Loud & Lifted

<p> Confidence does not begin when girls become women. It starts much earlier — in the small moments where they are learning whether their voice matters, whether they should speak up, and whether they are capable of leading.</p><p>In this Quick Lift, we break down the biggest takeaways from our conversation with Sharice Johnson, a youth empowerment leader, mentor, and education administrator at Milton Hershey School. This recap is all about what girls really need from the adults around them — from confidence modeling and leadership practice to mentorship, exposure, and intentional support.</p><p><strong>We cove</strong>r:</p><ul><li>Why confidence needs to be modeled, not just talked about</li><li>How girls build leadership through repetition and practice</li><li>Why it matters when adults recognize potential early</li><li>How exposure helps girls see bigger possibilities for themselves</li><li>Why mentorship is really about consistently pouring into someone</li></ul><p>If we want stronger women leaders tomorrow, this episode is the reminder that it starts with how we support girls today.</p><p></p><p><strong>Links</strong>:</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.loudandliftedpodcast.com/how-to-build-confidence-and-leadership-in-young-girls/">Full episode</a></p>

<p>Confidence does not suddenly show up in adulthood. It starts much earlier — and so does leadership.</p><p>In this episode, we sit down with Sharice Johnson, a youth empowerment leader, mentor, and education administrator at Milton Hershey School<strong>.</strong> With two decades of experience helping young people build confidence, leadership skills, and voice, Sharice shares what girls really need from the adults around them — and why this work matters long before they ever enter the workplace.</p><p><strong>We cover:</strong></p><ul><li>how confidence is modeled before it is taught</li><li>why repetition and practice help girls build leadership skills</li><li>how mentorship can change a young person’s trajectory</li><li>why exposure to different people and opportunities matters</li><li>practical ways women can support girls in their own families and communities</li></ul><p>If we want stronger women leaders in the future, this conversation makes one thing clear: it starts now.</p><p></p><p><strong>Chapters</strong></p><p>00:00 — Why Kids Belong in This Conversation</p><p>02:10 — Who Is Sharice Johnson?</p><p>04:05 — From Service to Student Leadership0</p><p>6:20 — Leadership Starts Earlier Than We Think</p><p>08:45 — Confidence Is Built, Not Given</p><p>11:30 — Setting the Foundation for Young Girls</p><p>14:05 — Mentorship Changes Everything</p><p>17:20 — Giving Kids Real Responsibility</p><p>20:10 — What Young People Actually Need From Us</p><p>23:00 — Helping Kids Feel Seen</p><p>26:15 — Women Leaders Have a Role to Play</p><p>29:05 — Advice for the Next Generation</p><p>31:20 — The Foundation Starts Now</p>

<p>Confidence rarely shows up first. It gets built in the smaller moments—through reps, discomfort, and the decision to move before we feel fully ready.</p><p>In this Quick Lift, we unpack the biggest takeaways from our conversation with Jeannie Zappe, from building confidence in small steps to learning how to challenge the story we tell ourselves. Her story is bigger than swimming or reinvention. It is about how women build courage in real life.</p><p>We cover:</p><ul><li>why confidence is built before the big moment ever comes</li><li>why waiting to feel 100% ready keeps us stuck</li><li>how to shift from worst-case thinking to possibility</li><li>why reinvention is not reckless</li><li>how “What if I can?” can change the way we move</li></ul><p>If we’ve been hesitating, overthinking, or talking ourselves out of something bigger, this one is the reminder to take the next step.</p>

<p>What happens when a woman decides it is not too late to do something bold?</p><p>In this episode, we sit down with Jeannie Zappe — coach, speaker, lifelong swimmer, and open water athlete — to talk about confidence, courage, optimism, and what it really looks like to reinvent yourself in midlife. From leaving a stable 20-year IT career to swimming the English Channel, Jeannie shares how small acts of bravery build real confidence over time.</p><p>This conversation is such a good reminder that confidence is not something you magically have. It is something you build by saying yes, stretching yourself, and choosing a better story than fear.</p><p><strong>In this episode, we cover: </strong></p><p>▪ why confidence is built through action, not waiting until you feel ready</p><p> ▪ how to start small when you want to take a bigger risk </p><p>▪ the power of optimism and the stories we tell ourselves </p><p>▪ why women need to stop leading with “what if I can’t”</p><p> ▪ what it looks like to reinvent your life and career at any age</p><p> ▪ how support systems help us do brave things</p><p>If you have been craving a change, second-guessing yourself, or waiting for the “right time,” this episode will give you the push to think bigger.</p><p></p><p><strong>Links:</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://clownfish-coral-kpzm.squarespace.com/">The Eternal Optimist</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.loudandliftedpodcast.com/">Loud &amp; Lifted</a></p><p></p>

<p>Gen Z is getting a lot of attention at work right now — and not always for the right reasons. In this Quick Lift, we break down five of the biggest takeaways from the conversation with Dr. Andrea Mata, including what managers are getting wrong, where parents may be overcorrecting, and what Gen Z can do to stand out in a crowded workplace.</p><p>This is not a lazy generational rant. It is a practical recap on expectations, accountability, coaching, and the skills young employees need to succeed.</p><p><strong>We cover:</strong> </p><p>▪ Why labeling Gen Z is lazy leadership</p><p>▪ What “high expectations with high support” actually looks like</p><p> ▪ Why coaching is often smarter than constant turnover </p><p>▪ The parenting shift that may be hurting resilience</p><p>▪ What Gen Z can do right now to build a stronger reputation at work</p><p></p><p><strong>Links</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.loudandliftedpodcast.com/why-gen-z-is-struggling-and-what-managers-and-parents-need-to-do-differently/">Full episode</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://andreadmata.com/">Dr. Andrea Mata</a></p><p> </p>