The Connected Leadership Podcast

The Connected Leadership Podcast

Speaker and author on professional relationships, Andy Lopata, explores great connections with experts and high achievers worldwide.

Episodes

October 5, 2025 51 mins
Ready to flip the entire leadership hierarchy on its head? In this powerful episode, Andy sits down with Patrice Gordon, the trailblazer who became Virgin Atlantic's first-ever reverse mentor, ultimately mentoring the CEO and starting an organisational movement. If you think leadership wisdom only flows from the top down, this conversation will make you think again. Patrice unpacks the tactical playbook for reverse mentoring—a p...
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In this landmark celebration of the 300th episode of The Connected Leadership Podcast, Andy Lopata reflects on his original aim to explore the power of professional relationships and executive success. 300 extraordinary conversations; unforgettable stories of resilience, achievements and humanity, all linked to relationships. It has been humbling, inspiring and often moving. How to celebrate 300 conversations? This isn't just a lo...
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In this edition of Connected Leadership Bytes, Andy Lopata returns to the archives for a classic conversation with Goldie Sayers, Olympic bronze medalist and former Team GB Captain. Goldie draws powerful parallels between the high-stakes world of elite sport and the challenges of corporate leadership. She explains the necessity of creating a support team where every expert understands their role in the service of a single, clear g...
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In this episode of Connected Leadership Bytes, Andy Lopata revisits a gem-filled conversation from the archives with Phil Jones, Managing Director of Brother UK, and Sam Rathling, founder of Pipeline 44. They discuss why it is crucial for modern leaders to actively engage on social media, particularly LinkedIn. Phil Jones shares his personal journey of leveraging platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn to build his personal brand, att...
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In this episode of Connected Leadership Bytes, Andy Lopata revisits his conversation with Alisa Cohn, executive coach and author of From Startup to Grown Up. Alisa Cohn, named the Top Startup Coach in the World, shares her insights on the crucial role of professional relationships at various stages of a leader's journey. Andy and Alisa discuss the concept of "champions" in one's network and emphasise nurturing relationships authe...
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What if a single, catastrophic event could completely reshape your understanding of human connection? For Michelle Mills-Porter, surviving the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami did just that, turning personal tragedy into a profound mission to understand the core of effective collaboration. In this wide ranging episode, Andy Lopata is joined by Michelle Mills-Porter, an award-winning business owner and human behaviour expert, for a powerful ...
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Welcome back to Connected Leadership Bytes where this week, we look back at a powerful conversation with personal branding expert Lesley Everett. Andy and Lesley explore why simply "doing a good job" is no longer enough for career advancement. Lesley introduces the crucial concept of the 'entrepreneurial mindset' for leaders within large organisations. This involves being more visionary, visible, and connected; moving beyond your ...
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In this special edition of The Connected Leadership Bytes, Andy Lopata revisits his conversation with thought leadership experts Mindy Gibbins-Klein and Daniel Priestley. Andy, Mindy and Daniel examine the art and science of becoming an influential voice in your field. Mindy introduces the concept of 'thoughtful leadership,' defining it as the courage to share new, exciting ideas widely and respectfully. She challenges leaders to...
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In this edition of Connected Leadership Bytes, Andy Lopata reminds us of the powerful and popular conversation he had with researcher and speaker, David Hyner. Prepare to have your conventional wisdom on goal-setting completely shattered as David dismantles the myth of SMART goals. He reveals why this widely accepted principle is misquoted and misinterpreted, advocating instead for setting 'Massive Goals with Smart Steps'—a strateg...
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Ever found yourself pushing a crucial task to a mythical, more productive “tomorrow”? You’re not alone. In this fascinating episode of The Connected Leadership Podcast, Andy Lopata is joined by Melina Palmer. Melina is CEO of The Brainy Business, she has written three bestselling books and hosts The Brainy Business podcast, which has more than 1 million downloads in over 170 countries. A consultant and keynote speaker, she also tea...
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In this edition of The Connected Leadership Bytes, Andy Lopata revisits a powerful conversation from the archives with Rebecca Robins, Global Chief Learning and Culture Officer at global branding agency Interbrand. This episode explores how to nurture and empower the next generation of leaders. The central focus is Interbrand’s innovative "Horizon Board"—a shadow board of aspiring talent under 30 who work alongside the executive t...
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We're dipping into the archives for one of our most popular episodes! Andy Lopata revisits his fascinating conversation with Dr. Beam Maue, co-founder of AFWERX, the innovation mission within the US Air Force. How do you build a forward-thinking, agile community within one of the world's most hierarchical organisations? Dr. Brian shares the incredible story of how AFWERX grew from just five people into an award-winning ecosystem t...
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In this episode of The Connected Leadership Bytes, Andy Lopata revisits his insightful conversation with the ultimate super-connector, Dr. Ruth Gotian. Andy introduces the concept of the “Gottian Sphere” to explore Ruth's phenomenal generosity with her network and why she believes in an abundance mentality. They examine the principle of "know, like, and trust," stressing that genuine relationships are never transactional—you must g...
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In a world where disrespect and division are increasingly normalised, how can leaders navigate difficult conversations and transform conflict into connection? This episode of the Connected Leadership Podcast tackles this critical challenge head-on as Andy Lopata welcomes Justin Jones-Fosu. A dynamic speaker and author, Justin guides individuals and organisations to their peak potential through meaningful work, inclusive mindsets, ...
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June 29, 2025 20 mins
Are you constantly drowning in a sea of emails, back-to-back meetings, and an endless to-do list? Do you end the day feeling exhausted but not truly productive? You're not just busy; you're caught in the "crazy busy" trap—and it's costing you the relationships that fuel long-term success. In this episode from the archive, Andy Lopata is joined by leadership coach and author of The Crazy Busy Cure, Zena Everett, to diagnose and sol...
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Your career success depends on more than just your skills—it's built on the strength of your relationships. In this classic episode from the archives, Andy Lopata and MIT instructor Mark Herschberg, author of The Career Toolkit, break down the art of strategic networking inside your organisation. Discover why your internal connections are your greatest asset for unlocking hidden opportunities, gaining influence, and accelerating...
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In this episode of Connected Leadership Bytes, Andy Lopata goes back to the archive to his interview with Nobel Laureate Dr Bob Lefkowitz where they discussed the power of storytelling and humour in science, mentorship, and leadership. Drawing from his memoir, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Stockholm, Bob shares captivating anecdotes, including the unforgettable moment his daughter got engaged at the Nobel Banquet. He empha...
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In this episode of Connected Leadership Bytes, Andy Lopata revisits his episode with Lee Cockrell, former Executive Vice President of Operations at Disney World. Andy and Lee discuss  the power of storytelling in leadership. Drawing from his extensive experience at Disney, Lee highlights how storytelling is deeply embedded in Disney’s culture, shaping everything from guest experiences to employee training. He emphasises that storyt...
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In this episode of the Connected Leadership Podcast, Andy Lopata welcomes guest Jenna Dominique, a pitch and communication expert, working with over 2,000 teams and individuals to become influential, high impact communicators. After starting her career as a broadcast journalist, Jenna’s dynamic background has led her to work with ambitious entrepreneurs to boards of directors, startups to global corporations. An international speak...
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In this episode, Andy Lopata revisits his conversation with Jennifer McCollum, CEO of Catalyst and author of In Her Own Voice: A Woman’s Rise to CEO. Their conversation explores the unique challenges women face in advancing their careers, emphasising the critical role of sponsorship over mentorship. Jennifer shares personal and professional insights on how external biases often become internalised, holding women back from advocat...
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