299. Be the Leader: Lessons in Humanity and Connection with Mick Spiers

What kind of leader are you becoming: one who earns trust or one who enforces compliance? We take a clear-eyed look at leadership through four lenses—service, courage, resilience, and inclusion—drawing on highlights from Steve Fortunato, Jim Fielding, Kijuan Amey, and Stephanie Chung to turn big ideas into practical actions you can use this week.

Steve’s insights on service and storytelling show why facts inform but stories transform, helping teams reconnect to purpose and feel seen. Jim’s journey across Disney and The Gap reveals how authenticity and empathy create safe speed during change, where people move faster because fear drops and clarity rises. Kijuan’s post‑traumatic growth reframes adversity with a powerful line—losing sight without losing vision—reminding us to ask “What now?” and bounce forward with intent. Stephanie’s ally leadership invites us to pay attention to our attention—what we reward and ignore—so we amplify quiet voices, embrace healthy conflict, and unlock the innovation that diverse teams naturally generate.

Across these themes, the message is simple: leadership is human. Presence beats perfection when you show up to serve, listen, and adapt. You’ll leave with four practical moves: share one authentic story that reconnects your team to purpose; lead with empathy by checking how people are doing, not just what they’re doing; after setbacks, identify the next small step within your control; and intentionally invite a voice that hasn’t been heard. We close with reflective prompts to help you align your actions with your values and build a culture where people don’t just follow—you earn their belief.

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Episode Transcript

Mick Spiers (00:01):
Have you ever stopped to think about what kind

(00:42):
Hey everyone, and welcome backto The Leadership Project. I'm
your host, Mick Spiers, andtoday is going to be a solo cast
of leader you're becoming? Areyou the kind of leader who
where I reflect on each of ourguests in November and what they
taught us connecting the dotsand converting it into some
reflective moments for you andsome actual insights for all of

(01:04):
us. So let's get straight intoit. Steve Fortunato spoke to us
about leadership through serviceand storytelling. Steve reminded
us that leadership starts withservice. It's not about getting
people to do more. It's abouthelping people become more. He
challenged us to move from howcan I get results, to how can I

(01:27):
help my team succeed? Becausewhen my team succeeds, we all
succeed. And he reminded us thatconnection isn't built through
numbers, metrics or KPIs. It'sbuilt through stories, because
facts informed, but storiestransform. Stories move people.
inspires trust or demandscompliance, and do people follow
When you share a story about astruggle, a learning or a

(01:49):
vulnerability, you're not justteaching, you're inviting others
to see themselves in you. Sothis week, ask yourself this
what story could I share thatreminds my team why our work
matters, because every greatleader is also a great
storyteller, whether you realizeit or not.

(02:09):
Our next guest was Jim Fielding,who spoke to us about leading
with purpose, courage andempathy. Jim fielding's episode
was a masterclass in leadingthrough change and in staying
true to your values wheneverything else around you
shifts. Having led iconic brandslike Disney and the gap, Jim has

(02:32):
lived through disruption,reinvention and high stakes
transformation, but his messagewas beautifully simple purpose
you because they have to orbecause they want to? In today's
and people always come beforeprofit. Jim spoke about
authenticity as being his superpower, how the courage to lead
as his true self became thesource of his strength. He

(02:54):
reminded us that empathy isn'tweakness, it's what allows us to
navigate uncertainty with ourpeople, not around them. His
personal story of coming out asa gay executive in corporate
America was raw, vulnerable anddeeply inspiring. It showed us
that real Courage isn't theabsence of fear, it's acting in

(03:17):
alignment with your valuesdespite fear. So let me ask you
this, are you leading fromalignment or from expectation?
When's the last time you showedyour team that it's okay not to
have all the answers, and howare you showing up with
authenticity and empathy?
Leadership built on authenticityepisode, I'm going to be

(03:38):
reflecting on the powerfuland empathy outlasts any
business trend, because peoplewill always remember how you
made them feel.
Our next guest was Kijuan Amey,or better known as Kiwi, and he
spoke to us about resilience,purpose and post traumatic
growth. Kiwi story stopped me inmy tracks after losing his sight

(04:01):
in a motorcycle action, hedidn't just rebuild his life. He
redefined it. His quote blew meaway. I may have lost my sight,
but I did not lose my vision.
That sentence alone could be thetitle of an entire leadership
philosophy. Kiwi taught us thatresilience isn't about bouncing
back. It's about bouncingforward. It's choosing to turn

(04:25):
pain into purpose. It's themoment from our guests
throughout November, Stevecourage to stop asking why me,
and start asking what now? Andone of the true, compelling
learnings here is that traumadoesn't discriminate. It can
happen to anyone, and peoplearen't doing things to you. It's
just happening around you, andit's how you respond that makes

(04:48):
all the difference. Kiwi alsoreminded us that forgiveness of
others, of circumstances, evenof ourselves, is what sets us
free to grow as Lee. It is weall face adversity, projects
fail, people leave, plans fallapart. But resilience isn't
about never failing. It's aboutwhat we become because we fell.

(05:11):
So I want to leave you withKiwi's reflection, the story you
tell yourself about yourFortunato, Jim fielding, Kijuan
Amey and Stephanie Chung eachstruggle determines who you
become because of it. So askyourself, what story are you
telling about yourself today?
And finally, we had StephanieChung talking to us about ally

(05:34):
leadership and leading acrossdifference. Stephanie's message
couldn't be more relevant forthe world we live in today. She
reminded us that leadership isno longer about leading people
who are like us. It's aboutlearning how to lead people who
aren't like us. Six generationsin the workplace, multiple

(05:58):
cultures, multiple genders,neuro diversities and
perspectives. That's not achallenge. It's our greatest
opportunity. Stephanieintroduced us to a simple but
powerful idea, pay attention toyour attention, what you notice,
what you reward, what youignore. As a leader, tells your
brought a unique perspective onwhat it means to lead with

(06:20):
team exactly what you value. Shechallenged us to stop striving
for harmony through sameness andinstead embrace healthy conflict
and diversity of thought. Drawout those ideas, give people the
platform to speak up despite anyfear that they might have,

(06:40):
because diverse teams don't justperform better, they think
better, innovate faster andcreate more inclusive
environments where people feelvalued and when people feel
valued, they add value. AsStephanie said, Allied
leadership starts byintentionally creating space for

(07:01):
every voice, especially thequiet ones.
So this week, look around yournext meeting and ask whose voice
isn't being heard, and how can Iinvite it in? So let's connect
heart, authenticity and courage,and today, I want to connect the
the dots of what all four ofthese amazing leaders taught us.
It's the heart of leadership.
From Steve Fortunato, we learnedthat leadership is service, from

(07:24):
Jim fielding that leadership iscourage, from Kiwi that
leadership is resilience, andfrom Stephanie that leadership
is inclusion. But if there's onethread that runs through them
all, it's this, leadership ishuman. It's not about being
perfect. It's about beingpresent. When you show up to

(07:47):
serve, to listen, to adapt andto grow. People don't just
follow you. They believe in you.
So here's your actionabletakeaways for this week. Number
one, share a story. Tell one,authentic story that connects
your team back to the purpose ofwhy your team exists. Number

(08:11):
two, lead with empathy. Check inwith your people, not just about
results, but about how they'redoing. Number three, build
dots between their wisdom andhelp you to reflect on how their
resilience. When something goeswrong, pause and ask, what now?
What can I do? Don't focus onwhat you can't do. Focus on what
you can do with what you havefrom where you are. And number

(08:35):
four, practice allied leadershipin your next meeting,
intentionally amplify a voicethat hasn't been heard in a
while. As you finish thisepisode, take a moment to
journal or think about thesequestions. What story am I
telling myself about my ownleadership right now? When did I

(08:57):
last lead with empathy andvulnerability? Who around me
needs to be seen, heard andsupported more and what can I do
differently this week to leadwith more humanity as we wrap up
this reflection, I want to saythank you to every listener,
every guest and every leaderwho's been part of the journey

(09:18):
stories can shape your ownleadership journey.
so far, because next week, wecelebrate something truly
special, Episode 300 of theleadership project. We've come
so far together, and we're justgetting started. So until then,
be the leader who listens, wholearns and who leads with heart.

(09:39):
You've been listening to theleadership project. If today
sparked an insight, don't keepit to yourself. Share it with
one other person who wouldbenefit from listening to the
show. A huge thank you to GeraldCalibo for his tireless work
editing every episode, and to myamazing wife, Sei, who does all
the heavy lifting in thebackground to make this show

(10:02):
pop. Possible. None of thishappens without them around
here. We believe leadership is apractice, not a position, that
people should feel seen, heard,valued and that they matter,
that the best leaders trade egofor empathy, certainty for
curiosity and control for trust.
If that resonates with you,please subscribe on YouTube and
on your favorite podcast app,and if you want more, follow me

(10:25):
on LinkedIn and explore ourarchives for conversations that
move you from knowing to doinguntil next time, lead with
curiosity, courage and care.