The Bravery Effect: How to Build the Courage to Grow, Lead, and Perform Jill Schulman, Keynote Speaker, Bravery Expert & Author of The Bravery Effect

By Cindra Kamphoff | February 19, 2026

In this episode of The High Performance Mindset, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff sits down with Jill Schulman—Bravery Expert, United States Marine Corps veteran, keynote speaker, and author of The Bravery Effect—to explore why bravery isn’t a personality trait, but a skill anyone can build.

Jill shares the pivotal experiences that led her to study the science of fear and courage, and why so many high performers unknowingly hold themselves back by playing it safe. Drawing from positive psychology, neuroscience, and her military background, Jill explains why bravery is not the absence of fear—but the decision to act alongside it.

Throughout the conversation, Jill breaks down the hidden cost of avoiding hard conversations, the myths that keep leaders stuck, and why small, repeated acts of bravery compound over time to shape identity, performance, and fulfillment. She also introduces the three core dimensions of bravery—thinking bravely, acting bravely, and connecting bravely—and explains how these skills fuel leadership, confidence, and impact.

This episode is a powerful reminder that growth requires discomfort—and that the life and leadership you want sit just on the other side of a brave decision.

 

You’ll Learn:

  • Why bravery is a skill—not a personality trait

  • The difference between fearlessness and true courage

  • The real cost of playing it safe in your career and life

  • The most common fears that hold leaders back

  • How small, daily acts of bravery shape identity and performance

  • Why psychological safety requires personal bravery

  • Practical ways to take action even when you feel unsure

Episode Resources & Links

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