If you've ever felt like you're holding your entire business together with sheer willpower — this episode is for you.

Jen Wyatt is the founder of Elite BizOps and has spent over eleven years helping business owners build the operational systems that let them breathe again. She's a fractional operations expert, a soon-to-be author, and someone who brings a genuinely unique perspective to leadership — one shaped by an art and fashion design background, an MBA, life as a military spouse, and more than a decade of figuring out how people actually work best.

In this conversation, we get into all of it — the messy, the practical, and the refreshingly honest.

In this episode we talk about:

• Why her art background made her a sharper operational thinker
• The "my way or the highway" mindset and why it no longer works
• How to lead remote and hybrid teams with fairness and flexibility
• Using AI responsibly without losing the human touch
• What fractional leadership really looks like day-to-day
• The boundaries and systems she uses to protect her own time and energy
• Why her biggest leadership goal is to work herself out of a job

A few of our favorite moments: "Collaboration fosters innovation. The 'my way or the highway' mindset just fosters the status quo."

"The key commodity moving forward is going to be the human touch."

"In a vacuum, we can create any kind of story we want about any situation. Stop the stories. Keep it simple."

Connect with Jen: Find Jen Wyatt on LinkedIn and follow her newsletter on operational leadership. Her book on operational leadership is coming soon — one you'll want to watch for.

https://www.elite-biz-ops.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennferwyattmba/Connect With Us and Learn More about Leadership Portraits

Connect With Us and Learn More about Leadership Portraits

• Host: Jennifer Wright
• Podcast: Leadership Portraits
• Follow for more conversations that explore the stories, struggles, and insights behind modern leaders

www.LeadershipPortraits.com

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

In this episode, Jennifer sits down with Lauren Fox, a seasoned project management leader whose path to leadership looks nothing like a straight line. Lauren opens up about her unexpected entry into project management, the challenges of leading high‑performing teams, and the personal work required to grow beyond people‑pleasing into a grounded, confident leadership style.

Together, they explore the realities of leadership — the emotional load, the role of boundaries, the messy middle of growth, and the courage required to hold space for both yourself and your team. Lauren shares how listening more deeply, understanding what people truly need, and redefining fairness transformed the way she leads. She also speaks candidly about therapy, grace, and the internal journey that’s shaped her more than any job title ever could.

This episode is full of heart, honesty, and practical wisdom for leaders at every stage — especially women who are unlearning old rules and choosing healthier, more sustainable ways to show up at work and in life.

Key Topics Covered

• How Lauren “fell into” project management — and why it stuck
• Leadership growing pains and navigating strong personalities
• Setting boundaries at work without losing compassion
• Fairness vs. sameness: learning what each person truly needs
• Why listening is a leader’s most underrated skill
• How therapy and self-awareness shaped her confidence
• The power of genuine women’s networks
• What’s next as Lauren steps outside her comfort zone

Notable Quotes

• “People needed to be heard. They didn’t need me to assess it — they needed me to understand.”
• “Fairness isn’t giving everyone the same thing. It’s giving people what they need.”
• “If you’re walking around with yourself all day, don’t be the meanest voice in your own head.”
• “I’m not here to tell my team what to do — I’m here to make it possible for them to do what they do best.”

About Lauren Fox

Lauren Fox is a seasoned project management leader with more than a decade of experience guiding teams and navigating complex transitions in the medical device industry. Though she leads today with clarity and steadiness, her path didn’t begin that way. She spent years overextending herself — saying yes, carrying others’ emotions, and pushing past her limits — until burnout forced her to rebuild her approach from the inside out.

Now, she brings that hard-earned wisdom into her work and her writing, including her chapter Boundaries Don’t Make You a B‑!$@& Word in Leadership Voices. She hopes her journey helps other women reclaim their energy, confidence, and boundaries one brave decision at a time.

Connect with Lauren:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/-lauren-fox/

Connect With Us

• Host: Jennifer Wright
• Podcast: Leadership Voices
• Follow for more conversations that explore the stories, struggles, and insights behind modern leaders

www.LeadershipVoices.com

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

Let’s Collaborate for Impact and Growth” Opportunity Architect and Connector – Real Estate & Investments – Nonprofit Focus for Social Impact – CEO and World Traveler.

With over two decades of management experience and a focus on real estate investments, she is dedicated to driving community impact in all her endeavors. This commitment has led her to her current roles as a General Partner in multifamily real estate syndication and an Advisory Board Member in 2 companies.

At the heart of her professional journey is a commitment to strategic wealth building and empowering others through her expertise in organizational setup, fostering growth, and innovative thinking.

In her advisory roles, she leverages her knowledge to tackle operational challenges, teambuilding, collaboration and focus on investor relations.

If you would like to connect with Barbara you can find her at www.BarbaraHS.com or on LinkedIn: Barbara Heil-Sonneck

Her books are available on Amazon at:

Real Women in Real Estate

Powerful Female Immigrants

The Venus Approach to Real Estate

About Leadership Portraits:

Leadership Portraits is a curated collection of extraordinary individuals who have mastered the delicate brushstrokes of influence, resilience, and vision. Each portrait is a testament to the unique leadership styles that have shaped industries, communities, and legacies. Explore the nuanced narratives behind each face, and let these captivating images inspire your own journey of leadership excellence. Join us in celebrating the diverse stories that define leadership in its myriad forms—captured, framed, and showcased for your inspiration.

To learn more about the leaders featured here go to www.leadershipportraits.com. You can read articles about the guests and view video clips.

If you know a leader who would make a great portrait, please use the nomination link to submit their nomination - you may nominate yourself.

https://leadershipportraits.com/nominations/

Connect with us:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/leadership-portraits

Connect with Podcast Host Jennifer Wright:

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

Community Assistance Center (CAC) provides basic needs assistance for neighbors to prevent homelessness and hunger while promoting self-sufficiency and empowering them to thrive.

We pursue this mission through a series of services to residents of Sandy Springs and Dunwoody, Georgia:

• Financial Assistance
• 3 Food Pantries
• Thrift Store
• Adult Education
• Career Center
• CAC Cares 4 Kids – backpacks, summer lunches, coats for winter, gifts at Christmas
• Volunteer Income Tax Assistance

To help support the CAC visit: https://ourcac.org/

Francis K. Horton, III grew up in Mississippi and graduated from Mississippi State University with a B.S. in Computer Science. After graduating from Mississippi College School of Law in 1987, Francis served as Staff Attorney for the Department of Justice until 1994.

In 1995 he was appointed by the International Mission Board to an overseas post where he did a variety of mission, community development and disaster response work.

He and his family have lived and served in Pakistan, Thailand, India, Singapore and Turkey. Francis has directed responses to several major disasters and worked in community development projects in more than 16 countries.

He stepped into his current position of Chief Executive Officer of Community Assistance Center in 2021 and moved to Sandy Springs.

About Leadership Portraits:

Leadership Portraits is a curated collection of extraordinary individuals who have mastered the delicate brushstrokes of influence, resilience, and vision. Each portrait is a testament to the unique leadership styles that have shaped industries, communities, and legacies. Explore the nuanced narratives behind each face, and let these captivating images inspire your own journey of leadership excellence. Join us in celebrating the diverse stories that define leadership in its myriad forms—captured, framed, and showcased for your inspiration.

To learn more about the leaders featured here go to www.leadershipportraits.com. You can read articles about the guests and view video clips.

If you know a leader who would make a great portrait, please use the nomination link to submit their nomination - you may nominate yourself.

https://leadershipportraits.com/nominations/

Connect with us:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/leadership-portraits

Connect with Podcast Host Jennifer Wright:

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

In an era of rapid business evolution, a new role in executive leadership is emerging: fractional leadership. This model, particularly prevalent in startups, is reshaping how companies access high-level expertise. To gain deeper insights into this trend, we conducted an in-depth interview with Brian Dedischew, a fractional strategic leader specializing in CIO and CTO roles.

"Surround yourself with what you want to be. So, if you want to make millions of dollars, you should be surrounding yourself with people who make millions of dollars. If you want to be the best leader possible in your space, make sure you're surrounding yourself with those same types of leaders." - Brian Dedischew

Brian Dedischew, a dynamic business strategy executive with over 20 years of experience, excels in leading large-scale security transformation programs and managing multimillion-dollar budgets to drive innovative solutions and strategic growth. His expertise in translating complex security challenges into global solutions, coupled with his passion for supporting small and medium-sized businesses, makes him a versatile leader in fostering innovation across various industries. When not spearheading organizational transformations or optimizing operational excellence.

Discussion Topics:

• The rise of fractional leadership in various C-suite roles (CFO, CMO, CRO, CTO, CIO)
• Challenges and benefits of working with multiple companies as a fractional leader
• Strategies for effective time management and networking in a fractional role
• The importance of surrounding yourself with people who align with your goals
• Creating an environment that encourages creative problem-solving and innovation
• The future of fractional leadership and its impact on traditional executive roles

Resources Mentioned

Change Your Paradigm, Change Your Life – August 21, 2021, By Bob Proctor

Find on Amazon

Sebastian Enges Video: We Always Do What We Value Most

Find on YouTube

Connect with Brian Dedischew:

To learn more about Brian, you can connect with him on LinkedIn

About Leadership Portraits:

Leadership Portraits is a curated collection of extraordinary individuals who have mastered the delicate brushstrokes of influence, resilience, and vision. Each portrait is a testament to the unique leadership styles that have shaped industries, communities, and legacies. Explore the nuanced narratives behind each face, and let these captivating images inspire your own journey of leadership excellence. Join us in celebrating the diverse stories that define leadership in its myriad forms—captured, framed, and showcased for your inspiration.

To learn more about the leaders featured here go to www.leadershipportraits.com. You can read articles about the guests and view video clips.

If you know a leader who would make a great portrait, please use the nomination link to submit their nomination - you may nominate yourself.

https://leadershipportraits.com/nominations/

Connect with us:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/leadership-portraits

Connect with Podcast Host Jennifer Wright:

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

There’s little doubt that whatever role Amanda takes on next, she’ll approach it with the same dedication, adaptability, and collaborative spirit that made her such an effective educator and leader. Her journey serves as an inspiring reminder of the wealth of talent and transferable skills that teachers possess – and the tremendous value they can bring to any organization lucky enough to have them.

To learn more about Amanda read her Leadership Portraits profile here: https://leadershipportraits.com/amandawitmond/

Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-witmond-profile/

Editor's Note: Since this episode was recorded, Amanda was offered and accepted a curriculum designer role at an Atlanta-based company. Join me in congratulating Amanda on this new, exciting venture.

Leadership Portraits is a curated collection of extraordinary individuals who have mastered the delicate brushstrokes of influence, resilience, and vision. Each portrait is a testament to the unique leadership styles that have shaped industries, communities, and legacies. Explore the nuanced narratives behind each face, and let these captivating images inspire your own journey of leadership excellence. Join us in celebrating the diverse stories that define leadership in its myriad forms—captured, framed, and showcased for your inspiration.

To learn more about the leaders featured here go to www.leadershipportraits.com. You can read articles about the guests and view video clips.

If you know a leader who would make a great portrait, please use the nomination link to submit their nomination - you may nominate yourself.

https://leadershipportraits.com/nominations/

Connect with us:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/leadership-portraits

For Perry, creativity has been a lifelong pursuit and outlet, though he didn’t always feel he quite fit in. “I felt like I didn’t make sense in most places…I was too sensitive, I felt too deeply,” he recalls of his youth. It was music that first provided an entry point, allowing him to channel those intense emotions.

To connect with Brian:

His most recent book is The Myth Of Certainty…And Other Great News.

You can connect with Brian at www.yesbrianperry.com and on FB, IG, & LI @yesbrianperry

His newest album, Yes, And at https://yesbrianperry.hearnow.com/

Leadership Portraits is a curated collection of extraordinary individuals who have mastered the delicate brushstrokes of influence, resilience, and vision. Each portrait is a testament to the unique leadership styles that have shaped industries, communities, and legacies. Explore the nuanced narratives behind each face, and let these captivating images inspire your own journey of leadership excellence. Join us in celebrating the diverse stories that define leadership in its myriad forms—captured, framed, and showcased for your inspiration.

To learn more about the leaders featured here go to www.leadershipportraits.com. You can read articles about the guests and view video clips.

If you know a leader who would make a great portrait, please use the nomination link to submit their nomination - you may nominate yourself.

https://leadershipportraits.com/nominations/

Connect with us:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/leadership-portraits

To connect with Anna, visit her website @ https://www.annamarshallpowers.com/ 

Leadership Portraits is a curated collection of extraordinary individuals who have mastered the delicate brushstrokes of influence, resilience, and vision. Each portrait is a testament to the unique leadership styles that have shaped industries, communities, and legacies. Explore the nuanced narratives behind each face, and let these captivating images inspire your own journey of leadership excellence. Join us in celebrating the diverse stories that define leadership in its myriad forms—captured, framed, and showcased for your inspiration.

To learn more about the leaders featured here go to www.leadershipportraits.com. You can read articles about the guests and view video clips.

If you know a leader who would make a great portrait, please use the nomination link to submit their nomination - you may nominate yourself. 

https://leadershipportraits.com/nominations/

Connect with us:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/leadership-portraits

https://www.facebook.com/leadershipportraits

We explore a number of topics from talking about the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes, to standup comedy to using procrastination to how he wrote and uses his book. In one poignant moments he talks about how he has those who have shared how his book has affected their lives. He also shares about going through the traditional publishing process and what he learned along the way.

Preston is available as a professional speaker for your events.

To connect with Preston:

https://prestonpoore.com/

To Purchase Preston's Book:

https://a.co/d/f5VYpRT

Leadership Portraits is a curated collection of extraordinary individuals who have mastered the delicate brushstrokes of influence, resilience, and vision. Each portrait is a testament to the unique leadership styles that have shaped industries, communities, and legacies. Explore the nuanced narratives behind each face, and let these captivating images inspire your own journey of leadership excellence. Join us in celebrating the diverse stories that define leadership in its myriad forms—captured, framed, and showcased for your inspiration.

To learn more about the leaders featured here go to www.leadershipportraits.com. You can read articles about the guests and view video clips.

If you know a leader who would make a great portrait, please use the nomination link to submit their nomination - you may nominate yourself. 

https://leadershipportraits.com/nominations/

Connect with us:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/leadership-portraits

https://www.facebook.com/leadershipportraits

If you know a survivor of childhood sexual abuse who needs support, visit

www.Saprea.org for free resources to provide support.

There are many ways that you can support Saprea as they provide healing for survivors of sexual abuse and protect the innocence of childhood. Visit their website at: www.Saprea.org to learn how you can donate or offer other support. 

The upcoming Saprea International Gala will be held in at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Georgia on June 8th, 2024. If you're interested in joining for an evening of hope and inspiration or you would like to become a sponsor for the events visit: https://bit.ly/SAPREAGALA2024

Leadership Portraits is a curated collection of extraordinary individuals who have mastered the delicate brushstrokes of influence, resilience, and vision. Each portrait is a testament to the unique leadership styles that have shaped industries, communities, and legacies. Explore the nuanced narratives behind each face, and let these captivating images inspire your own journey of leadership excellence. Join us in celebrating the diverse stories that define leadership in its myriad forms—captured, framed, and showcased for your inspiration.

If you haven't already joined and would like to explore other leaders in the gallery or leave comments about the portraits, please select the Join Us button above. There is no cost to register. 

If you know a leader who would make a great portrait, please use the nomination link to submit their nomination - you may nominate yourself. 

Nominate a Great Leader

Connect with podcast host Jennifer Wright:

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

Jason Morris, a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and transformation leader, has forged his career through various industries, including sales, account management, finance auditing, and extensive work in transformation roles. Notably, his tenure at General Electric as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt laid the foundation for his expertise in process improvement methodologies. Subsequently, Jason navigated roles at McKesson, Fiserv, Ultimate Software and UKG, contributing significantly to each organization's transformation initiatives. He is currently a Senior Management Consultant at CapTech Consulting.  

Leadership Portraits is a curated collection of extraordinary individuals who have mastered the delicate brushstrokes of influence, resilience, and vision. Each portrait is a testament to the unique leadership styles that have shaped industries, communities, and legacies. Explore the nuanced narratives behind each face, and let these captivating images inspire your own journey of leadership excellence. Join us in celebrating the diverse stories that define leadership in its myriad forms—captured, framed, and showcased for your inspiration.

If you haven't already joined and would like to explore other leaders in the gallery or leave comments about the portraits, please select the Join Us button above. There is no cost to register. 

If you know a leader who would make a great portrait, please use the nomination link to submit their nomination - you may nominate yourself. 

Nominate a Great Leader

Connect with podcast host Jennifer Wright:

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

To connect with Doree:

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

https://www.therealdoreeo.com/

To purchase Doree's book on Amazon: Seriously? How I Went from a Hot Mess to a Daring Badass

https://a.co/d/aAo17j0

Leadership Portraits is a curated collection of extraordinary individuals who have mastered the delicate brushstrokes of influence, resilience, and vision. Each portrait is a testament to the unique leadership styles that have shaped industries, communities, and legacies. Explore the nuanced narratives behind each face, and let these captivating images inspire your own journey of leadership excellence. Join us in celebrating the diverse stories that define leadership in its myriad forms—captured, framed, and showcased for your inspiration.

If you haven't already joined and would like to explore other leaders in the gallery or leave comments about the portraits, please select the Join Us button above. There is no cost to register. 

If you know a leader who would make a great portrait, please use the nomination link to submit their nomination - you may nominate yourself. 

Nominate a Great Leader

Connect with podcast host Jennifer Wright:

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

Leadership Portraits is a curated collection of extraordinary individuals who have mastered the delicate brushstrokes of influence, resilience, and vision. Each portrait is a testament to the unique leadership styles that have shaped industries, communities, and legacies. Explore the nuanced narratives behind each face, and let these captivating images inspire your own journey of leadership excellence. Join us in celebrating the diverse stories that define leadership in its myriad forms—captured, framed, and showcased for your inspiration.

If you haven't already joined and would like to explore other leaders in the gallery or leave comments about the portraits, please select the Join Us button above. There is no cost to register.

If you know a leader who would make a great portrait, please use the nomination link to submit their nomination - you may nominate yourself.

Nominate a Great Leader

This is a distinguished space where we illuminate the dynamic tapestry of leadership across various fields and industries. In this gallery of inspiration, we celebrate the visionaries, trailblazers, and influencers who have left an indelible mark on their organizations and communities through their exceptional leadership abilities. Each portrait is a testament to the artistry of leadership, capturing the essence of individuals who have navigated challenges, inspired change, and propelled their teams to new heights.

To join the community visit: www.leadershipportraits.com

To nominate yourself or another great leader to become a Leadership Portraits guest visit: bit.ly/40N216N