What does energized leadership look like inside a high impact school district? In this episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne interviews Dr. Grenita Lathan, superintendent of the largest public school district in Missouri, and a Women Who Mean Business award recipient.

Dr. Lathan shares practical education leadership strategies for building an energized workplace culture, increasing staff engagement, and strengthening school community connections. You will hear how she fuels enthusiasm across classrooms and departments by leading with relationships, recognition, and approachability, plus the simple ways she uses humor and connection to break down walls.

You will also learn about her initiatives like Let’s Talk Live (bringing feedback and problem solving directly into the community), Superintendent Solutions (student voice and leadership input), and Read to Succeed (a literacy focused effort that supports student growth). If you lead a team in education, business, or any people focused organization, this conversation delivers real world takeaways to help you lead with energy, confidence, and heart.

In this episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne sits down with Donna Isgett, President and CEO of McLeod Health, to unpack what energized leadership looks like inside a high pressure healthcare environment. Donna shares the one word she believes defines an energized leader, enthusiastic, and explains how enthusiasm spreads when leaders connect people to purpose and consistently show up for their teams.

You will hear practical, leader tested strategies for building a culture where people stay, serve, and truly love where they work. From “wearing sneakers and walking the halls” to asking employees what they would do differently if they were the CEO, Donna reveals how visibility, listening, and follow through create trust and momentum across seven hospitals and a workforce of about 14,000 employees.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why enthusiasm is contagious, and how it helps people believe in themselves
• How “walking the halls” builds connection, accountability, and culture
• A simple question that uncovers real improvements, fast
• How Donna protects teams from burnout with a clear “family first” leadership standard
• The leadership advice she gives every leader, and why it works: “Get over yourself”

If you want to strengthen engagement, boost morale, and lead with purpose, this conversation will energize your leadership toolkit.

CONNECT WITH DESI:

https://www.desipayne.com/

www.linkedin.com/in/desipaynemotivationalspeaker

www.youtube.com/c/desipayne

Instagram: @Desi.Payne

Facebook: @DesiPayneMotivationalSpeaker

In this episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne sits down with Logan, owner of 417 (Four One Seven), a media and lifestyle brand based in Springfield, Missouri that celebrates community, connection, and experiences across the Ozarks.

Logan shares what it’s like to lead a family business, buy it from your parents, and grow into leadership through trial by fire, including the lesson she’d redo if she could, which is more listening. She opens up about hitting an energetic wall as an entrepreneur, when you’re the owner and you can’t just quit, and how she began rebuilding her spark through radical accountability, brave decisions, and clearer vision.

You’ll hear practical strategies for leaders who can’t take a month off, like Quarterly Clarity Breaks (even 24 hours) to unplug, reflect, and reset your leadership energy. Logan also shares what an energized workplace culture looks like, including vision plus input plus trust, strong communication, and empowering people to operate at their highest level.

If you’re feeling stuck, burned out, or overloaded, this conversation will help you re-energize your leadership, create capacity, and lead with intentionality, starting with how you show up every day.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How Logan rebuilt her spark after burnout without running away
• A realistic reset tool, Quarterly Clarity Breaks, and how to do them
• What energized culture actually looks like in a real business
• Why intentionality is a leadership game-changer

CONNECT WITH LOGAN AGUIRRE:

https://www.417mag.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/loganaguirre/

CONNECT WITH DESI PAYNE:

https://www.desipayne.com/

www.linkedin.com/in/desipaynemotivationalspeaker

www.youtube.com/c/desipayne

Instagram: @Desi.Payne

Facebook: @DesiPayneMotivationalSpeaker