#1 Leadership Mistake Costing You Your Dream Team (Fix It Fast) – Dr. KJ Haywood

What’s the difference between a boss and a leader?

One loses their best people. The other builds legacies.

In this raw, note-worthy episode of Coffee Chat Podcast, host De’Andrea Brown sits down with Dr. KJ Haywood — PhD in Ethics & Business, AI governance pioneer, and leadership disruptor — to unpack the #1 mistake new leaders make that sends teams running.

You’ll discover:

• How Dr. KJ went from “bossy kid” to burning out her team in her 30s
• The grunt work that landed her HR Director in 1 year — no certifications needed
• Why solitude is the secret to unshakable confidence
• The truth about imposter syndrome: it’s just fear wearing a title
• Why success is lonely — and how to thrive when unicorns don’t run in packs
• The daily choice that turns followers into leaders with purpose

If you’re a millennial, Gen Z, or rising leader tired of waiting for permission — this episode is your wake-up call.

Perfect for:

Aspiring managers | Entrepreneurs | Corporate climbers | Anyone ready to stop losing talent and start leading with impact

Listen now. Take notes. Level up. ☕

Host: Diondria Brown

Guest: Dr. KJ Haywood

Show: Coffee Chat Podcast

Tags: Leadership, Personal Growth, Career Advice, Women in Leadership, Emotional Intelligence, Self Development

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Instagram: @thecoffeechatpod__

LinkedIn: Coffee Chat Podcast

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CoffeeChatPod

Episode Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro

01:35 – “I came out the womb bossy”

04:32 – Grunt work = leadership gold

09:46 – Follower mode vs. leader mode

18:42 – Reinventing every 5 years

27:11 – Solitude = power

38:43 – Imposter syndrome is fear

48:40 – Advice to her 30-year-old self

54:34 – Why millennials & Gen Z are disruptors

Challenge:

This week, choose one small leadership action no one asked you to take. Tag us with your win.

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