Ever noticed how tension between team members can slowly shut things down - even when no one’s talking about it? In this episode, Tegan looks at how conflict shows up in executive teams, how it affects the wider organization, and why emotional intelligence is just as important as brainpower in leadership. You'll hear real examples of how unresolved issues can hold teams back, and how learning to handle conflict well can lead to stronger relationships, better decisions, and a healthier team cultu...
Jun 16, 2025•25 min•Ep. 23
What if innovation isn’t just a buzzword, but a leadership responsibility—and one you’ve been approaching the wrong way? In this episode of the Life and Leadership Podcast, Tegan Travato challenges leaders to reimagine innovation not as a top-down initiative, but as a cultural mindset that must be built, defined, and lived at every level of the organization. From the emotional weight of leading through ambiguity to the very practical need for defining failure and recovery, Tegan explores how exe...
Jun 09, 2025•14 min•Ep. 22
What if your leadership team isn't as aligned as you think—and it's costing more than you realize? In this episode, Tegan explores what truly sets high-performing teams apart, revealing why alignment is the backbone of efficiency, reduced conflict, and tangible results. She unpacks the pitfalls of one-off workshops and the power of real-time team coaching to drive lasting change. For leaders ready to rethink how their executive teams function and deliver, this episode offers sharp insight and fr...
Jun 02, 2025•19 min•Ep. 21
When was the last time you paused to check how uncertainty is affecting your leadership, not just your workload? In this powerful episode of Life and Leadership Podcast, Tegan unpacks the essential habits that help leaders stay composed, communicate clearly, and make sound decisions when the path ahead is foggy. It’s a sharp reminder that resilience starts within - and ripples outward. Grab all the links and resources mentioned in this episode at: https://www.brightarrowcoaching.com/how-to-navig...
May 19, 2025•20 min•Ep. 20
What happens when a brilliant tech mind is asked to lead people, not projects? This episode unpacks the real-life journey of a highly technical leader who transformed into a trusted C-suite executive—with the help of coaching, curiosity, and a whole lot of growth at the edge of discomfort. Grab all the links and resources mentioned in this episode at: https://www.brightarrowcoaching.com/leading-people-not-projects-developing-essential-leadership-skills/ Connect with Tegan Website LinkedIn Bright...
May 12, 2025•13 min•Ep. 19
What if the key to thriving isn't doing more, but being more—more present, more authentic, more aligned? In this episode, executive coach and author Marvin Chambers joins Tegan Trovato to explore intentional leadership, especially for men of colour navigating pressure to conform and perform. They unpack Marvin’s new book Awakening the Onyx Spirit, which offers mindful practices to reconnect with purpose and lead from a place of inner clarity. From daily reflection to building community, this con...
May 05, 2025•34 min•Ep. 18
Think executive coaching is just for underperformers or when you’re in crisis mode? It’s a common misconception. In this episode of Life and Leadership Podcast, Tegan Tovaro busts the biggest misconceptions about executive coaching and reveal why it’s a power move for high-performing leaders. From onboarding to growth strategy, you'll learn when coaching delivers the most impact — and how to make the case for it. Grab all the links and resources mentioned in this episode at: https://www.brightar...
Apr 21, 2025•16 min•Ep. 17
Can leaders truly harness AI’s potential without losing the human touch? In this episode of The Life + Leadership Podcast, Oliver Smith, founder and director of Deadalus Futures - a consultancy specialising in responsible AI. He shares how senior executives can integrate AI into their workflows while staying rooted in human connection and emotional intelligence. He emphasizes the importance of firsthand experimentation with AI, challenging leaders to use it as a tool for strategic thinking rathe...
Mar 31, 2025•41 min•Ep. 16
Whether or not the language around DEI evolves, the need for organizations to create environments where employees feel valued, engaged, and supported isn't going away. The companies that get this right will not only attract top talent but will also sustain performance and innovation in a rapidly changing world. With over fifteen years of experience in design thinking and social innovation, Nicole has pioneered a data-driven approach to workplace equity, helping organizations build more inclusive...
Mar 17, 2025•36 min•Ep. 15
At first glance, it may seem as though civil interventions and the corporate sector have nothing in common. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Dr. Kelly Firesheets joins us today to share critical leadership lessons she learned after being tasked with solving the opioid epidemic in her community. She shares innovative solutions she put to the test, the most impactful investments she made, and which changes she implemented are not only still in use, but have been adopted by other commun...
Mar 03, 2025•38 min•Ep. 14
In this episode, Don MacPherson, researcher, futurist, and host of the 12 Geniuses podcast, joins Tegan Trovato to challenge the common narrative of decline and instead offer a data-backed perspective on human progress. Drawing from decades of research on leadership, workplace culture, and global trends, Don breaks down why looking at the bigger picture over time tells a far more hopeful story about our world. From advances in healthcare and technology to the rise of abundance and longevity, he ...
Feb 17, 2025•34 min•Ep. 13
We live in a world filled with leaders who are using tools to lead that worked 10-15 years ago. To bring leadership toolkits up to speed requires clarity around core values, resilience, emotional intelligence, and most of all—curiosity. Today’s guest, Dr. Russell Robinson, is extremely well-versed in this topic. He’s involved in leadership development and is a professor at American University. In this conversation you’re about to hear, Dr. Russell guides us through what must replace command and ...
Feb 03, 2025•51 min•Ep. 12
You may not have heard the concept of human energy, but it impacts your productivity on a daily basis. The research and findings around this topic will specifically impact executives and senior leaders in the very near future. Joining us on the podcast today is the world’s foremost practitioner on Human Energy™, Josh Allan Dykstra. He’s been in the work of helping work not suck for as many humans as humanly possible for nearly two decades. Josh shares his extensive insights about the future of w...
Jan 21, 2025•31 min•Ep. 11
Futurists study the future by researching trends. These findings and predictions can be particularly useful to those in leadership positions because of the impact it has not only on the team but the organization as a whole. Today, we welcome Rebecca Ryan back to the podcast. She was last on 5+ years ago—pre-pandemic. The focus of this conversation is largely on a thought piece she and her team published about 10 Trends for the Next 10 Years. In this conversation, Rebecca shares what you need to ...
Jan 06, 2025•44 min•Ep. 10
You’ve heard the adage “the only constant is change.” That couldn’t be more true than within an organization. And that means leaders are tasked with getting teams on board with and motivated to enact these changes—when change is almost always seen as a threat. On this episode of the Life + Leadership podcast, hear from Dr. Elizabeth Moran who also helps humans and organizations change. Her career has taken her to ADP, Bloomberg, Lehman Brothers, Getty Images, and Time Inc. Dr. Elizabeth took her...
Dec 02, 2024•34 min•Ep. 9
What does it take to successfully transition into the C-Suite? In this episode, we’re unpacking the key mindset shifts and leadership strategies with Lars Schmidt, Founder & CEO of Amplify Talent, and executive coach Suzanne Coonan. Adapted from our Bright Arrow webinar Charting Your Course from VP to the C-Suite, we explore how to expand your focus from your department to the entire organization and why building strong relationships is essential at the highest levels of leadership. We also ...
Nov 25, 2024•32 min•Ep. 8
In today’s fast-paced corporate landscape, authenticity is a powerful tool that can set leaders apart. Yet, many professionals face internal doubts, unconscious biases, and societal pressures that hinder them from fully embracing their unique leadership styles. On this episode of Life + Leadership, Tegan Trovato, Founder and CEO of Bright Arrow Coaching, is joined by Kisha Wynter, CEO of Wynter Rich Enterprises, to discuss her journey, her DIVA Method, and her new book, *Your Power Unleashed: Ho...
Nov 11, 2024•42 min•Ep. 7
How do strong peer relationships impact executive teams? In this episode, we’re breaking down the essentials of trust, respect, and open communication with Cheryl Schofield, executive coach at Bright Arrow Coaching. Cheryl shares her insights on building deeper connections within leadership teams and explains how small actions like responsiveness and curiosity can strengthen partnerships. She also discusses the challenges of negative dynamics and the crucial role senior leaders play in modeling ...
Nov 04, 2024•33 min•Ep. 6
When communication falters, everything else unravels. In this episode of Life + Leadership, Jen Benz, Senior Vice President and Communications Leader at Segal Benz, explains why effective communication is the foundation of strong leadership. Jen shares her insights on managing stress, creating flexible and kind workplaces and the importance of clarity in communication. If you’re a leader looking to build a more engaged and high-performing team, this episode is packed with actionable strategies t...
Oct 01, 2024•50 min•Ep. 5
Why is wellness so important for executive leadership? We’re sharing how to balance high performance and personal well-being in this conversation with Maggie Gough, COO at Bright Arrow Coaching. She discusses her unconventional career path from dietician to corporate exec and provides a refreshing perspective on wellness that emphasizes flexibility and self-awareness over rigid standards. She also highlights practical strategies for leaders to support their well-being and that of their teams....
Jul 25, 2024•31 min
In this episode of Life + Leadership, we’re talking with Jess Von Bank, a global thought leader, analyst and advisor on HR transformation, digital experience, and workforce technology at Mercer. She also leads Diverse Daisies, a Minneapolis nonprofit providing enrichment and empowerment activities for young girls. Our conversation highlights the power support systems for young women and at work. Jess also offers valuable lessons for enhancing workplace culture and employee development.
Jun 25, 2024•34 min
In this episode of Life + Leadership, we’re talking with Jason Lauritsen, a keynote speaker, author, co-founder of Check-In To Thrive, about building real human connections at work, the power of check-ins and how leaders can go first in improving human connection. Plus, we discuss how technology is affecting the workplace and how performance management is changing.
Jun 11, 2024•34 min
In this episode of Life + Leadership, we're diving deep into the topic of grief and its impact on the workplace with Jason Seiden, co-founder of Comfort Communications, which aims to normalize the conversation around grief in the workplace. A trigger warning for this episode: We candidly discuss sensitive topics related to grief, including illness and suicide. Jason discusses the journey of grief, how it intersects with the modern organization, and how to support employees experiencing grief whi...
May 28, 2024•34 min
Get ready for new episodes of the Life + Leadership podcast, hosted by Tegan Trovato, founder and CEO of Bright Arrow Coaching. Through this podcast, we explore how individuals like you can transform business obstacles into opportunities for personal growth. Stay tuned for our first episode next week — a candid conversation about grief with Jason Seiden. His insights promise to be both enlightening and transformative.
May 22, 2024•3 min
Leadership has become something different. In light of the pandemic, political turmoil and socioeconomic changes over the last two years, leaders are being asked to develop brand new skills. Employees want us to take a stand on social justice issues and be more emotionally available at work. So, what does the leader of the future look like? That's the central question of my new podcast, Workplace Forward. Today, I'm discussing where the idea for Workplace Forward came from and considering what s...
Apr 06, 2022•11 min
We all need support and guidance in our personal and professional lives. But how do you build a network of people who will lift you up when you need it? How do you know if your current situation calls for a mentor, a sponsor or a coach? And what if you’re ready to BE an advocate for someone else? Today on the podcast, we’re sharing the distinctions among mentoring, sponsorship and coaching and describing how to build a network of supporters who can solve any problem that might come up. We explor...
Aug 05, 2020•54 min
It’s easy for entrepreneurs and leaders to get so caught up in the day-to-day that we fall into a kind of sleepiness. And for many, it takes a dark night of the soul to wake us up to what’s really important. But what if we’d rather not wait for a crisis to find our way? How can we develop the self-awareness to lead with intention and follow our calling? Today, we’re joined by E. Keller Fitzsimmons, the author of Lost in Startuplandia: Wayfinding for the Weary Entrepreneur . An accomplished tech ...
Jul 01, 2020•58 min
Most of us involved in the practice of leading and coaching teams take a relational approach, focusing on group dynamics and resolving conflicts as they arise. But what if we’re treating symptoms without getting to the root cause? All the conflict resolution in the world won’t help if a team lacks the underlying conditions necessary to be successful. So, how do we create an environment that puts our teams on a positive trajectory from the start? Today, we’re joined by Dr. Ruth Wageman and Dr. Kr...
Jun 03, 2020•55 min
We all assess how we’re feeling physically on a daily basis and use that data to inform our decisions. (If our knee hurts, we don’t run that day.) But we don’t do that with our mental health. Despite the fact that it drives our physical health and the way we see the world, we tend to consider mental wellness a luxury rather than a foundational piece of our wellbeing. Today, we’re joined by Alexa James, the Executive Director of the Chicago Chapter for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAM...
May 06, 2020•50 min
“Anybody can become angry. That is easy. But to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose and in the right way? That is not within everybody’s power—and is not easy.” —Aristotle We’ve been socialized to see anger as a bad thing. So, we ignore it and let it fester. Or we lose control and unleash it. But what if there’s a third option? What if we can learn to work WITH our anger and channel it to, say, solve problems or fight for justice...
Apr 01, 2020•48 min
