This week’s interview is with Tim Hanley, a Milwaukee native & Titan 100 HOF whose career reads like a Hollywood script—until it didn’t. From rising to partner at Arthur Andersen to navigating the collapse of the firm during the Enron scandal, Tim faced a leadership crucible that tested everything he believed about trust, transparency, and tenacity.

But that wasn’t the end. Years later, after retiring from Deloitte, Tim stepped into another storm—this time as interim dean at Marquette University just as COVID shut down the world. What he thought would be a one-year commitment turned into a 4½-year mission to guide a business school through unprecedented uncertainty.

💡 This episode is a masterclass in resilience. Tim shares:

How servant leadership and overcommunication built trust in crisis
Why perspective—shaped by personal loss—reframes professional adversity
What routines helped him stay mentally tough while leading others
How to balance empathy with performance when the stakes are high
Why investing in people is the legacy that outlasts any title

This is part 2 with Travis Smith where we dig deeper into leadership! 

Travis explains his four-step training method that he used to build his business.

This brings loyalty between the leader and the employee.

Peace of mind is the key to every decision that needs to be made even in the tough moments of trying to decide if an employee should stay or go. 

Being present, direct, and consistent is how you can build a strong team under your leadership.

If you have ever struggled with trust, making the tough leadership decision or managing the weight of leadership – this episode is for you! 

This week’s episode is titled Vision Boards & Pivot Points, where dreams collide with discipline, and transformation starts with a choice. In this episode, we […]

Burnout isn’t just tiredness—it’s emotional and mental exhaustion. It’s disengaging from what you love, snapping at those you care about, and wondering, “Is this really me?” It’s a silent epidemic affecting leaders, parents, spouses, and teams. And it’s showing up in stress, anxiety, depression, strained marriages, family tension, grief, and loneliness.

Today’s Guest: Joining me is Steve, a leader who’s walked through burnout and come out stronger. He’s built teams, hired over 1,000 people, and learned how to lead with influence—not just authority. His keynote, The Intersection of Leadership & Mental Health, is reshaping how we think about performance and soul care.

In this episode, we talk about fear, faith, and the lie of perfection. Ashley opens up about how depression and anxiety show up in leadership and motherhood, and how saying your fears out loud can shrink their power. We discuss the myth of balance, the magic of community, and how joy really is a daily choice.

Welcome to today’s episode of our podcast, where we dive deep into the topic of people-pleasing and its impact on our lives. In this insightful conversation, Steve Black explores the complexities of people-pleasing, the fear that drives it, and the strategies to overcome it.

We share personal struggles with people-pleasing and how it affects their professional and personal life. Steve offers valuable insights on recognizing the fear behind people-pleasing and the importance of setting boundaries. They discuss the detrimental effects of seeking constant approval and admiration, and how it can lead to stress, burnout, and even affect parenting.

Throughout the episode, Steve emphasizes the significance of integrating various aspects of life to achieve a holistic approach to leadership and personal growth. We touch on the importance of quiet time, the role of faith, and practical strategies for managing stress and avoiding burnout.

This episode aims to provide valuable insights and practical advice for anyone looking to improve their leadership skills, enhance their well-being, and navigate the complexities of modern life. Whether you are a seasoned leader or someone striving to find balance, the wisdom shared in this conversation will resonate and inspire you to take meaningful steps towards a more fulfilling and balanced life.

This week’s episode is titled Leadership Common Fears.

In this episode, we dive deep into the concept of fear, exploring its impact on leadership and personal growth. Our guest, Steve Black, a partner and senior human resources manager at Brixey & Meyer, shares his insights on how fear can be unmasked and overcome to unlock potential and ignite passion.

In this episode, Steve discusses the common fears that leaders face, such as people-pleasing, losing security, and losing comfort. He shares his personal experience with fear, including a diagnosis of a chronic illness that led him to confront limitations and make fear-based decisions. Steve emphasizes the importance of recognizing patterns of fear-based thinking and decision-making to grow through discomfort and achieve personal and professional growth.

Steve introduces techniques to engage the senses and activate the thrive side of the brain, improving leadership and decision-making.

Listen to learn how to unmask your fears, have vulnerable conversations, and grow through discomfort to unlock your potential and ignite your passion. Let’s embark on this journey together and discover how to overcome fear and thrive in leadership and life.

Don’t forget to subscribe and share this podcast with your friends and colleagues.

Let’s conquer fear together!

𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲, 𝐠𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 – 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫. 😵

That quote made me laugh, and it hit me hard. I am thankful for daily inspirations from my friend Sharon Hulce.

This week’s podcast is my 16-minute view on why “𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐈𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐚 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭!” ⬅️

If you’re leading a team, you need to know what leadership actually means.

👉 First, leadership is about being involved. Managing isn’t sitting on the sidelines—it’s getting in the trenches and coaching. Show your team how to WIN. Ask the hard questions. Give honest feedback with love. If someone isn’t succeeding, your job is to help them attack the day with a clear plan.

👉 Second, make sure you have the right team for the culture you’re building. Define your core values—and live by them. Hold your people accountable. You can’t please everyone, and you’re not serving ice cream, so focus on pushing for excellence and ensuring they deliver on expectations.

👉 Third, when someone leaves, don’t panic. Your business was here before them, and it will be here after. You got this. Overthinking worst-case scenarios won’t fix anything. Stop the “what if” spiral and start putting plans behind your questions instead.

💡 The weight of leadership is heavy—but you are not alone. That’s why I started this podcast: to remind leaders that there’s support, there’s wisdom, and there’s community.

And remember—indecision is dangerous. Don’t be the squirrel caught in the middle of the road, hesitating while the car is coming. Make a decision, trust your instincts, and move forward.

At The Impact of Leadership, we believe nobody drifts into excellence, and you are supported and loved by many.

My leadership knowledge comes from 24 years of working in a family business.