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In this episode of the Thrive Today Podcast, Natalie Born welcomes leadership expert and bestselling author Stephanie Chung for a conversation on leading people who are different from you. Stephanie shares lessons from her journey in business and aviation, offering practical insights on building trust, fostering psychological safety, embracing diverse perspectives, and developing stronger teams. Whether you lead an organization or a small team, this episode will equip you with tools to create a culture where people feel valued, empowered, and inspired to succeed.

[00:00 – 04:39] From Baggage Claim to the Boardroom

The leader who saw potential in her before she saw it herself

Why great leaders recognize and develop talent

[04:39 – 08:44] Leadership Is About Developing People

The difference between management and leadership

Why leaders must intentionally see and nurture potential

Introducing the ALLY Leadership philosophy

[08:44 – 14:02] Bias, Diversity & Better Decision Making

Why diverse teams outperform homogeneous teams

Moving beyond familiarity in hiring and leadership

Different perspectives create stronger business outcomes

[14:03 – 18:12] Psychological Safety & Drawing Out Every Voice

Creating environments where people feel safe to contribute

How leaders can intentionally invite diverse perspectives

The value of different thinking and processing styles

[18:13 – 24:33] Empowering Teams Through Ownership

Letting teams help create the solution

Why leaders should resist the urge to immediately critique ideas

Facilitating ownership rather than controlling outcomes

[24:34 – 29:45] The EARN Framework for Leading Diverse Teams

Stephanie's EARN framework:

E — Establish an environment of psychological safety

A — Assure alignment

R — Rally the troops

N — Navigate the journey

[29:46 – End] What Today's Leaders Need Most

The leadership skills organizations are promoting

Why technical expertise alone is no longer enough

Developing the people skills required to lead effectively

Final encouragement for leaders navigating complex teams

Quotes:

“Leadership is not just about getting the work done. Leadership is about developing people.” — Stephanie Chung

“The people who are not like you are often the people who will give you your competitive advantage.” — Stephanie Chung

“What companies are promoting are leaders who can build trust, create alignment, and establish psychologically safe environments.” — Stephanie Chung

About the Guest: Stephanie Chung

Stephanie Chung is the #1 international bestselling author of Ally Leadership: How to Lead People Who Are Not Like You and a respected executive, keynote speaker, and leadership strategist. With more than 30 years of experience, she has helped organizations drive growth, strengthen culture, and develop high-performing teams.

Stephanie made history as the first African American president of a private aviation company and has held executive leadership positions with organizations including Wheels Up, JetSuite, American Airlines, Flexjet, and Bombardier Aerospace. Her leadership insights have been featured by major media outlets including ABC, CNBC, CBS, Forbes, Essence, Inc., and Black Enterprise.

Guest Links:

Website: StephanieChung.com

Book: Ally Leadership: How to Lead People Who Are Not Like You

Thrive Today: https://thrivetoday.com/

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