Safe Brave Stories

Greg Smith and Anna Petosa
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This series shines a light on what it takes to create spaces that are both safe and brave — places where people can show up authentically, speak honestly, and lean into growth. The stories — like the guests themselves — are unique, but they share a common thread of leadership, courage, curiosity, growth mindset, and resilience. Each conversation reveals how safe brave spaces can unlock potential, strengthen connection, and spark ripple effects that inspire change.

  1. 6d ago

    Hamza Khan - PhD Researcher in Collective Leadership for Human Flourishing | Keynote Speaker | 2x Bestselling Author | Co-Founder, SkillsCamp | Hope IS a Leadership Strategy.

    Hamza Khan is a bestselling author, award-winning entrepreneur, educator, and globally recognized keynote speaker whose TEDx talk, Stop Managing, Start Leading, has inspired millions. Through his books Leadership, Reinvented and The Burnout Gamble, Hamza is co-founder of SkillsCamp and has become one of the leading voices on the future of work, resilience, and creating workplaces where people don't justperform—they truly thrive. His message is both timely and deeply hopeful: the future of work isn't more technology—it's more humanity. As artificial intelligence and rapid change reshape our world, Hamza believes our greatest competitive advantage will always be our capacity for empathy, curiosity, courage, and connection. Today we'll explore what it means to lead with humanity, how we can build cultures of trust and belonging, and why creating spaces where people feel safe enough to be brave may be one of the most important leadership challenges of our time. To learn more about and connect with Hamza you can reach him on LinkedIn at  https://www.linkedin.com/in/khanhamza/ or at the SkillsCamp website - https://www.skillscamp.co/

  2. Sep 15

    Yousuf Khatib — Entrepreneur, Connector, Technology Leader

    Today’s guest is Yousuf Khatib — an entrepreneur, connector, technology leader and someone whose career has been shaped by a genuine curiosity about people, possibility and the impact we can have when we bring the two together. Yousuf’s journey has taken him through financial services, technology, entrepreneurship, global talent and, most recently, artificial intelligence. Early in his career, he built and developed a financial services organization of more than 600 agents. He went on to work with and build technology companies, help organizations scale across borders, and immerse himself in Canada’s startup ecosystem. Today, he is helping leaders think about how AI can be used not simply to replace work, but to remove friction, strengthen relationships and enable people to do more of what they do best. But what makes Yousuf especially interesting for Safe Brave Stories is the thread running underneath all of that. He’s deeply interested in connection, collaboration and using entrepreneurship as a force for good. He has explored the impact economy, championed initiatives focused on kindness and giving and has consistently looked for ways to connect talented people with opportunities that can change their lives. Yousuf also brings the perspective of someone who seems endlessly willing to explore what’s next — to ask questions, challenge assumptions, experiment, and occasionally head down a path without knowing exactly where it will lead. If you want to find out more about Yousuf and his work, connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/yousufkhatib/

  3. Aug 18

    Josh Siegal - Executive Leader | Speaker | Advisor | Community Builder

    Josh Siegal is a people and culture leader, executive coach,speaker, and community builder from Toronto, Ontario, who believes that extraordinary organizations are built by putting people first. Throughout his career, he's helped high-growth companies and mission-driven organizations design cultures where people can thrive, grow, and do their best work. Hisleadership journey has included senior talent and culture roles with organizations such as Wave, Real Matters, and most recently UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, where he focused on strengthening community, leadership, and connection at scale. Known for blending strategic thinking with genuine empathy, Josh is passionate about creating workplaces where trust, belonging, and purpose aren't just aspirational values—they're everyday experiences. Whether he's helping leaders navigate rapid growth, reimagining organizational culture, or mentoring emerging leaders, Josh consistently challenges organizations toremember that culture is designed through the choices leaders make every day. On this episode of Safe Brave Stories, Josh shares his insights on what it really takes to build healthy cultures, why psychological safety and human connection matter more than ever, and how leaders can create environments where people have thecourage to be authentic, take risks, and bring their whole selves to work. His thoughtful, practical approach reminds us that the strongest organizations aren't built through perfect strategies—they're built through meaningful relationships. You can connect with Josh via LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuasiegal/

  4. Aug 18

    David Priemer - Founder and Chief Scientist at Cerebral Selling

    David Priemer is the founder and Chief Sales Scientist at Cerebral Selling, a sales consultancy focused on applying behavioral science, psychology, and empathy to modern selling. Before becoming a sales leader, he worked as a researchscientist and engineer, a background that heavily influences his evidence-based approach to sales. He later held senior leadership roles, including at Salesforce, where he built and led sales development and leadership programs. He is the bestselling author of Sell the Way You Buy, a book that challenges traditional sales tactics and argues that people buy emotionally, seek autonomy, and resist pressure. He is often referred to as "The Sales Professor" and has taught at institutions including Queen's University's Smith School of Business and London Business School. You can learn more andconnect with David at LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/dpriemer/ or through his website at https://cerebralselling.com/

  5. Jun 24

    Tarila Morrone - Founder of Hearts of Gems

    Tarila Morrone is the founder of Hearts of Gems, a company dedicated to helping families build stronger connections and support children's emotional well-being through meaningful conversations and intentional parenting tools. A certified parent coach, entrepreneur, and passionate advocate for children's mental health, Tarila empowers parents to move from overwhelm and burnout to confidence, connection, and joy. Through coaching, workshops, and thoughtfully designed products used by families around the world, she helps parents create everyday moments that foster resilience, self-worth, and emotional wellness in their children. Inspired by her own journey as a mother, Tarila's mission is simple yet powerful: to help families strengthen relationships and raise emotionally healthy, thriving children. To connect with Tarila you can reach her at LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarilamorrone/or at her website at https://heartsofgems.com/

  6. Jun 4

    Robina Dhindsa - Leadership Development Expert, Speaker and Founder of Intuitive Leadership

    Robina Dhindsa is a leadership development expert, speaker, and founder of Intuitive Leadership. With a unique background spanning engineering, enterprise technology sales, mindfulness, and personal transformation, Robina helps leaders and organizations cultivate greater self-awareness, resilience, and authentic connection. Through her signature Mastering the Inner World™ methodology, she guides individuals to understand how theirthoughts, beliefs, and emotions shape their leadership, relationships, and impact. Passionate about creating healthier workplaces and more conscious leaders, Robina blends practical business experience with insights from mindfulness and contemplative practices. Her work empowers people to lead with courage, clarity, and compassion in an increasingly complex world. For this episode of Safe Brave Stories, Robina shares powerful insights on self-awareness, personal growth, and what itmeans to lead from the inside out. To connect with Robina you can find her on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinadhindsa/

  7. May 19

    Vicki Thompson Groff - Coach, Leadership Strategist and Founder of The Shift

    Vicki Thompson Groff is an executive coach, leadership strategist, and former Head of People & Culture at KOHO Financial, where she built and led an award-winning internal coaching program focused on leadership development,culture, and sustainable high performance. With a career that spans both commercial leadership and people strategy, Vicki brings a unique blend of business acumen, emotional intelligence, and systems thinking to her work with executives, founders, and high-performing teams. As the founder of The Shift, Vicki helps leaders navigate growth, change, and complexity through coaching that is both deeply human and highly practical. Her work centers on self-awareness, psychological safety, resilience, and the small but powerful mindset shifts that unlock lasting transformation. Known for her direct yet compassionate approach, Vicki believes that the strongest organizations are built by leaders who are willing to lead with courage, curiosity, and authenticity — making her a natural fit for conversations that explore what it means to live and lead bravely. For more information about Vicki or to connect directly you can find her on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/vicki-thompson-groff-b77b803a/or at her website https://www.theshiftcoaching.ca/.

  8. May 4

    Joe Lyons-Rising - Entrepreneur, Author and Social Impact Leader

    Joe Lyons-Rising is an entrepreneur, author, and social impact leader, best known as the founder of Data Gives Back Inc. and a member of Pure Minds. With a career rooted in data, innovation, and purpose-driven work, Joe focuses on leveraging technology and analytics to create meaningful change for communities and organizations. He is also the author of Pain Remixed, where he exploresthemes of resilience, identity, and personal transformation through his lived experience with trauma, grief, depression and anxiety.  Bridging the worlds of business, storytelling, and advocacy, Joe brings a thoughtful and grounded perspective to conversationsabout navigating adversity while building impact. His work resonates deeply with the mission of Safe Brave Stories: creating space for honesty, courage, and connection through lived experience.   To learn more about Joe and his work you can connect on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelyonsrising/or through his websites at https://painremixed.com/ and https://www.datagivesback.com/

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About

This series shines a light on what it takes to create spaces that are both safe and brave — places where people can show up authentically, speak honestly, and lean into growth. The stories — like the guests themselves — are unique, but they share a common thread of leadership, courage, curiosity, growth mindset, and resilience. Each conversation reveals how safe brave spaces can unlock potential, strengthen connection, and spark ripple effects that inspire change.

Information

  • Creator
    Greg Smith and Anna Petosa
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    48
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Greg Smith and Anna Petosa
  • Show Website
    Safe Brave Stories