Profiles in Leadership

Andrew Johnson is a leadership advisor and author of Iron Sharpens Iron, where he explores how the operating systems of elite sport can help businesses build stronger accountability, execution, and performance cultures. Drawing from lessons in professional sport, particularly the NFL, Andrew translates concepts like scoreboard clarity, roster discipline, standards under pressure, and “tape review” into practical frameworks leaders can apply inside modern organisations. His work focuses on helping companies move from average to elite by creating cultures where accountability is visible, standards are consistent, and performance improves because there is nowhere to hide. As a podcast guest, Andrew brings a practical and thought-provoking perspective on leadership, competition, talent, and sustained high performance.

Jon is the co-founder of Pickle, as well as a Physical Therapist. He’s been featured by organizations such as NYU, the University of Oxford,  WebPT,  and the United Nations, working with healthcare executives around the globe on workforce strategy and big data analytics.

Jonathon holds an MBA from the University of Oxford (UK) and a DPT from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is also a board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist, and fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists.

Sandra Crespo, LCSW, is a sought-after speaker, executive coach, and mental health professional who helps organizations build workplaces where “neurospicy” talent can thrive. Her work sits at the intersection of mental health, systems thinking, and leadership development, reframing how ADHD shows up in high-performing environments beyond pathology or productivity fixes to real-world experiences like communication, burnout, creativity, and decision-making. She has spoken on major stages including AfroTech, created the S.P.I.C.Y. Framework to help organizations turn neurodiversity into a meaningful advantage, collaborates with the National Association of Social Workers, serves on the board of CHADD, and is pursuing doctoral research focused on ADHD.

Dr. Rebecca Homkes is an economist and high-growth strategy specialist who advises CEOs and executive teams focused on growth and success through uncertainty.

Uncertainty isn’t new and we've pretty much "normalized" it at this point—but what’s different now is the stacking of uncertainty. Tariffs, AI disruption, shifting policy signals, and constant organizational change are all hitting leaders at once. The result isn’t just uncertainty—it’s chaos. And chaos has a cost.

Dr. Homkes helps leaders understand why uncertainty is inevitable, but chaos is optional— and how the best leaders can build clarity, momentum, and growth even when the external environment is unpredictable and ever-changing. 

Dr. Homkes is a Lecturer at London Business School and Duke Corporate Executive Education, and the director of the Young Presidents' Organization (YPO) global Active Learning Program. She's also the author of Survive Reset Thrive and a frequent contributor on Bloomberg and CNBC

Ingrid Curtis -- she spent 17 years helping build one of the most ambitious digital transformation platforms in enterprise. She then became its CEO, and her first move was to say the whole thing needed to be rebuilt. 

She has a rare kind of credibility; she didn’t just form opinions about why enterprise aI initiatives keep failing, she helped build the infrastructure that’s now becoming the bottleneck. And rather than quietly course-correct, she’s calling it out openly. 

As CEO of Sparq, she’s repositioning the company from digital-first to data-first, and she believes this shift is about to become the defining leadership challenge in enterprise. 

Andy Freed is the CEO of Virtual, Inc., a strategic consulting, marketing, and professional services firm that

supports mission-driven organizations facing multi-dimensional challenges in technology, healthcare, financial services, and life sciences. These include membership groups that unite some of the world’s largest

brands — like Microsoft, Meta, and Google — to collaborate on shared industry goals. Virtual has been

recognized as a best place to work, guided by integrity, collaboration, and client-first values.

With more than 30 years of experience leading organizations through growth and transformation, Andy

knows that the best leaders succeed through clear, compelling communication. He has a rare gift for crafting

stories and messages that resonate deeply, sparking action, inspiring alignment, and elevating performance — whether he’s uniting global coalitions, coaching CEOs, or building high-performing teams.

Andy is even more fanatical about communicating to inspire than he is about Bruce Springsteen (and that’s saying a lot) — it’s his life’s work. From keynote performances to small-group strategy sessions, he brings energy, clarity, and intention to every interaction.  Andy’s passion for leadership communication shines through not only in his professional work but also extends to his deep commitment to community engagement. He chairs the boards of MelroseWakefieldHealthcare and Friends of Harvard Water Polo and serves on the boards of Tufts Medicine, Harvard Club of Boston and the Sustainable Media Center. He’s also a former Chair of the Harvard Varsity Club and served on the board of the Massachusetts Hospital Association.

Greg Hawks is a keynote speaker, author, and corporate culture specialist who challenges leaders and teams to Act Like an Owner. For more than 25 years, he has partnered with organizations across the country to reshape culture, deepen trust, and activate ownership mindsets.  Earlier in his career, Greg spent a decade as Executive Director of a nonprofit, leading teams through complex challenges and building environments where people contributed their best. That experience became the foundation for his work with companies of every size, from ESOPs and credit unions to Fortune 500 corporations and national associations.  

In his upcoming book, Act Like an Owner: Five Unlocks for

Creating Culture People Love and Results Leaders Need, Greg introduces vivid metaphors and frameworks such as

Owners, Renters, Vandals, the Five Unlocks, and the 3D Plan for designing culture intentionally. Known for his energetic presence, distinctive language, and practical strategies, Greg equips executives and employees alike to re-engage, increase accountability, and spark growth.  Today, his work transforms workplaces into ecosystems where an ownership culture becomes the competitive advantage.

ChristoffelSneijdersis an MCC coach, behavioral expert, and creator of the 3 Brains Intelligence Theory—an approach that integrates neuroscience, coaching, and emotional intelligence by aligning the Head, Heart, and Gut. He has trained over 12,000 people in 33 countries and speaks on leadership, trauma, burnout, and personal transformation from a deeply embodied, science-based perspective.

Atiba de Souza is an author, entrepreneur, and relationship mentor who helps leaders break free from burnout and build teams that take ownership. He wrote The Delegation Trap: It’s Not Them, It’s You, a story-driven guide teaching leaders how to let go of every task and get results that shine. With 25+ years running gyms, bakeries, and food service companies and coaching National Championship youth football teams, he knows firsthand what it takes to turn average performance into excellence. His mission is simple: transform overwhelmed bosses into confident leaders of teams that thrive, even when they’re not in the room.

Ty Givens

Ty Givens is the Founder of CX Collective and a trusted partner to brands that want their customer experience to be a competitive edge. She’s known for turning messy operations into scalable, human-centered programs that drive loyalty and growth.