What can the people we’ve lost teach us about who we become? And how do their everyday choices—often unnoticed in the moment—shape our leadership, our values, and the way we show up in the world?

In this heartfelt conversation, Ian Ziskin returns to The Inner Edge to share the deeply personal journey that inspired his new collaborative book, Lives Lost and Leadership Found: Lessons from Special Somebodies. After losing both his brother and his mother only months apart, Ian began reflecting on the lessons they left behind.

As we talk, you’ll likely find your own “special somebodies” coming to mind—the people who shaped you, guided you, or quietly modeled who you wanted to become. Some may be gone. Some may still be here. And all of them leave imprints that matter.

This episode is a warm, reflective invitation to pause, honor, and acknowledge the leadership lessons that come from everyday human beings—not just from CEOs or experts, but from the people who taught us through the way they lived.

In this episode:

✅ How the loss of loved ones sparked Ian’s collaborative book project

✅ Why facing reality is essential for personal and organizational growth

✅ How advocacy, values, and “showing you care” become quiet but powerful forms of leadership

✅ Why the people who shaped us often never knew the impact they had

✅ The cathartic process of writing about a special somebody

✅ How to reflect on your own life lessons and why you should share them with the people who matter now

Resources:

Lives Lost and Leadership Found: Lessons from Special Somebodies by Ian Ziskin 

Connect with Ian:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-ziskin-bb1504/ 

About Janet Ioli:

Janet Ioli is a globally recognized executive advisor, coach, and leadership expert with over 25 years of experience developing leaders in Fortune 100 companies and global organizations.

She created The Inner Edge—a framework, a movement, and a message that flips leadership from mere success performance to presence; from ego to soul. Through her keynotes, podcast, and programs, Janet helps high-achievers find the one thing that changes everything: the mastery within.

Her approach redefines leadership presence—not as polish or tactics, but as the inner steadiness people feel from you and the positive imprint you leave on individuals and organizations.

Chapters for Apple Podcasts

00:00:00 – Lives Lost and Leadership Found

00:04:44 – Lessons From Loss

00:12:23 – Everyday Leadership Models

00:14:41 – Acknowledging Impact

Connect with Janet Ioli:
Website: janetioli.com
Linkedin: Janet Ioli
Instagram: @leadershipcoachjanet

If you want to become more grounded, confident, and aligned with your deeper values in just 21 days, check out Janet Ioli’s book Less Ego, More Soul: A Modern Reinvention Guide for Women.

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Produced by Ideablossoms