Welcome to Change Agent Leadership, the podcast designed to equip leaders with the tools, resources, and strategies to grow, drive meaningful change, and move their teams and organizations forward.
Hi, I’m Jonathan Hankin, a certified executive coach through the International Coaching Federation, with hundreds of hours of coaching and leadership experience. As a VP of Operations, I’m still in the trenches—leading, learning, and growing alongside you. This podcast is a space where we can navigate the challenges of leadership together and sharpen our skills as change agents.
What to Expect:
• Practical Leadership Tools – Actionable insights and best practices for leading change effectively.
• Coaching Tips & Free Resources – Assessments and tools to enhance your leadership and team dynamics.
• Book Reviews – Summaries and takeaways from books that have shaped my leadership and coaching journey.
• Conversations with Change Leaders – Engaging interviews with leaders who are making an impact.
As the name suggests, every great leader is a change agent. Change is inevitable—your choice is to lead it or manage it.
If you find value in the show, hit the follow button. Thanks for listening!
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In this episode, I sit down with leadership coach and author Jenni Catron to unpack Culture Matters: A Framework for Helping Your Team Grow, Thrive, and Be Unstoppable.
We explore why culture must be built by design rather than left to default, how leaders can honestly assess their current culture, and practical ways to turn values from words on a wall into lived behaviors.
Jenni walks through her five-phase framework—Assess, Define, Build, Equip, Commit—and shares actionable tools (Values Grid, Employee Journey Grid) to embed culture into daily rhythms.
Whether you lead a nonprofit, church, or business, this conversation helps you clarify, reinforce, and sustain a healthy culture.
Key Takeaways • You already have a culture—ask: Is it the one you want? • Early teams may “catch” culture by proximity, but growth requires intentional definition and design. • Leadership leakage is real: what leaders do shapes culture more than what they say. • Think patience and persistence, culture is a slow build that becomes momentum.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:49 Jenny's Journey to Leadership and Culture 03:19 The Importance of Intentional Culture 06:58 Assessing Your Current Culture 15:05 Defining Your Values 20:42 Building Culture Through Systems and Rhythms 25:39 The Importance of Patience in Leadership 26:39 Developing and Resourcing Your Team 28:44 Equipping Leaders to Reinforce Culture 32:12 Commitment to Culture Over the Long Haul 37:07 Leadership Leakage: Unintentional Cultural Influences 39:26 Starting Your Culture Transformation Journey 42:44 Common Pitfalls in Changing Culture 46:00 Final Thoughts on Leadership and Culture
Jenni Catron — Culture Matters: A Framework for Helping Your Team Grow, Thrive, and Be Unstoppable. Visit culturemattersbook.com for free resources and tools.
Follow me here: Website: www.jonathanhankin.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-hankin
The Top 3 Mistakes Leaders Make with HR (and How to Avoid Them) with Risk Advisor Kevin Norton
Wednesday, October 15, 2025 • Duration 47:26
Leaders get into trouble when they treat HR as compliance or as a fire extinguisher. Jonathan and risk advisor Kevin Norton outline how to make HR a strategic ally—reducing legal exposure, strengthening culture, and improving outcomes.
Highlights
HR belongs at the strategy table; involve them early on org design, promotions, and separations.
Consistency and documentation are your best legal and cultural defenses.
Follow me here: Website: www.jonathanhankin.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-hankin
How to 10x Your Leadership Impact (Without Doing More Work)
Friday, October 10, 2025 • Duration 16:24
Want to make a bigger impact without doing more work? Great leadership starts with a better mindset.
In this episode, I’ll show you how to 10x, or more, your leadership impact by thinking differently. You’ll learn why most leadership behaviors don’t stick, and how to unlock sustainable change by focusing on three powerful questions that reframe your team’s purpose, creativity, and results.
Backed by research from Daniel Goleman and cognitive science, this is a mindset shift every leader needs.
▶️ Schedule a free discovery call: https://jonathanhankin.com/contact
▶️ Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Leadership Impact
01:00 The Problem: Why Most Leaders Plateau
01:53 Trap 1: Keeping Decisions to Yourself
05:47 Trap 2: Sticking to What You're Good At
08:27 Trap 3: Inviting Input but Not Ownership
10:04 Three Transformational Questions for Leaders
360° Wins: How Nonprofits Build Donor & Board Relationships that Last (with Patricia Schwartz)
Wednesday, October 1, 2025 • Duration 55:37
Leaders don’t just raise money—they build partnerships. In this episode, Master Certified Coach and longtime executive coach Patricia Rachel Schwartz shares her strengths-based, story-driven approach to building relationships that “pay off for everyone”—your team, donors, board, and the people you serve. We unpack her “360 Win” mindset, appreciative inquiry (AI), and the RBP spiral (Identify → Inform → Interest → Invite → Invest) so you can move from one-off asks to lasting alliances.
What you’ll learn
· What a 360° Win is—and how to map wins for every stakeholder
· The single peak experience question that deepens trust fast
· How to run strategy sessions that turn stories into next steps
· The RBP spiral: Identify, Inform, Interest, Invite, Invest (and the common mistakes at each stage)
· When to make the ask—and why “If you want money, ask for advice” works
· Why story culture beats slide decks for board, team, and donor engagement
Who this is for
Nonprofit executives, development leaders, board members, founders, and any leader who wants to turn fundraising and stakeholder engagement into durable partnerships.
▶️ Schedule a free discovery call: https://jonathanhankin.com/contact
▶️ Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Change Agent Leadership00:09 Meet Patricia Rachel Schwartz03:40 The Concept of 360 Win04:57 Understanding Stakeholders and Their Wins10:30 Appreciative Inquiry in Leadership21:26 The Five Eyes of Relationship Building29:13 Starting with Appreciative Inquiry29:28 Interview Techniques for Donors and Board Members30:42 Legacy Investments and Planned Giving31:37 Appreciative Inquiry in Board and Employee Onboarding32:28 Creating a Story Culture35:58 Implementing Strategy Sessions38:31 Inspired Action and Evaluation41:38 The Importance of Planned Giving46:38 Practical Steps for Immediate Action49:17 Final Thoughts and Advice
How to Lead in the Age of AI — Without Losing the Human Touch
Follow me here: Website: www.jonathanhankin.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-hankin
Change is Like a Slinky - Book Interview with Dr. Hans Shultz
Friday, September 19, 2025 • Duration 52:09
How to Lead Change (Without Losing Your Team) — with Dr. Hans Finzel
Dr. Hans Finzel returns to Change Agent Leadership to unpack the big idea behind his book Change Is Like a Slinky—why change is messy, unpredictable, and essential if you want your organization to survive and thrive. We talk practical leadership moves: building a guiding coalition, over-communicating the “why,” converting adversaries into advocates, and aligning your board, leaders, and teams so momentum sticks.
Guest: Dr. Hans Finzel — author, speaker, former president of WorldVenture, and president of HD Leaders. Author of 11 books including the international bestseller The Top 10 Mistakes Leaders Make and Change Is Like a Slinky.
What you’ll learn
· Why leaders must accept the need for change even when the old way “still works”
· How to anticipate allies and adversaries (and why the middle 70% are your leverage)
· Why communication ×10 is the lifeblood of any change effort
· How to align your board, leadership team, and staff so the “wheels” roll straight
· The role of trust, vulnerability, and encouragement in sustaining momentum
· How to turn critics into advocates through presence, listening, and clarity
▶️ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Gq0o8o5h2lU
▶️ Schedule a free discovery call: https://jonathanhankin.com/contact
▶️ Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Change Agent Leadership
01:16 Hans Finzel's Leadership Journey
02:26 The Necessity of Change in Leadership
04:23 Communicating Change Effectively
How to Communicate Well—Personally, at Work, and as a Leader
Wednesday, August 20, 2025 • Duration 15:46
How to Communicate Well—Personally, at Work, and as a Leader
Download your free How to Communicate Well in all areas of life Toolkit: https://jonathanhankin.com/?msopen=/content-library/node/how-to-communicate-well
In this episode, I dive into the critical role of effective communication in leadership. Highlighting how superior communication skills can help navigate tough conversations, build relationships, and lead teams through change. We then break down essential considerations for improving communication, such as understanding your audience, listening to understand rather than respond, and avoiding common communication pitfalls.
I then conclude with actionable strategies specifically tailored for workplace and leadership contexts, emphasizing clarity, correct use of media, and reflective listening. I also offer you a free toolkit to help you implement these communication strategies effectively.
What You’ll Learn:
• Why communication is about what they hear, not just what you say
• How to listen to understand, not just respond
• Simple frameworks for giving feedback and improving team communication
• Tips to communicate with more clarity and confidence at work and at home
If you’re ready to strengthen your influence, build deeper trust, and communicate like a leader—this episode is for you.
▶️ Work with me 1-on1: https://jonathanhankin.com/contact
▶️ Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Effective Communication
00:59 Understanding Communication: It's Not Just What You Say
Interview with Kadi Cole - How to Develop Female Leaders
Wednesday, August 6, 2025 • Duration 53:32
In this episode of Change Agent Leadership, I sit down with author, speaker, and leadership consultant Kadi Cole to talk about her groundbreaking book, Developing Female Leaders.
With over 25 years of leadership experience—including as an executive director at one of America’s largest multi-site churches—Kadi brings research, clarity, and practical insight into a conversation many leaders struggle to have.
We explore: • Why developing female leaders is essential for mission success • The difference between “sticky floors” and “glass ceilings” • How men and women approach leadership development differently • Why defining leadership clearly is crucial • The role of mentors, sponsors, and coaches (and why all three matter) • How to give effective feedback to female leaders • What churches need to do to build safe, thriving leadership cultures
Whether you’re a church leader, nonprofit executive, or corporate manager—this episode will give you the tools to elevate the female leaders around you and lead your culture forward with clarity and courage.
▶️ Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Change Agent Leadership 00:10 Meet Katie Cole: Leadership Consultant and Author 01:13 Katie's Early Leadership Journey 02:08 Challenges and Realizations in Leadership 05:19 The Concept of Sticky Floors 09:28 Theological Perspectives on Women in Leadership 16:32 Integrating Formation and Leadership Development 25:41 The Importance of Mentorship and Coaching 27:28 Mentorship vs. Sponsorship: Key Differences 29:04 The Role of a Coach in Leadership Development 31:05 Combining Mentorship, Sponsorship, and Coaching 34:50 Creating Safe and Inclusive Environments 41:55 Addressing Gender Bias in Performance Reviews 46:42 Shifting Church Culture for Female Leaders 50:53 Services and Advice for Emerging Leaders
Connect with Kadi Cole, access her books, or learn more about her services at https://www.kadicole.com
📘 Developing Female Leaders — available wherever books are sold.
How to set your meetings up for success
Friday, July 25, 2025 • Duration 12:35
How to Set Your Meetings Up for Success | Make Every Meeting Count
Download the free Meeting Prep Toolkit with a Checklist, Agenda Template, and more: https://jonathanhankin.com/?msopen=/content-library/node/the-meeting-prep-toolkit
Tired of unproductive meetings that waste time and drain energy? In this episode, executive coach Jonathan Hankin walks you through exactly how to set up your meetings for success—before they even begin.
Whether you’re leading one-on-ones, team syncs, or strategy sessions, what happens before the meeting is just as important as what happens during it. This video gives you the tools to lead with clarity, reduce meeting fatigue, and drive results.
You’ll learn:
✔ How to clarify your meeting’s purpose
✔ What to include in an agenda that actually works
✔ Who to invite (and who to leave out)
✔ The 24-hour rule for prepping your team
✔ Logistics, mindset, and energy tips that shape strong meetings
▶️ Work with me 1-on1: https://jonathanhankin.com/contact
▶️ Chapters:
00:00 Introduction: Setting Up Successful Meetings
00:23 Clarify the Purpose of Your Meeting
01:23 Set the Agenda and Desired Outcomes
03:44 Invite the Right People
05:22 Prepare Your Participants
06:24 Mindset and Logistics for Effective Meetings
The top ten mistakes leaders make. Book review with author Dr. Hans Finzel
Wednesday, July 9, 2025 • Duration 57:03
What are the biggest mistakes leaders make—and how do we avoid them?
In this episode of Change Agent Leadership, Executive Coach Jonathan Hankin sits down with bestselling author and global leadership expert Dr. Hans Finzel to unpack the timeless lessons from his book, The Top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make. With over two decades leading international teams and equipping leaders across five continents, Dr. Finzel brings practical wisdom, personal stories, and hard-earned insights every leader needs.
Whether you’re a seasoned executive or a first-time manager, this conversation will challenge your mindset, sharpen your leadership skills, and help you lead with humility, clarity, and purpose.
Patricia Rachel Schwartz has coached 350+ senior leaders across sectors (DreamWorks, Google/YouTube, Mayo Clinic, Circle K, U.S. Navy, and more). Her approach blends appreciative inquiry with strengths-based, story-driven change to help organizations grow through relationships.
About the host
I’m Jonathan Hankin, your Change Agent Coach. I help leaders communicate clearly, build healthy teams, and drive change that sticks. Subscribe for practical, no-fluff leadership tools you can use this week.
Call to Action
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