In this solo episode of Promoted with Denise Harris, I explore a concept many high-achieving professionals experience but rarely name: messy success. It’s that moment when you reach a milestone—a promotion, a new role, a big life win—and instead of feeling fulfilled, you feel tired, disconnected, or quietly unsettled. If you’ve ever thought, “Why doesn’t this feel the way I expected it to?” this episode is for you.

Messy success isn’t failure, and it’s not underperformance. It often shows up because you’re capable, driven, and trusted. But when achievement outpaces intention, speed becomes a substitute for progress, leaving little room for reflection, integration, or joy. In this episode, I unpack how messy success shows up in careers and life, why it’s so common among high performers, and the hidden costs of always racing toward “what’s next.”

We’ll also talk about how to reclaim intention as a leadership skill—by slowing down, celebrating what you’ve already built, and redefining success in a way that’s sustainable and aligned. Because clean success isn’t perfect—it’s intentional.

Connect with Denise:

Website | Denise Harris Leadership https://www.deniseharrisleadership.com/

LinkedIn | Denise Harris Leadership https://www.linkedin.com/in/denise-harris

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

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In this inspiring episode of Promoted with Denise Harris, I sat down with Sheryl Raphael Whitaker, Founder & CEO of EdenAnthony Elite Talent Solutions and author of the #1 Amazon Bestseller It Starts with Joy: The Inner Shift that Changes Everything. Sheryl is an executive coach, leadership strategist, and former head of enterprise learning and talent development for over 37,000 employees at USAA. Her groundbreaking JoyShift™ method and leadership philosophy—Joy is my COO™—invite leaders to see joy not as a soft emotion, but as a powerful strategic tool for driving clarity, authenticity, and performance.

Our conversation explored what it means to lead from joy in today’s high-pressure workplaces. Sheryl shared her belief that joy is not a distraction from productivity, but rather the differentiator that helps leaders thrive and inspire others. She discussed how self-awareness, intentionality, and courage are key to cultivating what she calls “intentional joy,” especially in cultures that feel stressful or disconnected. By leading from joy, she explained, leaders build environments of trust, psychological safety, and creativity—where innovation and engagement naturally follow.

Sheryl also opened up about her own journey from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship, including a pivotal experience that nearly stole her joy. Rather than staying in a role that caused her to shrink, she chose to step into her power and create her own company, empowering leaders to reclaim joy as their operating system. She emphasized that joy doesn’t mean every day is easy—it’s an anchor that helps you return to steadiness after the storm passes. Through reflection, gratitude, and boundaries, leaders can protect their energy, stay grounded, and model what authentic leadership truly looks like.

As we wrapped up, Sheryl shared her take on what makes a person promotable: fearlessness, creativity, and a genuine love for people. She reminded listeners that saying “no” can often be a powerful “yes” to yourself—and that leadership rooted in joy isn’t about constant happiness, but about resilience, connection, and purpose. This heart-centered conversation was a beautiful reminder that joy is not only personal—it’s a leadership advantage that transforms how we show up, how we serve, and how we rise.

Watch the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5PsAEQQ3eO8

Additional Links & Resources:

Book | It Starts with Joy: The Inner Shift that Changes Everything by Sheryl Whitaker

Connect with Sheryl:

LinkedIn | Sheryl Raphael Whitaker

Website | Sheryl Raphael Whitaker

Instagram | Sheryl Raphael Whitaker

Connect with Denise:

Website | Denise Harris Leadership

LinkedIn | Denise Harris Leadership

In this episode of Promoted with Denise Harris, I had the pleasure of speaking with Lisa Fain, CEO of the Center for Mentoring Excellence and a global authority on mentoring and developmental networks. Lisa has built her career around helping organizations foster connection, inclusion, and growth, drawing on her background as an attorney, corporate leader, and advocate for diversity and inclusion in the workplace. She is also the co-author of Bridging Differences for Better Mentoring and The Mentor’s Guide, 3rd Edition, and her recent TEDx talk, Want to Make a Bigger Impact? Build Better Connections, has inspired many to rethink how relationships drive success.

Our conversation explored Lisa’s personal journey into mentorship and the inspiration she found in connecting diversity and inclusion work with the transformational power of mentoring. She explained how strong developmental relationships, both formal and informal, create accountability, bridge differences, and ultimately transform not only careers but also workplace culture. Lisa emphasized that mentorship is never one-size-fits-all; it can take many shapes, from peer and cross-functional relationships to reverse mentoring, and it always thrives when built with intentionality.

A key theme we discussed was the distinction between mentorship and sponsorship. While mentorship is a reciprocal, co-created learning relationship that builds psychological safety, sponsorship is about advocacy. Sponsors are champions who open doors and recommend you for opportunities when you’re not in the room. Lisa stressed that women, and particularly women of color, benefit from having both, as each plays a crucial role in advancement. She also underscored that it’s never too late to find a mentor, whether you’re just entering the workforce or leading at the highest levels, because mentoring is fundamentally about learning, growth, and possibility.

We also touched on her favorite books, including Tara Mohr’s Playing Big, which helped shape her own leadership journey. Our conversation was a powerful reminder that mentorship and connection are not just career accelerators, they are transformative forces that help us show up more fully, lead with authenticity, and create more inclusive workplaces.

If you want to learn how to build better connections and unlock new possibilities in your career, this episode is for you.

Additional Links & Resources:

Lisa’s TedX: How intentional connections can boost your career

Book | Bridging Differences for Better Mentoring, by Lisa Fain & Lois Zachary

Book | The Art of Possibility, by Rosamund & Benjamin Zander

Book | Playing Big, by Tara Mohr

Book | Finding Your Own North Star, by Martha Beck

Connect with Lisa:

LinkedIn | Center for Mentoring Excellence

Website | Center for Mentoring

Instagram | lzfain

Connect with Denise:

Website | Denise Harris Leadership

LinkedIn | Denise Harris Leadership