WEBVTT
00:00:00.705 --> 00:00:06.554
Well, hello, and welcome to the very first episode of the Lead With You podcast.
00:00:07.315 --> 00:00:09.779
I am so excited to be here with you today.
00:00:09.820 --> 00:00:17.652
And if I'm honest, I am a little bit nervous about being here with you today because I'm doing something that I usually don't do.
00:00:18.073 --> 00:00:23.722
And that is that I'm presenting something to the world that is not what I call perfected.
00:00:23.762 --> 00:00:35.848
And any of you who know me, you know that making sure that things are perfect or as perfect as possible is very important to me, especially when it comes to how I support my community.
00:00:36.609 --> 00:00:37.972
I'm your host, Dr.
00:00:38.012 --> 00:00:38.912
Nicole Robinson.
00:00:38.933 --> 00:00:42.960
I am founder and CEO of Cultural Connections by Design.
00:00:43.399 --> 00:00:55.398
And today, I believe it's important that we dive into something that I believe every single academic leader needs to hear, that we don't have to be perfect to lead well.
00:00:56.039 --> 00:00:58.143
Now, I want to be completely honest with you.
00:00:58.542 --> 00:01:02.189
This podcast has been on my to-do list for a long time.
00:01:02.228 --> 00:01:05.493
And when I mean a long time, I don't mean for a few weeks.
00:01:05.793 --> 00:01:08.819
or for a few months, I mean for a couple of years.
00:01:09.319 --> 00:01:14.087
And then I made a commitment that this past January, I was going to launch my podcast for 2025.
00:01:14.968 --> 00:01:22.721
And actually in a big email blast out to my community, I said, get ready, the podcast is coming.
00:01:23.183 --> 00:01:24.805
But I kept putting it off.
00:01:25.409 --> 00:01:28.972
And I realized I was waiting before I had the perfect setup.
00:01:29.112 --> 00:01:30.834
I was waiting for the perfect time.
00:01:30.875 --> 00:01:33.137
I was waiting for the perfect content plan.
00:01:33.197 --> 00:01:37.661
I was waiting for the perfect moment to actually record without interruptions.
00:01:37.721 --> 00:01:45.628
I was waiting for the perfect time that I looked the part of a podcast, I guess a podcaster.
00:01:45.668 --> 00:01:47.489
But there's a spoiler alert.
00:01:47.509 --> 00:01:49.150
That moment never came.
00:01:49.971 --> 00:01:59.459
And if you are a leader, especially if you're a leader in academia or mission-driven work, You already know this, that perfection is actually a moving target.
00:02:00.141 --> 00:02:07.587
And it is if we wait for everything to be perfectly aligned, we risk never getting started at all.
00:02:08.610 --> 00:02:16.617
So in this first episode, I want to share a bit about what finally helped me push the record button.
00:02:17.558 --> 00:02:21.742
I made a decision, one that many leaders wrestle with quietly.
00:02:21.763 --> 00:02:24.506
I decided not to wait for perfection.
00:02:25.090 --> 00:02:27.995
Because if I had, this podcast episode would not exist.
00:02:28.656 --> 00:02:41.358
There were disruptions, real-life interruptions, shifting priorities, the kind of messiness that doesn't always make it into leadership manuals to help us understand how to navigate them.
00:02:41.998 --> 00:02:42.941
People needed me.
00:02:43.201 --> 00:02:47.930
Plans changed, and I kept telling myself, once things settle down, I'll get to it.
00:02:48.449 --> 00:02:55.015
And to be honest, I was doing it, trying to do it in the way in which the world says that you're supposed to do this.
00:02:55.116 --> 00:02:57.397
You should batch record your episodes.
00:02:57.798 --> 00:02:59.620
You need to have a 90-day plan.
00:02:59.659 --> 00:03:02.282
You need to build a flawless launch strategy.
00:03:02.301 --> 00:03:06.185
You need a great marketing initiative.
00:03:06.725 --> 00:03:07.747
And you need to be ahead.
00:03:07.766 --> 00:03:08.687
You need to be polished.
00:03:08.707 --> 00:03:09.687
You need to be professional.
00:03:10.068 --> 00:03:10.949
But here's the truth.
00:03:11.449 --> 00:03:15.954
And those of you who know me know, I rarely do things the way the world dictates.
00:03:16.454 --> 00:03:18.096
Not because I'm trying to be different.
00:03:18.415 --> 00:03:25.605
Because I've learned over the years that what works for others does not always align with how I'm built.
00:03:26.241 --> 00:03:41.574
And the moment I gave myself permission to actually do it my way, I decided that to hit the record button without a stockpile of episodes, our perfect studio setup, I felt more alignment than I had in months.
00:03:41.915 --> 00:03:44.377
So that's actually what I want to talk to you about today.
00:03:44.397 --> 00:03:49.722
I started thinking, what does it mean to lead imperfectly perfect?
00:03:50.522 --> 00:03:56.207
I trust to trust your own rhythm, to act before everything is in play.
00:03:56.207 --> 00:04:02.256
to lead from the inside out and not from a script that someone else has written for you.
00:04:02.676 --> 00:04:13.991
Because real leadership, true transformative leadership is rarely tidy, is brave, is responsive, is human, and it can be messy.
00:04:15.354 --> 00:04:17.877
So what does it mean to lead with you?
00:04:18.377 --> 00:04:21.281
Like, what exactly is it that I mean by that?
00:04:21.762 --> 00:04:24.466
Leave With You is more than a podcast title.
00:04:24.646 --> 00:04:40.550
It's a philosophy, and it's a challenge, and it's an invitation to lead with your whole self, to make decisions that are grounded, not just in strategy, but in values, to stop outsourcing your leadership style to expectations that don't fit you.
00:04:40.589 --> 00:04:49.879
Too often, we're taught that leadership means fixing everyone else's problems around us, but Leave With You actually comes Flips the script on that.
00:04:50.380 --> 00:04:51.923
And it starts with you.
00:04:51.963 --> 00:04:56.908
And it starts with you not because you're the problem, but because you're the foundation.
00:04:56.928 --> 00:05:01.415
So here's what I've learned after more than 25 years working with leaders.
00:05:01.975 --> 00:05:05.439
The strongest, most effective leadership comes from within.
00:05:05.480 --> 00:05:08.663
It's not about mastering the next framework.
00:05:09.225 --> 00:05:11.026
It's about mastering your voice.
00:05:11.827 --> 00:05:14.071
It's not about performing leadership.
00:05:14.091 --> 00:05:16.293
It's about embodying it.
00:05:16.930 --> 00:05:21.937
Lead with you means that you lead with clarity, even in complexity.
00:05:22.699 --> 00:05:25.923
Lead with compassion, especially when the work is hard.
00:05:26.603 --> 00:05:29.988
Lead with integrity, even when it costs you everything.
00:05:30.028 --> 00:05:35.076
And lead with alignment, so your role doesn't conflict with your values.
00:05:35.958 --> 00:05:38.781
So you may be wondering, where did this philosophy come from?
00:05:38.822 --> 00:05:43.829
Well, it's the heartbeat of my company, Cultural Connections by Design.
00:05:44.514 --> 00:05:47.199
or as we affectionately call it, CCBD.
00:05:48.083 --> 00:06:02.497
CCBD was created to help academic leaders build people-centered, purpose-driven institutions by addressing something most leaders avoid the most, or most leadership models avoid, culture.
00:06:03.137 --> 00:06:08.663
Not just the aspirational statements and our mission statements, but the real culture.
00:06:09.245 --> 00:06:15.591
I mean, like how people actually feel, how they interact, how they operate within your organization.
00:06:15.632 --> 00:06:27.425
At CCBD, we work with institutions, organizations, universities, colleges, healthcare organizations, purpose-driven teams to unpack what I call the four hidden culture challenges.
00:06:27.805 --> 00:06:30.528
And we tackle them through my priority framework, the four peaks.
00:06:31.129 --> 00:06:34.697
People, because leadership is all about relationship and not results.
00:06:35.319 --> 00:06:39.004
Place, because culture lives in the environment we create.
00:06:39.925 --> 00:06:44.312
Process, because systems are either support or sabotage change.
00:06:44.892 --> 00:06:49.718
And power, because influence without equity is performative.
00:06:50.661 --> 00:06:59.814
Our work at CCBD centers on helping academic leaders see beneath the surface, not just manage change, but to lead it thoughtfully.
00:07:00.129 --> 00:07:02.413
strategically, sustainably.
00:07:02.454 --> 00:07:05.920
And honestly, this podcast is an extension of that word.
00:07:06.600 --> 00:07:16.197
Because whether I'm on a campus facilitating a retreat or in a room with senior leaders building a strategic plan or here behind the microphone, my message is the same.
00:07:16.778 --> 00:07:18.882
Culture doesn't shift by accident.
00:07:19.223 --> 00:07:20.786
It shifts when the leaders do.
00:07:21.281 --> 00:07:23.444
So what to expect from this podcast?
00:07:23.464 --> 00:07:26.928
So you can expect quite a few things from this podcast.
00:07:27.249 --> 00:07:35.920
Each week, I will bring you stories, strategies, reflections designed to help you lead with more clarity, courage, and culture awareness.
00:07:36.420 --> 00:07:37.901
Some episodes will be solo.
00:07:38.262 --> 00:07:43.048
Others will feature conversation with leaders who are navigating the real work of change.
00:07:43.870 --> 00:07:45.151
We'll talk about transition.
00:07:45.471 --> 00:07:46.572
We'll talk about trust.
00:07:47.194 --> 00:07:50.718
We'll talk about institutional resistance, burnout, visions.
00:07:51.233 --> 00:08:01.428
power, team dynamics, and all of the unseen things to shape whether your leadership can actually succeed, it isn't a podcast about fixing people.
00:08:01.468 --> 00:08:09.081
It is a podcast about growing as a person so you can lead in the ways that truly make an impact.
00:08:09.862 --> 00:08:13.346
Now, before we wrap up today, let me circle back around to where we started.
00:08:14.069 --> 00:08:20.158
Whatever you've been putting off because you've been waiting for the right time, the perfect plan, or just more confidence.
00:08:20.449 --> 00:08:21.372
This is your sign.
00:08:21.814 --> 00:08:22.495
Start now.
00:08:23.237 --> 00:08:23.858
Start today.
00:08:23.899 --> 00:08:27.509
Not because everything's ready, but because you are.
00:08:28.091 --> 00:08:30.557
Thank you for joining me in this very first episode.
00:08:30.778 --> 00:08:34.708
I am deeply honored to be doing this work with you.
00:08:35.457 --> 00:08:38.841
And sometimes something in today's episode resonate with you.
00:08:39.302 --> 00:08:43.326
I'd love for you to subscribe or follow the podcast, maybe leave a review.
00:08:43.346 --> 00:08:51.235
Or for this old colleague who may be leading change and might need a reminder that perfection isn't a prerequisite for impact.
00:08:51.735 --> 00:09:00.985
You can also learn more about our leadership programs and retreats at ccbydesign.org or by joining our mailing list to stay in the loop.
00:09:01.125 --> 00:09:05.640
Until next time, lead with courage, lead with clarity, and always leave with you.
00:00:00.705 --> 00:00:06.554
Well, hello, and welcome to the very first episode of the Lead With You podcast.
00:00:07.315 --> 00:00:09.779
I am so excited to be here with you today.
00:00:09.820 --> 00:00:17.652
And if I'm honest, I am a little bit nervous about being here with you today because I'm doing something that I usually don't do.
00:00:18.073 --> 00:00:23.722
And that is that I'm presenting something to the world that is not what I call perfected.
00:00:23.762 --> 00:00:35.848
And any of you who know me, you know that making sure that things are perfect or as perfect as possible is very important to me, especially when it comes to how I support my community.
00:00:36.609 --> 00:00:37.972
I'm your host, Dr.
00:00:38.012 --> 00:00:38.912
Nicole Robinson.
00:00:38.933 --> 00:00:42.960
I am founder and CEO of Cultural Connections by Design.
00:00:43.399 --> 00:00:55.398
And today, I believe it's important that we dive into something that I believe every single academic leader needs to hear, that we don't have to be perfect to lead well.
00:00:56.039 --> 00:00:58.143
Now, I want to be completely honest with you.
00:00:58.542 --> 00:01:02.189
This podcast has been on my to-do list for a long time.
00:01:02.228 --> 00:01:05.493
And when I mean a long time, I don't mean for a few weeks.
00:01:05.793 --> 00:01:08.819
or for a few months, I mean for a couple of years.
00:01:09.319 --> 00:01:14.087
And then I made a commitment that this past January, I was going to launch my podcast for 2025.
00:01:14.968 --> 00:01:22.721
And actually in a big email blast out to my community, I said, get ready, the podcast is coming.
00:01:23.183 --> 00:01:24.805
But I kept putting it off.
00:01:25.409 --> 00:01:28.972
And I realized I was waiting before I had the perfect setup.
00:01:29.112 --> 00:01:30.834
I was waiting for the perfect time.
00:01:30.875 --> 00:01:33.137
I was waiting for the perfect content plan.
00:01:33.197 --> 00:01:37.661
I was waiting for the perfect moment to actually record without interruptions.
00:01:37.721 --> 00:01:45.628
I was waiting for the perfect time that I looked the part of a podcast, I guess a podcaster.
00:01:45.668 --> 00:01:47.489
But there's a spoiler alert.
00:01:47.509 --> 00:01:49.150
That moment never came.
00:01:49.971 --> 00:01:59.459
And if you are a leader, especially if you're a leader in academia or mission-driven work, You already know this, that perfection is actually a moving target.
00:02:00.141 --> 00:02:07.587
And it is if we wait for everything to be perfectly aligned, we risk never getting started at all.
00:02:08.610 --> 00:02:16.617
So in this first episode, I want to share a bit about what finally helped me push the record button.
00:02:17.558 --> 00:02:21.742
I made a decision, one that many leaders wrestle with quietly.
00:02:21.763 --> 00:02:24.506
I decided not to wait for perfection.
00:02:25.090 --> 00:02:27.995
Because if I had, this podcast episode would not exist.
00:02:28.656 --> 00:02:41.358
There were disruptions, real-life interruptions, shifting priorities, the kind of messiness that doesn't always make it into leadership manuals to help us understand how to navigate them.
00:02:41.998 --> 00:02:42.941
People needed me.
00:02:43.201 --> 00:02:47.930
Plans changed, and I kept telling myself, once things settle down, I'll get to it.
00:02:48.449 --> 00:02:55.015
And to be honest, I was doing it, trying to do it in the way in which the world says that you're supposed to do this.
00:02:55.116 --> 00:02:57.397
You should batch record your episodes.
00:02:57.798 --> 00:02:59.620
You need to have a 90-day plan.
00:02:59.659 --> 00:03:02.282
You need to build a flawless launch strategy.
00:03:02.301 --> 00:03:06.185
You need a great marketing initiative.
00:03:06.725 --> 00:03:07.747
And you need to be ahead.
00:03:07.766 --> 00:03:08.687
You need to be polished.
00:03:08.707 --> 00:03:09.687
You need to be professional.
00:03:10.068 --> 00:03:10.949
But here's the truth.
00:03:11.449 --> 00:03:15.954
And those of you who know me know, I rarely do things the way the world dictates.
00:03:16.454 --> 00:03:18.096
Not because I'm trying to be different.
00:03:18.415 --> 00:03:25.605
Because I've learned over the years that what works for others does not always align with how I'm built.
00:03:26.241 --> 00:03:41.574
And the moment I gave myself permission to actually do it my way, I decided that to hit the record button without a stockpile of episodes, our perfect studio setup, I felt more alignment than I had in months.
00:03:41.915 --> 00:03:44.377
So that's actually what I want to talk to you about today.
00:03:44.397 --> 00:03:49.722
I started thinking, what does it mean to lead imperfectly perfect?
00:03:50.522 --> 00:03:56.207
I trust to trust your own rhythm, to act before everything is in play.
00:03:56.207 --> 00:04:02.256
to lead from the inside out and not from a script that someone else has written for you.
00:04:02.676 --> 00:04:13.991
Because real leadership, true transformative leadership is rarely tidy, is brave, is responsive, is human, and it can be messy.
00:04:15.354 --> 00:04:17.877
So what does it mean to lead with you?
00:04:18.377 --> 00:04:21.281
Like, what exactly is it that I mean by that?
00:04:21.762 --> 00:04:24.466
Leave With You is more than a podcast title.
00:04:24.646 --> 00:04:40.550
It's a philosophy, and it's a challenge, and it's an invitation to lead with your whole self, to make decisions that are grounded, not just in strategy, but in values, to stop outsourcing your leadership style to expectations that don't fit you.
00:04:40.589 --> 00:04:49.879
Too often, we're taught that leadership means fixing everyone else's problems around us, but Leave With You actually comes Flips the script on that.
00:04:50.380 --> 00:04:51.923
And it starts with you.
00:04:51.963 --> 00:04:56.908
And it starts with you not because you're the problem, but because you're the foundation.
00:04:56.928 --> 00:05:01.415
So here's what I've learned after more than 25 years working with leaders.
00:05:01.975 --> 00:05:05.439
The strongest, most effective leadership comes from within.
00:05:05.480 --> 00:05:08.663
It's not about mastering the next framework.
00:05:09.225 --> 00:05:11.026
It's about mastering your voice.
00:05:11.827 --> 00:05:14.071
It's not about performing leadership.
00:05:14.091 --> 00:05:16.293
It's about embodying it.
00:05:16.930 --> 00:05:21.937
Lead with you means that you lead with clarity, even in complexity.
00:05:22.699 --> 00:05:25.923
Lead with compassion, especially when the work is hard.
00:05:26.603 --> 00:05:29.988
Lead with integrity, even when it costs you everything.
00:05:30.028 --> 00:05:35.076
And lead with alignment, so your role doesn't conflict with your values.
00:05:35.958 --> 00:05:38.781
So you may be wondering, where did this philosophy come from?
00:05:38.822 --> 00:05:43.829
Well, it's the heartbeat of my company, Cultural Connections by Design.
00:05:44.514 --> 00:05:47.199
or as we affectionately call it, CCBD.
00:05:48.083 --> 00:06:02.497
CCBD was created to help academic leaders build people-centered, purpose-driven institutions by addressing something most leaders avoid the most, or most leadership models avoid, culture.
00:06:03.137 --> 00:06:08.663
Not just the aspirational statements and our mission statements, but the real culture.
00:06:09.245 --> 00:06:15.591
I mean, like how people actually feel, how they interact, how they operate within your organization.
00:06:15.632 --> 00:06:27.425
At CCBD, we work with institutions, organizations, universities, colleges, healthcare organizations, purpose-driven teams to unpack what I call the four hidden culture challenges.
00:06:27.805 --> 00:06:30.528
And we tackle them through my priority framework, the four peaks.
00:06:31.129 --> 00:06:34.697
People, because leadership is all about relationship and not results.
00:06:35.319 --> 00:06:39.004
Place, because culture lives in the environment we create.
00:06:39.925 --> 00:06:44.312
Process, because systems are either support or sabotage change.
00:06:44.892 --> 00:06:49.718
And power, because influence without equity is performative.
00:06:50.661 --> 00:06:59.814
Our work at CCBD centers on helping academic leaders see beneath the surface, not just manage change, but to lead it thoughtfully.
00:07:00.129 --> 00:07:02.413
strategically, sustainably.
00:07:02.454 --> 00:07:05.920
And honestly, this podcast is an extension of that word.
00:07:06.600 --> 00:07:16.197
Because whether I'm on a campus facilitating a retreat or in a room with senior leaders building a strategic plan or here behind the microphone, my message is the same.
00:07:16.778 --> 00:07:18.882
Culture doesn't shift by accident.
00:07:19.223 --> 00:07:20.786
It shifts when the leaders do.
00:07:21.281 --> 00:07:23.444
So what to expect from this podcast?
00:07:23.464 --> 00:07:26.928
So you can expect quite a few things from this podcast.
00:07:27.249 --> 00:07:35.920
Each week, I will bring you stories, strategies, reflections designed to help you lead with more clarity, courage, and culture awareness.
00:07:36.420 --> 00:07:37.901
Some episodes will be solo.
00:07:38.262 --> 00:07:43.048
Others will feature conversation with leaders who are navigating the real work of change.
00:07:43.870 --> 00:07:45.151
We'll talk about transition.
00:07:45.471 --> 00:07:46.572
We'll talk about trust.
00:07:47.194 --> 00:07:50.718
We'll talk about institutional resistance, burnout, visions.
00:07:51.233 --> 00:08:01.428
power, team dynamics, and all of the unseen things to shape whether your leadership can actually succeed, it isn't a podcast about fixing people.
00:08:01.468 --> 00:08:09.081
It is a podcast about growing as a person so you can lead in the ways that truly make an impact.
00:08:09.862 --> 00:08:13.346
Now, before we wrap up today, let me circle back around to where we started.
00:08:14.069 --> 00:08:20.158
Whatever you've been putting off because you've been waiting for the right time, the perfect plan, or just more confidence.
00:08:20.449 --> 00:08:21.372
This is your sign.
00:08:21.814 --> 00:08:22.495
Start now.
00:08:23.237 --> 00:08:23.858
Start today.
00:08:23.899 --> 00:08:27.509
Not because everything's ready, but because you are.
00:08:28.091 --> 00:08:30.557
Thank you for joining me in this very first episode.
00:08:30.778 --> 00:08:34.708
I am deeply honored to be doing this work with you.
00:08:35.457 --> 00:08:38.841
And sometimes something in today's episode resonate with you.
00:08:39.302 --> 00:08:43.326
I'd love for you to subscribe or follow the podcast, maybe leave a review.
00:08:43.346 --> 00:08:51.235
Or for this old colleague who may be leading change and might need a reminder that perfection isn't a prerequisite for impact.
00:08:51.735 --> 00:09:00.985
You can also learn more about our leadership programs and retreats at ccbydesign.org or by joining our mailing list to stay in the loop.
00:09:01.125 --> 00:09:05.640
Until next time, lead with courage, lead with clarity, and always leave with you.
