A LOT with Audra

What if the key to becoming a better leader isn't learning more skills, but simply becoming more yourself?

I sit down with leadership coach Jeana Marinelli for an honest conversation about the journey from "good girl" to authentic leader. We explore how women are conditioned to disconnect from their inner knowing, the physical sensations that signal something needs to change, and why the path to leadership starts with self-awareness, not achievement. Jeana shares her own story of walking away from medical school, finding her calling in Italy, and learning that becoming a leader is synonymous with becoming yourself. We also talk about the tools that help us disentangle from societal expectations—therapy, coaching, movement, and community—and why the answer is almost always in the gray, not black and white.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The early signs that something isn't working often show up as physical sensations in your body—tightness in the chest, restlessness, discomfort

• Society, education, and the "good girl complex" systematically disconnect us from our inner knowing

• Movement and somatic work are powerful tools for reconnecting with your body's wisdom

• Becoming a leader is synonymous with becoming yourself—it's that simple and that difficult

• The stories we tell ourselves are often binaries that hold us back; nothing in life is truly black and white

• If you can't do something perfectly, the temptation is not to do it at all—but the messy middle is exactly where we should show up

• Standing at the edge of change means you've already begun the change process

CHAPTERS

[0:00] Introduction
[2:15] Early Signs of Something Not Working
[5:05] The Good Girl Complex and Socialization
[7:59] Therapy and Personal Growth
[11:46] Leadership and Becoming Yourself
[18:37] Navigating Life's Decisions
[32:26] Final Thoughts and Upcoming Plans

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
• Beverly Daniel Tatum's work on "smog" and socialization
• Come to the Edge poem by Christopher Logue

CONNECT WITH JEANA

Website: https://jeanamarinelli.com/

Want to learn more?

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This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network.

Disclaimer: we may receive a small commission on any products purchased through the links used in this episode. I only recommend tools and resources I actually use and find valuable.