Refined Leadership - ADHD Lens
Refined Leadership: ADHD Lens" is a leadership podcast tailored for professionals with ADHD. Hosted by Certified Executive Coach Cathy Rashidian, it offers actionable strategies and insights that harness the strengths of ADHD in leadership roles. Each episode is designed to help you navigate your career advancement with ADHD, providing tools and tips to reshape your professional habits and enhance decision-making.
Ideal for emerging leaders and high-performers, this podcast builds a community around advancing leadership capabilities through the ADHD lens. Tune in to transform your leadership approach and achieve professional success.
New to Refined Leadership: ADHD Lens?
107
May 7, 2026
Why Knowing Isn't Doing: Adult ADHD Through a CBT Lens | Dr. Russell Ramsay
"I know what I need to do, but I don't trust that I'll do it when I need to do it." If that sentence lands, this conversation is for you. In this episode of Refined Leadership: ADHD Lens, I sit down with Dr. Russell Ramsay, one of the leading voices in adult ADHD and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. We talk about his new book, Once I Get Started, and the cognitive theme he believes runs beneath much of adult ADHD: self-mistrust. This is not a productivity conversation. It is a conversation about
Recent Episodes
108
Aug. 2, 2026
Why ADHD Professionals Get Stuck | Overcoming the Wall of Awful
Why can a capable ADHD professional know exactly what needs to be done—and still find it incredibly difficult to begin? In this conversation, Cathy Rashidian speaks with Brendan Mahan, MEd, MS, author of Overcoming the Wall of Awful, about the emotional barriers that can build around work we have struggled with before. A report, email, decision or difficult conversation may look straightforward from the outside. Internally, that task may be carrying frustration, uncertainty, shame, fear of fai
104
May 7, 2026
I Didn’t Burn Out. My Mask Did.
What happens when the mask comes off? In this episode, Coach Cathy dives into the unique challenges faced by high-achieving professionals with ADHD who feel pressured to conform to traditional leadership molds. Through her personal story of exhaustion and the breaking point that led her to quit her executive role, Cathy shines a light on masking—the exhausting effort to hide your struggles and maintain a polished facade. She unpacks the toll this takes on your mental bandwidth, decision-making
107
May 7, 2026
Why Knowing Isn't Doing: Adult ADHD Through a CBT Lens | Dr. Russell Ramsay
"I know what I need to do, but I don't trust that I'll do it when I need to do it." If that sentence lands, this conversation is for you. In this episode of Refined Leadership: ADHD Lens, I sit down with Dr. Russell Ramsay, one of the leading voices in adult ADHD and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. We talk about his new book, Once I Get Started, and the cognitive theme he believes runs beneath much of adult ADHD: self-mistrust. This is not a productivity conversation. It is a conversation about
105
Aug. 11, 2025
When ADHD Almost Cost Me My Career
In this episode of Refined Leadership: ADHD Edition, I’m sharing the story of two career-defining decisions I made at the height of my corporate leadership roles—both of which I now realize were driven by ADHD. On the outside, they looked like bold, deliberate moves. On the inside, I was in fight-or-flight mode, making fear-based calls that brought short-term relief but long-term consequences. You’ll hear: How ADHD traits like impulsivity, emotional intensity, and uncertainty intolerance can
104
June 5, 2025
Special Invitation _ ADHD & Emotional Regulation
Your Special June Invite To join us, there’s no requirement for a 3-month commitment (usual commitment to join our group).—just one powerful opportunity to see what this group experience can unlock for you. $150. One month. Full access. We begin Friday, June 6, at noon EST. (Encore Session: June 13) Here is what we are doing this month Monthly Group Call: June 6 & June 13 noon EST. (you can come to both or one of them) All members of the community are invited to join the call. Typically,
103
May 8, 2025
Leading Yourself with ADHD: The Skill No One Talks About
If you’re ADHD and high-performing, here’s what no one tells you — self-leadership is your lifeline. In this episode, Coach Cathy explores how neurodivergent professionals can lead themselves with more clarity, compassion, and confidence. You’ll learn how to: • Track your energy patterns (instead of forcing productivity) • Identify personal anchor practices • Ask for what you need — without over-explaining You’ll also hear personal stories, practical tools, and an invitation to connect with
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