Integrity Over Scale with Dr. Leili Sadaghiani

Why Alex Simmons Left Microsoft to Help People Out of Pain

36 min · 6. maj 2026
episode Why Alex Simmons Left Microsoft to Help People Out of Pain cover

Description

Alex Simmons spent 20 years at Microsoft before walking away to become a posture therapist. The pivot was not just career, it was his body finally getting the attention his career had been taking from it. In this episode, Alex and Dr. Leili Sadaghiani talk about why excellent corporate performance can quietly cost you your health, what the Egoscue Method actually does, and the moment an 87-year-old client told him she could not find 15 minutes a day for herself. Alex shares the car accident that shaped the next two decades of his body, the first session that took his pain from a 7 to a 5 in an hour, the spinal fusion he chose not to have at 30, and the leadership lesson he is now teaching his son in little league baseball: lead by example, and the rest follows. If you are leading at a level that is taking more than it gives, this conversation is worth 36 minutes. Connect with Dr. Leili Sadaghiani: Website: https://www.invivoleadershipstrategies.com Instagram: @invivoleadershipstrategies

Comments

0

Be the first to comment

Sign up now and become a member of the Integrity Over Scale with Dr. Leili Sadaghiani community!

Get Started

1 month for 9 kr.

Then 99 kr. / month · Cancel anytime.

  • Podcasts kun på Podimo
  • 20 lydbogstimer pr. måned
  • Gratis podcasts

All episodes

43 episodes

episode Women in Aviation: Finding Confidence, Visibility, and Leadership artwork

Women in Aviation: Finding Confidence, Visibility, and Leadership

Most people see aviation as just flying ... but for Kelsey, it's about breaking barriers and redefining norms as a woman in aerospace. From a childhood fascination with roller coasters to becoming a pilot and now a training manager, her journey exemplifies resilience, authenticity, and the power of visibility in a male-dominated industry. Discover. how she navigates gender stereotypes, leadership challenges, and cultural expectations to inspire the next generation of women in aviation. We break down the underestimated importance of mentorship and sponsorship, the subtle biases women face behind the scenes, and practical strategies to build confidence and influence. Kelsey shares powerful insights on embracing your true self at work, turning unique strengths into leadership assets, and fostering inclusive environments that elevate everyone. You'll uncover stories of overcoming invisibility, the critical role of mentorship in aviation’s niche landscape, and why representation isn’t just a feel-good story — it’s a game-changer for innovation and teamwork. Her advice is a blueprint for women aspiring to thrive in any highly competitive, male-dominated field, emphasizing that authenticity, support networks, and visibility are your best tools for success.This episode is perfect for women carving out space in aerospace, leaders committed to diversity, and anyone eager to understand how breaking stereotypes accelerates progress. By listening, you'll learn how to leverage your strengths, advocate fiercely for yourself, and help reshape an industry that desperately needs your voice.Join us for a heartfelt conversation about leadership, representation, and transforming the narrative for women in aerospace. Whether you're an aspiring pilot or a seasoned professional, Kelsey’s journey inspires action—and shows how your authenticity can truly make a difference.

7. juli 202633 min
episode Human-Centered Leadership in the AI Era | Hector Villasenor artwork

Human-Centered Leadership in the AI Era | Hector Villasenor

Ever feel like technology is taking over but forgetting the human touch? Here’s why we must prioritize empathy in leadership! I speak with Hector Villasenor. He shares insights on the intersection of AI and human-centered leadership. While tech evolves fast, remember: - We’re working with people who have emotions, backgrounds, and stories. - A simple "How are you today?" can foster a safe workplace. - Leaders must understand AI but not let it dictate how they lead. It’s time to blend technology with compassion. What’s your experience with this balance? Enjoy! #HumanCenteredLeadership #EmpathyInTech #LeadershipInsights #AIAndPeople #TechWithHeart Connect with Hector Villasenor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hvillasenor/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hvillasenor/]

30. juni 202646 min
episode Performing Leadership vs. Actually Leading: Why Your Polished Self Is Costing You artwork

Performing Leadership vs. Actually Leading: Why Your Polished Self Is Costing You

Welcome to Integrity Over Scale, the podcast where leadership coach Dr. Leili Sadaghiani gets honest about what leadership actually costs, and what it gives back when you do it right. You walk into the meeting and before you say a word, something in you starts adjusting. Your voice changes. Your face changes. You reach for certainty faster than you actually feel it. You're not lying. You're performing the version of leadership you were taught gets rewarded. In this solo episode, Leili unpacks the gap between the leader you've learned to perform and the leader you actually know how to be. Drawing on her doctoral research on executive hubris, her own years leading from anxiety in corporate environments, and real client stories (including the executive repeatedly asked to take notes in her own meetings), she breaks down where the performance comes from, what it quietly costs you and your team, and the practical shift that closes the gap. You'll learn: * Why "confidence" is often compliance with a cultural script, and how to tell the difference * How performative leadership breaks trust through repetition, not one big failure * Power over vs. power with, and why one of them leaves your whole team exhausted * The question to ask instead of "Do I look like a leader right now?" This one gets personal. Leili names the double standards that make authenticity harder for some leaders than others, and why this conversation has to hold both the system and the self. Choose conscious over ego. Humanity over power. Connect with Leili at www.invivoleadershipstrategies.com [http://www.invivoleadershipstrategies.com] #PerformativeLeadership #AuthenticLeadership #LeadershipCoaching #ExecutivePresence #IntegrityOverScale

16. juni 202643 min
episode Authentic Leadership: Being Real Without Being a Jerk artwork

Authentic Leadership: Being Real Without Being a Jerk

Authentic Leadership: Being Real Without Being a Jerk explores what it truly means to “be yourself” as a leader without using authenticity as an excuse for bluntness, rigidity, or ego. In this episode, Dr. Leili Sadaghiani unpacks the core elements of authentic leadership—self-awareness, relational transparency, balanced processing, and a grounded moral compass—and shows how each one plays out in real organizational life. Drawing on research and lived leadership tensions, she breaks down the “authenticity paradox”: why clinging to a fixed idea of “this is just who I am” can block growth, damage relationships, and quietly erode trust. Through concrete examples of leaders who are “too nice” to give feedback and leaders who hide harshness behind “brutal honesty,” Leili illustrates how good values (like connection, candor, or excellence) can turn into harm when they’re left unbalanced. This conversation invites listeners to see authenticity not as unfiltered self-expression, but as alignment between values, behavior, and impact. You’ll walk away with language and frameworks to examine your own core values, spot where they can tip into their shadow side, and design a more honest, humble, and human way of leading. In short, this episode is for any leader who wants to be real and responsible—anchored in who they are, while still kind, open, and willing to grow. #AuthenticLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #ConsciousLeadership #EmotionalIntelligence #HumanCenteredLeadership #LeadershipPodcast #IntegrityOverScale #WomenInLeadership #WorkplaceCulture #LeadWithHumility #ValuesBasedLeadership

9. juni 202627 min