What if your business could do more than generate profit? What if it could help create a better future? In this episode of Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Isabelle Grosmaitre, founder and CEO of Goodness & Co., to explore how courageous leaders can turn business purpose into meaningful action. Isabelle also opens up about the realities of entrepreneurship, including financial uncertainty and learning to reinvent your business model. Discover how leaders can build future-ready organizations by making purpose part of strategic decisions and creating collaborative governance that moves meaningful change forward.What You Will Learn:How a defining life experience can shape your vision and sense of purpose.Why business can be a powerful force for positive change.How to listen to your inner voice and build confidence in your leadership.Why choosing to collaborate with pioneering organizations can create greater impact than fighting against established systems.What entrepreneurs can expect when navigating financial uncertainty and risk.Why business owners should avoid limiting themselves when pricing and monetizing their expertise.How regularly reinventing your business model can support entrepreneurial growth.How to move beyond purpose statements and integrate purpose into strategic business decisions.Why collaborative governance and stakeholder engagement are essential to organizational transformation.How boards, executives, employees, and partners can work together to create lasting change.FAQ:What does it mean for a business to be a force for good?A business becomes a force for good when it uses its influence, resources, and decisions to create positive change while remaining financially successful. This means integrating purpose into business strategy, empowering stakeholders, and finding ways to contribute to a better future.How can a company turn its purpose into action?A company can turn purpose into action by making it part of its strategic decisions, business model, innovation efforts, and relationships with stakeholders. Purpose should guide how the organization operates rather than exist only as a mission statement or slogan.What is purpose-driven leadership?Purpose-driven leadership means guiding an organization with a clear commitment to making a meaningful contribution beyond financial performance alone. It involves aligning business decisions with a broader vision, empowering others, and working collaboratively to create lasting impact.Connect with Isabelle GrosmaitreGoodness & Co.Leading Visionaries PodcastJoin the Leading Visionaries CommunityMake a Donation to Support the ShowCreative Age Consulting Group

What happens when the vision you have for your life is bigger than what the people around you believe is possible? In this episode of Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Steve Gutzler, leadership expert, speaker, coach, and the president of Leadership Quest.Steve shares how lessons from his family's pancake house shaped his approach to leading people, why attitude sets the tone for an entire organization, and how a clear vision can create the passion needed to keep moving forward when life does not go according to plan.Get ready to discover how to keep getting better forever while leading with vision, emotional intelligence, and purpose.What You Will Learn:Why a compelling vision can create passion and motivation in the present.How a leader's attitude can influence the people and culture around them.Why leaders manage things but lead people.How to maintain perspective and navigate emotions when life goes sideways.Why entrepreneurial and leadership journeys rarely move in a straight line.How lifelong learning can help leaders continue growing and evolving.Why emotional intelligence is a critical leadership skill, not simply a soft skill.How emotionally intelligent leaders create trust, connection, and a sense of value in others.Why your inner circle can either strengthen or diminish your biggest vision.How anchoring yourself in your core values can help you navigate challenging seasons.FAQ:What is the relationship between vision and leadership?Vision gives leaders a clear picture of the future and creates the passion needed to move toward it. A strong vision can help people understand where they are going, why it matters, and what they need to do in the present to make that future possible.How does emotional intelligence improve leadership?Emotional intelligence helps leaders understand and navigate their own emotions while recognizing and responding to the emotions of others. This creates stronger relationships, greater trust, and a leadership environment where people feel valued, appreciated, and empowered.Why is emotional intelligence important for entrepreneurs?Entrepreneurs are constantly communicating ideas, building relationships, making decisions, and influencing others. Emotional intelligence helps entrepreneurs connect with people beyond simply exchanging information, making it easier to build trust and move people toward a shared vision.Connect with Steve GutzlerWebsiteLeading Visionaries PodcastJoin the Leading Visionaries CommunityMake a Donation to Support the ShowCreative Age Consulting Group

What happens when you stop looking at people as a business expense and start seeing them as the force that creates value? In this episode of Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Rohit Bassi, the founder of People Quotient and the creator of PQ, a framework that defines an organization’s capability through its people.Rohit shares how his childhood vision for global impact shaped his leadership journey, what he learned from working with more than 100 businesses, and why translating a big vision into something tangible is essential for creating real-world impact. He also explains his five-year vision for bringing PQ to businesses around the world.What You Will Learn:Why having a big vision requires both imagination and practical structure.How to connect what you are solving for with the value you want to create.Why people are fundamental to turning a vision into measurable business value.What People Quotient, or PQ, means and how it applies to leadership, organization, and talent.Why businesses benefit from thinking about their people proactively instead of only reacting to employee issues.Why bringing a vision to life requires other people, not just the person who created the vision.How a big idea can become a tangible framework that other people can understand, use, and apply.FAQ:What is People Quotient?People Quotient, or PQ, is a framework for thinking about an organization’s people through three areas.Why are people important to business success?People are responsible for carrying out the work that creates value within an organization.How is People Quotient different from IQ and EQ?Rohit describes IQ and EQ as familiar ways of thinking about individuals, while PQ focuses on the people and organizational side of a business. Connect with Rohit BassiWebsiteLeading Visionaries PodcastJoin the Leading Visionaries CommunityMake a Donation to Support the ShowCreative Age Consulting Group

What happens when you spend years learning how to lead, knock on 9,000 doors, and discover that the conversations happening face-to-face are dramatically different from the conversations happening online? In this episode of Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Christopher Rivers, former Army Officer and author of You Shouldn’t Have to Kill to Get Ahead.Christopher shares what he learned from knocking on thousands of doors, why he believes meaningful change starts with everyday conversations, and how his book became the foundation for a larger mission to make complicated policy and political conversations more approachable.You'll also hear how Christopher is turning his ideas into multiple formats, including an audiobook and digital experiences, while building a mission-driven business.What You Will Learn:How having a clear vision differs from being able to see the path to achieving it.Why your vision may develop through experience rather than appearing fully formed.How a 1% improvement mindset can help develop leadership over time.Why leadership is built through consistent personal growth rather than a single workshop or title.What Christopher learned from knocking on 9,000 doors during his political campaigns.How information overload can make it harder to find the information needed to make good decisions.Why face-to-face conversations can help people navigate disagreement and different perspectives.Two questions that can create more productive conversations around difficult issues.How a book can become the foundation for a larger mission-driven business.Why entrepreneurs need to meet people where they are and create multiple ways for people to engage with their ideas.How speaking, books, digital products, and educational tools can become revenue streams for a mission-driven organization.FAQ:How does the 1% mindset help develop leadership?The 1% mindset focuses on becoming a slightly better version of yourself each day. Christopher Rivers believes that consistently improving yourself over time can develop the discipline, experience, and personal growth required for leadership.What can knocking on 9,000 doors teach you about leadership?Knocking on 9,000 doors created an opportunity to speak directly with people across different political perspectives. Those conversations showed Christopher that many people's personal concerns and conversations were different from the broader conversations happening through media and online platforms.How can people have better conversations when they disagree?Two questions can help create more productive conversations: "What would you have to see to change your mind?" and "How would you feel if it happened to you?" These questions encourage people to consider whether they are genuinely open to new information and how an issue might affect them personally.Connect with Christopher RiversWebsiteLeading Visionaries PodcastJoin the Leading Visionaries CommunityMake a Donation to Support the ShowCreative Age Consulting Group

What if the biggest thing standing between your big vision and the life you want isn't a lack of ambition, but a lack of a road map? In this episode of Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Jason Clark, Chief Marketing Officer of Tectonic. Jason helps organizations connect branding, technology, marketing, and growth strategy. Jason challenges some common assumptions about marketing and visibility. Marketing doesn't create value where none exists. It amplifies the value that's already there. Hear Jason's perspective on ego, collaboration, knowing when you're truly ready to sell a business, and why getting out of your own head may be one of the most important leadership practices of all.What You Will Learn:How road mapping can turn a big vision into practical milestones.Why BHAGs need benchmarks and smaller steps along the way.How to lead and support other visionaries without taking over their vision.Why ego can become an obstacle to long-term success.How relationships and community contribute to achieving ambitious goals.Why marketing works best when it amplifies proven value.Why likes, followers, and visibility do not automatically create cash flow.How founders can recognize when they are ready to sell or exit a business.What changes when a founder moves from business owner to C-suite leader.Why disconnecting from work can help leaders gain perspective.How legacy, family, and presence can shape a leader's definition of success.FAQ:How do you turn a big vision into an actionable plan?Start by defining the desired outcome and then work backward to identify the milestones required to reach it. A large goal becomes more manageable when it is broken into benchmarks, timelines, and measurable steps.How can leaders help entrepreneurs achieve their vision?Leaders can help entrepreneurs by bringing experience, perspective, strategic guidance, and an understanding of potential roadblocks. Rather than telling someone exactly what to do, effective leadership can help them anticipate challenges and create a practical path forward.Does marketing create value for a business?Marketing primarily amplifies existing value. Strong marketing can increase awareness, improve messaging, support sales, and create momentum, but marketing cannot compensate indefinitely for an offering that has not demonstrated real value in the marketplace.Connect with Jason ClarkTeam TectonicLeading Visionaries PodcastJoin the Leading Visionaries CommunityMake a Donation to Support the ShowCreative Age Consulting Group

What happens when a personal problem becomes the doorway to a much bigger purpose? In this episode of Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Carmine Del Sordi, founder and president of Pure and Easy Tea, a luxury tea company built around purity, transparency, quality, and purpose. Carmine shares how self-discovery shaped his approach to leadership, why he believes vision and visualization are two distinct but connected practices, and how he learned to turn what he could see into a roadmap for action.If you've ever had a vision that wouldn't leave you alone, this conversation offers a powerful reminder: sometimes the thing that begins as a solution for yourself is actually the beginning of something meant to serve others.What You Will Learn:Why self-discovery is foundational to intentional leadership.How knowing your core values and principles can strengthen your leadership.The difference between receiving a vision and using visualization to bring that vision into reality.How to turn a vision into a practical roadmap for action.How a personal challenge can become the starting point for a business idea.Why curiosity and experimentation are important parts of the innovation process.How to recognize when an idea feels like a calling rather than simply an opportunity.Why purpose can provide the persistence needed to navigate the difficult seasons of entrepreneurship.How ritual can create space for gratitude, reflection, release, and intentional creation.Why entrepreneurs need to recognize the financial investment and opportunity cost involved in bringing a vision to life.How Carmine built Pure and Easy Tea around purity, transparency, quality, and function.Why staying committed to a vision can matter when early business results are discouraging.FAQ:How do you turn a vision into reality?Turning a vision into reality starts with clearly seeing the desired outcome and then creating a practical roadmap to move toward it. Visualization can help clarify the destination, while intentional action, experimentation, persistence, and planning help transform the vision into something tangible.What is the difference between vision and visualization?Vision is the ability to see or receive a clear sense of what could be created or accomplished. Visualization is the intentional practice of mentally seeing the desired end result and using that image to help construct a path toward it.Why is self-discovery important for leadership?Self-discovery helps leaders understand their core values, principles, motivations, and identity. Knowing who you are makes it easier to lead with intention and create a vision that is authentic to you.Connect with Carmine Del SordiPure and Easy TeaLeading Visionaries PodcastJoin the Leading Visionaries CommunityMake a Donation to Support the ShowCreative Age Consulting Group

What if changing the way you see yourself could change the way you move through one of the hardest seasons of your life? In this episode of Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Amanda Goodwin, founder of Cancer Sharks, a storytelling and advocacy platform inspired by her experience with stage four melanoma. A longtime communications and leadership professional, Amanda has led nonprofit initiatives, fundraising campaigns, childcare organizations, and a technology startup. Amanda shares how Cancer Sharks is evolving through storytelling events, merchandise, publishing, and speaking, while staying rooted in its larger purpose: creating connection when people need it most.This conversation is about far more than cancer. It is about trusting your knowing, advocating for yourself, and having the courage to let a vision grow before you know exactly where it will lead.What You Will Learn:How self-leadership can become a powerful form of advocacy when navigating difficult circumstances.Why advocating for yourself sometimes requires researching decision-makers and understanding what matters to them.How years of leadership experience can become unexpectedly valuable during a personal crisis.Why vision isn't always visual and can instead emerge through intuition, awareness, feeling, or a deep sense of knowing.Why changing the language we use around difficult experiences can change how we relate to them.How storytelling can create connection and vulnerability in places where people often feel isolated.Why a vision does not have to be perfectly formed before you begin bringing it into the world.How Amanda is building Cancer Sharks through storytelling, events, publishing, merchandise, and speaking.Why entrepreneurs and visionaries need to be willing to experiment, learn, and allow their original vision to evolve.How the words used by leaders, healthcare professionals, and caregivers can profoundly affect people during critical moments.Why no one should have to swim alone when navigating a difficult season.FAQ:What is Cancer Sharks?Cancer Sharks is a storytelling and advocacy platform founded by Amanda Goodwin following her experience with stage four melanoma. The platform uses storytelling, community, merchandise, events, and speaking to create a more empowering way for people to connect around cancer.How can storytelling help people going through difficult experiences?Storytelling can help people feel less isolated by creating opportunities for shared vulnerability and connection. Amanda found that sharing Cancer Sharks stickers and cards in medical settings often encouraged people to open up and share their own stories.Why is the language used during critical care important?Words can significantly affect how people experience vulnerable and frightening situations. Amanda's keynote, The Weight of Words in Critical Care, explores how communication can either increase fear or provide reassurance, connection, and empowerment.Connect with Amanda GoodwinCancer SharksLeading Visionaries PodcastJoin the Leading Visionaries CommunityMake a Donation to Support the ShowCreative Age Consulting Group

How can you stand out in a world where everyone sounds the same? In this episode of Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Judy J. Winslow, the Brandologist, pioneering brand strategist, two-time international best-selling author, and founder of TEDx Sarasota. With three decades of experience helping visionary CEOs and founders become unforgettable brand leaders, Jay brings a refreshingly holistic perspective to branding, leadership, vision, and human connection.The conversation then moves into what it really means to build an unforgettable brand. Jay challenges the traditional way we think about branding and explains why a powerful brand is about much more than logos or marketing tactics. What You Will Learn:How leadership can emerge before we consciously recognize ourselves as leaders.Why observing and listening can be powerful forms of leadership.How authentic leadership differs from performative influence.Why branding is about more than logos, visual identity, and marketing.The four aspects of becoming an unforgettable brand leader: visionary, catalyst, creator, and coachable/coach.Why leaders need to consciously evolve their vision as they grow.How leaders can energize and activate people around a shared vision.Why culture and team development are essential parts of sustainable leadership.How coaching and mentoring can help create more leaders within an organization.Why authenticity is increasingly important in the age of AI.How human relationships and community can become a competitive advantage.Why building a brand for longevity requires more than creating a temporary burst of attention.How local relationships and community involvement can strengthen a leader's brand.Why the way a leader is being can be just as important as what the leader is doing.FAQ:What is authentic branding?Authentic branding is the process of consciously building a brand around a genuine vision, identity, voice, values, and way of showing up rather than relying on manufactured positioning or tactics that do not reflect who the leader or organization really is.What makes a brand unforgettable?An unforgettable brand is built around a distinctive vision and authentic positioning rather than simply visual design. It requires leaders to consistently communicate and embody what makes their vision different while building meaningful relationships with the people they serve.What are the four aspects of becoming an unforgettable brand leader?The four aspects discussed are being a visionary, catalyst, creator, and coachable coach. A visionary owns and evolves the vision, a catalyst activates people around it, a creator brings the vision into reality, and a coachable coach develops both themselves and others.Connect with Judy J. WinslowUnforgettable BrandsLeading Visionaries PodcastJoin the Leading Visionaries CommunityMake a Donation to Support the ShowCreative Age Consulting Group

What if leadership is about becoming more conscious of how you show up in every moment? In this episode of Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Marcy Axelrod, bestselling and award-winning author of “How We Choose to Show Up”, TV Contributor, 2X TEDx speaker, and visual artist.Marcy challenges us to stop living on autopilot and consciously choose how we show up. She introduces a deeper way of understanding our role in the world, including how our actions affect ourselves, the people immediately around us, and the broader social networks connected to us.This episode invites you to reclaim depth and understand the leadership power they already possess.What You Will Learn:The difference between a job, a career, and a calling.How quiet, grounded leadership can create meaningful influence.Why consciously choosing how you show up is a form of leadership.How childhood experiences can influence patterns of behavior and self-expression.Why humans are constantly influencing and changing one another through interaction.How interpersonal neurobiology helps explain connection between people.Why your energy and presence can influence others before you even speak.How to recognize when you are living from a default version of yourself.Why deeper awareness can change how you experience people and everyday moments.How purpose, meaning, mattering, and fulfillment are connected.Why leaders need to take accountability for their own influence.How intentional leadership can invite others to show up differently.FAQ:What does it mean to consciously choose how you show up?Consciously choosing how you show up means becoming aware of your thoughts, emotions, behavior, energy, and influence rather than automatically responding from familiar patterns. It involves intentionally deciding how you want to engage with yourself, other people, and the situation you're experiencing.Why is showing up important in leadership?Showing up is important in leadership because people influence one another constantly. The way a leader communicates, behaves, and carries themselves can affect how other people respond. Conscious leadership requires recognizing that influence and taking responsibility for it.What is the difference between a job, a career, and a calling?A job is work performed to earn a living. A career is a longer-term professional path. A calling is connected to a deeper sense of purpose and what someone feels they are meant to contribute or express through their life and work.Connect with Marcy AxelrodChoose to Show UpLeading Visionaries PodcastJoin the Leading Visionaries CommunityMake a Donation to Support the ShowCreative Age Consulting Group

What if that persistent idea, inner knowing, or urge to write is actually a calling you are meant to follow? In this episode of Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Wiebke Tasch, founder of Digital Authors LLC.Wiebke shares her own lifelong calling to write, beginning with short stories at age nine and eventually leading her into publishing and entrepreneurship. She explains how a calling can show up as restlessness, intuition, or an inner knowing, and why ignoring that calling can prevent an important message from reaching the world.Whether you have been carrying a book idea for years or are simply feeling called to bring a bigger vision into the world, this conversation offers practical encouragement for taking the next step.What You Will Learn:How to recognize the difference between a passing idea and a persistent calling to write.Why trusting your intuition can be an important part of bringing a meaningful message into the world.How meditation and quiet reflection can help clarify what you are being called to create.Why your life experiences, challenges, and knowledge can become the foundation for a powerful book.How market research can help determine whether a book idea has demand and revenue potential.Why positioning a book for the right audience does not require compromising its core message.How authors can use market analysis to identify niches, competition, and opportunities.Why the work involved in publishing a book does not end when the book is finished.How building momentum around a book launch can help increase visibility.Why the first several days after a book launches can be important for generating traffic and attention.How becoming an author can represent a personal transformation as well as a professional accomplishment.What aspiring authors can do to begin writing when they feel overwhelmed by where to start.FAQ:How do you know if you are called to write a book?A calling to write a book can feel like a persistent inner urge, restlessness, intuition, or knowing that continues to return even when you try to ignore it. Taking time to become quiet, reflect, meditate, and listen to what keeps coming up can help clarify whether writing is something you are being called to pursue.How do I know what my book should be about?Start by looking at your own life, experiences, knowledge, challenges, and transformations. Consider what you have learned that could help other people and what message you feel compelled to share. Market research can then help you determine how to position that message for an audience.How can I determine whether my book idea has market potential?Market research can help you evaluate whether people are searching for your topic, how much demand exists, what competing books are available, and whether there is an opportunity to establish a strong position within a particular niche.Connect with Wiebke TaschDigital AuthorsLeading Visionaries PodcastJoin the Leading Visionaries CommunityMake a Donation to Support the ShowCreative Age Consulting Group

What do you do when your life, finances, and career all seem to be falling apart at the same time? In this episode of Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Mandi Feely-Swain, EVP at Premier Mortgage Resources, a Top 1% mortgage originator, and author of Origination Boost.Whether you're an entrepreneur, executive, sales professional, or someone navigating a difficult season, this conversation offers practical wisdom and inspiring reminders that your greatest challenges can become the foundation for your greatest successes.What You Will LearnWhy leadership begins with a decision rather than a title.How adversity can become the catalyst for long-term success.The importance of choosing growth over comfort.Why surrounding yourself with people who believe in your vision matters.How systems and consistency create sustainable business growth.Lessons learned from rebuilding after financial hardship.The role gratitude plays in resilient leadership.Why self-awareness is essential for making bold career pivots.How leading from the front creates stronger teams and cultures.Practical mindset shifts that help overcome setbacks and uncertainty.FAQ:How can someone rebuild after experiencing major financial setbacks?Recovering from financial hardship starts with focusing on what you can control, creating consistent systems, making intentional decisions, and taking action every day. Long-term success often comes from resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to start over when necessary.What is the difference between being a leader and having a leadership title?Leadership is defined by actions rather than a job title. Effective leaders take ownership, make difficult decisions, serve others, and inspire confidence regardless of their position within an organization.Why is stepping outside your comfort zone important for success?Growth happens when people embrace challenges instead of avoiding them. Staying comfortable may feel safe, but pursuing bigger goals often requires learning new skills, taking calculated risks, and remaining committed through difficult seasons.Connect with Mandi Feely-SwainOrigination BoostLeading Visionaries PodcastJoin the Leading Visionaries CommunityMake a Donation to Support the ShowCreative Age Consulting Group

What happens after you've achieved everything the world says should make you happy, only to discover you're still searching for something more? In this episode of Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Kris Land, entrepreneur, technologist, and award-winning author. After building and exiting more than a dozen technology companies, including one that went public, Kris realized external success couldn't answer life's deepest questions.If you're building a business, leading a team, or searching for deeper meaning beyond achievement, this conversation offers a refreshing perspective on success and the human experience.What You Will LearnWhy external success doesn't always create lasting fulfillment.How curiosity creates more effective and adaptable leadership.The importance of listening before making leadership decisions.Why synchronicities may be meaningful connections rather than coincidences.How childhood conditioning shapes our perception of consciousness.Why having purpose beyond financial success matters.Three lifelong goals that create lasting fulfillment.How embracing the journey leads to greater growth than focusing only on outcomes.Why asking better questions can transform your life.FAQ:Why can success still leave people feeling unfulfilled?Many people discover that achieving financial or career goals doesn't automatically provide purpose or lasting happiness. True fulfillment often comes from continuing to grow, learn, serve others, and pursue meaningful goals beyond external achievements.What is conscious leadership?Conscious leadership is leading with self-awareness, curiosity, empathy, and purpose. Rather than believing they have all the answers, conscious leaders invite collaboration, remain open to new perspectives, and align decisions with deeper values.How can curiosity improve leadership?Curiosity helps leaders make better decisions by encouraging them to ask questions, gather diverse perspectives, and remain adaptable instead of relying on assumptions or predetermined answers.Connect with Kris LandWebsiteLeading Visionaries PodcastJoin the Leading Visionaries CommunityMake a Donation to Support the ShowCreative Age Consulting Group

What does it take to lead from a place of true center, especially when the world around you feels reactive and overwhelming? In this episode of Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Pennie Wilson, mental fitness trainer and creator of the Kokoro Calm Repatterning Method.Whether you’re a visionary creating into the "void" or a leader that’s navigating the "messy middle," this episode offers a practical framework for self-leadership, emotional regulation, and building the self-trust necessary to say yes to your biggest calling.What You Will LearnHow to receive and recognize a calling as it gradually rises like a sunrise.Why nature is an essential co-creative partner in the visionary journey.How to embrace "self-leadership" as the necessary foundation for all true leadership.Why comparing your present self to your future visionary self is a gap trap and how to shift to the gain.The importance of dynamic balance and accepting that wobbling is a natural part of growth.Why the most important answers are found from the inside out, not the outside in.How to cultivate the courage to take your next big leap, whether it’s a first video or a keynote stage.FAQ:What is the Kokoro Calm Repatterning Method?It is a synthesis of trauma care patterns and mental fitness. It uses the "Four Rs” to help leaders shift emotional patterns from what they don't want to what they do desire.What is Self-Leadership?Self-leadership is the practice of grounding yourself in self-trust and emotional regulation. It requires moving from a place of feeling incapable to believing in your identity as a leader, one step at a time.What is the Messy Middle?The messy middle is the space between your present self and your future vision. It is where dynamic balance occurs, but trusting your core to keep you moving forward.Connect with Pennie WilsonKokoro CreatorsLeading Visionaries PodcastJoin the Leading Visionaries CommunityMake a Donation to Support the ShowCreative Age Consulting Group

What happens when the career you've worked so hard to build no longer feels like the story you were meant to live? In this episode of Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Federico Malatesta, executive coach and founder of FM Transformational Coaching, and former Chief Investment Officer. After leading a $40 billion energy portfolio, Federico made an unexpected transition into coaching executives through identity shifts, leadership challenges, and life's biggest turning points.Whether you're building a business, leading a team, or sensing it's time for your next chapter, this conversation offers a thoughtful framework for embracing transformation with greater clarity and intention.What You Will LearnWhy career transitions often begin when your current story no longer creates meaning.How unconscious narratives influence leadership and decision-making.The difference between identity and the authentic self.Why successful executives often struggle to recognize their own blind spots.How to recognize the internal signals that it's time for change.Why leadership is built through relationships rather than titles.How values provide direction during seasons of uncertainty.Why pursuing the right clients creates greater impact than pursuing more clients.How meaningful transformation happens through reflection with others.Why listening to your deepest desires can reveal your next chapter.FAQ:Why do successful leaders struggle during career transitions?Many high-achieving leaders discover that external success eventually stops providing fulfillment. Career transitions often happen when the personal story driving their work no longer aligns with who they've become or what they value most.What is leadership identity?Leadership identity is the way leaders see themselves and how others recognize them. It develops through relationships, experiences, and personal narratives rather than job titles or positions.How do unconscious stories affect leadership?Unconscious stories shape how leaders interpret challenges, make decisions, communicate with others, and respond to change. Becoming aware of these patterns allows leaders to make more intentional choices.Connect with Federico MalatestaWebsiteLeading Visionaries PodcastJoin the Leading Visionaries CommunityMake a Donation to Support the ShowCreative Age Consulting Group

What happens when the darkest chapters of your life become the foundation for your greatest purpose? In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Dr. John A. King, an Australian-born Indigenous Warumungu author, survivor advocate, and founder of the Give Them A Voice Foundation. After surviving years of childhood sexual abuse and trafficking, Dr. King transformed unimaginable trauma into a mission to help other survivors reclaim their lives through healing, leadership, and authentic living.Whether you've overcome personal adversity, lead others through difficult seasons, or simply want to live more intentionally, this conversation offers hope, wisdom, and practical insight for creating a future that aligns with who you were truly meant to become.What You Will LearnWhy authenticity is the foundation of visionary leadership and lasting fulfillment.How unresolved trauma can quietly influence leadership, relationships, and personal growth.The surprising connection between trauma, resilience, and high performance.Why healing is a long-term investment rather than a quick fix.How Dr. John transformed his personal recovery into a global mission to support survivors.The four guiding principles that have shaped Dr. John's life and leadership.Why creating your own definition of success is essential for building a meaningful future.How incremental growth over time creates extraordinary transformation.The importance of aligning your goals with your deepest values instead of outside expectations.Why your greatest challenges may become your greatest opportunities to serve others.FAQ:What is the Give Them A Voice Foundation?The Give Them A Voice Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded by Dr. John A. King to provide advocacy, education, and support for male survivors of childhood sexual abuse and human trafficking. The foundation works to break the silence surrounding male victimization while creating resources that empower survivors to heal and rebuild their lives.What is the Phoenix Collective?The Phoenix Collective is Dr. John's leadership and personal development platform that helps people transform adversity into strength. Through practical frameworks and mindset development, participants learn how to process trauma, build resilience, and lead with authenticity and purpose.Can trauma become a strength?Yes. While trauma should never be minimized, Dr. John explains that healing can transform painful experiences into sources of resilience, empathy, wisdom, and leadership. When trauma is processed in healthy ways, it can become a catalyst for personal growth and meaningful service to others.Connect with Dr. John A. KingWebsite Leading Visionaries PodcastJoin the Leading Visionaries CommunityMake a Donation to Support the ShowCreative Age Consulting Group

What if science could accomplish what politics cannot? In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Zafra Lerman, an internationally recognized chemist, educator, and humanitarian. Zafra shares how she has spent decades using science diplomacy to unite scientists across some of the world's most divided regions.If you've ever wondered what it truly takes to lead with courage, influence others around a bold vision, and create lasting global impact, this conversation offers an inspiring masterclass in purpose-driven leadership.What You Will LearnHow leadership often begins long before someone realizes they are a leader.Why courage is built through values and purpose rather than fearlessness.How Zafra risked her own safety to support imprisoned scientists and political dissidents.The role science can play as a bridge between nations in conflict.Why science diplomacy often succeeds where political diplomacy fails.How creative teaching methods can make science accessible to everyone.Why persuasion and relationship-building are essential leadership skills.How childhood experiences shaped Zafra's lifelong commitment to service.What it takes to bring together scientists from countries at war.How one person's persistence can create opportunities for peace that seemed impossible.FAQ:What is science diplomacy?Science diplomacy is the use of scientific collaboration to improve relationships between countries, solve global challenges, and build trust across political, cultural, or ideological divides. Dr. Zafra Lerman believes science diplomacy can succeed where traditional diplomacy often fails because scientists can work together around shared goals regardless of political differences.What are the Malta Conferences?The Malta Conferences are international scientific conferences that bring together researchers from across the Middle East, including nations with long-standing political conflicts. The conferences provide a neutral environment where scientists collaborate on issues such as water, health, sustainability, and environmental challenges while building lasting professional relationships.How does science promote peace?Science promotes peace by creating opportunities for people from different countries and backgrounds to collaborate on solving shared problems. Working together on scientific research builds trust, encourages open communication, and helps participants focus on common goals rather than political differences.Connect with Zafra LermanWebsiteLeading Visionaries PodcastJoin the Leading Visionaries CommunityMake a Donation to Support the ShowCreative Age Consulting Group

What does it take to transform deep expertise into a scalable, investment-grade business? In this special anniversary episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Dr. Dia Burger, founder of Stiletto Med Spa, the International Med Spa Academy, and the Million Dollar Med Spa Method.With more than 30 years of medical experience and two decades in aesthetics, Dr. Dia shares how her vision evolved from operating a highly successful med spa to creating a global chain of premium med spas designed for exceptional client outcomes and strong investor returns. She discusses the importance of leadership, intellectual property, business systems, ethical practices, and trusting your intuition when building something extraordinary.This inspiring conversation explores the intersection of vision, innovation, profitability, and purpose while revealing what it takes to create a business that is both scalable and sustainable.What You Will LearnHow vision often emerges through a combination of frustration, reflection, and faith.Why leading visionaries must continually refine and narrow their focus to achieve greater impact.The importance of having trusted advisors who can reflect blind spots and accelerate growth.How Dr. Dia evolved from helping investors build med spas to creating her own global med spa brand.Why safety, integrity, and client outcomes are foundational to sustainable business success.How undervaluing your expertise can leave significant opportunities and revenue on the table.The difference between being a skilled practitioner and being an effective business owner.Why intellectual property and proven systems create long-term business value.How efficiency, not volume, drives exceptional results in medical aesthetics.The leadership lessons required to scale a vision into a world-class organization.Why protecting standards and execution is critical when expanding a successful model.How investors benefit from businesses built on proven systems and measurable performance.FAQ:How can med spa owners increase profitability without increasing treatment volume?Dr. Dia explains that profitability comes from efficiency rather than simply performing more procedures. By improving systems, client experience, injector performance, operational workflows, and business processes, med spas can significantly increase revenue without sacrificing quality.What leadership skills are necessary to scale a business successfully?Successful business leaders must balance empathy with strong business decision-making. Dr. Dia emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries, understanding the value of your expertise, building systems that scale, and seeking trusted advisors who can identify blind spots and accelerate growth.How do investors benefit from investing in med spa businesses?Investors benefit when med spas are built on proven systems that create predictable revenue, operational efficiency, and strong profit margins. Dr. Dia's model focuses on creating investment-grade businesses designed for long-term scalability and attractive returns.Connect with Dr. Dia BurgerLinkedInLeading Visionaries PodcastJoin the Leading Visionaries CommunityMake a Donation to Support the ShowCreative Age Consulting Group

What happens after the crisis is over, but clarity still hasn't returned? In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Savio P. Clemente, keynote speaker, TEDx presenter, journalist, wellness coach, bestselling author, and two-time cancer survivor. After conducting more than 2,000 interviews with global leaders and navigating two life-altering cancer journeys, Savio developed the Adaptive Resilience Leadership Framework to help leaders remain grounded, make better decisions under pressure, and transform adversity into wisdom.Get ready to explore the difference between vision and goals, the importance of leading yourself before leading others, and how life's unexpected challenges often become the training ground for greater leadership.What You Will LearnWhat adaptive resilience leadership is and why it matters in today's uncertain world.Why vision is different from goal setting and how visionary leaders operate.How personal adversity can become a catalyst for leadership growth.Why self-leadership is the foundation of effective leadership.How silence and stillness can create clarity during times of crisis.The mindset shifts that helped Savio navigate cancer twice.How psychological distancing can help leaders make better decisions under pressure.Why surrendering to circumstances is different from giving up.The role of metacognition in building resilience and self-awareness.How the ALOHA framework can help individuals reconnect with themselves and move forward with courage.FAQ:What is adaptive resilience leadership?Adaptive resilience leadership is the ability to remain flexible, grounded, and clear-headed during adversity while developing strategies that help navigate uncertainty and high-pressure situations effectively.How can leaders stay calm during a crisis?Leaders can stay calm during a crisis by focusing on what they can control, practicing self-awareness, using reflection and stillness, and developing resilience strategies that help them respond rather than react.Why is self-leadership important?Self-leadership is important because leaders who can regulate their emotions, manage challenges, and maintain clarity are better equipped to guide teams and organizations through difficult situations.ResourcesSavio P. ClementeWebsiteLeading Visionaries PodcastJoin the Leading Visionaries CommunityMake a Donation to Support the ShowCreative Age Consulting Group

What does it take to turn unimaginable adversity into a life of impact, purpose, and abundance? In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Michelle J. Lamont, podcaster, leading manifestation guru, and master mindset coach. Michelle shares her extraordinary journey from losing her mother as a child, surviving abuse and multiple suicide attempts, to building successful businesses and helping others transform their lives through mindset and manifestation.This conversation is a testament to the power of believing in your vision, refusing to accept limitations, and choosing transformation over surrender.What You Will LearnHow self-leadership can help you overcome even the most difficult life circumstances.Why healing unresolved trauma is essential for personal and professional growth.How limiting beliefs can prevent entrepreneurs from taking action on their vision.Why resourcefulness is often more important than having financial resources.How persistence and creativity helped build a million-dollar business from almost nothing.The importance of finding people who believe in your vision when you need support.How spiritual experiences can influence personal growth and decision-making.Why rejection is not the end of the road for visionary leaders.How mindset shifts can create new opportunities and possibilities.Why impact ultimately creates a deeper legacy than income alone.FAQ:What is self-leadership and why is it important?Self-leadership is the ability to guide your own thoughts, behaviors, and decisions toward meaningful goals. It is important because it helps individuals navigate challenges, overcome setbacks, and stay aligned with their vision even during difficult circumstances.How can entrepreneurs overcome limiting beliefs?Entrepreneurs can overcome limiting beliefs by identifying negative thought patterns, challenging assumptions, developing new empowering beliefs, and taking consistent action despite uncertainty.What role does mindset play in business success?Mindset influences how people respond to challenges, opportunities, risk, and failure. A growth-oriented mindset helps entrepreneurs stay resilient, adaptable, and focused on solutions rather than obstacles.Resources:Michelle J. LamontWebsitePodcast: Manifesting MiraclesLeading Visionaries PodcastJoin the Leading Visionaries CommunityMake a Donation to Support the ShowCreative Age Consulting Group

What if you had a coach sitting beside you during every important conversation? In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Makaeel Sheikh, Founder & CEO of NūrAI, an innovative communication intelligence platform designed to help people communicate more effectively in real time. Drawing from his background as a scientist at Genentech and his passion for solving human-centered challenges, Makaeel shares how his journey from biotechnology to entrepreneurship led him to create AI-powered tools that illuminate hidden communication patterns.Get ready to explore the future of communication, the role of AI in enhancing human connection, the realities of startup funding, and the leadership mindset required to bring a bold vision to life.What You Will LearnHow a scientific approach can be applied to solving communication challenges.Why communication is one of the most important leadership skills in today's world.How real-time AI coaching can improve conversations, presentations, and meetings.The inspiration behind creating NurAI and its mission to enhance human communication.What communication signals influence how others perceive us.How AI can be used to support personal growth rather than replace human interaction.Why privacy and data security must be built into AI products from the beginning.How founders can bootstrap and build lean while validating a new product.The importance of leadership through humility, collaboration, and curiosity.Why vision often starts with identifying a problem in your own life.FAQ:How can AI help improve communication skills?AI can analyze communication patterns such as tone, pacing, clarity, interruptions, and engagement levels. By providing real-time feedback and insights, AI tools can help individuals become more effective communicators during meetings, presentations, interviews, and other important conversations.What is communication intelligence?Communication intelligence refers to the ability to analyze and understand verbal and nonverbal communication signals to improve interactions. It combines data, behavioral science, and technology to provide insights that help people communicate more effectively.Can AI provide feedback during live conversations?Yes. Some communication intelligence platforms are designed to provide real-time guidance during virtual meetings. These tools can offer suggestions related to pacing, clarity, engagement, and conversational dynamics while the conversation is happening.Resources: Makaeel SheikhNūrAILeading Visionaries PodcastJoin the Leading Visionaries CommunityMake a Donation to Support the ShowCreative Age Consulting Group