Grow Strong Leaders Podcast

What’s the difference between a Learn-It-All leader and a Know-It-All Leader? That’s just one of many questions Damon Lembi answers in this value-packed conversation. Damon is an excellent example of a leader who’s been focused on his own growth and equally committed to helping members of his team become the best versions of themselves.  For nearly three decades as CEO, Damon has led his company,...

What’s the evidence that women face unique hurdles in advancing to executive leadership roles? Jennifer McCollum shares the data based on 25+ years of research conducted by Linkage. The facts are real. In this conversation, we focus on the actions women can take to overcome these hurdles – and what men can do to be effective allies and executive sponsors. You will love Jennifer’s passion for this...

What does it take to make the transition from being a star athlete in college to a successful  business owner? Meet Chase Dalton, CEO of Silicon Signs, who did just that. Chase is an extraordinary leader who lives daily the focus of this podcast, to Grow Strong Leaders, by developing himself and his people.  You are sure to be moved by the stories he shares from his business and from his life.   I...

Do you know of a leader who worked with the same team of people for 12 years? Russel Lolacher achieved that feat. In this interview, Russel reveals exactly what he did to create the environment that caused every person to want to stay and give their best effort. You’ll learn valuable strategies that you can implement immediately with your own team.  Russel is an international speaker and the found...

Mark is the CEO of Northeast Sequoia Private Client Group, a national financial planning and wealth management firm. He is passionate about empowering entrepreneurs to achieve multigenerational wealth by providing personalized strategies that focus on emotional fitness, wealth accumulation, and a plan that can work under all circumstances. His unwavering commitment to delivering a "wow"...

How would you respond if you learned you had an illness that is likely to shorten your life? My guest Dr. Mark Goulston got that news, and it was a major wake-up call for him. He was inspired to create a series of videos on YouTube called, “I’m Dying to Tell You.”  This is a conversation you’ll want to listen to multiple times because it’s packed with so much life wisdom. Mark shares specific ways...

If someone took a look at your LinkedIn profile and your activity on that platform, what impression would they have? In case your answer involves any aspect of “needs improvement,” you’ll find this conversation with guest Jennifer Darling super valuable. She shares specific tips that will help you with 3 Ps: Profile, Posts, and People.  Jennifer is a master at creating visibility, making noise, an...

What causes so many leaders to fail when they are transitioning to a senior leadership role? Robert Witherspoon reveals important reasons, based on his decades of experience coaching leaders in transition. What he shares can help your organization avoid those pitfalls and instead ensure success.  Robert is a leadership coach for top executives, and he’s been serving leaders in business and governm...

What do the best founders do when leading others to fulfill the company’s mission? You’ll find out in this valuable conversation with Raja Skogland, who’s based in Norway.  Raja is not only an entrepreneur herself, she has also invested in more than 70 start-ups and small businesses. She’s observed firsthand—and also practices herself—the leadership skills necessary for building a successful compa...

To celebrate Episode #250, Meredith invited her business partner of 32 years, Dr. Denny Coates, to be her guest and discuss insights they’ve acquired around skill development and behavior change.  Denny and Meredith were introduced to each other in 1990 and met for breakfast to get acquainted. Three hours later, they were still talking. They are still fascinated with each other’s thinking as they’...

You may think that success requires striving and pushing hard. Dr. Jeff Spencer dispels that notion and presents an alternate approach that results in a joyful life. You’ll want to take notes as you listen to this amazing man drop nugget after nugget of wisdom.  Jeff builds champions. He has spent more than 400,000 hours mastering the art and science of full potential play. His extraordinary track...

Did you know that stress is actually something we create in our own minds? It’s true! And Dr. Bridget Cooper shares specific Stress Busters that can help you become calmer in the face of any challenge. This is a must-listen episode if you’d like to ditch the drama in your life while maintaining your inner peace and personal power.  Bridget, or Dr. B as she’s called by her clients, is a cage rattle...

What does it take to be someone who can benefit from coaching? Jacquelyn Lane and Scott Osman share the qualities that are essential to make the most of the coaching process.   Scott and Jacquelyn are the two lead authors of the new book, Becoming Coachable: Unleashing the Power of Executive Coaching to Transform Your Leadership and Life. Their co-author is Marshall Goldsmith, a familiar name to e...

Would you consider yourself a CURIOUS person? I hope your answer is YES. In this interview with Dr. Michele D’Amico, you’re going to learn some of the benefits of curiosity and why it’s even more powerful when combined with reflective listening.  Michele is the founder of Vetta Consultants, an organization that specializes in developing leaders and team members who are emotionally intelligent, cur...

What comes to mind when you hear the word INFLUENCE? Think about people who have influenced you in the past – and what it was about their approach that you found persuasive. Elaina Zuker has studied this topic for decades. It’s her specialty and her passion, and you’ll come away with important insights about influencing others at work and at home.  Elaina is President of Elaina Zuker Associates, a...

If you were dealing with personal challenges, such as a special needs child or being caretaker of an aging parent, would you feel comfortable sharing them with your boss? Andrea Grant had both situations, and her answer was a resounding NO. In this conversation, you’ll find out why and how her life experiences led to the work she’s doing today.  Andrea leads the growth and expansion efforts for th...

Being voted a “Best Place to Work” doesn’t happen by accident. Aaron Wilmot shares what’s he learned about creating the kind of culture where people are excited to come to work and put forth their best efforts. He points out several leadership behaviors that are key to this environment, including the investment of time in getting to know people and what’s important to them.   Aaron is the Vice Pre...

When you think of change management, do you imagine a process that takes months or years? Think again. Angela Priest is an extraordinarily skilled facilitator whose 3-day workshops produce immediate and lasting impact. You’ll be inspired as you hear Angela describe her approach, where she involves the right people and gets buy-in from key influencers. You’ll want to take notes to capture all the v...

Is it possible to create a high-trust environment and achieve ambitious business outcomes at the same time? J.C. Lapierre describes how professional services giant PwC is doing just that with its Trust Leadership Institute. You’ll be inspired by J.C.’s enthusiasm for this important project and her passion for her role as a leader.  J.C. serves as Chief Strategy and Communications Officer for PwC,...

Which leadership skills and strengths are important for entrepreneurs in order to build a successful business? Geoffrey Kent shares the ones he needed to use, and they’re the same ones he advises every business leader to develop. You’ll be mesmerized by the stories Geoff tells to illustrate his points.  Geoff has been a serial entrepreneur for more than 40 years. As a result of his own experiences...

One of the most important strengths of an effective leader is empathy. But where do leaders learn this skill when they often feel driven by KPIs and ROIs? Emily Harper describes a compelling approach that Villyge is taking to develop empathic leaders in the context of supporting employees around significant life events.  Emily Harper is the Chief Operating Officer of Villyge. It’s a people-first p...

Did you know that Stephen R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People , was working on another book before he died in 2012? The book is called Live Life In Crescendo: Your Most Important Work is Always Ahead of You .  His co-author was his daughter Cynthia Covey Haller, and she was committed to see the book through to publication. This took several years because of all the stories...

In your role as a leader and in other areas of your life, what kinds of habits have prevented you from being as effective as you’d like to be? My guest Gregg Vanourek has studied and written about these leadership derailers and common traps of living, and we cover several of them in this conversation.  Gregg runs Gregg Vanourek LLC, a training and development firm, and teaches at the University of...

Black women are under-represented in the C-suite. That’s a reality that Dr. Mechelle Roberthon has seen first-hand, and she’s on a mission to turn that around. This is a must-listen interview if your organization is committed to ensuring diversity at all levels, including top executive positions.   Michelle shares important insights from her dissertation research and describes specific actions org...

Do you faithfully hold weekly 1-1 meetings with each member of your team? Jeremy Barr explains why this is the most important thing you can do as a leader. In this fast-paced conversation, Jeremy shares lots of nuggets about leadership that he’s learned from his various executive roles and now teaches to company founders, business owners, and leaders. He’s on a mission to have a positive impact on...