LeaderImpact Podcast

Ep. 109 - Diana Palacio - Choosing Family Over Titles

Diana Palacio grew up in Latin America, moved to the United States for university, and immigrated to Canada as a young newlywed, trying to break into the job market without “Canadian experience.” She shares why pursuing an MBA became a pivotal career development decision, how her years in consumer packaged goods shaped her approach to classic marketing strategy, and why the most difficult transition wasn’t professional at all; it was internal. Leaving corporate titles for consulting forced an ego check, a rework of identity, and a new definition of sustainable success and work-life balance. Thanks for listening! Click here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfeGzCIGOnxPI4YiEbWD9X-mXd-CMf630CUCn885_JaczLE6w/viewform] to take the LeaderImpact Assessment and to receive the first chapter of Becoming a Leader of Impact by Braden Douglas. Remember, impact starts with you!

Ep. 108 - Melissa Harris-Allen - Reflections of An Emerging Leader

We sit down with Melissa Harris-Allen, a retail sales manager and emerging leader, to unpack how a post-maternity leave “in-charge” role became her turning point and why the skills built in motherhood can strengthen empathy, composure, and people-first leadership at work. Melissa shares what she had to unlearn, how mentors created a safe space to learn without judgment, and why self-grace matters when you are growing into responsibility. We also talk about practical leadership development habits like reflection, asking for feedback, and treating unexpected feedback as a gift instead of a threat. Thanks for listening! Click here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfeGzCIGOnxPI4YiEbWD9X-mXd-CMf630CUCn885_JaczLE6w/viewform] to take the LeaderImpact Assessment and to receive the first chapter of Becoming a Leader of Impact by Braden Douglas. Remember, impact starts with you!

Ep. 107 - Justin Simpkins - Lead With Heart

Leadership rarely breaks because we lack information. It breaks because we forget the human in front of us. Justin Simpkins joins us with a simple conviction that keeps cutting through the noise: lead with heart and the rest follows.  Justin shares how character and teachability can matter more than credentials, and how a growth mindset turns unfamiliar work into a calling.  Thanks for listening! Click here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfeGzCIGOnxPI4YiEbWD9X-mXd-CMf630CUCn885_JaczLE6w/viewform] to take the LeaderImpact Assessment and to receive the first chapter of Becoming a Leader of Impact by Braden Douglas. Remember, impact starts with you!

Ep. 106 - Jacqueline Clements - Lead With Intention

What happens when a season ends and you’re left asking the question so many leaders face: Now what? Jacqueline Clements shares how her path moved from performing on stage as a child, to years of focused motherhood and homeschooling, to stepping back into media and producing purpose-driven storytelling with her husband through major shifts like COVID. We dig into the leadership practices that made that reinvention possible. Jacqueline breaks down why she chooses to lead with intention rather than impulse, how kindness sets you apart in an unkind world, and why deep listening is one of the most practical leadership skills we can build. We also get candid about failure, pride, and the moment you realize you walked into rooms with the wrong posture, then the long work of becoming grounded and humble again. Thanks for listening! Click here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfeGzCIGOnxPI4YiEbWD9X-mXd-CMf630CUCn885_JaczLE6w/viewform] to take the LeaderImpact Assessment and to receive the first chapter of Becoming a Leader of Impact by Braden Douglas. Remember, impact starts with you!

Ep. 105 - Mary Elizabeth Murphy - Reset Your Buttons

One brave ask can change a career, and one heavy loss can make you question who you even are. We sit down with Mary Elizabeth Murphy, CEO of Star Resources and author of Reset Your Buttons, to talk about both sides of that reality and what it takes to lead through it. Mary Elizabeth has spent decades in training and development, team dynamics, and workplace leadership, but her story starts with a moment many professionals recognize: layoffs, uncertainty, and that uncomfortable decision to reach out for guidance. We dig into how mentorship actually works in real life, how the “wrong” person can still be the right connector, and why leadership often finds you before you feel ready. The conversation turns deeply personal as she describes grief after losing her best friend to ovarian cancer and how faith and community helped her find her legs again.  Thanks for listening! Click here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfeGzCIGOnxPI4YiEbWD9X-mXd-CMf630CUCn885_JaczLE6w/viewform] to take the LeaderImpact Assessment and to receive the first chapter of Becoming a Leader of Impact by Braden Douglas. Remember, impact starts with you!