The CoCreators by CoCreate Work

This episode is our last combined episode of the year, and we're closing it out by sharing the books that shaped our thinking, challenged our perspectives, and kept us turning pages late into the night. From nonfiction that gave us language for the work we do to fiction that transported us to other worlds, these are the reads that resonated most with us in 2025.

La'Kita's Top Reads

On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder

20 lessons from the 20th century on resisting authoritarianism. The lesson that stuck most: "Do not obey in advance"—don't comply or shift norms before you're required to. A call to action that feels urgent and applicable beyond politics.

Living in Wisdom by Devi Brown

A guide to embodying your authentic self, embracing grief, and developing self-mastery. All the work is internal—journaling, meditation, being in nature—pulled together in a comprehensive way that challenges you to make these practices a way of being, not just productivity tools.

Positive Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler by Susana M. Morris

A biography that explores how Octavia Butler lived her life—her commitment to her calling despite doubt and rejection, her practice of manifestation ("so be it, see to it"), and how she created her own circumstances. Essential reading for anyone interested in creativity and creative leadership.

Authentic by Jodi-Ann Burey

A powerful exploration of how workplaces use "authenticity" disingenuously and what it actually means to be authentic. Filled with stories from women of color, Black women, and disabled women. Key line: "Authenticity invites us to declare I am not a worker, I am a person at work."

The Source by Dr. Tara Swart

Combines neuroscience with manifestation and intention-setting. A former psychiatrist turned coach who makes clear these are ancient ideas that neuroscience is just now catching up to. Step-by-step guidance on visualization, intention setting, and rewiring your brain.

Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty (Fiction)

A woman stands up on a flight and predicts exactly when passengers will die—and the predictions start coming true. Weaves together fate, science, coincidence, and anxiety in a page-turner that explores how much we make our own luck.

Chloe's Top Reads

Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams

An eye-opening indictment of Facebook and tech culture that shifted perspectives on Meta products. A reminder that what we see isn't the whole story and it's worth digging deeper.

Be Ready When Luck Happens by Ina Garten

A memoir that beautifully acknowledges the role of both hard work and luck in success. Ina's honest about being in the right place at the right time with the right opportunities—and the privilege that created those circumstances.

The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson

The story of the Great Migration of African Americans from the 1940s-70s. A transformational read that raised the question: why wasn't this taught in school? Essential reading, especially for white folks in the US, to understand systemic racism and how recent this history is.

Uncompete by Ruchika Malhotra

Challenges everything we've been told about the benefits of competition. From being placed in "gifted and talented" programs as kids to operating in capitalist systems as adults, we're set up to compete—but this book offers a different path through abundance and collaboration.

The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson (Fiction)

Science fiction exploring different timelines and realities. Character-driven with themes of identity, privilege, and colonialism. The kind of fiction that makes you pause and think—and talk about what you're reading.

Thanks for being with us this year. As always, thank you for your leadership.

Resources:

• Leading through growth takes intention. Our capabilities deck shows how we help founders and leadership teams lead boldly and build cultures that scale.
• Think coaching might be right for you? Schedule a free consultation to explore how we can help you step into your next level of leadership.

We would love to connect with you!

• CoCreate Work on LinkedIn
• CoCreate Work on Instagram
• La’Kita on Instagram
• Chloe on Instagram
• Visit our Podcast Page

Questions you would like us to answer on the podcast? Email us at [email protected]

This episode is for anyone staring down the end of the year wondering if they "succeeded"—comparing themselves to external markers, measuring their worth by what didn't happen, or feeling behind despite doing the work. We explore how to define success on your own terms, celebrate what actually matters, and set yourself up for meaningful progress ahead.

How do I define success as I reflect on the past year and plan for the next?

• Ground yourself in your actual goals – Compare yourself to what you originally set out to do, not what others achieved or external markers say you should have done.
• Account for pivots – Document when your plans changed. Those adjustments often represent good leadership, not failure.
• Balance input and output goals – Focus on what you control (inputs like sending weekly newsletters) alongside desired outcomes (outputs like business growth). Input goals give you agency and realistic measures of success.
• Get specific with your vision – "Getting a job" isn't enough. Define the job you want, at the company you want, doing work you want to do.
• Give yourself grace – Sometimes success is showing up through a hard year. No one else knows the battles you fought.

Success isn't just about hitting January's goals. It's about acknowledging what shifted, celebrating the inputs you controlled, and defining what matters to you—not what external markers say should matter.

• Ruchika Malhotra, Uncompete: Rejecting Competition to Unlock Success

Resources:

• Leading through growth takes intention. Our capabilities deck shows how we help founders and leadership teams lead boldly and build cultures that scale.
• Think coaching might be right for you? Schedule a free consultation to explore how we can help you step into your next level of leadership.

We would love to connect with you!

• CoCreate Work on LinkedIn
• CoCreate Work on Instagram
• La’Kita on Instagram
• Chloe on Instagram
• Visit our Podcast Page

Questions you would like us to answer on the podcast? Email us at [email protected]

This episode is for anyone who finds themselves caught off guard in meetings or difficult conversations—when your chest tightens, your mind races, and you struggle to respond from your best self. We talk about why activation happens, what to do in the moment, and how to build capacity so these moments happen less often.

What do I do in the moment when I'm having a conversation and I feel activated?

• Recognize the fear response – Activation is your body going into fight, flight, freeze, or fawn. The first sign is somatic—chest tightening, shallow breathing, body tension.
• Use breath to get grounded – Box breathing (in 4, hold 4, out 4, hold 4) gets you back in your body. Then assess: Can I pause this conversation?
• Get curious, not defensive – Ask clarifying questions and challenge your assumptions. Someone asking lots of questions may be seeking understanding, not attacking you.
• Do the deeper work later – After the moment passes, explore what activated you, what old story you're protecting, and what capacity-building you need.
• Build resilience when you're calm – Use assessments and tools, practice self-awareness, celebrate small wins, and don't underestimate the basics like sleep and hydration.

In the moment: breathe, pause if possible, get curious. Long-term: build capacity through self-awareness and tools so you respond from your best self, not your scared self.

• Susan David, Emotional Agility
• Brené Brown, Dare to Lead
• Amy Gallo, Getting Along
• Gretchen Rubin, The Four Tendencies
• Energy Leadership Index assessment
• GlobeSmart assessment

Resources:

• Leading through growth takes intention. Our capabilities deck shows how we help founders and leadership teams lead boldly and build cultures that scale.
• Think coaching might be right for you? Schedule a free consultation to explore how we can help you step into your next level of leadership.

We would love to connect with you!

• CoCreate Work on LinkedIn
• CoCreate Work on Instagram
• La’Kita on Instagram
• Chloe on Instagram
• Visit our Podcast Page

Questions you would like us to answer on the podcast? Email us at [email protected]

This episode is for anyone who feels pressure to excel at everything and worries about exposing their weaknesses. We talk about why trying to be good at all things is exhausting and unsustainable, how to identify and own your actual strengths, and how to build teams where people operate in their zones of genius instead of striving for impossible perfection.

What if people see the things I'm not good at?

• Start with strengths, not gaps – Before you can productively address weaknesses, you need clarity on what you're genuinely great at. Use assessments, reach out to past colleagues, or ask: "What did you love about working with me?"
• Name your zones – Use the four zones from The Big Leap: incompetence, competence, excellence, and genius. This language gives you permission to acknowledge gaps without shame.
• Challenge the "good at everything" trap – Corporate performance reviews and business culture often push people to rate well across the board. This drives exhaustion instead of excellence.
• Model transparency as a leader – The best leaders openly acknowledge what isn't their strength and point to team members who excel in those areas. Teams respect this far more than false competence.
• Build genius teams – Stop looking for people who you think are geniuses in every category. Instead, bring together diverse strengths that complement each other.
• Get realistic about what "perfect" means – Ask: Does this actually need to be perfect? Or is 80% good enough for the business goal? Arbitrary standards of perfection create unnecessary pressure.
• Notice your personal signals – Pay attention to when insecurity kicks in. For Chloe, it's "I can do that too!" For La'Kita, it's reaching for perfection in areas with too big a gap. Learn your pattern.
• Prevent burnout through alignment – Burnout happens when you spend energy reaching for things that aren't possible. Operating in your zone of genius creates long-term sustainability.
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Transparency about strengths and gaps + shared language + genius teams = better outcomes, less burnout, and permission to be human.

• Gay Hendricks, The Big Leap (zones of incompetence, competence, excellence, and genius)

Resources:

• Leading through growth takes intention. Our capabilities deck shows how we help founders and leadership teams lead boldly and build cultures that scale.
• Think coaching might be right for you? Schedule a free consultation to explore how we can help you step into your next level of leadership.

We would love to connect with you!

• CoCreate Work on LinkedIn
• CoCreate Work on Instagram
• La’Kita on Instagram
• Chloe on Instagram
• Visit our Podcast Page

Questions you would like us to answer on the podcast? Email us at [email protected]

This episode is for anyone who feels that nudge toward something new and isn’t totally sure how to move forward. We talk about how to trust the calling, work through limiting beliefs, and put real structure around your next step.

The Big Question

What am I being called to do next, and how do I actually get there?

What We Cover

• Trust the vision – If you have the idea, it’s for you. That calling is data. Start by deciding you’re willing to explore it.
• Surface the blockers – Fear, other people’s opinions, the job market, sunk cost — name what’s keeping the idea in the background so you can address it directly.
• Come back to values – Ask, “Which of my values is this connected to?” When your calling is values-aligned, affirmations and decisions get easier.
• Use a framework that fits you – You can come at transition from spiritual, practical, or energetic angles. Pick the tool that helps you see your next move.
• Vision it in detail – Picture the future — what it looks like, how you feel, who’s with you. Visioning pulls the goal from “idea” into “reality.”
• Make personal working agreements – These are your values in action. Example: “I don’t say yes to work that compromises my freedom,” or “I don’t train injured.”
• Get support – Name what help you need — partner, coach, community, logistics — so the transition doesn’t sit on willpower alone.

Key Takeaway

Calling + values + vision + agreements + support = a workable path through transition.

Resources Mentioned

• Gay Hendricks, The Big Leap
• Liz Tran, The Karma of Success
• Energy Leadership Index (iPEC)
• Human Design
• La’Kita Williams & Chloe Andersen, To Put Your Company Values into Action, Create Working Agreements, Harvard Business Review
• Gather & Grow (under upcoming events) at The Ladies Room Seattle

Resources:

• Leading through growth takes intention. Our capabilities deck shows how we help founders and leadership teams lead boldly and build cultures that scale.
• Think coaching might be right for you? Schedule a free consultation to explore how we can help you step into your next level of leadership.

We would love to connect with you!

• CoCreate Work on LinkedIn
• CoCreate Work on Instagram
• La’Kita on Instagram
• Chloe on Instagram
• Visit our Podcast Page

Questions you would like us to answer on the podcast? Email us at [email protected]

Welcome to a special episode of The Co-Creators Podcast! This week, we're diving into a question that could change everything: Why should you invest in yourself?

You may have noticed we didn't release an episode last week—and here's why: we were walking the talk! We invested in ourselves by attending a powerful retreat with our coach and coaching collective, and what we experienced was too good not to share.

In this episode, you'll hear from incredible leaders who opened up about their own journeys with self-investment. Their stories are raw, real, and refreshingly different—each one offering a unique perspective that might be exactly what you need to hear right now.

Featured Guests:

• Joann Lee Wagner - JELW HR | LinkedIn
• Jessica Samet - Sunshine Art Space | @sunshineartspace
• Christy Renée - The Ladies Room | @ladiesroom206
• Bridgette Andersen - The Free Spirit Kitchen | @thefreespiritkitchen

Ready to be inspired? Whether you're on the fence about coaching, craving community, or wondering if investing in yourself is really worth it—this episode will give you the clarity (and maybe the push) you've been looking for.

Resources:

• Leading through growth takes intention. Our capabilities deck shows how we help founders and leadership teams lead boldly and build cultures that scale.
• Think coaching might be right for you? Schedule a free consultation to explore how we can help you step into your next level of leadership.

We would love to connect with you!

• CoCreate Work on LinkedIn
• CoCreate Work on Instagram
• La’Kita on Instagram
• Chloe on Instagram
• Visit our Podcast Page

Questions you would like us to answer on the podcast? Email us at [email protected]

This week, we're exploring how leaders can navigate unexpected disruptions and rapid change, drawing from The Prepared Leader by Erica H. James and Lynn Perry Wooten.

The Big Question: How can leaders stay grounded and prepared when change hits fast?

Phase 1: Detection

• Sense-making - Scan for early warning signs
• Perspective-taking - Gather diverse viewpoints

Phase 2: Preparation & Prevention

• Influence - Build trust now, not during crisis
• Organizational agility - Give people autonomy
• Creativity - Reframe problems as opportunities

Phase 3: Damage Containment

• Effective communication - Stay calm, be transparent
• Risk-taking - Make decisions without complete certainty

Phase 4: Recovery

• Resilience - Support autonomy and confidence
• Learning & reflection - Run retrospectives

Hope is an action word. Build these skills before crisis hits. If you micromanage, you're not building agility. Recovery isn't optional—make space for it.

Resources: The Prepared Leader by Erica H. James & Lynn Perry Wooten | Gravitas by Lisa Sun

Resources:

• Leading through growth takes intention. Our capabilities deck shows how we help founders and leadership teams lead boldly and build cultures that scale.
• Think coaching might be right for you? Schedule a free consultation to explore how we can help you step into your next level of leadership.

We would love to connect with you!

• CoCreate Work on LinkedIn
• CoCreate Work on Instagram
• La’Kita on Instagram
• Chloe on Instagram
• Visit our Podcast Page

Questions you would like us to answer on the podcast? Email us at [email protected]

We are re-sharing this episode from Season 1 about burnout as we are seeing a lot of it right now with our clients and partners. If you would like to hear more about burnout, check out Season 1. In this conversation, we wanted to remind you of the five non-traditional signs of burnout we highlighted in our very first episode:

Key Contributors of Burnout

1. You’re too far away from impact
2. You are not living or leading as the type of leader that you want to be
3. Are you living and addressing the other areas of your life? 
4. Working against your work style
5. Doing too much on your own

In this week's episode, we dive into these contributing factors and share tips on how you can work through burnout.

Resources:

• Leading through growth takes intention. Our capabilities deck shows how we help founders and leadership teams lead boldly and build cultures that scale.
• Think coaching might be right for you? Schedule a free consultation to explore how we can help you step into your next level of leadership.

We would love to connect with you!

• CoCreate Work on LinkedIn
• CoCreate Work on Instagram
• La’Kita on Instagram
• Chloe on Instagram
• Visit our Podcast Page

Questions you would like us to answer on the podcast? Email us at [email protected]

This week, we're challenging the deficit-focused mindset that dominates work culture and exploring why celebrating wins is essential for sustainable success and growth.

The Big Question: Why do we celebrate wins?

The Core Reasons:

1. Affirmation for the future: Celebrating wins proves you can achieve what you set out to do, building confidence for future challenges.
2. Gratitude and ownership: Acknowledging wins helps you recognize what's going well and your role in making it happen.
3. Breaking the negativity loop: Our performance-driven culture over-indexes on what's wrong. Celebrating wins gives you energy to tackle challenges without burning out.
4. The psychology works: Your brain can't process negatives—it naturally does more of what you focus on. Focus on wins, create more wins.

How to Start Celebrating Wins Today:

• Find your people: Identify someone who will genuinely celebrate with you, not diminish your success.
• Write them down: Journal your wins daily or weekly to reinforce what you did to make success possible.
• Bring it to your team: Start meetings with wins to model this practice for others.
• Hold the space sacred: When celebrating wins, resist listing what could be improved. Let wins stand on their own.

Key Takeaway: Celebrating wins and continuous improvement aren't mutually exclusive—they're partners. Stop waiting to acknowledge success. You'll have more energy, clarity, and momentum for everything else.

Your Assignment This Week: Write down your wins, share them with someone, celebrate with your team, and email us your wins at [email protected]—we'll celebrate with you!

Want to read more about what the research says?

On the power of small wins:

• The Power of Small Wins - Harvard Business Review

On how your brain reinforces what you focus on:

• Positive Reinforcement Mediated by Midbrain Dopamine Neurons - PLOS ONE

On why negative feedback rarely works:

• Negative Feedback Rarely Leads to Improvement - Harvard Business Review

On why negative self-talk undermines performance:

• Negative self-talk during sport performance - Journal of Sport Behavior

On approach vs. avoidance goals:

• Approaching Success, Avoiding the Undesired: Does Goal Type Matter? - Psychology Today

On the power of leader positivity:

• When Leaders Express Positivity Early On, Employees Perform Better - Harvard Business Review

On the brain's negativity bias:

• Our Brain's Negative Bias - Psychology Today
• Paradoxical Effects of Thought Suppression - Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

Resources:

• Leading through growth takes intention. Our capabilities deck shows how we help founders and leadership teams lead boldly and build cultures that scale.
• Think coaching might be right for you? Schedule a free consultation to explore how we can help you step into your next level of leadership.

We would love to connect with you!

• CoCreate Work on LinkedIn
• CoCreate Work on Instagram
• La’Kita on Instagram
• Chloe on Instagram
• Visit our Podcast Page

Questions you would like us to answer on the podcast? Email us at [email protected]

This week, we explore why asking for help feels like admitting defeat and how this mindset keeps us isolated when we could be achieving breakthrough results through collaboration.

The Big Question: Why do I treat asking for help like admitting defeat?

The 4 Key Blocks:

1. Fear of being a burden: Remember that people generally want to help, and healthy relationships require reciprocity—let others contribute to you too.
2. Not wanting unwanted advice: Set clear context about what you need—processing time, brainstorming, validation, or specific solutions.
3. Feeling like failure: Challenge the core belief that your value comes from figuring everything out independently. Ask yourself: Do I want to be right or successful?
4. Concern about others' perceptions: Reframe asking for help as co-creation and inclusion. The strongest leaders collaborate and show vulnerability.

Remember: Asking for help isn't defeat—it's how you create something bigger than you could build alone. You deserve support, and collaboration leads to breakthrough results.

Key Takeaway: The sum is greater than the parts. Stop treating independence as strength and start treating co-creation as the path to your best work.

Resources for this Episode: Uncompete by Ruchika T. Mahotra

Have a question for the show? Email [email protected]. Subscribe to our newsletter for written framework and prompts.

As always, thank you for your leadership.

Resources:

• Leading through growth takes intention. Our capabilities deck shows how we help founders and leadership teams lead boldly and build cultures that scale.
• Think coaching might be right for you? Schedule a free consultation to explore how we can help you step into your next level of leadership.

We would love to connect with you!

• CoCreate Work on LinkedIn
• CoCreate Work on Instagram
• La’Kita on Instagram
• Chloe on Instagram
• Visit our Podcast Page

Questions you would like us to answer on the podcast? Email us at [email protected]