What happens when you're passed over for a promotion—but it ends up being the best thing that ever happened to you? In this episode, Jessica Katz shares how that pivotal moment pushed her to redefine leadership. Tune in to hear about consent-based leadership, why it matters, and how it can reshape your workplace for the better.

Listen now to reframe your leadership approach!

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Episode Summary:

In this insightful episode of Reframe for Resilience, Dr. Frank L. Douglas speaks with Jessica Katz, CEO of Poly Labor and founder of Liberated Elephant. Jessica shares her powerful journey of reframing—from being passed over for a promotion to becoming a leader and advocate for consent-based leadership. She unpacks how setting boundaries, fostering mutual respect, and encouraging psychological safety within teams can radically transform workplace culture.

Jessica’s real-world examples and bold vulnerability offer leaders a new model for productivity: one grounded not in command-and-control, but in curiosity, consent, and collaboration.

Key Topics:

• What is consent-based leadership?
• The emotional toll of being passed over for promotion
• How values misalignment can drive career change
• The power of curiosity-led leadership
• How leadership behaviors influence team dynamics
• Practical habits for inclusive and empowering leadership
• Shifting from DEI to EIIE (Equity, Inclusion, Individual Engagement)

[00:00 – 01:00] Introduction to Jessica Katz and her organizations

[01:00 – 03:00] Choosing parenting over a music career

[03:00 – 05:00] Discovering passion for project management

[05:00 – 07:00] Being passed over for promotion and what it revealed

[07:00 – 09:00] Transitioning to founding her own company

[09:00 – 11:00] Deep dive into consent-based leadership

[11:00 – 13:00] Three behaviors to foster inclusive leadership

[13:00 – 15:00] The shift from DEI to EIIE and engaging employees

[15:00 – 16:00] Building resilient cultures through trust and direction

Link & Resources

Visit Liberated Elephant Website

Learn more about Safe Haven Dialogues LLC

Listen to more Reframe for Resilience Podcast

Book mentioned: Until You Walk in My Shoes by Dr. Frank L. Douglas

Closing Remark

Leadership isn’t about being right—it's about being real. Jessica Katz’s call to shift from directive management to consent-driven leadership reminds us that resilience and productivity grow when people feel safe to speak, challenge, and contribute. True power comes not from authority, but from partnership.