The Business Elevation Show Where Good Matters

About this episode: What if one of the greatest determinants of our happiness, success and wellbeing is something we spend surprisingly little time learning how to do well? Dr Neil Wilkie spent 25 years as a CEO, strategy consultant and business leader before reaching his 50s and realising that something significant was missing. He retrained as a psychotherapist and began working with successful but often unhappy business leaders. Again and again, he discovered that behind professional achievement lay challenges with the relationships that mattered most. That discovery led Neil to devote the next chapter of his life to understanding human relationships. He has since completed a doctorate in the Phenomenology of Relationships, developed his Relationship Paradigm and Duo Coaching Frameworks, and written extensively about relationships in our personal lives and organisations. His Relationship Paradigm focuses on six essential elements: communication, connection, commitment, fun, growth and trust.  In this episode of The Business Elevation Show, Chris Cooper and Neil explore what makes relationships thrive — and what causes them to deteriorate. They discuss how ambitious people can succeed professionally without neglecting those closest to them, why relationships are fundamental to healthy organisational cultures, and what leaders can do when relationships at work become strained. They also explore the importance of fun, growth and trust; why relationship education deserves a greater place in schools and society; and how increasing polarisation and technology are changing the way we connect with one another. Neil also shares his thinking about AI and artificial intimacy, including the fascinating questions raised in his latest book, Real: Love, Longing and the Lure of Artificial Intimacy. Join us for a thought-provoking and practical conversation about something that ultimately touches every part of our lives: the quality of our relationships. More about Dr Neil Wilkie: Dr Neil Wilkie is a relationship therapist, author, and Visiting Fellow at Middlesex University, where he completed his doctorate in the Phenomenology of Relationships. After 25 years as a CEO, Strategy Consultant and management buy-in specialist he made the unusual decision in his 50's to retrain in psychotherapy. He has spent the years since then developing the Relationship Paradigm and Duo Coaching Frameworks, an intensive model of couple's therapy. He also runs mentoring groups for Business leaders, focusing on relationships within business.  Neil is the author of more than thirty books, including the Routledge series Reinventing Relationship Therapy Through the Duo Coaching Framework, A Practitioner's Guide to the Duo Coaching Framework, and Demystifying Relationship Therapy. His latest, Real: Love, Longing and the Lure of Artificial Intimacy, explores what happens to human connection in an age of AI — and was, fittingly, co-written in conversation with an AI. He has published over 370 articles on relationships and is a passionate advocate for relationship education in schools Neil lives in Lymington with his wife Gwen and spends extended seasons in France aboard their sailing yacht Moon River. He believes the quality of our relationships is the truest measure of a life well lived.

About this episode: Lasting global impact begins with transforming how we lead ourselves. Lauren L'Amour is a conscious leadership advisor, humanitarian, spiritual mentor and entrepreneur who has spent more than three decades exploring and putting this principle into practice. She has built multimillion-dollar businesses, trained in psychology, supported humanitarian initiatives around the world and worked with an extraordinary range of people—from entrepreneurs and business leaders to diplomats, politicians, elite performers and changemakers. Throughout these diverse experiences, Lauren has discovered that how we manage our thoughts, emotions and inner state doesn't just affect our own lives and performance. It influences our families, teams, organisations, communities and ultimately the impact we are able to have in the world. In this episode of The Business Elevation Show, Chris Cooper and Lauren explore what she has learned about inner leadership that many of us may still be missing. They discuss intuition and inner guidance, emotional intelligence, resilience, the lessons Lauren has learned from working with extraordinary people, and how we can become a more stabilising and constructive presence for those around us. They also explore Lauren's humanitarian experiences, what she has learned from building communities and movements, and the ideas behind her forthcoming book, Sacred Habits, including practical ways we can create meaningful change from the inside out. Finally, Lauren shares the remarkable story behind the Millions Meditating Alliance, born from a question she asked herself in meditation: "Given my life experiences, global network and desire to serve, what is mine to do?" Today, that answer is developing into an ambitious global movement to make meditation more accessible and help millions of people discover greater peace within themselves. Join us for a fascinating and practical conversation about entrepreneurship, conscious leadership, human potential, meditation and why transforming how we lead ourselves can transform the impact we have on the world. More about Lauren L'Amour: Lauren L'Amour, MS, is a conscious leadership advisor, humanitarian, spiritual mentor, and movement maker who has spent more than three decades helping entrepreneurs, founders, and change makers turn visionary ideas into meaningful and sustainable impact. She is the co-founder and executive director of the Millions Meditating Alliance, a global initiative bringing individuals, communities, and organizations together in support of the United Nations World Meditation Day and the understanding that inner peace is essential to collective transformation. Lauren is also the founder of the Quantum Success Institute and creator of the LifeVisionary Success Methodology and The Sage Way. Integrating strategic business and organizational insight with neuroscience, emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and contemplative practice, she helps purpose-driven leaders cultivate the clarity, resilience, and inner coherence required to lead effectively without sacrificing their well-being. Her diverse professional background encompasses entrepreneurship, real estate development, business consulting, psychology, coaching, spiritual development, and nonprofit advisory work. Lauren is also a member of the Evolutionary Leaders Circle and author of the forthcoming book, Sacred Habits. At the heart of her work is a powerful conviction: when we transform how we lead ourselves, we transform what becomes possible in our businesses, communities, and world.

About this episode: What if everything you have learned, achieved and experienced so far isn't the culmination of your career—but preparation for what could become your most meaningful chapter? International bestselling author, entrepreneur and renowned disruption expert Jay Samit has spent decades at the forefront of technological and business change, working alongside some of the world's most influential innovators and helping transform major organisations. Yet after reaching the heights of corporate success, Jay found himself asking a different question: what next? In this episode of The Business Elevation Show, Chris Cooper talks with Jay about his new book, The Second Act Advantage, and why our experience, relationships, knowledge and perspective can become powerful assets for reinvention. At a time when AI is radically reshaping work and longer lives are giving many of us decades of additional opportunity, how can we make those years truly count? Drawing on inspiring examples and his own remarkable reinventions—from technology pioneer and corporate leader to author, teacher and artist—Jay shares how we can embrace change, identify new possibilities and turn everything we've learned into greater purpose, fulfilment and impact. More about Jay Samit: International bestselling author Jay Samit, is a dynamic entrepreneur and intrapreneur who is widely recognised as one of the world's leading experts on disruption and innovation. Described by Wired magazine as "having the coolest job in the industry," he raises hundreds of millions of dollars for startups, transforms Fortune 500 firms, revamps government institutions, and for three decades continues to be at the forefront of global trends. Everyone from the Pope to the President calls on Samit to orchestrate positive change in this era of endless innovation. A former NASDAQ company CEO and Independent Vice Chairman of Deloitte, Samit helped grow pre-IPO companies such as LinkedIn, held senior management roles at EMI, Sony and Universal Studios, pioneered breakthrough advancements in artificial intelligence, robotics, ecommerce, social media, data analytics, mobile, and digital music that are used by billions of consumers every day. Combining innovation with commercial success, Samit is the consummate dealmaker; his list of partners and associates reads like a who's who list of innovators, including Bill Gates, Steven Spielberg, Steve Jobs, Reid Hoffman, David Geffen, Richard Branson, Paul Allen, and Pierre Omidyar. A proven trend spotter, Samit accurately predicts the future because he is constantly working with those who create it. Samit is author of The Second Act Advantage, Future Proofing You, and Disrupt You! (published in twelve languages). His articles on exponential technologies appear in Harvard Business Revenue, Fortune, Wired, The Wall Street Journal and he frequently appears on ABC, Bloomberg, CBS, CNN, Fox, MSNBC, and NBC. Samit is a change agent, who combines his bold vision and humour, to motivate listeners to become innovators within their organisations. Samit gets people passionate about overcoming obstacles, teaching them how to think bigger and embrace change. Samit motivates and delights audiences from Moscow to Mumbai, Lisbon to London, Phoenix to Philadelphia, Berlin to Beverly Hills, Toronto to Tokyo, Seoul to São Paulo, Amsterdam to Adelaide, Dubai to Denver with compelling keynotes that leave the crowd wanting more. Samit provides disruptive solutions for such corporate clients as Adobe, Amazon, American Express, AT&T, Best Buy, Coca Cola, Disney, Facebook, Ford, GE, Google, IBM, Intel, McDonalds, Microsoft, Proctor & Gamble, Starbucks, Unilever, Visa, and dozens more. His keynotes are a high energy presentation on how to create and embrace change in any field. Designed to be as entertaining and inspiring as it is informative, Samit customises each presentation to highlight the sales, marketing, and leadership goals of the audience before him. Samit delivers a message that stays with the audience long after the conference has ended.

About this episode: What can a life spanning international investment banking, award-winning farming, humanitarian work and travel to almost every country on Earth teach us about success, loss, purpose and belonging?  In this episode of the Business Elevation Show, Chris Cooper is joined by entrepreneur, humanitarian, world traveller and author Barry Hoffner. After a fifteen-year career in international investment banking that took him around the world, Barry chose a very different path, becoming a successful farmer of grapes and olives in California. His Silverwood Ranch olive oil went on to win multiple gold medals, while his grapes have been bottled as part of Francis Ford Coppola's Archimedes wine.  Barry's life changed profoundly in 2017 when his wife Jackie tragically died in Africa. Faced with devastating grief and a sense that perhaps the best part of his life was behind him, Barry began a remarkable journey that has now taken him to 192 countries and inspired his book, Belonging to the World. Through travel, curiosity and encounters with people from vastly different cultures, he began to discover a renewed sense of connection, meaning and belonging.   Together, Chris and Barry explore the lessons from his very different chapters in business and life, what investment banking and farming taught him about success and reinvention, and what travelling through some of the world's most misunderstood places has revealed about risk, humanity and the stories we are told about one another. They also discuss how Barry has channelled Jackie's legacy into Caravan to Class and the Bourse Jackie programme, creating opportunities for young women across West Africa through education, leadership and public speaking.   This promises to be a fascinating, moving and ultimately hopeful conversation about business, reinvention, resilience, grief and purpose—and what an extraordinary journey through life and around the world can teach us about connecting more deeply, finding meaning after loss and truly belonging to the world.    More about Barry Hoffner: After a fifteen-year career in investment banking that took him around the world, Barry transitioned into a second career farming grapes and olives. His Silverwood Ranch olive oil has earned multiple gold medals, and his wine grapes have been bottled into Francis Ford Coppola's Archimedes wine.  Today, Barry is the founder of Caravan to Class, a nonprofit he launched in 2010 to advance girls' education in West Africa through the Bourse Jackie program, named in honor of his late wife. His book, Belonging to the World (Girl Friday Books), chronicles his journey to every country in the world following Jackie's tragic passing in Africa in late 2017.  

About this episode: In a world where artificial intelligence is transforming the way we work, communicate and live, one thing has never been more valuable: genuine human connection. In this episode of the Business Elevation Show, Chris Cooper is joined by entrepreneur, executive coach and community builder Jennifer K. Hill. After successfully building and exiting her first company, Jennifer's work evolved in an unexpected direction. Today, she brings together entrepreneurs, bestselling authors, thought leaders and changemakers from around the world through the Jen Hill Tribe—a global community dedicated to personal growth, conscious leadership and creating positive impact. Together, Chris and Jennifer explore why meaningful relationships remain one of the greatest catalysts for per-sonal and professional success, how generosity and service naturally create opportunity, and why building au-thentic communities may be one of the most important leadership skills of the future. They also discuss how AI is transforming the way we connect, why technology should amplify rather than replace human relationships, and how each of us can become a positive force in the lives of others. This promises to be an inspiring and practical conversation about conscious leadership, generosity, community, human potential and why, in an increasingly digital world, authentic connection may be our greatest super-power. More about Jennifer K. Hill: Jennifer K. Hill is an entrepreneur, executive coach, advisor, and keynote speaker with more than 20 years of experience helping leaders build meaningful success and connec-tion. She exited her first company in 2018 and has since worked with entrepreneurs, ex-ecutives, and thought leaders around the world. Jennifer is the founder of the Jen Hill Tribe, a global community of entrepreneurs, best-selling authors, and visionaries dedicated to personal growth, conscious leadership, and creating positive impact. A member of the Evolutionary Leaders Circle, Jennifer has hosted several popular pod-casts and television shows. She has appeared on BBC News, ABC, NBC, FOX, E! News, and KNX Radio, and her work has been featured in publications including The Ladders and Glassdoor.

About this episode: Artificial intelligence is transforming the way we work, communicate and do business. Information is becoming instantly accessible, content can be created in seconds, and technology is opening up opportunities that would have seemed unimaginable just a few years ago. Yet in a world increasingly shaped by AI, relationships may be more important than ever. In this episode of the Business Elevation Show, Chris Cooper is joined by internationally renowned entrepreneur, investor and bestselling author Judy Robinett, one of the world's leading experts on strategic networking and relationship capital. Best known for her books How to Be a Power Connector and Cracking the Funding Code, Judy has spent decades helping entrepreneurs, leaders and changemakers build the relationships that ac-celerate success, create opportunity and generate meaningful impact. Drawing on insights from the World Economic Forum in Davos, her work as Managing Director of WhipSmart Ventures, and a lifetime of connecting exceptional people, Judy shares why human connection, trust, curiosity and collaboration remain essential ingredients for success in an increasingly technological world. Together, Chris and Judy explore how leaders can build authentic relationships, create opportunities through connection, harness the potential of AI without losing the human touch, and position themselves for success in a rapidly changing future. This promises to be a timely, practical and inspiring conversation about leadership, innovation, opportunity and why the right relationships still have the power to change everything. More about Judy Robinett: Judy Robinett is a bestselling author, entrepreneur, investor, speaker and one of the world's leading authorities on strategic networking, relationship capital and business growth. She is the author of several acclaimed books, including the international bestseller How to Be a Power Connector, Cracking the Funding Code and Launch!, which have helped entrepreneurs, executives and changemakers build influential networks, secure funding and accelerate success. Recognised as one of the world's foremost connectors, Judy has advised entrepreneurs, investors, corporate leaders and innovators across the globe, helping them unlock opportunities through the power of relationships. As Managing Director of WhipSmart Ventures, Judy invests in transformative technologies that address some of humanity's most significant challenges, with interests spanning advanced robotics, autonomy, cloud compu-ting, energy systems, space technology and resilient infrastructure. Her investment philosophy is centred on backing innovations that can improve lives and create a better future for society. Over the course of her career, Judy has held leadership positions in both large corporations and entrepreneurial ventures, advised startups and growth companies around the world, and built an extraordinary global network across business, technology, healthcare, government and philanthropy. Widely recognised for her ability to connect people, ideas and opportunities, Judy believes that one meaningful introduction can change the trajectory of a career, a business or even a life. Her work combines practical busi-ness wisdom with a deep understanding of human relationships, collaboration and the power of creating value for others. Through her writing, speaking, investing and mentoring, Judy continues to inspire leaders around the world to build stronger relationships, think bigger and use their influence to make a meaningful difference.

About This Episode: Why do we sometimes react in ways that surprise even ourselves? Why can successful, intelligent people still find themselves caught in unhealthy relationship patterns, conflict or emotional overwhelm? And is it really possible to become "trigger-proof"? In this episode of the Business Elevation Show, Chris Cooper is joined by relationship coach, speaker and for-mer chiropractor Nima Rahmany. Following a deeply challenging period in his own life, Nima embarked on a transformational journey to understand why unresolved emotional wounds continue to shape our relationships, our leadership and the way we respond under pressure. Today, he helps people break free from trauma bonds, regulate their nervous systems and create healthier, more secure relationships. Drawing on neuroscience, attachment theory, polyvagal theory and his own lived experience, Nima explains why our triggers are not something to suppress or avoid—they are powerful opportunities for growth and heal-ing. Together, Chris and Nima explore why success in business doesn't always translate into fulfilment in life, how childhood experiences continue to influence us as adults, and what it takes to become a calming presence for our families, teams and communities. This promises to be an honest, practical and deeply insightful conversation about emotional resilience, leader-ship, parenting, relationships and how becoming "trigger-proof" can help us create stronger connections and healthier lives. Quiz Link - https://go.drnima.com/q0w23  More about Nima Rahmany: Nima Rahmany is a relationship coach, speaker, and former chiropractor who helps high-performing individuals, couples, and families heal relational wounds, regulate their nervous systems, and build more secure, connected rela-tionships. His work is designed for successful people who have achieved exter-nally but continue to struggle with recurring emotional patterns, conflict, anxiety, or disconnection in their closest relationships. Combining neuroscience, attachment theory, polyvagal theory, somatic practices, shadow integration, and transformational coaching, Nima helps clients move beyond intellectual insight to lasting embodied change. He teaches that becoming "trigger-proof" isn't about avoiding emotional triggers, but learning how to regulate the nervous system, interrupt unconscious patterns, and respond from a place of greater self-awareness and emotional safety. Nima is passionate about helping people break cycles of trauma, co-dependency, and self-abandonment so they can create healthier relationships, stronger families, and more authentic connections. He is the author of the up-coming book Becoming Trigger-Proof: A Guide to Breaking Free from Trauma Bonds, Healing Co-Depend-ency, and Creating Secure Love.

About this episode: Every day we rely on conversations. Whether we are leading teams, raising families, negotiating deals, building relationships or making important decisions, our success often depends on our ability to build trust, understand people and uncover the truth.  In this episode of the Business Elevation Show, Chris Cooper is joined by retired United States Secret Service Special Agent Brad Beeler, author of the new book Tell Me Everything. During a remarkable 25-year career, Brad protected U.S. presidents and foreign heads of state, conducted more criminal polygraph examinations than anyone in Secret Service history, investigated major crimes ranging from counterfeiting and homicide to terrorism, and crimes against children, and now helps train interviewing and interrogation professionals within the U.S. military.  Drawing on decades of experience in some of the world's most challenging and high-pressure situations, Brad reveals what he has learned about trust, communication, influence and human behaviour. He explains why people often struggle to connect, how great communicators create environments where others feel safe to open up, and what leaders can learn from the techniques used by elite investigators.  Together, Chris and Brad explore the psychology of trust, the power of curiosity, the importance of first impressions, how to navigate difficult conversations, and why understanding people may be one of the most valuable skills we can develop in an increasingly complex world.  More about Brad Beeler: Brad Beeler is a retired United States Secret Service Special Agent with more than 25 years of experience conducting high-stakes interviews, interrogations, and protective operations. During his career, Brad conducted the most criminal polygraph examinations in Secret Service history and worked major cases involving crimes against children, homicide investigations, counterfeiting, terrorism, and financial crimes. He was also recognized as United States Secret Service Special Agent of the Year for his work combating crimes against children.  Brad served as an instructor at the National Center for Credibility Assessment, where he trained federal law enforcement and intelligence professionals in interviewing, elicitation, deception detection, and credibility assessment techniques. In addition to investigative work, he provided protective security for U.S. presidents and foreign heads of state.  He is the author of Tell Me Everything, where he shares practical strategies for building trust, improving communication, recognizing deception, and navigating difficult conversations. Drawing from decades of real-world experience, Brad teaches audiences how to communicate more effectively under pressure, uncover truth, and create stronger human connections in both professional and personal environments. 

About This Episode: What happens when an award-winning defence journalist, known for investigating cutting-edge military technology and classified programmes, begins asking some of the biggest questions about consciousness, reality and human potential? Nick Cook is a bestselling author, award-winning investigative journalist, strategist and storyteller whose career has spanned defence, aerospace, advanced technology, sustainability and consciousness studies. A former Senior Editor at Jane's Defence Weekly and four-time Aerospace Journalist of the Year, Nick built an international reputation investigating cutting-edge technologies and classified military programmes. He is the author of the bestselling The Hunt for Zero Point and The Grid, named one of The Times Top Ten Thrillers of 2019. Today, Nick is founder of the EXO Institute, which explores how emerging ideas around consciousness, human potential and science can help address some of humanity's greatest challenges. In this thought-provoking conversation, Chris Cooper explores Nick's remarkable journey from defence journal-ist to explorer of some of the biggest questions facing humanity. Together they discuss curiosity, innovation, consciousness, leadership, global challenges and why expanding our thinking may be essential to creating a better future. More about Nick Cook: Nick Cook is a bestselling author, investigative journalist, strategist and storyteller whose career has spanned defence, high technology, sustainability and conscious-ness studies. A former Senior Editor and Editorial Consultant at Jane's Defence Weekly, the world's leading defence publication, Nick became internationally recognised for his groundbreaking reporting on stealth technology, post-Cold War Russian defence systems and classified military operations. During his time at Jane's, he won the Royal Aeronautical Society's Aerospace Journalist of the Year Award four times. Nick is the author of several acclaimed fiction and non-fiction books, including the bestselling investigative work The Hunt for Zero Point and the cyber-tech thriller The Grid, which was named one of The Times Top Ten Thrillers of 2019. Renowned thriller writer Terry Hayes described The Grid as "a stunning, relentless thriller… as modern as tomorrow." Beyond journalism and writing, Nick founded Dynamixx, a pioneering consultancy that worked with some of the world's largest aerospace and defence companies to explore how advanced technologies could address global challenges including climate change, energy security and resilient cities. He has advised major interna-tional organisations, convened senior technology leaders from companies such as Airbus, Boeing and Lockheed Martin, and spoken worldwide on subjects ranging from defence and innovation to sustainability and conscious-ness. Today, Nick works as a narrative communications strategist, helping organisations transform complex ideas and data into compelling, human stories. He lives in London with his family.

  About This Episode: What if the future of health and wellbeing wasn't about generic advice, but about understanding the unique blueprint that makes each of us who we are? What if the key to greater health, fulfilment and sustainable success lies not in working harder, but in understanding ourselves more deeply? In this episode of the Business Elevation Show, Chris Cooper is joined by transformation coach and behavioural strategist Gaia Ferreira, creator of the Gene2Genius method. Gaia is on a mission to democratise health and wellbeing by helping people decode their genetic blueprint, life story and innate genius so they can thrive in both business and life. Having reinvented herself several times—from an international technology executive to entrepreneur, Cordon Bleu chef, television presenter and now a pioneer in whole-human transformation—Gaia brings together biology, psychology and identity consciousness to help people understand why they become stuck, burnt out or disconnected, and how they can create lasting, sustainable change. Together, Chris and Gaia explore why health and wellbeing should never be a luxury for the few, how personal-ised approaches are changing the future of human potential, and why understanding the whole person—not just the symptoms—is becoming one of the most important conversations of our time. This promises to be an inspiring and practical conversation about human potential, personalised wellbeing, leadership, purpose and creating a healthier, more fulfilling future for everyone. More about Gaia Ferreira: Gaia Ferreira is on a mission to reprogramme the human operating system from the suffering we are used to, to the bliss we deserve so they can thrive in business and life. As the creator of the Gene2Genius method, she has spent the last decade working with founders and entrepreneurs standing at a crossroads — those who have achieved great accomplishments yet still feel hollow inside. Gene2Genius offers a way to map the uniqueness of each individual by decoding their genetic blueprint, life story and identity to sup-port the whole human being to unlock growth in both business and life. With over 25,000 hours spent transforming burnout into bliss, she is now expanding what was once an exclusive coaching experience into a model accessible to anyone who needs it.  

About This Episode: What if the principles that make us better investors could also help us become better leaders, better decision-makers and live more fulfilling lives?  In this episode of the Business Elevation Show, Chris Cooper is joined by Jimmy Lebenthal, Chief Equity Strategist at Cerity Partners, regular CNBC contributor and author of How to Ride the Subway. A former United States Navy submarine officer turned investment strategist, Jimmy has spent more than twenty-five years helping individuals and families navigate the financial markets with confidence, patience and perspective.  Drawing on his lifelong fascination with New York City's subway system, Jimmy uses its stations, journeys and unexpected encounters as powerful metaphors for investing, leadership and life itself. Together, Chris and Jimmy explore why long-term thinking almost always outperforms short-term reactions, how patience and curiosity create better outcomes, and why accepting unexpected invitations can sometimes change the course of our lives.  The conversation also explores the importance of purpose, relationships, family, financial wellbeing and using wealth as a means to create a positive impact rather than simply accumulate more. At a time when markets, politics and technology are creating uncertainty, Jimmy shares practical wisdom for making better decisions, staying focused on what matters most and building lasting success.  This promises to be an engaging conversation about investing, leadership and the timeless principles that help us navigate both financial markets and life with greater confidence, perspective and purpose.  More about Jimmy Lebenthal: Jimmy Lebenthal is the author of How to Ride the Subway: Getting Around on Wall Street and in Life, as well as Cerity Partners' chief market strategist and a partner in the New York office. He has over twenty-five years of experience managing investment portfolios and is a regular contributor on CNBC. Prior to joining Cerity Partners, Jimmy served as the chief executive officer and chief investment officer of Lebenthal Asset Management, LLC, served as a financial advisor for Goldman Sachs, and was a partner of investment firm Levy Harkins.  A former lieutenant and submarine officer in the United States Navy, he was awarded two Navy Commendation Medals and four Navy Achievement Medals. His education includes a BA from Princeton University and an MBA from Wharton School of Business. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst.  Jimmy Lebenthal grew up in New York City in the '70s and '80s, a hardscrabble time for Gotham. As a youth, the city's extensive subway system drew his attention to a degree that can only be described as passionate. It was in those years that Jimmy first started investing in public equities, which also became a lifelong passion. 

About this episode: What does it mean to be a hero in today's world? Is heroism reserved for extraordinary individuals, or is it something that all of us can choose in our everyday lives?  In this episode of the Business Elevation Show, Chris Cooper is joined by adventurer, speaker, author and adventure psychologist Paula Reid. From skiing to the South Pole and yacht racing around the world to supporting humanitarian initiatives in Ukraine, Paula has spent her life exploring what enables people to perform, thrive and grow in the face of uncertainty, adversity and challenge.  Drawing on more than 120 adventures, a Master's degree in Positive Psychology and her pioneering work in Adventure Psychology, Paula shares powerful insights into courage, resilience, curiosity and what it means to "go Knowingly into the Unknown™". She explains why growth rarely happens within our comfort zones, how we can develop the mindset to navigate uncertainty, and why some of life's greatest rewards often lie on the other side of fear.  Together, Chris and Paula explore the inspiration behind her TEDx talk We Need More Heroes, the lessons learned from some of the world's toughest environments, and the remarkable humanitarian work being undertaken through the Hopefull initiative in Ukraine. They discuss how ordinary people can make an extraordinary difference and why heroism is often found in the small decisions we make every day.  This promises to be an inspiring and thought-provoking conversation about courage, adventure, purpose and how each of us can play a more meaningful role in creating a better future.  More about Paula Reid: From Skiing to the South Pole to Yacht Racing round-the-world to humanitarian work in Ukraine, Paula Reid has learned to develop the mindset to thrive and perform in the toughest of conditions.  She draws on her extreme adventuring experience, business acumen and Masters in Positive Psychology to help individuals and organisations survive and thrive in challenging conditions and to 'go Knowingly into the Unknown'™. Her work and expertise is in 'Adventure Psychology'. She has written five books and delivered two TEDx talks – the latest called 'We Need More Heroes'. 

About this episode: What if the greatest untapped asset in your organisation isn't your technology, your products or even your people—but the way you think?  In this episode of the Business Elevation Show, Chris Cooper is joined by Simon Bowen, founder of The Models Method and a globally respected strategist who has spent decades helping organisations unlock what he calls their "Company Genius"—the hidden thinking that drives success.  Drawing on work with businesses, governments, research institutes and purpose-driven organisations around the world, Simon explains why every organisation operates through a thinking system, whether it realises it or not. He shares how making that thinking visible through powerful visual models can transform leadership, improve decision-making, align teams, strengthen culture and increase influence.  Along the way, Simon reflects on his remarkable journey from rural Australia to advising major organisations, his passion for rock music, and his belief that enterprise can be one of the most powerful forces for good on the planet.  This conversation is packed with practical insights for leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers who want to think more clearly, communicate more effectively and create greater positive impact through their work.  Join us as we explore how better thinking can lead to better businesses—and a better world.  More about Simon Bowen: Simon Bowen is the world's leading authority on strategic thinking systems and founder of The Models Method®, the proven methodology that transforms how organisations unlock, protect, and scale their unique intellectual genius. He works with Fortune 500 companies, heads of government, military leaders, and visionary CEOs to extract their intuitive genius and create visual frameworks that revolutionise how they sell, position, and deliver complex value.  With over two decades advising some of the most influential leaders across complex industries including manufacturing, mining, financial services, technology, defence, and infrastructure, Simon operates at the intersection of where most businesses fail: making the invisible visible. His fundamental finding is that thinking is systematically undervalued in our modern world, yet the power and success of any organisation is directly proportional to the quality of thinking and ideas on which it is built.  The Models Method® has enabled clients to achieve complete clarity on what they truly sell, transform how their teams articulate value, revolutionise conversion rates, and create deep organisational alignment around their core genius. Through his strategic frameworks, combined with pattern recognition mastery and extraction expertise, Simon has helped leaders protect their intuitive methodologies, scale without dilution, and build multi-generational market power. 

About this episode: Artificial Intelligence is transforming our world at an extraordinary pace, creating both exciting opportunities and significant challenges. So how do we ensure AI enhances human potential rather than diminishes it?  In this engaging conversation, Chris Cooper is joined by Bennett Borden, Founder and CEO of Clarion AI Partners and a globally recognised expert on the legal, ethical, technological and business implications of artificial intelligence.  A former Partner and Chief Data Scientist at DLA Piper, Bennett believes AI is the most transformative technology since electricity. He shares his compelling "Iron Man, Not Terminator" philosophy, explaining how leaders can use AI to augment human capability, unlock innovation and create lasting value while managing risk responsibly.  Chris and Bennett explore the future of work, education, ethics, regulation and leadership in an AI-enabled world, and discuss what it will take to build a future where technology serves humanity and amplifies good.  This is an essential conversation for leaders, entrepreneurs, educators and anyone seeking to understand the opportunities and responsibilities that come with the AI revolution.  More about Bennett Borden: Bennett B. Borden is Founder and CEO of Clarion AI Partners, an integrated law, technology, and strategy firm helping organizations deliver AI the right way. He is a globally recognized authority on the legal, technological, and business implications of artificial intelligence, advising leading enterprises and AI developers on how to deploy AI systems that create real value while managing risk.  Before founding Clarion, Bennett served as Partner and Chief Data Scientist at the global law firm DLA Piper, where he helped shape AI strategy for multinational organizations. Today, he works with companies and policymakers to translate complex AI developments into practical insights leaders can act on. 

About this episode: Most experienced professionals don't struggle because they lack knowledge. They struggle because they're stuck using it in ways that keep them busy… but not free. In this conversation, Chris sits down with Debbie Jenkins, entrepreneur, author and founder of a successful publishing business, to explore how people can turn what they already know into something far more valuable — freedom, impact and legacy. Debbie works with consultants, coaches and business owners who feel caught between delivering for clients and building something that lasts. She helps them uncover the intellectual property already within their work and transform it into assets that create long-term value and influence more good in the world. We also explore Debbie's own journey — from being told there was no future in writing, to becoming an engineer, to building multiple businesses and creating a life in Spain that reflects the vision she had as a young girl. At the heart of this conversation is our theme that: Good matters. And when you learn how to use your knowledge in the right way, you can amplify that good far beyond your time. More about Debbie Jenkins: In 1996, Debbie Jenkins founded her first business, a marketing and website design agency, despite having no background in marketing, no experience designing websites, and no existing clients. Leaving behind a well-paid, prestig-ious role, she stepped into the unknown with a simple belief: it couldn't be that hard. More than 25 years later, she knows the truth—building a business is hard. But when driven by purpose beyond profit, and sup-ported by people you genuinely enjoy working with, the effort becomes worthwhile. Today, Debbie works with experienced business owners—particularly those run-ning consultancy, training, or coaching businesses—who are beginning to ques-tion how they will ever slow down, retire, or create an exit. These entrepreneurs often find them-selves caught between delivering for clients and developing the products, processes, or intellectual property (IP) that could generate recurring revenue and long-term value. Her clients typically face three key challenges: legacy client expecta-tions that keep them tied to old ways of working, a reliance on selling time rather than scalable prod-ucts, and a lack of time to focus on strategic growth. Debbie helps them recognise and unlock the often-over-looked IP already embedded in their businesses—transforming it into valuable assets that create freedom, generate leads, and build a lasting legacy. A writer, author, painter, and self-confessed horse addict, Debbie lives in Spain at "The Disas-ter Farm" with her Italian partner and a lively collection of animals.

About this episode: Dr Lori Leyden (PhD, MBA) is an internationally recognised trauma-healing professional, transformational leader, and mentor whose work has supported thousands worldwide — including genocide survivors in Rwanda, communities impacted by the Sandy Hook Elementary School and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shootings, and Indigenous and refugee communities in Australia. In this interview, Lori joins Chris to explore what it really takes to heal trauma in individuals and communities — and why regulating the nervous system and cultivating therapeutic presence can be more effective (and safer) than "talking it out" for PTSD. They explore Lori's story and book, Embodying Grace, which is a practical and deeply compassionate guide to healing trauma by restoring safety, presence, and dignity in the body — not by reliving the story. They also discuss powerful insights from Lori's humanitarian leadership journey — from founding the nonprofit Create Global Healing and launching Project LIGHT: Rwanda, to her current resilience work with Ukrainian leaders living through active war — and what it means to build peace from the inside out, even in the most challenging circumstances. Listen in for inspiration, wisdom and a transformational perspective on how best to overcome trauma.   More about Dr Lori Leyden: Lori Leyden, PhD, MBA is an internationally recognized trauma-healing professional, transformational leader, and mentor who helps individuals and communities heal in the aftermath of profound tragedy. Her work has supported thousands worldwide, including genocide survivors in Rwanda, survivors of the Sandy Hook Elementary School and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shootings, as well as Australian Indigenous and refugee communities. Inspired by the resilience of orphan genocide survivors in Rwanda, Dr. Leyden founded the nonprofit Create Global Healing and established Project LIGHT: Rwanda, the world's first international youth healing, heart-centered leadership, and entrepreneurship program. Project LIGHT offers a new model of humanitarian aid—empowering young people to heal trauma, develop meaningful livelihoods, and lead with compassion. She also served as Executive Producer of the award-winning documentary When I Was Young I Said I Would Be Happy, which follows the transformational journey of Project LIGHT Ambassadors as they bring healing to others from Rwanda to Sandy Hook, Connecticut. Dr. Leyden's vision is to cultivate a global movement of peacebuilders creating peace from the inside out. She mentors individuals seeking deeper healing, meaning, and impact, and is a member of the Global Evolutionary Leaders Council and the Association of Transformational Leaders, as well as an Evidence-Based EFT Master Trainer. She received the Personal Achievement Award (2019). She is the author of The Grace Process Guidebook and The Stress Management Handbook, available in multiple languages. Dr. Leyden holds a doctorate in Health and Human Services with a concentration in psychoneuroimmunology, and an MBA in management.

About this episode: How do we solve the growing crisis of disconnection affecting our society, workplaces, communities, and personal wellbeing? At a time when loneliness, declining trust, polarisation, and superficial online interaction are becoming increasingly common, the need for genuine human connection has never been greater. In this episode of the Business Elevation Show, Chris Cooper is joined by visionary social entrepreneur, bestselling author, and connection pioneer Aaron Hurst. Over the past two decades, Aaron has founded influential organisations focused on purpose, belonging, social impact, and community, including the Taproot Foundation, Imperative, and most recently the United States Chamber of Connection — an initiative dedicated to rebuilding trust and addressing the growing crisis of social disconnection. Aaron is also the bestselling author of The Purpose Economy and helped develop one of the first measures of employee fulfilment in partnership with NYU. Together, Aaron and Chris explore why connection and belonging matter more than ever in an increasingly AI-driven world, the impact disconnection is having on wellbeing and performance, and what leaders, organisations, and communities can do to foster deeper trust and more meaningful human relationships. This promises to be a thoughtful and timely conversation about how we bring people back together in ways that enable individuals and communities to flourish in a rapidly changing world. About Aaron Hurst: Aaron Hurst is a visionary social entrepreneur and CEO focused on advancing social impact, purpose-driven leadership, and human connection. Over the past two decades, he has founded several influential organizations—including Taproot Foundation, Imperative, and Board.Dev—each dedicated to building more connected, purposeful, and resilient communities. His latest venture, the United States Chamber of Connection, addresses the growing crisis of declining social connection and trust by bringing together leaders and communities to strengthen civic engagement and relationships. In 2023, Aaron co-founded Board.Dev with Alethea Hannemann, helping nonprofits strengthen governance by training and placing tech executives on nonprofit boards. Previously, he co-founded Imperative, which introduced the first purpose profiling technology to help Fortune 100 employees connect with purpose at work. The company later evolved into an enterprise peer coaching platform and was acquired by Chronus in 2024.

Words shape lives. If you want your communication to build trust, inspire action and change—or even save—lives, this episode is for you. In this Special Encore episode, Chris Cooper is joined by Elevation Collective member Rhonda Curry, a global communications and marketing leader who has spent decades shaping the narratives behind health and cancer research, prevention, treatment and care. From UCLA Health to the University of Miami Health System, Rhonda has been at the forefront of telling stories that build trust, inspire hope, accelerate philanthropic support and help breakthrough science reach the people who need it most. Rhonda's work spans local, national and global audiences, including initiatives across Latin America, Africa and Asia. Together, Chris and Rhonda explore how "communications for good" works in practice, and why simple, human relatability is often the key to translating complex science without losing accuracy or integrity. This conversation is designed to be genuinely useful. Rhonda shares six principles for writing compelling marketing communications, with real-world examples of powerful storytelling — from patients telling their own stories, to the craft of "transcreation" across cultures and languages, to how leaders can embrace generative AI without sacrificing authenticity, ethics or trust. A hopeful, practical and deeply human conversation about storytelling with integrity, leadership with purpose, and how great communication can create meaningful global impact.   More about Rhonda Curry: A seasoned communications executive, Rhonda has decades of experience leading strategic marketing and communications for academic medical centers with an emphasis in cancer research, prevention, treatment and care.  She leads communication and marketing at the University of Miami Health System for its NCI-designated cancer center. She previously served as chief of communications and interim chief of marketing at UCLA Health in Los Angeles, California. Prior experience also includes leading communications and marketing for the renowned Fred Hutch Cancer Center in Seattle, Washington, home to three Nobel Laureates. The throughline of Rhonda's career reflects her deep commitment to telling the story of health care research and advances in urban and rural settings, from coast to coast across the United States. In addition, she leads marketing and communications for global cancer research – focus areas have included China, Uganda, South Africa, and Latin America. An innovative MarComm leader, she designs teams around digital content hubs to earn top-tier media placement, industry awards, increased philanthropic giving and new patient acquisition. At the University of Miami Health System since 2022, she has created and leads a specialized MarComm team focused on cancer research and prevention, clinical care and community engagement. The geographic endowment of Miami as the gateway to Latin America is a unique opportunity for cancer research that will benefit human health in the US and across the globe. Rhonda earned her Bachelor of Science degree in health care administration from St. Joseph's College of Maine, and her Master of Arts in communication and leadership studies from Gonzaga University. Her proudest accomplishment is being Nonna (Italian grandmother) to twelve beautiful children to whom she dedicates her work.

About this episode: What happens when you take young people from inner-city communities, many of whom have never left their local area, and introduce them to the challenge, freedom and possibility of skiing and snowboarding? In this episode, Chris speaks with Dan Charlish, Founder and CEO of Snow Camp, the UK's only national youth snow sports charity. Since 2003, Snow Camp has supported more than 23,000 young people to build confidence, gain qualifications and access real career pathways. During the pandemic, Dan also launched Stop.Breathe.Think, a national online mental health service offering free counselling to young people without the wait. This is a conversation about widening horizons, creating opportunity, building charities that last, and using sport, relationships and mental health support to help young people move towards a more hopeful future.   More about Dan Charlish: Dan Charlish is the Founder and CEO of Snow Camp, the UK's only national youth snow sports charity. Since 2003, the charity has helped more than 23,000 young people from inner-city communities gain confidence, qualifications, and career opportunities through skiing and snowboarding. In 2013 Dan received the Freedom of the City of London for services to youth work and in 2024 he was awarded the Pery Medal by the Ski Club of Great Britain. Snow Camp has also been recognised multiple times as a top UK apprenticeship employer, reflecting Dan's commitment to creating real pathways for young peo-ple to thrive on and off the slopes. During the Covid pandemic, Dan launched Stop.Breathe.Think, an online national mental health service provid-ing free counselling to young people without the wait. The service has delivered over 25,000 counselling ses-sions to young people to date. Dan lives in Hove, UK with his wife Amanda and children, Chloe and Rory.

About this epsiode: What if compassion wasn't just a moral ideal—but a measurable driver of performance, innovation, and long-term success?  In today's fast-moving and often high-pressure world, many organisations still operate from models built on stress and scarcity, leaving people disengaged and depleted. Yet a growing body of science points to a different path—one where care, trust, and psychological safety are central to sustainable high performance.  In this insightful conversation, Chris Cooper is joined by organisational strategist Carson Kelly, Founder of Compassion 2.0, to explore the concept of the ROI of Care—and why the organisations that truly flourish are those that place human wellbeing at the heart of how they operate.  Drawing on neuroscience and real-world experience, Carson shares how care-based cultures can unlock creativity, strengthen relationships, and improve both engagement and results. Together, Chris and Carson explore what it takes to move from fear-based, extractive environments to more generative, human-centred organisations, and why, in an age shaped by AI, our most human qualities may become our greatest advantage.  If you care about building organisations that succeed and do good, this conversation offers both inspiration and practical insight into leading with care in today's world.  More about Carson Kelly: Carson Kelly is an organizational strategist and leadership advisor who helps organizations transform culture and performance by integrating organizational leadership, employee engagement, and the neuroscience of care into measurable business strategies. His work centres on building care-based workplace cultures that strengthen team cohesion, psychological safety, trust, and sustainable high performance—supported by quantifiable outcomes through the ROI of Care framework.  Carson's work is grounded in a broader mission of scaling compassion. He has founded and led three organizations at the intersection of prosocial science and commerce, directed a 4,000-member progressive civic engagement and resistance group, and serves as a board member at Mount Madonna School.   As Founder of Compassion 2.0 and Flourishingly, Carson partners with executives, Chief People Officers, HR leaders, Chief Wellness Officers, CEOs, COOs, and senior organizational leaders to design and implement science-backed leadership development programs, culture transformation initiatives, and AI-informed organisational diagnostics. His platforms and frameworks enable organizations to measure and enhance employee well-being, leadership effectiveness, organisational resonance, and cross-team collaboration.  Through his work with Karuna Ventures, Carson provides strategic consulting to mission-driven founders, executives, and investors seeking to align capital deployment with human flourishing and systemic impact. He bridges organisational design, leadership development, and impact measurement—supporting ventures from inception through scale. His advisory work includes business model alignment, stakeholder engagement, and applying the ROI of Care as a decision-making framework to ensure growth is both profitable and regenerative.  With over 15 years of experience across enterprise SaaS, digital health, and nonprofit governance, Carson has delivered meaningful results in culture transformation, employee retention, and human-centred organisational design. He collaborates with behavioural scientists, neuroscientists, and organisational psychologists to develop and deliver evidence-based practices—from somatic regulation to purpose and values alignment—that strengthen both people and performance.  He is a dedicated husband and father of three daughters. 

About This Episode: To truly make a positive difference in the world, we need exceptional relationships. The real question is — how do we create connections that are meaningful, authentic, and built to last? In this episode, I'm joined by internationally recognised relationship expert Andy Lopata to explore how professional relationships, when built with intention and integrity, can drive not only commercial success but also lasting, positive impact. Because in today's world, if we want to achieve anything meaningful… relationships really matter. Andy brings over 25 years of experience helping leaders and organisations unlock the true value of connection. From working with global brands like Google, PayPal and the BBC, to contributing to Harvard Business Re-view and Psychology Today, he has become one of the leading voices on networking, mentoring, and relation-ship-driven leadership. In this conversation, we explore Andy's journey since he was last on the show — how his thinking has evolved, what it really takes to build a global reputation, and the realities of turning thought leadership into something commercially sustainable. At the heart of the discussion is Andy's Relationship Matrix — a powerful and practical framework designed to help individuals and organisations map, measure, and strengthen the relationships that truly matter. We also take an honest look at a challenge many face: how do you monetise relationships and ideas in a way that feels authentic, ethical, and aligned with doing good? If you're building a business, leading a team, or simply want to create more meaningful connections in your life — this conversation will both inspire and challenge you. Because ultimately, if we want to make a difference… relationships are where it all begins.   More about Andy Lopata: Andy Lopata is an internationally recognised authority on professional relation-ships, with more than 25 years of experience helping organisations and individu-als unlock the commercial and cultural value of connection. An accomplished keynote speaker, author of six books, and co-host of The Connected Leadership Podcast, he is also a regular contributor to Psychology Today and has written for Harvard Business Review. Andy has built a global reputation for his expertise in networking, mentoring, and relationship-driven leadership, and was shortlisted for the 2025 Thinkers50 Coaching and Mentoring Award. His work focuses on helping leaders and teams strengthen collaboration, build trust, and improve retention through more strategic and authentic professional relationships. He is the creator of The Relationship Matrix, a practical framework designed to help organisations map, measure, and develop the relationships that drive long-term success. His clients have included leading organisations such as PayPal, Google, the BBC, and Saïd Business School, as well as government bodies worldwide. A Fellow of both the Professional Speaking Association and the Learning and Performance Institute, Andy is also a member of the Association of Business Mentors, the Society of Authors, and the Meetings Industry Association. Known for combining research-based insight with engaging storytelling, he delivers practical, actionable strategies that make complex relationship dynamics accessible and immediately applicable.

About this episode: What if the way we respond in just a few seconds could strengthen—or damage—our relationships, our leadership, and our impact on the world? In this deeply insightful conversation, Chris Cooper speaks with Louise Evans, creator of The 5 Chairs, a powerful yet beautifully simple model that helps people recognise their behaviour in the moment and choose a more conscious, constructive response. Drawing on decades of global experience—and a personal journey shaped by inner work and transformation—Louise shares how we can move from reaction, self-doubt and conflict towards curiosity, authenticity, empathy and meaningful connection. Her work has already transformed organisations, schools, families and lives, with millions engaging in her widely viewed TED Talk and many describing the model as life-changing. But this conversation goes beyond communication skills. It explores something bigger: how becoming more self-aware in the way we think, speak and relate can help us build healthier relationships, stronger communities, and ultimately contribute to doing more good in the world. If you've ever struggled with a difficult conversation, wished you'd handled something differently, or want to lead and live with greater awareness and impact—this is a conversation you won't want to miss. More about Louise Evans: Louise is a humanist motivated by a profound desire to help people reach their fullest potential in environments permeated by mutual respect. Her passion is to work with the human side of organisations and to do this she has developed her own powerful and transformative model for successful living and leading called 'The 5 Chairs', often described as 'life-changing' or 'self-awareness on steroids!' At the heart of The 5 Chairs experience is Behavioral Agility, Conscious communication and Relationship Mastery and it is designed as a tool for every man, every woman & every child on the planet. The 5 Chairs is also being adopted by schools, especially between the ages of 4 – 16, where it helps children become aware of the difference between their productive and unproductive behaviors. It helps them face rising tensions in their daily encounters with others in order to maintain harmonious and happy relationships. Having travelled to seventy-five countries and lived in three different cultures, Louise brings multiple perspectives to help people connect across their differences. She believes deeply in people's ability to grow and transform and loves working with people who want to evolve, who have the courage to look at themselves in the mirror and change, and who want the best possible life for themselves and others both at work and at home. Louise's mission is to divulge the message of The 5 Chairs to individuals, teams, organizations, families and communities across the world to re-awaken the fundamental Human Skills which are common to us all and are vital for our happiness, success and survival. Louise is an entrepreneur and a qualified trainer and facilitator of Behavioural Intelligence, Intercultural Management, Global Leadership, and International Communication Skills. Certified as Global Executive coach and NLP Practitioner, she works with all levels from Top Talents to the Board in Corporations, such as Valentino, Gucci, Enel, Glaxo, Unicredit Bank, Barilla, Enel, Luxottica, Honeywell, British Gas, Phillips, Honeywell, Tods, Hogan, Duracell, Diesel and many more. Her Training Topics include; Emotional & Behavioural Intelligence, Intercultural sensitization and management, Communication and Interpersonal skills, Diversity (thought, cultural, gender, generational, functional), Global Leadership, Unconscious Bias, Non-Violent Communication, Executive coaching, Team Excellence, Digital Intelligence & Conflict Resolution. Louise is the author of : '5 Chairs 5 Choices – Own your behaviours, master your communication, determine your success '– Amazon 2016 'The Magnificient 5 -Heroic Journeys' Amazon 2024 – A 5 Chairs book for children Her Tedx of her methodology: https://youtu.be/4BZuWrdC-9Q

About this episode: In every area of life and leadership, the ability to persuade with integrity is essential. Whether inspiring a team, influencing change, or sharing an idea that matters, persuasion done well can be a force for good. If we are seeking to deliver more good initiatives, we need to master the art of persuasion — as it can make all the difference between success and failure. My guest, Paul du Toit, is one of Africa's most respected professional speakers, coaches, and authors, and the author of the new book The Book of Persuasion. Paul was the first speaker on the African continent this cen-tury to be awarded the Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation from the National Speakers Asso-ciation (USA) in 2008. He later became Southern Africa's CSP Liaison Officer, helping others achieve the same recognition. A founder member and past president of the Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa, Paul was inducted into the Southern African Speakers Hall of Fame in 2017. Having inspired tens of thousands glob-ally with his signature blend of humour, insight, and humanity, Paul brings a deep understanding of what it takes to influence with authenticity and purpose. Join us for this special encore show as we explore The Book of Persuasion and discover how persuasion, when rooted in authenticity and goodwill, becomes a powerful catalyst for elevation — in business, relationships, and the way we show up in the world. More about Paul du Toit: Paul du Toit is the first speaker on the African continent this century to be awarded the Certified Speaking Professional designation from the National Speakers Association (USA) in 2008, thereafter serving as Southern Africa's CSP Liaison Officer, helping and encouraging over a dozen other Southern African speakers to achieve their CSPs. In 2013 he became a Global Speaking Fellow along with 21 other inaugural recipients at the Global Speakers Summit in Vancouver, Canada. Born in Cape Town in 1958, his grounding in theatre and entertainment provided an ideal springboard for a career in facilitation, coaching and professional speaking. He founded Johannesburg based Congruence Training in 1995 which he runs to this day. He is a founder member and Past President of the Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa receiving their Founders award at the Global Speakers Summit in Cape Town in April 2009 for exceptional service to the speaking industry. He has since served as Secretary and Treasurer of the Global Speakers Federation. In 2017 he was inducted in to the Southern African Speakers Hall of Fame. He has spoken to tens of thousands of people at conferences and corporate events globally. He is a business speaker, coach and authority on customer experience and business presentations, and author of two books including "You Can Present with Confidence" released internationally in 2011. Paul continues to blog on speaking, presenting and customer experience and sends a regular email newsletter on presenting to thousands of opt-in subscribers. His content-rich and often humorous interviews related to remote presentation during lockdown have been well received by the business and speaking community.  He runs several marathons (and at least one ultra-marathon) a year to keep in trim and whilst in training frequents the hills of Sandton in the mornings with his dog Samuel. He knows a fine wine when he smells it – his favourite reds finding temporary resting in his cellar, and appreciated a good single malt. He keeps an eye open for suppliers of excellent coffee beans and establishments that can match his home brew, which he enjoys with a block of dark chocolate. He plays guitar and hums a tune for relaxation, a pastime that once earned him a living, and occasionally posts a tune online. He has 2 grown up daughters, Chanel and Jenna and lives in Sandton with his wife Trudi.

About this episode: In a world where visibility and positioning matter more than ever, many highly capable leaders find themselves brilliantly representing their organisations, yet struggling to articulate their own value. This conversation explores why that happens and, more importantly, what to do about it. Chris Cooper is joined by Danielle Ellis, a career strategist who has helped over 2,000 executives position themselves more powerfully in the market, earning more than 2,000 five-star reviews for her work. Danielle specialises in helping high-performing leaders translate their impact into clear, compelling personal narratives that attract the right opportunities. Together, they explore how LinkedIn can be used as a powerful platform to elevate your good, increase your visibility, and open doors to meaningful opportunities. The discussion brings clarity to how the LinkedIn algorithm works, the differences between personal and business pages, and how to show up authentically while still being strategic. With a practical and structured approach, Danielle also explains how to build a strong presence, create content that resonates, and position yourself in a way that reflects your true value in an increasingly competitive and AI-influenced landscape. This is a conversation for anyone who wants to be seen, understood, and valued for the difference they make—and to use LinkedIn more intentionally to support that journey. More about Danielle Ellis: Danielle Ellis is the founder of Prime Personal Branding, a boutique executive branding practice built around the fundamental truth that first impressions don't happen in the room, they happen in print. Résumés, LinkedIn profiles, and executive bios shape opinions and determine whether further conversations happen at all. Danielle's work is about making sure those impressions are accurate, compelling, and working for her clients rather than against them. Over more than a decade and 2,000+ client transformations, she has partnered with Fortune 100 executives, founders, and thought leaders worldwide who are doing serious work and need the world to see it clearly.  She brings to every engagement the same conviction she brings to this conversation: that leaders doing meaningful work deserve to be seen, but it's up to them to tell the right story.

About this episode: Why do some people turn setbacks into extraordinary success while others remain stuck? And what does it really take to create freedom, impact and opportunity in today's uncertain world? On this episode of The Business Elevation Show,  Chris Cooper speaks with Daniel Wood, CEO and co-founder of the Swedish Wealth Institute, about the principles and experiences that help people transform their lives and create meaningful success. Daniel leads a global movement focused on democratising success by giving everyday people direct access to world-class mentors such as Robert and Kim Kiyosaki, Les Brown, Jack Canfield, Nick Vujicic, John Assaraf and Brian Tracy. Through large-scale summits, workshops and the Swedish Wealth Institute Podcast, he shares practical strategies that help entrepreneurs and investors create genuine freedom and long-term opportunity. But Daniel's journey has not been without challenge. His own experiences of both significant wins and difficult setbacks helped shape a mission centred on empowerment through connection and impact through generosity. In this conversation Chris and Daniel explore Daniel's journey, the vision behind the Swedish Wealth Institute, and the mindset and strategies that enable people to grow beyond adversity and step into their potential. They also discuss why access to the right mentors, networks and ideas can dramatically change what is possible for individuals and communities. If you are interested in personal growth, entrepreneurship and how success can be used as a force for good, this is a thoughtful and inspiring conversation you will not want to miss.   More about Daniel Wood: Daniel Wood is the CEO and co-founder of the Swedish Wealth Institute, leading a global movement to democratize success by giving everyday people direct access to world-class mentors like Robert and Kim Kiyosaki, Les Brown, Jack Canfield, Nick Vujicic, John Assaraf, and Brian Tracy. Through large-scale summits, workshops, and the Swedish Wealth Institute Podcast, he delivers practical, proven strategies that help entrepreneurs and investors create real freedom. His own wins and failures have shaped a mission built on empowerment through connection and impact through generosity. Today, he is committed to making wealth-building tools, knowledge, and opportunities accessible to all—regardless of their starting point.

About this episode: Why do some people turn setbacks into extraordinary success while others remain stuck? And what does it really take to create freedom, impact and opportunity in today's uncertain world? On this episode of The Business Elevation Show,  Chris Cooper speaks with Daniel Wood, CEO and co-founder of the Swedish Wealth Institute, about the principles and experiences that help people transform their lives and create meaningful success. Daniel leads a global movement focused on democratising success by giving everyday people direct access to world-class mentors such as Robert and Kim Kiyosaki, Les Brown, Jack Canfield, Nick Vujicic, John Assaraf and Brian Tracy. Through large-scale summits, workshops and the Swedish Wealth Institute Podcast, he shares practical strategies that help entrepreneurs and investors create genuine freedom and long-term opportunity. But Daniel's journey has not been without challenge. His own experiences of both significant wins and difficult setbacks helped shape a mission centred on empowerment through connection and impact through generosity. In this conversation Chris and Daniel explore Daniel's journey, the vision behind the Swedish Wealth Institute, and the mindset and strategies that enable people to grow beyond adversity and step into their potential. They also discuss why access to the right mentors, networks and ideas can dramatically change what is possible for individuals and communities. If you are interested in personal growth, entrepreneurship and how success can be used as a force for good, this is a thoughtful and inspiring conversation you will not want to miss.   More about Daniel Wood: Daniel Wood is the CEO and co-founder of the Swedish Wealth Institute, leading a global movement to democratize success by giving everyday people direct access to world-class mentors like Robert and Kim Kiyosaki, Les Brown, Jack Canfield, Nick Vujicic, John Assaraf, and Brian Tracy. Through large-scale summits, workshops, and the Swedish Wealth Institute Podcast, he delivers practical, proven strategies that help entrepreneurs and investors create real freedom. His own wins and failures have shaped a mission built on empowerment through connection and impact through generosity. Today, he is committed to making wealth-building tools, knowledge, and opportunities accessible to all—regardless of their starting point.

About This Epsiode: What happens when the work you care about most begins to drain the very life from you?  Over thirty years ago, Dr Michael Brant DeMaria was working as a child protection psychologist, witnessing thousands of cases of severe abuse and neglect. The emotional toll led to compassion fatigue, burnout and even suicidal thoughts. For someone devoted to helping others, it became a defining question: how do you stay open-hearted, purposeful and resilient in the face of profound human suffering?  What followed was a life-changing vision quest in the wilderness, guided by a Native teacher. Alone and without food or water, Michael entered what he now calls "the way of twilight" — the space between breakdown and breakthrough, ego and soul, despair and renewal. It was there that he rediscovered meaning, creativity and a deeper reverence for life.  In this powerful conversation, we explore the hidden cost of leadership and caring roles, why burnout is often a signal rather than a failure, and how nature, creativity and authentic connection can restore clarity and purpose. We also discuss what keeps us "off the bridge of dispair" when life feels overwhelming, and why community and creative expression are not luxuries, but essential to sustained impact.  Michael's music has been streamed over 250 million times and earned four Grammy® nominations, yet what emerges most strongly here is his grounded wisdom and commitment to helping others move from exhaustion to wholeness.  If you are a leader, entrepreneur or changemaker navigating pressure and responsibility, this episode offers both depth and practical hope.   More about Michael Brant DeMaria: Over thirty years ago, Dr. Michael Brant DeMaria's life changed forever. Working as a child protection team psychologist, he witnessed over 2,000 cases of severe abuse and neglect—an experience that left him with compassion fatigue, burnout, and even suicidal thoughts. Searching for healing, he embarked on a life-changing vision quest guided by a Native teacher—alone in the wilderness without food or water. This journey ignited a deep heart-opening and reawakened his first loves: nature and creativity, while instilling in him a reverence for the profound mystery of living and dying—far beyond what modern culture teaches.  Since then, Michael has devoted his life to what he calls the way of twilight—embracing life's paradoxes in a way that opens, rather than closes, the heart. Through music, writing, film, and mentorship, he helps others walk this path toward wholeness.  He is the author of four books and the creator of the Peace Within program and book (Peace Within: Clear Your Mind, Open Your Heart, Embrace Your Soul, and Heal Your Life). His music—streamed over 250 million times—has earned four Grammy® nominations, eight ZMR Awards, six #1 albums, and a Native American Music Award. His work appears on the Grammy®-winning All About Bullies Big and Small and in collaborations with Eckhart Tolle, Mark Nepo, Peter Kater, and Noah Levine.  As a storyteller and filmmaker, Michael has written, directed, and scored four award-winning films and three award-winning plays, including his latest, The Twilight Café. Learn more at http://www.michaeldemaria.com     

About This Episode:  Peace is not passive. It is not abstract. And it is not something reserved for governments, diplomats or global leaders. It is something we build — or undermine — every single day through how we communicate, how we lead, how we handle disagreement, and how we speak about those who see the world differently.  In this thought provoking and deeply practical conversation, Chris Cooper is joined by Michael Macy — former U.S. diplomat, intercultural communications specialist, long-time student of Sufism, and co-founder of Enacting Peace. Drawing on nearly 30 years in the Foreign Service, with experience spanning the UK, Afghanistan, India, Haiti, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia, Michael shares what peace-building really looks like beyond headlines and politics.  Together they explore why peace is the invisible foundation upon which business, communities and everyday life depend. They reflect on the difference between conflict and violence, and why that distinction matters profoundly in the workplace. They consider how inherited stories, fear and polarisation shape the culture around us — and what conscious individuals can do to interrupt that cycle.  This is not a political discussion. It is a human one. It is about responsibility, agency and the small, deliberate choices that shape the environments we create at work and in our communities. Because peace doesn't simply happen. It is enacted — by each of us.    More about Michael Macy: Michael Macy is a pilgrim who has spent a lifetime exploring communications and the boundaries of cultural conditioning.  After time in a Catholic seminary, he spent a decade wondering around the United States and Canada. He went to five universities eventually obtaining degrees in American Culture and Communications Arts. Amidst dropping in and out of school he worked as a merchant seaman, in a railroad yard, with Greenpeace, dismantling buildings, and travelling with one of America's great holy fools. He then went to graduate school in law, which included moving to India to study community dispute resolution and wound up managing a development project in a disadvantaged community in Delhi.  His professional trajectory followed his interest in communications and culture. He trained in interpersonal communication and worked as a therapist. He studied law to understand ritualistic communication and worked as a trial lawyer. He learned marketing when recruited as a public relations executive. He hosted a radio talk show. Eventually, he spent nearly 30 years as a U.S. diplomat involved in intercultural communication and left the State Department with the title of Counselor in the Senior Foreign Service. As a diplomat he focused on developing mutual understanding between the U.S. and the countries where he served, including the UK, Mali, Malta, Saudia Arabia, Afghanistan, India, Haiti and Tunisia and short stints in Egypt, France, Turkey and Ghana. In order to build those bridges, he worked with dancers, writers, artists, academics, journalists, religious community leaders and comedians. He also staffed a dozen White House international trips.  Throughout his wanderings, explored spiritual experience. He was a murid (student) of Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan for 25 years, eventually being ordained as a Chirag (minister) in the Universal Worship and as a Healing Conductor in the Healing Order of the Inayati Order. He participated in the Kalachakra Initiation held by HH the Dali Lama, spent time with the Sufis of India, Afghanistan, Mali and Tunisia and meditated at the Hindu holy sites of Gangotri and Rishikesh. Along the way he developed an understanding of the Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Christian, and Native American traditions and a deep appreciation for the holy fools, madzubs, and lovers who exemplify the divine reality. He is currently a student of the Sufi Murshid David Shahabuddin Less.  Michael is currently working on two peace initiatives. He is on the board of the Abrahamic Reunion, which is dedicated to peace in the Israel and Palestine and is one of the founders of Enacting Peace, an international effort to invite people to act for peace. It has no dogma, no dues and no politics, just an invitation that people will celebrate peace, act for peace and experience their own power to create peace,   

About this episode: What if some of the most effective tools for feedback, performance management, and emotional intelligence had been refined for centuries? In this practical and thought-provoking conversation, Chris Cooper is joined by Dr Laura Lois Greenwood, a leadership and emotional intelligence specialist who has helped tens of thousands of people transform challenging emotions into clear, compassionate workplace responses. Drawing on decades of Buddhist practice and real-world organisational leadership, Laura translates ancient mind-training principles into fully secular, workplace-ready tools. Together, they explore why performance management so often fails, why feedback is the pivotal leadership skill, and how leaders can learn to motivate rather than deflate. The conversation covers emotional intelligence under pressure, common leadership traps, and Laura's use of frameworks such as "Friends, Enemies, and Strangers" and the Buddhist understanding of anger, grasping, and indifference — all grounded in everyday organisational behaviour. Listeners will leave with practical insights, a simple feedback structure, and a short mind-training exercise they can apply immediately at work.   More about Dr Laura Lois Greenwood: Dr Laura Lois Greenwood is a leadership and emotional intelligence specialist who has supported tens of thousands of people in transforming challenging emotions into clear, compassionate responses that strengthen relationships and improve workplace effectiveness. Drawing on decades of Buddhist practice, she translates ancient mind-training methods into practical tools for communication, feedback, and emotionally balanced leadership. She has designed and delivered more than forty original training programmes across leadership, conflict resolution, mindfulness, cultural diversity, and organisational development. As the founding Director of the Workforce Training Centre at the University of Hawaii Maui College, Dr Greenwood led workforce initiatives for 22 years and certified hundreds of facilitators through Train-the-Trainer programmes. Her clients include leading hospitality, healthcare, and public-sector organisations in Hawaii and internationally. Dr Greenwood holds a BA with Phi Beta Kappa distinction, an MA in East Asian Studies, and a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley. A committed student of Buddhism since 1968, she has studied extensively in Asia and Nepal and helped found Vajrapani Retreat Centre in California. Her work integrates Eastern contemplative wisdom with Western leadership practice to foster resilience, emotional intelligence, and lasting organisational change.

About this episode: Chris Cooper is joined by bridge-builder and social entrepreneur Simon Greer for a powerful conversation about how to bridge divides in a world where people increasingly see those they disagree with as "the other." Simon shares his early life, his rise through progressive politics, and the turning point when he realised he had been contributing to the very demonisation he opposed. He came to see that real change had to begin with himself. That insight sparked a decade-long journey to better understand the people his own side had cast as enemies, immersing himself in perspectives he had once dismissed. Together, they explore why today's conflicts may be less political than spiritual — rooted more in identity and belonging than in policy. They discuss what it really means to "get inside" the issues that divide us, why listening is a superpower, and how to enter courageous conversations with honesty and humility. They also examine how we can honour the competing truths people carry from their own histories and traditions. The conversation dives into Simon's work on college campuses, in prisons, and in Israel–Palestine — places that serve as laboratories for dialogue and understanding. They consider why recovering a shared story of who we are may be essential if we are to solve our problems together. A timely and deeply human discussion about what each of us can do to foster understanding, rebuild trust, and bridge divides in our families, communities, and wider society.   More about Simon Greer: Simon has spent the last decade seeking to bridge the gaps in our polarized nation, including conservatives and progressives, secular and evangelical college students, and corrections officers and the formerly incarcerated. Greer speaks regularly at The Nantucket Project, on campuses across the country, and at corporate events and retreats on topics including bridge-building, listening as a superpower, and building high-performing teams. He has hosted courageous conversations on stage with the likes of Sean Spicer, Valerie Jarrett, Karl Rove, Candace Owens, John Haidt, Juan Williams, Joe Kennedy, Andrew Yang and Glenn Beck. In 2025, he won a MidSouth Emmy® for his work as a producer on The North Carolina Listening Project, recognized in the Interview/Discussion category. Considered to be a serial entrepreneur in the nonprofit world, Simon has also founded and led a range of organizations including founding Bridging the Gap and serving as Senior Advisor to One Voice United and Managing Director of the Fund for New Leadership. Today, he works with organizations and institutions—colleges and universities, tech, media, healthcare and fashion companies, philanthropies and purpose-driven organizations—to cross lines of difference and solve pressing problems.

About this episode: Biodiversity loss isn't just an environmental issue—it's a financial, social and business risk that affects us all. In this episode of The Business Elevation Show, Chris is joined by Helen Avery, Director of Nature Programmes at the Green Finance Institute (GFI), to explore how private sector investment is being mobi-lised to restore nature and why this matters for leaders, organisations and communities worldwide. Helen leads the team overseeing GFI's work on supporting the UK Government's investment readiness funds, the UK's National Consultation Group for the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), and an international nature investment programme with UNEP FI and UNDP Biofin. She shares how finance, gov-ernment and business are working together to turn ambitious nature goals into real-world action. Together, they discuss why biodiversity is rising rapidly up the global agenda, how nature risk shows up in sup-ply chains and communities, and what "high-integrity" nature investment really means. They also explore how we can make nature inclusive and relevant for everyone—not just policymakers, investors and NGOs—and how systems change actually happens on the ground. This is a conversation about hope, system change and the role we can all play in creating a nature-positive fu-ture—because good matters.   More about Helen Avery: Helen Avery is Director of Nature Programmes at the Green Finance Insti-tute (GFI) where she focuses on unlocking private sector investment into nature-based solutions and nature restoration. Helen leads the team that oversees GFI's work on supporting the UK Gov-ernment's investment readiness funds, as well as the UK's National Consul-tation Group for the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures. The team also oversees an international nature investment programme with UNEP FI and UNDP Biofin.

About this episode: Words shape lives. If you want your communication to build trust, inspire action and change—or even save—lives, this episode is for you. In this episode, Chris Cooper is joined by Elevation Collective member Rhonda Curry, a global communications and marketing leader who has spent decades shaping the narratives behind health and cancer research, prevention, treatment and care. From UCLA Health to the University of Miami Health System, Rhonda has been at the forefront of telling stories that build trust, inspire hope, accelerate philanthropic support and help breakthrough science reach the people who need it most. Rhonda's work spans local, national and global audiences, including initiatives across Latin America, Africa and Asia. Together, Chris and Rhonda explore how "communications for good" works in practice, and why simple, human relatability is often the key to translating complex science without losing accuracy or integrity. This conversation is designed to be genuinely useful. Rhonda shares six principles for writing compelling marketing communications, with real-world examples of powerful storytelling — from patients telling their own stories, to the craft of "transcreation" across cultures and languages, to how leaders can embrace generative AI without sacrificing authenticity, ethics or trust. A hopeful, practical and deeply human conversation about storytelling with integrity, leadership with purpose, and how great communication can create meaningful global impact.   More about Rhonda Curry: A seasoned communications executive, Rhonda has decades of experience leading strategic marketing and communications for academic medical centers with an emphasis in cancer research, prevention, treatment and care.  She leads communication and marketing at the University of Miami Health System for its NCI-designated cancer center. She previously served as chief of communications and interim chief of marketing at UCLA Health in Los Angeles, California. Prior experience also includes leading communications and marketing for the renowned Fred Hutch Cancer Center in Seattle, Washington, home to three Nobel Laureates. The throughline of Rhonda's career reflects her deep commitment to telling the story of health care research and advances in urban and rural settings, from coast to coast across the United States. In addition, she leads marketing and communications for global cancer research – focus areas have included China, Uganda, South Africa, and Latin America. An innovative MarComm leader, she designs teams around digital content hubs to earn top-tier media placement, industry awards, increased philanthropic giving and new patient acquisition. At the University of Miami Health System since 2022, she has created and leads a specialized MarComm team focused on cancer research and prevention, clinical care and community engagement. The geographic endowment of Miami as the gateway to Latin America is a unique opportunity for cancer research that will benefit human health in the US and across the globe. Rhonda earned her Bachelor of Science degree in health care administration from St. Joseph's College of Maine, and her Master of Arts in communication and leadership studies from Gonzaga University. Her proudest accomplishment is being Nonna (Italian grandmother) to twelve beautiful children to whom she dedicates her work.

About This Episode: Dr Lori Leyden (PhD, MBA) is an internationally recognised trauma-healing professional, transformational leader, and mentor whose work has supported thousands worldwide — including genocide survivors in Rwanda, communities impacted by the Sandy Hook Elementary School and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shootings, and Indigenous and refugee communities in Australia. Lori joins Chris Cooper to explore what it really takes to heal trauma in individuals and communities — and why regulating the nervous system and cultivating therapeutic presence can be more effective (and safer) than "talking it out" for PTSD. We'll explore Lori's story and book, Embodying Grace, which is a practical and deeply compassionate guide to healing trauma by restoring safety, presence, and dignity in the body — not by reliving the story. We also discuss powerful insights from her humanitarian leadership journey — from founding the nonprofit Create Global Healing and launching Project LIGHT: Rwanda, to her current resilience work with Ukrainian leaders living through active war — and what it means to build peace from the inside out, even in the most challenging circumstances. Listen in for inspiration, wisdom and a transformational perspective on how best to overcome trauma.   About Lori Leyden: Lori Leyden, PhD, MBA is an internationally recognized trauma-healing professional, transformational leader, and mentor who helps individuals and communities heal in the aftermath of profound tragedy. Her work has supported thousands worldwide, including genocide survivors in Rwanda, survivors of the Sandy Hook Elementary School and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shootings, as well as Australian Indigenous and refugee communities. Inspired by the resilience of orphan genocide survivors in Rwanda, Dr. Leyden founded the nonprofit Create Global Healing and established Project LIGHT: Rwanda, the world's first international youth healing, heart-centered leadership, and entrepreneurship program. Project LIGHT offers a new model of humanitarian aid—empowering young people to heal trauma, develop meaningful livelihoods, and lead with compassion. She also served as Executive Producer of the award-winning documentary When I Was Young I Said I Would Be Happy, which follows the transformational journey of Project LIGHT Ambassadors as they bring healing to others from Rwanda to Sandy Hook, Connecticut. Dr. Leyden's vision is to cultivate a global movement of peacebuilders creating peace from the inside out. She mentors individuals seeking deeper healing, meaning, and impact, and is a member of the Global Evolutionary Leaders Council and the Association of Transformational Leaders, as well as an Evidence-Based EFT Master Trainer. She received the Personal Achievement Award (2019). She is the author of The Grace Process Guidebook and The Stress Management Handbook, available in multiple languages. Dr. Leyden holds a doctorate in Health and Human Services with a concentration in psychoneuroimmunology, and an MBA in management.

About this episode: Life and business rarely move in straight lines. There are ladders that elevate us faster than expected—and snakes that can suddenly knock us back. In this insightful and timely conversation, Chris Cooper is joined by Paul Davis, renowned business growth consultant, intuitive advisor, and three-time best-selling author, to explore the wisdom at the heart of his latest book, Winning the Snakes and Ladders Game of Life. Together, they explore how to navigate both the highs and the setbacks with clarity, resilience, and purpose. Paul draws on decades of entrepreneurial experience and his unique intuitive approach—one that has helped transform struggling businesses into multi-million-euro success stories. As the creator of The Genius Code™, Paul is passionate about helping people uncover their unique genius, reconnect with what truly matters, and build success that is not only financially rewarding, but deeply meaningful and sustainable. This episode will be a brilliant way to start the year, offering reflection, perspective, and practical wisdom for anyone rethinking their direction, their leadership, or the game they're choosing to play. If you're ready to move forward with greater alignment, intention, and impact, this is a conversation not to be missed.   More about Paul Davis: Paul Davis is a renowned business growth consultant, sought-after speaker, and intuitive personal advisor, with a passion for empowering professionals worldwide to unearth their unique genius and lead their field. As the creator of The Genius Code™ for personal mastery and a three-time best-selling author, Paul is dedicated to helping individuals discover their true purpose, tap into unparalleled fulfilment, and make a profound impact through their business.  Often hailed as a "life-saver" by his clients, with his remarkable intuitive approach, combined with decades of entrepreneurial experience, he has transformed countless struggling businesses into multi-million-euro success stories. With a client list that spans industry leaders, celebrities, and innovative entrepreneurs, Paul's expertise transcends borders and sectors. As an award-winning consultant and visionary thought leader, Paul Davis is committed to guiding you on a transformative journey of self-discovery, purpose-driven growth, and lasting prosperity.

About this episode: In this thought-provoking episode of The Business Elevation Show – Where Good Matters, Chris Cooper is joined by Robin Dreeke, retired FBI Special Agent and former Chief of the Counterintelligence Behavioural Analysis Program.   Robin's career took him into some of the highest-stakes environments imaginable — recruiting spies, working in counterintelligence, and navigating extreme human complexity. Yet, as this conversation reveals, his work has never been about manipulation or persuasion. Instead, it has always been about trust, psychological safety, and understanding human behaviour at its deepest level.   Together, Chris and Robin explore what it truly means to build unbreakable alliances — in leadership, business, families, communities, and even across ideological divides. They discuss why influence is the wrong goal, how calm and context help us navigate chaos, and why creating environments where people feel safe is the foundation for innovation, collaboration, and progress.   This is an episode for leaders, changemakers, and anyone seeking to communicate more authentically, lead more consciously, and contribute more meaningfully in a complex world.   More about Robin Dreeke:   Robin Dreeke is a retired FBI Special Agent and behavioural expert who served as Chief of the Counterintelligence Behavioural Analysis Program, where he honed his skills in building unbreakable alliances with spies, terrorists, and everyday professionals.  A sought-after keynote speaker, trainer, and author of bestsellers like *It's Not All About "Me"* and *Sizing People Up*, Robin equips leaders with actionable strategies to master communication, foster trust, and drive team success. His unique blend of high-stakes intelligence insights and practical tools transforms relationships and elevates business performance worldwide.  

About this episode: In a world marked by growing complexity, division, and ecological tipping points, a new story is emerging — one that reclaims our deep interconnectedness with each other, with the Earth, and with the cosmos itself. Dr. Jude Currivan, cosmologist, planetary healer, and former international business leader, invites us into a radical shift in perception: from the illusion of separation to the embodied reality of unity. In this Special Encore conversation, we explore how her groundbreaking work in The Cosmic Hologram and The Story of Gaia offers not only a profound scientific narrative but a practical, ethical, and evolutionary framework for leadership and business in the 21st century. What does it mean to live — and lead — from the awareness that we are inseparable from the systems we shape? How do organizations evolve from extractive and competitive to regenerative and co-creative? And what becomes possible when we align our strategies not just with markets, but with meaning? This is a conversation for visionary leaders, changemakers, and anyone ready to explore what it really means to take a whole-world view — and lead from it. More about Dr Jude Currivan: Dr Jude Currivan is a cosmologist, planetary healer, award-winning author latterly of The Cosmic Hologram (2017) and The Story of Gaia (2022), educator and previously a senior UK-based international business woman. In 2017 she co-founded WholeWorld-View (www.wholeworld-view.org) to serve the understanding, experiencing and embodying of unitive awareness, healing and conscious evolution.

About this episode: As the year draws to a close, Chris Cooper steps behind the microphone for a special solo episode to reflect, distil, and share what truly matters now.   Drawing on over 14 years od conversations with inspiring leaders and changemakers on The Business Elevation Show, alongside the lived wisdom of The Elevation Collective community, Chris shares 10 Elevations for Thriving and Doing Good in the World Today.   These Elevations are not trends or theories. They are grounded insights shaped by real leadership journeys, meaningful conversations, and lived experience, exploring how we can thrive personally and professionally while contributing positively to the world around us. In this reflective end-of-year episode, Chris speaks directly to listeners, weaving together stories, insights, and gratitude for the many remarkable people who make up the Business Elevation and Elevation Collective communities. It is both a moment to pause and reflect, and an invitation to step into the year ahead with greater intention, humanity, and purpose.   Chris Cooper is the founder of The Elevation Collective, an international community of heart-led leaders and changemakers committed to amplifying good in the world. He is also the host of The Business Elevation Show, one of the longest-running business podcasts in the world, broadcasting weekly since 2011 to listeners in over 50 countries.   Listeners can also look out for a new free ebook, 10 Elevations for Thriving and Doing Good in the World Today, available for download in early 2026 via the Chris Cooper website.   This episode offers a thoughtful and hopeful close to the year and a powerful opening into what's possible next.   More about Chris Cooper: Chris Cooper is the founder of The Elevation Collective, an exclusive international community of wise, heart-led leaders and changemakers dedicated to amplifying good in the world. The Collective incubates and accelerates projects that create meaningful, positive, and lasting impact.   He is also the host of The Business Elevation Show—one of the longest-running business podcasts in the world—broadcast weekly since 2011 to loyal audiences in over 50 countries.   Through his brand Chris Cooper Business Elevation, Chris is a highly respected people consultant, behavioural strategist, mentor, coach, and speaker—developing leaders, empowering teams, and creating highly engaged business cultures.   He has worked with leading brands including Mars and United Biscuits, and as a consultant with many organisations such as Diageo, Carlsberg, Barclays, KP Foods, and over 20 insurance and financial services businesses.   He is also co-author of The Power to Get Things Done (Whether You Feel Like It or Not), published by Penguin Random House (New York). For more information www.chriscooper.co.uk

About this episode: As the year draws to a close, Chris Cooper steps behind the microphone for a special solo episode to reflect, distil, and share what truly matters now. Drawing on over 14 years of conversations with inspiring leaders and changemakers on The Business Elevation Show, alongside the lived wisdom of The Elevation Collective community, Chris shares 10 Elevations for Thriving and Doing Good in the World Today. These Elevations are not trends or theories. They are grounded insights shaped by real leadership journeys, meaningful conversations, and lived experience, exploring how we can thrive personally and professionally while contributing positively to the world around us. In this reflective end-of-year episode, Chris speaks directly to listeners, weaving together stories, insights, and gratitude for the many remarkable people who make up the Business Elevation and Elevation Collective communities. It is both a moment to pause and reflect, and an invitation to step into the year ahead with greater intention, humanity, and purpose. Chris Cooper is the founder of The Elevation Collective, an international community of heart-led leaders and changemakers committed to amplifying good in the world. He is also the host of The Business Elevation Show, one of the longest-running business podcasts in the world, broadcasting weekly since 2011 to listeners in over 50 countries. Listeners can also look out for a new free eBook, 10 Elevations for Thriving and Doing Good in the World Today, available for download in early 2026 via the Chris Cooper website. This episode offers a thoughtful and hopeful close to the year and a powerful opening into what's possible next. For more information, visit www.chriscooper.co.uk.   More about Chris Cooper: Chris Cooper is the founder of The Elevation Collective, an exclusive international community of wise, heart-led leaders and changemakers dedicated to amplifying good in the world. The Collective incubates and accelerates projects that create meaningful, positive, and lasting impact.   He is also the host of The Business Elevation Show—one of the longest-running business podcasts in the world—broadcast weekly since 2011 to loyal audiences in over 50 countries.   Through his brand Chris Cooper Business Elevation, Chris is a highly respected people consultant, behavioural strategist, mentor, coach, and speaker—developing leaders, empowering teams, and creating highly engaged business cultures.   He has worked with leading brands including Mars and United Biscuits, and as a consultant with many organisations such as Diageo, Carlsberg, Barclays, KP Foods, and over 20 insurance and financial services businesses.   He is also co-author of The Power to Get Things Done (Whether You Feel Like It or Not), published by Penguin Random House (New York). For more information www.chriscooper.co.uk

About this episode: How do we best cope with our current volatile, disruptive and extremely polarised world situation? How can you adapt your approach when you meet others with a very different view to you? On this Special Encore episode, we welcome Joe Weston who brings over 30 years of experience in conflict prevention, leadership, stress management, and communication. We explore the principles outlined in his Amazon bestselling book, Fierce Civility: Transforming our Global Culture from Polarisation to Lasting Peace. Including what is fierce civility and how can it help us to bridge divides and foster personal and professional peace and collaboration. As the founder and owner of Weston Network and the non-profit Fierce Civility Project, Joe has worked with a diverse array of clients, including NASA, the World Bank, Oxfam, Booz Allen Hamilton, PBS, The National Cancer Institute, The United Nations, and Mitsubishi Motors. His groundbreaking work and methodologies have made a significant impact on corporations, government agencies, and non-profits around the world. Joe's expertise is further highlighted by his experience as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University's Department of Government, Program of Conflict Resolution, and his dedication to working with veterans and in-mates in the areas of integration, healing, and leadership. Listen for an enlightening and thought-provoking discussion that will elevate your understanding of the power of fierce civility, and how you can use to increase your effectiveness whilst contributing to a more peaceful world.   More about Joe Weston: Joe Weston's career spans 30+ years in the fields of conflict prevention, leadership, stress management, and communication; he is a highly sought after facilitator and coach for individuals, corporations, government agencies, and non-profits around the world. As founder and owner of Weston Network and the non-profit, the Fierce Civility Project, his clients include NASA, World Bank, Oxfam, Booz Allen Hamilton, PBS, The National Cancer Institute, The United Nations, and Mitsubishi Motors. His first book, Mastering Respectful Confrontation (2011), has been sold worldwide, and his second book, Fierce Civility: Transforming our Global Culture from Polarization to Lasting Peace, was released in early March of 2023 and is an Amazon bestseller in 14 categories. Joe served as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University's Department of Government, Program of Conflict Resolution. He has also worked with various Veterans' organisations in processes of integration and healing, as well as teaching mediation and leadership to inmates.  

About this episode: On this episode, Chris is joined by national bestselling author and former Fortune 500 executive Jeff Hancher, whose book "Firm Feedback in a Fragile World" offers a practical and compassionate approach to one of leadership's toughest challenges: giving honest feedback without damaging trust. Jeff's own story is remarkable. Raised in poverty and starting his career as a fill-in truck driver, he rose through corporate leadership and eventually left to pursue his calling of helping leaders create cultures of clarity, courage and care. In this conversation they explore why so many leaders avoid difficult conversations, how firm feedback differs from criticism, and how leaders can set expectations and hold people accountable in a way that builds engagement rather than fear. They also look at how courageous conversations create energy, momentum and genuine cultural change inside organisations. If you want to elevate performance, strengthen relationships and lead with both courage and heart, this is an inspiring and highly practical episode you won't want to miss. More about Jeff Hancher: Jeff Hancher equips leaders to lead with truth, courage, and conviction—even in the most fragile environments. As an executive coach, keynote speaker, and podcast host, Jeff brings over 20 years of corporate leadership experience to the table. Through his coaching, training, and speaking engagements, Jeff helps managers and executives master critical feedback, create results-driven teams, and develop strong leadership pipelines. His approach blends emotional intelligence with strategic execution—making him a sought-after voice in today's complex workplace culture.

About this episode: How do you best navigate your career and the complex relationship between individuals and the workplace today? Tessa White, known as the Job Doctor, exploded on social media in late 2020 with her expertise on careers and workplace dynamics, after 20 years leading human resources functions within the Fortune 50 to fast-growth start-ups. With more than one million followers on social media, she was recognised on USA Today's list as one of the top speakers to watch in 2022. Her first book, The Unspoken Truths for Career Success, and her podcast, The Job Doctor is In, are available on Spotify and Apple. Tessa has also recently launched a free no-strings-attached mentoring platform called Career RX and is a valued member of The Elevation Collective. Join us for this Special Encore episode as we explore her forthcoming book, The 5 Stages of Career Growth, and uncover the insights you need to recognise where you are in your career journey, how to progress to the next stage, and how to build lasting success and fulfilment along the way. More about Tessa White: At a time when individuals are struggling with their job satisfaction, an unlikely ally was found in a former Fortune 50 executive turned employee advocate. Tessa White, known as the Job Doctor, launched a practice to help individuals better navigate the workplace, and help companies better unlock the potential of their people, just as the pandemic hit. Tessa exploded on social media with her expertise on careers and how to navigate the complicated relationship between individuals and the workplace in late 2020, after 20 years leading human resources functions within the Fortune 50 to fast growth start-ups. Her insights struck a chord, garnering more than one million followers on social media and she is consistently ranked in the top 1% of similar creators on her LIVE career sessions on TikTok. Her unique perspective on the modern workplace earned her a place on USA Today's list as one of the top speakers to watch in 2022. Her book, The Unspoken Truths for Career Success, and her podcast, The Job Doctor is In, is available on Spotify and Apple. When she isn't working with companies or individuals about the modern workplace, she can be found on the river, where she flyfishes. 

About this episode: In a world living through what many now call a "polycrisis" – overlapping conflicts, climate shocks and social division – what does truly graceful leadership look like? In this powerful conversation, Chris Cooper is joined by Dr Will Parks, a deeply experienced humanitarian leader whose career has taken him from UNICEF roles in the Pacific Islands, Nepal, Iraq, Iran, Bhutan and Cambodia to his latest work as an author, coach and mentor. Inspired at 16 by UNICEF's legendary Executive Director Jim Grant, Will went on to spend almost 20 years leading programmes for children in some of the world's most fragile contexts – often on the front line of natural disasters and human-made crises. Along the way he has witnessed both the worst and the very best of humanity: families fleeing ISIS in Iraq, deep trauma along the Cambodia–Thailand border, but also extraordinary kindness, courage and recovery. Drawing on his new book, "Graceful Leadership – Inspiring hope, creativity and resilience in times of peace and crisis" (The Right Book Press, 2025), Will and Chris explore how we can respond to today's crisis-ridden, often "disgraceful" models of leadership with something profoundly different: heart-centred, compassionate, and quietly courageous. They discuss how to stay grounded when you've seen too much, the importance of kindness and service as real sources of power, and why giving back through mentoring and coaching the next generation is central to Will's "rewirement" rather than retirement. Whether you lead in business, charity, government or are a young person considering a career in international development, this episode will offer practical wisdom, hope and perspective on how each of us can help "take the poly out of the polycrisis" and amplify good in our own sphere of influence. More about Dr Will Parks: Dr Will Parks is a passionate humanitarian who has held senior leadership positions with UNICEF in the Pacific Islands, Nepal, Iraq, Iran, Bhutan and Cambodia. In each country, Will has led UNICEF's development programs for children as well as responses to natural disasters and human-made crises. Before UNICEF, he worked with the Australian and UK Aid Agencies, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, and the World Health Organization, honing his skills in diverse cultural and professional settings. A scholar and thought leader, Will has authored multiple books and articles, presenting his insights at numerous international conferences and workshops. His latest book is Graceful Leadership – _Inspiring hope, creativity and resilience in times of peace and crisis _(The Right Book Press, 2025). Will is also accredited with the International Coaching Federation.

About this episode: How can entrepreneurship be used not only to build livelihoods, but also to lift communities and create a happier, more connected world? In this inspiring episode, host Chris Cooper talks with Michael Glauser, entrepreneur, author, and Executive Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship at Utah State University. Michael has built and sold successful companies, cycled 4,000 miles across America to meet extraordinary small-town entrepreneurs, and now leads the SEED poverty alleviation program, which helps thousands of people across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean to start small enterprises and double their household income. Together, Chris and Michael explore the powerful intersection of entrepreneurship, purpose, and human happiness. They discuss how creating meaningful work can combat despair and anxiety, why social entrepreneurship may hold the key to sustainable development, and what six universal principles—drawn from science and timeless wisdom—can help individuals and organisations thrive together. Michael also shares insights from his latest book, One People, One Planet: Six Universal Truths for Being Happy Together, and from his award-winning SEED initiative, which trains university students to teach entrepreneurship in communities worldwide. This conversation reveals how entrepreneurship can be a catalyst for happiness, dignity, and community upliftment, the keys to building organizations with heart and purpose, and what ancient wisdom and modern science agree on about living and working happily together. It also includes real stories of transformation from around the world through the SEED program. If you believe that business can be both profitable and profoundly good, this conversation will inspire you to think bigger about how your work can make a lasting difference.   More about Michael Glauser: Michael Glauser is an entrepreneur, author, business consultant, and university professor. He has built successful companies in the retail, wholesale, and educational industries and has worked with hundreds of businesses—from startups to multinational enterprises—in leadership development, communication, team building, and organizational strategy. Today, Mike serves as Executive Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship in the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University. He's also the Director of the SEED poverty alleviation program, helping thousands of people around the world to improve their standard of living and benefit their communities through entrepreneurship. Mike has published three books on entrepreneurship: Glorious Accidents, The Business of Heart and Main Street Entrepreneur, which chronicles his 4,000 mile bicycle ride across America to interview 100 remarkable entrepreneurs who have successfully merged livelihood and lifestyle in places they want to live. His latest book, One People One Planet: Six Universal Truths for Being Happy Together, presents six proven principles to help us increase our happiness, improve our relationships, and create greater civility in organizations and communities. You can learn more at: One People One Planet and https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelglauser/

About this episode: Deep beneath the frozen frontier of Antarctica, a massive glacier the size of the UK is sliding toward the sea. Thwaites — known as the "Doomsday Glacier" — could raise global sea levels by more than two feet and trigger the collapse of the entire West Antarctic Ice Sheet, reshaping coastlines and economies worldwide. In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Ted Scambos, Senior Research Scientist at the University of Colorado, joins Chris Cooper to reveal what satellite data and 24 Antarctic expeditions have taught him about climate tipping points, resilience, and human ingenuity. Together they explore how science, technology, and leadership intersect — and why the same qualities that help scientists survive in Antarctica are exactly what businesses need to navigate a warming, uncertain world. From the race to decarbonise and the promise of clean energy to the rise of AI and data-driven climate solutions, this episode asks: What can leaders, innovators, and organisations for good learn from the planet's most extreme experiment? How can business step up where politics falters to create hope, not heat? Because what happens in Antarctica affects every boardroom, every market, and every coastline — and the time for good leadership is now.   More about Dr Ted Scambos: Dr. Ted Scambos is a Senior Research Scientist at the Earth Science and Observation Center, a part of CIRES at the University of Colorado in Boulder. He has specialised in using satellite data of the polar ice caps to map these regions in new ways, and study the effects of climate change in Antarctica. Among his research interests are climate change impacts on the polar regions, Antarctic history, geochemistry and planetary science. He has studied the collapse of ice shelf areas and glacier acceleration in the Antarctic Peninsula, ice streams of the Ross Ice Shelf, and wind-snow interactions on the East Antarctic Plateau. A recent study used satellite thermal data to identify the coldest locations in Antarctica, and the processes that set the minimum winter temperatures. A major focus of his work now is developing instrumentation to monitor Antarctic climate and ocean circulation in areas of major change. He holds a Masters degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and a Ph.D. in geology from the University of Colorado at Boulder (1991). Dr. Scambos served as Lead Scientist at the National Snow and Ice Data Center for 14 years, and has mentored 6 Ph.D. and M.S. students. He has been on twenty-four expeditions to Antarctica, and has been a lecturer on two National Geographic cruises to the continent. He is the author or co-author of more than 150 scientific articles, with funding from NASA, NSF, and USGS. He lives with his wife Kari in Lafayette, Colorado, and has two adult sons, Alex and Ben.

About this episode: What if ambition didn't have to mean striving, burnout, or compromise? What if it could be a joyful, purpose-driven expression of who you truly are? In this inspiring conversation, Rha Goddess — entrepreneurial soul coach, author, and founder of Move The Crowd — joins Chris Cooper to explore how to align purpose, prosperity, and impact through her concept and new book Intentional Ambition. Also to discuss how she is galvanizing a movement of 3 million entrepreneurs reimagining work as a vehicle for creative expression, financial freedom, and societal transformation. For over three decades, Rha has helped changemakers, cultural visionaries, and social entrepreneurs stay true, get paid, and do good — redefining success at the intersection of values and vitality. In this interview we discuss how to find joy, freedom, and fulfilment in your work while contributing meaningfully to the world around you. If you're ready to lead, create, and live with greater intention, this conversation will help you reclaim ambition as a force for good.   More about Rha Goddess: Rha Goddess is the entrepreneurial soul coach behind hundreds of breakthrough changemakers, cultural visionaries, and social entrepreneurs. From New York Times bestsellers to multimillion-dollar social enterprises, her pioneering methodology has empowered a new generation of conscious entrepreneurs to stay true, get paid, and do good. A cultural innovator, social impact strategist, and creative change agent for over 30 years, Rha has harnessed the power of creativity, culture, and community to advance issues of racial justice, equality, mental health, and women's empowerment—impacting millions of lives worldwide. In 2011, she founded Move The Crowd, an entrepreneurial training company helping creative and cultural leaders thrive at the intersection of values, profitability, and social impact. As CEO, she is galvanizing a movement of 3 million entrepreneurs reimagining work as a vehicle for creative expression, financial freedom, and societal transformation. In 2020, Rha co-founded nFormation with Deepa Purushothaman—a first-of-its-kind community by and for women of color that reimagines traditional power structures to change not just who gets a seat at the table, but how the table is formed. A sought-after speaker and acclaimed performance artist, Rha's work has been featured in Time, Essence, Forbes, Fast Company, and Variety. Her book, The Calling (St. Martin's Press), offers a step-by-step blueprint for discovering purpose and making your most profitable contribution.

About This Episode: In this special encore interview, we meet Dr. Rachel Morris, a seasoned former GP and speaker who intimately understands the pressures of feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and teetering on the brink of burnout. With a deep belief that it is possible to thrive both in work and life, Rachel advocates for the idea that happiness and a fulfilling career should not be mutually exclusive. As the host of the widely acclaimed podcast You Are Not A Frog, Rachel has been a guiding voice for many professionals struggling to maintain balance in their lives. In addition to her podcast, she created the Shapes Toolkit Programme, which helps doctors and other healthcare staff in high stress, high stakes jobs beat burnout and work happier. Her courses are lauded for helping healthcare workers navigate the challenges of their roles while preserving their well-being. She has served as the Director of Leadership Courses for Red Whale (GP Update Ltd), where she co-authored and delivered their flagship course, Lead. Manage. Thrive! aimed at empowering GPs and primary care professionals across the UK. Rachel also spent 15 years as Assistant Director for GP Studies at the University of Cambridge's School of Clinical Medicine and set up and led the 'Doctor as Professional' Curriculum. In this conversation, we discuss how to stay mentally healthy at work, fostering happiness in professional settings, and navigating conflict without unnecessary drama. Listen to discover how to help manage your stress and the stress of others and thrive in your work and life.   More about guest Dr Rachel Morris: Dr Rachel Morris is a GP who knows what it is like to feel overwhelmed, exhausted and on the edge of burnout. She believes that it should be possible to thrive both in work and life and that you shouldn't have to choose between working and being happy. Rachel hosts the popular podcast You Are Not A Frog and is also Director of Leadership Courses for Red Whale (GP Update Ltd), a national Primary Care training organisation. She co-authored and delivers their flagship Leadership course, Lead. Manage. Thrive! for GPs, and those working in primary care and travels around the country delivering these courses to diverse groups of Primary Care Professionals She has a wide experience in education having worked for 13 years as Assistant Director for GP Studies at the School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge. She then developed and led their new Professionalism Course until 2017. Having left to concentrate on post-graduate leadership development, she continues at Cambridge University as a Tutor for the PG Certificate in Medical Education. She regularly speaks at conferences on topics such as 'How to be happy at work', 'Staying mentally healthy at work' and 'How to conflict without the drama' and runs workshops and training days around the Shapes Toolkit.

About this episode: In every area of life and leadership, the ability to persuade with integrity is essential. Whether inspiring a team, influencing change, or sharing an idea that matters, persuasion done well can be a force for good. If we are seeking to deliver more good initiatives, we need to master the art of persuasion — as it can make all the difference between success and failure. My guest, Paul du Toit, is one of Africa's most respected professional speakers, coaches, and authors, and the author of the new book The Book of Persuasion. Paul was the first speaker on the African continent this century to be awarded the Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation from the National Speakers Association (USA) in 2008. He later became Southern Africa's CSP Liaison Officer, helping others achieve the same recognition. A founder member and past president of the Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa, Paul was inducted into the Southern African Speakers Hall of Fame in 2017. Having inspired tens of thousands globally with his signature blend of humour, insight, and humanity, Paul brings a deep understanding of what it takes to influence with authenticity and purpose. Join us as we explore The Book of Persuasion and discover how persuasion, when rooted in authenticity and goodwill, becomes a powerful catalyst for elevation — in business, relationships, and the way we show up in the world. More about Paul du Toit:  Paul du Toit is the first speaker on the African continent this century to be awarded the Certified Speaking Professional designation from the National Speakers Association (USA) in 2008, thereafter serving as Southern Africa's CSP Liaison Officer, helping and encouraging over a dozen other Southern African speakers to achieve their CSPs. In 2013 he became a Global Speaking Fellow along with 21 other inaugural recipients at the Global Speakers Summit in Vancouver, Canada. Born in Cape Town in 1958, his grounding in theatre and entertainment provided an ideal springboard for a career in facilitation, coaching and professional speaking. He founded Johannesburg based Congruence Training in 1995 which he runs to this day. He is a founder member and Past President of the Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa receiving their Founders award at the Global Speakers Summit in Cape Town in April 2009 for exceptional service to the speaking industry. He has since served as Secretary and Treasurer of the Global Speakers Federation. In 2017 he was inducted in to the Southern African Speakers Hall of Fame. He has spoken to tens of thousands of people at conferences and corporate events globally. He is a business speaker, coach and authority on customer experience and business presentations, and author of two books including "You Can Present with Confidence" released internationally in 2011. Paul continues to blog on speaking, presenting and customer experience and sends a regular email newsletter on presenting to thousands of opt-in subscribers. His content-rich and often humorous interviews related to remote presentation during lockdown have been well received by the business and speaking community.  He runs several marathons (and at least one ultra-marathon) a year to keep in trim and whilst in training frequents the hills of Sandton in the mornings with his dog Samuel. He knows a fine wine when he smells it – his favourite reds finding temporary resting in his cellar, and appreciated a good single malt. He keeps an eye open for suppliers of excellent coffee beans and establishments that can match his home brew, which he enjoys with a block of dark chocolate. He plays guitar and hums a tune for relaxation, a pastime that once earned him a living, and occasionally posts a tune online. He has 2 grown up daughters, Chanel and Jenna and lives in Sandton with his wife Trudi.  

About this episode: In this Special Encore episode, we explore Fueling Dreams with Shay Hoelscher, CEO of privé products, and Sabré Cook, trailblazing racing driver and engineer, as they break new ground for women in motorsport. As the first female driver in the Porsche Carrera Cup North America Series, Sabré defies the odds in a male-dominated field, inspiring a wave of female fans and aspiring racers alike. Supported by Shay and privé, her journey isn't just about competition; it's about redefining representation and championing equality on and off the track.  With backgrounds that span engineering, motorsport, and business, both Shay and Sabré share stories that highlight the transformative power of women supporting women. Together, they embody the mission of Fueling Dreams—encouraging women to pursue their passions with determination and grace. Sabré's lifelong passion for racing, shaped by her early karting successes and grounded in a career across top racing series, finds its perfect partnership with Shay's commitment to fostering an inclusive culture for women in sports and business. In this conversation, we'll explore how they navigate challenges, celebrate victories, and break boundaries, all while paving the way for future generations through Shay's unique sponsorship of Sabré. Join us as we delve into the inter-section of racing, representation, and resilience with these remarkable women, united by a shared drive for excellence and empowerment.   About Shay Hoelscher & Sabré Cook: Shay Hoelscher is a veteran of the Professional Beauty Industry with more than 37 years of professional beauty experience. Currently, she is the CEO and Owner of privé products. Prior to privé, Shay held senior leadership positions across the industry including Sebastian International, Wella International and Nioxin Research (now all owned by COTY), TIGI (now owned by Unilever), Alterna Haircare (now owned by Henkel) and Cezanne Hair. Her experiences span a wide variety of channels of distribution, sales leadership, and cross-corporate functions in the US and internationally. Shay is dedicated to making privé products a force for good. She brings that vision into reality with 3 core pillars: Empower women as a women-led company. Make a strong social impact by giving 1% of all revenue to a nonprofit to help women in need. Produce natural and clean products that are good for you and good for the planet.     Sabré Cook is a professional racing driver and mechanical engineer originally from Grand Junction, Colorado but now residing in Indianapolis. She progressed from a successful professional karting career (14x Championships) into car racing in 2017 and has raced in a broad spectrum of series such as SCCA, Road to Indy, F4, F3, W Series, NLS, MX5, WRL, Porsche Sprint Challenge, and now Porsche Carrera Cup North America as the first female to do so. Alongside racing, Sabré earned her Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines in 2017 and has gone on to work for companies like Infiniti (Nissan) Global, Renault F1 Team, Formula Mazda, and Paretta Autosport in INDYCAR.  

About this episode: What does it really take to create a workplace where people feel safe to speak up, take risks, and perform at their very best? In this episode, Chris Cooper is joined by Mehmet Baha, known simply as Baha, an international speaker, trainer, and author whose life's mission has been to make a positive difference in people's lives. With over 24 years of global experience across Europe, the USA, Turkey, and Central America, Baha has worked with organizations of all sizes—including being one of the first employees at Facebook in Europe. A Fulbright Scholar with a Master's in Conflict Resolution and a graduate of Harvard Business School's Online Executive Programme in Organizational Leadership, Baha is passionate about helping leaders unlock the power of psychological safety. His new book, Creating Psychological Safety at Work—praised by Daniel Pink as "a timely book filled with fascinating case studies, robust research, and practical tools for driving change"—offers a roadmap for building high-performing, engaged teams. Baha has delivered talks and training in more than 28 countries across 5 continents, speaking four languages fluently, and bringing a unique perspective shaped by his multicultural journey. Beyond his professional work, he is a percussionist, an avid traveller, and a father who enjoys playing basketball with his young daughter. Join us for this conversation to explore why psychological safety is not just a "nice to have," but an essential foundation for team performance, innovation, and wellbeing—and how you can begin creating it in your own workplace.   More about Mehmet Baha: His full name is Mehmet Baha and everyone calls him Baha. Since his childhood, he has been fascinated by the question: "How can I make a difference in the lives of people?" His interest leads him to win a scholarship from Fulbright and finish his master's in the USA on the topic of Conflict Resolution. He has lived and worked in Germany, Turkey, Ireland, Guatemala, and the USA with more than 24 years of work experience. Baha was one of the first employees of Facebook in Europe. Throughout his life, he has realized the importance of having psychological safety to create high-performing teams. So far, he has delivered training and given talks in more than 28 countries across 5 continents. Recently, he completed Harvard Business School's Online Executive Education Programme "Organizational Leadership". He is fluent in English, Spanish, Turkish, and German. In his free time, he loves to play percussion, travel with his family, and play basketball with his 8-year-old daughter. "Playbook for Engaged Employees" is his first book. In September 2024, his second book "Creating Psychological Safety at Work" was published.  Daniel Pink, #1 New York Times bestselling author, describes it as a "timely book filled with fascinating case studies, robust research, and practical tools for driving change."

About this episode: In this special edition of The Business Elevation Show, I am joined by two extraordinary leaders—Tom Eddington and Jim Garrison—for a conversation on the State of the World Forum and its urgent mission for our times. Tom Eddington is an author, executive coach, and business advisor whose work bridges leadership, media, and consciousness. As Vice President of the State of the World Forum, he is helping to shape a paradigmatic shift in how we live and lead, bringing more compassion, awareness, and flourishing into the world. Jim Garrison is the President of the State of the World Forum 2025–2030, a revival of the groundbreaking initiative he co-founded with President Mikhail Gorbachev, Senator Alan Cranston, and Secretary of State George Shultz. Jim's remarkable career spans global leadership, diplomacy, education, and philosophy—from directing nuclear policy in Washington, DC, to leading the Esalen Soviet-American Exchange Program, to founding Ubiquity University and Humanity Rising. Together, Tom and Jim will share the vision behind the re-emergence of the State of the World Forum (14-18th December in Washington DC) at a time of converging global crises and possibilities. We'll explore how leadership, consciousness, and collaboration can help humanity meet this pivotal moment, and what it means for each of us to play our part in shaping a sustainable, flourishing future.   More about Jim Garrison: Jim Garrison is President of the State of the World Forum 2025–2030, a revival of the original Forum he co-founded in 1995 with President Mikhail Gorbachev, Senator Alan Cranston, and Secretary of State George Shultz to build a global network of leaders committed to a sustainable civilization. He is also the founding President of Ubiquity University (since 2005) and Convener of Humanity Rising, a global broadcast launched in 2020. Over his career, Jim has combined leadership in education, diplomacy, spirituality, and social impact. Early roles included Director of Nuclear Policy for the Jesuit Conference in Washington, DC, and co-founder of the Radiation and Health Information Service in Cambridge, England. In 1980 he co-founded the Christic Institute, working on nuclear policy and the Karen Silkwood case. From 1985–1990 he directed the Esalen Soviet-American Exchange Program, before co-founding the International Foreign Policy Institute with Eduard Shevardnadze in 1991. At President Gorbachev's request, he founded the Gorbachev Foundation/USA in 1992. Most recently he served as Director of the Washington, DC Office of the New Paradigm Institute, focusing on government disclosure around Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena. Educated at Santa Clara, Harvard, and Cambridge, Jim is the author of seven books spanning theology, politics, and power. Born in China and raised in Taiwan, he grew up speaking Mandarin and brings a lifelong global perspective to his work.   More about Tom Eddington: Thomas Eddington is an author, Executive Coach, Business Advisor, and media Producer. As a scholar of Conscious Leadership, he is passionate about bringing more compassion, consciousness and flourishing into the world which he does through his coaching and advisory work, film and media projects, and Board positions. He is the Vice President, State of the World Forum, an organization focused on creating a paradigmatic shift in human consciousness. Tom holds an M.S. in Organization Dynamics from the University of Pennsylvania and a Ph.D. from Ubiquity University.