In this episode, host Lee Scott welcomes Darren Virassammy, co-founder of 34 Strong, TEDx speaker, and talented bass player. Darren shares his personal journey of discovering lateral leadership through his home life and how this has shaped his approach to workplace dynamics. Explore the concept of lateral leadership across organizations, industries, and business relationships, with practical tips on how to build strong, lasting partnerships. Tune in for actionable advice on how to build trust, handle conflict, and become an "Unleashed Leader."

Additional Resources:

Connect with Darren on LinkedIn

Follow 34 Strong on LinkedIn

Listen to The Strengths Whisperer Podcast

Attend Unleashing Leaders University!

Learn more about Unleashing Leaders

Follow Unleashing Leaders on LinkedIn

Connect with Lee on LinkedIn

Follow Unleashing Leaders on Facebook

Follow Unleashing Leaders on Instagram

Key Takeaways:

• Focus on building relationships and connections before focusing on products and processes.
• Have regular check-in conversations to maintain and strengthen partnerships.
• Be a trusted partner for both external and internal collaborations. Building trust takes time and requires planting seeds and taking baby steps.
• Saying no and setting boundaries is important for personal and professional growth.
• Gratitude and self-awareness are key components of effective leadership.

Lee is joined by Bill Otterbeck, Deputy Director at California’s Department of Healthcare Services, to share how to lead large-scale transformations through integrative thinking and cross-functional collaboration. 

He explores the power of understanding diverse perspectives, aligning motivations, and fostering shared goals.

For Otterbeck, an unleashed leader builds other leaders—creating a culture rooted in communication, problem-solving, and collective purpose.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Bill Otterbeck on LinkedIn

Attend Unleashing Leaders University!

Learn more about Unleashing Leaders

Follow Unleashing Leaders on LinkedIn

Connect with Lee on LinkedIn

Follow Unleashing Leaders on Facebook

Follow Unleashing Leaders on Instagram

Key Takeaways:

• Integrative thinking involves considering multiple perspectives and connecting the dots across different areas of an organization.
• Collaboration and effective communication are essential for problem-solving and achieving shared goals.
• Understanding the motivations of others, both internally and externally, can help build strong relationships and alignment.
• An unleashed leader is someone who can build many leaders within their organization and foster a culture of collaboration and shared purpose. 

John Crowder, Vice President of the Healthcare Vertical at Integrity Solutions, brings decades of experience working with some of the world’s largest organizations to this insightful conversation with Lee Scott.

In this re-released episode, John shares how leaders can have a greater impact by shifting from listening to respond to truly listening to understand. He dives into the value of empathy, being consultative, and uncovering meaningful insights to enhance team performance.

Packed with actionable strategies, this episode is a must-listen for leaders looking to make a lasting, people-first impact.

Additional Resources:

Connect with John on LinkedIn

Learn more about Integrity Solutions

Listen to the original episode!

Attend Unleashing Leaders University!

Learn more about Unleashing Leaders

Follow Unleashing Leaders on LinkedIn

Connect with Lee on LinkedIn

Follow Unleashing Leaders on Facebook

Follow Unleashing Leaders on Instagram

Key Takeaways:

• Information discovered is more powerful than information delivered
• Seek to understand before being understood
• Accountability and innovation allow individuals space to verbalize their ideas

Michelle Cirocco, CEO of the Televerde Foundation and Chief Impact Officer at Televerde, shares her powerful journey from incarceration to executive leadership. 

In this conversation with Lee, she reveals her philosophy of empowering teams to lead like business owners and discusses how Televerde supports women in prison with job training and career opportunities. Michelle highlights the impact of these initiatives—low recidivism, high employment rates—and explores key themes like imposter syndrome, trust, and purpose-driven leadership.

Her story is a compelling example of using personal experience to drive meaningful societal change.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn

Learn more about Televerde 

Learn more about the Televerde Foundation

Attend Unleashing Leaders University!

Learn more about Unleashing Leaders

Follow Unleashing Leaders on LinkedIn

Connect with Lee on LinkedIn

Follow Unleashing Leaders on Facebook

Follow Unleashing Leaders on Instagram

Key Takeaways:

• Empowering team members to run their own "business"
• Supporting women in prison through job and training opportunities
• Overcoming personal adversity and imposter syndrome
• The power of meaningful professional connections and leadership evolution
• Balancing delegation and control in leadership roles

In this featured episode from the Gut + Science podcast, Lee joined host Nikki Lewallen Gregory to provide insights on leadership and personal growth. 

The discussion centers around identifying and nurturing people's potential and greatness through genuine curiosity, recognizing strengths, and positioning your team as the heroes of the narrative. The episode emphasizes the importance of exhibiting grace, curiosity, and empathy in relationships, focusing on what individuals value and require, and assisting them in achieving their goals.

Additional Resources:

Listen to the original episode!

Attend Unleashing Leaders University!

Learn more about Unleashing Leaders

Follow Unleashing Leaders on LinkedIn

Connect with Lee on LinkedIn

Follow Unleashing Leaders on Facebook

Follow Unleashing Leaders on Instagram

Key Takeaways:

• Cultivating curiosity is essential for identifying strengths and superpowers
• Challenging beliefs are necessary to find new ways to grow and overcome limitations
• Effective leaders listen actively and focus on the critical needs of their team members 

In this re-released episode, Lee welcomes Michelle Mahaffey, EVP and Chief HR Officer at Community Health Network in Indianapolis. Michelle highlights the importance of overcoming the stigma around mental health and the significance of caregivers being able to receive care themselves. They discuss the joy and fulfillment of allowing others to support you and the importance of normalizing the need for help and seeking support. The conversation then shifts to burnout, sustainability, and resilience, especially within the healthcare profession.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn

Listen to the original episode!

Learn more about Community Health Network

Attend Unleashing Leaders University!

Learn more about Unleashing Leaders

Follow Unleashing Leaders on LinkedIn

Connect with Lee on LinkedIn

Follow Unleashing Leaders on Facebook

Follow Unleashing Leaders on Instagram

Key Takeaways: 

• Leadership is a collective effort, not just top-down solutions.
• Building trust and credibility as a new leader.
• The power of active listening and understanding challenges.

Stephanie Clendenin, Director of the California Department of State Hospitals, joins Lee to share her journey from accounting to leading one of the nation’s largest forensic mental health systems.

With 34+ years in public service, she reflects on unifying siloed teams, navigating political sensitivities, and driving impact through strategic planning and shared goals. Stephanie’s story is a powerful example of people-first leadership in complex, high-stakes environments.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn

Learn more about California Department of State Hospitals

Attend Unleashing Leaders University!

Learn more about Unleashing Leaders

Follow Unleashing Leaders on LinkedIn

Connect with Lee on LinkedIn

Follow Unleashing Leaders on Facebook

Follow Unleashing Leaders on Instagram

Key Takeaways:

• Overcoming departmental silos for organizational unity
• Strategic planning amidst health care system evolution
• Navigating resistance to change in long-established organizations
• Balancing high-level strategy with detailed operational focus
• Shifting paradigms in mental health and justice involvement 

Sheriff Matt Clifford of Idaho’s largest law enforcement agency shares powerful leadership lessons from his 23-year career in public service. 

In this conversation with Lee, he explores how empowering teams, adapting to change, and building strong community relationships are key to maintaining public trust. From his start at Boise State to shaping safety policies in the Treasure Valley, Sheriff Clifford reflects on service culture, learning from mistakes, and leading with respect through adversity.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Matt Clifford on LinkedIn

Attend Unleashing Leaders University!

Learn more about Unleashing Leaders

Follow Unleashing Leaders on LinkedIn

Connect with Lee on LinkedIn

Follow Unleashing Leaders on Facebook

Follow Unleashing Leaders on Instagram

Key Takeaways:

• Cultivating a supportive internal culture amidst a growing community
• Embracing diverse community expectations in Ada County
• Navigating leadership challenges in adapting to shifting police cultures
• Balancing firmness and respect in correctional environment interactions

With a background of breaking down silos and fostering unity within professional services, Randie Dial discusses the transformative journey from a culture of isolated microcultures to one where collaboration reigns supreme.

Randie and Lee uncover the story behind CliftonLarsonAllen's (CLA) pivotal shift that led to securing a game-changing $4 billion client and sparked a shift towards a client-centered strategy. They delve into practical tactics like the "happy Friday email" for celebrating team wins and networking with a focus on giving rather than taking.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Randie on LinkedIn

Learn more about CLA

Check out Give and Take by Adam Grant

Attend Unleashing Leaders University!

Learn more about Unleashing Leaders

Follow Unleashing Leaders on LinkedIn

Connect with Lee on LinkedIn

Follow Unleashing Leaders on Facebook

Follow Unleashing Leaders on Instagram

Key Takeaways:

• Overcoming organizational silos for market success
• Cultivating unity through consistent team recognition
• The impact of mentorship on leadership development
• Rethinking networking for meaningful professional relationships
• Innovative strategies for attracting new talent to the accounting profession 

Tria Deibert, SVP of Culture and Team Member Well-being at Hackensack Meridian Health, brings a fresh perspective from her marketing roots to leading cultural transformation in a 35,000+ employee organization.

In her conversation with Lee, Tria highlights the power of appreciative inquiry, positive storytelling, and peer mentoring to strengthen leadership and equity. She also shares her return to academia and the innovative strategies she uses to foster authentic, people-first leadership.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Tria on LinkedIn

Learn more about Hackensack Meridian Health

Attend Unleashing Leaders University!

Learn more about Unleashing Leaders

Follow Unleashing Leaders on LinkedIn

Connect with Lee on LinkedIn

Follow Unleashing Leaders on Facebook

Follow Unleashing Leaders on Instagram

Key Takeaways:

• Navigating boundaries for creative leadership
• Fostering equity and capacity in leadership roles
• The transformative power of appreciative inquiry
• Reinventing organizational culture through storytelling
• Innovating well-being strategies in the workplace