• Mental fitness in the face of uncertainty
• Reframing ego, fear, and status drops
• Team leadership through unexpected change
• Habit stacking: meditation, sticky notes, and self-talk
• Manifestation vs discipline: how belief + action rewires your brain
• Emotional regulation under stress

00:00 – Why “step downs” are often level-ups
02:45 – Karan’s story: from India to Canada to McDonald's to executive leadership
06:20 – When COVID crushed the plan—and what came next
08:55 – Neuroscience reset: double inhale + floor grounding
10:45 – Positive self-talk and sticky note mindset hacks
13:20 – What to do when your brain spirals
14:40 – Why the mind only needs certainty + control
17:10 – Leadership under pressure: how Karan leads his team through change
19:30 – Claire’s 3-step neuroscience hack for managing change
20:10 – Rapid fire Qs: habits, podcasts, and leadership influences
22:15 – Listener challenge: reframe your own “step down”
24:00 – Final words from Claire and Karan

What you’ll learn:

• How to reframe career “setbacks” as strategic stepping stones
• Neuroscience-based resets to shift your mindset under pressure
• What to say to your team when plans change unexpectedly
• Karan’s personal story of moving countries, surviving COVID job loss, and turning it all around
• How daily meditation, positive reinforcement, and sticky notes helped him train his brain for success
• Claire also shares a 60-second neuroscience reset tool and challenges listeners to reframe their own “step down” moments.

• McDonald's (Karan’s transitional role)
• Uber Eats (Karan’s former company)
• George Brown College (post-grad)
• Podcast by Mo Gawdat: “Transforming Yourself Starts With Your Thoughts”

Follow Claire on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairehayek/

Follow Karan on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/karanmehta22/

🎓 Want to train your brain for resilience and high performance?

Join Claire’s free Mental Fitness Masterclass here:👉 ⁠https://go.clairehayek.com/mental-fitness-masterclass⁠

📩 For free resources, upcoming masterclasses, or to join our next live webinar—click here:👉 ⁠https://linktr.ee/clairehayek⁠

📢 Subscribe to The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast for brain-based strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and impact.

The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast is produced by Claire Hayek. All opinions are those of the host and guests. For more leadership resources, visit www.mspteambuilding.com.

• Identity activation: why your brain listens when you speak
• The neuroscience of affirmations and “the production effect”
• Claire’s story from engineer to confident speaker
• The Scan–Shrink–Shift method for nervous system resets
• How to activate the “leader” network in your brain
• Mirror work, breathwork, and verbal cues for instant state change
• Why resilience starts with micro-moments of mental fitness

00:00 – The sentence that changed Claire’s life
02:45 – The meeting where everything shifted
04:00 – What happens to the brain when you speak out loud
06:00 – Identity activation and why it matters
08:00 – Mirror work, posture, and leadership presence
10:00 – Claire’s TEDx: “The Say It Out Loud Rule”
11:30 – The neuroscience behind the “Triple S” method
12:00 – SCAN: Label your physical state
13:00 – SHRINK: Shrink the reaction through breath
14:00 – SHIFT: Say a new belief out loud to redirect your brain
15:00 – Why saying it out loud matters
16:00 – Mental Fitness Masterclass & Live Labs
17:00 – Final note: lead boldly, stay human

What you’ll learn:

• The neuroscience of affirmations that actually work
• Why saying it out loud triggers identity-level change
• How to use the Scan–Shrink–Shift method
• A 10-second ritual to reset your nervous system under pressure

• Claire’s TEDx talk: The Say It Out Loud Rule (Will be live on Youtube next week)

Follow Claire on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairehayek/

🎓 Want to train your brain for resilience and high performance?

Join Claire’s free Mental Fitness Masterclass here:👉 ⁠https://go.clairehayek.com/mental-fitness-masterclass⁠

📩 For free resources, upcoming masterclasses, or to join our next live webinar—click here:👉 ⁠https://linktr.ee/clairehayek⁠

📢 Subscribe to The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast for brain-based strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and impact.

The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast is produced by Claire Hayek. All opinions are those of the host and guests. For more leadership resources, visit www.mspteambuilding.com.

Topics Covered:

• The myth of “leadership equals title”
• How to lead across teams without formal authority
• A real-time conflict de-escalation story
• Ego vs. trust: how identity can hijack influence
• Regulating your own nervous system first
• The science of perception and credibility in teams

00:00 – Intro: Leadership without hierarchy
03:50 – Lance’s story of de-escalating conflict mid-meeting
07:20 – How to lead across without stepping on toes
11:00 – Labels, identity, and internalized pressure
14:15 – Claire on neuroscience of ego and threat response
18:45 – Co-regulation and leading nervous system-first
23:10 – Building influence through micro-behaviors
27:00 – Lance’s closing insight: “Trust is the real title.”

What you’ll learn:

• What neuroscience says about authority, perception, and influence
• How to regulate your own system before leading others
• How Lance stopped a tense meeting from spiraling—without taking sides
• Daily actions that build trust without the badge of a title

• Claire on the Default Mode Network (DMN) and how identity loops hijack calm
• Lance on resolving tension in distributed teams

Follow Claire on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairehayek/

Follow Lance on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lance-robbins/

🎓 Want to train your brain for resilience and high performance?

Join Claire’s free Mental Fitness Masterclass here:👉 ⁠https://go.clairehayek.com/mental-fitness-masterclass⁠

📩 For free resources, upcoming masterclasses, or to join our next live webinar—click here:👉 ⁠https://linktr.ee/clairehayek⁠

📢 Subscribe to The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast for brain-based strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and impact.

The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast is produced by Claire Hayek. All opinions are those of the host and guests. For more leadership resources, visit www.mspteambuilding.com.

• How emotional triggers hijack your brain
• The neurobiology of fight, flight, freeze (and fawn)
• The “loop” cycle and how to recognize it
• Claire’s Triple S Method: Scan, Shrink, Shift
• Why calm is not the goal—command is
• The science of self-regulation in high-stakes leadership
• Why mental fitness rewires your team as much as yourself
• How to interrupt default patterns and rewire your neural circuits

00:00 – The real reason you feel stuck in the same loop
01:00 – Claire’s story: being cut off in a room full of senior leaders
03:00 – Why your brain goes offline during emotional hijacks
04:30 – What the loop looks like: Trigger → Reaction → Rumination
05:00 – Step 1: Scan
06:30 – Step 2: Shrink (and what your vagus nerve has to do with it)
08:00 – Step 3: Shift
10:30 – How Claire applies this in real time
13:00 – The leadership myth about always being calm
14:00 – The real goal: recovery time, not perfection
15:30 – Training your brain like a muscle
17:00 – Practical examples to train your command muscle
18:00 – Mental fitness explained: why it matters for real leaders
20:00 – Join the Mental Fitness Masterclass
21:00 – Final thoughts: your trigger doesn’t define you—your response does

What you’ll learn:

• Why your brain goes offline when you're triggered—and how to bring it back
• What the “loop” really is and how to break it
• How physical cues like jaw tension or sweaty palms are not random
• What most people get wrong about meditation, composure, and leadership
• The practical tool that builds mental muscle daily (hint: it’s not a journal)

Mentioned in this episode:

• Claire’s Triple S Method → Scan, Shrink, Shift — a neuroscience-based way to interrupt emotional loops and reclaim command
• Mental Fitness Masterclass → https://go.clairehayek.com/mental-fitness-masterclass
• Leadership Insight: Calm isn’t the goal—command is.
• Brain Science Breakdown: Why your prefrontal cortex goes offline under pressure
• Listener Challenge: Notice one loop you’ve repeated this week—and try using “Scan” to name what you’re feeling in the moment

Follow Claire on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairehayek/

🎓 Want to train your brain for resilience and high performance?

Join Claire’s free Mental Fitness Masterclass here:👉 ⁠https://go.clairehayek.com/mental-fitness-masterclass⁠

📩 For free resources, upcoming masterclasses, or to join our next live webinar—click here:👉 ⁠https://linktr.ee/clairehayek⁠

📢 Subscribe to The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast for brain-based strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and impact.

The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast is produced by Claire Hayek. All opinions are those of the host and guests. For more leadership resources, visit www.mspteambuilding.com.

• How to handle layoffs and reorgs with clarity
• The neuroscience behind career identity and fear of change
• Why your brain resists stepping into the unknown
• Aligning values with work: what Laureen learned post-exit
• What it really means to “future-proof” your career
• Leading others through transformation
• Claire’s brain tools to rewire fear-based thinking
• A reframe that helps leaders navigate difficult transitions

00:00 – Claire’s opener: your career is not your identity

01:02 – Meet Laureen Knudsen: transformation leader, systems thinker, author

03:12 – What happens when the reorg comes for you

06:40 – Letting go of title-driven identity

08:22 – “I didn’t know who I was without the job”

10:10 – Claire on the neuroscience of fear, uncertainty, and the frontal lobe

13:55 – Future-proofing starts with one hard question

16:40 – What to do when your values and job no longer align

18:32 – Rebuilding a new vision of success

20:14 – Advice for leaders navigating layoffs or team changes

22:00 – Listener challenge: the “identity gap” question

23:50 – Closing reflections from Claire

What you’ll learn:

The neuroscience behind career identity and resistance to change

How to navigate layoffs, reorgs, and life pivots with courage

The mindset shift that helped Laureen realign with her values

Brain-based tools to stay calm and focused in uncertainty

Mentioned in this episode:

• Laureen’s Insight: “When the role disappeared, I realized I didn’t know who I was without it.”
• Claire’s Brain Tip: Fear of change activates survival-based thinking—and blocks vision for the future.
• Listener Challenge: Ask yourself: “If I couldn’t use my job title, how would I introduce myself?”

Follow Claire on LinkedIn: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairehayek/

Follow Laureen on LinkedIn: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/laureenknudsen/

🎓 Want to train your brain for resilience and high performance?

Join Claire’s free Mental Fitness Masterclass here:👉 ⁠https://go.clairehayek.com/mental-fitness-masterclass⁠

📩 For free resources, upcoming masterclasses, or to join our next live webinar—click here:👉 ⁠https://linktr.ee/clairehayek⁠

📢 Subscribe to The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast for brain-based strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and impact.

The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast is produced by Claire Hayek. All opinions are those of the host and guests. For more leadership resources, visit www.mspteambuilding.com.

• Why smart people fall into imposter syndrome
• How cancer became a gift for rewiring David’s mindset
• The neuroscience of fear and the negativity bias
• Why your brain says “you don’t belong” (even when you do)
• How action reprograms your self-belief
• The power of reframing challenges as growth triggers
• What to look for when imposter syndrome shows up in your team
• A tiny experiment to shift from fear to courage
• The #1 thing to remember when your brain tells you you're not enough

00:00 – Welcome + Claire’s neuroscience teaser: “Stop trying to be right. Focus on getting it right.”

01:08 – Meet David Brennan: from cancer to MBA courage

03:00 – How a life-threatening diagnosis changed everything

04:50 – Imposter thoughts: what held David back before chemo

06:30 – Rewiring begins: applying to top MBA programs step by step

08:15 – When imposter syndrome returned—inside the MBA classroom

09:50 – The neuroscience of fear: your brain sees ambition as threat

13:16 – “Even the brain surgeons felt it”: how David normalized imposter syndrome

17:00 – The self-doubt trap: “If I thought of it, everyone must know it”

18:30 – Action over anxiety: the brain's real rewiring mechanism

21:00 – How David thinks about doubt today—and what changed

24:00 – How to spot imposter syndrome in your team

25:45 – The book that rewired David’s leadership mindset

26:54 – Listener Challenge: Tiny steps to rewire self-belief

28:00 – Claire’s closing: “Your brain is neuroplastic. Rewire it.”

What you'll learn:

• The hidden survival instinct behind self-doubt
• A brain-based reframe to calm imposter thoughts
• A 1-minute pre-meeting move to boost clarity and confidence
• How tiny actions reprogram your brain for growth

Mentioned in this episode:

• Book: How to Talk to Anyone by Leil Lowndes
• Claire’s Rule: “Stop trying to be right. Focus on getting it right.”
• Listener Challenge: Take one small action you’ve been avoiding due to imposter thoughts—within 48 hours
• David’s Confidence Reframe: “Action over anxiety. Do it before you believe it.”
• Brain Insight: How fear-based circuits distort self-worth and trigger imposter thoughts even in high performers

Follow Claire on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairehayek/

Follow David on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbrennanmba/

🎓 Want to train your brain for resilience and high performance?

Join Claire’s free Mental Fitness Masterclass here:👉 ⁠https://go.clairehayek.com/mental-fitness-masterclass⁠

📩 For free resources, upcoming masterclasses, or to join our next live webinar—click here:👉 ⁠https://linktr.ee/clairehayek⁠

📢 Subscribe to The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast for brain-based strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and impact.

The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast is produced by Claire Hayek. All opinions are those of the host and guests. For more leadership resources, visit www.mspteambuilding.com.

The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast is produced by Claire Hayek. All opinions are those of the host and guests. For more leadership resources, visit www.mspteambuilding.com.

• Comfort zones and leadership courage
• How fear shows up in our brains (and how to manage it)
• Adapting to global leadership roles
• Listening as a leadership superpower
• How to build trust across cultures
• Why belonging matters more than fitting in
• Tools to navigate uncertainty with clarity
• Claire’s neuroscience-backed 3-point Change Brief
• Jen’s “be confident in what you don’t know” mindset
• The power of journaling and self-affirmation in high pressure moments

00:00 – Claire introduces Jen’s bold move to Austria and the courage behind it
01:30 – What changed in Jen’s leadership after taking a global role
04:00 – Facing uncertainty: language barriers, culture shock, and fast adaptation
07:00 – How not belonging helped Jen lead with empathy
09:30 – The difference between fitting in and creating belonging
11:00 – Claire explains how fear and uncertainty hijack the brain
14:00 – Neuroscience tool: Claire’s “3-point Change Brief”
16:00 – Jen’s biggest leadership lesson: change yourself to lead others
18:30 – Listening to words and body language
21:00 – Why reading the room matters more than ever
23:00 – Jen’s advice: authenticity and transparency are non-negotiable
24:00 – Rapid Fire:
 • First sign your team is in fear
 • Jen’s pressure ritual
 • Book that rewired her leadership
28:00 – Claire’s listener challenge: The “Comfort Ladder”
29:00 – Final words: lead boldly, stay human, find the gift

What you'll learn:

• How to transform fear into focus
• Why listening (not talking) builds trust fast
• How to read a room—when you don’t speak the language
• Brain-based tools to rewire your response to change\

Mentioned in this episode:
• Claire’s “3-point Change Brief” tool for uncertainty
• Journaling as a mental fitness strategy
• The science behind fear and the brain
• Jen’s favorite mindset-shifting book: Let Them by Mel Robbins

Follow Claire on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairehayek/

Follow Jen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferbelongia/

🎓 Want to train your brain for resilience and high performance?

Join Claire’s free Mental Fitness Masterclass here:👉 ⁠https://go.clairehayek.com/mental-fitness-masterclass⁠

📩 For free resources, upcoming masterclasses, or to join our next live webinar—click here:👉 ⁠https://linktr.ee/clairehayek⁠

📢 Subscribe to The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast for brain-based strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and impact.

The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast is produced by Claire Hayek. All opinions are those of the host and guests. For more leadership resources, visit www.mspteambuilding.com.

• Act 1: The lasting impact of military training and perspective
• Act 2: Leading through tragedy—how a fatal accident reshaped Jeff’s leadership
• Act 3: Purpose-driven reinvention through coaching
• Mental fitness tools for leading under pressure
• How to hire for character and retain top talent
• The power of daily huddles and communication rhythm
• Using breathing as a nervous system reset
• Owning your voice and stepping into your North Star

00:00 – Claire introduces the “3-act” theme of resilience and reinvention
01:30 – Jeff’s Gulf War story and how it rewired his perspective
04:00 – Claire’s own war-child story from Lebanon
06:30 – Military mindset: falling back on training under pressure
07:45 – Box breathing and daily nervous system resets
09:00 – The job-site fatality that changed Jeff’s life
12:30 – Grief, memory, and turning pain into purpose
15:45 – Why stories (not rules) shift safety behavior
16:30 – Recruiting with values: how to hire for character
19:00 – Retention starts with vision and communication rhythm
21:00 – Why daily huddles change everything
23:15 – Jeff’s pivot: Why he left corporate to coach leaders
25:00 – Claire’s journey from engineer to speaker and mental fitness coach
26:30 – Rapid fire: resilience, leadership books, and North Stars
28:00 – Final takeaways and listener call-to-action

Mentioned in this episode:

• Five Levels of Leadership by John Maxwell
• Endurance by Alfred Lansing (story of Ernest Shackleton)
• Box breathing technique
• Rockefeller Habits (Daily Huddles)

Subscribe to The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast for brain-based strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and impact.

Follow Claire Hayek on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairehayek/

Follow Jeff Eschliman on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffeschliman/

Want to train your brain for resilience and high performance?
Join Claire’s free Mental Fitness Masterclass here:
👉 https://go.clairehayek.com/mental-fitness-masterclass

📩 For free resources, upcoming masterclasses, or to join our next live webinar—click here:
👉 https://linktr.ee/clairehayek

📢 Subscribe to The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast for brain-based strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and impact.

The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast is produced by Claire Hayek. All opinions are those of the host and guests. For more leadership resources, visit www.mspteambuilding.com.

Guest: Betty Zhang, Head of Innovation Operations at Kids Help Phone

Claire and Betty explore:

• The surprising moment that transformed Betty’s leadership
• Why creativity is a mindset—not a job title
• How leaders can harness creativity during pressure
• Simple neuroscience tools to shift from panic to presence
• Creative warm-ups that boost smarter, more engaged meetings
• How leaders can reclaim their full identity—beyond the job title

00:00 – Intro: Patagonia, Pressure & One Step at a Time
02:20 – Betty’s climb and the leadership lesson it taught her
05:10 – What “small” feels like (and why it matters)
06:00 – Claire on neuroscience: panic, pause & the power of the breath
08:30 – Redefining creativity beyond the job title
10:10 – From art school to innovation strategy
13:00 – The neuroscience of creativity in leadership
14:00 – LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® and why CEOs freeze
15:30 – Why work is not your identity
17:00 – Claire on panoramic leadership
19:30 – How to spark team creativity fast
21:00 – Betty’s go-to creative leadership tip
22:00 – Rapid Fire: Myth, Mindset & Meeting Hacks
25:00 – Books that changed how Betty leads
27:00 – Listener challenge: #LeadCreatively
28:30 – Final thoughts + webinar invite

For free resources, upcoming masterclasses, or to join our next live webinar—click the link here: https://linktr.ee/clairehayek
Join the Mental Fitness Masterclass: https://go.clairehayek.com/mental-fitness-masterclass
Follow Claire Hayek on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairehayek/

🎧 Subscribe to The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast for brain-based strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and impact.

The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast is produced by Claire Hayek. All opinions are those of the host and guests. For more leadership resources, visit www.mspteambuilding.com.

• What Employee-Generated Content (EGC) actually is—and why it matters now more than ever
• Common fears from leadership and how to address them (e.g. legal, brand risk, control)
• Step-by-step guide to launch EGC from scratch
• What to train your people on (and what to leave alone)
• How to handle negative comments like a pro
• Why employee content builds psychological safety and performance
• Real metrics that track ROI (spoiler: not vanity numbers)
• A simple rule for first-time posters
• LinkedIn’s latest algorithm changes and what to avoid

0:00 – Intro: Would anyone care more if your people posted instead of your company?
1:00 – What is EGC, really?
3:00 – Why people trust people more than companies
5:30 – Where to start if you're a leader
7:10 – Don't force it: let interest be organic
9:00 – The neuroscience of trust and visibility
10:30 – What to post vs what not to post
12:30 – Guidelines, training, and avoiding legal pitfalls
14:50 – Why bad content isn't necessarily bad
17:00 – Dealing with negative comments online
20:00 – Measuring success (hint: not likes!)
22:00 – Surprising LinkedIn algorithm tips
24:00 – The two biggest mistakes companies make with EGC
27:00 – Bonus tip: Don’t forget your comment strategy
28:40 – Wrap up and final gold nuggets

For free resources, upcoming masterclasses, or to join our next live webinar—click the link here: https://linktr.ee/clairehayek
Follow me on LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairehayek/
Follow Jacki Lutz on LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackilutz/

Subscribe to The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast for brain-based strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and impact.

The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast is produced by Claire Hayek. All opinions are those of the host and guests. For more leadership resources, visit www.mspteambuilding.com.