In this episode of the Small Brave Moves Podcast, Nicole Bianchi explores the neuroscience of brave leadership and reveals why courage is not a personality trait — but a trainable skill rooted in brain science.

Drawing on research around neuroplasticity, leadership development, and workplace transformation, Nicole breaks down what actually happens in the brain when leaders take a small brave move. She demystifies the science behind courageous leadership and explains why bravery becomes easier the more you practice it.

With 70% of organizational change initiatives failing (McKinsey), this episode makes a compelling case: technical strategies don’t transform companies — brave leadership does. Nicole shares practical, real-world leadership examples showing how small, intentional acts of courage strengthen neural pathways, build emotional regulation, and prepare leaders for high-stakes conversations.

She also introduces the Small Brave Moves Journal, a 90-day guided courage practice designed to help leaders build their “bravery circuitry” one intentional rep at a time. This isn’t inspiration for inspiration’s sake — it’s neuroscience-backed habit building.

👉 Get your copy of the Small Brave Moves Journal here

If you’re a mid-level to C-suite leader looking to build confidence, lead change effectively, and create a culture of courageous action, this episode will show you how bravery becomes a leadership advantage.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

1. Why courage is a trainable skill, not a personality trait
2. How neuroplasticity strengthens your ability to regulate fear in high-stakes moments
3. Why small, everyday acts of bravery prepare you for major leadership challenges
4. How to build “bravery circuitry” through intentional daily practice

If you’re ready to lead with more confidence, clarity, and courage, this episode will help you start small while leading big.

Work with Nicole Bianchi⬇️
🎤Book Nicole Bianchi as your next keynote speaker
🏅Hire Nicole Bianchi to coach you or your leadership team
🗣️Get certified in the Five Tough Talks
📖Check out Nicole Bianchi's books, often referred to as corporate survival guides, Small Brave Moves and Five Tough Talks

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Small Brave Mondays Newsletter

In this powerful episode of the Small Brave Moves Podcast, executive leadership coach and bestselling author Nicole Bianchi addresses a silent epidemic among high-performing leaders: overfunctioning. 

Many mid-level to C-suite executives—especially women in leadership—don’t burn out because they’re incapable. They burn out because they’re highly capable. They step in early, smooth things over, anticipate problems, absorb emotional labor, and carry invisible responsibilities that never appear on their job description. From the outside, it looks like exceptional leadership. On the inside, it feels exhausting, lonely, and unsustainable. 

Nicole breaks down: 

• What overfunctioning leadership really is—and why most leaders don’t recognize it in themselves
• The subtle signs of leadership burnout before it becomes a crisis
• How emotional labor and invisible work disproportionately impact women leaders
• Why overfunctioning unintentionally prevents teams from rising
• The difference between control-based leadership and sustainable, calm authority
• How to shift from urgency and over-responsibility to clarity, boundaries, and flow

Drawing from her work coaching senior executives in Fortune 500 companies, Nicole explains why nearly 60% of leaders report feeling burned out—and how releasing what isn’t yours to carry can dramatically improve clarity, confidence, decision-making, and team performance.
 
This episode is an invitation to redefine brave leadership. Because leadership development isn’t about doing more—it’s about choosing one small brave move that brings you back into alignment.
 
Listeners will walk away with practical insight into preventing burnout, setting leadership boundaries, empowering teams, and leading with steadiness instead of control.
 
🎁 Bonus Resource: Download the free Over-Functioning Leader Reset Workbook to identify what you're carrying, release what isn't yours, and lead with sustainable courage.
 
If you’re a mid-level to C-suite leader ready to own your growth, reduce burnout, and build a high-performing, empowered team—this episode is for you.

Work with Nicole Bianchi⬇️
🎤Book Nicole Bianchi as your next keynote speaker
🏅Hire Nicole Bianchi to coach you or your leadership team
🗣️Get certified in the Five Tough Talks
📖Check out Nicole Bianchi's books, often referred to as corporate survival guides, Small Brave Moves and Five Tough Talks

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Small Brave Mondays Newsletter

In this episode of the Small Brave Moves Podcast, Nicole Bianchi is joined by Melissa Hurrington—CFO & VP of Operations at Premier Claims, LinkedIn Top Voice, keynote speaker, and advocate for women in leadership.

 Melissa gets real about the unseen work of self-leadership—moving from “performing” to leading authentically. She shares how she traded the polished “CFO costume” for unapologetic authenticity, how she reframed imposter syndrome, set healthy boundaries to beat burnout, and why courage doesn’t come before action—it comes because of it. 

We also get candid about emotional regulation, saying no without guilt, and practical ways to pause, reset, and lead with intention.

This episode is perfect for leaders who want actionable strategies to lead bravely, show up authentically, and sustain high performance.

If you’re ready to ditch the mask and lead with truth, heart, and results, this conversation is your catalyst.

Work with Nicole Bianchi⬇️
🎤Book Nicole Bianchi as your next keynote speaker
🏅Hire Nicole Bianchi to coach you or your leadership team
🗣️Get certified in the Five Tough Talks
📖Check out Nicole Bianchi's books, often referred to as corporate survival guides, Small Brave Moves and Five Tough Talks

Find Nicole Bianchi👇
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Small Brave Mondays Newsletter

In this episode of Small Brave Moves, Nicole Bianchi sits down with Nash Mahupete, President & CEO of QLI, a nationally renowned leader in brain injury and spinal cord injury rehabilitation. 

Nash shares his 25-year journey from CNA to CEO, revealing how purpose-driven leadership, mission focused leadership, and a deep passion for people development can transform organizations and lives. 

Nash breaks down how QLI’s people-first culture sees and grows every team member, why mission alignment matters more than titles, and how leaders can make brave conversations and role realignment compassionate and effective. 

Whether you’re growing as a new manager or steering an organization from the C-Suite this episode is a masterclass in purpose-driven leadership, culture building, and making Small Brave Moves that compound into extraordinary impact. 

Follow along with Nash's journey👇
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Work with Nicole Bianchi⬇️
🎤Book Nicole Bianchi as your next keynote speaker
🏅Hire Nicole Bianchi to coach you or your leadership team
🗣️Get certified in the Five Tough Talks
📖Check out Nicole Bianchi's books, often referred to as corporate survival guides, Small Brave Moves and Five Tough Talks

Find Nicole Bianchi👇
LinkedIn

Small Brave Mondays Newsletter

In this powerful episode of the Small Brave Moves podcast, Nicole Bianchi sits down with Melanie Marshall — award-winning speaker, filmmaker, and former BBC journalist who spent two decades reporting from some of the most dangerous places on earth. 

From war zones in Afghanistan to political unrest in Tripoli, Mel learned what it means to lead through chaos, regulate emotions under pressure, and find hope in uncertainty.

Together, Nicole and Mel explore:

• Why emotional regulation and self-awareness is the foundation of strong leadership
• The link between hope, bravery, joy and high-performing teams
• How to balance courage with care in high-stakes moments

Whether you’re managing a crisis, leading a team through change, or simply trying to stay centered amid chaos, this conversation will remind you that bravery isn’t loud — it’s intentional, grounded, and deeply human.

Tune in to discover how you can build the mindset, presence, and emotional resilience that define truly brave leadership.

Follow along with Mel's journey👇
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Work with Nicole Bianchi⬇️
🎤Book Nicole Bianchi as your next keynote speaker
🏅Hire Nicole Bianchi to coach you or your leadership team
🗣️Get certified in the Five Tough Talks
📖Check out Nicole Bianchi's books, often referred to as corporate survival guides, Small Brave Moves and Five Tough Talks

Find Nicole Bianchi👇
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Small Brave Mondays Newsletter

In this episode of the Small Brave Moves podcast, Nicole Bianchi is joined by Damon Lembi, CEO of Learnit, three-time bestselling author, and host of the Learn It All podcast. With over 2 million learners served, Damon has proven that companies who outlearn, outlast.

Nicole and Damon discuss:

• How to build a culture of learning and bravery in today’s uncertain workplace
• Why middle managers struggle most with brave conversations and how to support them
• What Hall of Fame coaches from his past as an athlete taught him about resilience, and overcoming imposter syndrome

Whether you’re a CEO, people leader, or emerging manager, this conversation will challenge you to rethink how you approach tough conversations, talent decisions, and leadership growth.

Learn practical strategies to build confidence, foster alignment, and turn learning into action so your team doesn’t just survive, but thrives.

Follow along with Damon's journey👇
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Work with Nicole Bianchi⬇️
🎤Book Nicole Bianchi as your next keynote speaker
🏅Hire Nicole Bianchi to coach you or your leadership team
🗣️Get certified in the Five Tough Talks
📖Check out Nicole Bianchi's books, often referred to as corporate survival guides, Small Brave Moves and Five Tough Talks

Find Nicole Bianchi👇
LinkedIn

Small Brave Mondays Newsletter

Authenticity isn’t a buzzword - it’s the brave, human way of leading that today’s workplace craves. In this episode of Small Brave Moves, Nicole Bianchi explores what it really means to lead with authenticity instead of polished perfection and performance.

You’ll learn:

• Why 75% of employees want more authenticity from their leaders
• The hidden costs of drifting away from your true self in leadership
• How authenticity fuels trust, engagement, and team performance
• Practical Small Brave Moves to realign with your values and lead from your truth

Whether it’s admitting a mistake, giving honest feedback, or showing up as the human behind the role, authentic leadership is one of the most generous and impactful gifts you can give your team. 

Tune in to discover how to define your leadership philosophy, build your personal ethos, and model the realness your workplace needs most.

If this resonated with you, Nicole has created something to help you go deeper.

👉Download the free workbook: “How to Lead as Your Authentic Self” It’s packed with guided reflection questions, prompts, and exercises to help you find your purpose, establish your personal ethos, and start living and leading as your bravest and most authentic self.

Because the world doesn’t need more perfect leaders. It needs more real ones.

And it starts with you.

Work with Nicole Bianchi⬇️
🎤Book Nicole Bianchi as your next keynote speaker
🏅Hire Nicole Bianchi to coach you or your leadership team
🗣️Get certified in the Five Tough Talks
📖Check out Nicole Bianchi's books, often referred to as corporate survival guides, Small Brave Moves and Five Tough Talks

Find Nicole Bianchi👇
LinkedIn

Small Brave Mondays Newsletter

Bravery isn’t a personality trait - it’s a skill. And when you develop it, the return on investment is massive. 

In this episode of the Small Brave Moves podcast, we're discussing the impact of one of the most underestimated skills in leadership - bravery. Not the big, cinematic kind, but the everyday bravery that drives trust, innovation, alignment, and performance.

Safe leadership feels comfortable, but it’s costly. Avoiding tough talks, delaying decisions, or playing small drains trust, slows progress, and fuels disengagement.

I'm unpacking how brave leadership delivers real results by:

• Unlocking faster, clearer decision-making
• Building a culture of accountability and ownership
• Accelerating innovation through psychological safety
• Boosting employee engagement and retention
• Driving team alignment that saves time and increases impact

If you’ve been holding back on making the call, having the conversation, or taking the next step forward, this episode will show you the real cost of staying in your comfort zone and the rewards of leading with courage.

Because bravery isn’t optional in today’s workplace - it’s your competitive edge.

Work with Nicole Bianchi⬇️
🎤Book Nicole Bianchi as your next keynote speaker
🏅Hire Nicole Bianchi to coach you or your leadership team
🗣️Get certified in the Five Tough Talks
📖Check out Nicole Bianchi's books, often referred to as corporate survival guides, Small Brave Moves and Five Tough Talks

Find Nicole Bianchi👇
LinkedIn

Small Brave Mondays Newsletter

Feedback is one of the most powerful tools a leader has - and one of the hardest to use well. Too often, leaders avoid it, sugarcoat it, or deliver it so vaguely that it never lands. The result? Teams left guessing, disengaged, and missing out on their full potential.

In this episode of the Small Brave Moves podcast, we unpack:

•  Why most leaders struggle to give feedback (and how it holds teams back)
•  The difference between empty praise, harsh critique, and feedback that actually helps people grow
• Three types of brave feedback you can start practicing right away
• Practical scripts and examples you can use in your next conversation
• A weekly challenge to turn feedback into a rhythm, not a rarity

You’ll learn how to give feedback that feels less like confrontation and more like an invitation - one that fuels performance, strengthens trust, and transforms relationships. Because your team doesn’t need you to be flawless. They need you to be honest, kind, and brave.

Work with Nicole Bianchi⬇️
🎤Book Nicole Bianchi as your next keynote speaker
🏅Hire Nicole Bianchi to coach you or your leadership team
🗣️Get certified in the Five Tough Talks
📖Check out Nicole Bianchi's books, often referred to as corporate survival guides, Small Brave Moves and Five Tough Talks

Find Nicole Bianchi👇
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Small Brave Mondays Newsletter

In this episode of the Small Brave Moves podcast, we explore one of the most overlooked truths about leadership and culture: you don’t need a title to make an impact.

When uncertainty is swirling - reorgs, layoffs, AI disruption, hybrid confusion - it’s tempting to shrink back and think "what difference can I make?" But the reality is, every Slack message, every meeting comment, every hallway conversation sends a signal that shapes your team’s energy and culture.

Join me for an honest discussion about: 

• Why brave leadership isn’t always big or loud—it’s often small, consistent acts that ripple outward
• How cynicism, apathy, and disengagement spread (and how care and courage spread faster)
• The contagious power of showing up authentically and modeling what matters
• Three small brave moves you can practice this week to shift the energy in your workplace 

Whether you lead a team of one or one thousand, the way you show up matters. 

Bravery isn’t top-down—it’s inside out. And when you step into the power of individual contribution, you create the kind of culture where people feel safe to care, contribute, and thrive.

Work with Nicole Bianchi⬇️
🎤Book Nicole Bianchi as your next keynote speaker
🏅Hire Nicole Bianchi to coach you or your leadership team
🗣️Get certified in the Five Tough Talks
📖Check out Nicole Bianchi's books, often referred to as corporate survival guides, Small Brave Moves and Five Tough Talks

Find Nicole Bianchi👇
LinkedIn

Small Brave Mondays Newsletter