What happens when you feel stuck in your career, sending out endless applications with no results?

Brian Collins, a veteran design leader who has worked at Google, Amazon, and more, shares how the Core Leadership Lab helped him shift from rejection and self-doubt to confidence, clarity, and recruiter calls.

In this conversation, Brian unpacks:

If you’re ready to unstick your career and rediscover your momentum, this episode is for you.

Links and Resources:
Join the Core Leadership Lab: https://worthytolead.co/member

Connect with Brian Collins:
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briancollins/
🌐Website: collinsux.com

Connect with Kristiana Corona:
🌐 Website: http://worthytolead.co
💼 LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/kristianacorona
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worthytolead/

What does martial arts have to do with business leadership?

For Lisa W. Rogers, the two are inseparable.

In this episode of Worthy to Lead, Lisa shares how her journey from white belt to master instructor in Taekwondo shaped her leadership style as a technology executive. Along the way, she unpacks powerful lessons about confidence, perseverance, respect, and passion.

You will learn why confidence is built by doing hard things, how perseverance creates long-term mastery, why integrity is the result of living your values, and how passion fuels leadership that lasts.

This conversation blends timeless wisdom from the martial arts with practical lessons for today’s leaders.

Links and Resources:
📝Articles by Lisa W. Rogers: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/everything-i-need-know-succeeding-business-learned-martial-rogers-3f

Connect with Lisa W. Rogers:
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lwrogers
🌐 SIM Houston: https://simhouston.org

Connect with Kristiana Corona:

🌐 Website: http://worthytolead.co
💼 LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/kristianacorona
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worthytolead/

Most leaders avoid conflict because they think it will damage relationships. But what if conflict could actually make your team stronger?

In this episode of Worthy to Lead, conflict resolution expert Mills Vautrot shares a proven 7-step Be the Leader framework for turning friction into connection. Drawing from decades of experience and remarkable stories from the field, Mills shows why conflict is less about tasks and more about dignity, and how leaders can transform it into a tool for growth.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

If you’ve ever struggled with tough conversations at work, this episode will give you a roadmap to step in with courage and come out with stronger relationships.

Links and Resources:
🌐Website: https://leadershipandperformancecompany.com/ (pattyshull.com)

📑Download the 7-step conflict resolution handout: https://leadershipandperformancecompany.com/what-we-offer/conflict-resolution/

Connect with Mills Vautrot:
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/millsv/

Connect with Kristiana Corona
🌐 Website: http://worthytolead.co
💼 LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/kristianacorona
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worthytolead/

Most leaders don’t think of podcasting as a leadership tool. But after 21 episodes, I’ve learned it can change the way you connect, build trust, and grow your influence.

In this episode, I share the biggest lessons from my own podcasting journey:

If you’ve ever thought about starting a podcast as a leader, this episode will help you see what it actually looks like — the wins, the struggles, and why it might be worth it for you.

Links and Resources:
📘 Free “Getting Back on Track” Guide: https://www.worthytolead.co/ontrack
📚 Jenna Kutcher’s “The Podcast Lab”: the step-by-step course that helped me get started podcasting: https://thepodcastlab.jennakutcher.com/
🌐 Kajabi: Hosting & email platform: https://app.kajabi.com/r/DpJrgGvB
🎙️ Riverside: Recording platform: https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_5&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=kristiana
🎨 Canva: https://www.canva.com/
🎤 Blue Yeti Microphone: https://amzn.to/4lzOWq2

Ready to level up? Consider getting help:
🎧 Podcast production support: http://www.podcastpointman.com

Connect with Kristiana:
🌐 Website: http://worthytolead.co
💼 LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/kristianacorona
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worthytolead/

You don’t need a title to lead. And you definitely don’t need permission to drive results that matter.

In this episode of Worthy to Lead, I share three real stories from my time at Amazon where individual contributors stepped up, took ownership, and delivered high-impact results without any formal authority.

We’ll unpack what it looks like to lead like a founder, how to influence across teams, and why the best leaders are always looking for ways to contribute.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

What extreme ownership actually looks like in a corporate setting

How internal "founders" influence up, across, and beyond their scope

How to help your team build more authority for themselves

Links and Resources:

Connect with Kristiana:
🌐 Website: worthytolead.co
💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kristianacorona
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worthytolead/

What does it really take to make a 10x leap, in business and life?

In this episode, you’ll learn the answer to that question from a friend and mentor who’s done it multiple times. 

This is the second part of my conversation with 5-time founder-turned-business coach Bob Hoeffner, about our experiences applying the principles from one of my all-time favorite books: “10x Is Easier Than 2x” by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy.

Bob and I dive deeper into the identity shifts required for 10x growth, what he learned from the hardest day of his career, and the mindset behind taking on a brand new venture (and growing a following on Instagram!) into his 70s.

We also share: 

Links and Resources:

When I first heard the idea that “10x Is Easier Than 2x,” I was skeptical. But the more I sat with it—and started making my own bold career moves—the more it rang true.

In this episode, I’m joined by my friend and mentor Bob Hoeffner, who knows a thing or two about 10x growth. He’s launched five businesses (one of which sold for $73M), scaled a rental chain to 40 stores in just 14 months, and now—in his 70s—is reinventing himself again with more energy than ever.

We talk about what it takes to say yes before you feel ready, why letting go of control is a leadership superpower, and how identity shifts are often the biggest leaps of all. I also share my own journey—from head-down designer to global leader at Amazon to building this next chapter as a coach and founder.

If you’re feeling the pull toward something bigger—but aren’t sure you’re ready—I hope this conversation gives you the courage to take the next step.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Links and Resources:

When I first stepped into senior leadership at Amazon, I felt like my calendar had a life of its own—and I was just trying to keep up. Double-booked days, endless meetings, and zero space to think… I loved the work, but felt completely buried by it.

In this episode, I’m sharing the mindset shift and practical tools that helped me take back control—not by working harder, but by working smarter and leading with intention. If you’re constantly reacting instead of leading, I hope this gives you a new path forward.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Links and Resources:

When I first stepped into senior leadership at Amazon, I felt like my calendar had a life of its own—and I was just trying to keep up. Double-booked days, endless meetings, and zero space to think… I loved the work, but felt completely buried by it.

In this episode, I’m sharing the mindset shift and practical tools that helped me take back control—not by working harder, but by working smarter and leading with intention. If you’re constantly reacting instead of leading, I hope this gives you a new path forward.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Links and Resources:

Summary: 

In this episode of the Worthy to Lead podcast, host Kristiana Corona interviews Patty Shull, founder of Leadership and Performance Company. Patty shares her unique approach to leadership development, emphasizing the importance of leading from the zone, creating a high-performance environment, and using humor and curiosity to foster collaboration.

She discusses the six key criteria for effective leadership and how improv can be a powerful tool for creativity and connection in the workplace that also drives industry-leading results. The conversation highlights the significance of play in leadership and offers practical advice for aspiring virtuoso leaders.

Takeaways: 

- Patty Shull emphasizes the importance of leading from "the zone", which is like a jazz musician or artist being in a flow state.

- The six key criteria for leadership success include: clarity, standards, flexibility, rewards, trust, and situational awareness.

- Humor can break down barriers and foster open communication in teams, allowing them to reach new heights in their performance.

- "Connected curiosity" encourages collaboration and innovation among team members.

- Improv can be a powerful tool to enhance creativity and problem-solving in corporate settings, making leaders at all levels appear more approachable.

- Play is essential for leaders at all levels to reduce stress and enhance performance.

- Leaders should embrace a mindset of learning and curiosity to move from competence towards virtuosity.

Find out more about Patty Shull:

- Website: https://www.pattyshull.com

- Phone/Text: (713) 446-8700

- Leadership Assessment & Coaching Sessions: Email: [email protected] 

- 12 Week Virtuoso Program: Email: [email protected]

- Improvisation for Teams: https://leadershipandperformancecompany.com/happy-hour-improv-class/