Grow Strong Leaders Podcast

What comes to mind when you hear the word SWAGGER? If it has a negative connotation for you, prepare to be persuaded differently! Jennifer Mrozek Sukalo has created a powerful acronym that we explore in this lively conversation, based on her new book, Claim Your SWAGGER: Stop Surviving and Start Thriving. You are sure to want to take notes as we discuss important concepts like self-worth, self-limiting beliefs, and gratitude.  Jennifer is an exceptional guide in the realm of leadership and personal development. She’s focused on empowering individuals to unleash their potential by reshaping the way they think, act, and behave.  Jennifer has more than thirty years’ experience working with individuals, cancer survivors, leaders, and multinational Fortune 500 companies. Her influence has positively impacted more than 50,000 leaders in 18 countries across the globe. With a science-based educational foundation in behavioral change and a wealth of practical knowledge, Jennifer excels at helping people learn to harness their mental power and use what they already have to foster positive life changes, transforming themselves and the world around them. You’ll discover: The Power of 3 Ps for creating new behavior patterns that lastJennifer’s opportunity to practice patience when getting a new mobile phone3 aspects of self-worth that are driven by external factorsHow Acts of Kindness help you expand your feelings of worthinessWhy REP (Recognize, Evaluate, Pivot) is a winning strategy for removing limiting beliefs and replacing them with more powerful onesCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedIn

A lot of emphasis is placed on leadership behaviors, but it all starts within. What must a leader do to master Self? In this value-packed conversation with Craig Dowden, you’ll learn about the 7 areas included in his best-selling book, A Time to Lead: Mastering Your Self… So You Can Master Your World. Craig unpacks what leaders can do in each of these areas to prepare themselves to be more effective in their roles. Craig is a highly respected executive coach with the Forbes Coaches Council as well as an award-winning speaker who delivers interactive, evidence-based workshops that translate the science of leadership, team, and organizational excellence into everyday practice.  His podcast, Do Good to Lead Well, which is based on the title of his first bestseller, is rated in the top 0.5% of podcasts in the world. Each week, Craig speaks with top CEOs, fellow bestselling authors, and global thought leaders to share their experience and expertise with his audience.  Craig has been a regular contributor to, and featured expert in, top-tier leadership and business publications including Forbes, Fast Company, the Financial Post, the Huffington Post, Financial Times, the Globe and Mail, and Psychology Today. You’ll discover: The top 2 areas of self-mastery that most leaders struggle withWhy a growth mindset is the foundation for all the other areasThe importance of recognizing and mastering your emotionsWhat you must do before asking someone to give you feedbackSome cautions and guidelines around authentic leadershipCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedIn

Do you remember Neo’s choice of the blue pill or the red pill in the movie, The Matrix? Angela Cusack explores this choice in the context of leaders and their ability to decide on the level of integrity they want to have with themselves and with others. It all hinges on the desire to break through illusions that keep us safe and do the work to become more self-aware through deep reflection. In this important conversation, Angela shares key concepts from her book, Discover The Matrix, Integrity: The True Mark of Leadership. She shares her own journey, as well as some of her clients, in discovering how to “explore the space between.” Angela is the founder of Igniting Success and she’s often called a company’s secret weapon – she works with C-suite execs & what she does is so transformative that it impacts the entire organization. She’s a Master Certified Coach and has provided mentor coaching and supervision for coaches over the past 15 years to help them prepare for certification as PCC or MCC.You’ll discover: How the book’s title and contents tie in with the movie, The MatrixWhy Angela says integrity with self is the starting point of having integrity with othersWhat Angela means by “exploring the space between” and why it’s important for leaderThe illusions we can have about ourselves that hold us backWhy “permission to unzip” is vital to becoming an authentic leaderCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedIn

What’s the difference between a Learn-It-All leader and a Know-It-All Leader? That’s just one of many questions Damon Lembi answers in this value-packed conversation. Damon is an excellent example of a leader who’s been focused on his own growth and equally committed to helping members of his team become the best versions of themselves. For nearly three decades as CEO, Damon has led his company, Learnit, through the ever-changing landscape of Learning and Development, gaining insight into what works, how great leaders learn, and why learn-it-all companies outpace their competition.  Coming to business from a career in baseball, Damon brings an athlete’s perspective on leadership and training to his informal mentoring of executives. He’s distilled those hard-won insights into his bestselling book, The Learn-It-All Leader—Mindset, Traits, and Tools.  You’ll discover: Leadership lessons Damon learned from the 3 Hall of Fame Baseball Coaches he worked with in collegeThe distinction Damon makes between Being and Doing when it comes to leader behaviorsWhy Damon hires for potential instead of experienceReasons he prizes Curiosity as a key leadership skillWhat the Trust Tax is and why it’s an important payment to makeCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedIn

What’s the evidence that women face unique hurdles in advancing to executive leadership roles? Jennifer McCollum shares the data based on 25+ years of research conducted by Linkage. The facts are real. In this conversation, we focus on the actions women can take to overcome these hurdles – and what men can do to be effective allies and executive sponsors. You will love Jennifer’s passion for this topic and her transparency in describing some of her own experiences. Jennifer is the former CEO of Linkage, a SHRM company, where she oversaw the strategic direction and global operations of this leadership development firm. Linkage’s mission is to “Change the Face of Leadership” and over the past 35 years the company has been dedicated to improving leadership effectiveness and equity in hundreds of organizations globally.  Jennifer has 20 years of experience building and leading businesses in the leadership space. She’s a highly sought-after consultant and speaker, with deep expertise in Inclusive Leadership and Advancing Women Leaders.  She’s a member of Marshall Goldsmith’s 100 Coaches and the author of the new book, In Her Own Voice: A Woman’s Rise to CEO: Overcoming Hurdles to Change the Face of Leadership. Highly recommended for women and men alike! You’ll discover: Why the Inner Critic is the “uber” hurdle that impacts the other 7How the Compassion Center’s 4 steps can help you shift from judging yourself or othersThe distinction between External Bias and Internal BiasThe importance of Recognized Confidence, a step beyond self-confidenceWhat men can do to support women and the role of Executive SponsorshipCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedIn

What does it take to make the transition from being a star athlete in college to a successful  business owner? Meet Chase Dalton, CEO of Silicon Signs, who did just that. Chase is an extraordinary leader who lives daily the focus of this podcast, to Grow Strong Leaders, by developing himself and his people.  You are sure to be moved by the stories he shares from his business and from his life.  In college Chase was an outstanding athlete. He's a three-time All-American in track and field and once held the title of Junior National Champion in the decathlon. You’ll find out which strengths transferred nicely to the challenges of starting and running a company. Chase leads a team 20 to create signs for brick-and-mortar businesses in all 50 states.  You’ll discover: The process Chase and his team followed to create their values, vision, and missionWays that Chase and his team live their values on a daily basisHow his degree in Sociology has serve Chase well in his businessWhy Chase views his employees as his customers – and how that impacts the way he spends his timeThe near-death experience in 2020 that forever changed the way Chase shows up in the worldCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedIn

Do you know of a leader who worked with the same team of people for 12 years? Russel Lolacher achieved that feat. In this interview, Russel reveals exactly what he did to create the environment that caused every person to want to stay and give their best effort. You’ll learn valuable strategies that you can implement immediately with your own team. Russel is an international speaker and the founder and host of Relationships at Work Podcast.  It’s the leadership guide to creating a workplace we love. On his show, Russel digs into timely and relevant topics with global experts on how to be better leaders and create healthy workplace cultures.  He’s held successful leadership and communication roles for almost 25 years, retaining one team for almost 12 years. Russel’s work and expertise in building employee and customer trust has been recognized on international stages and in multiple publications. He’s been named 4 times  as a Top Thought Leader by the International Customer Management Institute (ICMI). You’ll discover: Why Russel uses Air, Land, and Sea to describe the 3 levels of awareness that leaders must haveHow Russel created a psychologically safe work environment for his teamWhat’s missing in most organizations after the onboarding process, to complete employee’s journey with an organizationThe long-term impact of poor leadership on people, even after they leave the organizationKey take-aways Russel has learned from the guests on his podcastCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedIn

Mark is the CEO of Northeast Sequoia Private Client Group, a national financial planning and wealth management firm. He is passionate about empowering entrepreneurs to achieve multigenerational wealth by providing personalized strategies that focus on emotional fitness, wealth accumulation, and a plan that can work under all circumstances. His unwavering commitment to delivering a "wow" experience has earned him a reputation as a trusted expert in the industry.Mark has been ranked #1 in New Jersey and #3 in the nation on the 2023 Forbes America's Top Financial Security Professionals List. He's the host of The Hero of The Hour Podcast and the author of 3 books including his latest, The Ultimate Investment: A Roadmap to Grow Your Business and Build Multigenerational Wealth. It’s a must-read for every business leader. You’ll discover: How leaders can identify and use their unique abilitiesWhat Mark does to identify whether or not job candidates are aligned with his company’s core valuesThe 4 types of intelligence and the one Mark values most when hiringThe distinction Mark makes between differentiation and competitionThe question he poses to someone who’s experienced a loss, disappointment, or setbackCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedIn

How would you respond if you learned you had an illness that is likely to shorten your life? My guest Dr. Mark Goulston got that news, and it was a major wake-up call for him. He was inspired to create a series of videos on YouTube called, “I’m Dying to Tell You.” This is a conversation you’ll want to listen to multiple times because it’s packed with so much life wisdom. Mark shares specific ways you can deepen the important relationships in your life…because, in the end, relationships are what matter most. Mark is the host of the popular My Wakeup Call Podcast and the author of the best book you’ll ever read on the topic of listening, Just Listen.  You’ll discover: The power of true vulnerability in strengthening relationshipsHow to approach a loved one if you’ve been too busy to listen to themWhy it’s important for you to be the one to start a conversationThe key question an executive can ask of every employee to create a positive culture changeHow to use HUVA when you’re in a conversation so the other person feels uplifted afterwards Check out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedIn

If someone took a look at your LinkedIn profile and your activity on that platform, what impression would they have? In case your answer involves any aspect of “needs improvement,” you’ll find this conversation with guest Jennifer Darling super valuable. She shares specific tips that will help you with 3 Ps: Profile, Posts, and People. Jennifer is a master at creating visibility, making noise, and building relationships using LinkedIn. Her posts have generated 10’s of thousands of views, and she’s grown her network to over 8,000 high-quality connections.  She is one of the world’s foremost LinkedIn experts and the ONLY one who has 20+ years of advertising, sales and management experience. Jennifer has trained thousands of thought leaders to maximize their LinkedIn results—without having to invest hours and hours each week. Jennifer is the author of Say Yes! Then Figure It Out and Increase Your Leads with LinkedIn. She’s also the creator of the Mastering LinkedIn Deep Dive Training, which Meredith has taken and highly recommends. You’ll discover: How to create an attention-grabbing banner and headline in your profile Why a LinkedIn newsletter is an excellent content strategyWhat to do when you want to become visible to your ideal connectionsTips for sending connection requests that get a positive responseThe surprisingly small amount of time you can devote to being on LinkedIn – and what to do while you’re thereCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedIn