Grow Strong Leaders Podcast

They can't meet an expectation you've never made clear. Michael D. Morrison discovered that lesson the hard way after entering a business partnership without first defining the values, boundaries, and expectations that mattered most to him. What followed became a painful, years-long experience that affected employees, clients, and vendors—and fundamentally changed how he thinks about leadership.

You'll hear why Michael believe...

Great leaders know how to turn the temperature down when everyone else is turning it up. Roxanne Petraeus discovered that early as a U.S. Army officer, watching the leaders she most admired become calmer as situations grew more stressful. Today, as CEO of Ethena, she draws on those lessons to lead through uncertainty, develop other leaders, and create an environment where people can think clearly instead of reacting from fear. ...

Your values become real when you're willing to pay a price for them. Shalini Rajoo believes the real test of leadership isn't what you say you value, but what you're willing to risk when those values collide with pressure, expectations, and organizational rewards. Drawing on more than two decades across law, ethics and compliance, organizational culture, and leadership, she reveals why the gap between what leaders say and what they...

What would you do if you didn’t wait for confidence first? John Mollura knows what it's like to appear highly successful while privately questioning whether you're good enough. During 15 years supporting NASA and elite U.S. military units, perfectionism became his protection against being exposed—and eventually taught him that waiting until you're completely ready can come with serious costs.

 You'll hear how to sep...

What if one conversation could change your career—but fifty could change your life? Dr. Elizabeth Fried explains why building meaningful relationships isn't about collecting contacts; it's about investing in what she calls relationship capital. Whether you're changing careers, seeking greater visibility, or simply wanting stronger professional relationships, you'll discover a practical approach that replaces awkward networkin...

Have you ever been successful at work but felt like something was missing? You may have been doing work you were capable of—but not the work you were built to do. That disconnect affects not only your own fulfillment but also the people you lead. 

Leadership coach Greg Harrod explains why self-awareness is the foundation of great leadership and how understanding the unique ways people contribute can transform teams. Throu...

How much does misalignment really cost? Most people think about missed goals or lost revenue. Anthony "AJ" Vaughan challenges you to look deeper and consider the human cost when leaders fail to communicate, listen, and create environments where people feel safe speaking up. 

Through stories from his own successes and painful failures, AJ explains why alignment begins long before strategy meetings. You'll discover how honest com...

What kind of experience do other people have when they work with you? It's a simple question—and one that can transform the way you lead. 

In this conversation, executive coach and bestselling author Brenda Bence shares lessons from coaching CEOs around the world, along with pivotal moments from her own leadership journey. Through unforgettable stories and practical examples, she explains why great leaders build people be...

What if one of the most important leadership skills isn't speaking more clearly, making faster decisions, or solving problems more quickly—but simply being fully present?

In this thoughtful conversation, psychologist and coach Dr. Pam Garcy shares practical ways to quiet the mental stories that pull us away from the people and moments that matter most. Drawing from her book The Present Coach, Pam explains why returning to the ...

Most organizations can describe their values. The real challenge is helping people live them when pressure, habits, and competing priorities get in the way. 

In this thought-provoking conversation, Stephen Paskoff explains why changing behavior—not simply communicating expectations—is the true work of leadership. Drawing on four decades of experience helping organizations create respectful, accountable workplaces, S...

What happens when values collide with results and a difficult decision has to be made?

Earl Rattray spent more than three decades helping organizations answer that question in real time. Drawing on his experience leading global ethics and compliance efforts at Colgate-Palmolive, Earl shares why values only become meaningful when they're tested, how managers shape culture more than policies ever can, and why trust is the foundation o...

What if the most important leadership moment of your career lasts only five minutes? 

Angela Burgess believes that meaningful change often begins with a single conversation. In this episode, she shares the story of a manager who saw potential in her when she was struggling, offered a different perspective, and changed the trajectory of her career. That experience shaped Angela's belief that leaders have an extraordinary opportu...

What if your culture isn't defined by your values, but by the behavior you're willing to tolerate? Steve Harris has spent decades helping organizations create environments where employees feel safe speaking up, leaders model the right behaviors, and ethics become part of everyday decision-making. As Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer at Lincoln Financial, Steve shares practical examples of how organizations can build trust, streng...

What if your desire to help is actually getting in someone else's way? You may think you're supporting, protecting, or guiding others, but sometimes your good intentions can unintentionally limit their growth, confidence, and sense of purpose. 

Drawing from a deeply personal experience with my father, I explore how helping can cross the line into rescuing, controlling, or satisfying our own need to be right. You'll discover why...

How do you sustain an ethical culture across 113,000 employees in more than 80 countries with a team of just four ethics professionals? Kendall Mills shares how JLL has built one of the world's most enduring ethics programs, earning recognition from Ethisphere 19 times as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies. She explains how ethics becomes more than a policy or annual training requirement when leaders consistently reinforce t...

Do you need to know more than everyone else to be an effective leader? Chris Ware believes the answer is no. Throughout his career, he has repeatedly stepped into leadership roles where others had deeper expertise, yet he learned how to build trust, credibility, and engagement without relying on authority or having all the answers. 

As Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary at Itron, Chris shares lesson...

What makes employees feel safe enough to speak up when something feels wrong? Eva Lehman shares how ethical cultures are built through leadership behaviors, trust, consistency, and systems that reinforce integrity every day. As Vice President and Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer at Marvell Technology, Eva offers a behind-the-scenes look at how their culture shapes employee behavior far beyond policies and compliance training.&nb...

AI can accelerate answers. But what happens when it weakens the development of judgment, critical thinking, and human connection? Jennifer May explores the growing pressure facing middle managers, the risks organizations face when relationship-building and professional development fall away, and why ethical culture depends on much more than policies and compliance training. Drawing on nearly 30 years in ethics and compliance leader...

What happens when organizations become so focused on speed, efficiency, and AI that they slowly lose sight of people? In this thought-provoking conversation, Dr. Kelly Monahan shares insights from her years studying the future of work inside organizations like Deloitte, Accenture, Meta, and Upwork. Drawing from her upcoming book, Reclaim the Plot, Kelly explains how leaders and organizations gradually “drift” away from ...