• Leading without needing to be liked
• People-pleasing vs. performance
• Women, approval, and identity in leadership
• Corporate marketing under pressure
• Respect vs. likeability
• Managing energy and focus across roles
• Cultural communication strategies
• Career resilience after layoffs
• Internal clarity and purpose

00:00 – Intro: When likeability gets in the way
04:12 – Kim’s turning point: “It’s not about being liked”
08:40 – The corporate trap of performative leadership
12:30 – How she resets under pressure (with 3 kids and a big job)
16:45 – Navigating career shifts and layoffs
21:10 – Letting go of overexplaining
25:30 – Aligning with what actually matters
28:50 – Claire’s reflection: respect over approval
32:00 – Final takeaways: How to lead with less noise and more power

• How approval-seeking sabotages your authority as a leader
• Kim’s turning point that redefined how she shows up at work
• The difference between being nice vs. being respected
• How to lead across cultures without overexplaining
• Why “getting things done” often starts with saying less
• A mindset shift for women in leadership navigating burnout and balance

• CoinDesk Data and Indices
• Leadership under pressure
• Respect vs. likeability in leadership
• Career reinvention and resilience
• Balancing leadership and personal life
• Mental fitness practices
• The giving tree book

Follow Claire on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairehayek/⁠

Follow Kim on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-klemballa-80101812/

EWTR LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/empower-women-that-rock-inc/

EWTR Website: https://www.womenrock.world/

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📩 For free resources, upcoming masterclasses, or to join our next live webinar—click here:👉 ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/clairehayek⁠⁠

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The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast is produced by Claire Hayek. All opinions are those of the host and guests. For more leadership resources, visit www.mspteambuilding.com.