What Do You Know To Be True?

Introverts can be as effective leaders as an extrovert. Introverts don't have to shout out the first answer or pound their fists on the table to be just as influential. They do this by leading with quiet confidence.
As a female leader in a male-dominated industry, Jennifer Marcou found that her natural style of working, and her gender, was not well represented in her peer group, and definitely not in the ranks above hers. She was faced with challenge of putting on a mask and leading inauthentically, or learning how to lead in a way that was authentic to her own style, to, as she says, how her brain works.
This conversation is with Jennifer Marcou and how she coaches others to Lead with Quiet Confidence.
In this episode, Jennifer answers the following questions:
- What is like to be an introvert? And what is like to be an introverted leader?
- What is the difference between introverts and extroverts?
- How to use the introverted behavior as a strength?
- What it's like to be an introvert in an extrovert world?
- How to Lead with Quiet Confidence?
In this conversation, Jennifer shares with us how she recognized how to work with and how to lead with her introversion, and how she now coaches other leaders to work with their natural styles and use those styles as an advantage, not something to cover over.
Her message, like that of others who speak on the advantages of introversion, is a great one for introverts to embrace and to embrace their introversion as nothing more than a style.

It’s also a powerful message for extroverts and ambiverts to learn so we can be better aware of what we can do differently to be more inclusive and be better partners and co-creators with everyone in the room...not just the ones who are first to speak or speak the loudest, but for those who whose voices are equally valuable, important, and worthy of being heard and being engaged in the conversation.
Resources mentioned in the episode...
Jennifer’s company, Marcou Coaching: https://www.marcoucoaching.com/
Lead with Quiet Confidence Program: https://leadwithquietconfidence.com/
Book: “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking” by Susan Cain https://bookshop.org/p/books/quiet-the-power-of-introverts-in-a-world-that-can-t-stop-talking-susan-cain/8213418?ean=9780307352156
Book: “Playing Big: Practical Wisdom for Women Who Want to Speak Up, Create, and Lead” by Tara Mohr https://bookshop.org/p/books/playing-big-practical-wisdom-for-women-who-want-to-speak-up-create-and-lead-tara-mohr/7788504?ean=9781592409600
If you like the conversation, please share this episode with one other person. Thank you!
Music in this episode created by Ian Kastner.
"What Do You Know To Be True?" is a series of conversations where I speak with interesting people about their special talent and the meaningful impact it has on others. The intention is to learn more about their experience, so that we can learn something about the special talent in each of us. For more information, go to www.WhatDoYouKnowToBeTrue.com
"What Do You Know To Be True?" is hosted by Roger Kastner, is a production of Three Blue Pens, and is recorded on the ancestral lands of the Duwamish and Suquamish people. To discover the ancestral lands of the indigenous people whose land you may be on, go to: https://native-land.ca/

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is under attack today and the topic came up in my conversation with Kevin Jones. Rather than discuss the current backlash and the temporary pendulum swing of systemic oppression pushing back, Kevin and I got into the role of curiosity, empathy, and accountability in how we think of and approach the work.
This bonus episode of the "What Do You Know To Be True?" is an excerpt of the "Intentional Curiosity with Kevin Jones" episode.
Kevin and I share a sense of purpose in helping others achieve their potential. We recognize that when systems are not designed for equity, we are not able to live into our potential when others are systemically blocked from achieving theirs. In order for us to be better coaches and consultants for others, we need to engage in dismantling those barriers.
To be clear, as my friend Mark Meadows shared with me once, “all perspectives are valid and partial,” meaning that Kevin and I want to acknowledge that our views are partial, that they come from a position of privilege we did not earn, and that they are reflective of where we are at in our journeys of unlearning and relearning at this moment.
In this episode, Kevin and I try to answer the following questions:
- How can I approach DEI with curiosity?
- What is the role of a leader with DEI?
- What is the role of empathy in DEI?
- How can you act with accountability in DEI work?
Resources:
- Book: “Opening the Corporate Closet Transforming Biases to Gay Advancement in Corporate America” by Kevin Jones: https://bookshop.org/p/books/opening-the-corporate-closet-transforming-biases-to-gay-advancement-in-corporate-america-kevin-w-jones/20037562?ean=9798888964422
- Book "The Sum of Us" by Heather McGee https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-sum-of-us-what-racism-costs-everyone-and-how-we-can-prosper-together-heather-mcghee/14618549?ean=9780525509585
- Book "Inclusion on Purpose" by Ruchika Tulshyan https://bookshop.org/p/books/inclusion-on-purpose-an-intersectional-approach-to-creating-a-culture-of-belonging-at-work-ruchika-tulshyan/17170649?ean=9780262046558
- Book: "Say The Right Thing" by Kenji Yoshino and David Glasgow https://bookshop.org/p/books/say-the-right-thing-how-to-talk-about-identity-diversity-and-justice-david-glasgow/18751579?ean=9781982181383
- Book: “The Oz Principle” by Roger Connors, Craig Hickman, and Tom Smith https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-oz-principle-getting-results-through-individual-and-organizational-accountability-roger-connors/10796528?ean=9781591843481
- Song: "Invisible" by U2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajVoeX4eqIQ
We welcome your voice in this conversation and encourage you to engage with us in this discussion. Please share your thoughts in the comments section of the YouTube episode (https://youtu.be/YbRgJ5g0dl0) and we’ll see you there.
None of us alive today created the systems of inequity we live and work in today. But we have do a choice, and that’s to willfully ignore them, to actively work to change them, or to continue to try to benefit from them. This is the choice in front of us.
If you like the conversation, please share this episode with one other person. Thank you!
Music in this episode created by Ian Kastner.
"What Do You Know To Be True?" is a series of conversations where I speak with interesting people about their special talent or superhero power and the meaningful impact it has on others. For more info: https://whatdoyouknowtobetrue.com/
"What Do You Know To Be True?" is hosted by Roger Kastner, is a production of Three Blue Pens, and is recorded on the ancestral lands of the Duwamish and Suquamish people. To discover the ancestral lands of the indigenous people whose land you may be on, go to: https://native-land.ca/

Some seek to understand conflict and conflict resolution through observation and studying the topics. Others are not as fortunate to keep it at a safe distance and apply the scientific method.

Our guest, Kristine Scott shares what she’s learned about conflict resolution from her firsthand experience, first while growing up in a house with a lot of conflict, then in her early career learning from youth living on the streets who had to learn conflict resolution skills to survive.

What Kristine has learned, however, is not only a set of techniques to resolve conflict, but she shares a perspective shift away from threat reduction and towards empathy and compassion towards someone who is hurting and who is searching for help.

In this episode, Kristine answers the following questions:

· What is conflict resolution? What is a Conflict Resolutionary?

· What are the principles of conflict resolution?

· What are the ways to resolve conflict?

· What skills are required to resolve conflict?

My favorite quote from the episode: “Conflict is someone entrusting you with their unmet need.”

What I know to be true about the episode: Kristine’s partial lived experience is the application of studying brights spots to get better at conflict resolution, maybe not a path one would chose, but definitely gaining a lot from those experiences, and having the courage to share those learnings with us.

What I learned from the episode: The perspective-shifting approach to conflict resolution, focused on managing our own resources and reactions so we can appropriately attend to the needs of the person who is bringing the conflict.

Inspiration: Lama Rod Owens: https://www.lamarod.com/

Book: “Good Morning, Monster: A Therapist Shares Five Heroic Stories of Emotional Recovery" by Catherine Gildiner” by https://bookshop.org/p/books/good-morning-monster-a-therapist-shares-five-heroic-stories-of-emotional-recovery/18839158?ean=9781250878335

Book: “Beyond Inclusion, Beyond Empowerment: A Developmental Strategy to Liberate Everyone” by Leticia Nieto https://beyondinclusionbeyondempowerment.com/about-the-book/

Kristine’s company, Seattle Conflict Resolution, web site: https://www.seattleconflictresolution.com/

If you like the conversation, please share this episode with one other person. Thank you!

Music in this episode created by Ian Kastner.

"What Do You Know To Be True?" is a series of conversations where I speak with interesting people about their special talent or superhero power and the meaningful impact it has on others. The intention is to learn more about their experience with their superhero power, so that we can learn something about the special talent in each of us which allows us to connect more deeply with our purpose.

"What Do You Know To Be True?" is hosted by Roger Kastner, is a production of Three Blue Pens, and is recorded on the ancestral lands of the Duwamish and Suquamish people. To discover the ancestral lands of the indigenous people whose land you may be on, go to: https://native-land.ca/

What do you know to be true about joy? What is the relationship between your superpower and joy? What is the role of Joy in achieving your potential?
I’m curious to learn more about the role of joy in achieving our potential, and so in season 2 of the What Do You Know To Be True? podcast, we are diving into joy.
Each What Do You Know To Be True? episode is an opportunity to learn from and get inspired by our guests, who are everyday people with extraordinary talents, making meaningful impact in their communities.
As we explore their experiences with their superpowers, the goal is to learn how we can live more authentically into our own superpowers, and better understand how we can achieve our potential.
In season 1 we learned about the role of Purpose as a source for meaning and as a North Star for living into our potential.
In season 2, our guests are sharing what they know to be true about joy.
Music in this episode created by Ian Kastner.
"What Do You Know To Be True?" is a series of conversations where I speak with interesting people about their special talent or superhero power and the meaningful impact it has on others. The intention is to learn more about their experience with their superpower, so that we can learn something about the special talent in each of us which allows us to connect more deeply with our purpose and achieve our potential.
For more info, go to: https://whatdoyouknowtobetrue.com/
"What Do You Know To Be True?" is hosted by Roger Kastner, is a production of Three Blue Pens, and is recorded on the ancestral lands of the Duwamish and Suquamish people. To discover the ancestral lands of the indigenous people whose land you may be on, go to: https://native-land.ca/
ABOUT THE PODCAST
Charting a path to unlocking one's potential starts with a deeper understanding of one’s superpower and how to make a meaningful impact in service of others.
In these conversations, Roger Kastner seeks to discover more about our guests' path to purpose and unlocking potential by exploring their journey from developing their extraordinary talent to creating meaningful impact for others.
The goal of these conversations is not to try to emulate it or “hack” our way to a new talent. Instead, these conversations are to inspire you to think deeply about how to create positive impact in service of others.
This podcast is for anyone who works with other people to unlock their challenges and achieve more. Our audience thinks deeply about their work, the space they hold, and the positive impact it brings to others.
Our guests bring humility, insights, gratitude, and humor as they delve deep into their experiences and share their wisdom. They are everyday people, with extraordinary talent, who have made a meaningful impact.

Organization transformation, whether driven by strategy or technology imperatives, will often attempt to treat the human side of change as an afterthought or something to be managed.
And that is why most transformations fail.
Transformation and innovation consultant, Kellee Franklin, understands that most transformation efforts needs to flip the script. They are not adding humans to a technology or strategy system, they are inserting technology or strategy into human systems.
To design successful transformation, Kellee knows that it’s the human system that needs to be understood, respected, mapped, and attended to.
And the best way to do this, is to pay deep attention.
On an individual level, when everyone craves human connection and want to be seen and be heard, the most valuable and powerful thing we can give someone is our attention.
Once we’ve been able to do that, when the other person feels truly seen and heard, and you’ve being doing the seeing, what becomes possible together then?
Kellee Franklin is a consultant, a leadership development advisor, a coach, and an instructor. While she helps businesses design and implement advanced technology into their organizations, she emphasizes that those organizations as human systems. The technology has to fit inside those human systems – and not the other way around.
Kellee shares what she knows to be true after years in consulting, years advising business and technology transformations, and years teaching in the classroom. You might think from all that experience and knowledge she’s accumulated, she shares nuggets of wisdom she’s gathered along the way.
But instead, it’s how she shows up and how she attends to the people and their needs within those spaces.
In this episode, Kellee answers the following questions:
- How to give attention to someone?
- How to attend to someone’s needs?
- How to show you're paying attention?
- How to be radically present with others?
My favorite quote from the episode: “To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work.”
From the Mary Oliver poem “Yes! No!”
What I know to be true about the episode: Kellee is probably in a lot of spaces where she is the smartest person in the room, and others where she’s rubbing elbows with geniuses, but her approach to paying attention does not waver because of a deep belief in the value of each individual, what they can contribute, and what can be learned from them.
What I learned from the episode: It is further reinforcement of several threads we can pull on in these conversations where Kellee and other guests, all super-high achievers and people who enable and support highly accomplished people, highlight the powers of curiosity, empathy, and being radically present with others.
The resources shared in this episode can be found at https://whatdoyouknowtobetrue.com/video/how-to-pay-attention-to-one-another-pay-attention-with-kellee-franklin:
- Book: The Mind of the Leader by Rasmus Hougaard and Jacqueline Carter
Music in this episode created by Ian Kastner.
"What Do You Know To Be True?" is a series of conversations where I speak with interesting people about their special talent or superhero power and the meaningful impact it has on others. The intention is to learn more about their experience with their superhero power, so that we can learn something about the special talent in each of us which allows us to connect more deeply with our purpose.
"What Do You Know To Be True?" is hosted by Roger Kastner, is a production of Three Blue Pens, and is recorded on the ancestral lands of the Duwamish and Suquamish people. To discover the ancestral lands of the indigenous people whose land you may be on,