Small Brave Moves

In this powerful episode of the Small Brave Moves podcast, Nicole Bianchi sits down with Melanie Marshall — award-winning speaker, filmmaker, and former BBC journalist who spent two decades reporting from some of the most dangerous places on earth. 

From war zones in Afghanistan to political unrest in Tripoli, Mel learned what it means to lead through chaos, regulate emotions under pressure, and find hope in uncertainty.

Together, Nicole and Mel explore:

• Why emotional regulation and self-awareness is the foundation of strong leadership
• The link between hope, bravery, joy and high-performing teams
• How to balance courage with care in high-stakes moments

Whether you’re managing a crisis, leading a team through change, or simply trying to stay centered amid chaos, this conversation will remind you that bravery isn’t loud — it’s intentional, grounded, and deeply human.

Tune in to discover how you can build the mindset, presence, and emotional resilience that define truly brave leadership.

Follow along with Mel's journey👇
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In this episode of the Small Brave Moves podcast, Nicole Bianchi is joined by Damon Lembi, CEO of Learnit, three-time bestselling author, and host of the Learn It All podcast. With over 2 million learners served, Damon has proven that companies who outlearn, outlast.

Nicole and Damon discuss:

• How to build a culture of learning and bravery in today’s uncertain workplace
• Why middle managers struggle most with brave conversations and how to support them
• What Hall of Fame coaches from his past as an athlete taught him about resilience, and overcoming imposter syndrome

Whether you’re a CEO, people leader, or emerging manager, this conversation will challenge you to rethink how you approach tough conversations, talent decisions, and leadership growth.

Learn practical strategies to build confidence, foster alignment, and turn learning into action so your team doesn’t just survive, but thrives.

Follow along with Damon's journey👇
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Authenticity isn’t a buzzword - it’s the brave, human way of leading that today’s workplace craves. In this episode of Small Brave Moves, Nicole Bianchi explores what it really means to lead with authenticity instead of polished perfection and performance.

You’ll learn:

• Why 75% of employees want more authenticity from their leaders
• The hidden costs of drifting away from your true self in leadership
• How authenticity fuels trust, engagement, and team performance
• Practical Small Brave Moves to realign with your values and lead from your truth

Whether it’s admitting a mistake, giving honest feedback, or showing up as the human behind the role, authentic leadership is one of the most generous and impactful gifts you can give your team. 

Tune in to discover how to define your leadership philosophy, build your personal ethos, and model the realness your workplace needs most.

If this resonated with you, Nicole has created something to help you go deeper.

👉Download the free workbook: “How to Lead as Your Authentic Self” It’s packed with guided reflection questions, prompts, and exercises to help you find your purpose, establish your personal ethos, and start living and leading as your bravest and most authentic self.

Because the world doesn’t need more perfect leaders. It needs more real ones.

And it starts with you.

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Bravery isn’t a personality trait - it’s a skill. And when you develop it, the return on investment is massive. 

In this episode of the Small Brave Moves podcast, we're discussing the impact of one of the most underestimated skills in leadership - bravery. Not the big, cinematic kind, but the everyday bravery that drives trust, innovation, alignment, and performance.

Safe leadership feels comfortable, but it’s costly. Avoiding tough talks, delaying decisions, or playing small drains trust, slows progress, and fuels disengagement.

I'm unpacking how brave leadership delivers real results by:

• Unlocking faster, clearer decision-making
• Building a culture of accountability and ownership
• Accelerating innovation through psychological safety
• Boosting employee engagement and retention
• Driving team alignment that saves time and increases impact

If you’ve been holding back on making the call, having the conversation, or taking the next step forward, this episode will show you the real cost of staying in your comfort zone and the rewards of leading with courage.

Because bravery isn’t optional in today’s workplace - it’s your competitive edge.

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Feedback is one of the most powerful tools a leader has - and one of the hardest to use well. Too often, leaders avoid it, sugarcoat it, or deliver it so vaguely that it never lands. The result? Teams left guessing, disengaged, and missing out on their full potential.

In this episode of the Small Brave Moves podcast, we unpack:

•  Why most leaders struggle to give feedback (and how it holds teams back)
•  The difference between empty praise, harsh critique, and feedback that actually helps people grow
• Three types of brave feedback you can start practicing right away
• Practical scripts and examples you can use in your next conversation
• A weekly challenge to turn feedback into a rhythm, not a rarity

You’ll learn how to give feedback that feels less like confrontation and more like an invitation - one that fuels performance, strengthens trust, and transforms relationships. Because your team doesn’t need you to be flawless. They need you to be honest, kind, and brave.

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In this episode of the Small Brave Moves podcast, we explore one of the most overlooked truths about leadership and culture: you don’t need a title to make an impact.

When uncertainty is swirling - reorgs, layoffs, AI disruption, hybrid confusion - it’s tempting to shrink back and think "what difference can I make?" But the reality is, every Slack message, every meeting comment, every hallway conversation sends a signal that shapes your team’s energy and culture.

Join me for an honest discussion about: 

• Why brave leadership isn’t always big or loud—it’s often small, consistent acts that ripple outward
• How cynicism, apathy, and disengagement spread (and how care and courage spread faster)
• The contagious power of showing up authentically and modeling what matters
• Three small brave moves you can practice this week to shift the energy in your workplace 

Whether you lead a team of one or one thousand, the way you show up matters. 

Bravery isn’t top-down—it’s inside out. And when you step into the power of individual contribution, you create the kind of culture where people feel safe to care, contribute, and thrive.

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What if your good intentions as a leader are actually holding your team back?

It happens more often than you think. Many well-meaning leaders unintentionally stall their team’s growth by fixing problems too quickly, jumping in to save the day, or making decisions before their team even has the chance to try. While it feels helpful in the moment, it often creates dependence instead of development. 

In this episode of the Small Brave Moves podcast, we uncover:

• The surprising ways over-helping and over-fixing slow your team’s growth
• The hidden costs of over-functioning as a leader
• How to shift from being the hero to being the coach your team really needs
• Five practical coaching skills that spark clarity, accountability, and growth in your team
• Small Brave Moves you can make this week to unlock your team’s potential

Brave leadership isn’t about having all the answers - it’s about creating the conditions for your people to grow into their own. Listen in to learn how to step back, coach more, and stop unintentionally stalling the very growth you want to see.

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Real employee engagement starts with how your team feels every day, not just during the annual survey.

In this episode of the Small Brave Moves podcast, I’m sharing five powerful, no-cost ways to boost engagement that any leader can start using right now. These are practical, human-centered actions that build trust, spark motivation, and create a team culture people don’t want to leave.

You’ll learn how to:

1. Clarify team expectations with the How We Work conversation
2. Celebrate micro wins to keep momentum high
3. Make one-on-ones more human (and way more impactful)
4. Trade micromanagement for autonomy and trust
5. Foster growth opportunities even when promotions aren’t available

If you’re ready to create a workplace where people feel seen, valued, and fired up to give their best, this episode is your playbook.

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In this episode of the Small Brave Moves podcast, I’m joined by internationally experienced leadership coach and courage catalyst Noomi Melchior Natan for a conversation every leader navigating hard or busy seasons needs to hear.

We explore what it means to thrive, not just survive, during the most demanding chapters of leadership, and how to stay connected to your courage, clarity, and conviction when the pressure is high.

Noomi shares her signature framework—The Four Powers: Leading, Being, Doing, and Staying—and how each one can help you face uncertainty, make bold moves, and preserve your energy in the process.

We discuss:

• Why your identity and inner narrative can either limit or liberate you
• How to stop over-functioning and start protecting your greatest asset—you
• What it looks like to build “staying power” in a world of constant change
• A small brave move you can start today to build sustainable leadership strength

Whether you’re leading through change, burnout, self-doubt, or big decisions, this episode will help you reconnect to what truly fuels your leadership and take small brave steps toward a more powerful and grounded version of yourself.

Follow along with Noomi's journey👇
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Take this 4-minute quiz to learn about how you use the 4 Powers for Success and Leadership and which one it's time to dial up: www.noominatan.com/quiz

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There’s a silent struggle happening behind the scenes of so many high-achieving leaders: they’re carrying too much, but feel like they can’t ask for help.

In this episode of Small Brave Moves, we name the fear, break the stigma, and explore how “the ask” can transform your leadership, your team, and your energy. 

We explore:

• Why asking for help feels so vulnerable (especially for high-capacity leaders)
• How unspoken pressure to "have it all together" creates disconnection
• What happens to culture and performance when leaders normalize asking for what they need
• Real-life phrases and scripts for making “the ask” without overexplaining or apologizing
• How this conversation fits into the Five Tough Talks® framework

If you’ve ever white-knuckled your way through something you should’ve shared, or you’re carrying more than anyone realizes, this episode is your permission slip to do it differently.

Brave leaders don’t go it alone. They ask with clarity, courage, and heart - and that small brave move changes everything.

🖥️Learn more about the Five Tough Talks Online Course. 

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