In this conversation we dig into why ethical leadership is the engine of a coaching mindset. We define ethics vs. morality, and stress integrity — consistency between what leaders say and what they do — as the foundation of trust. We explore practical behaviors: transparency (and how to say “I can’t share that yet”), respect, confidentiality, and the courage to confront mistakes with dignity.

We also unpack values work and four pillars of personal integrity (self-awareness, self-legitimization, self-completion, self-love) as tools leaders use to make better decisions and model the behavior they expect. Finally, we discuss pitfalls (public feedback that misses its target) and leave listeners with concrete ways to bring ethics into everyday coaching conversations.

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In this conversation we explore why leaders who adopt a coaching mindset attract, develop, and retain top talent. We unpack practical habits—listening well, aligning personal and organizational values, and having short, high-quality coaching moments—that convert everyday interactions into growth opportunities. We discuss how visibility and emotional presence help teams navigate anxiety and uncertainty, why psychological safety matters more than ever, and how coaching conversations (even five minutes long) signal to candidates and employees that this is a place to learn and belong. We close with a look at team performance: why collaboration beats individual brilliance when leaders create the right environment.

➤ 📘 Pre-order the book: Lead With a Coaching Mindset — http://bit.ly/orderLeadwithaCoachingMindset

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In this episode we explore why a coaching mindset drives engagement, trust, and respect across teams. We discuss how leaders who prioritize curiosity, presence, and creating awareness turn everyday conversations into development opportunities. We cover when to flex between directive and coaching styles, how self-awareness shapes leader effectiveness, and practical steps to make conversations intentional rather than reactive. Listeners walk away with concrete tactics for building psychological safety, spotting blind spots, and holding people accountable without sacrificing empathy.

About the hosts: Damian Goldvarg brings frameworks from Lead With a Coaching Mindset and the ICF competencies to show how leaders design real learning processes. Elaine Padilla guides the dialogue, translating concepts into bite-size actions leaders can use in one-on-ones, team meetings, and performance conversations. Together they model the conversational patterns the episode promotes: listening first, asking better questions, and following up with clear agreements.

➤ 📘 Pre-order the book: Lead With a Coaching Mindset: How the Best Leaders Unlock Potential — http://bit.ly/orderLeadwithaCoachingMindset

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In this episode we explore how leaders navigate overwhelm and uncertainty while sustaining connection, learning, and forward motion. We discuss practical coaching habits — listening with empathy, pacing conversations so people are ready to move from grief to rebuilding, and using foresight to prepare for multiple scenarios. We examine how leaders balance human connection with technology adoption, when AI can augment basic coaching and when human wisdom and intuition remain essential. Listeners will leave with concrete prompts for empathic conversations and steps to coach change into their teams.

Andrea Chilcote brings three decades of executive coaching and organizational development experience as founder and CEO of Morningstar Ventures. She synthesizes frontline leadership work with research on post-pandemic needs and has written What Leaders Need Now to capture practical guidance for turbulent times. Andrea helps leaders build resilience, improve team cohesion, and align development practices with strategic change. Her focus on listening, empathy, and pragmatic foresight models the coaching mindset we recommend for sustaining engagement and catalyzing recovery.

➤ 📘 Pre-order the book: Lead With a Coaching Mindset: How the Best Leaders Unlock Potential — http://bit.ly/orderLeadwithaCoachingMindset

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In this episode we explore how a coaching mindset becomes a practical leadership advantage in volatile times. We hear Paulo Pisano reflect on the meta-competencies — curiosity, presence, active listening and openness — that he cultivates across teams at Booking and beyond. Paulo explains how coaching shifts our focus from fixing tasks to shifting the way we observe situations (first- and second-order learning), and why contracting, boundary-setting and offering help clearly are essential when coaching inside an organization. We share his tips for leaders: prioritize mindset before tools, keep practicing self-awareness, and design team spaces that turn individual expertise into coordinated impact.

Paulo Pisano brings decades of global HR and OD experience across more than 30 countries. An INSEAD MBA and UFRJ alumnus, Paulo blends strategy, M&A integration and executive coaching with somatic and ontological approaches. He has coached senior executives, designed leadership development, and led large transformation efforts in financial services, tech and energy. Currently Chief HR Officer at Galp, Paulo is also a NED/Trustee at Stir Education and an accredited ICF coach. His work models how coaching practices scale culture and improve organizational learning.

➤ 📘 Pre-order the book: Lead With a Coaching Mindset: How the Best Leaders Unlock Potential — http://bit.ly/orderLeadwithaCoachingMindset

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In this episode we explore how leaders create the conditions for high-performing sales teams. We talk with Susan Heiser, VP of Sales at MaryRuth Organics, about the habits that scaled a startup into a top retail brand: radical transparency from the top, empowering people to make decisions, and building a safe “try-and-learn” environment. Susan shares practical routines—brief daily check-ins, visible calendars, and public praise plus private correction—that keep teams aligned under pressure. She also describes how she turned a weakness (data fluency) into a strength by training and promoting from within, and why loyalty and willingness to learn often trump raw ability.

Susan Heiser brings 20+ years in food & beverage sales leadership to the conversation. As VP of Sales at MRO MaryRuth, LLC, she’s driven brand growth, managed national sales teams, and built strategic retail programs. With a law degree from Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Susan combines legal rigor with commercial savvy and a people-first approach. Her track record shows how coaching leaders can develop talent, retain employees, and turn setbacks into new opportunities.

➤ 📘 Pre-order the book: Lead With a Coaching Mindset: How the Best Leaders Unlock Potential — http://bit.ly/orderLeadwithaCoachingMindset

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We explore how to create exceptional employee experiences by centering inclusion, strong team design, and data-informed people practices. We walk through practical moves leaders can make — from intentional onboarding and talent conversations to workforce planning and performance management — that help employees see new possibilities and feel supported through non-linear career paths. We also discuss how empathy, skilled facilitation, and translating the stories behind the data lead to better decisions and sustained results.

We welcome Helena Curtis, a seasoned HR leader who builds values-driven workplaces where inclusion is foundational. Helena shares her playbook for getting the right people in the right roles, designing onboarding that sticks, using talent analytics to surface real employee needs, and creating tailored development paths. She explains why coaching, targeted workforce planning, and clear performance practices convert strategy into measurable outcomes — and offers quick tools listeners can start using this week.

Key takeaways: prioritize human-centered onboarding, listen for the employee story behind the metrics, invest in fair talent practices, and treat inclusion as daily practice rather than a checkbox.

➤ 📘 Pre-order the book: Lead With a Coaching Mindset: How the Best Leaders Unlock Potential — http://bit.ly/orderLeadwithaCoachingMindset

➤ 🌐 Learn more: goldvargconsulting.com

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In this episode we explore ethical leadership—why integrity matters and how values-driven decisions build trust across teams and institutions. Donna-Marie Darlington-Dawes draws on 25+ years at the World Bank Group, IFC and the UN to show how ethical practice underpins coaching, inclusion, and organizational resilience. We discuss concrete actions—modeling behavior, creating safe spaces, speaking truth to power, and advancing DEI through forums like Women of Courage—that help leaders act with courage, restore credibility, and sustain engagement. We also highlight common pitfalls and practical next steps.

Donna-Marie is a DEI and leadership expert with over 25 years across the World Bank Group, IFC and the United Nations. She has led signature programs: the World Bank Group Disability Inclusion Strategy, the Women of Color / Women of Courage forums, IFC’s Global Center of Excellence for Learning, induction redesign, and coaching programs for middle and senior managers. A PhD in Organizational Communication and Counseling Psychology, a certified executive coach and former instructor, she blends scholarship and hands-on program leadership to advance inclusive, values-based leadership globally.

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