Join hosts Alysse Bryson and Libby Sundgren and sit down with Dele Downs Kooley — speaker coach, personal brand strategist, Amazon #1 bestselling author and former Microsoft culture leader. Dele unpacks the importance of owning your voice, building presence and leading with confidence, especially in high-performance and events-driven environments. She shares actionable strategies for overcoming fear of failure, developing your “why,” and amplifying your message both on stage and behind the scenes.
Takeaways:
Set Boundaries for Self-Care: Prioritizing yourself enables you to better serve your team, clients and audience.
Own Your Story: Your career path, no matter how winding, becomes a unique asset when you embrace it fully.
Red/Yellow/Green Framework: Use this tool to map out and strengthen relationships vital to achieving event and career goals.
Connect to Your “Why”: Grounding your work in deeper purpose not only fuels perseverance but also enhances event impact.
Amplify Your Message: Don’t let a great talk end on stage — repurpose and extend its reach through podcasts, writing and workshops.
Timestamps:
[00:00] – Dele’s self-care story: boundaries and reframing “selfishness”
[09:26] – Why high performers (and event planners) can feel stuck using their voice
[12:18] – The “red/yellow/green” tool for professional relationship mapping
[16:38] – Navigating feedback and gender biases when claiming your wins
[18:41] – Turning criticism into clarity: the power of knowing your “why”
[22:33] – Applying voice ownership to event planning and event marketing
[25:53] – Crafting and sharing your “why” for authentic event experiences
[28:01] – Behind the scenes: coaching TEDx speakers to shine on stage
[43:50] – Strategies to keep your story alive after the big event or talk
Resources & Links:
-Dele Downs Kooley: LinkedIn
-Dele Kooley Coaching: Website, Facebook, Instagram
-Dele's Thrive Speaker Program
-Podcast: "Pivot to Joy"
-Book: "Inspiring Women Professionals Who Boss Up"
-Learn more about publishing your story with Amy Liz Harrison
-Alysse & Libby: Bios & LinkedIn
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BEATS WORKING is a platform on a mission to redeem work—the word, the place, and the way. We believe that work is the most honorable act in the universe, and through inspiring stories and practical insights, we want to transform the way people think about work and help them discover greater fulfillment in their lives. We invite you to join us as we build community through sharing and actively demonstrating what we learn.