IDEAS+LEADERS

In this episode of the IDEAS+LEADERS Podcast, I’m joined by Elizabeth Brett, former NBC television reporter, storytelling authority, and communication strategist who helps accomplished women develop a more authentic and powerful voice.

Drawing on nearly a decade in broadcast journalism, Elizabeth shares what she learned about creating stories that capture attention and build trust, and why polished communication alone is no longer enough. We explore her Story Alchemy™ methodology, the shift from performance to presence, and why our lived experiences can become one of our most powerful sources of authority, especially in the age of AI.

In this episode, we discuss:
How to move from polished communication to authentic presence

Why successful women can outgrow the version of themselves that helped them succeed

How to turn lived experiences into stories that build trust and authority

Why authentic storytelling is becoming even more important in the age of AI

How leaders can develop a voice that is recognizable, memorable, and truly their own

Tune in for an inspiring conversation about storytelling, communication, visibility, and finding the courage to express what you really want to say.

You can connect with Elizabeth here: Elizabeth Brett | 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 this episode of the IDEAS+LEADERS Podcast, I’m joined by Maximos Lih, executive coach and founder of Emboldened LLC. After starting his career at Google, Maximos spent nearly a decade at Google Ventures, where he helped hundreds of founders scale their companies and leadership.

We explore what it really takes to build high-performing teams, why founders often become bottlenecks as their companies grow, and how leaders can move from being the “hero” who solves every problem to the “host” who creates the conditions for others to thrive. 

In this episode, we discuss:
How founders can recognize when they have become the bottleneck

What it means to move from “hero” to “host” as a leader

How your team’s behavior can become a mirror of your leadership

Why trust and exceptional talent matter when building great teams

How leaders can create clarity in fast-growing organizations

Tune in for a practical conversation about leadership, high-performing teams, scaling organizations, and creating the conditions for people to do their best work.

You can connect with Maximos here: linkedin.com/in/maximoslih 

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 310 of the IDEAS+LEADERS Podcast, I’m joined by Lorraine Armijos, executive coach, consultant, and founder of LAR INSIGHTS. Lorraine began her leadership journey in the U.S. Air Force and brings more than 20 years of experience, including roles with Fortune 500 companies.
We explore how leaders can successfully navigate change, turn strategy into action, and build high-performing teams. Lorraine shares why great leadership is increasingly about asking the right questions rather than giving all the answers, and how leaders can move from overwhelm to greater clarity and impact.

In this episode, we discuss:
How to turn a strong vision into effective execution

How leaders can move from overwhelm to transformational impact

Why great leaders learn to coach rather than simply give orders

How data can support better leadership decisions

How process improvement can support sustainable business growth

Tune in for a practical conversation about leadership, change management, strategy, and creating organizations where people and performance can thrive together.

You can connect with Lorraine here: Lorraine Armijos | 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 309 of the IDEAS+LEADERS Podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Angélica Pérez-Litwin, clinical psychologist, author, and founder and CEO of Lumin, who has spent more than twenty years working with high-achieving professionals.

We explore why some of the most successful people struggle with exhaustion, anxiety, strained relationships, and the feeling that they can never slow down. Angélica introduces the concept of Career Distress Response and explains what happens when professional achievement becomes deeply connected to our identity and self-worth. Drawing from her new book, The Great Unraveling, she also shares how we can move toward Career Harmony — pursuing meaningful ambition without sacrificing ourselves along the way.

In this episode, we discuss:

The difference between burnout and Career Distress Response

Why high achievers can struggle to slow down even when they are exhausted

How achievement and professional identity can become deeply intertwined

Why vacations, boundaries, and productivity tools don't always solve the underlying problem

How leaders and organizations unintentionally reward unhealthy patterns of overwork

How to redefine success and build a healthier relationship with ambition

What Career Harmony looks like in practice

Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation about leadership, ambition, identity, and how to build sustainable success without losing yourself in the process.
You can connect with Angélica here: Dr. Angelica Perez-Litwin, PhD, MBA | 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 this episode of the IDEAS+LEADERS Podcast, I’m joined by Dr Nina Burrowes, psychologist, author, and founder of The Consent Collective. For more than two decades, Nina has worked with judges, universities, and organizations to understand sexual harassment, consent, power, and workplace culture.

We explore why traditional approaches to harassment prevention often fail and why understanding human behavior is essential for creating meaningful cultural change. Nina also shares insights from her book All Reasonable Steps and her unusual approach to making complex psychological ideas accessible through cartoons and visual storytelling.

In this episode, we discuss:
The psychology behind workplace behavior and harassment

How power and organizational culture influence behavior

Why policies and compliance alone don't create cultural change

How leaders can approach difficult conversations with greater confidence

How education, curiosity, and honest conversations can help prevent harm

Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation about psychology, leadership, communication, and building healthier workplace cultures.

You can connect with Nina here Dr Nina Burrowes | LinkedIn Her book: All Reasonable Steps | Dr Nina Burrowes 

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.