Powerful Introvert | Quiet Leadership, Confidence & Personal Growth

Think you have to fake extroversion to lead? Think again.

In this episode of Powerful Introvert, Greg sits down with David Hall—host of the Quiet and Strong podcast and author of Minding Your Time—to unpack the real strengths of introverted leaders. From managing energy and time to building authentic confidence, David shares a deeply personal and practical perspective on what it means to lead quietly and powerfully.

💡 D...

Salvatore Manzi didn’t crave the spotlight—he stepped into it because it terrified him.

As an introvert, public speaking once felt like torture—“like lighting my body on fire,” he says. But instead of avoiding it, he studied it. And over the past 20 years, Salvatore has helped thousands of quiet, analytical professionals build confidence, lead with presence, and speak with impact—without trying to be someone they’re not.

In ...

You don’t grow by pushing harder—you grow by going deeper.

At just four years old, Diane Taylor lost her sister—and no one talked about it. Her parents believed she was too young to grieve. For 13 years, Diane carried that silence—until it nearly destroyed her. What followed was a healing journey that transformed her from a high-achieving, control-driven corporate climber into a conscious leader, coach, and guide for others...

What does it mean to be a highly sensitive person—and how can you lead with that trait instead of hiding it?

Dr. Tracy Cooper is one of the world’s leading experts on high sensitivity. In this episode of Powerful Introvert, he shares his journey from overwhelmed student to pioneering researcher, and offers practical insights for quiet, reflective people who want to thrive as leaders.

A professor, author, and co-producer of t...

You don’t have to fake extroversion to lead.

Michaela Chung is one of the original voices of the quiet revolution—and her story starts with a breakdown in a hookah bar in New Zealand.

Overstimulated, exhausted, and pressured to “stop being so quiet” on a group trip, Michaela shut down. But that low point became a turning point—not just for her, but for thousands of introverts who would later follow her journey.

Michaela is th...

Can extroverted leaders become powerful introvert allies? Holly Golebiowski did—and in this episode, she shares how.

A naturally extroverted leader, Holly didn’t realize her communication style was steamrolling quieter team members—until someone finally pointed it out. That wake-up call set her on a new path: becoming a more self-aware leader, learning to build inclusive team dynamics, and championing quieter voices in the ...

After 20 years of high-functioning denial, David J. Greer finally admitted to his coach—and himself—that he had a problem with alcohol.

The two had built trust over the past 18 months, and he knew that once he said the words out loud, there was no going back. He could never again lie about it to himself, because his coach would hold him accountable.

“I knew he would never let me off the hook.”

That same day, he walked into...

What if the real cause of toxic workplaces isn’t bad culture—but bad leadership?

Leadership coach and DEI strategist Desiree Goldey believes most companies are skipping the most critical step: teaching people how to lead.

As founder of Do Better Consulting and a senior advisor at ZRG Partners, Desiree helps organizations go beyond checkbox DEI to build inclusive cultures—starting with self-aware leaders. From the C-suite to ...

What does it take to build one of the best places to work in the world?

For Chris Dyer, it started with a bold question: “What if we did this differently?”

As CEO of PeopleG2, Chris led a remote team that consistently ranked among the best places to work—and landed on Inc. Magazine’s fastest-growing companies list five times.

In this episode of Powerful Introvert, Chris breaks down exactly how he did it.

From building psycholo...

Coach Josh Wood is a powerful introvert: a fitness coach and TEDx speaker who guides his clients as far as they want to go, from their couches to the peaks of the Himalayas.

Based in Hobart, Tasmania, he coaches health and fitness worldwide, from tactical athletes like firefighters and police, to sports athletes, to normal professionals like me.

Though he’s certainly physically powerful—competing in powerlifting, Brazilian J...

Tim Christensen has served as Chief Product Officer—the product and technology leader—at multiple software companies, driving hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. To anyone who’s met him, he’s outspoken and anything but shy. “I’m often the loudest person in the room,” he says. Yet, he admits, “I almost never look forward to social gatherings.” Sound familiar? Sure enough, Tim consistently tests as an introvert on th...

In this episode of Powerful Introvert we interview our first, live extrovert!

Greg Schramm, a Product Manager and owner of a small-batch coffee roaster Bud’s Coffee is a garrulous extrovert—testing ENTJ (J for Judgmental) on his Meyers-Briggs for years. But a career spent working with introverted engineers and listening to customers has so shaped his outlook, a recent test scored him ENTP (P for Prospecting). In other words...

In this first interview I speak with Jeff Cowan. We met 14 years ago at a local tech company where I was abruptly introduced to his team as their new manager. The team was cut out of the process and the news of my hiring, in Jeff's words, “was not universally well received.” This was my first stint as an engineering manager, and Jeff was really kind and helped me navigate some pretty choppy waters.

Jeff is an introvert and...

We’re here to talk about being an introvert, our incredible strengths and the challenges we face in business. We’ll explore how society’s values and hidden assumptions favor extroverted leaders, and how that hurts us all. You’ll hear interviews with business leaders, experts in the field, and with people like you and me - just trying to make sense of this and improve our lives. Plus you’ll get practical advice for your car...