Welcome to The Breakout Room.

In this powerful conversation, co-hosts Paul Byrne and Betsy Leatherman explore the subtle leadership genius that so many of us were taught to bury. From the early lessons that taught us to minimize our strengths to the lifelong journey of reclaiming them with intention and care, this episode is a deep dive into conscious leadership, self-awareness, and reintegration.

KEY MOMENTS IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:00:28 - Unlocking Leadership Potential

00:00:54 - Conscious Leadership vs Creative Leadership

00:01:40 - The Practice of Conscious Leadership

00:02:40 - The Challenge of Staying Conscious

00:02:58 - The Role of Conscious Leaders

00:03:18 - The Gift of Grandparents

00:04:53 - Fine-Tuning Leadership

00:05:41 - Reintegrating Disowned Gifts

00:06:23 - Navigating Arrogance in Leadership

00:09:10 - The Power of Discernment in Leadership

00:11:01 - The Struggle of Experienced Leaders

00:11:47 - Reintegrating the Self into Leadership

00:11:54 - Navigating Dyslexia and Insecurity in Leadership

00:17:02 - The Concept of Leadership Genius

00:25:47 - Understanding Your Own Leadership Genius

00:27:38 - The Role of Humor and Passion in Leadership

00:29:14 - Advice on Identifying and Utilizing Leadership Genius

00:30:43 - Discovering Your Leadership Genius

00:32:30 - The Role of AI and Relationships in Leadership

00:34:14 - The Power of Team Leadership Genius

00:34:50 - Intellectualization as a Barrier to Relationship

00:35:19 - Closing Remarks

What once felt overgrown, messy, or too much might actually be the most vibrant part of your leadership. It sets the tone for a thoughtful, deeply personal exploration of how our most authentic traits often get pushed aside in favor of what we think leadership "should" look like. This is not your typical executive coaching session; it's a reminder that the parts of ourselves we left behind might be the very keys to our greatest impact.

Paul and Betsy reflect on the stories we tell ourselves and the beliefs we carry into adulthood that shape how we show up at work, at home, and in our communities. They walk through the difference between creative and reactive leadership styles, how the Leadership Circle Profile reveals both brilliance and blind spots, and why truly impactful executive coaching isn't about changing who you are, but about reclaiming what you were taught to hide.

With decades of experience in leadership development and executive coaching, Paul and Betsy offer not only frameworks and tools, but also authentic stories that reveal their own ongoing work. Paul opens up about the experience of growing up with dyslexia, the narrative of invisibility he internalized, and how that shaped his leadership style. Betsy shares a candid story about receiving feedback on her own "sneaky arrogance," and how she learned to reframe it as a powerful leadership asset when used with intention.

This episode is filled with real-life examples, honest stories from the road, and rich insight into how high-performing leaders navigate the tension between humility, confidence, and courageous authenticity. Through their candid dialogue, Paul and Betsy show what it means to do the work—to bring back the orphaned parts of ourselves that leadership culture often told us to suppress.

If you're looking for a space where professional growth meets personal reflection, where humor and humanity sit alongside strategy and insight, you are in the right room.

🔗 Follow Us:

PAUL: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ptbyrne]

BETSY: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsy-leatherman-99b7b4/]

Thanks for joining us in The Breakout Room.

Welcome to The Breakout Room.In this episode we dive into the true heart of coaching, why “being more human” still outperforms any AI playbook, how falling in love with your clients fuels results, and the simple art of listening beyond words. Paul and Betsy sit down with coaching pioneer Karen Kimsey-House to explore what changes in our tech-driven era…and what endures. Expect honest stories, fresh perspectives, and a few laughs along the way. If you're ready for honest insights, stories from the road, and a few laughs along the way... you're in the right room.KEY MOMENTS IN THIS EPISODE:00:00 Introduction to Human-Centered Feedback01:17 The Heart of Coaching: A Conversation Begins01:34 Personal Reflections on Coaching02:33 Challenges and Insights in Coaching03:45 The Role of Feedback in Leadership04:23 The Human Element in Coaching12:11 Introducing Karen Kimsey-House16:14 Founding Stories of CTI18:11 Discovering a Lifelong Passion18:31 The Birth of a Partnership19:18 Surprising Growth of the Coaching Profession19:53 Reflections on the Coaching Journey22:30 The Power of Listening and Believing23:39 Embracing Imperfection in Leadership29:57 Building and Sustaining Community37:23 The Future of Coaching38:21 Concluding Thoughts and Gratitude🎧 Listen to The Breakout Room:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-breakout-room/id1815163540Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2E8OkaTmQRUXuWaYfnDGht🔗 Follow Us:PAUL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ptbyrneBETSY: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsy-leatherman-99b7b4/Thanks for joining us in The Breakout Room.

Welcome to The Breakout Room — the space where real leadership conversations happen.In this episode, Paul and Betsy talk rest, burnout, and the gift of slowing down. They unpack leadership blindspots, polarities, and how to thrive in complexity.

If you're a leader, team builder, or lifelong learner looking for honest stories, real growth, and a few laughs along the way, you're in the right room.

KEY MOMENTS IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Navigating Leadership Challenges and Polarities

01:15 The Importance of Rest and Work-Life Balance

02:52 Personal Experiences with Work and Rest

07:38 Introducing a Special Guest

08:07 Understanding Polarities in Leadership

14:45 Complexity and Leadership

19:31 Balancing Challenge and Support in Coaching

20:27 Redefining Support: Confidence and Vulnerability

22:15 The Platinum Rule in Leadership

23:27 Navigating Polarities in Leadership

24:17 Practical Approaches to Polarity Management

28:16 The Importance of 'And' in Leadership

30:31 Current Leadership Challenges and Polarities

32:30 Masculine and Feminine Energies in Leadership

37:50 Polarity Stacking and Problem Solving

40:04 Conclusion and Resources

Follow Us:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The_Breakout_Room

Paul: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ptbyrne

Betsy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsy-leatherman-99b7b4/

New episodes every other week. Subscribe and join the conversation.

Get ready for Episode 2 of the Breakout Room w/ guest Steve Athey.

Welcome to The Breakout Room, Episode 02.

In this episode: we explore the hidden stories shaping leadership and identity. Paul and Betsy share lessons from life changes, and special guest Steve Athie brings powerful insights on expanding your narrative.

If you're a leader, team builder, or lifelong learner looking for honest stories, real growth, and a few laughs along the way, you're in the right room.

Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The_Breakout_Room

Follow Us:

Paul: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ptbyrne

Betsy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsy-leatherman-99b7b4/

New episodes every week. Subscribe and join the conversation.

Welcome to The Breakout Room. 

In this episode, Paul and Betsy kick things off with a surprisingly sharp lesson from international hotel buffets—yes, really—before diving into how top teams are navigating the whirlwind of global uncertainty. They unpack real-world leadership insights from Saudi Arabia to South Korea, explore why clear doesn’t always mean certain, and offer grounded ways leaders can build rhythm without rigidity. 

If you're ready for honest insights, stories from the road, and a few laughs along the way... you're in the right room.

KEY MOMENTS IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Introduction: Navigating Uncertaint

y00:32 Leadership in Chaotic Times

00:54 Breakout Room: Strategies and Insights

01:34 The Role of Authenticity in Leadership

03:00 Decision Making in Uncertain Times

04:49 The Power of Connection and Teamwork

13:39 Embracing Disagreement and Experimentation

19:05 Seeing Opportunity in Uncertainty

22:43 Leadership Style and Puzzle Pieces

25:15 Engaging Team Conversations

28:44 Tips for Leaders in Uncertain Times

36:42 The Power of Vision and Resources in Saudi Arabia

41:07 Upcoming Plans and Reflection

Follow Us:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The_Breakout_Room

Paul: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ptbyrne

Betsy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsy-leatherman-99b7b4/

New episodes every other week. Subscribe and join the conversation.

We’re building the space you actually want to join. Where leadership meets real conversation, real growth, and a little bit of laughter. In this episode, we dive into what inspired The Breakout Room, why leadership needs both lightness and depth, and the lessons we've learned working with extraordinary teams and leaders.

If you're ready for honest insights, stories from the road, and a few laughs along the way... you're in the right room.

Watch the latest episode now!