In this episode of The Evolving Leader, co-hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender talk to neurologist and author Adam Zeman about his latest book The Shape of Things Unseen. Together they explore how imagination helps us step outside the here and now, recall the past, and anticipate the future, and why this ability matters more than ever in a world shaped by automation and accelerating change.

Adam takes us inside the science of the mind’s eye, from aphantasia (the inability to visualise) to hyperphantasia (imagery as vivid as reality), and unpacks what these differences reveal about creativity, culture and leadership. This conversation offers practical insights for leaders on cultivating imagination within organisations, the role of daydreaming in innovation, and how to create environments where ideas can flourish.

Further materials from Adam Zeman:

Zeman, A. (2025). The Shape of Things Unseen: A New Science of Imagination. Bloomsbury.

Zeman, A., Milton, F., Della Sala, S. (2024). “Aphantasia and Hyperphantasia: Exploring imagery vividness extremes.” Cortex, 170, 1–14.

Zeman, A. (2024). “Aphantasia: The science of visual imagery absence.” Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 28(3), 189–200.

Other reading from Jean Gomes and Scott Allender:

Leading In A Non-Linear World (J Gomes, 2023)

The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence (S Allender, 2023)

Social:

Instagram @evolvingleader

LinkedIn The Evolving Leader Podcast

Twitter @Evolving_Leader

Bluesky @evolvingleader.bsky.social

YouTube @evolvingleader

The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production.

Send a message to The Evolving Leader team

In this episode of The Evolving Leader podcast, co-hosts Scott Allender and Sara Deschamps sit down with Dr. Gabriele Rizzo, a global authority on strategic foresight who has advised NATO, the US Space Force and major government institutions. The conversation explores how leaders can shift their relationship with the future, moving from prediction and short-termism to building resilience and long-term value. Gabriele shares the laws of foresight, why multiple futures matter, and how to use practical tools like scenario planning and futures wheels to unlock new thinking in times of uncertainty.

This conversation is a guide to making space for future relevance. Gabriele Rizzo challenges the listener to see the unknown not as danger but as potential, and to build organisations capable of disruptive innovation rather than defending the status quo. Whether you’re leading through transformation, wrestling with the implications of AI, or seeking to balance immediate performance with long-term impact, this conversation offers practical and thought-provoking insights into how foresight can become a critical leadership advantage.

Further materials from Gabriele Rizzo

Longviews.ai

Foresight Kitchen

HR Futures 2030: A Design for Future-Ready Human Resources

Other reading from Jean Gomes and Scott Allender:

Leading In A Non-Linear World (J Gomes, 2023)

The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence (S Allender, 2023)

Social:

Instagram @evolvingleader

LinkedIn The Evolving Leader Podcast

Twitter @Evolving_Leader

Bluesky @evolvingleader.bsky.social

YouTube @evolvingleader

The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production.

Send a message to The Evolving Leader team

In this episode of The Evolving Leader, co-hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender talk to Sir David Spiegelhalter, one of the world’s foremost authorities on risk and probability. David explains why embracing uncertainty, rather than trying to eliminate it is essential for leaders who want to build resilience and make better judgments in complex times.

Drawing from his latest book “The Art of Uncertainty”, David shares stories that bring statistics to life, from forecasting failures to the importance of imagination and red-team thinking. This conversation offers both a challenge and a toolkit: how to hold authority while admitting doubt, how to communicate risk with clarity, and how to lead teams toward what he calls ‘safe uncertainty’.

Further materials from David Spiegelhalter:

Five Rules For Evidence Communication

The art and science of uncertainty - with David Spiegelhalter (recorded at the Royal Institution, 30 January 2025)

Other reading from Jean Gomes and Scott Allender:

Leading In A Non-Linear World (J Gomes, 2023)

The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence (S Allender, 2023)

Social:

Instagram @evolvingleader

LinkedIn The Evolving Leader Podcast

Twitter @Evolving_Leader

Bluesky @evolvingleader.bsky.social

YouTube @evolvingleader

The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production.

Send a message to The Evolving Leader team

In this episode of The Evolving Leader, co-hosts Scott Allender and Emma Sinclair sit down with Icelandic author, sustainability leader and entrepreneur Hrund Gunnsteinsdottir to explore how intuition can guide leaders through times of uncertainty and noise. Drawing from her book INSÆI: Icelandic Wisdom for Turbulent Times and her acclaimed documentary InnSæi: The Power of Intuition, Hrund shares how reconnecting with our inner compass helps us balance rational analysis with intuitive insight, creativity and emotional intelligence. From her own experience of burnout to lessons on presence, journaling, and attention, she reveals how leaders can cultivate deeper self-awareness and resilience.

This conversation goes beyond abstract theory, showing how intuition plays a vital role in decision-making, relationships, and leadership culture. Hrund explains how being present allows us to listen more fully, connect with others, and sense opportunities we might otherwise miss. If you are navigating complexity, seeking clarity in uncertainty, or wanting to integrate wisdom and creativity into your leadership practice, this episode offers practical tools and profound inspiration.

Further references

“Listen to Your Intuition — It Can Help You Navigate the Future”

https://www.ted.com/talks/hrund_gunnsteinsdottir_listen_to_your_intuition_it_can_help_you_navigate_the_future

“How to tap into your intuition: a live meditation with Hrund Gunnsteinsdóttir”

https://tedxlondon.com/podcasts/how-to-tap-into-your-intuition-a-live-meditation-with-hrund-gunnsteinsdottir/

Other reading from Jean Gomes and Scott Allender:
Leading In A Non-Linear World (J Gomes, 2023)

The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence (S Allender, 2023)

Social:

Instagram @evolvingleader

LinkedIn The Evolving Leader Podcast

Twitter @Evolving_Leader

Bluesky @evolvingleader.bsky.social

YouTube @evolvingleader

The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and

Send a message to The Evolving Leader team

What does it really mean to be a great decision-maker, and why is this skill so often left to chance?

In this episode of The Evolving Leader, co-hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender sit down in person with Jon Bircher, decision coach and former strategy consultant, to explore why decision-making is rarely taught, and how we can do it better. Jon shares insights from his coaching work with senior leaders who often feel confident in solo decisions, but struggle in collaborative settings. We talk about why so many decisions get stuck in ambiguity, how emotion and gut feeling play a role, and how leaders can build conditions for more thoughtful, inclusive, and reflective decision-making.

This is a conversation about slowing down to ask better questions, experimenting with new ways of thinking, and developing a decision-making practice that’s fit for the complexity of leadership today.

Other reading from Jean Gomes and Scott Allender:
Leading In A Non-Linear World (J Gomes, 2023)

The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence (S Allender, 2023)

Social:

Instagram @evolvingleader

LinkedIn The Evolving Leader Podcast

Twitter @Evolving_Leader

Bluesky @evolvingleader.bsky.social

YouTube @evolvingleader

The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production.

Send a message to The Evolving Leader team

In this episode of The Evolving Leader, Jean Gomes is joined by Sir Andrew Likierman, former Dean of London Business School and one of the world’s leading experts on judgment. Drawing from decades of research across business, government, medicine, and the military, Andrew breaks down what judgment really is: the combination of personal qualities, relevant knowledge, and lived experience applied to a particular decision.

Together, they explore:

· Why judgment is not the same as intelligence or expertise

· The six components that shape every decision

· How to spot (and avoid) bad judgment

· The rising importance of human judgment in the age of AI

· Practical ways leaders can develop and embed better judgment in their teams

Whether you're leading through uncertainty or navigating complex decisions, this episode offers essential insights into what makes judgment a critical (and trainable) human advantage.

Referenced during this episode:

‘Judgement at Work: Making Better Choices’ (A Likierman, 2025)

Other reading from Jean Gomes and Scott Allender:
Leading In A Non-Linear World (J Gomes, 2023)

The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence (S Allender, 2023)

Social:

Instagram @evolvingleader

LinkedIn The Evolving Leader Podcast

Twitter @Evolving_Leader

Bluesky @evolvingleader.bsky.social

YouTube @evolvingleader

The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production.

Send a message to The Evolving Leader team

“Sleep is intrinsic to every aspect of our waking life.” (Dr Guy Leschziner)

In this episode of The Evolving Leader, co-hosts Jean Gomes and Emma Sinclair delve into the biological roots of our most human behaviours with Professor Guy Leschziner, neurologist and author of The Seven Deadly Sins: The Biology of Being Human. From the neuroscience behind gluttony, anger and pride to the unpredictable nature of envy and the myth of free will, Guy offers a powerful reframing of how biology shapes leadership, judgement, and motivation. He also shares essential sleep research and practical guidance that every leader should hear, particularly those running on too little rest and too much pressure.

Whether you're leading through complexity or seeking to better understand the hidden forces that shape your thinking and responses, this conversation offers insight into how our brains construct reality and how leaders can respond with greater empathy, adaptability and presence.

#Leadership #Neuroscience #GuyLeschziner #EvolvingLeader #SleepScience #CognitiveDiversity #AdaptiveLeadership #SevenDeadlySins #ExecutiveWellbeing #FreeWill #Motivation #Neurobiology #Empathy #DecisionMaking

Send a message to The Evolving Leader team

As the world gets hotter, how is it changing our brains? In this episode of The Evolving Leader, co-hosts Jean Gomes and Scott Allender are joined by neuroscientist and author Clayton Aldern to explore how environmental shifts (especially climate change) are quietly reshaping our minds, behaviours, and capacity for decision-making. Drawing from his acclaimed book The Weight of Nature, Clayton explains how heat, trauma, and ecological instability are influencing everything from memory and empathy to aggression and judgement.

This isn’t just a conversation about climate change, it’s about what it means to be human in a rapidly changing world. Jean, Scott, and Clayton dig into the science behind our evolving mental states and offer a compelling call to rethink our relationship with the environment, not just to save the planet, but to preserve our own mental wellbeing. This is a conversation every leader should hear.

Other reading from Jean Gomes and Scott Allender:
Leading In A Non-Linear World (J Gomes, 2023)

The Enneagram of Emotional Intelligence (S Allender, 2023)

Social:

Instagram @evolvingleader

LinkedIn The Evolving Leader Podcast

Twitter @Evolving_Leader

Bluesky @evolvingleader.bsky.social

YouTube @evolvingleader

The Evolving Leader is researched, written and presented by Jean Gomes and Scott Allender with production by Phil Kerby. It is an Outside production.

Send a message to The Evolving Leader team