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  • In this episode of The Joy CEO Podcast, Lori Pine explores what it truly means to find your North Star, the simple truth she arrived at after decades spent surviving a demanding career and raising her sons, with little room for a bigger question. Her north star today is radically small on purpose: help one person. In every phone call, coaching session, Connect gathering, and speaking event, that's the only question she's answering. .

    This episode also challenges the common misconception that joy is something we earn once life is perfect. Lori explains why joy is different from happiness—it isn't dependent on circumstances, and it can exist alongside grief, uncertainty, or struggle. This episode makes the case that joy is the strategy, not the consolation prize, and closes with a direct question for the listener: who is the one person in front of you today, and what would it look like to let that be enough?

    If you've been questioning your purpose, feeling disconnected from your work, or wondering what really matters, this episode offers a powerful invitation to return to yourself.

    🔑 Key Takeaways:Your North Star Isn't Found Outside of You

    Titles, promotions, money, and recognition may feel like the destination, but they rarely provide lasting fulfillment. Your North Star is discovered by looking inward and identifying what truly gives your life meaning.

    Helping One Person Is Enough

    Lori shares how shifting from trying to reach everyone to intentionally helping one person changed everything. One conversation, one client, one post, or one act of encouragement can create a ripple effect you may never fully see.

    Ego Chases Performance. Purpose Creates Impact.

    There was a season when Lori believed saying "yes" to everything was the path to success. Looking back, she recognizes how ego often disguises itself as ambition. Real leadership comes from alignment, not constant proving.

    Joy Is Different Than Happiness

    Happiness depends on circumstances. Joy lives underneath every circumstance. It doesn't erase grief, disappointment, or uncertainty—but it can exist alongside them and guide how we lead.

    Small Daily Wins Build Real Confidence

    Instead of measuring success by external milestones, Lori encourages listeners to audit the moments where they honored their values, kept promises to themselves, or made a meaningful difference.

    Let Joy Become Your Leadership Strategy

    Joy isn't a reward reserved for after success—it becomes the strategy that helps you make better decisions, stay grounded, and lead with authenticity instead of exhaustion.

    🔎 Mentioned in the Episode:The concept of finding your personal North Star as your guiding purpose.The distinction between joy and happiness, and why joy is available regardless of circumstances.Lori's personal journey through career success, loss, survival seasons, and redefining leadership.The "One Person Mission"—measuring success by lives impacted rather than followers, titles, or recognition.Daily self-audits as a way to build confidence, self-trust, and self-esteem.
    ✨ Reflection Prompts:What has been your North Star up until now—and is it still serving you?Are your biggest decisions being driven by purpose or by performance?Where have you been measuring success by someone else's definition?What would it look like to help just one person today?If joy became your strategy instead of your reward, how would your leadership change?
    🧠 Who This Episode Is For:Women leaders redefining what success looks like.Professionals who feel successful on paper but disconnected internally.High achievers recovering from burnout or constant striving.Entrepreneurs and executives searching for deeper purpose.Anyone wanting to lead with greater intention, joy, and lasting impact.
    📩 Want to Go Deeper?

    Follow Lori on LinkedIn to continue the conversation

    Book a Leadership Strategy Call with Lori: loripine.com

    🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast

    ⭐️ Leave a review to help other heart-centered leaders find the show

    📲 Share this episode with someone who’s navigating pressure and wants to do it with more grace

  • Summary:

    In part two of this deeply personal series, host Lori Pyne shares how a collapse outside a New York deli became the wake-up call that changed the trajectory of her life and leadership.

    After years of chasing achievement, identity, and external validation, Lori began the inner work that would eventually shape her philosophy that joy isn't separate from success—it fuels it.

    This episode explores the hidden cost of tying your worth to your title, the discomfort that comes when high achievers slow down, and why so many women instinctively fill empty space with more work instead of reflection. Lori shares practical tools for regulating your nervous system, breaking free from people-pleasing, and reconnecting with the person underneath the performance.

    If you've built a successful life but still feel exhausted, disconnected, or unsure who you are outside of what you do—this episode is for you.

    🔑 Key Takeaways:The Identity Trap Is Real

    Many ambitious leaders become so attached to their titles, achievements, and image that they lose sight of who they are outside of work.

    When your identity becomes your role, every setback feels personal—and stepping away feels impossible.

    Audience follow-up → If your job title disappeared tomorrow, how would you describe yourself?

    The Void Isn't the Problem—It's the Invitation

    When high achievers finally slow down, they often encounter what Lori calls "the void"—an uncomfortable space where busyness no longer distracts from deeper questions.

    The instinct is often to fill that space with more doing. Growth begins when you stay long enough to listen.

    Audience follow-up → What have you been avoiding by staying busy?

    Your Worth Is Not Your Productivity

    Lori challenges the belief that value comes from output, achievement, or being the person everyone depends on.

    Grounded leadership comes from presence, not constant performance.

    Audience follow-up → Where are you measuring your value by what you produce rather than who you are?

    It's Time for a Corporate Exorcism

    People-pleasing, perfectionism, over-functioning, and saying yes when you mean no aren't leadership strengths—they're survival strategies.

    Leadership in alignment requires boundaries, even when they disappoint other people.

    Audience follow-up → What boundary have you been avoiding because you're afraid of letting someone down?

    Your Nervous System Needs Leadership Too

    Stress isn't only a mindset issue—it's physical.

    Lori shares practices that helped her regulate her body and return to herself, including breathwork, yoga, time in nature, movement, and intentionally seeking moments of awe.

    Audience follow-up → What helps your body feel safe enough to slow down?

    Small Habits Create Big Shifts

    Transformation rarely happens through dramatic change.

    Micro-habits practiced consistently create sustainable leadership and lasting wellbeing.

    Audience follow-up → What's one small daily habit that would help you reconnect with yourself this week?

    Healing Doesn't Happen Alone

    Therapy, coaching, retreats, and supportive communities can provide the space and mirrors we often can't create for ourselves.

    Growth accelerates when you're surrounded by people committed to becoming more fully themselves.

    Audience follow-up → Who supports the version of you you're becoming?

    🔎 Mentioned in the Episode:The Identity Trap — when achievement and titles become your entire sense of self.The Void — the uncomfortable space that appears when busyness stops and self-reflection begins.Corporate Exorcism — Lori's framework for releasing people-pleasing, perfectionism, and over-functioning.Nervous System Regulation Practices — including breathwork, yoga, movement, nature, and awe.Micro-Habits — small, repeatable actions that support sustainable change.Therapy, Retreats, and Community — essential support structures for long-term growth and alignment.
    ✨ Reflection Prompts:Who am I when I'm not producing, performing, or achieving?What am I using work to avoid feeling?Where do I need stronger boundaries to protect my energy?What brings me genuine joy—and when was the last time I made space for it?What would leadership look like if I stopped proving and started aligning?
    🧠 Who This Episode Is For:High-performing women who feel exhausted despite their successLeaders navigating burnout or questioning their identity outside workExecutives ready to lead from alignment rather than obligationProfessionals working to overcome people-pleasing and perfectionismAnyone curious about the connection between nervous system health, joy, and sustainable leadership
    📩 Want to Go Deeper?

    Follow Lori on LinkedIn to continue the conversation

    Book a Leadership Strategy Call with Lori: loripine.com

    🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast

    ⭐️ Leave a review to help other heart-centered leaders find the show

    📲 Share this episode with someone who’s navigating pressure and wants to do it with more grace

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  • Summary:

    In this deeply personal episode, I share the story that became the foundation of The Joy CEO. It’s a story I don’t tell often—one that begins in 2008 when I was juggling a new leadership role near New York City, relocating across the country, navigating a divorce, and raising two young boys.

    On the outside, I looked like I had everything under control. On the inside, my body was sounding alarms I refused to hear.

    After months of stress, sleep deprivation, and pushing through exhaustion, I collapsed outside a deli and woke up in the back of an ambulance after experiencing a grand mal seizure. That moment forced me to confront a truth so many high-achieving women face: just because you can carry it all doesn’t mean you should.

    In this episode, I explore the hidden cost of high performance, the warning signs we often ignore, and why joy is not a luxury—it’s a leadership strategy. I also share research showing that leaders who cultivate joy and wellbeing are more productive, creative, and resilient than those operating from constant stress and survival mode.

    This is part one of a two-part series on the real origin story of The Joy CEO and the inner transformation that changed everything.

    🔑 Key Takeaways:High Performance Can Hide a Breaking Point

    Many ambitious women become so skilled at carrying responsibility that they stop recognizing when they’re overwhelmed.

    Your Body Often Knows Before Your Mind Does

    Stress doesn't always show up as a breakdown. It can appear as exhaustion, headaches, anxiety, poor sleep, irritability, or chronic tension long before a crisis occurs.

    Survival Mode Is Not Sustainable Leadership

    Operating on adrenaline may create short-term results, but it comes at a cost. Constant hustle can disconnect you from creativity, clarity, and joy.

    Joy Is a Leadership Advantage

    Research highlighted in this episode shows that leaders who experience greater wellbeing and positive emotions are more productive, innovative, and effective.

    Self-Awareness Is the First Step Toward Change

    Transformation begins when we pause long enough to notice what's happening internally rather than pushing through discomfort.

    You Don't Have to Earn Rest

    Many high achievers believe rest is something they deserve only after achieving enough. This mindset often leads to burnout.

    🔎 Mentioned in the Episode:Lori's 2008 grand mal seizure that became a turning point in her life and leadership journeyThe "I've Got It" high-performer mindsetThe impact of chronic stress, sleep deprivation, and emotional overloadResearch from Harvard and McKinsey on the connection between joy, wellbeing, productivity, creativity, and business performanceThe concept of joyful leadership as a sustainable alternative to hustle cultureThe upcoming Part Two episode exploring the inner work and mindset shifts that followed this life-changing experience
    ✨ Reflection Prompts:What warning signs have I been minimizing or ignoring?Where am I relying on willpower instead of support?What does my body need from me right now?How has stress affected the way I show up as a leader?If joy became a leadership priority, what would I do differently this week?
    🧠 Who This Episode Is For:High-achieving women balancing leadership, family, and personal challengesExecutives and professionals who feel successful but exhaustedLeaders experiencing stress, overwhelm, or early signs of burnoutWomen who are tired of carrying everything aloneAnyone seeking a more sustainable, joyful approach to success and leadership
    💛 Favorite Quote:

    "The very thing that made me successful—the belief that I could handle it all—was the thing that nearly broke me."

    📩 Want to Go Deeper?

    Follow Lori on LinkedIn to continue the conversation

    Book a Leadership Strategy Call with Lori: loripine.com

    🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast

    ⭐️ Leave a review to help other heart-centered leaders find the show

    📲 Share this episode with someone who’s navigating pressure and wants to do it with more grace

  • Summary:

    In this episode, I share a realization that completely changed the way I think about leadership, confidence, and career growth: sometimes the problem isn't you—it's the room you're in.

    For years, I believed that if I worked harder, proved myself more, and pushed through challenges, I could succeed anywhere. But looking back, I can see how certain environments quietly chipped away at my confidence while others helped me thrive.

    Using the story of NBA star Jalen Brunson's transformation from being viewed as a supporting player in Dallas to becoming a franchise leader in New York, I explore how the right environment can unlock potential that was always there.

    I also share my own experience working at Anheuser-Busch under leadership that made me question my value, and how everything changed when I joined Coca-Cola and found a culture where my strengths were recognized and supported.

    If you've been feeling stuck, overlooked, or like you're constantly proving yourself, this episode is a reminder that sometimes growth doesn't require becoming someone different—it requires finding a room where you can fully be yourself.

    🔑 Key Takeaways:Your Environment Shapes Your Confidence

    The room you're in has a powerful impact on how you see yourself. When your contributions are minimized or overlooked, it's easy to assume you're the problem.

    Audience follow-up → Where in your life are you receiving signals that make you question your value?

    Not All Feedback Is About You

    Sometimes what isn't being said is just as important as what is. The lack of support, opportunity, or recognition may reveal more about the environment than your abilities.

    Audience follow-up → What "feedback" have you internalized that may actually be a reflection of the culture around you?

    Great Leaders Build Around Strengths

    The Knicks didn't ask Jalen Brunson to become someone else—they built around what he already did well. Strong leaders and organizations create conditions where people can thrive.

    Audience follow-up → Are your strengths being leveraged in your current role, or are you constantly compensating for weaknesses?

    Self-Doubt Often Starts in the Wrong Room

    Repeated exposure to environments that don't value your perspective can slowly erode confidence, even when you're highly capable.

    Audience follow-up → Have you mistaken an environmental issue for a personal deficiency?

    Sometimes Growth Requires a Different Room

    There comes a point when advocating for yourself isn't enough. If the environment refuses to change, it may be time to find a place where your value is recognized.

    Audience follow-up → What would become possible if you stopped trying to convince the wrong people of your worth?

    🔎 Mentioned in the Episode:Jalen Brunson – His journey from Dallas to New York and how the right environment unlocked his leadership potential.Anheuser-Busch – Lori's early leadership experience and lessons learned about workplace culture.The Coca-Cola Company – The environment where Lori rebuilt confidence and thrived professionally.Leadership environments and the hidden impact they have on confidence, performance, and career growth.
    ✨ Reflection Prompts:Where have I been blaming myself for something that was actually environmental?What messages am I receiving from the people and culture around me?Do I feel supported, valued, and seen in my current environment?What strengths do I bring that aren't being fully recognized?What would it look like to move toward a room that expands me instead of shrinking me?
    🧠 Who This Episode Is For:Women leaders who feel stuck despite working hardHigh performers questioning their confidence or capabilityProfessionals navigating difficult workplace culturesExecutives considering a career move or leadership transitionAnyone who has ever wondered, "Maybe I'm just not good enough"

    This episode is a reminder that your potential isn't determined by the room you're in. Sometimes the breakthrough comes when you stop questioning yourself and start questioning whether the environment is worthy of your gifts.

    📩 Want to Go Deeper?

    Follow Lori on LinkedIn to continue the conversation

    Book a Leadership Strategy Call with Lori: loripine.com

    🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast

    ⭐️ Leave a review to help other heart-centered leaders find the show

    📲 Share this episode with someone who’s navigating pressure and wants to do it with more grace

  • Summary:

    In this solo episode of The Joy CEO Podcast, I’m sharing a conversation that hit me harder than I expected. A mentor once told me, “Your biggest problem is that you make it look easy.” At first, I took it as a compliment. But the more I reflected on it, the more I realized it was actually pointing to a hidden challenge many ambitious women face.

    When you’re known as the person who always has it together, people stop checking in. And eventually, you stop checking in with yourself.

    In this episode, I unpack what I call the Permission Problem—the belief that because we’re capable, we shouldn’t need support. I share my own experience leading a large, travel-heavy team while silently battling exhaustion, and why burnout isn’t always about workload. Sometimes it’s about feeling like you’re not allowed to struggle.

    If you've ever been the strong one, the reliable one, or the person everyone depends on, this episode is an invitation to stop performing fine and start being honest about what you need.

    🔑 Key TakeawaysMaking It Look Easy Can Become a Trap

    For years, I wore competence like armor. The problem? When you make everything look effortless, people assume you don’t need help.

    Audience follow-up → Where in your life are you performing strength instead of allowing support?

    Burnout Isn't Always a Time Management Problem

    Research shows that burnout is rising among high performers, especially women leaders. The issue often isn't productivity—it’s carrying everything alone.

    Audience follow-up → Are you overwhelmed because of your workload, or because you're trying to carry it without support?

    The Strongest Person in the Room Still Needs Someone

    I share a season in 2019 when I was traveling constantly, leading a large team, and outwardly succeeding while privately feeling depleted.

    Audience follow-up → Who knows how you're really doing right now?

    Stop Performing Competence You Don't Feel

    There's a difference between being capable and pretending everything is okay. Leadership doesn't require perfection.

    Audience follow-up → What truth have you been editing out when someone asks, "How are you?"

    Build an Inner Circle Before You Need One

    Whether it's a partner, friend, therapist, mentor, or coach, every leader needs people who can hold space for honesty.

    Audience follow-up → Do you have a circle where you can be fully yourself—not just your professional self?

    Permission Starts Within

    No title, promotion, or achievement will give you permission to rest, receive support, or be human. That permission has to come from you.

    Audience follow-up → What would change if you gave yourself permission to ask for help today?

    🔎 Mentioned in This EpisodeGallup workplace burnout researchMcKinsey research on women in leadershipLori's 2019 leadership experience managing a large, travel-heavy teamThe concept of the "Load-Bearing Wall" leaderBuilding a personal support system and inner circle
    ✨ Reflection PromptsHave I become so good at coping that people no longer know when I'm struggling?Where am I performing competence instead of telling the truth?Who are the people I trust enough to be honest with?What support do I need that I haven't asked for?What would it look like to pursue ambition without carrying everything alone?
    🧠 Who This Episode Is ForHigh-achieving women in corporate leadershipEntrepreneurs carrying the weight of their business aloneLeaders experiencing burnout despite external successWomen who struggle to ask for helpAnyone who feels responsible for holding everything together
    📩 Want to Go Deeper?

    Follow Lori on LinkedIn to continue the conversation

    Book a Leadership Strategy Call with Lori: loripine.com

    🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast

    ⭐️ Leave a review to help other heart-centered leaders find the show

    📲 Share this episode with someone who’s navigating pressure and wants to do it with more grace

  • Summary:In this inspiring and deeply personal conversation, I sit down with my friend and coaching client, Leanne Wynn Davies—a Google sales leader, marathon runner, advocate, and someone who embodies what it means to go all in on a dream.Leanne shares her 11-year journey to qualifying for and finally running the Boston Marathon. What began as a near miss after her first New York City Marathon became a decade-long lesson in resilience, commitment, and refusing to settle for "good enough." Along the way, she faced race cancellations, missed opportunities, changing qualification standards, pregnancy, and countless setbacks.But this episode is about more than running. It's about what happens when we stop trying to do everything alone, invest in support, and decide that our goals are worth pursuing wholeheartedly.Whether you're chasing a personal milestone, leading a team, or wondering what your next level requires of you, this conversation will challenge you to think bigger about what's possible.🔑 Key Takeaways:Going All In Requires More Than EffortFor years, Leanne trained hard but approached marathon qualifying as something she'd figure out on her own. The breakthrough came when she decided to stop relying solely on effort and start investing in expertise.Hitting the Target Isn't Always EnoughOne of the most surprising moments in Leanne's journey came when she technically qualified for Boston—only to learn her time still wasn't fast enough because of the competitive cutoff.The lesson? In leadership and life, meeting expectations isn't always what creates opportunities. Sometimes you need to exceed them.Coaching Can Accelerate GrowthAfter one pivotal coaching session, Leanne hired a professional running coach, revamped her training and fueling strategy, and ultimately qualified by an impressive 11-minute margin.The right coach doesn't do the work for you—they help you see what's possible and guide you toward it.No Big Goal Happens AloneFrom her husband and family to coaches, friends, and running communities, Leanne credits much of her success to the people who supported her journey.We often celebrate individual achievement, but behind every breakthrough is a team.Life Doesn't Follow the Timeline You PlannedJust after qualifying, Leanne became pregnant and deferred her Boston Marathon entry under the race's pregnancy and postpartum policy. Instead of seeing it as a setback, she embraced the season she was in and returned stronger.Sometimes progress looks different than we expected—and that's okay.Purpose Makes the Journey Bigger Than YouLeanne's running journey is deeply connected to her advocacy for cystic fibrosis. Inspired by her sisters and her work with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, she uses marathon fundraising to create impact beyond the finish line.Purpose has a way of carrying us through challenges that motivation alone can't sustain.🔎 Mentioned in the Episode:The Boston Marathon qualification process and competitive cutoff systemThe New York City Marathon, Chicago Marathon, London Marathon, Wilmington Marathon, Tokyo Marathon, and Boston MarathonProfessional run coaching and performance-based trainingPregnancy and postpartum race deferral policiesFundraising and advocacy through the Cystic Fibrosis FoundationLeadership lessons from sports, coaching, and personal growth✨ Reflection Prompts:What goal have you been pursuing halfway that deserves your full commitment?Where are you trying to succeed alone instead of asking for support?What would "all in" look like for your next level of growth?Are you measuring success by effort—or by results?Who could help you break through the ceiling you're currently facing?🧠 Who This Episode Is For:Leaders striving for their next level of growth and performanceProfessionals who want to stop doing everything aloneWomen balancing ambitious goals with changing life seasonsAthletes, runners, and anyone pursuing a long-term dreamPeople considering coaching, mentorship, or investing in personal developmentAnyone who needs a reminder that persistence, support, and purpose can take you further than talent alone📩 Want to Go Deeper?

    Follow Lori on LinkedIn to continue the conversation

    Book a Leadership Strategy Call with Lori: loripine.com

    🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast

    ⭐️ Leave a review to help other heart-centered leaders find the show

    📲 Share this episode with someone who’s navigating pressure and wants to do it with more grace

    Connect with Leanne on Linkedin

  • Summary:

    In this episode, I reflect on the hidden cost of wearing independence as a badge of honor and why I’ve come to believe community is essential for sustainable leadership. After years of moving cities for corporate opportunities and believing strength meant handling everything on my own, I realized my independence had quietly turned into isolation.

    I share the moments that forced me to confront the limits of “doing it all yourself,” from not knowing who to list as an emergency contact for my children to navigating divorce and the sudden loss of my mother. This conversation is an invitation to rethink what strength really looks like and why meaningful connection—not isolation—is what truly supports ambitious women.

    🔑 Key Takeaways:

    Independence Isn’t the Same as Strength

    For years, I believed being self-sufficient meant I was successful. But over time, I realized independence can become a coping mechanism that disconnects us from the support we actually need.

    Audience follow-up → Where in your life have you mistaken isolation for strength?

    Ambition Without Community Becomes Unsustainable

    I share how relocating seven times for career advancement slowly eroded my sense of rootedness and belonging.

    Audience follow-up → What relationships or communities have you unintentionally sacrificed in pursuit of success?

    The Emergency Contact Moment Changed Everything

    One of the most confronting moments came when I realized I didn’t know who I could list as an emergency contact for my children. That question exposed just how alone I had become.

    Audience follow-up → If life became difficult tomorrow, who could you truly call for support?

    Community Expands What Feels Possible

    Real connection doesn’t weaken ambition—it strengthens it. Being around women who see you fully creates safety, perspective, and possibility.

    Audience follow-up → Who in your life makes you feel more like yourself when you’re around them?

    You Deserve to Be Seen Beyond Your Resume

    So many accomplished women are celebrated for what they produce while quietly feeling unseen in who they are. I believe we need spaces where honesty matters more than performance.

    Audience follow-up → Where are you craving deeper connection—not networking, but genuine belonging?

    🔎 Mentioned in the Episode:

    The Connect

    A peer community Lori created for ambitious, accomplished women seeking honest conversations, meaningful support, and deeper connection beyond surface-level networking.

    Lori’s Corporate Relocations

    Over the course of her corporate career, Lori relocated seven different times in pursuit of advancement and opportunity—an experience that shaped both her ambition and her loneliness.

    The Turning Point

    The combination of divorce and the sudden loss of Lori’s mother forced her to reevaluate what true support, resilience, and leadership really mean.

    ✨ Reflection Prompts:

    What have you been carrying alone because you thought you “should” be able to?When was the last time you felt genuinely supported?Are you building a successful life—or a connected one?What would change if you stopped treating vulnerability like weakness?

    🧠 Who This Episode Is For:

    Ambitious women who feel lonely despite their successLeaders navigating life transitions, grief, or burnoutProfessionals craving deeper connection and communityWomen redefining what strength and leadership look likeAnyone tired of carrying the weight of independence alone
    📩 Want to Go Deeper?

    Follow Lori on LinkedIn to continue the conversation

    Book a Leadership Strategy Call with Lori: loripine.com

    🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast

    ⭐️ Leave a review to help other heart-centered leaders find the show

    📲 Share this episode with someone who’s navigating pressure and wants to do it with more grace

  • Summary:

    In this special one-year anniversary episode of the Joy CEO Podcast, I’m reflecting on what it’s meant to show up consistently for 52 straight weeks of long-form conversations around leadership, growth, joy, and becoming the woman you’re meant to be.

    I share why I started this podcast in the first place: to create a space where you could truly get to know me, my coaching philosophy, and the work I care deeply about. This episode is more personal, conversational, and completely off-script as I walk through six leadership lessons that have shaped me this past year.

    From learning that growth happens faster through people—not isolation—to redefining joy as something we already carry within us, these lessons have impacted how I lead, work, and live. I also talk about why careers are rarely linear, how adopting an athlete’s mindset changed my perspective on resilience, and why challenging yourself beyond your comfort zone is necessary for growth.

    If you’ve been feeling stuck, overwhelmed by figuring everything out alone, or disconnected from joy, I hope this episode reminds you that you don’t have to have all the answers to move forward.

    🔑 Key Takeaways:

    “Who, Not How” Changed the Way I Grow

    One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that I don’t need to have every answer myself. Growth happens faster when I stop obsessing over the “how” and start finding the right people to support, guide, and collaborate with me.

    Audience follow-up → Where are you trying to do everything alone instead of asking for support?

    Joy Isn’t Something I Have to Earn

    For so long, I thought joy came after the achievement, the milestone, or the success. But I’ve learned that love, joy, and fulfillment already exist within us—we don’t have to prove ourselves worthy of experiencing them.

    Audience follow-up → What would change if you stopped delaying joy until “someday”?

    I Want to Lead People First

    The older I get, the more I believe leadership is about making people feel seen, valued, and safe. Whether in business or everyday life, people remember how you made them feel.

    Audience follow-up → Who in your life could feel more appreciated or acknowledged by you this week?

    My Career Hasn’t Been Linear—And That’s Okay

    I’ve had pivots, unexpected turns, and moments where things didn’t go according to plan. This year reminded me that careers and personal growth are rarely straight lines, and sometimes the detours shape us the most.

    Audience follow-up → What if your current transition is leading you somewhere better than you expected?

    Adopting an Athlete’s Mindset Changed Me

    I talk about how sports and athletic discipline influenced the way I approach leadership, consistency, and resilience. Leadership isn’t about perfection—it’s about showing up, practicing, and learning how to work as part of a team.

    Audience follow-up → What habits are helping you build resilience in your daily life?

    Growth Requires Me to Challenge Myself

    Some of the biggest breakthroughs in my life came from doing things that felt uncomfortable or bigger than I thought I was ready for. I’ve learned that growth often lives on the other side of challenge—and that I don’t have to navigate it alone.

    Audience follow-up → What challenge have you been avoiding because it feels too big or uncertain?

    🔎 Mentioned in the Episode:

    Celebrating 52 episodes and one full year of the Joy CEO PodcastWhy I committed to weekly long-form contentThe “Who Not How” mindset and asking for supportLeadership through connection, joy, and resilienceLessons from athletics and teamwork applied to business and lifeThe importance of embracing pivots and personal growth

    ✨ Reflection Prompts:

    Where am I making things harder by trying to do everything myself?What does joy look like for me outside of achievement?How do I want people to feel after interacting with me?Am I resisting change—or allowing myself to evolve?What challenge could help me grow into the next version of myself?

    🧠 Who This Episode Is For:

    Women navigating career pivots or reinventionEntrepreneurs and leaders craving more joy and alignmentHigh achievers learning to ask for supportProfessionals rebuilding confidence after setbacksAnyone wanting leadership lessons grounded in connection, growth, and humanity

    ⏱ Episode Breakdown:

    00:00 Anniversary Kickoff

    00:48 Why I Started

    03:06 Who Not How

    06:53 Love And Joy

    08:20 People First

    09:39 Careers Aren't Linear

    11:37 Find The Athlete

    13:25 Challenge Yourself

    14:48 Wrap Up And Next Steps

    📩 Want to Go Deeper?

    Follow Lori on LinkedIn to continue the conversation

    Book a Leadership Strategy Call with Lori: loripine.com

    🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast

    ⭐️ Leave a review to help other heart-centered leaders find the show

    📲 Share this episode with someone who’s navigating pressure and wants to do it with more grace

  • Summary:

    In this honest and deeply empowering conversation, Lori sits down with divorce and relationship coach Kara Francis to talk about what really happens when women stop living the life they’re “supposed” to live—and start choosing themselves instead.

    Kara shares how witnessing her sister’s divorce first inspired her to become a divorce attorney, and how years later, her own divorce pushed her into a profound identity reckoning. After realizing many women didn’t just need legal guidance—but emotional support, clarity, and healing—she transitioned from law into coaching.

    Together, Lori and Kara unpack the fear, grief, people-pleasing, and identity loss that often come with unhappy marriages and major life transitions. Kara walks listeners through her four-phase coaching framework and explains why reclaiming your truth is often the first step toward reclaiming your power.

    This episode is a powerful reminder that you don’t need permission to want a different life—and that choosing yourself doesn’t make you selfish. It makes you honest.

    🔑 Key Takeaways:Your Identity Can Get Lost Inside “Supposed To”

    Kara shares how years of people-pleasing and following a traditional life script left her disconnected from herself before her divorce.

    Audience follow-up → Where in your life are you making choices based on expectation instead of truth?

    Divorce Is Emotional—Not Just Legal

    As a former attorney, Kara realized many women weren’t struggling most with paperwork—they were struggling with fear, shame, grief, and uncertainty.

    Audience follow-up → What kind of emotional support do you need during hard transitions that logic alone can’t solve?

    Fear Usually Centers Around Kids and Finances

    Kara explains that the two biggest fears women often face when considering divorce are:

    “Will my kids be okay?”“Will I be financially okay?”

    She shares why clarity and support matter more than having every answer figured out upfront.

    Audience follow-up → Are you waiting to feel 100% certain before allowing yourself to make a decision?

    You Don’t Need a “Bad” Partner to Leave

    One of the most powerful parts of the conversation centers around women feeling guilty for leaving relationships that look “fine” from the outside.

    Kara reminds listeners that unhappiness, disconnection, or losing yourself are valid reasons to reevaluate your relationship.

    Audience follow-up → Have you been minimizing your own needs because someone else isn’t “bad enough” to justify change?

    Reclaiming Your Power Happens in Phases

    Kara walks through her four-phase coaching framework:

    Own Your RealityReturn to Your TruthReclaim Your PowerMove Forward in Wholeness

    She explains why healing isn’t about becoming someone new—it’s about reconnecting with who you already are.

    Audience follow-up → Which phase are you currently in right now?

    Staying Small in Relationships Doesn’t Mean You’re Weak

    Many high-achieving women feel confident professionally but small, silenced, or disconnected inside their relationships.

    Kara explains how self-abandonment can quietly happen over time—and why awareness is the first step toward change.

    Audience follow-up → Where have you learned to shrink yourself to maintain peace or approval?

    🔎 Mentioned in the Episode:Kara’s transition from divorce attorney to coach after recognizing the emotional gaps in traditional divorce supportHer personal divorce journey during 2020 and major move from Chicago to New York CityThe emotional toll of people-pleasing and losing your sense of self in relationshipsKara’s four-phase coaching framework for navigating divorce and identity rebuildingListener Q&A about long-term unhappy marriages, “good” partners, and fear around leavingThe importance of building support, clarity, and self-trust before making major life decisions
    ✨ Reflection Prompts:What truth about your life have you been avoiding?Are you making decisions from fear—or from alignment?Where have you confused keeping the peace with keeping yourself?What would choosing yourself actually look like right now?If you fully trusted yourself, what decision would become clearer?
    🧠 Who This Episode Is For:Women navigating divorce, separation, or relationship uncertaintyHigh-achieving women struggling with people-pleasing or identity lossAnyone feeling disconnected from themselves inside a relationshipWomen questioning whether they’re allowed to want something differentListeners rebuilding confidence, self-trust, and emotional clarity after major life transitions
    📩 Want to Go Deeper?

    Follow Lori on LinkedIn to continue the conversation

    Book a Leadership Strategy Call with Lori: loripine.com

    Connect with Kara Francis on her Website, Instagram

    🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast

    ⭐️ Leave a review to help other heart-centered leaders find the show

    📲 Share this episode with someone who’s navigating pressure and wants to do it with more grace

  • Summary:

    In this deeply personal solo episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what visibility really requires—and why it’s not just about strategy, but identity.

    I share a defining moment from my childhood that shaped how I learned to be seen, and how that experience quietly turned into a “vow” to stay safe by overachieving instead of fully expressing myself. If you’ve ever found yourself doing all the right things but still holding back your voice, this episode will likely hit close to home.

    I walk you through how your brain is trying to protect you (even when it’s keeping you small), and introduce one of my favorite tools—the “hula hoop” concept—to help you separate what’s actually yours to carry from what isn’t.

    Most importantly, I offer three simple but powerful shifts that will help you own your narrative before anyone else does—so you can stop waiting to be recognized and start showing up as the leader you already are.

    This isn’t about becoming more visible by doing more. It’s about becoming more visible by deciding who you are before the room does.

    🔑 Key Takeaways:

    Visibility Is an Identity Practice

    I’ve learned that being seen isn’t just about speaking up—it’s about who you believe you are when you do. When your identity feels safe, your visibility becomes natural.

    👉 Audience follow-up: Where in your life are you still tying your visibility to validation instead of self-trust?

    The “Vows” You Didn’t Know You Made

    I share how a childhood moment shaped the way I showed up for years—and how many of us create invisible rules about staying safe by not being fully seen.

    👉 Audience follow-up: What’s a moment from your past that may have influenced how you show up today?

    Your Brain Is Trying to Protect You

    That hesitation you feel? It’s not weakness—it’s protection. But what once kept you safe might now be keeping you small.

    👉 Audience follow-up: Where might your protection patterns be holding you back from real visibility?

    The Hula Hoop Concept

    I use this tool to remind myself what’s in my control—and what’s not. Other people’s opinions live outside the hoop, but the meaning I assign to them stays inside.

    👉 Audience follow-up: What are you currently carrying that doesn’t belong in your “hula hoop”?

    Own Your Narrative Before Anyone Else Does

    I break down three simple moves: name what you’re bringing, decide who you’re there for, and choose what it means about you—before anyone else gets to decide.

    👉 Audience follow-up: Before your next meeting, how can you intentionally define your role and voice?

    Visibility That Compounds

    Every time you show up as yourself, it builds. Real visibility isn’t a one-time act—it’s something that grows with every honest expression.

    👉 Audience follow-up: What’s one small way you can show up more fully this week?

    🔎 Mentioned in the Episode:

    The “hula hoop” framework for boundaries and control

    How identity shapes visibility more than strategy ever will

    The concept of “protective patterns” and overachievement

    Three practical moves to own your voice and narrative

    ✨ Reflection Prompts:

    Where am I performing instead of expressing?

    What story have I been letting others write about me?

    What would it look like to decide who I am before I walk into the room?

    🧠 Who This Episode Is For:

    Ambitious women who are doing all the right things—but still feel unseen

    Leaders ready to stop overperforming and start expressing

    Professionals navigating visibility, confidence, and self-trust

    Anyone who wants to own their voice, story, and presence—fully and unapologetically

    📩 Want to Go Deeper?

    Follow Lori on LinkedIn to continue the conversation

    Book a Leadership Strategy Call with Lori: loripine.com

    🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast

    ⭐️ Leave a review to help other heart-centered leaders find the show

    📲 Share this episode with someone who’s navigating pressure and wants to do it with more grace

  • Summary:

    In this strategic and empowering conversation, Lori sits down with Kate Haranis—a reputation and public relations strategist—to unpack what it really means to be visible in a way that feels aligned, intentional, and impactful.

    Kate shares how her work centers on helping leaders “tell better stories” so their external reputation reflects their true value—not a curated or performative version of success. Drawing from her experience across nonprofits, PR agencies, and Fortune 500 companies, she breaks down how visibility isn’t about being the loudest in the room—it’s about showing up in the right rooms, with clarity and purpose.

    This episode is a must-listen if you’ve ever felt stuck being “known” only within your inner circle or unsure how to step into a bigger conversation without losing authenticity. It’s not about chasing attention—it’s about building a reputation that opens doors.

    If you’re ready to be seen for your real work—and leverage that visibility for growth—this episode will show you how.

    🔑 Key Takeaways:

    Visibility Is a Strategy—Not a Personality Trait

    You don’t need to be loud, viral, or everywhere. The key is being intentional about where and how you show up.

    Audience follow-up → Where am I currently visible—and is it aligned with where I want to go?

    Start With What You Want to Be Known For

    Before jumping into platforms or tactics, define your reputation goals and what opportunities that visibility will unlock.

    Audience follow-up → What do I want people to associate with my name—and why does it matter?

    Build Signature Ideas, Not Just Content

    Strong reputations are built on clear, repeatable ideas that position you as a thought leader—not scattered posts.

    Audience follow-up → What are 1–2 ideas I can consistently speak about and own?

    Don’t Get Stuck in the “Tactics First” Trap

    Jumping straight into posting or pitching without a clear narrative leads to misalignment and burnout. Strategy comes first.

    Audience follow-up → Am I creating content with intention—or just to stay visible?

    Your Inner Circle Isn’t Enough

    Being well-known in your current environment doesn’t always translate to new opportunities. Growth requires expanding your audience.

    Audience follow-up → Who needs to know about my work that currently doesn’t?

    Authenticity Doesn’t Mean Staying Small

    Showing up as yourself doesn’t mean playing it safe. Growth often requires stretching—but not abandoning who you are.

    Audience follow-up → What would it look like to expand my visibility without feeling like I’m “performing”?

    🔎 Mentioned in the Episode:

    PR Hype Girl – Kate’s platform offering tools and resources to help founders and leaders build their visibility and reputationLinkedIn Strategy Example – A leader leveraging LinkedIn to turn experience into a consulting businessWomen’s Health Founder Story – Using visibility to shape a broader industry conversation, not just promote a product

    ✨ Reflection Prompts:

    Where am I relying on being “known” instead of being visible?What story am I currently telling—and is it aligned with where I want to go?Am I choosing visibility strategically… or avoiding it altogether?

    🧠 Who This Episode Is For:

    Founders and entrepreneurs ready to expand their visibilityCorporate leaders who want to own and shape their professional narrativeWomen who want to grow their influence without sacrificing authenticityProfessionals looking to build a reputation that creates new opportunities
    📩 Want to Go Deeper?

    Follow Lori on LinkedIn to continue the conversation

    Book a Leadership Strategy Call with Lori: loripine.com

    Check out Kate Haranis website: https://www.prhypegirl.com/

    🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast

    ⭐️ Leave a review to help other heart-centered leaders find the show

    📲 Share this episode with someone who’s navigating pressure and wants to do it with more grace

  • Summary:

    In this raw and honest episode, I take you behind the scenes of a moment that could have easily derailed me—my website crashing right after my first live training, at the exact moment people were ready to buy. The timing couldn’t have been worse… and yet, it became one of the most clarifying leadership moments I’ve had.

    I share what it looked like to hold composure while everything felt like it was falling apart—from troubleshooting tech issues with multiple experts to continuing to show up for a client in the middle of the chaos. This wasn’t just about a broken website—it was about focus, resilience, and learning where I’ve been avoiding responsibility in my business.

    This episode is a reminder that things will go wrong, even when you’re doing everything right—but how you respond is what shapes the leader you’re becoming.

    If you’ve ever felt the panic of something breaking at the worst possible time, this one is for you.

    🔑 Key Takeaways:

    Warnings Don’t Prevent the Impact

    I went into the week knowing there might be disruptions—but that didn’t stop the frustration or the consequences when things actually broke. Awareness helps, but it doesn’t replace resilience.

    Audience follow-up → Where in your life are you expecting challenges—but still hoping to avoid the impact instead of preparing for how you’ll respond?

    Two Priorities Keep Me Grounded

    In the middle of everything, I came back to two anchors: movement and speaking. These kept me steady, focused, and out of panic mode.

    Audience follow-up → What are the two non-negotiables that help you stay grounded when things feel chaotic?

    You Still Have to Show Up

    Even while my site was down, I had a client depending on me—and I chose to be present and deliver. Leadership isn’t about perfect conditions; it’s about consistency.

    Audience follow-up → Where are you letting circumstances dictate your level of presence?

    Avoidance Creates Dependence

    I realized I had been avoiding fully understanding my tech—and that avoidance made me overly reliant on the wrong support at the wrong time.

    Audience follow-up → What area of your business or life are you avoiding that’s quietly costing you control?

    The Lesson Is the Real Win

    Yes, the site got fixed—but what stayed with me were the lessons about ownership, discernment, and staying grounded under pressure.

    Audience follow-up → Can you identify a recent challenge that shaped you more than it set you back?

    🔎 Mentioned in the Episode:

    Lori Pine – Sharing her real-time experience navigating a business disruption and the leadership lessons that followed.

    Chani Nicholas – Referenced for her prediction of a “planetary pile up” and communication breakdowns during the week.

    GoDaddy – The platform where Lori’s website was temporarily “parked,” causing the outage.

    Website Infrastructure & DNS Issues – A behind-the-scenes look at how technical gaps can impact business operations.

    ✨ Reflection Prompts:

    What do you do when something breaks at the exact moment it matters most?

    Where are you being called to take deeper ownership in your business?

    What helps you stay grounded when things feel urgent and out of control?

    🧠 Who This Episode Is For:

    Entrepreneurs navigating launches, tech, and unexpected setbacks

    Women building businesses while learning to lead under pressure

    Coaches and creatives who want to stay grounded during chaos

    Anyone ready to shift from reactive to resilient leadership

    📩 Want to Go Deeper?

    Follow Lori on LinkedIn to continue the conversation

    Book a Leadership Strategy Call with Lori: loripine.com

    🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast

    ⭐️ Leave a review to help other heart-centered leaders find the show

    📲 Share this episode with someone who’s navigating pressure and wants to do it with more grace

  • Summary:

    In this deeply honest and eye-opening conversation, I sit down with business and ADHD coach Justine Clay to talk about creative leadership, neurodiversity, and the hidden mental load so many high-performing women carry behind the scenes.

    Justine shares her journey from talent management in New York City to coaching creatives and leaders to become their own advocates, especially around money, visibility, and sustainable success. What began as supporting creatives with the business side of their work evolved into a deeper understanding of how different brains operate—especially after her son’s ADHD diagnosis led her to recognize similar patterns in many of her clients.

    Together, we explore the overlap between ADHD, overwhelm, burnout, and the hormonal shifts that can surface in perimenopause and menopause. We talk about why so many women have spent years masking, overcompensating, and making it “easy” for everyone else, often at the expense of themselves.

    This episode is a powerful conversation about compassion, boundaries, leadership, and what it means to create environments—at work and at home—that support how people actually function.

    If you’ve ever wondered whether what you’re experiencing is stress, ADHD, hormonal brain fog, or simply the weight of doing too much for too long, this conversation will meet you exactly where you are.

    🔑 Key Takeaways:

    Creative leadership requires self-advocacy

    Justine shares how she began coaching creatives to “be their own agent,” helping them navigate visibility, money, and the business side of their gifts.

    Audience follow-up → Where in your work are you waiting for permission instead of advocating for yourself?

    Women often play small around money

    We unpack the money stories so many women carry—undercharging, overdelivering, and feeling uncomfortable asking for what they truly want.

    Audience follow-up → What belief about money or worth might be keeping you smaller than you need to be?

    ADHD can look like overwhelm, burnout, or brain fog

    One of the most powerful parts of this conversation is the nuance around ADHD symptoms and how they can overlap with stress, midlife changes, and hormonal shifts.

    Audience follow-up → Is what you’re calling “not coping” actually a sign that your brain needs different support?

    Stop making it easy for everyone else

    We talk about boundaries at home and at work, and how many women unconsciously make life easier for everyone around them while carrying the invisible load themselves.

    Audience follow-up → Where are you over-functioning for others?

    Body and brain health come first

    Justine reminds us that sustainable leadership starts with the basics: sleep, nourishment, movement, hormones, and understanding how your brain works.

    Audience follow-up → What’s one way you can support your body and brain this week before adding more to your plate?

    Equity matters in leadership

    We explore what it really means to lead neurodiverse teams well—from accommodations and allyship to designing systems that support different working styles.

    Audience follow-up → How can you create more flexibility and equity in the way you lead?

    🔎 Mentioned in the Episode:

    Justine’s transition from NYC talent management into business coachingSupporting creatives with money mindset and self-advocacyADHD coaching certification and neurodiverse leadershipThe overlap between ADHD, perimenopause, and menopause brain fogBoundaries, masking, and the hidden load women carryEquity-based workplace accommodations and leadership facilitationTools and strategies that actually work for neurodiverse brains

    ✨ Reflection Prompts:

    What part of your current overwhelm is actually a systems issue—not a personal failure?

    Where have you been masking or overcompensating to appear “together”?

    What support would help you lead and live more sustainably?

    How can you stop making yourself smaller to make everyone else more comfortable?

    🧠 Who This Episode Is For:

    High-achieving women navigating overwhelm or burnoutCreative leaders and entrepreneursWomen questioning ADHD, brain fog, or midlife shiftsManagers leading neurodiverse teamsAnyone ready to lead with more compassion and less masking
    📩 Want to Go Deeper?

    Follow Lori on LinkedIn to continue the conversation

    Book a Leadership Strategy Call with Lori: loripine.com

    🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast

    Check Justine Clay at her website: justineclay.com

    ⭐️ Leave a review to help other heart-centered leaders find the show

    📲 Share this episode with someone who’s navigating pressure and wants to do it with more grace

  • Summary:

    I’m diving into a question that feels deeply personal and incredibly important: When was the last time you truly felt like yourself? Not the version of you who is performing, managing, or holding everything together—but the version of you who feels clear, powerful, and fully alive.

    So many ambitious women are doing all the “right” things on paper, yet still feel disconnected, stuck, or not quite as sharp as they know they can be. In this episode, I share why I don’t believe this is a productivity issue—I believe it’s a proximity issue. The rooms we sit in, the people we surround ourselves with, and the level of belief around us shape what we see as possible.

    I also share why I’m focusing on two priorities in 2026, how the “fire horse” energy is influencing this season, and why choosing less can actually accelerate momentum. If you’ve been craving clarity, expansion, and a room that raises your standard, this episode is for you.

    🔑 Key Takeaways:

    Feeling Disconnected Doesn’t Mean Something Is Wrong With You

    If you’ve been feeling less like yourself lately, it doesn’t automatically mean you need to work harder or become more disciplined. Sometimes it simply means you’ve outgrown the room you’re in.

    Audience follow-up → Ask yourself: When was the last time I felt fully like myself, and what environment was I in?

    Proximity Shapes Possibility

    I share why I believe your environment changes your energy, your belief system, and your pace. When you’re surrounded by women who are playing at the level you desire, expansion happens faster because your standards rise.

    Audience follow-up → Who are the five people closest to you right now, and how are they influencing your thinking?

    It’s Not About More Priorities—It’s About the Right Two

    Instead of spreading yourself thin across too many goals, I talk about the power of choosing two priorities that truly move the needle in this season of life and business.

    Audience follow-up → What are the two priorities that would create the biggest shift for you right now?

    Momentum Often Comes From the Right Room

    Sometimes the breakthrough isn’t another strategy—it’s being in a space where belief expands. The right room can create what feels like a quantum leap because it shifts what you believe is available to you.

    Audience follow-up → Are you in rooms that stretch you, challenge you, and help you grow faster?

    This Season Is About Intentional Focus

    I share why 2026 feels like a year of bold movement and intentional action, and how I’m personally choosing clarity over chaos.

    Audience follow-up → Where do you need to simplify so you can move with more power?

    🔎 Mentioned in the Episode:

    The Connect – my community designed for ambitious women who want to lead bigger and live fullerFree Live Training – Wednesday, April 15 at 7:00 PM EasternThe Power of Proximity – why your environment impacts momentumTwo Priorities Framework – my focus strategy for 2026Fire Horse Energy – the theme influencing this season of leadership and growth

    ✨ Reflection Prompts:

    When do I feel most like myself?Who is influencing my current pace and belief?What would happen if I focused on only two priorities?Am I in the right room for the next version of me?

    🧠 Who This Episode Is For:

    High-achieving women feeling disconnected from themselvesLeaders craving clarity and momentumEntrepreneurs navigating burnout or overwhelmWomen ready to expand through community and proximityAnyone who knows they’re meant for more but feels stuck
    📩 Want to Go Deeper?

    Follow Lori on LinkedIn to continue the conversation

    Book a Leadership Strategy Call with Lori: loripine.com

    🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast

    ⭐️ Leave a review to help other heart-centered leaders find the show

    📲 Share this episode with someone who’s navigating pressure and wants to do it with more grace

  • Summary:

    In this deeply personal solo episode, I’m sharing the story of a door I almost didn’t walk through—and how saying yes to myself changed everything.

    Back in 2021, after leaving my corporate career to be home with my family, I found myself in an unfamiliar space: no title, no company-sponsored development, and no clear roadmap for what came next. For the first time, I realized that if I wanted to grow, I had to stop waiting for an employer—or anyone else—to invest in me. I had to choose myself.

    I take you behind the scenes of the moment I was invited into an $18,000 mastermind with no income coming in, the beliefs I had to confront about what was “possible for someone like me,” and why saying yes to the right room became one of the most transformational decisions of my life.

    This episode is about permission, expansion, and the courage to invest in your own becoming.

    If you’ve been standing at the edge of your next chapter, waiting for a sign—this is it.

    🔑 Key Takeaways:

    Stop Waiting for Permission

    One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that no one is coming to hand you permission to grow. At some point, you have to become the person who says, it’s time.

    Audience follow-up → Where in your life are you still waiting for someone else to validate your next move?

    You Can No Longer Outsource Your Growth

    When I left corporate, I also left behind the systems that once supported my development. It forced me to realize that my growth was now fully my responsibility.

    Audience follow-up → What part of your growth have you been expecting someone else to provide for you?

    Investing in Yourself Creates Compound Returns

    The $18K mastermind felt terrifying at the time, but the return wasn’t just financial—it was personal, emotional, relational, and deeply transformational. The right rooms expand who you believe you can become.

    Audience follow-up → What investment in yourself could create long-term growth beyond immediate results?

    Challenge the “People Like Us” Story

    At Canyon Ranch, I came face-to-face with the stories I had inherited about what people like me do, deserve, or have access to. Saying yes required rewriting that narrative.

    Audience follow-up → What identity story are you ready to release?

    Expansion Happens Through Decision

    So often, transformation begins the moment we decide—not when conditions are perfect, but when we trust ourselves enough to move.

    Audience follow-up → What door is in front of you right now that you’re afraid to walk through?

    ✨ Reflection Prompts:

    Where have I been waiting for permission instead of deciding?What would change if I fully chose myself?What room, opportunity, or investment is calling me right now?What belief about “people like me” am I ready to outgrow?

    🧠 Who This Episode Is For:

    Women leaders navigating a major life or career transitionHigh-achieving women ready for their next level of growthEntrepreneurs learning to invest in themselvesAnyone standing at the threshold of a bold decisionListeners craving permission to want more
    📩 Want to Go Deeper?

    Follow Lori on LinkedIn to continue the conversation

    Book a Leadership Strategy Call with Lori: loripine.com

    🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast

    ⭐️ Leave a review to help other heart-centered leaders find the show

    📲 Share this episode with someone who’s navigating pressure and wants to do it with more grace

  • Summary:

    In this episode, I sit down with marketing expert Anne Hoeger to explore her fascinating journey from chemical engineering to fractional CMO—and everything she’s learned along the way. What struck me most is how marketing, especially in high-growth and private equity environments, is rarely just about campaigns—it’s about leading people through change. Anne shares how she steps into organizations not just to drive growth, but to reshape culture, upgrade talent, and build the systems that make transformation sustainable.

    We also dive into the power of community and what it really takes to lead in today’s rapidly evolving landscape—especially with AI accelerating everything. Anne opens up about building SWIM (Savvy Women in Marketing) into a trusted executive network, and how mindfulness, intuition, and self-care aren’t extras—they’re essential for staying grounded and effective as a leader. This conversation is both strategic and deeply human, and it will leave you thinking differently about leadership, reinvention, and the rooms you choose to be in.

    🔑 Key Takeaways:

    Marketing Is Really Change Management

    I learned that stepping into a marketing role—especially in private equity—often means guiding teams through uncertainty, fear, and transformation, not just executing strategy.

    Audience follow-up → Where in your business are you being called to lead change—not just manage outcomes?

    Close Gaps with “Build, Borrow, Buy”

    Anne shares a simple but powerful framework: develop internal talent (build), bring in external experts (borrow), or hire new capabilities (buy).

    Audience follow-up → Which capability gap in your team needs a build, borrow, or buy solution right now?

    Transparency Reduces Resistance

    Clear, stair-step plans and open communication help teams feel safe enough to embrace change—especially when it comes to adopting AI.

    Audience follow-up → How can you make your next big initiative feel clearer and safer for your team?

    AI Is a People Challenge, Not Just a Tech Shift

    What excites me most is Anne’s perspective that AI adoption is less about tools and more about mindset, support, and agency.

    Audience follow-up → How are you helping your team feel empowered—not threatened—by AI?

    Community Is a Career Accelerator

    Building SWIM over 17 years, Anne shows that curated, high-trust communities can unlock growth, opportunity, and perspective in ways no course or playbook can.

    Audience follow-up → Are you in the right rooms—and are those rooms helping you grow?

    Deep Roots Sustain Big Leadership

    Mindfulness, intuition, and self-care aren’t luxuries—they’re what keep you steady through constant reinvention and high-stakes decisions.

    Audience follow-up → What practices help you stay grounded when everything around you is changing?

    🔎 Mentioned in the Episode:

    SWIM (Savvy Women in Marketing) – Anne’s curated community for senior women in marketing, built on trust, connection, and shared growth.

    Build, Borrow, Buy Framework – A practical approach to closing skill and capability gaps within teams.

    AI Masterminds – Small, high-value groups focused on learning, experimenting, and staying ahead of rapid tech shifts.

    Fractional CMO Model – A flexible leadership approach where experienced executives step in to drive transformation without being full-time hires.

    ✨ Reflection Prompts:

    Where in your career are you being asked to reinvent yourself right now?Are you leading change… or resisting it?What kind of community would most support your next level of growth?How are you taking care of yourself while leading others through uncertainty?

    🧠 Who This Episode Is For:

    Founders and executives navigating growth, transformation, or private equity environmentsMarketing leaders looking to elevate from execution to strategic influenceWomen who want to build meaningful, high-level communities and networksProfessionals learning to lead through AI, change, and constant reinvention
    📩 Want to Go Deeper?

    Follow Lori on LinkedIn to continue the conversation

    Book a Leadership Strategy Call with Lori: loripine.com
    ✨ Connect with Anne:Ann Hoeger | LinkedIn

    🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast

    ⭐️ Leave a review to help other heart-centered leaders find the show

    📲 Share this episode with someone who’s navigating pressure and wants to do it with more grace

  • Summary:

    In this episode, I unpack a pattern I see all the time in high-achieving women—including myself: react, respond, ruminate. It starts with a quick, often stress-driven reaction—a message, a decision, a comment—followed by a genuine attempt to clean it up and take responsibility. But then comes the part that really costs us: the rumination. The overthinking, the replaying, the self-punishment that steals our joy, presence, and ability to move forward. I share a personal story from a 2012 trade show where a decision I made spiraled into a weekend of overthinking—until I chose something different.

    That shift is what I call “the turnaround.” Instead of staying stuck in my own head, I redirected my focus outward—being fully present with my two young sons and choosing service over self-absorption. That single decision interrupted the spiral and helped me come back with clarity, calm, and perspective. In this episode, I walk you through how to use the turnaround in your own life, reminding you that accountability doesn’t have to mean self-destruction—and that you get to come back to yourself, again and again.

    🔑 Key Takeaways:

    The React → Respond → Ruminate Loop Is Sneaky

    I’ve lived this pattern: I react quickly, I try to repair it responsibly—and then I get stuck replaying it over and over.

    Audience follow-up → Where in your life are you still mentally replaying something that’s already been handled?

    Rumination Isn’t Responsibility—It’s Self-Punishment

    I had to learn that beating myself up doesn’t make me more accountable—it just drains my energy and presence.

    Audience follow-up → What if you replaced self-criticism with self-trust after you’ve made things right?

    The Turnaround Breaks the Spiral

    For me, the shift came when I stopped focusing on myself and chose to be fully present with others. That interruption changed everything.

    Audience follow-up → The next time you spiral, who or what can you turn toward instead?

    Presence Is More Powerful Than Perfection

    That weekend, I could’ve stayed stuck in my head—but choosing to be with my kids brought me back to what actually mattered.

    Audience follow-up → Where are you missing real-life moments because you’re stuck in your thoughts?

    You Can Come Back With Clarity Later

    When I gave myself space, I was able to return to the situation calmer, clearer, and more grounded.

    Audience follow-up → What would it look like to trust that clarity will come—without forcing it?

    🔎 Mentioned in the Episode:

    The “React, Respond, Ruminate” Pattern – A loop I’ve identified in high performers that keeps us stuck in overthinkingThe Turnaround Tool – My practice of shifting from self-focus to service and presence2012 Trade Show Story – A defining moment that taught me how to interrupt the rumination spiral

    ✨ Reflection Prompts:

    What’s something you’ve already taken responsibility for—but are still punishing yourself over?What does “the turnaround” look like in your real, everyday life?Where can you choose presence over perfection today?

    🧠 Who This Episode Is For:

    High-achieving women who struggle with overthinking and self-criticismLeaders who want to stay accountable without burning themselves outAnyone ready to break free from rumination and return to presenceProfessionals who want more peace, clarity, and emotional freedom in their day-to-day life
    📩 Want to Go Deeper?

    Follow Lori on LinkedIn to continue the conversation

    Book a Leadership Strategy Call with Lori: loripine.com

    🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast

    ⭐️ Leave a review to help other heart-centered leaders find the show

    📲 Share this episode with someone who’s navigating pressure and wants to do it with more grace

  • In this solo episode, I talk about one of the most underrated career moves for women leaders: getting in the room where decisions are made. Whether it’s executive meetings, board discussions, leadership retreats, or high-level masterminds, being present in these spaces can completely change how you think, lead, and grow. I share lessons from leading a billion-dollar business and from a recent retreat in Nashville where I intentionally surrounded myself with entrepreneurs who were further along than I was.

    In those moments, it’s easy to feel intimidated or like you’re the least experienced person in the room—but I’ve learned that feeling doesn’t mean you don’t belong; it means you’re expanding. Too often, women wait to be invited into these spaces, when the real barrier is a permission gap, not a skills gap. In this episode, I explore how advocating for your seat can expand your thinking, strengthen relationships, increase visibility, and ultimately help you see yourself as the leader you’re becoming.

    🔑 Key Takeaways:The “Room” Matters More Than You Think

    High-stakes decisions don’t happen everywhere—they happen in specific rooms: leadership meetings, strategy sessions, retreats, and boardrooms. Being present in these spaces exposes you to the thinking, language, and relationships that shape big outcomes.

    Audience follow-up → Ask yourself: What’s the room where the decisions that impact my work or industry are actually being made?

    Discomfort Is a Sign You’re Expanding

    Lori shares her experience at a Nashville retreat surrounded by entrepreneurs who were further ahead in their journey. Instead of shrinking, she recognized that the discomfort meant she was in a room that could stretch her thinking.

    Audience follow-up → When was the last time you intentionally put yourself in a room where you weren’t the most experienced person?

    Stop Waiting for Invitations

    Many women assume that if they’re meant to be in the room, someone will invite them. Lori challenges that belief and encourages leaders to advocate for themselves and ask for access to the conversations that matter.

    Audience follow-up → What room could you ask to be included in right now?

    The Permission Gap Is Real

    The barrier for many women leaders isn’t capability—it’s permission. Too often we wait until we feel completely ready, polished, or qualified before stepping forward. Leadership requires claiming space before you feel 100% ready.

    Audience follow-up → Where might you be holding yourself back by waiting for permission?

    Relationships Open Doors

    Being in the room isn’t just about the meeting—it’s about the connections that form around it. Proximity to decision-makers and peers expands opportunities, ideas, and collaborations.

    Audience follow-up → Who in your network could introduce you to a room you want to be in?

    Drop the Polished Persona

    Lori emphasizes that showing up authentically—without the pressure to perform a perfectly polished version of yourself—creates stronger connections and deeper impact.

    Audience follow-up → Where might authenticity help you connect more powerfully with leaders around you?

    The Room Changes How You Lead

    Exposure to bigger conversations expands your strategic thinking, confidence, and sense of possibility. Once you see how decisions are made, you begin to think differently about your role and your potential influence.

    Audience follow-up → How might your leadership shift if you regularly participated in higher-level conversations?

    🔎 Mentioned in the Episode:Lori’s Nashville retreat experience with entrepreneurs further along in their journeyThe concept of the “Permission Gap” in leadershipThe importance of executive rooms, board discussions, and leadership offsites in shaping strategy and opportunityThe mindset shift from waiting for invitations to claiming your seat
    ✨ Reflection Prompts:What is the high-stakes room you want to be in?What’s one bold ask you could make this month to get closer to that room?Where might comparison be showing up—and how can you reframe it as evidence of growth?
    🧠 Who This Episode Is For:Women leaders ready to expand their influenceExecutives and entrepreneurs who want greater strategic visibilityProfessionals who feel stuck outside key decision-making spacesAnyone ready to stop waiting for permission and step into bigger rooms
    📩 Want to Go Deeper?

    Follow Lori on LinkedIn to continue the conversation

    Book a Leadership Strategy Call with Lori: loripine.com

    🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast

    ⭐️ Leave a review to help other heart-centered leaders find the show

    📲 Share this episode with someone who’s navigating pressure and wants to do it with more grace

  • Summary:

    In this heartfelt, wisdom-rich episode of the Joy CEO podcast, Lori Pine visits her longtime mentor Anne Quinn—the woman who supported her through one of the hardest chapters of her life: moving to New York, navigating divorce, and raising two young boys.

    Anne shares her grounded, practical approach to clutter clearing through feng shui, revealing how our homes are not just spaces we live in—they are energetic reflections of who we are becoming. Together, they explore how clutter creates subconscious stress, why “mood follows action,” and how small, consistent steps (like clearing one drawer) can spark profound life shifts.

    This conversation is about more than organizing. It’s about identity, energy, and finally letting go of what no longer fits—so you can step into who you are now.

    If you’ve been craving lightness, clarity, or momentum, this episode will show you the fastest way to shift your life… starting at home.

    🔑 Key Takeaways:

    Start Small. Mood Follows Action.

    Anne emphasizes that transformation doesn’t begin with a full-house overhaul. It starts with one drawer. One shelf. One small decision.

    When you take action—even a tiny one—your mood shifts. Momentum builds.

    Audience follow-up → What’s one small area you can clear today to create immediate movement?

    Clutter Before Feng Shui

    Before adding crystals, mirrors, or symbolic enhancements, Anne insists: clear the clutter first.

    Feng shui works best in a space that has room to breathe. Clearing what no longer serves you creates the energetic foundation for real alignment.

    Audience follow-up → Are you trying to “add more” when the real work is subtraction?

    Love vs. Fear: Why You Keep Things

    Many possessions are rooted in fear, guilt, or obligation—not love. Anne invites you to ask:

    Do I truly love this?

    Or am I keeping it because I “should”?

    Letting go creates emotional and energetic freedom.

    Audience follow-up → What are you holding onto out of obligation rather than joy?

    Objects Carry Energy

    Homes tell stories. Outdated photos, broken items, unused gifts—they all carry a vibration.

    Anne encourages keeping your space current and aligned with who you are now—not who you were 10 years ago.

    Audience follow-up → Does your home reflect your present self—or your past?

    Stop Rebuying the Clutter

    Clearing is powerful—but not if you refill the space.

    Anne suggests “shopping your closet” and using what you already own. Mindful consumption prevents the re-clutter cycle.

    Audience follow-up → Where are you buying duplicates instead of appreciating what you have?

    More Disappoints. Less Is More.

    One of Anne’s signature teachings: More disappoints.

    Accumulation rarely creates satisfaction. Simplicity brings clarity, ease, and calm.

    Audience follow-up → Where in your life would less actually feel like more?

    Your Front Door Sets the Tone

    In feng shui, your front door represents opportunity and energy entering your life.

    Is it welcoming? Clear? Alive? Or cluttered and forgotten?

    Audience follow-up → If opportunity knocked today, what would it walk into?

    🔎 Mentioned in the Episode:

    • Susan’s year-long incremental clutter transformation

    • “Mood Follows Action” philosophy

    • Clearing clutter before applying feng shui enhancements

    • Anne Quinn’s March 20 Clutter-Clearing Workshop at Bath Avenue Guest House

    • May Retreat in Ocean Grove

    ✨ Reflection Prompts:

    What small action would create immediate lightness in your life?

    Where are you living in yesterday’s identity?

    What would your home look like if it reflected who you are becoming?

    🧠 Who This Episode Is For:

    Women navigating life transitions (divorce, relocation, reinvention)

    Entrepreneurs craving clarity and momentum

    Anyone feeling low-grade anxiety at home

    Leaders who know their environment affects their energy

    Those ready to feel lighter—without changing everything overnight

  • Summary:

    In this bold and activating solo episode, Lori reframes a word many high-capacity women have been conditioned to fear: unreasonable. Instead of shrinking to fit expectations, she invites you to see “unreasonable” as a compliment—evidence of vision, capacity, and fire.

    With 2026 carrying rare Fire Horse energy, Lori shares why this is not the year to dilute your desires or play small. This is a year for focused intensity, bold sprints, and wise integration. From her recent Nashville retreat revelation—shifting from obsessing over the “how” to prioritizing the “who”—to her challenge of radical subtraction, this episode is a call to lead, live, and desire at full volume.

    If you’ve ever been told you’re “too much,” this episode will remind you: that might be your superpower.

    🔑 Key Takeaways:

    “Unreasonable” Is a Compliment

    High-capacity women are often labeled “too much” when their ambition exceeds the room’s comfort level. Lori challenges you to stop shrinking your fire to make others comfortable.

    Audience follow-up → Where are you diluting your ambition to stay palatable?

    Say the Real Desire Out Loud

    No qualifiers. No “if it’s meant to be.” No backup plan energy. Whether it’s wealth, romance, strength, impact, or freedom—name it clearly and expect it to be on its way.

    Audience follow-up → What do you actually want? Can you say it without softening it?

    Ferrari Energy Requires the Right Track

    You don’t have Honda Civic energy—you have Ferrari energy. But a Ferrari on a dirt road will question itself. Sometimes growth requires walking away from rooms that can’t handle your speed.

    Audience follow-up → Are you underperforming—or just in the wrong environment?

    The Magic Is in the “Who,” Not the “How”

    At her Nashville retreat, Lori realized the breakthrough wasn’t in figuring everything out alone. It was about proximity—the right rooms, leaders, and conversations.

    Audience follow-up → Who do you need proximity to this year?

    Radical Subtraction Creates Momentum

    Instead of adding more strategies, remove what’s slowing you down. One meeting. One system. One habitual distraction. Clarity often comes from subtraction.

    Audience follow-up → What’s one thing you can remove this week to create more power and focus?

    🔎 Mentioned in the Episode:

    Fire Horse Energy – A rare energetic theme representing intensity, independence, boldness, and rapid movement.

    Nashville Leadership Retreat – Lori’s recent breakthrough experience centered on connection and proximity over solo strategizing.

    Radical Subtraction – Lori’s challenge to eliminate what’s cluttering your momentum instead of endlessly adding more.

    ✨ Reflection Prompts:

    Where have you been “reasonable” when your soul wanted to be bold?

    What desire have you been qualifying instead of claiming?

    What room, relationship, or opportunity would stretch you in the best way?

    What needs to be removed—not optimized—in this season?

    🧠 Who This Episode Is For:

    High-capacity women who are tired of shrinking

    Visionary leaders ready to sprint with intention in 2026

    Entrepreneurs craving bigger rooms and stronger proximity

    Anyone who has been labeled “too much” and is ready to own it

    📩 Want to Go Deeper?

    Follow Lori on LinkedIn to continue the conversation

    Book a Leadership Strategy Call with Lori: loripine.com

    🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast

    ⭐️ Leave a review to help other heart-centered leaders find the show

    📲 Share this episode with someone who’s navigating pressure and wants to do it with more grace