NeuroConversant Leadership

Show Notes:

What if the first 90 days in a new leadership role matter more than the next 90 months? That's the core belief driving today's guests — and the stories they share will stick with you.

Neil Marshall, Chairman of Health Search Partners, and Kurt Mosley, Association Practice Leader at Health Search Partners, have spent a combined 65+ years placing and coaching healthcare executives. Together they developed a First 90 Days program to help leaders not just land the role — but thrive in it.

In this episode, Neil and Kurt share the frameworks, stories, and mindset shifts that separate leaders who build lasting trust from those who struggle to gain traction.

What we cover:

• The hospital CEO who literally moved into the hospital for his first 90 days — and what it taught him about symbolic leadership
• The 25-50-25 rule for earning authority when you're new
• Why your first visible act may be remembered longer than anything else you do
• How to be quick without being hurried in decision-making
• The parking lot move that turned "our people matter" from a slogan into a reality
• What the book What Got You Here Won't Get You There means for new managers transitioning out of individual contributor roles
• Why most people just want to be heard — and the financial case for making that happen

Whether you're stepping into a C-suite role or your first management position, this conversation offers a repeatable approach to building credibility from day one.

Resources & Links:

• 🔗 Health Search Partners: https://www.healthsearchpartners.com
• 📖 What Got You Here Won't Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith: https://www.amazon.com/What-Got-You-Here-Wont/dp/1401301304
• 🔗 Neil Marshall on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neilmarshall
• 🔗 Kurt Mosley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurtmosley

Chapters:

00:00 – Meet Neil Marshall and Kurt Mosley02:34 – The origin of the First 90 Days program03:59 – The CEO who moved into the hospital05:03 – What symbolic acts actually are08:11 – The 25-50-25 rule for earning authority09:56 – Building trust through behavior, not titles12:41 – The parking lot symbolic act14:31 – A structured approach to your first 90 days16:08 – Be quick, but don't hurry19:57 – Listening to people who think differently than you21:45 – Advice for new managers from technical roles25:40 – How to earn authority, not just hold a title27:25 – One communication tip from each guest

Most people are terrified of public speaking — but the core skills are ones you already use every day. In this solo episode, drawn directly from his upcoming book, Jeremy breaks down why effective communication follows the same principles whether your audience is one person or a thousand.

What you'll learn:

• Why the mirror/window framework from Good to Great applies directly to communication
• The two things every effective communicator needs to know: their audience's goals and how they process information
• How to engage a group that won't interact — without it feeling like pulling teeth
• When to appeal to logic vs. emotion, and how to handle a mixed audience
• Why delivering information in multiple formats benefits everyone — neurodivergent and neurotypical alike
• How to gather audience intelligence before you ever step on stage

The core principle: Whether the audience is one person or a thousand, it's not about you — it's about what they're going to get from what you say.

Call to Action

Jeremy's book on neurodiversity and workplace communication is coming spring 2026. Sign up for the Launch VIP list for sneak previews and early discounts — link in the show notes.

Interested in public speaking coaching or interpersonal communication training? Reach out to Jeremy directly and he'll get you connected with the right resources.

ADHD is the most commonly cited form of neurodivergence — but it's widely misunderstood. In this episode, Jeremy Doran explains what ADHD actually is: not a deficit of attention, but a challenge in regulating it. He covers the science behind dopamine dysregulation, why diagnosis rates vary so widely (especially between men and women), and the remarkable strengths ADHD brings to the workplace — including hyper-focus, creativity, and the kind of unconventional thinking that drives innovation.

Jeremy also shares concrete, practical strategies — both for people with ADHD navigating their careers and for the leaders and colleagues who work alongside them.

If you lead technical teams, work in a STEM environment, or just want to understand how different brains operate — this one's worth your time.

In this episode:

• Why ADHD is a dysregulation problem, not an attention deficit
• The surprising statistics on diagnosis — including why women are dramatically underdiagnosed
• The three powerful strengths ADHD brings to teams: hyper-focus, creativity, and unconventional thinking
• Practical strategies for individuals with ADHD to structure their work
• What managers and colleagues can do to unlock the full potential of neurodivergent team members

Chapters:00:00 Introduction to ADHD in the Workplace00:51 Common Misconceptions About ADHD01:27 Understanding ADHD: Myths and Realities02:44 How Common Is ADHD?04:08 How to Capitalize on Strengths and Manage the Challenges04:57 Strengths and Challenges of ADHD06:58 Working Alongside Someone with ADHD07:06 Strategies for Managing ADHD in Professional Settings08:01 The Bottom Line

Keywords: ADHD, neurodivergence, neurodiversity, workplace, leadership, STEM, hyper-focus, creativity, executive function, time management

📘 My book on neurodivergence and leadership is coming Spring 2026. Sign up for the VIP Launch List for sneak previews and launch discounts:

Being neurodivergent isn't the problem. The world being built for neurotypical people is — but that doesn't mean you're off the hook for figuring out how to navigate it.

In this episode, Jeremy Doran uses three everyday examples — left-handedness, introversion, and non-native speakers — to build a case for why fitting in costs some people dramatically more than others. Then he introduces Dr. Matt Zakreski's seven-foot-tall analogy to reframe what neurodivergence actually is: not a deficit, but a trait paying a tax that most people never notice.

If you lead technical teams, this episode will change how you think about who's quietly exhausted on your team — and why.

Sign up for the NeuroConversant newsletter and book launch VIP list

What if the biggest obstacle to your success isn't your circumstances — but the saboteurs living rent-free in your head?

Kae Wagner is a bestselling author and executive communication consultant specializing in Positive Intelligence (PQ). In this episode, she breaks down the nine saboteurs that quietly undermine our leadership, relationships, and happiness — and how understanding them is the first step to getting out of your own way.

Whether you're a Hyper Rational, a Stickler, an Avoider, or all three, this conversation will help you move from reacting out of old patterns to responding with clarity and intention.

Take the free Positive Intelligence Saboteur Assessment:Text Kae: 717-951-6049 (text only — identify yourself and mention PQ)

www.NeuroConversantLeadership.com

New episodes every Thursdaylinkedin.com/in/jeremydoranspeaks

You can't motivate people, but you can create the conditions where motivation thrives. In this episode, Jeremy Doran shares a simple but powerful story about an employee whose 3pm slump wasn't a performance problem — it was a scheduling mismatch. Once Jeremy understood what she actually wanted, they built a plan that worked for everyone.

If you manage people, this one reframes how you think about motivation, alignment, and getting the best out of your team.

Understanding the goals of others in your workplace is fundamental to effective leadership. Each division within a company, be it sales, engineering, or service, often has different objectives. For example, a manufacturing company may have teams with distinct targets based on their roles. Recognizing these differences allows for smoother interactions and collaboration.

When you grasp not just the "what" but the "why" behind someone else's goals, you open doors to more productive conversations. Often, when you ask a colleague for help, their initial response might be a reluctant "no." However, by inquiring about the reasons behind their goals, you may find that their hesitations stem from valid concerns such as time constraints or priorities. Understanding these nuances can lead to more effective solutions tailored to their needs.

What you'll learn:

• Why carrots and sticks don't work — and what does
• How to uncover what your employees actually want
• How to align individual goals with organizational goals for real, lasting productivity

🎙️ Connect with Jeremy Doran:🌐 NeuroConversantLeadership.com📧 [email protected]

#Leadership #EmployeeMotivation #ManagementTips #NeuroConversantLeadership #TechnicalLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #TeamManagement #WorkplaceProductivity #PeopleManagement #LeadershipCoaching

Girls with ADHD, autism, and dyslexia are diagnosed three to five times less often than boys — and it's not because they're less affected. It's because they're better at hiding it.

In this episode, I break down the three reasons neurodivergent girls go undetected: how socialization teaches them to mask their symptoms, why female brains are naturally better at compensating, and how our diagnostic tools were built entirely on male research subjects.

Key Topics:

• The differences in diagnosis rates between boys and girls for neurodivergent conditions
• How societal socialization encourages girls to mimic behaviors and suppress visible signs of neurodivergence
• Biological variations: women excel at decoding facial expressions and verbal skills, which can mask internal struggles
• Diagnostic challenges: criteria based on studies of men often overlook how girls and women present different symptoms
• The high tendency for women to mask symptoms, leading to emotional exhaustion and misdiagnosis as anxiety or depression
• Signs for parents and educators to watch for in quiet or withdrawn children that may suggest neurodivergence
• The importance of listening to personal stories to improve understanding and diagnosis accuracy

Chapters

:00:00 - The significance of communication in neurodivergence and leadership
0:18 - Why girls are underdiagnosed in neurodivergency and societal influences
0:48 - Social training for girls: reading the room, regulating emotions, and mimicking
1:16 - The impact of neurodivergence on social behavior and masking strategies
2:13 - Fidgeting and behaviors often suppressed or ignored
2:27 - Gender differences in physical signs and diagnosis timing
2:57 - Brain differences: emotional cue recognition and masking skills
3:26 - Brain scan insights and gender variations in autism, ADHD, and dyslexia
3:57 - Developmental language skills as a diagnostic mask
4:26 - How diagnostic criteria are based predominantly on male populations
4:56 - Disparities in dyslexia diagnosis rates between sexes and the masking phenomenon
5:37 - Adult diagnosis challenges and symptoms of burnout and exhaustion
6:16 - The discrepancy between diagnosis rates and actual prevalence
6:39 - Masking as an emotional and physical toll on women
7:07 - Consequences of masking: exhaustion, anxiety, depression
7:36 - Recognizing the core issues behind symptoms and burnout
8:02 - The importance of awareness for parents and educators
8:30 - Encouragement for sharing stories to improve understanding and diagnosis
8:53 - Connecting on LinkedIn to share experiences and support

Connect with Jeremy

linkedin.com/in/jeremydoranspeaks

What does it look like when a technical professional doesn't just fall into leadership — but intentionally designs their path there?

In this episode of NeuroConversant Leadership, Jeremy Doran sits down with Dominic Bowlin, Engineering Manager at JBC Technologies, to unpack one of the most deliberate career transitions you'll hear about in the STEM world: moving from individual contributor to people leader with a plan.

Dominic shares how a materials engineer with a passion for polymers and mechanical systems found himself leading a team of 8–10 engineers across 40+ machines, two shifts, and hundreds of active customers — and how a great mentor helped him build the roadmap to get there.

If you've ever wondered how to grow into leadership on purpose, how to communicate across departments with completely different thinking styles, or how to let go of the technical work so your team can grow — this episode is for you.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

• Why the biggest constraints for technical professionals aren't technical — they're communication, prioritization, and capacity alignment
• How to use influence before you have authority — and why that's what gets you the title
• The real reason delegation is an investment, not a shortcut
• How to separate intent from impact when navigating conflict between engineering, sales, quality, and operations
• Why understanding personality styles is the "irrational variable" engineers never account for — and how to fix that
• How to know whether you're wired for leadership or the individual contributor track — before you make the wrong move
• Why simplicity, transparency, and trust-building are the foundation of effective technical leadership

TIMESTAMPS

• 00:00 – Introduction — Dominic's background in materials engineering and manufacturing
• 02:46 – The shift from individual contributor to manager: hands-on vs. hands-off
• 04:17 – The hardest part of leading technical people: letting go of the fun stuff
• 05:29 – Why delegation is an investment, not a shortcut
• 06:20 – How Dominic designed his own leadership path inside a growing company
• 08:35 – Mentorship: how a great boss helped Dominic build a career development plan
• 12:17 – Choosing your path: leadership vs. senior individual contributor
• 19:00 – Conflict resolution in manufacturing: separating intent from impact
• 21:19 – How to communicate across departments with different thinking styles
• 23:26 – DISC, Culture Index, and Surrounded by Idiots — tools Dominic swears by
• 25:26 – Why personality training changes your home life, not just your work life
• 26:49 – Dominic's one piece of advice: keep it simple, credible, and grounded

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Surrounded by Idiots by Thomas Erikson — a four-personality framework for understanding communication styles
• DISC Personality Assessment — used by Dominic's team for interviewing, onboarding, and leadership development
• Culture Index — used at JBC Technologies to gauge personality tendencies across the organization
• JBC Technologies — engineering-led die cutting and converting company
• Connect with Dominic Bowlin on LinkedIn

CALL TO ACTION

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to NeuroConversant Leadership on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. New episodes drop every Thursday.

If you're a technical professional navigating the leap into leadership — or you lead engineers and need to close the communication gap — visit jeremydoran.com to learn about keynote speaking and coaching programs.

Leave a review. Share this episode. Tag a technical professional who needs to hear it

What's the real cost of bad communication in your workplace? Joe Fields—author of The Bucket List Coach and small business performance coach with 30 years in accounting and finance—breaks down how culture, trust, and team communication directly impact your bottom line.

Joe shares how he saved one client over $150,000 in his first six weeks by focusing not on spreadsheets, but on people. From building cultures of trust to why small business owners struggle to let go of control, this conversation is packed with practical insight for anyone leading a team.

In this episode:

• Why team culture is a financial strategy, not just a feel-good concept
• The difference between rules and standards—and which one your team will actually follow
• Why clear, direct communication is the #1 reason people leave companies
• How to know when to pick up the phone instead of sending another email
• The "greater fool" mindset every successful entrepreneur needs
• What Nick Saban's coaching philosophy can teach you about accountability

📘 The Bucket List Coach is available on Amazon🌐 thebucketlistcoach.com

Connect with Joe Fields: thebucketlistcoach.com

About NeuroConversant Leadership: I help engineers and technical professionals transition from individual contributors to confident leaders and communicators. New episodes every Thursday.

Sebastien Page, Chief Investment Officer at T. Rowe Price, shares unconventional leadership wisdom from 25 years managing high-performing teams. Discover why the best leaders listen more than they talk, why strategic quitting beats stubborn perseverance, and how stress can actually improve your performance.

Key Takeaways:

• Mastery vs ego orientation - competing with your former self, not others
• Why knowing when to quit is the most underrated leadership skill
• The Yerkes-Dodson curve: how stress improves performance (up to a point)
• Goal-setting beyond KPIs: why relationships matter more than wealth
• The "clear your slides" technique that instantly improves presentations
• How to reframe stress as activation for better performance

Sebastien's book: The Psychology of Leadership (available on Amazon)Connect with Sebastien on LinkedIn.com/in/sebastien-page