Leadership Development Through Life’s Hardest Moments

When grief shakes the foundation of your life, what rises from the rubble can be a new kind of strength.

In this soul-bearing episode of Inner Work, host MaryAnn Means-Dufrene welcomes longtime friend and first-time author Corinne King. After losing her mother in 2022, Corinne didn’t set out to lead; she set out to survive. Through journaling, tears, and faith, she unearthed a deeper strength, giving birth to her debut book, Shine On, and a powerful new vision of leadership.

The Disruption: Losing Her Mother, Losing Her Compass

Corinne’s world shifted with her mother’s passing. The grief wasn’t just emotional; it dismantled her identity. As a stay-at-home mom, she was the heartbeat of her home. But now, something inside was calling for more. Not to “move on,” but to move through.

The Inner Work: Grief, God, and the Journey to Voice

Shine On wasn’t written from strategy. It was written on the floor. From mornings spent weeping, from prayers whispered through clenched teeth. With the help of her life coach, Corinne embraced the messy, sacred process of self-publishing. It wasn’t just about writing a book; it was about surrendering her story to something greater.

The Rebuild: When You Become the Leader You Were Looking For

Corinne’s transformation didn’t come from becoming a bestselling author (yet). It came from finding herself again. From learning how to mother differently. From healing generational wounds. From stepping into her own voice and letting that voice shine for others still in the dark.

Today, Corinne is building community around Shine On, leading conversations on grief, self-care, and purpose, and showing other women that their deepest wounds might just become their greatest leadership tools.

What I Know Now: 5 Lessons from Corinne’s Journey

• “You can’t lead others until you learn to lead yourself.”
  
  
• “Grief is a teacher, if we’re willing to listen.”
  
  
• “Motherhood isn’t a pause on leadership. It’s preparation for it.”
  
  
• “Faith doesn’t erase the pain, but it makes it sacred.”
  
  
• “You don’t have to feel ready to begin. Just begin.”

🎧 Listen to the full episode now!