Giant Steps with Leilani Brown

Fab 5 Freddy — graffiti pioneer, first host of Yo! MTV Raps, and author of Everybody's Fly — on how he trusted what he saw in hip-hop and graffiti before the world caught up.

Fred Brathwaite walks Leilani Brown back through it all: a Brooklyn jazz childhood with Max Roach as his godfather, calling Thelonious Monk's house from his dad's phone book, teaching himself art history in New York's museums, finding Lee Quiñones, meeting Jean-Michel Basquiat when he was still SAMO, the Keith Haring and Andy Warhol years, making Wild Style — hip-hop's first film — with no blueprint and no American money, and founding B Noble after Bernard Noble's 13-year sentence for two joints' worth of cannabis.

His answer for anyone building something nobody understands yet: give it a go, then give it a go again.

📕 Everybody's Fly — wherever books are sold

🌿 B Noble: https://bnoble.com

📘 Free Reset Guide: https://resetguide.giantstepsllc.com

🌐 giantstepsllc.com

Dr. Shirley Collado, President & CEO of College Track and President Emerita of Ithaca College, left the presidency of a college she loved to lead the nation's leading college completion program for first-generation students. She talks with Leilani about growing up in Sunset Park, the bus ride to Nashville, what it costs to be "the first," and why the younger version of herself would have said no.

Shirley Collado is one of my closest friends, which made this conversation harder to do than most. When you know someone well, you worry about glossing over the things you assume everybody already knows. So I started where her story starts: a seventeen-year-old in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, who expected to stay in New York and commute to Hunter.

Here's what the bios tell you. Dr. Collado is the President and CEO of College Track, the nation's leading college completion program for first-generation students. She's President Emerita of Ithaca College, where she was the ninth president, the first person of color to lead it, and the first Dominican American ever to lead a four-year college or university in the United States. Before that she was dean of the college at Middlebury and an executive vice president of the Posse Foundation, years after joining the very first Posse class herself.

Here's what the bios don't tell you. Her father drove a cab he kept spotless, and the family detailed it every Sunday. Her mother worked in a garment factory. A youth counselor opened a Vanderbilt viewbook in a basement in SoHo and asked if she'd go if she got the scholarship. Her mother rode the bus to Nashville with her, spent two hours moving her in, and rode it home.

Then we get to the harder part. Shirley left a college presidency she loved, one of the most complicated CEO seats in the country, to lead College Track. We talk about the pressure to stay when you're the first, and when you're first-generation and everyone around you needs you to hold the place you worked so hard to reach. We also talk about who she turned to for the truth, and the part of the decision that was about love as much as career.

This season I'm asking every guest the same question: what became possible? For Shirley, the answer is a ten-year program that walks thousands of first-generation students from ninth grade through college and into a career.

Let's press play.

—Leilani

Links:

College Track: https://collegetrack.org

Dr. Shirley Collado: https://shirleymcollado.com

Dr. Shirley Collado on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shirley-m-collado-ph-d-420a38196/

If you've been sitting on a decision, whether it's leaving the job, starting the thing, or betting on yourself, this show is for you. What became possible? That's the question. Follow wherever you listen.

Free Reset Guide: https://resetguide.giantstepsllc.com

Website: https://giantstepsllc.com

I've known Kim Alexis Newton for years. I pulled her aside once, a while back, and asked her what she was doing next. She told me she was building a portfolio career. I didn't fully understand what that meant then. I do now.

For two decades, Kim ran a piece of a billion-dollar business inside Hallmark Cards. On paper, nothing was wrong. She just didn't feel like she was meeting her full potential — so she bet on herself.

What she'd been doing quietly on the side for twenty years, taught to her by her grandmother, turned out to be the thing: quilting. A chance introduction to former WW International CEO Mindy Grossman led to her first sale — a piece that ended up in Oprah Winfrey's collection. That moment became a fine art practice, a book (The Intentional Pause), a framework she calls F.O.R.E.S.T. for facing the fear that keeps people stuck, and a return to the boardroom, on her own terms.

This season I'm asking every guest the same question: what became possible? For Kim, it's a gallery show, a business, a board seat, and a body of work that outlives any single job title.

Let's press play.

—Leilani

Links: kimalexisnewton.com · alexisgiftquilts.com

In this milestone episode, the host becomes the guest. To mark five years of Giant Steps, Leilani Brown hands the mic to Sarah Macdonald — her friend and coach of more than 35 years — for an honest look back at the decision that started it all.Five years ago, Leilani planned to rest. Two weeks into that break, a phone call in a Trader Joe's changed everything. What followed — the Time's Up project, 85 confidential interviews, and the choice to bet on herself at 50 rather than return to corporate — became the foundation of the company she runs today. This is a conversation about reinvention, the euphoria and terror of working for yourself, choosing the people who get a front-row seat to your life, and the giant step she's still afraid to take.This season is called What Became Possible. Because sometimes a small decision leads to a giant step.Chapters:00:00 The one time Leilani is the guest00:32 Friends since 1993 — knowing someone over time02:03 The one thing that hasn't changed05:17 What she never would have believed07:55 Rest and nest — the break that lasted two weeks09:36 The Trader Joe's call — Time's Up11:08 85 interviews and what they taught her13:47 The decision to run at it18:51 Euphoria and terror — five years in business24:26 Choosing your people29:28 Why clients hire her — the greatest amount of care36:49 What she's most proud of40:03 Running her own race — success to significance43:33 The giant step she's afraid to take — Journeys Home45:14 Where to find Giant StepsConnect & keep stepping:Substack: giantstepsllc.substack.comYouTube: @giantstepsllcListen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Audible, and Amazon MusicGiant Steps with Leilani Brown features in-depth conversations with executives, founders, and leaders about the pivotal decisions and bold reinventions that shape meaningful work. New episodes drop biweekly on Wednesdays.#GiantSteps #LeilaniBrown #Entrepreneurship #CareerChange #Reinvention #WomenInBusiness #BettingOnYourself #WhatBecamePossible

If you've ever been told your goals are too high, your credentials aren't strong enough, or you should have a backup plan — this episode is your answer.

Dr. Vicki Johnson, founder of ProFellow and author of Pitch Your Potential, built a 7-part formula for winning competitive opportunities that has helped her community secure over $500 million in merit-based awards. In this conversation, she breaks down the MATCH ME Formula® and shows you how to apply it to jobs, fellowships, promotions, board seats, and any opportunity where you need to make a case for yourself.

This one hits differently right now — we recorded it in the middle of one of the most disruptive job markets in recent memory, with tens of thousands of professionals navigating layoffs and wondering how to stand out when every application looks the same.

In this episode, you'll learn:

- What the MATCH ME Formula® is and why it works better than a stronger résumé

- Why selectors care more about your future than your past — and how to pitch it

- How to show mission alignment so powerfully that credentials become secondary

- What "elegant" means in an application and why it signals emotional intelligence

- Why authentic desire is your biggest competitive edge — even against more qualified candidates

- How to use LinkedIn as a network map, not a feed

- What to do when fear of rejection shows up (hint: it's a signal, not a stop sign)

📌 CHAPTERS

0:00 — Opening Hook

2:00 — Dr. Vicki Johnson's Origin Story

5:00 — What Selectors Actually Want

7:10 — The MATCH ME Formula® Explained

13:00 — Guides vs. Gatekeepers

17:00 — Authentic Desire & Fear of Failure

22:00 — Job Searching in a Layoff Market

26:00 — The Winning Application Story Arc

30:00 — LinkedIn — Still Worth It?

35:00 — ProFellow: Fellowships Demystified

38:00 — Dr. Johnson's Final Advice

👤 ABOUT DR. VICKI JOHNSON

Dr. Vicki Johnson is a speaker, author, and four-time fellowship winner who has spent her career helping ambitious professionals win elite opportunities. She is the founder of ProFellow — the leading U.S. platform for competitive fellowships, graduate programs, and leadership accelerators, with more than nine million readers globally. Through her coaching and the ProFellow platform, she has helped her community secure over $500 million in merit-based funding awards. Her book, Pitch Your Potential: The Formula for Winning Dream Jobs, Awards, and Elite Opportunities, introduces the MATCH ME Formula® — a proven seven-part framework for crafting applications that stand out at every career stage.

🔗 Find Dr. Vicki Johnson:

🌐 ProFellow: https://www.profellow.com

👩‍💼 drvickijohnson.com

🔗 RESOURCES

📘 Free Reset Guide: https://resetguide.giantstepsllc.com/

🌐 Website: https://giantstepsllc.com

📚 Books: https://giantstepsllc.com/books

📬 Work with Leilani: https://giantstepsllc.com/contact

📰 Newsletter: https://giantstepsllc.substack.com

👋 ABOUT GIANT STEPS WITH LEILANI BROWN

Giant Steps with Leilani Brown is a podcast about the pivotal decisions, bold reinventions, and daring choices that shape meaningful work and lives. Leilani Brown is the Founder & CEO of Giant Steps, LLC — a consulting firm supporting leaders and institutions at the intersection of strategy, culture, career, and education. She is a global keynote speaker and the author of three books on career strategy and professional development.

#GiantSteps #GiantStepsLLC #DowellDoGood #CuriousLeilani #CareerAdvice #PitchYourPotential

In the Season 3 finale of Giant Steps with Leilani Brown, host Leilani Brown looks back at a season intentionally built to meet the moment of mass layoffs, AI disruption, and career uncertainty.

This best-of episode features curated clips and the six key lessons from Season 3’s most impactful guests.  

Dr. Helen Riess, a Harvard psychiatrist, explains why self-compassion—not self-criticism—is the strongest foundation for rebuilding after job loss.

Career strategist Rachel Tully introduces the Boa Constrictor Approach, a targeted job search method she used to land a role at Tesla.

Certified financial planner Michael Daniels walks through the first financial steps after a layoff, from applying for unemployment to protecting your 401(k).

Bestselling author Minda Harts shares her Seven Trust Languages framework for rebuilding workplace trust during restructuring.

Jocelyn Lincoln, a transformational marketing and talent leader, poses the question every leader should ask: if people weren’t paid, would they still follow you?

And executive producer Jirah Mickel puts Leilani in the hot seat for unscripted rapid-fire career advice.  

Whether you’re navigating a career transition, leading a team through change, or looking for practical guidance in uncertain times, this episode delivers actionable advice from experts who’ve been there.

Season 4 is coming—subscribe now so you don’t miss it.

0:00 – Welcome & Season 3 Overview

2:34 – Theme Music / Show Intro

3:01 – Dr. Helen Riess: Self-Compassion After Job Loss

5:04 – Rachel Tully: The Boa Constrictor Approach

7:37 – Michael Daniels, CFP®: Financial Clarity in a Crisis

9:50 – Minda Harts: The Seven Trust Languages

13:57 – Jocelyn Lincoln: Would They Follow You Without a Paycheck?

16:59 – Leilani Brown: Trust Your Own Knowing

19:26 – The 6 Lessons of Season 3

21:17 – Season Wrap-Up & Season 4 Coming Soon

Download our free career guide - resetguide.giantstepsllc.com

What if the most powerful leadership development program in America isn’t at Harvard or McKinsey — but has been operating in Black churches for centuries?

L. Michelle Smith — award-winning author, Fortune 100 C-suite advisor, ICF certified executive coach, and CEO of No Silos Communications — joins Leilani to make the case that the Black church is the most overlooked leadership incubator in this country. Her new book, Call and Response: 10 Leadership Lessons from the Black Church, draws on cultural history, applied neuroscience, and positive psychology to show how the skills forged in that experience — communication, resilience, community building, and purpose — are exactly what today’s leaders need. And these lessons aren’t just for Black people or churchgoers. They’re for anyone who wants to lead with more empathy and more power.

In this episode:

— The AT&T keynote that generated 25 million impressions and launched the question: “Where did you learn to speak like that?”

— Why emotional intelligence — not communication — is the least obvious leadership lesson from the church

— How online church became “like Bumble” and what that reveals about workplace communication breakdowns

— The science of hope theory: why hopeful people are better planners, goal setters, and strategists

— What it means to create “safe soil” for emerging leaders — and why ropes courses won’t cut it

— Why young people are the most important — and least obvious — audience for this book

— Plus, a surprise appearance from Rev Run that ties the whole origin story together

About L. Michelle Smith: L. Michelle Smith is an award-winning author, Fortune 100 C-suite advisor, ICF certified executive coach, and CEO and founder of No Silos Communications. She is the executive producer and host of the Culture Soup Podcast, a contributor to HuffPost Voices, and her work has been featured in Fast Company, Forbes, and Black Enterprise. She has spoken on stages including South by Southwest and the Essence Festival. Her new book Call and Response: 10 Leadership Lessons from the Black Church is available now.

Find L. Michelle: LMichelleSmith.com | Instagram | LinkedIn | Threads

Giant Steps is a production of Giant Steps LLC, a company working at the intersection of strategy, culture, career, and education. 

Learn more at GiantStepsLLC.com.

Tags/Keywords: leadership, leadership development, Black church, call and response, leadership incubator, positive psychology, hope theory, neuroscience, emotional intelligence, executive coaching, Gen Z, workplace communication, community building, resilience, L. Michelle Smith, Black leadership

Episode Title: If People Weren’t Paid, Would They Follow You? (A Leadership Wake-Up Call)

What actually motivates people to follow a leader — beyond a paycheck?What happens when belief, trust, and clarity matter more than compensation?And how do leaders need to evolve as work, talent, and expectations continue to change?

In this episode of Giant Steps with Leilani Brown, Leilani sits down with Jocelyn Lincoln, a transformational marketing and talent leader, for a candid conversation about leadership, growth, and the human side of work. Jocelyn shares her career journey — from her first job in financial services to executive leadership roles across staffing and healthcare — and the lessons she’s learned along the way about people, purpose, and performance.

Drawing on her experience as a Fractional CMO and executive advisor, Jocelyn unpacks how the workforce has evolved, including the rise of flexible and contingent work, the impact of automation and AI, and the growing talent shortages reshaping industries like healthcare. She also reflects on her experience leading a political campaign, where motivating volunteers offered a powerful lesson in leadership without pay — and why belief may be one of the most underestimated leadership tools.

Together, Leilani and Jocelyn explore what it really takes to lead in today’s environment — and why growth, at every level, ultimately comes down to people.

Whether you’re a leader, manager, or professional navigating change — or questioning whether your leadership would hold without a paycheck — this episode offers perspective, clarity, and a much-needed leadership reset.

• What it means to lead when money isn’t the motivator

• Why belief, trust, and clarity are essential leadership tools

• How flexible and contingent work has reshaped careers

• The impact of AI and automation on today’s workforce

• What healthcare talent shortages reveal about leadership gaps

• Why defining your personal value proposition matters

• Lessons from leading volunteer workforces and political campaigns

Jocelyn Lincoln

Jocelyn Lincoln is a Fractional CMO with Chief Outsiders and a transformational marketing and talent leader with more than two decades of experience across staffing, healthcare, and growth strategy. She works with CEOs and leadership teams to drive growth through clarity, alignment, and execution, helping organizations rethink how they attract, retain, and lead talent in a rapidly changing workforce.

Leilani BrownWebsite → https://giantstepsllc.comInstagram → @giantstepsllc

Jocelyn LincolnLinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jocelynlincoln/ Website / Chief Outsiders → https://www.chiefoutsiders.com/ 

🎁 Free guide: Your Next Giant Reset™ — a step-by-step resource for navigating loss, layoffs, and planning your comeback.👉 Download it here: https://resetguide.giantstepsllc.com/#page=1

📚 More free resources & writing:Read the Giant Steps blog and download additional resources on Substack →👉 https://giantstepsllc.substack.com/

#GiantSteps #Leadership #FutureOfWork #WorkforceStrategy #TalentLeadership #CareerGrowth #AI #CareerTransitions

What does leadership demand in moments of national reflection? How should service, responsibility, and moral courage guide those preparing to lead? And what does Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy ask of us today?

This episode of Giant Steps with Leilani Brown is different.

What you’re about to hear is a formal address Leilani delivered at The Citadel, one of the nation’s six senior military colleges and home to the South Carolina Corps of Cadets — where leadership training and a commitment to service are central to the institution’s mission.

Titled “Dr. King’s Legacy: Beyond Nonviolence,” this speech was delivered on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday last year, which also coincided with Inauguration Day — making it a powerful moment for reflection on values, responsibility, and moral leadership.

This episode is publishing on January 15, Martin Luther King Jr.’s actual birthday, and felt like the right moment to share these words in his honor.

In this address, Leilani reflects on:

• Dr. King’s enduring moral legacy

• What leadership requires beyond titles and positions

• The responsibility that comes with education, service, and power

• Why integrity, courage, and action still matter

• The timeless call to do what is right — even when it is difficult

Please note: this episode is audio-only, as there is no video from the original event — but you can listen to the full address here on YouTube.

Leilani closes with Dr. King’s reminder:

“The time is always right to do what is right.”

🎧 Listen now on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible, and iHeartRadio.
👉 Subscribe for more reflections and conversations that explore leadership, work, and growth with clarity and purpose.

Each week, Leilani Brown — author, career coach, and founder of Giant Steps LLC — explores the human side of work, leadership, and growth. Through conversations and reflections, the show helps listeners navigate change, build resilience, and lead with intention.

About the Show — Giant Steps with Leilani Brown

Each week, Leilani Brown — author, career coach, and founder of Giant Steps LLC — explores the human side of work, leadership, and growth. Through conversations with experts, innovators, and thought leaders, the show helps listeners navigate transitions, build resilience, and lead with purpose in a rapidly changing world.

What career advice is actually worth listening to — and what should you ignore?

In this episode of Giant Steps with Leilani Brown, we switch things up and kick off the conversation with a rapid-fire career game. Jirah puts Leilani in the hot seat, firing off a mix of open-ended and “this or that” questions — no overthinking allowed.

As Leilani answers on the spot, she shares her most honest, practical, and experience-backed advice on careers, success, and navigating the workplace. From defining your own version of success to choosing flexibility over rigid career paths, each question unlocks a lesson that cuts through common career myths and overused advice.

The fast-paced format keeps the conversation candid, insightful, and engaging, while revealing how instinct, self-trust, and adaptability play a major role in building a career that lasts.

Whether you’re early in your career, navigating a pivot, or rethinking your next move, this episode delivers clear, grounded guidance without the fluff.

If you’re tired of vague advice and ready for real perspective, this episode is for you.

• The best career advice Leilani has ever received — and why it still matters

• Structured career paths vs. creating your own

• How to make smarter career decisions without overcomplicating them

• Which popular career advice is overrated — and what actually works

• Lessons learned from real experience, not theory

• Why trusting your instincts is a skill you can strengthen over time

Leilani Brown — Author, career coach, and founder of Giant Steps LLC.Leilani helps professionals navigate transitions, build resilience, and make intentional career decisions in a rapidly changing world.

Leilani Brown / Giant Steps LLC🌐 Website → https://giantstepsllc.com📷 Instagram → @giantstepsllc

🎁 Free Resource: The Giant Steps Year-End Reset Guide™ — a guided workbook to help you reflect on your year, clarify what matters most, and set intentional goals for what’s next.👉 Download it at giantstepsllc.com👉 https://resetguide.giantstepsllc.com/

Each week, Giant Steps with Leilani Brown explores the human side of work, leadership, and growth. Through candid conversations and practical insights, the show helps listeners navigate career transitions, build confidence, and move forward with purpose.

✨ If this episode resonated, please like, comment, and share.📩 Join the community → https://giantstepsllc.com/contact📚 Explore Leilani’s books → https://giantstepsllc.com/books🌐 Learn more → https://giantstepsllc.com

#GiantSteps #CareerAdvice #Reinvention #CareerGrowth #NewYearReset #IntentionalLiving #ProfessionalDevelopment