How to Lead While Life Happens

What if being emotional, vulnerable, and transparent could actually be your greatest leadership advantage? In this powerful episode, Kendra MacDonald, CEO of Canada"s Ocean Supercluster, shatters the myth that effective leaders must separate their personal and professional lives. Leading a national innovation initiative with a majority-female team, Kendra shares raw, honest stories about adopting her daughter while climbing the corporate ladder, managing family health crises, and why scoring "high on emotion" as a CEO became her superpower—not her weakness. You"ll discover:Why transparency builds trust faster than perfection ever willThe "24-hour rule" that prevents career-damaging emotional reactionsHow to reframe problems instead of falling in love with solutionsWhy purpose-driven leadership naturally creates emotional investmentHow to create truly inclusive policies (starting with your language)The truth about work-life "blend" vs. "balance"—and why it mattersWhy there"s never a "perfect time" to step into leadership The Challenge: This week, examine one area where you"re hiding your authentic self at work. What would it look like to bring more transparency to that situation? Share your insights with your team or a trusted colleague. Key Timestamps:  [00:01:00] - Introduction: Can you lead effectively without sacrificing your personal life?  [00:03:00] - The power of women in tech and innovation  [00:05:00] - Why diversity of thought solves complex challenges  [00:07:00] - The evolution from "private life stays private" to authentic leadership  [00:08:00] - Kendra"s adoption journey: When transparency transformed her career  [00:11:00] - Remote work as a strategic talent advantage  [00:14:00] - Why men need work-life blend too (and the "babysitting" problem)  [00:15:00] - Language matters: From "maternity leave" to "parental leave"  [00:18:00] - Being an "emotional CEO": Liability or superpower?  [00:19:00] - Purpose creates emotion, emotion creates power  [00:24:00] - The 24-hour rule: Sleep on it before you send it  [00:25:00] - Focus on purpose, not path: Your North Star in chaos  [00:26:00] - "Are you trying to be pregnant or be a mom?" Reframing the problem  [00:27:00] - We need leaders in the mess—there"s no perfect time  [00:28:00] - Setting personal boundaries in an age of transparency Connect with Kendra MacDonald: Canada"s Ocean Supercluster Call to Action: Ready to transform your leadership approach? Subscribe to Shedding the Corporate Bitch Podcast for weekly episodes that challenge conventional corporate wisdom. Share this episode with a leader who needs permission to show up as their whole self. Rate & Review: If this episode resonated with you, please leave a 5-star review and share what you learned. Your reviews help us reach more leaders ready to embrace authentic, purpose-driven leadership. Next Steps:Subscribe so you never miss an episodeShare this with your leadership team or HR departmentJoin the conversation on LinkedIn and Instagram @SheddingTheCorporateBitch #AuthenticLeadership #EmotionalIntelligence #WorkLifeBlend #PurposeDrivenLeadership #WomenInTech #HRLeadership #ModernWorkplace #LeadershipDevelopment Support the show