This week on The Leadership Toolkit, Mike Phillips welcomes Lena M. Wilson, Transition Coach, 3x author, and CEO of Real Inspiration LLC. With 25 years in corporate HR, Lena helps people and organizations navigate change with clarity and confidence.

Together, they explore how to lead through transitions, create psychological safety, and reframe uncertainty into opportunity. Lena also shares her six-pillar framework, The Transition Blueprint™, to help leaders and teams thrive through change — not just survive it.

🎧 Listen now and discover how to build resilience, regulate emotions, and realign your goals when life’s “why” starts to shift.

Check out these free resources from Lena M. Wilson:

• Career Transition Guide with an actionable Worksheet - https://www.lenawilson.com/career-transition-guide
• 6 Tips To Help You Navigate Change - https://www.lenawilson.com/6-tips

Contact Information:

Lena M. Wilson

Connect with Lena: ⁠LenaMWilson.com

Mike Phillips

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠mike@TheLeadshipToolkit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin.com/in/LeadTheTeam⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠@LeadershipTLT⁠

YouTube: ⁠YouTube.com/@MikePhillips

Credits:

Hosted by Mike Phillips

Produced by The Leadership Toolkit Team

Guest: Lena M. Wilson, entrepreneurial inspiration, dynamic leader, and amazing transition coach

Watch more episodes of the Leadership Toolkit at https://spotify.TheLeadershipToolkit.com

If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a 5-star review!

Make sure you share this as a resource with friends and colleagues.

Thank you for watching and listening!

* Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests on this show are solely those of the guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the host, producers, or any affiliated parties. The host and production team make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information discussed by guests on the show. Listener discretion is advised.

*** Affiliate Disclaimer: Some of the links listed go to my websites and some are affiliate links that may generate me a sales commission if you make a purchase.

What does it take to step away from the corporate grind and build a thriving agency on your own terms?

In this episode of The Leadership Toolkit, host Mike Phillips sits down with Kym Insana — multi-million dollar business owner, digital marketing expert, and founder of AlwaysOn Digital. With more than 20 years of experience in advertising, Kym shares her inspiring journey from the demanding pace of NYC agency life to creating a women-owned agency that empowers working parents while delivering for clients like the U.S. Air Force, Enfamil, and Johnston & Murphy.

Kym breaks down her reverse-engineering approach to leadership and marketing, showing why asking “what’s the KPI?” must come before budget or tactics. She explains how small businesses can grow through referrals, how leaders can differentiate by finding their unique angle, and why consistency is the foundation for both leadership and entrepreneurship.

If you’re a leader, entrepreneur, or small business owner, you’ll walk away with strategies you can apply today — whether it’s clarifying your goals, choosing the right marketing channels, or simply showing up consistently in your own growth journey.

🧰 Tools of the Trade: Top Takeaways You Can Use

1️⃣ Start with the KPI. Before budget or channels, define what success looks like.

2️⃣ Reverse engineer outcomes. Ask what, who, where, how, then consider what is new.

3️⃣ You need less than you think to start. Begin lean, learn fast, formalize later.

4️⃣ Different channels serve different goals. Search captures active demand, social builds attention, outdoor and audio can lift other metrics.

5️⃣ Measure creatively. Pair third-party tech with old school surveys or follow-ups to attribute lift.

6️⃣ Differentiate. Offer multi-channel simplicity and unified reporting so clients avoid eight vendors.

7️⃣ Grow through consistency and referrals. Show up with useful content, network locally, and ask for introductions.

Contact Information:Kym Insana

Website: https://getalwayson.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyminsana/

Mike Phillips

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠mike@TheLeadshipToolkit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin.com/in/LeadTheTeam⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠@LeadershipTLT⁠

YouTube: ⁠YouTube.com/@MikePhillips

Credits:

Hosted by Mike Phillips

Produced by The Leadership Toolkit Team

Guest: Kym Insana — Entrepreneur, Agency Founder, and KPI-First Leader

🎧 Watch more episodes of The Leadership Toolkit at https://spotify.TheLeadershipToolkit.com

If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a 5-star review!
Make sure you share this as a resource with friends and colleagues.
Thank you for watching and listening!

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests on this show are solely those of the guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the host, producers, or any affiliated parties. The host and production team make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information discussed by guests on the show. Listener discretion is advised.

Affiliate Disclaimer: Some of the links listed go to my websites and some are affiliate links that may generate me a sales commission if you make a purchase.

Are you busy, or are you truly focused? In this episode of The Leadership Toolkit, host Mike Phillips sits down with internationally recognized speaker, trainer, and author Jones Loflin, who has spent more than 32 years helping leaders and organizations cut through overload and distractions.

Jones shares why you can’t actually manage time but you can manage choices — and how aligning daily actions with meaningful outcomes transforms both work and life. He introduces six powerful “permissions” from his latest book Focused As A Bee, co-authored with his daughter Sydney, that empower leaders to prioritize, plan, recharge, and stay consistent.

You’ll also discover:

• Why planning your day is a leadership superpower

• How to prune back tasks to grow forward

• The difference between being “busy” and being effective

• Practical steps to make meetings worth the time

• Why consistency builds trust and focus in every team

From organizations like Toyota and FedEx to his bestselling books Juggling Elephants and Always Growing, Jones’ storytelling and practical tools will give you actionable ways to lead with clarity and purpose.

🎧 Tune in now and learn how to stop juggling elephants and start focusing on what matters most.

Contact Information:

Jones Loflin

Email: Jones@JonesLoflin.com

LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/JonesLoflin

Web: JonesLoflin.com

Mike Phillips

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠mike@TheLeadshipToolkit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin.com/in/LeadTheTeam⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠@LeadershipTLT⁠

YouTube: ⁠YouTube.com/@MikePhillips

Credits:

Hosted by Mike Phillips

Produced by The Leadership Toolkit Team

Guest: Jones Loflin, leadership expert, speaker, and beekeeper extraordinaire.

Watch more episodes of the Leadership Toolkit at https://spotify.TheLeadershipToolkit.com

If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a 5-star review!

Make sure you share this as a resource with friends and colleagues.

Thank you for watching and listening!

* Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests on this show are solely those of the guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the host, producers, or any affiliated parties. The host and production team make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information discussed by guests on the show. Listener discretion is advised.

*** Affiliate Disclaimer: Some of the links listed go to my websites and some are affiliate links that may generate me a sales commission if you make a purchase.

In this episode of The Leadership Toolkit, host Mike Phillips sits down with Kute Blackson — transformational teacher, global speaker, and best-selling author of You.Are.The.One. and The Magic of Surrender.

Kute shares his extraordinary journey from being ordained as a minister at 14 to walking away from expectation and following the deeper calling of his soul. Known as “The Mindfulness Guru Billionaires Go To For Advice” by Inc. magazine, Kute unpacks how true leadership requires surrender, authenticity, and service.

You’ll discover:

• Why listening to your inner guidance matters more than outside approval

• How to recognize “soul tests” as preparation, not punishment

• The difference between forcing outcomes and flowing with divine timing

• Why service and inner freedom are the foundations of real leadership

If you’re ready to lead with authenticity, courage, and a deeper sense of purpose, this episode will shift the way you think about leadership and life.

You can check out these two websites for some free gifts from Kute:

• 8LevelsOfGratitude.com
• ManifestationMasterClassOnline.com

🎧 Tune in now to hear Kute’s powerful insights and practical wisdom.

Contact Information:

Kute Blackson

Instagram: Instagram.com/KuteBlackson

Web: KuteBlackson.com

Mike Phillips

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠mike@TheLeadshipToolkit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin.com/in/LeadTheTeam⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠@LeadershipTLT⁠

YouTube: ⁠YouTube.com/@MikePhillips

Credits:

Hosted by Mike Phillips

Produced by The Leadership Toolkit Team

Guest: Kute Blackson, "Mindfulness Guru to Billionaires" and transformational leader and speaker.

Watch more episodes of the Leadership Toolkit at https://spotify.TheLeadershipToolkit.com

If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a 5-star review!

Make sure you share this as a resource with friends and colleagues.

Thank you for watching and listening!

* Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests on this show are solely those of the guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the host, producers, or any affiliated parties. The host and production team make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information discussed by guests on the show. Listener discretion is advised.

*** Affiliate Disclaimer: Some of the links listed go to my websites and some are affiliate links that may generate me a sales commission if you make a purchase.

In this episode of The Leadership Toolkit, host Mike Phillips sits down with Karl Pister, founder and president of The Coaching Group Inc., to unpack more than three decades of leadership wisdom.

Karl brings a powerful blend of experience—two master’s degrees in behavioral sciences, 10 years in a Fortune 100 company, and 30+ years as an entrepreneur and leadership coach. His work has impacted leaders across industries by focusing on emotional intelligence, authentic connection, and conflict leadership.

In this conversation, you’ll discover:

• Why being early sets the tone for great leadership

• How caring, listening, and integrity are the foundation of trust

• Practical steps to resolve conflict without “playing the principal”

• Why even the best leaders need coaches and mentors

• How to model the leadership values you want your team to embody

If you’re looking to grow as a leader who inspires trust, resolves challenges, and leads with purpose, this episode is packed with actionable insights.

Contact Information:

Karl Pister

Website: https://www.coachinggroupinc.com/

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/KarlPister

Mike Phillips

Email: mike@TheLeadshipToolkit.com

LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/LeadTheTeam

Twitter: @LeadershipTLT

YouTube: YouTube.com/@MikePhillips

Credits:

Hosted by Mike Phillips

Produced by The Leadership Toolkit Team

Guest: Karl Pister

Watch more episodes of The Leadership Toolkit at https://spotify.TheLeadershipToolkit.com

If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a 5-star review!
Make sure you share this as a resource with friends and colleagues.

Thank you for watching and listening!

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests on this show are solely those of the guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the host, producers, or any affiliated parties. The host and production team make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information discussed by guests on the show. Listener discretion is advised.

Affiliate Disclaimer: Some of the links listed go to my websites and some are affiliate links that may generate me a sales commission if you make a purchase.

In this powerful episode of The Leadership Toolkit, host Mike Phillips sits down with Amy Pechacek. She is a keynote speaker, leadership expert, and founder of Alpstra & Co. They have a raw and transformative conversation on authentic leadership, emotional intelligence, and leading a life aligned with purpose.

Amy shares her journey from the classroom to corporate boardrooms and reveals how a life-altering tragedy became the catalyst for building a leadership philosophy rooted in vulnerability, resilience, and faith. She unpacks the difference between toxic and empowering leadership, the importance of knowing yourself, and why being real — not perfect — is the key to influence.

🎯 Tools of the Trade: Top Takeaways You Can Use:

• Align your personal and professional life — you only get one.

• Authenticity means being vulnerable, not using “truth” to excuse bad behavior.

• Great leaders empower others through belief and coaching.

• Self-awareness is critical as you rise in leadership.

• Feedback is a gift — try it on, keep what fits, discard the rest.

Whether you're leading a team, a company, or just yourself — this episode will challenge and inspire you to lead with greater clarity and intention.

Contact Information:
Amy Pechacek

Email: amy@alpstra.com

Links: LinkedIn.com/in/AmyPechacek

Mike Phillips

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠mike@TheLeadershipToolkit.com

⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin.com/in/LeadTheTeam⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠@LeadershipTLT⁠

YouTube: ⁠YouTube.com/@MikePhillips

Credits:

Hosted by Mike Phillips

Produced by The Leadership Toolkit Team

Guest: Amy Pechacek

🎧 Watch more episodes of The Leadership Toolkit at:
https://spotify.TheLeadershipToolkit.com

⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a 5-star review!

📤 Share this with friends and colleagues who are ready to level up their leadership.

Thank you for watching and listening!

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests on this show are solely those of the guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the host, producers, or any affiliated parties. The host and production team make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information discussed by guests on the show. Listener discretion is advised.

Affiliate Disclaimer: Some of the links listed go to my websites and some are affiliate links that may generate me a sales commission if you make a purchase.