Description

Most organizations don't struggle because leaders lack intelligence.

They struggle because the conversations happening publicly are often different from the conversations happening privately. By the time culture issues, succession problems, declining performance, or strategic misalignment become visible, the warning signs have usually been there for much longer.

In this episode of Deals with Heels, Debra Bowers sits down with internationally recognized executive advisor, leadership strategist, and board consultant Liz Weber to explore what experienced leaders notice beneath the surface—and why the hardest leadership conversations are often the ones that matter most.

Together they discuss accountability, organizational culture, communication, difficult decisions, leadership clarity, and why so many organizations mistake symptoms for the real problem.

Whether you're leading a business, managing a team, or preparing for your next level of leadership, this conversation will challenge how you think about performance, trust, and sustainable growth.

Key Topics

- What experienced leaders notice before problems become visible

- The hidden conversations shaping organizational culture

- Leadership accountability versus being "mean"

- Why organizations often solve symptoms instead of root causes

- The connection between communication and organizational trust

- Sales culture is bigger than the sales department

- Helping employees understand how their role contributes to growth

- Why leaders avoid difficult conversations

- Cross-functional collaboration and breaking down departmental silos

- How culture, leadership, and strategy work together

Resources

Connect with Liz Weber

Website

https://www.wbsllc.com/

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizwebercmc/

Executive leadership consulting, board advisory, strategic planning, and organizational development.

Connect with Debra Bowers

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-bowers/

Free Resource – 5 Signs Your Growth Is Breaking
https://5signs.thegrowthvanguard.com/

Free Resource - The Human Sales Playbook
https://thegrowthvanguard.com/free-ebook

The Growth Vanguard
https://thegrowthvanguard.com/

Hexagon Media
https://hexagonmedia.net/

Stay Connected with Deals with Heels

If this conversation resonated with you, share it with a leader, founder, or colleague who needs to hear it.

Deals with Heels is where we explore the human side of leadership, growth, sales, decision-making, and the moments that shape who we become as leaders.

Follow the show so you never miss an episode, and if you're enjoying these conversations, please leave a review. Your reviews help more listeners discover the show and support our ability to bring thoughtful, meaningful conversations to a wider audience.

🎙 Follow Deals with Heels on your favorite podcast platform

⭐ Leave a review and help us grow

📢 Share this episode with someone who could benefit from the conversation

Until next time, stand strong in your power—especially when it gets uncomfortable.

Description

Today's conversation explores what happens when leadership, ethics, and uncertainty collide.

It's easy to talk about values when business is thriving. The real test comes when pressure increases, budgets tighten, technology changes, and difficult decisions have to be made.

In this episode, Debra sits down with business strategist Jennifer Gligoric to discuss ethical leadership, AI adoption, transparency, trust, layoffs, and the responsibility leaders have to the people they serve.

Together they explore:

• Why ethics matter most during uncertainty
• The difference between automation and expertise
• The hidden risks of over-relying on AI
• How leaders can maintain trust during difficult transitions
• What transparency really looks like
• Why culture is shaped by leadership decisions
• How to navigate change without abandoning your values

This conversation is ultimately about leadership, responsibility, and what it means to remain human in an increasingly automated world.

Key Topics

• Leadership under pressure

• Ethical decision-making

• AI and business leadership

• Trust and transparency

• Company culture

• Leadership communication

• Economic uncertainty

• Technology and human expertise

• Workplace trust

• Leadership accountability

• Business ethics

• Organizational change

Connect with Jennifer Gligoric

Super Clinic Project
https://superclinicproject.com

Hyperwave Medical
https://hyperwavemedical.com

Business coaching, clinic growth strategy, and operational support for healthcare and wellness business owners.

Connect with Debra Bowers our host

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-bowers/

Free Resource – 5 Signs Your Growth Is Breaking
https://5signs.thegrowthvanguard.com/

The Human Sales Playbook
https://thegrowthvanguard.com/free-ebook

The Growth Vanguard
https://thegrowthvanguard.com/

Hexagon Media
https://hexagonmedia.net/

Stay Connected with Deals with Heels

If this conversation resonated with you, share it with a leader, founder, or colleague who needs to hear it.

Deals with Heels is where we explore the human side of leadership, growth, sales, decision-making, and the moments that shape who we become as leaders.

Follow the show so you never miss an episode, and if you're enjoying these conversations, please leave a review. Your reviews help more listeners discover the show and support our ability to bring thoughtful, meaningful conversations to a wider audience.

🎙 Follow Deals with Heels on your favorite podcast platform

⭐ Leave a review and help us grow

📢 Share this episode with someone who could benefit from the conversation

Until next time, stand strong in your power—especially when it gets uncomfortable.

Episode Description

Growth is often portrayed as the goal.

More revenue. More customers. More opportunity.

But behind the scenes, growth can create something much heavier: more decisions, more pressure, more complexity, and more responsibility resting on the shoulders of leaders and founders.

In this episode of Deals with Heels, Debra Bowers sits down with fractional COO and revenue operations strategist Lauren Zaslansky Conner to explore what really happens during the messy middle of growth.

Together they discuss founder bottlenecks, decision fatigue, operational complexity, change management, team empowerment, customer experience, burnout, and why many organizations struggle not because of a lack of opportunity, but because their systems, processes, and leadership capacity haven't evolved alongside their growth.

Lauren shares practical insights from years of helping growing organizations create structure, improve communication, and navigate change without sacrificing their people in the process.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by growth, stuck in constant decision-making, or frustrated by organizational friction, this conversation offers a thoughtful look at what sustainable growth actually requires.

Key Topics

• The hidden weight of growth and leadership

• The messy middle of business growth

• Why founders become organizational bottlenecks

• Decision fatigue and leadership overwhelm

• Growth versus operational readiness

• The connection between sales, operations, and customer experience

• Why organizations struggle with change management

• Empowering employees without creating confusion

• The role of systems, documentation, and process clarity

• Why retention is often more valuable than acquisition

• Communication breakdowns during growth

• The dangers of burnout by example

• Leadership modeling and workplace culture

• Unlimited PTO, vacation culture, and employee well-being

• Why businesses aren't families—and why that distinction matters

• Building sustainable growth through clarity and intentional leadership

Resources

Connect with Our Guest, Lauren Zaslansky Conner

ZAZ Business Solutions
Helping growing organizations navigate the messy middle of growth through operational clarity, strategic planning, revenue operations, and sustainable systems.

Website:
https://zazbusinesssolutions.com

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenzaslanskyconner

Interested in exploring what's creating friction in your growth or operations? Lauren welcomes conversations with founders and leaders navigating periods of change, scale, and organizational complexity.

Connect with Debra Bowers & Stay Connected with Deals with HeelsLinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-bowers/

Free Resource – 5 Signs Your Growth Is Breaking:
https://5signs.thegrowthvanguard.com/

The Human Sales Playbook:
https://thegrowthvanguard.com/free-ebook

The Growth Vanguard:
https://thegrowthvanguard.com/

Hexagon Media:
https://hexagonmedia.net/

If this conversation resonated with you, share it with a leader, founder, or colleague who needs to hear it.

Deals with Heels is where we explore the human side of leadership, growth, sales, decision-making, and the moments that shape who we become as leaders.

Follow the show so you never miss an episode, and if you're enjoying these conversations, please leave a review. Your reviews help more listeners discover the show and support our ability to bring thoughtful, meaningful conversations to a wider audience.

🎙 Follow Deals with Heels on your favorite podcast platform

⭐ Leave a review and help us grow

📢 Share this episode with someone who could benefit from the conversation

Until next time, stand strong in your power—especially when it gets uncomfortable.

Episode Description

Most business owners believe financial decisions are based on logic.

Look at the numbers. Work harder. Stay disciplined. Push through.

But beneath many financial decisions lies something far more powerful: fear.

In this episode of Deals with Heels, Debra Bowers sits down with business funding strategist Sue Schuster to explore the emotional relationship founders have with money, risk, growth, and responsibility.

Together they discuss why so many entrepreneurs rely on personal credit, wait too long to seek funding, struggle to price their services confidently, and carry financial pressure alone.

Sue shares lessons from her own entrepreneurial journey and explains how founders can begin making funding decisions from strategy rather than survival.

Whether you're scaling a business, navigating financial uncertainty, or questioning your next growth move, this conversation offers practical insights into the mindset and financial habits that shape long-term success.

Key Topics

• Fear-driven vs. strategy-driven financial decisions

• Why founders often wait too long to seek funding

• The emotional relationship entrepreneurs have with money

• Personal credit vs. business credit

• The hidden risks of bootstrapping everything yourself

• How financial pressure impacts decision-making

• Understanding business funding options

• The dangers of merchant cash advances (MCAs)

• Why many business owners underprice their services

• Standing confidently in your value and pricing

• The role of financial advisors, CFOs, and strategic partners

• Breaking financial decisions down into manageable numbers

• Building a business that supports sustainable growth

Resources

Connect with our Guest Sue Schuster

Biz-fi.io Business funding and capital strategy resources

Website https://biz-fi.io/sue-schuster

email sue@biz-fi.io

Connect with Debra Bowers Our Amazing Host

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-bowers/

Free Resource - 5 Signs Your Growth is Breaking https://5signs.thegrowthvanguard.com/

The Human Sales Playbook https://thegrowthvanguard.com/free-ebook

The Growth Vanguard https://thegrowthvanguard.com/

Hexagon Media https://hexagonmedia.net/

Stay Connected with Deals with Heels

If this conversation resonated with you, share it with a leader, founder, or colleague who needs to hear it.

Deals with Heels is where we explore the human side of leadership, growth, sales, decision-making, and the moments that shape who we become as leaders.

Follow the show so you never miss an episode, and if you're enjoying these conversations, please leave a review. Your reviews help more listeners discover the show and support our ability to bring thoughtful, meaningful conversations to a wider audience.

🎙 Follow Deals with Heels on your favorite podcast platform

⭐ Leave a review and help us grow

📢 Share this episode with someone who could benefit from the conversation

Until next time, stand strong in your power—especially when it gets uncomfortable.

Description

Leadership isn't a choice between results and people.

The strongest leaders know how to build trust, accountability, and performance at the same time.

In this conversation, Debra Bowers sits down with leadership strategist Kathy Eastwood, creator of the E3 Leadership Code, to explore why so many organizations struggle with burnout, disengagement, and mistrust—and what leaders can do differently.

Drawing from decades of executive leadership experience with organizations including EY, Hewlett Packard, startups, and private equity-backed companies, Kathy shares practical insights on navigating difficult decisions, creating psychological safety, building accountability, and leading through pressure without sacrificing humanity.

Whether you're leading a team, growing a business, or trying to create a healthier culture inside your organization, this episode offers a powerful reminder that trust isn't the opposite of performance—it's the foundation of it.

Key Topics & Main Ideas

• Human-centered leadership in high-pressure environments

• Why leadership is often confused with control

• Building trust before difficult decisions arise

• The hidden emotional burden leaders carry

• How to handle layoffs and organizational change with dignity

• The importance of psychological safety at work

• Why employees need purpose, belonging, and clarity

• Fear-based leadership vs. trust-based leadership

• How communication failures create organizational disconnect

• Creating alignment during periods of uncertainty

• The role of accountability without blame

• Why expectations must be clearly defined

• The connection between leadership and sales psychology

• Understanding what motivates different people

• Self-awareness as the foundation of effective leadership

• Emotional regulation and leadership under pressure

• How curiosity strengthens leadership relationships

• Creating sustainable performance without burnout

Resources

Kathy Eastwood - Guest

Website: https://kathyeastwood.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathyeastwood/

Instagram: @kathyeastwoodleadership

Debra Bowers - host - The Growth Vanguard

https://thegrowthvanguard.com

Free Resources:

The Human Sales Playbook https://thegrowthvanguard.com/free-ebook

Five Signs Your Growth Is Breaking

https://5signs.thegrowthvanguard.com/

Debra's LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-bowers/

If today's conversation resonated with you, if it challenged how you think about leadership, growth, or the pressures organizations face beneath the surface, then Deals with Heels is where those conversations continue, and I am happy you are here.

Every week, I sit down with leaders, founders, experts, and change-makers to explore what actually drives sustainable growth—from trust and leadership to sales, culture, customer experience, and the human realities behind performance.

Follow and subscribe so you never miss an episode. And if you found value here today, I'd be grateful if you'd share the show with someone who could benefit from the conversation. It's one of the most meaningful ways to support the show.

Until next week, Stand strong in your power- especially when it gets uncomfortable. Debra

Episode Description:

Leadership pressure rarely arrives all at once. It builds quietly through growth, responsibility, constant decisions, and the weight of people depending on you.

In this deeply honest conversation, Debra Bowers sits down with leadership strategist and business consultant DeeAnn Palin to explore what really happens behind the scenes as organizations scale — and the emotional, operational, and relational costs leaders often carry silently.

After leading major teams inside organizations like Target, Motorola, and the Phoenix Suns, DeeAnn now works with founder-led CEOs navigating rapid growth, leadership breakdowns, burnout, trust issues, and decision fatigue. Together, Debra and DeeAnn unpack why what built a company often won’t sustain it, why middle management is one of the hardest roles in business, and how organizations quietly begin breaking when trust, alignment, and communication fall behind growth.

This episode goes far beyond traditional leadership advice. It explores emotional exhaustion, organizational pressure, sales culture, customer experience, founder identity, and why many leaders lose themselves while trying to hold everything together.

If you’re a founder, executive, manager, entrepreneur, or someone carrying more than people realize, this conversation will hit home.

Key Topics & Main Ideas

• The emotional cost of leadership and growth
• What breaks down when companies scale too quickly
• Why CEOs silently carry overwhelming pressure
• Trust, alignment, and communication inside organizations
• Leadership loneliness and executive burnout
• Why middle management is often the hardest role in business
• Sales culture vs. enterprise growth culture
• Customer experience as part of the growth cycle
• Decision fatigue and organizational misalignment
• Building loyalty and trust in modern workplaces
• The shift away from “clock-in culture”
• Why high performers leave organizations
• Creating healthy company culture and accountability
• Founder identity and leadership evolution
• How leaders reconnect with clarity and intuition
• Practical strategies for avoiding burnout and overwhelm

Resources & Links

🌐 DeeAnn Palin – OnPoint Business Solutions
https://www.onpointbiz.com

🌐 Learn more about Debra Bowers & The Growth Vanguard
https://thegrowthvanguard.com

📘 Download Resources from The Growth Vanguard

The Human Sales Playbook https://thegrowthvanguard.com/free-ebook

Five Signs Your Growth Is Breaking https://5signs.thegrowthvanguard.com/

🎙️ Follow & Subscribe to Deals with Heels so You Don't Miss Out Future Episodes and Conversations
Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major podcast platforms.

SUMMARY

This episode dives into the often-overlooked emotional and practical aspects of women’s financial health, emphasizing the importance of awareness, communication, and proactive planning. Debra Bowers hosts Anna Felix, a financial strategist, to share insights on how women can step into financial ownership before crises strike.Main topics - key insights:

• The hidden vulnerabilities women face regarding finance, often due to conditioning and societal norms
• The emotional impact of unexpected life changes like death or divorce on financial stability
• How to start and sustain conversations about money with partners, family, and in business settings
• Recognizing red flags in financial situations, including hesitancy and misinformation
• Practical steps for women to gather and organize their financial documents and information
• Overcoming cultural, religious, or personal barriers to financial involvement
• The importance of regular financial check-ins and transparency in relationships
• Encouragement to view financial planning as a love letter to loved ones and a gift of security

Resources & Links:

• https://annafelix.com/
• https://www.thegrowthvanguard.com
• The Human Sales Playbook https://thegrowthvanguard.com/free-ebook
• 5 Signs Your Growth is Breaking https://5signs.thegrowthvanguard.com/

Anna Felix LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/annafelix-smartmoney/ or reach out to Anna here

209 613 9445 anna.felix@strongholdpartners.com

Our Host Debra Bowers' LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-bowers/Final notes:This conversation emphasizes that financial awareness and dialogue are vital tools for women to foster security and confidence, and not just for their own benefit, but as a gift to those they love. Starting the conversation can feel daunting, but it’s an investment in a more secure future, and it all begins with just one step—making that list, having that talk, and staying engaged.

If you enjoyed this conversation, if it changed how you think about leadership, decision making or how you grow your business, please follow Deals with Heels so you don't miss out of future conversations!

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