Episode 100 | Holding H.O.P.E.: 100 Episodes, 100 Conversations, Countless Lives Impacted

LWH Closing: That's a wrap for today's episode of Lead with Hope. Remember, the world needs your leadership and change starts with you. Fuel your life with HOPE, your purpose, and shine your light for others. ⁓ this episode inspired you, I'd be so grateful if you could take a moment to give us a five-star rating and share it. ⁓

Brandi Kelly: Before we get started, I want to thank our legacy partner, Craig Williams, founder of Convissary. As FarCope, we believe story matters because story shapes how we lead, how we connect, and how we show up in the world. Convissary helps authors and leaders bring clarity to their story and confidence to their voice so that their brand truly reflects who they are. You can learn more about their work by visiting the link in today's show notes.

Dr. Brandi Kelly: Does your summer feel less like strategic planning and more like patching holes? You end the school year exhausted, telling yourself next year will be different. It's going to be clearer, calmer, more focused. But then the summer happens. Hiring, facility needs, district mandates, and suddenly planning gets squeezed into the last week before teachers return. That's why we created the Start Your Year Strong Resource Guide. Let's take a moment to highlight our legacy sponsor, Commissary. The name Combissary comes from Latin, and at its heart, it's all about interaction, socializing, exchanging thoughts, and engaging ideas with others. That's exactly the spirit they bring to their work with leaders, authors, and change makers. Comvassary is for anyone who knows they have a message to share.

LWH Closing: Every review spread HOPE ⁓ empowers more leaders to rise. ⁓ for listening ⁓ until next time, ⁓ leading with HOPE. ⁓

Dr. Brandi Kelly: Welcome to the hundredth episode of the Lead with Hope podcast.

Brandi Kelly: or on the Spark Hope website. Thank you, Convissary, for supporting the Lead with Hope podcast.

Dr. Brandi Kelly: Inside this free 24-page guide, you will find reflection questions, tools, and next steps to build a collaborative, culture-centered roadmap for your year. It's aligned to five pillars for operational excellence: clarity, collaboration, data, purpose, and of course, hope. It's co-developed by six authors and leadership consultants. But doesn't want to rush it or to water it down. Commissary helps you clarify your voice, shape your story, and communicate it in a way that feels intentional, authentic, and aligned with who you truly are. Whether you're thinking about writing a book, refining your message, or building a brand that reflects your values, Combassary walks alongside you, providing strategy, support, 100 episodes. Honestly, when I say it out loud, it's really hard to believe. as I was preparing for this episode, I found myself reflecting and thinking back to this podcast began. and designed to help you align before the first bell rings. Excellence without exhaustion is possible, but it starts with alignment. So grab your free guide today, the links in the show notes. And heart every step of the way. You can learn more by visiting the link in the show notes or go over to my website, Spark Hope EDU. A big thank you to Craig Williams with Commissary for supporting this podcast and helping leaders turn their ideas into meaningful, lasting impact. Believe it or not, Lead with Hope started in a Starbucks. I was talking with Adam Wellcome at an Illinois Association of School Administrators conference, standing in that coffee shop, sharing this idea that had been on my heart. at the time it was just a conversation, ⁓ idea, nothing fancy, and I really had no idea how it was gonna begin. But he said something to me that I'll never forget. What are you waiting for? And then before I knew it, that conversation became a podcast. Adam became my very first guest, And looking back, it's really amazing how ⁓ often the things that change our lives with a simple conversation coffee. If you've never listened to that episode with Adam, I want to encourage you to go back and check it out. It's the first episode. And it's a reminder to us all that every journey has a starting point. And sometimes all it takes is an idea, a conversation, and the courage to begin. Since that day, I've had the privilege of hosting countless conversations with some incredible leaders, educators, entrepreneurs, change makers, I have learned something from each and every guest and from all of you who continue to listen, share, and support this podcast. and as I was reflecting on reaching ⁓ this incredible milestone, I coming back to important lessons that continue to stay with me throughout this journey. Lesson number one is that hope is a practice. If there's one thing that I can say for sure, it's that hope is always something that we choose. It's what helps us to get through the hard times and and just to keep going when the path before us is not clear. It's what allows us to believe that today's challenges don't have to define tomorrow's possibilities. The people I have interviewed over the last ninety-nine episodes have reminded me again and again that hope is not found in perfect circumstances. It's found in the decision to keep moving forward despite our adversity and our hardships. Lesson number two, people matter more than the programs. the leaders who leave the greatest impact are rarely remembered for things like a strategic plan or an initiative, a program. They're remembered for how they make people feel. These leaders, they listen, they encourage, they invest in their people, and they create environments where ⁓ everyone feels like belong. At the heart of every meaningful school, business or organization are people who choose to care about other people. Lesson number three. Sometimes we hold hope until others can carry it for themselves. And this lesson is deeply personal. Many of you know that this work that I do now was shaped by the loss of my brother Brandon. And that experience taught me the profound difference one person can make in the life of another. Throughout my career I've met students and educators, leaders, families, people who struggled. To see what was possible for themselves. In those moments, leadership was not about fixing problems. It was about holding hope, believing in someone before they could believe in themselves. And over time, I've seen something beautiful happen. The people who were once given hope become the people who give hope. And that's how impact. Grows. That's how leadership multiplies, and that's how legacies are created. So to every guest who has shared their story, to every listener who has downloaded an episode, left a review, shared a conversation, or encouraged someone else to tune in, I just want to take a moment and pause and say thank you. This podcast exists because of you, because of this community. And I'm grateful for every person who has been part of the journey. To celebrate this milestone of 100 episodes, we're doing something special. Beginning tomorrow, I'll be releasing seven guest episodes in seven days. Seven conversations with seven leaders. These are seven opportunities for you to learn and to grow and to be inspired. And I can't wait for you to meet these incredible guests and hear the wisdom that they have to share. 100 episodes later, I believe this more than ever. Hope matters, people matter, and every one of us has the opportunity to be the spark that helps someone else see what's possible. Thank you for being part of this journey. Here's to the next 100 episodes. And as always, keep leading with hope, my friend.