Connected Leadership with Peter Boyd

Kola Masha, an entrepreneur and co-founder of Babban Gona, shares insights from his journey from music and TV to engineering and social entrepreneurship. He discusses the importance of disciplined leadership in doubling smallholder farmers' incomes through holistic support. Kola highlights the role of AI in enhancing education and health services, as well as how patience and delegation are crucial for scalable impact. With a focus on comprehensive systems that strengthen food security and mobility, his vision redefines leadership and purpose-driven business.

In this engaging discussion, Pat Mitchell, a trailblazing media executive and advocate for women's leadership, reflects on her remarkable career. She shares how her grandmother's wisdom and experiences in conflict zones shaped her forward-moving mindset. Pat emphasizes the importance of 'dangerous leadership'—speaking up and showing up in challenging times. She also discusses her work with Project Dandelion, supporting women-led climate solutions, and advocates for authentic female leadership styles. Her passion for mentorship and inclusivity shines through, inspiring future generations.

Innovation strategist and entrepreneur John Duffield shares an extraordinary journey through two open-heart surgeries—an experience that reshaped his understanding of purpose, leadership, and the future of patient care. Merging his technical expertise with personal experience in the healthcare system, John works to redefine the patient journey and how technology can support patients during their most critical moments. He tells stories of his own; using AI to translate complex diagnoses into metaphors his children could understand and developing models to ease the fear and uncertainty leading up to surgery. This episode dives into resilience the unexpected ways purpose reveals itself — in critical moments when a sudden health crisis becomes a catalyst for personal transformation.

Franziska Weiss, a Munich-based business coach, transformed her life at 40 after a lengthy career in corporate PR. She discusses embracing individuality as a 'sparkling domino' to inspire others and the importance of aligning team values for collaboration. Franziska shares her journey from the automotive industry to coaching, emphasizing personal fulfillment and authentic leadership. She explores the concept of organizational systems through an iceberg metaphor, revealing hidden complexities and advocating for trust and connection to drive meaningful change.

In this inspiring episode of the Connected Leadership podcast, Peter Boyd sits down with Brian Petula a lawyer, entrepreneur, EMT, and Pennsylvania Department of Corrections officer, who shares his powerful journey from rural roots to a purpose-driven life of service. A former student of the Connected Leadership course, Brian reflects on how the course shaped his leadership style, the importance of living with purpose, and his frontline experience transforming lives in corrections. This conversation is a deep dive into authentic leadership, system change, and human potential.

Laura Sievert Hesseltine is the Executive Director of Arts Quincy, the oldest arts council in the U.S., where she champions community engagement and cultural transformation. With a background in corporate marketing and a passion for creativity, Laura shares her journey from leading large-scale retail marketing campaigns to revitalizing the arts sector in rural Illinois. She discusses the power of the arts in shaping communities, the importance of making culture accessible to all, and how she applies business principles to nonprofit leadership. Laura also reflects on connected leadership, continuous learning, and how small, intentional steps can drive meaningful change.

Jigar Shah, Director of the Loan Programs Office at the U.S. Department of Energy and founder of SunEdison, shares his journey in clean energy finance. He discusses the importance of aligning capital with sustainable technology and the challenges in commercializing renewable energy solutions. Jigar emphasizes the evolution of leadership from individual excellence to team success, advocating for servant leadership and collaboration. He also highlights the rising trend of stable investments on the East Coast and the critical role of effective communication in achieving impactful climate goals.

Jens Molbak, founder of Coinstar, WinWin, and NewImpact, shares his vision for leveraging tri-sector innovation aligning resources from businesses, nonprofits, and government to create systemic change. He discusses how his experience building Coinstar shaped his understanding of scalable impact and how NewImpact is pioneering a data-driven approach to solve complex societal challenges. Jens highlights the importance of collaboration across sectors, identifying underutilized assets, and shifting mindsets to unlock greater efficiency and innovation. This episode offers valuable insights on designing solutions that maximize shared value and create lasting social and economic benefits.

Tarek Mouganie is the founder of Affinity, a digital bank revolutionizing financial inclusion in sub-Saharan Africa. With a background in engineering, physics, and finance, Tarek’s journey has been shaped by his desire to build platforms that unlock human potential. In this episode, he shares how his experiences from growing up in Ghana to his academic path at Cambridge and Imperial College led him to create a banking solution for underserved populations. Tarek discusses the challenges of launching a bank, the impact of financial access on small businesses, and his personal evolution as a leader. He also reflects on his time as a Yale World Fellow, where he explored how to scale his mission while maintaining personal balance.

Discover how to lead effectively within teams, even without formal authority. Explore the Connected Leadership Framework for aligning personal purpose with team goals. Learn about the strategy pyramid to create a shared vision and prioritize tasks. Gain insights into active listening and delivering impactful feedback using the SBIFF model. Delve into purpose mapping to align individual and team missions. Uncover techniques to manage team dynamics and foster collaboration for lasting impact.