Do Good To Lead Well with Craig Dowden

What does authentic leadership mean amid rapid change and digital noise? On this week’s episode of the Do Good to Leac Well podcast, I speak with Laura Paglia, CEO of the Canadian Forum for Financial Markets, who draws from her experience leading Canada’s top financial markets think tank and decades in private practice to answer this question. Her answers challenge the myth that ethics are just slogans, showing how integrity and transparency must guide every decision, even with the toughest choices.We also explore how to bring together diverse perspectives and contentious viewpoints, leveraging empathy without sacrificing progress and accountability. She also shares how she keeps herself and her team resilient by focusing on controllable outcomes. We also have a candid discussion about the impacts and opportunities of AI ranging from increased efficiency to navigating job disruption. Laura emphasizes the importance of maintaining our critical thinking and curiosity, even as technology transforms the informational and decision-making landscape.The conversation closes with an empowering message focused on the importance of stepping back, not personalizing setbacks, and always bringing your best self to work and life. This is the key to transformational growth and success. Tune in for an insightful journey from personal values to organizational change.What You’ll Learn- Lead by example: ethics and integrity must be lived, not just discussed.- Authenticity builds trust and effectiveness.- Mistakes are learning opportunities—be honest, be open.- Empathy, resilience, and perspective help navigate tough conversations and uncertainty.- Prepare for change (especially AI), but keep critical human insight at the forefront.- Value merit and reciprocity: invest in the people who uplift your organization.Podcast Timestamps(00:00) – Welcome to the Podcast(04:06) – What Are the Essential Leadership Qualities?(05:42) - Authentic Leadership & Integrity(10:03) - Building Ethical Cultures(13:34) – How Honesty, Diplomacy & Directness Can Co-exist(17:51) - Openness About Mistakes and Uncertainty(23:08) - Navigating Diverse Perspectives and Conflict(26:03) - Empathy in Leadership(31:38) - Personal and Organizational Resilience(38:31) - AI Impact & Adaptation(42:41) - Leading Through AI UncertaintyKEYWORDSPositive Leadership, Authenticity, Honesty, Ethics, Integrity, Organizational Culture, Communication, Transparency, Diplomacy, Emotional Intelligence, Listening, Empathy, Resilience, Adaptability, Self-Awareness, Continuous Learning, Meritocracy, Reciprocity, Teamwork, Empowerment, Critical Thinking, AI, Artificial Intelligence), Change Management, Personal Growth, Work-Life Balance, CEO Success

In this raw episode of Do Good to Lead Well, I welcome Tom Hardin, whose journey from Wall Street hedge fund analyst to one of the FBI’s most prolific informants is a powerful examination of what drives good people to cross ethical lines. Despite the widespread belief that corruption comes from major events, Tom outlines the subtle drift and rationalizations that can turn ambition into poor decisions.Tom makes a compelling case that most people are far more vulnerable to contextual pressures than they would care to admit. In fact, he argues that the more confident we are in our belief that we are incorruptible, the more likely we are to make an ethical misstep. Through honest storytelling, the episode urges us to move beyond blaming or distancing ourselves, challenging us to ask better questions, reflect on our own values, and foster workplaces where psychological safety and true accountability can thrive.For anyone seeking a deeply personal and vulnerable understanding of ethics, culture, and resilience, this conversation delivers practical tools for self-reflection, leadership, and building lasting trust. These heartfelt lessons matter at every level of business and life.What You’ll Learn- Why 80% of us are at risk of “moral drift” if we’re not vigilant- The crucial difference between mistakes and choices- Culture is what gets rewarded- How leaders can spot and stop ethical slippage, starting with “the little things”- The power of asking better questions—not just of your team, but of yourself- Why honesty, humility, and self-forgiveness are the real superpowers in leadershipPodcast Timestamps(00:00) – The Decision to Share a Profound Story of Vulnerability(05:14) – Cheating is a Choice(09:19) – Ownership, Shame, and the Challenges of Self-Forgiveness(13:06) – Moral Drift and Rationalization(16:35) – How to Spot Warning Signs(24:05) – Culture, Values, and Leadership(40:01) – Resilience and Redemption(45:08) – Radical Listening(48:22) – A Story of Hope and Personal AgencyKEYWORDSPositive Leadership, Insider Trading, Behavioral Ethics, Organizational Culture, FBI Informant, Compliance, Self-Reflection, Vulnerability, Rationalization, Psychological Safety, Ethical Culture, Whistleblowing, Character Development, Integrity, Reputation vs. Character, The Peril of Incentive Structures, Ethical Decision-Making, Personal Values, Resilience, Redemption, Asking Clarifying Questions, Moral Drift, Organizational Justice, CEO Success

In this timely and important episode, Craig sits down with Lily Zheng, one of today’s leading voices on workplace transformation, to tackle the challenges and evolution of DEI. Lily brings both research-backed frameworks and real-world pragmatism, reflecting on how shifting from DEI to FAIR offers a practical way through current backlash and confusion.Lily’s refreshing candor provides a thought-provoking and valuable frame to the conversation. They don’t shy from complexity, but treat hesitancy, fear, and failure as necessary parts of meaningful progress.The episode is filled with practical advice, including tying every initiative to a real business problem, focusing on behaviors not buzzwords, and the need for every leader to own the responsibility for inclusion. Technology’s double-edged role is candidly discussed, warning leaders that AI will multiply both strengths and flaws.At its core, this episode asks: how do we actually do better? Lily urges leaders to focus on “atomic units” of behavioral change, reminding us that real progress is messy, ongoing, and built one intentional action at a time.What You’ll Learn- The power and pitfalls of language in DEI work.- Navigating the politicization of inclusion.- Let data—not dogma—drive your priorities- Move beyond ‘admiring the problem’: Replacing performative acts with real progress.- Redefining representation: Beyond the numbers.- Technology & AI: A double-edged sword.- The power of atomic units of change.Podcast Timestamps(00:00) - Introduction to Lily Zheng and the Origin of the Book(08:00) - Reframing DEI: Why Focus on Fairness?(14:41) – Lessons in Leadership: DEI Backlash(20:34) - From Performative to Problem-Solving DEI(25:15) - Systemic Change & Diversity Leadership(35:55) - Representation vs. Quotas and Building Trust(43:04) - Technology, AI & Fairness Risks(48:38) - FOFO: Fear of Finding Out and Organizational Reality(56:14) - The Atomic Unit: Driving Change Through BehaviorsKEYWORDSPositive Leadership, Fairness, DEI, Inclusion, Equity, Representation, Organizational Change, Systemic Change, Workplace Culture, Diversity, Performative DEI, Accountability, Unconscious Bias Training, Artificial Intelligence, Politics, Cultural Transformation, CEO Success

In this week’s episode of the Do Good to Lead Well podcast, I speak with Vanessa Druskat, a globally recognized expert in team performance and author of "The Emotionally Intelligent Team." Vanessa shares the inspiration behind her research, highlighting the gap between anecdotal advice and evidence-based practices for building successful teams. She discusses the importance of cultivating esprit de corps—meaning a sense of belonging, value, and psychological safety—within teams, and emphasizes that this must come from both leaders and team members.Our conversation explores practical norms and routines that emotionally intelligent teams use, dispelling myths around individual emotional intelligence versus collective TeamEI. Vanessa provides actionable examples, such as brief check-ins, team charters, and structured feedback mechanisms, underscoring the need for leaders to be intentional, especially in remote or hybrid environments. Questions from the live audience explored topics such as the role of team charters, overcoming ineffective norms, and the courage required to embrace feedback and conflict constructively. The episode is packed with research-backed insights and practical strategies to help leaders create high-performing, emotionally intelligent teams.What You’ll Learn- Great teams do things differently… and intentionally.- The importance of assessing your team’s norms (anonymous surveys work wonders!).- Develop a charter and revisit it regularly.- Make feedback part of your culture rather than a once-a-year event- How to lead remote/hybrid teams effectively.- Why you want to finish meetings with a Plus/Delta.Podcast Timestamps(00:00) – Welcome to the Podcast(10:25) - Defining Team Emotional Intelligence vs Individual EQ(19:56) - Common Team Norms: Good, Bad, and Misunderstood(24:32) - Creating and Using Team Charters(27:12) - Activities to Build Understanding and Belonging(32:11) - Best Practices for Team Assessment(36:54) - Feedback and Accountability in Emotionally Intelligent Teams(41:20) - Constructive Conflict and Avoiding Sidebar Conversations(49:33) - Emotional Intelligence in Remote and Hybrid Teams(54:33) - Final ReflectionsKEYWORDSPositive Leadership, Emotional Intelligence, Team Emotional Intelligence, Team Norms, Self-awareness, Psychological Safety, Feedback Culture, Team Rituals, Team-Building, High-Performing Teams, Team Assessment, Team Charter, Remote Teams, Hybrid Teams, Collaboration, Accountability, Sense of Belonging, Respect, Onboarding, Team Effectiveness, CEO Success

They explore five learnable traits that improve decision-making in uncertain times. Topics include viewing change positively, reframing challenges as opportunities, and tolerating uncertainty through experiments. They cover becoming fluent in failure and using grounded optimism to drive action. Practical focus is on acting, testing, learning, and avoiding paralysis.

In this episode of Do Good to Lead Well, I welcome Dr. Jacqueline Sperling, a clinical psychologist, assistant professor in psychology at Harvard Medical School, and the co-founder and co-program director of the McLean Anxiety Mastery Program at McLean Hospital to discuss her latest book, “Find Your Fierce: How to Put Social Anxiety in Its Place.”Motivated by long waitlists at treatment centers and the slow path many face toward accessing help for social anxiety, Jacqueline Sperling shares her mission: to offer practical, evidence-based tools that anyone can use, regardless of clinical diagnosis or age. She grounds her message in empowerment, emphasizing that anxiety is a universal emotion—sometimes adaptive, sometimes disruptive—but always manageable with the right approach.Major themes include: • Understanding Anxiety: Dr. Sperling defines anxiety as a forward-looking form of fear and reframes it as a resource that can help us prepare for life’s challenges, provided we don’t let it dominate our decision-making. • The Thoughts-Feelings-Behaviors Model: Our discussion breaks down how our internal dialogue, emotions, and actions interconnect. Techniques like “stop, drop, and roll” and identification of unhelpful thought categories (catastrophizing, shoulds, overgeneralizing) are brought to life through questions from the live audience. • Leadership and Team Dynamics: We explore how leaders can compassionately address anxiety in their teams, foster psychological safety, and model healthy boundaries, which are especially during disruptive times and organizational uncertainty.Check out this episode for an honest, caring invitation for how we can create lasting mental health hygiene: a daily, mindful practice to care for ourselves, as we pursue meaningful work and lead with compassion.What You’ll Learn- How to flip the script when you always expect the worst.- How leaders can compassionately support team members stuck in negative thought cycles.- Strategies for dealing with imposter syndrome and perfectionism.- Practical tips for receiving feedback without defensiveness.- Ways to maintain resilience in uncertain, disruptive times.- The power of mental health hygiene.Podcast Timestamps02:15 Dr. Jacqueline Sperling's background04:07 Origin story of "Find Your Fierce" book05:48 Understanding anxiety vs. fear07:49 The three-component model (thoughts, feelings, behaviors)10:04 Stop, drop, and roll technique14:23 Managing catastrophizing in team members18:54 Addressing imposter syndrome23:01 Overcoming fear of speaking up in meetings28:08 Values-based anxiety management31:53 The "shoulds" and "musts" trap33:51 Receiving feedback effectively38:03 Managing team anxiety during disruption40:06 Addressing perfectionism44:40 Delegation and leadership anxiety48:33 Overgeneralizing dangers52:07 Mental health hygiene practicesKEYWORDSPositive Leadership, Managing Anxiety, Social Anxiety, Thought-Feeling-Behavior Model, Catastrophizing, Mindfulness, Imposter Syndrome, Perfectionism, Exposure Therapy, Behavioral Experiments, Self-insight, Mental Health Hygiene, Resilience, Stress Management, Reframing, Team Dynamics, Sleep Hygiene, Self-care, CEO Success

How do you know whether your company’s culture is happening by accident or being intentionally designed? That’s the challenge we explore in this episode of Do Good to Lead Well, as I sit down with culture architects James D. White and Krista White, co-authors of the USA Today bestseller “Culture Design.”James and Krista share why now, more than ever, leaders can’t afford to leave culture to chance. Their advice springs from decades of practical experience: culture isn’t a poster on the wall—it’s what people do when no one is looking.In a thought-provoking and engaging conversation, they answer timely questions from the audience including: How do you diagnose the real health of your culture? Can values become more than just “word salad?” What about the unique pressures of remote work, generational differences, or legacy cultures stuck in old patterns?Through stories and concrete examples, James and Krista reveal what organizations can actually do. They talk about running “archaeological digs” through interviews and surveys, turning employee feedback into actionable strategy, and the power of empathy. They explain how and why leaders should “listen with heart,” make time for micro-moments of connection, and value small steps over perfection.Perhaps the most powerful takeaway is that designing culture is ongoing work. It’s about ensuring that how you operate matches what you say you value and having the courage to change, with empathy, when your organization needs it most.What You’ll Learn- Culture is always there – whether you design it or not.- The importance of closing the “say-do” gap.- Empathy is a leadership superpower.- How to design your culture for both stability and change.- Why you want your values to be actionable and personal.- The key role of middle managers in fostering culture.- Honor the past, but don’t cling to it.Podcast Timestamps(00:00) - The Inspiration and Meaning Behind "Culture Design"(05:47) - Intentional Culture: Design vs. Default(07:17) - Diagnosing Organizational Culture(16:00) - The Future Back Approach in Leadership(18:37) - Values: From Performative to Impactful(22:21) - Organizational vs. Individual Resilience(25:47) - Empathy as a Leadership Foundation(33:00) - Generational and Hybrid Workforce Dynamics(43:37) - Measuring, Supporting, and Sustaining Culture ChangeKEYWORDSPositive Leadership, Culture Design, Organizational Culture, Empathy, Resilience, Values, Change Management, Transformational Leadership, Inclusion, Organizational Stability, Leading with Integrity, Rituals, Future-back Methodology, Cross-generational Workforce, Remote Work, Hybrid work, Employee Engagement, AI adoption, Feedback Loops, Legacy Culture, CEO Success

What if silence in your team meetings isn’t just about shyness or lack of ideas, but something everyone’s been taught—often unconsciously—to protect themselves or others? In this episode, I sit down with Elaine Lin Hering, a top facilitator, global educator, and author of “Unlearning Silence,” to dig into the roots of silence and how leaders can transform it into true engagement.As the conversation kicks off, we tackle a fundamental leadership dilemma: despite constant encouragement to “speak up,” people often hold back. Why? Elaine reveals it’s not just about courage or confidence. Silence is a learned survival strategy, which is often shaped by culture, hierarchy, and even unconscious organizational habits. Her own story, growing up as the youngest daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, shows how silence sneaks in early and sticks.Throughout the episode, we explore questions relating to real-world challenges such as how can you create a safe space for candor when your “resting face” or demeanour sets the wrong tone? Or, why do team members only give feedback after a decision is finalized. Elaine offers evidence-informed and practical answers to these situations.The takeaway is clear: Strong leadership means recognizing that silence is not always golden—and that by unlearning it, we unlock deeper connection, better decisions, and a future not bound by the past. What You’ll Learn- Silence is learned… and it’s often unintentional.- Unlearning silence is an ongoing process.- Explicit clarity is critical for leaders.- How to reframe your view of your voice.- The mode and medium of communication matter.- What is obvious to you may be the insight someone else is looking for.Podcast Timestamps(00:03) - The Origins of Unlearning Silence(05:46) - The Process of Unlearning Silence(09:10) - Agency and the Value of Voice(15:59) - The RACI Framework(19:16) - How Communication Mode and Process Influence Voice(24:10) - Surfacing Feedback and Pre-Empting Silence(32:08) - Imposter Syndrome or Imposter Treatment?(41:47) - When Is Silence Golden?(46:52) - Explicitly Creating Psychological SafetyKEYWORDSPositive Leadership, Self-Awareness, Feedback, Personal Growth, Leading with Intention, Unlearning silence, Employee Voice, Power Dynamics, Decision-Making Frameworks, RACI Model, Team Communication, Self-Silencing, Imposter Syndrome, Psychological Safety, Personal Growth, CEO Success

In this solo episode of the Do Good to Lead Well podcast, I unpack the concept of empathy and leadership. Although considerable research has shown the multiple benefits of empathetic leadership, it may have become a victim of its own success. As it has become increasingly integrated into leadership conversations, there are widespread misunderstandings about what it is and what it is not.While empathy is often viewed as ‘all about feeling,’ there is more to the concept. I’ll explore its multidimensionality and rather than being one sole element, the secret sauce is how all of this comes together. When only one aspect of empathy is tapped, it’s an incomplete picture.What You’ll Learn- The science behind the power of empathy in leadership.- The most common way people use to define empathy.- Why affective (e.g., emotional) empathy is only one aspect of high empathy leadership.- The crucial difference between empathic joining and empathic concern.- The power of perspective-taking.- How inaction can be at the heart of leadership excellence.KEYWORDSPositive Leadership, Empathy, Emotional Intelligence, Leadership Excellence, Strategic Thinking, Personal Growth, Communication, 360-Feedback, Affective Empathy, Cognitive Empathy, Empathic Concern, Empathic Joining, Leading with Intention, Leading with the Heart and Mind, The Power of Thoughtful Inaction, CEO Success

When was the last time you paused before taking action to ask, “What problem am I really trying to solve?” In this episode, I sit down with Kendra MacDonald, CEO of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, to unravel what it means to lead with purpose in a rapidly changing world. The conversation starts with her daring career move from a global role at Deloitte to building a new organization from the ground up, which was fueled by a passion for meaningful innovation.If you’ve ever questioned your own courage to change course or felt the tug-of-war between personal boundaries and professional expectations, Kendra offers practical wisdom. She talks through her steps to manage risk when taking on something new, using self-reflection rather than bravado to guide decision-making. Facing imposter syndrome? She’s been there too, and her advice is grounded and honest: focus on your unique contributions and let curiosity lead, especially when you’re the newcomer in the room.For leaders building teams, or founders starting with just a vision, the conversation surfaces actionable insights such as the crucial role of constant communication, the importance of recognizing and rewarding small acts of courage in teams, and the need to set and protect personal boundaries to stave off burnout. Kendra is transparent about the challenges of remote work and the ongoing experiment to keep her own organization connected across digital distance.True leadership is about the quality of the questions we ask ourselves and others. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about how we can do both.What You’ll Learn- Strategies for overcoming the fear of career pivots.- How to motivate teams to embrace innovation… without being annoying!- Balance operational realities with purpose-driven missions.- Build a thriving remote team culture.- Overcoming imposter syndrome and leading as an introvert.Podcast Timestamps(00:00) – Career Journey: From Deloitte to Ocean Economy(07:06) – Innovating with Purpose: Framing the Right Problem(09:45) – Courage to Change: Navigating Career Transitions(12:29) – Building Organizations from the Ground Up(15:17) – Setting Boundaries & Personal Clarity in Leadership(18:13) – Leading as an Introvert: Speaking, Visibility & Energy(24:28) – Top Leadership Qualities for Today’s World(28:15) – Motivating Teams & Driving Innovation(39:09) – Leading in AI & Tech-Driven TimesKEYWORDSPositive Leadership, Innovation, Purpose-Driven Leadership, Career Transition, Technology Adoption, Artificial Intelligence, Continuous Learning, Remote Work Culture, Organizational Culture, Psychological Safety, Courage, Resilience, Authenticity, Global Mindset, Diversity in Leadership, Work-Life Boundaries, Imposter Syndrome, Trust, Team-Building, Ethics in AI, Burnout Prevention, Curiosity, Change Management, Mentoring, CEO Success