Unlocking Your Human Design: Live and Lead in Alignment with Michelle Pecak

When was the last time you had fun and experienced joy while doing it? I know. I had a coach many years ago ask me the question, “When do you play?” I was dumbfounded. I worked. I took care of my family. I tried to take care of myself in the middle of all of that. And repeat. I immediately thought there wasn’t time for fun. Let alone creative pursuits like I used to have. Like many times in my life, I was wrong and had to learn that fun, joy, and creativity have a place in our lives. This is imperative for our self-care, for our healing, and for living a full life. And yes, we can be creative at work too. During today’s conversation with my guest Melissa Dinwiddie, we and I chatted about:Her first book, The Creative Sandbox Way.Why everyone is creative, and why believing the opposite is a lie.The steps we can take today to bust out of a creative rut and start experiencing the joy of creative play todayHer latest book, Innovation at Work, and how The Creative Sandbox Way and Innovation at Work play off one another.How you can start one way, like Melissa did at Julliard, move to an entirely different career as a jazz singer, and land in a new place (aka – your career doesn’t have to have a straight line)If you lean towards the work, work, work camp like me, listen into this show with an open mind. And be prepared to debunk the myth that you are no creative because that is simply not true. Here is more about Melissa:Melissa Dinwiddie is an innovation strategist and keynote speaker who helps leaders at mid-to-large tech and SaaS companies turn an innovation mandate into an innovation practice. Her Create the ImpossibleTM framework — Play Hard, Make Crap, Learn Fast — was designed specifically for the analytical, skeptical teams who are convinced they’re not creative. Because that’s exactly who needs it most.Melissa’s keynotes are immersive, interactive experiences that blend storytelling, science, and hands-on activities. Audiences don’t just listen — they participate, surprise themselves, and leave with tools they can use on Tuesday morning. The numbers back this up: 94% of attendees find her talks valuable, and 96% say they’d see her speak again.Her background includes work with teams at Meta, Google, Salesforce, and Uber, and she has delivered sessions for SHRM, PMI, AMA, and Stanford. She studied dance at Juilliard, spent 15 years as a professional artist in Silicon Valley, performed as a jazz singer/songwriter and musical improviser, and is the author of Innovation at Work: 52 Micro-Experiments for Brave Leaders (Pluralite Press, 2026).Before we begin, please be sure to share this show with a family member, friend or colleague. As you know, your ratings and reviews help this show to gain traction and continue to grow. Thank you if you have already left a review.Also, if you haven’t downloaded one of my freebies on my site, check them out on bravewomenatwork.com. I have 5 Ways to Managing Your Imposter Syndrome, 34 Leadership and Career Affirmations, and 10 tips to Win Your Next Negotiation. Download one or them or all three!If you also have a story to share and a deep desire to become an author, please contact me at [email protected]. I am happy to share the details on the project.  Alright, let’s welcome Melissa to the show!

Recently, the latest Brave Women at Work book launched, Brave Women at Work: Lessons in Authenticity. And I am so excited to share that one of the authors, Jennifer Lentner, is on the podcast today!I really love Jennifer’s chapter in the book because her chapter is all about lived experience. What is it like to truly be an authentic leader? And what does it mean to truly learn from experiences so we can step into our authenticity even further?As someone who stepped into my own authenticity and vulnerability gingerly throughout my career, I can relate. For the longest time, I was more concerned about the output and “getting the job done” than sharing pieces of myself with my team. I learned that by doing so in appropriate ways, I build trust, loyalty, and respect with them in ways I couldn’t even imagine. During today’s conversation, Jennifer and I chatted about:Why she decided to join the latest author cohort for Brave Women at Work: Lessons in AuthenticityWhat does authentic leadership mean beyond the buzzword?How can we lead authentically even in tricky situations?What Jennifer wants readers to take away from her chapter?Her business, Soundtrack Consulting, and how she works with her corporate clients?What a soundtrack is, and how it ties into her work so deeply?Here is more about Jennifer:Jennifer Lentner is the founder of Soundtrack Consulting, where she helps leaders communicate clearly and confidently through change. Drawing on more than fifteen years of experience leading internal communication for a growing division of a Fortune 500 company, Jennifer partners with CEOs and executive teams to navigate periods of growth, transition, and transformation.Her work is rooted in the belief that communication isn’t just about information—it’s about connection. Whether guiding leaders through an acquisition, a leadership change, or a period of rapid growth, she helps them find the right rhythm and voice to keep employees aligned and engaged.Before launching Soundtrack Consulting, Jennifer built a communication function from the ground up inside a global medical device company that tripled in size, acquired more than a dozen companies, and experienced multiple enterprise-wide changes. Her engineering and operations background gives her a rare ability to translate complex business issues into messages people can understand and believe in.Jennifer is passionate about helping leaders see what’s possible when communication is purposeful, strategic, and human. She lives in Michigan with her husband and daughter, where you can often find her running, reading, or cheering at her daughter’s basketball games.Before we begin, please be sure to share this show with a family member, friend or colleague. As you know, your ratings and reviews help this show to gain traction and continue to grow. Thank you if you have already left a review.Also, if you haven’t downloaded one of my freebies on my site, check them out on bravewomenatwork.com. I have 5 Ways to Managing Your Imposter Syndrome, 34 Leadership and Career Affirmations, and 10 tips to Win Your Next Negotiation. Download one or them or all three!If you also have a story to share and a deep desire to become an author, please contact me at [email protected]. I am happy to share the details on the project.  Alright, let’s welcome Jennifer to the show!

We all start our careers as doers, or individual contributors. This means we make the widgets; we do the grunt work; we execute the strategy of management. Then, at one point, we may get very good at being a doer and are tapped for management. The issue is that there is no class for leadership. So many people that move from doer default into manager. And as you may have seen in the memes online, there is a distinct difference between a manager and a leader. Here are some differences:A manager is more concerned with:Output over peopleStays focused on the task at hand and less on managing to the total personDoesn’t have the full respect or trust of their teamsHolds back or is unwilling to be authentic or vulnerableOn the contrary, a leader is more concerned with:People firstLegacyBeing authentic and vulnerableDuring today’s conversation, Femi and I chatted about:The chase for output, and how great leaders design conditions for great work.The promotion gap and how no one teaches us how to move from doer to leader.Advice on someone who is primed for a promotion.How we can be powerful leaders during the explosion of AI.What the most important characteristics are for leaders today.If you are a doer or a manager and want to transition more fully to leader, this show is for you.Here is more about Femi:Femi is EVP, Executive Creative Director at Rescue, The Behavior Change Agency. She is a creative leader by trade and a brand builder and storyteller by obsession, with deep experience where creativity, culture, and innovation drive real-world impact and growth. At Rescue, Femi leads award-winning, large-scale behavior change initiatives for public health organizations across the United States, leveraging branded marketing approaches to deliver integrated, multi-channel campaigns powered by insight-led storytelling and culturally resonant creative. Prior to Rescue, Femi served as VP, Brand Creative at NBCUniversal, where she played a key role in the global rebrand for Universal Destinations & Experiences, associated brand campaigns, and upfront planning for the launch of EPIC Universe. Earlier in her career, she was Head of Creative at Little Dot Studios Americas, shaping modern, short-form storytelling and brand engagement for brands including Google, Disney, and Expedia. Her broader experience spans technology, entertainment, and retail, with work for Snyders of Hanover, NBC Television, ABC, AT&T, Intel, Lenovo, T-Mobile, and Michelob. Across her career, Femi has led and mentored resilient, high-performing teams while delivering work grounded in clarity, craft, and emotional truth. A certified global Gallup Strengths Coach, she is deeply committed to compassionate leadership, craft excellence, and building cultures where people and ideas can thrive. She holds an MBA in Design Strategy from California College of the Arts and is based in Los Angeles, where she lives with her dog, Zooey. Before we begin, please be sure to share this show with a family member, friend or colleague. As you know, your ratings and reviews help this show to gain traction and continue to grow. Thank you if you have already left a review.Also, if you haven’t downloaded one of my freebies on my site, check them out on bravewomenatwork.com. I have 5 Ways to Managing Your Imposter Syndrome, 34 Leadership and Career Affirmations, and 10 tips to Win Your Next Negotiation. Download one or them or all three!If you also have a story to share and a deep desire to become an author, please contact me at [email protected]. I am happy to share the details on the project.  Alright, let’s welcome Femi to the show!

Let’s start with two quotes today. Honestly, I couldn’t decide between the two, so you get both.Carl Jung: "The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are."Brené Brown: "Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it's having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome."Often, we don’t let ourselves be seen as Brene Brown says. We put on masks of perfectionism, performance, people pleasing, and more. I know about these masks because I’ve done that very thing. Today, I talked with Alicia Zielinski Straub, a repeat guest about the masks that we wear and what it costs us. If you still feel like you are not fully letting your guard down and showing up as your authentic self, please listen in to this show. I think it will have something special for you.During today’s conversation, Alicia and I chatted about:Her transition from New Jersey to the Carolinas and the beautiful synchronicities all the way.Why we wear the masks we doWhat the term unmasking means to Alicia, and why she decided to offer her retreat of the same nameWhy she selected the Imiloa Institute in Costa Rica when she could have selected anywhere in the worldWhy drives us to favor old, negative patterns, even when we have the tools to unmask and heal?Here is more about Alicia:Alicia Zielinski Straub, MS, LPC, NBCC, RYT, is a licensed professional counselor, mindfulness practitioner, and somatics facilitator. Her work bridges clinical mental health with mind-body strategies. Alicia helps individuals understand and regulate stress, trauma, and overstimulation in modern life. She draws from neuroscience, translating complex concepts into accessible, experiential tools that foster balance, resilience, and emotional regulation. Alicia conducts counseling services, personalized somatic sessions, workshops, retreats, and integrative practices that support nervous system health, self-awareness, and sustainable well-being.If you haven’t downloaded one of my freebies on my site, check them out on bravewomenatwork.com. I have 5 Ways to Managing Your Imposter Syndrome, 34 Leadership and Career Affirmations, and 10 tips to Win Your Next Negotiation. Download one or them or all three!If you also have a story to share and a deep desire to become an author, please contact me at [email protected]. I am happy to share the details on the project.  Alright, let’s welcome Alicia to the show!

When I burned out back in 2019, I felt like I was duped. I did all the “right things” – went to college, worked very hard, climbed the ladder, got married, had kids. And then, after doing everything the way I thought I was supposed to do, I burned out anyway. During that period, I was disillusioned and felt like I had no foundation. I had to find a new foundation, and this podcast was part of it, so thank you again for being here.What I learned about in my conversation with guest, Meghan French Dunbar, is that I didn’t do it wrong. Society feeds us the idea of short-term success being the name of the game. It is more important for us to climb the ladder than listen to our intuition. It’s more important to look good on paper than to experience success deep in our souls. And guess what? That’s WRONG. During the show, Meghan and I chatted about:How we have been pursuing the wrong success targets the whole time.What the pull is to short-term success vs. long-term value creation.Her book, This Isn’t Working: How Working Women Can Overcome Stress, Guilt, and Overload to Find True Success.What soul success is and how it is different than traditional success.How we can begin pursuing more soul success in our lives and careers. Here is more about Meghan:For the last decade, Meghan has been kinda obsessed with how we can make business better for everyone. This passion has led her all over the place, from co-founding the first nationally distributed magazine about sustainable business, Conscious Company Magazine, to hosting events for hundreds of changemakers, building businesses, interviewing thousands of business leaders, consulting with major brands, and writing an entire book on the topic called This Isn’t Working: How Working Women Can Overcome Stress, Guilt, and Overload to Find True Success.If you're wondering why Meghan is so passionate about this topic, it's because business is one of the largest forces on Earth—one that can be harnessed to create tremendous progress and benefit humanity or one that can destroy lives and harm most people involved in the system. The good news is that it can be so much better and helping people understand exactly how is what her work is all about. When Meghan is not doing all that, she is with her family in the foothills of Boulder—chasing her two kids, hiking with her husband, hosting dinners for friends, and remembering that the truest version of success is one that actually feels like living.If the Brave Women at Work Podcast has helped you personally or professionally, please share it with a friend, colleague, or family member. And your ratings and reviews help the show continue to gain traction and grow. Thank you again!If you haven’t downloaded one of my freebies on my site, check them out on bravewomenatwork.com. I have 5 Ways to Managing Your Imposter Syndrome, 34 Leadership and Career Affirmations, and 10 tips to Win Your Next Negotiation. Download one or them or all three!If you also have a story to share and a deep desire to become an author, please contact me at [email protected]. I am happy to share the details on the project.  Alright, let’s welcome Meghan to the show!

Did you know that at one point in our lives, 70% of people experience Imposter Syndrome or now called Imposter Complex/Phenomenon. And P.S., 75% of executive women have experienced it. I’ve had many highly successful and motivated Type A female clients come to me wanting to be “fixed.” I always give them the same answer. This is not an on and off switch. There is no fixing. This is a process of unlearning and relearning, of noticing and reframing, and reconnecting to your body. It’s using your tools when the inner critic strikes, because it will. Inner critic is simply a sign that you are leveling up and facing fear. I know easier said than done, but you can manage it. As Maya Angelou says, “When we know better, we do better.”During my conversation with guest, Jessica Wright, we talk about knowledge that we can arm ourselves with when managing on our inner critics. During the show, Jessica and I chatted about:What Positive Intelligence and the Saboteurs are.The benefits of knowing our Saboteurs and how we find out ours. If the Saboteurs remain consistent or if they can change over time.We chatted about what Jessica and my top Saboteurs are and how they show up. How does all of this relate to the inner critic and why knowledge is power. Here is more about Jessica:Jessica Wright, an ACC-credentialed Life & Career Development Coach, helps new and emerging leaders build confidence, lead with purpose, and create a lasting legacy...without sacrificing their personal lives. Because leadership isn't actually about proving yourself in the hard times. It's about support. It's about clarity. It's about helping people feel seen, heard, and connected to the mission.With a Master’s degree in Transformational Leadership, Jessica helps leaders navigate the pressures of their roles, overcome burnout, and empowers them to redefine success on their own terms. Jessica is also the host of Illustrating Leadership Podcast and the creator of the Illustrating Leadership Summit.When she's not coaching or podcasting, you can find Jessica chasing down her naughty dachshund, seeking out her next cup of coffee, or starting a crafting project that she may or may not eventually finish.You can reach her at jessicawright.online.If the Brave Women at Work Podcast has helped you personally or professionally, please share it with a friend, colleague, or family member. And your ratings and reviews help the show continue to gain traction and grow. Thank you again!If you haven’t downloaded one of my freebies on my site, check them out on bravewomenatwork.com. I have 5 Ways to Managing Your Imposter Syndrome, 34 Leadership and Career Affirmations, and 10 tips to Win Your Next Negotiation. Download one or them or all three!If you also have a story to share and a deep desire to become an author, please contact me at [email protected]. I am happy to share the details on the project.  

I’m starting today’s show with one word – WOW. Just WOW. This podcast was one of the most thought-provoking I’ve had in a while. Why? Today’s guest, Elizabeth Rosenberg, is willing to have the conversation that no one is having but everyone should be having. Here’s the question: How do we seamlessly integrate our spiritual and/or intuitive side with the professional side and not come off as a weirdo?During the show, Elizabeth and I also chatted about:The story behind her company, The Good Advice Company.What a Chief Spiritual Officer is, and why it is in all of us (and is also a growing community).How we can flex our intuition to be an authentic and powerful leader (and PS, Elizabeth thinks it’s possible for all of us).What happens when we face resistance from others who reject the idea of integration?How has living and working in this way made Elizabeth way more authentic?Whether your spiritual tradition is formal religion, meditation, prayer, or pulling a tarot card, Elizabeth believes you can integrate these pieces into cohesive leadership that serves others. And I don’t know about you, but this sounds like a world view I want to adopt and live in.Here is more about Elizabeth:Elizabeth Rosenberg is the founder of The Good Advice Company. She is a personal branding consultant and strategic communications and marketing advisor. She is passionate about driving authentic change and purposeful impact through her work. She has over 20 years of experience working with some of the most innovative brands (Apple, Nike, NFL, Clorox Company, Diageo, Cadillac) and leaders (Norman Lear, Lee Clow) in the world.Elizabeth loves PR and marketing and throughout her career has worked in almost every industry including entertainment, automotive, music, tech, sports, politics, CPG, food and beverage, health and wellness, and fashion. The key to every industry is the ability to understand people, tell a compelling story, and create, maintain and foster relationships.She is a two-time entrepreneur (not counting the thriving weekend lemonade stand she had as a kid or the Etsy shop she had in her early 30s).Elizabeth takes big leaps. She's comfortable repositioning herself and pivoting her career not only to bring her more joy, but to ensure she's offering services that are needed in the world. She gives people permission and a plan to do the same (if that's their goal!).Today, she works with creative agencies, start-ups and brands as a comms consigliere and strategic advisor — but mostly with executive leaders in all industries who are looking for a sense of purpose, a personal brand architecture, and an honest, transparent partner by their side.Elizabeth has truly never loved her job or her clients more and is grateful every day that she is making an impact and gets to connect and collaborate with such an inspired, creative and powerful community. A curious and voracious learner, she knows each day will bring something new and keep life endlessly interesting.Born, raised and based in Los Angeles (with the vibe of a New Yorker), Elizabeth is not just shaping brands — she's living hers in how she shows up every day, but also in sharing her stories and truths on a podcast or in a blog post. Most of all, she loves speaking about her health and wellness journey and truly believes there is a future where wellness, intuition and the corporate world all collide.If the Brave Women at Work Podcast has helped you personally or professionally, please share it with a friend, colleague, or family member. And your ratings and reviews help the show continue to gain traction and grow. Thank you again!

While preparing to release this week’s show, I realized I forgot to launch a show from this past February with Jenn Donahue. Jenn is an amazing leadership expert and has a ton of hard knocks experience in the military. In fact, she almost died while in Iraq, so this woman knows a thing or two about staying calm under pressure. During today’s show, Jenn and I chatted about:Jenn’s fascinating story of leadership in the militaryJenn’s connection with leadership and becoming the warriorHer warrior framework and how we can leverage it to tackle self-doubtWhy high performers are most likely to be riddled with Imposter Syndrome?How do we navigate difficult situations at work?Here is more about Jenn:Jenn Donahue’s career spans commanding over 800 troops in Afghanistan (where she had an assassination attempt on her life), building literal bridges in Iraq, and leading earthquake engineering teams in some of the world’s most high-stakes climates. In Becoming the Warrior, she shares how developing a “warrior mindset” helped her navigate high-pressure military missions and can help anyone overcome fear, self-doubt, and uncertainty to lead with confidence, whether you’re leading teams of 5 or 500.If the Brave Women at Work Podcast has helped you personally or professionally, please share it with a friend, colleague, or family member. And your ratings and reviews help the show continue to gain traction and grow. Thank you again!If you haven’t downloaded one of my freebies on my site, check them out on bravewomenatwork.com. I have 5 Ways to Managing Your Imposter Syndrome, 34 Leadership and Career Affirmations, and 10 tips to Win Your Next Negotiation. Download one or them or all three!If you also have a story to share and a deep desire to become an author, please contact me at [email protected]. I am happy to share the details on the project.  Alright, let’s welcome Jenn to the show!Questions (Segment 2): Can you tell us more about your background story? How have you gotten to where you are today?What was it like to lead over 800 troops in Afghanistan and navigate an assassination attempt on your life?Tell us more about your Book, Becoming the Warrior: Harnessing Your Inner Strength to Silence Self-Doubt.What does warrior mindset mean to you?How did you use your own warrior mindset during your military career?What is the Warrior Framework (Perceive, Assess, Ready, Act) and how do we apply this decision-making practice in business?How can we tackle the “mean little voice” in our own minds that fuels self-doubt?Why are top performers most saddled with Imposter Syndrome, and what is the anecdote?What advice would you give to women that work in predominantly male-dominated industries or want to rise to the top leadership seats in their organization? How do we navigate landmines and other toxic situations at work?What are 1-2 ways women can be braver at work?How can women connect with your work online?

It’s a reunion podcast! I love it when I can reconnect with prior guests. Kathy Miller and I did our first podcast together 2-3 years ago, so it’s been a hot minute!Kathy has an amazing story in manufacturing you will hear more about. She has that spine of steel and truly learned how to be a great leader from the ground up. It’s amazing that she is now paying it forward to share her leadership knowledge with others. During today’s show, Kathy and I chatted about:We caught up since it’s been a few years since we chatted last. We talked about how Kathy’s work has evolved and grown. Kathy’s book, MORE is Better: Leading Operations with Meaning, Optimism, and Relationships for Excellence.What meaningful work means to KathyWhy optimism is so important for leaders and how you can foster that quality inside yourselfHow do we build trust, safety, and accountability in our work relationshipsHere is more about Kathy:Kathy Miller guides operations leaders on how to turn culture into a competitive advantage that shows up in safety, quality, delivery, and the bottom line.A former Global Director of Manufacturing, Assembly & Test for Rolls-Royce Defense, she has led multi-billion-dollar operations across aerospace, automotive, and diversified industrials. As an independent board director and senior manufacturing executive, Kathy is known for building systems and cultures where people do their best work and results follow. She has a track record of guiding organizations through transformation by aligning leadership behavior, operational processes, and strategy.Kathy is a Women in Manufacturing Hall of Fame inductee and the Shingo Prize–winning co-author of Steel Toes and Stilettos:  A True Story of Women Manufacturing Leaders and Lean Transformation Success.  Her latest book, MORE Is Better: Leading Operations with Meaning, Optimism, and Relationships for Excellence, translates organizational research into practical tools for leaders with teams on both carpet AND concrete. Through her firm, MORE 4 Leaders, she is a keynote speaker, designs and conducts leadership workshops, and coaches leaders at all levels who want to build and sustain high performance by taking culture as seriously as any other system in the business.If the Brave Women at Work Podcast has helped you personally or professionally, please share it with a friend, colleague, or family member. And your ratings and reviews help the show continue to gain traction and grow. Thank you again!If you haven’t downloaded one of my freebies on my site, check them out on bravewomenatwork.com. I have 5 Ways to Managing Your Imposter Syndrome, 34 Leadership and Career Affirmations, and 10 tips to Win Your Next Negotiation. Download one or them or all three!If you also have a story to share and a deep desire to become an author, please contact me at [email protected]. I am happy to share the details on the project.