Leading Through Crisis with Céline Williams

Leadership advisor and DEI expert Stacey Gordon returns to Leading Through Crisis to explain why diversity, equity, and inclusion should never be treated as a bolt-on "initiative," and why that mistake is exactly why so many companies have abandoned their DEI programs.  Stacey and host Céline Williams dig into why so many leaders struggle with flexibility and self-awareness, how communication brea...

What does trekking 17,000 feet to Everest Base Camp have to do with leading a business or team in today’s world? As it turns out, quite a lot! In this episode, I sit down with Ketul Patel, a supply chain and business transformation expert and author of A Journey of Elevation , to unpack the leadership lessons forged on the trail to Everest Base Camp . Ketul shares how the mountain became a mirror...

What does it actually look like to lead people through a crisis — not just manage operations, but truly show up for the humans involved? In this episode of Leading Through Crisis, host Céline Williams sits down with Tracy Nolan, a Fortune 50 Senior Executive and global Board Leader with deep expertise in regulated industries, including healthcare and telecommunications. Tracy has led through it al...

The most surprising leadership insights may not be found where you'd expect… In this episode, Céline sits down with Philip Atkinson, an organizational coach and beekeeper who has spent his career helping leaders around the world become better humans with better skills. Philip is also the author of Bee Wise: 12 Leadership Lessons from a Busy Beehive , a beautifully written book structured across th...

In this episode of Leading Through Crisis , Céline Williams sits down with Charles Vogl—leadership advisor, speaker, and author of The Art of Community —to challenge what we think we know about connection, adaptability, and resilience . Together, they explore: - Why most “team building” and networking fails - The difference between connection vs. proximity - How leaders can create real community (...

What does leadership look like in moments of sustained uncertainty, high pressure, and constant change? In this episode of Leading Through Crisis , Céline Williams speaks with Iranian human rights advocate Zolal Habibi about what it means to lead with clarity, courage, and conviction, especially when the cost of staying true to your values is high . Drawing on her personal journey and decades of c...

In this episode of Leading Through Crisis , host Céline Williams sits down with Ernesto Gómez, founder and CEO of Aspen Mindset1 and author of Regrowth: How Organizations Can Overcome Stalling by Unlocking Their People’s Potential. Together, they explore how leaders can navigate today’s complex landscape—where crises are no longer occasional events but an ongoing reality . Ernesto shares powerful...

When organizations face crises, change, or uncertainty, many leaders feel pressure to withdraw, control the narrative, or pretend they have all the answers. Unfortunately, those behaviors often become the very trust breakers that damage teams and fuel fear . In this episode of Leading Through Crisis, Céline Williams sits down with leadership development expert and bestselling author Amy Riley to e...

Building Resilience, Confidence, and Human Connection In this episode of Leading Through Crisis, John Kippen, a professional magician + resilience and empowerment coach, shares his powerful story of surviving a life-threatening brain tumor, living with facial paralysis, and rebuilding confidence through creativity, magic, and human connection.  He and Céline unpack practical tools for emotional re...

In this episode, Bob Chonka and Jon Grannis of Sollah Interactive chat with us about one of the biggest issues facing organizations today: Are leaders truly equipped to guide their teams through challenging times and whatever comes next?  You'll hear:  - How leadership expectations have shifted with the rise of millennial leaders - About the impact of technology on communication, and why relevance...

What does it mean to lead through crisis—not just survive it, but transform through it?  In this gripping and inspiring conversation, Zimbabwean pastor and global advocate Evan Mawarire shares how one simple video turned into a national movement that changed the course of Zimbabwe’s history . As founder of the viral #ThisFlag campaign, Evan rallied 12 million citizens to stand up for justice in on...

The workplace is changing fast. From economic uncertainty to cultural shifts and the rise of AI, business leaders are operating in a constant state of pressure, and a troubling leadership style is on the rise . In this episode, I sit down with CEO coach, venture capitalist, and author Kate Lowry to unpack what fear-based leadership looks like and how to protect yourself from it . We explore: - Why...

In this episode, business psychologist, emotional intelligence expert, and founder of Ei4Change, Dr. Robin Hills, shares how to stay grounded in human-centered leadership while navigating the rise of AI and embracing the opportunities it brings .  We explore the emotional and ethical limits of AI, and why critical thinking, empathy, and purpose-driven leadership matter now more than ever.  "AI is...

In this powerful episode, I sit down with seasoned entrepreneur, CEO, and author Rob Gallaher to discuss the importance of self-leadership, the mechanics of implementing a sustainable profit-sharing model, and what it takes to create a culture of shared success . We explore how Rob transitioned from micromanaging every detail to empowering leaders at every level of his businesses. He shares the ex...

"When things are going well, it’s exciting. When they’re not, you don’t know where the bottom is." In this episode, entrepreneur, author, and developer Jose Berlanga and I discuss navigating complexity and leadership lessons learned from childhood adversity and many years of leading through high-stakes moments.  We specifically discuss the importance of calculated risk-taking, building resilient t...

“We tend to do things because that’s the way it’s always been, not because it’s the right answer.” In this episode, Belonging and Connection Strategist, Dr. Roz Cohen, shares a practical approach to hiring practices that foster employee engagement and belonging at work, as well as how leaders can share the mental load of being the person who does it all. This conversation is so refreshing in that...

“Charisma is really about how we portray ourselves and engage with people on a deeper level.”  In this episode, organizational psychologist Richard Reid talks to us about the power of charisma and why being charismatic may not mean exactly what you think it does .  Learn about the difference between our System 1 and System 2 brains, how to unlock your charisma, and engage people to create the best...

“Don’t let your situation define who you are. You define who you are.” Today’s guest, Kijuan Amey, is a dynamic speaker, author, and advocate for resilience. He shares how a motorcycle accident that nearly took his life became the catalyst for growth and why he’s so passionate about helping others win in life’s lessons. In a moment, his entire life changed (as it sometimes does), and he learned so...

In this episode of Leading Through Crisis, speaker, coach/trainer, and former opera director, Elizabeth Bachman, shares about overcoming communication problems at work, particularly between men and women .  We cover: - The two main thinking styles  - What gets lost in translation - Showing the value of things NOT going wrong - How women get better at communicating who they are “Society teaches wom...

In today’s episode of Leading Through Crisis, we explore the question, “What’s at stake when leaders are unprincipled, unethical, incompetent, and selfish?” Philippe Johnson, a retired US Air Force officer, advocate for principled and ethical leadership, and author, shares his thoughts, particularly as they relate to public service and through the lens of Trump’s presidency. Topics discussed: ◾️P...

“ We want to foster a culture where we’re open, honest, transparent, and people can grow. When you’re given the chance to express what you want/think, as well as know how you contribute, it creates this magical little atmosphere (aka workplace culture).” Today's Leading Through Crisis episode is all about building an inclusive culture. Rosi Bremec, COO of Game Lounge, talks to us about: - Balancin...

It’s been 5 years and 100 episodes of Leading Through Crisis! Join me for: - Some reflections on how and why the podcast started - Why I debate changing the name monthly (and why I haven’t yet) - The guests and conversations that give me hope - Why it has reaffirmed over and over again that there’s no such thing as “one-size-fits-all” - Going deep in self-leadership  - What I would love to see mor...

“Many people with autism gravitate toward leadership because of the traits and values of our culture… We’re born leaders because we’re born to see world-building vision .”  Today, we are joined by autistic advocate and host of the Autistic Culture Podcast, Dr. Angela Kingdon. Angela drops a science/history lesson, a ton of pop culture references, and some much-needed thoughts on neurodiversity in...

“If people are acting like children in your environment, it’s okay to be the teacher.” Setting and enforcing boundaries at work “is always about creating safety for yourself… it’s not about them.” In this episode, Workplace Conflict Mediator, Communication Coach, and Civil Rights Attorney Meredith Holley shares her personal experience with landing her dream job–only to end up being sexually harass...

In this episode, Award-Winning Author and Keynote Speaker, Amy Weinland Daughters shares her Facebook Letter Writing Project–where she spent 18 months writing 580 handwritten letters to friends online .  We dive into how that came about, what it taught her, and why she can’t stop talking about it! Tune in and learn how to use this simple but impactful tool to cultivate relationships in your life –...