Ep. 12 — Emmanuel Zara, Jr.: Flourishing Leadership in a Complex World

Ep. 12 — Emmanuel Zara, Jr.: Flourishing Leadership in a Complex World

Most leaders are excellent firefighters. The problem is when constant firefighting becomes the culture — and nobody goes up to the balcony to see why the same fires keep appearing in different locations. Dr. Emmanuel G. Zara, Jr. is an Executive Coach and Leadership & Organizational Development Consultant based in Manila, Philippines. With a PhD in Leadership Studies and 20 years working with senior leaders across sectors, his research focuses on what it takes to flourish — not just survive — in a complex world. He serves as adjunct faculty at Golden Gate University. In this conversation: the difference between thriving and flourishing, why firefighting is physiologically addictive, the square wheels most organizations never see, why the leader you are today mirrors the leader you once reported to, and how mindfulness research is changing the tools available to leaders in crisis. Connect with Emmanuel Zara, Jr.: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmanuel-zara-jr-phd-984515a/ Instagram: @emmanueljr.zara About Joerg Sauer (host): Transformational coach, ICF ACC, MSc Professional Coaching & Entrepreneurship. Country Leader, Morphosis Coaching Indonesia. Jakarta, Indonesia. Instagram: @joergsauer_coach | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joergsauer-coach/ About The COACHpreneur Journey: Conversations with coaches, coach entrepreneurs, clients, and service providers in the coaching ecosystem. Hosted by Joerg Sauer, Jakarta.

The Listening CEO: Why the Best Leaders Speak Last | Ryan Charland | The COACHpreneur Journey #11

Most leaders are hired to have the answers. Ryan Charland — CEO of Manulife Japan — learned that speaking last is a more powerful leadership tool than speaking first. In this episode, Ryan shares how coaching shaped his approach to leadership across three cultures — Canada, Indonesia, and Japan — and why alignment, listening, and psychological safety aren't soft skills. They're the hard work of leadership. What you'll take away: → Why leaders who speak first quietly bias every decision their team makes → The 30 priorities trap and how to escape it → How to choose between internal and external coaching → How to build a values-driven team that holds itself accountable → What coaching across cultures taught a CEO about directness, face, and respect "I tried to be the last one to speak. If I spoke first, it would just naturally — human nature — bias the conversation in that direction." — Ryan Charland Connect with Ryan Charland: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ryan-charland-b884b741 Connect with Joerg Sauer: Instagram: @joergsauer_coach LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/joergsauer-coach

The Coaching Leader: Using Coaching Skills Without Being a Full-Time Coach | Pascale Feldmann | The COACHpreneur Journey #10

What if coaching skills could make you a better leader — even if you never become a full-time coach? In this episode, I sit down with Pascale Feldmann — biologist, project leader, and internal coach at a multinational in Ghent, Belgium — who came to coaching by chance and never looked back. What you'll take away: → How the shift from telling to listening transforms leadership impact → Why slowing down counterintuitively makes you more productive → The real difference between a coaching leader and a professional coach → Why internal coaching reaches people that external programmes never can → How to give every voice in a team a genuine chance to be heard "I do more if I slow down." — Pascale Feldmann Connect with Pascale Feldmann: LinkedIn: see show notes Connect with Joerg Sauer: @joergsauer_coach

The Art of Facilitation: Making Difficult Conversations Possible | Nami Ishihara | The COACHpreneur Journey #9

Most teams don't fail because of strategy. They fail because nobody creates the conditions for an honest conversation. In this episode, I sit down with Nami Ishihara — IAF Certified Professional Facilitator and founder of HappyTeams in Jakarta — to explore what skilled facilitation actually looks like inside real organizations. We go into the uncomfortable stuff: why leadership teams build kingdoms instead of collaborating, why emotions belong in the boardroom, and why the best facilitator in the room is often the one who knows the least about your industry. What you'll take away: → Why leaders who try to have all the answers are the biggest obstacle to team performance → The invisible foundations of accountability that org charts and Gantt charts miss entirely → How to navigate emotions at work without calling it therapy → The Drexler/Sibbet Team Performance Model — a practical diagnostic for stuck teams → Why facilitators, coaches, and consultants are not interchangeable → The one question to ask before your next leadership retreat "People already know what needs to be done. They just need a safe space to say it." — Nami Ishihara Connect with Nami Ishihara: happyteams1.com | @happyteams1 | linkedin.com/in/nami73ishihara Connect with Joerg Sauer: @joergsauer_coach

From Divorce Lawyer to Relationship Coach | Martha Markaki, Divorce & Relationship Coach, Family Mediator | The COACHpreneur Journey

Martha Markaki was a successful divorce lawyer who realized something was wrong: her clients got legal agreements, even court decisions, but they weren't happy. After years of listening to clients for hours about non-legal struggles—the real pain behind divorce—she discovered she wasn't doing legal work at all. She was doing something else. In this episode, Martha shares her transformation from frustrated lawyer to fulfilled divorce coach and family mediator. We explore why divorce is like "climbing Mount Everest in sandals," the real question facing people after separation (choosing who you WANT to be), and how coaching helps couples navigate conflict before crisis. Whether you're a coach, a couple in transition, or someone navigating difficult conversations, this conversation offers powerful insights into transformation during life's hardest moments. TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 Introduction 3:04 From divorce lawyer to divorce coach 4:53 "I invented something... that ended in 30 seconds" 9:12 Mount Everest in sandals: Why divorce is traumatic 11:52 Choose who you WANT to be 12:19 Joerg's journey coaching divorced women in Indonesia 16:51 The hidden needs behind every conflict 20:36 Working with couples vs. individuals 27:55 Conflict in relationships vs. workplace—same dynamics 30:09 The 30-second touch story: What happens when emotions take over 37:56 From frustrated lawyer to fulfilled coach 39:47 "I have wings and I'm flying" 41:09 How to work with Martha 43:26 Closing reflections KEY TOPICS: - Divorce coaching and family mediation - Career transitions in the coaching profession - Working with couples vs. individuals - Conflict resolution in relationships and workplace - Choosing transformation over trauma - Building a coaching practice in a specialized niche ABOUT MARTHA MARKAKI: Based in Athens, Greece, Martha is a certified family mediator, relationship coach, and divorce specialist. She's completing her second year of mental health counseling training and works with couples internationally. Connect with Martha: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martha-markaki-b03b01175/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martha_markaki/ ABOUT JOERG SAUER (HOST): Joerg Sauer is a transformational coach specializing in executive leadership and organizational transformation. Based in Jakarta, Indonesia for over 20 years, Joerg brings a unique perspective shaped by his transition from C-suite executive roles to professional coaching. He holds an MSc in Professional Coaching & Entrepreneurship (with Merit) and is an ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC). As Country Leader of Morphosis Coaching Indonesia, Joerg works with senior leaders and organizations navigating complex change. Inspired by his own life experience, he also coaches singles over 30 and divorced women finding their path forward after major life transitions. Connect with Joerg: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joergsauer-coach/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joergsauer_coach/ Website: https://joergsauer.coach ABOUT THE PODCAST: The COACHpreneur Journey features conversations with coaches, coach entrepreneurs, clients, and service providers in the coaching ecosystem. Hosted by Joerg Sauer from Jakarta, Indonesia. New episodes every two weeks on Wednesday.