The Leadership Story Podcast

Are you struggling with a career transition or wondering why your experience isn’t translating in today’s job market? In this episode of The Leadership Story, host Lisa Jones sits down with two-time bestselling author Irene Chukwuma to break down the job search system.

In this insightful interview, Irene shares her journey from West Africa to the US, navigating the job market as an immigrant, and overcoming challenges in career re-entry. She discusses strategic job search techniques, the importance of networking, and her inspiring approach to career resilience, including her books on job searching and career restarting.

Key Topics We Explored:

* ATS Optimization: Why alignment with the job description matters more than application volume.

* Strategic Networking: How to find advocates to speak for you in rooms you haven’t entered yet.

* The “Restart” Mindset: Leveraging your experience and international credentials in a new market.

* Resilience as Leadership: Staying consistent through market ambiguity and rejection.

Chapters:

00:00 The Reality of the Invisible Job Search

02:15 Navigating the U.S. Job Market as an Immigrant

05:55 The Importance of Networking

09:45 Writing and Publishing Books

13:14 The Concept of Restarting vs. Starting Over

15:07 Advice for Job Seekers in a Tough Market

16:11 Defining Leadership: Reliability

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Connect with Irene

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/irenechukwuma-riskmanagement

Irene’s Books

101 Job Search Tips for Immigrants and New Grads

She Didn’t Start Over, She Restarted

Connect with Lisa

Follow on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lisa-jones

Lisa Jones reframes AI as a leadership opportunity, sharing strategies for women to leverage emotional intelligence and adaptability to lead in the age of AI.

Key Topics We Explore

Why women feel behind on AI (it has nothing to do with capability)

AI as a leadership issue, not a technology problem

The three strengths women bring to AI adoption: emotional intelligence, collaboration, ethical reasoning

Four practical strategies: identify what’s draining you, start small, check for bias, bring your team in

Mindset essentials: be a learner, normalize discomfort, invest in adaptability

Chapters

0:00 Introduction to Leadership in AI

01:50 The Pressure of AI on Women in the Workforce

01:30 Why This is a Leadership Conversation

07:13 Practical Strategies for AI Integration

12:39 The Resilient Leader's Mindset

15:25 Final Thoughts on Leadership

Resources Mentioned

I Let AI Do My Busy Work. Now I Actually Have Time to Lead

I Let AI Do My Busy Work. Now I Actually Have Time to Lead

Connect with the Leadership Story

📖 Subscribe on Substack: leadershipstory.substack.com💼 Follow on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lisa-jones-mbcp-mbci-57872823📱 Follow on Instagram: @theleadershipstory

Real Women. Real Leadership. Real Resilience!™

Lisa Jones shares a strategic blueprint for navigating a Reduction in Force (RIF) and re-centering your leadership identity when a job title ends.

With nearly 90,000 jobs eliminated from just three major companies in early 2026, and a job market that’s harder for older workers and women specifically, Lisa shares data, strategy, and honest reflection on navigating layoff, ageism, faith, and what it actually means to build resilience.This isn’t a ‘blessing in disguise’ conversation. It’s the real version. And it’s for anyone who’s been laid off, is watching others go through it, or is wondering how to move through uncertainty with both grace and strategy.

Key Topics We Explore

Unexpected job loss and the disorientation that comes with it

The pressure to perform positivity after layoff

Ageism & gendered ageism in hiring and career advancement

The job market reality in early 2026

Long-term unemployment rates for older workers

Faith and grief existing together

Six practical strategies for navigating job loss

How to support someone who has lost their job

The resilience you did not know you already had

Chapters

00:00 Facing Unexpected Job Loss

08:32 Navigating the Job Market Challenges

16:42 The Emotional Impact of Job Loss

24:48 Strategic Job Searching and Networking

32:37 Moving Forward with Resilience

Join the Community!

Subscribe on Substack: leadershipstory.substack.com

Follow on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lisa-jones-mbcp-mbci-57872823Follow on Instagram: @leadershipstory

Real Women. Real Leadership. Real Resilience!™

Companion article on Substack:

“Congratulations! You’ve Been Restructured!”

Amy Palmer and Lisa Jones explore “pre-tirement” and the strategic decision to leave corporate life to find a more authentic professional identity.

A former senior executive, award-winning actress, and lifetime content creator, Amy walked away from corporate life without a backup plan and discovered something unexpected on the other side.

Key Topics Explored

The decision to leave corporate without a backup plan

What “pre-tirement” means and why it’s resonating with so many women

How corporate conditioning shaped who we thought we needed to be

Gen X vs. Gen Z: What each generation is getting right and what they can learn from each other

Redefining productivity and ambition outside of corporate metrics

The role of rest, spirituality, and listening to your body

How to redesign your life when you can’t leave your job

The moment Amy turned down the “ideal” corporate role

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

03:54 Leaving the Corporate World: The Decision to Transition

06:30 Navigating Mental and Physical Health Challenges

09:05 The Importance of Rest and Reflection

11:43 Preparing for Change: Taking Breaks and Seeking Support

14:22 Embracing Vulnerability and Asking for Help

17:17 Shifting Focus: From Destination to Journey

19:44 Creating a New Identity Beyond Corporate Expectations

22:15 The Concept of Pre-Tirement: Redefining Retirement

24:49 Finding Joy and Fulfillment Before Retirement

27:18 Navigating Ageism and the Concept of Pre-tirement

30:13 Generational Perspectives on Work and Life

35:08 Creating Content and Finding Purpose

38:46 Listening to Our Bodies and Redefining Success

45:38 Expansive Leadership: Redefining Ambition

Join the Community!

Subscribe on Substack for exclusive content:

Subscribe on Substack: leadershipstory.substack.com

Follow on Instagram: @theleadershipstory

Real Women. Real Leadership. Real Resilience!™

Connect with Amy

Follow on Instagram: @amypalmer.today

Website: amypalmer.bio

YouTube: Amy Palmer | Blueprint Breakers

Connect with Lisa

Follow on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lisa-jones

Jenna Muniz and Lisa Jones discuss how personal history and trauma can be transformed into a source of empathetic and effective leadership.

Jenna shares her journey from a challenging childhood marked by trauma to becoming a licensed professional counselor and business owner. She discusses the impact of her upbringing on her understanding of leadership, the importance of vulnerability in both her personal and professional life, and how her experiences shape her parenting. Jenna emphasizes the significance of empathy, resilience, and the transformative power of acknowledging one’s own vulnerabilities in the healing process.

Key Topics We Explore

Jenna’s childhood experiences shaped her understanding of leadership.

She found purpose in her pain and used it to help others.

Empathy is a crucial skill developed through her experiences.

Parenting is a reflection of one’s own vulnerabilities.

Vulnerability is essential for effective leadership.

Chapters

00:00 Childhood and Early Leadership Experiences

05:49 Finding Purpose in Pain

08:55 Becoming a Therapist and Specializing in Trauma

11:56 Lessons from Mentorship and Leadership

14:33 Starting a New Practice

17:25 Parenting Through a Lens of Trauma

21:21 Vulnerability in Leadership

24:58 Final Thoughts and Reflections

Join the Community!

Subscribe on Substack for exclusive content:

Subscribe on Substack: leadershipstory.substack.comFollow on Instagram: @theleadershipstory

Connect with Jenna

🌐Check the website: Echoes and Embers Therapy

Connect with the LisaFollow on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lisa-jones

References

📺Becky Kennedy: The Most Important Parenting Strategy

🌐Brene Brown Parenting Manifesto: The Wholehearted Parenting Manifesto - Brené Brown

Kiersten M. Talbert details the persistence required to overcome industry barriers and the strategic mindset needed to launch a successful business.

She shares her journey from struggling through 12 years of licensing attempts to becoming one of the youngest first-generation funeral home owners in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. She opens up about learning the business in heels and a pocketbook, the personal losses that fueled her determination, and the divine guidance that led her to build her own chapel instead of someone else’s brand.

This is a story about faith, persistence, and the courage to bring your authentic self—rhinestones and all—to an industry that doesn’t always expect it. When asked for one word to describe her leadership story, Kiersten’s answer says it all: Consistent.

Key Topics We Explore

The 12-year journey to passing the national funeral director boards and what finally made the difference

Learning funeral service from a female director who insisted on doing it all, in heels

How personal loss and a colleague’s question became the catalyst for finally getting licensed

The moment Kiersten decided to build her own business instead of someone else’s brand

Starting a funeral home from scratch with no loans, the real obstacles of entrepreneurship

Breaking barriers as a young, first-generation funeral home owner in Montgomery County, PA

How prayer, fasting, and faith guide business decisions in a practical, difficult industry

Creating comfort for families through authentic presence and signature style

Why consistency, not perfection, is the real key to leadership

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:28 Educational Journey and Career Start

05:48 Apprenticeship Experience

10:31 Overcoming Personal and Professional Challenges

17:38 Starting Her Own Funeral Home

21:31 Business Challenges and Vision

25:40 Incorporating Personal Style and Faith

27:04 Legacy and Leadership

Join the Community!

Subscribe on Substack for exclusive content:

Subscribe on Substack: leadershipstory.substack.comFollow on Instagram: @theleadershipstory

Connect with Kiersten:

🌐Check the website: Kiersten M. Talbert Funeral Chapel

📱Follow on Instagram: @kmtalbertfuneralchapel

📔Follow on Facebook: Kiersten M Talbert Funeral Chapel, Inc

☑️Follow on TikTok: KMTalbert Funeral Chapel

Connect with Lisa

Follow on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lisa-jones

Subscribe, rate, and review The Leadership Story wherever you listen to podcasts. Your reviews help other women find these conversations.

Emily Vizcano and Lisa Jones discuss the “planner mindset” used to manage a global career at Google while navigating a family health crisis.

The discussion highlights the significance of resilience in navigating both professional and personal challenges, emphasizing that while one may not always see the entire path ahead, taking small steps can lead to meaningful progress.

Key Topics We Explore:

How Emily accidentally “fell into” business continuity

The 2015 call to quit and the call back that changed everything

Six years of part-time flexibility: making it work with three boys

April 2021: Her son’s leukemia diagnosis and going to zero hours

How business continuity planning mode kicked in during the most unpredictable time

Working hard 9-5, then leaving at 5 (no guilt, no apologies!)

Why she hated an organization’s leadership principles and appreciates them now

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Emily Vizcaino

04:14 Emily’s Journey into Business Continuity

06:55 Transitioning from Public to Private Sector

09:53 Consulting Experience and Industry Exposure

12:44 The Challenges of Client Education

15:26 Balancing Career and Family Life

18:07 Supportive Work Environment and Flexibility

20:54 Mentorship and Growth in Consulting

25:47 Building a Supportive Team Environment

27:07 Navigating Family Challenges During COVID

29:15 Coping with a Child’s Illness

33:00 The Journey of Resilience

35:55 Leadership Lessons from Personal Experience

42:25 Defining Leadership Through Resilience

Join the Community!

Subscribe on Substack for exclusive content:

Subscribe on Substack: leadershipstory.substack.comFollow on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lisa-jonesFollow on Instagram: @theleadershipstory

Contact with Emily

LinkedIn: Emily Vizcaino

Subscribe to The Leadership Story wherever you get your podcasts and join our Substack community for early access to episodes, exclusive content, and resources for your leadership journey.

Melissa Muniz and Annalicia Russell join Lisa Jones to discuss generational shifts in career boundaries and the evolving definition of professional worth.

This is an honest conversation about career, identity, and what happens when one generation clears a path for the next. From negotiating salaries without apology to redefining what work means in your life, this special episode explores how daughters learned from watching mothers do it scared and decided to do it differently.

Key Topics We Explore

Why Gen Z negotiate salaries from day one while Gen X waited decades to find that confidence

How career became identity for one generation while the next keeps work as just one part of life

The “yes woman” syndrome and learning when saying no is actually saying yes to yourself

What happened when COVID forced everyone to question if their career sacrifices were worth it

Why representation matters: How watching strong women shapes the next generation’s confidence

The database project moment: Knowing your strengths vs proving you can do everything

Doing it scared so your daughters can do it confident

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Generational Perspectives02:40 Negotiating Salary: A Generational Shift06:17 Understanding Self-Worth in Careers11:33 The Influence of Strong Female Role Models18:36 Defining Career vs. Identity26:17 Impact of COVID-19 on Career Perspectives33:29 The Pressure to Say Yes in the Workplace34:27 The Struggle for Self-Advocacy36:07 Knowing Your Strengths37:27 The Importance of Self-Awareness41:44 Finding the Balance: Yes vs. No47:53 Lessons from Our Mothers51:45 Hopes for the Next Generation58:23 Defining Leadership: Energetic vs. Beginning01:02:32 Embracing Fear in Leadership

Join the Community!

Subscribe on Substack for exclusive content:

Subscribe on Substack: leadershipstory.substack.com

Follow on Instagram: @theleadershipstory

Connect with Our Guests

Melissa MuñizLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/melissamuñiz-resilience

Annalicia Russell

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annaliciacarlson

Connect with Lisa Jones

Follow on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lisa-jonesFollow on Instagram: @theleadershipstory

Elethia S. Gay explains why self-care is a core strategic decision for high performance, focusing on setting boundaries and converting fear into courage.

We explore why “being in love with yourself” is strategic not selfish, why rest is a leadership superpower, and how to pick ONE thing to start with instead of seven resolutions you’ll abandon by February.

If you’re burnt out, exhausted, and wondering why you can’t seem to reach the next level, this conversation is for you.

Key Topics We Explore

The Wellness Journey Begins

Elethia’s shares how watching her mom exercise during cancer remission planted a seed that would transform her life. From laughing at the energetic instructor to joining her mom on the living room floor, this early experience showed her that health and wellness were connected to survival and thriving, not just fitness.

From Personal Transformation to Hiking for Hope

The founding of Hiking for Hope came from tragedy. The devastating loss of a woman due to domestic abuse sparked Elethia’s mission to create a space to raise awareness while building community through nature. What started as one hike has grown into a movement that combines outdoor wellness purpose.

The Problem with Two Lists

We’ve been conditioned to separate our professional goals from our health goals, creating two distinct lists for our lives. Elethia challenges this approach, explaining that “your body is one member”; you can’t compartmentalize yourself into “work you” and “personal you.” The work-life balance concept creates a false dichotomy that leads us to skip self-care in pursuit of professional development, only to reach our goals feeling burnt out and empty.

Self-Care as Strategy

Self-care isn’t just about massages and bubble baths, t’s about caring for yourself in ways that help you thrive. Elethia reframes self-care as a strategic decision, not a luxury. When you’re in love with yourself and thriving in your personal life, that energy naturally flows into your professional success. The key is understanding that setting realistic goals for your wellness is just as important as the goals you set for your career.

The Practical Approach

Instead of setting seven resolutions that you’ll abandon, Elethia recommends starting with ONE thing. Identify what’s creating a roadblock or deficiency in your life and address that first. Whether it’s rest, movement, or dealing with something you’ve been avoiding, pick the one thing that’s holding you back from being your best self.

Rest as Leadership Strategy

Rest isn’t optional, it’s strategic. Elethia shares her own journey of working with a sleep doctor to optimize her rest and learning to include sleep in her daily planning the same way she schedules meetings. She challenges the “I could do it in college” mentality, reminding us that our bodies change and what worked at 20 doesn’t work at 40.

Spirituality and Surrender

Growing up with adult responsibilities from a young age taught Elethia to try to control outcomes, but spirituality has shown her the power of letting go. When you surrender what you can’t control and focus on what you can, clarity follows. This practice of surrendering creates space for God to speak and for answers to emerge.

The Courage to Lead

When asked for the one word that describes her leadership story, Elethia chose COURAGE. Her journey has been about converting fear into faith and stepping into who she is without worrying about what others think. From the courage to try that first spin class to the courage to found a nonprofit, every step has required her to ask, “why not me?” and then act on the answer.

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction: The Two Lists Problem02:11 - Meet Elethia: From Birthday Party to Leadership Conversations03:31 - The Wellness Journey: Mom’s Cancer Battle & Tony Little08:16 - The Spin Class Moment: “Why Not You?”11:01 - Roots to Wellness: Creating Space for Self-Expression14:18 - Hiking for Hope: From Tragedy to Healing Mission19:12 - Your Body Is One Member: Why Self-Care Gets Skipped24:05 - Practical Integration: Start With ONE Thing29:01 - Rest, Spirituality & Surrender: The Foundation of Leadership34:00 - The Signature Question: COURAGE34:51 - Connect With Elethia & Closing

Join the Community!

Website: leadershipstory.substack.com

Email: [email protected]

Connect with Elethia

Instagram: @elethiagayWebsite: elethiagay.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/elethiagaycoachBook a Wellness Discovery Call: elethiagay.comElethia offers wellness coaching, personal training, and transformative programs that help you integrate self-care with professional success.

Roots to Wellness Journal: https://a.co/d/2zQoXEN

Connect with Lisa:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lisa-jones

Lee Anna Will and Lisa Jones discuss how the creative process of distilling complexity in art mirrors the high-level strategy required for C-suite leadership.

Lee Anna started as a high school art teacher in Baltimore and today advises C-suite executives on large-scale transformation initiatives. But here’s what makes her journey so compelling, she never left the art behind. She brought it with her into every boardroom, every strategy session, every leadership moment.

Lee Anna shares how the same process she uses to create a painting is exactly what she uses to lead transformation projects. She reveals what teaching 38 teenagers taught her about executive leadership, the story behind her painting “Follow Your Heart Home,” and why she gave herself permission to bring her whole self to work.

If you’ve ever felt like you had to choose between different parts of yourself to be an effective leader, this conversation will change how you think about your leadership journey.

Key Topics We Explore:

The Art of TranslationHow distilling complex ideas into clear form connects artistic creation and strategic business transformation and why this matters for your leadership.

From Classroom to C-SuiteWhat teaching 38 teenagers in Baltimore taught Lee Anna about leading executives, building credibility, and showing up authentically in high-stakes situations.

Permission to Be WholeWhy bringing your entire self to work - the creative AND the analytical, the personal AND the professional - isn’t just okay, it’s your competitive advantage.

Redefining Creativity in LeadershipHow analytics can be just as creative as art, why curiosity drives both innovation and strategy, and what creative skills you’re not giving yourself credit for.

The Anchor and Compass PhilosophyThe story behind Lee Anna’s painting “Follow Your Heart Home” and how the people who ground us and the direction that guides us are both necessary for the leadership journey.

Chapters

00:00 Bridging Art and Strategy11:53 The Journey from Teaching to Business22:10 Fostering Creativity in Leadership31:16 - Authenticity and Collaboration in Leadership

Join the Community!

Website: leadershipstory.substack.com

Email: [email protected]

Connect with Lee Anna:

Instagram: @WillPowerDesigns

Etsy: WillPowerDesigns - Check out “Follow Your Heart Home” and more of Lee Anna’s artwork

LinkedIn: Lee Anna Will - Transformation PMP

Connect with Lisa Jones

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lisa-jones