The Leadership Tales Podcast with Colin Hunter: Recent Episodes
Colin Hunter
I am fascinated by people and how they have used leadership in their journeys to success. I have created the Leadership Tales Podcast so that we can indulge ourselves in learning how some amazing people have overcome challenges and failures to achieve in their roles through their leadership. They are leaders, thinkers, and experts who have tales that can help us thrive.
Will you join me on this fascinating voyage through all things “Leadership”?
We’ve just ended a very exciting sixth season of the Leadership Takes podcast and are preparing to take a step back from the podcast briefly before returning in 2024.
But before we do, we'd like to highlight some of the most remarkable moments of Series 6, with advice and personal stories from Trevor Willcocks, Tim Carroll, Morgan J Ingram, Liz Sandwith, Dan Lappin, and Charlene Li.
In these clips, you’ll hear as they share their personal perspectives on leadership and how they’ve seen and practiced it in their own careers. You’ll also hear insights that can help you on your own leadership journey.
Let’s dive in.
This week on the Leadership Tales Podcast, Agnes Budzyn sits down with Colin for an in-depth discussion on blockchain, finance, and leadership. Agnes has a deep background in financial services both in traditional banking and blockchain, including roles working with world powers during major financial transformations.
Agnes breaks down the role of blockchain technology and its potential impact on various industries, and shares how blockchain has played a role in simplifying and shaping the future. Agnes and Colin also touch on the role timing plays in careers, as well as finding the right opportunities to showcase your talents.
Links Mentioned:
Agnes Budzyn on LinkedIn
In this episode of the Leadership Tales podcast, Colin welcomes Tim Carroll, Weather and Climate Lead at Microsoft. After leading teams at Dell, IBM, and other major tech companies, Tim stepped into his current role because he believes there is no more impactful work than predicting weather and climate in order to protect and improve the lives of all people.
Colin and Tim begin the conversation by recounting the unique way they met (spoiler: there’s a callback to Series 4 Episode 7 with Chris Tuff). The conversation then steers towards Tim’s work in climate science, including how to get people to interact with one another in a polarized political climate. Tim and Colin also bond over common experiences and their shared interests in music, and even touch on AI and the idea of legacy.
Links Mentioned:
Tim Carroll on LinkedIn
Leadership Tales Series 4, Episode 7 with Chris Tuff
In this episode of the Leadership Tales podcast, Colin welcomes Henry Hays, a dynamic and energetic thought leader with a passion for disruptive technologies.
Henry and Colin discuss the importance of being on the offensive when it comes to disruptive technologies like ChatGPT and AI, and shares simple frameworks and strategies for staying ahead of the game. They also dive into Henry’s unique background, with roots in the Deep South and Los Angeles. Henry also shares his journey from teaching and coaching basketball to becoming a successful sales professional on the cutting edge of AI and technology.
Learn how you can stay ahead of the game and utilize generative AI technology to your advantage on this episode of the Leadership Tales Podcast!
Links Mentioned:
Henry Hays on LinkedIn
Website
In this episode of the Leadership Tales podcast, Lori Michelle Leavitt, author of “Pivot to Clarity,” joins Colin to discuss what it takes to make successful pivots. Because of her skill for helping leaders and organizations through successful pivots, Lori is often called by her nickname “The Pivot Catalyst.”
In this in-depth interview, Lori and Colin explore the misconception that pivots are quick and agile moments; highlighting that for most organizations, pivots are significant and take time. They delve into the questions leaders need to answer before making pivots; as well as the skills and mindsets necessary for successful pivots, such as curiosity and coaching.
Tune in to gain insights on navigating change and achieving clarity through successfully pivoting.
Links Mentioned:
Pivot to Clarity Book
Lori Michelle Leavitt on LinkedIn
Website
In this episode of the Leadership Tales podcast, Colin interviews friend, mentor group member, and general good person Dan Lappin, a leading voice in disrupting traditional sales techniques. Dan is the Founder of Lappin180, a coaching practice focused on helping professionals achieve a high-performance mindset.
In this episode, Dan and Colin explore the connections between sales, coaching, influencing, and leadership, offering valuable insights for your business and leadership journey. With a background in sales and a focus on breaking sales patterns and mentality, Dan shares his philosophy for building relationships and how it correlates with leadership. Listeners will hear about Dan's journey from corporate America to starting his own business, the challenges he faced, and the lessons he learned along the way.
Tune in to learn how you can adjust your mindset and take your career to the next level!
Links Mentioned:
Lappin180 Website
Dan Lappin on LinkedIn
In this episode of the Leadership Tales podcast, the amazing Kathy Varol joins Colin to discuss the importance of purpose in organizations and how it connects to profit. Kathy is passionately driven by the goal to lead “a life well lived,” and aims, and does, to contribute to society in a multitude of ways.
Kathy shares her journey from working in the Peace Corps in Morocco to her role at Adidas, where she focused on purpose and strategy. The conversation explores the concept of ESG (environmental, social, and governance) strategy and the societal shift toward creating purposeful organizations. Colin also highlights Kathy's podcast, “Purpose and Profit,” which delves into stories of organizations embracing purpose. The episode concludes with a discussion about Banksy and the intrigue surrounding the artist's hidden identity.
Tune in to learn how to better implement ESG into your organization, and gain insights into purpose-driven leadership and the impact it can have on businesses!
Links Mentioned:
Kathy Varol on LinkedIn
Website
Purpose and Profit Podcast
In this episode of the Leadership Tales podcast, Colin sits down with friend, innovation mentor, and consultant Brad Shorkend to discuss his journey into design thinking and experimentation. Brad’s mission is to help businesses remain relevant and sustainable by creating a strong employee experience, leadership, culture & innovation.
Brad introduces the concept of "staying awake" in our daily lives, emphasizing the importance of staying present and aware of the voices in our heads so that they better serve us and don’t hinder our happiness. Brad and Colin also discuss the significance of incorporating design thinking and experimentation, breaking away from routine and embrace non-cyclical freshness to achieve new and unexpected outcomes.
Tune in to this episode to learn how to be more present in your daily life, and how you can better implement design thinking in your professional life!
LeedshipTalesPodcast #StayAwake #DesignThinking #Consciousness #PersonalGrowth #Happiness
Links Mentioned:
Brad Shorkend on LinkedIn
Website
In this episode of the Leadership Tales podcast, Colin sits down with Morgan J. Ingram, a top voice on LinkedIn and expert in content, sales, and marketing.
Morgan shared his expertise on how to effectively communicate and present oneself in the sales process, as well as the need for training and equipping individuals with the skills to confidently talk about themselves and their products. He also discusses the importance of narrative, messaging, and content in the sales process, and weighs in on the best practices for creating compelling content today. Lastly, Morgan touched upon the balance between sales and marketing through a fascinating analogy to UFC, which highlighted the importance of fighting for that balance and taking the leap to excel in both areas.
Listeners will hear valuable insights and tips on how to improve your content process and sales strategy, so don’t miss this fascinating conversation with Morgan J. Ingram!
Links Mentioned:
Morgan J. Ingram on LinkedIn
Amplify Creative
In this episode of the Leadership Tales podcast, Colin interviews Liz Sandwith, an expert in internal audit. Liz brings a unique perspective, both from her extensive experience in internal audit across multiple industries and from her upbringing in a service family, which exposed her to various cultures and locations around the world.
This episode highlights Liz's broad perspective in addressing not only internal audit and finance issues, but also the multifaceted role of leaders, the importance of understanding our responsibilities, and how she applies her learnings in her work with the association. Liz also opens up about a small incident that shaped her leadership approach and mindset, highlighting the impact of her father's support and patience.
Whether you're in finance, internal audit, or risk compliance, this conversation is packed with valuable takeaways that go beyond the usual topics. Don't miss out on this enriching discussion!
Links Mentioned:
Liz Sandwith on LinkedIn
Burnout at work can lead to negative effects on our mental health that reverberate out into other areas of our life. How do we overcome burnout, build resilience, and get ourselves back on track?
In this episode of the Leadership Tales podcast, Trevor Willcocks (Associate Director Of Technology at Accenture UK) shares the story of how he reached a breaking point in his career and the steps he took to prioritize his mental health. Colin and Trevor discuss the importance of recognizing burnout and taking time off and recharge, and explores how leaders can maintain their energy levels and proactively address their mental health needs.
If you've ever felt overwhelmed or struggled to cope, this episode is for you. It's a reminder that we're not alone in our challenges and that taking time for ourselves is essential. Let's break the stigma around mental health in the workplace and create a culture that values well-being. Share with your colleagues and start the conversation!
Links Mentioned:
Trevor Willcocks on LinkedIn
In this episode of the Leadership Tales podcast, Colin interviews Charlene Li, a brilliant analyst, researcher, and author who is best know for her work in digital transformation and disruption. Her book “The Disruption Mindset” helps leaders develop a strategy for disruptive growth, which she describes as a plan to identify and seize an opportunity no one else has the audacity or confidence to reach for. Charlene has been at the forefront of transformation in a number of industries during her career, and has fascinating insight from where she’s been and where she is today.
Charlene and Colin discuss the transformative impact that social media has on interpersonal relationships while acknowledging its flaws, the power of generative AI and how it’s changing the world, and the importance of vulnerability. What I was most drawn to in this episode was Charlene’s thoughts about being a centered leader, somebody who has this ability to work in liminal spaces, which is the difference between the known and the unknown. Tune in to hear how you can apply this thinking to your own leadership!
Links mentioned:
Charlene Li’s Website
”The Disruption Mindset” Book
We’ve just concluded our fifth season of the podcast, and today, we’d like to take a moment to highlight some of our favorite moments of Series 5.
We’ve found some of the best moments with Chris Wilson, Rich Diviney, Adam Billing, Joshua Seiden, Ken Mossman, and Tom Kaden and Michael Gingerich of Someone To Tell It To.
They’ll share their unique perspectives on leadership and tying it back to personal stories from their careers, as well as sharing actionable insights and tips that can help you in your career.
Let’s dive in.
How do we build sustainable organizations that make real, lasting impact?
My guest this week on the Leadership Tales Podcast, Daniel Barker, is the Managing Director of the Halcyon Incubator in Washington DC. Halcyon is an incubator for businesses focused on social impact, an area that I am passionate about. Through Halcyon, Daniel is making a lot of headway for women and people of color in entrepreneurship.
Daniel has a fascinating background, beginning in foreign relations and moving on to hold a variety of titles at prominent financial and professional services firms. Through all of this, Daniel has consistently had his gaze set on impact and social change. We discuss the role of ego, and how learning from mentors’ rough patches has a huge impact on our journey as a leader.
I found myself enthralled with this episode, and I can’t wait for the day I make it to DC to meet Daniel and see Halcyon myself!
Links Mentioned:
Daniel Barker on LinkedIn
Halcyon Incubator
Today on the Leadership Tales Podcast, we’ve got a double header!
Tom Kaden and Michael Gingerich are the co-founders of Someone To Tell It To, a non-profit organization they created to help others cultivate meaningful relationships through compassionate listening, training, and education. They support so many people who are going through trauma and difficult times. Their style is to listen in pairs which I find fascinating. Overall I love their listening-focused mission and their goal of addressing loneliness to be deeply inspiring.
It’s evident from hearing testimonials that Tom and Michael’s approach is deeply impactful. Really listening to people has the power to make all the difference in their lives, and they illustrate this well with a true story that made me emotional hearing it.
There’s huge value to be gained from listening to this episode. If you want to learn how to really make someone feel heard, you’re going to want to tune in and hear how Tom and Michael approach listening.
Links Mentioned:
Someone To Tell It To
Michael Gingerich on LinkedIn
Tom Kaden on LinkedIn
Today on the Leadership Tales Podcast, I am joined by an amazing leader and former US Navy SEAL, Rob Newson. Rob’s career spans a wide range, from Special Operations military deployments, working in the White House, to recently holding a position as the VP of Strategy and Vision with the Philadelphia 76ers basketball team. Through it all, Rob has a red thread connected to the ideals of honor, integrity, and service.
Today, Rob is focused on advocacy for a growing issue—the countless number of otherwise healthy young men and women who are developing rare forms of cancer that can be linked to their military service, particularly those who served in Special Ops. After his own experience with cancer, Rob became an anti-cancer catalyst to connect others with treatment, advocacy, and community.
Leaders will be delighted to hear Rob share the roles that vulnerability and accountability have in Special Operations and how these same lessons can be applied to your own teams. You won’t want to miss this fascinating conversation on leadership and teamwork with someone as steeped in team service as Rob!
Links Mentioned:
Rob Newson on LinkedIn
I am delighted to welcome Ken Mossman to the podcast today! Ken is the Founder of Cirrus Leadership and Coaching, as well as the creator of the Integrated Adult Men (IAM) framework and courses. The story of IAM resonates for me in the changing world we live in and the changing role of being a man or a father.
Ken works with men to help them rediscover their joy and become better versions of themselves—helping them find personal fulfillment, contribute more, and become better leaders. His natural curiosity is infectious and propels his mission forward.
We’re going to discuss his professional growth from his early career as a sous-chef into his current coaching endeavors, reconnecting with our inner adolescent and unleashing the creativity that comes with that, and creating a healthy space for men to grow and explore the concepts and myths behind masculinity in an ever-changing world.
Ken has had a big impact on me in only the short time I’ve known him, and I’m personally very curious about his course. When time allows I will be signing up!
Links Mentioned:
Ken Mossman Website
Ken Mossman on LinkedIn
I am delighted to be joined by Joshua Seiden on the Leadership Tales Podcast today. Joshua is a Speaker and Author whose work around design thinking has inspired me greatly. His books and how thinking has shifted my views radically on how I run my business over the last 12 months. He has authored four books, three of which were collaborations with prominent UX thought leader Jeff Gothelf.
In this episode, we discuss the importance of focusing on outcomes, as well as his thoughts on philosophies such as lean, agile, and design thinking. Joshua also shares a bit about his fascinating career and how leaving his ego at the door allowed him to see things more clearly.
Tune in now to hear the brand new episode!
Links Mentioned:
Joshua Seiden on LinkedIn
Joshua Seiden Website
“Outcomes over Output” Book
To all the startup founders reading this: You don’t want to miss today’s guest on the Leadership Tales Podcast!
Tamara Steffens is an early-stage venture investor with over 20 years of experience working with startups. Throughout her career, Tamara has helped grow numerous enterprises by lending her skills and expertise to founders. She accomplishes this not only through financial support, but also by connecting them with the resources they need to be successful.
You’ll hear what Tamara’s journey is like from first contact to launching new technologies. She also shares her investment strategy and how she coaches leaders to help them realize their visions. Listen in for actionable advice as Tamara shares her process for taking startups from concept to reality! She is one of those people I would have loved to work with or be led by.
Links Mentioned:
Tamara Steffens on LinkedIn
Thomson Reuters Ventures Website
This week on the Leadership Tales Podcast, my interview of Naseem Malik on his supply chain expertise and talent turns into a joyous free-flowing, two-way dialogue!
Naseem is a Managing Partner at MRA Global Sourcing, where he helps world class companies build successful teams by finding the right leaders. He is an expert in supply chain and talent acquisition with over 20 years of experience. Naseem has also recently journeyed into angel investing, which we touch on in this episode as well.
Tune into this episode as Naseem shares the ins and outs of the supply industry, including the relationship between talent and finances (a key topic in my mind for businesses I work with), the differences in hiring practices across different industries, and the 10X rule—listen now!
Links Mentioned:
MRA Global Talent
Naseem Malik on LinkedIn
Rich Diviney stopped by the Leadership Tales Podcast this season to give a fresh perspective on leadership, analyzing it through the lens of our individual attributes.
Rich is best known as the author of The Attributes: 25 Hidden Drivers of Optimal Performance, which draws heavily from his twenty years as a Navy SEAL Officer. Through his work in the world-renowned SEAL selection process, which whittles candidates down to the most optimal performers, Rich consistently found himself analyzing what core attributes actually led to success. Often, he would find himself surprised by which candidates would make it through and which would not.
In our conversation together, Rich goes over the importance of vulnerability, how our attributes determine our response to a situation, the difference between skills and attributes, and so much more. This episode will really get you thinking about your own leadership at a personal level!
Links Mentioned:
The Attributes
Rich Diviney on LinkedIn
I’m excited to welcome onto the Leadership Tales Podcast my friend and transatlantic transplant, Adam Billing!
Adam is the Founder and CEO of Treehouse Innovation, a consultancy that specializes in design thinking and building cultures of innovation and experimentation. We (myself and my company, PotentialSquared) have been partnering with Treehouse Innovation for years, and I am continually impressed with the way that Adam leads and inspires his team and the work they are able to accomplish.
A conversation with Adam is never a chore. It energizes me!
Tune in today, as Adam and I discuss the fundamentals of design thinking, how to encourage experimentation, and the common pitfalls many organizations experience when trying to implement design thinking. You’ll walk away from this conversation with plenty of ideas on how to help your team innovate!
Links Mentioned:
Treehouse Innovation
Adam Billing on LinkedIn
Series 5 of The Leadership Tales podcast is here, and we’re starting off with an amazing and humbling episode!
Chris Wilson is a social entrepreneur who found his purpose after being sentenced to life in prison. While serving his sentence, Chris developed a plan to get his life on track and help others who needed it. He later told his story in his memoir “The Master Plan: My Journey From Life In Prison to a Life of Purpose,” which I highly recommend.
In this episode, Chris and I discuss his story, which is powerful, the prison system in the United States and the ethical concerns around the private prison industry. We also dive into his role as a social entrepreneur, how a judge taking a chance on him helped him live his master plan, and why providing education to the incarcerated is immensely important to their long-term growth.
Tune in now at the links below, and do leave a review if you’re able! Cheers, Colin
Links Mentioned:
The Master Plan by Chris Wilson
Chris Wilson on LinkedIn
Today, we will highlight some of the best moments of Series 4, with great interviews with Michelle “MACE” Curran, Emma Weber, Gautam Mukunda, Paul Day, Chris Tuff, and Michael Bungay Steiner.
They’ll share their fascinating stories and insights, with a heavy focus on the ways they are building playgrounds and disrupting leadership through experimentation, play, and failure, giving you actionable tips, fresh perspectives, and advice to ponder.
Let’s dive in.
Here’s a muscle you might not know you have in your body: the EMPATHY muscle. According to Rob Volpe, empathy expert and bestselling author, we’re born with the neurobiological capacity for empathy, but we must practice empathy and flex that “empathy muscle” to keep it strong.
Rob Volpe is an astute observer of life and a master storyteller who brings empathy and compassion to the human experience. As CEO of Ignite 360, he leads a team of insights, strategy, and creative professionals serving the world’s leading brands across a range of industries.
As a thought leader in the role of empathy in marketing and the workplace, Rob frequently speaks on the topic at conferences, corporations, and college classes. He is a graduate of Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and lives in San Francisco with his husband and three cats.
In today’s episode, Rob shares what originally drew him to empathy, the five steps to achieving empathy, and why people often struggle with finding it.
Links Mentioned:
‘Tell Me More About That’ by Rob Volpe
Ignite 360 Website
“To build those social relationships, you have to have a healthy relationship with yourself. You have to be able to have those internal reflections that will help you move forward.”
Emma Weber is helping people build those reflection muscles in our fast-paced world. She is the founder of Lever – Transfer of Learning and developer of the Turning Learning into Action™ methodology. In 2002, Emma left a successful corporate career in London to start her own business in Australia, following her passion for coaching and learning.
She established Lever – Transfer of Learning to help organizations and their employees convert learning to effective action back on the job. A recognized authority on the transfer of learning, Emma has been a guest speaker on learning effectiveness at conferences in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, and the US.
Tune in today as we discuss how individual growth and learning impacts organizations, developing a relationship with oneself, and Emma’s personal journey to founding her company.
Links Mentioned:
Lever - Transfer Of Learning Website
Coach M Process
Paul and I had a great chat about the balance between productive pressure and work-life balance (or as I like to say, just plain “life balance”), and the disclaimer he put in his email footer to make people’s lives better.
Paul Day is the Group Head of Internal Audit at Standard Chartered Bank, a multinational bank with operations in consumer, corporate and institutional banking, and treasury services. Paul has specialized in internal and external audit roles across financial services for three decades. Prior to joining Standard Chartered, Paul's internal audit experience included five years as Chief Internal Auditor at Lloyds Banking Group, and ten years in various senior leadership roles across Barclays Internal Audit.
Paul also has professional services experience as the partner leading the Deloitte UK Financial Services Internal Audit practice, and ten years of external audit experience early in his career.
Check out this lovely episode for a conversation on the threads that run through different parts of a career, working towards a purpose, and standing up for what you believe in.
Links Mentioned:
Standard Chartered Bank
Imagine you’re on stage giving a talk, and right in the front row you see one person scowling at you the entire way through. What do you do?
With a sense of humor and curiosity, Chris Tuff approached the enemy in the front row after the event—and the two are now best friends. Connecting with even the most unlikely of folks is a skill of Chris’s.
Through his energy, humor, and captivating storytelling abilities, speaker Chris Tuff empowers audience members to tap into their full potential—professionally and personally. His engaging style and practical lessons on authenticity can be implemented immediately and have a lasting impact long after attendees leave the room.
In this episode, we discuss networking and connection, paying it forward to others, and what it means to “save your asks.”
Links mentioned:
‘Save Your Asks’ by Chris Tuff
‘The Millennial Whisperer’ by Chris Tuff
Chris Tuff’s Website
“Most of the people who come to me have an abundance of creativity, an abundance of ideas. That’s not the problem. But what they don’t have, is ways of converting that creative energy into projects that get done.”
What an inspiring conversation with Charlie Gilkey! Charlie is the founder of Productive Flourishing, a website that helps changemakers (creatives, leaders, and entrepreneurs) start finishing the stuff that matters. Productive Flourishing is routinely placed in the Top 50 websites for planning, productivity, creativity, and team development for creative folks.
Tune into this episode, as we discuss his work around team productivity, habits teams can apply for success, and actionable tips for working in a hybrid work environment.
Links Mentioned:
Productive Flourishing
‘Atomic Habits’ by James Clear
www.hellomomentum.app
Today on the Leadership Tales Podcast, we look at a leader in a very different field and interview US Air Force F-16 fighter pilot and squadron leader Michelle “MACE” Curran. Michelle is a fascinating leader and author who is inspiring the next generation of pilots and leaders.
What lessons can we learn from someone whose leadership experience stems from a military background, where proper communication and execution can be the difference between life and death? We discuss purposeful practice, psychological safety, admitting failure, and risk, all things that make us better leaders in a business environment.
Michelle also shares about the subduing of leadership authority in the context of the squadron, where more senior-ranking officers still answer to junior wing commanders when they are flying together. I found this fascinating, and think we can all learn a lot from it.
I feel as though I am living out one of my social fantasies interviewing a combat-tested fighter pilot like Michelle, but in another sense, our conversation broke some of the mystique that pop culture has created around fighter pilots (any Top Gun fans out there?) and gave me a look at who these brave and highly skilled individuals are, how they act, and what they actually do on a daily basis.
Links mentioned:
Michelle MACE Curran on Instagram
“Upside Down Dreams” Children’s Book
What a deep and inspiring conversation—par for the course with this man, though! Bryan and I started working together last year to fuel my work in changing leadership for a better world, and I couldn’t be happier that we’ve gotten to know each other.
Bryan Wish is the Founder and CEO of Arcbound, an innovative company that helps thought leaders launch their arcs through a full suite of products and services including content, podcasting, book launches, and more. Bryan has built his career around mobilizing communities and bringing unique voices and perspectives to the masses. Four years later, Arcbound has worked with 70+ clients, from Fortune 100 CEOs to global investors and bestselling authors.
In this episode, we discuss unlikely leaders rising to the occasion, finding your own voice, and Bryan’s introspective journey of self-transformation—and how we must look inward if we wish to lead well and change the world.
Links Mentioned:
Arcbound Website
Bryan Wish on LinkedIn
Absolutely fascinating—Gautam’s research on how we choose our leaders, and the phenomenon of “unfiltered” leaders who bypass the traditional and risk-averse selection process, is eye-opening for anyone in the leadership arena, whether they’re selecting leaders or leading themselves.
Gautam Mukunda is a Research Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Center for Public Leadership, author of Indispensable: When Leaders Really Matter, and the host of NASDAQ’s World Reimagined podcast. He was formerly an Assistant Professor at Harvard Business School and Distinguished Visiting Professor at Schwarzman College, Tsinghua University.
In this episode, we discuss the filtration process that creates leaders, the difference between filtered and unfiltered presidents, and how leaders are chosen by organizations and nations.
Links Mentioned:
‘Picking Presidents’ by Gautam Mukunda
‘Indispensable’ by Gautam Mukunda
Gautam’s Personal Website
‘NASDAQ World Reimagined’ on Apple Podcasts
“I was so happy to hear him talk about his sister not in a negative way, but just that she’s different.” We know our parenting efforts are paying off when we overhear our children speaking of others’ struggles with kindness, understanding, and compassion. What a wonderful conversation!
Mike Porath is the Founder and CEO of The Mighty, the world’s largest health community. Mike founded The Mighty after seeing the impact that community had on his family raising a daughter with autism. Mike wanted to build a platform that brought together strangers who were on similar health journeys to help each other.
Community can be everything, if we build it and allow it to support us in return. In this episode, we discuss the origins of The Mighty, the power behind a purpose-driven business, and how we can create a more positive dialogue around disability.
Links Mentioned:
The Mighty
Mike Porath on LinkedIn
Who knew that one could look so youthful yet call themselves an elder?! Michael Bungay Stanier (or as he’s often nicknamed, MBS) and I had a good laugh recording this episode as we chatted about the values of leading like an “elder,” despite looking and sounding much more like a 28-year-old ‘bloke’ (British version of man, chap…you can choose your own word).
Michael Bungay Stanier is the author of a number of successful books including: End Malaria, Do More Great Work, Get Unstuck & Get Going, Great Work Provocations and most recently The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever. He is also the founder and Senior Partner of Box of Crayons (BoxOfCrayons.biz), was the first Canadian Coach of the Year, and is a Rhodes Scholar.
MBS regularly speaks to audiences around the world about “The Coaching Habit” and doing more great work. Highlights include speaking at Google, the HRPA and SHRM conferences, the Rural Women of Manitoba Conference, and anywhere that's vaguely warm during wintertime in Toronto, his home. My highlight is his appearance on the podcast of another favorite thought leader of mine, Brene Brown.
In this episode, we discuss legacy and time, what it means to be an elder, and how to make a meaningful contribution to the world that is aligned with who you are.
Links Mentioned:
‘The Coaching Habit’ by Michael Bungay Stanier
MBS Works website
Series 3 contained some of the best interviews we’ve had yet, and in today's bonus episode, we are going to highlight a few of Colin's favorite moments with the guests.
This episode features highlights from Johnathan and Melissa Nightingale, Mark Green, Melanie Dulbecco, Carolyn Swora, Jon Alexander, and Stephen Shedletzky.
Let’s dive right in.
Today on the Leadership Tales Podcast, we’re presenting a special bonus episode looking back at some of the highlights from our previous series. We’ve had a lot of fascinating guests on the show, and I want to highlight a few of what I think are the greatest moments we’ve had over the podcast’s run. So, we’ve gone back and found some of the best clips from Series One and Series Two and have compiled them together for this special episode.
This episode features highlights from Andy Sleigh, Liane Davey, Caustan de Riggs, Jamie Smart, Andrew Webster, Maureen Finn, Brian Beckom, Peter Lederer, Sara Milne Rowe, and James Turner.
Join us next week for the Best of Series 3!
Stephen ‘Shed’ Shedletzky is an author, keynote speaker and seasoned leadership coach. His work focuses on inclusion, diversity and psychological safety in the workplace. Stephen explores how we can create and maintain culture and collaboration in our teams even whilst transitioning into a remote or hybrid working space.
In today’s episode, you’ll learn how questioning beliefs and building trust are the foundations of well-rounded leadership.
Links mentioned:
ShedInspires.com
Stephen Shedletzky on LinkedIn
Jon Alexander is a seasoned advertising executive. Jon is using his experience in communicating ideas effectively to go beyond the retail and service space to address the larger social and political problems we face in today’s world. In his new book,‘Citizens: Why The Key to Fixing Everything Is All Of Us’, Jon explores how leaders can facilitate change beyond the walls of their business and how technology can be used as a tool to collaborate.
In today’s episode, you’ll learn how to apply your skills as a leader to issues on a larger scale.
Links mentioned:
‘Citizens: Why The Key Fixing Everything Is All Of Us’
JonAlexander.net
Jon Alexander on LinkedIn
Jon Alexander on Twitter
Carolyn Swora is an author who has had a long career focusing on making substantial changes in leadership and organization. In her upcoming book ‘Evolving’, Carolyn delves into how what she calls trauma informed leadership can transform the way that teams interact. With a focus on empathy, compassion, and simply listening to our teams, Carolyn’s work encourages us to grow as leaders and as people.
In today’s episode you’ll learn how to practice genuine compassion with your teams as well as how inclusion can be implemented in our organizations.
Links mentioned:
CarolynSwora.com
Carolyn Swora on LinkedIn
Carolyn Swora on Instagram
Melanie Dulbecco is the CEO of Torani, a mutli-million dollar company with roots in a family business founded in 1925. As the business has grown, expanded and undergone serious challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic and ‘The Great Resignation’, Melanie has embodied the company’s values of improving community, encouraging upward mobility and using business as a force for good.
In today’s episode you’ll learn how to engage with the wider community as well as the benefits of running a more philanthropic business.
Links mentioned:
Torani.com
Melanie Dulbecco on LinkedIn
Michele Aikens is an author, mother, and experienced thought leader in the development space. After losing her position as a high-level magazine publisher, Michele suffered her greatest professional setback. She found herself reassessing what made her valuable beyond her career in publishing. In her latest book ‘Consider The Possibilities’, Michele explores reframing one’s life after an unexpected loss or career change.
In today’s episode you’ll learn how to embrace change and reap the rewards of curiosity.
Links mentioned:
‘Consider The Possibilities’
Indigenous-born recruitment leader Jennifer Ménard-Shand has a long and fruitful career in the hospitality recruitment industry. After growing up through a difficult childhood, Jennifer dealt with anxiety and imposter syndrome for the first phase of her professional life. Jennifer has gone on to become a mentor to many culturally oppressed communities via her work in the corporate space. In today’s episode, you’ll learn how to practice genuine inclusivity and what we can do as leaders to ensure equitable retention.
Links Mentioned: https://www.jmenardshand.com/ (Jennifer Ménard-Shand’s Speaker Website )
Mónica Guzmán is a journalist and author of the new book, ‘I Never Thought Of It That Way’. As a child of Mexican immigrants with Republican political leanings, Mónica learnt first hand that her Democratic political stance could not be successfully communicated by arguing with her parents. Over the course of her successful career, Mónica has cultivated a means of successfully broaching even the most polarizing topics with a view to create more understanding and less division in today’s world. In today’s episode you’ll learn how to find similarities with those you may otherwise find yourself at odds with, as well as how great teams are the product of diverse thinking.
Links mentioned: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59433346-i-never-thought-of-it-that-way (‘I Never Thought Of It That Way’)
Mark Green is the author of the new book, ‘Activators’. In the book, Mark mines the depth of leadership experience and thought development knowledge that his long career in banking, IT, and business growth has cultivated in order to deliver a practical guide for leaders and teams at all levels. In today’s episode, you’ll learn how questions can be more impactful than statements, how expanding your network can benefit your personal development, and what behavioral science shows to be the best tools for leaders.
Links mentioned: https://mark-green.com/books/ (‘Activators’) https://mark-green.com/ (Mark-Green.com) https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachmarkgreen/ (Mark Green on LinkedIn)
Kris Kelso has led a career with many facets. A former software engineer, Kris continued his career into team coaching and leadership consulting. His new book, ‘Overcoming The Imposter’, deals with the common feelings of not feeling deserving of the success we can find as leaders. In today’s episode, you’ll learn how to work outside of your comfort zone to achieve greater success and satisfaction in life.
Links mentioned: https://t.co/KscwgNJdes (KrisKelso.com) https://www.overcomingtheimpostor.com/ (OvercomingTheImposter.com) https://www.linkedin.com/in/kriskelso/ (Kris Kelso on LinkedIn) https://twitter.com/kriskelso (Kris Kelso on Twitter)
Leslie Ehm is an author, a leader, and the founder of several team training companies. With experience working on several continents and for prestigious brands like Google, Leslie has honed a highly effective practice of bringing out the authentic potential in herself and the teams she coaches. Her new book ‘Swagger’ is the distillation of her life’s work and a personal handbook for leaders looking to bring their best selves to the table. In today’s episode, you’ll gain insight into how to practice authentic leadership, how diverse cultures thrive, and how humility can be our greatest asset as leaders.
Links mentioned: https://www.leslieehm.com/book/ (‘Swagger’) https://www.leslieehm.com/ (LeslieEhm.com) https://www.instagram.com/leslieehmspeaks/ (Instagram) https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslieehm/ (LinkedIn)
Tiziana Casciaro is an Italian-born leadership expert with a rich, diverse background in social science, philosophy, neuroscience, and psychology. Alongside her co-author Julie Battliana, Tiziana has written a comprehensive and practical study on success. With a focus on balance, particularly the balance of confidence and humility, ‘Power, For All’ is a book that enables today’s leaders to prosper alongside their teams. In today’s episode, you’ll learn how important interdependence is for success in leadership, and how a basic understanding of social science can impact your cogency as a leader.
Links mentioned: ‘https://www.powerforallbook.com/ (Power, For All’ by Tiziana Casciaro)
Husband and wife team Jonathan and Melissa Nightingale are a Toronto-based leadership development initiative called Raw Signal Group. With backgrounds in engineering at Mozilla, experience in public relations, and tech start-ups development, Jonathan and Melissa started Raw Signal Group in 2017 with the aim to bring pragmatic, focused leadership techniques to bosses, CEOs and MDs in all fields. In today’s episode, you’ll learn the benefits of working towards tangible goals, improving your leadership techniques, and how parenting and management are intrinsically linked.
Links mentioned: https://www.rawsignal.ca/ (Raw Signal Group) https://twitter.com/shappy (Melissa’s Twitter) https://twitter.com/johnath (Jonathan’s Twitter)
Mita Mallick is the Head of Inclusion, Equity, and Impact at Carta, and host of The Brown Table Talk Podcast. She has lived the experience of progress in inclusion beyond a mere academic exercise. After growing up in an immigrant Indian-American household, Mita experienced racism and sexism first hand. This lived experience has become Mita’s life’s work; identifying and endeavoring to rectify inequity in the corporate space. In today’s episode you’ll learn how to practice authentic inclusion and what you can do as a leader to cultivate equity in your organizations. Links mentioned: https://www.browntabletalkpodcast.com/ (Brown Table Talk Podcast) https://www.linkedin.com/in/mita-mallick-2b165822/ (Mita Mallick on LinkedIn)
James Turner is a seasoned CFO and leader with experience working for Barclays and Pru. James’ expertise lies in finding the ideal candidates to build a team which functions at the highest possible level. He shares his insights into the challenges of inclusive hiring and what it takes to be a courageous, vulnerable and strong leader. Listen to today’s episode to learn what to look for at the recruitment stage and how active listening can lead to excellent leadership.
Andrew Prior is a consultant, mentor and systemic team coach who supports and accompanies leaders and teams in transforming themselves and their organizations. He has worked for Motorola and other high tech companies for over 15 years in various different leadership roles. Today he is creating an international community that learns and practises horizontal leadership to generate meaningful and sustainable development for people, organizations and society. In today’s episode you’ll learn about various leadership styles, vulnerability as strength, and how to work in today’s VUCA world. Links mentioned: https://teamalchemysystem.com/ (Team Alchemy )
Kristoffer Carter is the CEO and founder of Epic Leadership, a training organization for conscious leadership, which has created a daily meditation practice for thousands. He is the author of the new book Permission to Glow— A Spiritual Guide to Epic Leadership, which guides his coaching of Fortune 100 executive leaders at Amazon, AT&T, eXp Realty, Edward Jones, and many more. In today’s episode you’ll gain insights into how a daily meditation practice can increase your productivity and ability to think creatively. Links mentioned: https://www.thisepiclife.com/ (ThisEpicLife.com)
Tammy Heermaan began her career in the research field twenty years ago when she wrote a paper for her masters which focused on the then current state of workplace relations and conditions for women in the workplace. The study honed in on four different nations; England, America, Germany and Japan. Now, twenty years on, Tammy has revisited the topic in her new book ‘Reframe Your Story’ to see what, if anything, has changed for women in the workplace. In today’s episode, you’ll gain insight into how vulnerable conversation around equity and inclusion can increase retention and attraction in your teams. Links mentioned: https://www.tammyheermann.com/about (TammyHeermann.com) https://www.tammyheermann.com/reframeyourstorybook (Reframe Your Story)
Today’s guest is someone you will have come across if you work in the sector of coaching or leadership. Karen Wright is a highly experienced executive coach and author of two books. She started her career in the FMCG industry and she founded her coaching company, Parachute Executive Coaching, more than 25 years ago. Karen has very clear and concise opinions when it comes to coaching. In this episode, we discuss coaching certifications, what makes a good coach, different types of coaching, and the concept of the accidental alpha, a phrase that Karen coined when she went through a period in life when she had suddenly become the main financial provider for her family. Links mentioned: https://coachingfederation.org/ (International Coaching Federation) https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Tame-Your-Advice-Monster/dp/1989025757 (‘The Advice Trap’ by Michael Bungay Stanier) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Manifesto-Moral-Revolution-Tools-Change/dp/1250222877 (‘Manifesto for a Moral Revolution’ by Jacqueline Novogratz) https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Begin-Start-Something-Matters/dp/1774580586/ (‘How to Begin’ by Michael Bungay Stanier) https://www.amazon.com/Permission-Glow-Spiritual-Guide-Leadership/dp/1774581582 (‘Permission to Glow’ by Kristoffer Carter) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Executive-10-Step-Powering-Performance/dp/1937134245/ (‘The Complete Executive’ by Karen Wright) https://heroicpublicspeaking.com/ (Michael Port’s company, Heroic Public Speaking) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Accidental-Alpha-Woman-Thriving-Overwhelming/dp/B08N9DQCF7/ (‘The Accidental Alpha Woman’ by Karen Wright) https://www.parachuteexecutivecoaching.com/ (Karen’s company, Parachute Executive Coaching) https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenwrightcoach/ (Karen Wright on LinkedIn)
Ela Ben-Ur is founder of Innovators Compass, a design thinking tool which enables people to tap into their natural abilities and improve their business and family lives. Ela worked 13 prior years at renowned innovation firm IDEO where she led and coached teams, facilitated for clients, and co-founded IDEO’s Leadership Studio for developing project leaders. In today’s episode, you’ll learn how embracing person-centered thinking can increase your impact as a leader. Links mentioned: http://innovatorscompass.org (innovatorscompass.org)
Sara Milne Rowe is one of the UK’s leading Performance Coaches, working with CEOs, senior leaders and teams, often in high challenge situations so they can stay strong, keep learning and deliver their best. Sara founded her award-winning company, Coaching Impact, in 2008 and works with a variety of organizations Including Creative & Media, Financial, Pharmaceutical, Legal and Education. In today’s episode Sara shares her insights on leadership and how using the ‘SHED Method’ (Sleep, Hydration, Exercise, Diet) as a foundation can influence one’s impact as a leader. Links mentioned: https://www.coachingimpact.co.uk/ (Coaching Impact) https://www.linkedin.com/company/coachingimpact/?originalSubdomain=uk (Coaching Impact LinkedIn) https://www.coachingimpact.co.uk/better-under-pressure (Better Under Pressure Podcast)
Judy Ditchfield is an actor and corporate roleplay specialist. As an individual intent on working as an actor for the first 18 years of her career, Judy Ditchfield has spent the last 20 years in the corporate world and is loving it. Starting off as a business roleplay actor and facilitator, Judy started to see the power of performance and how the entertainment world paralleled the business environment; both require strong communication skills, hard work, discipline, listening skills and feedback. These facets of work have all become powerful tools on her mission to create space for people to thrive. In today’s episode we gain insights into the striking benefits of workplace roleplay, empathy in leading, and how the pandemic has affected mental health. Links mentioned: https://roleplay.co.za/ (Roleplay Website)
Peter Lederer is the chairman of The Edinburgh Military Tattoo. He has also been chairman of Gleneagles, one of Scotland’s leading high-end hotels and host of the G8 summit in 2005, as well as being involved in the early years of The Four Seasons hotel chain in Canada. Peter shares his struggles with dyslexia, and how he learnt to embrace hands-on learning in the hotel trade. In today’s episode you’ll learn what it’s like to run a luxury hotel and how these standards can inform your own leadership style. Links mentioned: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-j-lederer-cbe-275a461/ (Peter Lederer on LinkedIn)
Henry is an Invited Agitator & Chief Peacemaker to the C-suite. As CEO for Dynamic Results and an Amazon Top-10 author and global speaker, he’s delivered over 12,000 hours of Executive Coaching in the C-Suite and 3000 hours of Change Management/Strategic Implementation services. A five-time CEO with one failure under his belt, Henry smashes myths about high-performance leadership. Listen in to gain insight into encouraging innovation, how emotional intelligence can improve your teams, and the pros and cons of remote working. Links mentioned: MoreInfo@DymanicResults.com HEvans@DynamicResults.com
Brian Beckcom is one of the United States’ leading trial lawyers. For over 20 years Brian has taken pride in helping victims of injustice and unfortunate circumstances to live the life they deserve to live. He is also a philosopher, computer scientist, philanthropist, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner. Listen to today’s conversation to gain insight into how working and leading from a place of compassion can positively affect your people and your bottom line. Links mentioned: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI5qM4nBh5xEZOb0jDfiAjw (Lessons From Leaders YouTube) https://www.brianbeckcom.org/ (BrianBeckcom.org) https://www.vbattorneys.com/ (VBAttorneys.com) https://www.instagram.com/brianbeckcomlawyer/ (Instagram) https://twitter.com/BrianBeckcom (Twitter) https://www.facebook.com/brian.beckcom (Facebook) https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianbeckcom/ (LinkedIn)
Today’s guest is Bill Treasurer. Bill is the founder of Giant Leap Consulting, a courage-building company, and the author of the international bestseller, Courage Goes to Work. Bill’s courage-building workshops have been taught to thousands of executives in twelve countries on five continents. For over two decades, Bill has worked with leaders from such renowned organizations as NASA, Saks Fifth Avenue, The Home Depot, UBS Bank, Spanx, Lenovo, and eBay. Listen to this podcast to learn how to keep developing as a leader, embrace risks in business, and navigate the new world of hybrid work. Links mentioned: http://www.billtreasurer.com (www.BillTreasurer.com) https://www.giantleapconsulting.com/ (Giant Leap Consulting) https://www.giantleapconsulting.com/courage/ (Courage Building)
Today’s guest is Dr. Stephen Drawford. Stephen is a coach, speaker, and consultant, on a mission to help business leaders unlock their full potential. He began his career in the non-profit world, but quickly realized that he could have a greater impact on the community by helping for-profit companies to discover their mission and desired impact and align them to achieve success by clarifying their message and their focus. For the last twenty years Dr. Crawford has been instrumental in developing and training thousands of leaders seeking to improve their leadership skills. As a motivational speaker and trainer, he has delivered inspiring messages to businesses, conferences, Universities, and workshops to thousands of audiences all over the nation and in 13 countries. In today’s podcast you’ll learn how to bring about positive social change in your business, maximize profits for your teams and start giving yourself permission to succeed. Links mentioned: https://experienceleadership.com/podcast (The Experience Leadership Podcast) http://experienceleadership.com (ExperienceLeadership.com )
Zack Hudson is a leader that has a heart for developing others. He is the founder of Passing the Baton Leadership Resources where his written content and podcast are picked up in 162 countries on a weekly basis. Zack also leads the talent management, leadership development, and career pathing functions for Kindred at Home’s 45,000 associates, the largest in-home health care company in the US, which was recently acquired by Humana. Striving for and modeling a healthy work-life balance, Zack enjoys life’s adventures. He has skydived, survived a running of the bulls, chest bumped a whale shark, and is an ultra-marathon runner among other things. Zack and his family live in Atlanta, GA. Listen in to gain insight into time management, embracing hybrid workflow, and reaching your full potential as a leader. Links mentioned: https://www.passingthebatonpodcast.com/ (Passing The Baton Leadership Podcast) https://www.zackhudson.com/ (ZackHudson.com ) https://www.linkedin.com/in/zack-hudson (Zack Hudson LinkedIn)
Maureen Finn is a globally savvy transformational leader with a passion for activating talent – particularly leadership talent at Takeda Pharmaceuticals. She excels at partnering with the business to create an actionable people development strategy aligned with business goals. Maureen resides in a Boston suburb, is an avid Red Sox fan and spends time in the summer on Cape Cod. Listen in to understand how creating a value system can benefit the teams you manage, and how to develop an authentic leadership style. Links mentioned: https://www.potential2.com/ (Potential Squared)
Doug Shapiro and Deborah Tranelli join Colin for a conversation on roleplay in the corporate environment. As a versatile actor and career coach throughout the United States for over 25 years, Doug is an expert at creating multiple realistic characters for a corporate environment. As a business role player for Potential Squared, he takes great pride in being a vehicle for our clients’ growth in realistic role-plays and recent clients include Accenture, Akamai, Takeda, NYSE and HSBC. Deborah Tranelli is an award winning actor, singer, recording and voiceover artist based in the US. In 2014 she added Business Role Player for Potential Squared to her CV and has participated in over 100 sessions to date. She considers it a great privilege to be part of creating supportive and challenging learning environments for clients with P2's talented coaches, facilitators and her fellow BRPs. Listen in to learn the benefits of role playing job roles and how it can help to create effective teams. Links mentioned: https://www.potential2.com/en/our_team/pavan/ (Potential Squared) https://www.dougshapiro.com/ (DougShapiro.com) https://www.potential2.com/our_team/deborah-tranelli/ (Deborah Tranelli)
Today’s guest is an experienced Senior Managing Director with a proven track record of managing large scale BPO Operations, Transformation and Technology projects. Andy Clark has extensive experience of managing Global Operations complex projects together with all aspects of financial performance. He is passionate for talent and leadership development programs and has thrived by building successful teams. In today’s podcast you’ll gain insights into engaging with your teams in a meaningful way, embracing innovation and creating uniform success across multiple operations and cultures. Links mentioned: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-clark-427653/?originalSubdomain=uk (Andy Clark’s LinkedIn)
Today’s guest is a seasoned talent development specialist. Lauren Rollins has spent her entire career in the Learning and Development space. She has a passion for helping individuals and leaders continue to grow and evolve, becoming more effective in their roles as they apply new models/methods and try new and more innovative ways of working. In today’s episode, Lauren discusses balancing work and family, getting your team on board with new ideas and initiatives, and the parallels between teaching children and developing adults. Listen to this conversation to learn about making fundamental changes in your career, developing self-confidence, and bringing about real change in your teams. Links mentioned: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-rollins-5146243/ (Lauren Rollins’ LinkedIn) https://www.linkedin.com/company/akamai-technologies/ (Akamai Technologies )
Linguist and lover of language, Robert Wylie is a self-proclaimed Interior Designer manqué with an aesthetic allergy to Draylon, professional Critical Reader who never grasped the Rules of Capitalisation, Poet, Occupational Psychologist and inveterate Collector of Beautiful Oddities. Robert worked closely with me as the editor for ‘Be More Wrong’, and his amazing creative flair is truly inspiring. Join our conversation as we discuss his process for writing poetry, dealing with his Parkinson’s diagnosis, and finding inspiration – and the art in his house. Whether you want to write a book or simply find your true voice, there is something for everyone in this conversation. Links mentioned https://www.amazon.co.uk/Think-Like-Rocket-Scientist-Strategies/dp/1541762592 (‘Think Like a Rocket Scientist’ by Ozan Varol) https://www.instagram.com/rsmw002/ (Robert’s Instagram)
How can we best challenge our ideas? Today’s guest, Andrew Webster, shares how Design Thinking has been instrumental in his growth as a leader. As ExperiencePoint’s Vice-President of Transformation, Andy is the leading catalyst for innovation — lending expertise, drive and imagination to ExperiencePoint’s many clients as he helps them champion their transformative journeys. The world-leading innovation capability-building company helps organizations build the skills and conditions for innovation to thrive and become self-sustained. I had a great time speaking with Andrew and learning about how to think like a scientist, being aware of your biases, test-to-learn approaches and how ExperiencePoint’s Design Thinking has helped deliver social good through their projects. Links mentioned https://jamesclear.com/ (James Clear) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0753553600/ (‘Think Like a Rocket Scientist’ by Ozan Varol) https://www.experiencepoint.com/ (ExperiencePoint)
Today’s guest has over twenty years of experience as an executive coach, leadership consultant, trainer, team builder and business consultant. Winnie da Silva has been a solopreneur for the last 16 years, working with hundreds of leaders at all levels from the C-Suite to newly established leaders in over a dozen industries in Fortune 500 companies to start-ups. Winnie also hosts the podcast, ‘Transformative Leadership Conversations’ where leaders share their stories of overcoming challenges and how they persevere through adversity. Listen to this conversation to learn how to take on multiple roles as a coach and consultant, practice emotional intelligence, and how Winnie learned to make a real difference with her work by taking on new challenges. Links mentioned: https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Transformational-Leadership-Conversations-with-Winnie-da-Silva-Podcast/episodes/B08JK39V61 (Transformative Leadership Podcast) https://www.winniedasilva.com/ (WinniedaSilva.com)
Today’s guest is the author of ‘Clarity: Clear Mind, Better Performance, Bigger Results’. Jamie Smart is an internationally renowned writer, speaker, coach and consultant who shows individuals and organisations the unexpected keys to clarity; the ultimate leverage point for creating more time, better decisions and more meaningful results. In addition to working with a handful of coaching clients and leading selected corporate programmes, Jamie runs professional development workshops for business leaders, trainers, coaches and consultants. Listen to this conversation to learn how to develop a sense of clarity, how to lean into your intuition, and how we can all cultivate our innate creative talents. Links mentioned: https://www.jamiesmart.com/ (JamieSmart.com) https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiesmartclarity/ (Jamie Smart LinkedIn) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Clarity-Better-Performance-Bigger-Results/dp/B08BJB911T/ref=sr_1_3?crid=DEABWMBE5JYF&keywords=jamie+smart+little+book+of+results&qid=1641996769&sprefix=jamie+smart+little+book+of+results%2Caps%2C91&sr=8-3 (Clarity: Clear Mind, Better Performance, Bigger Results) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Book-Clarity-Quick-Declutter/dp/B00ZD2EP2Y/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=jamie+smart+books&qid=1641996707&sprefix=jamie+smart+%2Caps%2C403&sr=8-4 (The Little Book Of Clarity) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Book-Results-Quick-Achieving/dp/0857087800/ref=sr_1_1?crid=DEABWMBE5JYF&keywords=jamie+smart+little+book+of+results&qid=1641996760&sprefix=jamie+smart+little+book+of+results%2Caps%2C91&sr=8-1 (The Little Book Of Results)
Dan Pontefract is a leadership strategist, keynote speaker, best-selling author and he founded the Pontefract Group in 2014. The four books he authored, Lead.Care.Win., Open To Think, The Purpose Effect, and Flat Army are all critically acclaimed and best-sellers, which we explore on the show. I loved learning more about Dan’s leadership philosophy and the insights from his books and talks. In this episode we talk about servant leadership, how to be an off-the-grid leader, having empathy and his love for Black Licorice Medallions. Links mentioned https://www.amazon.com/dp/1773271326 (‘Lead.Care.Win.’ by Dan Pontefract ) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079NR6PQF (‘Open To Think’ by Dan Pontefract ) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1937498891 (‘The Purpose Effect’ by Dan Pontefract) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CT5XLSD/ (‘Flat Army’ by Dan Pontefract) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJlTNV-9HgE8ihg-Ghd0ZbA (The Tragically Hip) https://www.danpontefract.com/ (Dan’s Website)
Today’s guest is a perfect example of a team builder. Caustan De Riggs is a business coach who believes in the value of partnerships. He is an experienced enterprise relationship leader with a focus on helping organizations build new capabilities at scale. Caustan is the founder of ‘Comedians On Zoom’, a digital leadership support network based on improv comedy. Born out of the pandemic, ‘Comedians On Zoom’ utilizes the humor of comedians to foster communication and morale among teams. Listen to this insightful conversation to find out how Caustan has worked closely with Fortune 500 organizations in Financial Services, Life Sciences, and Consumer Packaged Goods. His expertise is in scaling impact, developing teams, and building customer-centered partnerships. Links mentioned: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCB4zGvSbCt7J2Lt3mQ7PpnA (Comedians On Zoom YouTube) https://www.instagram.com/comediansonzoom/ (Comedians On Zoom Instagram)
Tracey Harrison is a business leader, a strategic change consultant and a passionate advocate of social inclusion and mobility. She has lived and worked in Manila, Paris and Texas, she describes herself as restless, a person who enjoys the novelty of the new, but thrives on bringing a degree of order to chaos. She enjoys working with businesses and individuals who share a similar purpose and whose passion for inclusion is heartfelt and action-driven. In this episode, I chat with Tracey about her passion for inclusion, building resilience and confidence for the next generation, getting out of reactive mode, asking for help – and what we can learn from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Today’s guest is testament to the power of being a jack of all trades. Trond Undheim is a futurist, podcaster, investor, author, speaker, entrepreneur and former director of MIT Startup Exchange, based outside of Boston. He has helped launch over 50 startups. Trond hosts the podcasts Futurized, thought leadership on our emerging future, and Augmented, the industry 4.0 podcast. Listen to this conversation to find out more about being a jack of all trades, immersive learning, what we can learn from history, the power of conversations – and what he has learned after one year of podcasting. Links mentioned: https://www.futurized.org/the-disruption-of-failure/ (Colin Hunter’s interview on Futurized) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0141034599 (‘The Black Swan’ by Nassim Nicholas Taleb) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Undoing-Project-Friendship-Changed-World/dp/B01MRLGKT8 (‘The Undoing Project’ by Michael Lewis) https://dev.yegii.ai/ (Yegii) https://ntnuopen.ntnu.no/ntnu-xmlui/handle/11250/268063?locale-attribute=en (What the Net Can't Do by Trond Undheim ) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Disruption-Games-Thrive-Serial-Failure/dp/1647647282/ (‘Disruption Games’ by Trond Undheim) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Future-Tech-Capture-Disruptive-Industry/dp/1398600342/ (‘Future Tech’ by Trond Undheim) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pandemic-Aftermath-Coronavirus-Changes-Society/dp/1648261906 (‘Pandemic Aftermath’ by Trond Undheim)
For someone that is conflict-avoidant, today’s guest Liane Davey has devised some powerful systems we can all use to help facilitate productive conflict at work. Liane is a New York Times Bestselling author of three books, including The Good Fight: Use Productive Conflict to Get Your Team. She is a regular contributor to the Harvard Business Review and has a Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology. She is also the co-founder of 3COze Inc., where she advises on strategy and executive team effectiveness at companies such as Amazon, Walmart, and Google. In this fascinating conversation, we dive into the power of constructive language, turning a weakness into a strategic advantage, embracing productive tensions – and why she is often referred to as the Water Cooler Psychologist. Links mentioned https://www.amazon.co.uk/Leadership-Gap-What-Between-Greatness/dp/1101981350/ (‘The Leadership Gap’ by Lolly Daskal) https://www.amazon.co.uk/You-First-Inspire-Along-Stuff/dp/1118636708 (‘You First’ by Liane Davey) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Good-Fight-Productive-Conflict-Organization/dp/198902520X/ (‘The Good Fight’ by Liane Davey) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Atomic-Habits-Proven-Build-Break/dp/B07J1XQSNK/ (‘Atomic Habits’ by James Clear) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Be-More-Pirate-Take-World/dp/0241307880/ (‘Be More Pirate’ by Sam Conniff Allende) https://hbr.org/2013/12/on-a-terrible-team-maybe-youre-making-it-worse (On a Terrible Team? Maybe You’re Making It Worse by Liane Davey – HBR) https://www.lianedavey.com/ (LianeDavey.com) https://www.linkedin.com/in/liane-davey-2574911/ (Liane’s LinkedIn)
Today we’re joined by Andy Sleigh, the CEO of ClearScore, one of the fastest growing fintech businesses in the UK. He previously led Skyscanner’s Asian expansion, having started his career in strategy consulting at Accenture. A sports and travel addict, he has been lucky enough to live and work around the world, including in Beijing, Singapore, Edinburgh, and London. Tune in to this conversation as we explore his time working in asia, his huge learning curve and development when he joined Skyscanner, ‘waking up’ moments, lessons learnt from being a consultant, and why so many people seek recognition – when they should focus on being themselves.
In this trailer, I share the “why” behind The Leadership Tales Podcast and give you a taste of what you can expect to gain from the series. Enjoy!