Go First With Jaime Taets

What happens when you leave a successful corporate career to lead a nonprofit you know as a parent, but not as a leader? Kim Snow knows this journey intimately.

She spent years at Cargill leading strategy, marketing, and client services. Then she stepped into the role of Executive Director at Franklin Center, a school and adult program for individuals with neurodiversity. She was not an educator. She did not have a background in behavioral health. But she had curiosity, business experience, and a deep passion for the mission.

Kim joins Jaime Taets for a conversation about what it really takes to go first into something new and uncertain. She shares how she learned to be vulnerable about what she did not know, why industries are learnable but leadership is about people, and how raising a son with neurodiversity changed the way she sees the world. She also talks about the difference between being a peer leader and being the person who makes the final call, and why that shift required her to trust herself in a completely new way.

This conversation is about courage, kindness, and the power of curiosity. Kim opens up about the loneliness that comes with top leadership and why finding the right rooms and the right people is essential. She shares the advice she would give anyone feeling called to do something different, and why being brave enough to listen to that inner voice is the first step.

If you have ever felt called to do something new but worried you are not qualified, this episode is for you. Kim's story will remind you that the path is not linear, the work is hard, and the reward is worth it.

Timestamped Chapters

0:00 Introduction to Kim Snow
1:11 The windy road to Franklin Center
4:12 Leaving corporate for nonprofit leadership
6:16 Industries are learnable, people are not
8:40 The parent experience in the room
11:37 Vulnerability and admitting what you do not know
14:53 When leadership became real
17:52 The higher you climb, the cloudier it gets
19:46 The loneliness of top leadership
21:38 Changing the rooms you are in
23:15 Redefining success: from contribution to coaching
25:52 To be vulnerable is not a weakness
29:25 Be brave enough to listen to the voice
33:11 Finding levity in the heavy
36:40 Bonus round: songs, books, and billboards

Guest Bio

Kim Snow is the Executive Director of Franklin Center, a nonprofit organization providing education and adult programs for individuals with neurodiversity. She spent the bulk of her career at Cargill, leading strategy and marketing across multiple businesses and later leading a data analytics team serving food companies nationwide. Kim holds an MBA from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. She is a passionate advocate for inclusion, kindness, and creating opportunities for individuals with neurodiversity to thrive. Kim lives on a farm with her family.

Quotes from the Episode

"Industries are learnable. People are not."

"To be vulnerable is not a weakness."

"Be brave enough to listen to the voice in your head. Trust it, believe in yourself, and then take a step."

Leadership Insights

Q: What is the difference between peer leadership and top leadership?
A: Peer leadership means you are part of a team making decisions together. Top leadership means the final decision rests on your shoulders. Kim Snow experienced this shift when she moved from a corporate role where she contributed to decisions to becoming Executive Director, where she is the decision. This requires a different level of trust in yourself, the willingness to admit when you are wrong, and the courage to move forward even when the path is unclear.

Q: Why is vulnerability important for leaders?
A: Vulnerability is not a weakness. It is a strength that builds trust and connection. When leaders admit what they do not know, it gives others permission to do the same. Kim Snow learned this when she stepped into a role where she had no expertise in education or behavioral health. By being honest about her gaps, she created a culture where her team felt safe to share their knowledge, try new things, and learn from mistakes without fear.

Resources

• Connect with Kim Snow on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Franklin Center
• Follow Franklin Center on LinkedIn
• Explore Jaime's Women's Executive Retreats
• Explore Keystone Group International and its leadership, culture, and organizational growth work
• Follow Jaime on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook

If this conversation gave you a new perspective on leadership, vulnerability, or what it means to go first into something new, share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Subscribe to Go First with Jaime Taets for more conversations about leadership, growth, and taking that next step forward.

Go First is the show where we talk about what it takes to move forward: first, fast, and with purpose.

Everything you want is on the other side of the next unknown step. Let's Go First together.

Jaime Taets

You know that feeling when something just clicks? When your body tells you yes before your brain can explain why? Jaime Taets calls it the fizzies, and she believes it is the most honest data you will ever have about whether you are on the right path.

In this solo episode, Jaime explains what the fizzies are and why she started paying attention to them over a decade ago. It is that tingly sensation, the hair standing up on your arms, the moment when you feel fully alive and present. It shows up in conversations, in nature, in meditation, and in moments when you are not performing or worrying about how you look. It is your body's way of saying you need more of this.

Most high achievers have trained themselves to ignore that feeling. We focus on what is hard, what is urgent, what needs fixing. We move on from good moments without noticing them. But Jaime challenges that pattern. She shares how an energy journal can help you track where your energy comes from and what it is trying to tell you. The patterns you see will be more accurate than any five-year plan you have ever written.

If you have been waiting for a sign or looking for clarity, this episode is your invitation to start paying attention. The only way to go first is to first go. And sometimes going first just looks like trusting the fizzies long enough to follow them.

Timestamped Chapters

0:00 Welcome to the podcast
1:30 What are the fizzies?
2:25 How Jaime started noticing this feeling
4:45 Why high achievers ignore what feels good
6:58 The fizzies as your soul's signal
8:45 Using an energy journal to track your energy
10:41 Going first by following the fizzies

Quotes from the Episode

"The fizzies are this feeling in my body. It tells me I'm on the right track."

"Most of us get really good at ignoring that feeling. We're trained to pay attention to the opposite, to the things that are hard."

"The only way you go first is to first go. Something has to change. And you have the full power of that."

Leadership Insights

Q: What are the fizzies and why do they matter for leaders?
A: The fizzies are a physical sensation that Jaime Taets describes as a tingly feeling in the body, sometimes with hair standing up on your arms or neck. They show up when you are fully present, aligned, and doing something that resonates with who you are becoming. For leaders, the fizzies matter because they are data. They point toward what energizes you, what you should do more of, and what you should release. Ignoring them means ignoring your most honest internal guidance system.

Q: How can leaders use an energy journal to make better decisions?
A: An energy journal is a simple practice where you write down the moments in your day when you feel alive, energized, or fizzy. After a couple of weeks, you will start to see patterns. Those patterns reveal where your energy comes from and what drains it. This information is often more accurate than any goal or vision you have set because it comes from your body, not your brain. It can help you decide where to spend more time, where to pull back, and what changes you need to make to lead from a healthier, more aligned place.

Resources

• Learn more about Jaime Taets and Keystone Group International: https://jaimetaets.com/ 
• Explore Jaime's Executive Retreats: https://jaimetaets.com/executive-retreats/
• Follow Jaime on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaime_taets 
• Follow Jaime on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamietaets 
• Follow Jaime on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jaimeladam 

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who needs permission to trust their own intuition and follow what makes them feel alive.

Subscribe to Go First with Jaime Taets for more conversations about leadership, growth, and taking that next step forward.

Go First is the show where we talk about what it takes to move forward: first, fast, and with purpose.

Everything you want is on the other side of the next unknown step. Let's Go First together.

Jaime Taets

What happens when you've achieved everything you set out to accomplish, but you wake up one day and realize you've lost yourself in the process?

Chris Heim, a three-time CEO and founder of Heim Leadership, joins Jaime to talk about reclaiming your identity when the title no longer defines you.

Chris openly shares his journey from accidental CEO to someone who now understands that leadership isn't just about business outcomes. It's about creating an environment where motivated people can thrive. He talks about the trap of tying your identity to your role, the difference between chasing success and pursuing purpose, and the intentional work it takes to become a people-first leader.

This conversation is for any leader who has ever felt like they're grinding for the wrong reasons, struggling with imposter syndrome, or wondering who they are outside of their job title. Chris offers practical wisdom on unlearning old patterns, managing your energy, and building a bridge to whatever comes next. The message is clear: you've already succeeded. Now it's time to figure out who you want to be.

Timestamped Chapters 

0:00 Introduction to Chris Heim
3:15 The Accidental CEO Journey
6:30 Discovering Your Leadership Identity
10:00 Imposter Syndrome as a Strength
13:45 Reclaiming Identity After the Title
17:20 Chase vs. Pursuit
21:00 Unlearning: Motivation and Rumination
25:30 Creating an Environment for People to Thrive
28:15 The Bridge to the Future
31:45 Advice for Leaders Who Feel Stuck
34:00 Smile: The Billboard Reminder

Guest Bio

Chris Heim is a three-time CEO and the founder of Heim Leadership, a consulting firm dedicated to helping organizations build people-first cultures and healthy, stable companies. With a career spanning technology and business, Chris has led global teams and is passionate about the intersection of leadership and human psychology. He is a student of culture and believes that figuring out the human side of business creates a distinct advantage on the business side. Chris is also an endurance athlete who applies lessons from training to his leadership philosophy.

Quotes from the Episode

"I associated so much of my identity with being a CEO that I kind of forgot who I was."
"I have eliminated the word chase from my life and I only have pursuit."
"People bring their own motivation to whatever they're doing. My job is to create an environment where motivated people can be successful."

Leadership Insights

Q: What does it mean to be a people-first leader?
A: Being a people-first leader means recognizing that your most important responsibility is creating an environment where people can thrive. It's not about motivating others, because people bring their own motivation. It's about fostering a culture that supports them, understanding the psychology of stress, and showing up as a source of calm and positivity. Business success follows when you take the human side of leadership as seriously as any financial outcome you're responsible for.

Q: Why do leaders lose their identity and how can they reclaim it?
A: Leaders often lose their identity when they associate who they are entirely with their role or title. The demands of leadership can consume your sense of self, making it feel like you are the job. To reclaim your identity, you need to step back and remember that you are so much more than your title. You are a person, a parent, a spouse, a friend. You get to keep all the experiences and clarity you've gained, even when you let go of the role. The title is a role you serve, but it does not define who you are.

Resources

• Connect with Chris Heim on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Heim Leadership
• Learn more about Jaime Taets and Keystone Group International
• Explore Jaime's Executive Retreats
• Follow Jaime on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook

If you have ever felt the weight of believing your title is who you are, share this with a leader who needs to be reminded that they've already succeeded and there is so much more to who they are.

Subscribe to Go First with Jaime Taets for more conversations about leadership, growth, and taking that next step forward.

Go First is the show where we talk about what it takes to move forward: first, fast, and with purpose.

Everything you want is on the other side of the next unknown step. Let's Go First together.

Jaime Taets

Why do so many leaders feel empty despite achieving everything they set out to accomplish? The answer might surprise you. It's not about insecurity or weakness. It's about validation, and it's addictive.

In this solo episode, Jaime Taets pulls back the curtain on a theme she's seen emerging in leaders everywhere: the relentless need for external approval. She shares why validation isn't about being insecure, how early career success trains us to seek it, and why the addiction cycle keeps leaders chasing applause that never lasts.

If you've ever felt like you're performing for an audience that's never satisfied, or you're staying in rooms you've outgrown because they still make you feel needed, this episode is for you. It's a call to examine your motivations, find worth in the quiet, unseen work, and ground your value in who you are, not what you achieve.

Timestamped Chapters

0:00 Welcome and why these solo episodes exist
1:15 The theme emerging from leaders
2:11 Why validation isn't about insecurity
3:44 How success trains us to seek approval
4:57 The addiction cycle of validation
6:15 When validation becomes a dependency
7:30 The ego trap of senior leadership
8:45 Where are you seeking validation?
9:47 The quieter work no one applauds
10:30 Examining your motivations
11:12 Internal vs. external validation
11:57 Inspiring others by going first
12:31 Closing reflection

Quotes from the Episode

"Validation is addictive."

"Yesterday's applause doesn't last today. Today you need more of it."

"If you can remain grounded in who you are when the world is no longer validating you, that's the real test of leadership."

Leadership Insights

Q: Why is validation addictive for leaders?
A: Validation triggers the same reward pathways in the brain as other addictive behaviors. Early career success trains leaders to seek approval through performance, problem-solving, and visible achievements. Over time, that need for external validation becomes a dependency. It requires more frequent and bigger wins to feel the same sense of worth. The applause that once felt satisfying no longer lasts, and leaders find themselves chasing the next achievement just to feel seen.

Q: How can leaders break the cycle of seeking validation?
A: Breaking the cycle starts with examining your motivations. Ask yourself: Am I taking this on because it's the right thing to do, or because I want to be seen? Are you staying in rooms you've outgrown because they still make you feel needed? The shift happens when you begin to find worth in the quiet, unseen work and ground your value in who you are, not what you achieve. The real test of leadership is whether you can remain grounded when the world stops applauding.

Resources

• Learn more about Jaime Taets and Keystone Group International
• Explore Jaime's Executive Retreats
• Follow Jaime on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook

If this episode challenged how you think about validation and leadership, share it with another leader who needs to hear it.

Subscribe to Go First with Jaime Taets for more conversations about leadership, growth, and taking that next step forward.

Go First is the show where we talk about what it takes to move forward: first, fast, and with purpose.

Everything you want is on the other side of the next unknown step. Let's Go First together.

Jaime Taets

What happens when the mountain you finally climbed disappears beneath your feet? Dr. Linda Schubring faced that exact moment and learned that losing a job doesn't mean losing your purpose.

Dr. Linda Schubring joins Jaime Taets for an honest conversation about leadership, identity, resilience, and what it really takes to heal. Linda shares her journey from aspiring college president to reaching a leadership role at 29, losing that position, rebuilding her identity, becoming a mother and business owner, and navigating a breast cancer diagnosis. Along the way, she discovered that our hardest experiences can become sources of wisdom, connection, and contribution. Together, Linda and Jaime explore why leaders need to manage their hunger for control and importance, how to separate identity from work, and what it really means to heal.

If you're navigating transition, redefining success, or leading through uncertainty, this conversation will give you a different way to think about what's next.

Timestamped Chapters

0:00 Introduction to Dr. Linda Schubring
2:18 Linda's leadership journey: the mountaintop
4:04 You can have more than one mountain
6:15 Three lessons from reaching the top
11:42 When success doesn't protect you from setbacks
14:11 Separating your identity from your work
17:00 Turning difficult experiences into contribution
21:59 Learning to heal through adversity
28:23 What Linda had to unlearn
29:24 Redefining success
31:24 Managing your hungers for control and importance
34:20 Managing your energy as a leader
38:40 Hope, resilience, and leadership
42:46 Linda's book and leadership influences
44:10 Reflect, act, reflect

Guest Bio

Dr. Linda Schubring is a leadership coach, author, speaker, and co-founder of Leadership Vision Consulting. She helps leaders, teams, and organizations become healthier, more engaged, and better equipped to navigate uncertainty and change. She is also the national bestselling author of Unfolded: Lessons in Transformation from an Origami Crane.

Quotes from the Episode

"You can lose your job, but that doesn't mean you lose your purpose."

"Healing is different from moving on."

"Reflect, act, reflect, act, reflect, act."

Leadership Insights

Q: What does it mean to manage your hunger as a leader?

A: Managing your hunger means recognizing and regulating the internal drives that can influence how you lead. Drawing from the adaptive leadership work of Ron Heifetz and Marty Linsky, Dr. Linda Schubring explains that leaders need to manage their hunger for control and their hunger for importance rather than allowing those desires to control their behavior. When leaders don't manage what drives them, they can become rigid, defensive, or disconnected from the people they lead.

Q: Why is separating identity from work important for leaders?

A: Separating identity from work allows leaders to recognize that losing a role, title, or position does not mean losing their purpose or worth. Linda's experience of having her leadership position eliminated forced her to reconsider who she was beyond her career. That separation ultimately opened the door to new forms of leadership, family, business, and contribution. When you know who you are beyond your title, you lead with more freedom and less fear.

Resources

• Connect with Dr. Linda Schubring on LinkedIn 
• Follow Leadership Vision on Instagram
• Leadership on the Line: Staying Alive Through the Dangers of Leading — Ron Heifetz & Marty Linsky
• Unfolded: Lessons in Transformation from an Origami Crane — Dr. Linda Schubring
• Leadership Vision Consulting
• Learn more about Jaime Taets and Keystone Group International
• Explore Jaime's Executive Retreats
• Follow Jaime on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook

If this conversation gave you a new perspective on leadership, identity, or navigating a difficult season, share it with another leader who may need to hear it.

Subscribe to Go First with Jaime Taets for more conversations about leadership, growth, and taking that next step forward.

Go First is the show where we talk about what it takes to move forward first, fast, and with purpose.

Everything you want is on the other side of the next unknown step. Let's Go First together.

Jaime Taets

What happens when you're a high-performing leader who loves the work, but you're exhausted in a way that a vacation won't fix? Jaime Taets gets honest about her own journey with burnout and what she's learned about the weight of responsibility.

Jaime shares why burnout is one of the most overused words in leadership, and why it's often misunderstood. It's not about hating your job. It's about caring so much that you take on everything: every problem, every outcome, everyone's emotions. That sense of responsibility is what makes you successful, but it can also quietly become the thing that drains you.

She explores the difference between rest and recovery, why letting go of control is harder than it sounds, and how a thousand small shifts can create more space than one dramatic change. She also challenges leaders to ask themselves one question: What are you carrying today that might not be yours to carry?

If you've ever said "I'm busy" when asked how you are, or felt like you can't set anything down, this episode is for you.

Timestamped Chapters

0:00 Welcome to Go First
1:30 Why burnout is overused and misunderstood
2:15 Working hard vs. carrying too much responsibility
3:45 The fatigue of believing nothing can be set down
5:30 Why success increases the weight you carry
6:45 Letting go of what used to be yours
8:00 Rest vs. recovery
9:15 What are you carrying that isn't yours to carry?

Quotes from the Episode

"Burnout isn't always caused by working too many hours. It comes from carrying too much responsibility for too long."

"The better you perform, the more successful you are, the more responsibility you carry."

"It's not one dramatic decision that fixes burnout. It's a thousand small ones."

Leadership Insights

Q: What is leadership burnout?
A: Leadership burnout is a state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion caused by prolonged responsibility, decision fatigue, and the pressure to hold everything together. Unlike general tiredness, burnout often affects leaders who love their work and care deeply, but have taken on more than they can sustainably carry. It's not about working too many hours. It's about carrying too much responsibility for too long.

Q: Why do leaders struggle to let go of responsibility?
A: Leaders often tie their identity and value to their ability to solve problems and make decisions. Letting go can feel like losing usefulness. But holding onto tasks that others can do limits growth for both the leader and their team. Learning to release responsibility is a sign of maturity, not weakness. The shift happens when you begin to see recovery not as rest, but as a practice of clearing mental space and imagining a different way of being.

Resources

• Learn more about Jaime Taets and Keystone Group International
• Explore Jaime's Women’s Executive Retreats
• Follow Jaime on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook

If this episode shifted how you think about burnout, share it with a fellow leader who needs to hear it.

Subscribe to Go First with Jaime Taets for more conversations about leadership, growth, and taking that next step forward.

Go First is the show where we talk about what it takes to move forward: first, fast, and with purpose.

Everything you want is on the other side of the next unknown step. Let's Go First together.

Jaime Taets

Leadership development doesn't happen where you're comfortable. Matt Ropchak shares why the biggest breakthroughs begin the moment you stop keeping both feet in the familiar.

Leadership development isn't about collecting promotions. It's about growing through uncertainty, embracing discomfort, and developing people instead of simply solving problems. Matt Ropchak joins Jaime Taets to share the experiences that reshaped his leadership, from overcoming imposter syndrome to surviving a life-changing heart attack that redefined his perspective on success. Together, Matt and Jaime explore why leaders should embrace change, coach instead of always providing the answers, and build a legacy by developing others.

Whether you're leading through uncertainty or redefining success, this conversation will give you a different way to think about what's next.

Timestamped Chapters

0:00 Introduction to Matt Ropchak
2:11 The pivotal moment that changed everything
3:44 Don't keep both of your feet in the familiar
8:57 From imposter syndrome to confident leadership
11:13 Coaching instead of providing all the answers
15:13 Leadership, priorities, and making difficult decisions
22:50 The life-changing health event that shifted everything
30:11 Redefining success and building a lasting legacy
39:05 Leadership habits, mindset, and final reflections

Guest Bio

Matt Ropchak is President of Orvita US, bringing nearly three decades of leadership experience in engineering, operations, and supply chain. Before joining Orvita, he spent 27 years at General Mills, including an expat assignment in Europe and leading the Canadian supply chain. He helps organizations build high-performing teams through authentic leadership and resilience.

Quotes from the Episode

"Don't keep both of your feet in the familiar."

"Coach more. Solve less."

"Your attitude makes a difference every day. Are you gonna be a disease or are you gonna be a miracle drug?"

Leadership Insights

Q: What is leadership development?
A: Leadership development is the ongoing process of building the mindset, skills, and behaviors needed to lead people effectively. It includes self-awareness, coaching others, sound decision-making, and continuous growth through new challenges. As Matt Ropchak explains, it means shifting from "doing" to "leading"; creating the next set of capable people rather than solving every problem yourself.

Q: Why is stepping outside your comfort zone important for leaders?
A: Leaders grow by intentionally taking on unfamiliar challenges. Matt learned this firsthand when he took a role that moved him across geographies, cultures, and functions simultaneously. Stepping beyond what's comfortable builds confidence, adaptability, and stronger decision-making while preparing leaders to navigate change. The hard things are what make you better.

Resources

• Connect with Matt Ropchak on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Jaime Taets and Keystone Group International
• Explore Jaime's Executive Retreats
• Follow Jaime on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook

If this episode challenged the way you think about leadership development, share it with another leader who could benefit from these insights.

Subscribe to Go First with Jaime Taets for more conversations about leadership, growth, and taking that next step forward.

Go First is the show where we talk about what it takes to move forward: first, fast, and with purpose.

Everything you want is on the other side of the next unknown step. Let's Go First together.

Jaime Taets

You don't need to have everything figured out before taking the next step. Lindsay Holden shares why trusting your instincts, embracing progress over perfection, and believing in your vision can lead to extraordinary growth.

Building a successful business isn't about having all the answers. It's about staying curious, making decisions with confidence, and continuing to move forward even when the path isn't clear. Lindsay Holden, Co-Founder of Odele Beauty, joins Jaime Taets to share her journey from leading merchandising at Target to building one of the fastest-growing hair care brands in mass retail. Together, they explore trusting your intuition, navigating the shift from founder to leader, balancing growth with personal priorities, and why there is no single formula for success.

Whether you're building a business, leading a team, or preparing for your next big leap, this conversation will give you a different way to think about what's next.

Timestamped Chapters

0:00 Introduction to Lindsay Holden
2:15 Leaving corporate life to build Odele
8:42 Building a brand with purpose and accessibility
15:10 Progress over perfection in entrepreneurship
22:18 Transitioning from founder to leader
30:40 Protecting creativity, energy, and relationships
38:12 Learning to trust your intuition
46:05 There's no one right way to build success
51:30 Bonus Round

Guest Bio

Lindsay Holden is the Co-Founder of Odele Beauty, a fast-growing hair care brand redefining premium products at accessible prices. After spending eight years as a merchant at Target, she co-founded Odele in 2020, growing the company to more than 15,000 retail locations nationwide. She is passionate about entrepreneurship, authentic leadership, and building brands that combine purpose, performance, and accessibility.

Quotes from the Episode

"Progress over perfection."

"There's no one right way to do anything."

"Trust your intuition."

Leadership Insights

Q: Why is trusting your intuition important in leadership?

A: Strong leaders gather advice, but they don't ignore their own experience. As Lindsay Holden explains, founders and leaders know more than they think they know. Trusting your instincts allows you to make confident decisions while staying true to your values, especially during periods of growth and uncertainty. Balance the opinions of others with what your gut tells you.

Q: What does progress over perfection mean for leaders?

A: Waiting for perfect conditions often slows growth. Leaders who embrace progress over perfection learn from mistakes, adapt quickly, and keep moving forward instead of becoming stuck by fear or unrealistic expectations. As Lindsay shares, mistakes happen even printing errors on product packaging but they don't derail the mission. Learn, fix, and keep going.

Resources

• Connect with Lindsay Holden on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Odele Beauty
• Learn more about Jaime Taets and Keystone Group International: https://jaimetaets.com
• Explore Jaime's Executive Retreats: https://jaimetaets.com/executive-retreats/
• Follow Jaime on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook

If this episode encouraged you to dream bigger and trust your own leadership journey, share it with someone who needs the reminder.

Subscribe to Go First with Jaime Taets for more conversations about leadership, growth, and taking that next step forward.

Go First is the show where we talk about what it takes to move forward first, fast, and with purpose.

Everything you want is on the other side of the next unknown step. Let's Go First together.

Jaime Taets

What happens when you finally achieve everything you thought you wanted, only to realize it doesn't feel like enough? Andrea Sullivan shares why your next chapter may begin when you give yourself permission to dream again.

Personal growth can require letting go of the identity that made you successful. Andrea Sullivan, CEO and Co-Founder of vYve and former Chief Marketing Officer of VaynerX and Interbrand, joins Jaime Taets for a candid conversation about identity, success, and the courage to become someone new. Andrea shares her journey from the Midwest to New York City, through nearly two decades in corporate leadership and into entrepreneurship. Along the way, she discovered that titles, achievements, and external validation can become so closely tied to our identity that they eventually keep us from seeing what could come next.

Together, Andrea and Jaime explore identity shifts, imposter syndrome, community, resilience, intuition, and why what got you here won't get you where you're going next. They also talk about finding the right rooms, creating space for reflection, and becoming more human in an increasingly AI-driven world.

Whether you're navigating a career transition, redefining success, or wondering what's next, this conversation will give you permission to dream again.

Timestamped Chapters

0:00 Introduction to Andrea Sullivan
6:04 From corporate leadership to building vYve
7:30 When success looks right but doesn't feel right
10:39 You have the right to dream and change
13:50 Why the rooms you're in shape your growth
14:47 Letting go of titles, achievement, and external validation
17:09 Discovering who you are beyond serving others
19:44 Redefining success and releasing the CMO identity
22:15 What got you here won't get you there
25:29 Finding grounding through running and active meditation
28:16 You don't have to navigate your next chapter alone
32:06 Trusting your intuition
33:26 Andrea's message for leaders

Guest Bio

Andrea Sullivan is the CEO and Co-Founder of vYve, a company focused on helping entrepreneurs and C-suite leaders become their best and happiest selves. She previously served as Chief Marketing Officer at VaynerX and Interbrand, building a career around branding, leadership, and helping organizations and leaders grow. Through vYve, Andrea helps high-performing leaders explore where they may be stuck, identify what is holding them back, and design their next chapter with greater clarity and authenticity.

Quotes from the Episode

"You have the right to dream and to realize those dreams."

"What got us here is definitely not going to be getting us to wherever it is that we're going."

"We're not in this alone."

Leadership Insights

Q: What is personal growth for leaders?

A: Personal growth is the ongoing process of becoming more self-aware, resilient, and intentional about who you are and what you want next. Andrea's story shows that growth can mean letting go of an identity built around titles, achievements, and external expectations so you can make room for a more authentic version of yourself. It often requires stepping into new rooms and surrounding yourself with people who challenge you to evolve.

Q: Why can identity hold successful leaders back?

A: When titles, achievements, reputation, and external validation become part of how leaders define themselves, letting go of them can feel like losing part of who you are. Andrea experienced this firsthand when she wanted to hold onto her CMO title even after launching vYve. Releasing that identity created space to dream again, trust her intuition, and step into a new chapter she never imagined for herself.

Resources

• Learn more about vYve and its community for entrepreneurs and leaders.
• Learn more about Jaime Taets and her leadership work.
• Explore Jaime's Women's Executive Retreats.
• Explore Keystone Group International and its leadership, culture, and organizational growth work.
• Follow Jaime on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook

If this conversation challenged the way you think about personal growth, identity, or success, share it with another leader who could benefit from these insights.

Subscribe to Go First with Jaime Taets for more conversations about leadership, growth, and taking that next step forward.

Go First is the show where we talk about what it takes to move forward: first, fast, and with purpose.

Everything you want is on the other side of the next unknown step. Let's Go First together.

Jaime Taets

Resilience isn't built only when life gets hard. Kristi Piehl explains why choosing difficult things when you can may prepare you for the fear you can't choose.

Kristi Piehl, Founder and CEO of Media Minefield, joins Jaime Taets for a vulnerable conversation about resilience, fear, leadership, identity, and the moments that force us to rethink what matters most. After losing her television news career during the 2008 economic crisis, Kristi spent nearly two years figuring out what came next before founding Media Minefield. Years later, her son's cancer diagnosis created another life-changing moment that reshaped her perspective on family, work, success, and what truly matters. Through both experiences, Kristi learned to control what she could control, lean on community, and choose the hard things when they were still a choice.

Together, Jaime and Kristi discuss how difficult experiences can clarify your values rather than completely change who you are. They explore why leaders need to know who they are, why you cannot go through hard times alone, how relationships can change during adversity, and why success can ultimately mean having the freedom to make meaningful choices and help others.

Whether you're facing a crisis, navigating transition, or simply wondering how to build resilience before you need it, this conversation will give you a different way to think about fear and hard things.

Timestamped Chapters

0:00 Introduction to Kristi Piehl
2:35 From TV news reporter to entrepreneur
7:51 Control what you can control
9:26 Choose hard before life chooses it for you
11:23 When adversity reveals what really matters
12:59 Success equals freedom
16:32 Know who you are before you lead others
21:22 Take the next right step
23:28 The fear you choose vs. the fear that chooses you
28:26 Be yourself, lean into it, and leave a trail

Guest Bio

Kristi Piehl is the Founder and CEO of Media Minefield, a national award-winning public relations firm specializing in media relations, executive social media, reputation management, crisis communication, and training. Before launching Media Minefield in 2010, Kristi spent 12 years as an Emmy Award-winning television news reporter. She is also the author of Flip Your Script: Own Your Story & Unlock the Positive Power of Social Media, host of the Flip Your Script podcast, an experienced keynote speaker, and a Forbes Councils contributor. Kristi has been recognized with multiple PRNEWS awards and named one of Minnesota's 500 Most Powerful Business Leaders. She earned her Master of Science in Management and Leadership from Pepperdine University's Graziadio Business School.

Quotes from the Episode

"Choose hard when it's a choice."

"Success equals freedom."

"If you choose fear when you can, you are more ready to be available for the fear that chooses you."

Leadership Insights

Q: What is resilience and how can leaders build it before a crisis?

A: Resilience is the ability to adapt, recover, and continue moving forward when faced with difficult circumstances. Kristi's experience shows that resilience can be strengthened before a crisis by intentionally choosing challenges, building supportive relationships, and learning how to focus energy on what you can control. As she puts it, "Choose hard when it's a choice" practice doing difficult things in ordinary moments so you're more prepared when circumstances become genuinely difficult.

Q: How can difficult experiences change leadership and clarify values?

A: Difficult experiences can clarify what matters most without requiring someone to become an entirely different person. For Kristi, adversity reinforced the importance of family, meaningful work, authentic leadership, and using her position to help others. Rather than creating a new identity, hard times can "galvanize" the values you already have and show you what you're truly willing to fight for.

Resources

• Learn more about Kristi Piehl and her work in leadership, media, and storytelling.
• Explore Media Minefield, Kristi’s public relations and reputation management agency.
• Listen to Flip Your Script, Kristi’s podcast about transformation, storytelling, and using social media for positive impact.
• Learn more about Jaime Taets and her work in leadership development and organizational growth.
• Explore Jaime’s Women’s Executive Retreats, focused on dreams, fears, purpose, and meaningful change.
• Follow Jaime on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook

If this conversation challenged the way you think about resilience, fear, or the hard things in life, share it with another leader who could benefit from these insights.

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Jaime Taets