The Connected Leadership Podcast

Are you putting your team members into color-coded boxes and wondering why interpersonal conflict still erupts? In this thought-provoking archive episode of The Connected Leadership Bytes , Andy Lopata sits down with executive coach and "Team Architect" Eksteen de Waal. Eksteen challenges the corporate obsession with traditional Myers-Briggs and behaviorist profiles, arguing that reducin...

How does an athlete from the small nation of Georgia beat astronomical odds to play 16 seasons in the NBA, win two World Championships, and compete in over 1,000 games? In this archive episode of  Connected Leadership Bytes , Andy Lopata sits down with former Golden State Warriors centre and current executive Zaza Pachulia. Zaza dismantles the romantic myth of effortless talent. Admitting he was n...

What does it take to direct cultural icons like Oprah Winfrey and produce ground-breaking films like Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie ? In this inspiring archive episode of The Connected Leadership Bytes , Andy Lopata sits down with primetime Emmy-nominated director and producer Annetta Marion. Annetta shares her radical career leap—walking away from a secure corporate engineering career and a compan...

Is your organization actually innovating, or are you just participating in "innovation theater"? In this deeply analytical episode, host Andy Lopata sits down with Simon Hill, CEO of Wazoku, to explore how leaders can close the gap between looking innovative and actually delivering measurable, future-proof value. Simon challenges the common wisdom of separating innovation from the core o...

Most salespeople shudder at the mention of CRM software. Why? Because too many platforms are implemented as administrative surveillance rather than tools that empower human connection. In this practical archive episode of Connected Leadership Bytes , Andy Lopata sits down with John Maguire, Regional VP of Sales at SugarCRM. John demystifies the real purpose of Customer Relationship Management, com...

Ever wondered what it takes to write comedy for Hollywood’s biggest stars five nights a week? In this lively archive episode of  Connected Leadership Bytes , Andy Lopata sits down with seven-time Emmy Award-winning comedy writer and stand-up comedian Beth Sherman ( The Tonight Show with Jay Leno , Ellen , The Late Show with David Letterman , The Oscars ). Beth pulls back the curtain on late-night...

Think great leaders have every conversation and presentation scripted to perfection? Think again. In this dynamic archive episode of Connected Leadership Bytes , Andy Lopata welcomes back comedy legend and author Neil Mullarkey ( In The Moment ). Neil dismantles the dangerous myth of "winging it"—revealing that panicking in the wings because you haven't prepared is the exact opposite of true impro...

How do you successfully transition into leading a highly regulated, technical industry like aviation with zero sector experience? In this wide-ranging and deeply personal episode, host Andy Lopata is joined by Charlie Whyman, Managing Director of aviation consultancy TGIS Aviation, to explore the reality of non-traditional leadership. Charlie shares how she used pure curiosity and relationship-bui...

Why do our best intentions so often backfire in communication? You enter a meeting with a positive goal, yet leave colleagues feeling micromanaged, disempowered, or completely misunderstood. In this episode from the archive, Andy Lopata has a conversation with leadership coach and author Catherine Stothart ( How to Get On with Anyone ). Catherine breaks down why personality models shouldn't be use...

Think military leadership is all about barking orders and rigid command structures? Think again. In this archive episode of Connected Leadership Bytes , Andy Lopata sits down with former British Army officer and Sandhurst instructor Neil Jurd OBE. Neil dismantles the myth of the authoritarian leader, explaining why positional power is actually the most fragile form of influence you can have. Drawi...

We all know networking is important, but how often do you use "I don't have time" as an excuse for failing to build your professional relationships? In this archive episode of Connected Leadership Bytes , Andy Lopata sits down with global entrepreneur and networking expert Gil Petersil. Gil challenges the traditional, polite rules of networking, offering a blunt and radical approach to managing yo...

How do you teach the structure of an atom to inner-city kids who have been told science is harmful? And how do you smuggle scientific journals to dissidents in the Soviet Union without getting caught? In this extraordinary episode from the archive, Andy Lopata has a conversation with the legendary Dr. Zafra Lerman—chemist, human rights activist, and five-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee. Zafra share...

The traditional corporate ladder—with its promise of a "job for life" and a gold watch at retirement—is fundamentally broken. Andy Lopata is joined by JR Lowry, founder of PathWise, to discuss how professionals can successfully navigate a career landscape defined by restructuring, layoffs, and rapid change. Drawing from his own multi-faceted career journey (now on "Version 4.0"), JR shares practic...

Mergers and acquisitions look great on a spreadsheet, but they are often disastrous for the people involved. The moment a deal is announced, the corporate culture you’ve built can vanish, replaced by tribalism, fear, and a fierce battle over "turf." In this insightful episode from the archive, Andy Lopata sits down with Jennifer Fondrevay, known as the "M&A Whisperer." Having navigated three m...

Over the last few years, we've all patted ourselves on the back for being incredibly "flexible" during times of change. During the pandemic we worked from home, mastered Zoom, and kept the lights on. But are we actually adaptable? In this archive episode of Connected Leadership Bytes , Andy Lopata sits down with global speaker and comedian Tom Sligting  to explore the critical difference betw...

How do you unite a team of elite athletes who all have full-time day jobs, zero financial incentive, and have just endured a pandemic-delayed tournament cycle? And more importantly, how do you do it in a way that actually wins a World Cup? In this inspiring archive episode of Connected Leadership Bytes , Andy Lopata sits down with inspirational speaker and performance coach Steve Head. Steve was t...

What happens when you strip away the assumption that success is measured solely by profit? In this deeply authentic conversation,  Andy Lopata is joined by Paul Hargreaves to explore how commercial businesses can thrive by putting people and the planet at the centre of their operations. Paul opens up about his non-traditional path to business—from spending over a decade doing inner-city charity wo...

What happens when you strip away the assumption that success is measured solely by profit? In this deeply authentic conversation,  Andy Lopata is joined by Paul Hargreaves to explore how commercial businesses can thrive by putting people and the planet at the centre of their operations. Paul opens up about his non-traditional path to business—from spending over a decade doing inner-city charity wo...

Does your pursuit of happiness actually make you miserable? In a world obsessed with Instagram-perfect lives and self-help gurus promising a "magic bullet," it's easy to feel like you are failing if you aren't constantly happy. In this refreshing and deeply honest archive episode, Andy Lopata speaks with Paul McGee (aka "The SUMO Guy"), author of The Happiness Revolution . Bringing his trademark "...

Does your pursuit of happiness actually make you miserable? In a world obsessed with Instagram-perfect lives and self-help gurus promising a "magic bullet," it's easy to feel like you are failing if you aren't constantly happy. In this refreshing and deeply honest archive episode, Andy Lopata speaks with Paul McGee (aka "The SUMO Guy"), author of The Happiness Revolution. Bringing his trademark "M...

Are you trying to advance your career, but unsure who to ask for help? Have you ever wondered if you need a mentor, a coach, or a sponsor—and what the difference actually is? In this episode from the archive, Andy Lopata sits down with two giants of the mentoring world: Vanessa Vallely OBE (founder of WeAreTheCity) and Kerrie Dorman (founder of the Association of Business Mentors). Together, they...

Are you trying to advance your career, but unsure who to ask for help? Have you ever wondered if you need a mentor, a coach, or a sponsor—and what the difference actually is? In this episode from the archive, Andy Lopata sits down with two giants of the mentoring world: Vanessa Vallely OBE (founder of WeAreTheCity) and Kerrie Dorman (founder of the Association of Business Mentors). Together, they...

When The Big Issue launched in 1991, it didn't just introduce a new publication; it fundamentally changed the face of homelessness. By offering a "hand up, not a hand out," it turned vulnerable individuals into micro-entrepreneurs and challenged the traditional charity model. In this inspiring episode from the archive, Andy Lopata speaks with Nigel Kershaw, Chairman of The Big Issue Group, about t...

When The Big Issue launched in 1991, it didn't just introduce a new publication; it fundamentally changed the face of homelessness. By offering a "hand up, not a hand out," it turned vulnerable individuals into micro-entrepreneurs and challenged the traditional charity model. In this inspiring episode from the archive, Andy Lopata speaks with Nigel Kershaw, Chairman of The Big Issue Group, about t...

When the pandemic hit, the instruction was simple: "Go home." But returning to a hybrid model? That's a complex, messy experiment full of grey areas. In this episode from the archive, Andy Lopata chats to human potential expert Nikki Bush, dialing in from Johannesburg. They explore why the return to hybrid work is causing so much stress for both leaders and teams, and why standardising rules acros...