💡 Like, subscribe, and comment: Which RVA leader should we feature next?👥 Book a complimentary leadership coaching call → https://fulfilledcc.com/Hi Listeners! We have a treat for you today. Welcome to a faux version of a Fulfilled Coaching Session. Producer Zack gets from behind the desk as we demonstrate a miniature version of how Coaching Sessions go! In This Session, We Cover:The "Dreamer vs. Realist" Dynamic: How Zack and his partner, Tim, balance different risk profiles to sustain a successful 7-year partnership.The Growth Dilemma: Identifying the metrics and emotional readiness required to double a business without losing quality.Overcoming the Fear of Change: Shifting from a "risk-averse" mindset to a "big-picture" leadership perspective.The Chick-fil-A Standard: Using boundaries and clear operational standards to manage the complexity of customized client needs.What is Leadership Coaching?Unlike mentoring, which provides direct advice, coaching is a reflective process. In this 20-minute sample, you’ll see how powerful questioning helps leaders like Zack uncover their own insights, build self-awareness, and take confident action.

💡 Like, subscribe, and comment: Which RVA leader should we feature next?

👥 Book a complimentary leadership coaching call → https://fulfilledcc.com/

Welcome back!

KC interviews Jennifer Wakefield, president and CEO of the Greater Richmond Partnership (GRP). Jennifer shares her unique journey from a marketing background in Florida to leading economic development efforts in Richmond, Virginia. She highlights how Richmond’s untapped potential and her creative, disruptive leadership style have driven her success. The discussion delves into the meaning and scope of economic development, emphasizing GRP’s role in attracting companies and jobs to the Richmond region, boosting local economies, and fostering community growth.

Jennifer also opens up about her personal leadership lessons, including overcoming imposter syndrome, the importance of confidence as a feeling, and how she balances her introverted nature with the demands of a public leadership role. She shares practical tactics such as using music, power posing, and mindfulness apps to cultivate confidence and presence. The conversation touches on the significance of learning from diverse industries and people to gain perspective and drive innovation.

The episode concludes with Jennifer sharing creative marketing initiatives the GRP uses to promote Richmond, like gamified presentations and branded giveaways, reinforcing the idea that professionalism combined with creativity leads to impactful leadership. She also recommends local leaders for future episodes and encourages listeners to engage with the podcast and explore their own leadership development.

We hope you enjoy!

💡 Like, subscribe, and comment: Which RVA leader should we feature next?

👥 Book a complimentary leadership coaching call → https://fulfilledcc.com/

Happy New Year and welcome back to Leading the Way in RVA! This episode discusses that leadership is not merely about titles or authority but deeply rooted in human connection, empathy, and an openness to growth sparked by mentors and community. Kym Grinnage exemplifies how life’s challenges, coupled with believing mentors and personal perseverance, mold inspiring and effective leaders.

The takeaway for listeners is clear: embrace your unique path with openness (never say never), prioritize empathy in your leadership approach, and align your work with your authentic self for lasting impact. Leaders should actively cultivate empathetic listening skills and support their teams not just to perform but to thrive—with the courage to let people find the best fit for their talents and happiness.

💡 Like, subscribe, and comment: Which RVA leader should we feature next?👥 Book a complimentary leadership coaching call → https://fulfilledcc.com/Join host KC Long as she sits down with Jayme Swain, President and CEO of VPM and the Virginia Foundation for Public Media.In this episode of Leading the Way in RVA, Jayme shares her remarkable journey from a UVA government major to a leader in national and local public media, including key roles at NBC4 New York, CNN Atlanta, PBS, and NPR.Jayme Swain's professional journey, sparked by early influences like Mr. Rogers and NPR, transitioned from the high-speed environment of commercial media, including Foxsports.com and Madison Square Garden, to a leadership role in public media as the CEO of VPM. Throughout her career, she mastered the essential leadership skill of maintaining "calm in the storm," a principle that proved vital when navigating VPM through significant crises, such as the sudden elimination of federal funding. Swain emphasizes practical advice on resilience, self-advocacy, and the core importance of authenticity and self-knowledge in career decisions. Furthermore, she highlights the strategic application of Emotional Intelligence (EQ)—focusing on empathy and emotional regulation—to manage teams through the pandemic and funding crises. Her success is also attributed to leveraging mentorship from figures like PBS CEO Paula Kerger and proactive networking by openly sharing career goals.

💡 Like, subscribe, and comment: Which RVA leader should we feature next?

👥 Book a complimentary leadership coaching call → https://fulfilledcc.com/

Welcome back! KC interviews Christina McClung, Senior Vice President and Head of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at Capital One. The conversation explores Christina’s lifelong journey—rooted in resilience, authenticity, and growth—starting from their childhood friendship and extending through her professional rise!

Christina’s story is a powerful testament to how personal adversity can be transformed into leadership strength. Early trauma, such as her family’s experience with incarceration, could have been limiting, but instead, it forged resilience and empathy—qualities that she intentionally weaves into her professional identity. Her narrative challenges conventional leadership archetypes by showing that vulnerability and authenticity are not weaknesses but essential leadership tools.

Her journey also illustrates the non-linear nature of career growth. From starting in recruiting to becoming an influential HR leader and eventually heading diversity and belonging at a major corporation, Christina’s path was marked by calculated risks, perseverance, and a willingness to embrace new challenges—such as relocating internationally. Each step deepened her understanding of people and organizational dynamics, reinforcing the importance of aligning personal values with professional purpose.

💡 Like, subscribe, and comment: Which RVA leader should we feature next?

👥 Book a complimentary leadership coaching call → https://fulfilledcc.com/

In this episode of Leading the Way in RVA, KC engages with two certified CliftonStrengths coaches, Amy Kocev and Casey Pulsifer, to explore the power of understanding and leveraging personal strengths for leadership, team development, and professional growth. The conversation roots itself in the CliftonStrengths assessment, a tool designed to help individuals identify their top talents among 34 categories and apply these strengths for personal and organizational success.

The episode emphasizes how strengths-based development fosters collaboration, reduces competition, and improves psychological safety within teams, leading to higher engagement and productivity. KC explains the foundational concepts of CliftonStrengths, including its four domains—Executing, Influencing, Relationship Building, and Strategic Thinking—and how individuals can utilize their dominant “freeway” strengths rather than struggling on less natural “bumpy roads.” They also address common misconceptions about personality assessments and clarify that CliftonStrengths is an actionable, developmental tool rather than a hiring mechanism.

Throughout the episode, the panel provides practical examples of how knowing one’s own and teammates’ strengths can improve communication, delegation, and team dynamics. They highlight the importance of leaders openly sharing their strengths to create an environment of trust and understanding. The conversation concludes with advice on how listeners can begin to identify their strengths, even without taking the formal assessment, and a call to action for Richmond community members to nominate inspiring leaders for future podcast episodes.

Highlights

🌟 CliftonStrengths helps individuals identify their natural talents across 34 themes to maximize personal and professional effectiveness.

🤝 Strengths-based coaching shifts workplace dynamics from competition to collaboration, fostering psychological safety and stronger team bonds.

🧠 The tool is grounded in neuroscience, likening talents to “wide highways” in the brain that facilitate easier, more energetic work.

💡 Understanding your own and your team’s strengths leads to better communication, clear ownership, and more efficient workflows.

📊 Strengths-based development directly addresses low workplace engagement by aligning roles with what energizes employees.

🚦 Leaders sharing their strengths openly create a culture of trust and “strengths talk,” improving team cohesion and performance.

👶 Strengths awareness is valuable at every life stage, including parenting and education, enabling a focus on natural talents rather than weaknesses.

Key Insights

🌐 Strengths as a Catalyst for Collaboration: Amy and Casey’s story from Capital One illustrates how recognizing complementary strengths prevents rivalry and sparks powerful teamwork. By understanding what each person naturally excels at, teams can distribute work more effectively and avoid friction, leading to more innovative and successful outcomes. This insight underscores the importance of self-awareness and mutual appreciation in leadership and team dynamics.

💡 Like, subscribe, and comment: Which RVA leader should we feature next?

👥 Book a complimentary leadership coaching call → https://fulfilledcc.com/

Welcome back listeners! KC interviews James Warren, founder of Share More Stories, an organization dedicated to helping leaders, teams, and organizations use storytelling to deepen connections and drive meaningful change. James shares his personal journey from childhood entertainer and aspiring author to corporate brand strategist and ultimately entrepreneur. His early exposure to storytelling and entrepreneurial spirit, influenced by his parents’ diverse careers, laid the foundation for his current work. James reflects on the challenges and lessons learned in transitioning from corporate life to entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of vulnerability, collaboration, and aligning intentions with outcomes. He highlights storytelling not only as a tool for engagement but also as a powerful method for learning and uncovering emotional insights that drive organizational improvement.

James discusses the common friction points in leadership and business, such as the disconnect between data and meaningful insights, and the societal tolerance for subpar products and services. He shares practical leadership advice on clarifying intentions, measuring impact, and seeking honest feedback to ensure actions align with purpose.

https://lmronline.org/board-engagement/Check out this Link!

In this episode KC features Myra Smith, a highly respected Richmond leader who recently retired as president and CEO of Leadership Metro Richmond (LMR). The conversation delves into Myra’s lifelong dedication to community leadership, her journey from a young community advocate to a seasoned nonprofit executive, and her philosophy of servant leadership. Myra’s story is one of early engagement, mentorship, grit, empathy, and continuous learning, all of which shaped her impactful career in Richmond’s nonprofit and civic sectors, notably at United Way and LMR. The discussion highlights the importance of diverse leadership, board service as a pathway to community engagement, and the servant leadership framework where leaders serve first and lead second. Myra emphasizes that leadership is about influence, service to others, and leaving a positive impact on people and communities. She encourages listeners to find their passion, leverage their skills, and get involved in nonprofit boards to grow as leaders and contribute meaningfully to their communities. Enjoy :)

💡 Like, subscribe, and comment: Which RVA leader should we feature next?

👥 Book a complimentary leadership coaching call → https://fulfilledcc.com/

Welcome back listeners! KC Long interviews Katharine Wintsch, founder and CEO of The Mom Complex and author of Slay Like a Mother. She shares her journey from a high-powered career in advertising at the Martin Agency to founding her own consulting business focused on improving products and services for mothers. She candidly discusses the burnout and dissatisfaction that led her to redefine success on her own terms, emphasizing balance, impact, and personal growth over relentless financial or organizational growth. Katharine highlights the importance of self-authorship, breaking free from societal expectations, and addressing systemic issues like impostor syndrome, especially for women. The conversation also explores how therapy and coaching complement each other in personal development. Her approach to leadership and entrepreneurship is countercultural, focusing on sustainable business growth that supports well-being rather than sacrificing it. She also introduces the concept of measuring success by impact, inspired by Ariana Huffington’s “third metric,” and shares practical examples of how her company creates meaningful change for mothers and families.

💡 Like, subscribe, and comment: Which RVA leader should we feature next?

👥 Book a complimentary leadership coaching call → https://fulfilledcc.com/

Change is hard. But leading people through change without losing trust? That’s the real challenge.

In this episode of Leading the Way in RVA, host KC Long sits down with Angela Roisten, Senior VP of Financial Success at Virginia Credit Union. From starting as a bank teller to becoming a leader who shapes culture and confidence, Angela shares her journey and her leadership “diamonds” for guiding people through uncertainty.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why being H.O.T. (Humble, Open, Transparent) transforms leadership

• How to paint a vision that inspires and unites during change

• The power of naming, claiming, and aiming your team’s strengths

• Why celebrating even the smallest wins builds momentum

• How to overcome “stinking thinking” and unlock confidence

• Angela’s story: from military brat to teller → SVP → community leader

This episode is packed with actionable insights, personal stories, and tactical tips for leaders navigating change.