The Black Belt in Leadership

Leadership is rarely something people are formally trained for.Most leaders grow into the role through performance, promotion, and responsibility only to discover that leadership becomes more complex over time, not easier.In this episode of The Black Belt in Leadership, host Aslak de Silva speaks with leadership coach, executive advisor, and author Marc A. Pitman about the hidden challenges leaders face as they progress in their careers.Drawing from more than two decades of coaching founders, executives, and mission-driven organizations, Marc shares why many high-performing leaders experience uncertainty, exhaustion, or loss of clarity — even when they appear successful from the outside.Together, they explore:Why leadership often feels harder after successThe reality of becoming a leader without formal trainingHow leaders move from imitation to authentic leadershipThe role of self-awareness and leadership assessmentsHow continuous reflection — and emerging AI-supported feedback — may change leadership developmentWhy burnout often comes from leading against your natural strengthsHow experienced leaders regain clarity, energy, and focusMarc introduces his Quadrant Leadership framework, explaining how leaders evolve through different stages of confidence, learning, and self-understanding — and why leadership growth is rarely linear.Throughout the conversation, Aslak connects leadership development with lessons from martial arts, showing how recovery, reflection, and disciplined pauses help leaders make better decisions under pressure.This episode is especially relevant for executives, founders, managers, and aspiring leaders navigating uncertainty, growth, and increasing responsibility.If leadership sometimes feels heavier than expected, you’re not alone — and you may be closer to leadership mastery than you think.About the GuestMarc A. Pitman is the founder of Concord Leadership Group and co-founder of EWTS Coaching. He has served as its CEO for 20 years leadership. He is a coach, executive advisor, and bestselling author.

What happens to leadership when business is no longer predictable?In this episode of The Black Belt in Leadership, Aslak de Silva sits down with transformational leadership expert, keynote speaker, and author Dennis Akkerman to explore what leadership looks like in a world where change is constant and traditional success models are quickly becoming outdated.Drawing from his book Business as UNusual, Dennis shares why many organizations still operate with leadership habits designed for a more stable past and why leaders today must shift from control toward resilience, awareness, and behavioral leadership.The conversation explores how leaders can navigate uncertainty without exhausting their teams, why purpose and direction matter more than ever, and how leadership ultimately becomes a mirror reflecting the leader’s own mindset and behavior.Together, Aslak and Dennis connect global leadership experience, business transformation, and lessons from martial arts to examine how leaders can remain effective when predictability disappears.About the GuestDennis Akkerman is the Founder & Managing Director of Orbis Business School. He is one of the Top 25 Global Thought Leader in Transformational Leadership (Thinkers360) and a bestselling author.

Michal Bardavid is a psychological counselor and dance movement therapist with a master’s degree in industrial psychology. For more than fifteen years, she has taught the principles of movement, self-expression, and emotional resilience at Boğaziçi University in Istanbul, helping students reconnect with their bodies and their sense of worth.She is also the founder of the #IamChild Project, which brought creative workshops to Syrian refugee children in Turkey and earned international recognition for its impact.Beyond her work in psychology, Michal spent over a decade as a journalist reporting across Turkey, Central Asia, Europe, and the Middle East — covering politics, economics, major global events, and producing human-interest documentaries from Kazakhstan to Myanmar and Cambodia.Her debut book, Becoming a Peacock, blends her personal journey with professional insight, creating a warm, bold, and often cheeky guide to rebuilding self-worth and resilience.Leadership is not tested when everything goes according to plan.It is tested when something breaks.In this episode of The Black Belt in Leadership, Aslak de Silva speaks with Michal Bardavid, a psychological counselor, dance movement therapist, former journalist, and author of Becoming a Peacock, about what leaders face after failure, rejection, and difficult decisions.Michal shares her personal story of building a dance studio she deeply believed in, investing her savings and identity into it, and watching it fail. Instead of letting that experience define her, she made a powerful realization. She would never consider another person a failure for trying. That shift opened the door to a new chapter, including bringing her Dance Therapy concept to television and eventually writing her debut book.Together, Aslak and Michal connect this journey to real leadership challenges, including:being fired or laid offhaving to lay off peoplemaking decisions that affect others’ livescarrying guilt, responsibility, and pressurerebuilding confidence after a mistakeThis conversation goes beyond surface-level self-help and into self-leadership under pressure, exploring:how leaders rebuild self-worth after setbackswhy humility and accountability strengthen leadershiphow to regulate emotions in high-stress momentshow leaders reflect without becoming self-criticalwhy failure is part of the leadership journey and not the end of itIf you are a leader navigating stress, uncertainty, or a professional setback, this episode offers a grounded and human perspective on how to rise stronger as a leader and as a person.Michal BardavidBook: Becoming a Peacock: Strut Your Way into Self-Lovewebsite: https://michalbardavid.com/

What makes a leader truly strategic? And why do so many organisations confuse strategy with planning, tactics or endless PowerPoint decks?In this episode of the Black Belt in Leadership, Aslak sits down with strategist, coach and facilitator Charlie Curson, whose new book Be More Strategic breaks down strategic thinking into practical, human skills.Charlie has worked with leaders across more than thirty industries, including Microsoft, Unilever, Volkswagen Group, Experian and Barclays. Together we explore what great strategists actually do differently and how leaders at any level can build stronger strategic habits.You will learn:The real difference between strategy, planning and tacticsWhy self-awareness is the foundation of strategic thinkingHow to “see around corners” by reading signals and widening your perspectiveHow assumptions quietly sabotage decision-makingWhy creativity is essential for modern strategyHow to make bold decisions without perfect informationSimple daily practices to become more strategic in work and lifeCharlie also shares practical tools like pre-mortems, scenario thinking and decision rules that help leaders stay calm, focused and adaptive in uncertainty. Aslak brings lessons from martial arts on preparation, presence and clarity to show how strategy becomes a mindset.If you want strategy to be clear, human and actionable, this episode is for you.LinksBe More Strategic (book): https://www.teammandarin.com/be-more-strategic-bookTeam Mandarin (Charlie’s company): https://www.teammandarin.comThe Black Belt in Leadership: https://theblackbeltinleadership.comCharlie Curson, Strategic Advisor, Leadership Coach, Author of Be More StrategicCharlie Curson is a globally experienced strategist, advisor and accredited leadership coach with more than twenty-five years of experience helping leaders, teams and organisations think and act more strategically. He has worked with over 250 organisations across more than thirty industries, including Microsoft, Unilever, L’Oréal, Volkswagen Group, Experian and Barclays.Charlie specialises in making strategy practical, human and accessible. His work blends cutting-edge theory with real-world application, helping leaders develop strategic clarity, challenge assumptions, improve decision-making and build long-term impact. He is known for his ability to simplify complex problems, facilitate high-stakes conversations and guide leaders toward more intentional, future-focused thinking.His new book, Be More Strategic, breaks the mystery of strategy into twelve essential practices and introduces a powerful development framework that anyone can learn. It teaches leaders how to deepen self-awareness, cultivate open-mindedness, develop strategic capabilities and scale their impact at work and in life.Charlie is the founder of Team Mandarin, where he advises global organisations, facilitates leadership development programmes and coaches executives to become more conscious, creative and effective strategic thinkers.

Josh Kosnick, entrepreneur, executive coach, and author of The Kairos CodeWhat does a true leader do when everything falls apart? In this episode of The Black Belt in Leadership, host Aslak de Silva talks with Josh Kosnick, entrepreneur, executive coach, and author of The Kairos Code, about transforming adversity into purpose-driven leadership.Josh shares how losing his company became the foundation for a more meaningful life. He explains how to lead with humility, build resilient cultures, and live in Kairos time—a state of presence where purpose and clarity replace stress and constant urgency.You will learn:How slowing down can accelerate your growth as a leaderThe difference between chronos and kairos time and why it matters for successThe five bridges that define lasting fulfillment and balanced leadershipHow to rebuild trust, culture, and focus after professional lossWhy your daily actions define your legacy more than any title ever willAt the end of the episode, Josh introduces his free Life Quotient Assessment, a practical tool to measure balance and fulfillment across five key areas of life.Take the assessment here: www.joshkosnick.comA must-listen for leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone seeking greater resilience, clarity, and purpose in life and business.

What does it take to live your truth and lead with authenticity?In this inspiring episode of The Black Belt in Leadership, Aslak de Silva speaks with Shermain Melton, executive coach, international speaker, and host of Courage to Impact. Born with only a 10 percent chance to live, Shermain rose from poverty to become a self-made millionaire before 30. Later, he walked away from a successful technology career to help others lead with courage and confidence.Together they explore:How to stop hiding and show up as your full selfThe truth about authentic leadership and emotional courageWhy love and vulnerability are strengths in leadershipHow to build trust and empower your teamWhy courage is a daily practice that can be trained like a muscleThis episode is a masterclass in self-leadership, truth, and transformation. Learn how to move past fear, build real confidence, and live with purpose.Listen now to The Black Belt in Leadership and start unlocking your own courage to lead.About the Guest:Shermain Melton is an executive coach, international speaker, and truth-teller who helps leaders step into their authenticity with courage and confidence. Born with only a 10 percent chance to live, he rose from poverty to become a self-made, debt-free millionaire before the age of 30. After walking away from a successful technology career during the pandemic, Shermain dedicated his life to helping others live and lead with courage.A certified Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and a Certified Professional Coach (CPC) through iPEC, Shermain works with executives, entrepreneurs, and high achievers who are ready to stop hiding and start living their truth. He hosts the Courage to Impact podcast and is on a mission to end loneliness by creating spaces where people can belong, be seen, and lead with love.Website: www.shermainmelton.com

Can short breaks really make you a better leader?In this episode of The Black Belt in Leadership, Aslak de Silva talks with Amel Gaily, CEO and Partner of Cuckoo, about how microbreaks, recovery, and well-being culture can boost leadership performance and team focus.Amel shares lessons from her journey from high-pressure finance and reality TV (The Apprentice Finland) to leading a well-being tech company that helps thousands of professionals perform better through smarter breaks.You’ll learn:How microbreaks improve focus, creativity, and energy.Why culture often blocks recovery and what leaders can do about it.How to build daily systems for sustainable performance.Why team breaks build trust and engagement.Leadership lessons from cycling 1,200 km from Helsinki to Paris.“The more tired people are, the simpler things should be.” – Amel GailyIf you want to perform better without burning out, this conversation will change how you think about focus, structure, and recovery at work.Amel Gaily, CEO & Partner of Cuckoo. She has built her career in high-performance arenas from the banking world to early-stage investing, from advising contestants on The Apprentice Finland to leading a wellbeing tech company and multiple board of directors positions.

In this episode of The Black Belt in Leadership podcast, host Aslak de Silva interviews U.S. Army Officer, leadership expert, and author Tim Staton, who wrote the book Life Skills You Didn’t Know You Needed.Tim shares leadership lessons from his military career and global experience, focusing on five essential life skills for leaders:Building a positive and growth mindset to overcome setbacksUsing critical thinking and higher-order skills for better decisionsStrengthening emotional intelligence and interpersonal skillsDeveloping a community-focused mindset that drives service and impactPracticing the ethical and appropriate use of technologyListeners will hear how resilience, communication, and daily habits shape long-term success. Tim explains why leaders need to move from manipulation to inspiration and how confidence is built by keeping promises to yourself.If you want leadership skills that apply at work, at home, and in your community, this conversation will give you practical tools you can start using today.Learn more about Tim Staton and his book: timstatintheobvious.com

In this episode of The Black Belt in Leadership, Aslak de Silva sits down with Lama Somananda Tantrapa — Tibetan lama, 27th-generation lineage holder of Qi Dao (Tibetan Shamanic Qigong), founder of the Academy of Qi Dao, and visionary behind the World Resilience Summit.Lama Tantrapa shares how resilience is not about merely “bouncing back,” but about bouncing forward—growing stronger through setbacks, just like advancing through the tougher levels of martial arts training. Together, we explore:What embodied resilience really means for leadersHow to train resilience the same way we train body and mindThe role of presence and awareness in navigating challengesWhy spiritual development belongs alongside physical and mental trainingPractical ways leaders can expand their comfort zone and lead by exampleThis episode blends martial arts wisdom, spiritual insight, and leadership practice into powerful lessons for leaders who want to thrive in uncertainty.👉 Learn more about Lama Tantrapa’s work at tantrapa.com and the World Resilience SummitLama Tantrapa, Tibetan Lama, 27th Generation Lineage Holder of Qi Dao (Tibetan Shamanic Qigong).With more than three decades of experience in martial arts, energy work, and coaching, he has devoted his life to teaching resilience, presence, and the art of being in the flow.He is the founder of the Academy of Qi Dao, the world’s first school of Qigong Coaching, and the visionary behind the World Resilience Summit and the Resilience Centre. Lama Tantrapa has taught thousands of students worldwide, helping leaders, entrepreneurs, and communities cultivate embodied resilience and integrate spiritual growth with physical and mental training

Stoyan Yankov is a productivity and performance coach, bestselling author, podcast host, and keynote speaker who helps organizations build high-performance cultures and boost productivity. With experience working with over 550 companies worldwide, including Coca-Cola and HP, he delivers practical strategies and engaging presentations. As the host of the Productivity Mastery podcast, Stoyan shares insights from top global leaders, combining strategic storytelling with actionable tools to inspire success.In this energizing episode of The Black Belt in Leadership, Aslak de Silva sits down with Stoyan Yankov – productivity coach, keynote speaker, host of the Productivity Mastery podcast, and author of two books on performance and productivity.From growing up in a small town in Bulgaria and chasing a finance dream, to producing award-winning films, and eventually transforming lives through leadership coaching, Stoyan’s journey is a powerful story of purpose, resilience, and reinvention.Together, they explore:How to build a strong team culture using the PERFORM methodologyWhy leadership is like gardening, and productivity like filmmakingHow dishwashing and keynote speaking can coexistWhy being vulnerable as a leader must come from a place of strengthPractical tools for building resilient, high-performing teamsThis episode is packed with honest stories, laughter, and leadership tools you can use today.