Bad Bosses, Great Leaders

In this rare group conversation, Rebecca interviews the founders of Alliance Practice—Lee Manis, Bob Briggs, and Thomas Bognanno—for a masterclass in mission-driven leadership.  With over 100 years of combined nonprofit and business experience, these three leaders unpack what most people get wrong about scaling, why alignment trumps ambition, and how trauma-informed leadership is reshaping the fut...

In this episode of "Bad Bosses, Great Leaders," Rebecca Vickers chats with executive leadership expert Mark L. Vincent to explore the nuances between managing and leading.  They delve into the transformative journey of leadership, discussing the three pivotal turns in an executive's career and the importance of maintaining a learning posture.  Mark shares insights on process consulting, adaptive c...

Ever wondered what it takes to transform from a good boss to a great leader? In this episode of the "Bad Bosses Great Leaders" podcast, we dive deep with Liz Weber, a leadership consultant with over 30 years of experience.  Liz reveals her journey from launching a training company to becoming a trusted advisor in strategic planning and executive coaching.  Discover her "Five Stages of Focused Lead...

In this episode of Bad Bosses, Great Leaders , Rebecca Vickers sits down with Jaclyn Strominger for a candid conversation about leadership, career pivots, and the lessons learned from life at 30,000 feet—literally.  Jaclyn shares stories from her travels that reveal how small moments of kindness (or rudeness) can shift an entire experience, and why leadership shows up in how we treat people in eve...

What happens when your boss leads with fear, and you still have to lead others? In this episode of Bad Bosses, Great Leaders, Jenn Donahue shares the story of surviving one of the worst leaders she’s ever worked under: a commanding officer in Afghanistan who yelled, intimidated, and hollowed out morale.  But instead of following that example, Jenn made a decision that shaped her entire leadership...

When you think of leadership, facilitation might not be the first word that comes to mind. But as Therese Miclot explains in this conversation, it’s a game-changer; and a skill too few leaders are taught. Therese shares how her time leading global L&D at a multibillion-dollar company revealed the real difference between promotable leaders and ones who stay stuck: their ability to communicate,...

You can’t build trust with a checklist and you can’t fake safety with platitudes. In this episode of Bad Bosses, Great Leaders, Adrian Cole shares what he’s learned about leadership, psychological safety, and inclusion across diverse roles, from operations and product management to DEI.  Drawing on real-life moments, Adrian opens up about the tension between good intentions and true impact, and wh...

Lisa Robyn Wood didn’t leave her senior role because of lack of ability; she walked away because self-doubt convinced her she wasn’t enough. In this honest and energizing episode, Lisa shares how a crisis of confidence shifted her path toward coaching and why she’s dedicated to helping managers who feel stuck, exhausted, or unsupported.  She opens up about the realities of performance pressure, th...

Imagine facing workplace bullying as a young broadcast journalist and transforming that experience into a powerful career in HR leadership.  Susan Hensley reveals her journey of resilience, sharing how creativity and self-advocacy became her tools for success. Discover practical strategies for overcoming perfectionism and building a supportive team environment.  Whether you're in HR or any leaders...

What if your biggest leadership challenge isn’t strategic; it’s emotional? In this powerful and eye-opening episode, clinical hypnotherapist and former ICU nurse Leslie Thornton joins Rebecca to explore what keeps high-performing leaders stuck.  Spoiler alert: it’s not a lack of intelligence. It’s disconnection from your body, your emotions, and your worth. Leslie unpacks why traditional goal sett...

Being the smartest person in the room might earn you respect, but it won’t make you a great leader. In this compelling episode, cybersecurity expert, author, and Ironman athlete Christian Espinosa shares why emotional intelligence, communication, and humility are the missing links in high-performing technical teams.  Drawing from his military background and extreme endurance sports, Christian brin...

What does it take to transform your life and your leadership from the ground up? In this deeply honest episode, Jim Bouchard shares his incredible journey from high school dropout and drug addict to black belt martial artist and respected leadership coach.  His story is one of radical ownership, personal growth, and lifelong transformation. We explore: Why leadership is about transformation, not p...

The Future of Leadership: Why It’s Time to Let Go of the Old Playbook The workplace is changing. Are you ready to lead differently? Today’s leaders face a once-in-a-generation shift in how we work, lead, and engage teams. Yet, many still cling to outdated command-and-control structures that no longer serve employees or organizations. In this episode, Brian Gorman —executive coach, TEDx speaker, an...

Are you leading in a way that actually energizes your team, or are you unknowingly draining them? So many leaders struggle with disengaged employees, constant firefighting, and teams that won’t step up. But what if the problem isn’t them—it’s how we’re structuring leadership? In this episode, Carly Pepin, business coach and human behavior expert, breaks down how self-awareness, values, and alignme...

If you’re still following the textbook rules of leadership, you’re already behind. In this high-energy episode, Roy Osing, author of Be Different or Be Dead and a powerhouse leader who grew a startup to a billion-dollar company, shares why differentiation is the key to survival—and why most businesses fail to do it right. ✅ The four pillars of audacious leadership (and how to apply them now) ✅ W...

Great leadership isn’t about titles—it’s about transformation. In this powerful episode, Dr. Elizabeth Pritchard shares her journey from clinical practice to executive coaching, where she now helps leaders transform their mindset and unlock their full potential. Dr. Pritchard believes that authentic leadership starts with self-awareness and the willingness to challenge your own beliefs. ✅ Why rew...

💥 Hiring is broken—and we’re all paying the price. Job seekers are drowning in rejection. Recruiters are burning out. And companies are making decisions based on incomplete, biased data. In this eye-opening episode, C. Guz , founder of Octopus , breaks down the real problems behind modern hiring—and what it actually takes to fix them. ✅ The truth behind AI in hiring (and why most of what you’ve...

🔥 You’re crushing goals—but quietly crumbling inside. Sound familiar? Burnout isn’t just about long hours. It’s about misalignment, lack of boundaries, and trying to lead without support. In this episode, Victoria Mensch , executive coach and founder of SV Executives Academy, shares the tools and mindset shifts leaders need to stay energized, clear, and connected —without burning out. ✅ The hidd...

What if leadership wasn’t about power—but about love? In this heartfelt and powerful episode, Sarena Diamond challenges everything you thought you knew about leadership. She breaks down how trust, clear communication, and intentional relationships are the real foundation of high-performing teams. ✅ Why “just make them do it” is a mindset that kills innovation  ✅ How to lead teams through change...

Empowered teams aren’t born—they’re built. And no, shouting “You’re empowered!” across Slack isn’t the way to do it. In this episode, Lisa Hagen and Chris Kincanon , co-founders of Be Ready Steady , join me to unpack the truth behind high-performing teams—and it starts with clarity, guardrails, and cross-functional trust. ✅ The real reason “empowerment” fails in most organizations ✅ How to creat...

Many professionals climb the ladder only to realize they’re checking boxes instead of moving mountains. If you’ve ever wondered what it really means to lead vs. manage, this episode is your wake-up call. Leadership expert Melissa Rath joins us to break down the key mindset shifts that transform reactive managers into proactive, people-first leaders. ✅ How to build trust so your team feels safe to...

Scaling isn’t just about getting bigger—it’s about getting better. But most businesses crash and burn when they try to scale too fast. Today, Emma Rainville , aka the “Wizard of Ops,” joins us to break down the biggest scaling mistakes and how to avoid them. With years of experience leading and growing businesses from six to eight figures, she reveals: ✅ The real difference between growth and sca...

Are you giving feedback that’s falling flat? Or worse—creating tension instead of growth? In this episode, we dive deep into the art of effective feedback with leadership expert Jackie Jamison. You’ll discover how to give feedback that inspires change, build a culture of trust and accountability, and avoid the common mistakes that make feedback feel personal or unhelpful. We’ll explore: ✔ The #1 r...

In this enlightening episode of Bad Bosses, Great Leaders , Stacey Chazin shares her journey of embracing her introverted leadership style and helping others do the same.  As someone who spent years trying to act extroverted, Stacey now empowers introverted leaders to recognize their unique strengths and lead with confidence. Stacey discusses: The difference between introversion and shyness and ho...

In this episode of Bad Bosses, Great Leaders , we explore the art of feedback with Laura Watson , a world country dance champion who’s become a master of clear, impactful communication. From her unexpected dance journey to leading others in the business world, Laura shares how constructive feedback can be the key to both personal and professional growth. Laura discusses: The importance of specific...