Encouraging Leaders

The Ego Evolution: When Leadership Goes from Recognition to Responsibility - Bassel Hamwi

Bassel Hamwi helped launch the Damascus Stock Exchange and discovered that true leadership begins when your ego disappears. In this powerful conversation, Bassel shares the mindset shift that transforms leaders from asking "Can I do this?" to declaring "I'm here, so I have to give back" - and why the future can always be better than the past. In this episode, we discuss: - When leadership becomes about responsibility, not recognition - Why asking for help immediately is wisdom, not weakness - Building systems of support through mentors, coaches, forums, and peer networks - How "you are not alone" becomes the foundation for breakthrough leadership - Finding hope and resilience when everything seems lost P.S. To explore how we can support your leadership journey, book a free 15-minute call here: http://encouragingleaders.com/marc15minutevirtual

From CFO to Coach: The Most Important Leadership Transition - Kevin Thompson

Kevin Thompson, leadership coach and former CFO at Cambridge Air Solutions, shares his journey through the most important leadership transition—moving from financial executive to leadership coach. In this episode, we discuss: - How fear and insecurity disguise themselves as self-reliant leadership - The most common coaching goals: managing emotional triggers and creating clear expectations - Using the RACI framework to eliminate decision-making confusion and conflict (http://encouragingleaders.com/racioverview) - Navigating career transitions and the unexpected grief that comes with identity shifts P.S. To explore how we can support your leadership journey, book a free 15-minute call here: http://encouragingleaders.com/marc15minutevirtual

Silent Resistance: Why your AI initiatives are failing and how to fix it - Karin Volo

Karin Volo, CEO and founder of Evoloshen, shares her transformation from culture expert to AI leadership guide. She reveals why AI initiatives fail through "silent resistance" - when teams listen but fail to execute due to lack of trust. In this episode, we discuss: - The AI Leadership Triangle: how technology, culture, and leadership must work together for stability - Overcoming silent resistance by building psychological safety and trust - How AI amplifies existing organizational strengths and weaknesses like a spotlight Learn more about Karin's AI leadership work at https://achievingtheaiadvantage.com/tea/ [https://achievingtheaiadvantage.com/tea/] P.S. To explore how we can support your leadership journey, book a free 15-minute call here: http://encouragingleaders.com/marc15minutevirtual

Commitment-Driven Leadership: Meeting Promises Builds Unshakable Trust - Bob Hendriksen

Bob Hendriksen, Director of Operations at Steelcase, shares how he learned that effective leadership starts with understanding it's "all about the people." Bob discovered that building trust through consistent commitment-keeping and creating space for others to grow transforms both individuals and organizations. In this episode, we discuss: - Learning to delegate and challenge team members rather than doing everything yourself - Finding mentors who teach you think systematically - Managing commitments externally to stay present and trustworthy as a leader - Starting cultural change by listening to what truly frustrates your people and fixing it P.S. To explore how we can support your leadership journey, book a free 15-minute call here: http://encouragingleaders.com/marc15minutevirtual

Firing Yourself: How to Grow Leaders Who Replace You - Eric Gilbert

Eric Gilbert, CEO of Innova Furnishings and second-generation owner, shares his journey of learning that effective leadership means getting out of your own way. Through losing major customers, promoting team members into his roles, and navigating family business transitions, Eric discovered that the emotional component of leadership—not just hitting numbers—determines long-term success. In this episode, we discuss: - Why losing a major customer actually created more profitable growth - How "firing yourself" from roles opens opportunities for team development - The importance of realistic timelines—becoming a good CEO takes 3-8 years, not 90 days - Why one-on-one coaching addresses the emotional challenges that advisory boards can't P.S. To explore how we can support your leadership journey, book a free 15-minute call here: http://encouragingleaders.com/marc15minutevirtual