In this final episode of the season, we dive into a question every coach and leader grapples with: Are emotions getting in the way… or guiding the way?

Emotions can stop progress in its tracks or unlock the deepest moments of insight. How we understand, work with, and harness them determines whether conversations remain surface level or transform into powerful turning points.

To explore this, I’m joined by a global icon in the coaching world: Dr. Marcia Reynolds past President of the International Coaching Federation, bestselling author of Coach the Person, Not the Problem, and a pioneer in using emotional connection to evoke meaningful insight. With her deep grounding in neuroscience and decades of experience, Marcia helps us rethink emotions not as disruptions, but as data that can reshape awareness and spark change.

Together, we unpack:
✨ How to tell when emotions move a client forward — or keep them stuck
✨ Why many coaches fear emotional depth, and how to reframe emotions as allies
✨ The role emotional awareness plays in creating breakthrough insight
✨ How to stay present with strong emotions without being pulled into the story

Plus, Marcia joins us for a rapid-fire round where she shares her go-to book recommendation, her pre-session ritual, and the emotional superpower she claims as her own.

As we close the season, this episode is a reminder: emotions aren’t noise they’re signals. When we learn to pause, pay attention, and stay curious, we open the door to deeper conversations, greater clarity, and lasting transformation.

Tune in, reflect, and let this final episode guide you into more courageous emotional spaces with yourself and with others.

In a world where uncertainty and complexity have become constant companions, leaders can no longer rely solely on experience or expertise. What separates effective leaders today is maturity the ability to regulate emotions, navigate ambiguity with clarity, and respond rather than react.

In this episode of Ei Café with Azeem, we explore what it truly means to lead with maturity in today’s unpredictable environments.

My guest, Anne Duvaux, is a neuroscience coach and counsellor specialising in adult development and leadership maturity. Anne brings a rare combination of lived experience and scientific insight from her early career as a chartered mechanical engineer to senior roles in HR and leadership development across Asia and Europe. With over a decade of coaching experience and a multicultural background shaped by living in 8 countries across 3 continents, she helps leaders understand how the brain, behaviour, and maturity evolve under pressure.

Together, we dive deep into:

• What “leading with maturity” really means beyond age or seniority

• Why uncertainty often triggers fear-based decisions and how to shift from reaction to response

• How emotionally mature leaders create psychologically safe and resilient teams

• How different generations experience and express maturity and why generational conditioning can either expand or hinder leadership development

• The crucial role of Emotional Intelligence in accelerating maturity, especially in environments filled with ambiguity, conflict, or rapid change

• The ways organizations either enable or block mature leadership at scale

This conversation brings a powerful mix of neuroscience, emotional intelligence, and practical leadership wisdom — offering a clear roadmap for anyone trying to lead with clarity in a foggy world.

🔗 Connect with Anne on LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/in/anne-duvaux

In a world obsessed with productivity, deadlines, and efficiency, we often forget the one thing that made us most creative as children—play. But what if the same playful energy could unlock innovation, connection, and strategy in the boardroom?In this episode, we explore how the tiny LEGO® bricks you once played with as a child are now powerful tools for serious transformation in the workplace.

Yes, it’s not just play—it’s a strategic catalyst for trust, collaboration, and performance.LEGO® Serious Play® (LSP) isn’t about building castles or cars—it’s about building conversations, clarity, and confidence. At both individual and organizational levels, this structured method of play invites people to bring their whole selves—especially their “child self”—into spaces where real psychological safety and breakthroughs can happen. It transforms how teams align, communicate, and co-create solutions.

Key Insights from the Conversation with Michael Fearne Michael Fearne’s work with LEGO® Serious Play® (LSP) challenges the traditional notion that creativity is a “nice-to-have” in business. He shared rich, thought-provoking insights on how structured play can unlock transformation in even the most structured environments:

1. Rediscovering Play as a Strategic Tool Michael’s personal discovery of play later in life serves as a reminder that play isn’t reserved for children—it’s a powerful enabler of insight and outcome. In corporate settings, it provides a safe space for new thinking, divergent perspectives, and reflective dialogue.

2. Reclaiming the “Child Self” in the Corporate WorldIn today’s fast-paced, high-pressure work environments, most people operate from their “Work Self,” often suppressing their natural creativity and spontaneity. LSP reintroduces the “Child Self” in a professional context—not as a regression, but as an accelerator for empathy, openness, and fresh thinking.

3. Psychological Safety Through PlayTrust and connection are not built through policy—they’re built through experience. Playful methods like LSP create emotional safety, encouraging people to share, challenge, and co-create without fear. This environment is crucial for inclusive dialogue, stronger team dynamics, and accelerated alignment.

4. Structured Play with Clear PurposeLSP is not about building for fun; it’s play with a purpose. Sessions begin with a defined outcome and are intentionally designed to surface insights, solve challenges, and align people around common goals. It’s not chaotic—it’s structured creativity that leads to measurable outcomes.

5. Creating the “Aha!” Moment for EveryoneOne of the most powerful aspects of LSP is that it doesn’t just spotlight the loudest voices. Every participant has a chance to externalize their thinking, visualize their perspective, and experience personal breakthroughs—driving collective clarity and buy-in across the room.

6. Invest in Expertise for Real ImpactMichael emphasized that the value of LSP lies not just in the bricks, but in how they’re used. Organizations serious about transformation should engage certified LSP facilitators, ensuring that sessions are expertly guided to maximize business and cultural impact.

Key Takeaway:

1.Are we creating workplaces where innovation can truly breathe?

2.This episode highlights a fundamental shift in how we approach growth, connection, and performance:

3.Play is not the opposite of work—it’s the pathway to better work.

4.Structured play opens space for psychological safety, collaborative problem-solving, and deep engagement.

5.It enables leaders to listen differently, teams to think visually, and organizations to build trust brick by brick.

About the Guest – Michael Fearne is the Founder of LSP Method and author of The LSP Method book. He’s a global facilitator and a leading voice in bringing LEGO® Serious Play® into strategy, culture, and innovation conversations within organizations.

📘 Connect :🌐 www.lspmethod.com or 🔗 LinkedIn :