The Leadership Heart Podcast

Where bold innovation meets conscious leadership.

In this episode of The Leadership Heart Podcast, Sandra J. Horton welcomes David Woods Bartley for a conversation about Life Preservation: How Human Connection Creates Hope.

David Woods Bartley | International Speaker • Mental Health Advocate • Founder of the Life Preservation Movement

• Self-Awareness — how lived experience shapes the way we see ourselves, connect with others, and show up as leaders.
• Change Readiness — what leaders need to understand about supporting people through struggle, uncertainty, and significant change.
• Psychological Safety — creating environments where people feel safe enough to speak, connect, ask for help, and be human.
• Human Connection — why connection, compassion, and hope matter even more as AI and accelerating change reshape how we work and lead.
• Sustainable Impact — the relationship between self-care, resilience, leadership responsibility, and our capacity to support others over time.
• Leading Forward — what leadership from the heart asks of us now, and why preserving our humanity may be one of the most important responsibilities of leadership.

About David Woods Bartley, David Woods Bartley | International Speaker • Mental Health Advocate • Founder of the Life Preservation Movement

David Woods Bartley is a three-time TEDx speaker, award-winning international mental health advocate, and suicide-attempt survivor who has delivered more than 1,000 presentations worldwide. Through his deeply personal journey from mental "hellness" to mental wellness, David is leading a revolutionary movement to replace reactive suicide prevention with proactive Life Preservation, the latter grounded in his belief that human connection creates hope, and hope preserves lives.

Connect with LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-woods-bartley-96325512/ Website: https://www.davidwoodsbartley.com/

Connect with Sandra J. Horton

Sandra J. Horton is a Global Leadership and Change Strategist and host of The Leadership Heart Podcast.

www.thepresencelab.ca

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Closing positioning

Leadership is no longer simply about performance. It is about how we understand ourselves, navigate change, and create sustainable impact in an increasingly complex world.

Through Self Discovery, Change Readiness, and Sustainable Impact, The Leadership Heart Podcast explores the conversations shaping how we lead, live, and create impact.

The Leadership Heart Podcast is where bold innovation meets conscious leadership.

Hosted by Sandra J. Horton, this podcast explores what it truly means to lead with humanity, emotional intelligence, courage, and sustainable impact in a rapidly evolving world shaped by complexity, transformation, and change.

In this episode, Sandra is joined by Chuki Obiyo for a thought-provoking conversation on leadership, presence, influence, emotional intelligence, and the power of human connection in an increasingly AI-driven world.

Drawing on more than two decades of experience in business development, leadership, and coaching, Chuki shares insights on building trust, cultivating authentic relationships, and helping leaders transform emotional intelligence into meaningful personal and professional growth.

Together, they explore how influence is built not through titles or authority, but through authenticity, presence, trust, and the ability to create lasting value through human connection.

In this episode, we explore:

• The connection between authenticity, presence, and influence • Emotional intelligence as a leadership advantage • Building trust in an increasingly transactional world • Human connection in the age of AI • Leadership growth, visibility, and confidence • Relationship-centered leadership and sustainable success • Creating meaningful impact beyond traditional measures of success

This conversation invites leaders to reflect more deeply on how they lead, influence, and create impact while remaining aligned with purpose, humanity, and values.

About the Guest

Chuki Obiyo has practiced the art and science of business development for more than 20 years. He is the Chief Business Development Officer at Vedder Price and also serves the Next Step CFO Business Coach Academy. He helps leaders transform emotional intelligence into measurable business growth. From his humble beginnings in Nigeria to coaching professionals globally, he teaches how the right equations and emotions can turn relationships into revenue in today's AI-driven world.

Chuki is a graduate of Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law and The University of Texas at Austin.

Connect with Chuki Obiyo

Website: www.chukiobiyo.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chukiobiyo/

Connect with Sandra J. Horton

Website: https://www.activatesuccessedge.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandrajhorton/

Leadership is no longer just about performance.

It is about presence, emotional intelligence, trust, and the ability to create meaningful human connection in a rapidly changing world.

#LeadershipHeartPodcast #Leadership #EmotionalIntelligence #LeadershipDevelopment #Trust #Influence #BusinessDevelopment #HumanCenteredLeadership #AI #ConsciousLeadership

The Leadership Heart Podcast is where bold innovation meets conscious leadership.

Hosted by Sandra J. Horton, this podcast explores what it truly means to lead with humanity, emotional intelligence, courage, and sustainable impact in a rapidly evolving world shaped by complexity, transformation, and AI.

In this episode, Sandra is joined by Sheazin Premji for a powerful conversation on healthcare transformation, AI adaptation, leadership, and the critical importance of integrating humanity into innovation and systems change.

As organizations accelerate digital transformation and AI integration, leaders are being called to think beyond technology alone and consider how intelligence, empathy, ethics, and human connection must evolve together.

In this episode, we explore:

• The difference between AI adoption and AI adaptation • Human-centered leadership in healthcare transformation • Emotional intelligence and leadership during complexity and change • Integrating innovation with empathy and human connection • Organizational readiness for AI-driven transformation • Empowerment, sustainability, and the future of leadership in healthcare

This conversation offers a thoughtful exploration of how leaders can navigate rapid technological advancement while remaining grounded in humanity, conscious leadership, and sustainable transformation.

Sheazin Premji is a transformation-focused leader passionate about healthcare innovation, AI adaptation, human-centered leadership, and organizational transformation. Her work focuses on helping organizations navigate complexity and change while ensuring people, purpose, and humanity remain at the center of transformation.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheazin-premji/

Website: https://www.activatesuccessedge.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandrajhorton/

Leadership is no longer just about performance. It is about presence, humanity, emotional intelligence, and the courage to lead conscious transformation.

#LeadershipHeartPodcast #AI #HealthcareLeadership #Transformation #ConsciousLeadership #HumanCenteredLeadership #Innovation #FutureOfLeadership

The Leadership Heart Podcast is where bold innovation meets Conscious leadership.

Hosted by Sandra J. Horton, this podcast explores what it truly means to lead with humanity, emotional intelligence, courage, and sustainable impact in a rapidly evolving world shaped by complexity, transformation, and AI.

In this episode of The Leadership Heart Podcast, Sandra J. Horton sits down with strategist, transformation leader, and organizational systems thinker Vangelis Kalogirou for a deeply personal conversation about identity, self discovery, leadership, and the hidden intelligence that shapes our lives.

Drawing from his own experiences of adoption, belonging, personal transformation, and self awareness, Vangelis shares the journey that led him from living through conditioned beliefs and expectations to discovering a more authentic relationship with himself.

This conversation explores the connection between leadership, human development, and conscious awareness, while offering a thought-provoking perspective on how the same principles apply to artificial intelligence and organizational transformation.

This conversation challenges leaders to think beyond technology alone and consider how leadership, culture, systems, and human connection must evolve together.

Vangelis Kalogirou is a strategic advisor and thought leader focused on organizational intelligence, systems thinking, AI, and transformation. His work explores how organizations can better navigate complexity, innovation, and change through more adaptive, human-centered leadership approaches.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodney-guenther/

Website: https://www.activatesuccessedge.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandrajhorton/

Leadership is no longer just about performance. It is about presence, humanity, emotional intelligence, and the courage to lead conscious transformation.

#LeadershipHeartPodcast #AI #Leadership #ConsciousLeadership #OrganizationalIntelligence #SystemsThinking #Transformation #HumanCenteredLeadership #FutureOfLeadership

The Leadership Heart Podcast is where bold innovation meets conscious leadership.

Hosted by Sandra J. Horton, this podcast explores what it truly means to lead with humanity, emotional intelligence, courage, and sustainable impact in a rapidly evolving world shaped by complexity, transformation, and AI.

In this episode, Sandra is joined by T'Juana Albert for a powerful conversation on leadership, identity, resilience, and the courage to lead beyond performance.

With over 25 years of leadership experience across legal operations, business integration, AI adoption, and global technology organizations, T'Juana brings a deeply human perspective to what it means to lead with authenticity while navigating high-performance environments.

Together, Sandra and T'Juana explore:

• The difference between performing leadership and embodying leadership • Identity, resilience, and navigating personal transformation • Human-centered leadership in the age of AI and rapid change • Emotional intelligence, grace, and sustainable leadership • The hidden cost of success and leadership pressure • Why authenticity is becoming a leadership advantage

This conversation is honest, reflective, and deeply relevant for leaders navigating complexity while striving to remain connected to who they truly are.

T'Juana Albert is a seasoned executive with more than 25 years of leadership experience spanning legal operations, business integration, AI adoption, internal audit, and operational leadership within global technology organizations.

She currently serves as Vice President of Business Integration & Assurance at GumGum, where she leads international teams through complex organizational transformation and integration initiatives.

T'Juana is also the author of Suits & Pajamas: A Memoir of Grace, Grit, and Becoming, a powerful reflection on leadership, identity, and the journey toward showing up fully and authentically in both life and leadership.

She has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Digiday, CEO Weekly, and C-Suite Magazine.

✔ Leadership beyond performance ✔ Human-centered leadership in high-pressure environments ✔ Emotional intelligence and resilience ✔ Identity, transformation, and authenticity ✔ Sustainable leadership and personal alignment ✔ Leading with grace through change

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teejalbert/

Website: www.activatesuccessedge.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-j-horton

Spotify: The Leadership Heart Podcast on Spotify

Leadership is no longer just about performance.

The Leadership Heart Podcast is where bold innovation meets conscious leadership. Hosted by Sandra J. Horton, this podcast explores the human side of leading in a rapidly changing world where emotional intelligence, sustainable leadership, and meaningful impact matter more than ever.

In this episode, Sandra is joined by Keyonna Taylor, Customer Success Strategist, speaker, and CEO of Key Focus Group, for a thoughtful conversation on visibility, presence, authentic influence, and building meaningful relationships in today's evolving professional landscape.

Together, they explore:

• Self Discovery — understanding identity, confidence, and the importance of leading from authenticity rather than performance

• Change Readiness — navigating visibility, professional evolution, and relationship-building in rapidly changing environments

• Sustainable Impact — creating meaningful influence, fostering community, and leading with intentionality and connection

This conversation explores the importance of leadership presence, human connection, and showing up intentionally in both leadership and life.

Join us for an inspiring and grounded conversation on conscious leadership, authentic influence, and creating impact through relationships and presence.

BIO:

Keyonna Taylor is a founder, strategist, and execution partner known for turning vision into velocity. As the founder of Key Focus Group, she leads a Results-as-a-Service (RaaS) approach that helps companies drive retention, expansion, and customer outcomes without adding internal overhead.

With a background spanning customer success, growth strategy, and operational design, Keyonna partners with CEOs, Chief Customer Officers, and revenue leaders to align strategy with execution. Her work supports organizations across technology, healthcare, life sciences, and insurance as they scale customer experience and post-sale growth.

Known for combining strategic clarity with hands-on execution, Keyonna helps leadership teams translate innovation into measurable business impact. She is a strong advocate for elevating the voice of the customer in executive decision-making and building systems that deliver lasting value for both businesses and the people they serve.

Through Key Focus Group, she works alongside leadership teams as a trusted partner in building scalable, customer-centered growth.

#LeadershipHeartPodcast #ConsciousLeadership #LeadershipPresence #EmotionalIntelligence #WomenInLeadership #SustainableLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #AuthenticLeadership #ChangeLeadership #LeadershipWithHeart

OTHER RESOURCES & HOST DETAILS

Sandra J. Horton, MA (Leadership), is a Global Leadership and Change Strategist, Executive Coach, and host of The Leadership Heart Podcast. As Founder of Activate Success Edge™, Sandra helps leaders navigate complexity, transformation, and change through conscious leadership, emotional intelligence, and sustainable leadership practices.

With expertise in healthcare leadership, change management, and executive development, Sandra creates thoughtful conversations that explore the human side of leadership in an evolving world.

Sandra is also the creator of The Presence Lab™ and the Executive Leadership Architecture™, focused on helping leaders lead with clarity, grounded authority, and sustainable impact.

The Leadership Heart Podcast is where bold innovation meets conscious leadership. Hosted by Sandra J. Horton, a leadership strategist and changemaker, this show goes beyond titles and strategy to explore what it truly means to lead with impact, intention, and heart.

Each episode features honest conversations with visionary leaders in health tech, AI, innovation, and social impact — people who understand that in a world powered by technology, it's humanity that must lead the way.

From groundbreaking ideas to practical wisdom, Sandra and her guests share real stories and actionable insights to help you lead with more clarity, courage, and purpose.

If you're ready to build organizations that put people first and you believe leadership is about serving others and shaping a better future this podcast is for you.

This Week's Guest: Diana Ajzen

This week, we welcome Diana Ajzen, to discuss coaching the culture and trust within the team strategy. Together, we explore how leaders can build a coaching culture and trust in their teams.

What We Cover in This Episode:

• Self-Awareness & Systems Thinking
• Trust, Resilience & Real Change
• Tech, Innovation & Possibility

Diana Ajzen's 's journey is a reminder that with Emotional Intelligence, Systems thinking and Self-awareness a leader can create stronger cultures and team engagment.

Valuable Resources:

Visit: https://www.systemsbusinesscoach.com/coach/diana-ajzen/

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Dajzenr

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianaajzen/

About the Host – Sandra J. Horton

Sandra J. Horton, MA is an award-winning Leadership & Change Strategist, Certified Prosci® Change Management Professional, Certified Emotional Intelligence Practitioner, and host of The Leadership Heart Podcast.

As Founder of Activate Success Edge™ and co-creator of the Ives-Horton Leadership Model™, she empowers purpose-driven leaders to grow by design, not by default. Her podcast brings together bold thinkers from across AI, healthcare, innovation, and systems change where she helps leaders stay grounded in values while driving global impact.

Learn more: www.activatesuccessedge.com

The Leadership Heart Podcast is where bold innovation meets conscious leadership. Hosted by Sandra J. Horton, a leadership strategist and changemaker, this show goes beyond titles and strategy to explore what it truly means to lead with impact, intention, and heart.

Each episode features honest conversations with visionary leaders in health tech, AI, innovation, and social impact — people who understand that in a world powered by technology, it's humanity that must lead the way.

From groundbreaking ideas to practical wisdom, Sandra and her guests share real stories and actionable insights to help you lead with more clarity, courage, and purpose.

If you're ready to build organizations that put people first and you believe leadership is about serving others and shaping a better future this podcast is for you.

This Week's Guest: Diana Ajzen

This week, we welcome Diana Ajzen, to discuss coaching the culture and trust within the team strategy. Together, we explore how leaders can build a coaching culture and trust in their teams.

What We Cover in This Episode:

• Self-Awareness & Systems Thinking
• Trust, Resilience & Real Change
• Tech, Innovation & Possibility

Diana Ajzen's 's journey is a reminder that with Emotional Intelligence, Systems thinking and Self-awareness a leader can create stronger cultures and team engagment.

Valuable Resources:

Visit: https://www.systemsbusinesscoach.com/coach/diana-ajzen/

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Dajzenr

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianaajzen/

About the Host – Sandra J. Horton

Sandra J. Horton, MA is an award-winning Leadership & Change Strategist, Certified Prosci® Change Management Professional, Certified Emotional Intelligence Practitioner, and host of The Leadership Heart Podcast.

As Founder of Activate Success Edge™ and co-creator of the Ives-Horton Leadership Model™, she empowers purpose-driven leaders to grow by design, not by default. Her podcast brings together bold thinkers from across AI, healthcare, innovation, and systems change where she helps leaders stay grounded in values while driving global impact.

Learn more: www.activatesuccessedge.com

The Leadership Heart Podcast is where bold innovation meets conscious leadership. Hosted by Sandra J. Horton, a leadership strategist and changemaker, this show goes beyond titles and strategy to explore what it truly means to lead with impact, intention, and heart.

Each episode features honest conversations with visionary leaders in health tech, AI, innovation, and social impact where people who understand that in a world powered by technology, it's humanity that must lead the way.

From groundbreaking ideas to practical wisdom, Sandra and her guests share real stories and actionable insights to help you lead with more clarity, courage, and purpose.

If you're ready to build organizations that put people first and you believe leadership is about serving others and shaping a better future of this podcast is for you.

This Week's Guest: Jo Madnani | Integrated Marketing Leader | Omnichannel Strategist |

This week, we welcome Jo Madnani, who is an award winning marketing leader with over two decades of experience. She is known for her entrepreneurial spirit, creative edge and multidisciplinary approach. Her campaigns have garnered accolades from the American Advertising Federation. She has contributed to fashion and lifestyle publications in both India and the U.S. including Midday, the Times of India, and The Miami Herald. A new Immigant Lens-a collective exploration of intersectionality, self-discovery and personal transformation.

Together, we explore how Jugaad Leadership is foundational to today's leader success.

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What We Cover in This Episode:

• Identity as Power: Story as a Strategy
• What does truly inclusive branding look like in action?
• How can a "Brand" go beyond just delivering a message and model true leadership

Jo's journey is a reminder that leadership begins with knowing self, innovation and having impact. And, her passion extends beyond the boardroom through mentoring in the industry and my upcoming book that navigates intersectionality, stereotyping and cultural identity.

Valuable Resources to connect with Jo Madnani:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jomadnani/

Website: https://www.theideaisin.com/

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About the Host – Sandra J. Horton

Sandra J. Horton, MA is an award-winning Leadership & Change Strategist, Certified Prosci® Change Management Professional, Certified Emotional Intelligence Practitioner, and host of The Leadership Heart Podcast.

As Founder of Activate Success Edge™ and co-creator of the Ives-Horton Leadership Model™, she empowers purpose-driven leaders to grow by design, not by default. Her podcast brings together bold thinkers from across AI, healthcare, innovation, and systems change — helping leaders stay grounded in values while driving global impact.

Learn more: www.activatesuccessedge.com

The Leadership Heart Podcast is where bold innovation meets conscious leadership. Hosted by Sandra J. Horton, a leadership strategist and changemaker, this show goes beyond titles and strategy to explore what it truly means to lead with impact, intention, and heart.

Each episode features honest conversations with visionary leaders in health tech, AI, innovation, and social impact where people who understand that in a world powered by technology, it's humanity that must lead the way.

From groundbreaking ideas to practical wisdom, Sandra and her guests share real stories and actionable insights to help you lead with more clarity, courage, and purpose.

If you're ready to build organizations that put people first and you believe leadership is about serving others and shaping a better future then this podcast is for you.

This Week's Guest: Cindy Keefer – Creative Visionary, Healer, CEO, and Founder of FashionTechWorks

This week, we welcome Cindy Keefer, a creative force and transformational leader whose journey has woven together artistry, healing, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

In this conversation, we explore how leaders can embrace reinvention, design sustainable creative ecosystems, and stay rooted in heart-centered practices even as they navigate constant change.

What We Cover in This Episode:

• How creative identities like artist, healer, and CEO reveal deeper leadership truths
• The role of intuition in building bold, never-before-seen ventures
• Designing FashionTechWorks as a launchpad for change-ready creators
• How to hold space for both personal evolution and community voice
• Why sustainable impact includes ethics, creativity, and human connection

Cindy's journey is a reminder that innovation without humanity is incomplete. And, that magic happens when art, healing, and leadership converge.

Valuable Resources:

✓ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindykeefer/

✓ Website: https://www.cindykeefer.com

About the Host – Sandra J. Horton

Sandra J. Horton, MA is an award-winning Leadership and Change Strategist, Certified Prosci® Change Management Professional, Certified Emotional Intelligence Practitioner, and host of The Leadership Heart Podcast.

As Founder of Activate Success Edge™ and co-creator of the Ives-Horton Leadership Model™, she empowers purpose-driven leaders to grow by design, not by default. Her podcast brings together bold thinkers from across AI, healthcare, innovation, and systems change — helping leaders stay grounded in values while driving global impact.

Learn more: www.activatesuccessedge.com