Stepping Into your Leadership

Meetings before meetings. Meetings that run over. Meetings where no one knows why they’re there.

Sound familiar?

Christine Courtney and Tom Armstrong take on one of the biggest frustrations in today’s workplace—ineffective meetings—and begin a practical, no-nonsense series on how to change them. Together, they explore what’s actually going wrong, from lack of clarity and leadership to overstuffed agendas and disengaged participants.

But this isn’t just a vent session. It’s a playbook.

Expect real strategies you can use immediately to:

• Lead meetings with clarity and purpose
• Keep conversations focused and on track
• Engage every voice in the room
• Build psychological safety without losing momentum

If you lead meetings—or sit in too many of them—this episode will change how you show up starting today.

What happens when efficiency goes up… but connection starts to slip?

In this episode, Christine sits down with Erica Petrelli-Bayh4 to explore one of the biggest tensions leaders are navigating right now: how to embrace AI and remote work without losing the human connection that actually drives trust, engagement, and performance.

They unpack what great leaders are doing differently in hybrid and AI-powered environments—and why connection can’t be left to chance anymore. From simple habits that strengthen relationships over screens, to the hidden risks of over-relying on AI in your communication, this conversation is both timely and deeply practical.

You’ll hear:

• Why connection now requires intention—not proximity
• The small habits that make a big difference in remote and hybrid teams
• How overusing AI can quietly erode trust and credibility
• What leaders can do to help their teams feel seen, heard, and valued
• Why the future of leadership is less about output—and more about presence

If you’re leading in a world that’s moving faster than ever, this episode is a reminder: the more advanced our tools become, the more human our leadership needs to be.

Most leaders spend hours perfecting their slides…

and almost no time practicing how they show up.

In this episode, Christine sits down with Greg Shamie, communications expert and Senior Director of People Development at Leadership Development Partners, to unpack what actually makes someone compelling in front of a room.

Because here’s the truth:

You can have the best content in the world and still lose your audience in the first 15 seconds.

Together, they explore what separates forgettable presentations from ones that truly move people, from energy and presence to connection and authenticity.

You’ll learn:

• Why the first 10–15 seconds determine everything
• The real reason nerves derail even experienced leaders
• How to shift from “delivering content” to creating an experience
• Simple techniques to build connection before you even start speaking
• The three qualities every great speaker embodies: commitment, connection, and authenticity

Christine and Greg also share real, unfiltered moments, from presentation mishaps to powerful recoveries, that prove you don’t need to be perfect to be impactful.

If you lead meetings, present ideas, or want to influence more effectively, this episode will change how you think about showing up.

Because leadership isn’t just what you say.

It’s how people feel when you say it.

What does it take to stand out as a leader when everyone has access to the same tools, the same information, and now, the same AI?

In this episode, Christine sits down with Scott Goodson, founder and chairman of Strawberry Frog, to explore how leaders build momentum, challenge average thinking, and create real differentiation inside organizations.

Scott shares the story behind his work in movement thinking and why the leaders who thrive are the ones willing to step outside their comfort zone, question groupthink, and speak with courage. Together, he and Christine unpack what it means to be a contrarian in the best sense, how to create cultures where bold ideas are welcomed, and why leadership today requires more than competence, it requires visibility, conviction, and a point of view.

This conversation is full of sharp insights for leaders who want to grow, influence culture, and avoid disappearing into sameness.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Why differentiation matters more than ever
• How leaders can challenge groupthink without creating chaos
• What psychological safety looks like in real life
• Why discomfort is often the doorway to growth
• How to delegate, let go, and help others rise
• What it means to be a peacock, not a duck

When you hear “team building,” do you immediately picture trust falls and ropes courses, then quietly try to escape the calendar invite?

In this episode, Christine is joined by her longtime facilitation partner Greg Shamie to break down what actually builds a strong team quickly, especially when you don’t have months to bond and “figure it out.” Whether you’re a new manager, a seasoned leader inheriting a team, or a principal pulling new staff together fast, this conversation gives you practical ways to create trust, clarify roles, and unlock real synergy in one to four weeks.

You’ll hear why leaders can’t sit this part out, how to create psychological safety fast (without forcing cringe), and the simple questions and team challenges that reveal strengths, friction points, and how people really operate under pressure. Plus, Greg shares a story about a CEO who kicked off a workshop with a “pop quiz” that instantly signaled, this matters here.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why “get to work” is often the fastest route to team dysfunction
• How to set the tone as a leader, no laptops, no half-presence
• A quick way to build psychological safety through play, challenge, and debrief
• The questions that surface what people value in a team, fast
• How to identify strengths, working styles, and pet peeves before they become conflict
• Why debriefing is the secret engine of continuous improvement

If you need your team to click quickly, this one’s your field guide

What makes a person, company, or idea truly unforgettable? In this episode, Christine sits down with Mark DiMassimo, founder and creative director of DiMassimo Goldstein, to explore how everyday leaders can build legendary brands by standing out with purpose, personality, and courage. Drawing on decades of experience in positive behavior change marketing, Mark shares stories from his own journey, lessons from iconic founders, and practical insights on what it really takes to capture attention and create lasting impact. This conversation is full of energy, wisdom, and a powerful reminder that blending in is not the path to meaningful leadership.

What really happens when a team understands how each person works best?

In this episode, Christine sits down with the three co-founders of The Menopause Monologues, Carrie Vanhouten, Lisa Anne Morrison, and Lulu Braunstein, for a live and very real conversation about collaboration, creative tension, and the invisible patterns that shape how teams function.

Using the Six Types of Working Genius, Christine walks them through where each person shines, where friction shows up, and why even strong partnerships can get stuck when people are working outside their natural strengths. What unfolds is part team coaching session, part leadership masterclass, and part honest conversation about what it takes to build something together.

You’ll hear how invention, discernment, galvanizing, enablement, and tenacity show up in real time, and why understanding those differences can change the way you lead, communicate, and collaborate.

Whether you work with a team, lead a partnership, or just want fewer unnecessary bumps in your relationships, this episode offers practical insight you can use right away.

In this episode, Christine explores:

• why some people generate ideas while others refine them
• how team friction often comes from style differences, not lack of commitment
• what happens when people skip key phases of collaboration
• why “working on your weaknesses” is not always the answer
• how to better match people to the kind of work that energizes them

If you’ve ever thought, “Why are we all committed and still driving each other a little nuts?” this one’s for you.

Include Show links: https://www.themenopausemonologues.org/tickets

Would you like to have your team get a working genius team profile on the podcast? Fill out this form: Working Genius: – Fill out form

In this episode of Stepping Into Your Leadership, Christine sits down with Toni Clayton-Hine, Chief Marketing Officer for EY Americas, to talk about what it really takes to lead at a high level in fast-moving, high-stakes environments. Toni shares how she balances creativity with data, why curiosity is one of the most valuable traits a leader can have, and how great ideas get stronger when more voices shape them. They also explore what younger professionals often miss about initiative, how theater and storytelling shaped Toni’s leadership style, and why AI should be seen as a tool for growth, not fear. It’s a thoughtful conversation about visibility, influence, adaptability, and how to keep a human touch in a world moving faster by the minute. 

What do you do when you notice the same old pattern in a meeting, the interruptions, the credit-swapping, the quiet expertise getting skipped?

In this episode, Christine sits down with Ali Mercier for a grounded conversation about leadership as active advocacy. Not big speeches. Not perfect language. Real moments where you decide to step in, use your voice, and shift the room.

Together, they unpack how leaders build trust by paying attention, naming what’s happening, and creating space for the people who are too often talked over or overlooked. You’ll leave with practical ways to intervene without hijacking the moment, and a better understanding of how culture changes one choice at a time.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• how to interrupt without escalating
• phrases that redirect attention back to the right person
• the difference between helping and performing
• how to use your influence responsibly, especially when you have more “room” in the room
• what accountability can look like after you realize you missed the mark

What can leaders learn from great bars?

A lot, actually.

In this episode, Christine sits down with Julie Reiner and Susan Fedroff to explore how welcoming spaces, strong culture, long-term team loyalty, and creative experimentation all shape an unforgettable experience. They talk about building neighborhood institutions in a big city, leading through change, adapting during the pandemic, and creating workplaces where people feel respected, heard, and inspired to grow.

Whether you lead a team, run a business, or want to create stronger experiences for the people you serve, this conversation offers practical leadership lessons with real heart.

Key themes

• Culture is something people feel
• Hospitality and leadership are both about belonging
• Long-term loyalty comes from respect, consistency, and ownership
• Innovation needs structure, not just inspiration
• Great leaders adapt without losing their core
• Experience design matters for both customers and teams