361: Women Leading Change in Construction

361: Women Leading Change in Construction

361: Women Leading Change in Construction

What does it really take to lead with courage in environments that were not built for you? Gretchen Gagel, PhD, a trailblazer with four decades of experience in the construction industry, shares what she has learned about unconscious bias, the importance of male allies, and what it takes to create truly safe and inclusive workplaces.

We also explore Gretchen’s concept of grounded self-leadership, rooted in courage, humility, and critical thinking, and her bold vision for the International Institute for Women in Construction, a Global Institute dedicated to accelerating the success of women in construction, mining, and energy. This conversation is practical, hopeful, and deeply encouraging for leaders in any industry.

Gretchen has degrees in Mechanical Engineering, an MBA, and a PhD in Leadership, Organization Culture, and Change. She’s the former Chair of Brinkman Construction and the author of a new book, Building Women Leaders: A Blueprint for Women Thriving in Construction.

You’ll discover:

  • The real barriers women still face in construction and similar industries
  • Why male allies play a critical role in inclusive leadership
  • How grounded self-leadership strengthens confidence and credibility
  • What zero-tolerance cultures look like in action
  • How research, storytelling, and convening leaders can drive lasting change

Watch the episode:

Connect with Gretchen

Gretchen’s Resources

Websites

Gretchen Gagel

International Institute for Women in Construction

Book

Building Women Leaders: A Blueprint for Women Thriving in Construction

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172: Empowering Women to Create Greater Impact

322: Being Your Own Authority

 

 

Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on Apple Podcasts
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Leader-team communication and character skills

Grow Strong Character

Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D.

Order from Amazon
Connect with Your Team Book - Grow Strong Leaders

Connect with Your Team

Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D.,
and Meredith M. Bell
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Connect with Your Team Book - Grow Strong Leaders

Peer Coaching Made Simple

Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D.,
and Meredith M. Bell

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360: When 360 Feedback Becomes a Gift

360: When 360 Feedback Becomes a Gift

360: When 360 Feedback Becomes a Gift

What if the feedback you’re most hesitant to receive is actually a gift? In this solo episode, I share what 360-degree feedback really is—and what it is not—drawing on more than 30 years of experience helping leaders use feedback as a tool for growth rather than judgment. I explain how 360 feedback works, why it must always be developmental, and how it helps people see both their strengths and their blind spots through the eyes of others.

I also share a personal story about 360 feedback I once received that surprised me—and ultimately helped me become a better leader. When we take the time to reflect on the data, share it openly, and make a genuine commitment to change, that’s where the real power of this kind of feedback lives. Used well, it builds trust, strengthens relationships, and supports meaningful, lasting growth.

Since 1994, my company, Grow Strong Leaders, has helped organizations use 360-degree feedback to support leadership development—not performance ratings or termination decisions. If you’re curious about using this technology in a way that truly supports growth, connect with me on LinkedIn or reach out through growstrongleaders.com.

You’ll discover:

  • Why 360 feedback should always be developmental, not punitive
  • How honest input from others reveals blind spots and strengths
  • The importance of sharing your feedback and your intentions
  • Why commitment—not data—is where real change begins
  • How 360s build trust when used with humility and care

Watch the episode:

Connect with Meredith

          

Meredith’s Resources

Website

Grow Strong Leaders

Books

Connect with Your Team: Mastering the Top 10 Communication Skills

Grow Strong Character

Related Podcast Episodes

Leader-Team Communication

360 Resources

 

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Connect with Your Team

Mastering the Top 10 Communication Skills

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Peer Coaching Made Simple

How to Do the 6 Things That Matter Most When Helping Someone Improve a Skill

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359: Own Your Stuff and Elevate Your Impact

359: Own Your Stuff and Elevate Your Impact

359: Own Your Stuff and Elevate Your Impact

What if the greatest leadership breakthroughs begin with owning your truth? In this conversation with Joe Machicote about his book, Own Thy Stuff, we explore what it really means to take responsibility for your impact—on yourself, your relationships, and the culture at large. Joe shares deeply personal and practical insights from decades of leadership, all rooted in his lifelong commitment to leaving every person and situation better than he found it. You’ll hear stories that will challenge the way you think about communication, presence, and the stories you create in your own mind.

You’ll also discover the power leaders have to create spaces of trust, especially during grief, conflict, and moments of emotional strain. Joe’s candor about his own journey, including profound personal loss, opens the door to a compassionate and courageous view of leadership. He offers simple, meaningful practices that help you slow down, listen more deeply, and act with intention so you can strengthen culture, relationships, and your own self-mastery.

Joe is Chief Culture Officer at Premier, where he partners with the CEO, the Executive Team, and other stakeholders across the company. His role is to enhance and formalize a mission-driven culture of equal opportunity, high performance, and belonging. Joe has served in senior HR positions over the past 30+ years. His new book, Own Thy Stuff: The Continuous  Improvement Journey to Becoming an Extraordinary Human Being,  captures his most important insights and lessons from life and work:

You’ll discover:

  • Why “owning your stuff” creates trust and credibility
  • How to support team members experiencing grief with compassion, not fixes
  • A simple mindset shift that transforms assumptions into clarity
  • Practices for increasing presence and reducing distraction
  • The difference between mentoring and sponsoring—and why both matter

Watch the episode:

Connect with Joe

Joe’s Resources

Website

Joe’s employer, Premier Inc.

Book

Own Thy Stuff: The Continuous Improvement Journey to Becoming an Extraordinary Human Being 

Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on Apple Podcasts
Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on Spotify
Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on Amazon
Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on Pandora
Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on YouTube
Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on iheartradio
Leader-team communication and character skills

Grow Strong Character

Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D.

Order from Amazon
Connect with Your Team Book - Grow Strong Leaders

Connect with Your Team

Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D.,
and Meredith M. Bell
Order from Amazon
Connect with Your Team Book - Grow Strong Leaders

Peer Coaching Made Simple

Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D.,
and Meredith M. Bell

Order from Amazon
358: Ethical Leadership That Transforms Communities

358: Ethical Leadership That Transforms Communities

358: Ethical Leadership That Transforms Communities

What happens when leadership development is built on ethics, values, and genuine human dignity, not just performance metrics? Brian Peckrill, Executive Director, describes how the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund is investing in leaders who want to make a meaningful difference. You’re invited to look at your own leadership through the lens of impact, responsibility, and the kind of intentional choices that move organizations—and society—forward.

You’ll learn how the Fund’s Fellows Program develops high-potential MBA students into values-driven leaders who can influence entire industries. Brian shares the core elements of their leadership model—stretch experiences, strong support, and deep reflection—and how this approach builds self-awareness, courage, and character. You’ll also hear behind-the-scenes stories about the Ethical Leader of the Year Award and what today’s exceptional CEOs are doing to elevate people, uphold dignity, and lead with integrity.

Brian is the Executive Director at the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund. He previously served as the director of their Fellows Program, where he was responsible for designing and implementing a forward-thinking, ethics-focused experience for top MBA students. Brian was also responsible for fostering an active and engaged alumni community of young business leaders as they embark on and manage their careers.

You’ll discover:

  • How values-based leadership transforms both leaders and the communities they serve
  • Why metacognition and self-concept matter in developing future executives
  • The powerful role of stretch experiences, coaching, and reflection
  • How alumni mentoring strengthens leadership capability and confidence
  • What the Ethical Leader of the Year Award reveals about great leadership today

Watch the episode:

Connect with Brian

Brian’s Website

William G. McGowan Charitable Fund

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273: A Real Commitment to Invest in People Development

 

289: Why Strong Character Matters

Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on Apple Podcasts
Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on Spotify
Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on Amazon
Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on Pandora
Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on YouTube
Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on iheartradio
Leader-team communication and character skills

Grow Strong Character

Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D.

Order from Amazon
Connect with Your Team Book - Grow Strong Leaders

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Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D.,
and Meredith M. Bell
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Connect with Your Team Book - Grow Strong Leaders

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and Meredith M. Bell

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354: Tilting Futures: Empowering Young Adults to Lead

354: Tilting Futures: Empowering Young Adults to Lead

354: Tilting Futures: Empowering Young Adults to Lead

What if young people learned to lead by tackling real-world problems instead of waiting for “someday”? In this inspiring conversation, you’ll meet Erin Lewellen, CEO of Tilting Futures, an organization that empowers youth around the globe to step into leadership through immersive, purpose-driven experiences. Erin shares how her own background—as a coach, educator, and social entrepreneur—shaped her belief that true learning happens through action, reflection, and collaboration.

You’ll hear how Tilting Futures’ Take Action Lab program helps students engage with human rights or environmental issues through apprenticeships, academic learning, and community impact. Meredith and Erin explore how these hands-on opportunities give participants clarity about their purpose, confidence in their abilities, and the courage to take on global challenges. Erin also reveals how her team fosters healthy disagreement, emotional awareness, and curiosity—skills essential for every leader who wants to create positive change.

Erin has been with an exceptional organization called Tilting Futures for 11 years, and she has served as CEO for the past 3 years. Before joining Tilting Futures, Erin was Vice President of School Partnerships for Revolution Foods and served as Bay Area Director for Playworks. For 20 years, she coached the Varsity Girls’ Basketball team at Emery High, and she’s an avid supporter of girls in sports.

You’ll discover:

  • How global immersion helps young people build resilience, empathy, and leadership skills
  • Why “tilt moments” transform self-doubt into personal growth and confidence
  • How to make education more relevant through experiential learning
  • The power of emotional intelligence and healthy disagreement in team dynamics
  • How curiosity fuels innovation and learning from mistakes

Watch the episode:

Connect with Erin

      

Erin’s Website

Tilting Futures

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306: How Parents Can Raise Future Leaders Today

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Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on iheartradio
Leader-team communication and character skills

Grow Strong Character

Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D.

Order from Amazon
Connect with Your Team Book - Grow Strong Leaders

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Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D.,
and Meredith M. Bell
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Connect with Your Team Book - Grow Strong Leaders

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and Meredith M. Bell

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345: Never Lead Alone: From Leadership to Teamship

345: Never Lead Alone: From Leadership to Teamship

345: Never Lead Alone: From Leadership to Teamship

What if the key to leadership wasn’t leading at all, but learning to share accountability and grow together as a team? In this conversation with Keith Ferrazzi, you’ll hear a fresh perspective on how to replace outdated leadership models with “teamship”—a culture where people lift each other up, challenge one another with honesty, and work toward shared success. You’ll learn practical ways to create candor, build psychological safety, and encourage resilience so your team thrives even when navigating tough conversations.

Keith brings these concepts to life with stories, tested practices, and simple tools you can start using right away. He explains how methods like “stress testing,” candor breaks, and energy checks transform group dynamics, helping teams shift from avoidance and silence to openness and trust. This episode is full of strategies that don’t just improve collaboration—they create lasting bonds and higher performance.

Keith is the best-selling author of books you’re probably familiar with, like Never Eat Alone, Who’s Got Your Back, and Leading Without Authority. This interview focused on his latest book, Never Lead Alone: 10 Shifts from Leadership to Teamship.

You’ll discover:

  • Why “never lead alone” is more than a slogan—it’s a new way of working.
  • A proven method for giving and receiving feedback that strengthens relationships.
  • How vulnerability and energy checks foster deeper trust and empathy.
  • Ways to move from conflict avoidance to courageous conversations.
  • Practical strategies for enhancing collaboration, both in real-time and asynchronously.

Watch the episode:

Connect with Keith

      

Keith’s Resources

Websites

Keith Ferrazzi

Ferrazzi Greenlight

Connected Success 8-week Program 

Books

Never Lead Alone: 10 Shifts from Leadership to Teamship

Never Eat Alone

Related Podcast Episodes

233: Use Compassionate Accountability to Build Connection and Get Results

 

Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on Apple Podcasts
Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on Spotify
Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on Amazon
Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on Pandora
Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on YouTube
Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on iheartradio
Leader-team communication and character skills

Grow Strong Character

Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D.

Order from Amazon
Connect with Your Team Book - Grow Strong Leaders

Connect with Your Team

Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D.,
and Meredith M. Bell
Order from Amazon
Connect with Your Team Book - Grow Strong Leaders

Peer Coaching Made Simple

Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D.,
and Meredith M. Bell

Order from Amazon