Leadovation

By Dean Newlund, Mission Facilitators International

If you’re listening to this podcast, there’s a good chance you’re responsible for other people—leaders, teams, organizations—and you care about the experience you create for them.

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How many episodes does Leadovation have?

The podcast currently has 321 episodes available.

Leadovation episodes:

June 16, 2026Steve Jaffe: The Layoff Journey: How to Turn Job Loss Into Reinvention
What if losing your job isn’t the end of your career story, but the beginning of a more intentional one? In this episode, Dean Newlund and Steve Jaffe explore how layoffs can become powerful opportunities for resilience, self-discovery, and reinvention.

In this episode, Dean Newlund and Steve Jaffe discuss:
Why layoffs often mirror the stages of grief and emotional recovery

The myth of meritocracy and why high performers can still lose their jobs

How job loss challenges identity, purpose, and self-worth

Building resilience through adversity, failure, and life transitions

How to approach career pivots, transferable skills, and industry disruption

Key Takeaways:
Layoffs often trigger a grief process that includes denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance, reconstruction, and renewal.

Losing a job can force valuable self-reflection about identity, values, priorities, and long-term career direction.

Resilience is built through adversity, and setbacks often create the coping skills needed for future success.

Letting go of shame and self-blame allows people to move forward more effectively after job loss.

Professionals can reduce future career risk by developing transferable skills, adapting to industry shifts, and staying aware of emerging trends.

"Instead of looking backwards, you look forward.” — Steve Jaffe

About Steve Jaffe:
Steve Jaffe is the author of The Layoff Journey From Dismissal to Discovery: Navigating the Stages of Grief After Job Loss and a four-time layoff survivor. Drawing on his own experiences and a 25-year career in advertising and marketing, including work on the iconic “What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas” campaign, he helps readers navigate job loss through the stages of grief, rebuild confidence, and move forward with clarity and resilience. He holds a degree in journalism and communication from San Diego State University.

Connect with Steve Jaffe:
Website: https://thestevejaffe.com/
Substack: https://stevejaffe.substack.com/
Book: The Layoff Journey From Dismissal to Discovery: https://www.amazon.com/Layoff-Journey-Dismissal-Discovery-Navigating/dp/B0DXSDCQPY
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaffesteve/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevejaffethelayoffjourney/

See Dean’s TedTalk “Why Business Needs Intuition” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEq9IYvgV7I

Connect with Dean:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqRK8GC8jBIFYPmECUCMkw
Website: https://www.mfileadership.com/
The Mission Statement E-Newsletter: https://www.mfileadership.com/blog/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannewlund/
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/deannewlund
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissionFacilitators/
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1-800-926-7370

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42min
June 09, 2026Mitch McDermott: The Future of Hiring: Why Companies Using Too Much AI Will Lose Great Talent
What happens when hiring becomes almost entirely automated? In this episode, Dean Newlund and Mitch McDermott explore why the companies that preserve human connection may outperform those that turn recruiting into a purely transactional process.

In this episode, Dean Newlund and Mitch McDermott discuss:
How AI is transforming recruiting, hiring, and talent acquisition

The risks of removing the human element from the hiring process

Why have workplaces become increasingly transactional in recent years

Practical strategies for standing out in a competitive job market

The leadership and relationship skills that will matter most in the future of work

Key Takeaways:
AI can improve recruiting efficiency, but organizations still need human judgment to identify culture fit, potential, and long-term success.

The best candidates are not always the ones with the most optimized resumes, which creates risks when hiring relies too heavily on automated screening.

Job seekers can improve their chances by bypassing crowded application systems and building direct relationships with decision-makers.

Organizations that create meaningful employee connections may gain a competitive advantage as work becomes increasingly automated.

High-quality effort, authentic communication, and relationship-building remain powerful differentiators in both hiring and leadership.

"High-quality effort gets high-quality results. Everyone is doing low effort, and most people in their job search are seeing low results.” — Mitch McDermott

About Mitch McDermott:
Mitch McDermott is an entrepreneur, talent advisor, and Founder & CEO of Talent Ascension Group, where he is advancing how companies evaluate, hire, and build mid-level leadership teams. He is recognized for challenging how the recruitment industry is structured and for pioneering a modern approach to mid-level leadership hiring by applying executive search standards to Manager, Director, and VP-level roles. Beyond his work, Mitch is an active voice in the talent industry and is known for his contrarian views on hiring, careers, and job search. He brings a blend of entrepreneurial spirit, global perspective, and a deep commitment to meaningful impact across the talent acquisition landscape.

Connect with Mitch McDermott:
Website: https://www.talentascension.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-mcdermott-ba409387/

See Dean’s TedTalk “Why Business Needs Intuition” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEq9IYvgV7I

Connect with Dean:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqRK8GC8jBIFYPmECUCMkw
Website: https://www.mfileadership.com/
The Mission Statement E-Newsletter: https://www.mfileadership.com/blog/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannewlund/
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/deannewlund
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissionFacilitators/
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1-800-926-7370

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47min
June 02, 2026Celeste Warren: Why Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Isn’t Going Away — And What Leaders Still Get Wrong
What if much of the backlash around diversity, equity, and inclusion comes from misunderstanding what those ideas were actually meant to be? In this episode, Dean Newlund and Celeste Warren unpack the leadership, hiring, and workplace realities behind one of the most emotionally charged conversations in business today.

In this episode, Dean Newlund and Celeste Warren discuss:
What diversity, equity, and inclusion actually mean inside organizations

Why equity is often misunderstood as lowering standards or giving preferential treatment

How hiring practices, bias, and talent pipelines shape workplace representation

The role of leadership, culture, and belonging in organizational performance

Why do many companies quietly continue this work even as public language around DEI changes

Key Takeaways:
Diversity simply reflects differences in people, experiences, identities, and perspectives that exist within organizations and customer groups.

Inclusion is about creating a culture where people feel valued, supported, and connected to a shared organizational purpose.

Equity is not about lowering standards; it is about recognizing different starting points and creating fair access to opportunities.

Organizations often limit talent pools by repeatedly recruiting from the same places instead of broadening where they search for qualified candidates.

Strong leadership requires reducing bias in hiring and management processes while still selecting people based on skills, capability, and experience.

"The most qualified person that has those skills, capabilities, and all of those experiences and characteristics can be embodied in a multitude of different identities.” — Celeste Warren

About Celeste Warren:
Celeste Warren is a visionary leader who spent 28 years at a global Fortune 100 company, rising to Vice President and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer. After retiring, she founded Celeste Warren Consulting, LLC, where she helps organizations create fair and equitable opportunities while improving workplace culture and inclusion.
Celeste also co-founded Destination STEM, Inc., a nonprofit supporting students of color pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees. She is a published author, global speaker, and thought leader whose work on diversity, equity, and inclusion has appeared in national and international publications. She recently published her second book, The Truth About Equity.

Connect with Celeste Warren:
Website: www.CRWdiversity.com
Book: The Truth About Equity: https://www.amazon.com/Truth-About-Equity-Really-Everyone/dp/1967587000
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@celestewarren-equity
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/celestewarrenllc/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61585947441940
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crwdiversity

See Dean’s TedTalk “Why Business Needs Intuition” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEq9IYvgV7I

Connect with Dean:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqRK8GC8jBIFYPmECUCMkw
Website: https://www.mfileadership.com/
The Mission Statement E-Newsletter: https://www.mfileadership.com/blog/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannewlund/
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/deannewlund
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissionFacilitators/
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1-800-926-7370

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46min
May 26, 2026Lisa Riegel: Why Your Brain Resists Change—and How to Rewire It for Growth
What if the reason leaders stay stuck in stress, overwork, or emotional reactivity has less to do with discipline—and more to do with unconscious survival patterns? In this episode, Dean Newlund and Lisa Riegel explore how hidden conditioning shapes leadership behavior, decision-making, and the ability to stay calm and present under pressure.

In this episode, Dean Newlund and Lisa Riegel discuss:
How the brain and nervous system influence stress and leadership behavior

Why do people naturally resist change and uncertainty

The role past experiences play in emotional reactions and decision-making

How technology and constant stimulation affect focus and regulation

Ways leaders can create cultures built on trust and psychological safety

Key Takeaways:
The brain prioritizes safety over growth, so uncertainty and change can trigger fear, anxiety, and resistance even when the change is positive.

Stress, sedentary lifestyles, and constant digital stimulation can dysregulate the nervous system and reduce emotional resilience and self-awareness.

Leaders often underestimate how deeply identity, past experiences, and unconscious associations shape employees’ reactions to change.

Strong workplace cultures are built through consistent human connection and shared belonging—not slogans, posters, or surface-level initiatives.

Excessive dependence on social media, AI, and digital stimulation may weaken emotional regulation, cognitive engagement, and authentic human connection.

"You construct your own identity, and you construct your own reality, and you have a lot of control over how you do that.” — Lisa Riegel

About Lisa Riegel:
Over the past twenty years, Dr. Lisa Riegel has worked with organizations to leverage their human systems as a key driver for organizational climate, productivity, and engagement. She facilitates strategic planning and is sought for her ability to operationalize vision and lead transformation that sticks. She partners with leaders who want to create sustainable engagement—not through policy, but through people. Together, she works with leaders to translate brain science into action, alignment, and meaningful growth. She brings a simple philosophy to complex change: policies shape change, but people make change. When people learn how to think differently, they lead differently, and that’s how organizations thrive.

Connect with Lisa Riegel:
Website: https://lisariegel.com/
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisariegel/

See Dean’s TedTalk “Why Business Needs Intuition” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEq9IYvgV7I

Connect with Dean:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqRK8GC8jBIFYPmECUCMkw
Website: https://www.mfileadership.com/
The Mission Statement E-Newsletter: https://www.mfileadership.com/blog/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannewlund/
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/deannewlund
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissionFacilitators/
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1-800-926-7370

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43min
May 19, 2026Scott Proposki: Reinvention Story — From Photographing Michael Jackson to Losing Everything in COVID
What happens when a multimillion-dollar photography business goes to near-zero almost overnight during the pandemic? In this episode, Dean Newlund and Scott Proposki unpack the hard reset that forced a shift from chasing revenue to building a truly profitable, scalable business.

In this episode, Dean Newlund and Scott Proposki discuss:
Scott’s journey from photographer to entrepreneur and business advisor

What it’s like to lose a successful business overnight during the pandemic

The difference between chasing revenue and building a profitable company

Why do many entrepreneurs ignore financial leaks in their business

How mindset shifts and coaching help you rebuild and refocus

Key Takeaways:
Revenue growth alone doesn’t equal success; profitability is what sustains a business.

The pandemic exposed weaknesses in many business models, forcing leaders to rethink scalability and resilience.

Entrepreneurs often overlook hidden financial leaks that quietly erode profitability.

A shift in mindset, from operator to strategic business owner, is critical for long-term growth.

Coaching and outside perspective can accelerate clarity and help leaders pivot more effectively.

"We’re all looking for revenue, revenue generating, getting leads and getting customers and funnels and getting—but what about the cash in your business that’s probably going out the door that you don’t even know?” — Scott Proposki

About Scott Proposki:
Scott Proposki is a photographer, entrepreneur, and author with 27 years behind the camera, capturing stories for National Geographic, the White House, Microsoft, HBO, and top global brands.
In 2019, he released Camera Focus to help creatives with ADHD harness their strengths. He never expected the book to save him when the pandemic wiped out his business in a week.
After three years of silence, depression, and rebuilding, its principles helped him reinvent himself and create the Camera Focus Method™, a system empowering photographers to build confident, resilient businesses. Today, Scott’s mission is bigger than photography.

Connect with Scott Proposki:
Website: www.scottproposki.com
Email: [email protected]
Book: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Scott-Proposki/author/B07SD2KV79
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottproposki/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/111333847127347
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/photographybusinessmadesimple

See Dean’s TedTalk “Why Business Needs Intuition” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEq9IYvgV7I

Connect with Dean:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqRK8GC8jBIFYPmECUCMkw
Website: https://www.mfileadership.com/
The Mission Statement E-Newsletter: https://www.mfileadership.com/blog/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannewlund/
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/deannewlund
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissionFacilitators/
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1-800-926-7370

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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53min
May 12, 2026Kendra Dahlstrom: Why High Achievers Get Triggered at Work and How Great Leaders Regulate
What if brilliant leaders stumble not from lack of skill but from hidden, childhood‑wired patterns and chronic stress? In this episode, Dean Newlund interviews Kendra Dahlstrom to reveal how cultivating self‑awareness and emotional regulation can restore presence, decision quality, and leadership freedom.

In this episode, Dean Newlund and Kendra Dahlstrom discuss:
Why high-achieving leaders sometimes react in ways they later regret

The concept of the “window of tolerance” and how stress impacts behavior

How digital habits and modern work environments increase reactivity

The influence of childhood experiences on leadership patterns and coping mechanisms

Practical approaches to building self-awareness and improving emotional regulation

Key Takeaways:
Emotional intelligence, especially self-awareness and self-regulation, is essential for sound decision-making and leadership under pressure.

Chronic stress and constant digital stimulation push leaders outside their window of tolerance, increasing reactivity.

Early life experiences often shape coping patterns like workaholism or overcontrol that show up in leadership behavior.

Evaluating the real costs of behaviors helps leaders distinguish productive habits from harmful ones.

Improving emotional regulation strengthens presence, clarity, and overall leadership effectiveness.

"Errors are expensive, and the higher you are up in the hierarchy, the more expensive an error will be.” — Kendra Dahlstrom

About Kendra Dahlstrom:
Kendra is an executive coach and senior advisor to high-achieving leaders operating in complex, high-stakes environments. She specializes in emotional intelligence, intuition-informed decision making, executive presence, and leadership under pressure. Her work helps CEOs, founders, and senior executives resolve internal misalignment, regulate nervous system responses, and lead with clarity, authority, and integrity. Drawing on decades of experience advising Fortune 50 companies and global leaders, Kendra integrates psychological insight, strategic rigor, and embodied leadership to support sustainable performance and authentic influence.

Connect with Kendra Dahlstrom:
Website: https://kendradahlstrom.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendradahlstrom
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kendra.dahlstrom
The High Achieving Leader™ Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4yXxXkHjoY35KaSKykVSsW

See Dean’s TedTalk “Why Business Needs Intuition” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEq9IYvgV7I

Connect with Dean:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqRK8GC8jBIFYPmECUCMkw
Website: https://www.mfileadership.com/
The Mission Statement E-Newsletter: https://www.mfileadership.com/blog/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannewlund/
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/deannewlund
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissionFacilitators/
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1-800-926-7370

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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43min
May 05, 2026Santosh Kumar: Calm Leaders Make Better Decisions: Using Wearables to Track Stress in Real Time
What if your stress isn’t just affecting your mood—but quietly shortening your life and weakening your decisions? In this episode, Santosh Kumar reveals how managing your heart rate and releasing stress can unlock clearer thinking, better leadership, and a longer life.

In this episode, Dean Newlund and Santosh Kumar discuss:
The concept of a lifetime “heart rate budget” and how it affects longevity

The difference between physical stress and emotional stress

How calmness directly impacts decision-making and leadership effectiveness

The role of wearable technology in tracking stress and improving self-awareness

Practical ways to release stress and prevent long-term health and performance decline

Key Takeaways:
Leaders can improve both longevity and performance by managing how they “spend” their heart rate budget and investing in habits like exercise.

Unreleased emotional stress is more harmful than physical exertion because the body generates energy that isn’t used.

Calmness improves decision-making, while stress narrows thinking and drives short-term, reactive choices.

Simple actions like movement or breathing can release stress in real time and restore clarity.

Wearable tools can build awareness of stress patterns today, while team-level stress visibility is feasible but not yet released.

"You don't get to control what is your budget, but you get to control how you spend that budget.” — Santosh Kumar

About Santosh Kumar:
Santosh Kumar is the Lillian & Morrie Moss Chair of Excellence Professor in Computer Science at the University of Memphis and CEO & Cofounder of CuesHub. He is also Director of NIH-funded national research centers in Wearable AI called the mDOT Center and the MD2K Center of Excellence. He has been recognized as America's Ten Most Brilliant Scientists by Popular Science magazine, has been invited to give a talk on the Future of Biosensors at the White House, and has received the Distinguished Alumni Award from The Ohio State University.

Connect with Santosh Kumar:
Website: https://cueshub.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/santoshkumar4/

See Dean’s TedTalk “Why Business Needs Intuition” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEq9IYvgV7I

Connect with Dean:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqRK8GC8jBIFYPmECUCMkw
Website: https://www.mfileadership.com/
The Mission Statement E-Newsletter: https://www.mfileadership.com/blog/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannewlund/
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/deannewlund
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissionFacilitators/
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1-800-926-7370

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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47min
April 28, 2026Kris Land: The Spiritual Side of Leadership: Purpose, Consciousness, and Business Success
Do we really have a soul, and does believing in it change anything? Kris Land joins Dean Newlund to unpack four powerful questions that reveal why your deepest growth, purpose, and leadership may depend on how you answer.

In this episode, Dean Newlund and Kris Land discuss:
The emptiness that can follow early success without a sense of purpose

The concept of soul consciousness and the human experience as a “game of life”

How leaders can integrate spirituality and business in meaningful ways

The idea of co-creation, karma, and personal responsibility in life outcomes

Why forgetting and rediscovering purpose is part of growth and leadership

Key Takeaways:
Success without purpose can lead to emptiness, making deeper self-exploration essential.

View life and leadership as a co-creative process shaped by choices, awareness, and responsibility.

Embrace both the emotional and spiritual dimensions of the human experience to grow as a leader.

Recognize that losing and rediscovering purpose is part of the journey toward clarity and fulfillment.

"There's a lot more going on than we're told, and that we're told to believe.” — Kris Land

About Kris Land:
Kris Land is a best-selling author, entrepreneur, and transformational thought leader specializing in leadership development, conscious entrepreneurship, emotional intelligence, and purpose-driven innovation. He has founded and successfully exited multiple high-tech companies and now helps leaders and creators align strategy with authenticity and human-centered growth. Kris is the author of The Infinity Within, an award-winning spiritual and personal development book exploring fear transformation, inner alignment, and self-leadership. His work bridges business, mindset transformation, and spiritual awakening, helping individuals and organizations create sustainable success, authentic brands, and meaningful impact.

Connect with Kris Land:
Website: https://krisland.com/
Book: https://theinfinitywithin.me/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheInfinityWithin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theinfinitywithin/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_infinity_within_me/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.infinity.within

See Dean’s TedTalk “Why Business Needs Intuition” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEq9IYvgV7I

Connect with Dean:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqRK8GC8jBIFYPmECUCMkw
Website: https://www.mfileadership.com/
The Mission Statement E-Newsletter: https://www.mfileadership.com/blog/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannewlund/
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/deannewlund
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissionFacilitators/
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1-800-926-7370

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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41min
April 21, 2026Amy Bouque: The Future of Work 2026: Why Skills Matter More Than Degrees (and How AI Changes Hiring)
Why are top performers saying “no thanks” to leadership roles? Discover how shifting expectations, AI, and new career paths are reshaping what ambition looks like in today’s workforce.

In this episode, Dean Newlund and Amy Bouque discuss:
The shift from traditional hiring to managing full workforce ecosystems

Rethinking degree requirements and prioritizing demonstrated skills and experience

The growing importance of critical thinking in an AI-driven workplace

How organizations can develop talent through alternative career paths and training

The evolving role of leadership in building adaptable, future-ready workforces

Key Takeaways:
Move beyond degree requirements and focus on demonstrated skills, learning agility, and real-world experience when hiring.

Develop workforce ecosystems that integrate full-time, contract, and alternative talent to stay adaptable.

Prioritize critical thinking and discernment as essential skills in an AI-augmented workplace.

Invest in employee development and alternative career pathways to build a more resilient and inclusive workforce.

"We need leaders who understand how AI can and will disrupt work, the workforce, and keep a steady hand at the wheel, helping it make sense and helping people.” — Amy Bouque

About Amy Bouque:
Amy Bouque has a passion for empowering people to thrive at work and in life. As Chief People Officer for Kelly, a global leader in providing strategic workforce solutions and connecting talented people to great companies, she does exactly that.
Amy leads the human resources practices for the more than 5,000 internal full-time Kelly employees around the world. She views their dedication to connecting people of all backgrounds with work that enriches their lives as a truly noble cause.

Connect with Amy Bouque:
Website: https://www.kellyservices.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybouque/ & https://www.linkedin.com/company/kellyservices/

See Dean’s TedTalk “Why Business Needs Intuition” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEq9IYvgV7I

Connect with Dean:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqRK8GC8jBIFYPmECUCMkw
Website: https://www.mfileadership.com/
The Mission Statement E-Newsletter: https://www.mfileadership.com/blog/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannewlund/
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/deannewlund
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissionFacilitators/
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1-800-926-7370

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
...more
47min
April 14, 2026Andrea Wanerstrand: Why Being Nice at Work Breaks Trust
Is “being nice” quietly damaging your culture? Discover why kindness, not niceness, is the real superpower of modern leadership, and how it transforms trust, accountability, and performance.

In this episode, Dean Newlund and Andrea Wanerstrand discuss:
The critical difference between being nice and being kind in leadership

How “nice” cultures create false harmony, passive-aggressive behavior, and broken trust

The importance of authenticity, autonomy, and accountability in building high-performing teams

Belonging vs. fitting in and how it impacts trust, engagement, and connection

The shift toward human-centric leadership and its impact on engagement and workplace expectations

Key Takeaways:
Prioritize kindness over niceness by having honest, constructive conversations that support growth and build trust.

Foster authenticity, autonomy, and accountability to create consistent leadership and stronger team performance.

Focus on belonging rather than fitting in to build genuine connections and reduce isolation within teams.

Design team structures are intentionally created with clear roles, responsibilities, and collaboration models to avoid dysfunction and repeated reorg cycles.

"Nice is like icing on the top, whereas you can get the depth with true kindness.” — Andrea Wanerstrand

About Andrea Wanerstrand:
Andrea Wanerstrand is a seasoned leadership strategist, executive coach, and founder of A3 Culture Lab, with over 25 years of experience inside global giants like Microsoft, Meta, T-Mobile, and Hitachi. She helps leaders shift from burnout to bold influence through her Mindset Maven Method and A3 philosophy: Authentic, Autonomous, and Accountable. Andrea has designed programs that have impacted leaders from more than 100 countries. She blends neuroscience, behavioral strategy, and sharp business insight to drive powerful cultural change. Her work enables organizations to build high-performing, human-centric workplaces where people truly thrive.

Connect with Andrea Wanerstrand:
Website: https://a3culturelab.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreawanerstrand/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreawanerstrand/

See Dean’s TedTalk “Why Business Needs Intuition” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEq9IYvgV7I

Connect with Dean:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqRK8GC8jBIFYPmECUCMkw
Website: https://www.mfileadership.com/
The Mission Statement E-Newsletter: https://www.mfileadership.com/blog/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannewlund/
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/deannewlund
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissionFacilitators/
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1-800-926-7370

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
...more
40min

FAQs about Leadovation:

How many episodes does Leadovation have?

The podcast currently has 321 episodes available.