For Leaders By Leaders

On Leading Inclusively in 2025/ Guest: Anne-Marie Pham, VP, Engagement, Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI)

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.

On The Brain at Work/ Guest: Jaime Lama, Regional Director, NLI

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.

On Strengths Based Leadership/ Guest: Tracy Hutton, SVP, Global Talent, lululemon

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.

On Sustainable Performance Strategy/ Guest: Dr. Ben Sporer, President, Resync Consulting

Dr. Ben Sporer is one of Canada’s foremost experts in human performance. With a career spanning 25 years in the Olympics, professional sports, and as a performance strategist for the Vancouver Whitecaps, Ben has mastered the art of building high-performing teams that deliver over the long haul. Kathy and Ben dig into the critical shift leaders need to make: from chasing outputs to driving meaningful outcomes. They explore how clear objectives, role clarity, and disciplined preparation create the foundation for sustainable success
 
Tune in to this episode as we explore:
(05:30) Rebuilding sports team strategy
(07:51) Defining leadership performance objectives
(13:39) Identifying outputs for success
(15:41) Developing talent in small markets
(19:09) Clear objectives and roles for team success
(26:11) Metric-driven success over time
(28:37) Effective metrics: lead vs lag indicators
 
Connect with Dan Eisner here:
Dr. Ben Sporer on LinkedIn
Resync Consulting
Output – Book
Output – Instagram
 
Interested in developing more effective leadership skills? Connect with Cinga today here.

On Rethinking Wellness Programs/ Guest: Dan Eisner, Advisor, ZLC Employee Benefits Solutions

Why do so many employee wellness programs fail, and what can leaders do to fix them? Employee benefit and wellness expert Dan Eisner unpacks what leaders can do. With a background in both accounting and HR, Dan shares insights on shifting employee expectations, personalised benefits, and generational divides. From health spending accounts to weight loss drugs and fitness trends, find out what actually drives engagement.
 
Tune in to this episode as we explore:
(01:44) Dan Eisner’s career journey and background
(02:26) What is changing in the world of wellness?
(05:37) Why employees aren't using wellness programs
(07:39) Having a health spending account
(10:44) How to encourage fitness at work
(13:07) Tips to keep your workforce as healthy as possible
(15:42) Modelling behaviour as leaders
(17:30) For Leaders By Leaders Lightning Round
 
Connect with Dan Eisner here:
Dan Eisner on LinkedIn
ZLC Employee Benefits Solutions
Better Benefits Podcast
 
Interested in developing more effective leadership skills? Connect with Cinga today here.

On Differentiating Yourself/ Guest: Stephen Shapiro, Innovation Instigator

Innovation expert Stephen Shapiro talks about standing out by focusing on what makes you truly irreplaceable. Drawing from his book Pivotal, Stephen shares why innovation is a capability, not a trend. Learn how to avoid shiny-object syndrome, embrace stability, and uncover your team’s real differentiator… plus a look at his teamwork tool, Personality Poker.
 
Tune in to this episode as we explore:
(03:40) Building stability before change
(07:38) Individual differentiation drives organisational success
(12:15) Radio flyer's purpose: lasting smiles
(13:45) Creating distinctive customer experiences
(18:42) Focus on present differentiators
(22:52) Real-time feedback in leadership
(26:08) Focus on identifying opportunities
(29:35) Engage lost and potential customers
(30:33) Combatting confirmation bias in innovation
(34:18) Refocus on core strengths
 
Connect with Andrea Seale here:
Connect with Stephen Shapiro on LinkedIn
Stephen Shapiro’s Website
Pivotal – Book
Personality Poker
Interested in developing more effective leadership skills? Connect with Cinga today here.

On Influence/ Guest: Andrea Seale, CEO, Canadian Cancer Society

Andrea Seale, CEO of the Canadian Cancer Society, joins the show to discuss the power of influence in leadership. Andrea shares her journey from communications and fundraising to the heart of nonprofit leadership, offering practical insights on how to rally teams, build effective partnerships, and drive change, whether you’re working with donors, advocacy groups, or policymakers.
 
Tune in to this episode as we explore:
(05:58) Cialdini's persuasion principles
(08:32) Leveraging consistency for influence
(12:45) Effective listening in consulting partnerships
(14:31) Collaborative glioblastoma research summit
(18:12) Misinformation in cancer search results
(21:44) Importance of communication in storytelling
(24:02) Empowering cancer advocates for change
(28:23) Influencing change through systems strategy
(33:47) Leading through crises: challenges and triumphs
(34:56) Leading change at Canadian Cancer Society
 
Connect with Andrea Seale here:
Andrea Seale on LinkedIn
Canadian Cancer Society
Interested in developing more effective leadership skills? Connect with Cinga today here.

On Strategic Execution/ Guest: Rachael Radford, Founder and President, MEIRA Consulting, Inc.

Rachael Radford doesn’t fit the usual tech founder mold. From working on concrete formwork high above the Vancouver skyline to spearheading complex technology transformations, her journey is anything but conventional. In this episode, she sits down to unpack one of the most overlooked – and misunderstood – aspects of business: strategic execution. You’ll hear Rachael’s take on assessing organisational readiness, creating genuine accountability, and making strategy stick
 
Tune in to this episode as we explore:
(05:41) How to set maturity goals that actually drive progress
(09:21) What success really looks like across departments
(13:15) Aligning your role with the bigger strategy
(15:40) Using forward thinking to influence outcomes
(21:10) How to adapt when the market shifts
(22:30) Focusing your strategy for real growth
(27:27) Why peer support matters in scaling strategy
(29:25) Planning to stand out, not just keep up
 
Connect with Andrea Seale here:
Rachael Radford on LinkedIn
MEIRA Consulting
 
Interested in developing more effective leadership skills? Connect with Cinga today here.

On Managing Complexity/ Guest: Shelley Frost, President and CEO, PNE

Shelley Frost, CEO of the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE), joins the show to talk about leading one of BC’s most iconic and complex organizations. From early roles in a psychiatric hospital and juvenile jail to leading in tech and the arts, Shelley’s path has shaped a unique approach to leadership. She shares how managing unpredictability and diverse stakeholders prepared her to run the PNE – home to major events, an amusement park, and key youth employment programs. They discuss balancing legacy with innovation, leading through ambiguity, and building operational excellence.
 
Tune in to this episode as we explore:
(03:15) From consulting to finding local purpose
(09:04) Aligning vision in complex teams
(11:48) Leading with adaptability
(15:41) Making decisions with clarity
(17:52) A collaborative planning approach
(21:29) Communicating with seasonal staff
(25:46) Unearthing hidden war relics
(27:29) Behind Vancouver’s FIFA fan fest
(30:23) Inside the concert and show lineup
 
Connect with Shelley Frost here:
LinkedIn
Pacific National Exhibition (PNE)
PNE Instagram
Interested in developing more effective leadership skills? Connect with Cinga today here.

On Financial Well-Being of Employees/ Guest: George Grombacher, President, Money Alignment Academy

George Grombacher is a seasoned podcaster, former Fortune 500 advisor, President of Financial Consulting Professionals, and the Founder and Chief Community Officer of Money Alignment Academy. He sits down with Kathy Andrews to unpack the hidden impact of financial well-being, both personally and professionally.
 
George opens up about growing up with financial uncertainty and how those early experiences shaped his beliefs around money. He uncovers the deep emotional layers behind our financial behaviors – and why ignoring money stress at work could be costing businesses more than you think.
 
Tune in to this episode as we explore:
(04:10) Confronting financial avoidance and scarcity
(09:54) Prioritizing financial literacy
(11:22) Simplifying financial planning basics
(14:54) Embracing financial wellness at work
(18:55) An immigrant's journey to financial literacy
(21:43) Tailored financial wellness training
(24:32) How money and beliefs shape life
 
Connect with George Grombacher here:
LinkedIn
Money Alignment Academy
Interested in developing more effective leadership skills? Connect with Cinga today here.