Leadership is a "Quiet Power" - But It Leaves a Loud Legacy

We are THRILLED to drop our TENTH EPISODE! In this episode of the ACE Leadership podcast, I welcomed Jay Jenkins, Director of Small and Minority Business Development at OneSpartanburg. Jay's journey from a senior vice president at Bank of America to a community-focused leader is inspiring and insightful.

In leadership, it’s easy to get caught up in the noise of titles and the rush of innovation, yet in this conversation, we peeled back the layers on what truly sustains a leader: Character.

We often think of power as something projected outward. Instead, "Quiet Power" is the inner strength and "North Star" that allows a leader to look at themselves first, listen to the room, and survey what's best for the team.

Here are three takeaways from the episode that every leader needs to hear:

• The "Baker" Principle: Our job isn't just to sell the bread; it’s to help "bakers make bakeries." True leadership is acting as a catalyst for someone else’s scale and success.

• The Courage to be Human: Authenticity is the shortest path to trust. That means having the humility to make mistakes, apologize, and "link arms" to get it right the next time.

• The Architecture of the Round Table: High-performing teams aren't built on hierarchy; they are built on mutual accountability. When every voice is heard, you tap into a collective wisdom that strategy alone can't touch.

As the saying goes, "People may not remember what you say, but they’ll remember how you made them feel." (Maya Angelou)

Whether you’re navigating a "dark room" challenge or mastering something new like Pickleball, remember: Your character is who you are when no one else is watching.

Listen, learn and enjoy!

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Find more information about Power Up Spartanburg: https://www.powerupspartanburg.com/

Find out about his favorite Spartanburg lunch spots here: https://www.chef-aes.com/

https://thekennedysc.com/

https://mcclellansatmonarchcafe.com/

https://cribbskitchen.com/

https://mspspartanburg.com/

Learn more about Authentic Leadership Coaching & Connect with Christi here: ⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/authenticleadershipcoachingsc⁠⁠⁠

Music by Christi's talented nephew Slate. His music is in the Spotify Links, as well as our ACE Leadership "Motivating Songs" playlist.

In this episode of the ACE Leadership Serving Up Success podcast, host Christi Brown sits down with Daniel Mason, a leader who literally started from the ground up, navigating his way from the shop floor to becoming the CEO and Co-Owner of renowned business Leigh Fibers.

Discover how Daniel has led with purpose to innovate, build culture, and propel his business into success. What a story!

Highlights you'll hear:

⭐ From Shop Floor to CEO: Daniel shares the pivotal decision on his 19th birthday that laid the groundwork for his entire career trajectory—a powerful reminder that leadership growth starts at every level.

⭐ Purpose-Driven Innovation: Learn how Leigh Fibers turns recycled clothing into automotive padding (making your car quieter!) and how this commitment to sustainability drives their business focus and problem-solving approach.

⭐ The Courage to Rebuild: Hear the detailed account of how Daniel and his co-owner famously "tore up the org chart" to realign the company for ultimate success, creating better fit and stronger autonomy across the board.

⭐ Culture as the Core: A deep dive into why recruiting for cultural fit is non-negotiable for long-term growth and mission alignment.

If you’re ready to rethink your organizational structure and lead with more purpose, this episode is a must-listen!

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Find more information about Leigh Fibers: https://leighfibers.com/

Connect with Daniel: http://linkedin.com/in/dmason5

Find out about Daniel's favorite Spartanburg lunch spot: https://www.facebook.com/IkesKornerGrill/

Learn more about Authentic Leadership Coaching and connect with Christi : ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/authenticleadershipcoachingsc⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music by Christi's talented nephew Slate. His music is in the Spotify Links

Thank your for listening, following and sharing!

Join host and Leadership Coach, Christi Brown, and guest Charlotte Mason as they explore the power of leading with authenticity, clarity, and integrity.

In this episode of the ACE Leadership Serving Up Success podcast, host Christi Brown sits down with Charlotte Mason, a former finance professional turned “COEE”—the Chief of Everything Else. Hear Charlotte’s inspiring journey as she navigates career transitions, personal growth, and the everyday challenges of leadership. She opens up about embracing authenticity, finding clarity in decision-making, and leading with unwavering integrity.

Tune in for heartfelt wisdom, practical leadership lessons, and a thoughtful look at how leadership shows up in every part of life.

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Find out about her favorite Spartanburg lunch spot here: https://www.apolloshouseofpizza.com/

Learn more about Authentic Leadership Coaching & Connect with Christi here: ⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/authenticleadershipcoachingsc⁠⁠⁠

Music by Christi's talented nephew Slate. His music is in the Spotify Links

Join host and Leadership Coach, Christi Brown, and guest Harlow Dodge as they delve into the core tenets of leadership: Authenticity, Clarity, and Emotional Intelligence (ACE).

In this episode of the ACE Leadership Serving Up Success podcast, host Christi sits down with Harlow, co-owner and COO of Leigh Fibers. Discover Harlow's journey from the shop floor at Georgia Pacific to leading a global textile recycling powerhouse.

You'll also learn valuable lessons on authentic leadership, the importance of trust and integrity, and how a commitment to servant leadership can shape a successful career. Tune in for a blend of sustainable business practices and invaluable leadership insights!

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Learn about Leigh Fibers here: www.LeighFibers.com

Connect with Harlow here: http://linkedin.com/in/harlowdodge

Find out about Harlow's favorite Spartanburg lunch spot here: ⁠https://www.pokenori.co/⁠

Learn more about Authentic Leadership Coaching & Connect with Christi here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/authenticleadershipcoachingsc⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music by Christi's talented nephew Slate. His music is in the Spotify Links

Join host and Leadership Coach, Christi Brown, and guest Gary Davis as they delve into the core tenets of leadership: Authenticity, Clarity, and Emotional Intelligence (ACE).

In this episode of the ACE Leadership Serving Up Success podcast, host Christi Brown sits down with Gary Davis, a retired IT professional and pickleball enthusiast. Discover Gary's journey from a 30-year career at Milliken to his passion for pickleball. You'll also learn valuable lessons on delegation, conflict resolution, and the importance of communication both on and off the pickleball court. Tune in for a blend of leadership insights and pickleball fun!

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Find out about his favorite Spartanburg lunch spots here: https://www.venuspie.com/ & https://downtownpizzasc.com/

Learn more about Authentic Leadership Coaching & Connect with Christi here: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/authenticleadershipcoachingsc⁠⁠

Music by Christi's talented nephew Slate. His music is in the Spotify Links

Join host and Leadership Coach, Christi Brown, and guest April Dodson as they delve into the core tenets of leadership: Authenticity, Clarity, and Emotional Intelligence (ACE).

In this engaging conversation, April Dodson, President of Bidslot, shares her insights on authentic leadership, the importance of mentorship, and the lessons learned from her experiences in business and her own personal growth.

April discusses how adaptability, flexibility and "pleasant persistence" play crucial roles in her leadership style. April also reflects on her journey through business challenges, the impact of yoga on her life, and the importance of embracing differences among team members. The conversation concludes with a light-hearted discussion about her love for food and community engagement!

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Find more information about Bidslot here: www.bidslotprogram.com

Find more information about Power Up Spartanburg's mentorship program here: https://www.powerupspartanburg.com/mentoring

Spartanburg's Personal Training and Group Fitness Studio: https://www.oneononesc.com/our-team

Find out about a favorite Spartanburg lunch spot here:

https://www.chef-aes.com/

Learn more about Authentic Leadership Coaching & Connect with Christi here: ⁠https://linktr.ee/authenticleadershipcoachingsc⁠

Music by Christi's talented nephew Slate. His music is in the Spotify Links.

Join host and Leadership Coach, Christi Brown, and guest Laura Bratton as they delve into the core tenets of leadership: Authenticity, Clarity, and Emotional Intelligence (ACE).

Laura is the founder, speaker and coach with Ubi Global, where she empowers people to overcome challenges and obstacles. She is also author of the book Harnessing Courage (laurabratton.com/book).

In this episode, we'll talk about how at the age of nine, Laura was diagnosed with an eye disease, facing the difficult reality that she would become blind, and how she adjusted to her new normal and was able to move forward and thrive in life.

Laura also reflects upon leadership concepts she heard during our pickleball game, and how they relate to her life and work. Make sure and listen to this inspiring episode!

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Find more about Laura here: www.laurabratton.com

Learn more about Authentic Leadership Coaching & Connect with Christi here: https://linktr.ee/authenticleadershipcoachingsc

Music by Christi's talented nephew Slate. His music is in the Spotify Links.

Join host and Leadership Coach, Christi Brown, and guest Curt McPhail, as they delve into the core tenets of leadership: Authenticity, Clarity, and Emotional Intelligence (ACE).

Curt is a connector and an idealist. His work has been in varied contexts, but the common denominator has been connecting people to resources that will transform lives and spaces. Curt has worked with GlobalBike, connecting women in rural villages in Tanzania to resources via a bicycle. Curt is currently an Executive Director of the Career Center at Wofford University launching students into jobs, grad school, or into businesses and social ventures.

In this episode, we'll talk all things leadership, and find out how his recent cancer journey has impacted him, and how pickleball has been a big part of his recovery and health. Enjoy!

Link to Curt's "We Can Do Hard Things Playlist": ⁠https://open.spotify.com/playlist/12Vtyf21zVwpLPFJ1YolNC?si=hbv7hBmsTwCBsFI26LGNQA

Connect with Christi here: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/christi-o-brown/⁠

Check out the ALC webpage here: www.AuthenticLeadershipCoachingSC.com

Music by Christi's talented nephew Slate. Check out his music here: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/artist/6Cfi9p8KGGdzQEJKCFmCG3?si=HxJDEJxkRyWpAfto73QcEw