Leadovation

Dean Newlund, Mission Facilitators International
Leadovation

Transform leadership success with 'LEADOVATION: Reimagine. Facilitate. Flourish.' This podcast, ideal for executives and HR professionals, offers a unique blend of innovative leadership strategies and practical insights. Dive into a world where reimagining traditional approaches, facilitating effective solutions, and flourishing in a dynamic business environment are key. Each episode is packed with real-world examples and actionable advice, addressing challenges like employee engagement, workload management, and rapid organizational growth. Whether you're advancing your career or driving company success, 'LEADOVATION' is your guide to sustainable leadership excellence.

  1. Kristen Brun Sharkey: Using Improv to Drive Real Change in Leadership and Innovation

    1 DAY AGO

    Kristen Brun Sharkey: Using Improv to Drive Real Change in Leadership and Innovation

    About Kristen Brun Sharkey: Kristen Brun Sharkey is an executive coach and facilitator who spent 15 years leading teams in ad tech and marketing at major companies, including Yahoo, Verizon, and Hearst. She holds a Master’s degree in Management, Strategy, and Leadership from Michigan State University and is an ICF-credentialed coach. Through her company, Emboldify, Kristen leverages techniques and principles from improv theatre to enhance leadership skills, helping leaders at all levels improve their decision-making, drive innovation, and execute effective change. In this episode, Dean Newlund and Kristen Brun Sharkey discuss: Using improvisation to strengthen leadership presence and decision-making Improv techniques for driving innovation and creativity in business Improving team dynamics with collaborative storytelling and communication Strategies to overcome fear and resistance to creative activities Integrating improv methods into structured leadership coaching Key Takeaways: The "one-word story" exercise helps reduce overthinking, improve collaboration, and build trust by having participants contribute spontaneously to a collective story. The "Yes, And" technique fosters psychological safety in brainstorming, ensuring all contributions are validated and promoting an inclusive, innovative environment. Improv-based leadership exercises help leaders build authentic presence, overcome imposter syndrome, and engage their teams more effectively. Practical debriefs with improv activities provide actionable insights, turning creative exercises into real-world applications that enhance leadership and teamwork skills. "One of the things I really picked up from improv... I actually had a teacher who called it ‘yoga for the inner critic’… it really leads toward being able to separate what is your intuition from what is just your inner judge trying to shut things down.” — Kristen Brun Sharkey Connect with Kristen Brun Sharkey:  Website: https://www.emboldify.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenbsharkey/ Love and Leadership Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/love-and-leadership/id1757968042 12 Improv Exercises That Anyone Can Do on Their Own to Improve Their Leadership Skills: https://embldfy.link/bZUT See Dean’s TedTalk “Why Business Needs Intuition” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEq9IYvgV7I Connect with Dean: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqRK8GC8jBIFYPmECUCMkw Website: https://www.mfileadership.com/ The Mission Statement E-Newsletter: https://www.mfileadership.com/blog/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannewlund/ X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/deannewlund Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissionFacilitators/ Email: dean.newlund@mfileadership.com Phone: 1-800-926-7370 Show notes by Podcastologist: Hanz Jimuel Alvarez Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

    29 min
  2. Alicia Branham: Balancing Authenticity and Strategy in Small Business Marketing

    NOV 12

    Alicia Branham: Balancing Authenticity and Strategy in Small Business Marketing

    About Alicia Branham: Meet Alicia Branham, the marketing powerhouse with a story beyond business savvy. Her journey reflects adaptability and determination, traits cultivated during her formative years when her parents uprooted her to Uruguay. With over 25 years as a Creative and Marketing Director in the Commercial & Industrial PVF and HVAC markets, Alicia is renowned as the “secret sauce” for transformative business growth. Her clients achieve prestigious accolades and industry recognition under her expert guidance, including magazine covers and Rep of the Year awards. In this episode, Dean Newlund and Alicia Branham discuss: Challenges small businesses face in marketing and branding The role of authenticity in personal and professional branding How mental health affects leadership and brand alignment The importance of consistency for building a strong marketing presence Using AI and technology to enhance small business marketing Key Takeaways: Regularly posting on social media, even if engagement is low initially, signals reliability to both algorithms and followers, which can significantly impact visibility. Using AI, like ChatGPT, can streamline content creation and offer small businesses cost-effective solutions for marketing strategy development. For businesses to grow effectively, it's often crucial to hire a marketing strategist who can align brand messaging with sales and growth objectives. Leaders who are open about personal challenges and mental health can foster a culture of authenticity, which resonates with clients and employees alike. "It is okay to go in a direction and realize it doesn't fit you and maybe it doesn't align with you anymore. And it's completely fine to switch. It's completely fine to pick up and switch chairs and move. It is 100 percent okay to do that.” — Alicia Branham Connect with Alicia Branham:  Website: https://www.aliciabranham.com/ & https://www.getbran.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicia-branham-3a24a310/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_real_aliciabranham/ Supply House Times: https://www.supplyht.com/authors/2238-alicia-branham See Dean’s TedTalk “Why Business Needs Intuition” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEq9IYvgV7I Connect with Dean: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqRK8GC8jBIFYPmECUCMkw Website: https://www.mfileadership.com/ The Mission Statement E-Newsletter: https://www.mfileadership.com/blog/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannewlund/ X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/deannewlund Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissionFacilitators/ Email: dean.newlund@mfileadership.com Phone: 1-800-926-7370 Show notes by Podcastologist: Hanz Jimuel Alvarez Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

    33 min
  3. Claire Milligan: How Private Equity Drives Efficiency and Strategic Leadership

    NOV 5

    Claire Milligan: How Private Equity Drives Efficiency and Strategic Leadership

    About Claire Milligan: Whether she’s helping businesses transform their cloud spending or hitting the slopes as a ski patroller, Claire Milligan thrives on distilling complex problems down to their core issues — and turning these pragmatic findings into groundbreaking solutions. Through a journey spanning marketing, UX, and leadership roles at tech companies like Tallie and SpringAhead, she’s meticulously constructed a diverse skill set built upon hands-on expertise and an unrelenting thirst for knowledge. Now, as the CEO of startup Aimably, she’s applying her unique superpowers to help businesses grow by spending smarter and dramatically reducing their cloud costs. In this episode, Dean Newlund and Claire Milligan discuss: Private equity’s role in transforming and growing companies The expanding financial responsibilities of CTOs Cost reduction and financial efficiency in software companies Leadership continuity through acquisitions and turnover Aligning operations with long-term financial objectives Key Takeaways: Private equity helps companies transition from good to great by rigorously assessing core operations, eliminating inefficiencies, and focusing on mission-driven growth. Successful CTOs in private equity contexts must adopt a financial mindset, overseeing budgets, cost management, and return on investment for technology spending. Evaluating every role within a team based on adaptability and alignment with evolving business priorities is essential for CTOs managing acquisitions. Companies preparing for potential acquisition can benefit from acting as though they are selling, which enhances operational efficiency and scalability. Cloud infrastructure spending can significantly impact profitability, so companies should regularly audit and optimize their cloud costs. "The whole goal of private equity is to take a good company and make it great by examining everything as an opportunity to stop, reset, re-evaluate, and make sure you’re not wasting time or resources on things that aren’t core to your values or mission, driving much more success out of the same core architecture.” — Claire Milligan Connect with Claire Milligan: Website: https://www.aimably.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairemilligan/ See Dean’s TedTalk “Why Business Needs Intuition” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEq9IYvgV7I Connect with Dean: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqRK8GC8jBIFYPmECUCMkw Website: https://www.mfileadership.com/ The Mission Statement E-Newsletter: https://www.mfileadership.com/blog/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannewlund/ X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/deannewlund Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissionFacilitators/ Email: dean.newlund@mfileadership.com Phone: 1-800-926-7370 Show notes by Podcastologist: Hanz Jimuel Alvarez Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

    27 min
  4. Kerry Robinson: Navigating the AI Revolution From Customer Service to Super Intelligence

    OCT 29

    Kerry Robinson: Navigating the AI Revolution From Customer Service to Super Intelligence

    About Kerry Robinson: Growing up, Kerry Robinson wanted to be the Prime Minister or a CEO. Fortunately for the world of AI, his career path never led him to Downing Street. An Oxford-trained physicist with a Master's in Artificial Intelligence, Kerry excels in turning complex tech into practical business solutions. As VP of Conversational AI at Waterfield Tech, he puts his 20+ years of experience to work leading their R&D team, enhancing business interactions through advanced chatbot and voice strategies, and reshaping the way they connect with customers. Welcome to the brighter, smarter, stronger side of AI. Kerry may have arrived first, but he’s committed to fostering the innovation that allows others to join him. In this episode, Dean Newlund and Kerry Robinson discuss: AI leadership in business transformation AI’s role in streamlining customer service Generative AI’s expanding capabilities and automation Ethical challenges and bias in AI systems The future of AI from general intelligence to superintelligence Key Takeaways: Contact centers should focus on problem-solving, not just customer engagement – AI helps streamline customer service, reducing the need for human interaction by addressing root problems instead of just managing calls. AI can outperform humans in specific tasks – In fields like radiology, AI is already more effective than humans at detecting issues like breast cancer, raising questions about human-AI collaboration. Generative AI improves through continuous training and feedback – AI models, like those used in customer service, can analyze conversations, learn from mistakes, and optimize themselves for better performance. Bias in AI models is inevitable and influenced by human decisions – Generative AI systems, like ChatGPT, are shaped by the biases of their human trainers, which affects the objectivity of the results. "The most important human task we have is to ask the right questions and have really good discussions with each other about [AI].” — Kerry Robinson Connect with Kerry Robinson:  Website: https://waterfieldtech.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/k3rryrobinson/ See Dean’s TedTalk “Why Business Needs Intuition” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEq9IYvgV7I Connect with Dean: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqRK8GC8jBIFYPmECUCMkw Website: https://www.mfileadership.com/ The Mission Statement E-Newsletter: https://www.mfileadership.com/blog/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannewlund/ X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/deannewlund Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissionFacilitators/ Email: dean.newlund@mfileadership.com Phone: 1-800-926-7370 Show notes by Podcastologist: Hanz Jimuel Alvarez Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

    57 min
  5. Ty Hoesgen: Step-by-Step Guide to Communicating Like an Effective Leader

    OCT 22

    Ty Hoesgen: Step-by-Step Guide to Communicating Like an Effective Leader

    About Ty Hoesgen: Ty Hoesgen is the CEO of Advanced Growth Institute, where he helps entrepreneurs and professionals master the art of communication. Ty is one of the most sought-after communication coaches in the world and is the International best-selling author of the renowned book, Elite Communication Skills. Ty specializes in helping professionals communicate powerfully so they can earn more money, advance in their careers faster than their peers, and impact more people. Rooted in his own journey from a shy, awkward farm kid to a communication expert, Ty's relentless dedication to mastering the art of communication has transformed the lives of over 36,000+ individuals. In this episode, Dean Newlund and Ty Hoesgen discuss: Enhancing communication for leaders and professionals Being succinct and maintaining engagement Handling public speaking anxiety Adapting communication for virtual settings Navigating difficult conversations with employees effectively Key Takeaways: Using the "Point, Reason, Point" framework helps speakers organize thoughts and deliver concise, impactful messages in meetings. Shifting focus from self to audience, practicing speeches aloud, and using the "practice versus performance" mindset can reduce anxiety. Standing while presenting, using open body language, and avoiding proximity to the camera can improve clarity and reduce Zoom fatigue. Focus on specific behaviors rather than personal traits when providing constructive criticism, using a framework of "Behavior, Outcome, Future Action." "[Public speaking is] kind of like any other skill where you just have to start small. So I always encourage a person like that: don't start by sharing all these big ideas because that's actually really hard. It's like trying to run before you start walking.” — Ty Hoesgen Connect with Ty Hoesgen:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyhoesgen/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ty.hoesgen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tyhoesgen/ Message Ty "CEO24" on Instagram or LinkedIn to get the free CEO communication kit, including a course and a live coaching session. 5 Science-Backed Video Call Secrets Every Professional Needs To Know https://www.videocallstar.com/ See Dean’s TedTalk “Why Business Needs Intuition” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEq9IYvgV7I Connect with Dean: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqRK8GC8jBIFYPmECUCMkw Website: https://www.mfileadership.com/ The Mission Statement E-Newsletter: https://www.mfileadership.com/blog/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannewlund/ X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/deannewlund Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissionFacilitators/ Email: dean.newlund@mfileadership.com Phone: 1-800-926-7370 Show notes by Podcastologist: Hanz Jimuel Alvarez Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

    40 min
  6. Dr. Chris Fuzie: Balancing Leadership and Followership in Today's Workplace

    OCT 15

    Dr. Chris Fuzie: Balancing Leadership and Followership in Today's Workplace

    About Dr. Chris Fuzie: Dr. Chris Fuzie, Ed.D., M.A.OL., is a leadership consultant, trainer, college professor, and author specializing in behavior-based leadership and followership dynamics. He holds a Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership, along with a Master’s and Bachelor’s in the same field, blending academic insights with practical applications. With over 29 years in law enforcement, Dr. Fuzie has led various high-stakes teams and continues to apply his expertise to consulting and training organizations. His innovative concepts, including the Liminal Leadership Model, challenge traditional leadership paradigms by emphasizing the simultaneous roles of leader and follower. In this episode, Dean Newlund and Dr. Chris Fuzie discuss: The convergence of leadership and followership Liminal leadership and transitional roles Behavioral consistency in organizations Defining leadership at different organizational levels Ensuring organizational consistency and performance Key Takeaways: Individuals frequently switch between leading and following, and success often requires balancing responsibilities to both superiors and subordinates. The key to successful leadership and followership is focusing on common, actionable behaviors like humility, integrity, and decisiveness, rather than fixating on formal roles. Organizations should focus on identifying specific, measurable behaviors that align with their goals, ensuring that these behaviors can be taught and evaluated across teams. Strategic leaders may focus on overarching traits like integrity, while mid-level managers and operational teams prioritize different sets of behaviors relevant to their tasks. By encouraging consistent behavior across all levels of the organization, companies can create a more unified culture and better performance outcomes. "It’s not an either-or...most people think you're either a leader or a follower. However, now we have situations where people are leading and following simultaneously.” — Dr. Chris Fuzie Connect with Dr. Chris Fuzie: Website: https://www.cmfleadership.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-chris-fuzie-ed-d-m-a-ol-37587934/ X (Twitter): https://x.com/CMFLeadership Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090255232861 See Dean’s TedTalk “Why Business Needs Intuition” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEq9IYvgV7I Connect with Dean: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqRK8GC8jBIFYPmECUCMkw Website: https://www.mfileadership.com/ The Mission Statement E-Newsletter: https://www.mfileadership.com/blog/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannewlund/ X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/deannewlund Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deannewlund/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissionFacilitators/ Email: dean.newlund@mfileadership.com Phone: 1-800-926-7370 Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

    35 min
  7. Nick Shaw: Lessons Learned From Bootstrapping to $100M Lifetime Revenue

    OCT 8

    Nick Shaw: Lessons Learned From Bootstrapping to $100M Lifetime Revenue

    About Nick Shaw: Nick Shaw is the co-founder and CEO of RP Strength, a company that has helped millions of individuals worldwide achieve peak physical fitness. RP Strength is recognized as a global leader in hypertrophy training, with its YouTube channel reaching tens of millions of viewers each month. Nick has personally coached numerous elite athletes, including CrossFit Games champions, international weightlifting medalists, UFC fighters, Navy SEALs, and Olympians. Under his leadership, RP Strength has sold hundreds of thousands of books on nutrition, training, recovery, and healthy habit formation. In this episode, Dean Newlund and Nick Shaw discuss: Role of digital platforms in scaling businesses Importance of evidence-based approaches in fitness and health Power of social media for driving brand growth and engagement Strategies for maintaining motivation in fitness and business Challenges and rewards of prioritizing key growth opportunities Key Takeaways: Transitioning services from in-person to digital formats can help businesses reach a wider audience while reducing time and resource constraints. Sharing customer success stories and results on social media can amplify brand growth and generate organic engagement. Catering specifically to a targeted, well-defined group of customers often leads to higher satisfaction and better business outcomes, especially for advanced or specialized services. Saying "no" to smaller or less profitable opportunities helps businesses concentrate their efforts on high-impact projects, leading to more sustainable growth. Regularly posting engaging and informative content on digital platforms not only builds an audience but can also generate direct revenue and drive product sales. "Saying ‘no’ more often allows you to focus on the bigger opportunities, and that’s led to some pretty serious growth for us in the last year and a half.” — Nick Shaw Connect with Nick Shaw:  Website: https://rpstrength.com/ Book: Fit For Success - Lessons on Achievement and Leading Your Best Life: https://www.amazon.com/Fit-Success-Lessons-Achievement-Leading/dp/0578765551 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfQgsKhHjSyRLOp9mnffqVg LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-shaw-b078068b/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nick.shaw.rp/ See Dean’s TedTalk “Why Business Needs Intuition” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEq9IYvgV7I Connect with Dean: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqRK8GC8jBIFYPmECUCMkw Website: https://www.mfileadership.com/ The Mission Statement E-Newsletter: https://www.mfileadership.com/blog/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannewlund/ X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/deannewlund Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissionFacilitators/ Email: dean.newlund@mfileadership.com Phone: 1-800-926-7370 Show notes by Podcastologist: Hanz Jimuel Alvarez Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

    42 min
  8. Preston Smiles: Abundance as a Spiritual Path

    OCT 1

    Preston Smiles: Abundance as a Spiritual Path

    About Preston Smiles: Preston Smiles is a transformational leader, speaker, and author who teaches how to become a "spiritual millionaire"—achieving financial abundance while aligning wealth with spiritual values. He views money as a spiritual tool, believing that true abundance comes from harmonizing wealth with one’s soul purpose. Through his program "The Abundance Reset," Preston delves into concepts like the Laws of Abundance, Wealth Energetics, and an "Advanced Money Manifestation Formula." He emphasizes "millionaire habits" that merge spiritual practices with practical money management. Preston advocates using wealth for good through service and "intentional acts of love," integrating spiritual growth and financial mastery for genuine abundance. In this episode, Dean Newlund and Preston Smiles discuss: The connection between financial success and spiritual alignment Intuition and its role in life decisions and personal growth The importance of mindset in attracting abundance and opportunities Integrating body, mind, and soul to manifest desired outcomes and abundance Merging personal development with leadership in life and business Key Takeaways: Transitioning from a limited income to significant financial success is possible through aligning wealth with spiritual values and purpose. Holding onto one's talents or gifts can lead to stagnation while sharing them freely fosters growth and abundance. Life-changing events often prompt radical lifestyle shifts, with an emphasis on health, mindfulness, and spiritual practices. A powerful technique for cultivating abundance is using "Joy Alarms" to reconnect the body and emotions with joy multiple times a day. In corporate environments, addressing stored trauma and emotional energy helps foster connection, healing, and a more positive workplace culture. "An unhappy journey will never produce a happy ending.” — Preston Smiles Connect with Preston Smiles:  Website: https://prestonsmiles.com/ Spiritual Millionaire: The 7 Inner Laws of Abundance and Money: https://prestonsmiles.com/book Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Preston-Smiles/author/B01CWS7DDE YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@prestonsmilesabundance LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prestonsmiles Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prestonsmiles See Dean’s TedTalk “Why Business Needs Intuition” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEq9IYvgV7I Connect with Dean: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqRK8GC8jBIFYPmECUCMkw Website: https://www.mfileadership.com/ The Mission Statement E-Newsletter: https://www.mfileadership.com/blog/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannewlund/ X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/deannewlund Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissionFacilitators/ Email: dean.newlund@mfileadership.com Phone: 1-800-926-7370 Show notes by Podcastologist: Hanz Jimuel Alvarez Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

    36 min
5
out of 5
56 Ratings

About

Transform leadership success with 'LEADOVATION: Reimagine. Facilitate. Flourish.' This podcast, ideal for executives and HR professionals, offers a unique blend of innovative leadership strategies and practical insights. Dive into a world where reimagining traditional approaches, facilitating effective solutions, and flourishing in a dynamic business environment are key. Each episode is packed with real-world examples and actionable advice, addressing challenges like employee engagement, workload management, and rapid organizational growth. Whether you're advancing your career or driving company success, 'LEADOVATION' is your guide to sustainable leadership excellence.

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