Leadership Tea

Failure Isn't Final - Turning Setbacks Into Comebacks | S4 EP17

A layoff can feel like a verdict. We treat it as a turning point. In this candid conversation, we unpack what it means to “fail forward” when the spotlight is brightest and the Sunday Scaries won’t quit. Shelby shares the raw aftermath of being laid off from a high-profile role and the unexpected freedom that came from choosing silence, setting boundaries, and designing a schedule that serves her. Belinda digs into the shame loop many leaders fall into, why scapegoating thrives in political environments, and how reframing misalignment can restore agency and momentum. Two questions anchor the episode: Who can you trust, and what are you willing to tolerate? Whether you’re processing a layoff, questioning a misaligned role, or trying to end the Sunday Scaries, these strategies help you regain control of your time, your message, and your outcomes.  If this resonates, subscribe, share the episode with a colleague who needs it, and leave a review so more leaders can find us. Then tell us: what boundary are you setting this week? Send us a comment! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2307270/open_sms] Find more information about the Leadership Lounge here. [https://www.stirringsuccess.com/leadershiplounge] For leaders who want more than surface-level advice.  What do you get? 1. A virtual monthly group coaching session led by the Leadership Tea Podcast hosts. 2. A monthly Community Connection virtual meet-up. 3. Leadership resources and articles. We publish new episodes every other Wednesday. * Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast [https://leadershiptea.buzzsprout.com/2307270/follow] * Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube! [https://www.youtube.com/@LeadershipTeaPodcast?sub_confirmation=1] Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea [https://www.instagram.com/leadership_tea/]for more inspiration and insights.

Why Resilience Isn’t a Flex — And What Women Leaders Should Do Instead | S4 EP16

Belinda and Shelby host a candid conversation with a panel of high-achieving women from South Africa: Samantha Kavuma, Ayanda Nkosi, Lehlohonolo Siwundla, and Carmin Varnicker. We discuss internal barriers that can block our professional progress, such as limiting beliefs and doubting our own abilities. We share practical leadership strategies, including the vital skill of knowing which battles are truly worth fighting, and why the word “resilience” is not the flex it seems to be. We encourage you to define your long-term vision by separating what you need from what you want, and give advice for budding entrepreneurs. In this episode: * Overcoming self-doubt and recognising your past achievements to shore up your confidence * How resilience can sometimes be code for tolerating abuse * Knowing you can’t speak up on every issue, and how to know when to speak up * Tips for starting a coaching business  Find our guests on LinkedIn: * Samantha Kavuma - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ssnkavuma/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ssnkavuma/] * Ayanda Nkosi - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayanda-nkosi/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayanda-nkosi/] * Lehlohonolo Siwundla - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lehlohonolo-s-199a7920/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lehlohonolo-s-199a7920/] * Carmin Scheepers Varnicker - https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmin-scheepers-varnicker-lion-64551727/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmin-scheepers-varnicker-lion-64551727/] Send us a comment! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2307270/open_sms] Leadership isn’t easy and sometimes, the podcast isn’t enough. That’s why we’re creating The Leadership Lounge [https://www.stirringsuccess.com/leadershiplounge], a members-only community designed for leaders who want to go deeper, reflect more, and stay grounded. What do you get? A monthly group coaching session led by the Leadership Tea Podcast hosts and monthly virtual community connection sessions, as well as leadership resources and articles. Find more information about the Leadership Lounge here. [https://www.stirringsuccess.com/leadershiplounge] For leaders who want more than surface-level advice.  What do you get? 1. A virtual monthly group coaching session led by the Leadership Tea Podcast hosts. 2. A monthly Community Connection virtual meet-up. 3. Leadership resources and articles. We publish new episodes every other Wednesday. * Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast [https://leadershiptea.buzzsprout.com/2307270/follow] * Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube! [https://www.youtube.com/@LeadershipTeaPodcast?sub_confirmation=1] Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea [https://www.instagram.com/leadership_tea/]for more inspiration and insights.

Sunday Scaries To Sunday Strategy | S4 EP15

In the newly launched Sunday Scaries to Sunday Strategy Series as part of the Leadership Tea Podcast, Belinda and Shelby help executives with tips to lean into the week and strategies for long-term professional growth. This episode highlights how to future-proof your career in an unpredictable world, focusing on four critical soft skills: digital fluency, influence without authority, cross-cultural communication, and purpose-driven career design. Not theory—practical habits, stories from Belinda and Shelby’s experience as diplomats and executives leading enterprise teams, and concrete steps to leverage your personal brand and network to stay ahead. Join the conversation and learn how to prepare for future challenges while building a legacy in your executive role. Send us a comment! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2307270/open_sms] Leadership isn’t easy and sometimes, the podcast isn’t enough. That’s why we’re creating The Leadership Lounge [https://www.stirringsuccess.com/leadershiplounge], a members-only community designed for leaders who want to go deeper, reflect more, and stay grounded. What do you get? A monthly group coaching session led by the Leadership Tea Podcast hosts and monthly virtual community connection sessions, as well as leadership resources and articles. Find more information about the Leadership Lounge here. [https://www.stirringsuccess.com/leadershiplounge] For leaders who want more than surface-level advice.  What do you get? 1. A virtual monthly group coaching session led by the Leadership Tea Podcast hosts. 2. A monthly Community Connection virtual meet-up. 3. Leadership resources and articles. We publish new episodes every other Wednesday. * Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast [https://leadershiptea.buzzsprout.com/2307270/follow] * Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube! [https://www.youtube.com/@LeadershipTeaPodcast?sub_confirmation=1] Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea [https://www.instagram.com/leadership_tea/]for more inspiration and insights.

Leadership Lessons From The Shutdown: Confidence, Money & Boundaries | S4 EP14

Airports jammed, paychecks paused, nerves frayed—crisis has a way of revealing what actually keeps leaders steady. Belinda and Shelby peel back the layers of the recent shutdown and run our lessons through “priority screening,” naming the habits and guardrails that matter when systems fail and people still need direction. First, Belinda and Shelby get practical about money. Financial fragility isn’t just stressful; it impairs judgment. They also challenge unbounded vulnerability. Empathy fuels trust, but unchecked venting drains morale. Values become the compass: hold standards, keep momentum, and resist the urge to pass your frustration down the chain. Finally, Belinda and Shelby share how boundaries protect high-EQ leaders from burnout. As they close the shutdown series, Belinda and Shelby preview a new flow of episodes, “No Sunday Scaries,” designed to reset your week with intention and ease.  Your take matters—what lessons make the cut for priority screening? Send us a comment! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2307270/open_sms] Find more information about the Leadership Lounge here. [https://www.stirringsuccess.com/leadershiplounge] For leaders who want more than surface-level advice.  What do you get? 1. A virtual monthly group coaching session led by the Leadership Tea Podcast hosts. 2. A monthly Community Connection virtual meet-up. 3. Leadership resources and articles. We publish new episodes every other Wednesday. * Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast [https://leadershiptea.buzzsprout.com/2307270/follow] * Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube! [https://www.youtube.com/@LeadershipTeaPodcast?sub_confirmation=1] Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea [https://www.instagram.com/leadership_tea/]for more inspiration and insights.

Managing Anxiety in the Age of AI with Soribel Feliz, The AI Therapist | S4 EP13

Belinda and Shelby are joined by tech policy and AI governance expert, Soribel Feliz, also known as The AI Therapist. Soribel tackles the anxiety currently gripping the professional world: fear of being replaced by artificial intelligence. If you're wondering what your kids should study, how to upskill mid-career, or how to maintain your mental health amid constant doom-and-gloom headlines, this episode is for you. Soribel discusses the legitimate concerns surrounding AI, from plagiarism in higher education to the AI automation impacting white-collar work. She dispels one of the biggest myths—that AGI will be "god-like.” And she offers practical advice on how to manage your anxiety around AI by focusing on what you can control, and how executives can build a collaborative AI adoption strategy.  Also in this episode: * Legitimate concerns everyone should have about AI's impact on work and society * Why learning all the AI tools is an overwhelming and ineffective strategy * Soribel's advice for maximizing your data privacy and security immediately * How leaders can create a vision for integrating AI on their teams Find Soribel: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/soribelfeliz/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/soribelfeliz/] * YouTube: https://youtube.com/@soribelaitherapist [https://youtube.com/@soribelaitherapist?si=5QndYu1PUNiB7KaA] You can also watch our conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/A-RocnSZfl0 [https://youtu.be/A-RocnSZfl0] Send us a comment! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2307270/open_sms] Leadership isn’t easy and sometimes, the podcast isn’t enough. That’s why we’re creating The Leadership Lounge [https://www.stirringsuccess.com/leadershiplounge], a members-only community designed for leaders who want to go deeper, reflect more, and stay grounded. What do you get? A monthly group coaching session led by the Leadership Tea Podcast hosts and monthly virtual community connection sessions, as well as leadership resources and articles. Find more information about the Leadership Lounge here. [https://www.stirringsuccess.com/leadershiplounge] For leaders who want more than surface-level advice.  What do you get? 1. A virtual monthly group coaching session led by the Leadership Tea Podcast hosts. 2. A monthly Community Connection virtual meet-up. 3. Leadership resources and articles. We publish new episodes every other Wednesday. * Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast [https://leadershiptea.buzzsprout.com/2307270/follow] * Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube! [https://www.youtube.com/@LeadershipTeaPodcast?sub_confirmation=1] Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea [https://www.instagram.com/leadership_tea/]for more inspiration and insights.