S01 E35 Courageous choices turn challenges into stronger teams | With Kelly Rakowski

We sit down with Kelly Rakowski, CEO of American Health Staffing Group, based in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. With more than 30 years in healthcare leadership across consulting, BPO, technology, and workforce solutions, Kelly has navigated industries in crisis, teams in transition, and cultures in need of reinvention.

This conversation goes deep. Kelly opens up about leading through COVID’s chaos, the emotional weight of losing top performers, fixing cultural friction points, and the mindset shifts required to grow from a high-achieving contributor into a truly impactful executive. If you’ve ever struggled with team disengagement, culture drift, burnout on your leadership bench, or your own voice in crisis—this episode will hit home.

✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode
-How to lead in high-stress, high-change environments without losing clarity, humanity, or your team’s trust.
-What really happens inside companies during crises—burnout, attrition, fear, and how leaders can stabilize culture.
-Why “grit” isn’t always good and how Kelly reframed her company’s identity as it scaled.
-Practical ways to shape culture intentionally instead of letting the loudest person define it.
-Kelly’s biggest leadership mistake—why she held onto people too long and what she learned about courage and timing.
-How great leaders manage their own fear so they can show up strong for others.
-When command-and-control leadership works—and when it destroys teams.

About -
In this candid, thoughtful conversation, Kelly reveals the behind-the-scenes reality of running a company during one of the most volatile periods in healthcare history. She talks openly about scaling teams overnight, dealing with post-COVID disengagement, and rebuilding culture from the inside out.

You’ll hear real stories about difficult people dynamics, cultural rewrites, leaders behaving badly, and the emotional complexity of being the person everyone looks to when everything feels uncertain.

Meg and Kelly also explore the human side of leadership—imposter moments, the desire to be liked, the courage to make tough calls, and the pivotal role a strong HR partner plays during chaos. It’s raw, honest, and packed with insights you can use today.
We hope you enjoy this episode with Kelly .

Connect with Kelly Rakowski on LinkedIn:   / kelly-rakowski  

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Meg

Connect with Meg on LinkedIn:   / megpoag  
Or via email: [email protected]

Visit the Mission Squared website here: https://missionsquared.com/

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#leadershippodcast #teammanagement #resilientleadership #workplacecommunication #managertraining #emotionalintelligence #conflictresolution #leadershipdevelopment #teambuilding #authenticleadership #professionalgrowth #organizationalculture #leadershipchallenges #managerlife #leadwithpurpose
It’s Not You (But Sometimes It Is!), hosted by Meg Poag, is the go-to podcast for managers, team leads, and emerging leaders navigating real-world workplace dynamics. Each episode features honest conversations with experienced professionals on leadership challenges—from building resilient teams and fostering authentic connections to managing change, enhancing communication, and balancing ambition with well-being. Whether you’re steering through conflict, scaling a team, or seeking clarity in your leadership style, Meg brings actionable strategies, personal stories, and expert advice to help you lead with confidence and compassion.