Innovating Leadership: Co-Creating Our Future

S9-Ep42: The Strength of Vulnerability

There is strength in vulnerability. It sounds like a Zen master’s saying, but it’s a fundamental truth of today’s workplace: leaders who display vulnerability have greater success.
 
But there are five different aspects to vulnerability, and Jacob Morgan shares them with host Maureen Metcalf. The loud, short-tempered leader who pretends to know it all is outdated and now hinders the growth of organizations. Jacob helps build stronger connections within your team — and beyond.
 
Here's what Jacob and Maureen cover:
The common thread of vulnerability Jacob discovered interviewing 100 top CEOs;
The big difference between being vulnerable and vulnerability; and
The benefits of vulnerability for a leader’s personal growth, professional success, and building a thriving organization.
 
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
The Future Leader: Skills & Mindsets to Succeed in the Next Decade with Jacob Morgan
Be Human, Lead Human with Jennifer Nash
To Be Honest: Lead with the Power of Truth, Justice, & Purpose with Ron Carucci
 
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. We’re on Instagram, Threads, and Twitter, too!
 
RESOURCES:  
Jacob’s book on vulnerability is Leading with Vulnerability (hardback = https://amzn.to/46Eueyt and Kindle = https://amzn.to/3ZEbZqw). His earlier book is The Future Leader (hardback = https://amzn.to/46Euxt7 and Kindle = https://amzn.to/3PJzlpY).
 
The new book’s website is www.LeadingWithVulnerability.com and his main website is https://thefutureorganization.com.
 
Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here. 
 
She’s also written several award-winning books on leadership development. You can peruse and purchase them here. 
 
Books we’re reading for fun or personal development right now include:
The Five Lost Superpowers: Why We Lost Them & Hot to Get Them Back by John Reid, et al
The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin
Snow White & the Seven Robots by Louise Simonson & Jimena Sanchez
 
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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
Assistant Editor & Raconteur: Luigi Morelli
Decidedly Invulnerable: Jenna Reik & Mike Morrow-Fox
CONNECT WITH US: 
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership 
Threads: @innovativeleaders
Twitter: @IL_Institute 
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2 
Instagram: @innovativeleader 
Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com 
 
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating! 
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About Our Guest:  
After graduating with honors in business management economics and psychology from the University of California Santa Cruz, Jacob was excited to join the corporate world. At his first job he was told that he’d be traveling the country, meeting with executives and entrepreneurs, and doing all sorts of exciting work. A few months in, he was stuck doing data entry, cold calling, and PowerPoint presentations. One day the CEO came out of his nice corner office, handed Jacob a $10 bill and said, “I’m late for a meeting, go grab me a cup of coffee, and get something for yourself as well.” That was the last corporate job he ever had.
Today, Jacob Morgan is a trained futurist and one of the world’s leading authorities on leadership, the future of work, and employee experience. He speaks in front of tens of thousands of people each year and his content is seen over a million times a year. Jacob is the best-selling author of five books: Leading With Vulnerability (Wiley, 2024), The Future Leader (Wiley, 2020) The Employee Experience Advantage (Wiley, 2017), The Future of Work (Wiley, 2014), and The Collaborative Organization (McGraw Hill, 2012). He speaks at over 50 conferences a year including TED Academy which is one of the largest TED events in the world. In addition, Jacob provides advisory and thought leadership services to various organizations around the world.

S2-Ep49: Adaptive Leadership & Culture Change

Guest: Ron Heifetz
In times of change, people often try to hold onto the values of their culture that have had personal meaning and significance to them. When dominant cultures are confronted with stresses, they are called to examine their values and take on very difficult integrative work. The leadership required must point out values their cultural values; in the United States, for example, one would be: We stand for freedom and respect for all people, and our policy does not align with what we say we stand for.
How do we make space for this evolution? What are the “gives” and “gets” required to evolve cultures? How can we hold steady to our cultural DNA and still evolve? In nature, when an organism adapts, it builds on its old capacity and generates radically new functionality. Ron suggests that "God didn’t do zero-based budgeting in evolution." We honor our past, yet determine what parts of the past we can release.
Produced in partnership with the International Leadership Association: https://ilaglobalnetwork.org .
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
You Belong: LinkedIn Brings Diversity & Inclusion Home with Teuila Hanson
Reality Lost: How Disinformation Shapes Your World with Tara McGowan
Leading with Care and Purpose with Raj Sisodia & Sudhanshu Palsule
 
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. We’re on Instagram, Threads, and Twitter, too!
 
RESOURCES:  
Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here. 
 
She’s also written several award-winning books on leadership development. You can peruse and purchase them here. 
 
Books we’re reading for fun or personal development right now include:
Three Rocks: The Story of Ernie Bushmiller, the Man Who Created Nancy by Bill Griffith
The Five Lost Superpowers: Why We Lost Them & How to Get Them Back by John Reid, et al
The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin
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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
Assistant Editor & Raconteur: Luigi Morelli
Adaptable Support: Jenna Reik & Mike Morrow-Fox
CONNECT WITH US: 
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership 
Threads: @innovativeleaders
Twitter: @IL_Institute 
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2 
Instagram: @innovativeleader 
TikTok: @innovativeleadership
Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com 
 
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating! 
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About Our Guest:  
Ronald Heifetz is among the world’s foremost authorities on the practice and teaching of leadership. In 2016, President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia highlighted Heifetz’s advice in his Nobel Peace Prize Lecture.
Heifetz founded the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard Kennedy School where he has taught for nearly four decades. He is the King Hussein bin Talal Senior Lecturer in Public Leadership. Heifetz played a pioneering role in establishing leadership as an area of study and education in the United States and at Harvard.
Heifetz co-developed the adaptive leadership framework with Riley Sinder and Marty Linsky to provide a basis for leadership research and practice. His first book, Leadership Without Easy Answers (1994), is a classic in the field and one of the ten most assigned course books at Harvard and Duke Universities.  Heifetz co-authored the best-selling Leadership on the Line: Staying Alive through the Dangers of Change with Marty Linsky (2002, revised 2017).  He then co-authored the field book, The Practice of Adaptive Leadership: Tools and Tactics for Changing your Organization and the World with Alexander Grashow and Marty Linsky (2009).

S9-Ep41: International Leadership - One Size Doesn’t Fit All

Guest: Mansour Javidan
What do getting a little drunk and meeting quarterly quotas have in common for leaders? They each build trust with your team — depending on what country you’re in!
 
Guest Mansour Javidan has studied the similarities — and differences — in effective leadership in cultures across the globe. He shares the results of his research in this episode…especially the common qualities you’ll need to be a great leader no matter where you are.
Here's what Mansour and host Maureen Metcalf cover:
The importance of crafting a story with your team, no matter what nation they’re in;
The roots of trust, and why it’s a need hard-wired into our biology; and
The universal traits of good leadership (plus a few fun differences!).
This episode is produced in partnership with the International Leadership Association: https://ilaglobalnetwork.org/ .
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
The Secret Code to Uncommon Leadership – with Ruchira Chaudhary
Building Trust in Uncertainty: A Personal & Professional Journey – with Dr. Mary Jo Burchard
Digital Body Language: How to Build Trust & Connection – with Erica Dhawan
 
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. We’re on Instagram, Threads, and Twitter, too!
 
RESOURCES:  
You can learn more about Mansour’s work with the GLOBE 2020 project at https://globeproject.com. The latest information on the Thunderbird School of Management at Arizona State University is online at https://thunderbird.asu.edu.
 
Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here. 
 
She’s also written several award-winning books on leadership development. You can peruse and purchase them here. Her latest, Innovative Leadership & Followership in the Age of AI, is available at https://www.innovativeleadershipfieldbook.com/book-series/innovative-leadership-followership-in-the-age-of-ai.
 
 
Books we’re reading for fun or personal development right now include:
Three Rocks: The Story of Ernie Bushmiller, the Man Who Created Nancy by Bill Griffith
The Five Lost Superpowers: Why We Lost Them & Hot to Get Them Back by John Reid, et al
The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin
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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
Assistant Editor & Raconteur: Luigi Morelli
Colleagues We Trust Inherently: Jenna Reik & Mike Morrow-Fox
CONNECT WITH US: 
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership 
Threads: @innovativeleaders
Twitter: @IL_Institute 
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2 
Instagram: @innovativeleader 
Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com 
 
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating! 
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About Our Guest:  
Multiple award-winning executive educator and author whose teaching and research interests span the globe, Dr. Mansour Javidan received his MBA and Ph.D. degrees from the Carlson School at the University of Minnesota.  He is the Garvin Distinguished Professor and Executive Director of the Najafi Global Mindset Institute at Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University.
 
Mansour is the Past President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the world-renowned research project on national culture and leadership, titled GLOBE (Global Leadership and Organizational Behavior Effectiveness, globeproject.com).  He is a coeditor of the 2004 GLOBE book. Mansour is currently the Project Director and Principal Co-Investigator of GLOBE 2020, working with a team of 426 researchers studying culture change, leadership ideals, and trust dynamics. Dr. Javidan was recently recognized as among the top 100 most influential (i.e., top 0.6%) authors in Organization Behavior in the world.  He is also recognized as among the top 2% most cited scientists in the field of business and management in the world. The World Bank and the United Nations Development Program have designated Dr. Javidan as an expert advisor on Global Leadership.

S9-Ep40: None Shall Pass: Crossing the Deathline

Guest: Dr. Karen Tilstra
Here’s the painful truth: following old established procedures and avoiding risk stifles your growth…even your survival. What’s the answer?
 
Innovation. But, as Dr. Karen Tilstra points out in this episode, fear keeps your team from embracing innovation. She calls the point of fear the Deathline. Deathlines may doom your organization’s long-term success. Fortunately, Dr. Tilstra shares a wealth of proven tips on overcoming this killer of human and business potential!
 
Here's what Karen and host Maureen Metcalf cover:
The origin of the Deathline concept, and techniques to overcome it;
Strategies to overcome Deathlines, and boost both innovation and creativity; and
How to tap into the benefits of driving clear, open conversations with your team.
 
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
The Creative Mindset: Mastering Skills that Empower Innovation – with Jeff DeGraff
The Essentials of Theory U – with Otto Scharmer
Optimize Your Mindset – with David DeRam
 
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. We’re on Instagram, Threads, and Twitter, too!
 
RESOURCES:  
Karen’s books are The Deathline: Stopping the #1 All-Time Killer of Human Potential (paperback = https://amzn.to/3Rmlrg6, Kindle = https://amzn.to/460DTPO)
and
101 Activities to Ignite Collaboration, Boost Creativity, and Fuel Innovation (paperback = https://amzn.to/45XeOW1, Kindle = https://amzn.to/46eHJoc).
 
You can also learn more about Karen and her firm at Creativity Effect’s website: https://www.creativityeffect.com.
 
 
Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here. 
 
She’s also written several award-winning books on leadership development. You can peruse and purchase them here. 
 
 
Books we’re reading for fun or personal development right now include:
The Five Lost Superpowers: Why We Lost Them & How to Get Them Back by John Reid, et al
The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin
Snow White & the Seven Robots by Louise Simonson & Jimena Sanchez
 
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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
Assistant Editor & Raconteur: Luigi Morelli
Supporting Our Efforts with No Fear Whatsoever: Jenna Reik & Mike Morrow-Fox
CONNECT WITH US: 
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership 
Threads: @innovativeleaders
Twitter: @IL_Institute 
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2 
Instagram: @innovativeleader 
TikTok: @innovativeleadership
Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com 
 
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating! 
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About Our Guest:  
Karen Tilstra, PhD., is an author, award-winning innovator, psychologist, and super fun person. She has led hundreds of human-centered design projects, runs innovation workshops, and builds innovation labs for universities, healthcare systems, pro-sports teams, and government agencies. Her two books, The Deathline: Stopping the #1 All-Time Killer of Human Potential and 101 Activities to Ignite Collaboration, Boost Creativity, and Fuel Innovation, help leaders and team members unlock the creative potential that lies within all of us.

S9-Ep39: Boosting Workplace Well-Being

Guest: Cameron Stockdale
Can a four-day workweek be just as productive – even more productive – than a five-day workweek?
 
The answer is an unquestionable “yes!” Cameron Stockdale talks about this and other workplace wellness initiatives with host Maureen Metcalf in this episode. Cameron is the CEO of the Work Wellness Institute in Vancouver, British Columbia. They’ve experimented with many different ways of improving employee wellness, with sometimes surprising results! For example, the staff overwhelmingly prefer taking walks outdoors over chillaxing indoors on yoga mats during their regular 17-minute breaks.
 
What would work in your workplace? Listen in to find out!
Here's what Cameron and Maureen cover:
How giving employees the tools for wellness is more effective than dumping money into the most expensive wellness programs;
Why it’s important to normalize our view of mental health to the same view we have of physical health; and
Uncovering the myth of the 8-hour workday (because in a “normal” office, your people only really work 2 hours and 59 minutes a day!).
Produced with support from the International Leadership Association: https://ilaglobalnetwork.org.
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
Finding Meaning, Joy, & Purpose in What You Do with Paul Gibbons
The Human Energy Crisis at Work with Joshua Freedman
The Dogged Pursuit of Pet-Friendly Workplaces with Lisa Campbell
 
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. We’re on Instagram, Threads, and Twitter, too!
 
RESOURCES:  
You’ll find complete information on the Work Wellness Institute on their website at https://workwellnessinstitute.org.
 
Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here. 
 
She’s also written several award-winning books on leadership development. You can peruse and purchase them here. 
 
 
Books we’re reading for fun or personal development right now include:
Three Rocks: The Story of Ernie Bushmiller, the Man Who Created Nancy by Bill Griffith
The Five Lost Superpowers: Why We Lost Them & Hot to Get Them Back by John Reid, et al
The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin
-----------------------  
OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
Assistant Editor & Raconteur: Luigi Morelli
Feeling Fine, Thank You: Jenna Reik & Mike Morrow-Fox
CONNECT WITH US: 
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership 
Threads: @innovativeleaders
Twitter: @IL_Institute 
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2 
Instagram: @innovativeleader 
Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com 
 
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating! 
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About Our Guest:  
Dr. Cameron Stockdale, an executive leader and scholar in the fields of leadership, innovation, technology, law, and organizational behavior, brings his extensive experience to bear in guiding positive change within organizations. Emphasizing an approach of ongoing growth and refinement, his work focuses on increasing efficiencies and bolstering team performance. Drawing from a substantial background in emergency services, including over 25 years of hands-on experience, Dr. Stockdale’s research is rooted in its practical applications. As the CEO of the Work Wellness Institute, a non-profit research organization dedicated to conducting global research and disseminating knowledge that fosters a positive workplace environment Dr. Stockdale’s goal is to make research more accessible for workplaces and employers, with a focus on workplace health, wellness and performance issues.
Besides his undergrad education in Recreation Management and Paramedicine, Dr. Stockdale holds a Doctor of Education degree in Interdisciplinary Leadership from Creighton University, a Master of Laws degree in Innovation, Technology & Law from the University of Edinburgh, a Postgraduate Certificate in Organizational Behavior from Harvard University Extension School, and a Master of Arts degree in Leadership from the University of Guelph.

S9-Ep38: The Rise of Humanness (The Role of People in an AI World)

Guests: Chris Nolan & Michael Schindler
In their zealous rush to incorporate Artificial Intelligence, most corporate leaders are forgetting one thing: you.
Chris Nolan and Michael Schindler remind execs to remember humanness in their plans. AI may be a great time- and money-saving tool, but humans remain an important equation in the mix. A complete reliance on AI overlooks the nuances and insights humans bring to the table.
And, they warn, there’s one job that analysts already say AI may be able to do better than a human: CEO!
 
They share their research on AI and VUCA – and the human-conserving ways companies can navigate them -- with host Maureen Metcalf.
Here's what Chris, Michael, and Maureen cover:
How AI is accelerating the exponential pace of VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Chaos, and Ambiguity) in our lives;
The ways AI is propelling change – but may not be as innovative as people think; and
Why it’s so important for smart companies to keep humans at the center of work as AI grows more powerful.
 
Have a Chris Nolan binge-listen with these episodes:
Using Storytelling to Elevate Leadership with Chris Nolan
Facing Uncertainty: It’s VUCA with Chris Nolan
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. We’re on Instagram and Twitter, too!
RESOURCES:  
You’ll find all things VUCA (and humanness) at Chris & Michael’s website: https://itsvuca.com/ . If you’d like to check out their VUCA documentary, it’s on Amazon at https://bit.ly/ItsVUCA .
 
Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here. 
 
She’s also written several award-winning books on leadership development. You can peruse and purchase them here. 
 
 
Books we’re reading for fun or personal development right now include:
The Five Lost Superpowers: Why We Lost Them & Hot to Get Them Back by John Reid, et al
The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin
Snow White & the Seven Robots by Louise Simonson & Jimena Sanchez
 
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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
Assistant Editor & Raconteur: Luigi Morelli
Trying to Find Order in a Chaotic World: Jenna Reik & Mike Morrow-Fox
CONNECT WITH US: 
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership 
Twitter: @IL_Institute 
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2 
Instagram: @innovativeleader 
Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com 
 
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating! 
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About Our Guests:
Chris Nolan is a multi-award-winning writer and director, bringing in-depth understanding to the complex interplay between humans and AI technology. His insights, gained from a distinguished career, aid in comprehending and balancing the intricate dynamics of this digital era. His thought-provoking work on VUCA: The Secret to Living in the 21st Century, showcases his adeptness in decoding the exponentially accelerating technological changes. Michael Schindler, a veteran, writer and podcast host, adds his transformative voice to the discussions on integrating AI with human qualities. His inquisitive approach breaks down the complexities of blending business and AI. Mike's expertise, shaped by hosting the 'Military Wire' podcast, frames his insightful outlook on the future of work.
Together, Michael & Chris consult with companies – and coach their leaders – on navigating VUCA in the business world…and understanding humanness in the process.

S9-Ep37: You’re an Executive, But Are You a Leader?

Guest: Sonya Shelton
Where is passion bred: in the heart or in the head? An executive may not care, but a leader knows how critical passion is – along with purpose and culture.
 
In this episode, Sonya Shelton reviews these and other critical elements of true leadership with host Maureen Metcalf. In a process called Red Thread Leadership, Sonya helps leaders tease out the elements that make their leadership – and their organizations – strong. It’s all based on her proven experience working in and carefully observing Disney and other companies.
Here's what Sonya and Maureen cover:
The red flags that are raised when executives use their titles to lead;
How poor leadership leads to burnout and turnover; and
Why younger generations won’t put up with a lack of purpose in a company or its executives.
 
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
Leading with Care & Purpose with Raj Sisodia & Sudhanshu Palsule
Do It on Purpose with Nell Derick Debevoise
Lead with the Power of Truth, Justice, & Purpose with Ron Carucci
 
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. We’re on Instagram, Threads, and Twitter, too!
 
RESOURCES:  
Sonya’s book is You’re an Executive But Are You a Leader? Available on Amazon in hardback at https://amzn.to/3QXhYV0 and on Kindle at https://amzn.to/3QUdQ8c.
 
Her firm, and contact information, are online at https://executiveleader.com.
 
Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here. 
 
She’s also written several award-winning books on leadership development. You can peruse and purchase them here. 
 
 
Books we’re reading for fun or personal development right now include:
Three Rocks: The Story of Ernie Bushmiller, the Man Who Created Nancy by Bill Griffith
The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin
Snow White & the Seven Robots by Louise Simonson & Jimena Sanchez
 
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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
Assistant Editor: Luigi Morelli
Executive Cool Cats: Jenna Reik & Mike Morrow-Fox
CONNECT WITH US: 
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership 
Twitter: @IL_Institute 
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2 
Instagram: @innovativeleader 
TikTok: @innovativeleadership
Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com 
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating! 
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About Our Guest:  
When it comes to navigating the ins and outs of business, Sonya Shelton has seen it all: from successful startups with brand-new ideas to well-established Fortune 500 companies. Sonya Shelton founded Executive Leadership Consulting in 2007 from her passion for partnering with leaders and high achievers to create a clear vision and build work environments where employees are fulfilled and completely committed to their organization’s success. She has captured her leadership tips and success stories in her #1 Amazon bestselling book “You’re an Executive, But Are You a Leader?” Having been an executive as well as an international speaker and consultant, Sonya knows how to tap into lesser-known, hidden practices that drive true leadership. Her philosophy, background and experience add a strategic, pragmatic, and multidimensional approach to making strong leaders. Sonya serves on the Forbes Coaches Council and is a certified Master Corporate Executive Coach through the Association of Corporate Executive Coaches.

S9-Ep36: Be Human, Lead Human

Guest: Jennifer Nash
In corporate America through the years, CEOs lost sight of something: humans. Humans fell so far off the radar that, when corporate leadership was analyzed, the majority of executives were actually leading processes and procedures, not people!
 
Do you work for one of those execs? Are you one of them?
 
There’s hope! Some leaders – like Ford’s Alan Mulally – began putting humans back in the equation, making their companies stronger. Dr. Jennifer Nash joins us to discuss Mulally’s techniques and other ways to lead with humanity, along with the benefits you’ll see.
Here's what Jennifer and Maureen cover:
What human leadership means;
Why it gets better results than the stereotypical uncaring bureaucracy; and
How to help leaders who aren’t cruising on the status quo, and actually want to be better leaders!
 
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
Informed Leadership: The Power of Trauma with Rachael Kelly
The Bonobo Sisterhood: Ape Society’s Lessons for Leadership with Diane Rosenfeld
The Human Energy Crisis at Work with Joshua Freedman
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. We’re on Instagram, Threads and Twitter, too!
 
RESOURCES:  
Jennifer’s book, Be Human, Lead Human, is available on Amazon. Paperback is https://amzn.to/3qPZXx7 , Kindle is https://amzn.to/45BNtbl .
 
You can learn more about the book and Jennifer’s work on her website: https://drjennifernash.com/ .
 
Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here. 
 
She’s also written several award-winning books on leadership development. You can peruse and purchase them here. 
 
 
Books we’re reading for fun or personal development right now include:
The Five Lost Superpowers: Why We Lost Them & Hot to Get Them Back by John Reid, et al
Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boulle
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin
Snow White & the Seven Robots by Louise Simonson & Jimena Sanchez
 
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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
Assistant Editor & Raconteur: Luigi Morelli
Ever Mindful of Our Humanity: Jenna Reik & Mike Morrow-Fox
CONNECT WITH US: 
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership 
Twitter: @IL_Institute 
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2 
Instagram: @innovativeleader 
Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com 
 
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating! 
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About Our Guest:  
Jennifer Nash, PhD, MBA, PCC is a leadership expert and consultant to Fortune 50 organizations such as Google, Ford, Exxon Mobil, JP Morgan, IBM, The Boeing Company, and Verizon. She is Founder & CEO of Jennifer Nash Coaching & Consulting, a leadership advisory firm helping successful leaders connect people and performance to deliver exceptional results.
Jennifer’s 25-year resume includes serving in executive and leadership roles at Deloitte Consulting and Ford Motor Company and as adjunct professor at the University of Michigan. She contributes to Harvard Business Review, has presented her research at Columbia University, and is a Harvard/McLean Institute of Coaching Fellow.

S9-Ep35: Ignite Your Leadership Game

Guest: Dre Baldwin
Feeling frustrated and overwhelmed by the lack of progress in achieving your goals, despite your best efforts and hard work?  You are not alone! Many leaders and aspiring leaders find themselves trapped in a cycle of unproductive actions, such as micromanaging every task or relying solely on their team's inertia, instead of taking personal initiative. This not only hinders their own growth and development but also limits the potential for success within their organizations. It's time to break free from this cycle and embrace the significance of personal initiative in driving your own success.
Former pro-basketball player and current full-time entrepreneur Dre Baldwin joins host Maureen Metcalf to share concepts from his business and new book, Work on Your Game – using the professional athlete mindset to achieve your – and your team’s – goals.
Here's what Dre and Maureen cover:
How structure can be the missing element to make personal discipline easier;
Why the Third Day Theory helps you continue something new – from an exercise program to a new team project – past the novelty of its honeymoon period; and
The infectious way your personal motivation can spread and help your team get on their game, too.
 
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
Disruption in America’s Favorite Pastime: Leadership Insights from Major League Baseball with Mark Shapiro
The Science of Dream Teams with Mike Zani
Leaders Who Lust: Power, Money, Sex, and Success with Barbara Kellerman
 
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. We’re on Instagram, Threads, and Twitter, too!
 
RESOURCES:  
To receive Dre’s daily motivational text message, text a “subscribe” request to 305-384-6894. There’s also plenty to learn on his website at https://www.workonyourgameuniversity.com.
 
He’s also written a lot of books, including but by no means limited to:
Work on Your Game (hardback = https://amzn.to/3OBZarp, Kindle = https://amzn.to/3OUP6KD)
The Third Day (paperback = https://amzn.to/3OVvWFt, Kindle = https://amzn.to/3scvoSM)
The Mental Handbook (paperback = https://amzn.to/3QF255j, Kindle = https://amzn.to/3DWSrDJ)
 
Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here. 
 
She’s also written several award-winning books on leadership development. You can peruse and purchase them here. 
 
 
Books we’re reading for fun or personal development right now include:
The Five Lost Superpowers: Why We Lost Them & Hot to Get Them Back by John Reid, et al
The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin
Snow White & the Seven Robots by Louise Simonson & Jimena Sanchez
 
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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
Assistant Editor & Raconteur: Luigi Morelli
Desperately Trying to Get Dan to Work on His Game: Jenna Reik & Mike Morrow-Fox
CONNECT WITH US: 
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership 
Twitter: @IL_Institute 
Threads: @innovativeleaders
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2 
Instagram: @innovativeleader 
Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com 
 
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating! 
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About Our Guest:  
In just 5 years, Dre Baldwin went from the end of his high school team's bench, to the first contract of a 9-year professional basketball career.
While playing professional basketball, Dre pioneered new genres of personal branding and entrepreneurship via an ever-growing content publishing empire.
Dre started blogging in 2005 and began publishing videos to YouTube in 2006. He has published over 8,000 videos to 137,000+ subscribers, his content being viewed over 73 million times to date.
Dre's daily Work On Your Game Podcast MasterClass has over 1,700 episodes and more than 3 million downloads.
Dre has given 4 TEDxTalks on Discipline, Confidence, Mental Toughness & Personal Initiative and has authored 29 books. He has appeared in national campaigns with Nike, Finish Line, Wendy's, Gatorade, Buick, Wilson Sports, STASH Investments and DIME magazine.
A Philadelphia native and Penn State alum, Dre lives in Miami.

S9-Ep34: Sheba & ShEquity: Empowering Women-Owned Businesses

Guest: Pauline Koelbl
40% of small and medium-sized businesses in Africa are owned by women. But expanding those businesses is tough: in 2022, single female founders and exclusively-female founding teams received only around 2.4% of investments that went to startups in Africa. Pauline Koelbl is out to change that and narrow the extreme gender gap.
Born in Rwanda, Pauline faced the challenges of life as a young refugee yet managed to secure not one but two Fulbright scholarships. Now she leads ShEquity, an impact investing fund addressing the gender funding gap in Africa. Discover how she’s shaping the future for women-owned businesses in Africa in this follow-up episode.
Here's what Pauline and host Maureen Metcalf cover:
Why investing in women-led businesses does double duty as an investment in community, much more effectively than with men-led firms;
Breaking down the misconceptions around African women in business – and of the African business climate in general; and
The far-reaching impacts of the companies ShEquity has invested in so far.
 
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
- ShEquity - A Refugee’s Path to Empowering Women & Their Businesses with Pauline Koelbl
- You Are Enough, You Are Worthy: Leadership Lessons for Women with Betsy Myers
- Epic! The Women’s Power Playbook with Carolyn Buck Luce
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. We’re on Instagram,and Twitter, too!
 
RESOURCES:  
Learn more about Pauline’s impact fund, ShEquity, on the web at https://shequity.com/ .
 
Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here. 
 
She’s also written several award-winning books on leadership development. You can peruse and purchase them here. 
 
 
Books we’re reading for fun or personal development right now include:
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Every Man a King by Walter Mosley
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
Assistant Editor: Luigi Morelli
Majority Investors in this Podcast: Jenna Reik & Mike Morrow-Fox
CONNECT WITH US: 
Facebook: facebook.com/Innovativeleadership 
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership 
Twitter: @IL_Institute 
Mastodon: @InnoLeader 
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2 
Instagram: @innovativeleader 
Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com 
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating! 
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About Our Guest:  
ShEquity’s Founder & Managing Partner, Pauline is a gender-lens/impact investor and a leading innovation expert in developing & emerging economies with over 20 years of experience in international affairs and venture philanthropy. ShEquity provides smart investment to impactful and scalable African female-led and owned businesses. Pauline also has 11+ years of experience catalyzing innovation and supporting SMES/startups across Africa. Her passion lies in innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic empowerment of youth and women.
 
A double Fulbright Scholar and Fellow, Pauline holds an Executive Education in Innovation for Economic Development from Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government; a Master’s Degree (MA) in Poverty and Development, Institute of Development Studies (IDS) from the University of Sussex, United Kingdom and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in International Studies (Honors) from the University of Arizona (UoA), USA. In 2022, Pauline was recognized as one of 100 Leaders building ‘Meaningful Business’, combining profit and purpose to help achieve the UN Global Goals.

S9-Ep33: The Human Energy Crisis at Work

Guest: Joshua Freedman
Gallup and other surveys are showing employee disengagement at record highs. The human energy crisis is at its root. This energy crisis isn’t due to staff skipping breakfast and coffee in the morning; it’s the result of stunningly low emotional intelligence (or EQ) with American bosses.
We can’t answer it by becoming more like Vulcans; the lack of emphasis on emotional intelligence is causing strained relationships, reduced collaboration, toxic work atmospheres, disengagement, and mental health issues. Fortunately, Joshua Freedman of Six Seconds has solutions. In this episode, he helps you discover how prioritizing emotional intelligence can bring about a transformative shift in your organization’s success…and its profitability.
Here's what Joshua and host Maureen Metcalf cover:
The integral role trust plays in creating robust teams and sustainable success;
The correlation between emotional intelligence and higher performance (we’re talking 22 times higher!); and
The surprising real cause of burnout – it’s not overwork!
 
LANGUAGE ADVISORY: The term “s**t show” appears twice at (33:25). We retained it here because of the phrase’s common usage in many American workplaces.
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
Getting Lost in the Language of Leadership with Jonathan Reams
Lead Responsibly: An Absolut with Ann Mukherjee
Working and Living in Joy with Pamela Larde
 
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. We’re on Instagram, Threads, and Twitter, too!
RESOURCES:  
The website for Joshua’s company, Six Seconds, is https://www.6seconds.org/ .
He’s a prolific writer, too! Just a few of his books on emotional intelligence include:
At the Heart of Leadership: How to Get Results with Emotional Intelligence (Paperback = https://amzn.to/44ReiIr or Kindle = https://amzn.to/3OlJ0T9 )
Whole-Hearted Parenting: How to Use Emotional Intelligence to Create More Peace, Connection, and Joy (Paperback = https://amzn.to/3qjDJmT or Kindle = https://amzn.to/3qgPWsM ) and
Inside Change: Transforming Your Organization with Emotional Intelligence with Massimiliano Ghini (Paperback = https://amzn.to/3QgzGCC or Kindle = https://amzn.to/3OgM2YU )
 
Here’s the article on the human energy crisis from Kathleen Hogan, Microsoft’s Chief People Officer, which Joshua mentioned:  https://www.fastcompany.com/90872995/microsoft-chief-people-officer-we-are-experiencing-a-global-human-energy-crisis .
 
And here is the US Surgeon General’s framework for workplace mental health and well-being:  https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/priorities/workplace-well-being/index.html .
 
Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here. 
 
She’s also written several award-winning books on leadership development. You can peruse and purchase them here. 
 
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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
Assistant Editor: Luigi Morelli
Holding a Gamut of Positive Emotions: Jenna Reik & Mike Morrow-Fox
CONNECT WITH US: 
Facebook: facebook.com/Innovativeleadership 
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership 
Twitter: @IL_Institute 
Mastodon: @InnoLeader 
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2 
Instagram: @innovativeleader 
Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com 
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating! 
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About Our Guest:  
Joshua is the author of books, articles, case studies, and psychometric assessments related to emotional intelligence (EQ). He’s a Master Certified Coach (ICF) and the CEO and cofounder of Six Seconds, the global community for EQ. Six Seconds is the world’s first & largest network of emotional intelligence practitioners and researchers with 25 offices globally. As a consultant, facilitator, or coach, Joshua's clients include FedEx, Intel, Etihad Airways, Amazon, Microsoft, the UN, and all branches of the US armed services. Joshua co-developed Six Seconds’ EQ Certification Training which he has delivered on five continents as master-trainer to thousands of professionals seeking practical tools for learning and teaching emotional intelligence.

S9-Ep32: Back to the Future...of Work

Guests: Jim Ritchie-Dunham, Suzie Lewis, & David Dinwoodie
Here’s a common business myth: the key to navigating all the complexity increasing in the world is simply working harder and longer. But the results aren’t there. Neither is the science.
 
In reality, the future of work requires agility, and adaptive problem-solving. In this episode, guests Jim Ritchie-Dunham, Suzie Lewis, and David Dinwoodie bring their expertise with host Maureen Metcalf about what works – and what doesn’t – in company cultures.
Here's what our guests cover:
Why we need to rely on the people in our personal and professional networks (and the fact that you can only manage 15 of them effectively);
The importance of your own vertical development (not just developing expertise in your field); and
How personal flourishing is important for leaders and their teams.
 
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
- The Power of Passion & Perseverance – Four Levels of Grit with Jim Ritchie-Dunham
- The Science Behind Our Yes! with Jim Ritchie-Dunham
- Flex: The Art & Science of Leadership in a Changing World with Jeff Hull
 
 
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. We’re on Instagram and Twitter, too!
 
RESOURCES:  
Details about the Global Flourishing Study our guests mentioned are online at https://hfh.fas.harvard.edu/global-flourishing-study.  The article on the navigating complexity and the future of work by Jim, Suzie, & David is available in its original Spanish version at https://www.harvard-deusto.com/navegar-por-la-incertidumbre-y-aprender-con-agilidad-claves-en-el-trabajo-del-futuro.
 
David and Jim have also written books, including:
Ecosynomics: The Science of Abundance by Jim Ritchie-Dunham
Becoming a Strategic Leader by David Dinwoodie et al
Learn more about Suzie’s company, Transform for Value, at https://transformforvalue.com/.
 
Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here. 
 
She’s also written several award-winning books on leadership development. You can peruse and purchase them here. 
 
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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
Assistant Editor: Luigi Morelli
Getting Back to Their Futures: Jenna Reik & Mike Morrow-Fox
CONNECT WITH US: 
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership 
Twitter: @IL_Institute 
Threads: @innovativeleaders
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2 
Instagram: @innovativeleader 
Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com 
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating! 
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About Our Guests:  
 
David Dinwoodie
David L. Dinwoodie has collaborated with the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) for over 15 years as a researcher, author, educator, and coach. As Vice-President of Global Leadership Solutions managed CCL’s global portfolio of Open Enrolment Programs, Corporate Learning Solutions, Coaching and Assessment Services across 12 campuses worldwide servicing 3,000 client organizations and over 30,000 individuals each year.  David is co-author of the book Becoming a Strategic Leader: Your Role in Your Organization's Enduring Success. He is an Advisory Board member for the Penn State School of Graduate Education (SMEAL) and Developing Leaders Quarterly.
 
Suzie Lewis
Suzie Lewis is founder and managing director of Transform for Value, and an executive fellow at the Centre for the Future of Organisation, an independent think tank at the Drucker School of Management. Suzie is a global business leader, speaker, podcast host, and executive coach with extensive experience in driving international transformation projects, in preparing business leaders and employees for change, and bridging the gap between human and digital ecosystems. Her quest is to build more inclusive & collaborative environments, placing the onus on how to drive value through people as well as data and processes to drive sustainable change.
 
James Ritchie-Dunham
James L. Ritchie-Dunham, PhD is president of the Institute for Strategic Clarity, affiliated with Boston College, Harvard, and author/co-author of Leadership for Flourishing (forthcoming), Agreements (2023), Ecosynomics (2014), Managing from Clarity (2001), and many chapters and articles. He blogs regularly at jlrd.me.  His global research, surveying over 132,000 groups in 126 countries, shows (1) that you prefer abundance-based agreements to scarcity-based ones, (2) lots of people have figured out how to live this way, for decades, with far better results and experiences, and (3) you can choose to shift your agreements, experiences, and outcomes to abundance-based.