The Maverick Paradox Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In today's episode Judith Germain speaks to Joris Merks-Benjaminsen about leadership consistency and ethical actions. They discuss the challenge of ensuring leadership consistency across an organisation, not just at the top. They note how organisational culture and values can drift over time if not actively maintained. Joris explains how leaders can inadvertently create inconsistencies through their behaviours and decision-making processes.

• Leadership consistency requires balancing opposing forces (e.g. empathy vs accountability) while under constant pressure
• Small, conscious leadership behaviors have magnified impact on organisational culture
• Effective leaders must actively cultivate psychological safety and open communication with their teams
• "Managing without power" mindset helps leaders tune into team needs and reduce unintended pressures

In this conversation Judith and Joris explore the idea of personalising leadership to the needs of individual team members. They emphasise the importance of creating psychological safety, encouraging feedback, and being conscious of how one's position of power can impact others. Joris suggests the "managing without power" mindset as a way to stay grounded.

Joris Merks-Benjaminsen is an award winning author. His latest book is titled 'Managing without power'. Joris had a leading role in Google's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion initiatives, and was one of the highest scoring managers in the company's history.

You can find out more about our guest and today's episode in this Maverick Paradox Magazine article here.

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Maverick leadership is all about thinking outside the box and challenging the status quo. It's about having the courage to take risks and the confidence to lead in a way that is authentic and genuine.

But amplifying your influence as a leader isn't just about having a strong vision or a big personality. It's also about having the right leadership capability and being able to execute on your ideas and plans.

The consequences of not having the right level of influence as a leader can be significant. Without the ability to inspire and motivate others, you may struggle to achieve your goals and make a real impact.

How Influential Are you? Take the scorecard at amplifyyourinfluence.scoreapp.com and see. 

Catalysing Transformation - 1 min video

Judith's book: The Maverick Paradox: The Secret Power Behind Successful Leaders. 

Judith's websites: 

• Judith Germain (mentoring, Speaker, author) - judithgermain.com
• The Maverick Paradox Magazine - themaverickparadox.com
• The Maverick Paradox Website - maverickparadox.co.uk

Judith's LinkedIn profile is here, her Twitter profile (MaverickMastery) is here, Facebook here and Instagram here.

In this Short Talk episode Judith Germain speaks to Mónica Esgueva, about her life experiences and insights on mindfulness, wisdom, and finding meaning in life. They discuss Monica's diverse career path, including working as an economist for Prada in London, then moving to Paris to work for INSEAD, and her earlier experience as a semi-professional tennis player. Monica shared how she had to quit tennis due to back issues, and how that led her on a journey of self-discovery, including trips to India and Nepal to study with Tibetan Lamas.

• Mónica's journey: From economist at Prada to studying with Tibetan Lamas, bridging Eastern and Western mindsets
• True mindfulness goes beyond presence, incorporating kindness and intention for the greater good
• Success alone isn't enough; finding meaning and purpose in life is crucial for fulfillment and mental well-being
• Accepting what's beyond our control is key to transforming fear and negative emotions into growth opportunities

In this conversation Monica explained how Eastern mindfulness, rooted in Buddhism, is about more than just being present - it's also about cultivating kindness and using that presence to benefit others, not just for personal gain. She contrasted this with a more individualistic Western interpretation of mindfulness.

They discuss ways to integrate ancient Eastern philosophies around mindfulness and purpose with modern Western mindsets, highlighting the universal human need for meaning and the dangers of a purely materialistic worldview.

Mónica Esgueva has a profound understanding of the mind, human consciousness, and spirituality. She has been helping the transformation of individuals for more than 16 years.

She is the author of 9 books. 

You can find out more about our guest and today's episode in this Maverick Paradox Magazine article here.

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Maverick leadership is all about thinking outside the box and challenging the status quo. It's about having the courage to take risks and the confidence to lead in a way that is authentic and genuine.

But amplifying your influence as a leader isn't just about having a strong vision or a big personality. It's also about having the right leadership capability and being able to execute on your ideas and plans.

The consequences of not having the right level of influence as a leader can be significant. Without the ability to inspire and motivate others, you may struggle to achieve your goals and make a real impact.

How Influential Are you? Take the scorecard at amplifyyourinfluence.scoreapp.com and see. 

Catalysing Transformation - 1 min video

Judith's book: The Maverick Paradox: The Secret Power Behind Successful Leaders. 

Judith's websites: 

• Judith Germain (mentoring, Speaker, author) - judithgermain.com
• The Maverick Paradox Magazine - themaverickparadox.com
• The Maverick Paradox Website - maverickparadox.co.uk

Judith's LinkedIn profile is here, her Twitter profile (MaverickMastery) is here, Facebook here and Instagram here.

In this conversation Judith Germain speaks to Peter Murphy Lewis about leadership, innovation, and thought leadership. Peter shares his background, including that he is a documentarian, TV host, and fractional CMO who helps CEOs with their marketing. Peter lives with his family inside a zoo in Wichita, Kansas.

• Peter emphasises trust, autonomy, and transparency as key pillars for fostering innovation in leadership
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• Podcasting is highlighted as an effective tool for building thought leadership, especially when tailored to the target audience's demographics
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• Peter's unique approach as a fractional CMO involves intense short-term engagements followed by ongoing strategic support

In this conversation Peter discusses his insights on developing leadership skills that can foster innovation, and the role of podcasting in building thought leadership. Peter shares his and his wife's approach to regular couples therapy, describing it as a "cruise" to maintain a healthy relationship. He emphasises the importance of open communication and seeking outside help when needed.

Peter Lewis is a fractional CMO.

You can find out more about our guest and today's episode in this Maverick Paradox Magazine article here.

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Maverick leadership is all about thinking outside the box and challenging the status quo. It's about having the courage to take risks and the confidence to lead in a way that is authentic and genuine.

But amplifying your influence as a leader isn't just about having a strong vision or a big personality. It's also about having the right leadership capability and being able to execute on your ideas and plans.

The consequences of not having the right level of influence as a leader can be significant. Without the ability to inspire and motivate others, you may struggle to achieve your goals and make a real impact.

How Influential Are you? Take the scorecard at amplifyyourinfluence.scoreapp.com and see. 

Catalysing Transformation - 1 min video

Judith's book: The Maverick Paradox: The Secret Power Behind Successful Leaders. 

Judith's websites: 

• Judith Germain (mentoring, Speaker, author) - judithgermain.com
• The Maverick Paradox Magazine - themaverickparadox.com
• The Maverick Paradox Website - maverickparadox.co.uk

Judith's LinkedIn profile is here, her Twitter profile (MaverickMastery) is here, Facebook here and Instagram here.

In this episode Judith Germain speaks to Dana Skaggs about the impact of boundaries on leadership, specifically focusing on the challenges faced by people pleasers. Dana emphasises the importance of setting healthy boundaries and making decisions based on what is best, rather than seeking approval from others.

Dana and Judith discussed the process of moving past people-pleasing and becoming a Socialised Maverick. They explore how individuals can separate themselves from others' opinions, set healthy boundaries, and make decisions based on their own thoughts and feelings, rather than seeking constant approval from others.

They also discuss the concept of cognitive dissonance and how it affects individuals differently. They explore the idea that some people are more willing to change their beliefs when faced with new evidence, while others stubbornly hold onto their old beliefs despite contradictory facts.

In this conversation, Judith and Dana discuss why people cling to outdated beliefs despite contradictory facts. They explore the idea that individuals may hold onto these beliefs because they fulfill certain needs or because they fear losing their sense of identity without them.

Dana and Judith have an interesting conversation about being Mavericks and how they see possibilities instead of problems. They also discuss their motivations and priorities, including weight loss.

Dana Skaggs, a psychotherapist and podcaster is known as 'The Queen of Boundaries' due to her extensive experience and knowledge surrounding the ubiquitous impact of boundaries in our professional and private lives.

You can find out more about our guest and today's episode in this Maverick Paradox Magazine article here.

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Maverick leadership is all about thinking outside the box and challenging the status quo. It's about having the courage to take risks and the confidence to lead in a way that is authentic and genuine.

But amplifying your influence as a leader isn't just about having a strong vision or a big personality. It's also about having the right leadership capability and being able to execute on your ideas and plans.

The consequences of not having the right level of influence as a leader can be significant. Without the ability to inspire and motivate others, you may struggle to achieve your goals and make a real impact.

How Influential Are you? Take the scorecard at amplifyyourinfluence.scoreapp.com and see. 

Judith's book: The Maverick Paradox: The Secret Power Behind Successful Leaders. 

Judith's websites: 

• The Maverick Paradox Magazine - themaverickparadox.com
• The Maverick Paradox Website - maverickparadox.co.uk

Judith's LinkedIn profile is here, her Twitter profile (MaverickMastery) is here, Facebook here and Instagram here.

In this episode Judith Germain speaks to Debra Corey about the importance of recognition and appreciation in the workplace. Debra shares her insights on how managers often struggle with implementing effective recognition programmes.

They shared examples of how they implemented reward systems that were tailored to their teams' preferences and needs, emphasising the need for inclusivity and cultural sensitivity.

In this conversation Judith and Debra discuss the importance of organisations caring about their employees and the impact it has on employee engagement. They also highlight the negative consequences of companies being disingenuous in their messaging and not addressing internal issues.

Debra Corey is a highly experienced and award winning HR consultant, world-class speaker, and five-time best-selling author who has been named as one of the top 101 global employee engagement influencers.

You can find out more about our guest and today's episode in this Maverick Paradox Magazine article here.

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Maverick leadership is all about thinking outside the box and challenging the status quo. It's about having the courage to take risks and the confidence to lead in a way that is authentic and genuine.

But amplifying your influence as a leader isn't just about having a strong vision or a big personality. It's also about having the right leadership capability and being able to execute on your ideas and plans.

The consequences of not having the right level of influence as a leader can be significant. Without the ability to inspire and motivate others, you may struggle to achieve your goals and make a real impact.

How Influential Are you? Take the scorecard at amplifyyourinfluence.scoreapp.com and see. 

Judith's book: The Maverick Paradox: The Secret Power Behind Successful Leaders. 

Judith's websites: 

• The Maverick Paradox Magazine - themaverickparadox.com
• The Maverick Paradox Website - maverickparadox.co.uk

Judith's LinkedIn profile is here, her Twitter profile (MaverickMastery) is here, Facebook here and Instagram here.

In this Short Talk episode Judith Germain speaks to Cassie Petrey about her experience with imposter syndrome and how she reframed it as a sign of caring and passion for her work. Cassie also shares how she looks for the same qualities in potential hires, emphasising the importance of caring and wanting to be present in a role.

Judith and Cassie discuss the importance of showing up on social media platforms to increase brand visibility. They also emphasise the value of being an early adopter of new technologies and tools to stay ahead of the competition.

They discuss various tips and insights on working with A-listers, landing dream clients, and growing one's brand. Cassie emphasises the importance of building a great service, focusing on learning and understanding clients' needs, and staying true to the core purpose and emotions behind one's brand.

In this conversation they discuss the importance of understanding the purpose and emotions behind building a brand.

From fangirl to CEO of top celebrity social media/music management firm, Cassie Petrey (Forbes 30 under 30 and Billboard 30 under 30 recipient) is the woman behind some of the most iconic artists social media marketing including Backstreet Boys and Ed Sheeran.

You can find out more about our guest and today's episode in this Maverick Paradox Magazine article here.

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Maverick leadership is all about thinking outside the box and challenging the status quo. It's about having the courage to take risks and the confidence to lead in a way that is authentic and genuine.

But amplifying your influence as a leader isn't just about having a strong vision or a big personality. It's also about having the right leadership capability and being able to execute on your ideas and plans.

The consequences of not having the right level of influence as a leader can be significant. Without the ability to inspire and motivate others, you may struggle to achieve your goals and make a real impact.

How Influential Are you? Take the scorecard at amplifyyourinfluence.scoreapp.com and see. 

Judith's book: The Maverick Paradox: The Secret Power Behind Successful Leaders. 

Judith's websites: 

• The Maverick Paradox Magazine - themaverickparadox.com
• The Maverick Paradox Website - maverickparadox.co.uk

Judith's LinkedIn profile is here, her Twitter profile (MaverickMastery) is here, Facebook here and Instagram here.

In this Short Talk episode Judith Germain speaks to Jonathan Jay about his experience in buying and growing businesses over the past 25 years. They also talk about the importance of transitioning from being the doer to being the investor in order to avoid becoming a bottleneck and allow for business growth.

Jonathan bought a total of 53 businesses over the course of six years, with 5 before the pandemic and 48 during the pandemic. However, the stress and health issues caused by his obsession with work made him realise the importance of work-life balance and prioritising health and relationships.

Jonathan shares the top five mistakes entrepreneurs make when buying a business, such as letting emotions rule the decision and not doing sufficient due diligence.

In this conversation they discuss the importance of identifying game-changing acquisitions based on financial numbers, knowing when to sell a business at its peak, and the value of not being emotionally attached to a business. 

During the pandemic Jonathan Jay made 48 business acquistions to create the 4th largest group in his sector in under 3 years.

You can find out more about our guest and today's episode in this Maverick Paradox Magazine article here.

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Maverick leadership is all about thinking outside the box and challenging the status quo. It's about having the courage to take risks and the confidence to lead in a way that is authentic and genuine.

But amplifying your influence as a leader isn't just about having a strong vision or a big personality. It's also about having the right leadership capability and being able to execute on your ideas and plans.

The consequences of not having the right level of influence as a leader can be significant. Without the ability to inspire and motivate others, you may struggle to achieve your goals and make a real impact.

How Influential Are you? Take the scorecard at amplifyyourinfluence.scoreapp.com and see. 

Judith's book: The Maverick Paradox: The Secret Power Behind Successful Leaders. 

Judith's websites: 

• The Maverick Paradox Magazine - themaverickparadox.com
• The Maverick Paradox Website - maverickparadox.co.uk

Judith's LinkedIn profile is here, her Twitter profile (MaverickMastery) is here, Facebook here and Instagram here.

In this episode Judith Germain speaks to Dr Karuna Ramanathan about when a leader's ambition hides as vision and how power is different to influence. We  discuss the challenges of large-scale change programs, including the importance of aligning the organisation's vision and the need for a collective consensus.

 Karuna shares his experience as a change consultant and highlighted the difficulty of shifting organisational culture, emphasising the importance of a strategy to guide the cultural transformation.

They discuss the possibility of a culture shift within organisations and the challenges faced during large-scale change programs. They also highlight the importance of collective will, new skills, and leadership development in navigating complex change initiatives.

Karuna and Judith discuss the importance of developing adaptive team leaders and the need for organisations to shift from job-focused to role-focused approaches. They also highlight the distinction between power and influence, emphasising the significance of influence skills in driving transformation and change.

In this conversation Judith and Karuna discuss the importance of influence in leadership and the difference between power and influence. They emphasise that influence is often underestimated and requires effort to develop, whilst power can be easily taken away.

Dr Karuna Ramanathan has been empowering senior leaders to transform their organisations with a focus on people and culture. He received the Corporate Social Responsibility Award in 2021.

You can find out more about our guest and today's episode in this Maverick Paradox Magazine article here.

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Maverick leadership is all about thinking outside the box and challenging the status quo. It's about having the courage to take risks and the confidence to lead in a way that is authentic and genuine.

But amplifying your influence as a leader isn't just about having a strong vision or a big personality. It's also about having the right leadership capability and being able to execute on your ideas and plans.

The consequences of not having the right level of influence as a leader can be significant. Without the ability to inspire and motivate others, you may struggle to achieve your goals and make a real impact.

How Influential Are you? Take the scorecard at amplifyyourinfluence.scoreapp.com and see. 

Judith's book: The Maverick Paradox: The Secret Power Behind Successful Leaders. 

Judith's websites: 

• The Maverick Paradox Magazine - themaverickparadox.com
• The Maverick Paradox Website - maverickparadox.co.uk

Judith's LinkedIn profile is here, her Twitter profile (MaverickMastery) is here, Facebook here and Instagram here.

In today's episode Judith Germain speaks to John Mark Williams about how Mavericks introduce chaos as empowerment. They discuss the concept of mastery and finding fulfillment in their careers. They also talk about the decision to change the name of the Institute of Leadership and Management to the Institute of Leadership.

They discuss the importance of leadership in embracing change and inspiring others. John and Judith discuss the challenges of being a leader during times of change. They highlight the importance of effectively communicating and translating the vision of a Maverick Leader to the rest of the board in order to find a balance between the visionary outcome and the safer outcome desired by the board.

John discusses his approach to culture in an organisation, emphasising the importance of role modeling behaviours, using language to shape thinking, and demonstrating successful outcomes. He also highlighted the shift in the Institute's culture towards confidence and assertiveness, commending the team for their mindset shift.

In this conversation they also discuss the importance of being mindful of the impact of their words, setting clear expectations, and being explicit in their communication to avoid misunderstandings and promote effective collaboration. They also mention the value of playing games and taking on different perspectives to encourage critical thinking and non-threatening discussions.

John Mark Williams has held CEO and Director positions in the UK, Middle East and Far East. He is a former UK International Trade Director and was the UK's Export Promoter to the Arabian Gulf.

You can find out more about our guest and today's episode in this Maverick Paradox Magazine article here.

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Maverick leadership is all about thinking outside the box and challenging the status quo. It's about having the courage to take risks and the confidence to lead in a way that is authentic and genuine.

But amplifying your influence as a leader isn't just about having a strong vision or a big personality. It's also about having the right leadership capability and being able to execute on your ideas and plans.

The consequences of not having the right level of influence as a leader can be significant. Without the ability to inspire and motivate others, you may struggle to achieve your goals and make a real impact.

How Influential Are you? Take the scorecard at amplifyyourinfluence.scoreapp.com and see. 

Judith's book: The Maverick Paradox: The Secret Power Behind Successful Leaders. 

Judith's websites: 

• The Maverick Paradox Magazine - themaverickparadox.com
• The Maverick Paradox Website - maverickparadox.co.uk

Judith's LinkedIn profile is here, her Twitter profile (MaverickMastery) is here, Facebook here and Instagram here.

In this episode Judith Germain speaks to Kurt Uhlir, a serial and parallel entrepreneur. They discuss his experience with disruptive technologies, including his involvement in a company that grew from $85 million to $1.44 billion in annual revenue in just 10 years. He emphasises the need to embrace uncertainty and find value in unconventional places, highlighting the shift from car navigation systems to tracking runs on smartwatches as an example of disruptive technology.

They also emphasise the need for a growth catalyst to help companies identify hidden beliefs and overcome obstacles in order to achieve significant growth.

In this conversation, Judith and Kurt discuss the importance of considering risk when making decisions about disruptive technology. They also highlight the need for expertise and unbiased opinions in decision-making processes to avoid unbound risks.

Kurt Uhlir is a 10x Marketer and Operational Leader.

You can find out more about our guest and today's episode in this Maverick Paradox Magazine article here.

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Maverick leadership is all about thinking outside the box and challenging the status quo. It's about having the courage to take risks and the confidence to lead in a way that is authentic and genuine.

But amplifying your influence as a leader isn't just about having a strong vision or a big personality. It's also about having the right leadership capability and being able to execute on your ideas and plans.

The consequences of not having the right level of influence as a leader can be significant. Without the ability to inspire and motivate others, you may struggle to achieve your goals and make a real impact.

How Influential Are you? Take the scorecard at amplifyyourinfluence.scoreapp.com and see. 

Judith's book: The Maverick Paradox: The Secret Power Behind Successful Leaders. 

Judith's websites: 

• The Maverick Paradox Magazine - themaverickparadox.com
• The Maverick Paradox Website - maverickparadox.co.uk

Judith's LinkedIn profile is here, her Twitter profile (MaverickMastery) is here, Facebook here and Instagram here.