Lead & Belong — Showing Up Fully at Work (with Mary Ellen Murrah)
Guest: Mary Ellen Murrah — Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer, Vista Consulting; co-owner, Groundwater Creative; proud Baltimorean; mom of two; fierce alto.
What we cover
- Coming out later in life while already in senior leadership
- Speaking up in male-dominated, “stiff” industries
- The power of queer spaces (chorus!) to build resilient leaders
- Holiday boundary-setting with family (the Christmas Eve dinner)
- Empathy at work: modeling grace without losing standards
- Networking authentically—micro-moments that shift culture
Memorable quotes
- “I decided I’m walking in as myself—and the room can take me as I am.”
- “You don’t have to know every answer to be a great leader.”
- “Queer joy is leadership training.”
- “Boundaries are love with clarity.”
Action step
Ask yourself before your next meeting: What’s one small, honest detail I can share that lets me show up fully (and safely) today? Then do it.
Links
- Connect with Mary Ellen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryellenmurrah/
- Vista Consulting: https://vistact.com/
- Jonathan: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanmbarbe/
- IG/TikTok/FB @JMBCoachingLLC
Credits
Host: Jonathan Barbe • Empowered & Out Coaching
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