Our Latest Episode
Sarah McArthur on Frances Hesselbein: Leadership, Mentorship, and Service
Guest Bio
Sarah McArthur is an accomplished editor, writer, and leadership thinker. She worked for over two decades alongside renowned executive coach Marshall Goldsmith, serving as managing editor on dozens of leadership books and co-authoring several works. Sarah was also mentored by the late Frances Hesselbein—one of the most influential leadership figures of the 20th century—becoming a close collaborator and friend. Today, Sarah continues to preserve and share Frances’s legacy through writing, editing, and storytelling.
Host
Shannon Huffman Polson is a former Apache helicopter pilot, corporate veteran, keynote speaker, and author of The Grit Factor: Courage, Resilience, and Leadership in the Most Male-Dominated Organization in the World. She is the founder of The Grit Institute, where she equips leaders to build resilience, lead with purpose, and navigate challenges with impact.
Episode Description
In this episode of The Grit Factor, Shannon welcomes Sarah McArthur for a heartfelt conversation about the extraordinary life and leadership of Frances Hesselbein, former CEO of the Girl Scouts and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Sarah shares her personal journey as Frances’s mentee, collaborator, and friend, offering stories that illuminate Frances’s unwavering humility, love, and commitment to service. Together, Shannon and Sarah explore what makes Frances’s leadership so timeless and how her lessons can guide today’s leaders through uncertainty, division, and change.
Summary
This episode is both a tribute and a toolkit for values-driven leadership. Listeners will hear:
- Sarah’s path to working with Marshall Goldsmith and later meeting Frances Hesselbein.
- How Frances transformed the Girl Scouts into a thriving, values-centered movement.
- The power of mentorship, storytelling, and consistency of character.
- Lessons on resilience, integrity, and servant leadership that remain urgently relevant.
- How Frances’s legacy continues through Sarah’s work, including books and a documentary film.
Highlights
- (00:00) Opening reflections on Frances Hesselbein’s passing and the love she inspired.
- (02:51) Sarah’s early work with Marshall Goldsmith and first encounters with Frances’s writings.
- (05:54) The book Work Is Love Made Visible and Frances’s profound influence.
- (10:54) Frances’s vision-driven leadership and transformative years at the Girl Scouts.
- (17:16) The consistency of Frances’s character across 107 years of life.
- (21:42) Lessons from the “cookie incident” and transparency in leadership.
- (25:08) Frances’s “invisible tattoos” and storytelling as a teaching tool.
- (29:33) Sarah’s decision to ask Frances to be her mentor.
- (33:56) Living and learning alongside Frances during her later years.
- (41:34) How Frances commanded respect and credibility across sectors.
- (44:35) Frances’s timeless advice for today: We will get through this together.
- (47:27) Meeting Peter Drucker and forming a lifelong leadership partnership.
- (50:50) Three words to capture Frances’s legacy: humility, love, and service.
- (53:13) “To serve is to live” — Frances’s enduring purpose.
- (54:57) Sarah on carrying forward Frances’s story through a documentary film.
Resources:
Website:
https://www.sarahmcarthur.com/
https://www.hesselbeinforum.pitt.edu/
Email: sarah@sarahmcarthur.com
Books:
Work Is Love Made Visible: https://bookshop.org/a/15754/9781119513582
Hesselbein on Leadership: https://bookshop.org/a/15754/9781118717622
My Life in Leadership: https://bookshop.org/a/15754/9780470905739
Frances Hesselbein “Defining Moments” Documentary: https://youtu.be/ImQ0zQpTJec?si=Lv6u5il5NBKjN50W
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SEASON 2 EPISODES
Episode 10
People and Processes: Overcoming 85% of all Problems with Lisa Gable
A keynote speaker and writer on partnership, mentorship, diversity, and relationship building, Lisa Gable’s mission is to support the next generation of leaders and organizations that are solving the world’s biggest problems. She is a five-time award-winning Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author and recognized as an innovative global businesswoman who leads with discipline and diplomacy. In addition to her multiple corporate roles, including CEO, Lisa has served US Presidents and Governors, as well as a US Ambassador and UN Delegate.
Over the course of her career, Lisa has been called to turnaround failing organizations—businesses, teams, nonprofits, political campaigns, and government projects—to solve seemingly intractable problems. She has learned that the key to course-correcting when things go South is applying process engineering—strategically evaluating everything your organization does and how it does it—with authority and humanity.
Her work has carried her to dozens of conferences and events where she has met with global leaders, spent time with some of the world’s largest manufacturers and their employees and executives, 52 US military installations interviewing over 1,000 military personnel, engaged with local Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Girl Scouts of the USA to better understand the needs of America’s youth, and met with representatives of over 200 nations through her service as a democracy advocate.
Watch today and learn some funny stories about working at the white house, and take some time to discuss what she has learned through her hardships.
Read her book
As well as visit lisagable.com.
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Episode 9
Get Smart with your Emotions: Understanding your Feelings with Breda McCague
Breda McCague works as a Transformation Professional within the Finance industry working with people from all over the globe. McCague joined the Irish Reserve Defence Forces at the age of 17 and went on to become her unit’s first Female Lieutenant. She has continued in positions of leadership across the Corporate world ever since.
McCague is Co-Founder of Lean-In Ireland and runs events for women and men teaching them how to practice peer mentoring to develop each other’s careers and life journeys. She is an accredited ECR coach in Emotional Intelligence. Breda is on a mission to teach and inspire others on how to understand themselves better. She loves to share her passion through educating others on understanding emotions and decision making so that they can become the best emotionally regulated Leaders across their societies, communities and work environments. Breda was awarded the Women of the Year title in the Women in Finance Ireland Awards for 2021. She plays in a rock band and has 3 children.
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Episode 8
Overcoming Obstacles with Katie Cook: The First Woman Blue Angel Pilot
Katie Cook is from Severna Park, Maryland, and graduated from W.T. Woodson High School in Fairfax, VA in 2004. She attended the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science in 2008. Katie continued her education at Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. and graduated with a Masters of Arts in International Security in 2009. In February 2017, Katie reported for duty as the Airfield Operations Company Commander with Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 at Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field Bogue, North Carolina. During her time in the fleet, Katie has accumulated more than 1,400 flight hours, including 400 in combat. Her decorations include two Meritorious Service Medals, five Air Medals, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and various personal and unit awards. In August 2019, Katie transitioned to the Marine Corps Reserve and currently works as a Senior Director of Operational Excellence for Global Public Sector at Salesforce. Watch now and learn what it takes to thrive in a world you are not comfortable in and learn to make the most out of the situation you're in.
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Episode 7
Mentoring Matters: Expert Lisa Fain Weighs in on Making it Work
Mentorship comes up again and again any time we run into challenges, but it’s really a critical ingredient for success at all times. Whether it’s veterans transitioning to corporate, someone taking a new position, or planning for future contribution, mentorship plays a key role. The senior leaders I interviewed while researching for The Grit Factor all attribute mentorship in one or usually many kinds to their success.
That’s why I’m so excited to talk with Lisa Fain today. I met Lisa through a women’s business organization several years ago, where we discovered we were both speaking at an event in California, and we’ve stayed connected ever since. Lisa is the CEO of Center for Mentoring Excellence, and an expert in the intersection of cultural competency and mentoring. Her personal and professional goals were met when she realized she wanted to help people mutually learn and grow from one another. In this episode, we discuss the importance of establishing the proper mentoring relationship and the rules that come along with it. (Minute 16:45) As well as some pro tips for goal setting, career advancement, and setting up the perfect workplace.
BOOKS & RESOURCES
Bridging Differences for Better Mentoring
www.centerformentoring.com
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Episode 6
Leading from the Front: the Mind of a Marine with Courtney Lynch
Courtney has found success by living her life as a leader. Notable achievements include her nine years of service as a Marine Corps officer, managing a top-notch sales team for Rational Software, earning her law degree at William & Mary, practicing at one of the nation’s leading law firms, and creating Lead Star (www.leadstar.us) -- a premier leadership development consulting firm that works globally with leading organizations. She has also served as an elected official and recently spent time living in the UK during which she served as Chief Operating Officer of a rapidly scaling technology company. Beyond Courtney’s government and corporate accomplishments, she is a business owner, thought leader, and New York Times best-selling author of Spark, Bet on You, and Leading from the Front. Her success has been recognized throughout her professional career, but most recently she was awarded the National Stevie Award for Best Female Entrepreneur and BusinessWeek profiled her achievements as a leadership expert. A dynamic guest on CNBC, FOX News, and CNN, Courtney’s efforts with Lead Star have been noted in publications ranging from Harvard Business Review and Fast Company to The Financial Times. Courtney is married to Patrick Lynch and is the proud mother of three children. She resides in the Washington, DC area.
In this podcast we discuss:
Courtney’s seemingly unusual path to the Marines and her start in her career (7:12)
The importance of authenticity and the origins of the theming in Courtney’s book (12:37)
The social influence that comes with a leadership role and how finance is not the only factor. (19:10) And the correlation between risk-taking and leadership. (32:32)
Books: Spark, Bet on You, and Leading from the Front
Website: Leadstar.us
As we get started, why not hit subscribe to be sure you never miss an episode? And remember to leave a review – it helps others find us!
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Episode 5
Leading The Caretakers: Bishop Gretchen Rehberg
I’m so grateful for this conversation today with Bishop Gretchen Rehberg, a truly extraordinary person, who happens to be our bishop in the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane, a diocese with a massive and politically polarized territory including 38 different congregations. She may also be the bishop with the most unusual background…with her PhD in Chemistry, she taught organic Chemistry at Bucknell University, and served her community as an EMT and firefighter. While at seminary, Gretchen was on the ground for 9-11 and shares her story from that terrible day, and its direct impact on her in the years to follow. I’m grateful for the opportunity to know and learn from Bishop Rehberg over several years. We’re going to talk today about leadership of a large and diverse community, what to do about burnout in organizations, and what grit means to her after September 11th. Bishop Rehberg is candid, open and honest, and often funny. She is passionate about proclaiming the inclusive love of God and equipping the people of God for transformation and growth. Christian formation for all ages is of vital importance to Gretchen, and she stresses the need for both rigorous engagement and the need for openness and humility in learning.
Website: The Episcopal Diocese of Spokane
As we get started, why not hit subscribe to be sure you never miss an episode? And remember to leave a review– it helps others find us!
Support The Grit Factor podcast by becoming a Patron!
Episode 4
Inclusion on Purpose— a different understanding of DEI with Ruchika Tulshyan
A number of years ago, Ruchika and I met at the rehearsal for a Seattle Ignite event, and it’s been just fantastic to stay connected and watch her trajectory ever since! I’m so grateful to welcome her on to Facing the Wind, shere we talk about diversity and leadership.
Ruchika is a passionate advocate and speaker for amplifying the voices of women in the workplace. Her writing has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Time and Bloomberg, among other publications. Ruchika has most recently been a guest of Brene Brown’s and contributed to BigThink.
Diversity is key to a company’s success and bottom line– and yet women are leaving the workforce in higher numbers than ever before. That’s one of many reasons this conversation is so important. In this episode, we’ll discuss the difference in personality and behavior that takes place before and after the ego is developed. We also talk about ways society has trained us to rely solely on other’s expectations (minute 11), and how to break the mentality.
In this episode, we discuss the difference in personality and behavior that takes place before and after the ego is developed. We also talk about ways society has trained us to rely solely on other’s expectations (minute 11), and how to break the mentality.
As we get started, why not hit subscribe to be sure you never miss an episode? And remember to leave a review– it helps others find us!
Books Inclusion on Purpose: An Intersectional Approach to Creating a Culture of Belonging at Work And The Diversity Advantage: Fixing Gender Inequality in the Workplace
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Episode 3
When to GRIT and when to Quit: A Story of Big Law and Changing the Understanding of Grit with Amy Conway-Hatcher
Amy Conway-Hatcher is a fierce advocate, lawyer, Board director, warrior career mom, and former federal prosecutor. After decades of managing 24/7 crises, climbing to the upper echelons of Big Law, and sacrificing family for career, Amy did the unthinkable. She left her high-paying equity partner job and an unsustainable climb...to reclaim her life.
Amy wrote Infinitely More to shine a spotlight on systemic workplace inequities that hold women back. Through witty and darkly humorous story-telling, Amy challenges leaders to take bolder actions to fix uneven playing fields, while advocating for women to stand firmly in control of their careers. She firmly believes that by sharing our stories, opening our eyes, and being brave enough to have hard conversations, #wecandobetter.
Today, a partner in a boutique law firm specializing in complex legal problems, Conway-Hatcher thrives as an advocate, author, speaker, and mom of teens. All proceeds of her book are being donated to organizations that support women and girl leaders of the future.
BOOK: Infinitely More
We talk about the difficulties in navigating the role as team leader in a male dominated workplace (minute 14) and balancing time between family and business (minute 20).
Give yourself the gift of listening in to our conversation— and forward it along to whoever might enjoy or benefit!
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Episode 2
A Corporate Leader with Veteran Values: Tina Morris
This Veteran’s Day, we’re happy to release this special episode with Tina Morris, a graduate of West Point, veteran of the United States Army’s military police corps, and now senior corporate leader. Tina talks about the values and ideas she brought to her twenty year tenure at S&P from her time in uniform.
We talk about the difficulties in navigating the role as team leader, like holding those accountable while growing a healthy working relationship (minute 22).
Give yourself the gift of listening in to our conversation— and forward it along to whoever might enjoy or benefit!
Support The Grit Factor podcast by becoming a Patron!
