For Leaders By Leaders

Elizabeth Cooke reveals how layering demographic data with engagement metrics exposes hidden disparities and creates targeted solutions. Her approach moves beyond political discourse to focus on measurable human dignity and workplace performance.
 
Through real-world examples and practical frameworks, this episode demonstrates how evidence-based engagement transforms DEI from a compliance checklist into a sustainable cultural practice – helping leaders create genuine belonging through curiosity, consistency, and courage.
 
In this episode, we explore:
(00:00) Introduction
(03:53) Why data reveals who's engaged and who's not
(06:53) How DEI became over-politicised and lost focus on human experience
(08:10) The business case versus moral imperative for inclusion
(12:30) Pandemic insights: why engagement improved for marginalised groups
(14:13) Leading with consistency, curiosity, and courage
(16:57) Practice over posture: small behaviours drive cultural change
(21:49) Supporting trauma and mental health while maintaining performance standards
(23:23) Inclusion as a daily leadership practice, not an initiative
(23:45) The power of asking: help me understand your experience
 
Connect with Elizabeth Cooke here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisabeth-cooke/ 
Website: https://dignii.com/ 
Interested in developing more effective leadership skills? Connect with Cinga today here.

Why do high-performing, responsible leaders often struggle the most? Debbie Pearmain reveals the hidden truth: it's not a capability crisis, it's a capacity crisis. Drawing from 25 years in leadership development and her own burnout recovery, she shares how leaders move through three critical stages from functional stress to full burnout.
 
Through practical frameworks and proven strategies, this episode will help you recognise the warning signs, implement recovery disciplines, and understand why wellness isn't a luxury – it's a leadership competency that directly impacts your team's performance.
 
In this episode, we explore:
(00:00) Introduction
(04:38) Capacity crisis vs capability crisis
(05:12) Stage one: functional stress and calendar architecture reset
(08:30) Creating strategic filters for better decision making
(13:24) Why self-management unlocks sustained high performance
(16:26) Stage two: overextended leaders running on stress chemistry
(19:35) Boundaries upgrade: controlling availability and emotional load
(21:40) Stage three: burnout, detachment and confidence erosion
(23:19) Why high performers don't know how to rest safely
(25:06) Three types of recovery: physical, cognitive, and emotional
(28:57) Capacity before efficiency: regulating your nervous system first
(30:30) Your state spreads: wellness as leadership competency
 
Connect with Debbie Pearmain here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-lang-pearmain-116551/ 
Website: https://onestophr.ca/ 
Interested in developing more effective leadership skills? Connect with Cinga today here.

Why do some teams excel while others struggle, despite similar talent and resources? Scott Rintoul reveals how youth sports mirrors corporate dynamics, exploring the parallels between coaching and leadership. Drawing from his broadcasting experience and Better Sports Parents podcast, he uncovers why understanding individual motivation trumps generic team building.
 
This conversation will help you rethink leadership fundamentals, from establishing clear values to creating authentic buy-in across generations with vastly different workplace expectations.
 
In this episode, we explore:
(00:00) Introduction
(04:39) Understanding individual motivations within team structures
(07:51) How miscommunication creates confusion between authority figures
(10:13) Building organisational alignment from ownership to front lines
(13:26) Getting genuine buy-in through collaborative goal setting
(16:56) The relationship foundation that enables effective leadership
(19:25) Making every role feel valued within the larger mission
(22:47) Adapting leadership styles for generational workplace shifts
(25:43) Moving beyond culture buzzwords to actionable value implementation
(32:08) Why leaders must understand what brings people to the starting line
 
Connect with Scott Rintoul here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottrintoul/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scottrintoulpro/ 
Interested in developing more effective leadership skills? Connect with Cinga today here.

Mark McEachran from Adaptive Talent Inc. explores how AI is transforming executive search while highlighting the irreplaceable human elements of talent acquisition. He joins Kathy Andrews to unpack strategies for hiring leaders, from crafting compelling role narratives to conducting deeper interviews that reveal true character. Mark shares insights on avoiding common hiring pitfalls, leveraging technology effectively, and ensuring cultural alignment when building teams.
 
In this episode, we explore:
(00:00) Introduction
(04:33) Transforming market mapping and sourcing with AI
(11:55) Critical human judgment in leadership hiring
(16:43) Values alignment and realistic role profiling
(24:44) Interview strategies for cultural fit assessment
(32:04) Offer negotiations revealing true character
 
Connect with Mark McEachran here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mceachranmark/ 
Website: https://adaptivetalent.co/ 
 
Interested in developing more effective leadership skills? Connect with Cinga today here.

What if the secret to hypergrowth isn't about the latest marketing tools, but about completely abandoning your internal assumptions? In this episode, Michelle Rider, former Amazon marketing leader and creator of the Zero to 90 methodology, challenges leaders to stop believing their own story and start building from the customer's perspective backwards.
 
From her humble beginnings, secretly writing down business terms at Kellogg to scaling marketing campaigns at global giants like Coca-Cola, Amazon, and Teladoc, Michelle reveals how she consistently doubled revenue by focusing on one core principle: putting yourself in the daily life of the consumer.
 
In this episode, we explore:
(00:00) Introduction
(03:45) Combining instinct, data, and trends for business growth
(05:20) The critical focus areas for rapid scaling
(07:03) The Xero to 90 methodology
(14:49) How AI tools like ChatGPT do not replace strategic thinking
(18:49) The Teladoc case study about customer-focused messaging
(25:52) Scaling strategies – repeat what works, stick to the top ideas
(29:54) Getting authentic customer language by solving their pain points
 
Connect with Michelle Rider here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellejrider/ 
Website: http://www.michelle-rider.com/ 
Article – How Telemedicine Helped Me Save My Son: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/when-use-telehealth-services-michelle-rider/ 
Interested in developing more effective leadership skills? Connect with Cinga today here.

Leadership coach Mark Watson to dive deep into needs-based communication, a powerful framework rooted in the work of Marshall Rosenberg and popularised through Nonviolent Communication.
 
Tune into this episode as we unpack how this four-step approach – starting with the facts, naming feelings, identifying needs, and making clear requests – can transform the way leaders connect, build trust, and navigate challenging conversations. Mark also shares how mastering authentic communication isn't just for conflict resolution but is foundational for thriving teams and organisations.
 
In this episode, we explore:
(00:00) Introduction
(05:38) Leading with strategy and clear communication
(08:28) Using NVC (Nonviolent Communication) as a leadership tool
(11:07) The difference between feelings and judgments
(15:05) When a CEO shuts down input in a meeting
(18:22) Connecting feelings to underlying needs
(21:27) Doing the inner work to resolve conflict
(23:49) The legacy of nonviolent communication
(26:28) The power of observing and asking
(31:16) Building empathy through compassionate communication
(34:03) Authentic leadership through better communication
 
Connect with Mark Watson here:
Mark Watson’s LinkedIn
McLean Watson Website
The Center for Nonviolent Communication
Nonviolent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg
Interested in developing more effective leadership skills? Connect with Cinga today here.

Decision-making isn’t just about data, it’s about judgment, emotion, and leadership under pressure. Phil Neil, CEO of Founders Compass, brings a powerful perspective shaped by building a $70M company and losing it in a devastating fire.
 
Phil reveals how leaders can cut through information overload, develop sharper intuition, and navigate emotional patterns that influence critical decisions. This episode is a masterclass in resilience, clarity, and leading yourself before you lead others.
 
Tune in to this episode as we explore:
(02:00) Introduction and Phil Neil’s background
(05:33) Pressure, founders and inner resilience
(12:13) Finding your anchor
(14:36) Leading yourself through hard moments
(16:26) Leadership archetypes and personal transformation
(20:30) Personality patterns and better decisions
(23:44) Courage without a clear plan
(29:46) Building self-awareness and balance
(32:33) Mindful decisions and strategic clarity
(35:28) Better leaders build better businesses
 
Connect with Phil Neil here:
Phil Neil on LinkedIn
Interested in developing more effective leadership skills? Connect with Cinga today here.

As a political refugee who crossed three countries before finding home in Canada, Anne-Marie Pham turned her lived experience into a career dedicated to creating workplaces where everyone belongs. She is now the Vice President of Engagement at the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion. In this episode, Anne-Marie unpacks why leadership demands courage and a willingness to get uncomfortable. She shares practical frameworks leaders can use today, along with mindset shifts that transform diversity from a checkbox into a superpower.
 
Tune in to this episode as we explore:
(00:00) Building inclusion across Canada
(04:23) Embracing industry collaboration challenges
(07:44) Building inclusive, equitable workplaces
(11:32) Six traits of inclusive leadership
(15:08) Courage, accountability and collaboration
(17:41) Embracing cultures with open minds
(23:35) Flexible holidays for inclusion
(27:51) Understanding cultural influences in leadership
(31:12) Shared responsibility in leadership feedback
(33:01) Future of work and immigration
(36:13) Diversity resources and programs offered
 
Connect with Andrea Seale here:
Anne-Marie Pham on LinkedIn
Interested in developing more effective leadership skills? Connect with Cinga today here.

Today, we’re exploring how neuroscience and technology are reshaping leadership with Jaime Lama from the NeuroLeadership Institute. As a psychologist with 30 years in HR and consulting, Jaime brings deep expertise in guiding organisations through change.
 
Jaime breaks down how the brain drives behaviour, from survival instincts to the role of emotions in decision-making. We discuss emotional regulation, unconscious bias and how leaders can better understand the unconscious drivers behind daily choices. Whether you lead a small team or thousands, you’ll gain practical insights on psychological safety, growth mindset, and the human skills technology can’t replace.
 
Tune in to this episode as we explore:
(05:58) Origins of the brain’s organisational principles
(07:55) Brain’s threat detection network
(12:47) Experience bias and brain function
(16:15) Bias in AI and how to navigate it
(19:42) How our brains evolved for survival
(21:40) Amplified intelligence through AI collaboration
(25:26) Dynamics of AI and human growth
(28:58) Evolving brains for collaborative leadership
(30:31) Clarity and mental health during COVID
(33:49) Psychological safety boosts performance
(39:24) Leadership accountability in changing times
(40:31) Leadership and trust dynamics
 
Connect with Jaime Lama here:
Connect with Jaime Lama on LinkedIn
NeuroLeadership Institute on LinkedIn
NeuroLeadership Institute Website
Interested in developing more effective leadership skills? Connect with Cinga today here.

Leadership expert Tracy Hutton shares how focusing on strengths, not weaknesses, can transform your team’s performance and well-being. Drawing from her experience at Deloitte and lululemon, Tracy reveals why strengths based leadership isn’t just a feel-good idea – it’s grounded in neuroscience and proven to drive results. Learn how to overcome negativity bias, build better teams, and rethink feedback and development for lasting impact.
 
Tune in to this episode as we explore:
(04:24) An unexpected opportunity 
(06:27) Personal and professional growth at lululemon
(09:48) Understanding a strengths based approach
(13:22) True strengths are energising activities
(18:53) Clarifying job role verbs
(25:58) Exploring unrealised strengths
(28:25) Reframing perceived weaknesses
(30:14) Following curiosity to support wellbeing
(34:19) Rethinking leadership competency models
(42:58) Maximising strengths without misapplying them
(46:51) Ask employees what went well
(48:32) Embracing positivity and gratitude
 
Connect with Andrea Seale here:
Connect with Tracy Hutton on LinkedIn
First, Break All the Rules – Book
Rise Above – Book
Work by Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener
Nine Lies About Work – Book
Strengths Finder 2.0 – Book
Buddha's Brain – Book
Hardwiring Happiness – Book
Interested in developing more effective leadership skills? Connect with Cinga today here.