Grow Strong Leaders Podcast

Meredith Bell
  • 5.0 (49)
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  • Updated Weekly

I’m fascinated by what it takes for leaders to live their values consistently, especially when it’s hard.  On the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast, I have candid conversations with senior executives who are sustaining principled leadership inside complex organizations. We explore how leadership capability, organizational systems, and the everyday decisions reinforce values.   Our discussions also explore what gets tested when pressure rises—and the personal guardrails leaders rely on to stay aligned.    If you believe values should guide real decisions—not just appear on the wall—you'll feel right at home here. 

  1. 383: How JLL Practices Integrity Every Day

    4d ago

    383: How JLL Practices Integrity Every Day

    How do you sustain an ethical culture across 113,000 employees in more than 80 countries with a team of just four ethics professionals? Kendall Mills shares how JLL has built one of the world's most enduring ethics programs, earning recognition from Ethisphere 19 times as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies. She explains how ethics becomes more than a policy or annual training requirement when leaders consistently reinforce trust, transparency, accountability, and speaking up.  Kendall also shares a defining moment early in her career when she was pressured to alter an investigation report, and the decision she made that shaped her approach to leadership. Throughout our conversation, she reveals how organizations can operationalize integrity, create psychological safety, build trust at scale, and help employees make the right decisions even when nobody is watching.  Kendall is a licensed attorney and Certified Information Privacy Professional. She started her career at a Fortune 100 insurance company where she led more than 250 internal investigations, including matters involving C-suite executives. Today, she serves as Executive Director of Ethics & Compliance for the Americas at JLL, a Fortune 200 commercial real estate firm, where she also has global oversight for the ethics program spanning the Americas, EMEA, and APAC.    Kendall is known for translating complex regulatory issues into practical guidance, implementing compliance programs that work in the real world, and partnering with leadership to strengthen cultures of integrity and accountability. Her team develops the investigation trends and risk insights that go directly to JLL's Board, giving senior leadership clear visibility into where the risks are and what's being done about them. A Fellow of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, Kendall is passionate about elevating compliance as a strategic function and developing a high-performing, globally aligned team.  You’ll discover:  How JLL scales ethics across 80+ countriesWhy integrity starts with small decisions What builds trust in speaking-up culturesHow leaders create psychological safetyWhy accountability strengthens organizational trustConnect with Kendall on Social Media LinkedIn   Resources JLL Ethics Everywhere Annual Report  Check out all the episodes Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Connect with Meredith on LinkedIn

    48 min
  2. 382: Leading with a Viewpoint and Grace

    Jun 17

    382: Leading with a Viewpoint and Grace

    Do you need to know more than everyone else to be an effective leader? Chris Ware believes the answer is no. Throughout his career, he has repeatedly stepped into leadership roles where others had deeper expertise, yet he learned how to build trust, credibility, and engagement without relying on authority or having all the answers.  As Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary at Itron, Chris shares lessons from his experiences as a federal prosecutor, business leader, and legal executive. You'll hear memorable stories about learning from failure, making ethical decisions under pressure, understanding the "why" behind people's actions, and creating cultures where communication, trust, and speaking up are part of everyday leadership.  You’ll discover:  Why leaders need a viewpoint earlyHow grace strengthens trust and credibilityWhat failure taught Chris about listeningWhy ethical decisions rarely require speedHow simple habits build strong culturesConnect with Chris Ware on Social Media LinkedIn Website  Chris’s employer Itron Check out all the episodes Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Connect with Meredith on LinkedIn

    50 min
  3. 381: Why Marvell Employees Actually Speak Up

    Jun 16

    381: Why Marvell Employees Actually Speak Up

    What makes employees feel safe enough to speak up when something feels wrong? Eva Lehman shares how ethical cultures are built through leadership behaviors, trust, consistency, and systems that reinforce integrity every day. As Vice President and Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer at Marvell Technology, Eva offers a behind-the-scenes look at how their culture shapes employee behavior far beyond policies and compliance training.  You’ll hear how Marvell’s leadership team reinforces ethical decision-making across a global organization, why middle managers are critical to sustaining trust, and how employees are empowered to raise concerns without fear. Eva also shares personal reflections about the difficult moments leaders face when values are tested, and why courage, empathy, and support from leadership matter so much in those situations.  You’ll discover:  Why employees hesitate to speak upHow leaders reinforce ethical culture dailyWhat builds trust across global organizationsWhy managers are the ones shaping workplace microculturesHow Marvell approaches responsible AI governance Connect with Eva Lehman on Social Media LinkedIn  Website  Eva’s employer, Marvell Technology   Check out all the episodes Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Connect with Meredith on LinkedIn

    53 min
  4. 380: Who’s Developing Human Judgment?

    Jun 9

    380: Who’s Developing Human Judgment?

    AI can accelerate answers. But what happens when it weakens the development of judgment, critical thinking, and human connection? Jennifer May explores the growing pressure facing middle managers, the risks organizations face when relationship-building and professional development fall away, and why ethical culture depends on much more than policies and compliance training. Drawing on nearly 30 years in ethics and compliance leadership, Jennifer shares why she believes compliance is fundamentally a relationship business and how organizations can move from being the “office of no” to becoming strategic partners in building a healthy culture.  Jennifer also shares a powerful story from her university compliance work that shaped her “yes and” philosophy, revealing how trust, collaboration, and creative problem-solving can help organizations navigate difficult tensions without losing sight of innovation or integrity. This conversation is a timely exploration of leadership, accountability, AI, and the human skills organizations cannot afford to lose.  Jennifer founded May Solutions Group to help companies make ethics practical, human, and actionable. She helps organizations build systems that people actually trust by replacing complexity with clarity and making ethical decision-making easier in day-to-day work.  You’ll discover: Why AI may weaken judgment development The growing squeeze on middle managers Why compliance is a relationship business How ethical cultures are strengthened over time The “yes and” mindset that builds trustConnect with on Social Media LinkedIn  Website  May Consulting Group Check out all the episodes Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Connect with Meredith on LinkedIn

    48 min
  5. 379: When Performance Replaces People

    Jun 2

    379: When Performance Replaces People

    What happens when organizations become so focused on speed, efficiency, and AI that they slowly lose sight of people? In this thought-provoking conversation, Dr. Kelly Monahan shares insights from her years studying the future of work inside organizations like Deloitte, Accenture, Meta, and Upwork. Drawing from her upcoming book, Reclaim the Plot, Kelly explains how leaders and organizations gradually “drift” away from the human purpose of work, often without realizing it.  We explore the pressures leaders face today, including complexity, investor expectations, technological disruption, burnout, and the temptation to prioritize performance over people. Kelly also shares a deeply personal story about recognizing her own leadership drift during the pandemic and the intentional steps she took to reconnect with her team. This conversation offers both a warning and a hopeful vision for leaders who want to strengthen human judgment, curiosity, wisdom, and principled leadership in an AI-driven world.  You’ll discover: Why leadership drift happens slowly and invisibly inside organizationsHow pressure, complexity, and exhaustion can cause leaders to lose empathy and perspectiveThe difference between using AI to augment people versus replace themPractical ways leaders can rebuild trust, psychological safety, and human connectionWhy curiosity and feedback are essential for avoiding leadership driftConnect with Kelly Monahan on Social Media LinkedIn Instagram Websites  Dr. Kelly Monahan Beyond the Desk  Book Reclaim the Plot – (release date September 2026) Check out all the episodes Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Connect with Meredith on LinkedIn

    51 min
  6. 378: The Best Boards Ask the Hardest Questions

    May 26

    378: The Best Boards Ask the Hardest Questions

    Vera Cherepanova, Executive Director of Boards of the Future, believes the strongest boards are not the ones with the best reports, but the ones willing to ask the hardest questions. In this conversation, she explains why ethics cannot be treated as a compliance exercise or a checklist after decisions are made. True governance requires courage, dissent, and a willingness to examine what leaders may prefer not to see.  We explore her concept of FOFO—fear of finding out—and how it keeps boards from asking difficult questions that could expose risk, protect reputation, and strengthen trust. Vera also shares how silence, conformity, and the absence of real challenge can quietly erode culture from the top down. If values are meant to guide decisions, then boards must create the conditions where truth can be spoken and principled leadership can thrive.  Vera is the Executive Director of Boards of the Future, a nonprofit advancing ethical leadership and integrity at the highest levels of corporate power. Vera serves as a chair, director, and ethics advisor to global professional bodies, corporations, and international nonprofits. She has authored the guide, How Boards Should Oversee Ethics: A Ten-Practice Guide for Modern Boards, challenging boards to move beyond compliance checklists. Her latest work focuses on how boards oversee ethics, cultivate dissent, and create the conditions for principled leadership when pressure is highest.   You’ll discover:  Why compliance and ethics are not the same thingHow fear of finding out creates costly leadership blind spotsWhat makes people stay silent when they should speak upSimple ways leaders can create safer spaces for dissentHow boardroom behavior shapes culture across the organizationConnect with Vera Cherepanova on Social Media LinkedIn  Websites  Vera Cherepanova  Boards of the Future  Guide  How Boards Should Oversee Ethics: A Ten-Practice Guide for Modern Boards  Check out all the episodes Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Connect with Meredith on LinkedIn

    51 min
  7. 377: How Medtronic Turns Values Into Action

    May 19

    377: How Medtronic Turns Values Into Action

    What happens when doing the right thing costs money, creates tension, or slows results? Tara Shewchuk, Senior Vice President and Global Chief Privacy, Integrity, and Compliance Officer at Medtronic, pulls back the curtain on what ethical leadership actually looks like inside a global company where decisions can impact millions of lives. You’ll hear how leaders navigate pressure, disagreement, and uncertainty while staying grounded in values that guide both business and patient care.  Tara shares powerful real-world examples of principled leadership in action, including Medtronic’s decision to open source ventilator technology during the pandemic, the systems they use to strengthen speak-up culture across global teams, and the daily leadership behaviors that build trust over time. This conversation goes far beyond compliance and policies. It’s about how leaders create cultures where integrity becomes part of how people think, decide, and act every day.  You’ll discover: Why ethical culture must be intentionally built every day How leaders create safety for people to speak up What Medtronic did when profit conflicted with patient care How ethics circles strengthen decision-making across teams Why authenticity and vulnerability make leaders strongerConnect with Tara Shewchuk on Social Media LinkedIn  Website Tara’s employer, Medtronic  Check out all the episodes Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Connect with Meredith on LinkedIn

    53 min
  8. 376: When Ambition Disconnects You From Life

    May 12

    376: When Ambition Disconnects You From Life

    What happens when your drive to succeed begins to disconnect you from yourself and the people who matter most? You’ll hear how Kevin Rice navigated extreme personal and professional pressure while building and scaling a company, and what it taught him about values, leadership, and the cost of staying disconnected.  As Kevin reflects on leading through rapid growth, personal upheaval, and critical business decisions, you’ll see how clarity around values like integrity, resilience, and connection changed how he shows up as a leader and a father. This conversation will challenge you to examine where you may be operating on autopilot and how intentionality and presence can transform both your work and your relationships. Kevin co-founded Hathway straight out of college and grew it from a garage-stage startup into a 200+ person company before its acquisition in 2021. Today, he leads Theorem One Capital and is focused on helping leaders scale companies without losing themselves in the process. Kevin is also the host of the CEOs and ABCs Podcast, a show for ambitious professionals navigating both career and family. You’ll discover: How “robot mode” impacts your leadership and decision-making Why disconnecting from emotions weakens your intuition A defining moment that reshaped Kevin’s understanding of integrity How values guide tough decisions with clients and team members Practical ways to model values at home with your childrenConnect with Kevin Rice on Social Media LinkedIn  Podcast CEOs & ABCs Podcast  Check out all the episodes Leave a review on Apple Podcasts Connect with Meredith on LinkedIn

    46 min
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5
out of 5
49 Ratings

About

I’m fascinated by what it takes for leaders to live their values consistently, especially when it’s hard.  On the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast, I have candid conversations with senior executives who are sustaining principled leadership inside complex organizations. We explore how leadership capability, organizational systems, and the everyday decisions reinforce values.   Our discussions also explore what gets tested when pressure rises—and the personal guardrails leaders rely on to stay aligned.    If you believe values should guide real decisions—not just appear on the wall—you'll feel right at home here. 

Information

  • Creator
    Meredith Bell
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    383
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Grow Strong Leaders Podcast
  • Show Website
    Grow Strong Leaders Podcast