The Leadership Initiative

Managing a highly specialized, technical customer support team requires moving beyond individual expertise. Sarah Sawall details her multi-step strategy for extracting tribal knowledge and building scalable onboarding processes at WashWorld.

Carsin Boeck, HR leader of Washworld, sits down with InitiativeOne CEO Tracy Johnson and shares her candid internal dialogue from her very first day sitting at the executive table. Learn her personal framework of self-affirmation, framing a major career promotion not as an intimidating point, but as the "marathon" she trained 10 years to run.

InitiativeOne CEO Tracy Johnson sits down with Deputy Vice President of Educational Leadership Dr. Margaret Gilmore. Discover the foundational principles that lead executive teams to keep "post-it notes" of Dr. Gilmore's coaching strategies on their desks to guide their daily decision-making.

InitiativeOne CEO, Tracy Johnson and InitiativeOne business development director Meredith Campbell unpack why executive teams frequently misinterpret goals and texts. Learn the corporate communication threshold: why a message must be delivered seven different ways before an organization can fully internalize it.

Stop the cycle of burnout and lead with purpose. In this episode, Michell Bartlein shares the secrets of Leadership Development and scaling a small business without losing your soul. 🚀✨

Are you struggling with the 'busyness' trap? Michell Bartlein, owner of Savoy Salon and Spa, joins InitiativeOne CEO, Tracy Johnson, to discuss her journey from dissolving a business at 17 to building an elite 'Wolf Pack' team.

This conversation dives deep into Female Entrepreneurship, the importance of wellness for leaders, and how to stay centered in a chaotic world.

Ever had a boss's boss undo your work? Dr. Shawnrece Butler shares the raw truth about ethical leadership and why she chose to walk away to protect her values. 🚀 In this episode of the Leadership Initiative, we sit down with Northern Michigan University's Assistant VP, Dr. Shawnrece Butler, to discuss her incredible journey from a voracious reader to a leader in higher education.

Master essential Leadership Lessons with Sheriff Matt Joski. Discover why Trust in Leadership is the ultimate foundation for longevity and success in high-pressure roles. 🚀 In this episode of the Leadership Initiative, Dr. Fred Johnson sits down with Sheriff Matt Joski to uncover the secrets behind a successful 20-year career in law enforcement and public service. We explore how Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Vulnerability can transform a toxic environment into a winning team.

In this episode of the Leadership Initiative, Dr. Fred Johnson sits down with Aaron Sadoff, President of Marian University, to dismantle the myth that happiness is 'fufu' and reveal why it is a high-stakes competitive advantage.

Discover how positive psychology can revolutionize organizational culture and why the most effective leaders focus on building authority through trust rather than relying on power. We dive deep into the 'Two Arrows' parable to explain why pain is inevitable but suffering is a choice. Learn how to implement the 'Tetris Effect' to scan for the good in your team and why forgiveness is the ultimate leadership superpower for personal and professional resilience.

Join our leadership roundtable as they discuss why 30 years of "classroom management" training fails without personal transformation. Discover why being a "better human" is the prerequisite for being a better leader.