RISE TO LEAD

The 40% Failure Rate No One Talks About with Navid Nazemian

Navid Nazemian – based in UAE – shares what sparked his deep dive into executive transitions: after working inside some of the world’s most admired companies, he noticed a critical gap—leaders were stepping into high-stakes roles without a truly effective transition process. What followed was years of research, driven by a surprising discovery: nearly 40% of executives fail within the first 18 months. This isn’t a fringe issue—it’s systemic. Through firsthand observations and extensive study, he unpacks why even highly capable leaders derail, pointing to rising complexity, shrinking timelines, and what he calls a “polycrisis” reality where multiple pressures collide at once. His work led to the creation of the Double Diamond Framework—a structured, seven-phase approach designed to reduce risk and accelerate impact, moving leaders from data-heavy exploration into focused, strategic execution. At the core of his approach is a strong emphasis on energy, simplicity, and alignment. Transitions, he explains, can be more stressful than major life events, making it essential for leaders to actively manage their energy rather than just their time. He also challenges overly complex development tools, advocating for clarity and focus over lengthy, impractical plans. A key theme throughout is alignment—between personal values and professional environments. When that alignment is off, performance and fulfillment suffer. Through practical tools and powerful analogies, he illustrates how leaders can make more intentional choices, avoid relying on outdated “playbooks,” and navigate new contexts with greater awareness. His own career missteps—particularly around underestimating cultural differences—bring these lessons to life, reinforcing that successful transitions aren’t about doing more, but about thinking differently. About Navid Nazemian: Navid Nazemian, based in the UAE, is an international bestselling author, executive coach, and keynote speaker who helps leaders and executives navigate pivotal moments with clarity and confidence. His journey began with a simple observation: even the most capable leaders can falter when stepping into new roles or high-stakes situations without a clear path forward. Drawing on experience coaching leaders across five continents and insights from his book, Mastering Executive Transitions, Navid equips professionals to transform uncertainty into opportunity, align purpose with action, and build resilient, high-performing teams. Recognized as a Top Voice on LinkedIn, he engages a global community of over 40,000 leaders with practical guidance and thought-provoking perspectives. Navid’s work blends personal reflection, real-world strategy, and actionable frameworks, helping ambitious leaders thrive in moments that matter most. https://masteringleadership.kit.com/ www.linkedin.com/in/navidnazemian www.instagram.com/masteringexecutivetransitions/ www.amazon.com/dp/1637308132 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

People Are Incredible When Trusted to Deliver Their Best with Kevin Gaskell

Kevin Gaskell shares how early experiences in the mountains of North Wales and competitive cricket shaped his understanding of leadership, teamwork, and performance under pressure. From playing in senior leagues as a teenager to learning from strong captains, he developed an early belief that leadership is about how teams operate together, especially when conditions get tough. He shares a defining personal story of pushing beyond expectations in sport, ultimately playing at national level by refusing to accept “you weren’t invited” as a final answer. That mindset carries through his leadership philosophy: “there is always a way,” grounded in optimism, resilience, and the belief that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary results when trusted. He unpacks how he turned around major businesses, including Porsche GB, moving from last in customer satisfaction and heavy losses to market leadership by clearly defining what success looks like and aligning teams around it. Kevin introduces his practical leadership model: commit, connect, create—clarifying direction, aligning people to their contribution, and building a culture where performance and enjoyment coexist. The core shift is this: leadership is not about extracting performance or enforcing accountability, but about setting clear standards and creating the conditions where people choose to bring their best work. As Kevin put it, people don’t have their best work “taken” from them — they give it, and that only happens when they feel heard, included, and able to contribute in a meaningful way. When that environment exists, performance changes because ownership changes. He illustrates this in a struggling superyacht manufacturing business that had faced years of losses and repeated redundancies, where instead of starting with control, he started with engagement. By involving 1,300 people in shaping how the work was done and redefining both leadership and customer experience, the company moved back into profitability within 14 months. The message is consistent: when people are trusted with real input and a clear framework, they don’t just participate — they transform outcomes. About Kevin Gaskell: Kevin Gaskell from England is a renowned business leader known for transforming and growing companies. As Managing Director of Porsche, Lamborghini, and BMW, he led major turnarounds and delivered exceptional performance. Often called “the man who fixes businesses,” he has built a reputation for creating high-performance cultures and driving sustainable growth. Today, he is an active investor and founder in multiple global ventures, including the UK’s fastest-growing B2B fiber network provider and Radical Motorsport, the world’s largest race car manufacturer. He has been recognized as one of the UK’s Top 40 leaders for his ability to inspire teams and deliver results. Beyond business, Kevin now holds three World Records: one for completing the Pacific row as part of a five-man crew, a second for being the oldest man to row across the Pacific (66), and a third for previously rowing across the Atlantic Ocean in just 35 days. A former international cricketer, he now enjoys playing in a rock band. His book Catching Giants was shortlisted for Business Book of the Year 2023. www.kevingaskell.com www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-gaskell www.instagram.com/kevin_gaskell www.x.com/KevinDGaskell www.amazon.co.uk/Catching-Giants-World-beating-business-lessons/dp/1912300524 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Where Winning Gets Human with Richard Blank

What happens when you stop following the expected path—and trust what pulls you instead? Richard shares how a short trip to Costa Rica turned into a 25-year entrepreneurial path, built from the ground up by leaning into instinct, language, and real human connection. This conversation goes beyond business—it’s about stepping out of comfort, creating something that reflects who you are, and leading in a way that people actually feel. We explore what makes people stay (even in high-pressure environments), how to turn transactional conversations into meaningful ones, and why the real advantage today has nothing to do with technology. From conversational intelligence to creating spaces where people can breathe, grow, and perform—this episode challenges how you think about leadership, communication, and what truly lasts. AI will never be able to replace this. About Richard Blank Richard Blank – based in Costa Rica – has been the Chief Executive Officer for Costa Rica’s Call Center since 2008. He was born an entrepreneur and dreamer, looking forward to inspiring others. A spiritual vision quest journey that came true. He got past a lot of family guilt and society pressure to live a true life and pay it forward. Giving back to Abington Senior High School is very important to him. As such, he endows a scholarship each year for students that plan on majoring in a world language at the university level. www.costaricascallcenter.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From Stuntman to Soul Guide with Curtis Rivers

From Hollywood stunt work and Guinness World Records to deep inner transformation, Curtis Rivers shares what happens when outward success no longer matches who you are becoming inside. As his life in film grew further away from his evolving values, the disconnect became impossible to ignore, ultimately leading him through depression, divorce, bankruptcy, and rebuilding his life while creating his unique coaching approach. Curtis opens up about reinvention, alignment, subconscious programming, and the courage it takes to stop living behind the mask. Together, we explore why fear is not the enemy, how “wobble zones” emerge when we stretch beyond old identities, and why the life that truly fits you may look very different from the one you once worked so hard to build. We also dive into conscious leadership, daily choices, and the subtle ways people disconnect from themselves without realizing it. Curtis shares how he now approaches filmmaking in a far more aligned way, why many successful people secretly feel trapped, and how small shifts can completely change the direction of a life. Together, we discuss nervous system regulation, limiting beliefs, reinvention at any age, and the importance of creating a life that genuinely resonates rather than one that simply looks successful from the outside. This conversation is a reminder that alignment is not about perfection — it is about choosing, again and again, what truly feels right for you. About Curtis Rivers: Curtis Rivers’ story proves that it’s never too late to discover your true calling. Growing up in low income housing in England, he was a quiet, introspective kid who spent most of his time at the library. However, when he played with other kids, he became highly competitive and even daring in a desperate attempt to fit in. At the age of eleven, he declared that he would become a stuntman, which resulted in a wave of skeptical laughter. He promptly wrote to television stations, asking what it would take to be a stuntman. A little over a decade later, that’s exactly what he became. What followed was an extraordinarily successful career as a Hollywood stuntman, where he triumphed over fear and conquered hundreds of challenges in film and television. His credits comprise two Guinness world records, and appearances in over 200 films and TV shows, including the iconic James Bond series. Despite decades of success, however, there was one big problem with this grandiose life. It wasn’t Curtis at all. He realized that the bold path he had chosen as a child did not align at all with the spiritual and harmonious man he had become. So, in 2012, he set out on a journey to reimagine, realign, and reignite his path. And that’s when the transformation began From Stuntman to Soul Guide. Today, Curtis is a coach, speaker, and award winning author who shares his unique strategies for an authentic awakening. He guides struggling, heart-centered souls through the same signature steps he discovered during his own journey. He focuses primarily on helping professionals who have lost their identity or direction and are seeking their own purpose, position, and path to freedom. He’s a certified NLP & EFT Practitioner, Holistic Life Coach, and is also trained in Soul Transformational Therapy & Coaching. His books include Seven Paths To Freedom and The Fearless Path (first place winner of the 2018 Mind, Body, and Spirit International Publisher Awards). His path is proof that, regardless of your situation or station right now, your soul is the compass that guides you toward your destiny. www.CurtisRiversCoaching.com www.CurtisRivers.com Free ‘Alignment Compass’ Tool: www.AlignmentCompass.com www.linkedin.com/in/curtisrivers www.facebook.com/people/Curtis-Rivers-Coaching www.instagram.com/mrcurtisrivers www.threads.com/@mrcurtisrivers https://x.com/TheCurtisRivers Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From Operator to Leader of Teams That Actually Execute with Shane Barker

Shane Barker started out as the operator in his business—hands-on in every decision, every task, every detail—because that’s what survival and early growth demanded. Over time, that same approach turned into a bottleneck: longer hours, slower execution, and a business increasingly dependent on him being everywhere at once. In this episode, Shane breaks down the shift from operator to leader and what actually has to change for scale to become possible. We talk delegation, trust, decision-making, and why stepping out of the middle doesn’t mean stepping out of control. He also shares how AI, systems, and team structure changed the way he works—and why execution often fails not because of strategy, but because leaders stay too close to everything. About Shane Barker: Shane Barker from Nevada is the CEO and founder of TraceFuse, the first Amazon TOS-compliant negative review removal system. With over 25 years of marketing experience supporting Fortune 500 brands, Shane has been recognized as a leading influencer. His recent focus is on helping Amazon sellers combat negative reviews through TraceFuse’s innovative, white-hat solution. http://www.tracefuse.ai/ www.shanebarker.com www.linkedin.com/in/shanebarker https://x.com/shane_barker www.facebook.com/ShaneBarkerConsultant www.instagram.com/shanebarker Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.