The Unlock Moment leadership podcast: find your purpose for leadership and life Dr Gary Crotaz PhD

Many years ago, when I was studying medicine and going through some challenging times, I took solace in poetry. I had never been the kind of person to study literature when I was growing up, but I set myself the challenge of learning some poems and I would go out for evening walks and recite the poetry to myself.

I can’t recite them from memory any more, but I remember one that always made me reflect. It’s by the Welsh poet William Henry Davies and it’s called “Leisure”.

Years on, I think this poem still has resonance for me, and I hope for you too.

Have a good week!

When your guest has over 300,000 LinkedIn followers, you know that they've got something incredibly valuable to share. This powerful interview with the inspirational Dorie Clark is a classic and I'm delighted to bring it to you here on The Unlock Moment!

These days I’m working with more and more leaders in different countries, cultures and contexts who share one thing in common. They’ve reached a stage in their careers where they have built a lot of stuff – the basic skills and experience required to do the job well, a track record of achievement and impact, the confidence and competence to show up at work and be generally successful. In some ways all that stuff gives you a freedom, to choose who you are and what impact you want to have as a leader. But these people are also very often completely overwhelmed and feel stuck. Running on the hamster wheel. No time for big thinking on questions like - what makes you happy and fulfilled? where are you truly at your best? who really are you as a leader? What is your leadership brand? How do you get your ideas heard?

Well today I’m absolutely privileged to be welcoming a world-leading speaker, business thinker, coach and best-selling author to the podcast. Dorie Clark helps individuals and companies get their best ideas heard in a crowded, noisy world. She has been named three times as one of the Top 50 business thinkers by Thinkers50, and was honored as the #1 Communication Coach in the world at the Marshall Goldsmith Coaching Awards. She teaches for Columbia Business School in New York and is the author of The Long Game, Entrepreneurial You, Reinventing You and Stand Out. She has well over 300,000 followers on LinkedIn.

A former presidential campaign spokeswoman, Dorie has been described by the New York Times as an “expert at self-reinvention and helping others make changes in their lives.” She is a frequent contributor to the Harvard Business Review, and consults and speaks for clients such as Google, Yale University, and the World Bank. She is a graduate of Harvard Divinity School, a producer of a multiple Grammy-winning jazz album, and a Broadway investor. Truly multi-faceted!

I think we’re in a year where reinvention is a hot topic for both emerging and established leaders. I can’t wait to hear Dorie’s take and of course to explore the Unlock Moments that shaped her as the person she is today.

Usually at this point I say - welcome to another episode of ‘The Unlock Moment’ podcast. But today is really exciting because I’m joined by hit podcaster Aoife O’Brien and we’re bringing together two great leadership and careers podcasts into one, as The Unlock Moment and Happier at Work come together for us to talk about really how to find work and career purpose, happiness and fulfilment.

You'll hear our take on career success, finding your own authentic leadership, using your talents and strengths and how knowing your Unlock Moment helps you to find a deeper sense of purpose at work.

Discover Aoife O'Brien's hit podcast, "Happier At Work", at https://happieratwork.ie and on all major podcast platforms

There are an estimated 1 billion meetings held every day somewhere on this planet.

And yet so often when it comes to connecting in the workplace, so many people say “I hate meetings!” – and that includes the people organising them as well as those forced to attend! So how do we meet better, connect better, build relationships and get things done, so that our workplace meetings are a pleasure and the fuel to our growth, rather than a chore?

Dr Steven Rogelberg, an organisational psychologist, holds the title of Chancellor’s Professor at UNC Charlotte.

He is an award-winning teacher, has over 200 publications and has been cited well-over 10,000 times in the academic literature. Adam Grant has called Steven the “worlds leading expert on how to fix meetings”.

Steven’s previous book, "The Surprising Science of Meetings," has been recognized by the Washington Post as the #1 leadership book to watch out for, His new book, "Glad We Met: The Art and Science of 1:1 Meetings," came out in January and has been gathering rave reviews.

Steven has been featured on major TV broadcasts, CBS, CNN, BBC World), on radio, in most major newspapers and magazines, and on leading podcasts including Freakonomics, HBR IdeaCast and now here on The Unlock Moment. He’s delivered keynotes on how to have great meetings at Google, Facebook, Amazon, Pfizer, Cisco, The United Nations, the list goes on. And in 2022 Steven was invited to testify to the US Congress on the topic of being successful and engaging others in very difficult working environments.

I can’t wait to hear more.

A brilliant storyteller, Madelyn Blair's powerful and personal story about how she dealt with her daughter's brain tumour diagnosis is a model of resilience in action.

Madelyn is all about helping you navigate life's twists and turns with resilience and grace. She’s host of Unlocked on YouTube, e360tv and LinkedIn, where she gives out tips for embracing the unexpected. She’s an executive coach, a former Columbia University faculty member, a bestselling author, a blogger, and a puzzle enthusiast.

Resilience isn't just a buzzword to her; it's been her guiding light through some tough stuff, from facing her child's brain tumour to steering through major organisational shake-ups. Resilience isn't just about bouncing back; it's about that gutsy decision to leap forward, even when the ground feels shaky. It’s tapping into the resilient leader that each of us has within us.

Madelyn’s book “Unlocked – Discover how to embrace the unexpected”, came out in 2019 and explores the practices that build the capabilities of resilient people.

One of the most remarkable episodes we have ever recorded on The Unlock Moment, Megan Gluth-Bohan's journey from a difficult childhood through addiction to becoming one of the most successful female CEOs in the US is a powerful one. She's a brilliantly vulnerable storyteller and, if you're like me, you'll be drawn in to the vivid pictures she paints.

As owner and CEO of a major multinational corporation, Megan Gluth-Bohan is a picture of success. But the path there was not easy, and her struggles have taught her the critical importance of compassion, empathy, and resilience in leadership. No matter who—or where—you are, Megan is living proof that now is always the best time to take the first step forward.

Megan leads Catalynt Solutions, a major US-based chemical distributor that makes raw materials for a huge range of industries and is one of the largest certified women-owned suppliers in North America.

Megan was one of five owners honoured as the Business Journal’s Middle Market Fast 50 Leaders of 2023. She is also a winner of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2023.

But today we’re talking about Megan’s journey that made her the leader she is today. My regular listeners will know that I’m deeply curious about people, and in particular those Unlock Moments of remarkable clarity in your life or career that stick with you for decades and give you foundation and purpose. I’m fascinated to hear about a singular act of kindness that changed Megan’s life forever.