The Convenor

In this episode of The Convenor, Mark Harrison sits down with Demore Barnes, Associate Partner and Leadership Coach at Novus Global, acclaimed actor, and transformational coach to explore the moments that shape exceptional leadership. Drawing on his experience coaching executives, teams, and organizations, Demore reflects on the pivotal moment a trusted colleague called him forward, revealing a blind spot that became a catalyst for profound personal and professional growth. That experience helped him discover his unique superpower and transformed the way he leads, coaches, and connects with others. Together, Mark and Demore explore why meaningful growth begins with vulnerability, how powerful questions unlock lasting change, and what it takes to build trust with individuals and teams. They also discuss the challenges of coaching groups versus individuals, earning the trust of skeptics, and why authenticity and patience are essential for transformation. Whether you're leading an organization, managing a team, or striving to become a more intentional leader, this conversation offers practical insights into helping people unlock their potential and create a vision that Demore calls “a future that produces passion”.

We also talk about:

How discovering and harnessing your unique superpower transforms the way you lead. Why courageous, vulnerable questions create the biggest breakthroughs. The differences between coaching individuals and coaching teams. How to work with skeptics through authenticity, curiosity, and patience. Why lasting transformation can't be forced—it must be invited. Practical ways leaders can build trust and create environments where people feel safe to grow. How coaching moves people beyond performance to purpose, connection, and impact

If you've ever wondered what separates transformational leaders from transactional ones, this episode offers a powerful perspective on how self-awareness, courageous conversations, and genuine human connection unlock extraordinary potential.

About Demore Barnes

Demore Barnes is an Associate Partner and Leadership Coach at Novus Global, where he coaches executives, entrepreneurs, and leadership teams to unlock their highest potential. Before joining Novus, Demore built an acclaimed career as an award-winning actor, appearing in The Unit, Hemlock Grove, American Gods, and Law & Order: Toronto – Criminal Intent. Today, he combines the presence, curiosity, and emotional intelligence developed through acting with transformational coaching to help leaders navigate complexity, strengthen relationships, and lead with greater authenticity and impact.

Contact Demore by Email:

[email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/demore-barnes-cpcc-acc-84954627

Learn more about Novus Global Coaching: https://novus.global/

About The Convenor:

The Convenor is a podcast hosted by Mark Harrison featuring conversations with leaders, founders, creatives, and changemakers who share the ideas, experiences, and insights that inspire meaningful action. Whether you're launching a business, leading a team, building a movement, or looking to grow as a leader, each episode is designed to provide practical wisdom, fresh perspectives, and the confidence to take your next step. The Convenor is more than a podcast—it's a community built around curiosity, connection, and the belief that great conversations can open doors, challenge thinking, and help shape what's next. Ready to join the conversation worth convening? Subscribe and be part of the community.

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-convenor/ The Convenor Podcast is brought to you by MH3.

For more information, visit: http://www.theconvenor.com

In this episode of The Convenor, Mark Harrison sits down with Samantha Yarwood—a leadership facilitator, executive coach, and organizational change expert—to explore one of the most important questions every leader, team, and organization should ask:

What is your purpose?

Drawing on her work as a facilitator with THNK School of Leadership, Samantha shares why purpose must be more than just words and aligning teams takes serious practice. 

Together, Mark and Samantha unpack how individuals can define their own purpose, how organizations can align around a shared vision, and why the strongest cultures are built on values that are actively lived. Samantha's work focuses on the intersection of leadership, organizational strategy, and human behaviour, helping leaders and teams navigate complexity while creating meaningful, lasting change.

Whether you're leading a startup, a global organization, or simply looking to become a more intentional leader, this conversation offers practical insights into creating cultures where people and performance thrive together.

• Why purpose becomes even more important during times of uncertainty and change

• How personal purpose shapes stronger leadership

• The connection between values, culture, and sustained high performance

• Why defining company values is only the beginning—and how organizations must change behaviours, decision-making, and accountability to truly bring those values to life

• Lessons from companies like Patagonia and Unilever, who have demonstrated that prioritizing people, purpose, and the planet can also create resilient, high-performing businesses

• Why healthy, successful teams shouldn't wait for a crisis before investing in leadership and culture

• How organizations without obvious challenges can continue growing by intentionally stretching themselves, challenging assumptions, and raising the bar for performance

• Practical ways leaders can create alignment across teams while maintaining trust, innovation, and accountability

If you've ever wondered how great organizations consistently outperform others—not just financially, but culturally—this episode offers a roadmap for leading with greater intention.

About Samantha Yarwood

Samantha Yarwood is a facilitator, coach, consultant, and speaker specializing in leadership development, organizational strategy, and human behaviour. Through her work with THNK School of Leadership, she helps leaders and organizations navigate complexity, build stronger cultures, and create positive impact through purpose-driven leadership.

Follow Samantha:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthayarwood

Learn more about THNK School of Leadership:

 https://www.thnk.org/community/people/samantha-yarwood/ 

About The Convenor

The Convenor is a podcast hosted by Mark Harrison featuring conversations with leaders, founders, creatives, and changemakers who share the ideas, experiences, and insights that inspire meaningful action.

Whether you're launching a business, leading a team, building a movement, or looking to grow as a leader, each episode is designed to provide practical wisdom, fresh perspectives, and the confidence to take your next step.

The Convenor is more than a podcast—it's a community built around curiosity, connection, and the belief that great conversations can open doors, challenge thinking, and help shape what's next.

Ready to join the conversation worth convening? Subscribe and be part of the community.

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-convenor/ 

The Convenor Podcast is brought to you by MH3. For more information, visit: 

http://www.theconvenor.com

I should entitle this "Welcome to The Convenor Podcast," because this is only one part of a new platform I am creating.

The Convenor, as a platform and podcast, will be a place where I host conversations that provide inspiration and

information for your next major initiative. Whether you are launching a new business, starting a new role, building a

movement, writing a book, or simply want to sharpen your skills and acumen, we want to be a resource where you can find

someone in our ecosystem who can lend a hand, share data, open a door, and provide a jolt of confidence. I am designing it

to be as much a place I help support as one I leverage. It is a place for the types of people who inspire and inform me. A

place for sharing.

The Convenor will also be a place for people I like, admire, and respect. I hope it will be a place where I get to know more

people who possess those qualities. I hope it will be a place that does the same for you.

Consider this first episode of The Convenor as an extended play trailer. It is longer than a preview, but not an episode in

itself. It is a provocation to get you to become part of the discussion as a listener, a contributor, and a genuine stakeholder.

This first episode is also a request for feedback to feed the response loop and help curate a better experience for you.

Ready to join the conversation worth Convening?