Breakthrough Conversations with Rhoda & Co

Some workplace challenges never appear on a job description or a performance review, yet they shape careers every day.

In this episode of Breakthrough Conversations with Rhoda & Co., Rhoda sits down with Leslie Tolliver for an honest, energetic, and meaningful conversation about the invisible costs women often carry throughout their careers. Together, they explore how caregiving, leadership, neurodiversity, menopause, and evolving definitions of success influence the way women experience work and life.

In this episode, you'll discover:
 Why the "invisible costs" of work deserve more attention.
 The hidden emotional, financial, and career tradeoffs many women navigate.
 How neurodiversity can become a leadership strength instead of a barrier.
 Practical ways organizations can create more inclusive workplaces.
 Why menopause belongs in workplace conversations.
 How women are redefining success on their own terms.
 What the future of work could look like if it were designed for people to thrive.

This conversation is filled with laughter, authenticity, and practical insights for leaders, HR professionals, working parents, and anyone committed to building healthier, more human centered workplaces.

Connect with Leslie on LinkedIn, and if this conversation resonated with you, share it with someone who needs to hear it.

In this episode of Breakthrough Conversations with Rhoda & Co., Rhoda sits down with leadership expert Michael Marker to explore why human connection has become one of the most valuable leadership skills in the age of artificial intelligence. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience advising leaders, Michael shares practical insights on building trust, creating connected teams, strengthening client relationships, and leading with purpose when technology is changing the way we work. 

In this episode, you'll learn:
1) Why organizations risk losing connection as they embrace AI.
What connected leadership really looks like.
2) The difference between communicating with people and truly connecting with them.
3) Common leadership behaviors that create disconnection within teams.
Why strong client relationships matter even more in an AI driven world.
Simple, science based habits that build trust every day.
4) Leadership lessons from Ernest Shackleton's legendary Endurance expedition.
5) How to lead people through uncertainty, change, and exhaustion.
Where to begin if your team feels disconnected. 

If this conversation encouraged you, share it with another leader, subscribe to Breakthrough Conversations with Rhoda & Co., and leave a review. Your support helps us continue bringing conversations that equip leaders to grow, connect, and create lasting impact. 

In this special episode of Breakthrough Conversations with Rhoda & Co., Rhoda is joined by Shannon Norman and Becki Feldman for a conversation about the heart behind Women Unite to Ignite, a one day experience designed to help women reconnect with themselves, build authentic community, and step boldly into what's next.

Together, they explore the meaning behind this year's theme, You Matter. You Belong. You Rise., share why this event is unlike a traditional conference, and offer encouragement for every woman who has been putting herself last.

If you've been longing for confidence, connection, and a breakthrough, this conversation is your invitation.

Ready to invest in yourself? Join us on October 2 for Women Unite to Ignite. Reserve your seat today through Eventbrite and come experience a day of inspiration, meaningful connections, and practical tools that will help you move forward with confidence. We can't wait to welcome you.

In this episode of Breakthrough Conversations with Rhoda & Co., Rhoda sits down with Paula Robinson to explore what 250 years of progress has meant for women and underrepresented groups in the workplace.

Together, they discuss where meaningful progress has been made, where organizations continue to fall short, and what leadership must look like over the next decade. Paula shares practical insights on building trust, creating opportunity, and moving from good intentions to lasting impact.

If you care about leadership, culture, and creating workplaces where people truly belong, this conversation is for you.

In this powerful episode of Breakthrough Conversations with Rhoda & Co., Rhoda sits down with entrepreneur, business coach, podcast host, and founder of Rich As A Mother™, Lacey Burkett.

Lacey shares her journey of surviving domestic violence, intentionally pursuing healing, and breaking generational cycles to create a different future for herself and her children.

Together, Rhoda and Lacey discuss motherhood, entrepreneurship, burnout, resilience, and what it truly means to build a life rich in purpose, presence, peace, and legacy.

This conversation is a reminder that healing is possible, success can be redefined, and the cycles that shaped your past do not have to determine your future.

In This Episode:
• Breaking generational cycles and creating a new legacy
• Healing beyond survival mode
• Motherhood and entrepreneurship without burnout
• Redefining success and personal fulfillment
• Creating safe spaces for women to grow and thrive
• The power of intentional healing and self-worth
Connect with Lacey Burkett
Founder of Rich As A Mother™
Business Coach | Systems Strategist | Podcast Host
https://www.richasamother.com/

If this conversation resonates with you, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs the reminder that healing and purpose can coexist.

What does courageous leadership look like in today's world of burnout, disconnection, and constant change?

In this episode of Breakthrough Conversations with Rhoda & Co., Rhoda sits down with author, speaker, and leadership expert Justine Froelker to discuss authentic leadership, resilience, and building cultures rooted in connection and belonging.

Together, they explore the Courage Is Built Here™ framework, the importance of doing your own work as a leader, and how organizations can create environments where people and performance thrive.

Whether you're leading a team, an organization, or yourself, this conversation offers practical insights on leading with courage and authenticity.

Connect with Justine:
LinkedIn
Website: justinefroelker.com
Email: [email protected]
Connect with Rhoda:
www.therhodaexperience.com

Connect with Rhoda
Follow Breakthrough Conversations with Rhoda & Co. on all podcast platforms for weekly conversations on leadership, resilience, growth, and breakthrough moments. Clarity creates confidence. Confidence drives action.

In this episode of Breakthrough Conversations with Rhoda & Co., Rhoda sits down with executive coach and leadership expert Ali Carson to discuss burnout, personal branding, and building a career that aligns with who you truly are.

Ali shares her journey from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship, the lessons burnout taught her, and why understanding your strengths matters in both leadership and life. Together, Rhoda and Ali explore how to define your personal brand, rebuild confidence, and lead with authenticity.

In This Episode:
• Recognizing the signs of burnout
• Defining your personal brand
• Rebuilding confidence and clarity
• Leveraging your strengths in leadership
• Creating a career that fits who you are

About Ali Carson
Ali Carson is the Founder and CEO of Movere Coaching, LLC, executive coach, leadership facilitator, and two-time #1 international bestselling author. She helps professionals and organizations lead authentically, strengthen teams, and unlock their full potential through strengths-based coaching and leadership development.

Connect with Ali
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ali-carson/
Website: moverecoaching.com

Connect with Rhoda
Follow Breakthrough Conversations with Rhoda & Co. on all podcast platforms for weekly conversations on leadership, resilience, growth, and breakthrough moments. Clarity creates confidence. Confidence drives action.

In this powerful episode of Breakthrough Conversations with Rhoda & Co., Rhoda sits down with Monique McKinney for an honest conversation about voice, perception, and the workplace experiences many Black women continue to navigate every day. 

Together, they unpack the harmful labels often placed on confident women, especially Black women, when they speak directly, advocate for themselves, or lead with conviction. Monique shares a personal workplace experience that sparked deeper reflection around bias, communication, and authenticity. 

The conversation explores:
• Why Black women are often labeled “loud” or “aggressive”
• The emotional and professional impact of those stereotypes
• How workplace culture shapes who feels safe to speak
• The pressure many women feel to soften themselves to be accepted
• Practical ways women can confidently use their voice at work
• What leaders must do to create healthier, more inclusive environments

Monique also discusses insights inspired by the book I'm Not Yelling by Elizabeth Leiba and why owning your voice matters now more than ever. 

This episode is a reminder that confidence should not be mistaken for aggression, and authenticity should never require shrinking.

Memorable Takeaway
“Your voice is not the problem. The environment that mislabels it might be.” 

Listen, Share, and Join the Conversation
If this episode resonated with you, share it with a woman who needs the reminder to speak up, take up space, and lead unapologetically.

Welcome to another breakthrough conversation.

What happens when leaders stop trying to control everything and start leading through credibility instead?

In this episode of Breakthrough Conversations with Rhoda & Co., Rhoda sits down with a senior sales leader known for transforming underperforming markets into high- performing teams through clarity, accountability, trust, and ownership.

Together, they unpack one of the biggest leadership traps: believing control creates results. The conversation explores why credibility, not micromanagement, is what truly scales teams and builds sustainable performance.

This episode is packed with honest leadership insight around:
• Recognizing when you have become the bottleneck
• Creating clarity that drives accountability
• Building trust without lowering standards
• Shifting ownership back to the team
• Leading through credibility instead of positional authority
• Identifying root causes inside struggling teams
• Developing teams that perform without constant oversight

Rhoda and her guest, Patrick Clayton also discuss the real emotional and operational costs of over-controlling leadership, and the behaviors that consistently build trust, confidence, and followership.

Key Takeaways:
• Clarity reduces confusion and increases ownership
• Teams grow when leaders stop over-managing
• Credibility is built through consistency and accountability
• Strong leaders create conditions for success, not dependency
• Leadership influence expands when trust increases
If you are leading people, building teams, or trying to become a more effective and trusted leader, this conversation will challenge the way you think about leadership presence, accountability, and growth.

Listen now and ask yourself:
Are you leading through control, or through credibility?
Follow Breakthrough Conversations with Rhoda & Co. for more conversations focused on leadership, resilience, growth, culture, and breakthrough moments.

Your breakthrough begins with how you lead.

Whitney Howard shares how she rose from customer support to director level by shifting from doing the work to owning outcomes. This conversation focuses on leadership mindset, operational clarity, and driving real results.

Key Takeaways
 Leadership starts with how you think, not your title
 Doing tasks is not the same as driving outcomes
 Hidden gaps in systems cost time and money
 Strong leaders see and fix problems early

Action Steps
 Own one outcome in your current role
 Identify one breakdown in a process you touch
 Start thinking beyond your job to the business result

⚡ Rapid Fire
 Leadership word: Ownership
 Common mistake: Task focus
 Key habit: Think beyond your role

 Connect with Whitney
https://stan.store/TheBenjaminEffect
@_thebenjamineffect

Your breakthrough begins with a shift.