Leading with Curiosity. A Podcast for Modern Leaders.

Nate Leslie
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Management
  • Updated Monthly

Are you ready to have bigger impact? Command and Control Leadership is Dead. Join our modern leadership movement. We interview leaders, entrepreneurs, and Certified Executive Coaches challenging old paradigms. The brain behaves very differently when 'invited to think' rather than 'told to listen'. Hosted by Nate Leslie - Certified Executive Coach (PCC, CEC, M.Ed.) and former professional athlete.

  1. Aug 15

    Ep.71 Finding Direction in the Age of AI. Michael Earls, Tech Leader. Cincinnati, Ohio

    Book: Finding Direction in the Age of AI by Michael Earls - https://amzn.to/3S7X1sX Summary In this insightful interview, Michael Earls discusses the impact of technology on human connection, business strategy, and culture. He emphasizes the importance of a digital North Star, managing IT sprawl, and fostering human interaction to navigate the fast-paced world of AI and innovation. Keywords Leadership, Technology, Human Connection, AI, Business Strategy, Culture, IT Sprawl, Future of Work, Digital North Star Key topics The importance of human interaction in a tech-driven worldHow businesses can align AI with their North StarThe cycle of IT sprawl and its impact on security and managementThe future of work and the return of human connectionStrategies for leaders to create a culture of clarity and care Sound bites "Leaders need a clear North Star for AI initiatives." "People want to be around others and reconnect." "Speed without direction is noise." Chapters 00:00 Navigating Leadership in the Age of AI 02:28 The Disconnect in Business and Technology 05:15 Understanding IT Sprawl and Its Implications 08:34 The Human Element in a Digital World 09:30 The Future of Work: Bridging Human Connection 11:20 Creating a Culture of Clarity and Care 15:14 The Role of Leaders in Employee Retention 17:31 Finding Productivity in a Noisy World 22:51 Speed Without Direction: The Noise of Modern Work

  2. Jul 15

    From Expert to Leader: The Violinist Trap Every Leader Must Avoid. Ep70

    From Expert to Leader: The Violinist Trap Every Leader Must AvoidAre you an expert who has become a leader—but still finds yourself trying to have all the answers? The transition from expert to leader can create a hidden “violinist trap”—one that can limit your impact if you don't learn to let go of doing everything yourself.In this episode of Leading with Curiosity, Nate Leslie speaks with Frans Campher, executive coach, leadership strategist, and program director at Imperial College Business School, about what it really takes to evolve from expert to catalytic leader.Frans uses a powerful orchestra conductor analogy to explain the leadership identity shift: instead of playing every instrument yourself, your role becomes creating the conditions for talented people to perform at their best.The conversation explores leadership development, executive coaching, authentic leadership, strategic leadership, catalytic leadership, micromanagement, trust, employee development, decision-making, organizational culture, and leading in a disruptive world.You'll learn why senior leaders don't need to have all the answers, why letting go of control can multiply leadership impact, and how leaders can create space for people to grow and take ownership of outcomes.Frans also explains the difference between expert, achiever, and catalytic leadership, why leaders need an enterprise mindset as their responsibilities grow, and how authenticity, listening, curiosity, and identity shape leadership effectiveness.The discussion also examines AI and leadership, including why human coaching, emotional awareness, and the ability to translate information into changed behavior remain important as AI becomes more capable.Key Takeaways• Why leaders get trapped in the expert mindset• The shift from violinist to orchestra conductor• Expert vs. Achiever vs. Catalytic leadership• How to move from managing to leading• Why senior leaders should stop micromanaging• How trust creates ownership and stronger outcomes• The role of listening and authentic leadership• How leaders can develop the people around them• Why leaders need an enterprise mindset• Leadership development in an AI-driven worldAre you still playing the instruments—or are you ready to pick up the baton?If you found this conversation valuable, like, subscribe, and share Leading with Curiosity.📌 TIMESTAMPS00:00 Why Leadership Development Matters Today01:17 Leading With Presence and Curiosity01:47 Common Leadership Misconceptions02:02 Why Leaders Don't Need All the Answers02:20 The Key to Authentic Leadership02:54 The Violinist Trap Explained03:46 From Expert to Orchestra Conductor04:43 The Leadership Identity Shift05:12 Creating Impact Through Leadership06:11 From Managing to Leading07:16 Expert, Achiever & Catalytic Leadership08:45 How Catalytic Leaders Multiply Impact10:00 Why Micromanagement Limits Leadership10:51 Hiring Smart People and Setting Them Free11:42 Inside-Out Leadership Development13:15 The Power of Human Presence14:23 Coaching Senior Leaders16:55 Leaders Operating Below Their Potential18:17 Ownership and Empowering Teams20:12 Purpose in Leadership and Organizations21:56 Fundamental Human Needs in Leadership23:58 Why Leaders Must Own Their Development25:36 Sharing Thinking in Decision-Making26:23 Different Perspectives and Better Decisions30:12 Designing Relevant Leadership Programs31:48 Holding Steady Against Expert Ego32:11 AI and the Future of Human Leadership34:03 Behaving Your Way Into New Thinking📩 BUSINESS CONTACTnate@nateleslie.ca🔗 LINKSWebsite: nateleslie.caLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natelesliecec/#Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #CatalyticLeadership #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipTransformation #FutureOfLeadership #LeadingWithCuriosity

  3. Jun 15

    Letting Go of Control: How Great Leaders Build Trust | Bruce Mayhew Ep.69

    Letting go of control can be one of the most powerful ways for leaders to build trust. Book The Path of an Inspired Leader by Bruce Mayhew - ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/42kezUz⁠⁠What actually makes people trust their leaders? It may have less to do with having all the answers—and more to do with transparency, curiosity, authenticity, and knowing when to let go of control.In this episode of Leading with Curiosity, Nate Leslie sits down with Bruce Mayhew, author of The Path of an Inspired Leader, to explore practical approaches to building trust, stronger teams, and more authentic leadership.Together, they discuss why transparency is essential to workplace trust, how authenticity can create psychological safety, and why leaders don't need to have all the answers to lead effectively. They also explore vision and values, Appreciative Inquiry, difficult conversations, and the difference between reacting and responding.You'll learn about:• How transparency strengthens workplace trust• Why leaders don't need to have all the answers• The connection between authenticity and trust• How vision and values give teams direction• How Appreciative Inquiry shifts attention toward solutions• How curiosity can improve difficult workplace conversations• Why leaders should respond rather than react• Why letting go of ego and excessive control can create more trustIf you're interested in leadership development, team trust, workplace communication, authentic leadership, difficult conversations, and healthy team cultures, this conversation offers practical ideas you can apply in your own leadership.What do you think leaders need to let go of to build more trust within a team? Share your thoughts in the comments.If you found this conversation valuable, please share, follow, and rate the show to help more leaders discover Leading with Curiosity.📌 TIMESTAMPS00:00 Introduction to Leading with Curiosity00:21 Building Trust in Teams01:47 Why Transparency Matters for Trust03:08 Being Honest About Workplace Challenges05:30 Authenticity and the Leadership “Armor”08:50 Vision, Values and the Role of a Leader11:01 Leading with Curiosity12:18 Being in Service to Others Without Losing Your Priorities16:05 The Story Behind The Path of an Inspired Leader18:25 The Leadership Book as a Practical Playbook20:08 What Is Appreciative Inquiry?23:49 Reactive vs. Creative Leadership24:34 React vs. Respond25:32 How to Approach Difficult Conversations29:30 What Leaders Need to Let Go Of30:26 Where to Find Bruce Mayhew & His Book31:26 Closing — Leading with Curiosity📩 BUSINESS CONTACTnate@nateleslie.ca🔗 LINKSWebsite: nateleslie.caLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/nate-leslie-executive-coachFacebook: facebook.com/natelesliececTwitter: twitter.com/natelesliececInstagram: instagram.com/natelesliecec🎬 WATCH MORE FROM LEADING WITH CURIOSITY▶️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GS7Xy-gJhUw&t=9s▶️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hu-Yt0YChhE&t=10s▶️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AarKlM53kDw▶️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe4xTJSfZuI▶️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qikbQY0YDhE#Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #TrustInLeadership #AuthenticLeadership #TeamLeadership #LeadershipCoaching #WorkplaceCulture #DifficultConversations #AppreciativeInquiry #Curiosity #TeamTrust #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadingWithCuriosity

  4. May 15

    Ep.68 Mastering Presentation Skills: Go With the Music. Frankie Kemp, London UK

    "Our guest today is the antidote to the boring corporate presentation. She has spent her career on stages, in recording booths, and behind the scenes of global events—including a stint with the Eurovision Song Contest. Now, she takes all that performance magic and applies it to the world of high-stakes business through her 'Be Less Vanilla, More Thriller' philosophy. She specializes in 'people skills for geeks,' helping senior leaders and technical teams ditch the 'jelly legs,' master the 'Drama Triangle,' and speak so that people actually listen. Please welcome, Frankie Kemp." Summary In this engaging and often quirky interview, Frankie Kemp shares her expertise on transforming corporate communication through performance techniques, NLP, and adaptability. Discover practical strategies to enhance presentation skills, manage nerves, and communicate with authenticity and impact. Keywords communication, presentation skills, NLP, performance, leadership, adaptability, public speaking, emotional regulation, storytelling, executive presence Key Topics Corporate communication habits to banishPerformance techniques for leadersNeuro-linguistic programming in businessManaging nerves and emotional regulationStructured frameworks for spontaneous speaking Sound Bites "Communication is all about context." "Weak language undermines trust." "Serve your key message throughout." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Frankie Kemp and Her Philosophy 01:22 Boring Communication Habits in Corporate Settings 02:42 Experiences of Chaos on Stage 05:12 Insights from the Eurovision Song Contest 07:37 The Role of Music in Presentation Mindset 08:57 Contextual Communication and NLP 11:36 Using NLP for Anchoring Emotions 16:18 The Broader Applications of NLP 18:12 The Art of Adaptability in Leadership 19:51 Improvisation as a Leadership Skill 21:33 Mastering Spontaneous Speaking 25:18 The Power of Language in Communication 28:17 Understanding Personality Dynamics: Cats vs. Dogs 29:57 Key Messages in Presentations 33:45 LWC Riverside outro Generic.mp4

  5. Apr 15

    Ep.67 Do Fewer Things Well. Greg Hold - The Stand Up CEO. NYC

    Summary In this episode, we sit down with CEO and stand-up comedian Greg Hold, who proves that the journey to success can be a road less travelled. Greg reveals how the courageous art of comedy has sharpened his professional edge, emphasizing the transformative power of clear communication and the strategic role of humour in the business world. He shares his insights on the discipline of his writing process, the crucial necessity of building a strong team, and the patience that is the backbone of great entrepreneurship. This conversation is a powerful reminder to believe fiercely in your own vision and to embrace perseverance—because, as Greg demonstrates, the challenges you face in business and on stage are simply opportunities for your greatest breakthrough. http://hold.com https://www.youtube.com/@StandUpCEO https://www.gregoryhold.com/calendar-comedy Keywords comedy, business, confidence, humour, writing process, hiring, perseverance, entrepreneurship, communication, dual career, Greg Hold, The Stand Up CEO Takeaways Comedy has given me the confidence to deal with people.You can lose a room with a small mistake.Comedy is like working a different muscle.It's important to make room for comedy in life.I took about 18 classes over two years to practice comedy.Comedy shouldn't play a major role in business.A good sense of humour makes you more likeable.Authenticity is key when hiring.Believe in yourself, especially during tough times.You can retool and find your niche in business. Sound bites "Every joke has a victim." "It's important to hire well." "Believe in yourself." Chapters 00:00 The Intersection of Comedy and Business 03:15 The Journey of a Comedian 06:35 Comedy's Role in Professional Life 10:30 Crafting Comedy: The Writing Process 12:49 The Correlation Between Work and Comedy 13:37 Hiring for Success 16:49 Patience and Perseverance in Business 20:37 The Unique Challenges of Comedy 23:00 Adapting to Market Needs 24:31 Finding Your Niche

  6. Mar 15

    Ep.66 How to Make a Dream Manager. Kate Vollman. Floyd Consulting. Florida

    Summary In this conversation, CEO of Floyd Consulting Kate Volman (LinkedIn) and Nate Leslie (LinkedIn) discuss what it means to Certify a Dream Manager. They explore the common barriers people face when pursuing their dreams, and the impact this pursuit can have on leadership culture. They face the fear of judgment and self-doubt head on. They emphasize the importance of enjoying the process and learning from experiences rather than focusing solely on outcomes. Kate is the CEO of a company she could once only dream of leading, author, and host of podcasts Create for No Reason, and Lead With Culture. Books on Amazon: Do What You Love: A Guide to Living Your Creative Life Without Leaving Your Job by Kate VolmanThe Dream Manager by Matthew Kelly (Please consider shopping using these links to support this podcast) Takeaways Many people hesitate to start due to fear.Caring about others' opinions can hinder progress.It's essential to enjoy the journey of creation.Learning and fun should be prioritized over success.Self-expression is crucial in creative moments.The process of creating is more important than the result.Overcoming fear can lead to personal growth.Engagement in activities can lead to unexpected joy.Embracing the journey can transform perspectives. Sound bites "so many people don't start things because of fear." "So what you say you want to start a YouTube channel?" "The journey is the thing."

    Ep.66 How to Make a Dream Manager. Kate Vollman. Floyd Consulting. Florida

  7. Feb 15

    Ep.65 The Pyschology of Leadership. Sebastien Page. Chief Investment Officer, T. Rowe Price

    Summary In this conversation, Nate Leslie and T.Rowe Price's Chief Investment Officer, Sebastian Page, explore the intersection of youth sports and corporate leadership, focusing on the psychology of performance, stress management, and the importance of valuing the joy of mastery over outcomes. If you like this episode, check out related conversations in other episodes! Sebastien is the author of The Psychology of Leadership. They discuss how stress can impact performance, the role of positive psychology in enhancing engagement, and the necessity for leaders to instil meaning in their teams' work. The dialogue emphasizes the importance of feedback, tracking progress, and the responsibility of leaders to create an environment where individuals can thrive and find purpose in their roles. Keywords leadership, psychology, positive psychology, mastery, engagement, stress management, performance, youth sports, business, coaching Takeaways The connection between youth sports and corporate leadership is stronger than you might think.Optimal performance requires a certain level of stress, not zero stress.Mastery orientation leads to better performance than ego orientation.Positive psychology focuses on what makes people thrive over time.Engagement in work is crucial for performance and satisfaction.Feedback and tracking progress can significantly enhance engagement.Finding meaning in work is essential for motivation and fulfillment.Leaders have a responsibility to help their teams find meaning in their work.Goal-induced blindness can negatively impact performance.Positive sports psychology can aid leaders in managing their responsibilities.Mastery vs. Ego: The Key to Performance Sound bites "Praise the process, the effort, not just the outcome." "We have a crisis of engagement in America." "Goal-induced blindness can hinder performance." Chapters 00:00 The Connection Between Youth Sports and Leadership 02:54 Understanding Stress and Performance 05:44 Mastery vs. Ego in Sports and Business 09:02 The Role of Positive Psychology 11:45 Engagement and Meaning in Work 14:44 The Importance of Feedback and Progress Tracking 17:53 Finding Meaning in Work 20:48 The Leader's Responsibility in Creating Meaning 23:50 Final Thoughts on Leadership and Psychology

  8. Jan 15

    Ep.64 An Introvert's Guide to World Domination. Nick Shelton, Denver CO

    Summary In this engaging conversation, Nate Leslie and Nick Shelton explore the complexities of introversion and social anxiety. Nick shares his journey from struggling with social interactions to becoming a TEDx speaker (A Creative Solution to Social Anxiety) and author of "An Introvert’s Guide to World Domination". They discuss practical strategies for introverts to navigate social situations, the importance of shifting focus from oneself to the audience, and the power of observation. The conversation emphasizes the value of relationships and how understanding different personality types can enhance communication and connection. Find Nick at connectedintrovert.com or LinkedIn Keywords introversion, social anxiety, public speaking, personal development, networking, TEDx talk, introvert strategies, confidence, relationships, self-improvement Takeaways Nick Shelton's journey from social anxiety to public speaking is inspiring.The concept of a 'uniform' can help manage social anxiety.Introverts recharge by spending time alone after social interactions.Setting low expectations for social events can reduce pressure.Preparation and knowing the next step are crucial for introverts.Courage is doing something despite feeling scared.Shifting focus from self to audience enhances public speaking.Observation is a superpower of introverts in social settings.Creating space for introverts in conversations is essential.The quality of our life is determined by the quality of our relationships. Sound bites "Just show up. Just be in the room." "It's not about me, it's about them." Nick's Bio Nick Shelton is a bestselling author, TEDx speaker, international speaker, and former petroleum chemist who has reinvented himself more than once. After serving in the U.S. Air Force and building a decades-long career in the oil and gas industry, Nick retired early at 49, only to discover that freedom without purpose can feel like a slow collapse. That crisis led him to rebuild his identity from the ground up, creating a six-phase framework that gave him back clarity, confidence, and direction. Today, he’s the creator of The Reset Button, a reinvention protocol for those navigating, major career shifts, or life transitions who find themselves asking: What’s next? Nick is also the author of the best selling book An Introvert’s Guide to World Domination, where he helped thousands of quiet professionals thrive in a noisy world. His work has been featured on stages, in university classrooms, and in global podcasts. Here are the links: www.connectedintrovert.com www.resettheman.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasleonshelton/ Book: https://geni.us/anintrovertsguide Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Introversion and Social Anxiety 03:07 Creative Solutions for Social Anxiety 05:50 Understanding Introversion and Energy Dynamics 08:56 Practical Tips for Introverts in Social Settings 11:46 The Journey of Writing and Speaking 14:56 Courage and Confidence in Public Speaking 17:49 Shifting Focus from Self to Audience 20:50 The Fluidity of Introversion and Extroversion 23:45 The Introvert's Superpower: Observation 26:38 Creating Space for Introverts in Conversations

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Are you ready to have bigger impact? Command and Control Leadership is Dead. Join our modern leadership movement. We interview leaders, entrepreneurs, and Certified Executive Coaches challenging old paradigms. The brain behaves very differently when 'invited to think' rather than 'told to listen'. Hosted by Nate Leslie - Certified Executive Coach (PCC, CEC, M.Ed.) and former professional athlete.

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