This Is Why You Second-Guess Yourself Even When You’re Capable

In this episode of Productive Joy, Dr. Christie McMullen sits down with Sheryl Raphael Whitaker, author of It Starts With Joy, TEDx organizer, artist, and self-described joy creator.
Sheryl shares how joy isn’t something we wait for it’s something we choose, protect, and practice. Drawing from her Caribbean roots and personal leadership journey, she explores what it truly means to show up as your authentic self, even in environments shaped by difficult leaders or past negative experiences.

This conversation goes deep into:
Why joy is a leadership responsibility, not a luxury
How to protect your joy without shrinking yourself
The role of authenticity in human-centered leadership
Naming and navigating your inner critic (meet “Beatrice”)
Creating workplaces where individual joy fuels collective impact

Sheryl also shares her bold vision for the future, including her goal to deliver 100 talks in 2026 and why joy will be at the center of every one of them.
If you’re a leader, educator, or changemaker looking to build cultures where people don’t just survive but thrive, this episode will remind you that meaningful, sustainable leadership always starts with joy.

Episode Highlights
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:04 Sheryl’s Background and Achievements
01:03 The Magnetic Personality
02:14 Embracing Authenticity
04:23 The Journey to Writing a Book
06:58 Challenges and Lessons Learned
08:02 Dealing with Difficult Leaders
14:10 Finding and Protecting Joy
14:25 Defining Productive Joy
16:20 Finding Joy in Leadership
16:40 Creating Joy in the Workplace
17:27 The Importance of Individual Joy
18:07 Leadership Responsibilities and Impact
18:42 Connecting with Sheryl
19:12 Services Offered by Elite Talent Solutions
20:16 The Role of Joy in Leadership
21:14 Human-Centered Leadership and AI
23:32 Embracing Your Inner Critic
26:41 Rapid Fire Questions
28:16 Final Thoughts on Joy

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#ProductiveJoy #LeadershipDevelopment #JoyAtWork #HumanCenteredLeadership #AuthenticLeadership #WomenInLeadership #WorkplaceCulture #LeadershipPodcast #FindYourJoy #PurposeDrivenLeadership