The Trust Gap: Why Your Team Isn’t Moving (And How to Fix It)
Trust is one of the most talked about—and least understood—elements of leadership. In this episode, Romie breaks down what trust actually looks like in real life, not just in theory.Because trust isn’t something you either have or don’t…it lives on a spectrum.And where your team sits on that spectrum determines everything:How fast they moveWhether they speak upWhether they take ownership… or wait to be toldIf your team feels slower than it should… if you feel like the bottleneck… this episode will show you why.What You’ll Learn:What trust looks like at 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%Why most leaders are stuck in the “cautious engagement” zoneThe dangerous trap of confusing likability with trustThe silent behaviors that erode trust (even when you mean well)The 3 drivers of trust: clarity, consistency, and integritySimple, real-world actions you can take today to rebuild trustKey Takeaway:Trust isn’t built in big moments.It’s built in small, repeated ones.And the question every leader has to answer is:👉 Do people trust you… or do they just manage around you?Connect With Me:Website:www.leadershipfromtheheart.coExplore Our Latest Offers:👉Join The Leadership Circle (Community):A space where leaders grow together—real conversations, real development, no fluff.👉 Next Level Leader MentorshipFor leaders who know they’re capable of more—but need the clarity, structure, and support to operate at the level they’ve been promoted into.Email:📩 info@leadershipfromtheheart.co
Not Made For You: How Women Win at Work w/ Kae Williams
In this episode of Leadership From The Heart, Romie sits down with Kae Williams—a global software marketing executive, coach, speaker, and author of Not Made For You—to talk about what so many women (and marginalized professionals) feel but struggle to name:Sometimes it’s not you… it’s the system.Kae shares insights from over 30 years rising from telemarketer to CMO in a male-dominated industry, and breaks down how bias shows up through microaggressions, vague feedback (“not strategic,” “not ready”), exclusion from informal networks, and credibility gaps in the room.This isn’t a “complain about it” episode. It’s a strategy episode—about recognizing bias, reading rooms, building influence, and creating inclusive culture from wherever you sit.What you’ll learn in this episodeWhat “Not Made For You” really means—and why naming the system changes everythingThe subtle ways bias shows up (and why it’s often hard to prove but easy to feel)The lie many women are told: “Work hard and promotions will come.”What actually drives promotions: influence + visibility + sponsorshipHow to “read the room” and spot who holds real power (hint: not always the highest title)How to advocate for yourself without being labeled “difficult”The magic question when feedback is vague: “Tell me what that looks like day-to-day.”How to respond when your ideas get validated through a man in the roomWhat an inclusive culture actually feels like (beyond buzzwords)When it’s time to walk away: toxic culture, no growth path, no influence, no learningThe simplest leadership action of the week: Be human.Links mentioned Kae’s website: kaewilliams.com (K-A-E Williams)Book: Not Made For You (available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.)Also found on: LinkedIn, Instagram, Substack🔗 Connect with RomieWebsite: www.leadershipfromtheheart.coEmail: romie@leadershipfromtheheart.co
Stop Icing People Out: Silence Is Not Leadership
The episode discusses the outdated leadership approach of 'icing people out' and emphasizes the importance of clear communication and emotional intelligence in effective leadership. It explores the impact of fear-based leadership, the consequences of emotional distance, and the need for setting clear expectations. The role of transparency and emotional intelligence in leadership is highlighted, along with the ineffectiveness of 'icing people out' as a leadership strategy.TakeawaysIcing people out is an outdated leadership approachEffective leadership requires clear communication and emotional intelligenceChapters00:00 The Problem with Icing People Out06:02 Emotional Distance and Self-Improvement12:52 Setting Clear Expectations19:57 The Ineffectiveness of Icing People OutReflection questionWhere have you iced someone out instead of saying the thing—and what will you do next time?Explore more with RomieWebsite: www.leadershipfromtheheart.coCommunity: The Leadership Circle (Skool) — your space for practical, heart-led leadership growthLatest offer: Next Level Leader Mentorship — for leaders ready to close the gap between title and maturityEmail: romie@leadershipfromtheheart.co
Inflicting Help, Debugging Leadership, and Becoming Who You Already Are w/ Michael Hunter
In this episode of Leadership from the Heart, Romie sits down with Michael Hunter—also known as the “Uncommon Hero”—to explore what it really means to lead with clarity, alignment, and presence. A former software engineer turned culture-shifting leadership coach, Michael shares how his journey from debugging code to helping tech leaders debug themselves became the foundation for his book The Resilient Tech Leader.Together, they unpack:The difference between inflicting help vs. offering helpHow internal resistance is still part of your truthThe 4 phases of uncommon leadership: resilience, adaptability, ease, and agilityWhat managing up really looks like (with self and others)The “quick reference card” every leader should build to understand how they operate bestWhy being quiet and effective doesn't mean you're not valuable—and how to articulate thatMichael’s approach turns “soft skills” into tangible tools. Whether you’re a tech leader or a human-first leader in any space, this episode is filled with data-backed insights and soulful leadership practices.📌 More from Michael Hunter:Book: The Resilient Tech Leader (out February 26)Website: theresilienttechleader.comLinkedIn: Uncommon TeamsPodcast: Uncommon Leadership🔗 Explore More from Romie:🌐 Website: www.leadershipfromtheheart.co💬 Join The Leadership Circle: A private leadership community for those who lead with heart📚 Explore Our Latest Program: Next Level Leader Mentorship — For leaders ready to step into their next chapter📩 Contact: romie@leadershipfromtheheart.co
What's The Point of Healing Anyway?
The conversation delves into the purpose of healing, the journey of healing, the role of plant medicine, the mentorship of plant medicine, awakening and conscious choice, unconscious living and awakening, the influence of mentors, the awakening experience, challenges in faith and belief, the impact of faith and religion, the push to heal, the spiritual hustle, escaping vs. integrating pain, the desire for peace and oneness, acceptance and freedom, the endless journey, choosing and creating, the fear of success, suffering as a choice, the journey of healing, alchemy and transformation, becoming the main character, the dark night of the soul, the fear of success, and reflection and self-discovery.TakeawaysHealing is about choosing to fully and consciously participate in life.Suffering is a choice, and acceptance leads to a faster transition.The journey of healing involves transcending instead of participating and choosing life consciously.💻 More from LFTH:🔗 Website: www.leadershipfromtheheart.co👥 Community: The Leadership Circle🚀 Latest Offer: Next Level Leader Mentorship — a leadership orientation for new leaders in Operations📩 Contact: info@leadershipfromtheheart.co