Unbound | Conversations Without Limits

With decades of leadership in technology and innovation, Ann Kelleher shares practical strategies for navigating challenging environments, leveraging culture, and building lasting impact whether in global organisations or local communities. From lessons learned growing up on a farm in County Cork to turning around high-stakes operations at Intel, Ann Kelleher delivers actionable wisdom for anyone seeking growth through adversity and going the road less travelled.Join us to explore:Why resilience is a learnable leadership skillThe “Emotional bank account” Risk-taking for career growth and innovationLeading high-stakes change through peopleReverse engineering team performance and cultureBeing a good neighbour The Leadership in Business Series is presented by Live Unbound, a global leader in high-performance coaching, team effectiveness, and culture transformation.Please email stephen@liveunbound.com if you have any questions about what we discussed today.Like this show? Please subscribe and leave us a five-star rating and review. It’s a chance to tell us what you love about the show, and it helps others discover it too. Consider leaving your Instagram handle so we can thank you personally, and feel free to follow ours.

Noella Gabriel, co-founder and Global President of ELEMIS, shares how vision and resilience built a world-leading skincare brand. From West Cork to the world stage, Noella Gabriel’s journey is one of grit and vision. As co-founder and Global President of ELEMIS, she reveals how gut-led decisions, empowered teams and an uncompromising focus on quality built a global beauty brand.She shares how personal adversity shaped her authentic leadership style, which is rooted in resilience, intuition and purpose. This episode is a must-listen for founders and leaders who believe business should be driven by heart as much as by numbers, and who want to build brands that truly last.Join us to explore:Turning adversity into unstoppable driveFrom West Cork roots to global successWhy instinct still outperforms data in leadershipBuilding teams with ownership & accountabilityThe power of uncompromising standardsThe Leadership in Business Series is presented by Live Unbound, a global leader in high-performance coaching, team effectiveness, and culture transformation.Please email stephen@liveunbound.com if you have any questions about what we discussed today.Like this show? Please subscribe and leave us a five-star rating and review. It’s a chance to tell us what you love about the show, and it helps others discover it too. Consider leaving your Instagram handle so we can thank you personally, and feel free to follow ours.

As CEO of one of Ireland’s biggest private employers, Cpl, Lorna Conn takes us inside her journey, from early ambitions and formative experiences to leading a global organisation through radical transformation.She shares candid lessons on resilience and the power of authenticity, giving listeners practical strategies to navigate uncertainty, drive diversity and build high-performing teams that thrive under pressure.Join us to explore:Values-driven Leadership in actionA playbook for leading through transformationBalancing ambition, family life, and vulnerabilityCreating high-performing, psychologically safe teamsEmbracing change with courage and clarityThe Leadership in Business Series is presented by Live Unbound, a global leader in high-performance coaching, team effectiveness, and culture transformation.Please email stephen@liveunbound.com if you have any questions about what we discussed today.Like this show? Please subscribe and leave us a five-star rating and review. It’s a chance to tell us what you love about the show, and it helps others discover it too. Consider leaving your Instagram handle so we can thank you personally, and feel free to follow ours.

Rita McGrath, top global transformation strategist, shares how to spot inflection points, manage risk and futureproof your business in disruption.She isn’t just a Columbia Business School professor – she’s one of the world’s most influential voices on strategy and innovation. Named by Thinkers50 as a top global business thinker, Rita has shaped how leaders everywhere respond to change and disruption.In this episode, she sits down with Stephen McDonnell to tackle the critical question: how do you spot the “inflection points” before they blindside your business? From Kodak’s collapse to Amazon’s rise, Rita unpacks the real stories behind why some companies thrive in disruption while others disappear.Join us to explore:Spotting inflection points before they disruptLessons from Kodak, Fuji and AmazonBuilding innovation portfolios that lastLeadership and culture as change driversPractical tools to execute transformationPlease email stephen@liveunbound.com if you have any questions about what we discussed today.Like this show? Please subscribe and leave us a five-star rating and review. It’s a chance to tell us what you love about the show, and it helps others discover it too. Consider leaving your Instagram handle so we can thank you personally, and feel free to follow ours.

Executive coach Andrea Garfield shows how leaders unlock resilience and impact by addressing root causes, not quick fixes.A pioneer in integral coaching and founder of Awesome Institute, Andrea blends decades of entrepreneurial grit, somatic wisdom and science-backed process to help high-performers, CEOs and C-suite execs become more fully themselves – in all areas of life. Andrea shares her journey from burnout to regenerative leadership, the power of presence and why field-study self-reflection is fuel for sustainable growth.This episode will empower leaders, coaches, entrepreneurs and anyone seeking tangible, lasting change. Expect actionable frameworks for self-coaching and practical ways to lead with both compassion and strength at work and at home.Join us to explore:How root causes beat quick fixesCoaching the whole person, not just the roleEmpathy with boundaries builds strong teamsSetbacks, emotions and the art of self-coachingInsights from coaching Simon Sinek & top leadersPlease email stephen@liveunbound.com if you have any questions about what we discussed today.Like this show? Please subscribe and leave us a five-star rating and review. It’s a chance to tell us what you love about the show, and it helps others discover it too. Consider leaving your Instagram handle so we can thank you personally, and feel free to follow ours.

With over two decades of negotiation experience, including multinational hostage crises and police operations, Matthias Herter shares the power of communication, team dynamics, and inner strength. He candidly discusses lessons from both triumphs and setbacks, showing how doubt and insecurity can fuel performance and growth.Discover the key skills used by elite negotiators, such as active listening, emotional regulation, and authentic connection – and how these can transform relationships, business, and personal leadership.This episode is essential listening for business leaders, team players, and those navigating high-pressure environments who want to build trust, handle conflict, and lead with integrity. Join us to explore:Inside the mind of a crisis negotiatorTurn fear into peak performanceInside the playbook of winning negotiation teamsOvercoming grief and lossNegotiation skills for everyday successPlease email stephen@liveunbound.com if you have any questions about what we discussed today.Like this show? Please subscribe and leave us a five-star rating and review. It’s a chance to tell us what you love about the show, and it helps others discover it too. Consider leaving your Instagram handle so we can thank you personally, and feel free to follow ours.

IMD Professor and author of The First 90 Days, Michael Watkins, joins the show to break down what most leaders get wrong during transitions and how to turn change into growth. Learn about his hard-earned lessons on managing identity in upheaval, leading under pressure, and navigating the rise of AI and rapid disruption. We unpack key insights from his latest book, The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking, and why old ideas of high performance don’t hold up. Whether you’re stepping into a new role, coaching through change, or finding your next move, this episode offers tools to move forward with confidence.Join us to explore:Turning disruption into momentumThe six disciplines essential to strategic thinkingReclaim identity and purpose in the AI eraShift from reactivity to responsivenessPlease email stephen@liveunbound.com if you have any questions about what we discussed today.Like this show? Please subscribe and leave us a five-star rating and review. It’s a chance to tell us what you love about the show, and it helps others discover it too. Consider leaving your Instagram handle so we can thank you personally, and feel free to follow ours.

In this special episode of Unbound, hurling champions Noel Conners (former Waterford captain) and John “Bubbles” O’Dwyer (Tipperary All-Star) join host Stephen McDonnell (former Cork Captain) as they gear up for this weekend’s All-Ireland senior hurling final.Tune in as they unpack Cork’s explosive form, Tipp’s hunger for an upset, and what it takes for defenders to survive against the country’s sharpest forwards. Who will take home the cup? You’ll want to hear their takes!Join us to explore:Honest predictions: All-Ireland Hurling FinalWhy Waterford’s struggling, Tipp’s rising fastSurviving against the country’s sharpest forwardsWhy Munster matches are a different beastWho will take home the cup?Like this show? Please subscribe and leave us a five-star rating and review. It’s a chance to tell us what you love about the show, and it helps others discover it too. Consider leaving your Instagram handle so we can thank you personally, and feel free to follow ours.

How do you push through your toughest days when the pressure is on and it feels like everything is going wrong? Eímear Noone, Irish composer and conductor, shares her approach to overcoming personal challenges while maintaining a high level of performance on stage. She reveals the mindset shift that helps her show up for others, even when she's not feeling her best, and how she navigates the balance between self-compassion and the drive to deliver excellence.Listen to the full episode here: https://www.liveunbound.com/podcasts/28-eimear-noone-irish-culture-mindset-breaking-barriers

In this Unbound Tool, best-selling author and entrepreneur Patrick Sweeney shares his journey of battling a rare form of leukaemia, using mental performance techniques from the Olympic Training Centre.As doctors collaborated with a Penn State expert, Patrick harnessed visualisation to strengthen his mind and body, picturing his cells as warriors fighting the disease. With the support of friends, including a local priest, and an unwavering focus on recovery, Patrick's story highlights the power of mental imagery and positive self-talk in overcoming adversity.Listen to the full episode here: https://www.liveunbound.com/podcasts/living-with-no-limits

What happens when technology takes the place of real-world interactions? In this Unbound Tool, Sarah McKay reveals the impact of digital life on our well-being, touching on everything from social media addiction to the loss of authentic communication. As our reliance on virtual connections grows, Sarah warns of the mental health consequences and the decline of meaningful face-to-face relationships.Check the full episode here: https://www.liveunbound.com/podcasts/27-neuroscience-managing-tech-consumption-digital-overload

Robin Dunbar, a renowned anthropologist and evolutionary psychologist, delves into human connection and the evolution of social structures. He is widely known for devising "Dunbar’s Number," which explores how early life in culturally diverse environments shaped his understanding of the social complexities in monkeys, apes, and humans.From his groundbreaking studies on sociability in primates to human evolution, Robin illuminates the parallels between our primate cousins and contemporary human society, revealing how these insights contribute to our understanding of relationships today. Join us to explore:Human vs. primate social structuresDunbar’s Number and its SignificanceEndorphins, bonding, and social successThe 7 Pillars of FriendshipEvolution’s role in future socialisationPlease email stephen@liveunbound.com if you have any questions about what we discussed today.Like this show? Please subscribe and leave us a five-star rating and review. It’s a chance to tell us what you love about the show, and it helps others discover it too. Consider leaving your Instagram handle so we can thank you personally, and feel free to follow ours.