Today I’m joined by the wonderful and inspiring Jo Gaines, a seasoned professional who has worked in the technology and media sector for over two decades. Jo's career journey has seen her work for high-profile companies including CBS, Krux, Yahoo and more recently, as Area Vice President of Salesforce. Jo is also a dedicated mother-of-two and a fierce advocate for equality, lending her support as an ambassador for women's shelters. She shares with us her journey through hardship to finding resilience and how changing her mindset helped reshape her story.

Through facing a challenging turning point in her career due to redundancy, Jo embarked on a transformative journey of self-discovery that saw her turn to practices such as weight training, breathwork and meditation. She shares the new mindset she adopted through these practices, and how her determination to thrive in the face of uncertainty led to a completely new outlook on life.

In our conversation, Jo shares the grief she experienced when her role at Salesforce came to an end, and how lost she felt when it came to her future. However, she notes there are two choices we can make when it comes to facing adversity. Either we can see it as a downfall, or treat it as an opportunity to expand. Jo chose the latter, and decided to view this new path as one she was destined to be on.

Resilience can often be misunderstood as a suppression of emotions or ignoring our problems. However, we define what resilience really is and discuss its ability to help effectively manage our thoughts and feelings. Jo believes that releasing control and trusting everything will eventually work out can free us from fear and the temptation to give up.

We talk about how navigating through our own life challenges produces empathy, and when we view others through this lens, we become more effective leaders. Recognising that everyone experiences change, particularly in a post-pandemic world, we’re able to rally with our team and prioritise their wellbeing. How can we communicate in a way that resonates for each individual? How do we lead in a way that not only gets them through, but also builds resilience?

Jo also shares her shift in perspective that inspired her to live more fully in the present and pursue the passions that had been sitting on the backburner for too long. She talks about the bucket list she created and the importance of making time and space in life to achieve each goal.

Jo's story is a powerful testament to the transformation resilience can create, and the potential for growth when we embrace change with gratitude. I just know you’ll be as inspired as I was by Jo’s incredible wisdom, and hope you find confidence to implement strategies for a full and rewarding life in leadership and beyond.

LINKS

Connect with Jo Gaines

LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/jogaines

Instagram: @gogaino

Connect with Julie:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/

Instagram: @juliehydeleads

Website: https://juliehyde.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever wondered what sets truly great leaders apart from the rest?

Is it their charisma, their decision-making skills, or perhaps their vision?

According to Chris Smith, an expert in leadership and aviation counselling, it’s something much simpler yet profoundly impactful: humility.

Recently I was lucky enough to sit down with Chris, and he shared some wonderful insights from his book Leadership at 43,000 Feet on how humility shapes effective leadership.

Chris has had a broad and winding career, trying multiple paths before finding his true calling in aviation. From this experience, Chris saw that the best leaders he encountered weren’t driven by personal gain, instead they were motivated by something bigger than themselves. He references respected leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Barack Obama as individuals who demonstrate remarkable humility.

Respect plays a crucial role in leadership. Chris shared that whether in the cockpit or managing a company, treating people with respect ensures they feel safe enough to communicate openly. Now this isn’t something you can buy. It’s built through consistent, respectful actions and a genuine concern for team members. If you can earn that respect then people will continue to follow you, even through challenging times.

Towards the end of our conversation, we spoke about legacy which is not only is it a major theme of Chris’ book but his main reason for writing it. He wanted Leadership at 43,000 Feet to give his children and grandchildren a deeper understanding of who he is beyond just ‘Dad’ or ‘Grandad’.

He also opens up about living away from family due to work commitments and urges us to find a balance between career ambitions and our personal lives. In the long run, what truly matters is maintaining close personal relationships, as the time lost cannot be reclaimed.

Leadership is complex, and often, we overlook the simplest but most profound qualities that make the best leaders stand out. So, take a moment today to think about your own leadership journey. Are you leading with humility? Are you respecting the people you work with? These small shifts can create lasting changes, not just in your professional life but in your personal life as well.

Order My New Book “You Always Have A Choice” here

Connect with Chris:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-smith-0080374b/

His Book: www.booktopia.com.au/leadership-at-43000-feet-chris-smith/book/9781923007659.html

Connect with Julie:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/

Instagram: @juliehydeleads

Website: https://juliehyde.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if you could apply the winning strategies of elite athletes to your leadership style?

Picture yourself leading not just with authority but with the precision and resilience of a champion. Sound good? Well, stick around, because I’m sharing six lessons from the world of sports that can help us lead ourselves and our teams to victory.

Rest: Athletes know that rest is essential for recovery and injury prevention, and similarly, leaders need to recognise the importance of downtime. Taking time to rest allows us to recharge, avoid burnout, and return with renewed energy and perspective every day. This doesn’t have to be a big commitment, stepping away from your desk during the workday to give yourself a micro-break is proven to boost productivity.

Visualisation: Top athletes use visualisation to mentally prepare for success. They see themselves crossing the finish line before the race even starts, knowing their game plan every step of the way. As leaders, we can apply the same technique to our goals. Visualising successful outcomes and the steps needed to get there can enhance focus, build confidence, and make our objectives more tangible.

Patience and Persistence: Success, whether in sport or leadership, doesn’t happen overnight. Take Jessica Hull, an Australian middle-distance runner who won silver at the Olympics. Her journey to success wasn’t immediate; it came with time, patience, and consistent effort. As leaders, we must remember that sometimes pushing too hard isn’t the right option. Remember, success is a marathon, not a sprint.

Resilience: Whether you’re an athlete or a leader, you’ll need resilience to reach success. Just like Michelle Jenneke, the Australian hurdling champion, who fell during a crucial race but got up to finish it, resilience in leadership means bouncing back from failures, learning from mistakes, and staying committed even when the path gets tough.

Compromise: Professional athletes often have to make compromises, adjusting strategies mid-game or balancing training with personal life. For leaders, compromise is about finding the balance that allows you and your team to move forward while considering diverse perspectives and needs. It can’t always be our way, we need to consider what’s most important for the greater good, which creates better outcomes for everyone.

Feeding Your Body Right: Proper nutrition isn’t just for athletes; it’s critical for leaders too. Our roles demand a lot from us, and a leader who takes care of their body is better equipped to handle these demands. Eating good food, along with proper sleep and regular exercise, will lay the foundation for high performance!

Bonus! Your Mindset: The most important lesson we can learn from athletes is to cultivate a strong mindset. In addition to their bodies, they train their minds to stay focused, positive, and resilient. For leaders, a growth mindset—one that embraces challenges and views failures as opportunities for growth—can be the difference between success and stagnation.

So next time you face a challenge, think like a pro athlete: stay focused, stay resilient, and don’t forget to celebrate the small wins along the way.

Order My New Book “You Always Have A Choice” here

Connect with Julie:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/

Instagram: @juliehydeleads

Website: https://juliehyde.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.