In this powerful continuation of our conversation, Evolving to Exceptional host Jessica Tietjen welcomes back Rhoda Banks—culture and inclusion executive and author of Daughter of an Assassin—to dive deeper into the intersection of trauma, leadership, and workplace dynamics.
Rhoda bravely shares how her past trauma showed up in her professional life—through fawn, flight, freeze, and fight responses—and how she’s learned to navigate these patterns with greater self-awareness. Together, we explore how embodied safety, cultural competence, and human-centric leadership can transform not only individual leaders but entire workplace cultures.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
How trauma responses like fawning and freezing show up at work
The role of somatic awareness in creating true psychological safety
Why cultural and emotional competence are essential leadership skills
Rhoda’s reflections on her memoir Daughter of an Assassin
Final advice on rewriting limiting beliefs and embracing coaching
If you’ve ever struggled to reconcile your past with your present role as a leader—or want to build environments where people can truly thrive—this episode is for you.
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