In this episode of Leadership & Motivation Unleashed, we’re joined by Olivia Cream - former Coast Guard, corporate HR executive, and now a thriving entrepreneur. Olivia shares hard-earned lessons from her time in uniform, her leadership journey through corporate America, and her bold pivot to coaching and fractional HR consulting.

This episode dives deep into the power of values-driven leadership, the unspoken dynamics of female rivalry in leadership, and what it really means to be an HR co-pilot instead of an order taker. Olivia gets real about ethical dilemmas, calling out wrongdoing, and why leadership is never about you.

If you’re navigating corporate politics, looking to grow your leadership identity, or wondering what good HR support should actually look like, this one’s for you.

▶️ Leading with Integrity: Courage, Culture & the Real Role of HR with Olivia Cream:

• [01:56] Meet Olivia Cream: Engineer, Coast Guard vet, corporate exec turned entrepreneur
• [05:24] Leadership lessons from the Coast Guard
• [08:35] How to respond to ethical challenges as a leader
• [14:11] Good vs. bad leadership - what you can learn from both
• [18:04] The complicated truth about female leaders in power
• [21:39] Healing from toxic leadership & building resilience
• [27:34] Olivia’s career pivot into HR
• [31:56] What real HR partnership looks like: metrics, strategy, and people
• [35:34] Lightning Round: controversial opinions, favorite leaders, must-read books

Resources:

My Sister’s Shoulders

E12: Tips for HR Professionals and Business Leaders to Foster Better Collaboration

Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink & Leif Babin

Would you like to ask a question, offer feedback, or request a topic for a future episode? Fill out this one-question form.

Notable Quotes from Leading with Integrity: Courage, Culture & the Real Role of HR with Olivia Cream:

“ There are HR leaders that are now becoming CEOs of businesses. That is how deep you have to understand your business to be an effective HR leader.” - Olivia Cream

“ You have to figure out what kind of leader you want to be. And you have to stand by those principles.” - Olivia Cream

Connect with Olivia:

📱 Follow Olivia Cream on LinkedIn.

💻 Check out Olivia Cream’s website.

Connect with Your Hosts:

📱 Follow Patrick Law on LinkedIn.

📱 Follow Rachel Book on LinkedIn.

🎥 Follow Leadership & Motivation Unleashed on YouTube.

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Produced by Ideablossoms