In this enlightening episode of Thriving in the Messy Middle, host Amy Wilkins welcomes Kelly Wenzel to explore thriving in the challenging "messy middle". Kelly, with her rich experience as a seven-time CMO in the tech industry, offers a unique perspective on balancing professional growth with personal values and responsibilities. The episode dives deep into the challenges faced when navigating career progression, the importance of a robust support network, and the role of authenticity and integrity in leadership.

Kelly reflects on key moments from her career in B2B technology, discussing the subtle challenges faced as a woman in the C-suite and the strategies she employed to navigate these experiences. She emphasizes the necessity of building strong relationships, both professionally and personally, to combat self-doubt and drive transformative change. For those navigating transitions, Kelly's candid stories and practical advice offer guidance on embracing vulnerability, setting clear intentions, and trusting in personal growth and evolution. Discover how these strategies can transform your leadership journey.

• Navigating Leadership Spaces: Embrace authenticity and integrity in leadership, focusing on open communication and honest assessments to guide teams through transformation.
• Building a Supportive Network: Establish a personal board of advisors, or a network of batteries, to energize and guide you through career challenges and self-doubt.
• Career & Personal Life Integration: Successfully managing career and family is possible but requires intentional decisions and support systems.
• Embracing Change and the Unknown: Stay open to opportunities despite self-doubt, as unforeseen opportunities can lead to significant career advancements.
• Resilience through Adversity: In moments of personal or professional hardship, allow space for emotions, rely on your support network, and refocus on future goals with clarity of purpose.

"There are two types of people in life. Some people charge you up; those are your batteries. And the people who weigh you down, those are your anchors.""You cannot give in to self-doubt. You are always going to have those voices that are trying to tear you down, and usually, they're your own.""Identity, actions, feelings. Start with identity. Who do you want to show up in the world? Who do you want to be?""The mess always comes before the morph, right? Like, there's always great change that's coming on the other side of that mess.""Nothing shifts your attitude like gratitude."