Refreshing Leadership with Maya - Career, Leadership and Life Design

Part of the August 2026 Refresh Series.Most bucket lists don't make it to 100 items. That's exactly the point of this exercise.In this episode, Maya walks through the list of 100 dreams - an exercise she came across via Laura Vanderkam, originally from career coach Carolina Ceniza-Levine - and shares how she went about it herself. The idea is simple: an unedited list of anything you might want to do or have more of in your life - a powerful exercise for a number of reasons. What you'll learn:How to actually do the exercise - including what to do when you run out of ideasHow the list becomes a useful reference point for goal setting and making the most of your leisure timeAs usual, connect with Maya at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/And subscribe to her YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1For all other info, visit the website www.mayagudka.com 

Part of the August 2026 Refresh Series.What's your default strategy when you're feeling burnt out or depleted? A sunny trip away? Nothing wrong with that - but there are other, perhaps more powerful, ways to recharge too.In this episode, Maya breaks down her own version of the seven types of rest, drawing on years of coaching conversations to explore why switching off looks different for everyone - and why going from near-burnout to a beach doesn't always solve the problem.What you'll learn:The seven types of rest - and a simple way to identify which ones you're missingThe difference between rejuvenation and refresh - and why relying on a change of scene alone often isn't enoughYou can read Maya's accompanying LinkedIn post and access the rest checklist here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/when-you-cant-switch-off-maya-gudka-msc-cfa-ma-cantab-/You can also listen to Maya's episode on sleep here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0XscMUgFfUgsDE2JX931jN?si=ea2d0fe498ec4271 As usual, connect with Maya at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/And subscribe to her YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1For all other info, visit the website www.mayagudka.com 

Workplace bullying happens more often than it should. In this episode, Maya shares guidance from inside her coaching programme - practical steps that have helped clients deal with this and start to move things forward.She explains why the bullying interaction itself isn't something the victim can fix, as well as sharing details of her own past experiences.What you'll learn:Specific techniques to manage a bullying situation - including one that made HR start taking action almost immediatelyA simple shift in how you frame the issue that makes leadership take it seriouslyTo find out more about the programme curriculum, visit https://www.mayagudka.com/for-individualsAs usual, connect with Maya at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/And subscribe to her YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1For all other info, visit the website www.mayagudka.com 

If you come from a corporate, analytical or financial background, talking about money in terms of energy can feel unfamiliar - even a bit uncomfortable. But Maya has seen these subconscious patterns play out again and again, both in her own life and in her work with clients.In this archive episode, Maya is joined by her former business coach Rose Radford to talk about masculine and feminine money energies - what they are, how they show up, and why understanding them can shift the way you think about ambition, money and growth, whatever stage of business or career you're at.What you'll learn:The difference between masculine and feminine money energies - and how to spot which one you default toWhat an "energetic set point" is, and how it might be keeping your income at the same level year after yearThis episode was first published in January 2025. You can connect with Rose on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/iamroseradford/As usual, connect with Maya at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/And subscribe to her YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1For all other info, visit the website www.mayagudka.com 

In this second conversation with executive relationship strategist Katarina Polonska, Maya and Katarina go deeper - looking at the specific dynamics that emerge between ambitious partners and the hidden tensions in dual career households.What you'll learn:The concept of relational hygiene, with examples from Katarina’s own relationship How so many couples drift into a parent-child dynamic without realising it.Catch up with the first episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/008RNUWAgwaT6BMEvyPt1B?si=W6Uz9AeQT8uz0Ge6rjJ2kA You can connect with Katarina Polonska at www.katarinapolonska.com and on the Successfully in Love podcast.As usual, connect with Maya at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/And subscribe to her YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1For all other info, visit the website www.mayagudka.com 

Personal relationships rarely make it onto a leadership development programme. And yet, as Maya sees regularly in her coaching work, what's happening at home has a profound impact on what's happening at work.In this episode - the first of two conversations - Maya is joined by executive relationship strategist Katarina Polonska to explore the relationships outside work that shape so much of how leaders show up.What you'll learn:Why high achievers can be particularly vulnerable to relationship breakdownThe deeper emotional drivers behind ambitionWhat to do when couples counselling doesn’t workYou can connect with Katarina Polonska at www.katarinapolonska.com and on the Successfully in Love podcast.As usual, connect with Maya at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/And subscribe to her YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1For all other info, visit the website www.mayagudka.com 

As we reach the midpoint of the year, Maya shares her end-of-June review - a series of personal reflection questions designed to help you recalibrate before the second half of the year begins.Maya works through the questions throughout the episode, reflecting on what's gone well, what she worried about that turned out not to matter, and what she wants the rest of the year to look like.You’ll find out Maya’s personal reflections, her thoughts on the next phase of her life, and learn the key questions you can use for your own mid-year review. Don’t forget to subscribe to the YouTube Channel for all the video episodes and short clips https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1As usual, connect with Maya at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/For all other info, visit the website www.mayagudka.com 

You might already be pretty good when it comes to your food habits. But do you know what's actually working - and what could give them a refresh without a huge amount of extra effort?In part two of this conversation with Adam Kingl, co-author of Executive Eats: The Cookbook for a Better Working Life, Maya and Adam get into the practicalities. Whether you're in the office, working from home or travelling, they look at what sustained energy actually requires - and the specific foods and habits that support focus, concentration and performance throughout a long working day.What you'll learn:The foods that got written off - and what the science actually saysThe specific foods that improve focus, mood and decision-making during the work dayExecutive Eats: The Cookbook for a Better Working Life is out on 16th June 2026 and is available now to pre-order from all major online book retailers.You can catch up on part one of the conversation https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/K7t1uue1X3b: Adam Kingl is an author, educator, keynote speaker and consultant affiliated with a number of leading business schools including London Business School, Imperial College and UCL School of Management. Executive Eats is his third book, following Next Generation Leadership and Sparking Success. You can connect with Adam at https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-kingl/. Find out more at https://adamkingl.com/ As usual, connect with Maya at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/And subscribe to her YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1For all other info, visit the website www.mayagudka.com 

What if food could do more than just fuel you - what if it could change how effective your leadership is?Adam Kingl joins Maya to talk about his new book, Executive Eats: The Cookbook for a Better Working Life - a first in the cookbook world. It speaks to something both Maya and Adam encounter regularly in their work with leaders: not enough energy, focus that isn't where it needs to be, and the ever-present threat of burnout.In this conversation, Adam talks about how food can support sustained energy, focus, concentration, emotional regulation and even creativity - and the practical side of making that work in real life. They cover flavor profiles, batching, building block recipes, and how to use cooking to reduce stress rather than create more of it.What you'll learn:The ten performance states a leader wants to be in at work - and how to use them as a starting point for changing how you eatHow one simple building block recipe can become dozens without significantly more effort or skillExecutive Eats: The Cookbook for a Better Working Life is out on 16th June 2026 and is available now to pre-order from all major online book retailers.Adam Kingl is an author, educator, keynote speaker and consultant affiliated with a number of leading business schools including London Business School, Imperial College and UCL School of Management. Executive Eats is his third book, following Next Generation Leadership and Sparking Success. As usual, connect with Maya at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/And subscribe to her YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1For all other info, visit the website www.mayagudka.com 

Organisations all over the world are having the same conversation right now - ‘how do we use AI fast enough to stay competitive without creating complete chaos?’ In this second conversation with AI governance and cybersecurity expert Dr Adeel Shaikh Muhammad, Maya explores the risks that leaders and teams are underestimating and discusses whether we should be wary or optimistic about the future of AI in organisations.What you'll learn:The key risks in using AI leaders need to be aware of and the minimum protections you should have in placeThe various ways AI expert Dr Adeel Shaikh Muhammad personally uses over 20 AI toolsHow to bring your team on board with AI - including those who are resistant or feel it isn't for themDr Adeel Shaikh Muhammad is a cybersecurity strategist, AI governance expert and global speaker with over 16 years of experience in information security. He is the author of two books bridging AI innovation and ethical leadership - "AI-Driven Transformation of Security Operations Center (SOC)" and "AI and Us: The Ethical Choices" - and is currently completing his doctorate in the same space.You can connect with Dr Adeel Shaikh Muhammad at https://www.linkedin.com/in/shadeel/As usual, connect with Maya at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/And subscribe to her YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1For all other info, visit the website www.mayagudka.com