The NeuroLeadership Edge

Claire Hayek
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The NeuroLeadership Edge is a leadership podcast for executives, founders, and senior leaders who carry real responsibility and make decisions under constant pressure. Hosted by neuroscience-based leadership expert Claire Hayek, the show examines what actually happens when leaders are under stress, managing uncertainty, and navigating high-stakes moments that shape teams, culture, and results. Through a mix of solo episodes and candid conversations with experienced leaders, you’ll hear how decisions are made when the pressure is real, how emotional load impacts performance, and what it takes to lead with clarity, authority, and resilience over time. If you’re a leader navigating change, pressure, or reinvention, and you want an edge that actually translates into action, this podcast is for you.

  1. The System Wasn’t Built for Me — So I Built My Own with Lesley Pinckney

    6D AGO

    The System Wasn’t Built for Me — So I Built My Own with Lesley Pinckney

    Topics CoveredCorporate misalignment and personal reinventionLeadership identity and self-permissionAuthenticity vs. performanceMental fitness and daily regulationPQ reps and saboteur patternsThe role of therapy, coaching, and systemsTai Chi, calendar strategy, and sustainable focusWomen, burnout, and racial identity at workEntrepreneurial clarity  Timestamps00:00 – The moment you realize: the system wasn’t built for you 02:00 – Lesley’s leadership trajectory and values shift 06:00 – From contributor to manager: identity tension 10:00 – Brain–heart–gut coherence and internal signals 13:00 – What happens when you're not authentic 15:00 – How Lesley defines alignment and internal clarity 17:00 – Dealing with uncertainty as a founder 18:00 – Tools: therapy, business coach, Positive Intelligence 20:00 – Calendar systems for mental focus 23:00 – Rapid fire: books, practices, and authenticity myths 25:00 – What authenticity isn’t—it’s not harshness 27:00 – Final insights and Claire’s wrap-up   What You’ll Learn: The brain-body warning signals that tell you when you’re out of alignmentHow to stop forcing yourself to fit into systems that don’t reflect your valuesThe difference between being authentic vs. performativeHow Lesley manages uncertainty and pressure as a founderThe daily practices that keep high achievers mentally fitWhy leadership clarity starts with internal coherenceHow to lead from who you are—not who people expect you to be  Mentioned in This EpisodeLesley Pinckney — LinkedIn | The Big Idea CatalystPositive Intelligence™ (PQ Reps, mental fitness)Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns GoodwinTai Chi as a leadership grounding practice  Follow Claire on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairehayek/⁠ Follow Lesley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesley-pinckney/   🎓 Want to train your brain for resilience and high performance? Join Claire’s free Mental Fitness Masterclass here:👉 ⁠⁠https://go.clairehayek.com/mental-fitness-masterclass⁠⁠   📩 For free resources, upcoming masterclasses, or to join our next live webinar—click here:👉 ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/clairehayek⁠⁠ 📢 Subscribe to The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast for brain-based strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and impact. The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast is produced by Claire Hayek. All opinions are those of the host and guests. For more leadership resources, visit www.mspteambuilding.com.

    28 min
  2. This One Habit Is Training Your Brain to Work Against You

    FEB 4

    This One Habit Is Training Your Brain to Work Against You

    Topics Covered:Cognitive habit loopsThreat bias in the brainEmotional energy and clarityMental fitness and rewiringDecision fatigueExecutive presence under pressure  Timestamps:00:00 – Cold open: The cost of one common habit 00:58 – Intro to the show and why this matters 02:16 – Complaining: a biological loop 05:09 – What the brain records and repeats 07:40 – Why venting might feel good… but train the wrong pattern 09:22 – A moment of self-awareness 10:44 – From threat to clarity: breaking the loop 13:01 – A mental fitness practice that changes everything 15:00 – Final thought: what you practice grows stronger   What You’ll Learn:How daily habits shape your brain’s default response to pressureWhy complaining reinforces the brain’s threat biasA neuroscience-backed shift to rewire your focus and energyThe connection between emotional load and executive clarityHow to interrupt mental loops before they spiral  Mentioned in This Episode:The way your brain records repetition—especially under pressureWhy venting feels good but reinforces the wrong pathwaysHow threat-focused habits shape your team’s emotional climateThe link between complaining and executive fatigueThe brain’s default mode network and what it costs you in clarityOne neuroscience-backed daily shift to retrain your focus  Follow Claire on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairehayek/⁠   🎓 Want to train your brain for resilience and high performance? Join Claire’s free Mental Fitness Masterclass here:👉 ⁠⁠https://go.clairehayek.com/mental-fitness-masterclass⁠⁠   📩 For free resources, upcoming masterclasses, or to join our next live webinar—click here:👉 ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/clairehayek⁠⁠ 📢 Subscribe to The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast for brain-based strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and impact. The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast is produced by Claire Hayek. All opinions are those of the host and guests. For more leadership resources, visit www.mspteambuilding.com.

    24 min
  3. What Happens When the Plan Disappears and Everyone Looks at You with Brian Silengo

    JAN 28

    What Happens When the Plan Disappears and Everyone Looks at You with Brian Silengo

    Topics CoveredLeading through collapse and reinventionScaling sales teams without burnoutFounder mindsets that stall growthPerformance vs presence in leadershipEmpathy in sales leadershipSelf-worth and leadership identityHolding space while holding standards  Timestamps[00:02:00] – Brian’s entire pipeline vanishes during COVID [00:03:50] – The emotional toll and resilience that followed [00:10:21] – Empathy, vulnerability, and self-regulation under pressure [00:12:00] – Transparency and accountability in sales leadership [00:14:15] – The role of empathy in performance management [00:18:07] – How founder mindsets can block growth [00:22:48] – Letting go of control and empowering teams [00:23:38] – Rapid fire: what Brian had to unlearn [00:24:45] – You are good enough—reclaiming leadership identity [00:26:00] – A call for collaboration: “We’re all in this together”   What You’ll Learn What it actually feels like to lead when your pipeline vanishesHow to hold empathy and accountability in high-pressure rolesWhy founders struggle to let go—and what needs to shift to scaleHow to move from reactive survival to strategic clarityWhy transparency and trust build stronger performance than controlThe one leadership belief Brian had to unlearn (and how it changed everything)Mentioned in This EpisodeMedPick, Challenger Sale, and Force ManagementCOVID-19's impact on sales pipelines and leadershipTransparency and FMLA support in the workplaceSales leadership metrics and empathy balance  Follow Claire on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairehayek/⁠ Follow Brian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briansilengo/   🎓 Want to train your brain for resilience and high performance? Join Claire’s free Mental Fitness Masterclass here:👉 ⁠⁠https://go.clairehayek.com/mental-fitness-masterclass⁠⁠   📩 For free resources, upcoming masterclasses, or to join our next live webinar—click here:👉 ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/clairehayek⁠⁠ 📢 Subscribe to The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast for brain-based strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and impact. The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast is produced by Claire Hayek. All opinions are those of the host and guests. For more leadership resources, visit www.mspteambuilding.com.

    27 min
  4. Stop Trying to Be Liked — Start Getting Things Done with Kim Klemballa

    JAN 21

    Stop Trying to Be Liked — Start Getting Things Done with Kim Klemballa

    Topics Covered:Leading without needing to be likedPeople-pleasing vs. performanceWomen, approval, and identity in leadershipCorporate marketing under pressureRespect vs. likeabilityManaging energy and focus across rolesCultural communication strategiesCareer resilience after layoffsInternal clarity and purpose  Timestamps:00:00 – Intro: When likeability gets in the way 04:12 – Kim’s turning point: “It’s not about being liked” 08:40 – The corporate trap of performative leadership 12:30 – How she resets under pressure (with 3 kids and a big job) 16:45 – Navigating career shifts and layoffs 21:10 – Letting go of overexplaining 25:30 – Aligning with what actually matters 28:50 – Claire’s reflection: respect over approval 32:00 – Final takeaways: How to lead with less noise and more power   What You’ll Learn:How approval-seeking sabotages your authority as a leaderKim’s turning point that redefined how she shows up at workThe difference between being nice vs. being respectedHow to lead across cultures without overexplainingWhy “getting things done” often starts with saying lessA mindset shift for women in leadership navigating burnout and balance  Mentioned in This EpisodeCoinDesk Data and IndicesLeadership under pressureRespect vs. likeability in leadershipCareer reinvention and resilienceBalancing leadership and personal lifeMental fitness practicesThe giving tree book  Follow Claire on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairehayek/⁠ Follow Kim on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-klemballa-80101812/ EWTR LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/empower-women-that-rock-inc/ EWTR Website: https://www.womenrock.world/   🎓 Want to train your brain for resilience and high performance? Join Claire’s free Mental Fitness Masterclass here:👉 ⁠⁠https://go.clairehayek.com/mental-fitness-masterclass⁠⁠   📩 For free resources, upcoming masterclasses, or to join our next live webinar—click here:👉 ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/clairehayek⁠⁠ 📢 Subscribe to The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast for brain-based strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and impact.   The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast is produced by Claire Hayek. All opinions are those of the host and guests. For more leadership resources, visit www.mspteambuilding.com.

    21 min
  5. The One Blind Spot That’s Holding Leaders Back with Gabriela Embon

    JAN 14

    The One Blind Spot That’s Holding Leaders Back with Gabriela Embon

    TOPICS COVERED: Gabriela Embon’s Power Couple MethodEmotional alignment in leadershipThe leadership impact of unconscious disconnectionHow inner conflict shows up in your outer leadershipRituals for reconnecting to meaning and clarityThe neuroscience of aligned influence and human connectionWhy your strategy might be flawless, but your energy isn’t   Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro to Gabriela Embon + why emotional blind spots matter 02:15 – The difference between being strategic vs. being aligned 07:30 – How the Power Couple Method helps leaders reconnect to self 12:42 – Signs you’re emotionally disconnected in leadership 15:18 – Why leaders often lose meaning during high performance 19:05 – Neuroscience behind meaning, resonance, and behavior 24:16 – Realignment rituals: grounding, presence, intention 27:40 – Final reflections from Gabriela: the shift from “doing” to “being”   What You'll Learn: Why strategy isn’t the root cause of most leadership breakdownsHow the Power Couple Method translates from relationships to executive leadershipSigns of emotional disconnection that sabotage performanceThe neuroscience of shared meaning, alignment, and motivationSimple rituals to help you reconnect to your true leadership self  Mentioned in this episode: The Power Couple MethodEmotional alignment & neuroscienceShared meaning as a leadership multiplierMind-body rituals to reset your clarityMental fitness and rewiring through daily practice  Follow Claire on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairehayek/⁠ Follow Gabriela on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielaembon/⁠ Website:⁠ https://gabrielaembon.com/⁠ Facebook:⁠ https://www.facebook.com/gabriela.embon⁠ Offer to download the prologue of my book at: ⁠www.becomingapowercouple.net⁠   🎓 Want to train your brain for resilience and high performance? Join Claire’s free Mental Fitness Masterclass here:👉 ⁠⁠https://go.clairehayek.com/mental-fitness-masterclass⁠⁠   📩 For free resources, upcoming masterclasses, or to join our next live webinar—click here:👉 ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/clairehayek⁠⁠ 📢 Subscribe to The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast for brain-based strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and impact.   The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast is produced by Claire Hayek. All opinions are those of the host and guests. For more leadership resources, visit www.mspteambuilding.com.

    29 min
  6. Who You’re Being Changes Everything

    JAN 7

    Who You’re Being Changes Everything

    Topics CoveredIdentity vs behavior: why you're not just your habitsSurvival brain vs leadership brainRewiring your nervous system for resilienceTraining your brain with mental fitnessDefault Mode Network and leadership autopilotSelf-awareness vs self-commandThe truth about overthinking, control, and hesitationWhat it actually takes to lead differently in 2026 and beyond  Timestamps00:00 – Why you keep falling into the same patterns under pressure 01:48 – When the moment hits: “I’ve grown, but something hasn’t shifted” 03:00 – Your brain runs your identity, not your goals 04:00 – The Default Mode Network and how your brain pulls you back 04:45 – How your brain filters reality to protect identity 06:00 – The amygdala and why change feels like danger 07:28 – Why willpower fails under pressure 09:00 – Identity is a pattern, not who you are 10:00 – What mental fitness actually means for leaders 12:00 – A moment of truth: who do you become under pressure? 13:30 – The first step to rewiring your leadership 15:00 – Your nervous system is the real game-changer 17:00 – Final insight: who you're being changes everything   What You’ll LearnWhy you default to old patterns under stress—even when you know betterThe neuroscience behind identity, autopilot, and your decision-making under pressureHow the Default Mode Network, Reticular Activating System, and amygdala shape your leadership responseWhy willpower fails when it matters most (and what works instead)What mental fitness really looks like in high-stakes leadershipHow to shift from being reactive to becoming grounded and present when the stakes are high Follow Claire on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairehayek/   🎓 Want to train your brain for resilience and high performance? Join Claire’s free Mental Fitness Masterclass here:👉 ⁠https://go.clairehayek.com/mental-fitness-masterclass⁠   📩 For free resources, upcoming masterclasses, or to join our next live webinar—click here:👉 ⁠https://linktr.ee/clairehayek⁠ 📢 Subscribe to The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast for brain-based strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and impact.   The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast is produced by Claire Hayek. All opinions are those of the host and guests. For more leadership resources, visit www.mspteambuilding.com.

    18 min
  7. Your Second Brain Is in Your Chest

    12/31/2025

    Your Second Brain Is in Your Chest

    Topics CoveredThe neuroscience of the heart-brain connectionWhy the heart is considered your second brainReal-time nervous system regulation toolsThe difference between calm and coherenceHow to build intuitive leadership through heart-based practicesA practical 60-second reset to shift from survival to clarityHow to get out of mental loops and access decision-making powerThe physiological connection between breathing and focusThe role of intention in anchoring presenceTraining your team to self-regulate under pressure  Timestamps0:00 – Introduction: What does it mean to have a second brain? 2:14 – The physiological link between your brain and your heart 4:50 – Coherence vs. calm: What leaders need to know 6:31 – The 60-second reset (Inhale 4, exhale 6, add intention) 9:25 – How to use this tool before meetings, decisions, or feedback 11:11 – How to train your nervous system to respond instead of react 13:03 – What elite performers (and everyday humans) get right about regulation 14:55 – Final insight: Don’t just regulate your team. Start with you. 16:40 – Subscribe and explore more tools   What You’ll LearnHow your heart acts as a second brain—and why leaders ignore it at their own riskThe neuroscience behind heart-brain coherence and how it impacts clarity, presence, and decision-makingHow to use the 60-second heart reset Claire teaches to instantly calm the nervous system under pressureWhy logic fails during high-stakes moments—and what to anchor to insteadHow to shift from cognitive overload to embodied leadership in the middle of your dayThe truth about emotional regulation: why dismissing emotion actually weakens leadershipHow to build a simple daily ritual that rewires your leadership presence over time  Mentioned in This EpisodeClaire’s 60-second coherence ritual (inhale for 4, exhale for 6, + ask: What would the most aligned version of me do?)Research on heart-brain interactionMental Fitness practices from Claire’s masterclass  🔬 Science Note: Research in Neurocardiology (Oxford University Press) shows that the heart’s intrinsic cardiac nervous system contains around 40,000 neurons—enough to sense, feel, and remember independently of the brain.Similarly, studies published in Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology estimate that the gut’s enteric nervous system houses about 500 million neurons, more than the spinal cord.Together, these findings confirm what ancient wisdom always knew: your body thinks, feels, and decides right alongside your brain.  Follow Claire on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairehayek/   🎓 Want to train your brain for resilience and high performance? Join Claire’s free Mental Fitness Masterclass here:👉 ⁠https://go.clairehayek.com/mental-fitness-masterclass⁠   📩 For free resources, upcoming masterclasses, or to join our next live webinar—click here:👉 ⁠https://linktr.ee/clairehayek⁠ 📢 Subscribe to The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast for brain-based strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and impact. The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast is produced by Claire Hayek. All opinions are those of the host and guests. For more leadership resources, visit www.mspteambuilding.com.

    14 min
  8. No One’s Coming to Fix It—Because You’re It with Sophie Lammers

    12/17/2025

    No One’s Coming to Fix It—Because You’re It with Sophie Lammers

    Topics Covered:The moment Sophie realized she was the one she’d been waiting forWhy external “fixes” don’t create internal peaceUsing self-awareness and stillness as leadership toolsThe trap of performing leadership vs. being a leaderWhat “being it” looks like day to day, especially under pressureHow to take back agency when you're spiralingWhy naming things out loud is a neuroscience-backed power moveClaire’s GLOW method as a daily self-command toolReal examples of shifting out of reactivity using the brain's rewiring processThe role of clarity, compassion, and choice in leadership  Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction and the real question: who are you waiting for? 03:45 – Sophie’s moment of realization and how it changed her leadership 07:10 – The illusion of external fixes and why real peace is internal 11:22 – Neuroscience of naming and reclaiming power 14:35 – Claire introduces GLOW as a brain-based leadership model 19:05 – Leadership as an act of agency, not performance 22:48 – Daily choices that rewire the brain and build self-command 27:30 – Embracing clarity, compassion, and courage 30:40 – Practical tools to pause, shift, and lead from the inside out   What You'll Learn  The moment Sophie realized leadership is claimed, not handedHow to override your brain’s freeze response in high-pressure momentsWhy waiting to be “chosen” holds back your career (and your team)The real cost of low-energy leadership—and how to reset your state fastHow to lead from calm, even when everything feels chaoticThe 80/20 rule Sophie uses to stay energized and avoid burnoutA neuroscience-backed strategy to instantly refocus and rewire motivationHow to stop living in loops—and take control of your impact  Mentioned in this episode: The Diary of a CEO PodcastSoulCycle NYCRocketRezMental Fitness and brain rewiring strategiesThe concept of the “comfort loop” and prefrontal cortex override  Follow Claire on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairehayek/ Follow Sophie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-lammers/   🎓 Want to train your brain for resilience and high performance? Join Claire’s free Mental Fitness Masterclass here:👉 ⁠https://go.clairehayek.com/mental-fitness-masterclass⁠   📩 For free resources, upcoming masterclasses, or to join our next live webinar—click here:👉 ⁠https://linktr.ee/clairehayek⁠   📢 Subscribe to The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast for brain-based strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and impact.   The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast is produced by Claire Hayek. All opinions are those of the host and guests. For more leadership resources, visit www.mspteambuilding.com.

    24 min
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About

The NeuroLeadership Edge is a leadership podcast for executives, founders, and senior leaders who carry real responsibility and make decisions under constant pressure. Hosted by neuroscience-based leadership expert Claire Hayek, the show examines what actually happens when leaders are under stress, managing uncertainty, and navigating high-stakes moments that shape teams, culture, and results. Through a mix of solo episodes and candid conversations with experienced leaders, you’ll hear how decisions are made when the pressure is real, how emotional load impacts performance, and what it takes to lead with clarity, authority, and resilience over time. If you’re a leader navigating change, pressure, or reinvention, and you want an edge that actually translates into action, this podcast is for you.

Information

  • Creator
    Claire Hayek
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    29
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 - 2026 The NeuroLeadership Edge
  • Show Website
    The NeuroLeadership Edge