Conversations That Grow

Hosted by Sadaf Beynon

Business Management Education

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Episodes

126

Latest episode

Dec 2025

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About the show

Conversations That Grow - where host Sadaf Beynon explores how one meaningful exchange can transform your business. In this introduction, discover why those pivotal conversations with mentors, partners, or even casual acquaintances matter so much. Join Sadaf as she sits down with business leaders to uncover the key conversations behind their success. Because great businesses are built on great conversations. Subscribe for new episodes coming soon!

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60 recent

December 10, 202554 min

How Fear Shapes Leadership and What It Really Takes to Grow

Fear plays a bigger role in leadership than most of us want to admit. In this episode, Mike Konrad shares the conversation that revealed his fear-based decision making — and how that moment became the turning point that reshaped his leadership, his business, and ultimately, his life. From being dismissed by his employer to building a company that has lasted more than 30 years, Mike opens up about the internal shifts behind his external success. He talks candidly about ego, bravado, revenge, approval, self-awareness, and the uncomfortable process of learning to lead differently. If you’re navigating growth, change, or the uncomfortable realisation that what once worked no longer does, this conversation will speak to you. What We Explore The surprising ways fear shows up in leadership decisions The mentor conversation that changed everything How fear-based thinking shapes cash flow, choices, and culture Making peace with the worst-case scenario Why early leadership traits often become later limitations The “starter fluid” analogy for ego, bravado, and urgency How Mike shifted from proving himself to serving others Why true leadership requires self-awareness and humility The mindset shift from doing everything yourself to trusting a team Redefining success as freedom — not validation What leaders at the early, frantic stage need to hear Key Moments 01:26 The fear-based decisions hiding in plain sight 03:49 Becoming aware of the “lenses” shaping choices 09:50 Making peace with the worst to break decision paralysis 12:24 The conversation that sparked his business 19:50 How rejection triggered motivation and identity 23:54 The complicated emotional mix behind early leadership 30:39 When your strengths become your liabilities 33:06 The “starter fluid” metaphor for the early years 36:57 From smartest in the room to “stupidest in the room” 38:42 Redefining success as freedom 45:26 Leading less from proving, more from serving 47:03 Advice for leaders in survival mode About Mike Mike Konrad is the founder and CEO of Aqueous Technologies , a global leader in electronics reliability solutions, and the host of two podcasts: Reliability Matters The Reluctant Entrepreneur He writes and speaks widely on leadership, business growth, and the mistakes that shape us. Connect with Mike Website: mikekonrad.com Podcast: reluctantentrepreneurpodcast.com Aqueous Technologies: aqueoustech.com If you enjoyed this episode Please follow Conversations That Grow , share this episode with someone who’d love it, or leave a review — it helps more people find conversations that spark growth.

December 3, 202543 min

The 3 Qualities Every Leader Needs in a Chaotic World

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Nigel Cumberland — leadership coach, co-founder of The Silk Road Partnership, and author of several bestselling books including 100 Things Successful Leaders Do . Nigel and I get into: The pivotal conversation that helped him redefine who he was His early career as a very young finance director Why mistakes became his greatest teachers Imposter syndrome & how he learned to handle it Culture clashes and the importance of understanding differences The evolution of leadership across decades Why leadership starts with self-awareness Leadership beyond titles — influencing in everyday life Why leaders today are more overwhelmed than ever His framework: Grounded • Connected • Purposeful The biggest thing leaders need to unlearn The one leadership principle he believes changes everything The hidden cost of poor leadership How leaders can stay human in a very digital world This is an honest, insightful, deeply human conversation about leadership — the kind that helps you rethink the way you show up in your work and life. Links from the Episode Nigel’s Website 👉 https://nigelcumberland.com/ Nigel’s Books 👉 https://www.amazon.com/stores/Nigel-Cumberland/author/B0034P71X2 LinkedIn Learning Courses 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/learning/instructors/nigel-cumberland Speaking Enquiries 👉 https://www.wsb.com/speakers/nigel-cumberland/ 00:00 Intro 01:04 The conversation that changed Nigel’s life 04:30 Resetting your identity after a big career shift 05:53 Mistakes that shaped him as a young leader 09:10 Imposter syndrome in early leadership roles 10:50 Culture clashes and understanding differences 14:05 Why self-awareness matters more than ever 16:40 Leadership beyond titles and formal roles 18:50 Role modelling at home and at work 19:22 The rise of empowerment in leadership 20:00 Helping people see themselves as leaders 23:00 Leadership in a disrupted, digital world 24:30 Grounded, Connected, Purposeful framework 29:44 What leaders struggle with most today 30:50 What people crave in leaders 34:21 Leading with a full tank: self-care and burnout 38:09 The most important principle healthy leaders live by 41:20 When bad leaders survive — and why they shouldn't 42:26 Closing thoughts The best growth often starts with a meaningful conversation — thank you for being part of this one.

November 26, 202538 min

How to Stop Micromanaging and Build a High-Trust Team

In this episode of Conversations That Grow , Sadaf Beynon sits down with Anastasia Ristovska , co-founder of Next Generation and Books At Ease, to explore the deeper conversations that helped her shift from control to trust—and from doing everything herself to building high-performing, empowered teams. Anastasia shares two pivotal conversations: one that forced her to stop thinking like an employee and start thinking like a business owner, and another with a team member who challenged her to trust more and let go. These moments reshaped her leadership, led her to create a 90-day training system, and helped her grow two companies without burning out. If you’ve ever struggled with delegation, micromanaging, or trusting your team, this episode will speak directly to you. In This Episode You’ll Learn: Why micromanaging is rooted in fear, not ego The conversation that shifted Anastasia’s identity from doer to leader How trusting your team creates long-term growth What it takes to train your team to work independently How to lead without knowing all the answers Why leadership isn’t a destination—but a daily practice The mindset shift that stops you from being the bottleneck Connect With Anastasia booksease.com nextgeneration.eu linkedin.com/in/anastasia-ristovska About Conversations That Grow This is the podcast where we explore the conversations that shape who we become as leaders and people. Because growth starts with the conversations we’re willing to have—especially the ones we have with ourselves.Companies mentioned in this episode:

November 19, 202539 min

How Mentorship Shapes the Leaders We Become

In this episode, Sadaf Beynon is joined by Shelley Rosetta , a sales and business development leader with more than 30 years of experience. Shelley opens up about the mentors, conversations, and experiences that shaped her leadership — the good, the painful, and the transformative. We explore: The leaders who believed in her when she didn’t Why great performers often struggle as new leaders The mindset shift from “doing” to “developing others” How accountability begins at the top Why mentorship has quietly disappeared in many workplaces How identity, empathy, and self-awareness shape the way we lead Why leadership is about showing up, not titles How to lead from wherever you are This conversation is a reminder that leadership isn’t about being the star of the show — it’s about creating space for others to grow. Connect with Shelley: Email: srosetta@solomoncoil.com

November 12, 202539 min

Why the Most Impactful Leaders Start With Themselves

Guest: Mike Kelly | Executive Coach & Founder of Right Path Enterprises In this episode, Mike Kelly shares the kinds of leadership conversations that have shaped his life and work — and why the best leaders often do their most important work behind the scenes. From his early days in corporate to founding two mission-driven businesses, Mike brings wisdom, warmth, and clarity to what it means to lead yourself first. We talk about: The conversation that changed how he sees growth Letting go of performance culture and embracing rest Leading with values and aligning your inner and outer life What financial planning can learn from coaching (and vice versa) Whether you're in leadership, transition, or simply learning to grow with intention — this conversation will meet you there. Links & Resources: Right Path Enterprises Kelly Financial Planning Connect with Mike on LinkedIn 🎧 For more episodes, visit conversationsgrowpodcast.com

November 5, 202547 min

What Nelson Mandela Taught About Dignity and Leadership

We’re back! After a short pause to rebuild Conversations That Grow with more intention, this episode sets the tone for everything ahead. In this deeply reflective conversation, David Lapin shares: The pivotal conversation he had with Nelson Mandela The surprising insight that dignity is something you give What your “Spiritual Fingerprint” is—and why it matters more than personality tests How to lead without losing your identity Why curiosity and humility are the secret ingredients to meaningful dialogue 🎧 I’ve since taken the Spiritual Fingerprint assessment myself, and I found it incredibly clarifying. It helped me see what truly drives me—and what I won’t compromise on. 👉 Take the Spiritual Fingerprint (affiliate link) : https://fingerprint.lapininternational.com/login?via=sadaf More from David Lapin Website: https://lapininternational.com Book: Lead by Greatness LinkedIn (David): https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidlapin LinkedIn (Company): https://www.linkedin.com/company/lapin-international

July 12, 20251 min

Why I'm Taking a Break

I’m taking a short break from publishing new episodes of Conversations That Grow, but it’s not goodbye. This podcast has become a personal passion project, and I’m using this time to reset, record new conversations, and shape the next chapter with fresh intention. If you’ve been listening, thank you. Truly! And if you’d like to be a guest or know someone with a story to share about leadership, growth, or influence through conversation, I’d love to hear from you. New episodes will be back soon. 🎧 Explore past conversations: www.conversationsthatgrowpodcast.com 📬 Connect or pitch a guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sadafbeynon/

June 25, 202550 min

How to Rule Your Mind | Lenora Edwards

What if the critical voice telling you "you're not good enough" isn't actually yours? In this raw and transformative conversation, emotional mastery coach Lenora Edwards reveals how she discovered that her decades-long eating disorder and crippling self-doubt were driven by inherited voices from her past - not her authentic self. She shares her breakthrough moment in a dentist's chair that led to developing the SHIFT Protocol, a practical method for identifying whose voice is really speaking in your head and trading limiting thoughts for empowering ones. If you've ever struggled with imposter syndrome, emotional overwhelm, or feeling stuck despite your success, this episode offers a powerful roadmap for reclaiming control of your inner dialogue and, ultimately, your life. What You'll Learn Why the limiting beliefs holding you back aren't actually "yours" and where they really come from The 5-step SHIFT Protocol for transforming negative thoughts in real-time How to distinguish between inherited shame voices and your authentic inner wisdom Why trading thoughts works better than trying to transform them completely The difference between confidence and certainty in leadership situations Practical strategies for setting boundaries without people-pleasing or emotional overwhelm Resources Guest Links: Lenora's Website: https://driventobebetter.com/ Lenora's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lenora-edwards-m-s-941b1452/ Conversations that Grow Ecosystem: Conversations that Grow Home: https://conversationsthatgrowpodcast.com/ Podjunction: https://podjunction.com/

June 18, 20251 hr 2 min

How One Simple Question Became My Leadership Compass for 40 Years | Jim Carlough

One conversation changed everything for Jim Carlough. Fresh out of college and newly elected to city council, he expected the usual political favours. Instead, he got life-changing advice that would shape his entire leadership philosophy. In this episode, Jim shares how a simple question asked every night for over 40 years became his compass through challenging business turnarounds, difficult decisions, and building high-performing teams. From transforming struggling sales teams to navigating integrity challenges in corporate America, Jim reveals why some pillars of leadership are simply non-negotiable. Resources Guest Links: Jim's Website: https://www.jimcarlough.com/ Jim's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimcarlough/ mPulse: https://mpulse.com/ Jim's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Six-Pillars-Effective-Leadership-Roadmap/dp/B0DQWT93V7 Conversations that Grow Ecosystem: Conversations that Grow Home: https://conversationsthatgrowpodcast.com/ Podjunction Home: https://podjunction.com/

June 11, 202539 min

Every Entrepreneur Starts Their Business for Deeper Reasons Than Just Profit

Carly Pepin thought moving from LA to Australia would solve her problems. She was wrong. In this raw conversation, she reveals the moment she realised geography wasn't the issue – her internal world was. From blaming her environment to discovering authentic leadership, Carly shares how facing personal trauma unlocked massive business growth. We explore why some people will always hate your leadership (and why that's actually good), the dangerous "should" trap that kills entrepreneurial growth, and how your deepest personal roadblocks are secretly limiting your business scaling. Links referenced in this episode: westcoastgrowthadvisors.com Want help creating your own podcast? Visit us at podjunction.com or reach out to Sadaf directly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sadafbeynon/