Welcome back to Girl, Take the Lead! — the podcast where we share real, raw, and remarkable stories that inspire us to lead with courage and heart.
Today’s guest is Irma Neal — seasoned executive, entrepreneur, and author of Leading in Chaos: Insights to Lead Through the Storms. From her early years growing up poor as the oldest of eight, to leadership roles in government, Fortune 500 companies, and entrepreneurship, Irma brings hard-won wisdom about resilience, courage, and staying true to values even when storms rage.
In this candid conversation, Irma shares what it means to lead in the midst of chaos and how every challenge can make us stronger.
✨ In this episode, we cover:
Why her father’s mantra “there’s no such word as can’t” shaped her entire career
The leadership lessons of asking for help, documenting facts, and not dumbing down your intelligence
How resilience is like muscle memory: the more chaos you face, the stronger you get
Light bulb moments that reveal when it’s time for change
Facing bullying, politics, and even extreme hate — and choosing courage and clarity
Why celebrating victories, big and small, fuels momentum and resilience
This episode is a masterclass in courage under fire — and a reminder that storms don’t define us, but how we lead through them does.
⏱️ Episode Timestamps
00:00 – Welcome & intro to Irma Neal
00:31 – From humble beginnings to Fortune 500 VP
01:26 – The lessons her parents instilled: “no such word as can’t” and “get an understanding”
03:43 – Leading in Washington, D.C. amid chaos, overdoses, and politics
06:05 – Leadership insights: documenting facts and asking for help
08:21 – When problems resurface again and again
09:46 – Light bulb moments: knowing when it’s time to move on
12:40 – Building resilience through chaos
15:28 – Staying true to values when the noise swirls
15:56 – Not dumbing down your intelligence to fit in
19:20 – Facing hate head-on: working for a KKK leader in Indiana
21:49 – Learning to discern what’s racial and what’s ignorance
25:32 – Bullying in the workplace: lessons and failures
30:25 – Remembering we only know a slice of people’s lives
31:51 – Irma’s advice to her 20-something self: “Go be great.”
32:21 – Her favorite card pick: Celebrations
💡 Key Takeaways
Resilience builds like muscle memory: every storm makes you stronger.
Good documentation is better than a character witness — facts matter.
Asking for help is a leadership strength, not a weakness.
Don’t dumb down your intelligence to fit in. Own your voice.
Celebrate small wins — they fuel confidence and resilience.
✨ Connect with Irma Neal
🌐 Website: onyx2rise.com
💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/onyx2rise
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/onyx2rise
📸 Instagram: @onyx2rise
📝 Free Resource: Money Mindset Quiz
💌 Store Highlight
Irma’s favorite from our card and gift shop is the Celebrations card — because she believes victories, big or small, are worth celebrating. Explore it and more guest-inspired cards here: girltaketheleadpod.com/shop
📬 Connect with Yo, Your Host
🌐 Website: girltaketheleadpod.com
📸 Instagram: @yocanny
💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yocanny
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/yolanda.canny