In this powerful and deeply reflective conversation, I am joined by Alfredo Borodowski to explore what it truly means to flourish as a leader, as a team, and as a human being, especially in times of disruption.

Alfredo introduces the principles of positive psychology and explains why so many people remain unaware of their strengths, despite the evidence showing that knowing and using them dramatically increases wellbeing and performance.

Together, we explore the difference between a culture of fixing and a culture of nourishing, and why purpose, health, and psychological safety are foundational for sustainable success.

Alfredo shares his own journey through adversity, including mental health challenges and loss, and how those experiences shaped his empathy, authenticity, and approach to leadership.

This episode is an invitation to move beyond survival mode, reconnect with what’s strongest within you, and lead with clarity, compassion, and purpose.

• Most people don’t know their strengths and that limits flourishing
• Strengths awareness increases wellbeing and engagement
• We often try to fix instead of nourish people and cultures
• Flourishing comes from aligning strengths, purpose, and action
• Health is the foundation for everything else
• Psychological safety is essential for high-performing teams
• AI must support, not replace, the human element
• Fulfilment comes from giving your best in service to others

00:00 Positive Psychology & Strengths
02:59 Why Knowing Your Strengths Matters
08:49 Leadership Through a Strengths Lens
12:02 Flourishing vs. Fixing
15:24 AI, Leadership & Humanity
19:23 Psychological Capital at Work
22:28 Alfredo’s Personal Journey
31:09 Strengths in Action
35:05 Psychological Safety in Teams
41:35 Building Your Ark
51:20 Health as the Foundation

Alfredo Borodowski helps leaders and organizations achieve peak performance during disruption. He is the creator of the framework Positivity + Purpose = Peak Performance, designed to transform stress into resilience and uncertainty into growth.

With a Ph.D. in Philosophy, an MSW in Clinical Therapy, and certifications in Positive Psychology and Executive Coaching, Alfredo has worked with CEOs, law firms, multinational organizations, and nonprofits for over 30 years.

His work blends science, strategy, and lived experienc, including his own journey through mental health challenges and loss, to help leaders lead with clarity, empathy, and humanity in the AI era.

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👉 Website
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If you’re ready to reconnect with what matters most and move forward with clarity, confidence, and purpose, I’d love to support you.

👉 Book a free Clarity Call here:
https://tidycal.com/jamesdeancoaching/clarity-call

In this thoughtful and deeply human conversation, Jill Macauley explores why self-awareness is one of the most important and most overlooked skills in leadership and life.

Drawing on her work as COO of Behavioral Essentials and her background in leadership development, Jill explains how awareness begins with understanding who we are across identity, values, emotions, and behaviour.

Using the metaphor of “blind spots,” she highlights the gap between intent and impact, and why curiosity and empathy are essential for meaningful growth.

Jill reminds us that awareness isn’t about judgment or perfection, but about reflection, compassion, and choosing to grow.

• Self-awareness starts with understanding yourself
• Leadership impact matters more than leadership intent
• Blind spots exist for everyone, curiosity helps reveal them
• Awareness creates a ripple effect across teams and relationships
• Younger generations expect emotionally intelligent leadership
• Empathy for self is essential before empathy for others
• Awareness is a lifelong journey, not a destination

“Awareness is understanding who you are.”
“Greater understanding dissolves conflict.”
“The hard work is the joyful work.”

00:00 Why Awareness Matters
01:20 Defining Self-Awareness
03:40 Jill’s Leadership Journey
08:39 Identity, Values & Behavior
15:06 Ego, Vulnerability & Impact
28:26 Awareness in Organizations
38:23 Generational Shifts at Work
47:08 Understanding Blind Spots
59:06 Leadership Responsibility
01:02:41 The Ripple Effect of Awareness

Jill Macauley is the Chief Operating Officer at Behavioral Essentials, a workforce development firm dedicated to improving business results through deeper self-awareness and understanding.

With a background in business consulting and leadership development, Jill is passionate about reducing unnecessary workplace suffering and helping individuals and organizations thrive.

Jill’s work focuses on cultivating healthier leadership practices grounded in empathy, awareness, and accountability.

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Learn more about your own blindspots at www.blindspotting.com and take Behaviour Essentials Blindspotting Assessment™ for free with the following promo code: SPOTJAMESDEAN.

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If you’re ready to reconnect with what matters most and move forward with clarity, confidence, and purpose, I’d love to support you.

👉 Book a free Clarity Call here:
https://tidycal.com/jamesdeancoaching/clarity-call

In this engaging conversation, Scott Kelly shares lessons from more than 30 years working on both sides of the startup world as an entrepreneur and as an investor.

As CEO of Black Dog Venture Partners and founder of VC Fast Pitch, Scott has helped raise billions for early-stage companies while supporting founders through the realities of growth, failure, and scale.

Scott speaks candidly about why most startups fail, the grind of entrepreneurship, and why resilience and execution matter more than ideas alone. He highlights sales as a “lost art” in today’s digital world and explains why strong relationships remain the foundation of sustainable business success.

The conversation also explores the evolving role of technology and AI in entrepreneurship. Scott shares how AI is transforming industries while emphasizing that human connection, humility, and solving real problems must remain central.

He reflects on legacy, balance, and redefining success beyond financial metrics, encouraging founders to build businesses and lives that feel meaningful as well as successful.

• Entrepreneurship is a long game that requires resilience
• Around 90% of startups fail in their early years
• Sales and relationship-building are still critical skills
• Execution matters more than ideas alone
• AI is a powerful tool, but human connection still wins
• Investors back people, not just products
• Strong teams are essential for scaling innovation
• Success takes many forms, beyond money

“Running a startup is just a grind.”
“Sales is a lost art.”
“Success takes many forms.”

00:00 Scott’s Journey from Founder to Investor
01:12 The Reality of Startup Failure
03:58 Why Sales Still Matters
09:44 Relationships as a Growth Strategy
11:38 Venture Capital Realities
15:05 Investment Returns & Risk
19:26 AI’s Impact on Entrepreneurship
24:50 Helping Startups Scale
30:18 Building, Exiting & Starting Again
35:10 Technology vs Human Roles
44:34 Defining Success Beyond Business
56:19 Legacy & Paying It Forward

👉 Website
👉 LinkedIn

👉 Website
👉 LinkedIn
👉 Instagram

If you’re ready to reconnect with what matters most and move forward with clarity, confidence, and purpose, I’d love to support you.

👉 Book a free Clarity Call:
https://tidycal.com/jamesdeancoaching/clarity-call