What does it look like when leadership is rooted in genuine care for people? In this conversation, you’ll hear how Peter Bissonnette’s experiences in a monastery and in the corporate world shaped a philosophy of service, humility, and trust. His journey shows that caring isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s the foundation for lasting impact with employees and customers alike.

With stories, Peter illustrates how leaders can bring humanity into business while still driving growth and innovation. From customer service initiatives that prioritize connection to employee engagement practices that value feedback, you’ll discover how an organization can thrive when its culture is built on compassion, humility, and treating people like family.

Peter is the former president of Shaw Communications Inc., one of Canada’s leading telecommunications companies. With more than three decades of experience in the cable, internet, and media industries, Peter played a pivotal role in transforming how Canadians connect and communicate.

Peter has recently published a very inspiring memoir, Count on Me: My Life, Lessons, and Legacy as Former President of Shaw Communications. Peter is not just an exceptional leader, he’s also a remarkable human being. You’re sure to be inspired by a man who experienced unbelievable adversity and trauma as a boy, then created a life that’s grounded in integrity, empathy, and trust.

You’ll discover:

• Peter’s early life experiences that shaped his leadership philosophy.
• The values that run through Peter’s book, Count On Me.
• Why vulnerability and humility strengthen leadership impact.
• Practical ways Shaw Communications fosters customer loyalty and trust.
• How employee engagement and customer feedback transformed company culture.

Check out all the episodes
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
Connect with Meredith on LinkedIn
Follow Meredith on Twitter
Download the free ebook Listen Like a Pro

Keith brings these concepts to life with stories, tested practices, and simple tools you can start using right away. He explains how methods like “stress testing,” candor breaks, and energy checks transform group dynamics, helping teams shift from avoidance and silence to openness and trust. This episode is full of strategies that don’t just improve collaboration—they create lasting bonds and higher performance.

Keith is the best-selling author of books you’re probably familiar with, like Never Eat Alone, Who’s Got Your Back, and Leading Without Authority. This interview focused on his latest book, Never Lead Alone: 10 Shifts from Leadership to Teamship.

You’ll discover:

• Why “never lead alone” is more than a slogan—it’s a new way of working.
• A proven method for giving and receiving feedback that strengthens relationships.
• How vulnerability and energy checks foster deeper trust and empathy.
• Ways to move from conflict avoidance to courageous conversations.
• Practical strategies for enhancing collaboration, both in real-time and asynchronously.

Check out all the episodes
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
Connect with Meredith on LinkedIn
Follow Meredith on Twitter
Download the free ebook Listen Like a Pro

What if the most powerful thing you could do as a leader is to see greatness in others that they can’t see in themselves? That’s the philosophy that has guided Ken Crenshaw, longtime Director of Sports Medicine and Performance for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Drawing on values learned from his small-town ranch upbringing and a pivotal mentor in high school, Ken has built a leadership approach centered on service, humility, and love. His stories remind you that even the simplest principles, when applied consistently, can transform lives and teams.

In this conversation, you’ll hear how Ken integrates self-awareness, vulnerability, and authentic listening into his work with athletes and staff. He explains how culture is a living, breathing force that requires daily care, and why crucial conversations rooted in love are essential for growth. Whether you lead a business, a sports team, or a family, Ken’s wisdom will inspire you to slow down, listen deeply, and commit to helping others reach their full potential.

You’ll discover:

• How a high school coach’s tough love shaped Ken’s leadership philosophy.
• Why self-awareness and feedback are game-changers for leaders.
• The role vulnerability plays in accelerating personal and professional growth.
• Practical ways to build a culture rooted in love, trust, and shared purpose.
• How to recognize and call out the hidden potential in others.

Check out all the episodes
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
Connect with Meredith on LinkedIn
Follow Meredith on Twitter
Download the free ebook Listen Like a Pro

What does it take to lead in a world where the odds are stacked against you? Jennifer Langton’s remarkable journey from being the only girl on an all-boys lacrosse team to becoming the NFL’s first Vice President of Player Health and Safety is filled with lessons on courage, authenticity, and strategic visibility.

Her early sports experiences taught her the value of letting your work speak for itself and knowing when to step forward—or step back—to build trust and credibility. Those lessons became the foundation for her “Connect, Trust, Grow” leadership model, which she’s applied at the highest levels of professional sports and business.

Jennifer shares stories of resilience, innovation, and determination, from overcoming personal loss and career-ending injuries to pioneering concussion prevention initiatives that transformed the NFL’s approach to player safety. You’ll hear how she’s led groundbreaking projects, navigated male-dominated environments with confidence, and inspired teams to embrace change—even when resistance was high. Her insights will challenge you to rethink how you lead, influence, and create lasting impact.

Jenny is an award-winning strategic executive who’s known for her ability to drive innovation and positive change. She was an executive with the NFL for 15 years, where she spearheaded initiatives that revolutionized sports safety, including the development of an AI platform to predict injuries, impacting not only football but all sports and several other industries. She’s now focused on delivering keynote speeches and providing advisory services to companies.

You’ll discover:

• Why authenticity can build trust quickly
• How “strategic visibility” can accelerate your influence
• Jennifer’s three-part model for leadership
• Ways to overcome resistance and inspire innovation in any setting
• How to turn adversity into a catalyst for growth and success

Check out all the episodes
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
Connect with Meredith on LinkedIn
Follow Meredith on Twitter
Download the free ebook Listen Like a Pro

What do you do when one person’s behavior is quietly eroding the trust and teamwork of your group—and no one wants to speak up? In this episode, I share a true story from my own leadership journey where I faced that exact challenge. You’ll hear how I guided four frustrated team members through a structured, respectful process to share their concerns directly with a colleague—and how that meeting became one of the most transformative moments of my career.

You’ll discover the simple 4-step feedback model we used, why it’s so effective in preventing defensiveness, and how it can turn even the most difficult conversations into opportunities for connection. You’ll also hear an unexpected twist that shifted the entire dynamic in the room and led to deeper trust, openness, and collaboration than the team had ever experienced before.

I’m the co-founder and president of Grow Strong Leaders. We’ve created online resources that help leaders strengthen their character and communication skills to build strong relationships and inspire others to perform at the highest level.

You’ll discover:

• Why waiting too long to address an issue can backfire
• A 4-step framework for giving feedback with clarity and care
• How to prepare people so emotions don’t derail the message
• The surprising moment that turned confrontation into connection

Check out all the episodes
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
Connect with Meredith on LinkedIn
Follow Meredith on Twitter
Download the free ebook Listen Like a Pro

Are you holding back in ways you don’t even realize? In this candid and inspiring conversation, Dr. Tom Olson invites you to take a hard look at how fear of change and a need for safety can quietly run your life. He shares powerful stories from his own journey, including the leap that led to his PhD, and offers practical ways to shift from playing it safe to making bold, intentional choices.

We talk about what it really means to lead—at work, at home, and in your own life. Tom explains how to stop giving away your power, how to support others without fixing them, and why emotional intelligence makes all the difference in leadership. You’ll walk away thinking differently about risk, responsibility, and what’s truly possible when you take the helmet off.

With over 30 years of global experience, Tom is a highly sought-after coach, trainer, and researcher who has transformed lives through his dynamic, innovative approach to personal and professional development. He's affectionately known as Dr. Tom by his clients throughout the world, with a stellar reputation for providing impactful coaching and training to leaders and teams. His work empowers clients to unlock their potential and overcome their greatest challenges.

Tom is the author of the acclaimed book, Don't Die With Your Helmet On, which has inspired leaders and professionals to embrace purpose, resilience, and action.

You’ll discover:

• What Tom means by “don’t die with your helmet on” (and why it matters)
• Why fear often shows up looking “reasonable”
• The questions that help you take back control
• A healthy way to challenge team members stuck in victim thinking
• How strong leaders build engagement through shared power

Check out all the episodes
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
Connect with Meredith on LinkedIn
Follow Meredith on Twitter
Download the free ebook Listen Like a Pro

What can you do to set up your frontline leaders for success from Day 1? This episode with Matt Gjertsen explores the essential skills and strategies new managers need to transition smoothly from individual contributor to effective leader. Find out how to help them shift from being the “answer person” to empowering their teams, asking better questions, and building trust that leads to stronger results.

Matt shares specific ways to guide new leaders in interviewing and hiring, holding meaningful development conversations, and setting realistic expectations around career growth. Whether you’re supporting first-time managers or looking to strengthen your leadership pipeline, you’ll gain actionable tools to help them thrive and positively impact their teams.

Matt is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and a former Air Force Instructor Pilot with 2500 flight hours. After leaving active duty, he spent over 4 years at SpaceX, leading the training and development team, before founding Better Every Day Studios in 2021. Matt has continued his career in the U.S. Air Force Reserves as a Lt. Colonel supporting Space Systems Command.

Matt’s 20 years of experience working with and leading high-performing teams all over the world have given him a unique perspective on what it takes to lead teams in this ever-changing world. He and his team at Better Every Day Studios are on a mission to train better managers, build better companies, and create a better world.

You’ll discover:

• What new leaders need to navigate the shift from individual contributor to manager
• How to coach them on interviewing and hiring using the 70-30 rule
• Why development conversations should focus on growth, not just tasks
• How to set clear expectations around promotions and career development
• Ways to help new managers balance reinforcing and redirecting feedback

Check out all the episodes
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
Connect with Meredith on LinkedIn
Follow Meredith on Twitter
Download the free ebook Listen Like a Pro

How can you effectively manage stress and stay composed in high-pressure situations? In this episode, Dr. Susan Bernstein dives into the power of somatic leadership, offering insights on how you can use body signals to transform your responses to time pressures and unexpected changes. Drawing from her extensive experience working with top companies like Cisco and Google, Susan shares practical techniques that foster self-awareness, reduce stress, and enable you to create a sense of calm in chaotic environments.

By learning to tune into your body’s signals, you can improve decision-making and enhance team dynamics. Susan discusses six common nervous system response patterns—fight, flight, freeze, fawn, fade, and fix—and shows how leaders can shift from a reactive, “fight” mode into a more grounded, mindful approach. This shift not only alleviates stress but also boosts resilience and fosters a healthier workplace culture.

Susan is the CEO of a boutique consulting firm called Powerful Under Pressure. As the name implies, she helps leaders and teams at companies like Cisco, Google, and Uber excel under the most demanding conditions.

Susan combines her past experiences in leadership roles at Intel and Accenture with an MBA from UC Berkeley and a PhD in Somatic Psychology in her work with clients. Susan developed the Powerful Under Pressure framework to help organizations strengthen operational capacity by increasing the resilience and clarity of the people leading them. This emphasis equips teams to navigate complexity with sound judgment and sustained performance.

You’ll discover:

• The concept of "somatic smarts" and how small shifts in body awareness can lead to greater leadership effectiveness
• The six nervous system response patterns and how they impact your decisions
• Simple somatic techniques you can use to enhance self-awareness and relaxation
• How self-awareness can help you navigate high-pressure situations with calmness and clarity
• Strategies for supporting your team in managing stress and building resilience

Check out all the episodes
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
Connect with Meredith on LinkedIn
Follow Meredith on Twitter
Download the free ebook Listen Like a Pro