Leading with Kindness with Christy Pretzinger: Lead to Succeed 163

What role does kindness play in leadership? In a world often focused on achieving results and meeting expectations, can leading with compassion create a more productive and fulfilling workplace? In this episode, Christy Pretzinger shares her perspective on the transformative power of kindness in leadership.

As the owner and CEO of WG Content, Christy has established an industry-leading company that delivers superior content and strategy to healthcare brands nationwide. She intentionally focused on building the business based on kindness. And that approach has proven to be good for people and the bottom line.

Over time, Christy discovered her true calling: to create a workplace that nurtures personal and professional growth — and help other leaders do the same. She’s a popular guest speaker for events and podcasts, always ready to guide audiences on how to grow leaders and build environments where people can thrive. Christy’s new book, Your Cultural Balance Sheet: Keys to creating an environment where people can thrive, is due out January 2025.

Embracing Vulnerability and Support with Owen Marcus: Lead to Succeed 162

In leadership, vulnerability is often seen as a weakness, but what if embracing it could make us stronger and more effective?

In this episode, Owen Marcus delves into the importance of emotional safety in the workplace, how leaders can model vulnerability, and why creating supportive environments for both personal and professional growth is crucial.

Taking a Stand Against Bullying with Jenn Johnson: Lead to Succeed 161

When faced with wrongdoings like bullying, staying silent is often the easiest choice—but it’s also the most harmful. How can we find the courage to speak out and take a stand against bad behavior?

In this episode, Jenn Johnson shares her experiences and insights on the importance of confronting bullying in the workplace.

The Power of Clarity with Alex Geesbreght: Lead to Succeed 160

A growth mindset is essential for success, but without clarity, how can we know where we’re headed or how to measure our progress?

In this episode, Alex Geesbreght explains why clarity is a fundamental building block for fostering a growth mindset and how it can unlock new possibilities for personal and leadership development.

Alex is the Founder and Partner of PRAX Leadership, Geesbreght Capital, and Geesbreght Group. He is a former Owner of Emergency Medicine Consultants, where he served in various roles including General Counsel, President, and Chief Strategy Officer for over sixteen years until the sale of the company in 2018. He is also the former Owner and CEO of PhysAssist Scribes, the nation’s first medical scribe company. Since selling PhysAssist in 2014, Alex is a full-time investor and counselor of early-stage entrepreneurs.

Simplify to Amplify with Lisa Bodell: Lead to Succeed 159

Do you ever feel like you’re busy all the time but not making real progress? What if the key to achieving more isn’t doing more, but simplifying how we work?
In this episode, Lisa Bodell unpacks the importance of cutting through the clutter to focus on what truly drives value, helping us trade busyness for meaningful impact.

Lisa, founder of FutureThink, is a globally recognized expert on simplifying work and driving innovation. She is the author of Why Simple Wins and Kill the Company, both bestsellers that emphasize replacing unnecessary complexity with simplicity to allow people to focus on impactful work. Her insights have influenced top organizations, including Google, SAP, Citigroup, and the U.S. Department of National Intelligence. A frequent Forbes contributor, Lisa’s expertise has also been featured in Fast Company, Wired, The New York Times, and Harvard Business Review. She has taught innovation at American University and Fordham University, and her TED Talk on simplification resonates with thousands each year. Through FutureThink, one of the world’s largest sources for innovation tools, Lisa’s work empowers teams to improve productivity, engagement, and well-being by shifting focus to what matters most.

Discovering What Truly Matter with Matt Shenker: Lead to Succeed 158

What does it mean to truly understand our priorities in life? In a world filled with distractions and demands, how do we uncover what genuinely matters to us? In this episode, our guest Matt Shenker shares his insights on the journey of self-discovery and the importance of aligning our lives with our core values.

As a licensed professional counselor, meditation teacher, and behavior scientist since 2016, Matt has trained thousands of therapists, educators, and managers on how to harness the greatest learnings from behavior science from the last century. Matt is the creator of Empowered Well-being Theory—a transdisciplinary biopsychosocial spiritual model for understanding human well-being. As a framework, that work serves as a foundation for the work Matt does as Chief Solutions Architect, COO, & Cofounder at MatterMore. At MatterMore, they’re working to empower the future of work—what they call Work 4.0.

Turning Conflict into Opportunity with Jose Ucar: Lead to Succeed 157

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by conflict, unsure of how to navigate the tension without sacrificing your values or relationships? What if conflict didn’t have to be a barrier, but instead, an opportunity for growth and connection?

In this episode, we dive deep into these important questions with our guest, Jose Ucar, as he shares strategies for turning conflict into a powerful tool for transformation and success.

Jose is an international communication and influence expert with over a decade of experience working with businesses such as Procter & Gamble and SEAT-CUPRA. His actionable strategies for business leaders expose hidden barriers to effective communication, bridge cultural gaps, ignite positive influence and amplify global impact. Jose is the author of bestseller book ‘Global Influence,’ a TEDx speaker and host, a professional speaker, a leadership and communication trainer, a speaking coach, and founder of Jose Ucar Ltd. His writing has been featured on Yahoo Finance and Yahoo News, Disrupt Magazine, LA Weekly and The Influencer Age.

Lead as Your True Self with Rabbi Daniel Lapin: Lead to Succeed 156

In a world that often encourages us to “fake it until we make it,” what’s the real value of leading with authenticity? How can loving what we do transform not only our work but also those we lead? In this episode, we explore the importance of embracing who we truly are in leadership with our guest, Rabbi Daniel Lapin.

Daniel Lapin, known widely as America’s Rabbi, is a noted rabbinic scholar, best-selling author and TV host. He is president of the American Alliance of Jews and Christians, author of America’s Real War, Thou Shall Prosper and other best-sellers. A frequent guest on Fox News, WallBuilders Radio, and Glenn Beck TV, he hosts his own popular radio and podcast programs with audiences world-wide. Pairing his inheritance as a descendant of a multi-generational rabbinical family with his background in science and business, he teaches ancient Jewish wisdom in an unparalleled manner.

Leading with Humanity with Richard Atherton: Lead to Succeed 155

Effective leadership demands a return to our human roots. How can leaders embrace a human-first approach to foster meaningful connections, drive organizational goals, and inspire their teams? In this episode, our guest Richard Atherton explores how leading with humanity can unlock breakthrough potential and transform our approach to leadership within organizations.

Richard is a Partner at FirstHuman, a business coaching firm that helps CEOs, leaders, and top executives achieve leadership breakthroughs and organizational goals with a human-first approach. Its clients include Adidas, Volkswagen, Heineken, PwC, UNICEF and the Olympics.

Richard has nearly 10 years of expertise in leadership development and has helped numerous clients achieve significant personal and professional breakthroughs. His own background of overcoming multiple addictions and personal traumas has been crucial in shaping his passion for humanizing the leadership culture within organizations. He was notably involved in helping leaders at the logistics company CEVA close a $400M profitability gap. He is also the host of the Being Human podcast that provides insights on leadership and well-being and reaches 11.9K subscribers.

Building a People First Culture with Meny Hoffman: Lead to Succeed 154

What makes a business truly thrive? Is it the strategy, the products, or the people behind it? In today’s episode, we dive deep into the essential role that people and culture play in shaping the success of any organization. Our guest, Meny Hoffman, shares his insights on why building a strong company culture is not just a leadership buzzword but a crucial foundation for long-term business growth.

The Value of Seeking Assistance with Dennis Franczak: Lead to Succeed 153

In moments of struggle and uncertainty, seeking help can be a pivotal step toward healing and growth. But why is it often so challenging to reach out for support, and how can embracing assistance transform our lives? In this episode, our guest Dennis Franczak explores the profound importance of seeking help when we need it most.

Dare to Risk It with Terracina Maxwell: Lead to Succeed 152

Have you ever found yourself standing at the edge of a decision, uncertain of what’s on the other side? What does it take to push beyond fear and take that leap, even when the outcome is unclear?

In this episode, we dive into the mindset of a risk-taker with our guest, Terracina Maxwell, who encourages us to step out of our comfort zones and embrace the unknown in pursuit of greater rewards.

Rising from Adversity with Justin Winstead: Lead to Succeed 151

How can adversity shape our journey to success? When faced with life's toughest challenges, how do we turn pain into power? In this episode, our guest Justin Winstead shares his powerful story of battling cancer and transforming that experience into a driving force for positive change and influence.

From a challenging rural upbringing, Justin transformed adversity into a springboard for success. After college, he worked in student ministry and church planting before launching into business endeavors, including oil and gas, real estate, and a multi-million-dollar insurance agency. With over 20 years in business and leadership and as a cancer survivor, Justin's journey epitomizes the power of faith, purpose, and vision. Passionate about personal growth with the goal of serving others, he's committed to enriching people through his insights.

As an executive coach, workshop facilitator, keynote speaker, and the founder of Improver Group, Justin aims to make the world a better place by helping leaders, entrepreneurs, and their teams improve personally and professionally.

Justin has a new book titled "Become an Improver: A Challenge to Escape Average and Unleash Greatness." The book will be released October 1, available wherever books are sold.

Get Out of Your Own Way with Dr. Shirley Davis: Lead to Succeed 150

Have you ever found yourself stuck in a situation, held back by fear of the unknown? What does it really take to break free from what's familiar, even if it's uncomfortable, and embrace the possibility of something greater?

In this episode, we explore these transformative questions with our guest, Dr. Shirley Davis, as she challenges us to "stop living in our known hell because there's an unknown heaven."

The Skillset Advantage with Neil Emeigh: Lead to Succeed 149

What truly drives our progress when the initial excitement fades? How do we continue to grow and adapt when motivation alone isn’t enough? In this episode of Lead to Succeed, our guest Neil Emeigh delves into these questions, exploring the crucial role of skill development in achieving lasting success and adaptability.

Neil Emeigh is the founder and CEO of Rayobyte, a company he started at 21. Rayobyte serves over 5000 customers, including Fortune 500 companies, with a focus on web scraping. Beyond his professional achievements, he has pushed his personal limits by experimenting with activities like an Ironman and participating in a seven-day silent meditation retreat. Despite a generous offer to sell his company, Neil chose to continue leading Rayobyte, driven by a vision to create a greater impact and give back to the world.

Listen in to learn how refining your skills can lead to exceptional and sustainable growth.

Lead to Succeed dives deep into personal leadership journeys, seeking to understand how leaders got to where they are today, and the challenges & successes that they experienced along the way