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 innovatio...
Aug 26, 2025•30 min•Season 11Ep. 19
Guest: Aldo Boitano What does climbing K2 – the world’s second-highest and deadliest mountain – teach about leadership? Pretty much everything, according to guest Aldo Boitano. The CEO, founder, consultant, and former International Leadership Association board member reveals how his mountain climbing and Antarctic expeditions taught him the most critical skills modern leaders need. Here's what Aldo and Maureen cover: How mountaineering builds resilience, adaptability, and (increasingly rare in t...
Aug 19, 2025•13 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Guest: Mark Monchek What on earth is an Unconference? Traditional leadership models are cracking under the weight of today’s rapid change. Strategist and unconference co-creator Mark Monchek reveals why legacy leadership models—top-down authority, rigid planning, and competition-first thinking—are no longer fit for a world defined by disruption. The solution will come through the unconference: a new, intensive, and far more effective way to grow as a leader. It can reshape leadership development...
Aug 12, 2025•33 min•Season 11Ep. 18
Guest: Michelle Harrison, Global CEO of Verian What does it take to lead when trust is collapsing and change won’t slow down? Based on the real-world issues faced by her clients, Dr. Harrison shares bold insights on leading through crisis, restoring public trust, and driving innovation in both government and business. She explores the role of intellectual curiosity, adaptive learning, and values-driven culture in building resilient, high-performing teams during turbulent times. Essential listeni...
Aug 05, 2025•19 min
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...
Jul 29, 2025•32 min•Season 11Ep. 17
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 ...
Jul 22, 2025•35 min•Season 4Ep. 11
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...
Jul 15, 2025•40 min•Season 11Ep. 16
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-en...
Jul 08, 2025•38 min•Season 11Ep. 15
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 t...
Jul 01, 2025•19 min•Season 4Ep. 10
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...
Jun 24, 2025•36 min•Season 11Ep. 14
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 hometo...
Jun 17, 2025•33 min•Season 2Ep. 53
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 excellen...
Jun 10, 2025•32 min•Season 11Ep. 13
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 w...
Jun 03, 2025•16 min•Season 2Ep. 52
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 cov...
May 27, 2025•42 min•Season 11Ep. 12
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 pla...
May 20, 2025•17 min•Season 2Ep. 52
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 ex...
May 13, 2025•24 min•Season 11Ep. 11
Guest: Cynthia Cherrey, President & CEO, International Leadership Association The turbulence you see in the world now isn’t going away. Your leadership style must change to meet it. Fortunately, guest Cynthia Cherrey sits at the very center of both the most effective real-world leadership practices and the latest cutting-edge leadership theories. In this episode, she shares the leadership development information that really works – and that you need – learned from global leaders successfully...
May 06, 2025•25 min•Season 4Ep. 14
Guest: Joe Nardone, President & CEO, Columbus Regional Airport Authority In this episode, Joe Nardone shares a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to build a $2 billion airport terminal…and a future-ready organization. Joe dives into the true drivers of successful change: a relentless vision, a culture rooted in respect and innovation, and the hard reality that transformation often means losing good people who no longer fit the mission. If you're navigating major change (or prepa...
Apr 29, 2025•34 min•Season 11Ep. 10
Guest: Michael Marks, Founding Managing Partner at Celesta Capital & Former Tesla Interim CEO Politics aside, tariffs simply can’t work without devastating business. That’s just one candid, no-nonsense point Michael Marks brings in his conversation with host Maureen Metcalf. Marks is one of the most respected tech investors in Silicon Valley, with a four decade track record that includes high level leadership and management – including a stint as interim CEO at Tesla, and building Flex from ...
Apr 22, 2025•34 min•Season 11Ep. 9
Guest: Jonathan Reams, Chief Creative Officer You’ve been through leadership training; why didn’t it work? Because it wasn’t about you . That’s the conclusion Jonathan Reams – the CCO of Norway’s Center for Transformative Leadership – came to. You’re unique, and most off-the-shelf leadership programs don’t take the time for you to dig deep into yourself to discover what makes you tick as a leader…and as a person. He and host Maureen Metcalf discuss that, and the solutions available to you right ...
Apr 15, 2025•36 min•Season 11Ep. 8
Guest: Jeroen van der Veer Crisis and scandal hit your company. The very first thing you must do: abandon your gut instincts. Blame, downplaying, and delay will all make the situation worse. Then follow the example of guest Jeroen Van der Veer; he became CEO of oil giant Royal Dutch Shell in the midst of a major scandal. He shares what he learned about navigating through crisis in this episode. Here's what Jeroen and Maureen cover about crisis management and more: Why owning the situation, even ...
Apr 08, 2025•15 min•Season 4Ep. 13
Guest: Theo Edmonds, Culture Futurist® We explore the declining state of American innovation in this episode, focusing on the pivotal role of wonder and creativity in driving growth and innovation in the workplace. Our guest, futurist Theo Edmonds, has identified the key innovation barriers: fear, frustration, and fragmentation. He also identifies solutions to overcome them. It taps into something he calls “The Wonder Economy.” .Here's what Theo and Maureen cover: Why innovation in business requ...
Apr 01, 2025•36 min•Season 11Ep. 7
Guest: Michelle Harrison, Global CEO, Verian Join us in an engaging conversation with Michelle Harrison as she discusses the challenges of balancing leadership responsibilities with family life. Michelle shares her personal experiences, the importance of transparency, and the contextual nature of decision-making as a leader. She also dives into inclusivity, gender issues in the workplace, and the significance of creating an environment that allows for both professional and personal fulfillment. ...
Mar 25, 2025•19 min•Season 4Ep. 6
Guest: Diego Ugalde What if the key to elite leadership isn’t control, but deep self-awareness and emotional intelligence? In this episode, Maureen Metcalf sits down with retired Navy SEAL, leadership expert, and storyteller Diego Ugalde to explore how authenticity, trust, and inner mastery reshape the way we lead. Drawing from his experience in high-stakes environments and his personal transformation journey, Diego shares powerful insights on breaking the "warrior mindset," integrating emotions...
Mar 18, 2025•31 min•Season 11Ep. 6
Guest: Subhanu Saxena, New Rhein managing partner & former Gates Foundation director Divisiveness goes beyond politics. It creeps into the workplace, too, sapping your teams. Great leaders know how to unite instead of divide their organizations so all energy is devoted to success. Those leaders also know themselves. Our guest, Subhanu Saxena, explains that mindfulness is the first step in the self-knowledge the best leaders need. He reveals the timeless leadership advice from ancient Eastern...
Mar 11, 2025•20 min•Season 4Ep. 6
Guests: Mike Hardy, ILA Board Chair, & Steve Killelea, Founder of Institute for Economics & Peace It happened unintentionally, as if by accident: working in Africa, philanthropist Steve Killelea realized economics and peace are deeply intertwined. Applying the business and leadership acumen that built his fortune in tech, Steve developed his eight pillars for positive peace. These pillars not only predict the fortunes of nations and quality of people’s lives, but hold leadership mindsets...
Mar 04, 2025•35 min•Season 11Ep. 5
Guests: Cynthia Cherrey, CEO of the International Leadership Association There is no single solution. That truism is hard-won wisdom from the leadership experience of guest Cynthia Cherrey. From both research and practice, she’s learned that the issues leaders face are far more complicated than most of us realize. That’s particularly true today, with a surge in confusion and chaos cascading from the global and national levels right down to the teams we lead. Fortunately, Cynthia shares ways to n...
Feb 25, 2025•32 min•Season 2Ep. 37
Guest: Helle Bank Jorgensen, CEO of Competent Boards Are you ready for a robot on your Board of Directors? That’s just one change some corporate boards are considering. In these turbulent times, boards must change – but what are the best options to ensure your organization thrives? Helle Bank Jorgensen joins host Maureen Metcalf to provide insights she’s garnered from years of studying boards. She sets the stage by sharing the future we’re facing, based on the forecasts presented at this year’s ...
Feb 18, 2025•34 min•Season 11Ep. 4
Guest: Barbara Kellerman, Founding Executive Director, Harvard Kennedy School Center for Public Leadership Bad leadership is everywhere, running the spectrum from simple incompetence to outright evil. So why don’t we do a better job of calling it out, if not fixing it? Guest Barbara Kellerman shares her ideas and solutions, including how this is seen in both the political and corporate spheres. She also discusses the oft-forgotten but ultimate component for effective leadership: followers. Here’...
Feb 11, 2025•33 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Guests: Henry Mintzberg & Jonathan Gosling, Co-Founders of One Planet Leadership What does it take to rebalance society and change the world? Easy: you…and your leadership. Although that answer is easy, accomplishing change can be hard. Guests Henry Mintzberg and Jonathan Gosling have studied this for decades, and share both the issues and the solutions for rebalancing society. It may be difficult for us as leaders – humans tend to be comfortable with the status quo – but the very survival o...
Feb 04, 2025•29 min•Season 11Ep. 3
