Find the full transcript at yourfuturerealized.com/108.

Networking is a bit different for ops execs. Most connections happen inside the company as you keep things humming along. You handle sensitive info and build trust across departments. So, most connections are low-profile.

If you started your career post-Covid, in this AI-powered world, old ways of networking—coffee chats, handshakes, conference mingling—feel ancient. Now it’s all posts, DMs and emojis. Sometimes you may wonder: Is anyone really out there?

I think of a client who’s been at her company since college. Ten years in, she’s doing well, but feels boxed in, with nowhere new to stretch or learn. She asked me: What am I missing? Should I just keep my head down and be grateful?

In today’s episode you’ll get 3 ways to find your people and build peer-driven networks that feel real and spark ideas and new perspective. 

Find the full transcript at YourFutureRealized.com/107.

Leading operations means balancing precision with people—and that’s not always easy.

I know an ops leader in a fast-growing biotech company. Over the last few years, her role has expanded to involve more people and cross-functional work than ever before.

She knows when to lean into her strengths—systems, structure, and data—but also senses when a different approach is needed.

She recently said, “I can dial up the human side when I have to. But honestly, it feels like a distraction from what really needs to get done.” For her, recognizing progress—especially the small stuff—takes extra effort and rarely feels natural.

If this sounds familiar. Let’s make it easier. This episode is about balancing your systems strength with the people side. You’ll get practical ways to spot and celebrate daily wins—even on your busiest, messiest days. 

Find the full transcript at: YourFutureRealized.com/106.

When was the last time you truly left your phone alone for a whole hour? No peeking at Slack, or email? Does anyone do that anymore?

After four months together, a client of mine—a real go-getter—shared something that really landed:

“My husband told me I’ve never had a healthier relationship with work.” 

Her son had been sick. Her former M.O. would have been to feel guilty and check Slack nonstop. This time she kept her cool, stayed focused and protected her boundaries. Total win.

You don’t have to quit and throw your phone in a fountain, like in The Devil Wears Prada. But shifting your mindset, that sense of freedom, is real and within reach.

Ready to ditch being ‘always on’? Keep listening for three steps to stop hovering and start real delegation.

Find the full transcript at YourFutureRealized.com/105.

Ever have one of those days where even the smallest decisions feel impossible? Even the best ops leaders can freeze up, not for lack of ideas or drive, but from info overload. 

One leader I know kept seeing her team spinning their wheels, like they were dragging their heels. They were hanging back, waiting for certainty that never came. Meanwhile, nothing moved forward. 

What changed? Giving the team permission to make decisions without all the answers, and learning that ‘enough’ isn’t a number, it’s a mindset. As the team stepped up, they moved quicker, morale shot up, and she won back time for what matters most. 

In this episode you’ll hear why ops teams get stuck, why expecting certainty is a non-starter, and how to act with confidence—even before you’re fully sure.

Find the full episode and transcript at YourFutureRealized.com/104.

Have you ever led a team and realized—maybe a little too late—that something was off? On the surface, everything looks fine. But people have stopped sharing or pushing back, and the energy… shifts.

This happened with a client whose meetings were heavy with silence. And not the kind you get when people are focused, the kind where they’re holding back.

One day, a colleague asked him, “Have you noticed how quiet your team has become?” He had noticed, a bit, but wasn’t sure how to handle it. So, he’d buried himself deeper in deadlines and to-do lists. 

This is where reputation can unravel in operations: When the dashboard says “all good,” but the room tells a different story. 

In this episode, you’ll hear why silence can break teams and how to be known as a leader who is tuned in. 

Find the full episode, and more resources for operations executives, at yourfuturerealized.com/103.

Ever notice someone on your team seems to operate on an entirely different wavelength? Or maybe that’s you—juggling a hundred moving parts and still feeling a bit out of sync.

Is being “wired differently” a flaw, or could it be your hidden superpower?

Ops execs know what it’s like to keep things stable, even when the real challenges aren’t obvious. And let’s be honest, it’s often those unconventional minds—whether it’s a teammate or even yourself—that light up the room with fresh ideas, even if they don’t always fit the usual mold. 

This episode, I’m talking shop with leadership coach and author Rachel Radway about how neurodiversity shapes teams, leadership, and everyday work life. You’ll get real stories, practical moves you can put to use right away, and maybe a new way to see yourself, your team, or that “different” colleague. 

Find the full transcript at YourFutureRealized.com/102. 

I want to tell you about Sam. Sam is an operations leader at a small business that’s growing and changing fast. He’s very used to powering through and solving problems quickly.

Lately, Sam’s team ran into tech glitches from new AI features—with no easy fixes yet. His first move? Double down: work longer, push harder, expecting the same great results.

But problems kept piling up for him and the team: Missed deadlines when automated alerts got lost, confusion about which process version to use, and burnout looming over everybody.

What does it take to release old habits and embrace fresh ways of working? If you’re juggling tight budgets, stretched teams, and constant change—this episode is for you. Let’s get started!

Find the full transcript at yourfuturerealized.com/101. 

How many of your meetings truly move the needle? 

I recently worked with someone whose days were full of urgent meetings that didn’t deserve her time. We looked at each one: Why it was there, what it specifically was for, and if she really had to attend.  

She found nearly a third were there out of habit. This kept her stuck reacting, firefighting, and never moving forward on the things that really matter most to her.

Saying “no” was tough at first—but the payoff came fast. She carved out a bigger slice of time for deep work and strategy, time to think ahead, not just react. 

Is your routine building your future or maintaining your past?

In this episode, discover how to shift hard-to-break habits—and why it matters for future-proofing yourself and your team. 

Find the full transcript at yourfuturerealized.com/100.

I’ve struggled with running for years. I’d push through 5ks, only to crash hard afterward, wiped out, knees spent, quitting for months. It felt like winning and failing, again and again. 

Then a physiotherapist/running coach helped me shift to playing the long game: strength training, recovery, smart pacing, and patience.

Funny how often I’ve had to relearn this simple lesson, in running, ops leadership, coaching, even this podcast. Growth happens through steady effort, resilience, and sticking with it even when the results aren’t obvious.

In this 100th episode of Your Future Realized, I’m reflecting on 100 weeks of podcasting inspired by coaching ops leaders and steady hands like you. I’ll share what it really feels like behind the coaching conversations. No sugarcoating, just practical insights for your daily grind. 

Find the full transcript at yourfuturerealized.com/99. 

Last week, I was chatting with a creative powerhouse of an ops leader who's been juggling a global team around the clock. She felt overwhelmed, so we came up with a simple challenge: try going to bed the same time her son does for one week.

It sounded like a simple thing, but she was surprised by the difference. She woke up more rested, was eating better, got more done, and felt less stressed.

Sometimes the smallest tweaks can shift everything.

What’s one basic thing you’ve been putting off or brushing aside that’s quietly begging for your attention?

In this episode, we’ll dig into how tiny, everyday changes can seriously reset your energy and focus. I’ll also share one simple thing you can try this week to start shaking things up.