What can a first-generation refugee teach us about courageous, purpose-driven leadership?

Andrew Tallents interviews Van Ton-Quinlivan, CEO of Futuro Health and national expert in workforce development. Van shares her childhood journey escaping Vietnam, her parents’ resilience, and the experiences that shaped her mission to expand opportunity for others. She reflects on leading the largest community college system in the US, founding a nonprofit now active in 10 states, and learning to lead through influence rather than authority.

Van also discusses the demographic reality facing healthcare, the shrinking working-age population, and the urgent need to rethink how society values and rewards caregivers.

Key Topics

• Purpose-driven leadership
• Leading through influence
• How to take feedback well
• Workforce development models
• Healthcare staffing challenges
• Leadership storytelling
• Aligning work with purpose

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction

00:27 Van’s background

03:00 Taiko drumming and hobbies

04:20 Childhood, Vietnam War, and resilience

08:30 Finding courage to lead and start over

13:00 Learning to accept feedback

17:30 Early career lessons

21:00 Aligning purpose and work

28:00 Workforce partnerships

32:00 Becoming more human as a leader

35:00 The future of healthcare

38:00 How to connect with Van

Guest Bio

Van Ton-Quinlivan is the CEO of Futuro Health, former Executive Vice Chancellor of the California Community Colleges, author, podcaster, and national leader in workforce development. Her work has been featured by WHO, BBC, the UN General Assembly, and G7 Canada.

Connect with Van Ton-Quinlivan:

• Connect with Van Ton-Quinlivan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vtquinlivan/
• Write to Van: partnership@futurohealth.org
• Check Van’s website: https://futurohealth.org/

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Are you leading for validation, or for something that actually matters?

In this episode, I speak with Gina Panayiotou, maritime lawyer turned sustainability strategist and founder of Oceans Arena, about her shift from chasing external recognition to building a leadership path rooted in authenticity, purpose and impact.

With over a decade in the maritime industry (advising international organizations, startups and NGOs), Gina shares how letting go of performance-based leadership allowed her to reconnect with what truly energizes her. Today, she empowers others through sustainability strategy, board leadership at WISTA and coaching for women navigating traditional industries.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. How to recognize when confidence is masking disconnection from your values
2. Why showing vulnerability makes you a more trusted, engaged leader
3. What it means to find your “true north” beyond titles and expectations
4. How to shift from authority-based leadership to collaborative, purpose-driven influence
5. Simple practices for building self-awareness and identifying what fuels vs. drains you

Key topics:

• Leadership identity and authenticity
• Sustainable career transitions in traditional industries
• Women in maritime and purpose-led influence
• Impact-driven business strategy and self-leadership

Gina’s story is a timely reminder that real leadership isn’t about performing, it’s about aligning your values with your actions to create change that lasts.

📣 If this episode resonated with you, hit like, share your takeaway in the comments, and subscribe for more honest conversations on leadership, sustainability and self-awareness.

• Connect with Gina Panayiotou on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginapanayiotou/

• Write to Gina: gplegalportal@gmail.com

• Check Gina’s website: https://www.oceans-arena.com/

🎬YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@andrewtallents

📲 X: https://x.com/andrewtallents

📲 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewtallents

🌐 Website: https://www.tallents-partnership.com/

📖 Get my book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09NZRZH4J

📰 Weekly Newsletter: https://bit.ly/selfcoaching-newsletter

📞 Write me: team@tallents-partnership.com

00:00:00 – Introduction & Gina’s mission with Oceans Arena

00:03:30 – Performing leadership vs. embodying it

00:08:15 – The mindset shift: Finding her true north

00:14:50 – Vulnerability and trust in leadership

00:22:10 – Advice for leaders feeling misaligned or stuck

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What happens when a leadership coach loses connection with himself?

In this episode, I speak with Olivier Malafronte, French entrepreneur and pioneer in AI-powered coaching, whose work bridges cutting-edge technology with deep self-awareness. From founding startups to becoming a father, Olivier reflects on how personal growth, emotional complexity and professional ambition intersect - and how easy it is to lose balance when self-awareness takes a back seat.

A PhD researcher in AI coaching and leadership development, Olivier opens up about how childhood loneliness shaped his need for connection, how fatherhood reshaped his definition of success and why even experienced coaches must return to self-reflection to lead effectively.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. How family dynamics shape leadership behavior and relational patterns
2. Signs you're disconnected from yourself and how to realign before burnout hits
3. Why openness and vulnerability are essential in high-performance environments
4. Practical ways to integrate self-awareness into fast-paced leadership
5. How AI coaching enhances self-leadership by sharpening reflexivity

Key topics:

• AI coaching and leadership development
• Entrepreneurial self-awareness and emotional regulation
• Balancing fatherhood and professional ambition
• Building trust through authenticity in leadership

Olivier’s story is a raw, thoughtful reminder that growth isn’t just about moving forward, it’s about pausing to reconnect with the person behind the title.

📣 If this episode challenged how you think about leadership, hit like, drop your insight in the comments and subscribe for more honest conversations at the intersection of business, self-awareness and innovation.

• Connect with Olivier Malafronte on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliviermalafronte/

• Write to Olivier: olivier_2203@hotmail.fr

• Check Olivier’s website: https://www.magif.ai/

🎬YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@andrewtallents

📲 X: https://x.com/andrewtallents

📲 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewtallents

🌐 Website: https://www.tallents-partnership.com/

📖 Get my book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09NZRZH4J

📰 Weekly Newsletter: https://bit.ly/selfcoaching-newsletter

📞 Write me: team@tallents-partnership.com

01:22 - Olivier's Background and Current Focus

02:59 - Childhood Shaping: Only Child and Brotherhood Values

10:59 - Parental Influence and Freedom to Choose

13:56 - Early Career Challenges and Serendipitous AI Discovery

23:48 - Self-Leadership Lessons and Waiting for Events

31:03 - The Future of AI Coaching and Reflexivity

34:09 - Future Focus and Contact Information

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