In this episode, Steve Sorenson, Senior Director of Learning and Culture at Johnsonville, shares how intentional language, accountability, and empowerment form the backbone of a thriving organizational culture. Drawing from his leadership journey, Steve explores how redefining roles through clear language can unlock personal growth and drive team alignment.

He unpacks Johnsonville’s unique cultural framework where self-leadership, coaching, and communication are more than buzzwords and highlights the strategies they use to foster engagement at every level. From creating psychological safety to encouraging self-advocacy and feedback loops, Steve reveals how culture isn’t just supported by HR, but built daily by every member of the organization. This episode is a guide for leaders who want to cultivate workplaces rooted in ownership, purpose, and trust.

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• Johnsonville refers to its workforce as members, not employees.
• Words matter in defining organizational culture and relationships.
• High engagement scores reflect a strong organizational culture.
• Empowerment in decision-making is crucial for leadership development.
• Effective communication involves understanding interpretation, not just intention.

In this insightful conversation, Rosa Leal shares her inspiring journey from designing NASCAR alternators to leading commercial product strategy and customer experience at Rheem. With over 20 patents and a passion for innovation, Rosa reflects on how empathy, listening, and collaboration have shaped her leadership approach across engineering and product development.

She dives into the complexity of designing for layered customer ecosystems, the importance of staying ahead of regulatory shifts, and how her experience as an immigrant and non-native English speaker sharpened her ability to truly hear customer needs. Rosa also unpacks the role of product management in aligning internal teams, managing risk through stage-gate processes, and fostering a culture where ideas and challenges are welcomed. This episode is a blueprint for leaders who want to drive innovation without sacrificing humility or humanity.

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Strategic Leader | Engineer | Patent Holder | Selected as one of the 2023 Top Women in HVAC and Engineered Systems's 2023 20 to Watch: Women in HVAC

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Key Takeaways:

• Innovation starts with truly listening to customers.
• Product strategy succeeds when cross-functional teams align early.
• Empathy, kindness, and clarity drive stronger leadership.
• Regulatory shifts are opportunities, not obstacles.
• Building trust enables open, risk-aware innovation.

In this empowering conversation, Janeen Dodson shares her remarkable 27-year journey in California state government, from a student assistant to Deputy Director at the Department of Housing and Community Development. With humility, grit, and deep operational insight, Janeen explores what it means to lead from any level — emphasizing the importance of emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and relationship-building in complex systems.

She unpacks the challenges emerging leaders face when driving change without authority, the importance of understanding one’s sphere of control and influence, and how perceptual acuity and bravery go hand-in-hand when disrupting the status quo. Janeen also dives into the power of feedback, embracing discomfort, and how senior leaders can remove barriers to unleash their teams’ innovation.

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• Janeen Dodson has over 27 years of experience in state government.
• Early experiences shape leadership perspectives and styles.
• Leadership is not dependent on a title; anyone can lead.
• Building relationships is crucial for emerging leaders.
• Understanding your sphere of control and influence is key to effective leadership.

In this engaging conversation, KL Shaw shares her unique career journey from selling cars to becoming a C-suite executive and ultimately a professional coach. She emphasizes the importance of curiosity, problem-solving, and networking in career advancement. KL discusses the significance of embracing risk and overcoming fear, as well as the critical skills of negotiation and relationship-building. The conversation also touches on interview preparation and the mindset needed for success. Ultimately, KL highlights that kindness and a genuine desire to help others unlock their potential are key hallmarks of successful leadership.

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• Vulnerability can lead to powerful connections.
• Curiosity is essential for problem-solving and growth.
• Networking is crucial; 80% of jobs are found this way.
• Every day is an opportunity to interview for your next role.
• Embrace risk; you have time to rebuild if needed.

In this episode of the Unleashing Leaders podcast, Lee Scott and Ross Thornley delve into the concept of adaptability in leadership, particularly during chaotic times. Ross shares his journey into leadership and the development of the Adaptability Quotient (AQ), emphasizing the importance of psychological safety and resilience in organizations. They discuss the challenges leaders face in recognizing stress signals and the necessity of difficult conversations. The conversation also explores the resilience maturity model and the significance of self-reflection in enhancing adaptability. Ross highlights the future of coaching, the integration of AI, and the importance of compassion in leadership.

Ross Thornley is an Author & Keynote Speaker on Adaptability & The Future of Work. Serial Entrepreneur. Co-Founder of AQai - The World's Largest Community of Adaptability Certified Coaches. Host of DECODING AQ podcast.

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Key Takeaways:

• Adaptability is crucial for leaders in chaotic times.
• Psychological safety fosters better adaptability in teams.
• Recognizing stress signals is essential for personal and organizational health.
• Difficult conversations can lead to growth and understanding.
• The resilience maturity model helps leaders navigate challenges.

In this episode, Dr. Derek Bub shares some of the less glamorous realities of navigating turbulence and rebuilding leaders after setbacks. Dr. Bub shares his unconventional career journey, starting as a fraud investigator to becoming the superintendent of the West Ada School District, the largest K-12 educational district in Idaho. The conversation delves into the 'dark side' of leadership, which recognizes that often leaders are found and forged in the foundry of a crisis. It isn't pleasant in the moment. Maybe you are stuck cleaning up a mess that had nothing to do with you; or maybe you made a mistake that you are recovering from. But it is these setbacks that are the setups for growing as a leader.

Dr. Derek Bub outlines how to prepare for the inevitable setbacks, navigate them with grace, and then how to restore yourself or colleagues who might feel bruised by the gauntlet. He also highlights how to demonstrate compassion by listening to stakeholders and teammates, even when emotions run high and answers are unclear. And then following up after the fact to reflect and restore confidence, so leaders have the room to grow and learn.

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Key Takeaways:

• Leadership is not confined to titles; it can manifest at all levels.
• Leadership is not always glorious, but the 'setbacks" are "setups" for growth.
• Don't just seek to understand; show others that you understand them, even when there are disparate views.
• Surprises often come from small issues rather than big ones.
• Any change will generate "resistance"; don't avoid it, invite it!

In this conversation, Lee and Amy Bayer discuss the complexities of career breaks and re-entering the workforce, particularly focusing on the challenges faced by individuals who take time off for personal reasons such as parenting. Amy shares her personal journey in human resources, her experiences with leadership, and the importance of open communication between employees and employers. They explore the emotional aspects of transitioning back to work, the significance of self-discovery, and the need for patience and persistence in finding fulfilling career opportunities.

Additional Resources:

16+ Years in Hospitality Procurement | Supply Chain, Contracting, + Delivering Value to Clients: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybayer/

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• Career breaks can be a source of pride and growth.
• Open conversations between leaders and employees are crucial.
• Self-discovery is key to finding fulfillment in work.
• It's important to recognize and address feelings of depression.
• The body keeps score of our emotional well-being.

Jeff Lindeman, Chief People, Culture & Capability Officer at WD-40, joins the podcast to unpack the dual challenge every modern leader faces leading themselves and leading through change. Through personal reflection, bold transparency, and a people-first mindset, Jeff reveals how introversion, vulnerability, and authenticity can become surprising superpowers in leadership. In this deep-dive conversation, Jeff and Lee examine how seemingly small moments, like asking for time off or handling disappointment, can become pivotal points of leadership. Jeff walks us through lessons learned from his early career, how he doubled performance by showing respect, and how WD-40 cultivates 94% employee engagement in a world where the average is just 23%. From embracing AI with curiosity instead of fear to fostering trust through shared accountability, Jeff shows us that unleashing leaders isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about asking the right questions and showing up with intentional presence.

Additional Resources:

Jeff is Chief People, Culture & Capability Officer at WD-40: linkedin.com/in/jglindeman

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Key Takeaways:

• Leadership is not about extroversion; it's about trust.
• Showing up authentically is crucial for effective leadership.
• Respecting employees leads to better engagement and productivity.
• Leadership is a team sport, not a solo act.
• Vulnerability in leadership fosters stronger relationships.

In this episode, Debra Squyres reveals the nuanced relationship between the customer experience and team member experience. She debunks several myths about what it means to be a customer focused organization, including "The customer is always right" or "You can either have happy employees or happy customers." The reality is that our employees are the ones that create the customer experience. Debra covers practical strategies for leaders to implement intentional, steady, regular doses of recognition practices that build trust within their teams and help them deliver amazing customer experiences. She also shares emerging technology that can help leaders build effective and timely peer-to-peer and leader-to-team member encouragement and feedback.

Additional Resources:

Chief Customer Officer at Bonusly: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debrasquyres/

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Key Takeaways:

- Exceptional customer experience is rooted in team member experience. - Great leaders model the way for how they want the customers to feel by how they treat their team members. - Building trust requires consistent recognition and feedback. - Ways to help reluctant leaders genuinely and more regularly recognize employees. - Recognition should be specific about behaviors and linked to outcomes. - Recognition is not just for superlative performance. - Understanding individual preferences is key to effective recognition. - Public recognition can be powerful but must be balanced with personal comfort.

This episode marks the powerful conclusion to the Vision Series, where Lee Scott illuminates one of the most overlooked yet transformative tools in a leader’s arsenal, storytelling as a conduit for vision. This episode uncovers how the right words, shared with intention, can align teams, unlock motivation, and move organizations forward.

Lee breaks down three high-stakes leadership conversations, elevator pitches, delegation, and escalation, revealing how each becomes a pivotal moment to embody and activate your vision. Through real-world examples drawn from national leadership conferences and high-impact client engagements, he shares not just what to say, but how to say it in a way that resonates and creates movement.

Listeners will walk away with practical, field-tested frameworks: from designing elevator pitches that spark curiosity and connection, to delegating in a way that energizes ownership, to navigating escalations using the CORE model to advocate with clarity and courage. Lee challenges leaders not just to speak their vision but to live it out loud, transforming everyday conversations into catalysts for shared progress and collective purpose.

Additional Resources:

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• Leaders must effectively communicate their vision through storytelling.
• Crafting an elevator pitch is essential for networking and engagement.
• Delegation should start with the 'why' to inspire action.
• Escalating issues requires a structured approach to ensure clarity.
• Visionary leadership transforms tasks into collaborative efforts.