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

In this episode of The Energized Leader Podcast, Desi Payne welcomes Chris Robinson, Executive Vice President of Maxwell Leadership, for a powerful conversation on what it takes to lead with energy, clarity, and purpose. Chris shares insights from his USA Today bestselling book From Drift to Drive: A High Achiever’s Guide to Breaking the Chains of Complacency, including why complacency is not laziness, but “a secret place of satisfactory success.”

You will learn how energized leaders become the picture their teams can follow, why clarity creates momentum, and how to spot the subtle drift that can quietly stall growth. Chris also explains his unforgettable “rumble strips” analogy, a wake up call that helps leaders course correct before success turns into autopilot.

Plus, Chris shares a surprising lesson behind “55 is greater than 800” and how personal growth can shift your trajectory in leadership and life. If you want to strengthen workplace culture, boost leadership development, and stay driven instead of drifting, this episode will energize you to take your next best step.

CONNECT WITH CHRIS ROBINSON:

https://www.chrisrobinsonspeaker.com/

Bible Clock: https://www.thebibleclock.com/

Book: From Drift to Drive https://www.amazon.com/Drift-Drive-Achievers-Breaking-Complacency/dp/B0DZDCR4BR

CONNECT WITH DESI PAYNE:

https://www.desipayne.com/

www.linkedin.com/in/desipaynemotivationalspeaker

www.youtube.com/c/desipayne

Instagram: @Desi.Payne

Facebook: @DesiPayneMotivationalSpeaker

Welcome to The Energized Leader Podcast with Desi Payne, where leaders learn how to build a positive workplace culture and stay energized in the middle of overwhelm, deadlines, and difficult people. In Season One, Desi shares practical leadership strategies that boost morale, motivation, and momentum, plus interviews with leaders from some of America’s top workplaces.

This episode kicks off the season with a powerful topic: reconnecting with your purpose. When leaders remember their “why,” energy rises, motivation returns, and even the daily grind feels meaningful. You will hear real stories, including an unforgettable reminder that what we do matters because it is always connected to who we serve and why we show up.

If you are a CEO, manager, school administrator, healthcare leader, city manager, or team leader who wants to reduce burnout and increase engagement, this episode will help you refocus your purpose, lead with clarity, and create an energized, excellent workplace.

CONNECT WITH DESI:

https://www.desipayne.com/

www.linkedin.com/in/desipaynemotivationalspeaker

www.youtube.com/c/desipayne

Instagram: @Desi.Payne

Facebook: @DesiPayneMotivationalSpeaker