Connecting Is Not Enough - The Networking Radio Show

In this episode of Connected Leadership Bytes, we go back to the archive to revisit a conversation with human potential expert Nikki Bush who joined Andy Lopata to explore the challenges and opportunities of leading in a hybrid world. Nikki highlights how leaders often fall into the trap of over-scheduling meetings, leading to burnout and reduced productivity. She emphasises the importance of high-touch leadership—deep listening, emotional presence, and building trust through intentional one-on-one conversations. Their discussion also touches on the rise in micromanagement post-pandemic, driven by fear and uncertainty, and how slowing down, asking better questions, and creating space can transform team dynamics. Nikki advocates for separating social and process-based meetings, using flexible communication tools, and maintaining emotional connection in virtual environments. She also stresses the value of in-person gatherings to rebuild trust and alignment within teams. Nikki’s insights show that hybrid le

In this episode of Connected Leadership Bytes, Andy Lopata looks back at his podcast episode with Neil Wilkie, a former successful businessman turned psychotherapist and relationship coach. Neil shares his journey from chasing financial success to prioritising purpose after realising material achievements left him unfulfilled. He introduces his Relationship Paradigm, a framework identifying six elements for thriving relationships: communication, connection, commitment, fun, growth, and trust. These principles apply equally to personal and professional dynamics, with Neil emphasising that relationships shape organisational culture, which drives sustainable success. Andy and Neil discuss overcoming communication breakdowns through clarity and active listening, balancing authenticity with positivity as a leader, and nurturing trust through vulnerability and conflict resolution. Neil also addresses challenges in virtual environments like Zoom, advocating for phone calls to deepen connection. He stresses the

In this episode of the Connected Leadership Podcast, Andy Lopata welcomes Rory Murray, Rory has more than 25 years’ experience across Europe, Middle East, Africa, plus the US, Canada and India.  He has worked with some of the world's largest companies, delivering change and transformation projects in multiple sectors including Government, Telecoms, Power, Internet, Oil and Gas. Andy and Rory explore the critical role of relationship-building in leading successful projects. Rory shares insights from his work across sectors and highlights how neglecting stakeholder dynamics often leads to project failure. He emphasises that projects aren’t just about systems or processes; they’re about people. When organisations rush to implement changes without consulting frontline employees, resistance and attrition follow. Rory stresses the importance of stakeholder mapping, active listening, and understanding the “why” behind resistance to align project goals with individual and team needs. Drawing on real-world examples

In this episode of Connected Leadership Bytes, Andy Lopata talks to Jodie Rogers, founder of Symbia and author of The Hidden Edge. With two decades of expertise in human behaviour, Jodie shares how leaders can navigate uncertainty and build emotionally intelligent, agile teams. She emphasises the value of emotional and social intelligence, strong professional relationships and mental fitness in driving performance and resilience.   “The Edge” is Symbia’s practical, low-cost program designed to help teams develop key skills like focus, prioritisation and stress management. Jodie explains how their benchmarking tool measures progress and impact across organisations like Unilever, Johnson & Johnson, and L'Oréal. The episode highlights the growing importance of mental well-being and proactive development in today’s fast-changing work environment. Jodie’s insights offer leaders a practical path to foster empowerment, engagement, and adaptability in their teams while preparing for the challenges of tomorrow. Key

Welcome to another exciting episode of Connected Leadership Bytes, where we are exploring the future of work, the role of leadership in navigating these changes, and how to seize future opportunities instead of fearing them. Our guest this week is PwC's Global Workforce Leader, Peter Brown. Pete leads a team of over 10,000 professionals supporting businesses with their workforce challenges. He has over 25 years of global experience advising clients around a number of workforce disciplines. He also sponsors PwC’s Global Centre for Transformative Leadership. Andy revisits his podcast episode with Peter, and they consider how the pace of change in our workplace is accelerating, shaped by phenomena such as social media and AI’s rapid evolution. Peter shares how platforms like TikTok and Gen AI amassed an unprecedented number of users within months of launching, pointing to a speedier, high-tech future. Andy also explores with Peter the impact of global macro trends like climate change and disruptive technologie

In this episode of Connected Leadership Bytes, Andy Lopata revisits his interviews with Jennifer Sundberg, Co-CEO of Board Intelligence and author of Collective Intelligence: Build a Business That's Smarter Than You. Jennifer advocates for leveraging the collective brainpower of teams rather than relying solely on superstar leaders. She sites examples from Apple and Amazon, where groundbreaking ideas like the iPhone and Amazon Prime emerged from teams, not just their iconic founders. Andy and Jennifer discuss cultures of humility, curiosity and open questioning to foster innovation. Leaders must recognise they don’t have all the answers and encourage contributions without fear of criticism. Over-reliance on top-down decision-making can slow progress and waste intellectual potential. Jennifer also explores reverse mentoring, learning from failure, and the power of asking “how” and “why” questions to drive deeper understanding. The episode underscores the importance of clear communication, shared critical thi

In this episode of the Connected Leadership Podcast, Andy Lopata welcomes Sri Chellappa, President and Co-Founder of Engagedly, a performance management software company, and also a passionate entrepreneur, filmmaker, musician, and people leader. He is the host of "The People Strategy Leaders" podcast, discussing the concept of ikigai and its application in creating meaningful workplaces. Ikigai, a Japanese philosophy is centred on finding purpose and can be adapted for organisational use. Sri outlines the interaction of skills, desires, and organisational goals, forming what he calls the "blue zone" where individuals find fulfillment and contribute effectively. Andy and Sri look at the importance of workplace culture, emphasising that even if an individual aligns with the first three circles (skills, desires, and goals), a toxic culture can hinder success. Sri introduces the idea of a fourth circle—engagement and culture—that encompasses all the others, ensuring alignment between personal and organisational

In this episode of Connected Leadership Bytes, Andy Lopata revisits his conversation with Lawrence Krubner, author of One to One Meetings are Underrated, Group Meetings are a Waste of Time. Lawrence, a seasoned CTO and fractional CTO for startups, shares his expertise on the inefficiencies of large meetings and advocates for more focused, smaller interactions. Excessive meetings cost the U.S. economy $3 trillion annually, and Lawrence emphasises that large gatherings often lead to wasted time and disengaged participants.    Lawrence also argues that one-on-one meetings are the most effective for communication, problem-solving, and building relationships, contrasting them with larger meetings which can become inefficient unless strategically managed. Andy and Lawrence discuss where there are advantages to larger meetings in terms of developing professional relationships. Lawrence provides practical advice on declining unnecessary meetings and adapting communication styles to different personality types, partic

In this episode of Connected Leadership Bytes, Andy Lopata revisits his conversation with Daniela Landher, a former head of talent engagement at Google and now an executive coach specialising in psychological safety at work. They discuss the importance of embracing failure as a means to foster innovation and growth within organisations. Daniela shares insights on creating psychologically safe environments where employees feel comfortable discussing mistakes without fear of repercussions. The conversation touches on concepts like "fail fests," where teams openly discuss project failures to learn from them, and the idea of "failing fast" to encourage rapid learning and adaptation. Daniela also highlights the role of leadership in showing personal vulnerability and openness about their mistakes, thereby setting the tone for the entire organisation. Andy and Daniela explore how traditional educational systems and corporate cultures often inhibit this mindset, emphasising the need for a cultural shift towards ac

  Welcome back to another episode of the Connected Leadership Podcast. Today’s episode is a little special. We’re part of Podcaston, an awesome initiative where over 1,600 podcasters come together to support incredible causes. For me, this hits close to home because I’ve had the privilege of working with one of those causes—The Fiorentini Foundation—as both a trustee and currently as an ambassador.   Joining me is Anna Fiorentini, the founder of the Anna Fiorentini Film and Theatre School and its charitable arm, The Fiorentini Foundation. Anna started her school 24 years ago in inner-city London to give kids aged 4–18 access to drama, singing, dance, and film training. And here’s the kicker—no child gets turned away because of money issues. They make it work through profits from adult classes (Stage in the City) and corporate team-building events like creating a musical in an afternoon (how cool is that?).   Anna’s mission goes beyond just teaching performing arts. It’s about building confidence, creativity

In this episode of Connected Leadership Bytes host Andy Lopata talks to Frank Agin, a connector and founder of AM Business Connections, about building meaningful relationships and networking with impact. They explore the dual meaning of "connection"—both as human bonding and strategic engagement. Frank emphasises shifting from a transactional mindset ("What can I get?") to a relational one ("What can I give?"), stressing that trust and empathy are foundational. He shares the three reasons people fail to secure referrals: lack of relationship depth, inability to recognise opportunities, and hesitation to engage in meaningful dialogue. Andy and Frank highlight storytelling as a tool to foster connection, using relatable anecdotes to bridge gaps and build rapport. Frank concludes with a powerful metaphor from anthropologist Margaret Mead: a healed femur symbolises humanity’s innate instinct to care for one another, reinforcing that survival and success depend on mutual support. Key Takeaways: 1. Relationshi

In this episode of the Connected Leadership Podcast, Andy welcomes Amy Rowlinson, Shining a light on what is possible when you focus on ‘why’, Amy Rowlinson empowers people to forge their own path to create a purposeful, sustainable and fulfilling way of life. As a life purpose coach, podcast strategist and podcaster, Amy's mission is to gift a living legacy of inspiration, insight and knowledge. On her podcast, Focus on WHY, Amy provides uplifting and relatable conversations designed to inspire listeners to take purposeful action. Andy and Amy discuss Amy's recent project—a book co-authored with her late grandfather, George Kerr. This unique collaboration was born out of imagined conversations; using George's letters; war diaries,and even an interview Amy conducted with him at age 15. Amy reflects on how imposter syndrome initially held her back from writing the book, until she learnt to embrace vulnerability and authenticity. This shift allowed her to overcome self-doubt and recognise the importance of sh

Andy Lopata revisits his interview with Charlotte Kemp in this episode of the Connected Leadership Bytes. Charlotte is a Futures Alchemist and international keynote speaker and shares her insights into futures thinking, distinguishing between trends and fads, and how leaders can prepare for an uncertain future. Key Takeaways:  1. Understanding Futures Thinking: Charlotte explains that everyone is a natural futurist, because we all plan for the future in some way. However, becoming more intentional and conscious about futures thinking allows us to better anticipate changes and respond strategically. This involves gathering intelligence, managing change, describing potential futures, and testing strategies. 2. Trends vs. Fads: Charlotte highlights the importance of recognising the difference between long-term trends and short-term fads. Trends grow gradually, while fads appear suddenly and fade quickly. She advises scanning headlines from diverse sources to identify patterns that signal emerging trends. 3. Col

In this episode of Connected Leadership Bytes, Andy Lopata welcomes Rebecca Morgan, a renowned author and leadership expert, to investigate the concept of psychological safety in the workplace. Rebecca shares insights from her extensive research on Silicon Valley's highest-performing companies, emphasising that psychological safety is crucial for fostering innovation and collaboration. Rebecca explains psychological safety as an individual's perception that their team is safe for risk-taking, where one can voice differing opinions without fear of repercussions. It is about creating a climate of interpersonal trust and mutual respect. Rebecca highlights the importance of disagreeing agreeably and phrasing counter-opinions thoughtfully to ensure they are well-received.   She also addresses the challenge of accommodating diverse personality styles within teams, suggesting techniques like 'raising hands' or using a 'talking ball' to ensure introverts have equal airtime. Rebecca stresses the balance needed betwe

Welcome to the Connected Leadership podcast with Andy Lopata. This week, Andy looks back at his interview with former radio broadcaster and inspirational speaker, Simone Heng, author of the book Secret Pandemic: The Search for Connection in a Lonely World. Simone shares with Andy, the importance of human connection and how it affects our leadership and personal development. Simone talks about her experiences being both the critic and the criticised. She examines the importance of being vulnerable as a leader and how accountability plays an important part in leadership. She shares her belief that it is okay to have moments of overwhelm, and provided there are apologies to those affected, it is ok to not be together all the time. Simone shares the science around the need for human connection emphasising that a level of human connection is essential for both mental and physical wellbeing. She discusses how many are digitally connected yet emotionally disconnected. Key Takeaways ·       Vulnerability is the ke

In this episode of the Connected Leadership Podcast, host Andy Lopata welcomes Greg Williams, ‘The Master Negotiator & Body Language Expert.’  With 30+ years of experience, Greg has trained and consulted in 19 countries, helping people enhance their value and get more from every negotiation. A Harvard-trained negotiator, cited by Forbes, and ranked among the world's top 30 gurus in negotiation and body language, he's a celebrated author, speaker, and trainer. Greg's insights come from a wealth of experience, including advising top 50 corporations, contributing to major news networks, and even consulting on the TV show Love & Hip Hop New York. As a member of Marshall Goldsmith's 100 Coaches, Greg's expertise is trusted by world leaders and public figures, and he lives by the motto: 'You're always negotiating!'” Greg shares his expertise on how to effectively read and utilise body language during negotiations. He highlights the importance of establishing a baseline for an individual's nonverbal communication i

In this episode of the Connected Leadership Bytes, Andy Lopata looks back at his interview with Kevin Gaskell, serial entrepreneur, author, and adventurer. Kevin discusses his record-breaking row across the Atlantic, focusing on the lessons learnt that are applicable to business, particularly how smaller businesses can compete with larger giants. Kevin shares how his initial reluctance to row transformed into a world-record attempt, driven by a serendipitous conversation and the desire to explore new challenges. He emphasises the critical importance of team chemistry over paper qualifications, noting how a strong bond and mutual trust were paramount to their success. Kevin highlights the balance between encouraging people to stretch and respecting their boundaries. He emphasises creating a vision of success that inspires rather than imposing targets. He describes their intense preparation, including a rigorous training regime and specialised courses. He reveals how they managed the grueling demands of the ra

In this episode of Connected Leadership Bytes, Andy Lopata revisits the episode with LaTonya Kilpatrick, Worldwide Director of Technology Research and Innovation at Colgate Palmolive. LaTonya, a chemist by training, discusses the critical role of strong partnerships, both internal and external, in her work to develop better oral care solutions. She emphasises that effective partnerships begin with understanding each party's motivations, curiosity, and what they can gain from collaboration. LaTonya describes how her team often partners with external academics for data analysis or with companies that need help navigating oral care regulations and metrics. She also highlights internal partnerships with product development and IT teams to bring ideas to fruition. She explains that the decision to build a competency or partner depends on project needs and whether the partnership is a long-term investment for the company. A major challenge lies in bridging the communication gap between different departments (e.g.

In this episode of Connected Leadership Bytes, Andy Lopata revisits his interview with Michael Roderick, host of the "Access to Anyone" podcast, exploring the dynamics of recommendations and referrals. Michael, who transitioned from a high school teacher to a Broadway producer, shares his insights on how to build a personal brand that encourages people to recommend you. Andy and Michael note that people like to feel useful, not used. It's crucial to focus on the benefit you provide to clients rather than just describing what you do, framing it as solving a problem for them. This makes it easier for others to see how they can recommend you when the opportunity arises. Michael also discusses the nuances of reciprocity, highlighting that individuals have different impulses and timelines for reciprocating. Some feel compelled to immediately reciprocate, while others take time to vet those they recommend. Michael uses his "fast to view, slow to recommend" approach from his Broadway days as an example of considered

Welcome back to the Connected Leadership Podcast! We kick off 2025 with a returning guest, commercial mediator Jane Gunn, who joins Andy Lopata to discuss her new book, "The Mole and the Mountain." This parable explores the journey of overcoming obstacles and finding personal fulfillment, offering valuable insights for goal setting and personal growth in the New Year. Jane explains the two key principles of mediation that underpin the book: self-determination and being fully informed. She introduces the "Map of Experience" that guides the mole's journey and represents the stages of mediation. The first stage, "Now," involves understanding the narrative and identifying the challenges we face. This is about stepping out of our comfort zones and embracing curiosity. Andy and Jane then discuss the importance of mentorship in pushing ourselves out of our comfort zones and overcoming fear. Jane emphasises the role of a mentor who provides challenge without taking control. Next, they explore the fear of being wro