EP 92: Leadership in Transition: Navigating Life Shifts with Brigitte Lyons

The Unburdened Leader

Have you ever felt like what you are known for does not fit you anymore?

Or maybe you feel like it is time to change your professional focus, but you question whether you have the credentials or whether people will take seriously the shifts you want to make.

So many of us experience angst when we want to change things up in our work and life.

We change as we move through life. Change is part of our developmental life cycle. And when we change, our work and the businesses we run also change as a result.

But there is immense pressure to stay on a linear path in our careers and businesses that just doesn’t match up with the fact of our dynamic and ever-changing lives. And our mental wellbeing suffers from the lack of understanding of how we grow and change personally, which in turn impacts how we lead ourselves, others, and our businesses.

We need to normalize and create better supports for these inevitable seasons of growth and the grief and vulnerability that come with them.

Today’s guest is a longtime friend and colleague who recently announced that she had shut down her business so that she could shift her focus away from what she had been known for her entire career to something new.

Brigitte Lyons founded Podcast Ally, the agency where she spent her days focusing on the strategic direction of the company, clearing the way for a fully remote team to the deep work that drove the business forward. Brigitte recently announced that she shut down her company, and at the time of recording, reached an agreement to sell the brand and IP she built at Podcast Ally. She has an extensive background in public relations, working in agencies and also running her own PR business.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• Why Brigitte worked through the impulse to burn it all down and gave herself space to fully consider closing her business
• How Brigitte realized that she loved her business and her team, but could take or leave the work
• How Brigitte came to the realization that her company no longer fit her priorities and lifestyle
• Why it was important to Brigitte to be transparent with her employees as she was deciding the future of the company
• How Brigitte built a team that stuck with her through the process of deciding to close
• Why it’s important to understand the distinction between what you’re passionate about and what you’re good at

Learn more about Brigitte Lyons:

• Connect with Brigitte on LinkedIn

Learn more about Rebecca:

• rebeccaching.com
• Work With Rebecca
• Sign up for the weekly Unburdened Leader Email

Resources:

• Erik Erikson
• Dare to Lead - Brené Brown
• EP 85: Team Habits: Redefining Workplace Dynamics with Charlie Gilkey
• Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, Gabrielle Zevin
• Janelle Monáe, Jidenna - Yoga
• Barbie
• Star Wars