The Hard Skills

How do you live a fulfilling life? It’s not riches, it’s impact and legacy.  In this episode, you will learn how you can quantify mentoring, volunteering, and philanthropy so you can better understand how much impact you make every day, how to build and leave a rewarding legacy, and how to create a highly generative life. 

We all want to have impact, whether it is at work, at home, or in our communities. And while we are striving to make an impact, we might not even realize the impact we're already making! There is a way to find out about our impact and just how deep our footprint is by understanding mentorship, legacy, and generativity. We'll also unpack the emotional science behind mentorship—and how to give, find, and recognize it when it’s real. If you’ve ever craved guidance but didn’t know how to ask… or if you’ve been called a mentor without knowing what that really meant… this conversation will name what’s been missing.

***

ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Dr. Deborah Heiser is an applied developmental psychologist, Founder of My Legacy Tree, and author of The Mentorship Edge. She is a TEDx speaker, member of Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches, Thinkers 50 Radar List, expert contributor to Psychology Today and is also an Adjunct Professor.

***

IF YOU ENJOYED THIS EPISODE, CAN I ASK A FAVOR?

We do not receive any funding or sponsorship for this podcast. If you learned something and feel others could also benefit, please leave a positive review. Every review helps amplify our work and visibility. This is especially helpful for small women-owned boot-strapped businesses. Simply go to the bottom of the Apple Podcast page to enter a review. Thank you!

***

LINKS:

www.gotowerscope.com

https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-hard-skills-dr-mira-brancu-m0QzwsFiBGE/

https://deborahheiser.com/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-heiser-phd/ https://www.youtube.com/@DebbieHeiser 

https://substack.com/@deborahheiserphd

Tune in for this empowering conversation at TalkRadio.nyc

Ever wonder what it's like to start and keep a podcast going? For my 100th episode I'm celebrating by sharing some insights, lessons learned, surprising benefits, and the greatest challenges I've faced so far hosting a radio broadcast and podcast show.

Today we are celebrating the 100th episode of The Hard Skills!! It is no easy feat to show up consistently like this and plan things out each week, it’s also a great topic for this Season’s Focus on Endurance in Leadership. To celebrate 100 episodes, I’m going to “keep it 100” for you - I’m sharing:

- 3 reasons I started podcasting

- 4 insights about the time and cost resources needed

- 3 challenges about finding the right guests

- 4 unexpected benefits

- 3 mistakes and blunders

- 4 surprising successes, and 

- what I have found tp be the hardest part

That’s 22 insights and lessons learned over the course of the 100 episodes I’ve done. So come join me and get the inside peek behind the scenes!

www.gotowerscope.com

:#BehindTheScenes #PodcastingLife #TheHardSkills

Tune in for this empowering conversation at TalkRadio.nyc

Sport isn’t just a game—it’s a mirror of society and a powerful, untapped educational force with implications for life, learning, and leading. Tune in for an honest, inspiring, and research-backed conversation that might just change your perspectives on sports, yourself, and leadership.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:

In this episode, Dr. Erianne Weight joins us to examine the leadership pipeline in sport—from the foundational levels of youth coaching to the high-stakes environments of college and professional athletics. We explore the systemic flaws that limit both athlete and coach development, and how these challenges reflect broader issues in leadership and education. As Dr. Weight puts it, "If we truly want to develop leaders and experts—not just in sport, but in life—we have to stop treating sport like a sideshow and start recognizing it as a core part of education." Dr. Weight will describe how sport and education should go hand-in-hand and how it can be a powerful vehicle for developing expertise, identity, and leadership capacity. This conversation is for anyone interested in personal growth, organizational change, or rethinking the role of sport in society.

***

ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Dr. Erianne Weight is a Professor of Sport Administration at UNC-Chapel Hill and Director of the Center for Research in Intercollegiate Athletics. A former Division I heptathlete, she holds a Ph.D. in Sport Management from Indiana University, an M.B.A. from the University of Utah, and a Bachelor's degree in Exercise and Sport Science. She has published over 100 peer-reviewed works on college sport, leadership, and systemic reform. Her research focuses on aligning athletic systems with educational values, advancing athlete well-being, and developing pathways for expertise development. Passionate about education and equity, Dr. Weight is helping shape the future of sport through both scholarship and practice.

***

IF YOU ENJOYED THIS EPISODE, CAN I ASK A FAVOR?

We do not receive any funding or sponsorship for this podcast. If you learned something and feel others could also benefit, please leave a positive review. Every review helps amplify our work and visibility. This is especially helpful for small women-owned boot-strapped businesses. Simply go to the bottom of the Apple Podcast page to enter a review. Thank you!

***

LINKS:

www.gotowerscope.com

https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-hard-skills-dr-mira-brancu-m0QzwsFiBGE/

www.erianneweight.com

#SportIsScience #LeadershipAndAthletics #LearningAndAthletics #TheHardSkills #LeadershipDevelopment

Tune in for this empowering conversation at TalkRadio.nyc

Are you the kind of person who takes pride in sticking it out during difficult work situation to the point where you don’t always know when it’s time to move on or have any strategy for how to know when to endure and when to move on? We can definitely all grow from those tough experiences. But there is also growth in the wisdom gained from knowing how to strategically use the right timing to move on. 

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:

Dr. Sonja Batten has taken multiple bold moves in her career, moving across sectors and leadership roles. In this episode, we'll take an insider's look into what one leader learned (good and bad) about taking big leaps, especially when others might not. 

***

ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Dr. Sonja Batten is an experienced and transformational leader, with demonstrated success in the private sector consulting, government health care, and nonprofit industries. Sonja has provided her unique blend of candid, decisive, and sometimes vulnerable leadership in policy, administrative, clinical, research, and academic contexts, having served as an executive at a Fortune 500 company, a Chief Clinical Officer at a fast-growing nonprofit, and a Senior Executive in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. She was also the first Deputy Director of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury, as well as the first Associate Director for Women’s Health Research at Yale University. In addition to being a licensed clinical psychologist, she is also a Certified Executive Coach, and Change Management Practitioner, and provides training to mental health practitioners around in the world on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Dr. Batten has expertise in 

authentic leadership style and voice and has authored two books and dozens of scientific articles. 

***

IF YOU ENJOYED THIS EPISODE, CAN I ASK A FAVOR?

We do not receive any funding or sponsorship for this podcast. If you learned something and feel others could also benefit, please leave a positive review. Every review helps amplify our work and visibility. This is especially helpful for small women-owned boot-strapped businesses. Simply go to the bottom of the Apple Podcast page to enter a review. Thank you!

***

LINKS:

www.gotowerscope.com

https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-hard-skills-dr-mira-brancu-m0QzwsFiBGE/

www.flexibleedgesolutions.com 

www.sonjabatten.com

#FederalCareer

#FindingYourVoice

#CareerPath

#ItsAllInTheTiming

#TheHardSkills

Tune in for this empowering conversation at TalkRadio.nyc

What if the way your organization measures success is quietly setting you up to fail? What if you've been measuring the wrong things to meet a strategic outcome. This episode unpacks how avoiding failure—not just chasing wins—might be the smarter strategic move, and a smart farmework for how to do it. 

We’re not just challenging metrics—we’re rethinking meaning. In this conversation with Mark L. Vincent, we explore what organizations don’t measure, why qualitative signals matter more than they seem, and how chasing only what’s easy to quantify can quietly corrode strategic progress.

You’ll hear how seasoned leaders fall into traps by overlooking process in favor of performance, and how shifting your lens to include failure-prevention and systems-level insight can transform how you lead. This isn’t another conversation about KPIs—it’s a deep dive into the hidden architecture of impact. If you’ve ever been part of a strategy that looked good on paper but broke down in practice, this episode will name what you felt but couldn’t quite explain.

***

ABOUT OUR GUEST:

A Process Consulting pioneer and Systems Convener with more than 30 years of service as an Executive Advisor and Corporate Board Member, Mark's Executive Advising practice walks alongside a global Client base, including artful convening and facilitation of organizational systems facing complex scenarios. Mark established and guided Design Group International, the Society for Process Consulting, and Maestro-level leaders. A content contributor across various channels and a frequent dynamic presenter, his latest book, Listening Helping Learning, reveals the core competencies of Process Consulting and how to develop help in partnership with Clients. Dividing time between Boise, St. Louis, and frequent travel, he is committed to the hope of our grandchildren's grandchildren. 

***

IF YOU ENJOYED THIS EPISODE, CAN I ASK A FAVOR?

We do not receive any funding or sponsorship for this podcast. If you learned something and feel others could also benefit, please leave a positive review. Every review helps amplify our work and visibility. This is especially helpful for small women-owned boot-strapped businesses. Simply go to the bottom of the Apple Podcast page to enter a review. Thank you!

***

LINKS:

www.marklvincent.com

www.maestrolevelleaders.com 

www.gotowerscope.com

https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-hard-skills-dr-mira-brancu-m0QzwsFiBGE/

:#processconsulting #systemsconvening #TheHardSkills

Tune in for this empowering conversation at TalkRadio.nyc

Imagine doing everything “right” — and still feeling like it’s not enough. This episode of The Hard Skills isn’t just about burnout or ambition — we’re exposing the invisible blocks that sabotage even the most successful women — and the real shifts that unlock creative power, self-trust, and meaningful momentum. If you’ve ever felt overqualified but undervalued, this one will hit home. 

You’ve got the title, the accolades, the resume. So why does it still feel like something’s missing? This isn’t imposter syndrome. It’s the result of trying to lead from a leadership and achievement model that was never built with you in mind. In this episode of The Hard Skills, we go beneath the surface of traditional success with former military officer and federal executive turned woman-centered leadership coach, Tina Parker — someone who led 70 all-male drill sergeants through the biggest training overhaul in Air Force history while navigating cancer, loss, motherhood, and reinvention. If you’ve ever been told to “just go for it” and wondered why that doesn’t work for you, Tina’s story — and her insights — will connect the dots.

You’ll learn:

- Why traditional success strategies leave women stuck or burned out

- The deeper reasons women undervalue their lived experience — and how to change it

- A practical path to move from reactive, hustle-based leadership to creative, aligned action

***

ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Tina Parker is a Visionary Leadership Coach and TEDx Speaker bringing a heart-centered, science-backed approach to leadership and personal transformation. With nearly 25 years of experience as a military officer, C-level executive, and business owner, Tina understands the high stakes of leadership—and the toll it can take on our wellbeing.  Her own transformative journey followed profound life challenges—including the loss of a child, a cancer diagnosis, and a divorce—prompting her to find a new way to lead holistically. More than two decades as a trusted advisor to hundreds of leaders and years of study earning certifications in Brain Health, Transformational Mindset, Conscious Leadership Facilitation, and Woman-Centered Coaching, led her to develop her coaching company Lead Outside the Lines: guiding visionary women to step into their Authentic Power, so they can live, lead, and love with clarity, courage, and confidence.

***

IF YOU ENJOYED THIS EPISODE, CAN I ASK A FAVOR?

We do not receive any funding or sponsorship for this podcast. If you learned something and feel others could also benefit, please leave a positive review. Every review helps amplify our work and visibility. This is especially helpful for small women-owned boot-strapped businesses. Simply go to the bottom of the Apple Podcast page to enter a review. Thank you!

***

LINKS:

www.gotowerscope.com

https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-hard-skills-dr-mira-brancu-m0QzwsFiBGE/

https://leadoutsidethelines.com/

https://leadoutsidethelines.com/vwa

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tpsunshine/

FREE EBOOK: The 10 Key Shifts Visionary Women Must Make To Step Into Their Authentic Power—Without Apology: https://leadoutsidethelines.com/10keysebook

#LeadOutsidetheLines #VisionaryWomen #UnlearnSuccess #HighAchievingWomen #RewriteTheRules

Tune in for this empowering conversation at TalkRadio.nyc

Ever felt like you’re working nonstop but still falling short? This episode cracks open the myth of busyness and builds a bold new definition of real productivity — one that actually holds up in today’s complex, chaotic work world. Because endurance in leadership isn’t about doing more — it’s about doing what matters, for the long haul.

Imagine this: You’re checking every box, attending every meeting, and still wondering: Is any of this actually moving the needle? Or you are a manager or leader wondering, "Is this the best I can get out of my people? Are the performing at their highest levels? Are we efficient enough?" In this episode, we pull apart the illusion of productivity that keeps high-performing teams spinning and introduce a sharper, saner standard rooted in long-term impact. You’ll hear insights gained from a study of 30 senior leaders across industries who’ve worked with the most productive people and teams of their careers — and what they’ve learned about real, sustainable output. We explore why the old metrics are failing, what effective leaders do differently, and how to reset the conversation about work that actually matters. If you're ready to stop sprinting on autopilot and start leading with intention, hit play.

Emma Browning is a management consultant and founder of Paradox Consulting Partners, a woman--owned consulting company and Certified B Corporation that aligns talent strategy with business strategy to create high-performing, great places for all to work. She has her MBA from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business and has advised hundreds of clients including Fortune 100 and 500 companies over her 20-year consulting career. She is an expert in helping organizations operate both productively and equitably through structure, process, and systems design.

www.linkedin.com/in/emmabrowning

https://paradoxcp.com

#RedefiningProductivity #SustainableLeadershipHabits #BusyVsProductive #WorkThatActuallyMatters #TheHardSkills

Tune in for this empowering conversation at TalkRadio.nyc

What happens when diplomacy becomes avoidance and truth-telling becomes backlash? In this raw solo episode, Dr. Mira Brancu shares two very real, very different stories that led her to rethink how—and when—we speak up. If you've ever struggled to find the right words at the right time (or said nothing at all), this one’s for you.

In this candid and timely episode, Dr. Mira Brancu explores the complex dance between truth-telling and diplomacy in leadership and team dynamics. Prompted by a last-minute guest cancellation—and an emergency surgery of her own—Mira contrasts two real-life situations that raise important questions about responsibility, trust, and communication. She reflects on her personal journey from being celebrated for diplomacy to realizing its limits when it comes to confronting dysfunction. Drawing on research, client stories, and her own leadership path, Mira offers a framework for knowing when and how to speak up, including practical tools, reflection prompts, and sentence starters for navigating hard conversations without causing harm—or staying silent. Whether you lead teams or work within one, this episode helps you build the courage and skill to surface truth with clarity, care, and impact.

Dr. Mira Brancu, host of The Hard Skills, is a consulting and coaching psychologist who specializes in leadership identity development and building adaptive, high-performing teams. She is also an Associate Professor at Duke University, author of the Millennials Guide to Workplace Politics and companion workbook, and a Psychology Today columnist. Some of her specialties include working with leadership “misfits,” politics, upheaval, and transitions. Her award-winning social impact firm, Towerscope, empowers and elevates leaders and teams within disrupted and complex learning and innovation industries. 

www.gotowerscope.com

#TruthTellingWithCare #DiplomaticLeadership #SpeakUpSkillfully #LeadershipDevelopment #TheHardSkills

Tune in for this empowering conversation at TalkRadio.nyc

What are the common elements required to lead when you work with global or international teams? 

Because leadership is a social construct, it is influenced by social norms that drive how we define what a leader is, what characteristics we expect of them, and how we expect them to appear. However, there is one common element: all leaders must create a thriving environment for employees and by nature, there are some common elements across cultures that humans have. If you understand those, you can serve as a leader across many cultures. What are some essential human skills of leading across cultures? Why are human aspects important in the workplace and particularly in leadership? We'll explore these and more with our guest on this episode. 

***

ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Thomas Gelmi has been a trusted advisor to leaders and their teams for more than two decades. His programs, which have attracted roughly 10,000 participants from nearly 90 countries, reflect his adaptability and appeal across cultures and industries. Thomas works in four languages and his clients range from global corporations to SMEs and private individuals worldwide. Thomas draws on an extraordinary biography with exciting milestones, such as his many years as a Maître de Cabine, leading cabin crew at Swissair, and eight years as operations manager of an international leadership development company. In addition to his extensive professional experience, he also gathered years of experience as a trained caregiver, providing psychological assistance to victims in crises, accidents, and other extreme situations. Since 2020, Thomas Gelmi has been a member of the prestigious Forbes Coach Council, an invitation-only

community of leading business coaches whose members are selected based on their extensive and diverse experience. He is a long-term member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF), whose values and quality standards guide his work. Thomas Gelmi lives near Zurich, Switzerland.

***

IF YOU ENJOYED THIS EPISODE, CAN I ASK A FAVOR?

We do not receive any funding or sponsorship for this podcast. If you learned something and feel others could also benefit, please leave a positive review. Every review helps amplify our work and visibility. This is especially helpful for small women-owned boot-strapped businesses. Simply go to the bottom of the Apple Podcast page to enter a review. Thank you!

***

LINKS MENTIONED IN EPISODE:

www.gotowerscope.com

https://gelmi.coach/en/who-is-thomas-gelmi

#GlobalLeadership #InternationalLeadership #TheHardSkills

Tune in for this empowering conversation at TalkRadio.nyc

Stress and burnout are rampant in today's incredibly uncertain and constantly changing business landscape. How can leaders protect themselves and continue to thrive in the face of adversity? In this episode, you will learn the Endurance Leader four-part framework to help you build your mental, physical, and interpersonal longevity, and get practical tips to help you embed these philosophies and practices into your leadership approach. 

Leaders often face overwhelming demands in fast-paced environments. As a consultant and coach, Dr. Ann Bowers-Evangelista noticed a recurring pattern: leaders struggling to sustain their energy and purpose while navigating relentless pressure. Yet, they need to stay motivated, inspired, and productive in their leadership, becuse this has a trickle-down effect on their teams. 

Her Endurance Leader framework offers a way to strategically plan for sustainable success by blendiung resilience, self-awareness, and long-term strategies to help leaders thrive without compromising their well-being. She will share how to develop and implement this plan, prepare to face inevitable obstacles, and remain focused, adaptable, and resilient to drive meaningful results over time.  

***

ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Dr. Ann Bowers-Evangelista is a master leadership psychologist, with almost 30 years of consulting and coaching with organizations of all sizes and complexities. As a clinical psychologist with an MBA and also an Ironman triathlete, Ann brings her range of expertise to help her clients develop more satisfying, meaningful, and productive leadership. Her first book, The Endurance Leader (released last November) leverages the principles of endurance athletes to help leaders develop a long-term approach to leadership. She is the founder and President of Llumos, LLC and The Endurance Leader, LLC. 

***

IF YOU ENJOYED THIS EPISODE, CAN I ASK A FAVOR?

We do not receive any funding or sponsorship for this podcast. If you learned something and feel others could also benefit, please leave a positive review. Every review helps amplify our work and visibility. This is especially helpful for small women-owned boot-strapped businesses. Simply go to the bottom of the Apple Podcast page to enter a review. Thank you!

***

LINKS MENTIONED IN EPISODE:

https://www.llumos.com

https://www.theenduranceleader.com

www.gotowerscope.com

#theenduranceleader

#leadershipignited

#mission

#mentaltoughness

#pacing

#TheHardSkills

Tune in for this empowering conversation at TalkRadio.nyc