The Richard Taliaferro Podcast

Power Amplifies Who You Are: Julie Jakopic on Leadership, Empathy, and Resilient Organizations

Leadership can look polished from the outside. But behind the title, many leaders are carrying enormous responsibility, constant visibility, and very few safe places to be fully human. In this episode, Richard talks with Julie Jakopic, a leadership evangelist, strategist, coach, and founder of iLead Strategies. Julie works with leaders across nonprofits, government, public service, and mission-driven organizations—often people with a lot of responsibility and not many true peers. Together, they explore what happens when high-performing doers become leaders, why letting people fail can be essential to growth, and how leaders can stay grounded when others put them on a pedestal. Julie also shares why power doesn’t change people as much as it amplifies them, why empathy is one of the most important leadership skills, and why leaders need trusted spaces where someone can hold up a mirror and ask better questions. This conversation is about leadership, yes. But it’s also about humanity, accountability, and the courage to stay curious before getting angry. Learn more about Julie Jakopic’s work: https://ileadstrategies.com [https://ileadstrategies.com] I’m Richard Taliaferro. I’m a certified career coach, specializing in helping mid-stage professionals find the work that works for them. I'm sharing my thoughts on careers, and more, and how I can help you achieve your goals. Find out more at: https://www.richardtaliaferro.com [https://www.richardtaliaferro.com] To get my weekly newsletter with more career tips and insights, click here: https://www.richardtaliaferro.com/emails [https://www.richardtaliaferro.com/emails] #LeadershipDevelopment #ExecutiveCoaching #ResilientLeadership #EmpathyInLeadership #PublicServiceLeadership #NonprofitLeadership #MissionDrivenLeadership #OrganizationalDevelopment #LeadershipCoaching #EmotionalIntelligence #CareerGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment #WorkplaceTrust #JulieJakopic #RichardTaliaferro ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Power of Imagination in Leadership (And Why Most Leaders Ignore It)

Most people don’t associate imagination with leadership. But every meaningful shift—in a company, a career, or a life—starts with someone willing to see something that doesn’t exist yet. In this episode, I sit down with returning guest Dawn Kasey Lovelace, a certified coach and former music industry executive, to explore how imagination shapes leadership, decision-making, and team dynamics. We talk about: * Why imagination is a leadership advantage (not a soft skill) * How visionary leaders align people around ideas others can’t yet see * The role of stillness, reflection, and mindset in creative thinking * How to break old patterns and uncover blind spots * When imagination becomes a liability (and how to balance it with action) This conversation goes beyond tactics. It’s about how you show up as a leader—and how you create space for others to do the same. If you’ve been feeling stuck, overthinking your next move, or trying to lead through uncertainty, this one will give you a different lens. Connect with Dawn: https://dawnkaseylovelace.com [https://dawnkaseylovelace.com/] I’m Richard Taliaferro. I’m a certified career coach, specializing in helping mid-stage professionals find the work that works for them. I'm sharing my thoughts on careers, and more, and how I can help you achieve your goals. Find out more at: https://www.richardtaliaferro.com [https://www.richardtaliaferro.com] #LeadershipDevelopment #CreativeLeadership #CareerGrowth #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipMindset #InnovationLeadership #PersonalGrowth #CareerTransition #MindsetShift #coaching ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

When Your Career Looks Right But Feels Wrong | Meghan DeFord on Values, Identity, and Reinvention

What happens when the life and career you built no longer fit the person you’ve become? Richard Taliaferro talks with coach and strategist Meghan DeFord about career reinvention, identity, and what it means to rebuild a life around your values instead of other people’s expectations. After years in philanthropy and major fundraising leadership, Meghan found herself facing a divorce and a layoff within weeks of each other — and with that, a deeper reckoning around purpose, self-trust, and what came next. That turning point led her into coaching, where she now helps women who have checked all the boxes, shown up for everyone else, and quietly pushed their own dreams to the bottom of the list. Her approach is grounded and strategic: not hustle culture, not empty inspiration, but real goals, real values, and real life. Richard and Meghan talk about the emotional terrain of change — identity loss, self-judgment, people-pleasing, fear of visibility, and the myth that meaningful change requires blowing up everything you’ve built. They also explore the difference between coaching and therapy, the limits of AI as a substitute for human support, and why the best coaching doesn’t hand you a blueprint — it helps you hear yourself more clearly. This is a conversation for anyone navigating a career pivot, questioning a successful-on-paper life, or trying to reconnect with what matters now. You can reach out to Meghan at www.megdeford.com [http://www.megdeford.com] Meg and I also host Scrambled Eggs, a podcast about the messy middle of careers; give it a listen and subscribe: https://open.spotify.com/show/2MubV1gNu4lNQymeBsxi8r?si=jlqQwYAASx2KNkfScJSwZw [https://open.spotify.com/show/2MubV1gNu4lNQymeBsxi8r?si=jlqQwYAASx2KNkfScJSwZw] #MeghanDeFord #CareerReinvention #CareerPivot #MidlifeCareerChange #ValuesBasedLiving #IdentityShift #WomensCoaching #CareerCoaching #SelfTrust #WomenAndWork #PurposeDrivenLife #PersonalGrowth #RichardTaliaferro *********** I’m Richard Taliaferro. I’m a certified career coach, specializing in helping mid-stage professionals find the work that works for them. I'm sharing my thoughts on careers, and more, and how I can help you achieve your goals. Find out more at: https://www.richardtaliaferro.com [https://www.richardtaliaferro.com] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

When Your Health Disrupts Your Career: Chronic Illness, Identity, and Advocacy with Claire Sachs

What happens when the biggest disruption to your career isn’t your job—but your body? In this episode, I talk with Claire Sachs, a healthcare policy expert and patient advocate who has spent decades navigating the system from both sides—as a professional shaping healthcare policy and as a patient living with chronic illness. Claire shares her story of growing up with life-threatening illness, managing multiple diagnoses, and building a career within the constraints of her health. We explore how chronic illness impacts not just your physical capacity, but your identity, your career choices, and your sense of control. This conversation goes beyond healthcare. It’s about trust, self-advocacy, energy management, and what it means to rebuild your life when your body becomes part of the equation. Special thanks to Debra Chandler of Kickfannie Media Group for the connection ⸻ Key Takeaways: •Your body is not separate from your career—it’s part of the system •Stress isn’t just mental—it shows up physically, often before you notice •You are allowed to question authority—including doctors and career paths •Small, sustainable steps matter more than urgent, overwhelming change •Trust—both in yourself and in others—is foundational when everything feels uncertain ⸻ 🔗 Connect with Claire Sachs: •LinkedIn: Claire Sachs [https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairesachs/] •Blog: The Patient Advocates Chronicle [http://www.patientadvocateschronicle.com] •Consulting: TPAC Consulting [http://www.tpacconsulting.com] ⸻ I’m Richard Taliaferro. I’m a certified career coach, specializing in helping mid-stage professionals find the work that works for them. I'm sharing my thoughts on careers, and more, and how I can help you achieve your goals. Find out more at: https://www.richardtaliaferro.com [https://www.richardtaliaferro.com] To get my weekly newsletter with more career tips and insights, click here: https://www.richardtaliaferro.com/emails [https://www.richardtaliaferro.com/emails] ⸻ #CareerTransition #ChronicIllness #CareerChange #HealthAndCareer #PatientAdvocacy #CareerCoaching #MidCareer #ProfessionalIdentity #MentalHealth #WorkplaceWellness #BurnoutRecovery #SelfAdvocacy #CareerClarity #LeadershipDevelopment #LifeTransitions ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

When Someone Sees Leadership Potential in You Before You Do

What happens when someone believes you’re ready for more—but you’re not sure you agree? I unpack a tension that a lot of thoughtful, high-achieving professionals experience, but rarely name: the difference between being put on a pedestal and having your horizon extended. If you’ve ever been told you’re “leadership material”… encouraged to step up before you felt ready… or quietly wondered whether you’re being seen clearly or idealized, this conversation is for you. Here’s what I want you to know: The discomfort you feel isn’t necessarily self-doubt. It might be something more precise—and more useful yo you and your career. We’ll explore: • Why being idealized at work can quietly distort relationships • The hidden risk of “pedestal thinking” in leadership development • How to tell the difference between projection vs. genuine belief • What it actually looks like to “borrow belief” in a grounded way • A simple practice for staying human while stepping into more responsibility Leadership doesn’t require you to become untouchable. It asks you to stay reachable. Ask yourself this: Is this person elevating you… or extending your horizon? If you’re navigating a career transition or rethinking what leadership looks like in this next chapter, this episode will meet you there. #CareerTransition #LeadershipDevelopment #ImposterSyndrome #CareerGrowth #MidCareer #ProfessionalDevelopment #LeadershipMindset #CareerClarity #PersonalGrowth #FutureOfWork #CareerCoaching #NextChapter I’m Richard Taliaferro. I’m a certified career coach, specializing in helping mid-stage professionals find the work that works for them. I'm sharing my thoughts on careers, and more, and how I can help you achieve your goals. Find out more at: https://www.richardtaliaferro.com [https://www.richardtaliaferro.com] To get my weekly newsletter with more career tips and insights, click here: https://www.richardtaliaferro.com/emails [https://www.richardtaliaferro.com/emails] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.