Leadership doesn’t fail because of a lack of strategy — it fails when leaders lose clarity, ownership, and focus.

In this episode of The Change Agent, Eric sits down with Dr. Kevin Mays, a transformative leadership coach, speaker, and author whose work centres on one core belief: true leadership begins with self-leadership.

Dr. Mays shares what he sees behind the scenes when business owners and leaders feel stuck, overwhelmed, or stretched too thin — and why the real problems are often internal before they’re organisational. Drawing from his 5-Step Business Ascent process and personal leadership journey, Dr. Mays breaks down what effective leadership actually looks like in day-to-day life, not just in theory.

This conversation challenges leaders to stop managing symptoms and start leading with intention — building clarity, accountability, and healthier team cultures from the inside out.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• The most common leadership problem holding organisations back today
• Why feeling “overwhelmed” is often a symptom — not the root cause
• Which step of the 5-Step Business Ascent process leaders struggle with most
• What self-leadership looks like in real, everyday decisions
• A pivotal lesson from Dr. Mays’ own leadership journey
• How leaders can regain focus when pulled in too many directions
• A common mistake leaders make when trying to grow their business or team
• What separates coachable leaders from those who stay stuck
• One small change that can have an immediate impact on your leadership
• Where leaders often go wrong when building team culture — and how to fix it

Key Takeaway

Leadership isn’t about doing more — it’s about leading better.
When leaders take responsibility for their own clarity, behaviour, and growth, teams and organisations follow.

About the Guest: Dr. Kevin Mays

Dr. Kevin Mays is a leadership coach, speaker, and author dedicated to helping leaders and organisations move beyond survival and into sustainable growth. Through his coaching and frameworks, including the 5-Step Business Ascent process, Dr. Mays helps leaders strengthen self-leadership, build clarity, and create environments where people and businesses can thrive.

About the Podcast

The Change Agent is a podcast for leaders who refuse to stay comfortable.
Each episode challenges how leadership is practiced — focusing on accountability, motivation, professional growth, and leading when it actually matters.

Links

https://www.upgradeyourleadership.com

https://www.maysleadership.com

https://www.kalyna-vision.com

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In this episode of The Change Agent, host Eric Adams sits down with Sophia Klewer, Chief Operating Officer of PREVENCY®, a fast-growing European startup specialising in digital resilience and crisis management.

Sophia shares her deep expertise from working with international businesses, defence clients, and public sector organisations, helping them navigate cyber threats, disinformation, and organisational crises. Together, Eric and Sophia explore how to define a crisis, why effective management is essential, and how leaders can adapt their strategies to different stakeholders’ needs when chaos strikes.

From decision-making under pressure to lessons learned through real-world challenges, this conversation offers practical insights for leaders who want to build resilience in their teams and organisations.

🎯 Key Topics:

• Why crisis management is vital to leadership and organisational success
• Tailoring response strategies for different stakeholders
• Tools and techniques for effective crisis handling
• Lessons learned from mistakes and real-world experiences
• Advice for leaders preparing for their next crisis

📚 About Sophia:
Sophia Klewer is COO of PREVENCY® and a lecturer in Digital Crisis Management at the Leipzig School of Media. She is also the author of “From Chaos to Clarity: Effective Decision-Making During Crises.”

🎧 Available on Buzzsprout, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

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Closing with Purpose: Finishing Well and Delivering Lasting Value

Every project begins with energy and ambition — but how it ends defines its true success. In this season finale, we explore the often-overlooked art of project closure through the lens of the PMI framework and real-world leadership practice.

From validating deliverables and celebrating achievements to applying lessons learned and sustaining value long after the final report, this episode dives deep into what it means to finish well. You’ll learn how great leaders turn closure into transformation — ensuring that every project leaves behind not just results, but resilience, culture, and continuity.

Whether you’re a project manager, a team lead, or simply someone guiding change, this conversation will help you close your next chapter with purpose — and prepare for the next one with clarity.

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In this episode of The Change Agent, we explore how new project managers can track the initial performance of their programs without getting lost in complex formulas. Drawing on practical experience in program management, risk, and efficiency measurement, we break down how to recognize early signs of underperformance or overperformance, what those signals mean, and how to take corrective action. Listeners will gain simple tools to monitor project health, communicate trends to stakeholders, and build credibility from day one. Whether you are leading your first project or refining your skills, this episode will help you approach performance tracking with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

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Generations don’t just mark time—they shape the way we lead, work, and imagine the future. Today’s workplaces bring together Gen X pragmatism, Millennial collaboration, and Gen Z’s bold digital fluency, often in the same meeting room. The result? A fascinating mix of perspectives that can either create tension or drive innovation. In this episode of The Change Agent, we explore how leadership looks through the lens of each generation, the shifting definitions of work ethic, and what happens when experience meets fresh ideas in real time.

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In this special episode of The Change Agent, Eric sits down with Tonya Bulgakova for the show’s first-ever interview and video podcast. Tonya shares her remarkable journey of moving countries, stepping into new leadership roles, and learning to adapt across cultures and organizations. Together, they explore how relocation shaped her management style, the challenges she faced—from language barriers to balancing family and career—and the ways she built credibility and trust in a new environment. Tonya also reflects on the freedoms and responsibilities of leadership, how her goals have evolved, and what it truly takes to influence team climate and success. This conversation is packed with lessons on resilience, empathy, and growth for anyone navigating leadership in today’s changing world.

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In Episode 10 of The Change Agent, Eric explores how to set the right rhythm as you step into project management or leadership. From establishing a steady cadence of communication to aligning people, processes, and tools, this episode shows how rhythm brings clarity, accountability, and predictability to your team. Highlights include building trust through consistent leadership, practicing clear and empathetic communication, and focusing on execution without micromanaging. Whether you’re leading your first project or refining your leadership style, this episode will help you create a rhythm that keeps your team aligned, motivated, and moving forward.

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In Episode 9, Season 2 of The Change Agent, your host Eric explores how to keep your project aligned, focused, and adaptable during the execution phase. Learn how to monitor what matters, manage change without chaos, and lead your team and stakeholders through uncertainty with clarity and confidence. If you’re in the thick of project delivery, this episode gives you the tools to stay in control and deliver value in real time.

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In Episode 8 of The Change Agent, host Eric dives into the Execution phase of the project life cycle—where plans meet reality and leadership is tested. Learn how to guide your team with clarity, protect project scope, keep stakeholders engaged, and deliver true value. This episode is packed with practical advice for staying focused, adaptable, and resilient as you move from strategy to action. If you’re in the thick of project delivery or preparing to lead your next big initiative, this episode will help you lead with confidence and purpose.

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In Episode 7 of Season 2 of The Change Agent, we dive into what happens after a project is initiated—guiding new project managers through their next critical step: planning for execution. Building on the foundation laid during initiation, this episode explores how to translate a project’s vision into a clear, actionable roadmap. Eric breaks down the essential planning activities, including defining scope, building schedules, estimating costs, engaging stakeholders, tailoring your project approach, and preparing your team for success. Whether you're managing your first project or refining your leadership style, this episode gives you the clarity and confidence to lead the planning phase with purpose and precision.

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