What does it look like when leadership is rooted in genuine care for people? In this conversation, you’ll hear how Peter Bissonnette’s experiences in a monastery and in the corporate world shaped a philosophy of service, humility, and trust. His journey shows that caring isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s the foundation for lasting impact with employees and customers alike.

With stories, Peter illustrates how leaders can bring humanity into business while still driving growth and innovation. From customer service initiatives that prioritize connection to employee engagement practices that value feedback, you’ll discover how an organization can thrive when its culture is built on compassion, humility, and treating people like family.

Peter is the former president of Shaw Communications Inc., one of Canada’s leading telecommunications companies. With more than three decades of experience in the cable, internet, and media industries, Peter played a pivotal role in transforming how Canadians connect and communicate.Peter has recently published a very inspiring memoir, Count on Me: My Life, Lessons, and Legacy as Former President of Shaw Communications. Peter is not just an exceptional leader, he’s also a remarkable human being. You’re sure to be inspired by a man who experienced unbelievable adversity and trauma as a boy, then created a life that’s grounded in integrity, empathy, and trust.

You’ll discover:

• Peter’s early life experiences that shaped his leadership philosophy.
• The values that run through Peter’s book, Count On Me.
• Why vulnerability and humility strengthen leadership impact.
• Practical ways Shaw Communications fosters customer loyalty and trust.
• How employee engagement and customer feedback transformed company culture.

Watch the episode:

Connect with Peter

Peter’s Book

Count on Me: My Life, Lessons, and Legacy as Former President of Shaw Communications

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160: How to Unlock the Potential in Others

What if the most powerful thing you could do as a leader is to see greatness in others that they can’t see in themselves? That’s the philosophy that has guided Ken Crenshaw, longtime Director of Sports Medicine and Performance for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Drawing on values learned from his small-town ranch upbringing and a pivotal mentor in high school, Ken has built a leadership approach centered on service, humility, and love. His stories remind you that even the simplest principles, when applied consistently, can transform lives and teams.

In this conversation, you’ll hear how Ken integrates self-awareness, vulnerability, and authentic listening into his work with athletes and staff. He explains how culture is a living, breathing force that requires daily care, and why crucial conversations rooted in love are essential for growth. Whether you lead a business, a sports team, or a family, Ken’s wisdom will inspire you to slow down, listen deeply, and commit to helping others reach their full potential.

You’ll discover:

• How a high school coach’s tough love shaped Ken’s leadership philosophy.
• Why self-awareness and feedback are game-changers for leaders.
• The role vulnerability plays in accelerating personal and professional growth.
• Practical ways to build a culture rooted in love, trust, and shared purpose.
• How to recognize and call out the hidden potential in others.

Watch the episode:

Website

Arizona Diamondbacks

Related Podcast Episodes

230: Trust & Inspire: Unleash Greatness in Others

What if you could navigate even the most challenging conversations with calmness, clarity, and confidence? This in-depth conversation with David Wood explores just that, diving into how to communicate more effectively in high-stakes moments, whether at work or in life. David shares his unique approach to coaching and communication, combining emotional awareness with practical tools. His latest innovation, WhisperLead AI, helps leaders role-play difficult conversations, receive coaching prompts, and even get real-time support during live interactions.

Our discussion goes beyond mechanics to emphasize authenticity and vulnerability as leadership strengths. David unpacks common pitfalls in conflict—like poor framing, making assumptions, or avoiding others’ perspectives—and offers techniques for building trust and achieving shared outcomes. Whether you’re leading a team or seeking better communication in your personal life, this conversation delivers practical wisdom and fresh ideas you can start using immediately.

David left behind a high-powered career as a Consulting Actuary for Ford, Sony Music, and Chanel—trading Park Avenue boardrooms for a mission to transform lives and businesses. He didn’t just start a coaching business; he built the world’s largest coaching business at the time, ranking #1 on Google for “life coaching”, serving 150,000 coaches globally.

But David’s story is about more than success—it’s about resilience. He’s survived a paraglider collapse and a fractured spine, battled anxiety and depression, and most recently, took on acting in Hollywood! Today, he helps leaders 4X their clarity AND productivity, and to love their life.

You’ll discover:

• A powerful method for framing difficult conversations with positive intent
• Why asking for the other person’s perspective first can shift everything
• How AI tools like WhisperLead can coach you in real-time
• The link between vulnerability and stronger leadership
• A practical model for brainstorming solutions collaboratively

Watch the episode:

David’s Resources

Website

Focus.ceo

WhisperLead coaching tool

Free business/life assessment

Book

The Mouse in The Room—Because the Elephant Isn’t Alone

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100: Become More Focused, Fearless and Highly Productive

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

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

We don’t often hear the word LOVE used when describing the workplace. That’s about to change in this conversation with Jeff Ma and Chris Pitre, as we discuss their Wall Street Journal best-selling book, Love As a Business Strategy.

Written with two other senior leaders at Softway, the four authors identified six core pillars as a result of their journey to create a positive culture in their own company. Each chapter begins with a compelling story about one of the authors and what that individual learned. It’s truly a guidebook for developing the values and related behaviors that empower people to thrive.

Chris and Jeff are both senior leaders at Softway. Chris is Vice President, supporting sales, delivery, HR, and other back office operations. Jeff is Director of Project Management and Quality.

Together, they are co-founders of Culture+, a company with a mission to bring humanity back to the workplace. They teach companies how to create a positive culture based on the pillars described in their book.

You’ll discover:

• The unforgettable incident that served as a wake-up call to the leadership team at Softway
• The 6 pillars that form the foundation of a thriving workplace
• Why they go beyond Reflection and recommend Introspection
• How to empower someone from a place of vulnerability
• Why Forgiveness is essential to resolving hurts, disappointments, and other negative emotions

Watch the episode:

Connect with Jeff Ma

Connect with Chris Pitre

Resources

Website

Love As a Business Strategy

Book

Love As a Business Strategy: Resilience, Belonging & Success

Often leaders struggle with the best way to develop members of the younger generation entering the workforce. You’ll get great ideas and practical tips for Ariana Tadler in this high-energy conversation. Helping young adults create a successful career is a deep passion project for Ariana, based on her experience as an attorney, business owner, mentor, and mother.

You’ll want to take notes because Ariana drops lots of gems that can guide you in strengthening your relationship with the younger members of your team. Her vulnerability, openness, and curiosity as a leader have helped her build a strong team in her own firm.

Ariana is the founding partner of Tadler Law LLP, a women-owned boutique law firm that offers an array of litigation and legal counseling services. Ariana is one of the leading women litigators in the country. She has 30 years’ experience advocating for consumers and investors against corporate fraud and abuse.

Ariana is recognized as one of the nation’s leading authorities on electronic discovery. She pioneered the establishment of an e-Discovery Practice group within a plaintiffs’ firm structure 20 years ago. She’s also a professional and keynote speaker.

You’ll discover:

• The 3 core areas Ariana focuses on when mentoring young professionals
• Why communicating effectively in the workplace is challenging for those in the 18-35 age group
• How Ariana works with the young people in her firm
• What she does to help everyone on her team have open, honest conversations
• Actions Ariana takes to help young adults develop into strong leaders

Watch the episode:

Connect with Ariana

Ariana’s Website

Tadler Law LLP

How would you respond if you learned you had an illness that is likely to shorten your life? My guest Dr. Mark Goulston got that news, and it was a major wake-up call for him. He was inspired to create a series of videos on YouTube called, “I’m Dying to Tell You.”

This is a conversation you’ll want to listen to multiple times because it’s packed with so much life wisdom. Mark shares specific ways you can deepen the important relationships in your life…because, in the end, relationships are what matter most.

Mark is the host of the popular My Wakeup Call Podcast and the author of the best book you’ll ever read on the topic of listening, Just Listen.

You’ll discover:

• The power of true vulnerability in strengthening relationships
• How to approach a loved one if you’ve been too busy to listen to them
• Why it’s important for you to be the one to start a conversation
• The key question an executive can ask of every employee to create a positive culture change
• How to use HUVA when you’re in a conversation so the other person feels uplifted afterwards

Watch the episode:

Connect with Mark

Mark’s Resources

Website

Mark Goulston

Books

Just Listen

Talking to Crazy

Podcast

My Wakeup Call

YouTube Channel

I’m Dying to Tell You

Is there something you’d love to have but think it’s impossible for you to achieve? Listen to this inspiring conversation with Kimberly Wiefling, and you’ll likely see ways that you can, in fact, create what you want. Along the way, you’ll discover how the best leaders build trust with their teams through vulnerability.

Kimberly is the founder of Wiefling Consulting, and cofounder of Silicon Valley Alliances. She’s also the author of the globally popular book Scrappy Project Management: The 12 Predictable & Avoidable Pitfalls Every Project Faces. Her latest book, Turning Ideas Into Impact, is an anthology with 15 other Silicon Valley consultants.

Kimberly’s superpower is turning managers into leaders and groups into true teams who can achieve together what seems “impossible” but is merely difficult. She’s been described as a “force of nature,” and she’s determined to use that force to make a significant positive impact on our world.

You’ll discover:

• The key differences between managers and leaders
• What Kimberly did wrong when she managed teams early in her career
• Differences in the cultures of a typical Silicon Valley company compared to one in Japan
• How Kimberly helps leaders and teams believe the impossible is actually possible
• The importance of structuring the work environment to reinforce the culture

Watch the episode:

Connect with Kimberly

Kimberly’s Resources

Websites

Kimberly Wiefling

Silicon Valley Alliances

Scrappy Women in Business

Book

Scrappy Project Management

Amazon Author Page – All Books

We all know about the “elephant in the room.” But what about those less obvious thoughts and feelings you might be having?

My guest David Wood describes them in his captivating new book, The Mouse in The Room – Because the Elephant Isn’t Alone. You won’t want to miss out on the mice he names during our conversation…and the simple 3-D process you can use to determine if you want to bring them up.

We’re at a time when our world needs more vulnerability, transparency, and connection. David’s experiences make him the ideal person to teach us how to do that. He built the world’s largest coaching business and coached thousands of hours in 12 countries, and he’s advised business owners and leaders. The Mouse in The Room can be a powerful guide to fostering more connection, influence, and understanding with the people who matter to you, both at work and at home.

You’ll discover:

• What “mouse naming” is and why it’s important for your wellbeing
• What Toleration Mouse and Desire Mouse are connected to
• Why we tend to hide our mice…from ourselves and from others
• The impact that self-esteem has on our ability or willingness to identify mice and talk about them
• How to receive a mouse from someone else without getting defensive

Watch the episode:

Connect with David

David’s Website

Focus CEO

David’s Book

The Mouse in The Room—Because the Elephant Isn’t Alone

David’s Podcast

Tough Conversations Podcast