Stay On Course: Ingredients for Success

The LEARN Framework: Building a Lasting Culture Through Intentional LeadershipGuest: Jim Carbaugh, Educator, Leadership Coach and Author Host: Julie RigaOverviewJim Carbaugh spent 35 years in classrooms and school leadership before turning five letters his grandfather taught him into a framework now adopted by schools and businesses nationwide. His LEARN Framework covers Listen, Ethics, Attitude, Respect, and Know. In this episode, Jim and Julie explore what it takes to build a lasting culture, lead with purpose, and stay curious in a rapidly changing world.The LEARN Framework: Building a Lasting Culture Through Intentional LeadershipAbout Jim CarbaughJim Carbaugh is a leadership coach, speaker, and author with 35 years in education as a teacher, coach, and school administrator. His LEARN Framework was shaped by a personal story of mentorship passed down by his grandfather and refined through decades of leading people under pressure. He is the founder of All Points Leadership, now transitioning to jimcarbaugh.com, and has a new book releasing soon that walks leaders step by step through the framework.Fun Fact: Jim is a devoted fan of Maryland Hardshell Blue Crabs with Old Bay seasoning and has a reputation for testing the limits of all-you-can-eat seafood restaurants.The Three Ingredients for SuccessListenYour climate controls your culture. Before you can build a great culture, you must first understand the climate you are creating. True listening means entering every conversation with curiosity, not with the intent to fix or to win. Communication does not happen unless the listener confirms understanding. Leaders must listen at every level of the organization and always clarify before anyone leaves the room.EthicsYour non-negotiables are your values in action. Jim leads a team exercise where everyone writes their top three to five non-negotiables. When compared, shared values almost always surface, revealing why conflict was unnecessary in the first place. When leaders stretch beyond their non-negotiables, poor decisions follow. Knowing your values empowers bold choices, including walking away from opportunities that do not align with who you are.KnowNo has two sides. The first is the boundary you set for yourself. The second is the no you will receive from others. We are wired to hear no as permanent, but it is not final. Every yes you have earned came through the no's you navigated. The mindset shift is replacing no with "What if?" Leaders who stay curious, embrace new tools, and keep learning are the ones who will shape what leadership looks like in the years ahead.Memorable Quotes"Your climate controls your culture.""Communication does not happen unless the listener says it does.""In life, we either get better or we get worse. Nothing stays the same.""No is not permanent. The next yes you get came from all the no's you decided to get over.""Leaders need to be curious. That is the bottom line for everything."Connect with Jim CarbaughWebsite: jimcarbaugh.com Upcoming Book: A step-by-step guide to the LEARN Framework for educators and leadersConnect with Julie RigaPodcast: Stay On Course, available wherever you listen to podcasts Coaching: Leadership coaching, transformation, and executive developmentSubscribe to Stay On Course wherever you listen to podcasts. Share this episode with a leader who is ready to grow.#StayOnCourse #LeadershipMindset #PurposeDrivenLeadership #LEARNFramework #AuthenticGrowth

Brain-Based Leadership: How Awareness, Curiosity, and Presence Transform the Way You LeadGuest: Tracy Benson, Top 1% LinkedIn Coach & Brain-Based Leadership ExpertHost: Julie RigaOverviewJoin Julie Riga as she sits down with Tracy Benson, a top 1% LinkedIn coach and brain-based leadership expert who has spent over three decades helping senior leaders create clarity, alignment, and real performance. Tracy blends neuroscience, leadership psychology, and practical business strategy to give leaders tools they can use immediately to transform teams, organizations, and results. Discover how awareness, curiosity, and presence can revolutionize the way you lead.Brain-Based Leadership: How Awareness, Curiosity, and Presence Transform the Way You LeadThe Three Ingredients for Leadership Success:1. Awareness Understanding what drives behavior beneath conscious awareness. Tracy reveals that 90% of brain function is unconscious yet rules how we show up. Learn to recognize reactive emotional states before they control you.2. Curiosity The two magic words that shift you out of negative emotional states: "I wonder." Tracy explains why you cannot be angry and curious at the same time, making curiosity the entrance ramp to co-creation and discovery.3. Presence & Perspective Discover foveal vs. peripheral view and how narrow focus blocks solutions. When you step back to include peripheral vision, all the ideas, solutions, and magic become available.Key Insights:The Power of "I Wonder": Two simple words that immediately shift you out of reactive states and open the palette of possibilitiesMeta Programs: Understanding the 50+ mental shortcuts that run how you show up and why time-focused and possibility-focused people clashProjection & Self-Discovery: How triggers reveal your unconscious programming and what you see in others exists in youMemorable Quotes:"This is the most powerful engine on the face of the planet, and we never got taught how to use it.""We cannot be angry and curious at the same time.""The palette of possibilities - in the moment you have all of these options, but we need to be in remembrance that those are available to us.""We can't see the label on the jar from inside the jar."Practical Leadership Tools:Wear a bead bracelet and snap it when you feel reactiveSay "I wonder" to shift your brain state instantlyPractice viewing challenges from multiple distancesVisit art museums to train your brain to shift perspectiveKey Takeaways:Your brain is powerful, but we were never taught how to use itCuriosity shifts everything - you cannot be angry and curious simultaneouslyPerspective creates possibilities - step back from problems to see solutionsBehaviors that trigger you reveal your own unconscious patternsSmall leadership adjustments create massive organizational impactConnect with Tracy Benson: LinkedIn: Tracy Benson Free Tool: DM Tracy on LinkedIn with "expand" to receive a complimentary foveal vs. peripheral view toolPerfect for leaders who want to understand how their brain works and use neuroscience to transform their leadership presence, decision-making, and relationships.🎧 Subscribe to Stay On Course wherever you listen to podcasts#Leadership #Mindset #Transformation #Purpose #Growth

Three Keys to Identity, Success in Business and LifeGuest: Joanna Harabedian, Faith-Based Relationship Strategist, Amazon #1 Bestselling Author and Miss America 2019-2021 Host: Julie RigaOverviewWhat if the greatest challenge you face as a leader is not a business problem but an identity problem? In this episode of the Stay On Course Podcast, Julie Riga sits down with Joanna Harabedian, Miss America 2019-2021 and Amazon #1 bestselling author of From Solo to Soulmate. Together they unpack three transformational keys to identity that shape success in business and in life. From learning to receive gracefully to rewriting your deepest inner story, Joanna brings spiritual depth, emotional intelligence, and practical wisdom to every woman ready to break free from cycles that no longer serve her.Three Keys to Identity, Success in Business and LifeAbout the GuestJoanna Harabedian is a faith-based relationship strategist, Amazon #1 bestselling author, and Miss America 2019-2021, a title she held for three years due to the COVID pandemic. She helps high-achieving women break unhealthy relationship patterns and build emotionally healthy, God-aligned partnerships.Her Princess Crowning Program has reached hospitals and stages. A defining moment came at a quadriplegic facility in California, where a young woman named Karina, non-responsive for five weeks and silent for five years, began to speak after being crowned. That moment became the foundation of Joanna's mission.Fun Fact: Joanna's favorite food is homemade ravioli with pesto sauce, inspired by her grandfather from Peru.The Three Keys to Identity1. The Ability to Receive High-achieving women are often celebrated givers who never learned to receive. Joanna shares a vivid dream in which a bouquet given in love is slapped back in rejection, and a voice tells her: this is how you make people feel when you decline their compliment. In business, refusing a genuine compliment builds invisible walls and signals distrust. In marriage, it slowly dismantles connection. The practice is simple but powerful: say thank you and receive it fully.2. Self-Awareness Patterns rooted in childhood do not disappear; they evolve and bleed into every area of life. Joanna references a study where women with fake scars removed before a job interview still reported being treated unfairly because their inner story shaped what they believed others saw. Self-awareness is the key that uncovers the root of those stories. Without it, cycles of unworthiness continue across relationships, career, and leadership. With it, transformation becomes possible.3. Emotional Intelligence and Alignment Joanna calls it wisdom alignment: the convergence of self-knowledge and purposeful living. She shares her journey through a painful first marriage, asking God to show her how she arrived there, and doing the courageous growth work that led to a thriving decade-long partnership. She teaches that we break twice in life, and that the second break, when met with honesty and faith, becomes the breakthrough that reveals our true purpose.Memorable Quotes"The story you tell yourself about yourself is the most important story you will ever tell.""Little keys unlock big doors, and big doors swing on small hinges.""I help women contrast and complete, not compare and compete.""Diamonds are forged in the fires of the earth. That is how the facets are created."Connect with JoannaWebsite: www.loveunblocked.comInstagram: @thesoulmate_strategistBook: From Solo to Soulmate on AmazonConnect with Julie RigaPodcast: Stay On Course PodcastWebsite: julieriga.com/leadSubscribe to Stay On Course wherever you listen to podcasts. Share this episode with a woman ready to step into her identity and lead with purpose.#StayOnCourse #IdentityAndLeadership #LoveUnblocked #PurposeDrivenLeadership #AuthenticGrowth

Why Hiring the Right Coach Changes Everything: The Ingredients for Leadership GrowthGuest: Kate Hendrickson, Strategic Planning and Leadership Consultant Host: Julie RigaWhat does it truly take to accelerate your growth, lead with clarity, and build a business that reflects your values?In this episode, Julie sits down with Kate Hendrickson to unpack why hiring the right coach is one of the most transformational decisions a leader can make. From self-awareness and accountability to strategic planning and continuous learning, this conversation delivers purpose-driven insights for entrepreneurs, CEOs, and anyone ready to stop working in their business and start leading it.Why Hiring the Right Coach Changes Everything: The Ingredients for Leadership GrowthAbout This EpisodeKate Hendrickson is a strategic planning and leadership consultant with more than two decades of experience helping organizations turn vision into action. With a background spanning television, film, hospitality, and consulting, Kate brings a unique storytelling perspective to leadership and business growth. Julie and Kate explore how the right coaching partnership delivers honest guidance and strategic accountability that accelerates growth with greater clarity.Key Topics DiscussedPerspective and Self-Awareness An honest outside view of your leadership blind spots is where transformation begins. A coach helps you identify recurring patterns, face uncomfortable truths, and build the self-awareness needed to lead authentically. Without openness to honest reflection, you will keep getting stuck in the same cycles.Acceleration and Strategic Momentum Moving from reactive firefighting to proactive, purpose-driven planning changes everything. Kate shares a real client story: three years into her business, a leader had no roadmap forward. Through strategic planning workshops, they narrowed priorities and built real, measurable momentum fast.Continuous Learning and Upskilling No CEO ever reaches a point of knowing everything. From AI to organizational change, the landscape keeps shifting. A coach keeps you learning and adapting alongside your business and an ever-evolving world. Curiosity is not optional. It is the job.The Value of CoachingThe CEO role is uniquely isolating. You cannot always bring challenges to your staff, and you do not want to burden your family. A trusted advisor who understands your business gives you a safe space to think out loud, course correct, and stay accountable to your vision. Hiring a coach is not a sign something is wrong. It is a sign you care about your business, your people, and your long-term legacy. Kate also introduces the Before I Lead community coaching program, which pairs one-on-one sessions with a peer mastermind group for connection, accountability, and shared growth.Memorable Quotes"If you have got someone who is really going to help you accelerate and stick with you on the long-term journey, it can change everything.""The CEO does not have a boss. That is part of the value of a coach.""Hiring a coach does not mean you are failing. It means you are continuously learning, growing, and caring."Key TakeawaysPerspective reveals what you are too close to see yourselfSelf-awareness is the foundation of authentic leadershipContinuous learning is not optional, it is the jobCommunity and accountability accelerate transformationInvest in yourself the way you invest in your businessConnect with Kate HendricksonWebsite: kate-hendrickson.comBook: Christmas Switch, available nowConnect with Julie RigaCoaching: Before I LeadCommunity coaching for business owners and CEOsSubscribe to Stay On Course wherever you listen to podcasts. Share this episode with a leader who is ready to grow.#StayOnCourse #LeadershipGrowth #PurposeDriven #BeforeILead #TransformationJourney

Lead Where It Matters Most: Homegrown Leadership Starts at HomeGuest: Joe LaRussa, Mayor, Entrepreneur and Founder of Homegrown Leadership Host: Julie RigaOverviewWhat if the leadership skills driving your professional success could also transform your home life?In this episode, host Julie Riga sits down with Joe LaRussa, small city mayor, entrepreneur, and founder of Homegrown Leadership, to explore one of the most overlooked arenas of personal development: leading at home. After 25 years in automotive manufacturing, Joe saw that high performers bring their best to work while their households run on pressure and chaos. This is a practical guide for overwhelmed spouses and parents ready to stop surviving and start leading with intentionality, systems, and community as their foundation.Lead Where It Matters Most: Homegrown Leadership Starts at HomeAbout This EpisodeJoe founded Homegrown Leadership to help high performers bring the same systems and mindset from work into their households, creating more time, less stress, and a home they are proud of. Joe and Julie break down three essential ingredients for stronger household leadership: intentionality, systems, and community. Listeners walk away with practical tools like shared calendars and communication rhythms, and a fresh perspective on building a home that runs with clarity instead of pressure.Guest BackgroundJoe LaRussa is the founder of Homegrown Leadership and a sitting small city mayor. Shaped by 25 years in manufacturing, Joe recognized that strategies enabling professional excellence were largely absent in the households of high-performing individuals.Fun Fact: If Joe had to pick one favorite food, it would be a slow-roasted leg of lamb, prepared with herbs, spices, and olive oil.The Three Ingredients for Homegrown LeadershipIntentionality is the first ingredient. At work, leaders plan for years. At home, many struggle to decide what is for dinner. The average household leader has about two golden hours per day to lead at home. Elevating out of reactionary mode requires a conscious decision to lead with strategy. Be a laser beam, not a light bulb.Systems and Tools create the structure that sets families free. A shared family calendar is the foundational tool. A whiteboard wall and weekly Sunday planning meetings help the whole household align and prioritize. Fun must be planned, not left to leftover time. The 13 Summers mindset reminds parents how finite their seasons with their children truly are, making intentional planning feel urgent and meaningful.Community is the most forgotten ingredient. Most people cannot name the neighbors behind six doors surrounding their home. True community means having people to call when life gets hard. Isolation is a leadership gap. When households are healthy, neighborhoods are healthy, and when neighborhoods are healthy, communities thrive.Memorable Quotes"It is home where your leadership matters the most.""Your life will never be less complicated than it is today. So do not wait.""It is not on the shared calendar? It does not exist.""When households are healthy, neighborhoods are healthy."Key TakeawaysDecide to lead before the moment arrives. Intentionality is the foundation.Shared systems reduce chaos and build confidence for every member of the household.Community is not optional. Isolation is a leadership problem with a leadership solution.Your golden hours are your greatest daily asset. Use them with purpose.Do not wait. In six months, you will either be glad you started or wish you had.Connect with Joe LaRussaWebsite: www.homegrownleadership.netFree assessments and starter tools are available on the website.Subscribe to Stay On Course wherever you listen to podcasts.#HomegrownLeadership #StayOnCourse #LeadershipMindset #PurposeDrivenLiving #FamilyFirst

From Losses to Legacy: The Day Trading System That Builds Generational WealthGuest: Mitch Abel, Founder of Investment Current Host: Julie RigaOverviewWhat happens when retirement arrives and the numbers do not add up? For Mitch Abel, it became the catalyst for a remarkable transformation. After 40 years in sales, Mitch retired in 2015 with a $400,000 portfolio and quickly lost $150,000 in his first six months of day trading. Instead of walking away, he went deeper, rewatching every course, practicing every day, and mastering the three ingredients that changed everything. Today, he has built generational wealth secured in a trust for his grandchildren, and through Investment Current, he is teaching hundreds of others to do the same. This episode is a masterclass in resilience, discipline, and the mindset shift that turns trading into a purposeful system.From Losses to Legacy: The Day Trading System That Builds Generational WealthGuest: Mitch Abel, Founder of Investment Current Host: Julie RigaAbout This EpisodeJulie sits down with Mitch Abel, a former social worker turned four-decade sales veteran turned self-made day trading educator, to explore how purpose-driven learning and emotional mastery can transform your financial future. This conversation is about patience, discipline, and emotional control as the foundation for lasting wealth and a legacy that outlives you.The Three Ingredients for Trading SuccessPatience is the foundation. Winning and losing are both part of the game. Learning to read market language, chart patterns, and price action takes time. The market moves up, down, and sideways, and responding well to each requires consistent daily practice.Discipline means following a clear set of rules every single day. Mitch applies the 10 percent rule: never risk more than 10 percent of your total portfolio on a single trade. Treating trading as a business, not a pastime, separates those who build wealth from those who walk away.Emotional control is the hardest ingredient of all. Fear and greed destroy most traders. Mitch partners with Randy Howell, a psychologist who works exclusively with traders, to help students stay calm and stay on course. The technical side of trading can be learned in months. Mastering your emotions is the deeper work.Key InsightsMitch lost $150,000 in six months, then recovered every dollar within the next six months through relentless study and disciplined practice. Within three years, money was no longer a concern. He structured his wealth in a skip-generational trust so his grandchildren begin receiving distributions at age 40, after learning to earn and build for themselves.Investment Current serves four communities: young adults seeking financial independence, career changers escaping corporate life, pre-retirees building a retirement runway, and retirees seeking purpose and daily income. All four follow the same core framework of patience, discipline, and emotional control.Connect with Mitch AbelWebsite: www.investmentcurrent.comYouTube: Search "Investment Current" for free trading videosLive Trading Room: First 5 days free, then $87 per monthConnect with Julie RigaWebsite: julieriga.com/leadCoaching: Leadership coaching and transformationKey TakeawaysPatience is a skill you build, not a trait you are born withDiscipline gives you the freedom to make clear decisions under pressureEmotional control separates consistent traders from those who quitLegacy is built intentionally, with a plan and a long-term visionIt is never too late. Mitch started this journey at 62.Subscribe to Stay On Course wherever you listen to podcasts. Share this episode with anyone ready to build a lasting financial legacy.#StayOnCourse #GenerationalWealth #LeadershipMindset #PurposeDriven #LegacyBuilding

Meditation to Manifestation: Manifesting the Business of Your DreamsGuest: Katie Krimitsos, Founder and CEO of Women's Meditation Network Host: Julie RigaOverviewWhat if manifestation isn't about vision boards and morning affirmations? In this powerful episode of the Stay On Course Podcast, host Julie Riga sits down with Katie Krimitsos, founder of the Women's Meditation Network, a platform reaching nearly 3 million downloads each month and ranking in the top 0.1% of all podcasts worldwide. Katie reveals how meditation is the ultimate gateway to manifestation, self-leadership, and intentional life design. From clearing subconscious money blocks to writing into the future, this transformative episode is a masterclass in purpose-driven growth, authentic alignment, and the courageous journey of becoming who you were always meant to be.Meditation to Manifestation: Manifesting the Business of Your DreamsAbout Katie KrimitsosKatie Krimitsos is the Founder and CEO of the Women's Meditation Network, helping millions of women reconnect with themselves through guided meditation and practical, proven life design tools. Her new course, Meditation to Manifestation, pairs deep inner work with actionable journaling techniques to help women consciously build the business and life they truly want.Fun Fact: Katie bakes a fresh sourdough loaf every week on her 15-acre family farm and says she is probably the only one eating it!The Three Ingredients for Success1. Deep Self-Awareness Through Meditation Meditation is not about clearing your mind or sitting cross-legged at 5 a.m. It is about knowing yourself so deeply that you can hear your intuition, access your clarity, and lead from within. Even five deep breaths taken in the driveway counts as a meaningful practice.2. Alignment Alignment means your beliefs, thoughts, words, and actions are all moving in the same direction. Katie uses the image of a garden hose: when there are kinks and knots, the water cannot flow. When the hose is laid out flat, the water flows freely. Your dreams are the water. Remove the kinks.3. Intentional Life Design Pick up a pen. Write into the future you want, as though it has already happened. This free, simple practice activates intention and opens the door to manifestation. Julie manifested five European cities this way as a single mom, and it worked.Key InsightsManifestation is not a vision board. It is the natural byproduct of full alignment between who you are and how you live.Subconscious stories around money, worthiness, and identity create the kinks that quietly block your flow. Awareness is always the first step.Meditation in any form builds the capacity to pause, hear your intuition, and respond thoughtfully to life rather than react to it.Presence is the practice. Stress and anxiety only exist when we leave the present moment. Stillness brings us back to where our joy and guidance live.You are the author of your own life. Self-leadership begins the moment you pick up the pen and choose to write a new story.Memorable Quotes"Manifestation is a natural byproduct of alignment. When what you believe, think, say, and do are all in agreement, that is when it flows.""The most important ingredient for success, no matter what success looks like to you, is a deep knowing of yourself.""The water is meant to flow. Your dreams are already yours."Connect with Katie KrimitsosWebsite: womensmeditationnetwork.comCourse: Meditation to Manifestation, available nowPodcast: Search Women's Meditation Network on any podcast platform or YouTube🎧 Subscribe to Stay On Course wherever you listen to podcasts today 💡 Share this episode with a leader who is ready to manifest their next level#StayOnCourse #MeditationToManifestation #PurposeDrivenLeadership #MindsetShift #IntentionalLiving

LEAD WITH CONFIDENCE: Julie Riga's Proven Strategies for Readiness, Growth, and SuccessThis episode of Stay on Course features Julie Riga, a certified coach, trainer, speaker, and author, as she shares her expertise on leadership mastery, readiness, and confidence. With her extensive experience in the Pharma Industry and as a coach, Julie provides valuable insights on how to build leadership skills, create a strong foundation for business growth, and overcome common obstacles.In this informative episode, Edith Duran, a digital marketing specialist, interviews Julie Riga about her approach to leadership coaching and the importance of readiness, confidence, and growth. Julie shares her journey of helping CEOs and entrepreneurs build leadership skills, create a strong foundation for business growth, and overcome common obstacles. She discusses the challenges people face in finding their role as a leader and how to overcome imposter syndrome.Whether you're looking to improve your leadership skills, build confidence, or grow your business, this episode is packed with valuable insights. Julie's passion for helping individuals build leadership skills and her innovative approach to coaching make this a must-listen for anyone striving for personal and professional growth.Key Ingredients in Julie's Expertise:The importance of readiness and confidence in leadershipHow to overcome imposter syndrome and build leadership skillsThe concept of creating a strong foundation for business growthTips on how to create a playbook for business successStrategies for building a strong team and delegating tasks effectivelyThe benefits of building leadership skills, including increased confidence and better decision-makingConnect with Julie:Learn more about Julie Riga and her services by visiting:Website: https://www.julieriga.com/

Your Story Is Your Greatest Asset: Building a Narrative Operating System That Drives Real GrowthGuest: Rain Bennett, Award-Winning Filmmaker, Author and Fractional Chief Storytelling Officer Host: Julie RigaWhat if your story was not just a marketing tactic but the very strategy that drives transformation, alignment, and legacy in your business? In this episode of the Stay On Course Podcast, host Julie Riga sits down with award-winning filmmaker and Fractional Chief Storytelling Officer Rain Bennett to unpack the power of storytelling as a leadership and growth strategy. Rain reveals how founders can build a narrative operating system that aligns brand, product, sales, and culture into one cohesive belief system. A masterclass in purpose-driven leadership and authentic communication for founders and leaders ready to build a lasting legacy.Your Story Is Your Greatest Asset: Building a Narrative Operating System That Drives Real GrowthAbout Rain BennettRain Bennett is an award-winning documentary filmmaker with over 20 years of experience. As the host of the Storytelling Lab podcast and a Fractional Chief Storytelling Officer, he helps growth-stage companies transform scattered messaging into a clear narrative operating system. His forthcoming book The Chief Storytelling Officer releases August 25, 2025 and is available for pre-order on Barnes and Noble.Fun Fact: Rain grew up on the coast and loves fresh local seafood. His favorite? Raw oysters cracked open right on the pier.What We CoverStorytelling Is the Strategy Storytelling is not a marketing add-on. It is the operating system for your entire organization. The transformation lives in the receiver of the story, not the teller. You must hook people emotionally before any information can land.Narrative vs. Stories Your brand narrative is the overarching mission and change you want to create in the world. Your brand stories are the infinite individual moments that support it. Once this is clear, story opportunities appear everywhere, from a LinkedIn post to a full documentary.Co-Authoring with Your Community Great brand narratives are collaborations, not monologues. Like Nike sending reps to track meets to listen to runners, you must build deliberate systems to find and capture your stories.Everyone Is a Brand Storyteller From the CEO to the server at your restaurant, every human touchpoint is a chapter in your brand story. Culture starts from the top, but the story is lived by everyone on your team.Your Story Is Your Only Unique Asset Skills can be acquired. Tools can be replicated. But nobody on this earth has your path. Your story is the single most valuable asset you own and it is usually the most overlooked.Memorable Quotes"The power of storytelling lies in the receiving of the story, not the teller. That is where the transformation is.""Your story is the only unique thing that you or your brand can ever truly own.""It is not transactional, it is transformative. They are trying to change something in the world."Key TakeawaysYour story is your most powerful and irreplaceable strategic assetStorytelling is the operating system for your whole organizationBuild deliberate systems to listen and co-author your narrative with your communityEvery team member is part of your brand storySelf-leadership and inner clarity are the foundation of authentic purpose-driven storytellingConnect with Rain BennettWebsite: rainbennett.comPre-Order: BarnesandNoble.comPodcast: The Storytelling Lab#StayOnCourse #LeadershipStorytelling #NarrativeStrategy #PurposeDrivenLeadership #ChiefStorytellingOfficer.Subscribe to Stay On Course wherever you listen to podcasts. Share this episode with any founder or leader ready to lead with story as strategy.

Leadership from the Saddle: What Horses Teach Us About LeadingGuests: Britain Mills-Dawes and Tea Di Lillo Host: Julie RigaIn this episode of Stay On Course, leadership coach Julie Riga is joined by equine practitioner Britain Mills-Dawes and Alberta horse trainer Tea, co-hosts of the Uncinched podcast. Together they explore the leadership lessons hidden between horse and rider: trust, presence, intuition, and the quiet confidence that makes others gravitate toward you. Whether you lead a company, a team, or simply yourself, this conversation will change the way you think about authentic leadership and purpose-driven growth.Leadership from the Saddle: What Horses Teach Us About LeadingMeet the GuestsBritain Mills-Dawes is an equine practitioner, clinician, and Western media contributor. She educates riders through biomechanics and horsemanship and co-hosts the Uncinched podcast, building community across the horse industry through journalism and live events.Tea is a horse trainer from Alberta, owner of Qualitea Equine, and a coach for the Calgary Stampede Show Rider team. A lifelong learner and co-host, dedicated to helping both horses and riders reach their full potential.The Three Ingredients for Leadership SuccessDrawing on years of partnership with horses, Britain and Tea share three core leadership ingredients that translate directly from the arena into everyday life and work.1. Trust and ConsistencyHorses are prey animals and their instinct says you might be a threat. Building trust means showing up with positive, intentional energy every single day. The same applies to your team. Stress acts like a predator on the nervous system, and a great leader creates enough safety that people seek guidance rather than hide their anxiety.2. Presence and IntuitionRiding in the mountains, you learn quickly when to lead and when to follow. The horse senses the terrain in ways you never can from the saddle. True leadership presence means being attuned enough to know which role serves the moment best. In the workplace, that awareness is the difference between micromanaging and genuine mentorship.3. Communication and Emotional RegulationHorses cannot lie. Their body language tells you everything. Britain argues it is often easier to communicate with a horse than a human for that reason. For leaders, the lesson is this: create the psychological safety that lets people speak honestly. The ability to walk into a charged situation and lower the emotional temperature without adding to the fire is one of the most valuable leadership skills you can develop.Memorable Quotes"Trust is built over time. It is not just showing up every day. It is showing up with intention every single day." Tea"You have to ride the horse that shows up." Tea"Leadership is quiet. It is that quiet confidence and self-reflection that people naturally gravitate toward." BritainKey TakeawaysShow up with consistent, intentional energy. Trust is a compounding investment, not a one-time gesture.Presence is a leadership skill. Know when to guide and when to step back and follow.Create psychological safety so your team seeks your guidance rather than hides their struggles.Lead by example and with integrity. Quiet confidence draws people naturally to your leadership.Great leadership is a give and take. Empower your people to shine where they shine best.ConnectBritain and Tea: Uncinched on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and most major platforms. Visit stableinstincts.com and follow on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.Julie Riga: Stay On Course podcast wherever you listen.#StayOnCourse #LeadershipMindset #AuthenticLeadership #PurposeDriven #LeadByExampleSubscribe to Stay On Course and share this episode with every leader in your world who needs to hear it.

Success in Leadership, Goal-Setting, and Accountability with Cannon Carr.In this episode of Stay on Course with Julie Riga, guest Cannon Carr shares his insights on leadership, goal-setting, and accountability as key ingredients for success. He emphasizes the importance of effective communication, collaboration, and a growth mindset in fostering innovation and productivity. Julie and Cannon discuss strategies for decision-making and overcoming challenges while maintaining resilience. Listeners will gain valuable lessons on developing leadership skills and staying adaptable in today’s fast-paced world. This episode is packed with actionable advice to help individuals stay on course toward their personal and professional goals.Stay on Course with Julie Riga: Ingredients for Success: Cannon CarrIn this inspiring episode of Stay on Course with Julie Riga, we welcome Cannon Carr, a dynamic leader known for his ability to drive transformation and cultivate high-performing teams. Kenny shares his personal journey and the key ingredients that have shaped his success, emphasizing the importance of leadership, resilience, and strategic thinking. His insights provide actionable steps for listeners who want to elevate their careers and personal growth.Julie and Cannon dive into the power of effective communication, collaboration, and goal-setting as essential components for achieving sustained success. Cannon highlights how adopting a growth mindset and fostering accountability within teams can create a culture of continuous improvement. They also discuss how embracing innovation and staying adaptable in today's fast-paced world are crucial for long-term success.Listeners will walk away with practical advice on how to develop leadership skills, navigate challenges, and stay on course toward their personal and professional goals. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned executive, this episode offers valuable lessons on decision-making, productivity, and the power of positive habits. Tune in and discover how to unlock your full potential with the right mindset and strategy!Key Discussion Points:The importance of managing risk and creating a dynamic plan for entrepreneursThe three R's wealth planning framework: Reinvest, Reward, and RepurposeHow to allocate capital and create a strategic asset to help navigate the challenges of entrepreneurshipThe importance of having an ecosystem and community of advisors to help entrepreneurs make informed decisionsHow to prioritize risk and create a plan to mitigate potential disruptionsConnect with Cannon:LinkedIn: Cannon CarrWebsite: EP Wealth AdvisorsPodcast: Business Owner's Tales from the TrenchesAbout Julie RigaJulie Riga is a certified coach, trainer, speaker and author with over 20 years of experience in the Pharma Industry. Julie’s education is vast with studies that include business, communications, training and executive coaching.Julie started on this journey because she had a strong desire to pass on the knowledge and skills passed on to her by her father, Ennio Riga, an inspirational man who taught her how to keep going irrespective of the challenges that life may present you with.Learn More About Julie: Julie Riga Website / linkedin.com/in/julieriga