
Leader's Lens
Dive into the world of leadership with a cinematic twist on Leader's Lens, where movies meet management. Hosted by Jacob Espinoza, a leadership consultant turned non-profit director, and Cassidy Edwards, a visionary HR professional with a knack for building communities through compassion.
This dynamic duo unpacks leadership lessons hidden in the reels of their favorite films, offering actionable insights for today's leaders. Whether you're steering a Fortune 500 giant or nurturing a grassroots organization, Leader's Lens is your weekly dose of inspiration, blending storytelling with strategic leadership and HR wisdom. Subscribe to Leader's Lens for a unique blend of film analysis and leadership tactics, and let Jacob and Cassidy guide you through the challenges of leadership with lessons from the big screen.
Tune in, transform your leadership journey, and maybe even find your next favorite movie.
Latest episodes

Oct 17, 2023 • 29min
S4 E3: Win Like a Team, Fight Like a Team: Strategies for Addressing Team Conflict, with Phil Beckner
Learn from high-performance consultant Phil Beckner as he discusses resolving team conflict, understanding motivations, and the importance of self-belief in sports and business teams. Dive into strategies for effective conflict resolution and the impact of empathy and identity on leadership.

Oct 10, 2023 • 17min
S4 E2: Using the Thomas Kilman Conflict Mode Instrument To Improve Your Conflict Resolution Strategy
Explore the Thomas Kilman Conflict Mode Instrument and its impact on conflict resolution strategies. Learn about the importance of trust and communication in resolving workplace conflicts. Discover how effective communication can benefit new team leaders and boost productivity. Dive into the power of collaborative conflict resolution for creating a healthier work environment.

Oct 3, 2023 • 16min
S4 E1: Conflict Resolution 101
With US employees spending about 2.8 hours per week on conflict, costing a staggering $3.59 billion annually, it’s crucial for teams to have a healthy relationship with conflict and know how to resolve it effectively. In this episode of the Leader's Lens podcast, Jacob dives into the topic of conflict resolution and unpacks the importance of not letting conflicts escalate and turn into all-out tribal warfare. He explains why one of the most crucial steps a leader can take is to listen and understand where the other person is coming from. Jacob also highlights the need to address the root cause of conflicts rather than applying temporary solutions. And remember, if you have any questions about conflict resolution, you can always reach out to Jacob via email at jacob@workweek.com. 00:00:00 - The Cost of Conflict in the Workplace00:01:42 - How to Handle Conflict Effectively00:08:29 - Solving Team Conflict at the Root00:14:46 - Solving Problems: Avoid Band-Aid Solutions Follow Jacob:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakeespi/Twitter: https://twitter.com/MrJacobEspi Ready to unlock the secret to developing a healthy, happy, and more profitable team? Then check out my newest development course and learn to start leading from your team’s collective strengths. And if you’re looking for deep dives, tactics and the resources you need to up your leadership game, you need Leader’s Lens - Jacob’s twice-weekly newsletter. Sign up here: https://workweek.com/brand/leaders-lens/

Sep 26, 2023 • 19min
S3 E13: How Many Meetings Is Too Many— Unlocking Successful Team Communication Goals
In this solo pod, Jacob’s tackling audience questions and discussing the importance of communication and leadership. He shares valuable insights on setting boundaries, conducting effective meetings, and avoiding burnout as a leader based on his own personal experiences.Discover the benefits of implementing weekly all-hands meetings and one-on-one sessions with direct reports and how to communicate boundaries transparently without coming across as snarky. Why is taking time for yourself so crucial for being the best leader for your team? Additionally, Jacob delves into the issue of manager stress and disengagement, unpacking how it can negatively impact the overall workforce and providing foolproof strategies for leaders to avoid hyper-fatigue and maintain a healthy work-life balance. 00:00:11 - Improve Communication and Leadership Skills00:07:01 - Setting Boundaries for Leaders' Time00:11:38 - Avoiding Managerial Stress and Fatigue Follow Jacob:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakeespi/Twitter: https://twitter.com/MrJacobEspi Ready to unlock the secret to developing a healthy, happy, and more profitable team? Then check out my newest development course and learn to start leading from your team’s collective strengths. And if you’re looking for deep dives, tactics and the resources you need to up your leadership game, you need Leader’s Lens - Jacob’s twice-weekly newsletter. Sign up here: https://workweek.com/brand/leaders-lens/ Stop wasting time and money by churning through employees and missing business goals. The Predictive Index helps you create a people-focused strategy and provides a clear understanding of how to improve employee experience, morale, and performance, leading to higher productivity and better business results.https://trypi.com/leaders

Sep 19, 2023 • 25min
S3 E12: Time Management Tips and Leadership Hacks, with Gabrielle Blackwell
Join Jacob and good friend Gabrielle Blackwell as they discuss the importance of time management and organization in achieving your goals. Gabrielle shares valuable insights on setting objectives, creating a reward system, and implementing smart goals into your mission statement. They also delve into the power of consistent praise and recognition and how managers can shift their focus to reinforce the right behaviors. Don’t miss out on this super engaging conversation on effective leadership strategies—you won’t want to miss these game-winning insights! 00:01:15 - Recognizing the Right Behaviors in Leadership00:09:26 - The Power of Praise and Persistence00:15:52 - The Importance of Confidence in Marketing Plans00:20:49 - Mastering Time Management and Organization Follow Gabrielle: Newsletter: https://workweek.com/discover-newsletters/the-one-on-one/?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=one-on-oneLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielleblackwell/ Follow Jacob:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakeespi/Twitter: https://twitter.com/MrJacobEspi And if you’re looking for deep dives, tactics and the resources you need to up your leadership game, you need Leader’s Lens - Jacob’s twice-weekly newsletter. Sign up here: https://workweek.com/brand/leaders-lens/ Stop wasting time and money by churning through employees and missing business goals. The Predictive Index helps you create a people-focused strategy and provides a clear understanding of how to improve employee experience, morale, and performance, leading to higher productivity and better business results.https://trypi.com/leaders

Sep 13, 2023 • 35min
S3 E11: The Secret Ingredient to Becoming a Powerful Leader, with Ryan Vaughn
In this episode, Jacob sits down with Ryan Vaughn, the Founder and Wxecutive Coach of InsideOut Leadership, to discuss the importance of leadership development and self-inquiry. Ryan shares his insights on the secret sauce of powerful leaders, the value of vulnerability and commitment, and the need for middle managers to receive proper development. He also dives into the concept of creating psychological safety in the workplace and the role of risk-taking in innovation. And later, Ryan offers advice for leaders on getting started and navigating challenging situations. Don't miss this enlightening conversation on leadership and personal growth! 00:00:00 - Leadership Journeys with Ryan Vaughn00:00:49 - CEO Reflects on Leadership Journey00:06:39 - Setting Boundaries: Balancing Parenthood and Business00:07:30 - The Importance of Boundaries in Entrepreneurship00:13:44 - Leadership: Start with What's Interesting00:16:13 - The Secret Sauce for Powerful Leaders00:24:06 - The Importance of Accountability in Leadership00:25:35 - Common Misconceptions in Leadership Exposed00:28:03 - Self Work: Getting the Results You Want00:31:51 - Navigating Emotions: Conversations with Kids00:37:24 - Navigating the Challenges of Tech Innovation00:39:10 - Connect with People Through Newsletter Follow Ryan: Website: https://www.leadinsideout.ioLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanhvaughn/ Follow Jacob:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakeespi/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leaderslensTwitter: https://twitter.com/MrJacobEspi Ready to unlock the secret to developing a healthy, happy, and more profitable team? Then check out my newest development course and learn to start leading from your team’s collective strengths. And if you’re looking for deep dives, tactics and the resources you need to up your leadership game, you need Leader’s Lens - Jacob’s twice-weekly newsletter. Sign up here: https://workweek.com/brand/leaders-lens/ Stop wasting time and money by churning through employees and missing business goals. The Predictive Index helps you create a people-focused strategy and provides a clear understanding of how to improve employee experience, morale, and performance, leading to higher productivity and better business results.https://trypi.com/leaders

Sep 6, 2023 • 36min
S3 E10: Chris Pineda on Transformation, Vulnerability, and Becoming a Purposeful Leader
Join Jacob as he delves into the world of transformational leadership with Chris Pineda, the host of "The Rooted Leadership Podcast." Chris's unveils his journey through peace-building and conflict-resolution psychology which paved the way for his expertise in transformational leadership. Chris also explains how his fundamental beliefs in leadership are deeply rooted in showing leaders their higher purpose through an enlightened path to positive change.Chris later introduces his Rooted Framework, which simplifies complex concepts into relatable analogies. Discover how conflicts, much like weeds, can evolve from destructive to constructive forces, and why stress is a concept that is perceived through the eye of the beholder. Plus, Chris explains the role of vulnerability and accountability as catalysts for positive change and shares his personal story on how vulnerability brought him out of one of the darkest times of his life.0:00 Intro/Background1:35 The Principles of Transformational Leadership7:56 The Power of Knowing Where You Come From13:00 Emotional Intelligence and Leadership16:11 The Rooted Framework20:32 Setting “Do” Goals29:49 Getting VulnerableFollow Chris: Podcast: The Rooted Leadership PodcastLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-pineda-76762160/Follow Jacob:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakeespi/Twitter: https://twitter.com/MrJacobEspiAnd if you’re looking for deep dives, tactics and the resources you need to up your leadership game, you need Leader’s Lens - Jacob’s twice-weekly newsletter.Sign up here: https://workweek.com/brand/leaders-lens/Stop wasting time and money by churning through employees and missing business goals. The Predictive Index helps you create a people-focused strategy and provides a clear understanding of how to improve employee experience, morale, and performance, leading to higher productivity and better business results.https://trypi.com/leaders

Aug 29, 2023 • 31min
S3 E9: From Mergers to Outsourcing: Leadership Dynamics with Brian O’ Connor
In this week’s pod, Jacob chats with Brian O'Connor, a VIP in leadership strategy. Together, they unpack the DNA of great leadership, discuss the art of getting customers not just interested but downright ecstatic about your business, and unveil ways to recognize when it's time to pivot your strategy. Ever wondered about the right way to instigate change within an organization or the nitty-gritty of navigating mergers? Brian breaks it down, revealing his ambition matrix and highlighting the importance of staying true to your company’s core competencies. Plus, get exclusive insights on how tools like ChatGPT can redefine leadership frameworks. Whether you're leading a team or just starting on your leadership journey, this is an episode you won't want to miss! Follow Brian: Newsletter: The Outlier GrowthWebsite: https://w https://www.outliergrowth.com/subscribeww.outliergrowth.com Follow Jacob:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakeespi/Twitter: https://twitter.com/MrJacobEspi Ready to unlock the secret to developing a healthy, happy, and more profitable team? Then check out my newest development course and learn to start leading from your team’s collective strengths. And if you’re looking for deep dives, tactics and the resources you need to up your leadership game, you need Leader’s Lens - Jacob’s twice-weekly newsletter. Sign up here: https://workweek.com/brand/leaders-lens/ Stop wasting time and money by churning through employees and missing business goals. The Predictive Index helps you create a people-focused strategy and provides a clear understanding of how to improve employee experience, morale, and performance, leading to higher productivity and better business results.https://trypi.com/leaders

Aug 22, 2023 • 33min
S3 E8: Turning Workplace Duels into Duets with Charkie Quarcoo
Charkie Quarcoo, Program Manager of the Predictive Index, chats with Jacob about conflict resolution, empathetic leadership, and the power of positive feedback in the workplace. They discuss the importance of investing in team success, embracing conflict as a growth opportunity, and understanding and supporting others. The challenges of navigating conflict in a digital work environment are also explored.

Aug 15, 2023 • 18min
S3 E7: From $0 to $17.5 Million: Epic Gardening’s Founder on Scaling a Content Empire
How did the internet’s most successful gardening content creator go from homesteading in his backyard to garnering a multi-million dollar investment deal? Kevin Espiritu, founder of Epic Gardening, talks with Jacob about building out an ecosystem of content and finding ways to triple down and focus on the core pillars of your business that matter most. Kevin explains how he successfully scaled Epic Gardening by understanding that with any potential business deal, if it detracts your time and attention away from the most important aspects of your company, then it’s time to step away. Plus, he later shares the reasons why follow-through is crucial to the success of any content creator. Learn More About Epic Gardening: Website: https://www.epicgardening.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/epicgardeningYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/EpicGardening Follow Kevin: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinespiritu Follow Jacob:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakeespi/Twitter: https://twitter.com/MrJacobEspi Ready to unlock the secret to developing a healthy, happy, and more profitable team? Then check out my newest development course and learn to start leading from your team’s collective strengths. And if you’re looking for deep dives, tactics and the resources you need to up your leadership game, you need Leader’s Lens - Jacob’s twice-weekly newsletter. Sign up here: https://workweek.com/brand/leaders-lens/ Stop wasting time and money by churning through employees and missing business goals. The Predictive Index helps you create a people-focused strategy and provides a clear understanding of how to improve employee experience, morale, and performance, leading to higher productivity and better business results.https://trypi.com/leaders
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