Leadership NOW with Dan Pontefract
Dan Pontefract
Dan Pontefract is an award-winning author, leadership strategist, and culture change expert. Dan's podcast explores all aspects of leadership, organizational culture, purpose, and professional development.
Dan is the best-selling author of five books: WORK-LIFE BLOOM, LEAD. CARE. WIN., OPEN TO THINK, THE PURPOSE EFFECT, and FLAT ARMY. A renowned speaker, Dan has presented at four different TED events and also writes for Forbes and Harvard Business Review. Dan is an adjunct professor at the University of Victoria, Gustavson School of Business, and has garnered more than 20 industry awards over his career.
Previously, as Chief Envisioner and Chief Learning Officer at TELUS—a Canadian telecommunications company with revenues of $14 billion and 50,000 global employees—he launched the Transformation Office, the TELUS MBA, and the TELUS Leadership Philosophy, all award-winning initiatives that dramatically helped to increase the company’s employee engagement to record levels of nearly 90%. Prior to TELUS, he held senior roles at SAP, Business Objects, and BCIT. He is honoured to be on the Thinkers50 radar list.
Dan is the best-selling author of five books: WORK-LIFE BLOOM, LEAD. CARE. WIN., OPEN TO THINK, THE PURPOSE EFFECT, and FLAT ARMY. A renowned speaker, Dan has presented at four different TED events and also writes for Forbes and Harvard Business Review. Dan is an adjunct professor at the University of Victoria, Gustavson School of Business, and has garnered more than 20 industry awards over his career.
Previously, as Chief Envisioner and Chief Learning Officer at TELUS—a Canadian telecommunications company with revenues of $14 billion and 50,000 global employees—he launched the Transformation Office, the TELUS MBA, and the TELUS Leadership Philosophy, all award-winning initiatives that dramatically helped to increase the company’s employee engagement to record levels of nearly 90%. Prior to TELUS, he held senior roles at SAP, Business Objects, and BCIT. He is honoured to be on the Thinkers50 radar list.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 14, 2025 • 37min
James Root of Bain & Company - Designing Work Around Six Archetypes
James Root of Bain & Company unpacks "The Archetype Effect"—six distinct motivations that show up across roles, industries, and countries—and why a one-path ladder misses most of the value. We explore how to design work around what people actually care about, not what old systems assume.
We get practical: keep the ladder for Strivers while building credible paths for Artisans, Explorers, Givers, and Pioneers. We also push back on generational clichés and discuss how country context and career era shape what matters.
Finally, we look at older-worker design, the rise of interesting work and autonomy, and the importance of intentional knowledge capture so wisdom keeps moving. James points to Bain’s quick worker-archetype quiz as a low-stakes way for teams to compare notes and improve collaboration.
More information about James Root: https://www.bain.com/insights/books/the-archetype-effect/
More information about Dan Pontefract: https://www.danpontefract.com/
Sep 30, 2025 • 34min
CEO Victoria Tomlinson on Unretirement, Age Inclusion, and Older Workers
Victoria Tomlinson, chief executive of Next-Up, FRSA, BBC Expert Woman, bestselling author, TEDx and international speaker, explains how to value and invest in 50+ talent before and after retirement.
We explore the Three R’s—recruitment, retention, redundancy by age—succession done properly, tech confidence vs. capability, and intergenerational teams.
Victoria’s track record spans EY’s leadership team, 30 years at Northern Lights, and WILD Digital, plus her Re-think Retirement podcast.
At the age of 63, Victoria founded Next-Up, a firm that helps employers to maximize the value of 50+ workers, have difficult conversations, and remotivate employees in their last years at work.
More information about Victoria Tomlinson: https://next-up.com/
More information about Dan Pontefract: https://www.danpontefract.com/
Sep 26, 2025 • 50min
David Liddle on Rewriting People and Culture
David Liddle argues that legacy grievance and disciplinary procedures corrode trust, suppress performance, and institutionalize fear. In this conversation, the TCM Group and People and Culture Association founder outlines a practical reset: retire retributive processes in favour of an integrated resolution framework, build genuinely predictive People and Culture capability, and own the AI agenda with integrity.
We cover his Seven Cs of Transformational Culture, why compassion is a management discipline, how Resolution Centers and Culture Hubs operationalize values, and why early-career roles must not be sacrificed to short-term AI gains.
Leaders who equate control with accountability will find a different script here—resolution, inquiry, repair, and measurable cultural uplift.
For more information about David Liddle, visit: www.thetcmgroup.com
For more information about Dan Pontefract, visit: www.danpontefract.com
Jul 18, 2025 • 40min
Christa Haberstock on Being Bookable as a Speaker
What does it take to go from “nice-to-have” to non-negotiable?
In this episode of Leadership NOW, Dan Pontefract sits down with Christa Haberstock—founder of See Agency and Bookable Speakers, and author of Become a Bookable Speaker.
Together, they unpack what it means to lead with an “obvious advantage”—the kind of value that gets you rebooked, respected, and remembered.
From her early days selling keynote talent on 100% commission to building a cohort-based model for speaker development, Christa shares what leaders and speakers alike often miss: it’s not just about telling a story—it’s about solving a problem others can’t.
Clarity, community, strategic partnerships, and purpose aren’t just concepts—they’re prerequisites for relevance.
For more information about Christa Haberstock, visit: https://bookablespeakers.com/the-book
For more information about Dan Pontefract, visit: https://www.danpontefract.com
Jun 24, 2025 • 41min
Maria Franzoni on Bookability and Leading in the Speaking Industry
Maria Franzoni has booked Neil Armstrong and Liza Minnelli—and mentored hundreds of speakers in between. In this episode of Leadership NOW with Dan Pontefract, she explains what separates the truly bookable speaker from the rest, and how those same principles apply to leadership, business, and long-term impact.
We explore how speaker bureaus are evolving in an AI-enabled world, what event organizers actually want, and why celebrity status means far less than clarity, value, and being frictionless to work with. Maria also walks through her new model, The Bookability Formula, and why the most successful speakers aren’t always the most famous—they’re the most useful.
This is a masterclass in leadership positioning disguised as a conversation about keynote speaking. If you want to lead with more presence, pitch with more purpose, or build influence that lasts, you’ll want to listen through to the end.
Learn more:
Maria Franzoni: https://www.mariafranzoni.me
Dan Pontefract: https://www.danpontefract.com
Jun 18, 2025 • 39min
Mandy Gill on Grit, Goals & Getting Back Up
What do ultra-marathons, workplace distractions, and failed goals have in common? Mandy Gill. In this candid episode of Leadership NOW with Dan Pontefract, Mandy shares her journey—from overcoming anorexia to guiding leaders through resilience and workplace wellness. Her book "Reset with Resilience" is a blueprint for bouncing forward through setbacks.
We explore her signature “catch it, check it, change it” method, the psychology of negative thinking, and how reverse-engineering your goals can shift your trajectory. Mandy doesn’t sugarcoat it—she teaches resilience with precision, story, and lived truth. This episode is equal parts blueprint and mirror.
For more information about Mandy Gill visit: https://www.mandygill.com/book
For more information about Dan Pontefract visit: https://www.danpontefract.com
May 7, 2025 • 40min
Jennifer Fondrevay on Fixing the Human Side of M&A
When companies go through a merger or acquisition, most leaders obsess over financials and spreadsheets. But according to Jennifer Fondrevay—founder of Day1 Ready and author of Now What?—the real failure happens when leadership ignores people.
In this episode of Leadership NOW, we explore what really drives post-acquisition chaos, the arrogance of deal-making, and why culture buddies and pre-mortems are essential to getting it right.
If your company is planning a deal, this conversation is your human integration blueprint.
More information about Jennifer Fondrevay at https://jenniferjfondrevay.com/
More information about Dan Pontefract at https://www.danpontefract.com/
Apr 19, 2025 • 35min
Ageism is Hurting Your Organization with Maureen Wiley Clough
Maureen Wiley Clough, seasoned technology leader and host of the podcast It Gets Late Early, joins Dan Pontefract on Leadership NOW to discuss the overlooked yet costly issue of ageism in today’s workplaces.
Clough highlights why age diversity isn’t simply an ethical responsibility but a strategic advantage. She dismantles harmful myths about older employees’ technological capability, cost, and adaptability, and provides actionable insights for leaders on cultivating meaningful intergenerational mentorship and organizational resilience.
If your organization values inclusion, it’s time to start genuinely including older employees.
More about Maureen Wiley Clough: https://www.itgetslateearly.com/
More about Dan Pontefract: https://www.danpontefract.com
Apr 9, 2025 • 39min
CEO Gary Officer Wants Organizations to Stop Ignoring Older Workers
Gary Officer, President and CEO of CWI Labs, joins Dan Pontefract on Leadership NOW to discuss why organizations repeatedly overlook older workers—and why it's strategically and socially damaging.
Officer explains how ageism impacts organizational productivity, innovation, and culture. He debunks common myths around older employees' technological skills, health care costs, and salary expectations, offering compelling insights and examples of successful intergenerational teams.
This episode highlights why age inclusiveness isn't simply about fairness; it's a crucial competitive advantage.
For more information about Gary A. Officer visit: https://www.cwilabs.org/
For more information about Dan Pontefract visit: https://www.danpontefract.com/
Apr 6, 2025 • 36min
Author Faisal Hoque on Preserving Humanity in the Artificial Intelligence Era
In this insightful episode of Leadership NOW, Dan sits down with entrepreneur and acclaimed author Faisal Hoque to discuss the transformative power—and hidden perils—of artificial intelligence. Drawing from his latest book, "TRANSCEND: Unlocking Humanity in the Age of AI," Faisal explores why the greatest leadership challenge today is balancing AI’s vast potential with human judgment, ethics, and dignity.
Faisal and Dan dive deep into practical frameworks leaders can immediately use to guide AI ethically and strategically. From addressing algorithmic bias to maintaining authentic human connections in increasingly automated workplaces, they unpack why leadership in the AI age demands clarity, compassion, and purpose.
Join this critical conversation to learn how to ensure your organization’s smartest technologies amplify human strengths rather than undermine them.
For more about Faisal Hoque visit: https://faisalhoque.com/
For more about Dan Pontefract visit: https://www.danpontefract.com/
