In this episode of The Joy CEO Podcast, I’m diving into a topic that’s been truly transformative in my own leadership journey: forgiveness. For so many high-achieving professionals, the weight we carry isn’t just from deadlines or responsibilities—it’s from unhealed moments of the past.

I share the four types of forgiveness that have helped me and my clients find more peace and clarity: forgiving your younger self, your parents, your past blockers, and everyone else. Each represents a “rock” we’ve been carrying—one we can finally choose to set down.

I also introduce what I call the Hula Hoop Principle, a simple but powerful mindset shift that helps you focus on what’s actually within your control and release what isn’t.

To help you put these ideas into practice, I close the episode with a seven-day “Forgive to Win” challenge—a gentle invitation to lighten your emotional load, one day at a time, and make space for more joy, confidence, and ease in your leadership.

• Why forgiveness is one of the most powerful (and underused) leadership tools.
• How to “drop the rocks” by forgiving your younger self, your parents, past blockers, and everyone else.
• How the Hula Hoop Principle can help you stay focused on what’s within your control.
• Simple, daily steps to make forgiveness a lifelong habit of freedom and clarity.

Use these questions to go deeper after listening:

1. Which “rock” feels heaviest for me right now—and why am I still holding it?
2. What might change in my leadership if I chose to forgive myself for past mistakes?
3. How have old resentments or unmet expectations shaped the way I lead today?
4. Where in my life or career do I need to apply the Hula Hoop Principle?
5. What would it look like—and feel like—to finally lead with a lighter heart?

This episode is for driven, heart-centered professionals who want to lead with more clarity, compassion, and joy.

It’s especially for you if:

• You’ve achieved success on paper but still feel weighed down emotionally.
• You’re ready to stop replaying old stories that hold you back.
• You want to show up as a more grounded, authentic, and emotionally intelligent leader—at work and at home.

Join me in the Seven-Day Forgive to Win Challenge. Each day, identify one “rock” you’re ready to drop—and notice how your energy, perspective, and joy begin to shift.

00:00 – Introduction to the Joy CEO Podcast

00:49 – The Power of Forgiveness

03:21 – Forgiving Myself: The First Rock

04:43 – Forgiving My Parents: The Second Rock

07:16 – Forgiving the Blockers: The Third Rock

08:17 – Forgiving Everyone Else: The Fourth Rock

09:17 – The Hula Hoop Principle

15:27 – Seven-Day Forgive to Win Challenge

21:20 – Conclusion and Next Steps

22:24 – Closing Remarks and Call to Action

• Follow Lori on LinkedIn to continue the conversation
• Book a Leadership Strategy Call with Lori: loripine.com

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In this insightful and connection-driven conversation, Lori Pine sits down with Ira Gleser—former Coca-Cola colleague, #1 Amazon bestselling author, and executive coach—to explore how stewardship and relationship-building can transform the way we do business.

From their time working together at Coca-Cola to Ira’s later experiences at Microsoft and as an author, this episode reveals the power of trust, storytelling, and partnership in driving both personal and professional growth. Ira shares the origins of his book Stewardship for Business and offers actionable advice for sales professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders who want to move from transaction to transformation.

If you believe business is built on relationships—and you want to deepen yours with integrity and purpose—this episode is for you.

Ira reminds us that success in business isn’t about the next deal—it’s about the next conversation. Building genuine relationships grounded in trust and curiosity is what creates long-term value.

Audience follow-up → Who in your network could you reconnect with—not to sell, but to serve?

Stewardship is about caring for the people, ideas, and resources entrusted to you. Ira believes leaders who prioritize stewardship inspire loyalty, innovation, and lasting results.

Audience follow-up → Where can you shift from ownership (“mine”) to stewardship (“ours”)?

Numbers can inform, but stories connect. Ira shares how narrative bridges gaps between brands and people—whether in marketing, leadership, or customer engagement.

Audience follow-up → What’s one story you can tell this week that shows, not just tells, your brand’s value?

When you think across disciplines—rather than only up the ladder—you open doors to creative problem-solving and collaboration. Ira calls this “horizontal thinking.”

Audience follow-up → What adjacent industry or team could you learn from right now?

Before you articulate your value, you must understand your customer’s reality. Stewardship begins with listening.

Audience follow-up → In your next client conversation, can you spend 80% listening and 20% speaking?

• Book: Stewardship for Business by Ira Gleser
• Companies: The Coca-Cola Company, Microsoft
• Concepts: Stewardship, Relationship Marketing, Horizontal Thinking, Storytelling in Leadership
• Project: The Coca-Cola case study where Lori and Ira collaborated to enhance internal and external brand trust

• How do you define...

💡 Episode Summary

Too often, high-achieving professionals think flourishing means landing the next role, title, or opportunity. But what if the key to thriving is right where you are? In this episode, Lori Pine—former corporate VP turned executive coach—introduces her CRUSH framework, a powerful tool designed to help you clarify goals, strengthen relationships, optimize processes, and protect your boundaries so you can flourish exactly where your feet are.

Packed with actionable advice and reflection prompts, Lori also shares how companies can create conditions where women win—building visibility, joy, and professional growth into the culture itself.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Flourishing isn’t future-based—it’s present-focused. Thriving starts with making the most of your current role, not waiting for the next opportunity.
• The CRUSH Framework:

C – Clarify: Define what success means to you right now so you’re not chasing someone else’s version of achievement.

R – Re-engage: Step back into visibility by showing up, speaking up, and contributing with confidence.

U – Upgrade: Identify processes, habits, or workflows you can refine to work smarter, not harder.

S – Strengthen: Build authentic, strategic relationships that fuel both your growth and your joy.

H – Healthy Boundaries: Protect your time and energy so you can sustain momentum without burning out.

• 30-Day Flourish Sprint: How to test the CRUSH framework in real life for immediate momentum.
• Conditions for Women to Win: Leaders can (and must) design environments that support visibility, equity, and growth.
• Boundaries are a leadership strategy. Saying no is often the most powerful way to say yes to what matters.

📝 Mentioned in This Episode

• The CRUSH Framework for professional flourishing
• The 30-Day Flourish Sprint challenge
• Strategies for leaders to create inclusive, growth-oriented cultures
• The importance of visibility and joy in sustaining success

🎯 Who Is This For

• Professionals feeling stuck in their current role and craving growth
• Leaders and HR partners seeking frameworks to retain and engage high performers
• Women navigating visibility and boundaries in male-dominated environments
• Anyone ready to thrive without waiting for “someday”

✨ Reflection Prompts

• What does flourishing mean to me in my current role?
• Which part of the CRUSH framework could make the biggest impact for me right now?
• Where do I need stronger boundaries to protect my energy and joy?
• As a leader, what conditions can I create to help women in my team flourish?

• Connect with Lori on LinkedIn or Instagram.
• Learn more about coaching, retreats, and leadership support at loripine.com.

🎧 Listen to Episode 19 now:

• Apple Podcasts

In this insightful and wisdom-filled conversation, Lori sits down with Jennifer Kay—an executive search professional and coach with 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biosciences industries. From building teams for breakthrough cancer treatments at Merck and Moderna to guiding leaders through career reinvention, Jennifer shares how relationships, reflection, and alignment can unlock clarity and joy in leadership.

This episode isn’t just about finding the right role—it’s about reconnecting with your values, embracing change, and leading with purpose and heart. If you’re navigating uncertainty, reinventing yourself, or simply craving more joy in your leadership journey, this conversation will inspire you to pause, reflect, and realign.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

Relationships Are the Real Currency

Jennifer emphasizes that strong, authentic relationships are at the heart of effective leadership and career growth.

→ Audience follow-up: How intentional are you about nurturing your professional network?

Clarity Comes Through Reflection

Taking time to pause and reflect helps leaders uncover alignment between their values, skills, and next steps.

→ Audience follow-up: What’s one reflection question you need to ask yourself right now?

Reinvention Requires Courage

Jennifer shares her journey of transitioning from executive search to executive coaching, highlighting that fear can be a signal to reinvent yourself.

→ Audience follow-up: Where is fear showing up in your career—and how could it point you toward growth?

Self-Identity Shapes Leadership

Your sense of self deeply impacts how you lead and how others experience your leadership.

→ Audience follow-up: Are you leading from a place of clarity—or confusion?

Joy Is Not Optional

Even in high-pressure industries like pharma and biosciences, Jennifer stresses that joy is essential for resilience and long-term success.

→ Audience follow-up: What brings you joy in your work—and how can you build more of it into your day-to-day?

🔎 Mentioned in the Episode:

• Jennifer’s work building teams at Merck and Moderna for breakthrough cancer treatments
• The power of executive assessments in leadership development
• A transformative hike that reshaped Jennifer’s perspective
• Lessons from navigating COVID-19 challenges as a leader and coach

✨ Reflection Prompts:

• Where in your career are you being invited to reinvent yourself?
• Who in your network do you need to reconnect with this season?
• How do you measure joy in your leadership journey?

🧠 Who This Episode Is For:

• Leaders in transition or navigating uncertainty
• Executives seeking alignment between values and career goals
• Professionals in high-pressure industries looking to sustain clarity and joy
• Anyone curious about blending leadership with purpose and heart

📩 Want to Go Deeper?

• Reconnect with a mentor, colleague, or friend this week—strengthen your network.
• Journal on the question: What does joy look like in my leadership right now?
• Connect with Lori on LinkedIn or Instagram.
• Learn more about coaching, retreats,...

💡 Episode Summary

Every leader has faced it: the meeting where every idea gets dissected, progress stalls, and your team bonds more over problems than solutions. In this episode, Lori Pine shares how to flip the script—from a culture of criticism to one that fuels trust, momentum, and innovation.

Drawing on her own leadership scars and practical coaching tools, Lori unpacks why “problem-spotting” feels safe but keeps teams stuck—and how to build a progress-driven culture without silencing smart voices.

• How critique culture sneaks in and quietly kills momentum.
• The risks of letting negativity dominate—burnout, cynicism, and lost high performers.
• Four leadership tools to shift energy and re-train team dynamics:

1. Name it without shame — notice critical patterns and redirect.
2. Reset meeting structures — design for solutions, not endless post-mortems.
3. Celebrate wins weekly — esteemable acts build esteem.
4. Use the 48-hour rule — vent, process, then move forward.

• The Hula Hoop Principle: focus only on what you can control.
• Why celebration is a leadership skill, not fluff.
• The cultural risk of ignoring critique culture—and why it drives away your best people.

• Leaders exhausted by constant critique and stalled momentum.
• High-achieving managers who want their teams to be innovative, not cynical.
• Professionals craving a shift from fear-driven to progress-driven culture.

• Where in your team has critique overshadowed contribution?
• How are you reinforcing progress and celebrating wins?
• What’s one meeting you could re-structure this week to be more solution-focused?

• Connect with Lori on LinkedIn or Instagram.
• Learn more about coaching, retreats, and leadership support at loripine.com.

🎧 Listen to Episode 17 now:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Youtube

Stop Leading Alone: How Community Fuels Clarity, Courage, and Joy

Leadership isn’t meant to be a solo act—and yet, too many high performers are stuck trying to prove themselves alone. In this solo episode, Lori Pine unpacks the underestimated power of community for ambitious leaders. From personal stories of game-changing circles to hard data on how connection boosts confidence, career milestones, and joy, Lori reveals why no leader can afford to go it alone.

• Community reduces loneliness by 60% and boosts self-esteem by 50%.
• The right circle can open doors to new opportunities, from board seats to job referrals.
• True belonging isn’t about your title—it’s about being fully seen.
• Leadership communities provide four essentials: perspective, creative collaboration, emotional buffering, and accountability with grace.
• You don’t need more grit—you need more connection.

• Who in your community truly sees you—not just your work?
• Where could you swap a solo listing for a circle that gets you?
• What one commitment could you make this week to deepen connection?

• The statistics behind community and leadership success.
• Stories from Lori’s own circles of support—from retreats to friendships that still fuel her today.
• How the VP Collective, Lori’s new program for mid-level managers, is designed to give ambitious leaders a competitive edge.

• Feel stuck or isolated in their leadership role.
• Want to break through the clutter and stand out in competitive environments.
• Crave more clarity, joy, and belonging without sacrificing ambition.
• Know they’re capable of more—but don’t want to do it alone.

• Connect with Lori on LinkedIn or Instagram.
• Learn more about The VP Collective — Lori’s six-month cohort designed to help mid-level leaders rise with strategy, visibility, and joy.
• Explore coaching at loripine.com.

🎧 Listen now and discover why your next great move won’t happen alone.

Summary:

In this empowering and wisdom-filled episode, Lori sits down with Mallika Malhotra—a branding strategist, speaker, and author with over two decades of experience spanning global giants like Unilever and L’Oréal to her own entrepreneurial ventures. Mallika shares her journey of reinvention, from corporate boardrooms to building a business that helps professionals and entrepreneurs harness the power of personal branding.

This conversation dives deep into why clarity, confidence, and courage are the cornerstones of a brand that truly connects. Mallika also reveals how she’s blending timeless brand strategy with new tools—like AI—to help leaders stay relevant and future-ready.

If you’ve ever wondered how to stand out in a noisy world without losing your authenticity, this episode is your roadmap. Your brand is your reputation—when you’re not in the room, what do people say about you?

🔑 Key Takeaways:

Personal Branding Is Evolution, Not Perfection

Your brand isn’t a static logo—it’s a reflection of who you are, how you’ve grown, and the value you bring.

Clarity Builds Confidence

Mallika’s “4 P’s Framework”—Purpose, Prowess, Passion and Personality—is a powerful tool for defining a brand that feels both authentic and magnetic.

AI Is a Tool, Not a Threat

Instead of replacing human creativity, AI can amplify strategy, efficiency, and innovation—if used with intention.

Relationships Are Your Real ROI

Your brand thrives when it’s grounded in community and connection—not just self-promotion.

Reinvention Is the Secret to Longevity

Mallika’s journey proves that pivoting isn’t failure—it’s growth. The willingness to adapt keeps your brand (and career) alive and joyful.

🔎 Mentioned in the Episode:

• Malika’s 4 P’s Framework: Purpose, Prowess, Passion, Personality
• Her AI-driven branding tools to support modern entrepreneurs
• Lessons from corporate roles at Unilever, Olive Olé and L’Oréal
• The power of relationships, community, and continuous learning

✨ Reflection Prompts:

• Does my brand reflect who I am today—or just who I was five years ago?
• How do I want people to feel after interacting with me or my work?
• Am I building my brand in isolation—or inviting others into the journey?

🧠 Who This Episode Is For:

• Entrepreneurs and business owners building visibility and trust
• Corporate professionals exploring reinvention or career pivots
• Leaders who want to future-proof their brand with AI and innovation
• Anyone craving more clarity and confidence in how they show up

📩 Want to Go Deeper?

• Explore Mallika Malhotra’s branding resources and tools at her website — The Brand CEO
• Try mapping your 4 P’s to sharpen your personal brand foundation
• Follow Lori on LinkedIn to continue the conversation
• Book a Brand or Leadership Strategy Call with Lori: loripine.com

🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast

⭐

💡 Episode Summary:

In this reflective and energizing episode of The Joy CEO Podcast, Lori explores how seasonal transitions—especially the shift from summer to fall—can become powerful opportunities for recalibration. Instead of rushing headfirst into the September “pileup,” Lori invites high-achieving professionals to embrace the wisdom of pausing, filtering outdated goals, and leaning into intentional clarity.

Drawing from personal stories (including the discipline of preseason training) and her signature four-step reset process, Lori shares how to realign with purpose, take bold yet aligned action, and sustain momentum through joy. This conversation is not about doing more—it’s about doing the right things, at the right time, with the right energy.

If you’re ready to trade burnout for balance and scattered ambition for seasonal clarity, this episode is your reset button.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

1. Seasonal Shifts Hold Strategic Wisdom

Just as nature moves in cycles, so do our lives and work. Pausing to reflect and recalibrate after summer helps avoid overwhelm and fosters sustainable success.

2. Outdated Goals Weigh You Down

Not every goal set in January still serves you in September. Lori encourages filtering and releasing what no longer aligns.

3. The Four-Step Reset Process

Lori introduces a practical framework to reclaim clarity: Pause, Filter, Align, Act. This structured reflection creates space for intentional growth.

4. Discipline Builds Freedom

Drawing on her preseason training story, Lori reminds listeners that consistency and small disciplined actions create the foundation for joyful momentum.

5. Joy Is a Leadership Strategy

Success sustained without joy isn’t true success. Joy must be built into your systems and choices—not treated as an afterthought.

🔎 Mentioned in the Episode:

• Lori’s Four-Step Reset Process – Pause, Filter, Align, Act
• The concept of seasonal rhythms as a leadership strategy
• Lori’s personal story of preseason athletic training as a metaphor for Q4 preparation

✨ Reflection Prompts:

• What would it look like to intentionally reset this September instead of just piling on more?
• Which commitments need to be released so you can create space for what matters most?
• How can you bring more joy and clarity into your leadership this fall?

🧠 Who This Episode Is For:

• High-achieving professionals navigating September transitions
• Leaders seeking clarity and sustainability in Q4
• Anyone who wants to reset goals with intention and avoid burnout
• Professionals curious about aligning work with seasonal rhythms

📩 Want to Go Deeper?

• Try Lori’s Four-Step Reset Process this week—journal through Pause, Filter, Align, and Act.
• Follow Lori on LinkedIn to join the conversation.
• Book a Leadership Strategy Call with Lori at loripine.com.

🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast

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📲 Share this episode with someone who’s feeling the September pileup and needs a joyful reset.