Future Shapers: Next-Gen Leadership Stories Podcast

A podcast spotlighting the journeys of emerging leaders and told through the stories that shaped them. 

Emerging leaders from BRG, along with rising leaders from our client organizations, explore powerful stories that have influenced their leadership paths. Whether drawn from a personal experience, book, film, or pivotal moment in history, each story offers insight into how leaders can grow, succeed, and adapt in today’s environment. 

Subscribe and listen to all episodes at your convenience via any device at Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and Amazon Music. 

Episode 8: Personal Agency: Leading with Intention

BRG Director Jason Kuckkan and Moyo LaBode, former chief merchandising officer at Leslie’s Pools, discuss the concept of personal agency and its influence on leadership, inspired by ideas in Dr. Peter Attia’s book Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity. Their discussion centers on how taking ownership of your decisions—whether related to health, career, or personal development—significantly shapes long-term outcomes.

Moyo shares his experience engaging with Medicine 3.0, which advocates for individualized, proactive health management. Jason and Moyo emphasize the value of staying curious, learning through experience, and evolving intentionally.

Jason and Moyo also explore how modern career arcs differ from past generations and require resilience and the ability to pivot. They discuss the evolving definition of mentorship, noting that meaningful growth comes from reciprocal learning from peers, seniors, and the next generation of talent.

Selected Transcript Summary

[3:32]
Jason introduces the central theme of personal agency in the book Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Dr. Peter Attia. Moyo shares his introduction to the book and explains how its message about proactive health management resonated with him. He also explains Medicine 3.0’s focus on individualized, preventative care. 

[6:25]
Moyo elaborates on his experience using a glucose monitor to understand how diet impacted his health and led to insights about food choices, energy levels, and sleep. This example illustrates how personal experimentation and data can drive informed decisions, a concept he links to leadership growth. 

[11:33]
Jason reflects on how personal experiences shape leadership approaches through both positive and negative examples. Moyo adds that the disruption in career trajectories across generations has reshaped how professionals think about longevity, stability, and control in their careers. The book empowered him to take ownership of choices affecting long-term personal and professional wellness. 

[12:39]
Jason and Moyo discuss the contrast between traditional, static career paths and modern, dynamic ones. They reflect on how adaptability and disruption have become constants, especially as younger professionals enter the workforce with evolving expectations of purpose and impact. 

[14:12]
Jason shares his winding career path from engineering to retail consulting, illustrating how unexpected turns shaped his leadership philosophy. Both agree that self-discovery and curiosity are essential to build authentic leadership. 

[17:45]
Moyo describes how his leadership style has evolved by embracing disruption, decentralizing decision-making, and staying open to new ideas. He values insights from younger colleagues and sees innovation in not just technology but also evolving workplace culture. 

[18:55] 

Jason stresses the importance of taking initiative, staying relevant, and showing intent with career choices. He cautions against passivity and encourages individuals to steer their own development. Moyo agrees, emphasizing how leadership now means enabling teams to grow through shared ownership.

[23:52]
Moyo distinguishes between passive mentorship and actively invested guidance. He critiques the “one-way knowledge transfer” model and argues for reciprocal learning, particularly from emerging talent. Moyo introduces the concept of reverse mentorship, where senior leaders learn from younger generations. Jason echoes the importance of learning from all directions. 

[26:07]
Moyo offers advice for early career professionals to stay curious, ask “why,” and challenge the status quo when it serves team growth. He values curiosity, intellectual engagement, and a mindset of continuous improvement. Jason reinforces the value of asking questions and making connecting to understand larger contexts.

[29:01]
They reflect on how curiosity, ownership, and evolving leadership mindsets are central to long-term success, tying back to the proactive approach of Medicine 3.0.

Episode 7: Empowering Strengths through Trust-Based Leadership

BRG Associate Director Nancy Cherashore and Natalia Zibibbo, counsel at Freshfields, discuss leadership while reflecting on Richard Adams’ novel Watership Down, which highlights the power of empathy, trust, and collaboration in guiding teams. They examine how leadership—framed by the journey of Hazel, a reluctant yet effective leader—is often defined by emotional intelligence and the ability to empower others, rather than formal authority.

Their conversation reflects on the results of inclusive, trust-based leadership against more authoritarian styles. Both Nancy and Natalia emphasize that effective leadership means recognizing the strengths of each team member, open communication, and adapting to new realities, especially in moments of disruption such as during the pandemic or personal transitions like returning from maternity leave.

They reflect on pivotal early career experiences that required stepping into leadership before they felt entirely ready, sharing how those moments cultivated confidence and a proactive mindset. They note that leadership starts long before a formal title and is shaped through self-reflection, ownership, and a problem-solving approach.

Natalia and Nancy advocate for authentic leadership that evolves with experience and values the person behind the professional role. They encourage emerging leaders to lead with intention, resilience, and humility by integrating personal and professional growth.

Episode 6: Modern Leadership: How Can I Help?

BRG Director Jean-Gabriel Despeyroux and Mathilde Saltiel, a partner at Latham & Watkins LLP, explore key themes of leadership through the lens of lived experience and the television series New Amsterdam. They reflect on the evolving demands of effective leadership, emphasizing humility, emotional intelligence, and the importance of trust and collaboration.

The phrase “How can I help?” from the TV series becomes a recurring leadership mantra, underlining a mindset of service and problem-solving. Trust, whether between doctor and patient or lawyer and client, is presented as foundational to successful outcomes. Leadership is framed not as command-and-control but instead as creating an environment where people are empowered, respected, and inspired to give their best.

Their conversation also unpacks how leadership starts early in one’s career, shaped gradually through mentorship and building self-confidence. Mathilde reflects on challenges such as delivering difficult feedback, the importance of authenticity, and the misconception that strong leadership requires authoritarianism.

Finally, Mathilde discusses her experience as a mother of two, advocating for visibility and authenticity among women leaders. She underscores how simply being present and open about the realities of balancing parenthood and leadership can serve as powerful encouragement for future generations of professionals.

Episode 5: Career Evolution and Leadership Across Cultures

BRG Director Li Li and Michelle Bock, a partner at Squire Patton Boggs, reflect on their global career journeys and leadership lessons they have learned along the way.

Having grown up in the United States and moved to Germany and now Belgium, Michelle shares her experiences navigating cultural and professional complexities of working in international markets.

Leading the conversation, Li brings her own global perspective—beginning her career in China at an investment bank before relocating to the US, where she works in BRG’s Energy & Climate practice.

Together, they offer insights on next-generation leadership, the importance of collaboration, and the role of mutual respect in building inclusive, high-performing teams. Through personal stories of career evolution and mentorship, Li and Michelle highlight what it takes to succeed and thrive in an increasingly interconnected world. 

Episode 4: The Leadership Balance: Opposing Traits That Inspire Trust 

BRG Director Crosby MacDonald and Hugh Meighen, a partner at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, provide an insightful conversation on the leadership qualities of Robert F. Kennedy, drawing inspiration from Thurston Clarke’s book The Last Campaign. 

Together, they explore how Kennedy balanced empathy with conviction while earning trust and navigating team dynamics with emotional intelligence and purpose. 

They underscore the importance of nurturing relationships by striking a balance between humility and confidence. This allows leaders to truly listen before reacting, focus on their audience, and respond with clarity and intention. 

In reflecting on the qualities that define great leadership, Crosby and Hugh highlight the power of connecting with people who bring different perspectives, expectations, and experiences to the table, an approach that drives richer dialogue, stronger collaboration, and better outcomes.

Episode 3: Leading with Purpose: From Educator to Healthcare Executive

BRG Director Garrett Mann sits down with Shannon Cermak, Vice President, Ambulatory at Loyola Medicine, to discuss her unique career journey from teacher to healthcare executive and how her early experiences in education have shaped her leadership style.

Drawing on her teaching background, Shannon emphasizes the importance of people-centered leadership, a philosophy she’s carried into her role in healthcare administration. Whether guiding students or caring for patients, her approach has kept the mission front and center.

Together, Garrett and Shannon explore what it means to engage teams meaningfully: recognizing individual needs, building trust, and cultivating a culture that balances innovation with accountability.

They also reflect on the core traits of effective leadership respect, empathy, and kindness—and share a parting message for aspiring leaders to embrace discomfort, seek growth, and explore the unexpected opportunities that can shape your path.

Episode 2: Finding Common Ground through Open-Mindedness and Effective Communication Defines True Leadership

Nelida Abi Saab and Lucy Preston, a senior associate at Mantle Law, explore Adam Grant’s book Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know, which centers around open-mindedness, effective communication, and benefits of finding common ground.

Drawing from their own professional journeys, Nelida and Lucy unpack what it means to lead—regardless of job title. They explore nuances between being a manager and a leader, emphasizing that leadership is less about tenure and more about coaching and creating an environment for open dialog and challenges to one’s ideas.

Key themes include the value of teamwork, courage to admit mistakes, and power of constructive feedback. They underscore that great leaders are defined by their abilities to adapt, uplift others, and lead with authenticity and integrity—not their tenure or charisma.

Their conversation also highlights the importance of creating a respectful environment which fosters honest dialogue and innovation.

To close, they offer advice for aspiring leaders: stay resilient, challenge yourself, and lead by example.

Episode 1: Discovering Your “Why” and Embracing Leadership as Service to Drive Collective Success

BRG Director Matthew McSheaffrey and Alex Lerner, a partner at Stewarts, explore key insights from Simon Sinek’s influential books Start with Why and Leaders Eat Last. Together, they unpack the power of understanding one’s “why” in shaping a meaningful professional journey and discuss leadership as a form of service—where leaders invest their time and resources for the growth and success of their teams.

They emphasize the importance of creating Sinek’s “circle of safety” environment, where team members feel secure, empowered to innovate, and able to focus on their strengths, ultimately driving collective success.

Drawing from Sinek’s “Why, How, What” framework, they highlight how identifying a clear mission can redefine leadership approaches and how it has significantly shaped their own leadership philosophies and practices.

They also touch on the value of mentorship, the impact of influential mentors throughout their careers, key turning points in their professional paths, and the importance of developing self-confidence to continue moving forward.