

Leadership Powered by Common Sense
Doug Thorpe
Doug Thorpe is a performance-driven Senior Executive, Entrepreneur, Board Member, Thought Leader, and Consultant with more than 40 years of success in the financial services, executive coaching, oil & gas, and healthcare industries. Leveraging extensive experience in guiding business transformation for growth-oriented organizations, he is a trusted guide for mid-cap companies to large global enterprises requiring expert assistance with leadership development, team performance, employee engagement, culture shifts, and change management.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 3, 2026 • 0sec
When Illness Strikes: A Leader’s Guide to Surviving Cancer While Running Your Business
Introduction Well, hello again, everyone. This is Doug, and you’re on leadership powered by common sense. Today we’re going to touch on a topic that I think is very vital and important for leaders. What happens when you get sick? What, do you have a plan for that? You might have planned for everything else, […]
The post When Illness Strikes: A Leader’s Guide to Surviving Cancer While Running Your Business first appeared on Leadership Powered by Common Sense.

Jan 29, 2026 • 0sec
How AI is Shaping Future Jobs and Upskilling Strategies | Ep 459
Nathan Strum, entrepreneur and CEO of Abby who transformed reception services with an AI Receptionist, explains how AI is reshaping roles and upskilling paths. He recounts Abby’s move from human-first to AI-human blends. They discuss easing staff fears, training receptionists into tech roles like prompt engineering and QA, and where AI receptionists add the most value.

8 snips
Jan 27, 2026 • 0sec
Burnout Warning Signs Every Leader Needs | Ep 458
Charlene Gisele, a French-trained solicitor turned wellbeing and burnout expert who retrained in hypnotherapy, yoga and meditation. She recounts a health collapse that sparked her career change. The conversation highlights physiological and emotional warning signs, why high achievers ignore them, risky identity-driven quits, and practical daily habits and boundaries to protect long-term performance.

13 snips
Jan 22, 2026 • 0sec
Accountability Systems That Actually Drive Growth | Ep 457
Sarah Frasca, a performance-driven executive and entrepreneur behind Traska and Company Eatery, shares her journey from corporate life to restaurant ownership. She emphasizes the importance of accountability, redefining it as a motivational tool for high performers. Sarah discusses simplifying complex innovation processes, the challenges of scaling a business, and the significance of creating measurable scorecards for strategic success. She also reflects on cautious restaurant expansion and her adaptability during COVID, all while promoting her books on effective leadership.

Jan 20, 2026 • 0sec
Introducing the Triple Win Leadership Coaching Method | Ep 456
Introduction Hello again everyone. This is Doug Thorpe, and you’re listening to leadership Powered by Common Sense. If you’re out there doing your work and trying to find a win, how about a triple win? My guest today is going to show us a triple win for leadership coaching. His name is Will Linssen. And […]
The post Introducing the Triple Win Leadership Coaching Method | Ep 456 first appeared on Leadership Powered by Common Sense.

Jan 15, 2026 • 0sec
Five Levels of Workplace Deep Listening | Ep 455
Introduction Well, hello again everyone. This is Doug, and I hope you’re having a great day. If you’re off to a start already, or maybe wrapping up, depending on which part of the globe you might be in. But today my guest is going to help us with a subject that often comes up in […]
The post Five Levels of Workplace Deep Listening | Ep 455 first appeared on Leadership Powered by Common Sense.

9 snips
Jan 13, 2026 • 0sec
How Executive Assistants Power Strategic Business Growth
Monique Hellstrom, a seasoned executive assistant and coach, shares her journey with Simon Sinek, where she honed skills in organizing operations and strategic growth. She discusses the evolving respect for assistants and their crucial roles in partnerships. Monique highlights the importance of trust, confidentiality, and how AI can aid, rather than replace, assistants. She provides insights on leveraging strengths, enhancing productivity, and utilizing AI for effective communication in challenging situations.

17 snips
Jan 8, 2026 • 0sec
Introducing the Dream Think Do Leadership Framework | 26-453
Mitch Matthews, an author and speaker renowned for the Dream Think Do framework, shares his journey from a childhood bike shop to entrepreneurship. He emphasizes the significance of dreaming to combat stagnation, illustrating how vision work enhances team engagement and ownership. Mitch also encourages leaders to support personal dreams, fostering loyalty and performance. The conversation highlights the power of iterative hypothesis-driven planning and the importance of progress over perfection, making the framework applicable beyond entrepreneurship.

Jan 6, 2026 • 0sec
Leadership Science Creates Lasting Impact | Ep 26-452
In this engaging conversation, Margaret Moore (Coach Meg), a leadership and health coaching expert, shares insights from her diverse background in biotech and coaching. She discusses the blend of science and art in leadership, emphasizing emotional intelligence and the significance of psychological safety for fostering learning. Margaret explores concepts like servant leadership, autonomy, and the importance of flexibility in both thought and emotion. Her practical model aims to empower leaders to cultivate successors and create a lasting impact on their organizations.

Dec 23, 2025 • 0sec
Leadership After Workplace PTSD Recovery | Ep 451
Introduction Well, hello again, everyone. This is Doug Thorpe, and you are listening to Leadership Powered by Common Sense. Today we’re going to continue a journey in leadership development, talking about, it’s undeniable. If you’re going to develop as an effective leader, it’s got to start from within. And my guest has a compelling story […]
The post Leadership After Workplace PTSD Recovery | Ep 451 first appeared on Leadership Powered by Common Sense.


