Narativ Leadership Story Talks

What does the Titanic teach us about psychological safety, trust, and moral leadership? In this episode of Leadership Story Talks, hosts Jerome Deroy and Julienne Ryan sit down with Kelly Skwarcan—leadership consultant, author, and creator of Leadership in Crisis: The Titanic, Carpathia, and Californian. Through this unique, immersive case study, Kelly unpacks the psychology behind two ships on th...

In this debrief episode, hosts Julienne Ryan and Jerome Deroy reflect on their heartfelt conversation with author and keynote speaker Amy Daughters, whose work explores the unexpected power of handwritten letters in the digital age. Centered on a deceptively simple idea—taking the time to write a note—this episode dives into the emotional resonance and intentionality behind putting pen to paper. J...

In this episode, Jerome Deroy and Julienne Ryan sit down with Evante Daniels—founder of Seeqer and originator of “cultural physics,” a groundbreaking framework for understanding how shared beliefs and narratives shape organizations. Evante works with schools, governments, and businesses to assess and strengthen what he calls “cultural resilience”—an organization’s ability to withstand and adapt to...

In this debrief episode, hosts Julienne Ryan and Jerome Deroy reflect on their compelling conversation with Dr. Neal Baer—renowned TV producer, medical doctor, and storytelling educator—focusing on one powerful idea: “Data. Emotion. Action.” Using this quote as a springboard, they explore how storytelling transforms dry statistics into narratives that resonate—and ultimately drive change. From jus...

In this episode, Jerome Deroy and Julienne Ryan sit down with Charles Bernard—sales improvement expert, keynote speaker, and founder of Criteria for Success and Collavia . Charles brings more than two decades of experience helping organizations align their strategies with the modern buyer’s mindset. His mantra? Enable buying in a world of selling. From a chance encounter in a corporate elevator to...

In this debrief episode, Jerome Deroy and Julienne Ryan revisit a powerful moment from Episode 142 with Gary Danoff: “I’ve been laid off a number of times, and I used to have great shame about that. And now I have great pride and appreciation and acceptance of what it has taught me… Wealth can be measured in a lot of different ways… partly financial, and partly in wisdom and figuring things out.”...

What if the secret to stronger workplace connections and higher engagement could be found in your mailbox? In this episode, Jerome and Julienne sit down with Amy Daughters—keynote speaker, author, and advocate of handwritten letters—as she shares the incredible journey that started with writing notes to a grieving acquaintance and led to a profound reconnection with over 600 Facebook friends. Amy...

In this debrief episode, Jerome and Julienne reflect on their conversation with Taylor Scott, author of Lead With Hospitality and the upcoming Give Hospitality . They dive deeper into a powerful quote from Taylor: “We love our favorite hospitality brands and destinations... nine times out of ten, it's because of how they make us feel... That's what I believe can transform mere jobs into...

In this powerful conversation, Jerome and Julienne speak with Dr. Neal Baer—award-winning television showrunner, physician, and educator—whose career has spanned medical dramas like ER and Law & Order: SVU to pioneering a graduate program at Harvard that fuses storytelling and health. Dr. Baer reflects on how his personal journey—particularly coming out later in life—has shaped the narratives...

In this short debrief episode, Jerome and Julienne reflect on a powerful moment from their recent conversation with leadership expert Kevin Eikenberry. They explore how a single piece of advice or a simple question—delivered at just the right time—can shape the way we lead, communicate, and relate to others. Key Themes The lasting impact of simple, profound questions Mentorship moments that shape...

In this episode of Leadership Story Talks, hosts Jerome Deroy and Julienne Ryan engage with Gary Danoff, an executive coach and former leader at Google and Microsoft.  The conversation explores Gary's formative experiences, particularly his childhood insights into human behavior and communication. They delve into the challenges of career transitions, emphasizing the importance of reframing se...

In this debrief episode, Jerome and Julienne reflect on a powerful insight from Anil Singhal about embracing inevitable disruption and using company values as a steadfast guide through change. The discussion opens with a personal question: When were you faced with disruption, and how did you respond? Julienne recalls witnessing corporate downsizing and restructuring—scenarios where clear communica...

Jerome and Julienne sat down with Taylor Scott—author, keynote speaker, and founder of Lead With Hospitality. Taylor brings over two decades of leadership experience from the hospitality and entertainment industries and shares how a moment at the beginning of his career planted the seeds for his leadership philosophy rooted in making people feel welcome, comfortable, and important. Key Takeaways G...

In this debrief episode, Julienne and Jerome reflect on the thought-provoking conversation from Episode 133 with Carlo Odicino, who challenges the commonly accepted notion of "work-life balance." Carlo rejects the idea that work should be viewed as separate from life, arguing instead that we should strive for balance in life itself, integrating both work and non-work activities. Jerome a...

In this episode of Leadership Story Talks , hosts Jerome Deroy and Julienne Ryan welcome Kevin Eikenberry, Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group and author of Flexible Leadership: Navigate Uncertainty and Lead with Confidence . With over 30 years of experience developing leaders across the globe, Kevin brings fresh insight into what it takes to lead effectively in today’s complex,...

In this debrief episode, hosts Julienne Ryan and Jerome Deroy reflect on their conversation with Jennifer Langton, former NFL executive and champion of player safety, innovation, and ethical tech. They discuss how Jennifer’s unique leadership style—grounded in empathy, curiosity, and continuous learning—led to groundbreaking work in AI and athlete health, and what we can all take from her example....

Hosts Julienne Ryan and Jerome Deroy sit down with Anil Singhal , CEO and Co-founder of NETSCOUT and author of The 5% Rule of Leadership . With 40 years at the helm of a company that has grown from a startup to a billion-dollar enterprise, Anil brings a wealth of wisdom grounded in experience, fairness, and deeply held values. Anil shares the story behind his book and the powerful leadership frame...

In this special episode of Leadership Story Talks , hosts Julienne Ryan and Jerome Deroy step back from their usual format to address something that’s on many people’s minds—uncertainty. With rapid change, economic anxiety, and social division dominating conversations, they explore how we can approach difficult moments with intention, curiosity, and connection. This conversation is a raw and hones...

In this debrief episode of Leadership Story Talks , hosts Julienne Ryan and Jerome Deroy reflect on their insightful conversation with Jeanne Martinet , author of The Art of Mingling and Mingling with the Enemy . Jeanne’s expertise in social interaction and connection offers a refreshing perspective on how we approach conversations—whether at networking events, social gatherings, or even in workpl...

In this episode of Leadership Story Talks , hosts Julienne Ryan and Jerome Deroy welcome Carlo Odicino , CEO and founder of One Team Partners . With over 24 years of experience scaling businesses—from Fortune 100 companies to early-stage startups—Carlo helps leaders bring their innovations to market without burning out . Carlo shares his player-coach approach to leadership, emphasizing the importa...

In this debrief episode, hosts Julienne Ryan and Jerome Deroy reflect on their conversation with Lisa Hope Telstra and explore the art of navigating vulnerability in storytelling. They discuss the power of acknowledging emotions in real-time and how giving the audience guidance on how to receive a story can transform the experience for both the speaker and the listener. This episode is a reminder...

In this episode of Leadership Story Talks , hosts Julienne Ryan and Jerome Deroy welcome Jennifer Langton , a dynamic business advisor, speaker, and former senior leader at the NFL and Atari . With a career spanning finance, sports, and AI-driven innovation , Jennifer shares her insights on transformational leadership, advocating for women in business, and the power of human connection in driving...

In this debrief episode, hosts Julienne Ryan and Jerome Deroy reflect on their conversation with Sona Sherratt (featured in Episode 125) and dive into the critical role storytelling plays in fostering belonging in the workplace. They explore how policies often fall short when they are disconnected from real human experiences and why sharing personal stories can bridge the gap between corporate ini...

In this episode of Leadership Story Talks, hosts Julienne Ryan and Jerome Deroy welcome Jeanne Martinet, bestselling author of The Art of Mingling and Mingling with the Enemy . Jeanne is a master of social dynamics, sharing insights on how to navigate conversations, avoid heated debates, and build meaningful connections—whether at a party, networking event, or family gathering. With humor and wisd...

In this debrief episode of Leadership Story Talks , hosts Julienne Ryan and Jerome Deroy reflect on their conversation with Sascha Schick , a former corporate executive turned startup leader. Sascha’s journey from a high-powered corporate role to launching Any Help Now was inspired by a deeply personal moment with his son—a turning point that led him to rethink his priorities and embrace a new ent...