Bad Bosses, Great Leaders

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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Lisa Robyn Wood didn’t leave her senior role because of lack of ability; she walked away because self-doubt convinced her she wasn’t enough.

In this honest and energizing episode, Lisa shares how a crisis of confidence shifted her path toward coaching and why she’s dedicated to helping managers who feel stuck, exhausted, or unsupported. 

She opens up about the realities of performance pressure, the pitfalls of “empowerment” gone wrong, and the freedom that comes from embracing your own leadership style, even when it doesn’t match the mold.

From her early days in the energy sector to her current work as “The Middle Manager Coach,” Lisa brings a refreshing perspective for anyone navigating the messy middle of leadership.

If you’ve ever questioned your worth as a manager, or wondered if leadership has to feel this heavy, this episode is your reminder: confidence isn’t something you search for—it’s something you reclaim.

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Follow Lisa on Instagram

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Imagine facing workplace bullying as a young broadcast journalist and transforming that experience into a powerful career in HR leadership. 

Susan Hensley reveals her journey of resilience, sharing how creativity and self-advocacy became her tools for success. Discover practical strategies for overcoming perfectionism and building a supportive team environment. 

Whether you're in HR or any leadership role, Susan's insights offer valuable lessons on navigating change and fostering resilience. 

Tune in for an inspiring conversation that challenges the stigma around HR and highlights the power of creative practice in leadership.

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What if your biggest leadership challenge isn’t strategic; it’s emotional?

In this powerful and eye-opening episode, clinical hypnotherapist and former ICU nurse Leslie Thornton joins Rebecca to explore what keeps high-performing leaders stuck. 

Spoiler alert: it’s not a lack of intelligence. It’s disconnection from your body, your emotions, and your worth.

Leslie unpacks why traditional goal setting, productivity hacks, and “thinking your way out of it” often fail for high achievers. Instead, she guides us toward emotional mastery, identity healing, and nervous system regulation as the real unlock for sustainable leadership.

You’ll learn:

✔️ Why perfectionism and people-pleasing sabotage your growth
✔️ How suppressed emotions affect decision-making and relationships
✔️ Why burnout is often masked by high performance
✔️ What hypnosis actually is (and what it’s not)
✔️ How to finally stop white-knuckling your way through change

Whether you're battling food obsession, self-doubt, or feel numb at the end of every day, this episode offers a science-backed, deeply compassionate roadmap to help you reconnect with the leader and human in you.

Connect with Leslie online

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Being the smartest person in the room might earn you respect, but it won’t make you a great leader.

In this compelling episode, cybersecurity expert, author, and Ironman athlete Christian Espinosa shares why emotional intelligence, communication, and humility are the missing links in high-performing technical teams. 

Drawing from his military background and extreme endurance sports, Christian brings a fresh perspective to leadership in high-pressure environments.

We dive into:

• Why intelligence can become a liability when it blocks connection
• How to lead high-performing technical teams without ego
• What Ironman training taught Christian about resilience, leadership, and mindset
• Why calm under pressure beats being “the smartest” every time
• The one question every new leader should ask their boss

Whether you're leading engineers, analysts, creatives, or anyone who thinks differently, this episode is packed with insights that challenge traditional leadership thinking.

Connect with Christian online 
Check Our Christian's Company Blue Coat Cyber

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What does it take to transform your life and your leadership from the ground up?

In this deeply honest episode, Jim Bouchard shares his incredible journey from high school dropout and drug addict to black belt martial artist and respected leadership coach. 

His story is one of radical ownership, personal growth, and lifelong transformation.

We explore:

• Why leadership is about transformation, not perfection
• The martial arts mindset that shaped Jim’s leadership philosophy
• The fading black belt metaphor (and why the best leaders return to “white belt” humility)
• Why command-and-control leadership is outdated and what actually works
• The surprising superpower of embracing uncertainty

Jim doesn’t just talk about growth. He’s lived it. And he’s proof that the strongest leaders often come from the most unexpected places.

Connect with Jim on LinkedIn

Check out the Human Centric Leader online

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The Future of Leadership: Why It’s Time to Let Go of the Old Playbook

The workplace is changing. Are you ready to lead differently?

Today’s leaders face a once-in-a-generation shift in how we work, lead, and engage teams. Yet, many still cling to outdated command-and-control structures that no longer serve employees or organizations.

In this episode, Brian Gorman—executive coach, TEDx speaker, and expert in transformational leadership—shares:

✅ Why traditional leadership models no longer work (and what to do instead)
✅ The power of trust-based leadership and how to build it
✅ How the 4-day workweek is reshaping productivity & work-life balance
✅ The truth about resistance to change—and how to turn it into commitment
✅ How curiosity creates connection and transforms team dynamics

If you’re a leader, HR professional, or simply someone who wants to thrive in the future of work, this episode will give you the tools and mindset shifts you need to lead with impact and purpose.

🔊 Tune in now and start leading for the future, not the past!

In This Episode:

✔ How the workplace revolution is impacting leadership
✔ The neuroscience behind trust, communication & engagement
✔ Why leaders should focus on blending, not balancing, work & life
✔ How to communicate with radical candor & empathy
✔ Why powerful questions are the key to transformational leadership

Get in Touch with Brian:

Website: Transforming Lives
LinkedIn: Connect with Brian Gorman here

Want to lead in a way that inspires, engages, and adapts to the future of work? Learn how to let go of outdated leadership models and step into a new era of trust, transformation, and impact.

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Are you leading in a way that actually energizes your team, or are you unknowingly draining them?

So many leaders struggle with disengaged employees, constant firefighting, and teams that won’t step up. But what if the problem isn’t them—it’s how we’re structuring leadership?

In this episode, Carly Pepin, business coach and human behavior expert, breaks down how self-awareness, values, and alignment play a massive role in leadership success.

✅ Why most disengaged employees aren’t lazy—they’re just in the wrong seat
 ✅ The power of self-awareness in leadership (and why most leaders lack it)
 ✅ How to recognize when your team is unmotivated (and what to do about it)
 ✅ Why effective leaders stop micromanaging & start trusting their people
 ✅ The simple but game-changing fix for bad meetings & wasted time

If you want to build an engaged, high-performing team, you need to start by understanding yourself and your people at a deeper level.

Tune in now to learn how to create alignment, motivation, and real leadership impact!

Get in Touch with Carly:
Website: West Coast Growth Advisors
LinkedIn: Connect with Carly Pepin 

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