In this candid, energizing conversation, Karen Wicker a serial entrepreneur, former PR agency founder, board member, and communications strategist ,shares hard-won leadership wisdom from a career built in the trenches. From starting her first business at 15 to scaling and selling a high-growth marketing communications agency, Karen offers real, unfiltered insights on people, culture, and what it truly takes to lead well.

This episode of It’s Not You… But Sometimes It Is! dives into the messy human side of leadership like hiring mistakes, bad boss moments, emotional intelligence gaps, and the identity shift that comes after selling a business. Karen speaks openly about building no-drama cultures, hiring for grit over CVs, and why ego and low EQ quietly destroy teams and reputations.

If you’re a UK-based founder, CEO, senior leader, consultant, or female entrepreneur navigating growth, culture challenges, or career reinvention, this conversation will resonate deeply.

What you’ll learn
◼️ Why hiring for curiosity, grit, and cultural fit beats experience alone
◼️ How low emotional intelligence impacts team performance and client trust
◼️ Lessons from scaling, selling, and stepping away from a founder identity
◼️ The truth about bad bosses — and whether they’re actually fixable
◼️ How to build flat, high-trust cultures that get work done
◼️ Why mentorship, reinvention, and self-awareness matter at senior levels

About Karen Wicker-
Serial Entrepreneur & Founder, CANDOR
Former PR & Marketing Communications Agency Owner (Scaled & Sold)
Board Member & Leadership Advisor
Expert in reputation management, culture, and executive communications
Advocate for emotionally intelligent, people-first leadership

We hope you enjoy this episode with Karen Wicker.
Connect with Karen Wicker on LinkedIn: 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-wicker-61b8bb8/

If this conversation sparked something for you, like, subscribe, and share so you don’t miss future episodes.
— Meg

Connect with Meg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megpoag/
Or via email: [email protected]

Visit the Mission Squared website here: https://missionsquared.com/

Listen to It’s Not You… But Sometimes It Is!, on these podcast platforms: 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0sXianujhOPcs1C4mKiFjv
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/its-not-you-but-sometimes-it-is/id1785669837
Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f9f9031d-74d9-4a65-9dc3-3aa34ef9fde8/it's-not-you-but-sometimes-it-is

#leadershippodcast #teammanagement #resilientleadership #workplacecommunication #managertraining #emotionalintelligence #conflictresolution #leadershipdevelopment #teambuilding #authenticleadership #professionalgrowth #organizationalculture #leadershipchallenges #managerlife #leadwithpurpose
It’s Not You (But Sometimes It Is!), hosted by Meg Poag, is the go-to podcast for managers, team leads, and emerging leaders navigating real-world workplace dynamics. Each episode features honest conversations with experienced professionals on leadership challenges—from building resilient teams and fostering authentic connections to managing change, enhancing communication, and balancing ambition with well-being. Whether you’re steering through conflict, scaling a team, or seeking clarity in your leadership style, Meg brings actionable strategies, personal stories, and expert advice to help you lead with confidence and compassion.

In this candid, thoughtful conversation, Kammy Horne - CEO of IMPACT and longtime leader in public transportation and mobility systems , shares powerful insights from a 30-year career spanning federal government, state agencies, private industry, and nonprofit leadership. We explore vulnerability in leadership, culture and alignment, and how modern leaders must balance technology, empathy, and presence to create real impact.

This episode dives deep into authentic leadership, community influence without formal authority, and what it takes to lead through complexity, change, and uncertainty. Kammy offers grounded wisdom on culture, emotional intelligence, and why stillness and self-awareness are becoming essential leadership skills in today’s fast-paced world.

If you’ve ever wrestled with aligning strategy and culture, leading across stakeholders, or evolving your leadership style for the future of work—you’re in the right place.

What you’ll learn

◼️ Why culture is the soil and strategy is the seed—and how misalignment derails results
◼️ How vulnerability builds trust and strengthens leadership credibility
◼️ Leading without authority at the community and systems level
◼️ The role of emotional intelligence in navigating conflict, stress, and change
◼️ Why future leaders must be fluent in both technology and empathy
◼️ How presence, stillness, and listening create better outcomes

About Kammy Horne

CEO, IMPACT (Mobility, Community, Possibility)
Executive leader across federal, state, private, and nonprofit transportation sectors
Board Member, Austin Transit Partnership
Advocate for values-driven leadership, culture alignment, and community-centered mobility
Thought leader on future-ready leadership and systems change

We hope you enjoy this episode with Kammy Horne.

Connect with Kammy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kammy-horne-aicp/

If this conversation resonated with you, like and subscribe so you never miss an episode.
— Meg

Connect with Meg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megpoag/
Or via email: [email protected]

Visit the Mission Squared website here: https://missionsquared.com/

Listen to It’s Not You… But Sometimes It Is!, on these podcast platforms: 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0sXianujhOPcs1C4mKiFjv
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/its-not-you-but-sometimes-it-is/id1785669837
Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f9f9031d-74d9-4a65-9dc3-3aa34ef9fde8/it's-not-you-but-sometimes-it-is

#leadershippodcast #teammanagement #resilientleadership #workplacecommunication #managertraining #emotionalintelligence #conflictresolution #leadershipdevelopment #teambuilding #authenticleadership #professionalgrowth #organizationalculture #leadershipchallenges #managerlife #leadwithpurpose
It’s Not You (But Sometimes It Is!), hosted by Meg Poag, is the go-to podcast for managers, team leads, and emerging leaders navigating real-world workplace dynamics. Each episode features honest conversations with experienced professionals on leadership challenges—from building resilient teams and fostering authentic connections to managing change, enhancing communication, and balancing ambition with well-being. Whether you’re steering through conflict, scaling a team, or seeking clarity in your leadership style, Meg brings actionable strategies, personal stories, and expert advice to help you lead with confidence and compassion.

In this candid, insightful conversation, Andrea Vinyard - veteran Air Force officer, COO, and founder of The Vinyard Group - shares lessons from decades of senior leadership across military, healthcare, and corporate sectors. We dive deep into conscious leadership, navigating change, building trust, and stepping into your most intentional self.

If you’ve ever wondered how to lead with curiosity, rebuild culture, or evolve your leadership style for long-term impact—you’re in the right place.

What you’ll learn
◼️ How conscious leadership transforms decision-making, culture, and team momentum
◼️ The importance of emotional intelligence in managing stress, conflict, and change
◼️ Strategies to rebuild trust and empower autonomy within teams
◼️ Lessons from high-stakes military and corporate environments on leading through uncertainty
◼️ How to shift from “doer” to strategic partner while maintaining influence and impact

About Andrea Vinyard - 
Founder, The Vinyard Group: coaching, facilitation, and executive retreats for high-performing leaders Former Senior Executive & COO: Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Signa Medical Group, Optum Behavioral Health Veteran: 22 years active-duty Air Force, Medical Service Corps Officer Leader, mentor, and advocate for conscious, values-driven leadership

We hope you enjoy this episode with Andrea Vinyard.
Connect with Andrea on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreavinyard/

I hope you enjoyed this episode. Like and subscribe to never miss an episode!
- Meg

Connect with Meg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megpoag/

Or via email: [email protected]

Visit the Mission Squared website here: https://missionsquared.com/

Listen to It’s Not You… But Sometimes It Is! on these podcast platforms:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0sXianujhOPcs1C4mKiFjv

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/its-not-you-but-sometimes-it-is/id1785669837

Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f9f9031d-74d9-4a65-9dc3-3aa34ef9fde8/it's-not-you-but-sometimes-it-is

#leadershippodcast #teammanagement #resilientleadership #workplacecommunication #managertraining #emotionalintelligence #conflictresolution #leadershipdevelopment #teambuilding #authenticleadership #professionalgrowth #organizationalculture #leadershipchallenges #managerlife #leadwithpurpose
It’s Not You (But Sometimes It Is!), hosted by Meg Poag, is the go-to podcast for managers, team leads, and emerging leaders navigating real-world workplace dynamics. Each episode features honest conversations with experienced professionals on leadership challenges—from building resilient teams and fostering authentic connections to managing change, enhancing communication, and balancing ambition with well-being. Whether you’re steering through conflict, scaling a team, or seeking clarity in your leadership style, Meg brings actionable strategies, personal stories, and expert advice to help you lead with confidence and compassion.

In this episode, host Meg sits down with Themis Gomes, an engineer-turned-executive and entrepreneur with one of the most globally diverse career journeys you’ll hear on the podcast. From aerospace engineering to startups, global leadership roles, and ultimately becoming CEO and board member of BeHaven Kids in Nebraska, Themis shares hard-earned lessons on leadership, culture, and the people side of business.

The conversation explores how to engineer the human side of business—designing strong structures, processes, and cultures that create momentum, accountability, and motivated teams. Themis speaks candidly about vulnerability, decision-making under uncertainty, navigating leadership as a woman, and the realities of scaling people-first organisations in complex industries like healthcare.

We hope you enjoy this episode with Themis Gomes . 

Connect with  Themis Gomes on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themisgomes/

I hope you enjoyed this episode. Like and subscribe to never miss an episode!
- Meg

We sit down with Sabrina Bailey, CEO of Fiducian Advisors, to uncover her journey from a young professional in financial services to a top executive. Sabrina shares her secrets to rapid career growth, overcoming workplace bias, and leading with purpose and impact.

✨ In this episode, you’ll learn:
♦ How to navigate a non-linear career path and leapfrog into leadership
♦ The “people-first” approach that drives team performance and innovation
♦ Strategies for handling toxic work cultures and turning setbacks into growth
♦ Mastering feedback as a superpower for personal and professional development
♦ Balancing conviction, openness, and authenticity in executive leadership
♦ Mentorship lessons that accelerate your career and influence

Whether you’re an aspiring CEO, finance professional, or business leader, Sabrina’s insights reveal practical ways to excel in high-pressure environments, unlock potential in your team, and lead with clarity and joy.

We hope you enjoy this episode with Sabrina Bailey. 

Connect with Sabrina Bailey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrina-bailey-change-agent/

I hope you enjoyed this episode. Like and subscribe to never miss an episode!
- Meg

In this episode of It’s Not You, But Sometimes It Is, executive coach Meg sits down with Fran Maier — Silicon Valley pioneer, co-founder of Match.com, and CEO & Founder of BabyQuip. Fran brings three decades of leadership in tech, marketplaces, and scaling female-led companies in male-dominated environments.

From building Match.com in the Wild West of the early internet to scaling BabyQuip into the world’s leading baby-gear rental marketplace, Fran opens up about sexism in tech, overcoming boardroom battles, rebuilding after failure, and the deep personal growth required to lead with authenticity. Her insights are raw, real, and immediately usable.

Key Insights You’ll Learn
♦ How Fran built BabyQuip into a profitable global marketplace with 3000+ providers
♦ What really happened behind the scenes at Match.com — and the costly lesson that changed her career
♦ The hidden biases female founders face and how to counter them with confidence
♦ Why personal growth, stillness, and self-awareness are leadership superpowers
♦ How to navigate toxic cultures, board conflicts, and co-founder misalignment
♦ How motherhood, authenticity, and vulnerability shaped Fran’s leadership
♦ The truth about fundraising as a woman in tech — and what investors really look for
♦ Fran’s hard-won lessons for younger founders, especially women in male-dominated industries

If you’re a travelling family, investor, or marketplace enthusiast, explore BabyQuip’s services and current growth opportunities. Follow Fran’s journey, support the BabyQuip mission, and stay connected with one of the most influential women in the tech and startup ecosystem.
What you’ll learn

We hope you enjoy this episode with Fran Maier. 

Connect with Fran Maier on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franmaier/

I hope you enjoyed this episode. Like and subscribe to never miss an episode!
- Meg

In this episode of It’s Not You, But Sometimes It Is, Kelly Lazuka gets brutally honest about the messy reality of leadership—bad bosses, culture problems, tough calls, and the moment she almost walked away from the C-suite entirely.

Kelly, now the CEO of Fullerton, opens up about the hard lessons, the surprising victories, and the leadership principles she swears by today. This one is packed with wisdom, humility, and some seriously relatable “Oh wow… same” moments.

✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode
-How a CEO reframes a major crisis and protects her team
-The hidden tension between people and profitability—and how to balance it
-How culture actually eats strategy for breakfast (with real examples)
-Why bonuses, incentives, and accountability can make or break collaboration
-The difference between great leadership and ego-driven leadership
-Lessons learned from bad bosses—and how they shaped Kelly’s leadership brand

What it really takes to transform a siloed, drama-filled culture into a high-performing one

About -
we explore what it really takes to lead through crisis—especially when chaos hits faster than expected. She opens up about stepping into a major leadership role, only to face unexpected operational and cultural turbulence within the first three months.

You’ll hear her reflect on rebuilding trust, stabilizing teams, making tough calls under pressure, and guiding an organization through a high-stakes turnaround. This episode dives into her mindset, her decision-making framework, and the leadership habits that helped her rise above the chaos and steer the company forward.
We hope you enjoy this episode with Kelly Lazuka. 

Connect with Kelly Lazuka on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-lazuka/

I hope you enjoyed this episode. Like and subscribe to never miss an episode!
- Meg

We sit down with Kelly Rakowski, CEO of American Health Staffing Group, based in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. With more than 30 years in healthcare leadership across consulting, BPO, technology, and workforce solutions, Kelly has navigated industries in crisis, teams in transition, and cultures in need of reinvention.

This conversation goes deep. Kelly opens up about leading through COVID’s chaos, the emotional weight of losing top performers, fixing cultural friction points, and the mindset shifts required to grow from a high-achieving contributor into a truly impactful executive. If you’ve ever struggled with team disengagement, culture drift, burnout on your leadership bench, or your own voice in crisis—this episode will hit home.

✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode
-How to lead in high-stress, high-change environments without losing clarity, humanity, or your team’s trust.
-What really happens inside companies during crises—burnout, attrition, fear, and how leaders can stabilize culture.
-Why “grit” isn’t always good and how Kelly reframed her company’s identity as it scaled.
-Practical ways to shape culture intentionally instead of letting the loudest person define it.
-Kelly’s biggest leadership mistake—why she held onto people too long and what she learned about courage and timing.
-How great leaders manage their own fear so they can show up strong for others.
-When command-and-control leadership works—and when it destroys teams.

About -
In this candid, thoughtful conversation, Kelly reveals the behind-the-scenes reality of running a company during one of the most volatile periods in healthcare history. She talks openly about scaling teams overnight, dealing with post-COVID disengagement, and rebuilding culture from the inside out.

You’ll hear real stories about difficult people dynamics, cultural rewrites, leaders behaving badly, and the emotional complexity of being the person everyone looks to when everything feels uncertain.

Meg and Kelly also explore the human side of leadership—imposter moments, the desire to be liked, the courage to make tough calls, and the pivotal role a strong HR partner plays during chaos. It’s raw, honest, and packed with insights you can use today.
We hope you enjoy this episode with Kelly . 

Connect with Kelly Rakowski on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-rakowski/

I hope you enjoyed this episode. Like and subscribe to never miss an episode!
- Meg

Stepping into leadership isn’t always a moment of celebration. Sometimes, it begins with a conflict you didn’t expect, pressure you didn’t ask for, or a role you never imagined would be yours. In this episode, Rhonda Levine now the CEO of Ziosk—shares the kind of leadership journey that doesn’t start in a boardroom, but in the messy, human moments where confidence is tested, courage is born, and emotional intelligence becomes a non-negotiable skill.

Rhonda takes us behind the curtain of her transition from CPA to tech CEO, revealing how saying yes to unfamiliar opportunities, even terrifying ones, shaped her entire path. As she recounts lessons learned from early mentors, the reality of facing bullies in professional settings, and the pivotal moments where she had to choose between staying silent or stepping up, she paints a vivid picture of what modern leadership really demands.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode
-How to lead with high emotional intelligence
-Why confidence and self-belief matter more than credentials
-The truth about managing conflict, difficult people, and bullies
-How to build a healthy team culture in times of change
-Career pivots: saying yes before you're ready
-What makes a great modern leader in 2025
-How non-tech leaders can thrive in tech roles

About 
This conversation goes deep into what leadership really looks like today—from EQ-driven communication to having the courage to make bold decisions. Rhonda also shares honest stories about times she doubted herself, moments of growth, and the mindset that helped her rise to the top of a tech company.
If you want practical tools for leading better—this one is for you.

We hope you enjoy this episode with Rhonda Levine. 

Connect with Rhonda Levine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhonda-levene-445451/

I hope you enjoyed this episode. Like and subscribe to never miss an episode!
- Meg

Connect with Meg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megpoag/
Or via email: [email protected]

Visit the Mission Squared website here: https://missionsquared.com/

Listen to It’s Not You… But Sometimes It Is!, on these podcast platforms: 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0sXianujhOPcs1C4mKiFjv
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/its-not-you-but-sometimes-it-is/id1785669837
Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f9f9031d-74d9-4a65-9dc3-3aa34ef9fde8/it's-not-you-but-sometimes-it-is

Today we welcome Angelica Arceneaux, Chief Operating Officer at SAENZ-GARCIA LAW, PLLC

Connect with Angelica on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelica-arceneaux-22538b/
 
Connect with Meg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megpoag/
Or via email: [email protected]

Visit the Mission Squared website here: https://missionsquared.com/

Listen to It’s Not You… But Sometimes It Is!, on these podcast platforms: 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0sXianujhOPcs1C4mKiFjv
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/its-not-you-but-sometimes-it-is/id1785669837
Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f9f9031d-74d9-4a65-9dc3-3aa34ef9fde8/it's-not-you-but-sometimes-it-is

#leadershippodcast #teammanagement #resilientleadership #workplacecommunication #managertraining #emotionalintelligence #conflictresolution #leadershipdevelopment #teambuilding #authenticleadership #professionalgrowth #organizationalculture #leadershipchallenges #managerlife #leadwithpurpose
It’s Not You (But Sometimes It Is!), hosted by Meg Poag, is the go-to podcast for managers, team leads, and emerging leaders navigating real-world workplace dynamics. Each episode features honest conversations with experienced professionals on leadership challenges—from building resilient teams and fostering authentic connections to managing change, enhancing communication, and balancing ambition with well-being. Whether you’re steering through conflict, scaling a team, or seeking clarity in your leadership style, Meg brings actionable strategies, personal stories, and expert advice to help you lead with confidence and compassion.