Proven Not Perfect

Lead Yourself First A Conversation with Kellogg School of Management Professor Michelle Buck

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1777365/fan_mail/new] You can feel it everywhere: leaders are expected to move faster, decide with less certainty, and keep teams connected while AI reshapes how work gets done. I sit down with Michelle Buck from the Kellogg School of Management to slow the noise down and get practical about what actually holds up in turbulent times. We start with a leadership idea that sticks in your body, not just your notes: the music ensemble. One shared rhythm, many distinct instruments, and the real work of making space for every voice without losing alignment.  From there, we widen the lens to the arts in leadership, including music, dance, and imagery, as tools for communication, resilience, and meaning. Michelle shares why leaders need more than words to create impact, and why joy and self-acceptance are not “soft” extras but real performance multipliers. We also talk about polarization, psychological safety, and the underestimated power of community, especially when people are stressed, overwhelmed, and trying to get by.  The conversation turns personal and unforgettable as Michelle shares stories that shaped her understanding of resilience, including a lived lesson in gratitude and the grounding practice of “coming home to ourselves” through values, purpose, and non-negotiables. We close on what leaders should keep front and center right now: asking better questions, helping people feel seen and heard, and building the courage to have the conversations that matter. If this resonates, subscribe, share with a friend who leads people, and leave a review. What question do you need to ask your team this week? Follow me on Instagram at: shontrapowell_provennotperfect Follow me on Facebook at: Proven Not Perfect™️ Watch and listen on YouTube:  Proven Not Perfect™️ Join the community for ideas and events at www.provennotperfect.com.  I'd love to hear what you think!

Permission To Lead

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1777365/fan_mail/new] In this episode I share a portion of my keynote to a group of leaders who represented multiple industries. It really gives a peak into one of my most humbling lessons in my leadership journey.  [Note: I am hitting stages more, and I am super excited 👏🏾 🎙️] A few key points from this talk: * Leadership can feel like something you earn once and keep forever, until you walk into a new room and realize nobody asked to be led by you. * When success comes quickly, it’s easy to assume your vision will inspire others the same way it inspires you. But teams have their own history, identity, and everyday rhythms. If you miss those signals, you can lose your best people fast, even when your intentions are good and your strategy sounds solid.  * The turning point comes through humility and asking for feedback when it hurts.  * The big takeaway is practical leadership: listen before you lead, adapt your message to the people in front of you, and remember that influence is granted, not claimed. If this story hits home, subscribe so you don’t miss the next conversation, share it with a manager who needs it, and leave a review with the leadership lesson you learned the hard way. Follow me on Instagram at: shontrapowell_provennotperfect Follow me on Facebook at: Proven Not Perfect™️ Watch and listen on YouTube:  Proven Not Perfect™️ Join the community for ideas and events at www.provennotperfect.com.  I'd love to hear what you think!

Navigating the Corporate Landscape with Grace, Faith and Fearless Leadership Featuring Author and CEO Tanya Hines

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1777365/fan_mail/new] What happens when strategy meets calling? We sit down with Tanya for a raw, practical, and energizing conversation about how to lead with data, conviction, and peace—without shrinking who you are. From her early days learning corporate culture to a pivotal first promotion with a skeptical team, Tanya shows how proof can outpace prejudice and how identity becomes an asset once outcomes speak. We dig into commercial fundamentals and how to translate them into impact drivers that keep the chains moving. Leadership, though, is more than math. Tanya breaks down how to “watch the tape” with your team to validate the truth together, recruit ambassadors to shift the middle, and set a standard where dissent stays in the room and unity leaves it. She talks about protecting peace, addressing personal friction offsite with honesty and care, and navigating the fine line many underrepresented leaders walk between being assertive and being misread. We also explore the difference between what you should do and what you’re called to do—how duty hits the target, but calling changes the field for others. Tanya’s Grace Moves Inner Court Workbook offers a blueprint for fusing market excellence with spiritual wisdom. If you’re ready to lead with clarity, win with empathy, and take your shot when grace makes space, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs the push, and leave a review with the play you’re calling next. Book is available at the link:  http://Amazon.com [http://Amazon.com] Follow me on Instagram at: shontrapowell_provennotperfect Follow me on Facebook at: Proven Not Perfect™️ Watch and listen on YouTube:  Proven Not Perfect™️ Join the community for ideas and events at www.provennotperfect.com.  I'd love to hear what you think!

Unlocking Career Potential Through Board Experience

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1777365/fan_mail/new] Shontra elaborates on the connection between board governance and corporate success, explaining how understanding the critical questions that drive leadership can lead to impactful solutions in the workplace. She stresses the importance of being proactive in networking and finding roles that resonate with one's values, ultimately transforming assignments into opportunities for growth and innovation. The episode serves as a motivational guide for early-career professionals looking to leverage their skills in meaningful ways, urging them to embrace challenges and pursue their passions with courage and clarity. • the power of a strategic yes • lessons from board-ready training • translating governance to corporate value • anticipating leaders’ questions • early-career board service as a lever • choosing nonprofits that fit heart and skill • turning assignments into opportunities Go and be great, proven not perfect Follow me on Instagram at: shontrapowell_provennotperfect Follow me on Facebook at: Proven Not Perfect™️ Watch and listen on YouTube:  Proven Not Perfect™️ Join the community for ideas and events at www.provennotperfect.com.  I'd love to hear what you think!

Fintech, Gen Z, And The New Playbook

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1777365/fan_mail/new] Money shouldn’t feel like paperwork. We sat down with Virginia Heyburn to unpack how fintech and AI are transforming banking into something simpler, more inclusive, and far more human. From mobile-first experiences to embedded finance, we trace the long road that brought new providers like Chime and Klarna into mainstream behavior—and why Gen Z’s expectations for speed, clarity, and respect are driving the next wave of innovation. We get real about AI’s impact on work. Traditional AI has lived in the background for years, but generative AI is changing daily workflows: less time on drafting and formatting, more time on strategy and connection. Virginia lays out why leaders must be AI fluent and then proficient, modeling responsible use while balancing governance, compliance, and shareholder demands. We also tackle a hard truth: many entry-level tasks will be automated. The opportunity is to train early-career talent as critical thinkers who can leap the rote work and contribute judgment, ethics, and creativity from day one. Beyond the boardroom, we explore parenting in the AI age and the importance of mental health. Keeping kids off tech isn’t the answer; teaching them to coexist with tools is. Yoga and breath become a lens for leadership—automate the minutiae, then use your reclaimed time to build relationships, ask better questions, and focus on the whole. For community banks and credit unions, that same mindset means “scaling the unscalable,” partnering with fintechs to serve niche markets and compete on experience, not size. If this conversation sparks new ideas for your team or your family, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review with the biggest insight you’re taking into your week. Follow me on Instagram at: shontrapowell_provennotperfect Follow me on Facebook at: Proven Not Perfect™️ Watch and listen on YouTube:  Proven Not Perfect™️ Join the community for ideas and events at www.provennotperfect.com.  I'd love to hear what you think!