It's not you... but sometimes it is

S01 E48 Emotional Intelligence Is The Real Reason Teams Lose Momentum | Audra Palakodety

Most leaders are quietly failing their teams not because they lack strategy but because they have never been taught that clarity is kindness, and silence is not respect. The uncomfortable reality no business school will tell you is that the most dangerous leader in any room is the one who avoids hard conversations and calls it being nice. Audra Palakodety, COO at APOORVA Corporation, has built her leadership philosophy across one of the most diverse career paths in the industry spanning tourism, entertainment, energy, and custom software development across multinational teams. What she discovered along the way will challenge everything you think you know about executive leadership, emotional intelligence, and what it actually takes to scale a company without breaking the people inside it. Audra does not talk theory. She talks transformation forged in real boardrooms, cross cultural teams, and the kind of hard conversations most leaders keep postponing until it is too late. Chapters: 0:00 ◼️ The Windy Road — From Tourism To Tech COO 5:20 ◼️ The Momentum Killer — When Teams Don't Understand The Why 10:45 ◼️ Clarity Is Kindness — What Bad Bosses Taught Her 16:30 ◼️ Setting Intentions — The Emotional Intelligence Weapon 22:10 ◼️ The Let Them Shift — Escaping The Fixer Trap 27:40 ◼️ Refinement Not Reinvention — The C Suite Growth Blueprint 32:15 ◼️ Speaking Up Is Respect — Rewiring Multinational Culture 37:00 ◼️ The Time Machine — Advice To Her Younger Self If you are a COO, founder, senior executive, or emerging leader navigating team dynamics, cross functional collaboration, or the messy human side of scaling a business, this conversation is your blueprint. You can get in touch with Audra Palakodety here on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audra-palakodety/ Website: https://www.apoorvacorporation.com If this conversation sparked something for you, like, subscribe, and share so you don’t miss future episodes. — Meg Connect with Meg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megpoag/ Or via email: meg@missionsquared.com Visit the Mission Squared website here: https://missionsquared.com/ Listen to It’s Not You… But Sometimes It Is!, on these podcast platforms:  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0sXianujhOPcs1C4mKiFjv Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/its-not-you-but-sometimes-it-is/id1785669837 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f9f9031d-74d9-4a65-9dc3-3aa34ef9fde8/it's-not-you-but-sometimes-it-is #leadershippodcast #teammanagement #resilientleadership #workplacecommunication #managertraining #emotionalintelligence #conflictresolution #leadershipdevelopment #teambuilding #authenticleadership #professionalgrowth #organizationalculture #leadershipchallenges #managerlife #leadwithpurpose It’s Not You (But Sometimes It Is!), hosted by Meg Poag, is the go-to podcast for managers, team leads, and emerging leaders navigating real-world workplace dynamics. Each episode features honest conversations with experienced professionals on leadership challenges—from building resilient teams and fostering authentic connections to managing change, enhancing communication, and balancing ambition with well-being. Whether you’re steering through conflict, scaling a team, or seeking clarity in your leadership style, Meg brings actionable strategies, personal stories, and expert advice to help you lead with confidence and compassion.

S01 E47 High IQ Kills Teams Without This One Trait | Joyce Durst

The hidden truth about modern leadership: the future isn’t broken, it’s being rebuilt. In a world driven by AI, rapid innovation, and global competition, the leaders who win aren’t the loudest or fastest, but the ones who combine technology with humanity. What nobody tells you is that values driven leadership, emotional intelligence, and bold vision are becoming the ultimate competitive advantage in today’s evolving business landscape. In this inspiring episode, Joyce Durst, CEO and Co-founder of Growth Acceleration Partners, shares how she built a thriving, bootstrapped $50M+ tech company by putting people, culture, and purpose at the center of growth. From her early days at IBM to leading high impact AI driven transformations, Joyce reveals how leadership is evolving and why this is one of the most exciting times in business history. This episode is a masterclass in building companies that scale and sustain. ⚡ What you will explore: 🔹 Turning values into a scalable growth engine 🔹 Building culture that fuels long term success 🔹 Expanding vision from 20M to 100M mindset 🔹 Human skills winning in the AI era Discover how to create high trust teams, communicate vision that sticks, and use AI as a powerful ally while staying deeply human. Joyce also shares how shifting your mindset can unlock exponential growth, not just for your business, but for your leadership potential. If you are a founder, CEO, entrepreneur, or tech leader navigating growth, innovation, or AI transformation, this conversation will energize your next move. You can get in touch with Joyce Durst here on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joycedurst/ Website: https://www.growthaccelerationpartners.com The future belongs to leaders who think bigger, act with purpose, and build with people at the core. This is your moment to step into that future. We hope you enjoy this episode with Joyce Durst. If this conversation sparked something for you, like, subscribe, and share so you don’t miss future episodes. — Meg Connect with Meg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megpoag/ Or via email: meg@missionsquared.com Visit the Mission Squared website here: https://missionsquared.com/ Listen to It’s Not You… But Sometimes It Is!, on these podcast platforms:  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0sXianujhOPcs1C4mKiFjv Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/its-not-you-but-sometimes-it-is/id1785669837 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f9f9031d-74d9-4a65-9dc3-3aa34ef9fde8/it's-not-you-but-sometimes-it-is #leadershippodcast #teammanagement #resilientleadership #workplacecommunication #managertraining #emotionalintelligence #conflictresolution #leadershipdevelopment #teambuilding #authenticleadership #professionalgrowth #organizationalculture #leadershipchallenges #managerlife #leadwithpurpose It’s Not You (But Sometimes It Is!), hosted by Meg Poag, is the go-to podcast for managers, team leads, and emerging leaders navigating real-world workplace dynamics. Each episode features honest conversations with experienced professionals on leadership challenges—from building resilient teams and fostering authentic connections to managing change, enhancing communication, and balancing ambition with well-being. Whether you’re steering through conflict, scaling a team, or seeking clarity in your leadership style, Meg brings actionable strategies, personal stories, and expert advice to help you lead with confidence and compassion.

S01 E46 High Performers Fail As Leaders Without This EQ Shift | Belen Tokarski

The uncomfortable reality of leadership no one talks about… high performers often become the biggest bottleneck in their own success. In this raw and unfiltered conversation, Belen Tokarski , President and COO of Mylo, dismantles the outdated leadership myth that being decisive and driven automatically makes you a great leader. From toxic high performance habits to broken team dynamics, this episode exposes the hidden truth behind scaling teams, emotional intelligence, and why most leaders unknowingly kill innovation inside their own organizations. With over 25 years in insurance and insurtech leadership, Belen Tokarskibrings hard earned insights on leadership development, company culture, and building high performance teams that actually work in today’s business environment. If you care about business growth, leadership mindset, team performance, or scaling a company in today’s competitive landscape, this conversation delivers practical, real world insights you can apply immediately. What you’ll learn ◼️ 00:00 The broken system behind high performance leadership ◼️ 03:10 Why most leaders fail at driving change in teams ◼️ 07:25 Culture vs strategy and the hidden growth killer ◼️ 12:40 The uncomfortable truth about bad leadership habits ◼️ 18:05 Emotional intelligence and self awareness in leadership ◼️ 24:30 How leaders bring negative energy into teams without realizing ◼️ 29:15 Practical ways to build trust and accountability in teams ◼️ 35:20 Why leaders must stop controlling and start coaching ◼️ 41:10 Creating high performance teams with high support ◼️ 47:00 Career growth, risk taking, and leadership mindset shifts We hope you enjoy this episode with Belen Tokarski. Connect with Belen Tokarski on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/belen-tokarski-937308/ If this conversation sparked something for you, like, subscribe, and share so you don’t miss future episodes. — Meg Connect with Meg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megpoag/ Or via email: meg@missionsquared.com Visit the Mission Squared website here: https://missionsquared.com/ Listen to It’s Not You… But Sometimes It Is!, on these podcast platforms:  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0sXianujhOPcs1C4mKiFjv Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/its-not-you-but-sometimes-it-is/id1785669837 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f9f9031d-74d9-4a65-9dc3-3aa34ef9fde8/it's-not-you-but-sometimes-it-is #leadershippodcast #teammanagement #resilientleadership #workplacecommunication #managertraining #emotionalintelligence #conflictresolution #leadershipdevelopment #teambuilding #authenticleadership #professionalgrowth #organizationalculture #leadershipchallenges #managerlife #leadwithpurpose It’s Not You (But Sometimes It Is!), hosted by Meg Poag, is the go-to podcast for managers, team leads, and emerging leaders navigating real-world workplace dynamics. Each episode features honest conversations with experienced professionals on leadership challenges—from building resilient teams and fostering authentic connections to managing change, enhancing communication, and balancing ambition with well-being. Whether you’re steering through conflict, scaling a team, or seeking clarity in your leadership style, Meg brings actionable strategies, personal stories, and expert advice to help you lead with confidence and compassion.

S01 E45 Hyper Growth Reality: Leaders Must Slow Down To Scale | Bridgette Ferraro

The uncomfortable truth about leadership growth is that the biggest barrier is often the leader themselves. In this candid and insightful conversation, Bridgette Ferraro, CEO of iCopy Legal, pulls back the curtain on the hidden challenges of scaling companies, leading through hyper growth, and confronting the ego traps that quietly derail leaders. From the myth of doing everything yourself to the emotional intelligence required to build strong teams, Bridgette shares the raw lessons most executives only learn the hard way. What you’ll get to explore in this episode: ◼️ 0:00 – Introduction: Leadership, Growth & Change with Bridget Ferraro ◼️ 2:00 – Bridget’s Career Path: From Nonprofit to CEO of iCopyLegal ◼️ 6:00 – Leading Through Hypergrowth: Why Pace Matters ◼️ 11:00 – Culture vs Strategy: The Real Driver of Business Success ◼️ 16:00 – Hiring Lessons: Culture Fit vs High-Skill Talent ◼️ 20:00 – Bad Bosses & Self-Awareness in Leadership ◼️ 25:00 – Emotional Intelligence: The #1 Leadership Skill ◼️ 31:00 – Delegation: Letting Go of Control as a CEO ◼️ 38:00 – Building Autonomous Leadership Teams (RACI Framework) ◼️ 55:00 – Advice to Her Younger Self & Final Leadership Takeaways If you’re a founder, CEO, executive leader, startup operator, or entrepreneur managing growth and team dynamics, this conversation offers practical leadership insights that will resonate. Connect with Bridgette Ferraro on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridgette-ferraro-94a7773b/ If this conversation sparked something for you, like, subscribe, and share so you don’t miss future episodes. — Meg Connect with Meg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megpoag/ Or via email: meg@missionsquared.com Visit the Mission Squared website here: https://missionsquared.com/ Listen to It’s Not You… But Sometimes It Is!, on these podcast platforms:  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0sXianujhOPcs1C4mKiFjv Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/its-not-you-but-sometimes-it-is/id1785669837 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f9f9031d-74d9-4a65-9dc3-3aa34ef9fde8/it's-not-you-but-sometimes-it-is #leadershippodcast #teammanagement #resilientleadership #workplacecommunication #managertraining #emotionalintelligence #conflictresolution #leadershipdevelopment #teambuilding #authenticleadership #professionalgrowth #organizationalculture #leadershipchallenges #managerlife #leadwithpurpose It’s Not You (But Sometimes It Is!), hosted by Meg Poag, is the go-to podcast for managers, team leads, and emerging leaders navigating real-world workplace dynamics. Each episode features honest conversations with experienced professionals on leadership challenges—from building resilient teams and fostering authentic connections to managing change, enhancing communication, and balancing ambition with well-being. Whether you’re steering through conflict, scaling a team, or seeking clarity in your leadership style, Meg brings actionable strategies, personal stories, and expert advice to help you lead with confidence and compassion.

S01 E44 Clarity Over Comfort: The Shift That Transformed Her Leadership | Stephanie Walker

The banking industry talks about growth, systems, and scale but almost no one talks about the uncomfortable reality of leadership at the top. The hidden truth? Scaling responsibly in financial services is less about strategy decks and more about emotional intelligence, courage, and compassion. In a sector often labeled conservative and transactional, this episode challenges outdated leadership myths and exposes what actually drives sustainable growth in modern finance. In this powerful conversation, Stephanie Walker, Chief Operations Officer at Georgia United Credit Union, shares her 24 year journey inside the credit union industry and what it really takes to lead at the C suite level. ◼️ Why compassion is a competitive advantage in financial services ◼️ How low emotional intelligence quietly erodes team trust and results ◼️ The danger of outsourcing your confidence as a senior leader ◼️ Why culture multiplies force more than strategy alone ◼️ Lessons from bad bosses and the power of self awareness ◼️ How to separate influence from control to lead with clarity As a seasoned COO in Atlanta, Stephanie oversees operational strategy, process redesign, automation, digital transformation, fraud prevention, and scalable member experience. But her biggest leadership breakthrough was not technical. It was personal. 0:00 Introduction 2:45 Stephanie’s Career Journey in Credit Unions 7:30 Leading Change with Compassion 14:50 Letting Go of People-Pleasing 20:30 Culture That Drives Performance 26:45 Lessons from Bad Leadership 32:10 Emotional Intelligence in Action 38:40 Growth Mindset & Executive Coaching 45:20 Advice to Her Younger Self 49:30 Final Takeaways We hope you enjoy this episode with Stephanie Walker. Connect with Stephanie Walker on LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/stephaniezulegerwalker/ If this conversation sparked something for you, like, subscribe, and share so you don’t miss future episodes. — Meg Connect with Meg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megpoag/ Or via email: meg@missionsquared.com Visit the Mission Squared website here: https://missionsquared.com/ Listen to It’s Not You… But Sometimes It Is!, on these podcast platforms:  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0sXianujhOPcs1C4mKiFjv Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/its-not-you-but-sometimes-it-is/id1785669837 Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/f9f9031d-74d9-4a65-9dc3-3aa34ef9fde8/it's-not-you-but-sometimes-it-is #leadershippodcast #teammanagement #resilientleadership #workplacecommunication #managertraining #emotionalintelligence #conflictresolution #leadershipdevelopment #teambuilding #authenticleadership #professionalgrowth #organizationalculture #leadershipchallenges #managerlife #leadwithpurpose It’s Not You (But Sometimes It Is!), hosted by Meg Poag, is the go-to podcast for managers, team leads, and emerging leaders navigating real-world workplace dynamics. Each episode features honest conversations with experienced professionals on leadership challenges—from building resilient teams and fostering authentic connections to managing change, enhancing communication, and balancing ambition with well-being. Whether you’re steering through conflict, scaling a team, or seeking clarity in your leadership style, Meg brings actionable strategies, personal stories, and expert advice to help you lead with confidence and compassion.