Winning Season

Discover how authentic leadership, community, and self-awareness can transform your career and life. Suezette shares practical insights, personal stories, and strategies to help you lead fearlessly beyond titles.In this episode:Suezette’s journey from education reform to tech leadershipThe true meaning of authenticity in leadershipHow to uncover and eliminate self-imposed dissonanceThe impact of authentic leadership on organizational performance (147% stronger)The power of community and mutual support in growthPractical tools: reflective questions at each chapter to overcome fearHow to align your career with your purpose and valuesThe significance of self-assessment, discernment, and strategic alignmentIntroducing Suezette’s authentic leadership framework and upcoming trainingsWhy professional development is a vital investment, not selfishnessCharacteristics of inspiring leaders: curiosity, directness, and mentorshipThe “no titles” chapter: embracing your full potential beyond labelsHow to create environments that support authentic self-expressionPractical steps for leaders to foster empathy, vulnerability, and inclusionThe importance of living fully at 80 and beyondConnecting with Suezette: website, social media, and community programsBonus: Recommendations for supportive organizations and actionable tipsSuezette Yasmin Robotham’s WebsiteSuezette’s Book: Beyond TitlesLinkedIn - Suezette Yasmin RobothamSuezette’s TED TalkOfficial Training & CoursesWebsiteInstagramTwitterCommunity & Mentoring ProgramsTimestamps: 00:00 - Introduction & Suezette’s powerful journey to authentic leadership 02:48 - The secret sauce of attracting mutually beneficial relationships 04:24 - Misconceptions about authenticity and true leadership 07:57 - The reflective questions that heal & how to process fear 10:14 - Real stories of understanding real self versus work self 13:12 - Transition from education reform to tech industry—lessons learned 16:27 - The importance of alignment & trusting when things flow naturally 18:32 - Challenging hustle mentality & embracing ease through discernment 20:37 - Suezette’s mentorship program & how to unlock your full potential 24:17 - Characteristics of admired leaders and cultivating curiosity 27:07 - Upcoming curriculum on authentic leadership & organizational impact 30:50 - Advice for newcomers into tech & managing perceptions 34:28 - Strategies for identifying where environments align with your values 35:18 - The significance of “no titles” for self-awareness & growth 37:01 - How self-assessment leads to greater impact & fuller life 40:50 - Recognizing dissonance and releasing what no longer serves 42:34 - Final thoughts — living as your best self & embracing full capacity 43:16 - Connecting with Suezette: resources, social media & community call-to-actionResources & Links:Connect with Suezette:Embrace your authentic self — lead fearlessly and live fully!Suezette Yasmin Robotham’s WebsiteSuezette’s Book: Beyond TitlesLinkedIn - Suezette Yasmin RobothamSuezette’s TED TalkOfficial Training & CoursesWebsiteInstagramTwitterCommunity & Mentoring Programs

Unlock the powerful leadership principles grounded in Black church traditions and culture. In this episode, L.Michelle Smith shares her insights on how call and response, faith, community, and resilience can transform your leadership approach and drive authentic connections.L.Michelle's inspiration behind writing Call and Response and how her church experiences shape her leadership philosophyThe leadership lessons derived from Black church traditions, especially faith, purpose, and communityThe science behind attunement, oxytocin, and brain science that support community-building and resilienceThe historical roots of call and response from Africa to the Black church and their relevance to modern leadershipPractical strategies for applying these principles in corporate and community settingsHow to develop heart-centered, courageous, and emotionally intelligent leaders across industriesThe importance of integrity, accountability, and cultural competency in today's leadership landscapeResources: pre-order discounts, workshops, curriculum, and recommended readingCall and Response by L. Michelle SmithBook preorder & leadership toolkitL. Michelle Smith - WebsiteBlack Church Study - The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song by Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr.Follow L.Michelle Smith on LinkedInFollow L.Michelle Smith on TwitterWebsiteRequest Speaking EngagementsPre-order the book and access curriculumLeverage the principles of call and response in team meetings and organizational cultureIncorporate storytelling, attunement, and community-building techniques into your leadership stylePractice integrity and accountability daily to build trust and resilience in your teamsUse the provided leadership questions and curriculum to foster critical thinking and strategic growthJoin the movement to develop more heart-centered, courageous leaders across industriesEmbrace these culturally rooted, science-backed strategies to lead with authenticity, influence, and purpose.—Thank you for listening! Don't forget to share your copies of the book and tag L.Michelle Smith on social media with your leadership insights.In this episode:Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction to Michelle Smith and her leadership journey02:00 - The story behind Call and Response and cultural influences04:50 - Black church leadership lessons: faith and purpose08:30 - The science of community: oxytocin and brain synchronization12:00 - Roots of call and response: from Africa to modern music and culture16:20 - The role of resilience: lessons from grandmothers and gospel hymns20:56 - Building integrity and accountability in leadership24:05 - Practical tips for applying call and response strategies in organizations27:40 - Addressing generational shifts and the importance of social-emotional skills31:15 - The significance of community as a covenant and collective success35:30 - Cultivating influential, heart-centered leaders: Carla Harris, Sint Marshall, and others40:10 - How to get the book, resources for leaders, and call to action43:05 - Final thoughts: leading with authenticity and cultural intelligenceResources & Links:Connect with Elle Michelle Smith:To Enhance Your Leadership:

This episode of Winning Season features a real lesson from Jacqueline V. Twillie, originally delivered live to a group of mid-career professionals. In it, Jacqueline unpacks the moment she cracked a high-stakes global project stalemate by identifying the single metric and timeline that mattered most to a senior leader.She walks listeners through her signature L.A.T.T.E. Framework—Look, Anticipate, Think, Talk, Evaluate—and shows how to use it to translate your solution into the language of decision makers. You’ll learn how to pinpoint priorities, anticipate objections, and present your ideas in a way that earns approvals faster.Whether you're preparing for a big pitch or navigating shifting priorities, this lesson gives you a repeatable playbook to get a clear yes.This podcast episode is an actual lesson taught by Jacqueline V. Twillie, founder of ZeroGap and creator of the L.A.T.T.E. Framework. You’ll hear her teaching in real time, not a scripted studio segment, so grab a notebook and get ready to apply these strategies immediately.📌 Note

SummaryIn this episode of the Winning Season podcast, host Jacqueline Twillie interviews Alair Castro, a Director of Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Marketing at Northwestern Mutual and founder of the AC Consultancy. Alair shares her journey and passion for addressing the racial wealth gap, advocating for Black women, and creating inclusive marketing strategies. The conversation explores the importance of building trust within communities, measuring success beyond traditional metrics, and the significance of maintaining authenticity in consultancy work. Alair emphasizes the need for multiple streams of income and the value of unplugged family time for personal and professional growth.TakeawaysAlair Castro is a Director of Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Marketing.Her career is dedicated to advocating for Black women.The racial wealth gap is a significant issue affecting the Black community.Building trust within the Black community is crucial for financial services.Inclusive marketing can drive business goals and community impact.Success indicators should go beyond clicks and impressions.Maintaining authenticity is key in consultancy work.Monetizing your skills can create additional income streams.Unplugged family time is essential for mental well-being.Effective communication of boundaries is vital in leadership.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Alair Castro01:40 Passion for Racial Wealth Gap03:48 Understanding the Racial Wealth Gap05:14 Building Buy-In for Inclusion06:44 The Business Case for Inclusive Marketing07:42 Cultural Insights in Marketing09:23 Measuring Success Beyond Clicks10:40 Overcoming Analysis Paralysis12:15 Monetizing Your Genius14:05 The Importance of Unplugged Time16:00 Turning Conflict into Collaboration17:56 Marketing and Money Rules for Change Makers18:24 Fun and Personal Insights with Alair CastroConnect with Alair LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/alaircastro/Instagram https://www.instagram.com/acoutoftheoffice/Online https://www.theacconsultancy.com/

Winning Season Podcast - Mini Episode Show NotesHost: Jacqueline TwillieEpisode Type: Mini Episode - Career and Negotiation InspirationDuration: ~3 minutesEpisode Overview A quick-hit episode sharing actionable career and negotiation tips from two of Jacqueline's current projects, designed to give listeners a boost in their professional journey.Main Tip: Highlight Your Unique ValueIdentify what makes you stand out from other candidatesLead confidently with your unique strengths in your job searchImplementation strategies:When: August 21stWhere: Maven.comCost: FreeCore Concept: Going from "Almost" to "Absolutely"A 5-step method for building a negotiation strategy:L - LookA - AnticipateT - ThinkT - TalkE - EvaluateFramework Benefits:Preparation for challenges and questions from the other partyAddresses potential objections that typically arise early in negotiationsBuilds confidence and prevents being thrown off your gameLeads to faster, mutually beneficial agreementsSmall tweaks can create significant impact in career developmentPreparation is crucial for successful negotiationsConfidence comes from being ready to address challengesThe power to shape your career is in your handsThe Table: 30-day pop-up career strategy groupInstant Negotiation Strategy Class: Free class on Maven.com (August 21st)"The power to shape your career and own your negotiation - it only takes a few tweaks."Keep winning!Chapters 00:00 - 00:15 - Welcome & IntroductionHost introduction and episode overview00:15 - 01:30 - The Table: Career Strategy for Black Women30-day pop-up group supporting those impacted by 2025 job market01:30 - 02:45 - The LATTE Framework for Negotiation5-step method from the Instant Negotiation Strategy class02:45 - 03:00 - Wrap-up & Closing Thoughts