Suits and Sneakers:Leadership Unfiltered is an interview series featuring candid conversations with leaders from diverse backgrounds and styles. The host, Carrie Tuttle, has a background in sales and marketing and started this series to fill the gap in formal mentorship opportunities and provide valuable insights. The main themes of the series include the importance of emotional intelligence in leadership, bravery, balancing performance vs. empathy, and learning from failures. Join in the conversation!
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The Four Intelligences of Leadership with Ben Smith
Season 5 · Episode 47
Tuesday, September 1, 2026 • Duration 39:41
Host: Carrie Tuttle
Guest: Ben Smith
Most leaders are trained to lead from the neck up. Ben Smith spent the first half of his career doing exactly that.
Ben Smith, a seasoned President and CEO with over 20 years of executive leadership experience, joins Carrie for a deep conversation about leading beyond the mind, and how learning to listen to more than just his intellect changed the way he leads.
Now focused on board and executive advisory work, Ben has led organizations through growth, complexity, and transformation, managing large portfolios, major budgets, and diverse teams across Canada and internationally in the new home real estate development industry. He split his career between running his own consulting firm and serving as CEO of a VC-backed software company.
Ben shares what happened when his industry fell off a cliff, his clients dropped to a tenth of their previous volume, and how he held a senior leadership team together while people were being let go. He explains his framework for “four intelligences”: the mind that thinks, the heart that emotes, the body that senses, and the soul that knows, and why integrating all four helps leaders build trust and make steadier decisions.
Carrie and Ben dig into what it really means to “embody” leadership, how to build psychological safety so teams tell you the truth, and why he believes business should exist to serve people, not the other way around.
This episode is a must-listen for leaders who want to thrive through the inevitable uncertainty of business.
QUOTE-WORTHY MOMENTS:
“If you don’t get the outcome you want, would you still be happy with what you did along the way?”
“The mind thinks, the heart emotes, the body senses, and the soul knows.”
“I don’t see business as something that we’re serving. I see that business needs to serve the humans.”
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
Emotions are intelligence, and they produce data points leaders can use in decisions
Descartes' “I think, therefore I am” and how 400 years of prioritizing the mind has left leaders under-using their other intelligences
The four forms of human intelligence (mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual) and why leaders are only trained to trust one
How Ben's software company shifted from “grow at all costs” to conservation mode when the real estate market dropped 210%
Why honesty and consistent “rhythms” (like never rescheduling meetings) build trust during a crisis
The difference between hard truths and surprises, and why teams can handle the former but not the latter
Understanding and regulating emotions can help leaders navigate challenges effectively
Why AI is pushing leaders to develop the human capacities machines don't have
A story of trusting an employee's gut feel over the data, and what happened when the team finally listened to it
Redefining leadership: the business exists to serve the humans in it, not the other way around
Embracing the concept of embodiment enhances decision-making
It's important to ask team members for their insights and feelings to foster open communication
A missed deadline can signal misalignment rather than poor performance
The Courage to Raise Your Hand with Luticia Miller
Season 4 · Episode 46
Tuesday, June 30, 2026 • Duration 30:01
Host: Carrie Tuttle
Guest: Luticia Miller
Do you wait for permission before taking on something big or do you go for it? Today’s guest really goes for it!
Luticia Miller is President and Managing Partner of DRIVE Workforce Lodging, an award-winning camp company serving major projects across Canada. She started as a welding apprentice in northern Alberta, became a project controls leader on a billion-dollar industrial build, and moved into executive strategy, capital, and governance after completing her Executive MBA at Queen's University.
Luticia is a multi-startup founder and co-founder, an advisor in clean energy and Indigenous industry participation, and sits on the board of Alliance Trust Company. For more than 20 years, her answer to almost every opportunity has been the same: say yes, then figure it out.
This episode digs into shifting from high-context communication to being more direct, the discipline of over-communicating so people can act with confidence, and her two non-negotiable team rules.
Luticia is candid about the moment she had to raise her hand and stop a founder she was advising, even when she was the only one in the room with doubts.
This conversation holds great advice, contextual stories, and a reminder that trust is built when a team takes accountability together.
QUOTE-WORTHY MOMENTS
“Much of what I’ve accomplished in my career is by virtue of not knowing that it wasn’t possible. So I did it.”
“’It’s not my job’ does not belong in our vocabulary. We don’t get to say that.”
“When we can all together as a team take accountability, that’s where the gold is at. That’s where we build trust.”
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
Being direct delivers more value than high-contextcommunication when the stakes are high.
Assuming best intent lowers defences and lets feedback actually land.
Men, Emotions and What Leaders Get Wrong with Mike Cameron
Season 4 · Episode 45
Tuesday, June 16, 2026 • Duration 48:32
Host: Carrie Tuttle
Guest: Mike Cameron
Most leaders learn to manage tasks long before they learn to manage emotions, and some never really learn. Mike Cameron believes the gap is costing companies more than anyone realizes.
Mike is a three-time TEDx speaker, Canadian author, ultramarathoner, and a leader with more than 30 years of experience, including 16 years as a CEO. After the murder of his girlfriend in 2015, Mike walked away from the company he built to focus on what he now considers the most underestimated threat to organizational performance: the emotional disconnection of men in leadership.
Mike joins Carrie to talk about the difference between emotional intelligence and emotional competence, and why theory means little without practice. They dig into practical experiments any leader can try, like the two-word check-in, the SOAR framework, and asking people whether they want strategy or empathy.
As the founder of Connect'd Men, a community built around emotional connection and men's well-being, Mike has his own experience with burnout and what it really means to move from success to significance.
Whether you lead a team, a family, or just yourself, this conversation offers grounded frameworks, honest stories, and a reminder that connection starts with how you show up for yourself first.
QUOTE-WORTHY MOMENTS
“If you want to support a dude who’s struggling, set him up to support somebody else.”
"We’ve got artificial intelligence. We don’t need more intelligence. What we need is more competence."
"The most powerful gift I can give to any audience is for them to look at me and say, he’s just like me."
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
Emotional intelligence is theory; emotional competence is the practice that changes how leaders actually show up.
Mentorship Boards and Marketing Math with Courtney Johnston-Naumann
Season 4 · Episode 44
Tuesday, June 2, 2026 • Duration 31:04
Host: Carrie Tuttle
Guest: Courtney Johnston-Naumann
Can you name someone who has mentored 10 or more people? I can.
Courtney Johnston-Naumann is the founder of Weave Strategy and a fractional chief marketing officer (CMO) who has led brand and marketing teams at Edmonton Economic Development, Service Credit Union, and CashCo Financial. She helps organizations move from scattered marketing efforts to focused, purpose-driven growth.
Some leaders treat marketing as an art form. Courtney has spent her career proving it's also math. Courtney explains how she built a bridge between marketing and sales, why she says every strategy starts with intention before it touches a spreadsheet, and what it really takes to lead a team through a founder-to-management transition.
The juiciest part of this episode is when Courtney shares her approach to mentorship, including the concept of a personal mentorship board. She sets the expectation that mentees own the relationship before they start and believes in having a framework.
You’ll walk away with a clearer picture of how to lead people through ambiguity without losing them, and why the words you choose at work matter more than you think.
QUOTE-WORTHY MOMENTS
“I find mentees who want to work harder than I'm going to work for them.“
“There’s a lot of math in marketing. When you really look at your pipeline and your growth objectives, you have to reverse engineer it and then connect it with what’s the story we’re trying to tell.”
“If you’re on my team, I will train you to take my job. Because at some point that’s going to happen and that’s okay.”
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
Marketing is both head and heart.
Strategy starts with intention, then reverse-engineers tometrics.
Building Your Dream Team with Rebecca Wood
Season 4 · Episode 43
Tuesday, May 19, 2026 • Duration 34:57
Host: Carrie Tuttle
Guest: Rebecca Wood
Most leaders are handed the keys to their first team without a roadmap. Rebecca Wood has been there. She is a leader with over 25 years of experience as a former National Director of Sales and a Director transforming membership models at the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. Now, the founder of Romeo Whiskey Consulting, Rebecca has built teams from scratch and coached executives navigating the real loneliness that comes with senior leadership.
She joins Carrie to talk about what it takes to build a dream team. They dig into the key ingredients, like trust, communication, clarity, mindset, and the courage to have hard conversations before things fall apart.
Rebecca shares a practical approach to using communication tools like DISC to help leaders adapt how they deliver messages, and she's candid about the moments her own high-D drive got in the way of the very results she was chasing.
Whether you're stepping into your first people leadership role or a seasoned leader who has lost momentum with your team, this conversation offers real frameworks, honest stories, and a grounded reminder that you don't have to figure it all out alone.
QUOTE-WORTHY MOMENTS
"It's not about you and succeeding. You now have to get that team to where you need them to be. "
“I don't need all the credit. I want other people to be able to step up into their own and have the confidence to make the decisions they need to make.”
"Be vulnerable and get some support, because you don't have to do it alone. And it can be very lonely."
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
Trust is the foundation. Without it, everything stays surface level.
Knowing your own communication style is the first step to adapting it for the people around you.
Clarity on goals and alignment on direction are what keep a team rowing the same way.
Let AI Give You Thinking Time with Carrie Tuttle
Season 4 · Episode 42
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 • Duration 15:53
Host: Michael Dargie Guest: Carrie Tuttle
What does AI mean for leaders — and what does it not replace?
Carrie Tuttle, founder of Team Mojo, invites Michael Dargie (Make More Creative / RebelRebel podcast for entrepreneurs) to host.
We keep this one short and sweet, with Carrie sharing how technical founders are embracing AI, why revenue teams should consider using it to draft messaging sequences and communication templates, and exactly where it falls short.
She also talks candidly about her own use of AI in her coaching practice, including the honest admission that first drafts aren’t her strongest suit! With AI changing so fast, it’s hard to keep up. So much so that her business use has changed in the months between recording and publishing this episode. Send her a note if you want to compare notes on what else she is using AI for with revenue teams.
Walk away with some ideas of what AI can carry for you and what still needs a human leader in the room, specifically around empathy, challenging blind spots, and keeping your team accountable.
Listen up for when Carrie reframes the AI speed conversation entirely and makes a case for humans to slow down and think. Enjoy!
P.S. Check out similar topics, like “Data Therapy First, Then AI with Ian Tell” and “Succeed at Recruiting in an AI World with Serge Boudreau”.
QUOTE-WORTHY MOMENTS:
“What if we framed it as: let’s let AI go do all those repetitive things so that we can take a step back and have some thinking time to do creative work?”
"Having AI say ‘great job’ is different than having another human say, I really like what you did there, and here’s why.”
"Learn everything you can about how AI works now, because now is the foundation for the future."
The Evangelist Model for Technical Founders with Guillermo Salazar
Season 4 · Episode 41
Tuesday, April 21, 2026 • Duration 31:55
Host: Carrie Tuttle
Guest: Guillermo Salazar
Carrie sits down with Guillermo Salazar, Industry Principal at Vendoroo, an agentic AI maintenance coordinator for property management. He’s the former CEO of IrisCX, and a four-time founder with three exits. He's also the host of the LinkedIn Live show Getting to Hell Yes!
In this episode, Guillermo unpacks what he's learned growing three companies from $0 to $2MM+ and why those wins all share the same engine. He explains the four-point framework he uses to cut through noisy ideal-customer profiles, and why technical founders unintentionally hold their teams back when talking about technology instead of the buyer's problem. He also shares the prioritization rubric he runs teams on.
You might appreciate when Guillermo gets candid about his own leadership edges. He admits he doesn't have it all figured out, and talks about why he pursues the discomfort of growth on purpose. Listen for the moment when Guillermo admits he'll create chaos on purpose when things get too repetitive and why that's actually a leadership asset when you know how to hand off.
Whether you're a first-time founder or a leader trying to get your team pointed in the same direction, this episode has gold to get you thinking about revenue, scale and aligning on key priorities.
QUOTE-WORTHY MOMENTS:
“Listening is the plan. Not having the answers is okay.”
“I’m constantly pursuing the discomfort of growth.”
“Listen to the market, listen to your customers, and they will pull you to where they want to go next.”
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
Evangelist customers compound growth in a way ad spend can’t match.
Pull-based go-to-market makes each new customer easier to acquire than the last.
Technical founders often hold teams back by emphasizing the solution over the buyer’s problem.
Mastering Credibility with Mitchell Levy
Season 4 · Episode 40
Tuesday, April 7, 2026 • Duration 45:30
Host: Carrie Tuttle Guest: Mitchell Levy
Carrie sits down with Mitchell Levy, global credibility expert, two-time TEDx speaker, and international bestselling author of over 60 books, to explore one of the most overlooked leadership advantages: credibility.
With experience building 20 companies and publishing over 750 books, he brings a unique perspective on what it truly means to be seen, heard, and trusted as a leader. From his new book “Executive Abundance”, Mitchell shares what it means to build executive abundance with five stakeholder groups.
In this episode, Mitchell breaks down how credibility isn’t just about reputation—it’s about clarity, alignment, and consistently serving others. He explains how leaders can articulate their value, build stronger stakeholder relationships, and create meaningful impact through authentic communication. In fact, he demonstrated how quickly he does it. It’s simple, not easy.
You’ll hear why many leaders struggle to define their message, and how becoming “credible” unlocks opportunities, influence, and growth.
QUOTE-WORTHY MOMENTS:
“Credibility is the quality in which you're trusted and liked.”
“Executives are being evaluated against… Will they be good tomorrow when the company is X percentage bigger?”
“Being seen and heard starts with understanding how you serve others, not just what you do.”
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
What credibility actually means—and why most leaders misunderstand it
How lack of clarity impacts leadership effectiveness and team trust
The connection between credibility and thought leadership
Why leaders struggle to articulate their value
Being seen and heard starts with understanding how you serve others, not just what you do
How to position yourself so others can easily understand and trust you
Authenticity builds long-term influence
Don’t Lose Your Sh*t at Work with Karen Thrall
Season 4 · Episode 39
Tuesday, March 24, 2026 • Duration 43:09
Host: Carrie Tuttle Guest: Karen Thrall
Karen Thrall, executive coach, culture strategist, and author of Don’t Lose Your Sh*t at Work, joins Carrie for a candid conversation about the role of emotions in leadership, especially anger.
Yes, that’s right. Anger.
As a former Vice President of Sales, Operations, and Culture, she delivered double-digit annual revenue growth while building high-performing, value-based teams. With over 20 years of executive experience across industries like biotech, consumer goods, and life sciences, Karen has coached more than 150 leaders and worked with over 60 organizations, including Thermo Fisher Scientific, John Fluevog Shoes, Blinds Galore and Maraval Life Sciences.
In this episode, she shares how unmanaged emotions can quietly erode trust, relationships, and leadership effectiveness. She also discusses how learning to process and communicate emotions can become a powerful leadership advantage.
Karen opens up about her own journey with anger, the neuroscience behind emotional reactions, and the frameworks she uses to help leaders turn emotional triggers into clarity, confidence, and better decision-making.
This episode is a must-listen for leaders who want to strengthen their voice, build trust, and lead with both humanity and intention.
QUOTE-WORTHY MOMENTS:
“The energy will always precede anything you say.”
“Anger is wisdom—it’s just messy wisdom.”
"Think before you speak. It’s a game changer."
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
Anger can be seen as a form of wisdom that needs to be processed.
Trust is a journey that team members must earn first.
The importance of rehearsing conversations to improve leadership communication.
Practical tools for managing emotions in real-time, especially in high-stakes meetings.
Delegation Clarity Is Kindness with Carrie Tuttle
Season 4 · Episode 38
Wednesday, March 11, 2026 • Duration 20:56
Host: Michael Dargie Guest: Carrie Tuttle
In this season 4 opener, Carrie Tuttle takes the hot seat andbecomes the guest. Founder of Team Mojo, leadership coach for technical founders building revenue teams, Carrie sits down with guest host, Michael Dargie, to reintroduce herself and discuss a few topics on leadership, coaching and delegation.
Carrie shares what’s behind her work coaching technical founders who are building revenue teams while learning how to lead people at the same time.
Together, they explore the common challenges founders face when scaling their businesses—from letting go of sales responsibilities to clearly communicating vision and expectations to their teams. Carrie also explains her coaching approach, why leadership clarity matters more than perfection, and how founders can move from doing everything themselves to building empowered teams.
The conversation touches on the personal side of leadership: learning to ask better questions, giving honest feedback, and when to have those tough conversations. Carrie also shares a free workbook to guide effective delegation. (Link below in show notes!)
QUOTE-WORTHY MOMENTS:
"Set clear expectations and let them teach you back."
“I've learned, I really need to have the right questions, not the right answers.”
"Seeing founders find their mojo again excites me."
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
Translating vision into direction for a team
Practical approach to delegating starts with Tell, Show, Teach-back.
Establish clear guidelines for messaging and behavior
Sales and marketing outcomes can take months to materialize
The two-word check-ins give teams a release valve and give leaders a quick read on the room.
SOAR — slow down, observe, accept, reconnect — is a simple way to ground a meeting before the work begins.
Asking “do you want strategy or empathy?” stops leaders from fixing what people only want heard.
Supporting your people rarely means fixing their problems; often it just means holding space.
Men are not born emotionally disconnected; they are conditioned into it, and reconnection starts with self.
Toughness worn as a badge is often fear in disguise, not courage.
Admitting you don’t have all the answers is one of the biggest gifts a leader can give a team.
AI should serve connection, not replace it, freeing people to spend more time with customers and each other.
The shift from success to significance starts with asking why the work matters.
LINKS FROM EPISODE
Mike Cameron on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikecameron-ca/
Connect'd Men: https://connectdmen.com
Email Mike: mike@mikecameron.ca
Mike Cameron's website: https://mikecameron.ca/
Mentioned in episode:
Don't Change Much podcast: https://menshealthfoundation.ca/dont-change-much-podcast/Canadian Men's Health Foundation (Mike is co-host) June is Men's Health Month
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