Today I’m joined by Germany-based facilitator and psychologist Nadia Petronov, founder of More Shiny Eyes—and yes, her mission is exactly what it sounds like: helping people light up at work (even on Mondays). We riff on visual facilitation, why listening beats lecturing, and how to guide groups through messy moments without losing the room. Nadia also shares the story behind her Wonder Cards—a pocket-sized set of go-to activities you can run anywhere, any time, with any group.

We discuss:

• How Nadia went from HR at Mercedes and projects at IBM (and even building an aircraft!) to facilitation—and why the constant thread was always people.
• Her obsession with flipcharts (there’s literally one in her living room) and how a personal Kanban board keeps her workflow visible and sane.
• The #1 facilitator superpower: listening—before, during, and after the session.
• My favourite new analogy: the facilitator as midwife—it’s the group’s “baby,” and our job is to support the process, not steal it.
• What to do when the agenda doesn’t match the room’s reality (and how to create the next best step together).
• Why emotion is contagious in rooms—and how “shiny eyes” create creativity, connection, and better decisions.
• Resources that shaped Nadia’s approach (hello, Dale Carnegie) and her peer-learning habits.

Sign up for free for my best articles every week: Work Fame.

Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com

P.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help:

1. Watch My 2025 Speaker Reel: Let's energise your next event.
2. Get My Book: Design your workshops fast using The 2-Hour Workshop Blueprint. 

Let's connect on all the channels:

Leanne Hughes on LinkedIn

Leanne Hughes on Instagram

Visit my website: leannehughes.com

Email me: [email protected]

Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.