Discover how historian and leadership coach Dr. Jodi Vandenberg-Daves transformed career challenges, workplace friction, and identity shifts into powerful opportunities for growth. In this episode of The Antifragility Reframe, Dr. Frank Douglas dives deep into her journey—from academia to inclusive leadership—and the principles that guided her forward.

If you’re navigating career transitions, feeling boxed in, or seeking to lead with more empathy and cultural humility, this conversation will inspire your next step.

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Episode Summary:

In this inspiring episode of The Antifragility Reframe, Dr. Frank Douglas sits down with historian, author, mentor, and leadership coach Dr. Jodi Vandenberg-Daves. Together, they explore her powerful journey from academia to coaching and leadership development—highlighting the pivotal moments where stress, disruption, and workplace challenges pushed her to evolve.

Dr. Jodi opens up about the friction she experienced within her department, the identity shift of leaving the traditional historian path, and how seeking support and reframing adversity helped her pivot confidently. She also reflects on the relational, contextual, and story-centered strengths she brings into her coaching work today.

This episode is a masterclass on reframing setbacks, leading with cultural humility, leveraging support systems, and honoring personal evolution.

Key Topics

• The early passion that led Dr. Jodi to pursue history
• Navigating career pivots and professional identity shifts
• Workplace friction, marginalization, and emotional resilience
• The importance of seeking support, mentorship, and allies
• How storytelling and context awareness shape her coaching practice
• Relational leadership and balancing task vs. people orientation
• Cultural humility and understanding privilege
• The “superpowers” of those who have been marginalized
• Moving from resilience (bouncing back) to antifragility (bouncing forward)

[00:00 – 01:07] Introduction of Dr. Jodi Vandenberg-Daves and the focus of the episode.

[01:07 – 04:49] Jodi shares her early passion for history, her academic journey, and her first career pivots.

[04:49 – 07:25] The stress and disruption that pushed her toward a departmental shift—and how she reframed the challenge.

[07:25 – 10:00] Finding support, leaning on allies, and recognizing her worth during difficult transitions.

[10:00 – 12:25] How history, storytelling, and generational context informed her approach to coaching and leadership.

[12:25 – 13:03] The power of relational leadership and its role during organizational changes.

[13:03 – 14:00+] Key leadership principles: cultural humility, acknowledging privilege, recognizing the strengths (“superpowers”) of marginalized individuals, and fostering inclusive environments.

Links & Resources

• Learn more about Dr. Jodi Vandenberg-Daves at JVD Consulting LLC
• Women’s Leadership Intensive Course - https://www.jodivandenberg daves.com/onlineleadershipcourse
• Connect with Dr. Frank L. Douglas at Safe Haven Dialogues LLC
• Listen to more episodes at The Antifragility Reframe Podcast

Thank you for joining us for this empowering conversation with Dr. Jodi Vandenberg-Daves. Her journey reminds us that disruption is not an ending—it's an invitation to redefine, realign, and rise stronger than before. If this episode helped you see your own challenges differently, remember to like, subscribe, and share. Keep reframing, keep growing, and keep moving toward your antifragile self.