When organizations face crises, change, or uncertainty, many leaders feel pressure to withdraw, control the narrative, or pretend they have all the answers.

Unfortunately, those behaviors often become the very trust breakers that damage teams and fuel fear.

In this episode of Leading Through Crisis, Céline Williams sits down with leadership development expert and bestselling author Amy Riley to explore how leaders can build trust during uncertain times—even when they don’t know what comes next.

They discuss why transparency matters, how silence creates stories, and what it truly means to lead with connection instead of control.

This conversation is essential for leaders, managers, and business owners navigating disruption, change, or high-pressure environments.

🔑 Key Topics:
- One of the biggest leadership mistakes made during crisis
- Why leaders don’t need all the answers
- Trust breakers to avoid
- Leading with connection, not control
- How to rebuild trust after a misstep

---

Amy L. Riley is an internationally renowned speaker, author and consultant. She has over 2 decades of experience developing leaders at all levels. Her clients include Cisco Systems, Barclays and Google Drive.

Amy earned a Master of Science in Training and Development (MSTD), with an emphasis in Organization Development (OD), from Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois. She is a Certified Professional Behavioral Analyst (CPBA), a certified Lead True Coach and is certified in the Myers-Briggs Type Instrument.

Her #1 international best-selling book is entitled "The Courage of a Leader: How to Inspire, Engage and Get Extraordinary Results."

Learn more and grab the book at: courageofaleader.com

Or connect with Amy on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/amyshoopriley) or Instagram (@courageofaleader).

Building Resilience, Confidence, and Human Connection

In this episode of Leading Through Crisis, John Kippen, a professional magician + resilience and empowerment coach, shares his powerful story of surviving a life-threatening brain tumor, living with facial paralysis, and rebuilding confidence through creativity, magic, and human connection.

He and Céline unpack practical tools for emotional regulation, mindset shifts, and navigating uncertainty without fear.

This conversation is a profound reminder that resilience is built and crisis can become an opportunity for growth and impact.

Whether you’re a business owner, executive, or leader navigating uncertainty, change, or burnout, this episode will challenge you to rethink failure, step outside your comfort zone, and reconnect with what truly matters.

Key topics covered:
▪️Leading through crisis vs. long-term adversity
▪️Building resilience and emotional regulation under pressure
▪️Confidence, failure, and mindset in leadership
▪️The power of authenticity and human connection
▪️Turning personal crisis into purpose and impact

A special offer for our listeners…
📘 Download John's bestselling book Playing the Hand You Are Dealt via johnkippen.com/freegift

—

John Kippen is a Speaker, Professional Magician, and Resilience and Empowerment Coach whose motto is, “Being different is your superpower.“ John helps his clients challenge their limiting beliefs to achieve their dreams and bounce back quickly from adversity.

💻 Learn more at johnkippen.com or connect with him on Facebook and Instagram.

In this episode, Bob Chonka and Jon Grannis of Sollah Interactive chat with us about one of the biggest issues facing organizations today: Are leaders truly equipped to guide their teams through challenging times and whatever comes next?

You'll hear:
- How leadership expectations have shifted with the rise of millennial leaders
- About the impact of technology on communication, and why relevance, realism, and relatability matter more than ever

We explore the role of healthy conflict, why unresolved tension creates dysfunction, and how organizations can build cultures where communication, collaboration, and psychological safety thrive.

Finally, we discuss:
- FOBO (the fear of becoming obsolete), especially among older generations
- How to break knowledge-hoarding behaviors
- Why mistakes should be leveraged instead of punished
-Why microlearning courses are the future of developing soft skills in a fast-paced, distracted workforce

Whether you lead a team, run an organization, or simply want to future-proof your career, this episode delivers practical, immediately applicable insights for staying strong, relevant, and equipped for whatever challenges come next.

---

Sollah provides fast, flexible workplace compliance and soft skills training solutions. We design for all training platforms and modalities, helping organizations aim their message, fulfill their learning goals, and achieve performance improvement by taking into account their audience, implementation needs, and ultimate performance objectives.

Learn more at sollah.com and connect with them on all social platforms @sollahinteractive.