Refreshing Leadership with Maya - Career, Leadership and Life Design

Hosted by Maya Gudka

Business Careers

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Episodes

322

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Hello there High Achiever! Here's the inside track on: - Career clarity for ambitious leaders who’ve outgrown their current role - Life design and work-life balance for high performers who don’t want to burn out - The “unwritten rules” of progression to C-Suite - Purpose, identity and dharma - when success on paper stops being enough - How the top 1% of leaders think about time, energy, money and long-term impact Because inside the Exec Coaching room is where the real, edgy conversations on leadership are happening! Read disclaimer and terms at https://www.mayagudka.com/disclaimer

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 17, 202629 min

Access Your Intuition Through Outdoor Intelligence - The August Refresh, Archive Episode

Part of the August 2026 Refresh Series. We know that getting outside does us good. But outdoor intelligence - the idea that we actually think, see and know more when we're in nature - goes a step further than that. In this episode, Maya is joined by Fi Macmillan, coach and adventurer, to explore what outdoor intelligence actually is and how it differs from simply going for a walk. By the end of the conversation, they co-create an equation that sums it up neatly: nature + walking = deep work + intuition. What you'll learn: How to start accessing outdoor intelligence Three simple practices to help you reconnect with your intuition through time outside You can connect with Fi Macmillan at https://www.linkedin.com/in/fi-macmillan/ As usual, connect with Maya at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/ And subscribe to her YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1 For all other info, visit the website www.mayagudka.com

August 10, 202615 min

The List of 100 Dreams - The August Refresh, Archive Episode

Part of the August 2026 Refresh Series. Most bucket lists don't make it to 100 items. That's exactly the point of this exercise. In this episode, Maya walks through the list of 100 dreams - an exercise she came across via Laura Vanderkam, originally from career coach Carolina Ceniza-Levine - and shares how she went about it herself. The idea is simple: an unedited list of anything you might want to do or have more of in your life - a powerful exercise for a number of reasons. What you'll learn: How to actually do the exercise - including what to do when you run out of ideas How the list becomes a useful reference point for goal setting and making the most of your leisure time As usual, connect with Maya at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/ And subscribe to her YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1 For all other info, visit the website www.mayagudka.com

August 3, 202618 min

The Seven Types of Rest: Which One Do You Need? - The August Refresh, Archive Episode

Part of the August 2026 Refresh Series. What's your default strategy when you're feeling burnt out or depleted? A sunny trip away? Nothing wrong with that - but there are other, perhaps more powerful, ways to recharge too. In this episode, Maya breaks down her own version of the seven types of rest, drawing on years of coaching conversations to explore why switching off looks different for everyone - and why going from near-burnout to a beach doesn't always solve the problem. What you'll learn: The seven types of rest - and a simple way to identify which ones you're missing The difference between rejuvenation and refresh - and why relying on a change of scene alone often isn't enough You can read Maya's accompanying LinkedIn post and access the rest checklist here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/when-you-cant-switch-off-maya-gudka-msc-cfa-ma-cantab-/ You can also listen to Maya's episode on sleep here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0XscMUgFfUgsDE2JX931jN?si=ea2d0fe498ec4271 As usual, connect with Maya at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/ And subscribe to her YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1 For all other info, visit the website www.mayagudka.com

July 27, 202617 min

What To Do if You're Being Bullied at Work

Workplace bullying happens more often than it should. In this episode, Maya shares guidance from inside her coaching programme - practical steps that have helped clients deal with this and start to move things forward. She explains why the bullying interaction itself isn't something the victim can fix, as well as sharing details of her own past experiences. What you'll learn: Specific techniques to manage a bullying situation - including one that made HR start taking action almost immediately A simple shift in how you frame the issue that makes leadership take it seriously To find out more about the programme curriculum, visit https://www.mayagudka.com/for-individuals As usual, connect with Maya at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/ And subscribe to her YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1 For all other info, visit the website www.mayagudka.com

July 20, 202633 min

Masculine & Feminine Money Energies - with Rose Radford

If you come from a corporate, analytical or financial background, talking about money in terms of energy can feel unfamiliar - even a bit uncomfortable. But Maya has seen these subconscious patterns play out again and again, both in her own life and in her work with clients. In this archive episode, Maya is joined by her former business coach Rose Radford to talk about masculine and feminine money energies - what they are, how they show up, and why understanding them can shift the way you think about ambition, money and growth, whatever stage of business or career you're at. What you'll learn: The difference between masculine and feminine money energies - and how to spot which one you default to What an "energetic set point" is, and how it might be keeping your income at the same level year after year This episode was first published in January 2025. You can connect with Rose on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/iamroseradford/ As usual, connect with Maya at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/ And subscribe to her YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1 For all other info, visit the website www.mayagudka.com

July 13, 202622 min

The Game-Changing Question Every Busy Couple Needs to Ask

In this second conversation with executive relationship strategist Katarina Polonska, Maya and Katarina go deeper - looking at the specific dynamics that emerge between ambitious partners and the hidden tensions in dual career households.What you'll learn: The concept of relational hygiene, with examples from Katarina’s own relationship How so many couples drift into a parent-child dynamic without realising it. Catch up with the first episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/008RNUWAgwaT6BMEvyPt1B?si=W6Uz9AeQT8uz0Ge6rjJ2kA You can connect with Katarina Polonska at www.katarinapolonska.com and on the Successfully in Love podcast. As usual, connect with Maya at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/ And subscribe to her YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1 For all other info, visit the website www.mayagudka.com

July 6, 202630 min

Why Successful People Still Struggle in Love

Personal relationships rarely make it onto a leadership development programme. And yet, as Maya sees regularly in her coaching work, what's happening at home has a profound impact on what's happening at work. In this episode - the first of two conversations - Maya is joined by executive relationship strategist Katarina Polonska to explore the relationships outside work that shape so much of how leaders show up. What you'll learn: Why high achievers can be particularly vulnerable to relationship breakdown The deeper emotional drivers behind ambition What to do when couples counselling doesn’t work You can connect with Katarina Polonska at www.katarinapolonska.com and on the Successfully in Love podcast. As usual, connect with Maya at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/ And subscribe to her YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1 For all other info, visit the website www.mayagudka.com

June 29, 202620 min

Mid-Year Review & Refresh

As we reach the midpoint of the year, Maya shares her end-of-June review - a series of personal reflection questions designed to help you recalibrate before the second half of the year begins. Maya works through the questions throughout the episode, reflecting on what's gone well, what she worried about that turned out not to matter, and what she wants the rest of the year to look like. You’ll find out Maya’s personal reflections, her thoughts on the next phase of her life, and learn the key questions you can use for your own mid-year review. Don’t forget to subscribe to the YouTube Channel for all the video episodes and short clips https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1 As usual, connect with Maya at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/ For all other info, visit the website www.mayagudka.com

June 22, 202630 min

How to Eat for Excellent Performance at Work - with Adam Kingl

You might already be pretty good when it comes to your food habits. But do you know what's actually working - and what could give them a refresh without a huge amount of extra effort? In part two of this conversation with Adam Kingl, co-author of Executive Eats: The Cookbook for a Better Working Life, Maya and Adam get into the practicalities. Whether you're in the office, working from home or travelling, they look at what sustained energy actually requires - and the specific foods and habits that support focus, concentration and performance throughout a long working day. What you'll learn: The foods that got written off - and what the science actually says The specific foods that improve focus, mood and decision-making during the work day Executive Eats: The Cookbook for a Better Working Life is out on 16th June 2026 and is available now to pre-order from all major online book retailers. You can catch up on part one of the conversation https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/K7t1uue1X3b: Adam Kingl is an author, educator, keynote speaker and consultant affiliated with a number of leading business schools including London Business School, Imperial College and UCL School of Management. Executive Eats is his third book, following Next Generation Leadership and Sparking Success. You can connect with Adam at https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-kingl/ . Find out more at https://adamkingl.com/ As usual, connect with Maya at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/ And subscribe to her YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1 For all other info, visit the website www.mayagudka.com

June 15, 202633 min

Refresh Your Leadership through...Food! - with Adam Kingl

What if food could do more than just fuel you - what if it could change how effective your leadership is? Adam Kingl joins Maya to talk about his new book, Executive Eats: The Cookbook for a Better Working Life - a first in the cookbook world. It speaks to something both Maya and Adam encounter regularly in their work with leaders: not enough energy, focus that isn't where it needs to be, and the ever-present threat of burnout. In this conversation, Adam talks about how food can support sustained energy, focus, concentration, emotional regulation and even creativity - and the practical side of making that work in real life. They cover flavor profiles, batching, building block recipes, and how to use cooking to reduce stress rather than create more of it. What you'll learn: The ten performance states a leader wants to be in at work - and how to use them as a starting point for changing how you eat How one simple building block recipe can become dozens without significantly more effort or skill Executive Eats: The Cookbook for a Better Working Life is out on 16th June 2026 and is available now to pre-order from all major online book retailers. Adam Kingl is an author, educator, keynote speaker and consultant affiliated with a number of leading business schools including London Business School, Imperial College and UCL School of Management. Executive Eats is his third book, following Next Generation Leadership and Sparking Success. As usual, connect with Maya at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/ And subscribe to her YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1 For all other info, visit the website www.mayagudka.com