Explore every episode of the podcast The CEO Sage
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Handling the Pressure of an Aging Parent With Dementia | Michelle Arant | 26 oct. 2026 | 00:27:26 | |
What happens when your aging parent needs you more and you're already stretched too thin? Michelle Arant knows. For five years, she ran Kris's operation while her mom slowly disappeared into dementia. On the surface, she had it all together. But she was barely holding on. This is a conversation about what happens when you're the person everyone depends on, and suddenly you can't fix what matters most. About the pressure that builds when you're holding it all. About the things nobody talks about because we're too ashamed to admit we're not okay. Michelle is here to tell you what actually helped. And it wasn't what she expected. What you'll learn
Michelle also created a free guide that walks through what you'll probably experience at each stage of this journey. Find it at www.michellearantcoaching.com/stagesguide. And connect with her on Instagram @groundedinthegoodbye where she talks about the hard things nobody else admits out loud. Connect with Kris
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| Normalize Hiring Experts | 19 oct. 2026 | 00:08:59 | |
I keep seeing the same pattern. Successful women running multimillion dollar businesses who don't have assistants. Women trying to figure out their marriages, their family problems, their health...all on their own. And I'm watching it wear us down. What you'll learn:
This is a rant, but it's the one you need to hear. About permission. About the exhaustion that comes from trying to be the expert in everything. About why hiring experts isn't failure, it's exactly what you need. Connect with Kris Be sure to hit the Subscribe button for this podcast so you don't miss new episodes. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the Sage Letters to go deeper: www.thevisionary.ceo/letters | |||
| I Wanted to Be Proud of Myself When My Mother Died | 12 oct. 2026 | 00:22:08 | |
On September 27th, my mom passed away at 88 years old. I was with her, holding her hand, as she died. In this deeply personal episode, I'm sharing what that experience was like, the complicated relationship my mother and I navigated throughout our lives, and the decision I made months before her death that changed everything about how I experienced losing her. We talk about the realities of aging parents, the emotional responsibilities we carry as adult children, the importance of allowing people their own agency, and why we need to normalize honest conversations about death, grief, and family relationships. But this episode isn't really about death. It's about how we choose to live. It's about recognizing that even when we cannot control our circumstances, we can decide who we want to be within them. And it's about the extraordinary peace that can come from making that decision on purpose. Whether you're caring for an aging parent, navigating a difficult relationship, or facing a circumstance you never wanted, I hope this conversation reminds you that you always have a choice about how you show up. The question is: What would your future self be proud of you for choosing today? Connect with Kris
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| A Time to Learn or a Time to Believe? | 05 oct. 2026 | 00:15:25 | |
You're researching. You're exploring. You're gathering more information. But what if the real problem isn't that you don't know enough? What if you just don't believe yet? What you'll learn
Kris has been thinking about this. Watching people stay stuck. Watching herself stay stuck. And she knows what actually shifts when you stop needing more learning and start believing in what you already know. Connect with Kris
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| Swallow Feelings Much? | 28 sept. 2026 | 00:15:59 | |
You swallow your feelings to keep the peace. But you're the one paying the price. Kris has stopped doing it. Something shifted this year. She's unwilling to pretend she isn't feeling what she's feeling or thinking what she's thinking. When she's named it, risking the relationship, something unexpected happened. The relationships either got stronger or they recalibrated into something more honest. But here's what she's noticing in her clients: everyone is doing what she used to do. Holding back. Not bringing their whole self to the table. Swallowing feelings so other people don't have bad feelings. Building lopsided relationships where one person gets supported and the other doesn't. And then wondering why they don't feel seen or known or safe to be themselves. She's watching how this pattern keeps women from being who they actually are. How it creates resentment and separation. How it makes them small. What you'll learn:
Telling the truth might cost you something, but so does pretending. Connect with Kris
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| Happiness is a Magnet | 21 sept. 2026 | 00:11:41 | |
You can't wait to feel happy. You have to practice it. Kris has been thinking about joy. Real joy, not the performative kind. The kind where you wake up and think, okay, this is good. She's noticed something in herself this year and in the women she works with: happiness isn't something that just happens to you. It's something you have to make a practice of. Most of us are too busy absorbing everyone else's problems, worries, and fears to find our own joy anymore. We put happiness on the someday list. We treat it like a luxury instead of essential. We wait until we feel like it instead of initiating it. But here's what Kris believes with every ounce of her being: happiness is a magnet. The more you allow yourself to indulge in joy, the more joy finds its way to you. And the people around you feel it. They notice it. They're drawn to it. What you'll learn:
Spend a little time thinking about this. Make a promise to yourself. Then keep it. Connect with Kris
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| Meditation for the Over-Functioning Woman | 14 sept. 2026 | 00:17:52 | |
This episode is different. There's no lesson, no breakdown, no list of takeaways. Just a meditation. Kris created this for the women who can't stop. The ones who feel guilty the moment they're not producing. The ones whose nervous system never really rests. The ones who measure their worth by what they accomplish and their value by who needs them. She's not asking you to fix anything or become anything. She's just inviting you to remember something you probably forgot: you're allowed to be here without earning it. Take 15 minutes. Find somewhere comfortable. Close your eyes. And let her remind you who you are when nobody needs anything from you. Connect with Kris
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| Break Patterns & Cycles | 07 sept. 2026 | 00:16:05 | |
You say you want it. Then you spend all your energy explaining why you can't have it. Kris has been working on breaking her own cycles, and she's watching this pattern everywhere. Women tell her they want more revenue, more freedom, a better team, less responsibility. Then the moment she asks what needs to change, they argue about why it's impossible. How expensive it would be. How hard. How much time it would take. Why it won't work. Here's what she's noticing: we get on treadmills and we stay on them. We believe we can't break out because the pattern feels so true to us. We tell ourselves stories about what's possible and what isn't, and we defend those stories like they're facts. I can't eat cauliflower. I can't change my business. I can't leave. I can't do it alone. I can't, I can't, I can't. But the only thing stopping you is that you haven't decided to do it yet. What you'll learn:
The amount of time you waste talking about why you can't do something is the time it would take to just do it. Connect with Kris · If you want to know more about The Shift that's coming up, subscribe to the Sage Letters to be informed: www.thevisionary.ceo/letters · If this is you, let's work together. Explore SAGE at www.thevisionary.ceo/sageinvitation · Be sure to hit the Subscribe button for this podcast so you don't miss new episodes. | |||
| The Shift | 31 août 2026 | 00:18:26 | |
You built the dream. Now the ground underneath it is changing. Kris is experiencing it. She's talking to women whose businesses are soaring but they don't want to run them anymore. Women whose businesses are falling apart and they're not sure they want to rebuild. Women who sold and are asking, now who am I? This is the shift. It can be external (the market, the team, the industry) or internal (something changing inside you) or both. And what makes it uniquely hard is that you know exactly what you're capable of. You know you could build something new. You just don't know if you want to, or if you're willing to risk it, or what that new thing even is. She's been thinking about what this moment requires. Not more strategy. Not more content. Just space. Space to be confused. Space to dream a little. Space to not do it alone. What you'll learn: • Why this shift feels so disorienting even at the top of your game If you're in this moment, you're not alone. Kris is talking about it so tune in. Connect with Kris
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| Your Confusion Is Telling You Something | 24 août 2026 | 00:13:25 | |
Your confusion isn't a problem. It's a tell. In her years of coaching women, Kris keeps seeing the same pattern. Women say they're confused about what they want, whether to keep an employee, or what their next move should be. But confusion isn't the real issue. Confusion means you actually know what you want, or what needs to happen. You just don't like the consequences. So instead of choosing, you stay stuck in confusion, waiting for other people to change or circumstances to shift in your favor. She walks through how to move through confusion. The takeaway method: remove an option and notice how you actually feel. Get another brain: someone objective who isn't invested in your choice can see solutions you can't. Or just take action: action creates clarity in ways confusion never will. What you'll learn:
Stop mistaking discomfort for confusion. | |||
| Why I've Closed My Business | 17 août 2026 | 00:17:50 | |
If you recognize there's a bottleneck between where you are and where you want to be, this is for you. Kris has closed her business and opened her practice. The difference matters. A practice isn't about reaching thousands through funnels and content calendars. It's about working directly with women who are ready to actually change. Not women who want to learn more. Women who want to execute differently. Not women who are curious about personal growth. Women who are willing to do the uncomfortable work to get a different result. Women who know something has to shift but can't figure out what. She's looking for women at different stages. Some are trying to grow their companies but know their confidence or competence is the bottleneck. Some have built the life they dreamed and are asking who they are now. Some are close to selling and unsure who they need to become in that process. Some are drowning in masterminds and group programs when what they actually need is someone to help them remember who they are. What you'll learn
If you're listening to this and thinking "that's me," it probably is. Connect with Kris
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| The Topic We All Must Talk About | 10 août 2026 | 00:15:56 | |
Every business has an ending. The question is whether you're going to plan for it or let it happen to you. Kris is thinking about something that doesn't get talked about nearly enough. Aging. Exits. The reality that your business, no matter how successful it is, will not last forever. And if you're waiting until you're ready to leave to start planning, you're already too late. She's watched it happen too many times. Women in their 50s and 60s realize they need to exit and discover they've built a business that cannot operate without them. They cannot delegate. They cannot step back. The business needs what's in their head to function. And now they're stuck. Here's what you need to know: it takes 12 to 36 months to get a business ready to sell. If you're already wondering about it, you should start now. Not because you have to sell tomorrow, but because getting ready invites opportunity. What you'll learn:
The sooner you start thinking about this, the more choices you'll have. It's time to get honest about what comes next. Connect with Kris
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| Self-Acceptance & Leadership | 03 août 2026 | 00:19:41 | |
What if the person judging you the most isn't anyone else? It's you. Kris has noticed something that shows up in almost everything her clients struggle with. They feel judged. They don't fit in. They're doing it wrong. They're not enough. And so they build their lives around trying to hide the parts of themselves they believe are unacceptable. Here's the truth: it's not actually judgment from the outside. It's what you believe about yourself on the inside. She walks through the difference between negative patterns worth changing and traits that are just who you are. Between things that prevent you from getting results and things that don't matter at all. Between needing to grow and needing to accept. And then she gets real about leadership. You cannot hold a vision for what you want to create while simultaneously believing you're not the right person to create it. The moment you lack self-acceptance, you become defensive. You take things personally. You lose it over things that have nothing to do with you. What you'll learn:
The real work isn't becoming someone different. It's accepting who you already are and leading from there. Connect with Kris · Stop apologizing for who you are. See how SAGE can help at www.thevisionary.ceo/sageinvitation · Be sure to hit the Subscribe button for this podcast so you don't miss new episodes. · If this episode landed for you, subscribe to the Sage Letters to go deeper: www.thevisionary.ceo/letters | |||
| Stop Living the Default | 27 juil. 2026 | 00:13:59 | |
What if the life you're living right now is based on definitions you never questioned? Kris has been thinking about home. Not just the physical structure, but what it means. She and her husband are considering selling their custom-built house to rent, to travel, to redirect their money toward experiences instead of a mortgage. And in the process of looking at options, she's realizing that the definition she chooses will determine everything about how she actually lives. But this isn't just about real estate. This is about how you define yourself in every role. How you define being a business owner. How you define being a mother. How you define what's possible for you. The definition you choose is what drives the result you get. What you'll learn: • How the definitions you're operating from shape every outcome you create The invitation is simple. Stop defaulting to how things have always been defined. Start choosing. Connect with Kris
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| What Holding On Is Really Costing You | 20 juil. 2026 | 00:13:22 | |
What if the anger and resentment you think you're supposed to keep is actually what's keeping you trapped? Kris is on a walk thinking about grief, anger, loss, and what we do with it. 2026 has handed her several hard things. But this episode isn't about surviving them. It's about what happens after. Most of us believe we're supposed to hold onto our anger forever. Like letting it go somehow means we're creating permission for what happened. Like we're minimizing the people we lost or the pain we endured. Kris is offering a completely different way to think about it. • Why holding onto negative emotions actually strips you of your agency
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| In Pursuit of Greatness | 13 juil. 2026 | 00:14:25 | |
What if admitting you want more isn't selfish? What if it's actually the point? Kris has been thinking about greatness. Not achievement. Not goals. Greatness. And she's noticing that most women don't think of themselves as being in pursuit of it. They think of themselves as trying to achieve goals or make something happen. But not as women pursuing greatness. She's wondering what would shift if you actually claimed that. The women she works with know there's more to pursue, more to experience, more to become. And that hunger doesn't turn off. It doesn't take a break. It doesn't have an off button. Which means if it's not well-directed, it has consequences. In this episode, Kris is asking you to get honest about where you're still pursuing something. Not in a frantic way. In an expansive, invigorating, curious way. What you'll learn:
The question she leaves you with is simple. Where else is greatness calling to me? Connect with Kris
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| The Difference Between Wanting and Believing | 06 juil. 2026 | 00:15:07 | |
The only thing separating you from what you want is belief. Kris is in the car on her way to pick up her daughter from the airport during peak rush hour traffic on the Bay Area bridge. She hates that drive. She has anxiety about it. And yet she just knows she's going to do it. Not hopes. Knows. That's the difference she's naming in this episode. Most women spend their energy attached to why something is hard. Why they can't figure out where to start. Why they need to do all the research first. Why the goal is confusing. And somewhere in all that noise, they lose the simple fact: they already know what to do. They just don't believe it yet. What you'll learn: • The difference between wanting something and knowing it will happen Stupid simple, she says. But simple means you actually have to do the uncomfortable thing. Connect with Kris · Know what you want but are spinning in the confusion? You can stop all that by joining Kris for Hot Seat Summer. Go to www.thevisionary.ceo/hotseatsummer to register for four Fridays of coaching to get what you want. · If this episode landed for you, subscribe to the Sage Letters to go deeper: www.thevisionary.ceo/letters · Be sure to hit the Subscribe button for this podcast so you don't miss new episodes.
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| Your Thriving Matters to Everyone | 29 juin 2026 | 00:13:53 | |
What you're not doing for yourself is actually harming everyone around you. Kris knows what's happening. You're in survival mode. Not because your life is falling apart, but because the last decade has been relentless. Your business is affected. Your family is affected. Your nervous system is affected. And so you've locked into the question: how do I keep this afloat? But here's the truth she's naming: when you thrive, everything around you thrives. And when you don't, nothing can. The gap between knowing this and actually doing it is where most women live. You nod along, you agree with every word, and then you go back to putting everyone else first. You skip the haircut. You don't get your nails done. You don't take the trip. You tell yourself there's no time, and the weight of that unattended desire just sits there, reminding you that you're not worth your own investment. In this episode, Kris walks through her own year of being pulled away from her dreams and then choosing to pull herself back. She's not talking about inspiration. She's talking about reinvestment in your own joy as a non-negotiable act. What you'll learn: • Why survival mode is contagious and whose job it is to break the cycle Nothing feels worse and heavier than having desire that is unattended to. The question isn't whether you have time. The question is whether you're willing to reclaim your own agency. Connect with Kris · Ready to get out of your own way? Go to www.thevisionary.ceo/hotseatsummer to register for four Fridays of coaching to get what you want. · Be sure to hit the Subscribe button for this podcast so you don't miss new episodes. · If this episode landed for you, subscribe to the Sage Letters to go deeper: www.thevisionary.ceo/letters | |||
| Get What You Want | 22 juin 2026 | 00:17:30 | |
If the pattern keeps repeating, it's time to turn up the heat. Kris has spent her entire career helping other people get what they want. And she's watching women do the same thing. Pouring everything into helping clients, employees, family, friends figure out what they want, while their own desires sit dormant on a shelf. Here's the truth she's naming: You know what you want. You've always known. The problem isn't figuring it out. The problem is you're scared. You have more to lose now than you did when you started, so you've tempered your dreams. You've muffled the joy and aspiration. You've told yourself it's too risky. And the pattern keeps repeating. In this episode, Kris walks through her own journey of learning to help people get what they really, truly want. Not the surface answer, but the real one. She shares the Zig Ziglar quote that's followed her for decades, why Martha Beck's ten-minute coaching principle changed everything, and what it actually takes to reclaim your own wants. What you'll learn: • Why you keep tempering what you want as you get older and more successful This is Kris reminding you that you have so much left to create, to be, to experience. And it starts with being honest about what you actually want. Connect with Kris
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| What If It Could Be Better? | 15 juin 2026 | 00:16:04 | |
You built something incredible. You made a thing that didn't exist. You're running a multi-million-dollar business, and yes, that's magic. But somewhere along the way, the dream you chased became a box you're trapped in. Kris calls this the quiet crisis. You've achieved the success you set out to create, but now you're drowning in it. You can't leave because too many people depend on you. You can't pivot because you're afraid of losing the revenue, the security, the key people. So you stay, spinning on all the ways it could fall apart. Sound familiar? In this episode, she's talking to the woman who built her empire and is now wondering if this is it. Is this the whole thing? Can you ever be free? And she's offering a completely different way to think about it. What you'll learn:
There's a moment early in the episode where Kris talks about Elastigirl from the Incredibles, stretched so far she can't move. That's you right now. Completely maxed out because you've painted such a terrifying picture of what happens if you let go. But what if you're not done building? What if you don't have to just protect what you have, but build something on top of it? The woman who started this business would believe that. Connect with Kris
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| Stop Looking Outside | 08 juin 2026 | 00:14:49 | |
Here's the thing people get wrong. When you see someone doing well, the instinct is to copy what they do. That job they have, that approach they take, that course they're selling. If it works for them, it should work for you, right? Wrong. In this episode, Kris walks through why mimicking someone else's playbook will never be your answer, and why the real issue is that you're looking in the wrong place. She shares her early sales career story, when she was surrounded by people killing it and she was, in her own words, "pretty bad at it." She tried doing what they did and still failed. It wasn't until she stopped copying and started trusting her own instincts that things shifted. What she learned then became everything. The people who get results aren't successful because of what they do. They're successful because of who they are and what they believe. And that doesn't transfer. What you'll learn: — The difference between tactics and wisdom, and why wisdom wins every time — Why copying someone's recipe will always feel off — The ocean metaphor and the undercurrent beneath the noise — How to actually tap into what you already know instead of buying someone else's answer — What happens when you stop looking outside and start listening to yourself — Why you need to invest in your own mind, not the next $37 course The bottom line? You already know. Not in a vague, future-tense way. Right now. The answer lives in you. It might be uncomfortable. You might not like it. You might have already tried it. But you know. The work isn't finding the answer. The work is figuring out why you haven't taken action on what you already know. Connect with Kris - If this episode landed for you, subscribe to the Sage Letters to go deeper: www.thevisionary.ceo/letters | |||
| The Relaunch & What This Actually Is | 01 juin 2026 | 00:27:06 | |
If you followed Leadership is Feminine®️, this is going to feel different. Better, actually. Kris takes a beat to explain why she needed to hit pause on the podcast, why she's back, and why the conversation has changed altogether. Turns out, after 15 years in this work and thousands of hours of content, she had some things to sort through. Specifically, what does she actually want her life to look like now? This isn't a philosophical question for her. It's a real one. In this episode, you'll hear about: -Why she restructured her entire life at 53, including moving houses and letting go of almost everything she owned -How she's evolved her approach to coaching and why it requires being in the room with women -What a "wisdom cocktail" is and why you've already got one brewing inside you -Why the path forward for you isn't someone else's instructions, it's your own discover The core of what Kris is building here is space for women who already know the answers to their biggest questions live inside them. Not in a book. Not in someone else's playbook. In them. Because here's the thing. You didn't build a multi-million-dollar business by following instructions. You built it by trusting yourself. And if you're still second-guessing yourself in other areas of your life, she wants to talk about that If you've been listening for years, you know. If you're brand new, settle in. This is the space where women who are done with someone else's version of how to live actually get to design their own. Connect with Kris - If this episode landed for you, subscribe to the Sage Letters to go deeper: www.thevisionary.ceo/letters | |||
| The Courage to Stop A New Chapter in Leadership and Life | 24 nov. 2025 | 00:16:04 | |
What if the bravest act of leadership is knowing when it's time to pause? Kris reflects on how leadership hasn't fundamentally changed—and on the bittersweet realization that she has said everything she came here to say. She talks openly about shifting away from the isolating online model that has defined the last several years and into work that brings her back into rooms, back into community, back into the presence she craves. She also guides listeners through a powerful reframing of accountability—not as pressure, but as profound self-care. Because when we don't follow through on the promises we make to ourselves, the weight of that avoidance becomes its own burden. Here's what we explore in this episode:
This episode is a pause, not a goodbye—a moment of truth-telling, gratitude, and trust in what comes next. Contact Information and Recommended ResourcesIf you'd like to stay in touch to receive updates about what we've got coming up, visit www.thevisionary.ceo
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| Before You Hold Anyone Accountable, Start Here | 17 nov. 2025 | 00:20:17 | |
We love the idea of accountability—until it gets uncomfortable. Until it requires us to tell the truth and stop making excuses for what we've been tolerating. In this powerful episode, Kris Plachy explores the deep connection between accountability, self-trust, and personal agency—and why even the most successful women can find themselves over-tolerating, over-accommodating, and avoiding difficult conversations. Kris challenges high-achieving women to stop externalizing the problem ("Why won't they just…") and instead reclaim responsibility for their own responses, expectations, and results. The truth? Accountability isn't about controlling others—it's about your willingness to show up, follow through, and address what needs to be addressed, even when it's uncomfortable. She reminds listeners that every relationship, every result, and every outcome in your life begins with your own accountability—and that reclaiming this power is the most freeing leadership practice there is. Here's what we explore in this episode:
This conversation is an invitation to take your power back—not by controlling others, but by mastering the only person you can truly lead: yourself. Contact Information and Recommended ResourcesReady to tackle your biggest challenges and set yourself up for an incredible year ahead? Book a Visionary.CEO Starter Session with Kris Plachy to get personalized guidance and your own custom journal to keep you accountable—all designed to help you achieve what you really want. Reserve your spot today at www.theVisionary.CEO/starter!
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| Why Play Belongs in Leadership | 10 nov. 2025 | 00:14:00 | |
In this week's episode of Leadership is Feminine®, Kris speaks straight to the hearts of high-achieving women who are carrying so much—the businesses they run, the households they manage, the people they care for, and the decisions they make every hour of the day. Kris argues that successful women don't just deserve joy. They require it. After years of hosting immersive client retreats, she's seen firsthand what happens when accomplished women are offered a space designed entirely for them: where they don't have to drive, plan, decide, or take care of anyone. They get to receive. And something powerful happens. They come back to themselves. These experiences aren't frivolous. They are healing. They restore the spirit of a woman who spends her life pouring into everyone else. Kris makes the case that joy is a strategic investment. And it is necessary if we want to lead sustainably. Here's what we explore in this episode:
This is your invitation to recapture delight—to make room for play, presence, and wonder. Contact Information and Recommended ResourcesAre you on our list to get first-to-know updates? Visit www.thevisionary.ceo/notes.
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| The Real Cost of Avoiding Accountability | 03 nov. 2025 | 00:21:53 | |
Kris is back with another round of the pet sitting saga—but this time, it's about more than just unreliable pet sitters. It's a story about accountability, boundaries, and leadership. Through a string of mishaps (and three fired sitters), Kris explores how these small, personal frustrations mirror the much larger issue of how we manage people in our lives and businesses. When expectations aren't met, many leaders justify, tolerate, or avoid confrontation. But as Kris shares, avoiding accountability—whether with a pet sitter or an employee—only recycles poor performance and creates a culture of tolerance instead of trust. Here's what we explore in this episode:
This conversation is an invitation to protect your standards, honor your agreements, and lead with both compassion and clarity—because accountability isn't cruelty; it's integrity in action. Contact Information and Recommended ResourcesIt's time to stop tolerating and start leading. Join me at www.thevisionary.ceo/sagemm to learn more about the new Sage Mini-Mastermind that starts November 4th. | |||
| The Power of Discomfort in Developing Real Leaders | 27 oct. 2025 | 00:31:14 | |
This week on Leadership is Feminine, Kris Plachy and her Director of Operations, Michelle Arant, sit down for an unscripted conversation that captures leadership in its most human form. What started as a casual team discussion turned into a powerful reflection on how we handle discomfort, accountability, and growth — both in business and in life. Through the lens of a lighthearted story about a pet sitter, Kris and Michelle explore how everyday moments can reveal our relationship with responsibility and self-management. They discuss the tendency to over-accommodate others, the generational shifts in resilience and follow-through, and why true leadership demands that we get comfortable being uncomfortable. Their conversation is an honest reminder that friction isn't failure — it's feedback. Whether you're mentoring a new hire, raising kids, or running a multimillion-dollar company, the path to better leadership begins with allowing discomfort to do its work. Here's what we explore in this episode:
This conversation invites you to pause and ask: Where am I protecting others — or myself — from the very discomfort that could lead to growth? Contact Information and Recommended ResourcesWanna join us for the Sage Mini Mastermind? Visit www.thevisionary.ceo/sagemm to learn the details and register.
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| Brainkeeping: The Leadership Practice You Didn't Know You Needed | 20 oct. 2025 | 00:18:13 | |
What if your mind needed the same care as your home? In this episode, Kris introduces the concept of brainkeeping—a leadership practice as vital as housekeeping. Just as we tidy our physical spaces, our mental and emotional spaces require regular clearing, reflection, and renewal. Kris shares how her lifelong curiosity and deep conversations with friends and clients have shaped her unique approach to coaching high-achieving women. Through brainkeeping she helps leaders sort through the clutter of overthinking, self-doubt, and noise—so they can access their clarity, wisdom, and creativity. She explores why so many women leaders stay in constant motion, what happens when you stop long enough to ask "why," and how stillness and inquiry can become your most powerful strategic tools. Here's what we explore in this episode:
This conversation is an invitation to pause, recalibrate, and reconnect with your mind—the most valuable asset you have as a leader. Contact Information and Recommended ResourcesReady for your own Brainkeeping? Join the Sage Mini Mind Interest List Today! www.thevisionary.ceo/sagemm
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| Stop Wing-ing It: Make Your Business an Asset (Not a Job) | 13 oct. 2025 | 00:21:56 | |
As we head into the final quarter of the year, Kris invites you to shift your focus—from running the business to owning the business. She challenges high-achieving female founders to stop operating on autopilot and start thinking like the visionary asset holders they are. Too many women spend years building companies without ever asking the most important question: What's the plan? Whether you eventually want to sell, scale back, or simply create more freedom, your business deserves a clear direction—and so do you. Kris also introduces the Sage Mini Mastermind, a 12-week experience for women running multi-million-dollar businesses who are ready to step out of the weeds, lead from wisdom, and build a business that runs beautifully—with or without them. Here's what we explore in this episode:
This episode is your reminder that your company isn't just a vehicle for achievement—it's an asset for freedom. The Sage Era begins when you stop measuring success by how busy you are and start designing your business to serve the woman you've become. Contact Information and Recommended ResourcesDon't leave your biggest asset to chance—get on the Sage Mini Mastermind waitlist now at www.thevisionary.ceo/sagemm.
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| Tactical Advice Won't Save You, But Self-Trust Will | 06 oct. 2025 | 00:15:50 | |
What does it feel like to finally stop overworking, over-explaining, and over-proving—and instead lead from a place of grounded confidence? In this episode, Kris shows us what life and leadership look like when self-trust and self-worth are fully integrated. She shares the story of a client who went from being minimized by her partners to running a thriving $10M company while taking a guilt-free month away from her business. This transformation illustrates the power of moving beyond surface-level fixes to address the root issue: believing yourself and believing in yourself. Kris outlines the real markers of integration: working in resonance instead of overwork, resting as a source of strength, setting boundaries without apology, and claiming your right to joy and desire. This is the Sage Era—where your wisdom serves not just you, but those you lead and influence. Here's what we explore in this episode:
This conversation is an invitation into the Sage Era—where your wisdom, value, and authority aren't up for debate. Contact Information and Recommended ResourcesYour journey starts with clarity. Head to thevisionary.ceo/trust and take the Self-Trust & Self-Worth Index Kris designed to give you immediate insight. | |||
| Success Won't Fix Your Worthiness Problem | 29 sept. 2025 | 00:16:44 | |
What if your worth wasn't tied to your revenue, your output, or anyone else's approval? In this episode, Kris takes us deeper into the heart of worthiness and why so many high-achieving women still wrestle with believing in themselves—even after building successful companies, raising families, and achieving goals most people only dream of. Kris breaks down the difference between self-trust (believing yourself) and self-worth (believing in yourself), and why the latter is the quiet, constant hum that shapes everything you do. She explores how conditional worth shows up in subtle ways—like people pleasing, avoiding difficult conversations, or downplaying your own success—and why guilt over what you've built is often a sign you don't fully own your value yet. Here's what we explore in this episode:
This episode is your invitation to stop proving, release guilt, and reclaim the truth: you are already the prize. Contact Information and Recommended ResourcesYour journey starts with clarity. Head to thevisionary.ceo/trust and take the Self-Trust & Self-Worth Index Kris designed to give you immediate insight.
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| Stop Compartmentalizing Your Confidence | 22 sept. 2025 | 00:18:49 | |
Why can you trust yourself to build a multimillion-dollar company—but not to have one hard conversation? In this episode, Kris pulls back the curtain on the anatomy of self-trust. From visionary ideas to money, health, relationships, and leadership, she reveals why so many women compartmentalize their confidence—rock solid in some domains, shaky in others. You'll hear how past experiences, identity "totems," and cultural conditioning quietly erode our confidence, and why fear, vulnerability, and inherited stories often dictate where we doubt ourselves most. More importantly, Kris shows you how to begin repairing that trust—through awareness, reframing, and practice—so you can finally stop second-guessing and start standing fully in the leader you already are. Here's what we explore in this episode:
This episode calls you to stop treating self-trust like a mystery and start treating it like a skill. You don't have to be perfect—you just have to start believing yourself again. Contact Information and Recommended ResourcesYour journey starts with clarity. Head to thevisionary.ceo/trust and take the Self-Trust & Self-Worth Index Kris designed to give you immediate insight. | |||
| Breaking the Generational Code of Self-Doubt | 15 sept. 2025 | 00:12:42 | |
Why do so many accomplished women still doubt themselves—even after building extraordinary lives and businesses? Kris continues her Self-Trust & Self-Worth mini-series with a powerful exploration of the programming women inherit from generations before us. She invites us to reflect on the systemic, cultural, and ancestral patterns that quietly shape how women value themselves—and why even the most accomplished female founders still lie awake at night second-guessing their own decisions. From hiding success out of guilt to resisting difficult conversations at work, Kris shows how the paradox of female leadership is never about capability—it's about the stories we've absorbed about what women "should" be. And she challenges us to stop playing small, stop apologizing for what we've built, and start owning the lives we've worked so hard to create. Here's what we explore:
This episode is your reminder that you are not broken—and you're not alone. The work ahead isn't about fixing yourself, it's about unlearning what never belonged to you in the first place. Contact Information and Recommended ResourcesYour journey starts with clarity. Head to thevisionary.ceo/trust and take the Self-Trust & Self-Worth Index Kris designed to give you immediate insight.
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| What Happens When You Finally Believe in Yourself | 08 sept. 2025 | 00:21:00 | |
Kris launches a brand-new mini-series with a masterclass on Self-Trust and Self-Worth for Female Founders. And she encourages us to ask: Why do we trust ourselves to build entire businesses—but not to have one hard conversation? After wrapping the seven transitions of Beyond the CEO, this next season dives deeper—into the paradox that so many successful women face: the ability to make bold, visionary moves while quietly second-guessing themselves in the day-to-day. Across the next five weeks, you'll hear Kris unpack her full Self-Trust and Self-Worth masterclass, designed to help you see how every "tactical" problem—whether it's firing someone, raising your rates, or stepping back from the business—is rooted in how much you believe yourself, and how much you believe in yourself. Here's what we explore:
This episode is your invitation to stop treating the symptoms and start healing the root. Because when you strengthen self-trust and self-worth, you don't just lead better—you build a business and a life that finally feels aligned with the woman you've already proven yourself to be. Contact Information and Recommended ResourcesYour journey starts with clarity. Head to thevisionary.ceo/trust and take the Self-Trust & Self-Worth Index Kris designed to give you immediate insight.
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| The Most Overlooked Step Between Leading and Leaving | 01 sept. 2025 | 00:24:23 | |
What's your plan for the business you've worked so hard to build? After walking through all seven transitions in the Beyond the CEO series, Kris is turning her focus to what comes next: the tactical and strategic steps every founder must take to ensure the business can run—and even thrive—without her constant presence. This isn't just about getting through today's to-do list. It's about preparing your business, your team, and yourself for what's ahead—whether that's scaling, exiting, or simply reclaiming more of your life. Because the truth is, too many women wait until they're burned out before asking the hard questions: Is my business ready? Am I ready? What happens after this season ends? Here's what we explore:
This episode is your invitation to stop avoiding the practical steps and start laying the foundation for a business you can lead and leave. Because the earlier you prepare, the more options you have—and the more freedom you create to design what's next. Contact Information and Recommended ResourcesWanna know more details about the Sage: Coaching for Female Founders that will be starting in October? Visit www.thevisionary.ceo/beyondtheceo to add your name to the interest list. | |||
| The Transition That Changes Everything | 25 août 2025 | 00:23:13 | |
Are you willing to release control and trust others with what you've built In this episode, Kris closes out the Beyond the CEO series by walking through the final transitions that take you from structure and strategy into wisdom and possibility. It's not just about building processes—it's about letting go of false truths, reclaiming clarity, playing without an agenda, and stepping fully into Sage energy. This is where leadership becomes less about control and more about trust, curiosity, and freedom. Here's what we explore:
This episode is your invitation to stop defaulting to what's inherited, expected, or safe—and start building a business you can both lead and leave. Because when you do, you create the freedom to explore what's next and the impact to feed the future with your wisdom. Contact Information and Recommended ResourcesInterested in more of what we've been teaching here? Visit www.thevisionary.ceo/beyondtheceo to add your name to the interest list. Want some coaching on these transitions I've been featuring in this series? Visit www.thevisionary.ceo/callin to learn more and submit an application. If selected, your call will be published on this podcast in future episodes. | |||
| Your Next Chapter Won't Come From Your Old Blueprint | 18 août 2025 | 00:18:39 | |
Have you been intentional about what stays in your life—and what goes? If you've been following this special Beyond the CEO mini-series on the seven transitions every founder must face, you know last week was all about play, curiosity, and exploration. Now, in Transition Six—Intentional Design—we take everything you've discovered in that playful, curious phase and start shaping it into a grounded, deliberate vision for what's next. This isn't about hustling toward another "should." It's about building your next chapter with clarity, purpose, and your own rules. Kris shares why this stage only works if you've truly given yourself the gift of experimentation first—and how skipping that step leads to recreating the same patterns you've outgrown. She walks through her own clarity breakthroughs (including a newfound love of pickleball, hosting in-person gatherings, and refining her environment) and invites you to ask yourself: What's in? What's out? What's worth designing into the next version of your life? Here's what we explore:
This episode is your invitation to stop defaulting to what's inherited, expected, or safe—and start crafting a life and business that reflects the woman you are now. Contact Information and Recommended ResourcesThe best way to stay in the know? Get on the list. Learn more at www.thevisionary.ceo/hawaii
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| You Don't Have to Stay in Your Comfort Cage | 11 août 2025 | 00:25:22 | |
Play. Stillness. Curiosity. When did you stop giving yourself that permission? In this episode—the next in Kris's series on the seven essential transitions every successful woman must navigate—she invites you to consider the one most of us avoid: curiosity, play, and exploration. This isn't a conversation about productivity or purpose. It's about what happens when you finally lift your head, look around, and realize: the version of you running the show today isn't the woman you were 20 years ago. So why are you still living like she's in charge? Kris shares stories from two recent retreats—including the meditations, discomfort, and unexpected conversations that shook something loose. And she poses a question that might just be your wake-up call: What if it doesn't matter which path you choose next—only that it brings you joy? Here's what we explore:
You can't find what's next wearing the coat of who you used to be. So try something on. See how it fits. And don't be surprised if it changes everything. Contact Information and Recommended ResourcesThe best way to stay in the know? Get on the list. I've got some exciting things coming your way, and I always share with my email list first. Head to the thevisionary.ceo/notes and opt in. Loving the podcast? Let me know. If this episode resonated with you, would you take a moment to leave a quick review on iTunes or Spotify? It means the world—and it helps more women find this work. As a thank you, I have a little something I'd love to send your way. Just email a screenshot of your review to hello@thevisionaryceo.com. | |||
| The Striver's Dilemma: Who Are You Without the Push? | 04 août 2025 | 00:28:08 | |
When the urgency fades, when the goals have been met, when your days are no longer dictated by survival or ambition... who are you now? This is the striver's dilemma. In this episode, Kris shares reflections from two recent retreats—one with Arthur Brooks, one with Rebecca Campbell—that offered wildly different but equally profound insights. She weaves together data, mysticism, and lived experience to guide you through the discomfort (and deep potential) of Transition Four: Reclaiming Future Clarity. You'll hear:
If you're standing in the in-between—done with what was, unsure of what's next—this episode will meet you there. Not with answers, but with the kind of questions that can change everything. Contact Information and Recommended ResourcesThe best way to stay in the know? Get on the list. I've got some exciting things coming your way, and I always share with my email list first. Head to the thevisionary.ceo/notes and opt in. Loving the podcast? Let me know.If this episode resonated with you, would you take a moment to leave a quick review on iTunes or Spotify? It means the world—and it helps more women find this work. As a thank you, I have a little something I'd love to send your way. Just email a screenshot of your review to hello@thevisionaryceo.com. | |||
| If You're Still Holding On, What Are You Really Afraid Of? | 28 juil. 2025 | 00:20:08 | |
You're not trapped by your business, your team, or even your schedule. You're trapped by the stories you've been telling yourself about what has to happen next. In this third installment of the special mini-series on the seven transitions every successful woman must navigate when she knows it's time for something new, Kris unpacks the beliefs that quietly hold you back—the false truths that keep high-achieving women stuck in businesses they've already outgrown. She gets right to the heart of the stories we cling to when we're afraid to move on, and dismantles them one by one. Like the belief that if you step back and the business doesn't thrive, you've failed. That if you're no longer running things, you've somehow lost your relevance. That wanting something new makes you ungrateful—or worse, that letting go means it was never enough to begin with. Here's what we explore:
This episode is not about dismantling your success—it's about unhooking from the beliefs that keep you small, tired, and holding on too tightly. Contact Information and Recommended ResourcesThe best way to stay in the know? Get on the list. I've got some exciting things coming your way, and I always share with my email list first. Head to the thevisionary.ceo/notes and opt in.
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| From Operator to Advisor: What Your Business Really Needs From You Now | 21 juil. 2025 | 00:15:10 | |
Are you the biggest bottleneck in your business—and don't even realize it? You didn't build your company to babysit it. But if you're still the one making every call, solving every fire, and holding the reins so tightly no one else can lead...this episode is your wake-up call. In this second installment of the special mini-series on the seven essential transitions every successful woman must navigate when she knows it's time for something new, Kris explores what it really means to step into the advisory consultant role for the very business you created and the team you built. If you've ever felt the urge to evolve beyond the business you built, this is your roadmap—and your invitation. Kris walks through why founders get stuck in a cycle of over-functioning, how perfectionism masks fear, and why holding the metaphorical bat too tightly means no one else will dare take a swing. Here's what we explore:
This episode calls you forward—not to abandon your company, but to evolve into a different kind of leader: one who guides instead of manages, who advises instead of reacts, and who trusts her team to rise. Contact Information and Recommended ResourcesWanna know if your business is ready to run without you? Take the short quiz here: www.thevisionary.CEO/businessready.
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| When You're Ready to Move On, But You're Still Afraid to Let Go | 13 juil. 2025 | 00:24:57 | |
You say you want freedom. But are you really ready for it? This week, Kris kicks off the first of seven essential transitions every successful woman must navigate when she knows it's time for something new. It starts with a brutally honest question: Is your business ready to run without you? In this episode, Kris unpacks what readiness really means—not just logistically, but emotionally. Because saying you're done and being done are two very different things. Here's what we explore:
This isn't about stepping down. It's about stepping into a new version of you. And readiness is just the beginning. Contact Information and Recommended ResourcesWanna know if your business is ready to run without you? Take the short quiz here: www.thevisionary.CEO/businessready. The One Hour Leader Blueprint thevisionary.ceo/onehourleaderblueprint The One Hour Leader Coach thevisionary.ceo/onehourleadercoach
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| What About The Restless Leader: A Call to Explore What's Next | 07 juil. 2025 | 00:12:24 | |
This season marks a turning point—not just for the podcast, but for the visionary women who listen. If you've ever wondered what comes after success, you're in the right place. In this kickoff to a brand-new series, Kris introduces a deeply personal—and much-needed—conversation: what it means to go beyond the CEO. Because sometimes, the biggest transition isn't building the business... it's releasing your grip on it. Here's what we explore:
This isn't about retirement. It's about reinvention. Tune in now and meet the woman you're becoming—one transition at a time. And be sure to listen to upcoming episodes as Kris explores the seven transitions every founder must face to move into her next chapter. Contact Information and Recommended ResourcesJoin me in Sonoma in August so we can meet in person! Go to www.thevisionary.ceo/beyondceo to register your interest. The One Hour Leader Blueprint thevisionary.ceo/onehourleaderblueprint The One Hour Leader Coach thevisionary.ceo/onehourleadercoach
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| When Leadership Isn't Enough Anymore—And You Know It's Time to Evolve | 30 juin 2025 | 00:27:16 | |
You built the business. You built the team. You built the life. But now… what? This is the moment no one warns you about. When the business you poured everything into is running—maybe even thriving—but you feel restless. Detached. Like maybe you've outgrown what once felt like everything. In this episode, Kris Plachy opens the door to a new conversation—one that's been quietly forming behind the scenes. This isn't a pivot away from leadership. It's a leap into deeper truth. She speaks directly to the woman who's questioning what's next:
It's time to meet her—the woman beyond the CEO. Here's what we exploreThe raw emotional terrain of success that no one prepares you for
If you've built a beautiful business but you're starting to dream in a new direction, Kris made this episode for you. This is your invitation to the age era. And Kris will meet you there. Contact Information and Recommended ResourcesJoin me in Sonoma in August so we can meet in person! Go to www.thevisionary.ceo/beyondceo to register your interest. | |||
| Live Coaching Conversation: When the Mask Comes Off—and You Finally Say What You Want | 23 juin 2025 | 00:41:05 | |
This one's raw. Tender. And so incredibly real. My client came into this conversation thinking she needed clarity. She was looking for the right answers—about her role, her goals, her business. But what came out was something much more vulnerable: the pressure to perform, the fear of letting people down, and the quiet ache of not being fully seen. This episode is a front-row seat to what happens when a powerful woman stops performing and starts telling the truth. Here's what we explore:
This is the unfiltered, Beyond the CEO moment so many women never get to speak out loud—but you'll hear it here. Contact Information and Recommended ResourcesJoin me in Sonoma in August so we can meet in person! Go to www.thevisionary.ceo/beyondceo to register your interest. | |||
| Live Coaching Conversation: You Can't Pivot Until You Admit You're Done | 16 juin 2025 | 00:37:20 | |
This one hit deep. I'm talking to a founder who's done everything "right." Built the business. Achieved success. Carried the weight. But now… she's just tired. Tired of running, of holding it all together, of pretending she still wants what she once did. She thought we'd be talking about planning and priorities. Instead, we had one of the most honest conversations I've ever had with a woman who's quietly—and bravely—acknowledging that her current chapter is over. In this episode, we talk about:
This is Beyond the CEO work in real time. And if you've been secretly wondering if you're allowed to want something new, this episode is your permission slip. Contact Information and Recommended ResourcesJoin me in Sonoma in August so we can meet in person! Go to www.thevisionary.ceo/beyondceo to register your interest. | |||
| Live Coaching Conversation: When You're Ready to Let Go, But Don't Know What Comes Next | 09 juin 2025 | 00:39:06 | |
This episode is for the woman who's built a thriving business—and still hears a quiet voice inside asking, "Is this really it?" My client came to this session frustrated with herself for not trusting her team or delegating enough. But what we uncovered wasn't about delegation at all. It was about the fear of stepping away. The pressure to keep going. And the guilt that creeps in when you consider wanting more for yourself… or maybe something entirely different. In this deeply moving conversation, you'll hear:
This is the kind of conversation most women are having only in their heads. But here, we say it out loud. And that's where the real shift begins. Listen now—and if it speaks to you, leave a review and share it with a woman you admire who might be in her own what's next moment. Contact Information and Recommended Resources Join me in Sonoma in August so we can meet in person! Go to www.thevisionary.ceo/beyondceo to register your interest. | |||
| Live Coaching Conversation: Spotting the Right Hire in 5 Minutes | 02 juin 2025 | 00:53:29 | |
Ever hired someone because they "seemed great"... and then spent months wondering what the hell happened? This week on Leadership is Feminine starts the series where I am letting you listen in on actual coaching conversations with female founders. I coach a founder who's been there. She's rebuilding her team—and this time, she's determined to do it differently. No more hiring based on a hunch. No more hoping a great personality will magically turn into aligned performance. Instead? She's learning to ask better questions, speak her expectations out loud (not just assume them), and trust herself in the interview process—not just the person sitting across the table. You'll hear us:
Whether you're hiring right now or just thinking about the next addition to your team, this conversation will change the way you think about values, culture, and your own role as the leader of both. Contact Information and Recommended Resources Join me in Sonoma in August so we can meet in person! Go to www.thevisionary.ceo/beyondceo to register your interest. | |||
| The Question Every Successful Woman Eventually Asks | 26 mai 2025 | 00:21:41 | |
What if the next step in your evolution has nothing to do with scaling, systems, or solving that one nagging employee issue—and everything to do with who you're becoming? In this very personal episode, Kris Plachy sets the stage for a powerful shift. If you've been a long-time listener—or a longtime leader—you'll want to hear where we're going next. Because truthfully? You're probably already feeling it. The tension. The boredom. The subtle restlessness that success didn't solve. This episode isn't tactical. It's transformational. It's for the woman who has checked every box... and still wonders: What now? Who am I beyond the CEO? Kris shares why she's retiring her signature leadership programs, what inspired her to pivot her entire body of work, and how she's now guiding high-level women through the most important work of their lives—not in their business, but in themselves. Key Takeaways From This Episode
If you've been quietly wondering… is this it? This episode is for you. And it's the beginning of a new conversation. Contact Information and Recommended ResourcesBeyond the CEO is a two-day experience for women ready to step into their Sage Era—those seeking rich conversations, deep connection, and a meaningful next chapter. If you're interested in learning more about the live event, go to thevisionary.ceo/beyondCEO | |||
| Team Member Episode: Accountability Isn't a Toxic Workplace | 19 mai 2025 | 00:24:24 | |
This week on Leadership is Feminine, Kris Plachy offers a candid exploration of the employee-employer dynamic—and the personal responsibility that comes with being part of any team. With her trademark clarity and insight, Kris challenges listeners to rethink what it truly means to be employed: It's not just about time—it's about delivering results.
Join Kris to help impact 20 Million Women across the Globe! | |||