What happens when you're 24 years old, working your ass off, building a successful career and suddenly you're told you might only have six months to live?

For Dave Guttman that moment completely changed the way he thought about success.

Thankfully, the diagnosis was wrong. But the experience forced Dave to step back and ask a much bigger question: What was all that work actually for?

That question became a turning point in how he approached his career, his relationships, and eventually, his leadership philosophy.

In this episode, Dave and I talk about:

•  The health scare that became one of the biggest inflection points of Dave's life—and how it changed his perspective on success. 
•  Why Dave shifted toward servant leadership and decided to make success the side effect rather than the goal.
•  The influence Dave's parents had on his ambition, emotional intelligence, and self-awareness. 
•  His experience at Wharton and the lessons he learned through the Small Business Development Center by working directly with business owners. 
•  Why Dave believes humility, curiosity, discipline, and fair-mindedness can matter more than raw talent when you're building a team. 
•  The interview process Dave uses to get beyond the polished answers, including open-ended questions, case studies, projects, reference checks, and 90-day plans. 
•  The difference between solving the problem and holding someone accountable—and why good leaders need to be able to do both. 
•  Why leaders should deflect credit, absorb blame, and be willing to publicly own their mistakes. 
•  How psychological safety and accountability can actually work together rather than being opposites. 
•  Why firing someone should never come as a surprise—and how waiting too long can impact an entire team. 
•  How Dave uses core values as a practical filter for hiring, promotions, recognition, and rewards. 
•  Why peer-driven recognition can help reinforce the culture you actually want to build. 
•  And why leadership isn't necessarily for everyone—and why the values of the people and organizations you work for matter so much, especially early in your career.

About Dave Guttman

Dave Guttman brings decades of experience in business and leadership to this conversation, sharing lessons he's learned from building teams, hiring and developing people, making mistakes, and—perhaps most importantly—learning how to lead with humility.

How six words changed my life | Dave Guttman | TEDxSDSU

Thanks for listening!! Let’s keep the conversation going: Connect with me on Instagram and LinkedIn, or subscribe to my weekly newsletter. Excited to be here with you!

What if fear isn't actually protecting you… but just stealing your time and energy?

In this rewind episode of Lead Into It, I'm revisiting my conversation with Melissa Chiranky Bozich about something most of us have dealt with at some point: fear, self-doubt, overthinking, and worrying way too much about what other people think.

Melissa has an incredible background in dance, including performing as a Dallas Stars Ice Girl, dancing for the Dallas Mavericks, and eventually becoming a captain. But what makes her story especially interesting from a leadership perspective is how she took some difficult experiences early in her career and used them to intentionally shape the kind of leader she wanted to become.

We talk about confidence, anxiety, comparison, performance pressure, and the stories we create in our own heads. Melissa also shares how she learned to separate facts from assumptions, recognize what was really underneath her fear, and use simple mindset practices to build confidence.

And there's a leadership lesson running through the entire conversation: you don't get to choose every experience you have, but you do get to choose what you do with them.

Whether you're trying to build confidence, overcome fear, stop overthinking, become a better leader, or simply get out of your own head, I think this conversation is worth another listen.

In This Episode:

• Why fear can get way too much credit—and how it can quietly steal our time, energy, and confidence
• Melissa's journey from lifelong dancer to Dallas Stars Ice Girl, Dallas Mavericks dancer, and professional dance team captain
• How a difficult experience as a rookie influenced the way Melissa chose to lead others
• The pressure, comparison, anxiety, and self-doubt that can come with competitive performance environments
• How Melissa learned to distinguish what she actually knew from what she was assuming
• Why worrying about what other people think can keep us stuck
• The mindset shift behind the idea that what other people think of me is none of my business
• How Melissa created dance classes where people could feel welcomed, supported, and confident rather than pressured to be perfect
• The evolution from teaching dance in person to creating virtual classes and launching an online business with her partner, Noah
• How Melissa balances entrepreneurship, choreography, teaching, and a full-time career
• What Melissa learned about leadership and responsibility as a captain
• How self-awareness and recovery work helped Melissa better understand the root of her anxiety and fear
• Why fear can distort our perception of what's actually happening
• How focusing on joy, energy, and connection can matter more than getting every move perfect
• Melissa's simple confidence mantra and how she uses it before performing

Thanks for listening!! Let’s keep the conversation going: Connect with me on Instagram and LinkedIn, or subscribe to my weekly newsletter. Excited to be here with you!

Truth be told, none of us enjoy feeling uncomfortable. Whether it's giving difficult feedback, speaking up in a meeting, trying something new, or making a big life decision, our instinct is usually to avoid it.

But what if discomfort isn't something to try to escape? What if it's actually pointing you toward growth?

In this episode, I'm sharing why discomfort is one of the most underrated leadership (and life) skills you can develop. We'll talk about why your brain wants to keep you safe, how to recognize the physical signs of discomfort, and practical ways to move through it instead of letting it stop you.

If you've been waiting until you feel "ready," this episode is your reminder that courage usually comes first and then confidence follows.

In this episode, we'll talk about:

• Why discomfort is often a sign you're growing—not failing.
• The roller coaster analogy that changes the way you think about fear.
• What's actually happening in your brain and body when you feel uncomfortable.
• How to tell the difference between discomfort and danger.
• Simple ways to reframe fear as excitement.
• Why focusing on the outcome can make taking the first step easier.
• Brené Brown's reminder that you can't choose both courage and comfort.
• Everyday opportunities to practice getting more comfortable being uncomfortable.

Thanks for listening!! Let’s keep the conversation going: Connect with me on Instagram and LinkedIn, or subscribe to my weekly newsletter. Excited to be here with you!

Leadership isn't about having all the answers. It's about trusting yourself enough to make the decision anyway.

In this rewind episode, leadership coach and author Marisa Santoro returns to Lead Into It to talk about her book, Own Your Authority, and one of my favorite leadership topics: learning to trust your instincts.

So many leaders second-guess themselves. They wait for permission, hesitate to speak up, or question whether they've earned a seat at the table. Marisa reminds us that authority isn't something someone else gives you. It starts with how you lead yourself.

We also dive into influence, boundaries, relationship building, and why some of the best leadership lessons come from the moments when your advice isn't followed.

If you've ever questioned your decisions, struggled with confidence, or wondered how to lead with more conviction, this conversation is one you'll come back to.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What inspired Marisa to write Own Your Authority and why intuition became the foundation of the book
• Why self-leadership is the first step to leading others well
• How to trust your instincts without ignoring facts or feedback
• What happens when leaders stay silent instead of speaking up
• Why influence is built through relationships, not titles
• How to navigate situations where your recommendations aren't accepted—and why you're still leading
• The leadership lessons Marisa learned from her immigrant family about asking for and offering help
• Practical advice for newer leaders looking to build confidence and stronger decision-making skills
• Why your personal brand should evolve as you grow, while staying rooted in your values
• How to promote yourself authentically without feeling like you're bragging

About Marisa

Marisa Santoro is a former Wall Street technology executive, leadership coach, and founder of In Our Shoes, where she helps leaders develop confidence, communicate with intention, and lead authentically. She is the creator of the Gutsy Leadership System and author of Own Your Authority, a practical guide to leading yourself first so you can lead others with greater confidence and purpose.

Thanks for listening!! Let’s keep the conversation going: Connect with me on Instagram and LinkedIn, or subscribe to my weekly newsletter. Excited to be here with you!

Some conversations are worth listening to more than once.

This is one of them.

In this rewind episode, I'm joined by leadership coach and former Wall Street tech executive Marisa Santoro to talk about something so many of us do without even realizing it: apologizing for taking up space.

Whether it's saying "I'm sorry" when you don't need to, hiding behind words like just, or softening your ideas before you've even shared them, these small habits can quietly chip away at your confidence and credibility.

Marisa shares practical tools to help you communicate with more intention, own your voice, and lead with confidence without pretending to be someone you're not.

If you've ever left a meeting wishing you'd spoken up, struggled to be heard, or wondered how to project more confidence at work, this episode is for you.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Marisa's journey from a 20-year Wall Street tech career to becoming a leadership coach
• What the Gutsy Leadership System is and why leadership starts with trusting yourself
• Why fear, self-doubt, and the desire to be liked often hold leaders back
• What it really means to "speak without apology"
• How words like "just," "but," and unnecessary apologies can weaken your message
• The simple question that can completely change how you communicate: "How do I want to be perceived?"
• The Rule of Three and how it helps you communicate with more clarity and impact
• Practical ways to build executive presence in meetings, presentations, and everyday conversations
• How to adapt your communication for different audiences without losing your authenticity
• Why confidence isn't about being the loudest person in the room—it's about being intentional

Guest:
Marisa Santoro is a former tech executive turned leadership coach and founder of In Our Shoes, where she teaches the Gutsy Leadership System. She's also known for her talk "Speaking Without Apology," which started as a program for NYU and later became a TEDx talk.

Thanks for listening!! Let’s keep the conversation going: Connect with me on Instagram and LinkedIn, or subscribe to my weekly newsletter. Excited to be here with you!

What does leadership really look like over time?

I almost didn't share this story.

I've been holding onto it for a while because I wasn't sure I was ready to tell it. It's easy to share the wins. It's a lot harder to talk about the burnout, the difficult leaders, the career pivots, and the moments where you have no idea what you're doing.

But those are the experiences that shaped me the most. And if I encourage others to lead with authenticity and keep learning, I should be willing to do the same.

In this episode, I'm taking you behind the scenes of my own leadership journey—from joining the Air Force as a brand-new lieutenant to becoming a leadership coach and business owner.

Because I realized that leadership isn't about having all the answers. It's about who you become through the experiences that shape you.

In this episode, I share:

• My leadership journey through the military, corporate America, and entrepreneurship.
• What great leaders did differently—and what I learned from the ones who struggled.
• Why grace, humility, and being approachable matter more than having all the answers.
• The role self-awareness plays in becoming a stronger leader.
• Learning to focus on what's actually within your control.
• How understanding your strengths (and owning your weaknesses) can change the way you lead.
• Why building relationships through networking and simple coffee chats has been one of the best career investments I've made.
• Navigating burnout, career transitions, and unexpected pivots.
• How coaching changed the way I think about leadership.
• A simple reflection practice you can start using today to continue growing as a leader.

Thanks for listening!! Let’s keep the conversation going: Connect with me on Instagram and LinkedIn, or subscribe to my weekly newsletter. Excited to be here with you!

Okay, this one's a little spicy.

In this episode, Sara is dropping some hot takes — the kind that sound controversial until you actually think about them for two seconds. Inbox zero? Myth. Answering emails on vacation? Not the flex you think it is. Being "busy" all the time? Might just mean you're bad at saying no.

Sara gets into why the way we've all been taught to "do" work is kind of broken — and what it actually looks like to build a career that fits into your life instead of swallowing it whole. She also gets into a few truths that might feel a little uncomfortable, like why you don't owe anyone workplace friendship, and why leadership was never actually about the title on your business card.

If you've ever felt like you had to be constantly available, endlessly busy, or fully "on" to be taken seriously at work — this episode is your permission slip to stop.

Tune in, and let us know which hot take you agree with the hardest.

Thanks for listening!! Let’s keep the conversation going: Connect with me on Instagram and LinkedIn, or subscribe to my weekly newsletter. Excited to be here with you!

Unlock the secret to transforming your leadership with feedback that fuels growth and trust.

In this rewind episode, we revisit an impactful conversation with Kelly Waltman, founder and CEO of SLC Consulting and author of Elevate Connection: Cultivate an Engaged, Inspired, Productive and Profitable Team Culture. 

This converation is about the art of feedback — giving, receiving, and cultivating a feedback-friendly culture. Whether you're a leader, team member, or aspiring professional, understanding how to navigate feedback can transform your relationships and organizational dynamics.

Key Topics:

• The importance of feedback as a core leadership skill
• Building a feedback culture where giving and receiving feedback is ongoing and woven into daily interactions
• Myths and truths about fear and vulnerability in feedback conversations
• Practical steps for creating safe spaces and incentivizing feedback processes
• The STOMPS model for effective feedback: Safe space, Timing, Objective, Balance, Specific, and Follow-up
• Strategies to start requesting and giving feedback within your sphere of influence
• The impact of cultural differences on feedback styles and communication norms
• Actionable tips for practicing and improving feedback skills through role-play and accountability partnerships
• Resources including books like Brene Brown’s works and Kim Scott’s Radical Candor for deeper learning
• Kelly’s recommended first step: asking for feedback and genuinely listening

Timestamps: 

 01:10 - Defining feedback culture and its importance
 04:21 - How to create a feedback culture within teams
 06:36 - Overcoming fear and setting the stage for open dialogues
 08:24 - Assessing where your team is on the feedback readiness spectrum
 09:46 - Small steps for individuals to improve their feedback skills
 10:14 - Understanding and addressing the fear of giving and receiving feedback
 12:29 - The role of vulnerability and psychological safety in feedback
 15:28 - Asking non-threatening, open-ended questions to initiate feedback
 16:36 - Setting the right tone and modeling feedback behaviors
 20:30 - The STOMPS framework for providing effective feedback
 23:36 - Practicing feedback through role-play and accountability partners
 25:11 - Creating an environment where feedback leads to growth
 27:22 - The emotional and cultural aspects of feedback styles
 30:26 - Recognizing feedback's role in career development and leadership efficacy
 32:17 - Examples of both ineffective and effective feedback scenarios
 34:46 - The importance of respectful, specific, and timely feedback
 37:11 - Using feedback to facilitate change management and team buy-in
 38:29 - Ensuring a safe, relationship-based environment for feedback
 40:44 - How to receive feedback effectively without defensiveness
 43:52 - Building a culture of appreciation and valuing input
 45:50 - Feedback across cultures and international styles

Connect with Kelly Waltman: 

• Website
• LinkedIn

Don’t forget: The foundation of a strong team or organization is built on honest, respectful, and continual feedback. Start today by asking for feedback in your sphere of influence and lead by example.

Thanks for listening!! Let’s keep the conversation going: Connect with me on Instagram and LinkedIn, or subscribe to my weekly newsletter. Excited to be here with you!

Most leaders don’t wake up trying to be a bad boss.

But sometimes the habits we build under pressure, stress, or good intentions can quietly create frustration, confusion, or burnout for the people around us.

In this solo episode of Lead Into It, I’m sharing seven signs that your leadership style might be getting in your team’s way and what to do instead. This isn’t about guilt or perfection. It’s about building awareness so you can lead more intentionally and create an environment where people can thrive.

In This Episode:

• Why psychological safety matters more than you think
•  The hidden ways leaders unintentionally shut people down
•  How unclear expectations create frustration
•  Why constant firefighting may be a leadership signal
•  The difference between control and development
•  How your energy impacts team performance
•  Simple ways to become a more intentional leader

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction: Leadership starts with self-awareness
00:33 – Sign #1: Your team avoids bringing you problems
02:00 – Sign #2: You say you’re approachable—but your reactions say otherwise
04:49 – Sign #3: You notice mistakes more than progress
06:21 – Sign #4: You expect mind reading instead of communication
08:46 – Sign #5: You’re constantly putting out fires
10:44 – Sign #6: You prioritize control over growth
12:29 – Sign #7: Your team seems exhausted around you

Thanks for listening!! Let’s keep the conversation going: Connect with me on Instagram and LinkedIn, or subscribe to my weekly newsletter. Excited to be here with you!

What even is leadership coaching?

I get this question all the time because when I tell people I’m a leadership coach, the response is usually something like… “Oh, so kind of like a life coach?” which my answer is usually somewhere between: yes and no.

So, in this episode, I’m breaking down what leadership coaching actually is, what happens in a coaching relationship, and why so many people, from first-time leaders to executives, choose to work with a coach.

We talk about the misconceptions around coaching, what makes coaching different from mentoring, consulting, or therapy, and some of the reasons people decide they want support in this season of leadership.

In this episode, I talk about:

•  What leadership coaching actually is (and isn’t) 
•  Why coaching is a partnership, not someone giving you answers 
•  Who leadership coaching is for (hint: it's not just executives)
•  How coaching helps you notice patterns and see situations differently 
•  Why confidentiality and trust matter so much in coaching 
•  Building confidence and accountability as a leader 
•  Signs it might be time to get support 
•  How coaching can help with feedback, difficult conversations, and growth 
•  What coaching relationships actually look like and how long they usually last

Thanks for listening!! Let’s keep the conversation going: Connect with me on Instagram and LinkedIn, or subscribe to my weekly newsletter. Excited to be here with you!