Energy, Influence and Innovation in the C-Suite
Join Christy Honeycutt for an unfiltered look into the minds of influential leaders as they share their untold stories. If you want to know how top leaders manage their energy, expand their influence and transform vision into action, this is for you. Christy and her guests dive deep into the intersection of leadership, impact and innovation, revealing the practices and mindsets that empower them to show up as their most authentic, effective selves.
At its core, Inside the C-Suite is more than just leadership tactics; it’s about the energetic exchange that drives real influence and change. Whether it's navigating chaos, overcoming adversity or building the resilience to lead with clarity, the podcast uncovers the personal and professional journeys of those who are redefining what it means to lead. If you're ready to go beyond the surface and tap into the deeper currents that shape leadership, this podcast is your invitation to listen, learn and lead differently.
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Energy, Influence and Innovation in the C-Suite
Join Christy Honeycutt for an unfiltered look into the minds of influential leaders as they share their untold stories. If you want to know how top leaders manage their energy, expand their influence and transform vision into action, this is for you. Christy and her guests dive deep into the intersection of leadership, impact and innovation, revealing the practices and mindsets that empower them to show up as their most authentic, effective selves.
At its core, Inside the C-Suite is more than just leadership tactics; it’s about the energetic exchange that drives real influence and change. Whether it's navigating chaos, overcoming adversity or building the resilience to lead with clarity, the podcast uncovers the personal and professional journeys of those who are redefining what it means to lead. If you're ready to go beyond the surface and tap into the deeper currents that shape leadership, this podcast is your invitation to listen, learn and lead differently.
She Turned Rejection Into ROI - And Now Everyone’s Listening | EP43
Inside the C-Suite
38 minutes
4 months ago
She Turned Rejection Into ROI - And Now Everyone’s Listening | EP43
Most leadership stories start with a title. This one starts with a name people tried to weaponize.
In this episode of Inside the C-Suite, Christy Honeycutt sits down with Ashley T Brundage - a former homeless part-time bank teller turned national VP, political candidate, and now CEO of Empowering Differences. Ashley didn’t just navigate discrimination, transition, and poverty - she transformed it into one of the most dynamic leadership blueprints of our time.
Her method is simple, but not easy: track power, own your differences, and use both to lead.
This episode explores:
Why “diversity” isn’t a checkbox - it’s a business development strategy
How to dismantle fear-based inclusion programs and replace them with ROI-backed leadership pipelines
What most companies get wrong about DEI (and why renaming it won’t fix it)How to navigate identity-based ignorance without retreating or retaliating
Why socioeconomic class is the most overlooked dimension of inclusion
What it really takes to campaign for office while being “othered” on every doorstep
How Ashley scaled her impact by treating empowerment like a strategy, not a sentiment
Ashley’s story isn’t about making people comfortable. It’s about making people capable - of leading with clarity, building across difference, and staying rooted in conviction when the spotlight turns political.
This isn’t just a masterclass in equity. It’s a case study in courage.
Chapters:
00:01:20 – How We Met and Why Ashley Stood Out
00:01:47 – Ashley’s Background Beyond the Bio
00:03:10 – What Happens When You Google Ashley T Brundage
00:04:19 – How Ashley Helps Teams Feel More Inclusive
00:08:07 – Ashley’s Journey from Homelessness to the C-Suite
00:18:49 – A Common Myth About the C-Suite Experience
00:20:07 – A Failure That Shaped Ashley’s Leadership Path
00:22:11 – Campaigning Stories and Leadership Lessons from the Field
00:27:42 – The Deeper Layers of Empowering Differences
00:33:55 – Final Thoughts and How to Engage with Ashley’s Work
| Connect with Us |
Learn more about Empowering Differences:
https://empoweringdifferences.com/
Grab Ashley’s book and start empowering differences today:
https://empoweringdifferences.com/product/empowering-differences-book/
Follow Ashley Brundage:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleytbrundage/
(Rebuilt from rock bottom and now equips leaders to recognize power, difference, and what’s really driving impact.)
Follow Inside the C-Suite:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cwiseman/
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Inside the C-Suite
Energy, Influence and Innovation in the C-Suite
Join Christy Honeycutt for an unfiltered look into the minds of influential leaders as they share their untold stories. If you want to know how top leaders manage their energy, expand their influence and transform vision into action, this is for you. Christy and her guests dive deep into the intersection of leadership, impact and innovation, revealing the practices and mindsets that empower them to show up as their most authentic, effective selves.
At its core, Inside the C-Suite is more than just leadership tactics; it’s about the energetic exchange that drives real influence and change. Whether it's navigating chaos, overcoming adversity or building the resilience to lead with clarity, the podcast uncovers the personal and professional journeys of those who are redefining what it means to lead. If you're ready to go beyond the surface and tap into the deeper currents that shape leadership, this podcast is your invitation to listen, learn and lead differently.
