IDEAS+LEADERS

In episode 297 of the IDEAS+LEADERS Podcast, I’m joined by Wendy Valentine, speaker, reinvention expert, and author of Women Waking Up: The Midlife Manifesto for Passion, Purpose, and Play.
After experiencing divorce, grief, career burnout, financial pressure, and major life changes in her mid-forties, Wendy made a radical decision to completely redesign her life. Today, she helps others break free from autopilot living and step into a more intentional, aligned, and fulfilling next chapter.

We talk about reinvention, emotional resilience, leadership through life transitions, and why midlife can become one of the most powerful periods of growth and self-leadership.
In this episode, we discuss:• how to recognize when you are sleepwalking through life• the mindset shifts needed for reinvention• boundaries, burnout, and protecting your energy• designing the life of your future self• why it is never too late to start over

This conversation is for anyone who feels stuck, overwhelmed, or ready for a new chapter personally or professionally.
You can connect with Wendy here: https://wendyvalentine.com/ 
Thank you for joining me on this episode of IDEAS+LEADERS. If you enjoyed this episode, please share, subscribe and review so that more people can enjoy the podcast on Apple https://apple.co/3fKv9IH or Spotify https://sptfy.com/Nrtq.

In episode 296 of the IDEAS+LEADERS Podcast, I’m joined by Lujain Alzahrani, leadership and women’s empowerment coach, program designer, and communication expert working at the intersection of voice, presence, and impact. Through her work in Saudi Arabia, Lujain helps women build confidence, develop their voice, and step into leadership with clarity and purpose.

We talk about why voice is such a powerful leadership tool, how cultural context shapes the way women show up and lead, and what it really takes to move from self-doubt to self-expression in both personal and professional life.

In this episode, we discuss:
Why communication and voice are central to leadership

The most common barriers women face when speaking up

How confidence is built through practice, not perfection

The role of culture in shaping leadership journeys

How leaders can create spaces where others feel safe to express themselves

une in for an inspiring and thoughtful conversation about leadership, empowerment, and the courage to use your voice.
You can connect with Lujain here: Lujain Alzahrani | LinkedIn 

Thank you for joining me on this episode of IDEAS+LEADERS. If you enjoyed this episode, please share, subscribe and review so that more people can enjoy the podcast on Apple https://apple.co/3fKv9IH or Spotify https://sptfy.com/Nrtq.

In episode 295 of the IDEAS+LEADERS Podcast, I’m joined by Laura Kriska, Harvard Business Review contributor, TEDx speaker, and author of The Business of WE. Laura has spent over 30 years working with global organizations, helping leaders close the “us vs. them” gaps that quietly undermine trust, collaboration, and performance.
We talk about why division inside organizations is growing across cultures, generations, functions, and ways of working and what leaders often fail to see until it starts affecting results. Laura shares practical, research-backed insights from her work and her recent Harvard Business Review article on collaboration, showing how small, everyday behaviors can rebuild trust faster than most people expect.

In this episode, we discuss:
How “us vs. them” thinking shows up in teams and why it’s more common than we think

The subtle ways leaders unintentionally create division

What actually builds trust in today’s hybrid and global workplaces

Why language, goals, and resource decisions shape team dynamics

Simple shifts that can transform collaboration almost immediately

This is a thoughtful and practical conversation on moving from awareness to action—and building what Laura calls a true “WE” culture inside organizations.

You can connect with Laura here: Laura Kriska

Thank you for joining me on this episode of IDEAS+LEADERS. If you enjoyed this episode, please share, subscribe and review so that more people can enjoy the podcast on Apple https://apple.co/3fKv9IH or Spotify https://sptfy.com/Nrtq.

In episode 294 of the IDEAS+LEADERS Podcast, I’m joined by Federico Malatesta, founder of FM Transformational Coaching, executive and transformational coach, and former CIO of a $40B energy portfolio. Today, Federico works with executives and high-achievers navigating complex transitions, helping them make sense of uncertainty, understand real trade-offs, and act with intention when the old story no longer fits.
We explore what happens when leadership is no longer about having the right answers, why many of the frameworks we rely on fail in real life, and how identity, context, and decision-making shift in moments of transition. 

In this episode, we discuss:
Why leadership frameworks often break down in complex situations

What it means to read context instead of chasing certainty

What happens when the story you’ve been telling about yourself no longer works

The myth of the “authentic self” and why it can be misleading

Why midlife is a necessary redesign rather than a breakdown

How horses can reveal stress patterns and leadership blind spots

Tune in for a reflective and insightful conversation on leadership, identity, and navigating complexity with intention.
You can connect with Federico here: https://federicomalatesta.com/
Thank you for joining me on this episode of IDEAS+LEADERS. If you enjoyed this episode, please share, subscribe and review so that more people can enjoy the podcast on Apple https://apple.co/3fKv9IH or Spotify https://sptfy.com/Nrtq.

In episode 293 of the IDEAS+LEADERS Podcast, I’m joined by Bryce Batts, certified career coach, AEC recruiting expert, and co-founder of Career Collective. With over 15 years of experience and more than 800 professionals placed, Bryce brings a practical and honest perspective on how careers really evolve and what it takes to grow with intention. She is also the host of the Wine After Work podcast, where she leads candid conversations on leadership, career, and life.

We explore what it means to stop drifting and start designing a career that aligns with your values, how the job market is changing, and why personal branding has become a critical part of professional growth. Bryce also shares powerful insights from her work with women leaders on confidence, boundaries, and self-advocacy.

In this episode, we discuss:
How to design a career that aligns with your vision and values

The most common mistakes people make when trying to pivot or grow

What is really happening in the job market and how companies can adapt

Why personal branding matters and how to start building it

Tune in for a practical and insightful conversation on career growth, leadership, and taking ownership of your professional path.

You can connect with Bryce here: http://www.brycebatts.co/