Advertise on podcast: Finding North with Nancy Girres

What happens when doing the right thing means risking your reputation, challenging the people around you, and finding the courage to speak up when staying silent would be easier? In this episode of Finding North, Nancy Girres sits down with her younger sister, Jenny Wirtz, a public school librarian with 30 years of experience connecting students with books that help them feel seen, understood, and accepted. Jenny shares the defining moment that changed her career: standing up for a children's book challenged by parents and discovering that her professional responsibility to every student mattered more than her fear of speaking out. As book challenges and censorship spread across Iowa, she found herself defending students' freedom to read, even when librarians were publicly targeted and accused of wrongdoing. But this conversation goes far beyond books. Jenny opens up about being a lifelong people pleaser, finding her voice, navigating her husband's struggle with alcohol and recovery, experiencing grief, leaning on faith, and learning to accept help when life becomes too difficult to handle alone. Through stories of family, courage, forgiveness, and personal growth, Jenny reminds us that finding our north often begins when we stop trying to keep everyone happy and start standing up for what truly matters. This conversation explores: • The moment a book challenge changed Jenny's life • Why every child deserves to see themselves represented in books • The growing challenges surrounding book bans and the freedom to read • Finding your voice when speaking up feels uncomfortable • Moving beyond people pleasing and the fear of disappointing others • How family support helped Jenny navigate addiction and recovery • Learning to let go of control and accept what you cannot change • Navigating grief, loss, faith, and unexpected life changes • The power of showing up for people when they need you most • How to stop being a bystander and stand up for what matters 📸 Follow behind the scenes: https://www.instagram.com/coachgirres/ 🌐 Nancy’s Website: https://nancygirres.com/ 💼 Connect with Nancy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancygirres Connect with Jenny Wirtz: X/Twitter: @jennywirtz Subscribe for weekly conversations on leadership, identity, healing, burnout, and personal transformation. #education #resilience #motivation #strongwomen #podcast

What happens when the life you've worked so hard to build begins to cost you your health, your peace, and your sense of direction? In this episode of Finding North, Nancy Girres sits down with Heath Steel, Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer at Volunteers of America Northern Rockies, to discuss leadership, grief, health, purpose, and the life-changing moments that force us to rethink everything. After years of demanding leadership responsibilities, major mergers, and relentless stress, Heath experienced a serious health crisis that landed him in the ICU. But his turning point came afterward, standing in a Walmart pharmacy line, realizing he couldn't keep living the same way. He shares how he rebuilt his health through daily movement, changing his habits, and establishing boundaries, while finding renewed purpose through search and rescue. He also opens up about losing his brother in a tragic accident, how his family carried that grief together, and why he believes his greatest accomplishment is becoming the father he needed growing up. This conversation explores: • The health crisis that forced Heath to change his life • Why success and hard work don't always lead to fulfillment • The moment he realized he couldn't keep living the same way • Rebuilding health through discipline, movement, and boundaries • How grief and losing his brother reshaped his perspective • Finding purpose by showing up for people in their darkest moments • Why addiction and behavioral health require compassion, not judgment • Discovering your calling through curiosity and self-reflection • How mentors and family shape the person you become • Becoming the person you needed when you were younger Heath's story is a reminder that finding your North isn't about reaching a perfect destination. It's about recognizing when your current path is no longer serving you and having the courage to choose differently. 📸 Follow behind the scenes: https://www.instagram.com/coachgirres/ 🌐 Nancy’s Website: https://nancygirres.com/ 💼 Connect with Nancy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancygirres Connect with Heath Steel: 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/heath-steel-59723472 🌐 Organization Website: https://www.voanr.org/ #healthjourney #resilience #motivation #growth #personalgrowth

What happens when the life you're expected to live isn't the life that feels true to you? In this episode of Finding North, Nancy Girres sits down with Jenifer Prichard, Vice President of Events at Vistage, where she has spent 18 years creating powerful experiences for leaders around the world. Jenifer's story begins with an extraordinary childhood. After surviving spinal meningitis as an infant, she became known as her father's "miracle child" and spent years traveling with him to prisons and nursing homes, sharing her story and discovering the power of human connection. From joining Up with People at 21 and traveling through 11 countries, to spending eight years working for Tony Robbins and traveling 297 days in a single year, Jenifer built a life around people, experiences, connection, and possibility. But her journey wasn't just about career success. Jenifer shares how she learned to challenge traditional expectations around relationships, family, faith, and what a successful life is supposed to look like. She also reveals the lessons Tony Robbins taught her about finding a way, why she believes there is always a "yes, and," and how the smallest conversations at an event can create life-changing connections. This conversation explores: • Surviving spinal meningitis and becoming a "miracle child" • The life-changing impact of her father's faith and example • Finding her passion through Up with People • Traveling 11 countries with 98 host families • Eight years working with Tony Robbins • What traveling 297 days a year taught her about life • Breaking away from traditional expectations • Choosing appreciation over expectation in relationships • Why there is always a way forward • The power of creating space for meaningful conversations • Becoming a connector and building bridges between people • Why we never know the impact we have on someone • Creating experiences that leave people with goosebumps, laughter, and tears • Finding your own North instead of following someone else's 📸 Follow behind the scenes: https://www.instagram.com/coachgirres/ 🌐 Nancy’s Website: https://nancygirres.com/ 💼 Connect with Nancy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancygirres Connect With Jennifer Prichard: 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-prichard-77991b4/ Subscribe for weekly conversations on leadership, identity, healing, burnout, and personal transformation. #podcast #motivation #womenempowerment #mindset #success

What if the opportunity you've been waiting for has a shelf life? In this episode of Finding North, Nancy Girres explores the lie we tell ourselves about timing, the cost of waiting until we feel ready, and why she has stopped apologizing for her ambition. Nancy shares how saying yes to one opportunity with Vistage opened a series of doors she couldn't have predicted, from joining the faculty that trains new chairs, to training chairs in Argentina, leading workshops at Chair World, working virtually with chairs in China and Australia, and eventually receiving an invitation to teach in Shanghai. But the bigger lesson isn't about any one opportunity. It's about recognizing that you don't get to see the whole hallway. You only get to see the door in front of you. Nancy also shares a powerful exercise she used with her CEO groups at a retreat outside Aspen, where participants physically confronted the limited number of healthy years they may have ahead of them. This conversation explores: • Why opportunities have a shelf life • The danger of waiting until you feel ready • Why “later” is not a plan • How one yes can lead to doors you never expected • Letting go of guilt around ambition • Why every yes comes with a no • The difference between ambition and abandonment • How to think about the limited time we have • Why you should stop apologizing for wanting more • Finding the courage to walk through the door while it's open Nancy also reflects on turning 60, the “Nancy Olympics” her daughter created for her family, and what she learned from the people closest to her about the difference between being busy and being absent. The people who love you most may not want you to do less. They may simply want you. 📸 Follow behind the scenes: https://www.instagram.com/coachgirres/ 🌐 Nancy’s Website: https://nancygirres.com/ 💼 Connect with Nancy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancygirres Subscribe for weekly conversations on leadership, identity, healing, burnout, and personal transformation. #personalgrowth #motivation #ambition #mindset #leadership

What happens when the life you've built no longer feels like it's serving you? In this episode of Finding North, Nancy Girres sits down with Brandon Wells, President and CEO of The Group Inc., to explore the moments that forced him to look inward, change direction, and become more comfortable with who he really is. Brandon shares how leaving Albuquerque, changing his career path, and stepping away from an old peer group set the next chapter of his life in motion. He opens up about divorce, people-pleasing, leadership pressure, and the five-year recalibration that helped him reconnect with the person underneath the armor. The conversation also explores his approach to leadership, mentorship, parenting, gratitude, physical movement, and why taking responsibility for what you can control can fundamentally change the way you experience life. This conversation explores: • Knowing when your environment is no longer serving you • Outgrowing your peer group and changing direction • People-pleasing and learning to accept that not everyone will like you • Divorce, identity, and personal recalibration • Becoming comfortable with who you really are • Being a player instead of a victim • Taking responsibility for what you can control • The power of mentors who challenge and believe in you • Gratitude, movement, and building an ownership mindset • Leadership, vulnerability, and making difficult decisions • Living fully instead of looking back with "I could have" and "I should have" • Finding your North through curiosity, growth, and new experiences Whose north have you been following, and what would change if you trusted your own compass? 📸 Follow behind the scenes: https://www.instagram.com/coachgirres/ 🌐 Nancy’s Website: https://nancygirres.com/ 💼 Connect with Nancy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancygirres Connect With Brandon Wells: 📸 https://www.instagram.com/brandonwells1/ 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonwells1/ 🌐 https://thegroupinc.com/ Subscribe for weekly conversations on leadership, identity, healing, burnout, and personal transformation. #entrepreneur #personalgrowth #mindset #motivation #podcast

What happens when your career chooses you before you ever choose it? In this episode of Finding North, Nancy Girres sits down with Amy Pezzani, CEO of the Food Bank for Larimer County, for a deeply personal conversation about leadership, purpose, unexpected opportunities, friendship, regret, and finding your direction later in life. Amy never planned to become a CEO. After graduating from college with a degree in sociology, she became a VISTA volunteer at Ozarks Food Harvest, where she created programs that would eventually change the trajectory of her career. At just 26 years old, Amy was encouraged to apply for the executive director role by a mentor who believed in her before she believed in herself. But her story isn't only about leadership. Amy opens up about a life-changing friendship with Stacy, the loss that forced her to confront regret, the lessons she learned about saying what matters before it's too late, and how those experiences shaped the leader and person she became. This conversation explores: • Becoming a CEO at 26 without planning for it • The power of someone believing in you before you believe in yourself • Finding leadership through unexpected opportunities • Learning from the leaders you don't want to become • The difference between being successful and staying hungry • Friendship, loss, grief, and regret • Why you shouldn't wait to tell people they matter • Building a leadership style intentionally • Staying passionate after 22 years in the same mission • Knowing when it's time to recalibrate your life • What it means to find your North when your career chose you 📸 Follow behind the scenes: https://www.instagram.com/coachgirres/ 🌐 Nancy’s Website: https://nancygirres.com/ 💼 Connect with Nancy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancygirres Subscribe for weekly conversations on leadership, identity, healing, burnout, and personal transformation. #podcast #purpose #personalgrowth #ceo #womenempowerment

What happens when being true to yourself means risking the approval of the people you love most? In this deeply personal episode of Finding North, Nancy Girres sits down with Mackenzie Rutherford, her daughter, executive assistant, social worker, wife, and mother of two. For the first time, mother and daughter trade places and interview each other about the choices, challenges, and experiences that shaped their lives. Mackenzie shares the story of falling in love with her wife Allison, coming out to her family, choosing authenticity despite the possibility of rejection, and building a life grounded in love rather than other people's expectations. But this conversation goes far beyond one love story. Nancy and Mackenzie explore forgiveness, unconditional love, motherhood, family, resilience, authenticity, judgment, and what it means to stop waiting for other people to approve of the life you're choosing. This conversation explores: • Choosing authenticity when it comes with a cost • Falling in love and refusing to live for other people's approval • The courage to choose yourself • Unconditional love and forgiveness • Navigating family expectations and rejection • How perspective can change the way we experience hardship • The power of truly seeing other people • Mother-daughter relationships and generational growth • Learning from difficult seasons instead of being defined by them • Raising children to be confident in who they are • Letting go of what other people believe about you • Finding North by staying true to yourself Mackenzie opens up about the hardest choices of her life, the people who helped her feel seen, the love she built with Allison, and why forgiveness can be one of the strongest choices we make. Nancy and Mackenzie also reflect on their own relationship, the mistakes they made, the grace they gave each other, and how choosing to keep communicating transformed their relationship over time. Whose approval are you still waiting for, and what would happen if you stopped waiting? 📸 Follow behind the scenes: https://www.instagram.com/coachgirres/ 🌐 Nancy’s Website: https://nancygirres.com/ 💼 Connect with Nancy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancygirres Subscribe for weekly conversations on leadership, identity, healing, burnout, and personal transformation. #podcast #selflove #personalgrowth #womenempowerment #motherdaughter

What if the key to unlocking someone's potential isn't telling them what to do, but learning how to truly listen? In this episode of Finding North, Nancy Girres sits down with Emma Doyle, internationally recognized high-performance tennis coach, corporate energy coach, TEDx speaker, bestselling author of What Makes a Great Coach, and founder of the Coaching Leadership Academy. Emma has spent her career helping people unlock the potential already inside them. From coaching elite athletes to working with executives, she has discovered that the principles that create great athletes can also create great leaders. But this conversation goes far beyond coaching. Emma shares how her natural curiosity was suppressed when she entered a male-dominated profession, how mentors encouraged her to use her voice, and why curiosity became one of the most important tools in her leadership philosophy. She also reveals the lesson Roger Federer gave her about great coaching, why presence may be one of the greatest gifts we can give another person, and how leaders can create environments where people feel safe enough to tell the truth, grow, and perform at their best. This conversation explores: • Why curiosity can unlock human potential • The difference between teaching someone and helping them learn • What tennis teaches us about resilience and recovering from failure • Why great coaches listen more than they talk • The connection between confidence, time, and experience • How to identify and build your personal strengths • Why leaders need to create environments where people can flourish • The power of presence, deep listening, and asking better questions • How to stretch your comfort zone one layer at a time • Finding your authentic energy and following your own North Emma also introduces practical coaching tools including the Onion Principle, the "Who I am is the possibility of..." exercise, and a powerful question about what you would notice if you woke up tomorrow and everything was exactly as you wanted it to be. 📸 Follow behind the scenes: https://www.instagram.com/coachgirres/ 🌐 Nancy’s Website: https://nancygirres.com/ 💼 Connect with Nancy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancygirres Connect with Emma: 🌐 www.coachem.cc 🎙️ The Coaching Podcast 💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-doyle-41150215 Subscribe for weekly conversations on leadership, identity, healing, burnout, and personal transformation. #coaching #personalgrowth #mindset #motivation #findingnorthpodcast

What if the greatest opportunity of your life started with hearing "No"? In Episode 11 of Finding North, Nancy Girres sits down with Trent Johnson, owner and Creative Vision Officer of Greeley Hat Works, whose custom hats have been worn by presidents, Yellowstone stars, NFL quarterbacks, country music legends, and thousands of everyday people searching for confidence. From being rejected by business school to buying one of America's oldest hat shops, Trent shares how resilience, craftsmanship, and relationships shaped his extraordinary journey. This conversation explores: • How rejection became the foundation of success • Why courage matters more than credentials • The story behind building hats for Yellowstone and President George W. Bush • What true craftsmanship teaches about leadership • Why great businesses create experiences, not just products • The difference between "real friends" and "deal friends" • Finding purpose through creativity and service • Why your North rarely changes, but the path does Whether you're an entrepreneur, leader, creator, or someone navigating a major life transition, this conversation is a reminder that your greatest opportunities often begin when you're willing to simply show up. 📸 Follow behind the scenes: https://www.instagram.com/coachgirres/ 🌐 Nancy’s Website: https://nancygirres.com/ 💼 Connect with Nancy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancygirres Connect with Trent Johnson: 🤠 Learn More About Trent & Greeley Hat Works: https://greeleyhatworks.com/ 📸 Follow Greeley Hat Works: https://www.instagram.com/greeleyhatworks/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GreeleyHatWorks Subscribe for weekly conversations on leadership, identity, healing, burnout, and personal transformation. #entrepreneur #leadership #yellowstone #successmindset #podcast

To be honest with you, I've been searching for that moment my whole life. What I found instead was moments. For the first time on Finding North, Nancy Girres steps out from behind the interview chair to share her own story. From growing up on an Iowa farm with no roadmap beyond marriage, to becoming the president of a multimillion-dollar company, to navigating two painful divorces, rebuilding her life, and eventually creating a career completely on her own terms. This is the journey that inspired Finding North. This isn't a story about getting everything right. It's about getting lost... and finding your way back. In this episode, Nancy shares: • Growing up on an Iowa farm with no vision beyond the family path • The decision that changed her life forever at just 18 years old • Building a 30-year executive career from the ground up • How success affected two marriages • Losing herself and learning how to come back • The courage to leave a successful career and start over • Why recalibration is not failure • Three lessons that changed everything about leadership and life If you've ever questioned your direction, wondered whether you're living someone else's life, or felt the pull toward something bigger, this conversation is for you. 📸 Follow behind the scenes: https://www.instagram.com/coachgirres/ 🌐 Nancy’s Website: https://nancygirres.com/ 💼 Connect with Nancy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancygirres Subscribe for weekly conversations on leadership, identity, healing, burnout, and personal transformation. #findingnorth #leadership #personalgrowth #womenempowerment #purpose

After leading some of the world's biggest healthcare companies, Ginger Graham chose a completely different path - one rooted in community, hospitality, and purpose. In Part 2 of this inspiring conversation on Finding North, Ginger shares why leaving the corporate world wasn't the end of success, it was the beginning of a more meaningful chapter. From creating Ginger and Baker in historic downtown Fort Collins to redefining leadership through kindness, mentorship, and service, this episode is filled with timeless wisdom for leaders at every stage. Whether you're building a career, leading a team, or simply wondering what success really looks like, Ginger's perspective will challenge and inspire you. This conversation explores: This conversation explores: • Why success changes as your life evolves • Building community instead of chasing titles • The leadership philosophy behind Ginger and Baker • Creating unforgettable customer experiences • Why hospitality is a powerful leadership skill • The importance of choosing the right boss early in your career • How great mentors shape your future • Balancing ambition, family, and purpose • Why the people you marry and work for matter most • Leading with kindness, trust, and service If you've ever wondered what comes after achieving everything you thought you wanted, this conversation will help you find your own true north. 📸 Follow behind the scenes: https://www.instagram.com/coachgirres/ 🌐 Nancy’s Website: https://nancygirres.com/ 💼 Connect with Nancy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancygirres Subscribe for weekly conversations on leadership, identity, healing, burnout, and personal transformation. #leadership #womenempowerment #mindset #motivation #podcast

What does it take to go from riding horses on an Arkansas cattle farm to leading some of the world's biggest healthcare companies? In this episode of Finding North, Nancy Girres sits down with Ginger Graham, a former CEO of Guidant, former interim CEO of Walgreens, accomplished corporate board member, and founder of Ginger and Baker. Growing up, Ginger's parents taught her one simple belief: You can do anything you want but you must do good. That mindset carried her through bias, rejection, leadership challenges, and some of the biggest executive roles in corporate America. But this conversation isn't just about success. It's about finding mentors, embracing difficult feedback, creating cultures built on honesty, and leading with humility instead of ego. This conversation explores: • Growing up on an Arkansas cattle farm • The parenting lesson that built lifelong confidence • Leaving veterinary medicine for economics • Becoming one of the first women in agricultural sales • Overcoming bias and earning respect • The manager who changed her career forever • Why great leaders ask for honest feedback • Creating fearless workplace cultures • Lessons from Wall Street, Eli Lilly, Guidant, and Walgreens • Why leadership is about removing obstacles and not having all the answers 📸 Follow behind the scenes: https://www.instagram.com/coachgirres/ 🌐 Nancy’s Website: https://nancygirres.com/ 💼 Connect with Nancy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancygirres Subscribe for weekly conversations on leadership, identity, healing, burnout, and personal transformation. #podcast #womenempowerment #leadership #motivation #womeninbusiness

What happens when tragedy shatters everything you thought you knew about the world? In this episode of Finding North, Nancy Girres sits down with executive coach, Vistage Master Chair, and founder of Perspectives Training and Consulting, Bridget Wenman. Raised as the youngest of 16 children in a Catholic family, Bridget shares the deeply personal story of losing her brother during the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s - a season that forever changed the way she viewed people, faith, leadership, and compassion. But this conversation goes far beyond grief. Bridget reflects on marriage, motherhood, entrepreneurship, executive coaching, raising confident daughters, forgiveness, retirement, and the power of being fully present with the people you love. This conversation explores: • Growing up as the youngest of 16 children • Losing her brother during the AIDS epidemic • Faith, family, and overcoming judgment • The power of compassion and empathy • Building a 38-year marriage that still thrives • Raising daughters to believe they can do anything • Leadership, feedback, and helping others grow • Retirement, succession planning, and creating legacy • Why presence and forgiveness matter most 📸 Follow behind the scenes: https://www.instagram.com/coachgirres/ 🌐 Nancy’s Website: https://nancygirres.com/ 💼 Connect with Nancy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancygirres Connect with Whitney Walpole: 🌐 www.perspectivestraining.com Subscribe for weekly conversations on leadership, identity, healing, burnout, and personal transformation. #leadership #personalgrowth #mindset #selfawareness #aidsawareness

What does it take to build a business from scratch, survive decades of change, and leave a legacy that impacts thousands of people? In this episode of Finding North, Nancy Girres sits down with entrepreneur, mentor, and former CEO Mark Burke, founder of Mister Neat's Formalwear. Starting with just a $20,000 loan while still in college, Mark built Mister Neat's Formalwear into one of Colorado's most successful formalwear companies, growing from a single location into a 20-store business that served generations of customers. But this conversation goes far beyond business. Mark shares the lessons he learned about leadership, risk-taking, mentorship, resilience, peer groups, family, entrepreneurship, retirement, and what truly matters after decades of success. This conversation explores: • Building Mister Neat's Formalwear from a college class project • Taking risks when everyone says it won't work • Growing from 1 store to 20 locations • The power of mentorship and believing in people • How peer groups shape better leaders • Navigating divorce, setbacks, and reinvention • Retirement, purpose, and legacy • What success really means after 38 years in business 📸 Follow behind the scenes: https://www.instagram.com/coachgirres/ 🌐 Nancy’s Website: https://nancygirres.com/ 💼 Connect with Nancy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancygirres Subscribe for weekly conversations on leadership, identity, healing, burnout, and personal transformation. #leadership #entrepreneur #businessowner #successmindset #motivation

What happens when you achieve everything you were supposed to want but something inside still tells you there’s more? In this deeply moving episode of the Finding North Podcast, Nancy Girres sits down with legendary executive coach and Vistage Chair Emeritus Janet Fogarty for a conversation about reinvention, intuition, grief, courage, identity, and designing a life that actually feels aligned. After spending 27 years guiding CEOs through growth, crisis, and transformation, Janet made a shocking decision at age 70: she walked away from the career she loved most. This conversation explores: • Why success alone is never enough • The hidden cost of ignoring your intuition • How sabbaticals can completely change your life • The power of asking better questions • Why listening is more transformative than advice • The difference between kindness and honesty • How to stop following someone else’s compass • What it really means to flourish as a human being Janet shares wisdom from decades spent coaching leaders through pivotal moments and reveals the mindset shifts that helped her embrace an entirely new chapter of life with freedom, peace, and purpose. If you’ve been feeling stuck, burned out, disconnected, or quietly questioning your direction... this episode may change the way you see your life. 📸 Follow behind the scenes: https://www.instagram.com/coachgirres/ 🌐 Nancy’s Website: https://nancygirres.com/ 💼 Connect with Nancy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancygirres Subscribe for weekly conversations on leadership, identity, healing, burnout, and personal transformation. #findingnorthpodcast #janetfogarty #selfgrowth #leadership #personaldevelopment