S11-Ep6: Leading from Within - A Former Navy SEAL on Transforming Yourself to Lead Others

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.    -----------------------   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!  -----------------------   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.

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.    -----------------------   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:   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.

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 navigating and thriving in our increasingly complex world. Here's what Cynthia and host Maureen Metcalf cover: The need for adaptive leadership, or why you can’t settle in to just one leadership mode your entire career anymore; The significance of global interconnectedness, which won’t (indeed, can’t) go away despite tariffs and isolationism in various countries; and The importance of being conscious of your own personal and professional purpose to keep you anchored through turbulence. For more of Cynthia’s insights and wisdom, check out these other episodes with her: - Navigating the Global Storm: Rethinking Leadership - Redefining Leadership: How You Have Global Impact - Living Models for Reimagining Leadership   For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. We’re onTikTok, Threads, and Twitter, too!   RESOURCES:   Learn more about Cynthia’s work with the International Leadership Association on their website at https://ilaglobalnetwork.org/.   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 (Information requiring higher security clearance than you have): 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!  -----------------------   About Our Guest:   Cynthia Cherrey is President and CEO of the International Leadership Association (ILA), a global community committed to increasing quality research, teaching, and practices of leadership contributing to the common good around the world. As president of a multi-sector and global professional association, she works at promoting rigor and relevance of leadership at the intersection of theory and practice. Previously, Cynthia served as Lecturer in the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and Vice President for Campus Life at Princeton University. Dr. Cherrey speaks to non-profit and for-profit organizations around the world and writes in the areas of leadership, organizational development, and higher education. Cynthia’s interests and research explore new ways to live, work, and lead in a knowledge-driven, interdependent, global culture. A sought after advisor, Cynthia serves on the editorial board of Asian Women and the President’s Advisory Group at Carnegie Mellon University. She is a Fellow at the World Business Academy, a Royal Society for the Arts Fellow, and a recipient of a J.W. Fulbright Scholarship.

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 preparing to), this conversation offers powerful lessons in leadership grit, cultural evolution, and the courage required to build something extraordinary. Here's what Joe and host Maureen Metcalf cover: Why even good, talented staff can “wash out” during culture change; How seeing your competition as Apple, LinkedIn, and other big brands outside your industry can drive better innovation; and The importance of designing for things that don’t even exist yet, not just today’s problems. Other episodes you'll enjoy: - Why Your Old Leadership Style Doesn’t Work Anymore with Gill Hickman and Jorrit Volkers - Coming Soon to a Business Climate Near You with Matthew Griffin - Adaptive Leadership & Culture Change with Ron Heifetz   For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. RESOURCES:   Learn more about Joe’s work – and the progress on the new airport terminal – at https://flycolumbus.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.    -----------------------   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:   President & CEO, Joe Nardone oversees the strategic operation and management of Columbus Regional Airport Authority’s three airports. Leading all aspects of the organization, he is specifically tasked with advancing air service development and creating partnerships to benefit the Columbus Region. Prior to this, he was CEO of the Wayne County Airport Authority in Michigan, including Detroit Metro Airport.

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 an $8 million to $24 billion company as CEO. His unparalleled success and real-world experience offers rich leadership lessons to profit every growing leader…to profit you! Here's what Michael and Maureen cover: The costly impact of tariffs and impossibility of truly separating countries’ economies and supply chains; Why every good leader needs the three Cs: Curiosity, Conscience, and Courage; and How curiosity built his businesses, and continues to drive him. Other episodes you'll enjoy: - Mastercard’s Chief Innovation Officer on Fostering a Culture of Innovation with Ken Moore - Courageous Followership with Ira Chaleff & Neil Grunberg - Business Disruptions: Are You Disrupting or Being Disrupted? with Mark Kvamme - How Leaders Thrive through Rapid Change with Chris Nolan & Mike Schindler   For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn.   RESOURCES:   Learn more about Celesta Capital, Michael’s venture capital firm, at https://www.celesta.vc/. The TechSurge podcast is online at https://www.techsurgepodcast.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.    -----------------------   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:   Michael Marks is a Founding Managing Partner of Celesta Capital and a host of the TechSurge Podcast. For 40 years, Michael has successfully led and transformed technology companies. Prior to Celesta, Michael was a founding partner of Riverwood Capital, a Menlo Park-based private equity firm, and served as Partner and Senior Advisor at KKR. He spent 13 years as CEO and then chairman of Flex, growing its revenues from $150M to nearly $30B in that time. Michael also served as an Interim CEO at Tesla. Michael served as an Adjunct Professor at Stanford Graduate Business School from 2008 - 2017, and is currently a Board Director for over 20 companies. Michael previously served as a Director for Schlumberger Limited, GoPro, and SanDisk, among others.

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 now. Here's what Jonathan and Maureen cover: Why the elites reserve the best leadership training – and funding – for themselves; How Jonathan is democratizing leadership development tools so you can use them, too; and Why you can’t truly grow as a leader without doing deep inner work to overcome “immunity to change” and other personal factors. Other episodes you'll enjoy: Getting Lost in the Language of Leadership with Jonathan Reams Growing Up and Out: Development for Modern Leaders with Mike Morrow-Fox Working & Living in Joy with Pamela Larde, Ph.D.   For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. We’re onTikTok, Threads, and Twitter, too!   RESOURCES:   You can learn more about Jonathan’s leadership initiatives on his website at https://www.jonathanreams.com/ and his democratization of leadership training at https://www.adeptify.co/. 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!  -----------------------   About Our Guest:   Jonathan Reams is driven by an insatiable curiosity about the essence of human nature and how to cultivate this essence in the service of leadership. He uses various outlets for achieving this. He held a position at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology from 2007 until 2024, where he taught and did research on leadership development, coaching and counseling. He served as Editor-in Chief of Integral Review, A Transdisciplinary and Transcultural Journal for New Thought, Praxis and Research from 2005 until 2023. He is also a co-founder of the Center for Transformative Leadership and the European Center for Leadership Practice. Jonathan’s Ph.D. is in Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University.   Jonathan practices the cultivation of leadership through consulting and leadership development program design and delivery. He brings awareness-based technology to this work, focusing on how the inner workings of human nature can develop leadership capacities for today’s complex challenges.

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 if you didn’t create it, solves far more problems than playing the blame game; How brutal honesty and absolute clarity bring faster resolution and collaboration with your stakeholders; and Why future leaders must prioritize the organization’s needs over personal career goals…and how that benefits you much more in the long run.   Produced in conjunction with the International Leadership Association: https://ilaglobalnetwork.org/ Other episodes you'll enjoy: - Navigating the Global Storm with Cynthia Cherrey - How Leaders Thrive through Rapid Change with Chirs Nolan & Mike Schindler - When Tragedy Informs Responsible Leadership with Ann Mukherjee   For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. RESOURCES:   Learn more about Jeroen on his speaker site at https://bit.ly/JVanDerVeer.   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 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:   Jeroen van der Veer was Non-executive Director of Royal Dutch Shell 2009-2013. Previously, he was CEO of Shell since 2004. Before that he was President of Royal Dutch Petroleum Company since 2000, having been a Managing Director since 1997. As CEO, van der Veer led Shell through major change. He is currently Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V., and Vice-Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Equinor ASA (Norway).   In October 2012 he became Chairman of the Rotterdam Climate Initiative. Van der Veer is an Honorary Citizen of Singapore, and has various roles in several foundations and charities.

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 requires much more than simple creativity; The economic benefits of innovation (and how most American companies are missing out); and How to implement the six elements to awaken innovation with W.O.N.D.E.R. Other episodes you'll enjoy: - Amazon Execs Share How Innovation Delivers Your Future with Dave Carbon, John Love, Dr. Vin Gupta, & Tye Brady - The Creative Mindset: Mastering the Skills that Empower Innovation with Jeff DeGraff - Fostering a Culture of Innovation with Mastercard’s Chief Innovation Officer, Ken Moore   For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. We’re onTikTok, Threads, and Twitter, too!   RESOURCES:   Learn more about Theo’s work at https://www.theoedmonds.com/. Details on his Creativity America initiative are at https://www.creativityamerica.com/.   Theo recommends these books for more detail: The Handbook of Organizational Creativity (two volumes) – Ronnie Writer Paulman, editor; specifically its chapter on the cognitive neuroscience of creativity (Roger Beatty), and the chapter on organizational creativity (Paulman). Robert Schiller’s Narrative Economics; it’s in paperback at https://amzn.to/4jfPWPr and as an audiobook at https://amzn.to/3FMqVge.   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.   -----------------------   OUR PODCAST TEAM:   Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf Editor & Executive Producer: Dan Mushalko Graphics: 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!  -----------------------   About Our Guest:   Theo Edmonds is a Culture Futurist®, entrepreneur, artist, and poet reshaping the future of innovation by uniting the best of culture, commerce, and brain science. Over the last 30 years, he has spearheaded transformational projects for Fortune 100 companies, governments, and universities. In 2024, he launched Creativity America, a multi-year initiative to build America’s Wonder Economy. This groundbreaking collaboration with top pioneers in cognitive neuroscience, industrial psychology, business, and the arts aims to increase America’s Creative Brain Capital by 25% within a decade. Recognized as an unconventional trailblazer, Theo is a sought-after speaker and executive advisor in strategic foresight, leading organizational creativity and culture change management.

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. This candid discussion is a must-listen for anyone juggling leadership roles and family commitments. Here's what Michelle and host Maureen Metcalf cover: Why, for women especially, it’s not a work-life balance, but a work-life trade-off; The invisible algorithm women leaders use in making decisisons; and Why rising execs so often stay silent about the problems they see in an organization. Produced in conjunction with the International Leadership Association: https://ilaglobalnetwork.org/   Other episodes you'll enjoy: The Bonobo Sisterhood with Diane Rosenfeld Empowering Women for the Prosperity of Nations with Amanda Ellise & Augusto Lopez-Claros Winning in the Face of Adversity: Raising Up the Next Generation of Women Leaders with Congresswoman Joyce Beatty & Doug McCollough To Stop a Tyrant with Ira Chaleff   For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. We’re onTikTok, Threads, and Twitter, too!   RESOURCES:   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 Assistant Editor: Devon Mushalko Graphics: Devon Mushalko & Stacia Rogan Booking Producer: Jenna Reik CONNECT WITH US:  YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership  Threads: @innovativeleaders X/Twitter/Whatever New Name It Has This Week: @IL_Institute  LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2  TikTok: @innovativeleadership Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com    Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!  -----------------------   About Our Guest:   Michelle Harrison is Global CEO of Verian, the international evidence and advisory business to governments and multi lateral organisations around the world. Prior to this, she was the CEO of Kantar Public, a division of the Kantar Group, leading its evolution to Verian in 2022 following a management led divestment. In parallel Michelle has had a 20+ year career as a NED and Government Advisory Committee member, which has focused on public innovation, sustainability and social impact investment. She is a Board Director of Social Finance and Big Win Philanthropy, the co-founder of The Reykjavik Index for Leadership, and a member of the Advisory Board for the Reykjavik Global Forum.

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, and leading from a grounded, aligned place. Whether you're navigating executive challenges, managing teams, or seeking personal growth, this conversation offers actionable tools to elevate your leadership and unlock your full potential. Here's what Diego and Maureen cover: How self-awareness fosters trust and team alignment; The paradox that letting go of control creates better outcomes; and Why rigid leaders are actually acting out of fear (and how to break free from that). Other episodes you'll enjoy: From Ego to Impact: Managing with Clarity with Subhanu Saxena How Your Personal Practices Make You an Exceptional Leader with Kathryn Goldman Schuyler When Leadership Puts Life on the Line with former Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin   For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. We’re onTikTok, Threads, and Twitter, too!   RESOURCES:   Diego’s book is Leading from the Deep. It’s available in paperback at https://amzn.to/4kODtno, on Kindle at https://amzn.to/4kODtno, and as an audiobook at https://amzn.to/4kODtno.   You’ll find more about his projects at https://thewarriorside.com/ and https://thetridentapproach.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.    Books we’re reading for fun or personal development right now include: To Stop a Tyrant by Ira Chaleff, on how leaders become tyrants and their types of followers, is in hardback on Amazon at https://amzn.to/3W5XDys and on Kindle at https://amzn.to/420Zvwc. An audiobook edition is coming soon. Bedtime Stories for Managers, a collection of short essays from Henry Mintzberg; it’s in paperback at https://amzn.to/4hl6gOb, and Kindle at https://amzn.to/3PYmSiX. Take Back Your Power: 10 New Rules for Women at Work by Ancestry CEO Deb Liu, on how to overcome the obstacles women still face in the workplace – especially in tech. It’s in hardback at https://amzn.to/47OUO9E, and audio at https://amzn.to/3Y6EmOQ. Covert Cows and Chick-fil-A by Steve Robinson; it’s available in hardback at https://amzn.to/460LnmQ, on Kindle at https://amzn.to/3RVXhZs, and as an audiobook at https://amzn.to/3xPjBgn. NOTE: As an Amazon partner, we may make a small commission from books you buy through these links. -----------------------   OUR PODCAST TEAM:   Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf Editor & Executive Producer: Dan Mushalko Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko Booking Producer: Jenna Reik Theme Music by Pavel Bekirov from Pixabay. Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com    Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!  -----------------------   About Our Guest:   Diego Ugalde is a retired Navy SEAL, leadership expert, storyteller, and author of Leading from the Deep. With decades of experience in high-stakes environments, Diego now coaches top executives to lead with emotional intelligence and purpose. His transformational approach blends SEAL leadership with spiritual depth, helping clients unlock new levels of success and fulfillment. He is also the creator of Warriorside, an immersive storytelling experience that reconnects people to their humanity through powerful, vulnerable stories. Diego’s work has been praised for its deep impact, with clients such as Google X and elite leaders across industries.