Impactful Conversations

Dr Glenn P Wallis and Nejmi Alexander

Impactful Conversations, hosted by Dr. Glenn Wallis and Nejmi Alexander, delivers insightful discussions that inspire change. Drawing on their expertise and the latest research, they break down key concepts to enhance your daily effectiveness. Designed for leaders and drivers of transformational change, this podcast helps you elevate your leadership and achieve higher performance. We'd love to hear how these conversations have impacted the way you lead, so please get in touch with us via LinkedIn to feature anonymously on the podcast.

  1. Oct 13

    Episode 34: Why great leaders need self-efficacy, not just confidence

    Many leaders are more capable than they believe but when self-doubt gets in the way, it can affect how they approach challenges, make decisions, and lead others. In this episode of Impactful Conversations, Dr. Glenn Wallis and co-host Nejmi Alexander explore self-efficacy: the belief that you can take the actions needed to achieve an outcome in a particular situation. They explain how self-efficacy differs from general self-confidence, and why it matters when you are stepping into a new role, leading an unfamiliar team, or facing a challenge you have not encountered before. Drawing on psychological research and their coaching experience, Glenn and Nejmi discuss how mastery experiences, learning from mentors, and reflecting on past successes can help leaders build a stronger, evidence-based belief in their abilities.The conversation also examines the role of reflective practice. Taking time to review what you have handled well, and what you have learned can help you recognise strengths and experience you might otherwise dismiss. That awareness can shift the question from “Can I do this?” to “How can I do this?” and help leaders approach new situations with greater agency. Glenn and Nejmi also consider the risks of overconfidence and the importance of accurate self-assessment. They discuss 360 feedback, the gap that can exist between a leader’s view of their own impact and how others experience them, and why healthy feedback practices are closely connected to a strong performance culture.Nejmi challenges the common use of “imposter syndrome,” suggesting that discomfort in a new situation may be a sign of learning and growth rather than proof that you do not belong. Together, the hosts offer a practical approach: stretch yourself in manageable steps, seek useful feedback, and make reflection a regular habit. Whether you lead a team, coach leaders, or are taking on a new challenge yourself, this episode offers practical ways to build self-efficacy, learn from experience, and lead with greater confidence and self-awareness. Follow Glenn: ⁠⁠⁠Glenn LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Exigence Website⁠⁠⁠ Follow Nejmi: ⁠⁠⁠Nejmi LinkedIn⁠⁠

    Episode 34: Why great leaders need self-efficacy, not just confidence
  2. Sep 14

    Episode 32: Justine Whitaker - Advantage by design: Leading with combined intelligence

    Most leaders are using AI for the wrong job. The real opportunity is not drafting emails faster, it is redesigning work so human judgment and machine intelligence actually create more value together. Returning guest Justine Whitaker joins Nejmi Alexander and Dr Glenn Wallis to unpack the shift from basic productivity wins to the much bigger prize, better decisions, stronger operating models, and a more strategic way to use AI inside organizations. Justine also explains why the pace of change demands constant recombination of human and AI capability, not a one-time implementation. The conversation gets practical fast, with guidance on governance, guardrails, accountability, bias, and when to trust, challenge, or override the machine. For leaders trying to move beyond hype, this episode is a sharp reality check and a highly usable roadmap. Justine Whitaker returns after her earlier conversation on sustainable high performance to share what has changed in her thinking and what organisations need to do now if they want to stay competitive. Essential listening if you are responsible for strategy, transformation, operations, or AI adoption and you want to make better decisions about where technology adds value - and where human intelligence still matters most. Follow Justine: ⁠Justine LinkedIn⁠⁠xOrdinary Website⁠ Follow Glenn: ⁠Glenn LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Exigence Website⁠ Follow Nejmi: ⁠Nejmi LinkedIn⁠

    Episode 32: Justine Whitaker - Advantage by design: Leading with combined intelligence
  3. Aug 24

    Episode 31: Influence doesn't happen by accident

    Dr. Glenn Wallis and Nejmi Alexander break down why relationship building is often abandoned as “not enough time” or “not my style,” and why that thinking quietly limits leadership impact. They unpack practical ways to make it manageable, from stakeholder mapping to trust audits, so you can stop trying to “boil the ocean” and focus on the few relationships that really matter. Glenn and Nejmi also explore the tension between transactional networking and genuine value exchange, including why gratitude, mutual benefit, and other-orientation matter so much in sustaining trust over time. They dig into the difference between a relationship that has simply atrophied and one that has suffered a real rupture, plus what leaders can do to start rebuilding. The episode also makes the case for being more intentional about how relationships are maintained across hybrid and remote work, where connection can easily become purely operational. If you’re leading a team, building cross-functional influence, or trying to turn weak ties into real support, this episode gives you a clear framework for doing it better. Essential listening if you want to strengthen your leadership influence without feeling fake, needy, or overwhelmed. The tools are simple, practical, and immediately usable - and they may change how you think about the relationships that shape your career. Follow Glenn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Glenn LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Exigence Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Nejmi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Nejmi LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We would love to hear how these conversations have had an impact on you, so please do get in touch with us.

    Episode 31: Influence doesn't happen by accident
  4. Jul 27

    Episode 29: AI at work: From access to actual impact

    The future of work is changing fast, and AI is forcing leaders to rethink more than just technology. In this episode our podcast hosts Dr Glenn Wallis and Nejmi Alexander are joined by Jorge Dreyfus who shares why successful AI implementation depends on human adoption, strong change management, and the ability to keep people engaged, curious, and confident through uncertainty. He explains the difference between rolling out AI tools and truly embedding them into everyday work, and why adoption doesn’t automatically lead to productivity. Jorge also breaks down the leadership and HR capabilities needed to make AI stick: readiness, governance, experimentation, listening, and clear communication. From talent development and coaching to the risks of distraction and the importance of preserving human judgment, this conversation offers a grounded look at how organisations can embrace AI without losing what makes them effective. If you’re a leader, HR professional, or anyone thinking about how AI will reshape teams and work, this episode is packed with practical insight and a thoughtful perspective on what comes next. Follow Jorge Jorge LinkedIn Follow Glenn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Glenn LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Exigence Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Nejmi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Nejmi LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Episode 29: AI at work: From access to actual impact
  5. Jul 13

    Episode 28: Mastering adaptability for future-proof leadership

    Most leaders are overwhelmed by the rapid pace of change and uncertain environments, yet few are fully prepared to adapt proactively. What if mastering the art of adaptability isn’t just about responding, but about strategically pivoting before you’re forced to? This episode uncovers the hidden levers that can future-proof your leadership amidst chaos, showing you how deliberate internal shifts and external awareness can transform your influence—and your career. In this episode Dr. Glenn Wallis and Nejmi Alexander explore the internal beliefs and external practices that foster agility, including how to cultivate a growth mindset, develop career resilience, and implement lightweight experiments to validate new ideas swiftly. You'll learn concrete tactics, such as carving out time for deep reflection in a speed-driven world, leveraging AI without losing your thinking edge, and making strategic stopping decisions to free up energy for what truly matters. The episode reveals why adaptability isn't just a skill but a leadership identity that must be deliberately cultivated to thrive in VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous) landscapes. If you're a leader or ambitious professional feeling the pressure to keep pace—without losing sight of your core purpose—this episode is your strategic edge. It offers practical, battle-tested methods to build mental resilience, navigate uncertainty confidently, and position yourself as a future-ready leader. Those who master these adaptability principles will not only survive but thrive and lead the charge into the next era of work. Follow Glenn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Glenn LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Exigence Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Nejmi: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Nejmi LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We would love to hear how these conversations have had an impact on you, so please do get in touch with us.

    Episode 28: Mastering adaptability for future-proof leadership

About

Impactful Conversations, hosted by Dr. Glenn Wallis and Nejmi Alexander, delivers insightful discussions that inspire change. Drawing on their expertise and the latest research, they break down key concepts to enhance your daily effectiveness. Designed for leaders and drivers of transformational change, this podcast helps you elevate your leadership and achieve higher performance. We'd love to hear how these conversations have impacted the way you lead, so please get in touch with us via LinkedIn to feature anonymously on the podcast.