Narativ Leadership Story Talks

What does the Titanic teach us about psychological safety, trust, and moral leadership?
In this episode of Leadership Story Talks, hosts Jerome Deroy and Julienne Ryan sit down with Kelly Skwarcan—leadership consultant, author, and creator of Leadership in Crisis: The Titanic, Carpathia, and Californian. Through this unique, immersive case study, Kelly unpacks the psychology behind two ships on the night of the Titanic disaster...

In this debrief episode, hosts Julienne Ryan and Jerome Deroy reflect on their heartfelt conversation with author and keynote speaker Amy Daughters, whose work explores the unexpected power of handwritten letters in the digital age.

Centered on a deceptively simple idea—taking the time to write a note—this episode dives into the emotional resonance and intentionality behind putting pen to paper. Julienne and Jerome uncover...

In this episode, Jerome Deroy and Julienne Ryan sit down with Evante Daniels—founder of Seeqer and originator of “cultural physics,” a groundbreaking framework for understanding how shared beliefs and narratives shape organizations. Evante works with schools, governments, and businesses to assess and strengthen what he calls “cultural resilience”—an organization’s ability to withstand and adapt to shifting cultural forces.

From his ...

In this debrief episode, hosts Julienne Ryan and Jerome Deroy reflect on their compelling conversation with Dr. Neal Baer—renowned TV producer, medical doctor, and storytelling educator—focusing on one powerful idea: “Data. Emotion. Action.”

Using this quote as a springboard, they explore how storytelling transforms dry statistics into narratives that resonate—and ultimately drive change. From justice reform to on-the-ground fundrai...

In this episode, Jerome Deroy and Julienne Ryan sit down with Charles Bernard—sales improvement expert, keynote speaker, and founder of Criteria for Success and Collavia. Charles brings more than two decades of experience helping organizations align their strategies with the modern buyer’s mindset. His mantra? Enable buying in a world of selling.

From a chance encounter in a corporate elevator to leading multi-million dollar deals, ...

In this debrief episode, Jerome Deroy and Julienne Ryan revisit a powerful moment from Episode 142 with Gary Danoff:

“I’ve been laid off a number of times, and I used to have great shame about that. And now I have great pride and appreciation and acceptance of what it has taught me… Wealth can be measured in a lot of different ways… partly financial, and partly in wisdom and figuring things out.”

In...

What if the secret to stronger workplace connections and higher engagement could be found in your mailbox?

In this episode, Jerome and Julienne sit down with Amy Daughters—keynote speaker, author, and advocate of handwritten letters—as she shares the incredible journey that started with writing notes to a grieving acquaintance and led to a profound reconnection with over 600 Facebook friends.

Amy tells a moving story about her father...

In this debrief episode, Jerome and Julienne reflect on their conversation with Taylor Scott, author of Lead With Hospitality and the upcoming Give Hospitality. They dive deeper into a powerful quote from Taylor:

“We love our favorite hospitality brands and destinations... nine times out of ten, it's because of how they make us feel... That's what I believe can transform mere jobs into truly meaningful work—whe...

In this powerful conversation, Jerome and Julienne speak with Dr. Neal Baer—award-winning television showrunner, physician, and educator—whose career has spanned medical dramas like ER and Law & Order: SVU to pioneering a graduate program at Harvard that fuses storytelling and health. Dr. Baer reflects on how his personal journey—particularly coming out later in life—has shaped the narratives he brings to the screen and the cla...

In this short debrief episode, Jerome and Julienne reflect on a powerful moment from their recent conversation with leadership expert Kevin Eikenberry. They explore how a single piece of advice or a simple question—delivered at just the right time—can shape the way we lead, communicate, and relate to others.

Key Themes

• The lasting impact of simple, profound questions
• Mentorship moments that shape leadership philosophy
• The...

In this episode of Leadership Story Talks, hosts Jerome Deroy and Julienne Ryan engage with Gary Danoff, an executive coach and former leader at Google and Microsoft. 

The conversation explores Gary's formative experiences, particularly his childhood insights into human behavior and communication. They delve into the challenges of career transitions, emphasizing the importance of reframing setbacks as opportunities. The discuss...

In this debrief episode, Jerome and Julienne reflect on a powerful insight from Anil Singhal about embracing inevitable disruption and using company values as a steadfast guide through change. The discussion opens with a personal question: When were you faced with disruption, and how did you respond?

Julienne recalls witnessing corporate downsizing and restructuring—scenarios where clear communication and values-based leadership mad...

Jerome and Julienne sat down with Taylor Scott—author, keynote speaker, and founder of Lead With Hospitality. Taylor brings over two decades of leadership experience from the hospitality and entertainment industries and shares how a moment at the beginning of his career planted the seeds for his leadership philosophy rooted in making people feel welcome, comfortable, and important.

Key Takeaways

• Great leadership is rooted in huma...

In this debrief episode, Julienne and Jerome reflect on the thought-provoking conversation from Episode 133 with Carlo Odicino, who challenges the commonly accepted notion of "work-life balance." Carlo rejects the idea that work should be viewed as separate from life, arguing instead that we should strive for balance in life itself, integrating both work and non-work activities. Jerome and Julienne discuss the implication...

In this episode of Leadership Story Talks, hosts Jerome Deroy and Julienne Ryan welcome Kevin Eikenberry, Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group and author of Flexible Leadership: Navigate Uncertainty and Lead with Confidence. With over 30 years of experience developing leaders across the globe, Kevin brings fresh insight into what it takes to lead effectively in today’s complex, ever-shifting workplace.

This conversa...

In this debrief episode, hosts Julienne Ryan and Jerome Deroy reflect on their conversation with Jennifer Langton, former NFL executive and champion of player safety, innovation, and ethical tech. They discuss how Jennifer’s unique leadership style—grounded in empathy, curiosity, and continuous learning—led to groundbreaking work in AI and athlete health, and what we can all take from her example.

At a time when tech often feels imp...

Hosts Julienne Ryan and Jerome Deroy sit down with Anil Singhal, CEO and Co-founder of NETSCOUT and author of The 5% Rule of Leadership. With 40 years at the helm of a company that has grown from a startup to a billion-dollar enterprise, Anil brings a wealth of wisdom grounded in experience, fairness, and deeply held values.

Anil shares the story behind his book and the powerful leadership framework it introduces: focus early effort...

In this special episode of Leadership Story Talks, hosts Julienne Ryan and Jerome Deroy step back from their usual format to address something that’s on many people’s minds—uncertainty. With rapid change, economic anxiety, and social division dominating conversations, they explore how we can approach difficult moments with intention, curiosity, and connection.

This conversation is a raw and honest reflection on how we process change...

In this debrief episode of Leadership Story Talks, hosts Julienne Ryan and Jerome Deroy reflect on their insightful conversation with Jeanne Martinet, author of The Art of Mingling and Mingling with the Enemy. Jeanne’s expertise in social interaction and connection offers a refreshing perspective on how we approach conversations—whether at networking events, social gatherings, or even in workplace meetings.

This episode explores the...