In this episode of Cultural Leadership, Brendan sits down with Adam, co-founder of Boys to the Bush, to explore how a grassroots idea grew into a movement changing lives across regional Australia.

Adam shares the spark that started it all, the tough lessons learned from working with vulnerable kids, and what real, authentic leadership looks like. From building trust and consistency to empowering communities and shaping future leaders, this conversation is packed with raw insights, hope, and inspiration.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 – Welcome & Introduction
00:30 – The Spark Behind Boys to the Bush
04:15 – From Camps to Mentoring Programs
06:13 – Leading Through Challenges
09:22 – What Leadership Means to Adam
13:32 – Helping Others See Themselves as Leaders
16:13 – Supporting and Growing the Team
20:30 – The Qualities That Make Great Mentors
24:39 – Building Trust with Kids
30:18 – Why Time and Consistency Matter
33:14 – Lessons from Kids: Presence Over Presents
38:27 – Funding Challenges & Staying True to Purpose
42:45 – Community-Led Change
46:47 – Can the Model Work in Cities?
48:44 – Helping Boys Means Helping Girls Too
52:27 – Preventing Burnout & Supporting Staff
56:23 – Toughest Moments in Leadership
01:02:15 – The Role of Business Leaders in Shaping Youth
01:04:51 – Greatest Leadership Lessons Learned
01:08:06 – A Business Growth Lesson for Leaders
01:09:34 – Closing Reflections

Do you want to be a more confident leader? Get your FREE workbook at https://thecultureofleadership.com/confident-leader-workbook/

-- LINKS --
(When available, we use affiliate links and may earn a commission!)

*** PRODUCTS WE LOVE *** (and use!)
✅ Check them out at https://thecultureofleadership.com/products-we-use/

*** BOOKS WE LOVE *** (and read!)
✅ Check them out at https://thecultureofleadership.com/books-we-recommend/

Subscribe to Culture of Leadership podcast:
Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3oPVZhU
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2LvUjvI
Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3aZlglJ
Castro: https://bit.ly/3yILSRo
Pocket Casts: https://bit.ly/34nqOSz
Podchaser: https://bit.ly/2SxL15F
iHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3xVl4fw
Deezer: https://bit.ly/3w1gvib
Podcast Addict: https://bit.ly/3hiY3w7

Resources
Culture of Leadership Website (https://thecultureofleadership.com/​)
Brendan Rogers LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bjrogers01/​)
Culture of Leadership Podcast Website (https://thecultureofleadership.com/podcast/​)
Culture of Leadership LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-culture-of-leadership/)
Culture of Leadership Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/tcolpodcast​)
Culture of Leadership Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thecultureofleadership/)

DISCLOSURE: We often link to products & services we regularly use and think you might find helpful. Wherever possible we use referral links. This means, if you click one of the links and make a purchase we may receive a small commission or other compensation.

We're fans of Amazon, and many of our links to products are links to those products on Amazon. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and related sites.

Today I’m talking to Erin Jewell – a Thrive Global top 10 coach of 2021. She is an executive mindset, growth- and performance coach, speaker, and professor of leadership at Villanova University. She has over twenty years of leadership experience in the healthcare sector, working at Pfizer, Boston Scientific, and Medtronic. She has become an expert in strategies to manage team performance and had built a successful consulting practice based on these strategies. Our focus today is on engaged versus disengaged team members. Erin unpacks a few of the reasons team members might be disengaged, things leaders can do to change the situation and things leaders should avoid doing that may cause team members to disengage.

Our conversation goes into some great tips that will help both leaders and team members to better engage with each other by focusing on themselves and what they can do to promote a better work environment.

Discussion Points

• Erin as Thrive Global top 10 coach
• Working with leaders in the vaccine development industry
• The impact of the pandemic on leaders in different industries
• The great resignation
• Engaged vs Disengaged
• What can a leader do that causes disengagement?
• The meaning quotient (MQ)
• How to choose the right person to lead
• Transitioning from individual performer to leader
• Self-awareness in leadership
• Practicing what you preach as a leader
• Compassion and boundaries go hand in hand
• The Karpman Drama Triangle
• The responsibility of the team member/employee
• What has had the greatest impact on Erin’s leadership journey?

Resources

Brendan Rogers Website

Brendan Rogers LinkedIn

Culture of Leadership Podcast Website

Culture of Leadership LinkedIn

Culture of Leadership Facebook Page

Culture of Leadership YouTube Channel

Culture of Leadership Instagram

Erin Jewel Instagram

Erin Jewel Facebook

Erin Jewel LinkedIn

The Meaning Quotient study

The Karpman Drama triangle

In this episode of the Culture of Leadership, host Brendan Rogers interviews Susan Toft, founder of The Laundry Lady, who shares her journey from a busy mom to building a scalable laundry service business.

Starting in 2012, Susan discusses overcoming daily frustrations, systemizing operations, and leveraging technology like Time Boss to scale globally. She emphasizes flexibility, values-driven leadership, and empowering contractors while sharing insights on delegation, AI integration, and pitching to investors.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 - Introduction
00:07 - Susan’s Journey with The Laundry Lady
02:39 - From Chore to Business Opportunity
04:48 - Mindset for Scaling a Business
06:46 - Serving Diverse Customers
08:29 - Leadership Without Micromanaging
11:56 - Building Systems Early
17:16 - Time Boss: Strategic Technology Play
19:31 - Embracing AI in Business
21:33 - Lessons in Delegation
24:41 - Transition to Operations Manager
26:45 - Focusing on Marketing Passion
28:33 - Pitching on Shark Tank
31:41 - Contractor Values and Flexibility
35:30 - The Laundry Lady Business Model
39:54 - Customer Complaints and Communication
41:46 - Vision for Future Success
43:34 - Laundry Lads and Branding
44:52 - Lessons for Susan’s Sons
48:28 - Advice for SME Owners

Do you want to be a more confident leader? Get your FREE workbook at https://thecultureofleadership.com/confident-leader-workbook/

-- LINKS --
(When available, we use affiliate links and may earn a commission!)

*** PRODUCTS WE LOVE *** (and use!)
✅ Check them out at https://thecultureofleadership.com/products-we-use/

*** BOOKS WE LOVE *** (and read!)
✅ Check them out at https://thecultureofleadership.com/books-we-recommend/

Subscribe to Culture of Leadership podcast:
Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3oPVZhU
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2LvUjvI
Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3aZlglJ
Castro: https://bit.ly/3yILSRo
Pocket Casts: https://bit.ly/34nqOSz
Podchaser: https://bit.ly/2SxL15F
iHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3xVl4fw
Deezer: https://bit.ly/3w1gvib
Podcast Addict: https://bit.ly/3hiY3w7

Resources
Culture of Leadership Website (https://thecultureofleadership.com/​)
Brendan Rogers LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bjrogers01/​)
Culture of Leadership Podcast Website (https://thecultureofleadership.com/podcast/​)
Culture of Leadership LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-culture-of-leadership/)
Culture of Leadership Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/tcolpodcast​)
Culture of Leadership Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thecultureofleadership/)

DISCLOSURE: We often link to products & services we regularly use and think you might find helpful. Wherever possible we use referral links. This means, if you click one of the links and make a purchase we may receive a small commission or other compensation.

We're fans of Amazon, and many of our links to products are links to those products on Amazon. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and related sites.

Tom Lawrence started out as an engineering apprentice at an automotive company in Liverpool in the UK. He worked in this industry for a few years, throughout which he found himself working under multiple managers who were not particularly good leaders. These were the quintessential managers of the past… people who just focussed on “getting the job done”. Once he became a manager, he found himself scrambling to figure out the job of leading a team – wishing he had been trained by his predecessor. This led him to the realization that if a manager really does a good job, they are actively upskilling their team to become leaders themselves.

Today you will hear about how Tom came to write his book “Manager to Leader” (Amazon) and we dig a little deeper into a few of the topics he covers in this book. Tom is passionate about teaching people to lead well and I was inspired by his worldview on leaders.

Discussion Points

• Tom’s leadership journey
• Writing “Manager to Leader”
• Managers vs Leaders
• False influence vs genuine influence
• How to influence genuinely
• Leaders being developed before becoming leaders
• Insecure leaders vs secure leaders
• What is micromanagement?
• Changing managers’ mindsets
• Tips
• Leading up
• What has had the biggest impact on Tom’s leadership journey

Resources

Brendan Rogers Website

Brendan Rogers LinkedIn

The Culture of Leadership Podcast Website

The Culture of Leadership LinkedIn

The Culture of Leadership Facebook Page

The Culture of Leadership YouTube Channel

The Culture of Leadership Instagram

Highly Effective Leader Website

Leadership & Growth YouTube Channel

Manager to leader book (Amazon)

If you have any questions for Brendan around this episode or generally around culture, leadership, or teamwork, feel free to contact him here.

In this episode of the Cultural of Leadership Podcast, Brendan dives deep with Henrik Bresman, a professor and author of X-Teams, exploring why traditional team models fail in today’s fast-changing world. Henrik shares insights on building high-performing teams by focusing externally—embracing knowledge, power, and work structures beyond the team.

From overcoming discomfort to asking tough questions, this conversation offers practical strategies for leaders to navigate complexity and foster a culture of impactful leadership. Tune in for actionable wisdom!

Watch the YouTube video here:
https://youtu.be/ZUa1I6KNXho

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 - Introduction and Welcome
00:22 - Overview of X-Teams
02:35 - Why Traditional Models Fail
05:29 - The Aha Moment for X-Teams
08:02 - Henrik’s Leadership Journey
11:17 - Knowledge Structure: Internal vs. External
24:58 - Power Structure: Influence Beyond Titles
33:33 - Work Structure: Managing Interdependencies
43:45 - Tools for X-Teams Success
48:06 - The Power of Asking Questions
51:34 - Staying Relevant as a Leader
52:53 - Building a Leadership Culture
54:47 - Closing Thoughts and Book Insights

Do you want to be a more confident leader? Get your FREE workbook at https://thecultureofleadership.com/confident-leader-workbook/

-- LINKS --
(When available, we use affiliate links and may earn a commission!)

*** PRODUCTS WE LOVE *** (and use!)
✅ Check them out at https://thecultureofleadership.com/products-we-use/

*** BOOKS WE LOVE *** (and read!)
✅ Check them out at https://thecultureofleadership.com/books-we-recommend/

Subscribe to Culture of Leadership podcast:
Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3oPVZhU
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2LvUjvI
Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3aZlglJ
Castro: https://bit.ly/3yILSRo
Pocket Casts: https://bit.ly/34nqOSz
Podchaser: https://bit.ly/2SxL15F
iHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3xVl4fw
Deezer: https://bit.ly/3w1gvib
Podcast Addict: https://bit.ly/3hiY3w7

Resources
Culture of Leadership Website (https://thecultureofleadership.com/​)
Brendan Rogers LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bjrogers01/​)
Culture of Leadership Podcast Website (https://thecultureofleadership.com/podcast/​)
Culture of Leadership LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-culture-of-leadership/)
Culture of Leadership Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/tcolpodcast​)
Culture of Leadership Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thecultureofleadership/)

DISCLOSURE: We often link to products & services we regularly use and think you might find helpful. Wherever possible we use referral links. This means, if you click one of the links and make a purchase we may receive a small commission or other compensation.

We're fans of Amazon, and many of our links to products are links to those products on Amazon. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and related sites.

What factors go into the recruitment process? What makes a good leader? Why does treating candidates with respect matter? These are some of the questions that we’ll explore in today’s episode.

Today’s guest is Mark Purbrick. Mark is the Managing Director of Peoplogica. He has over 35 years of management experience, including 23 years at the General Manager or Chief Executive Officer level, as well as more than 30 years of board director experience for both private enterprise and government-controlled entities. Mark assists clients to make the right business and people capital decisions.

Mark has designed Innovative People Capital Solutions and has ensured that Peoplogica is at the forefront of people tests, assessments, and surveys. He specializes in the attraction, selection, and retention of high-performing talent. Listen to today’s episode to hear what Mark has to say about what high-performing talent looks like, how businesses can attract them, and what leaders need to be doing through the selection process.

Discussion Points:

• Mark’s passions for attracting talent and for winemaking
• An overview of Peoplogica
• The types of business or leaders that seek Mark’s help
• What a high-performing talent looks like
• Consistency or inconsistency in the behaviors that high performers have
• How a business can attract high-performing talent
• What leaders need to do throughout the selection process
• Treating candidates with courtesy
• Tools that offer the best value in the interview process
• The costs of getting the wrong person in the organization
• What a company needs to do to retain top talent
• Most effective tips for leaders
• How much easier the Peoplogica tools make coaching conversations for leaders
• The biggest bit of advice for attracting, selecting, and retaining high performing talent

Resources

Brendan Rogers Website

Brendan Rogers LinkedIn

The Culture of Leadership Podcast Website

The Culture of Leadership LinkedIn

The Culture of Leadership Facebook Page

The Culture of Leadership YouTube Channel

The Culture of Leadership Instagram

Peoplogica Website

Peoplogica Resource Centre

Mark Purbrick LinkedIn

Peoplogica LinkedIn

Mark Purbrick Twitter

Peoplogica Twitter

MultiRater Surveys Twitter

HR Management App<...

In this engaging episode of the Culture of Leadership Podcast, host Brendan Rogers welcomes Steve Tashjian, founder of the Elevation Project. Steve shares insights from his career in professional sports, including his time with Everton FC and the US Men’s National Team. He unpacks the four pillars of high-performance teams—alignment, empowerment, collaboration, and resilience—and their application to business.

From vulnerability’s role in trust-building to navigating organizational change, Steve offers actionable strategies for leaders. Tune in to discover how to foster a winning culture in any high-pressure environment.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:00 - Introduction and Welcome
00:41 - The Elevation Project: Steve’s Journey
02:43 - Discovering Purpose in High-Performance Environments
04:58 - Defining High Performance in Sports
05:36 - Key Characteristics of High-Performing Teams
13:28 - Comparing Everton FC and USMNT
17:33 - Decision-Making Under Pressure
19:26 - David Moyes and Manchester United’s Identity Crisis
26:03 - Succession and Organizational Alignment
29:38 - Vision and Purpose in Business
40:46 - Empowering Teams with Decentralized Command
44:31 - Building Trust for Collaboration
48:51 - Resilience Through Diversity and Expertise
54:23 - Creating a Culture of Vulnerability
57:54 - Closing Thoughts and Gratitude

Do you want to be a more confident leader? Get your FREE workbook at https://thecultureofleadership.com/confident-leader-workbook/

-- LINKS --
(When available, we use affiliate links and may earn a commission!)

*** PRODUCTS WE LOVE *** (and use!)
✅ Check them out at https://thecultureofleadership.com/products-we-use/

*** BOOKS WE LOVE *** (and read!)
✅ Check them out at https://thecultureofleadership.com/books-we-recommend/

Subscribe to Culture of Leadership podcast:
Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3oPVZhU
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2LvUjvI
Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3aZlglJ
Castro: https://bit.ly/3yILSRo
Pocket Casts: https://bit.ly/34nqOSz
Podchaser: https://bit.ly/2SxL15F
iHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/3xVl4fw
Deezer: https://bit.ly/3w1gvib
Podcast Addict: https://bit.ly/3hiY3w7

Resources
Culture of Leadership Website (https://thecultureofleadership.com/​)
Brendan Rogers LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bjrogers01/​)
Culture of Leadership Podcast Website (https://thecultureofleadership.com/podcast/​)
Culture of Leadership LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-culture-of-leadership/)
Culture of Leadership Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/tcolpodcast​)
Culture of Leadership Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thecultureofleadership/)

DISCLOSURE: We often link to products & services we regularly use and think you might find helpful. Wherever possible we use referral links. This means, if you click one of the links and make a purchase we may receive a small commission or other compensation.

We're fans of Amazon, and many of our links to products are links to those products on Amazon. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and related sites.

What is thought leadership? What is it that thought leaders are doing, and who decides who is and isn’t a thought leader, anyway? According to today’s guest, a lot of people are doing it wrong by calling themselves thought leaders – instead, it should be a title that others bestow on you. It’s up to your audience to decide whether or not you’re actually leading.

Peter Winick is the Founder and CEO of Thought Leadership Leverage. He has helped individuals and organizations build and grow revenue through designing and growing their thought leadership platforms for two decades. He has also guided and advised for the increasing business-to-business sales of Thought Leadership products.

Listen to today’s episode to hear Peter talk about how he got into the thought leadership space in the first place and what the term means to him. He discusses both what’s leading the thought leadership field now as well as what’s coming in the future. If you’re interested in how to become a thought leader and what you might do to get started in the thought leadership space, this episode is for you.

Discussion Points:

• The term “thought leadership” and what it means
• Where thought leadership comes from
• Whether people should call themselves thought leaders
• What got Peter into the space he’s in now
• What’s leading the field in thought leadership and what’s coming in the future
• How you become a thought leader
• Whether thought leadership needs to be around an individual
• Frameworks in the thought leadership space
• Where a thought leader needs to be in their career and life
• The biggest challenges for the thought leader space
• Social media platforms in the thought leadership space
• Advice for people at the beginning of a thought leadership journey
• What the next year or two looks like for Peter

Resources

Brendan Rogers Website

Brendan Rogers LinkedIn

The Culture of Leadership Podcast Website

The Culture of Leadership LinkedIn

The Culture of Leadership Facebook Page

The Culture of Leadership YouTube Channel

Peter Winick

Email Peter at peter@thoughtleadershipleverage.com

Thought Leadership Leverage

Leveraging Thought Leadership Podcast

If you have any questions for Brendan around this episode or generally around culture, leadership or teamwork, feel free to contact him here.