Lead the People

Most organizations believe that more leadership training means better leaders. But for Neil Ifill , author of The Cart Before the Horse , the real problem isn't a lack of programs; it's that the wrong people keep getting access to them. In this episode, Matt Poepsel sits down with Neil to explore breaks at the manager level, why first-line leaders are the backbone of every organization yet the las...

Most high-achieving leaders believe that working harder is the path to a fulfilling life. But for Kevin Rice , co-founder of Hathaway and host of the CEOs and ABCs podcast , the relentless pursuit of career success nearly cost him the moments that mattered most: at home, with his kids. In this episode, Matt Poepsel sits down with Kevin to explore the deeply personal journey behind scaling a compan...

Most leaders believe that projecting confidence means hiding their doubts. But for Tyler Dickerhoof , author and personal development coach, the walls we build to conceal our fears and insecurities are the very things keeping us from connecting with, and truly leading, the people around us. In this episode, Matt Poepsel sits down with Tyler to explore the deeply personal journey behind his new boo...

When organizations face a crossroad, the instinct is often to stick to the familiar and double down on what worked yesterday. But for Peter Georgariou , founder and CEO of karmadharma , true growth happens in the "empty room"—the space where leaders have the courage to visualize a future unburdened by the past. In this episode, Matt Poepsel sits down with Peter to explore the integration of strate...

When we’re drowning in Slack notifications and back-to-back Zooms, most of us just try to "productivity-hack" our way out of it. But Jessica DeAngelo , founder of Hike to Become , says we’ve got it all backward. We don’t need a better app; we need to leave the phone in the car and hit the dirt. In this episode, Matt Poepsel chats with Jessica about her book, The Wild Advantage . They dig into why...

When bravery is mistaken for fearlessness, leaders often feel like frauds the moment they experience a racing heart or sweaty palms. But according to U.S. Marine Corps veteran and leadership expert Jill Schulman , bravery isn't the absence of fear, it’s the willingness to act in spite of it. In this episode, Dr. Matt Poepsel sits down with Jill to discuss the science behind The Bravery Effect . Th...

In this episode, Matt Poepsel sits down with Daphne to discuss The Leadership Trilogy , a three-book collection designed to help leaders at every level lead with clarity and confidence. They explore the critical shift from “tasking” to “coaching,” empowering a stressed team through simple changes in conversation, and commanding executive presence regardless of one’s official title. In this episode...

Jevon Wooden, CEO of BrightMind Consulting Group, is a speaker, coach, and author of two books, including From Functional to Phenomenal. A Bronze Star recipient and Army veteran, his expertise in leadership and business strategy has been featured in Forbes, Inc., and Fast Company. Key Takeaways: Many new managers are promoted for technical excellence but receive little leadership training. Empathy...

Alaina G. Levine, CSP, is a professional speaker, corporate comedian, science writer, coach, and author of books, including Networking for Nerds, which beat out Einstein for an award (REALLY!), and Create Your Unicorn Career. As an expert in STEM workforce and career development, she travels the planet collaborating with organizations who want to recruit, retain, and grow their STEM talent and lev...

Daria Rudnik is a Team Architect and Executive Leadership Coach, author of CLICKING, and co-author of The AI Revolution. A former Chief People Officer and ex-Deloitte professional, she brings over 15 years of international executive experience. Having lived in three countries and worked with clients across six continents, Daria has helped leaders from Fortune 500 companies and fast-growing startup...

Cristina Amigoni is a leadership, culture, and team transformation expert, author of The Authenticity Upgrade: Rebooting Leadership for Real Humans, and co-founder of Siamo, a human-centric leadership and culture consultancy. Her work focuses on helping leaders and teams communicate more effectively, navigate change with less friction, and build cultures grounded in trust, clarity, and connection....

Faisal Hoque is a best-selling author, serial entrepreneur, and futurist focused on guiding leaders through transformation and disruption. In this episode, he explores the intersection of mindfulness, innovation, and sustainable leadership, drawing on decades of experience building companies, writing influential books, and navigating systems change. Faisal emphasizes the importance of aligning int...

Dr. Jeffrey Yip is a business school professor at Simon Fraser University and a leadership scholar known for his Listen and Build approach to leading change. Through his work with executive leaders and organizations, Jeffrey helps people rethink resistance, not as something to push through, but as a signal that something meaningful is happening beneath the surface. In this episode, he explores how...

JM Ryerson is a leadership and performance coach, international speaker, and host of the Let’s Go Win podcast. Through his Win From Within coaching framework, JM helps growth-minded leaders and teams align their values, master their mindset, and make intentional choices that drive both business success and personal fulfillment. With experience building and selling multiple companies, JM blends rea...

Ashley Herd is the founder of Manager Method, a platform designed to help new and experienced leaders navigate the complexities of people management with confidence and clarity. Drawing from her background in law, HR, and corporate leadership, Ashley brings a practical, human-centered approach to managing teams. In this episode, she shares strategies for setting boundaries, delivering feedback, an...

Sophie Wade is a work futurist, thought leader, and author focused on evolving workplaces for today’s dynamic environment. Through her advisory, writing, and speaking, she helps leaders navigate the shift toward empathy-led business practices and flexible, human-centric work models. Drawing on her global business background and research, Sophie emphasizes the importance of trust, connection, and i...

Nancy Burger is a thought transformation expert, keynote speaker, and executive coach who helps leaders and teams rewire limiting thought patterns to unlock breakthrough performance. A former Wall Street banker turned professional writer, Nancy blends neuroscience, behavioral psychology, and storytelling to show how changing our inner dialog changes everything from collaboration to culture to resu...

Malissa Clark is a Professor of industrial/organizational (I-O) psychology at the University of Georgia, where she has been on faculty since 2013. Currently, she serves as Head of the department of psychology and director of the Healthy Work Lab. Recently selected as a member of the 2024 Thinkers 50 Radar list and a finalist for the 2025 Thinkers50 Radar Award, Malissa is a recognized expert on th...

George Pesansky is a recognized leader in Operational Excellence, with a career spanning more than 30 years in performance optimization, executive coaching, and systematic improvement. He has trained and coached over 10,000 professionals across six continents and helped Fortune 500 companies and nonprofits alike drive measurable results. He is the founder of Capacity2Care, a nonprofit encouraging...

In this episode, Rachel Downey shares how leaders can move from being invisible to truly influential by owning and expressing their leadership brand. Drawing from her work across creative industries and executive teams, Rachel explains why brand is more than visuals, it’s about voice, values, and showing up with clarity. She breaks down the internal blocks that keep leaders from sharing their stor...

In this episode, Elena Agaragimova explores the evolving relationship between employee engagement and performance. She challenges the idea that traditional engagement strategies are enough and makes the case for shifting toward unlocking human potential through personalization, curiosity, and strategic clarity. Elena shares how leaders can better align people with their strengths, create space for...

In this episode, leadership coach Lee Scott explores why so many managers avoid hard conversations and what to do about it. He shares how fear, unclear expectations, and lack of training often hold leaders back from saying what needs to be said. Lee offers practical tools for building the courage and clarity to step into uncomfortable conversations with confidence. From naming the gap between inte...

In this episode, Jaime Nolan, CAE, shares her journey of transforming organizational culture, challenging outdated systems, and leading with authenticity during times of change. With deep experience in association leadership, Jaime opens up about the personal and professional work required to lead transformation from the inside out. She reflects on what it takes to build trust across diverse commu...

In this episode, Lissy Alden joins the show to unpack what mental fitness really means and how it applies to leadership. She shares how mindset impacts performance, what it looks like to shift from being hijacked by emotion to intentionally choosing your response, and why self-awareness is the key to change. Drawing from her experience supporting people leaders across industries, Lissy breaks down...

In this episode, executive coach and speaker Kelly Meerbott joins the show to explore how leaders can move from burnout and fragmentation to clarity, connection, and purpose. Drawing on her trauma-informed approach and deep experience with hundreds of C-suite leaders and military officers, Kelly offers a refreshing take on what it means to lead from within. She discusses how to dismantle outdated...