104. How Idealistic Women Can Lead Authentically in Imperfect Systems — with Dr. Jodi Vandenberg-Daves

Today on The Quiet Warrior Podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Jodi Vandenberg-Daves — leadership strategist, consultant, coach, facilitator, historian, and author of Leading with Courage: A Career-Long Guide for Idealistic Women. With more than 25 years in higher education and nonprofit leadership, Jodi brings both scholarship and lived wisdom to the conversation.
This episode is a gentle but powerful exploration of leadership for introverted, values-driven women — especially those working inside imperfect systems. Jodi shares how her own career journey moved from the pursuit of knowledge to the pursuit of connection, what she learned about navigating large groups as an introvert, and why values-driven leadership is essential for creating inclusive, compassionate workplaces.

Together, we explore:

• How introverts can thrive in leadership by honouring their energy, creating boundaries, and trusting the process
• Context awareness as a powerful (and often overlooked) leadership strength — especially for women and women of colour
• Why idealistic women need a different kind of leadership guidance than what mainstream corporate literature offers
• The emotional agility and relational intelligence women bring to organisational life
• How values-based decisions become catalysts for courage, clarity, and career direction
• The importance of intergenerational wisdom, and why Boomers, Millennials, and Gen Z have more to learn from each other than we think
• Jodi also shares remarkable stories from her book, including moments when women took a stand for their values — sometimes at the cost of their job — and how these choices shaped their leadership identities.

One Thing Jodi Wants You to Remember

“Standing up for your values — even in small moments — is what builds the courage to make bigger, life-changing decisions later on.”

Resources & Links

Get Jodi’s Book:

 Leading with Courage: A Career-Long Guide for Idealistic Women

Learn more about Jodi’s work:

Dr. Jodi Vandenberg-Daves | JVD Consulting LLC

Join The Visible Introvert Community for resources to help you thrive as an introvert: serenalow.com.au

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This episode was edited by Aura House Productions