Crossroads and Catalysts

About Crossroads and Catalysts

Feeling stuck in your career? Passed over for promotion? Struggling with leadership challenges that no one prepared you for? You're not alone—and you don't have to navigate these crossroads by yourself. Crossroads & Catalysts is the executive leadership podcast for directors, senior managers, and ambitious professionals ready to advance their careers with strategic clarity and confidence. Shenita Brown, an executive and leadership strategist, delivers actionable career advice, proven leadership frameworks, and the mindset shifts you need to move from stuck to strategic. If you're ready to elevate your leadership and stop perpetuating the poor examples you may have witnessed, this show is for you. You'll learn the leadership development skills that get you promoted, career advancement strategies designed for mid-career professionals, and how to navigate workplace challenges with confidence. We'll tackle the messy, everyday realities of leading teams—giving feedback that lands, holding people accountable without damaging relationships, navigating difficult conversations, and building genuine engagement. And yes, this show will tell you the hard truths you need to hear—because sometimes the issue isn't just your team or your organization, it's you. Real growth requires honest self-reflection, and that's exactly what we'll do together. We'll also cover executive presence, strategic thinking frameworks, decision-making, and other tactics that actually work. Perfect for women leaders, directors seeking executive roles, and professionals ready to turn career uncertainty into their next breakthrough moment. No fluff, no theory—just strategic insights you can implement immediately. New episodes every week. Because every crossroads is an opportunity for growth—and every catalyst starts with a decision. crossroadsandcatalysts.com ( http://crossroadsandcatalysts.com )

Publisher

Shenita Brown

Category

business · education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

25 Feb 2025

Latest episode

19 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

87 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   19 Oct 2026

   Why High-Performing Employees Become Disengaged (And What Leaders Can Do)

   Are you underutilizing your best employees without realizing it? One of the most overlooked leadership challenges is failing to recognize the full capabilities of the people on your team. When talented employees aren't challenged or given opportunities to contribute at their highest level, the consequences can extend beyond disengagement to lost productivity, missed opportunities, and employee turnover. In this episode of Crossroads & Catalysts, we're exploring how leaders unintentionally limit employee growth by focusing on current responsibilities rather than the broader skills, knowledge, and experience their employees bring to the organization. We'll discuss the difference between employee performance and potential, how a leader's perception can become an employee's limitation, and why assigning more work isn't necessarily the same as providing meaningful challenges. You'll also learn practical ways to recognize, assess, and utilize the talent already on your team. Because you don't have to lose a talented employee to lose the value of their talent. In this episode, you'll learn: Why high-performing employees can still feel disengaged and underchallenged How leaders overlook valuable skills and experience within their teams The difference between utilizing, challenging, and developing employees How assumptions about employee capabilities can limit growth opportunities Practical ways to recognize and activate underutilized talent Perfect for: Managers and leaders responsible for employee development and retention Leaders who want to challenge and engage high-performing employees Executives looking to maximize their teams' capabilities Professionals responsible for building and developing high-performing teams Anyone seeking to become a more intentional and effective leader Take Your Next Step: You've listened, now decide what to do next. Continue the Conversation: I'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Share your biggest takeaway or tell me about the crossroads you're navigating. 🎙️ Leave a voicemail: Crossroadsandcatalysts.com (https://www.crossroadsandcatalysts.com/) 📧 Email: connect@crossroadsandcatalysts.com (mailto:connect@crossroadsandcatalysts.com) 🌐 Website: Crossroadsandcatalysts.com (https://www.crossroadsandcatalysts.com/) ⭐ Follow Crossroads & Catalysts so you never miss an episode. If this episode encouraged or challenged you, please leave a rating and review. Know someone standing at a crossroads? Share this episode with them—you never know how one conversation can become someone else's catalyst. Upcoming Events & Resources: Ready to take the next step? Download the What's Next? A Crossroads Reflection Guide (https://crossroads-catalysts.kit.com/be60374050) to assist you with identifying your crossroads, choices, and next steps. Or join my email list (https://crossroads-catalysts.kit.com/c6f61a9e18) to be the first to know about upcoming events. Episodes For Your Journey: If you enjoyed this episode, check out: Leadership Readiness: Why Waiting Is Costing You—and What to Do Instead (https://www.crossroadsandcatalysts.com/leadership-readiness-why-waiting-is-costing-you-and-what-to-do-instead/) How to Build Confidence When You Don't Feel Ready (https://www.crossroadsandcatalysts.com/how-to-build-confidence-when-you-dont-feel-ready/) Enjoying the Show? If today's episode encouraged or challenged you, here are a few ways you can help others discover the show: • Share this episode with someone navigating a leadership or life crossroads. • Follow the podcast and leave a rating or review. • Fuel future episodes by buying me a coffee (buymeacoffee.com/ShenitaB). Your support helps me continue creating practical resources and thoughtful conversations that move us from insight to action. Thanks for listening. I appreciate your support and look forward to being with you again next week. At every crossroads, your next move matters. Make it with clarity, strategy, and intention.

2. 

   12 Oct 2026

   How to Speak Up at Work: Self-Advocacy Skills Every Leader Needs

   Want greater influence at work? Learning how to advocate for yourself is part of becoming a more effective—and more visible—leader. But speaking up doesn't mean being demanding, self-promotional, or always getting your way. Effective self-advocacy is knowing when to use your voice, what to communicate, and how to do it strategically. In this encore episode of Crossroads & Catalysts, we're exploring how managing up creates the relational foundation that makes self-advocacy more effective—and why staying silent can communicate something you never intended. We'll talk about how to speak up in meetings, communicate your needs clearly, disagree professionally and affably, and advocate for your team without creating unnecessary division. You'll also learn why visibility and communication matter alongside the quality of your work when you're trying to build credibility, influence decisions, and advance your career. Perfect for: High-performing professionals who want greater influence and visibility New and emerging leaders learning to manage up Professionals who struggle to advocate for themselves Leaders who need to disagree or push back without damaging relationships Anyone who wants to communicate more strategically at work Take Your Next Step: You've listened, now decide what to do next. Continue the Conversation: I'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Share your biggest takeaway or tell me about the crossroads you're navigating. 🎙️ Leave a voicemail: Crossroadsandcatalysts.com (https://www.crossroadsandcatalysts.com/) 📧 Email: connect@crossroadsandcatalysts.com (mailto:connect@crossroadsandcatalysts.com) 🌐 Website: Crossroadsandcatalysts.com (https://www.crossroadsandcatalysts.com/) ⭐ Follow Crossroads & Catalysts so you never miss an episode. If this episode encouraged or challenged you, please leave a rating and review. Know someone standing at a crossroads? Share this episode with them—you never know how one conversation can become someone else's catalyst. Upcoming Events & Resources: Ready to take the next step? Download the What's Next? A Crossroads Reflection Guide (https://crossroads-catalysts.kit.com/be60374050) to assist you with identifying your crossroads, choices, and next steps. Or join my email list (https://crossroads-catalysts.kit.com/c6f61a9e18) to be the first to know about upcoming events. Episodes For Your Journey: If you enjoyed this episode, check out: Leadership Readiness: Why Waiting Is Costing You—and What to Do Instead (https://www.crossroadsandcatalysts.com/leadership-readiness-why-waiting-is-costing-you-and-what-to-do-instead/) How to Build Confidence When You Don't Feel Ready (https://www.crossroadsandcatalysts.com/how-to-build-confidence-when-you-dont-feel-ready/) Enjoying the Show? If today's episode encouraged or challenged you, here are a few ways you can help others discover the show: • Share this episode with someone navigating a leadership or life crossroads. • Follow the podcast and leave a rating or review. • Fuel future episodes by buying me a coffee (buymeacoffee.com/ShenitaB). Your support helps me continue creating practical resources and thoughtful conversations that move us from insight to action. Thanks for listening. I appreciate your support and look forward to being with you again next week. At every crossroads, your next move matters. Make it with clarity, strategy, and intention.

3. 

   5 Oct 2026

   Ready for Your Next Leadership Opportunity? Why Waiting Could Cost You (and What to Do Instead)

   Are you waiting to feel ready before making your next move? Whether you're considering a career opportunity, stepping into greater responsibility, launching something new, or pursuing a goal you've been putting off, waiting for confidence and certainty can keep you standing still. In this encore episode of Crossroads & Catalysts, we're exploring the connection between readiness, confidence, and self-doubt—and challenging the belief that you have to feel ready before you act. Sometimes preparation is necessary. But sometimes the pursuit of readiness becomes a form of avoidance. We'll talk about how to recognize the difference, why confidence often develops through action rather than before it, and what it means to move forward when certainty is nowhere to be found. Perfect for: High-performing professionals considering their next career move Professionals preparing for greater responsibility or a new opportunity Women working to build confidence and trust themselves Leaders facing a new challenge or transition High achievers who tend to over-prepare before making a move Anyone allowing self-doubt or overthinking to delay action Take Your Next Step: You've listened, now decide what to do next. Continue the Conversation: I'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Share your biggest takeaway or tell me about the crossroads you're navigating. 🎙️ Leave a voicemail: Crossroadsandcatalysts.com (https://www.crossroadsandcatalysts.com/) 📧 Email: connect@crossroadsandcatalysts.com (mailto:connect@crossroadsandcatalysts.com) 🌐 Website: Crossroadsandcatalysts.com (https://www.crossroadsandcatalysts.com/) ⭐ Follow Crossroads & Catalysts so you never miss an episode. If this episode encouraged or challenged you, please leave a rating and review. Know someone standing at a crossroads? Share this episode with them—you never know how one conversation can become someone else's catalyst. Upcoming Events & Resources: Ready to take the next step? Download the What's Next? A Crossroads Reflection Guide (https://crossroads-catalysts.kit.com/be60374050) to assist you with identifying your crossroads, choices, and next steps. Or join my email list (https://crossroads-catalysts.kit.com/c6f61a9e18) to be the first to know about upcoming events. Episodes For Your Journey: If you enjoyed this episode, check out: Leadership Readiness: Why Waiting Is Costing You—and What to Do Instead (https://www.crossroadsandcatalysts.com/leadership-readiness-why-waiting-is-costing-you-and-what-to-do-instead/) How to Build Confidence When You Don't Feel Ready (https://www.crossroadsandcatalysts.com/how-to-build-confidence-when-you-dont-feel-ready/) Enjoying the Show? If today's episode encouraged or challenged you, here are a few ways you can help others discover the show: • Share this episode with someone navigating a leadership or life crossroads. • Follow the podcast and leave a rating or review. • Fuel future episodes by buying me a coffee (buymeacoffee.com/ShenitaB). Your support helps me continue creating practical resources and thoughtful conversations that move us from insight to action. Thanks for listening. I appreciate your support and look forward to being with you again next week. At every crossroads, your next move matters. Make it with clarity, strategy, and intention.

Who has been a guest on Crossroads and Catalysts

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Shenita Brazil
• Shenita Denson
• Shenita Brown

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.3 / 5

6 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 25 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

38

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32