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  • Connecting Through Pitching with Jenna Dominique

    Connecting Through Pitching with Jenna Dominique
    2025/06/02
    In this episode of the Connected Leadership Podcast, Andy Lopata welcomes guest Jenna Dominique, a pitch and communication expert, working with over 2,000 teams and individuals to become influential, high impact communicators. After starting her career as a broadcast journalist, Jenna’s dynamic background has led her to work with ambitious entrepreneurs to boards of directors, startups to global corporations. An international speaker and event host, she uses her breadth of experience to deliver highly practical support to every audience she works with. She is also a hugely passionate adventurer and co-founder of DAT adventures, running unique retreats for ambitious individuals that want to progress personally and professionally Andy & Jenna explore the importance of pitching in various professional contexts, from sales to networking and interviews. Jenna emphasises that pitching is not limited to formal presentations but is something everyone does daily—whether introducing oneself or articulating value in a conversation. Jenna highlights key strategies for preparing an impactful pitch, starting with researching the audience to tailor the message effectively. She stresses the importance of focusing on benefits and outcomes to make the pitch resonate personally with the listener. Their discussion also touches on the logistics of pitching, such as understanding the format (in-person or online) and time constraints. A significant portion of the conversation centres on the much-maligned "elevator pitch". Jenna advocates for a more conversational approach, encouraging listeners to engage their audience with questions and storytelling rather than reciting a rigid script. She introduces the concept of the "corridor of conversation", where each response opens a door to deeper engagement, allowing the conversation to develop naturally. Jenna also shares insights on how to create a compelling slide deck for formal pitches, emphasising "less is more" and the power of storytelling. She advises crafting slides that complement the speaker, ensuring the presenter remains essential to the message. The episode concludes with Andy explaining how he uses the Rule of Three when planning presentations. What we discussed: 1. Tailoring Your Pitch: Adapting your message to suit the audience's needs and context. 2. Storytelling & Engagement: Using stories and questions to build connection and keep the audience engaged. 3. Authenticity: Being genuine and true to yourself to foster trust and rapport. 4. Slide Deck Design: Keeping visuals minimal and complementary, enhancing rather than overshadowing the presenter. 5. Follow-Up & Relationship Building: Ensuring the conversation continues after the pitch to nurture long-term connections. SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE Connect with Andy Lopata: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | X/Twitter | YouTube Connect with Jenna Dominique: Website |LinkedIn The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring
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    53 分
  • Gender Equity, Authenticity and Systemic Change in Leadership with Jennifer McCollum

    Gender Equity, Authenticity and Systemic Change in Leadership with Jennifer McCollum
    2025/05/26
    In this episode, Andy Lopata revisits his conversation with Jennifer McCollum, CEO of Catalyst and author of In Her Own Voice: A Woman’s Rise to CEO. Their conversation explores the unique challenges women face in advancing their careers, emphasising the critical role of sponsorship over mentorship. Jennifer shares personal and professional insights on how external biases often become internalised, holding women back from advocating for themselves. She highlights the importance of visibility, self-promotion, and making bold asks as key drivers of career progression. Andy and Jennifer discuss allyship—especially male allyship—and what it looks like at different levels of an organisation. They emphasise that allyship isn’t just about grand gestures; small actions, such as giving credit where it’s due or amplifying someone’s voice in a meeting, can make a big difference. Their conversation also touches on the “third shift” burden placed on women to lead DEI efforts and the need to share that responsibility across all genders. Jennifer outlines four levers organisations can use to drive equity: inclusive culture, equitable talent systems, executive commitment, and targeted leadership development. The episode closes with reflections on authenticity in leadership and the value of diverse perspectives in reshaping outdated narratives around gender and success. Key Takeaways: 1. Sponsorship > Mentorship: Sponsors open doors and advocate actively, while mentors offer advice—women especially need sponsors to access opportunities. 2. Internalised Bias: Women often downplay their worth, believing hard work alone will lead to advancement—this mindset must be challenged. 3. Allyship Matters: Men can be powerful allies by amplifying women’s voices, mentoring, and sponsoring talent. 4. Systemic Change Required: Organisations must address culture, talent systems, leadership development, and executive accountability to support gender equity. 5. Authentic Leadership: Success doesn’t require women (or men) to conform to outdated masculine stereotypes—being authentic drives performance and belonging. SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE Connect with Andy Lopata: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | X/Twitter | Youtube Connect with Jennifer McCollum: X/Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram Podcast: Navigating Imposter Syndrome With Sajna Rahman and Caroline Flanagan Book: Business Networking and Sex: Not What You Think Book: Beyond the Boys' Club: Achieving Career Success as a Woman Working in a Male Dominated Field
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    27 分
  • Building Human-Centric Teams in a Virtual Age with Nikki Bush

    Building Human-Centric Teams in a Virtual Age with Nikki Bush
    2025/05/19
    In this episode of Connected Leadership Bytes, we go back to the archive to revisit a conversation with human potential expert Nikki Bush who joined Andy Lopata to explore the challenges and opportunities of leading in a hybrid world. Nikki highlights how leaders often fall into the trap of over-scheduling meetings, leading to burnout and reduced productivity. She emphasises the importance of high-touch leadership—deep listening, emotional presence, and building trust through intentional one-on-one conversations. Their discussion also touches on the rise in micromanagement post-pandemic, driven by fear and uncertainty, and how slowing down, asking better questions, and creating space can transform team dynamics. Nikki advocates for separating social and process-based meetings, using flexible communication tools, and maintaining emotional connection in virtual environments. She also stresses the value of in-person gatherings to rebuild trust and alignment within teams. Nikki’s insights show that hybrid leadership is an ongoing experiment requiring adaptability, empathy, and clarity in communication. Key Takeaways: 1. Avoid Meeting Overload: Too many long or unnecessary meetings reduce productivity 2. High-Touch ≠ Physical Touch: Emotional presence, deep listening, and authentic connection define empathetic leadership. 3. Micromanagement is Fear-Based: Trust your team and focus on outcomes, not control. 4. Separate Social & Process Meetings: Create distinct spaces for relationship-building and task execution. 5. In-Person Still Matters: Regular face-to-face interactions help break down misperceptions and rebuild team cohesion. SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE Connect with Andy Lopata: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | X/Twitter | YouTube Connect with Nikki Bush: LinkedIn | Website The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring Episode Featuring Nikki Bush
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    28 分
  • How Communication, Trust, and Fun Shape Leadership Culture with Neil Wilkie

    How Communication, Trust, and Fun Shape Leadership Culture with Neil Wilkie
    2025/05/12
    In this episode of Connected Leadership Bytes, Andy Lopata looks back at his podcast episode with Neil Wilkie, a former successful businessman turned psychotherapist and relationship coach. Neil shares his journey from chasing financial success to prioritising purpose after realising material achievements left him unfulfilled. He introduces his Relationship Paradigm, a framework identifying six elements for thriving relationships: communication, connection, commitment, fun, growth, and trust. These principles apply equally to personal and professional dynamics, with Neil emphasising that relationships shape organisational culture, which drives sustainable success. Andy and Neil discuss overcoming communication breakdowns through clarity and active listening, balancing authenticity with positivity as a leader, and nurturing trust through vulnerability and conflict resolution. Neil also addresses challenges in virtual environments like Zoom, advocating for phone calls to deepen connection. He stresses the importance of intentionally nurturing relationships—both personal and professional—to avoid stagnation and build mutual growth. Key Takeaways: 1. Relationships > Metrics: True success stems from meaningful connections, not just financial or material gains. 2. Communication Clarity: Misunderstandings often derail relationships; always confirm mutual understanding. 3. Trust as Foundation: Trust is built through commitment, transparency, and resolving conflicts constructively. 4. Intentional Growth: Relationships require regular check-ins and adaptation to evolve positively. 5. Energy Matters: Leaders should balance authenticity with uplifting energy to foster a supportive culture. Connect with Andy LopataWebsite Connect with Neil Wilkie LinkedIn Website Listen to the full episode featuring Neil
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    21 分
  • "Turning Resistance into Buy-In - Managing Key Relationships Across A Project" with Rory Murray

    "Turning Resistance into Buy-In - Managing Key Relationships Across A Project" with Rory Murray
    2025/05/05
    In this episode of the Connected Leadership Podcast, Andy Lopata welcomes Rory Murray, Rory has more than 25 years’ experience across Europe, Middle East, Africa, plus the US, Canada and India. He has worked with some of the world's largest companies, delivering change and transformation projects in multiple sectors including Government, Telecoms, Power, Internet, Oil and Gas. Andy and Rory explore the critical role of relationship-building in leading successful projects. Rory shares insights from his work across sectors and highlights how neglecting stakeholder dynamics often leads to project failure. He emphasises that projects aren’t just about systems or processes; they’re about people. When organisations rush to implement changes without consulting frontline employees, resistance and attrition follow. Rory stresses the importance of stakeholder mapping, active listening, and understanding the “why” behind resistance to align project goals with individual and team needs. Drawing on real-world examples, Rory illustrates how empathy and evidence-based influence can turn sceptics into allies. He contrasts the challenges of external consulting versus internal project management, noting that trust, respect, and likability are foundational to driving buy-in. The conversation also examines cultural nuances, such as building relationships before discussing business in regions like the Middle East. Finally, Rory introduces the concept of Return on Relationships (ROR), arguing that investing in genuine connections pays exponential dividends over time. What we discussed: 1. Stakeholder Mapping Done Right: Why identifying and engaging the “right” stakeholders—especially grassroots implementers—is critical to project success. 2. Like, Trust and Respect: Rory’s framework for building influence by aligning project outcomes with individual goals. 3. Evidence Over Ego: How to navigate resistant leaders. 4. Cultural Intelligence: Lessons from working in the Middle East and Africa on prioritising personal relationships before business discussions. 5. Return on Relationships (ROR): Why investing in relationships—not transactions—creates long-term value. Rory’s actionable advice on bridging gaps between strategy and human dynamics will transform how you approach your next initiative. Tune in for real-world stories, practical frameworks, and a masterclass in turning resistance into collaboration. Connect with Andy Lopata: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | X/Twitter | YouTube Connect with Rory Murray: LinkedIn | X The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring
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    49 分
  • Building Resilient Leaders for Today's Challenges with Jodie Rogers

    Building Resilient Leaders for Today's Challenges with Jodie Rogers
    2025/04/28
    In this episode of Connected Leadership Bytes, Andy Lopata talks to Jodie Rogers, founder of Symbia and author of The Hidden Edge. With two decades of expertise in human behaviour, Jodie shares how leaders can navigate uncertainty and build emotionally intelligent, agile teams. She emphasises the value of emotional and social intelligence, strong professional relationships and mental fitness in driving performance and resilience. “The Edge” is Symbia’s practical, low-cost program designed to help teams develop key skills like focus, prioritisation and stress management. Jodie explains how their benchmarking tool measures progress and impact across organisations like Unilever, Johnson & Johnson, and L'Oréal. The episode highlights the growing importance of mental well-being and proactive development in today’s fast-changing work environment. Jodie’s insights offer leaders a practical path to foster empowerment, engagement, and adaptability in their teams while preparing for the challenges of tomorrow. Key Takeaways: 1. The Importance of Soft Skills in Leadership: What are often called "soft skills" – such as emotional intelligence, communication, and influence – are actually critical life skills necessary for effective leadership. 2. Navigating Uncertainty and Change: Jodie Rogers highlights that helping people understand how their brains respond to uncertainty can empower them to better navigate it by experimenting, exploring, and creating their own paths forward. 3. The Edge Programme’s Approach to Professional Development: The Edge programme was discussed as a comprehensive professional development initiative designed to create lasting behavioural change. It focuses on four key phases: enhancing mindsets (self-leadership), driving performance (skills application), growing influence (relationships) and expanding impact (leadership and mentorship). The programme combines diverse expert trainers and practical, interactive sessions to ensure participants can apply what they learn. 4. Wellbeing and Mental Fitness: Jodie stressed the importance of focusing not just on addressing mental ill health but also on building mental fitness—developing tools and skills when people are in a stable state so they are better equipped to handle stress and challenges later 5. Leadership Accountability and Autonomy: Both Andy and Jodie touched on the necessity for leaders to foster accountability and autonomy within their teams. To find out more about The EDGE programme, please visit https://symbiapartners.com/edge Connect with Andy Lopata Website Connect with Jodie Rogers Website LinkedIn
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    29 分
  • Embracing AI, Hybrid Work, and Skills Development With Peter Brown

    Embracing AI, Hybrid Work, and Skills Development With Peter Brown
    2025/04/21
    Welcome to another exciting episode of Connected Leadership Bytes, where we are exploring the future of work, the role of leadership in navigating these changes, and how to seize future opportunities instead of fearing them. Our guest this week is PwC's Global Workforce Leader, Peter Brown. Pete leads a team of over 10,000 professionals supporting businesses with their workforce challenges. He has over 25 years of global experience advising clients around a number of workforce disciplines. He also sponsors PwC’s Global Centre for Transformative Leadership. Andy revisits his podcast episode with Peter, and they consider how the pace of change in our workplace is accelerating, shaped by phenomena such as social media and AI’s rapid evolution. Peter shares how platforms like TikTok and Gen AI amassed an unprecedented number of users within months of launching, pointing to a speedier, high-tech future. Andy also explores with Peter the impact of global macro trends like climate change and disruptive technologies as well as the importance of human capacity to adapt and learn. Pete stresses the need for urgency to deal with pressing issues such as the climate crisis. He suggests that technology is not an enemy but a powerful tool that can be harnessed for efficiency and productivity and highlights the necessity to protect people, not jobs, since the workforce must adapt and evolve as technology does. This episode provides foresight into the acceleration of existing work trends and emerging ones to anticipate in the global workplace environment. Key Takeaways: Embrace Technology but Focus on Human Skills : While AI and technology are advancing rapidly, they cannot replace innate human skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, empathy, and collaboration. Hybrid Work is Here to Stay: Organisations need to find the right balance between in-office and remote work that suits their business needs and employee preferences. Skills Development is Critical: There is a growing emphasis on reskilling and upskilling to meet the demands of an ever-changing work environment. Trust and Flexibility Drive Productivity: Instead of focusing on presenteeism or rigid schedules, leaders should prioritise results-based performance and empower employees to work in ways that suit them best. Alignment of Values Matters: Creating an environment that respects individual needs and fosters meaningful engagement is crucial for retaining talent in today's competitive market. Connect with Andy Lopata Website Connect with Peter Brown LinkedIn Twitter
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    25 分
  • Build a Business That is Smarter Than You with Jennifer Sundberg

    Build a Business That is Smarter Than You with Jennifer Sundberg
    2025/04/14
    In this episode of Connected Leadership Bytes, Andy Lopata revisits his interviews with Jennifer Sundberg, Co-CEO of Board Intelligence and author of Collective Intelligence: Build a Business That's Smarter Than You. Jennifer advocates for leveraging the collective brainpower of teams rather than relying solely on superstar leaders. She sites examples from Apple and Amazon, where groundbreaking ideas like the iPhone and Amazon Prime emerged from teams, not just their iconic founders. Andy and Jennifer discuss cultures of humility, curiosity and open questioning to foster innovation. Leaders must recognise they don’t have all the answers and encourage contributions without fear of criticism. Over-reliance on top-down decision-making can slow progress and waste intellectual potential. Jennifer also explores reverse mentoring, learning from failure, and the power of asking “how” and “why” questions to drive deeper understanding. The episode underscores the importance of clear communication, shared critical thinking, and inclusivity in decision-making. Jennifer’s insights provide actionable strategies for leaders to harness collective intelligence and build smarter, more resilient businesses. Key Takeaways: 1. Collective intelligence is crucial for business success – Great businesses aren't built by superstar leaders alone but by tapping into the collective brainpower of teams. 2. Top-down leadership has downsides 3.Questioning culture is essential – Simple "how" and "why" questions can drive deeper understanding. 4. Clear communication matters – Complex information needs to be communicated clearly and concisely. 5. Focus is vital alongside openness – While encouraging new ideas, asking "Is our focus still the right focus?" periodically helps balance openness with strategic direction. 6. Even great thinking and critical analysis can fail if the organisational culture isn't ready to accept challenging ideas. A widespread appetite for questioning and critical thinking is necessary across the whole organisation. Connect with Andy Lopata Website Connect with Jennifer Sundberg LinkedIn Board Intelligence Collective Intelligence: How to build a business that’s smarter than you
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    21 分