<p>Ranked in the Global Top 1.5% of podcasts, <em>The Climb Leadership Development and Confident Leader</em> is the premier resource for leadership development and executive growth. In this episode, Rahul Karan Sharma (Forbes Coaches Council) joins Jennifer Hawkins (Founder of Launched Performance) to discuss the transition from technical expert to enterprise strategist.</p><p>For NextGen leaders, career advancement requires more than skill—it requires the mindset shifts necessary to lead without authority. We explore how Jennifer managed high-stakes operations across seven states while facing profound personal challenges, proving that confident leadership is a design of resilience. During our conversation, we reveal how to break organizational silos and lead "up, across, and out" to build a legacy that transcends the boardroom.</p><p><br /></p><p><strong>STRATEGIC INSIGHTS FOR THE ENTERPRISE STRATEGIST:</strong></p><ul><li><p><strong>02:29 – The Legacy Blueprint:</strong> Why Purpose is the Foundation of <strong>Confident Leadership</strong></p></li><li><p><strong>05:53 – Mindset Shifts:</strong> Maintaining Performance Standards During High-Stakes Personal Challenges</p></li><li><p><strong>07:36 – Organizational Architecture:</strong> Breaking Down Silos to Ensure <strong>NextGen Leaders</strong> Succeed</p></li><li><p><strong>13:26 – Leading Up, Across, and Out:</strong> The Essential Skills for <strong>Career Advancement</strong></p></li><li><p><strong>28:02 – The CLIMB Connection:</strong> Navigating Leadership Stages from Invisible to Influential</p></li></ul><p><strong>THE CLIMB™ FRAMEWORK INSIGHT:</strong></p><p>This episode is a masterclass in <strong>C – Cultivate Your Mindset</strong> and <strong>B – Build Your Legacy</strong>. Jennifer Hawkins proves that <strong>confident leadership</strong> is forged in the fire of personal adversity. By implementing critical <strong>mindset shifts (C)</strong>, she turned underperforming centers into top-tier successes. Her "SHIFT Method" perfectly complements the CLIMB™ Framework, showing <strong>NextGen leaders</strong> how to break silos and <strong>Magnify Your Impact (M)</strong> to ensure a lasting professional <strong>Legacy (B)</strong>.</p><p><br /></p><p><strong>ABOUT GUEST: JENNIFER HAWKINS</strong></p><p>Jennifer Hawkins is the founder of <strong>Launched Performance</strong>, a premier leadership advisory firm specializing in succession planning and enterprise-level strategy. With a career spanning five industries, Jennifer is known for turning the worst-performing operations into top 20% performers, even during economic recessions. She famously led blood banking operations across seven states while managing a family health crisis from a hospital room. Today, she equips <strong>NextGen leaders</strong> with the strategy, confidence, and resilience needed for rapid <strong>career advancement</strong>.</p><ul><li><p><strong>🌐 Connect with Jennifer:</strong> <a href="https://launchedperformance.com" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">launchedperformance.com</a></p></li></ul><p></p><p><strong>ABOUT YOUR HOST: RAHUL KARAN SHARMA</strong> </p><p><strong>Rahul Karan Sharma | Forbes Coaches Council</strong> <strong>Global Leadership Expert and Staffing Industry Specialist</strong></p><p>Rahul solves the "Accidental Manager" crisis. Using his proprietary <strong>CLIMB Framework™</strong>, he transforms technical experts into executive-ready leaders. Ranked in the <strong>Global Top 1.5% of Podcasters</strong>, Rahul bridges the gap between Northern Virginia’s business ecosystem and international leadership standards. As a prominent member of the <strong>Loudoun Chambers and Greater Reston Chambers of Commerce</strong>, Rahul is the definitive advisor for firms from Ashburn to Arlington seeking <strong>Strategic Acceleration.</strong></p><p><strong>🚀Audit Your Leadership: </strong>[<a href="https://climb-leadership-audit.scoreapp.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠https://climb-leadership-audit.scoreapp.com/⁠</a>] </p><p><strong>📖 Get your copy of "Be Action Oriented": </strong>[<a href="https://www.habits4miracles.com/jumpstart" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠https://www.habits4miracles.com/jumpstart⁠</a>]</p><p><strong>🌐Official Website:</strong> <a href="https://www.rahulkaransharma.com" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠www.rahulkaransharma.com⁠</a></p><p><strong>📈Connect: </strong><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulkaransharma/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulkaransharma/</a></p><p>🎙️ <strong>Search 'The CLIMB Rahul Karan Sharma' on Spotify and Apple</strong></p><p>#JenniferHawkins #theclimbpodcast #executivepresence #staffingindustry #dcleaders #rahulkaransharma #confidentleader #leadershipdevelopment #nextgenleaders #mindsetshifts #CareerAdvancement</p><p></p>