Stepsero

Matteo Casini
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Management
  • Updated Weekly

Modern work is demanding. Even for people who are good at what they do, the human complexity around it can be exhausting. Stepsero is a podcast for professionals who want to feel less overwhelmed by it all. Every episode is a focused, honest conversation on one of the topics that make modern work challenging: leadership, communication, difficult conversations, AI, mental well-being, and more. No filler. No hour-long rambles. One short conversation at a time, towards a little more clarity.

  1. 3d ago

    #109: Cognitive Overload at Work: What’s Really Going On?

    Something feels off at work, and it’s not just you. We are experiencing unprecedented levels of cognitive demand in the modern workplace. People are exhausted, struggling to prioritize, struggling to focus, and struggling to make decisions. And yet we keep reaching for resilience training and wellness programs as the answer. In this episode, we get into what cognitive overload actually is and how to spot it. We talk about why individual solutions alone won’t fix a system problem, and what both individuals and leaders can actually do about it. We also get into how we got here: the addiction to constant connectivity, hybrid work blurring the boundaries between work and life, AI accelerating the rate of change, and workplaces that now reward responsiveness over effectiveness. And we close with an honest answer to a hard question: are we positive about where this is going? Our Guest: Debbie Pearmain Debbie Pearmain is a dynamic executive coach and leadership consultant who specializes in unlocking the potential of people, teams, and workplace cultures. With over 25 years of experience in leadership development, workplace culture, and employee engagement, she partners with organizations to drive higher performance, stronger collaboration, and resilient, values-based leadership. Debbie has worked as a consultant, facilitator, and coach with globally recognized organizations, including Accenture, Global Knowledge, LHH Knightsbridge, DDI, Homewood Health, Gallagher, and TELUS Health. Her coaching style blends strategic insight with a practical, people-first lens—supporting leaders to navigate complexity, strengthen decision-making, and inspire sustainable change within their teams and organizations. A thought leader with Erickson Coaching International, Debbie contributes to the advancement of the coaching profession through leadership insight, applied practice, and thought leadership. She is a sought-after speaker who regularly presents at conferences and industry events on topics such as Resilient Leadership, Creating Cultures of Accountability, Emotional and Positive Intelligence, and Employee Engagement. Known for her ability to connect, challenge, and empower, Debbie creates safe yet high-impact coaching spaces where leaders gain clarity, confidence, and capability. She is deeply passionate about helping organizations build workplaces where people and performance thrive together. Debbie is an ICF-certified coach and holds certifications as a Flourishing Life Coach and Flourishing Workplace Coach. She is also certified in emotional intelligence, personality, resilience, and leadership assessments, enabling her to integrate robust data with human-centered coaching for meaningful and measurable outcomes. References: Debbie Lang Pearmain LinkedIn profile Listen to the next Episode All Podcast Episodes

    23 min

  2. Jun 17

    #108: Gen Z at Work: Silence Is the Signal

    Gen Z gets called quiet, disengaged, even entitled. Generational Strategist Benoît Vancauwenberghe thinks that read is simply wrong. In this episode, Benoît makes the case that silence at work isn’t the absence of a message, but rather the message itself. He walks us through why Gen Z operates on what he calls a different “operating system,” shaped by a communication shift that began with the smartphone, and what that means for how this generation expresses disagreement, discomfort, or distrust without ever raising their voice. That silence becomes harder to ignore once you understand what Benoît calls the three selves (private, professional, and social) all of which now show up at work, and all of which make trust something to be earned, not assumed. It’s also why someone leaving a company can look sudden to a manager, when in fact the signals were there all along, just not in a form leaders were trained to recognize. The conversation also turns to AI, and a surprising claim: Gen Z isn’t afraid of the technology itself, but has a sharp instinct for spotting what’s authentic and what isn’t. We close on something more personal: what Benoît has learned, after years of co-living and working alongside young people, about where the real insight actually comes from. A conversation for anyone who manages people and wants to understand what they might be missing. Our Guest: Benoît Vancauwenberghe   Benoît Vancauwenberghe is a European keynote speaker and leadership auditor. After nearly two decades working with major brands as co-founder of the Brussels-based agency 20something, he found himself facing a paradox: the more he “understood” younger generations, the less his own organization worked. What he first saw as a generational problem turned out to be something else entirely, a structural failure in how companies are designed and led. Today, he works directly with executive teams across Europe to audit and redesign leadership models that have become economically incoherent. The Gen Z Shift is the result of this fieldwork. References: Benoît Vancauwenberghe LinkedIn profile https://www.20something.be/ Get the book: The Gen Z Shift Listen to the next Episode All Podcast Episodes

    17 min

  3. Jun 15

    #107: Why Executive Transitions Fail More Often Than You Think

    Executive transitions are more fragile than most people assume. 40% of executive appointments fail within the first 18 months, not because of technical incompetence, but because of people, politics, and culture. And yet organisations continue to spend 90% of their budget on selection, and only 10% on supporting the executive once they are in the role. In this episode, we speak with Navid Nazemian about what actually goes wrong, and what a more deliberate approach to transition looks like. We discuss why the skills that get you hired into the C-suite are rarely the ones that determine whether you succeed, what Marshall Goldsmith’s “what got you here won’t get you there” really means in practice, and why vertical development (expanding how you think, not just what you know) matters more than most executives realise. Navid also walks us through his Double Diamond Framework©, a seven-phase approach to executive transitions spanning twelve to eighteen months. We touch on the pre-onboarding phase, stakeholder mapping, and why phases one and seven (the ones that bookend the entire journey) are almost always the first to get skipped. Our Guest: Navid Nazemian Navid Nazemian is the world’s #1 executive coach, ranked by CEO Today three years running, and the international bestselling author of Mastering Executive Transitions. A former global HR leader at Vodafone, Roche, and BAT, he has coached 350+ executives across five countries — more than half of them CEOs. He’s the creator of the Double Diamond Framework© and lives in Dubai. References: Navid Nazemian LinkedIn profile Listen to the next Episode All Podcast Episodes

    20 min

  4. Jun 9

    #106: How Salaries Are Set, And How to Negotiate Yours

    Most employees spend their careers feeling confused about compensation, how it works, what’s negotiable, and what’s actually going on behind the scenes. In this episode, Sandrine Bardot breaks down how salaries are actually set, what professionals consistently get wrong about negotiation, and why the psychology of pay matters more than most people realise. From how companies build and allocate salary budgets to the best moments in your career to push for more, to the concept of procedural justice and why it shapes whether employees accept or reject pay decisions, this is the compensation conversation most workplaces never have. Our Guest: Sandrine Bardot Sandrine Bardot is a senior Performance and Reward advisor, founder of The Bardot Group, and a Transformational Performance and Reward Architect working at the intersection of strategy, governance, executive compensation, performance, and human capital. With more than 30 years of experience mostly across EMEA, including over a decade advising organisations across the Middle East, Sandrine brings deep technical reward expertise, corporate leadership experience, regional judgement, and Board-level advisory perspective. She advises Boards, Nomination and Remuneration Committees, CEOs, CHROs, Heads of Total Rewards, family business leaders, and senior decision-makers on the performance and reward systems behind strategy execution. Her work spans executive and Board remuneration, incentives, reward governance, performance management, job architecture, pay equity and transparency, nationalisation- linked reward design, pre-IPO readiness, and the modernisation of legacy reward models. Before founding The Bardot Group, Sandrine held senior Performance and Reward roles at Majid Al Futtaim and Mubadala, and worked with organisations including Apple, Microsoft, Airbus, Philips, and Fiat. She is known for her candour, cultural intelligence, and ability to help organisations design reward systems that are practical, explainable, governable, and defensible under scrutiny. References: Sandrine Bardot LinkedIn profile Listen to the next Episode All Podcast Episodes

    21 min

  5. Jun 8

    #105: Reinvention in the Age of AI: When Identity holds you Back

    Technology moves fast. People, not so much. And the real transformation, according to Nikki Barua, is human, not technical. The conversation gets into what genuine reinvention actually requires. Skills matter, mindset matters, but the number-one blocker she’s found among thousands of professionals worldwide is identity. The title, the status, the credibility built over a career become the very things that keep you stuck. Letting go of that identity is what reinvention actually demands. For people early in their careers, the opportunity now is to identify your zone of genius, pair it with AI fluency, and stop looking for a safe, linear path, because that path no longer exists. The episode also touches on Ikigai as a way to navigate early career decisions, why education needs to teach people how to think and handle uncertainty, and why Nikki, a self-described “painfully shy introvert”, never followed the networking advice and actively prefers building real friendships over traditional networking. Our Guest: Nikki Barua Nikki Barua is a serial entrepreneur, keynote speaker, bestselling author, and globally recognized expert on transformation. She is the CEO & Co-Founder of FlipWork, the transformation partner helping organizations reinvent their culture, capabilities, and competitive edge for the AI age. For over 25 years, Nikki has worked with some of the world’s most iconic brands, guiding them through digital transformation, workforce reinvention, and organizational change at scale. She knows firsthand that technology is only half the equation; the real breakthrough comes from building the people and culture ready to use it. As a tech entrepreneur who has built and scaled high-growth businesses, Nikki brings both the strategic lens of a leader and the hard-won wisdom of someone who has navigated disruption herself. Her personal journey from humble beginnings to building global companies has made her a sought-after voice on resilience, reinvention, and what it actually takes to lead through change. Her story has been featured in CNBC, Bloomberg, Fortune, and Forbes. Nikki has been named Entrepreneur of the Year by ACE, honored as an EY North America Entrepreneurial Winning Woman, included in Entrepreneur Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Women, recognized as one of the 21 Leaders for the 21st Century, and celebrated as a Woman of Influence by The Business Journals, and Top Entrepreneur by Comerica Bank & LA Lakers. References: Nikki Barua LinkedIn profile www.nikkibarua.com www.flipwork.ai https://www.nikkibarua.com/newsletters/reinvention-roadmap/subscribe Listen to the next Episode All Podcast Episodes

    19 min

  6. Jun 4

    #104: Human First, AI Second: Own Your Thinking

    Over-relying on AI might be quietly eroding your sharpest thinking, and most people aren’t noticing until it’s too late. This episode covers the real cost of convenience: why the overwhelm around AI isn’t going away, how to spot the difference between intentional use and lazy use, and what brain atrophy actually looks like in the workplace. We also get into what leaders should watch for when team members are over-relying on AI, and why treating AI like a junior employee, one you onboard, train, and correct, gets you far better results than using it like a search bar. If you’ve ever quietly wondered whether you’re leaning on AI a little too much, this one’s for you. Our Guest: Leanne Shelton Featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Australian, ABC News, The Sydney Morning Herald, Money Magazine, The CEO Magazine, Mumbrella, Inside Small Business, and various podcasts, Leanne Shelton is CEO, Global AI Coach, and Keynote Speaker at HumanEdge AI Training. She is also the author of AI-Human Fusion, published by Major Street Publishing in June 2025, a LinkedIn Top Voice in AI, and an AI educator at TAFE NSW. With her 9-year-old SEO copywriting agency struggling to convert in a tough economic climate in early 2023, Leanne made the ultimate business pivot. She decided to embrace (not escape) her shiny, new, and free competitor – ChatGPT – by educating herself on the topic. With decades of writing, marketing, and training skills in her back pocket, she started to teach (non-techy) business leaders about AI prompt engineering – with the human touch. The Sydney-based entrepreneur is now a sought-after keynote speaker for summits and conferences and an experienced AI team trainer – ensuring smooth AI skill development and implementation via workshops, three-month immersive programs, and free public masterclasses. She also hosts The HumanEdge Roundtable, an intimate leadership series bringing together senior executives for candid conversations on human-first AI adoption. Her talents have taken her to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on multiple occasions, as well as Brisbane and Melbourne. Outside of work, Leanne is a newly converted running and gym enthusiast, lover of dance, daily meditator, occasional yogi, engrossed reader and Audible consumer of business books and psychological thrillers, a dedicated partner, and frazzled mum to two tween daughters. References: Leanne Shelton LinkedIn profile AI Human Fusion: A non-techy human-first approach to AI for busy leaders Listen to the next Episode All Podcast Episodes

    17 min

  7. Jun 2

    #103: The Art and Science of Storytelling in Leadership

    What makes a story land in a corporate setting, and what kills it? In this episode, Dr Gian Power OBE breaks down why leaders who rely on facts alone fail to move people, how to structure a story that drives real behaviour change, and what the biggest enemy of good storytelling really is (what he calls “the explainer”). We explore the fine line between authentic vulnerability and performative storytelling, the neuroscience behind why stories change how people act, and how AI is already becoming a powerful tool for leaders who want to communicate with more impact. If you lead people, speak to audiences, or simply want to communicate with more impact at work, this episode is for you. Our Guest: Gian Power OBE Dr Gian Power OBE is the Founder & CEO of TLC Lions, dedicated to humanising the working world. His work has supported 300+ of the world’s largest companies, including Amazon, Google, Rolls-Royce, and Visa, and now reaches over 15 million airline passengers via TLC Lions content onboard Emirates and Virgin Atlantic. After time at Deutsche Bank and PwC, Gian’s life changed following a personal family tragedy. This experience became the catalyst for his mission – to make workplaces more human, connected, and emotionally intelligent. In 2025, he was awarded an OBE for services to Mental Health, recognising his transformative impact on leadership and workplace culture. Now a sought-after keynote speaker, Gian addresses global audiences on human leadership, wellbeing, and storytelling, helping leaders create trust, resilience, and high-performance cultures. Beyond TLC Lions, Gian is a proud Ambassador for the Missing People charity and co-author of Survive and Thrive with Reebok’s Founder, Joe Foster. His work has been recognised by Forbes, the BBC, Business Insider, and his impact has been backed by the UK Government and No. 10 Downing Street. References: Gian Power OBE LinkedIn profile www.tlclions.com Listen to the next Episode All Podcast Episodes

    16 min

  8. May 31

    #102: Creativity at Work, and Why We Stay Stuck

    Most of us have said it at some point: “I wish my work was more creative.” And then stopped right there. In this episode, Zorana Ivcevic Pringle, Senior Research Scientist at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and author of The Creativity Choice, speaks about what keeps professionals stuck at that wish, and what it really takes to move beyond it. Zorana challenges the idea that creativity belongs only to artists, designers, or people in R&D. Drawing on the science of creativity and emotional intelligence, she explains why creativity is not a talent you either have or don’t, but a set of choices that anyone can learn to make. Our Guest: Zorana Ivcevic Pringle Zorana Ivcevic Pringle, Ph.D. , is a Senior Research Scientist at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and author of The Creativity Choice. Her research explores how people build creative confidence, manage the emotions that accompany ambitious goals, and turn ideas into meaningful accomplishments. Drawing on the science of creativity and emotional intelligence, she studies why promising ideas stall—and what helps individuals persist through doubt, resistance, and uncertainty to bring their ideas to life. Her writing has appeared in Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, Forbes, Fast Company, and Vox. Zorana received research awards from the Mensa Education and Research Foundation and the American Psychological Association, and she speaks at and works with organizations such as Pintrest, Lego, Oglivy, Facebook, and others. Her work highlights that creativity is not a rare gift, but a set of choices and emotion skills that anyone can cultivate to bring meaningful ideas to life. References: Zorana Ivcevic Pringle LinkedIn profile www.zorana-ivcevic-pringle.com Listen to the next Episode All Podcast Episodes

    17 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Modern work is demanding. Even for people who are good at what they do, the human complexity around it can be exhausting. Stepsero is a podcast for professionals who want to feel less overwhelmed by it all. Every episode is a focused, honest conversation on one of the topics that make modern work challenging: leadership, communication, difficult conversations, AI, mental well-being, and more. No filler. No hour-long rambles. One short conversation at a time, towards a little more clarity.

Information

  • Creator
    Matteo Casini
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    110
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    Stepsero