Lead Change

In this episode of the Lead Change Podcast, Dr. Mary K. Mulcahey sits down with Dr. Cindra Kamphoff, a leading mental performance coach who has worked with Olympic athletes, the Minnesota Vikings, and high-performing leaders. Dr. Kamphoff shares how her experiences as a competitive runner—and struggles with self-doubt during college—led her to pursue a career in performance psychology and helping others develop mental strength.They discuss the role of mindset in leadership and performance, emphasizing that success is not just about talent or grit, but about developing the mental tools needed to manage pressure, confidence, and self-talk. Dr. Kamphoff explains the concept of the “inner coach versus the inner critic,” highlighting how the thoughts leaders choose to listen to can dramatically impact their effectiveness and growth.The conversation also explores how difficult life experiences—what she calls “crucible moments”—can shape purpose and drive meaningful impact. Dr. Kamphoff reflects on being present at the Boston Marathon bombing and how that moment pushed her to stop playing small and pursue bigger goals, including writing books, coaching elite performers, and building the Mentally Strong Institute.Throughout the discussion, she shares practical strategies leaders can use to build confidence, reframe challenges, and cultivate a high-performance mindset in both professional and personal settings.⭐ Key Takeaways1. Leaders Must Train Their Minds Like AthletesHigh performers—whether in sports, medicine, or business—need mental tools to handle pressure, stay focused, and perform at their best.2. Everyone Has an Inner Critic and an Inner CoachWe all experience self-doubt. The key is learning to recognize negative self-talk and intentionally choose thoughts that support growth and performance.3. Coaching Accelerates GrowthJust as elite athletes rely on coaches, leaders benefit from coaches who help them gain clarity, overcome obstacles, and reach goals faster.4. Your Energy as a Leader Is ContagiousA leader’s mindset, stress level, and passion influence their entire team. Leading by example is one of the most powerful leadership tools.5. Reframe Adversity as OpportunityDifficult experiences—“crucible moments”—can provide clarity about purpose and direction when leaders choose to learn from them.6. Identity Shapes PerformanceWhat you believe about yourself determines how you act. Leaders can intentionally shape their identity by changing the story they tell themselves.7. Dream Bigger and Stop Playing SmallDr. Kamphoff encourages leaders to pursue courageous goals and step beyond self-imposed limits to create greater impact.

In this episode of the Lead Change Podcast, Dr. Mary Mulcahey speaks with orthopaedic surgeon and leader Dr. Ron Navarro, Director for Clinical Affairs at the Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine and President of the American Association of Latino Orthopaedic Surgeons (AALOS).Dr. Navarro shares insights from nearly three decades of clinical practice and leadership across major orthopedic organizations, including the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and the California Orthopaedic Association (COA). He discusses lessons learned from participating in organizational strategic planning, navigating leadership transitions, and leading during the COVID-19 pandemic while serving as COA president.The conversation explores how early life experiences, mentorship, and a willingness to take risks shaped Dr. Navarro’s leadership philosophy. He emphasizes the importance of creating opportunities for others, cultivating a culture of leadership, and empowering future generations of surgeons. Dr. Navarro also highlights the mission and growth of AALOS, particularly its efforts to support Latino medical students and residents through mentorship, leadership opportunities, and professional development.Throughout the discussion, he underscores that leadership in medicine requires humility, resilience, and adaptability in the face of constant change. By sharing personal stories, practical leadership lessons, and reflections on mentorship, Dr. Navarro offers a compelling perspective on how physicians can lead meaningful change within their organizations and communities.Key Take-Home PointsLeadership skills are rarely taught in medical trainingStrategic planning, organizational governance, and advocacy are rarely part of medical education.Exposure to leadership roles and committees can provide critical learning opportunities.2. Strategic planning shapes organizational directionStrategic plans act as a roadmap for organizations.They clarify priorities and guide decision-making over multiple years.3. Effective leaders create opportunities for othersA key leadership responsibility is developing future leaders.Cultivating a culture where others can grow and take on leadership roles strengthensorganizations.4. Leadership requires adaptability and comfort with changeChange is inevitable in medicine and healthcare systems.Successful leaders learn to navigate and embrace change rather than resist it.5. Advocacy is essential in protecting the practice of medicineState orthopedic societies play a critical role in legislative advocacy that affects physician practice and patient care.6. Early leadership exposure mattersOpportunities for medical students and residents to serve on boards, committees, and initiatives can accelerate leadership development.7. Confidence comes from action, not waiting until you feel readyMany leaders experience imposter syndrome.Growth often occurs when individuals step into roles before they feel fully prepared.8. The most effective leaders listen more than they speakLeaders should encourage diverse perspectives and avoid dominating discussions.Collaboration often leads to stronger solutions.9. Leadership includes knowing when to step asideTerm limits and leadership transitions allow organizations to bring in new ideas and perspectives.10. Hard work and resilience are foundational leadership traitsSuccess often comes from perseverance, grit, and the willingness to continue learning and evolving.

In this live episode of Lead Change, recorded at the ELAM program in Philadelphia, Dr. Mary Mulcahey interviews Martha Deery, a leader in organizational transformation and change strategy. Martha shares insights from her work with Kotter, emphasizing that successful change is not driven by process alone, but by leadership that inspires, empowers, and engages people at all levels.Drawing from her experience in global social impact initiatives and large-scale organizational transformation, Martha highlights the importance of understanding stakeholders, framing change as an opportunity, and creating clarity amid competing priorities. She underscores that resistance to change is often deeply personal, rooted in identity and professional investment, and that effective leaders must recognize and address these concerns.The conversation also explores the concept of distributed leadership, the importance of psychological safety, and the need for adaptability in an era of constant change. Ultimately, Martha defines “leading change” as having a vision and enabling others to take bold, sometimes uncomfortable steps in a supportive environment where they feel seen, valued, and empowered.Key Take-Home PointsChange Requires Leadership, Not Just ManagementStrategy, budgets, and plans are necessary—but insufficient.True transformation depends on vision, inspiration, and people engagement.2. Frame Change as an OpportunityClearly articulate: Why now?What is the opportunity?Who benefits—and how?Avoid jargon; communicate in simple, meaningful terms.3. Prioritization Is CriticalWhen everything is a priority, nothing is.Leaders must define:What will changeWhat will stopWhat matters most4. Stakeholder Understanding Is EssentialIdentify:Who is impacted—and howWhat they might gain or loseRecognize that resistance is often tied to identity and expertise, not just logistics.5. Engage Both Formal and Informal InfluencersChange is accelerated by those who can influence others, regardless of title.Build coalitions across levels of the organization.6. Empower Leadership at All LevelsMove beyond hierarchy to a network-based model of leadership.Everyone has the capacity to lead change when empowered.7. Psychological Safety Drives InnovationCreate environments where individuals feel safe to:Try new thingsTake risksFail productively8. Adaptability Is a Core Leadership SkillModern organizations must continuously:LearnPivotEvolveAgility and mindset are as important as technical skills.9. Human-Centered Design Enhances ImpactEffective solutions require deep understanding of:CultureContextEnd usersCo-creation leads to more meaningful and sustainable change.10. Leadership Is About Empowering Others“Leading change” means:Believing in a visionInspiring othersEnabling people to do hard, new, and sometimes uncomfortable things

In this episode of the Lead Change Podcast, Dr. Mary Mulcahey interviews Dr. Jewel Kling, a national leader in women’s health, menopause, sex- and gender-based medicine, and medical education. Dr. Kling shares her leadership journey from early advocacy experiences shaped by her parents’ community work, to national leadership in the American Medical Student Association, to her current roles as Division Chair and Regional Dean at Mayo Clinic.The conversation explores how identifying a personal “North Star” guides career decisions, why physicians are leaders regardless of title, and how mentorship and sponsorship create opportunities before individuals see themselves as ready.Dr. Kling reflects on stepping into leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, building innovative and community-engaged medical education programs, expanding clinical training opportunities, and preparing a diverse physician workforce that reflects the populations it serves.They also discuss the energizing role of mission-aligned work, the importance of learning financial and operational skills through ELAM, and how advocacy, inclusion, and precision medicine intersect with the future of academic leadership.Key Take-Home PointsLeadership & Career DevelopmentPhysicians are leaders by default—title or not; our voices influence patients, teams, and communities.Say yes to opportunities before you feel ready; growth often precedes confidence.Mentorship opens doors; sponsorship pushes you through them.Mission-aligned work is energizing, not draining—it “fills your cup” and sustains long-term leadership.Finding Your North StarA clearly defined personal purpose (“why”) guides decisions about which roles to accept or decline.Your North Star helps balance career advancement with meaningful impact, even when activities are not traditionally valued for promotion.Advocacy as a Core Leadership SkillYou do not need to belong to a group to advocate for it.Early involvement in policy and organized medicine builds transferable leadership skills.Advocacy expands impact beyond one-on-one patient care.Education & Workforce DevelopmentMedical education must include community engagement, underserved care, and cultural understanding as core—not optional—experiences.Training physicians who reflect the populations they serve improves care and trust.Leadership in education requires intentional curriculum innovation, affiliate partnerships, and workforce planning.Innovation & the Future of MedicineAcademic leaders must be agile and adaptable, particularly post-COVID.AI, technology, and precision medicine demand both ethical frameworks and curricular integration.Sex- and gender-based research is essential for true precision medicine.Personal Growth Through ELAMLeadership requires operational literacy (finance, systems, strategy) in addition to passion.Working with new teams in unfamiliar environments builds collaborative and adaptive leadership skills.Community among women leaders is a powerful source of renewal and perspective.

In this episode of the Lead Change, Dr. Mary Mulcahey sits down with leadership coach and former national champion rower and collegiate head coach Maddie Davis Tully to explore what high-performance sport teaches us about sustainable leadership.Maddie shares her journey from Princeton lightweight rowing to coaching at Stanford, Ohio State, and Boston University, and ultimately to executive leadership coaching. The conversation centers on a critical shift for high achievers: moving from time management to energy management. She explains how protecting finite energy—not just scheduling time—allows leaders to perform at a high level without burnout.Drawing on her experience as a young head coach, Maddie discusses the evolution from performative toughness to authentic leadership, emphasizing the importance of empathy, trust-building, and seeking to understand before being understood. The discussion highlights how discipline, role clarity, and celebrating small wins drive long-term success in both athletics and medicine.The episode also explores lessons from leading through COVID as president of the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association, including leveraging crisis for innovation, building national collaboration, and proactive advocacy.Ultimately, this conversation offers a framework for physicians and leaders to sustain performance, build high-trust teams, and align daily actions with what matters most.Key Take-Home PointsEnergy and Performance· Energy management > time management for sustainable high performance· Identify energy drains, energy sources, and what truly moves the needle· Protect energy for high-impact work and life outside of workDiscipline and Process· Discipline creates freedom and enables long-term success· Focus on the process and small wins, not just distant outcomes· Motivation starts action; discipline sustains itTeam and Role Clarity· High performers succeed when they understand their role on the team· Role players are essential to collective success· Trust and buy-in increase when leaders value each individual’s contributionLeadership Growth· Seek to understand before being understood· Empathy strengthens—not weakens—leadership authority· Authenticity builds trust and psychological safety· Toughness is situational; credibility comes from consistency and careTransition from Athlete to Leader· Athletic experiences build:Patience and incremental improvement mindsetStructure and prioritization skillsComfort with feedback and accountability· Team-first thinkingLeading Through Crisis· Use disruption as an opportunity for innovation and connection· Collaboration across silos strengthens organizations· Proactive advocacy is essential in changing environmentsPersonal Purpose· Fulfillment comes from being challenged and being useful· Leadership is about expanding others’ belief in their own potential