Libsyn Directory

Laura Venezia - Compassionate Leadership Lessons

Release Date: 09/16/2025

Fiona Fraser – From Stuck to Unstuck: Leaving the Performance of Professionalism to Lead on Your Own Terms

The Legendary Leaders Podcast

What if the key to success wasn’t fitting in—but finally giving yourself permission to stop trying? In this refreshingly raw episode of Legendary Leaders, host Cathleen O’Sullivan sits down with Fiona Fraser—founder of Power PR and former BBC publicist—whose unfiltered honesty about ADHD, identity, and the exhausting performance of “professionalism” will make you question everything you’ve been told about showing up. Fiona shares what it was like spending years learning to sit on her personality in corporate environments, the casual dinner party moment when two friends...

Anthony Abbagnano – From Reactive to Creative: Moving One Letter (and One Breath) to Transform Leadership

The Legendary Leaders Podcast

What if the most powerful shift you could make as a leader wasn't another productivity hack—but simply learning to breathe? In this episode of Legendary Leaders, host Cathleen O'Sullivan sits down with Anthony Abbagnano—founder of the Alchemy of Breath and one of the world's leading voices in modern breathwork—whose calm presence and practical wisdom will make you rethink everything you thought you knew about resilience. Anthony shares why most of us have unlearned how to breathe properly, and why that disconnection costs us more than we realize. He opens up about his midlife...

Karen Salmansohn – Your To-Die For List: What Matters When Productivity Isn't the Point

The Legendary Leaders Podcast

What makes someone quit a six-figure advertising career to write books that help people think differently? In this episode of Legendary Leaders, host Cathleen O'Sullivan sits down with Karen Salmansohn—bestselling author, behavioral change expert, and the creative force behind NotSalmon.com—whose sharp wit and mortality-driven wisdom will make you rethink everything on your to-do list. Karen shares why fun isn't frivolous—it's fuel. She breaks down the science of why laughter literally shakes ideas loose, explains why her "e-pee-phanies" in the bathroom cracked more creative codes than...

Stop Being So Damn Helpful: The Curse of the Over-Responsible Leader

The Legendary Leaders Podcast

Are you the person everyone turns to because you'll "just handle it"? The one replying to emails at 11pm, rewriting your team's work, or silently resenting the people you keep rescuing? In this solo episode, Cathleen O'Sullivan tackles a behavior that's as exhausting as it is common: over-functioning in the name of being helpful. Cathleen reveals why constant helpfulness isn't kindness—it's a control strategy that stifles growth, creates dependency, and keeps you small. She shares the story of a leader who was praised for being dependable but passed over for promotion because she...

Darryl Stickel – Share, Don't Scare: The Science of Building Trust When the World Feels Broken

The Legendary Leaders Podcast

What makes a complete stranger walk up to you on a bus and say, "I'm really having a hard time today"? In this episode of Legendary Leaders, host Cathleen O'Sullivan sits down with Darryl Stickel—trust researcher, founder of Trust Unlimited, and author of Building Trust—whose life's work reveals that connection isn't magic. It's a skill you can learn, practice, and pull off even when everything feels like it's falling apart. Darryl shares why trust isn't just about certainty—it's about being willing to get hurt. He breaks down the formula, explains why leaders who admit...

Kate Grant – Listen to Your Inner Voice: Leading a Life of Impact Without Apology

The Legendary Leaders Podcast

What does it take to lead with both purpose and perseverance? In this episode of Legendary Leaders, host Cathleen O’Sullivan sits down with Kate Grant—CEO of the Fistula Foundation and author of No Woman Left Behind—whose remarkable journey from Madison Avenue to global health leadership reveals what can happen when compassion meets conviction. Kate shares how walking away from a thriving advertising career became the first step toward transforming the lives of more than 100,000 women suffering from obstetric fistula—a preventable childbirth injury that still affects over...

Donzel Leggett – Transform, Don’t Just Change: The Mindset for a Destiny-Driven Life

The Legendary Leaders Podcast

What does it really mean to design your own destiny? In this episode of Legendary Leaders Podcast, host Cathleen O'Sullivan sits down with Donzel Leggett—former Fortune 200 executive, author of Make Your Destiny Happen, and founder of Destiny Development Delta whose career has spanned three decades of transformational global leadership. From his Key West roots to the pivotal moment he walked away from professional football, Donzel shares how he turned missed opportunities and painful kicks in the butt into clarity about his calling. With warmth and honesty, he opens up about the weight...

Lenya McGrath – The Compass Within: Leading with Purpose and Positivity

The Legendary Leaders Podcast

What does it really mean to bring your authentic self to leadership? In this episode of Legendary Leaders Podcast, host Cathleen O’Sullivan sits down with Lenya McGrath—global brand strategist, creative leader, and award-winning marketer whose career has shaped some of the world’s most iconic brands. From her early days in Sydney’s ad world to leading high-performing teams across continents, Lenya shares how she turned “too happy” feedback into her leadership superpower. With warmth and humility, she opens up about authenticity in the workplace, building psychological...

The Productivity Lie: Why Doing Less Makes You a Better Leader

The Legendary Leaders Podcast

What if productivity isn’t about doing more—but doing less, with purpose? In this solo episode of The Legendary Leaders Podcast, host Cathleen O’Sullivan challenges one of leadership’s biggest myths: that constant hustle equals success. Drawing from her own journey and stories from the leaders she’s coached, Cathleen exposes the “productivity lie” that glorifies busyness and burnout. She reveals why intentionality—not intensity—is what truly sets great leaders apart, and how creating space to think, rest, and reflect can actually amplify your impact. ...

Neil Ghosh – The Power of Empathy: How Small Acts Create Big Change

The Legendary Leaders Podcast

What does it really mean to do more good—and how can empathy spark genuine impact in our everyday lives? In this heartfelt episode of The Legendary Leaders Podcast, Cathleen O’Sullivan sits down with Neil Ghosh, social impact strategist, entrepreneur, and bestselling author of Do More Good, a book featuring voices from global icons like the Dalai Lama and Bill Clinton to everyday changemakers making a difference in their own communities. With over three decades of experience across 50+ countries and sectors, Neil has devoted his career to one question: How can we do more good together?...

More Episodes

Get ready for an inspiring conversation with our host Cathleen O’Sullivan and Laura Venezia, an educational leader whose passion for nurturing others has taken her across the U.S., China, Hong Kong, and now Germany.

In this episode of Legendary Leaders, Laura reflects on her early love of teaching, the challenges and lessons of working internationally, and how her commitment to kindness and inclusion continues to guide her as a leader.

She shares practical advice on balancing technology with real connection, building collaborative relationships, and embracing those everyday moments that can have a lasting impact. Laura also talks about her shift from teacher to leader, learning to let go of needing approval, and the importance of staying true to your values when leading yourself and others.

Episode Timeline:

00:00 Introduction

08:11 Discovering passion in early education

15:48 Building a unique identity within a multicultural school setting

17:38 Spontaneous move to China, culture shock in education, and risks of individual learning over collaboration

26:02 Using tech wisely while embracing curiosity and unscripted teachable moments

32:15 Making space for curiosity and role modeling openness

37:33 Transition through COVID, values-driven community in Germany, and leadership journey

42:11 Leadership as guiding others, building trust, and creating safe spaces

45:43 Finding alignment through support, self-reflection, and feedback

52:34 Growth through uncertainty, shifting from classroom teacher to school-wide leader

55:41 Embracing authenticity and letting go of control

59:47 Asking better questions, listening deeply, and creating presence in family life

Key Takeaway:

Purpose Over Performance: Laura highlights that leadership in education and beyond is about nurturing kind and authentic people, not just chasing results.
Role Modelling and Connection: Laura explains why our behaviour as leaders matters most, from how we manage emotions to how we build relationships.
Knowing Yourself: Laura and Cathleen talk about the importance of understanding your own values and letting go of the need for approval in order to grow as a leader.

About Laura Vinezia:

Laura is an experienced educational leader with over 20 years experience in early childhood education. Her career has taken her across the globe, with impactful roles in schools in the United States, China, Hong Kong, and now Germany, where she continues to inspire and lead. Passionate about the foundational years of learning, Laura is deeply committed to nurturing young minds and hearts. Her work is guided by a clear and meaningful purpose: to help “make good people.” Through her leadership, she strives to create inclusive, thoughtful, and compassionate learning environments that support the growth of both children and educators.

Connect with Laura:

Business: lis.school

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-venezia

X/Twitter: @LauraVCole

Connect:  

Find | Cathleen O’Sullivan

Business: https://cathleenosullivan.com/

Email: cmc@cathleenmerkelcoaching.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathleen-merkel/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legendary_leaders_cathleenos/

Youtube:

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