Episode 17: F.E.A.R.lessly Navigating the Workplace: Conquering Fear and Thriving

Human-Centric Leadership Podcast

Jul 20 2023 • 1 hr 10 mins

Today we have an amazing and horizon-expanding conversation with Cate Hollowitsch about the important subject of fear! Cate Hollowitsch is the Chief Marketing Officer for Nesnah Ventures, a private equity firm. Cate is an energetic, results-driven marketing professional with more than 30 years of experience and a proven track record in all areas of marketing including branding, innovation, and digital transformation. As an executive, she also has an extensive background in turnarounds, value creation, and mergers and acquisitions for small to medium-sized businesses. She has a BSBA and an MBA, is the author of Confidence Counts, the creator of the F.E.A.R. Framework for Selfless Leadership, and is an adjunct professor in digital marketing. Our chat covers fear's roots in self-preservation, how to identify fear in ourselves, the things that amplify fear, as well as Cate's powerful framework for transcending the perils and pits of fear. Join us to hear it all!


Key Points From This Episode:

  • Cate shares a little about her work at Nesnah Ventures and the company culture.
  • The process of illumination that Cate went through with her relationship with fear.
  • Lessons that Cate has learned since her youth and her views about the importance of personal experience.
  • The efficacy of simple questions for helping someone gain a new perspective.
  • How fear spreads; Cate explains the metaphor of fire.
  • Understanding how to self-check and assess the information you are given.
  • Curiosity over assumption; why we need to make more room for questions as adults!
  • The role and responsibility of great leaders in relation to individual needs on a team.
  • Recognizing fear's manifestation in ourselves and the similarities between all types of fear.
  • Taking the necessary steps in order to be heard; the internal obstacles we all have to overcome.
  • Cate talks about some of the factors that amplify fear.
  • How fear divides where we are and where we can get to.
  • The F.E.A.R. framework and the four elements that make up Cate's process.
  • A little about Cate's ebook, Confidence Counts, and her motivations for publishing it!
  • How to find, connect, and work with Cate.


Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Cate Hollowitsch LinkedIn

Cate Hollowitsch Speaker Website

F.E.A.R. Framework

Confidence Counts

Michelle Nicole Martin

Michelle Nicole Martin on Instagram

Michelle Nicole Martin on LinkedIn