When it comes to leading others, frustration is often an unavoidable part of the journey—but it doesn’t have to be a roadblock. In this episode, I dive deep into the humanity of leadership with Andrew Oxley, exploring how frustration shows up in our lives and organizations, and how understanding different communication styles can turn frustration into collaboration, delight, and results. We discuss the four faces of frustration, recognizing your reactions under stress, and explore practical ways to transition from “hero” or “villain” leadership to the truly impactful role of guide.

Andrew Oxley is a nationally recognized author, executive coach, and the founder of the Oxley Group. His consulting work has impacted tens of thousands of leaders at companies like Coca-Cola, Progressive Insurance, Turner Broadcasting, the Weather Channel, and many more. Andrew’s mission is to help leaders and organizations cut through the noise, return to simplicity, and truly accelerate performance. His allegorical book, “The Four Faces of Frustration: How to Turn Frustration into Delight,” has served as a blueprint for understanding and mastering the complexities of leadership and interpersonal communication.

“It is easiest to understand someone's communication style when you observe them when they're frustrated, because it's like their real selves come out.” ~Andrew Oxley

Today On The Rising Leader:

·     The four faces of frustration: Red (passionate/driver), Yellow (optimist/networker), Blue (analytical/pessimist), and Green (steady/quiet), each handle challenge and stress in unique ways.

·     Recognition and understanding of these communication styles is the first step to diffusing conflict and building stronger teams.

·     No one is just one color; we all have a range, but stress often pushes us into default patterns that may not serve us or others well.

·     As leaders, developing self-awareness (often through asking for feedback from others) is critical—how we think we show up is not always how others experience us.

·     It’s easy to fall into the roles of “hero” (overhelping) or “villain” (overcorrecting) as a leader, but the true goal is to become a “guide” who fosters autonomy and ownership in others.

·     Healthy teams benefit from a mix of these personality types; friction, managed well, creates progress.

·     Strengths become weaknesses if not managed—what got you here may not get you where you want to go.

·     Shifting limiting beliefs and assumptions is vital for leadership growth—it’s not just about behavior, but the beliefs that drive it.

Resources & Guest Contact Information:

Book: The Four Faces of Frustration: How to Turn Frustration into Delight by Andrew Oxley

90-Minute Live Leadership Blueprint Workshop:

Oxley Group

Grab Your Copy of The Rising Leader Handbook

Do you find yourself rising through your company's ranks so fast that you wish you had a manual to become an effective leader? Then, The Rising Leader Handbook is right for you.

In The Rising Leader Handbook, you’ll learn how to shift your perspective and gain the leadership skills you need, regardless of the breadth of your responsibilities, by leveraging the relationships you’ve built with the CEO, the Leadership Team, and the team you lead as well as your relationship with yourself.

Visit The Rising Leader Handbook: Turning High Achievers into Effective Leaders to grab your copy and start mastering your skills to become your team leader.

Leader, It’s Time to Rise!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Rising Leader Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

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When someone asks, “Would you like a little feedback?”, do you cringe inside, even as you force a smile and nod eagerly? If so, you’re not alone. Today I’m diving deep into the uncomfortable yet transformative experience of receiving feedback, and why, despite its sting, it’s the single most valuable tool for growth. I get personal about my own struggles with taking feedback (even as a coach!), map out the emotional journey most of us go through, and share how to process criticism in a way that actually moves us forward.

“Getting feedback is not easy. And again, I admit it, I don’t like it. But it’s invaluable and will change your life.” ~Mark

Today on The Rising Leader:

·     You’re not alone in dreading feedback—even those dedicated to growth can find it deeply uncomfortable.

·     It’s normal for feedback to trigger discomfort physically and emotionally; breathe through it rather than avoid it.

·     Saying “thank you” is a powerful way to receive feedback, creating space for clarity and reflection.

·     Active listening and asking for examples or clarification makes feedback actionable, not just emotional.

·     Not all feedback is equally relevant; seek trusted allies to help discern what to take on and what to set aside.

·     If someone takes the time to give you feedback (and they’re not just critical by nature), it’s a powerful sign they value your growth and contribution.

·     Focus your efforts—pick one new behavior or habit to address at a time for real, lasting growth.

·     Sharing feedback with someone who knows your worth can help you separate projection from genuine opportunities for improvement.

Resources Mentioned:

Book: Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity by Kim Scott

Grab Your Copy of The Rising Leader Handbook

Do you find yourself rising through your company's ranks so fast that you wish you had a manual to become an effective leader? Then, The Rising Leader Handbook is right for you.

In The Rising Leader Handbook, you’ll learn how to shift your perspective and gain the leadership skills you need, regardless of the breadth of your responsibilities, by leveraging the relationships you’ve built with the CEO, the Leadership Team, and the team you lead as well as your relationship with yourself.

Visit The Rising Leader Handbook: Turning High Achievers into Effective Leaders to grab your copy and start mastering your skills to become your team leader.

Leader, It’s Time to Rise!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Rising Leader Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeart Radio

Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help me reach more listeners like you.

Join me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. For more exclusive content and information, visit our website.

Have you ever felt the tension between maintaining high standards as a leader and relinquishing control to let your team truly thrive? Today, I dive deep into how you can create an environment of bold influence, build real autonomy, and drive powerful cultural change—without micromanaging. This conversation goes to the heart of how we move from burnout to high performance, and what it actually takes to inspire people to think for themselves and step into accountability.

My guest this week is Andrea Wanerstrand, a seasoned leadership strategist, executive coach, and founder of A3 Culture Lab. With more than 25 years of experience leading talent and performance initiatives at Microsoft, Meta, T-Mobile, and Hitachi, Andrea has helped organizations shift from traditional command-and-control leadership to human-centric, high-performing cultures. She’s the creator of the Mindset Maven Method and the A3 (Authentic, Autonomous, Accountable) philosophy, and has impacted leaders in more than 100 countries through her neuroscience-backed strategies for culture transformation.

“The gap that occurs is between telling someone what they need to do and having them actually do that and seeing the outcome, is whether they even heard exactly what you said or did they hear something different.” ~Andrea Wanerstrand

Today on The Rising Leader:

·     Moving from being “in the weeds” to true leadership means learning to drive results through others—not by gripping the wheel, but by guiding, supporting, and validating.

·     Clarity starts with how you set expectations—and real understanding happens when you validate comprehension, not just assume others “get it.”

·     Curiosity-led conversations foster genuine autonomy; asking people to articulate their plan is more effective than asking them to “repeat back” your instructions.

·     Command-and-control leadership stifles innovation and slows growth. Teams need to feel accountable both for outcomes and for sharing in the wins.

·     Autonomy is only sustainable when leaders create agreements, not just set expectations—turning check-ins into co-designed touchpoints.

·     Emotional intelligence is physical as much as mental: top leaders notice tension, triggers, and energy shifts in themselves before they become reactive.

·     Practical tools like breath work, intentional pauses, and body awareness are crucial for managing stress and leading from a place of steadiness.

·     Building a culture where people think for themselves requires “untraining” over-dependence—letting others experiment, share their thinking, and take ownership.

Guest Contact Information

Website: a3culturelab.com

Resources Mentioned

Book: The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier

Book: Mindset by Carol Dweck (growth mindset referenced)

Andrea’s Mindset Maven Method and A3 philosophy

Grab Your Copy of The Rising Leader Handbook

Do you find yourself rising through your company's ranks so fast that you wish you had a manual to become an effective leader? Then, The Rising Leader Handbook is right for you.

In The Rising Leader Handbook, you’ll learn how to shift your perspective and gain the leadership skills you need, regardless of the breadth of your responsibilities, by leveraging the relationships you’ve built with the CEO, the Leadership Team, and the team you lead as well as your relationship with yourself.

Visit The Rising Leader Handbook: Turning High Achievers into Effective Leaders to grab your copy and start mastering your skills to become your team leader.

Leader, It’s Time to Rise!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Rising Leader Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeart Radio

Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help me reach more listeners like you.

Join me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. For more exclusive content and information, visit our website.

Some days, the world feels especially heavy. I sat down today with a list of topics to discuss, but none of them felt right—until I decided to throw out the script entirely and talk honestly about something more urgent: what to do when you're feeling stuck, helpless, or weighed down by tough times. Today, I’m sharing a deeply personal reflection on overcoming setbacks, navigating depression, and the practical steps that have brought me—and so many others—back from the brink. If you’re struggling or know someone who is, this is a love letter to remind you: you’re not alone, and there’s a way through.

“I said, you know what? I'm going to be the change I want to see in the world and I'm going to go look for people who need help, people who need me. And that pulled me out of my funk, out of my depression.” ~Mark

Today on The Rising Leader:

·     Many people, no matter how good they look on the outside, are quietly struggling. You’re not alone.

·     Helping others, even in small, anonymous ways, can be a powerful tool to lift yourself out of a dark place.

·     Exercise, journaling, positive influences, and reaching out to people all help shift your state of mind.

·     It’s easy to fall for the narrative that everyone else is doing fine; in truth, most people have something heavy weighing on them.

·     Don’t believe everything that goes on in your mind; so much of our negativity is amplified by society, media, and old stories from our past.

·     If you’re a helper, take care of yourself first; you’ll have more to give when you’re whole.

·     Reaching out for support is a sign of strength, not weakness.

·     Small steps forward, taken consistently, are the way through tough times—there’s always something to learn or gain on the other side.

Grab Your Copy of The Rising Leader Handbook

Do you find yourself rising through your company's ranks so fast that you wish you had a manual to become an effective leader? Then, The Rising Leader Handbook is right for you.

In The Rising Leader Handbook, you’ll learn how to shift your perspective and gain the leadership skills you need, regardless of the breadth of your responsibilities, by leveraging the relationships you’ve built with the CEO, the Leadership Team, and the team you lead as well as your relationship with yourself.

Visit The Rising Leader Handbook: Turning High Achievers into Effective Leaders to grab your copy and start mastering your skills to become your team leader.

Leader, It’s Time to Rise!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Rising Leader Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeart Radio

Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help me reach more listeners like you.

Join me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. For more exclusive content and information, visit our website.

When you think of leadership, how often do you consider the wiring of your own brain? Today, I sit down with Dr. Phillipe Douyon, a board-certified neurologist, two-time kidney transplant recipient, and champion of neuroplasticity, to explore the science behind change, resilience, and finding genuine purpose. From personal adversity to guiding others toward powerful, purpose-driven lives, Dr. Douyon connects what’s happening in our heads to the way we show up as leaders, parents, and human beings.

Dr. Phillipe Douyon’s journey into neurology was inspired by witnessing epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease within his own family. After surviving two kidney transplants (one from his father, another from a cousin-in-law), he founded the In Life Brain Fit Institute and wrote, “Neuroplasticity: Your Brain’s Superpower.” Dr. Douyon is devoted to teaching people how to change their minds—literally and figuratively, by harnessing the everyday power and potential of their brains.

“If you're not taking charge of your own brain, somebody else for damn sure is.”

~ Dr. Phillipe Douyon

Today on The Rising Leader:

·     Adversity can be a catalyst for discovering one's purpose and shifting focus from self-pity to making a greater impact.

·     Helping others isn’t just morally right—the brain’s dopamine response rewards supporting those around us.

·     Neuroplasticity is a lifelong superpower; our brains can continue to change and adapt, enabling personal growth at any age.

·     Purpose is crucial: When people lose their sense of purpose, there is a measurable decline in their health and cognitive function.

·     Exercise is the most powerful promoter of neuroplasticity and is an effective antidepressant and anti-anxiety intervention.

·     Connection, with ourselves and with others, remains at the very heart of well-being and brain health.

·     Be mindful of your mental “diet:” What you read, watch, and the people you surround yourself with all impact your mindset.

·     Take responsibility for your mindset and emotional health, or risk letting external forces shape your thoughts and actions.

Resources Mentioned:

• Book: Neuroplasticity: Your Brain’s Superpower by Dr. Phillipe Douyon
• Dr. Phillipe Douyon’s Online Course: https://www.inlebrainfitinstitute.com/

Grab Your Copy of The Rising Leader Handbook

Do you find yourself rising through your company's ranks so fast that you wish you had a manual to become an effective leader? Then, The Rising Leader Handbook is right for you.

In The Rising Leader Handbook, you’ll learn how to shift your perspective and gain the leadership skills you need, regardless of the breadth of your responsibilities, by leveraging the relationships you’ve built with the CEO, the Leadership Team, and the team you lead as well as your relationship with yourself.

Visit The Rising Leader Handbook: Turning High Achievers into Effective Leaders to grab your copy and start mastering your skills to become your team leader.

Leader, It’s Time to Rise!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Rising Leader Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeart Radio

Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help me reach more listeners like you.

Join me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. For more exclusive content and information, visit our website.

Have you ever found yourself paralyzed by nerves before a big meeting, new venture, or bold conversation, wishing you could just overcome the fear? In today’s episode, I share the story of my spirit animal: a tiny rubber chicken named Chicken Shit. Inspired by a lesson from the first shaman I ever met, this episode is all about embracing fear, owning our “chicken shit,” and charging ahead anyway. I break down why being afraid isn’t a flaw; it’s a part of leadership and human experience, and why anything worth doing is worth doing scared.

This episode is inspired by Rafael Bejarano, the first shaman I ever met. An unforgettable figure with his South American accent, dazzling beads, and long flowing hair, Raphael led circles of coaches and leaders and proudly proclaimed that his spirit animal was not the mighty eagle or buffalo, but a squeaky rubber chicken. His courage and authenticity deeply impacted me, and his legacy lives on in the lessons—and the chicken—he passed to me.

“Chicken Shit is my spirit animal because whatever I do in the world, I do scared.” ~Mark

Today on The Rising Leader:

·     Your fear is not a flaw—it’s proof that you care about doing big, important things.

·     Every leader, even the most accomplished and confident, experiences fear before stepping into a new challenge.

·     “Chicken Shit” can be a powerful symbol for embracing, not fighting, your nerves.

·     From promotions and new jobs to hard conversations and creative risks, bold moves almost always come with butterflies.

·     The nervous system gets used to the familiar feeling of fear; you can learn to move forward even when afraid.

·     Icons like Bono and Bruce Springsteen still get nervous before performances, proving that fear never truly disappears.

·     The exhilaration of facing your fear—and jumping off that metaphorical cliff—can be transformative.

·     Remember, it’s not about eliminating fear; it’s about doing it anyway, step by step.

Grab Your Copy of The Rising Leader Handbook

Do you find yourself rising through your company's ranks so fast that you wish you had a manual to become an effective leader? Then, The Rising Leader Handbook is right for you.

In The Rising Leader Handbook, you’ll learn how to shift your perspective and gain the leadership skills you need, regardless of the breadth of your responsibilities, by leveraging the relationships you’ve built with the CEO, the Leadership Team, and the team you lead as well as your relationship with yourself.

Visit The Rising Leader Handbook: Turning High Achievers into Effective Leaders to grab your copy and start mastering your skills to become your team leader.

Leader, It’s Time to Rise!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Rising Leader Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeart Radio

Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help me reach more listeners like you.

Join me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. For more exclusive content and information, visit our website.

Sometimes life, and business, just isn’t fair. For every leader who has felt the sting of setbacks, seen the politics at work, and found themselves navigating an unfair system, this conversation will resonate. In today’s episode, I’m joined by Stephanie Chung, a woman whose journey through the aviation industry was literally missing rungs on the ladder. We explore what it truly takes to build resilience, maintain a sense of purpose in the face of adversity, and become the kind of leader who brings out the best in others, regardless of the obstacles. We get real about handling discouragement, growing thick skin, and leading while staying true to your core values and faith.

Stephanie Chung has paved a remarkable path as the first African American president of a major private aviation company. With decades of experience as a sales leader, executive, and now a keynote speaker and advisor, Stephanie’s approach centers around faith, authenticity, and transformation. Her story is one of perseverance, compassionate leadership, and an unwavering commitment to uplifting others, both in business and in life.

“Leadership is not for the faint of heart, but if you’re called into it… you have the ability to impact people’s lives beyond what you could ever imagine.” ~Stephanie Chung

This week on The Rising Leader:

·     How to build (and keep) resilience in an unfair world

·     Growing thick skin by facing challenges head-on

·     Letting go of negativity and protecting your mental space

·     The role of setbacks in shaping who we become as leaders

·     Why you should let your kids (and yourself) struggle—it’s vital for growth

·     The power of an honest support system that pushes you back into the ring

·     Integrating faith with leadership through authentic action, not just words

·     Understanding the universal need to be seen, heard, and to provide for those we love

Connect with Stephanie Chung:

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

Website: https://stephaniechung.com/

Resources Mentioned:

• Book: Ally Leadership: How to Lead People Who Are Not Like You by Stephanie Chung
• Book: Michael Bungay Stanier, How to Work With (Almost) Anyone
• Articles & Reports: Harvard Business Review, Deloitte, McKinsey reports on diverse teams

Grab Your Copy of The Rising Leader Handbook

Do you find yourself rising through your company's ranks so fast that you wish you had a manual to become an effective leader? Then, The Rising Leader Handbook is right for you.

In The Rising Leader Handbook, you’ll learn how to shift your perspective and gain the leadership skills you need, regardless of the breadth of your responsibilities, by leveraging the relationships you’ve built with the CEO, the Leadership Team, and the team you lead as well as your relationship with yourself.

Visit The Rising Leader Handbook: Turning High Achievers into Effective Leaders to grab your copy and start mastering your skills to become your team leader.

Leader, It’s Time to Rise!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Rising Leader Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeart Radio

Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help me reach more listeners like you.

Join me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. For more exclusive content and information, visit our website.

Trying to have it all as an ambitious leader, a thriving career, a rich family life, and good mental health can seem impossible. This week, I sit down with world-renowned executive, author, and leadership powerhouse Stephanie Chung for a fireside chat about her personal and professional journey, as well as her trailblazing work in business, aviation, and human capital. Together, we get real about the hard-won lessons, mistakes, and wisdom that come from decades at the top—and how anyone can cultivate success and fulfillment, without sacrificing what matters most.

Stephanie Chung has over 30 years of experience as an innovator and leader in business growth and human capital development. She became the first African American (and woman) to helm a private jet company, worked across industry giants like American Airlines, Flexjet, and Bombardier, and is a #1 international bestselling author of Ally Leadership: How to Lead People Who Are Not Like You. Known for her sought-after expertise in sales, business management, and DEI, Stephanie’s lived experience and deep, practical wisdom have inspired leaders around the globe.

“Curiosity comes before empathy. Be curious about others, really ask questions you don’t know the answers to.” ~Stephanie Chung

Today on The Rising Leader:

·     You can truly have it all—career, family, and health—but it requires intention, discipline, and learning from your mistakes.

·     The modern workforce is radically diverse. To lead and to win, you must know how to lead people across generations, cultures, backgrounds, abilities, and perspectives.

·     Making everyone on your team feel seen and heard isn’t just human—it’s a competitive edge.

·     The best leaders ask questions with genuine curiosity, listen deeply, learn, and act on what they discover.

·     Presence is more important than perfect balance—be 100% focused wherever you are, whether at work or at home.

·     Set boundaries with your time and communicate expectations up, down, and across within your organization.

·     For women, learning to say “no” firmly—but kindly—is an essential leadership skill, especially outside work.

·     Practical tips (like gift routines for children) can ease family transitions and support work-life integration for working parents.

Get in Touch with Stephanie Chung:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thestephaniechung/
• Website: https://stephaniechung.com/

Resources Mentioned:

• Book: Ally Leadership: How to Lead People Who Are Not Like You by Stephanie Chung
• Michael Bungay Stanier, How to Work With (Almost) Anyone
• Harvard Business Review, Deloitte, McKinsey reports on diverse teams

Grab Your Copy of The Rising Leader Handbook

Do you find yourself rising through your company's ranks so fast that you wish you had a manual to become an effective leader? Then, The Rising Leader Handbook is right for you.

In The Rising Leader Handbook, you’ll learn how to shift your perspective and gain the leadership skills you need, regardless of the breadth of your responsibilities, by leveraging the relationships you’ve built with the CEO, the Leadership Team, and the team you lead as well as your relationship with yourself.

Visit The Rising Leader Handbook: Turning High Achievers into Effective Leaders to grab your copy and start mastering your skills to become your team leader.

Leader, It’s Time to Rise!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Rising Leader Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeart Radio

Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help me reach more listeners like you.

Join me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. For more exclusive content and information, visit our website.

Have you ever looked up to a superstar, admired a successful public figure, or taken guidance from an influential leader, only to later learn about the human struggles, messy realities, and hidden challenges behind their public persona? In this episode, “I Was Selling a Lie,” I dive into why we put successful people on pedestals, the inevitable letdown when their humanity comes to light, and why real leadership means embracing imperfection. I draw on stories from famous artists, coaches, influencers, and even my chocolate chip cravings to reveal the essential truth: no one is above being hopelessly human.

"My aim isn’t to sell perfection but to invite you into honest conversations about growth, failure, and what it really takes to lead while being human." ~Mark

This week on The Rising Leader:

·     The hidden struggles behind fame, success, and leadership.

·     Why perfection in role models is an unhelpful illusion.

·     Real stories from influential figures like Boy George, Britney Spears, Justin Bieber, Jay Shetty, Andrew Huberman, and others.

·     The myth that personal development riders to perfection.

·     Real leadership advice: learning by embracing your full humanity.

·     My own vulnerabilities—chocolate chip confessions and being “Mark Mark” vs. “Coach Mark”.

·     The distinction between performative vulnerability and genuine openness.

·     The true cost of greatness, with reflections on Michael Jordan and Stevie Nicks.

Grab Your Copy of The Rising Leader Handbook

Do you find yourself rising through your company's ranks so fast that you wish you had a manual to become an effective leader? Then, The Rising Leader Handbook is right for you.

In The Rising Leader Handbook, you’ll learn how to shift your perspective and gain the leadership skills you need, regardless of the breadth of your responsibilities, by leveraging the relationships you’ve built with the CEO, the Leadership Team, and the team you lead as well as your relationship with yourself.

Visit The Rising Leader Handbook: Turning High Achievers into Effective Leaders to grab your copy and start mastering your skills to become your team leader.

Leader, It’s Time to Rise!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Rising Leader Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeart Radio

Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help me reach more listeners like you.

Join me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. For more exclusive content and information, visit our website.

Ever wondered what it looks like to build an impactful business from nothing—starting at age 22—and still keep your soul, care for your team, and navigate personal struggles most never see? In this conversation, I sit down with Alex Strathdee, founder and CEO of Shelf Life, the company behind the marketing success of my own Rising Leader handbook and numerous bestselling authors. We dig into Alex’s unconventional entrepreneurial journey, the power of resilience, what it actually takes to build a thriving team, and how embracing vulnerability and our own mental health challenges can become a hidden strength in leadership.

Alex Strathdee founded Shelf Life at just 22, growing it into a million-dollar company with 17 employees and a remarkable 90% employee retention rate. Working alongside renowned authors like Mike Michalowicz and Michael Bungay Stanier, and having clients such as Reid Hoffman and Gay Hendricks, he has become the go-to expert for authors looking to turn their ideas into impact. But Alex’s real superpower isn’t just marketing wizardry—it’s his relentless honesty, deep empathy (inspired by his remarkable grandmother), and unwavering commitment to building a business that’s as healthy on the inside as it appears from the outside.

“If this woman [my grandma] can stay happy and positive, then come on, I gotta find some positivity here.” ~Alex Strathdee

Today on The Rising Leader:

·     The seeds of leadership can come from unexpected places. Alex’s primary inspiration is his grandmother, whose resilience and positivity shaped his approach to people and business.

·     Entrepreneurial success ultimately hinges on persistence, learning from failures, and seeking mentorship.

·     Alex highlights the importance of asking for help and surrounding yourself with people who have already solved similar problems.

·     Relationships are everything; from first opportunities to company-saving advice, success, and new directions are rooted in genuine connections.

·     Vulnerability isn’t a liability; sharing mental health struggles (from OCD to intrusive thoughts) opened doors for Alex to get the help and tools he needed, transforming a challenge into a leadership strength.

·     Hiring and scaling require both toughness and care; having a strong “number two” (like Laura, his COO) is key to growth and balances out your own blind spots.

·     Letting go of being the “nice guy” is sometimes necessary—hard conversations and holding the team accountable keep the mission intact.

·     Systems matter: Alex and his leadership team leverage frameworks like Gino Wickman’s Traction to set rocks, build accountability, and keep everyone rowing in the same direction.

·     Helping your team thrive doesn’t mean coddling—it’s about setting high standards and supporting people to level up, all while keeping the company’s core mission at the center.

Connect with Alex Strathdee:

·     Shelf Life and author marketing services: getshelflife.com

·     Book: Before the Bestseller – Alex’s comprehensive guide to marketing your book

·     LinkedIn: Alex Strathdee

Resources and Mentions:

·     Book: Before the Bestseller by Alex Strathdee

·     Book: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

·     Book: Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi

·     Book: Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

·     Book: Who by Geoff Smart & Randy Street

·     Book: Traction by Gino Wickman

·     International OCD Foundation

·     Book: Needing to Know for Sure by Dr. Sally Winston & Dr. Martin Seif

·     Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts

·     Authors Unite (Tyler Wagner’s company)

Grab Your Copy of The Rising Leader Handbook

Do you find yourself rising through your company's ranks so fast that you wish you had a manual to become an effective leader? Then, The Rising Leader Handbook is right for you.

In The Rising Leader Handbook, you’ll learn how to shift your perspective and gain the leadership skills you need, regardless of the breadth of your responsibilities, by leveraging the relationships you’ve built with the CEO, the Leadership Team, and the team you lead as well as your relationship with yourself.

Visit The Rising Leader Handbook: Turning High Achievers into Effective Leaders to grab your copy and start mastering your skills to become your team leader.

Leader, It’s Time to Rise!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of The Rising Leader Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeart Radio

Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media to help me reach more listeners like you.

Join me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. For more exclusive content and information, visit our website.