Leading with Vulnerability: Nicole McDermott on Trust & Courage

Описание: Leading with Vulnerability: Nicole McDermott on Trust & Courage

Leading with vulnerability isn't weakness—it's the foundation for trust, growth, and resilience in student life and educational leadership. Join host Bridget Johnson with Nicole McDermott, ICF-certified coach, Dare to Lead™ facilitator, and former independent school head with 20+ years of experience, for an insightful conversation about building courageous school communities through authentic leadership. Nicole shares powerful strategies for navigating uncertainty, leading through crisis, and creating cultures where everyone belongs—from navigating COVID-19 as a school head to supporting new leaders through complex transitions.

Featured Guest: Nicole McDermott brings over two decades of educational leadership experience, including 18 years as head of school (starting at age 26), to her current work with Quality Matters leadership development and Educational Directions search consulting. Trained directly by Brené Brown as a Certified Dare to Lead™ Facilitator, Nicole specializes in executive coaching, leadership transitions, and building trust-centered school cultures. Her grounded approach—rooted in mutual trust, warmth, integrity, and vulnerability—helps student life professionals and educational leaders show up courageously during challenging times. Nicole is also certified in Clifton Strengths, EQI, and grief education, and maintains daily meditation and gratitude practices that anchor her transformative leadership work.

Key Topics:
• The through-line of connection and making a difference across all educational leadership roles
• Why vulnerability is essential for trust-building and what intentional vulnerability looks like in practice
• Leading through uncertainty: Lessons from heading a school during COVID-19 and giving yourself grace
• Brené Brown's research on shame vs. guilt and why language matters in student discipline
• Building trust in small moments: Why intentional leadership creates stronger school communities
• Supporting new leaders through transitions without drinking from the fire hose

Visit the Deans' Roundtable: https://deansroundtable.org
LinkedIn:   / bridget-johnson510  
Email: [email protected]
Student Life Assessment Program: https://deansroundtable.org/k-12-stud...

Connect with Nicole McDermott: nicolemcdermott.net
LinkedIn:   / nicmcd  

#deansroundtable #studentlife #k12leadership #vulnerabilityinleadership #daretolead #educationalleadership #TrustBuilding #independentschools #studentaffairs #courageousleadership #LeadershipTransitions #schoolculture

00:00 Welcome to The Table
01:00 Nicole's Journey: From Second Grade Dream to 20+ Years in Education
02:20 The Through-Line: Connection and Making a Difference
04:02 Leadership Philosophy: Trust, Warmth, Integrity & Vulnerability
06:25 Training with Brené Brown: Becoming a Dare to Lead Facilitator
08:00 Shame vs. Guilt: Transforming Language in Schools
10:12 Why Leaders Avoid Vulnerability (And Why They Shouldn't)
12:00 What Intentional Vulnerability Looks Like in Practice
15:19 Leading Through COVID-19: Braving Uncertainty as Head of School
17:20 Giving Yourself Grace and Focusing on What You Can Control
19:00 Quality Matters: Building a Leadership Development Practice
21:40 Common Leadership Challenges: The Trust Issue Nobody Names
23:20 Slowing Down to Build Trust in Small Moments
24:00 Leadership Searches & Transitions: The Missing Holistic Approach
26:20 Supporting New Leaders: Permission to Pause and Set Boundaries
30:36 Transition Support: Walking Alongside Leaders for the First Year
32:04 Grounding Practices: Daily Meditation and Gratitude That Changed Everything
37:40 What's Next: Choosing Courage in Challenging Times
39:00 Where to Find Nicole and Quality Matters Services
39:56 Lightning Round