S11 Ep27: Leading Smart Cities: Transforming Work & Life

Guests: Nikki Greenberg, Futurist, & Ugo Valenti, SCEWC Managing Director How do we build cities—and organizations—that can thrive amid AI disruption, climate pressure, demographic shifts, and rising expectations for livability?   In this episode, futurist Nikki Greenberg and Smart City Expo World Congress managing director Ugo Valenti reveal how urban design, public–private collaboration, and visionary leadership shape the cities—and organizations—of tomorrow. From affordable housing to autonomous mobility to circularity, they share practical insights for leaders in business, government, and nonprofits navigating a fast-changing world. Here's what Nikki, Ugo and Maureen cover: Why cities matter for every business, not just for planners; The edge AI gives urban infrastructure (from snowplow routing to master planning); and The leadership traits you need to run a business in an increasingly complex urban landscape! Other episodes you'll enjoy: - Back to the Future…of Work with Jim Ritchie-Dunham, Suzie Lewis, & David Dinwoodie - Prepare for the Future with Foresight with Dr. Ciela Hartanov - The Future Is Yours to Create with Rebecca Ryan For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn.   RESOURCES:   Find out more about Ugo’s work with Smart City at https://www.smartcityexpo.com/. You can learn more about Nikki’s work as a futurist at https://www.nikkigreenberg.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 Sponsorship Sales Manager: Kristine Gross Theme Music by Pavel Bekirov from Pixabay. CONNECT WITH US:  YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership  LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2  IWebsite: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com    Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!  -----------------------   About Our Guests:   Ugo Valenti is a Barcelona-based leader in the global smart-cities and urban innovation space. He currently serves as Business Unit Director for the Cities & Society portfolio at Fira Barcelona and is the Managing Director of Smart City Expo World Congress (SCEWC), the flagship event that has become one of the world’s largest convenings for city transformation. In this role, Ugo helps connect governments, corporations, startups, and academia through large-scale events and digital platforms designed to accelerate the adoption of solutions that make cities more sustainable, inclusive, and livable.   He has directed SCEWC since 2014, overseeing its evolution into a truly global platform—drawing tens of thousands of attendees from well over 100 countries and more than a thousand exhibitors annually. His broader portfolio includes Tomorrow Mobility World Congress, Tomorrow Building World Congress, Tomorrow Blue Economy World Congress, and Tomorrow.City, reflecting a focus on the future of urban life across transportation, infrastructure, climate resilience, and digital innovation.   Nikki Greenberg is a futurist and multi-award-winning keynote speaker, focused on preparing organizations for a tech-enabled future. She helps leaders reimagine their businesses to bring them into alignment with the increasingly digitized way that people live, work, and communicate today. ​ She has held leadership positions with Fortune 500s, and most recently served as the Head of Technology Strategy for Real Estate at QIC, an Australian investment manager with a $70 billion portfolio of assets under management. She is the founder and global ambassador of Women in PropTech and former three-term co-chair of the Technology & Innovation Council for ULI in New York City.

Guest: Belinda Gore, PhD Your leadership style affects everything: your decisions, your culture, your team, your impact. But most leaders operate on autopilot, unaware of the unconscious patterns shaping their choices. In this conversation, host Maureen Metcalf talks with psychologist and Enneagram expert Belinda Gore about the importance of self-awareness, the nine leadership personality types, and how knowing yours can dramatically upgrade how you lead. Here's what Belinda and Maureen cover: Why self-awareness is the strongest predictor of leadership success; How your personality type impacts your team and strategy; and The nine Enneagram leadership styles (and their blind spots)!   Other episodes you'll enjoy: - How Inner Work Transforms Your Leadership: Tools for Growth with Jonathan Reams - Bringing Clarity to Confusion: Self-Awareness with Terri O’Fallon & Kim Barta - To Stop a Tyrant: How 5 Types of Followers Make (or Brake) a Toxic Leader with Ira Chaleff For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn.   RESOURCES:   Learn more about Belinda and her Enneagram work at https://belindagore.com/.   Belinda also has a book offering a deeper understanding of personality types, Finding Freedom: Understanding Our Relationships Using Object Relations and the Enneagram. It’s available in paperback at https://amzn.to/4r5AXwh. 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 Theme Music by Pavel Bekirov from Pixabay. Sponsorship Manager: Kristine Gross   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:   Belinda is an inspired teacher, author, artist and psychologist. A native of Ohio, Belinda attended university in Columbus, Ohio, and was also a student and later a staff member with World Campus Afloat, a shipboard university that traveled to Asia, Africa, and southern Europe. H   In affiliation with The Enneagram Institute,Belinda founded The Enneagram Institute of Central Ohio (EICO) in 2000 to train professionals in the use of the Enneagram system for facilitating personal and professional development. Today she is recognized as a leader in using the Enneagram in coaching.   In 2021, Belinda and Marcus Boroughs founded The Great Circle Alliance, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to offer public programs and exhibits to raise awareness of the ancient monumental indigenous sites of Ohio. Their work includes a residency for contemporary Native artists to bring an indigenous presence back to the once vibrant sophisticated culture who created these monuments.

Guests: Bettina Stix & Andrea Fava, Amazon Executives How can large organizations use their core capabilities to solve real community needs? In this episode, we explore how Amazon applies its logistics network, technology, and innovation to support communities during disasters and address food insecurity at scale. The first segment features Bettina Stix, Director of Amazon Community Impact, discussing how Amazon responds to global crises—from wildfires and hurricanes to earthquakes and humanitarian emergencies—by providing rapid disaster relief using the same systems that enable global delivery. Then Andrea Fava joins Bettina for a panel at the San Francisco–Marin Food Bank, where Amazon partnered with the Food Bank to bring fresh groceries directly to households facing mobility, health, or transportation barriers. Together, Bettina and Andrea demonstrate that meaningful social impact is not about charitable side projects; it’s about aligning what you do best with what communities need most.   Other episodes you'll enjoy: - Tech with Purpose: Protecting People with Innovation with Aaron Parness & Beryl Tomay - Our Emotional Recession: How to Lead When People Are Depleted with Josua Freedman - Pets, Purpose, & Power: The Animal Science of Leadership with Rustin Moore, DVM   For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn.   RESOURCES:   Learn more about Amazon’s disaster relief work at https://bit.ly/AmazonRelief.   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 Sponsorship Sales Manager: Kristine Gross Theme Music by Pavel Bekirov from Pixabay.   CONNECT WITH US:  YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership  LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2  IWebsite: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com    Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!  -----------------------   About Our Guests:   Bettina Stix founded Amazon’s disaster relief program in 2017. Her experience at Amazon spans more than 26 years, and she's held leadership positions across international websites, customer service, and membership programs. Bettina now oversees Amazon's volunteering, disaster relief, food security, and education impact programs, leveraging Amazon's logistics and innovation and engaging employees to support communities worldwide. She serves on the board of Farestart, a Seattle nonprofit transforming homelessness and hunger into human potential. Stix holds a Ph.D. in comparative literature and a master's degree in history from the University of Stuttgart, Germany.   Andrea Fava is Vice President, US Public Policy, for Amazon. In this role, she leads state and local public policy across the United States. Andrea has been at Amazon for nine years. Prior to joining Amazon, Andrea directed Intel’s global public policy in the areas of environment, employment, and human rights policy. She served as the Environmental Director for the U.S. Council for International Business, a trade advocacy organization, and a consultant for the United Nations Environment Programme. Andrea holds an MA in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin, where her research focused on African politics, and a BA from the University of Delaware.

Guest: Rustin Moore, Dean: The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine Is your dog trying to teach you how to lead better? Dr. Rustin Moore joins host Maureen Metcalf to explore the profound connection between human physiology, emotional steadiness, and effective leadership. From the biochemical power of oxytocin to the social wisdom of packs, hives, and herds, Moore draws parallels between nature and modern organizations. Together they discuss how compassion, boundaries, and trust emerge naturally in healthy ecosystems, and how leaders can recreate that same balance in teams and workplaces. Here's what Rustin and Maureen cover: How leaders can cultivate calm and compassion under pressure; The neuroscience behind building trust and resilient teams; and Why interacting with animals reduces stress. Other episodes you'll enjoy: - The Bonobo Sisterhood: Ape Society’s Lessons for Leadership with Diane Rosenfeld - Why Pet-Friendly Means Productivity-Friendly with Lisa Campbell - Our Emotional Recession: How to Lead When People Are Depleted with Joshua Freedman For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn.   RESOURCES:   Rustin’s book is Unleashing the Bond: Harnessing the Power of Human-Animal Interactions. It’s in paperback at https://amzn.to/47D25d1.   His follow-up book is Unlocking the Bond: The Power & Paradox of Human-Animal Interactions; it will be available in January.   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 Sponsorship Sales Manager: Kristine Gross Theme Music by Pavel Bekirov from Pixabay. CONNECT WITH US:  YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership  LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2  IWebsite: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com    Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!  -----------------------   About Our Guest:   Dr. Rustin M. Moore, professor and the Rita Jean Wolfe Endowed Dean in Veterinary Medicine, is the 11th dean of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine having served in this role since September 2015. A two-time graduate of the college, Dr. Moore returned to the college in 2006 and served as the chair of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, executive director of the Veterinary Medical Center, associate dean for Clinical and Outreach Programs, and associate executive dean before becoming dean. He has taught both at Ohio State and at Louisiana State University (LSU)   A native of Spencer, WV, he earned a BS degree (1986), summa cum laude, from West Virginia University; a DVM (1989), summa cum laude, and a PhD (1994) from The Ohio State University. He became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1994.   He is the author of Unleashing the Bond: Harnessing the Power of Human-Animal Interactions, a comprehensive work that delves into the profound human-animal connection, weaving together history, science, culture, demographic and socioeconomic data, and compelling stories from over 100 interviews into an informative and captivating narrative. His follow-up book, Unlocking the Bond: The Power and Paradox of Human-Animal Interactions, builds upon the foundation of Unleashing the Bond, focusing on and raising awareness about the impact and contradictions of the human-animal bond.

Guests: Aaron Parness (Director) & Beryl Tomay (VP) Amazon is reinventing the future of work. with robots that can feel, AI smart glasses for delivery drivers, and new safety-first systems that transform how millions of packages move every day. In this episode, we go behind the scenes at Amazon’s “Delivering the Future” event to explore how technology, robotics, and human-centered leadership are transforming work at massive scale. First, Aaron Parness, Director of Applied Science in Robotics & AI, reveals how his team built Vulcan — a robot with a sense of touch — and what it teaches us about experimentation, iteration, and designing technology that elevates human workers instead of replacing them. Then, Beryl Tomay, Vice President of Transportation at Amazon, shares how innovations like AI-driven smart glasses, hazard detection, and advanced driver training are making frontline work safer, more dignified, and more sustainable…all while getting packages to your porch quickly. You’ll learn: ✅ How human–robot collaboration actually works ✅ Why Amazon isn’t aiming for “100% automation” ✅ How AI smart glasses increase safety in the field ✅ What it really takes to scale innovation to millions of deliveries a day. This episode is a masterclass in leading innovation with clarity, courage, and humanity. Related episodes you'll enjoy: Amazon’s Innovation Secret: Look to Failure for Success with Beryl Tomay Delivering the Future: Why Amazon Execs Lead Beyond Retail with Kara Hurst & Ryan Redington Four Key Lessons from Amazon’s Head of Family Trust with Catherine Teitelbaum How Moonshots & Robots Put Packages on Your Porch with Steve Armato   For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn.   RESOURCES:   Learn more about the new delivery technologies Beryl mentioned at https://bit.ly/DeliveryTech. To discover more about Amazon’s robotics, check out https://bit.ly/RobotsAtAmazon.   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 Sponsorship Sales Manager: Kristine Gross Theme Music by Pavel Bekirov from Pixabay.   CONNECT WITH US:  YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership  LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2  IWebsite: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com    Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!  -----------------------   About Our Guests:   Aaron Parness works as a Director of Applied Science in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence at Amazon. His teams in Seattle and Berlin build robotic work cells to increase delivery speed and reduce the cost of order fulfillment for Amazon customers. Specializing in high contact and high clutter applications, he has led advances in giving robots a sense of touch by incorporating force and torque sensors into the robots’ motion plans and control loops. From 2010 to 2019, Aaron worked at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where he founded and led the Robotic Rapid Prototyping Laboratory specializing in grippers and wall climbing robots. He received his PhD from Stanford in 2009 advised by Mark Cutkosky; and earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering and BS in Creative Writing from MIT in 2004.   Beryl Tomay has been at Amazon for 20 years having joined in 2005 as a Software Development Engineer. She was part of the small team that launched the original Kindle device and remained in the Devices organization for the subsequent 8 years. She joined the nascent Last Mile organization, the logistics business that gets packages through the final steps on their way to customers’ doorsteps, in early 2014 as one of its first employees. Today, she is responsible for Amazon’s Last Mile delivery technology and businesses as well as Amazon’s customer delivery and returns experiences. Prior to Amazon, Beryl received her undergraduate degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Waterloo in Canada. Beryl and her husband love going to Kraken hockey games, walking their dog Luna, and visiting new and diverse restaurants.

Guest: Joshua Freedman, CEO & Co-Founder of Six Seconds Around the world, people are emotionally exhausted, socially polarized, and struggling to stay engaged at work. Global emotional intelligence scores have declined for several years, and leaders today face an unseen burden: an emotional tax on every interaction, decision, and relationship. In this episode, emotional intelligence expert Joshua Freedman joins Maureen Metcalf to explore how leaders can reduce the hidden emotional tax in organizations, rebuild trust, and create healthier workplaces. Discover how EQ drives performance, why trust is a leader’s greatest currency, and what practical steps you can take to lead with clarity and humanity in turbulent times. Here's what Joshua and Maureen discuss: The hidden emotional tax draining teams and cultures The business case for EQ (and how it improves performance) Why trust is now a leader’s most critical output.   Other episodes you'll enjoy: - The Human Energy Crisis at Work with Joshua Freedman - What’s the Point: Why Your Leadership Needs Purpose with Ryan Gottfredson - To Stop a Tyrant: The Power of Followers with Ira Chaleff   For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn.   RESOURCES:   Learn more about Joshua’s work at https://6seconds.org. His many books are available on Amazon.   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 Sponsorship Sales Manager: Kristine Gross Theme Music by Pavel Bekirov from Pixabay.   CONNECT WITH US:  YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership  LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2  IWebsite: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com    Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!  -----------------------   About Our Guest:   A staggering finding emerged from over a million emotional intelligence assessments: the world is in an emotional recession. Burnout, falling empathy, and disengagement are draining performance and wellbeing. Joshua Freedman, CEO and cofounder of Six Seconds, is on a mission to reverse the trend. For 25+ years, he has led the world’s largest EQ study (State of the Heart), advised global brands like FedEx, Shell, and the UN, and developed practical tools used in 150+ countries. A bestselling author; his 8th book, Emotion Rules (2026) equips leaders to transform emotions into actionable data that fuels trust, resilience, and results.

Guest: Brad Diskin, CEO of SGI AI can see. But can it hear? Meet Brad Diskin, CEO of Sound Genetics Inc. (SGI), the company teaching machines to listen. In this interview with host Maureen Metcalf, you’ll explore how acoustic intelligence is transforming security, leadership, and innovation across industries.   From detecting deepfakes and authenticating human voices to predicting infrastructure failures and even diagnosing disease through audio patterns, SGI’s technology is expanding how leaders think about AI, risk, and trust. Here's what Brad and Maureen cover: How “sound DNA” is transforming authentication, fraud prevention, and cybersecurity Why AI’s next frontier isn’t vision; it’s hearing What “digital audio imaging” means for infrastructure, health, and smart cities The leadership mindset required to responsibly integrate next-generation AI.   Other episodes you'll enjoy: - Fear Less, Shine More: Build Confidence in Your Leadership (and Life) with Tonjia Coverdale - To Stop a Tyrant: The Power of Followers with Ira Chaleff - Forget Power: How to Lead in a World of Chaos & Complexity with Michelle Harrison   For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn.   RESOURCES:   Learn more about the work of Brad’s company on their website,   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 Sponsorship Sales Manager: Kristine Gross Theme Music by Pavel Bekirov from Pixabay.   CONNECT WITH US:  YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership  LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2  IWebsite: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com    Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!  -----------------------   About Our Guest:   Brad Diskin was CEO of UROK Learning Institute for 20 years. The firm specialized in teaching students with learning deficits to read, write and do math. The firm taught students to read nationwide utilizing the company's proprietary reading program Literacy Links. One of the tools became the genesis of Sound Genetics Inc. The company received a United States Patent on August 22, 2023 SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRE - FILTERING AUDIO CONTENT BASED ON PROMINENCE OF FREQUENCY CONTENT.

Guest: Jon Wortmann, Leadership Coach & Principal at Novel Communication What makes some overloaded leaders bounce back stronger, while others burn out? In this episode, host Maureen Metcalf talks with executive coach and resilience author Jon Wortmann about how leaders can train their brains to stay calm, clear, and focused, even in chaos. Wortmann draws from neuroscience, mindfulness research, and real-world leadership practice to reveal how resilience is more than “bouncing back.” It’s a trainable skill that rewires your stress response through deliberate habits: breathwork, focus, movement, and meaningful connection. Learn how to: Shift from the “short loop” of stress reactivity to the “long loop” of intentional thinking. Use quick switching to get your brain back online in seconds. Build resilience across four domains: physical, cognitive, emotional, and relational. Lead teams more effectively by managing your own emotional and physiological state.   Other episodes you'll enjoy: - How Purpose-Driven Women Redefine What It Means to Lead with Dr. Karen Longman - How Inner Work Transforms Your Leadership with Jonathan Reams - Leading from Within – A Former Navy SEAL on Transforming Yourself to Lead Others with Diego Ugalde   For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. We’re onTikTok, Threads, and Twitter, too!   RESOURCES:   For great tips on reducing stress and boosting your brain skills, pop over to Jon’s Quickswitching website at https://quickswitching.com/. Jon has several excellent books. Hijacked by Your Brain is about dealing with stress; it’s in paperback at https://amzn.to/4o3pvin. For better leadership, he’s cowritten Three Commitments of Leadership: How Clarity, Stability, and Rhythm Create Great Leaders; it’s in hardback at https://amzn.to/4nXD8zq. And if you just want to improve your golf game (using neuroscience & psychology), be sure to read Your Brain on Golf: How to Turn Frustration, Fear, and Anger into Better Scores. It’s in paperback at https://amzn.to/4pULk5x. 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 Editor: Stacia Rogan Sponsorship Sales: Kristine Gross 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:   Jon Wortmann is an executive & mental coach and speaker. A graduate of Carleton College and Harvard, his books have been #1 best sellers in 22 categories on Amazon. His work has been featured in O Magazine, Elle, The Huffington Post, Fox, Fast Company, and Psychology Today.   He began his training career in 2005 with a division of Time Warner, and has since worked with Fortune 500 firms, start-ups, universities, and non-profits to improve resilience, executive and board communication, client relationships, and leadership.

Guest: Rens van Loon, Professor at Tilburg University What do you do when logic and data aren’t enough? Today’s biggest leadership challenges—culture change, systemic disruption, complex decision-making—are wicked problems. They can’t be solved with old habits. In this interview, Professor Rens van Loon, the world’s first Professor of Dialogical Leadership, explains how generative dialogue empowers leaders to navigate complexity, build trust, and create authentic change. In this episode you’ll discover: Why truth and data are relational, not absolute. How to integrate multiple roles (CEO, parent, coach, human) into one authentic leadership. The practice of : suspending judgment, asking better questions, and co-creating new meaning. The Japanese concept of Ma as a tool for reflection and transformation. How leaders and teams can solve their wicked problemse. If you’re a leader ready to move beyond old habits and create lasting impact, this conversation will reshape how you approach complexity. Produced in partnership with the International Leadership Association: https://ilaglobalnetwork.org/. Other episodes you'll enjoy: Let’s Talk: Four Steps to Bridging Workplace, Political, & Family Disagreements with Mike Morrow-Fox Empathy, Dialogue, & a Good Mood: What Leaders Need in Crisis with Ambassador Thomas Greminger & Peter Cunningham Work, War, & In-Between: An International Peace Negotiator’s Top Tips for Resolving Conflict with John, Lord Alderdice 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 Rens and his firm, &Dialogue, on their websites: https://ac3.788.myftpupload.com/ and https://dialogischleiderschap.com/ . Rens’ book is Creating Organizational Value through Dialogical Leadership. It’s on Amazon at https://amzn.to/3VIicAx. His most recent book is Understanding Dialogical Leadership; it’s available at https://amzn.to/3Krhvt6. 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 Editor: Stacia Rogan Sponsorship Sales: Kristine Gross 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:   Rens van Loon is a philosopher and personality psychologist who has been a professor of Dialogical Leadership at Tilburg University, within the Humanities and Digital Sciences faculty, since 2014. He supervises PhD students and teaches Dialogical Leadership and Dialogical Self Theory at institutions including TIAS, VU, and in the Comenius program. From 2015 to 2019, he served as a board member of the International Leadership Association (ILA), and for several years, he has been a member of the Scientific Advisory Board (WAR) of the Titus Brandsma Institute (TBI) (Radboud University). He is one of the authors of the frequently cited first article on Dialogical Self Theory in the American Psychologist in 1992. His work as a scientist, educator, and teacher primarily involves developing and applying this theory in the practice of leadership and organizational development. From 2009 to 2018, Van Loon worked as Director of Human Capital at Deloitte Consulting as a leadership expert. Besides client work, his focus was also on internal guidance and training within Deloitte University and Deloitte Academy.

Guest: Tonjia Coverdale, Ph.D., CEO at Lambiante Fearless leadership doesn’t mean living without fear; it means learning to fear less.   In this episode, Dr. Tonjia Coverdale shares her seven-level framework that helps leaders align who they are with how they lead. Together with host Maureen Metcalf, she explores how to create clarity and confidence in yourself, and high-performing teams as a result.   If you’ve ever wondered how to strengthen your leadership presence and speak with authentic clarity—even in uncertain times—this conversation is for you. Here's what Tonjia and Maureen cover: Find your authentic leadership voice Overcome fear and self-doubt in tough moments Use wellness practices to boost leadership performance, and Inspire trust, clarity, and innovation in your team.   Other episodes you'll enjoy: What’s the Point? Why Your Leadership Needs Purpose with Ryan Gottfredson Reinvent, Collaborate, Succeed: A CEO’s Winning Leadership Formula with Susan Howe How Great Leaders Are Made: Insights from The Economist’s “Boss Class” with Andrew Palmer For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. 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 Graphics Editor: Stacia Rogan Booking Producer: Jenna Reik Sponsorship Sales Manager: Kristine Gross 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:   Tonjia Coverdale, PhD, is a three-time CXO and seasoned technology executive with 28 years of experience leading enterprise data strategy, architecture, and AI-driven transformation across Fortune 100 financial services, higher education, government, and consulting. As Principal & CEO of Lambiante, she helps organizations harness technology — with architecture, data, and AI at the core — to align business, people, and purpose for transformational outcomes. A 500-hour certified yoga teacher, Tonjia brings a wellness-informed approach to leadership, known for her high energy, bold presence, and visionary leadership.