This week on The Empowered Team Podcast, Kari is joined by one of the most sought-after leadership experts in North America—Steven Gaffney, CEO of The Steven Gaffney Company and author of Unconditional Power.

With 30+ years of experience advising Fortune 500 companies and organizations ranked #1 in their industries, Steven reveals what it actually takes to build consistently high-achieving teams.

They dig deep into:

• Why emotional safety is the #1 leadership skill (and why most leaders miss it)
• The real problem with “honest communication” — it’s not what you think
• A 9-step formula to have difficult conversations that actually move the needle
• Why psychological safety isn’t enough — and what emotional safety looks like in action
• How leaders accidentally train people to lie to them (and how to reverse it)

Plus: why AI is not your enemy in leadership, how to rebuild team norms even after years of dysfunction, and the crossover lessons that can transform not just your team—but your marriage, too.

🎁 BONUS: Listen in to hear how to get a FREE digital copy of Steven’s book Just Be Honest and access his AI-powered leadership tool for building elite teams.

www.StevenGaffney.com

www.JustBeHonest.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevengaffneycompany/

https://www.instagram.com/stevengaffneydc/

👉 Ready to go deeper? Join the Empowered Team and take your leadership to the next level: https://theempowered.ca/team-learn-more

👉 Ready to use AI to support your leadership? Grab our free guide “the 50 best AI prompts for executives” https://thehumanalgorithm.ai/free-ai-guide

Saying no shouldn't come with guilt — but for high-achievers and people-pleasers, it often does. In this episode, Kari breaks down five powerful, practical ways to say no with clarity, integrity, and connection — without sacrificing relationships or self-respect.

Learn how to:

• Break the cycle of burnout and resentment
• Set boundaries that build trust (yes, really!)
• Spot a “dirty yes” before it drains you
• Deliver a “no” with empathy, strength, and leadership
• Preserve your energy while deepening your influence

Featuring real coaching insights and Kari’s personal take on the strategies that work best, this episode is for anyone ready to reclaim their time, energy, and power — without being the bad guy.

👉 Listen now and start saying no in ways that align with who you truly are!

👉 Ready to go deeper? Join the Empowered Team and take your leadership to the next level: https://theempowered.ca/team-learn-more

👉 Ready to use AI to support your leadership? Grab our free guide “the 50 best AI prompts for executives” https://thehumanalgorithm.ai/free-ai-guide

We’ve all heard the phrase: “It’s just business.” But in this episode, Kari blows the lid off this outdated myth—and exposes how suppressing emotions in leadership isn’t just cold... it’s costly.

Drawing from over 20 years in business and coaching high-performance leaders, Kari unpacks:

• The hidden emotional labor leaders carry every day.
• Why suppressing emotion leads to poor decisions & burnout.
• How empathy and emotional intelligence increase trust, retention & innovation.
• How to strategically bring emotion into business (without drama or unprofessionalism).

💡 Plus: Real-world stories—from grand openings to firing fears, and even a hard business deal with her father—that reveal the emotional weight behind every major business move.

Key Takeaway: Business is emotional because people are emotional. When you stop pretending and start leading with emotional intelligence, everything changes—for the better.

Perfect for: Founders, CEOs, leaders, and changemakers who want to lead with integrity, clarity, and purpose in the modern business world.

🔗 Don’t forget to subscribe and share with a leader who needs this!

👉 Ready to go deeper? Join the Empowered Team and take your leadership to the next level: https://theempowered.ca/team-learn-more

👉 Ready to use AI to support your leadership? Grab our free guide “the 50 best AI prompts for executives” https://thehumanalgorithm.ai/free-ai-guide

In this episode of the Empowered Team Podcast, host Kari Schneider welcomes Manny Fiteni, founder of Mind Growth 360 and a leadership transformation expert from Australia. With over 35 years of experience leading teams of up to 300 people, Manny has seen firsthand why most managers fail — and how real leadership is cultivated from the inside out.

Together, they explore:

• The difference between managing and leading (and why most get it wrong)
• Manny’s 3 core pillars: Environment, True Leadership, and Mind Congruency
• How subconscious programming silently sabotages managers
• The top 11 traits of high-performing leaders — and how to spot them
• Why storytelling is one of the most underused superpowers in leadership

Whether you're leading a team or leading yourself, this episode delivers hard-earned wisdom, mindset shifts, and frameworks to elevate how you influence others — and grow from the inside out.

🧠 Mentioned in the episode:

• MindGrowthCorporation.com – Manny’s hub for leadership and performance tools
• Mind Growth 360 – A personal development platform designed to elevate leaders
• Connect with Manny on LinkedIn or Instagram for ongoing insights.

🎧 Ready to lead differently? Press play.

👉 Ready to go deeper? Join the Empowered Team and take your leadership to the next level: https://theempowered.ca/team-learn-more

👉 Ready to use AI to support your leadership? Grab our free guide “the 50 best AI prompts for executives” https://thehumanalgorithm.ai/free-ai-guide

In this solo episode, Kari Schneider, life strategist and host of the Empowered Team Podcast, dives deep into a question every leader faces: Do I need a fresh start… or is it time to let go?

You'll discover:

• What the Fresh Start Effect really is (backed by psychology!),
• How unrealistic expectations sabotage even the best goals,
• A 3-part framework to reboot your momentum with clarity and courage,
• And the real reason we get stuck after a failure — and how to turn it into your next breakthrough.

Whether you're chasing a business goal, personal transformation, or a bold new vision, this episode gives you the tools to reflect, reframe, and recommit.

🎯 If the goal still lights you up — it’s not over. It’s time to start again, but smarter. Tune in and empower your next step!

Resources: https://psychologycompass.com/blog/reaching-goals/

Supporting podcast Episode #123 How to Make Hard Easy: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mindset-monday-how-to-make-hard-easy/id1439022418?i=1000512171116

In this high-impact solo episode, leadership expert and life strategist Kari Schneider drops a truth bomb: your future isn’t waiting for you—it’s being built right now.

Through the powerful Triple Vision Framework—Now, Next, Far—Kari reveals how presence is your greatest superpower. From endurance races to personal setbacks, she shares raw stories that prove one thing: you can’t reach what’s next until you master what’s now.

You'll discover: ✔ How chasing the future can rob you of progress ✔ The real reason dissatisfaction keeps you stuck ✔ Why tiny daily actions create unshakable momentum ✔ The mindset shift that turns pressure into purpose

✨ This episode is your reset button.

If you're ready to ditch overwhelm and finally move forward, it starts here.

Master your NOW—and everything else will follow.

👉 Ready to go deeper? Join the Empowered Team and take your leadership to the next level: https://theempowered.ca/

In this solo episode, host Kari Schneider dives into one of the most overlooked leadership landmines: misaligned definitions of success.

You may think you’re winning, but if your team, partner, or client doesn’t see it that way, you’re headed for disconnection and disappointment.

Kari shares personal stories (including a behind-the-scenes team mishap) and examples from high-level leaders and relationships to show just how sneaky this misalignment can be.

You’ll walk away with a powerful 5-step framework to get crystal clear on success, not just for yourself, but with anyone you collaborate with. Because when everyone defines it together, you actually win together.

In this episode:

• Why your hard work might not be landing
• The one thing most people forget to do when starting a project or having a “deep” conversation
• The difference between assumptions vs. agreements
• The 5 steps to define and align on success
• Real-life misalignment examples in work, relationships, parenting, and entrepreneurship

🎯 Key takeaway: If you want real success, define it together.

👉 Ready to go deeper? Join the Empowered Team and take your leadership to the next level: https://theempowered.ca/team-learn-more

👉 Ready to use AI to support your leadership? Grab our free guide “the 50 best AI prompts for executives” https://thehumanalgorithm.ai/free-ai-guide

Is your career path more of a winding road than a clear ladder? Great news: you're exactly where you need to be. Today, Kari Schneider is joined by Desiree Goldey, the Director of Marketing & Culture at ZRG and an expert in talent and leadership development. Desiree’s own journey is a testament to embracing the messy, non-linear path to purpose and leadership.

Desiree boldly shares how abruptly leaving her first toxic marketing job (box in hand!) kickstarted an unexpected yet fulfilling 20-year career. Her unusual journey—from marketing to bartending, hospitality, consumer foods, and finally, recruiting—shows the incredible power of embracing the twists and turns.

In this compelling episode, you’ll explore:

• Why a non-linear career can lead directly to your purpose and fulfillment.
• Key leadership traits for the modern workplace—empathy, authenticity, clarity, and courage.
• How artificial intelligence is impacting jobs—particularly in recruiting—and the critical human traits that AI can't replace.
• How to strategically position yourself as indispensable in an AI-driven world.

Desiree also challenges conventional thinking around what it takes to lead effectively today, sharing powerful advice:

“Don’t shrink yourself to make others comfortable.”

If you're ready to leverage your unique path and stand out in a changing professional landscape, this episode is your next step forward!

Episode Highlights:

• Embracing your values to find your purpose
• Recognizing red flags and must-have traits in leadership
• Jobs at risk with AI advancement—and what you can do about it

👉 Connect with Desiree Goldey: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/desireegoldey BlueSky: @dobetterpeople Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/recruiter_gold/ WeAre8: @Dgoldey

👉 Ready to go deeper? Join the Empowered Team and take your leadership to the next level: https://theempowered.ca/