In this episode of Leadership Matters, Sally Cornet, Executive CHRO Counselor at McLean & Company, joins host Kaylee Thomsen for a fascinating conversation on the science of the mind and how it shapes leadership. Sally unpacks what NLP actually is, why 90% of your brain operates on autopilot, and how that invisible programming impacts the way leaders show up. She shares why vulnerability builds more trust than perfection, how flexibility drives influence, and what it really takes to break free from the mental superhighways keeping leaders stuck. She also offers a simple but powerful first step any leader can take this week to start creating new ones.

In this episode of Leadership Matters, Anne Schoolcraft, certified EOS implementer at EOS Worldwide, joins host Kaylee Thompson for an honest conversation on leadership, accountability, and what it really takes to build high-functioning teams. Anne shares her unexpected path from stay-at-home mom to running a family business through a financial turnaround - and eventually finding her calling as an EOS implementer. She unpacks why right people in right seats is the foundation of accountability, how visionary-integrator tension plays out in real life, and why slowing down to identify the root issue is the discipline most teams resist. Anne also shares practical tools for keeping teams aligned and moving forward together.

In this episode of Leadership Matters, Kara Kuykendall, Founder of True North Leadership, joins host Kaylee Thomsen for a grounding conversation on alignment, communication, and what it truly takes to lead people through change. Kara shares her 27-year career journey and why she left corporate America to help executives close the gap between strategy and execution. She unpacks why alignment breaks down between the leadership room and the front lines, what stability really means in today's workplace, and how leaders can embrace AI without losing the people behind the work. Kara also shares a powerful reflection exercise to help every leader communicate with more intention and impact.

In this episode of Leadership Matters, Laura Best, keynote speaker, bestselling author, and coach, joins host Kaylee Thomsen for an energizing conversation on passion, leadership, and unlocking what truly lights you up. Laura shares her journey from corporate burnout to founding Passion Collective, and why rediscovering your passions isn't a luxury - it's foundational to your health, happiness, and effectiveness as a leader. She unpacks the difference between harmonious and obsessive passion, what it means to be a passion-first leader, and how organizations can create cultures where employees bring more of themselves to work. Laura also shares practical ways to rediscover your spark - no matter where you are in your career.

In this episode of Leadership Matters, Tané Minnick, business guide and executive coach, joins host Kaylee Thomsen for a rich conversation on self-awareness, leadership growth, and building high-performing teams. Tané shares her unconventional path from growing up in Switzerland to leading retail divisions at Macy's and Patagonia, and the hard lessons she learned along the way. She unpacks why ego is the biggest barrier to self-awareness, what it really means to "play in the outfield," and why the leader's job is to step back so others can lean in. Tané also shares her framework for team alignment and why self-reflection is the foundation of every great leader.

• https://www.taneminnick.com/home

• Pinnacle Baseline Assessment

In this episode of Leadership Matters, Jennifer Zick, Founder and CEO of Authentic, joins host Kaylee Thomsen for a candid conversation on marketing, entrepreneurship, and leading with purpose. Jennifer shares how losing her job at 39 sparked the launch of Authentic, what she learned spending 13 years inside a fast-growth startup, and why most businesses misunderstand what marketing really is. She unpacks the concept of "random acts of marketing," the four questions every company needs to answer to grow strategically, and why trust is at the heart of everything she builds. Jennifer also shares her take on AI, her values-driven culture, and why she's learning to hold loosely to her best laid plans.

In this episode of Leadership Matters, Jim Willenbring, Partner, Board Director, and Executive Coach at The Bailey Group, joins host Kaylee Thomsen for a candid conversation on what it really takes to lead people well. Jim explores why most leaders learn to lead by osmosis, picking up both good and bad habits along the way, and what it looks like to treat leadership as a true professional discipline. He digs into the shift from being the expert problem solver to developing expert problem solvers, the science behind giving and receiving feedback, and why avoiding difficult conversations always costs more than having them. If you lead people at any level, this one is worth your time.

In this episode of Leadership Matters, Scott Schwefel, Founder and CEO of Discover Yourself, joins host Kaylee Thomsen for a fascinating conversation on self-awareness, personality, and intentional leadership. Scott shares his winding journey from aspiring architect to discovering the transformative power of Insights Discovery, and how a single moment with an employee changed everything. He reflects on surviving the Y2K crisis, the daily habits that trigger conscious awareness, and why failure teaches what success never can. Scott also explores the elevator personality test, the power of writing your future self on a bathroom mirror, and why replacing "I have to" with "I choose" might be the most important leadership shift you ever make.