On Connection

Too often, vision and values work ends up as lofty statements that don’t translate into daily practice. But when it’s done well, it can transform how teams collaborate, make decisions, and connect to a shared purpose. In this episode of On Connection, we’re joined by Trisha Moslin from The Nature Conservancy’s Gift Planning team, who helped lead an effort to co-create a vision and values that went beyond words on a page. Together, we explore what made their approach successful, how leadership shaped the process, and why the results have endured—strengthening both team culture and their ability to advance TNC’s mission for the long term.Guest Bio: Trisha MoslinTrisha Moslin is the Director of Strategy and Planning in the Gift Planning department at The Nature Conservancy. She ensures strategic alignment and continued focus on priorities, works to improve communication and cross-team integration, advises and supports the department lead and management team, and manages cross-functional projects. She led the collaborative creation of TNC Gift Planning’s Vision and Values and works to ensure they’re integrated into the department’s work. Before joining TNC in 2019, she spent 15 years in international development, including as a Peace Corps volunteer. She holds an MPH in Reproductive Health and Population Studies from Emory University Rollins School of Public Health and a BBA magna cum laude in Marketing with an International Business minor from Texas A&M University. She’s traveled to 26 countries and 30 U.S. states, plays a lot of tennis, and is always in the middle of several books.

In this episode, we’re joined by leaders from Vestas, a globally recognized wind energy solutions provider, to explore the profound impact empowering leaders to simply be present and connected with their teams can have on culture, performance, and safety in high-risk industries.After a rise in safety incidents, they launched the “Be Present” program—an initiative to strengthen relationships between site managers and technicians. The program has led to measurable improvements in safety, trust, and teamreliability, offering insights that leaders across industries can learn from as they look to improve performance and trust in their own organizations. Hear from AnneMarie Graves, Vice President of the Midwest Region, and Gary Lamont, a Vestas Site Manager based in Iowa, as they share how presence—showing up for people as much as priorities—has transformed their teams and operations.Guest BiosAnneMarie Graves AnneMarie Graves is the Vice President, Midwest Region for Vestas, where she leads an operations team of 500 wind turbine technicians operating 10 GW of wind farms in the American heartland. From 2018-2021, AnneMarie lived and worked in Europe, leading 300 Vestas engineers supporting global deployment and operation of 100 GW of Vestas, GE, Gamesa, Nordex and Siemens wind turbine and wind plant technology.  As an early proponent of utility scale wind energy in the early 2000s, AnneMarie brings more than 20 years of engineering and management experience in wind energy. Prior to joining Vestas, she led a team at DNV GL specialized in assessing the performance and reliability of over 10 GW of operating wind projects, including predicting wind project production, analyzing and diagnosing performance, and modeling turbine life. AnneMarie started her career in 2003 with GE Wind Energy assessing the suitability of new wind project locations in North America. AnneMarie has presented and chaired sessions at American Cleanpower’s conferences including AWEA WINDPOWER and Operations Maintenance & Safety Conference, Wind Energy Update’s O&M Summits and co-chaired conferences with Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy. AnneMarie holds degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Science and Technology Studies from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.Gary LamontGary Lamont brings over 11 years of experience working with wind turbines at Vestas, where he has contributed to advancing renewable energy technologies and supporting the growth of clean energy initiatives. Beyond his passion for sustainable energy, Gary is a devoted family man and a music enthusiast, finding inspiration in both his work and personal life. This blend of professional dedication and personal passions shapes his unique perspective on life and work.

"Insights are only as valuable as the action they inspire"For our final episode of the 10 Laws of High-Performance Collaboration series, we offer practical advice for translating any insights you may have gained into tangible value. Insights will only get you so far - you have to act your way into new ways of working. Our recommendations include...Pick ONE insight you found relevant to your work today and commit to taking on a new action aligned with that Law or principleUse the tools and resources provided in the show notes to practice principles of high-performance collaborationInviting your team to follow the series and let it cause new conversations about what you may like to take on to upgrade the value of your collaborative work togetherMost importantly... let us know what you try! We would love to hear about the work you're doing and the challenges you're taking on. Send your questions and stories to podcast@conversant.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WATCH this episode⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on YouTubeTools & Resources: Overview of the 10 Laws of High-Performance Collaboration⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Use this as a cheat sheet as you follow along with the series or practice the principles with your team Overview on Power⁠: A quick reference on the relationship of power to valuable and wasteful expressions of leadership⁠Finding Intersection ⁠Overview of the Conversation Meter⁠: An essential summary for quick reference on how to utilize the tool ⁠Moving Up the Meter⁠: A handout that guides focus if looking to increase the quality of your conversations and your listening Decision Criteria Chart⁠: Use this chart to map out criteria that can help guide upcoming decision-making conversationsThe Conversation Prep Chart⁠: Use this worksheet to reflect on what matters to you and to those you want to improve alignment with, and reveal an intersection of interest that can drive a new conversation that moves the relationship forwardThe Bioreactive Styles Assessment⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Point Easy⁠: This graphic is a helpful tool and reference for illustrating the importance of having conversations as soon as we notice a gap in performance or expectations.The 7-Step Adjust Protocol⁠: Use this guide to hosting an Adjust conversation with your team, or as a reflection tool for your own review of recent efforts, to identify key learnings that can be applied to your next phase of action.Our books: The Communication Catalyst: The fast (but not stupid) track to value for customers, investors, and employees The Vitality Imperative: How connected leaders and their teams achieve more with less time, money, and stress ⁠⁠⁠⁠WATCH this episode⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on YouTubeLearn more about Conversant at https://www.conversant.com/ Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn

Law #10: The Law of Appreciation - "Appreciation is the soul of high-performance, bringing meaning, resilience, and joy to the workplace"In pursuit of high-performance, many of us have a tendency to focus on what there is left for us to improve. While it's important to be aware of where there's room to grow, it's just as important (if not more so) to celebrate the things people are doing well and we want to see more of. In this episode, we talk about looking for what there is to appreciate as a practice, and why expressing that appreciation is critical to cultivating high performing teams. We discuss:The cost of skipping over appreciationWhy offering and receiving appreciation can be difficult, and what to do about itHow a focus on strengths improves a team's ability to tackle challenges Resources mentioned in the episode:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Overview of the 10 Laws of High-Performance Collaboration⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Use this as a cheat sheet as you follow along with the series or practice the principles with your team ⁠⁠The 7-Step Adjust Protocol⁠⁠: Use this guide to hosting an Adjust conversation with your team, or as a reflection tool for your own review of recent efforts, to identify key learnings that can be applied to your next phase of action.⁠⁠⁠WATCH this episode⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on YouTubeLearn more about Conversant at https://www.conversant.com/ Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn

Law #9: The Law of Accountability - "Accountability is based on well-supported contribution, not obligation, consequences, and punishment"Driving accountability is commonly considered a core capability for effective leadership, and is still a perennial challenge that many leaders have yet to master. This often comes up in a few intertwined ways: holding others accountable without creating fear or resentment, and creating a culture of accountability rather than having to police individuals. In this episode we offer how to thoughtfully design the relationship between individual and team accountability, getting to commitment rather than settling for compliance, and why this design is foundational for high performing teams. We cover: Getting clear on what success looks like and how it will be assessedMaking your implicit thinking and expectations explicitAddressing missteps and disappointments at "Point Easy"Connecting the contribution people uniquely have to give to the results the team is accountable forResources mentioned in the episode:⁠⁠⁠⁠Overview of the 10 Laws of High-Performance Collaboration⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Use this as a cheat sheet as you follow along with the series or practice the principles with your team Point Easy: This graphic is a helpful tool and reference for illustrating the importance of having conversations as soon as we notice a gap in performance or expectations.⁠The 7-Step Adjust Protocol⁠: Use this guide to hosting an Adjust conversation with your team, or as a reflection tool for your own review of recent efforts, to identify key learnings that can be applied to your next phase of action.⁠⁠WATCH this episode⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on YouTubeLearn more about Conversant at https://www.conversant.com/ Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn

Law #8: The Law of Learning - "Learning does not come from experience, it comes from reflecting on experience"High-performing teams and their leaders aren't just great at execution, they're great at knowing when it's time to pause, reflect on what has happened and been done to-date, and gather insights that can refine execution moving forward. Most "after action reviews" (or "Adjust Conversations", as we call them) can feel like a box to check or an occasion to place blame where things have gone wrong. In this episode, we talk about adjustment as an opportunity to appreciate where things are going well, learn from where expectations were not met, and get curious about what opportunities for improvement the experience offers. Making these conversations a habit instills a spirit of learning that energizes future collaboration. It's time to adjust when: Results are better or worse than expectedNew team members or partners are added or are lostCircumstances change significantlyResources mentioned in the episode:⁠⁠⁠Overview of the 10 Laws of High-Performance Collaboration⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Use this as a cheat sheet as you follow along with the series or practice the principles with your team The 7-Step Adjust Protocol: Use this guide to hosting an Adjust conversation with your team, or as a reflection tool for your own review of recent efforts, to identify key learnings that can be applied to your next phase of action.⁠WATCH this episode⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on YouTubeLearn more about Conversant at https://www.conversant.com/ Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn

Law #7: The Law of Resistance - "Where you feel resistance, do research"Influencing and generating alignment with others takes getting curious about their purposes, concerns, and circumstances. All human beings have things they care about, things they worry about, and circumstances they are facing that shape how they show up to a given situation. When we perceive someone is unaware of or opposed to the things we care about, we tend to resist them and their point of view. If someone is resisting you, it's time to (1) refresh your understanding of what matters to them and to you, and (2) get accurate about the stories we are telling ourselves and others. In this episode, we walk through the practical steps that can move a relationship that feels stuck and full of friction to one of understanding, alignment, and mutual respect. Insights from the episode: Resistance is infectious - doubling down on your view is not a helpful strategy for moving the relationship toward alignmentGet curious: What are you for? What are they for? What feels like a threat to those things? Separate facts (things that are mutually observed and all parties would agree on) from explanations (the stories we tell to make sense of our experience)Resources mentioned in the episode:⁠⁠Overview of the 10 Laws of High-Performance Collaboration⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Use this as a cheat sheet as you follow along with the series or practice the principles with your team The Conversation Prep Chart: Use this worksheet to reflect on what matters to you and to those you want to improve alignment with, and reveal an intersection of interest that can drive a new conversation that moves the relationship forward⁠⁠Overview of the Conversation Meter⁠⁠⁠: An essential summary for quick reference on how to utilize the tool ⁠⁠The Bioreactive Styles Assessment⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ WATCH this episode⁠⁠⁠⁠ on YouTubeLearn more about Conversant at https://www.conversant.com/ Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn

Law #6: Inclusion - "Differences + Trust = Brilliance"Inclusion isn't a side initiative - it's a leadership skill that drives performance Collaboration requires not only navigating differences across a team but leveraging them in ways that drive valuable results and fuel future successes. Leaders often express fatigue around inclusion efforts that feel bureaucratic or disconnected from business outcomes, and those that occur as performative (e.g. asking for input without real power-sharing) rather than generative (e.g. co-creating strategy, surfacing dissent, integrating frontline insight into decision-making). Teams that can engage multiple lenses, lived experiences, and cognitive styles make better decisions, faster. This inclusion of various perspectives is especially important when navigating ambiguity or complexity. Harnessing the value of difference requires stewarding an environment of trust, unlocking the full intelligence of a system. Insights from the episode: Over-inclusion and under-inclusion both erode clarity, speed, and trust Valuable inclusion requires clarity of purpose and a high-quality of listening and conversationLeaders who include wisely unlock creativity, commitment, and shared ownershipResources mentioned in the episode:⁠Overview of the 10 Laws of High-Performance Collaboration⁠⁠⁠⁠: Use this as a cheat sheet as you follow along with the series or practice the principles with your team Decision Criteria Chart: Use this chart to map out criteria that can help guide upcoming decision-making conversationsWATCH this episode⁠⁠⁠⁠ on YouTubeLearn more about Conversant at https://www.conversant.com/ Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn

Presence - All improvement begins with what is present Leadership Under Pressure Starts With PresenceLeaders who can attune to their own cognitive, emotional, and physical experience in real-time - without judgement - are better equipped to handle complexity, defuse conflict, and show up with emotional intelligence when it counts most. In this episode, we explore why cultivating presence is foundational to collaboration, resilience, and trust in fast-moving environments.Insights from the episode:Practicing presence unlocks emotional intelligenceNonjudgmental awareness of the current moment fuels clearer decisions, and alignmentToday's challenges - urgency, hybrid and virtual collaboration, dynamic circumstances - call for an unprecedented quality of leadership presence and emotional agilityResources mentioned in the episode:Overview of the 10 Laws of High-Performance Collaboration⁠⁠⁠: Use this as a cheat sheet as you follow along with the series or practice the principles with your team ⁠⁠Overview of the Conversation Meter⁠⁠: An essential summary for quick reference on how to utilize the tool ⁠The Bioreactive Styles Assessment⁠⁠⁠ WATCH this episode⁠⁠⁠ on YouTubeLearn more about Conversant at https://www.conversant.com/ Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn

Law #4: Authenticity - "Pivot to purpose in the face of fear, threat & disappointment"Life, and life at work, bring plenty of opportunities for disruption, especially in the context of our relationships with others. A collaborative effort is bound to surface misalignments, differences of opinion, and competing priorities. Circumstances themselves may knock our plans off course, sending a team into a space of anxiety, fear, and protection. Having a skillset for recovering a sense of purpose and generating focus and alignment where it's missing, even in challenging times, is a critically important leadership skill. In this episode we discuss the 4th Law of Authenticity. Authenticity - an art of listening for shared purpose and cultivating connection - is foundational to high-performance collaboration.Insights from the episode:Emotional agility is a core skill for successful leaders, collaborators, and high-performersConnection is an art of correction, not perfectionThe measure of your honor is the rate of your recovery"The secret to all success is constancy of purpose" - Benjamin DisraeliResources mentioned in the episode: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Overview of the 10 Laws of High-Performance Collaboration⁠⁠: Use this as a cheat sheet as you follow along with the series or practice the principles with your team ⁠Overview of the Conversation Meter⁠: An essential summary for quick reference on how to utilize the tool The Bioreactive Styles Assessment⁠WATCH this episode⁠⁠ on YouTubeLearn more about Conversant at https://www.conversant.com/ Follow us on ⁠⁠LinkedIn

Law #3: The Law of Connection - "The conversations are the work."In today’s complex, fast-moving organizations, leaders are under constant pressure to drive results, manage competing priorities, and keep teams aligned—often across functions, locations, and time zones.This episode of The 10 Laws of High-Performance Collaboration introduces The Law of Connection, and core principles of leadership that are often overlooked: The quality of your team’s conversations determines the quality of your collaboration—and the results you’re able to achieve.We discuss: Why connection and conversation have a direct impact on efficiency, effectiveness, and supervision costsHow to care for the quality of our conversations (hint: this has more to do with how well you listen than what you say)How to care for the timing of your conversations - "What conversation is it time for now?" The importance of developing the ability to notice when things are off track, and the skills that help you restore alignment and trustResources mentioned in the episode: ⁠Overview of the 10 Laws of High-Performance Collaboration⁠: Use this as a cheat sheet as you follow along with the series or practice the principles with your team Overview of the Conversation Meter: An essential summary for quick reference on how to utilize the tool Moving Up the Meter: A handout that guides focus if looking to increase the quality of your conversations and your listening ⁠WATCH this episode⁠ on YouTubeLearn more about Conversant at https://www.conversant.com/ Follow us on ⁠LinkedIn

Law #2: The Law of Listening - "The test for listening is learning."In today’s fast-paced, high-stakes environments, leaders are expected to drive results while fostering alignment, trust, and engagement. But one of the most underleveraged tools in that effort is also one of the most human: listening.This episode introduces the second Law of High-Performance Collaboration: Listening. When leaders listen to learn, they create space for contribution and build the credibility and trust that enables teams to perform at their best. In the episode we discuss: The difference between listening to learn and listening to respond or defendWhy leaders who listen well cultivate trust and psychological safetyWhy learning from others is a powerful act of leadershipFor any leader navigating complexity, change, or growth, this conversation offers practical insight into how a commitment to listening transforms not just communication, but culture.🔔 Subscribe to stay in the loop as new episodes drop📤 Share this video with fellow leaders or your team🎧 Tune in weekly for deep, practical insights that will shift the way you leadResources mentioned in the episode: Overview of the 10 Laws of High-Performance Collaboration: Use this as a cheat sheet as you follow along with the series or practice the principles with your team WATCH this episode on YouTubeLearn more about Conversant at https://www.conversant.com/ Follow us on LinkedIn

Episode 1: The Law of Teamwork — "The Source of Teamwork is a Common Future"What makes a group of people into a team?Not just shared tasks—but a shared future.In this opening episode of The 10 Laws of High-Performance Collaboration, we explore what it takes to cultivate a team that's grounded in shared purpose, common values, and commitments to measurable goals. We also discuss three factors contributing to the strength of your team and their ability to collaborate effectively and efficiently - community, contribution, and choice. Caring for these elements set the foundation for addressing challenges relating to: Generating shared understanding of goalsBuilding trust and psychological safetyClear roles, communication, and conflict normsAccountability and commitmentQuestions to explore with your team:🔹 Given our shared future, where do we need to collaborate? Where don't we have to collaborate?🔹 What is or could be important to each of us personally if we achieve our goals?🔹 With whom must each of us interact to make that happen?🔹 Who benefits if we succeed?🔔 Subscribe to stay in the loop as new episodes drop📤 Share this video with fellow leaders or your team🎧 Tune in weekly for practical insights that will shift the way you leadResources mentioned in the episode: Overview of the 10 Laws of High-Performance Collaboration: Use this as a cheat sheet as you follow along with the series or practice the principles with your teamFinding Intersection WATCH this episode on YouTube: LINKLearn more about Conversant at https://www.conversant.com/ Follow us on LinkedIn

The most powerful tool a leader has? The next conversation.Welcome to the first episode of our new series, The 10 Laws of High-Performance Collaboration—a series designed for leaders at all levels who want to unlock better communication, alignment, and performance in their teams. In this opening episode, we explore what makes collaboration valuable (and what makes it wasteful), the hidden power dynamics in team interactions, and why rethinking how we coordinate might be the key to getting better results—with less friction.Whether you lead a team of five or five hundred, this series is your guide to the human side of leadership, and the universal principles that lead to breakthroughs in collaboration.Resources mentioned in the episode: Overview of the 10 Laws of High-Performance Collaboration: Use this as a cheat sheet as you follow along with the series or practice the principles with your team Overview on Power: A quick reference on the relationship of power to valuable and wasteful expressions of leadership WATCH this episode on YouTubeLearn more about Conversant at https://www.conversant.com/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/conversant

Leaders across industries and geographies are having to learn what it takes to drive progress in dynamic and unpredictable times. In this episode of On Connection, we engage with Ryo Penna, an entrepreneur, facilitator, and "practical philosopher", to explore how conscious leadership can drive systemic prosperity. Drawing from his global experiences and recent research at University College London, Ryo delves into the importance of interpersonal skills, conscious collaboration, and effective listening in fostering systemic change. Learn how these principles can empower leaders to navigate today's complex and dynamic environments. Join us for an insightful discussion on leadership and the transformative power of connection.About Ryo PennaRyo is a combination of entrepreneur and practical philosopher, especially fond of Socrates and Rumi. As challenging as it may sound, he is passionate about illuminating love, compassion, and empathy as skills that are core to any successful business. He likes to design good questions as a powerful tool of transformation. You can watch his TEDx Talk about “The Wisdom of Questions” (English subtitles) on YouTube. Ryo has worked across geographies with corporations such as Unilever, DHL, Motorola, billion-dollar startups, and Amazon Rainforest communities. He co-founded and served as CEO of Grupo Anga&Din4mo, a holding of remote and self-managed companies that vary from consultancies to investing firms. He has spent most of his time working as CEO of Tribo, a consulting firm for organizational culture and conscious leadership. Grupo Anga&Din4mo is also the official publisher of MIT Sloan Review Brazil. Ryo also serves as advisor at Brasil Júnior (Brazil’s biggest university entrepreneurs network, where he also served as president back in college, leading more than 20k students) and Conscious Capitalism Brazil.Ryo's websiteConnect with Ryo on LinkedInUniversity of College London Institute for Global Prosperity

In this episode of On Connection, we sit down with Lenya Quinn-Davidson, Fire Network Director at the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. Lenya shares her insights on the critical role of love and connection in leadership, especially in the context of fire management and community resilience. Her work on beneficial fire practices, community engagement, and her leadership in the Women in Fire Training Exchange program offer valuable lessons on how purpose-driven leadership can address complex challenges. You can learn more about Lenya and her work below: Essay: The Fires California Grieves - And Needs WTREX Program Website University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Fire Network California Prescribed Burn Associations Contact Lenya Lenya Quinn-Davidson Bio Lenya Quinn-Davidson is the Fire Network Director for the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, where she leads a statewide team working on various facets of community and landscape resiliency. Over the last 15 years, Lenya’s work has focused in large part on the human connection with fire, building capacity and support for beneficial fire. Lenya has worked at various scales, including locally with private landowners and community members; at the state level, where she collaborates on policy, research, and training; and nationally/internationally, through her leadership on the Women-in-Fire Training Exchange (WTREX) Program. 

Balancing work and well-being is a constant challenge for many, particularly for leaders who are managing both people and organizational commitments. Well-being easily slips down the priority list when pressing accountabilities come up, and it can feel like a “nice-to-have” rather than a necessity. However, well-being is a critical foundation for productivity, engagement, collaboration, and leadership, and research increasingly shows that when this foundation is lacking, it affects the overall health of the business. In today’s episode, Emma Rose is joined by Conversant consultant and partner Kell Delaney and guest Eleanor Allen. Eleanor is CEO of Catapult for Change, focusing on empowering other leaders and organizations to overcome challenges and ignite innovative ideas that enable success. Having worked across the corporate and nonprofit sectors she brings a practical but whole-hearted perspective to the question of what it takes for businesses and people to thrive. She has recently been working to bring science-based tools to organizations that support workplace experience and peak performance. You can connect with Eleanor and learn more about her work below. Eleanor Allen is a visionary catalyst for positive change, dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for both people and the planet. As a humanist, environmentalist, and versatile force in corporate and nonprofit sectors, she brings a wealth of experience as a CEO, business leader, board member, technical expert, consultant, and professional engineer. Eleanor's impressive career includes leadership roles in various organizations such as CEO of B Lab Global and Water For People, Global Water Leader at Arcadis, and Latin America Water Leader at CH2M (now Jacobs). Her contributions to the engineering profession led to her induction into the National Academy of Engineering in 2020. Through her executive coaching and consulting business, Catapult For Change, Eleanor now focuses on empowering other leaders and organizations to overcome challenges and ignite innovative ideas that enable success. As a Certified Coach and registered Professional Engineer with global experience in over 50 countries, Eleanor is passionate about championing workplace well-being, organizational flourishing, and justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) principles.

In this episode of On Connection, host Robin Anselmi interviews Pedro Zannoni, CEO of Lacoste Latin America. With a rich background in the sporting and fashion goods industries, Pedro has successfully grown global brands in new regions and tackled various leadership challenges. As an ambassador for Diversity and Inclusion at Lacoste, Pedro shares valuable insights on elevating women's leadership and why it matters to have a truly authentic approach to the work of inclusion. Learn more about Pedro through his bio and the links included below: An executive with over 23 years of experience in multinational companies in the sports and fashion industries, Pedro has expertise in sales and brand building. He takes pride in forming and leading high-performance teams and has held leadership positions at companies such as Wilson, PUMA, adidas, Reebok, ASICS, and is currently the CEO of Lacoste Latin America. In this role, he is responsible for leading the strategic direction and operations of one of the most iconic and prestigious brands in the world. Before starting his corporate career, Pedro was a professional tennis player and coach. During this time, he won several national and international titles in various categories, including South American and World Champion titles in 1993, and competed in Grand Slam tournaments at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. He holds a degree in Law, a postgraduate degree in Business Administration, a specialization in General Management from Wharton - University of Pennsylvania, and certification as a Corporate Governance Board Member from IBGC. Follow Pedro on LinkedIn⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠More on Pedro's work and career⁠ Follow Lacoste on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ and ⁠Instagram

Organizations rely on leaders to effectively direct action and inspire collaborative work even when they don't have direct authority over everyone they need to influence. Often, these are leaders a few rungs below senior leadership that are responsible for driving strategic priorities forward, influencing across a matrix, and doing so without relying on title or reporting structure. There are effective strategies for inspiring authentic commitment and engagement even when you can't demand compliance, and it's worthwhile for any leader to learn how to leverage this skillset. In this episode, Robin and Emma Rose are joined by Conversant consultant Roger Henderson to offer practical areas of focus to become an effective and purposeful leader, with or without authority. Now enrolling: The Purposeful Leader program, January 2025 Read: Standing in Purpose to Lead & Collaborate Without Authority

Strategic planning and budget setting are core responsibilities for organizational leaders, yet they often come with unique challenges. These processes rely on a series of crucial conversations that directly impact not only how challenging that process feels, but also the quality of the resulting plans and commitments, ultimately guiding successful execution. In this episode, Robin and Mickey share insights from their experience supporting leadership teams across various industries, as well as from their own leadership journeys. They explore how to design conversations that help answer the essential question: What are we focusing on, and why? Tune in to learn how to make your strategic planning discussions more focused, valuable, and productive. Additional Resources: Power & it's impact on leadership, inclusion & value Challenges of Leadership: Enterprise Leadership