Lead Through It with Kim and Jada
If you're leading a team or an organization through something hard right now, you're in the right place.
Jada Willis and Kim Andrews are the co-hosts of Lead Through It. They’re here because leadership gets lonely, and they want to make it less so. Every week, they bring you stories about how other leaders are doing it, practical tips and tools you can use right away, and their signature wit and charm.
In an alternate universe, Jada and Kim are competitors. But they decided collaborating would be much more fun. Kim spent 15 years inside schools and nonprofits and now helps leaders build strong teams, make tough decisions, and get stuff done without burning out. Jada built a seven-figure HR firm from nothing, sold it, and now helps leaders turn chaos into clarity, fueled by a lot of faith and grit. They’ve had different paths but share the values that matter most.
If *it* is hitting the fan, we’ve got you. Let's lead through it together.
Interested in being a guest on the Lead Through It podcast? We'd love to hear your story and learn more about your leadership journey. Click here to apply!
Lead Through It with Kim and Jada
Ep. 31 - Cheryl Holland Gives a Masterclass on Creating Exceptional Culture
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What does it actually take to build a culture people don’t want to leave?
In this episode, we sit down with Cheryl Holland, Founder of Abacus Planning Group, to unpack what exceptional culture looks like in practice, not theory.
This is not about perks or pizza parties. It is about the intentional, daily work of valuing people, building trust, and creating systems that support both performance and humanity.
Cheryl shares how her team built a culture so strong that it shows up without prompting, why praise is a leadership skill most people get wrong, and how culture must be embedded into hiring, onboarding, feedback, and decision-making.
We also go deeper into the hard side of leadership. Cheryl opens up about a defining moment when multiple team members exited at once, including a breach of trust, and what that revealed about leadership, accountability, and strengthening culture under pressure.
If you are a leader trying to “fix culture,” this conversation will challenge how you think about it entirely.
Key takeaways:
- Why people cannot care for others if they do not feel cared for first
- How to use specific praise to build stronger, more effective teams
- What it really means to build culture into the DNA of an organization
- How to lead through trust-breaking moments and come out stronger
- Why attention, not time, may be your most valuable leadership tool
This episode is a masterclass in leading with intention, even when it is hard.
If today’s conversation resonated, connect with us and be part of the community of leaders who refuse to lead alone.
JadaWillis.com | KimAndrewsCoaching.com | Hard Conversations AI Toolkit
Jada@jwillisconsulting.com | Kim@kimandrewscoaching.com
