Tools For Every Day Leaders & Managers With Leadership Coach Kris Plachy

What if your mind needed the same care as your home? In this episode, Kris introduces the concept of brainkeeping—a leadership practice as vital as housekeeping. Just as we tidy our physical spaces, our mental and emotional spaces require regular clearing, reflection, and renewal. Kris shares how her lifelong curiosity and deep conversations with friends and clients have shaped her unique approach to coaching high-achieving women. Through brainkeeping she helps leaders sort through the clutter of overthinking, self-doubt, and noise—so they can access their clarity, wisdom, and creativity. She explores why so many women leaders stay in constant motion, what happens when you stop long enough to ask “why,” and how stillness and inquiry can become your most powerful strategic tools. Here’s what we explore in this episode: What “brainkeeping” really means—and why every visionary woman needs it How curiosity can reconnect you with your own wisdom The cost of constant noise and the value of intentional reflection H

As we head into the final quarter of the year, Kris invites you to shift your focus—from running the business to owning the business. She challenges high-achieving female founders to stop operating on autopilot and start thinking like the visionary asset holders they are. Too many women spend years building companies without ever asking the most important question: What’s the plan? Whether you eventually want to sell, scale back, or simply create more freedom, your business deserves a clear direction—and so do you. Kris also introduces the Sage Mini Mastermind, a 12-week experience for women running multi-million-dollar businesses who are ready to step out of the weeds, lead from wisdom, and build a business that runs beautifully—with or without them. Here’s what we explore in this episode: Why “normal” growth years don’t mean failure—and how to talk to yourself about success differently How to approach bonuses and performance evaluations with clarity and confidence The difference between running a business

What does it feel like to finally stop overworking, over-explaining, and over-proving—and instead lead from a place of grounded confidence? In this episode, Kris shows us what life and leadership look like when self-trust and self-worth are fully integrated. She shares the story of a client who went from being minimized by her partners to running a thriving $10M company while taking a guilt-free month away from her business. This transformation illustrates the power of moving beyond surface-level fixes to address the root issue: believing yourself and believing in yourself. Kris outlines the real markers of integration: working in resonance instead of overwork, resting as a source of strength, setting boundaries without apology, and claiming your right to joy and desire. This is the Sage Era—where your wisdom serves not just you, but those you lead and influence. Here’s what we explore in this episode:  Why releasing your business as your identity opens up freedom and clarity  How guilt, self-doubt, and over

What if your worth wasn’t tied to your revenue, your output, or anyone else’s approval? In this episode, Kris takes us deeper into the heart of worthiness and why so many high-achieving women still wrestle with believing in themselves—even after building successful companies, raising families, and achieving goals most people only dream of. Kris breaks down the difference between self-trust (believing yourself) and self-worth (believing in yourself), and why the latter is the quiet, constant hum that shapes everything you do. She explores how conditional worth shows up in subtle ways—like people pleasing, avoiding difficult conversations, or downplaying your own success—and why guilt over what you’ve built is often a sign you don’t fully own your value yet. Here’s what we explore in this episode: The false scorecards and hidden “supervisors” you’ve been measuring yourself against Why women tie worth to achievement, perfection, or proving How guilt for your success erodes confidence and leadership Why rest can

Why can you trust yourself to build a multimillion-dollar company—but not to have one hard conversation? In this episode, Kris pulls back the curtain on the anatomy of self-trust. From visionary ideas to money, health, relationships, and leadership, she reveals why so many women compartmentalize their confidence—rock solid in some domains, shaky in others. You’ll hear how past experiences, identity “totems,” and cultural conditioning quietly erode our confidence, and why fear, vulnerability, and inherited stories often dictate where we doubt ourselves most. More importantly, Kris shows you how to begin repairing that trust—through awareness, reframing, and practice—so you can finally stop second-guessing and start standing fully in the leader you already are. Here’s what we explore in this episode: The surprising gap between visionary trust and day-to-day confidence The different domains of self-trust—and where women most often stumble How identity, environment, and old narratives shape what you believe abou

Why do so many accomplished women still doubt themselves—even after building extraordinary lives and businesses? Kris continues her Self-Trust & Self-Worth mini-series with a powerful exploration of the programming women inherit from generations before us. She invites us to reflect on the systemic, cultural, and ancestral patterns that quietly shape how women value themselves—and why even the most accomplished female founders still lie awake at night second-guessing their own decisions. From hiding success out of guilt to resisting difficult conversations at work, Kris shows how the paradox of female leadership is never about capability—it’s about the stories we’ve absorbed about what women “should” be. And she challenges us to stop playing small, stop apologizing for what we’ve built, and start owning the lives we’ve worked so hard to create. Here’s what we explore: Why inherited programming makes self-trust harder for women than men The cultural double standard that shames women for success How female

Kris launches a brand-new mini-series with a masterclass on Self-Trust and Self-Worth for Female Founders. And she encourages us to ask: Why do we trust ourselves to build entire businesses—but not to have one hard conversation? After wrapping the seven transitions of Beyond the CEO, this next season dives deeper—into the paradox that so many successful women face: the ability to make bold, visionary moves while quietly second-guessing themselves in the day-to-day. Across the next five weeks, you’ll hear Kris unpack her full Self-Trust and Self-Worth masterclass, designed to help you see how every “tactical” problem—whether it’s firing someone, raising your rates, or stepping back from the business—is rooted in how much you believe yourself, and how much you believe in yourself. Here’s what we explore: The paradox of female founders: bold vision paired with constant second-guessing The difference between self-trust (“I believe myself”) and self-worth (“I believe in myself”) Why tactical problems are often sy

What’s your plan for the business you’ve worked so hard to build? After walking through all seven transitions in the Beyond the CEO series, Kris is turning her focus to what comes next: the tactical and strategic steps every founder must take to ensure the business can run—and even thrive—without her constant presence. This isn’t just about getting through today’s to-do list. It’s about preparing your business, your team, and yourself for what’s ahead—whether that’s scaling, exiting, or simply reclaiming more of your life. Because the truth is, too many women wait until they’re burned out before asking the hard questions: Is my business ready? Am I ready? What happens after this season ends? Here’s what we explore: Why a team audit is as essential as cleaning out your closet The leadership shift from telling to asking—and how it changes everything How to capture your wisdom and IP so others can use it without you The possibility of creating generational wealth through an exit Why retirement isn’t the end—it’

Are you willing to release control and trust others with what you’ve built In this episode, Kris closes out the Beyond the CEO series by walking through the final transitions that take you from structure and strategy into wisdom and possibility. It’s not just about building processes—it’s about letting go of false truths, reclaiming clarity, playing without an agenda, and stepping fully into Sage energy. This is where leadership becomes less about control and more about trust, curiosity, and freedom. Here’s what we explore: The surprising power of asking “What do you think?” instead of giving answers Why restless, “itchy” seasons are signs of growth, not failure How boredom after success reveals what was missing all along The trap of being needed versus the freedom of being trusted What Sage energy looks like in practice—and why it always whispers, “There’s more. This episode is your invitation to stop defaulting to what’s inherited, expected, or safe—and start building a business you can both lead and leav

Have you been intentional about what stays in your life—and what goes? If you’ve been following this special Beyond the CEO mini-series on the seven transitions every founder must face, you know last week was all about play, curiosity, and exploration. Now, in Transition Six—Intentional Design—we take everything you’ve discovered in that playful, curious phase and start shaping it into a grounded, deliberate vision for what’s next. This isn’t about hustling toward another “should.” It’s about building your next chapter with clarity, purpose, and your own rules. Kris shares why this stage only works if you’ve truly given yourself the gift of experimentation first—and how skipping that step leads to recreating the same patterns you’ve outgrown. She walks through her own clarity breakthroughs (including a newfound love of pickleball, hosting in-person gatherings, and refining her environment) and invites you to ask yourself: What’s in? What’s out? What’s worth designing into the next version of your life? Here’s

Play. Stillness. Curiosity. When did you stop giving yourself that permission? You’re going through the motions in a life you once dreamed of—and wondering when that dream stopped being yours. In this episode—the next in Kris's series on the seven essential transitions every successful woman must navigate—she invites you to consider the one most of us avoid: curiosity, play, and exploration. This isn’t a conversation about productivity or purpose. It’s about what happens when you finally lift your head, look around, and realize: the version of you running the show today isn’t the woman you were 20 years ago. So why are you still living like she’s in charge? Kris shares stories from two recent retreats—including the meditations, discomfort, and unexpected conversations that shook something loose. And she poses a question that might just be your wake-up call: What if it doesn’t matter which path you choose next—only that it brings you joy? Here’s what we explore: Why women who “have it all” still feel restless

In this fourth installment of the Seven Transitions Every Successful Woman Must Navigate series, Kris explores the fog that can settle in after years of striving, building, leading, and achieving. When the urgency fades, when the goals have been met, when your days are no longer dictated by survival or ambition... who are you now? This is the striver’s dilemma. In this episode, Kris shares reflections from two recent retreats—one with Arthur Brooks, one with Rebecca Campbell—that offered wildly different but equally profound insights. She weaves together data, mysticism, and lived experience to guide you through the discomfort (and deep potential) of Transition Four: Reclaiming Future Clarity. You’ll hear: Why dreaming after success feels murky, not magical How the absence of urgency can feel disorienting instead of freeing The one question to ask before launching into your next project or business Why the next version of you won’t be found in a revenue dashboard or your to-do list If you’re standing in th

You’re not trapped by your business, your team, or even your schedule. You’re trapped by the stories you’ve been telling yourself about what has to happen next. In this third installment of the special mini-series on the seven transitions every successful woman must navigate when she knows it’s time for something new, Kris unpacks the beliefs that quietly hold you back—the false truths that keep high-achieving women stuck in businesses they’ve already outgrown. She gets right to the heart of the stories we cling to when we’re afraid to move on, and dismantles them one by one. Like the belief that if you step back and the business doesn’t thrive, you’ve failed. That if you’re no longer running things, you’ve somehow lost your relevance. That wanting something new makes you ungrateful—or worse, that letting go means it was never enough to begin with. Here’s what we explore: Why it’s not your job to make the business live forever How to let go without guilt, shame, or fear of becoming invisible The difference b

Are you the biggest bottleneck in your business—and don’t even realize it? You didn’t build your company to babysit it. But if you’re still the one making every call, solving every fire, and holding the reins so tightly no one else can lead...this episode is your wake-up call. In this second installment of the special mini-series on the seven essential transitions every successful woman must navigate when she knows it’s time for something new, Kris explores what it really means to step into the advisory consultant role for the very business you created and the team you built. If you’ve ever felt the urge to evolve beyond the business you built, this is your roadmap—and your invitation. It’s not just about delegation. It’s about identity. Because learning to release control doesn’t start with your team—it starts with you. Letting go of being the person who approves every decision, solves every problem, or catches every dropped ball requires more than systems—it requires a shift in who you believe yourself to

You say you want freedom. But are you really ready for it? This week, Kris kicks off the first of seven essential transitions every successful woman must navigate when she knows it’s time for something new. It starts with a brutally honest question: Is your business ready to run without you? And are you ready to let it? In this episode, Kris unpacks what readiness really means—not just logistically, but emotionally. Because saying you’re done and being done are two very different things. Here’s what we explore: The trap of being needed—and why it’s so hard to let go How your team might be holding you back (even if they mean well) Why control feels safer than it really is And how to know if you’re truly ready for what’s next This isn’t about stepping down. It’s about stepping into a new version of you. And readiness is just the beginning. Contact Information and Recommended Resources Wanna know if your business is ready to run without you? Take the short quiz here: www.thevisionary.CEO/businessready. The One

This season marks a turning point—not just for the podcast, but for the visionary women who listen. If you’ve ever wondered what comes after success, you’re in the right place. In this kickoff to a brand-new series, Kris introduces a deeply personal—and much-needed—conversation: what it means to go beyond the CEO. Because sometimes, the biggest transition isn’t building the business... it’s releasing your grip on it. Here’s what we explore: What it really takes to prepare your business (and yourself) to function without you Why staying too long might be holding you—and your team—back How AI and legacy leadership tools can still support your team while you evolve This isn’t about retirement. It’s about reinvention. And if you’re feeling restless, you’re not alone. Tune in now and meet the woman you’re becoming—one transition at a time. And be sure to listen to upcoming episodes as Kris explores the seven transitions every founder must face to move into her next chapter. Contact Information and Recommended Re

You built the business. You built the team. You built the life. But now… what? This is the moment no one warns you about. When the business you poured everything into is running—maybe even thriving—but you feel restless. Detached. Like maybe you’ve outgrown what once felt like everything. In this episode, Kris Plachy opens the door to a new conversation—one that’s been quietly forming behind the scenes. This isn’t a pivot away from leadership. It’s a leap into deeper truth. She speaks directly to the woman who’s questioning what’s next: The one who can’t imagine walking away, but can’t imagine staying the same. The one who keeps showing up for her business, but secretly wonders if it’s still hers to love. The one who has succeeded by every metric but still lies awake at night asking, “Who am I now?” It’s time to meet her—the woman beyond the CEO. Here’s what we explore The raw emotional terrain of success that no one prepares you for Why so many Gen X founders are hearing a whisper they can’t ignore The di

This one’s raw. Tender. And so incredibly real. My client came into this conversation thinking she needed clarity. She was looking for the right answers—about her role, her goals, her business. But what came out was something much more vulnerable: the pressure to perform, the fear of letting people down, and the quiet ache of not being fully seen. This episode is a front-row seat to what happens when a powerful woman stops performing and starts telling the truth. Here’s what we explore: The invisible cost of always being ‘the capable one’ What it really feels like to outgrow your own success How to let your soul lead—especially when your head says, “Just keep going” This is the unfiltered, Beyond the CEO moment so many women never get to speak out loud—but you’ll hear it here. Contact Information and Recommended Resources Join me in Sonoma in August so we can meet in person! Go to www.thevisionary.ceo/beyondceo to register your interest. Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest

This one hit deep. I’m talking to a founder who’s done everything “right.” Built the business. Achieved success. Carried the weight. But now… she’s just tired. Tired of running, of holding it all together, of pretending she still wants what she once did. She thought we’d be talking about planning and priorities. Instead, we had one of the most honest conversations I’ve ever had with a woman who’s quietly—and bravely—acknowledging that her current chapter is over. In this episode, we talk about: The invisible weight of being everyone’s go-to What it means when your ambition fades—but your worth hasn’t Why admitting you’re done is the first brave step toward your next beautiful beginning This is Beyond the CEO work in real time. And if you’ve been secretly wondering if you’re allowed to want something new, this episode is your permission slip. Contact Information and Recommended Resources Join me in Sonoma in August so we can meet in person! Go to www.thevisionary.ceo/beyondceo to register your interest. Lin

This episode is for the woman who’s built a thriving business—and still hears a quiet voice inside asking, “Is this really it?” My client came to this session frustrated with herself for not trusting her team or delegating enough. But what we uncovered wasn’t about delegation at all. It was about the fear of stepping away. The pressure to keep going. And the guilt that creeps in when you consider wanting more for yourself… or maybe something entirely different. In this deeply moving conversation, you’ll hear: What’s really behind the resistance to let go (hint: it’s not about your team) The hidden grief and identity loss so many women feel as they evolve beyond the CEO role Why wanting more space, more freedom, or a different life doesn’t make you ungrateful—it makes you ready This is the kind of conversation most women are having only in their heads. But here, we say it out loud. And that’s where the real shift begins. Listen now—and if it speaks to you, leave a review and share it with a woman you admire