Show Up as a Leader with Dr. Rosie Ward

Hosted by Dr. Rosie Ward

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295

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Show Up as a Leader helps you lead authentically, break barriers, and make a positive impact, no matter your role. Dr. Rosie Ward leverages experience, stories, books, ideas, and insights to help further our understanding of ourselves.

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60 recent

June 16, 20264 min

Rosie in My Pocket: Not Being Above Development

The best leaders do not graduate from growth. Rosie invites leaders to rethink development, not as a sign that something is wrong, but as a powerful practice for becoming more of who they are meant to be. Just like elite athletes work with coaches and commit to intentional practice, people-first leaders need time to reflect, sharpen their skills, and break old patterns that no longer serve them. Rosie challenges the belief that experience, credentials, or seniority make anyone "above development." Instead, she reminds us that growth is possible at every age and every stage, and when we invest in our own development, we create space for more of our sparkle to shine. Additional Resources: Get your copy of "Future-Proofing Leadership" Dr. Rosie Ward! Connect with Rosie on LinkedIn Learn more about Salveo Partners Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Learn more about PeopleForward Network Key Takeaways: Growth is a leadership responsibility, not a weakness. Development helps leaders break ineffective old habits. Elite leaders practice reflection with intention. No one is ever above personal growth. Investing in yourself strengthens how you lead.

June 11, 202647 min

Replay: How to Foster a Feedback Culture with Jennifer Loper

Being "nice" might keep the peace, but being kind can change someone's life. Rosie sits down with Jennifer Loper, President of C3, to unpack what it really means to practice "clear is kind" in leadership, relationships, and workplace culture. Jennifer shares a powerful personal story that shaped her understanding of truth with care, then brings it into the everyday realities of leading a feedback-rich organization. 💛 Together, Rosie and Jennifer explore why feedback is a gift, how leaders can model vulnerability, and what it looks like to build systems that hold culture accountable. From 90-day reviews to rethinking nontraditional talent paths, this conversation is full of practical wisdom for people-first leaders who want to create workplaces where humans can grow, contribute, and become better versions of themselves. Additional Resources: Get your copy of "Future-Proofing Leadership" Dr. Rosie Ward! Connect with Jennifer on LinkedIn Learn more about C3 | Creative Consumer Concepts Connect with Rosie on LinkedIn Learn more about Salveo Partners Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Learn more about PeopleForward Network Key Takeaways: Clear feedback is kinder than vague support. Kindness requires courage, risk, and real care. Feedback cultures must be modeled by leaders. Nontraditional paths can unlock exceptional talent. Relationships make truth with care possible.

June 2, 20264 min

Rosie in My Pocket: The Value of Self Awareness

The basics are only basic until we stop practicing them. Rosie invites people-first leaders to step away from the shiny-object chase and return to one of the most powerful leadership practices: self-awareness. Using the example of Kobe Bryant's commitment to daily fundamentals, Rosie reminds us that the skills we assume we have mastered are often the ones that need the most consistent attention. Rosie explores why self-awareness is essential for staying grounded, recognizing emotional hijacking, understanding our impact, and showing up with intention in a volatile world. This episode is a simple but powerful nudge to create space for reflection, ask for feedback, and strengthen the foundation that allows more of your sparkle to shine brightly. ✨ Additional Resources: Get your copy of "Future-Proofing Leadership" Dr. Rosie Ward! Connect with Rosie on LinkedIn Learn more about Salveo Partners Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Learn more about PeopleForward Network Key Takeaways: Self-awareness is a foundational leadership skill. Shiny objects can distract from real growth. Basic practices require consistent repetition. Reflection helps leaders stay grounded and intentional. Feedback strengthens awareness, impact, and connection.

May 28, 202650 min

How to Speak So People Actually Listen with Joel Weldon

The most powerful communicators do not just speak, they create movement. Rosie sits down with legendary speaker, coach, and National Speakers Association founding member Joel Weldon for a masterclass in communication that actually gets results. Joel shares the simple shifts that help leaders move from talking at people to truly connecting with them, including how to make every message about "you," why feedback is the fastest path to growth, and how one small tweak can change the way your words land. Whether you are leading a team meeting, sending a sales email, telling a story, or speaking from a stage, this conversation will help you communicate with more clarity, credibility, and human connection. Because at the end of the day, it is not about you. It is about the people you are here to serve. Additional Resources: Connect with Joel on LinkedIn Learn more about Ultimate Speaker Follow Joel on Instagram! Get your copy of "Future-Proofing Leadership" Dr. Rosie Ward! Connect with Rosie on LinkedIn Learn more about Salveo Partners Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Learn more about PeopleForward Network Key Takeaways: Great communication is measured by results. Make your message about the listener. Replace "I" language with "you" language. Feedback reveals what you cannot see. Speak with clarity, purpose, and relevance.

May 27, 202627 min

The Better Boss: Looking for Diamonds in the Rough with Stephen Webb

Leadership has a memory. One careless public callout can stick for decades, while one intentional moment of recognition can build the kind of confidence people carry forward. Gregg sits down with Stephen Webb, senior leader at Ensign-Bickford Aerospace and Defense Company, to explore the leadership practice of "looking for diamonds in the rough." Stephen shares how early experiences with overly critical managers shaped his view of respect, accountability, and recognition, and why leaders must balance high standards with encouragement. From public praise that misses the mark to private feedback that builds trust, Stephen offers practical wisdom for people-first leaders who want their teams to feel seen, motivated, and empowered to grow. This conversation is a reminder that people often become more of what we consistently recognize. 💎 Additional Resources: Connect with Stephen on LinkedIn Connect with Gregg on LinkedIn Take the Am I a Respectful Leader? Self-Assessment Learn more about The Center for Respectful Leadership Invest in Manager Skills with the R-Factor Workshop Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Learn more about PeopleForward Network Key Takeaways: Recognition builds confidence, ownership, and stronger team performance. Feedback should correct behavior without attacking identity. Public praise is not meaningful for everyone. Respectful leaders notice progress, not just problems. People become what leaders consistently recognize.

May 19, 20264 min

Rosie in My Pocket: Getting Through Tough Stuff

Sometimes resilience does not look like strength at all. It looks like honesty, support, and making it through one hard day at a time. Rosie speaks directly to anyone navigating a difficult season and offers a powerful reminder that tough moments do not last forever. With warmth, candor, and deep empathy, Rosie explores what it really means to move through grief, stress, and uncertainty instead of numbing or avoiding them. She shares why asking for help matters, why strong people need support too, and how connection can carry us through the messy middle. 💖 This episode is a timely reminder for people-first leaders and humans alike: you are not alone, you are stronger than you think, and joy still exists on the other side of hard things. Additional Resources: Get your copy of "Future-Proofing Leadership" Dr. Rosie Ward! Connect with Rosie on LinkedIn Learn more about Salveo Partners Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Learn more about PeopleForward Network Key Takeaways: Hard seasons are temporary, even when they feel endless. Growth often comes through life's toughest challenges. Feeling emotions fully helps you move through them. Strong people need support and check-ins too. Connection helps us heal, endure, and rediscover joy.

May 14, 202654 min

Hospitality Begins with Humanity with Richard Dobransky

What turns a hospitality executive into one of the most admired CEOs in Minnesota? 🏨 Rosie sits down with Richard Dobransky, President and CEO of Morrissey Hospitality, to unpack how his leadership evolved through crisis, growth, and hard-earned perspective. From bringing empathy into performance conversations to rethinking hiring practices that filter out great talent, Richard shares why better business starts with deeper humanity. He also reveals why being just 1% better each day can create extraordinary momentum over time. Whether you lead a team, shape culture, or simply want to create a more human workplace, this episode will challenge you to listen closer, lead humbler, and build with people in mind. Additional Resources: Connect with Richard on LinkedIn Learn more about Morrissey Hospitality Get your copy of "Future-Proofing Leadership" Dr. Rosie Ward! Connect with Rosie on LinkedIn Learn more about Salveo Partners Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Learn more about PeopleForward Network Key Takeaways: People-first leadership strengthens culture, trust, and performance. Performance issues often begin outside the workplace. Hiring needs human judgment, not just algorithms. Frontline insights reveal what metrics often miss. Great leaders pursue progress, not perfection.

May 5, 20264 min

Rosie in My Pocket: Avoid the Comparison Trap

You are not behind. You are not failing. You are just not meant to be who you were before. Rosie tackles a sneaky form of self-sabotage: comparing yourself not to others, but to a past version of yourself. With honesty and heart, Rosie explores how nostalgia can quietly turn into self-judgment, draining your energy and keeping you stuck in head trash that does not serve you. This episode is a powerful reminder that every season asks something different of us. Rosie invites you to trade self-criticism for grace, honor what is true right now, and ask the question that matters most: what do I need in this season to be my best today? ✨ Additional Resources: Connect with Rosie on LinkedIn Learn more about Salveo Partners Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Learn more about PeopleForward Network Key Takeaways: Stop comparing yourself to your past self. Nostalgia can quietly become self-sabotage. Every season requires different strengths and needs. Grace creates space for growth and clarity. Ask what you need right now.

April 23, 202652 min

Culture Is Everyone's Job with Brett Hoogeveen

Culture isn't fluffy, it's the invisible force shaping everything from performance to quality of life, and most leaders are getting it wrong. Rosie sits down with Brett Hoogeveen, co-founder of BetterCulture, to break culture down into something refreshingly practical. From defining culture as the behaviors we expect from one another to dismantling the "core values con job," Brett brings a no-nonsense, engineer's mindset to a topic that's often overcomplicated. This conversation is packed with real-world examples, from how to build culture top down and bottom up to the small, consistent actions that actually move the needle. If you've ever felt like culture is too abstract to fix or too big to influence, this episode will change your perspective. You'll walk away with tangible tools, a clearer roadmap, and a powerful reminder that every single person has the ability to shape a better workplace. Additional Resources: Get your exclusive leadership tools and resources at BetterCulture! Connect with Brett on LinkedIn Learn more about BetterCulture Connect with Rosie on LinkedIn Learn more about Salveo Partners Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Learn more about PeopleForward Network Key Takeaways: Culture equals expected attitudes and behaviors Consistency beats one-time culture initiatives Everyone influences culture, not just leadership Core values fail without behavioral systems Small actions compound into cultural transformation

April 22, 202641 min

The Better Boss: Be Respect Worthy with Amy West

Respect is not soft. It is strategic, tested in hard conversations, and earned in the moments that matter most. Gregg sits down with Amy West, VP of Corporate and Customer Performance at Kentro, for a grounded and powerful conversation about what it really means to be respect worthy as a leader. Drawing from her military background, government contracting experience, and corporate leadership journey, Amy shares how trust is built through honesty, consistency, preparation, and the courage to admit you do not know everything. From navigating grief on a team to leading through tension, disagreement, and transformation, Amy offers a practical and deeply human view of leadership that people-first leaders need right now. This episode is a reminder that when leaders listen well, care deeply, and show up beside their people, respect stops being a value on the wall and becomes a lived experience. Additional Resources: Connect with Amy on LinkedIn Connect with Gregg on LinkedIn Take the Am I a Respectful Leader? Self-Assessment Learn more about The Center for Respectful Leadership Invest in Manager Skills with the R-Factor Workshop Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Learn more about PeopleForward Network Key Takeaways: Respect is earned through consistency, honesty, and follow-through. Great leaders create safety for questions and disagreement. Hard conversations need preparation, tact, and empathy. Caring cannot be taught, but it can be modeled. People go farther for leaders who truly show up.