Unlock Your Leadership, with Dr Gary Crotaz, PhD

Some leadership lessons are learned through achievement. Others are learned when things go wrong … and you choose how to respond.   For Tim Lupinacci, Chairman and CEO of Baker Donelson, one of the United States’ leading law firms, that lesson came early. A late night, a costly mistake, and a leader who chose to see potential rather than failure reshaped how Tim understood responsibility, growth,...

In organisations where culture is discussed constantly but felt inconsistently, one reality matters more than any slogan: culture is shaped by what leaders choose to design … and what they leave to chance.   James and Krista White bring two generations of leadership perspective to this challenge. James draws on decades advising and leading at the highest levels of global organisations. Krista work...

Some leadership challenges don’t announce themselves gently. They arrive charged, emotional, and already in motion.   For executive coach and conflict mediator Adam Vane, learning how to lead in those moments began far from the boardroom. After leaving the family business, Adam spent years in intensive Zen training, where a moment of stark clarity reshaped how he understood responsibility, self-re...

Some leadership lessons come from frameworks and strategy. Others arrive unexpectedly … in a quiet moment that fundamentally reshapes how you lead.   For Garry Ridge, former CEO and Chairman Emeritus of WD-40, that moment changed how he understood culture, accountability, and what leaders are truly responsible for. In this episode of Unlock Your Leadership, Garry reflects on what matters most when...

In this episode of Unlock Your Leadership , Dr Gary Crotaz speaks with David Homan — founder of Orchestrated Connecting , relationship strategist, and champion of building deep, authentic human networks. David shares his philosophy of orchestration — the idea that true connection isn’t transactional, it’s intentional. He and Gary explore how leaders can move beyond surface-level networking to cult...

In this episode of Unlock Your Leadership , Dr Gary Crotaz speaks with Navid Nazemian — executive coach, former global HR leader, and author of Mastering Executive Transitions: The Definitive Guide. Navid shares powerful insights on what it really takes to step into a new leadership role — not just to survive the transition, but to thrive in it. Drawing on years of experience guiding senior execut...

In this episode of Unlock Your Leadership , Dr Gary Crotaz sits down with Michael Ross — data scientist, technologist, and entrepreneur — for a fascinating conversation about what it means to lead in a world powered by data and AI. Michael shares how the best leaders balance analytical thinking with emotional intelligence, using data not to replace human judgment but to enhance it. He and Gary exp...

In this episode of Unlock Your Leadership , Dr Gary Crotaz is joined by Alex Lazarus — founder of Lazarus & Maverick , leadership coach, and culture transformation specialist — for a dynamic conversation about what it really takes to build high-performing, human-centred organisations. Alex shares insights from years of helping leaders and teams navigate complexity, drive meaningful change, and cre...

In this episode of Unlock Your Leadership , Dr Gary Crotaz speaks with Rajeev Peshawaria — CEO of Stewardship Asia Centre , former Chief Learning Officer at Coca-Cola and Morgan Stanley, and author of Open Source Leadership and Sustainability by Design. Rajeev shares his powerful vision for steward leadership — a model of leading that goes beyond profit to serve people, planet, and future generati...

In this episode of Unlock Your Leadership , Dr Gary Crotaz speaks with Julie Carrier — CEO of Girls Lead Worldwide , award-winning speaker, and one of the world’s leading voices on women’s leadership and youth empowerment. Julie shares her inspiring journey from the Pentagon to the global stage, where she now helps thousands of young women find their voice, their confidence, and their path to lead...

In this episode of Unlock Your Leadership , Dr Gary Crotaz is joined by Dr Luis Velasquez — executive coach, researcher, and author of Ordinary Resilience: Rethinking How Effective Leaders Adapt and Thrive. Luis shares his remarkable personal journey from surviving a life-altering diagnosis to becoming a trusted advisor to senior leaders worldwide. He and Gary explore what resilience really means...

In this episode of Unlock Your Leadership , Dr Gary Crotaz speaks with Lisa Bodell — founder and CEO of FutureThink , global keynote speaker, and author of Why Simple Wins: Escape the Complexity Trap and Get to Work That Matters. Lisa shares her insights on how leaders can cut through unnecessary complexity to create space for clarity, creativity, and meaningful work. She and Gary explore why orga...

In this episode of Unlock Your Leadership , Dr Gary Crotaz speaks with Hortense le Gentil — executive leadership coach and author of The Unlocked Leader: Dare to Free Your Mind and Discover Your Best Self. Hortense shares her profound insight into what it means to “unlock” as a leader — to recognise and release the inner narratives, fears, and expectations that limit our authenticity and connectio...

In this episode of Unlock Your Leadership , Dr Gary Crotaz speaks with Faisal Hoque — entrepreneur, futurist, and author of Transcend: Unlocking Humanity in the Age of AI — about what it really means to lead in a time of accelerating technological change. Faisal shares his powerful vision for a world where AI and human consciousness evolve together , and where leadership must become more mindful,...

In this episode of Unlock Your Leadership , Dr Gary Crotaz is joined by Dr Françoise Orlov — leadership coach and advocate for neurodiversity in the workplace. Françoise shares her expertise on how understanding and embracing neurodivergence can transform leadership and organisational culture. She and Gary explore how leaders can move beyond labels to recognise the unique cognitive strengths that...

In this episode of Unlock Your Leadership , Dr Gary Crotaz speaks with Dr Jenny Fernandez — executive coach, leadership strategist, and Columbia Business School educator — about what it truly means to play a bigger game as a leader. Jenny shares her perspective on how ambitious, high-performing leaders can step into greater influence — not by doing more, but by thinking differently. She and Gary e...

In this episode of Unlock Your Leadership , Dr Gary Crotaz is joined by Dorie Clark — bestselling author of The Long Game , Reinventing You , and Entrepreneurial You , and ranked among the top 50 business thinkers in the world by Thinkers50. Dorie shares her wisdom on how to lead, learn and grow in a world obsessed with short-term wins. She and Gary explore what it really means to “play the long g...

In this episode of Unlock Your Leadership , Dr Gary Crotaz speaks with Dr Steven Rogelberg — organisational psychologist, distinguished professor, and author of Glad We Met: The Art and Science of 1:1 Meetings and The Surprising Science of Meetings. Steven shares decades of research on one of the most underestimated leadership tools: the meeting. Far from being a mundane task, meetings — when done...

In this special crossover episode of Unlock Your Leadership , Dr Gary Crotaz joins Adam Pacifico , executive coach, author, and host of The Leadership Enigma podcast, for an open and energising conversation about what it really takes to lead in a world that’s constantly changing. Recorded on The Leadership Enigma , this episode brings together two leadership thinkers with a shared mission: to make...

In this episode of Unlock Your Leadership , Dr Gary Crotaz sits down with Michael Bungay Stanier — globally renowned coach, speaker, and author of The Coaching Habit and How to Work with (Almost) Anyone. Michael shares his trademark blend of humour and insight as he and Gary explore how better questions — and braver conversations — can transform the way we lead, collaborate, and connect. They disc...

In this episode of Unlock Your Leadership , Dr Gary Crotaz sits down with Ken Pasternak — leadership advisor, executive coach, and co-author of Performance at the Limit: Business Lessons from Formula 1 Motor Racing. Ken brings insights from the world of elite motorsport into the world of leadership — revealing how the principles that drive championship-winning teams also drive high-performing orga...

In this episode of Unlock Your Leadership , Dr Gary Crotaz talks with Tony Martignetti — leadership advisor, speaker, and author of Climbing the Right Mountain: Navigating the Journey to an Inspired Life. Tony invites us to gather round the metaphorical campfire — the place where leaders come together to share stories, connect with purpose, and find light in moments of challenge. He and Gary explo...

In this episode of Unlock Your Leadership , Dr Gary Crotaz speaks with Dr Oleg Konovalov — global leadership expert, author of The Vision Code , and one of the foremost thinkers on the power of vision in modern organisations. Oleg shares what he’s learned from decades of working with leaders worldwide: that true vision isn’t a slogan or a statement — it’s a living force that aligns people, purpose...

In this episode of Unlock Your Leadership , Dr Gary Crotaz is joined by Dean Miles — executive coach, trusted advisor, and member of Marshall Goldsmith’s 100 Coaches . Dean shares his philosophy of leadership as a deeply human practice — built not on authority, but on connection, curiosity, and courage. Drawing on years of coaching senior leaders across industries, he and Gary explore how great le...

In this episode of Unlock Your Leadership , Dr Gary Crotaz speaks with Dr Vicki Sato — biopharma innovator, former President of Vertex Pharmaceuticals, and experienced board director at some of the world’s most respected scientific and corporate institutions. Vicki shares insights from decades at the forefront of science and leadership — from leading groundbreaking innovation in biotechnology to s...