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2025 stretched a lot of founders and exposed some serious cracks in the way we lead.

In this episode, I’m unpacking the biggest leadership lessons I learned this year and the 3 high-voltage shifts I’m making to step into 2026 with more clarity, space, and CEO energy.

If you’ve been the bottleneck, the fixer, the Chief Everything Officer… this one’s for you.

Episode Highlights:

• ⚡ Why 2025 cracked open old leadership habits
• 📉 The real reason your team is still waiting on you
• 🧠 The 3 shifts to make if you’re ready to lead like a CEO
• 🛑 Why resourcing > rescuing (and how to stop carrying what isn’t yours)
• 🧾 The free resource I created to help you reset before 2026 hits

👉 Download the 2026 CEO Prep Worksheet — because 2026 requires a different way of leading.

And if you want support turning those insights into action, book a Spark Session with me and we’ll map out your next steps for January.

As the year comes to a close, I just want to say thank you for being here and for being part of this incredible community.

👉 Contact Cardinal Studios at: cardinalstudio.co or mike@cardinalstudio.co

Support the show

Our mission for Female Founder Unplugged is to impact 1000 female entrepreneurs every season, and we need your help to do that.

Please subscribe to the show, and share your favorite episodes with anyone you feel could benefit. We are growing a powerful community here, and everyone is welcome. Together, we can pave a path to giving more women a seat at the table, and providing opportunities for financial independence.

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This episode is a wake-up call for every founder who's ever skipped lunch, powered through with coffee, or told herself she's “too busy” to use the washroom.

I'm joined by dietitian and women’s wellness expert Lindsay Martens for a refreshingly honest conversation about how self-leadership starts at the most fundamental level — with what your body actually needs to function, focus, and feel good.

✨ Episode Highlights:

• Why so many smart, successful women ignore basic needs
• How dehydration actually puts your brain in survival mode
• What it means to lead yourself first through food and self-awareness
• Why we overthink food — and how to make it simple again
• The fiber + protein combo that actually supports your hormones
• Why self-compassion might be your most powerful leadership tool

👉 Take Lindsay's “Quiet the Food Noise Quiz” to uncover your biggest food mindset blocks and get personalized tips to make food feel easier, calmer, and more intuitive: https://lindsaymartensnutrition.com/quiz/

👉 Book a Spark Session with me here.

👉 Contact Cardinal Studios at: cardinalstudio.co or mike@cardinalstudio.co

Support the show

Our mission for Female Founder Unplugged is to impact 1000 female entrepreneurs every season, and we need your help to do that.

Please subscribe to the show, and share your favorite episodes with anyone you feel could benefit. We are growing a powerful community here, and everyone is welcome. Together, we can pave a path to giving more women a seat at the table, and providing opportunities for financial independence.

Send us a text

Have you ever found yourself up at 10 pm rewriting things, fixing mistakes, or just doing it yourself… even though you’ve hired a team to help you?

If you’ve been wondering why your team isn’t stepping up, this episode of Female Founder Unplugged is your wake-up call. Because truthfully? Your team isn’t the issue. But how you’re leading them... that might be.

In this episode, I’m breaking down what over-functioning really looks like, why it’s costing you freedom, and how to lead with clarity, trust, and intention.

✨ Episode Highlights

• 🚨 The truth about the “dream team” myth — and what no one tells you about hiring
• 📌 What over-functioning actually looks like (hint: it’s not just being busy)
• 📊 Why measuring tasks isn’t the same as creating accountability
• 💡 The real reason your team isn’t taking ownership — and how to fix it
• 🛠️ The four shifts that will create a culture of autonomy and results

We’re unpacking what better systems and clearer expectations can do for you and your business.

And if you’re ready for personalized support (if you’re still carrying the load and the clipboard), it’s time to make a shift. In a Spark Session, we’ll map out:

• Where you’re over-functioning
• What needs to be delegated
• How to create clarity and accountability that sticks

Just one hour and one clear path forward.

👉 Book your Spark Session now

Support the show

Our mission for Female Founder Unplugged is to impact 1000 female entrepreneurs every season, and we need your help to do that.

Please subscribe to the show, and share your favorite episodes with anyone you feel could benefit. We are growing a powerful community here, and everyone is welcome. Together, we can pave a path to giving more women a seat at the table, and providing opportunities for financial independence.