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 only thing standing between you and stronger leadership is the way you see and lead yourself? In this conversation, Ben Albert shares how losing his job during the pandemic became the catalyst for his growth as an entrepreneur and podcaster.

We explore why self-leadership matters, especially when no one else is steering the ship, and how habits, relationships, and honest feedback can help you grow. Ben also explains how self-care, personal branding, and seeking out mentors can transform your impact on others and yourself.

We also discuss overcoming fears, turning weaknesses into strengths, and the power of empathy and curiosity in personal development. Ben describes building a supportive community of growth-minded leaders and why genuine connections are the foundation of lasting success. Whether you’re looking to lead more effectively or become a better version of yourself, you’ll find practical ideas and inspiration in this episode.

Ben hosts a network of 5 podcasts called “Real Business Connections,” ranked in the top 1% globally. He also runs a massively successful marketing firm, Balbert Marketing. Ben is on a mission to move the needle on one million lives, one conversation at a time.

You’ll discover:

• How self-leadership can empower you during times of uncertainty and change.
• The role of self-care in supporting both personal growth and your ability to lead others.
• Why personal branding matters and how to shape the way others perceive you.
• Practical ideas for overcoming fears and turning past weaknesses into strengths.
• The benefits of joining a growth-minded community for networking and ongoing development.

Watch the episode:

Connect with Ben

Ben’s Website

Real Business Connections

Related Podcast Episodes

076: Create a Powerful Personal Brand for Your Business

Curious how LinkedIn can actually help you build real business relationships—not just rack up connections? In this episode, LinkedIn expert Bill McCormick shares his journey from traditional sales to becoming a trusted advisor on the platform. Bill reveals why authenticity, curiosity, and genuine engagement are the keys to standing out and building trust, whether you’re networking, recruiting, or growing your business.

We dive into practical tips for optimizing your profile, engaging with others in a meaningful way, and using LinkedIn’s premium features (like Sales Navigator) to your advantage. Bill also shares his thoughts on AI and automation, and why the human touch still matters most. If you want to make LinkedIn work for you—without feeling salesy or inauthentic—this episode is packed with actionable advice you can use right away.

Bill is the Founder of Digi-Sales, a Digital Selling training company, and Digi-Sales Academy, an online video training platform where he shares his passion for helping professionals leverage the power of LinkedIn. Bill first started using digital sales techniques after he and his wife, Sue, started their own promotional product business.
By using social platforms, especially LinkedIn, they were able to build a very successful business. Bill then began to help other business owners, entrepreneurs and sales professionals learn how to use LinkedIn to increase sales.

Bill has conducted training for companies worldwide and specializes in helping to ‘make LinkedIn Human’ – explaining the platform in easy-to-understand ways, and recently launched the All Selling Is Social Podcast.

You’ll discover:

• How to create a value-driven LinkedIn profile
• The right way to connect and engage
• Why curiosity builds trust on LinkedIn
• Tips for using Sales Navigator effectively
• The pitfalls of AI and automation on LinkedIn

Watch the episode:

Connect with Bill

Digi-Sales

Course

Social Selling Compass Course

Podcast

All Selling Is Social

Related Podcast Episodes

253: Maximize the Power of LinkedIn

When you think of the key qualities of an effective leader, what words come to mind? Did you include the word GENEROUS? If not, you will add that word to your list after you listen to this conversation with guest Joe Davis. 

Joe is the author of a fantastic new book, The Generous Leader: 7 Ways to Give of Yourself for Everyone’s Gain. This important book is a must-read for every leader because it touches on so many areas that the best leaders learn and practice. Joe exemplifies the type of leader Meredith is always eager to have as a guest: he’s focused his entire career on growing strong as a leader and helping others realize their potential. 

Joe is a Senior Partner at Boston Consulting Group or BCG. In The Generous Leader, Joe shares a performance review he received that was a game-changer for him: He was told he was not the best at problem-solving solo; but with others, he could solve any challenge. His manager identified his key strength—a person who could connect with others. 

Joe has leveraged that strength in his 35+ years at BCG in roles such as co-founding the Washington, DC, office and leading BCG North America. He is currently Chair of BCG’s Center for Inclusion and Equity and the Board Chair at Whitman College.

You’ll discover:

• What leaders can do to help others feel seen
• Why Joe recommends leaders adopt the “practice of perspective taking”
• How Joe pushes people to be more than they believed possible and addresses times when they diminish themselves
• How to be an Action Ally and not a Performative Ally
• Ways to show vulnerability so others more easily connect with you

Watch the episode:

Connect with Joe

Joe’s Resources

Website

Joe Davis

Book

The Generous Leader: 7 Ways to Give of Yourself for Everyone’s Gain

In this episode, I talk about different ways you can uplevel the way you serve others in your world. When you apply these ideas, you won’t just surprise or delight them, you’ll actually ASTONISH them.

I share specific examples of things I’ve done. As you listen, consider how you can incorporate some of them in your own unique way with the people in your life.

I’m the co-founder and president of Grow Strong Leaders, a company that publishes software tools and books to help people build strong relationships at work and at home.

You’ll discover:

• The one question to ask yourself before every conversation that’s important to you
• What another person feels from you when you express genuine curiosity in them
• How to make introductions that stand out
• Ways you can use social media to acknowledge people in your world
• Why expressions of appreciation are so powerful

Watch the episode:

Connect with Meredith

Meredith’s Resources

Website

Grow Strong Leaders

Books

Connect with Your Team: Mastering the Top 10 Communication Skills

Peer Coaching Made Simple

​When you think about it, leadership and sales have a lot in common. For example, both require the ability to build trust quickly. In this value-packed episode, Larry Levine shares ideas from his new book, Selling In a Post-Trust World, that apply to leaders and salespeople alike.

Larry is also the international best-selling author of Selling from the Heart and the co-host of the award-winning Selling from the Heart Podcast.

In a world where it can be hard for salespeople to create trust, Larry helps sales teams leverage the power of authenticity to grow revenue, grow themselves, and enhance the lives of their clients. Larry has coached sales professionals across the world, from tenured reps to new millennials entering the salesforce.

You’ll discover:

• The importance of identifying your WHY to have the greatest possible influence and impact
• Why the ability to create authentic relationships must begin with being authentic with yourself
• How you can create an inspirational experience for your team members and your clients
• The power of learning what your unique “secret sauce” is and using it consistently
• What you can learn when you’re curious and not making assumptions

Watch the episode:

Connect with Larry

Larry’s Resources

Websites

Selling from the Heart

Selling In a Post-Trust World

Books

Selling from the Heart: How Your Authentic Self Sells You

Selling In a Post-Trust World: Discover the Soft Skills That Yield Hard Dollars

What’s required to work effectively with people from different cultures? Paula Caligiuri has been studying this question for 30 years, and she’s created strategies that leverage your natural strengths while developing cultural agility competencies. You’ll gain valuable insights that you can apply immediately when working with diverse populations locally or globally.

Paula is a Distinguished Professor at Northeastern University’s D’Amore-McKim School of Business. Before that, she was a professor of HR management at Rutgers University for 18 years. She’s also the Founder and CEO of Skiilify and the creator of the free MyGiide assessment.

Her specialty concerns cultural agility’s importance as a critical leadership competence. She explains it all in her excellent book, Build Your Cultural Agility: The Nine Competencies of Successful Global Professionals.

You’ll discover:

• What cultural agility is, and why it’s critical for leaders
• Why Paula considers curiosity and humility to be key competencies for cultural agility
• The dangers of training around unconscious bias
• Paula’s approach to training that fosters open, honest conversations
• Insights from research projects that Paula has conducted

Watch the episode:

Connect with Paula

Paula’s Resources

Free Resources

Skiilify

MyGiide

Books

Build Your Cultural Agility: The Nine Competencies of Successful Global Professionals

Live for a Living: How to Create Your Career Journey to Work Happier, Not Harder

What would happen if leaders focused on helping each member of their team create a new way of thinking about themselves and others? David Katz has developed a way of thinking where he sees everything that happens as a gift, including the death of his daughter five years ago. This extraordinary man shares what he’s learned over the past 3 years about himself, life, and his work since his first appearance on this podcast (Episode #98).

You’ll want to take notes as David talks about how leaders can be vulnerable with others, how to create real freedom in your life, and what you can do to help others feel seen. Listen to this conversation more than once if you’d like to extract the full value. It’s packed with treasures!

David is the founder and CEO of Plastic Bank. It’s a remarkable company comprised of a global network of micro-recycling markets. This ecosystem empowers the poor to transcend poverty by collecting and trading plastic waste as a currency. Their global partners include IBM, Shell Energy, SC Johnson, and Aldi.

You’ll discover:

• Why David sees plastic trash as gold and diamonds
• The power of your thinking in changing your life
• How David creates an environment of vulnerability and safety
• What you can do to help others feel seen
• Powerful questions David asks candidates to determine if they’ll be a good fit at Plastic Bank

Watch the episode:

Connect with David

David’s Resources

Websites

Plastic Bank

TED Talk

The Surprising Solution to Ocean Plastic

​What’s the difference between a Learn-It-All leader and a Know-It-All Leader? That’s just one of many questions Damon Lembi answers in this value-packed conversation. Damon is an excellent example of a leader who’s been focused on his own growth and equally committed to helping members of his team become the best versions of themselves.

For nearly three decades as CEO, Damon has led his company, Learnit, through the ever-changing landscape of Learning and Development, gaining insight into what works, how great leaders learn, and why learn-it-all companies outpace their competition.

Coming to business from a career in baseball, Damon brings an athlete’s perspective on leadership and training to his informal mentoring of executives. He’s distilled those hard-won insights into his bestselling book, The Learn-It-All Leader—Mindset, Traits, and Tools.

You’ll discover:

• Leadership lessons Damon learned from the 3 Hall of Fame Baseball Coaches he worked with in college
• The distinction Damon makes between Being and Doing when it comes to leader behaviors
• Why Damon hires for potential instead of experience
• Reasons he prizes Curiosity as a key leadership skill
• What the Trust Tax is and why it’s an important payment to make

Watch the episode:

Connect with Damon

Damon’s Resources

Website

Learnit

Book

The Learn-It-All Leader—Mindset, Traits, and Tools

What’s the evidence that women face unique hurdles in advancing to executive leadership roles? Jennifer McCollum shares the data based on 25+ years of research conducted by Linkage. The facts are real. In this conversation, we focus on the actions women can take to overcome these hurdles – and what men can do to be effective allies and executive sponsors. You will love Jennifer’s passion for this topic and her transparency in describing some of her own experiences.

Jennifer is the former CEO of Linkage, a SHRM company, where she oversaw the strategic direction and global operations of this leadership development firm. Linkage’s mission is to “Change the Face of Leadership” and over the past 35 years the company has been dedicated to improving leadership effectiveness and equity in hundreds of organizations globally.

Jennifer has 20 years of experience building and leading businesses in the leadership space. She’s a highly sought-after consultant and speaker, with deep expertise in Inclusive Leadership and Advancing Women Leaders.

She’s a member of Marshall Goldsmith’s 100 Coaches and the author of the new book, In Her Own Voice: A Woman’s Rise to CEO: Overcoming Hurdles to Change the Face of Leadership. Highly recommended for women and men alike!

You’ll discover:

• Why the Inner Critic is the “uber” hurdle that impacts the other 7
• How the Compassion Center’s 4 steps can help you shift from judging yourself or others
• The distinction between External Bias and Internal Bias
• The importance of Recognized Confidence, a step beyond self-confidence
• What men can do to support women and the role of Executive Sponsorship

Watch the episode:

Connect with Jennifer

Jennifer’s Resources

Website

Linkage, a SHRM Company

Book

In Her Own Voice: A Woman’s Rise to CEO: Overcoming Hurdles to Change the Face of Leadership