SHINY HAPPY PEOPLE with Vinay Kumar

Hosted by Vinay Kumar

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Episodes

195

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

In this business podcast that is all about people, Vinay Kumar, a Leadership Coach, Certified Professional Facilitator, OD Consultant, Podcaster, Global Nomad, Wildlife Stalker and Records Collector, interviews leaders, thinkers, strategists, and doers to reveal actionable insights, first-hand experiences, smart strategies, brilliant tips and lesser-known best practices on a range of subjects in business leadership and people management, from innovation, DEI, facilitation, technology, future of the workforce and sustainability to evolution of leadership, storytelling, negotiation, digital learning, mental wellbeing, the art of staying positive and even water wars! Plus each episode features curated recommendations from Vinay and his guest for your own RWL (Read Watch Listen) list to keep you shinier and happier!

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60 recent

October 22, 202651 min

Episode 196: Jennie McLaughlin & Sarah Rozenthuler on Purpose-Led Leadership

Send us Fan Mail “There is often a gap between ‘purpose stated’ and ‘purpose lived’ – and in the age of AI, purpose now needs to be embedded into everyday decision making and strategy.” Finding purpose is the easy part, and it’s what comes after that makes all the difference. That’s what our guest-duo today is here to talk more about. Jennie McLaughlin is Founder and Chief Purpose Officer of Purpose Led Transformation , a consultancy focused on helping organizations achieve growth sustainably through purpose activation, and former EY Partner. Sarah Rozenthuler is a chartered psychologist, leadership consultant and dialogue coach, and works with global organizations to activate purpose, align teams and ignite leadership. She is author of ‘Powered by Purpose’ . Together, they work with boards and executive teams globally on purpose activation. Their full six-phase Purpose Lifecycle framework is available at www.purposelt.com/purpose-lifecycle [03:27s] Their origins story: ‘It all started with a walk!’ [05:28s] On Purpose dissonance [13:27s] Organizations who’ve live their purpose statements [17:39s] What’s preventing the rest? [27:21s] How can organizations stay the course? [30:21s] Gen Z and Purpose [37:33s] Purpose-driven Leadership in Age of AI [43:12s] RWL READ: Jennie’s recommendation: ‘Awe’ by Dacher Keltner ; Sarah’s recommendation: ‘Against the Machine’ by Paul Kingsnorth Read Jennie and Sarah’s whitepaper outlining the six stages of the Purpose lifecycle: https://purposelt.com/purpose-lifecycle/ Connect with Jennie on LinkedIn and with Sarah on LinkedIn More on Jennie’s work at https://purposelt.com/ More on Sarah’s work at https://sarahrozenthuler.com/ Connect with Vinay on LinkedIn What did you think about this episode? What would you like to hear more about? Or simply, write in and say hello! podcast@c2cod.com Subscribe to us on your favorite platforms – Google Podcasts , Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Overcast , Tune In Alexa , Amazon Music , Pandora , TuneIn + Alexa , Stitcher , Jio Saavn and more. This podcast is sponsored by C2C-OD, your Organizational Development consulting partner ‘Bringing People and Strategy Together’. Follow @c2cod on Twitter , LinkedIn , Instagram , Facebook

October 8, 202655 min

Episode 195: Bennett B. Borden on AI Ethics & Governance

Send us Fan Mail He started his career in the CIA. Today, he is a globally recognized authority on the legal, technological and policy implications of AI. Meet AI Governance & Algorithmic Bias Expert and Founder & CEO, Clarion AI Partners , Bennett B Borden . As a lawyer, data scientist, and AI ethicist, Bennett has made significant contributions to the field of AI governance and algorithmic bias testing. He has built a reputation as a trusted counsel to major generative AI companies and Fortune 500 companies, including OpenAI, Anthropic, Microsoft, Amazon, and dozens of others. His deep understanding of AI governance has helped him establish programs in a variety of industries, including technology, insurance, financial services, labor and employment, manufacturing, retail, health, and life sciences. Vinay digs deeper into Bennett’s origins story and his passion for AI helping promote AI for Good and AI for All. [2:31s] Bennett’s origins story [05:50s] Biggest concerns around AI today [14:10s] On AI regulations [19:13s] AI strategies in organizations and common challenges [34:17s] ‘What worries you most about AI?’ [41:23s] RWL READ: AI readings on Forbes , Fast Company [46:00s] Prediction for AI in the next few years More on Bennett’s work at https://clarionai.com/ Connect with Bennett on LinkedIn Email Bennett at Bennett.Borden@clarionailaw.com Connect with Vinay on LinkedIn What did you think about this episode? What would you like to hear more about? Or simply, write in and say hello! podcast@c2cod.com Subscribe to us on your favorite platforms – Google Podcasts , Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Overcast , Tune In Alexa , Amazon Music , Pandora , TuneIn + Alexa , Stitcher , Jio Saavn and more. This podcast is sponsored by C2C-OD, your Organizational Development consulting partner ‘Bringing People and Strategy Together’. Follow @c2cod on Twitter , LinkedIn , Instagram , Facebook

September 17, 202654 min

Episode 194: Nathalie Sabourin & Ron Cheshire on Codevelopment Action Learning (CAL)

Send us Fan Mail Co-create. Accelerate. Grow. This is at the heart of the transformative work being done by the author-duo and our guests today, Nathalie Sabourin and Ron Cheshire. Certified coaches and facilitators, Nathalie and Ron are co-founders of Montreal-based ‘The Co-Leadership Group’ which is well-known for their unique expertise of strengths-based participative coaching journeys, co-leadership practices and action learning solutions. They are authors of ‘ Codevelopment Action Learning for Business’ which presents the game-changing Codevelopment Action Learning (CAL), its principles, method, roles and tools. CAL helps leaders create a collaborative, learning and engaging culture for their teams – a model for growing participative leadership in the context of today’s transformations. Hit play for the lowdown on Nathalie and Ron’s CAL journey! [4:05s] Their origins story [07:40s] Codevelopment Action Learning or CAL [15:39s] Role of a facilitator, coach in CAL [19:02s] The 7 Steps of CAL [28:39s] The CAL impact: Stories from CAL sessions [46:15s] RWL READ: Nathalie & Ron’s book ‘Codevelopment Action Learning for Business: Co-create. Accelerate. Grow.’ More on CAL at https://codevelopmentactionlearning.com/ Find out about the CAL Implementation Certification at https://codevelopmentactionlearning.com/cal-certification/ Connect with Nathalie on LinkedIn Connect with Ron on LinkedIn Connect with Vinay on LinkedIn What did you think about this episode? What would you like to hear more about? Or simply, write in and say hello! podcast@c2cod.com Subscribe to us on your favorite platforms – Google Podcasts , Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Overcast , Tune In Alexa , Amazon Music , Pandora , TuneIn + Alexa , Stitcher , Jio Saavn and more. This podcast is sponsored by C2C-OD, your Organizational Development consulting partner ‘Bringing People and Strategy Together’. Follow @c2cod on Twitter , LinkedIn , Instagram , Facebook

September 3, 202652 min

Episode 193: Tom Emery on Evolution of the CHRO

Send us Fan Mail A people performance partner who is passionate about effective HR teams – that’s our guest today, the best-selling author, Tom Emery in his own words. Founder and CEO of HEX , and a strategic partner to CEOs, CPOs, and other c-suite leaders, Tom is the Amazon bestselling author of ‘ People People: Reach Your Full Potential as a CHRO’ , which has been shortlisted for the 2026 Business Book Awards. Having spent several years on the C-suite as a Chief People Officer in both UK PLC and a PE backed businesses, Tom brings in a detailed knowledge of what it looks like when executive teams are firing on all cylinders, and when they’re not. He brings these insights to his work today, partnering with CEOs to build, align, and strengthen the leadership teams and wider organisations around them. He helps CEOs make sense of their roles, have the conversations that others avoid, and close the gap between how they behave and what their businesses actually need from them. Hit play for the lowdown on his journey. [4:38s] Tom’s origin story – journey into HR [08:28s] Top evolutionary shifts in HR [16:51s] On his book ‘People People’, the ‘four-leaf clover’ framework for CHROs and more [26:41s] Content versus context, AI versus NI (natural intelligence) [34:44s] Top challenges HR leaders facing today [46:35s] RWL READ: ‘Atomic Habits’ by James Clear; books by Adam Grant; ‘Dare to Lead’ by Brené Brown; ‘Luck Factor’ by Dr. Richard Wiseman More on Tom’s work at www.hex-development.com Connect with Tom on LinkedIn Connect with Vinay on LinkedIn What did you think about this episode? What would you like to hear more about? Or simply, write in and say hello! podcast@c2cod.com Subscribe to us on your favorite platforms – Google Podcasts , Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Overcast , Tune In Alexa , Amazon Music , Pandora , TuneIn + Alexa , Stitcher , Jio Saavn and more. This podcast is sponsored by C2C-OD, your Organizational Development consulting partner ‘Bringing People and Strategy Together’. Follow @c2cod on Twitter , LinkedIn , Instagram , Facebook

August 20, 202655 min

Episode 192: Avy Leghziel on Navigating Chaos

Send us Fan Mail How do you keep performing and succeed in an increasingly chaos-filled world today? That’s the question our guest today, Avy Leghziel has been helping leaders answer. Drawing from psychology, business, and complex systems, then translating it into practical ways executives can think, decide, and lead under pressure, Avy helps leaders, executives and founders around the globe navigate chaotic transitions. After 15 years serving as a senior manager in global organizations, he launched his Executive Coaching and Consulting practice, and since then, he has worked with more than 120 executives and trained thousands of professionals. Avy’s newsletter, Masters of Babel , has 7,700+ subscribers. Vinay digs deeper into Avy’s study of chaos and how it affects how we work. [4:17s] Avy’s ‘journey into chaos’ [13:01s] Genesis of his consulting practice [18:59s] Top themes among leaders navigating chaos [31:45s] Preserving mental wellbeing amidst chaos [38:46s] His PhD research on micro behaviors in executive performance in chaotic environments [44:50s] Avy’s prediction of chaos navigation in near future [48:59s] RWL READ: The Explorer's Gene by Alex Hutchinson; ‘There Is No Antimemetics Division’ by qntm; LISTEN: ‘Time Sensitive’ by Spencer Bailey; WATCH : ‘Ted Lasso’ , ‘Shrinking’ on Apple TV More on Avy’s work at avyleg.com Connect with Vinay on LinkedIn What did you think about this episode? What would you like to hear more about? Or simply, write in and say hello! podcast@c2cod.com Subscribe to us on your favorite platforms – Google Podcasts , Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Overcast , Tune In Alexa , Amazon Music , Pandora , TuneIn + Alexa , Stitcher , Jio Saavn and more. This podcast is sponsored by C2C-OD, your Organizational Development consulting partner ‘Bringing People and Strategy Together’. Follow @c2cod on Twitter , LinkedIn , Instagram , Facebook

August 6, 202652 min

Episode 191: Saurabh Mehta on Evolution & Future of GCCs in India

Send us Fan Mail It’s back to the GCC conversation – this time on the bourgeoning world of GCCs in India! And we could not have had a better guest for this than the man who is in the thick of things. Meet the one and only Saurabh Mehta , a business leader with over 20 years who has been helping global enterprises establish, scale, and transform Global Capability Centers (GCCs), with a strong focus on workplace strategy, infrastructure, operations, governance, and business transformation, in his current role as Head of Corporate Services – GCC at Zinnov . His expertise spans GCC strategy, operational excellence, workplace transformation, corporate services, and the intersection of technology, talent, and real estate in enabling enterprise growth. With experience spanning global consulting, entrepreneurship, venture capital, and corporate leadership, and known for his execution-oriented leadership style, Saurabh believes that sustainable competitive advantage comes from disciplined execution, strong operating models, and building organizations that create long-term value. He is a regular speaker at industry forums, where he shares perspectives on the evolution of GCCs, the future of work, AI-driven enterprise transformation, and India’s role in the global business landscape. [3:27s] Saurabh’s origin story [06:18s] Culture differences across sectors of tech, banking, private equity, venture fund [9:13s] From venture capitalist to entrepreneur [14:55s] Growth of GCCs in India: The tipping point [26:12s] Potential risks to the growth of GCCs in India [33:22s] Innovation as the next wave of GCCs in India and impact of AI [40:05s] Predictions for future trends for the GCC landscape [47:50s] RWL READ : ‘Good to Great’ by James Collins; ‘The Psychology of Money’ by Morgan Housel; LISTEN: Acquired Podcast Connect with Saurabh on LinkedIn Connect with Vinay on LinkedIn What did you think about this episode? What would you like to hear more about? Or simply, write in and say hello! podcast@c2cod.com Subscribe to us on your favorite platforms – Google Podcasts , Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Overcast , Tune In Alexa , Amazon Music , Pandora , TuneIn + Alexa , Stitcher , Jio Saavn and more. This podcast is sponsored by C2C-OD, your Organizational Development consulting partner ‘Bringing People and Strategy Together’. Follow @c2cod on Twitter , LinkedIn , Instagram , Facebook

July 23, 202651 min

Episode 190: Dane Hudson on Discipline in Leadership

Send us Fan Mail Bringing us incisive insights from inside the world of CEOs is international CEO mentor and author of the book, ‘ Discipline Beats Vision: How to be the leader your company needs - starting Monday’ , Dane Hudson . A seasoned international leader, Dane provides coaching, mentoring and advisory services to CEOs, Founders and C-level leaders through his company, Impactful Leadership . Dane is APAC’s most respected CEO mentor and has over 25 years of experience as a CEO of companies including the world’s largest restaurant company Yum! Brands, managing over 63,000 restaurants in more than 155 countries including KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and The Habit Burger & Grill. [2:54s] Dane’s origin story [10:34s] From running companies to starting his own [14:08s] 3 things that CEOs struggle with that people often don’t talk about [22:48s] Why Discipline Beats Vision and being ‘Monday-ready’ [29:19s] Evolution of leadership in the age of AI [43:48s] Future for Dane Hudson [46:53s] RWL Read : Jim Collins books; Listen Bloomberg Technology Podcast RWL Read : Dane’s book ‘Discipline Beats Vision’ Find out more about Dane’s work at https://impactfulleadership.com/ Connect with Dane on LinkedIn Connect with Vinay on LinkedIn What did you think about this episode? What would you like to hear more about? Or simply, write in and say hello! podcast@c2cod.com Subscribe to us on your favorite platforms – Google Podcasts , Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Overcast , Tune In Alexa , Amazon Music , Pandora , TuneIn + Alexa , Stitcher , Jio Saavn and more. This podcast is sponsored by C2C-OD, your Organizational Development consulting partner ‘Bringing People and Strategy Together’. Follow @c2cod on Twitter , LinkedIn , Instagram , Facebook

July 9, 202655 min

Episode 189: Winnie da Silva on Transformative Leadership

Send us Fan Mail Our guest today is Winnie da Silva , a leadership strategist who has enabled senior leaders and leadership teams to achieve results at a high-level during moments of growth, transition, and increased complexity over the last two decades. Winnie partners with leaders to drive meaningful shifts in leadership behavior, team dynamics, and organizational performance. Her work integrates executive coaching, leadership development, and team effectiveness to achieve measurable business impact. She began her career at Arthur Andersen Business Consulting and later served as National Director of Learning and Development at Bovis Lend Lease. Winnie is also the host of Transformative Leadership Conversations , a podcast for leaders who want to elevate their own leadership thinking and skills. Through in-depth conversations with executives and subject-matter experts, the show explores the shifts required to drive sustained performance. [5:29s] ‘An accidental consultant’: Her genesis story [12:44s] On her work in leadership coaching [23:09s] Most gratifying and most challenging moments from her work [34:27s] A common theme across leaders she’s worked with [40:05s] AI in leadership [47:32s] RWL Read : ‘Tiny Experiments’ by Anne-Laure Le Cunff; RWL LISTEN: Winnie’s podcast ‘Transformative Leadership Conversations’ Explore her work at https://www.winniedasilva.com/ Connect with Winnie on LinkedIn Connect with Vinay on LinkedIn What did you think about this episode? What would you like to hear more about? Or simply, write in and say hello! podcast@c2cod.com Subscribe to us on your favorite platforms – Google Podcasts , Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Overcast , Tune In Alexa , Amazon Music , Pandora , TuneIn + Alexa , Stitcher , Jio Saavn and more. This podcast is sponsored by C2C-OD, your Organizational Development consulting partner ‘Bringing People and Strategy Together’. Follow @c2cod on Twitter , LinkedIn , Instagram , Facebook

June 25, 202652 min

Episode 188: Mona Momtazian on Change Capability in Leadership Today

Send us Fan Mail Grounded in change psychology, resilience and neuroscience, her work in Change Management and leadership spans over 20 years partnering with leaders to enable high performance sustainability, the kind that strengthens people and mindsets, adaptability, culture and results. Meet our guest today, Mona Momtazian the Change Management and Leadership Consultant who has worked with leaders in Australian and global organisations through some of the hardest moments at work. Restructures. Redundancies. Teams falling apart and shifting to completely different ways of working. Mona is the founder of Change Capability and the creator of the ReFocus Method™ and the Change Support Stack™ framework. Drawing on behavioural neuroscience, she has developed an online learning store designed to make the language of self-care and emotional intelligence a norm in the workplace. [3:30s] Her journey into Change Management Leadership [14:12s] Evolution of leaders’ understanding of change and its complexities [27:06s] Doing change right versus doing it quick [33:12s] On change projects she’s led - digital transformation, AI [39:00s] Top learnings and insights on Change Management [45:21s] RWL Read : Mona’s book ‘The Many Hats of Resistance’ ; ‘Appreciative Inquiry’ by David Cooperrider and Diana Whitney; ACMP resources for Change Management; Human Centered Design Thinking ; SCARF® NeuroLeadership; Listen to Brené Brown’s podcast Connect with Mona on LinkedIn Connect with Vinay on LinkedIn What did you think about this episode? What would you like to hear more about? Or simply, write in and say hello! podcast@c2cod.com Subscribe to us on your favorite platforms – Google Podcasts , Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Overcast , Tune In Alexa , Amazon Music , Pandora , TuneIn + Alexa , Stitcher , Jio Saavn and more. This podcast is sponsored by C2C-OD, your Organizational Development consulting partner ‘Bringing People and Strategy Together’. Follow @c2cod on Twitter , LinkedIn , Instagram , Facebook

June 11, 202654 min

Episode 187: Alison Lucas and Lizzie Bentley Bowers on ‘Goodbye’, the Art of Leading Change Better

Send us Fan Mail For too long, work and leadership advice has focused on beginnings – how to make a great first impression, nail a new job, or start projects on the right foot. But what about endings – how can we successfully lead through messy transitions like redundancies, retirement or mergers? In the current global environment of mass layoffs, ‘ Good Bye: Leading Change Better by Attending to Endings’ is brilliantly timely, revealing how leaders can manage endings with care, respect and emotional agility. Our guests today is the dynamic author duo behind this book – top leadership coaches, Lizzie Bentley Bowers and Alison Lucas . Distilled from two decades of working with leaders in transition, and born out of practice, this highly practical book guides readers in navigating the four steps of endings – Reality, Emotion, Accomplishment and Ritual – offering a powerful framework for working through past, present, and future endings. Vinay traces Alison and Lizzie’s incredible journey to ‘Good Bye’. Hit play for the low down! [4:30s] Their journey into coaching [10:31s] Genesis of their book ‘Good Bye’ [17:29s] The need to attend to endings during transitions [24:06s] Slowing down, breaking the ‘cycle’ [40:01s] Managing ‘goodbyes’ in the age of AI [47:46s] RWL Read : Alison and Lizzie’s book, ‘ Good Bye: Leading Change Better by Attending to Endings’ Alison and Lizzie’s recommendation to READ: ‘Transitions’ by William Bridges, ‘Daring Greatly’ by Brené Brown; ‘Emotional Agility’ by Susan David; Connect with Alison on LinkedIn Connect with Lizzie on LinkedIn Connect with Vinay on LinkedIn What did you think about this episode? What would you like to hear more about? Or simply, write in and say hello! podcast@c2cod.com Subscribe to us on your favorite platforms – Google Podcasts , Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Overcast , Tune In Alexa , Amazon Music , Pandora , TuneIn + Alexa , Stitcher , Jio Saavn and more. This podcast is sponsored by C2C-OD, your Organizational Development consulting partner ‘Bringing People and Strategy Together’. Follow @c2cod on Twitter , LinkedIn , Instagram , Facebook