Leading Beyond You Podcast

Leadership Through The Lens of Education

Education is ultimately a people-centered profession, and the quality of leadership can shape not only the experience of educators but also the outcomes of the students they serve. Behind every thriving school is a culture influenced by leaders who understand how to build trust, communicate expectations, develop people, navigate change, and keep purpose at the center of the work.

In this episode of Leading Beyond You, we sit down with a veteran educator with 40 years of experience in teaching and administration who now coaches and consults educational leaders. We'll explore what four decades in education have taught her about leadership, how the expectations placed on educators and administrators have changed, and why leading the people who shape the future requires more than policies, programs, and positions.

We'll also discuss educator burnout, trust between teachers and administrators, navigating difficult conversations, developing future leaders, and creating a leadership legacy that continues influencing classrooms long after you've left them.

Dr. Evelyn Nettles Hines, Ed.D. is an educational leader, author, adjunct professor, and Certified AI Consultant with 40 years of experience in K–12 education. Her career spans classroom teaching, middle and high school principalship, district leadership, and professional development. She most recently served as Instructional Superintendent of Professional Development and Effective Educators for Birmingham City Schools.

Throughout her career, Dr. Hines has helped schools strengthen instruction, improve school culture, develop teachers and leaders, and create environments where students can thrive. As a principal, she led work in complex school settings by bringing people together around clear expectations, strong relationships, school safety, and student opportunity. At the district level, she designed and led professional learning for teachers and administrators across a workforce of more than 2,000 employees.

Dr. Hines is the founder of ELH Consulting, LLC, where she provides leadership coaching, school improvement support, professional development, and practical AI strategy for educators and organizations. Her work helps school leaders move from ideas to implementation while keeping students and the quality of their instruction at the center of every decision.

A speaker, trainer, and author, Dr. Hines brings the perspective of someone who has taught in classrooms, led schools, and supported leaders across a district. She believes relationships are the key to managing students, educators deserve useful support, and technology should help them work smarter while serving students well.

AI with Purpose. Leadership with Vision.

Contact information: www.elhconsulting.net

Leading Beyond You is a production of LEI Academy™ — Lead Engage Inspire.

Editing: Dripping in Black Productions

In this episode, Dr. Chanel Bradden discusses the subtle leadership behaviors that erode workplace trust and psychological safety. She explores how organizations can be legally compliant yet still have unhealthy cultures and offers insights on rebuilding trust and fostering genuine employee voice.

What happens when the very behaviors leaders use to protect themselves, their reputation, their authority, or the organization begin to make the workplace feel unsafe for everyone else?

We'll also discuss what organizational silence can reveal about leadership, how power influences whether people tell the truth, and what leaders can do to rebuild trust once employees have learned that speaking up comes at a cost.

Because sometimes the greatest threat to an organization isn't the person willing to raise the uncomfortable issue, it's a culture that teaches everyone else to remain silent.

Dr. Chanel M. Bradden is an organizational leadership and psychological safety expert, researcher, consultant, and founder of TrustPoint Consulting Group. With more than 20 years of experience across corporate, legal, compliance, and organizational environments, her work examines what happens when leadership, workplace culture, and employee voice collide.

Dr. Bradden’s research focuses on psychological safety during workplace conflict, with particular attention to how leadership behaviors influence employees’ willingness to speak up, challenge decisions, and remain engaged.

Through her research, consulting, and workplace education, she addresses issues including toxic and insecure leadership, favoritism, organizational justice, workplace conflict, and the growing erosion of trust between employees and leaders.

Contact info: www.linkedin.com/in/cmbradden (TrustPoint website in progress)

Leading Beyond You is a production of LEI Academy™ — Lead Engage Inspire.

Editing: Dripping in Black Productions

Recognizing Leadership Chaos with Prince Tate

Understanding how leadership can contribute to workplace dysfunction.

In this episode, we dive deep into the chaos that poor leadership can bring to the workplace, featuring insights from HR professional Prince Tate.

The Impact of Leadership on Workplace Dynamics

Leadership isn’t just about making decisions; it’s about creating an environment where teams can thrive. Yet, many leaders inadvertently contribute to workplace chaos. Prince Tate emphasizes the need for leaders to self-reflect: "When you start seeing repetitive behaviors or consistent problems, that's the signal to ask, what am I doing?"

Signs of Dysfunction

Prince outlines three critical areas where leaders commonly falter, leading to chaos:

1. Communication: Are leaders active listeners? They must understand issues before responding.
2. Inconsistencies: Leaders should hold themselves accountable to the words they speak.
3. Avoidance: Shying away from difficult conversations can exacerbate dysfunction.

In closing, it’s essential for leaders to examine their role in workplace dynamics. By fostering open communication and accountability, they can mitigate chaos and cultivate a thriving environment.

For a deeper dive into this topic and practical strategies for improvement, listen to the full episode with Prince Tate!

Contact Daniel @: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-prince-tate-shrm-cp-48736b14a?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios

Leading Beyond You is a podcast of LEI Academy™ — Lead Engage Inspire.

Editing: Dripping in Black Productions

Every leader has two reputations: the one they believe they have and the one their team experiences every day. The real measure of leadership isn't what happens when you walk into the room, it's what people say after you've walked out. In this episode, we explore the power of feedback, self-awareness, humility, and the courage to confront the gap between intention and impact.

Rhoda Banks is an executive leadership strategist, author, executive coach, and adjunct professor with more than 25 years of experience helping organizations build exceptional leaders and thriving workplace cultures. She has served in senior executive HR and talent leadership roles across healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, and agriculture, leading enterprise initiatives in leadership development, culture transformation, talent strategy, and organizational effectiveness.

Rhoda is the author of the Amazon bestselling memoir Daughter of an Assassin, where she shares her journey of resilience, healing, and purpose. Through her work and speaking, she challenges people to lead with courage, authenticity, and intention, proving that your past does not define your future.

www.therhodaexperience.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/therhodaexperience/

Editing: Dripping In Black Productions

Leading Beyond You a Podcast of LEI Academy™ — Lead Engage Inspire

In this episode, Kisha Hicks, CEO of Elevate Her and creator of the Rise Leadership Model, shares actionable insights on cultivating authentic leadership presence, recognizing leadership drift, and making decisions with conviction. Whether you're climbing the corporate ladder or leading your own organization, this discussion equips you with essential tools for impactful leadership. Key Topics:

• The true essence of executive presence, exemplified through scent analogy
• The evolution of how leadership presence is perceived over time
• Building credibility and trust through authenticity and consistency
• Navigating values versus organizational demands and politics
• The importance of character and stewardship in decision-making
• Recognizing signs of leadership drift and how to course correct
• Strategies for maintaining credibility during crises
• The impact of inconsistency on trust and how to recover
• How to make tough decisions that challenge popularity but serve purpose
• Techniques to foster self-awareness and reflection amidst leadership demands

This episode offers leaders practical steps to develop a credible, authentic presence that withstands challenges, builds trust, and inspires others to lead beyond themselves.

Connect with Kisha Hicks:

·        www.nakishahicks.com

·        https://www.linkedin.com/in/nakisha-hicks-/

Leading Beyond You is a production of LEI Academy™ — Lead. Engage Inspire.