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How do top leaders excel under pressure and what can AI teach us about leadership? Discover the unexpected link between high-stakes decision-making and the psychology that drives both great athletes and executives. Join host, Adam Contos as he welcomes Sébastien Page, the head of Global Multi-asset Division and Chief Investment Officer at T. Rowe Price, overseeing over $500 billion in assets. Sébastien, with decades of leadership experience and a deep dive into positive sports and personality psychology, shares insights from his award-winning research and book, 'The Psychology of Leadership.' You'll learn why leading yourself is the first step to leading others, how stress can be your ally, and the counterintuitive power of admitting 'I don't know', in this powerful episode of Start With a Win.Sébastien Page is Head of Global Multi-Asset and Chief Investment Officer at T. Rowe Price, where he oversees more than $500 billion in assets under management. With more than two decades of leadership experience, he is also a recognized researcher in psychology and investing.A two-time author and six-time award-winning researcher, Sébastien is a frequent guest on CNBC and Bloomberg TV and was named a LinkedIn Top Voice in Finance in 2022. His latest book, The Psychology of Leadership, was released in 2025.He lives in Maryland with his wife and children and enjoys exploring the intersection of leadership, psychology, and investing.00:00 Intro02:24 Lead yourself, what?05:05 HR is not what you think it is!09:20 What makes people thrive?13:20 Best people/leaders know this! 16:05 Part of leadership is this… 18:35 Leaders, TRY THIS.21:20 What are we missing to get the team to perform their best?26:17 Listen for 2 mins and then rewind, this is not in his book! 29:09 It may be this, but it still works… https://www.psychologyofleadership.net/https://www.instagram.com/sebastienpagebook?igsh=MWk2cWV2c2JmNGhiNA%3D%3Dhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastien-page/ ===========================Subscribe and Listen to the Start With a Win Podcast HERE:
Leadership development is not about checking boxes. It is about building the awareness, communication, trust, and consistency required to help people grow, perform, and feel safe enough to do meaningful work. LaTonya Wilkins brings a powerful conversation on what it really means to lead below the surface. From psychological safety and culture to coaching, delegation, community, and connection across differences, this master class challenges leaders to stop treating leadership like a static skillset and start looking at how leadership is actually experienced by the people they serve. Learn how to honestly rate your leadership by asking better questions: • How clear is your communication? • How do people experience you in meetings, emails, and difficult conversations? • Are you giving people the guardrails they need without making them too tight? • Are you creating hope, trust, compassion, and stability? • Are you developing people, or just expecting them to perform? • Are burnout, churn, poor delegation, and low trust signs of a deeper leadership problem? This conversation also explores why many leadership development programs fail because they rely on outdated models, performative culture work, and initiatives that were never truly embedded into the organization. Real culture cannot be reduced to perks, titles, slogans, or temporary programs. It has to show up in how leaders communicate, make decisions, build teams, manage change, and create belonging. LaTonya also brings a needed perspective on coaching and community in a noisy market where too many people sell quick fixes without doing the real work. Strong leadership, real coaching, and healthy culture are all relationship businesses. They require trust, self-awareness, accountability, and the right people around you at every stage. For executives, founders, HR leaders, coaches, consultants, people managers, and anyone responsible for leading others, this conversation is a reminder that real leadership still wins when it is rooted in trust, development, culture, coaching, and community. Beyond The Episode Gems: Learn More About Leading Below The Surface Book Buy LaTonya's Book, Leading Below The Surface Learn more about LaTonya's offerings for executive coaching ChangeCoaches.io Connect with LaTonya on LinkedIn Explore Change Coaches Relational Coach Training Buy Troy's Book, Strategize Up: The Blueprint To Scale Your Business StrategizeUpBook.com Discover All Podcasts On The HubSpot Podcast Network Get Free HubSpot Marketing Tools To Help You Grow Your Business Grow Your Business Faster Using HubSpot's CRM Platform Support The Podcast & Connect With Troy: Rate & Review iDigress: iDigress.fm/Reviews Follow Troy's Socials @FindTroy: LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads, TikTok Subscribe to Troy's YouTube Channel For Strategy Videos & See Masterclass Episodes Need Growth Strategy, A Keynote Speaker, Or Want To Sponsor The Podcast? Go To FindTroy.com
Send us Fan MailWhy do great strategies so often fail in execution?In this episode of The Frustrated CEO, Patrick and Patsy uncover the hidden dynamics that quietly derail teams, damage culture, and prevent organizations from achieving their goals. While many execution problems are blamed on processes or strategy, the real obstacles are often rooted in human behavior.They explore how both intentional and unintentional behaviors can undermine trust, weaken relationships, and create cultural patterns that make effective execution nearly impossible when left unaddressed. Patrick also shares why leadership begins with genuine care and concern for people—and how leaders who recognize and manage these hidden behaviors create healthier, higher-performing teams.You'll also hear why periods of growth don't create new problems—they expose the ones that have always been there, making self-awareness and intentional leadership more important than ever.In this episode, you'll learn:-Why execution problems often start with hidden team dynamics-How unmanaged behaviors quietly erode culture and performance-The leadership mindset that builds trust and accountability-Why growth exposes existing organizational issues-Practical insights for creating teams that execute with excellenceIf you're a CEO, business owner, or leader looking to improve execution and build a stronger culture, this episode is for you.
Scaling in the Age of AI: Growth Without Increasing Risk|Brian BeckJoining us today is Brian Beck from Proxurve Solutions. Brian works with mid-sized organizations to turn AI and cybersecurity from concepts into real business outcomes. While most conversations in this space focus on what AI can do, Brian focuses on why companies struggle to implement it—and how to fix that. His work is all about helping leaders cut through the noise, align technology with real workflows, and drive measurable impact without increasing risk.Brian, welcome to the show.Links:https://proxurve.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianbeck73/Tags:podcast for creatives,creative podcast,podcast creator interviews,professional podcast,creative podcasts,podcast host interviews,creative podcast ideas,Artificial Intelligence (AI),Business Strategy,Change Management,Cyber Security,Decision Making,Digital Transformation,Executive Leadership,Leadership,Risk Management,Technology AdoptionSupport PEG by checking out our Sponsors:Download and use Newsly for free now from www.newsly.me or from the link in the description, and use promo code “GHOST” and receive a 1-month free premium subscription.The best tool for getting podcast guests:https://podmatch.com/signup/phantomelectricghostSubscribe to our Instagram for exclusive content:https://www.instagram.com/expansive_sound_experiments/Subscribe to our YouTube https://youtube.com/@phantomelectricghost?si=rEyT56WQvDsAoRprRSShttps://anchor.fm/s/3b31908/podcast/rssSubstackhttps://substack.com/@phantomelectricghost?utm_source=edit-profile-page
Chain of Learning: Empowering Continuous Improvement Change Leaders
Efficiency and cost savings aren't what makes operational excellence last. People are.The leaders who create enduring, high-performing organizations are after something beyond business results. They want a company where people end the day more capable, more confident, more energized than when it began. That's the difference between a workplace that wears people down and one that builds powerful people.Gary Peterson spent more than 30 years building that kind of culture of continuous improvement at OC Tanner. But the hardest part wasn't creating the systems or processes to get better outcomes. It was his own transformation — coming to see how, without meaning to, he'd become the leader getting in his people's way.Put people first, and the results follow. And the deepest transformation you'll ever lead is your own.You'll Learn:Why operational excellence only lasts when leaders focus on building people, not just cutting costs and eliminating wasteWhy the best leaders make an identity shift from being the expert with every answer to creating the conditions for others to solve problemsWhat it takes to move managers from enforcers to coaches and make continuous improvement something your team never fears, even as roles and headcount shiftHow to influence real organizational change when you have no authority to make anyone followWhy so many leaders give up on culture change too soon, and how long it really takesABOUT MY GUEST:Gary Peterson spent more than 30 years at OC Tanner, where he held leadership roles across manufacturing, marketing, and operations, most recently as Executive Vice President of Supply Chain and Manufacturing. He led the people-first transformation that earned OC Tanner the Shingo Prize and made it one of the few companies Toyota holds up as a global showcase for its system outside automotive. Gary is an Association for Manufacturing Excellence Hall of Fame inductee.IMPORTANT LINKS:Full episode show notes: ChainOfLearning.com/79 Connect with Gary Peterson: linkedin.com/in/garypeterson Follow me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kbjanderson Subscribe to my newsletter: kbjanderson.com/newsletter Check out my website for resources and working together: KBJAnderson.com Join me on the Japan Leadership Experience: KBJAnderson.com/japantripTIMESTAMPS FOR THIS EPISODE:03:44 Why Toyota saw something different at OC Tanner05:02 The real purpose of operational excellence07:19 How Gary knew the culture was changing09:00 Creating people who change the world12:13 The outcome every leader should want13:07 Two pillars that shaped the journey14:26 Breaking a culture of fear and control15:35 The five-minute habit that changed everything17:15 Redefining what it means to be a manager19:12 Why transformation takes longer than you think20:05 What to do when leaders don't support the change22:26 The experiment that almost got shut down24:19 Helping managers make the coaching shift25:23 When people outgrow their leaders28:28 Why improvement should never threaten jobs30:23 The manager who couldn't stop yelling32:23 The leadership habit that destroys ownership35:35 Becoming the leader you never wanted to be37:00 The habit that was holding people back38:01 The executive behavior that shuts people down40:07 Proving your worth vs. creating conditions45:37 Showing results isn't the same as showing people49:53 Where transformation really begins51:16 The question every leader should ask about their people53:34 When helping starts limiting growth55:14 The shift that made everything else possible
Send us Fan MailIn this episode, James (Jim) Lukaszewski joins host Jason Mudd to discuss how to influence leaders through trust, candor, and strategic communication.Tune in to learn more!Meet our guest:Our guest is James (Jim) Lukaszewski, president and CEO of The Lukaszewski Group. Jim has advised business leaders through crises and high-stakes situations for more than five decades. He shares practical strategies for becoming the trusted strategic advisor leaders rely on when making important decisions.Five things you'll learn from this episode:1. Why trusted advisors begin by understanding leadership challenges before communication challenges 2. How candor helps build credibility with executives 3. The Three-Minute Drill for presenting strategic recommendations 4. Why offering options instead of conclusions leads to better leadership decisions5. How studying leadership helps communicators become more influential advisors Quotables“All problems are management and organizational problems before they are any other kind of problem.” — Jim Lukaszewski“You have to start where the person you're advising is, not where you think the solution is.” — Jim Lukaszewski“Management happens in real time.” — Jim Lukaszewski“Anybody who can offer three perspectives or useful concepts about any problem the boss is facing is a valuable person.” — Jim Lukaszewski“Your highest and best use … is being a trusted advisor to leadership.” — Jason MuddIf you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through Buy Me a Coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review.Guest's contact info and resources:James Lukaszewski on LinkedInJames E. Lukaszewski on YouTubeE911 websiteCrisisguru.aiPre-order the “Influencing Leaders” bookPre-order Jim's new book.Email a copy of your receipt to jel@e911.com with the subject line "TOP." Follow Jim on LinkedIn.Subscribe to Jim's newsletter.When the book is released in August, you'll receive the handbook by email.Additional Resources:Does PR play an active role in your strategic planning? Learn how to make it easier to reach your goalsDefining leadership in corporate communicationsAxia's crisis PR serviceListen to more episodes of the On Top of PR with Jason Mudd podcast.Find out more about Axia Public Relations.If you like this episode, you're going to love this:How to be a trusted adviser with Del GallowayWhen a crisis hits, say this or stay silentRecorded: July, 2026Support the showOn Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands.On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.
The Leadership Operating System Every leader develops an internal operating system. It's built from experience, reinforced by success, and often becomes invisible to the person running it. In this episode, Allison explores: Why the habits that created success may eventually create limitations How early-stage leadership instincts differ from scaling-stage leadership needs The hidden ways leaders become organizational bottlenecks Why recurring problems are often systemic rather than isolated The challenge of recognizing your own leadership patterns How authority limits honest feedback Why perspective is often more valuable than advice The role trusted peers play in helping leaders see blind spots How leaders can upgrade their operating system as they grow Key Question: What recurring pattern in your organization might be connected to how you operate as a leader? Resources: Think First: Stop Being the Bottleneck, Start Building Thinkers Deliberate Directions Executive Coaching & Leadership Development Think First
As part of the Speaking of Writers America 250 Series, Steve Richards talks with presidential historian Dr. Lindsay M. Chervinsky about her book Making the Presidency: John Adams and the Precedents That Forged the Republic.The conversation explores how America's second president transformed the presidency, navigated the nation's earliest political crises, and established precedents that continue to influence presidents today.#SpeakingOfWriters #America250 #JohnAdams #FoundingFathers #USHistory #AmericanHistory #Presidency #LindsayChervinsky #GeorgeWashington #ThomasJefferson #HistoryPodcast #HistoryBooks #OxfordUniversityPress #SteveRichards #BookPodcast #AuthorInterview #PoliticalHistory #Constitution #ExecutiveBranch #MountVernon
What separates great leaders from everyone else? In this episode of Everything Is Personal, Len May sits down with Terry Mendez, CEO of Safe Harbor Financial, to discuss leadership, entrepreneurship, business transformation, financial innovation, team building, AI, technology, and the future of business. Terry shares lessons from his career at Deloitte, Arthur Andersen, Fortune 500 companies, and high-growth businesses. The conversation explores leadership, communication, innovation, customer experience, financial services, entrepreneurship, business strategy, and how successful leaders build organisations that continue to grow. Whether you're an entrepreneur, executive, business owner, or someone interested in leadership and innovation, this episode offers practical insights that can help you think differently about business and success. EndoDNA: Where Genetic Science Meets Actionable Patient Care EndoDNA bridges the gap between complex genomics and patient wellness. Our patented DNA analysis platforms and AI technology provide genetic insights that support and enhance your clinical expertise. Click here to check out to take control over your Personal Health & Wellness Connect with EndoDNA on SOCIAL: IG | X | YOUTUBE | FB Connect with host, Len May, on IG Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
What you'll learn in this episode: ● Why emotional regulation is one of the most important skills for entrepreneurs ● How emotional intelligence improves leadership and decision-making ● The hidden connection between burnout, stress, and high achievement ● Why successful people can still feel unhappy despite reaching their goals ● How childhood experiences influence business and personal relationships ● The difference between reacting emotionally and responding intentionally ● The four pillars of embodied presence: awareness, embodiment, connection, and flow ● How to recover from nervous system overwhelm and emotional exhaustion ● Why intuition and logic work best when combined ● Practical techniques to improve resilience, focus, and sustainable peak performance
Are you ready to redefine success with superfoods and a side of franchising? Dive into the world of Everbowl with Jeff Fenster, its founder and CEO, who's transforming the quick-serve scene with acai bowls that mean business. Jeff, once a skeptic of franchising, shares his journey from anti-franchising to franchise pioneer, revealing how he scaled Everbowl into a nationwide brand without burning out. Learn how to build an empire, discover the power of making friends, having fun, fueling growth, and turning challenges into opportunities. This Start With a Win episode is your blueprint for winning in business and life.A pioneer in the quick-serve restaurant category, Jeff Fenster is the founder of the rapidly expanding, SoCal-based superfood brand, Everbowl™, which he established in 2016. Everbowl is nationally recognized as a rising-star within the sector, making healthy superfoods accessible and affordable for everyone. With a growing footprint of retail locations in SoCal and Arizona, Fenster is driving the monumental growth of Everbowl, with plans to introduce the brand nationwide through both retail operations and a line of superfood-infused CPG products. As part of successfully scaling the brand, Fenster has spearheaded the implementation of innovative processes to streamline Everbowl's revenue-driving efficiencies in areas including operations, procurement, supply chain, and construction.00:00 Intro02:08 Is this why you say no to a franchise?03:57 ...And the Power of Partnerships06:49 Lessons from the Top08:47 Making Friends and Having Fun?12:25 Performance Coaching Advice – 5 Steps! 15:55 Is it possible to make one individual become five?20:20 Leverage up – AI for busy work, you focus ON your business!25:02 Challenge it / ask why it is wrong – it will create so many opportunities!32:10 I don't do this but drink this…https://www.everbowl.com/ https://jefffenster.com/===========================Subscribe and Listen to the Start With a Win Podcast HERE:
Worum es gehtNikolaus nutzt diese Solo-Folge für ein ehrliches Update: wohin sich Beyond Busy entwickelt, warum der Podcast breiter wird als nur Executive Leadership – und was ihn dazu gebracht hat, die eigene Positionierung zu hinterfragen. Und er lässt uns mit einem Bild zurück, das bleibt.KernideeVieles von dem, was uns beschwert, ist keine externe Last – es ist eine Projektion. Unsere Idee davon, was andere von uns erwarten. Wer aufhört, diesen imaginierten Erwartungen hinterherzulaufen, und anfängt zu fragen, was wirklich beyond busy wartet, findet dort etwas ganz anderes als noch mehr Tun.Was du mitnimmstPerspektive entsteht nicht allein. Ein Blickwinkel bleibt ein Blickwinkel – erst mehrere zusammen öffnen ein Spektrum.Genau das ist die Idee hinter Beyond Busy: nicht eine Wahrheit, sondern viele Wahrnehmungen, die gemeinsam ein breiteres Bild ergeben.Beyond Busy wird breiter. Nicht enger. Die Gäste, die kommen, bringen unterschiedlichste Hintergründe mit – weil das, was nach busy kommt, nicht nur eine Führungsfrage ist, sondern eine menschliche.Halt den Bierkrug nicht zu lange. Themen, die wirnicht aussprechen. Gefühle, die wir runterschlucken. Erwartungen, die wir still mit uns tragen. Je länger, desto schwerer. Irgendwann unaushaltbar. Die Frage ist nicht ob man Steine in die Hand nehmen darf – sondern wann man sie wieder abstellt.MehrÜber den Host:Nikolaus KleemannLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikolauskleemann/Webseite: https://www.nikolauskleemann.com/Teile diese Folge mit jemandem, der gerade einen Stein schon etwas zu lange in der ausgestreckten Hand hält.
Why Your Team Stops Telling You the Truth As companies grow, leaders often face an invisible challenge: they hear less of what's really happening. This isn't because employees are dishonest. It's because people naturally filter information when speaking to someone who holds authority over their career, compensation, and future opportunities. In this episode, Allison explores: How growth changes a leader's information environment Why teams begin filtering information The role power plays in workplace communication How leadership blind spots are created Why people stop raising concerns The hidden cost of operating on incomplete information Why asking for honesty isn't enough How to create psychological safety inside organizations The importance of trusted peers outside your business Key Question: When your team gives you an update, do you believe you're getting the full picture? If not, what have you done to make honesty truly safe? Resources: Think First: Stop Being the Bottleneck, Start Building Thinkers Deliberate Directions Leadership Development & Executive Coaching Think First
Leadership isn't about being the loudest voice in the room. It's about building trust, creating accountability, and bringing people with you. In this episode of The Beacon Way Podcast, Adrienne Wilkerson sits down with executive leader, board director, entrepreneur, and bestselling author Victoria Pelletier to discuss her remarkable leadership journey—from overcoming a traumatic childhood and becoming an executive at just 24 years old to leading organizations through mergers, acquisitions, corporate transformations, and cultural change. Victoria shares how years of being one of the only women in leadership shaped her approach, why she was once known as "The Iron Maiden," and how embracing authenticity transformed both her leadership style and the impact she has on the people around her. The conversation explores human-centered leadership, accountability, workplace culture, navigating difficult conversations, leading through change, and creating environments where people can thrive while still achieving high performance. If you're a business owner, executive, manager, or aspiring leader, this episode offers practical insights into building stronger teams and becoming the kind of leader people genuinely want to follow. In This Episode:Victoria's journey from adversity to executive leadership Being the only woman in the room Why authenticity matters in leadership The dangers of leadership masks and personas Building trust through vulnerability Human-centered leadership vs. command-and-control leadership Accountability without sacrificing empathy Leading through mergers, acquisitions, and organizational change Creating followership instead of compliance How to know when it's time to leave an organization Connect With Victoria Pelletier Website https://victoria-pelletier.com LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriapelletier YouTube channelhttps://www.youtube.com/@UCpps5pAsPd83Bbn0YnofHRQ Books, Speaking & Leadership Resources https://victoria-pelletier.com
What if your biggest leadership challenge isn't a lack of strategy—but a survival pattern you've carried for years? In this powerful episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Beth Jones, Leadership Performance Strategist, Speaker, Author, and Founder of Empowered Survivors. After more than three decades leading high-stakes forensic investigations across 35+ countries, Beth uncovered a surprising truth: many leadership struggles stem from unresolved survival behaviors rather than business problems. Beth shares her personal journey through trauma, healing, and self-discovery, revealing how patterns such as perfectionism, people-pleasing, control, over-performance, and emotional distance can quietly impact leadership effectiveness, workplace culture, communication, and team trust. Listeners will learn about Beth's transformative HEAL Framework (Hope, Evolve, And, Love) and discover practical ways to recognize reactive leadership behaviors, build greater self-awareness, and create healthier, more empowered organizations. In This Episode: ✔ How childhood experiences and survival patterns can influence leadership styles ✔ The difference between healthy high performance and performance driven by fear ✔ Why perfectionism and burnout often originate from deeper emotional patterns ✔ Practical steps to increase self-awareness and improve leadership effectiveness ✔ How leaders can create emotionally healthy workplace cultures ✔ The role of vulnerability, empathy, and accountability in building trust ✔ Beth's HEAL Framework for personal and professional transformation Whether you're a business owner, executive, manager, entrepreneur, or emerging leader, this conversation offers valuable insights into leading with greater intention, awareness, and positive influence. Connect with Beth Jones:Email: beth@empoweredsurvivors.com Website: https://empoweredsurvivors.com LinkedIn, YouTube & Substack: @BethJonesHealingMentor Daily Influence is the podcast where we explore how positive, responsible influence creates lasting impact in business, leadership, and life. Suggested Keywords Leadership Development, Emotional Intelligence, Leadership Under Pressure, Workplace Culture, Self-Awareness, Executive Leadership, Trauma-Informed Leadership, Burnout Prevention, Team Performance, Intentional Leadership, Personal Growth, Leadership Coaching, Beth Jones, Daily Influence Podcast, Responsible Influence, Leadership Mindset, Employee Engagement, Organizational Culture, High Performance Leadership.
The Loneliness That Grows With Success Success often brings opportunities, influence, and growth. It can also bring something leaders rarely discuss openly: loneliness. In this episode, Allison explores: Why leadership often becomes more isolating as organizations scale How the gap between leaders and their teams naturally widens over time Why people stop telling leaders the full truth The hidden cost of carrying leadership challenges alone How isolation impacts decision-making and strategic thinking The role of trusted peers in preventing leadership blind spots Why honest feedback becomes harder to access as your authority increases How to create relationships where truth can be shared without fear The importance of building support systems outside your organization Key Question: When was the last time someone told you something genuinely difficult to hear? If you're struggling to answer that question, it may reveal more about your leadership environment than you realize. Resources: Think First: Stop Being the Bottleneck, Start Building Thinkers by Allison Dunn Learn more: Deliberate Directions Think First
Chain of Learning: Empowering Continuous Improvement Change Leaders
Have you poured months into a strategy your team couldn't bring to life? Or watched capable people work harder than ever, and still struggle to pull together as a team?High performance isn't about a better strategy, more talent, or longer hours. It's about how your team works together, every single day.Karina Mangu-Ward, author of Teams That Meet the Moment, has spent more than a decade helping complex organizations redesign the messy day-to-day of how people actually get things done together. Her belief: good everyday teaming habits are both good for people and good for results. You don't have to choose between them.Making this real doesn't require a reinvention. You just need the right structure and the intention to show up differently. In this episode, Karina shares simple, tangible practices you can use in your very next meeting or strategic project.You'll Learn:The three lies leaders tell themselves about teamwork, and why believing them holds your team backHow the framework of the "Even Over" ends the swirl when your team is stuck choosing between two competing optionsWhy creating a "Safe to Try" process gets a team unstuck when you're chasing consensus and certaintyWhat a steady team cadence unlocks when everything around you feels like an emergencyThe instinct nearly every high performer has to unlearn before they can build a team that thrivesABOUT MY GUEST:Karina Mangu-Ward is a partner at August Public, an organizational change consultancy that helps large, complex organizations build more human-centered ways of working, whose clients include PepsiCo, Planned Parenthood, and Sundance. She's the author of Teams That Meet the Moment: 9 Practices for Unlocking Performance and Growth in Uncertain Times. Karina's passion is helping groups navigate complexity, gain insight, and unlock highly complex challenges.IMPORTANT LINKS:Full episode show notes: ChainOfLearning.com/78 Connect with Karina: linkedin.com/in/karina-mangu-ward Purchase a copy of Karina's book: Teams That Meet the MomentLearn more about Karina's company: aug.co Take the Team assessment: assessment.aug.co Follow me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kbjanderson Subscribe to my newsletter: kbjanderson.com/newsletter Check out my website for resources and working together: KBJAnderson.com Join us on the Japan Leadership Experience: KBJAnderson.com/japantrip TIMESTAMPS FOR THIS EPISODE:03:01 Why great strategy still fails04:13 The hustle culture myth that's burning teams out05:20 Everyday habits drive extraordinary teams07:11 Meeting the moment in uncertain times09:13 The "Safe to Try" mindset that breaks gridlock11:18 Setting guardrails without limiting innovation12:06 Why small bets outperform big risks13:29 Unlearning the need to have the answer15:17 Why sticky practices beat complicated frameworks17:16 Simple retrospectives that strengthen learning20:19 The surprising cost of treating everything like an emergency22:09 Using "Even Over" to make better trade-offs25:28 Intention over reaction in decision-making30:32 When perfection becomes procrastination31:53 Why working in public accelerates learning34:22 The power of stories over instruction37:08 Intention + practice = better leadership39:14 What trade-off do you need to make?
Send us Fan MailWhy do intelligent leaders make disastrous decisions? It happens in corporations, schools, governments, nonprofits, startups, and even military organizations. The problem is rarely a lack of intelligence, experience, or information. More often, leaders unknowingly build systems that filter reality before it reaches them. In this episode of Thinking 2 Think, Executive Director, leadership advisor, and former NYPD officer M.A. Aponte explores The Leadership Failure Nobody Names—the hidden organizational dynamics that cause smart leaders to make catastrophically bad decisions despite having access to vast amounts of data and expertise. You'll discover: ✅ The Intelligence-Failure Paradox and why power often reduces information quality✅ How organizations create leadership echo chambers✅ The dangers of sycophancy, groupthink, and yes-men cultures✅ Why executives often receive filtered or distorted information✅ The psychology behind premature certainty and cognitive closure✅ Real-world examples from education, business, military leadership, and finance✅ The Honest Signal Audit framework for improving decision-making✅ How pre-mortems, dissent, and disagreement improve organizational outcomes✅ Practical tools leaders can use to avoid blind spots and strategic failure Whether you're a CEO, superintendent, principal, entrepreneur, executive, manager, board member, military leader, or aspiring leader, this episode will challenge how you think about information, influence, leadership, and decision-making under pressure. Because the greatest threat to leadership is often not what you don't know. It's what your organization prevents you from seeing. Think Clearly. Lead Boldly. Stay Logical. Support the showAbout the host: M.A. Aponte is a former JPMorgan banker, former Merrill Lynch wealth manager, former NYPD officer, Army Officer, and Executive Director of a Charter School in Florida. He is the author of The Logical Mind and host of Thinking 2 Think. Join My Substack for more content: maaponte.substack.comConsulting/Advisory Services: MAAponte.comProfessional LinkedIn Page: www.linkedin.com/in/maaponteFinancial Budget/Wealth Management app (FREE): https://centsora.com/CHECK OUT OUR NEW CRITICAL THINKING GAME APP! Currently in BETA: Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.base692af669b00f0dc8d8ad6653.appWeb: https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.base692af669b00f0dc8d8ad6653.app*Coming soon to Apple Store
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Frustrated CEO Podcast, Patrick and Patsy tackle a challenge they see in organizations of every size: leadership teams that are working hard together but aren't intentionally developing the leadership capacity needed for future growth.As organizations grow, existing leadership structures are often stretched beyond their limits, exposing gaps that can slow momentum and create frustration. Patrick and Patsy discuss why growth demands a different level of leadership, the importance of healthy conflict in building stronger teams, and how leaders can identify whether their current team is equipped for what's next.They also explore a critical question every leader should be asking:Do we have the leadership team needed for the organization we're trying to become?If you're leading a growing business and want to build a leadership team that can scale with your vision, this episode offers practical insights and thought-provoking discussion to help you prepare for the future.
John W. Brewster is a Service-Disabled Air Force veteran, NICET Level IV expert, former Master Instructor, UFC contributor, and CEO of ITM4G, leading multimillion-dollar contracts with top federal agencies. Top 3 Value Bombs 1. You don't need a college degree to succeed; real-world skills, common sense, and consistent effort can take you just as far. 2. Treat employees with respect and make them feel valued; strong teams are built on appreciation, not authority. 3. The right certifications combined with hands-on experience can rival (or exceed) traditional education in career advancement. Check out John's website to learn more, or reach out to him directly - ITM4G Website Sponsors HighLevel - The ultimate all-in-one platform for entrepreneurs, marketers, coaches, and agencies. Learn more at HighLevelFire.com. 50 Days - Join JLD on his free '50 Days to Something' video series on YouTube and create something special in 50 days.
How does a real estate powerhouse and two-time Survivor competitor master the art of leading under pressure and thriving in high-stakes scenarios? Dive into the mindset and strategies of Quintavius Burdette, who's conquered the boardroom and the island, as he shares his secrets to planning, prioritizing, and executing under challenging conditions. Discover how to reset and recharge daily, manage a bustling real estate portfolio with a young family, and stay laser-focused on your goals. If you're ready to level up your leadership and personal discipline, this Start With a Win episode with Adam Contos is your game plan for winning.Quintavius “Q” Burdette is a high-performing real estate leader, former Division I athlete, and nationally recognized reality TV competitor known for his relentless drive and competitive edge. Originally from Senatobia, Mississippi, Q grew up in a large family where he developed the grit and discipline that would define his success. He went on to compete in both football and track at Ole Miss before taking a bold leap into real estate.Today, he's a top-producing RE/MAX agent, leading a high-volume business and earning a reputation for hustle and results. Many also recognize Q from his standout appearances on Survivor, where his fearless, strategic mindset made him one of the most talked-about contestants. Whether in business or competition, Q lives by a simple principle: bet on yourself, stay adaptable, and never back down from a challenge.00:00 Intro02:42 Leadership Lessons…07:20 Don't have time, you sure?11:10 Everyone, Needs to be able to set this…15:40 How to compete every day!19:30 How do you want your story?21:30 Mindsets and Systems to be the best!26:39 To grow your business you must know this!!!29:50 Oh it has changed…===========================Subscribe and Listen to the Start With a Win Podcast HERE:
What if the reason you're exhausted isn't because you're doing too much… but because you don't know where to stop?Welcome back to another episode of Empower with Nancy.Many people think boundaries are selfish. But what if the real problem is that constantly saying "yes" is costing you your peace, energy, confidence, and even your relationships?In this episode, you'll discover why so many capable, dependable people struggle to set boundaries, the hidden connection between self-worth and over giving, and what happens when your value becomes tied to being needed.As you listen, you'll gain greater self-awareness, feel empowered to protect your energy, and learn how healthy boundaries can strengthen, not damage, your relationships and leadership.This week, try a simple practice: before saying yes to a request, pause and ask yourself, "Do I truly want to do this, or do I feel obligated?" Research in psychology shows that increasing self-awareness is one of the first steps toward creating healthier boundaries and reducing burnout.If you've ever felt guilty for putting yourself first, this episode may challenge the way you've been thinking. Listen in, you might discover what's really keeping you exhausted.Remember - you have full control of the wheel. Sending Hugs!Nancy
What You'll Learn in This Episode:Spotlight Episode!!As we continue revisiting some of the conversations that sparked meaningful discussions, we're bringing back this episode of the Lean Solutions Podcast with Patrick Adams and Shayne Daughenbaugh.In this conversation, Patrick and Shayne explore what new leaders should focus on when stepping into a Lean journey. Instead of jumping straight into tools and solutions, they discuss the importance of understanding the current state, building relationships, developing people, and creating the right environment for improvement.From creating a model area for experimentation to learning through failure, this episode highlights why successful Lean transformation starts with leadership, trust, and capability building.Key TakeawaysYour Role Determines Your StrategyStart with Listening, Not ImplementingCulture Before ToolsPerspective Changes EverythingLinks:Lean Solutions 2026 SummitLean Solutions WebsiteClick Here For Shayne Daughenbaugh's LinkedInClick Here For Patrick Adams' LinkedIn
Is AI Giving Buyers the Right Information About Your Company? For years, your website was the first place buyers went to learn about your business. Today, buyers are also asking AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, and Perplexity questions about suppliers, products, services, and industry challenges before they ever contact a salesperson. In this episode of Grounding AI, Donna Peterson explores a question every business leader should be asking: When buyers ask AI about your company, is AI giving them the right answer? You'll learn: Why AI may now be your company's first impression How industrial buyers are using AI during research and supplier selection Questions every company should test across multiple AI platforms Why generic content hurts visibility in AI-generated answers How to identify gaps between your messaging and what AI understands A simple exercise to evaluate your company's AI presence Ways to improve how AI describes your brand over time Action Step - Open three AI tools and ask: What does our company do? What problems do we solve? What makes us different? What industries do we serve? Why would someone choose us? Compare the answers and identify opportunities to strengthen your messaging. About Grounding AI: Grounding AI is a podcast for business leaders navigating artificial intelligence in practical ways. Hosted by Donna Peterson, each episode focuses on helping organizations use AI responsibly while strengthening relationships, communication, and business growth. *** Reach out to dpeterson@worldinnovators.com if you'd like help building a marketing strategy that builds relationships and/or AI training for individuals or full teams.*** Visit www.worldinnovators.com for more resources on building stronger marketing and leadership strategies.*** Subscribe to the Grounding AI podcast for weekly insights into marketing, leadership, and the future of AI.
What did you think of this episode ?Welcome to Season 7 Episode 1 in conversation with Professor Tait Shanafelt, Chief Wellness Officer, Associate Dean, and the Jeanie & Stewart Ritchie Professor of Medicine at Stanford University, and Director of the Stanford WellMD & WellPhD Center.Across more than two decades and several hundred peer-reviewed papers, Tait's work has fundamentally reshaped how medicine understands itself, shifting the conversation from “fix the doctor” to “fix the system.” His papers have been referenced in more episodes of this podcast, and more generally, than any other voice in the field. We begin with the conceptual shift that transitioned physician wellbeing from a personal and individual problem to an organisational responsibility referencing 2017 Nine Organizational Strategies paper. Post-pandemic The Wellbeing 2.0 paper reflected on where we have been, where we are and where we are headed.With this frame in mind we discuss the update in research, thinking and practice through the published 2025 Ten Principles to Advance Occupational Well-being paper, This article provides an organisation-facing guidebook for leaders that concentrates decades of evidence into ten foundational principles. There is a deliberate language shift from physician wellbeing to occupational wellbeing across the whole healthcare workforce. We zoom in from the strategic-systems lens to the practical work of unit-level leadership, evidence-informed tactics, and the day-to-day realities of work-life integration.We close on the five-part Career Life Cycle series, published this year, that charts the influences on wellbeing across the arc of a career, from residency and fellowship through early, mid, and late career into retirement. There are unique challenges at each stage but across the whole arc, the fundamental drivers of wellbeing are similar: autonomy, meaning, community, connection. Along the way, we discuss the iteration and evolution of the Chief Wellness Officer and Wellbeing Director courses out of Stanford WellMD pathways into this work that have shaped and continue to advance a generation of leaders globally. ReferencesThe 2025 paper at the centre of the conversationShanafelt T, Trockel M, Stolz S, Murphy D, Bohman B. Ten Principles to Advance Occupational Well-being in Health Care Organizations. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2025;100(6):995–1004. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2025.03.026Landmark papersShanafelt TD, Noseworthy JH. Executive Leadership and Physician Well-being: Nine Organizational Strategies. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2017;92(1):129–146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2016.10.004Shanafelt TD. Physician Well-being 2.0: Where Are We and Where Are We Going? Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2021;96(10):2682–2693. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2021.06.005The five-part Career Life Cycle series (2025–2026)Thomas LR, Brigham T, Shanafelt T. Residency and Fellowship: Fostering Physician Well-being Over the Career Life Cycle. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2025;100(9):1649–1659. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2025.05.024Rotenstein L, Harry E, Shanafelt T. The Early Career Phase: Fostering Physician Well-being Over the Career Life Cycle.Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2025;100(10):1836–1845. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2025.05.025Ligibel JA, Awad K, Shanafelt T. Mid-Career: Fostering Physician Well-being Over the Career Life Cycle. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2025;100(11):2007–2016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2025.05.026Frey K, Arata M, Shanafelt T. Late Career: Fostering Physician Well-being Over the Career Life Cycle. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2025;100(12):2255–2261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2025.05.028Brower KJ, Litt IF, Shanafelt TD. Retirement: Fostering Physician Well-being Over the Career Life Cycle. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2026;101(1):179–186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2025.05.027Stanford WellMD course and education information discussed in the episode• Stanford WellMD & WellPhD Center — https://wellmd.stanford.edu• Stanford Chief Wellness Officer Course —https://wellmd.stanford.edu/knowledge-hub/courses-conferences/cwo-course.html• Stanford Wellbeing Director Course — https://wellmd.stanford.edu/knowledge-hub/courses-conferences/directorcourse.htmlThe Mind Full Medic Podcast is proudly sponsored by the MBA NSW-ACT Find out more about the charitable organisation supporting doctors and their families and/ or donate today at www.mbansw.org.auDisclaimer: The content in this podcast is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care professional. Moreover views expressed here are our own and do not necessarily reflect those of our employers or other official organisations.
What you'll learn in this episode: ● How to handle stress before it happens ● Why caring proactively strengthens trust and loyalty ● The difference between excuses and habits ● How to lead people who resist change ● The secret to consistency when motivation fades ● Why respecting challenges doesn't mean giving them power ● How to build a “pre-decision compass” for when life gets bumpy
What you'll learn in this episode: ● The key difference between leading and managing ● How your words can carry more weight than you realize ● Why great leaders attract people seeking guidance ● How to empower your team through influence, not authority ● The mindset shift that transforms management into leadership
High-performing teams need trust before the pressure hits. Lindsay Shookus spent 20 years at Saturday Night Live, including 10 years as a producer, where every week required a team of writers, cast members, celebrity hosts, musicians, producers, and crew to create a live show in six days. In this conversation, Lindsay joins John Kaplan and John McMahon to share what SNL taught her about building trust quickly, hiring people who elevate the room, reading talent under pressure, and creating a process that allows strong personalities to perform together. She also shares leadership lessons from Lorne Michaels, the importance of adaptability and coachability, and why authentic connection gives teams the confidence to take risks when the stakes are highest. Lindsay Shookus spent 20 years at Saturday Night Live, including 10 years as a producer, where she led talent booking, worked with celebrity hosts and musical guests, and helped scout and recruit cast members. She is a four-time Emmy Award winner, a former producer on 30 Rock, and the co-founder of Women Work Hard, a community supporting female entrepreneurs and leaders. Connect with Lindsay: Website Resources mentioned: Women Work Hard on IG Women Work Hard Website Rethinking Success by J. Douglas Holladay Key takeaways from this episode: 00:00 - Introduction 06:25 - What it really takes to build trust quickly when high-performing people have only days to align. 14:22 - Why many leaders misread talent when they rely on credentials instead of team fit, coachability, and social awareness. 07:55 - A look inside how high-pressure decisions get made when timing is tight and every stakeholder has a point of view. 11:46 - Why hiring people who can take your job quietly raises the standard for the entire organization. 37:35 - What leaders often overlook about coachability once someone has already reached the top of their field. 43:49 - Lindsay Shookus' perspective on why vulnerability creates stronger leadership connections than polished perfection. 51:36 - Why strategic absence can make a leader's presence more valuable. Hosted by five-time CRO John McMahon and Force Management Co-Founder John Kaplan, the Revenue Builders podcast goes behind the scenes with the sales leaders who have been there, done that, and seen the results. This show is brought to you by Force Management. We help companies improve sales performance, executing their growth strategy at the point of sale. Connect with Us: LinkedInYouTubeForce Management
What does it actually look like to lead people through a crisis — not just manage operations, but truly show up for the humans involved? In this episode of Leading Through Crisis, host Céline Williams sits down with Tracy Nolan, a Fortune 50 Senior Executive and global Board Leader with deep expertise in regulated industries, including healthcare and telecommunications. Tracy has led through it all: the closure of 27 retail stores as the last executive standing, being on a plane landing at Newark on the morning of 9/11 while working for Verizon, and managing 14,000 Sprint employees through both COVID-19 and a simultaneous merger with T-Mobile. Her philosophy? Jump in (beyond the operational checklist, beyond what the job description says), and treat your people the way you'd want to be treated. In this conversation, Tracy shares: - Why most leaders fail at crisis communication (and what to do instead) - How she ran "no-canned-questions" listening sessions that changed the way her teams trusted her - The "CEO for a day" roundtable method she uses to stay connected to frontline reality - Why feedback is a gift, regardless of your title - A powerful trust exercise every leader should do with their team today If you're a leader, executive, or manager who wants to build an organization that can not only survive a crisis but thrive through one, this episode is essential listening. — Tracy Nolan is a Fortune 50 senior executive and global board leader with deep experience in regulated industries, including healthcare and telecommunications. She has overseen $6B+ in P&L's, led multi-billion dollar revenue transformations, and delivered sustainable value through M&A integrations, operating models redesigns, and risk-managed expansion. Tracy currently serves as Senior Vice President, where she leads the Insurance sales organization and distribution strategy. Tracy has recently been named to the 50/50 Women to Watch for Boards list and serves as the Board Secretary for Dress for Success Worldwide. She is an advocate dedicated to "Inspiring Leaders to Lift while they Climb." Connect with Tracy: tracynolan.com | LinkedIn: Tracy E. Nolan
What does it truly take to build a workplace where people don't just show up - they ignite? In this electrifying episode of Start With a Win, host Adam sits down with Moe Carrick, a visionary work futurist and culture architect whose unconventional path - from wilderness guide to organizational mastermind - has given her a perspective on human potential that most leaders never discover. Moe pulls back the curtain on the invisible forces shaping today's most successful (and most struggling) organizations. In a world rocked by seismic workplace shifts, a loneliness epidemic, and the relentless rise of AI, she challenges everything leaders think they know about what employees actually need - and what it costs when those needs go unmet. This is the raw, resonant truth about what separates thriving cultures from toxic ones, and the surprisingly human principles that make all the difference. If you lead people - or aspire to - this episode will change how you see your organization forever.Moe Carrick is a work futurist, culture architect, and bestselling author who helps leaders and organizations turn workplace friction into fuel for growth. With over two decades of experience working with companies big and small - from Nike to nonprofits - Moe's research-backed methods help teams align, scale, and create cultures where connection drives performance. A TEDx and SXSW speaker recognized by Thinkers 360, Fast Company, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Moe is on a mission to fix the way we work so people thrive - and businesses win.00:00 Intro03:45 We all need this… 04:54 This is where organizational culture starts.08:55 Never heard this statement before… 12:40 Employers are being mindful and designing systems for this! 16:00 Biggest important need!20:01 Why we fixing after the fact when those things are core?24:50 Non-negotiable in setting a culture for your organization. 26:15 My fav ritual. https://moementum.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/moecarrick/ https://www.instagram.com/moecarrick/ ===========================Subscribe and Listen to the Start With a Win Podcast HERE:
We'd love to hear from you. Send us fan mail!Most team dysfunction doesn't start with a bad employee. It starts with a missing foundation. In this episode, executive coach Bernadette Boas lays out the five characteristics of a high-performing team and explains exactly why the absence of even one will unravel everything else.If you have a team member who ignores direction, meetings that go nowhere, team members who won't give you feedback, or people who agree to your face and do nothing afterward, this conversation will arm you with strategies to change that. Bernadette draws on firsthand observations from dozen of businesses and her work with senior corporate leaders to show what high-performing teams actually look like and to give you a clear, step-by-step process for building one.This is not a feel-good leadership episode. It is a working framework you can start applying this week.What You Will Learn -• How to create an environment where your team can have honest, productive conflict without it becoming personal• Why chasing 100% agreement is the wrong goal• What accountability truly means (and why reframing it as 'reminding' changes everything)• How to involve your team in defining the culture they're being asked to live in• The five-step process for moving from a fragmented team to a high-performing one Subscribe - If this episode gave you something to work with, subscribe to Shedding the Corporate B!tch on YouTube at @ShedtheCorpBitchTV. New episodes every week for executives, HR leaders, and corporate professionals who are done settling for the team they have and ready to build the one they need.Support the show
How do you stay in control of AI while still benefiting from everything it can do? As AI becomes more powerful, many leaders are focused on getting AI to do more work. But perhaps the better question is: How do you make AI more effective without letting it influence your thinking, your brand, or your business direction? In this episode of Grounding AI, Donna Peterson explores why leaders must remain the decision-makers while using AI as a tool to strengthen expertise, deepen customer relationships, and improve business outcomes. You'll learn why AI should enhance your knowledge rather than replace it, how to train AI around your company's goals and values, and the questions every leader should ask before using AI-generated recommendations. If you're responsible for marketing, sales, leadership, customer relationships, or business strategy, this episode offers practical guidance for maintaining control while leveraging AI effectively. In This Episode: Why AI naturally influences decisions and direction The difference between getting AI to do more and getting AI to be more effective How leaders can maintain ownership of their expertise Why your brand voice must remain stronger than AI suggestions The importance of building AI libraries and organizational knowledge Questions to ask before every AI prompt How to keep customer relationships at the center of AI adoption A simple test to determine if AI is helping or leading your business Key Takeaway Before every prompt, ask yourself: What am I trying to accomplish? Why does it matter to my audience? What action do I want people to take? Does this align with our company values and goals? The more direction you provide, the more valuable AI becomes. Connect With World Innovators // Website: www.worldinnovators.com Subscribe for weekly conversations on AI, leadership, trust-building, marketing strategy, and practical business growth. *** Reach out to dpeterson@worldinnovators.com if you'd like help building a marketing strategy that builds relationships and/or AI training for individuals or full teams.*** Visit www.worldinnovators.com for more resources on building stronger marketing and leadership strategies.*** Subscribe to the Grounding AI podcast for weekly insights into marketing, leadership, and the future of AI.
Organizations thrive when executive leaders tap into the power of the “Why,” intentionally select and develop the “Who,” and answer the “How” of business decisions. This episode of “The Voice of Leadership” explores the critical connections between purpose, employee experience, innovation, and mentorship. Dr. Karen also addresses the vital balance between profitability and long-term organizational … The post Executive Leadership Excellence: Purpose, People, and Profitable Growth (Episode # 522U) first appeared on TRANSLEADERSHIP, INC®.
Marketing leaders are being asked to drive more growth with less budget, fewer resources, tighter timelines, and more pressure from every direction while AI is being treated like the shortcut to replace entire marketing teams. But AI will not fix bad strategy, weak alignment, poor customer understanding, or broken marketing fundamentals. In part two of this master class conversation with Matt Hummel, CMO of Pipeline360, the focus moves into what it really takes to become the kind of CMO AI cannot replace. Not by chasing every new tool, adding more MarTech, or hiding behind automation, but by understanding the business as a whole, building trust across departments, speaking the language of revenue, and creating alignment between marketing, sales, product, leadership, and the customer. To lead marketing in a volatile market where expectations keep rising and the old playbook is no longer enough, you need to know how to: • Make sales an ally instead of your bitter rival • Build shared pipeline ownership across marketing and sales • Communicate risk without becoming defensive • Connect marketing decisions to the larger goals of the business • Set clearer expectations with your team and leadership • Understand resource constraints without using them as excuses • Stay close to customers while leading strategy • Create momentum without pretending there is an easy button The best marketing leaders are not just managing campaigns, tools, reports, and dashboards. They are translating complexity into strategy the business can trust. The reminder is clear: AI will not fix bad strategy. More MarTech will not fix bad marketing. The CMO AI cannot replace is the one who understands the business, earns trust, aligns with sales, leads the team, knows the customer, and gets back to real marketing when everyone else is hiding behind tools. (P.S. If you haven't, listen to Ep. 149 for part one of this masterclass episode) Beyond The Episode Gems: Connect With Matt Hummel on LinkedIn Listen To Troy On Matt's Podcast, Pipeline Brew: The Evolving Role of CMOs & Community Building Visit Pipeline360 website to learn more about how they solve B2B marketers' biggest headaches Buy Troy's Book, Strategize Up: The Blueprint To Scale Your Business StrategizeUpBook.com Discover All Podcasts On The HubSpot Podcast Network Get Free HubSpot Marketing Tools To Help You Grow Your Business Grow Your Business Faster Using HubSpot's CRM Platform Support The Podcast & Connect With Troy: Rate & Review iDigress: iDigress.fm/Reviews Follow Troy's Socials @FindTroy: LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads, TikTok Subscribe to Troy's YouTube Channel For Strategy Videos & See Masterclass Episodes Need Growth Strategy, A Keynote Speaker, Or Want To Sponsor The Podcast? Go To FindTroy.com
6/1/2026 What does StoryPower have to do with Executive Leadership?EPISODE 1793RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:
Marketing leadership has become one of the most volatile seats in business. CMOs and marketing leaders are often expected to create immediate pipeline, prove instant ROI, fix deeper business issues they did not create, defend brand investment, align sales, understand customers, translate strategy across the organization, and still become one of the first functions questioned, blamed, or cut when growth slows. In part one of this master class conversation, Matt Hummel, CMO of Pipeline360, brings a clear reminder back to the table: great marketing starts with trusting the buyer, knowing the customer, and simplifying how you market. In a market obsessed with performance data, attribution, automation, dark social, buyer signals, and immediate results, more complexity does not automatically create better customer understanding. For aspiring CMOs, current CMOs, marketing leaders, founders, and business owners, this conversation is a valuable look at how to lead marketing without getting trapped in the pressure cooker. It challenges you to rethink what it really means to put the customer at the center, not as a tagline, not as another automation workflow, and not as another dashboard filled with signals, but as a deeper responsibility to understand the person, pressure, timing, risk, and decision behind the purchase. The conversation moves through buyer trust, brand versus demand, customer empathy, attribution, sales alignment, CMO pressure, market timing, and the difference between chasing pipeline and building LTV. It is also a reminder to get out of your lane, understand product, spend time with sales, listen to customers, and learn how the whole business works. Because the best CMOs are not just campaign operators. They are translators, mediators, trust builders, and business leaders who know how to connect marketing to revenue, customer experience, and long term growth. Beyond The Episode Gems: Connect With Matt Hummel on LinkedIn Listen To Troy On Matt's Podcast, Pipeline Brew: The Evolving Role of CMOs & Community Building Visit Pipeline360 website to learn more about how they solve B2B marketers' biggest headaches Buy Troy's Book, Strategize Up: The Blueprint To Scale Your Business StrategizeUpBook.com Discover All Podcasts On The HubSpot Podcast Network Get Free HubSpot Marketing Tools To Help You Grow Your Business Grow Your Business Faster Using HubSpot's CRM Platform Support The Podcast & Connect With Troy: Rate & Review iDigress: iDigress.fm/Reviews Follow Troy's Socials @FindTroy: LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads, TikTok Subscribe to Troy's YouTube Channel For Strategy Videos & See Masterclass Episodes Need Growth Strategy, A Keynote Speaker, Or Want To Sponsor The Podcast? Go To FindTroy.com
Why “easy to work with” can become a leadership liability How small acts of avoidance create cultural drift The hidden relationship between accountability and trust Why high performers notice inconsistent standards first How unclear expectations frustrate teams over time The concept of “autopilot leadership” from Think First Learned helplessness and what it does to workplace culture The difference between Firefighter leadership and Architect leadership Why avoiding hard conversations creates bigger problems later A practical question leaders should ask themselves regularly:“Am I protecting this relationship, or avoiding discomfort?” How deliberate leaders create clarity without sacrificing compassion Why strong cultures are built through consistency, honesty, and accountability Think First
We'd love to hear from you. Send us fan mail!Role clarity is the most underleveraged driver of leadership performance, and most organizations aren't building it. In this episode of Shedding the Corporate Bitch, executive coach Bernadette Boas sits down with Jackson Lynch, founder of Talent Sherpa, to examine why talented people consistently underperform when the architecture around them is broken. Drawing on W. Edwards Deming's research that 94% of performance problems are systemic, not personal, Jackson makes a compelling case that organizations have been investing in the wrong place.The conversation moves from theory to practice quickly. Jackson breaks down what role architecture actually means: defining five to seven outcomes for any role so that everyone in the system, the incumbent, their manager, their peers upstream and downstream, knows exactly what winning looks like. Without that, accountability becomes blame, engagement flatlines, and even your highest-potential leaders are flying blind.For HR leaders, this episode reframes the function itself. Jackson challenges the compliance-first model that most human capital teams operate within and argues that the real job is to identify talent constraints before the strategy is executed, not after things go sideways. What You Will LearnWhy 94% of performance problems are architectural, not personal, and what that means for how you develop leadersHow to define the 5–7 outcomes that tell any role what winning looks likeWhy decision rights must be directly tied to accountability and what breaks when they aren'tThe difference between accountability (backward blame) and reliability (forward ownership) — and which one actually produces resultsHow to use a talent portfolio optimization model to put the right people in the highest-impact rolesWhy HR's shift from compliance partner to business constraint solver changes organizational performanceHow auditing your calendar reveals whether you are leading strategically or managing noiseEpisode Chapters [00:00 — Welcome & Why Leadership Architecture Matters More Than Talent02:00 — The Biggest Leadership Misconception: It's the System, Not the Person03:00 — What Role Architecture Actually Means — Outcomes, Decision Rights & Boundary Conditions05:00 — Role Clarity in Practice: Defining What Winning Looks Like07:00 — Reframing Accountability as Reliability — and Why It Changes Everything08:00 — The AI Fog Problem: Why Automating Unclear Roles Scales the Problem10:00 — The Real Cost of Not Defining Outcomes: Opportunity Loss13:00 — How to Drive Accountability Without Blame16:00 — Why Leaders Stay Stuck in Tasks: Dopamine, Busyness & the Arsonist Problem18:00 — The Talent Portfolio Optimization Model vs. Traditional Succession Planning21:00 — How to Sequence Talent Decisions for Maximum Business Impact23:00 — How HR and Business Leaders Should Partner on Talent Strategy29:00 — Moving Your Team From Busy to Impactful32:00 — Nobody Gets Overwhelmed Knowing What Winning Looks Like33:00 — Audit Your Calendar: The One Move That Changes Everything35:00 — Where to Find Jackson Lynch & Talent SherpaAbout the Guest Jackson Lynch is the founder of Talent Sherpa, where he works with CEOs and executive teams to build the role clarity, decision rights, and outcome-defined accountability structures that drive business performance. With 25 years in human capital — from the factory floor to senior leadership in public companies — Jackson brings an operator's perspective to the systemic gaps that most leadership development programs never address. He also publishes a weekly Substack followed by more than 6,000 human capital practitioners. Learn more at mytalentsherpa.com and connect with Jackson on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/jxnlynch.Related EpisodesYour Calendar is Lying: HERE — how you need to become an attention manager vs. time managerYour Company is Not a Machine with Norman Wolfe PART 1 HERE — how leaders need to shift from managing tasks to leading the heart of the company; your people.How to Stop Managing the Machine with Norman Wolfe PART 2 HERE — the four concrete leadership skills that make the framework operational, and more importantly, why most leaders are missing all of themSubscribe If this conversation gave you something you can use, subscribe to Shedding the Corporate B!tch on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Access all of the full episode on Ball of Fire Coaching. Each episode is built for executives, HR leaders, and corporate professionals who want direct, no-nonsense insight on what it actually takes to lead at the highest levels. New episodes every week at ballofirecoaching.com/podcast.Support the show
Will you be ready when the ground shifts beneath you? In today’s rapidly changing business environment, executive leaders must navigate uncertainty, inspire teams through adversity, and remain agile in the face of disruption. In this episode of “The Voice of Leadership,” Dr. Karen examines the mindset shifts, strategic behaviors, and principles that enable organizations to … The post When the Ground Shifts: Executive Leadership Strategies Through Uncertainty (Episode # 521U) first appeared on TRANSLEADERSHIP, INC®.
In this episode of Start With a Win, join Adam Contos, host, as he steps into a powerful, no-fluff conversation with Shaun Rawls - a leader who has built empires, walked away from them, and redefined what success truly means. Shaun pulls back the curtain on the invisible forces shaping how we spend our time, energy, and attention - challenging the habits, relationships, and decisions we often accept without question. Through candid stories, sharp insights, and a few unexpected twists, this episode invites you to rethink what's driving your life and leadership… and what might be quietly holding you back.Shaun Rawls is the Founder and CEO of Rawls Consulting, a national speaker, and author of F-it-less: Living Without What Holds You Back. Over 25 years, he built Atlanta's #1 residential real estate firm — The Rawls Group of Keller Williams — growing it to 2,000 agents and $4 billion in annual sales, earning him a spot on Real Trends' Top 40 Brokers in America.A Georgia Tech grad, Shaun lives in Atlanta with his wife Jeri and their five kids. When he's not building businesses, he's at the beach, on a motorcycle, or on the tennis court.00:00 Intro02:15 Sometimes you have to get out to start new…04:35 Wanted to write it to be this not reactive!06:40 Skills are to make part of your toolbox not this… 08:35 Key skill – listen up!14:10 Biggest aha on writing a book or not writing…15:40 Four Energy Quadrants 19:35 Willing VS Want.22:30 Where leaders get in trouble a lot!24:40 Make them feel the pain to understand.30:05 Gratitude didn't resonate with me! https://shaunrawls.com/https://www.facebook.com/theshaunrawls/ https://x.com/rawlsshaun https://www.instagram.com/theshaunrawls/===========================Subscribe and Listen to the Start With a Win Podcast HERE:
How should leaders introduce AI into their companies without creating confusion, resistance, or disconnect inside their teams? In this episode of the Grounding AI Podcast, Donna Peterson shares practical leadership insights on how businesses can approach AI implementation in a way that strengthens communication, improves team alignment, and builds long-term trust. As more companies invest heavily in AI tools, many leaders are realizing the challenge is no longer access to technology. The real challenge is helping teams use AI in ways that improve decision-making, relationships, and business growth. In this episode, you'll learn: Why AI adoption often fails inside organizations How leadership communication impacts AI success The difference between AI usage and meaningful business results Ways to help teams feel more confident using AI tools How executives can create stronger alignment around AI initiatives Why trust and clarity matter more than speed If your company is trying to scale AI adoption while keeping teams connected and productive, this episode offers practical ideas you can apply immediately. Subscribe for weekly conversations on AI leadership, B2B marketing, business growth, and relationship-driven strategy. Listen to more episodes from the Grounding AI Podcast here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHaiJYXhZ8PD-8NolyFNPeGx7XAK4ZeJt&si=uo0DWXSlQwX5cmFs *** Reach out to dpeterson@worldinnovators.com if you'd like help building a marketing strategy that builds relationships and/or AI training for individuals or full teams.*** Visit www.worldinnovators.com for more resources on building stronger marketing and leadership strategies.*** Subscribe to the Grounding AI podcast for weekly insights into marketing, leadership, and the future of AI.
For episode 726 of the BlockHash Podcast, host Brandon Zemp is joined by Margaret Graziano. She is a leadership strategist, keynote speaker, and culture transformation expert with over 25 years of experience working with CEOs, founders, and executive teams. After seeing that most performance issues stem from culture, not hiring, she founded KeenAlignment and created the ResponseAgility framework. Step into the next level of your leadership. Visit https://margaretgraziano.com/evolve-the-leader-within/ to join Evolve the Leader Within and start building the clarity, confidence, and discipline required to lead under pressure.
Most people jump into AI too quickly. They open ChatGPT, type a question, and expect a perfect answer immediately. But when the response feels too broad or generic, they assume AI simply does not work for them or their industry. In this episode of Grounding AI, Donna Peterson shares why better AI results actually begin before the prompt itself. After presenting and moderating AI roundtables at the Women in Finishing Forum, Donna noticed a common pattern. Whether people were brand new to AI or using it every day, many were still unsure if they were using it effectively. This episode walks through four important questions every leader and team member should ask before using AI tools: Why do I want to use AI? What do I want to use it for? What goals should this support? How will I use AI collaboratively instead of treating it like a search engine? Donna also explains: Why AI works best as a conversation How to get more personalized and industry-specific responses Why relationship-building should still stay at the center of communication How to guide AI without letting it take your work in the wrong direction A simple exercise that can dramatically improve your prompts immediately If AI responses have ever felt too generic, this episode will help you rethink how you approach prompting and collaboration. Action Step: Before your next prompt, write this sentence first: “I want to use AI to help me __ so I can __.” Then continue asking questions until the response truly aligns with your goals. !! Listen and Subscribe!! If this episode helped you think differently about AI, please leave a review, share the episode, and subscribe to Grounding AI for more practical conversations about leadership, AI, and business growth. *** Reach out to dpeterson@worldinnovators.comif you'd like help building a marketing strategy that builds relationships and/or AI training for individuals or full teams.*** Visit www.worldinnovators.comfor more resources on building stronger marketing and leadership strategies.*** Subscribe to the Grounding AI podcast for weekly insights into marketing, leadership, and the future of AI.
We'd love to hear from you. Send us fan mail!If Part 1 of this conversation with Norman Wolfe gave you the "why" behind the Living Organization Framework, Part 2 gives you the "how." In this episode, Bernadette and Norman go deeper into the four concrete leadership skills that make the framework operational, and more importantly, why most leaders are missing all of them.Norman argues that organizations underperform not because of bad strategy, but because leaders are managing only one dimension of performance: activity. The Living Organization Framework adds two more, relationship and context, and the skills in this episode are how you actually lead across all three.This is not a conversation about soft skills. It's a conversation about the specific, teachable capabilities that separate leaders who close the execution gap from those who keep wondering why their people aren't executing. What You'll LearnWhy optimizing for activity alone leaves the majority of your organization's potential energy on the tableHow heart centering works as a trainable skill — and why it's the only real foundation for psychological safetyWhy your culture change initiatives stall (hint: changing the narrative isn't enough without ritual scaffolding)What improvisational theater teaches us about leading through uncertainty without becoming reactive or rigidWhy the biggest failures in new leadership approaches happen when one skill is applied in isolationKey Timestamps[00:00] — Welcome back and recap of Part 1[00:01:00] — Preview of the four skills: heart centering, storytelling & ritual, improv mindset, balancing opposites[00:03:00] — The Living Organization Framework: activity, relationship, and context explained[00:07:00] — Why adding relationship and context multiplies organizational energy output[00:08:00] — Skill 1: Heart centering as the foundational leadership skill[00:14:00] — Skill 2: Storytelling and ritual — how to reframe context with scaffolding[00:16:00] — Skill 3: The improv mindset and Norman's personal connection to it[00:21:00] — Skill 4: Balancing opposites (polarity thinking)[00:22:00] — Norman's upcoming book and where to find his work[00:25:00] — Bernadette's closing reflection and call to actionAbout Norman WolfeNorman Wolfe is the creator of the Living Organization Framework and founder of Quantum Leaders, a consulting practice that helps senior leaders close the execution gap by treating organizations as living systems rather than machines to be optimized. A former systems engineer turned leadership strategist, Norman brings a rare combination of analytical rigor and human-centered insight to the work of organizational transformation. His first book, The Living Organization, is available free at thelivingorganization.com/book1, and his second book, Leading a Living Organization, a business parable written for senior leaders navigating real-world transformation, is targeting a September 2026 release.Resources & Links Mentioned
In this episode, Mary Sullivan, co-founder of Sweet but Fearless, talks with Nicole Johnston, Founder of Innate Power and author of Taboo Topics: Things Women Should Talk About, But Don't, about the hidden rules of executive leadership and the conversations women are too often expected to avoid. From workplace sexism and perfectionism to burnout, menopause, financial stress, and the pressure to "have it all," Nicole shares why these topics deserve more open discussion. The conversation also dives into the invisible dynamics of leadership visibility. Women often miss out on the unspoken networking opportunities that happen behind closed doors, on golf courses, or in informal gatherings where influence and relationships are built. Nicole explains why promotions are often based more on leadership perception than simply completing tasks, and why women frequently find themselves carrying the bulk of non-promotable work. Mary and Nicole also discuss the importance of building the right support system throughout your career: a coach who talks with you, a mentor who talks to you, and a sponsor who talks for you when opportunities arise. ABOUT NICOLE JOHNSTON: Website – Innate PowerLinkedIn – Nicole Johnston Book: Taboo Topics: Things Women Should Talk About, But Don't ABOUT SWEET BUT FEARLESS: Website - Sweet but Fearless LinkedIn - Sweet but Fearless
In this powerful episode of Start With a Win, Adam Contos sits down with family healing expert Tania Khazaal for a raw and revealing conversation about where true leadership really begins. Beneath the surface of business success, executive titles, and polished social media lives a deeper truth: the health of this shapes the strength of your leadership. They explore the unseen emotional patterns, quiet resentments, and unspoken struggles that silently impact performance, connection, and fulfillment. This episode challenges listeners to confront what they may be avoiding, rethink vulnerability as strength, and rediscover the sacred power of human connection in a distracted world. If you've ever wondered why success can still feel empty - or why burnout follows you home - this conversation will open a door you didn't know needed unlocking.Tania Khazaal is a mentor, speaker, and bold advocate for families navigating the pain of estrangement. As the founder of Tania the Herbalist Inc., she helps women and parents release guilt, build grounded confidence, and become the healthiest version of themselves so they can lead their families with strength and hope. Blending faith, emotional regulation, and practical repair strategies, Tania equips families to move out of panic, rebuild trust, and create homes rooted in safety and connection. Her mission is simple but powerful: restore what's been lost, strengthen families from the inside out, and build legacies of love in a divided world.00:00 Intro02:20 This self-state has more of an impact than people realize!04:03 Why do we sacrifice this for business?07:45 When you can learn to do this, you will be a better leader!10:00 Why is no one talking about this?13:01 Is it this simply and powerful?16:40 How to overcome the fear of being this!19:10 There is a difference between this and calm.20:38 Biggest piece of advice and it comes back to THIS.===========================Subscribe and Listen to the Start With a Win Podcast HERE:
Why “trust takes time” is an incomplete leadership belief Time reveals patterns, it does not create trust The real foundation of trust: consistency in behavior and response How teams evaluate trust through patterns, not words Signs trust is breaking: hesitation, avoidance, filtered communication The impact of inconsistent leadership on team engagement and performance Common leadership gaps: uneven accountability, defensive reactions, shifting expectations Why predictability creates psychological safety The difference between being rigid and being reliable Practical reflection: Where am I being inconsistent without realizing it? How consistent leadership builds high-performing, trust-driven teams Connection to Think First: slowing down reactions to lead with intention Think First
Leigh Toomey is the Founder & CEO of Leadhership Educational Solutions and a former Head of School with over 16 years of experience in independent school leadership. She brings more than 25 years of combined experience across education, nonprofit, and for-profit business management, giving her a rare perspective on the intersection of mission-driven leadership and operational effectiveness. ACC-certified Executive Leadership coach with an MBA, MST, and M.Ed., Leigh specializes in helping women leaders move from capable administrators to confident, strategic executives. Through her work, she supports women leaders in strengthening authority, navigating complexity, and building sustainable leadership practices that benefit both their teams and communities. If you are looking for a speaker or workshop facilitator who goes beyond inspiration and into the structural, the language, the systems, and the specific paty holds, Leigh would love to talK. ______________________________________________________________________ The Edupreneur: Your Blueprint To Jumpstart And Scale Your Education BusinessYou've spent years in the classroom, leading PD, designing curriculum, and transforming how students learn. Now, it's time to leverage that experience and build something for yourself. The Edupreneur isn't just another book; it's the playbook for educators who want to take their knowledge beyond the school walls and into a thriving business.I wrote this book because I've been where you are. I know what it's like to have the skills, the passion, and the drive but not know where to start. I break it all down: the mindset shifts, the business models, the pricing strategies, and the branding moves that will help you position yourself as a leader in this space.Inside, you'll learn how to:✅ Turn your expertise into income streams, without feeling like a sellout✅ Build a personal brand that commands respect (and top dollar)✅ Market your work in a way that feels natural and impactful✅ Navigate the business side of edupreneurship, from pricing to partnershipsWhether you want to consult, create courses, write books, or launch a podcast, this book will help you get there. Stop waiting for permission. Start building your own table.Grab your copy today and take control of your future.Buy it from EduMatch Publishing https://edumatch-publishing.myshopify.com/collections/new-releases/products/the-edupreneur-by-dr-will
What we cover: Why neutral leadership feels reasonable but creates unintended consequences How silence communicates standards more powerfully than words The subtle way culture drifts through unaddressed moments Why high performers feel the impact of inconsistency first The real reason capable leaders avoid addressing issues The connection between neutral leadership and autopilot decision-making A practical leadership lens: “If I don't address this, what am I teaching my team?” How to address issues without becoming reactive or overly critical The long-term cultural cost of avoidance Key takeaway: Leadership is always teaching. The question is whether you are teaching intentionally or by default. Think First
This episode of Start With a Win challenges leaders to rethink how real growth actually happens - not through rigid planning alone, but through bold vision, intentional experimentation, and the courage to act before everything feels certain. Adam Contos sits down with success coach and top-ranked podcaster Mitch Matthews to explore how high-performing leaders and entrepreneurs can break out of incremental thinking, ignite bigger possibilities, and turn ambition into measurable momentum. It's a powerful conversation about cultivating the C word, building the A word, and leading with both imagination and execution - designed to help you unlock smarter strategy, stronger teams, and results that compound. If you're ready to lead beyond limits and create meaningful wins in business and life, this one will stretch the way you think.Mitch Matthews is a success coach, keynote speaker, and host of the top 1% podcast DREAM THINK DO. For more than 20 years, he's helped high-achieving leaders and entrepreneurs clarify their purpose, think bigger, and take bold action. He's interviewed world-class performers - from bestselling authors to Oscar winners - and coached leaders at NIKE, NASA, Disney, and United Airlines. Mitch is also the creator of The Authority Bridge™, helping professionals build aligned, impact-driven coaching and speaking businesses. Mitch lives a highly caffeinated life in Des Moines, Iowa, with his wife Melissa and they have two wildly creative sons.00:00 Intro02:04 This concept is a three-step process…05:07 You can't do this alone…08:55 Do you know what this is and we're not talking about goals12:02 Never ask your team this…replace it with this14:15 When you move into the next step you have to become a scientist!16:25 Leadership habits and the biggest factor of the leader! 19:40 Oh the A word again.24:50 The P word is hugely important as well as the C word. 27:10 Do I shoot straight vs what should I say!www.mitchmatthews.com DREAM. THINK. DO. Connect with Adam & listen, rate, and subscribe to his podcast!https://linktr.ee/adamcontos===========================Subscribe and Listen to the Start With a Win Podcast HERE: