Grow Strong Leaders Podcast
I’m fascinated by what it takes for leaders to live their values consistently, especially when it’s hard.
On the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast, I have candid conversations with senior executives who are working to sustain principled leadership at scale inside complex organizations. We talk about how values are reinforced through leadership capability, organizational systems, and the everyday decisions leaders make.
Our discussions also explore what gets tested when pressure rises—and the personal guardrails leaders rely on to stay aligned.
This podcast is for leaders who believe values should guide real decisions, not just appear on the wall.
Episodes
369 episodes
369: Leading Without Judgment When It Counts
Great leadership is revealed in the moments when pressure makes it easiest to abandon your values. Steph Brady shares how falling into management at 21—without training or support—forced her to lead in high-stress situations where her instincts...
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Episode 369
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46:29
368: Why Nonprofits Must Think Like Businesses
Most nonprofits fail for one simple reason: they don’t run like businesses. Dr. Sharon Elefant learned this firsthand and built her company, The Nonprofit Plug, to help founders close that gap. After beginning her career in hospital administrat...
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Episode 368
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47:57
367: Be Yourself at Work
What if being yourself at work wasn’t a risk—but your greatest strength? In this deeply moving conversation, you’ll meet Claude Silver, Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX and author of Be Yourself at Work. Her presence alone reminds you wh...
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Episode 367
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53:37
366: Creating a Great Place to Work For All
What does it really take to lead well when the world—and the workplace—feels deeply divided? You’re invited into a thoughtful, grounded conversation with Michael C. Bush, CEO of Great Place to Work, as we explore how trust, charac...
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Episode 366
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55:57
365: What Really Builds (or Breaks) Trust
What does it really mean to trust someone—and how intentional are you about the choices you make every day? You’ll rethink trust from the inside out as Charles Feltman challenges the idea that trust is vague or emotional and reframes it ...
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Episode 365
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45:56
364: Making Global Learning Truly Accessible
What if leadership isn’t about confidence or visibility—but about building systems that expand access for others? In this episode, you’ll meet Jiayuan Tian, a social entrepreneur and graduate student at Columbia University SIPA, whose journey t...
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Episode 364
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36:58
363: Human-First Leadership in the AI Era
What if the future of leadership isn’t about choosing between people or technology, but learning how to lead both with intention? In this episode, you’ll hear from Gena Hoxha, PhD, Chief People & AI Officer at Ignitium, who is help...
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Episode 363
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45:52
362: Thriving Starts from Within
What does it really mean to thrive, especially when success still doesn’t feel satisfying? Kamin Samuel, PhD, brings a grounded, deeply human perspective to thriving—one rooted in self-leadership, self-trust, and releasing the quiet belief that...
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Episode 362
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53:30
361: Women Leading Change in Construction
What does it really take to lead with courage in environments that were not built for you? Gretchen Gagel, PhD, a trailblazer with four decades of experience in the construction industry, shares what she has learned about unconscious bias, the ...
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Episode 361
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46:50
360: When 360 Feedback Becomes a Gift
What if the feedback you’re most hesitant to receive is actually a gift? In this solo episode, I share what 360-degree feedback really is—and what it is not—drawing on more than 30 years of experience helping leaders use feedback as a tool for ...
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Episode 360
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15:05
359: Own Your Stuff and Elevate Your Impact
What if the greatest leadership breakthroughs begin with owning your truth? In this conversation with Joe Machicote about his book, Own Thy Stuff, we explore what it really means to take responsibility for your impact—on yourself, your...
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Episode 359
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47:14
358: Ethical Leadership That Transforms Communities
What happens when leadership development is built on ethics, values, and genuine human dignity, not just performance metrics? Brian Peckrill, Executive Director, describes how the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund is investing in leaders who w...
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Episode 358
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41:38
357: Clarifying Leadership Expectations for Stronger Teams
Are your team members clear about what you really expect from them? In this compelling conversation, you’ll hear Megan Robinson share how confusion and unspoken assumptions can erode trust and productivity—and what leaders can do to prevent tha...
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Episode 357
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46:56
356: Love As the Ultimate Leadership Action
What if love—not control—was the driving force behind your leadership? In this thought-provoking conversation, Trevor Timbeck invites you to explore leadership through the lens of “loving as a verb.” Co-author of The Power of Love with...
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Episode 356
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49:29
355: How to Master Executive Transitions
Did you know that 40% of executives fail in their new roles within the first 18 months…and it’s rarely due to lack of technical skills? In this insightful conversation, you’ll hear from Navid Nazemian, an executive transition coach and author o...
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Episode 355
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44:15
354: Tilting Futures: Empowering Young Adults to Lead
What if young people learned to lead by tackling real-world problems instead of waiting for “someday”? In this inspiring conversation, you’ll meet Erin Lewellen, CEO of Tilting Futures, an organization that empowers youth around the globe to st...
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Episode 354
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49:47
353: How Great Leaders Execute Strategy with Clarity First
Have you ever wondered why so many well-designed strategies fail in execution? Tim Ohai reveals that the real problem isn’t poor planning, it’s poor decision-making. Drawing on decades of global experience, he shares how strategy is best unders...
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Episode 353
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45:31
352: Inside Principal Financial Group’s Culture of Ethics
Want a behind-the-scenes look at how real leaders make ethics practical on a day-to-day basis? In this conversation with Noreen Fierro at Principal Financial Group®, you’ll hear how, as Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer, she builds trust by a...
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Episode 352
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43:28
351: Navigating Leadership in the Age of AI
What if you had to step into a CEO role at just 22, with no formal business training? That’s exactly what Thiago Da Costa did, and he quickly discovered that leadership is best learned on the job. In this episode, Thiago shares what it was like...
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Episode 351
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34:40
350: Creating Yourself, Others, and Your World
What if you realized you’re already creating every moment of your life—yourself, others, and the world around you? In this milestone 350th episode, I reflect on what it truly means to be a creator in all three areas. Drawing inspiratio...
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Episode 350
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18:30
349: Leadership That Moves People and Missions Forward
What does it take to lead with both speed and heart? Danielle Fette shares how her leadership in regenerative medicine is shaped by trust, courage, and a relentless focus on impact. She reveals why running a lean company allows for faster decis...
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Episode 349
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46:03
348: Transforming from Manager to True Leader
What’s the real difference between managing and leading? Mark Hinderliter, former C-suite executive, business owner, and consultant, explains how shifting from managing processes to inspiring people can transform both your leadership and your o...
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Episode 348
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44:39
347: Creating a Culture of Wellbeing at ESPN
What would change if you paused before reacting? In this conversation, you’ll discover how mindfulness can transform both your leadership and your daily life. Anita Barbero shares her journey from running a fitness business to leading wellness ...
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Episode 347
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52:49
346: How Shaw Communications Built a Culture of Care
What does it look like when leadership is rooted in genuine care for people? In this conversation, you’ll hear how Peter Bissonnette’s experiences in a monastery and in the corporate world shaped a philosophy of service, humility, and trust. Hi...
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Episode 346
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52:21
345: Never Lead Alone: From Leadership to Teamship
Keith brings these concepts to life with stories, tested practices, and simple tools you can start using right away. He explains how methods like “stress testing,” candor breaks, and energy checks transform group dynamics, helping teams shift f...
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Episode 345
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26:13
