My guest for Episode #311 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Karin Hurt, CEO of Let’s Grow Leaders, a global leadership development firm. Karin is a former Verizon Wireless executive and the award-winning author of five books, including her latest, Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Workplace Conflict.

Episode page with video, transcript, and more

In this episode, she shares a deeply personal and professionally pivotal story from her corporate days—an impassioned confrontation over a discriminatory hiring decision that, while well-intentioned, caused serious damage to her career.

Karin unpacks how her emotional reaction—rooted in a strong sense of justice—ultimately undermined her goal. Despite advocating successfully for her team member, her public and heated delivery hurt her leadership reputation. She reflects on the importance of staying calm under pressure, choosing the right time and place to speak up, and communicating with both courage and strategy. These lessons became the foundation for the work she does today, helping leaders navigate difficult conversations with confidence and compassion.

Throughout the episode, we also discuss her transition from corporate executive to keynote speaker, author, and entrepreneur. Karin explains how she and her co-author (and husband), David Dye, help teams build cultures of “productive conflict,” where differences lead to innovation rather than division. From real-world mistakes to powerful communication tools, this episode is full of insight for leaders who want to lead with heart—and get results.