Leveraging Thought Leadership – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Are your top performers actually holding back your organization's growth?

Today on Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick talks with Eduardo Briceño, global keynote speaker, CEO of Growth.How, and author of "The Performance Paradox". Eduardo is one of the leading voices on growth mindset in organizations, building on 16+ years of work with Carol Dweck as co-founder of Mindset Works and two TEDx talks that have each passed 4 million views. Together, they unpack how leaders and companies can move beyond one-off inspiration and build true learning cultures that deliver sustained performance.

Eduardo explains his core framework: the Learning Zone and the Performance Zone. Most organizations live almost entirely in performance mode—chasing metrics, staying "on," and delivering results. He shows why that approach quietly caps growth, and how deliberately creating Learning Zone time is the unlock for innovation, resilience, and long-term excellence.

You'll hear how he designs keynotes and workshops like a master teacher, not a showman. Eduardo starts with clear learning objectives, then engineers experiences that shift how leaders think, behave, and make decisions. It's not about delivering a great "show"; it's about making sure people leave seeing their work differently and ready to act.

Eduardo and Peter also explore what it really takes to build a growth-mindset culture at scale. They talk about partnering with organizations over time, embedding the ideas from The Performance Paradox into leadership programs, talent systems, and everyday language. Eduardo shares why well-intentioned "growth" initiatives often backfire—and how to avoid the hidden traps that send mixed signals to your people.

Finally, they look at impact. Eduardo discusses how he went from frameworks to a major Penguin Random House book, how he gathered more than 100 real-world stories to bring his ideas to life, and why he's now focused on working longitudinally with clients instead of just doing single events. For CEOs and senior leaders, this conversation is a playbook for turning your organization into a place where people are both learning faster and performing better.

Three Key Takeaways:

• Always-on performance quietly caps growth; organizations need deliberate time and space for the Learning Zone, not just the Performance Zone.

• "Growth mindset" only works when it's operationalized—through concrete systems, habits, and experiences that teach people how to learn and improve, not just that they can.

• The biggest impact comes from embedding these ideas into leadership programs, talent systems, and culture over time—not from one-off keynotes or events.

If this episode reshaped how you think about performance and the Learning Zone, your next stop should be our conversation with Phil Geldart on Unlocking Human Potential. Both episodes tackle the same core challenge—how to move beyond "always on" performance and build a culture where learning, experimentation, and behavior change are baked into the way work gets done. Eduardo gives you the strategic lens and language (Learning vs. Performance Zone, growth mindset in action); Phil dives into how to design experiential learning that actually sticks and changes what people do on Monday morning. Listen to both and you'll walk away with a playbook that connects big ideas about learning culture to concrete tools for driving performance across your organization.

What if every hard-earned lesson in your business came with a simple mandate: how dare you do nothing with what's been given to you?

In this episode, Bill Sherman talks with serial entrepreneur and systems strategist Apple Levy, author of "The Apple Effect". Apple has spent decades in construction, manufacturing, home flipping, and retail. She combines operational grit with financial discipline to help entrepreneurs stop firefighting and start scaling with intention. Her core belief is simple and provocative: if you know something that works, you have a duty to share it.

Apple walks through how she turned years of wins and failures into a repeatable framework for growth. She explains why she began capturing notes, call recordings, and data from every client, and how that archive became The Apple Effect—a practical playbook for owners running businesses from $1M to $40M in revenue. The book distills what actually moves margin, cash flow, and culture, and she uses it as the backbone for her firm, Obsidian Thorne, when helping companies scale.

You'll hear the real problems that keep owners up at night. Not just cash flow and margin, but rework that kills profit, weak follow-up on sales, and the emotional landmine of hiring family you can't hold accountable. Apple shows how to move from "leading by personality" to "leading by systems," so the process becomes the bad cop—not you. That shift frees leaders to exit someday, build a legacy, or simply step out of daily chaos.

Apple and Bill also explore the mindset required to grow. Apple challenges entrepreneurs to ask, "How badly do I want this?" and to accept that scaling may mean dismantling what no longer serves the business—including long-standing people, habits, and assumptions. She shares how she applies her own advice inside Obsidian Thorne, using automation, hiring a business development lead early, and treating every pain point in her firm as data she can use to better serve clients.

Finally, Apple looks ahead. She talks about taking her message to bigger stages—through construction trade shows like Build Expo, her growing calendar of workshops, and future events she plans to host herself. She's already filling the next scratch pad with insights for future books and building a team of people who share her attitude: hungry, accountable, and obsessed with helping entrepreneurs go from $1M to $10M and beyond.

If you're an owner who's tired of firefighting, wrestling with family in the business, or worried about what you're leaving to the next generation, this conversation—and The Apple Effect—offers both a wake-up call and a roadmap.

Three Key Takeaways:

• Systemize your expertise. Turning real-world lessons into a documented framework is the foundation for scaling any business.

• Measure what matters. KPIs and process discipline reduce rework, protect margin, and move the company out of constant firefighting.

• Use your book as a strategic tool. A well-structured book can double as a thought leadership platform and an operating guide for clients and teams.

If this episode has you thinking about systems, scale, and getting out of firefighting, the next step is to focus on your leaders. Pair this conversation with the episode "Scaling Leadership: Making Coaching Accessible at Every Level" with Kristin Lytle and you'll see the other side of the equation: how to build repeatable, scalable ways to grow people, not just processes.

Both episodes explore how to move from one-off heroics to structured, repeatable solutions—whether that's tightening operations and KPIs, or creating blended coaching and learning programs that reach leaders at every level. Listen to them together and you'll walk away with a more complete roadmap: how to systemize the business and build a culture of high integrity, accountability, and leadership growth across the organization.

What happens when a storyteller from Microsoft turns her lens on the women shaping technology's past, present, and future?

Today on Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick sits down with Miri Rodriguez, CEO of Empressa AI, best-selling author, storyteller at Microsoft, and co-author of "The Women of Microsoft" (Wiley). Miri reveals how a simple Teams message from a colleague in Poland sparked a global collaboration — uniting 50 women from across cultures, career levels, and disciplines to tell their stories of innovation, resilience, and purpose.

Miri's thought leadership centers on mission-driven storytelling — using narrative as a strategic tool for inclusion and brand love. She shares how metrics like "brand love" go beyond data to measure emotional impact, connection, and loyalty. Her goal isn't just to celebrate women at Microsoft, but to ensure their contributions are recorded in the technological history being written right now.

She challenges leaders to think beyond traditional boundaries of thought leadership inside corporations. For Miri, there's no dividing line between personal purpose and professional platform — every story she tells aligns with her mission to empower women's voices. Her journey demonstrates how clarity of purpose can attract the right opportunities and how a clear mission can transform your work into a force multiplier.

This conversation is a masterclass in how to use storytelling as strategy — to inspire action, build communities, and leave a lasting mark on the narrative of innovation.

Three Key Takeaways:

• Mission-driven storytelling creates lasting impact — when your message aligns with a clear purpose, it naturally attracts opportunities and amplifies your influence.

• Emotional connection is a powerful metric — concepts like "brand love" show that loyalty and inspiration can be measured through human connection, not just numbers.

• Authentic voices shape the future — sharing real stories, especially from underrepresented groups, ensures that innovation and progress include every perspective.

If you were struck by the power of storytelling, emotional connection, and mission-driven leadership in this episode, the conversation with Jenna Fisher will take you deeper into those same themes in a corporate leadership setting. In her interview, you'll hear how she interviewed dozens of women leaders to uncover the real barriers and strategies for rising to the top, even when the rules seem stacked against you. Listen next to discover how to merge narrative, metrics, and career strategy into a playbook for women (and all leaders) to advance influence, voice, and impact.

Listen now: "Women in Corporate Leadership"

In this episode of the Thought Leadership Leverage podcast, host Peter Winick chats with Minette Norman, an author, keynote speaker, and leadership consultant with decades of experience leading global technical teams in the software industry.

Minette shares her journey from a stellar tech career to becoming an influential voice in inclusive leadership, psychological safety, and collaborative teams. Despite her success in tech, she realized many leaders were ill-prepared for their roles. As she advanced, the lack of proper leadership training became evident, and she often found herself and others navigating leadership by trial and error. When faced with a manager who didn't appreciate her contributions, she chose to leave and focus on helping others become better leaders through her books, speaking engagements, and consulting.

Minette emphasizes the need for better leadership training and creating pathways for individual contributors to advance without necessarily moving into leadership roles. She discusses the importance of learning from poor leadership examples and using those experiences as lessons on what not to do.

Minette's consulting work often begins with addressing issues of inclusivity within companies. She recalls working with a company where women felt they lacked opportunities for advancement and were often relegated to note-taking roles in meetings. By promoting inclusive meeting practices, she helped shift the company culture.

Her approach to consulting varies but always centers around inclusion, psychological safety, and creating environments where diverse teams can thrive. She notes that while psychological safety is now a buzzword, understanding its importance isn't enough. There's a need for practical guidance, which led her and Karolin Helbig to write "The Psychological Safety Playbook," providing actionable steps to foster safe spaces at work.

Minette's latest book, "The Boldly Inclusive Leader," serves as both a resource and a calling card, drawing new clients who want to bring her expertise into their organizations.

Welcome to another dynamic episode of the Thought Leadership Leverage podcast with your host, Bill Sherman. Today, we delve into the heart of innovation with two distinguished guests: Peter Boatwright, Professor of Marketing at the Tepper School of Business, and Jonathan Cagan, the Coulter Head and Lab Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. These experts have spent their careers studying and teaching the innovation process and now share their groundbreaking insights with us.

Peter and Jon are the co-authors of "Managing the Unmanageable: 13 Tips for Building and Leading a Successful Innovation Team." Their book tackles the often chaotic realm of product and service innovation within organizations. They discuss the essential question: What does it mean to manage the unmanageable? Drawing from extensive research, they reveal how to embrace the chaos of innovation and transform it into productive progress.

One captivating study highlighted in the episode involved replacing an engineer with a manager on a design team. The manager, focusing solely on communication and problem-solving processes, led to a fivefold increase in productivity compared to unmanaged teams. This experiment underscores the profound impact of managing the innovation process rather than directly engaging in it.

The conversation explores the delicate balance between continuous exploration and decisive action. Peter and Jon stress that while endless discovery is tempting, knowing when to optimize and move forward is crucial. They draw from their classroom experiences and corporate collaborations to illustrate how theoretical principles can be effectively applied in real-world scenarios.

As professors, Peter and Jon have the unique advantage of using their classrooms as innovation laboratories, blending academic rigor with practical challenges from corporate partners. This intersection of theory and application equips their students with robust, repeatable frameworks for tackling real-world problems.

The discussion then turns to the future. Jon is deeply interested in the role of Artificial Intelligence in enhancing team dynamics. He envisions AI agents that can monitor team conversations in real-time, offering nudges and suggestions to keep teams aligned and productive. Early results suggest that AI could match or even surpass human managers in this role.

Peter, on the other hand, is focused on the practical application of their principles. He's keen to see how organizations digest, use, and implement the insights from their book, continually exploring the next big questions in innovation management.

Join us for this enlightening episode packed with actionable insights and revolutionary ideas that promise to transform your approach to managing innovation.

In this engaging episode of Thought Leadership Leverage, host Bill Sherman converses with Sean Stewart, an executive coach, keynote speaker, and historical leadership expert at Past Forward Talks. Sean's journey from maritime historian and archaeologist to thought leadership is both fascinating and insightful, providing a fresh perspective on how objects can help us gain clarity and insight into our problems and leadership challenges.

Sean recounts how his background in maritime history and archaeology led him to realize the profound impact that objects can have on people. He noticed that individuals often become overly focused on their internal struggles, losing perspective. Objects, he found, can help externalize these problems, allowing people to step outside their heads and view their issues more objectively. This shift in perspective is crucial for effective problem-solving and leadership.

Delving into the art of interpretation, Sean explains that as a historian or archaeologist, one seeks meaning in objects by placing them within a historical context. He has adapted this skill to the modern world, using objects to help leaders and teams connect with their stories and challenges. For instance, he describes using an ancient sculpture of a small stylized horse to illustrate how simple, straightforward objects can serve as powerful reminders of lessons learned and goals set, helping people avoid getting lost in their thoughts during difficult times.

A turning point in Sean's career was a visit to a 5th-century Byzantine church, where he encountered a broken mosaic of a laurel wreath—a symbol of victory. This experience led him to question what true victory means in the context of conflicts and disagreements. He realized that many battles are fought for the sake of fighting, rather than for meaningful outcomes. This insight became the foundation of his coaching method, which encourages leaders to focus on their overarching goals rather than petty disputes.

To get his message out, Sean emphasizes the importance of starting small and simple. He suggests giving brief presentations to large audiences, using a single object to illustrate his points. This approach not only captures attention but also makes complex ideas more accessible and relatable.

Sean is currently working on a book that explores leadership through objects, showing the merits and opportunities of this approach. The book begins by laying a foundation of ethics and morality, which Sean believes are essential for effective leadership. It then moves on to practical techniques for using objects to tell stories and reinforce lessons.

For those interested in incorporating objects into their work, Sean offers practical advice: start by selecting four random, unconnected objects and creating a story about life in the early 2000s. This exercise trains the mind to see connections between objects and the people who interact with them, developing a keen sense of interpretation and storytelling. By repeating this exercise with different objects and themes, one can quickly master this technique.

Join us for this episode of Thought Leadership Leverage to gain actionable insights and innovative approaches to leadership from Sean Stewart.

Three Key Takeaways:

• Externalizing Problems through Objects: Sean Stewart emphasizes the power of using objects to help individuals externalize their problems. By focusing on an object, people can gain a fresh perspective, allowing them to step outside their heads and view their issues more objectively.

• Historical Interpretation for Modern Leadership: Drawing from his background as a historian and archaeologist, Sean demonstrates how interpreting objects within their historical context can offer valuable insights for modern leadership. This method helps leaders connect with their stories and challenges, providing clarity and direction.

• Practical Techniques for Leadership Development: Sean's innovative approach includes practical exercises, such as creating stories with random objects to develop interpretation and storytelling skills. His upcoming book will further explore leadership through objects, emphasizing the importance of ethics and morality, and providing techniques for using objects to reinforce leadership lessons.

Sean presents a unique and interesting approach to leadership, if you are wondering if your leadership is as interesting take a moment to read this article by Peter Winick.

In this episode of Thought Leadership Leverage, host Peter Winick sits down with Jason Lavender, the co-founder and CEO of Electives. Jason's career journey is anything but linear. He started as an actuary, transitioned into strategy consulting, and eventually found his entrepreneurial spirit while working closely with innovators. A serendipitous six-week improv class, gifted by his wife, fueled his passion for creativity and human connection, shaping his unique career path.

Jason founded Electives to revolutionize corporate training. Frustrated by ineffective, impersonal training videos, he envisioned a platform offering live, virtual, and interactive learning. Electives aims to make high-quality, engaging training accessible and redefine who can teach in the corporate world. By recruiting experts from diverse fields—FBI agents, astronauts, professors, and executives—they provide a rich library of curated content, solving real problems without the need for months of searching.

Electives offers two training models: Private classes tailored to a company's culture and Electives Membership, allowing employees to choose live classes from a broad selection. This dual approach addresses both team-wide issues and individual development needs. Electives also simplifies the procurement process, handling all logistics and payments, thus eliminating administrative headaches for both clients and instructors.

Looking ahead, Jason is excited about integrating AI to match business objectives with the necessary skills and corresponding courses, further enhancing the impact and efficiency of Electives.

In this episode of the Thought Leadership Leverage podcast, host Peter Winick welcomes Sohee Jun, a premier leadership coach, mindset expert, corporate leadership facilitator, speaker, and  best-selling author of "Mommytracked: How to Take Authentic Risks and Find Success On Your Terms" and her latest release, "The Aligned Mindset: Secrets of High-Achieving Women for Navigating Work and Life." Sohee shares insights from her journey, highlighting the importance of following one's energy to make a significant impact. Moving from a six-year-old immigrant integrating into a new culture to a leader in organizational psychology, she has always prioritized connection and people. Her extensive career includes working with leaders on strategy, culture, and employee engagement.

After 15 years in corporate roles, Sohee ventured into independent consulting. The transition was challenging, requiring her to juggle multiple roles and iterate constantly. She  emphasizes the need to discover one's strengths and delegate other tasks to maintain focus and impact. Initially, she said yes to everything, leading to burnout. Over time, she learned to  prioritize quality over quantity, becoming intentional with her time and efforts.

Sohee also discusses the importance of expanding beyond one's initial network and maintaining consistent marketing efforts. She stresses the need to be courageous in saying no to misaligned opportunities to prevent falling into a cycle of overwork and dissatisfaction. On pricing, Sohee advocates for openness and transparency, leveraging her insider knowledge to stay competitive and fair in the market.

Three Key Takeaways:

• Follow Your Energy for Impact: Sohee emphasizes the importance of following where you have the most energy and impact. This approach has guided her journey from a young immigrant to a successful leader in organizational psychology, and later, to an independent consultant.

• Quality Over Quantity: Initially overwhelmed by saying yes to everything, Sohee learned to prioritize quality. She now focuses on intentional time management and selecting projects that align with her values and strengths, highlighting the importance of saying no to maintain balance and prevent burnout.

• Consistent Marketing and Networking: Sohee underscores the necessity of reaching beyond one's initial network and maintaining consistent marketing efforts. She advises that expanding your reach and staying engaged with your audience is crucial for sustainable business growth.

If you're a new consultant or thinking about breaking out on your own, take a few minutes to watch this video from Peter Winick on How to Use Thought Leadership to Grow Your Business.

Bill Sherman hosts Cobe Williams, a pioneer in violence prevention. Cobe shares his journey from personal redemption to global impact. As Director of US Programs for Cure Violence Global, he uses epidemic control methods to halt violence in communities. His story is a powerful testament to transformation and hope.

Cobe's defining moment came in court, in restraints, when he embraced his son after a year and a half. This emotional reunion catalyzed his resolve to change his life and be there for his family. Today, Cobe leads violence prevention programs worldwide, from Chicago to Africa, transforming communities and inspiring  change.

With almost two decades in the field, Cobe began as a "Violence Interrupter," mediating conflicts in his neighborhood. His  approach is deeply relational, meeting people where they are, and spreading the message that disagreements don't have to escalate to violence. His work involves intense listening, strategic  mediation, and leveraging community relationships to prevent retaliation and promote peace.

Cobe also discusses his upcoming book, "Interrupting Violence: One Man's Journey to Heal the Streets and Redeem Himself," co-authored with Josh Gryniewicz. The book aims to inspire others by sharing Cobe's personal journey and the lessons he's learned in violence prevention.

Cure Violence Global's success attracts mayors, health  departments, and private funders seeking proven methods to reduce violence. Cobe emphasizes the importance of community credibility and relationship-building in their programs, ensuring local leaders are respected and effective.

Through his story, Cobe hopes to show that it's never too late to change, and redemption is possible for everyone. His work and message aim to foster understanding, reduce judgment, and inspire others to share their stories and seek help.


Three Key Takeaways:

• Transformative Power of Personal Redemption: Cobe Williams' journey from a courtroom revelation to leading global violence prevention efforts illustrates how personal transformation can drive impactful change. His story emphasizes that it's never too late to change and that redemption is possible for everyone.

• Community-Centric Violence Prevention: Cure Violence Global's approach leverages deep community relationships and epidemic control methods to interrupt and prevent violence. By training and supporting local leaders who are respected and credible within their communities, the program effectively reduces shootings and killings.

• Inspiring Others Through Storytelling: Cobe's upcoming book, "Interrupting Violence: One Man's Journey to Heal the Streets and Redeem Himself," aims to motivate and inspire others. By sharing his personal experiences and the challenges he faced, he hopes to encourage people to understand the roots of violence, reduce judgment, and inspire others to seek help and share their stories.

In this episode of the Thought Leadership Leverage podcast, host Bill Sherman chats with Karen Wright Gordon, CEO of 5 Dynamics, about revolutionizing organizational performance.

Karen explains their unique assessment, a product of Mike Sturm's pioneering research. This tool, while not the company's sole focus, is integral to their methodology. It reveals individual preferences in project phases, enhancing productivity by aligning tasks with personal strengths.

Karen elaborates on the five phases: Ideation, Alignment, Planning, Execution, and Evaluation. Each person has phases where they excel and others that drain them. Their assessment helps identify these preferences, fostering a more efficient and satisfying workflow.

Karen's journey with 5 Dynamics began when she encountered Mike Sturm at a Women's Presidents Organization meeting. Despite her company's success, she felt unfulfilled. Mike's insights resonated with her, leading her to acquire and further develop his IP, making it accessible and practical for businesses.

Karen's vision transcends merely improving performance; she aims to democratize coaching and transform organizational cultures. By focusing on creating a unique lane rather than competing with others, she emphasizes the importance of having Champions—advocates who believe in and spread the methodology.

Karen also shares how their methodology has surprised them with its versatile applications, from the corporate world to academia and healthcare. Studies have shown improvements in teamwork, satisfaction, and overall performance when using the 5 Dynamics framework.

To keep the work fresh and vital, Karen collaborates with a diverse team, including a young neuroscientist and a seasoned chief revenue officer. This diversity ensures a broad reach and rich perspectives in their thought leadership efforts.

Karen feels a profound responsibility to honor Mike Sturm's legacy. Continuing his work and seeing its impact on people's lives keeps her inspired and driven.

Three Key Takeaways:

• Leveraging Personal Preferences: The 5 Dynamics assessment identifies individual preferences in project phases, enhancing productivity by aligning tasks with personal strengths.

• Creating a Unique Path: Karen emphasizes the importance of not just competing but creating a new lane, focusing on democratizing coaching and transforming organizational cultures.

• Honoring Legacy and Innovation: Karen's dedication to Mike Stern's legacy drives her to keep the work impactful and fresh, collaborating with a diverse team to reach wider audiences and bring new perspectives.