

Unlabeled Leadership
Gary DePaul
Unlabeled Leadership is a volunteer-led service that shares stories about leadership. Rather than using labels that mystify and obscure the meaning of leadership, Gary DePaul and guests share personal leadership stories. Listeners are from 90 countries and 1,030 cities (or territories). 32 podcast platforms broadcast Unlabeled Leadership episodes.
About Gary A. DePaul, PhD: https://www.garyadepaul.com
About Gary A. DePaul, PhD: https://www.garyadepaul.com
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 26, 2022 • 19min
141: Keith E. Smith on Cultivating A Better Path
I invite guests to share personal stories about acts of leadership that help shape their lives. In Episode 141, Keith E. Smith talks about his transformational journey and how he strengthened his leadership. He talks about how his company was initially affected by COVID but then how his people made a difference in the medical community. Keith then advises us about prioritizations.
Prologue
Keith E. Smith, CEO of Vonco Products, a leading medical device contract manufacturing and consumer flexible packaging producer, has made some recent life-balancing changes that opened him to lead more through connection than strategy. His company has a powerful core value: “We care more: About each other; About our customers; About patients and consumers.”
01:08 Part 1: Intelligence and Knowledge May Be Necessary but Not Sufficient
Keith describes his journey about how he transformed his life at and outside of work.
08:23 Part 2: We Care More
When COVID started, Keith talks about how his company was initially affected. He then explains how the people at Vonco rose to the occasion to make a difference by filling gaps in medical supplies.
13:47 Part 3: Flip It
Keith advises us to change how we prioritize and rethink what’s important.
_________________________________
Robynne Orr is the opening voice narrator. To learn more about her amazing storytelling capabilities, visit Robynne’s website, R.ORR.
Transcript through Otter (expect some inaccuracies)
Episode links
Keith’s LinkedIn Profile and website
His company’s website
Two of Keith’s articles:
Unlocking The Potential of Having It All: Part I – The Path of Force
Unlocking The Potential to Having It All: Part II, The Path of Power
Gary DePaul’s website
Gary's books:
What the Heck Is Leadership and Why Should I Care?
Nine Practices of 21st Century Leadership (Second Edition)
The 2022 HRBP Report (free formats available)
Lead on!

Apr 19, 2022 • 23min
140: Mike Watson and The Pursuit of A Noble Purpose
I invite guests to share personal stories about acts of leadership that help shape their lives. In Episode 140, Mike Watson explains something his father said that helped him as a branch manager. He then shares a story about a CEO candidate who didn’t get the job and what happened next. Finally, Mike shares three ways to strengthen how we lead.
Prologue
If you are in the greater Vancouver area, look for Mike. He gets leadership and curates his knowledge and experiences in his new book, Rise Up: Leadership Habits for Turbulent Times. Mike has a strategic planning process that draws the best from executive teams.
01:34 Part 1: Not Telling How
Mike talks about his experience as a first-time branch manager. He explains something that his father said to him.
08:11 Part 2: Rigorous Boot Camp Exercise
In this story, Mike explains how a candidate for a CEO position didn’t get the job and why. It is a fantastic story of determination to change for the better.
18:14 Part 3: Help Them to Be at Their Best
Mike advises us on how we can be more effective at leadership. He shares three things you can begin doing immediately.
_________________________________
Robynne Orr is the opening voice narrator. To learn more about her amazing storytelling capabilities, visit Robynne’s website, R.ORR.
Transcript through Otter (expect some inaccuracies)
Episode links
Mike’s LinkedIn Profile, Twitter
Ignite Management LinkedIn company profile, website, YouTube, Twitter
Mike’s book, Rise Up
Adam Grant’s book, Think Again
Gary DePaul’s website
Gary's books:
What the Heck Is Leadership and Why Should I Care?
Nine Practices of 21st Century Leadership (Second Edition)
The 2022 HRBP Report (free formats available)
Lead on!

Apr 12, 2022 • 21min
139: Katherine McCord Is Inclusive and Embraces Diverse Needs
I invite guests to share personal stories about acts of leadership that help shape their lives. In Episode 139, Katherine McCord shares an insightful comment made by her father that helped how she lives her life. She then describes a high performer who started working for her that didn’t start by performing well. She explains what her spouse did to improve the employee’s performance. Katherine ends by advising how we can lead more effectively.
Prologue
Katherine is the President of the recruiting and consulting organization Titan Management, and the inventor of the anti-bias Applicant Tracking System, Titan ATS
02:06 Part 1: Resilience and Determination
08:52 Part 2: Bouncing on A Ball
15:28 Part 3: Inclusiveness, Learning, and Firing
_________________________________
Robynne Orr is the opening voice narrator. To learn more about her amazing storytelling capabilities, visit Robynne’s website, R.ORR.
Transcript through Otter (expect some inaccuracies)
Episode links
Katherine’s LinkedIn Profile, website, Facebook
Podcast, Career Launch Live
Two of Katherine’s articles:
Recovering the Personal Touch in Recruiting
Neurodiversity in the Workplace
James C. Hunter’s book, The Servant
Gary DePaul’s website
Gary's books:
What the Heck Is Leadership and Why Should I Care?
Nine Practices of 21st Century Leadership
The 2022 HRBP Report
Lead on!

Apr 7, 2022 • 12min
138: Ed Muzio, Iterative Management, DEI, and Welcoming Conflict (bonus)
Episode 138 is a bonus episode that continues the Episode 137 discussion about DEI and cultural management. Ed Muzio describes Iterative Management, the challenge to adapt when things change, and welcoming conflict.
Prologue
Ed Muzio is an engineer who evolved his practice to management consulting. Whether at the c-suite or frontline, Ed helps teams learn to adapt and think systemically and iteratively. Ed has authored three books, including Iterate, now available as an audiobook. Ed also wrote the forward to the Nine Practices of 21st Century Leadership book.
00:58 Part 1: Performance and Iterative Management
Ed describes Iterative Management and the challenge to adapt when circumstances change.
05:54 Part 2: Small Changes Can Make A Difference
Ed advises us to acknowledge and handle conflict.
_________________________________
How You Can Support the Show
To support the show, make a $0.99 donation. Your support reduces production expenses. https://anchor.fm/unlabeled-leadership/support
Robynne Orr is the opening voice narrator. To learn more about her amazing storytelling capabilities, visit Robynne’s website, R.ORR.
No transcript available (future enhancement)
Episode links
Ed’s LinkedIn Profile, website, Twitter, Facebook, video library
Referenced whitepaper, Plant Your DE&I Initiative in a Greenfield, Not a Minefield
Ed’s books
Iterate
Make Work Great
Four Secrets to Liking Your Work
Ed’s previous podcast episodes
137 Ed Muzio, Culture, DEI, and Systemic Thinking
109 Ed Muzio Demystifies Culture
033: Ed Muzio Upgrades Managerial Teams
Neel Doshi and Lindsay McGreager’s book, Primed to Perform
Edith Eva Eger conflict quotation (#37. A Couple that Doesn’t have fights, don’t have intimacy either)
Background Music
You can find all the musical tracks at Envato Elements.
00:14 Theme music: Uplift Corporate Inspire by OlexandrIgnatov
00:41 Women's Day by GentleJammers
05:36 Corporate Uplifting by Alex_MakeMusic
10:59 Fun and Flirty by BrownHouseMedia
Lead on!

Apr 5, 2022 • 28min
137: Ed Muzio, Culture, DEI, and Systemic Thinking
I invite guests to share personal stories about acts of leadership that help shape their lives. In Episode 137, Ed Muzio explains why the DEI mission is challenging. He defines environmental receptivity and behavioral flexibility as the terms relate to DEI. Finally, he talks about where to begin with DEI and cultural management.
Prologue
Ed Muzio is an engineer who evolved his practice to management consulting. Whether at the c-suite or frontline, Ed helps teams learn to adapt and think systemically and iteratively.
03:08 Part 1: The Organizational Immune System
12:46 Part 2: Environmental Receptivity and Behavioral Flexibility
18:28 Part 3: What Should Your Organization Do?
_________________________________
Robynne Orr is the opening voice narrator. To learn more about her amazing storytelling capabilities, visit Robynne’s website, R.ORR.
Transcript through Otter (expect some inaccuracies)
Episode links
Ed’s LinkedIn Profile, website, Twitter, Facebook, video library
Referenced whitepaper, Plant Your DE&I Initiative in a Greenfield, Not a Minefield
Ed’s books
Iterate
Make Work Great
Four Secrets to Liking Your Work
Ed’s previous podcast episodes
109 Ed Muzio Demystifies Culture
033: Ed Muzio Upgrades Managerial Teams
For definitions of DEI, listen to Episode 023: Simma Lieberman Elevates Culture with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
A report with DEIB definitions, 2020-2023 Workforce Strategy: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, UCI
Lead on!

Mar 29, 2022 • 23min
136: Mike Thorne on The New P&L: People and Listening
I invite guests to share personal stories about acts of leadership that help shape their lives. In Episode 136, Mike Thorne shares his story about his own development. He illustrates how to work with employees to support them in their career development. He then recommends a book and advises us on how we can strengthen how we lead.
Prologue
Having served as the CEO of a Synthetic Turf company, President of Russell Athletic Team division, and President of Yankee Candle, Mike has had to read numerous P&L sheets. From his experience in these roles, Mike explains that the most critical P&L is not Profit & Loss but people & listening. Currently, Mike is a Vistage Chair, where he facilitates for small/midsize business owners and coaches subject-matter experts in under 5 employee companies.
01:21 Part 1: Letting Go of the 1000 Pound Weight on Your Shoulders
13:48 Part 2: Tell Me Your Story
18:35 Part 3: It’s Brady Time
_________________________________
Robynne Orr is the opening voice narrator. To learn more about her amazing storytelling capabilities, visit Robynne’s website, R.ORR.
Transcript through Otter (expect some inaccuracies)
Episode links
Mike’s LinkedIn Profile, website,
Workbook, How to Build Your Own Personal Trust Community
Toastmasters International
Episode 026: Peter Popovich Explains Emotional Intelligence
Ryan Holiday’s book, The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations for Clarity, Effectiveness, and Serenity
Gary DePaul’s website
Gary's books:
What the Heck Is Leadership and Why Should I Care?
Nine Practices of 21st Century Leadership
The 2022 HRBP Report
Lead on!

Mar 22, 2022 • 27min
135: Don Kirkey and Ajay Pangarkar on Zelenskyy’s Leadership
I invite guests to share personal stories about acts of leadership that help shape their lives. In Episode 135, Don Kirkey and Ajay Pangarkar discuss the leadership of President Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy.
Prologue
Don and Ajay have appeared on previous episodes (see links below).
02:26 Part 1: Lead by Example
07:15 Part 2: The Courage to Do What’s Right
17:47 Part 3: Relatability
_________________________________
Robynne Orr is the opening voice narrator. To learn more about her amazing storytelling capabilities, visit Robynne’s website, R.ORR.
Transcript through Otter (expect some inaccuracies)
Episode links
Don’s LinkedIn Profile, bio
Ajay’s LinkedIn Profile, bio, Twitter
Related episodes
003, Ajay Pangarkar and The Responsibility to Shine
029, Don Kirkey Connects with Others
032, Don Kirkey Puts Others First
038, Ajay Pangarkar Persuades Professionals to Give Up Control
041, Don Kirkey and Ajay Pangarkar Encourage Growth
095, Kim Campbell Gets to the Heart of Leadership
James C. Collin’s book, Good to Great
Darkest Hour movie, Churchill’s Triumphant Speech
We Shall Never Surrender Speech
Gary DePaul’s website
Gary’s books:
What the Heck Is Leadership and Why Should I Care?
Nine Practices of 21st Century Leadership
The 2022 HRBP Report
Lead on!

Mar 15, 2022 • 25min
134: Richard Medcalf Helps You Shift from Incremental to Exponential
I invite guests to share personal stories about acts of leadership that help shape their lives. In Episode 134, Richard Medcalf describes what someone said to inspire him to pursue an executive coaching career, shares a story about a new CHRO who he coached, and advises how to overcome our biggest bottleneck that holds us back.
Prologue
Richard Medcalf describes himself as “what you get if you were to put a McKinsey consultant, a slightly unorthodox pastor, and Freddie Mercury into a blender.” Richard is an executive coach & leadership consultant to founders, CEOs, and their leadership teams. He is bi-national English/French, lives near Paris, is happily married, and is the proud father of two. Richard is a licensed lay minister in the Anglican Church. He has an insatiable love for spicy food and the electric guitar.
01:30 Part 1: Mastermind with Freddie Mercury
06:44 Part 2: Stuck in the Inbox
13:14 Part 3: Find Your Biggest Bottleneck
_________________________________
Robynne Orr is the opening voice narrator. To learn more about her amazing storytelling capabilities, visit Robynne’s website, R.ORR.
Transcript through Otter (expect some inaccuracies)
Episode links
Richard’s LinkedIn Profile, website, Twitter
Richard’s show, The Impact Multiplier CEO Podcast
Select articles:
Exponential Leadership Principles
New CEO onboarding The ultimate guide
Freddie Mercury
L. David Marquet
Gary DePaul’s website
Gary’s books:
What the Heck Is Leadership and Why Should I Care?
Nine Practices of 21st Century Leadership
The 2022 HRBP Report
Lead on!

Mar 8, 2022 • 10min
133: Catalina: A Leadership Story
Episode 133 is a one-off episode that doesn’t follow the standard format. The story that you will hear is about Catalina, a rescued kitten. In the narrative, Gary DePaul shares two insights that can help you strengthen your leadership capabilities and help the people you work with feel more appreciated, understood, and cared for.
While the episode features the audio recording, you can access the video link below.
_________________________________
Robynne Orr is the opening voice narrator. To learn more about her amazing storytelling capabilities, visit Robynne’s website, R.ORR.
Transcript through Otter (expect some inaccuracies)
Episode links
Video, Catalina: A Leadership Story
Episode 132: Mike Bassett and Life Lessons from The Ditch
Gary DePaul’s website
Gary’s books:
What the Heck Is Leadership and Why Should I Care?
Nine Practices of 21st Century Leadership
The 2022 HRBP Report
Lead on!

Mar 1, 2022 • 24min
132: Mike Bassett and Life Lessons from The Ditch
I invite guests to share personal stories about acts of leadership that help shape their lives. In Episode 100, Mike Bassett shares how his father influenced him, explains his almost career-ending experience, and shares three lessons from the ditch. He then advises us on how we can lead more effectively.
Prologue
How might someone describe Mike’s character? Hard-working, ambitious, and kind.
For more than 34 years, Mike has practiced civil trial law. He established a well-built law firm, the Bassett Firm. Before that, he experienced a dark period in his life, which reminds us that we are one left turn from being in The Ditch. Mike’s astonishing personal and professional struggles have tested him repeatedly. In Mike’s book, you’ll learn his story that illustrates his character and resiliency. As an attorney, Mike has embraced the hard path of grace and believes in second chances as much as he believes in honesty to his clients.
02:03 Part 1: Do It Right!
05:20 Part 2: In Dark Moments
14:15 Part 3: Teachings and Advice from the Bottom of the Muddy, Craggy Ditch
_________________________________
Robynne Orr is the opening voice narrator. To learn more about her amazing storytelling capabilities, visit Robynne’s website, R.ORR.
Transcript through Otter (expect some inaccuracies)
Episode links
Mike’s LinkedIn Profile, law firm website, the firm’s blog
Mike’s podcast, Legal Grounds | Conversations on Life, Leadership & Law
Mike’s book, The Man in the Ditch
About Malcolm Muggeridge
About Cornel West and the quotable quote
About St. Francis of Assisi and how a quotation reflects his teachings
About Herb Kelleher
Gary DePaul’s website
Gary’s books:
What the Heck Is Leadership and Why Should I Care?
Nine Practices of 21st Century Leadership
The 2022 HRBP Report
Lead on!


