Lead Into It

What does it take to command a room, bounce back from failure, and lead with true authenticity? In this episode, I sit down with Lydia Fenet—renowned auctioneer, bestselling author, and founder of her own agency—whose decades at Christie’s taught her powerful lessons in confidence, leadership, and owning your voice.

Lydia shares what she learned from auctioning without a mic, why humor is one of her secret weapons, and how she balances bold career moves with meaningful moments at home. We also dive into her tips for aspiring leaders, the importance of self-care, and what it really means to define success on your own terms.

Whether you're stepping into leadership or looking to reclaim your confidence, Lydia’s insights will leave you inspired to show up fully—exactly as you are.

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 the key to transforming your team’s performance wasn’t hiding in another leadership book—but came straight from the lessons learned in the cockpit of a fighter jet?

In this episode, I’m joined by Robert “Cujo” Teschner—former Air Force fighter pilot, leadership expert, and author of Debrief to Win. Cujo brings the heat (and the heart) in a conversation that challenges how we think about accountability, feedback, and real team growth.

We dig into why debriefing—the military kind—isn’t just a boring recap or a dreaded feedback session. It’s a high-impact, deeply human leadership practice that creates clarity, builds trust, and drives performance. The best part? It’s practical, repeatable, and doesn’t take hours to implement. In fact, the average military debrief lasts just 18 minutes—and can boost performance by up to 25%.

Cujo also shares how his journey from fighter pilot to leadership consultant (and cancer survivor) reshaped how he shows up—not just at work, but in life. His story is a powerful reminder that leadership isn’t just about checklists or standards—it’s about how we support the people around us when it matters most.

Whether you lead a team, manage projects, or just want to give better feedback, this episode will leave you with a powerful framework and a fresh perspective on what great leadership looks like—under pressure and beyond.

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!

Ever wonder why some leadership situations hit you harder than they should? Or why feedback sometimes feels way bigger than it is? It might be your mindset foundation — and it could be ready for a reset.

In today’s episode, mindset coach Margaret "MJ" Jennings joins me to talk about the mental side of leadership — the 95% we don’t always see but definitely feel. We dig into how old patterns show up in your leadership, how to shift your mindset, and why what you model matters even more than what you say.

If you’re ready to lead with more clarity, resilience, and real presence — this conversation is for 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!

In this powerful episode of Lead Into It, I sit down with Maj Gen Dan Tulley, Director of Operations at U.S. Transportation Command—and someone I had the honor of serving with over a decade ago. 

We trace his leadership journey from his ROTC days at Duke University to commanding at a global scale, uncovering the real-world lessons that shaped his leadership style. Tulley opens up about a pivotal in-flight moment that cemented his trust in training, the decisions he faced as tensions with Iran rose, and how he kept his team informed, empowered, and motivated during COVID.

He also gets real about what makes leadership sustainable: humility, trust, and letting go of the need to have all the answers. One of my favorite takeaways? “Nobody wants to be that single leader that everything depends on.”

Whether you’re leading five people or five thousand, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom on:

• Building high-performing, resilient teams
• Making decisions under pressure (and creating space for them)
• Leading with humility and intention
• Balancing strategic and tactical thinking
• Spending your “leadership capital” wisely

Grab your headphones—this is one episode you don’t want to miss.

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!

Thomas Greek's leadership journey reads like a field guide for anyone who's ever struggled with the transition from boss to true leader. From his early days as a self-described "bossy boss" pointing at his metaphorical sheriff's badge, to becoming the youngest executive in his organization's history, Thomas reveals the pivotal moments that transformed his approach to leading others.

The conversation turns on a single question from a mentor who asked him, "Do you think your team likes working for you?" His initial response—"Does it matter?"—captures the mindset many new managers bring to leadership positions. This moment sparked a curiosity that would define his leadership philosophy moving forward.

What makes this episode particularly valuable is Thomas's willingness to share his vulnerabilities. He recounts landing an executive role running a multibillion-dollar credit card operation despite candidly admitting in the interview, "I'm not qualified for this job." His secret? Understanding that leadership excellence comes from building engaged teams and creating transformational environments, not from technical expertise alone.

Throughout our discussion, Thomas reveals practical frameworks like his "Three Ps" approach (People, Processes, Possibilities) and shares his favorite coaching question: "Is it true?" These simple but powerful tools have helped countless leaders shift from controlling to empowering, from telling to asking, and from feeling isolated to creating genuine connection.

Whether you're leading a small team or a large organization, Thomas's insights on psychological safety, workplace loneliness, and the integration of work and personal wellbeing offer a blueprint for more effective and fulfilling leadership. His parting wisdom? "Be kind. It's easy, it's free, and the world needs more of it."

Ready to transform your leadership approach? Learn more about Thomas's work helping leaders become coaches at thomasgreekcoaching.com.

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 do you get when a 23-year Air Force Colonel trades her uniform for a machete and cacao seedlings? Meet Maria Carl, who went from leading global military teams to running a thriving Hawaiian chocolate farm.

Ten years ago, she and her husband bought a wild 10-acre plot on Oahu. What started as a dream home project turned into 21 Degrees Estate – an award-winning cacao farm known for world-class chocolate and an incredible sense of community.

Maria’s story is all about reinvention. She took the leadership skills she built over decades in the military and applied them to farming, sustainability, and building something truly meaningful. Her take? “You’d be surprised how transferable your skills are—and how many good ideas people have if you actually listen.”

If you’ve ever thought about making a big life change, this episode is for you.

Check out the farm at 21degreesestatehawaii.com.

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!

Welcome back to Lead Into It! After three years of military orders, a coaching certification, and personal growth, I’m back with fresh insights on leadership.

Since our last episode, I’ve led teams big and small, moved from Charleston to Florida’s Panhandle, and had a huge realization: the best leadership happens when we stop trying to fit a mold and just show up as ourselves. Through coaching, I’ve learned to listen differently, create space for others, and lean into authenticity—because that’s what builds trust and real buy-in.

Leadership isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being you.  And as we shift toward a more authentic way of leading, I can’t wait to explore what that means for all of us.

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!

This week's episode is with Kathy Knichel, someone I met while on my military orders who has a wealth of leadership experience from her time leading the protocol program at  Charleston Air Force Base.  I loved talking with her from the first moment I met her and knew I had to have her on the show. During our conversation for this episode, we talked about how she started her career and built and led teams, but the theme that came throughout our conversation was how she brought people together.
 
Kathy managed an unrivaled protocol program at one of the busiest bases in the Air Force. She was responsible for oversight of more than 150 annual official visits to the command, military ceremonial events, conferences, and other distinguished visitors (DV) activities. She was a widely trusted expert throughout the installation and community and personally advised three Wing Commanders and 53 Mission Partners. She continues to inspire the people around her to be the best versions of themselves through her wealth of knowledge and personal experience. 
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www.leadintoit.co  

Reach out to Sara: [email protected] 

Instagram: @leadintoit
Facebook: @leadintoit

Logo Design: Kamry Rose Creative, [email protected]   

DISCLAIMER: Any opinions or comments by the host, Sara Greco, and/or her guests are their own and not endorsed by any external entity. 

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!

This week's episode is with Julie DeLucca-Collins, Business and Life Strategist Coach. During our conversation, we dove into confidence as a leader, why it's important and how to cultivate it.

Julie DeLucca-Collins is the Founder and CEO of Go Confidently Services, the host of the popular Casa DeConfidence Podcast®, and her weekly Radio Show Confident You featured on a global talk radio network. 

As a Business and Life Strategist Coach, Julie helps women business owners launch or grow their businesses, get clients, be productive, and achieve their dreams. Julie helps her clients create simple habits to achieve goals and change lives. Julie is also the best-selling author of the newly released book Confident You (simple habits to live the life you've imagined).

Julie is a sought-after public speaker, trainer, and course creator. She is certified as a coach in Cognitive Behavioral Techniques, Holistic Coach, and Tiny Habits. She is also certified as a Social Emotional Learning Facilitator and has completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Certification. Julie enjoys helping her clients build mental fitness and improve their mindset to be at peace and improve peak performance.

May Cause Miracles by Gabrielle Bernstein _______________________________________________________________________________________
www.leadintoit.co  

Reach out to Sara: [email protected] 

Instagram: @leadintoit
Facebook: @leadintoit

Logo Design: Kamry Rose Creative, [email protected]   

DISCLAIMER: Any opinions or comments by the host, Sara Greco, and/or her guests are their own and not endorsed by any external entity. 

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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!

This week's episode is with Carolene Meli, Experience Strategist and Advisor,  and we dive into the importance of the experiences we create and how that is important as a leader.

Over the last 15 years, she has led over 50 experience teams in 17 different countries and has created an array of experiences from VIP events and employee development programs at Cirque du Soleil, to community wellness events at lululemon athletica and one-of-a-kind VIP Lounge evenings on the Marella Explorer cruise ship.

Now, as an Experience Strategist and Advisor, she works with leaders to improve connection and commitment in their teams and communities through in-person experiences. I do this through a combination of experience design and operational excellency. 

Learn more or contact Carolene at www.carolenemeli.com

Books mentioned:

The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups
Kafka on the Shore

_______________________________________________________________________________________

www.leadintoit.co  

Reach out to Sara: [email protected] 

Instagram: @leadintoit
Facebook: @leadintoit

Logo Design: Kamry Rose Creative, [email protected]   

DISCLAIMER: Any opinions or comments made by the host, Sara Greco, and/or her guests are their own and not endorsed by any external entity. 

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!