Today I’m joined by the wonderful and inspiring Jo Gaines, a seasoned professional who has worked in the technology and media sector for over two decades. Jo's career journey has seen her work for high-profile companies including CBS, Krux, Yahoo and more recently, as Area Vice President of Salesforce. Jo is also a dedicated mother-of-two and a fierce advocate for equality, lending her support as an ambassador for women's shelters. She shares with us her journey through hardship to finding resilience and how changing her mindset helped reshape her story.

Through facing a challenging turning point in her career due to redundancy, Jo embarked on a transformative journey of self-discovery that saw her turn to practices such as weight training, breathwork and meditation. She shares the new mindset she adopted through these practices, and how her determination to thrive in the face of uncertainty led to a completely new outlook on life.

In our conversation, Jo shares the grief she experienced when her role at Salesforce came to an end, and how lost she felt when it came to her future. However, she notes there are two choices we can make when it comes to facing adversity. Either we can see it as a downfall, or treat it as an opportunity to expand. Jo chose the latter, and decided to view this new path as one she was destined to be on.

Resilience can often be misunderstood as a suppression of emotions or ignoring our problems. However, we define what resilience really is and discuss its ability to help effectively manage our thoughts and feelings. Jo believes that releasing control and trusting everything will eventually work out can free us from fear and the temptation to give up.

We talk about how navigating through our own life challenges produces empathy, and when we view others through this lens, we become more effective leaders. Recognising that everyone experiences change, particularly in a post-pandemic world, we’re able to rally with our team and prioritise their wellbeing. How can we communicate in a way that resonates for each individual? How do we lead in a way that not only gets them through, but also builds resilience?

Jo also shares her shift in perspective that inspired her to live more fully in the present and pursue the passions that had been sitting on the backburner for too long. She talks about the bucket list she created and the importance of making time and space in life to achieve each goal.

Jo's story is a powerful testament to the transformation resilience can create, and the potential for growth when we embrace change with gratitude. I just know you’ll be as inspired as I was by Jo’s incredible wisdom, and hope you find confidence to implement strategies for a full and rewarding life in leadership and beyond.

LINKS

Connect with Jo Gaines

LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/jogaines

Instagram: @gogaino

Connect with Julie:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/

Instagram: @juliehydeleads

Website: https://juliehyde.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our fast-paced and demanding world, finding ways to prioritise our well-being can often feel like a challenge.

In this episode, we dive into this problem with the incredible Fleur Heazelwood, a leadership expert, founder of the Blueberry Institute, and author of Resilience Recipes. She shares her journey in the corporate world, the lessons she learned from it, and the wisdom she has gained further studying resilience.

Fleur doesn’t like the traditional notion of work-life balance and proposes a more holistic approach to well-being. She emphasizes that our lives should not be divided into separate compartments, but rather, we should view it as one interconnected whole. By considering work as just one piece of the larger puzzle of life, we can find a better balance that aligns with our priorities and values.

Fleur believes that resilience is a skill set that can be developed. She discussed the importance of emotional agility, mental adaptability, and optimizing energy as key components of building resilience. By understanding our strengths and weaknesses in these areas, we can create a personalised resilience recipe that suits our unique needs.

Fleur emphasised the role of leaders in fostering workplace well-being. She highlighted the importance of leaders prioritising their well-being first to be able to support their teams effectively. Fleur's second book focuses on how leaders can create a high-performing team by introducing conversations around mental health and cultivating a supportive team environment.

I know you’ll love this conversation with Fleur and her insights into prioritizing well-being and incorporating resilience into our daily lives. Enjoy!

Pre-order My New Book “You Always Have A Choice” here

Connect with Fleur Heazelwood

Website: https://blueberryinstitute.com

Book: https://blueberryinstitute.com/books

Instagram: @fleur_heazlewood

Connect with Julie:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/

Instagram: @juliehydeleads

Website: https://juliehyde.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.