Are You Really Ready for Leadership? | The Breakdown Series

Is leadership about rising through the ranks or rising to who you truly are?

In this episode of the Inner Work series, The Breakdown, MaryAnn Means-Dufrene and Karen Finney revisit MaryAnn’s powerful conversation with Dr. Ashley Elgin Barnes, CEO of Lena Pope. Together, they reflect on Ashley’s unique leadership journey, from counselor to executive, and what it means to lead with service, depth, and humility.

Through honest insight and emotional resonance, this episode redefines leadership readiness, challenges traditional success metrics, and explores how mentorship, vulnerability, and inner work shape who we become at the top.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

• 00:18 Introduction and Welcome

• 00:38 Ashley Elgin Barnes' Unique Leadership Path

• 02:28 Redefining Leadership Traits

• 08:44 Mentorship and Readiness

• 16:59 Emotional Resilience and Recovery

• 20:38 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

About our past guest

Dr. Ashley Elgin is the CEO of Lena Pope and a nationally recognized expert in childhood trauma and organizational leadership. With over 35 years of service, she blends clinical wisdom with business strategy to build resilient communities and cultures.

👉 Want to explore your own leadership shift? Book a 1:1 with MaryAnn: https://collectivegrowthleadership.com/book-call