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Coaching for Leaders

Business & Economics Podcasts

Leaders aren’t born; they’re made. Many leaders reach points in their careers where what worked yesterday doesn’t work today. This Monday show helps leaders thrive at these key inflection points. Independently produced weekly since 2011, Dr. Dave Stachowiak shares insights from a decade of leading a global leadership academy, plus more than 15 years of leadership at Dale Carnegie. Bestselling authors, proven leaders, expert thinkers, and deep conversation have attracted 50 million downloads and over 300,000 followers. Join the FREE membership to search the entire leadership and management library by topic at CoachingforLeaders.com

Location:

Orange County, CA

Description:

Leaders aren’t born; they’re made. Many leaders reach points in their careers where what worked yesterday doesn’t work today. This Monday show helps leaders thrive at these key inflection points. Independently produced weekly since 2011, Dr. Dave Stachowiak shares insights from a decade of leading a global leadership academy, plus more than 15 years of leadership at Dale Carnegie. Bestselling authors, proven leaders, expert thinkers, and deep conversation have attracted 50 million downloads and over 300,000 followers. Join the FREE membership to search the entire leadership and management library by topic at CoachingforLeaders.com

Language:

English


Episodes
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771: Fixing Fairness in the Workplace, with Lily Zheng

2/22/2026
Lily Zheng, Fixing Fairness Lily Zheng is a sought-after speaker, strategist, and organizational consultant who specializes in hands-on systemic change to turn positive intentions into positive outcomes for workplaces and everyone in them. A dedicated changemaker and advocate, Lily has had their work published in the Harvard Business Review, New York Times, and NPR. They are the author of Fixing Fairness: 4 Tenets to Transform Diversity Backlash into Progress for All (Amazon, Bookshop)*. When it comes to fairness in the workplace, our society is quick to zero in on what divides us. Yet, there is broad agreement across all demographics on many key principles. In this conversation, Lily and I explore how leaders can influence the system to better work for everyone. Key Points Resources Mentioned Fixing Fairness: 4 Tenets to Transform Diversity Backlash into Progress for AllAmazonBookshop Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes Supporting Return to Work After Maternity Leave, with Danna GreenbergThe Power of Unlearning Silence, with Elaine Lin HeringHow to Lead a Meaningful Cultural Shift, with David Hutchens Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.

Duration:00:38:04

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770: How to Make Change Irresistible, with Phil Gilbert

2/15/2026
Phil Gilbert: Irresistible Change Phil Gilbert is best known for leading IBM’s 21st-century transformation as their General Manager of Design. The transformation became the subject of a Harvard Business School case study, the documentary film The Loop, and feature articles in the New York Times and Fortune Magazine. He is the author of Irresistible Change: A Blueprint for Earning Buy-In and Breakout Success (Amazon, Bookshop)*. We’ve all been through mandated change initiatives more times than we can count. But what if change wasn’t a mandate, but an offer – or even an invitation? In this conversation, Phil and I explore how to make change irresistible. Key Points Resources Mentioned Irresistible Change: A Blueprint for Earning Buy-In and Breakout SuccessAmazonBookshop Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes Engaging People Through Change, with Cassandra WorthyWhere Senior Leaders Can Better Support Middle Managers, with Emily FieldHow to Lead Organizational Change, with Michael Bungay Stanier Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.

Duration:00:36:43

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769: How to Connect Better with Remote Colleagues, with Charles Duhigg

2/8/2026
Charles Duhigg: Supercommunicators Charles Duhigg is a Pulitzer Prize–winning investigative journalist and the author of The Power of Habit and Smarter Faster Better. He is a winner of the National Academies of Sciences, National Journalism, and George Polk awards. He writes for The New Yorker and other publications and is the author of Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection (Amazon, Bookshop)*. A lot of us grew up in a world where most of our relationships started in person. That means many of us are beautifully equipped for a world that no longer exists. In this conversation, Charles and I discuss how to get better at connecting in a remote-first world. Key Points Resources Mentioned Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of ConnectionAmazonBookshop Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes The Way to Get People Talking, with Andrew WarnerHow to Lead Engaging Meetings, with Jess BrittHow to Show Up Authentically in Tough Situations, with Andrew Brodsky Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.

Duration:00:38:56

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768: Evolving from Business Partner to Value Creator, with JP Elliott

2/1/2026
JP Elliott: Future of HR JP Elliott has decades of experience as a Talent and HR executive at companies like DICK’S Sporting Goods, McAfee, and Lenovo. He’s seen the challenges HR professionals face in growing their careers and increasing their impact. He is the host of the Future of HR podcast and on a mission to help HR professionals increase their business impact and accelerate their careers. Leadership looks a little different if you head up a support role: human resources, IT, marketing, or finance. Often, we hear the term “business partner” used to describe what these leaders should be aiming for. In this conversation, JP and I explore how to shift from simply a “business partner” to a value creator. Key Points Four questions that CEOs are asking: Resources Mentioned Future of HR podcast Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes How to Start Managing Up, with Tom HenschelHow to Solve the Toughest Problems, with Wendy SmithThe Mindset to Help Your Organization Grow, with Tiffani Bova Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.

Duration:00:39:57

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767: Being Nice May Not Be Kind, with Graham Allcott

1/25/2026
Graham Allcott: KIND Graham Allcott is an author, speaker, entrepreneur, and the founder of Think Productive, a leading provider of training and consultancy. He is the author of multiple books, including the bestseller How to Be a Productivity Ninja and his latest book, KIND: The Quiet Power of Kindness at Work (Amazon, Bookshop)*. “Nice” means telling people what they want to hear. “Kind” means telling them what they need to hear. The best leaders are kind. In this conversation, Graham and I explore how we can do a better job of following through. Key Points Resources Mentioned KIND: The Quiet Power of Kindness at WorkAmazonBookshopRev Up for the Week Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes Five Steps to Hold People Accountable, with Jonathan RaymondHow to Build Psychological Safety, with Amy EdmondsonHow to Give Feedback, with Russ Laraway Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.

Duration:00:37:26

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766: Using AI to Make Networking Easier, with Ruth Gotian

1/18/2026
Ruth Gotian: Networking in the Age of AI Ruth Gotian is the former Chief Learning Officer and Associate Professor of Education in Anaesthesiology at Weill Cornell Medicine. Thinkers50 has ranked her the #1 emerging management thinker in the world, and she’s a top LinkedIn voice in mentoring. She’s the author of The Success Factor and, with Andy Lopata, The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring. Most of us recognize the value of building a better network, but we also know the time and dedication it takes. In this conversation, Ruth and I explore how we can use AI tools to do some of the administrative legwork so that we can spend more time on the real relationship-building. Key Points Resources Mentioned Networking in the Age of AI Related Episodes How to Grow Your Professional Network, with Tom HenschelHow to Build a Network While Still Doing Everything Else, with Ruth GotianThe Key Elements of a Powerful Personal Brand, with Goldie Chan Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.

Duration:00:39:07

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765: How to See What’s Holding You Back, with Marty Dubin

1/11/2026
Marty Dubin: Blindspotting Martin Dubin is a clinical psychologist, serial entrepreneur, business coach, and adviser to C-suite executives and Silicon Valley entrepreneurs. He has founded several companies, including a multimillion-dollar health-care company where he also served as CEO. He is the author of Blindspotting: How to See What’s Holding You Back as a Leader (Amazon, Bookshop)*. Whenever I ask leaders, “What’s getting in the way of you moving forward?” the most common answer I hear is, “Myself.” In this episode, Marty and I explore what’s likely holding you back and how you can take the first steps to get traction. Key Points Resources Mentioned Blindspotting: How to See What’s Holding You Back as a Leader by Marty DubinAmazonBookshop Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes Six Questions Every Leader Should Ask Themselves, with Margaret AndrewsHow to See What Others Miss, with Kirstin FergusonShow Up Better, Faster, with Claude Silver Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.

Duration:00:36:34

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764: Stop Solving Your Team’s Problems, with Elizabeth Lotardo

1/4/2026
Elizabeth Lotardo: Stop Solving Your Team’s Problems for Them Elizabeth Lotardo is a consultant, writer, and online instructor who helps organizations drive emotional engagement. Elizabeth writes for Harvard Business Review, is a Top Voice on LinkedIn, and the author of Leading Yourself: Find More Joy, Meaning, and Opportunities in the Job You Already Have. She’s also the author of the Harvard Business Review article, Stop Solving Your Team’s Problems for Them. Jumping in to solve problems feels like we’re doing important work. The issue is that leaders need to be enabling work – both for scale and to grow the skills of others. In this conversation, Elizabeth and I detailed how to get out of the trap of solving your team’s problems for them. Key Points Five questions that will help your team step up: Resources Mentioned Stop Solving Your Team’s Problems for ThemLeading Yourself: Find More Joy, Meaning, and Opportunities in the Job You Already HaveAmazonBookshop Related Episodes The Way to Stop Rescuing People From Their Problems, with Michael Bungay StanierWhere Senior Leaders Can Better Support Middle Managers, with Emily FieldThe Key Norm of a High-Performing Team, with Vanessa Druskat Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.

Duration:00:30:53

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585R: How Top Leaders Influence Great Teamwork, with Scott Keller

12/28/2025
Scott Keller: CEO Excellence Scott is a senior partner in McKinsey’s Southern California office. He co-leads the firm’s global CEO Excellence service line and is the author of six books, including the bestseller Beyond Performance. Scott spent his early consulting years working on business strategy and operational topics until his life was turned upside down when his second child was born with profound special needs. After taking time off to attend to his family, Scott returned to McKinsey with the desire to bring the best of psychology, social science, and the study of human potential into the workplace. He is a cofounder of Digital Divide Data and one of a few hundred people in history known to have traveled to every country in the world. His most recent book written with Carolyn Dewar and Vikram Malhotra is titled CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest. In this conversation, Scott and I examine McKinsey’s research on what the top CEOs do (and avoid) when building great teams. We look at a few of the key mindsets that the best CEOs bring to their organizations — and how teamwork plays into this. Plus, we explore some of the key questions top leaders should ask when determining if it’s time to exit someone from the team. Key Points The best CEO’s ensure that have positively addressed all four questions below before removing somebody: Resources Mentioned CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the RestThe Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate – Discoveries from a Secret World Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Duration:00:38:40

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658R: How to Help Change Happen Faster, with Frances Frei

12/21/2025
Frances Frei: Move Fast & Fix Things Frances Frei is a professor at Harvard Business School. Her research investigates how leaders create the context for organizations and individuals to thrive by designing for excellence in strategy, operations, and culture. She regularly works with companies embarking on large-scale change and organizational transformation, including embracing diversity and inclusion as a lever for improved performance. In 2017, Frances served as Uber’s first senior vice president of leadership and strategy to help the company navigate its very public crisis in leadership and culture. Her partner Anne Morriss and her are the authors of Uncommon Service and The Unapologetic Leader’s Guide to Empowering Everyone Around You. They are also hosts of Fixable, a leadership advice podcast from the TED Audio Collective, and they are recognized by Thinkers50 as among the world’s most influential business thinkers. Their newest book is Move Fast & Fix Things: The Trusted Leader’s Guide to Solving Hard Problems. A lot of us assume that going fast is reckless. There are certainly times when that’s the case, but it’s also true that leaders going too slow at the wrong time can make things worse. In this conversation, Frances and I discuss how to do a better job of moving quickly when it’s time to address the toughest problems. Key Points Resources Mentioned Move Fast & Fix Things: The Trusted Leader’s Guide to Solving Hard Problems Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.

Duration:00:34:11

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763: Leading with Poise When the Stakes are High, with Eileen Collins

12/14/2025
Eileen Collins: Through the Glass Ceiling to the Stars Colonel Eileen M. Collins, USAF (retired), earned a place in history as the first American woman to pilot, and later to command, a space mission. She flew on the space shuttle four times, twice as commander – including the 2005 “return to flight” mission after the tragic Columbia accident. She is the subject of the documentary movie Spacewoman and author of the book Through the Glass Ceiling to the Stars: The Story of the First American Woman to Command a Space Mission (Amazon, Bookshop)*. We all have times in our careers where all eyes are on us. In this conversation, Eileen and I explore the critical moments of her career and how she stayed grounded while soaring among the stars. Key Points Resources Mentioned Through the Glass Ceiling to the Stars: The Story of the First American Woman to Command a Space MissionAmazonBookshopSpacewoman documentary Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes How to Lead and Retain High Performers, with Ruth GotianThe Way to Handle Q&A, with Matt AbrahamsHow to Start the Top Job, with Scott Keller Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.

Duration:00:39:09

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762: Show Up Better, Faster, with Claude Silver

12/7/2025
Claude Silver: Be Yourself at Work Claude Silver is on a mission to revolutionize leadership, talent, and workplace culture. She is Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX and partners with CEO Gary Vaynerchuk to drive their success. Claude has earned Campaign US’s Female Frontier Award, and AdWeek’s Changing the Game Award and she’s the author of Be Yourself at Work: The Groundbreaking Power of Showing Up, Standing Out, and Leading from the Heart (Amazon, Bookshop)*. We’ve all heard the advice to be ourselves at work. It’s easier said than done. In this conversation, Claude and I explore how we can actually move past some of the unhelpful self-talk so that we can show up better, faster. Key Points Resources Mentioned Be Yourself at Work: The Groundbreaking Power of Showing Up, Standing Out, and Leading from the HeartAmazonBookshop Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes How to Tame Your Inner Critic, with Tara MohrHow to Stand Up for Yourself, with Sunita SahWhen It Feels Like You Don’t Belong, with Muriel Wilkins Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.

Duration:00:37:03

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Listener Survey Results

12/4/2025
Dave shares the results of the 2025 listener survey and previews what’s next for Coaching for Leaders. If you’re not already getting the weekly update and wish to receive Dave’s forthcoming FocusFive messages, join the free membership for access.

Duration:00:25:29

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761: Notice Disruption and Innovate Through It, with Steve Blank

11/30/2025
Steve Blank: Blind to Disruption Steve Blank is an Adjunct Professor at Stanford and co-founder of the Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation. Credited with launching the Lean Startup movement and the curriculums for the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps and Hacking for Defense and Diplomacy, he’s changed how startups are built, how entrepreneurship is taught, how science is commercialized, and how companies and the government innovate. Steve is the author of The Four Steps to the Epiphany and The Startup Owner’s Manual and is the author of his recent article at steveblank.com: Blind to Disruption: The CEOs Who Missed the Future. Leaders may see the future coming, but we aren’t always incentivized to act on it. In this conversation, Steve and I discuss what we can learn from the common patterns of disruption so we don’t miss what’s next. Key Points Resources Mentioned Blind to Disruption: The CEOs Who Missed the Future Related Episodes How to Start Seeing Around Corners, with Rita McGrathHow to Build an Invincible Company, with Alex OsterwalderHow to Pivot Quickly, with Steve Blank Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.

Duration:00:35:07

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760: The Kind of Curiosity Leaders Often Miss, with Shannon Minifie

11/23/2025
Shannon Minifie: Box of Crayons Shannon Minifie is the CEO of Box of Crayons, a learning and development company that helps unleash the power of curiosity to create connected and engaged company cultures. They are the organization behind the bestselling book The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier. Shannon and her team recently released a report along with the Harris Poll titled Navigating a Fractured Workplace: How Relational Curiosity increases engagement, trust, and productivity. Of course, you’ve heard that being curious and coach-like will help in leadership. But sometimes the very thing we think we’re doing well is actually getting in the way. In this conversation, Shannon and I explore the kind of curiosity that leaders often miss. Key Points 5-6 hours of the average workweek is lost to the fear of making mistakes. A strong majority of leaders say employees are expressing a desire for more feedback, and a majority also say that people are unable to receive hard feedback. Relationships are the core of these conflicting messages. Without a relationship of trust, helpful feedback often doesn’t land that way. Intellectual curiosity helps us learn what we don’t know. Relationship curiosity helps the other person learn what they don’t know. Ask yourself: what is my goal in asking this question? Rather than asking a question that starts with a “why,” consider asking a question that starts with a “what.” The 7 Essential Questions: What’s on your mind? And what else? What’s the real challenge here for you? What do you want? How can I help? If you’re saying yes to this, what are you saying no to? What was most useful for you? Resources Mentioned Navigating a Fractured Workplace: How Relational Curiosity Increases Engagement, Trust, and Productivity. Interactive Learning Preview: Invest in the Power of Curiosity The Coaching Habit* by Michael Bungay Stanier Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes These Coaching Questions Get Results, with Michael Bungay Stanier (episode 237) How to Ask Better Questions, with David Marquet (episode 454) The Way to Be More Coach-Like, with Michael Bungay Stanier (episode 458) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.

Duration:00:39:37

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759: The Way to Build Collective Power, with Ruchika T. Malhotra

11/16/2025
Ruchika T. Malhotra: Uncompete Ruchika T. Malhotra is the founder of Candour, a global inclusion strategy firm that has worked with some of the world’s biggest organizations. She’s been recognized multiple times by Thinkers50 and co-wrote one of Harvard Business Review’s top 100 most-read articles in history: Stop Telling Women They Have Imposter Syndrome. She is the author of Inclusion on Purpose, MIT Press’s top-selling book of 2022 and now her newest book, Uncompete: Rejecting Competition to Unlock Success (Amazon, Bookshop)*. A lot of people think about work as a competition for resources. But what if, by inviting others to the table, you created more for everyone? In this conversation, Ruchika and I explore the opportunity for all of us to uncompete. Key Points Many of us are so socialized to compete that we don’t realize the benefits of collective collaboration. Reach out to someone who inspires you. Praising someone for something awesome about them, without an accompanying ask, is so rare. Display genuine curiosity. Don’t confuse “nice” small talk for depth. Ask bigger questions that get to the heart of who people are. As you build trust, talk numbers. In the professional context, real relationships of trust demand this kind of transparency. Take regular stock of relationships. Take people at their word and also watch how their actions line up – or don’t. Invite others to the table. The bigger your circle, the more you create for everybody. Resources Mentioned Uncompete: Rejecting Competition to Unlock Success by Ruchika T. Malhotra (Amazon, Bookshop)* Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes End Imposter Syndrome in Your Organization, with Jodi-Ann Burey (episode 556) How to Create Inclusive Hiring Practices, with Ruchika Tulshyan (episode 589) Doing Better Than Zero-Sum Thinking, with Renée Mauborgne (episode 641) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.

Duration:00:38:28

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758: How to See What Others Miss, with Kirstin Ferguson

11/9/2025
Kirstin Ferguson: Blindspotting Kirstin Ferguson has been recognized globally by Thinkers50 as one of the top 50 management thinkers in the world and is the recipient of the 2023 Distinguished Leadership Award. She was an officer in the Royal Australian Air Force, and then went on to lead an international consulting firm as CEO, before serving on the boards of major publicly listed, private, and non-profit organizations. She is the author of Women Kind, Head & Heart, and her newest book Blindspotting: How to See What Others Miss (Amazon, Bookshop)*. If we stop to think about it, always all of us recognize that we have blind spots. Given that reality, anything we can do that helps us see what others might miss will help us lead better. In this conversation, Kirsten and I explore the mindsets and practices that will help us uncover more of our blind spots. Key Points Experts are better at knowing when they are right, but also less likely to show appropriate doubt when they could be wrong. There’s a time to be a seeker and a time to be a knower. Both are important in different situations, but leaders in many situations would benefit from more seeking. Blindspotting is about calibration, not hesitation. Accept your intellectual limitations. A key way to do this is saying these four words more: “I don’t know yet.” Disentangling your ego will help your blind spot better. Shift away from your pride a bit by separating yourself from your knowledge and expertise. Hunt down your biases. Admitting they exist is step one. Model vulnerability by talking about your past mistakes both with yourself and with others. Resources Mentioned Blindspotting: How to See What Others Miss by Kirstin Ferguson (Amazon, Bookshop)*. Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes Getting Better at Reading the Room, with Kirstin Ferguson (episode 651) How to Find What’s Missing, with Jeff Wetzler (episode 732) How to Teach Your Expertise to Others, with Roger Kneebone (episode 743) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.

Duration:00:42:20

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757: The Key Elements of a Powerful Personal Brand, with Goldie Chan

11/2/2025
Goldie Chan: Personal Branding for Introverts Goldie Chan is the founder of Warm Robots, a social media strategy and creative agency, and she is herself a creative, keynote speaker, author, and cancer survivor. She was named the “Oprah of LinkedIn” by Huffington Post, and her creative video channel won LinkedIn Top Voice for Social Media. She is the author of Personal Branding for Introverts (Amazon, Bookshop)*. Many of us aspire to have a powerful personal brand, but it’s not always clear where to start. In this conversation, Goldie and I zero in on the five elements that matter most – and what you can do to get started. Key Points Five C’s of personal branding: Clarity: Surface it by determining three words you want to be associated with. Consistency: The internet is for introverts. Find the medium where you can show up often and that plays to your strengths. Competency: Rather than promoting yourself, promote the ideas and practices you stand for through your experience. Confidence: Ego is when you shout who you are to a room, and confidence is when you know who you are in a room. Community: Join in on conversations with people discussing what you care about. Find these communities or build your own. Resources Mentioned Personal Branding for Introverts by Goldie Chan (Amazon, Bookshop)*. Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes The Four Critical Stories Leaders Need For Influence, with David Hutchens (episode 148) The Way to Get Noticed by Key Stakeholders, with Daphne E. Jones (episode 614) Your Reputation is Your Currency, with Maha Abouelenein (episode 703) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.

Duration:00:39:52

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756: When It Feels Like You Don’t Belong, with Muriel Wilkins

10/26/2025
Muriel Wilkins: Leadership Unblocked Muriel Wilkins is the founder and CEO of Paravis Partners and a sought-after C-suite adviser and executive coach with a twenty-year track record of helping senior leaders take their performance to the next level. She is the coauthor of Own the Room and the host of the Harvard Business Review podcast Coaching Real Leaders. She’s just released her newest book, Leadership Unblocked: Break Through the Beliefs That Limit Your Potential (Amazon, Bookshop)*. You may have spent years aiming for the leadership role you now have. But now, once you’re in the job, it can be really disorienting to feel like you don’t belong. In this conversation, Muriel and I explore this reality that a lot of leaders face and what do when you run into it. Key Points Feeling like you don’t belong is a normal and common reality at inflection points in your career. A vicious cycle can emerge: you’re waiting to be included while others are waiting for you to engage. While you can’t control others, you can break the part of the pattern you have control of. Even when you believe that not belonging is triggered by sexism, racism, and ableism, it doesn’t serve you to hold onto that belief. Define your value proposition. What gets missed when you don’t show up? Remind yourself of shared goals or values with the group. This prevents the small stuff from distracting you as much. Identify a few supportive people and build relationships with them. Resources Mentioned Leadership Unblocked: Break Through the Beliefs That Limit Your Potential by Muriel Wilkins (Amazon, Bookshop)* Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes How to Start a Big Leadership Role, with Carol Kauffman (episode 617) How to Start Better With Peers, with Michael Bungay Stanier (episode 635) The Habits That Hold Leaders Back, with Marshall Goldsmith (episode 696) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.

Duration:00:39:53

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755: How to Lead a Meaningful Cultural Shift, with David Hutchens

10/19/2025
David Hutchens: Story Dash David Hutchens works with leaders around the world to find, craft, and tell their most urgent stories for the purpose of creating shared meaning, preserving culture, disseminating learning, and speeding change in organizations. He has taught the Storytelling Leader program at some of the most influential organizations, including NASA, Paypal, Loreal Paris, Cisco, Walmart, Google, and FedEx. He’s written many books, including the Circle of the 9 Muses, Story Dash, and The Leadership Story Deck. When organizational change is happening, leaders need to be intentional about lining up with culture, especially if it’s the time to shift that culture just a bit. We often do the logistics well, but we miss the power of both the human and emotional connections. In this episode, David and I discuss how story can help us make a meaningful shift. Key Points The organizations that are being intentional about culture are also being intentional about story. Getting beyond the logistics of changes and leaning first into humanity and emotion help people frame cultural shifts. Leaders go first. Embodied stories from leaders are surprising, counter-cultural, and repeatable. Asking for stories is rarely sufficient. Instead, invite stories through intentional prompts like, “Tell me about a time you felt more engaged, alive, and happiest in your work here.” Received stories are the ones told by employees. Adding an emotion word to an invitation such as, “What’s a time you were proud?” often surfaces more genuine stories. David is now a Coaching for Leaders expert partner. Connect with him to discover how he might support your organization in making a meaningful cultural shift via our partners page or email him directly at david@davidhutchens.com. Resources Mentioned Circle of the 9 Muses: A Storytelling Field Guide for Innovators and Meaning Makers by David Hutchens (Amazon, Bookshop)* Story Dash: Find, Develop, and Activate Your Most Valuable Business Stories…In Just a Few Hours by David Hutchens (Amazon)* Leadership Story Deck by David Hutchens (Amazon)* Related Episodes Leadership Means You Go First, with Keith Ferrazzi (episode 488) How to Start Finding Useful Stories, with David Hutchens (episode 593) How to Bring Out the Best in People, with Donna Hicks (episode 724) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.

Duration:00:38:46