Why build an entire business—and now a podcast—around joy? In this intimate solo episode, Lori pulls back the curtain on the moment she walked away from her high-powered VP role and made the boldest, most strategic decision of her life: to lead with joy.

Spoiler: Joy isn’t fluffy. It’s her anchor, her methodology, and her leadership advantage.

She shares what corporate never taught her about joy, the data behind why joy increases productivity, and the mindset shift that helped her move from burnout to clarity, from performance to presence. If you’ve been operating like success is the goal and joy is the reward—this one’s for you.

Joy Is Not Fluff—It’s Fuel

• Lori reframes joy as a hard-won mindset, not a fleeting mood.
• She made joy her anchor after two decades of pressure, promotions, and personal loss.
• Audience follow-up→ Ask yourself: What have I been calling “fluff” that might actually be a survival strategy?

There’s Data Behind Joy

• Joyful leaders are 31% more productive and 3x more creative.
• Joy boosts profitability, sales, retention, and engagement.
• Audience follow-up→ Google studies from Harvard Business Review, Shawn Achor, and McKinsey on emotional contagion, psychological safety, and joy in the workplace.

Gratitude Is a Daily Practice—Not a Personality Type

• Lori’s 5-minute morning gratitude habit helps her shift from stress to presence.
• Audience follow-up→ Start your own: Write down 5 things you’re grateful for every morning (no repeats!).

You Can’t Lead Well If You’re Depleted

• Joy helped Lori repair her health, reconnect to her worth, and set unshakable boundaries.
• She stopped surviving on Diet Coke and pretzels—and started sleeping, hydrating, and showing up differently.
• Audience follow-up→ Choose one daily habit that supports your well-being and commit to it this week.

Legacy Isn’t About Metrics—It’s About Meaning

• People won’t remember your dashboard—they’ll remember how you made them feel.
• Joy creates space for human connection even in high-pressure environments.
• Audience follow-up→ In your next meeting, remember one personal detail about someone on your team—and ask them about it.

• Her VP roles at Coca-Cola, Campbell’s, and Anheuser-Busch
• The “Rainbows & Unicorns” comment from a toxic SVP that became a turning point
• Gratitude practice: 5 things every morning
• The TV show The Bear as a metaphor for her last corporate environment
• Her personal definition of joy:

• Where are you achieving, but not fulfilling?
• What would shift if you let joy lead—not as a finish line, but as your foundation?
• How do people feel in your presence—and how do you want them to feel?

• Executives who are successful on paper but running on fumes
• Professionals recovering from burnout, overfunctioning, or toxic leadership
• Women ready to lead on their terms—with boundaries, clarity, and presence
• Anyone asking: Is there a better way to lead? (Yes. It’s JOY.)

• Explore the neuroscience + business...

In this vulnerable and wisdom-packed conversation, Lori sits down with Dr. Susan Dean—an executive operations leader, educator, and researcher—to explore the leadership moments that shaped her. From running teams of 200+ to picking blueberries on a conveyor belt in 100-degree heat, Dr. Dean shares what she’s learned about leading people with empathy, structure, and presence.

This episode isn’t just about climbing the ladder—it’s about who you become as you rise, and how your past (including your pain) can sharpen your leadership superpowers.

If you’re navigating big responsibilities and want to lead with heart, not burnout—this episode is for you.

Soft Skills = Strong Leadership

• Dr. Dean’s doctoral research proves that communication, emotional regulation, and empathy aren’t “nice-to-haves”—they’re essential in the 21st-century workforce.
• Audience follow-up→ Ask yourself: Which soft skill do I need to develop to better support my team right now?

Make It Safe to Talk About the Problem

• Susan uses the “Phone in the Middle” method: place the issue at the center of the conversation (literally or metaphorically) to encourage solution-focused dialogue without blame.
• Audience follow-up→ Try this in your next team debrief: “Let’s talk about the issue—not the person.”

Resilience Is a Skill—Not Just a Trait

• Susan shares a powerful metaphor of falling off a cliff during trauma—and learning how to land on a ledge instead of in the water.
• Her takeaway? Feel your emotions, take a beat, then rise with purpose.
• Audience follow-up→ What’s your “ledge” strategy? How do you care for yourself after a setback?

Don’t Confuse the Title with Readiness

• It’s not about chasing the next title—it’s about learning how to make better decisions through experience, listening, and asking great questions.
• Audience follow-up→ If you’re gunning for a bigger role, ask yourself: Am I ready to lead people—or just ready to manage tasks?

Your Story Is Your Leadership Edge

• Dr. Dean’s trauma shaped her empathy. Her former team of incarcerated individuals reshaped her worldview. These experiences became her legacy, not liabilities.
• Audience follow-up→ What in your past shaped how you lead today—and how can you own it more fully?

• “Phone in the Middle” Approach – Susan’s framework for safe, non-defensive team debriefs.
• Tony Burgess, PhD – Leadership trainer and mentor who influenced Susan’s cliff/ledge metaphor and resilience practice. Dr. Tony Burgess
• Dr. Dean’s Dissertation – Soft Skills for the 21st Century Workforce (great for leaders and HR pros).
• Her Transformative Warehouse Experience – Managing a team of formerly incarcerated workers and helping them rebuild their lives and resumes.

• What’s one mistake you’ve made as a leader—and what did it teach you?
• Are you managing performance… or mentoring people?
• Where could you lead more with your team instead of above them?

• Executives and managers responsible for large teams
• HR leaders looking to improve...

🎙️ Episode Summary:

Ever wish you could go back and give your younger self a little advice—the kind that saves you from burnout, confusion, and running in circles trying to prove yourself? In this solo episode, I’m pulling back the curtain and sharing the three most powerful lessons I’ve learned in my career—ones I wish someone had told me 20 years ago.

If you're navigating a transition, questioning your path, or just tired of doing all the right things and still feeling stuck, this episode is for you.

Spoiler: success isn’t just about doing great work—it’s about alignment, visibility, and creating a life that doesn’t revolve entirely around your title.

⏱️ Episode Highlights + Time Stamps:

[3:30] Lesson #1: Let Go of the Illusion of Control

I introduce my "Hula Hoop Theory"—a simple but powerful exercise to help you focus on what’s really yours to carry. If you’ve been spinning your wheels trying to control everything (and everyone), this one’s for you.

🔁 Try it: Step into a real or imaginary hula hoop. What’s inside your circle of control today?

[8:20] Lesson #2: Great Work Isn’t Always Enough

This one hits hard: you can be the best at what you do and still be overlooked. We talk about why visibility matters as much as competence—and how to stop waiting to be discovered.

🎯 Try it: Draft 2–3 soundbite-worthy statements about your wins. Practice saying them out loud. Make it easy for others to champion you.

[13:00] Lesson #3: Expand Beyond Work

Tunnel vision on your job will burn you out and bore you. I share what I wish I’d done to stay more grounded, more joyful, and more me—even when work felt all-consuming.

🎨 Try it: Revisit a hobby, sport, or cause you used to love. Ask yourself: is it time to bring it back?

✨ Reflection Prompts:

• What are you gripping that’s outside your hula hoop?
• Are you waiting to be discovered—or are you showing up visibly?
• What could bring more meaning outside of work?

💬 Mentioned in the Episode:

• Hula Hoop Theory – my go-to framework for focus and boundaries
• Hard truth: Promotions don’t always go to the most competent—they go to the most visible
• My own story: I wish I’d stuck with tennis across my many moves

👀 Who This Episode Is For:

• Mid-career professionals feeling unseen or underestimated
• Emerging leaders who want to rise without losing themselves
• High achievers ready to build a fulfilling life, not just a resume

📩 Want to Go Deeper?

• Try the Hula Hoop Exercise with your team or on your own
• Post your 3 lessons for your younger self and tag me @loripine
• Book a 1:1 Coaching Call: loripine.com

🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast

⭐️ Leave a 5-star review and a comment if this episode resonated with you—it helps more than you know.

📲 Share with someone who’s ready to rise—with clarity, courage, and JOY

Episode Summary:

We’re kicking off The Joy CEO podcast with someone who holds a special place in my professional heart and who has been a big part of my journey—Justin Honaman. Justin was my last manager at Coca-Cola, and over the last 15 years, we’ve been through it all together: career highs, painful losses, big pivots, and even getting laid off in the same reorg.

Today, Justin is thriving as Global Head at Amazon—and in this honest, heart-felt conversation, we pull back the curtain on what it really takes to rise again after a setback. We talk about grief, reinvention, and the power of staying grounded in who you are (even when the world around you is shifting).

This episode is full of truth, resilience, and real talk about what leadership looks like when you choose to lead with authenticity—and how joy fits into all of it.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• How Justin navigated job loss and bounced back stronger than ever
• Why grief transformed his approach to leadership
• The mindset shifts that fueled his reinvention
• What joy looks like at the top—and why it matters more than ever
• How to stay grounded in high-stakes, high-pressure roles

🎯 Episode Highlights & Time Stamps:

[2:15] – How We Met + Full Circle Moment

Justin and I reflect on our journey—from Coca-Cola to today—and what it means to launch this show together.

[6:45] – Losing Our Moms, Leading Through Grief

A heartfelt exchange about navigating personal loss and how grief changed the way we lead.

[11:30] – The Reorg That Changed Everything

We unpack what it was like to be let go in the same reorg—and how that forced pause led to a deeper sense of identity and purpose.

[17:50] – Reinvention & The Courage to Start Over

Justin opens up about the setbacks and key moments that helped shape his next chapter.

[23:00] – Thriving at Amazon: What Leadership Looks Like Now

What it means to lead well in a global, fast-moving environment—and why authenticity wins every time.

[30:10] – The Role of Joy in the Climb

We talk about how joy shows up (and how it gets lost) in leadership—and how to intentionally bring it back.

[36:00] – Rapid Fire: Legacy, Habits & What He’s Still Learning

The lightning round—Justin’s legacy, his daily habits, and what he’s still working on as a leader.

🔗 Links & Mentions:

• Connect with Justin Honaman on LinkedIn
• Listen to Justin’s ContenderCast Podcast
• Learn more about Lori’s work at LoriPine.com
• Follow Lori on Instagram and LinkedIn

💛 Loved this episode?

Be sure to follow the show, leave a 5-star rating, and drop a quick review—it helps more people find the show, and it means the world to me.

Welcome to the Joy CEO podcast. I'm your host, Lori Pine. If you're a high achieving woman in corporate, navigating the demands of leadership while striving for something more, more impact, more success, and yes, more. Joy, you're in the right place. I see you.

You're driven, ambitious, and constantly pushing for that next level. But with all the effort, all the hours, all the expectations, you might be wondering. Is this what success is supposed to feel like? I've been there. I spent decades climbing the corporate ladder, leading billion dollar brands and building powerhouse teams, and what I discovered is this success without joy is an empty victory.

That's why I created the Joy CEO A space for real conversations with powerhouse women and the men who champion them. You'll hear from executives, thought leaders and trailblazers who on the surface have it all, but they'll share the truth behind their rise. The setbacks, the turning points, the mindset shifts that help them redefine success.

On their terms. Each episode, we'll explore the topics that matter, how to elevate your leadership, claim your seat at the table, and build a life that feels as good as it looks on paper. Because success isn't just about the next promotion, it's about showing up fully in your work and your life. And here's what people often miss.

Joy isn't a distraction from leadership. It is your superpower. When you lead with joy, you inspire more, connect deeper, and create a ripple effect that transforms everything around you. If you're done going through the motions and ready to lead with clarity, purpose, and a whole lot more joy, go ahead and hit subscribe.

You're in the right place because this isn't just about leadership, it's about legacy, and it starts with you.