In this deeply personal solo episode of the Empowered Team Podcast, host Kari Schneider explores the hidden cost of hyper independence — the pattern of doing everything alone while quietly carrying exhaustion, loneliness, and emotional weight.

Drawing from her own lived experience as a leader, single mom, and entrepreneur, Kari unpacks why hyper independence isn’t a personality trait — it’s a coping mechanism shaped by survival, early responsibility, and environments where vulnerability didn’t feel safe.

• How hyper independence is formed through early neglect, cultural conditioning, and survival-based control
• Why capable leaders are often the most overlooked and misunderstood
• The emotional and relational cost of “handling everything” alone
• Why “let me know if you need anything” doesn’t actually help
• How to support a hyper-independent partner, friend, or teammate in ways that truly build trust
• What creates safety, reliability, and connection for people who struggle to ask for help

Kari also shares powerful real-life stories — from asking a neighbor for help during a brutal winter to learning how hyper independence quietly isolates even the strongest among us.

You are not broken — you’re adaptive. And true strength isn’t doing everything alone… it’s learning how to let others in.

🎧 Listen now and share this episode with someone who carries more than they let on.

💬 Start a conversation with Kari’s AI → https://www.delphi.ai/karischneider

👉 Want to use AI to amplify your leadership? Grab our free guide “The 50 Best AI Prompts for Executives” → https://thehumanalgorithm.ai/free-ai-guide

In this powerful conversation, Kari sits down with Andrea Wanerstrand, a leadership strategist and executive coach who’s shaped teams at Microsoft, Meta, and T-Mobile. With 25+ years of experience, Andrea shares why emotional intelligence is the new superpower, how leaders unknowingly create fear-based cultures, and why your nervous system is your secret advantage.

They dive deep into:

• What really makes high-performing teams thrive
• Why fake-it-til-you-make-it fails, and what to do instead
• The shift from "know-it-all" to "learn-it-all" leadership at Microsoft
• How to lead through change without burning out
• The connection between self-regulation, confidence, and culture
• The mindset practice that helps leaders stay human in an AI-driven world

Andrea also gives us a sneak peek into her Mindset Maven Method Lab, an 8-week cohort launching in 2026 designed to help leaders stay energized, focused, and impactful—without grinding themselves into the ground.

Key takeaway: Leadership today demands more than strategy—it requires self-mastery, emotional regulation, and authentic presence. This episode gives you the mindset map to start now.

🔗 Links & Resources:

• Andrea’s website: a3culturelab.com
• Connect with Andrea on LinkedIn: Andrea Wanterstrand
• Sign up for the 2026 Mindset Maven Method Lab: https://mindsetmaven.com/

💬 Start a conversation with Kari’s AI → https://www.delphi.ai/karischneider

👉 Want to use AI to amplify your leadership? Grab our free guide “The 50 Best AI Prompts for Executives” → https://thehumanalgorithm.ai/free-ai-guide

New Year energy is high, but what separates a feel-good intention from a real, life-changing result?

In this solo episode, Kari unpacks why motivation alone won’t get you across the finish line—and how to turn dreams into reality with structure, deadlines, and identity shifts. You’ll hear:

• Why most goals fail (and how to fix it)
• The concept of the “Far, Next, and Now Vision” framework
• How to use time-bound responsibility to create unstoppable momentum
• The real reason “dreamers” don’t hit goals—and how to stop being one
• A powerful personal story of Kari's own transformation after divorce
• Common January traps that derail your progress (and how to avoid them)
• Why B- work is the surprising secret to staying on track

I’m also inviting you into my Empowered Blueprint 5-Day Planning Experience. If you’re done hoping 2025 will be different and ready to design it with intention, this is where we begin. 👉 https://theempowered.ca/5day-blueprint-challenge

💬 Start a conversation with Kari’s AI → https://www.delphi.ai/karischneider

👉 Want to use AI to amplify your leadership? Grab our free guide “The 50 Best AI Prompts for Executives” → https://thehumanalgorithm.ai/free-ai-guide