Life + Leadership
by Abijah Paul
Welcome to the Life + Leadership podcast, which explores how leaders can leverage business challenges to fuel their personal growth. This podcast is for any senior leader looking to grow in their day-to-day work and drive strategic impact. Hosted by Bright Arrow Coaching founder and CEO Tegan Trovato, Life + Leadership features interviews with executives, experts, authors, and innovators about their leadership journeys both at work and in their personal lives. We’ll discuss the human factors influencing business outcomes and we’ll show you how standout leaders develop better strategies — and activate them. Plus, we’ll explore the sophistication of leadership teaming and how working on a healthy team catalyzes personal development and business results (in tandem). Life + Leadership host Tegan Trovato, a seasoned leader herself, brings a wealth of experience to the table. Having held executive and leadership team positions at renowned companies like Levi Strauss, Zynga, Xerox, and Ciel
Episodes
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Leading at Capacity: Managing Teams Through Recurrent Transformation
How much change can a company take before its best people start heading for the door? Transformation may be necessary, but piling it on top of business as usual comes at a cost. In this episode, Tegan and Maggie unpack transformation fatigue, why even experienced executives miss the warning…
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The Hidden Drivers of M&A: Leadership, Pressure and Performance
The deal may get signed on paper, but the real pressure starts long before the ink is dry. Mergers and acquisitions can push executive teams into months or even years of uncertainty, shifting identities, changing power dynamics, heavier workloads, and some very human reactions that no spreadsheet...
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Leading at the Speed of AI: Creating Sustainable Systems with John Harden
AI isn't just changing how work gets done; it's exposing how well your organization actually handles change. In this episode, Tegan talks with John Harden, founder of Lemhi, about why successful AI transformation has far more to do with leadership, communication, and systems thinking than simply...
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Succession Planning: From Talent Assumptions to Proven Readiness
Succession planning gets risky when it only becomes a priority after someone announces they're leaving. In this episode, Tegan and Maggie break down why succession should be treated as an ongoing leadership discipline, not an HR exercise, and walk through the nine components executive teams need…
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The CEO Balancing Act: How to Navigate Competing Demands
The CEO role is becoming almost impossible to hold without extraordinary range, resilience, and support. In this episode, Tegan and Maggie unpack the competing pressures CEOs face from boards, employees, customers, markets, families, and themselves. They explore why the CEO pipeline is…
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Amplifying the Impact of the Chief Operating Officer
The COO role is one of the most powerful, misunderstood, and shape-shifting seats in the C-suite. In this episode, Tegan and Maggie unpack why the role looks so different from company to company, how it flexes around the CEO, and what makes a great COO far more than an "operator." They dig into…
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Strategic Authority at the Executive Table: Elevating the CHRO and Chief People Officer Role
Tegan and Maggie break down what separates modern, world-class Chief Human Resource Officers and Chief People Officers from traditional HR leaders, from business acumen and AI readiness to culture leadership and executive influence. They unpack why people strategy is business strategy and what…
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The Primary Sources of Executive Conflict
The conflict you're avoiding at work? It probably started long before you ever had a job. Tegan and Maggie dig into what actually causes conflict in teams, in the executive suite, and between two people who just can't seem to get on the same page. From unclear roles and accountability gaps to ego...
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Leadership at Scale: How Leaders Adapt In Flatter Organizations
How many layers does it really take to lead well? And when does structure start slowing everything down instead of moving it forward? In this episode, Tegan and Maggie dig into why teams are getting bigger, why organizations are flattening out, and why that shift is forcing leaders to operate in…
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What Matters Most When Selecting an Executive Development Partner
Most executive development sounds good on paper, but how much of it actually changes the way leaders show up when it counts? In this episode, Tegan and Maggie talk honestly about why not all coaching firms are the same, how flashy platforms and boxed programs can miss the real work, and what it...
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Why Executive Teams Stall And What To Do About It
Most executive "teams" aren't really teams - they're high performers sharing airtime and reporting up. In this episode, Tegan and Maggie Gough unpack what actually makes a leadership team a team: shared enterprise goals, clear decision rights, and the ability to work through conflict without...
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Building the Foundation for a Meaningful Year with Katie Rasoul
Ever feel like your plans look great on paper but don't survive contact with real life? Tegan and former co-host Katie Rasoul reunite to talk about how their approach to annual planning has softened, simplified, and become far more intuitive. They share what's changed, their Words of the Year for...
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Coaching Neurodivergent Leaders to Thrive with Cara Wilson
Some of the best leaders you know are running an invisible obstacle course every day. In this episode, host Tegan Trovato talks with Bright Arrow coach Cara Wilson about what it really means to be a neurodivergent leader - and how workplaces can do better. Cara opens up about discovering she's…
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Dr. Amy Moon on Redefining Women’s Health and Longevity
Feeling off your game and can’t figure out why? In this refreshingly honest episode, Tegan sits down with Dr. Amy Moon, founder of the New Moon Center for Women’s Health, to talk about how hormones, metabolism, and menopause affect focus, energy, and mood. Dr. Moon debunks myths about hormone...
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The Science of Peak Executive Performance
What if the real edge in leadership isn’t about pushing harder, but about learning how to think, reset, and show up with clarity? In this episode, Tegan and Maggie’s focus is on the practices that help leaders get into flow, manage energy, and keep burnout at bay. From carving out real thinking...
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AI and the New Rules of High Value Leadership
What happens when “good enough” no longer cuts it? In this episode, Tegan Trovato and Bright Arrow’s COO, Maggie Gough, dive into how AI is shaking up leadership at every level. From McKinsey’s overhaul to the pressures facing mid-sized companies, they explore what leaders must do to balance…
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Enhancing Executive Decision Making Under Pressure: Executive Coaching Series
What if the real challenge isn’t the chaos, but how you hold it? In this episode, Tegan gets real about leading through overwhelm, making high-stakes calls without all the data, and the quiet power of intuition. You’ll hear practical, human strategies for staying grounded, protecting your energy,...
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Mastering Leadership Team Alignment: Leadership Team Coaching Series
Is your executive team aligned - or just assuming they are? Tegan unpacks why even the best-laid strategic plans often stall after the boardroom - and what to do about it. From misaligned leadership approaches to the common failure to connect big goals to day-to-day operations, we break down what...
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Bouncing Back. How Leaders Recover from Professional Blunders: Executive Coaching Series
Ever screwed up at work and thought, “Well, that’s it for me”? This episode is for you. Tegan is talking about what happens after a leadership misstep - and how owning your mistake can actually build more trust than pretending it never happened. From tough apologies to rebuilding relationships,...
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ELITE RESOURCE Navigating the Tough Tides of Executive Turnover: Executive Coaching Series
Why are so many top executives stepping away from their roles - and what kind of ripple effect does that create? This episode looks at the growing trend of C-suite turnover and the disruption it leaves in its wake. You'll hear what's pushing leaders to make their exits, how their departure…
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ELITE RESOURCE Leadership Team Coaching Series
Ever noticed how tension between team members can slowly shut things down - even when no one’s talking about it? In this episode, Tegan looks at how conflict shows up in executive teams, how it affects the wider organization, and why emotional intelligence is just as important as brainpower in...
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Surpassing the Benchmark: Executive Coaching Series
What if innovation isn’t just a buzzword, but a leadership responsibility—and one you’ve been approaching the wrong way? In this episode of the Life and Leadership Podcast, Tegan Travato challenges leaders to reimagine innovation not as a top-down initiative, but as a cultural mindset that must…
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REVEALED The Hidden Truth About High-Performing Teams: Leadership Team Coaching Series
What if your leadership team isn't as aligned as you think—and it's costing more than you realize? In this episode, Tegan explores what truly sets high-performing teams apart, revealing why alignment is the backbone of efficiency, reduced conflict, and tangible results. She unpacks the pitfalls…
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PRO TIP How to Navigate Change and Thrive During Uncertainty: Executive Coaching Series
When was the last time you paused to check how uncertainty is affecting your leadership, not just your workload? In this powerful episode of Life and Leadership Podcast, Tegan unpacks the essential habits that help leaders stay composed, communicate clearly, and make sound decisions when the path...
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CASE STUDY Leading People, Not Projects: Executive Coaching Series
What happens when a brilliant tech mind is asked to lead people, not projects? This episode unpacks the real-life journey of a highly technical leader who transformed into a trusted C-suite executive—with the help of coaching, curiosity, and a whole lot of growth at the edge of discomfort. Grab…
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Leading with Authenticity: How Stillness and Self-Reflection Transform Leadership
What if the key to thriving isn't doing more, but being more—more present, more authentic, more aligned? In this episode, executive coach and author Marvin Chambers joins Tegan Trovato to explore intentional leadership, especially for men of colour navigating pressure to conform and perform. They...
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REVEALED Unlocking Your Full Potential (and Compensation): Executive Coaching Series
Think executive coaching is just for underperformers or when you’re in crisis mode? It’s a common misconception. In this episode of Life and Leadership Podcast, Tegan Tovaro busts the biggest misconceptions about executive coaching and reveal why it’s a power move for high-performing leaders.…
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Human Leadership in the Age of AI: Oliver Smith on Ethics and Transition
Can leaders truly harness AI’s potential without losing the human touch? In this episode of The Life + Leadership Podcast, Oliver Smith, founder and director of Deadalus Futures - a consultancy specialising in responsible AI. He shares how senior executives can integrate AI into their workflows...
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The Business Case for Equity: How Inclusive Workplaces Drive Success
Whether or not the language around DEI evolves, the need for organizations to create environments where employees feel valued, engaged, and supported isn't going away. The companies that get this right will not only attract top talent but will also sustain performance and innovation in a rapidly...
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Building Uncommon Coalitions to Tackle Complex Problems with Dr. Kelly Firesheets
At first glance, it may seem as though civil interventions and the corporate sector have nothing in common. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Dr. Kelly Firesheets joins us today to share critical leadership lessons she learned after being tasked with solving the opioid epidemic in her...
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Reframing the Future: A Data-Backed Look at Human Potential
In this episode, Don MacPherson, researcher, futurist, and host of the 12 Geniuses podcast, joins Tegan Trovato to challenge the common narrative of decline and instead offer a data-backed perspective on human progress. Drawing from decades of research on leadership, workplace culture, and global...
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Bringing Curiosity into Leadership with Dr. Russell Robinson
We live in a world filled with leaders who are using tools to lead that worked 10-15 years ago. To bring leadership toolkits up to speed requires clarity around core values, resilience, emotional intelligence, and most of all—curiosity. Today’s guest, Dr. Russell Robinson, is extremely…
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The Future of Work and How to Fix It with Josh Allan Dykstra
You may not have heard the concept of human energy, but it impacts your productivity on a daily basis. The research and findings around this topic will specifically impact executives and senior leaders in the very near future. Joining us on the podcast today is the world’s foremost practitioner…
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The Future of Leadership with Rebecca Ryan
Futurists study the future by researching trends. These findings and predictions can be particularly useful to those in leadership positions because of the impact it has not only on the team but the organization as a whole. Today, we welcome Rebecca Ryan back to the podcast. She was last on 5+...
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Neuroscience and Change Leadership with Dr. Elizabeth Moran
You’ve heard the adage “the only constant is change.” That couldn’t be more true than within an organization. And that means leaders are tasked with getting teams on board with and motivated to enact these changes—when change is almost always seen as a threat. On this episode of the Life +...
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Charting Your Course from VP to the C-Suite with Suzanne Coonan and Lars Schmidt
What does it take to successfully transition into the C-Suite? In this episode, we’re unpacking the key mindset shifts and leadership strategies with Lars Schmidt, Founder & CEO of Amplify Talent, and executive coach Suzanne Coonan. Adapted from our Bright Arrow webinar Charting Your Course from…
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Embracing Authentic Leadership with Kisha Wynter: A Guide to Overcoming Barriers and Thriving at Work
In today’s fast-paced corporate landscape, authenticity is a powerful tool that can set leaders apart. Yet, many professionals face internal doubts, unconscious biases, and societal pressures that hinder them from fully embracing their unique leadership styles. On this episode of Life +…
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Enriching Your Executive Team’s Peer Relationships with Cheryl Schofield
How do strong peer relationships impact executive teams? In this episode, we’re breaking down the essentials of trust, respect, and open communication with Cheryl Schofield, executive coach at Bright Arrow Coaching. Cheryl shares her insights on building deeper connections within leadership teams...
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Jen Benz on Leading With Clarity: How Communication Transforms Teams
When communication falters, everything else unravels. In this episode of Life + Leadership, Jen Benz, Senior Vice President and Communications Leader at Segal Benz, explains why effective communication is the foundation of strong leadership. Jen shares her insights on managing stress, creating...
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Rethinking Wellness in Leadership With Maggie Gough
Why is wellness so important for executive leadership? We’re sharing how to balance high performance and personal well-being in this conversation with Maggie Gough, COO at Bright Arrow Coaching. She discusses her unconventional career path from dietician to corporate exec and provides a…
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How to Connect Your Daily Work to Your Passion With Jess Von Bank
In this episode of Life + Leadership, we’re talking with Jess Von Bank, a global thought leader, analyst and advisor on HR transformation, digital experience, and workforce technology at Mercer. She also leads Diverse Daisies, a Minneapolis nonprofit providing enrichment and empowerment…
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How to Build Real Human Connections at Work With Jason Lauritsen
In this episode of Life + Leadership, we’re talking with Jason Lauritsen, a keynote speaker, author, co-founder of Check-In To Thrive, about building real human connections at work, the power of check-ins and how leaders can go first in improving human connection. Plus, we discuss how technology…
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Normalizing Conversations Around Grief at Work With Jason Seiden
In this episode of Life + Leadership, we're diving deep into the topic of grief and its impact on the workplace with Jason Seiden, co-founder of Comfort Communications, which aims to normalize the conversation around grief in the workplace. A trigger warning for this episode: We candidly discuss...
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The Life + Leadership Podcast Is Returning With New Episodes!
Get ready for new episodes of the Life + Leadership podcast, hosted by Tegan Trovato, founder and CEO of Bright Arrow Coaching. Through this podcast, we explore how individuals like you can transform business obstacles into opportunities for personal growth. Stay tuned for our first episode next...
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What Skills Does the Leader of the Future Need to Be Successful?
Leadership has become something different. In light of the pandemic, political turmoil and socioeconomic changes over the last two years, leaders are being asked to develop brand new skills. Employees want us to take a stand on social justice issues and be more emotionally available at work. So,...
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Mentoring & Sponsorship—Bringing Others with You
We all need support and guidance in our personal and professional lives. But how do you build a network of people who will lift you up when you need it? How do you know if your current situation calls for a mentor, a sponsor or a coach? And what if you’re ready to BE an advocate for someone else?...
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Wayfinding for the Weary Entrepreneur, with E. Keller Fitzsimmons
It’s easy for entrepreneurs and leaders to get so caught up in the day-to-day that we fall into a kind of sleepiness. And for many, it takes a dark night of the soul to wake us up to what’s really important. But what if we’d rather not wait for a crisis to find our way? How can we develop the...
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Creating Superb Teams (Using 6 Team Conditions), with Dr. Ruth Wageman and Dr. Krister Lowe
Most of us involved in the practice of leading and coaching teams take a relational approach, focusing on group dynamics and resolving conflicts as they arise. But what if we’re treating symptoms without getting to the root cause? All the conflict resolution in the world won’t help if a team…
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Mental Health for All, with Alexa James of NAMI
We all assess how we’re feeling physically on a daily basis and use that data to inform our decisions. (If our knee hurts, we don’t run that day.) But we don’t do that with our mental health. Despite the fact that it drives our physical health and the way we see the world, we tend to consider...
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Anger: What It Is and How to Use It for Good!
“Anybody can become angry. That is easy. But to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose and in the right way? That is not within everybody’s power—and is not easy.” —Aristotle We’ve been socialized to see anger as a bad thing. So, we...
About this show
Welcome to the Life + Leadership podcast, which explores how leaders can leverage business challenges to fuel their personal growth. This podcast is for any senior leader looking to grow in their day-to-day work and drive strategic impact. Hosted by Bright Arrow Coaching founder and CEO Tegan Trovato, Life + Leadership features interviews with executives, experts, authors, and innovators about their leadership journeys both at work and in their personal lives. We’ll discuss the human factors influencing business outcomes and we’ll show you how standout leaders develop better strategies — and activate them. Plus, we’ll explore the sophistication of leadership teaming and how working on a healthy team catalyzes personal development and business results (in tandem). Life + Leadership host Tegan Trovato, a seasoned leader herself, brings a wealth of experience to the table. Having held executive and leadership team positions at renowned companies like Levi Strauss, Zynga, Xerox, and Ciel
Hosted by
Abijah Paul
Categories