In this episode of Leadership Matters by The Bailey Group, host Kaylee Thomsen sits down with Founder Leigh Bailey to unpack one of the most challenging transitions in leadership: moving from being a trusted technical expert to becoming a strategic people leader. They explore why this shift can feel so uncomfortable - loss of control, a new definition of success, and the identity work required when you’re no longer “the doer” but the developer of others. Kaylee and Leigh break down the limiting beliefs that hold leaders back, share practical ways to rethink how you spend your time, and discuss why self-awareness, relationship-building, and emotional intelligence matter more than ever in an AI-driven world. They also reference a reel from @kelsewhatelse that perfectly illustrates this mindset shift.

Reel Mentioned in This Episode:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPCTlkZgUZ0/?hl=en

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/nywIeE-0-Cc

In this episode of Leadership Matters by The Bailey Group, host Kaylee Thomsen sits down with Kris Fortman, CEO of Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, to explore what it truly means to lead with heart, clarity, and courage over the long haul. Kris shares her journey from growing up with a professor father at the University of Minnesota, to conducting healthcare research at HealthPartners, to global work at Medtronic, and ultimately stepping into a mission-driven CEO role in cardiovascular health. She reflects on the early mentors and strong female leaders who shaped her leadership style, why kindness and accountability must work together, and what it was like to inherit a broken culture and quietly turn it around by focusing on people, listening deeply, and building an executive team that can think big while staying grounded in the mission. Kris also talks candidly about hiring lessons, the hard but deeply kind work of helping people find the right role, her passion for women’s heart health and education, and how coaching from The Bailey Group has strengthened both her leadership and her team. If you are a purpose-driven leader looking for honest, practical insight on culture, confidence, and sustainable impact, this conversation delivers grounded wisdom you can use right away.

In this episode of Leadership Matters by The Bailey Group, Kaylee Thompson talks with Libby Doran, Founder of Doran Leadership Partners, about what it truly means to lead with courage, humanity, and clarity. Libby traces her journey from international development work with USAID in the Horn of Africa to boutique management consulting and ultimately building her own executive search firm. Along the way, she shares how early experiences in global aid shaped her beliefs about privilege, education, and economic mobility - and how those lessons now inform the way she advises leaders and organizations. Libby reflects on the power of values-based decision-making, why having hard conversations is an act of care, and how to navigate seasons of uncertainty as a business owner without burning out. She also offers a candid look into executive search: why so many leadership hires fail, what organizations overlook when they focus only on experience, and how to create the right “habitat” for new leaders to thrive. If you’re looking for thoughtful, grounded leadership wisdom that meets the moment we’re in today, this episode delivers powerful insights you won’t want to miss.