Heart Glow CEO®

  If you’re a mission-driven leader, you don’t usually have a motivation problem—you have a friction problem. Too many priorities. Too many people counting on you. Systems that reward urgency over integrity. And when that friction builds, something sneaky happens: you start confusing motion with progress. Today’s Lunar New Year (Year of the Fire Horse) is a powerful “mile marker” you can use—no woo required—to cut through distraction, get discerning, and move forward with clean intention.   Why this episode is worth your time You’re not here for hype. You’re here for clarity that holds up in real life. In this episode, I’ll help you harness “new year energy” as a leadership tool, so you can stop spinning and start moving toward what actually matters.   In this episode, you’ll learn How to spot the friction patterns that keep you busy—but not advancing (especially over-caring and urgency loops) How to use the “Fresh Start Effect” (a real psychology concept) to create focus and follow-through at the right moment My 3-move reset to turn scattered effort into intentional action—without adding more to your plate   Before you click away, I want you to do one thing: name what you’re moving toward this season—not the whole master plan, just the direction. This episode is designed to help you choose the next right step with discernment, so your energy goes into progress—not just pressure. If this landed, follow the show so you don’t miss next week’s episode—and share this one with a mission-driven woman leader who’s been carrying a lot. And leaving a quick review is the simplest way to help more of the right listeners find Heart Glow CEO. Until next week... breathe joy!

When the world feels dense—not just “I’m stressed,” but that heavy, invisible pressure that builds in your body—leadership gets real, fast.  Especially if your work lives in urgency: domestic violence advocacy, shelters, case management, child and family services, special education, autism support, and nonprofit leadership.   In this episode, I’m naming what so many big-hearted, mission-driven leaders are carrying…and offering a conscious leadership lens that helps you lay the burden down without abandoning your people.   In this episode, you’ll learn: How to tell the difference between responsibility and burden (and why confusing the two fuels burnout) Why the “savior reflex” is so common in crisis work—and how it quietly hijacks your boundaries A simple way to come back to clarity when urgency, guilt, and hypervigilance start running the show In crisis environments, regulation isn’t about bliss—it’s about signal. I’m inviting you to aim for feeling 10% better, not perfect.   Timestamps01:39 — Beyond “just do box breathing”: the conscious leadership lens02:30 — The identity contract: “If I don’t do it, who will?”03:24 — The distinction that changes everything: responsibility vs. burden04:53 — Why crisis work trains hypervigilance (and how it impacts boundaries)06:24 — The unique layer in autism support: sensory load, advocacy, decision fatigue08:09 — Regulate: not calm, clear09:47 — The burden question (and the second question that completes it)11:20 — One clean move: boundary, decision, delegation, or repair15:19 — Repairing after you said yes when you meant no16:41 — Resetting agreements as you grow18:08 — The hidden cost of carrying the burden: reactivity, resentment, messy decisions19:15 — Closing: the “Lay It Down” micro-ritual   Key takeaways Responsibility is what’s yours to respond to. Burden is what you’ve absorbed that was never yours to carry. Caring doesn’t have to mean carrying. Conscious leadership is caring with clarity. Guilt isn’t always a moral signal—sometimes it’s a withdrawal symptom from overgiving. Boundaries aren’t a wall against love. They’re a container for love. Sustainable leadership isn’t a luxury. It’s ethics.   A question to sit withWhat am I carrying right now that isn’t mine?   Love the show?If this episode resonated, share it with a leader in a crisis-facing role who carries too much and calls it dedication. Consider leaving a review at www.lovethepodcast.com/brilliance. <3

You don’t need more leadership garnish. You need a better base. In the kitchen, that base is mirepoix—carrot, celery, onion. In leadership, it’s the same: three core ingredients show up in every hard conversation, every decision under pressure, every moment your team is silently asking: Can I trust you? Are we clear?   The Leadership Mirepoix Integrity Emotional Intelligence Clarity   Data point (because receipts matter): Gallup found only 13% of employees strongly agree leadership communicates effectively—so clarity isn’t common… which means it’s a competitive advantage.   In this episode, you’ll learn: Why pressure reveals your defaults (heat reveals the recipe) How authenticity lives inside integrity (and what authenticity is not) How EQ creates psychological safety—and why your nervous system “broadcasts” The 3-part formula for real clarity: meaning, direction, agreements The “chef’s kiss” transparency script that builds trust without oversharing   Episode Timestamps: 00:00 — Why leadership needs a better base (not more garnish) 02:00 — Heat reveals the recipe: pressure + defaults 03:30 — Ingredient #1: Integrity (authenticity inside it) 06:40 — Emotional bank account: trust deposits + withdrawals 09:20 — Ingredient #2: Emotional Intelligence (empathy as EQ in action) 11:10 — Psychological safety (Project Aristotle) 13:45 — Mini practice: “emotional weather” in 10 seconds 16:10 — Ingredient #3: Clarity (clean communication) 19:00 — Chef’s kiss: name the moment/intention/ask 21:30 — Recipe card recap in 60 seconds 23:00 — When “garnish” becomes over-explaining 24:40 — Closing + review   Key Takeaways: Integrity: Trust is built through tiny receipts—follow-through, repairs, consistency. Emotional Intelligence: Your nervous system sets the tone; presence creates safety. Clarity: Meaning + direction + agreements = momentum. Chef’s kiss: Responsible transparency that moves things forward.   Mentioned: The Peace Bubble (weekly nervous system reset): Mondays at 8:30 AM — Register Here Episode reference: Expectations vs. Agreements   Leave a Review: If Heart Glow CEO® supports your leadership, I’d be grateful for a quick review:lovethepodcast.com/brilliance

What if your next leadership moment isn’t about delivering… but about including? In today’s episode, I share an unexpected lesson from a Keith Urban show finale that lit up a truth most high-achieving leaders forget under pressure: connection doesn’t happen through perfection—it happens through participation. If you’ve been leading with “tight control” (or quietly performing for approval), this is your invitation back to presence, resonance, and real influence.   In this episode, you’ll learn: How to spot the moment you’re “performing” in leadership instead of connecting Why intuition gets drowned out when comparison creeps in—and what to do instead Simple ways to invite participation so your leadership becomes a shared experience   Timestamps/Chapter Guide: 00:00 Welcome + what Heart Glow CEO is about 00:01:55 The story: why a reality show finale became a leadership lesson 00:03:10 “They already won” — the habit of leapfrogging your wins 00:03:40 Cassidy’s finale: talent, joy… and the subtle shift into doubt & comparison 00:05:10 Leadership nuance: authenticity vs. respecting the “ground you’re serving on” 00:06:05 The regret moment: “I should have paid attention to what I already knew” (intuition) 00:07:30 Adam’s difference: acknowledgment, invitation, eye contact, play 00:08:45 The core insight: performance vs. experience 00:09:35 “Connection doesn’t happen through perfection. It happens through participation.” 00:10:30 Why people love helping dreams come true (and how this applies to leadership) 00:11:10 The paradox of conscious leadership: the more it’s about others, the more impact you have 00:12:05 3 reflection questions to lead differently in 2026 00:13:00 Closing: “Breathe joy.”   Key takeaways: Talent and credentials matter—but they don’t create resonance on their own. Comparison is a signal: it often disconnects you from your intuition and your audience. Conscious leadership isn’t a solo act. It’s a shared experience built through inclusion. The goal isn’t to be louder in 2026—it’s to be more connected.   Quote to remember:Connection doesn’t happen through perfection. It happens through participation.   Reflection questions: Where in your leadership could you invite more participation? What would change if your next conversation, presentation, or decision became a shared experience—not a performance? How might your leadership evolve if you trusted that connection, not control, creates real resonance?   Next step:Choose one place this week to shift from performance to participation—a team meeting, a client call, a hard conversation—and experiment with inviting people in (not impressing them from the stage).   Share the pod love:Enjoying Heart Glow CEO®? A quick review is the simplest way to support the show (and it helps the right people find it): www.lovethepodcast.com/brilliance   About Kc:Kc Rossi, PCC, is an Integrative Leadership Coach helping mission-driven entrepreneurs and executives regulate stress, strengthen self-trust, and lead with clarity—without sacrificing health or values.Connect with Kc on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kcrossi/  

“Lazy leadership” doesn’t always mean you’re lazy. Often it’s what happens when capable leaders get pulled into constant demands, fire drills, and decision fatigue—until intentional leadership quietly disappears.   In today’s conversation, I’m joined by Corinne Gavlinski (Founder & CEO of The Gav Group) to name what this looks like in real leadership life, what it costs, and the antidote: creating space to reflect, getting back into your Impact Zone, and taking small, deliberate actions that restore clarity and momentum. We also talk about identity jolts—those messy, humbling chapters that can become a catalyst for more grounded leadership when you stop trying to “power through” and start leading from truth.   What you’ll learn in this episode How to recognize when you’ve drifted into “lazy leadership” (even if you’re working nonstop) The antidote: how leaders return to the Impact Zone with clarity and intention Why identity jolts can refine your leadership and strengthen your legacy   Episode chapters  01:54 — What “lazy leadership” is (and what it’s not) 04:27 — The Impact Zone + the antidote: space to reflect + a “catapult” tool 10:50 — Legacy leadership: “Who do you want to be remembered as?” 13:25 — Identity jolts: caregiving, pivots, ego hits, reinvention 16:30 — Betting on your innate talents (not just passion) 22:01 — A practical team clarity process (why accountability matters) 30:48 — The closing reflection + your 24-hour action step   Mentioned resource The Impact Zone Guide   About Corinne Gavlinski Corinne Gavlinski is Founder & CEO of The Gav Group and a thought partner to C-suite leaders who want results that matter—to their teams and their legacy. She’s a former SVP of Customer Success with 20+ years in executive Sales and Account Management roles across digital healthcare and finance. She holds an MBA from Loyola University Maryland and is board-certified as an executive coach and certified as a team coach.     About Kc Rossi Kc Rossi, PCC is an Integrative Leadership Coach and host of the Heart Glow CEO® Podcast, where mission-driven, high-performing leaders learn to lead with clarity, emotional steadiness, and self-trust—without burning out or abandoning what matters most.   💫 If this episode supported you, leave a quick review at lovethepodcast.com/brilliance and share it with a leader who’s carrying a lot.