Episode Details

In this faith-filled conversation, Melissa sits down with Dr. Tennille Woodward—educator-turned-speaker, leadership coach, and national conference presenter—to talk about women in leadership, emotional intelligence, and what it really takes to live and lead in alignment. Tenille shares how she moved from corporate finance to the classroom to the principal’s office, and now to the keynote stage, helping women own their influence (Maxwell: “leadership is influence”) at work, at home, and in their faith communities. They unpack burnout, how to notice the early rumble strips (shoutout to From Drift to Drive), why “taking up space” matters, and practical ways to give and receive feedback with grace. If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I really a leader?”—this episode says yes and shows you how to step forward with purpose.

Connect with Dr. Tennille Woodward: Website: growleadempower.com (coaching, speaking, workshops)

What you’ll learn:

• Why every woman is a leader (influence at home, work, church)
• The difference between performance and purpose—and a tiny shift you can make this week
• How to spot burnout before it breaks you (the “rumble strips” metaphor)
• Emotional intelligence as the key to stewarding influence (and how to grow it)
• A simple way to practice healthy feedback (beyond “good job”)
• What alignment looks like when your vision, values, and actions move in the same direction
• Why it’s okay to “take up space”—and how to build the courage to do it

Chapters

• 0:00 — God-orchestrated meeting: Maxwell Conference + a wild connection story
• 2:45 — Tenille’s path: corporate finance → education → principal → leadership speaker
• 5:30 — “Leadership is influence”: why women already lead (even if they don’t claim it)
• 8:15 — Movie-themed archetypes: Scene Stealer, Plot Twister, Silent Extra
• 11:30 — Avoiding pendulum swings & finding alignment
• 15:00 — Emotional intelligence at home, work, and church
• 17:30 — Feedback that forms people (not just “good job”)
• 20:10 — Moms, boundaries, and the courage to say “no, thank you”
• 23:10 — From performance to purpose: one small shift this week
• 24:20 — Where to find Tenille + connect for coaching

Resources & mentions:

• Chris Robinson, From Drift to Drive (burnout & “rumble strips”) - https://a.co/d/5pzcvnK 
• Melissa’s Free Planner: Weekly “Prayer Requests” box (top right) + “Weekly Wins” box (bottom right) to build faith, focus, and momentum: https://anchored-with-purpose.kit.com/befd76a8d2

Keywords: women in leadership, Christian women leadership, faith-based leadership, emotional intelligence for women, burnout recovery, boundaries for moms, leadership alignment, John Maxwell leadership, purpose-driven living, feedback culture, motherhood and leadership, female keynote speaker