The Story-Driven Leadership Lab
6 Weeks to Becoming the Kind of Leader People Trust, Remember, and Want to Follow
You don’t need to be louder.
You don’t need to be more polished.
You need a leadership story that’s real.
Because people don’t follow titles.
They follow truth.
You’ve done the work.
You’ve learned the skills.
You know how to keep things running and hold it all together when everything feels like it’s on fire.
But under the surface, you might feel the gap:
Between the kind of leader you are… and the kind of leader you long to be.
The one who leads with clarity, not control.
Who builds trust instead of tension.
Who says the hard thing without losing their humanity.
This Lab is for that version of you—the one that’s ready to lead with emotional intelligence, courageous communication, and
the power of story.
Why This Matters
Leadership isn’t just what you do.
It’s the story people feel when you walk into a room.
But most leaders have never been taught how to shape that story with intention.
Instead, we get taught how to:
- Perform confidence
- Project control
- Manage outcomes
- Avoid vulnerability at all costs
We learn how to lead from urgency, perfectionism, or fear—because that’s what was modeled for us. That’s what got rewarded. That’s what seemed to work.
But at what cost?
The result is a generation of leaders who look great on paper… but feel disconnected from their own voice, exhausted by the performance, and unsure how to build trust without giving too much of themselves away.
What if there’s another way?
A way to lead from your values without losing your edge.
To say the hard thing with clarity and care.
To build trust not through control, but through connection.
A way to stop leading from the story you were handed—and start leading from the story you choose.
Who This Is For
The Story-Driven Leadership Lab is for you if:
You’ve been leading for a while—but you're ready to do it with more clarity, courage, and emotional depth
You're stepping into leadership for the first time and want to build habits rooted in empathy and presence, not pressure and performance
You’re tired of trying to sound like “the kind of leader people expect,” and want to sound like yourself
You want your team (or students, or collaborators) to feel empowered, safe, and respected around you
You know emotional intelligence matters—but you're not sure how to practice it without becoming a therapist
You’ve avoided some of the hard conversations—or had them and wished they’d gone differently
You’re holding a lot—pressure, people, expectations—and you want a way to lead that doesn't cost you your soul
You don’t have to be a CEO or a public speaker.
You just have to care about how your leadership makes people feel—and what it makes possible.
What It Is
The Story-Driven Leadership Lab is a 6-week, small-group coaching program designed to help you lead with emotional intelligence, courageous communication, and the power of story.
This is not a webinar.
It’s not a lecture series.
And it’s definitely not leadership theatre.
It’s a space where you’ll:
Explore the real stories shaping how you lead—and why they matter
Practice emotional intelligence not as a buzzword, but as a lived skill
Learn to speak with clarity and kindness, even when it’s hard
Shift from performance-based leadership into presence-based leadership
Build a personal leadership story rooted in your truth—not just your role
You’ll be part of a brave, intimate cohort of leaders (4–8 max)
Meeting once a week in real time. No recordings. No multitasking.
Just honest conversation, reflection, and growth—with tools you’ll use long after the Lab ends.
You’ll also have access to private, asynchronous support from me between sessions—so you’re never left sitting with a question, a wobble, or a breakthrough alone.
Here’s what we’ll cover -
Week by Week
Week 1: The Story Beneath the Surface
Identify the stories shaping your leadership—and where they’re no longer serving you
Learn the 3 layers of story in leadership: the surface story, the should story, and the root story
Begin rewriting the leadership script you didn’t choose
Week 2: The Language of Emotion
Build emotional literacy so you can name what’s real—in yourself and others
Understand how emotions drive behavior, motivation, and decision-making
Explore the connection between empathy and clarity in leadership
Week 3: Psychological Safety Starts With You
Learn how emotionally intelligent leaders create the conditions for others to take risks, speak up, and stay engaged
Identify patterns that block safety (even unintentionally)
Build self-awareness around how you respond to conflict, challenge, or silence
Week 4: Story as a Leadership Tool
Discover how storytelling shapes trust, connection, and clarity
Practice crafting and sharing leadership stories that build alignment and understanding
Explore your “leadership origin story”—and what it invites others to believe
Week 5: Courageous Conversations
Learn the KIND framework for feedback, boundaries, and harm repair
Practice saying hard things without burning bridges
Explore how to navigate power dynamics and accountability with empathy
Week 6: Integration & Compassionate Action
Reflect on your growth and clarify what kind of leader you’re becoming
Create your Leadership Compass to guide decisions moving forward
Commit to one brave, values-aligned action you’re ready to take next
Each session includes:
🧭 Guided coaching + conversation
💭 Reflection exercises
🛠️ Practical tools you can apply immediately
💯 Space for honest questions and real support
💬 Asynchronous support between sessions
What You’ll Walk Away With
By the end of the Lab, you won’t just know more about leadership—you’ll trust yourself more as a leader.
You’ll walk away with:
A deeper understanding of the emotional stories shaping how you lead—and how to rewrite the ones that no longer serve you
A set of leadership tools rooted in emotional intelligence, not performance
The ability to name what’s real—in yourself and others—with compassion and clarity
Confidence in your voice and presence, even when things get hard
A practice of courageous communication that builds—not breaks—trust
A personal Leadership Compass you can return to anytime you feel off-track
And a story people don’t just listen to—but want to follow
A Note From Me to You
I’ve always led with story.
And I’ve always believed in the power of emotional intelligence.
But for a long time, I didn’t trust that was enough.
The “shoulds” were loud:
Be more decisive. Be more detached. Be more professional.
Don’t take things so personally. Don’t be too soft. Don’t be too much.
And so even though I knew that kindness and compassion were powerful drivers of trust, motivation, and collaboration… I didn’t always let myself lead from that knowing.
What changed everything was learning how to bring that kind of leadership into performance-driven environments—without losing results, and without losing myself.
Over time, I began leading in a way that felt like me—and my teams didn’t just hit goals… they flourished.
Because when people feel seen, safe, and invited to bring their whole selves? They rise.
This Lab is the kind of space I wish I’d had earlier.
A place to build the kind of leadership that’s grounded, emotionally intelligent, and deeply human.
If that’s what you’re longing for, I’d be honored to walk with you.
Let’s build the kind of leadership story you actually want to live.
⬆️(Click my name to learn more about me!)⬆️
Join the Founders Cohort!
The Story-Driven Leadership Lab is intentionally small.
Each cohort is capped at just 4–8 participants so you can be seen, supported, and stretched in all the right ways.
The Founders Cohort is your opportunity to experience the full program at a reduced rate—and to help shape how it evolves.
Standard Program Price: $1,850
Founders Cohort Pricing: $995
Or two monthly payments of $497.50
What’s Included:
Six 90-minute live group coaching sessions
Personalized coaching + feedback during each session
Asynchronous private support from me throughout the 6 weeks
A beautiful, fillable PDF workbook to guide your journey
Optional follow-up session one month later
Access to a private space for peer connection (if you choose)
The Next Lab Begins: [Insert Start Date Here]
Spots are limited to a maximum of eight participants.
Once the cohort is full, registration will close.
Frequently Asked Questions
I’m not sure I’m a “real” leader. Is this still for me?
If people look to you for guidance, care, or direction—you're leading, whether or not you have the title. This Lab is for both emerging and experienced leaders who want to lead with emotional intelligence and integrity.
What if I can’t make all the live sessions?
The Lab is built around live, interactive conversation. We won’t be recording sessions to protect privacy and presence, so we recommend committing to attend at least 5 of the 6 sessions. If you’ll miss more than one, let’s chat about whether this round is the right fit.
I’m nervous about being vulnerable in a group.
Totally normal. The Lab is a brave space, not a forced one. You’ll never be asked to share more than feels right—and the small cohort size helps create a safe, trusting container. You get to decide your pace.
Do you offer financial assistance?
We’re not offering scholarships for the Founders Cohort, but if you’re part of an under-resourced community or facing financial barriers, feel free to reach out. We may have sliding-scale options in future cohorts.
Founders Cohort Bonus:
1:1 Story Coaching Session!
As a thank-you for being part of the very first cohort, you’ll also receive a private 45-minute coaching session with me!
Use it to:
Work through a tough leadership moment
Clarify your personal leadership story
Create a custom plan for integration after the Lab ends
This invitation is for you
If something inside you has been whispering that there has to be another way
A kinder way. A braver way. A more honest way to lead
This is your invitation to stop leading from the story you were handed, and start leading from the one you’re ready to live.
We start soon. Your voice belongs in the room.