Brainkeeping: The Leadership Practice You Didn’t Know You Needed

What if your mind needed the same care as your home? In this episode, Kris introduces the concept of brainkeeping—a leadership practice as vital as housekeeping. Just as we tidy our physical spaces, our mental and emotional spaces require regular clearing, reflection, and renewal. Kris shares how her lifelong curiosity and deep conversations with friends and clients have shaped her unique approach to coaching high-achieving women. Through brainkeeping she helps leaders sort through the clutter of overthinking, self-doubt, and noise—so they can access their clarity, wisdom, and creativity. She explores why so many women leaders stay in constant motion, what happens when you stop long enough to ask “why,” and how stillness and inquiry can become your most powerful strategic tools. Here’s what we explore in this episode: What “brainkeeping” really means—and why every visionary woman needs it How curiosity can reconnect you with your own wisdom The cost of constant noise and the value of intentional reflection How mental clutter impacts leadership and decision-making Finding your own form of replenishment, whether it’s reflection, movement, or community This conversation is an invitation to pause, recalibrate, and reconnect with your mind—the most valuable asset you have as a leader. Contact Information and Recommended Resources Ready for your own Brainkeeping? Join the Sage Mini Mind Interest List Today! www.thevisionary.ceo/sagemm   Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest

As we head into the final quarter of the year, Kris invites you to shift your focus—from running the business to owning the business. She challenges high-achieving female founders to stop operating on autopilot and start thinking like the visionary asset holders they are. Too many women spend years building companies without ever asking the most important question: What’s the plan? Whether you eventually want to sell, scale back, or simply create more freedom, your business deserves a clear direction—and so do you. Kris also introduces the Sage Mini Mastermind, a 12-week experience for women running multi-million-dollar businesses who are ready to step out of the weeds, lead from wisdom, and build a business that runs beautifully—with or without them. Here’s what we explore in this episode: Why “normal” growth years don’t mean failure—and how to talk to yourself about success differently How to approach bonuses and performance evaluations with clarity and confidence The difference between running a business and owning one—and why most founders avoid exit planning How to assess your business’s readiness to run without you Transitioning from “decider-in-chief” to advisor and visionary Turning your experience, intuition, and wisdom into tangible business assets through a personal “mind bank” This episode is your reminder that your company isn’t just a vehicle for achievement—it’s an asset for freedom. The Sage Era begins when you stop measuring success by how busy you are and start designing your business to serve the woman you’ve become. Contact Information and Recommended Resources Don’t leave your biggest asset to chance—get on the Sage Mini Mastermind waitlist now at www.thevisionary.ceo/sagemm.   Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest

What does it feel like to finally stop overworking, over-explaining, and over-proving—and instead lead from a place of grounded confidence? In this episode, Kris shows us what life and leadership look like when self-trust and self-worth are fully integrated. She shares the story of a client who went from being minimized by her partners to running a thriving $10M company while taking a guilt-free month away from her business. This transformation illustrates the power of moving beyond surface-level fixes to address the root issue: believing yourself and believing in yourself. Kris outlines the real markers of integration: working in resonance instead of overwork, resting as a source of strength, setting boundaries without apology, and claiming your right to joy and desire. This is the Sage Era—where your wisdom serves not just you, but those you lead and influence. Here’s what we explore in this episode:  Why releasing your business as your identity opens up freedom and clarity  How guilt, self-doubt, and over-functioning fade once trust and worth align  The role of inner authority in creating decisions rooted in self-belief  What it means to model Sage leadership for the women who come after you  This conversation is an invitation into the Sage Era—where your wisdom, value, and authority aren’t up for debate. Contact Information and Recommended Resources  Your journey starts with clarity. Head to thevisionary.ceo/trust and take the Self-Trust & Self-Worth Index Kris designed to give you immediate insight. Linkedin  Instagram  Facebook  Pinterest 

What if your worth wasn’t tied to your revenue, your output, or anyone else’s approval? In this episode, Kris takes us deeper into the heart of worthiness and why so many high-achieving women still wrestle with believing in themselves—even after building successful companies, raising families, and achieving goals most people only dream of. Kris breaks down the difference between self-trust (believing yourself) and self-worth (believing in yourself), and why the latter is the quiet, constant hum that shapes everything you do. She explores how conditional worth shows up in subtle ways—like people pleasing, avoiding difficult conversations, or downplaying your own success—and why guilt over what you’ve built is often a sign you don’t fully own your value yet. Here’s what we explore in this episode: The false scorecards and hidden “supervisors” you’ve been measuring yourself against Why women tie worth to achievement, perfection, or proving How guilt for your success erodes confidence and leadership Why rest can be a radical act of reclaiming value What it looks like to live differently when you truly know your worth This episode is your invitation to stop proving, release guilt, and reclaim the truth: you are already the prize. Contact Information and Recommended Resources Your journey starts with clarity. Head to thevisionary.ceo/trust and take the Self-Trust & Self-Worth Index Kris designed to give you immediate insight.   Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest

Why can you trust yourself to build a multimillion-dollar company—but not to have one hard conversation? In this episode, Kris pulls back the curtain on the anatomy of self-trust. From visionary ideas to money, health, relationships, and leadership, she reveals why so many women compartmentalize their confidence—rock solid in some domains, shaky in others. You’ll hear how past experiences, identity “totems,” and cultural conditioning quietly erode our confidence, and why fear, vulnerability, and inherited stories often dictate where we doubt ourselves most. More importantly, Kris shows you how to begin repairing that trust—through awareness, reframing, and practice—so you can finally stop second-guessing and start standing fully in the leader you already are. Here’s what we explore in this episode: The surprising gap between visionary trust and day-to-day confidence The different domains of self-trust—and where women most often stumble How identity, environment, and old narratives shape what you believe about yourself Why it feels safer to trust money or process than people or intuition Practical ways to build competence and leverage your strengths to close the gaps This episode calls you to stop treating self-trust like a mystery and start treating it like a skill. You don’t have to be perfect—you just have to start believing yourself again. Contact Information and Recommended Resources Your journey starts with clarity. Head to thevisionary.ceo/trust and take the Self-Trust & Self-Worth Index Kris designed to give you immediate insight. Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest

Why do so many accomplished women still doubt themselves—even after building extraordinary lives and businesses? Kris continues her Self-Trust & Self-Worth mini-series with a powerful exploration of the programming women inherit from generations before us. She invites us to reflect on the systemic, cultural, and ancestral patterns that quietly shape how women value themselves—and why even the most accomplished female founders still lie awake at night second-guessing their own decisions. From hiding success out of guilt to resisting difficult conversations at work, Kris shows how the paradox of female leadership is never about capability—it’s about the stories we’ve absorbed about what women “should” be. And she challenges us to stop playing small, stop apologizing for what we’ve built, and start owning the lives we’ve worked so hard to create. Here’s what we explore: Why inherited programming makes self-trust harder for women than men The cultural double standard that shames women for success How female founders get boxed in by guilt, doubt, and “shoulds” The hidden cost of over-functioning and perfectionism Why leadership requires both confidence and compassion This episode is your reminder that you are not broken—and you’re not alone. The work ahead isn’t about fixing yourself, it’s about unlearning what never belonged to you in the first place. Contact Information and Recommended Resources Your journey starts with clarity. Head to thevisionary.ceo/trust and take the Self-Trust & Self-Worth Index Kris designed to give you immediate insight. Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest  

Kris launches a brand-new mini-series with a masterclass on Self-Trust and Self-Worth for Female Founders. And she encourages us to ask: Why do we trust ourselves to build entire businesses—but not to have one hard conversation? After wrapping the seven transitions of Beyond the CEO, this next season dives deeper—into the paradox that so many successful women face: the ability to make bold, visionary moves while quietly second-guessing themselves in the day-to-day. Across the next five weeks, you’ll hear Kris unpack her full Self-Trust and Self-Worth masterclass, designed to help you see how every “tactical” problem—whether it’s firing someone, raising your rates, or stepping back from the business—is rooted in how much you believe yourself, and how much you believe in yourself. Here’s what we explore: The paradox of female founders: bold vision paired with constant second-guessing The difference between self-trust (“I believe myself”) and self-worth (“I believe in myself”) Why tactical problems are often symptoms of deeper trust and worth issues How overachievement and shame fuel cycles of exhaustion and over-functioning What changes when you finally believe yourself and believe in yourself This episode is your invitation to stop treating the symptoms and start healing the root. Because when you strengthen self-trust and self-worth, you don’t just lead better—you build a business and a life that finally feels aligned with the woman you’ve already proven yourself to be. Contact Information and Recommended Resources Your journey starts with clarity. Head to thevisionary.ceo/trust and take the Self-Trust & Self-Worth Index Kris designed to give you immediate insight.   Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest

What’s your plan for the business you’ve worked so hard to build? After walking through all seven transitions in the Beyond the CEO series, Kris is turning her focus to what comes next: the tactical and strategic steps every founder must take to ensure the business can run—and even thrive—without her constant presence. This isn’t just about getting through today’s to-do list. It’s about preparing your business, your team, and yourself for what’s ahead—whether that’s scaling, exiting, or simply reclaiming more of your life. Because the truth is, too many women wait until they’re burned out before asking the hard questions: Is my business ready? Am I ready? What happens after this season ends? Here’s what we explore: Why a team audit is as essential as cleaning out your closet The leadership shift from telling to asking—and how it changes everything How to capture your wisdom and IP so others can use it without you The possibility of creating generational wealth through an exit Why retirement isn’t the end—it’s a call to design a future with purpose This episode is your invitation to stop avoiding the practical steps and start laying the foundation for a business you can lead and leave. Because the earlier you prepare, the more options you have—and the more freedom you create to design what’s next. Contact Information and Recommended Resources Wanna know more details about the Sage: Coaching for Female Founders that will be starting in October? Visit www.thevisionary.ceo/beyondtheceo to add your name to the interest list.  Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest

Are you willing to release control and trust others with what you’ve built In this episode, Kris closes out the Beyond the CEO series by walking through the final transitions that take you from structure and strategy into wisdom and possibility. It’s not just about building processes—it’s about letting go of false truths, reclaiming clarity, playing without an agenda, and stepping fully into Sage energy. This is where leadership becomes less about control and more about trust, curiosity, and freedom. Here’s what we explore: The surprising power of asking “What do you think?” instead of giving answers Why restless, “itchy” seasons are signs of growth, not failure How boredom after success reveals what was missing all along The trap of being needed versus the freedom of being trusted What Sage energy looks like in practice—and why it always whispers, “There’s more. This episode is your invitation to stop defaulting to what’s inherited, expected, or safe—and start building a business you can both lead and leave. Because when you do, you create the freedom to explore what’s next and the impact to feed the future with your wisdom. Contact Information and Recommended Resources Interested in more of what we've been teaching here? Visit www.thevisionary.ceo/beyondtheceo to add your name to the interest list. Want some coaching on these transitions I've been featuring in this series? Visit www.thevisionary.ceo/callin to learn more and submit an application. If selected, your call will be published on this podcast in future episodes.  Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest

Have you been intentional about what stays in your life—and what goes? If you’ve been following this special Beyond the CEO mini-series on the seven transitions every founder must face, you know last week was all about play, curiosity, and exploration. Now, in Transition Six—Intentional Design—we take everything you’ve discovered in that playful, curious phase and start shaping it into a grounded, deliberate vision for what’s next. This isn’t about hustling toward another “should.” It’s about building your next chapter with clarity, purpose, and your own rules. Kris shares why this stage only works if you’ve truly given yourself the gift of experimentation first—and how skipping that step leads to recreating the same patterns you’ve outgrown. She walks through her own clarity breakthroughs (including a newfound love of pickleball, hosting in-person gatherings, and refining her environment) and invites you to ask yourself: What’s in? What’s out? What’s worth designing into the next version of your life? Here’s what we explore: Why play and exploration are prerequisites for true clarity How to sculpt a new vision without dragging old expectations into it The importance of refining, not just adding Why environment, people, and commitments all deserve intentional choice How universal truths guide every stage of your evolution This episode is your invitation to stop defaulting to what’s inherited, expected, or safe—and start crafting a life and business that reflects the woman you are now. Contact Information and Recommended Resources The best way to stay in the know? Get on the list. I’ve got some exciting things coming your way, and I always share with my email list first. Head to the thevisionary.ceo/notes and opt in. Join me in Hawaii Learn more at www.thevisionary.ceo/hawaii   Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest