In this episode, Sam Bell speaks with long-time friend and leadership practitioner Rosalinda Batson about emotional intelligence as a lived practice, intuition, and committing fully to meaningful work without keeping a plan B.

Drawing on decades of experience in leadership development, organisational dynamics, and emotional intelligence, Ros reflects on courage, integrity, motherhood, friendship, and long-term contribution. This is a conversation about leading with awareness, backing big decisions, and building a life with boundaries that hold.

This episode explores

• Emotional intelligence as a daily leadership practice
• Intuition, sensing, and decision-making
• Fear, love, and commitment without an escape hatch
• Leadership, motherhood, feminism and sustainable boundaries
• Long-term contribution, volunteering, and integrity
• Deep friendship and what it creates

Guest links

• Rosalinda Batson: https://au.linkedin.com/in/rosbatson
• Neural Networks: https://neuralnetworks.com.au
• Emotional Intelligence for Leaders, Coaches and Changemakers: Free version: https://www.neuralnetworks.com.au/free-ebook and full book: https://www.amazon.com.au/Leaders-Coaches-Changemakers-Emotional-Intelligence/dp/B0FF538YSW/

Chapters

00:14 Introduction to Rosalinda
02:42 Knowing what you stand for as a leader
06:29 Intuition, sensing, and decision-making
11:00 Commitment without a plan B
19:36 Writing, feminism, and self-actualisation
27:25 Courage, contribution, and volunteering at scale
33:40 Getting a lot done together and cultivating curiosity
40:00 Emotional Intelligence for Leaders, Coaches and Changemakers
45:00 Friendship, parenting, and shared adventures

Explore further

Signal Check-In: https://naturalgenius.com.au
Learn more about Sam: https://samanthabell.com.au
Subscribe to hear future episodes.

Credits

Hosted by Samantha (Sam) Bell in Melbourne, 23 January, 2026
Produced at the Violet Town, Terang and Warrnambool offices, 26 January - 1 February, 2026
Natural Genius Podcast https://naturalgenius.com.au