Episodes

In this episode of "Leadership Powered by Common Sense," host Doug Thorpe interviews sales and branding expert John Golden. They discuss the importance of aligning company culture with brand values, effective sales strategies, and the challenges of selling SaaS products. John shares insights from his career, emphasizing customer-centric approaches, the need for strong internal alignment, and the value of disciplined sales processes. The conversation highlights practical advice for business leade...

In this episode of "Leadership Powered by Common Sense," host Doug Thorpe interviews Rob Lee, co-founder of a passport and visa expediting business. Rob shares how he and his wife, Lori, launched their company after facing travel document challenges, and discusses the realities of starting a business as a couple. The conversation covers early struggles, staffing, setting boundaries in a family business, and the importance of communication and delegation. Rob also reflects on leadership lessons l...

In this episode of "Leadership Powered by Common Sense," host Doug Thorpe interviews Rhonda Britten, founder of Fearless Living. Rhonda shares her personal journey from childhood trauma to empowerment, discussing how fear shapes our decisions and authenticity. Together, they explore the "wheel of fear" and "wheel of freedom," offering practical insights on recognizing and overcoming fear-driven behaviors. The conversation highlights the challenges of living authentically, the impact of fear on p...

In this episode of "Leadership Powered by Common Sense," Doug Thorpe hosts Kirstin Carey, an entrepreneur with a rich background in marketing and sales. Kirsten shares her journey from college to becoming a successful entrepreneur, focusing on health-related businesses. She discusses the challenges of social media advertising and the importance of authenticity in building client trust. Kirsten emphasizes aligning marketing strategies with personal values and adapting to market changes. The conve...

In this episode of "Leadership Powered by Common Sense," Doug Thorpe discusses the evolving landscape of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) with Andres Tapia, an executive at Korn Ferry and co-author of "The Five Disciplines of Inclusive Teams." They explore the importance of inclusive leadership, team dynamics, and leveraging diverse perspectives. Key points include fostering psychological safety, encouraging team collaboration, and the necessity of power sharing. The episode underscores th...

In this episode of "Leadership Powered by Common Sense," Doug Thorpe discusses the crucial alignment between a company's brand and internal culture with guest Nader Safinya. Nader, an expert in bridging this gap, shares his personal journey during the pandemic, highlighting the disconnect he observed between company branding and employee experiences. They explore the importance of honesty and transparency in hiring, the impact of leadership on culture, and the need for consistent messaging. Nade...

In this episode of "Leadership Powered by Common Sense," host Doug Thorpe and guest Sally Mahamdeh delve into the critical issue of burnout, particularly in leadership and workplace well-being. Sally shares her personal experiences with burnout during her career at Microsoft and Google, emphasizing the impact of high-performance cultures and the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health. The discussion highlights the importance of recognizing burnout signs, the role of leadership in fostering open conv...

In this episode of "Leadership Powered by Common Sense," host Doug Thorpe engages with Dr. Shonda Gore, an expert in leadership development with experience in corporate settings and higher education. Dr. Gore shares insights from her book "Pin Leader Path," emphasizing the importance of emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills in leadership. They discuss the significance of fostering a positive workplace culture, effective communication, and the challenges of managing diverse teams. The c...

Navigating the Transition from Execution to Strategy In the latest episode of “Leadership Powered by Common Sense,” host Doug Thorpe engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Ashley Rudolph, an executive coach and advisor based in New York. The episode delves into the intricacies of leadership, particularly focusing on the challenges high achievers face when transitioning […] The post The Shift from Execution to Strategy: Essential Skills for Modern Leaders | Ep 389 first appeared on Lea...

In this episode of "Leadership Powered by Common Sense," host Doug Thorpe converses with Michael Reddington about the intricacies of leadership and communication. Reddington shares his journey from special education teacher and baseball coach to expert in non-confrontational interview techniques. The discussion emphasizes the importance of creating a psychologically safe environment where team members feel comfortable sharing honest feedback. Reddington highlights the need for leaders to frame c...

In this episode of "Leadership Powered by Common Sense," host Doug Thorpe and guest Rick Munson discuss the pivotal role of leadership in small to mid-cap companies. Rick, with a background in mechanical engineering and an MBA in finance and entrepreneurship, shares insights from his extensive experience in manufacturing and executive coaching. Key themes include the importance of effective leadership, the challenges of "founderitis," and the need for humility. They emphasize building diverse te...

In this episode of "Leadership Powered by Common Sense," host Doug Thorpe converses with Kat O'Sullivan about navigating transitions and overcoming doubts and fears. Kat shares her journey from performing with "Up with People" to corporate frustrations, nonprofit work, and ultimately coaching. She introduces her book "From Doubt to Do" and emphasizes the "Four Cs" of transformation: Courage, Clarity, Commitment, and Capacity. Kat highlights the importance of mindset, asking empowering questions,...

Building Trust and Effective Communication in the Online Space: Insights from Yuri Elkaim In a recent episode of “Leadership Powered by Common Sense,” host Doug Thorpe engages in a compelling conversation with Yuri Elkaim, a former professional soccer player turned successful entrepreneur in the health and wellness industry. The episode delves into Yuri’s journey, the […] The post From Athlete to Entrepreneur: Lessons in Resilience and Trust-Building for Success first appeared on Leadership Pow...

In this episode of "Leadership Powered by Common Sense," host Doug Thorpe engages with Paul Maskill, a fractional CFO, to explore the financial challenges faced by entrepreneurs, particularly in the trades. Paul shares his journey from a blue-collar upbringing to becoming a financial expert, emphasizing the importance of financial clarity and reliable data. Key topics include understanding gross profit, the necessity of accurate bookkeeping, strategic pricing, and cash flow management. Paul high...

In this episode of "Leadership Powered by Common Sense," host Doug Thorpe engages with guest Valerie Sanjivy, a mechanical engineer turned business coach, to discuss her "four pillars of leadership" framework. Valerie shares her journey from engineering to leadership roles in Detroit and healthcare, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness, team empowerment, emotional intelligence, and self-care. She outlines her four pillars: Leading Yourself, Leading Teams, Emotional Mastery, and Soul Care...

In this episode of "Leadership Powered by Common Sense," Doug Thorpe engages in a conversation with Dr. John Hillen about the crucial role of strategy in leadership. Dr. Hillen, who brings a rich background in military service, high-level policy, business leadership, and academia, underscores the shift from task-oriented to strategic thinking. They explore the challenges leaders encounter in articulating and executing strategy, the difference between vision and strategy, and the significance of ...

In this episode of "Leadership Powered by Common Sense," host Doug Thorpe engages with guest Matt Leta to discuss the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into business practices. Matt shares his journey from coding and entrepreneurship to AI, emphasizing the necessity of AI for modern business survival. The conversation highlights the challenges of AI adoption, including employee resistance and the importance of change management. Matt advises starting small with AI initiatives and stres...

In this episode of "Leadership Powered by Common Sense," host Doug Thorpe discusses the critical role of trust and collaboration in leadership with guest Vicky Brown, an HR expert and entrepreneur. Vicky shares her journey from corporate HR to founding her own HR services company, emphasizing the importance of leaders modeling positive behavior, maintaining integrity, and fostering open communication. The conversation highlights the challenges of building trust, especially in uncertain times, an...

In this episode of "Leadership Powered by Common Sense," Doug Thorpe hosts Chuck Wisner, a leadership advisor and coach with a background in architecture. They discuss the concept of conscious conversations in leadership, emphasizing the importance of clarity and intentionality in communication. Chuck shares his journey from architecture to leadership advising, highlighting how effective communication can resolve conflicts and foster collaboration. They explore the transition from management to ...

In this episode of "Leadership Powered by Common Sense," host Doug Thorpe and guest Vince Covino delve into the transformative journey of leadership and personal purpose. Vince shares his experience of leaving the Mormon faith, which led to an identity crisis and a deeper understanding of himself. The discussion highlights the importance of authentic leadership, self-discovery, and empathy in fostering a positive organizational culture. Vince emphasizes the need for leaders to engage in inner wo...

In this episode of "Leadership Powered by Common Sense," host Doug Thorpe engages with Dr. Greg Stewart on the importance of "conscious conversations" in leadership. Dr. Stewart shares his journey from ministry to becoming a counselor and executive coach, emphasizing emotional intelligence's role in effective leadership. The discussion covers how leaders can foster open communication, critical thinking, and collaboration while addressing biases and emotional influences. Dr. Stewart introduces pr...

In this episode of "Leadership Powered by Common Sense," host Doug Thorpe converses with Dianna Kokoszka about leadership, mindset, and personal development, particularly in real estate. Dianna shares her journey from a real estate salesperson to transforming Keller Williams Academy's coaching programs. She emphasizes the importance of mindset in achieving success, advocating for a shift in perspective and language to foster growth. Dianna discusses generational differences, the role of the unco...

In this episode of "Leadership Powered by Common Sense," host Doug Thorpe discusses workplace safety and civility with guest David Dilger, a lawyer and co-founder of a law firm focused on creating safe and productive workplaces. David shares insights from his background in employment law and human resources, emphasizing the importance of proactive measures to prevent workplace disputes and the detrimental effects of incivility on employee performance. They explore the biological responses to wor...

In this episode of "Leadership Powered by Common Sense," host Doug Thorpe discusses the critical role of mindset in leadership with guest Jeni Jonte. Jeni shares her journey from physical therapy to personal development coaching, highlighting the transformative impact of Bob Proctor's teachings on her life. The conversation delves into the importance of understanding paradigms, conscious and subconscious thinking, and self-image in leadership. Jeni emphasizes the need to recognize and challenge ...