The Leadership Puzzle with Jeff Lupinacci

Hosted by Jeff Lupinacci

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Apr 2026

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About the show

In The Leadership Puzzle, take a journey with your host, Jeff Lupinacci, to uncover the mysteries of leadership with some of the world's most accomplished leaders. Prepare to piece together the secrets, wisdom, and experiences that create the breathtaking picture of leadership success.

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45 recent

April 22, 202629 min

Engagement Beyond Perks: Performing Under Pressure with guest Christian "Boo" Boucousis

Engagement isn’t just about giving people what they want — it’s about accomplishing difficult things together.In this episode, we’re joined by Christian “Boo” Boucousis, bestselling author of The Afterburner Advantage and CEO of Afterburner, for a powerful conversation on performance, pressure, and leadership when the stakes are high.Drawing from his experience as a former Australian fighter pilot — and his work with leaders from corporate boardrooms to NFL locker rooms — Boo unpacks what it really takes to perform under pressure and lead through complexity. He shares how leaders can turn chaos into creativity, align teams around shared objectives, and build engagement through challenge, trust, and execution.Together, we explore:- Why real engagement is forged through shared effort, not comfort- How leaders perform when pressure is high and conditions are uncertain- What the “fighter pilot mindset” teaches us about focus, adaptability, and execution- How to transform chaos into clarity and creativityThis conversation is for executives, founders, HR leaders, and managers who want to move beyond surface-level engagement and lead teams that can execute, adapt, and win together.🎧 Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, performance, culture, and what it takes to lead when it matters most._ _ _ _ _ Our podcast is sponsored by Evolve HR Solutions, a global HR consulting, recruiting, and software company dedicated to meeting all of your HR needs. Find out more information on Evolve HR Solutions' wide range of services at:https://evolvehrs.comJeff is the former Chief Talent and Integration Officer at Alkegen with 20+ years of experience in HR, Finance, IT, and M&A at Intel and Kimberly Clark. Jeff has lived in eight countries and is currently based in Dallas, TX. He is a published author, an Adjunct Professor at Baylor University, and is passionate about growing talent.

April 8, 202643 min

How HR Becomes a True Value-Adding Partner with guest Linde Grindle

Performance improvement doesn’t come from finding the perfect HR model — it comes from understanding how your people systems actually work.In this episode, we’re joined by Linde Grindle, CHRO of Spirit Airlines, for an honest conversation on performance, people strategy, and the evolving role of HR inside modern organizations.Together, we explore why there is no one-size-fits-all HR model, and why relying too heavily on frameworks alone can distract leaders from what truly drives a healthy organization. HR models can support performance — but they don’t determine culture, trust, or results on their own.This conversation dives into:- Why performance improvement requires continuous assessment, not static models- How to evaluate whether your current HR approach is helping or hindering the business- Why HR frameworks don’t automatically create healthy organizations- How HR can reinvent itself as a value-adding strategic partner, not just a compliance functionThis episode is for CHROs, HR leaders, executives, and people managers who want to move beyond theory and build people strategies that genuinely support performance, adaptability, and long-term organizational health.🎧 Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, culture, performance, and building organizations that actually work._ _ _ _ _ Our podcast is sponsored by Evolve HR Solutions, a global HR consulting, recruiting, and software company dedicated to meeting all of your HR needs. Find out more information on Evolve HR Solutions' wide range of services at:https://evolvehrs.comJeff is the former Chief Talent and Integration Officer at Alkegen with 20+ years of experience in HR, Finance, IT, and M&A at Intel and Kimberly Clark. Jeff has lived in eight countries and is currently based in Dallas, TX. He is a published author, an Adjunct Professor at Baylor University, and is passionate about growing talent.

March 25, 2026Episode 944 min

How to Close the Gap between Vision and Execution

Vision without execution is just noise, and execution without vision is just motion.In this episode, we’re joined by Wendy Warner, a global business leader with 20+ years of driving multi-million-dollar growth across North & Latin America, Europe, and Asia, for a conversation on how organizations actually turn strategy into results.Together, we explore why bridging the gap between vision and execution is one of the most critical (and most overlooked) challenges in business today. Wendy shares how leaders can align strategy, market intelligence, and operations to create sustainable growth, not just ambitious plans that never materialize.This conversation dives into: - Why most growth strategies fail at the execution layer - How to align cross-functional teams around a clear strategic direction - The role of market intelligence in shaping scalable, competitive strategies - How leaders can build trust, accountability, and momentum across global teamsThis episode is for executives, operators, and HR leaders who want to move beyond strategy decks and actually drive measurable, global growth.🎧 Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, culture, performance, and building organizations that actually work.Our podcast is sponsored by Evolve HR Solutions, a global HR consulting, recruiting, and software company dedicated to meeting all of your HR needs. Find out more information on Evolve HR Solutions' wide range of services at:https://evolvehrs.comJeff is the former Chief Talent and Integration Officer at Alkegen with 20+ years of experience in HR, Finance, IT, and M&A at Intel and Kimberly Clark. Jeff has lived in eight countries and is currently based in Dallas, TX. He is a published author, an Adjunct Professor at Baylor University, and is passionate about growing talent.

March 11, 202627 min

Creating the spaces of the future, with William Huston

Growth in hospitality and commercial real estate doesn’t come without pressure — and it never comes without change.In this episode, we sit down with William — NAACP Entrepreneur of the Year, Forbes-featured entrepreneur, and operator at the intersection of hospitality and commercial real estate — for a candid conversation on what it really takes to build and expand in today’s market.From the principle of “no pain, no expansion” to the realities of how capital flows into hospitality, William shares why investors are rethinking how they evaluate opportunities — and why traditional business models are being replaced with what he calls “real business” models built for resilience, execution, and long-term value.Together, we explore:- Why growth in hospitality requires discomfort, discipline, and adaptability- How capital is moving — and what investors are prioritizing now- Why legacy evaluation models are breaking down- How to evolve traditional businesses into durable, real-world operating modelsThis conversation is for founders, investors, developers, operators, and leaders navigating hospitality, commercial real estate, or any business where expansion demands more than theory.🎧 Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, investment strategy, entrepreneurship, and building businesses that actually work in the real world._ _ _ _ _ Our podcast is sponsored by Evolve HR Solutions, a global HR consulting, recruiting, and software company dedicated to meeting all of your HR needs. Find out more information on Evolve HR Solutions' wide range of services at:https://evolvehrs.comJeff is the former Chief Talent and Integration Officer at Alkegen with 20+ years of experience in HR, Finance, IT, and M&A at Intel and Kimberly Clark. Jeff has lived in eight countries and is currently based in Dallas, TX. He is a published author, an Adjunct Professor at Baylor University, and is passionate about growing talent.

February 25, 202641 min

Your story matters, but not for the reason you think with guest Bill Blankschaen

In this episode, we explore the power of your story and why it’s never just about you. Your experiences, challenges, and perspective exist to serve, connect, and invite others forward — not to be polished for perfection.Our guest, Bill Blankschaen, is the founder and Chief Story Architect of StoryBuilders and a New York Times bestselling author. Bill has spent his career helping leaders, organizations, and individuals live a story worth telling — and build trust through authentic, human connection.Together, we talk about:- Why your story is about you — but isn’t for you- How stories create meaning, trust, and shared understanding- Why life and leadership are rarely as easy as we hope — but also not as hard as we imagine- How honest storytelling helps people move through fear, complexity, and uncertaintyThis conversation is a reminder that storytelling isn’t performance — it’s responsibility. When leaders learn to tell their stories with humility and purpose, they create space for others to do the same.🎧 Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, storytelling, culture, and living a story worth telling._ _ _ _ _ Our podcast is sponsored by Evolve HR Solutions, a global HR consulting, recruiting, and software company dedicated to meeting all of your HR needs. Find out more information on Evolve HR Solutions' wide range of services at:https://evolvehrs.comJeff is the former Chief Talent and Integration Officer at Alkegen with 20+ years of experience in HR, Finance, IT, and M&A at Intel and Kimberly Clark. Jeff has lived in eight countries and is currently based in Dallas, TX. He is a published author, an Adjunct Professor at Baylor University, and is passionate about growing talent.

February 11, 202646 min

Leading Change Beyond Past Mistakes with guest Giorgia Prestento

Change is never just about strategy — it’s about people, behavior, and the past we bring with us.In this episode, we’re joined by Georgia, strategic change advisor, behavioral scientist, and author of Master the Change Maze, for a grounded conversation on how leaders navigate change when history, resistance, and competing agendas are in play.Together, we explore what it really takes to move forward after mistakes, pursue the outcomes you actually want to achieve, and lead organizations through change with clarity and intention — not avoidance or force.This conversation covers:- How to overcome past missteps without getting stuck in them- Why clarity around the desired outcome matters more than perfect execution- How leaders can identify resistance, blind spots, and competing agendas inside their organizations- What behavioral science teaches us about why change stalls — and how to move it forwardThis episode is for executives, founders, HR leaders, and change agents responsible for leading transformation in complex environments — and who want practical insight into navigating change without losing trust, momentum, or people.🎧 Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, change, culture, and building organizations that can adapt and grow._ _ _ _ _ Our podcast is sponsored by Evolve HR Solutions, a global HR consulting, recruiting, and software company dedicated to meeting all of your HR needs. Find out more information on Evolve HR Solutions' wide range of services at:https://evolvehrs.comJeff is the former Chief Talent and Integration Officer at Alkegen with 20+ years of experience in HR, Finance, IT, and M&A at Intel and Kimberly Clark. Jeff has lived in eight countries and is currently based in Dallas, TX. He is a published author, an Adjunct Professor at Baylor University, and is passionate about growing talent.

February 9, 2026Episode 842 min

Growing Groups into Teams with Dan Winter

What turns a group of individuals into a true team?In this episode, Jeff Lupinacci sits down with Dan Winter, growth coach, leadership expert, and author of Growing Groups into Teams, to explore what it really takes to build teams that can grow, adapt, and perform under pressure.At the center of the conversation is a leadership idea many still resist: vulnerability is not a weakness — it’s a strength. Dan shares how leaders who are willing to lead with openness create the conditions for trust, accountability, and collective problem-solving.Together, Jeff and Dan unpack:Why vulnerability unlocks stronger team performanceHow leaders generate new capacity to solve new problemsWhat separates groups that stall from teams that evolveHow leadership presence shapes trust, alignment, and resultsThis episode is for executives, founders, HR leaders, and managers who are navigating growth, complexity, or change — and who want to lead teams that don’t just function, but develop.🎧 Subscribe to the Leadership Puzzle podcast for conversations on leadership, culture, and building teams that are equipped for what’s next._ _ _ _ _ Our podcast is sponsored by Evolve HR Solutions, a global HR consulting, recruiting, and software company dedicated to meeting all of your HR needs. Find out more information on Evolve HR Solutions' wide range of services at:https://evolvehrs.comJeff is the former Chief Talent and Integration Officer at Alkegen with 20+ years of experience in HR, Finance, IT, and M&A at Intel and Kimberly Clark. Jeff has lived in eight countries and is currently based in Dallas, TX. He is a published author, an Adjunct Professor at Baylor University, and is passionate about growing talent.

January 19, 202648 min

How do you tell better stories with AI — and actually drive results?

In this episode, Jeff is joined by Radhika Dutt, author of Radical Product Thinking, for a timely conversation on storytelling with data, AI, and product strategy. Drawing on her experience building products across robotics and telecommunications, Radhika shares how leaders can move beyond short-term metrics and hype to create long-term value with intention.Together, we explore:- How storytelling with data and AI shapes better decisions- Why clarity of purpose matters more than speed- The risks of short-term thinking in AI-driven products- How product leaders can align teams around outcomes that lastThis conversation is for founders, product leaders, executives, and innovators who want to use AI thoughtfully — not just to move faster, but to build products that matter over time.🎧 Subscribe for conversations on leadership, innovation, product strategy, and building responsibly in an AI-driven world._ _ _ _ _ Our podcast is sponsored by Evolve HR Solutions, a global HR consulting, recruiting, and software company dedicated to meeting all of your HR needs. Find out more information on Evolve HR Solutions' wide range of services at:https://evolvehrs.comJeff is the former Chief Talent and Integration Officer at Alkegen with 20+ years of experience in HR, Finance, IT, and M&A at Intel and Kimberly Clark. Jeff has lived in eight countries and is currently based in Dallas, TX. He is a published author, an Adjunct Professor at Baylor University, and is passionate about growing talent.

December 29, 202546 min

Perseverance as your leadership superpower, with Bishop Kevin Foreman

Perseverance isn’t just a personal virtue — it’s a leadership advantage.In this episode, Jeff sits down with Bishop Kevin Foreman — author, philanthropist, founder, and pastor of Harvest Church — for a powerful conversation on why perseverance may be the most underrated leadership superpower.Together, they explore what it means to lead through uncertainty, pressure, and long seasons of challenge without losing purpose, conviction, or people along the way. Bishop Foreman shares insights drawn from decades of leadership, faith, and service, offering a perspective that speaks to executives, founders, and people-leaders navigating complexity in today’s workplace.This conversation goes beyond motivation. It’s about the discipline to stay steady when results take time, the courage to keep showing up when leadership feels lonely, and the responsibility leaders carry to model resilience for the people who follow them.If you’re building culture, guiding teams through change, or leading when the path forward isn’t clear, this episode offers practical wisdom rooted in experience, humility, and long-term vision.🎧 Subscribe to the Evolve HR Solutions podcast for thoughtful conversations on leadership, culture, talent, and what it takes to lead with intention — even when perseverance is the hardest choice.Our podcast is sponsored by Evolve HR Solutions, a global HR consulting, recruiting, and software company dedicated to meeting all of your HR needs. Find out more information on Evolve HR Solutions' wide range of services at:https://evolvehrs.comJeff is the former Chief Talent and Integration Officer at Alkegen with 20+ years of experience in HR, Finance, IT, and M&A at Intel and Kimberly Clark. Jeff has lived in eight countries and is currently based in Dallas, TX. He is a published author, an Adjunct Professor at Baylor University, and is passionate about growing talent.

December 3, 2025Episode 244 min

Reframing Feedback to Accelerate Growth, with Carolyn Troyan

In this episode, Jeff talks with Carolyn Troyan, CEO of Leadership 360, about what it takes to lead teams through uncertain times with clarity, empathy, and intention. Carolyn shares practical insights on unlocking team potential, creating environments where people can perform at their best, and reframing feedback so it becomes meaningful, constructive, and aligned with growth.They explore how leaders can stay grounded during change, communicate with tact, and support their teams while still driving performance forward.If you’re navigating organizational shifts, developing leaders, or coaching teams through complexity, this conversation offers clear, actionable guidance you can put into practice right away.👉 Subscribe for weekly conversations that help you lead smarter, build stronger teams, and show up with intention in every season.Our podcast is sponsored by Evolve HR Solutions, a global HR consulting, recruiting, and software company dedicated to meeting all of your HR needs. Find out more information on Evolve HR Solutions' wide range of services at:https://evolvehrs.comJeff is the former Chief Talent and Integration Officer at Alkegen with 20+ years of experience in HR, Finance, IT, and M&A at Intel and Kimberly Clark. Jeff has lived in eight countries and is currently based in Dallas, TX. He is a published author, an Adjunct Professor at Baylor University, and is passionate about growing talent.