The Unlock Moment: The Inner Shift That Changes How You Lead

Hosted by Dr Gary Crotaz PhD

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209

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May 2026

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About the show

Great leaders aren't defined by their title. They're defined by a moment. A moment when clarity cuts through the noise. A moment when a difficult decision becomes unavoidable. A moment that changes not just what they do, but how they lead. This is The Unlock Moment. Downloaded in more than 140 countries, The Unlock Moment is the leadership podcast that goes beyond success stories, strategies, and polished narratives to uncover the moments that shaped the people behind them. In each episode, master interviewer, executive coach, and author Dr Gary Crotaz sits down with world-class leaders, entrepreneurs, athletes, thinkers, and change-makers to explore the turning points that transformed their perspective, their performance, and their lives. These are not conversations about what happened. They're conversations about what changed. From boardrooms to Olympic podiums, from start-ups to global institutions, every guest reveals the insight, challenge, setback, or breakthrough that unlocked a new level of leadership. Because when you understand someone's Unlock Moment, you understand what really matters. And you might discover one of your own.

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60 recent

May 26, 202644 min

190 Christine Barnes, Coach and Author: The Inclusion Trap - Why Leaders Are Getting It Wrong Without Knowing It

Some of the most powerful shifts in leadership come from seeing something that's been there all along, but never fully acted on. On this episode of The Unlock Moment, I am joined by Christine Barnes, executive coach, UC Berkeley lecturer, and author of Inclusionable: Transform How You Lead and Elevate Your Team's Performance ... and her story is a brilliant example of exactly that. Christine has spent her career inside some of the world's most complex organisations, from IBM to Oracle, Roche to Genentech, helping leaders navigate change and build capability. But it was her doctoral research - begun at an age when most of her peers were thinking about retirement - that crystallised what she had been observing for decades: that despite billions spent on diversity hiring, too many people still look up in their organisations and see nobody like them. In this conversation, we explore why most leaders can't actually distinguish between diversity and inclusion, how Christine's own biases showed up in the middle of a research interview, and why outsourcing inclusion to DEI experts, however essential they are, lets leaders off the hook. This is a conversation about self-awareness, accountability, and the simple but transformative idea that inclusion isn't a nice-to-have. It's your most underused leadership strategy. The Unlock Moment is hosted by Dr Gary Crotaz, PhD — master interviewer, executive coach and author. Downloaded in over 140 countries. Sign up to The Unlock Moment newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/ywhdaazp Find out more at https://garycrotaz.com and https://theunlockmoment.com Also discover his other podcasts, The Box of Keys and Unlock Your Leadership. Follow, subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts — and connect with Dr Gary on LinkedIn for more leadership insights. Part of The Unlock Moment podcast family.

April 27, 202657 min

189 Chris Whitaker, Disability Advocate and Coach: Rethinking Disability, Talent, and Potential Through Coaching

Chris Whitaker has spent his life navigating systems that weren’t built with him in mind … and then choosing to change them. Born six weeks prematurely with cerebral palsy, Chris grew up learning how to operate in a world that often underestimated him. That early experience only served to sharpen his ambition. From university rowing squads to national-level sport, and later into leadership roles across the charity and disability sectors, he developed a perspective grounded in both lived experience and performance. Today, as founder of Purple Advantage, Chris works with organisations to rethink how they approach disability, employment, and inclusion. His focus is on closing the disability employment gap, unlocking overlooked talent, and helping leaders move beyond uncertainty into confident, human conversations. We explore the moments that shaped Chris’s identity, his competitive drive, and his approach to leadership … including the role his wife, a Paralympian, played in helping him fully embrace his own story. This is a perspective formed through experience, challenge, and reflection, and it invites a different way of seeing the people around us. The Unlock Moment is hosted by Dr Gary Crotaz, PhD — master interviewer, executive coach and author. Downloaded in over 140 countries. Sign up to The Unlock Moment newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/ywhdaazp Find out more at https://garycrotaz.com and https://theunlockmoment.com Also discover his other podcasts, The Box of Keys and Unlock Your Leadership. Follow, subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts — and connect with Dr Gary on LinkedIn for more leadership insights. Part of The Unlock Moment podcast family.

April 1, 202657 min

188 Luisa Baldini, Broadcast Journalist: Composure Under Fire - What Leaders Get Wrong About Handling The Pressure

What does it take to perform when there is no second take … and no margin for error? In this episode, I speak with Luisa Baldini - former BBC correspondent and co-founder of Composure Media - about what it takes to communicate under pressure. For over two decades, Luisa reported live from major global events, often with millions watching, producers speaking in her ear, and events unfolding in real time around her. She shares what those moments taught her about composure, confidence and clarity … and why pressure doesn’t disappear as you progress in your career - it simply changes shape. We explore how leaders can think more clearly, communicate more simply, and stay steady when the stakes are high. Because composure isn’t something you’re born with. It’s something you learn … when it matters most. The Unlock Moment is hosted by Dr Gary Crotaz, PhD — master interviewer, executive coach and author. Downloaded in over 140 countries. Sign up to The Unlock Moment newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/ywhdaazp Find out more at https://garycrotaz.com and https://theunlockmoment.com Also discover his other podcasts, The Box of Keys and Unlock Your Leadership. Follow, subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts — and connect with Dr Gary on LinkedIn for more leadership insights. Part of The Unlock Moment podcast family.

March 9, 202640 min

187 Mildred Yuan, Talent Agent and Coach: How to Play the Discomfort Olympics - A Masterclass in Negotiation

Some negotiations are lost long before a single word is agreed. They’re lost in the rush to fill silence … in the instinct to ease tension … in the urge to make the other person comfortable. My guest in this episode understands this better than most. Mildred Yuan is a leading talent agent, negotiator and executive coach - and she also happens to be my partner in life. Years ago she was my dance partner too, back when competitive ballroom dancing played a big role in our lives. Her approach to negotiation traces back to a moment when she was just sixteen, staring down her formidable Tiger Mom across the kitchen table … and discovering a lesson she still uses today. Influence often belongs to the person willing to stay in discomfort a little longer. In this conversation we explore negotiation, self-advocacy, and the moment you realise that no one is coming to rescue you. At some point, you have to decide to stand your ground … and put on your own superhero cape. The Unlock Moment is hosted by Dr Gary Crotaz, PhD — master interviewer, executive coach and author. Downloaded in over 140 countries. Sign up to The Unlock Moment newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/ywhdaazp Find out more at https://garycrotaz.com and https://theunlockmoment.com Also discover his other podcasts, The Box of Keys and Unlock Your Leadership. Follow, subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts — and connect with Dr Gary on LinkedIn for more leadership insights. Part of The Unlock Moment podcast family.

February 23, 202637 min

186 Dr Joshua Coleman, Psychologist and Media Personality: Why Estrangement Happens - and How Repair Begins

What happens when a relationship doesn’t explode … it just disappears? In this episode of The Unlock Moment, I’m joined by high-profile US psychologist Dr Josh Coleman to unpack why estrangement happens - and what actually helps when you want to rebuild a relationship that’s been lost to distance, conflict, or silence. We explore the major pathways to estrangement (including cultural change, divorce, political differences, and therapy narratives), why the “old rules” of hierarchy and obligation no longer land the way they once did, and what repair really requires when guilt, logic, and authority fail. Josh shares a practical, compassionate framework for reconciliation: easing off the armour, learning a new language for hard conversations, and understanding a counterintuitive truth - the person who wants the relationship most often has to lead the repair. This is a conversation about humility without collapse, warmth with strength, and how trust is rebuilt one honest conversation at a time - in families, in teams, and in any relationship that matters. More from Dr Josh Coleman: Website: DrJoshuaColeman.com Substack: joshuacolemanphd.substack.com The Unlock Moment is hosted by Dr Gary Crotaz, PhD — master interviewer, executive coach and author. Downloaded in over 140 countries. Sign up to The Unlock Moment newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/ywhdaazp Find out more at https://garycrotaz.com and https://theunlockmoment.com Also discover his other podcasts, The Box of Keys and Unlock Your Leadership. Follow, subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts — and connect with Dr Gary on LinkedIn for more leadership insights. Part of The Unlock Moment podcast family.

February 9, 202645 min

185 Dr Michelle K. Johnston, Professor, Author and Coach: The Seismic Shift, How Connection Unlocks Purpose

What happens when success comes at the cost of authenticity? In this episode of The Unlock Moment, I’m joined by Dr Michelle K. Johnston - Distinguished Professor of Management, executive coach, and co-author with Marshall Goldsmith - to explore the moment that reshaped her leadership, her research, and her life. At just 28, Michelle was a rising academic star. But sitting alone in her office, reading student feedback she found hurtful, she realised something profound: she was succeeding by pretending to be someone she wasn’t. In trying to fit a command-and-control mould, she had silenced the very strengths that made her exceptional … her warmth, enthusiasm, and humanity. That moment sparked a seismic internal shift. One that led Michelle to a lifelong exploration of connection: with self, with others, and with the courage required to show up authentically in environments where you feel different or alone. We talk about growing up constantly adapting, why connection always begins within, the loneliness that often accompanies deep personal change, and why productivity without connection ultimately leads to emptiness. Michelle also shares the core ideas behind her new book The Seismic Shift in You, including why leaders must move from task to people, from control to connection, and why your calendar reveals your true priorities. This conversation is a powerful reminder that leadership transformation doesn’t start in the boardroom … it starts inside us. If you’ve ever felt like you were performing instead of belonging, this episode will meet you exactly where you are. The Unlock Moment is hosted by Dr Gary Crotaz, PhD — master interviewer, executive coach and author. Downloaded in over 140 countries. Sign up to The Unlock Moment newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/ywhdaazp Find out more at https://garycrotaz.com and https://theunlockmoment.com Also discover his other podcasts, The Box of Keys and Unlock Your Leadership. Follow, subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts — and connect with Dr Gary on LinkedIn for more leadership insights. Part of The Unlock Moment podcast family.

January 26, 202657 min

184 Ryan Wain, Policy and Politics Thought Leader: The Future of Britain - Disrupt Or Be Disrupted

What does it take to stay human in a system that rewards slogans over thinking? In this conversation, Ryan Wain - Senior Director of Policy & Politics at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change - traces his path from Sainsbury’s checkouts in Liverpool to shaping ideas that influence governments in the UK and around the world. We talk about the leadership lessons he learned from everyday people … why place and connection matter more than most policy debates admit … and the moment at King’s College London that challenged his confidence, sharpened his sense of social mobility, and pushed him towards a “third way” that isn’t about tribes … it’s about a we. Ryan takes us behind the scenes of what it really takes to become a parliamentary candidate … the emotional brutality of hustings … and why losing by five votes wasn’t the end of his story. Along the way, we explore a theme that keeps returning: permission. Permission to think. Permission to debate. Permission to confront the hard truth of national decline - and still believe renewal is possible. If you care about leadership, democracy, and what it means to build a future worth belonging to … this one will stay with you. The Unlock Moment is hosted by Dr Gary Crotaz, PhD — master interviewer, executive coach and author. Downloaded in over 140 countries. Sign up to The Unlock Moment newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/ywhdaazp Find out more at https://garycrotaz.com and https://theunlockmoment.com Also discover his other podcasts, The Box of Keys and Unlock Your Leadership. Follow, subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts — and connect with Dr Gary on LinkedIn for more leadership insights. Part of The Unlock Moment podcast family.

December 29, 202548 min

183 Paul Ollinger, Comedian, Speaker and Facebook Alum: The Day Financial Freedom Stopped Feeling Free

What happens when you get everything you thought you wanted, and it still doesn’t feel like enough? For Paul Ollinger, that question surfaced after leaving Facebook with financial freedom in his early forties. On paper, it was success. In reality, it sparked a deeper reckoning about identity, purpose, and what actually makes a life feel whole. In this conversation, Paul reflects on the disorienting space that can follow achievement, the moment he realised money had stopped being the motivator he thought it was, and the uncomfortable freedom of having no obvious next step. He explores the tension between ambition and contentment, why work plays such a powerful role in belonging, and how redefining happiness became essential rather than optional. This episode is an honest look at what really defines success … and a reminder that fulfilment doesn’t begin when you reach the number, but when you ask better questions about what comes next. The Unlock Moment is hosted by Dr Gary Crotaz, PhD — master interviewer, executive coach and author. Downloaded in over 140 countries. Sign up to The Unlock Moment newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/ywhdaazp Find out more at https://garycrotaz.com and https://theunlockmoment.com Also discover his other podcasts, The Box of Keys and Unlock Your Leadership. Follow, subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts — and connect with Dr Gary on LinkedIn for more leadership insights. Part of The Unlock Moment podcast family.

December 22, 202536 min

182 Garry Ridge, Legendary CEO: The Hard Truth About Happy, High-Performing Cultures

Some leadership lessons arrive through strategy. Others arrive at 38,000 feet, reading a single sentence that reframes everything. For Garry Ridge, former CEO and Chairman Emeritus of WD-40, that moment sparked a radical shift in how he thought about leadership, culture, and responsibility. In his second appearance on The Unlock Moment, Garry returns to reflect on what he’s learned since stepping away from the CEO role … and what still matters most about leading well. In this conversation, Garry shares deeper insight into servant leadership, psychological safety, and why fear is the enemy of learning. He unpacks the real meaning behind his provocatively titled book Any Dumb Ass Can Do It, and explains why leadership doesn’t require brilliance - just care, consistency, and courage. This episode is a reminder that great leadership isn’t about control or charisma. It’s about how you show up and the environment you create for others to thrive. The Unlock Moment is hosted by Dr Gary Crotaz, PhD — master interviewer, executive coach and author. Downloaded in over 140 countries. Sign up to The Unlock Moment newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/ywhdaazp Find out more at https://garycrotaz.com and https://theunlockmoment.com Also discover his other podcasts, The Box of Keys and Unlock Your Leadership. Follow, subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts — and connect with Dr Gary on LinkedIn for more leadership insights. Part of The Unlock Moment podcast family.

December 15, 202546 min

181 Dr Bob Gomersall, EdTech Founder and CEO: Worthwhile Wealth and the Courage to Redefine Success from an Edtech Pioneer

Recorded live at Climb25 - The UK’s Festival of Business Growth & Innovation, this episode of The Unlock Moment features Dr Bob Gomersall: physicist, teacher, accidental entrepreneur and pioneer of global educational technology. Bob traces his journey from teaching physics in the late 1970s to building a business delivering assessment platforms now used around the world, supporting awarding bodies, professional organisations and educational institutions to deliver over 45 million exams across 140 countries. Along the way, we explore the Unlock Moments that shaped his path … the decisions that didn’t come from having a perfect plan, but from gaining clarity about how to choose when the stakes were high and the future uncertain. Drawing on the ideas behind his new book, Worthwhile Wealth, Bob challenges conventional measures of success and invites us to rethink what achievement really means. Rather than chasing scale or status, he reflects on usefulness, impact, and the satisfaction that comes from doing work that genuinely matters - to you and to others. A thoughtful conversation about innovation, clarity, and building a business and a life that feels worthwhile. The Unlock Moment is hosted by Dr Gary Crotaz, PhD — master interviewer, executive coach and author. Downloaded in over 140 countries. Sign up to The Unlock Moment newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/ywhdaazp Find out more at https://garycrotaz.com and https://theunlockmoment.com Also discover his other podcasts, The Box of Keys and Unlock Your Leadership. Follow, subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts — and connect with Dr Gary on LinkedIn for more leadership insights. Part of The Unlock Moment podcast family.