In this powerful episode, Nicole sits down with Dr. Katie Best, leadership consultant, professor at the London School of Economics, and author of The 10 Toughest Leadership Problems. Together they walk through Katie’s practical S.O.L.V.E. framework—five simple steps leaders can use to untangle problems, gain clarity, and take meaningful action.

Nicole and Katie explore today’s most common leadership challenges: decision fatigue, weak influence, disengaged teams, unclear strategy, performance issues, hybrid work confusion, and culture breakdowns. Through real examples and lively stories, they show leaders how to diagnose root causes, craft smarter solutions, and stay confident in the face of complexity.

Whether you’re leading a small team or an entire organization, this conversation gives you a toolkit you can use immediately. If you're ready to lead with more clarity, alignment, and vibrancy, this episode will help you S.O.L.V.E. what’s been holding you back.

Vibrant Highlights:

[00:02:58] The S.O.L.V.E. Framework Begins. Katie explains the first step—State the Problem—and why leaders must condense messy challenges into one crisp sentence.
[00:04:31] “Open the Box” Nicole and Katie dive into diagnosing root causes and how research, conversations, and curiosity reveal what’s really happening.
[00:08:20] Venture Forth! Katie (with exclamation point!) warns against overthinking and underacting—and the importance of taking real steps forward.
[00:22:49] Influence Isn’t Just Data—It’s Heart. Katie breaks down why the most persuasive leaders rely on inspiration, warmth, and trust—not spreadsheets.
[00:40:06] The Matryoshka Strategy Model. Katie introduces the “Russian dolls” metaphor for organizational alignment—and why everyone must see their piece of the strategy.

Connect with Katie:

Book: https://a.co/d/bSW98tE
Website: https://www.katiebest.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkatiebest/

Listen at vibrantculture.com/podcast or wherever you get your podcasts!
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