Innovating Leadership: Co-Creating Our Future

S11 Ep26: Logistics as Lifelines: Amazon’s Disaster Relief Programs

Guests: Bettina Stix & Andrea Fava, Amazon Executives
How can large organizations use their core capabilities to solve real community needs?In this episode, we explore how Amazon applies its logistics network, technology, and innovation to support communities during disasters and address food insecurity at scale.
The first segment features Bettina Stix, Director of Amazon Community Impact, discussing how Amazon responds to global crises—from wildfires and hurricanes to earthquakes and humanitarian emergencies—by providing rapid disaster relief using the same systems that enable global delivery.
Then Andrea Fava joins Bettina for a panel at the San Francisco–Marin Food Bank, where Amazon partnered with the Food Bank to bring fresh groceries directly to households facing mobility, health, or transportation barriers.
Together, Bettina and Andrea demonstrate that meaningful social impact is not about charitable side projects; it’s about aligning what you do best with what communities need most.
 
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
- Tech with Purpose: Protecting People with Innovation with Aaron Parness & Beryl Tomay
- Our Emotional Recession: How to Lead When People Are Depleted with Josua Freedman
- Pets, Purpose, & Power: The Animal Science of Leadership with Rustin Moore, DVM
 
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn.
 
RESOURCES:  
Learn more about Amazon’s disaster relief work at https://bit.ly/AmazonRelief.
 
Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here. 
 
Maureen’s latest book is Innovative Leadership & Followership in the Age of AI. You’ll find details about it at https://bit.ly/LeaderInAI, or check out the Kindle version at https://amzn.to/44buVz8. The audiobook version is now available at  https://amzn.to/4dTCleZ.
 
Her other 10 books are available on Amazon here. 
 
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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Executive Producer: Dan Mushalko
Graphics Editor: Stacia Rogan
Booking Producer: Jenna Reik
Sponsorship Sales Manager: Kristine Gross
Theme Music by Pavel Bekirov from Pixabay.
 
CONNECT WITH US: 
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership 
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2 
IWebsite: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com 
 
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating! 
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About Our Guests:  
Bettina Stix founded Amazon’s disaster relief program in 2017. Her experience at Amazon spans more than 26 years, and she's held leadership positions across international websites, customer service, and membership programs. Bettina now oversees Amazon's volunteering, disaster relief, food security, and education impact programs, leveraging Amazon's logistics and innovation and engaging employees to support communities worldwide. She serves on the board of Farestart, a Seattle nonprofit transforming homelessness and hunger into human potential. Stix holds a Ph.D. in comparative literature and a master's degree in history from the University of Stuttgart, Germany.
 
Andrea Fava is Vice President, US Public Policy, for Amazon. In this role, she leads state and local public policy across the United States. Andrea has been at Amazon for nine years. Prior to joining Amazon, Andrea directed Intel’s global public policy in the areas of environment, employment, and human rights policy. She served as the Environmental Director for the U.S. Council for International Business, a trade advocacy organization, and a consultant for the United Nations Environment Programme. Andrea holds an MA in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin, where her research focused on African politics, and a BA from the University of Delaware.

S11 Ep25: Pets, Purpose, and Power: The Animal Science of Leadership

Guest: Rustin Moore, Dean: The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine
Is your dog trying to teach you how to lead better?
Dr. Rustin Moore joins host Maureen Metcalf to explore the profound connection between human physiology, emotional steadiness, and effective leadership. From the biochemical power of oxytocin to the social wisdom of packs, hives, and herds, Moore draws parallels between nature and modern organizations. Together they discuss how compassion, boundaries, and trust emerge naturally in healthy ecosystems, and how leaders can recreate that same balance in teams and workplaces.
Here's what Rustin and Maureen cover:
How leaders can cultivate calm and compassion under pressure;
The neuroscience behind building trust and resilient teams; and
Why interacting with animals reduces stress.
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
- The Bonobo Sisterhood: Ape Society’s Lessons for Leadership with Diane Rosenfeld
- Why Pet-Friendly Means Productivity-Friendly with Lisa Campbell
- Our Emotional Recession: How to Lead When People Are Depleted with Joshua Freedman
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn.
 
RESOURCES:  
Rustin’s book is Unleashing the Bond: Harnessing the Power of Human-Animal Interactions. It’s in paperback at https://amzn.to/47D25d1.
 
His follow-up book is Unlocking the Bond: The Power & Paradox of Human-Animal Interactions; it will be available in January.
 
Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here. 
 
Maureen’s latest book is Innovative Leadership & Followership in the Age of AI. You’ll find details about it at https://bit.ly/LeaderInAI, or check out the Kindle version at https://amzn.to/44buVz8. The audiobook version is now available at  https://amzn.to/4dTCleZ.
 
Her other 10 books are available on Amazon here. 
-----------------------  
OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Executive Producer: Dan Mushalko
Graphics Editor: Stacia Rogan
Sponsorship Sales Manager: Kristine Gross
Theme Music by Pavel Bekirov from Pixabay.
CONNECT WITH US: 
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership 
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2 
IWebsite: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com 
 
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating! 
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About Our Guest:  
Dr. Rustin M. Moore, professor and the Rita Jean Wolfe Endowed Dean in Veterinary Medicine, is the 11th dean of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine having served in this role since September 2015.
A two-time graduate of the college, Dr. Moore returned to the college in 2006 and served as the chair of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, executive director of the Veterinary Medical Center, associate dean for Clinical and Outreach Programs, and associate executive dean before becoming dean.
He has taught both at Ohio State and at Louisiana State University (LSU)
 
A native of Spencer, WV, he earned a BS degree (1986), summa cum laude, from West Virginia University; a DVM (1989), summa cum laude, and a PhD (1994) from The Ohio State University. He became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1994.
 
He is the author of Unleashing the Bond: Harnessing the Power of Human-Animal Interactions, a comprehensive work that delves into the profound human-animal connection, weaving together history, science, culture, demographic and socioeconomic data, and compelling stories from over 100 interviews into an informative and captivating narrative. His follow-up book, Unlocking the Bond: The Power and Paradox of Human-Animal Interactions, builds upon the foundation of Unleashing the Bond, focusing on and raising awareness about the impact and contradictions of the human-animal bond.

S11 Ep24: Tech with Purpose: Protecting People with Innovation at Amazon

Guests: Aaron Parness (Director) & Beryl Tomay (VP)
Amazon is reinventing the future of work. with robots that can feel, AI smart glasses for delivery drivers, and new safety-first systems that transform how millions of packages move every day. In this episode, we go behind the scenes at Amazon’s “Delivering the Future” event to explore how technology, robotics, and human-centered leadership are transforming work at massive scale.
First, Aaron Parness, Director of Applied Science in Robotics & AI, reveals how his team built Vulcan — a robot with a sense of touch — and what it teaches us about experimentation, iteration, and designing technology that elevates human workers instead of replacing them.
Then, Beryl Tomay, Vice President of Transportation at Amazon, shares how innovations like AI-driven smart glasses, hazard detection, and advanced driver training are making frontline work safer, more dignified, and more sustainable…all while getting packages to your porch quickly. You’ll learn:
✅ How human–robot collaboration actually works✅ Why Amazon isn’t aiming for “100% automation”✅ How AI smart glasses increase safety in the field✅ What it really takes to scale innovation to millions of deliveries a day.
This episode is a masterclass in leading innovation with clarity, courage, and humanity.
Related episodes you'll enjoy:
Amazon’s Innovation Secret: Look to Failure for Success with Beryl Tomay
Delivering the Future: Why Amazon Execs Lead Beyond Retail with Kara Hurst & Ryan Redington
Four Key Lessons from Amazon’s Head of Family Trust with Catherine Teitelbaum
How Moonshots & Robots Put Packages on Your Porch with Steve Armato
 
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn.
 
RESOURCES:  
Learn more about the new delivery technologies Beryl mentioned at https://bit.ly/DeliveryTech. To discover more about Amazon’s robotics, check out https://bit.ly/RobotsAtAmazon.
 
Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here. 
 
Maureen’s latest book is Innovative Leadership & Followership in the Age of AI. You’ll find details about it at https://bit.ly/LeaderInAI, or check out the Kindle version at https://amzn.to/44buVz8. The audiobook version is now available at  https://amzn.to/4dTCleZ.
 
Her other 10 books are available on Amazon here. 
 
-----------------------  
OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Executive Producer: Dan Mushalko
Graphics Editor: Stacia Rogan
Sponsorship Sales Manager: Kristine Gross
Theme Music by Pavel Bekirov from Pixabay.
 
CONNECT WITH US: 
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership 
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2 
IWebsite: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com 
 
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating! 
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About Our Guests:  
Aaron Parness works as a Director of Applied Science in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence at Amazon. His teams in Seattle and Berlin build robotic work cells to increase delivery speed and reduce the cost of order fulfillment for Amazon customers. Specializing in high contact and high clutter applications, he has led advances in giving robots a sense of touch by incorporating force and torque sensors into the robots’ motion plans and control loops. From 2010 to 2019, Aaron worked at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where he founded and led the Robotic Rapid Prototyping Laboratory specializing in grippers and wall climbing robots. He received his PhD from Stanford in 2009 advised by Mark Cutkosky; and earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering and BS in Creative Writing from MIT in 2004.
 
Beryl Tomay has been at Amazon for 20 years having joined in 2005 as a Software Development Engineer. She was part of the small team that launched the original Kindle device and remained in the Devices organization for the subsequent 8 years. She joined the nascent Last Mile organization, the logistics business that gets packages through the final steps on their way to customers’ doorsteps, in early 2014 as one of its first employees. Today, she is responsible for Amazon’s Last Mile delivery technology and businesses as well as Amazon’s customer delivery and returns experiences. Prior to Amazon, Beryl received her undergraduate degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Waterloo in Canada. Beryl and her husband love going to Kraken hockey games, walking their dog Luna, and visiting new and diverse restaurants.

S11 Ep23: Our Emotional Recession: How to Lead When People Are Depleted

Guest: Joshua Freedman, CEO & Co-Founder of Six Seconds
Around the world, people are emotionally exhausted, socially polarized, and struggling to stay engaged at work. Global emotional intelligence scores have declined for several years, and leaders today face an unseen burden: an emotional tax on every interaction, decision, and relationship.
In this episode, emotional intelligence expert Joshua Freedman joins Maureen Metcalf to explore how leaders can reduce the hidden emotional tax in organizations, rebuild trust, and create healthier workplaces.
Discover how EQ drives performance, why trust is a leader’s greatest currency, and what practical steps you can take to lead with clarity and humanity in turbulent times.
Here's what Joshua and Maureen discuss:
The hidden emotional tax draining teams and cultures
The business case for EQ (and how it improves performance)
Why trust is now a leader’s most critical output.
 
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
- The Human Energy Crisis at Work with Joshua Freedman
- What’s the Point: Why Your Leadership Needs Purpose with Ryan Gottfredson
- To Stop a Tyrant: The Power of Followers with Ira Chaleff
 
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn.
 
RESOURCES:  
Learn more about Joshua’s work at https://6seconds.org. His many books are available on Amazon.
 
Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here. 
 
Maureen’s latest book is Innovative Leadership & Followership in the Age of AI. You’ll find details about it at https://bit.ly/LeaderInAI, or check out the Kindle version at https://amzn.to/44buVz8. The audiobook version is now available at  https://amzn.to/4dTCleZ.
 
Her other 10 books are available on Amazon here. 
-----------------------  
OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Executive Producer: Dan Mushalko
Graphics Editor: Stacia Rogan
Sponsorship Sales Manager: Kristine Gross
Theme Music by Pavel Bekirov from Pixabay.
 
CONNECT WITH US: 
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership 
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2 
IWebsite: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com 
 
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating! 
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About Our Guest:  
A staggering finding emerged from over a million emotional intelligence assessments: the world is in an emotional recession. Burnout, falling empathy, and disengagement are draining performance and wellbeing. Joshua Freedman, CEO and cofounder of Six Seconds, is on a mission to reverse the trend. For 25+ years, he has led the world’s largest EQ study (State of the Heart), advised global brands like FedEx, Shell, and the UN, and developed practical tools used in 150+ countries. A bestselling author; his 8th book, Emotion Rules (2026) equips leaders to transform emotions into actionable data that fuels trust, resilience, and results.

S11 Ep22: Think Acoustics, Not Optics: How Sound Will Transform Leaders

Guest: Brad Diskin, CEO of SGI
AI can see. But can it hear?
Meet Brad Diskin, CEO of Sound Genetics Inc. (SGI), the company teaching machines to listen. In this interview with host Maureen Metcalf, you’ll explore how acoustic intelligence is transforming security, leadership, and innovation across industries.
 
From detecting deepfakes and authenticating human voices to predicting infrastructure failures and even diagnosing disease through audio patterns, SGI’s technology is expanding how leaders think about AI, risk, and trust.
Here's what Brad and Maureen cover:
How “sound DNA” is transforming authentication, fraud prevention, and cybersecurity
Why AI’s next frontier isn’t vision; it’s hearing
What “digital audio imaging” means for infrastructure, health, and smart cities
The leadership mindset required to responsibly integrate next-generation AI.
 
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
- Fear Less, Shine More: Build Confidence in Your Leadership (and Life) with Tonjia Coverdale
- To Stop a Tyrant: The Power of Followers with Ira Chaleff
- Forget Power: How to Lead in a World of Chaos & Complexity with Michelle Harrison
 
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn.
 
RESOURCES:  
Learn more about the work of Brad’s company on their website,
 
Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here. 
 
Maureen’s latest book is Innovative Leadership & Followership in the Age of AI. You’ll find details about it at https://bit.ly/LeaderInAI, or check out the Kindle version at https://amzn.to/44buVz8. The audiobook version is now available at  https://amzn.to/4dTCleZ.
 
Her other 10 books are available on Amazon here. 
 
-----------------------  
OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Executive Producer: Dan Mushalko
Graphics Editor: Stacia Rogan
Booking Producer: Jenna Reik
Sponsorship Sales Manager: Kristine Gross
Theme Music by Pavel Bekirov from Pixabay.
 
CONNECT WITH US: 
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership 
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2 
IWebsite: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com 
 
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating! 
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About Our Guest:  
Brad Diskin was CEO of UROK Learning Institute for 20 years. The firm specialized in teaching students with learning deficits to read, write and do math. The firm taught students to read nationwide utilizing the company's proprietary reading program Literacy Links. One of the tools became the genesis of Sound Genetics Inc. The company received a United States Patent on August 22, 2023 SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRE - FILTERING AUDIO CONTENT BASED ON PROMINENCE OF FREQUENCY CONTENT.

S4-Ep37: From Stress to Strength: How to Rewire Your Brain for Resilience

Guest: Jon Wortmann, Leadership Coach & Principal at Novel Communication
What makes some overloaded leaders bounce back stronger, while others burn out?
In this episode, host Maureen Metcalf talks with executive coach and resilience author Jon Wortmann about how leaders can train their brains to stay calm, clear, and focused, even in chaos.
Wortmann draws from neuroscience, mindfulness research, and real-world leadership practice to reveal how resilience is more than “bouncing back.” It’s a trainable skill that rewires your stress response through deliberate habits: breathwork, focus, movement, and meaningful connection.
Learn how to:
Shift from the “short loop” of stress reactivity to the “long loop” of intentional thinking.
Use quick switching to get your brain back online in seconds.
Build resilience across four domains: physical, cognitive, emotional, and relational.
Lead teams more effectively by managing your own emotional and physiological state.
 
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
- How Purpose-Driven Women Redefine What It Means to Lead with Dr. Karen Longman
- How Inner Work Transforms Your Leadership with Jonathan Reams
- Leading from Within – A Former Navy SEAL on Transforming Yourself to Lead Others with Diego Ugalde
 
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. We’re onTikTok, Threads, and Twitter, too!
 
RESOURCES:  
For great tips on reducing stress and boosting your brain skills, pop over to Jon’s Quickswitching website at https://quickswitching.com/.
Jon has several excellent books. Hijacked by Your Brain is about dealing with stress; it’s in paperback at https://amzn.to/4o3pvin.
For better leadership, he’s cowritten Three Commitments of Leadership: How Clarity, Stability, and Rhythm Create Great Leaders; it’s in hardback at https://amzn.to/4nXD8zq.
And if you just want to improve your golf game (using neuroscience & psychology), be sure to read Your Brain on Golf: How to Turn Frustration, Fear, and Anger into Better Scores. It’s in paperback at https://amzn.to/4pULk5x.
Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here. 
 
Maureen’s latest book is Innovative Leadership & Followership in the Age of AI. You’ll find details about it at https://bit.ly/LeaderInAI, or check out the Kindle version at https://amzn.to/44buVz8 . The audiobook version is now available at  https://amzn.to/4dTCleZ.
 
Her other 10 books are available on Amazon here. 
NOTE: As an Amazon partner, we may make a small commission from books you buy through these links.
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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Executive Producer: Dan Mushalko
Graphics Editor: Stacia Rogan
Sponsorship Sales: Kristine Gross
Theme Music by Pavel Bekirov from Pixabay.
CONNECT WITH US: 
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership 
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2 
Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com 
 
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating! 
-----------------------  
About Our Guest:  
Jon Wortmann is an executive & mental coach and speaker. A graduate of Carleton College and Harvard, his books have been #1 best sellers in 22 categories on Amazon. His work has been featured in O Magazine, Elle, The Huffington Post, Fox, Fast Company, and Psychology Today.
 
He began his training career in 2005 with a division of Time Warner, and has since worked with Fortune 500 firms, start-ups, universities, and non-profits to improve resilience, executive and board communication, client relationships, and leadership.

S4-Ep5: From Data to Dialogue: Why Leaders Need More than Numbers

Guest: Rens van Loon, Professor at Tilburg University
What do you do when logic and data aren’t enough? Today’s biggest leadership challenges—culture change, systemic disruption, complex decision-making—are wicked problems. They can’t be solved with old habits.
In this interview, Professor Rens van Loon, the world’s first Professor of Dialogical Leadership, explains how generative dialogue empowers leaders to navigate complexity, build trust, and create authentic change.
In this episode you’ll discover:
Why truth and data are relational, not absolute.
How to integrate multiple roles (CEO, parent, coach, human) into one authentic leadership.
The practice of : suspending judgment, asking better questions, and co-creating new meaning.
The Japanese concept of Ma as a tool for reflection and transformation.
How leaders and teams can solve their wicked problemse.
If you’re a leader ready to move beyond old habits and create lasting impact, this conversation will reshape how you approach complexity.
Produced in partnership with the International Leadership Association: https://ilaglobalnetwork.org/.
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
Let’s Talk: Four Steps to Bridging Workplace, Political, & Family Disagreements with Mike Morrow-Fox
Empathy, Dialogue, & a Good Mood: What Leaders Need in Crisis with Ambassador Thomas Greminger & Peter Cunningham
Work, War, & In-Between: An International Peace Negotiator’s Top Tips for Resolving Conflict with John, Lord Alderdice
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. We’re onTikTok, Threads, and Twitter, too!
 
RESOURCES:  
You can learn more about Rens and his firm, &Dialogue, on their websites: https://ac3.788.myftpupload.com/ and https://dialogischleiderschap.com/ .
Rens’ book is Creating Organizational Value through Dialogical Leadership. It’s on Amazon at https://amzn.to/3VIicAx. His most recent book is Understanding Dialogical Leadership; it’s available at https://amzn.to/3Krhvt6.
Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here. 
 
Maureen’s latest book is Innovative Leadership & Followership in the Age of AI. You’ll find details about it at https://bit.ly/LeaderInAI, or check out the Kindle version at https://amzn.to/44buVz8 . The audiobook version is now available at  https://amzn.to/4dTCleZ.
 
Her other 10 books are available on Amazon here. 
NOTE: As an Amazon partner, we may make a small commission from books you buy through these links.
-----------------------  
OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Executive Producer: Dan Mushalko
Graphics Editor: Stacia Rogan
Sponsorship Sales: Kristine Gross
CONNECT WITH US: 
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership 
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2 
Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com 
 
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating! 
-----------------------  
About Our Guest:  
Rens van Loon is a philosopher and personality psychologist who has been a professor of Dialogical Leadership at Tilburg University, within the Humanities and Digital Sciences faculty, since 2014. He supervises PhD students and teaches Dialogical Leadership and Dialogical Self Theory at institutions including TIAS, VU, and in the Comenius program. From 2015 to 2019, he served as a board member of the International Leadership Association (ILA), and for several years, he has been a member of the Scientific Advisory Board (WAR) of the Titus Brandsma Institute (TBI) (Radboud University). He is one of the authors of the frequently cited first article on Dialogical Self Theory in the American Psychologist in 1992. His work as a scientist, educator, and teacher primarily involves developing and applying this theory in the practice of leadership and organizational development.
From 2009 to 2018, Van Loon worked as Director of Human Capital at Deloitte Consulting as a leadership expert. Besides client work, his focus was also on internal guidance and training within Deloitte University and Deloitte Academy.

S11 Ep21: Fear Less, Shine More: Build Confidence in Your Leadership (& Life)

Guest: Tonjia Coverdale, Ph.D., CEO at Lambiante
Fearless leadership doesn’t mean living without fear; it means learning to fear less.
 
In this episode, Dr. Tonjia Coverdale shares her seven-level framework that helps leaders align who they are with how they lead. Together with host Maureen Metcalf, she explores how to create clarity and confidence in yourself, and high-performing teams as a result.
 
If you’ve ever wondered how to strengthen your leadership presence and speak with authentic clarity—even in uncertain times—this conversation is for you.
Here's what Tonjia and Maureen cover:
Find your authentic leadership voice
Overcome fear and self-doubt in tough moments
Use wellness practices to boost leadership performance, and
Inspire trust, clarity, and innovation in your team.
 
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
What’s the Point? Why Your Leadership Needs Purpose with Ryan Gottfredson
Reinvent, Collaborate, Succeed: A CEO’s Winning Leadership Formula with Susan Howe
How Great Leaders Are Made: Insights from The Economist’s “Boss Class” with Andrew Palmer
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn.
RESOURCES:  
Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here. 
 
Maureen’s latest book is Innovative Leadership & Followership in the Age of AI. You’ll find details about it at https://bit.ly/LeaderInAI, or check out the Kindle version at https://amzn.to/44buVz8. The audiobook version is now available at  https://amzn.to/4dTCleZ.
 
Her other 10 books are available on Amazon here. 
 
-----------------------  
OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Executive Producer: Dan Mushalko
Graphics Editor: Stacia Rogan
Booking Producer: Jenna Reik
Sponsorship Sales Manager: Kristine Gross
Theme Music by Pavel Bekirov from Pixabay.
 
CONNECT WITH US: 
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership 
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2 
Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com 
 
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating! 
-----------------------  
About Our Guest:  
Tonjia Coverdale, PhD, is a three-time CXO and seasoned technology executive with 28 years of experience leading enterprise data strategy, architecture, and AI-driven transformation across Fortune 100 financial services, higher education, government, and consulting. As Principal & CEO of Lambiante, she helps organizations harness technology — with architecture, data, and AI at the core — to align business, people, and purpose for transformational outcomes. A 500-hour certified yoga teacher, Tonjia brings a wellness-informed approach to leadership, known for her high energy, bold presence, and visionary leadership.

S4 Ep3: Why Corporate Social Purpose Also Means Profit

Guest: John Heiser, founder/CEO of TRG
Can a business make money AND make the world better? John Heiser says yes.
John, the former president/COO of Magnetrol, shares powerful stories about transforming the manufacturing company into a true social institution. He discovered that for-profit companies really can thrive when they also embrace their role in helping their communities flourish.
Here's what John and Maureen cover:
Why hiring employees on the autism spectrum boosted business performance AND created life-changing opportunities;
How apprenticeships for at-risk high school students built a new talent pipeline;
Why defining purpose as “flourishing” changed how employees connect with their work.
 
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
- What’s the Point? Why Your Leadership Needs Purpose – with Ryan Gottfredson
- Why Principle Beats Process: Inside the Koch Leadership Framework with Steve Daley
- Forget Power: How to Lead in a World of Chaos & Complexity with Michelle Harrison
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn.
RESOURCES:  
Learn more about John and his current company, TRG Management Solutions, at https://trgtransforms.com/. For more about Magnetrol, where he pioneered his flourishing policies, check their website at https://www.ametek-measurement.com/magnetrol.
 
Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here. 
 
Maureen’s latest book is Innovative Leadership & Followership in the Age of AI. You’ll find details about it at https://bit.ly/LeaderInAI, or check out the Kindle version at https://amzn.to/44buVz8 . The audiobook version is  available at  https://amzn.to/4dTCleZ.
 
Her other 10 books are available on Amazon here. 
 
-----------------------  
OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Executive Producer: Dan Mushalko
Graphics Editor: Stacia Rogan
Sponsorship Sales: Kristine Gross
CONNECT WITH US: 
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership 
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2 
Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com 
 
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating! 
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About Our Guest:  
In addition to being the Founder and CEO of TRG, John has completed an Executive in Residence Fellowship with the International Leadership Association, the largest global community dedicated to leadership theory and practice.
 
Most recently, John was CEO of LabVantage Solutions, Inc., a laboratory informatics technology company. As CEO, he spearheaded the creation and execution of the company’s global strategy, innovative culture, and financial management, leading to unprecedented revenue and profit growth.
Prior to his role at LabVantage, John served as the President & COO of Magnetrol International, Inc., a global leader in level and flow process control instrumentation.
 
John began his career as an attorney in private practice before transitioning into business, where he has held numerous leadership positions in legal, government affairs, sales, and marketing with DuPont Merck Pharmaceutical Company, DuPont Pharmaceuticals, Merck & Co., Inc., and Bausch & Lomb.

S11 Ep20: What’s the Point? Why Your Leadership Needs Purpose

Guest: Ryan Gottfredson, Ph.D., leadership researcher
Most leadership development fails because it focuses only on skills and knowledge, but real transformation happens deeper…all the way down to upgrading your mental operating system.
 
Professor and researcher Ryan Gottfredson explains how upgrading your inner operating system (not just adding new “apps” of skills) shifts leaders from self-protection toward value creation. Together, Maureen and Ryan unpack his framework of Awareness, Altitude, and Upgrade, showing how leaders can move from being dependent thinkers toward truly interdependent leadership. Here's what Neil and Maureen cover:
- Why only 1% of leaders reach the highest level of maturity;
- Why 98% of leadership programs fail to create transformation; and
- What Jack Welch, Alan Mulally, and Satya Nadella can teach us about long-term impact..
 
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
- Bringing Clarity to Confusion with Terri O’Fallon & Kim Barta
- Do It on Purpose with Nell Derick Debevoise
- Leading with Care & Purpose with Raj Sisodia & Sudhanshu Palsule
 
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. We’re onTikTok, Threads, and Twitter, too!
 
RESOURCES:  
Ryan’s new book is Becoming Better: The Groundbreaking Science of Personal Transformation. It’s in paperback at https://amzn.to/42iMLAp, and audiobook at https://amzn.to/4pazdkh.
 
Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here. 
 
Maureen’s latest book is Innovative Leadership & Followership in the Age of AI. You’ll find details about it at https://bit.ly/LeaderInAI, or check out the Kindle version at https://amzn.to/44buVz8. The audiobook version is now available at  https://amzn.to/4dTCleZ.
 
Her other 10 books are available on Amazon here. 
 
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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Executive Producer: Dan Mushalko
Graphics Editor: Stacia Rogan
Booking Producer: Jenna Reik
Sponsorship Sales: Kristine Gross
Theme Music by Pavel Bekirov from Pixabay.
CONNECT WITH US: 
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership 
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2 
Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com 
 
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating! 
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About Our Guest:  
Ryan Gottfredson, Ph.D. is a cutting-edge leadership development author, researcher, and consultant. He helps organizations vertically develop their leaders primarily through a focus on mindsets. Ryan is the Wall Street Journal and USA Today best-selling author of Success Mindsets: The Key to Unlocking Greater Success in Your Life, Work, & Leadership, The Elevated Leader: Leveling Up Your Leadership Through Vertical Development, and Becoming Better: The Groundbreaking Science of Personal Transformation.  
 
He is the founder and owner of his consulting company, Ryan Gottfredson LLC, where he specializes in elevating leaders and executive teams in a manner that elevates the organization and its culture. He has worked with top leadership teams at CVS Health (top 130 leaders), Deutsche Telekom (500+ of their top 2,000 leaders), Experian, and others. He has also partnered with dozens of organizations (e.g., Federal Reserve Bank, Nationwide Insurance, Cook Medical) to develop thousands of mid-level managers and high-level leaders.
 
He is also a leadership professor at the College of Business and Economics at California State University-Fullerton. He holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Human Resources from Indiana University, and a B.A. from Brigham Young University. His research has been cited over 4,600 times since 2019.

S3 Ep2b - Heroes No More: Why Good Leaders Step Out of the Spotlight

Guest: Gama Perruci
What if leadership really isn’t about leaders anymore?
 
We revisit our eye-opening conversation with the late Dr. Gama Perruci — former Dean of the McDonough Leadership Center — as he challenged the “lone leader” and “hero leader” narratives we love so much. Instead, he found what works best for business is a powerful five-component leadership model: Leader, Follower, Goal, Context, and Culture.
Here's what Gama and Maureen covered:
Why context determines the most effective leadership style, far and above personality;
What the difference between the American and French Revolutions teach us about better leadership today; and
The true business imperative for our dynamic, interconnected world.
 
 
Produced in collaboration with the International Leadership Association: https://ilaglobalnetwork.org/.
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
- Forget Power: How to Lead in a World of Chaos & Complexity – with CEO Michelle Harrison
- Cultivating Cross-Cultural Leadership with Bjorn Ekelund
- To Stop a Tyrant: How Five Types of Followers Make (or Brake) a Toxic Leader with Ira Chaleff
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn.
RESOURCES:  
The book Gama and Maureen referenced is Understanding Leadership: An Arts & Humanities Perspective. It’s in paperback at https://amzn.to/3JBRpTT, and Kindle at https://amzn.to/3JBRpTT.
 
Another book you’ll enjoy from Gama is Global Leadership: A Transnational Perspective. It’s in paperback at https://amzn.to/4nftSGS, and Kindle at https://amzn.to/41xsZRq.
 
Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here. 
 
Maureen’s latest book is Innovative Leadership & Followership in the Age of AI. You’ll find details about it at https://bit.ly/LeaderInAI, or check out the Kindle version at https://amzn.to/44buVz8. The audiobook version is now available at  https://amzn.to/4dTCleZ.
 
Her other 10 books are available on Amazon here. 
We may earn a small commission from Amazon when you purchase from these links.
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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Executive Producer: Dan Mushalko
Graphics Editor: Stacia Rogan
Booking Producer: Jenna Reik
Sponsorship Sales: Kristine Gross
CONNECT WITH US: 
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership 
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2 
Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com 
 
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating! 
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About Our Guest:  
Dr. Gama Perruci was Dean of the McDonough Center at Marietta College in Ohio and served as a leadership education consultant for The New York Times, a facilitator for the Young African Leaders Initiative, and a facilitator and the leadership programs at Dartmouth College’s Rockefeller Center.
 
Gama was a frequent guest on the BBC and the Paris-based Radio France International broadcast to Brazil, his country of birth. He served as a member of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library’s Academic Advisory Council and as the Board Chair of the International Leadership Association. Notably, he also served as a consultant for the review of the Department of Leadership, Ethics and Law at the United States Naval Academy and as an evaluator of Zayed University’s leadership program in Dubai, UAE.
 
Sadly, Dr. Perruci passed away in 2021.

S11 Ep19: Reinvent, Collaborate, Succeed: A CEO’s Winning Leadership Formula

Guest: Susan Howe, CEO of Weber Shandwick
What does it take to lead a global organization through constant change? In this conversation, host Maureen Metcalf sits down with Susan Howe, CEO of Weber Shandwick, to explore the leadership strategies behind one of the world’s leading PR firms.
 
Howe offers practical strategies for executives navigating organizational transformation, AI-driven change, and the accelerating pace of business. Learn how leaders can engineer collaboration, sustain innovation, and remain grounded in uncertain times…and why reinvention must now be a way of life for leaders to maintain a competitive advantage.
Here's what Susan and Maureen cover:
How to lead in a world reshaped by disruption;
Why trust is earned through contribution, not messaging; and
Practical ways to build an organizational culture that will adapt…and thrive!
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
- Forget Power: How to Lead in a World of Chaos & Complexity with Michelle Harrison
- How Great Leaders Are Made: Insights from The Economist’s “Boss Class” – with Andrew Palmer
- To Stop a Tyrant: The Power of Followers with Ira Chaleff
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn.
 
RESOURCES:  
Weber Shandwick’s website has a wealth of information at https://webershandwick.com/.
 
Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here. 
 
Maureen’s latest book is Innovative Leadership & Followership in the Age of AI. You’ll find details about it at https://bit.ly/LeaderInAI, or check out the Kindle version at https://amzn.to/44buVz8. The audiobook version is now available at  https://amzn.to/4dTCleZ.
 
Her other 10 books are available on Amazon here. 
 
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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Executive Producer: Dan Mushalko
Graphics Editor: Stacia Rogan
Booking Producer: Jenna Reik
Sponsorship Sales: Kristine Gross
Theme Music by Pavel Bekirov from Pixabay.
 
CONNECT WITH US: 
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership 
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:  
Susan Howe is Chief Executive Officer of The Weber Shandwick Collective (TWSC), the leading earned-first strategic communications and consulting network spanning 60+ global markets. Under her leadership, TWSC serves Fortune 500 companies across every major industry sector, earning coveted recognition such as PRWeek’s Global Agency of the Year and PRovoke’s Global Agency of the Decade, as well as being named to Ad Age’s Agency A-list and Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies. TWSC has 225+ Cannes Lions and counting.
 
With more than two decades of leadership at TWSC, Susan has been a key driver of its growth in her roles as President, Chief Growth Officer and Chief Collaboration Officer, overseeing global operations and fostering collaboration across regions and practices.
 
As a passionate advocate for inclusion and women in business, Susan is a member of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women community. She also serves on the boards of the Sheppard Pratt Foundation and the Northwestern Alumni Association. Susan is a graduate of Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism and was recently inducted into the Medill Hall of Achievement, the highest honor awarded to Medill graduates.