Lead with Spark | Authentic Leadership for Women, Executive Presence & Career Confidence

Lead with Spark | Authentic Leadership for Women, Executive Presence & Career Confidence

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Lead with Spark | Authentic Leadership for Women, Executive Presence & Career Confidence episodes

  • E19 Feelings Are Data, Not Directors: Train Your Brain, Lead Your Life.

    Feel stuck in your head? Spinning, second-guessing, or riding waves of frustration and doubt? This episode reframes emotional intelligence as a daily, doable practice rooted in identity.

    You’ll learn why feelings are real but not always reliable, and how to treat them as data, not directors, so you can calm the noise and move the needle. We walk through simple tools you can use this week: a 60-second morning recording that trains your brain, clarity breaks that turn emotion into motion, the Notice → Name → Normalize → Next framework for in-the-moment regulation, “draft hot, send cold” for heated emails, and a three-line evening close that links identity to action to rest. Faith-friendly language is included (and optional), plus practical breathwork cues for anxiety and overthinking.

    Designed for women leaders navigating the double bind—warm but not “soft,” clear but not “cold.” If ruts, storms, or stretch seasons have been testing your confidence, this is a steady, humane playbook.

    You’ll learn

    • How to lead your emotions without suppressing them
    • A quick morning routine to set direction and reduce reactivity
    • The clarity break method for better decisions and focus
    • A simple script to handle tough meetings and fiery emails
    • Breathwork tips to regulate in real time
    • How to take the next best step when motivation is low
    • Episode highlights

      • Why feelings are data, not directors and how that reframes identity + EQ
      • A 60-second morning recording to train your brain
      • Clarity breaks: turn emotion into motion in 20 minutes
      • The in-the-moment tool: Notice → Name → Normalize → Next
      • Draft hot, send cold: a smarter play for heated emails (tone-safe for women leaders)
      • Breathwork that actually helps: three slow breaths to downshift anxiety
      • “Picture this” moments: opening a tough meeting, editing a hot email, lifting a gray day
      • The Evening Three: one truth, one release, one seed—link identity → action → rest
      • One line to take with you

        “Let feelings inform you, then let identity direct you.”

        Work with Lynsey

        Ready to make this muscle memory? I offer 1:1 coaching for women leaders and business coaching for founders and executive teams—practical, momentum-focused, and tailored to you. Start here: LynseyMulder.com.

        Connect with Lynsey:

        • Website: LynseyMulder.com
        • Facebook: @LynseySMulder
        • LinkedIn: @Lynsey-Mulder
        • Instagram: @LynseyMulder
        • 🗣 Bring SparkLife to your team or event — speaking & workshops
        • 25 min
        • E18 Lead with Pause: Dr. Ebony Stone on Grace, Grit, and Women Owning the Room

          When women lead, the room shifts. In this conversation with Dr. Ebony Stone—author, speaker, and coach— we unpack what it really takes to thrive as a woman in leadership today: grace over guilt, perspective over comparison, and “do it scared” over perfect timing. Ebony shares her PAUSE framework (Pause/Pray, Analyze, Understand, Strategize, Execute) and how it applies to real life—boardrooms, busy homes, and those messy in-between moments. We talk superpowers, why your presence is a competitive advantage, and how to reframe nerves as excitement so you can step onto any stage (or into any meeting) with intention.

          “You don’t have to be fearless. You just have to do it scared—until scared starts to look like excitement.”

          You’ll learn:

          • How to give yourself grace without lowering your standards
          • The PAUSE framework you can use for a meeting, a project, or a life pivot
          • Why “do it scared” is the fastest path to confidence
          • How to stop comparing and start leading with your unique superpowers
          • A practical way to separate facts from limiting beliefs (at home and at work)
          • Resources & Links:

            • Ebony Stone
              • LinkedIn @DrEbonyStone
              • Facebook @DrEbonyStone
              • Her book: The Power of Pause — use code $Spark2025$ at https://www.drebonystone.com/ for a listener discount
              • Connect with Lynsey:

                • Website: LynseyMulder.com
                • Facebook: @LynseySMulder
                • LinkedIn: @Lynsey-Mulder
                • Instagram: @LynseyMulder
                • 🗣 Bring SparkLife to your team or event — speaking & workshops
                • 38 min
                • E17 Executive Presence: Open Strong, Right the Ride, Close with Care

                  If your updates get lost, decisions stall, or you leave meetings exhausted from carrying the room, the problem isn’t just strategy. It’s how you show up. In this story-driven episode, Lynsey unpacks executive presence using three unforgettable rideshare moments from her latest trip to Destin, Florida: the disengaged “Mr. Earbuds,” the resigned “Miss Chaos,” and the intentional hostess with the mostess who changed the entire experience without changing the road.

                  You’ll learn how to open strong (set purpose in the first 90 seconds), right the ride when things go sideways (steady agency over excuses), and close with care (clear next steps + visible credit). Same goals, same road, very different ride.

                  What you’ll learn

                  • The simple, repeatable presence sequence: Open → Right the Ride → Close with Care
                  • How to set the temperature of a room in your first sentence (without theatrics)
                  • Practical ways to show steadiness under constraint: name reality, then create a pocket of agency
                  • Why follow-through is your leadership “aftertaste” (and how to make it memorable)
                  • How presence makes your values, superpowers, and non-negotiables visible so trust compounds
                  • Women-in-leadership insight: confident kindness that beats the “too cold / too soft” double bind
                  • Episode highlights

                    • The Destin rideshare test: same route, three experiences → presence by design
                    • “Earbuds energy” vs. “host energy,” what your team feels before you speak
                    • The 90-second open: purpose, outcome, next step. Mercy, not bossiness
                    • Righting the ride: constraints are real; agency is yours
                    • Closing with care: decisions, owners, dates and a grace note that sticks
                    • One line to take with you

                      “Executive presence is the temperature you set. Calm the chaos, and the work moves faster.”

                      Work with Lynsey

                      • Want a partner to accelerate this? Lynsey offers 1:1 coaching for women leaders and business coaching for founders and business owners. Practical, momentum-focused, and tailored to you. Start here: lynseymulder.com
                      • Connect with Lynsey:

                        • Website: LynseyMulder.com
                        • Facebook: @LynseySMulder
                        • LinkedIn: @Lynsey-Mulder
                        • Instagram: @LynseyMulder
                        • 18 min
                        • E16 Micro-Moves, Big Life: Intentional Living You Can Actually Do

                          What if the third most important day of your life is the day you start living your why, on purpose? In this episode, Lynsey breaks down intentional living as a series of tiny, faithful micro-movements (not cliff jumps) that add up to a life that feels like you.

                          Drawing on John Maxwell’s take, “decide in advance who you will be and what you will give,”she connects it to the SparkLife formula: Values (your compass), Non-Negotiables (your guardrails), Superpowers (your natural edge), and Passion (purpose with traction). You’ll challenge three big myths (I should already know my purpose…it’s too late…I need perfect timing), learn why purpose is discovered in motion, and get practical prompts—a simple joy audit and a few starter micro-moves to begin this week inside your real life, job, and calendar.

                          If you’re a woman leader craving authenticity, clarity, confidence, and better work-life alignment, this conversation will help you name the “tug,” shrink the fears, and take the next brave half-inch turn toward a life you’re proud of.

                          In this episode, you’ll learn:

                          • How to uncover purpose when you’re not sure what your “why” is
                          • The role of values, boundaries, strengths, and passion in daily decisions
                          • Why waiting for “perfect timing” is an expensive delay
                          • Micro-moves to start living your purpose this week
                          • Ideal for: women in leadership, emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, purpose-driven professionals, and anyone ready to live intentionally—one micro-movement at a time.

                            Connect with Lynsey:

                            • Website: LynseyMulder.com
                            • Facebook: @LynseySMulder
                            • LinkedIn: @Lynsey-Mulder
                            • Instagram: @LynseyMulder
                            • 17 min
                            • E15 Stop Doing It All: Delegate Better, Lead Bigger

                              Moving from “I’ll just do it myself” to true leadership is a skill, and delegation is the lever. In this episode of Lead with Spark, Lynsey shares a simple four-step handoff loop - Select, Scope, Support, Spotlight - that turns tasks into growth without letting anyone down. You’ll learn how to use the Eisenhower model (urgent vs. important) to decide what to delegate, how to give a clear, kind overview that sets people up to win, and how to coach without micromanaging so quality stays high.

                              Lynsey gets real about the shift from individual contributor to leader, that awkward phase where yesterday’s peers are today’s team and why delegating isn’t “bossing people around,” it’s building people up. You’ll hear practical examples from work and home (hello, Kitchen CEO) and guidance for individual contributors who want to share work through pairing, internships, and strength-based task swaps.

                              We’ll also name the common barriers like perfectionism, fear of losing control, speed addiction, peer discomfort and reframe them with tools that protect excellence and your energy. Finally, Lynsey ties delegation to Spark (values, superpowers, non-negotiables) so you lead intentionally, free up time for the highest-priority work only you can do, and strengthen executive presence through calm clarity and visible development.

                              Perfect for women in leadership, managers, and high-performing ICs who want momentum without burnout and a team that grows because you do.

                              Connect with Lynsey:

                              • Website: LynseyMulder.com
                              • Facebook: @LynseySMulder
                              • LinkedIn: @Lynsey-Mulder
                              • Instagram: @LynseyMulder
                              • 20 min
                              • E14 Relatable Leadership with Rachel DeAlto: Communication that Builds Respect & Trust

                                If you’ve ever wondered why “be more relatable” sounds obvious but feels impossible in real life, this conversation with author and keynote speaker Rachel DeAlto will be your masterclass. We dig into what relatable leadership actually looks like day-to-day—clear communication, active listening, and honest transparency—and why respect is the trait teams are craving most. You’ll learn Rachel’s simple Who–How–Why framework for sharper messages, how to bridge generational gaps without turning into the “back in my day” boss, and practical ways to re-energize remote/hybrid teams with better 1:1s, intentional touchpoints, and smart in-person moments.

                                You’ll walk away with:

                                • A usable definition of relatable (it’s not oversharing - hallelujah).
                                • Micro-habits that signal respect and build trust fast.
                                • A plug-and-play cadence for effective 1:1s in remote/hybrid settings.
                                • A quick-start idea to survey your team and choose one behavior to improve now.
                                • Connect with Rachel & grab the book:

                                  • Instagram: @racheldealto
                                  • LinkedIn: @RachelDeAlto
                                  • Book: The Relatable Leader: Create a Culture of Connection - Buy on Amazon
                                  • Hit play, pick one skill, and start today. Future-you (and your team) will thank you.

                                    Connect with Lynsey:

                                    • Website: LynseyMulder.com
                                    • Facebook: @LynseySMulder
                                    • LinkedIn: @Lynsey-Mulder
                                    • Instagram: @LynseyMulder
                                    • 40 min
                                    • E13 End the Invisible Work Tax: A Visibility Playbook for Women Leaders

                                      Women in leadership are carrying too much invisible work; note-taking, scheduling, conflict smoothing, onboarding support, and the quiet “glue work” that keeps projects alive but rarely shows up on a dashboard. That hidden load stalls recognition, performance reviews, and promotion. In this episode of Lead with Spark, Lynsey shares a practical visibility playbook to end the invisible work tax without sounding salesy or braggy, and to do it in a way that strengthens executive presence, delegation, and prioritization.

                                      You’ll learn how to run a fast S-O-S scan (Stop, Optimize, Share) to cut or streamline low-value tasks and fairly rotate office housework. Then you’ll reframe activity into outcomes and impact so your real contribution is obvious: outputs → outcomes → business impact. Lynsey walks through the two-minute 3-3-1 Friday update, a simple cadence that makes work visible every week, plus a visibility ladder and a one-page, promotion-ready proof pack you can bring to managing-up conversations and performance reviews. You’ll also get kind, copy-ready scripts to rotate note-taking, close meetings with results, defend deep-work time, and say no with context. Developing habits that create psychological safety while keeping your energy focused on what matters.

                                      If you want momentum without burnout, and you’re ready to make your wins impossible to miss, this episode is your playbook to end the invisible work tax and advance your career with clear, credible evidence.

                                      Connect with Lynsey:

                                      • Website: LynseyMulder.com
                                      • Facebook: @LynseySMulder
                                      • LinkedIn: @Lynsey-Mulder
                                      • Instagram: @LynseyMulder
                                      • 21 min
                                      • E12 Blue Ribbons & Bold Moves: Leadership Lessons from the Iowa State Fair

                                        From the Grand Concourse to the boardroom, this leadership podcast episode turns the Iowa State Fair into a practical playbook for women in leadership. Lynsey Mulder weaves three generations of family tradition - Grandma’s one-section-a-day map, Grandpa’s steady hours in the livestock barns, and a new stop at Cowboy Bootcamp with her grandson - into ten blue-ribbon leadership lessons you can apply this week.

                                        You’ll learn how to set context before you move, ship a preview version to learn faster, define success upfront so your team has psychological safety, show up with stronger executive presence, protect deep-work priorities, delegate ownership (not chores), make smarter project tradeoffs, ask sharper problem/proof/first-move questions, run a weekly “Sky Glider” review to regain strategic altitude, and make work visible so wins actually get rewarded.

                                        If you lead a team, or just your calendar, you’ll leave with practical tools and language you can use immediately. The episode includes a quick “Fair Pass” exercise to choose your top three priorities, set two clear nos, and plan one visibility touchpoint.

                                        Perfect for women leaders, managers, and high-performing professionals who want less burnout and more momentum. Topics include executive presence tips, delegation strategies, project prioritization, boundaries at work, weekly review rituals, managing up, and values-based leadership. Listen in, grab your worksheet, and give your next week a blue ribbon.

                                        Connect with Lynsey:

                                        • Website: LynseyMulder.com
                                        • Facebook: @LynseySMulder
                                        • LinkedIn: @Lynsey-Mulder
                                        • Instagram: @LynseyMulder
                                        • 22 min
                                        • E11 Leading with Curiosity & Compassion: A Conversation with Malinda Shultice

                                          What does it take to lead with both curiosity and compassion? In this episode, I sit down with Malinda Shultice, professor at Iowa State University and Barcelona Executive Business School, licensed nursing home administrator, and founder of a consulting company dedicated to tackling high turnover in healthcare.

                                           

                                          Malinda shares her bold career pivot from senior living to academia and entrepreneurship, and the lessons she’s learned about curiosity, compassion, and communication along the way. We dive into the challenges of leadership, the power of truly listening, and how to reignite curiosity when it feels like it’s burned out.

                                           

                                          Whether you’re leading a team, navigating a career shift, or simply looking to connect more deeply with those around you, this conversation will spark new ideas and inspire you to lead with authenticity.

                                           

                                          👉 Connect with Malinda on LinkedIn: Malinda Shultice

                                           

                                          Connect with Lynsey:

                                          • Website: LynseyMulder.com
                                          • Facebook: @LynseySMulder
                                          • LinkedIn: @Lynsey-Mulder
                                          • Instagram: @LynseyMulder
                                          • 42 min
                                          • E10 The Power of No: Setting Non-Negotiables for Your Best Life

                                            In today’s episode, we tackle something that many women professionals struggle with. Saying no. Constantly overcommitting to work, family, and social obligations can lead to burnout and a loss of focus on what truly matters. In this empowering episode, I dive deep into the importance of setting non-negotiables in your life.

                                            Learn how to align your boundaries with your core values and priorities, and discover actionable strategies to reclaim your time and energy. We’ll explore how saying no is actually saying yes to your goals, and why setting non-negotiables is essential for leadership and personal fulfillment.

                                            You’ll hear practical tips, like:

                                            • How to turn your non-negotiables into powerful affirmations that keep you focused.
                                            • Using tools like the Non-Negotiables Alignment Pillars to evaluate where you need boundaries most. Download here.
                                            • The mindset shift you need to make every time you say yes to something (because it’s really saying no to something else).
                                            • Whether you’re struggling to balance work-life demands, lead effectively, or honor your personal priorities, this episode is packed with tips to help you regain control and lead with intention.

                                              Connect with Lynsey:

                                              • Website: LynseyMulder.com
                                              • Facebook: @LynseySMulder
                                              • LinkedIn: @Lynsey-Mulder
                                              • Instagram: @LynseyMulder
                                              • 22 min

                                              About Lead with Spark | Authentic Leadership for Women, Executive Presence & Career Confidence

                                              From the publisher's feed

                                              Welcome to the Lead with Spark Podcast: Authentic Leadership for Women Who Want More.