This week, we’re bringing back one of our most popular episodes of The Mike Method—a conversation with Dan Box, General Manager and Vice President of EA Ventures.

Dan and Mike explore how Electronic Arts (EA) is evolving from being purely a video game company into a community-driven organization. With over 700 million gamer accounts, EA is reimagining its future by investing in the creator economy, user-generated content, and new ways of connecting fans beyond the game itself.

Dan shares what it takes to lead through rapid change—emphasizing curiosity, emotional intelligence, and a willingness to ask better questions over sticking to rigid plans. Together, they unpack how leaders can spark innovation, navigate resistance, and create environments where creativity and adaptability thrive.

This episode isn’t just about gaming—it’s about the leadership mindset required to drive innovation, build meaningful communities, and stay ahead in a rapidly shifting world.

Episode Resources

Dan Box: LinkedIn

Electronic Arts

Hub Spot

Sonos

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What if every young woman entered adulthood already knowing her strengths, her values, and the power of her voice?

That is the vision driving Lauren MacKinnon, executive coach, leadership development facilitator, and founder of superpowHER, a youth leadership movement equipping the next generation with the confidence, skills, and values to lead with authenticity and impact. With more than 20 years in senior leadership, including serving as COO of a leading engineering firm, Lauren has guided hundreds of leaders through transformation and cultural change. Today, she is channeling that expertise into preparing young leaders for the complex challenges of the future.

In this episode of The Mike Method, Lauren shares why courage is the true starting point for growth, how peer groups can provide girls with a lifelong network of allies, and the cost of conforming to outdated definitions of leadership. She also reflects on how this work is transforming not only the girls she teaches but also herself as she sheds old layers of corporate conformity to lead with authenticity.

Listeners will walk away with both inspiration and a blueprint for equipping the next generation of women in leadership and reclaiming their own voices along the way.

Episode Resources:

Lauren Mackinnon: Website / LinkedIn

Own It: The Power of Women at Work by Sally Krawcheck

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GoMacro

Peloton

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One of the most listened-to episodes of The Mike Method is back — and it’s just as relevant today as when it first aired.

In this conversation, host Mike Desjardins sits down with Deborah Wong, Executive Leadership Development at General Motors, to tackle burnout, perfectionism, boundaries, and redefining success. They explore the lingering impact of the pandemic, the double-edged role of AI in productivity, and why vulnerability, balance, and a coaching mindset are essential for sustainable leadership.

With over 20 years of leadership and executive coaching experience, Deborah shares practical strategies leaders can put into action right now.

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite platform.

Episode Resources:

Deborah Wong: LinkedIn / Website

Multipliers by Liz Wiseman

ViRTUS: Website / Instagram / LinkedIn

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Thinkific

Fathom

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In this episode, Mike sits down with Dr. Patty Ann Tublin, a world‑class expert in emotional intelligence, communication, and human behavior. Founder of The Relationship Toolbox, bestselling author, high‑performance executive coach, and host of The Dr. Patty Ann Podcast, she’s worked with leaders at the highest levels — from the co‑founder of Netflix to the president of Starbucks.

Together, they dig into the real conversations most leaders avoid:

• Why 50/50 partnerships are a recipe for stalemate.
• How to foster healthy, ideological conflict without it getting personal.
• The signs your culture is quietly rotting from within.
• Why contracts won’t fix a trust problem — and what will.

Dr. Patti Ann shares how CEOs and COOs can stay aligned, the role emotional maturity plays in leadership, and why the best organizations aren’t “families” — they’re high‑performing teams that care for each other.

If you’re a founder, executive, or just someone who knows great leadership starts with great relationships, this one’s for you.

Episode Resources:

Dr. Patty Ann: Website

The Trust Doctor Podcast

Books By Dr. Patty Ann

Book: How to Change the World

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What does it really take to lead in a world that keeps shifting under our feet?

Mike Desjardins and Dr. Hilary Curry get into the real stuff of leadership—what actually matters now, and what’s going to matter even more in the future. They talk about how so many professionals are missing the mark on critical thinking, and how creativity (the kind AI just can’t touch) is becoming a serious competitive edge.

They reflect on how easy it is to miscommunicate when we’re not being intentional, and why emotional intelligence isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a must. Adaptability comes up a lot too: how do we stay grounded and flexible when the pace of change is relentless?

Failure comes up—not as something to avoid, but as something to learn from. And there's a big reminder here that time and attention are our most precious currencies. When we use them to build deeper connections and choose collaboration over competition, that’s where real momentum happens.

This one’s a thoughtful, energizing listen for anyone navigating leadership, change, or just trying to show up better—for themselves and their teams.

Episode Resources:

Dr. Hilary Curry

Learn more about Manager Essentials at ViRTUS

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What if your worst day was someone else’s dream come true?

In this powerful episode of The Mike Method, Mike Desjardins sits down with Spencer Lodge—a globally recognized sales leader, award-winning podcast host of Unscripted with Spencer Lodge, and founder of Make It Happen University—who shares the deeply personal journey that changed the way he defines success.

From building multi-million dollar businesses to helping rescue children from human trafficking, Spencer opens up about the shift from chasing status to living with purpose. You’ll hear how a conversation with a 14-year-old survivor changed everything, and how a chance meeting with a humanitarian sparked a new mission that now includes producing a documentary on human trafficking for Amazon Prime.

Spencer shares:

• How daily mirror conversations shape his mindset
• The power of rituals and perspective in staying grounded
• Why stress is often an illusion—and what to do about it
• How real leadership starts with kindness, not admiration
• This episode is a call to action. One that invites you to redefine success, reconnect with your purpose, and lead a life that truly matters.

Episode Resources:

Spencer Lodge: Youtube / Website

The Unscripted Podcast with Spencer Lodge

Learn more about Manager Essentials at ViRTUS

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In this episode, Mike sits down with Ahna Boley, founding member of Double A Labs — a platform designed to turn passive attendees into active participants. With a decade of experience building companies at the intersection of immersive events and gamified technology, Ahna brings a unique lens to the attention economy.

They dive into what it really takes to keep people engaged in a world full of distractions — from how our brains are being rewired by short-form content, to the power of intentional design in digital learning environments. Ahna shares how she blends creativity, tech, and human behavior to design experiences that don’t just capture attention — they build connection and belonging.

If you're designing anything — meetings, trainings, virtual events — this one’s packed with insights on how to make it matter.

Episode Resources:

Ahna Boley: LinkedIn

Learn more about Manager Essentials at ViRTUS

ViRTUS: Website / Instagram / LinkedIn

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What if your strategic plan is actually holding you back?

In this episode of The Mike Method, Mike sits down with leadership advisor and author Kevin Lawrence for a no-nonsense conversation about the often-misunderstood difference between improvement and growth. Kevin brings powerful insight from his decades of coaching CEOs, and he doesn’t shy away from the hard truths — especially the ones leaders need to hear. Kevin’s career spans over 25 years, across a dozen countries and four continents. He’s worked with hundreds of CEOs and executives, helping them to break through business challenges, grow their companies and find personal success along the way.

He introduces the concept of spatial disorientation in leadership — a condition pilots experience when they lose track of direction — and draws compelling parallels to what happens when CEOs get too caught up in day-to-day operations and lose sight of what really matters.

They dive into:

• Why writing a book is like building a company — painful, humbling, and ultimately transformative
• How strategic plans can become liabilities when they’re overly complex or not truly aligned with growth
• The crucial difference between improvement and growth — and why chasing efficiency might be pulling you away from long-term success
• The four forces of growth, and how great leaders learn to balance strategic vision with operational demands
• Why the messiness of growth isn’t something to fix — it’s something to embrace
• How simplicity in strategy leads to better execution and a more focused team
• Why performance cultures outperform comfort cultures every time
• And the mindset shift leaders need: focusing on opportunities, not just problems

Whether you're leading a startup or a seasoned organization, this episode will challenge you to rethink your approach to growth — and inspire you to lead from a place of clarity, not chaos.

Episode Resources:

Kevin Lawrence: Website

Your Oxygen Mask First: 17 Habits to Help High Achievers Survive & Thrive in Leadership & Life

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