What does it take to lead shamelessly and unapologetically?
Sara Dean—executive coach, keynote speaker, and host of the Shameless Leadership Podcast—joins Jenn Cassetta to share how women can take up space, stand in their power, and lead with confidence. Sara shares her journey from fitness coaching to becoming a top women’s leadership expert, revealing how shameless leadership, core values, and vulnerability create stronger, more connected leaders. She also teaches women how to take up space, stand in their power, and lead without apology. You’ll walk away with practical strategies to overcome self-doubt, reframe negative self-talk, and unlock your full potential as a strong woman leader.
Listen to the episode here
Watch the episode here
Shameless Leadership: Taking Up Space With Sara Dean
Introduction
Welcome to a powerful episode of The Art of Badassery podcast. In this session, Jenn Cassetta, our Chief Badassery Officer, converses with the dynamic Sara Dean. As a keynote speaker, certified facilitator, and executive coach, Sara has spent over two decades revolutionizing women’s leadership and personal growth methodologies. Her rebranding journey from the Shameless Mom Academy to Shameless Leadership is a testament to embracing evolution and authenticity.
Background
Sara’s journey began in the fitness industry, where she recognized the dissonance between her work goals and personal values. Her accidental rise as an entrepreneur in the fitness industry led to an awakening—aligning her core values with her professional mission was essential. A pivotal moment came when she realized her impact was more about reducing women’s space rather than empowering them to occupy it. This realization birthed the Shameless Leadership Podcast.
Journey of Transformation
Sara reflected on her core values through an exercise involving narrowing a list of values down to five guiding principles. This process reinforced her decisions and directional shifts. Key values such as kindness, love, and compassion became the guiding lights in her career transitions. This conscious alignment facilitated her shift from purely fitness coaching to advocating for women’s empowerment and leadership.
Breaking Through Challenges
The path to leadership coaching was not linear. Sara shared her struggles, such as confronting infertility while managing her business. These moments of vulnerability revealed the necessity of supporting others who silently carry their burdens. This experience amplified her commitment to fostering environments where women can candidly express challenges and triumphs.
Leadership Insights
Sara’s Shameless Leadership Pathway helps women harness the power of internal dialogue to foster external influence. She emphasizes overcoming inner criticism to enhance self-advocacy and effectively communicate leadership. This transformative approach encourages women to mentor others, cultivating leadership in a way that benefits broader communities.
Conclusion
Sara Dean’s journey illustrates that true leadership lies in vulnerability, authenticity, and redefining success through shared empowerment. Her story is a beacon for those aspiring to transcend personal and professional boundaries, helping others rise in the process.
Takeaways from the Episode
- Align Your Core Values with Your Mission: Understanding and consciously aligning your core values with your professional endeavors can pave the way for more authentic and impactful work.
- Embrace Your Vulnerability: Vulnerability is not a weakness; it’s a channel for genuine connection and growth. It’s through sharing our challenges that we invite support and community.
- Cultivate Leadership Through Empowerment: Leadership isn’t about individual success—it’s about raising others alongside you, fostering environments where collective growth is prioritized.
By integrating these principles into your life, not only do you become a catalyst for change, but also a model of resilience and authenticity in leadership. Tune into The Art of Badassery podcast for more inspiring stories and actionable insights on how to lead with strength and heart.
Important Links
- Sara Dean’s Website
- Sara Dean’s Podcast
- Subscribe to Jenn’s newsletter so you never miss an episode
- Book Clarity and Connection by Yung Pueblo
- Burnout to Badass
- The 6 Habits Of High Performance With Jenn Cassetta – Past episode
- Art of Badassery Retreat
- Art of Badassery Newsletter
About Sara Dean
Sara Dean is a Seattle-based keynote speaker, mindset and leadership coach, business coach, and trainer to leaders and teams.With a passion for working with women in leadership who want to become more courageous in their thoughts, actions, and conversations, Sara helps her clients deeply understand that their voices have value.
For the past 22 years, she’s led women through growth and transformation, walking women more fully into leadership. She helps them get out of their own way, retrain culturally ingrained negative thought patterns, and cultivate a deeper sense of intuition and self-trust.
Learn more at https://saradean.com/
