Episode 28: From Spreadsheets to Steel-Toes: Reinvention in Real Time

Episode 28: From Spreadsheets to Steel-Toes: Reinvention in Real Time

What does it take to walk away from a stable career and build something entirely new—especially in a world that wasn’t built for you? Sandra Hofmeister went from crunching numbers in accounting to running a multimillion-dollar construction company. In this episode, she opens up about how she turned uncertainty into opportunity, the lessons she learned from the ground up, and what it really means to build a life—and a business—from the foundation of faith, grit, and persistence. Sandra Hofmeister is the President and Owner of A&S Construction, LLC [https://ansconstruction.net/], a Certified Woman-Owned and Minority-Owned Business redefining what leadership looks like in the trades. Once an accountant, Sandra traded her calculator for a construction hat—rising from the back office to the boardroom in one of the most male-dominated industries in America. Today, she’s a powerhouse entrepreneur, community leader, mentor, and advocate for equity and empowerment. Recognized as a Top 50 EmPowered Leader, two-time Tradesperson of the Year, and 2025 SHERO Award recipient, Sandra is proof that when women build, communities rise.

Episode 27: What You Can’t See Still Counts: Invisible Disabilities, Leadership, and the Practice of Grace

Not all leadership challenges are visible. In this deeply personal episode, Dr. Louérs-Phillips opens up about living with a permanent invisible disability since 1996 and what it has meant to lead while managing fatigue, pain, and societal assumptions. Together, we explore how workplace cultures reward performance while often punishing honesty, and why empathy and grace must become leadership competencies, not afterthoughts. This conversation is about aging, adaptation, advocacy, and the quiet courage of telling the truth about what your body needs. Eric Louérs-Phillips is a lifelong educator, systems-level leader, and trusted voice at the intersection of education, equity, and community impact. A native Washingtonian, Eric has spent more than two decades serving Maryland’s public schools as a classroom teacher, assistant principal, curriculum specialist, and district leader, always with a steady focus on accelerating achievement while honoring the humanity of those he serves.  He currently serves as the Associate Superintendent of Public Affairs for Frederick County Public Schools and is deeply engaged in civic and community leadership, serving on multiple boards across education, health care, philanthropy, and economic development. Eric is also an adjunct professor and a proud graduate of Morgan State University and Hood College, where he earned his Doctorate in Organizational Leadership.  Grounded in faith, mentorship, and lived experience, Eric brings a rare blend of clarity, humility, and grace to conversations about leadership, identity, and wellbeing. He is known for leading with integrity, telling the truth even when it’s uncomfortable, and reminding us that what we don’t see still matters.

Episode 26: Someone Saw Me Before I Did: Leadership, Mentorship, and the Power of Being Chosen

Most leaders can point to a moment when someone saw potential they hadn’t yet claimed for themselves. In this episode, Dr. Louérs-Phillips shares the story of Maria Whittermore, a mentor who recognized his leadership capacity long before he felt ready. Through her encouragement, Eric stepped into spaces that stretched his confidence, sharpened his voice, and ultimately prepared him to lead at a systems level. This episode explores mentorship not as hierarchy, but as invitation. Not as pressure, but as belief. And as responsibility. Eric Louérs-Phillips is a lifelong educator, systems-level leader, and trusted voice at the intersection of education, equity, and community impact. A native Washingtonian, Eric has spent more than two decades serving Maryland’s public schools as a classroom teacher, assistant principal, curriculum specialist, and district leader, always with a steady focus on accelerating achievement while honoring the humanity of those he serves.  He currently serves as the Associate Superintendent of Public Affairs for Frederick County Public Schools and is deeply engaged in civic and community leadership, serving on multiple boards across education, health care, philanthropy, and economic development. Eric is also an adjunct professor and a proud graduate of Morgan State University and Hood College, where he earned his Doctorate in Organizational Leadership.  Grounded in faith, mentorship, and lived experience, Eric brings a rare blend of clarity, humility, and grace to conversations about leadership, identity, and wellbeing. He is known for leading with integrity, telling the truth even when it’s uncomfortable, and reminding us that what we don’t see still matters.

Episode 25: The Acceptable Version of Me: Navigating Identity, Expectations, and Professional Legibility

What does it mean to be seen as “acceptable” and who gets to decide? In this episode, Dr. Eric Louérs-Phillips reflects on growing up as a Black man whose family instilled pride, discipline, and high expectations without explicitly naming race, and how that foundation shaped his professional journey. From classrooms to district leadership, Eric unpacks the quiet, persistent questioning of his competence and identity, including the complicated tension of being evaluated both inside and outside the Black community. This conversation invites listeners to sit with the emotional labor of proving yourself, the cost of constant self-monitoring, and the liberation that comes from naming what has long gone unspoken. Eric Louérs-Phillips is a lifelong educator, systems-level leader, and trusted voice at the intersection of education, equity, and community impact. A native Washingtonian, Eric has spent more than two decades serving Maryland’s public schools as a classroom teacher, assistant principal, curriculum specialist, and district leader, always with a steady focus on accelerating achievement while honoring the humanity of those he serves.  He currently serves as the Associate Superintendent of Public Affairs for Frederick County Public Schools and is deeply engaged in civic and community leadership, serving on multiple boards across education, health care, philanthropy, and economic development. Eric is also an adjunct professor and a proud graduate of Morgan State University and Hood College, where he earned his Doctorate in Organizational Leadership.  Grounded in faith, mentorship, and lived experience, Eric brings a rare blend of clarity, humility, and grace to conversations about leadership, identity, and wellbeing. He is known for leading with integrity, telling the truth even when it’s uncomfortable, and reminding us that what we don’t see still matters.

Episode 24: Why Leaders Need Coaching and Community

Leadership can be isolating. Even for experienced leaders. In this episode, Ja’Bette and Linda explore the power of executive coaching and leadership communities in helping leaders reflect, grow, and navigate complexity. They discuss Linda’s work as an ICF-certified executive coach and the role she will play helping guide members inside the Wishful Doing Legacy Lab. The conversation highlights a simple truth: Leadership growth rarely happens in isolation. It happens in community.