The Unleashing Leaders Podcast

In this episode of the Unleashing Leaders podcast, Lee Scott and Ross Thornley delve into the concept of adaptability in leadership, particularly during chaotic times. Ross shares his journey into leadership and the development of the Adaptability Quotient (AQ), emphasizing the importance of psychological safety and resilience in organizations. They discuss the challenges leaders face in recognizi...

In this episode, Dr. Derek Bub shares some of the less glamorous realities of navigating turbulence and rebuilding leaders after setbacks. Dr. Bub shares his unconventional career journey, starting as a fraud investigator to becoming the superintendent of the West Ada School District, the largest K-12 educational district in Idaho. The conversation delves into the 'dark side' of leadership, which...

In this conversation, Lee and Amy Bayer discuss the complexities of career breaks and re-entering the workforce, particularly focusing on the challenges faced by individuals who take time off for personal reasons such as parenting. Amy shares her personal journey in human resources, her experiences with leadership, and the importance of open communication between employees and employers. They expl...

Jeff Lindeman, Chief People, Culture & Capability Officer at WD-40, joins the podcast to unpack the dual challenge every modern leader faces leading themselves and leading through change. Through personal reflection, bold transparency, and a people-first mindset, Jeff reveals how introversion, vulnerability, and authenticity can become surprising superpowers in leadership. In this deep-dive conver...

In this episode, Debra Squyres reveals the nuanced relationship between the customer experience and team member experience. She debunks several myths about what it means to be a customer focused organization, including "The customer is always right" or "You can either have happy employees or happy customers." The reality is that our employees are the ones that create the customer experience. Debra...

This episode marks the powerful conclusion to the Vision Series, where Lee Scott illuminates one of the most overlooked yet transformative tools in a leader's arsenal, storytelling as a conduit for vision. This episode uncovers how the right words, shared with intention, can align teams, unlock motivation, and move organizations forward. Lee breaks down three high-stakes leadership conversations,...

In this episode, Lee continues the series on Vision by sharing a powerful tool to focus your teams - Objectives and Key Results (OKRs). OKRs are a tool for building the intermediate range of goals that connect your long-term vision to your short-term actions. OKRs are a way to concentrate your team's collective impact on the few most vital, relevant, shared, and time sensitive aspects of your busi...

In this episode, Lee picks up from the prior episode on seeing the trends in your business environment to seeing where you want to be. He summarizes the origins and value of a good mission/vision statement; and also the perils of how poorly and painfully it can be to create them. He provides an alternative approach to creating Rapid Organizational Unit Statements (affectionately referred to as ROU...

Where there is no vision, the people perish." Sounds like an important skill for leaders! In this episode, Lee demystifies the critical leadership competency of Vision by breaking it down into specific behaviors and skills. He emphasizes the two aspects of being able to SEE and SHARE a compelling vision for the future, especially in a rapidly changing world. He introduces three practical tools for...

Rob Catalano, Chief Engagement Officer at WorkTango, shares insights on how leaders can enhance employee engagement through simple, regular micro-doses of recognition and feedback. He discusses his career transition from what he thought was his dream job (customer experience marketing) and how that translated into his actual dream job (engaging employee experiences). Why is it that so many employe...

Ken Rusk, bestselling author of Blue-Collar Cash and founder of Rusk Industries, joins Lee to bust three major myths about scaling blue-collar businesses. First, he challenges the outdated view that trades aren't a fulfilling career path. Next, he explores how both blue- and white-collar leaders often limit themselves by tying identity to individual skills, blocking the potential to scale. Finally...

In this conversation, Alain Hunkins discusses the integration of empathy and accountability in leadership. He emphasizes that leadership is a performing art, where behavior and connection are crucial. The discussion covers the importance of being present, the role of feedback, and how to navigate emotional responses in the workplace. Hunkins shares practical skills for demonstrating empathy and th...

In this episode of the Unleashing Leaders podcast, Lee and Erin Cox discuss the complexities of decision-making in leadership roles. Erin shares her career journey, the challenges she faced while navigating multiple job offers, and the decision-making process she utilized, known as the OOC EMR model. The conversation emphasizes the importance of clarity, confidence, and authenticity in making impa...

In this conversation, Chris Rollins discusses the concept of Ripple Effect Leadership, emphasizing the importance of vulnerability, empathy, and connection in effective leadership. He shares his personal journey and how pivotal moments shaped his understanding of leadership. The discussion covers practical techniques for leaders to shift their mindsets from a siloed approach to a more inclusive an...

Stacie Baird, Chief People Officer at Community Medical Services, offers insights on the intersection of self-care, resilience, and ethical AI to elevate the human experience. She shares her professional journey to discovering her leadership purpose in addressing the opioid epidemic. She also shares the power of adversity in our personal lives to unlock our super powers and focus our contributions...

Lee is joined by Andrew Adeniyi, founder of AAA Solutions and author of "The Circle of Leadership" and "The Building Blocks of Belonging", to share how leaders can build psychologically safe teams by aligning personal and company values. Drawing from his own experiences with both healthy and toxic cultures, Andrew offers practical steps for transforming dysfunctional environments, especially those...

Managing a distributed team sounds tough—until you hear how Matt Tait turned it into a competitive advantage for his business. In this episode Lee sits down with Matt, CEO of Decimal—a fast-growing bookkeeping and accounting firm that's taking "boring" and turning it into brilliance. Matt's journey is anything but ordinary: from a failed restaurant tech startup to scaling Decimal from a two-person...

In this episode of Unleashing Leaders, Lee teams up with Skot Waldron, host of the Unlocked podcast, to dive into one of the most significant challenges leaders face: limiting beliefs. These are often partial truths that have helped us succeed in the past but are now holding us back. Lee and Scott explore how these beliefs affect not only us as individual leaders but also the teams we guide. Learn...

In this episode, host Lee Scott welcomes Darren Virassammy, co-founder of 34 Strong, TEDx speaker, and talented bass player. Darren shares his personal journey of discovering lateral leadership through his home life and how this has shaped his approach to workplace dynamics. Explore the concept of lateral leadership across organizations, industries, and business relationships, with practical tips...

Lee is joined by Bill Otterbeck, Deputy Director at California's Department of Healthcare Services, to share how to lead large-scale transformations through integrative thinking and cross-functional collaboration.  He explores the power of understanding diverse perspectives, aligning motivations, and fostering shared goals. For Otterbeck, an unleashed leader builds other leaders—creating a culture...

John Crowder, Vice President of the Healthcare Vertical at Integrity Solutions, brings decades of experience working with some of the world's largest organizations to this insightful conversation with Lee Scott. In this replay episode, John shares how leaders can have a greater impact by shifting from listening to respond to truly listening to understand. He dives into the value of empathy, being...

Michelle Cirocco, CEO of the Televerde Foundation and Chief Impact Officer at Televerde, shares her powerful journey from incarceration to executive leadership.  In this conversation with Lee, she reveals her philosophy of empowering teams to lead like business owners and discusses how Televerde supports women in prison with job training and career opportunities. Michelle highlights the impact of...

In this featured episode from the Gut + Science podcast, Lee joined host Nikki Lewallen Gregory to provide insights on leadership and personal growth.  The discussion centers around identifying and nurturing people's potential and greatness through genuine curiosity, recognizing strengths, and positioning your team as the heroes of the narrative. The episode emphasizes the importance of exhibiting...

In this replay episode,  Lee  welcomes Michelle Mahaffey , EVP and Chief HR Officer at Community Health Network in Indianapolis. Michelle highlights the importance of overcoming the stigma around mental health and the significance of caregivers being able to receive care themselves. They discuss the joy and fulfillment of allowing others to support you and the importance of normalizing the need fo...

Stephanie Clendenin, Director of the California Department of State Hospitals, joins Lee to share her journey from accounting to leading one of the nation's largest forensic mental health systems. With 34+ years in public service, she reflects on unifying siloed teams, navigating political sensitivities, and driving impact through strategic planning and shared goals. Stephanie's story is a powerfu...