Othman's Leadership Podcast

Dr. Reda Othman sat with Dr. Shiang-Kwei Wang, the first-ever Campus President of Gateway Community College in New Haven, to explore what it looks like to lead through process instead of personality — and what it means when former colleagues still reach out years later to say how much they miss the structures you built. Dr. Wang’s career has moved from Taiwan to New York to Chicago to New Haven, a...

Dr. Reda Othman sat with Ramonda Olaloye, Assistant Superintendent of the Office of Enhancing Student Opportunities at the Oregon Department of Education, to explore how a leader holds people accountable and supports them at the same time. Ramonda leads special education for children from birth through age 21, and her approach started at a table in Texas, where she was an educational diagnostician...

Dr. Reda Othman sat with Joseph LeRoy, Principal of South Windsor High School, to explore what it takes to step into an established school culture and turn it toward a shared vision — without demanding that people change who they are first. Joe shares how he framed his first year around a single word, "moments," and how two early moves — presence and promotion — signaled to students, staff, and co...

Dr. Reda Othman sat with Robert Swan, Director of Student Services at East Haven Public Schools, to explore why so many districts work hard on chronic absenteeism and still don't see the number move. Robert argues that attendance isn't mainly about motivation or parenting. It's about belonging. Kids show up when school feels meaningful, when someone notices they're gone, and when missing a day mea...

Dr. Reda Othman sat with Georgina Rivera, Principal of Charter Oak International Academy in West Hartford, Connecticut, to explore what actually breaks an initiative — and what it takes to hold one together long enough to see it through. Georgina has led change at the classroom, district, and national level, and in this conversation she lays out the five elements she checks every time she launches...

Dr. Reda Othman sat with Dr. Amy Roque, Academic Director of Early Childhood Education at Holyoke Public Schools, to explore what it really takes to build something that outlasts your direct involvement. Amy shares how her early belief that leaders have all the answers gave way to a deeper understanding — that great leadership lives in collaboration, in asking the right questions, and in knowing w...

Dr. Reda Othman sat with Aaron Cruikshank, President of CTRS Market Intelligence in Vancouver, to explore why so many high-impact initiatives fail before execution begins and what leaders can do to build strategy on evidence instead of assumptions. With more than 1,000 projects across 25 years, Aaron brings a rare vantage point on what separates plans that hold from plans that collapse. He breaks...

Dr. Reda Othman sat with Michael Segovia, Principal Consultant at the Myers-Briggs Company and a 38-year practitioner of personality type science, to explore how leaders can use the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator to understand themselves more deeply, communicate across difference, and build teams where people don't just coexist — they thrive. Michael brings a rare combination of personal vulnerabilit...

Dr. Reda Othman sat with Dr. Ryan Rosiello, Manager of Leadership Development at United Natural Foods (UNFI), to explore how journey mapping — a practice most leaders have never thought to apply — can fundamentally change the way organizations design experiences for the people they're developing. Ryan breaks down journey mapping not as a design tool, but as a leadership mindset: one that forces yo...

Dr. Reda Othman sat with Joe Connolly, Executive Director of the Saint Thomas More Chapel and Center at Yale University, to explore what servant leadership looks like when it's lived — not just taught. Joe has spent decades leading at the intersection of healthcare, community service, and mission-driven work, and in this conversation he opens up about how he discovered his calling, how he builds c...

Dr. Reda Othman sat with Dr. Madeline Negrón, the first Hispanic superintendent of New Haven Public Schools, to explore what it truly means to lead a district of nearly 19,000 students through financial pressure, community trust deficits, and a bold 2029 vision — without ever losing sight of the child in the room. This conversation is strategic, vulnerable, and deeply practical. Dr. Negrón shares...

Dr. Reda Othman sat with Dr. Teresa Hill, Superintendent of South Holland School District 151 and author of The Instructional Leader’s Guide to Closing Achievement Gaps, to explore why achievement gaps persist—even in schools led by committed, hard-working educators. In this practical and strategic conversation, Dr. Hill challenges leaders to look beyond programs and structures and focus on the ac...

Dr. Reda Othman sat with Gabrielle Dolan, international keynote speaker and author of Story Intelligence, to explore how leaders can move from “I’m not a storyteller” to confidently using simple, authentic stories to clarify their message, influence others, and drive action. In this practical and energizing conversation, Gabrielle explains why storytelling is not a talent reserved for a few—it’s a...

Dr. Reda Othman sat with Dr. Andrea Carter, organizational scientist and CEO of Belonging First, to explore why belonging is not a “soft” concept—but a measurable leadership system that directly drives performance, trust, and retention. Drawing on large-scale research across industries, Dr. Carter explains how belonging functions as performance infrastructure, shaped by five measurable indicators:...

Dr. Reda Othman sat with Frank Levesque, founder of Rockstar Training and Coaching, to explore what truly drives sustained behavior change in leaders and why so many well-intentioned development efforts fail to stick. Drawing on his experience as an HR leader, coach, and entrepreneur, Frank breaks down the gap between leadership training, performance reviews, and real, measurable change in day-to-...

Dr. Reda Othman sat with Amanda Thayer, Administrator of the Early Childhood Initiative at Holyoke Community College, to explore what mindful leadership truly looks like in real, everyday work—not as a buzzword, but as a disciplined, practical way of leading under pressure. In this thoughtful and deeply human conversation, Amanda reframes mindfulness as an active leadership skill rooted in presenc...

Dr. Reda Othman sat with Jesse White, Principal of Bloomfield High School, to explore what it truly takes to communicate with clarity, confidence, and impact. Drawing from years of leadership, preaching, and public speaking, Jesse offers a refreshing, grounded perspective on why effective communication is less about performance and more about presence, intention, and understanding the people in fr...

Dr. Reda Othman sat with Dr. Miko Nino, Assistant Vice President for Adult & Online Education at Rhode Island College, to explore how leaders can move beyond symbolic gestures and make inclusion truly practical. In this deep, thoughtful conversation, Dr. Nino shares what he’s learned from roles spanning conference interpretation, online learning leadership, and directing diverse teams across highe...

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Reda Othman sits down with Maryellen Manning, Chief of Staff at New Britain Public Schools, to explore the real dynamics behind collaboration that works — and the pitfalls that make it fall apart. Maryellen shares deep, experience-tested insights from leading through major district initiatives, crisis response, curriculum overhauls, and cross-departmental change....

In this heartfelt episode of Othman’s Leadership Podcast, Dr. Reda Othman sits down with Michael Merline, Learning Experience Design Consultant at Citizens Bank, to explore the quiet strength of gratitude in leadership. Michael shares how being raised with values of kindness and authenticity shaped his leadership philosophy—and how showing genuine appreciation can transform teams, build trust, and...

In this episode of Othman’s Leadership Podcast, Dr. Laurie Shanderson—founder and CEO of Accreditation Insights—joins Dr. Reda Othman to explore how data becomes a catalyst for leadership and change when paired with storytelling. Dr. Shanderson shares her early lessons in using data to uncover hidden insights, the common mistake leaders make when they shape data to fit their narrative, and how to...

In the final part of my conversation with Dr. Rick Bailey—founder of RHB Consulting and author of Coherence: How Telling the Truth Will Advance Your Cause—we dive deep into branding, positioning, and the courage it takes for leaders to own their truth. Dr. Bailey shares the transformation story of Agnes Scott College, showing how clarity of mission, vision, and values can turn an overlooked instit...

In this second installment of my conversation with Dr. Rick Bailey—founder of RHB Consulting and author of Coherence: How Telling the Truth Will Advance Your Cause—we turn to an often-overlooked force in leadership: gratitude. Dr. Bailey shares powerful stories of how gratitude fuels energy, strengthens relationships, and transforms organizational culture. From his team’s moving holiday tradition...

In this episode of Othman’s Leadership Podcast, Dr. Rick Bailey, founder of RHB Consulting and author of Coherence: How Telling the Truth Will Advance Your Cause, shares powerful lessons from his three decades of leadership. With honesty and humility, Dr. Bailey reflects on the moment he confronted his own blind spots around diversity, the courage it took to admit his mistakes to his team, and the...

In this episode of Othman’s Leadership Podcast, Dr. Reda Othman sits down with Nora Osman, a global advisor, keynote speaker, and coach with expertise across healthcare, technology, and finance. Nora reframes “customer experience” as “human experience,” emphasizing that whether we serve employees or customers, the goal is the same: to create meaningful, positive interactions. She shares powerful s...