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Balancing executive leadership with client connection in behavioral health
In this episode of Tim Talks, host Timothy Zercher sits down with Amanda Timonere, clinical executive, entrepreneur, and founder of Zenful Collective™. Amanda shares her journey into behavioral health, how she balances executive leadership with client connection, and the role of cultural responsiveness in transforming outcomes.
From preventing burnout to marketing with authenticity, Amanda offers practical insights for leaders and organizations navigating the complexities of behavioral health. If you’re curious about values-driven leadership, sustainable growth, and building cultures of inclusion—this conversation is for you.
Transcript
00:00 – Welcome & Introduction
Timothy welcomes Amanda to the show.
00:22 – Why Behavioral Health?
Q: What led you into this field?
Amanda shares her personal story of seeing the ripple effects of untreated trauma and her belief that healing shouldn’t happen in isolation.
01:08 – Balancing Leadership & Client Care
Q: How do you balance operational demands with staying connected to clients?
Amanda explains how staying close to the front lines grounds her leadership.
01:41 – Cultural Responsiveness
Q: Can you share a moment when cultural responsiveness changed outcomes?
Amanda tells a story of reframing treatment through cultural values, leading to deeper client trust.
02:31 – Preventing Burnout
Q: What’s your personal playbook for protecting energy?
Amanda shares her 3-part strategy: boundaries, grounding, and creativity.
03:53 – Growth & Client Acquisition
Q: How does your team gain new clients and partners?
Amanda emphasizes authenticity, word-of-mouth, and digital storytelling.
04:43 – Challenges of Scaling Teams
Q: What’s the hardest part of growing your organization?
Amanda highlights the importance of values alignment over numbers.
05:22 – Marketing with Integrity
Q: What marketing strategies are you focusing on?
Amanda shares her focus on community-based marketing and authentic engagement.
05:55 – Closing
Timothy thanks Amanda for her time and insights.
