Welcome back to the Create More Possibilities blog! My name’s Petra and I’m the Liberatory Leadership Coach, Facilitator, Radical Social Worker and Emergent Strategist. I help marginalized leaders cultivate liberatory power so they can show up powerfully and fully to make deeper impact.

This blog post includes the episode links posted on Podcast & Amplify and the full transcription is below. Kristin Quiroz Bayona, the host of Podcast & Amplify, helps underrepresented fempreneurs position themselves as thought leaders through podcasting so they can scale their business & lead with legacy. If you’re thinking of starting a podcast, check her out on Instagram.

SUMMARY

In this episode, we cover:

• Rethinking what characteristics make a good leader and whether traditional definitions of leadership are inclusive enough.

• Learn why things like position, title, and power are no longer sufficient ways to define a leader

• Why we should do a way with common myths around the characteristics of effective leaders

• How we can be authentic leaders as entrepreneurs and have meaningful impact

• Why it’s important to align how we lead with our values

Interested in hearing the full conversation? Checkout the full transcription and episode links posted on Podcast & Amplify.

TRANSCRIPTION

SUMMARY KEYWORDS
leadership, people, leader, values, podcast, thinking, showing, moments, redefining, power, lead, Petra, important, highly sensitive person, piece, myths, business, world, love, audit

SPEAKERS
Kristin Quiroz Bayona, Petra Vega

Kristin Quiroz Bayona 00:00
Hi I’m Kristin and you’re listening to podcast and amplify a podcast for women entrepreneurs who want to amplify their voice and brand through podcasting and grow a wildly successful business. I’m the executive producer and host of two shows, and an entrepreneur. And I love helping women grow their visibility, mindset and business to the next level. Each week, I share tips on how to launch and leverage your podcast and earring on the very best business leaders to give you advice on how to build your business empire. Let’s amplify your voice and business. Hey podcast and amplify listeners. Welcome back to the show. Today we’re going to be talking about what I think is a fun topic of leadership. Now I have experienced not so great leadership, I’ve experienced mediocre leadership. And then I’ve had maybe one or two instances of great leadership. And when you can get that experience, it’s really special. So I wanted to talk about that today on the podcast. Today we are talking with Petra Vega, she is the founder and liberatory leadership coach. Oh, I love that of a create more possibilities. Petra helps marginalize leaders. So BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), Queer and neurodivergent. Basically anyone whose mere existence challenges the status quo, to cultivate their liberatory power, so they can show up powerfully and fully themselves and make a deeper impact on the world. She’s also a facilitator, radical social worker, and emergent strategist, and as over a decade of experience that she’s going to bring to the show today. So welcome, Petra.

Petra Vega 02:03
Thank you. Thank you so much for having me.

Kristin Quiroz Bayona 02:06
So let’s dive into some of the common myths around what leadership is I know, I mentioned that different levels that I’ve experienced, but what are those myths that, you know, we can start to dismantle? Yeah,

Petra Vega 02:21
yeah. And so I was trying to think about, like, what are the ones that I’ve seen, most prevalent in the folks that I work with? Because there’s so many, right, so I tried to nail it down to five. So the first one I would say is that leaders are not supposed to be vulnerable, that there’s no showing emotion or demonstrating that piece of you is a big one. And I think like for folks who were highly sensitive, that’s not going to work with us, you know, I’m like, that is part of our package. Another one that I like really thought was this phrase around like leaders are born not made, so that there’s an intrinsic newness to who gets to be a leader who is deemed a leader. That is like, either you have it or you don’t have it, and someone who builds power and builds a leadership with with people collectively, personally, I’m like, that’s not true. Right. So that’s another one. This one, I wonder, as part of it, I wonder if it’s part of your bucket of like not so good leadership examples where it’s like, the leader needs to have all the answers, right that like, you’re the All Knowing, I feel like attached to that is like that there, you also can do no wrong, and you’re probably not consulting with other people. Another one that I found was like the A title or position. So really like what’s the name or your particular label that dictates leadership? Right? But if you’re not the CEO, the executive or something, you’re not in a leadership position. And then I think the last one that you kind of you and I would probably agree as a myth is that, that you need to be extroverted, right? You have to be social, you have to be out there, you have to have like, the gift of gab. And I’m like, that’s just one of the ways that introverts get slighted is like, Oh, you don’t show up in the same way. So you can’t possibly be a leader.

Kristin Quiroz Bayona 03:57
Okay, every single one of those so resonated with me. And it might be because I am a highly sensitive person, I’m an introvert, and you get those messages all the time, implicit, explicit. But I love these things that you talked about, because I think, you know, being vulnerable is a superpower. Yeah. And being a good listener, you’re an extrovert. And you’re on not to say that you can’t be a good listener, but you’re on and you’re not maybe necessarily like sitting back and taking in what other people are saying or feedback. The sort of, you’re born a leader or you’re not like a gift that you have that other people don’t, I believe that one for a long time. I just felt like, oh, they have that special thing that I don’t have and that took me a long time to realize you can lead different ways and lead leading is just a skill and then the All Knowing that rubs me the wrong way. And I think it always has because I’m like, Well, you don’t know everything. And I’m not just gonna trust in you. These are like brilliant myths that should definitely be taken out of our beliefs around leadership. So how can we do that? How can we lead differently? How can we infuse our values into our leadership?

Petra Vega 05:19
Yeah. So I think the the first step that I would offer is just like how do we define leadership? Right, that I think particularly as entrepreneurs, and the thing that I have enjoyed most is that we get to redefine, we get to play with language, right? Like, I am the liberatory leadership coach, right. But to name a podcast, like all of these things, that we get to be creative and say, This doesn’t exist, let me make it exists, right. Like that is a particular type of power, one of the ways that your leadership can show up and so I would offer like, just defining leadership, right, that when I was looking at like, Okay, what do I want to focus on in my business? What’s the thing that I feel is missing and that I could be able to engage with, and I was like, Oh, this piece around leadership, but everything that I found around that definition, like perpetuated these myths, right, there was like, You’re the first one to talk and you’re like, out there in the world, everybody knows you, or you’re like, you’re very knowledgeable about everything. And I’m like, This excludes so many people. And that’s just not the way that I want to lead with, like exclusion as a value that I’m like, either you have it or you don’t have it. And like, I don’t want that, right. And so for myself, the way that I redefined leadership is it is a process of being responsible for and responsive to self and others, right, so that there’s a piece of responsibility that I think we think about around titles, where you’re like, oh, yeah, maybe you’re managing a team, or like you want it you’re responsible for helping your clients meet whatever that goal is. That’s a sense of responsibility, right? But then at the same time, the other half and I feel like it’s been missing is the responsive piece, right? That like, after you take an action, make a decision, try a particular practice or project, what’s been the response? How are you adjusting and adapting to that, and making sure that you don’t lose yourself or the other person in that mix? And so I think that’s what a way is, like, defined leadership. What does that mean to you?

Kristin Quiroz Bayona 07:01
Yeah, I love that, because that does give you the opportunity to include your values, because leadership is personal, right? Like you’re leading people. And that’s is a big responsibility. And showing up in integrity with yourself is so important. And that gives other people that permission to do so as well. You know, being a leader as a can be a powerful position, yes. And you can affect a lot of change in that group that you’re leading, or team or maybe if it’s just a few people. So I love that definition of leadership, you know, how you’re redefining it, and to make it more inclusive, and not say, Oh, you have to check these boxes, when you’re listing those things that made me think of also, charisma. I feel like with a lot of leaders, I feel like, oh, they have this innate charisma, you have to have that as well, you know, and it’s like that, in terms of the list of things that are important. It’s probably, like, it’s important, right? To draw people to you. But if you don’t have that, then you’re gonna feel like, Oh, that’s not for me. Yeah.

Petra Vega 08:13
And I think it kind of goes back to this piece around values, right? That is like, do you want? Do you want people to be like, drawn to you in a particular way, right. And I can’t think about what why you that might be that might be your thing, right? That you’re like, oh, I want to or magnetic that I’m just trying to be like a magnet and I want to attract people, right? But if your value like for me, one of my values in my company is rigor, right? Because like it’s gonna be hard work. And I just know that whatever work I’m getting into, it’s going to be deep. It’s going to be thoughtful, it’s might be it’s going to stretch me, right. And it’s going to test me that kind of way. And so the way that I show up in is what some of that right then I’m like, I’m probably not asking very basic questions when I’m talking to people. But that just goes along with like, how I want to show up and how I want to divide my leadership, right was like, oh, yeah, someone can ask you like, what’s your favorite cappuccino? Right? I’m like, I’m not gonna do that. I’m gonna be like, Oh, what’s the moment in your life that you can? That changed your world? Right? Like, that’s what I’m curious about, right? Like going deeply with people. And so again, it doesn’t it’s not like, this is good, or this is bad. But for us to have a clear assessment of like, how do I want to show up, right? And it might be in this way of like redefining it might be and saying like, Oh, how do other people describe me, but I think again, with entrepreneurship, we get to do that self definition, right? So might be like, I showed up charismatic because I was like, oh, I want to be that shiny object. I want people to gravitate towards me open I want to shift to more like, I want to go deep with people I want people to see like, oh, there’s depth here, right? There’s a deep ocean of waters and there’s trust here within myself and within you like those are the things that I want to embody, we get to make those choices.

Kristin Quiroz Bayona 09:49
I love that. Thank you for giving that example of how you embody that and your leadership and what values are important to you and you know, helps us see that okay, we We could just take some time to sit with ourselves and write down like, what are the things? Do I want to be deep? Do I want to be charismatic, and you know, you can figure out like, maybe percentages, like you said, like, maybe in these moments, maybe I want 10%. Like, woo, which is what? So I don’t know if you’ve ever done StrengthsFinder. But Woo is a strength. And actually, my husband has that. And, like one of his top strengths, my woo was like, bear on the ball. So that’s, yeah, exactly. So that’s not what I would lead with. But, you know, someone like him would you know, who wants to, like, meet people where they are and see them and get them excited. And, and that’s, you know, definitely a top value. So, you know, maybe if you’ve done any kind of work like strengths, finders or personality, evaluations, that’s a great place to like, tap into, like, what are my values? What are my strengths? And how can I just lead with those and dial them up? So how can you be a good leader as an entrepreneur? You know, we’re working in these non traditional environments. And sometimes we have several people on our teams, sometimes we’re a team of one 100. But we typically are the boss, like, we don’t have a boss, we’re leading, even if we’re not leading teams, we’re leading our communities. So how can I how can we do that in this specific context?

Petra Vega 11:32
Yeah, it’s I think two things are kind of coming to mind. And one of them is I think it’s really useful to audit your your values, right audit to see like, what are your values? Are they still tried and true? Do they still compete to how you want to show up how you want to lead in the space what you want to be known for? Right? And so you might want to do this annually, quarterly, like, depending on how you’re planning is a part is is kind of broken down? To see like, Okay, how much are my values showing up in my practice, right? Like, this is something that I did with one of my first clients that really wanted to deepen into their antiracist value. And so we looked at, like, how is this showing up in your operations? How is it showing up in your coaching? How is it showing up in where your money goes? Right? When you’re redistributing those funds, what is all that stuff looks like? So that we can see one, we’re like looking at us living into our values, right? In a world that is like, just a miss with like, cognitive dissonance, and people are saying one thing and doing another thing, right. And part of the change that we want to make is like, what is in alignment with what we believe? And because I believe, like, that’s also gonna make you feel better, right? Like, you’re gonna feel more grounded, more powerful, and more like, oh, yeah, I want to talk to anyone and anyone about this thing, because I know that, like, I walk my walk, which is like, not a thing that may be the norm, right. So I think like, auditing your values on a on a semi regular basis might be one way. And then I think another one that this is really kind of speaks back to the power of like social capital networks, but it might be to cultivate, like a trusted counsel, right? In the same ways that you might have a business friend who’s like, I’m gonna launch this thing, please make sure I launch this thing. Right, or someone who’s like, I’m going to talk to this person around like all of my struggles, who are the people that are gonna hold you lovingly accountable and bring you closer to yourself? In those moments? You’re like, I have to make a decision, or I’m not sure. Or maybe there might be two choices that are equally good in a kind of way. But you’re like, Okay, how do I, how do I allow my values to kind of lead me in this kind of way. And that can be very difficult if you don’t have a practice of it individually. And I’m also someone who’s not like, do it all alone, because again, I think that’s how we perpetuate the myth around leadership is that you do it alone. It’s I think, in entrepreneurship, it’s like, as you’re building those business buddies are folks that you’re connected to, who are the people that like really get me really get what I’m trying to do? Who can be like, That’s it with, like, so much love and respect would be like, Oh, I don’t know. I don’t know about this. What do you think what’s going on here? You know,

Kristin Quiroz Bayona 13:59
yeah, that makes a lot of sense. It’s nice to have people who hold us accountable. And, you know, make sure that we’re are living out just authentically, genuinely in alignment, like you said, so can you give listeners and me some tips for how we can be in our power as leaders so that we can empower others? I know this is something that you’re very passionate about.

Petra Vega 14:26
Yeah, I love love love talking about power. I just did a series all about power. So I’m like, I highly would recommend folks to like, all the ways that people define it. So again, I’m like, again, someone who I think that we have a lot of conversation about particular words and we think we’re all having the same conversation and I’m like, I don’t know that we are so again like going back to like how do we define power right and even seeing like, do you like that? Does that because like however you define it and what your relationship with power didn’t make it more difficult for you to harness it. Right. I think as entrepreneurs This is a big piece of our self work collective work is to is To stand and to access our power on a regular basis, I think like, how we define it, how we relate to is going to be a big part of that equation. And then I also wanted to offer this like, I, you, I used to supervise social work students, and one of the things that social workers really care about is empowering other people, right? And I’m, like, want to look at that word power, specifically. And so I wanted to offer this phrase that I found online, I could share it, if you want to put in the show notes that says I don’t empower people, people already have their own power, I learned how to not be disempowering. Hmm. So I love that. And so even if we switch it, like how do I not be disempowering in this moment, in this conversation, in this decision, in this event, like where are we? How can I not be disempowering? That? I’m just like, what if we just shaped shifted it? I think that’s one. And I think the other piece is really like similar to the values audit, but really tapping into what, what, what are the moments that you can recall, that bring you closer to your power, and they were like, that was a powerful moment for me. And I know, for me, specifically, it’s someone who like, grew up in a household. That was very traditional Latinx household, it was like, children should be seated, not heard. The way that I found my power is in speaking up, right, particularly when my voice cracked, because I’m a hyper, highly sensitive person, I’m deeply empathetic. And I’m like, I have something to say. And so like, those moments of like, when I say something, I know I feel myself with my whole power, and then creating opportunities for that, right. And so thinking about, like, what helps you feel in your power, right? It might be when you’re doing a service out in the world, or it might be when you’re like, I’m just letting my creativity flow. And I’ve created something that did not exist before. Right? But really getting curious around like, what are the times that I felt in my power? You see, like, what are the three lines there?

Kristin Quiroz Bayona 16:52
Okay, there’s so much here. I definitely relate to you know, being in the Latinx household seen and not heard was literally said to us. Yep, several times. And it’s interesting that you said that you look for opportunities to use your voice as being more of a shy, you know, introverted person, and I can relate to that as well. And that you were looking for ways to, to use your voice. And it’s so funny, because, you know, I just did this, my first national conference speaking event, I just kind of felt a little goosebumps, like, Oh, that’s so interesting. Like when you maybe aren’t, don’t aren’t, aren’t given those opportunities to speak, then to be that person who seeks out the stage, right? Who seeks out the, because you have something important to say,

Petra Vega 17:45
Yeah,

Kristin Quiroz Bayona 17:47
we landed with me personally.

Petra Vega 17:49
Yeah, good. And I know, you’re always like somebody who was listening to your podcast again this morning. And you’re like, how many stories we bring into into the awareness, right, that there’s so many more stories that we need to be listening to. And something like, that also teaches us that I think we’re like, Oh, it’s this story and that story, but like, we also have stories, but how do we also allow ourselves and allow the power that we can hold in our story, people to share that, too?

Kristin Quiroz Bayona 18:11
Yes, yeah. And speaking of being in your power, I mean, sharing your story is such a fantastic way to do that. Your friends, we’ll get back to the show in just a moment. But I wanted to take just a few seconds to invite you to a free workshop that I created. It’s called Launch a binge worthy podcast. And it’s all about helping you to create a heartfelt podcast that reaches your soul listeners, and grows your business. If you want access, just go to podcast and alpha phi.com. It’s totally free. Okay, friend back to the show. And then I also loved your shift of how can you not like disempower people, because that gives others so much credit, right? It’s like you’re you’re already starting them at a level of that’s more elevated than let me tap, let me maybe tap into your power or let me help empower you. It’s like, you’re already at this level, I just need to kind of get out of your way. Maybe provide guidance if you need it. Or if you’re you know, you asked me or if I can identify those situations. I got goosebumps to when you said that. I was like, oh, yeah, that’s a very important shift in terms of approaching leadership. Yeah,

Petra Vega 19:27
it’s especially around leadership, right? That we’re like, oh, the leader gets to decide, right? But what have you what if you came into a leadership, understanding or position, whatever that may be? And you’re like, everyone is already a leader. Actually don’t have to lead people. I just had to like, for me, I’m like, it’s about trust. It’s about communication. It’s about collaboration, when like, how do you allow everyone’s gifts to be in the space and not pigeonhole people? Because you’re like, Oh, you only do this thing. And even for us, we can be like, Oh, I’m just an entrepreneur. You’re like, you’re like a badass So don’t ever don’t ever allow yourself to be like on just anything.

Kristin Quiroz Bayona 20:05
It is though very hard, even still, for me to, to not think of a leader in a top down scenario. That’s a real challenge, because I think I’m a very visual person. So I kind of see pictures in my mind. Right? You know, I, when I think about things, I usually have a vision. And it’s still a little bit of like this hierarchy in my head, even though consciously I know, that’s not where I’ve how I value leadership or how I think it, it really is the most effective or how it should be. Oh, but it there are so many, I guess, ingrained messages that we see and that are reinforced. I mean, I worked in communicate corporate communications for 15 years. So that’s a long time to get that messaging. And it’s just like, it’s kind of that work to be like, I know, this is not what I you know, subscribe to. But it’s, it’s presented to us in a lot of different places. It’s like, you have to constantly do the work of like, okay, that’s out there. But that’s not how I want to move through the world. And that’s okay.

Petra Vega 21:09
Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I think thank you for acknowledging that, I think that’s the big piece, right? It’s like, there’s so many things that we have seen either seen firsthand, or we have heard about, or we’re like this, probably I don’t, that’s not really my jam. But I see that everyone seems to be doing this thing. And for me, I’m like, the parts where when I’m doing this work around, like, what are what are the practices that could uphold? Like, if we don’t want to have hierarchical thinking, right, which is like a segment of white supremacy and patriarchy and all the things right, if we don’t want that, how do we slow down which it sounds like you’re doing so kudos to you? How do we slow it down in those moments? And being like, oh, here, okay, here I am thinking how in hierarchy again, right, right. What about that, right? And I’m always like, what, what is this trying to take care of, for me with particular emotions? And I’m like, I’m curious around like, Oh, if we, if there’s an idea, or a norm or a belief that we have like, oh, and what kind of ways of taking care of something, because it must be functioning in some kind of way, right? Versus like, get it out, demolish it like this more like aggressively that I’m like, Oh, how do we get curious? How do we have like extensive compassion to like that form of thinking and to see like, Oh, it did, it didn’t work in some kind of way, right? And at the same time, we get to make a decision, or like, I can see how it could be useful. And I want to hone in this muscle that I’m always thinking about, like, how do we develop practices to the muscle? And kind of, you know, I think you had someone who talked about embodiment, but the way that I learned around like, somatic work, right? It’s like, if you do something 300 times, it becomes a habit. But if you do something 3000 times it becomes a body where you don’t even think about it, right. And so for me, it’s someone who’s like, I’m trying to undo all the systems of oppression and my thinking, and my heart and my soul, that I’m like, Oh, I have a good muscle of being like, this is not in alignment. Or for folks who may be listening that you’re like, there may be a steering in your soul. And you’re thinking that you’re like, Ooh, I don’t know. I don’t know how I feel about that. Right? I don’t know that I agree. That’s the first step is just it like a late like, allow that awareness to come in. Because what is in the conscious, we can do something with it.

Kristin Quiroz Bayona 23:13
Okay, so I love your suggestion to get curious. It’s so important. And you’re not judging yourself for like, oh, I shouldn’t be thinking this way. And I know better. And that kind of space, you’re just honoring where you’re at? What’s coming in? And being curious about why. And that’s such a such an important place to be. And yes, the embodiment it’s, it’s important as well, because, you know, our bodies know first, they really did. Yeah, so do you have any final leadership tips you want to share with us anything I missed?

Petra Vega 23:56
That would be to be tender with yourself. We we have conscious and subconscious messages around leadership all the time, from the media, from our parents, from our partners and loved ones that were like, again, just wanting to offer like, all of these things are happening at the same time. And if you are like, I haven’t thought about this thing, right? And like, let me get my behind, right? If you’re like, I’m always thinking about like, what are the ways that we could put extra pressure on ourselves? Like, maybe, maybe not, right? It’s just like, allow, allow this to kind of swim into your brain and, and you know, and then and then seek stop, right? We’re like, Oh, what is what does leadership mean to me? How am I leading? What do I want the legacy of my work to be and how I show up to be, but just to really be tender with yourself, like, we just need to be easier on ourselves.

Kristin Quiroz Bayona 24:40
That’s a great suggestion, because I want to acknowledge that like, leadership is not easy. Yeah, no, it’s it’s challenging, and it brings up a lot of stuff for you, right? You’re gonna have to face your things, because you’re dealing with people, right, and everyone’s different. Everyone has their thing. So, you know, I respect real The great leaders, I mean, they’re amazing. We all do, right. We’ve all had that leader, we’re like, this person. They do. Yeah, they do. They’re so inspiring. And so I give props to those people who just, you know, figured out how to do it well, and how to do it in their own way. And I also know that it’s a big responsibility and it that we can get confronted by a lot of things when we’re when we’re leading people. So I love that suggestion to be tender with yourself. Yeah, give yourself grace, always important. And so I want to end our chat with my signature question for this season. What is your superpower?

Petra Vega 25:40
Yeah, I think I was like, I had a few that I was thinking about sharing. But I’m like, I’m funny. I’m really funny. I’m like, I don’t know. How many people know and I am, I’m gonna make a thoughtful intention around like showing that more upside of myself or with folks, but I’m like, I’m damn funny. I’m just gonna claim that for myself. That’s what other people show. Tell me and I just want to name that. I’m like, I’m real funny.

Kristin Quiroz Bayona 26:06
I love it. Okay, so Petra is hilarious. I love that, you know, I’ve gotten so many diverse answers to this question. And every, every answer is, like, so unique and special to that person. So I respect your, you know, it’s funny to I think I’m funny, but I don’t think that it really comes across. Sometimes I can have maybe a dry sense of humor, or, and then my husband says, Oh, you think you’re really funny? And I’m like, I do I crack myself up. And you know what, like, I don’t need anyone else to make me laugh.

Petra Vega 26:50
Yeah my partner thinks I’m in a sitcom. And I’m like, really!? So this is totally part of my personality. But again, like, you gotta reach out, come talk to me. And I’m, I’m gonna make you laugh. Like, that’s just part of what I do. Like a time, right? Yeah, I was like, hashtag Kristin’s funny, like, we’re gonna make this go viral now.

Kristin Quiroz Bayona 27:07
Well, thank you for sharing your super power. And I want to make sure that people know how they can find out about you and how they can connect with you. So please share any of your links or your website or any of that good stuff.

Petra Vega 27:22
Yeah, so you can find me on Instagram and Facebook at create more possibilities. Come say hi, if you want more of what I got, gave it to the world, feel free to join my email list. The possibilities add? Um, yeah, create more possibilities. I’m mostly on Instagram, but also on Facebook.

Kristin Quiroz Bayona 27:39
Great. So I will link to all of those places in the show notes. Pressure. This has been a great conversation, I feel so inspired to like, go out there and be a leader in my own unique way. So thank you for being here.

Petra Vega 27:52
Thank you so much for having me.

Kristin Quiroz Bayona 27:56
Thanks for listening to this episode of podcast and amplify. If you love the show, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode. And the best way to support this show is by sharing rating and reviewing the podcast. For those of you who leave a review, you will get the chance to win a 30 minute strategy session or a mini audit of your existing podcast. Thanks for listening and remember your voice and what you have to offer is needed in the world. Until next week. Take care.

View Privacy Notice