Navigating Leadership as a New Executive Director with Katie McMillan
Season 6 | Episode 6
About the Episode
Stepping into a new leadership role can feel like sailing into uncharted, rocky waters—exciting AND terrifying. Your inner critic is loud, your confidence shaken, and the pressure to lead feels overwhelming.
In this episode, Jenny Mitchell chats with Katie McMillan, Executive Director of the Milton District Health Foundation, who shares real, raw lessons from her first year as a newly appointed leader. Katie opens up about the moment she knew it was time to move from a supporting role into leadership, the challenges of owning decisions, and how coaching became one of her secret weapon to thrive.
Hear how Katie invited her board to invest in her growth, while embracing a leadership style that’s about listening, learning, and empowering others—not having all the answers.
Key Takeaways
- Gain experience by trying new things and embracing challenges.
- Coaching builds confidence and supports leadership growth.
- Trust and compassionate listening are essential to effective leadership.
- Ask the right questions to resolve conflict and foster team ownership.
- Understand organizational dynamics and balance action with planning for success.
Key Moments
- 00:00 - Navigating Leadership Transitions
- 02:56 - The Role of Coaching in Leadership
- 05:48 - Building Trust and Vulnerability
- 08:52 - Listening and Learning as a Leader
- 12:01 - Conflict Resolution and Decision Making
- 15:01 - Understanding Organizational Politics
- 18:05 - Balancing Doing and Planning
- 21:02 - Compassionate Leadership and Accountability
Episode 6.6 / Uncut Version
Uncut Challenge: From New Leader to Confident Boss: Key Messages for First-Time Woman Leaders
In this week’s Uncut episode, Jenny Mitchell takes us back to basics with a quick and practical set of “cue cards” — essential reminders for anyone stepping into leadership for the first time. This episode serves as a companion piece to last week’s conversation with Katie McMillan about navigating the first year as a new executive director and the role coaching can play.
Episode Quotes
You know your inner critic, the voice in your head that starts screaming at you that you’re doing things all wrong, the voice that makes you doubt your own judgment. And when you’re a new leader with ideas, energy, and passion, the judgy voices in your head can impede your vision for the future.
– Jenny Mitchell