LeaderSIP: Let's Talk Leadership

This month on LeaderSIP, we’re joined virtually from Scotland by Mike De Luca, former Managing Director of Coverdale UK. Mike unpacks what leadership or "authority" looks like without the title. This includes distinguishing between the different kinds of authority leaders can draw on, from the authority of expertise to process authority to hierarchical authority, and why each one carries its own value depending on the situation.

Mike’s career has taken some memorable turns. He started out in publishing, where he was famously “sacked” by Robert Maxwell, and went on to lead Coverdale UK for more than 20 years. Along the way, he walks us through an 18-month project in China that saved a company an estimated $2 million a day!

We hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed the conversation!

This month’s episode is en español! Forty years in one industry teaches you a lot — but Osvaldo Cruz will be the first to tell you that the most important lessons aren't about business. They're about people. In this episode, Osvaldo reflects on a career defined by resilience, integrity, and a deep belief that leadership, at its core, is about leaving a human legacy. If you've ever wondered what it really means to lead with purpose, this one is for you. 

Cuarenta años en una misma industria te enseñan mucho — pero Osvaldo Cruz será el primero en decirte que las lecciones más importantes no son sobre negocios. Son sobre personas. En este episodio, Osvaldo reflexiona sobre una carrera definida por la resiliencia, la integridad y la profunda convicción de que el liderazgo, en su esencia, se trata de dejar un legado humano. Si alguna vez te has preguntado qué significa realmente liderar con propósito, este episodio es para ti.

In a world where business decisions often seem driven by metrics and profits, the question of purpose remains paramount. How can organizations balance growth while maintaining a strong sense of social responsibility? In this episode we delve into a conversation with Ivor Peters from the UK, who shares profound insights on cultivating purpose within business practices, emphasizing the importance of human connection and empathy.

Here's how you can find more from our podcast hosts and participants:

Ivor Peters: For more on how to fight trafficking and modern-day slavery through something delicious, visit urbanrajah.com. To meet your marketing and brand needs you can find him at babyloncommunications.co.uk

Yara Cruz: For digital learning experiences and AI adoption you can find her at OnCourseDesign.com

Shannon Jakes: For your individual, team, or organizational coaching needs, you can contact her at Coverdale.us

In this episode, we sit down with Celeste Sipes, founder of Thunderpants USA — and the timing couldn't be more fitting. We're recording during Pride Month and the 10-year anniversary of the business. 🎉

Celeste is a thoughtful business owner who has coined her own term, "Restorative Business" to describe the culture she's built and continues to fight to maintain. She opens up about the real challenge of staying true to that vision when personal stress, political uncertainty, and the pressures of capitalism are pulling in the other direction.

In a candid conversation, Celeste walks us through the arc of her career, what it means to run a values-driven business in today's world, and what she's still figuring out.

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You're already living with AI. In your inbox, your workflow, your decisions. And if you're being honest, it's not always clear how to feel about it.

Tracie Jae, The Quiet Rebel, sits down with LeaderSIP this month to talk about one of the hardest things to do in an age of automation: keep humans at the center. Expect a real conversation about the messiness of people, the moral complexity of AI, and why leaders have no business going quiet right now.