Leaders Pathway
Welcome to the Leaders Pathway podcast – the show for growth-minded leaders who want to show up, speak up, and stand out with confidence. Whether you’re stepping into your first leadership role or stepping up to lead at a higher level, this is your space to grow. Each episode delivers real talk, practical tools, and inspiring stories to help you lead with clarity, courage, and connection. You’ll walk away with fresh insight and the next best step for your journey – because leadership isn’t a position, it’s a pathway. Let’s walk it together.
Episodes
Are you secretly doing your team’s job? 👀
If you’re drowning in late nights, fixing mistakes you didn’t make, and carrying the weight of everyone’s workload… this episode is your rescue rope — and guess what? You’re not the one grabbing it anymore.
Today, we’re exposing the real reason accountability keeps slipping through your team’s fingers — and how your good intentions might be teachin...
Ever feel like you spend more time chasing your team than actually leading them?
You set deadlines, give instructions, follow up… and still end up doing the work yourself.
Frustrating, right?
In this episode of Leaders Pathway, we are kicking off the Accountability in Action series where I show you how to set expectations that actually get met—without nagging, micromanaging, o...
Your team is reflecting you—whether you realize it or not.
Stressed, scattered, or short-tempered? They’ll mirror it.
Calm, focused, and steady? They’ll mirror that too.
In this final episode of the From Boss to Leader series, Velma Knowles shares heartfelt stories (with humor and honesty) about leaders who modeled confidence in crisis—and how you can use the “mirror effect” t...
When was the last time you actually did the job you ask your team to do?
Reports and dashboards show numbers, but they’ll never show the real frustrations—or sparks of inspiration—your team experiences daily.
In this episode of From Boss to Leader, Velma Knowles shares stories from Southwest Airlines’ Herb Kelleher and her own frontline experience to reveal why walking in your team’s shoes ...
Ever notice how the loudest voice in the room usually gets the most attention?
Meanwhile, the quiet contributors—the ones holding everything together—often get overlooked.
In this episode of From Boss to Leader, Velma Knowles unpacks the power of invisible advocacy: championing the unseen talent on your team.
With stories of Oprah’s game-changing support for overlooked voices ...
Ever sat in a meeting where your boss just… keeps talking… and by the end, no one knows what to do? Yeah, me too. 😅
In this episode of From Boss to Leader, I’m sharing the game-changing leadership move that sets great leaders apart: lead by writing, not speaking.
Spoken words inspire in the moment, but written words guide, clarify, and stick long after the meeting ends.
Ever wonder why some bosses seem untouchable… until reality hits? In this episode of the From Boss to Leader series, Velma Knowles reveals why leaders who avoid discomfort and hide mistakes are leaving influence—and trust—on the table.
Radical transparency isn’t about oversharing. It’s about being real, honest, and human—even when it’s messy. Velma shares actionable steps to help you:
Most leaders think it’s the big speeches or bold strategies that define them. Truth is, it’s the tiny, invisible micro-actions—your tone, body language, hallway interactions—that tell your team whether you’re just a boss or a true leader.
In this episode of From Boss to Leader, Velma breaks down how these overlooked moments either build trust or quietly chip it away. You’ll hear:
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A su...
Are you a boss who’s busy but not inspiring? Most leaders obsess over calendars and to-do lists—but here’s the secret nobody talks about: energy, not time, drives influence.
In this first episode of From Boss to Leader, I reveal how mastering your energy can transform you from a task-focused boss to a leader who inspires action, creativity, and focus.
Hear the little-known story of Thomas Edison’s energy strategy—and why even the b...
Office politics got you ducking and dodging? What if you could turn the whispers, hidden agendas, and hallway drama into your secret leadership edge?
In Part 2 of Rumor Has It, we dive into the bright side of office politics—where influence flows, alliances build, and leaders who pay attention gain real momentum.
You’ll discover how to position yourself where your voice matters, navigate th...
Ever feel like office gossip travels at the speed of light while the real decision-makers stay hidden behind closed doors? In this episode of Rumor Has It, we pull back the curtain on office politics and show you how to read the room like a pro.
You’ll learn how to spot the 4 key political players in your organization, uncover the hidden currents that shape decisions, and gain strategies ...
Burnout isn’t about working too hard—it’s about being out of alignment. In the final episode of the Escape Burnout and Reclaim Your Life series, Velma shows leaders how to stop chasing the myth of work/life balance and start living and leading in alignment with their values, energy, and goals.
You’ll discover:
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Why “balance” leaves leaders exhausted and stressed
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How ali...
Burnout isn’t just about long hours or heavy workloads—it’s about living without a clear sense of purpose. In this episode of Escape Burnout, we dive into Shift #6: Define Your Purpose, the turning point that transforms exhaustion into energy and confusion into clarity.
You’ll hear the real story of Harold, a leader who traded burnout for balance by rediscovering his love for canvas painting. More than a...
Feeling stretched too thin? In Escape Burnout #5: Focus on What Matters Most, Velma Knowles reveals how to cut the noise, lead with clarity, and channel your energy into the work that truly moves the needle. Discover the exact steps Harold used to ditch distractions, set boundaries, and reclaim his time — without sacrificing relationships or results. Backed by research and real-life success, this episode will help you...
You’re not burned out because you don’t care. You’re burned out because you keep saying yes when your soul is screaming no.
In this episode of the Escape Burnout & Reclaim Your Life series, we dive into Shift #4: Protect Your Non-Negotiables—and how to set boundaries that stick (without guilt, apology, or burnout).
You’ll meet Harold again—our high-performing exec who looked successful ...
Feeling burned out, even though you’re “successful”?
In Episode 3 of our Escape Burnout and Reclaim Your Life series, Velma unpacks why burnout often stems from living out of alignment with your values — and how to reconnect with what truly matters. Discover the subtle signs of misalignment, hear Harold’s story, and get a free Values Assessment to help you lead with clarity, purpose, and energy again.
...Burn Bright Without Burning Out: Protect Your Energy, Reclaim Your Leadership
You don’t have a time problem—you have an energy problem.
In this episode, discover Shift #2 of escaping burnout and leading with clarity: Protect Your Energy.
We’re talking about the hidden energy crisis that’s draining high-performing leaders—and what to do about it.
From decision fat...
Welcome back to Leaders Pathway with Velma, where ambitious leaders learn to grow. In the first episode of our series, "The Integrated Leader: Seven Shifts to Help You Escape Burnout and Reclaim Your Life," Velma discusses the myth of work-life balance and introduces the concept of work-life integration. Learn how Harold, a driven VP, faced a wake-up call when his health started to falter, leading him to reprioritize his life b...
Words are powerful — especially when you’re leading people through pressure, problems, and big expectations. In this final episode of the How Leaders Connect series, Velma shares a personal story about a team member named Janet, a looming deadline, and the surprising way trust is really built on teams.
You’ll discover why speaking life isn’t just about being positive — it’s about being present, clear, an...
Ready to transform how you lead and connect?
In this episode of Leaders Pathway, Velma reveals the often-overlooked secret to great leadership: genuine human connection. If you’re tired of polished presentations falling flat or feeling disconnected from your team, this episode is for you.
You’ll hear the powerful story of Robert — a brilliant, strategic leader who struggled with public spe...
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