Leadership Sovereignty Podcast: Career Growth and Promotion
Leadership Sovereignty Podcast: Career Growth and Promotion

Leadership Sovereignty Podcast: Career Growth and Promotion

Ralph Owens and Terry Baylor

Overview
Episodes

Details

Lead with confidence, clarity, and unstoppable impact through career ownership, growth, and promotion. The Leadership Sovereignty Podcast helps ambitious corporate professionals stop feeling overlooked, take control of their careers, and position themselves for the next level. Hosted by Ralph Owens, Chief Information Officer, and Terry Baylor, CEO of a healthcare technology startup, each episode delivers practical, real-world leadership insights you can apply immediately—whether you’re navigating office politics, preparing for a promotion, or stepping into greater responsibility. Expect short, high-impact conversations focused on leadership development, career advancement, and professional growth. You’re not just an employee—you’re the CEO of your career. New episodes are released weekly. ✅ Follow us today so you don't miss an episode.

Recent Episodes

Stop Playing It Safe in the Room
DEC 15, 2025
Stop Playing It Safe in the Room
In this episode of the Leadership Sovereignty Podcast, hosts Ralph Owens and Terry Baylor engage with Shachella James to explore the transformative power of curiosity in leadership. They discuss how curiosity can drive resilience, enhance decision-making, and foster a culture of growth within organizations. Shachella shares her top curiosity-driven leadership principles, emphasizing the importance of asking bold questions and encouraging open dialogue. The conversation highlights the need for leaders to cultivate curiosity as a vital skill for personal and professional development, ultimately leading to greater creativity and innovation in the workplace.TakeawaysCuriosity helps build resilience in the workplace.Asking bold questions can challenge the status quo.Leaders should encourage curiosity among their teams.Curiosity can simplify decision-making processes.Engaging in deep learning is more valuable than having all the answers.Curiosity can fuel creativity and innovation.Promotions often follow a demonstration of curiosity.Asking one bold question per meeting can shift dynamics.Curiosity is a key component of effective leadership.Curiosity is an advanced skill that requires practice.Chapters(00:00) - A Little Friction Is Good (00:18) - Curiosity That Builds Resilience and Trust (01:15) - Top Three Curiosity-Driven Leadership Principles (02:06) - Go Deep on Learning and Elevating Others (03:47) - What Makes a Bold Question Bold (04:00) - Why Friction Creates Traction in the Room (08:22) - The Paradigm Shift: Curiosity Changes Everything (09:27) - Lessons on Promotion, Growth, and Influence (11:21) - Promotions Follow Curiosity (12:34) - Closing Reflections — Stay Curious, Lead Boldly --------------------------------------------🌐Engage with us on our website https://www.leadershipsovereignty.comView videos of episodesView or listen to our entire back catalogRead show notes, key insights, and guest takeaways Download free leadership tools, guides, and frameworks Submit questions or topics you have-------------------------------------------------⭐ Enjoyed This Episode? Leave a quick review to help others find the show: https://www.leadershipsovereignty.com/review------------------------------------------------- 🎙️ Leave us a voicemail — we might feature you on a future episode: https://www.leadershipsovereignty.com/vm-------------------------------------------------💰 Support the Show We are a listener-sponsored show. Consider donating to keep the show going: https://www.leadershipsovereignty.com/support-------------------------------------------------💌 Join Our NewsletterSubscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter for exclusive leadership tools, episode updates, and behind-the-scenes insights. No email address required! https://www.leadershipsovereignty.com/nl
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13 MIN
Why Great Leaders Ask Better Questions
DEC 8, 2025
Why Great Leaders Ask Better Questions
In this episode of the Leadership Sovereignty Podcast, Ralph Owens, Terry Baylor, and Shachella James delve into the concept of curiosity in leadership. They discuss common misconceptions about curiosity, the importance of preparation in asking questions, and how introspective curiosity can help individuals find their personal purpose. The conversation emphasizes the need for thoughtful questioning and the impact of curiosity on personal and professional growth.TakeawaysCuriosity is often misinterpreted as ignorance.Questions should be sequenced and tailored to the context.Curiosity can be abused if not appreciated.Preparation enhances the effectiveness of curiosity.Open-ended questions encourage deeper insights.Curiosity should be used to build a culture of inquiry.Understanding metrics requires asking the right questions.Introspection helps clarify personal goals and motivations.Curiosity can simplify decision-making processes.A strategic view of life enhances personal development.Chapters(00:00) - The Discipline Behind Curiosity (00:51) - Misconceptions About Curiosity (02:04) - The Power of Tailored and Timely Questions (02:53) - When Curiosity Gets Mislabeled as Ignorance (03:28) - Turning Perception Into Advantage (04:21) - Preparation The Hidden Strength of Great Questions (05:35) - Anticipating Gaps Before They Appear (07:06) - Frameworks for Asking Better Questions (08:57) - Going Two Clicks Deeper (12:13) - When Curiosity Turns Inward --------------------------------------------🌐Engage with us on our website https://www.leadershipsovereignty.comView videos of episodesView or listen to our entire back catalogRead show notes, key insights, and guest takeaways Download free leadership tools, guides, and frameworks Submit questions or topics you have-------------------------------------------------⭐ Enjoyed This Episode? Leave a quick review to help others find the show: https://www.leadershipsovereignty.com/review------------------------------------------------- 🎙️ Leave us a voicemail — we might feature you on a future episode: https://www.leadershipsovereignty.com/vm-------------------------------------------------💰 Support the Show We are a listener-sponsored show. Consider donating to keep the show going: https://www.leadershipsovereignty.com/support-------------------------------------------------💌 Join Our NewsletterSubscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter for exclusive leadership tools, episode updates, and behind-the-scenes insights. No email address required! https://www.leadershipsovereignty.com/nl
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17 MIN
Leading with Curiosity When Lives Depend on It
DEC 1, 2025
Leading with Curiosity When Lives Depend on It
In this episode of the Leadership Sovereignty Podcast, Ralph Owens, Terry Baylor, and Shachella James discuss the multifaceted nature of leadership, emphasizing the importance of curiosity, responsibility, and effective communication. They explore how leaders can leverage data to make informed decisions, the significance of understanding business metrics, and the art of facilitating purposeful meetings. The conversation highlights the need for leaders to ask the right questions and engage stakeholders effectively, ultimately fostering a culture of collaboration and critical thinking.Key TakeawaysCuriosity is essential for effective leadership.Understanding data is crucial for making informed decisions.Leaders must connect metrics to real-world impacts.The ability to ask the right questions can shift conversations.Effective meetings require alignment on purpose and outcomes.The art of gathering involves understanding why we are together.Exclusion can be a powerful tool in meetings.Business acumen is necessary for collaboration and success.Leaders should appreciate input while guiding discussions back on track.The power of a question can influence interactions significantly.Chapters(00:00) - Heavy Is the Head That Wears the Crown (01:23) - From Data to Decisions That Matter (03:53) - Connecting Curiosity to Strategy (05:16) - The Power of a Single Question (06:05) - Power in the Prompt (06:32) - Curiosity That Gets You Promoted (07:17) - Asking vs. Answering: The Leadership Balance (09:02) - The Art of Gathering: Purposeful Meetings (12:00) - The Gift of Exclusion in Leadership (14:31) - Leading with Grace and Focus --------------------------------------------🌐Engage with us on our website https://www.leadershipsovereignty.comView videos of episodesView or listen to our entire back catalogRead show notes, key insights, and guest takeaways Download free leadership tools, guides, and frameworks Submit questions or topics you have-------------------------------------------------⭐ Enjoyed This Episode? Leave a quick review to help others find the show: https://www.leadershipsovereignty.com/review------------------------------------------------- 🎙️ Leave us a voicemail — we might feature you on a future episode: https://www.leadershipsovereignty.com/vm-------------------------------------------------💰 Support the Show We are a listener-sponsored show. Consider donating to keep the show going: https://www.leadershipsovereignty.com/support-------------------------------------------------💌 Join Our NewsletterSubscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter for exclusive leadership tools, episode updates, and behind-the-scenes insights. No email address required! https://www.leadershipsovereignty.com/nl     
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15 MIN
The power of a question you ask
NOV 24, 2025
The power of a question you ask
In this episode of the Leadership Sovereignty Podcast, Ralph Owens and Terry Baylor engage with Shachella James, exploring the importance of curiosity in leadership and career development. They discuss the SPICE framework, which emphasizes sponsorship, performance, image, curiosity, and exposure as key elements for success. The conversation highlights how asking the right questions can foster inclusion, build confidence, and drive organizational transformation. Shachella shares her personal journey and insights on how curiosity has been a catalyst for her career advancement and the importance of engaging others through meaningful dialogue.Key TakeawaysCuriosity is essential for effective leadership.Building confidence involves engaging others in conversation.The SPICE framework includes sponsorship, performance, image, curiosity, and exposure.Asking the right questions can lead to better outcomes.Curiosity helps in navigating career challenges and opportunities.Effective communication fosters inclusion and collaboration.Performance and credibility are foundational for career success.Curiosity can drive organizational transformation.Questions should be strategic and meaningful.Engaging with others through questions enhances relationships.(00:00) - Power of the Question (01:06) - Finding Your Voice in the Room (03:49) - Replacing “I Don’t Know” (04:10) - What Sparked Her Path (05:46) - From PIE to SPICE (07:18) - Curiosity as the Differentiator (09:23) - Why Organizations Stagnate (11:36) - The Power of the Prompt (12:36) - Curiosity That Opens Doors (14:30) - Curiosity and Career Promotability --------------------------------------------🌐Engage with us on our website https://www.leadershipsovereignty.comView videos of episodesView or listen to our entire back catalogRead show notes, key insights, and guest takeaways Download free leadership tools, guides, and frameworks Submit questions or topics you have-------------------------------------------------⭐ Enjoyed This Episode? Leave a quick review to help others find the show: https://www.leadershipsovereignty.com/review------------------------------------------------- 🎙️ Leave us a voicemail — we might feature you on a future episode: https://www.leadershipsovereignty.com/vm-------------------------------------------------💰 Support the Show We are a listener-sponsored show. Consider donating to keep the show going: https://www.leadershipsovereignty.com/support-------------------------------------------------💌 Join Our NewsletterSubscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter for exclusive leadership tools, episode updates, and behind-the-scenes insights. No email address required! https://www.leadershipsovereignty.com/nl
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15 MIN
How Curiosity Accelerates Your Career Growth
NOV 17, 2025
How Curiosity Accelerates Your Career Growth
In this episode of the Leadership Sovereignty Podcast, Ralph Owens and Terry Baylor engage with Shachella James, a seasoned technology leader, discussing the pivotal role of curiosity in leadership and personal development. Shachella shares her insights on how curiosity can drive innovation, foster inclusion, and enhance leadership effectiveness. The conversation explores practical principles for cultivating curiosity in both personal and professional contexts, emphasizing the importance of asking the right questions and creating a supportive environment for learning and growth.TakeawaysCuriosity is essential for progress and innovation.Asking powerful questions can accelerate careers.Leaders should prioritize learning over knowing.Curiosity can elevate conversations and relationships.Shifting focus from problems to possibilities fosters growth.Encouraging personal agency empowers individuals.Building a culture of curiosity enhances team dynamics.Curiosity can boost confidence and visibility in leadership.Effective questioning engages and includes others.Curiosity is a key driver in STEM education and diversity initiatives.Chapters(00:00) - The Power of Curiosity in Leadership (01:06) - Meet Shachella James (03:19) - Why Curiosity Matters in Your Career (03:55) - The Personal Side: Half Marathons and Resilience (05:32) - Defining Curiosity for High-Level Leaders (07:38) - Guiding Young Professionals with Curiosity (09:11) - Three Curiosity-Driven Leadership Principles (11:14) - Asking to Elevate, Not Incriminate (13:46) - Building a Culture of Curiosity (14:57) - How Curiosity Builds Confidence and Visibility --------------------------------------------🌐Engage with us on our website https://www.leadershipsovereignty.comView videos of episodesView or listen to our entire back catalogRead show notes, key insights, and guest takeaways Download free leadership tools, guides, and frameworks Submit questions or topics you have-------------------------------------------------⭐ Enjoyed This Episode? Leave a quick review to help others find the show: https://www.leadershipsovereignty.com/review------------------------------------------------- 🎙️ Leave us a voicemail — we might feature you on a future episode: https://www.leadershipsovereignty.com/vm-------------------------------------------------💰 Support the Show We are a listener-sponsored show. Consider donating to keep the show going: https://www.leadershipsovereignty.com/support-------------------------------------------------💌 Join Our NewsletterSubscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter for exclusive leadership tools, episode updates, and behind-the-scenes insights. No email address required! https://www.leadershipsovereignty.com/nl
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17 MIN