In this episode of Leadership on the Rocks, Bethany Rees sits down with Brandi Kelly to talk about something leadership circles rarely prioritize—but desperately need: hope.

Brandi shares her powerful personal story and introduces her HOPE Framework, a practical system leaders can use to build resilience, restore joy, and help people feel truly seen, heard, and valued.

💥 Want to Strengthen Your Team’s Leadership?

Most initiatives fail not because of bad ideas—but because leaders aren't equipped to carry them through. That’s where Leadership on the Rocks workshops come in.

Whether you're leading a school, business, or nonprofit, our customizable, story-driven workshops give your team the clarity, tools, and confidence they need to lead effectively and create lasting impact.

👉 Visit leadershipontherocks.com to book a workshop and empower your leaders today!

CONTACT US: 

Visit our website at  https://www.leadershipontherocks.com/ 

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Listening is one of the most overlooked skills in leadership—but it might also be the most powerful.

In this episode of Leadership on the Rocks, Bethany Rees sits down with Stanford Slovin, author of Better Listening: The Secret to Improving Your Professional and Personal Life, to talk about how active listening builds trust, deepens relationships, and leads to wiser decision-making.

Stan shares proven strategies to move beyond surface-level conversations, expand empathy, resolve conflicts, and create more meaningful professional and personal connections.

Pause - Don’t cut people off

Reflect - What is the person revealing?

Empathy - Connect with the person by sharing an understanding that will build trust and safety

Curiosity - Ask questions that allow them to “empty their buckets” and go deeper in the conversation. 

Clarity - Gain clarity about the person’s thoughts, feelings, needs, etc.

👉 Tune in to learn how mastering the art of listening can transform your leadership. https://www.betterlisteningbook.com/ 

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👉 Want more tools to thrive in leadership? Order my book Leadership on the Rocks: How to Survive, Adapt, and Succeed in the Wilderness of Leadership on Amazon.

 CONTACT US: 

Visit our website at  https://www.leadershipontherocks.com/ 

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What if the key to steady leadership in a chaotic world is staying rooted in who you are—and whose you are?

In this episode of Leadership on the Rocks, Bethany Rees sits down with Liz Cobo for a powerful conversation about grounding both life and leadership in faith. Together, they explore what it looks like to build on the unshakable foundation of Jesus and to live as the same person at work, at home, and everywhere in between.

You’ll hear practical encouragement around:

If you’re tired of feeling split between who you are professionally and who you are personally, this episode will help you realign your compass and start the year on solid ground.

Website: https://lizcobo.com/  https://thegracefulapologist.com
Instagram: @thegracefulapologist
YouTube: The Graceful Apologist

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Leadership isn’t about wearing different masks—it’s about standing on a firm foundation.

If you’re ready to lead with clarity, consistency, and faith—without separating who you are at work from who you are at home—explore Bethany’s coaching, workshops, and leadership resources designed for real life and real leadership. Visit us at www.leadershipontherocks.com. 

Order my book Leadership on the Rocks: How to Survive, Adapt, and Succeed in the Wilderness of Leadership at www.leadershipontherocks.com or on Amazon.

CONTACT US: 

Visit our website at  https://www.leadershipontherocks.com/ 

Follow us online at:

Email us at [email protected] 

Season 4 was packed with powerful insights, practical tools, and the kind of leadership truth bombs that hit you right in the purpose. In this finale, Bethany recaps the standout moments—from communication breakthroughs to culture shifts to the four-part Leadership Survival Kit from her book.

If you need a quick dose of clarity, courage, and encouragement, this highlight reel will refuel your leadership for the path ahead.

In this episode:
• The strongest leadership lessons from Season 4
• Key takeaways from the Leadership Survival Kit (Head → Heart → Hands → Guts)
• Encouragement for leaders navigating the wilderness

Ready to build your leadership on solid ground?
Grab Leadership on the Rocks: How to Survive, Adapt, and Succeed in the Wilderness of Leadership and start assembling your Leadership Survival Kit today.

If you’re looking for personalized coaching or team development, visit:
👉 www.leadershipontherocks.com 

Let’s keep climbing—one rock at a time.

CONTACT US: 

Visit our website at  https://www.leadershipontherocks.com/ 

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What does it take to break barriers in industries that never expected you to rise?

In this episode of Leadership on the Rocks, Bethany Rees sits down with Gladys DeClouet—trailblazing executive and author of A Layered Life. Gladys shares her raw and powerful story of becoming the first female engineer in offshore oil, leading multibillion-dollar businesses, and navigating the hidden “invisible tax” of being the first Black woman in leadership roles across corporate America.

She opens up about resilience, inclusive leadership, and the high cost of ambition, while also offering encouragement and practical lessons for leaders today.

👉 Tune in for a masterclass in perseverance, purpose, and legacy-building.

My website: www.GladysDeClouet.com 

LinkedIn: @GladysCeClouetMBA

👉 Want more tools to thrive in leadership? Order my new book Leadership on the Rocks: How to Survive, Adapt, and Succeed in the Wilderness of Leadership at www.leadershipontherocks.com or on Amazon.

CONTACT US: 

Visit our website at  https://www.leadershipontherocks.com/ 

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Are you still trying to shatter the glass ceiling—or is it time to look in the mirror instead?

Dr. Sheila shares how her groundbreaking “Mirror Effect” helps leaders—especially women and underrepresented professionals—reclaim their power by seeing themselves and their environments clearly. This episode unpacks:

💬 Why self-awareness, not perfection, is the true mark of leadership

💡 How to recognize when your environment is shaping you in unhealthy ways

🪞 The difference between striving for a seat at the table and building your own

❤️ Why compassion—toward yourself and others—is a competitive advantage in leadership

👉 Learn more about Dr. Sheila and grab her book The Mirror Effect at sheilagujrathimd.com.

Website: https://sheilagujrathimd.com TEDxTalk:   

   Shattering the glass ceiling by finding th...   

LinkedIn:  / sheila-gujrathi-md   

Instagram: @SheilaGujrathiMD

👉 Want more tools to thrive in leadership? Order my new book Leadership on the Rocks: How to Survive, Adapt, and Succeed in the Wilderness of Leadership at www.leadershipontherocks.com or on Amazon.

CONTACT US:

Visit our website at https://www.leadershipontherocks.com/ 

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Facebook: Leadership on the Rocks

Instagram: @leadershipontherocks

LinkedIn: Bethany Rees

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What can 401 business leaders teach us about leadership? A lot.

In this episode of Leadership on the Rocks, Bethany Rees sits down with Shawn Richards—business executive, podcast host, and author of the best-selling book Rapid Fire Leadership. Shawn shares insights gathered from over 400 interviews with leaders across 17 countries and explains how a strengths-based approach helps emerging leaders thrive.

He also introduces his new initiative, The First Fifty Project, powered by the Sapphire Sky Leadership Development System, designed to help high-potential leaders discover their strengths and accelerate their growth.

👉 Tune in for rapid-fire wisdom on developing your people, building future-ready teams, and investing in your organization’s most valuable asset—human capital.

📘 Learn more about Shawn:
🌐 firstfiftyproject.com
🌐 blueskybizconsulting.com
🌐 rapidfireleadership.com
💼 Connect with Shawn on LinkedIn

👉 Want more tools to thrive in leadership? Order my new book Leadership on the Rocks: How to Survive, Adapt, and Succeed in the Wilderness of Leadership at www.leadershipontherocks.com or on Amazon.

CONTACT US: 

Visit our website at  https://www.leadershipontherocks.com/ 

Follow us online at:

Email us at [email protected]

Busyness is not the same as progress.

In this episode of Leadership on the Rocks, Bethany Rees talks with Louisa Loran—global executive advisor, board strategist, and author of Leadership Anatomy in Motion. Louisa shares why leaders must pause, question assumptions, and focus on alignment to thrive in today’s uncertain world. She unpacks four core leadership behaviors—Envisioning, Expanding, Steering, and Embodying—and explains how they help leaders spot hidden risks, fuel transformation, and create momentum that lasts.

👉 Tune in to discover how to lead with sharper presence, stronger alignment, and renewed clarity in a noisy, fast-paced world.

Website: https://louisaloran.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisa-loran/

👉 Want more tools to thrive in leadership? Order my book Leadership on the Rocks: How to Survive, Adapt, and Succeed in the Wilderness of Leadership at www.leadershipontherocks.com or on Amazon.

CONTACT US: Visit our website at https://www.leadershipontherocks.com/

Follow us online at:

Facebook: Leadership on the Rocks

Instagram: @leadershipontherocks

LinkedIn: Bethany Rees

Email us at [email protected]

The hardest part of leadership isn’t strategy or spreadsheets—it’s the unspoken dynamics that quietly shape trust, decisions, and performance.

In this episode of Leadership on the Rocks, Bethany Rees talks with René Sonneveld—former Fortune 500 CEO, leadership coach, and author of The Elephant in the Family Room. René shares why awareness of self, others, and the systems we’re part of is the true foundation of leadership.

He unpacks how unresolved emotions, family history, and hidden tensions often matter more than market forces—and why leaders who learn to notice and navigate these “elephants” build stronger teams, manage conflict with wisdom, and create cultures of trust.

Connect with Rene:

👉 Loving the podcast but wanting more tools to thrive in leadership? Order my book Leadership on the Rocks: How to Survive, Adapt, and Succeed in the Wilderness of Leadership at www.leadershipontherocks.com or on Amazon.

CONTACT US: 

Visit our website at  https://www.leadershipontherocks.com/ 

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Today Bethany dives into how she is personally learning to lead through the chaos that is today’s world. 

👉 Want more tools to thrive in leadership? Order my new book Leadership on the Rocks: How to Survive, Adapt, and Succeed in the Wilderness of Leadership at www.leadershipontherocks.com or on Amazon.

CONTACT US: 

Visit our website at  https://www.leadershipontherocks.com/ 

Follow us online at:

Email us at [email protected]