What if your leadership team isn’t actually aligned, even though everyone thinks they are?

In this episode of the Badass Leaders Podcast, we sit down with Rebecca Sutherns, an imagination strategist who has spent nearly three decades working with non-profit leaders, boards, and mission-driven organizations navigating complexity, constraint, and constant change.

Rebecca challenges a deeply ingrained assumption in leadership: that strategy is about analyzing the past. Instead, she makes the case that many leadership breakdowns are actually a failure of imagination, where teams rely on shared language but hold completely different visions of success.

Through real-world examples, including a non-profit board divided over what “success” actually looked like, Rebecca breaks down how hidden misalignment quietly derails decision-making, slows progress, and limits impact.

This conversation explores how leaders can define what “winning” really means in mission-driven work, move from scarcity thinking to possibility thinking, and lead through uncertainty without burning out their teams.

Learn More About Dr. Rebecca Sutherns:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccasutherns/
• Website: https://rebeccasutherns.com/
• Book: https://rebeccasutherns.com/learn-from-me/#books
• Podcast: https://rebeccasutherns.com/podcast/
  
  

Mentioned in this Episode:

• Daniel Steere’s episode: https://youtu.be/3ony669Dmy4?si=3bJgC4vveyz1jgDV

Production

Produced by: The AGN Group

Host: Angela Gill Nelms

Producer: Katie Hart

Tagline: Be Brave. Be Badass.

Websites: www.theagngroup.com and www.AngelaGillNelms.com

About The AGN Group:

At The AGN Group, we believe every individual, team, and company can unlock their inner badass, one brave step at a time. www.TheAGNGroup.com.

Social Media Channels:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badassleaderspodcast/

Twitter: https://x.com/BALeadersPod

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baleaderspod

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/badass-leaders-podcast2

Want to be a Podcast Guest?

If you are interested in being a guest on the podcast, email brave@angelagillnelms.com.

The discussion also tackles questions…

• Why do leadership teams think they’re aligned when they’re actually not?
• How can non-profit leaders clearly define what “success” or “winning” really means?
• What does it look like when a board is unintentionally limiting an organization’s impact?
• How do you lead effectively when resources are constrained and uncertainty is constant?
• What’s the difference between strategy that works and strategy that becomes irrelevant?
• How can leaders distinguish what’s fixed versus what’s flexible in their organization?
• Why does scarcity thinking lead to overly cautious decision-making?
• How do you re-engage teams that are exhausted by constant change?
• What role do curiosity and imagination play in real-world strategic decision-making?
• How can leaders use strategy as a decision-making filter instead of a static document?

Themes:

• Leadership alignment and hidden misalignment
• Non-profit leadership and board dynamics
• Strategy as a living decision-making tool
• Defining “what winning looks like” in mission-driven work
• Scarcity vs. possibility thinking
• Imagination as a strategic leadership skill
• Adaptability and leading through uncertainty
• Change fatigue and re-engaging teams
• Values alignment and meaningful work
• Collective decision-making and shared vision

What if the reason you’re not getting opportunities has nothing to do with your talent—and everything to do with your visibility?

In this episode of the Badass Leaders Podcast, Angela sits down with PR expert Barrie Cohen, founder of BC Public Relations, to unpack the uncomfortable truth many leaders avoid: being great at what you do is no longer enough if no one knows you exist.

Barrie shares how she built her firm after walking away from a transactional agency model, and why she believes modern leadership requires a shift toward relational credibility, not just results. Through real client stories and behind-the-scenes insight, she breaks down how experts go from overlooked to in-demand—and where most people get it wrong.

This conversation goes beyond traditional PR advice. You’ll learn how visibility actually drives business growth, why “good work speaks for itself” is a dangerous mindset, and what it takes to build long-term authority in a noisy, digital-first world.

Learn More About Barrie Cohen:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barriecohenpr
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barriecohenpr/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barrie-cohenpr/
• Website: https://bcpublicrelations.com/
  
  

Mentioned in this Episode:

• The Trending Communicator Podcast by Dan Nestle: https://www.trendingcommunicator.com/

The discussion also tackles questions…

• How do I get featured in the media or on podcasts?
• Why am I not getting recognized for my work?
• How do I build authority in my industry?
• What’s the difference between PR and marketing?
• How long does it actually take for PR to work?
• How do I know if I’m ready for PR or media exposure?
• What makes someone “media-ready”?
• How do I turn visibility into real business growth and clients?
• What should I have in place before hiring a PR agency?
• How do I choose the right PR partner for my business?
• When is the right time to invest in visibility and personal branding?
• Can too much visibility too early hurt my credibility?

Themes:

• Visibility vs. invisibility in modern leadership
• Why expertise alone no longer drives opportunity
• Building trust and credibility through earned media
• Relational vs. transactional business models
• The reality of PR: timelines, expectations, and strategy
• Thought leadership: what it is and when it actually makes sense
• Target audience clarity and why most messaging fails
• Leveraging media opportunities for long-term growth
• Leadership decisions: values, boundaries, and firing clients
• The role of discomfort and vulnerability in building a public presence

Production

Produced by: The AGN Group

Host: Angela Gill Nelms

Producer: Katie Hart

Tagline: Be Brave. Be Badass.

Websites: www.theagngroup.com and www.AngelaGillNelms.com

About The AGN Group:

At The AGN Group, we believe every individual, team, and company can unlock their inner badass, one brave step at a time. www.TheAGNGroup.com.

Social Media Channels:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badassleaderspodcast/

Twitter: https://x.com/BALeadersPod

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baleaderspod

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/badass-leaders-podcast2

Want to be a Podcast Guest?

If you are interested in being a guest on the podcast, read more here: https://www.angelagillnelms.com/be-our-guest/

Great leadership advice rarely comes from textbooks. More often, it comes from a single moment, a hard conversation, or a piece of feedback that changes how someone sees themselves as a leader.

In this special compilation episode of the Badass Leaders Podcast, Angela Gill Nelms brings together powerful moments from past conversations with founders, executives, and leadership experts to explore the advice that has shaped their leadership journeys.

From learning how one conversation can alter the course of a career, to navigating criticism about communication style, to understanding how leaders build connection and resolve conflict, this episode highlights the real-world lessons that leaders carry with them for decades.

You’ll hear insights on how courageous communication strengthens leadership, why curiosity and empathy are essential in team culture, and how great leaders learn to turn feedback, conflict, and uncertainty into growth.

Guests Highlighted in this Episode:

• Aimee: https://youtu.be/Ukjz6NJJfUI?si=5yzQQ0AJNaeoDyg8
• Barrie: Coming soon!
• Bud: https://youtu.be/DMA1L2B5xsM?si=srmjuQMitsuHnMem
• Catharine: https://youtu.be/dQl8Pf0T8Og?si=K3T_4e2FSohZZQfY
• Cathleen: https://youtu.be/A1FVVQ1hmi4?si=3hL9HjSPJwbggHgB
• Eric: https://youtu.be/mMCg-aW8eoQ?si=i5JmIHei6gLUe6j5
• Jonathan: https://youtu.be/KPxqtHuO03A?si=zk3OhvO_mTxcHkRp
• Crystal: https://youtu.be/kKnJMK_BP7w?si=ryuh_2GX7yu2-KD7

The discussion also tackles questions…

• How can one conversation change the trajectory of a career?
• What should leaders do when they’re labeled “too aggressive” or “too direct”?
• How do effective leaders handle workplace conflict before it escalates?
• What leadership habits help teams feel heard, valued, and understood?
• How can leaders create stronger connections with their teams without becoming a therapist?
• What role does curiosity play in leadership and decision-making?
• How can leaders build courage to speak their truth in difficult environments?
• What advice do experienced leaders wish they had received earlier in their careers?

Themes:

• Leadership development through real-world experiences
• Courageous communication in leadership
• Navigating feedback and perception as a leader
• The power of influence and meaningful conversations
• Conflict resolution and leadership curiosity
• Building human connection in professional environments
• Growth mindset and personal leadership evolution

Production

Produced by: The AGN Group

Host: Angela Gill Nelms

Producer: Katie Hart

Tagline: Be Brave. Be Badass.

Websites: www.theagngroup.com and www.AngelaGillNelms.com

About The AGN Group:

At The AGN Group, we believe every individual, team, and company can unlock their inner badass, one brave step at a time. www.TheAGNGroup.com.

Social Media Channels:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badassleaderspodcast/

Twitter: https://x.com/BALeadersPod

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baleaderspod

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/badass-leaders-podcast2

Want to be a Podcast Guest?

If you are interested in being a guest on the podcast, read more here: https://www.angelagillnelms.com/be-our-guest/