Episode 39

Empowered & Out with guest Sarah A Scala

Published on: 28th October, 2025

Leadership, Kindness & Psychological Safety (ft. Sarah A. Scala, PCC)

Kindness isn’t soft—it’s strategic. Consultant, coach, and educator Sarah A. Scala (she/her) joins Empowered & Out to unpack how empathy and accountability can—and should—coexist, why psychological safety fuels performance, and what LGBTQ+ leaders need to sustain success with resilience, optimism, and grit.

What we cover

  • Sarah’s origin story: from adventure learning to executive coaching
  • Kindness as a performance driver (not a lowered bar)
  • Practical ways leaders build psychological safety day-to-day
  • The empathy + accountability balance (and why both matter)
  • Resilience strategies for LGBTQ+ pros and teams
  • Cross-cultural leadership lessons from global work
  • Inclusion as a business outcome—not a “nice to have”

Quotable

  • “Kindness with accountability doesn’t lower standards—it raises performance.”
  • “Psychological safety is the engine of innovation.”
  • “Inclusion isn’t separate from results—it drives them.”

Resources & guest links

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About the Podcast

Empowered & Out
The Career Coaching Podcast
Empowered & Out is the podcast for anyone who wants a career that feels aligned, meaningful, and authentic.

Hosted by career purpose and confidence coach Jonathan Barbe, each episode explores confidence, identity, and self-worth at work through coaching insights and candid conversations with leaders and change-makers redefining success.

Rooted in LGBTQ+ lived experience and open to everyone, this podcast supports listeners navigating burnout, career transitions, toxic workplaces, and the pressure to mask who they are.

Whether you’re rebuilding confidence, seeking clarity, or ready to show up more fully at work, Empowered & Out is here to help — without apology.

About your host

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J B

JB Motivating From The 5280 Podcast is about me, Jonathan Barbe, living in the Mile High City, sharing my thoughts and opinions on positive motivation and self-improvement from my home in Colorado.