Shutdown But Not Shut Out
Surviving Tough Times: Leadership in Crisis | Leadership Tea Podcast Special Episode

Looking to build your leadership community? Join us in the Leadership Lounge.
https://www.stirringsuccess.com/leadershiplounge

What do you get?
-A monthly bonus episode of the Leadership Tea Podcast
And/or a monthly group coaching session for Lounge members
-Leadership resources and articles.
-Quarterly Q&A episodes with Shelby and Belinda.

Monthly cost: $5.97

Episode Summary

In this special episode of the Leadership Tea Podcast, hosts Shelby and Belinda discuss the need to shift focus from operational excellence to survival strategies during difficult times, such as the current federal government shutdown affecting many in the DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia areas. They emphasize the importance of community, resilience, and mental health, and introduce their new Leadership Lounge on Substack for deeper discussions and group coaching. The episode also highlights the emotional and financial impacts of furloughs on individuals and businesses, and offers empathetic advice on staying connected and supportive within communities during crises.

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In our 50th episode 🎉, Shelby and Belinda discuss why courage is essential in today's professional landscape, and what it looks like when leaders are radically honest with themselves when "outwit, outlast, outplay" isn’t working.

We share personal moments of reckoning, from defining what we don't want, to realizing when to leave work environments that no longer serve us.

If you’re stuck in analysis paralysis and fear of the unknown, this conversation can help you find the courage to move forward, even if you don’t have a perfect plan.

Also in this episode

• Should you play the game, try to change the rules, or create your own game?
• Being good at something doesn't mean it needs to be your next thing
• Finding clarity and clearing the clutter as you plan your next steps
• The courage to move forward without a perfectly formulated plan

Resources Mentioned

• Leadership Lounge:
  https://www.stirringsuccess.com/leadershiplounge
  Join our exclusive membership area for resources and deeper, unconstrained conversations
• Belinda's LinkedIn post where she asks “Will I be the only one brave enough to step up?”: https://bit.ly/4nQlk9m

Send us a comment!

We publish new episodes every other Wednesday.

• Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast
• Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube!

Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights.

Get your FREE copy of our Strategic Change Workbook

Learn more about us at stirringsuccess.com

Shelby and Belinda welcome special guest Boniswa Siwundla Madikizela, a transformational leader from South Africa, for a conversation on how to stay grounded and aligned in a world that feels chaotic.

Boniswa shares her personal practices for protecting herself from energy vampires, defining (and refining) her core purpose or "golden thread," and the joy of setting boundaries.

ALSO IN THIS EPISODE

• Staying grounded in an off-kilter world
• Pausing before you commit to a decision
• Leaving a place that doesn’t align with your values
• Recognizing and overcoming the hesitation to shine

ABOUT BONISWA

Boniswa Siwundla Madikizela is a South African financial expert, educator, and advocate known for her work in financial literacy and accounting education, holding a CA(SA), MCom, and is a PhD candidate. She is a senior lecturer in accounting at the University of Johannesburg and is the founder of the Financial Literacy and Inclusion Center of Southern Africa (FLIC_SA).

Find Boniswa at https://linktr.ee/Boniswa_M

Send us a comment!

We publish new episodes every other Wednesday.

• Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast
• Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube!

Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights.

Get your FREE copy of our Strategic Change Workbook

Learn more about us at stirringsuccess.com

Career transitions can be emotionally challenging, but with the right community and strategic approach, they become opportunities for growth, authentic connection, and clarity.

In this bonus episode:

• Shelby shares her experience being laid off after a 26-year career and launching her business, The Fendall Collaborative.
• Belinda introduces her new Clarity Lab initiative -- a group coaching program designed to help professionals navigate career transitions through community connections.
• Shelby and Belinda emphasize the importance of recalibrating based on new information rather than sticking rigidly to outdated plans, the value of authentic community, and the importance of grieving losses while moving forward.

"Repose: A Day of Reflection" - October 25, 2025
We're excited to announce our in-person event, "Repose: A Day of Reflection." This will be an intimate gathering at Salamander Middleburg (Virginia) for professionals seeking community in a safe space where they can pause for reflection, strategic thinking, and networking.

Join us! Tickets are available now (and prices increase in October): https://www.stirringsuccess.com/repose

Mentioned in this episode:

The Fendall Collaborative: thefendallcollaborative.com

The Clarity Lab: sweetgrassadvisorygroup.com/the-clarity-lab

Femme Factor: thefemmefactor.com/events

Send us a comment!

We publish new episodes every other Wednesday.

• Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast
• Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube!

Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights.

Get your FREE copy of our Strategic Change Workbook

Learn more about us at stirringsuccess.com

Our special guest, Lisa Povoni, a therapist and coach with a specialty in trauma, discusses how leaders can recognize and manage chronic stress and burnout in themselves and their teams. She shares actionable micro-practices, the difference between shame and guilt, and the importance of creating space for people to be human in quickly changing, high-pressure environments.

Whether you're an executive feeling the weight of constant pressure or a middle manager, this conversation offers practical wisdom for maintaining your mental health while performing at your best.

In this episode:

• The difference between chronic stress, burnout, and trauma
• Micro-practices to re-center yourself
• Creating a safe environment for your team
• When to seek a coach, a therapist, or both

Send us a comment!

We publish new episodes every other Wednesday.

• Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast
• Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube!

Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights.

Get your FREE copy of our Strategic Change Workbook

Learn more about us at stirringsuccess.com

Belinda and Shelby introduce this oldie-but-goodie by catching you up on what we're doing this summer. And in the episode, we talk about how to master the first 90 days in your new role, as you transition from colleague to commander.

How can you build trust and credibility when transitioning to a new leadership position? discuss strategies that have worked for us as we've navigated change management, tough conversations, financial restraints, and the dynamics of managing former peers.

We're taking a break for August to rest and refresh. We hope that you enjoy the rest of your summer and that you re-listen to some of our other past episodes. See you in September!

Send us a comment!

We publish new episodes every other Wednesday.

• Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast
• Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube!

Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights.

Get your FREE copy of our Strategic Change Workbook

Learn more about us at stirringsuccess.com

Are you navigating a career pivot or a layoff? It’s not uncommon these days. If you’re looking ahead to what’s next, Shelby and Belinda want to remind you that times have changed, so what worked for you before won't necessarily get you where you want to go. In other words, the tools and mindset that brought you success in the past might need a serious overhaul.

Whether you're facing a forced career pivot, adapting to a restructured team, or aspiring to higher levels of leadership, this episode is a call not just to let go of habits that no longer serve you, but also to uncouple your identity from your career.

Watch episode 13 on YouTube

Send us a comment!

We publish new episodes every other Wednesday.

• Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast
• Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube!

Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights.

Get your FREE copy of our Strategic Change Workbook

Learn more about us at stirringsuccess.com

Recent high school grad Viola Wilson speaks with Shelby (her mom) and Belinda to share a fresh perspective on what leadership means to her.

Viola speaks fluent Spanish and had lived in four countries by the time she was 9 years old. She graduated from high school with honors, earning a 4.3 GPA while excelling in varsity swim, varsity track and field, swimming on a year-round travel swim team, doing extra-curricular activities, community service, and working part-time as a lifeguard. She will enter Virginia Tech this fall as an engineering major.

Watch Episode 12 on YouTube: https://youtu.be/J8Dsn8zCSQg

Send us a comment!

We publish new episodes every other Wednesday.

• Subscribe to the Leadership Tea Podcast
• Subscribe to Leadership Tea on YouTube!

Follow us on Instagram @Leadership_Tea for more inspiration and insights.

Get your FREE copy of our Strategic Change Workbook

Learn more about us at stirringsuccess.com