Leadership Jam Session – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Scott Hutcheson, biosocial scientist and senior lecturer in engineering and technology leadership at Purdue University, to dive into his new book, Biohacking Leadership: Leveraging the Biology of Behavior to Maximize Your Impact. Dr. Hutcheson brings decades of leadership development expertise and shares a science-based perspective on how leaders can align their biology with their leadership behaviors to foster greater connection, influence, and performance in their teams.

Scott explains the concept of “biohacking leadership,” drawing on both his professional research and personal experience with a diabetes diagnosis. He reveals how small, intentional tweaks to daily habits—such as sleep, exercise, and stress management—can have profound effects not only on personal health but also on leadership behaviors and team outcomes.

Key takeaways:

• Leadership is a biological phenomenon: How you feel physically and mentally directly influences your communication, decision making, emotional regulation, and ability to connect with others.
• Small behavioral “biohacks”—such as consistent exercise, quality sleep, and stress management—can significantly improve a leader’s presence and impact.
• The three biodynamic channels—warmth, competence, and gravitas—define the core behaviors that signal leadership and inspire followership.
• Leaders have the power to shape their team’s ecosystem, much like a keystone species shapes its environment, regardless of their place in the hierarchy.
• Self-awareness and reflective experimentation are essential—leaders should assess their strengths, seek feedback, and make incremental changes to their behaviors.
• Genuine human connection, through simple daily check-ins and personal validation, is fundamental to building trust and high-performing teams.
• Even leaders who feel less “naturally warm” can make subtle shifts, like open body language or intentional silence, to dial up connection and influence.
• Every interaction is an opportunity to experiment with leadership behaviors and observe their impact, continually refining your approach for greater engagement.

Listen for evidence-based insights and practical strategies to unlock your biology and amplify your leadership—one intentional behavior at a time.

Pick up Dr. Hutcheson’s book.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Linda Henman, trusted advisor to senior leaders and nationally recognized expert in strategy, decision making, and organizational effectiveness. Linda joins the Leadership Jam Session to discuss her new book, Healthy Decisions: Critical Thinking Skills for Healthcare Executives, and shares timely insights drawn from real-world healthcare scenarios, including how leaders at systems like Mercy and the Cleveland Clinic navigated unprecedented challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Linda and I dive deep into the essential role of critical thinking for healthcare leaders, particularly when navigating unexpected and unwelcome change. She breaks down how organizational culture is shaped by leaders’ decisions, and why tolerating toxic behavior is a long-term threat to team performance and reputation. Linda also shares powerful stories from her consulting work—both in healthcare and other industries—highlighting the importance of making tough calls, even when short-term results tempt leaders to look the other way. We tackle common traps such as over-analysis, reckless decision-making, and the limitations of coaching narcissistic leaders. Linda offers actionable advice for new and emerging leaders on avoiding decision pitfalls and building strong cross-functional relationships, emphasizing the value of balancing instinct and data.

• True leadership emerges in times of crisis, requiring rapid, accurate critical thinking rather than just tactical skills.
• Organizational culture is shaped at the top; leaders set the tone by the behaviors they model and what they tolerate within their teams.
• Tolerating toxic or unethical behavior—even from high performers—can erode team trust, morale, and ultimately threaten leaders’ own reputations.
• Effective leaders are able to discern when to make fast decisions and when to pause for deeper analysis, especially under pressure.
• Analysis paralysis can stifle momentum; Linda recommends that, in most arenas, leaders move forward when 80% ready to avoid missing opportunities.
• Coaching and development have their limits: Narcissistic or toxic leaders are unlikely to change, and organizations must address such issues head-on.
• Newly promoted leaders should resist the trap of “that’s how we’ve always done it,” actively seek out diverse perspectives, and build alliances across functions.
• Decision-making in healthcare—and beyond—benefits from balancing data with the instincts and experience of trusted experts, especially under uncertainty.

Whether you’re in healthcare or any field navigating change, Linda’s stories and advice provide a candid roadmap for making better decisions, shaping healthy cultures, and leading with resilience when it matters most.

Pick up Linda’s book.

In this episode, I sit with Melanie Lennear, a seasoned healthcare professional with 18 years of experience and a track record of managing an award-winning sales team. Melanie shares her guiding principles of leadership, emphasizing faith, family support, personal growth, and maintaining a growth mindset. Transitioning from a peer to a management role, Melanie discusses how transparency and vulnerability have been crucial in her leadership journey. 

• Effective leadership involves transparency, vulnerability, and a growth mindset, particularly during transitions from peer to manager roles. 
• Navigating difficult conversations with openness and respect can lead to significant personal growth and stronger team relationships. 
• Thorough preparation and the use of open-ended questions are essential for understanding different perspectives and facilitating effective dialogues. 
• Practicing the "stop, start, continue" exercise and welcoming team feedback promotes continuous improvement and mutual trust. 
• Maintaining separate channels for professional and personal communications can enhance focus and reduce distractions within a team. 
• Sharing personal experiences in conversations can help break down defensiveness and encourage positive changes. 
• Intent, timing, and awareness are crucial when engaging in critical conversations, ensuring that discussions are productive and empathetic.  

Melanie emphasizes the value of caring individuals and personal experiences in leadership, reiterating the importance of an open door policy for feedback and personal growth. Her methods and principles have not only led to her success but have also contributed to fostering high-performing, resilient teams. 

In this Jam Session, I sit with Eddie Dowling, a senior sales manager with more than 12 years of leadership experience including leading multiple award-winning sales teams. I've had the pleasure of working with Eddie over the years and he brings great insights to this episode where we discuss ways to lead teams through ambiguity and uncertainty. 

• Demonstrating vulnerability and humility in times of uncertainty goes a long way with your people  
• Admitting to your team that you're going through change too, and that you don't have all the answers, is perfectly ok
• Increase communication during these times even if you don’t have much to share 
• Identify a central theme that you can rally around

• Leaders Eat Last, by Simon Sinek 

In this episode I site with Michele LeSueur. Michele is a senior leader in the pharmaceutical industry. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Michele as a colleague over the years. She comes to us with a wealth of management experience holding many roles including leading both sales teams and marketing teams.

• Whether formally or informally, having mentors, coaches, sponsors, etc., can help you in different ways such as navigating challenging situations and ongoing career management
• Your first 90 days as a leader in a new role is about who your team is, how you’re going to build trust with them, and how you’re going to help that team grow and become better

• The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter, by Michael D. Watkins

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In this episode, I sit down with leaders who served as coaches for the launch of their internal emerging leaders program, as they share their thoughts on what they observed.

Our leadership panel includes: Eric Hieronymus, a Regional Sales Manager based out of the Northwest in Washington. Eric has both sales experience and home office experience, working in training and marketing. Jen Maurer, a Regional Sales Manager out of the Northeast in the Philly area. Jen has home office experience, working in an operations role, as well as years of experience working in the field. Jessica Mas, a Regional Sales Manager out of the California area, and Jessica also has deep management experience both in the field as well as working in the home office environment.

• Making the transition from individual contributor to emerging leaders
• Whether you’re a field-based leader or a home office-based, the fundamentals are the same
• How to assume a leadership role where you’re not the expert anymore
• Practice, practice, practice

• DiSC
• Leadership Development Program

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Matt Outten is the Chief Commercial Officer of BridgeBio. Matt has held positions in different roles from sales, marketing, market access, and other roles with various companies.

• The value of interviewing people, even if you don’t have an opening
• The 80/20 approach in developing your people
• How to use your network to help you calculate your next move
• What to do when you feel like your career is “stuck”

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Kim Metcalf is a veteran leader in the healthcare industry with over 20-plus years of experience spanning a variety of positions in sales, sales leadership, leading a commercial training team, as well as some of her most recent positions serving as a Vice President for two startup biotech companies, which included Pharmacyclics and Kite Pharmaceutical.

Key Takeaways:

·      Understand what people are naturally good at and where their inherent talents lie

·      As a leader, set expectations for what has to get done, and based on where they are developmentally, provide a framework to help them get there

·      Hiring employees who think and operate differently from you is essential

·       Have 5-7 people that can be your core group of peers that can serve as mentors, sounding boards, etc., to help you develop and grow as a leader

Leadership Resources:

·      DiSC for Managers

·      Situational Leadership

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Rob Fonte is the host of the Leadership Jam Session Podcast, where every other week you'll get to hear leaders at all levels of management share their practical solutions to the management challenges you face every day. In this trailer, Rob provides an overview of the podcasts' purpose, format, and why you should listen in.

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In this episode, I sit down with Jovan Antunovic, an international business leader with over 25 years of experience across the specialty pharmaceutical, medical device, medical equipment, and diagnostics industries. Jovan brings a wealth of global insights, having led cross-functional teams in the US, Canada, Europe, and Japan. Jovan shares his guiding principles of honesty, transparency, and "walking the talk" in leadership, explaining their critical role in building trust and effective teams.

Jovan recounts pivotal moments from his career, such as advocating for a valuable team member against initial directives and the integrative approach of incorporating cultural sensitivities into leadership. He also emphasizes the importance of learning from mistakes and adapting leadership styles to suit various cultural contexts.

Rob and Jovan further discuss the value of international experience in accelerating personal and professional growth, and how these opportunities shape more adaptable and knowledgeable leaders.

1. Honesty and transparency are paramount in leadership, fostering trust and genuine communication.
2. Adapting to cultural differences is crucial for effective global leadership.
3. Mentorship and the ability to make and learn from mistakes are invaluable components of career growth.
4. Engaging team members and involving them in decision-making processes enhances trust and productivity.
5. International experience not only broadens personal perspectives but also enhances professional capabilities and adaptability.
6. Understanding and addressing the needs of your team members leads to better engagement and improved organizational outcomes.
7. For those considering international assignments, the support of family is vital, as their adaptation plays a critical role in overall success.

Tune in for an insightful jam session on navigating the complexities of international leadership and cultivating a growth-centric mindset in challenging environments.

Contact info:

jovan@strat2tact.com

https://strat2tact.com/