Innovating Leadership: Co-Creating Our Future

Guest: Dr. Barry Johnson

If you think you have to solve problems, think again. You might be better off leveraging tensions instead!

Dr. Barry Johnson, creator of the Polarity Map®, joins host Maureen Metcalf to explore how “both/and” thinking helps leaders navigate complexity, avoid false choices, and drive sustainable performance. From clarity and flexibility to structure and innovation, Barry shares how thriving organizations—and...

Guest: Neil Sahota, United Nations AI Advisor

From internal sabotage and mistrust to ethical blind spots and cultural misalignment, this conversation dives deep into the real reasons AI transformations succeed or stall…and the solutions you need to make AI work in your company. You’ll also hear powerful examples of machine-human collaboration, the rise of AI bosses, and why trust is now a core leadership metric.

Here's what Neil an...

Guest: Neil Sahota, United Nations AI Advisor

Most AI failures aren’t caused by bad code. They’re caused by bad leadership.

In this episode, host Maureen Metcalf talks with UN AI advisor and IBM Master Inventor Neil Sahota to uncover the 5 fatal mistakes most organizations make when adopting AI. From the myth that AI is "just software" to the risk of automating bad processes, Neil explains why 4 out of 5 failures are human and le...

Guest: Sebastian Salicru, Psychologist & Author

Are we training leaders for a world that no longer exists?

Leadership expert and psychologist Sebastian Salicru joins host Maureen Metcalf to tackle one of today’s most pressing challenges: the failure of traditional leadership in a world defined by complexity and change. More importantly, they explore what today’s leaders actually need to succeed in a high-velocity world.

Here'...

Guest: Andrew Palmer, The Economist columnist & Boss Class host

What makes a great boss, and why do so many managers get it wrong? The Economist columnist and Boss Class host Andrew Palmer joins Maureen Metcalf to break down what actually works in leadership today. From radical autonomy at Supercell to intentional culture-building at Toyota, this episode explores real-world strategies for creating high-performance teams and org...

Guest: Mike Hardy, ILA Board Chair

The real leadership crisis isn’t about performance. It’s about how we handle differences.

In this powerful episode, Professor Mike Hardy, Founding Director of the Centre for Peace & Security, joins host Maureen Metcalf to explore the defining leadership challenge of our time: Pluralism vs. Prejudice.

It’s critical: even if your organization only operates in one city, odds are your team will ha...

Guest: Mike McLellan, COO, DHL Supply Chain (North America)

What does it take to keep your business humming through tariffs, tornadoes, and all the other disruptions in today’s world?

Mike McLellan of DHL shares insights on building resilience, both in your leadership and your supply chains, the importance of redundancy, and how DHL provides an example of supporting clients in navigating challenges. The discussion also touches on...

Guest: Dr. Karen Longman, Professor Emerita, Azusa Pacific University

Why do so many capable, driven women still get overlooked for top leadership roles—and what can we do about it?

In this powerful episode, host Maureen Metcalf sits down with Dr. Karen Longman, a global scholar on leadership and gender equity, to unpack the deep-rooted biases that shape how we define (and reward) leadership. There are clear differences in how men ...

Guest: Steve Daley, Koch President of Principle Based Management

What does it take to build a resilient, innovation-driven culture—without relying on rigid rules or micromanagement?

In this episode, Steve Daley shares how Koch reimagines work through Principle Based Management. Hosted by Maureen Metcalf, this conversation dives into how Koch empowers employees by trusting them with responsibility, rewarding contribution, and foster...

Guest: Dr. Susan Madsen, Professor of Leadership, Utah State University

How did ten female governors become powerful, authentic woman leaders? What can you learn from them for your own leadership path?

In this inspiring conversation, host Maureen Metcalf sits down with Dr. Susan Madsen, founder of the Women and Leadership Project, to explore how women grow into their leadership identities—not just in the boardroom, but over a l...

Guest: Greg Moran, Ford’s Former Chief Strategy Officer

The time to “wait and see” is over. Thanks to AI, no matter what your industry, you need to act now. On everything.

That’s the core message from guest Greg Moran as he surveys a behind-the-scenes revolution AI has already spawned: fast, cheap development of new ideas. New technologies drastically reduce the time and cost to develop and deploy apps, products, and services. It...

Guest: Cynthia Cherrey, President & CEO, International Leadership Association

The turbulence you see in the world now isn’t going away. Your leadership style must change to meet it.

Fortunately, guest Cynthia Cherrey sits at the very center of both the most effective real-world leadership practices and the latest cutting-edge leadership theories. In this episode, she shares the leadership development information that really w...

Guest: Joe Nardone, President & CEO, Columbus Regional Airport Authority

In this episode, Joe Nardone shares a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to build a $2 billion airport terminal…and a future-ready organization.

Joe dives into the true drivers of successful change: a relentless vision, a culture rooted in respect and innovation, and the hard reality that transformation often means losing good people who no lo...

Guest: Michael Marks, Founding Managing Partner at Celesta Capital & Former Tesla Interim CEO

Politics aside, tariffs simply can’t work without devastating business. That’s just one candid, no-nonsense point Michael Marks brings in his conversation with host Maureen Metcalf.

Marks is one of the most respected tech investors in Silicon Valley, with a four decade track record that includes high level leadership and management –...

Guest: Jonathan Reams, Chief Creative Officer

You’ve been through leadership training; why didn’t it work?

Because it wasn’t about you. That’s the conclusion Jonathan Reams – the CCO of Norway’s Center for Transformative Leadership – came to. You’re unique, and most off-the-shelf leadership programs don’t take the time for you to dig deep into yourself to discover what makes you tick as a leader…and as a person. He and host Maure...

Guest: Jeroen van der Veer

Crisis and scandal hit your company. The very first thing you must do: abandon your gut instincts. Blame, downplaying, and delay will all make the situation worse. Then follow the example of guest Jeroen Van der Veer; he became CEO of oil giant Royal Dutch Shell in the midst of a major scandal.

He shares what he learned about navigating through crisis in this episode.

Here's what Jeroen and Maureen cove...

Guest: Theo Edmonds, Culture Futurist®

We explore the declining state of American innovation in this episode, focusing on the pivotal role of wonder and creativity in driving growth and innovation in the workplace. Our guest, futurist Theo Edmonds, has identified the key innovation barriers: fear, frustration, and fragmentation. He also identifies solutions to overcome them. It taps into something he calls “The Wonder Economy.”

.He...

Guest: Michelle Harrison, Global CEO, Verian

Join us in an engaging conversation with Michelle Harrison as she discusses the challenges of balancing leadership responsibilities with family life. Michelle shares her personal experiences, the importance of transparency, and the contextual nature of decision-making as a leader. She also dives into inclusivity, gender issues in the workplace, and the significance of creating an envir...

Guest: Diego Ugalde

What if the key to elite leadership isn’t control, but deep self-awareness and emotional intelligence? In this episode, Maureen Metcalf sits down with retired Navy SEAL, leadership expert, and storyteller Diego Ugalde to explore how authenticity, trust, and inner mastery reshape the way we lead.

Drawing from his experience in high-stakes environments and his personal transformation journey, Diego shares powerful...