What if every college graduate left campus with the mindset, confidence, and skills to solve complex problems and create opportunities wherever they go?

In this episode, Nicole Jansen sits down with Jeff Meade, Founding Director of Entrepreneurship at Paul Quinn College, where every student learns to think and act like an entrepreneur. Rather than preparing students for jobs that may not exist in a few years, Jeff and his team are equipping them to solve real-world problems, create value, embrace failure as part of the learning process, and confidently adapt to an ever-changing world.

Together, they explore how entrepreneurial thinking transforms education, strengthens leadership, and prepares students to become innovators, intrapreneurs, business owners, and changemakers. Whether you're an entrepreneur, educator, parent, or leader, this conversation will inspire you to rethink what education—and leadership—can look like.

What We Discuss

• Why every student - not just business majors - should learn entrepreneurship
• Entrepreneurship as a mindset rather than simply a career path
• Preparing students for jobs that don't exist yet
• Teaching students to solve problems through building businesses
• The difference between owning a job and building a scalable business
• How venture-based learning develops confidence and resilience
• Why failure is an essential part of learning and innovation
• Creating businesses that strengthen communities, not just generate profits
• Reimagining higher education through entrepreneurship
• The leadership lessons behind building a transformative educational program

Episode Highlights

00:00 - What if every student graduated as an entrepreneur? 02:45 - Why entrepreneurship belongs in every degree program 05:15 - Entrepreneurship is a mindset - not just a business 07:05 - Preparing students for jobs that don't exist yet 10:20 - Teaching students to solve meaningful problems 15:30 - Lifestyle businesses vs. scalable businesses 18:45 - Entrepreneurship teaches life skills, not just business skills 22:30 - A vision for colleges that become financially sustainable 26:45 - Venture-Based Learning: Why real stakes matter 30:15 - Helping students embrace failure and build confidence 34:15 - What earns funding - and an A - in Jeff's program 39:00 - The biggest leadership lesson in building the program

Memorable Quotes

• "We want students to graduate thinking and acting like entrepreneurs."
• "Build a business that's more like an aspirin than a vitamin."
• "The future belongs to people who know how to solve problems."
• "Fail fast. Learn faster."

Episode Resources: https://leadersoftransformation.com/podcast/education/557-every-student-is-an-entrepreneur-building-the-next-generation-of-problem-solvers-with-jeff-meade/

Check out our complete library of episodes and other leadership resources here: https://leadersoftransformation.com

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Is your organization's biggest growth challenge really strategy - or is it a hidden trust problem that's quietly slowing everything down?

As organizations grow, complexity increases. Decisions slow down, communication breaks down, and leaders often find themselves becoming the bottleneck without realizing why.

In this episode, Nicole Jansen sits down with Debbie Simmons – community activist, business leader, wife, mother of nine adopted children, devoted follower of Jesus Christ, and author of The Architecture of Trust - to explore why trust isn't just a leadership value; it's the operating system that allows organizations to scale.

Debbie introduces her Architecture of Trust Framework, revealing how leadership alignment, decision clarity, and execution reliability create organizations that thrive under pressure instead of breaking apart. Drawing from decades of leadership experience, personal tragedy, and deep faith, she shares practical strategies to eliminate the "hidden trust tax" that costs organizations time, energy, and impact.

Whether you lead a business, nonprofit, team, or even a family, this conversation offers timeless principles for building stronger foundations that last.

What We Discuss in This Episode

• Why trust - not strategy - is often the real limiting factor to organizational growth
• The hidden signs that trust is breaking down inside your organization
• Why leaders unknowingly become the bottleneck as organizations scale
• The three pillars of the Architecture of Trust framework
• How leadership alignment creates organizational momentum
• Why decision clarity eliminates confusion and costly rework
• The importance of execution reliability for sustainable growth
• Understanding the "hidden trust tax" that's draining your organization
• How to create a "trust dividend" that accelerates growth and impact
• Why most organizations have a structure problem—not a people problem
• How awareness becomes the first step toward transformation
• Lessons from building a multimillion-dollar nonprofit
• Debbie's personal story of loss, adoption, and discovering purpose through pain
• Why asking "Why?" often keeps leaders stuck - and a better question to ask instead
• Applying trust principles to leadership, business, family, and faith

Highlights / YouTube Chapter Titles

00:00 – Why Leaders Get Stuck as Organizations Grow 02:30 – The First Signs of Broken Trust 09:58 – The Three Pillars of the Architecture of Trust 13:03 – People Problems or Structure Problems? 16:22 – Where Leaders Should Start Fixing Trust 20:14 – The Hidden Trust Tax Costing Your Organization 24:48 – Personal Tragedy That Changed Everything 29:15 – Stop Asking "Why?" Start Asking This Instead 32:39 – Applying the Architecture of Trust to Yourself 41:28 – Resources and Final Leadership Takeaways

Memorable Quotes

• "What got you here may actually limit you from reaching your next level of success."
• "Most of the time it's not a people problem - it's a structure problem."
• "The hidden trust tax shows up in rework, delays, unnecessary meetings, and slow decisions."
• "When the pressure goes up, trust is revealed."
• "If you disappeared for 30 days, would your organization operate the same way?"

Episode Show Notes and Resources: https://leadersoftransformation.com/podcast/leadership/556-the-hidden-trust-tax-why-great-organizations-break-as-they-scale-with-debbie-simmons/

Check out our complete library of episodes and other leadership resources here: https://leadersoftransformation.com

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What separates communities that merely recover after disaster from those that come back stronger?

In this episode of the Leaders of Transformation, Nicole Jansen welcomes back former Augusta mayor, leadership coach, and community builder Deke Copenhaver to discuss how communities can become stronger after disaster through trust-based leadership and servant-hearted collaboration.

Following the devastation of Hurricane Helene, Deke stepped into an unpaid leadership role to help launch the Greater Augusta Long-Term Recovery Group. What began as a local disaster response has become a powerful model for rebuilding homes, restoring hope, and uniting people across generations, organizations, and lines of difference.

Together, Nicole and Deke explore how trust, faith, collaboration, and a mindset of abundance can transform not only disaster recovery but the future of communities everywhere. If you're passionate about leadership, community impact, or creating lasting change, this conversation offers a practical blueprint for turning crisis into opportunity.

What We Discuss in this Episode

• Why trust is the foundation of effective community leadership
• How servant leadership creates lasting transformation after disaster
• The story behind the Greater Augusta Long-Term Recovery Group
• Lessons learned from rebuilding after Hurricane Helene
• How faith-based organizations, nonprofits, businesses, and volunteers are uniting around a common mission
• Why simple, trust-based systems often outperform bureaucracy
• Building a disaster recovery model that other communities can replicate
• The importance of developing leaders who care more about impact than recognition
• Why communities heal best from the grassroots up - not the top down
• The difference between a scarcity mindset and an abundance mindset
• How young people are finding purpose through serving others
• Why belonging creates stronger communities than simply fitting in
• Practical ways to build bridges across political, cultural, and generational divides
• How service restores hope for both those receiving help and those giving it
• What it takes to build resilient communities that emerge stronger after crisis

Highlights

00:00 – Rebuilding More Than Homes After Disaster 03:00 – Hurricane Helene and the Birth of a Community Movement 07:00 – Why Trust Became Their Greatest Asset 11:00 – Bringing Faith, Business, and Nonprofits Together 16:00 – A Simpler Model for Disaster Recovery 20:00 – Reaching the Forgotten and Vulnerable 25:00 – Why Grassroots Leadership Outperforms Bureaucracy 30:00 – Building Communities on Trust Instead of Fear 35:00 – Raising the Next Generation of Servant Leaders 40:00 – The Power of an Abundance Mindset 45:00 – Creating Belonging Across Every Divide 49:00 – Healing Communities One Relationship at a Time 53:00 – A Blueprint Other Cities Can Follow 57:00 – Hope for the Future of Our Communities

Episode Show Notes and Resources: https://leadersoftransformation.com/podcast/leadership/555-rebuild-stronger-turning-disaster-into-trust-unity-and-hope-with-deke-copenhaver/

Check out our complete library of episodes and other leadership resources here: https://leadersoftransformation.com

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What if your greatest leadership achievement isn't what you accomplish yourself - but the leaders you develop who continue multiplying long after you're gone?

In this episode of Leaders of Transformation, Nicole Jansen welcomes back leadership development expert and bestselling author Mac Lake to discuss his latest book, Super Multiplier.

What does it take to build a leadership legacy that extends far beyond your own influence? Mac reveals how great leaders intentionally develop leaders who go on to develop other leaders – creating a multiplication effect that can impact organizations for generations.

Drawing from decades of experience building leadership pipelines, Mac shares the mindset shifts and practical habits leaders need to intentionally develop others and create a culture of multiplication. Together, Nicole and Mac explore why most leadership development efforts fail, the hidden beliefs that prevent leaders from investing in others, and how to identify and unlock the potential already sitting within your organization.

Whether you're leading a business, ministry, nonprofit, or team, this conversation will challenge you to think beyond leadership training and embrace leadership multiplication that lasts for generations.

What We Discuss in this Episode

• Why leadership gaps are solved by developing people, not simply finding people
• The hidden mindsets that prevent leaders from developing others
• Why most organizations rely on the ineffective "wait and hope" leadership strategy
• The difference between leadership training and leadership transformation
• Why mindset must change before skill set can change
• How limiting beliefs hold emerging leaders back from reaching their potential
• What it means to "mine for the gold" in people
• How great leaders identify and cultivate strengths in others
• Lessons from Jesus' model of leadership development and multiplication
• Why leadership multiplication is more powerful than leadership addition
• How to develop leaders who can develop other leaders
• Why leadership development requires intentionality more than time
• Practical ways to develop leaders during everyday work activities
• How modeling, practice, and debriefing accelerate leadership growth
• Why failure is one of the greatest tools for leadership development
• The 4T Framework: Think, Try, Talk, and Train
• How leaders can continue growing by building on their strengths
• The importance of creating a replicable leadership development process
• What it means to build leadership four generations deep
• How to create a lasting leadership legacy within your organization

Highlights

00:00 – Why Leadership Development Often Fails 02:30 – Leadership Gaps Aren't Solved by Finding People 06:00 – The Mindsets That Limit Leadership Multiplication 10:00 – Why Mindset Comes Before Skill Set 13:00 – The Problem with the "Wait and Hope" Strategy 16:00 – Leadership Training vs. Leadership Transformation 20:00 – Mining for the Gold in People 24:00 – What Jesus Teaches Us About Developing Leaders 29:00 – Why Leaders Think They Don't Have Time 33:00 – Everyday Opportunities to Develop Future Leaders 38:00 – Failure as Fertilizer for Growth 42:00 – The Power of Modeling and Debriefing 46:00 – How to Identify Your Next Growth Area 50:00 – The 4T Framework for Leadership Development 54:00 – How to Multiply Leaders Four Generations Deep 58:00 – Building a Leadership Legacy That Lasts

Episode Show Notes and Links to Mac Lake's Books and Resources: https://leadersoftransformation.com/podcast/leadership/super-multipliers-how-to-multiply-great-leaders-four-generations-deep-with-mac-lake/

Check out our complete library of episodes and other leadership resources here: https://leadersoftransformation.com

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What if you're not burned out or unproductive—what if you're simply working against your natural instincts?

In this episode of the Leaders of Transformation, Nicole Jansen sits down with Amy Bruske, President and Integrator of Kolbe Corp, to explore the powerful principles behind her new bestselling book, Do More, More Naturally, co-authored with David Kolbe.

Amy explains why success isn't about forcing yourself to improve your weaknesses or manage your time more efficiently. Instead, it's about understanding how you're naturally wired to take action, solve problems, and make decisions. Together, Nicole and Amy discuss the often-overlooked conative part of the mind, the role of energy management, and how leaders can create thriving teams by leveraging natural strengths rather than fighting against them.

Whether you're a leader, entrepreneur, or high achiever feeling stretched thin, this conversation will help you discover how to work in alignment with your instincts and create sustainable success.

What We Discuss in this Episode

• The three parts of the mind: cognitive, affective, and conative
• What the Kolbe Index measures and why it differs from personality assessments
• Why capability and desire aren't enough for sustainable performance
• How natural instincts influence decision-making, problem-solving, and execution
• The four Action Modes and how they show up in everyday work
• Why procrastination may be a clue - not a character flaw
• How to identify the tasks that energize you versus those that drain you
• The connection between burnout and working against your natural strengths
• Why time management is often less important than energy management
• How leaders can build stronger teams by understanding individual strengths
• The difference between hiring clones and creating complementary teams
• Why diverse thinking styles improve innovation, adaptability, and execution
• How to give people freedom while maintaining accountability for results
• Practical ways to create a more resilient, high-performing workforce

Highlights and YouTube Chapter Titles

00:00 – What If You're Not Burned Out? 02:00 – Understanding the Conative Part of the Mind 05:00 – Why Natural Instincts Matter More Than You Think 08:00 – The Four Action Modes Explained 12:00 – The Hidden Reason Behind Procrastination 15:00 – Working in Your Zone of Strength 18:00 – The Kolbe Exercise That Reveals How People Take Action 22:00 – Building Teams Like a Chess Master, Not a Checkers Player 26:00 – Why Great Leaders Focus on Strengths, Not Weaknesses 29:00 – Hiring Complements Instead of Clones 32:00 – The Power of Diverse Thinking Styles 35:00 – Time Management vs. Energy Management 39:00 – Why Certain Tasks Drain You Faster Than Others 43:00 – Doing More by Working More Naturally 46:00 – Creating Sustainable Success and Freedom to Be Yourself

Episode Show Notes and Links: https://leadersoftransformation.com/podcast/leadership/553-do-more-more-naturally-with-amy-bruske/

Check out our complete library of episodes and other leadership resources here: https://leadersoftransformation.com

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What if reigniting your imagination could unlock possibilities for your life and leadership you never thought were possible?

In this episode of Leaders of Transformation, Nicole Jansen welcomes back leadership expert, executive coach, and author Greg Cagle to discuss his powerful new book, Reality Benders.

Greg shares how our beliefs shape our behaviors, how emotions fuel outcomes, and why most people unknowingly live in reactive cycles instead of intentionally creating the future they truly want. Together, Nicole and Greg explore how to reignite imagination, challenge limiting beliefs, and unlock new possibilities in leadership, business, and life.

They also unpack the neuroscience behind transformation, the power of curiosity, and how leaders can become "external catalysts" who help others see beyond current limitations and step into their highest potential.

What We Discuss in this Episode

• Why reality is something we create — not simply something that happens to us
• The "Reality Cycle" and how thoughts, behaviors, and outcomes reinforce one another
• Why behavior modification alone rarely creates lasting transformation
• How beliefs drive behaviors and shape long-term results
• The hidden role emotion plays in achieving meaningful goals
• Why imagination is essential for transformation and innovation
• How curiosity reignites imagination and unlocks possibility
• Why most people unconsciously limit what they believe is possible
• How to move beyond survival thinking and create an intentional future
• The connection between imagination, emotion, and extraordinary outcomes
• How leaders unintentionally reinforce limiting realities in their teams
• The difference between focusing on performance gaps vs. reinforcing progress
• A powerful military case study on belief, performance, and transformation
• How to become an "external catalyst" for others

Highlights and YouTube Chapter Titles

00:00 – Introduction to Reality Bending 02:00 – Why Greg Wrote Reality Benders 04:00 – What "Reality" Actually Means 06:00 – Why Behavior Modification Doesn't Work Long-Term 11:00 – Understanding the Reality Cycle 14:00 – Emotion as Fuel for Transformation 16:00 – Why Most Goals Fail 18:00 – The Military Performance Experiment That Changed Everything 22:00 – Future-Back Leadership vs. Past-Forward Leadership 24:00 – Seeing Yourself Differently First 26:00 – Becoming an External Catalyst for Others 29:00 – How to Reignite Your Imagination 31:00 – Why Most People Settle for Predictable Outcomes 34:00 – Unlocking Infinite Possibilities 37:00 – Final Encouragement for Leaders and Visionaries

Episode Show Notes: https://leadersoftransformation.com/podcast/leadership/552-reality-benders-how-to-reignite-your-imagination-and-unlock-infinite-possibilities-with-greg-cagle

Check out our complete library of episodes and other leadership resources here: https://leadersoftransformation.com

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How do you stay grounded when everything around you in shifting?

After an intentional break, Nicole Jansen returns with a bold new vision for the Leaders of Transformation podcast. In this episode, Nicole shares why she stepped away, what she discovered in the stillness, and what's ahead in this powerful new chapter of the podcast.

Nicole opens with a raw and honest reflection on the tension high achievers feel between striving and resting — and why the most productive thing you can do in certain pivotal moments is to pause. From there, she paints a vivid picture of the seismic shifts happening in the world today — economic, political, social, technological — and asks the question at the heart of this new season: How do you stay grounded when everything around you is shifting?

Drawing on a striking dream about a pilot flying upside down without realizing it, Nicole introduces a powerful metaphor for how many of us pursue our goals: working hard, executing strategies — but doing it all in reverse. She challenges listeners to consider whether the way they're chasing their goals might actually be working against them — and invites us into a deeper exploration of what it looks like to grow faster, live with more peace and fulfillment, and make a lasting impact without sacrificing what matters most.

This isn't about lowering your standards. It's about raising the bar by doing things the right way up.

What You'll Discover in This Episode

• Why Nicole took a full three-month break and what she learned from it
• The one question every high achiever needs to sit with right now
• Why the world's "tectonic plate" shifts demand a new kind of leadership
• What LOT 5.0 is — and why it's a deepening, not a reboot
• The aviation concept of "spatial disorientation" and how it applies to your life
• What it means to be flying upside down in your business — and not know it
• How to experience more peace, fulfillment, and impact by doing less and being more
• The two reflection questions Nicole wants you to answer before the next episode

Video Chapters

0:00 — Welcome Back

0:43 — Why High Achievers Struggle to Stop

3:46 — The Seismic Shifts Reshaping Our World

4:17 — Leaders of Transformation 5.0

7:02 — Where Do You Want to See Transformation?

9:41 — Nicole's Dream: The Pilot Flying Upside Down

10:59 — Flying Upside Down in Your Own Life

11:38 — A Better Way to Grow Your Business and Life

16:53 — Your Invitation for This New Season

Resource Links

• Subscribe on YouTube to catch all the latest videos
• Connect with Nicole on LinkedIn

What if your next vacation could transform lives—including your own?

In this inspiring episode of the Leaders of Transformation podcast, host Nicole Jansen welcomes Kimberly Haley-Coleman, founder and executive director of GlobeAware - an award-winning nonprofit that has mobilized volunteers across more than 25 countries through service adventures that create lasting social impact.

Kimberly shares how voluntourism, when done responsibly, goes far beyond traditional travel. These immersive experiences cultivate cross-cultural leadership, deepen human connection, and shift how people see the world - and themselves. From her own journey leaving the corporate world to building GlobeAware, Kimberly breaks down the power of meaningful service and the practical steps for participating in global volunteer projects.

This conversation reveals why service travel isn't just about helping others - it's about developing resilience, gratitude, empathy, and a renewed appreciation for humanity. If you've ever wanted your vacation to mean more than photos and souvenirs - or you're seeking a powerful way to grow as a leader, family, or team - this episode may spark your next bold step.

What We Discuss in This Episode

• How Kimberly's passion for cross-cultural service travel began
• What "voluntourism" really means—and how GlobeAware ensures ethical, responsible impact
• How volunteers and local communities benefit from service-based travel
• Why working alongside - not above - local populations creates sustainable change
• Who can participate in GlobeAware projects and how it works
• How COVID-19 forced nonprofits to innovate in international service travel
• The unique growth families and corporate teams experience through these programs
• How volunteers fund their trips and how GlobeAware remains financially sustainable
• The leadership challenges of running global programs in dynamic environments
• The lasting personal transformation participants experience—and why joy is central to it all

10 Key Takeaways

1. Accessible Voluntourism: GlobeAware offers short-term service travel—often described as a "mini Peace Corps"—making global volunteering accessible to families, professionals, and corporate teams.
2. Ethical, Community-Led Service: True impact begins with equality. Projects are designed and led by local communities, ensuring their needs and voices come first.
3. Transformative Learning Through Experience: Side-by-side service fosters empathy, gratitude, and cultural awareness—especially powerful for families and young people.
4. A Powerful Perspective Shift: Exposure to different ways of living reshapes views on privilege and consumption through experiential learning—not lectures.
5. Simple, Supported Participation: Trips are tax-deductible and easy to join, with logistics like food, lodging, and bilingual coordinators fully managed.
6. Leadership & Team Development: Corporate groups use GlobeAware experiences to build trust, resilience, gratitude, and cross-cultural leadership skills that translate back to the workplace.
7. Sustainable Operating Model: Only 15% of program fees support operations; the rest directly funds project materials and local labor—without government funding.
8. Resilience Through COVID: GlobeAware survived global shutdowns by pivoting to virtual programs, adapting health protocols, and reimagining community engagement.
9. Redefining Impact: Success isn't measured by numbers alone—but by the lasting shifts in perspective, gratitude, and connection participants experience.
10. Joy at the Core: Beyond impact, volunteering creates enduring joy—rooted in shared humanity and the simple act of serving together.

Podcast Highlights & Timestamps

00:00 – Transformative Travel with Kimberly Haley-Coleman 03:23 – From Tourism to Purposeful Travel 07:49 – Lessons on Water Conservation 10:27 – Creating Meaningful Engagement Through Service 14:02 – The Ethical Evolution of Voluntourism 16:44 – Building Homes and Changing Lives 22:40 – Overcoming Barriers to Girls' Education 25:35 – Ending Child Labor Through Sustainable Solutions 28:19 – Adapting Service Travel During COVID 30:18 – Measuring Impact Beyond Numbers 34:46 – Reconnecting to Our Shared Humanity 39:15 – Traveling for Growth and Perspective 42:55 – Why Now Is the Time to Act 43:40 – Team-Building Through Shared Service Experiences

Listen and empower your next journey to be one that transforms—not just the world, but you.

Favorite Quotes

It changes how you see the world, and it brings joy you can't get anywhere else.

We often lose sight of what our standard of living is in North America. In Cambodia, you can have access to neither running water nor electricity and still be considered middle class.

Experiential learning is so valuable—no lecture needed.

Episode Resources: https://leadersoftransformation.com/podcast/leadership/550-transform-your-next-vacation-volunteer-abroad-and-create-lasting-impact-with-kimberly-haley-coleman

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How do you coach at scale - and still achieve measurable results? In this practical and results-driven episode, join us as Nicole Jansen sits down with Will Linssen, globally recognized leadership coach, CEO of Global Coach Group, and author of Triple Win Leadership Coaching.

With his approach impacting over a million leaders across more than 30 countries, Will Linssen shares how leadership coaching can be scaled to deliver measurable results - not just for individual leaders, but for teams and organizations as a whole.

Discover the revolutionary "triple win" methodology - an approach that ensures the leader wins, the team wins, and performance outcomes win. Explore why traditional coaching models fall short, how involving coworkers in the coaching process is a game changer, and how organizations can build a culture where everyone levels up together.

Tune in as Will Linssen unpacks his journey from engineering to process-driven leadership development, offers data-backed strategies for coaching at scale, and reveals how AI is reshaping the future of leadership.

Whether you're a coach, HR leader, or organizational executive, this conversation will reshape how you think about leadership transformation.

What We Discuss in This Episode

• What is "triple win" leadership coaching and why does it matter?
• Why do most organizations fail to scale effective coaching—and how can that change?
• The pivotal roles of measurement, consistency, and co-worker feedback
• What truly drives sustainable leadership growth across an organization?
• How can coaches create structured AND customized programs for maximum impact?
• Will Linssen's journey: From industry insider to global coaching influencer
• The process mindset: Borrowing best practices from other business domains
• Where coaches, consultants, and organizations are missing the mark (and practical ways to fix it)
• Leveraging technology and AI for 21st-century leadership development
• Specific, actionable guidance for coaches growing their practice or impact in companies

Podcast Highlights and Timestamps

00:00 – Leadership Is Not About Me, It's About We

01:08 – Scaling Coaching for Real Results

02:06 – Challenges and Solutions

04:00 – Why Classic Coaching Models Fail

05:37 – The Power of Stakeholder Feedback

08:27 – Customizing Leadership for Every Team Member

10:39 – Modeling a Feedback-and-Growth Culture

11:14 – From Industry Frustration to Process-Driven Coaching

13:20 – Building Leaders by Design

16:11 – The Art of Impactful Coaching

19:20 – Training Coaches for the Triple Win

23:33 – A Mindset Shift for Coaches and Organizations

26:43 – The Future of Leadership in the Age of AI

Top 10 Takeaways for Triple Win Leadership Coaching

1. Triple win coaching ensures leaders, teams, and business results all improve together.
2. Most traditional coaching fails to deliver measurable, recognized improvement—only 18% of coworkers see change.
3. Involve coworkers in setting leadership goals and gathering feedback for greater engagement, relevance, and results.
4. Structure (a process-driven approach) is essential; it enables, not restricts, customization for every leader and situation.
5. Regular measurement, action planning, and coworker feedback are vital for sustained coaching success.
6. Coaches need both coaching skills and business frameworks - a program that addresses both sets up long-term impact.
7. Leadership transformation is not just for leaders - it must cascade to teams and become part of culture.
8. The process of developing leaders can borrow best practices from operations and project management, ensuring scalability.
9. AI is changing what leaders and coaches need to do - the key shift is leveraging data and feedback to put ideas into action.
10. Lasting transformation depends on taking action.

Favorite Quotes

On True Leadership: "Leadership is not about the leader. It's not me, it's about we. The more leaders understand that, the more they see coworkers need to be involved."

On Results-Based Coaching: "At the end of the day, we're selling results. There's a lot of coaching people sell process, but people want to buy results."

On Involving Teams: "If the leader gets better and the team doesn't get better, we're missing the point."

Episode Resources: https://leadersoftransformation.com/podcast/leadership/549-triple-win-leadership-coaching-building-extraordinary-leaders-teams-and-results-with-will-linssen/

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Have you ever chased success, only to realize it didn't give you the freedom or fulfillment you hoped for?

In this transformative episode, host Nicole Jansen sits down with Mark Rampolla - founder of ZICO Coconut Water, co-founder of Groundforce Capital, and author of The Entrepreneur's Guide to Freedom: 7 Steps to Living Beyond Limits.

Mark shares a refreshingly honest look at building ZICO from his garage into a global brand which he sold to Coca-Cola for $200 million (before buying it back a few years later) - and the unexpected discovery that financial success alone doesn't guarantee meaning or joy.

Together, Nicole and Mark dive into why entrepreneurs become trapped in the pursuit of more, how the success industry subtly shapes our definitions of achievement, and the practical steps to experiencing internal freedom and fulfillment—right now.

If you've ever wondered why your wins still feel incomplete, this conversation offers a roadmap for shifting your mindset, avoiding burnout, and leading from a place of clarity and purpose. You'll also hear what investors truly look for in founders and why personal transformation is the hidden engine behind sustainable business growth, even in seasons of loss.

What We Discuss in This Episode

• What does real success look like, and how does your definition evolve as you grow?
• Why do entrepreneurs remain stuck in the cycle of chasing more, and how does the success industry reinforce it?
• How can you prevent burnout and create genuine satisfaction while building your business?
• What are Mark's seven steps to entrepreneurial freedom and fulfillment?
• How does self-awareness open the door for personal and team transformation?
• Which inner habits and tools help you navigate challenges and create lasting freedom?
• What do top investors like Mark value in founders beyond revenue and metrics?
• How did losing his home in the Palisades wildfire reshape his perspective on what truly matters?
• Why is self-reflection essential for both business success and personal joy?
• How can you begin practicing fulfillment, peace, and purpose in your business today?

Timestamps & Highlights

00:00 - Why Success Doesn't Equal Fulfillment

04:50 - Be Honest with Yourself

08:12 - How the Success Industry Creates Burnout

09:58 - Success Through Fulfillment and Presence

15:39 - Personal Growth Strategies for Entrepreneurs

17:44 - Shared Freedom and Self-Reflection

20:28 - Escaping the More Mindset

23:32 - Creating Challenges After Retirement

26:18 - Choosing Passion and Purpose

30:59 - Investor Insights: What Founders Must Know

32:54 - How to Lead with Purpose & Clarity

36:25 - Life Lessons from Losing Everything in a Fire

39:50 – Finding Freedom Within

10 Key Takeaways for Finding Freedom & Fulfillment Beyond Money

1. External success doesn't equal inner fulfillment. Financial wins feel good—but they rarely create the deep satisfaction we're truly seeking.

2. The success industry profits from your sense of not enough. Entrepreneurs are constantly sold the belief that the next achievement will finally make them happy.

3. Personal growth is the real engine of business growth. Your company can only expand to the level of your own self-awareness and development.

4. Fulfillment is available in the present moment. Freedom isn't something you achieve later - it's something you cultivate now.

5. Self-awareness creates genuine confidence. Seeing your strengths clearly - and owning your blind spots - accelerates your leadership.

6. Your limiting beliefs are not reality. Challenging your assumptions opens the door to new possibilities and breakthroughs.

7. Burnout undermines your whole ecosystem. Your team and your company feel the impact when you're depleted - renewal is non-negotiable.

8. Coachability and humility matter more than ego. Investors and partners look for leaders who are curious, adaptable, and willing to grow.

9. Loss can become a doorway to freedom. Releasing attachments to things reveals deeper sources of peace and inner security.

10. Lasting success is built on inner transformation. When you evolve on the inside, your relationships, leadership, and business naturally elevate.

Favorite Quotes

• Your business can't grow if you don't.
• If I can build safety and security within me, without the house—that is liberating and powerful.
• What annoys us in another is a reflection of what's going on in us.

Join Nicole Jansen for this powerful, eye-opening conversation with Mark Rampolla. Discover how to cultivate genuine freedom, fulfillment, and purpose - starting today - from the inside out.

Episode Resources: https://leadersoftransformation.com/podcast/business/548-freedom-over-fortune-life-lessons-from-zico-founder-mark-rampolla

Check out our complete library of episodes and other leadership resources here: https://leadersoftransformation.com

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