Narrow Spaces with Holly Mcllwain
In a world chasing "work-life balance," NarrowSpaces confronts a deeper truth: the space between work and life isn’t always wide. It’s narrow—and that’s where the real leadership happens.
Hosted by Holly McIlwain, leadership coach, corporate culture strategist, and founder of the Brave Women Project, this podcast dives into the high-pressure spaces where professionals live, lead, and grow. With each episode, Holly interviews executives, entrepreneurs, and experts from across the country—uncovering hard-earned wisdom, actionable tools, and authentic stories of navigating the tension between purpose and performance.
Whether you're a seasoned leader, a working parent, a team builder, or someone trying to lead without losing yourself, NarrowSpaces gives you the mindset, language, and strategies to thrive. From mastering team dynamics to restoring your energy and values, Holly brings clarity to the chaos.
Leadership podcast, women in leadership, work-life integration, executive coaching, corporate culture, employee engagement, career development, personal growth, CliftonStrengths, DISC assessments, manager tips, burnout prevention, emotional intelligence, podcast for working professionals
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Narrow Spaces with Holly Mcllwain
Take that Risk by Renee DeMay
Episode Title: Take That Risk
Release Date: October 20
Host: Holly McIlwain
Guest: Renee DeMay
Episode Summary:
In this empowering episode of the NarrowSpaces Show, titled "Take That Risk," host Holly sits down with Renee DeMay, a distinguished global leader with over 30 years of experience in go-to-market strategies, operations, and business optimization. Throughout the episode, Renee shares her brave, strong, and daring attitude towards risks, illustrating how her willingness to step outside her comfort zone has shaped her professional roadmap. From smaller private companies to executive roles at renowned technology firms like PTC and ANSYS, she has led critical projects, including responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, showcasing her tremendous empathy, leadership capacity, and tenacity.
Renee discusses her deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as her passion for nurturing the next generation of leaders is evident in her work. Through her experiences, she emphasizes the importance of emotional currency, consistent communication, and personal growth in navigating the narrow spaces of work and life.
In addition to her corporate achievements, she serves on the Penn State University Alumni Association Council and the board of directors at the South Hills Interfaith Movement, further demonstrating her dedication to community and leadership development.
Tune in to this episode to discover how taking risks can lead to profound personal and professional growth, and learn valuable insights from Renee DeMay's inspiring journey!
Connect with Renee:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renee-demay-833a74/
Key Takeaways:
Navigating Career Transitions: Renee reflects on her career path, highlighting that there was no set plan but rather an openness to seizing opportunities as they arose. She shares how saying no to certain roles can sometimes be just as important as saying yes.
The Importance of Self-Awareness: Over the years, Renee has learned the value of self-reflection and understanding her own limits. She emphasizes the need for leaders to show up authentically and to recognize how their presence impacts their teams.
Building Emotional Currency: Consistency in communication and actions is vital for fostering trust within teams. Renee discusses the practices she implemented to maintain engagement and morale, especially during challenging times like the pandemic.
Work-Life Integration: Renee advocates for a holistic approach to work and life, encouraging leaders to create environments where employees feel supported and empowered to take time for themselves when needed.
Focus on What You Can Control: In times of uncertainty, Renee advises narrowing your focus to what you can control, allowing for better clarity and decision-making.