What happens when 70+ years of combined military service never cross paths—until a random Zoom call during COVID changes everything? That’s where host Todd Simmons’ friendship with today’s guest begins, and it’s the perfect entry point to a conversation about authentic leadership, career pivots, and what it really takes to thrive.

In this episode, Dr. Leenette Joseph—a 23-year Air Force veteran, two-time author, and workforce development expert—joins Todd to go beyond the bio. She opens up about her unconventional journey, from failing the ASVAB three times (because she didn’t speak English yet) to earning her doctorate and building a business from the ground up during a global pandemic.

Together, they tackle the messy reality of reinvention:

• Why thinking you have "everything you need" is the first mistake of any career pivot.
• The truth about entrepreneurship: crying over keyboards, "$500 checks," and the 5-year grind Ice Cube warned us about.
• How to stop being a "chaos manager" and start leading with intention (hint: it starts with leaning back).
• Why your value proposition matters more than your capability list.

Dr. Joseph also introduces her brand-new book, Thrive Six: Where Survival Ends and Leadership Begins, a six-step framework filled with exercises to help overwhelmed leaders (and humans) move from reactive firefighting to intentional thriving. Plus, she delivers a viral-worthy analogy about TikTok videos and why we can’t solve problems when they’re “too close to our face.”

Find Dr. Leenette Joseph

RLK Team Solutions

https://rlk-teamsolutions.com/

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leenette-joseph/

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0FH47XFC3?ccs_id=5e4db204-d9b6-4464-927e-87cea425c52f

And find Todd Simmons here:

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-simmons-mba-fbina-7971a5156/

Courageous Leadership Alliance:

https://www.courageouslead.com/