The Bravery Effect How Leaders Build Courage w/ Jill Schulman

Great leaders build courage What if the biggest risk to your leadership isn’t failure, but staying stuck where you are? Playing it safe may feel comfortable, but over time it erodes growth, impact, and confidence. That’s why bravery is the defining trait of great leaders. In this week’s Reflect Forward episode, The Bravery Effect: How Leaders Build Courage, I sit down with Jill Schulman, a former U.S. Marine Corps officer, leadership development expert, and founder of Breakthrough Leadership Group. Jill has dedicated her career to studying the science of bravery, resilience, and peak performance, helping leaders reframe fear not as a barrier but as a signal for growth. Her story is remarkable, going from combat engineering in the Marine Corps to a thriving pharmaceutical career and then leaping into entrepreneurship. Along the way, Jill discovered that bravery isn’t about being fearless. It’s about taking meaningful action in the presence of fear which every leader needs if they want to step out of the rut and into real influence. In this powerful conversation, Jill and I explore: • Why fear—not failure—is often the greatest barrier to leadership growth • How micro-moments of bravery build resilience and confidence over time • The importance of aligning your career with your strengths and values • How to overcome self-doubt by taking action, not waiting for motivation • Why vulnerability is at the heart of true courage Jill also shares insights from her new book, The Bravery Effect, written as a parable to help readers build their bravery “muscle” one small act at a time. Whether it’s speaking up in a meeting, having a tough conversation, or making a major career change, Jill shows us how courage compounds into transformation. Listen to the full conversation on your favorite podcast platform or watch on YouTube. Mic Drop Moments 💥 “If you’re waiting to feel confident or motivated before you act, you’ll be waiting forever. Action creates confidence. Action fuels motivation.” 💥 “If you don’t feel fear, it’s not bravery. The presence of fear is what makes courage possible.” 💥 “Everyday bravery isn’t about running into a burning building. It’s raising your hand in a meeting, having the hard conversation, or saying yes to the stretch assignment. Those choices compound and that’s how you change your life.” Key Takeaways 1. Bravery is not the absence of fear; it’s action in the presence of it. 2. Confidence and motivation come after you take action, not before. 3. Micro-moments of bravery compound over time into life-changing courage. 4. Aligning your work with your strengths and values leads to lasting fulfillment. 5. Vulnerability is not weakness; it’s the gateway to true courage. Connect with Jill Company website: https://breakthroughleadershipgroup.com/ Personal website: https://jillschulman.com/ Social Media https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillaschulman/ https://www.instagram.com/jillschulman https://www.facebook.com/jill.schulman.5/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiS29aCCoaDGEDPLc6JJklQ The Bravery Effect: https://www.amazon.com/Bravery-Effect-Teaching-Conquering-Achieving/dp/B0F2BBPR35 Connect with Kerry Don’t forget to subscribe to Reflect Forward on your favorite podcast platform or YouTube. Visit my website, kerrysiggins.com, to explore my book, The Ownership Mindset, and get more leadership resources. Let’s connect on LinkedIn, Instagram, or TikTok! Find Reflect Forward on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kerrysiggins-reflectforward Find out more about my book here: https://kerrysiggins.com/the-ownership-mindset/ Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-siggins/