Sandra Boyd sits down with Dr. Dayna Lee-Baggley, Registered Psychologist, researcher, and internationally recognized expert in human behaviour, to explore an important question facing today’s workplaces: how can leaders and employees navigate uncertainty when there is no clear destination?

Through practical insights and real-world examples, Dr. Lee-Baggley explains the difference between change and uncertainty—and why uncertainty can place an additional strain on our brains, emotions, energy, and performance. Together, they examine how layoffs, AI, economic pressures, and continuous workplace disruption are affecting organizations and the people within them.

The conversation also explores the unique pressures women face in leadership, including the double bind, emotional labour, burnout, caregiving responsibilities, and the expectation to remain composed and capable at all times.

We talk about:

Whether you are leading through workplace change, feeling exhausted by uncertainty, or trying to set healthier boundaries at work and home, this episode offers thoughtful, research-based guidance for protecting your wellbeing and creating more human workplaces.

Our Guest This Week:

Dr. Dayna Lee-Baggley is a Registered Psychologist with two decades of professional experience in clinical psychology, health psychology, and organizational psychology. She has extensive applied experience and research knowledge in burnout, psychological safety in the workplace, behaviour and organizational change, and wellness leadership.

Dr. Lee-Baggley conducts innovative research at Dalhousie and Saint Mary’s University. She is an internationally recognized expert in human behaviour and the author of Healthy Habits Suck: How to Get Off the Couch and Live a Healthy Life Even If You Don’t Want To.

Has technology degraded our ability to connect?

This week's Wisdom Moments discusses an experience Sandra had while in conversation with a bright young woman, one that quickly went from a casual chat to feeling of unease and defensiveness.

The tension came from the woman's zealous need to fact check and search everything Sandra said. It's a subtle behavior, informed by the ease of access we now have to information, but its one that makes a conversation less like human connection and more like querying a Large Language Model.

In a world now tailored to speed and convenience, we need a space for presence, where technology doesn't intrude into a face-to-face discussion. If we allow ourselves to interact with technology thoughtlessly, we risk throwing away the things that make us fascinating, curious, and empathetic individuals, through no ill intent.

Let's restore human connection. Little acts that distance ourselves from technology might do a world of difference in changing our behaviors and perspectives.

Sandra Boyd sits down with Jennifer Spencer, entrepreneur, intuition coach, and Co-Founder of Pause+Expand, to explore a question many women face during periods of change: how do you know when it’s time to trust yourself and move in a new direction?

Through personal stories and practical insights, Jennifer shares how intuition can help guide major life transitions, from career changes and entrepreneurship to relationships, identity shifts, and personal growth. Together, they discuss why so many women find themselves at a crossroads in midlife and how learning to listen to themselves can lead to greater clarity and fulfillment.

We talk about:

Whether you are considering a career change, navigating a personal transition, or simply looking for greater clarity in your life, this episode offers practical ways to tune into your intuition and make decisions with greater confidence and intention.

Jennifer Spencer is a Marketing Leader turned Entrepreneur and Intuition Coach with over 15 years of experience leading high-performing teams across the technology, beauty, apparel, and wellness industries. As Co-Founder of Pause+Expand, she helps organizations and individuals foster connection, clarity, and purpose through mindfulness-based wellness programs.

Jennifer specializes in guiding midlife women and corporate leaders through transitions, blending intuitive coaching with practical tools for personal and professional growth. A certified sound healer, meditation and visualization teacher, and intuitive medium, she integrates mindfulness and emotional intelligence into every aspect of her work.

Jennifer’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-spencer/

Do we put too much pressure on work to make us feel fulfilled?

In this Wisdom Moments episode, Sandra Boyd explores the growing belief that passion and identity must come primarily from our careers and why that expectation may be setting many people up for disappointment.

Using a real coaching conversation as inspiration, Sandra reflects on how many people feel like something is wrong simply because they are not deeply passionate about their jobs all the time, even when they genuinely enjoy their work and the people around them.

This conversation challenges the idea that work should define our happiness, purpose, and identity. Instead, it encourages a more holistic view of fulfillment, one that includes family, hobbies, relationships, creativity, travel, and the many other experiences that shape who we are.

Because maybe work does not need to be everything.

What fills your bucket outside of work?

We don’t always pay attention to the things that seem small. In this week’s Wisdom Moments, Sandra Boyd shares a personal experience with skin cancer that started as something easy to ignore. A small cut that didn’t heal. Something that seemed manageable until it wasn’t.

The reality is, early signals are often subtle — a change you brush off, a symptom that comes and goes.

The message is simple, but important. Pay attention. Act early.

Whether it’s your health, your team, or your environment, the cost of waiting is often far greater than the effort of addressing something early. If something feels off, don’t ignore it.

When was the last time you paid attention to something you almost dismissed?

How many women of the next generation today truly understand how recent the fights for their rights were? And how many understand how easy it is for those rights to be undermined and squashed?

In this episode of Women on Wisdom, Sandra Boyd sits down with Lenna Bradburn, executive coach, former police chief, and multi-sector trailblazer, to confront an uncomfortable truth: if we don’t understand the struggles of the past, we risk overlooking the barriers that still exist today. Together, they explore why progress is not a straight line, and why assuming the work is done may be one of the biggest risks to women’s advancement.

We talk about:

- The historical milestones that shaped women’s rights in Canada

- Why many women are unaware of how recent these rights actually are

- The difference between equality and equity and why it matters

- The risk of regression and why continued vigilance is critical

- Practical ways women can support each other and challenge barriers

Whether you are early in your career, leading organizations, or shaping the next generation, this episode offers a grounded perspective on the progress made and the work still ahead.

Our guest this week:

Lenna Bradburn has had a distinguished career as a trailblazer and change agent across policing, government, and executive leadership. At just 34 years old, she became Canada’s first female police chief, leading the Guelph Police Service, and went on to hold senior roles in government oversight, municipal services, gaming, social housing, and healthcare .

Today, Lenna works as an executive coach and consultant, supporting organizations in advancing strategic initiatives. Known for her leadership and impact, she has been recognized as one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 and among Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100.

Lenna’s LinkedIn can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennabradburn/

Sandra Boyd sits down with Chris Coulter to share his personal journey following the loss of his daughter Maddie, and the work he is now doing to support families navigating youth mental health.

Through Chris’s personal story and lived experience, this episode opens up an honest conversation about the pressures young women face today and the challenges parents encounter in recognizing when something is truly wrong. Together, they explore the gaps in support systems and what it takes to create earlier, more meaningful intervention for both youth and families.

We talk about:

Whether you are a parent, leader, or someone supporting families, this episode offers a grounded and practical perspective on how to better understand and respond when something feels off.

Chris Coulter is the founder of The MentorWell, an online youth mentoring platform designed to bridge the gap between parenting and therapy by providing young people with access to trusted, non-judgmental mentors. Following the loss of his daughter Maddie, Chris has dedicated his work to supporting families navigating youth mental health challenges and improving early access to support.

He also created the When Something Feels Off Parent Support Group, a community designed to help parents connect, share experiences, and access practical guidance during difficult times. Chris brings both lived experience and professional insight to his work, helping organizations, parents, and communities better understand how to support young people.

Chris’s LinkedIn can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriscoultermentorwell/

We often think of culture shifts as loud, obvious moments. But some of the most impactful ones happen quietly. 

In this week’s Wisdom Moments, Sandra Boyd reflects on the growing influence of online anti-feminist groups and how these narratives are moving beyond digital spaces into real-world impact. What starts as content, commentary, or “just opinions” can quickly evolve into normalized behaviour that shapes how people are treated and how safe they feel to use their voice. These narratives against women are not just frightening for their presence, but in the way they ripple out into society. When these ideas become normalized in public discourse, and women self-censor out of fear of retribution, culture shifts in ways that are hard to reverse. 

Leadership today requires not just awareness, but active, critical engagement. That can take the form of asking better questions, understanding what people in your life are being exposed to, and creating space for real conversations, both at work and at home.

In this edition of Wisdom Moments, Sandra Boyd shares a personal story that brings a powerful leadership lesson to life. What began as frustration in a long hotel line during a challenging moment abroad quickly turned into a reflection on how easily we make assumptions about others and how wrong we can be. 

Sandra walks through how quickly judgment can take hold, how it can influence those around us, and how a single act of unexpected kindness completely shifted her perspective. It is an honest reminder that we rarely have the full picture of what someone else is experiencing. 

This episode explores the importance of pausing before reacting, choosing patience over immediacy, and leading with empathy even in everyday moments. 

If you have ever caught yourself making a snap judgment or reacting before understanding the full story, this conversation will resonate. Because leadership is not only about what we do. It is about how we show up, especially in the moments that test us most.

Sandra Boyd sits down with Ranya Elan, executive coach and leadership advisor, to explore a topic that is often misunderstood and frequently missed in women: ADHD.

In this conversation, they unpack how ADHD presents differently in women, why it is often diagnosed later in life, and how it intersects with career, identity, and hormonal changes. Together, they explore the lived experience of navigating work, relationships, and expectations while managing an often invisible neurodivergence.

We talk about:

Whether you are navigating ADHD yourself, supporting someone who is, or leading teams in today’s workplace, this episode offers a clearer understanding of how ADHD shapes women’s lives and careers.

Our guest this week:

Ranya Elan is an executive coach and leadership advisor who specializes in supporting professionals and leaders with ADHD. She is the founder of the Tomato Crushers Community, a global community for ADHD professionals and entrepreneurs focused on productivity, accountability, and practical strategies.

Ranya brings a combination of lived experience and coaching expertise to her work, helping clients design ways of working that align with how their brains function. She is known for translating ADHD challenges into actionable strategies while also highlighting the strengths and potential of neurodivergent leaders.

Ranya's LinkedIn can be found here.