Watch the interview video here: http://www.sherylkline.com/blog

In the latest Fearless Female Leadership interview, I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with Lori Borg, Vice President of Americas Go-To-Market Strategy for Global Partner Solutions at Microsoft. In this heartfelt conversation, Lori opened up about her leadership journey, the transformative power of organizational health, and why leading with vulnerability and transparency matters now more than ever.

Lori’s leadership story began with overcoming stereotypes. Growing up, she found herself boxed in by limiting labels, only to later reject them by leaning into her passion for business and performing. A pivotal moment came in high school when she shifted her focus from piano performance to business competitions, discovering her true love for leadership, influence, and growth.

She shared how embracing her unique strengths has helped shape her career—from founding successful businesses to now leading at Microsoft. Lori emphasized that organizational health is the secret sauce behind high-performing, resilient teams, especially during times of rapid change and uncertainty. Her practical wisdom on fostering trust, gathering honest feedback, and building strength-based cultures is advice every leader needs right now.

Key takeaways from my interview with Lori:

🔹 0:01:18 – Lori overcame early stereotypes and shifted her self-belief through a pivotal high school experience in business leadership.

🔹 0:04:31 – She credits understanding and leaning into her unique strengths as the foundation for scaling businesses and leading corporate teams.

🔹 0:06:57 – Organizational health is critical for sustainable success and breakthrough moments; it’s more than short-term wins.

🔹 0:07:52 – A strengths-based approach turns a diverse team into a high-functioning, cohesive unit where one plus one is greater than two.

🔹 0:10:13 – Feedback is a gift—but only if you create the psychological safety for people to give it honestly.

🔹 0:12:43 – Lori prioritizes vulnerability and transparency as the fastest way to build trust and credibility with new teams.

🔹 0:13:58 – Actioning feedback is non-negotiable. Listening without follow-through erodes trust faster than silence.

🔹 0:15:13 – Leaders must regularly check their own motivations: am I seeking truth, or seeking to look good?

🔹 0:17:08 – Know your strengths, own them, and seek opportunities that let you lead from those superpowers.

🔹 0:17:43 – Even when organizational trust feels shaky, being the light by voicing concerns and suggesting solutions can ignite change.

If you’re interested in being featured on the Fearless Female Leadership podcast, or you’re a leader looking to gain clarity on “what’s next,” how to build more cohesive and high-performing teams, and lead with greater confidence and influence, let’s have a confidential conversation.

Cheering you on always!
– Sheryl

http://www.sherylkline.com/blog

In the latest Fearless Female Leadership interview, I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with Kim Dorsett, Chief Human Resources Officer for Capital Impact Partners, about what it really means to believe you're good enough to go for greatness. This episode was a powerful reminder that mindset, boundaries, and bold action are the cornerstones of breakthrough leadership.

Kim’s leadership journey is grounded in the lessons she learned from her mother, who always expected excellence and taught her to strive five times harder. That relentless commitment to personal growth has carried Kim from early career milestones to her current executive seat. With a nod to her children for encouraging her to share her story, Kim spoke openly about how structure, discipline, and saying no have been critical to her success.

She highlighted the importance of essentialism—focusing only on what truly matters—and of building a network that reflects a diversity of thought and experience. Perhaps most powerfully, Kim urged women to stop competing with each other and start uplifting one another, reminding us there is more than one seat at the table.

This conversation is for anyone who's ever looked at a list of job qualifications and hesitated—Kim's message is clear: You don’t have to check every box to go for greatness.

Key takeaways from the interview:

0:01:18 – Kim credits her mother with instilling a mindset of excellence and perseverance from an early age.
0:02:40 – Discipline and essentialism have helped her avoid burnout and stay focused on what truly matters.
0:03:52 – Saying no and setting boundaries are crucial leadership skills—especially for women.
0:04:31 – You don’t have to meet 100% of job requirements to be qualified. Let others be the judge—just try.
0:05:26 – Women must stop competing with each other and instead build supportive networks.
0:06:07 – Confidence is built through action—even when it feels uncomfortable.
0:06:59 – Kim embraces the confidence-competence loop: the more you try, the more you grow.
0:07:30 – Failure is just feedback. Every experience, win or setback, teaches something valuable.
0:07:48 – Build a diverse network that challenges your thinking—not just people who agree with you.
0:08:53 – Lifelong learning is part of leadership. Kim recently completed a certificate at Wharton to continue evolving.

If you’re interested in being featured on the Fearless Female Leadership podcast, or you’re a leader looking to gain clarity on “what’s next,” how to build more cohesive and high-performing teams, and lead with greater confidence and influence, let’s have a confidential conversation.

Cheering you on always!
– Sheryl

http://www.sherylkline.com/blog

In the latest Fearless Female Leadership interview, I had the privilege of speaking with Johnita Due, the Executive Vice President of Integrity and Inclusion for CNN and TNT Sports. Johnita’s story is one of purpose, resilience, and deep conviction. She spoke about using her voice—and helping others find theirs—at the highest levels of media and corporate leadership.

Johnita’s foundation was shaped early by her parents, both civil rights leaders. Her mother led the first jail-in during the movement, and her father, a “freedom lawyer,” modeled activism through law. Inspired by their work, Johnita pursued law with a vision to create change—not just in courtrooms, but in boardrooms and newsrooms.

Her journey into media law allowed her to amplify underrepresented voices through journalism and storytelling. Now, as a leader overseeing both integrity and inclusion, Johnita helps CNN and TNT Sports foster cultures of trust, truth, and equity—internally and externally.

She offered candid reflections on being a “double only” in executive spaces, and shared her hard-won wisdom on owning your value, advocating for yourself, and never self-eliminating from opportunity.

Key takeaways from the interview:

0:01:01 – Johnita’s fierce drive to make a difference was shaped by her parents’ activism during the Civil Rights Movement.
0:03:10 – Her mother empowered her to pursue impact in boardrooms and classrooms—not just the courtroom.
0:05:05 – Media law became her unexpected but perfect path to support truth, access to information, and representation.
0:08:37 – Her journey was not linear; mentors and early exposure to diverse perspectives shaped her leadership rise.
0:14:26 – Giving voice means creating a safe space for employees to share ideas, feedback, and concerns.
0:15:54 – The shift from “giving voice to others” to “empowering others to use their own voice” was a powerful mindset change.
0:16:51 – Building a culture of voice and inclusion starts with a clearly stated, company-wide commitment—and accountability.
0:20:59 – Generational diversity brings critical insight; young professionals must be encouraged to speak up and share fresh ideas.
0:22:57 – Companies that deprioritize voice and inclusion risk disengagement, stagnation, and lost innovation.
0:25:15 – Her advice: don’t self-eliminate. Advocate for yourself, know your worth, and never let a third party define your value.

If you’re interested in being featured on the Fearless Female Leadership podcast, or you’re a leader looking to gain clarity on "what’s next," how to build more cohesive and high-performing teams, and lead with greater confidence and influence, let’s have a confidential conversation.

Cheering you on always!
– Sheryl