Today's guest is Nico Cattaneo, the author of the podcast theme music. He is also my son and a comedian. He takes us for a behind the scenes look at the life of a comedian in New York. We talk about how he realized he wanted to be a comedian, how he took his first steps in that world. We discuss the role of open mics play in helping comedians develop their own creative voice, and what is the culture among comics in New York. KEY TAKEAWAYS [04:08] - Nico shares his early passion for storytelli...

Today, my guest is a dear old friend and great creative leader. Lynn Pulsifer is the owner and Chief Creative of Salty Cactus Creative. We talk about how to develop and build creativity, for yourself and for the teams you lead. Lynn shares her experiences as a boutique agency owner, her insights on adaptation, the creative process, and the delicate balance between ego and collaboration. Plus, she offers her valuable insight for emerging creatives on navigating the intricacies of a creative care...

Today, we talk to Uriya Rosenman, an Israeli teacher and Sameh Zakout, a Palestinian singer and actor. As the founders of the DUGRI Project, a social venture dedicated to amplifying a moderate Israeli-Palestinian narrative, they aim to forge a mutually beneficial future through music, content, education, and community building, fostering unity among Jewish and Arab children in schools. DUGRI's inception coincided with ground riots and the onset of the Israel-Hamas war, drawing global attention ...

Join me today as I chat with Gaia van der Esch about her latest book, "​​Leading Our Way: How Women Are Re-Defining Leadership." In our discussion, we delve into the profiles of seven modern women leaders, emphasizing crucial skills like optimism, curiosity, consistency, authenticity, freedom, integrity, and circularity. The book's emphasis on these specific leadership traits steals the spotlight. "Leading Our Way" transcends gender—it imparts universal lessons, encouraging a collective reconsi...

Today, we are talking with Don Martelli, As President and Partner of the Belfort Group, Don is deeply immersed in the realms of integrated digital marketing, creative services, web development, public relations and communications. Throghout his career, Don has developed an approach to leadership based on authenticity and storytelling. Don shares his accidental entry into the marketing landscape, blending insights from his career in journalism with the evolving world of digital marketing. From t...

Today's guest is Mosongo Moukwa, the President of Hathaway Advanced Materials and the bestselling author of the book "Be a Leader of Significance." In his long career, Mosongo has been on two parallel journeys. First, a global journey from Congo to Belgium to Canada to the US and more. Second, a professional journey, from pure science and research to the leadership suite in the chemical industry Together we delve into the art of effective leadership, emphasizing self-awareness, empathy, and the...

In this special Thanksgiving episode, I'm thrilled to introduce my guest Scarlet Keys, a celebrated songwriter, esteemed educator at Berklee College of Music, TED talk speaker, and author. Over the past three years, Scarlet courageously faced a challenging health journey, discovering the transformative power of gratitude along the way. Join us as Scarlet shares the various gratitude practices that fueled her resilience during her battle with cancer and offers a sneak peek into her upcoming book...

Today, I sat down with Jeff Bender, the CEO, and Founder of Lion and Owll, a company that designs gender-neutral, chic, and comfy kids' clothing, a business he launched in an effort to create a safe, inclusive, and self-confident environment for all children after learning that his daughter is transgender. During our conversation, we explored Jeff's transition from a career in hospitality, drawing parallels between parenting a transgender child and launching an apparel company. We discussed the...

Today's episode is special, coinciding with Veterans Day week. In Episode 27 in January 2022, I interviewed Navy chaplain Brandon Harding who introduced me to 23rd Veteran—a unique mental health program for veterans dedicated to providing a unique mental health program for veterans coping with trauma. After volunteering as a coach for their programs, for the past two years, I've witnessed their remarkable impact. In honor of Veterans Day, I've invited Brandon and Mike Waldron the Founder and Ex...

Our guest today is Melissa Kwon, co-founder and CEO of eWebinar. Melissa is a 3x bootstrapper navigating the entrepreneurial world while embracing the digital nomad lifestyle. In our discussion, she talked about finding her authenticity and how that shaped her approach to leadership and entrepreneurship. She explained why the bootstrapping path was a better approach for her than looking for VC funding. We also delved into the unique experiences and challenges of being a digital nomad. Melissa a...

Our guest today Tangia Al-awaji Estrada a storyteller, business builder, and PR consultant. She co-founded BIPOC Podcast Creators, the premier resource for black, indigenous people of color-identified creators across the podcasting space. In our conversation, we discussed what it took her to find the right calling, the pivotal event that made her step away from a successful career as a campaign director in politics, and how, after starting a podcast, she found her authentic leadership calling w...

Our guest today is Debi Kleiman, a veteran of Boston's startup/marketing/high-technology scene. Debi is currently working at Harvard University supporting faculty who are starting AI and Machine Learning ventures. As the author of "First Pitch," and a seasoned startup leader, Debi offers invaluable insights into the entrepreneurial world. In our conversation, we explored founder traits, the importance of failing fast, strategic approaches to partnering with investors, and the art of community b...

In today's episode I celebrate my birthday by reflecting on the leadership lessons I learned from my father. I also talk about my birthday tradition of organizing a Daniel Pearl Music Day show in October. This year's event is the 11th annual event and will be held at The Burren in Somerville, MA. Because Daniel Pearl events are also a reminder of the importance of the freedom of the press, and the need to protect journalists, this year's event is dedicated to Evan Gersshkovich - the Wall Stree...

We had many entrepreneurs come through the podcast, so the theme today is entrepreneurship. We’ll cover topics like how and when to take the jump, what is important at the beginning, and how to think about finding the right partners. We will hear from 4 people: Alisa Cohn from episode 12, Jackie Hermes from episode 24, Dan Huerter a very recent guest from episode 102 and Sean Fahey from episode 54. Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com Websites: al4ep.com Guest Links: Check out the individual episod...

In this episode we go back to the interviews with Debora Spar and Roger Brown and take out some of the key lessons from leading in higher education that can be applied to other organizations. Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com Websites: al4ep.com Additional Guest Links: For Debora Spar: Episode 18 of the Podcast For Roger Brown: Episode 30 of The Podcast Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo Dino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneo Podcast Instagram – @al4edp Podcast Twitt...

Today, I’m sitting down with Jazzy T. Williams, CEO and Founder of the JazzCast Pros Network a platform that provides a unique space for thought leaders to resonate with a global, niche audience. Focused on leadership and self-development, the network's mission is to educate, empower, and inspire women and people of color, fostering social equity, financial independence, and healthy self-relationships. We delve into Jazzy's transformation from radio talent to entrepreneur, exploring the intrica...

Join me in this engaging discussion with fellow leadership coach Whitney Hinshaw Sullivan as we examine the vital role of empathy in leadership and how too much empathy can be just as damaging as too little. We discuss the necessity of maintaining boundaries on compassion and the courage required for difficult conversations. We tackle the challenges that come with transitioning from a peer to a leader, highlighting the often blurred boundaries between work and personal relationships underscorin...

Today's episode is an anthology of the best answer to the question : what food inspires you? The guests highlight the powerful connection between food, roots, identity and authentic leadership. Featuring: Rishad Tobaccowala, Jean Batthany, Rand Fishkin, Gabriella Arcadu, Francesca Gargaglia, Laura Cesaro, Gaia Van Der Esch, Daniella Rabbani, Rony Sellam and Gil Blander, Rishi Bhattia, Kasey Jones, Armin Molavi, Mya Byrne Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo Dino on LinkedIn:...

Daniel Huerter went from working at a Fortune 500 software to becoming an entrepreneurial trailblazer who dove into the cannabis / CBD startup realm, as the Co-Founder of Pure Spectrum CBD. Daniel shares his journey, what it means to him to be an authentic leader, his mission-driven approach to the industry, and how a conflict with his own value lead him to walk away from the company he started. He also shares some valuable insights for young entrepreneurs who are looking for the right partner ...

Gaia van der Esch was nominated for the Forbes 30 under 30 a few years ago and is currently the Managing Director of 3ZERO, an organization working to make the world three zero: zero exclusion, zero carbon, and zero poverty. Gaia is the author of the soon-to-be-released “​​Leading Our Way: How Women Are Re-Defining Leadership.” Gaia discusses the moment she knew she was a natural-born leader, how her desire to make a difference guides her career decisions, her evolving perspective on leadership,...

In this special milestone Episode number 100, we take a moment to reflect on an incredible journey and express our heartfelt gratitude to you, our dedicated listeners. Today we're celebrating authenticity and its profound meaning to each of us. Listen in as I invite you to look back at how embracing one's unique expression of authenticity has paved the way for the leadership journey for the guests in the last 99 episodes of the show. Plus, an invitation to discover what authenticity means to yo...

Michel Cohen is the visionary, CEO, and Founder of DentalPro, Italy's largest Professional Dentist Clinic Group, boasting over €200 million in sales, 2500 employees, and 265 clinics and offering accessibility to quality dental care across the country. Michel shares how his leadership philosophy and passion for growth have shaped the culture of Dental Pro, the importance of clear values in building and operating the business, and the challenge of maintaining consistency in a rapidly growing orga...

Vyra Scher is a transgender Asian immigrant woman who launched LECHERY® an affordable luxury brand offering gender-neutral European hosiery, socks, and shapewear at just 20 years old. In less than two years, the business has grown from 0 to $15 Million with 100,000 loyal customers and availability at major retailers such as Target, Kohl's, Nordstrom, Macy's, Saks, HSN, QVC, Belk, and Lord & Taylor. Vyra shares her traumatic background, her escape to the US, the challenges she's faced as a woman...

Today we talk to Isabella Mandis, Founder and CEO of Girls Who VC and sophomore at Havard, proof that age is no barrier to making a positive difference in the world of VC. Isabella shares her inspiring journey into authentic leadership and starting Girls Who VC just seven months ago, her insights into navigating challenges, embracing opportunities, and how she’s making a positive difference in the world of venture capital. KEY TAKEAWAYS [01:04] - Dino introduces today’s guest, Isabella Mandis,...