In this episode of Leading Without the BS, Ivan sits down with Wingspan Performance Advisor Heather Hopkins to explore her journey from mechanical engineering and manufacturing leadership to becoming a coach who helps leaders see—and fill—the gaps they never realized they had.

Heather shares how her pioneering early career shaped her entrepreneurial mindset, how she grew into people leadership without formal leadership training, and how joining Wingspan transformed her understanding of what truly effective leadership requires.

Key Themes

1. The Messages We Send (and Don’t Realize We’re Sending)

The episode opens with a powerful reflection on how leaders unintentionally teach people:

• “You’re not capable.”
• “You’re not bright enough.”
• “I don’t think you can do this.”

These subtle cues — often delivered through tone, delegation, or assumptions — can define someone’s trajectory for years.

2. Heather’s Engineering Origin Story

Heather’s first job was with the construction company building her university. That experience:

• Inspired her to build and create.
• Cemented the belief that she was a “pioneer.”
• Sparked a deeply ingrained entrepreneurial spirit.

3. Becoming a People Leader Without People-Leadership Training

Although she spent most of her career leading people, Heather reflects that:

• Her technical background meant she rarely encountered training that truly addressed what it means to lead humans.
• She led teams without recognizing the blind spots she had.
• Looking back, she can now see her career with far more clarity.

4. The Transformation of Joining Wingspan

Heather shares that Wingspan opened a new door to understanding leadership, including:

• What “real” leadership requires beyond expertise.
• How to see patterns and behaviors she previously missed.
• How her past leadership decisions look different in hindsight.

5. “Oh My Gosh, I Wish I Knew This 10 Years Ago”

Ivan reflects — and Heather agrees — that many leaders only realize after working with Wingspan how much they wish they had known earlier.
Common reactions:

• “I can’t believe what I used to do.”
• “I had no idea what I didn’t know.”

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3 Takeaways:

1. Explore Wingspan’s Leader Team Coaching & Advising — the proven path for leaders ready to multiply performance across their teams. Schedule a Clarity Call with one of our expert Advisors right now!
2. Subscribe to the Wingspan Newsletter — get practical leadership insights, podcast episode deep-dives, client spotlights, and weekly tools delivered straight to your inbox.
3. Check out our YouTube Channel for unfiltered clips on behavioral performance and leadership actions that actually work.
4. 📲 Text us for leadership performance advice — real answers for real leaders.

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