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

Tuesday Jul 29, 2025
S11 Ep17: To Stop a Tyrant: The Power of Followers
Tuesday Jul 29, 2025
Tuesday Jul 29, 2025
Guest: Ira Chaleff
What can you do when leadership at work crosses the line into authoritarian control?
We talk about authoritarians in politics, but they’re in the business world, too…and on the rise there. In this timely and provocative episode, Maureen Metcalf interviews Ira Chaleff, author of To Stop a Tyrant and The Courageous Follower, to explore how power is exercised, and challenged, inside both governments and organizations.
Here's what Ira and Maureen cover:
How authoritarian behavior is rising in business as well as politics;
The difference between dissent and disloyalty;
Why political acuity is essential for ethical influence
Learn more from Ira’s in-depth knowledge of followership in these past episodes:
- How Five Types of Followers Make (or Brake) a Toxic Leader
- The Dance Between Leadership & Followership – Margaret Heffernan joins Ira
- Courageous Followership – Neil Grunberg joins Ira
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. We’re onTikTok, Threads, and Twitter, too!
RESOURCES:
Ira’s book, To Stop a Tyrant, is available now on Amazon in hardback at https://amzn.to/3W5XDys and on Kindle at https://amzn.to/420Zvwc. An audiobook edition is on Audible.com as well.
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 Procucer: Jenna Reik
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:
Ira Chaleff is an author, speaker, and innovative thinker specializing in the dynamics between leaders and followers. He serves as chairman emeritus of the nonpartisan Congressional Management Foundation in Washington, D.C., an organization dedicated to enhancing communication between constituents and their elected representatives.
Chaleff's groundbreaking work, The Courageous Follower: Standing Up to and for Our Leaders, has been published in multiple languages and is utilized globally across educational, corporate, government, and military institutions. He co-edited The Art of Followership: How Great Followers Create Great Leaders and Organizations, part of the esteemed Warren Bennis Leadership Series. His book Intelligent Disobedience: Doing Right When What You're Told to Do Is Wrong explores the roots of obedience and provides guidance on resisting inappropriate orders to achieve ethical outcomes.
As the founder of the Followership Learning Community within the International Leadership Association, Chaleff has been recognized as one of the 100 "Best Minds on Leadership" by Leadership Excellence magazine. He has served on the board of the International Leadership Association and was a visiting leadership scholar at Churchill College, University of Cambridge, England. His ideas on leadership and followership have influenced cultures within the U.S. military, civilian agencies, and international institutions, including the European Union and the British Army.
Chaleff holds a degree in Applied Behavioral Science and is a Board Certified Coach from the Center for Credentialing and Education. He continues to contribute to the global followership community through writing and lecturing from his home in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

Tuesday Jul 22, 2025
S4 Ep11: The Power of Polarity Thinking: How Great Leaders Leverage Opposites
Tuesday Jul 22, 2025
Tuesday Jul 22, 2025
Guest: Dr. Barry Johnson
If you think you have to solve problems, think again. You might be better off leveraging tensions instead!
Dr. Barry Johnson, creator of the Polarity Map®, joins host Maureen Metcalf to explore how “both/and” thinking helps leaders navigate complexity, avoid false choices, and drive sustainable performance. From clarity and flexibility to structure and innovation, Barry shares how thriving organizations—and societies—balance competing values rather than pick sides. It’s called polarity thinking…and it works. Packed with stories from the U.S. Navy, Singapore Airlines, and South Africa, this conversation offers a powerful framework for leading in uncertain times.
Here's what Barry and Maureen cover:
Why choosing a side or over-focusing on one side of an issue can lead to conflict, instead of solving it – and, in extreme cases, break down your organization;
How high-performing organizations depend on well-managed tension; and
Spotting the false choices that will keep your team stuck.
Produced in partnership with the International Leadership Association: https://ilaglobalnetwork.org/.
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
- The Leadership Balancing Act with Michelle Harrison
- A Prime Minister’s Path for Meeting Challenges with George Papandreou
- Navigating Touch Decisions with former Canadian Chief Justic Beverley McLachlin
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn.
RESOURCES:
The website to learn more about Barry’s work is https://www.polaritypartnerships.com/.
Barry’s books include And: Making a Difference by Leveraging Polarities, Paradox or Dilemma (on Amazon at https://amzn.to/45gnfO0 ) and Polarity Management: Identifying and Managing Unsolvable Problems (https://amzn.to/3IyjqLx ).
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
Booking Producer: Jenna Reik
CONNECT WITH US:
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2
Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com
Loved this episode? Subscribe, like, and leave us a review and rating!
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About Our Guest:
Barry Johnson created the first Polarity Map® and set of principles in 1975. Since then he has been learning and applying Polarity Thinking® with people and organizations all over the world. He continues to explore and promote supplementing Or-thinking with And-thinking to enhance our quality of life on our planet.
With humility And pride, Barry is passionate about creating an international community of Polarity Practitioners who are dedicated to the study and application of Polarities in a variety of disciplines and situations.
Barry’s newest publications, And: Volume One – Foundations and And: Volume Two – Applications, represent what he and his colleagues have learned about And-thinking since his first book, Polarity Management: Identifying and Managing Unsolvable Problems, came out in 1992.
Barry is an avid outdoorsman and intrepid traveler. He brings his head and heart together in his teaching and consulting. Barry and his wife, Dana, have five children and eleven grandchildren.

Tuesday Jul 15, 2025
S11 Ep16: AI at Work: The Human Side of Tech Transformation
Tuesday Jul 15, 2025
Tuesday Jul 15, 2025
Guest: Neil Sahota, United Nations AI Advisor
From internal sabotage and mistrust to ethical blind spots and cultural misalignment, this conversation dives deep into the real reasons AI transformations succeed or stall…and the solutions you need to make AI work in your company. You’ll also hear powerful examples of machine-human collaboration, the rise of AI bosses, and why trust is now a core leadership metric.
Here's what Neil and Maureen cover:
The #1 reason AI rollouts fail – and how you can avoid it;
How to assess your organization’s readiness for AI; and
Practical strategies to build buy-in, trust, and adaptability.
Neil’s other binge-worthy episodes about AI are:
- The 10 Leadership Skills You Need to Safely Adopt AI
- Unleashing the Power of Human-AI Collaboration
- How to Own the AI Revolution
- And, of course, the first part of this interview: Why AI at Work Fails
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn.
RESOURCES:
Neil’s book, Own the AI Revolution, is available on Amazon at https://amzn.to/4kx4af3, and on Audible at https://amzn.to/4lgS0rK.
Learn more about Neil on his website at https://www.neilsahota.com/. He shares his latest observations on AI in the workplace on his Substack channel at neilsahota@substack.com.
Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here.
The book Maureen and Neil referenced which they wrote together 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.
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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
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:
Neil Sahota (萨冠军) is an IBM Master Inventor, United Nations (UN) Artificial Intelligence (AI) Advisor, author of the best-seller Own the AI Revolution and sought-after speaker. With 20+ years of business experience, he works to inspire clients and business partners to foster innovation and develop next generation products/solutions powered by AI.

Tuesday Jul 08, 2025
Tuesday Jul 08, 2025
Guest: Neil Sahota, United Nations AI Advisor
Most AI failures aren’t caused by bad code. They’re caused by bad leadership.
In this episode, host Maureen Metcalf talks with UN AI advisor and IBM Master Inventor Neil Sahota to uncover the 5 fatal mistakes most organizations make when adopting AI. From the myth that AI is "just software" to the risk of automating bad processes, Neil explains why 4 out of 5 failures are human and leadership-based, not technical. Learn how treating AI like a high-energy intern, not a black box, transforms your success rate. This episode is a must for leaders looking to build effective, ethical, and future-ready AI strategies.
Here's what Neil and Maureen cover:
The real business pain points when adopting AI apps at your company;
How bias and hallucinations sneak into AI when you rely on your tech team over your subject matter experts; and
Why AI amplifies your mistakes as well as your strengths.
Neil’s other binge-worthy episodes about AI are:
- The 10 Leadership Skills You Need to Safely Adopt AI
- Unleashing the Power of Human-AI Collaboration
- How to Own the AI Revolution
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn.
RESOURCES:
Neil’s book, Own the AI Revolution, is available on Amazon at https://amzn.to/4kx4af3, and on Audible at https://amzn.to/4lgS0rK.
Learn more about Neil on his website at https://www.neilsahota.com/. He shares his latest observations on AI in the workplace on his Substack channel at neilsahota@substack.com.
Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here.
The book Maureen and Neil referenced which they wrote together 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.
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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
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:
Neil Sahota (萨冠军) is an IBM Master Inventor, United Nations (UN) Artificial Intelligence (AI) Advisor, author of the best-seller Own the AI Revolution and sought-after speaker. With 20+ years of business experience, he works to inspire clients and business partners to foster innovation and develop next generation products/solutions powered by AI.

Tuesday Jul 01, 2025
S4-Ep10: Leadership in Crisis: Why Leaders Fail (& How to Help)
Tuesday Jul 01, 2025
Tuesday Jul 01, 2025
Guest: Sebastian Salicru, Psychologist & Author
Are we training leaders for a world that no longer exists?
Leadership expert and psychologist Sebastian Salicru joins host Maureen Metcalf to tackle one of today’s most pressing challenges: the failure of traditional leadership in a world defined by complexity and change. More importantly, they explore what today’s leaders actually need to succeed in a high-velocity world.
Here's what Sebastian and Maureen cover:
The breakdown and downfall of the heroic leader;
Why the billions of dollars spent on leadership development aren’t delivering results;
The very real yet positive role of failure and suffering in building great leaders; and
Why we must challenge the outdated mental models holding leadership back.
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
- Tales from the Top: How Leaders Use Stories with Dr. Tanvi Gautam
- The Rise of Humanness with Chris Nolan & Michael Schindler
- Leading with Care & Purpose with Raj Sisodia & Sudhanshu Palsule
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn.
RESOURCES:
Sebastian has a website filled with information on his leadership work at https://ptspsychology.com/.
His book, Leadership Results, is available on Amazon at https://amzn.to/4nulK66.
Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter ever y 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
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:
Sebastian Salicru has been a registered psychologist for over 25 years, and has professional experience in both clinical and corporate settings. Sebastian empowers his clients to: make better (and often previously unimaginable) decisions and choices about their personal and/or professional lives; set ambitious goals; take positive and bold action; change the status quo; achieve real outcomes and long-lasting results; enjoy intimate relationships, and live meaningful lives.
In addition to English, Sebastian speaks French, Italian and Spanish.
In addition to being a registered psychologist, Sebastian is: a board-approved supervisor by the Psychology Board of Australia; a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) of the International Coach Federation (ICF); a graduate from the ‘Art & Practice of Leadership Development’, Harvard University Kennedy School; a Fellow of the Institute of Coaching, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School; and author of multiple publications.

Tuesday Jun 24, 2025
S11-Ep14: How Great Leaders Are Made: Insights from The Economist’s "Boss Class"
Tuesday Jun 24, 2025
Tuesday Jun 24, 2025
Guest: Andrew Palmer, The Economist columnist & Boss Class host
What makes a great boss, and why do so many managers get it wrong? The Economist columnist and Boss Class host Andrew Palmer joins Maureen Metcalf to break down what actually works in leadership today. From radical autonomy at Supercell to intentional culture-building at Toyota, this episode explores real-world strategies for creating high-performance teams and organizations.
Learn how qualities like self-awareness, transparency, and systems-thinking separate mediocre managers from truly effective leaders. Whether you’re new to management or shaping culture as a CEO, these stories and insights will elevate your leadership practice.
Here's what Andrew and Maureen cover:
Why most managers never receive formal training (and what to do about it);
How exceptional leaders optimize their impact; and
Radical autonomy and other ways Supercell, Stryker, Toyota, Novo Nordisk, and others create the world’s top workplaces.
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
- From Ego to Impact with New Rhein’s Subhanu Saxena
- The White House Lessons for Every Leader with Presidential Advisor Betsy Myers
- Hilton’s Pillars for Thriving After Disaster with Hampton Inns & Spark SVP Shruti Gandhi Buckley
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn.
RESOURCES:
You can find Andrew’s Boss Class (and other podcasts from The Economist) at http://bit.ly/3HR1ATy.
Andrew’s Bartleby column is online at https://www.economist.com/topics/bartleby.
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
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:
Andrew Palmer writes the Bartleby column on the workplace, and is the host of “Boss Class”, our limited-season podcast on management. He was formerly Britain editor, executive editor, business-affairs editor, head of the data team, Americas editor, finance editor and banking correspondent, having joined The Economist as management correspondent in February 2007.

Tuesday Jun 17, 2025
S2-Ep53: Leading through Difference: Key Skills from the ILA Board Chair
Tuesday Jun 17, 2025
Tuesday Jun 17, 2025
Guest: Mike Hardy, ILA Board Chair
The real leadership crisis isn’t about performance. It’s about how we handle differences.
In this powerful episode, Professor Mike Hardy, Founding Director of the Centre for Peace & Security, joins host Maureen Metcalf to explore the defining leadership challenge of our time: Pluralism vs. Prejudice.
It’s critical: even if your organization only operates in one city, odds are your team will have people from different generations, family cultures, and hometowns…much less religions and ethnicities. Bonding them all into one cohesive team is essential.
Mike makes a compelling case that the future of leadership depends on moving beyond identity to behavior-based inclusion, and calls leaders to rethink how they respond to difference.
Here's what Mike and Maureen cover:
How a leader’s behavior, not identity, builds real trust;
The dance between pluralism and prejudice in today’s workplace; and
Why inclusion often fails…and what makes it work.
Produced in partnership with the International Leadership Association: https://ilaglobalnetwork.org/.
Enjoy a hearty Hardy binge with these other episodes featuring Mike:
- The Accidental Peacemaker with Mike’s friend Steve Killelea
- 11 Steps to Help You Heal Divides
- Peace through Better Leaders
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn.
RESOURCES:
Mike’s Centre for Peace & Security is online at https://bit.ly/CentreForPeace.
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
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:
Mike Hardy is the founding director of the Centre for Peace & Security at Coventry University. The Centre is a multi-disciplinary team of researchers and experts whose work draws together issues such as conflict resolution and reconciliation, social identity, inequality and mobility, wealth and poverty, integration and pluralism, prejudice and discrimination, intergroup conflict and cooperation, the problem of civil rights and the politics of equality. Mike has been twice honoured, awarded the OBE in 2001 for his peace-building work in the Middle East, and appointed a Companion of Honour of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours, June 2010, for his work internationally in Intercultural Dialogue. Mike is a trustee of 3FF, the leading interfaith charity in the UK, and board chair of the US-based International Leadership Association.

Tuesday Jun 10, 2025
S11-Ep13: From Tariffs to Tempests: DHL’s COO on Strengthening Your Supply Chain
Tuesday Jun 10, 2025
Tuesday Jun 10, 2025
Guest: Mike McLellan, COO, DHL Supply Chain (North America)
What does it take to keep your business humming through tariffs, tornadoes, and all the other disruptions in today’s world?
Mike McLellan of DHL shares insights on building resilience, both in your leadership and your supply chains, the importance of redundancy, and how DHL provides an example of supporting clients in navigating challenges. The discussion also touches on the evolving roles of senior leadership, driving cultural excellence within the organization, and the transformative power of strategic planning.
Here's what Mike and Maureen cover:
The current and emerging impacts of the U.S. tariff war;
The major danger of having a single-thread supply chain; and
The strengths of culture-driven leadership and executive humility.
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
- Disruption No More: Future-Proofing Your Business with Mike McLellan
- Unraveling Uncertainty: The Real Job of Modern Leaders with Michael Marks
- Leading with Care & Purpose with Sudhanshu Palsule and Raj Sisodia
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn.
RESOURCES:
You can learn more about DHL Supply Chain at https://bit.ly/DHLpreps. To contact Mike directly, email him at michael.mclellan@dhl.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
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:
Mike McLellan is the Chief Operating Officer for DHL Supply Chain (NORAM).

Tuesday Jun 03, 2025
S2-Ep52b: How Purpose-Driven Women Redefine What It Means to Lead
Tuesday Jun 03, 2025
Tuesday Jun 03, 2025
Guest: Dr. Karen Longman, Professor Emerita, Azusa Pacific University
Why do so many capable, driven women still get overlooked for top leadership roles—and what can we do about it?
In this powerful episode, host Maureen Metcalf sits down with Dr. Karen Longman, a global scholar on leadership and gender equity, to unpack the deep-rooted biases that shape how we define (and reward) leadership. There are clear differences in how men and women lead: men tend to lead for power and hierarchy, while women tend to be purpose-driven.
With insights from cutting-edge research, real-world data, and a global lens, this conversation challenges assumptions and provides actionable steps for anyone on a leadership journey, especially those ready to build a more inclusive, performance-driven future.
Here's what Karen and Maureen cover:
The internal and external barriers women still face on their career path;
What research says about how women lead differently, and why it matters; and
What companies can do to unlock this untapped leadership potential.
Produced in conjunction with the International Leadership Association: https://ilaglobalnetwork.org/.
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
Lessons on Growing Women Leaders with Dr. Susan Madsen
The Leadership Balancing Act: A Woman CEO on Work, Life, & Leading Inclusively with Michelle Harrison
WE Empower – The Women Winning the SDG Goals Challenge with Hadeel Anabtawi & Habiba Ali with Amanda Ellise
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. We’re onTikTok, Threads, and Twitter, too!
RESOURCES:
Karen’s books in the women in leadership series include:
Women and Leadership in Higher Education (available at https://amzn.to/4dQ9fxu)
Women and Leadership Around the World (https://amzn.to/4mKC02w)
The book on women’s opportunities worldwide is Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Sheryl WuDunn & Nicholas Kristoff. It’s on Amazon at https://amzn.to/45oreJd.
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
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:
Karen A. Longman, PhD, joined the Azusa Pacific University faculty in 2006. Prior to coming to APU, Longman served for six years as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty at Greenville College (IL) and for 19 years as Vice President for Professional Development and Research at the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, based in Washington, D.C. She continues to serve as a Senior Fellow with the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities and has coordinated Leadership Development Institutes for emerging leaders within the CCCU since 1998. She served as an editorial board member and reviewer for Research on Christian Higher Education and has been a Staley Distinguished Lecturer at numerous colleges and universities.

Tuesday May 27, 2025
S11-Ep12: Why Principle Beats Process: Inside the Koch Leadership Framework
Tuesday May 27, 2025
Tuesday May 27, 2025
Guest: Steve Daley, Koch President of Principle Based Management
What does it take to build a resilient, innovation-driven culture—without relying on rigid rules or micromanagement?
In this episode, Steve Daley shares how Koch reimagines work through Principle Based Management. Hosted by Maureen Metcalf, this conversation dives into how Koch empowers employees by trusting them with responsibility, rewarding contribution, and fostering leadership at every level.
Here's what Steve and Maureen cover:
Why Koch abandoned traditional job descriptions;
Why even Charles Koch receives a formal performance review; and
Why leaders are expected to not be bureaucrats!
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
- How Missing Ethics Makes a Mess of Organizations with Greg Moran
- Addressing Values Conflicts with John Heiser
- Non-Traditional Leadership Models for Our New Era with Nathan Eva & Nicole Ferry
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. We’re onTikTok, Threads, and Twitter, too!
RESOURCES:
The website about Koch’s principles-based system is https://principlebasedmanagement.com/en.
Chase Koch’s blog is on Medium at https://chasekoch.medium.com/.
Charles Koch’s book is Believe in People: Bottom-Up Solutions for a Top-Down World. It’s on Amazon at https://amzn.to/43PgKBa.
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
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:
Steve Daley is president of Principle Based Management, which provides training and development services to Koch companies.Mr. Daley joined Koch in 2005. He was director of the MBM® Capability prior to his current role.In the United States, he has worked as a consultant to USAID and as a research fellow for the Mercatus Center. He has had several opportunities to present his work on microfinance to congressional audiences.Mr. Daley has a Ph.D. in Economics from George Mason University and has worked in both the business and policy fields. He was raised in Australia where he was a partner in a tax and business strategy firm for more than five years.

Tuesday May 20, 2025
S2-Ep52: Lessons from Governors, Athletes, & Activists on Growing Women Leaders
Tuesday May 20, 2025
Tuesday May 20, 2025
Guest: Dr. Susan Madsen, Professor of Leadership, Utah State University
How did ten female governors become powerful, authentic woman leaders? What can you learn from them for your own leadership path?
In this inspiring conversation, host Maureen Metcalf sits down with Dr. Susan Madsen, founder of the Women and Leadership Project, to explore how women grow into their leadership identities—not just in the boardroom, but over a lifetime. Leadership development begins in childhood, with fathers playing a critical role. Decades later, midlife becomes a perfect time to develop and grow your leadership to new heights.
Here's what Susan and Maureen cover:
How to look back and reflect on your own journey to unlock your untapped leadership potential;
Why women often wait for permission (and how to reclaim their voice and courage); and
The overlooked childhood experiences that shape confident, resilient leaders in adulthood.
Other episodes on women in leadership you'll enjoy:
- The Bonobo Sisterhood with Diane Rosenfeld
- Empowering Women for the Prosperity of Nations with Amanda Ellis & Augusto Lopez-Claros
- Winning in the Face of Adversity: The Next Gen of Women Leaders with Congresswoman Joyce Beatty
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn.
RESOURCES:
Susan’s website is https://www.susanrmadsen.com/.
The books she mentioned include On Becoming a Woman Leader: Learning from the Experiences of University Presidents and Developing Leadership: Learning from the Experiences of Women Governors.
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
CONNECT WITH US:
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2
TikTok: @innovativeleadership
Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!
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About Our Guest:
Professor Susan R. Madsen is considered one of the top global thought leaders on the topic of women and leadership. Her research has been featured in the News and World Report, The Atlantic, The New York Times, Parenting Magazine, Chronicle of Higher Education, The Washington Post, and she is a regular contributor to Forbes. She has been an executive coach for over a decade and enjoys doing personal, professional, and leadership development work with her clients. She also consults with companies, educational institutions, municipalities, and other entities on how to design programs, systems, initiatives, and networks to better help women thrive and advance.
Professor Madsen is the Inaugural Karen Haight Huntsman Endowed Professor of Leadership in the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University. Prior to this, she spent 18 years as the Orin R. Woodbury Professor of Leadership and Ethics in the Woodbury School of Business at Utah Valley University. She is also a Visiting Fellow of the Faculty of Economics and Business at the University of Zagreb (Croatia), a former Fellow of The Leadership Trust Foundation in Ross-on-Wye, England, and a former Distinguished Fellow in the School of Management at Lancaster University in the UK. She was also the lead series co-editor for the Women and Leadership Book Series and co-edited the first three volumes: Women and Leadership in Higher Education (2014), Women as Global Leaders (2015), and Women and Leadership around the World (2015). Her latest book, The Handbook of Research on Gender and Leadership (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2017) is known as a seminal work on women and leadership worldwide.

Tuesday May 13, 2025
S11-Ep11: AI, Agility, & the Death of Business as Usual
Tuesday May 13, 2025
Tuesday May 13, 2025
Guest: Greg Moran, Ford’s Former Chief Strategy Officer
The time to “wait and see” is over. Thanks to AI, no matter what your industry, you need to act now. On everything.
That’s the core message from guest Greg Moran as he surveys a behind-the-scenes revolution AI has already spawned: fast, cheap development of new ideas. New technologies drastically reduce the time and cost to develop and deploy apps, products, and services. It means leaders must now be more agile, adaptable, and willing to experiment to maintain competitiveness.
Here's what Greg and Maureen cover:
Why holding on to expensive legacy systems is holding you back;
Why standing still and waiting for the dust to settle are now lethal strategies; and
How your frontline staff are more willing and ready to change than your executive suite.
Binge listen to more wisdom from Greg:
- Three Steps for Successful Negotiation
- The 7 Leadership Mindsets You Need Right Now
- How Missing Ethics Makes a Mess of Organizations
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn.
RESOURCES:
You can contact Greg for more information at https://www.linkedin.com/in/gsmoran/ .
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
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:
Greg Moran is a director, founder, advisor and operating executive with extensive global operations experience (U.S., Europe and Asia). He has a strong market focus with deep technology experience forged at business giants such as Ford and Chase which he now applies to organizations of all sizes - start-up, scaling, restructuring, sales, and finance/operations.

You CAN Be a Better Leader!
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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!
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