On today’s McCoy Leadership Podcast, I sat down with Wendy Hultmark, a leadership and career coach for scientists, to unpack what it really takes to build engaged, high-performing teams—even in environments as unique as the research lab. Wendy shared her journey from a rewarding HR career to coaching, dished out actionable advice for business owners without formal HR, and highlighted why trust and mission alignment are crucial for any leader. If you want to elevate your leadership and truly support your people, this conversation is packed with insights you don’t want to miss.

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Download your free episode guide here!

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05:44 Creating an effective work environment

07:56 Building trust for better results

13:31 Challenges in lab leadership

16:12 Paths to Becoming a Lab Leader

20:28 Deciding to address performance issues

22:26 Teaching mental math at work

29:00 Managing lab funding decisions

30:54 Gaining clarity through a mental shift

35:52 Advice on anticipating challenges

39:18 Discovering a 1992 Sears Wish Book

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Here are 3 key takeaways for leaders in any field:

Create Environments for Success: Remove obstacles and clarify objectives so people can do their best work—not just complete tasks. Leadership is about fostering conditions for others to thrive.
Humanity Drives Results: Leaning into the “human side” of leadership—building trust, engaging teams, and being transparent—actually accelerates results and aligns teams.
Leadership Is a Skill, Not an Accident: Many technical experts find themselves in leadership roles without formal training. Investing in leadership development is crucial, regardless of your industry.

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Want to learn more about McCoy Leadership? Check out our website, https://www.mccoyleadership.com/ and don't forget to subscribe to receive all the latest podcast episode.

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Links

Wendy's LinkedIn

Wendy's Website

Wendy's book reccomendation