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Ever wondered how to transition from being a specialist to a leader without losing your edge? 

In this episode, Dipti Patel and Rebecca Vickers explore the art of leadership, sharing insights on preventing burnout, fostering team growth, and balancing data with emotional intelligence. 

Whether you're a high performer or guiding one, discover strategies to enhance your leadership journey and make impactful decisions. 

Tune in for a transformative discussion on becoming an empowered leader.

Connect with Dipti Patel on LinkedIn

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Mentorship has been hijacked by corporate buzzwords and checkbox programs. But what if real mentorship isn’t something you assign, it’s something you earn?

In this episode of Bad Bosses, Great Leaders, Dr. Deborah Heiser reframes everything we think we know about mentoring. As a developmental psychologist and founder of The Mentor Project, Deborah breaks down the emotional core of real mentorship, why it can’t be forced, and what great mentors and mentees actually do.

You’ll learn:

• The 5 ingredients of true mentorship (and what happens when one is missing)
• Why workplace “mentorship” is often mislabeled as advising or coaching
• The difference between coaches, advisors, sponsors, and mentors—and why you need all four
• How lateral mentorship works (and the surprising origin story of Apple)
• Why people mentor (hint: it’s not for recognition)

Whether you’re mentoring, being mentored, or building a program, this conversation will challenge you to rethink how meaningful connection is built.

Connect with Dr. Deborah Heiser on LinkedIn
Visit the mentorproject.org 

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In this episode of Bad Bosses, Great Leaders, we’re joined by Jurriaan Kamer, a former software engineer turned organizational change agent, who unpacks what really holds teams and companies back from high performance.

From the myth of empowerment to the illusion of strategy, Jurriaan challenges traditional leadership roles and invites us to rethink what it means to lead effectively. Drawing on his experience in self-managed organizations and insights from his books Formula X and Unblock, he shares:

Why ownership requires both authority and emotional investment

The difference between “being strategic” and actually having a strategy

How self-managing teams operate—and why they outperform hierarchical structures

What happens when leaders stop directing traffic and start designing better systems

Practical ways to remove roadblocks, build trust, and run meaningful experiments

This conversation is a must-listen for anyone feeling stuck in outdated systems or craving more aligned, autonomous teams. You’ll walk away with a clearer lens on what’s holding your organization back—and where to start.

Connect with Jurriaan Kamer on LInkedIn 
Visit www.jurriaankamer.com

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In this rare group conversation, Rebeccainterviews the founders of Alliance Practice—Lee Manis, Bob Briggs, and Thomas Bognanno—for a masterclass in mission-driven leadership. 

With over 100 years of combined nonprofit and business experience, these three leaders unpack what most people get wrong about scaling, why alignment trumps ambition, and how trauma-informed leadership is reshaping the future of impact work. 

From the importance of self-awareness to the power of a well-balanced governance board, their insights are both practical and personal. 

Whether you're leading a team, a nonprofit, or your own business, this conversation will challenge you to slow down, focus in, and lead with both empathy and discipline.

Visit Alliance Practice online
Connect with H. Lee Manis, II on LinkedIn
Connect with Thomas G. Bognanno on LinkedIn

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In this episode of "Bad Bosses, Great Leaders," Rebecca Vickers chats with executive leadership expert Mark L. Vincent to explore the nuances between managing and leading. 

They delve into the transformative journey of leadership, discussing the three pivotal turns in an executive's career and the importance of maintaining a learning posture. 

Mark shares insights on process consulting, adaptive change, and the art of simplifying complexity to foster innovation. Tune in to discover how to align teams, embrace curiosity, and lead with vision. Don't miss this masterclass in leadership evolution!

Connect with Mark on LinkedIn

Visit www.marklvincent.com

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Ever wondered what it takes to transform from a good boss to a great leader? In this episode of the "Bad Bosses Great Leaders" podcast, we dive deep with Liz Weber, a leadership consultant with over 30 years of experience. 

Liz reveals her journey from launching a training company to becoming a trusted advisor in strategic planning and executive coaching. 

Discover her "Five Stages of Focused Leadership" model and gain insights into avoiding common leadership pitfalls. 

Whether you're just starting or are a seasoned executive, Liz's candid advice and practical frameworks will empower you to lead with clarity and purpose. 

Connect with Liz on LinkedIn at Liz Weber CMC for more insights.

Connect with Liz Weber on LinkedIn

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Visit Liz at www.Liz-Weber.com

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In this episode of Bad Bosses, Great Leaders, Rebecca Vickers sits down with Jaclyn Strominger for a candid conversation about leadership, career pivots, and the lessons learned from life at 30,000 feet—literally. 

Jaclyn shares stories from her travels that reveal how small moments of kindness (or rudeness) can shift an entire experience, and why leadership shows up in how we treat people in every interaction. 

She opens up about navigating imposter syndrome, knowing when to change direction in your career, and why curiosity is one of the most underrated leadership skills. 

You’ll hear practical advice on building genuine connections, asking better questions, and taking initiative, even when it feels uncomfortable. 

Whether you’re in a season of growth, change, or simply seeking better ways to lead, Jaclyn’s insights will inspire you to show up with empathy, clarity, and courage.

Connect with Jaclyn Strominger on LinkedIn

Work with Jaclyn

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What happens when your boss leads with fear, and you still have to lead others?

In this episode of Bad Bosses, Great Leaders, Jenn Donahue shares the story of surviving one of the worst leaders she’s ever worked under: a commanding officer in Afghanistan who yelled, intimidated, and hollowed out morale. 

But instead of following that example, Jenn made a decision that shaped her entire leadership approach.

From commanding battalions in war zones to building a thriving engineering firm, Jenn reflects on the key lessons she’s learned about:

Building trust under pressure

Coaching vs. controlling your team

Accountability without micromanagement

How to decide when it’s time to let someone go

The leadership traits she promotes and protects in her company

This episode is a powerful reminder that great leaders are forged in challenging moments and shaped by how we choose to respond.

Connect with Jenn on LinkedIn

Visit Jenn's website

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When you think of leadership, facilitation might not be the first word that comes to mind. But as Therese Miclot explains in this conversation, it’s a game-changer; and a skill too few leaders are taught.

Therese shares how her time leading global L&D at a multibillion-dollar company revealed the real difference between promotable leaders and ones who stay stuck: their ability to communicate, adapt, and influence in rooms that require more than technical knowledge.

We explore:

What facilitation really means (hint: it’s not a workshop)

The surprising power of listening (and why most of us are doing it wrong)

How poor phrasing like “do you have a second?” creates chaos

Delegation without dumping: the key to developing your team and your own strategic growth

Why generosity might be the line between a bad boss and a great leader

If you’ve ever been told you’re “too busy for more responsibility,” this episode is for you.

Work with Therese Miclot 
Grab a copy of Therese's book "The Facilitation Advantage"

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You can’t build trust with a checklist and you can’t fake safety with platitudes.

In this episode of Bad Bosses, Great Leaders, Adrian Cole shares what he’s learned about leadership, psychological safety, and inclusion across diverse roles, from operations and product management to DEI. 

Drawing on real-life moments, Adrian opens up about the tension between good intentions and true impact, and what happens when leaders don’t do their inner work.

We unpack:

• Why tone, timing, and delivery matter more than the content of your feedback
• How psychological safety is built (and broken) in small moments
• The myth of “safe spaces” and what brave spaces require
• What Adrian learned from watching leaders lead poorly—and how it shaped his voice
• Practical tips for making your workplace inclusive without performative gestures

This episode invites every leader—especially those in transition—to pause, reflect, and ask: “Am I really leading in a way that builds trust?”

Connect with Adrian Cole on LinkedIn

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