Purpose Driven Innovation: One CEO’s Guide to Leading With Courage and Authenticity

When was the last time you paused before taking action to ask, “What problem am I really trying to solve?” In this episode, I sit down with Kendra MacDonald, CEO of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, to unravel what it means to lead with purpose in a rapidly changing world. The conversation starts with her daring career move from a global role at Deloitte to building a new organization from the ground up, which was fueled by a passion for meaningful innovation.

If you’ve ever questioned your own courage to change course or felt the tug-of-war between personal boundaries and professional expectations, Kendra offers practical wisdom. She talks through her steps to manage risk when taking on something new, using self-reflection rather than bravado to guide decision-making. Facing imposter syndrome? She’s been there too, and her advice is grounded and honest: focus on your unique contributions and let curiosity lead, especially when you’re the newcomer in the room.

For leaders building teams, or founders starting with just a vision, the conversation surfaces actionable insights such as the crucial role of constant communication, the importance of recognizing and rewarding small acts of courage in teams, and the need to set and protect personal boundaries to stave off burnout. Kendra is transparent about the challenges of remote work and the ongoing experiment to keep her own organization connected across digital distance.

True leadership is about the quality of the questions we ask ourselves and others. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about how we can do both.

What You’ll Learn

- Strategies for overcoming the fear of career pivots.

- How to motivate teams to embrace innovation… without being annoying!

- Balance operational realities with purpose-driven missions.

- Build a thriving remote team culture.

- Overcoming imposter syndrome and leading as an introvert.

Podcast Timestamps

(00:00) – Career Journey: From Deloitte to Ocean Economy

(07:06) – Innovating with Purpose: Framing the Right Problem

(09:45) – Courage to Change: Navigating Career Transitions

(12:29) – Building Organizations from the Ground Up

(15:17) – Setting Boundaries & Personal Clarity in Leadership

(18:13) – Leading as an Introvert: Speaking, Visibility & Energy

(24:28) – Top Leadership Qualities for Today’s World

(28:15) – Motivating Teams & Driving Innovation

(39:09) – Leading in AI & Tech-Driven Times

KEYWORDS

Positive Leadership, Innovation, Purpose-Driven Leadership, Career Transition, Technology Adoption, Artificial Intelligence, Continuous Learning, Remote Work Culture, Organizational Culture, Psychological Safety, Courage, Resilience, Authenticity, Global Mindset, Diversity in Leadership, Work-Life Boundaries, Imposter Syndrome, Trust, Team-Building, Ethics in AI, Burnout Prevention, Curiosity, Change Management, Mentoring, CEO Success