Ordinary leaders doing extraordinary things

Hosted by Gerald Ebenezer

Business Management Careers EducationInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Business leaders generously share their stories on the "art and science of influence" focusing on leadership development for organizations and what it takes for mid-career corporate professionals to breakthrough to the next level in their leadership journey. Mid-career corporate professionals stand to benefit from simple yet highly effective strategies to accelerate their career growth and/or avoid unnecessary struggle early on in their careers.

Listen to episodes

37 recent

October 18, 202647 min

Why the Best Leaders First Learn to Follow Well with Kularetnam Vijayakumar

In this episode of The Art and Science of Influence , Kula, CEO of Yayasan Tunku Abdul Rahman, explores why learning to follow well is one of the most overlooked skills in becoming a strong leader. He shares how young professionals can accelerate their careers by understanding their leaders, demonstrating value beyond their job descriptions, and turning early roles into opportunities to build judgment, influence, and initiative. Drawing on his leadership experience, Kula explains why being busy isn’t the same as making an impact, how visibility and consistent performance work together to create career opportunities, and what graduates can do in their first 90 days to stand out. He also challenges the way young professionals use AI, highlighting the risks of relying on it too heavily and the importance of protecting independent thinking. Through practical insights on managing up, building professional relationships, and choosing growth over status, Kula offers a fresh perspective on what it takes to progress early in your career. For students, graduates, and emerging leaders, this conversation is a reminder that career growth isn’t just about doing your job well, but learning how to contribute, influence, and create opportunities for yourself.

September 25, 202622 min

Why Successful Leaders Stop Hearing Feedback - And How Coaching Reopens It with Kaveh Mir

In this episode of The Art and Science of Influence , Kaveh Mir explores why leaders can become trapped by the very strategies that made them successful—and how ego, feedback, and psychological safety shape their ability to keep growing. Drawing on his experience as an award-winning executive coach, Kaveh explores the role of storytelling in leadership, from The Odyssey and Shahnameh to Shakespeare and Star Wars . He explains how stories can reveal blind spots, create deeper reflection, and help leaders understand how others experience their leadership. He also shares practical insights into creating the trust and challenge needed for meaningful behavioural change. Whether you're an executive coach, people leader, or professional focused on leadership development, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on feedback, identity, and what it takes to turn insight into lasting change.

September 25, 202627 min

The Hidden Burnout Risk Leaders Ignore During Fast AI Transformation with Liesl Keen

In this episode of The Art and Science of Influence , Liesl Keen explores the hidden human cost of constant change and why leaders need to rethink how they approach AI, resilience, and workplace pressure. Drawing on her expertise as an organizational psychologist and executive coach, Liesl explains why change fatigue is often mistaken for resistance, how AI is shifting work from creating to checking, and why sustained stress can affect decision-making and motivation. She also shares practical insights into micro-recovery, resilience, and creating space for leaders and teams to maintain their energy and clarity. Whether you're a leader, manager, coach, or professional navigating rapid AI-driven change, this conversation offers a more human approach to staying resilient, leading effectively, and embracing change without losing yourself or your team.

August 28, 202626 min

How to Expose Blind Spots Without Triggering Resistance with Shane Pond

In this episode of The Art and Science of Influence , Shane Pond explores why executive coaches and consultants need more than logic to influence decision-makers and create meaningful change. Shane shares how storytelling, trust, and future-focused conversations can help coaches build stronger connections, uncover blind spots, and move clients from resistance toward action. He also explores how understanding the psychology behind connection and motivation can make conversations more impactful without feeling overly sales-focused. Whether you're an executive coach, OD practitioner, or consultant, this conversation offers practical insights into communicating with greater influence, building trust with organizational leaders, and helping clients create lasting behavioural change.

August 7, 202622 min

The Counterintuitive Way Executive Coaches Win More Clients with Michael Neuendorff

In this episode of The Art and Science of Influence , Michael Neuendorff explores why executive coaches often get specialization wrong—and how becoming more relevant to organizations can help coaches stand out, earn trust, and grow their practice. Drawing on his experience as an executive coach and coach educator, Michael explains what “coach-market fit” looks like and why clear specialization can be the entry point to broader opportunities. He also shares insights into supporting leaders through promotions, career transitions, change, and overwhelm, while helping them move from operational thinking to strategic leadership. Whether you're an aspiring or newly certified executive coach, or a leader navigating a major transition, this conversation offers practical insights into building a stronger coaching practice and creating greater impact inside organizations.

August 5, 202635 min

The Hidden Blind Spots Leaders Can't See–and How to Uncover Them with Dr. Alexander DeChurch

In this episode of The Art and Science of Influence , Dr. Alexander DeChurch explores how leadership blind spots can limit performance—and how greater self-awareness can become a leader's greatest advantage. Drawing on his expertise in organizational psychology, Alexander shares practical strategies for building trust, strengthening leader–follower relationships, and creating environments where honest feedback drives growth. He also discusses the importance of role clarity, strategic thinking, and metacognition in helping leaders identify hidden challenges before they become bigger problems. Whether you're an emerging manager or an experienced executive, this conversation offers practical insights into leading with greater confidence, building high-performing teams, and creating lasting organizational impact.

August 5, 202632 min

The Decision Science Behind Organization Design That Transforms Business Strategy with Zach Bonaker

In this episode of The Art and Science of Influence , Zach Bonaker explores how organizational design can become a powerful driver of strategy, helping leaders make better decisions and build organizations equipped for the future. Drawing on his experience in organization development, Zach explains why organizational design is a decision science, sharing practical frameworks for navigating trade-offs, aligning structure with strategy, and applying systems thinking to create lasting change. He also discusses how AI is reshaping organizations and why leaders must rethink the way they design teams, processes, and capabilities. Whether you're an HR professional, executive coach, or senior leader, this conversation offers practical insights into designing adaptive organizations that can thrive in an increasingly complex and AI-driven world.

July 27, 202618 min

The Ecosystem Approach: Unlocking Organizational Support for Behavior Change with Katie Thomas

In this episode of The Art and Science of Influence , Katie Thomas explores why leadership development often fails to create lasting change—and why real transformation depends on more than just training. Drawing on her expertise as a business psychologist, Katie explains how habits, identity, and the surrounding environment shape leadership behaviours. She shares practical strategies for embedding lasting change, including using environmental cues, "if-then" planning, and creating workplace ecosystems that reinforce new ways of thinking and leading. Whether you're an L&D professional, HR leader, or people manager, this conversation offers practical insights into designing development programs that create sustainable behavioural change and long-term organizational impact.

July 23, 202620 min

Formal Training to Systemic Change: How Organizations Can Truly Embed Learning with Nik Sheremetov

In this episode of The Art and Science of Influence , Nick Sheremetov challenges the way organizations approach leadership development, explaining why formal training alone is rarely enough to create lasting change. Drawing on his expertise as an organizational psychologist, Nick explores the 70-20-10 learning model and why the greatest leadership growth happens through on-the-job experience, coaching, mentoring, and feedback. He shares practical insights into building learning cultures that encourage behavioral change, strengthen leadership capability, and deliver meaningful business impact. Whether you're an HR professional, talent leader, or executive looking to develop stronger leaders, this conversation offers practical strategies for creating learning experiences that extend far beyond the classroom.

July 19, 202622 min

The Hidden Secret to Upgrading Your Skills in an AI-Driven World with ET Tan

In this episode of The Art and Science of Influence , ET Tan explores why AI isn't something to fear—it's a powerful tool that can amplify your skills, accelerate your career, and help you stay relevant in a rapidly changing world. Drawing on 35 years of experience spanning Silicon Valley and global technology leadership, ET shares practical insights on how professionals can embrace AI with curiosity rather than hesitation. Through simple analogies and real-world examples, he explains the different ways people engage with AI and why developing an experimental mindset is the key to long-term success. Whether you're a recent graduate, a people leader, or an executive, this conversation offers practical strategies for building confidence with AI, future-proofing your career, and taking ownership of your professional growth in the age of intelligent technology.