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

Related Podcast Episodes

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.

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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

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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

Related Podcast Episodes

273: A Real Commitment to Invest in People Development

 

289: Why Strong Character Matters

Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on Apple Podcasts
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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

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Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D.

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

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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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357: Clarifying Leadership Expectations for Stronger Teams

357: Clarifying Leadership Expectations for Stronger Teams

357: Clarifying Leadership Expectations for Stronger Teams

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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Listen to the Grow Strong Leaders Podcast on Spotify
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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

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Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D.

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

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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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356: Love As the Ultimate Leadership Action

356: Love As the Ultimate Leadership Action

356: Love As the Ultimate Leadership Action

What if love—not control—was the driving force behind your leadership? In this thought-provoking conversation, Trevor Timbeck invites you to explore leadership through the lens of “loving as a verb.” Co-author of The Power of Love with Steve Chandler, Trevor explains how viewing love as an action, rather than a static feeling, can transform the way you lead, parent, and connect with others. He shares how a simple question—“What would love do?”—can shift your mindset in moments of frustration, helping you respond with awareness and compassion instead of reaction or control.

You’ll hear Trevor and Meredith discuss what he calls “emotioning,” a way of understanding emotion as a domain of action rather than a feeling to be managed. Through personal stories of parenting and coaching leaders, Trevor reveals how genuine leadership emerges from acceptance and presence, not authority or demand. His insights challenge conventional thinking about power, control, and influence, offering a refreshing and deeply human perspective on what it means to lead with love.

You’ll discover:

  • Why love is a powerful verb—not just a feeling
  • How to shift from controlling to allowing in leadership
  • What “emotioning” means and how it shapes your actions
  • How asking “What would love do?” can change any situation
  • Why true leadership begins with awareness and acceptance

Watch the episode:

Connect with Trevor

      

Trevor’s Resources

Website

Trevor Timbeck

Books

The Power of Love

The Power of Systems: How to Create a Life that Works

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309: Coaching at the Intersection of Love, Language, and Leadership

 

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