Lead & Belong — Showing Up Fully at Work (with Mary Ellen Murrah)

Guest: Mary Ellen Murrah — Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer, Vista Consulting; co-owner, Groundwater Creative; proud Baltimorean; mom of two; fierce alto.

What we cover

• Coming out later in life while already in senior leadership
• Speaking up in male-dominated, “stiff” industries
• The power of queer spaces (chorus!) to build resilient leaders
• Holiday boundary-setting with family (the Christmas Eve dinner)
• Empathy at work: modeling grace without losing standards
• Networking authentically—micro-moments that shift culture

Memorable quotes

• “I decided I’m walking in as myself—and the room can take me as I am.”
• “You don’t have to know every answer to be a great leader.”
• “Queer joy is leadership training.”
• “Boundaries are love with clarity.”

Action step

Ask yourself before your next meeting: What’s one small, honest detail I can share that lets me show up fully (and safely) today? Then do it.

Links

• Connect with Mary Ellen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryellenmurrah/
• Vista Consulting: https://vistact.com/
• Jonathan: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanmbarbe/
• IG/TikTok/FB @JMBCoachingLLC

Credits

Host: Jonathan Barbe • Empowered & Out Coaching

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