Authentic Leadership for Everyday People

Greg Bedard of Boston Sports Journal joins us for a candid discussion on his shift from a traditional sports journalism career to forging his own path in the digital media world. We navigate the highs and lows of starting a subscription-based sports website amidst an industry shrinking and in turmoil.

With a focus on authenticity and reader engagement, Greg shares his journey and the core values that have propelled his platform to become a champion of quality sports content in a sea of clickbait.

At the end of the episode, Greg taps into his deep NFL knowledge to answer six "what if" scenarios involving among others Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck, Bill Belichik and Tom Brady and the Patriots.

Key Moments

[1:03]Episode Intro

[4:07] Greg Bedard career and how he founded BSJ

[11:49] Lessons from Peter King & Sports Illustrated MMBQ

[13:52] BSJ vision & building BSJ Team

[20:02] Perspective on journalism industry

[27:37] Work philosophy

[30:48] Six hypothetical questions on the NFL

Contact Dino at: [email protected]

Websites:

bostonsportsjournal.com

al4ep.com

Additional Guest Links:

Twitter: @gregabedard

BSJ Subscription: bostonsportsjournal.com/subscribe

Greg's Bio & Articles on BSJ: bostonsportsjournal.com/author/GregABedard

Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo

Dino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneo

Podcast Instagram – @al4edp 

Podcast Twitter – @al4edp 

Podcast Facebook: facebook.com/al4edp

Music

Susan Cattaneo: susancattaneo.bandcamp.com

Today we talk about leadership, partnerships and co-founders. Our guest is Annie Garofalo, Founder and CEO of Confidante. She specializes in preventing co-founder conflicts. Her approach is a combination of her experience as a co-founder herself and a rigorous academic background.

In our discussion we covered all the steps to building a successful co-founder relationship, starting with figuring our whether you actually need a co-founder. If the answer to the question is yes, we talked about how to find the right co-founder and the best practices in setting up the relationship and managing conflict.

Key Moments

[1:08] Intro

[2:27] Annie's story and background

[15:21] Do you need a co-founder and best practices to set up successful co-founder relationships

[33:05] Favorite hobby

[34:06] Jargon that drives Annie crazy

[35:09] Food for the body or food for the soul

Contact Dino at: [email protected]

Websites:

al4ep.com

confidante.info

Additional Annie Links:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annie-garofalo

LinkedIn - Corporate: linkedin.com/company/cofounder-confidante/

Instagram: @thecofounderconfidante

Twitter: @anniegarofal0

TikTok: @the.cofounder.confidante

YouTube: youtube.com/@TheCoFounderConfidante

Podcast: How I Met My Co-Founder

Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo

Dino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneo

Podcast Instagram – @al4edp 

Podcast Twitter – @al4edp 

Podcast Facebook: facebook.com/al4edp

Music

Susan Cattaneo: susancattaneo.bandcamp.com

Founder Resources From Confidante

Resources for Co-Founders from Confidante Substack

Essential Co-Founder Conversations

Watch Outs When Choosing a Co-Founder

Healthy Founding Teams: The Sound Relationship House

How does stress impact leaders? In today's episode host Dino Cattaneo shares a framework and areas of intervention to manage stress as an individual and as the leader of an organization.

This episode was inspired by this LinkedIn post by Erica Seidel. - 16 Affirmations.

Contact Dino at: [email protected]

Websites:

al4ep.com

Quoted in this podcast:

Erica Seidel LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ericaseidel/

The Connective Good: theconnectivegood.com/

Dr. Herbert Benson - The Relaxation Response

Trevor Mowad: It Takes What It Takes

Positive Intelligence: https://www.positiveintelligence.com/program/

Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo

Dino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneo

Podcast Instagram – @al4edp 

Podcast Twitter – @al4edp 

Podcast Facebook: facebook.com/al4edp

Music

Susan Cattaneo: susancattaneo.bandcamp.com

Humor is a very powerful leadership tool. In today's episode we celebrate April's Fool with a discussion of 6 principles to use humor effectively in a leadership or corporate context.

I also share a portion of a conversation with Bill Prinzivalli about the connection between improv comedy and leadership.

Contact Dino at: [email protected]

Bill Prinzivalli episode (includes all links)

Websites:

al4ep.com

Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo

Dino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneo

Podcast Instagram – @al4edp 

Podcast Twitter – @al4edp 

Podcast Facebook: facebook.com/al4edp

Music

Susan Cattaneo: susancattaneo.bandcamp.com

Our guest today is Debora Spar professor and Business In Global Society Unit Head at Harvard Business School. She is here to discuss a course called The Social Purpose of The Firm that is required in the first year curriculum of the MBA program.

In our conversation we discussed the origin of this course, why it’s important that all students go through it, and what the objective of the class are. We also talked about “purpose driven businesses” – company that aim to tackle large societal problems while also generating a profit. Deb delved into some of the unique characteristics of some of this businesses and the people who start them and join them.

Finally, since she is seeing first hand some of the brightest members of Gen Z who are about to enter the work force, we talked about what makes that Generation Unique and wonderful and gives her great hope for the future.

Key Moments

[4:37] The Social Purpose of the Firm - origin and goal of the course

[13:06] Generation Z - observations on the students and what makes the generation unique

[17:08] Purpose driven businesses that try to tackle large societal issues at scale and what makes them unique

Deb Spar Episode 18

Websites

 authenticleadershipforeverydaypeople.com or al4ep.com

Debora’s Website – deboraspar.com

Other Debora Spar Links

Debora’s Twitter – @deboraspar

Linkedin – linkedin.com/in/deboraspar 

Debora’s Books (also available on her website)

Work Mate Marry Love How – Machines Shape Our Human Destiny

Wonder Women – Sex, Power, and the Quest for Perfection

Ruling the Waves: – From the Compass to the Internet, a History of Business and Politics along the Technological Frontier

The Baby Business – How Money, Science, and Politics Drive the Commerce of Conception

Authentic Leadership for Everyday People

Podcast Instagram – @al4edp

Podcast Twitter – https://twitter.com/al4edp

Authentic Leadership for Everyday People on Facebook – facebook.com/al4edp

Music

Susan Cattaneo: susancattaneo.bandcamp.com

When the line between corporate power and societal responsibility blurs, leaders must navigate the terrain with both integrity and strategic insight. Join me, Dino Cattaneo, as we traverse the complex world of leadership in the context of corporate social responsibility.

Unpack the history of businesses influencing politics, the essential nature of accountability, and why actions like those of Disney, Bud Light and Goya have sparked such intense debate. In a time where every silence and statement is amplified, we scrutinize the delicate balance companies must strike between being authentic and protecting their brand.

We talk about corporate advocacy, the current context, some of the pitfalls to avoid and we offer a set of questions and a framework that leaders can use to decide whether and how to engage in specific topics.

Chapters:

(00:10) - Corporate Social Responsibility and Leadership

(08:16) - Corporate Advocacy in a Turbulent World

(17:55) - Decision-Making Framework for Social Issues

Contact Dino at: [email protected]

Websites:

al4ep.com

Website episode page

Episode 42: Leading Organizations Through Post Roe vs. Wade Complexity

Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo

Dino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneo

Podcast Instagram – @al4edp 

Podcast Twitter – @al4edp 

Podcast Facebook: facebook.com/al4edp

Music

Susan Cattaneo: susancattaneo.bandcamp.com

Sources

Wikipedia: 2000–2001 California electricity crisis

IMD: The BlackRock Letter: a Turning Point for Real Change?

Bain & Company: Do ESG Efforts Create Value?

Aspen Institute: Three Takeaways on Corporate Advocacy

Arthur Page Society: Stakeholder Capitalism and ESG: A Guide for Communication Leaders

Wikipedia: Disney and Florida's Parental Rights in Education Act

New York Times: Behind The Backlash Against Bud Light (may require subscription)

CNN: Bud Light boycott likely cost Anheuser-Busch InBev over $1 billion in lost sales

FOX Business News: Bud Light sales down nearly 30% year over year as rivals continue to climb

KelloggInsight: How Much Do Boycotts Affect a Company's Bottom Line?

Arthur Page Society/David Grossman: CEOs Need a “re-do;” Dismal Communication on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, New Research Shows

Daivd Grossman Group / The Harris Poll study download: Study on Internal Communications of Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Harvard Business Review: Alison Taylor - Corporate Advocacy in Times of Social Outrage (note: may require subscription)

Books

Alison Taylor: Higher Ground: How Business Can Do The Right Thing In a Turbulent World

Today's guest is Stephen Wunker. He is the founder of New Markets Advisors, a firm that specializes in new product introductions. He is also the author of 4 books on innovation and disruption. In our conversation we discussed his career, from consulting to successful global tech entrepreneur and back to consulting, and how he developed his vision of leadership.

Stephen worked closely with Clay Christensen for a number of years, and he shared an episode that taught him a lot about what authentic leadership was for Clay. Finally, we discussed Stephen's upcoming book, The Innovative Leader.

Key Spots:

(00:00) Show intro

(3:08) Stephen introduces himself

(12:30) Lessons in Professional Services and Growth

(18:37) Strategies for Innovative Leadership

(25:16) Creating Innovative Leaders and Organizations

(35:06) Culture of Innovation and Travel

Contact Dino at: [email protected]

Websites:

al4ep.com

newmarketsadvisors.com/

Additional Guest Links:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stephenwunker/

New Market Advisor Company Links:

Twitter: twitter.com/newmktsadvisors

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/new-markets-advisors/

Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo

Dino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneo

Podcast Instagram – @al4edp 

Podcast Twitter – @al4edp 

Podcast Facebook: facebook.com/al4edp

Music

Honest Mechanik: Maybe

Susan Cattaneo: susancattaneo.bandcamp.com

Books

The Innovative Leader: innovativeleaderbook.com

Preorder: Amazon or B&N

Other books by Stephen Wunker

• Jobs to be Done
• Capturing New Markets
• Costovation

Anna Goldsmith is the founder of The Hired Pens, a copywriting agency, and the producer of TedX Portsmouth. She shares her creative leadership journey, from balancing art and business to the influence of poetry classes on her copywriting skills. She reveals her process of finding the right partner in business, emphasizing the importance of shared goals and complementary skills and being selective about who she hires.

Anna also discusses both the positive and the negative impact of ChatGPT on creativity based businesses, and shares some tips on how she uses it. Finally, we talk about Anna's role as the producer of a TEDx event, explaining how her leadership approach shifts when leading a volunteer team. In addition, for leaders who are interested in either delivering a TEDx talk or improving their public speeches, Anna provides valuable advice on preparing and delivering impactful TED talks, emphasizing the power of storytelling.

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

[2:58] - Anna introduces herself and explains how she started The Hired Pens.

[4:54] - How has Anna managed to balance the business and creative sides of her industry?

[6:07] - Anna argues that for a successful partnership, shared goals and complementary skills are crucial, fostering trust and respect.

[9:04] - Choosing contentment over constant expansion, Anna maintained a modest business size and avoided unnecessary stress.

[11:08] - Anna explains why she is very meticulous in her hiring process.

[13:45] - Hear how Anna balances honesty and client preferences, sharing her opinions but respecting their decisions.

[14:50] - Anna touches upon how she selectively declines clients misaligned with her values.

[16:38] - For her TED team, who are all unpaid volunteers, Anna has emphasized gratitude over payment.

[19:54] - Anna points out that crafting a compelling TED talk involves exploring passions and adhering to a formula for success.

[21:15] - Effective TED talks, like any public speaking, hinge on storytelling, emphasizing showing over telling for engagement.

[22:55] - As an undergrad art major, Anna found poetry classes most beneficial for copywriting, as they promoted concise creativity.

[25:08] - Anna explains how she has adapted to fast-paced changes, leveraging her speechwriting expertise.

[28:42] - Anna encourages listeners to keep in mind that AI isn’t going anywhere and to still find face-to-face interactions despite changes.

[29:50] - Learn how Anna can be contacted.

[30:14] - Anna reveals that engaging in daily walks, collecting found objects, and pursuing collage art and gardening provide her with a physical outlet.

[31:16] - Hear why Anna dislikes the word "synergize" and refuses to use trendy phrases like "bio break.”

[32:32] - Anna finds joy in making a sweet, milky cup of tea, especially in the winter.

Contact Dino at: [email protected] 

Websites:

al4ep.com or authenticleadershipforeverydaypeople.com

thehiredpens.com

tedxportsmouth.com

Additional links for  Anna Goldsmith

Email contact: [email protected]

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annagoldsmith/ 

Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo

Dino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneo

Instagram: @al4edp 

Twitter: @al4edp 

Facebook: facebook.com/al4edp

Music

Alice In Wonder | Susan Cattaneo

Susancattaneo.bandcamp.com

susancattaneo.com 

Today our guest is Pam Prior, who helps us examine leadership through a financial lens. Pam is a CFO-turned-entrepreneur and finance coach, and her mission is to make finance fun and valuable for small business owners. Drawing on her 30-year career, she shares insights on building leadership, creating a fun yet productive work environment, and the key steps entrepreneurs should take for financial soundness.

Pam stresses the significance of leaders empowering their teams, setting high expectations, and embracing a culture where failure is viewed as a learning opportunity. Her unique approach to connecting finance with storytelling and leadership provides actionable insights for entrepreneurs looking to navigate the financial landscape of their businesses. Tune in to discover how Pam Prior makes finance not only manageable but genuinely enjoyable for small business owners.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

[2:24] - Pam transitioned to helping entrepreneurs, aiming to make finance enjoyable and valuable for small business owners.

[4:15] - Starting in the DuPont mailroom at 17, Pam turned routine tasks into enjoyable games, influencing her successful CFO approach for entrepreneurs.

[6:17] - Pam argues that balancing high expectations and a fun culture in leadership demands daily commitment and adaptability.

[10:02] - Pam shares a critical lesson learned from neglecting signs of overburdening having led to a $1 million fraud.

[15:26] - Taking responsibility for the crisis resulted in colleagues' dismissal.

[17:02] - Initially accepting challenging clients for financial reasons, hear how Pam learned to heed intuition and prioritize balance.

[19:39] - Pam explains how she significantly changed her leadership style after gaining invaluable leadership insights early in her accounting career.

[22:34] - Pam communicates the importance of finance by aligning it with entrepreneurs' goals and desired outcomes.

[24:42] - Hear three pieces of advice: separate personal and business finances, register your business, and prioritize paying yourself from the start.

[28:35] - Where can Pam be found online?

[28:57] - Pam reveals that her current passion involves diving deep into decentralized finance, Web3, and crypto for the past two years.

[29:34] - Striking a balance, Pam simultaneously loves and hates the advice: "Don't let highs get too high or lows too low."

[30:32] - Currently, Pam's soul finds nourishment in spirituality and interconnected beliefs, while tuna casserole fuels her body.

Contact Dino at: [email protected]

 Websites:

 al4ep.com or authenticleadershipforeverydaypeople.com

pamprior.com

Other links for Pam Prior:

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PamSPrior

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamSPrior

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamsprior/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pamprior

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pamsprior/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/pamsprior

Music

Susan Cattaneo: susancattaneo.bandcamp.com

Alice In Wonder | Susan Cattaneo

susancattaneo.com

Stephen Klein returns for the second half of our conversation. As a reminder, Stephen is an entrepreneur and AI expert whose journey weaves through academia, business, and innovation, and he is responsible for the creation of Curiouser.AI.

In this second half, Stephen pivots his focus to the innovative world of AI and the essence of being a "crazy one" who views the world differently. Stephen shares his journey from teaching in urban public schools to founding a company with a unique approach to artificial intelligence, and he introduces the concept of reflective AI, emphasizing its role in prompting humans and pushing boundaries.

He also delves into his mission of helping entrepreneurs and founders by turning his AI into a tool for articulating and storytelling. He draws parallels between his approach and the wisdom of great thinkers like his hero Steve Jobs, highlighting the importance of thinking differently and embracing resistance.

Catch Part 1 of the interview

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

[2:31] - Understand AI's complexity, embrace learning, view it as a tool, and prepare for its transformative impact.

[4:53] - Stephen explains what the ultimate goal of the company is.

[6:38] - Stephen believes that everyone is a genius in their own way.

[10:38] - Stephen moved to Philadelphia for grad school, teaching underprivileged high schoolers with innovative and empowering methods.

[14:06] - In his fifties, Stephen recognized the superpower of self-awareness, which is essential for success but often suppressed by society.

[16:52] - Stephen touches upon having studied Steve Jobs and learning that visionary leaders operate on a deep level and embrace challenges.

[18:58] - Stephen has reevaluated his assumptions and has found profound truth, that helping others succeed by thinking differently is crucial.

[22:08] - In its early stages, Stephen's predominantly female tech company seeks capital, driven by passion and innovation.

[24:30] - Reflecting on a David Foster Wallace story, Stephen has realized that diverse perspectives are our competitive advantage.

[27:56] - Stephen touches upon some hobbies and passions outside of his professional life.

[28:44] - Stephen feels that although many claim to be innovative, they do so without truly understanding what it means, instead avoiding real risk and hindering creativity.

[29:49] - Stephen embraces ancient wisdom and finds value in both Eastern and Western philosophy.

Contact Dino at: [email protected] 

Websites:

al4ep.com or authenticleadershipforeverydaypeople.com

Curiouser.AI

Other links for Stephen Klein: 

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stephenbklein

Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo

Dino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneo

Instagram: @al4edp 

Twitter: @al4edp 

Facebook: facebook.com/al4edp

Music

Alice In Wonder | Susan Cattaneo

Susan Cattaneo