The Inner Edge: Leadership, Self-Mastery, and Reinvention for a New Era

“ Uncertainty is part of the journey,  but it doesn't have to derail you. When you do the inner work to remain centered and grounded, you lead with courage, clarity, and calm, even in the face of the unknown.”

Nothing in our world is certain. While we like to believe we have things under “control”, our environment is filled with unexpected influences that topple even the best intended plans, strategies, and projections. In this episode, I talk about one of the most important skills a leader can have: the ability to navigate uncertainty. We’ll explore  what it takes to lead through uncertainty, why doing your own inner work is key and how you can develop the capacity to stay grounded in the unknown. 

In this episode:

• An important lesson I learned while leading through uncertainty 
• Why doing inner work on yourself is key to navigating uncertainty
• Strategy #1: Anchor yourself
• Strategy #2: Communicate openly
• Strategy #3: Focus on what you can control

Leadership Presence | Mastering the Inner Work of Leadership is your guide to leading with Less Ego and More Soul. Your host is Janet Ioli, leadership and human development expert, sought-after coach, advisor to global executives, and former executive with experience in four Fortune 200 companies. In this podcast, she digs into the real deep work and empowers leaders to show up with authenticity, build emotional intelligence, and lead in a way that leaves a lasting impact.

Connect with Janet Ioli:

Website: janetioli.com
LinkedIn: Janet Ioli
Instagram: @janetioli
YouTube: @janetioli

If you want to become more grounded, confident, and aligned with your deeper values in just 21 days, check out Janet Ioli’s book Less Ego, More Soul: A Modern Reinvention Guide for Women.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.  Select “Listen in Apple Podcasts,” then choose the “Ratings & Reviews” tab to share what you think.  

Produced by Ideablossoms 

 ”You still believe in your bones that this work matters. This is what you have been advocating for. You've been sponsoring these [programs]. So what do you do [when they’re axed]? Do you stay silent to keep your job? Do you push back and risk being fired, risk your position, and then your livelihood? Or is there another way?”

In this episode, I talk about  something that almost every leader will face at some point in their career: how to stay true to what you stand for without losing your job or influence when  the direction of your organization conflicts with your core values.

In this episode:

• The conflict most leaders will face at some point in their career
• Case example: Lisa and her values predicament within her organization
• Lisa’s assumes that she has two choices 
• A third way: an alternate perspective on how we as leaders can navigate these tough situations
• Four pieces of practical advice for leading with integrity
• And more!

Leadership Presence | Mastering the Inner Work of Leadership is your guide to leading with Less Ego and More Soul. Your host is Janet Ioli, leadership and human development expert, sought-after coach, advisor to global executives, and former executive with experience in four Fortune 200 companies. In this podcast, she digs into the real deep work and empowers leaders to show up with authenticity, build emotional intelligence, and lead in a way that leaves a lasting impact.

Noteworthy Quotes from This Episode

“ Just because the formal programs were gone didn't mean the principle behind them had to be. The programs were just programs. The principle behind them was something that she needed to focus on.”

“ Lisa realized that her real power wasn't just in creating programs because the programs were just programs. It was in shaping culture.”

“ Sometimes quiet, collective action is more powerful than loud resistance.”

“ Leadership isn't just about following the rules of the moment. It's about staying true to what matters most, even when circumstances are difficult or circumstances change.”

“ If you're feeling disheartened by shifts in your organization right now, remember you still have influence, you still have power. And sometimes the most impactful work happens in the spaces that aren't written in policy, and they're not written in program.”

Connect with Janet Ioli:

Website: janetioli.com
LinkedIn: Janet Ioli
Instagram: @janetioli
YouTube: @janetioli

If you want to become more grounded, confident, and aligned with your deeper values in just 21 days, check out Janet Ioli’s book Less Ego, More Soul: A Modern Reinvention Guide for Women.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.  Select “Listen in Apple Podcasts,” then choose the “Ratings & Reviews” tab to share what you think.  

Produced by Ideablossoms 

“ If there's a starting line of status, women are not starting at the same place. We're starting several steps back because people ascribe more respect to one category [men] than another.” - Alison Fragale

 If you're a woman leading an organization, you cannot miss this episode. 

Today, I talk to Alison Fragale, an organizational psychologist, professor, international keynote speaker, and best-selling author who writes and speaks about the challenges women face in organizations. 

You'll hear Alison talk about how why being a “likeable badass” will help you increase your status and effectiveness as a leader. What is a “likeable badass” and how do you become one? Listen in to find out how to use this strategy to increase your power and influence.

In this episode:

• How Alison ended up using her knowledge of psychology to help women live their best lives
• Why women should focus on increasing their status and what that means
• How you can achieve higher status in organizations by becoming a Likeable Badass
• Authenticity and strategy are not mutually exclusive— what you need to know about both
• What you may be doing without realizing it will set you back
• Why being a “likeable badass” is an influence strategy 
• The advice Alison got early in her career that changed everything
• There’s no way to be perfect, but a million ways to be good
• And more!

Leadership Presence | Mastering the Inner Work of Leadership is your guide to leading with Less Ego and More Soul. Your host is Janet Ioli, leadership and human development expert, sought-after coach, advisor to global executives, and former executive with experience in four Fortune 200 companies. In this podcast, she digs into the real deep work and empowers leaders to show up with authenticity, build emotional intelligence, and lead in a way that leaves a lasting impact.

Resource Links:

Alison Fragale is a research psychologist, award-winning professor, international keynote speaker, and author. She is on a mission to help others — especially women — work and live better by understanding and applying the science of people. She excels at translating her deep academic expertise in status, power, negotiation, and influence into actionable advice.

Learn more about Alison’s book, Likeable Badass: How Women Get the Success They Deserve.

Connect with today’s guest on LinkedIn: Alison Fragale.

Connect with Janet Ioli:

Website: janetioli.com
LinkedIn: Janet Ioli
Instagram: @janetioli
YouTube: @janetioli

If you want to become more grounded, confident, and aligned with your deeper values in just 21 days, check out Janet Ioli’s book Less Ego, More Soul: A Modern Reinvention Guide for Women.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.  Select “Listen in Apple Podcasts,” then choose the “Ratings & Reviews” tab to share what you think.  

Produced by Ideablossoms 

“ Staying calm under pressure isn't about being emotionless. It's about being intentional. When you regulate your emotions, you create an environment where trust and collaboration can thrive.”

In this episode, I talk about the ability to regulate your emotions, which is a life skill that can make or break your effectiveness as a leader. I share the real story of a woman leader I worked with who needed to learn this skill, and did. Lastly, I provide 3 strategies to help you start regulating your emotions.

In this episode:

• What emotional regulation is and what it’s not
• The story of a leader who struggled to stay calm under pressure
• How this leader managed to transform her approach
• Strategy 1: Name the emotion
• Strategy 2: Pause before responding
• Strategy 3: Reframing the situation
• Your action for this week
• And more!

Leadership Presence | Mastering the Inner Work of Leadership is your guide to leading with Less Ego and More Soul. Your host is Janet Ioli, leadership and human development expert, sought-after coach, advisor to global executives, and former executive with experience in four Fortune 200 companies. In this podcast, she digs into the real deep work and empowers leaders to show up with authenticity, build emotional intelligence, and lead in a way that leaves a lasting impact.

Connect with Janet Ioli:

Website: janetioli.com
LinkedIn: Janet Ioli
Instagram: @janetioli
YouTube: @janetioli

If you want to become more grounded, confident, and aligned with your deeper values in just 21 days, check out Janet Ioli’s book Less Ego, More Soul: A Modern Reinvention Guide for Women.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.  Select “Listen in Apple Podcasts,” then choose the “Ratings & Reviews” tab to share what you think.  

Produced by Ideablossoms 

“Leadership is full of moments where your first reaction is not your best reaction. And I know you know what I mean. But when you pause, you create space to lead with clarity, empathy, and purpose.”

In this episode, I talk about why pausing is so powerful, how it can transform the way you lead, and practical ways you can start using it right away.

In this episode:

• A moment when my inability to pause nearly cost me the trust of my team
• Why pausing matters in leadership
• 3 things you can do to help you leverage the power of the pause
• And more!

Leadership Presence | Mastering the Inner Work of Leadership is your guide to leading with Less Ego and More Soul. Your host is Janet Ioli, leadership and human development expert, sought-after coach, advisor to global executives, and former executive with experience in four Fortune 200 companies. In this podcast, she digs into the real deep work and empowers leaders to show up with authenticity, build emotional intelligence, and lead in a way that leaves a lasting impact.

Noteworthy Quotes from This Episode
“Early in my career, I thought leadership was about being decisive, acting fast, and always having the answer. But as I moved into more complex roles and worked with top executives, I realized that sometimes the best thing you can do as a leader is to stop, take a deep breath, and not react.”

“ I realized that my instinct to react, driven by stress and a need to be in control, especially under pressure and under [a] tight deadline, wasn't just unproductive, it was undermining my ability to lead.”

“[Pausing] helps you and gives you time to invite collaboration. When you hold space for others to contribute, you build trust and engagement.”

“ When you pause, you give your brain time to shift from its reactive fight or flight mode to a more thoughtful and strategic state.”

“ The next time you're in a tense situation, take a breath, pause, and ask yourself, how do I want to show up right now?”

Connect with Janet Ioli:

Website: janetioli.com
LinkedIn: Janet Ioli
Instagram: @janetioli
YouTube: @janetioli

If you want to become more grounded, confident, and aligned with your deeper values in just 21 days, check out Janet Ioli’s book Less Ego, More Soul: A Modern Reinvention Guide for Women.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.  Select “Listen in Apple Podcasts,” then choose the “Ratings & Reviews” tab to share what you think.  

Produced by Ideablossoms 

“Storytelling is, of course, the best way to influence someone. People don't care about your facts. They don't want any more of your damn information. They’ve got too much to deal with right now. But what they need and what they crave in you is faith.”

In this episode, I talk to Annette Simmons, an expert on the power of storytelling, public speaker, trainer, and author. You'll hear Annette talking about the different types of stories you need to know how to tell to get a group to work together, what you can expect when you use stories, and how to overcome the fear of being vulnerable.

In this episode:

• Annette’s journey to storytelling
• What makes stories so powerful
• The six kinds of stories
• Stories and paradoxes
• The important skill of story-finding
• Provisional language over firm language
• Bad news: the real effectiveness of stories
• Fabulous storytellers, including Taylor Swift
• Fostering collaborative instead of competitive narratives
• Using story as a staff process
• Overcoming the fear of being vulnerable
• And more!

Leadership Presence | Mastering the Inner Work of Leadership is your guide to leading with Less Ego and More Soul. Your host is Janet Ioli, leadership and human development expert, sought-after coach, advisor to global executives, and former executive with experience in four Fortune 200 companies. In this podcast, she digs into the real deep work and empowers leaders to show up with authenticity, build emotional intelligence, and lead in a way that leaves a lasting impact.

Resource Links:

Annette Simmons is a storytelling expert, public speaker, trainer, and author of books such as Territorial Games, A Safe Place for Dangerous Truths, The Story Factor – one of “The 100 Best Business Books of All Time” – and Whoever Tells the Best Story Wins.

Visit Annette’s website at annettesimmons.com.
Learn more about Annette’s most impactful book The Story Factor.
Connect with today’s guest on LinkedIn: Annette Simmons

Connect with Janet Ioli:

Website: janetioli.com
LinkedIn: Janet Ioli
Instagram: @janetioli
YouTube: @janetioli

If you want to become more grounded, confident, and aligned with your deeper values in just 21 days, check out Janet Ioli’s book Less Ego, More Soul: A Modern Reinvention Guide for Women.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.  Select “Listen in Apple Podcasts,” then choose the “Ratings & Reviews” tab to share what you think.  

Produced by Ideablossoms 

“Great leadership begins with mastering the inner work.”

Welcome to the first episode of the new season of Leadership Presence | Mastering the Inner Work of Leadership.
In this episode, we're going to dive into the foundation of self-mastery: the inner work of leadership. We'll discuss why the most important work you'll ever do isn't about becoming smarter, more accomplished, or having more achievements, but about mastering yourself.
If you're ready to stop just leading and start transforming, keep listening.

In this episode:

• The make-or-break qualities of great leadership
• What inner work means
• The power of pausing before reacting
• An invitation from me
• 3 tips to begin your inner work
• And more!

Leadership Presence | Mastering the Inner Work of Leadership is your guide to leading with less ego and more soul. Your host is Janet Ioli, leadership and human development expert, sought-after coach, advisor to global executives, and former executive with experience in four Fortune 200 companies. In this podcast, she digs into the real deep work and empowers leaders to show up with authenticity, build emotional intelligence, and lead in a way that leaves a lasting impact.

Connect with Janet Ioli:
Website: janetioli.com
Linkedin: Janet Ioli
Instagram: @janetioli
Janet is the founder of Power Presence Academy. She helps leaders ground themselves with confidence, connection, and purpose and lead with Less Ego, More Soul.
If you want to become more grounded, confident, and aligned with your deeper values in just 21 days. Check out Janet Ioli’s book Less Ego, More Soul: A Modern Reinvention Guide for Women.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Produced by Ideablossoms 

Connect with Janet Ioli:

Website: janetioli.com
LinkedIn: Janet Ioli
Instagram: @janetioli
YouTube: @janetioli

If you want to become more grounded, confident, and aligned with your deeper values in just 21 days, check out Janet Ioli’s book Less Ego, More Soul: A Modern Reinvention Guide for Women.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.  Select “Listen in Apple Podcasts,” then choose the “Ratings & Reviews” tab to share what you think.  

Produced by Ideablossoms 

“Every great leader begins by mastering the voice within.” - Janet Ioli
Welcome to this special and last episode of the season. In this episode, we're tackling a challenge even the most successful leaders face: self-doubt. We’ll revisit important lessons from my Power Talks interview series from the very early episodes of this podcast.
You'll hear excerpts with relatable wisdom from interviews with two powerhouse women executives: Donna Diederich, the Chief Human Resources Officer at LMI, and Nicole Burdette, President of Southern California Land & Housing at Brookfield Properties. They share their own, real experiences with self-doubt and impostor feelings and tell us how they navigated (and continue to navigate) through them.
And to offer practical application to your own experience with self-doubt to help you continue to build the confidence to lead with full presence, I share 3 practical strategies to help you move through those times when you experience a self-doubt attack.

In this episode:

• Being reactive and the fear of not measuring up (from E2)
• Being your own best advocate (from E1)
• The power of saying yes (from E1)
• You’re not alone in feeling this way (from E3)
• Feeling okay with being uncomfortable (from E3)
• 3 practical strategies to overcome a self-doubt attack (from E6)
• And more!

Power Presence Academy | Leadership with Less Ego And More Soul is the go-to podcast for anyone who leads. Your host is Janet Ioli, a leadership and human development expert, who helps leaders ground themselves with confidence, connection, and purpose to lead with Less Ego and More Soul.

Resource Links:
Listen to the full episodes:

• E1: Career Advice from a Top-Level HR Executive with Donna Diederich
• E2: Our Leadership Challenge: One Question To Ask Yourself in These Unsettling Times
• E3: From Entry-level to President: Lessons from the Leadership Journey to the Top with Nicole Burdette
• E6: 3 Things to Do When You Have a Self-Doubt Attack

Connect with today’s guests on LinkedIn: Donna Diederich and Nicole Burdette. 

Connect with Janet Ioli:

Website: janetioli.com
LinkedIn: Janet Ioli
Instagram: @janetioli
YouTube: @janetioli

If you want to become more grounded, confident, and aligned with your deeper values in just 21 days, check out Janet Ioli’s book Less Ego, More Soul: A Modern Reinvention Guide for Women.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.  Select “Listen in Apple Podcasts,” then choose the “Ratings & Reviews” tab to share what you think.  

Produced by Ideablossoms 

“People and organizations collectively can waste a lot of time being in denial and not facing reality, or explaining away why things are the way they are, rather than dealing with reality and taking action.”
If you are leading change and transformation in any organization, today’s conversation is full of tips and ideas on how to be sure you are doing it successfully.
In this episode, I talk to Ian Ziskin, board member, former CHRO of a multi-billion dollar corporation, President of EXec EXcel Group LLC, and the lead author of the book, The Secret Sauce for Leading Transformational Change.
You'll hear Ian talk about his experience leading change and transformation, including the biggest mistakes he sees leaders and organizations make during  change efforts,  and what to do instead for sustainable transformation.

In this episode:

• Ian’s leadership story
• The common problem that gets in the way of successful change efforts
•  How to foster openness to change at different levels of an organization
• What it takes to sustain change over time
• How good execution must accompany vision
• What a good change execution plan looks like
• Reconciliation of facts versus feelings
• And more!

Power Presence Academy | Leadership with Less Ego And More Soul is the go-to podcast for anyone who leads. Your host is Janet Ioli, leadership and human development expert, sought-after coach and advisor to global executives, and former executive with experience in four Fortune 100 companies. She helps leaders ground themselves with confidence, connection, and purpose to lead with Less Ego and More Soul.

Resource Links:
Ian Ziskin has 40+ years of experience as a business leader, board advisor and member, coach, consultant, CHRO, entrepreneur, teacher, speaker, and author. His clients and corporate work span over 25 industries and include Fortune 1000, entrepreneurial, publicly traded, and privately held businesses. Ian is recognized as a trusted advisor to CEOs, C-level executives, operating and HR leaders, and board members.
Get Ian’s book The Secret Sauce for Leading Transformational Change
Connect with today’s guest on LinkedIn: Ian Ziskin

Connect with Janet Ioli:

Website: janetioli.com
LinkedIn: Janet Ioli
Instagram: @janetioli
YouTube: @janetioli

If you want to become more grounded, confident, and aligned with your deeper values in just 21 days, check out Janet Ioli’s book Less Ego, More Soul: A Modern Reinvention Guide for Women.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.  Select “Listen in Apple Podcasts,” then choose the “Ratings & Reviews” tab to share what you think.  

Produced by Ideablossoms 

“He said, ‘Well, Janet. I'll say what I really thought of you when I first saw you. The first thing I thought is, “Oh, here's blonde bimbo. And what is she going to say?”’ [...] Then he goes, ‘You talked and I thought, Wow, Barbie has a brain.’”
In this episode, I talk about something women leaders are unfortunately no strangers to: being underestimated or stereotyped because of their appearance or simply because they are women. If you’ve ever had the experience of being pigeon-holed or underestimated because of judgments people make based on unconscious biases they may have, you’ll want to listen to this episode.
I share two stories of my own and offer some tips  to navigate this type of situation when it arises.

In this episode:

• When an executive assumed I was a junior employee and not the session leader 
• How I handled it and what I learned from that situation
• When a male colleague admitted that he had initially assumed that I must be a “blonde bimbo”
• How to maintain your power and presence when you cannot control the judgements of others
• How to counter being underestimated

Power Presence Academy | Leadership with Less Ego And More Soul is the go-to podcast for anyone who leads. Your host is Janet Ioli, leadership and human development expert, sought-after coach and advisor to global executives, and former executive with experience in four Fortune 100 companies. She helps leaders ground themselves with confidence, connection, and purpose to lead with Less Ego and More Soul.

Connect with Janet Ioli:

Website: janetioli.com
LinkedIn: Janet Ioli
Instagram: @janetioli
YouTube: @janetioli

If you want to become more grounded, confident, and aligned with your deeper values in just 21 days, check out Janet Ioli’s book Less Ego, More Soul: A Modern Reinvention Guide for Women.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.  Select “Listen in Apple Podcasts,” then choose the “Ratings & Reviews” tab to share what you think.  

Produced by Ideablossoms