Leadership Tea
On Leadership Tea, we talk about what it takes to reach the executive level, and how to thrive when you get there. Powerful leaders share their journeys, insights, and triumphs in conversations with hosts Shelby Smith-Wilson and Belinda Jackson Farrier.
Join us every other Wednesday to be inspired by the unvarnished stories of amazing executives who know what it's like to be "the only" at the table and who have succeeded regardless. They have proven leadership experience in their respective fields, from international affairs to the private sector to academia, and want to help others create their own success stories.
Episodes
70 episodes
Outrage Is Not Leadership: Judgment, Discernment, and When to Speak Up
What does it really mean to stand for something as a leader right now?In this episode of The Leadership Tea Podcast, Shelby and Belinda discuss the growing pressure leaders face to speak out, and why outrage alone is not leaders...
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Season 5
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Episode 2
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21:52
Choosing Yourself at Work: Skill Security, Power & Leadership
Cathy Duffy joins us to explore redefining power at work, building skill security, and choosing yourself as a leader in today’s evolving workplace.In the Season 5 premiere of The Leadership Tea Podcast, Cathy reflects on leaders...
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Season 5
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Episode 1
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37:07
How Senior Leaders Win Q1: 4 Strategic Moves for a Productive First Quarter (2026)
Ready to start 2026 with clarity instead of chaos? Belinda & Shelby lay out a four-move blueprint to make your first quarter productive and sane: choose a small number of strategic bets, audit and activate your influence architecture, fix f...
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Season 4
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Episode 22
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11:40
Before You Plan 2026, Reflect on This About 2025
In this Leadership Tea Podcast episode, Belinda and Shelby take stock of 2025 with clear eyes, celebrate wins, acknowledge lows, and set 2026 on two pillars: abundance and audacity. We trade scarcity for flow, set targets for brave action, and ...
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Season 4
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Episode 21
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22:51
What’s Really Breaking Women Leaders? A Conversation on Burnout & Broken Systems | S4 EP 20
In this heartfelt conversation, Shelby and Belinda share their reactions to the 2025 Women in the Workplace report by McKinsey & LeanIn.org. They highlight the deep fatigue and burnout women experience as they rise into senior ...
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Season 4
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Episode 20
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22:55
Smart Money Moves for 2026: Tips to Manage Your Financial Health | S4 EP 19
Shelby and Belinda are joined by two financial professionals from the State Department Federal Credit Union (SDFCU): Samia "Sam" Salmon (Vice President of Retail Business Development) and Josh Barrett (Manager for Overseas Operations). They sha...
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Season 4
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Episode 19
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30:16
How Successful Executives Reset on Sundays: Beat Anxiety & Start Strong | S4 EP18
Belinda & Shelby break down the Sunday rituals that high-performing leaders use to reduce anxiety, set clear priorities, and start the week with confidence, not chaos.If you're a leader, executive, or high achiever who feels the ...
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Season 4
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Episode 18
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20:25
Failure Isn't Final: Turning Setbacks Into Comebacks | S4 EP17
A layoff can feel like a verdict. We treat it as a turning point. In this candid conversation, we unpack what it means to “fail forward” when the spotlight is brightest and the Sunday Scaries won’t quit. Shelby shares the raw afterm...
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Season 4
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Episode 17
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20:33
Why Resilience Isn’t a Flex — And What Women Leaders Should Do Instead | S4 EP16
Belinda and Shelby host a candid conversation with a panel of high-achieving women from South Africa: Samantha Kavuma, Ayanda Nkosi, Lehlohonolo Siwundla, and Carmin Varnicker. We discuss internal barriers that can block our professional progre...
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Season 4
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Episode 16
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53:29
Sunday Scaries To Sunday Strategy | S4 EP15
In the newly launched Sunday Scaries to Sunday Strategy Series as part of the Leadership Tea Podcast, Belinda and Shelby help executives with tips to lean into the week and strategies for long-term professional growth. This episode highligh...
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Season 4
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Episode 15
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23:44
Leadership Lessons From The Shutdown: Confidence, Money & Boundaries | S4 EP14
Airports jammed, paychecks paused, nerves frayed—crisis has a way of revealing what actually keeps leaders steady. Belinda and Shelby peel back the layers of the recent shutdown and run our lessons through “priority screening,” naming the habit...
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Season 4
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Episode 14
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13:46
Managing Anxiety in the Age of AI with Soribel Feliz, The AI Therapist | S4 EP13
Belinda and Shelby are joined by tech policy and AI governance expert, Soribel Feliz, also known as The AI Therapist. Soribel tackles the anxiety currently gripping the professional world: fear of being replaced by artificial intelligence. If y...
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Season 4
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Episode 13
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27:50
Part VI: Shutdown, But Not Shut Out - There is Growth in Discomfort | S4 EP12
Finding Growth in Discomfort: Strategies for Transition and CopingIn this episode of the Leadership Tea Podcast, hosts discuss the challenges and growth opportunities during a shutdown. Shelby shares her experiences transitioning out of...
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Season 4
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Episode 12
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20:46
Part V: Shutdown But Not Shut Out - Resiliency with a Game Seven Mentality | S4 EP11
Shelby and Belinda reflect on managing personal and professional lives amidst the prolonged government shutdown. They discuss its impacts, such as the end of SNAP benefits and continued layoffs at major companies. Shelby and Belinda also draw p...
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Season 4
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Episode 11
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19:46
Practicing Wellness In Unwell Times: Reflections on Repose 2025 With Ellen Tannor | S4 EP10
Shelby and Belinda welcome a special guest, Ellen Tannor, a former senior diplomat who recently participated in the 'Repose, a Day of Reflection' retreat at Salamander Resort in Middleburg. Ellen shares her rich career experiences, including he...
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Season 4
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Episode 10
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23:42
Part IV: Shutdown, But Not Shut Out - Rise Like a Phoenix | S4 EP9
Belinda and Shelby discuss the ongoing challenges of the government shutdown and share personal strategies for maintaining hope and resilience. They reflect on the inspiration drawn from historical figures like Harriet Tubman and the symbolism ...
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Season 4
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Episode 9
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9:55
Part III: Shutdown, But Not Shut Out - If You Had Nothing to Lose, What Would You Try? | S4 EP8
What if a shutdown could be your reset button? We sat down with digital strategist and communicator Afua Riverson to explore how a forced pause can surface buried passions, heal old narratives, and point you toward work that actually feels like...
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Season 4
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Episode 8
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31:24
Managing Professional Grief and Stress with Kimya Imani Jackson, PhD | S4 EP7
Kimya Imani Jackson, PhD, joins Belinda and Shelby to discuss the emotional impact of professional grief. Amid the government shutdown and massive layoffs, it can feel impossible to move forward. How do you begin to build a new career when you'...
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Season 4
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Episode 7
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29:49
Part II - Shutdown, But Not Shut Out | S4 EP6
Shelby and Belinda discuss our personal experiences and emotional journey during the ongoing government shutdown. We share how the shutdown is affecting our households, businesses, and mental health. We talk about the importance of mental resil...
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Season 4
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Episode 6
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21:46
Shutdown, But Not Shut Out | S4 EP5
Shelby and Belinda discuss the need to shift focus from operational excellence to survival strategies in difficult times, such as the current federal government shutdown affecting many in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. We emph...
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Season 4
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Episode 5
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27:58
Your Next Steps: When “Outwit, Outlast, Outplay” Isn't Working | S4 EP4
In our 50th episode 🎉, Shelby and Belinda discuss why courage is essential in today's professional landscape, and what it looks like when leaders are radically honest with themselves when "outwit, outlast, outplay" isn’t working. We...
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Season 4
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Episode 4
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13:58
How Leaders Can Create Joyful Boundaries with Boniswa Siwundla Madikizela | S4 EP3
Shelby and Belinda welcome special guest Boniswa Siwundla Madikizela, a transformational leader from South Africa, for a conversation on how to stay grounded and aligned in a world that feels chaotic. Boniswa shares her personal pra...
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Season 4
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Episode 3
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31:04
Choosing Community and Clarity in Challenging Times | S4 EP2
Career transitions can be emotionally challenging, but with the right community and strategic approach, they become opportunities for growth, authentic connection, and clarity. In this bonus episode:Shelby shares her exp...
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Season 4
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Episode 2
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37:15
How leaders can protect their mental health and support their teams | S4 EP1
Our special guest, Lisa Povoni, a therapist and coach with a specialty in trauma, discusses how leaders can recognize and manage chronic stress and burnout in themselves and their teams. She shares actionable micro-practices, the difference bet...
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Season 4
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Episode 1
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34:56
Repost of S1 EP11: Create Your 90-Day Plan
Belinda and Shelby introduce this oldie-but-goodie by catching you up on what we're doing this summer. And in the episode, we talk about how to master the first 90 days in your new role, as you transition from colleague to commander. <...
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Season 3
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Episode 14
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27:16