In this episode of Beyond Barriers, you’ll discover the transformative power of values-based leadership with Jackie Edmundson. Jackie shares her inspiring journey from selling sodas as a child entrepreneur to leading a cutting-edge performance marketing company. Guided by loyalty, genuine relationships, accountability, fun, and winning, Jackie has built a leadership philosophy rooted in empathy and authenticity.
Jackie opens up about navigating tough decisions, such as team restructurings during challenging economic times, and explains how staying true to her values has helped her deliver bad news with compassion and respect. She also dives into the importance of fostering a positive team culture, celebrating small wins, and leading with transparency to build trust and drive success.
Whether you're a rising professional or a seasoned leader, this episode will empower you to align your actions with your values, embrace courageous conversations, and lead with integrity
Key Takeaways:
- Values in Leadership: Discover how grounding yourself in core values like loyalty, accountability, and empathy can guide tough decisions and inspire trust.
- Courageous Conversations: Learn practical strategies for delivering difficult news with compassion and navigating challenging conversations with integrity.
- Fostering Team Culture: Explore the impact of celebrating small wins, understanding individual appreciation styles, and creating an environment where teams thrive.
- Leading with Authenticity: Understand the importance of aligning personal and professional values to build trust, drive success, and inspire lasting impact.
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Highlights
The key moments in this episode are:
[00:00] Introduction to Beyond Barriers Podcast
[01:29] Jackie's Early Entrepreneurial Journey
[02:29] The Importance of Communication
[04:56] Aligning Career with Values
[11:10] Building Confidence and Overcoming Fear
[18:07] Transitioning to Leadership Roles
[22:46] Authentic Leadership and Building Your Tribe
[23:34] Breaking Down Barriers with Tough Leaders
[24:49] The Power of Asking for Help
[26:47] Staying Grounded as a CEO
[30:52] Building Your Personal Brand
[33:25] Lightning Round and Final Thoughts -
Lightning Round
Q: What book has greatly influenced you?
A: The Art of Vulnerability by Brené Brown
Dare to Lead by Brené BrownQ: What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying?
A: Help me understandQ: What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself?
A: MaverickQ: What is one change you've implemented that made your life better?
A: Setting a smart goal for myselfQ: What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage?
A: Remember The Name - Fort Minor -
Quotes
I think asking for help is one of the best ways to grow and partner and make a relationship. And what makes me even more happy is when one of these amazing individuals that helped me learn how to master finance, calls me and asks me for help.
Jackie Edmundson
Finding joy in simple small things. Most of us are just staring at a computer all day. Changing that scenery for just five minutes. gives you a whole new perspective. It allows you to breathe a second to find those wins, to find those joys.
Jackie Edmundson
For me, being happy is knowing I'm adding value and feeling that I'm adding value, the feeling of being valued, right? And you get that from going a little deeper and figuring out what causes that spark for you.
Jackie Edmundson
If you are grounded in your values and you respect them and you treat people's values the same way. For me, I'll share loyalty, genuine relationships, accountability, fun, and winning.
Jackie Edmundson
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About
Jackie Edmundson is an accomplished business transformation executive with a 20+ year track record with a people-centric approach. Known for her positive disruptor mindset, she spearheads the optimization of people, processes, and technology, while also ensuring an exceptional working environment for the team.
Her mantra is to “challenge everything, elevate everyone, and foster a top-notch culture to drive outstanding outcomes”. Since joining Stealth as Chief Operating Officer in 2023, Jackie has orchestrated remarkable achievements, driving EBITDA growth by an astonishing 400x and enhancing expense efficiency by 28%, demonstrating her prowess in delivering tangible results for both the business and its clients. Her strategic leadership encompasses a fusion of visionary growth insights and operational acumen, steering sustainable and scalable operations at Stealth. By swiftly analyzing and creatively reimagining all facets of business operations, she achieved a remarkable 140% increase in EBITDA in just one quarter, even in the face of economic headwinds.
With a BA from American University and a Master's from Drexel University, Jackie's career spans both the public (General Services Administration and Centers for Disease Control) and private sectors, including a distinguished tenure as Senior Vice President at Tinuiti. In this role she enabled 2X growth and secured a runway for long-term sustainability by leading innovation across workplace optimization, contracts, IT/security, project management, and M&A programs, amidst 10% YoY growth. As a servant leader and purveyor of joy, Jackie prioritizes the "whole employee", grounded in her steadfast commitment to empowering women. Jackie acknowledges and champions the profound impact women have in leadership roles, with over half of SVL's talented workforce composed of women, both internally and externally.
From fostering joy within SVL to her community engagement as a Planning Commissioner (Dunwoody,GA), mentor to college graduates, and advisor to Chloe Kristyn, an Atlanta women-owned brand, Jackie ensures that her impact extends beyond the workplace. She finds joy in sharing precious moments with her husband and their two rescue pups. A wine aficionado, avid traveler, & fashion enthusiast.