Speak Like a Leader

What You'll Learn:How adversity can become your most powerful teacherThe surprise that “everything's still in color” after a bankruptcyWhy “Don't be nervous, be at their service” is more than just a sticker—it's a leadership principleHow metacognition gives you the power to shift from victim to agentWhat the “Influence Quadrant” is—and how it can transform your communication and leadership Links & Resources:

What You'll Learn in This Episode:How Steve Waddell transitioned from shipbuilding to entrepreneurship.The inspiration behind Valuepreneurs and why it challenges conventional startup wisdom.The key lesson from Steve's TEDx Talk: Start with Who, Not Why.The challenges of launching a product, from patents to tariffs and the impact of COVID-19.Why networking, strategic grants, and understanding your customers are the keys to startup success.The groundbreaking technology Steve is developing to improve healthcare and independent living for seniors.Guest: Steve WaddellCEO & Founder of NasoniCreator of the award-winning Nasoni Fountain FaucetAuthor of Valuepreneurs: The New Rules for Building Products, Growing Your Business, and Achieving Your Entrepreneurial DreamTEDx Speaker: Start with Who, Not WhyInnovator in AI-driven healthcare solutionsResources & Links:Connect with Steve on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stevewaddellLearn more about Steve's work: http://www.swaddell.com/Check out Nasoni: Nasoni.comGet Valuepreneurs: Amazon link (Available in Kindle, audiobook, paperback, and hardcover)Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with your network, leave a review, and subscribe to Speak Like a Leader for more expert insights on leadership, communication, and success.Join the Conversation: What was your biggest takeaway from this episode? Connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter, and let us know!Thanks for listening, and remember—your stories and your voice matter! ----- John Bates provides 1:1 Executive Communications Coaching, both in-person and online, as well as large and small group training. Sign up for his free weekly micro-trainings at https://johnbates.com/mini-trainings and create a great leadership communications habit that makes you the kind of leader who inspires trust, loyalty and connection.

David Cunningham has spent over 35 years as a transformational leader, coach, and educator, working with hundreds of thousands of individuals worldwide. He draws from his personal experiences and lifelong commitment to love and consciousness to inspire others to live with purpose, grace, and love. His teachings have helped countless people awaken to their highest selves and realize the power of love in everyday life. Key Takeaways: ✅ Leadership isn't about being right—it's about being connected. ✅ Love is the most powerful leadership tool we have. ✅ Patience and presence create deeper relationships, even in difficult moments. ✅ A powerful stand is more effective than a righteous argument. ✅ Your ‘love footprint' matters—what are you leaving behind in every interaction? Quotable Moments: 

Key Takeaways:Proximity Bias: Why your story might feel “boring” to you but is magical to others hearing it for the first time.From Shame to Service: How sharing your story transforms not just others but also yourself.Emotional Credibility: Establish trust and connection with audiences by sharing your authentic origin story.Strategic Storytelling: Your story is about you, but it's for your audience—tailor it with intention to resonate and inspire action.Vulnerability in Leadership: Being imperfect in public makes you relatable and influential, fostering genuine connections. Addressing Polarization in Leadership:Mark and John discuss how marginalized communities face unique challenges in sharing their stories and the importance of creating safe spaces for authentic expression. They emphasize how leaders who share their humanity can build trust, break barriers, and inspire connection across diverse teams.Key Insight: "Your story is about you, but it's not for you—it's for the people you serve." Quotable Moments:“What you resist persists; acknowledgment causes disappearance.” – John Bates“If you're afraid of offending people when you share your story, remember: if they wanted you to write kindly about them, they should have behaved better.” – Mark Leruste“Proximity bias makes us undervalue our stories—but to others, they can be life-changing.” – Mark Leruste Resources Mentioned:Mark Leruste's Website: MarkLeruste.comMark's Book: Glow in the Dark – available on Amazon and other retailersTake the Story Impact Assessment: Storycast.coMark on LinkedIn: Mark Leruste on LinkedIn Connect & Subscribe:Love the episode? Don't forget to:✔️ Subscribe to Live Like a Leader⭐ Leave a 5-star review – it helps us reach more leaders like you!

Key Takeaways:The Authenticity Equation: Mike's formula for creating genuine connections through honesty, humility, and vulnerability.Why vulnerability matters: Discover how emotional exposure fosters trust and empathy, even in high-stakes leadership.Sweaty palm conversations: How leaning into difficult discussions can unlock stronger relationships and higher performance.The power of listening: Learn why a “safe space” starts with listening and how leaders can use this to inspire better communication.Lessons in resilience: From losing a baseball career to becoming a best-selling author and speaker, Mike shares how life's toughest moments often lead to our biggest transformations.Addressing Polarization in Leadership and Society:Mike and John discuss the challenges of navigating today's polarized world and how leaders can foster authentic dialogue. From national conversations to corporate boardrooms, they emphasize the importance of listening and creating space for diverse perspectives. Mike shares his belief that while disagreements are natural, mutual understanding and connection are possible when we approach each other with curiosity, humility, and vulnerability.Key Insight: "Most of the things we take personally aren't personal. If we can approach conversations with the intention to understand rather than to convince, we open the door to authentic and meaningful connections."Quotable Moments:“Authenticity isn't just brutal honesty—it's honesty minus self-righteousness, plus vulnerability.” – Mike Robbins“Be easy to impress and hard to offend. It will change your life.” – Mike's mentorResources Mentioned:Mike Robbins' Website: Mike-Robbins.comBooks by Mike Robbins: We're All in This Together, Bring Your Whole Self to WorkConnect with Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrobbins/Next Steps:Visit LiveLikeALeader.show for more inspiring episodes.Dive into Mike's world of leadership at Mike-Robbins.com.Connect with Mike at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrobbins/ and connect with me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbates/-----Mike Robbins is the author of five books, Focus on the Good Stuff, Be Yourself Everyone Else is Already Taken, Nothing Changes Until You Do, Bring Your Whole Self to Work, and We're All in This Together, which have been translated into fifteen different languages.As an expert in teamwork, leadership, and emotional intelligence, Mike delivers keynotes and seminars (both in-person and virtually) that empower people, leaders, and teams to engage in their work, collaborate, and perform at their best. Through his speeches, seminars, consulting, and writing, Mike teaches important techniques that allow individuals and organizations to be more appreciative, authentic, and effective.His clients include: Google, Wells Fargo, Microsoft, Walmart, Schwab, LinkedIn, Deloitte, the U.S. Department of Labor, Gap, Harvard University, Coca-Cola, Disney, Chevron, eBay, Kaiser, Airbnb, UC Berkeley, the NBA, Pixar, Genentech, Adobe, the Oakland A's, and many others. Mike is a member of the National Speakers Association and is one of less than 10% of the professional speakers in the world to have earned the prestigious Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation from the National Speakers Association.He has been featured on NPR, ABC News, the Oprah radio network, and in the Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, the New York Times, the Economist, the Wall Street Journal, and many others. He was a regular contributor to Forbes and is the creator and host of the popular podcast, We're All In This Together. ----- John Bates provides 1:1 Executive Communications Coaching, both in-person and online, as well as large and small group training. Sign up for his free weekly micro-trainings at https://johnbates.com/mini-trainings and create a great leadership communications habit that makes you the kind of leader who inspires trust, loyalty and connection.

Dan Sherrard-Smith is the founder & CEO of MotherTree. MotherTree works with values-led businesses to reduce CO2 emissions, increase client satisfaction, and unlock savings. Launched by the founding team behind Look After My Bills: Best ever deal on Dragons' Den, saved the British public £127m in 3 years.What You'll Learn in This Episode:Following the Money for Impact: Discover why your bank and pension investments have a bigger carbon footprint than your diet or commute—and what you can do about it.Building a Personal Brand: Learn why authenticity and storytelling are crucial for leaders and impact-driven founders.Scaling Connections with LinkedIn: Dan's proven strategy to create high-quality content that generates leads and builds lasting relationships in just two hours a week.Entrepreneurial Lessons: Behind-the-scenes of Dan's Dragons' Den journey, including the challenges of rapid growth and the power of staying adaptable.Finding Purpose: How becoming a father inspired Dan to leave a cushy job and tackle the climate crisis head-on.Key Moments:[04:32] The “aha” moment that led to MyMotherTree.com's creation.[18:10] The Dragons' Den story—how Dan secured an unprecedented deal and scaled his business almost overnight.[30:22] The three levers of impact: money, influence, and voting.[47:15] Counterintuitive LinkedIn strategies to grow your network and drive revenue.[1:02:50] The importance of gratitude and moving beyond fossil fuels to embrace innovation.Actionable Insights:Start small: Audit your bank and pension to ensure your money aligns with your values.Build trust on LinkedIn by showing up authentically—connect, don't sell.Define your key content pillars to balance reach with resonance.Focus on scaling relationships, not just transactions, for sustainable business growth.Connect with Dan Sherrard-Smith:Website: MyMotherTree.comEmail: Dan [at] MyMotherTree.comLinkedIn: Dan Sherrard-Smith ----- John Bates provides 1:1 Executive Communications Coaching, both in-person and online, as well as large and small group training. Sign up for his free weekly micro-trainings at https://johnbates.com/mini-trainings and create a great leadership communications habit that makes you the kind of leader who inspires trust, loyalty and connection.

Baz Porter isn't just an executive consultant; he's the catalyst that top-tier CEOs, entrepreneurs, and business leaders rely on to unlock their next level. He is also the best-selling author of 'Cracking the Rich Code,' endorsed by Tony Robbins and featuring a foreword by Brian Tracy. With over 15 years in the trenches, Baz has mastered the art of high-performance coaching, using his trademark R.A.M.S. framework (Results, Attitude, Mastery, Systems) to cut through the noise and help leaders reignite their purpose, overcome the inner battles no one else sees, and reclaim control of their path. Known for his bold, unapologetic approach and the deep, transformative impact he has on his clients, Baz doesn't just consult—he rewires potential.If you're ready to get real about what it takes to lead at the highest level, Baz Porter is here to shake things up.Find him at https://www.linkedin.com/in/bazporterllc/ ----- John Bates provides 1:1 Executive Communications Coaching, both in-person and online, as well as large and small group training. Sign up for his free weekly micro-trainings at https://johnbates.com/mini-trainings and create a great leadership communications habit that makes you the kind of leader who inspires trust, loyalty and connection.

Mark Albert is the founder and CEO of Media Advisory Experts, a Washington, DC-based consultancy providing media training, crisis communications, earned media, storytelling and video production services to clients in the U.S. and around the globe. He and his team guide leaders on their path to amplify their stories in the media, coaching top executives from C-suite to founders.Mark is also a Peabody and EMMY award-winning master storyteller with a 25-year journalism career distinguished by investigative and political reporting, innovative storytelling techniques, and creative communications. He's traveled the world for CBS News and reported from the White House, Capitol Hill and the US Supreme Court; created and led a national investigative unit for Hearst Communications; taught journalists in newsrooms in the US, Vietnam, and Pakistan; launched an online news startup and podcast about travel news and deals; and created a media database to drive countless earned media appearances. Mark has won some of the biggest honors in journalism while landing high-profile, national interviews, including with philanthropist and tech pioneer Bill Gates, government and political leaders at history-making moments, and visionary creators. He's been invited to bring his energetic, passionate speaking to audiences around the world.Mark has been to 86 countries so far – with a goal to visit them allFind Mark at https://www.linkedin.com/in/markalbertreporter/ & https://www.mediamasteryexperts.com/ ----- John Bates provides 1:1 Executive Communications Coaching, both in-person and online, as well as large and small group training. Sign up for his free weekly micro-trainings at https://johnbates.com/mini-trainings and create a great leadership communications habit that makes you the kind of leader who inspires trust, loyalty and connection.

In this episode of Speak Like a Leader, I'm joined by Minal Mehta, a leadership coach with deep experience in the tech world. Minal has worked at top companies like Google, LinkedIn, and Amazon, and now helps ambitious leaders align their careers with their true selves while bringing joy and ease into their lives.We dive into her journey from high-powered tech exec to leadership coach and how she balances drive with mindfulness. Minal shares personal stories about her wake-up call moments, blending her background in psychology and meditation to help leaders grow, and the lessons she learned from working with top executives like Jeff Bezos and Reid Hoffman.Join us as we explore:Clarity in Leadership – Minal discusses how leaders like Bezos and Hoffman shaped her perspective on clear communication and leadership.Balancing Ambition with Ease – Learn how Minal helps leaders stay ambitious without burning out, using mindfulness and self-alignment.The Power of Meditation – Minal shares how a simple meditation practice can be the game changer for leaders wanting to reconnect with themselves and boost performance.Practical Tips for Leaders – Get Minal's advice on prioritization, decision-making, and how to stop playing by others' rules to create your own path to success.This conversation is full of insights for leaders looking to level up both professionally and personally. Enjoy! ----- John Bates provides 1:1 Executive Communications Coaching, both in-person and online, as well as large and small group training. Sign up for his free weekly micro-trainings at https://johnbates.com/mini-trainings and create a great leadership communications habit that makes you the kind of leader who inspires trust, loyalty and connection.

Robert Scoble is the Founder of Unaligned.io and has written seven books on tech worldwide. He worked as a strategist at Microsoft, got the first ride in a Tesla from Elon Musk, was the first to ride in an autonomous Mercedes, was the 79th user of Instagram, and launched Siri in his house. He's been a first mover and early adopter for a very long time. He also runs Scobleizer https://scobleizer.blog/, which he started as a blog about the technology industry from his perch in Silicon Valley. He was the first to see Tesla, Flipboard, Instagram, Siri, Cloudera, Uber, and many, many other technology companies. Now he's using that expertise to help others as we head into Spatial Computing (virtual and augmented reality along with robots/autonomous vehicles).You can find him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/scobleizer/ and on twitter at x.com/scobleizer where he closely tracks AI!  ----- John Bates provides 1:1 Executive Communications Coaching, both in-person and online, as well as large and small group training. Sign up for his free weekly micro-trainings at https://johnbates.com/mini-trainings and create a great leadership communications habit that makes you the kind of leader who inspires trust, loyalty and connection.

As an emerging global voice, Melissa advocates for a new generation of millennial leaders in the workplace and the community. This especially includes work to bridge the generational communication and leadership gaps in corporate spaces and civic leadership. She is a multi-hyphenate leader who specializes in inclusion, leadership, program development, and cultivating corporate and community relationships to create change.Watch her TEDxBuckhead talk Can I Bring My Faith To Work?Find more at Melissadwhite.com and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/melissadwhite. ----- John Bates provides 1:1 Executive Communications Coaching, both in-person and online, as well as large and small group training. Sign up for his free weekly micro-trainings at https://johnbates.com/mini-trainings and create a great leadership communications habit that makes you the kind of leader who inspires trust, loyalty and connection.

Jim Britt is the author of 15 best-selling books and nine #1 International Best sellers and multiple online programs. Some of his many titles include Rings of Truth, Do This. Get Rich-For Entrepreneurs, Do This. Get Rich! for Network Marketers, Unleashing Your Authentic Power, The Power of Letting Go, and Cracking the Rich Code. He is an internationally recognized business leader who is highly sought after as a keynote speaker for all audiences.Jim was recently named as one of the world's top 20 success coaches, the top 50 speakers worldwide and presented with the “Best of the Best” award out of the top 100 contributors of all time to the Direct Selling industry.As a performance coach and trainer, Jim leverages his skills and experience as one of the leading experts in peak performance, entrepreneurship and personal empowerment to produce stellar results. He is pleased to work with small business entrepreneurs, and anyone seeking to remove the blocks that stop their success in any area of their life.Jim's formal education stopped before graduating from high school. His career training began at a gas station and then on a factory floor on an assembly line. His first attempt at entrepreneurial success he started at rock bottom with $9 in the bank and a borrowed $4,000. A year later he had lost it all…home, both vehicles, furniture, everything. But after that first year, a lot of tenacity and a timely mentor that shared with him the secrets to success, the tables turned and shortly thereafter he had made his first million.Over the years he has built a fortune worth millions of dollars with multiple streams of passive income from various business models. He also has studied human behavior and what really motivates us to take action and achieve great things in life and business, as well as what keeps us stuck. Today he puts his efforts into sharing what he's learned over the years and influencing others to achieve success beyond their wildest dreams.More from him at JimBritt.com and don't miss out on two FREE sessions of his program, the Power of Letting Go, at poweroflettinggo.com. ----- John Bates provides 1:1 Executive Communications Coaching, both in-person and online, as well as large and small group training. Sign up for his free weekly micro-trainings at https://johnbates.com/mini-trainings and create a great leadership communications habit that makes you the kind of leader who inspires trust, loyalty and connection.

Eric Collett is the Principal and CEO of A Mind For All Seasons, LLC, an innovative company specializing in helping clients of all ages optimize their cognitive functioning and improve symptoms of post-concussive disorders, dementia, brain fog, anxiety, depression, ADHD, and other brain-related conditions. Eric is a licensed residential care administrator who has been working with seniors living with dementia and their families since 2000. Prior to starting A Mind For All Seasons, Eric spent ten years as an administrator, seven of which were as the Executive Director of a memory care community where he developed innovative approaches to person-centered care that made a significant difference in how persons living with dementia experience the world. He now spends his time working with private clients of all ages, hospitals, assisted living & skilled nursing facilities, home health, and hospice & PCS agencies to improve brain health for as many people as possible. Eric has taught at Boise State University and teaches CNA students at the College of Western Idaho.  He has served on the board of the Idaho Healthcare Association and currently serves as the education committee chair. As a public speaker and trainer, Eric has taught thousands of people how to understand and interact with persons living with dementia. He also presents frequently to groups large and small on diverse topics like leadership, brain health, dementia research, organizational behavior, customer experience, activity program development, team building, and music history.Eric graduated summa cum laude from the University of Utah with a degree in interpersonal communication and a minor in psychology. His training and experience make him uniquely suited to study complex behavior patterns, help others understand those patterns, and develop systems to put that understanding into action to improve lives and health outcomes.   ----- John Bates provides 1:1 Executive Communications Coaching, both in-person and online, as well as large and small group training. Sign up for his free weekly micro-trainings at https://johnbates.com/mini-trainings and create a great leadership communications habit that makes you the kind of leader who inspires trust, loyalty and connection.

Sarah has spent the last 15 years coaching global executives in over 50 industries and is the founder and owner of Green Room Speakers. Whether preparing for a keynote address, briefing senior officials or pitching a product, Sarah helps leaders find their core message – and make that message stick. Sarah works with executives in Fortune 50 companies, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations.Sarah is a Professor of Communications at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, where she lectures regularly to students from around the world.Find Sarah at https://greenroomspeakers.com/ and at https://www.linkedin.com/in/greenroomspeakers/  ----- John Bates provides 1:1 Executive Communications Coaching, both in-person and online, as well as large and small group training. Sign up for his free weekly micro-trainings at https://johnbates.com/mini-trainings and create a great leadership communications habit that makes you the kind of leader who inspires trust, loyalty and connection.

Liam McCarty is the founder and CEO of Verified Inc., a digital identity company that helps companies onboard people faster, offer one-click signup for their services, and helps people verify who's sending them messages—is it a real person or a bot?You'll enjoy Liam's take on leadership and personal growth, too! Find Liam at https://www.linkedin.com/in/liamhalemccarty and https://www.verified.inc/ ----- John Bates provides 1:1 Executive Communications Coaching, both in-person and online, as well as large and small group training. Sign up for his free weekly micro-trainings at https://johnbates.com/mini-trainings and create a great leadership communications habit that makes you the kind of leader who inspires trust, loyalty and connection.

Shama Hyder is a well-respected and early pioneer in the world of social media. She brings a rare “from the trenches” perspective. She's the Founder and CEO of Zen Media, one of today's leading B2B marketing and PR companies in the country. Shama is also an active Henry Crown Fellow within the Aspen Global Leadership Network at the Aspen Institute.Shama is the bestselling author of The Zen of Social Media Marketing, now in its 4th edition, and Momentum: How to Propel Your Marketing and Transform Your Brand in the Digital Age. An acclaimed keynote speaker, Shama has delivered keynotes in over 24 countries and spoken for recognized brands, including NASA, Yale, Movado, Marriott, Chase, Toyota, Mastercard, and Disney.Shama Hyder helps leaders and companies understand strategically and practically how to connect what's next to what is now. She has been named the “Zen Master of Marketing” by Entrepreneur Magazine and the “Millennial Master of the Universe” by Fast Company. Shama has also been honored at both the White House and The United Nations as one of the top 100 young entrepreneurs in the country.As a result of her success, Shama has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the prestigious Technology Titan Emerging Company CEO Award. She is one of the only entrepreneurs to be recognized by Business Week, Inc, and Forbes alike for being an Under 30 Mover and a Shaker. LinkedIn named her one of their “Top Voices” in Marketing and Social Media for four years in a row. In 2023, she was named the Top Marketing Leader by Masthead Media.As a preeminent thinker in the digital age, Shama is a coveted media contributor, frequently featured on platforms such as NPR, Inc., Fox Business, MSNBC, Bloomberg, and CW. Her insights continue to shape the industry, inspiring others to navigate the ever-shifting digital terrain confidently.Find Shama at zenmedia.com and at linkedin.com/in/shamahayder  ----- John Bates provides 1:1 Executive Communications Coaching, both in-person and online, as well as large and small group training. Sign up for his free weekly micro-trainings at https://johnbates.com/mini-trainings and create a great leadership communications habit that makes you the kind of leader who inspires trust, loyalty and connection.

In 2017, Shelley survived an avalanche while on a heliboarding trip in Colorado's backcountry. This little wake-up call reminded her to not put off pursuing the things you are passionate about and to appreciate the ones you love most of all. Shelley loves the craft of voice acting as much as Shelley loves gliding down trails and slopes. So, Shelley began an intensive study of voice acting, in addition to the VO that Shelley was already doing as an instructional designer. An avalanche survivor, Shelley just knows how to roll with it, and you will find me to be flexibly directable and a lot of fun to work with. Shelley approaches recording sessions the way Shelley approaches an intimidating jump - by looking ahead, spotting the landing, and with one hundred percent commitment. In commercial work, Shelley offers a uniquely human range from the smart shopper with the knowing wink of your best friend, the tech-savvy trusted coworker, the confident leader at a board meeting, to the nerdy gear-obsessed athlete with real, conversational believability. For animation and video games, Shelley offers strong, powerful, confident female leads and a wide range of interesting non-human characters.Shelley is professionally trained and has ongoing coaching relationships with Nancy Wolfson of BrainTracks Audio, Donna Grillo, Randall Ryan, and Rachel Alena. As an athlete, Shelley understands how training and practicing your craft is a lifelong endeavor. Shelley also actively participates with Bend Comedy Improv troupes.Find her at shelleyandersonvo.com  ----- John Bates provides 1:1 Executive Communications Coaching, both in-person and online, as well as large and small group training. Sign up for his free weekly micro-trainings at https://johnbates.com/mini-trainings and create a great leadership communications habit that makes you the kind of leader who inspires trust, loyalty and connection.

Gerardo Segat is an international leadership coach and host of the live show "Out As Humans." His purpose and legacy is to humanize leadership. Following a wealth of experiences as an entrepreneur, chairman, and CEO, Gerardo has used his leadership background to create Preludes: a coaching program created to humanize leaders, organizations, and their stakeholders through creative and powerful original experiences (such as decision-making debates, client interaction models, and emotions-focused team meetings).Gerardo is also the creator of Vebate, a format of decision-making debate, Leader in the Mirror, a format of interviews, and Leaderness, a post-graduate training program.For the past decade, he has been a member of YPO Young Presidents' Organization (the world's largest community of leaders and CEOs) of which he has been the founder and chair of three chapters in Italy, Switzerland, and globally. Currently, Gerardo is working on Out As Humans, a performing arts show designed to humanize authentic leaders. Out as Humans is an individual and group immersive performance that creates a space for leaders to be open, trusting, empathetic, and feel a sense of belonging.And, you can find him at gerardosegat.com/show  ----- John Bates provides 1:1 Executive Communications Coaching, both in-person and online, as well as large and small group training. Sign up for his free weekly micro-trainings at https://johnbates.com/mini-trainings and create a great leadership communications habit that makes you the kind of leader who inspires trust, loyalty and connection.

Jami and Marla are on a mission to rescue marriages from the brink of giving up, transforming them into vibrant connections filled with joy and deeper happiness than ever before! Together, they will help you turn your love story into an inspiring tale of connection and joy!Their vision is a world where every marriage flourishes, transcending defeat and resentment to become a testament to joy, deep happiness, and vibrant connection. They aspire to lead couples on transformative journeys, revitalizing relationships into inspiring tales of closeness and happiness, where every love story is a beacon of hope and fulfillment.Find them at BringBackIntimacy.com ----- John Bates provides 1:1 Executive Communications Coaching, both in-person and online, as well as large and small group training. Sign up for his free weekly micro-trainings at https://johnbates.com/mini-trainings and create a great leadership communications habit that makes you the kind of leader who inspires trust, loyalty and connection.

John Briggs is known for going against the Big 4 Accounting firms with his “new workday normal” Rockstar business culture and jaw-dropping revenue increases of 492%! But how did he do it? Many people have been dying to know John's secrets.Fear not, because he recently composed all his stellar business advice, from epic failures to his greatest successes, into his new book, The 3.3 Rule - A New Workday Normal. Through his 12+ years of Entrepreneurship, he has learned that achieving a highly profitable business can be overwhelming, particularly with all the barriers and unknowns that new business owners are forced to deal with. Entrepreneurs can quickly become stressed and, often, sadly, give up on the mission that they set out for because of burnout.In much the same way that the body needs blood to survive, our economy needs small businesses, the lifeblood of the economy, to stay healthy and to grow more resilient. John Briggs is a man on a mission! A mission to give entrepreneurs a new workday standard so they avoid burnout and stay in business. The 3.3 Rule book showcases how to make more by working less.He “walks the walk” by battling against the traditional CPA culture of “overwork, underpaid, pay your dues and suffer while you're at it” mentality by providing his team with this same new workday normal, even during busy tax season!Find John at incitetax.com and the 33rulebook.com ----- John Bates provides 1:1 Executive Communications Coaching, both in-person and online, as well as large and small group training. Sign up for his free weekly micro-trainings at https://johnbates.com/mini-trainings and create a great leadership communications habit that makes you the kind of leader who inspires trust, loyalty and connection.

Jack Skeels is a former RAND senior analyst and agency executive. He is the CEO of AgencyAgile, an operations consulting and coaching firm that has helped over 200 agencies, consultancies, and other project-driven organizations go better, faster, and happier.  Jack's new book, Unmanaged: Master the Magic of Creating Empowered and Happy Organizations, is available on Amazon.His career includes leading Sapient's 105-person Los Angeles office, and founding and executive roles in multiple startups.  He is a coach to executives, a thought leader and evangelist to industry, and wakes every day driven to create a revolution in leadership and management practices, optimal organization design, and delivery excellence.  Jack is recognized as an outstanding speaker, writer, and educator.  He speaks at over 15 industry and association events per year, including Ad Age, Digiday, SoDA (annual meeting and The SoDA Academy), 4A's conferences, Advertising Week, Magnet Global, Miss Collective, TAAN, Bureau of Digital, and others.  With over 35 published articles, his work frequently appears in leading publications such as: Ad Age, Entrepreneur.com, Ad Week, MediaPost, and Campaign.us.Jack is a two-time Inc-500 Award winner and entrepreneur, with several successful startups to his credit.  In addition to a bachelor's in Industrial Engineering and an MBA with honors in Entrepreneurship and Finance from the Marshall School of Business, he has held several graduate-level teaching roles, including associate professor at the RAND-Pardee School of Public Policy.Find Jack on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackaskeels/ ----- John Bates provides 1:1 Executive Communications Coaching, both in-person and online, as well as large and small group training. Sign up for his free weekly micro-trainings at https://johnbates.com/mini-trainings and create a great leadership communications habit that makes you the kind of leader who inspires trust, loyalty and connection.

Ryan Englin is a force. Meaning, he's a disruptive new wave. When he speaks, you'll sense a particular energy you haven't felt before. Because he's leveling tradition, and he's completely revamping the way business owners across the country think about their next hire.Ryan is passionate about supporting small businesses in blue-collar industries. Growing up, he saw his own father working 12-hour shifts (and nearly every weekend) as an owner/operator. His dad continues to clock almost the same hours well past retirement age.Ryan seeks to empower these types of dedicated, hardworking owners and leaders. He coaches them to think outside the box and address age-old problems by embracing new perspectives. The secret? Hiring the right people.Ryan says, “It's the single most effective way to grow a business.”Find Ryan at https://corematters.com and on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanenglin ----- John Bates provides 1:1 Executive Communications Coaching, both in-person and online, as well as large and small group training. Sign up for his free weekly micro-trainings at https://johnbates.com/mini-trainings and create a great leadership communications habit that makes you the kind of leader who inspires trust, loyalty and connection.

Barry gets small businesses unstuck.As a small business expert, Barry Moltz gets owners growing again by unlocking their long-forgotten potential.  With decades of entrepreneurial experience in his own business ventures as well as consulting countless other entrepreneurs, Barry has discovered the formula to get stuck business owners unstuck and marching forward. As a small business expert, Barry applies simple, strategic steps to facilitate change.Barry has founded and run small businesses with a great deal of success and failure for more than 20 years.After successfully selling his last operating business, Barry has branched out into a number of entrepreneurship-related activities.  He founded an angel investor group, an angel fund, and is a former advisory member of the board of the Angel Capital Education Foundation.  His first book, “You Need to Be A Little Crazy: The Truth about Starting and Growing Your Business” describes the ups and downs and emotional trials of running a business.  It is in its fifth reprint and has been translated into Chinese, Russian, Korean and Thai.His second book, “Bounce! Failure, Resiliency and the Confidence to Achieve Your Next Great Success”, shows what it takes to come back and develop true business confidence.  It has been translated into Korean and German.  His third book, “BAM! Delivering Customer Service in a Self-Service World” shows how customer service is the new marketing. People now buy experiences and relationships, not products. His fourth book, Small Town Rules: How Small Business and Big Brands can Profit in a Connected Economy shows how when every customer can talk to every other customer, it's like living in a small town: Your reputation is everything! His fifth book, “How to Get Unstuck: 25 Ways to Get Your Business Growing Again” focuses on how to get small business owners making more profits in their company. Barry's sixth book  “Small Business Hacks: 100 Shortcuts to Your Success” with Rieva Lesonsky gives small business owners the key resources to be successful.Barry's 7th award winning book, “ChangeMasters: How to Actually Make the Changes You Already Know You Need to Make” is available now. He most recently appeared as a business expert in the History Channel's “The Booze, Bets and Sex that Built America”.Barry is a nationally recognized speaker on small business who has given hundreds of presentations to audiences ranging in size from 20 to 20,000.  As a member of the Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame, he has also taught entrepreneurship as an adjunct professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology.  He has appeared on many TV and radio programs such as CNBC's The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, MSNBC's Your Business and NPR's The Tavis Smiley Show.  He hosts his own weekly radio program for 12 years, The Small Business Radio Show writes regularly for other periodicals. ----- John Bates provides 1:1 Executive Communications Coaching, both in-person and online, as well as large and small group training. Sign up for his free weekly micro-trainings at https://johnbates.com/mini-trainings and create a great leadership communications habit that makes you the kind of leader who inspires trust, loyalty and connection.

The NY press accuses Don Schmincke of providing “the most provocative view of leadership than any other speaker.” What else would you expect from an MIT and Johns Hopkins researcher who was nearly arrested as a capitalist spy in the Soviet Bloc, got shot off an aircraft carrier, survived in the Kurdish capital as Iran took U.S. Embassy hostages, was the first white invited into an African Tsonga tribe, summitted 20,000 feet on the highest volcano before it blew up, and developed missile guidance systems while his frat brothers took Vegas (as seen in the movie “21”)?Don Schmincke's irreverent humor and unconventional methods provide audiences such a refreshing change to other status-quo topics that he's been called the world's “rogue MBA professor.” His patent-pending offerings transcend typical programs via refreshing alternatives to trendy theories, unproven methods, and phony "experts." The industry agrees:• Renown books "The Code of the Executive" and “High Altitude Leadership” (with NBC Emmy-nominated climber Chris Warner)• Published in over 10 languages, endorsed by leading authorities, and recommended by top business schools.• Featured by CNN, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, MSNBC.com, and more than 60 industry publications annually.• Acclaimed as a Top 10 speaker for the world's largest CEO organization.• Awarded Senior Member recognition by IEEE, the world's largest organization for the advancement of technology.The high failure rates of pop-management theories drove Don's research using anthropology, evolutionary genetics, and biology to dispel the "program-of-the-month" syndrome frustrating CEOs and HR managers for so long. By using Don's science-driven leadership methods companies experience accelerated results in sales, employee engagement, and cultural alignment. He admits, “our work is politically incorrect but scientifically accurate.”Today, Don flies 200,000 miles annually speaking at conferences, training CEOs in his workshops, and working with clients from the Department of Defense (where he helped the U.S. Navy evolve its Fleet Readiness strategy) to companies across every industry including healthcare, manufacturing, non-profits, distribution, technology, communications, finance, and insurance. . . . and occasionally he can be found at universities inflicting his unconventional techniques on innocent graduate students.https://www.sagaleadership.com/ ----- John Bates provides 1:1 Executive Communications Coaching, both in-person and online, as well as large and small group training. Sign up for his free weekly micro-trainings at https://johnbates.com/mini-trainings and create a great leadership communications habit that makes you the kind of leader who inspires trust, loyalty and connection.

Ken Eslick is the Co-Founder and CEO of The Leaders Lab - an Executive Leadership Recruiting Firm, and he's the host of "The Leaders Lab Podcast," a weekly show that delves into the world of leadership and personal development. As a Tony Robbins Trainer and President/Founder of The Leaders Lab, Ken shares actionable advice and lessons from great leaders across all walks of life. Ken is an expert in leadership and team building, with extensive experience leading teams as large as 1,000 in both public and private companies. As a C-Suite Coach & Talent Acquisition Specialist, Ken has had a successful F500 exit and has placed over 500 executives. https://www.linkedin.com/in/keneslick/https://www.theleaderslab.co/ ----- John Bates provides 1:1 Executive Communications Coaching, both in-person and online, as well as large and small group training. Sign up for his free weekly micro-trainings at https://johnbates.com/mini-trainings and create a great leadership communications habit that makes you the kind of leader who inspires trust, loyalty and connection.

“The best way to overcome the inevitable loneliness of life at the top may be to connect and mindfully attend to the process that's already underway – the unconscious sharing that undergirds every relationship.”Leadership through radical self-inquiry. This is the driving idea behind the work of Jerry Colonna. For over two decades, he has been dedicated to the proposition that work should be non-violent to the self, non-violent to the community, and non-violent to the planet.Jerry is a coach, writer, and speaker who focuses on leadership, business, and the practice of radical self-inquiry. He is the Co-founder and CEO of Reboot.io, a company born from the rallying cry that work does not have to destroy us. Work can be the way in which we achieve our fullest self.Find Jerry at Reboot.io  ----- John Bates provides 1:1 Executive Communications Coaching, both in-person and online, as well as large and small group training. Sign up for his free weekly micro-trainings at https://johnbates.com/mini-trainings and create a great leadership communications habit that makes you the kind of leader who inspires trust, loyalty and connection.

Robert Houser is New England, born and raised. Though he has lived in California all his adult life, you cannot take the New Englander out of him. It follows him. He's determinedly independent, critically frugal, he doesn't take himself too seriously, and yes, sarcasm slides in as an icebreaker.Photography entered his life at RISD, an extra course while he was at Brown studying Psychology and Comparative Literature with French. The photography courses at the Rhode Island School of Design reinvigorated his artistic side, which had been hidden for a decade by STEM classes. And though he worked on locked psychiatric wards while in college, it was the time in the darkroom that spoke to him. He became passionate about the medium, but his academic background stayed with him – psychology taught him to connect with people, to notice things they do or say, and to find a way put them at ease. And, Comparative Literature? It's all about stories – a multi-disciplinary look at a theme. Decades of images later, he tells stories about people.  https://roberthouser.com/https://www.instagram.com/roberthouser/https://www.instagram.com/roberthouserstudio  https://www.facebook.com/robert.houser.photography ----- John Bates provides 1:1 Executive Communications Coaching, both in-person and online, as well as large and small group training. Sign up for his free weekly micro-trainings at https://johnbates.com/mini-trainings and create a great leadership communications habit that makes you the kind of leader who inspires trust, loyalty and connection.

There is nobody quite like life coach, author, and motivational speaker Shawn Antonio. Shawn specializes in helping people lean into their purpose and inspiring and motivating them to be bigger and better, no matter their personal circumstances in life.Shawn has died twice, almost four times. But - he keeps coming back. Shawn knows he has a bigger purpose for being here. Shawn initially pursued a career in medicine - only to give it up to follow his heart and enjoy a successful dance career. He has lived in 3 countries and five cities. His passions ultimately led him to Los Angeles, where he became one of Hollywood's most respected and universally loved nightlife promoters for more than 16 years. Shawn knows most people in LA.In 2017, Shawn was accused of a crime he did not commit and could not afford to fight.Despite all the challenges Shawn has faced - he dug deep and understood that there was a purpose in the design. In his darkest hours, he wrote his first two books and started coaching a number of friends - something he had been naturally doing for years as a passion rather than a purpose. Shawn coaches a number of celebrities and executives but is fiercely passionate about inspiring those stuck in the system - foster kids, inmates, and the homeless.Shawn is committed to inspiring and improving the lives of 1 billion people in his lifetime - it's his 'North Star' and guiding light.Find him at https://ShawnAntonio.com and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/shawnantoniolifecoaching ----- John Bates provides 1:1 Executive Communications Coaching, both in-person and online, as well as large and small group training. Sign up for his free weekly micro-trainings at https://johnbates.com/mini-trainings and create a great leadership communications habit that makes you the kind of leader who inspires trust, loyalty and connection.

Kelly Stoetzel is an energetic executive leader who brings creativity, strategic thinking, and curiosity to her work. Her focus is on spreading knowledge and ideas through content and experiences and on building, growing, and nurturing the communities around them.She loves working with impact-driven organizations and collaborating with others on diverse and dynamic cross-functional teams. She has extensive experience in leading teams through periods of growth and transition.Her areas of specialty are leadership, content curation, programming, communication, storytelling, community, experience development, partnerships, operations, strategy, and building from the ground up. Follow her on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellystoetzel/See more about the Edelman Fossil Park here: https://www.rowan.edu/fossils/And you can see Dr. Ken's Paleontologist TED Talk here: https://www.ted.com/talks/kenneth_lacovara_hunting_for_dinosaurs_showed_me_our_place_in_the_universe?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare ----- John Bates provides 1:1 Executive Communications Coaching, both in-person and online, as well as large and small group training. Sign up for his free weekly micro-trainings at https://johnbates.com/mini-trainings and create a great leadership communications habit that makes you the kind of leader who inspires trust, loyalty and connection.

Dr. Ruairi Robertson is a scientist studying the human gut microbiome. He is fascinated by how microbes influence the human body, and his research examines the amazing interactions between microbes and human health and disease from belly to brain.Since he started his scientific career, he has garnered many awards, including: B.Sc in Human Nutrition from University College Dublin (2012)Ph.D. in Microbiology from University College Cork (2016)Fulbright Scholarship to Harvard Medical School (2015-2016)Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowship to Queen Mary University of London (2017-2022)Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Research Fellowship to the Institut Pasteur (2022-2023)You can find him at https://ruairirobertson.com/, Watch his fabulous talk at TEDxFulbright here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awtmTJW9ic8&feature=youtu.beAnd, his podcast about the cutting edge of microbiome research is here: https://ruairirobertson.podbean.com/ John Bates provides 1:1 Executive Communications Coaching, both in-person and online, as well as large and small group training. Sign up for his free weekly micro-trainings at https://executivespeakingsuccess.com/subscribe/ and create a great leadership communications habit that makes you the kind of leader who inspires trust, loyalty and connection.

Dr. Jennie Byrne lives to connect the dots between people and ideas in new and unexpected ways. She is a clinical translator between segments of our complex health system - clinicians, finance, operations, data, technology, and research. She has strong people skills and enjoys bringing psychological savvy and EQ to complicated problems. Clients have called her a triple threat because:1) Clinical Experience - nearly two decades of clinical experience as an MD/PhD2) Entrepreneur - founded and grew a clinical organization through the entire life cycle of inception to exit3) C-level Leadership - led teams to create and innovate clinical programs as a C-level leaderShe is also the author of "Work Smart - Brain/Behavior/Creativity and the Future of Work" Connect with Dr. Jennie here: drjenniebyrne.com and on Linkedin.com/in/drjenniebyrne/

Ulrike Seminati is a leadership and communication coach with over twenty years of experience in shaping award-winning global communication and leadership programs across a variety of industries. Building on her experience as a C-level executive, Ulrike combines her knowledge of excelling in the corporate world with powerful self-development techniques to allow leaders across the globe to lead with charisma and authenticity. Ulrike also believes that female leadership is one of the biggest untapped potentials in the world, which led to her founding Empowering Female Leaders, which helps women leaders and entrepreneurs flourish and confidently carry out their vision of their careers.Find her at https://ulrikeseminati.com/ and at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ulrikeseminati/ 

Between ever-changing work practices and the elusive act of fulfilling personal and professional demands, leaders must navigate a new world of challenges and strike the right tone of balancing completion with compassion. Dr. Sharon Melnick introduces the idea that power is the underlying issue in many of the trends we see among employees and that leaders who use their power for the good of all can create team members who are loyal, inspired, and accountable.  What Dr. Melnick sees from having coached and trained over 40,000 professionals is that leaders already have so much more power than they realize or are using.As a Marshall Goldsmith Top 100 Coach, Sharon combines proven leadership best practices with behavior change methods she developed through 10 years of psychology research at Harvard Medical School. Sharon has spoken at over 200 retreats and leadership conferences around the world (as well as presenting at the White House, the United Nations, and at West Point). She hosts the popular podcast, The Power Shift. Her awaited third book In Your Power: React Less, Regain Control, Raise Others launched in Nov. 2022.  Sharon can share a wealth of knowledge, ideas, and personal experience with your audience, including:The difference between being ‘in power' and being ‘in your power' and the #1 form of abuse of power to watch out for. Go beyond your job description to understand the hidden sources of power already in your role, so you can shift from playing your small game to your BIG gameHow to get comfortable with the power you have and use it for the good of all Fix situations that are personally frustrating for you by leading organizational solutions from which everyone benefits The Leader creates the weather on the team - how to create the weather that keeps your team members and colleagues inspired and engaged.Grow power in others: How to get your team members to take ownership of solving their problems, and Why growing power in others is the key to increasing their power as well as yours.  With this fresh perspective, she will show you how to respond, not react to roadblocks in the workplace, so you can regain control and unleash the positive energy that comes from being a Change Agent who makes it better for everyone!

Something wonderful happened to Oana when she became a mother. This biggest role of her life inspired her to press the refresh button. For instance, she started writing a personal blog.Also, she embraced a career change after nine years of research and teaching experience at the Hanken School of Economics and Aalto School of Business.In 2014, she got certified as a coach.And in March 2017, she got her second certification grounded in social neuroscience, from the NeuroLeadership Institute in Helsinki.Her appetite for becoming better in her role as a coach and trainer grows with each customer interaction. One of the most valuable rewards she gets is to see the smiles of insight on her clients' faces and watch their gait transform into a walk on clouds after their sessions with her.You can find her at: https://www.velcu.fi/  and on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oana-velcu-laitinen-phd-6081084/If you're inspired to reach out directly, find her at oana@velcu.fi

Marlene Chism is a seasoned speaker, thought partner, advisor, coach, and author. She is the CEO of Marlene Chism Consulting, offering  a comprehensive suite of consulting services to businesses and leaders. Widely recognized as the leading US authority on stopping workplace drama, she works with C-Suite leaders to build drama-free cultures that drive growth and reduce costly mistakes. Marlene is known for helping managers address “the elephant in the room” and initiate conversations that get results. Her expertise includes leadership development, conflict management, and strategic communications.Marlene's leadership development courses are instrumental in teaching mid-level and senior leaders strategic communication skills to initiate conversations that get results and increase accountability. She's a recognized expert on the Linked In (formerly Lynda) global learning platform, producing educational videos on Anger Management, Having Difficult Conversations, Working with High Conflict People, and Managing Conflict and Getting Results in a Hybrid Work Environment.Besides From Conflict to Courage, Marlene has authored three commercially published books: Stop Workplace Drama (Wiley 2011), No-Drama Leadership (Bibliomotion 2015), and Stop Drama in Your Healthcare Practice (Greenbranch 2018). As a seasoned professional speaker, Marlene's transformational message of personal responsibility, and alignment is making its way around the globe at leadership academy's corporate retreats, association conferences, and customized webinars.Marlene has a degree in communications from Drury University, and a master's degree in human resources development from Webster University.  She is an advanced practitioner in Narrative coaching. Find her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlenechism/At her Website: https://marlenechism.com/And find her books here: AmazonBarnes & NoblePenguin Random HouseGood Reads

Annie Särnblad is a preeminent global speaker and expert in reading facial expressions. She is Certified in the Facial Action Coding System “FACS” and can numerically code the 10,000 muscle combinations in human expression. She has developed her own easy-to-absorb teaching techniques based on the knowledge she accumulated living in 9 countries and studying 8 languages through immersion. Annie has a Master's in Cultural Anthropology, and has lived across Asia, Europe, and the Americas, and is currently living in Boston. Annie raised her three children as human lie detectors - by taking them out into Singapore on a daily basis and live narrating human's faces in real-time in Swedish. Over almost ten years, she and her children simplified the identifiers and locations of each emotion on the face down to the briefest flicker of muscle movement. Microexpressions are the subconscious “leakage” of emotion that makes “unspoken” feelings visible. They are universal to our species and not dependent on culture. In a negotiation, reading microexpressions allows us to gain insight into the other person's position that is invisible to most people. This ability to identify the subtle changes in the mood of the person we are talking to allows us to observe how a conversation is going - as it is happening - so that we can instantly adjust our behavior and improve the negotiation outcome. Reading and responding well to another person's needs and wants greatly influences their desire to close a deal on both a conscious and subconscious level. Connect with her on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-sarnblad/ 

Find Brant at Brant @ brantcooper.com and on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/brantcooper/ Brant travels the globe speaking with entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs about how to discover and create new value; about empowering individuals to make the change they want to see in the world. Brant Cooper is the New York Times bestselling author of The Lean Entrepreneur and CEO of Moves the Needle. With over two decades of expertise helping companies bring innovative products to market, he blends agile, design thinking, and lean methodologies to ignite entrepreneurial action within large organizations. Brant has a unique take on disrupting our current way of thinking in order to be closer to customers, move faster, and act bolder. He has experienced monumental milestones such as IPO, acquisition, rapid growth, and crushing failure. He serves as a global keynote speaker, mentor to entrepreneurs, and trusted advisor to corporate executives. His mission is to teach leaders how to find personal and economic growth by creating new value for fellow humans.

Tania is the Co-Founder of LifeLabs Learning, Author of The Leader Lab and Surprise, co-host of the podcast Talk Psych to Me, Partner at Columbia University's eLab, and Founder of Scarlet Moon Sanctuary.LifeLabs Learning has helped over 350,000 people at the world's most influential companies (including TED, Yelp, Tinder, Slack, Reddit) become more capable and compassionate leaders."Talk Psych to Me" blends humor and psychology to help people get better at being people.eLab is an accelerator for entrepreneurs who increase equity and access to education.Scarlet Moon is a non-profit that helps people help animals.Tania is a researcher, educator, and advisor to startups that create alternatives to animal products. She writes for Psychology Today, Harvard Business Review, Faunalytics, and some other delightful places. For some mysterious reason, her TED talk about her experience as a Ukrainian immigrant has over 1.8 million views.Tania lives with rescued pigs, dogs, goats, a cat, and the love of her life. She does lots of things, but each is an attempt to give people research-backed and play-packed tools for being kinder to ourselves, each other, and all living beings.

Julian is a sound and communication expert whose mission is to help people and organizations to listen better and create healthier and more effective sound, including speaking. He is  the author of the books How to be Heard and Sound Business. Julian's five TED talks have been watched more than 100 million times. 'How to speak so that people want to listen' is in the top 10 TED talks of all time. Julian is regularly featured in the world's media and has guested on dozens of leading global podcasts. In 2003 Julian founded The Sound Agency – an audio branding company that asks and answers the question “how does your brand sound?”and has recently launched Moodsonic®, a range of biophilic soundscapes to enhance well-being and productivity in workspaces. TSA's award-winning work has made headlines internationally. Julian's love of sound stems from his early experience as a musician. He was a drummer for indie bands The Transmitters, Fish Turned Human and Missing Presumed Dead and recorded vinyl and two 1981 John Peel Sessions. Before The Sound Agency, Julian spent 20 years working in advertising and magazine publishing. He founded, grew, and sold the contract (custom) publishing agency TPD. Julian lives in beautiful Orkney with his fiancée, multiple world champion martial artist, Jane Majendie, and their daughter. Julian's vision: "We teach our children how to read and write, but not how to speak and listen. Conscious listening is rare, and never has it been more needed in the world; at the same time, millions miss out on the potential of the amazing instrument we all play – the human voice – and struggle to speak powerfully. My vision is to transform the world by inspiring people to listen consciously and speak powerfully." [And I say, "Hear, hear, Brother!"]

Dr. Jon Finn founded the award-winning Tougher Minds consultancy and best-selling author of 'The Habit Mechanic'. He has three psychology-related degrees, including a PhD and has worked in performance psychology, resilience, and leadership science for over twenty years.Tougher Minds uses cutting-edge insights from psychology, behavioral science, neuroscience, and world champions to help organizations develop ‘Habit Mechanics' and ‘Chief Habit Mechanics' – Resilient people, outstanding Leaders, and World-Class teams.Having trained and coached over 10,000 people, Dr. Finn and his colleagues work with global businesses, high-growth start-ups, individuals, elite athletes, coaches and teams, leading educational institutes, government, and think tanks. For podcast episodes and free resources, visit: tougherminds.co.uk and find him on LinkedInDon't forget to grab a copy of Dr. Jon Finn's book, The Habit Mechanic

Dr. Marilee Adams is an award-winning author and pioneer in the fields of inquiry-based coaching, leadership, and organizational culture. She is the founder and CEO of Inquiry Institute, the originator of the Question Thinking™ methodologies, and a consultant, executive coach, and keynote speaker. Marilee is the author of the internationally bestselling book Change Your Questions, Change Your Life as well as The Art of the Question and Teaching that Changes Lives.Marilee remembers this experience as if it was yesterday. She was leaving the psychologist's office, after hours of testing for ADD, when the doctor patted her on the shoulder and said in a consoling voice, “Don't expect too much of yourself.”What?!That was years before she published her first book, a cognitive-behavioral psychology textbook entitled The Art of the Question, which one reviewer hailed as the “book of the decade” in the field of psychology.Marilee is driven by an unrelenting passion for learning and making a difference with what she learns. She credits this passion for learning as having been her saving grace and the basis for all she has developed. Her work is based on insights into the profound power of inquiry and mindsets in shaping our lives, our relationships, our results, and our futures. This work is making a global impact on individuals, executives, organizations, and teams. Marilee is happiest when people say things like: “Your work is so practical and it has changed my life—or my company, or my leadership, or my team, or even my marriage—Thank you!"

Giles Paley-Phillips writes books & writes and produces films. He is half of @blankpod & @forgotpodcast. He plays guitar in @burnthousemusic and is an Ambassador at @actionaidUK and Love at @cpfc Giles is Happily Mediocre. Find him at: https://Linktr.ee/GilesPaleyPhillips1 

How many people can say they've never had a “real” job? Renowned portrait photographer Jeffrey Shaw is one such person. Successful serial entrepreneur Jeffrey Shaw always created his own income without ever having had the safety net of a 9-5 paycheck. He learned the benefits of genuine connections and thrived by understanding the value of ideal customers.Today, as a speaker, business consultant, and author, Jeffrey helps small businesses and the self-employed stop wasting time trying to satisfy some customers who will never be satisfied and attract only their ideal customers. Like a photographer sees their subject, Jeffrey shows businesses how to make customers feel seen, heard, and understood to improve customer experience, retain their most profitable customers, and create the business and life of their dreams.Jeffrey Shaw is a TEDx speaker who was featured on TED.com, the host of The Self-Employed Life podcast with well over a million downloads, and the creator of The Self-Employed Summit. He is also the bestselling author of LINGO: Discover Your Ideal Customer's Secret Language and Make Your Business Irresistible and recently released The Self-Employed Life: Business and Personal Development Strategies That Create Sustainable Success.Find Jeffrey here: https://www.jeffreyshaw.com/https://www.selfemployedbusinessinstitute.com/linkedin.com/in/jeffreyshawauthor

Giuseppe Marzio, PhD, a scientist-turned-strategic-storyteller, has over twenty years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry.As founder of Chiaro, a communications agency specializing in strategic storytelling for health and life sciences, he has worked with some of the most innovative companies in the sector, from startups and VCs to large corporations.Giuseppe has been instrumental in raising hundreds of millions in funding, closing high-value deals, and taking organizations to the next level.Find him at Chiaro.nl - And in case you were wondering, Chiaro, is Italian for “clear and understandable” and “bright and brilliant.” 

Grant Baldwin always enjoyed speaking and helping other people. So much so that he actually went to Bible college and became a youth pastor. He did that for a little while but eventually felt like there was something else he should be doing. While his wife was five months pregnant with their first daughter, he quit his job with no real plan for what he wanted to do with his life.He felt like he was having a quarter-life crisis.Grant spent months reading, exploring, and trying to figure out what he was put on this planet to do. He knew some of the things he was good at, and he knew what he enjoyed doing, but he was never sure how it all translated into a career. After several months, Grant decided to start a career as a speaker.He worked hard and hustled to build his business and get booked to speak.In the last several years, Grant has been fortunate to speak to audiences all over the country. He has spoken at hundreds of events and has given literally thousands of presentations at conferences, assemblies, conventions, and other events. He has spoken to audiences of just a handful to arenas filled with 13,000 people.Connect with Grant Baldwin on LinkedIn, and see the great things he's up to at The Speaker Lab

Liz Kislik specializes in developing high-performing leaders and workforces and for 30 years has helped family-run businesses, national nonprofits, and Fortune 500 companies like American Express, Girl Scouts, Staples, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and Highlights for Children solve their thorniest problems. Liz's work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal's Morning Download, the Washington Post's Work Advice column, Business Insider, and Bloomberg Businessweek. Her articles have been included in Harvard Business Press books Guide to Motivating People, Dealing with Difficult People, and Guide to Power and Impact, as well as in Entrepreneur, the European Financial Review, and the Forward. She is a member of Marshall Goldsmith's 100 Coaches initiative, which brings together the world's top coaches and thinkers; has taught at Hofstra University and New York University; and is a frequent podcast guest. She received her BA from Yale University and earned an MBA in Management from NYU. Find her at lizkislik.com  - you can get her free e-book "Coping With Conflict" there, too!  

Dr. Keren Tsuk is an organizational consultant and leadership expert. Her Ph.D. is in leadership at 21st-century organizations. Keren specializes in helping companies and teams reach their full potential using mindfulness techniques. Keren focuses on senior management teams, helping executives find their inner wisdom and maximize their leadership potential. Dr. Tsuk teaches at IDC Herzliya and Lahav Executive Education at Tel Aviv University.Find her at: www.wisdomtolead.co and connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerentsuk/Get her book on Amazon: Mindfully Wise Leadership: The Secret of Today's Leader

Episode Notes: Jonathan Hinton Westover is a 3X #1 best-selling and award-winning author and is the #1 ranked HR, Innovation, and Future of Work Global Thought Leader & Influencer by Thinkers360. Global Gurus has ranked Jon #22 in "Organizational Culture" and #24 in "Management" globally, and LeadersHum's put him on their Power List of the Top 200 Biggest Voices in Leadership to watch for in 2022. Jon is also the host/producer of the Human Capital Innovations (HCI) Podcast and Chief Academic and Learning Officer of the HCI Academy.As well, he is the Chair and Professor of Organizational Leadership and Change in the Woodbury School of Business (UVU), Academic Director of the Center for Social Impact and the SIMLab, Senior Director of Academic Service-Learning, and Faculty Fellow for Ethics in Public Life (previously the Associate Director) in the Center for the Study of Ethics. He is also an experienced OD/HR/Leadership consultant (Human Capital Innovations, LLC) with experience transforming organizations across the globe.Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn. Listen to his The Human Capital Innovations Podcast 

EPISODE NOTESLi Hayes' Go Leeward connects dynamic, world-class business and motivational speakers with business event planners, marketing leaders, and executive business leaders to make any event exceed expectations and truly ‘WOW' the audience.As the Founder and Speaker Manager, Li Hayes directs an efficient and seamless process — providing a hassle-free, cost-effective experience by eliminating agencies and connecting meeting planners directly to powerful speakers. With Go Leeward, meeting planners receive personal, professional service backed by deep strategic planning, team leadership, and talent management expertise. Find Li Hayes at Goleeward.com, Pathtothemainstage.com, and on LinkedIn

Episode Notes: In today's episode, I talk with AJ Harper. She is an editor and publishing strategist who helps authors write transformational books that enable them to build readership, grow their brand, and significantly impact the world. We discuss Self-publishing, Traditional-publishing, and Hybrid-publishing. AJ talks about the impact Senator Paul Wellstone's quote: "We all do better when all do better." had on her. We also discuss where she came from and how she got here. She asks entrepreneurs and leaders the question: Is there something that you have to say that if we just understood that one thing, the world would be better; if enough people knew that, it would make a difference? And, she shares the two criteria that must be met for every book Mike Michalowicz writes. She also gives you a good answer to the question: Am I ready to write a book? Find her at https://ajharper.com/ and get lots of valuable, free tools and gifts at https://writeamustread.com/tools/Show notes: AJ Harper is an editor and publishing strategist who helps authors write transformational books that enable them to build readership, grow their brand, and make a significant impact on the world. As a ghostwriter and a developmental editor, she has worked with hundreds of authors, from newbies to New York Times bestselling authors with millions of books sold. AJ is a writing partner to the business author, Mike Michalowicz. Together they've written nine books, including Profit First.