Innovating Leadership: Co-Creating Our Future

Disruptions are transforming business — but the real leadership challenge is psychological, not technical. In this episode, Christopher Washington explains why change fails when leaders focus on strategy but ignore narrative, and how losing our identities is causing AI resistance in the workplace.

Guest: Helle Bank Jørgensen, Global Managing Director of Board Intelligence What happens when global leaders gather at Davos amid rising geopolitical tension, collapsing trust, and compounding global risk? In this episode, host Maureen Metcalf is joined by Helle Bank Jørgensen, a global pioneer in board effectiveness and a leading voice on governance, risk, and sustainability. Fresh from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Helle shares firsthand insights into what felt different this year, and why leaders should be paying close attention. Together, they explore the growing sense of fear and uncertainty shaping global decision-making, the World Economic Forum’s global risk outlook, and why today’s most dangerous challenges are no longer isolated, but stacked and interconnected. From geopolitical instability and misinformation to climate risk, trust erosion, and AI-driven disruption, this conversation examines what boards and executive teams must do differently to run companies and other organizations effectively in a volatile world. The discussion also draws on recent Board Intelligence survey findings, revealing that many boards believe they are leaving significant value on the table, even as they see traditional governance models are struggling to keep pace with the realities leaders now face. This episode is a candid, forward-looking exploration of: Why global risk is compounding rather than occurring in silos How fear, polarization, and trust collapse are reshaping leadership What boards must do to move from oversight to foresight Why waiting for perfect information is no longer a viable strategy, and How leaders can prepare organizations—and society—for what lies ahead. For board members, senior executives, and leaders responsible for long-term value creation, this conversation offers critical perspective on what leadership requires now, and what the next decade may demand of us all. Binge-listen to Helle’s wisdom with these other episodes: - How to Keep the Boardroom Stable in Turbulent Times - The Future-Ready Board Member - Stewarding the Future of the Planet: Views from the Boardroom For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. RESOURCES: Learn more about Helle’s company at https://www.boardintelligence.com/. Read her insights on her blogs at https://www.boardintelligence.com/blog/author/helle-bank-jorgensen. Her book, The Future Boardroom: How to Transform in Turbulent Times, is available in hardback at https://amzn.to/4tb73rx or Kindle at https://amzn.to/3M0MKMM. Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here. Maureen’s latest book is Innovative Leadership & Followership in the Age of AI. You’ll find details about it at https://bit.ly/LeaderInAI, or check out the Kindle version at https://amzn.to/44buVz8. The audiobook version is now available at https://amzn.to/4dTCleZ. Her other 10 books are available on Amazon here. ----------------------- OUR PODCAST TEAM: Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf Editor & Executive Producer: Dan Mushalko Graphics Editor: Stacia Rogan Sponsorship Sales Manager: Kristine Gross (Kgross@innovativeleadership.com) Theme Music by Pavel Bekirov from Pixabay. CONNECT WITH US: YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2 Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating! ----------------------- About Our Guest: Helle Bank Jørgensen is an internationally recognised voice on governance, board effectiveness, and sustainability. She leads Board Intelligence’s Board Development practice globally, empowering boards and leadership teams around the world to enhance their impact through the science of board effectiveness. Helle is the founder and previous CEO of Competent Boards, the world-renowned education platform which was acquired by Board Intelligence in 2025. Beyond her work with Competent Boards and Boa

Guest: Robert Bush, Jr., CEO, Mutombo Coffee Volatility is no longer cyclical. It’s structural. That’s one takeaway from Davos. In this episode, Maureen Metcalf speaks with global strategist, board advisor, and CEO Bob Bush Jr. about what leadership looks like when stability is no longer a realistic planning assumption. Drawing on insights from Davos, global operating models, and lived experience building businesses through disruption, Bob challenges leaders to move beyond prediction and toward preparedness. This conversation explores why foresight matters more than forecasting, how optionality becomes a strategic discipline, and why orchestration (not optimization) is the defining leadership capability of our time. Leaders will gain practical ways to distinguish real risk from noise, rethink resilience as a growth driver, and operate effectively inside evolving global ecosystems. If your best plans keep breaking, this episode offers a clearer way forward. Other episodes you'll enjoy: - More than Experience, More than Degrees: Leaders Need More Values with George Limbert - The End of Control: Leadership Trends for 2026 with Christopher Washington - Leading Smart Cities: Transforming Work & Life with Nikki Greenberg & Ugo Valenti For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. RESOURCES: Learn more about Bob’s company at https://www.mutombocoffee.com/. Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here. Maureen’s latest book is Innovative Leadership & Followership in the Age of AI. You’ll find details about it at https://bit.ly/LeaderInAI, or check out the Kindle version at https://amzn.to/44buVz8. The audiobook version is now available at https://amzn.to/4dTCleZ. Her other 10 books are available on Amazon here. ----------------------- OUR PODCAST TEAM: Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf Editor & Executive Producer: Dan Mushalko Graphics Editor: Stacia Rogan Sponsorship Sales Manager: Kristine Gross (Kgross@innovativeleadership.com) Theme Music by Pavel Bekirov from Pixabay. CONNECT WITH US: YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2 Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating! ----------------------- About Our Guest: Robert Bush, Jr., is the president and CEO of Mutombo Coffee, a purpose-driven company elevating women coffee farmers. He’s a senior investment executive with experience across industries, geographies, and asset classes (venture capital, private equity, Islamic Finance). Bob speaks frequently to corporates and governments on issues related to innovation, social impact, sustainability, global investing, and international trade. He also provides commentary on international media, including Bloomberg, CNN International, Euromoney, and Fox Business News, as well as speaking at global conferences, including the UAE’s Annual Investment Meeting (AIM), Milken Conference, Institutional Investor, Business Week CEO Forum, and GAIM.

Guest: George Limbert, former President, Red Roof Inns In this time defined by AI disruption, post-COVID workforce tension, and growing leadership fatigue, trust has become the most critical (and most fragile) asset leaders hold. In this episode, George Limbert, new president of Innovative Executive Solutions, joins host Maureen Metcalf to explore why modern leadership is no longer about control, certainty, or rigid playbooks. It’s about judgment, humility, and doing the right thing, even when it’s hard. Drawing on his experience as a CEO, attorney, and advisor across industries, George unpacks: Why many leadership challenges today are actually trust failures How judicial temperament helps leaders make better decisions under pressure The difference between what’s legally safe and what’s ethically right Why return-to-office and AI debates often reveal management gaps, not employee problems How leaders can find their “North Star” amid career transitions and uncertainty. This conversation is for experienced leaders who aren’t looking for shortcuts, but for coherence, integrity, and leadership that holds up over time. Binge-listen to George’s other episodes: Leading with Character: A Real-Life Red Roof Report Red Roof: Revisioning the Future Expecting the Unexpected: VUCA in Action at Red Roof For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. We’re onTikTok, Threads, and Twitter, too! RESOURCES: Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here. Maureen’s latest book is Innovative Leadership & Followership in the Age of AI. You’ll find details about it at https://bit.ly/LeaderInAI, or check out the Kindle version at https://amzn.to/44buVz8. The audiobook version is now available at https://amzn.to/4dTCleZ. Her other 10 books are available on Amazon here. ----------------------- OUR PODCAST TEAM: Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf Editor & Executive Producer: Dan Mushalko Graphics Editor: Stacia Rogan Sponsorship Sales Manager: Kristine Gross (Kgross@innovativeleadership.com) Theme Music by Pavel Bekirov from Pixabay. CONNECT WITH US: YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2 Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating! ----------------------- About Our Guest: George B. Limbert is a visionary executive and transformational leader with a proven track record of driving organizational growth and operational excellence. As President of ILI’s Innovative Executive Solutions, George partners directly with boards and executive teams to accelerate strategic transformation, deliver measurable performance, and implement world-class leadership frameworks. George’s executive leadership is distinguished by his tenure as President and CEO of Red Roof Franchising, where he led a dramatic financial turnaround, tripling EBITDA in just 12 months during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. He has built scalable infrastructure and operational processes for multi-million-dollar organizations, consistently delivering results in complex, challenging environments.

Guest: Christopher Washington, Provost Emeritus As we look ahead to 2026, one truth is becoming impossible to ignore: the leadership models that built today’s organizations are no longer sufficient for the world we’re entering. In this annual trends conversation, Maureen Metcalf, our usual host, is interviewed by Christopher Washington, Provost Emeritus of Franklin University, to explore the deeper forces reshaping leadership in the coming year…from AI fluency and human-centered leadership to agility, sustainability, and organizational cohesion. What emerges is a unifying insight: power is no longer the primary currency of effective leadership. Together, they examine: Why AI is forcing leaders to rethink how they make decisions How human energy, not time or talent, has become the scarcest resource Why agility is about disciplined adaptation, not speed, and Why leaders must act as unifiers in an increasingly fragmented world. This episode is not about trends as tactics. It’s about the evolution of leadership itself, and what it takes to lead without breaking people, organizations, or yourself. If you’re a senior leader sensing that “business as usual” no longer works (but unsure what replaces it), this conversation offers the clarity, language, and direction you need now. Other episodes you'll enjoy: - Leading When We’ve Stopped Thinking: AI’s Red Flag with Srini Koushik - When Women Lead: Courage, Change, & Representation with Congressperson Joyce Beatty - To Stop a Tyrant: The Power of Followers with Ira Chaleff For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. RESOURCES: You can read Christopher’s columns for Forbes’ Nonprofit Council at https://bit.ly/ChrisOnForbes. To learn more about what Christopher and the rest of ILI’s special Executive Solutions team offer, check https://bit.ly/ExecutiveSolutions. Maureen’s article detailing the trends discussed in this episode is available through the Forbes Coaches Council at https://bit.ly/ForbesSixTrends. The free leadership mindsets assessment she offers is at https://bit.ly/Leadership-7. Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here. Maureen’s latest book is Innovative Leadership & Followership in the Age of AI. You’ll find details about it at https://bit.ly/LeaderInAI, or check out the Kindle version at https://amzn.to/44buVz8. The audiobook version is now available at https://amzn.to/4dTCleZ. Her other 10 books are available on Amazon here. ----------------------- OUR PODCAST TEAM: Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf Editor & Executive Producer: Dan Mushalko Graphics Editor: Stacia Rogan Booking Producer: Jenna Reik Sponsorship Sales Manager: Kristine Gross Theme Music by Pavel Bekirov from Pixabay. CONNECT WITH US: YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2 Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating! ----------------------- About Our Guest: Dr. Christopher Washington is a strategic leader, systems thinker, and seasoned academic executive with over three decades of experience strengthening nonprofit and educational organizations. Before joining ILI’s new Innovative Executive Solutions team, he was Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at Franklin University. He’s also a long-standing contributor to the Forbes Nonprofit Council. He previously served as CEO of Urbana University and has held leadership roles on numerous national and international nonprofit boards. Christopher has dedicated his career to helping mission-driven institutions build adaptive, high-performing systems. His work integrates resilience, organizational systems design, innovative leadership practice, and human performance and work process transformation to help leaders navigate complexity and build thriving cultures.

Guest: Doug McCollough, CEO of Color Coded Labs What does leadership require once you have real influence? Then how do you attract top talent to your team? In this episode, Maureen Metcalf is joined by Doug McCullough, a senior technology leader working across smart cities, workforce development, and community-based talent pipelines.Their conversation moves beyond surface-level discussions of diversity and inclusion to examine leadership as a system. Together, they explore how power changes obligation, why many talent pipelines remain broken despite high demand, and what it means for leaders to “get out of the room.” You’ll learn: How the power dynamic in hiring has changed The role of reputation, sponsorship, and presence in attracting and developing talent How leaders can extend influence beyond their organizations What senior leaders inherit—and reinforce—when they don’t intervene. This is a candid, practical conversation for leaders thinking seriously about talent, succession, and the long-term impact of their leadership. Other episodes you'll enjoy: - Self-Awareness: The #1 Predictor of Leadership Success with Belinda Gore - When Women Lead: Courage, Change, & Representation with Congressperson Joyce Beatty - What’s the Point? Why Your Leadership Needs Purpose with Ryan Gottfredson For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. RESOURCES: For more on Doug’s organization, Color Coded Labs, check their website at https://www.colorcodedlabs.com/. The interview Doug referenced which featured Joyce Beatty is on Podbean at https://innovatingleadership.podbean.com/e/joycebeatty/. Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here. Maureen’s latest book is Innovative Leadership & Followership in the Age of AI. You’ll find details about it at https://bit.ly/LeaderInAI, or check out the Kindle version at https://amzn.to/44buVz8 . The audiobook version is now available at https://amzn.to/4dTCleZ. Her other 10 books are available on Amazon here. ----------------------- OUR PODCAST TEAM: Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf Editor & Executive Producer: Dan Mushalko Graphics Editor: Stacia Rogan Sponsorship Sales: Kristine Gross Theme Music by Pavel Bekirov from Pixabay. CONNECT WITH US: YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2 Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating! ----------------------- About Our Guest: Doug McCollough has established himself as an advocate for diversity in technology. With over 20 years in technical and leadership roles in state government, Smart Cities, and nonprofits, Doug now serves as CEO of coding bootcamp Color Coded Labs and Executive Director of The Beta District, where he is a thought leader on initiatives as varied as smart mobility, broadband expansion, and blockchain in government. As a cofounder of Black Tech Columbus, he is passionate about extending the many opportunities of the technology industry to the pool of under-tapped talent sitting under our noses.

Guest: Joyce Beatty, U.S. Congresswoman Joyce Beatty joins host Maureen Metcalf for a powerful conversation on leadership, resilience, and advancing equity in a rapidly changing world. From growing up in segregated America to becoming an influential voice in Congress, Beatty shares the defining moments that shaped her leadership, including navigating bias, breaking barriers, and pushing for systemic change across government, finance, and education. Those inspiring moments provide lessons for women leaders today. Her candid stories of adversity and triumph include: How early experiences with discrimination fueled her commitment to justice What it felt like to be the only woman in rooms of power The behind-the-scenes story of how “When women succeed, America succeeds” made its way into a State of the Union address Why visibility, mentorship, and representation remain essential for the next generation of women leaders. Beatty’s insights offer both inspiration and practical guidance for anyone navigating leadership challenges today. Her message is clear: your story, your courage, and your persistence can change communities…and even change a country. Other episodes you'll enjoy: - Self-Awareness: The #1 Predictor of Leadership Success with Belinda Gore - From Stress to Strength: How to Rewire Your Brain for Resilience with Jon Wortmann - How Inner Work Transforms Your Leadership with Jonathan Reams For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. RESOURCES: Learn more about Congresswoman Beatty on her website: https://beatty.house.gov/. Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here. Maureen’s latest book is Innovative Leadership & Followership in the Age of AI. You’ll find details about it at https://bit.ly/LeaderInAI, or check out the Kindle version at https://amzn.to/44buVz8 . The audiobook version is now available at https://amzn.to/4dTCleZ. Her other 10 books are available on Amazon here. ----------------------- OUR PODCAST TEAM: Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf Editor & Executive Producer: Dan Mushalko Graphics Editor: Stacia Rogan Sponsorship Sales: Kristine Gross Theme Music by Pavel Bekirov from Pixabay. CONNECT WITH US: YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2 Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating! ----------------------- About Our Guest: Congresswoman Joyce Beatty is a native Ohioan with a strong history of connecting people, policy, and politics to make a difference. Since 2013, Beatty has proudly represented Ohio’s Third Congressional District. Prior to her service in the U.S. House of Representatives, Beatty was senior vice president of outreach and engagement at The Ohio State University and a member of the Ohio House of Representatives for five terms. Beatty received her Bachelor of Arts from Central State University, her Master of Science from Wright State University, and completed all requirements but her dissertation for a doctorate at the University of Cincinnati. In addition, she has been awarded honorary doctorate degrees from Ohio Dominican University, Central State University, Capital University, and The Ohio State University.

Guest: Belinda Gore, PhD Your leadership style affects everything: your decisions, your culture, your team, your impact.But most leaders operate on autopilot, unaware of the unconscious patterns shaping their choices. In this conversation, host Maureen Metcalf talks with psychologist and Enneagram expert Belinda Gore about the importance of self-awareness, the nine leadership personality types, and how knowing yours can dramatically upgrade how you lead. Here's what Belinda and Maureen cover: Why self-awareness is the strongest predictor of leadership success; How your personality type impacts your team and strategy; and The nine Enneagram leadership styles (and their blind spots)! Other episodes you'll enjoy: - How Inner Work Transforms Your Leadership: Tools for Growth with Jonathan Reams - Bringing Clarity to Confusion: Self-Awareness with Terri O’Fallon & Kim Barta - To Stop a Tyrant: How 5 Types of Followers Make (or Brake) a Toxic Leader with Ira Chaleff For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. RESOURCES: Learn more about Belinda and her Enneagram work at https://belindagore.com/. Belinda also has a book offering a deeper understanding of personality types, Finding Freedom: Understanding Our Relationships Using Object Relations and the Enneagram. It’s available in paperback at https://amzn.to/4r5AXwh. Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here. Maureen’s latest book is Innovative Leadership & Followership in the Age of AI. You’ll find details about it at https://bit.ly/LeaderInAI, or check out the Kindle version at https://amzn.to/44buVz8. The audiobook version is now available at https://amzn.to/4dTCleZ. Her other 10 books are available on Amazon here. ----------------------- OUR PODCAST TEAM: Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf Editor & Executive Producer: Dan Mushalko Graphics Editor: Stacia Rogan Theme Music by Pavel Bekirov from Pixabay. Sponsorship Manager: Kristine Gross CONNECT WITH US: YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2 Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating! ----------------------- About Our Guest: Belinda is an inspired teacher, author, artist and psychologist. A native of Ohio, Belinda attended university in Columbus, Ohio, and was also a student and later a staff member with World Campus Afloat, a shipboard university that traveled to Asia, Africa, and southern Europe. H In affiliation with The Enneagram Institute,Belinda founded The Enneagram Institute of Central Ohio (EICO) in 2000 to train professionals in the use of the Enneagram system for facilitating personal and professional development. Today she is recognized as a leader in using the Enneagram in coaching. In 2021, Belinda and Marcus Boroughs founded The Great Circle Alliance, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to offer public programs and exhibits to raise awareness of the ancient monumental indigenous sites of Ohio. Their work includes a residency for contemporary Native artists to bring an indigenous presence back to the once vibrant sophisticated culture who created these monuments.