Welcome to Mic'd Up for Leadership, the podcast that gives you the tools to lead with confidence! Hosts Alex Dresen and Jourdan Hilaire draw on their experience in higher education and the corporate world to help you become the best leader possible.

In this episode, we’re taking "Spring Cleaning" out of the closet and onto the streets of Milwaukee. What started as a simple morning spent picking up trash in the neighborhood turned into a deep dive into the "Threshold of Action"—that pivotal moment when a leader stops walking past a problem and decides to own it. Alex introduces his signature leadership framework, DRE (Dream, Realize, Engage), and explains how to pivot from simply treating "symptoms" (like cleaning your yard) to tackling "root causes" (like engaging civic systems and apartment management). Whether you’re a student leader on campus or a professional navigating your community, this episode is a roadmap for moving from observation to impact.

In this episode:

• The Trash Walk: Why a "camera on a garbage picker" revealed a major leadership lesson about unassigned tasks.

• Introducing the DRE Model: A breakdown of Dreaming of possibilities, Realizing your potential, and Engaging your community.

• The Threshold of Action: How to identify the moment you move from a "spectator" to a "stakeholder" in your environment.

• Civic ROI: Why navigating city systems (like Milwaukee’s DNS and Click4Action) is the "Senior Capstone" of real-world leadership.

• Grandstanding vs. Service: A candid conversation on how to lead visibly without making it all about yourself.

Connect with Mic'd Up for Leadership:📧 Email: micdupforleadership@gmail.com📸 Instagram: @micdupforleadership

#Podcast #Leadership #HigherEducation #StudentLeadership #OrganizationalDevelopment #MicdUpForLeadership #DRELeadership #MilwaukeeLeadership #SpringCleaning #CommunityEngagement

Welcome to Mic'd Up for Leadership, the podcast thatgives you the tools to lead with confidence! Hosts Alex Dresen and Jourdan Hilaire draw on their experience in higher education and the corporate world to help you become the best leader possible.

In our inaugural guest episode, we sit down with Dr.Raeshan Davis to pull back the curtain on why student involvement is the ultimate training ground for your career. From navigating the NACE Career Readiness Competencies to finding your voice in leadership roles, we explore how the work you do on campus today builds the Leadership and Professionalism skills you’ll need for a lifetime of impact.

In this episode:

• The value of professional conferences (NASPA recap!)

• Turning campus roles into career-ready skills

• Dr. Davis’s journey from student leader to executive

Meet Our Guest: Dr. Raeshan Davis

• Title: Research Scientist & Program Manager for Success in Science Initiative (The Ohio State University)

• Bio: Dr. Raeshan Davis is an educator, researcher, and advocate committed to expanding opportunity and access in STEM education. Her work focuses on student success and creating learning environments where all students can thrive. She is passionate about mentorship, research, and building pathways that help more students see themselves in science.

• Connect with Dr. Davis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raeshandavis/

Connect with Mic'd Up for Leadership:

📧 Email: micdupforleadership@gmail.com

📸 Instagram: @micdupforleadership

#Podcast #Leadership #HigherEducation #StudentLeadership#OrganizationalDevelopment #MicdUpForLeadership #DRELeadership

Welcome to Mic'd Up for Leadership, the podcast that givesyou the tools to lead with confidence! Alex Dresen and Jourdan Hilaire share their experience as leaders within higher education and the corporate world to share how you can be the best leader possible.

In this episode, we tackle one of the most important toolsin a leader's belt: The 1 on 1 Meeting. Far from just a "statusupdate," the 1 on 1 is where culture is built and growth happens. We discuss how to structure these conversations, how to build rapport, and how to ensure both you and your team member walk away with clarity and purpose.

What we cover in this episode:

• The Purpose: Why 1 on 1s are the most important 30 minutes of your week.

• The Structure: Moving from "What are you working on?" to "How are you growing?"

• The Rapport: Building trust and psychological safety in a professional setting.

🗣️ Question of the Week:

We want to hear from you! What is your favorite questionto ask during a 1 on 1 meeting?

For business inquiries or to send listener questions, pleasecontact micdupforleadership@gmail.com, or message us on Instagram atmicdupforleadership #Podcast #Leadership #HigherEducation #StudentLeadership#OrganizationalDevelopment #MicdUpForLeadership #DRELeadership