Badass Leaders Podcast: Leadership, Career Growth, and Company Culture

In this episode of the Badass Leaders Podcast, Susanne Biro, executive coach to CEOs and senior leaders, shares what she’s learned after decades of working behind the scenes with some of the most successful people in the world. From navigating her own experience with depression in her twenties to advising leaders of billion-dollar organizations, Susanne reveals the hidden fears, internal pressure, and mental patterns that quietly shape performance, decision-making, and fulfillment.

This conversation goes beyond surface-level leadership advice and dives into the real work most leaders avoid: self-awareness, emotional mastery, and honest communication. Susanne breaks down how “Deep Fear” shows up even at the highest levels, why success often fails to deliver fulfillment, and how leaders can shift their internal dialogue to lead with greater clarity, confidence, and impact.

You’ll also learn practical tools to strengthen self-awareness, improve communication, and take control of your inner narrative so you can lead more effectively without burning out.

Learn More About Susanne Biro:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanne-biro-executivecoach/
• Website: https://susannebiro.com/
• Podcast: https://deepfearpodcast.com/
• Book: https://susannebiro.com/book/
  
  

Mentioned in this Episode: 

• Tony Robbins: https://www.tonyrobbins.com/ 
• Michael Singer: https://untetheredsoul.com/ 
• Susanne’s TEDx: https://youtu.be/5mv6OX8ylP4?si=4GO9w5yu3lD7Y3ip
  
  

The discussion also tackles questions…

• Why do high-performing leaders still feel unfulfilled, even after achieving success?
• What is “Deep Fear,” and how does it quietly impact decision-making and leadership performance?
• Why does the human mind default to negative thinking, and how can you change it?
• How do you know if your inner dialogue is helping or hurting your leadership?
• What’s the difference between success and fulfillment, and why do so many leaders confuse the two?
• How can leaders improve self-awareness in a practical, daily way?
• What does real listening actually look like in leadership conversations?
• Why do leaders avoid difficult conversations, and how can they start having them more effectively?
• How can you reframe fear into growth and build confidence through action?
• What daily habits help leaders stay grounded, focused, and resilient under pressure?

Themes:

• The inner game of leadership and self-awareness
• Hidden fear and pressure in high-performing leaders
• Emotional intelligence and executive decision-making
• Success vs. fulfillment and the “outer life trap”
• The power of mindset and internal dialogue
• Building confidence through action and discomfort
• Brave conversations and authentic communication
• The role of relationships and human connection in leadership
• Personal responsibility and self-mastery
• Daily practices for mental clarity and resilience

Produced by: The AGN Group

Host: Angela Gill Nelms

Producer: Katie Hart

Tagline: Be Brave. Be Badass.

Websites: www.theagngroup.com and www.AngelaGillNelms.com

About The AGN Group:

At The AGN Group, we believe every individual, team, and company can unlock their inner badass, one brave step at a time. www.TheAGNGroup.com.

Social Media Channels:

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

Twitter: https://x.com/BALeadersPod

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baleaderspod

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/badass-leaders-podcast2

Want to be a Podcast Guest?

If you are interested in being a guest on the podcast, email [email protected].

What if the biggest threat to your career isn’t AI… but your comfort zone?

In this episode of the Badass Leaders Podcast, Angela Gill Nelms sits down with Allister Frost, former Digital Marketing Strategy Leader at Microsoft, to unpack what it really takes to stay relevant in a world where change is accelerating faster than ever.

After starting his career in traditional manufacturing with a mindset of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” Allister experienced a complete shift at Microsoft, where he realized that if something works today, it’s already obsolete. That insight became the foundation of his work helping leaders and teams develop a Future-Ready Mindset.

In this conversation, you’ll learn why most professionals don’t realize they’re falling behind until it’s too late, how to break out of the comfort zone that quietly kills growth, and the practical framework Allister uses to help people continuously adapt, innovate, and stay indispensable in the age of AI.

This episode is especially relevant for leaders, professionals, and teams navigating rapid change, digital transformation, and uncertainty about the future of work.

Learn More About Allister Frost:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisterspeaks/
• Website: https://allisterspeaks.com/
• Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/ReadyAlready-Future-Ready-Mindset-Stand-Shape-ebook/dp/B0FN9F6L59?crid=6XXZLLJW68NJ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.5OefvSXBHEcf9IGf0sQBRg.wedlbxnpLDhuc_dRUDSBYehu6lLhbevR5lF563fNELI&dib_tag=se&keywords=allister+frost&qid=1756725694&sprefix=,aps,88&sr=8-2&linkCode=sl1&tag=readyalready-21&linkId=79000e01f5bca3bc1b04d405dafd0684&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

Mentioned in this Episode: 

• Drew Harden: https://youtu.be/Z1xPDTB_TxA 
• Corean Canty: https://youtu.be/TamYKG3Ig84 
• Raheem Beyah: https://youtu.be/qab7tPVmWng 
• Amazing by Aerosmith: https://youtu.be/zSmOvYzSeaQ?si=9ht0yi46nFHRcnnk 

About The AGN Group:
Produced by: The AGN Group

Host: Angela Gill Nelms

Producer: Katie Hart

Tagline: Be Brave. Be Badass.

Websites: www.theagngroup.com and www.AngelaGillNelms.com

At The AGN Group, we believe every individual, team, and company can unlock their inner badass, one brave step at a time. 

Social Media Channels:

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

Twitter: https://x.com/BALeadersPod

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baleaderspod

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/badass-leaders-podcast2

Want to be a Podcast Guest?

If you are interested in being a guest on the podcast, email [email protected].

The discussion also tackles questions…

• How do you stay relevant in the AI era without becoming overwhelmed?
• What are the early warning signs you’re becoming professionally obsolete?
• Why do most change initiatives fail inside organizations?
• What is a Future-Ready Mindset, and how is it different from a growth mindset?
• What skills can AI NOT replace in the future of work?
• How can leaders overcome change fatigue in their teams?
• What daily habits help you continuously adapt and grow?
• How do you build curiosity and creativity in a structured work environment?
• What are leaders getting dangerously wrong about AI right now?
• How can individuals take ownership of change instead of waiting for direction? 

Themes:

• Future-ready leadership and mindset
• Adapting to rapid change and uncertainty
• Career resilience and staying relevant
• Human skills vs AI (curiosity, creativity, communication)
• Breaking out of the comfort zone
• Continuous transformation and innovation
• Leadership in the age of AI
• Empowering teams to drive change
• Personal ownership of growth and development

What if your leadership team isn’t actually aligned, even though everyone thinks they are?

In this episode of the Badass Leaders Podcast, we sit down with Rebecca Sutherns, an imagination strategist who has spent nearly three decades working with non-profit leaders, boards, and mission-driven organizations navigating complexity, constraint, and constant change.

Rebecca challenges a deeply ingrained assumption in leadership: that strategy is about analyzing the past. Instead, she makes the case that many leadership breakdowns are actually a failure of imagination, where teams rely on shared language but hold completely different visions of success.

Through real-world examples, including a non-profit board divided over what “success” actually looked like, Rebecca breaks down how hidden misalignment quietly derails decision-making, slows progress, and limits impact.

This conversation explores how leaders can define what “winning” really means in mission-driven work, move from scarcity thinking to possibility thinking, and lead through uncertainty without burning out their teams.

Learn More About Dr. Rebecca Sutherns:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccasutherns/
• Website: https://rebeccasutherns.com/
• Book: https://rebeccasutherns.com/learn-from-me/#books
• Podcast: https://rebeccasutherns.com/podcast/
  
  

Mentioned in this Episode: 

• Daniel Steere’s episode: https://youtu.be/3ony669Dmy4?si=3bJgC4vveyz1jgDV  

Production

Produced by: The AGN Group

Host: Angela Gill Nelms

Producer: Katie Hart

Tagline: Be Brave. Be Badass.

Websites: www.theagngroup.com and www.AngelaGillNelms.com

About The AGN Group:

At The AGN Group, we believe every individual, team, and company can unlock their inner badass, one brave step at a time. www.TheAGNGroup.com.

Social Media Channels:

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

Twitter: https://x.com/BALeadersPod

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baleaderspod

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/badass-leaders-podcast2

Want to be a Podcast Guest?

If you are interested in being a guest on the podcast, email [email protected].

The discussion also tackles questions…

• Why do leadership teams think they’re aligned when they’re actually not?
• How can non-profit leaders clearly define what “success” or “winning” really means?
• What does it look like when a board is unintentionally limiting an organization’s impact?
• How do you lead effectively when resources are constrained and uncertainty is constant?
• What’s the difference between strategy that works and strategy that becomes irrelevant?
• How can leaders distinguish what’s fixed versus what’s flexible in their organization?
• Why does scarcity thinking lead to overly cautious decision-making?
• How do you re-engage teams that are exhausted by constant change?
• What role do curiosity and imagination play in real-world strategic decision-making?
• How can leaders use strategy as a decision-making filter instead of a static document?

Themes:

• Leadership alignment and hidden misalignment
• Non-profit leadership and board dynamics
• Strategy as a living decision-making tool
• Defining “what winning looks like” in mission-driven work
• Scarcity vs. possibility thinking
• Imagination as a strategic leadership skill
• Adaptability and leading through uncertainty
• Change fatigue and re-engaging teams
• Values alignment and meaningful work
• Collective decision-making and shared vision 

What if the reason you’re not getting opportunities has nothing to do with your talent—and everything to do with your visibility?

In this episode of the Badass Leaders Podcast, Angela sits down with PR expert Barrie Cohen, founder of BC Public Relations, to unpack the uncomfortable truth many leaders avoid: being great at what you do is no longer enough if no one knows you exist.

Barrie shares how she built her firm after walking away from a transactional agency model, and why she believes modern leadership requires a shift toward relational credibility, not just results. Through real client stories and behind-the-scenes insight, she breaks down how experts go from overlooked to in-demand—and where most people get it wrong.

This conversation goes beyond traditional PR advice. You’ll learn how visibility actually drives business growth, why “good work speaks for itself” is a dangerous mindset, and what it takes to build long-term authority in a noisy, digital-first world.

Learn More About Barrie Cohen:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barriecohenpr
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barriecohenpr/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barrie-cohenpr/
• Website: https://bcpublicrelations.com/
  
  

Mentioned in this Episode: 

• The Trending Communicator Podcast by Dan Nestle: https://www.trendingcommunicator.com/ 

The discussion also tackles questions…

• How do I get featured in the media or on podcasts?
• Why am I not getting recognized for my work?
• How do I build authority in my industry?
• What’s the difference between PR and marketing?
• How long does it actually take for PR to work?
• How do I know if I’m ready for PR or media exposure?
• What makes someone “media-ready”?
• How do I turn visibility into real business growth and clients?
• What should I have in place before hiring a PR agency?
• How do I choose the right PR partner for my business?
• When is the right time to invest in visibility and personal branding?
• Can too much visibility too early hurt my credibility? 

Themes:

• Visibility vs. invisibility in modern leadership
• Why expertise alone no longer drives opportunity
• Building trust and credibility through earned media
• Relational vs. transactional business models
• The reality of PR: timelines, expectations, and strategy
• Thought leadership: what it is and when it actually makes sense
• Target audience clarity and why most messaging fails
• Leveraging media opportunities for long-term growth
• Leadership decisions: values, boundaries, and firing clients
• The role of discomfort and vulnerability in building a public presence

Production

Produced by: The AGN Group

Host: Angela Gill Nelms

Producer: Katie Hart

Tagline: Be Brave. Be Badass.

Websites: www.theagngroup.com and www.AngelaGillNelms.com

About The AGN Group:

At The AGN Group, we believe every individual, team, and company can unlock their inner badass, one brave step at a time. www.TheAGNGroup.com.

Social Media Channels:

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

Twitter: https://x.com/BALeadersPod

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baleaderspod

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/badass-leaders-podcast2

Want to be a Podcast Guest?

If you are interested in being a guest on the podcast, read more here: https://www.angelagillnelms.com/be-our-guest/ 

Great leadership advice rarely comes from textbooks. More often, it comes from a single moment, a hard conversation, or a piece of feedback that changes how someone sees themselves as a leader.

In this special compilation episode of the Badass Leaders Podcast, Angela Gill Nelms brings together powerful moments from past conversations with founders, executives, and leadership experts to explore the advice that has shaped their leadership journeys.

From learning how one conversation can alter the course of a career, to navigating criticism about communication style, to understanding how leaders build connection and resolve conflict, this episode highlights the real-world lessons that leaders carry with them for decades.

You’ll hear insights on how courageous communication strengthens leadership, why curiosity and empathy are essential in team culture, and how great leaders learn to turn feedback, conflict, and uncertainty into growth.

Guests Highlighted in this Episode: 

• Aimee: https://youtu.be/Ukjz6NJJfUI?si=5yzQQ0AJNaeoDyg8 
• Barrie: Coming soon!
• Bud: https://youtu.be/DMA1L2B5xsM?si=srmjuQMitsuHnMem 
• Catharine: https://youtu.be/dQl8Pf0T8Og?si=K3T_4e2FSohZZQfY 
• Cathleen: https://youtu.be/A1FVVQ1hmi4?si=3hL9HjSPJwbggHgB 
• Eric: https://youtu.be/mMCg-aW8eoQ?si=i5JmIHei6gLUe6j5 
• Jonathan: https://youtu.be/KPxqtHuO03A?si=zk3OhvO_mTxcHkRp 
• Crystal: https://youtu.be/kKnJMK_BP7w?si=ryuh_2GX7yu2-KD7 

The discussion also tackles questions…

• How can one conversation change the trajectory of a career?
• What should leaders do when they’re labeled “too aggressive” or “too direct”?
• How do effective leaders handle workplace conflict before it escalates?
• What leadership habits help teams feel heard, valued, and understood?
• How can leaders create stronger connections with their teams without becoming a therapist?
• What role does curiosity play in leadership and decision-making?
• How can leaders build courage to speak their truth in difficult environments?
• What advice do experienced leaders wish they had received earlier in their careers?

Themes:

• Leadership development through real-world experiences
• Courageous communication in leadership
• Navigating feedback and perception as a leader
• The power of influence and meaningful conversations
• Conflict resolution and leadership curiosity
• Building human connection in professional environments
• Growth mindset and personal leadership evolution

Production

Produced by: The AGN Group

Host: Angela Gill Nelms

Producer: Katie Hart

Tagline: Be Brave. Be Badass.

Websites: www.theagngroup.com and www.AngelaGillNelms.com

About The AGN Group:

At The AGN Group, we believe every individual, team, and company can unlock their inner badass, one brave step at a time. www.TheAGNGroup.com.

Social Media Channels:

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

Twitter: https://x.com/BALeadersPod

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baleaderspod

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/badass-leaders-podcast2

Want to be a Podcast Guest?

If you are interested in being a guest on the podcast, read more here: https://www.angelagillnelms.com/be-our-guest/ 

In this episode of the Badass Leaders Podcast, Angela Gill Nelms sits down with leadership advisor Russell Harvey to unpack the deeply human side of leadership resilience. Russell shares candid stories from his career about navigating workplace bullying, confronting people-pleasing tendencies, and learning how to assert boundaries without losing empathy.

Together, they explore how strengths-based leadership can help leaders better understand themselves, build more resilient teams, and respond more effectively to pressure.

Russell explains why empathy can sometimes become a liability for leaders, how people-pleasing quietly erodes authority, and what it takes to shift from surviving leadership stress to leading with confidence and clarity.

The conversation also dives into practical frameworks like strengths-based leadership and tools such as StrengthsFinder and Working Genius, offering leaders concrete ways to understand how they show up under pressure.

Learn More About Russell Harvey:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theresiliencecoach/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russelltheresiliencecoach/
• Website:https://www.theresiliencecoach.co.uk/
  
  

Mentioned in this Episode: 

• StrengthsFinder / CliftonStrengths: https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/252137/home.aspx 
• Working Genius: https://www.workinggenius.com/ 
• Strengthscope – Strengths-based leadership development tool

The AGN Group

Produced by: The AGN Group

Host: Angela Gill Nelms

Producer: Katie Hart

Tagline: Be Brave. Be Badass.

Websites: www.theagngroup.com and www.AngelaGillNelms.com

At The AGN Group, we believe every individual, team, and company can unlock their inner badass, one brave step at a time. www.TheAGNGroup.com.

Social Media Channels:

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

Twitter: https://x.com/BALeadersPod

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baleaderspod

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/badass-leaders-podcast2

Want to be a Podcast Guest?

If you are interested in being a guest on the podcast, email [email protected].

The discussion also tackles questions…

• How do you deal with workplace bullying as a leader?
• Why do people-pleasing tendencies hurt leadership effectiveness?
• Can empathy become a weakness in leadership?
• How do resilient leaders respond to pressure and conflict?
• What does strengths-based leadership actually look like in practice?
• How can leaders use tools like StrengthsFinder or Working Genius to understand their leadership style?
• How do you assert boundaries at work without damaging relationships?
• What are the early warning signs of leadership burnout or emotional strain?
• How can leaders turn difficult career experiences into growth?

Themes:

• Leadership resilience
• People-pleasing in leadership
• Workplace bullying and difficult professional dynamics
• Strengths-based leadership
• Emotional intelligence and empathy
• Assertiveness and boundary-setting
• Self-awareness in leadership development
• Leadership growth through adversity
• Psychological safety and healthy workplace cultures

In this episode of the Badass Leaders Podcast, Angela Gill Nelms sits down with entrepreneur, educator, and systems thinker Alfredo Mathew III to explore a provocative idea: the American Dream was built around individual success, but the future may depend on shared prosperity and ownership.

Alfredo’s journey spans public school classrooms in the South Bronx and Oakland, entrepreneurship in Silicon Valley, and building organizations that help communities create lasting economic opportunity. Along the way, he reached a powerful realization: access to education, jobs, and capital is not enough. Without ownership—of businesses, assets, and opportunity—many people remain stuck on the economic sidelines.

This conversation digs into the leadership decisions and risks behind Alfredo’s work helping launch hundreds of businesses and his latest initiative to build community-centered economic infrastructure through shared ownership models.

Angela and Alfredo unpack what leaders often get wrong about entrepreneurship, why the “winner-take-all” economy leaves talent untapped, and how leaders can rethink success, power, and economic mobility.

Learn More About Alfredo Mathew III:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alfredomathew/ 
• Website: https://www.sharedprosperity.co/ 
• Other: https://substack.com/@alfredomathew?utm_source=user-menu 

Mentioned in this Episode: 

• ESO Ventures: https://www.eso-ventures.com/ 
• Bible in a Year podcast: https://hallow.com/blog/bible-in-a-year-with-father-mike-schmitz/ 

About The AGN Group:

Produced by: The AGN Group

Host: Angela Gill Nelms

Producer: Katie Hart

Tagline: Be Brave. Be Badass.

Websites: www.theagngroup.com and www.AngelaGillNelms.com

At The AGN Group, we believe every individual, team, and company can unlock their inner badass, one brave step at a time. www.TheAGNGroup.com.

Social Media Channels:

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

Twitter: https://x.com/BALeadersPod 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baleaderspod 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/badass-leaders-podcast2

Want to be a Podcast Guest?

If you are interested in being a guest on the podcast, email [email protected].

The discussion also tackles questions…

• What is the difference between access and ownership in business and leadership?
• Why do so many entrepreneurship programs fail to create long-term economic mobility?
• How do leaders define success in systems designed around winner-take-all outcomes?
• What leadership decisions help communities build shared prosperity instead of individual wins?
• Why is revenue generation more important than capital access for founders?
• What should entrepreneurs understand about assets vs wages when building wealth?
• How can leaders design businesses that outlast the founder?
• What role does economic ownership play in leadership and economic opportunity?
• How do leaders build organizations that create both profit and public benefit?
• What leadership skills are necessary to build systems that include those historically excluded?

Themes:

• Redefining Leadership Success: Why leadership today requires moving beyond individual achievement toward building shared systems of opportunity.
• Access vs Ownership: Understanding why access to education, capital, or opportunity alone doesn’t create long-term economic mobility.
• Entrepreneurship as an Economic On-Ramp:  How small business ownership can become a pathway to wealth and stability when systems support growth beyond the startup phase.
• Economic Systems Thinking: Why solving inequality requires redesigning economic infrastructure—not just offering programs or funding.
• Leadership That Outlasts the Founder: How strong leaders build organizations and systems capable of continuing without them.
• The Future of Inclusive Economies: What it takes to design economic models that create prosperity across entire communities.

What does leadership actually look like when the stakes are real and failure isn’t an option?

In this episode of the Badass Leaders Podcast, physician and digital transformation leader Dr. Ekanjali Dhillon pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to deliver large-scale change inside complex healthcare systems. Drawing on her experience helping lead one of the UK’s largest electronic health record (EHR) deployments, she shares the hard-earned lessons most transformation playbooks miss.

This conversation goes beyond theory into the messy reality of modern leadership: competing priorities, fragile alignment, resistance from intelligent stakeholders, and the emotional load of making high-consequence decisions under pressure.

You’ll hear why big transformations rarely fail for the reasons leaders think, how to build trust when you don’t have formal authority, and what separates leaders who look good on paper from those who actually deliver results at scale.

Learn More About Ekanjali Dhillon:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekanjali/
  
  

Mentioned in this Episode: 

• HCA Healthcare UK: https://www.hcahealthcare.co.uk/ 
• London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust: https://www.lnwh.nhs.uk/ 
• NH: https://www.nhs.uk/
• Hamlet by William Shakespeare (“To thine own self be true”): https://nosweatshakespeare.com/quotes/famous/to-thine-own-self-be-true/
  
  

About The AGN Group:

At The AGN Group, we believe every individual, team, and company can unlock their inner badass, one brave step at a time. www.TheAGNGroup.com.

Produced by: The AGN Group

Host: Angela Gill Nelms

Producer: Katie Hart

Tagline: Be Brave. Be Badass.

Websites: www.theagngroup.com and www.AngelaGillNelms.com

Social Media Channels:

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

Twitter: https://x.com/BALeadersPod

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baleaderspod

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/badass-leaders-podcast2

Want to be a Podcast Guest?

If you are interested in being a guest on the podcast, email [email protected].

The discussion also tackles questions…

• What actually breaks first in large-scale transformations?
• How do you lead when failure isn’t an option?
• How can you influence teams when you don’t have positional authority?
• Why do leaders confuse buy-in with true alignment?
• How do you handle resistance during major organizational change?
• What leadership skills matter most in high-pressure environments?
• How do you build trust with highly intelligent, skeptical stakeholders?
• When is tension in a transformation healthy vs. dangerous?
• How can emerging leaders step up without waiting for permission?
• What do the best leaders do differently when stakes are high?

Themes:

• Leading transformation at scale
• Digital health and EHR implementation reality
• Leading without positional power
• Communication as the failure point in change programs
• Building trust in complex organizations
• Stakeholder alignment vs. surface-level buy-in
• Operating under sustained pressure
• Translating between technical, clinical, and operational worlds
• Continuous learning as a leadership discipline
• Turning resistance into forward momentum

What actually separates leaders who rise from those who quietly stall out?

In this episode of the Badass Leaders Podcast, Angela sits down with Randall Thames, CEO of Inspirit Institute and former Senior Partner at Korn Ferry, to unpack the hard truth most high performers miss: talent might open the door, but discipline, consistency, and self-awareness determine how far you actually go.

Randall shares the pivotal childhood moment that reshaped his leadership identity, the internal “dragons” that keep even confident executives stuck, and why process is the armor leaders need when the pressure is highest. Drawing from decades advising CEOs and boards, he breaks down what really drives trust, how to use crisis as a growth catalyst, and why some of the smartest career moves look like steps backward in the moment.

The conversation also tackles the uncomfortable gaps leaders often ignore across Randall’s six leadership pillars: field, family, faith, fitness, fun, and finance. Through real-world stories and practical frameworks, this episode challenges listeners to rethink how they define success and how they prepare for what’s next.

Learn More About Randall Thames:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randallthames/
• Website: https://inspiritinstitute.com/
• Book: https://www.amazon.com/Rise-Role-Superpower-Inevitable-Leadership-ebook/dp/B0FM8TRWZC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=343HNJ0CNOO16&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ORRLffI53jumL9Qx388ngQ.FQxbH5hUETAFEknJONcXREWoFQI-D8LOkqtevvK9BAI&dib_tag=se&keywords=Rise+to+The+Role+randall+thames&qid=1757946887&sprefix=rise+to+the+role+randall+tham%2Caps%2C164&sr=8-1
  
  

Mentioned in this Episode: 

• 6 Super Power Pillars: field, family, fun, fitness, faith, finance
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “What Is Your Life’s Blueprint?” speech: https://projects.seattletimes.com/mlk/words-blueprint.html 
• Mel Robbins (5 Second Rule): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhW2xUEb-B-ZBONmUi1m7h10c4x_RVEeT 
• Philadelphia (film reference during rapid fire): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107818/ 

Behind-the-Scenes
Produced by: The AGN Group

Host: Angela Gill Nelms

Producer: Katie Hart

Tagline: Be Brave. Be Badass.

Websites: www.theagngroup.com and www.AngelaGillNelms.com

About The AGN Group:

At The AGN Group, we believe every individual, team, and company can unlock their inner badass, one brave step at a time. www.TheAGNGroup.com.

Social Media Channels:

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

Twitter: https://x.com/BALeadersPod

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baleaderspod

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/badass-leaders-podcast2

Want to be a Podcast Guest?

If you are interested in being a guest on the podcast, email [email protected].

The discussion also tackles questions like:

• How do I know if my leadership growth is stalled?
• What leadership skills matter more than raw talent?
• How do I overcome imposter syndrome as an executive?
• What does it really mean to lead with discipline and consistency?
• How do great leaders make decisions under pressure?
• When is a lateral career move actually a strategic step forward?
• How can I lead through crisis without reacting emotionally?
• What causes successful leaders to self-sabotage?
• How do I balance career success with personal fulfillment?
• What daily habits keep top leaders grounded and effective?

Themes:

• Discipline and consistency as leadership differentiators
• Internal “dragons” and executive self-sabotage
• Process-driven decision making under pressure
• Strategic career moves and elevating in place
• Crisis as a catalyst for innovation and growth
• Holistic leadership across the six life pillars
• Identity versus activity in executive advancement
• Trust-building through predictable leadership behavior
• The transition from corporate success to purpose-driven work

In this powerful leadership conversation, Anne Chow joins the Badass Leaders Podcast to discuss her book Leading Bigger: The Transformative Power of Inclusion and what it truly means to lead with courage, clarity, and conviction.

Drawing from more than 30 years of executive leadership experience, Anne shares how inclusive leadership drives performance, why culture is a company’s ultimate competitive advantage, and how leaders can avoid the trap of “leading small.” This episode explores practical strategies for building high-performing teams, navigating toxic work environments, protecting your people, and aligning purpose with values.

If you are a CEO, executive, manager, entrepreneur, or emerging leader, this conversation will challenge how you think about culture, accountability, and what it takes to create sustainable success.

This condensed re-release highlights the most impactful moments from the original Season 1 conversation, with a link to the full episode available in the description.

Learn More About Anne Chow:

• Anne’s full episode: https://youtu.be/JrgdCCOwkG0 
• Lead Bigger: https://www.theannechow.com/lead-bigger/ 

About Us
Produced by: The AGN Group

Host: Angela Gill Nelms

Producer: Katie Hart

Tagline: Be Brave. Be Badass.

Websites: www.theagngroup.com and www.AngelaGillNelms.com

About The AGN Group:

At The AGN Group, we believe every individual, team, and company can unlock their inner badass, one brave step at a time. www.TheAGNGroup.com.

Social Media Channels:

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

Twitter: https://x.com/BALeadersPod

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baleaderspod

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/badass-leaders-podcast2

Want to be a Podcast Guest?

If you are interested in being a guest on the podcast, email [email protected].

The discussion also tackles questions…

• What does it actually mean to “lead bigger”?
• How does inclusive leadership improve business performance?
• What are the risks of leading small?
• How do you protect your team from toxic behavior?
• Should you ever fire a client or customer?
• How do you build a culture rooted in respect instead of fear?
• What’s the difference between core values and aspirational values?
• How do you lead in a toxic corporate culture without losing yourself?
• Why does company culture determine the success or failure of mergers and acquisitions?
• How can leaders create psychological safety without lowering standards?
• How do generational differences impact leadership styles?
• How do you align personal values with professional leadership?

Key Takeaways:

• Inclusive Leadership as a Performance Strategy
• Leading Bigger vs. Leading Small
• Culture as a Competitive Advantage
• Core Values vs. Aspirational Values
• Psychological Safety and Accountability
• Protecting Your Team
• Firing Customers Who Violate Your Values
• Navigating Toxic Corporate Environments
• Vulnerability and Leadership Growth
• Generational Shifts in the Workplace
• Purpose-Driven Leadership
• Building Teams That Thrive, Not Just Survive