Christine Courtney welcomes Jacob Tourjeman,  Chief of Staff and Head of Operations at Invert, company transforming how life scientists work by unifying bioprocessing data and using analytics and AI to help teams experiment faster, optimize more accurately, and scale more reliably.

Christine and Jacob get into what it actually takes to lead at the frontier, where science changes daily, experiments fail, and the pressure to deliver never stops.

Jacob shares how he builds a culture that can handle uncertainty without losing momentum, why constraints and transparency are the foundation for innovation, and how he facilitates rooms full of experts even when he’s not the technical specialist. You’ll also hear a practical breakdown of standup meetings, how to get introverts contributing in brainstorms, and the two leadership values Jacob refuses to compromise on: pragmatism and curiosity.

And then, a surprise for anyone assuming the “AI people” have it all figured out already: Jacob explains why even machine learning engineers weren’t automatically using generative AI in their daily workflows until recently, and what changed.

Christine Courtney sits down with veteran journalist, longtime anchor, and journalism professor Monica Malpass for a lively conversation on what leaders can learn from life in the spotlight.

Monica shares how she built a specialty by asking for opportunities, how she prepared for high-stakes interviews [including a memorable one-on-one with President Obama], and what it really takes to stay steady when the pressure is on. Together, they unpack practical behaviors that build trust fast, presence, posture, eye contact, and the quiet confidence of “i belong here.” Monica also offers a smart approach for asking better questions, keeping conversations from getting hijacked, and using preparation to stay flexible in the moment.

If you’ve ever walked into a room with nerves, faced a tough conversation, or needed to hold the thread when someone tries to pull you off track, this episode gives you a clear, usable playbook.

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New role. New pressure. Now what? In this conversation, Christine sits down with senior leader and coach Tom Armstrong to get practical about the first season of management—where emotional intelligence meets everyday execution. They unpack why your ability to hold “baseline” under stress changes the room, how weekly one-on-ones quietly prevent big problems, and what effective delegation actually looks like when you’re moving from individual contributor to people manager. You’ll hear the simple structure Tom uses with 10+ direct reports, the mindset shift that earns trust (not just compliance), and a reality check for new managers who feel like “doing it myself” is faster. If you’re ready to build real leadership habits—one repeatable behavior at a time—this one’s for you. (Plus, Christine shares a cringe-but-true early mistake you don’t have to repeat.)

• Hold your baseline: regulate yourself so your team can co-regulate with you.
• Know the person, not the stereotype: everyone’s “baseline” looks different.
• One-on-ones are the operating system: 30 minutes weekly, they lead first.
• Delegation ≠ dumping: give stretch work that’s “small rock” to you, growth rock to them.
• Assume a quality dip at first; coach to the standard you need.
• Resist the “I’ll just do it” reflex—learning requires room to wobble.
• Monthly, add a 10-10-10: 10 min them, 10 you, 10 big picture (industry, role trajectory).
• Trust rides on consistency: scheduled, protected time beats ad-hoc drive-bys.

In this episode, we sit down with a mother–daughter leadership team whose story captures what this show is all about, how leaders grow, evolve, and hand forward a legacy with intention.

Susan White Morrissey founded White & Warren nearly 30 years ago with a simple idea, make beautiful, lasting knitwear that women could live in. Today, her daughter, Catherine, leads the company through its next chapter, guiding a bold rebrand that honors the brand’s roots while moving it into the future.

Our conversation explores what it means to build something that lasts, how leadership shifts across generations, and what happens when experience and fresh vision meet at the same table. We talk about family and business, the realities of leading together, and the courage it takes to trust the next evolution of your own work.

If you care about legacy, reinvention, and the heart behind great leadership, this is a conversation you’ll want to be part of.

What separates the leaders who keep climbing from the ones who plateau? Discipline, structure, and the ability to show up when motivation fades.

In this episode, Christine sits down with Dre Baldwin, former pro basketball player turned entrepreneur, author, and founder of Work On Your Game University. Dre breaks down what “work on your game” really means beyond sports, why power presence matters more than perfect words, and what high performance actually requires in real life.

You’ll hear Dre’s “Third Day” concept, the moment when the excitement wears off and the real work begins, plus five practical ways to build power presence immediately, without becoming a different person.

You’ll learn:

• Why leaders need power presence, not just smart ideas
• The “Third Day” decision that separates pros from amateurs
• What high performance requires, structure over motivation
• Why leadership means disappointing people at a rate they can accept
• 5 actionable ways to increase your presence fast

Get Dre’s book: The Third Day is free, you cover shipping at thirddaybook.com

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What do new managers actually need to learn first, before the meetings, the metrics, the awkward feedback conversations, and the pressure to “prove” they belong in the role?

In this episode, Christine is joined by crowd favorite Erica Petrelli-Bayh for a back-to-basics conversation on the fundamentals of managing humans, not just tasks. They revisit the core lessons from the Management 101 course they built years ago, and break down what makes the leap from individual contributor to leader so disorienting, and so fixable.

You’ll hear:

• the first non-negotiable for new managers (hint: it’s not “have all the answers”)
• the biggest shock when you go from doing great work to leading people who do the work
• the technical essentials that keep teams on target, and why “systems” matter more than any one tool
• how to run better one-on-ones and meetings by tending to time and energy
• how to give clear, kind feedback without avoiding it for six months
• how trust gets built quickly, using psychological safety as your compass

If you’ve recently stepped into management, or you’re promoting someone who has, this is your foundation episode.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

n this special episode of our Storytelling Summer Series, Christine Courtney unpacks one of the most underestimated leadership tools: the power of story. From a high-stakes Department of Education pitch to team-building icebreakers that actually work, Christine shares why storytelling isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a strategic skill every leader should master.

You’ll learn:

• Why storytelling is 22x more effective than data alone
• The four elements every impactful story needs
• How to bring stories into retreats, team meetings, and strategy sessions
• Easy ways to get started, even if you don’t think you’re “a storyteller”

Whether you’re planning a retreat or looking for fresh ways to deepen engagement, this episode will help you turn everyday moments into memorable leadership tools.

👉 Want to go deeper? Read our companion article on how to choose a retreat theme and thread story throughout.

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Planning a retreat or offsite? This episode kicks off our special series on how to design experiences that actually shift your team’s energy, connection, and clarity. Christine is joined by Greg Shamie to unpack the real ROI of offsites—what works, what doesn’t, and how to make the time (and money) worth it.

🔗 Want more? We’ve bundled the full retreat series—including companion articles from Christine, Tatiana, and Greg—into one powerful resource:

👉 Read the full Retreat Issue at ledevpartners.com/the-retreat-issue

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Culture by Design, Not Default: Leadership Lessons with Delise Simmons

What if your culture isn’t just an HR buzzword—but your organization’s most powerful performance lever?

In this conversation, I sit down with Delise Simmons—keynote speaker, culture strategist, and founder of Culture Think Tank—for a candid, energizing talk about the real drivers of great culture. From her early days shaping the Southwest Airlines ethos to launching JetBlue and building data-driven tools that measure emotional ROI, Delise brings the receipts.

And yes, she really did say:

👉 “You can’t spell culture without cult, baby.”

We explore:

• Why chasing employee happiness is a trap—and what to focus on instead
• How to measure culture as a behavioral phenomenon, not just vibes
• The top 3 things employees are begging leaders to do more of
• How Gen Z’s relationship with anxiety is changing leadership forever
• Why your values mean nothing without defined behaviors

Whether you lead a team of 3 or 3000, this episode is a masterclass in intentional leadership.

• Learn more about Culture Think Tank
• Connect with Delise Simmons on LinkedIn
• Check out our full Culture Series at ledevpartners.com/podcast

If you’re designing your offsite or planning your culture strategy—this episode is your blueprint.

💌 Subscribe for weekly insights and upcoming episodes that build on this conversation.

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