What does it really look like to lead with courage, advocate for yourself (and others), and embrace vulnerability as a strength? In this episode, I had the pleasure of talking with Mary Beth Plank-Mezo, who is the Vice President of Staff and Cultural Development at Full Sail University and has been with the university for an incredible 36 years. Her leadership has touched so many across the campus — and I know firsthand how impactful she’s been. We recorded this conversation live in studio at Full Sail, and you’ll hear how Mary Beth’s leadership journey has evolved over the years, from being a quiet observer in meetings to becoming a powerful voice and advocate for change. She shares the pivotal moments that shaped her, including the time she walked into the founder’s office and asked to switch departments (talk about bold self-advocacy!) and how she helped start the university’s Staff and Cultural Development department. We talk about: Why asking for what you want is so important (even when it’s scary) How to deal with “no” - and why it doesn’t always mean “never” The value of listening first and co-creating a vision to build trust and buy-in What happens when leaders show vulnerability (and how it fosters innovation) Why women often hold themselves back and what we can do to push past that The three layers of advocacy: for yourself, by others, and for others Mary Beth also shares what continues to fuel her passion for mentoring and growing new leaders and how she sees her role now as ensuring the next generation is ready to take the reins. This is one of those episodes that will stay with you, especially if you’ve ever questioned whether your voice matters (spoiler: it does). Tune in and then ask yourself: What’s one area where you can advocate for yourself right now? Who’s in your corner, cheering you on and who can you advocate for? Links: Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/427/ Watch the video of this episode at https://youtu.be/HT77NKq2un4 Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/ Enroll in our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/ Connect on LinkedIn: Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox Mary Beth Plank-Mezo (guest) = https://www.linkedin.com/in/mbplankmezo/ Related Podcast Episodes: Episode 397: Speak to Lead: Elevating Your Executive Presence Episode 399: Be a Voice of Change: How to Communicate Transformational Leadership Episode 405: Advocating and Using Your Voice for Yourself JOIN US: Our in-person Speaking Accelerator Workshop is coming up in Downtown Orlando on October 30, 2025. Create and practice your signature talk in one day using our proven framework, so you can confidently share your message and attract more opportunities. It's a fun, supportive environment where you get personalized feedback, professional photos, and more. Limited to 15 attendees. Get the details and secure your spot at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.