Thank you for all of your support. Please let us know what you think about our podcast and what topic you may want to hear from us. Leaders, Lead Well!

Culture is everywhere in leadership conversations. Executives call it a top priority. They launch new values campaigns, roll out wellbeing programs, rewrite mission statements, and deliver heartfelt talks about trust and purpose. But here’s the tension: for all the activity, something isn’t landing. In many organizations, the more leaders talk about culture, the more hollow it feels — especially when the systems and actions behind the words don’t line up.

In today’s episode we’re diving into a counterintuitive insight from a recent Harvard Business Review article: culture isn’t changed by fancy slogans or stirring speeches. It’s changed by the systems — incentives, processes, workflows, structural design — that guide day-to-day behavior.

Join Rich and Maikel as we break down why leaders who rely solely on messaging often fall short, how systemic design outpaces communication, and concrete steps you can take to rewire your organization’s cultural architecture in this episode of Mainline Executive Coaching ACT.

Leaders, Lead Well!

Thank you to all of our listeners in over 100 countries and now, 1,000 cities worldwide, we greatly appreciate your support! We truly hope that what we bring to our listeners will improve your ability as leaders.

Mainline Executive Coaching ACT has been recognized by FeedSpot as one of the top Executive Coaching Podcast in the world based on thousands of podcasts on the web and ranked by traffic, social media, followers & freshness.

https://blog.feedspot.com/executive_coaching_podcasts/

John Mattone Global: https://johnmattone.com/

Rich Baron:
rbaron@richbaronexecutivecoaching.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-baron/
https://www.richbaronexecutivecoaching.com/

Maikel Bailey:
mbailey@intelligentleadershipec.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/maikelbailey/
https://maikelbailey.com/

Thank you for all of your support. Please let us know what you think about our podcast and what topic you may want to hear from us. Leaders, Lead Well!

Let's take a hard look at one of the most celebrated buzzwords in modern organizations: “speak-up culture.” On paper, it sounds empowering. It promises openness, authenticity, and progress. But the truth is—this concept is overrated, misunderstood, and in many cases dangerously misleading.

This conversation is inspired by Gina Battye’s powerful article, “Why ‘speak up culture’ is a lie” published in Fast Company on September 15, 2025. Battye argues that “speak-up culture” has become more of a corporate comfort blanket than a genuine solution—creating the illusion of safety while ignoring the real work of cultural transformation. We couldn't agree more!

The irony is clear: when organizations genuinely foster psychological safety, people naturally feel empowered to speak up—no need for posters or hollow slogans, no pressure—just genuine trust and collaboration.

Join Rich and Maikel as we speak up on Battye’s deeper point: psychological safety isn’t a corporate slogan or a shared belief—it’s a deeply personal, moment-to-moment state that shifts depending on context, relationships, and environment. All this on this episode of Mainline Executive Coaching ACT.

Leaders, Lead Well!

Thank you to all of our listeners in over 100 countries and now, 1,000 cities worldwide, we greatly appreciate your support! We truly hope that what we bring to our listeners will improve your ability as leaders.

Mainline Executive Coaching ACT has been recognized by FeedSpot as one of the top Executive Coaching Podcast in the world based on thousands of podcasts on the web and ranked by traffic, social media, followers & freshness.

https://blog.feedspot.com/executive_coaching_podcasts/

John Mattone Global: https://johnmattone.com/

Rich Baron:
rbaron@richbaronexecutivecoaching.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-baron/
https://www.richbaronexecutivecoaching.com/

Maikel Bailey:
mbailey@intelligentleadershipec.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/maikelbailey/
https://maikelbailey.com/

Thank you for all of your support. Please let us know what you think about our podcast and what topic you may want to hear from us. Leaders, Lead Well!

In our last episode, we uncovered the hidden costs of fear-driven leadership—how it weakens trust, limits innovation, and leaves organizations stuck in survival mode.

Today, in Part 2 of our series, we shift our focus to the other side of the leadership divide: aspirational leadership. This is where vision, purpose, and inspiration become the driving forces. Aspirational leaders don’t just manage tasks—they ignite possibility. They cultivate cultures where people are motivated by hope and potential, not by fear and pressure.

Join Rich and Maikel as we explore what defines aspirational leadership, the habits that set these leaders apart, and how organizations can foster this mindset to unlock resilience, creativity, and long-term success in this episode of Mainline Executive Coaching ACT.

Leaders, Lead Well!

Thank you to all of our listeners in over 100 countries and now, 1,000 cities worldwide, we greatly appreciate your support! We truly hope that what we bring to our listeners will improve your ability as leaders.

Mainline Executive Coaching ACT has been recognized by FeedSpot as one of the top Executive Coaching Podcast in the world based on thousands of podcasts on the web and ranked by traffic, social media, followers & freshness.

https://blog.feedspot.com/executive_coaching_podcasts/

John Mattone Global: https://johnmattone.com/

Rich Baron:
rbaron@richbaronexecutivecoaching.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-baron/
https://www.richbaronexecutivecoaching.com/

Maikel Bailey:
mbailey@intelligentleadershipec.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/maikelbailey/
https://maikelbailey.com/

Thank you for all of your support. Please let us know what you think about our podcast and what topic you may want to hear from us. Leaders, Lead Well!

The first in a two-part series on a powerful leadership contrast: Aspirational Leadership vs. Fear-Driven Leadership.

In this opening conversation, we’re taking a deep dive into fear-driven leadership—what it looks like, how it shows up in organizations, and the impact it has on both culture and performance. Fear may create short-term compliance, but it erodes trust, stifles innovation, and leaves lasting damage to people and organizations alike.

Simply put, "Fear Rules, Vision Leads."

Over the next two episodes, we’ll unpack the dangers of leading through fear and contrast them with the transformative potential of aspirational leadership. By the end of this series, you’ll not only recognize the difference but also walk away with insights to elevate your own leadership journey.

Join Rich and Maikel as we start by shining a light on fear-driven leadership—where it begins, how it spreads, and why it ultimately falls short on this episode of Mainline Executive Coaching ACT.

Leaders, Lead Well!

Thank you to all of our listeners in over 100 countries and now, 1,000 cities worldwide, we greatly appreciate your support! We truly hope that what we bring to our listeners will improve your ability as leaders.

Mainline Executive Coaching ACT has been recognized by FeedSpot as one of the top Executive Coaching Podcast in the world based on thousands of podcasts on the web and ranked by traffic, social media, followers & freshness.

https://blog.feedspot.com/executive_coaching_podcasts/

John Mattone Global: https://johnmattone.com/

Rich Baron:
rbaron@richbaronexecutivecoaching.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-baron/
https://www.richbaronexecutivecoaching.com/

Maikel Bailey:
mbailey@intelligentleadershipec.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/maikelbailey/
https://maikelbailey.com/

Thank you for all of your support. Please let us know what you think about our podcast and what topic you may want to hear from us. Leaders, Lead Well!

Have you ever felt like someone in your life always has to win, always has to be right, and somehow always leaves you doubting yourself? You may be dealing with a narcissist. And here’s the truth: you don’t need to fight them head-on to win. In fact, the most powerful way to ‘destroy’ their grip on you is not through aggression, but by taking away what fuels them — your attention, your energy, and your compliance.

Let's clarify this, we are not out to destroy the person, that is not the goal - it is to destroy the unhealthy dynamic that gives them power over you.

Simply put, when you stop feeding them attention, when you hold your boundaries, when you stop taking the bait — their power over you crumbles.

Rich and Maikel are taking the fangs out of the vampires we call narcissists and helping you gain back control on this episode of Mainline Executive Coaching ACT.

Leaders, Lead Well!

Thank you to all of our listeners in over 100 countries and now, 1,000 cities worldwide, we greatly appreciate your support! We truly hope that what we bring to our listeners will improve your ability as leaders.

Mainline Executive Coaching ACT has been recognized by FeedSpot as one of the top Executive Coaching Podcast in the world based on thousands of podcasts on the web and ranked by traffic, social media, followers & freshness.

https://blog.feedspot.com/executive_coaching_podcasts/

John Mattone Global: https://johnmattone.com/

Rich Baron:
rbaron@richbaronexecutivecoaching.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-baron/
https://www.richbaronexecutivecoaching.com/

Maikel Bailey:
mbailey@intelligentleadershipec.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/maikelbailey/
https://maikelbailey.com/

Thank you for all of your support. Please let us know what you think about our podcast and what topic you may want to hear from us. Leaders, Lead Well!

If you're serious about transforming your organizational culture, you must start at the top! Because when leaders change, everything changes.

One of the most powerful levers for culture transformation is prioritizing executive coaching. When senior leaders engage in coaching, they don’t just evolve individually—they become catalysts for systemic change.

From diagnosing cultural misalignment to scaling leadership cascades, coaching helps leaders clarify vision, shift mindsets, and build systems that embed values into the fabric of the organization. It’s not about slogans—it’s about behavior, belief, and accountability.

Rich and Maikel talk in depth about why CEOs and senior leaders must look at themselves as the mirror of the organization and the catalyst for change on this episode of Mainline Executive Coaching ACT.

Leaders, Lead Well!

Thank you to all of our listeners in over 100 countries and now, 1,000 cities worldwide, we greatly appreciate your support! We truly hope that what we bring to our listeners will improve your ability as leaders.

Mainline Executive Coaching ACT has been recognized by FeedSpot as one of the top Executive Coaching Podcast in the world based on thousands of podcasts on the web and ranked by traffic, social media, followers & freshness.

https://blog.feedspot.com/executive_coaching_podcasts/

John Mattone Global: https://johnmattone.com/

Rich Baron:
rbaron@richbaronexecutivecoaching.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-baron/
https://www.richbaronexecutivecoaching.com/

Maikel Bailey:
mbailey@intelligentleadershipec.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/maikelbailey/
https://maikelbailey.com/

Thank you for all of your support. Please let us know what you think about our podcast and what topic you may want to hear from us. Leaders, Lead Well!

In a world where diversity is often reduced to hiring quotas and optics, truly smart organizations understand that empowerment is a system, not a slogan. They build cultures where women are not just included—they’re equipped, elevated, and essential to strategic success.

Smart organizations, and leaders, don't just hire women, they build ecosystems where women thrive. Global statistics show that when women are part of the leadership, organizations don't just perform better, they become more human, more resilient, and more future-ready

Simply put, when women leaders thrive, organizations don’t just grow—they transform.

Join Rich and Maikel as we unpack what it means to design ecosystems that foster psychological safety, leadership pathways, and authentic influence for women at every level on this episode of JMG's Mainline Executive Coaching ACT podcast.

Leaders, Lead Well!

Thank you to all of our listeners in over 100 countries and now, 1,000 cities worldwide, we greatly appreciate your support! We truly hope that what we bring to our listeners will improve your ability as leaders.

Mainline Executive Coaching ACT has been recognized by FeedSpot as one of the top Executive Coaching Podcast in the world based on thousands of podcasts on the web and ranked by traffic, social media, followers & freshness.

https://blog.feedspot.com/executive_coaching_podcasts/

John Mattone Global: https://johnmattone.com/

Rich Baron:
rbaron@richbaronexecutivecoaching.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-baron/
https://www.richbaronexecutivecoaching.com/

Maikel Bailey:
mbailey@intelligentleadershipec.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/maikelbailey/
https://maikelbailey.com/

Thank you for all of your support. Please let us know what you think about our podcast and what topic you may want to hear from us. Leaders, Lead Well!

What unfolds when personal lapses collide with professional responsibility? The recent controversy surrounding Astronomer’s CEO and Chief People Officer has sparked a global dialogue—less about scandal, more about leadership at its fault lines. In this episode, we look beyond headlines to explore a defining case study in executive accountability, cultural resilience, and the subtle forces that shape an organization’s ethical backbone. When a billion-dollar tech company’s brand becomes entangled with public scrutiny, the real question is: how does it rebuild trust, realign values, and restore integrity from the inside out?

Join Rich and Maikel as we go beyond the headlines and into the heart of leadership on this episode of John Mattone Global's Mainline Executive Coaching ACT Podcast.

Leaders, Lead Well!

Thank you to all of our listeners in over 100 countries and now, 1,000 cities worldwide, we greatly appreciate your support! We truly hope that what we bring to our listeners will improve your ability as leaders.

Mainline Executive Coaching ACT has been recognized by FeedSpot as one of the top Executive Coaching Podcast in the world based on thousands of podcasts on the web and ranked by traffic, social media, followers & freshness.

https://blog.feedspot.com/executive_coaching_podcasts/

John Mattone Global: https://johnmattone.com/

Rich Baron:
rbaron@richbaronexecutivecoaching.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-baron/
https://www.richbaronexecutivecoaching.com/

Maikel Bailey:
mbailey@intelligentleadershipec.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/maikelbailey/
https://maikelbailey.com/