People First! with Morag Barrett

Intentions don’t matter. At least not as much as most leaders think. In this week’s episode of People First , I sat down with Trevor Blondeel, founder of Manufacturing Greatness, and we unpacked a moment many leaders quietly recognize. Trevor was running a plant meeting. He explained the plan. Gave direction. Walked out thinking everything was clear. Then his assistant pulled him aside. “You reall...

Culture doesn’t grow from strategy decks or value statements. It spreads. In this episode of People First! , I sat down with Kyle S. King and Daniel Freeman , the organizers behind the Contagious Culture Conference —where I’ll also be speaking this year. Our conversation explored something many leaders overlook: Culture is built through relationships. Not policies. Not posters. Not slogans. Throug...

Care has a reputation problem. Too soft. Too sentimental. Not “serious leadership.” In this episode of People First!, Morag Barrett and Kristin Stapleton explore leadership development, workplace relationships, and why care may be one of the most misunderstood drivers of high performance. Together, they discuss how connection, accountability, respect, and empowerment create stronger teams and more...

We love to attribute high performance to talent. Charisma. Intelligence. Experience. But in this week’s People First! conversation with Christian “Boo” Boucousis, we explore a harder truth: High-performing teams aren’t built on talent. They’re built on design. Under pressure, three things matter: A clear mission A disciplined method The right mindset Without clarity, teams drift. Without method, t...

What if the leadership model we’ve been celebrating for decades is the very thing holding teams back? In this episode of People First! , Morag Barrett sits down with Bill Flynn — leadership thinker, author of Further, Faster , and longtime student of the science of success — to challenge the myth of the heroic leader. Drawing on 30 years of research and lived experience, Bill shares: Why having on...

In this episode of People First!, Morag Barrett explores workplace relationships, leadership trust, and human connection with Vered Kogan, discussing how leaders build Meaning-FULL Connectivity™ in increasingly disconnected workplaces. Vered Kogan is an author, speaker, and transformational coach, and joins Morag to explore why so many high-performing leaders feel stuck—despite doing everything “r...

In this episode of People First!, Morag Barrett explores workplace relationships, leadership trust, and human connection with Dr. Riza Kadilar, discussing how leaders build Meaning-FULL Connectivity™ in increasingly disconnected workplaces. Dr Riza Kadilar is a global executive, leadership thinker, and author of The Contemporary Leader . They first met at Thinkers50 in London — a moment that becam...

Remote and hybrid work aren’t going away — but trust doesn’t magically survive the shift. In this People First! episode, I’m joined by Peggy Kendall, researcher, professor of communication studies, and co-author of Trust at a Distance: Six Strategies for Managing Remote Workplaces. Peggy has been studying the impact of technology on communication since the days of MySpace, and her insights couldn’...

In this People First! episode, I sit down with Laura Armstrong — 3x world champion martial artist, international speaker, bestselling author, and creator of The Empowered Protocol — for a conversation about what actually builds resilient, connected, high-performing leaders. Laura spent nearly a decade earning silver and bronze medals before finally breaking through to gold. The difference wasn’t t...

What does leadership look like when the situation is unclear, emotions are high, and everyone is waiting for you to make the next move? In this episode of People First! , I’m joined by Lt. General (Ret.) Karen Gibson , a leader who has guided teams through war zones, national emergencies, hurricanes, cybersecurity crises, and the aftermath of January 6 - experiences most of us hope will never appe...

In this episode of People First!, Morag Barrett talks with Preston Poore—executive coach, author, and former Coca-Cola leader—about his new book, How Is Greater Than What: The Simple Formula for Success in Leadership. They discuss why how you lead matters more than what you accomplish, the role of identity and integrity in effective leadership, and how to stay grounded in a world shaped by technol...

In this People First! episode, I sit down with my dear friend and fellow connection-evangelist Dr. Michelle K. Johnston — top executive coach, business professor, bestselling author, and now the voice behind The Seismic Shift in You . We dig into the uncomfortable truth: We’re more digitally connected than at any time in human history… …and yet more lonely, isolated, anxious, and burnt out than ev...

In this People First! conversation, I sit down with Mark C. Crowley — visionary leader, bestselling author, and longtime advocate for human-centered leadership — to unpack the big idea behind his new book, The Power of Employee Wellbeing . Mark spent 25+ years leading in financial services, disproving the myth that performance comes from pressure, control, and fear. His data-backed approach shows...

Most of us were taught to “check emotions at the door.” Turns out… your nervous system never got that memo. In this week’s People First! episode, I sit down with Andrea Wanerstrand , a leadership strategist and founder of A3 Culture Lab , who helps leaders shift from burnout to bold influence. We talk about:  💭 The three brains you bring to every conversation ⚡ Why awareness isn’t enough — and w...

This week, Morag welcomes back Alaina Love —CEO of Purpose Linked Consulting, co-author of The Purpose Linked Organization , and author of the inspiring new book Permission to Be You . A former scientist and global HR executive turned leadership coach, Alaina blends psychology, purpose research, and personal storytelling to guide leaders and individuals toward lives of alignment, meaning, and auth...

In this special two-for-one episode, Morag welcomes back Dr. Jeffrey Hull—Executive Director at the Institute of Coaching, Harvard Medical School Affiliate—and leadership scientist and coach Margaret Moore, co-founder of the Institute of Coaching and CEO of Wellcoaches Corporation. Together, they unpack their new book, The Science of Leadership: Nine Ways to Expand Your Impact , a groundbreaking s...

This week, Morag sits down with Margaret Andrews —executive educator, Harvard instructor, founder of The MYLO Center, and author of Manage Yourself to Lead Others . Drawing from her years teaching leadership and working with organizations like Amazon, Wayfair, Walmart, and the United Nations, Margaret offers powerful lessons on self-awareness, trust, and emotional intelligence as the true cornerst...

We’re excited to welcome back David Cohen—globally recognized thought leader, executive coach, and author of Selecting the Best: Fostering a Workforce Driven by Values for Lasting Success . With over 30 years of experience advising leaders and organizations on five continents, David brings a clear message: skills may get you hired, but values determine whether you (and your organization) thrive. F...

This week, Morag is joined by Dr. Rosie Ward—CEO of Salveo Partners, award-winning author and podcast host, and fierce advocate for rehumanizing workplaces. Rosie’s new book, Future Proofing Leadership: Navigating Change and Disruption to Thrive in an Uncertain World , explores how to upgrade our “faulty programs,” break free from self-protective patterns, and lead with courage and connection. Wit...

This week, Morag is joined by Jonathan Stutz—President of Global Diversity Partners, Inc., former leader at Amazon, Microsoft, and Zulily, and co-author (with Eddie Pate) of Daily Practices of Inclusive Leaders: A Guide to Building a Culture of Belonging . With over 25 years of experience in leadership, Jonathan shares how inclusion is not a “program” but a daily practice—and why creating cultures...

In this episode of People First , Morag is joined by Meredith Waters—high-performance coach, transformational strategist, and founder of Thriving at Water’s Edge . With over two decades in high-stakes global leadership, including post-conflict zones and climate-vulnerable regions, Meredith has developed the Resilient Ambition Framework to help individuals and mission-driven teams move through disr...

This week, we welcome award-winning global learning executive and author Jeanine Mathó to People First . Jeanine shares her deeply personal journey from the height of corporate success through burnout and loss — only to emerge with a powerful new vision for what lasting success can truly look and feel like. In this conversation, Jeanine introduces her new book Live Your Opus: Reclaim Your Energy,...

We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Bobbi Wegner—psychologist, Harvard lecturer, and founder of GROOPS—to People First! . With her unique blend of clinical and organizational psychology, Bobbi shares how leaders can evolve from taskmasters to team coaches by leveraging simple psychological tools that drive connection, performance, and well-being. In a world where workplace disconnection is at an all-tim...

This week, Morag sits down with Sabina Nawaz—executive coach, former Microsoft executive, and author of You Are the Boss: Become the Manager You Want to Be and Others Need . Sabina brings a sharp, compassionate lens to the messy reality of leadership—especially how pressure, not power, causes even the best bosses to behave badly. From lessons learned in Microsoft’s high-stakes executive suites to...

We’re excited to welcome Suzie Bishop, Vice President of Product Development at the Center for Leadership Studies and member of the Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches community. In this episode, Suzie shares how the timeless model of Situational Leadership is being reimagined for today's workplace—and why trust, adaptability, and honest feedback loops are essential for thriving teams. From her early m...