This is a really special solosode, so thank you for being here - thank you for connecting with me. That’s one of the big themes of this episode - how are we intentionally creating and sustaining connections, especially in our fragmented working lives? So I’m sharing some key reflections on that in a leadership context. I also talk about how important goodwill is in creating solid cultures. Goodwill is all about your relationship currency and as leaders and as employees, we need to constantly deposit into that goodwill bank. 

My guest this week is team performance expert and author Adrian Baillargeon who shares his fascinating journey from corporate work in Saskatoon, Canada, to becoming an independent consultant in Australia via Major League Baseball in Africa!  We delve into the importance of creating a sense of belonging within a team, the impact of poor leadership decisions, and how to turn around a sinking team.

From joining the Navy at just 17 and now reflecting on a 30-plus year military career, retired Commodore Peter Scott returns to the podcast to talk about his memoir Running Deep which offers insights into the life of a submariner. Peter has written an open hearted, courageous, honest and compelling account of his naval life and the many personal and leadership challenges he has faced and overcome.

The entirely frank and fearless Retired Lieutenant Colonel Oakland McCulloch shares his decades of leadership wisdom in this episode as we grapple with the big question: What makes a good leader? 
Oakland shares his experience as a combat arms officer in the US Army and his views on leadership, emphasising the need for accountability and servant leadership

Join me for this solosode where I reflect on conversations with recent podcast guests, plus what has been inspiring me - from books to amazing developments in technology. Then I respond to a question about executive presence and its role in effective, influential leadership.

My guest this week is author and expert in business and finance, Chris Lautenslager. We talk about Chris’ book The Prosperity Loop and explore his views on purpose-driven business and capitalism. We get into the importance of building relationships, adapting to change, and creating shared prosperity in business. Chris believes that businesses should focus on enhancing the value of the people they work with, including customers, vendors, and the community. This people-oriented approach, he suggests, is key to thriving in today's changing world.

Thomas R. Fox is literally the guy who wrote the book on compliance, with his international best seller The Compliance Handbook now into its third edition. In my conversation with Tom we delve right into the compliance landscape and its impact on leadership. We move from macro to micro issues, encompassing ethical business practices, the relationship between compliance and remuneration, the push for ESG, to international affairs, global trade practices and the role of technology in enabling transparency and accountability.

In this episode, I’m welcoming back friend of the pod and productivity expert Donna McGeorge. We talk about Donna’s latest book ChatGPT Revolution, including, in a very meta moment, how AI helped her write that book!, and we go deep into how ChatGPT can help with productivity, decision-making and more.

In a career that from the outside appears to zig and zag across journalism, law and philanthropy, Laura Fredricks saw a through line : asking questions and listening, really listening, to the answers. Laura went on to develop the ‘ask’ framework and has written seven books about it, with her latest - Hard Asks Made Easy - already a bestseller.

Brace yourself! Here's a bold statement: Sometimes, simplicity is the secret ingredient for long-term success in strategic planning. That is just one of the leadership insights from my guest, entrepreneur, author and master of the quick iteration, Brandon White. 

Want to hear two passionate Canadians riffing about the systems that are not designed to support parity, equity or inclusion? You got it! My guest this week, Katherine Lazaruk, shares her leadership journey from teaching music and singing opera to becoming an executive coach. We delve into the concept of executive presence - what it is and whether it is still relevant in today's world.

In this episode I get to geek out with my guest, Jonathan Green, an author and celebrity ghostwriter. We delve into the use of AI tools in writing and productivity. I share my experience using AI tools like ChatGPT to enhance my writing process, while Jonathan talks about his experience with Descript and his interest in AI. We discuss the benefits of AI tools in improving productivity, managing teams, and generating creative ideas.

Constance Dierickx, PhD, professionally known as The Decision Doctor®, and author of Meta Leadership, joins me for a discussion about the fascinating topic of leadership decision-making processes.

We make hundreds of decisions every day, from the inconsequential to the major, transformational ones. But how often do we stop to consider how and why we made our decisions?