Catalytic Leadership

Dr. William Attaway
  • 4.9 (95)
  • MANAGEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Feeling overwhelmed by the daily grind and craving a breakthrough for your business? Tune in to the Catalytic Leadership Podcast with Dr. William Attaway, where we dive into the authentic stories of business leaders who’ve turned their toughest challenges into game-changing successes.Each episode brings you real conversations with high-performing entrepreneurs and agency owners, sharing their personal experiences and valuable lessons. From overcoming stress and chaos to elevating team performance and achieving ambitious goals, discover practical strategies that you can apply to your own leadership journey. Dr. Attaway, an Executive Coach specializing in Mindset, Leadership, and  and Productivity, provides clear, actionable insights to help you lead with confidence and clarity.Join us for inspiring stories and expert advice that will ignite your leadership potential and drive your business forward. Subscribe to the Catalytic Leadership Podcast and start transforming your approach today. For more resources and exclusive content, visit CatalyticLeadership.net.** Catalytic Leadership is ranked among the top 1.5% of podcasts globally on ListenNotes, thanks to our incredible listeners. Your support has made us one of the most popular shows out of over 3.4 million podcasts worldwide. Thank you for tuning in and being part of our journey! **

  1. Psychological Ownership: Why Your Team Won’t Step Up Without It

    4D AGO

    Psychological Ownership: Why Your Team Won’t Step Up Without It

    Send a text If everything still runs through you - decisions, approvals, follow-ups - it’s not a motivation problem. It’s an ownership problem. In this episode, I sit down with Mike Michalowicz, author of Profit First, Clockwork, and his newest, All In, to unpack why capable teams stall and what actually causes people to step up. We go far beyond culture, perks, or performance pressure and get into Psychological Ownership, the missing system behind self-managing teams, clean handoffs, and sustainable scale. Mike shares how high-performing organizations recruit A-players through education, build safety that unlocks real honesty, and design environments where people take responsibility without being managed into burnout. We also talk through why culture often fails, how community changes everything, and what it looks like to lead people with dignity through every season. If you’re scaling, investing in systems, automation, and clarity, but still feel like the bottleneck, this conversation will reframe how ownership is created, sustained, and shared. Books Mentioned Profit First by Mike Michalowicz Clockwork by Mike Michalowicz Fix This Next by Mike Michalowicz The Pumpkin Plan by Mike Michalowicz Surge by Mike Michalowicz The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur by Mike Michalowicz All In by Mike Michalowicz If you want to go deeper, Mike’s work, books, and podcast can all be found at mikemotorbike.com, including free chapter downloads and his podcast Becoming Self-Made. Join Dr. William Attaway on the Catalytic Leadership podcast as he shares transformative insights to help high-performance entrepreneurs and agency owners achieve Clear-Minded Focus, Calm Control, and Confidence. Free 30-Minute Discovery Call: Ready to elevate your business? Book a free 30-minute discovery call with Dr. William Attaway and start your journey to success. Special Offer: Get your FREE copy of Catalytic Leadership: 12 Keys to Becoming an Intentional Leader Who Makes a Difference. Connect with Dr. William Attaway: Website LinkedIn Facebook Instagram TikTok YouTube

    27 min
  2. Why the Founder Identity Trap Makes Scaling Feel Harder, Not Easier

    FEB 3

    Why the Founder Identity Trap Makes Scaling Feel Harder, Not Easier

    Send us a text If your agency has grown—but the pressure hasn’t eased—this episode will hit close to home. I sat down with Calvin Correli, founder of Simplero, an all-in-one platform that’s generated over $857 million for creators, to unpack why scaling often feels heavier instead of lighter. Calvin operates from a single premise: your business is a reflection of your inner code. And when that code is off, no system, automation, or AI workflow will fix the friction. We explored the Founder Identity Trap—the subconscious patterns that quietly turn founders into bottlenecks, fuel burnout, and keep teams from operating at full strength. This conversation goes far beyond tools. We talk about why successful founders still feel dissatisfied, how overcomplicating systems masks deeper issues, and what actually creates clarity, leverage, and sustainable growth. If you’ve invested in better systems, smarter automation, or AI-driven operations—and something still feels misaligned—this episode will give you language, insight, and a practical framework to address the real constraint. If you’re a coach, consultant, or service provider tired of being the systems janitor, Calvin invites you to explore Simplero at simplero.com. If you’re already at six figures, there’s a direct option on the homepage to connect with him personally. You can also find Calvin on Instagram under Calvin Correli and let him know you heard him on this podcast. Join Dr. William Attaway on the Catalytic Leadership podcast as he shares transformative insights to help high-performance entrepreneurs and agency owners achieve Clear-Minded Focus, Calm Control, and Confidence. Free 30-Minute Discovery Call: Ready to elevate your business? Book a free 30-minute discovery call with Dr. William Attaway and start your journey to success. Special Offer: Get your FREE copy of Catalytic Leadership: 12 Keys to Becoming an Intentional Leader Who Makes a Difference. Connect with Dr. William Attaway: Website LinkedIn Facebook Instagram TikTok YouTube

    30 min
  3. Why Most Founders Delay a Private Equity Exit by 5 Years

    JAN 20

    Why Most Founders Delay a Private Equity Exit by 5 Years

    Send us a text There’s a moment every scaled founder hits where effort stops producing leverage. Revenue is real. The team is capable. But progress feels heavier than it should, and decisions take longer, cost more, and drain energy faster than before. In this episode, I sit down with Alexis Sikorsky, a strategic advisor to founders who are serious about scaling fast and exiting strong. Alexis isn’t sharing theory. He built, scaled, and sold a Switzerland-based software company in a nine-figure private equity exit, then stayed in the game long enough to see exactly what founders misunderstand about timing, systems, and value creation. We talk candidly about why founders delay a Private Equity Exit by years: not because they lack ambition, but because exhaustion, missing numbers, and underpowered leadership structures quietly cap momentum. Alexis breaks down the mistakes that cost him five years and $50 million, what private equity actually looks for, and how founders can shift from running hard to engineering optionality. If you’re scaling a digital agency past 7 figures and thinking about sustainability, leverage, automation in leadership, or what an exit really requires, this conversation will sharpen how you see your business and your next move. Books Mentioned The Prince by Niccolò MachiavelliThe Art of War by Sun Tzu If you want to stay connected with Alexis, find him on LinkedIn or check out his book Cashing Out, where he lays out the APEX framework for founders preparing for private equity. He’s also inviting founders doing $5–15M in revenue to participate in interviews for his upcoming book; details shared directly in this episode. Join Dr. William Attaway on the Catalytic Leadership podcast as he shares transformative insights to help high-performance entrepreneurs and agency owners achieve Clear-Minded Focus, Calm Control, and Confidence. Free 30-Minute Discovery Call: Ready to elevate your business? Book a free 30-minute discovery call with Dr. William Attaway and start your journey to success. Special Offer: Get your FREE copy of Catalytic Leadership: 12 Keys to Becoming an Intentional Leader Who Makes a Difference. Connect with Dr. William Attaway: Website LinkedIn Facebook Instagram TikTok YouTube

    38 min
  4. Why Growth Fails Without Leadership Ownership Culture

    JAN 13

    Why Growth Fails Without Leadership Ownership Culture

    Send us a text Growth doesn’t usually fail because of strategy. It fails when ownership breaks down and culture can’t keep up with scale. If your agency is growing, your calendar is full, and you’re still the point of escalation for too many decisions, this conversation will sharpen how you think about leadership ownership culture. In this episode, I sit down with Chris Sund, President and COO of UnitiMed and GQR Healthcare, two of the largest healthcare staffing companies in the country. Chris has led rapid growth, inherited teams from founders, and made decisions most leaders delay, like hiring a Director of Culture before sales or marketing. We talk candidly about scaling without burnout, building accountability without control, stopping blame before it spreads, and why execution, not just information, is what actually drives transformation. If you’re refining internal systems, strengthening team performance, or trying to remove yourself as the bottleneck without breaking momentum, this episode will give you clarity you can apply immediately. Books Mentioned The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink & Leif Babin The Dichotomy of Leadership by Jocko Willink & Leif Babin The Need to Lead by Dave Berke If you want to stay connected with Chris, visit chrissund.com or connect with him directly on LinkedIn. He’s generous with his time and deeply invested in helping leaders grow with clarity and purpose. Join Dr. William Attaway on the Catalytic Leadership podcast as he shares transformative insights to help high-performance entrepreneurs and agency owners achieve Clear-Minded Focus, Calm Control, and Confidence. Free 30-Minute Discovery Call: Ready to elevate your business? Book a free 30-minute discovery call with Dr. William Attaway and start your journey to success. Special Offer: Get your FREE copy of Catalytic Leadership: 12 Keys to Becoming an Intentional Leader Who Makes a Difference. Connect with Dr. William Attaway: Website LinkedIn Facebook Instagram TikTok YouTube

    36 min
  5. Why the Founder Bottleneck Is Blocking Your Agency’s Next Level

    JAN 6

    Why the Founder Bottleneck Is Blocking Your Agency’s Next Level

    Send us a text Growth can look strong on paper while everything underneath feels heavier than it should. You’re making decisions, approving work, clarifying expectations, answering questions, again. The numbers are up, but the agency still runs through you. That’s the Founder Bottleneck. In this episode, I sit down for the second time with Marilyn Jenkins, digital growth strategist and founder of MJ Media Group LLC and Law Marketing Zone. Marilyn has spent decades helping service businesses scale with clarity, most recently through her new book, The 2026 Local SEO Playbook for Law Firms, and her national TV show, The Marketing Zone. What makes this conversation different is where we focus. We don’t start with tools, AI, or tactics. We start with clarity: how founders unintentionally become the bottleneck through poor communication, over-control, and trying to stay indispensable. Marilyn breaks down why education scales trust, why mystique slows momentum, and why no system, automation, or AI will fix a leadership constraint. If your agency is busy but not scalable, this episode will give you practical insight into delegation, team development, client communication, and how removing the Founder Bottleneck unlocks your agency’s next level—without burning out your people or yourself. Books Mentioned The 2026 Local SEO Playbook for Law Firms by Marilyn JenkinsBuy Back Your Time by Dan Martell If you want to connect with Marilyn or explore her work, the best place is LinkedIn. If you’re interested in contributing to her TV show, visit appearance.mjmediagroup.co. Join Dr. William Attaway on the Catalytic Leadership podcast as he shares transformative insights to help high-performance entrepreneurs and agency owners achieve Clear-Minded Focus, Calm Control, and Confidence. Free 30-Minute Discovery Call: Ready to elevate your business? Book a free 30-minute discovery call with Dr. William Attaway and start your journey to success. Special Offer: Get your FREE copy of Catalytic Leadership: 12 Keys to Becoming an Intentional Leader Who Makes a Difference. Connect with Dr. William Attaway: Website LinkedIn Facebook Instagram TikTok YouTube

    27 min
  6. Getting Paid as an Owner: Why High Revenue Still Leaves You Last

    12/23/2025

    Getting Paid as an Owner: Why High Revenue Still Leaves You Last

    Send us a text You can grow revenue, scale teams, and carry real responsibility, and still feel like the business isn’t paying you. In this episode, I sit down with Mauro Campagnaro, Financial Advisor at Campagnaro Wealth Advisory in Calgary, Alberta, to address why getting paid as an owner often breaks down as companies scale. Mauro brings over 20 years as a business owner and financial strategist. We talk about what happens after growth, when retained earnings pile up, tax exposure increases, and exit planning feels distant but consequential. This conversation is about shifting from hustle to structure: how owners think about compensation, corporate structure, tax strategy, and long-term continuity before pressure forces reactive decisions. If you’re scaling past seven figures and want clarity on owner pay, wealth preservation, and building a system that rewards the risk you carry, this episode gives you a strategic lens and practical next steps, without noise or theory. 📚 Books Mentioned Winning Strategies for Success by Brian Tracy The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey  If this conversation sparked questions about structure, tax strategy, or long-term planning, you can connect with Mauro at cwa.life or campagnarowealth.ca. He’s licensed in Canada and available for strategic conversations beyond financial planning. Join Dr. William Attaway on the Catalytic Leadership podcast as he shares transformative insights to help high-performance entrepreneurs and agency owners achieve Clear-Minded Focus, Calm Control, and Confidence. Free 30-Minute Discovery Call: Ready to elevate your business? Book a free 30-minute discovery call with Dr. William Attaway and start your journey to success. Special Offer: Get your FREE copy of Catalytic Leadership: 12 Keys to Becoming an Intentional Leader Who Makes a Difference. Connect with Dr. William Attaway: Website LinkedIn Facebook Instagram TikTok YouTube

    29 min
  7. Build Better Leaders by Protecting High Performers From Low Performers

    12/09/2025

    Build Better Leaders by Protecting High Performers From Low Performers

    Send us a text If you’re scaling a team and the drag from one low performer is slowing everything down, this conversation will give you the clarity and language you need. I’m joined by Brett Hoogeveen: trained engineer, former healthcare executive, startup investor, and co-founder of Better Culture, a firm trusted by leaders from fast-growing startups to Fortune 500 companies. We explore the real reason culture becomes a bottleneck as you scale, and why protecting your high performers is one of the fastest ways to build better leaders, elevate team performance, reduce burnout, and remove the friction that keeps your agency from moving at the speed you need. Brett shares the top-down and bottom-up frameworks his team uses inside hundreds of organizations, including why removing toxic behaviors accelerates growth, how to strengthen manager consistency, and the simple cultural systems that compound into sustainable results. If you’re committed to a healthier, more energized agency in 2026, this episode will give you the playbook. If you’d like to follow Brett’s work or explore the tools he mentioned, you can connect with him on LinkedIn or visit betterculture.com. He also created a resource for this audience — the People Leader Checklist — available at betterculture.com/catalytic Join Dr. William Attaway on the Catalytic Leadership podcast as he shares transformative insights to help high-performance entrepreneurs and agency owners achieve Clear-Minded Focus, Calm Control, and Confidence. Free 30-Minute Discovery Call: Ready to elevate your business? Book a free 30-minute discovery call with Dr. William Attaway and start your journey to success. Special Offer: Get your FREE copy of Catalytic Leadership: 12 Keys to Becoming an Intentional Leader Who Makes a Difference. Connect with Dr. William Attaway: Website LinkedIn Facebook Instagram TikTok YouTube

    31 min
  8. Tired of the Bottleneck? Leadership for Agency Owners That Actually Works

    12/02/2025

    Tired of the Bottleneck? Leadership for Agency Owners That Actually Works

    Send us a text When you’re leading a fast–growing agency, becoming the bottleneck isn’t a character flaw; it’s a sign your systems, team structure, and internal leadership rhythms need to evolve. In this episode, I sit down with Tom McGehee, Marine, corporate leader, consultant, entrepreneur, and co-CEO of the Halftime Institute, to unpack how seasoned leaders break free from overload and step into Leadership for Agency Owners that actually works. Tom’s journey through special operations command, global consulting, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit leadership offers a rare window into sustainable growth: humility over ego, clarity over chaos, and mission-type orders instead of micromanagement. If you’re navigating team handoffs, decision bottlenecks, burnout patterns, or the shift from success to significance, Tom’s insights will help you realign your leadership, empower your team, and build the margin your next season requires. Books MentionedHalftime by Bob BufordResilient by John EldredgeSacred Pace by Terry Looper You can connect with Tom directly at tom.mcgehee@halftime.org or through halftime.org. He’s also active on LinkedIn and would welcome connecting with anyone this conversation serves. Join Dr. William Attaway on the Catalytic Leadership podcast as he shares transformative insights to help high-performance entrepreneurs and agency owners achieve Clear-Minded Focus, Calm Control, and Confidence. Free 30-Minute Discovery Call: Ready to elevate your business? Book a free 30-minute discovery call with Dr. William Attaway and start your journey to success. Special Offer: Get your FREE copy of Catalytic Leadership: 12 Keys to Becoming an Intentional Leader Who Makes a Difference. Connect with Dr. William Attaway: Website LinkedIn Facebook Instagram TikTok YouTube

    33 min
See All (280)

4.9
out of 5
95 Ratings

About

Feeling overwhelmed by the daily grind and craving a breakthrough for your business? Tune in to the Catalytic Leadership Podcast with Dr. William Attaway, where we dive into the authentic stories of business leaders who’ve turned their toughest challenges into game-changing successes.Each episode brings you real conversations with high-performing entrepreneurs and agency owners, sharing their personal experiences and valuable lessons. From overcoming stress and chaos to elevating team performance and achieving ambitious goals, discover practical strategies that you can apply to your own leadership journey. Dr. Attaway, an Executive Coach specializing in Mindset, Leadership, and  and Productivity, provides clear, actionable insights to help you lead with confidence and clarity.Join us for inspiring stories and expert advice that will ignite your leadership potential and drive your business forward. Subscribe to the Catalytic Leadership Podcast and start transforming your approach today. For more resources and exclusive content, visit CatalyticLeadership.net.** Catalytic Leadership is ranked among the top 1.5% of podcasts globally on ListenNotes, thanks to our incredible listeners. Your support has made us one of the most popular shows out of over 3.4 million podcasts worldwide. Thank you for tuning in and being part of our journey! **

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. William Attaway
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    280
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Catalytic Leadership LLC
  • Show Website
    Catalytic Leadership