Why are so many teams stuck in reaction mode? Why do so many leaders confuse managing tasks with actually leading people? In this episode, Dr. Nashay Lowe sits down with organizational change strategist Alexis Felton, founder of Alter EQ, to unpack the hidden costs of values-misaligned leadership—and why most workplace friction isn’t a skills gap, it’s a care gap. Together, they explore the psychology of resistance, the emotional toll of misalignment, and the simple but radical truth that leadership begins with how you show up, not what you know. From corporate burnout to authentic connection, this conversation reframes change management as a human practice: one built on empathy, intentionality, and the courage to lead with care—even when it’s inconvenient. If you’ve ever felt like you’re constantly putting out fires, questioning your impact, or wondering why good ideas stall inside good organizations, this episode will help you reset your definition of leadership—from control to compassion, and from reaction to rhythm.

Key Takeaways

• Authenticity is crucial for effective leadership.
• Genuine care involves listening and responding to employees' needs.
• Balancing professionalism with personal connection enhances workplace culture.
• Vulnerability in leadership fosters trust and collaboration.
• Feedback should be viewed as a gift, not criticism.
• Emotional intelligence is as important as technical competence in leadership.
• Creating a supportive environment encourages open communication.
• Resistance to change often stems from a lack of ownership.
• Engagement surveys are only valuable if acted upon.
• Personalizing leadership approaches can improve team dynamics.

About Alexis Felton

Global Program Leader with a proven record of driving strategic initiatives and building high-performing cross-functional teams in fast-paced environments. Expertise spans Project & Portfolio Management (PPM), change management, and delivering transformative solutions that enhance customer engagement. Strong communicator committed to inclusive leadership and continuous improvement.

At Smartsheet, I'm a Sr. Solutions Specialist, PPM & Transformation, where I've driven GTM initiatives that influenced over $100M in ARR through compelling use case demonstrations. I empower cross-functional teams to elevate solutions and solve complex customer challenges, enhancing Smartsheet's PPM credibility. I've also executed Customer Success programs with 90%+ CSAT.

With an MSOD (4.0 GPA) and PgMP, PMP, and Six Sigma Green Belt certifications, I bring a strong theoretical and practical foundation to program leadership. I'm passionate about leveraging my skills to drive organizational success through strategic partnerships and a focus on continuous improvement. Proud board member of Black at Smartsheet, championing inclusivity.

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In this conversation, Radhika Dutt shares her journey from engineering to becoming a thought leader in product management and organizational culture. She discusses the pitfalls of metric-driven approaches, the importance of focusing on long-term vision over short-term goals, and introduces her OHLs framework as a healthier alternative to traditional OKRs. Through personal anecdotes and professional insights, Radhika emphasizes the need for curiosity-driven leadership and the significance of creating an environment of psychological safety within teams.

Key Takeaways

• Radhika Dutt emphasizes the importance of vision over mere metrics.
• Metrics can lead to performance theater, obscuring real impact.
• Curiosity-driven leadership fosters better problem-solving.
• Personal stories can illustrate the impact beyond metrics.
• The OHLs framework offers a new approach to goal setting.
• Vision debt can demoralize teams and hinder progress.
• Reflecting on experiences is crucial for learning.
• Creating psychological safety encourages open communication.
• Balancing KPIs with long-term vision is essential.
• Asking the right questions can transform team dynamics.

About Radhika Dutt

Radhika Dutt is the author of Radical Product Thinking: The New Mindset for Innovating Smarter which has been translated into Chinese and Japanese. The methodology she introduced in her first book is now used in over 40 countries. She is an entrepreneur, speaker, and product leader who has participated in five acquisitions, two of which were companies that she founded. She is currently Advisor on Product Thinking to the Monetary Authority of Singapore (Singapore’s central bank and financial regulator), and does consulting and training for organizations ranging from high-tech startups to multinationals on building radical products that create a fundamental change. Radhika has built products in a wide range of industries including broadcast, media and entertainment, telecom, advertising technology, government, consumer apps, robotics, and even wine. She graduated from MIT with an SB and M.Eng in Electrical Engineering, and speaks nine languages. 

Radhika is now working on her second book – it’s about why goals and targets backfire and what actually works. 

Helpful Links:

LinkedIn profile

Radhika’s Website

Radical Product Thinking (website for the methodology and Radhika’s first book)

Speaker reel

Links to the OHL framework/ toolkit

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In this conversation, Dr. Nashay Lowe explores the concept of fresh starts and resolutions, questioning their effectiveness in facilitating real change. She emphasizes that true transformation comes not from declarations but from the systems and environments we create around ourselves. By examining the difference between wanting change and designing for it, she highlights the importance of supportive structures that can sustain us through challenges. Dr. Lowe also critiques the glamorization of change, advocating for a more honest approach that acknowledges our imperfections and the realities of life. Ultimately, she encourages listeners to build systems that support their growth, even on imperfect days.

Key Takeaways

• The illusion of a fresh start can be comforting but often leads to familiar patterns.
• Real change requires supportive environments and consistent habits.
• Resolutions place too much emphasis on a single decision rather than ongoing effort.
• Wanting change is different from designing for it; systems are crucial.
• Most people struggle not due to lack of willpower but because of inadequate structures.
• Systems help reduce friction and make desired behaviors easier to achieve.
• Change is often unremarkable and requires consistent effort rather than dramatic breakthroughs.
• Building systems for the person you actually are is essential for sustainable growth.
• Expecting change to feel exciting can hinder its sustainability.
• Meaningful change comes from a steady relationship with supportive systems.

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Every film begins with a story — and so does every company.

In this cinematic conversation, Dr. Nashay Lowe sits down with filmmaker and creative strategist Cherise Lesesne to explore how storytelling and direction can transform the way we lead. From defining a clear vision to casting the right team and setting the emotional tone, Cherise unpacks how the best directors — and leaders — bring stories to life that people actually want to be part of. Together, they reveal how creativity, clarity, and compassion can reshape the cultures we build, one scene at a time.

Key Takeaways

• Leaders are storytellers, crafting narratives for their teams.
• Language and tone significantly impact team dynamics.
• Effective teams require a mix of personalities and skills.
• Conflict can be a catalyst for growth and improvement.
• Directing is about inspiring others, not micromanaging.
• Character development is crucial for team success.
• Setting the right tone can influence team morale.
• Reframing challenges can turn fear into focus.
• Leadership should be iterative and adaptable.
• Understanding and empathy are key to effective leadership.

About Cherise Lesesne

Cherise Lesesne is a product strategist, writer, and filmmaker whose work bridges storytelling, culture, and social analysis. She explores the power of narrative to decode how film, television, and media mirror societal systems and human behavior. She is also a finalist for TEDx U Street Women to deliver a speech regarding how people should take advantage of technology and screentime by thinking critically about the messages present in film and TV. Through her media platform Chaos In My Cup, Cherise weaves together essays, cinematic storytelling, and cultural critique that challenge audiences to think critically about identity, power, and belonging. Her background in product strategy informs her creative approach—merging analytical precision with emotional depth to craft stories that inspire reflection, connection, and change.

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In this episode, Dr. Nashay Lowe explores three topics funneling to on shared lesson: 1) myth of perfect timing, emphasizing that waiting for the right moment often keeps us stuck. She discusses 2) how scars can become beauty marks, shaping our depth and leadership, and 3) shares insights from her travels on how perspective shifts when we step outside our comfort zones. The episode highlights that growth doesn't arrive polished but is lived through experiences.

Key Takeaways:

• The myth of perfect timing often keeps us stuck.
• Scars can become beauty marks, shaping our depth.
• Travel shifts our perspective and assumptions.
• Growth doesn't arrive polished; it's lived.
• Readiness is a decision, not a feeling.
• Waiting too long has a cost on our dreams.
• Starting messy is still starting.
• Momentum teaches what preparation can't.
• Scars are evidence of resilience and growth.
• Travel deepens empathy and responsibility.

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In this conversation, Sandra Martinez shares her journey as a humanitarian worker, discussing her experiences in conflict-affected areas and the importance of resilience and transitional justice. She emphasizes the need for emotional health, community support, and self-care in humanitarian work, while also addressing the distinction between survival and resilience. Sandra reflects on personal stories that highlight the power of collective resilience and the necessity of creating supportive systems for individuals and communities.

Key Takeaways

• Sandra's journey into humanitarian work began during her master's program in 2014.
• Resilience involves not just enduring hardship but also transforming that experience into strength.
• Transitional justice aims for truth, accountability, and non-repetition of past violations.
• Survival mode can mask deeper trauma and hinder true resilience.
• Glorifying endurance can overlook the emotional toll of hardship.
• Creating safe spaces for grief is essential for healing and resilience.
• Collective resilience involves shared care and community support.
• Leadership that prioritizes compassion can shift individuals from survival to resilience.
• Self-care is crucial for humanitarian workers to effectively support others.
• Small actions can foster a culture of resilience in any community.

About Sandra Martinez

Political Scientist and Master in International Affairs with over seven years of international experience in human rights, peace, and protection across challenging regions in Africa and Latin America. I've worked with international organizations, specializing in providing strategic advice on crisis response, conflict resolution, and the implementation of projects with a focus on gender and inclusion.

Website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandramartinezr/

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Dr. Nashay Lowe shares insights from her experience in facilitating conversations across various industries, emphasizing the importance of understanding the unspoken dynamics in a room, the power of honest voices, and the patterns of conflict. She highlights how subtle shifts can indicate a change in group dynamics and the lessons learned from facilitating discussions that foster understanding and engagement.

Key Takeaways

• The room has a tone and posture before anyone speaks.
• Good facilitation starts the moment you enter the room.
• Silence can indicate calculation rather than resistance.
• Honest voices can shift the entire room's energy.
• Conflict often stems from differing definitions and stakes.
• Recognizing subtle shifts can enhance group participation.
• Facilitation is about guiding and protecting conversations.
• Groups long to be understood and taken seriously.
• Creating safety allows for deeper engagement.
• Conversations can change how individuals interact with the world.

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In this episode, Dr. Nashay Lowe interviews Priscilla Adebayo, a PhD candidate in International Conflict Management, about her work with refugee women. They discuss the resilience and agency of refugees, particularly women, in the face of forced displacement and conflict. Priscilla shares her personal journey and research, emphasizing the importance of storytelling, community, and finding purpose in suffering. The conversation highlights the challenges refugees face, the power of resilience, and the need for a supportive framework to help them rebuild their lives.

Key Takeaways

• Resilience is about finding purpose in suffering.
• Refugee women face unique challenges in displacement.
• Community support is crucial for refugee integration.
• Storytelling helps refugees reclaim their narratives.
• Priscilla Adebayo's framework aids refugee healing.
• Cultural barriers impact refugee experiences in the US.
• Refugees need to be seen as agents, not victims.
• Language barriers hinder refugee integration.
• Resilience involves courage and grit to move forward.
• Healing requires addressing psychological trauma.

About Priscilla Adebayao

Priscilla Adebayo is a passionate leader and social entrepreneur dedicated to empowering women and youths. With over a decade of cumulative experience in non-profit leadership/administration, law, academic research, conflict resolution and coaching, Priscilla skillfully integrates her expertise to drive meaningful change. Priscilla is known for her ability to design, fund, implement, monitor, and evaluate projects, driving sustainable solutions that enhance organizational missions and deliver measurable results. Her collaborative leadership style fosters team development and promotes engagement.

Website: https://sa4refugeewomen.com

Contact: https://www.linkedin.com/in/priscilla-adebayo-91062b141/

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Dr. Nashay Lowe explores the essence of public speaking, emphasizing that it's not about confidence or performance but about alignment and authenticity. She shares personal experiences, including a TEDx pitch and a talk at Webster University Geneva, illustrating how vulnerability and presence can transform speaking into a powerful tool for connection and reflection.

Key Takeaways:

• Public speaking is more about alignment than performance.
• Authenticity requires vulnerability and fear.
• Fear indicates that your voice matters in the space you're entering.
• Speaking can reflect possibilities and inspire others.
• The impact of a message often goes beyond the speaker's intentions.
• Humanity in delivery resonates more than polished technique.
• Presence and connection are more valuable than performance.
• A speaker's voice can become a mirror, reflecting both expertise and humanity.
• People remember how you made them feel, not just the content.
• Your voice can reveal possibilities for both the audience and yourself.

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In this conversation, Rich Ellis, a health coach from Auckland, New Zealand, discusses the intricate connections between physical health and workplace wellbeing. He emphasizes the importance of understanding individual needs in health interventions, the impact of workplace culture on employee health, and the necessity of consistency in health transformations. Rich also highlights the role of emotional intelligence in managing workplace dynamics and offers practical techniques for stress management. The discussion culminates in reflections on self-awareness and the importance of treating every interaction as an opportunity for growth and learning.

Key Takeaways

• Health interventions must consider individual circumstances.
• Workplace culture significantly impacts employee wellbeing.
• Emotional intelligence is crucial for effective leadership.
• Consistency is key in health transformations.
• Sleep is foundational for overall health and performance.
• Intrinsic motivation drives sustainable change.
• Self-awareness helps in managing workplace conflicts.
• Curiosity fosters better workplace relationships.
• Every interaction is an opportunity for learning.
• Leaders must address toxic behaviors promptly.

About Rich Ellis

Richard has worked in the exercise industry for 11 years and has worked with a diverse range of people over that time. He is an advanced holistic movement coach and mentor. He has a special interest in working with weight loss clients and those who suffer from fatigue. He uses a range of specific tests which allows clients to see the status of their internal health in black and white. He works with clients to develop a plan to deliver ultimate health and energy – giving people the freedom to do whatever they want.

Website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richellis/

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