Innovating Leadership: Co-Creating Our Future
The pace of change in the world is increasing exponentially. As COVID proved, leadership must evolve. And that gets to the heart of our mission: to bring you the latest thoughts on leadership so you can innovate, learn, and evolve...growing your team, your business, and yourself! Every week, host Maureen Metcalf interviews world leaders, global business and NPO executives, thought leaders, and researchers in a wide range of industries. It’s a breadth of perspectives unavailable anywhere else. Become an innovative leader in your own right! Download the latest episode each Tuesday night on your favorite podcast platform, or watch on YouTube at https://bit.ly/InnoYouTube .
Episodes

Saturday Jan 21, 2023
S7-Ep31: Leading in Emerging Industries
Saturday Jan 21, 2023
Saturday Jan 21, 2023
Guest: James Brenza
By their very nature, emerging industries (such as EVs, private spaceships, and cannabis) present unique leadership challenges – and opportunities – rarely encountered in long-established businesses. In addition to general entrepreneurism, you’re creating something new for the marketplace…and forging the team to shepherd it.
Emerging industries often lend a new twist on old businesses: they allow the opportunity to relook at established practices, sparking innovation in the business sector. James Brenza joins the show to discuss his venture into an emerging industry -- and how that provided him with new challenges as well as the possibilities of new solutions.
Here's what James and Maureen cover:
How disruptions in your personal life can spark your drive into new kinds of business;
Ways to navigate the uncertainty of cutting-edge industries when legislation isn’t consistent across the country; and
Why standards and technology remain vital components in emerging industries.
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
Leverage Change: Achieve Faster, Easier, Better Results - with Jake Jacobs
Opportunity in Uncertainty – with Dr. Ciela Hartanov
Building Trust in Uncertainty – with Dr. Mary Jo Burchard
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn . We're on Mastodon, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, too!
----------------------
RESOURCES:
More about James Brenza’s agritech firm is online at https://greenest-grow.com. You can also connect on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/greenestgrow.
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: https://amzn.to/3C4eSX0.
Books we’re reading for fun or personal development right now include:
The Bassoon King by Rainn Wilson
This Here Flesh by Cole Arthur Riley
Adventureman by Matt Fraction and Terry & Rachel Dodson
-----------------------
OUR PODCAST TEAM:
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
Emerging Podcast Pioneers: Luigi Morelli, Jenna Reik, & Connor Carson
CONNECT WITH US:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Innovativeleadership
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership
Twitter: @IL_Institute
Mastodon: @InnoLeader
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2
Instagram: @innovativeleader
Website: InnovativeLeadership.com
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!
-----------------------
About Our Guest:
James Brenza is an information technology and analytics leader with 20 years of diversified experience and success in delivering analytical, functionally rich, complex solutions. He is a hands-on leader who carefully balances strategic planning, business communications and technical delivery. He has extensive experience with motivating mixed-shore teams to deliver high quality, flexible results. James’ academic foundation includes 3 degrees: Information Technology, Finance, and an MBA. He complemented his technical skills with a Six Sigma Black Belt, Lean Qualification and PMP certifications. He applies that foundation to solving problems in banking, insurance, retail, distribution, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and public service. He has also been involved in the startup community by serving on advisory boards and as CDO.

Friday Jan 20, 2023
Friday Jan 20, 2023
Guest: Janet Fouts
We recognize the many layers of stress we are under day-to-day. Those stresses are very real – and often increase as we move up the leadership ladder. That stress has consequences, both physical and mental. What can we do?
Janet Fouts has distilled some very simple tools that can help us be less reactive and more responsive to what life throws at us. They’re based on her deep dive into mindfulness as she dealt with the extreme stress of working as a full time digital marketer while caring for a dying partner. In the process, she learned that when we are aware of ourselves, we have better opportunities to understand others, making us better leaders, communicators, and partners.
Here's what Janet and Maureen cover:
How to recognize, and deal with, the triggers that can set you off;
Ways to learn mindfulness in easy microsteps; and
Why work meetings cause so much stress (and why Americans do meetings so poorly).
Other episodes to keep your leadership chill:
Mindfulness Benefits in the Workplace – with Rich Fernandez & Peter Weng
Mental Toughness: How to Embrace Stress for Greater Success - with Col. Deb Lewis
Integrating Integrative Medicine in Leadership - with Dr. Maryanna Klatt
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. We're on Mastodon, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, too!
----------------------
RESOURCES:
We’re watching for her forthcoming book, Microdosed Mindfulness. In the meantime, check out her other publications. Her prior book on self-care while caring for others is When Life Hits the Fan. She also has a batch of books on social media marketing from her earlier career, available here. To learn more about Janet, surf her website: JanetFouts.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 at https://amzn.to/3C4eSX0.
-----------------------
OUR PODCAST TEAM:
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
Mindfully Minding the Podcast Store: Luigi Morelli, Jenna Reik, & Connor Carson
CONNECT WITH US:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Innovativeleadership
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership
Twitter: @IL_Institute
Mastodon: @InnoLeader
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2
Instagram: @innovativeleader
Website: InnovativeLeadership.com
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!
-----------------------
About Our Guest:
After 25 years as CEO of Tatu Digital Media, a Silicon Valley marketing agency, Janet Fouts quit and founded Nearly Mindful, where she serves as a Human Potential Facilitator, working with individuals and teams to reach their full potential through emotional intelligence and mindfulness coaching, workshops, and retreats.

Thursday Jan 19, 2023
S7-Ep2: The Future Leader - Skills & Mindsets to Succeed in the Next Decade
Thursday Jan 19, 2023
Thursday Jan 19, 2023
Guest: Jacob Morgan
There has been a lot written about leadership for the present day, but the world is changing quickly. What worked in the past won’t work in the future – so how do we prepare leaders who can successfully navigate and guide us through the next decade and beyond?
What’s required of leaders, even the types of leaders we need, is in flux. So what can a struggling leader do now?
Jacob Morgan wondered, as well, so he interviewed over 140 CEOs, then partnered with LinkedIn to survey almost 14,000 of their members around the globe to see how those CEO insights aligned with employee perspectives. He uncovered some fascinating insights, and shares them in this episode.
Here's what Jacob and Maureen cover:
The undeniable reality that pre-pandemic leadership isn’t going to cut it in this post-pandemic decade;
Why these changes are happening; and
The four mindsets and five behaviors to develop as a leader for tomorrow.
Related episodes to make you a future-ready leader:
The Future Is Yours to Create – with Rebecca Ryan
Curing Corporate Short-Termism – with Gregory Milano
Red Roof: Revisioning the Future – with George Limbert
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn . We're on Mastodon, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, too!
----------------------
RESOURCES:
Get all the details of Jacob’s findings in his book, The Future Leader. He’s also written The Employee Experience Advantage, The Future of Work, and The Collaborative Organization.
The Notable Nine PDF Jacob referenced is available at TheLeadershipDigest.com . Or learn about his other forward-searching work at 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: https://amzn.to/3C4eSX0 .
-----------------------
OUR PODCAST TEAM:
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
The Future of Podcast Humanity Rests in Their Hands: Luigi Morelli, Jenna Reik, & Connor Carson
CONNECT WITH US:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Innovativeleadership
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership
Twitter: @IL_Institute
Mastodon: @InnoLeader
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2
Instagram: @innovativeleader
Website: InnovativeLeadership.com
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!
-----------------------
About Our Guest:
Jacob Morgan is a four-time bestselling author, keynote speaker, and futurist who explores leadership, employee experience, and the future of work. He is the founder of FutureofWorkUniversity.com, an online education and training platform that helps future proof individuals and organizations by teaching them the skills they need to succeed in the future of work. Jacob also hosts the Future of Work podcast, a weekly show where he speaks with senior executives, business leaders, and bestselling authors about how the world of work is changing. He is regularly featured in publications such as Forbes, Fortune, HBR, Fast Company, the BBC, and others.

Wednesday Jan 18, 2023
S8-Ep2: What Leaders Won’t Talk About (When Scaling their Business)
Wednesday Jan 18, 2023
Wednesday Jan 18, 2023
Guest: Greg Moran
When young companies scale their business, there are many challenges…some obvious, and some no one talks about. Greg Moran joins the show for a discussion about the topics that are often avoided. Some have even been considered taboo! We’ll learn about back-office processes and tooling, hiring and diversity, space: culture and people, keeping the value chain in balance, pricing and value creation, establishing ESG processes, and minimizing distraction. It’s a primer for entrepreneurs on the threshold of growth!
Here's what Greg and Maureen cover:
The struggles that happened before the start-up success stories everyone publicizes;
Why scaling the back office is just as important as scaling your product or service; and
How truth with your growing staff is critical to continued success.
More episodes with Greg Moran for binge-listening:
The New Role of Leadership in a Hybrid Workplace
Evolving Leadership to Navigate Disruption
What Your Team REALLY Thinks…in Real Time!
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn . We're on Mastodon, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, too!
----------------------
RESOURCES:
To learn more about Greg’s company, surf over to https://www.awarehq.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: https://amzn.to/3C4eSX0 .
-----------------------
OUR PODCAST TEAM:
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
Pod People Leaders WILL Talk About: Luigi Morelli, Jenna Reik, & Connor Carson
CONNECT WITH US:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Innovativeleadership
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership
Twitter: @IL_Institute
Mastodon: @InnoLeader
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2
Instagram: @innovativeleader
Website: InnovativeLeadership.com
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!
-----------------------
About Our Guest:
Greg Moran is a C-level digital, strategy and change leadership executive with extensive global operations experience. He led corporate strategy for Ford and designed the plan that Alan Mullaly used to turn around the company. Greg held C-level IT positions in app dev, infrastructure, and core banking applications at Ford, Nationwide Insurance, and Bank One/JPMC, respectively. He began his career in consulting with Arthur Andersen Accenture, working across industries with 100 companies over the course of a decade. He is passionate about leadership and culture, and teaches part time on the topic at Ohio University.

Wednesday Jan 18, 2023
S9-Ep3: Courageous Followership
Wednesday Jan 18, 2023
Wednesday Jan 18, 2023
Guests: Neil Grunberg & Ira Chaleff
“He who cannot be a good follower, cannot be a good leader.”
Aristotle shared that wisdom over 2,000 years ago, but today we chafe at being labeled a follower. Yet, as Ira Chaleff and Neil Grunberg point out, if no one is following, then no one can be leading, either!
Followership is critical in any organization. Think of followership and leadership as a yin and yang: each of us needs to be good at both of them, and each of us needs to know when to play which role. It all depends on the context. Most critically, be a courageous follower: one with the values and integrity to let your leader know when things are amiss. Enron is a classic warning about what happens when an organization doesn’t have courageous followers!
Here's what Ira, Neil, and Maureen cover:
The importance of standing up to and for your leader (even at the same time);
How strict hierarchies distort the flow between follower and leader, slowing down the organization; and
Why a lack of courageous followership leads to catastrophes at work (such as Enron) and in our personal lives (such as Uvalde and other mass tragedies).
Other episodes for further learning:
The New Rules of Work – with Gary Bolles
Employees – Empowered! – with Rod Lacey
Do No Harm: Ethics for Leaders – with Terri O’Fallon
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn . We're on Mastodon, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, too!
----------------------
RESOURCES:
Ira Chaleff is a prolific writer. His books include The Courageous Follower, Intelligent Disobedience, The Limits of Violence (with Elan Le Vieux), The Art of Followership, and Setting Course: A Congressional Management Guide. Information on Ira’s consulting firm is at https://exe-coach.com; his own website is https://IraChaleff.com.
Neil Grunberg has a multitude of research papers and articles in leadership journals. He also co-wrote Innovative Leadership for Health Care with Maureen and others, and edited A Distinctive Approach to Psychological Research.
Our host, Maureen Metcalf, posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can follow her there at https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureenmetcalf.
She’s also written several award-winning books on leadership development. You can peruse and purchase them at https://amzn.to/3C4eSX0.
-----------------------
OUR PODCAST TEAM:
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
Leaders of Fine Followership: Luigi Morelli & Connor Carson
CONNECT WITH US:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Innovativeleadership
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership
Twitter: @IL_Institute
Mastodon: @InnoLeader
InstaGram: @innovativeleader
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovativeleadershipinsitute/
Website: InnovativeLeadership.com
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!
-----------------------
About Our Guest:
Ira Chaleff is an author, speaker, and innovative thinker. His latest work, Intelligent Disobedience, is now available on Amazon. He is founder and president of Executive Coaching and Consulting Associates. As a coach, Ira provides a stimulating and safe environment for executives and their teams to examine, evaluate and significantly improve their management styles, skills and processes. Through targeted interviews, work-climate surveys, and multi-viewpoint feedback instruments, he involves all those who have a stake in the change process, analyzes their input and provides frank, constructive feedback sessions.
Neil Grunberg is a professor of Military & Emergency Medicine, Medical & Clinical Psychology, and Neuroscience in the Uniformed Services University School of Medicine in Bethesda, Maryland. He is also a professor in the Graduate School of Nursing, Director of Research and Development in the USU Leadership Education and Development program, and Director of Faculty Development for Military and Emergency Medicine. He is a medical and social psychologist who has been on faculty at USU since 1979.

Tuesday Jan 17, 2023
S8-Ep4: Building Communities within Your Business
Tuesday Jan 17, 2023
Tuesday Jan 17, 2023
Guest: Alice Yoo LeClair
Contrary to old-school management beliefs, having a work-best-friend boosts productivity. Having an entire work community? That boosts a lot of people’s productivity, morale, even longevity with the organization. Best of all, the communities you foster at work don’t need to be work-related to have these effects: gamers, Trekkies, and football fanatics in your workplace all benefit.So how does an HR leader drive community building within their organization? Does remote work make it more difficult? How does it fit with the CHRO’s other responsibilities? And how do you focus on this when managers so often dump their personnel responsibilities on the HR department instead of taking their own leadership reins? Alice Yoo LeClair knows the world of Human Resources well, with experience in organizations of all sizes. With her deep experience and eyes on the future, she shares her wisdom and observations with host Maureen Metcalf.
This is the first of several episodes which view innovative leadership from the perspective of the CHRO and other human resources leaders: the Connex Executive Insights Series.
Here's what Alice and Maureen cover:
What a community is, and why having work communities is so important for your team;
How workplace communities benefit the broader business; and
Why Gallup research shows that having good friends at work substantially boosts productivity.
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
Joy at Work – with Roxanne Brown and Edward Cook
Achieving Employee-Centric Leadership – with Heather Krentler
Workforce Demographics & an Inclusive Culture – with Nadia Younes, Gamiel Yafai, & Louise Carvalho
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn . We're on Mastodon, Facebook, and Twitter, too!
----------------------
RESOURCES:
For a deeper dive on all things HR, check https://www.connexpartners.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: https://amzn.to/3C4eSX0 .
-----------------------
OUR PODCAST TEAM:
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
Citizenry of our Podcast Community: Luigi Morelli & Connor Carson
CONNECT WITH US:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Innovativeleadership
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership
Twitter: @IL_Institute
Mastodon: @InnoLeader
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2
Instagram: @innovativeleader
Website: InnovativeLeadership.com
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!
-----------------------
About Our Guest:
Alice Yoo LeClair is the Head of Talent, Culture, & Performance at Ascendion. At the time of recording, she was Chief Human Resources Officer for Euromoney PLC’s Financial & Professional Services (FPS) division. Before joining Euromoney, Alice was the Head of HR for the Americas GTM region and multiple product verticals at Refinitiv, an LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group) business. Previously, she held global people strategy and commercial program management roles at IPC Systems, IntelePeer and Level 3 Communications (now Lumen Technologies). Alice has a bachelor’s degree in Music from the University of Hartford where she double majored in Piano Performance and English. She also has a certificate in Plant Based Nutrition from eCornell, Cornell University’s external education unit.

Monday Jan 16, 2023
S3-Ep46: Implicit Bias - What You Don’t See Hurts You!
Monday Jan 16, 2023
Monday Jan 16, 2023
Guest: Rebecca Heiss
From our archives, a special show about our hidden biases.
We all have bias. In various forms, it’s built into our brains. But implicit bias creates a disadvantage for leaders and their organizations. Dr. Rebecca Heiss has studied bias extensively, and shares what implicit bias is and how it impacts each of us. As leaders, we need to understand and manage implicit biases because they impact our hiring choices, promotion and succession decisions, company policies—even how closely we pay attention to someone in a presentation. To truly ensure we hire and retain top talent, we need to remove bias from our decision making process as much as possible. During this show, Rebecca shares her research…and what it reveals about the ways we can beat the bias in our business, and our lives.
Here's what Rebecca and Maureen cover:
What, exactly, implicit bias is – and how it taints your decision-making without you realizing;
How implicit bias goes beyond major strokes like race and religion, such as the seemingly subtle bias of “Blondes have more fun” which has deep effects in the workplace; and
The ways bias actually impedes how efficiently (and profitably) your company is achieving its goals.
Other episodes for deeper learning:
The Blindspots Between Us: How to Overcome Unconscious Cognitive Bias with Gleb Tsipursky
Reimagining American Identity with Amiel Handelsman & Jewel Kinch-Thomas
DEI: Needed Conversations & Understanding with Laura Morgan Roberts & Courtney McCluney
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. We're on Facebook, and Twitter, too!
----------------------
RESOURCES:
Dr. Heiss has a fascinating book on dealing with stress and boosting productivity. Instinct is available here.
Her equally fascinating TEDx talk on Ghostbusting Our Evolutionary “Other” is on YouTube here.
There’s more on her website at www.RebeccaHeiss.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: https://amzn.to/3C4eSX0.
-----------------------
OUR PODCAST TEAM:
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Producer: Dan Mushalko
Editor: Connor Carson
Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
Podbean Patroller: Luigi Morelli
CONNECT WITH US:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Innovativeleadership
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership
Twitter: @IL_Institute
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2
Website: InnovativeLeadership.com
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!
-----------------------
About Our Guest:
Dr. Rebecca Heiss is an evolutionary biologist focusing on human behavior and physiology. She’s the founder and CEO of a measurable stress reduction company, Instinctive Cognition. As a speaker and consultant, Rebecca has developed a passion for helping others overcome blind spots to become their best biological selves.
After earning a PhD with research designated as “transformative” by the National Science Foundation, Rebecca went on to hold multiple appointments in academia, applying her research to solve practical problems in overcoming what she refers to as “biological ghosts”—subconscious behaviors that haunt modern life. A creative thought leader, she delivered a TEDx talk on a portion of her work, and has built her career on helping others break through their evolutionary ethical “blind spots.” Having conquered the business of biology, Dr. Heiss has turned her focus to revolutionizing the biology of business.

Friday Jan 13, 2023
Friday Jan 13, 2023
Guest: Michelle Sanchez-Bickley
Amidst the Great Resignation, exceptional organizations are still retaining their top employees, and recruiting new staff. Renown Health is one of them.
In the second of our Connex Executive Insights series, Michelle Sanchez-Bickley of Renown Health joins Maureen Metcalf to discuss the challenges of the Great Resignation for HR departments. It’s particularly challenging in the health care sector; the strains of COVID on our medical system put particular pressure on doctors, nurses, and hospital support staff. That’s led to 30% or more turnover.
Using a combination of developing internal culture, open communications, hybrid and remote working, and a modern innovation on apprenticeship, Renown Health is a bright spot emerging above the crisis.
Here's what Michelle and Maureen cover:
Why taking a hard look at your company culture is key to losing staff;
How Michelle maintained a hiring pipeline even though COVID hit the healthcare industry so hard; and
Why you lose good employees when they don’t see a path for growth, development, or simply learning.
Related episodes:
Innovative Leadership for the Healthcare Industry – with Neil Grunberg
High Performance Medicine: Healthcare & Innovation – with Brian Ferguson
Integrating Integrative Medicine in Leadership – with Dr. Maryanna Klatt
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn . We're on Mastodon, Facebook, and Twitter, too!
----------------------
RESOURCES:
Further information on Michelle’s healthcare system is online at Renown.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: https://amzn.to/3C4eSX0 .
-----------------------
OUR PODCAST TEAM:
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
Purveyors of Podbean Podcast Perfection: Luigi Morelli & Connor Carson
CONNECT WITH US:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Innovativeleadership
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership
Twitter: @IL_Institute
Mastodon: @InnoLeader
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2
Website: InnovativeLeadership.com
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!
-----------------------
About Our Guest:
Michelle Sanchez-Bickley is Chief HR Officer for Renown Health, the largest not for profit health system in Northern Nevada. In this role, Michelle is responsible for overall strategic and HR operational functions for the enterprise. She has over 25 years of HR leadership experience, with the majority of her career spent in healthcare. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in political science and justice studies from Frostburg State University in Maryland, and earned her Master’s degree in human resource development from Georgia State University. She is a certified senior professional in human resources (SPHR) and a Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). She serves on several local not for profit boards, including Education Alliance, Nevada Works, and Nevada Employer Association. She loves to mentor others and is passionate about the community in which she serves.

Thursday Jan 12, 2023
S8-Ep10: ShEquity - A Refugee’s Path to Empowering Women & Their Businesses
Thursday Jan 12, 2023
Thursday Jan 12, 2023
Guest: Pauline Koelbl
Surviving life as a refugee is one thing. To turn that life into a mission to empower other women is quite another.
That’s exactly what Pauline Koelbl did. Escaping the war in Rwanda, she found herself a homeless refugee. Eventually, Pauline found a home in Tucson, Arizona. More importantly, she found mentoring and support there – and now “pays it forward” as the founder and managing director of ShEquity, and investment firm providing capital and other resources to women-led and -owned businesses in Africa. Women are the key to unlocking economic success on the continent; they operate over 40% of small and medium sized enterprises. What’s more, they reinvest about 90% of their revenue in sectors and activities that benefit their families and communities – men only reinvest 40%. That’s one of many reasons the McKinsey Global Institute estimates the global GDP would increase by $28 trillion if we simply closed the business gender gap!
Pauline shares her compelling story of refugee-turned-entrepreneur focused on female empowerment with host Maureen Metcalf.
Here's what Pauline and Maureen cover:
How closing the gender gap in the workforce potentially adds $28 trillion to the global GDP;
Why, despite the stereotypes, refugees bring with them vast amounts of intellectual capital host countries tend to waste; and
Why women are the key to African (and other) nations fully realizing their economic potential.
Other episodes you'll find edifying:
- Diamonds in the Rough: Sustainability & Corporate Citizenship – with Pat Dambe
- Diversity & Inclusion Insights from IBM South Africa – with Roger Madison
- Empowering Women for the Prosperity of Nations – with Amanda Ellis & Augusto Lopez-Claros
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn . We're on Mastodon, Facebook, and Twitter, too!
----------------------
RESOURCES:
More on Pauline’s investment firm is online 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: https://amzn.to/3C4eSX0 .
-----------------------
OUR PODCAST TEAM:
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
They Who Shall Remain Unnamed: Luigi Morelli and Connor Carson
CONNECT WITH US:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Innovativeleadership
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership
Twitter: @IL_Institute
Mastodon: @InnoLeader
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovativeleadershipinsitute/
Website: InnovativeLeadership.com
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!
-----------------------
About Our Guest:
Pauline Koelbl is AfriProspect GmbH’s Founder/CEO as well as ShEquity’s Founder/Managing Partner. AfriProspect focuses on connecting African innovators with global markets, and ShEquity provides smart investment to impactful and scalable African female-led and owned businesses. Pauline also has 10+ years’ experience catalyzing innovation and entrepreneurship across Africa. Her passion lies in innovation, entrepreneurship, youth, and women economic empowerment. A double Fulbright -Scholar and Fellow-, Pauline is currently serving on a variety of boards of companies/organizations connected to business, entrepreneurship and innovation in Africa.
Pauline holds an Executive Education in Innovation for Economic Development from Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government; a Master’s Degree in Poverty and Development, Institute of Development Studies (IDS) from the University of Sussex, United Kingdom, and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies (Honors) from the University of Arizona, USA.

Wednesday Jan 11, 2023
S9-Ep2: Using Storytelling to Elevate Leadership
Wednesday Jan 11, 2023
Wednesday Jan 11, 2023
Guest: Chris Nolan
Does your world feel chaotic, unpredictable – lunging beyond your understanding or control? You’re not alone: in fact, the US military felt the same, and created the concept of VUCA to maintain a defensive edge. The good news: you can readily apply VUCA to your organization to maintain YOUR defensive edge!
In this episode, Emmy award-winning filmmaker Chris Nolan reveals the power of storytelling to help leaders navigate the rapidly accelerating VUCA Max world. It’s an inspiring how-to in creating a compelling vision to shape and rebrand your future…and drive success in your organization.
Here’s what Chris and host Maureen Metcalf cover:
How to use future-back thinking to prepare for and accommodate rapid change;
How storytelling can change the future; and
The importance of vision in guiding and motivating your team.
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovativeleadershipinsitute. We're on Mastodon, Facebook, and Twitter, too!
RELATED PODCASTS to Continue Your VUCA Binge:
Facing Uncertainty: It’s VUCA – with Chris Nolan (this is a great primer on the VUCA concept)
Expecting the Unexpected: VUCA in Action at Red Roof – with George Limbert
Improve Virtual Team Success by Leveraging Paradox – with Jean Brittain Leslie
----------------------
RESOURCES:
Chris’ VUCA documentary is on Amazon here. The website supporting the film and with more VUCA information is www.ItsVUCA.com. And to contact Chris, follow him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/it-s-vuca.
For just plain fun, check out Chris’ musical comedy feature film about the teen vampire scene, I Kissed a Vampire.
-----------------------
OUR PODCAST TEAM:
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video Editor: Devon Mushalko
League of Extraordinary Podbean Gentlemen: Luigi Morelli & Connor Carson
CONNECT WITH US:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Innovativeleadership
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership
Twitter: @IL_Institute
Mastodon: @InnoLeader
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovativeleadershipinsitute/
Website: InnovativeLeadership.com
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!
-----------------------
About Our Guest:
Chris Nolan is a multiple Emmy Award-winning director, creative director, marketing strategist, branding story expert, writer, songwriter, playwright and author. His most recent projects include the award-winning “Unforgettable Happens Here” campaign for Disney earning 20M views on YouTube. Two ten minute spy movies “From The Adapt or Die Files” for Google‘s API division. And the “Your Life. Now Playing.” series for RealNetworks. Chris has developed and directed brand storytelling campaigns and commercials for Fortune 100 companies and won countless advertising awards: Cannes, Clios, Addy's and Telly's. He has also directed several hours of episodic TV as well as directed and written feature films. His latest film projects are the documentary "It's VUCA: The Secret to Living in the 21st Century" and a feature about Jimi Hendrix entitled ‘Floating Bridge’. His most recent book is "It's VUCA: The Master Guide to Living in the 21st Century".

Monday Jan 09, 2023
S8-Ep11: Workforce Demographics & an Inclusive Culture
Monday Jan 09, 2023
Monday Jan 09, 2023
Guests: Nadia Younes, Gamiel Yafai, & Louise Carvalho
Slow as molasses. That’s one way to describe how leaders have responded to the rapidly changing workplace. The work environment was already changing before the COVID pandemic; now, there’s no going back to the old “industrial” model. It doesn’t meet rapidly evolving employee expectations nor the major shifts in workforce demographics. That, in turn, means the Great Resignation should have come as no surprise at all!
The new, effective workplace models all embrace DEI: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Inclusive business cultures hold many advantages for staff, leaders, and profitability. From morale to a broader pool of leaders, the benefits are impactful.
How does it work? Nadia Younes, Louise Carvalho, and Gamiel Yafai use CERN, Europe’s particle physics research center, as a launching point to explore inclusiveness with host Maureen Metcalf.
Here's what Nadia, Gamiel, & Louise cover:
While Gen Z gets all the press, leaders must learn how to juggle the wants and needs of five different generations overlapping in the same workplace;
Why – despite the old-school wishes of CEOs like Tim Cook, Bob Iger, and Elon Musk – workers and the workplace have changed forever; and
With the decline in church attendance and other traditional social arenas, how the workplace has become most people’s place of “community.”
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
Recruiting & Retaining Diverse Executives – with Eric Douglas Keene
DEI: Needed Conversations & Understanding – with Laura Morgan Roberts & Courtney McCluney
5 Trends to Know: Leadership in 2023 – with Christopher Washington
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn . We're on Mastodon, Facebook, and Twitter, too!
----------------------
RESOURCES:
The international online leadership community, Rejuvi 45, is on the web at https://www.rejuviventure.com/ .
More about the human side of the CERN physics center is at https://home.cern/ .
For further reading, Nadia Younes co-authored The Diversity Calling: Building Community One Story at a Time. Gamiel Yafai wrote or co-wrote two books: Demystifying Diversity: A Handbook to Navigate Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Yemen Proud: Past & Present.
Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can follow her there at https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureenmetcalf/ .
She’s also written several award-winning books on leadership development. You can peruse and purchase them here: https://amzn.to/3C4eSX0 .
-----------------------
OUR PODCAST TEAM:
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
International Men of Podbean Mystery: Luigi Morelli & Connor Carson
CONNECT WITH US:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Innovativeleadership
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership
Twitter: @IL_Institute
Mastodon: @InnoLeader
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovativeleadershipinsitute/
Website: InnovativeLeadership.com
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!
-----------------------
About Our Guests:
Nadia Younes has extensive cross-industry and geographical experience leading efforts in DEI, employee experience, and work-life/wellbeing in global multinational companies headquartered in Switzerland, the US, Canada, Australia and the UK…including Wells Fargo, Amgen, Novartis, Rio Tinto, International Monetary Fund and Zurich Insurance. She has also consulted with over 100 other multinational and non-profit organizations and helped introduce the next generation of measurement of gender equality that includes intersectionality with race and other dimensions of diversity.
Gamiel Yafai has worked at the highest levels with many public, private and voluntary organisations on diversity and inclusion culture change initiatives over the last 21 years. Recipient of the Global Diversity Leadership Award presented by the Global HRD Congress, and author of Demystifying Diversity and Yemen Proud, Gamiel has worked with some of Europe’s largest employers to design and implement diversity and inclusion culture change strategies and action plans to both attract new talent from diverse backgrounds, and to support existing talent as they reach their potential.
Louise Carvalho, a lawyer by profession, has practiced in Canada, in England, within the United Nations and European Union institutions in post-conflict Kosovo, and at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (Nobel Peace Prize 2013) in The Hague. Louise joined CERN in October 2014 as a Legal Adviser and was appointed Diversity & Inclusion Programme Leader in 2018.

Sunday Jan 08, 2023
S8-Ep12: Power, Charisma, Hormones: Science Studies Leadership
Sunday Jan 08, 2023
Sunday Jan 08, 2023
Guest: John Antonakis
Power does tend to corrupt. Especially the more testosterone is added to the mix.
That’s just one finding that the scientific study of leadership has revealed. Yet, despite the legions of leadership consultants plying their theories, very little research in the field has been conducted with scientific rigor. Even science basics, such as control groups and identifying variables, are missing. That punches big holes in many leading leadership philosophies and best-selling books; they look at what top-performing companies have in common…but don’t check to see if the worst performing companies have those same things in common, too!
Enter John Antonakis. A professor of organizational behavior, and the editor-in-chief of The Leadership Quarterly, John applies the scientific model to studies of leadership qualities, with a particular interest in charisma. He’ll talk about power, hormones, and his AI charismometer in this episode.
Here's what John and Maureen cover:
Why the lack of truly scientific studies of leadership makes it difficult to tease out what really forges a good (even great) leader;
How testosterone in a leader increases their likelihood of corruption; and
That most traits of truly great leaders can be learned – you don’t have to be born with them!
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
Getting Lost in the Language of Leadership – with Jonathan Reams
The Bonobo Sisterhood: Ape Society’s Lessons for Leadership – with Diane Rosenfeld
The Science of Dream Teams – with Mike Zani
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn . We're on Mastodon, Facebook, and Twitter, too!
----------------------
RESOURCES:
Learn more about John’s research at http://www.hec.unil.ch/people/jantonakis .
We have a short (1:21) excerpt from this interview on YouTube at https://youtu.be/CaALP3jTo4s .
Information on John’s book, The Nature of Leadership, is at https://amzn.to/3Xdm7UH . He also contributed to Being There Even When You Are Not (Vol. 4), available at https://amzn.to/3ik8Rir
Host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can follow her there at https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureenmetcalf/ .
She’s also written several award-winning books on leadership development. You can peruse and purchase them here: https://amzn.to/3C4eSX0 .
-----------------------
OUR PODCAST TEAM:
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
Our Scientifically-Studied Podbean Gurus: Luigi Morelli & Connor Carson
CONNECT WITH US:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Innovativeleadership
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership
Twitter: @IL_Institute
Mastodon: @InnoLeader
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovativeleadershipinsitute/
Website: InnovativeLeadership.com
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!
-----------------------
About Our Guest:
John Antonakis is Professor of Organizational Behavior and editor-in-chief of The Leadership Quarterly, a high-impact journal in management and applied psychology. John’s research focuses on estimating the causal effect of leadership on outcomes. He is a highly-cited scientist, and has published groundbreaking research in journals such as Science. His work has been covered by media outlets including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, The Guardian, NEWSWEEK, the Daily Mail, BBC News, Forbes, The New Yorker, Business Insider, Fast Company and hundreds of other news sources.

You CAN Be a Better Leader!
In fact, the best leaders constantly seek to improve themselves. That's one trait that consistently shows up in the research.
We're here to do exactly that. This podcast is just one tool the Innovative Leadership Institute provides to bring the latest research, trends, and practices to you...free. A single episode may not change your life -- but it will introduce you to innovative leadership ideas, as well as the people and resources to pursue it further.
Check it out. You'll soon find yourself changing. For the better. And for the betterment of all!
To learn more about us, check out our website at InnovativeLeadership.com. You can also follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Mastodon.
The Innovative Leadership Institute:
Creating Future-Ready Leaders and Organizations