this conversation is an invitation: you don't have to fix every feeling. You can learn to stay with it. 🔑 Key TakeawaysWhen Ambition Becomes Tied to Worth Ambition itself isn't the problem. The challenge begins when achievement becomes the source of identity, value, or safety.Learned beliefs can teach us that doing more, achieving more, or being "good enough" will protect us from discomfort.Audience follow-up → What do you believe achievement says about you, and who would you be without it? Anxiety Is a Response to Uncertainty Kate explains anxiety as a fear-based response to unpredictability.Rather than something broken to eliminate, anxiety can be understood as trying to communicate something.Audience follow-up → Where are you trying to create certainty because uncertainty feels uncomfortable? Our Kids Borrow Our Nervous System Children learn emotional safety through relationship and co-regulation.When we're overwhelmed, our children can pick up on it, not because we're doing something wrong, but because connection is how humans are wired.Audience follow-up → When your child is struggling, can you regulate yourself before you try to regulate them? Motherhood Isn't a Problem to Fix High-achieving women are often exceptionally skilled at strategic thinking and problem-solving.Motherhood asks for a different kind of intelligence: relational intelligence.Audience follow-up → Notice when your instinct is to fix, explain, or solve. What would it look like to stay connected instead? Postpartum Anxiety Can Be Hard to Recognize It doesn't always look like what we expect: constant worry, hypervigilance, difficulty relaxing, or a need to control what happens next.Lori shares part of her own postpartum experience in this conversation.Audience follow-up → Instead of "Am I doing motherhood right," try "How am I actually feeling?" Relational Intelligence Means Staying With Discomfort Building emotional fluency means noticing feelings without immediately judging or changing them.The goal isn't eliminating difficult emotions. It's staying connected to yourself and others while you feel them.Audience follow-up → Next time discomfort shows up, pause before solving. What is this feeling asking you to notice? A Longer Exhale Can Signal Safety Kate shares a simple breath practice: make your exhale longer than your inhale.This can help signal safety to the nervous system before you react.Audience follow-up → Try it. Notice what changes in your body. 🔎 Mentioned in the EpisodeKate Kripke — clinical expert with more than 20 years working with mothers and families. (unverified, see flag above)Parent and Family Wellness Center — formerly the Postpartum Wellness Center, founded by Kate.Co-Regulation — how children develop emotional safety through connection with caregivers.Relational Intelligence — staying present and emotionally engaged rather than relying only on strategic problem-solving.Longer Exhale Breathing — a simple practice to help signal safety to the nervous system. ✨ Reflection PromptsWhere has ambition become connected to your sense of worth?What are you trying to control because uncertainty feels uncomfortable?When do you default to fixing instead of connecting?What emotions do you find hardest to sit with?How might your relationships change if you were more comfortable with not having all the answers? 🧠 Who This Episode Is ForHigh-achieving women navigating ambition and motherhoodMothers experiencing anxiety, overwhelm, or pressure to get everything rightWomen who struggle with uncertainty and the need to control outcomesLeaders and parents interested in emotional and relational intelligenceAnyone wanting to understand anxiety through a more compassionate, nervous-system-aware lens 📩 Want to Go Deeper?Follow Lori on LinkedIn to continue the conversation Book a Leadership Strategy Call with Lori: loripine.com Find Kate Kripke on her website http://katekripke.com/ or her Instagram https://www.instagram.com/katekripke/ 🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast ⭐️ Leave a review to help other heart-centered leaders find the show 📲 Share this episode with someone who’s navigating pressure and wants to do it with more grace

  4. Aug 12

    Are You Overleading or Underleading? How to Find Your Right-Sized Leadership

    What happens when you give your team complete freedom to do their work—and they still aren't moving forward? In this solo episode of The Joy CEO Podcast, I explore a leadership mistake I made myself: assuming that being a good leader meant staying out of my team's way. I was leading a team whose work I had never personally done, so I thought the best thing I could do was give them autonomy and stay hands-off. What I eventually discovered was that I wasn't protecting them from the things that were making their jobs harder—broken processes, redundant requests, unnecessary internal noise, and unclear ownership. Once I walked through their workflow from beginning to end, I could see where my leadership was missing. My job wasn't to do their work. It was to create the conditions for them to do their work well. That shift ultimately freed up roughly 10 hours a week for my team. In this episode, I introduce the idea of right-sized leadership and revisit my Hula Hoop Principle: knowing what belongs inside your leadership responsibility, what belongs with your team, and where you've accidentally stepped too far in—or too far out. If you've ever wondered why your team isn't stepping up, this episode may give you a different question to ask. 🔑 Key Takeaways:Your Team May Not Need More Accountability—They May Need Better LeadershipWhen a team isn't stepping up, our first instinct can be to assume they need more direction, more accountability, or more oversight. But sometimes the problem isn't the team. Lori shares how being too hands-off meant she wasn't seeing the obstacles that were slowing her team down. Leadership isn't about constantly checking on people. It's about understanding enough of their world to remove the barriers that keep them from succeeding. Micromanagement Isn't the Only Leadership ProblemWe often talk about micromanagement as if the opposite—leaving people completely alone—is automatically good leadership. It isn't. Overleading and underleading can create the same result: confusion, frustration, and a team that doesn't know what belongs to whom. The goal isn't to be more involved or less involved. It's to be involved in the right places. Walk the Workflow Before You Assume You Understand ItLori realized that she couldn't effectively protect her team from problems she couldn't see. So she walked through their entire end-to-end workflow. That revealed broken processes, duplicated requests, unnecessary internal noise, and places where her team was spending time on things that weren't actually adding value. Sometimes leadership starts with curiosity rather than answers. Your Job Isn't to Do Their Work—It's to Protect Their Ability to Do ItAs leaders, we don't need to become experts in every task our teams perform. But we do need to understand enough to identify what gets in their way. Lori's role wasn't to step into her team's work. It was to remove distractions, clarify ownership, protect their time, and make sure the right work was happening at the right level. That distinction helped free up around 10 hours a week for her team. Use the Hula Hoop to Clarify OwnershipLori returns to one of her favorite leadership metaphors: the Hula Hoop Principle. Think about your leadership responsibilities as one hula hoop and your team's responsibilities as another. Your job isn't to jump into their hula hoop every time something gets difficult. And their job isn't to carry everything that belongs inside yours. Healthy leadership requires knowing where your responsibility begins and ends. Find Your Right-Sized LeadershipThe best leadership isn't about choosing between being hands-on and hands-off. It's about being right-sized. Sometimes your team needs you to step in. Sometimes they need you to step back. Sometimes they need you to ask a question instead of giving an answer. The leadership skill is knowing which one is required in the moment. Pause Long Enough to Let Them LeadOne of the hardest things for capable leaders is resisting the urge to solve the problem themselves. Lori encourages leaders to pause, get curious, and ask questions before jumping in with the answer. Sometimes the most powerful leadership move isn't giving someone the solution. It's giving them the space to find it. 🔎 Mentioned in the Episode:Lori's experience leading a team doing work she had never personally done.The danger of confusing hands-off leadership with effective delegation.Broken processes and redundant requests that created unnecessary workload.How Lori's team gained back roughly 10 hours a week.The Hula Hoop Principle and defining leadership responsibility.The difference between overleading and underleading.The concept of right-sized leadership.Using curiosity and questions instead of immediately providing solutions.Lori's Hudson Valley retreat and the importance of creating space for leadership reflection. ✨ Reflection Prompts:Where might your team be struggling because you're too far away from the work?Where are you stepping into your team's hula hoop instead of letting them own it?What processes, requests, or distractions are making your team's work harder than it needs to be?Are you overleading, underleading, or leading at the right size?What would change if you asked a question before giving an answer?What could you remove or protect so your team can spend more time doing the work that matters?Where does your team need more autonomy—and where do they actually need more leadership? 🧠 Who This Episode Is For:Executives and senior leaders managing high-performing teams.Founders and business owners who want their teams to take more ownership.Leaders who worry they are micromanaging.Leaders who have swung so far toward autonomy that they have become too hands-off.Managers struggling with delegation and accountability.High-achieving women who are used to solving problems themselves.Anyone who wants to become a more intentional, effective, and right-sized leader. 📩 Want to Go Deeper?Follow Lori on LinkedIn to continue the conversation Book a Leadership Strategy Call with Lori: loripine.com 🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast ⭐️ Leave a review to help other heart-centered leaders find the show 📲 Share this episode with someone who’s navigating pressure and wants to do it with more grace

  5. Aug 5

    The Bathroom Stall Between Meetings: Leading Through Grief and Uncertainty

    Every human will have chapters in trouble. Smooth sailing is never guaranteed. There are seasons in life when everything feels uncertain, but the people around you still need you to lead. In this solo episode, Lori shares one of the hardest chapters of her life: losing her mother to cancer in five weeks, from diagnosis to death, while leading a demanding corporate career as a single mom. She talks honestly about what grief actually looks like when you don't have the option to stop, the pressure to keep performing, and what it really means to be strong when you don't have the answers. Rather than offering quick fixes, Lori shares the mindset shifts that carried her through, and what she learned about choosing who to be when nothing else was certain. If you're walking through a difficult season while still carrying responsibility at work, at home, or in your business, this conversation is for you. 🔑 Key Takeaways:Strength Doesn't Require CertaintyOne of the biggest misconceptions about leadership is believing you need to know exactly how everything will turn out before you can move forward. Lori shares how real strength is choosing your next step even when the future feels completely unknown. Audience follow-up → Where are you waiting for certainty before allowing yourself to move forward? Focus on What's Inside Your Hula HoopWhen life feels overwhelming, trying to control everything only creates more exhaustion. Lori introduces her "Hula Hoop Principle"—a simple but powerful way to separate what you can influence from what you cannot. Audience follow-up → What are you carrying today that actually belongs outside your hula hoop? Let Your Values Be Your AnchorDuring seasons of uncertainty, circumstances constantly change—but your values don't have to. Lori shares three grounding questions that helped her keep showing up with intention, even while grieving. Ask yourself: Who do I want to be while this unfolds?What values won't change?What energy do I want to bring today? Audience follow-up → Which of these three questions do you need most right now? Lower the Bar When Life Is HeavyHard seasons are not the time to expect peak performance. Lori explains why reducing perfectionism isn't giving up—it's making space for healing while continuing to move forward. Audience follow-up → Where could you replace perfection with "good enough" this week? Borrow Strength Until You Find Your OwnResilience doesn't mean carrying everything by yourself. Lori reflects on the importance of trusted people who can hold hope, perspective, and strength for you when yours feels depleted. Audience follow-up → Who are the people you can honestly lean on during difficult seasons? Don't Make Permanent Decisions During Temporary ChaosWhen emotions are high, our thinking often narrows. Lori encourages listeners to avoid making major life decisions in the middle of upheaval and instead focus on the next right thing. Audience follow-up → What's the next small step you can take today instead of trying to solve everything? 🔎 Mentioned in the Episode:Lori's personal story of losing her mother to cancer in 2011 while leading a corporate career as a single mother.The Hula Hoop Principle—focusing only on what is within your control.Three grounding questions for navigating uncertainty with intention.The importance of lowering perfectionism during difficult seasons.Why trusted relationships are essential when life feels overwhelming.The practice of choosing the next right thing instead of trying to control the entire journey. ✨ Reflection Prompts:What's actually in your hula hoop today, and what have you been trying to carry that was never yours to hold?Where have you been mistaking certainty for strength, and what would it look like to lead without it?Who do you want to be while this season unfolds, and what values refuse to change no matter what's happening around you?Even load bearing walls need reinforcement. Who's someone you trust enough to lean on right now?What's today's assignment, not this year's, not this month's? Just today's. 🧠 Who This Episode Is For:Women leading teams while navigating personal hardship.Executives, founders, and business owners carrying heavy responsibility.High achievers struggling with uncertainty, grief, or major life transitions.Leaders learning to let go of perfectionism and control.Anyone who needs permission to lead with courage—even when life feels messy and uncertain. 📩 Want to Go Deeper?Follow Lori on LinkedIn to continue the conversation Book a Leadership Strategy Call with Lori: loripine.com 🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast ⭐️ Leave a review to help other heart-centered leaders find the show 📲 Share this episode with someone who’s navigating pressure and wants to do it with more grace

  6. Jul 29

    Think You Overreacted? Here's What Strong Leaders Need to Hear

    Have you ever replayed a leadership moment over and over in your mind, wishing you'd handled it differently? In this episode, I explore something I've seen in myself, my clients, and so many accomplished women I work with: we often become our own harshest critic. We replay moments of intensity, convince ourselves we "messed up," and forget to acknowledge why we spoke up in the first place. I share a story from my own corporate career when I passionately defended my under-resourced team in a management meeting. The outcome was exactly what my team needed—we secured more resources—but instead of celebrating the result, I spent the next week criticizing myself for how I delivered the message. I also tell the story of a client who still cringed over a meeting from five years ago, where she firmly challenged leaders over issues involving conflict minerals and child labor. Looking back, it wasn't a failure. It was courageous leadership. Finally, I reflect on a powerful retreat with my coaching community, The Connect, where women discovered that the stories they had been using against themselves looked completely different through the eyes of trusted peers. This episode is an invitation to put down the hammer. The very moments you criticize yourself for may actually be evidence of your courage, conviction, and leadership. 🔑 Key TakeawaysSometimes What Feels Like an "Outburst" Is Actually LeadershipI've learned that speaking with conviction doesn't automatically mean you've done something wrong. There are moments when leadership requires us to challenge the room, advocate for our people, and hold the line—even when it's uncomfortable. Reflection → What leadership moment have you labeled as a failure that may actually have been an act of courage? Stop Judging Yourself Only by Your DeliveryFor years, I've focused on how I said something instead of remembering what happened because I said it. My team received the resources they desperately needed, yet I only remembered my discomfort. The outcome matters too. Reflection → Are you overlooking the positive impact because you're fixated on your delivery? We Give Others Grace That We Never Give OurselvesOne of the greatest gifts of community is perspective. During our retreat, I watched women describe moments they were ashamed of, only to have everyone else see strength, wisdom, and integrity. Often, the story you're telling yourself isn't the story anyone else is seeing. Reflection → If someone you loved shared your story, would you judge them the way you judge yourself? Your Strongest Qualities Often Have a Shadow SideThe qualities that make you an exceptional leader—passion, courage, conviction, high standards—can also become the things you criticize in yourself. But those strengths don't need to disappear. They simply need awareness and refinement. Reflection → Which strength have you accidentally mistaken for a flaw? Put Down the HammerThe biggest shift isn't becoming a different leader. It's becoming a kinder one—to yourself. The more grace you extend inward, the more confidence, resilience, and authenticity you'll bring to everyone around you. Reflection → What would change if you stopped punishing yourself for being deeply committed to what matters? 🔎 Mentioned in the EpisodeMy experience advocating for my under-resourced team during a corporate leadership meeting.A client working in sustainability who challenged executives over conflict minerals and child labor.The Connect retreat in the Hudson Valley and our Spotlight Sessions.Identity transitions, belonging, succession planning, and the power of trusted peer coaching.The importance of extending yourself the same compassion you naturally offer others. ✨ Reflection PromptsWhat leadership moment are you still carrying that deserves a different story?Where are you judging yourself more harshly than anyone else ever has?What evidence do you have that your passion has actually made you a better leader?If you replaced self-criticism with curiosity, what would you learn?What would it look like to put down the hammer this week? 🧠 Who This Episode Is ForAmbitious women who constantly second-guess themselves after difficult conversations.Leaders who carry the emotional weight of advocating for their teams.Professionals navigating identity, confidence, and belonging at the next level of leadership.Women who want to lead with courage without punishing themselves afterward.Anyone ready to replace self-criticism with self-compassion while becoming an even stronger leader. 📩 Want to Go Deeper?Follow Lori on LinkedIn to continue the conversation Book a Leadership Strategy Call with Lori: loripine.com 🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast ⭐️ Leave a review to help other heart-centered leaders find the show 📲 Share this episode with someone who’s navigating pressure and wants to do it with more grace

  7. Jul 22

    The Joy of Curiosity: How Questioning Assumptions Changes What You See

    What if the biggest thing holding you back isn't a lack of resources—but a belief you've never stopped to question?In this solo episode, I'm sharing one of the biggest insights that came out of a recent retreat with the incredible women in The Connect, my coaching community. A simple phrase kept surfacing: "We don't do that." Inspired by corporate anthropologist Dr. Andi Simon, I explore how those four words can quietly limit our leadership, our businesses, our relationships, and our ability to see new possibilities.I also share one of the most personal examples from my own life—how choosing curiosity instead of following the expected script completely changed the way I approached my divorce. That decision led to a healthier co-parenting relationship and, years later, my sons thanked me for making a different choice than many people expected.Whether you're leading a business, growing a team, or navigating change in your personal life, I want to challenge you to stop assuming you already know the answer. The most powerful breakthroughs often begin with a simple question.This episode is my invitation to trade certainty for curiosity—because I've found that joy often begins where our assumptions end. 🔑 Key Takeaways:Curiosity Opens Doors That Assumptions Keep ClosedOne of the most dangerous phrases in leadership and life is, "We don't do that." Dr. Andi Simon encourages leaders to notice these automatic responses and replace them with curiosity that uncovers new possibilities. Audience follow-up → Where have you automatically dismissed an idea because "that's not how it's done"? Community Interrupts "Stinkin' Thinkin'"Lori reflects on hosting women from The Connect at a Hudson Valley retreat and shares why meaningful connection matters. Isolation often reinforces limiting beliefs, while community provides perspective, encouragement, and new ideas. Audience follow-up → Who are the people helping you challenge your thinking instead of simply agreeing with it? Your Story Isn't FixedLori vulnerably shares her divorce journey and how she intentionally chose collaboration over conflict. Rather than following the expected script, she became curious about what would create the healthiest future for everyone involved—including her children. Years later, her sons thanked her for making that choice. Audience follow-up → What story have you accepted as "the only way" that may deserve a second look? Your Customers Will Tell You What They Need—If You ListenBusinesses often believe they understand how customers use their products or services. Lori explains that curiosity—not certainty—is what leads to innovation and stronger customer relationships. The best insights don't come from assumptions—they come from asking better questions. Audience follow-up → When was the last time you asked your customers what they actually value instead of assuming you already knew? Joy Is a Leadership StrategyChoosing joy doesn't mean avoiding difficult conversations—it means approaching challenges with openness, curiosity, and a willingness to learn. Leaders who remain curious create stronger relationships, healthier teams, and better decisions. Audience follow-up → What would change if you approached your next challenge with curiosity instead of certainty? 🔎 Mentioned in the Episode:Dr. Andi Simon – Corporate anthropologist and keynote speaker who challenges organizations to rethink assumptions and embrace curiosity.The Connect – Lori's coaching community for ambitious women committed to leading with greater purpose, joy, and connection.Hudson Valley Retreat – A community retreat focused on meaningful connection, personal growth, and leadership development."We Don't Do That" Mindset – The limiting belief that often prevents innovation, creativity, and personal transformation.Customer Curiosity – Using feedback, observation, and questions to better understand how people truly experience your products or services. ✨ Reflection Prompts:Where in your life are you saying, "We don't do that" without questioning why?What assumptions have you made about your customers, your team, or yourself?Who helps you challenge your thinking instead of reinforcing it?What would become possible if curiosity replaced certainty this week?How can choosing joy help you become a more effective leader? 🧠 Who This Episode Is For:Leaders looking to create more innovative, adaptable teamsBusiness owners who want to better understand their customersHigh-achieving women ready to question limiting beliefsProfessionals navigating change or major life transitionsAnyone who wants to replace fear, assumptions, and certainty with curiosity, growth, and joy 📩 Want to Go Deeper?Follow Lori on LinkedIn to continue the conversation Book a Leadership Strategy Call with Lori: loripine.com Learn more about Andi Simon on https://www.linkedin.com/in/andisimon/ or her website: https://www.andisimon.com/ 🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast ⭐️ Leave a review to help other heart-centered leaders find the show 📲 Share this episode with someone who’s navigating pressure and wants to do it with more grace

  8. Jul 15

    It Was Love at First Flight. Now It’s Wildly Successful. - Heather Howley

    What does it take to build a successful aviation company from just $25, a single leased helicopter, and an unwavering love for flying? I sat down with Heather Howley, founder and CEO of Independent Helicopters, to explore her remarkable journey from taking her first helicopter lesson to leading one of the Northeast's premier helicopter companies. Heather shares it all! The realities of building a business in a male-dominated industry, overcoming setbacks, dealing with criticism, creating systems that allow her to step away from the business, and why JOY has been a driving force behind her success. Whether you're building a business, leading a team, or simply wondering if you're capable of something bigger, Heather's story is a powerful reminder that resilience, trust, and purpose can take you further than perfection ever will. 3 Key TakeawaysBuild the Business—But Don't Lose YourselfHeather's story is a reminder that while our work can be deeply meaningful, it should never become our entire identity. Real leadership means creating a business that can thrive without you, so you have the freedom to rest, grow, and simply be. Joy Is a Better Strategy Than Proving YourselfIn a male-dominated industry, Heather faced bias, criticism, and countless opportunities to question herself. Instead of spending her energy proving people wrong, she stayed focused on serving others, doing great work, and finding joy in what she loved most. Trust Is Built Through People and SystemsWhether you're leading a small team or a growing business, trust doesn't happen by accident. Heather shares why clear communication, documented processes, and empowering your team are what allow leaders to let go without losing control. 📩 Want to Go Deeper?Follow Lori on LinkedIn to continue the conversation Book a Leadership Strategy Call with Lori: loripine.com 🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast ⭐️ Leave a review to help other heart-centered leaders find the show 📲 Share this episode with someone who’s navigating pressure and wants to do it with more grace Connect with Heather on Website

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31 Ratings

About

The Joy CEO is the podcast for high-achieving professionals who are done chasing titles and tired of playing by outdated leadership rules. Hosted by former corporate VP turned Executive Coach Lori Pine, this show is your invitation to redefine success—and lead with more clarity, confidence, and joy. Each week, you’ll hear bold, honest conversations with executives, trailblazers, and changemakers who are rising on their own terms. You’ll learn what it really takes to thrive at the top—from emotional intelligence and self-reflection to presence, purpose, and powerful leadership. If you're ready to grow your impact and your well-being, hit subscribe. Because joy isn’t just personal—it’s a leadership superpower. And your rise starts here.

Information

  • Creator
    Lori Pine
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    68
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Lori Pine, The JOY CEO
  • Show Website
    The JOY CEO

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