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Is it possible to be wildly productive and completely burnt out at the same time? Absolutely! And that's exactly what Kia Van Wright Ford addresses in this game-changing episode of Blow Your Mindset.

As CEO of Van Wright Consulting and a fractional CEO with 20+ years of experience, Kia helps leaders move from survival mode to intentional growth. She shares her journey from corporate VP to entrepreneur, revealing why 75% of professionals feel burnt out and what to do about it.

Kia unpacks her SHIFT mindset framework, the power of boundaries and delegation, and why we need to stop treating our businesses like babies. Nicole and Kia get vulnerable about identity, layoffs, and the courage it takes to bet on yourself.

If you're tired of being tired or ready to work ON your business instead of IN it, this conversation is your wake-up call.

Contact Kia Van Wright Ford

www.alwazeapparel.com

Kia@vanfordconsulting.com

Facebook: Kia VanWright Ford

Instagram: Kia VanWright Ford

LinkedIn: Kia VanWright Ford

You can even SEE us power through this conversation via YOUTUBE!

Contact Nicole - she can't wait to talk to you!
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nicole@thenicolefsmith.com
powered by: JMS Creative Leadership Solutions
Website: https://www.thenicolefsmith.com

© 2025 Blow Your Mind(set). All rights reserved. Unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution of this podcast or its content without express written permission is prohibited.

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What happens when you're managing change at work while change is managing you? Connie Woolard—talent development expert, new grandmother ("Meema"), and K-12 survivor—gets real about the messy, magnificent chaos of navigating a multi-generational household, perimenopause hot flashes, and showing up powerfully in rooms where you don't have "the title."

Fresh from the classroom to the boardroom, Connie breaks down why listening first is your superpower, how "PSWIG" (Put Sh*t Where It Goes) keeps family harmony alive, and what it really takes to earn your seat at the corporate table and become an entrepreneur at the same time. Plus, the dream home story that proves timing matters more than timelines and why sometimes "I don't know" is the most emotionally intelligent answer you can give.

This isn't your typical career conversation. It's two friends, two decades of friendship, goldfish crackers in the car, and the unfiltered truth about what leadership looks like when pushing through the 4th decade of life, hot in 32 degree weather, and still showing up to change the game.

Perfect for: Women navigating career transitions, new grandmas balancing multi-gen households, anyone who's ever felt "too young" or "not enough," and every human trying to lead with influence—not just a title.

You can even SEE us power through this conversation via YOUTUBE!

Contact Nicole - she can't wait to talk to you!
Instagram
LinkedIn
nicole@thenicolefsmith.com
powered by: JMS Creative Leadership Solutions
Website: https://www.thenicolefsmith.com

© 2025 Blow Your Mind(set). All rights reserved. Unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution of this podcast or its content without express written permission is prohibited.

Send us a text

What happens when leaders prioritize control over connection? Nicole F. Smith and Dr. Shanesia Davis unpack the critical shift modern leaders must make: moving from control reflexes to authentic relationships.

Dr. Davis reveals how cultural norms like urgency and perfectionism condition leaders to stay in "doing mode" while neglecting the inner work that creates sustainable impact.

In this episode, you'll discover:

✅ Why leadership is a relational process that begins with self-leadership
✅ How unexamined emotions leak into public consequences affecting teams
✅ Why empathy doesn't mean fixing others
✅ How to develop emotional regulation as a core leadership skill
✅ The difference between being a leader and doing leadership tasks

If you've ever felt the weight of needing all the answers or controlling every outcome, this episode will give you permission to lead differently. True influence comes not from control, but from showing up authentically and creating space for others to do the same.

Resources mentioned: 📖 20 Golden Leadership Nuggets, Refined by EQ Impact by Nicole F. Smith 🎓 Upcoming webinars on emotional intelligence www.thenicolefsmith.com

Your leadership impact begins with your inner work.

Connect with Dr. Davis:
uandmeconsulting.com
sdavis@uandmeconsulting.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AnqSWDbKs/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadership_lounge_tm/
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-shanesia-davis-359310aa
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@niesha_davis1117?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

You can even SEE us power through this conversation via YOUTUBE!

Contact Nicole - she can't wait to talk to you!
Instagram
LinkedIn
nicole@thenicolefsmith.com
powered by: JMS Creative Leadership Solutions
Website: https://www.thenicolefsmith.com

© 2025 Blow Your Mind(set). All rights reserved. Unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution of this podcast or its content without express written permission is prohibited.