Have you ever been so focused on delivering results that you didn’t realize how your pressure was landing on the people around you?

In this episode of Dialing In, Jule sits down with Sabina Nawaz—executive coach, keynote speaker, leadership expert, and author of You’re the Boss.

Sabina shares a defining leadership moment that forced her to confront an uncomfortable truth: even with good intentions, the way she was showing up under pressure was creating distance between herself and her team.

What began as a candid conversation became a powerful lesson in self-awareness, accountability, and the hidden ways power can shape workplace dynamics. Sabina’s story is a reminder that leaders don’t always see the full impact of their behavior, especially when they are moving fast, carrying responsibility, and trying to deliver.

For leaders navigating high expectations, constant change, and the pressure to perform, this conversation offers a clear reminder: intention and impact are not always the same.

In this episode, Sabina and Jule discuss:

• How power and pressure can quietly erode trust
• How to create safer channels for honest feedback
• Why accountability starts with the leader
• Why caring for people and holding high standards are not competing priorities
• The small daily habits that help leaders strengthen connection before it breaks

This episode is for any leader who has ever felt the weight of responsibility and wondered how to keep delivering without losing connection with the people they lead.

Because connection is rarely lost in one big moment.

It is built—or broken—in the small moments that happen every day.

And those moments matter more than we think.

Connect with Sabina:

Website: https://sabinanawaz.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabinanawaz/

Connect with Jule:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julesalem/
Website: www.julesalem.com

Dialing In is a leadership podcast for operators, executives, and founders building under pressure. Each episode explores how connection—when it’s intentional—becomes a true performance advantage.

Join us and subscribe to the show to be the first to hear new episodes.

Have you ever had a setback that challenged not just what you do—but who you are?

In this episode, Jule sits down with Casey Jacox—sales & leadership expert, keynote speaker, author of Win the Relationship, Not the Deal, and host of the Quarterback DadCast.

Casey shares a defining moment from his teenage years that challenged his sense of identity and changed the path he thought he was on. What followed taught him lasting lessons about vulnerability, resilience, and how to find purpose when circumstances unexpectedly change.

For leaders facing setbacks, unexpected challenges, or moments that force them to adapt, Casey's story is a reminder that growth often begins when things don't go according to plan.

In this conversation, Casey and Jule discuss:

• Why vulnerability and asking for help are often the first steps toward growth as a leader
• How adversity can reveal purpose, resilience, and new ways to contribute
• The role curiosity plays in building stronger relationships and more effective teams
• Why great leaders ask thoughtful questions instead of rushing to provide answers
• How slowing down creates space for trust, clarity, and better decision-making
• Why focusing on people and relationships leads to stronger long-term results

If you're navigating change, leading through uncertainty, or looking to strengthen your impact as a leader, this episode will remind you that some of the most meaningful leadership lessons emerge from the challenges we never saw coming.

Because leadership isn't defined by a title or a role.

It's defined by how we respond when circumstances change.

Connect with Casey:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseyjacox/
Website: https://caseyjacox.com/

Connect with Jule:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julesalem/
Website: www.julesalem.com

Dialing In is a leadership podcast for operators, executives, and founders building under pressure. Each episode explores how connection—when it’s intentional—becomes a true performance advantage.

Join us and subscribe to the show to be the first to hear new episodes.

Have you ever moved so fast as a leader that your communication started creating confusion instead of clarity?

In this episode, Jule sits down with Melanie Sue Hicks—TEDx speaker, author, workforce expert, and founder of Inked Elephant Publishing House.

Melanie shares the relatable reality of leading in a fast-paced environment—balancing productivity, communication, expectations, and the pressure to keep things moving. While she was warm and connected in person, she realized her written communication was landing differently. Short emails, limited context, and rushed messages were creating a disconnect between who she was as a leader and how others were experiencing her.

For leaders responsible for execution, retention, culture, and performance, her story highlights something that often gets overlooked:

The small moments of communication are not small.

In this conversation, Melanie and Jule discuss:

• Why high-performing leaders can unintentionally create disconnection when they move too fast
• How tone, context, and clarity impact trust in day-to-day communication
• Why small breaks in trust can quietly build into larger culture and performance issues
• The concept of “invisible snake bites” and how unaddressed micro-moments can damage teams over time
• How leaders can create safer feedback loops by receiving feedback well and acting on it
• Why setting expectations early is one of the most practical ways to reduce confusion and resentment
• How leaders can strengthen alignment by making values, behaviors, and communication match

If you’re leading a team where the pace is high, the expectations are constant, and the pressure to perform never really stops, this episode will remind you that communication is not just an administrative task. It is a leadership tool.

Connect with Melanie:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melaniesuehicks/
Website: https://melaniesuehicks.com/

Connect with Jule:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julesalem/
Website: www.julesalem.com

Dialing In is a leadership podcast for operators, executives, and founders building under pressure. Each episode explores how connection—when it’s intentional—becomes a true performance advantage.

Join us and subscribe to the show to be the first to hear new episodes.