<![CDATA[The Way She Leads]]>The Way She Leads is a podcast for high-achieving women who have done all the “right” things, achieved traditional success, and are ready for a deeper, more aligned way of leading that is filled with clarity, resonance and ease.

Join us for genuine conversations with real leaders and experts, exploring feminine leadership and what becomes possible when we reclaim our gifts, intuition, and joy, and lead from wholeness instead of exhaustion.

Welcome in!


]]>https://meganakatu.comRiverside.fm (https://riverside.com)Mon, 19 Oct 2026 12:25:13 GMTMon, 09 Feb 2026 15:10:17 GMT60Megan Akatu<p>The Way She Leads is a podcast for high-achieving women who have done all the “right” things, achieved traditional success, and are ready for a deeper, more aligned way of leading that is filled with clarity, resonance and ease.</p><p></p><p>Join us for genuine conversations with real leaders and experts, exploring feminine leadership and what becomes possible when we reclaim our gifts, intuition, and joy, and lead from wholeness instead of exhaustion.</p><p></p><p>Welcome in!</p><p><br /></p>episodicMegan Akatumegan@meganakatu.comyes<![CDATA[19. Cycle Syncing for Women Leaders: How to Stop Fighting Your Own Body]]>You've blamed the exhaustion on your calendar, your kids, and your lack of discipline. But the reason you may feel exhausted may be because you're running a 28-day body on a 24-hour schedule.

In this episode of The Way She Leads, Megan sits down with Martina Pezzino, certified nutrition consultant, holistic health coach, and founder of Luia Wellness.

If you've accepted waking up drained, needing three coffees to function, and quietly wanting to burn your life down one week every month as "just how it is," this conversation is for you. Martina breaks down the four phases of your cycle, what each one asks of your energy, food, and calendar, and why so few of us were ever taught any of it.

This isn't about doing less. It's about leading yourself first, so your life fits your body instead of making your body wrong for not fitting your life.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Why the 24-hour workday was built around a man's hormones, and what that costs you every month
  • How to tell the difference between the cycle variation to accept and the symptoms that need support
  • Why the frustration that shows up in your luteal phase might be a truth to listen to, not a mood to ride out
  • The simple calendar trick that shows you, three weeks ahead, how much capacity you'll actually have
  • Why under-eating in the second half of your cycle may be fueling the irritability you blame on yourself

RESOURCES

Martina Pezzino
Certified Nutrition Consultant & Holistic Health Coach | Luia Wellness
Instagram | Website | Thrive Mama podcast | Thrive Mama 2 Week Trial | 1:1 Coaching

📚 Abundant Ever After by Cathy Heller
📚 Filthy Rich Fae by Geneva Lee

FOLLOW ME: 🔗

LinkedIn | Instagram | Website | Podcast

🎁 FREE STUFF

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→ FREE MONTHLY Somatic Breathwork Session. Add your name here to receive details on the next session


→ Join my newsletter here for more leadership insights

#feminineleadership #leadyourselffirst #itsthelittlethings #womeninleadership #quietpower #feminineenergy #thewaysheleads #cyclesyncing

Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: QHIAG7XBTHWGRSR1


]]>9a595f46-f14c-4c72-a54c-07732c655833Mon, 12 Oct 2026 22:18:50 GMT<p>You've blamed the exhaustion on your calendar, your kids, and your lack of discipline. But the reason you may feel exhausted may be because you're running a 28-day body on a 24-hour schedule.</p><p>In this episode of <i><em>The Way She Leads</em></i>, Megan sits down with Martina Pezzino, certified nutrition consultant, holistic health coach, and founder of Luia Wellness.</p><p>If you've accepted waking up drained, needing three coffees to function, and quietly wanting to burn your life down one week every month as "just how it is," this conversation is for you. Martina breaks down the four phases of your cycle, what each one asks of your energy, food, and calendar, and why so few of us were ever taught any of it.</p><p>This isn't about doing less. It's about leading yourself first, so your life fits your body instead of making your body wrong for not fitting your life.</p><p><b><strong>KEY TAKEAWAYS</strong></b></p><ul><li>Why the 24-hour workday was built around a man's hormones, and what that costs you every month</li><li>How to tell the difference between the cycle variation to accept and the symptoms that need support</li><li>Why the frustration that shows up in your luteal phase might be a truth to listen to, not a mood to ride out</li><li>The simple calendar trick that shows you, three weeks ahead, how much capacity you'll actually have</li><li>Why under-eating in the second half of your cycle may be fueling the irritability you blame on yourself</li></ul><p><b><strong>RESOURCES</strong></b></p><p>Martina Pezzino<br />Certified Nutrition Consultant &amp; Holistic Health Coach | Luia Wellness<br /><a href="https://www.instagram.com/luiawellness/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.luiawellness.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Websit</a>e | <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1qfW6OITqyc1Wb8iRrgV4t?si=75a82074a7e1488d" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Thrive Mama podcast</a> | <a href="https://thrive-mama.mn.co/plans/1977622?bundle_token=6b0e0e7a54d7a57c67904d00bd7bd897&amp;utm_source=manual" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Thrive Mama 2 Week Trial</a> | <a href="https://forms.gle/frGBcJ42f3yTMARx5" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">1:1 Coaching</a></p><p>📚 <i><em>Abundant Ever After</em></i> by Cathy Heller<br />📚 <i><em>Filthy Rich Fae</em></i> by Geneva Lee</p><p><b><strong>FOLLOW ME: 🔗</strong></b></p><p><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/meganakatu" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">LinkedIn</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/meganakatu/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://meganakatu.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Website</a> | <a href="https://meganakatu.com/the-way-she-leads-podcast/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Podcast</a></p><p><b><strong>🎁 FREE STUFF</strong></b></p><p>→ SAY IT LIKE THIS: <a href="https://info.meganakatu.com/power" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Scripts</a> that communicate your message, keep you in your power without shrinking or steamrolling</p><p><br />→ FREE MONTHLY Somatic Breathwork Session. Add your name <a href="https://info.meganakatu.com/bw" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">here</a> to receive details on the next session</p><p><br />→ Join my newsletter <a href="https://megan-akatu.kit.com/newsletter" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">here</a> for more leadership insights</p><p>#feminineleadership #leadyourselffirst #itsthelittlethings #womeninleadership #quietpower #feminineenergy #thewaysheleads #cyclesyncing</p><p>Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: QHIAG7XBTHWGRSR1</p><p><br /></p>no00:49:4019. Cycle Syncing for Women Leaders: How to Stop Fighting Your Own Bodyfull<![CDATA[18. How to Sleep Better in Menopause Without Fighting Your Body]]>You're not a bad sleeper. You've been told an incomplete story about what's happening at 3 AM.

In this guest episode of The Way She Leads, Megan sits down with wellness coach and sleep expert, Cynthia Conigliaro, founder of Work Well Webinars, to talk about what really happens to women's sleep after 40.

If you're carrying a full leadership load, kids leaving home, aging parents, and shifting hormones, a rough night isn't a personal failure. It's simply information. Cynthia brings 20+ years in mental health and wellness to show why sleep is both a necessity and a skill you can rebuild.

Megan also shares what two sleepless nights did to her patience as a parent, and why rest is also a leadership tool. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Why getting out of bed at 3 AM works better than lying there trying to force sleep
  • How to retrain your brain so your bed means one thing (and why even reading there works against you)
  • The 10-minute morning habit that sets up tonight's sleep before your day starts
  • Why that "relaxing" glass of wine is quietly costing you the second half of your night
  • The difference between a sleep-hygiene fix and a signal it's time to see a specialist

RESOURCES

Cynthia Conigliaro
Owner and Founder | Work Well Webinars
LinkedIn | Website

FOLLOW ME: 🔗

LinkedIn | Instagram | Website | Podcast

🎁 FREE STUFF

→ SAY IT LIKE THIS: Scripts that communicate your message, keep you in your power without shrinking or steamrolling


→ FREE MONTHLY Somatic Breathwork Session. Add your name here to receive details on the next session


→ Join my newsletter here for more leadership insights

#feminineleadership #leadyourselffirst #itsthelittlethings #womeninleadership #quietpower #feminineenergy #influence #thewaysheleads #sleepinmenopause


]]>4b3a6a07-f508-495a-98fd-d1772f228a79Thu, 01 Oct 2026 17:00:37 GMT<p>You're not a bad sleeper. You've been told an incomplete story about what's happening at 3 AM.</p><p>In this guest episode of <i><em>The Way She Leads</em></i>, Megan sits down with wellness coach and sleep expert, Cynthia Conigliaro, founder of Work Well Webinars, to talk about what really happens to women's sleep after 40.</p><p>If you're carrying a full leadership load, kids leaving home, aging parents, and shifting hormones, a rough night isn't a personal failure. It's simply information. Cynthia brings 20+ years in mental health and wellness to show why sleep is both a necessity and a <i><em>skill </em></i>you can rebuild.</p><p>Megan also shares what two sleepless nights did to her patience as a parent, and why rest is also a leadership tool. </p><p>KEY TAKEAWAYS</p><ul><li>Why getting out of bed at 3 AM works better than lying there trying to force sleep</li><li>How to retrain your brain so your bed means one thing (and why even reading there works against you)</li><li>The 10-minute morning habit that sets up tonight's sleep before your day starts</li><li>Why that "relaxing" glass of wine is quietly costing you the second half of your night</li><li>The difference between a sleep-hygiene fix and a signal it's time to see a specialist</li></ul><p>RESOURCES</p><p>Cynthia Conigliaro<br />Owner and Founder | Work Well Webinars<br /><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-conigliaro-mba-msw-hwc/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">LinkedIn</a> | <a href="https://workwellwebinars.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Website</a></p><p>FOLLOW ME: 🔗</p><p><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/meganakatu" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">LinkedIn</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/meganakatu/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://meganakatu.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Website</a> | <a href="https://meganakatu.com/the-way-she-leads-podcast/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Podcast</a></p><p>🎁 FREE STUFF</p><p>→ SAY IT LIKE THIS: <a href="https://info.meganakatu.com/power" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Scripts</a> that communicate your message, keep you in your power without shrinking or steamrolling</p><p><br />→ FREE MONTHLY Somatic Breathwork Session. Add your name <a href="https://info.meganakatu.com/bw" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">here</a> to receive details on the next session</p><p><br />→ Join my newsletter <a href="https://megan-akatu.kit.com/newsletter" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">here</a> for more leadership insights</p><p>#feminineleadership #leadyourselffirst #itsthelittlethings #womeninleadership #quietpower #feminineenergy #influence #thewaysheleads #sleepinmenopause</p><p><br /></p>no00:29:0611818. How to Sleep Better in Menopause Without Fighting Your Bodyfull<![CDATA[17. How to Stop Dreading Every Meeting on Your Calendar]]>You've tried the time blocking, the shorter meetings and taking digital notes. But the hours disappearing from your week were never on your to-do list, they're going somewhere else entirely.

In this guest episode of The Way She Leads, Megan sits down with strategic alignment consultant Becca Rusinko for a conversation that starts where most leadership advice won't: you are not bad at prioritizing. You are handed 25 priorities and told, “Make it work.” 

Becca has led through the dot-com bust and the Great Recession, and she left finance not from burnout, but because her world had gotten too small. What she brings back is infrastructure: two repeatable rhythms that turn a beautiful strategic plan into something your team can actually use, without asking anyone to work a 70-hour week to prove they care.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Why the hours vanishing from your week were never on anyone's project plan
  • The difference between a strategic roadmap and a strategic GPS 
  • The two rhythms that reclaim time instead of costing it: monthly recalibration on outcomes, weekly execution sprints on the ground
  • How to run a weekly sprint that develops your people while the work gets done
  • Why dread before a meeting is data, not weakness and what your nervous system knows before your calendar does

RESOURCES

Becca Rusinko
Strategic Alignment Consultant & Speaker
LinkedIn | Instagram | Website

🎧 Becca's 5-minute primer on the two rhythms
📚 The Artist's Way | Julia Cameron 

Megan Akatu

Fall Remembrance Workshop

LinkedIn | Instagram | Website | Podcast

#feminineleadership #leadyourselffirst #itsthelittlethings #womeninleadership #quietpower #feminineenergy #influence #thewaysheleads


]]>1651f7cc-45a9-451b-8cc9-f5f6fbddcb9fTue, 15 Sep 2026 01:37:29 GMT<p><b>You've tried the time blocking, the shorter meetings and taking digital notes. But the hours disappearing from your week were never on your to-do list, they're going somewhere else entirely.</b></p><p></p><p>In this guest episode of <i>The Way She Leads</i>, Megan sits down with strategic alignment consultant Becca Rusinko for a conversation that starts where most leadership advice won't: you are not bad at prioritizing. You are handed 25 priorities and told, “Make it work.” </p><p></p><p>Becca has led through the dot-com bust and the Great Recession, and she left finance not from burnout, but because her world had gotten too small. What she brings back is infrastructure: two repeatable rhythms that turn a beautiful strategic plan into something your team can actually use, without asking anyone to work a 70-hour week to prove they care.</p><p></p><p>KEY TAKEAWAYS</p><ul><li>Why the hours vanishing from your week were never on anyone's project plan</li><li>The difference between a strategic roadmap and a strategic GPS </li><li>The two rhythms that reclaim time instead of costing it: monthly recalibration on outcomes, weekly execution sprints on the ground</li><li>How to run a weekly sprint that develops your people while the work gets done</li><li>Why dread before a meeting is data, not weakness and what your nervous system knows before your calendar does</li></ul><p></p><p>RESOURCES</p><p>Becca Rusinko<br />Strategic Alignment Consultant &amp; Speaker<br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/beccarusinko/" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/beccarusinko/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://beccarusinko.com/" target="_blank">Website</a></p><p></p><p>🎧 Becca's 5-minute <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://beccarusinko.com/quick-start/" target="_blank">primer</a> on the two rhythms<br />📚 <i>The Artist's Way</i> | Julia Cameron </p><p></p><p>Megan Akatu</p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://info.meganakatu.com/remembrance" target="_blank">Fall Remembrance Workshop</a></p><p></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/meganakatu" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/meganakatu/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://meganakatu.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://meganakatu.com/the-way-she-leads-podcast/" target="_blank">Podcast</a></p><p></p><p>#feminineleadership #leadyourselffirst #itsthelittlethings #womeninleadership #quietpower #feminineenergy #influence #thewaysheleads</p><p><br /></p>no01:04:2717. How to Stop Dreading Every Meeting on Your Calendarfull<![CDATA[16. You're Not Boring, You're Hiding: What You Clothes Say About Your Power]]>Your closet is full of black, gray, and navy and you've told yourself that's professional. It isn't. It's camouflage, and the room can feel it before anyone can name it.

This week on The Way She Leads, Megan sits down with Julie Grimm, personal color consultant, stylist, painter, and energy healer to discuss color theory, the science of undertone and harmony so you can look and feel your best!

If you've ever stood in a store holding something beautiful you knew wasn't for you, bought it anyway, and returned it two weeks later, this episode is for you. Not because you need a new wardrobe. Because you've been spending energy on the wrong dial, and there's a formula underneath all of it. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • The difference between a color that matches your clothes and a color that matches you The three dials (light/dark, bright/soft, cool/warm) that decide what actually suits you, and why most women only know one of them
  • The frequency of color and how it can change your mood 
  • Why people feel harmony on you before they can explain it, the same way they feel when something's off
  • Julie's reframe on feminine leadership: my favorite answer yet!

RESOURCES

Julie Grimm

Founder, Joyful  Color Analysis and Spiritual Studies Institute

Website | Instagram | Spiritual Studies Institute

📚 Dream Symbolism by Manley P. Hall
📚 Wassily Kandinsky on the energy of color 


FOLLOW ME: 🔗

LinkedIn | Instagram | Website | Podcast

🎁 FREE STUFF

→ SAY IT LIKE THIS: Scripts that communicate your message, keep you in your power without shrinking or steamrolling
→ FREE MONTHLY Somatic Breathwork Session. Add your name here to receive details on the next session
→ Join my newsletter here for more leadership insights

#feminineleadership #leadyourselffirst #itsthelittlethings #womeninleadership #quietpower #feminineenergy #influence #thewaysheleads #wardrobe #capsulewardrobe #blackclothes #professionaldress


]]>e86f1d52-bd34-475f-a754-9ad971d16510Wed, 26 Aug 2026 14:17:00 GMT<p><b>Your closet is full of black, gray, and navy and you've told yourself that's professional. It isn't. It's camouflage, and the room can feel it before anyone can name it.</b></p><p></p><p>This week on <i>The Way She Leads</i>, Megan sits down with Julie Grimm, personal color consultant, stylist, painter, and energy healer to discuss color theory, the science of undertone and harmony so you can look and feel your best!</p><p></p><p>If you've ever stood in a store holding something beautiful you knew wasn't for you, bought it anyway, and returned it two weeks later, this episode is for you. Not because you need a new wardrobe. Because you've been spending energy on the wrong dial, and there's a formula underneath all of it. </p><p></p><p><b>KEY TAKEAWAYS</b></p><ul><li>The difference between a color that matches your clothes and a color that matches <i>you</i> The three dials (light/dark, bright/soft, cool/warm) that decide what actually suits you, and why most women only know one of them</li><li>The frequency of color and how it can change your mood </li><li>Why people feel harmony on you before they can explain it, the same way they feel when something's off</li><li>Julie's reframe on feminine leadership: my favorite answer yet!</li></ul><p></p><p><b>RESOURCES</b></p><p><b>Julie Grimm</b></p><p><i>Founder, </i>Joyful  Color Analysis and Spiritual Studies Institute</p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.julie-grimm.com/?gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=21811649691&amp;gbraid=0AAAAApSdnj-nx0DlnNyRMKiD5cz5SBDSN&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwnbrUBhDOARIsAKKhPpf7ARIFtVNSF09C8-8YVeUqaa6LD4sthXZRIhNVt09MmYmKUKt4T80aAr8JEALw_wcB" target="_blank"><i>Website</i></a><i> </i>| <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/julie.e.grimm?igsi=ZHhmbHR5aXp6eTJi" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.ssiboston.com/" target="_blank">Spiritual Studies Institute</a></p><p></p><p>📚 <i>Dream Symbolism</i> by Manley P. Hall<br />📚 Wassily Kandinsky on the energy of color </p><p><br /></p><p><b>FOLLOW ME: 🔗</b></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/meganakatu" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/meganakatu/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://meganakatu.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://meganakatu.com/the-way-she-leads-podcast/" target="_blank">Podcast</a></p><p></p><p><b>🎁 FREE STUFF</b></p><p>→ SAY IT LIKE THIS: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://info.meganakatu.com/power" target="_blank">Scripts</a> that communicate your message, keep you in your power without shrinking or steamrolling<br />→ FREE MONTHLY Somatic Breathwork Session. Add your name <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://info.meganakatu.com/bw" target="_blank">here</a> to receive details on the next session<br />→ Join my newsletter <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://megan-akatu.kit.com/newsletter" target="_blank">here</a> for more leadership insights</p><p></p><p>#feminineleadership #leadyourselffirst #itsthelittlethings #womeninleadership #quietpower #feminineenergy #influence #thewaysheleads #wardrobe #capsulewardrobe #blackclothes #professionaldress</p><p><br /></p>yes00:26:1211616. You're Not Boring, You're Hiding: What You Clothes Say About Your Powerfull<![CDATA[15. What Gen Z Is Really Asking For]]>You have heard the narrative, Young employees don't want to work, they can't take feedback, they're always on their phones.” But the reason your early-career team isn't showing up the way you want has almost nothing to do with them.

In this guest episode of The Way She Leads, Megan sits down with Amy Mosher Berry, CEO and Founder of Visions Internships, who has spent 20+ years working in the gap between young talent and the leaders managing them.

If you're the leader who is exhausted by giving constant feedback, and confused about what your Gen Z hires actually want from you, listen up!

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • What actually happens when a young employee feels heard
  • The Gallup finding that explains why 80% of today's college grads are checked out at work (and what they're actually asking you for)
  • How to tell the difference between a young employee who's disengaged and one who's putting more pressure on herself than you realize
  • The "and" that changes everything: why forcing young people to choose between doing well and doing good is costing you your best talent
  • The one shift Amy teaches supervisors that turns them from "interesting" to unforgettable in the eyes of a young employee

RESOURCES

Amy Mosher Berry
CEO & Founder | Visions Internships
LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | TikTok | Website

📚 The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod
📚 Strong Ground by Brené Brown

FOLLOW ME: 🔗

LinkedIn | Instagram | Website | Podcast

🎁 FREE STUFF

→ SAY IT LIKE THIS: Scripts that communicate your message, keep you in your power without shrinking or steamrolling
→ FREE MONTHLY Somatic Breathwork Session. Add your name here to receive details on the next session
→ Join my newsletter here for more leadership insights

#feminineleadership #leadyourselffirst #itsthelittlethings #womeninleadership #quietpower #feminineenergy #influence #thewaysheleads


]]>d672239e-f338-41eb-9c21-51002452a3d2Fri, 31 Jul 2026 23:38:22 GMT<p>You have heard the narrative, Young employees don't want to work, they can't take feedback, they're <i>always</i> on their phones.” But the reason your early-career team isn't showing up the way you want has almost nothing to do with them.</p><p></p><p>In this guest episode of <i>The Way She Leads</i>, Megan sits down with <b>Amy Mosher Berry</b>, CEO and Founder of Visions Internships, who has spent 20+ years working in the gap between young talent and the leaders managing them.</p><p></p><p>If you're the leader who is exhausted by giving constant feedback, and confused about what your Gen Z hires actually want from you, listen up! </p><p></p><p>KEY TAKEAWAYS</p><ul><li>What actually happens when a young employee feels heard</li><li>The Gallup finding that explains why 80% of today's college grads are checked out at work (and what they're actually asking you for)</li><li>How to tell the difference between a young employee who's disengaged and one who's putting more pressure on herself than you realize</li><li>The "and" that changes everything: why forcing young people to choose between doing well and doing good is costing you your best talent</li><li>The one shift Amy teaches supervisors that turns them from "interesting" to unforgettable in the eyes of a young employee</li></ul><p></p><p>RESOURCES</p><p>Amy Mosher Berry<br />CEO &amp; Founder | Visions Internships<br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/amymosherberry" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/visions_internships" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/@visions_internships" target="_blank">YouTube</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/visionsinternships" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@visions_internships" target="_blank">TikTok</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://visionsinternships.com/" target="_blank">Website</a></p><p>📚 <i>The Miracle Morning</i> by Hal Elrod<br />📚 <i>Strong Ground</i> by Brené Brown<br /></p><p>FOLLOW ME: 🔗</p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/meganakatu" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/meganakatu/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://meganakatu.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://meganakatu.com/the-way-she-leads-podcast/" target="_blank">Podcast</a></p><p></p><p>🎁 FREE STUFF</p><p>→ SAY IT LIKE THIS: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://info.meganakatu.com/power" target="_blank">Scripts</a> that communicate your message, keep you in your power without shrinking or steamrolling<br />→ FREE MONTHLY Somatic Breathwork Session. Add your name <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://info.meganakatu.com/bw" target="_blank">here</a> to receive details on the next session<br />→ Join my newsletter <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://megan-akatu.kit.com/newsletter" target="_blank">here</a> for more leadership insights</p><p></p><p>#feminineleadership #leadyourselffirst #itsthelittlethings #womeninleadership #quietpower #feminineenergy #influence #thewaysheleads</p><p><br /></p>yes00:32:2911515. What Gen Z Is Really Asking Forfull<![CDATA[14. The Unwritten Rules That Affect your Career Trajectory When Your Not a Member of the Majority]]>There's a reason you've stopped trusting your gut, and it's not a confidence problem. When you spend years leading like someone you're not, the instincts you built your career on go quiet.

This week on The Way She Leads, Megan sits down with Eve Kelly, a master of nuance, humor and truth-telling, even when it's uncomfortable. If you've ever felt the weight of being watched more closely than your peers, Eve names it all and provides practical ways to handle revealing situations and how to stay yourself through it all.

Megan and Eve unpack the hidden curriculum of hierarchical organizations, the real cost of self-abandonment, and how to decide, in the moment,  whether to speak up or let it go…and be whole either way.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Why women who earn credibility by imitating men eventually struggle to make any decision at all
  • The "hidden curriculum" of organizations and what to be more aware of, most especially as a person of color
  • How to address a microaggression  in a room full of peers without making them wrong (and why being okay either way is the real power move)
  • The difference between happiness you have to chase and joy you already carry
  • What Eve's body figured out about regulation before her mind did, and the calendar practice that protects it

RESOURCES

Eve Kelly
Executive Director; Belonging, Engagement, and Mission | University of Notre Dame

📚 The works of Howard Thurman
📚 The works of bell hooks

FOLLOW ME: 🔗

LinkedIn | Instagram | Website | Podcast

🎁 FREE STUFF

→ SAY IT LIKE THIS: Scripts that communicate your message, keep you in your power without shrinking or steamrolling


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→ Join my newsletter here for more leadership insights

#feminineleadership #leadyourselffirst #itsthelittlethings #womeninleadership #quietpower #feminineenergy #influence #thewaysheleads


]]>8942f0af-58f7-4362-820f-61c2f3f8ef58Wed, 15 Jul 2026 00:15:00 GMT<p>There's a reason you've stopped trusting your gut, and it's not a confidence problem. When you spend years leading like someone you're not, the instincts you built your career on go quiet.</p><p></p><p>This week on <i>The Way She Leads</i>, Megan sits down with Eve Kelly, a master of nuance, humor and truth-telling, even when it's uncomfortable. If you've ever felt the weight of being watched more closely than your peers, Eve names it all and provides practical ways to handle revealing situations and how to stay yourself through it all.</p><p></p><p>Megan and Eve unpack the hidden curriculum of hierarchical organizations, the real cost of self-abandonment, and how to decide, in the moment,  whether to speak up or let it go…and be whole either way.</p><p></p><p><b>KEY TAKEAWAYS</b></p><ul><li>Why women who earn credibility by imitating men eventually struggle to make any decision at all</li><li>The "hidden curriculum" of organizations and what to be more aware of, most especially as a person of color</li><li>How to address a microaggression  in a room full of peers without making them wrong (and why being okay either way is the real power move)</li><li>The difference between happiness you have to chase and joy you already carry</li><li>What Eve's body figured out about regulation before her mind did, and the calendar practice that protects it</li></ul><p></p><p><b>RESOURCES</b></p><p><b>Eve Kelly</b><br />Executive Director; Belonging, Engagement, and Mission | University of Notre Dame</p><p></p><p>📚 The works of Howard Thurman<br />📚 The works of bell hooks</p><p></p><p><b>FOLLOW ME: 🔗</b></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/meganakatu" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/meganakatu/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://meganakatu.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://meganakatu.com/the-way-she-leads-podcast/" target="_blank">Podcast</a></p><p></p><p><b>🎁 FREE STUFF</b></p><p>→ SAY IT LIKE THIS: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://info.meganakatu.com/power" target="_blank">Scripts</a> that communicate your message, keep you in your power without shrinking or steamrolling</p><p><br />→ FREE MONTHLY Somatic Breathwork Session. Add your name <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://info.meganakatu.com/bw" target="_blank">here</a> to receive details on the next session</p><p><br />→ Join my newsletter <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://megan-akatu.kit.com/newsletter" target="_blank">here</a> for more leadership insights</p><p></p><p>#feminineleadership #leadyourselffirst #itsthelittlethings #womeninleadership #quietpower #feminineenergy #influence #thewaysheleads</p><p><br /></p>no00:33:4814. The Unwritten Rules That Affect your Career Trajectory When Your Not a Member of the Majorityfull<![CDATA[13. If You Can't Sit Still to Meditate, Your Brain Isn't Broken]]>You've optimized your calendar, your morning routine, your systems, all in service of pushing harder. But the reason you're always running on empty isn't your time management. It's that you've been working against your own seasons and your own flow.

In this episode of The Way She Leads, Megan sits down with intuitive astrologer and artist Stevie Calista for a conversation that's equal parts soulful and shockingly practical. If you're a high-achieving woman who defaults to "I should be doing more" and carries the bricks in the backpack, plans every detail, and treats rest like something you have to earn, this one names the pattern out loud.

Stevie's gift is taking something vast and making it usable by tomorrow. Listen up as she explains how understanding your natural design helps you stop forcing momentum that isn't there, deepen self-trust, and lead from the version of you the room already sees.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Why the relentless drive that built your career is the exact zone quietly keeping you stuck
  • How to map your year into seasons of push, rest, and vision, so you stop forcing flow that isn't ready yet
  • The reason "just meditate every day" has never worked for you, and what your mind actually needs to quiet down
  • How you're already being read as a certain kind of leader whether you own it or not, and the cost of fighting it
  • The two-day window each month worth protecting on your calendar, and why your body registers it before your mind catches up

RESOURCES

Stevie Calista
Intuitive Soul Blueprint Astrologer
Instagram | Substack | Website

🔧 Pull your free birth chart at astro.com (you'll need your date, exact time, and location)
📚 Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas 

FOLLOW ME: 🔗

LinkedIn | Instagram | Website | Podcast

🎁 FREE STUFF

→ SAY IT LIKE THIS: Scripts that communicate your message, keep you in your power without shrinking or steamrolling

→ FREE MONTHLY Somatic Breathwork Session. Add your name here to receive details on the next session

→ Join my newsletter here for more leadership insights

#feminineleadership #leadyourselffirst #itsthelittlethings #womeninleadership #quietpower #feminineenergy #influence #thewaysheleads


]]>9065d3d7-33e0-4046-a09c-f07a4c596ab3Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT<p>You've optimized your calendar, your morning routine, your systems, all in service of pushing harder. But the reason you're always running on empty isn't your time management. It's that you've been working against your own seasons and your own flow.</p><p></p><p>In this episode of <i>The Way She Leads</i>, Megan sits down with intuitive astrologer and artist Stevie Calista for a conversation that's equal parts soulful and shockingly practical. If you're a high-achieving woman who defaults to "I should be doing more" and carries the bricks in the backpack, plans every detail, and treats rest like something you have to earn, this one names the pattern out loud.</p><p></p><p>Stevie's gift is taking something vast and making it usable by tomorrow. Listen up as she explains how understanding your natural design helps you stop forcing momentum that isn't there, deepen self-trust, and lead from the version of you the room already sees.</p><p></p><p><b>KEY TAKEAWAYS</b></p><ul><li>Why the relentless drive that built your career is the exact zone quietly keeping you stuck</li><li>How to map your year into seasons of push, rest, and vision, so you stop forcing flow that isn't ready yet</li><li>The reason "just meditate every day" has never worked for you, and what your mind actually needs to quiet down</li><li>How you're already being read as a certain kind of leader whether you own it or not, and the cost of fighting it</li><li>The two-day window each month worth protecting on your calendar, and why your body registers it before your mind catches up</li></ul><p></p><p><b>RESOURCES</b></p><p>Stevie Calista<br />Intuitive Soul Blueprint Astrologer<br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/farmhousemoon/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://steviecalista.substack.com/" target="_blank">Substack</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.steviecalista.com/" target="_blank">Website</a></p><p></p><p>🔧 Pull your free birth chart at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://astro.com" target="_blank">astro.com</a> (you'll need your date, exact time, and location)<br />📚 <i>Throne of Glass</i> series by Sarah J. Maas </p><p></p><p><b>FOLLOW ME: 🔗</b></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/meganakatu" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/meganakatu/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://meganakatu.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://meganakatu.com/the-way-she-leads-podcast/" target="_blank">Podcast</a></p><p></p><p><b>🎁 FREE STUFF</b></p><p>→ SAY IT LIKE THIS: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://info.meganakatu.com/power" target="_blank">Scripts</a> that communicate your message, keep you in your power without shrinking or steamrolling<br /></p><p>→ FREE MONTHLY Somatic Breathwork Session. Add your name <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://info.meganakatu.com/bw" target="_blank">here</a> to receive details on the next session<br /></p><p>→ Join my newsletter <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://megan-akatu.kit.com/newsletter" target="_blank">here</a> for more leadership insights</p><p></p><p>#feminineleadership #leadyourselffirst #itsthelittlethings #womeninleadership #quietpower #feminineenergy #influence #thewaysheleads</p><p><br /></p>no00:37:4111313. If You Can't Sit Still to Meditate, Your Brain Isn't Brokenfull<![CDATA[12. Satiated, Not Hungry: The Leadership Mindset to find Balance in the Fortune 500 and Motherhood]]>WHAT IF THE SYSTEM WAS NEVER DESIGNED FOR YOU…AND THE REAL POWER COMES FROM KNOWING THAT?

You've played by the rules. You've outperformed, out-hustled, and out-managed. And still, somewhere between the morning spin bike session at 5:30 AM and the third RTO announcement, your body started sending a different message than your résumé.

This episode of The Way She Leads is a conversation Megan has been waiting to have. Kelly Ferraro, founder, former Meta leader, and one of the most truth-telling women in the room, sits down to unpack what it actually costs high-achieving women and working mothers to succeed inside systems that were never built for their bodies, their rhythms, or their values.

This is not a conversation about quitting. It's a conversation about what it means to be satiated, sovereign, and fully alive, and what it looks like to design a life from that place.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Why 63% of C-suite leaders report RTO has led to a disproportionate amount of women quitting, and what that statistic reveals about who the workplace was actually built for
  • The concept of being "satiated,” and why a woman who knows she has enough is the one no company can hold power over
  • How the male 24-hour testosterone productivity cycle shapes your daily huddle, your task list, and the quiet shame you carry when you can't check everything off
  • Why your body registered a "no" before your brain had the words and what Kelly learned from following that signal even when she couldn't explain it

RESOURCES

Kelly Ferraro

Founder of Ferraro Growth Partners and the Rise and Build Collective

LinkedIn | Instagram

Reading: The Soul of Money | Lynne Twist

FOLLOW ME: 🔗

LinkedIn | Instagram | Web


🎁 FREE STUFF

→ SAY IT LIKE THIS: Scripts that communicate your message, keep you in your power without shrinking or steamrolling 

→ FREE MONTHLY Somatic Breathwork Session. Add your name here to receive details on the next session

→ Join my newsletter here  for more leadership insights 

#feminineleadership #leadyourselffirst #itsthelittlethings #womeninleadership #quietpower #feminineenergy #influence #thewaysheleads


]]>bda4ec84-54f0-4755-b952-afac7262e972Wed, 17 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT<p>WHAT IF THE SYSTEM WAS NEVER DESIGNED FOR YOU…AND THE REAL POWER COMES FROM KNOWING THAT?</p><p></p><p>You've played by the rules. You've outperformed, out-hustled, and out-managed. And still, somewhere between the morning spin bike session at 5:30 AM and the third RTO announcement, your body started sending a different message than your résumé.</p><p></p><p>This episode of <i>The Way She Leads</i> is a conversation Megan has been waiting to have. Kelly Ferraro, founder, former Meta leader, and one of the most truth-telling women in the room, sits down to unpack what it actually costs high-achieving women and working mothers to succeed inside systems that were never built for their bodies, their rhythms, or their values.</p><p>This is not a conversation about quitting. It's a conversation about what it means to be satiated, sovereign, and fully alive, and what it looks like to design a life from that place.</p><p></p><p>KEY TAKEAWAYS</p><ul><li>Why 63% of C-suite leaders report RTO has led to a disproportionate amount of women quitting, and what that statistic reveals about who the workplace was actually built for</li><li>The concept of being "satiated,” and why a woman who knows she has enough is the one no company can hold power over</li><li>How the male 24-hour testosterone productivity cycle shapes your daily huddle, your task list, and the quiet shame you carry when you can't check everything off</li><li>Why your body registered a "no" before your brain had the words and what Kelly learned from following that signal even when she couldn't explain it</li></ul><p></p><p>RESOURCES</p><p><b>Kelly Ferraro</b></p><p>Founder of <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://ferrarogrowth.partners/" target="_blank">Ferraro Growth Partners</a> and the Rise and Build Collective</p><p></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-ferraro-030802" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://kellyferraro/" target="_blank">Instagram</a></p><p></p><p>Reading: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-soul-of-money-transforming-your-relationship-with-money-and-life-lynne-twist/7bc8ed9428d0d499?ean=9780393353976&amp;next=t" target="_blank">The Soul of Money</a> | Lynne Twist</p><h4><b>FOLLOW ME: 🔗</b></h4><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/meganakatu" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/meganakatu/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://meganakatu.com/" target="_blank">Web</a></p><p><br /></p><p>🎁 <b>FREE STUFF</b></p><p>→ <b>SAY IT LIKE THIS:</b> <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://info.meganakatu.com/power" target="_blank">Scripts</a> that communicate your message, keep you in your power without shrinking or steamrolling </p><p></p><p>→ FREE MONTHLY Somatic Breathwork Session. Add your name <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://info.meganakatu.com/bw" target="_blank">here</a> to receive details on the next session <br /><br />→ Join my newsletter <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://megan-akatu.kit.com/newsletter" target="_blank">here  </a>for more leadership insights </p><p></p><p>#feminineleadership #leadyourselffirst #itsthelittlethings #womeninleadership #quietpower #feminineenergy #influence #thewaysheleads</p><p><br /></p>no00:49:0012. Satiated, Not Hungry: The Leadership Mindset to find Balance in the Fortune 500 and Motherhoodfull<![CDATA[11. She Was Called "Too Intense." Here's How She Became the Most Influential Person in the Room]]>In this episode of The Way She Leads, Megan sits down with Laura Ravo, executive career and performance coach, COO of Shine Strategy, and 30-year retail veteran, for a conversation about the kind of influence that doesn't announce itself. The kind that walks in with red lipstick, asks one well-placed question, and changes the entire direction of the room.

If you've ever been told to "soften your edges" and had absolutely no idea what that meant, or if you've wondered why your competence alone isn't translating into the influence you know you're capable of, this episode is your answer.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Why being told to "soften your edges" is actually an invitation and how to hear it without shrinking
  • The difference between influencing with authority and influencing through curiosity
  • How your nervous system is setting the tone for your entire team, before you say a single word
  • Why asking instead of telling is the most underrated power move in leadership
  • The inherited legacies that drive your "bad behavior" and how to shed what was never really yours

RESOURCES

Laura Ravo | LinkedIn

Strong Ground \ Brené Brown

Diary of a CEO podcast | Steven Bartlett

FOLLOW ME: 🔗

LinkedIn | Instagram | Web

🎁 FREE STUFF

→ SAY IT LIKE THIS: Scripts that communicate your message, keep you in your power without shrinking or steamrolling 

→ FREE MONTHLY Somatic Breathwork Session. Add your name here to receive details on the next session

→ Join my newsletter here  for more leadership insights 

#feminineleadership #leadyourselffirst #itsthelittlethings #womeninleadership #quietpower #feminineenergy #influence #thewaysheleads


]]>dc16b79e-da2d-4a38-b49f-f69122727f66Wed, 10 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT<p>In this episode of <i>The Way She Leads</i>, Megan sits down with Laura Ravo, executive career and performance coach, COO of Shine Strategy, and 30-year retail veteran, for a conversation about the kind of influence that doesn't announce itself. The kind that walks in with red lipstick, asks one well-placed question, and changes the entire direction of the room.</p><p></p><p>If you've ever been told to "soften your edges" and had absolutely no idea what that meant, or if you've wondered why your competence alone isn't translating into the influence you know you're capable of, this episode is your answer.</p><p></p><p><b>KEY TAKEAWAYS</b></p><ul><li>Why being told to "soften your edges" is actually an invitation and how to hear it without shrinking</li><li>The difference between influencing with authority and influencing through curiosity</li><li>How your nervous system is setting the tone for your entire team, before you say a single word</li><li>Why asking instead of telling is the most underrated power move in leadership</li><li>The inherited legacies that drive your "bad behavior" and how to shed what was never really yours</li></ul><p></p><p><b>RESOURCES</b></p><p>Laura Ravo | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lravo/" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a></p><p></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/untitled-5749/6373ccfdbe86fb24?ean=9781984855749&amp;next=t" target="_blank"><i>Strong Ground</i></a><i> \ </i>Brené Brown</p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/7iQXmUT7XGuZSzAMjoNWlX?si=157ce2cf45384f56" target="_blank"><i>Diary of a CEO</i></a> podcast | Steven Bartlett</p><h4><b>FOLLOW ME: 🔗</b></h4><h4><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/meganakatu" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/meganakatu/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://meganakatu.com/" target="_blank">Web</a></h4><p>🎁 <b>FREE STUFF</b></p><p>→ <b>SAY IT LIKE THIS:</b> <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://info.meganakatu.com/power" target="_blank">Scripts</a> that communicate your message, keep you in your power without shrinking or steamrolling </p><p></p><p>→ FREE MONTHLY Somatic Breathwork Session. Add your name <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://info.meganakatu.com/bw" target="_blank">here</a> to receive details on the next session <br /><br />→ Join my newsletter <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://megan-akatu.kit.com/newsletter" target="_blank">here  </a>for more leadership insights </p><p></p><p>#feminineleadership #leadyourselffirst #itsthelittlethings #womeninleadership #quietpower #feminineenergy #influence #thewaysheleads</p><p><br /></p>no00:30:1211111. She Was Called "Too Intense." Here's How She Became the Most Influential Person in the Roomfull<![CDATA[10. When You're Right and It's Ruining You: How to Lead Through Decisions You Didn't Make]]>WHAT IF THE RESENTMENT YOU'RE CARRYING AT WORK IS THE VERY THING BLOCKING YOUR NEXT LEVEL?

In this episode of The Way She Leads, Megan sits down with Casey Carrion, fractional Head of People & Culture and senior leader within Lightyear Leadership, for an honest, deeply human conversation about one of the most common (and least talked about) leadership traps: what happens when a decision gets made above you and you don't agree?

Casey offers a story, one where she sat stuck and angry for five months, convinced she was right, slowly realizing she'd become someone she didn't recognize. What she learned in that season became the foundation of the leader she is today.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Why having decision-making rights matters and what it costs you when you forget you don't have them in a given situation
  • The principle "choice partnered with decision liberates" and how reclaiming your choice is the fastest path out of resentment
  • How alignment doesn't have to mean agreement and why choosing to align can make you a more powerful leader for your team
  • Why your body knows when you're out of alignment before your mind catches up
  • The difference between fighting for your values and staying stuck in rightness and how one keeps you moving while the other keeps you small

RESOURCES

Casey Carrion | LinkedIn

Carrie Soto Is Back | Taylor Jenkins Reid 

Super Communicators | Charles Duhigg


FOLLOW ME: 🔗

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→ Decision Making Framework: Make clear decisions without overthinking 

→ FREE MONTHLY Somatic Breathwork Session. Add your name here to receive details on the next session
→ Join my newsletter here for more leadership insights 

#feminineleadership #leadyourselffirst #itsthelittlethings #womeninleadership #quietpower #feminineenergy #influence #thewaysheleads


]]>41ec8e48-7355-46e7-b2c3-f4fbe409f0ceWed, 03 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT<p>WHAT IF THE RESENTMENT YOU'RE CARRYING AT WORK IS THE VERY THING BLOCKING YOUR NEXT LEVEL?</p><p></p><p>In this episode of <i>The Way She Leads</i>, Megan sits down with Casey Carrion, fractional Head of People &amp; Culture and senior leader within Lightyear Leadership, for an honest, deeply human conversation about one of the most common (and least talked about) leadership traps: what happens when a decision gets made above you and you don't agree?</p><p></p><p>Casey offers a story, one where she sat stuck and angry for five months, convinced she was right, slowly realizing she'd become someone she didn't recognize. What she learned in that season became the foundation of the leader she is today.</p><p></p><p>KEY TAKEAWAYS</p><ul><li>Why having decision-making rights matters and what it costs you when you forget you don't have them in a given situation</li><li>The principle "choice partnered with decision liberates" and how reclaiming your choice is the fastest path out of resentment</li><li>How alignment doesn't have to mean agreement and why choosing to align can make you a more powerful leader for your team</li><li>Why your body knows when you're out of alignment before your mind catches up</li><li>The difference between fighting for your values and staying stuck in rightness and how one keeps you moving while the other keeps you small<p></p></li></ul><p>RESOURCES</p><p></p><p>Casey Carrion | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/casey-carrion" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a></p><p></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/carrie-soto-is-back-a-novel-taylor-jenkins-reid/8de234dcaa57749b?ean=9780593158708&amp;next=t" target="_blank"><i>Carrie Soto Is Back</i></a> | Taylor Jenkins Reid </p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/supercommunicators-how-to-unlock-the-secret-language-of-connection-charles-duhigg/7a25d02cace0aa84?ean=9780593243923&amp;next=t" target="_blank"><i>Super Communicators</i></a> | Charles Duhigg</p><p><br /><b>FOLLOW ME: 🔗</b></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/meganakatu" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/meganakatu/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://meganakatu.com/" target="_blank">Web</a></p><p></p><p>🎁 <b>FREE STUFF</b></p><p>→ Decision Making Framework<b>:</b> <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://megan-akatu.kit.com/decisions" target="_blank">Make</a> clear decisions without overthinking </p><p>→ FREE MONTHLY Somatic Breathwork Session. Add your name <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://info.meganakatu.com/bw" target="_blank">here</a> to receive details on the next session <br />→ Join my newsletter <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://megan-akatu.kit.com/newsletter" target="_blank">here </a>for more leadership insights </p><p></p><p>#feminineleadership #leadyourselffirst #itsthelittlethings #womeninleadership #quietpower #feminineenergy #influence #thewaysheleads</p><p><br /></p>no00:37:3211010. When You're Right and It's Ruining You: How to Lead Through Decisions You Didn't Makefull<![CDATA[9. How Self-Care and Vulnerability Reveal Your Most Authentic Self ]]>This week on The Way She Leads, Megan sits down with Molly Di Carlo, a longtime colleague, marketing and communications leader, and one of the most genuinely joyful, high-output professionals Megan has ever worked with. Molly has built a career on moving fast, delivering quality, and making it look easy. And in this conversation, she pulls back the curtain on what that actually requires.

For the high-achieving woman who has been praised her whole career for being quick, responsive, and "on it,” this episode is a permission slip. Molly shares the slow, deliberate work she's been doing to question the urgency, build her own definition of self-care, and lead from a more rested, grounded place without losing the edge that got her here.

This is a conversation about pace, presence, and the practices that make sustainable leadership possible.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Why being fast at work can become a trap, and what shifts when you start asking "does this actually need a response right now?"
  • How operating under constant deadline pressure trains a nervous system response that follows you home
  • Why self-care is not optional for high-performing women 
  • How to build evening routines that protect your sleep, your mornings, and your capacity to lead the next day
  • Why asking for help is harder for women who were told they could "do it all" 
  • The vulnerability paradox: how showing up as a full person creates the strongest professional relationships
  • The small daily moments of space that compound into sustainable performance

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#feminineleadership #leadyourselffirst #itsthelittlethings #womeninleadership #quietpower #feminineenergy #influence #thewaysheleads


]]>d236a4c9-91de-4f6f-a1e4-43425c57697fWed, 27 May 2026 02:17:55 GMT<p>This week on <i>The Way She Leads</i>, Megan sits down with Molly Di Carlo, a longtime colleague, marketing and communications leader, and one of the most genuinely joyful, high-output professionals Megan has ever worked with. Molly has built a career on moving fast, delivering quality, and making it look easy. And in this conversation, she pulls back the curtain on what that <i>actually</i> requires.</p><p></p><p>For the high-achieving woman who has been praised her whole career for being quick, responsive, and "on it,” this episode is a permission slip. Molly shares the slow, deliberate work she's been doing to question the urgency, build her own definition of self-care, and lead from a more rested, grounded place without losing the edge that got her here.</p><p></p><p>This is a conversation about pace, presence, and the practices that make sustainable leadership possible.</p><h4><b>KEY TAKEAWAYS</b></h4><ul><li>Why being fast at work can become a trap, and what shifts when you start asking "does this actually need a response right now?"</li><li>How operating under constant deadline pressure trains a nervous system response that follows you home</li><li>Why self-care is not optional for high-performing women </li><li>How to build evening routines that protect your sleep, your mornings, and your capacity to lead the next day</li><li>Why asking for help is harder for women who were told they could "do it all" </li><li>The vulnerability paradox: how showing up as a full person creates the strongest professional relationships</li><li>The small daily moments of space that compound into sustainable performance</li></ul><h4><b>FOLLOW ME: 🔗</b></h4><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/meganakatu" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/meganakatu/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://meganakatu.com/" target="_blank">Web</a></p><p></p><p>🎁 <b>FREE STUFF</b></p><p></p><p>→ <b>SAY IT LIKE THIS:</b> <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://info.meganakatu.com/power" target="_blank">Scripts</a> that communicate your message, keep you in your power without shrinking or steamrolling </p><p></p><p>→ FREE MONTHLY Somatic Breathwork Session. Add your name <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://info.meganakatu.com/bw" target="_blank">here</a> to receive details on the next session <br /><br />→ Join my newsletter <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://megan-akatu.kit.com/newsletter" target="_blank">here  </a>for more leadership insights </p><p></p><p>#feminineleadership #leadyourselffirst #itsthelittlethings #womeninleadership #quietpower #feminineenergy #influence #thewaysheleads</p><p><br /></p>no00:22:29199. How Self-Care and Vulnerability Reveal Your Most Authentic Self full<![CDATA[8. Human Design Explained: Why You Feel Drained, Overworked, and Misunderstood]]>DESCRIPTION

In this episode of The Way She Leads, Megan sits down with Human Design coach, Veronica Mezzetti Draia, to unpack why so many high-achieving women feel burned out, overstretched, and disconnected from themselves.

In this rich conversation you will learn how Human Design can help women stop pushing and proving, and instead build lives, businesses, and leadership styles that actually honor their energy.

This conversation is deeply validating for women who have spent years over-functioning, over-giving, people pleasing, and trying to succeed inside systems that were never designed for how they naturally operate.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Why so many high-achieving women feel exhausted trying to succeed inside systems that were never designed for them
  • The difference between Generators, Manifestors, Projectors, Reflectors, and Manifesting Generators in Human Design
  • How overworking becomes an identity, especially for women who feel the need to prove themselves
  • The concept of “waiting for the invitation” and why forcing opportunities often creates resistance
  • How Human Design can help you stop outsourcing your decision-making power
  • Why boundaries are one of the deepest forms of self-worth

RESOURCES

Veronica Mezzetti Draia

Founder, Aligned Projectors and Human Design Coach


YouTube | Instagram | LinkedIn | WebCurrently Reading:

We Who Will Die | Stacia Stark

The Wolf King and The Night Prince | Lauren Palphreyman 


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]]>9cd54277-83bc-47e6-b164-9ad019ece796Wed, 20 May 2026 05:00:00 GMT<p><b>DESCRIPTION</b></p><p>In this episode of <i>The Way She Leads</i>, Megan sits down with Human Design coach, Veronica Mezzetti Draia, to unpack why so many high-achieving women feel burned out, overstretched, and disconnected from themselves.</p><p>In this rich conversation you will learn how Human Design can help women stop pushing and proving, and instead build lives, businesses, and leadership styles that actually honor their energy.</p><p></p><p>This conversation is deeply validating for women who have spent years over-functioning, over-giving, people pleasing, and trying to succeed inside systems that were never designed for how they naturally operate.</p><p></p><p><b>KEY TAKEAWAYS</b></p><ul><li>Why so many high-achieving women feel exhausted trying to succeed inside systems that were never designed for them</li><li>The difference between Generators, Manifestors, Projectors, Reflectors, and Manifesting Generators in Human Design</li><li>How overworking becomes an identity, especially for women who feel the need to prove themselves</li><li>The concept of “waiting for the invitation” and why forcing opportunities often creates resistance</li><li>How Human Design can help you stop outsourcing your decision-making power</li><li>Why boundaries are one of the deepest forms of self-worth</li></ul><h2><b>RESOURCES</b><br /></h2><h2>Veronica Mezzetti Draia</h2><p>Founder, Aligned Projectors and Human Design Coach</p><p><br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/@VeronicaMezzettiDraia" target="_blank">YouTube</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/aligned.projectors?igsh=NjVoY2Z4amFxZnhk" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronicamezzettidraia/" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.veronicamezzettidraia.com/" target="_blank">Web</a>Currently Reading:</p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/we-who-will-die-a-novel-stacia-stark/7ee35e0ff5afb9bf?ean=9780063436718&amp;next=t" target="_blank"><i>We Who Will Die</i></a><i> </i>| Stacia Stark</p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-wolf-queen-deluxe-edition-lauren-palphreyman/ab8b4ccba15536dd?ean=9781464275623&amp;next=t" target="_blank"><i>The Wolf King</i></a><i> and </i><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-night-prince-standard-edition-lauren-palphreyman/b58075f703dea7c6?ean=9781464284557&amp;next=t" target="_blank"><i>The Night Prince</i></a><i> </i>| Lauren Palphreyman </p><p><br /></p><h2><b>FOLLOW ME: 🔗</b></h2><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/meganakatu" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/meganakatu/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> |  <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/@MeganAkatuCoaching" target="_blank">YouTube</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://meganakatu.com/" target="_blank">Web</a></p><p></p><p>🎁 <b>FREE STUFF</b></p><p>→ <b>SAY IT LIKE THIS:</b> <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://info.meganakatu.com/power" target="_blank">Scripts</a> that communicate your message, keep you in your power without shrinking or steamrolling </p><p></p><p>→ FREE MONTHLY Somatic Breathwork Session. Add your name <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://info.meganakatu.com/bw" target="_blank">here</a> to receive details on the next session <br /><br />→ Join my newsletter <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://megan-akatu.kit.com/newsletter" target="_blank">here  </a>for more leadership insights </p><p><br /></p>no00:57:49188. Human Design Explained: Why You Feel Drained, Overworked, and Misunderstoodfull<![CDATA[7. The CEO Skills No One Taught Us: Building Trust and Healthy Conflict ]]>Description

On this episode of The Way She Leads, Megan sits down with executive coach and former professional opera singer, Elena Armijo, for a deeply human conversation about leadership, honesty, and the future of organizational culture.

They discuss the tension many leaders are feeling right now between results and humanity, why burnout is often a symptom of systems that no longer work, and how the most impactful organizations are beginning to operationalize values through behaviors, trust, and honest conversations.

Key Takeaways

  • Why burnout is often a symptom of leadership systems that are no longer sustainable
  • How women can create more impact without constantly doing more
  • The power of seasons of life and choosing intentionally instead of operating from guilt
  • Why trust and healthy conflict are essential for high-performing leadership teams


About Elena Armijo

Master Certified Coach, Founder & CEO | Coaching with Elena & The C-Suite Collective®

LinkedIn | Instagram  |YouTube

Current Reads:

Strong Ground | Brené Brown

Systemic Coaching | Peter Hawkins and Eve Turner


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→ SAY IT LIKE THIS: Scripts that communicate your message, keep you in your power without shrinking or steamrolling 

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]]>e87b501b-2aba-46e8-a285-23b4769cd185Wed, 13 May 2026 09:15:00 GMT<h2><b>Description</b></h2><p>On this episode of <i>The Way She Leads</i>, Megan sits down with executive coach and former professional opera singer, Elena Armijo, for a deeply human conversation about leadership, honesty, and the future of organizational culture.</p><p></p><p>They discuss the tension many leaders are feeling right now between results and humanity, why burnout is often a symptom of systems that no longer work, and how the most impactful organizations are beginning to operationalize values through behaviors, trust, and honest conversations.</p><h2><b>Key Takeaways</b></h2><ul><li>Why burnout is often a symptom of leadership systems that are no longer sustainable</li><li>How women can create more impact without constantly doing more</li><li>The power of seasons of life and choosing intentionally instead of operating from guilt</li><li>Why trust and healthy conflict are essential for high-performing leadership teams</li></ul><p><br /></p><p><b>About Elena Armijo</b></p><p></p><p>Master Certified Coach, Founder &amp; CEO | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://elenaarmijo.com/" target="_blank">Coaching with Elena</a> &amp; <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.thec-suitecollective.com/" target="_blank">The C-Suite Collective</a>®</p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/elena-armijo/" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> |<a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/elena.armijo/?hl=en" target="_blank"> Instagram</a>  |<a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3skT7SX5rprYk2kcA5HbCA" target="_blank">YouTube</a></p><p></p><p>Current Reads:</p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/untitled-5749/6373ccfdbe86fb24?ean=9781984855749&amp;next=t" target="_blank">Strong Ground</a> | Brené Brown</p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/systemic-coaching-delivering-value-beyond-the-individual-eve-turner/02939ee69a9e9f00?ean=9781138322493&amp;next=t" target="_blank">Systemic Coaching</a> | Peter Hawkins and Eve Turner</p><p><br /></p><p><b>FOLLOW ME:</b> 🔗</p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/meganakatu" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/meganakatu/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://meganakatu.com/" target="_blank">Web</a></p><p></p><p>🎁 <b>FREE STUFF</b></p><p>→ <b>SAY IT LIKE THIS:</b> <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://info.meganakatu.com/power" target="_blank">Scripts</a> that communicate your message, keep you in your power without shrinking or steamrolling </p><p></p><p>→ FREE MONTHLY Somatic Breathwork Session. Add your name <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://info.meganakatu.com/bw" target="_blank">here</a> to receive details on the next session <br /><br />→ Join my newsletter <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://megan-akatu.kit.com/newsletter" target="_blank">here  </a>for more leadership insights </p><p><br /></p>no00:39:32177. The CEO Skills No One Taught Us: Building Trust and Healthy Conflict full<![CDATA[6. The New Leadership Skill: Self-Regulation in Uncertain Times]]>Description

In this first solo episode of The Way She Leads, Megan Akatu explores the growing sense of uncertainty many high-achieving professionals are feeling at work.

From annual reviews to difficult meetings, layoffs, organizational change, and the constant pressure to prove ourselves, Megan breaks down why so many people are experiencing heightened threat responses in professional settings. 

This episode is a compassionate and practical conversation about how to stop outsourcing safety to organizations, titles, recognition, or external validation and begin cultivating resilience, regulation, and grounded confidence from within.

Key Takeaways

  • Why workplace feedback and uncertainty can trigger a full nervous system threat response
  • Why overworking and “proving yourself” often increases burnout instead of safety
  • The difference between physical danger and emotional discomfort
  • How to build resilience through small daily practices Megan’s simple framework: Regulate → Reframe → Respond

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]]>2d8cd88e-5a8f-4c7c-a612-bbdea77d5ef6Wed, 06 May 2026 02:10:50 GMT<h1><b>Description</b></h1><p>In this first solo episode of <i>The Way She Leads</i>, Megan Akatu explores the growing sense of uncertainty many high-achieving professionals are feeling at work.</p><p></p><p>From annual reviews to difficult meetings, layoffs, organizational change, and the constant pressure to prove ourselves, Megan breaks down why so many people are experiencing heightened threat responses in professional settings. </p><p></p><p>This episode is a compassionate and practical conversation about how to stop outsourcing safety to organizations, titles, recognition, or external validation and begin cultivating resilience, regulation, and grounded confidence from within.</p><p></p><h1><b>Key Takeaways</b></h1><ul><li>Why workplace feedback and uncertainty can trigger a full nervous system threat response</li><li>Why overworking and “proving yourself” often increases burnout instead of safety</li><li>The difference between physical danger and emotional discomfort</li><li>How to build resilience through small daily practices Megan’s simple framework: Regulate → Reframe → Respond<p></p></li></ul><p><b>FOLLOW ME:</b> 🔗</p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/meganakatu" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/meganakatu/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://meganakatu.com/" target="_blank">Web</a></p><p></p><p>🎁 <b>FREE STUFF</b></p><p>→ <b>SAY WHAT YOU MEAN:</b> <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://info.meganakatu.com/power" target="_blank">Scripts</a> that communicate your message, keep you in your power without shrinking or steamrolling </p><p></p><p>→ FREE MONTHLY Somatic Breathwork Session. Add your name <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://info.meganakatu.com/bw" target="_blank">here</a> to receive details on the next session <br /><br />→ Join my newsletter <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://megan-akatu.kit.com/newsletter" target="_blank">here  </a>for more leadership insights </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>no00:17:256. The New Leadership Skill: Self-Regulation in Uncertain Timesfull<![CDATA[5. The Real Reason You Feel Resentful in Your Relationship]]>What if the same drive that made you successful… is quietly working against you in love?

In this episode, I sit down with Francesca Zoia, relationship coach and someone who deeply understands the inner world of high-achieving women navigating love. Together, we explore the hidden patterns that show up when ambitious, capable women bring their “make it happen” energy into relationships, and why that approach can leave them feeling exhausted, resentful, and disconnected.

Francesca shares her own journey of questioning whether to stay or leave a long-term relationship, and how that experience shaped her work helping women move out of confusion and into clarity. We talk about over-functioning, self-abandonment, and the subtle ways women often unintentionally give more than they receive.

You don’t have to choose between success and love. You just need a new way of showing up to both.

Key Takeaways

  • High-achieving women often over-function in relationships, creating imbalance and resentment. 
  • Love is not a solo performance. Relationships require co-creation.
  • The question isn’t, “Should I stay or leave?” It’s “What dynamics am I participating in, and what can I shift?” 
  • Self-leadership is the foundation of healthy love.


Connect with Francesca

Love with Francesca podcast

Instagram | LinkedIn

Currently Reading: Come As You Are | Emily Nagoski


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→ SAY IT LIKE THIS: Scripts that communicate your message, keep you in your power without shrinking or steamrolling 

→ FREE MONTHLY Somatic Breathwork Session. Add your name here to receive details on the next session

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]]>de237165-eaf0-44cd-81df-5825015073f3Wed, 29 Apr 2026 11:00:00 GMT<p>What if the same drive that made you successful… is quietly working against you in love?</p><p></p><p>In this episode, I sit down with Francesca Zoia, relationship coach and someone who deeply understands the inner world of high-achieving women navigating love. Together, we explore the hidden patterns that show up when ambitious, capable women bring their “make it happen” energy into relationships, and why that approach can leave them feeling exhausted, resentful, and disconnected.</p><p>Francesca shares her own journey of questioning whether to stay or leave a long-term relationship, and how that experience shaped her work helping women move out of confusion and into clarity. We talk about over-functioning, self-abandonment, and the subtle ways women often unintentionally give more than they receive.</p><p></p><p>You don’t have to choose between success and love. You just need a new way of showing up to both.</p><h3><b>Key Takeaways</b></h3><ul><li>High-achieving women often over-function in relationships, creating imbalance and resentment. </li><li>Love is not a solo performance. Relationships require co-creation.</li><li>The question isn’t, “Should I stay or leave?” It’s “What dynamics am I participating in, and what can I shift?” </li><li>Self-leadership is the foundation of healthy love.</li></ul><p><br /></p><p><b>Connect with Francesca</b></p><p>Love with Francesca <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/13yVNKyFfybo5VuRrYHVEO?si=b877dd18622c4385" target="_blank">podcast</a></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/lovewithfrancesca/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> |<a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/francescazoia/" target="_blank"> LinkedIn</a></p><p>Currently Reading: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/come-as-you-are-revised-and-updated-the-surprising-new-science-that-will-transform-your-sex-life-emily-nagoski-ph-d/384053c943b38bbf?ean=9781982165314&amp;next=t" target="_blank">Come As You Are</a> | Emily Nagoski</p><p><br /><b>FOLLOW ME:</b> 🔗</p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/meganakatu" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/meganakatu/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://meganakatu.com/" target="_blank">Web</a></p><p></p><p>🎁 <b>FREE STUFF</b></p><p>→ <b>SAY IT LIKE THIS:</b> <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://info.meganakatu.com/power" target="_blank">Scripts</a> that communicate your message, keep you in your power without shrinking or steamrolling </p><p></p><p>→ FREE MONTHLY Somatic Breathwork Session. Add your name <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://info.meganakatu.com/bw" target="_blank">here</a> to receive details on the next session <br /><br />→ Join my newsletter <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://megan-akatu.kit.com/newsletter" target="_blank">here  </a>for more leadership insights</p>no00:33:03155. The Real Reason You Feel Resentful in Your Relationshipfull<![CDATA[2. Boundaries Won’t Save You… Until You Do This First]]>If you’ve ever been told to “just set better boundaries”…and then you totally chicken out, this episode is for you.

I’m joined by a boundary coach Janis Hillard, founder of Good Courage, and someone who brings both depth and honesty to a topic that we hear a lot about and don’t actually know how to do it.

We explore how high-achieving women unknowingly create burnout through people-pleasing patterns, why exhaustion is often your first signal that something is off, and how boundaries are less about saying “no” and more about how you lead yourself.

🔑 Key Takeaways

  • Boundaries are not about other people, they are for YOU
  • Exhaustion is a signal, not a badge of honor
  • Self-awareness is the foundation of every boundary
  • People-pleasing shows up everywhere
  • Boundaries are a practice, not perfection

Resources


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🎁 FREE STUFF

→ SAY IT LIKE THIS: Scripts that communicate your message, keep you in your power without shrinking or steamrolling

→ FREE MONTHLY Somatic Breathwork Session. Add your name here to receive details on the next session 

→ Join my newsletter here for more leadership insights

#feminineleadership #leadyourselffirst #itsthelittlethings #womeninleadership #quietpower #feminineenergy #influence #thewaysheleads


]]>9cfbc816-abb4-49e9-b232-b5f5d7847e34Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT<p>If you’ve ever been told to “just set better boundaries”…and then you totally chicken out,<i> </i>this episode is for you.</p><p>I’m joined by a boundary coach <b>Janis Hillard</b>, founder of Good Courage, and someone who brings both depth and honesty to a topic that we hear a lot about and don’t actually know how to do it.</p><p></p><p>We explore how high-achieving women unknowingly create burnout through people-pleasing patterns, why exhaustion is often your first signal that something is off, and how boundaries are less about saying “no” and more about how you lead yourself.</p><p></p><h2><b>🔑 Key Takeaways</b></h2><ul><li>Boundaries are not about other people, they are for YOU</li><li>Exhaustion is a signal, not a badge of honor</li><li>Self-awareness is the foundation of every boundary</li><li>People-pleasing shows up everywhere</li><li>Boundaries are a practice, not perfection<b><br /></b></li></ul><h2><b>Resources</b></h2><ul><li><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/sky-full-of-elephants-a-novel-cebo-campbell/7575ac25a1b625c3?ean=9781668034934&amp;next=t" target="_blank"><i>Sky Full of Elephants</i></a><i> </i>by Cebo Campbell</li><li><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/sky-full-of-elephants-a-novel-cebo-campbell/7575ac25a1b625c3?ean=9781668034934&amp;next=t" target="_blank"><i>Binti, The Night Masquerade</i></a> by Nnedi Okorafor</li></ul><p><br /></p><p><b>FOLLOW ME: 🔗</b></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="www.linkedin.com/in/meganakatu" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/meganakatu/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://meganakatu.com/" target="_blank">Web</a></p><p></p><p>🎁 <b>FREE STUFF</b></p><p>→ <b>SAY IT LIKE THIS:</b> <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://info.meganakatu.com/power" target="_blank">Scripts</a> that communicate your message, keep you in your power without shrinking or steamrolling</p><p></p><p>→ FREE MONTHLY Somatic Breathwork Session. Add your name <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://info.meganakatu.com/bw" target="_blank">here</a> to receive details on the next session <br /></p><p>→ Join my newsletter <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://megan-akatu.kit.com/newsletter" target="_blank">here </a>for more leadership insights</p><p></p><p>#feminineleadership #leadyourselffirst #itsthelittlethings #womeninleadership #quietpower #feminineenergy #influence #thewaysheleads</p><p><br /></p>no00:19:02122. Boundaries Won’t Save You… Until You Do This Firstfull<![CDATA[4. What Gen Z Is Teaching Us About Leadership (That We Didn’t Learn)]]>Megan sits down with Veronica Bellamy Leak, Director of Human Resources with over 20 years of experience to  explore how leadership has evolved and what it truly means to lead humans, not just manage performance.

Veronica shares powerful insights on “heart posture,” navigating generational differences at work, and why today’s most effective leaders are those who embrace empathy, curiosity, and self-awareness. 

Key Takeaways

  • Leadership has shifted from task-focused to human-centered, people now bring their full lives into work, and great leaders know how to meet them there
  • “Heart posture” matters, How you show up internally impacts how your team experiences you
  • Generational differences at work often create tension, especially around boundaries, work ethic, and priorities
  • Self-awareness is foundational. Leaders who are honest about their mistakes create trust and psychological safety
  • Living “in the gray” allows leaders to respond to real people and situations, rather than rigid policies
  • Removing your own emotional reactivity (while keeping empathy) helps you lead more effectively

Resources

  • Podcast: Therapy for Black Girls by Joy Harden Bradford
  • Book:The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama

FOLLOW ME: 🔗

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🎁 FREE STUFF

→ SAY IT LIKE THIS: Scripts that communicate your message, keep you in your power without shrinking or steamrolling

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#feminineleadership #leadyourselffirst #itsthelittlethings #womeninleadership #quietpower #feminineenergy #influence #thewaysheleads

]]>b23df795-79c7-46f3-b3c7-3971e83c5a3eWed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT<p>Megan sits down with Veronica Bellamy Leak, Director of Human Resources with over 20 years of experience to  explore how leadership has evolved and what it truly means to lead humans, not just manage performance.</p><p></p><p>Veronica shares powerful insights on “heart posture,” navigating generational differences at work, and why today’s most effective leaders are those who embrace empathy, curiosity, and self-awareness. </p><h2><b>Key Takeaways</b></h2><ul><li>Leadership has shifted from task-focused to human-centered, people now bring their full lives into work, and great leaders know how to meet them there</li><li>“Heart posture” matters, How you show up internally impacts how your team experiences you</li><li>Generational differences at work often create tension, especially around boundaries, work ethic, and priorities</li><li>Self-awareness is foundational. Leaders who are honest about their mistakes create trust and psychological safety</li><li>Living “in the gray” allows leaders to respond to real people and situations, rather than rigid policies</li><li>Removing your own emotional reactivity (while keeping empathy) helps you lead more effectively</li></ul><h2><b>Resources</b></h2><ul><li><b>Podcast:</b> <i>Therapy for Black Girls</i> by Joy Harden Bradford</li><li><b>Book:</b><i>The Light We Carry</i> by Michelle Obama</li></ul><p></p><p><b>FOLLOW ME:</b> 🔗</p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="www.linkedin.com/in/meganakatu" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/meganakatu/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://meganakatu.com" target="_blank">Web</a></p><p></p><p>🎁 <b>FREE STUFF</b></p><p></p><p>→ <b>SAY IT LIKE THIS:</b> <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://info.meganakatu.com/power" target="_blank">Scripts</a> that communicate your message, keep you in your power without shrinking or steamrolling</p><p></p><p>→ FREE MONTHLY Somatic Breathwork Session. Add your name <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://info.meganakatu.com/bw" target="_blank">here</a> to receive details on the next session <br /><br />→ Join my newsletter <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://megan-akatu.kit.com/newsletter" target="_blank">here </a>for more leadership insights</p><p></p><p></p><p>#feminineleadership #leadyourselffirst #itsthelittlethings #womeninleadership #quietpower #feminineenergy #influence #thewaysheleads</p><p></p><p></p>no00:39:43144. What Gen Z Is Teaching Us About Leadership (That We Didn’t Learn)full<![CDATA[1. The Permission Slip High Achievers Never Give Themselves]]>Megan sits down with her business bestie, Laura Saldivar Luna, for a conversation that is equal parts soul and strategy. In this episode, Laura opens up about her own winding journey: becoming the first in her family to graduate college, rising to the C-suite, and then doing the harder work of learning to trust herself.

From self-leadership to best practices in how to lead people and organizations, Laura breaks down what the most successful leaders are doing in the face of uncertainty.

Key takeaways

Grounding is a leadership skill. Re-centering yourself before you act is actually the fastest route.

The Monday ritual. A weekly structure doesn't have to be rigid to be powerful.

Dreaming out loud works. From her first day as an entrepreneur to her most ambitious career goals, Laura has told people what she was building before she knew how she'd build it.

A new leadership paradigm is here. The leaders navigating uncertainty best right now have three things: community, power practices, and a willingness to rest. Command-and-control is crumbling.

What we cover

  • 06:31 Self-trust, self-worth, and power practice
  • 19:24 The Monday morning ritual: how structure becomes sacred
  • 22:39 Dreams, priorities, and the power of telling people what you want
  • 35:21 The most powerful practice: looking in the mirror and being with the truth of what is
  • 49:49 What today's most effective leaders have in common: community, power practices, and the radical act of rest

Connect with Laura

Laura Saldivar Luna

Founder, CEO Coach of Piñata Possible

Web | Instagram | LinkedIn

What Reading: Big Dumb Eyes | Nate Borgatze

FOLLOW ME: 🔗

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🎁 FREE STUFF

→ SAY IT LIKE THIS: Scripts that communicate your message, keep you in your power without shrinking or steamrolling

→ FREE MONTHLY Somatic Breathwork Session. Add your name here to receive details on the next session

→ Join my newsletter here for more leadership insights

#feminineleadership #leadyourselffirst #itsthelittlethings #womeninleadership #quietpower #feminineenergy #influence #thewaysheleads

]]>456c6daf-e468-4b3d-a87f-005298c44962Thu, 02 Apr 2026 09:00:00 GMT<p>Megan sits down with her business bestie, Laura Saldivar Luna, for a conversation that is equal parts soul and strategy. In this episode, Laura opens up about her own winding journey: becoming the first in her family to graduate college, rising to the C-suite, and then doing the harder work of learning to trust herself.</p><p></p><p>From self-leadership to best practices in how to lead people and organizations, Laura breaks down what the most successful leaders are doing in the face of uncertainty.</p><h2><b>Key takeaways</b></h2><p><b>Grounding is a leadership skill.</b> Re-centering yourself before you act is actually the fastest route.</p><p><b>The Monday ritual.</b> A weekly structure doesn't have to be rigid to be powerful.</p><p><b>Dreaming out loud works.</b> From her first day as an entrepreneur to her most ambitious career goals, Laura has told people what she was building before she knew how she'd build it.</p><p><b>A new leadership paradigm is here.</b> The leaders navigating uncertainty best right now have three things: community, power practices, and a willingness to rest. Command-and-control is crumbling.</p><p></p><p><b>What we cover</b></p><ul><li><b>06:31 </b>Self-trust, self-worth, and power practice</li><li><b>19:24 </b>The Monday morning ritual: how structure becomes sacred</li><li><b>22:39 </b>Dreams, priorities, and the power of telling people what you want</li><li><b>35:21 </b>The most powerful practice: looking in the mirror and being with the truth of what is</li><li><b>49:49 </b>What today's most effective leaders have in common: community, power practices, and the radical act of rest</li></ul><hr /><h2><b>Connect with Laura</b></h2><p><b>Laura Saldivar Luna</b></p><p>Founder, CEO Coach of Piñata Possible</p><p></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.pinatapossible.com/" target="_blank">Web</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/pinatapossible/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-saldivar-luna/" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a></p><p>What Reading: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/big-dumb-eyes-stories-from-a-simpler-mind-nate-bargatze/28b5fcf2ec5c1333?ean=9781538768464&amp;next=t" target="_blank">Big Dumb Eyes</a> | Nate Borgatze</p><p></p><p><b>FOLLOW ME:</b> 🔗</p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="www.linkedin.com/in/meganakatu" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/meganakatu/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://meganakatu.com" target="_blank">Web</a></p><p></p><p>🎁 <b>FREE STUFF</b></p><p></p><p>→ <b>SAY IT LIKE THIS:</b> <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://info.meganakatu.com/power" target="_blank">Scripts</a> that communicate your message, keep you in your power without shrinking or steamrolling</p><p></p><p>→ FREE MONTHLY Somatic Breathwork Session. Add your name <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://info.meganakatu.com/bw" target="_blank">here</a> to receive details on the next session <br /><br />→ Join my newsletter <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://megan-akatu.kit.com/newsletter" target="_blank">here </a>for more leadership insights</p><p></p><p></p><p>#feminineleadership #leadyourselffirst #itsthelittlethings #womeninleadership #quietpower #feminineenergy #influence #thewaysheleads</p>no00:58:47111. The Permission Slip High Achievers Never Give Themselvesfull<![CDATA[3. Choices vs. Decisions: Why Smart Women Get Stuck and How to Move Forward]]>What if the reason you feel stuck… isn’t because you don’t know what to do?

In this conversation, Megan sits down with executive coach and former Amazon leader Sarah Castle to unpack a subtle but powerful distinction: the difference between a choice and a decision.

Together, they explore why high-achieving women, who make decisions every day at work, can still feel stuck when it comes to their own lives. From risk tolerance to intuition, confidence to capacity, this episode offers a grounded and expansive look at what it really takes to move forward with clarity.

🔑 Key Takeaways

  • The difference between a choice (direction) and a decision (commitment)
  • Why women can be decisive at work, and hesitant in their own lives
  • How perfectionism and risk-aversion quietly delay decision-making
  • The concept of “one-way vs. two-way doors” (and how it changes everything)
  • Why confidence comes from reps (not certainty)
  • How unclear ownership and expectations slow down teams (and drain energy)
  • The role of intuition + embodiment in making aligned decisions
  • How to stop giving away your decision-making power

Sarah Castle is the founder of Castle Coaching and a former executive at Amazon and General Electric. She now works with CEOs and senior leadership teams, bringing coaching practices into strategic planning and leadership development.

Her work bridges high-performance business strategy with human-centered leadership, helping leaders grow companies while staying aligned with what matters most.

Resources

​​Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell 

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall

Duke Women's Basketball head coach video on things don't get easier, we just get better

]]>b25d5d75-08aa-4708-81b4-385a9c549851Wed, 15 Apr 2026 09:00:00 GMT<h2>What if the reason you feel stuck… isn’t because you don’t know what to do?</h2><p>In this conversation, Megan sits down with executive coach and former Amazon leader Sarah Castle to unpack a subtle but powerful distinction: the difference between a choice and a decision.</p><p></p><p>Together, they explore why high-achieving women, who make decisions every day at work, can still feel stuck when it comes to their own lives. From risk tolerance to intuition, confidence to capacity, this episode offers a grounded and expansive look at what it really takes to move forward with clarity.</p><p></p><p>🔑 Key Takeaways</p><ul><li>The difference between a choice (direction) and a decision (commitment)</li><li>Why women can be decisive at work, and hesitant in their own lives</li><li>How perfectionism and risk-aversion quietly delay decision-making</li><li>The concept of “one-way vs. two-way doors” (and how it changes everything)</li><li>Why confidence comes from reps (not certainty)</li><li>How unclear ownership and expectations slow down teams (and drain energy)</li><li>The role of intuition + embodiment in making aligned decisions</li><li>How to stop giving away your decision-making power</li></ul><p></p><p><b>Sarah Castle</b> is the founder of <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.castlecoaching.com/" target="_blank">Castle Coaching</a> and a former executive at Amazon and General Electric. She now works with CEOs and senior leadership teams, bringing coaching practices into strategic planning and leadership development.</p><p></p><p>Her work bridges high-performance business strategy with human-centered leadership, helping leaders grow companies while staying aligned with what matters most.</p><p></p><p><b>Resources</b></p><p>​​<a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/buy-back-your-time-get-unstuck-reclaim-your-freedom-and-build-your-empire-dan-martell/528eb346d9aab1fa?ean=9780593422977&amp;next=t" target="_blank"><b>Buy Back Your Time</b></a> by Dan Martell </p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/broken-country-reese-s-book-club-clare-leslie-hall/051a5eca2446f3fd?ean=9781668078181&amp;next=t" target="_blank"><b>Broken Country</b></a> by Clare Leslie Hall</p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDzfZOfNki4" target="_blank">Duke Women's Basketball</a> head coach video on <i>things don't get easier, we just get better</i></p>no00:36:23133. Choices vs. Decisions: Why Smart Women Get Stuck and How to Move Forwardfull<![CDATA[The "Why" of The Way She Leads]]>Welcome to The Way She Leads! Get to know me, Megan Akatu, more about my story and why this podcast was created.

More ways to connect with me:

YouTube | LinkedIn | Instagram | Website

Join me for a free monthly Somatic Breathwork Session!

Book a connection call

]]>f428496c-34b0-4d73-83d8-47b63c6400f5Fri, 20 Mar 2026 16:20:42 GMT<p>Welcome to <i>The Way She Leads! </i>Get to know me, Megan Akatu, more about my story and why this podcast was created. </p><p></p><p>More ways to connect with me:</p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/@MeganAkatuCoaching" target="_blank">YouTube</a> | <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://meganakatu.com/" target="_blank">LinkedIn | Instagram | Website</a></p><p></p><p>Join me for a free monthly Somatic Breathwork <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://info.meganakatu.com/bw" target="_blank">Session</a>!</p><p></p><p>Book a connection <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://calendly.com/meganakatu/intro-call" target="_blank">call</a></p><p></p>no00:03:0711The "Why" of The Way She Leadsfull