Crossroads + Catalysts Leadership Podcast

From Peer to Leader: The Mistake Most New Leaders Make & What To Do

Transitioning from peer to leader is one of the most overlooked — and emotionally complex — shifts in leadership. In this episode of Crossroads and Catalysts, a leadership podcast for new leaders, Shenita B. discusses straightforward new leader strategies you can apply today as you navigate the challenges that come with leading former coworkers, establishing credibility, and adjusting to changing workplace dynamics. This conversation explores the leadership mindset shift required when moving into management and why so many first-time leaders feel unprepared for the emotional and relational changes that come with increased responsibility. Whether you’re stepping into your first leadership role, managing former peers, or preparing for future opportunities, this episode offers practical insight and thoughtful guidance to help you navigate the transition wisely and lead with greater intention. Joint me for the She Leads Her Money [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1987469049428?aff=oddtdtcreator]online workshop. Support the show and Buy Me A Coffee [buymeacoffee.com/ShenitaB]. Have some feedback or want to hear a topic? Leave a voice note [https://www.crossroadsandcatalysts.com/] or send an email [connect@crossroadsandcatalysts.com] I appreciate your listenership.

Managing Up Part 2: Self Advocacy Skills and Strategies for New Leaders

Managing up is one of the most underrated new leader strategies — and a core self-advocacy skill. If you're a new leader looking for strategic thinking frameworks that in the real world, this episode is for you. I pick up where Part 1 left off, diving deeper into how learning to speak up in meetings and in the workplace is one of the most important leadership presence moves you can make — and why most people were never taught how to do it strategically. You'll learn how managing up creates the relational foundation that makes self-advocacy effective, why silence gets misinterpreted as agreement or availability, and how to communicate your needs clearly without coming across as demanding or self-promotional. I also cover how to advocate for your team without creating division, how to disagree professionally and affably, and why visibility and communication matter just as much as the quality of your work. Whether you're a new manager, a team lead, or a senior leader navigating complex workplace dynamics, this episode will help you build the trust, credibility, and communication skills needed to influence decisions, protect your team, and advance your career — without sacrificing your integrity or your relationships. Topics covered: self-advocacy skills, new leader strategies, strategic thinking frameworks, speak up in meetings, leadership presence, managing up, leadership communication, professional boundaries, how to disagree at work, advocating for your team, workplace visibility, career advancement, avoiding burnout, executive presence, leadership maturity. Continue advocating for yourself by taking charge of and leading your money. Join me for the live webinar, She Leads Her Money [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1987469049428?aff=oddtdtcreator]. Support the show and Buy Me A Coffee [buymeacoffee.com/ShenitaB] Have a topic you want to hear about or feedback you'd like to share? Send me a voicemail [https://www.crossroadsandcatalysts.com/] or email [connect@crossroadsandcatalysts.com]. Book time with me, click here [https://tidycal.com/brownshenita07/30-minute-meeting] to access my calendar. Looking for more to fuel your growth? The Catalysts newsletter is a short, thoughtful read designed to inspire and equip you for the week ahead. Leaders who are serious about growth don't wait for motivation to find them — they go after it. Subscribe today using the link in the show notes and let's keep growing together. The Catalysts [https://crossroads-catalysts.kit.com/070f786df9]

Managing Up Part 1: The New Leader Strategy That Gets You Noticed

Managing up is one of the most underrated new leader strategies — and a core self-advocacy skill that most people learn too late. Yet it's one of the highest-leverage moves you can make for your career and your team. In this episode, we're breaking down what it actually looks like to manage up with intention — not to impress your boss, but to create real alignment, communicate for impact, and close the gaps before they become problems. Because the leaders who move forward aren't just doing good work — they're making sure the right people understand it. If you've been waiting for someone to notice your contributions, this episode is your turning point. Managing up is how you take ownership of your own visibility, strengthen your leadership presence, and become a leader your manager sees, hears, and advocates for. Whether you're navigating workplace challenges, stepping into a new role, or simply ready to stop being overlooked — this is the new leader strategy that changes how you show up, speak up, and lead. Check-out Ep. 61 [https://www.crossroadsandcatalysts.com/leading-yourself-understanding-your-power-choice/] about your power and your choice. Join me for the She Leads Her Money [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1987469049428?aff=oddtdtcreator]live workshop. Leave a voicemail [https://www.crossroadsandcatalysts.com/] or email [connect@crossroadsandcatalysts.com] and let me know what topic you'd like to hear on a webinar. Enjoying what you hear? Become a supporter today and Buy Me A Coffee [buymeacoffee.com/ShenitaB]. Ready to take the next step in your journey? Book some time on my calendar [https://tidycal.com/brownshenita07/30-minute-meeting].

Why High-Performing Women Struggle With Connection—And What To Do Differently

What happens when the traits that make you successful at work… start working against you at home? In this episode of Crossroads and Catalysts, we’re unpacking a tension many high-achieving women experience but rarely name—the disconnect between how you show up in leadership and how you show up in your relationships. If you’ve ever been called “too much,” “too controlling,” or “too opinionated” outside of work, this conversation will challenge you to take a closer look at how your leadership mindset is showing up outside of work. We’ll explore: * The difference between leading and relating * Why strong leadership traits like decisiveness, independence, and high standards can create disconnection when misapplied * The role of clarity, communication, and emotional intelligence in building stronger relationships This episode is for the woman who knows she’s capable—but is starting to question whether her approach is creating distance instead of connection. This episode is perfect for you if: You’re a high-achieving woman who leads confidently at work but feels tension in your personal relationships You’ve been told you’re “too much,” “too controlling,” or “hard to deal with”—and you’re trying to understand why You’re developing new manager leadership skills and want to apply them with more awareness and emotional intelligence You’re ready to strengthen both your leadership and your relationships—without dimming who you are Call to Action: If you’re ready to bring more clarity and confidence into another critical area of your life—your finances—I invite you to join me for my live, virtual workshop, She Leads Her Money, on June 13th at 10am. This beginner-friendly session will help you understand your money, your decision-making patterns, and how to build a strategy that actually works for you. Save your seat here [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1987469049428?aff=oddtdtcreator]. I want to hear from you. Leave a voicemail [https://www.crossroadsandcatalysts.com/]. Want to support the show? Buy Me A Coffee [buymeacoffee.com/ShenitaB]

Leading Yourself: Understanding Your Power & Choice

Have you ever told yourself "I don't have a choice" — and actually believed it? In this episode of Crossroads and Catalysts, I unpack one of the most powerful mindset shifts women in leadership can make: the difference between being stuck and avoiding a choice. Using the lens of relationships, careers, and money, Shenita explores how reclaiming your sense of power and choice is at the heart of leading yourself well — especially when the options in front of you feel uncomfortable, costly, or inconvenient. You'll walk away with a new way of looking at the moments you feel trapped, and a challenge to ask yourself: What would change if I started preparing to actually choose differently? In this episode: * Why feeling stuck is often about rejecting the choices you do have * How your finances quietly shrink or expand the options available to you * The mindset shift that moves you from victim of your circumstances to participant in them * What it really means to take your power back Perfect for: Women in leadership, aspiring leaders, and anyone who has ever felt stuck in their career, their finances, or their life — and is ready to start making choices from a place of power. Mark your calendar for my live, virtual workshop She Leads Her Money [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/she-leads-her-money-a-beginner-friendly-workshop-to-command-your-cash-flow-tickets-1987469049428?aff=oddtdtcreator] — a space for women ready to use their finances as a tool for freedom, choice, and stronger leadership. Reserve your spot. Enjoying the show and wanna show support? Buy Me A Coffee [buymeacoffee.com/ShenitaB] Leave a voicemail for me with your questions or feedback at crossroadsandcatalysts.com [https://www.crossroadsandcatalysts.com/] Need leadership support? Book time on my calendar [https://tidycal.com/brownshenita07/30-minute-meeting].