Giant Steps with Leilani Brown

When trust breaks down at work, how do teams communicate when communication no longer feels safe? How do leaders rebuild confidence, clarity, and connection in a constantly shifting workplace?

In this episode of Giant Steps with Leilani Brown, Leilani sits down with Minda Harts, bestselling author, workplace consultant, and keynote speaker, to explore how to create workplaces where people feel seen, supported, and respected. Minda shares her groundbreaking Seven Trust Languages® framework, a practical approach to rebuilding communication, restoring belonging, and fostering trust in teams and organizations.

Whether you’re a leader trying to build a healthier, more human workplace or an employee navigating environments where you feel unheard, this conversation provides actionable strategies to strengthen trust, communication, and collaboration.

In This Episode:

• Why trust is collapsing inside organizations and how to rebuild it

• The Seven Trust Languages® and how they transform workplace communication

• Common misconceptions leaders have about trust, safety, and belonging

• How employees can advocate for themselves when they feel overlooked

• Small, daily behaviors that determine whether a team thrives or falls apart

• Insights from Minda’s own career journey, from executive assistant to bestselling author, consultant, and filmmaker

Guest Minda Harts – Minda Harts is a bestselling author, workplace consultant, and sought-after keynote speaker who is revolutionizing how organizations build trust. Through her groundbreaking Seven Trust Languages® framework, she helps leaders and teams create cultures where trust becomes their greatest competitive advantage.

As the author of The Memo, Right Within, You Are More Than Magic, and her latest Talk to Me Nice: The Seven Trust Languages for a Better Workplace, Minda has empowered thousands to build stronger workplace relationships and navigate professional challenges with confidence.Her impact spans boardrooms and conference stages worldwide, with companies like Nike, Google, Best Buy, and Zoom calling on her to drive meaningful change through trust-building strategies.

She's been recognized by LinkedIn as the #1 Top Voice in the Workplace and by Business Insider as one of the top 100 People Transforming Business. In addition to her speaking and consulting work, Minda is shaping future leaders as an NYU assistant professor and founder of The Memo LLC. When organizations want to transform their communication through trust, they call Minda Harts. 

💬 Connect Leilani Brown Website → giantstepsllc.com Instagram → @giantstepsllc

Minda Harts Website → mindaharts.com LinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/mindaharts Instagram → @mindaharts YouTube → Official Minda Harts

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

When everything you’ve built—your career, your business, your personal life—suddenly falls apart, how do you begin again?

In this episode of Giant Steps with Leilani Brown, Leilani sits down with Sabena Miller, corporate training consultant, instructional designer, and entrepreneur, to explore how to rebuild and reinvent your life after profound loss.

Sabena shares her approach to resilience and reinvention—a method built through real-life experiences of career disruption, personal tragedy, and business collapse. Together, they discuss how to rise stronger when everything seems lost, how to transform grief and uncertainty into growth, and how to rebuild confidence and purpose along the way.

Whether you’ve experienced a major personal or professional setback, or simply want to strengthen your ability to navigate life’s unexpected challenges, this conversation will help you see that reinvention is not just possible—it’s an opportunity to create a more empowered, purpose-driven future.

In This Episode:

• Sabena’s journey from the trading floors of the New York Stock Exchange to running her own business

• The personal and professional losses that shaped her resilience

• How to turn grief, uncertainty, and disruption into catalysts for growth

• Practical strategies for rebuilding your career, business, and personal life

• Mindset shifts and habits that help you move forward when everything feels lost

Sabena Miller –  Sabena Miller is a leadership consultant, speaker, and founder of KairosXP™, where she helps teams and organizations strengthen communication, build trust, and elevate performance. Known for her practical, energizing style, Sabena teaches leaders how to break down silos, improve cross-department collaboration, and create workplaces where people thrive. With consulting experience across construction, financial services, telecom, beauty, healthcare, and more, she brings real-world insight to every stage or workshop. Sabena also leads corporate training projects as a curriculum architect and creative consultant, designing experiences that empower teams to learn and lead with clarity.

Leilani Brown Website → giantstepsllc.com Instagram → @giantstepsllc

Sabena Miller Website → www.KairosXP.com LinkedIn → Sabena Miller Instagram → @Kairos.xp

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

You just lost your job. Before you do anything else, here's what a Certified Financial Planner says to handle first.

Mike Daniels, CFP®, walks through the money decisions that come in the first weeks after a layoff — what to do about severance, when to file for unemployment, how to think about health insurance, and what to do if you don't have an emergency fund to fall back on. No shame, no lecture. Just the sequence.

In this episode:

- What to do in the first 72 hours after a layoff

- How to evaluate a severance package before you sign

- Filing for unemployment — what people get wrong

- Health insurance after job loss: COBRA vs. marketplace

- Laid off with no savings — where to start

- How to cut expenses without wrecking your life

- When to touch retirement accounts (and when not to)

What became possible? Mike's answer is about what a financial plan is actually for.

🎙️ Giant Steps with Leilani Brown · New episodes every other Wednesday

▶️ Apple Podcasts · Spotify · iHeart · Audible · Amazon Music · YouTube @giantstepsllc

🌐 giantstepsllc.com/podcast · ✍️ giantstepsllc.substack.com

📱 @giantstepsllc · LinkedIn: Leilani M. Brown

📘 Free Reset Guide: resetguide.giantstepsllc.com

When everything you’ve built suddenly feels uncertain — how do you begin again?

In this episode of Giant Steps with Leilani Brown, Leilani sits down with Rachel Tully, founder of Still Human and former leader at Tesla, Venmo, Ford, and the SEC, to explore how to reinvent your career after disruption.

Rachel shares her signature “Boa Constrictor Approach” — a strategy for identifying, surrounding, and seizing new opportunities with precision and purpose. Together, they discuss how to turn career crises into catalysts for reinvention, how to stay relevant in the age of AI, and how to rebuild confidence when your professional identity is shaken.

Whether you’ve been laid off, are rethinking your career path, or simply want to future-proof your skills, this conversation will help you clarify your unique value and move forward with focus, courage, and humanity.

• Rachel’s journey from Ford and Tesla to founding Still Human

• The “Boa Constrictor Approach” to career reinvention

• How to handle layoffs, pivots, and professional uncertainty

• Staying human in an AI-driven workplace

• Practical tools for resilience and reinvention

  
  

Rachel Tully – Founder of Still Human, a career strategy practice helping professionals navigate AI disruption and build future-proof careers. Before launching her business, Rachel held roles at Ford, Tesla, Venmo, and the SEC, and earned her MBA from NYU.

Leilani Brown Website → giantstepsllc.com Instagram → @giantstepsllc

Rachel Tully Website → https://www.linkedin.com/in/hiracheltully/  LinkedIn → Rachel Tully 

🎁 Free guide: Your Next Giant Reset™ — a step-by-step resource for navigating layoffs and planning your comeback. 👉 Download it at giantstepsllc.com Tags

#CareerReinvention #GiantStepsPodcast #LeilaniBrown #RachelTully #FutureOfWork #AI #CareerResilience #Layoffs #ProfessionalGrowth #StillHuman

How to Get Past the Shame of Losing Your Job — with Harvard Psychiatrist Dr. Helen Riess

That sneaky feeling after a job loss? It’s not failure — it’s shame.

It shows up after the layoff, the rejection, or the silence between applications — whispering that you’re not enough. But you are. You’re simply in transition.

In this week’s episode of Giant Steps with Leilani Brown, I sit down with my friend Dr. Helen Riess, a Harvard psychiatrist, empathy researcher, and author of The Empathy Effect. Together, we unpack what really happens when your confidence or identity takes a hit — and how empathy (especially for yourself) can help you rebuild.

Whether you’ve just been laid off, are in a career pivot, or supporting someone who is, this episode offers practical, science-backed tools to help you quiet shame, rebuild confidence, and move forward with clarity and courage.

💡 If you’ve been laid off — or think you might be — download our free career resource:

👉 Your Next Giant Reset™ — a step-by-step guide to help you stay in control and start your comeback.

🎧 Listen now: Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible, and iHeartRadio.

👉 Subscribe for more conversations about work, purpose, and what it means to take your next giant step.

About Dr. Helen Riess

Dr. Helen Riess is an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and the Founder and Chief Scientist of Empathetics, Inc. Her pioneering research on the neuroscience of empathy has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Oprah Magazine. She is the author of The Empathy Effect: Seven Neuroscience-Based Keys for Transforming the Way We Live, Love, Work, and Connect Across Differences.

About The Show - Giant Steps with Leilani Brown

Each week, Leilani Brown — CEO of Giant Steps, LLC and author of From Campus to Career — explores the human side of work, leadership, and growth. Through smart, soulful conversations with experts, thinkers, and changemakers, the show helps you navigate transitions, build resilience, and lead with purpose in a rapidly changing world.

✨ If this conversation resonated, please like, comment, and share.

📩 Join the community → giantstepsllc.com/contact

📚 Explore Leilani’s books → giantstepsllc.com/books

🌐 Learn more → giantstepsllc.com

#GiantSteps #GiantStepsLLC #DoWellDoGood #YourNextGiantReset #CareerComeback #Empathy #SelfCompassion #CareerResilience #FutureOfWork #LeilaniBrownPodcast

Welcome to Giant Steps with Leilani Brown!

Season 3 kicks off with something big—a new name and an expanded vision. What started as Your First Job was built to guide early-career professionals. But our audience has grown, and so has the conversation.

In this episode, Leilani shares why the show is now called Giant Steps with Leilani Brown, and what that means for you. From your first role to bold pivots and reinventions, this season is about the whole career journey. You’ll hear real stories, practical insights, and everyday inspiration from leaders, innovators, and everyday people who turned challenges into opportunities.

Because big change doesn’t happen overnight—it starts with a single step, a spark, and one amazing conversation.

🎧 Tune in and take your next giant step.

Season Trailer - Giant Steps with Leilani Brown

ABOUT THE SHOW

Giant Steps with Leilani Brown (formerly Your First Job, the podcast)

Imagine what you could accomplish if you just take that first step. You could land your dream role. Shift a company culture. Redefine an industry.

That’s the spirit of Giant Steps with Leilani Brown. On each episode, author, speaker, and CEO Leilani Brown sits down with leaders, innovators, creators, everyday people, and trailblazers to uncover the pivotal decisions, bold reinventions, and daring choices that turned ordinary careers into extraordinary lives.

Whether you’re just starting out, ready to make a career move, or looking to reinvent yourself, you’ll find both information and inspiration here. 

Big change doesn’t happen overnight—sometimes it starts with a single step, a small spark, and one amazing conversation at a time.

Watch on YouTube and listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Audible and everywhere.  

SHOW TRAILER/INTRO

Big change doesn’t happen overnight.  Sometimes it starts with a single step

That why I am excited to host leaders, innovators and great thinkers and everyday people, sharing their stories and practical insights you can use right now.

Wherever you are in you are in your journey, whether you are just starting out, looking to make a pivot, or ready to reinvent yourself.

You’ll find both information and inspiration right here.

This is Giant Steps, and I am Leilani Brown.

Brenda Mallory, a former chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, joins Your First Job LIVE to discuss her journey from aspiring child psychologist to environmental lawyer. She highlighted her early exposure to environmental issues at the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights, where she worked on affordable housing and zoning laws. Mallory emphasized the importance of diverse perspectives in policy-making and shared her experience as the first Black leader of the Council on Environmental Quality. She advised the Class of 2025 to cultivate networks and be flexible in their career choices, emphasizing the long-term impact of decisions. Mallory is currently reflecting on her next steps, aiming to contribute meaningfully to environmental and diversity issues.

ABOUT BRENDA

Brenda Mallory has had a 40-year career in Environmental Law and policy, spending roughly half her time at an environmental law firm serving public and private sector clients and the other half working in the Federal government in Senior roles at the White House Council on Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Ms. Mallory was confirmed by the United States Senate on April 14, 2021 and sworn in as the 12th Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). As Chair, she advised President Biden on environmental and natural resources policies, sustainability, climate change, conservation and environmental justice, all designed to improve, preserve, and protect public health and the environment for all America’s communities. Throughout her career, she has championed policies for cleaner water, cleaner air, and the removal of toxic pollutants from the places people live, work, and play and worked to create strong and inclusive working environments.

📌 ABOUT YOUR FIRST JOB PODCAST

Your First Job is a podcast brought to you by Giant Steps, LLC, a company working at the intersection of Strategy, Culture, Career, and Education. 

🔔 LIKE, SUBSCRIBE & SHARE! 

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more career insights

📩 Join our community: https://www.giantstepsllc.com/contact...

📖 BOOKS BY LEILANI BROWN: https://www.giantstepsllc.com/books

🌐 Learn more about Giant Steps, LLC → GiantStepsLLC.com

Leilani Brown and Maxwell Heller discuss the intricacies of his dual career as a master fundraiser and drag performer. Maxwell, also known as Miz Cracker, shares his journey from reluctantly trying drag for the first time to becoming a successful performer. He emphasizes the importance of passion, experimentation, and balancing work with personal life. Maxwell also reflects on the evolution of drag, its cultural significance, and the challenges of monetizing it. Leilani and Maxwell discuss the value of unpaid internships, the importance of knowing oneself, and the need for a steady income to sustain passion projects. Maxwell is currently taking a step back to focus on personal growth and family.

ABOUT MIZ CRACKER

Miz Cracker is a New York City drag queen—and a writer, foodie and comedienne. She launched her drag career in 2011 while participating in marches for marriage equality in Times Square. She went on to compete in RuPaul’s Drag Race Season Ten, landing a spot in the top five and becoming a fan favorite. She later appeared in RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season Five, landing a spot in the top 3. Today, she tours the world with her one woman shows; delights fans on her YouTube channel; lectures on drag at top universities; writes for publications like Slate, ArtForum, Vice and GQ; engages nearly 1.5 million followers across social media; and tells the stories of incredible women through her interview podcast, She’s a Woman.

📌 ABOUT YOUR FIRST JOB PODCAST

Your First Job is a podcast brought to you by Giant Steps, LLC, a company working at the intersection of Strategy, Culture, Career, and Education. 

🔔 LIKE, SUBSCRIBE & SHARE! 

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more career insights

📩 Join our community: https://www.giantstepsllc.com/contact...

📖 BOOKS BY LEILANI BROWN: https://www.giantstepsllc.com/books

🌐 Learn more about Giant Steps, LLC → GiantStepsLLC.com

Jesse Beckom III joins YFJ host Leilani Brown to discuss his diverse career journey, from urban planning to competitive bobsledding and tech roles at eBay, Teespring, and Atlassian. He emphasizes the importance of agility and continuous learning and highlights the transferable skills from sports, such as teamwork and resilience, to his professional life. He shares his early experiences, including selling snow in Chicago, which taught him the value of precision and independence. Jesse also stressed the significance of community involvement and mentorship, particularly for student-athletes transitioning to professional careers.

ABOUT JESSE

Originally from Chicago, Illinois Jesse is the youngest and only male child of five siblings. His mother was a nurse and his late father was a 27-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department. Jesse Beckom III is a Senior Go-to-market Program Manager at Atlassian. He has over a decade of experience in driving high-impact programs and campaigns, taking them from strategic conception to execution. At Atlassian, Jesse served as the first Global Chair of the company’s inaugural Black Employee Resource Group. Jesse is a former member of the USA Bobsled  National Team where he competed in World Cup Races and World Championships for 12 years and was the Chair of the Athlete Advisory Committee. Jesse currently serves as a member of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Ethics Committee.

📌 ABOUT YOUR FIRST JOB PODCAST

Your First Job is a podcast brought to you by Giant Steps, LLC, a company working at the intersection of Strategy, Culture, Career, and Education. 

🔔 LIKE, SUBSCRIBE & SHARE! 

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more career insights

📩 Join our community: https://www.giantstepsllc.com/contact...

📖 BOOKS BY LEILANI BROWN: https://www.giantstepsllc.com/books

🌐 Learn more about Giant Steps, LLC → GiantStepsLLC.com