The Wolf Within: Trusting Your Instincts in Leadership
Episode Description
What shapes a leader long before the title ever arrives?
In this meaningful and inspiring episode, Dr. Stephanie Duguid welcomes Dr. Kris Tolman to explore a leadership journey shaped by faith, mentorship, and authentic growth.
Kris shares how her early leadership experiences in her religious community, including organizing youth camps and leading volunteers, helped her develop vision, resilience, and a heart for serving others. Without formal training at first, she learned by doing, discovering that leadership is less about control and more about care, clarity, and empowering people to succeed.
A pivotal mentor helped Kris see her potential before she fully recognized it herself, preparing her for larger opportunities such as leading the NYSOT conference. There, she focused on creating a positive, collaborative experience built on trust, teamwork, and shared ownership of the vision.
Together, Stephanie and Kris discuss imposter syndrome, embracing mistakes as growth opportunities, and navigating leadership transitions with courage. Kris introduces the idea of tapping into her “wolf self,” choosing paths that feel freeing rather than constrained and trusting her instincts when facing change.
They also reflect on the importance of boundaries, reconnecting with nature, daily habits that sustain strong leadership, and aligning decisions with personal values rather than external expectations.
This conversation is a powerful reminder that leadership is not about perfection or performance. It is about alignment, service, growth, and trusting who you are becoming.
Serve with goodness. Lead with greatness. Educate with impact.
🎧 Listen now: https://www.drstephanieduguid.com/podcast
Guest Info:
Dr. Kris Tolman
Dr. Kris Tolman is a trained life coach and business owner of Life By Design Coaching and Training. Most recently she was the Interim Associate Director for the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) where she led programming that supported student success, faculty development, and inclusive educational practices, including organizing and directing The NISOD Conference. Before joining NISOD, Kris held roles in faculty development and served as a professor at Austin Community College (ACC). Kris completed her PhD in Adult, Professional, and Continuing Education at Texas State University, where her research focused on barriers to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training, the relationship between adult development and adult learning, and fostering mindset shifts through developmental programs. Through her work, Kris continues to champion empowering educational environments that support all learners. As a coach, she guides people in learning to listen to their inner voice and supports them in creating the life they want to live.
Guest: Dr. Kris Tolman
Website: www.kristolman.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-tolman
Host: Dr. Stephanie Duguid, Owner, Do Good Leadership
Website: www.drstephanieduguid.com
Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/stephanie.rectorduguid
Facebook (Group): https://www.facebook.com/DoGoodLeadership