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

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Leader-Team Communication

360 Resources

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 

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

Are your team members clear about what you really expect from them? In this compelling conversation, you’ll hear Megan Robinson share how confusion and unspoken assumptions can erode trust and productivity—and what leaders can do to prevent that.

You’ll hear how Megan helps leaders transform vague expectations into specific, teachable behaviors that drive growth. She also reveals why “professional guilt” often holds leaders back and how to replace it with curiosity and compassion. If you’ve ever wondered how to give feedback that builds confidence instead of defensiveness, this episode will give you practical insights and stories you’ll want to remember.

Megan is the Founder at E Leader Experience and works with individuals and teams to develop self-leadership skills that grow companies. She started her career in marketing and climbed her way through the corporate ladder at advertising agencies and Fortune 500 companies. Then she caught the entrepreneur bug and started her own marketing company. 

After yet another “Business Therapy” session, Megan discovered her true passion was in coaching. Inspired by her own successful career in corporate and entrepreneurial environments, she makes leadership approachable for everyone, regardless of title, position, or experience. Megan is also the host of the Culture Connections Podcast and the Past President of ATD Chicago, the leading learning and development organization in Chicagoland.

You’ll discover:

• Why feedback fails when leaders assume understanding
• How to turn performance gaps into learning opportunities
• The role of clarity and language in setting expectations
• Simple ways to test assumptions and create shared meaning
• How self-awareness and intention make feedback transformative

Watch the episode:

Connect with Megan

Megan’s Website

E Leader Experience

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230: Trust & Inspire: Unleash Greatness in Others

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

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

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233: Use Compassionate Accountability to Build Connection and Get Results

What does it take to lead in a world where the odds are stacked against you? Jennifer Langton’s remarkable journey from being the only girl on an all-boys lacrosse team to becoming the NFL’s first Vice President of Player Health and Safety is filled with lessons on courage, authenticity, and strategic visibility.

Her early sports experiences taught her the value of letting your work speak for itself and knowing when to step forward—or step back—to build trust and credibility. Those lessons became the foundation for her “Connect, Trust, Grow” leadership model, which she’s applied at the highest levels of professional sports and business.

Jennifer shares stories of resilience, innovation, and determination, from overcoming personal loss and career-ending injuries to pioneering concussion prevention initiatives that transformed the NFL’s approach to player safety. You’ll hear how she’s led groundbreaking projects, navigated male-dominated environments with confidence, and inspired teams to embrace change—even when resistance was high. Her insights will challenge you to rethink how you lead, influence, and create lasting impact.

Jenny is an award-winning strategic executive who’s known for her ability to drive innovation and positive change. She was an executive with the NFL for 15 years, where she spearheaded initiatives that revolutionized sports safety, including the development of an AI platform to predict injuries, impacting not only football but all sports and several other industries. She’s now focused on delivering keynote speeches and providing advisory services to companies.

You’ll discover:

• Why authenticity can build trust quickly
• How “strategic visibility” can accelerate your influence
• Jennifer’s three-part model for leadership
• Ways to overcome resistance and inspire innovation in any setting
• How to turn adversity into a catalyst for growth and success

Watch the episode:

Connect with Jennifer

Jennifer’s Website

Jennifer Langton, Inc.

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318: The Power of Speaking Up: Turning Fear into Strength

327: Unleashing Your Authentic Superpowers

What do you do when one person’s behavior is quietly eroding the trust and teamwork of your group—and no one wants to speak up? In this episode, I share a true story from my own leadership journey where I faced that exact challenge. You’ll hear how I guided four frustrated team members through a structured, respectful process to share their concerns directly with a colleague—and how that meeting became one of the most transformative moments of my career.

You’ll discover the simple 4-step feedback model we used, why it’s so effective in preventing defensiveness, and how it can turn even the most difficult conversations into opportunities for connection. You’ll also hear an unexpected twist that shifted the entire dynamic in the room and led to deeper trust, openness, and collaboration than the team had ever experienced before.

I’m the co-founder and president of Grow Strong Leaders. We’ve created online resources that help leaders strengthen their character and communication skills to build strong relationships and inspire others to perform at the highest level. ​

You’ll discover:

• Why waiting too long to address an issue can backfire
• A 4-step framework for giving feedback with clarity and care
• How to prepare people so emotions don’t derail the message
• The surprising moment that turned confrontation into connection

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

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176: How Michelin’s ICARE Model Creates Open Communication

Are you holding back in ways you don’t even realize? In this candid and inspiring conversation, Dr. Tom Olson invites you to take a hard look at how fear of change and a need for safety can quietly run your life. He shares powerful stories from his own journey, including the leap that led to his PhD, and offers practical ways to shift from playing it safe to making bold, intentional choices.

We talk about what it really means to lead—at work, at home, and in your own life. Tom explains how to stop giving away your power, how to support others without fixing them, and why emotional intelligence makes all the difference in leadership. You’ll walk away thinking differently about risk, responsibility, and what’s truly possible when you take the helmet off.

With over 30 years of global experience, Tom is a highly sought-after coach, trainer, and researcher who has transformed lives through his dynamic, innovative approach to personal and professional development. He’s affectionately known as Dr. Tom by his clients throughout the world, with a stellar reputation for providing impactful coaching and training to leaders and teams. His work empowers clients to unlock their potential and overcome their greatest challenges.

Tom is the author of the acclaimed book, Don’t Die With Your Helmet On, which has inspired leaders and professionals to embrace purpose, resilience, and action.

You’ll discover:

• What Tom means by “don’t die with your helmet on” (and why it matters)
• Why fear often shows up looking “reasonable”
• The questions that help you take back control
• A healthy way to challenge team members stuck in victim thinking
• How strong leaders build engagement through shared power

Watch the episode:

Connect with Tom

Tom’s Book

Don’t Die with Your Helmet On

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149: Becoming a Highly Effective Leader