Conversations for Leaders & Teams

Hosted by Dr. Kelly M.G. Whelan

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Latest episode

May 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Welcome! Since 2020, the Conversations podcast has been dedicated to advancing leader and team excellence by exploring relevant topics that impact today's corporate, nonprofit, and faith organizations. Get social with us @belemleaders or visit belemleaders.org Check out Christian Coaching Magazine @christiancoachingmag on FB and Instagram, or christiancoachingmag.com

Listen to episodes

60 recent

May 1, 2026Episode 9435 min

E94. Power Literacy: The Leadership Skill No One Teaches but Everyone Needs w/ Kisha Wynter

Send us Fan MailWe sit down with executive coach Kisha Wynter to name the leadership skill almost no one teaches: power literacy, the ability to navigate organizational power dynamics and build influence without formal authority. Kisha breaks down the mystery of why top performers still get stuck and how plugging “power leaks” helps leaders speak up, advocate for their teams, and drive enterprise impact. Plus, we explore and discuss:• power literacy as a core leadership competency beyond hard work and expertise • why cross-functional influence determines promotions and initiative traction • the shared responsibility between leaders and organizations to build this capability • reframing power as values-based and generative rather than destructive • power leaks as learned survival responses, not personal failure • common leaks like hesitation, over-accommodation, weak boundaries, and avoiding visibility • practical ways to plug leaks through preparation, speaking early, and voice practice • decoding the visible org chart versus the invisible influence web • “who influences the influencers” and why decisions happen before meetings • framing, trigger words, and adapting language to organizational context Find this dynamic leader on LinkedIn by @Kisha Winter, or on her website, yourpoweronleashed.com.Support the showUntil next time, keep doing great things!

March 24, 2026Episode 9333 min

E93. Pioneering the Christian Life Coach Network w/ Dr. Justin Tilghman

Send us Fan MailWe sit down with Dr. Justin Tilghman of the Christian Life Coach Network and dig into vetting coaches, credibility, collaboration tools, and why Christian coaches can serve churches, nonprofits, and corporate teams without turning every conversation into Christianese. Inside this episode you will find:• the problem of great coaches operating in isolation• why leaders struggle to find a trusted Christian coach online• what “Christian Life Coach Network” means beyond life coaching• the certification check and statement of faith as a credibility signal• how a shared ecosystem raises standards across the profession• collaboration through a coach forum, referrals, and shared tools• resources for business development and coach growth• serving corporate clients while coaching from Christian values• AI messaging support for coach profiles and an AI coach matching toolVisit https://christianlifecoachnetwork.com to find out more.Support the showUntil next time, keep doing great things!

February 27, 2026Episode 9239 min

E92. Leading with Grace: Flourishing Leaders & Thriving Teams w/ Jeremiah Burke

Send us Fan MailJoin Dr. Kelly Whelan with guest Jeremiah Burke to unpack what it means to lead with grace while holding high standards. From self-leadership and honoring a Sabbath to discernment and smart failure, we explore how to move teams from mere compliance to true capacity and flourishing.• redefining leadership as stewardship of influence• strength with grace, not softness or dominance• self-leadership across mind, body, spirit, soul• feedback, humility, and open-door trust• mentors, coaching, and mental health support• Scripture, Spirit, Support as discernment filters• moving teams from compliance to capacity• measuring fruits beyond KPIs and revenue• recognition that fits each person’s motivation• smart failure, innovation, and permission to try• knowing your people and co-creating solutionsGet Jeremiah's book @ Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Archway Publishing, and more. Connect on Facebook: Leading with Grace; LinkedIn: Jeremiah Burke; Website: GraceFilledLeadership.comSupport the showUntil next time, keep doing great things!

December 15, 202533 min

E91. Activating Your Zone Of Genius w/ Victoria Odekomaya

Send us Fan MailJoin us and explore how mission-driven leaders can show up online without feeling salesy by reframing visibility as service. Lady Boss, Victoria Odekomaya shares practical systems for sustainable content, team collaboration, analytics that matter, and why authentic video beats polish.• reframing self-promotion as service to others• using content to show transformation and build trust• focusing on a clear audience and their language• reducing burnout with lanes, systems and delegation• elevating team voices to reflect the mission• setting goals before analytics and measuring what matters• engaging comments to grow thought leadership and reach• choosing formats by platform intent and repurposing• embracing video, strong hooks and bullet-point outlines• targeting the right viewers over vanity metricsFind out more about Victoria and the good work she does @ www.thelimstudios.comOn LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriaodekomaya/ and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/limstudios/Support the showUntil next time, keep doing great things!

November 21, 202541 min

E90. Leading People the Jesus Way w/ Father Daniel Brandenburg

Send us Fan MailTogether we explore how leadership goes far beyond titles, tracing Father Daniel’s mission work and his new book that measures Jesus against top secular models. Practical steps emerge for building aligned teams, treating people with dignity, and making daily prayer a leader’s edge.• leadership as influence rooted in dignity and mission• lessons from global missionary work and local impact• Jesus measured against leading secular frameworks• the power of small-team formation and delegation• culture fit, onboarding, and retention through value• transformation over performance and ego• aligned diversity versus misaligned goals• daily prayer as a practical tool for decisions• simple frameworks for reflection and actionYou can find Father Daniels book on Amazon.com and then look for Leader Like No Other. You can also find it with a slightly discounted price @ https://www.regnumchristi.com/en/leader-like-no-other-what-secular-leadership-models-reveal-about-jesus/Learn more about Father Brandenburg @ https://www.frdanielbrandenburg.com/Support the showUntil next time, keep doing great things!

November 15, 202534 min

E89. Responsible AI for the Modern Leader & Coach w/Colin Cosgrove

Send us Fan MailExplore how leaders and coaches can adopt AI without losing the human core, turning compliance and ethics into everyday practice. Colin Cosgrove shares a practical arc for AI readiness, concrete use cases, and a clear view of risk, trust, and governance.• journey from big-tech compliance to leadership coaching • why AI changes the leadership environment and decision pace • making compliance human: transparency, explainability, consent • AI literacy across every function, not just data teams • the AI leader archetype arc for mindset and readiness • practical augmentation: before, during, after coaching sessions • three risks: reputational, relational, regulatory • leader as coach: trust, questions, and human skills • EU AI Act overview and risk-based obligations • governance and accountabilityReach out to Colin on LinkedIn and check out his website: Movizimo.com. Support the showUntil next time, keep doing great things!

October 18, 2025Episode 8844 min

E88. Slowing Down w/ Tamara Jackson—Decision-Making, Burnout, and Leading with Wisdom

Send us Fan MailJoin us as we talk with Tamara Jackson about leading with wisdom in a world that rewards speed. She shares the GRASP method for better decision making, how to avoid regret, rework, and relational fallout, and why self-leadership and faith-filled integrity create durable results.• costs of speed culture and why urgency misleads• the three Rs: regret, rework, relational fallout• the GRASP method for confident decisions• 90-day planning and weekly measurement• learning loops that turn failure into insight• spotting burnout and building rest into schedules• modeling self-care as a leadership signal• living faith at work without compartmentalizing• mentors and advisors as leverage for growth• Beaconship and Lead Reviver resourcesVisit Tamara's websites at beaconship.co and https://leadreviver.pro/ or on Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/thebeaconshipSupport the showUntil next time, keep doing great things!

August 26, 2025Episode 8739 min

E87. Predictable Success: How Measuring What Matters Drives Business Momentum w/ Maritza Davila

Send us Fan MailGrowth strategist Maritza Davila shares powerful insights on using KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) to achieve predictable business growth through systematic measurement and accountability.• KPIs serve as "momentum metrics" that measure how well businesses are performing toward specific goals• Nothing is predictable unless it's measurable - weekly tracking allows for timely course correction• Both quantitative metrics (financial) and qualitative metrics (team satisfaction, culture) are important• Common mistake: measuring only lagging indicators (revenue) instead of leading indicators (inputs)• Having clear metrics creates accountability and clarity for team members• Weekly reporting creates a cadence to culture - everyone knows what's expected• The GROW methodology: Guide (vision/goals), Research (data collection), Optimize (improvement), Win (execution)• For predictable growth, referrals must be part of a systematic strategy, not just passive word-of-mouth• Owners must demonstrate accountability themselves to set the example for their teams• Three-strike rule provides framework for addressing underperformanceFor a free consultation with Maritza on growing your business predictably, visit www.businessclarity.coSupport the showUntil next time, keep doing great things!

August 8, 2025Episode 8638 min

E86. Redefining Sales: From Cringe to Connection w/ Alex Gabbert

Send us Fan MailWhat if everything you thought you knew about sales was wrong? Alex Gabbert, Brand Communications Director at Publicity For Good, challenges conventional wisdom by redefining sales as "the transfer of energy and certainty that solves a need." Far from the pushy stereotypes we've come to expect, Alex reveals how authentic sales is fundamentally about helping people.• Sales is simply the transfer of energy and certainty that solves a need your product/service provides• Creating relationships starts with being present and truly listening without thinking about what to say next• You only control three things in sales: your attitude, your words, and your pace of work• Rejection triggers the same brain response as physical pain, but embracing "no" leads to greater success• 80% of deals happen after someone initially says "no"• Don't practice on prospects—prepare and rehearse objection handling before client conversations• Purpose-driven PR helps positive stories reach the right audiences and combats media negativity• The ability to be "positively contagious" transcends sales roles and applies to all leadership positionsVisit publicityforgood.com to learn more about how they help purpose-driven brands tell their stories, or connect with Alex at https://publicityforgood.com/ for sales leadership resources and training.Alex shares more information on the after show following the podcast.Support the showUntil next time, keep doing great things!

July 15, 2025Episode 8536 min

E85. Navigating Complex Change: Leading Through the Unknown

Send us Fan MailJulie Jenkins and Dr. Thomas Anderson II explore how leaders can navigate complex change by embracing curiosity as a way of being rather than seeking stability or rushing to solutions.• Complex change differs from linear change—there's no step-by-step process, only sense-making and educated guesses• Leaders create the "weather" for their teams—their approach to uncertainty directly affects how others respond• Moving from a controlling leadership style to a curious one requires sitting with the discomfort of not knowing• Breaking out of leadership defaults requires self-awareness and intentionally designing new responses• Creating spaciousness, asking one more question, and mapping out knowns versus unknowns are practical leadership tools• Resistance and readiness are two sides of the same coin—resistance signals important information• Embracing paradox ("two things can be true") helps teams move forward despite uncertainty• Approaching change as experiments allows for learning without judgment about right or wrong• Being vulnerable with your team builds trust that sustains through uncertaintyRemember that leadership during complex change doesn't require having all the answers. Be kind to yourself, extend compassion to others, and trust the process of learning as you go.Connect with our experts on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-jenkins/https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasandersonii/Support the showUntil next time, keep doing great things!