LeaderImpact Podcast

Diana Palacio grew up in Latin America, moved to the United States for university, and immigrated to Canada as a young newlywed, trying to break into the job market without “Canadian experience.” She shares why pursuing an MBA became a pivotal career development decision, how her years in consumer packaged goods shaped her approach to classic marketing strategy, and why the most difficult transiti...

We sit down with Melissa Harris-Allen, a retail sales manager and emerging leader, to unpack how a post-maternity leave “in-charge” role became her turning point and why the skills built in motherhood can strengthen empathy, composure, and people-first leadership at work. Melissa shares what she had to unlearn, how mentors created a safe space to learn without judgment, and why self-grace matters...

Leadership rarely breaks because we lack information. It breaks because we forget the human in front of us. Justin Simpkins joins us with a simple conviction that keeps cutting through the noise: lead with heart and the rest follows.  Justin shares how character and teachability can matter more than credentials, and how a growth mindset turns unfamiliar work into a calling.  Thanks for listening!...

What happens when a season ends and you’re left asking the question so many leaders face: Now what? Jacqueline Clements shares how her path moved from performing on stage as a child, to years of focused motherhood and homeschooling, to stepping back into media and producing purpose-driven storytelling with her husband through major shifts like COVID. We dig into the leadership practices that made...

One brave ask can change a career, and one heavy loss can make you question who you even are. We sit down with Mary Elizabeth Murphy, CEO of Star Resources and author of Reset Your Buttons, to talk about both sides of that reality and what it takes to lead through it. Mary Elizabeth has spent decades in training and development, team dynamics, and workplace leadership, but her story starts with a...

Your job title can be taken away in a moment and that’s when the real leadership questions get loud. Michelle McCone Campbell, a speaker, author, and employee re-engagement specialist, joins us to talk about what happened when she moved from England to the United States and couldn’t work for years due to visa restrictions. What sounds like a career setback becomes a turning point: identity gets re...

A side hustle you try “for two weeks” is not supposed to rewrite your life, but that’s exactly what happens for Corliss Rassyle. We sit down with the Canadian speaker, success principles coach, and founder behind Lead Conference Canada to unpack the real leadership journey behind the highlight reel: the doubts, the pivots, the hard seasons, and the moments where faith and purpose finally click int...

Some careers look linear on paper. Dave’s path isn’t one of them—and that’s exactly where the wisdom lives. From getting fired at 25 in the UK’s soccer industry to running a pizza franchise, managing a global outdoor brand, helping launch a pro soccer club, and now serving with Build Nova Scotia, Dave shows how setbacks, networks, and faith can work together to create a life that actually matters....

Ever chased the shiny job only to feel strangely empty once you got it? That’s where our conversation with Larry Long Jr. begins—on the far side of achievement, where the paycheck is large but the purpose is small. Larry, a former college baseball player turned sales leader, speaker, and author of Jolt, walks us through the messy middle: leaving a prestigious consulting role, launching a baseball...

What if the thing you’re meant to do isn’t the thing you planned at all? Tara Brown—award-winning, clean, family-friendly comedian—shares how a six-week class turned a lifelong PR career into a full-time calling, and why a simple prayer reframed comedy as an assignment to lift people who walk into the room carrying more than they can say. Tara breaks down practical tools leaders can use anywhere:...

We sit down with Robert Seguin—organizational health advisor and former leader behind the global launch of Botox Cosmetic—to unpack how caring leadership can scale a brand, transform a team, and change a life.  We get candid about ego, ambition, and the discipline it takes to keep service at the center. Robert’s stories—from coaching Special Olympics to consulting oncology innovators—reveal how sm...

What if ROI could guide more than budgets and software investments? We sat down with Greg Richmond—VP of Value Advisory Services at an Atlanta-based supply chain software company—to unpack how a metric-heavy mindset can deepen relationships, sharpen focus, and shape a faith-filled legacy. Greg’s story moves from Texas blue-collar roots to white-collar leadership, and along the way he reveals why h...

Our candid conversation with Athena Dean Holtz charts a rare kind of turnaround: from high-achieving workaholic to a leader shaped by discernment, wise boundaries, and a hopeful view of redemption. Athena opens up about childhood trauma she long suppressed, the moment those memories resurfaced, and how a 13-year business partnership collapse forced her to ask the bravest question a leader can ask—...

A revolution, a cross-continental leap, and a career built one cold call at a time—Monica Richmond’s story shows how resilience and faith can turn uncertainty into lasting impact.  We dive into the disciplines that sustained her success: integrity as a daily operating system, financial stewardship as a strategy for freedom, and generosity as a source of joy. She also unpacks the reality of cold ca...

Impact doesn’t wait for a title or a perfect moment. From his first day in sales after leaving full-time ministry to leading sales effectiveness at Frontier Communications, Tim Beauchamp shows how belief, discipline, and service can transform a career and a culture. We dig into the two pivots that shaped him: stepping into the marketplace with a calling to serve, and facing a painful job loss that...

A candid journey from collapsed plans to renewed purpose, guided by grace, grit, and a fierce commitment to mental health advocacy. Dr. C shares how faith, family, and self-acceptance shaped her leadership and her resolve to stop dimming her light. Thanks for listening! Click here to take the LeaderImpact Assessment and to receive the first chapter of Becoming a Leader of Impact by Braden Douglas....

What if your next career leap doesn’t come from working harder, but from curating the right relationships and asking better questions about who you are and why you lead? We sit down with Wale “Wally” Adebogun—author, speaker, and award‑winning banking leader—to trace his journey from a childhood in Nigeria to leading teams in Canada, and the surprising role that mentors, sponsors, and faith played...

What happens when the highlight reel stops working? We sit down with Jennifer Amirault to unpack a journey that looks like success on paper—big titles, fast growth, and the white Mercedes—yet quietly spirals into anxiety, ego, and sleepless nights. Jennifer opens up about choosing flexibility for her young family, scaling a business beyond her leadership, and the moment she began to trade hurry fo...

Marnie Swedberg's extraordinary journey reveals how embracing your uniqueness can transform challenges into strengths. As someone who struggled with dyslexia and couldn't read properly until adulthood, Marnie defied expectations to become an accomplished author, international leadership mentor, and successful entrepreneur. Through vivid stories—like watching seagulls scatter in fear as h...

What happens when you leave the security of corporate America to build something of your own? For Nick Uzzoni, this journey began with a leap of faith—moving from Michigan to Dallas with no job leads, sleeping on a stranger's floor, and slowly building a life from scratch. That early resilience now powers his work as a small business owner specializing in web design and digital marketing. Tha...

Life rarely follows our carefully constructed plans, as Olympic speed skater Cindy Klassen discovered when her dream of competing in women's hockey was derailed. What followed instead was an unexpected journey to Olympic glory in a sport she initially resisted trying, as she embraced the challenge, eventually breaking world records and winning six Olympic medals across the 2002 and 2006 Games...

Rob Chung shares his journey from Christian school graduate to corporate retail leader, revealing how purposeful listening and genuine care became the foundation of his leadership approach. He discusses pivotal moments that shaped his impact on colleagues and executives alike, demonstrating how faith can meaningfully integrate with business leadership. Thanks for listening! Click here to take the...

What happens when your spouse becomes your colleague? For Brent and Celeste Trickett, National Directors of Family Life Canada, navigating this complex dynamic has been both challenging and deeply rewarding. With refreshing honesty, they reveal how sharing an office in their home's front entrance while raising four children required them to develop practical strategies for success. Thanks for...

Josh Erb takes us behind the scenes of Soul Edge Ministries, revealing how a bold decision at age 19 launched him into a lifetime of developing Christian leaders through adventure and mentorship. Instead of pursuing engineering, Josh and his twin brother created an immersive leadership program combining high-ratio mentoring with outdoor challenges that build character under pressure. Thanks for li...

Dave Smith, an award-winning executive coach with decades of organizational leadership experience, shares his journey through multiple career pivots and how they shaped his understanding of success and leadership impact. He explores how his faith and personal values transformed his approach to leadership, helping him move from fear-driven decisions to purpose-driven impact. Thanks for listening! C...