In this episode of the Small Brave Moves podcast, we challenge the hustle culture myth that faster is always better—and explore why the bravest leaders are the ones who dare to slow down.

We explore why brave leaders aren’t the ones burning the candle at both ends—but the ones carving out time to think deeply, act intentionally, and lead with clarity. You’ll learn how constant motion leads to misalignment, burnout, and poor decision-making, while strategic stillness unlocks innovation, presence, and purpose.

Nicole shares the Small Brave Moves she's made to redesign her own calendar and routines—plus a few hard-earned lessons from burnout recovery. Whether you’re a mid-level leader or C-suite exec, this episode will help you lead with more clarity, energy, and purpose.

Plus, Nicole shares an exclusive invitation to podcast listeners to attend a transformational leadership experience designed to help executive women reclaim their energy, amplify their light, and elevate their leadership.

If your calendar is packed but your impact feels stalled, this is your invitation to hit pause—and lead forward with intention.

🌴Learn more about The Brave LeadHERship Retreat + access exclusive podcast listener pricing.

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In this episode of the Small Brave Moves podcast, we tackle a challenge that many powerhouse women in leadership quietly face: the constant tug-of-war between being seen as too much or not enough.

We unpack the double standards women leaders often navigate—where authority can be labeled as “aggressive,” and warmth mistaken for weakness—and offer a new model: one where you don’t have to choose between being respected or relatable.

From clarity without control to real talk and radical humanity, you’ll walk away with five practical mindset and behavior shifts that will help you lead with both power and grace.

Plus, Nicole shares an exclusive invitation to podcast listeners to attend a transformational leadership experience designed to help executive women reclaim their energy, amplify their light, and elevate their leadership.

If you're tired of the tightrope and ready to rewrite the rules, this episode is your next brave move.

🌴Learn more about The Brave LeadHERship Retreat + access exclusive podcast listener pricing.

Work with me⬇️
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🗣️Get certified in the Five Tough Talks
📖Check out my books, often referred to as corporate survival guides, Small Brave Moves and Five Tough Talks

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In this episode of the Small Brave Moves podcast, we explore one of the hardest but most necessary parts of leadership—recovering from failure. Whether it’s a misstep, a missed deadline, or a moment you wish you could take back, failure is inevitable for every leader.

But here’s the truth: what defines your leadership isn’t the mistake—it’s how you respond.

We break down the three types of leadership failures—slips, trips, and falls—and provide a clear, practical roadmap to bounce back with confidence and integrity. You’ll learn how to own your mistakes, rebuild trust, and turn failure into fuel for growth. Plus, I share a recent high-stakes leadership stumble of my own and how I handled it in real-time.

If you’ve ever struggled with guilt after messing up, or worried your credibility took a hit, this episode will give you the mindset and tools to fail forward and come back even stronger.

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In this episode of the Small Brave Moves podcast, we tackle the hidden leadership habit that’s sabotaging your confidence and credibility—negative self-talk.

Whether it’s those quiet, critical thoughts or the self-deprecating jokes you make to be relatable, the way you speak about yourself matters. It shapes how others see you and how you show up as a leader.

From real-life stories to powerful mindset shifts, we’ll explore how negative self-talk chips away at your leadership and how to replace it with 3 Small Brave Moves that build self-assurance. You’ll learn how to reframe limiting language, catch yourself in the moment, and create a leadership presence that is grounded in confidence and clarity.

If you’re ready to stop undermining yourself and start owning your voice, this one’s for you.

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In this episode of the Small Brave Moves podcast, we're stepping into a different kind of brave leadership—the leadership of your health. I'm joined by Julie Griffin, executive health coach, certified functional medicine health coach, and former corporate HR leader with over 30 years of experience.

Julie brings a powerful blend of executive-level insight and deep knowledge of functional medicine and lifestyle behavior change to help high-achieving executive women prioritize their well-being.

We dive into the lessons we learned firsthand from completing a three-day cleanse together (spoiler: it wasn’t always pretty), and the parallels between how we treat our bodies and how we lead. From navigating the demands of executive life to honoring what your body is really telling you, we unpack why so many leaders struggle to slow down, listen in, and make themselves a priority.

Julie shares why small, intentional actions—like a cleanse or habit stacking—can become game-changing leadership moves, and how self-leadership builds the resilience, clarity, and capacity needed to show up for your teams and your life.

If you're a leader who puts everyone else first, this episode will challenge you to rethink that—and give you practical, brave ways to reclaim your energy and your leadership from the inside out.

Follow along with Julie's journey👇
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In this episode of the Small Brave Moves podcast, we explore what it really takes to
detoxify a workplace and lead with courage and grace.

I'm joined by Alan Utley, keynote speaker, certified leadership coach, and the HR pro behind the concept of fanatical grace. With 25 years of experience in senior HR roles, Alan shares powerful stories about the small brave moves that helped him shift from perfectionism to authenticity—and from conflict to connection.

We dive into how grace isn't about weakness, but about creating space for
imperfection, leading with humanity, and building cultures where people can thrive.

Learn how to navigate tough conversations, choose relationships over being right, and lead with more flow, forgiveness, and bold compassion. If you're ready to make your workplace healthier and your leadership braver, this one's for you.

Follow along with Alan's journey👇
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🎤Book me as your next keynote speaker
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In this episode of the Small Brave Moves podcast, we explore the concept of butterfly moments—those seemingly small but powerful shifts in thought or behavior that spark meaningful transformation in your leadership journey.

From quiet realizations to courageous decisions, these moments often arrive during times of discomfort, clarity, or reflection. Learn how to recognize, embrace, and create more of these transformative turning points in your leadership.

Nicole shares real-life examples and strategies for using butterfly moments to build momentum, inspire your team, and course-correct your leadership path. Tune in and discover how to harness the subtle but mighty shifts that elevate how you lead—one Small Brave Move at a time.

Work with me⬇️
🎤Book me as your next keynote speaker
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In this episode of the Small Brave Moves podcast, we tackle one of the most misunderstood elements of leadership: conflict. While most leaders shy away from it, the truth is that conflict—when handled well—can be a powerful catalyst for trust, innovation, and accountability.

We'll discuss the costly impact of conflict avoidance and share how reframing conflict as an opportunity can strengthen both leadership and team culture.

You’ll learn how to build psychological safety, model calm and constructive dialogue, and approach tough moments with curiosity instead of fear.

Tune in for practical tools and brave mindset shifts to help you turn conflict into a leadership superpower.

Work with me⬇️
🎤Book me as your next keynote speaker
🏅Hire me to coach you or your leadership team
🗣️Get certified in the Five Tough Talks
📖Check out my books, often referred to as corporate survival guides, Small Brave Moves and Five Tough Talks

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Small Brave Mondays Weekly Newsletter