540: Leading with Grace: Lessons from a Trailblazing Female CEO with Kash Rocheleau

How do you lead a $30M company, raise a family, and break barriers in a male-dominated industry—all before 40? In this inspiring episode of Leaders of Transformation, Nicole Jansen sits down with Kash Rocheleau, the trailblazing CEO of Icon Foods. Kash’s unconventional journey—from stay-at-home mom to the youngest CEO in her industry—turns traditional leadership and success narratives on their heads. She opens up about redefining fulfillment, the realities of working motherhood, and her passion for unearthing and empowering unconventional talent. Discover how Kash shatters stereotypes, leverages curiosity and grit over perfect résumés, and cultivates workplaces that value creative thinking, resilience, and true diversity—earned, not given. You’ll hear practical advice on embracing the messiness of leadership, trusting your team, and teaching people to think beyond checkboxes—a must-listen for anyone motivated to lead and transform in business and life. What We Discuss in this Episode Kash’s unexpected path from aspiring stay-at-home mom to industry-changing CEO Dismantling traditional gender and leadership stereotypes Finding fulfillment and owning your unique journey—even if it looks different from others Real-world strategies for balancing family, CEO-level leadership, and self-compassion Building trust in teams: why surrounding yourself with the right people matters Identifying and nurturing unconventional, overlooked talent for organizational innovation The importance of teaching people to think (rather than just follow instructions) Innovation in the face of industry change, regulation, and rapid technology shifts How to hire for growth mindset, curiosity, and community Advice to ambitious young women on earning respect and communicating with impact Harnessing AI as a tool—not a crutch—for creativity and effectiveness Podcast Highlights 0:00 - From Homemaker to Finance Enthusiast 6:28 - Shared Parenting and Purpose 10:19 - Climbing the Ladder of Opportunity 11:46 - Experience vs. Credentials Debate 15:35 - Creativity Essential for Industry Survival 18:58 - Seeking Motivated, Active Lifestyle 22:24 - Break Organizational Silos for Women 26:53 - Finding Balance in Visibility 29:59 - Adopting Positive Intent in Business 35:29 - AI Writing Tools and Creativity Concerns 39:31 - Taking Action on Transformative Insights Tune in to hear Kash Rocheleau’s candid perspective on leadership, trust, and breaking free from expectations—and leave inspired to build a transformative legacy, no matter your starting point. Favorite Quote “My voice has gotten quieter, but my value has gotten higher. When you speak, do it with conviction—be bold and own what you have to say.” — Kash Rocheleau Episode Resources: https://leadersoftransformation.com/podcast/leadership/540-leading-with-grace-lessons-from-a-trailblazing-female-ceo-with-kash-rocheleau/   Check out our complete library of episodes and other leadership resources here: https://leadersoftransformation.com ________ 📣 SUBSCRIBE to the Leaders of Transformation Podcast  👇 CONNECT with Nicole Jansen on Social Media  ▶︎ YOUTUBE ▶︎ INSTAGRAM ▶︎ FACEBOOK  ▶︎ LINKEDIN ▶︎ X