Behaviorally Speaking: Leadership for Change Makers

Season 1 Episode 5: Leadership Before the Title - How Early Career Experiences Build Ethical, Behaviorally Skilled Leaders

Leadership Before the Title: How Early Career Experiences Build Ethical, Behaviorally Skilled Leaders

In this episode of Behaviorally Speaking: Leadership for Change Makers, Dr. Esther C. Bubb sits down with Mikhaela C. McKinnie, a senior at Temple University double-majoring in Financial Planning and Real Estate, to explore how leadership is shaped long before formal authority is granted. Through reflections on early career experiences, high-pressure environments, cultural exposure, and personal growth, this conversation highlights how ethical, people-centered leadership develops through everyday actions and intentional choices.

Whether you’re early in your career or mentoring emerging leaders, this episode offers a powerful reminder: leadership is not a destination—it’s a daily practice.

About Mikhaela:

As a highly dedicated Senior at Temple University, double-majoring in Financial Planning and Real Estate, I am focused on building a career founded on trust and exceptional service. Throughout my client-facing career, I have developed a strong dedication to prioritizing the needs of every client I serve. As I pursue my CFP® designation as a participant in Vanguard's Financial Advisor Development Program, I am committed to empowering clients through financial literacy and helping them build a solid foundation for a stable financial future. I also have a strong interest in real estate investment and am eager to expand my industry knowledge, grow my network, and explore new opportunities. With my global perspective and curiosity, I aim to serve clients from diverse backgrounds and help them achieve their unique financial goals.

Season 1 Episode 4: The Science of Motivation and the Heart 💙 of Leadership

Dr. Esther C. Bubb and guest, Tracey F. Wise, explore why motivation thrives in environments of trust and clarity and how leaders can create environments that spark engagement and trust.

Tracey's Bio

Tracey F. Wise, M.Ed., is a highly experienced and credentialed educational leader with over two decades of expertise in special education law, student services, and compliance monitoring. Tracey offers deep knowledge of federal and Pennsylvania special education regulations, along with a career-long commitment to student-centered advocacy and equitable service delivery.

Tracey’s background includes extensive leadership in both school district and intermediate unit settings, where she directed complex IEP teams, supervised cross-disciplinary service providers, and managed programs supporting students with low-incidence disabilities. Her expertise spans IDEA compliance, PDE corrective action planning, and the administration of psychological, counseling, and health services.

Prior to joining Sereni, Tracey served as Supervisor of Low Incidence & Pupil Services at the Delaware County Intermediate Unit and as Director of Pupil Services at Chichester School District. Her leadership in trauma-informed care, MTSS, and crisis response has made her a respected trainer and thought leader across the region. She has served as an educational liaison on countywide child death review teams and led mental health and safety efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tracey holds multiple certifications, including Supervisor of Special Education and Pupil Services, and is a certified PREPaRE and ALICE trainer. She is also an adjunct professor at Rosemont College and a trainer for the Lakeside Institute’s trauma series.

Season 1 Episode 3: Self-Management, Emotional Regulation, and Resilience

Dr. Esther C. Bubb and guest, Dr. Natalie Hess, unpack what it means to lead when you’re tired, stretched thin, or tested, and the behavioral science behind staying centered when it matters most.

Dr. Hess's Bio:

Dr. Natalie Hess is the Director of Special Education and Support Services for the Brandywine School District, where she leads district-wide programs and services for students with disabilities and their families. A career special education executive, she has led large-scale systems in urban, suburban, and regional settings, including serving as Assistant Director of Student Services for the Delaware County Intermediate Unit and Deputy Chief of the Office of Specialized Services in the School District of Philadelphia, supervising services for more than 19,000 students across 220 schools.

Her leadership is grounded in behavioral science, emotional intelligence, and a deep commitment to creating regulated, emotionally safe environments for adults and children. Drawing on ABA-based self-management, resilience research, and her own experiences leading through crisis, staffing shortages, and high-stakes compliance demands, Dr. Hess focuses on concrete behaviors that help leaders stay centered, protect their teams, and preserve dignity for students and families.

Dr. Hess holds a Doctorate in Learning and Organizational Change from Baylor University and has presented nationally on early intervention, special education leadership, and organizational change. She is an active member of multiple professional organizations and is passionate about helping leaders sustain their work with clarity, compassion, and steadiness over time. 

 

Season 1 Episode 2: Reinforcement, Recognition, and Leading Without Toxic Positivity

Dr. Esther C. Bubb and guest, Tyrrea L. Graves, explore what genuine reinforcement looks like, how recognition strengthens teams and relationships, the art of leading with positivity without slipping into toxic positivity, and how leaders can hold space for hard emotions while still offering hope.

Tyrrea's Bio:

Tyrrea L. Graves is the innovative Owner and Chief Executive Officer of Autistic Angels Behavioral Health, LLC. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Licensed Behavior Specialist (LBS) with a Special Education Director Certification from the University of Delaware. She holds a Master of Education from Widener University, a Master of Business Administration in Finance from Wilmington University, and a Post-Master’s Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from Saint Joseph’s University.

With more than 20 years of experience across clinical and educational settings, Tyrrea has dedicated her career to supporting children and adults with developmental, emotional, behavioral, and intellectual disabilities throughout Delaware and Pennsylvania. Her work spans home-, school-, and community-based environments, where she applies evidence-based Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) practices to deliver consultation, staff development, and caregiver training. She partners with caregivers, administrators, educators, and support teams to ensure best practices are implemented with fidelity and sustainability.

Tyrrea’s professional expertise includes conducting Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs) and developing individualized Behavior Support Plans (BSPs); designing targeted professional development and coaching initiatives that enhance staff capacity and confidence; implementing behavior support within the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework; and providing systems-level behavioral consultation to strengthen schoolwide practices. Her approach integrates rigorous data-driven methods with compassion, equity, and student-centered outcomes to create meaningful, lasting change for the individuals and communities she serves.

In addition to her direct service work, Tyrrea has supervised and mentored professionals pursuing certification through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB), including BCBAs, BCaBAs, and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs).

Committed to lifelong learning and professional excellence, Tyrrea continues to expand her expertise through research, training, and advanced education. She is especially passionate about developing inclusive academic and social skills programming that empowers school-aged learners to thrive, reach their full potential, and achieve long-term success.

Autistic Angels Behavioral Health, LLC 

Autistic Angels Behavioral Health, LLC is dedicated to supporting children and adults with intellectual, developmental, and emotional disorders. Recognizing the unique challenges individuals and families face, we provide compassionate, individualized services that transform obstacles into meaningful progress. Our mission is to maximize each person’s potential through evidence-based Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) practices that promote the development, strengthening, and long-term maintenance of functional life skills.

We are committed to addressing the physical, emotional, and behavioral needs of those we serve through comprehensive, person-centered care that empowers individuals to achieve greater independence, confidence, and overall quality of life.

Vision

"Where Compassion Meets Progress"

We envision a future where every individual is valued, empowered, and fully included within their community--living with dignity, independence, confidence, and a deep sense of purpose.

Season 1 Episode 1: Leadership Is a Behavior: Your Personal Leadership Blueprint

In the very first episode of Behaviorally Speaking: Leadership for Changemakers, host Dr. Esther Bubb lays the foundation for what meaningful, sustainable leadership is really made of behavior. Not titles. Not charisma. Not personality. Behavior. Observable. Measurable. Teachable. Shapeable.

Dr. Bubb breaks down how applying behavior science to leadership transforms classrooms, clinics, teams, and families. You’ll learn why leadership is within your control and what it means to grow your practice one intentional action at a time.

This episode explores:

• The behavioral science behind effective leadership
• Five core microbehaviors every leader can strengthen today
• How small actions compound into meaningful change
• Practical examples from classrooms, supervision, and team settings
• A guided reflection to begin shaping your personal leadership blueprint
• A self-rating checklist to support daily reflection and growth

You’ll also be guided through three grounding questions to clarify:

1. What drives you as a leader
2. The values you lead from
3. The behaviors that align with the leader you want to become

To close, Dr. Bubb invites you to craft your personal leadership mission statement, a simple, powerful tool that keeps your leadership aligned with your purpose, your values, and your daily behavior.

If you’re ready to lead with clarity, compassion, and intention, this episode is your starting place.

Tune in, reflect deeply, and grow intentionally… one behavior at a time.

 

 

The Behaviorally Speaking: Leadership for Change Makers Podcast Description

Behaviorally Speaking: Leadership for Changemakers is where leadership meets behavior science, and where educators, clinicians, and humans grow.

Hosted by Dr. Esther C. Bubb, this podcast blends inspiring leadership wisdom with practical applied behavior analysis, emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and real‑world stories from schools, homes, and organizations.

Each episode explores the small, powerful behaviors that create meaningful change:
• How leaders motivate teams and build trust
• How to coach staff and navigate ethical dilemmas
• Ways to strengthen resilience and bring out the best in people
• The daily habits and mindsets that transform classrooms, teams, and systems

Whether you're an educator, behavior specialist, administrator, mental health leader, or simply a human trying to lead with clarity and purpose, this podcast gives you the tools, language, and confidence to lead intentionally and compassionately.

This is not leadership theory.
This is leadership practice: applied, actionable, and human-centered.

If you're ready to expand your leadership capacity, deepen your self-awareness, improve your decision‑making, and inspire others, this podcast is your new leadership home.

Let’s grow together, one intentional behavior at a time.