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 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. 

Selected Transcript Summary

[0:51]
Li Li introduces herself and Michelle Bock, noting Michelle’s international career across Germany, Belgium, and the United States. They set the stage for a conversation on global leadership and next-generation leadership traits. Michelle and Li reflect on working together in arbitration.

[3:03]
Michelle discusses generational shifts within international arbitration and emphasizes the importance of adaptability as the torch passes to professionals in their 30s and 40s.

[4:47]
Li prompts Michelle to share her international career journey. Michelle outlines her transition from the US to Europe, touching on cultural and business differences that challenged and expanded her leadership style. Michelle emphasizes how cross-cultural work revealed the importance of challenging assumptions and learning from other market norms. She discusses synthesizing global practices to become a more flexible leader.

[8:08]
They highlight language barriers and business communication as real challenges. Michelle explains how learning “real-world” terminology beyond academic language was essential in her development.

[11:01]
They discuss how discomfort and being pushed beyond one’s comfort zone foster leadership growth. Michelle talks about listening with intent and embracing professional challenges. Michelle highlights leadership traits she admires: respecting people as individuals and building authentic working relationships. She also addresses the importance of having self-confidence without being arrogant.

[16:18]
Li and Michelle agree on the value of trust and delegating with intention. Michelle differentiates between assigning tasks and empowering ownership.

[20:19]
Michelle reflects on important mentorship in her career from a federal judge and a senior partner at Squire Patton Boggs. She shares how early autonomy and support gave her the confidence to grow into leadership roles. Li discusses mentorship from Chris Goncalves, a managing director and head of BRG’s Energy & Climate practice, who challenges her while supporting her growth.

[22:55]
Michelle advises mentees to accept opportunities even when they feel unprepared, learn from mistakes without being overly self-critical, and always seek support when needed.

[24:43]
Michelle shares a pivotal experience leading client preparation as a junior associate, which taught her the value of collaboration and peer teamwork. Li recalls her own leadership turning point in managing large, cross-functional teams, realizing leadership required more than technical skill.

[27:06]
Michelle debunks the myth that senior leaders always have answers. She emphasizes the importance of having structured processes to manage the unknown.

[28:01]
They explore networking as an essential for career growth and opportunity. Michelle explains how global mobility and staying connected have led to referrals, appointments, and speaking engagements.

[31:02]
Michelle outlines her team development approach: treat people well, foster team cohesion, and build an environment where junior team members feel their contributions matter.

[33:00]
They close with final thoughts on evolving leadership needs. Michelle encourages young professionals to dream big and embrace nontraditional paths. She reflects on her journey from Ohio to a global legal practice.

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.