Neuroscience Meets Leadership: Inside The Leadership Recipe with Founder Joanne Merrick

Leadership takes center stage in today's Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur Spotlight as we dive into conversation with Joanne Merrick, founder of The Leadership Recipe. Drawing from her impressive 25-year career spanning giants like Deloitte, Amazon, and Juniper Networks, Joanne has crafted a business that transforms how individuals and organizations approach leadership. Her unique blend of practical experience and neuroscience background delivers real-world results that help people unlock their full potential and build stronger teams. From publishing her thought-provoking book to her refreshingly honest approach about whether management is right for everyone, get ready to explore the mind of an entrepreneur who's redefining what it means to be a truly effective leader.

Hi, Joanne! Thanks for joining us today. Tell us about your business. Who do you serve, how do you serve them, and what's the impact that your business and work makes?

At The Leadership Recipe, I work with individuals, teams, and organizations who are ready to step up their leadership game. With over 25 years of experience, including time at Deloitte, Amazon, and Juniper Networks, I create programs that focus on real, practical skills—like communication, emotional intelligence, and how to work better together as a team. I draw on my background in neuroscience to make sure the approach is both grounded in science and easy to apply in the real world.

The impact I’m focused on is simple: helping people unlock their full potential and build stronger teams that perform at their best. When people are more self-aware and connected to those around them, it leads to a positive shift in how they work and collaborate, which ultimately drives real success for the organization.

Tell us about the moment you finally felt like you went from wantrepreneur to entrepreneur.

The moment I truly felt like I transitioned from a wantrepreneur to an entrepreneur was when I decided to take the leap and launch The Leadership Recipe. For years, I had the vision of creating a business that would make a real difference in how people lead and collaborate, but it wasn’t until I took that first step - putting my ideas into action and offering programs to clients - that everything clicked. I realized it wasn’t just about having a great idea; it was about creating something that had a tangible impact on people’s lives. 

Then, publishing Game On! Is Management Your Best Career Play? was another defining moment. The book allowed me to take that mission a step further, sharing my insights with a wider audience and helping individuals make more informed decisions about stepping into management. That was when I knew I had crossed the line from dreaming about what could be to actually building something that mattered.

Describe the moment or period in your life/career that motivated you to make the entrepreneurial leap.

The moment that motivated me to make the entrepreneurial leap came after years of working in leadership roles at major organizations like Deloitte, Amazon, and Juniper Networks. I had always felt a deep passion for developing people and helping them unlock their leadership potential. Over time, I realized that while I was making an impact in those roles, I was limited in how many people I could reach. I wanted to create something of my own - a business that could help even more individuals and teams grow, collaborate, and thrive.

The turning point came when I published Game On! Is Management Your Best Career Play?. Writing the book made me realize how much knowledge I had to share and how eager people were for practical guidance on stepping into leadership roles. It was about creating something that not only reflected my passion but could make a lasting difference for others on a much larger scale.

Describe a tool, service, or software that has been a game-changer for your business. How does it contribute to your success?

One tool that has been a game-changer for my business is Podmatch. This platform has been instrumental in helping me connect with podcast hosts, allowing me to share my insights on leadership and personal development with a much wider audience. By matching me with hosts who align with my message and target audience, Podmatch has made it easier for me to get my voice heard and expand my reach.

The ability to be featured on various podcasts has significantly contributed to the success of my business by allowing me to engage with new listeners, build relationships, and further establish The Leadership Recipe as a trusted source of leadership insights. It’s been a key factor in growing my visibility and impact, helping me connect with individuals and organizations who can benefit from my work.

We know that success is very often a non-linear path. Tell us about a failure, pivot point, or lesson that changed your course or direction and helped to get you where you are today.

Success has definitely been a non-linear path for me. One of the most significant lessons came during a period of personal hardship. Over the course of two years, five close friends and/or family members passed away, with the most impactful being the unexpected passing of a dear friend, 5 months before his 50th birthday and just two months after I launched The Leadership Recipe.

Dealing with that grief, both personally and while supporting my loved ones, was a huge setback. Grief is so personal and can be incredibly disruptive - it literally knocked the wind out of my sails in ways I couldn’t have anticipated. At the time, I thought it could derail everything I’d worked so hard for, and I seriously questioned whether I was strong enough to push forward.

But in hindsight, that difficult period became a pivot point for me. It taught me the importance of resilience and how to approach challenges - whether personal or professional - with empathy and understanding. The grief didn’t stop me; it deepened my commitment to my mission. It shifted my focus on not just helping people develop leadership skills but also on supporting their emotional well-being. I learned that leadership isn’t just about professional growth but also about navigating life’s ups and downs with grace.

This experience changed my course in ways I couldn’t have imagined, and it ultimately helped me build a more grounded, empathetic approach to the work I do. It’s been a painful but valuable lesson, and I continue to grow from it every day.

What unconventional strategy did you employ that significantly impacted your business?

An unconventional strategy I employed is being open and honest in Game On! Is Management Your Best Career Play? about the reality that management isn’t for everyone. Rather than promoting management as the ultimate career goal, I encourage readers to take a step back and consider whether it aligns with their personal values, strengths, and career aspirations.

This strategy challenges the common narrative that everyone should aim for a leadership position and instead emphasizes the importance of self-awareness in making a career decision. By presenting management as a choice that requires careful thought and introspection, I hope to inspire individuals to make more intentional decisions about their career paths, empowering them to pursue leadership roles only if it truly aligns with who they are. This approach will help differentiate my work in leadership development and resonate with those seeking a more mindful, authentic way to approach career growth.

What’s something you wish you knew sooner that you’d give as advice for aspiring or newer entrepreneurs?

One thing I wish I knew sooner - and would offer as advice for aspiring or newer entrepreneurs - is that the journey is often filled with ups and downs, and that’s okay. It’s easy to get caught up in the pressure to be constantly moving forward or achieving visible success, but the reality is that setbacks, moments of doubt, and unexpected challenges are all part of the process. Embracing them as opportunities to learn and grow rather than obstacles can make all the difference.

I’d also advise aspiring entrepreneurs to trust their instincts and stay true to their unique vision, even when there’s pressure to follow conventional paths. There will always be advice and strategies out there, but the most fulfilling and sustainable success often comes from carving out your own path and staying grounded in what matters most to you. The ability to pivot, adapt, and stay resilient through those moments of uncertainty is what ultimately leads to lasting success.

Want to dive deeper into Joanne's work? Learn more on her website, theleadershiprecipe.com