What does it really take to lead when the pressure isn’t just professional… but personal?

In this episode of the Power in Excellence Podcast, Dr John sits down with Shivana Laughlin, CEO of International Shipping Limited in Trinidad and Tobago, for a candid conversation about leadership in one of the most demanding environments imaginable.

This isn’t just a story about business.

It’s a story about legacy.

Shivana leads a company founded by her parents—stepping into a role shaped by history, expectation, and responsibility. But beyond that, she operates in a global industry where perception matters, and where assumptions about small Caribbean nations can quietly shape opportunity.

And layered on top of it all…
the often unspoken reality of being a young female CEO, navigating bias, credibility, and influence in rooms where judgement can form before a single word is spoken.

In this conversation, we explore:

• What it really means to run a family business—and the pressures that come with it
• How bias shows up in global business (and how to handle it without losing authority)
• The psychology of credibility, perception, and power
• How leaders maintain control when so much is outside of it
• And how to carry legacy… while still building something that is distinctly your own

This is a conversation about leadership beyond the surface.

About the unseen dynamics shaping every interaction.
And about what it takes to lead with clarity, composure, and conviction—when the stakes are high.

Listen now and discover what power really looks like in practice.

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Dr John McMahon is a Leadership Psychologist and Executive Coach. He holds a PhD in Management Psychology, and MBA. He has worked with senior leaders, boards, founders, and executive teams across industries and continents.

WhatsApp +44 7860 625551 for more information or to enquire about working with Dr John