The extra-Ordinary Leader with Dolly Wainwright

In this episode of The extra-Ordinary Leader, I sit down with Laura G. Patac, Strengths Coach, creator of Strengths Velocity Lab™, and author of Stories with Purpose. With over 20 years as a corporate executive across five continents, Laura brings a wealth of wisdom on what it really takes to thrive as a leader.

We explore the difference between success and impact, why presence and influence matter as much as results, and how leaders can use storytelling to unlock connection, energy, and purpose. Laura shares her own journey from mathematician to corporate leader to poet and entrepreneur – and why tapping into your strengths is the key to sustainable leadership.

Inside this conversation, Laura also guides me through a live storytelling exercise that uncovered powerful new reflections on resilience, surrender, and authenticity in leadership.

If you’ve ever felt stuck behind results alone or struggled to articulate your leadership presence, this episode will give you practical tools and deep inspiration.

You can connect with Laura on LinkedIn and find her book, Stories with Purpose, on Amazon

Inside This Episode

• Laura’s global corporate journey and why she chose to pivot into coaching and poetry
• Why results alone aren’t enough – the importance of presence, impact, and influence
• How leaders can use storytelling as a practical skill to build trust and connection
• The energy shift that happens when you work in your strengths rather than your weaknesses
• A simple but powerful exercise to discover the difference between capability and natural talent
• How storytelling frameworks can be applied to leadership challenges and feedback conversations
• Laura’s insights on resilience, surrender, and authenticity – and my own personal reflections during our live exercise

If this episode resonates with you, reach out at [email protected]. I work with executives and teams to unlock their strengths, harness the power of storytelling, and build the presence and impact that leadership today demands. Together we can create lasting energy, connection, and cultures that thrive.

My book The extra-Ordinary Leader is available now: https://www.dollywaddell.com/store/p/the-extra-ordinary-leader

Welcome to another Dolly in My Pocket — the short solo series within The extra-Ordinary Leader podcast, designed to offer pithy, practical leadership insights to carry into your week.

This episode is about quitting — but not in the way you think.

I'm not talking about giving up alcohol or bad habits. I’m talking about something far more radical: quitting the automatic “yeses” and inherited “nos” that shape how we spend our time, attention, and energy.

I unpack a powerful idea: every time you say yes to something, you’re saying no to something else — and vice versa. This matters. Because if you're constantly saying yes to what’s familiar, you may be unintentionally saying no to the future you actually want.

I also share one of my favourite quotes by Augustine of Hippo, the myth of Prince Charming, and what happened when I started saying “no” to Wednesdays.

If you're hoping this year will turn out differently, this is the episode that reminds you: hope isn't a strategy. Quitting the right things is.

The extra-Ordinary Leader book is out now. Buy it here: https://www.dollywaddell.com/store/p/the-extra-ordinary-leader

For strategy, speaking or consultancy enquiries: [email protected]

If you're new to the podcast, The extra-Ordinary Leader is all about what it takes to lead with more clarity, energy, and purpose — whether in business, at home, or in yourself. Browse the back catalogue and take what you need.

In this episode of The extra-Ordinary Leader, I sit down with Thor Olafsson, Founder & CEO of Strategic Leadership Group and author of Beyond Ego. Thor has built and led multiple businesses and now works globally with leaders to integrate strategy and people in a way that creates true, sustainable growth.

We explore the nine ego types that can both empower and undermine leadership, and how self-awareness is the game-changing factor in modern leadership. Thor and I discuss why self-image, defensiveness, and fear-based behaviour so often sabotage leaders—and what it takes to move beyond ego to lead with clarity, authenticity, and impact.

We also unpack why leadership development has become a non-negotiable investment in today’s organisations, and how the war for talent means leaders must change their mindset to ensure they attract, retain, and inspire the very best people.

This conversation is both practical and transformative, and it will make you reflect on your own patterns, your shadow sides, and how you can step into being a less fear-driven, more purpose-led leader.

Inside This Episode:

• Thor’s definition of ego and why it matters in business.
• How to tell if you’re being decisive or simply defensive.
• The nine ego types—how they show up and what their shadow sides cost organisations.
• Why self-awareness is now a critical leadership skill.
• The link between transparency, access to information, and leadership.
• The real cost of not investing in leadership development.
• How to begin walking the path to a more self-aware, purpose-led leadership.

If this episode sparks something in you, reach out at [email protected]. I coach executives and teams on these very challenges, helping you uncover your ego triggers, transform your leadership, and create cultures that thrive.

My book The extra-Ordinary Leader is available now: https://www.dollywaddell.com/store/p/the-extra-ordinary-leader

🔗 Find Thor’s book Beyond Ego here: https://beyondego.com/
🔗 Strategic Leadership Group: https://strategicleaders.com/

Welcome back to Dolly in My Pocket — a short solo series from The extra-Ordinary Leader podcast, created to give you practical, mindset-shifting reflections that fit into even the busiest week.

In this episode, I talk about something I call changing the rules — and no, not the legal ones. I’m talking about the unconscious, unspoken rules we live by without even realising. Things like “I should always be nice”, “I can’t interrupt”, “This is just the way I am” — all the fixed ideas that silently dictate how we behave, lead, communicate, and show up.

I share a story about learning to play rugby for the first time (spoiler: I didn’t love it at first!) — and what that experience taught me about resistance, fixed mindsets, and how our “rules” can hold us back from something better.

If you’ve ever rolled your eyes at a new idea or written something off before giving it a chance, this one’s for you.

And if you're new to the podcast, The extra-Ordinary Leader is all about what it takes to lead with more clarity, energy, and purpose — whether in business, at home, or in yourself. Browse the back catalogue and take what you need.

In this week’s episode of The extra-Ordinary Leader, I’m joined by my friend and powerhouse leader Becky Barsellotti—Managing Partner at GiANT London and the brilliant mind behind Alive, a seven-step process for creating a life by design, not by accident.

Becky was one of the earliest catalysts in my own leadership journey. From the moment I met her, I knew she had that rare gift of unlocking people on the spot—and she did just that for me.

In this conversation, we explore why leadership today demands a deeper level of self-awareness, courage, and personal audit. We talk about how journaling can become a leadership tool, the real risk of staying on autopilot, and why businesses don’t need more cogs—they need humans who are fully alive. Becky also introduces her concept of the “seven summits” that define a meaningful life, and shares how this process is transforming teams and individuals alike.

This one is full of practical wisdom and life-defining questions. Whether you're leading a team or leading yourself, this episode will move the dial on how intentionally you live and lead.

To find out more about Becky’s Alive cohorts or to bring this work into your team, visit https://www.instagram.com/the.alive.collective/

To explore how I can bring energy, urgency, and transformational coaching into your leadership culture, email me directly at [email protected]

INSIDE THIS EPISODE

• What it means to live by design, not by accident
• The Alive framework: seven summits of a meaningful life
• Why journaling is a leadership tool—not a luxury
• How to reframe rest and create your own "recharge rhythm"
• Fear-flossing: a daily mindset practice for leaders
• How businesses can unlock people’s potential through intention
• What stops people from living lives they’re proud of
• Why now, more than ever, leaders must choose intentionality

This conversation ties closely into the themes in my book The extra-Ordinary Leader—especially the chapter on the “Mirror Moment.” 

If you’ve not yet grabbed your copy, take a look here: https://www.dollywaddell.com/store/p/the-extra-ordinary-leader

Welcome to the first ever episode of Dolly in My Pocket — a new solo series within The extra-Ordinary Leader podcast.

Each short episode is designed to offer a moment of pause: a thought, a reflection, a challenge you can carry into your day. These are not fluffy motivational quotes — they’re grounded insights that have shaped the way I lead, live, and support others to do the same.

If you’re new to the podcast, The extra-Ordinary Leader is a space where I explore what it really takes to show up as a modern leader — whether that’s in business, in the home, or in your own personal growth. Past episodes include honest conversations with senior leaders, practical tools for performance, and mindset shifts to move you through your own glass ceilings. If you want more impact, clarity, and energy, you’ll find something here for you.

In this Dolly in My Pocket episode, I start with one of my favourite quotes from Brené Brown and explore the concept of the mirror moment: a pause in time where you stop and really see yourself — beyond the emails, the roles you play, and the face in the mirror. I share my own moment of reckoning from six years ago, when I realised I’d buried the ambitious, purposeful part of myself under the noise of life. That moment became the starting point for the business I now run and the work I do every day.

If you’re feeling off-track or just a little disconnected, this episode might be the nudge you need.

And if it sparks something, I’d love for you to explore the wider podcast — there’s a whole back catalogue of wisdom waiting for you.

The extra-Ordinary Leader book is out now. Buy it here: https://www.dollywaddell.com/store/p/the-extra-ordinary-leader

For strategy, speaking or consultancy enquiries: [email protected]

Kicking off Series 4, I’m joined by the brilliant Chris Hirst – former Global CEO, speaker, and author of the bestselling No Bullsh*t series, including his latest release, Indispensable. This is a practical, powerful conversation about real leadership – not just the talking and thinking, but the doing.

We explore what it means to take your space and authority as a leader, how to build indivisibly tight teams, and why culture is not a soft word – it’s your strategy.

Chris shares openly about the inflexion point in his own career, how he turned around a business once called "unfixable," and the questions every leader needs to ask if they want their teams – and careers – to thrive.

This one’s meaty. Bring a pencil (a sharpened one) and get stuck in.

Inside This Episode

• Why leadership starts with doing – not just talking and thinking
• The sharpened pencil metaphor for action and momentum
• How Chris turned around a failing company (that had been written off)
• The equation: Leadership Impact = Clarity × Action
• What leaders often misunderstand about culture
• How to build indivisibly tight teams
• Why teamship – not just individual talent – drives performance
• The Schwerpunkt principle: where to focus your energy for maximum impact
• The three layers of belief every high-performing team needs
• The vital (and often missing) conversations in hybrid teams

Want to work with me to build extra-Ordinary cultures in your business? Get in touch: https://www.dollywaddell.com

Chris Hirst’s Website: https://chris-hirst.com/

No Bullsh*t Leadership: Amazon UK

No Bullsh*t Change: Amazon UK

Indispensable – A No Bullsh*t Guide to Career Success: Amazon UK

Don’t forget to grab a copy of my book extra-Ordinary Leaders, for more practical insight into becoming the kind of leader people want to follow.

Welcome to Series 4 of The extra-Ordinary Leader. In this launch episode, I take a moment to define what I mean by “extra-Ordinary leadership.” It’s not about being grandiose or exceptional in the traditional sense—it’s about adding extra to the ordinary parts of your leadership, life, and career.

I open up about my own inflexion point—moving from a full-time stay-at-home mum and vicar’s wife to running my own consultancy, working with senior leaders and organisations across sectors. I share how this journey has shaped my mission: to help people access and borrow the "extras" from others so they can show up more powerfully in their own spaces.

In this season, we’ll hear from a range of brilliant leaders about their own inflexion points—the turning points that reshaped their leadership and lives. You’ll also hear shorter solo episodes, ‘Dolly in My Pocket’, where I pull bite-sized insights from my book The extra-Ordinary Leader.

If you want to think differently, lead courageously, and navigate your own inflexion points with clarity, this season is for you.

The extra-Ordinary Leader book is out now. Buy it here: https://www.dollywaddell.com/store/p/the-extra-ordinary-leader

For strategy, speaking or consultancy enquiries: [email protected]

www.dollywaddell.com

As we wrap up Season 3 of The extra-Ordinary Leader, I wanted to pull together the most transformational threads from this series—ideas and insights that have helped me grow as a leader and that I believe can do the same for you.

This episode explores how we can move from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset in leadership, the power of pausing, mastering stress, building self-awareness, and the paradox of holding authority and authenticity in tandem. You’ll hear highlights from brilliant guests including Helen Brocklebank, Gareth Anderson, Cathy O’Dowd, Russell Harvey, Noa Maxwell and Dan Maudhub. I also share personal reflections and leadership tools you can begin using today to become the kind of leader others want to follow.

If you’ve been wondering how to add something extra to your everyday leadership, this episode is for you.

Inside This Episode

• How to spot and shift a fixed mindset in yourself or others
• Why conversations are the gateway to growth
• A powerful analogy for measuring failure in teams
• What cognitive overload is doing to your performance
• The link between stress mastery and great decision-making
• A practical team exercise using just Post-its
• The difference between knowing your stress habits vs. true self-awareness
• Why authority isn’t a dirty word when grounded in good character
• How simple questions can transform team performance

Listen to the full episodes mentioned:

S3 10: Legacy and Craft: Walpole's Helen Brocklebank on the Mindset of extra-Ordinary Leadership

S3 07: Culture doesn't just happen. Here's how to create it | with Gareth Anderson

S3 09: Mountains, Mindsets and Mastery: The Small Steps of an extra-Ordinary Life with Cathy O'Dowd

S3 01: How To Be A Resilient Leader With Russell Harvey

S3 03: How To Tell a Business Story | with Noa Maxwell

S3 04: Balancing Creativity, Trust, and Leadership | with Dan Maudhub

Don’t forget to grab a copy of my book extra-Ordinary Leaders, for more practical insight into becoming the kind of leader people want to follow.

This week I’m joined by Tanya Gallagher, MD and founder of Limitless Leadership, an award-winning leadership development consultancy. Tanya brings a wealth of wisdom to the space of leadership development, and what stood out to me most in our conversation is just how practical and human her definition of extra-Ordinary leadership is.

We dig into the difference between good, bad, and terrible leadership, and what it really means to take ownership. It’s a conversation that will shift how you see your role as a leader. We discuss psychological safety, promotion dynamics, and the underrated power of what Tanya calls “contracting conversations”—those small yet powerful exchanges that can transform working relationships.

If you've ever avoided a conversation because it felt awkward, if you’ve ever felt resentment building under the surface, or if you're leading people without ever asking what they need from you, this episode is for you.

🔗 Connect with Tanya: https://www.limitless-ltd.com/

Inside The Episode:

• What it really means to “go beyond” as an extra-Ordinary leader
• How to spot bad and even terrible leadership (in yourself too)
• Why avoidance is the silent killer of team culture
• How to lead when you’ve been promoted within your peer group
• The art of the “contracting conversation”—and why it’s essential
• Why leadership is often hidden, unglamorous, and deeply human
• Coaching advice for leaders who’ve never had difficult conversations
• Creating urgency around what’s truly important in leadership
• How to rewire your mindset around responsibility, communication and growth

If this episode sparked something in you—if you’re realising there’s a new standard of leadership you want to step into—get in touch. I partner with leaders to help them go again and again. New mindset. New behaviours. Real results.

Start your journey here: https://www.dollywaddell.com

Don’t forget to grab a copy of my book extra-Ordinary Leaders, for more practical insight into becoming the kind of leader people want to follow.