Unleashing Brilliance

Janine Garner speaks with Kylie Paatsch about her new book, The Connect Effect, and why engagement in organizations keeps slipping despite more tools, more process, and more measurement. Kylie shares the leadership lessons behind the book, the model she has used for decades, and how connection becomes the pathway to trust, accountability, and performance.This conversation is especially useful for senior leaders who want more than inspiration. It gets practical about how to know people better, show that you know them, and grow them with intention.

• Kylie shares why she wrote The Connect Effect now, and names the five P’s behind the decision: problems, purpose, practicality, positioning, and proof.
• She explains the problem she is trying to solve: declining engagement, and the way many organizations still underestimate the relational side of leadership.
• Kylie reflects on the moment that pushed her to turn years of experience into a book, including the realization that she already had a model that worked.
• She talks about proving to herself that she could write, and how an old comment from an English teacher shaped her self-doubt for years.
• Janine and Kylie discuss the difference between having expertise and actually articulating it clearly in a structured, usable way.
• Kylie breaks down why engagement is dropping, including the impact of multiple generations in the workforce, hybrid work, and the growing distance between senior leaders and everyone else.
• She warns against surface-level fixes like return-to-office mandates, breakfast events, morning teas, and ping pong tables when the real issue is disconnection.
• Kylie shares how assumptions after engagement surveys can make things worse if leaders do not get curious and ask better questions.
• The conversation centers on Kylie’s three-part model: know them, show them, grow them.
• Kylie explains that connection is not the outcome itself, but the pathway to trust, loyalty, accountability, engagement, and performance.
• She describes the leadership mistake of expecting people to step up while leaders continue to micromanage instead of building capability, responsibility, and initiative.
• Janine and Kylie both stress that meaningful leadership requires time, presence, and deliberate attention to the people in your team.

The five P’sKylie says she wrote the book because of:

• Problems
• Purpose
• Practicality
• Positioning
• Proof

Know, show, growKylie’s core leadership model for building connection and engagement:

• Know them
• Show them
• Grow them

Know them,Start by understanding:

• Their why
• Their way
• Their wants

Show them,Kylie breaks this into three parts:

• Show you know
• Show you care
• Show them the way

Grow themHelp people develop:

• Capability
• Responsibility
• Initiative

Connect with Kylie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyliepaatsch/

“Connection is the pathway to trust, it’s the pathway to engagement, it’s the pathway to accountability, it’s the pathway to performance.”

“Human connection is going to be the glue that keeps us together.”

“When you show you know, you’re actually saying to someone else, ‘Yeah, I get you.’”

00:00 - Why Janine wanted Kylie on the show

02:33 - The moment Kylie realized her book was already inside her work

05:18 - What writing the book taught Kylie about structure and clarity

08:03 - Why leaders want practical help, not just ideas

09:25 - Why engagement is declining across generations and hybrid teams

14:33 - Surface-level fixes that do not solve disengagement

16:23 - The danger of making assumptions instead of asking questions

18:06 - Why connection is the pathway to trust and performance

20:08 - The origin story of the know, show, grow model

24:37 - Know them: why, way, and wants

27:15 - Show them: show you know, show you care, show them the way

30:34 - Grow them: capability, responsibility, and initiative

31:52 - Why the model demands intentional time from leaders

33:30 - Why AI has not yet created the leadership time people expected

34:53 - Accountability and conscious discipline in leadership

36:16 - Kylie’s wishes for the book and what she hopes it changes

39:05 - Janine’s role in helping Kylie bring the book into the world

This conversation explores why so many capable people stay quiet in meetings, over-edit emails, or perform confidence they do not feel.

Janine speaks with Michelle Fragias, keynote speaker, conscious communication coach, founder of The Conscious Voice, and creator of the Brave Method, about the real roots of voice suppression and how to move from survival mode into clear, grounded expression.

We discuss the four layers of fear that shape how people communicate, why transactional speaker training often falls short, and how Michelle’s inside-out approach helps people build a voice that is both authentic and influential.

Connect with Michelle: https://www.michellefragias.com/

Notable quotes

"You can't think your way through fear. The only way through it is to move your body and move your voice through it."

"Technical skills fall empty unless we deal with the root cause."

"Your outer voice is a direct reflection of what's going on in your inner conversation."

The Brave Method is explained as:

• Barriers
• Radical self-responsibility
• Radical self-acceptance
• Vocal presence
• Embodiment

Timestamps

00:00 - The moment you realize you are editing yourself before you even speak

02:02 - Michelle Fragias and the shift from corporate leadership to conscious communication

03:57 - Why voice shutdown is not a confidence problem

06:06 - Fear in modern workplaces and why brilliant people stay silent

08:52 - Why technical communication training fails without root-cause work

10:12 - The first two layers of fear: judgment and getting it wrong

13:21 - The third and fourth layers: being too much and not belonging

19:24 - The Brave Method as the bridge from inner voice to outer expression

20:41 - Where radical self-responsibility ends and compassion begins

23:01 - Vocal presence as the skill layer, after inner safety is built

24:27 - Why performance-based speaker training can miss the point

27:42 - Transactional training versus compassionate leadership

28:49 - The full Brave Method framework

30:45 - Why Michelle’s work matters at the root of human communication

32:53 - How the Public Speaking Gym builds voice through repetition and community

34:59 - What to do if you are playing safe but know you want more

35:48 - Small, sustainable steps that build evidence and confidence through action

Discover how authentic storytelling can transform connections, build trust, and foster leadership, especially in today's complex and AI-driven world. Join us for insights on differentiating storytelling from story sharing, practical frameworks for sharing your stories effectively, and the impact of vulnerability in professional spaces.

Main Topics:

• The distinction between storytelling and story sharing, and why it matters now
• The four-step process to craft compelling and authentic stories
• Common barriers to sharing stories: fear of judgment, perceived lack of stories, over-sharing concerns
• Practical prompts and exercises to uncover and mine your personal stories
• Tips for maintaining authenticity — avoiding script-like storytelling in professional contexts
• The deep personal shift that led the guest, Nimarta, to focus on human story sharing
• Neuroscience behind story sharing and its role in building trust and empathy

Nimarta Verma is an award-winning leadership facilitator and creator of the StorySharing™ methodology - a practical approach to building trust through authentic stories. With two decades of experience shaping brand narratives for companies like Unilever and Woolworths, she now helps leaders craft compelling stories from their own experiences.

Nimarta's work is built on a simple truth: people connect with leaders who are willing to be real. After years of watching brilliant leaders struggle to be seen as human (not just competent), she created StorySharing™ to close the gap between authority and authenticity.

Connect with Nimata:

• nimartaverma.com
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/nimarta-verma/

Harness the power of authentic story sharing—your unique stories are your greatest asset in building trust, leadership, and meaningful connections. Don’t hold back—start uncovering and sharing your stories today!

Elevate Applications: https://janinegarner.com.au/elevate/

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction to the importance of storytelling and story sharing

00:45 - Exploring the difference between storytelling and story sharing

01:55 - How media has commercialised storytelling and the rise of authentic story sharing

03:04 - The significance of authentic storytelling for trust and connection today

04:50 - Sharing impactful stories: a client’s journey in Paris

07:08 - The misconception that storytelling requires grand or polished narratives

08:28 - Barriers to sharing stories: unawareness, fear of oversharing, connecting personal stories in professional settings

09:44 - The importance of overcoming judgment and vulnerability

11:48 - The process of 'story mining' to uncover authentic moments

12:19 - Prompt examples for uncovering stories: failure, turning points, impactful conversations

14:44 - Crafting your story: starting with a key moment and ensuring engagement

17:56 - Using emotion and authenticity to deepen connection in storytelling

19:00 - Structuring your story: context, emotional peaks, and the "so what"

20:47 - The importance of showing emotion and physical grounding while sharing

26:07 - Nimarta’s personal story shift: loss, grief, and turning vulnerability into purpose

29:10 - Why story sharing is crucial for building trust and empathy in workplaces

31:19 - The role of stories in bridging divides and fostering understanding

34:15 - Practical advice: preparing stories without scripts, staying authentic

36:10 - Nimarta’s parting story and call to action for sharing more openly

37:07 - Final thoughts: unleash your stories for personal and professional growth

Mentioned in this episode:

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In this episode, we explore the critical leadership shifts needed during times of rapid change and uncertainty. Chris Power, a seasoned leadership coach and author of "Inflection Leadership," shares practical insights on how leaders can navigate inflection points with resilience, purpose, and strategic clarity.

• The concept of inflection leadership and its significance in today’s business landscape
• How COVID-19 and geopolitical shifts serve as inflection points for leaders
• The importance of pausing to refocus, realign, and readiness in leadership
• Strategies for leaders to manage uncertainty, build trust, and foster hope
• Practical steps for embracing change and turning inflection points into opportunities
• The three-part model: Refocus, Realign, and Ready—what it entails and how to implement
• The value of taking time out for leadership reflection and strategic planning
• How to nurture curiosity, diversity of thought, and support networks in decision-making

00:00 - Introduction to inflection leadership and its relevance today

02:25 - The impact of global shifts on leadership mindsets

04:42 - Leaders' response to evolving change and pressure

05:50 - The significance of hope as a leadership trait according to Gallup data

08:11 - Connecting purpose and strategy amidst uncertainty

10:21 - Opportunities in inflection points: innovation, adaptation, growth

13:10 - Examples of leaders turning worry into hope through strategic navigation

15:13 - The refocus phase: assessing leadership effectiveness and clarity

16:50 - The importance of honest feedback and pausing to reflect

18:22 - How asking the right questions can shift leadership mindset

20:04 - Transition to the realign phase: building cohesive teams

25:39 - Aligning team purpose, culture, and working modalities

27:44 - The critical role of preparation and reflection in readiness

28:48 - The benefits and challenges of off-site leadership retreats

32:06 - Introducing the 'Ready' phase: operational adaptation and systems support

33:34 - The importance of flexibility and incremental steps in the readiness process

35:38 - Recognizing if you are already in an inflection point

37:40 - Practical advice for leaders to carve out strategic reflection time

38:33 - Accessing resources: white paper download and connection

40:21 - Final thoughts and encouragement for courageous leadership

• Inflection Leadership White Paper (Download available on website)

• LinkedIn
• Website

This episode serves as a compelling call for leaders to embrace change proactively, leverage inflection points for growth, and lead with clarity and confidence in uncertain times.

The Art of Influence – Unlocking Your Voice for Impact

Discover how high achievers can craft their messages with authenticity, precision, and influence. Remona Moodley shares her journey from engineer to world-class speaker, emphasising that influence is rooted in authentic packaging and confident delivery.

In this episode:

• Remona's non-linear journey from engineering to Miss World to executive coaching
• The common challenge high achievers face: translating expertise into influence
• The importance of packaging insights compellingly for maximum impact
• Lessons learned from pageants about confidence, presence, and storytelling
• The significance of authentic self-expression in influencing others
• The pitfalls of overreliance on AI and superficial self-presentation
• Practical strategies for preparing speeches and delivering with confidence
• The "valley of doom" phenomenon in speech prep and how to overcome it
• The analogy of the artist vs. handyman in high achievers' approach to problem-solving
• Ramona’s passion for empowering smart, insightful individuals to amplify their voices

Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction: Unlocking influence through voice and impact

00:12 - Remona's inspiring journey across diverse fields

01:22 - The common thread: belief in possibility and love for learning

02:43 - The importance of continuous learning and curiosity

03:33 - Creating opportunities by taking initiative

04:14 - Why high achievers struggle with influence

04:50 - Remona’s childhood influence and the desire for influence

06:25 - The role of packaging insights effectively

07:40 - Lessons from pageants: presence, conviction, delivery

09:48 - The passion behind Remona’s work and why influence matters

10:30 - The challenge of smart people undervaluing their message

11:56 - Understanding "package" vs. "packaging"

13:16 - The importance of concise, structured communication in today's world

14:50 - Mistakes in packaging and standing out in a noisy environment

16:00 - The overreliance on AI and maintaining human connection

17:06 - The concept of executive presence beyond superficial traits

19:10 - The importance of authentic, confident delivery and preparation

20:18 - The "valley of doom" in speech prep and overcoming overthinking

21:15 - Anchoring messages in the body for authentic delivery

22:27 - Remona’s experience in a global speaking competition

23:08 - Practicing beyond comfort zones to build confidence

24:52 - Shifting focus from self to service, letting go of ego

25:25 - Building influence begins with self-relationship

27:11 - From artist to handyman: a reframe for high achievers’ approach to problem-solving

29:22 - Remona’s driving motivation: empowering problem solvers to unlock solutions

30:47 - Final thoughts: Why not you? The power of possibility

Resources & Links:

• Remona Moodley’s Website

Connect with Remona:

• LinkedIn

What if the stage of life most women are quietly suffering through is actually their leadership superpower? In this episode, Janine sits down with Karen Stein — executive coach, keynote speaker, author of Be Your Own Leadership Coach, and certified Menopause Champion — for an honest, commercial, and deeply needed conversation about menopause in the workplace.

With over 500 million women of menopausal age currently in the workforce, and 80% experiencing symptoms that affect how they think, feel, and function, Karen argues this is not a personal issue to leave at the office door. It's a leadership issue — and a business one.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why the most urgent thing leaders need to bring right now is calmness, hope, and possibility — especially in a world of complexity and uncertainty
• The philosophy behind Karen's book Be Your Own Leadership Coach — and why she wrote it so that anyone (regardless of access or budget) can carry coaching strategies in their "virtual backpack" every day
• What it really means to lead with kindness — and why mattering is more powerful than belonging
• The truth about midlife cognition — why your fifties are actually your cognitive peak (despite what advertising tells you)
• Karen's "Mad About Menopause" framework — covering mindset, community, and education — and how she's bringing men into this conversation too
• Her group coaching program Peri Pathways and the remarkable confidence shifts she's witnessed in participants
• The powerful reframe: your lived experience is not a liability — it's your positioning, your wisdom, and your competitive edge
• Practical advice for any woman quietly navigating this stage of life: how to move from feeling invisible and fearful to feeling connected, clear, and confident

Resources mentioned:

• 📖 Be Your Own Leadership Coach by Karen Stein
• Karen's group coaching program: Peri Pathways

Karen is a Menopause Champion, and Certified Menopause and Executive Coach, focused on normalising menopause at work. She is passionate about being "M.A.D" about menopause to make a difference in the workplace. Karen supports organisations to address a critical, often overlooked life stage impacting wellbeing, leadership, engagement and retention. She draws on her depth of leadership experience formerly as a partner of 24 years at Deloitte, and her Masters in Coaching Psychology to help leaders and teams build menopause-aware, inclusive and sustainable workplaces.

Most importantly, she supports those working through perimenopause and menopause to thrive through their careers as their best or better selves. Karen does so through her MenoMindset Executive Coaching program, her PeriPathways Group Coaching Program and her MAD about Menopause keynotes and workshops.

Links :

https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-stein-coaching/

www.karensteincoaching.com

[email protected]

Special offer $100 discount on all of my menopause related programs (coaching, keynotes and workshops) until 30 June 2026 by mentioning "Janine Garner" when making a booking.

Mentioned in this episode:

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Submit your Question: Spotify - click the button below. All other platforms - send me a DM on Instagram or email: [email protected] 

Spreadsheets tell you what is, but intuition whispers what's next. And that whisper is worth more than any data point you'll ever analyse. Most leaders ignore their built-in strategy engine because we've been taught to trust everything except ourselves. We outsource our knowing to consultants, frameworks and endless analysis when the answer is often sitting right there in that gut feeling we keep dismissing. The real rebel move? Stop outsourcing your knowing and turn that gut flicker, that shower thought, that 3 AM wake-up moment into one precise step you can defend in the boardroom.

My guest today is the incredible Chandu Bickford, who helps leaders, individuals and organisations navigate pressure with clarity. We're diving into how to make intuition practical, why it matters now more than ever and how using intuition instead of anxiety leads to better decisions and transformational outcomes. Chandu shares her own journey with intuition that began 30 years ago with a life-altering nudge to go to Africa, completely impractical at the time, but a move that became a transformative adventure in teaching her to trust that quiet inner voice.

We explore how the noise of the modern world drowns out intuitive whispers, leaving us reactive instead of intentional and why creating moments of quiet is essential for clarity. Chandu talks about her time living in a remote Tanzanian village, where she learnt invaluable lessons about leadership, resilience and adaptability that she now shares with leaders tired of running on empty and ready to lead from a place of clarity.

Chandu encourages a simple practice: pause, breathe deeply and ask yourself "What would I love?" This question, posed in tranquillity, can unlock incredible insights you didn't even know were there. We invite you to explore this intuitive path and let your intuition be the hidden advantage in your leadership toolkit, because life's best decisions are often the ones whispered by that inner compass we've been trained to ignore.

LINKS:

Connect with Chandu:

Website: https://chandubickford.com/ 

Instagram: @chandubickford

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chandu-bickford-9b85a6141/ 

Connect with Janine:

Elevate with Janine

The Focus Finder Assessment

Website |  Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube

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Let’s talk about that all-too-familiar business gut punch: you send a killer proposal, wait for the “yes” and get nothing but radio silence. Ghosting. It’s frustrating, it’s awkward and it can leave you questioning your value. But here’s the truth: you don’t need to slash your prices or chase after people who aren’t ready. You just need a smarter way to turn that silence into your next opportunity.

In this episode, I share how to respond when you get ghosted without losing your cool or your confidence. Meet the GHOST framework:

G: Give the Magic Pill

H: Humanise the Follow Up

O: Offer a Quick Win

S: Set Decision Gates

T: Take Back Your Power

Silence Isn’t Rejection—It’s Data

Ghosting isn’t a verdict on your worth. It’s just information. By showing up with clarity, boundaries and a focus on real outcomes, you can turn that silence into stronger client relationships. Remember, you are not here to chase and convince people to work with you. You are in the business of partnership. 

Here’s your challenge for this week: reach out to someone who’s gone quiet with a “Yes, No, or Not Now” message. Celebrate any response because clarity is always a win. And if this episode hits home, share it with someone who needs a boost. You’ve got the skills to turn silence into your next big success. 

LINKS:

Connect with Janine:

Elevate with Janine

The Focus Finder Assessment

Website |  Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube

Mentioned in this episode:

Apply to our Elevate Mastermind

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Submit your Question: Spotify - click the button below. All other platforms - send me a DM on Instagram or email: [email protected] 

Every conversation these days seems to revolve around Artificial Intelligence: chatbots, deep fakes and whether robots will take over our jobs (or even our souls!). Yet amidst the technical cacophony, there's a crucial narrative that's often missed: the timeless art of storytelling. How do we cut through the chaos to make meaningful connections when the personal is getting overshadowed by the automated? I sit down with Gabrielle Dolan, storytelling expert, bestselling author, and dear friend, to explore her newest book Story Intelligence and discuss mastering the craft of authentic storytelling amidst the buzz of AI.

Gabrielle passionately argues that while AI can mimic and generate content, it cannot replace the uniqueness of our lived experiences, personal voices and those charming quirks that define us. We explore how AI should be viewed as a creative ally rather than a replacement, helping us find and refine stories without overshadowing our authentic voice. The aim isn't bland uniformity but leveraging AI to amplify our personal truths, especially for entrepreneurs, CEOs and anyone looking to foster deeper connections.

The world is rife with distrust across government, organisations, and media, which means authentic storytelling is more crucial than ever. Gabrielle's work reaffirms that our stories are our most powerful assets for building trust and influence, offering realness in a world of manufactured content.

LINKS:

Connect with Gabrielle

Book: Story Intelligence: The Craft of Authentic Storytelling, Made Smarter with AI

Website: https://gabrielledolan.com/ 

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabrielledolan.1/ 

Connect with Janine:

Elevate with Janine

The Focus Finder Assessment

Website |  Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube

Mentioned in this episode:

Apply to our Elevate Mastermind

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Submit your Question: Spotify - click the button below. All other platforms - send me a DM on Instagram or email: [email protected] 

Drowning in obligations, tasks and responsibilities that multiply faster than you can clear them? We've been taught to solve problems by adding more - more effort, more resources, more systems. But what if the answer is actually subtraction? 

I recently sat down with Donna McGeorge, keynote speaker and bestselling author obsessed with helping people reclaim time and space for what really matters. She's written 15 books (five of them bestsellers), her ideas have appeared in Harvard Business Review, Forbes and Fast Company, and she's known for cutting through corporate waffle with sharp truths and practical frameworks. We discussed her latest book Red Brick Thinking and what she shared completely shifted how I think about problem-solving.

Donna shares her famous Lego bridge exercise that reveals why we're approaching problems all wrong, and introduces the concept of "addition bias", the tendency that's keeping us overwhelmed despite our best efforts. She explains why creating space doesn't mean doing more, and what we need to let go of instead.

We explore the three types of red bricks weighing us down in business and life, and how identifying them creates room for what actually matters. Donna walks through the shift from asking "What can we add?" to a question that changes everything about how you prioritise and make decisions.

If you're consumed by busyness, this conversation is your permission slip to stop adding and start subtracting. The space you create might just reveal the opportunities you've been missing.

LINKS:

Connect with Donna:

Website: https://donnamcgeorge.com/ 

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dmcgeorge/

Connect with Janine:

Elevate with Janine

The Focus Finder Assessment

Website |  Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube

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