Uncommon Leadership
If you’ve ever felt out of place or been told that your uniqueness is a liability, this podcast is for you. Welcome to the Uncommon Leadership Podcast. I'm your host, Michael Hunter—an executive coach, author of The Resilient Tech Leader, and founder of Uncommon Teams. With over 35 years in tech, including leadership roles at Microsoft and Salesforce, I’ve learned that you cannot build an Uncommon Team without doing the uncommon work on yourself. So, every week, I invite industry leaders, founders, and innovators to explore self-alignment and help you embody a sense of certainty in the unpredictable world of tech. Because when your certainty takes root, everything levels up. Your leadership becomes unmistakable, your contribution becomes consistent, and your presence reshapes everyone around you. Your uniqueness is a superpower. Imagine what you could create if you unleashed the Uncommon Hero you already are.
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Debugging the Leader: A Framework for Internal Alignment ft. Jon Bach
05/06/2026
Debugging the Leader: A Framework for Internal Alignment ft. Jon Bach
You’ve spent your career mastering the technical. You know how to debug a system, optimize a workflow, and drive efficiency with data. But as you move higher into leadership, you realize your most reliable tools, logic and evidence, often fail when applied to the most complex system of all: the human one. In this milestone 100th episode of Uncommon Leadership, Michael Hunter and Jon Bach step away from standard people management advice to investigate the person behind the leader. Together they explore: What happens when you start paying attention—not just to systems, but to your own patterns, reactions, and internal signals. Why change feels disorienting. Why teams struggle even when the work looks right. Why what we call performance issues are often something else entirely. What it means to lead in a way that includes your mind, your body, your instincts—not just your logic/data. Episode Breakdown 0:00 — Introduction 03:36 — How do you become an uncommon leader? 07:27 — How to decode your body’s signals 11:10 — A go-to question for all tech leaders 15:33 — Why work-life balance is just a myth 19:13 — How to handle layoffs? 26:30 — How to stop carrying regret as a leader 28:34 — How to navigate career transitions? [ Satir Change Model] 40:15 — A mindset shift for dealing with uncertainty 45:37 — The cumulative power of tiny steps 51:26 — Signs you're leading out of alignment 57:46 — How to live in alignment with your base beliefs 01:06:52 — Common vs. Uncommon Leaders 01:17:26 — The question you need to ask to get to know someone 01:21:16 — Closing Thoughts If you’re navigating change, leading a team, or trying to make sense of what feels unclear right now—this episode offers a grounded, human way to approach it. Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple- Spotify- This podcast is brought to you by Uncommon Teams: -- Speakers on this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast Jon Bach | Guest Speaker With 30+ years at tech giants like Microsoft and eBay, Jon Bach treats software testing as a treasure hunt for the truth. Combining his background in journalism with deep technical expertise, he approaches code with an investigative lens—viewing every bug as a hidden story waiting to be told. Jon’s mission is deeply human as he helps tech professionals uncover the hidden assumptions and expectations buried in their daily workflows, guiding them to find the absolute truth about their work (and themselves). Outside of the software world, Jon embraces his roots as a freelance writer for and . Connect with Jon Bach: LinkedIn: Email: Blog: Free Resources: Michael Hunter | Host Michael Hunter is an executive coach, leadership strategist, and the founder of Uncommon Teams. Drawing on his experience working with leaders at tech giants like Microsoft and Salesforce, Michael helps founders and Heads of People align personal fulfillment with sustainable business success. Using empathetic, human-centric frameworks, Michael guides leaders to build authentic teams, cultivate resilience, and embody certainty. Work with Michael Hunter: LinkedIn: Website: Newsletter: Read the book: Work with Michael Hunter:
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Why Team Problems Aren’t What They Seem ft. Todd Hanson
04/29/2026
Why Team Problems Aren’t What They Seem ft. Todd Hanson
Are you constantly putting out fires but feeling like your team still isn't moving forward? This might be happening because you might be solving the wrong problem. In this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast, I, Michael Hunter sits down with Todd Hanson, founder & inventor of Compass Carts. In this episode, Todd shares his incredible journey from corporate banking to building a hardware company and the counterintuitive leadership lessons he learned along the way. Whether you are managing a massive corporate department or a small team of external contractors, Todd explains why standard management advice often fails (and what actually works) when you need to get people on the same page. In this episode, we cover: 00:00 - Introduction to the Uncommon Leadership Podcast 03:20 - The Distraction Rule: Why forcing your team to pay attention actually backfires, and how scheduling breaks cures their anxiety. 23:24 - The Prompt Error: Why your team’s failure to deliver is usually a communication gap on your end (and how to fix it). 31:48 - The Pivot Method: What great leaders do before they decide to fire a struggling team member. 35:15 - The Promotion Cheat Code: Why the real secret to moving up the corporate ladder happens after 5 PM. 45:41 - The NASCAR Secret: How General Mills saved millions by studying pit crews, and how you can steal ideas from outside your industry. If you want to stop micromanaging and start building a team that actually thrives, this episode is for you. If this episode helped you see a way out, hit the subscribe button so we can keep bringing you the frameworks you need to understand what’s true, what matters now, and what’s next: Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple- Spotify- This podcast is brought to you by Uncommon Teams: Speakers on this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast Todd Hanson | Guest Speaker Todd Hanson is the founder and inventor of Compass Carts, the innovative hitch hauler company taking social media by storm. Todd spent over two decades in corporate leadership at Wells Fargo, including an eight-year tenure as an AVP. He specializes in bridging the gap between big-business strategy and small-business agility. Whether he is facilitating large corporate trainings or managing a team of startup contractors, Todd’s leadership philosophy is built on streamlining complex processes, asking the right questions, and empowering people to bring their unique expertise to the table. Connect with Todd Hanson: Website: Email: LinkedIn: Michael Hunter | Host Michael Hunter is an executive coach, leadership strategist, and the founder of Uncommon Teams. Drawing on his experience working with leaders at tech giants like Microsoft and Salesforce, Michael helps founders and Heads of People align personal fulfillment with sustainable business success. Using empathetic, human-centric frameworks, Michael guides leaders to build authentic teams, cultivate resilience, and embody certainty. Work with Michael if you want to stop simply surviving their daily challenges and start leading with ease: LinkedIn: Website: Newsletter: Read the book: Work with Michael Hunter:
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3 Questions Leaders Should Ask Before Shipping Code ft. Radhika Dutt
04/22/2026
3 Questions Leaders Should Ask Before Shipping Code ft. Radhika Dutt
Why are so many tech startups struggling even after hitting their quarterly goals? In this episode, I, Michael Hunter, invite Radhika Dutt, an MIT alum and the author of Radical Product Thinking, to the Uncommon Leadership Podcast. Together, we debunk the classic Silicon Valley mantra: Build→Test → Learn →Scale The problem with the traditional goal-setting approach is that it often pulls teams away from the vision and legacy for which the business was originally built. To help lean startups make the difficult trade-offs between the things that keep the lights on versus the things that drive long-term growth, we offer: An actionable framework to map Long-Term Vision vs. Short-Term Survival decisions. 3 questions that first-time founders must ask to make win-win decisions with certainty [ especially when data is overwhelming or incomplete] The mindset that will help tech leaders sidestep the Silicon Valley trap. The "3 O's" to help you navigate the uncomfortable problem space. Key Moments 00:00 - Introduction to the Uncommon Leadership Podcast 01:32 - Getting to know Radhika Dutt [MIT Engineer, Author, Keynote Speaker ] 05:20 - The Myth of the "Poker-Faced" Leader 08:40 - Processed vs. Raw Emotion at Work 14:04 - How to Build Psychologically Safe Teams 17:32 - Why OKRs Can Be Misleading? 22:09- How to Write Vision Statements for Yourself and Your team 29:03 - The Vision vs. Survival Map: Making Hard Trade-Offs 36:36 - The 3-Question Framework for Win-Win Decisions 42:16 - How to Sidestep the Silicon Valley Trap? 50:57 - The Three O's for Leaders to Navigate the "Problem Space" 53:33 - Advice for Goal-Centric Leaders 57:50 - How to access Radhika Dutt's Puzzle Setting & Puzzle Solving Toolkit If this episode helped you see a way out, hit the subscribe button so we can keep bringing you the frameworks you need to understand what’s true, what matters now, and what’s next: And before you click away—send this episode to one founder or product leader you know who is burning out trying to hit the wrong targets. Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple- Spotify- This podcast is brought to you by Uncommon Teams: Speakers on this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast: Radhika Dutt | Guest Speaker Radhika Dutt, an MIT graduate, is an entrepreneur, consultant, and speaker who helps organizations move away from traditional metric-obsessed cultures to innovate smarter. Radhika brings profound technical and strategic expertise to the leadership space, having participated in five successful acquisitions—two of which were companies she founded. She is the author of the book Radical Product Thinking: The New Mindset for Innovating Smarter, which has been translated into Chinese and Japanese. She is currently working on her second book, which explores why traditional corporate goals and targets consistently backfire, and the actionable frameworks leaders should use instead. Resources: LinkedIn: Free toolkit to apply the puzzle setting & solving methodology for leaders: Michael Hunter | Host Michael Hunter is an executive coach, leadership strategist, and the founder of Uncommon Teams. Drawing on his experience working with leaders at tech giants like Microsoft and Salesforce, Michael helps founders and Heads of People align personal fulfillment with sustainable business success. Using empathetic, human-centric frameworks, Michael guides leaders to build authentic teams, cultivate resilience, and embody certainty. Work with Michael if you want to stop simply surviving their daily challenges and start leading with ease: LinkedIn: Website: Newsletter: Read the book: Work with Michael Hunter:
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Discovery to Innovation: A Physicist's Leadership Manual ft. Garrick Villaume
04/15/2026
Discovery to Innovation: A Physicist's Leadership Manual ft. Garrick Villaume
Are you expecting predictable outcomes in a non-deterministic world? When you are a tech leader, your instinct is to rely on systems and logic to drive results. But when an organizational change stalls, your team resists a new direction, or you find yourself exhausted by constant pivots—logic alone won't bridge the gap. In fact, ignoring the fundamental physics of human systems is one of the most expensive operational mistakes a company can make. In this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast, I, Michael Hunter, sit down with Dr. Garrick Villaume. With a Ph.D. in High-Energy Physics and three decades of experience scaling tech operations from clean-tech startups to Fortune 100 enterprises, Garrick knows exactly what it takes to orchestrate complex systemic transformations. In this conversation, we explore concepts like: The P3 Framework How to stop fighting the essential process of change Why letting change happen to you is a recipe for failure How to identify what you can actually control to reduce burnout and navigate uncertainty Episode Chapters 0:00 Welcome to the Uncommon Leadership Podcast 2:22 The Power of Bringing Your Authentic Self to Work 6:13 The Cost of Hiding Your True Identity at Work 14:06 Why Every Business Problem is a People Problem 16:41 The P3 Framework 21:34 The True Essence of Tech Innovation 26:05 Limiting Case Analysis & Navigating Command-and-Control 35:30 Why Teams Resist Change 36:44 How to bring about the Change you want to see 38:13 Computable vs. Uncomputable Variables in Leadership 41:42 Business Value of the P3 Framework 52:00 Process of managing complex systems 57:11 Final Advice for Tech Leaders If you are a leader who excels at systems but struggles with the messy reality of managing uncertainty, this episode is exactly what you need to lead with certainty and ease. Subscribe to the Uncommon Leadership Podcast for weekly conversations on navigating the complexity of human systems at work. Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple- Spotify- Brought to you by Uncommon Teams About the Speakers Dr. Garrick Villaume | Guest Speaker With a Ph.D. in High-Energy Physics and three decades of experience scaling technical operations from clean-tech startups to Fortune 100 enterprises, Dr. Villaume bridges the gap between complex science and human enterprise. He applies complexity science to technology management, innovating processes and building systemic intelligence for teams navigating the unknown. Connect with Work with Dr. Garrick: LinkedIn: Michael Hunter | Podcast Host Michael Hunter is an Executive Coach, Consultant, and Author of The Resilient Tech Leader. With over three decades of experience at companies like Microsoft and Salesforce, his career has followed a simple progression: he started by debugging code, spent years debugging teams, and now helps leaders learn how to debug themselves. He helps analytical tech leaders navigate the quiet complexity of their organizations, proving that the most important systems in tech aren't written in code—they’re written in people. Connect with Michael Hunter: LinkedIn: Website: Newsletter: Read the book: Work with Michael Hunter: #TechLeadership #SystemicIntelligence #ComplexSystems #UncommonLeadershipPodcast #MichaelHunter
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Stop Trying to Solve Human Problems with Spreadsheets ft. Melissa Franks
04/08/2026
Stop Trying to Solve Human Problems with Spreadsheets ft. Melissa Franks
Are you trying to solve human problems with spreadsheets and logic? When you are an analytical leader in the tech space, your instinct is to rely on data. But when a project stalls, a client becomes contentious, or your top performers start disengaging—no amount of logic or data will fix the friction. In fact, ignoring the squishy emotional reality of your team is one of the most expensive operational mistakes a company can make. In this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast, I, Michael Hunter, sit down with Melissa Franks—Founder of On Call COO. As someone who has successfully managed $100M+ portfolios and led major global transformations for Fortune 100 companies, Melissa knows exactly what it takes to scale an organization. Her secret? Operationalizing empathy. In this conversation, Melissa and I give our two cents on concepts like: How to stop fighting your team's human nature and start leveraging it A framework for diffusing high-conflict meetings How to build an internal Executive Council to make better intuitive decisions And why retaining your team by aligning them with their innate strengths is the ultimate growth strategy Episode Chapters 0:00 Welcome to the Uncommon Leadership Podcast 4:10 How to Be Vulnerable (Without Oversharing) 6:15 The Strengths Audit: Are You in the Right Role? 7:30 The Same Side of the Table Strategy for Conflict Resolution 11:15 How to Stop Micromanaging 14:45 How to Trust Your Gut When Making Decisions 21:20 Why Soft Skills Are the Best Cost-Saving Measure 26:15 How to Tell if You Need a Career Pivot 31:30 The Management Myth: Why It’s Like Becoming a Parent 36:10 The Corporate Ladder vs. The Career Jungle Gym 41:45 Closing Advice for Tech Executives If you are a leader who excels at systems but struggles with the messy reality of managing people, this episode is exactly what you need to lead with ease. Subscribe to the Uncommon Leadership Podcast for weekly conversations on navigating the complexity of human systems at work. Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple- Spotify- Brought to you by Uncommon Teams -- About the speakers Melissa Franks | Guest Speaker Melissa Franks is the Founder of On Call COO and an experienced Technology and Operations Executive. Formerly the COO of Allianz Technology of America, she has successfully managed $100M+ portfolios, led global mergers, and guided major organizational changes. Today, she helps CEOs clear obstacles, align their teams, and grow sustainably without burning out their top talent. Connect with Melissa Franks Website: Work with Melissa: LinkedIn: Michael Hunter | Podcast Host Michael Hunter is an Executive Coach, Consultant, and Author of The Resilient Tech Leader. With over three decades of experience at companies like Microsoft and Salesforce, his career has followed a simple progression: he started by debugging code, spent years debugging teams, and now helps leaders learn how to debug themselves. He helps analytical tech leaders navigate the quiet complexity of their organizations, proving that the most important systems in tech aren't written in code—they’re written in people. Connect with Michael Hunter: LinkedIn: Website: Newsletter: Read the book: Work with Michael Hunter:
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How to Find Your Purpose When You're Ready to Quit ft. Patrick Farran
04/01/2026
How to Find Your Purpose When You're Ready to Quit ft. Patrick Farran
It is easy to spend an entire career in tech scaling products, hitting deadlines, and climbing the ladder-- only to wake up one day feeling completely misaligned. Your body starts keeping score. You experience burnout. Self-sabotage. And the quiet realization that you are leading in a system that wasn’t built for who you truly are. In this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast, Michael Hunter sits down with Dr. Patrick Farran, Founder of Ad Lucem Group, TEDx speaker, and expert in organizational transformation, to discuss the profound difference between simply managing a team and leaving a lasting legacy. Drawing from deeply personal stories, including the inspiring resilience of his father, an iconic teacher who transformed a devastating injury into a lifelong calling, Patrick unpacks how leaders can navigate the chaos of modern business by rooting themselves in purpose. This conversation moves beyond standard management advice to explore: the emotional, human core of our careers decoding the signals your intuition is sending you how to map out what truly brings you fulfillment and how to create a work environment where both you and your team can lead authentically. Episode Chapters 0:00 - Introduction: Welcome to Uncommon Leadership 1:45 - The Power of Legacy 8:30 - Victor Frankl, CrossFit, and the Power of Knowing Your Why 12:15 - How to Recognize Career Misalignment 15:40 - The Map of Meaningful Work (or How to Find Fulfillment at Work) 22:10 - Creating a User Manual for Your Leadership Style 27:50 - Appreciative Inquiry: Solving Problems with an Abundance Mindset 34:20 - The Magic Question That Unlocks Team Possibility 37:45 - The Ultimate Alignment Exercise If you are a highly analytical leader feeling the friction of a purposeless grind, this episode will give you the tools to step out of the chaos, reconnect with your why, and unleash the Uncommon Hero you already are. Subscribe to the Uncommon Leadership Podcast for weekly conversations on navigating the quiet complexity of human systems at work. Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple- Spotify- Brought to you by Uncommon Teams About the speakers Patrick Farran | Guest Speaker Patrick Farran, Ph.D., is the Founder and CEO of Ad Lucem Group, a TEDx Speaker, and co-author of The Intentional Executive. With 25+ years of experience across Fortune 100s and startups—and an academic background teaching at Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business—Patrick bridges the gap between organizational strategy and human engagement. He helps tech leaders and executives navigate complex change, overcome resistance, and achieve breakthrough results through values-driven, strengths-based leadership. Connect with Patrick & Ad Lucem Group: Website: Read the Book: Free Resource: Assess Your Team: Work with Patrick: Michael Hunter | Podcast Host Michael Hunter is an Executive Coach, Consultant, and Author of The Resilient Tech Leader. With over three decades of experience at companies like Microsoft and Salesforce, his career has followed a simple progression: he started by debugging code, spent years debugging teams, and now helps leaders learn how to debug themselves. He helps analytical tech leaders navigate the quiet complexity of their organizations, proving that the most important systems in tech aren't written in code—they’re written in people. Connect with Michael Hunter: LinkedIn: Website: Newsletter: Read the book: Work with Michael Hunter: #michaelhunter #uncommonteams #leadership #podcast
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How Leaders Spot Team Problems Before They Explode ft. Oksana Kovalchuk
03/25/2026
How Leaders Spot Team Problems Before They Explode ft. Oksana Kovalchuk
As a leader (especially in tech), you’re constantly expected to have every answer, fix every issue, and carry the full weight of decisions. But what if you don’t need to solve every problem or know everything to lead effectively? Real leadership means recognizing when questions reveal deeper issues, using vulnerability to ease tension, and encouraging your people to find their own solutions. In this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast, I, Michael Hunter, talk with Oksana Kovalchuk — Founder & CEO of ANODA (a top-rated UX design agency recognized by Clutch in 2025) — who started coding at age 5, survived big outsourcing giants, and built her own agency where connection beats rigid control. Together, we dive into: The mirror neurons hack How to avoid the "fix everything" trap The golden rule that reshapes hiring and organization culture Why life is too short for bad UX and relationships More than just theories — these are hard-won lessons from people who've faced the full storm of tech growth, team friction, and founder weight, and come through with greater ease and authenticity. If you're a founder, tech leader, or anyone building teams who feels the weight of having to know/fix it all, this episode offers uncommon insights that make you rethink your current leadership style. Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome & Episode Intro 00:45 – Introducing the guest: Oksana Kovalchuk 01:08 – Integrating your whole self into your leadership style 12:50 – Why Leaders Don’t Need to Solve Every Problem 14:30 – The Discount Method 17:00 – Pushing Teams to Become Leaders 19:20 – Vision, Strategy & the Founder’s Role 26:51 – Vulnerability & Mirror Neurons to Reduce Stress 50:59 – When Silly Questions Signal a Deeper Problem 56:26 – How to Connect with Oksana + 10% Discount Offer 57:53 – Closing Thoughts: Life Is Too Short for Bad UX Tune in now: Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple- Spotify- Brought to you by Uncommon Teams Speaker Bios Michael Hunter Michael Hunter is the host of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast and the founder of Uncommon Teams. He works with leaders to align personal fulfillment with business success, building authentic, resilient teams that thrive amid complexity. Through conversations that explore vulnerability, adaptability, and human-centered leadership, Michael helps professionals move beyond surviving challenges to truly flourishing. Connect with Michael Hunter: LinkedIn: Read more about his work: The Resilient Tech Leader: Work with Michael Hunter: Oksana Kovalchuk Oksana Kovalchuk, Founder & CEO of ANODA (Top UX Design Agency by Clutch 2025), brings 18+ years of software development and UI/UX leadership. Oksana specializes in elevating startups — helping them focus on strategy while building remarkable digital products and high-performing teams through measured, human-centered design. Connect with Oksana Kovalchuk: LinkedIn: Read more about his work: Work with Oksana Kovalchuk: [ Oksana Kovalchuk is generously offering the Uncommon Leadership community 10% off her services for first-time clients. Use the code UNCOMMON2025 to start your journey with Anoda today!]
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How Do You Lead When AI Is Changing Everything? ft. Gila Lee Adato
03/18/2026
How Do You Lead When AI Is Changing Everything? ft. Gila Lee Adato
In a world where the old playbooks no longer apply — where artificial intelligence is reshaping how we think, work, and lead — what is the real competitive advantage for a tech organization? It’s not more data. It’s not a better tech stack. It’s emotional clarity. Because in a world where no one has the full answers, certainty is an illusion. And the leaders who thrive aren’t the ones with all the answers — they’re the ones who can discern. In this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast, I sit down with Gila Lee Adato — attorney, AI leadership advisor, and founder of Glowbal AI — to explore what it means to lead from inner authority in an era of exponential disruption. Episode Breakdown: Why the loudest voice in your head is often not your wisest one The difference between external advice and inner authority How does quietly compartmentalizing yourself at work drain energy Why fear is often biology — not real danger The hidden cost of outsourcing your decisions What decision sovereignty actually looks like in leadership How to partner with AI without losing your identity Why clarity, not certainty, is the modern-day leadership advantage If you’re a founder, executive, or high-performing professional navigating uncertainty, identity shifts, or the rise of AI, this conversation will challenge how you think about leadership itself. Because maybe the real work isn’t adapting to change. It’s learning how to choose — consciously. And maybe even have some fun along the way. Tune in now! Was this conversation worth your time? If yes, please give us a thumbs up and subscribe to the Uncommon Leadership Podcast Series. Get notified on YouTube- Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple- Spotify- Presented By: UncommonChange Meet the Speakers Gila Lee Adato Gila Lee Adato is the Founder of Glowbal AI and a mentor to visionary leaders navigating the intersection of artificial intelligence, identity, and human potential. An attorney with a deep corporate and regulatory background, Gila has spent over a decade operating at executive levels — including serving as General Counsel, COO, and CCO — advising organizations through complexity, compliance, and large-scale transformation. Today, she works with founders, high-performing professionals, and forward-thinking leaders who know AI isn’t just another productivity tool — but a force for clarity, creativity, and enduring legacy. She is also the creator of the AI for Leaders Summit Series and host of a weekly radio show exploring the future of AI, leadership, and human expansion. Connect with Gila Lee Adato: Instagram: Website: Michael Hunter Michael Hunter is the founder of Uncommon Teams, where he partners with technology leaders and founding teams to build organizations that achieve meaningful results with clarity, confidence, and resilience. With more than three decades in technology and leadership, Michael’s work sits at the intersection of human potential, organizational effectiveness, and sustainable performance. Through coaching, facilitation, and advisory work, he helps leaders create uncommon teams — environments where authenticity, trust, and adaptability enable both business success and personal fulfillment. Michael is also the host of the Uncommon Leadership podcast and author of The Resilient Tech Leader, where he explores how leaders can move beyond survival and cultivate cultures that thrive amid constant change. Connect with Michael Hunter: Website: Book: [ Self-Trust, Identity Integration, and Leading Consciously in the Age of AI, Tech vs. Touch, Decision Sovereignty, Fear vs biology, Inner knowing vs External noise, Uncommon Leadership Podcasts, Michael Hunter, Resilient Tech Leader, Gila Lee Adato, Glowbal AI, Leaders Summit Series]
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Work Doesn’t Need a Different You ft. Jordan Stone
03/11/2026
Work Doesn’t Need a Different You ft. Jordan Stone
Early in his career, Jordan Stone sat in a consulting workshop where the idea of a work self and a home self was presented as normal. The premise made sense on paper. But something about it felt off. Why should the experiences, preferences, and perspectives that shape who we are outside of work suddenly become irrelevant once we step into it? As Jordan’s career progressed, he saw firsthand how the parts of people that didn’t neatly fit into job descriptions often produced the most meaningful outcomes. In this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast, Michael Hunter and Jordan Stone explore what happens when leaders move beyond the idea of a work self and instead create environments where people can show up as whole humans — carrying their curiosity, energy, experiences, and aspirations into the work. Bringing your whole self to work is not a personal preference—it is a leadership decision. One that influences how trust forms, how teams collaborate, how cultures evolve, and how organizations create meaningful outcomes for both employees and customers. What begins as a question about identity becomes a deeper exploration of connection, energy, and the shared work of building teams where people can do their best work as themselves. Tune in now to explore how you can create environments where trust, energy, and performance grow together. Inside the Episode: Why the idea of a work self is limiting A powerful reframing of strengths as sources of energy rather than capability How ways-of-working conversations help teams understand and trust each other How onboarding, documentation, and early connections shape culture as teams scale How transparency builds resilience during uncertainty and change Why the future value of engineers lies in collaborative problem solving Was this conversation worth your time? If yes, please give us a thumbs up and subscribe to the Uncommon Leadership Podcast Series. Get notified on YouTube- Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple- Spotify- Presented By: UncommonChange Meet the Speakers Jordon Stone Jordon Stone is Vice President of Engineering at Paytient, a growth-stage startup focused on making healthcare more accessible and affordable. Jordan has a decade worth of experience leading product, platform, security, and infrastructure teams across startups, digital agencies, and large publicly traded organizations. Jordan focuses on scaling platforms, aligning technology with business outcomes, and building engineering organizations where great technology amplifies people and growth. Connect with Jordon Stone: Website: Michael Hunter Michael Hunter is the founder of Uncommon Teams, where he partners with technology leaders and founding teams to build organizations that achieve meaningful results with clarity, confidence, and resilience. With more than three decades in technology and leadership, Michael’s work sits at the intersection of human potential, organizational effectiveness, and sustainable performance. Through coaching, facilitation, and advisory work, he helps leaders create uncommon teams — environments where authenticity, trust, and adaptability enable both business success and personal fulfillment. Michael is also the host of the Uncommon Leadership podcast and author of The Resilient Tech Leader, where he explores how leaders can move beyond survival and cultivate cultures that thrive amid constant change. Connect with Michael Hunter: Website: Book: [whole self leadership, authentic leadership, workplace culture, psychological safety, employee engagement, team design, engineering leadership, leadership presence, human-centered leadership, resilient teams, uncommon leadership]
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Beyond the Title: What Leadership Really Means ft. Mary Kennedy Thompson
03/04/2026
Beyond the Title: What Leadership Really Means ft. Mary Kennedy Thompson
Leadership isn’t defined by title or authority. It’s revealed in presence — how you listen, how you respond, and how your behavior shapes the space around you. In this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast, Michael Hunter sits down with Mary Kennedy Thompson, CEO of BNI, for a thoughtful conversation on what it really means to lead. From an early Marine Corps lesson that reshaped her understanding of service to leading global teams today, Mary reflects on leadership as a lifelong practice grounded in curiosity, authenticity, and care. Together, they explore how leaders create environments where people can speak up, grow beyond comfort, and feel inspired to bring their whole selves to work. Because leadership isn’t just what you say. It’s the culture you create — and the shadow you cast. What you’ll hear in this episode: • The Marine Corps moment that transformed Mary’s understanding of leadership • Why great leaders communicate with a standard of being direct, kind, and transparent • A simple presence practice that shifts how leaders show up • The difference between safe and comfortable workplaces — and why it matters • How leaders create alignment while still honoring the whole person at work • The powerful idea that every leader casts a shadow through their behavior Tune in for a conversation on presence, trust, and the quiet work of becoming a leader others want to follow. Was this conversation worth your time? If yes, please give us a thumbs up and subscribe to the Uncommon Leadership Podcast Series. Get notified on YouTube- Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple- Spotify- Presented By: UncommonChange Speaker Bios Mary Kennedy Thompson Mary Kennedy Thompson is the CEO of BNI, the world’s largest business networking and referral organization. Her career has been grounded in helping leaders unlock their full potential — a path that began in the U.S. Marine Corps and evolved through entrepreneurship, franchising, and global leadership. A lifelong student of leadership for more than 40 years, Mary believes that leading with joy, authenticity, and purpose creates stronger teams and better results. She has led multiple high-growth organizations and continues to champion collaboration, trust, and impact across the global business community. Connect with Mary Kennedy Thompson: LinkedIn: Michael Hunter Michael, the founder of Uncommon Teams, journeys alongside tech leaders to uncover the invisible dynamics that block quality, stall change, and quietly drain energy from their teams. He helps heads of people solve culture puzzles that are subtle, systemic, and deeply human. When you work with Michael, you get a chance to unlock the heroic leadership within you and your team—and often recover parts of yourselves that may have gotten a little lost along the way. Michael started out debugging code. Then he debugged people. Now he helps people debug themselves. Because the most powerful upgrade isn’t in your tech stack—it’s in you. Connect with Michael Hunter: LinkedIn: Read more about his work: [leadership, psychological safety, conscious leadership, workplace culture, leadership influence, purpose driven leadership, human centered leadership, how to inspire teams, uncommon leaders, Michael Hunter, Mary Kennedy Thompson, BNI]
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Why Great Leaders Are Supporters. Not Saviors! ft. Everett O'Keefe
02/25/2026
Why Great Leaders Are Supporters. Not Saviors! ft. Everett O'Keefe
The most expensive thing in your business isn't your tech stack. It’s the message you haven’t shared with your team because you’re waiting to speak up. In this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast, I, Michael Hunter from Uncommon Teams, sit down with Everett O’Keefe—international bestselling author and founder of Ignite Press—for a conversation about the intersection of innovation, authority, and the moral duty to speak up. Everett has helped hundreds of experts find their voice, and he’s seen firsthand how the status quo doesn't just stall companies—it drains the life out of the people leading them. From the Penguin Theory of resonance to the seven words that kill team creativity, this episode is a must-watch for anyone who is tired of leaving their whole self at the door. Who This Episode Is For? Tech Leaders who feel their team has traded innovation for following the rules. Founders who feel the heavy pressure of having to be the Savior every single day. Managers who are tired of doing everything right while their team’s energy quietly drains away. Aspiring Authors who are afraid their message has already been said by someone better. Tune in now to fully understand the human side of high-performance teams and leadership. Core Takeaway: Leadership doesn’t improve when you defend the past. It transforms when you have the courage to question it—and the humility to realize that your "messy" truth is exactly what your team needs to hear. Was this conversation worth your time? If yes, please give us a thumbs up and subscribe to the Uncommon Leadership Podcast Series. Get notified on YouTube- Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple- Spotify- Presented By: UncommonChange Speaker Bios Everett O'Keefe Everett is a dad, husband, and most recently a granddad. He is also an international #1 bestselling author and the founder of Ignite Press. Everett has helped more than 200 people become published bestselling authors, and he has a heart for helping people share their message with the world. The winner of multiple awards, including the Publish and Profit Award for Excellence in Publishing and the Top Gun Consulting Award, Everett is sought out as a speaker, coach, and consultant by authors and marketing experts worldwide. He helps clients become recognized experts in their fields so they can focus on their own areas of giftedness. Connect with Everett O'Keefe: Website: LinkedIn: Michael Hunter Michael, the founder of Uncommon Teams, journeys alongside tech leaders to uncover the invisible dynamics that block quality, stall change, and quietly drain energy from their teams. He helps heads of people solve culture puzzles that are subtle, systemic, and deeply human. When you work with Michael, you get a chance to unlock the heroic leadership within you and your team—and often recover parts of yourselves that may have gotten a little lost along the way. Michael started out debugging code. Then he debugged people. Now he helps people debug themselves. Because the most powerful upgrade isn’t in your tech stack—it’s in you. Connect with Michael Hunter: LinkedIn: Read more about his work:
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Why every tech problem is actually a people problem... ft. Elisabeth Hendrickson
02/18/2026
Why every tech problem is actually a people problem... ft. Elisabeth Hendrickson
What if I told you that all those technical problems keeping you up at night—missed dates, buggy releases, burnout—are actually just symptoms of a team that doesn't feel safe enough to tell the truth. Hi! This is Michael Hunter, and I’ve spent over 35 years debugging code. Today, I help CEOs, founding teams, and heads of people debug themselves and identify those hidden patterns that are stalling growth and success. And I’ve learned that the code is usually the easy part. The hard part is the squishy stuff: the silence in the meeting room, the fear of speaking up, and the dangerous confusion between being nice and being kind. In this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast, I sit down with Elisabeth Hendrickson, Founder at Curious Duck Digital Laboratory, to dismantle the biggest myth in software leadership: you can fix a delivery problem without fixing the human dynamics first. Episode Breakdown: Technical problems are almost never only technical problems Real trust isn't built by forcing people to bring their whole selves to work. It’s built by respecting boundaries and letting people choose what to share. It only takes one person to name the elephant in the room. Once named, the fear dissolves, and the team can actually go from pretending to solving. Learn to be Kind not Nice. Nice is selfish—it’s about protecting your comfort by avoiding conflict. Kind is selfless—it’s about protecting the team by addressing the hard truth before it causes failure. Self-Reflection as a leader helps you respond to situations instead of simply reacting. So, are you ready to debug your leadership? For more insights on human-centric tech leadership, subscribe to Michael Hunter's Uncommon Leadership Podcast. Click here: Or sign up for the Uncommon Leadership newsletter at Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple: Spotify: Presented By: Uncommon Change [Psychological Safety, Engineering Culture, Toxic Positivity, Socio-Technical Systems, Artificial Harmony, Elisabeth Hendrickson, Michael Hunter, Uncommon Teams, Uncommon Leadership] #PsychologicalSafety #TechLeadership #UncommonTeams #MichaelHunter #EngineeringCulture #DebugTheTeam About the Speakers Elisabeth Hendrickson As the Founder of Curious Duck Digital Laboratory, Elisabeth Hendrickson helps software organizations deliver better software, faster. With a career rooted in software testing and quality engineering, Elisabeth stands out as a compassionate leader with an expertise in diagnosing those human problems that often masquerade as technical blockers. By combining one-on-one coaching with strategic group work, she transforms friction-filled environments into high-performing, inclusive cultures where it is safe to speak the truth. Connect with Elisabeth Hendrickson LinkedIn: Michael Hunter Drawing from his experience working with tech leaders across six continents—from tiny startups to mega-corps, Michael Hunter partners with tech leaders to uncover the invisible dynamics that block quality, stall change, and quietly drain energy from their teams. With a unique career path that evolved from debugging code to debugging people, Michael now empowers individuals to debug themselves. He guides them, whether it's in leveling up decision-making or deepening their relationship with their inner selves. Michael's mission is to help leaders, CEOs, and founding teams unlock the heroic leadership and recover parts of themselves that may have gotten a little lost along the way. Connect with Michael Hunter: Website: LinkedIn:
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Uncommon Roundtable: How High-Performing Tech Leaders Build Resilience
02/04/2026
Uncommon Roundtable: How High-Performing Tech Leaders Build Resilience
Why do we treat joy or happiness as a reward? Something we’re allowed to feel only after the sprint is over, or the code is shipped, or the crisis is averted. When we cut out joy to focus solely on getting it done, we trigger a dangerous biological shift called predatory aggression—a state where our doer brain takes over, shutting down curiosity, connection, and empathy. The very emotions we need to survive the storm and be truly resilient. In this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Roundtable, we explore the true ROI of Joy. Our expert panel brings decades of experience from the technical trenches to the executive boardroom to underscore the hard-hitting reality of leading as a human being rather than a title. In this podcast, you’ll discover that resilience and joy are two sides of the same coin–you cannot have a high-performing system without the "habits of joy" that make the struggle meaningful. Your takeaways from the conversation: Profluence over Endurance: Understand that resilience isn't about standing still and taking hits. It’s about profluence—the steady, joyous momentum of moving the story forward. The Predatory Aggression Trap: Why extreme focus can trigger a biological shift where curiosity and empathy get the axe. The joy of Delegating: Why holding onto tasks that drain you isn't being a hero—it's joy-hoarding. The Resilience Paradox: Difficulty isn't a bug; it's a requirement. How the hardest challenges are the prerequisite for the greatest celebrations. The 5 R’s of Play: How being resourceful, responsible, respectful, resilient, and real settles a chaotic system like a glitter jar coming to rest. Tune in now to reclaim the ROI of joy and lead with momentum that actually lasts. Meet the Panel of Speakers Tim Ottinger Agile coach and Extreme Programming expert known for bringing curiosity, creativity, and human-centered thinking into software delivery. Connect on LinkedIn: Portia Tung Portia helps leaders reclaim their innate "Play Intelligence" to transform rigid corporate structures into living, breathing systems of excellence. Connect: Melissa Boyle As the Global CTO at LexisNexis Intellectual Property Solutions, Melissa shares the grace and grit of being a Human CTO, letting go of the "God" title to empower her teams to be their authentic selves. Connect on LinkedIn: Jeff Langr Langr is a software developer, coach, mentor, trainer, author, and a leader. In a world increasingly driven by AI, Jeff advocates for a "Human-First" approach to technology. Connect on LinkedIn: Matthew Carlson Carlson is the CEO at Aquanta Inc. and a systems designer who specializes in building organizations that align with how humans actually work. He views relationship-building and staff sponsorship as the essential infrastructure for a resilient, joy-filled culture. Connect : Meet Your Host Michael Hunter Michael Hunter went from debugging code to debugging people—and now helps people debug themselves. Through the Uncommon Leadership Podcast and his work with tech leaders, he explores the invisible cultural and emotional dynamics that stall change and drain teams. His work focuses on resilience, joy, clarity, and leading with the whole self. Read more: Connect on LinkedIn: Was this conversation worth your time? If yes, give us a thumbs up and subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes. For more inspiring conversations like this, sign up for the Uncommon Leadership newsletter at Watch the Uncommon Leadership Podcast: YouTube: Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple: Spotify: Presented By: Uncommon Change
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The High Cost of Fitting In: Reclaiming Your Power as a Neurodivergent Leader ft. Rita Ramakrishnan
01/28/2026
The High Cost of Fitting In: Reclaiming Your Power as a Neurodivergent Leader ft. Rita Ramakrishnan
For many tech leaders—especially the neurodivergent—success often feels like a performance. You mirror the behaviors you see, fit ourselves into neurotypical boxes, and pay for it with our mental and physical health. But leadership doesn’t have to be a grind. When you stop fighting your own wiring and start leveraging your Pattern Recognition Engine, you don't just work faster—you work with Cognitive Ease. In this episode of Uncommon Leadership Podcast, Michael Hunter sits down with neurodivergent executive coach and researcher Rita Ramakrishnan to debug the Masking Tax and introduce a new operating system for leadership: Cognitive Ease. What's Waiting For You Inside the Episode? A startling reality—your manager has more impact on your mental health than your therapist or your partner. We discuss how to use this influence as leadership telemetry, not a burden of guilt. How to stop reacting on the dance floor of daily fires and step onto the balcony to see the patterns. This is the core of Choice Architecture. How to stop decoding your workplace and start co-creating it. We talk about the simple, 10-minute conversations to integrate your team’s collective intelligence. Energy Mapping: How to identify the Special Sauce in your day—the moments that leave you energized instead of depleted. Whether you are navigating ADHD, the autism spectrum, or simply the overwhelming complexity of modern business, this conversation is your guide to reclaiming your peace and your power. Loved this? Continue binging. Watch new episodes of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast: YouTube: Or sign up for the Uncommon Leadership newsletter at Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple: Spotify: Presented By: Uncommon Change #NeurodivergentLeadership #ADHDLeadership #AutismInTech #CognitiveEase #RitaRamakrishnan #UncommonLeadership #MichaelHunter #UncommonTeams #UncommonHero About the Speakers Rita Ramakrishnan Rita Ramakrishnan is an executive neurodivergent coach, team coach and facilitator, and researcher at UPenn dedicated to neurodivergent success factors. As the founder of Iksana Consulting, she helps leaders dismantle the "masking tax" and achieve cognitive ease through a strengths-based lens. Rita is dedicated to empowering high-performers to lead with authenticity, peace, and systemic resilience. Connect with Rita Ramakrishnan : LinkedIn: Website: Michael Hunter Drawing from his experience working with tech leaders across six continents—from tiny startups to mega-corps, Michael Hunter partners with tech leaders to uncover the invisible dynamics that block quality, stall change, and quietly drain energy from their teams. He helps leaders unlock the heroic leadership within them and their teams—and often recover parts of themselves that may have gotten a little lost along the way. Connect with Michael Hunter: Website: LinkedIn:
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From Debt to Real Wealth: Debugging Your Financial System ft. Julie Murphy
01/21/2026
From Debt to Real Wealth: Debugging Your Financial System ft. Julie Murphy
You cannot separate your numbers from your nervous system. When you operate from a "hijacked" state—driven by financial pasts, debt snowballs, or "rich but empty" milestones—you’re driving on the rough shoulder of the road. You’re wrecking your suspension (your health and relationships) and wondering why the journey feels like a grind. Success without joy is neither an achievement nor joyful. It’s just a "leaky container" waiting to drain your energy. In this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast, I, Michael Hunter, am joined by Julie Murphy, a financial healer and the president of JMC Wealth, with over 25 years of experience. Julie moves past the corporate "theatre" of finance to help you align your "internal tech stack" with the life you actually want to live. In this episode, we walk you through the PACT process to reclaim your financial and personal energy: Picturing & Accepting: How to stop the "shame and blame" cycle and create a neutral map of your current reality. The Nervous System Upgrade: Why you can’t manifest success with a contracted nervous system Financial Offense: Move from being managed by debt to becoming your own bank by redirecting payments into your own future. The Alignment Track: Why embodied culture and personal authenticity outperform generic "values-on-posters" in every facet of life and business. If you’re ready to start uncovering the invisible dynamics that are holding your team—and your wealth—back, grab a seat. Let's talk. If you're here to learn more about self-alignment, authentic leadership, and recognizing patterns of the past that are stalling change, please subscribe to the Uncommon Leadership Podcast today! Sign up for the Uncommon Leadership newsletter at Watch the Uncommon Leadership Podcast: YouTube: Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple: Spotify: Presented By: Uncommon Change [Tech Leadership, Building Real Wealth, Success & Sustainability, Financial Alignment, Executive Burnout, Julie Murphy, Michael Hunter, Uncommon Leadership, Career Alignment, Authentic Leadership] #UncommonLeadership #FinancialHealing #UncommonLeadership #TechLeadership #WealthAlignment About the Speakers Julie Murphy Julie Murphy is a Chicago‑based certified financial planner and the president of JMC Wealth Management. Often referred to as a "financial healer," she focuses on the intersection of money, emotions, and spiritual alignment to help individuals achieve what she calls "Real Wealth." She is the author of several influential books, including Awaken Your Wealth and The Emotion Behind Money, which guide readers in transforming their subconscious beliefs and relationship with finances. Connect with Julie Murphy : Website: LinkedIn: Michael Hunter Drawing from his experience working with tech leaders across six continents—from tiny startups to mega-corps, Michael Hunter partners with tech leaders to uncover the invisible dynamics that block quality, stall change, and quietly drain energy from their teams. He helps leaders unlock the heroic leadership within them and their teams—and often recover parts of themselves that may have gotten a little lost along the way. Connect with Michael Hunter: Website: LinkedIn:
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Moving from Values on the Wall to Authenticity in the Room ft. Henry Suryawirawan
01/14/2026
Moving from Values on the Wall to Authenticity in the Room ft. Henry Suryawirawan
If you see your team stalling, projects dragging, and an invisible friction you can’t quite name—this podcast is for you. When tech leaders feel a gap between expectations and outcomes, their first natural response is often to withdraw or try to fix the situation with more rules and processes. And without even realizing it, that distance creates a cycle of silence. Your team begins to play it safe, hiding the very "human data" you need to actually move forward. In this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast, I, Michael Hunter, am joined by Henry Suryawirawan—an engineering leader whose journey through companies like Google Cloud and ThoughtWorks has given him a front-row seat to the invisible dynamics of high-performing teams. Together, we explore ways to move past the corporate "performance" to look at how a few intentional leadership shifts can dissolve that friction and get things moving again. We’ll walk through three practical paths to reclaim your team’s energy: How to build quiet, genuine confidence through small, low-pressure experiments that allow you to lead as your true self. Learn how to treat rejection and uncertainty simply as "useful data." By shifting your perspective, you can navigate the messiness of leadership with less personal stress and more clarity. We break down the simple, everyday actions that help your team feel seen and supported, turning a "stalled" environment into one where people feel safe enough to be brilliant again. We explore why leader‑led, embodied culture outperforms values‑on‑posters in hiring, retention, and delivery. If you’re ready to stop faking culture and start uncovering the invisible dynamics that are holding your team back, tune in now. For more inspiring conversations like this, sign up for the Uncommon Leadership newsletter at Watch the Uncommon Leadership Podcast: YouTube: Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple: Spotify: Presented By: Uncommon Change About the Speakers Henry Suryawirawan Henry Suryawirawan is Head of Engineering at LXA, an engineering leader, cloud advocate, and LinkedIn Top Voice, as well as the host of Tech Lead Journal, a podcast on technical leadership and excellence. He has nearly two decades of experience across fintech, cloud, government, banking, and consulting, with a deep focus on high‑performing engineering teams. Connect with Henry Suryawirawan : Website: LinkedIn: Tech Lead Journal podcast: Michael Hunter Drawing from his experience working with tech leaders across six continents—from tiny startups to mega-corps, Michael Hunter partners with tech leaders to uncover the invisible dynamics that block quality, stall change, and quietly drain energy from their teams. He helps leaders unlock the heroic leadership within them and their teams—and often recover parts of themselves that may have gotten a little lost along the way. Connect with Michael Hunter: Website: LinkedIn:
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Why Great Leaders Get Stuck [And What Actually Frees Them] ft. Gary Montalvo
01/07/2026
Why Great Leaders Get Stuck [And What Actually Frees Them] ft. Gary Montalvo
Tech leaders are struggling because they’re carrying too much— too much pressure to have answers, too much responsibility for outcomes, too little space to be human. And it’s exhausting. In the latest episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast, I, Michael Hunter from Uncommon Teams, sit down with leadership and mindset coach Gary Montalvo for a deeply honest conversation about what actually blocks leaders from creating healthy teams, resilient cultures, and sustainable results. From his early days as a 22-year-old art director at Sony Music to building his own coaching practice, Gary reveals how success without authenticity led him to burnout and self-doubt—and how learning to “take yourself wherever you go” became his greatest breakthrough. ——— Inside this episode, we'll explore: Why most leadership struggles are identity challenges—not skill gaps How “being liked” can silently undermine accountability and growth The difference between authenticity and emotional oversharing Why reframing experience changes how you lead under pressure How leaders unintentionally recreate old survival strategies at work How small internal shifts compound into cultural transformation ——— Who This Episode Is For Founders who feel like the bottleneck in their own business Tech leaders navigating growth, complexity, or burnout Managers who are tired of “doing everything right” but still feel stuck Anyone leading people through change without a clear map Tune in now and follow the Uncommon Leadership Podcast for more conversations like this. ——— Core Takeaway Leadership doesn’t improve when you try harder. It transforms when you become more honest—first with yourself, then with others. ——— Speaker Bios Gary Montalvo Gary Montalvo is a leadership and mindset coach with nearly 20+ years of experience helping solopreneurs, startups, and executives get unstuck and lead with confidence. Also a former CGO and host of The Ownership Game podcast, he combines real talk, practical strategy, and contagious energy to guide leaders through growth and transformation. Known for blending humility, humor, and accountability, Gary meets leaders where they are and challenges them to expand what’s possible. Connect with Gary Montalvo on LinkedIn: Michael Hunter Michael Hunter partners with tech leaders and founding teams to uncover the invisible cultural and emotional dynamics that quietly stall change, drain energy, and block quality. As the host of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast, Michael explores what it really takes to lead with resilience, clarity, and integrity—especially in complex, high-pressure environments. His work helps leaders recover parts of themselves and their teams that may have gotten lost along the way, so they can lead with intention, ease, and impact. Because the most powerful upgrade isn’t in your tech stack. It’s in you. Connect with Michael Hunter: Read more about his work: ——— [ Uncommon Leadership, Authentic Leadership, Tech Leadership, Founder Burnout, Culture Change, Psychological Safety, Accountability vs Approval, Human-Centered Leadership, Executive Coaching, Resilient Leadership, Leading Through Change, Uncommon Teams, Michael Hunter, Gary Montalvo] ——— Was this conversation worth your time? If yes, please give us a thumbs up and subscribe to the Uncommon Leadership Podcast Series. Get notified on YouTube- Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple- Spotify- Presented By: UncommonChange
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Uncommon Roundtable: How High-Performing Tech Teams Actually Build Resilience
12/24/2025
Uncommon Roundtable: How High-Performing Tech Teams Actually Build Resilience
As leaders, we’re taught to push through. Work harder. Focus longer. Stay disciplined. But what if resilience isn’t built by endurance at all? What if it’s shaped in the small, almost invisible moments—how teams reset, reconnect, and rehumanize their work before exhaustion sets in? In this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Roundtable Podcast, Michael Hunter from Uncommon Teams brings together a group of deeply respected practitioners to explore resilience not as a personal trait—but as a systemic capability. What unfolds is an honest, experience-driven conversation about how leaders, teams, and organizations either preserve or quietly drain energy through everyday choices. This isn’t about wellness perks or productivity tricks. It’s about how work actually feels—and what helps people stay clear, creative, and engaged in complex environments. In this conversation, you’ll learn: Why resilience is built through micro-resets, not heroic recovery How short, intentional breaks unlock focus, creativity, and momentum Why movement and breath restore emotional and cognitive clarity faster than pushing through How joy, laughter, and human connection increase performance instead of distracting from it What leaders unintentionally do that shuts down energy and initiative Why vertical collaboration transforms trust, speed, and decision quality How curiosity and play fuel sustainable excellence in complex systems Why resilience must be designed into the system, not demanded from people Resilience isn’t about pushing harder—it’s about creating conditions where people can recover, think, and adapt while doing the work. Meet the Panel of Speakers Paige Watson Technical coach and community mentor focused on building cohesive, high-performing engineering teams through quality-first practices. Connect on LinkedIn: Fortune Buchholtz Business agility practitioner and agile logician who blends systems thinking, emotional awareness, and facilitation to help teams build resilience and cognitive agility. Connect on LinkedIn: Johanna Rothman Author and pragmatic management consultant helping leaders and teams navigate change, collaboration, and adaptive product development. Connect on LinkedIn: Tim Ottinger Agile coach and Extreme Programming expert known for bringing curiosity, creativity, and human-centered thinking into software delivery. Connect on LinkedIn: Meet the Host Michael Hunter Michael Hunter went from debugging code to debugging people—and now helps people debug themselves. Through the Uncommon Leadership Podcast and his work with tech leaders, he explores the invisible cultural and emotional dynamics that stall change and drain teams. His work focuses on resilience, clarity, and leading with the whole self. Read more: Connect on LinkedIn: Was this conversation worth your time? If yes, give us a thumbs up and subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes. For more inspiring conversations like this, sign up for the Uncommon Leadership newsletter at Watch the Uncommon Leadership Podcast: YouTube: Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple: Spotify: Presented By: Uncommon Change
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The Hidden Dynamics That Make or Break Tech Teams ft. Keith Klain
12/17/2025
The Hidden Dynamics That Make or Break Tech Teams ft. Keith Klain
Most leaders believe their teams go quiet because people fear conflict, don’t know what to say, or lack confidence. But that’s almost never the real reason. In this episode of Uncommon Leadership, Keith Klain joins me to reveal a harder, more human truth: Teams go quiet when they stop trusting how honest their leaders will be with them. Keith shares the shift that transformed every organization he led—from global banks to fast-paced tech teams. When he stopped treating information as currency and started telling people the real “why” behind decisions, something remarkable happened: People became more candid Critical information finally flowed upward Change stopped feeling like a threat Attrition fell because people felt represented—not managed Psychological safety grew because honesty wasn’t rare anymore This episode is a guide for leaders ready to move beyond performance optics and into real stewardship—the kind that earns loyalty, sharper thinking, and genuine collaboration. -- Your Key Learnings Through This Podcast Why teams lose trust long before leaders notice How withholding information quietly collapses decision quality The difference between “managing” people and sponsoring them Why transparency strengthens performance, not fragility How to communicate honestly without overwhelming your team Why people don’t need all the details—they need clear intent If you lead through change, complexity, or uncertainty, this episode will challenge how you show up—and elevate what your team believes is possible with you. -- About the Guest: Keith Klain Keith is a globally recognized QA and testing executive, director at KPMG UK, and past head of Barclays Global Test Center. He’s known for building world-class teams, challenging outdated testing standards, and driving business-focused quality across industries. Keith’s “Quality Remarks” podcast and writings have helped shape the next generation of tech leaders. Connect with Keith: LinkedIn: Knowledge stack: About the Host: Michael Hunter Michael partners with top tech leadership teams across six continents to create extraordinary cultures. With 35 years of experience at companies like Microsoft, Salesforce, and Tableau, he helps leaders sustain meaningful change. Michael believes that only by integrating mind, heart, body, spirit, and intuition can leaders truly navigate change safely and build a lasting legacy of impact + human-centered leadership. Connect with Michael on LinkedIn: Further Exploration: -- For more inspiring conversations like this, sign up for the Uncommon Leadership newsletter at Watch the Uncommon Leadership Podcast: YouTube: Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple: Spotify: Presented By: Uncommon Change
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Six Pillars of Resilient Leadership ft. Jim Carlough
12/10/2025
Six Pillars of Resilient Leadership ft. Jim Carlough
What if the real competitive advantage in your organization isn’t your strategy or your technology— but the way you show up for your people when everything feels uncertain? In this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast, I’m joined by Jim Carlough—a veteran healthcare executive, strategist, and author. Jim’s journey spans from captaining sports teams in his youth to helping organizations find their footing again. Through every experience, Jim kept returning to the same anchors: persistence, focus, and a genuine responsibility to his team. And this became the heart of his leadership philosophy. At the heart of Jim’s approach are his six pillars of leadership, with integrity as the foundation upon which everything else rests. Join in as Jim speaks about how he uses data, curiosity, humor, and empathy to recognize: When people are struggling Build trust during times of transition And to help each person find the role—and the path—that genuinely fits who they are. Grab a seat. Tune in now. About the Guest: Jim Carlough Jim is an accomplished business strategist, speaker, and author with over three decades of leadership experience in healthcare, from startups to industry leaders. He is known for building high‑performing teams and guiding organizations through transformational change while keeping people at the center. Connect with Jim: LinkedIn: About the Host: Michael Hunter Michael partners with top tech leadership teams across six continents to create extraordinary cultures. With 35 years of experience at companies like Microsoft, Salesforce, and Tableau, he helps leaders sustain meaningful change. Michael believes that only by integrating mind, heart, body, spirit, and intuition can leaders truly navigate change safely and build a lasting legacy of impact + human-centered leadership. The best way to connect with Michael Hunter is on LinkedIn: More from Michael Hunter: For more inspiring conversations like this, sign up for the Uncommon Leadership newsletter at Watch the Uncommon Leadership Podcast: YouTube: Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple: Spotify: Presented By: Uncommon Change
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How Top Leaders Build Teams That Speak Up ft. Fortune Buchholtz
12/03/2025
How Top Leaders Build Teams That Speak Up ft. Fortune Buchholtz
Are your teams holding back? Are they experimenting, speaking up, or taking risks when the stakes are high? If not, you're dealing with a problem that hasn't surfaced yet. And it's not a skill problem. Or a process problem. It’s most likely a culture problem. When your people don’t feel safe, they don't take risks. They hide their vulnerabilities. And in an environment like this, even your best talent stays silent — or quietly leaves. Hi there! Welcome back! I’m Michael Hunter from Uncommon Teams, and in this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast, I’m joined by Fortune Buchholtz—business agility specialist, fractional transformation leader, and AI-assisted agile logician. Together, we dive deep into the real impact of leadership on culture and business outcomes, exploring: Why traditional command-and-control leadership slows innovation & velocity How rewarded vulnerability can transform psychological safety into a strategic advantage The invisible costs of a poor work culture [ high attrition rates / high talent acquisition costs] How curiosity, transparency, and authenticity can lead to continuous improvement If you’re a CXO, founder, or senior leader looking to stop losing talent and trying to scale up with precision—this conversation is for you. Grab a seat. Hit play. Let’s transform the way you show up for your people. — Meet the Speakers Fortune Buchholtz Buchholtz is a business agility specialist with more than 20 years of experience as a fractional transformation leader, AI-assisted agile logician, and certified Scrum Master. Her work lives at the intersection of human systems and technical precision, helping leaders cultivate clarity and trust in an increasingly complex world. She integrates TPS/Lean, agile, and systems thinking into organizations, unlocking continuous improvement at every level. Find Fortune Buchholtz on LinkedIn: Michael Hunter Michael Hunter, The Uncommon Hero, helps tech leaders unlock resilience, adaptability, and ease—without burnout. For over 35 years across six continents, he has partnered with engineering and people leaders at top companies like Microsoft, Salesforce, and Tableau to retain and elevate talent, build human-centered leadership, and create cultures that support velocity and joy. Connect with Michael Hunter: Read more about his work: Book a complimentary, no-obligation call: — Was this conversation worth your time? If yes, please give us a thumbs up and subscribe to the Uncommon Leadership Podcast Series. Subscribe and get notified on YouTube- Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple- Spotify- Presented By: UncommonTeams
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The Chiropractic Leadership ft. Rita Malvone
11/26/2025
The Chiropractic Leadership ft. Rita Malvone
Why aren't your teams bringing you their best ideas? Why are they silent in meetings? Most likely, they don't feel psychologically safe to speak up. Or they haven't connected with the real you yet. If this sounds true for your team, your leadership approach is heading into isolation, and you are facing a quiet crisis. The good news is that it's not too late, and together—we can fix it! Hi there! I'm Michael Hunter from Uncommon Teams, and welcome to another exciting episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast. Joining me today is Rita Malvone, a renowned business performance expert and an executive coach. Today, we’re diving straight to the core issues of leadership: cultivating the right workplace culture, establishing true psychological safety, and building authentic relationships. We'll also explore the philosophy of Chiropractic Leadership—the art of finding the small, authentic adjustments that create massive organizational transformation. Through this approach, leaders can slowly realign human connections to unlock team potential. Because at the end of the day, culture isn't something you do or say. It's about whether your people are willing to express their opinions in a meeting. Before you go: What's that one small, precise, authentic adjustment you'd like to make as a leader for lasting impact and growth? Not sure? Grab a seat and hit play. Our work begins now. -- What We Discuss: 01:04 Intros 04:43 The Work-Life Myth: Choosing Integration over Balance 14:41 The Tigers, Dolphins, and Owls Communication Framework 24:31 Humanizing the Distant CEO 31:32 Communication is about what the receiver receives 34:14 Reacting vs. Responding in Leadership 38:22 The Business Case for Safety 42:20 The "47th in Line" Promotion Story 49:59 The Culture Audit 01:07:39 The Leadership Shadow: Why Authenticity Must Be 24/7 -- In Conversation With: Rita Malvone A Certified DEI Professional and an ICF ACC coach, Rita is a New Yorker based in Shanghai, committed to driving impactful change through authentic communications. Drawing on her extensive corporate background, she guides industry leaders through corporate transformations, cultural alignment, and team effectiveness. Her notable work includes leading cultural integration for the Volkswagen Anhui NEV Hub and designing new leader programs for Airbus Greater China. Rita Malvone on LinkedIn: Connect via email: Michael Hunter Michael Hunter went from debugging code to debugging people. Now he helps people debug themselves. As the host of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast, Michael Hunter explores the why, how, and what of authentic leadership. He works primarily with tech leaders and founding teams, helping them navigate organizational chaos and change with resilience and grace. Connect with Michael Hunter: Read more about his work: -- Was this conversation worth your time? If yes, please give us a thumbs up and subscribe to the Uncommon Leadership Podcast Series. Get notified on YouTube- Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple- Spotify- Presented By: UncommonChange
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Why True Leaders Create Space, Not Rules ft. Ravi Iyer
11/19/2025
Why True Leaders Create Space, Not Rules ft. Ravi Iyer
When 85% of medical practices in the USA shut their doors, Dr. Ravi Iyer, a Harvard-trained physician and human potential expert, became the last line of defense as he and his team kept theirs open. Dr. Iyer's mantra, all for one and one for all, led him to serve over 100,000 patients through the chaos and disruption caused by the pandemic. Hello and welcome to another fascinating episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast—I'm your host, Michael Hunter from Uncommon Teams. Today, we are conversing with Dr. Iyer—one of the rare TED speakers whose talks were removed and reinstated twice—shares how his philosophy of attention, connection, and community helped his team thrive while others froze. His work reframes centuries-old wisdom through modern language, teaching leaders to move from reaction to observation, from narrative to presence, and from chaos to clarity. He reminds us that leadership isn’t about control—it’s about creating space. Space for others to expand, to feel safe, and to see possibilities they couldn’t see before. If you're ready for the masterclass on gaining effortless mastery over chaos through empathy, this podcast is for you! Tune in today! -- Sneak-Peek into the Podcast Insights: Integrate, don’t separate. Real leadership is how you bring all of yourself into every moment. Fear is the real virus. Managing emotions is the first step to managing a crisis. Innovation isn’t complex. It’s immediate action born from attention and observation. You are not your role or title. You are the awareness within which all stories unfold. Five minutes of mindful perception daily can expand your calm, increase clarity, and heighten influence. As your inner quiet grows, others feel safer, heard, and empowered to lead themselves. -- Speaker Bios Dr. Ravi Iyer Dr. Ravi Iyer is a globally recognized iconoclast, a 3x TEDx Speaker, and a Harvard-trained physician/scientist, celebrated for his work in human potential and organizational transformation. His talks, including the viral "The Power of Intentional Focus," have racked up millions of views, positioning him as one of the most-viewed TEDx speakers of 2024. As a neurodiversity pioneer and AuDHD thought leader, Dr. Iyer has spent more than four decades driving transformation across organizations. He's also been recognized by Who's Who in America for reshaping corporate culture and influencing neuro-inclusive policies. Dr. Ravi Iyer on LinkedIn: Michael Hunter Michael Hunter went from debugging code to debugging people. Now he helps people debug themselves. As the host of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast, Michael Hunter explores the why, how, and what of authentic leadership. He works primarily with tech leaders and founding teams, helping them navigate organizational chaos and change with resilience and grace. Connect with Michael Hunter: Read more about his work: -- Was this conversation worth your time? If yes, please give us a thumbs up and subscribe to the Uncommon Leadership Podcast Series. Get notified on YouTube- Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple- Spotify- Presented By: UncommonChange
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How Self-Prioritization Drives Better Teams, Systems, & Outcomes ft. Lynn Juang
11/12/2025
How Self-Prioritization Drives Better Teams, Systems, & Outcomes ft. Lynn Juang
A lot of leaders believe that they need to sacrifice themselves to stand out. But what if prioritizing yourself—your clarity, your energy, and your pace—is the most strategic thing you can do for your team as well as your organization? What if you had to be a little selfish? Putting on your oxygen mask before you rushed to help everyone else around you? Welcome to another inspiring episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast. I'm your host, Michael Hunter, and today I'm honored to explore what it means to pause, reset, and focus on self with Lynn Juang, the founder of Frameworks Consulting. For two decades, Lynn has helped organizations translate their big vision into actionable frameworks and systems. Take a seat and join us as we dive deep into the paradox of modern leadership in this episode. From why selfishness is your strategy to why the act of pausing deliberately is the fastest way to sustainable growth—we truly break down what it means for a leader to find their pace. If you're someone who experiences overwhelm, chaos, or burnout, please don't miss out on this episode! -- Your Leadership Takeaways From This Episode: 1/ True clarity comes from knowing exactly when to push and when to pause, not just rushing forward. 2/ You cannot lead from an empty well. Practicing healthy selfishness is a great way to prevent burnout and build inner resilience. 3/ Learn to walk away from obsolete processes. Define the "why" for every process so that your team understands where they need to go and can find faster, better ways to get there. 4/ Learn simple, low-lift practices to build your "gut feeling" muscle—a game-changer for when you need to take accurate, high-stakes decisions. 5/ Always start with the Why. Gain context through conversations before making an assumption. Having open conversations about work [ and beyond] creates a psychologically safe environment—something your team needs to trust you and each other. -- Meet the Speakers Lynn Juang Juang is an award-winning creative leader, strategic consultant, and the founder of For over two decades, she has partnered with creative leaders, moving their biggest ideas from ambition to reality through strategic clarity and operational structure. As a systems thinker, Juang advises creative agencies on workflows, brand strategy, and operations. Through her work, she aims to unlock creative flow, remove operational hurdles, and build springboards for continuous growth. Connect with Lynn Juang via email: Lynn Juang on LinkedIn: Michael Hunter Michael Hunter went from debugging code to debugging people. Now he helps people debug themselves. As the host of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast, Michael Hunter explores the why, how, and what of authentic leadership. He works primarily with tech leaders and founding teams, helping them navigate organizational chaos and change with resilience and grace. Connect with Michael Hunter: Read more about his work: -- Was this conversation worth your time? If yes, please give us a thumbs up and subscribe to the Uncommon Leadership Podcast Series. Get notified on YouTube- Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple- Spotify- Presented By: UncommonChange
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Resilience Starts with Self-Care ft. Dr. Amanda Lynne Smith
11/05/2025
Resilience Starts with Self-Care ft. Dr. Amanda Lynne Smith
For the first 15 years of her career, Dr. Amanda Lynne Smith was always the first to arrive and last to leave. And she expected the same relentless pace from everyone around. Then COVID arrived, and with it, an unexpected gift: the permission to breathe. But this isn't just a story about work-life balance. It's the story that led to a groundbreaking realization—you cannot keep pouring if your cup is empty. It's about the time when Smith realized that personal resilience is an important business strategy, something a lot of organizations overlook. Welcome to another inspiring episode of the Uncommon Leadership. I'm Michael Hunter, and today I'm honored to explore what it means to be resilient and courageous with Dr. Smith, who has worked relentlessly for over 25 years to bridge the gap between education and workforce needs. From "courageous conversations" that build unbreakable teams to a restaurant motto that redefined her leadership, we discuss how leaders can navigate the most challenging business issues by focusing on heart and integrity. Grab a seat and pay attention if you want to see how resilient your team could be when they finally learn to speak their truth and experience discomfort with grace. -- Podcast Highlights: Prioritize filling your own cup (self-care) before you pour into others. When you give permission for self-care, it cascades through teams, families, and communities. Investing in culture and employee happiness is a direct financial strategy that saves massive costs on recruitment, onboarding, and boosts customer retention. Genuine, heart-led leadership means extending an open door and treating employees like family. Uncommon Leadership stems from simple, non-negotiable personal principles: integrity, kindness, speaking your truth, accepting the uncontrollable, and faith. -- About the Speakers Dr. Amanda Lynne Smith Dr. Amanda Lynne Smith is a dynamic, heart-led C-Suite executive who has spent the last 25 years shaping the future of education and the workforce. She specializes in scaling online education, product development, and building high-performing teams that truly believe in their mission. Smith is focused on using tech-driven solutions to make sure learning directly translates into student success and impactful career outcomes. Connect with Dr. Amanda Lynne Smith : Michael Hunter Michael specializes in moving leaders "from debugging code to debugging people to helping people debug themselves." He hosts the popular Uncommon Leadership Podcast, where he explores how vulnerability, self-awareness, and authentic connection transform teams and drive sustainable growth. His work focuses on navigating organizational chaos and turning complex challenges into stepping stones for innovation and resilient leadership impact. Connect with Micahel Hunter: -- Was this conversation worth your time? If yes, please give us a thumbs up and subscribe to the Uncommon Leadership Podcast Series. Get notified on YouTube- Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple- Spotify- Presented By: UncommonChange
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Is Your Greatest Leadership Asset Hidden in Plain Sight? ft. Alfredo Borodowski
10/29/2025
Is Your Greatest Leadership Asset Hidden in Plain Sight? ft. Alfredo Borodowski
Have you ever hit a personal rock bottom that threatened your entire career? Our guest today, Dr. Alfredo Borodowski, knows that feeling intimately. Alfredo’s story is one of total collapse and remarkable redemption. He didn't find his way back with better systems; he found it by discovering his own forgotten character strengths. Hello! This is Michael Hunter from Uncommon Teams, and I'd love to welcome you to another episode of Uncommon Leadership, where we explore what it truly takes to thrive, not just survive, in today's chaotic world. Today, I sit down with Dr. Alfredo Borodowski, who helps global firms turn organizational resistance into growth, to uncover the following: The crucial difference between talent and character strengths. How knowing your 'Top Five' can boost your performance by up to 18 times. Why the old management myths (pressure brings results!) are destroying your culture. And how you can navigate personal chaos and find your internal compass through self-knowledge. Get ready to discover why knowing who you are is the ultimate secret to peak performance. Grab a seat, welcome Alfredo Borodowski, and begin a truly transformational conversation! -- About the Speakers Alfredo Borodowski Alfredo Borodowski is a bestselling author and Peak Performance expert who helps leaders harness their strengths. With over three decades of experience advising CEOs and senior leaders at firms like Motorola, his expertise lies in turning workplace resistance into tangible growth. Alfredo's powerful personal story—moving from an esteemed rabbi to overcoming severe mental illness—gives him a unique, empathetic lens for guiding organizations through complex change, always focusing on clarity, empathy, and results. Connect with Borodowski : Michael Hunter Michael specializes in moving leaders "from debugging code to debugging people to helping people debug themselves." He hosts the popular Uncommon Leadership Podcast, where he explores how vulnerability, self-awareness, and authentic connection transform teams and drive sustainable growth. His work focuses on navigating organizational chaos and turning complex challenges into stepping stones for innovation and resilient leadership impact. Connect with Micahel Hunter: -- Was this conversation worth your time? If yes, please give us a thumbs up and subscribe to the Uncommon Leadership Podcast Series. Get notified on YouTube- Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple- Spotify- Presented By: UncommonChange
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The One Thing Uncommon Leaders Get Right ft. Romie Montpeirous
10/22/2025
The One Thing Uncommon Leaders Get Right ft. Romie Montpeirous
Hello there! I'm Michael Hunter, founder of Uncommon Teams, and I'm so glad you found this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast. I started this series because I constantly meet leaders battling burnout and searching for deeper impact. While I may not have all the answers you're looking for, I truly believe that professional and personal success hinges on aligning personal fulfillment with business objectives. And today, my extraordinary guest, Romie Montpeirous from Leadership from the Heart, talks about the role of adaptability and empathy in leadership. Uncommon leaders embrace adaptability—shifting their approach to meet their team’s needs. They're present, self-aware, and help their team find resilience in the face of chaos. Our conversation then deepens into the surprising link between a leader’s vulnerability and a team’s loyalty. We explore how to find your own version of work-life balance and why "ready" is always a decision, not a feeling. Join us, and you just might find the key to a better way of leading, in work and life. -- Key takeaways from this podcast: The most effective leaders move between different styles, adjusting their approach based on the team's needs. Trust is earned, not demanded. Authentic team loyalty is a result of a leader's care and empathy, not authority. A leader who is present and transparent builds a culture of psychological safety, allowing the team to show up as their full selves. Help your team overcome fear and uncertainty by walking them through their "worst-case scenario" to show they are resilient. Equilibrium is personal. The goal isn't a rigid work-life balance, but helping each team member find their own unique sense of harmony. -- About the Speakers Leadership Mentor| Founder & Lead Coach @ | Change Management Leader | Expert at Transforming Cultures | As the founder of Leadership from the Heart, Romie Montpeirous is dedicated to cultivating authentic and empathetic leaders. Romie's philosophy centers on the idea that true excellence emerges when leaders bring their whole selves to their teams. Specializing in empowering operations leaders, Romie helps clients overcome internal conflicts, boost collaboration, and build resilient, high-performing cultures. Holding an MBA and a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Romie is an expert at merging emotional intelligence with data-driven strategies to achieve tangible business results. Founder @ | Interlocutor / Curious Host @ | Author | Change & Innovation Partner I'm Michael Hunter, the founder of Uncommon Teams. All my work is driven by a single mission: to help leaders, CXOs, and founders build uncommon teams. These are the teams where every person feels valued, psychologically safe, and confident to bring their authentic selves to work. Drawing from my experience with leaders across six continents, I've developed a battle-tested framework that is always precisely customized for you, helping you greet change like an old friend. My deepest satisfaction comes from helping leaders not just envision their legacy, but truly inhabit it. By integrating your whole self into everything you do, you can discover ease, freedom, and a resilient leadership journey that creates a safe organizational culture for everyone. -- Was this conversation worth your time? If yes, please give us a thumbs up and subscribe to the Uncommon Leadership Podcast Series. Get notified on YouTube- Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple- Spotify- Presented By: UncommonChange
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The Making Of A Leader ft. Nick Goodin
10/15/2025
The Making Of A Leader ft. Nick Goodin
What if the things you’ve been hiding are the very things that make you an extraordinary leader? In this episode of the Uncommon Leadership podcast, Michael Hunter sits down with Nick Goodin, a former chief product officer, to unpack a truth most leaders never discover: your personal story is your greatest asset. Nick shares his own incredible journey—from a traumatic childhood to the sudden, unexpected loss of his job—revealing how he learned to deconstruct life's challenges and rebuild with purpose. Through his unique philosophy of first principles thinking, Nick provides a roadmap for : cultivating self-awareness, empathy, and trust as your core leadership pillars. This is a profound exploration of how you can align your deepest beliefs with your professional impact, creating cultures where innovation isn't just a goal, but a natural outcome of the process you follow. -- TL; DW? Here's a rapid summary: The Problem: Some leaders often feel they have to hide their personal struggles and conform to an idea of strength, leading to burnout and mediocrity. The Solution: This episode offers an authentic, actionable playbook for leaders to navigate uncertainty and find their power by embracing their full, human story. Even if it's not as heroic as you'd like it to be. A Personal Journey: Nick Goodin shares his history of growing up with a hidden identity, which taught him the vital skill of deconstructing narratives—a practice he later applied to his professional life. The Core Idea: True leadership is not about managing teams but understanding (and acknowledging) the human side. By prioritizing self-awareness and leading with empathy, you build trust that leads to innovation. Key Takeaway: Your personal story, your curiosity, and your values are not just parts of your identity—they are your greatest leadership assets. It's time to stop hiding them and start leveraging them. -- About the Speakers: Board Member @ | Ex-CPO @ | Author | Executive Coach | Championing Human-Centered Design & Narrative Intelligence With a career spanning from product innovation to brand strategy, Nick Goodin is known for building spaces where both products and people can thrive. As the former Chief Product Officer at Ice Barrel, Nick has led cross-functional teams to scale new products, promoting empathy and psychological safety as guiding principles. He believes that every great innovation starts with a determination to transform uncertainty into possibility. Now on a mission to share the insights that redefine how we create, lead, and live, Nick challenges leaders to see the world differently. He helps them navigate uncertainty and dig deeper through the power of perspective, storytelling, and intentional choices. More on Nick Goodin: Founder @ | Interlocutor / Curious Host @ | Author | Change & Innovation Partner Michael Hunter partners with top tech leadership teams across six continents to create extraordinary cultures. With 35 years of experience at companies like Microsoft, Salesforce, and Tableau, he helps leaders sustain meaningful change. Michael believes that only by integrating mind, heart, body, spirit, and intuition can leaders truly navigate change safely and build a lasting legacy of impact + human-centered leadership. The best way to connect with Michael Hunter is on LinkedIn: More from Michael Hunter: -- Was this podcast worth your time? If yes, please give us a thumbs up and tune into the Uncommon Leadership Podcast Series. Get notified on YouTube- For more, explore Uncommon Teams: Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple- Spotify-
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The Secret To Navigating Uncertainty ft. Keith Hopper
10/08/2025
The Secret To Navigating Uncertainty ft. Keith Hopper
This story is going to resonate with so many leaders out there: Once upon a time, you built your career/business on a foundation of expertise and experience. You followed the rules and made sure every plan was perfectly laid out. But lately, you’ve started to feel stuck. You're slowly realizing the old playbook no longer works in a world of constant change. In this episode, I, Michael Hunter, the host of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast, sit down with innovation expert Keith Hopper to expose a rather uncomfortable truth behind this feeling. The problem isn’t a lack of experience or a bad plan. It’s a fundamental confusion between risk—something you can prepare for—and uncertainty—the great unknown that you can’t possibly predict. Relying on an old-school project plan to handle the unpredictable is a trap. This trap leaves leaders paralyzed on a leadership teeter-totter. On one side, they make a massive, blind leap of faith that often leads to spectacular failure. On the other hand, they are so afraid of making the wrong move that they do nothing, allowing great ideas to die and their teams to stagnate. But what if there was another way? In this breakthrough conversation, Keith reveals the key to escaping this cycle. It’s a low-cost and high-reward way to learn exactly what you need to know—allowing you to move forward one small, intentional step at a time. Your next breakthrough might just be a small experiment away. So, it's time to stop waiting and start discovering. -- Grab a chair. Join the Conversation. Here's why: So that you finally stop confusing risk with uncertainty. Because the former can be managed with a plan, but the latter requires a renewed mindset. Learn how to avoid the Teeter-Totter of Leadership. Don't go all-in blindly, and don't let the fear of uncertainty stop you from moving at all. Understand the true impact of a series of tiny experiments and how it can help you learn and adapt through change. The concept of true innovation and how it begins the moment you admit you don't know the outcome. -- About the Speakers: Founder @ | Guest Lecturer @ | Author & Instructor @ | LinkedIn Top Voice in Innovation and Discovery As the founder of Danger Fort Labs, Keith Hopper advises executives and teams on how to drive organizational change and growth. He is also a guest lecturer at Harvard Business School and an author and instructor for LinkedIn Learning, where his course "Business Innovation Foundations" has reached over 80,000 students. Keith believes the best way to achieve breakthrough solutions is through experimentation and discovery. He helps leaders create work environments that move more quickly and build smarter, happier teams through continuous learning and discovery. More from Keith Hopper: Founder @ | Interlocutor / Curious Host @ | Author | Change & Innovation Partner Michael Hunter partners with top tech leadership teams across six continents to create extraordinary cultures. With 35 years of experience at companies like Microsoft, Salesforce, and Tableau, he helps leaders sustain meaningful change. Michael believes that only by integrating mind, heart, body, spirit, and intuition can leaders truly navigate change safely and build a lasting legacy of impact + human-centered leadership. The best way to connect with Michael Hunter is on LinkedIn: More from Michael Hunter: -- Was this conversation worth your time? If yes, please give us a thumbs up and tune into the Uncommon Leadership Podcast Series. Get notified on YouTube- For more, explore Uncommon Teams: Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple- Spotify-
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It's Not a People Problem, It's a System Problem ft. Melissa Appel
10/01/2025
It's Not a People Problem, It's a System Problem ft. Melissa Appel
Do you ever feel like your team is stuck? Like you’re hitting a wall and just can’t seem to move forward? In this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast, I, Michael Hunter from Uncommon Teams, am talking to Melissa Appel, an executive product management coach, advisor, and author. We get into an uncomfortable but essential truth about leadership: a leader's behavior might be the very thing holding their team back. Melissa shares a story about a leader whose fear-based culture brought an entire company to a halt, and we dive into the psychology of why punishing mistakes is the fastest way to kill innovation. But it’s not just about the problem. We give you a powerful two-part solution for navigating change and overwhelm, from a simple framework for regaining control to a game-changing mindset for solving any problem. If you're ready to stop blaming people and start fixing systems, join us as we uncover the uncommon leadership insights you need to get your team unstuck for good. -- Why This Podcast Is a Must-Watch: Solve Your Biggest Leadership Challenge: Learn the real reason behind a stagnant team and how a simple culture fix can help. Find Clarity in Chaos: Get a simple two-step framework to handle overwhelm and uncertainty by focusing on what's in your control. Fix Broken Communication: Discover the key to getting through to everyone on your team by adapting your communication style to theirs. Make Better Decisions: End pointless debates by learning the secret to making objective decisions: aligning on an obvious goal first. -- About the Speakers Executive Product Management Coach & Advisor @ | Co-Author @: Stakeholder Management for Product Leaders | Helping CPOs and teams move from Reactive to Proactive roadmaps Melissa Appel is an expert at untangling complex, "gnarly" problems across various industries. As a product coach, author, and speaker, she helps CPOs and executive teams deliver real value by getting the right people in the room and asking the right questions. Melissa focuses on the underlying people and process issues that are often the root cause of product problems. Her coaching and advisory work greatly help product leaders improve their organizations and build high-quality, effective teams. Founder @ | Interlocutor / Curious Host @ | Author | Change & Innovation Partner I'm Michael Hunter, the founder of Uncommon Teams. All my work is driven by a single mission: to help leaders, CXOs, and founders build uncommon teams. These are the teams where every person feels valued, psychologically safe, and confident to bring their authentic selves to work. Drawing from my experience with leaders across six continents, I've developed a battle-tested framework that is always precisely customized for you, helping you greet change like an old friend. My deepest satisfaction comes from helping leaders not just envision their legacy, but truly inhabit it. By integrating your whole self into everything you do, you can discover ease, freedom, and a resilient leadership journey that creates a safe organizational culture for everyone. -- Was this conversation worth your time? If yes, please give us a thumbs up and subscribe to the Uncommon Leadership Podcast Series. Get notified on YouTube- Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple- Spotify- Presented By: UncommonChange
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