WE Lead | Voices of Innovation

Take Your Own Pulse: Leadership in High-Stakes Moments

Jackie Mattox

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0:00 | 37:50

In this episode of WE Lead: Voices of Innovation, host Jackie Mattox (Founder & CEO, WE United) sits down with Dr. Jillian Cicchetti, surgeon and speaker, for a powerful conversation on leadership, toxic culture, service, and legacy.

Drawing from her experience in the operating room and leading surgical teams in Uganda through Musana Community Development Organization, Jillian shares what high stakes environments reveal about character, culture, and calm under pressure. Together, they explore how leaders can recognize toxic success, build healthier workplaces, and stay grounded in purpose, both professionally and personally.

You’ll hear insights on:

  • Why great leaders take their own pulse first in moments of crisis
  • How to recognize toxic culture and toxic success, even when it looks impressive from the outside
  • The difference between Kronos time and Kairos time and why flexibility matters
  • The importance of career development conversations over traditional performance reviews
  • What it means to plan not only for life, but for death, and why legacy is defined long after we are gone

Whether you are leading a company, a surgical team, a nonprofit initiative, or your own family, this episode offers a grounded, deeply human perspective on influence, courage, and cultural responsibility.

If you are a senior executive, team leader, entrepreneur, or emerging professional, this conversation will challenge you to examine the culture you are creating, the calm you bring to crisis, and the legacy you are building, one decision at a time.


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