Advertise on podcast: Let Go & Lead with Maril MacDonald

Peter Mann, CEO and Founder of Oransi and author of the forthcoming book The Perception Revolution, joins Maril to explore what happens when organizational systems are built by one kind of brain and mistaken for universal. Diagnosed autistic at 55 after nearly four decades in leadership, including as a Navy combat veteran and Fortune 100 executive, Peter unpacks the "projection fallacy," the "25/25 problem," and his SHIELD framework for redesigning systems so psychological safety and cognitive diversity aren't the exception–but the default. It's a conversation about why “culture fit” often just means hiring people like us, and why the companies willing to let that go are the ones positioned to out-innovate everyone else. Peter Mann Oransi The Perception Revolution

Joanna Lepore, Global Foresight Strategist and Executive Vice President of Foresight and Global Strategy at Dig Insights, joins Maril to explore what strategic foresight actually means in a business context and why most leaders misunderstand it. With experience building foresight practices from the ground up at Mars Wrigley and McDonald's, Jo challenges the assumption that looking ahead requires abandoning the present and makes the case that even a small amount of space to imagine can unlock better decisions. Resources Mentioned: Joanna Lepore  DIG Insights  Jo's Podcast, Looking Outside Gagen MacDonald's Five Priorities for 2026 White Paper ABOUT LET GO & LEAD Let Go & Lead is a leadership community created by Maril MacDonald, founder and CEO of Gagen MacDonald. Maril brings together provocateurs, pioneers, thought leaders and those leading the conversation around culture, transformation and change. Over the course of the past 14 years, Let Go & Lead has existed in many forms, from video interviews to resource guides to its current iteration as a podcast. At its core, it remains a place where people can access a diversity of perspectives on interdisciplinary approaches to leadership. Maril is also working on a book incorporating these insights gathered over the past several years from global leaders and change makers. Maril has interviewed over 140 leaders — from business to academia and nonprofits to the arts — through the years. In each conversation, from personal anecdotes to ground-breaking scientific analysis, she has probed the lessons learned in leadership. From these conversations, the Let Go & Lead framework has emerged. It is both a personal and organizational resource that aims to serve the individual leader or leadership at scale. ABOUT GAGEN MACDONALD At Gagen MacDonald, we are dedicated to helping organizations navigate the human struggle of change. We are a people-focused consulting firm and our passion is improving the employee experience — for everyone. For more than 25 years, we have been working with companies to create clarity from chaos by uniting employees across all levels around a single vision so they can achieve results and realize their future. We have been a pioneer in bringing humanity to strategy execution, leading in areas such as organizational communication, culture, leadership and employee engagement. Our Vision is to lift all humanity by transforming the companies that transform the world. Full episodes also available on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/let-go-lead-with-maril-macdonald/id1454869525 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Gaf7JXOckZMtkpsMtnjAj?si=WZjZkvfLTX2T4eaeB1PO2A — Gagen MacDonald is a woman-owned, human-focused transformation consulting firm and trusted partner to the C-suite. We specialize in internal communications, employee engagement, culture change and leadership development. Learn more at http://www.gagenmacdonald.com. #LeadershipDevelopment #OrganizationalChange #CorporateCulture

Divya Demato, CEO and co-founder of GoodOps, joins Maril to discuss the intersection of supply chain sustainability and operational resilience. With over two decades of experience, Divya explains how business leaders navigate global disruptions and rethink their physical operations. She highlights the importance of maintaining strong, collaborative relationships with suppliers. She also explores how teams use AI as an efficiency tool rather than a replacement for human expertise. Divya emphasizes the critical shift from moving fast and breaking things to moving smart and fixing things. Key Takeaways: 00:00 Introduction. 01:01 Divya traces her career path and early understanding of global trade. 03:00 The motivation to start independent consulting to protect people and the planet. 06:54 Why leaders shift toward resilience over traditional linear sustainability models. 11:16 Applying the Gartner Hype Cycle to assess corporate sustainability maturity. 15:04 Unlocking fresh solutions by partnering directly with existing teams and suppliers. 18:41 The reality of fast consumer delivery expectations and supply chain impacts. 20:26 How human oversight ensures AI actually improves supply chain efficiency. 26:38 The necessary transition from breaking things to moving smart and fixing things. 29:23 Treating future generations and the natural world as vital business stakeholders. Resources Mentioned: Divya Demato https://www.linkedin.com/in/divyakapasidemato/ GoodOps | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/goodops GoodOps | Website  https://goodops.co/ Navigating Geopolitical Disruption: A Supportive Approach for Supply Chain Leaders https://www.gagenmacdonald.com/blog/navigating-geopolitical-disruption-a-supportive-approach-for-supply-chain-leaders ABOUT LET GO & LEAD Let Go & Lead is a leadership community created by Maril MacDonald, founder and CEO of Gagen MacDonald. Maril brings together provocateurs, pioneers, thought leaders and those leading the conversation around culture, transformation and change. Over the course of the past 14 years, Let Go & Lead has existed in many forms, from video interviews to resource guides to its current iteration as a podcast. At its core, it remains a place where people can access a diversity of perspectives on interdisciplinary approaches to leadership. Maril is also working on a book incorporating these insights gathered over the past several years from global leaders and change makers. Maril has interviewed over 140 leaders — from business to academia and nonprofits to the arts — through the years. In each conversation, from personal anecdotes to ground-breaking scientific analysis, she has probed the lessons learned in leadership. From these conversations, the Let Go & Lead framework has emerged. It is both a personal and organizational resource that aims to serve the individual leader or leadership at scale. ABOUT GAGEN MACDONALD At Gagen MacDonald, we are dedicated to helping organizations navigate the human struggle of change. We are a people-focused consulting firm and our passion is improving the employee experience — for everyone. For more than 25 years, we have been working with companies to create clarity from chaos by uniting employees across all levels around a single vision so they can achieve results and realize their future. We have been a pioneer in bringing humanity to strategy execution, leading in areas such as organizational communication, culture, leadership and employee engagement. Our Vision is to lift all humanity by transforming the companies that transform the world. Full episodes also available on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/let-go-lead-with-maril-macdonald/id1454869525  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Gaf7JXOckZMtkpsMtnjAj?si=WZjZkvfLTX2T4eaeB1PO2A  — Gagen MacDonald is a woman-owned, human-focused transformation consulting firm and trusted partner to the C-suite. We specialize in internal communications, employee engagement, culture change and leadership development. Learn more at http://www.gagenmacdonald.com. #LeadershipDevelopment #OrganizationalChange #CorporateCulture

Mary Berner, president and CEO of Cumulus Media Inc., joins Maril to discuss transforming a toxic company culture into a major corporate asset. Drawing on her extensive background in media, Mary shares her journey of stepping into a struggling organization and using radical transparency to rebuild trust. She details how open communication, regular employee surveys and vulnerability at the leadership level helped stabilize a massive workforce.  As Mary Burner's story reminds us, a leader's job has never been more complex. Each year, we publish Gagen McDonald's priorities paper to help leaders navigate this complexity and keep humans at the centre as they do. Download it on our site. Key Takeaways: 00:00 Introduction. 01:58 Direct questions to employees uncover the real root of systemic issues. 05:08 Culture acts as a reservoir of trust when tough decisions arise. 08:29 Fixing a toxic culture requires a clear framework and measurable milestones. 13:59 Leaders build trust through honest answers and transparent survey results. 20:06 Organizational restructuring must reinforce the culture you want to build. 26:27 “Highest and best use” helps teams focus on what they can control. 29:35 Vulnerability from leaders strengthens connection and trust with employees.  Resources Mentioned: Mary Berner https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-berner-a36b996b/ Cumulus Media Inc. | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/cumulus-media-llc/ Cumulus Media Inc. | Website https://www.cumulusmedia.com/ Gagen MacDonald’s Five Priorities in 2026 for Human-Centric Leaders https://www.gagenmacdonald.com/blog/white-paper-five-priorities-in-2026-for-human-centric-leaders ABOUT LET GO & LEAD Let Go & Lead is a leadership community created by Maril MacDonald, founder and CEO of Gagen MacDonald. Maril brings together provocateurs, pioneers, thought leaders and those leading the conversation around culture, transformation and change. Over the course of the past 14 years, Let Go & Lead has existed in many forms, from video interviews to resource guides to its current iteration as a podcast. At its core, it remains a place where people can access a diversity of perspectives on interdisciplinary approaches to leadership. Maril is also working on a book incorporating these insights gathered over the past several years from global leaders and change makers. Maril has interviewed over 140 leaders — from business to academia and nonprofits to the arts — through the years. In each conversation, from personal anecdotes to ground-breaking scientific analysis, she has probed the lessons learned in leadership. From these conversations, the Let Go & Lead framework has emerged. It is both a personal and organizational resource that aims to serve the individual leader or leadership at scale. ABOUT GAGEN MACDONALD At Gagen MacDonald, we are dedicated to helping organizations navigate the human struggle of change. We are a people-focused consulting firm and our passion is improving the employee experience — for everyone. For more than 25 years, we have been working with companies to create clarity from chaos by uniting employees across all levels around a single vision so they can achieve results and realize their future. We have been a pioneer in bringing humanity to strategy execution, leading in areas such as organizational communication, culture, leadership and employee engagement. Our Vision is to lift all humanity by transforming the companies that transform the world. Full episodes also available on: Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/let-go-lead-with-maril-macdonald/id1454869525 Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/5Gaf7JXOckZMtkpsMtnjAj?si=WZjZkvfLTX2T4eaeB1PO2A — Gagen MacDonald is a woman-owned, human-focused transformation consulting firm and trusted partner to the C-suite. We specialize in internal communications, employee engagement, culture change and leadership development. Learn more at http://www.gagenmacdonald.com. #LeadershipDevelopment #OrganizationalChange #CorporateCulture #EmployeeEngagement

Tim Gabel, President and CEO of RTI International, joins Maril to reflect on leading a mission-driven scientific organization through growth, disruption and profound change. Drawing on more than four decades at RTI, Tim shares how purpose, transparency and disciplined decision-making shape his approach to leadership. Tim explores the responsibility of moving from peer to CEO, the balance between science and art in leadership, and what it takes to guide people through uncertainty while staying grounded in values. Key Takeaways: 00:00 Introduction. 04:41 A leadership journey shaped by mentorship, curiosity and long-term commitment. 07:21 Why moving from peer to CEO changes everything. 10:41 Blending scientific rigor with the human side of leadership. 13:49 Applying the Stockdale Paradox to lead with realism and hope. 16:58 Leading transparently through major federal funding cuts. 19:24 Turning crisis into an opportunity to redesign the organization. 23:26 Using purpose and a North Star goal to sustain morale and momentum. 26:20 Why leaders must let go of perfection and the past. Resources Mentioned: Tim Gabel https://www.linkedin.com/in/timgabel/ RTI International | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/rti-international/ RTI International | Website https://www.rti.org/ ABOUT LET GO & LEAD Let Go & Lead is a leadership community created by Maril MacDonald, founder and CEO of Gagen MacDonald. Maril brings together provocateurs, pioneers, thought leaders and those leading the conversation around culture, transformation and change. Over the course of the past 14 years, Let Go & Lead has existed in many forms, from video interviews to resource guides to its current iteration as a podcast. At its core, it remains a place where people can access a diversity of perspectives on interdisciplinary approaches to leadership. Maril is also working on a book incorporating these insights gathered over the past several years from global leaders and change makers. Maril has interviewed over 140 leaders — from business to academia and nonprofits to the arts — through the years. In each conversation, from personal anecdotes to ground-breaking scientific analysis, she has probed the lessons learned in leadership. From these conversations, the Let Go & Lead framework has emerged. It is both a personal and organizational resource that aims to serve the individual leader or leadership at scale. ABOUT GAGEN MACDONALD At Gagen MacDonald, we are dedicated to helping organizations navigate the human struggle of change. We are a people-focused consulting firm and our passion is improving the employee experience — for everyone. For more than 25 years, we have been working with companies to create clarity from chaos by uniting employees across all levels around a single vision so they can achieve results and realize their future. We have been a pioneer in bringing humanity to strategy execution, leading in areas such as organizational communication, culture, leadership and employee engagement. Our Vision is to lift all humanity by transforming the companies that transform the world. Full episodes also available on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/let-go-lead-with-maril-macdonald/id1454869525  Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/5Gaf7JXOckZMtkpsMtnjAj?si=WZjZkvfLTX2T4eaeB1PO2A  Gagen MacDonald is a woman-owned, human-focused transformation consulting firm and trusted partner to the C-suite. We specialize in internal communications, employee engagement, culture change and leadership development. Learn more at http://www.gagenmacdonald.com. #LeadershipDevelopment #OrganizationalChange #CorporateCulture

Mick Ebeling, Founder and CEO of Not Impossible Labs, shares his journey from filmmaking to human-centered innovation. He talks about creating technology for real people and building teams around purpose rather than expertise. Mick touches on egoless leadership, the power of storytelling and why solving for one person can unlock scalable impact. He also explores failure, change and how leaders can remove distractions to help teams do their best work. Key Takeaways: 00:00 Introduction. 01:48 Meaningful innovation often begins with empathy for a real human problem. 04:41 Leaders can commit to ambitious goals before knowing how to achieve them. 11:03 Focusing on one person can create clarity and broader impact. 14:52 Failure plays a critical role in learning and long-term progress. 17:00 Removing ego helps teams stay aligned on purpose and outcomes. 20:49 Naivete and fresh perspectives can challenge limiting status quos. 23:48 Change is constant, and resisting it often creates more risk than embracing it. 28:45 Letting go of ego allows leaders to adapt, learn and lead more effectively. Resources Mentioned: Mick Ebeling https://www.linkedin.com/in/mickebeling/ Not Impossible Labs | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/not-impossible/ Not Impossible Labs | Website http://www.notimpossible.com TED Talks https://www.ted.com/ Time Magazine https://time.com/ The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) https://www.moma.org/ ABOUT LET GO & LEAD Let Go & Lead is a leadership community created by Maril MacDonald, founder and CEO of Gagen MacDonald. Maril brings together provocateurs, pioneers, thought leaders and those leading the conversation around culture, transformation and change. Over the course of the past 14 years, Let Go & Lead has existed in many forms, from video interviews to resource guides to its current iteration as a podcast. At its core, it remains a place where people can access a diversity of perspectives on interdisciplinary approaches to leadership. Maril is also working on a book incorporating these insights gathered over the past several years from global leaders and change makers. Maril has interviewed over 140 leaders — from business to academia and nonprofits to the arts — through the years. In each conversation, from personal anecdotes to ground-breaking scientific analysis, she has probed the lessons learned in leadership. From these conversations, the Let Go & Lead framework has emerged. It is both a personal and organizational resource that aims to serve the individual leader or leadership at scale. ABOUT GAGEN MACDONALD At Gagen MacDonald, we are dedicated to helping organizations navigate the human struggle of change. We are a people-focused consulting firm and our passion is improving the employee experience — for everyone. For more than 25 years, we have been working with companies to create clarity from chaos by uniting employees across all levels around a single vision so they can achieve results and realize their future. We have been a pioneer in bringing humanity to strategy execution, leading in areas such as organizational communication, culture, leadership and employee engagement. Our Vision is to lift all humanity by transforming the companies that transform the world. Full episodes also available on: Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/let-go-lead-with-maril-macdonald/id1454869525  Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/5Gaf7JXOckZMtkpsMtnjAj?si=WZjZkvfLTX2T4eaeB1PO2A  Gagen MacDonald is a woman-owned, human-focused transformation consulting firm and trusted partner to the C-suite. We specialize in internal communications, employee engagement, culture change and leadership development. Learn more at http://www.gagenmacdonald.com.  #LeadershipDevelopment #OrganizationalChange #CorporateCulture

Dr. LuAna Boykins, transformation officer of Triple-S, the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Puerto Rico, joins Maril to unpack what real change leadership looks like in healthcare operations. Drawing on her US Army background and years in service and pharma roles, LuAna approaches transformation with discipline, clarity and care for people. LuAna explains how standards create stability before creativity, how asking hard questions improves decisions and how steady communication keeps teams grounded through shifts. She also shares practical ways we protect high performers, prevent burnout and build trust while modernizing member and provider experiences. Key Takeaways: 00:00 Introduction. 05:25 In high-stakes work, basics come before creativity. 10:10 Transformation improves the experience through better systems and processes. 12:22 Address issues directly while separating facts from emotions. 14:17 Meeting people where they are helps protect high performers. 16:00 Leaders prevent burnout through early support and time off planning. 22:34 Change works better when experts have clear lanes and trust. 26:11 Clear guardrails help people stay aligned and keep learning. 30:54 Tough messages land better with the right messenger and a calm tone.  33:29 Trusting experts and removing barriers lets teams grow and deliver. Resources Mentioned: Dr. LuAna Boykins https://www.linkedin.com/in/luana-boykins/ Triple-S | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/grupo-triple-s/ Triple-S | Website https://www.triplesmanagement.com “Emotional Intelligence” by Daniel Goleman  https://www.amazon.com/Emotional-Intelligence-Matter-More-Than/dp/055338371X ABOUT LET GO & LEAD Let Go & Lead is a leadership community created by Maril MacDonald, founder and CEO of Gagen MacDonald. Maril brings together provocateurs, pioneers, thought leaders and those leading the conversation around culture, transformation and change. Over the course of the past 14 years, Let Go & Lead has existed in many forms, from video interviews to resource guides to its current iteration as a podcast. At its core, it remains a place where people can access a diversity of perspectives on interdisciplinary approaches to leadership. Maril is also working on a book incorporating these insights gathered over the past several years from global leaders and change makers. Maril has interviewed over 140 leaders — from business to academia and nonprofits to the arts — through the years. In each conversation, from personal anecdotes to ground-breaking scientific analysis, she has probed the lessons learned in leadership. From these conversations, the Let Go & Lead framework has emerged. It is both a personal and organizational resource that aims to serve the individual leader or leadership at scale. ABOUT GAGEN MACDONALD At Gagen MacDonald, we are dedicated to helping organizations navigate the human struggle of change. We are a people-focused consulting firm and our passion is improving the employee experience — for everyone. For more than 25 years, we have been working with companies to create clarity from chaos by uniting employees across all levels around a single vision so they can achieve results and realize their future. We have been a pioneer in bringing humanity to strategy execution, leading in areas such as organizational communication, culture, leadership and employee engagement. Our Vision is to lift all humanity by transforming the companies that transform the world. Full episodes also available on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/let-go-lead-with-maril-macdonald/id1454869525 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Gaf7JXOckZMtkpsMtnjAj?si=WZjZkvfLTX2T4eaeB1PO2A — Gagen MacDonald is a woman-owned, human-focused transformation consulting firm and trusted partner to the C-suite. We specialize in internal communications, employee engagement, culture change and leadership development. Learn more at http://www.gagenmacdonald.com. #LeadershipDevelopment #OrganizationalChange #CorporateCulture

Stephanie Kramer, chief human resources officer of L'Oréal North America, discusses leading with empathy and rigor as work practices change fast. She explains how her background in chemistry and marketing shapes a data-informed HR lens that keeps people first and results clear. Stephanie and host Maril talk about building leaders, empowering managers and designing processes that reduce friction and scale care. Stephanie also discusses "Carry Strong," her research-driven guide to pregnancy and work, and why engagement, enablement and wellbeing mesh together in healthy cultures. Key Takeaways: 00:00 Introduction. 02:25 Leadership careers often start with curiosity and a willingness to grow. 04:47 Understanding people is essential in any discipline, from marketing to human resources. 09:56 Empowering managers strengthens trust and creates space for employees to thrive. 12:56 Transparency and accountability drive progress as technology reshapes how we work. 16:44 Clear and consistent processes create stability and enable meaningful human connection. 24:01 Sustainable leadership depends on setting priorities and maintaining personal balance. 29:35 Taking time for self-care ensures leaders can guide others with clarity and energy. 31:10 Being deliberate with time and decisions builds focus and long-term effectiveness. Resources Mentioned: Stephanie Kramer https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemaekramer/ L'Oréal North America | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/lor%C3%A9al/ L'Oréal | Website http://www.loreal.com "Carry Strong" by Stephanie Kramer https://www.amazon.com/Carry-Strong-Empowered-Navigating-Pregnancy/dp/014313728X Fast Company https://www.fastcompany.com/   ABOUT LET GO & LEAD Let Go & Lead is a leadership community created by Maril MacDonald, founder and CEO of Gagen MacDonald. Maril brings together provocateurs, pioneers, thought leaders and those leading the conversation around culture, transformation and change. Over the course of the past 14 years, Let Go & Lead has existed in many forms, from video interviews to resource guides to its current iteration as a podcast. At its core, it remains a place where people can access a diversity of perspectives on interdisciplinary approaches to leadership. Maril is also working on a book incorporating these insights gathered over the past several years from global leaders and change makers. Maril has interviewed over 140 leaders — from business to academia and nonprofits to the arts — through the years. In each conversation, from personal anecdotes to ground-breaking scientific analysis, she has probed the lessons learned in leadership. From these conversations, the Let Go & Lead framework has emerged. It is both a personal and organizational resource that aims to serve the individual leader or leadership at scale. ABOUT GAGEN MACDONALD At Gagen MacDonald, we are dedicated to helping organizations navigate the human struggle of change. We are a people-focused consulting firm and our passion is improving the employee experience — for everyone. For more than 25 years, we have been working with companies to create clarity from chaos by uniting employees across all levels around a single vision so they can achieve results and realize their future. We have been a pioneer in bringing humanity to strategy execution, leading in areas such as organizational communication, culture, leadership and employee engagement. Our Vision is to lift all humanity by transforming the companies that transform the world. Full episodes also available on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/let-go-lead-with-maril-macdonald/id1454869525 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Gaf7JXOckZMtkpsMtnjAj?si=WZjZkvfLTX2T4eaeB1PO2A — Gagen MacDonald is a woman-owned, human-focused transformation consulting firm and trusted partner to the C-suite. We specialize in internal communications, employee engagement, culture change and leadership development. Learn more at http://www.gagenmacdonald.com. #LeadershipDevelopment #OrganizationalChange #CorporateCulture #EmployeeEngagement

Adrian Popa, associate professor of Gonzaga University, joins host Maril to discuss resilience, community and the deeper dimensions of leadership. Drawing from his experiences as an immigrant, clinician, researcher and educator, Adrian explores how leaders can navigate uncertainty with existential courage and servant leadership while fostering transformation at both personal and organizational levels. Key Takeaways: 00:00 Introduction. 02:54 Personal transformation as a driver of organizational change. 10:54 Balancing personal agency with creating space for the autonomy of others. 14:12 The role of psychological courage in fostering self-sufficiency. 20:12 Measuring leadership success by the growth of others. 23:47 Building collaboration through trust, shared accountability and recognition. 30:09 Viewing adaptability as an essential aspect of hardiness. 34:58 Recognizing and nurturing the potential in others. 39:09 Using self-reflective questions to guide leadership choices. Resources Mentioned: Adrian Popa https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrian-b-popa/ Gonzaga University | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/school/gonzaga-university/ Gonzaga University | Website https://www.gonzaga.edu "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4069.Man_s_Search_for_Meaning "What is Servant Leadership?" by Robert K. Greenleaf https://greenleaf.org/what-is-servant-leadership/ Amy Edmondson's research on psychological safety https://amycedmondson.com/ "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell https://www.amazon.com/Outliers-Story-Success-Malcolm-Gladwell/dp/0316017930   ABOUT LET GO & LEAD Let Go & Lead is a leadership community created by Maril MacDonald, founder and CEO of Gagen MacDonald. Maril brings together provocateurs, pioneers, thought leaders and those leading the conversation around culture, transformation and change. Over the course of the past 14 years, Let Go & Lead has existed in many forms, from video interviews to resource guides to its current iteration as a podcast. At its core, it remains a place where people can access a diversity of perspectives on interdisciplinary approaches to leadership. Maril is also working on a book incorporating these insights gathered over the past several years from global leaders and change makers. Maril has interviewed over 140 leaders — from business to academia and nonprofits to the arts — through the years. In each conversation, from personal anecdotes to ground-breaking scientific analysis, she has probed the lessons learned in leadership. From these conversations, the Let Go & Lead framework has emerged. It is both a personal and organizational resource that aims to serve the individual leader or leadership at scale. ABOUT GAGEN MACDONALD At Gagen MacDonald, we are dedicated to helping organizations navigate the human struggle of change. We are a people-focused consulting firm and our passion is improving the employee experience — for everyone. For more than 25 years, we have been working with companies to create clarity from chaos by uniting employees across all levels around a single vision so they can achieve results and realize their future. We have been a pioneer in bringing humanity to strategy execution, leading in areas such as organizational communication, culture, leadership and employee engagement. Our Vision is to lift all humanity by transforming the companies that transform the world.   Full episodes also available on: Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/let-go-lead-with-maril-macdonald/id1454869525  Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/5Gaf7JXOckZMtkpsMtnjAj?si=WZjZkvfLTX2T4eaeB1PO2A  — Gagen MacDonald is a woman-owned, human-focused transformation consulting firm and trusted partner to the C-suite. We specialize in internal communications, employee engagement, culture change and leadership developme nt. Learn more at http://www.gagenmacdonald.com. #LeadershipDevelopment #OrganizationalChange #CorporateCulture #EmployeeEngagement

We speak with Jody Ono, faculty director of leadership programs at Hitotsubashi ICS, Hitachi University Business School. Jody has lived and worked in the US, Sweden and Japan, teaching MBA students and business leaders from around the world. Maril and Jody explore how leadership is shaped by culture, how authenticity is interpreted differently across contexts and what it means to connect with others on a deeper level. We learn how Jody helps students and executives find their own leadership identity, build trust across cultures and lead with presence and purpose. Key Takeaways: 02:54 Leadership looks different across cultures and context shapes everything. 10:36 Our early career environments shape who we become as leaders. 22:30 Purpose, not personality, drives real authenticity. 24:37 Leadership is an invitation, not a command. 31:02 Admitting we don't know invites others to lead with us. 34:36 Power with others is replacing power over them. 42:31 We each have to shape our own leadership identity. 46:12 Leadership shows up in how we connect, not just how we perform. Resources Mentioned: Jody Ono https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodyono2025/ Hitotsubashi ICS, Hitachi University Business School | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/school/hitotsubashi-ics/ Hitotsubashi ICS (Hitotsubashi University Business School) | Website https://www.ics.hub.hit-u.ac.jp/ Texas A&M University – Center for Leadership Excellence https://www.tamuct.edu/mydegree/index.html?utm_source=Steel&utm_medium=Google_Ads&utm_campaign=mydegree&utm_id=brandV2&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22010237997&gbraid=0AAAAA-c7tLJjOCwPVdaAIMq52NlReb8fU&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjo7DBhCrARIsACWauSlnjimlfeJPw6SE3qbuIMojbnZeLu_wJJnpgTwjLd0_6RmPmSfKiAEaAtezEALw_wcB The Bush School of Government and Public Service https://bush.tamu.edu/ G3 – Good Governance Group Japan https://g3.co/   ABOUT LET GO & LEAD Let Go & Lead is a leadership community created by Maril MacDonald, founder and CEO of Gagen MacDonald. Maril brings together provocateurs, pioneers, thought leaders and those leading the conversation around culture, transformation and change. Over the course of the past 14 years, Let Go & Lead has existed in many forms, from video interviews to resource guides to its current iteration as a podcast. At its core, it remains a place where people can access a diversity of perspectives on interdisciplinary approaches to leadership. Maril is also working on a book incorporating these insights gathered over the past several years from global leaders and change makers. Maril has interviewed over 140 leaders — from business to academia and nonprofits to the arts — through the years. In each conversation, from personal anecdotes to ground-breaking scientific analysis, she has probed the lessons learned in leadership. From these conversations, the Let Go & Lead framework has emerged. It is both a personal and organizational resource that aims to serve the individual leader or leadership at scale.   ABOUT GAGEN MACDONALD At Gagen MacDonald, we are dedicated to helping organizations navigate the human struggle of change. We are a people-focused consulting firm and our passion is improving the employee experience — for everyone. For more than 25 years, we have been working with companies to create clarity from chaos by uniting employees across all levels around a single vision so they can achieve results and realize their future. We have been a pioneer in bringing humanity to strategy execution, leading in areas such as organizational communication, culture, leadership and employee engagement. Our Vision is to lift all humanity by transforming the companies that transform the world. Full episodes also available on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/let-go-lead-with-maril-macdonald/id1454869525  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Gaf7JXOckZMtkpsMtnjAj?si=WZjZkvfLTX2T4eaeB1PO2A  — Gagen MacDonald is a woman-owned, human-focused transformation consulting firm and trusted partner to the C-suite. We specialize in internal communications, employee engagement, culture change and leadership development. Learn more at http://www.gagenmacdonald.com.    #LeadershipDevelopment #OrganizationalChange #CorporateCulture #EmployeeEngagement

Geoff Woods, author of "The AI-Driven Leader," joins Maril to discuss what it means to be a leader in the AI space. He explains how AI can be used to grow businesses, sharpen strategy and rethink how we lead. Geoff shares how working with AI as a thought partner helps us solve bigger problems, ask better questions and create more value. He also walks through how mindset, clarity and collaboration drive results that matter. Key Takeaways: (00:00) Introduction. (01:37) Growth depends on aligning strategy, execution, people and technology (03:40) AI is a skill worth mastering, not delegating (08:31) Structure and clarity elevate AI use from tactical to strategic (13:30) Leadership is about communicating clearly and connecting ideas (17:06) AI can personalize insight and feedback for better decisions (26:52) Focus drives results more than volume (30:23) AI frees people to do more meaningful work (31:51) Letting go of old identities opens space for reinvention Resources Mentioned: Geoff Woods https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoff-woods-8534774/ "The AI-Driven Leader" https://www.linkedin.com/company/ai-thought-leadership/ AI Leadership | Website https://www.aileadership.com/ "The AI-Driven Leader" by Geoff Woods https://www.aileadership.com/book The AI Leadership Collective https://www.aileadership.com/collective     ABOUT LET GO & LEAD Let Go & Lead is a leadership community created by Maril MacDonald, founder and CEO of Gagen MacDonald. Maril brings together provocateurs, pioneers, thought leaders and those leading the conversation around culture, transformation and change. Over the course of the past 14 years, Let Go & Lead has existed in many forms, from video interviews to resource guides to its current iteration as a podcast. At its core, it remains a place where people can access a diversity of perspectives on interdisciplinary approaches to leadership. Maril is also working on a book incorporating these insights gathered over the past several years from global leaders and change makers. Maril has interviewed over 140 leaders — from business to academia and nonprofits to the arts — through the years. In each conversation, from personal anecdotes to ground-breaking scientific analysis, she has probed the lessons learned in leadership. From these conversations, the Let Go & Lead framework has emerged. It is both a personal and organizational resource that aims to serve the individual leader or leadership at scale.   ABOUT GAGEN MACDONALD At Gagen MacDonald, we are dedicated to helping organizations navigate the human struggle of change. We are a people-focused consulting firm and our passion is improving the employee experience — for everyone. For more than 25 years, we have been working with companies to create clarity from chaos by uniting employees across all levels around a single vision so they can achieve results and realize their future. We have been a pioneer in bringing humanity to strategy execution, leading in areas such as organizational communication, culture, leadership and employee engagement. Our Vision is to lift all humanity by transforming the companies that transform the world. Full episodes also available on: Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/let-go-lead-with-maril-macdonald/id1454869525 Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/5Gaf7JXOckZMtkpsMtnjAj?si=WZjZkvfLTX2T4eaeB1PO2A   — Gagen MacDonald is a woman-owned, human-focused transformation consulting firm and trusted partner to the C-suite. We specialize in internal communications, employee engagement, culture change and leadership development. Learn more at http://www.gagenmacdonald.com.   #LeadershipDevelopment #OrganizationalChange #CorporateCulture #EmployeeEngagement

Margery Kraus, founder and executive chairman of APCO, reflects on 40 years of leadership. She shares how APCO grew from a small team into a global advisory firm rooted in trust, values and innovation. Margery discusses building a culture that thrives across borders, letting go of control to develop future leaders and applying lessons from motherhood to business. She also looks ahead to what's next, including bold thinking around education, youth opportunity and social change.   Key Takeaways: (00:28) Leadership journeys often begin with unexpected opportunities. (03:04) An outside perspective can lead to more creative solutions. (09:09) Culture is easier to scale when values are shared. (11:30) Letting go of control is part of growing a company. (21:33) Personal life lessons can influence leadership philosophies. (23:02) Public praise and private feedback build trust and respect. (26:31) Being underestimated can become a strategic advantage. (33:45) Knowing when to step back is key to long-term success. (36:19) Major change creates space for bold new ideas.   Resources Mentioned: Margery Kraus https://www.linkedin.com/in/margerykraus/ APCO | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/apco-worldwide/ APCO | Website https://apcoworldwide.com/ "Roots and Wings" by Margery Kraus https://www.amazon.com/Roots-Wings-Lessons-Motherhood-Company/dp/168463024X     ABOUT LET GO & LEAD Let Go & Lead is a leadership platform created by Maril MacDonald, founder and CEO of Gagen MacDonald. Maril brings together provocateurs, pioneers, thought leaders and those leading the conversation around culture, transformation and change. Over the course of the past 14 years, Let Go & Lead has existed in many forms, from video interviews to resource guides to its current iteration as a podcast. At its core, it remains a place where people can access a diversity of perspectives on interdisciplinary approaches to leadership. Maril has interviewed over 140 leaders — from business to academia and nonprofits to the arts — through the years. In each conversation, from personal anecdotes to ground-breaking scientific analysis, she has probed the lessons learned in leadership. From these conversations, the Let Go & Lead framework has emerged. It is both a personal and organizational resource that aims to serve the individual leader or leadership at scale.   ABOUT GAGEN MACDONALD At Gagen MacDonald, we are dedicated to helping organizations navigate the human struggle of change. We are a people-focused consulting firm and our passion is improving the employee experience—for everyone. For more than 25 years, we have been working with companies to create clarity from chaos by uniting employees across all levels around a single vision so they can achieve results and realize their future. We have been a pioneer in bringing humanity to strategy execution, leading in areas such as organizational communication, culture, leadership and employee engagement. Our Vision is to lift all humanity by transforming the companies that transform the world. Full episodes also available on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/let-go-lead-with-maril-macdonald/id1454869525 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Gaf7JXOckZMtkpsMtnjAj?si=WZjZkvfLTX2T4eaeB1PO2A    — Gagen MacDonald is a woman-owned, human-focused transformation consulting firm and trusted partner to the C-suite. We specialize in internal communications, employee engagement, culture change and leadership development. Learn more at http://www.gagenmacdonald.com.   #LeadershipDevelopment #OrganizationalChange #CorporateCulture #EmployeeEngagement

To survive over the long term, businesses must constantly innovate and transform. All too often, however, forces inside companies stifle this change.   Greg Larkin has built a career as an internal disruptor. In his view, anyone who seeks to innovate from within, to transform a legacy company, naturally comes into contact with obstructionists — with people who, for different reasons, act as barriers to change. Larkin has identified five key obstructionist archetypes, and he has a playbook of strategies for overcoming each one of them. He talks with Maril about his career journey; about his leadership community for disruptive executives, Pinstripes & Punks, and what it means to be a business punk; and ultimately, about why pushing against the norm, attempting to drive change and being a "punk" is an act of love, not an act of war, for a business.     ABOUT LET GO & LEAD   Let Go & Lead is a leadership community created by Maril MacDonald, founder and CEO of Gagen MacDonald. Maril brings together provocateurs, pioneers, thought leaders and those leading the conversation around culture, transformation and change. Over the course of the past 14 years, Let Go & Lead has existed in many forms, from video interviews to resource guides to its current iteration as a podcast. At its core, it remains a place where people can access a diversity of perspectives on interdisciplinary approaches to leadership. Maril is also working on a book incorporating these insights gathered over the past several years from global leaders and change makers.     Maril has interviewed over 140 leaders — from business to academia and nonprofits to the arts — through the years. In each conversation, from personal anecdotes to ground-breaking scientific analysis, she has probed the lessons learned in leadership. From these conversations, the Let Go & Lead framework has emerged. It is both a personal and organizational resource that aims to serve the individual leader or leadership at scale.    ABOUT GAGEN MACDONALD   At Gagen MacDonald, we are dedicated to helping organizations navigate the human struggle of change. We are a people-focused consulting firm and our passion is improving the employee experience — for everyone. For more than 25 years, we have been working with companies to create clarity from chaos by uniting employees across all levels around a single vision so they can achieve results and realize their future. We have been a pioneer in bringing humanity to strategy execution, leading in areas such as organizational communication, culture, leadership, and employee engagement. Our Vision is to lift all humanity by transforming the companies that transform the world.    Full episodes also available on:       Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/let-go-lead-with-maril-macdonald/id1454869525       Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Gaf7JXOckZMtkpsMtnjAj?si=WZjZkvfLTX2T4eaeB1PO2A        —      Gagen MacDonald is a woman-owned, human-focused transformation consulting firm and trusted partner to the C-suite. We specialize in internal communications, employee engagement, culture change and leadership development. Learn more at http://www.gagenmacdonald.com.

From the U.S. Air Force to higher education, General Jay Silveria's leadership career has been as wide-ranging as they come. After leading pilots into combat and going viral for the anti-racist speech he made while Superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy, Silveria now serves as the Executive Director of Texas A&M University's Bush School of Government & Public Service. The thread beneath all his experiences is that he's a true servant leader — one who invests time in getting to know his people as a mission imperative. He and Maril discuss why innovation starts with leaders, and a "bottom-up" approach to fostering innovation rarely gets the job done; why it's so critical to de-brief and review not just after things go wrong, but after they succeed as well; and why a leader's responsibility is to looking ahead, imagining contingencies and planning for what could go wrong. ABOUT LET GO & LEAD Let Go & Lead is a leadership community created by Maril MacDonald, founder and CEO of Gagen MacDonald. Maril brings together provocateurs, pioneers, thought leaders and those leading the conversation around culture, transformation and change. Over the course of the past 14 years, Let Go & Lead has existed in many forms, from video interviews to resource guides to its current iteration as a podcast. At its core, it remains a place where people can access a diversity of perspectives on interdisciplinary approaches to leadership. Maril is also working on a book incorporating these insights gathered over the past several years from global leaders and change makers. Maril has interviewed over 140 leaders — from business to academia and nonprofits to the arts — through the years. In each conversation, from personal anecdotes to ground-breaking scientific analysis, she has probed the lessons learned in leadership. From these conversations, the Let Go & Lead framework has emerged. It is both a personal and organizational resource that aims to serve the individual leader or leadership at scale. ABOUT GAGEN MACDONALD At Gagen MacDonald, we are dedicated to helping organizations navigate the human struggle of change. We are a people-focused consulting firm and our passion is improving the employee experience — for everyone. For more than 25 years, we have been working with companies to create clarity from chaos by uniting employees across all levels around a single vision so they can achieve results and realize their future. We have been a pioneer in bringing humanity to strategy execution, leading in areas such as organizational communication, culture, leadership, and employee engagement. Our Vision is to lift all humanity by transforming the companies that transform the world.    Full episodes also available on:     Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/let-go-lead-with-maril-macdonald/id1454869525     Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Gaf7JXOckZMtkpsMtnjAj?si=WZjZkvfLTX2T4eaeB1PO2A    —    Gagen MacDonald is a woman-owned, human-focused transformation consulting firm and trusted partner to the C-suite. We specialize in internal communications, employee engagement, culture change and leadership development. Learn more at http://www.gagenmacdonald.com.

In a world where so many M&A activities fail to deliver their promised results, Umayma Abubakar has firsthand knowledge of how to buck the trend, and truly create something new and better through all the change.   Starting in 2017, Abubakar helped lead one of the largest mergers in history, when Mubadala Development Company combined with International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) to form what is today known as Mubadala Investment Company. Maril talks with Abubakar, now Mubadala's deputy chief communications officer, about the principles and practices that drove them through the merger, and what executives around the world can learn from their success. Over a wide-ranging conversation, they cover the importance of leading with respect and inclusivity; of tapping into the experts you already have in the room; of choosing your language carefully; of providing employees with a clear vision and path forward; and of deeply appreciating the many details and dimensions of the cultures you're combining to truly get the best of both worlds.   ABOUT LET GO & LEAD   Let Go & Lead is a leadership community created by Maril MacDonald, founder and CEO of Gagen MacDonald. Maril brings together provocateurs, pioneers, thought leaders and those leading the conversation around culture, transformation and change.    Over the course of the past 14 years, Let Go & Lead has existed in many forms, from video interviews to resource guides to its current iteration as a podcast. At its core, it remains a place where people can access a diversity of perspectives on interdisciplinary approaches to leadership. Maril is also working on a book incorporating these insights gathered over the past several years from global leaders and change makers.     Maril has interviewed over 140 leaders — from business to academia and nonprofits to the arts — through the years. In each conversation, from personal anecdotes to ground-breaking scientific analysis, she has probed the lessons learned in leadership. From these conversations, the Let Go & Lead framework has emerged. It is both a personal and organizational resource that aims to serve the individual leader or leadership at scale.    ABOUT GAGEN MACDONALD  At Gagen MacDonald, we are dedicated to helping organizations navigate the human struggle of change. We are a people-focused consulting firm and our passion is improving the employee experience — for everyone. For more than  25 years, we have been working with companies to create clarity from chaos by uniting employees across all levels around a single vision so they can achieve results and realize their future. We have been a pioneer in bringing humanity to strategy execution, leading in areas such as organizational communication, culture, leadership, and employee engagement. Our Vision is to lift all humanity by transforming the companies that transform the world. Full episodes also available on:       Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/let-go-lead-with-maril-macdonald/id1454869525       Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Gaf7JXOckZMtkpsMtnjAj?si=WZjZkvfLTX2T4eaeB1PO2A     —      Gagen MacDonald is a woman-owned, human-focused transformation consulting firm and trusted partner to the C-suite. We specialize in internal communications, employee engagement, culture change and leadership development. Learn more at http://www.gagenmacdonald.com