The Courage of a Leader
The Courage of a Leader

The Courage of a Leader

Amy Riley

Overview
Episodes

Details

This is where top leaders tell real stories about achieving extraordinary results and share practical advice and techniques you can immediately apply for your own success. This is where you will get inspired and take bold, courageous action. Host of The Courage of a Leader™, Amy Riley is a renowned keynote speaker, #1 international best-selling author and sought-after leadership consultant who has been transforming leaders – at all levels – for more than 2 decades. Guests on The Courage of a Leader™ are powerful, successful leaders who are passionate about authentic, engaging, difference-making leadership. Amy gets beyond the theory and dives deep with her guests about how things really work, so you walk away with tangible ideas to grow your influence, inspire your team, and get extraordinary results. Join us to step into the full power of your leadership and achieve what you care about most. Here’s where you’ll ignite The Courage of a Leader! To apply for the show or to book Amy Riley as a guest or keynote speaker, visit The Courage of a Leader website at www.courageofaleader.com.

Recent Episodes

How Leaders Can Support Mental Health, While Strengthening Accountability and Trust | Pat Broe
FEB 18, 2025
How Leaders Can Support Mental Health, While Strengthening Accountability and Trust | Pat Broe

Pat Broe, best-selling author and mental health advocate, shares insights on how leaders can support their teams’ mental health while fostering trust and accountability. He emphasizes the importance of open communication, empathetic leadership, and creating safe spaces where employees feel comfortable sharing challenges. Pat also highlights the need for leaders to prioritize their own mental health through self-awareness and reflection. By leading with authenticity, compassion, and clear expectations, we can build stronger, more resilient teams that thrive even in difficult times.

 

Highlights

  • Empathy in Action: Discover how balancing empathy with accountability strengthens trust and team performance.
  • The Power of Check-Ins: Learn how intentional, regular conversations can uncover hidden struggles and foster connection.
  • Lead with Authenticity: Explore how being open about your own challenges as a leader can inspire greater team loyalty.
  • Support Over Assumption: Find out why asking team members what they need is more effective than making assumptions.
  • Self-Check for Leaders: Understand the importance of reflecting on your own strengths, challenges, and mental health to lead effectively.

 

Resources Mentioned

The Inspire Your Team to Greatness assessment (the Courage Assessment)

How can you inspire our team to be more proactive, take ownership and get more done?

You demonstrate and empower The Courage of a Leader. In my nearly 3 decades of work with leaders, I’ve discovered the 11 things that leaders do – even very well-intentioned leaders do – that kill productivity.

In less than 10 minutes, find out where you’re empowering and inadvertently kills productivity, and get a custom report that will tell you step by step what you need to have your team get more done.

https://courageofaleader.com/inspireyourteam/

About the Guest:

Pat Broe is a best selling author, mental health advocate, and sales and marketing professional. His journey to professional success was marked by personal struggles with anxiety, depression, and an attempt on his own life. These challenges ignited his passion for guiding others toward authentic living.

With raw storytelling and practical advice, Pat empowers readers to overcome the unique mental health threats of modern life. Drawing from his diverse background spanning radio hosting to business consulting, he offers a powerful roadmap for cultivating a happier, more fulfilling existence as "The Real Confident You."

https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-broe/


About the Host:

Amy L. Riley is an internationally renowned speaker, author and consultant. She has over 2 decades of experience developing leaders at all levels. Her clients include Cisco Systems, Deloitte and Barclays.

 

As a trusted leadership coach and consultant, Amy has worked with hundreds of leaders one-on-one, and thousands more as part of a group, to fully step into their leadership, create amazing teams and achieve extraordinary results. 

Amy’s most popular keynote speeches are:

  • The Courage of a Leader: The Power of a Leadership Legacy
  • The Courage of a Leader: Create a Competitive Advantage with Sustainable, Results-Producing Cross-System Collaboration
  • The Courage of a Leader: Accelerate Trust with Your Team, Customers and Community
  • The Courage of a Leader: How to Build a Happy and Successful Hybrid Team

Her new book is a #1 international best-seller and is entitled, The Courage of a Leader: How to Inspire, Engage and Get Extraordinary Results.

http://www.courageofaleader.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyshoopriley

 

 

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

 

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

 

Leave us an Apple Podcasts review

Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.

 

Teaser for Next Episode

Our next episode, The Productivity Secret: Aligning Where You Work with What You Do, will finally be a solo episode from Amy Riley, in which she’ll reveal how the key to productivity lies in matching your environment to the task at hand. From collaboration to deep focus, discover how leaders can create spaces that empower their teams to thrive. Don’t miss it—it might just change the way you think about where and how you work!

Mentioned in this episode:

The Inspire Your Team to Greatness assessment (The Courage Assessment)

https://courageofaleader.com/inspireyourteam/

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32 MIN
A Proven Blueprint for Developing Yourself as a Leader | Genevieve Retzlaff
FEB 4, 2025
A Proven Blueprint for Developing Yourself as a Leader | Genevieve Retzlaff

Genevieve Retzlaff, founder and CEO of Grow Better Together, shares her vision for leadership as an ongoing journey that has 3 distinct phases and starts with self-awareness. By understanding our triggers and developing emotional intelligence, we can create a foundation for growth that empowers teams and organizations. Genevieve emphasizes the importance of building trust, fostering psychological safety, and embracing diversity to inspire collaboration and innovation. Her approach encourages us to lead with intention, adapt to challenges, and prepare our teams for long-term success.

 

Highlights

  • Start with Self-Awareness: Discover how self-reflection and emotional intelligence are the foundation of strong leadership.
  • Foster Psychological Safety: Learn how to create spaces where team members feel safe to share ideas and take risks.
  • Embrace Vulnerability: Explore how openness and honest communication can build stronger, more connected teams.
  • Diversity Drives Success: Understand how embracing diverse perspectives can enhance team innovation and performance.
  • Create Space for Growth: See why intentional time for reflection and planning is essential for effective leadership development.

 

Resources Mentioned

The Inspire Your Team to Greatness assessment (the Courage Assessment)

How can you inspire our team to be more proactive, take ownership and get more done?

You demonstrate and empower The Courage of a Leader. In my nearly 3 decades of work with leaders, I’ve discovered the 11 things that leaders do – even very well-intentioned leaders do – that kill productivity.

In less than 10 minutes, find out where you’re empowering and inadvertently kills productivity, and get a custom report that will tell you step by step what you need to have your team get more done.

https://courageofaleader.com/inspireyourteam/

About the Guest:

Genevieve Retzlaff, founder and CEO of Grow Better Together, empowers leaders to transform into conscious, trust-building change agents. With over 15 years of expertise in HR partnership and talent development, coupled with 6+ years as a certified executive and team performance coach, she specializes in aligning human dynamics with business goals to foster authentic leadership and high-performing teams. Genevieve guides organizations through:

  • Leadership transformation and team alignment
  • Building capacity and efficiency for large-scale events in major venues
  • Integrating human strategies with business objectives

She is passionate about helping leaders unlock their self-awareness, build trust, and create environments where teams thrive through values-driven, strengths-based leadership.

https://www.grow-better-together.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/grow-better-together/

The Grow Better Together Leadership Program - https://www.grow-better-together.com/leadership-program 

About the Host:

Amy L. Riley is an internationally renowned speaker, author and consultant. She has over 2 decades of experience developing leaders at all levels. Her clients include Cisco Systems, Deloitte and Barclays.

As a trusted leadership coach and consultant, Amy has worked with hundreds of leaders one-on-one, and thousands more as part of a group, to fully step into their leadership, create amazing teams and achieve extraordinary results. 

Amy’s most popular keynote speeches are:

  • The Courage of a Leader: The Power of a Leadership Legacy
  • The Courage of a Leader: Create a Competitive Advantage with Sustainable, Results-Producing Cross-System Collaboration
  • The Courage of a Leader: Accelerate Trust with Your Team, Customers and Community
  • The Courage of a Leader: How to Build a Happy and Successful Hybrid Team

 

Her new book is a #1 international best-seller and is entitled, The Courage of a Leader: How to Inspire, Engage and Get Extraordinary Results. 

http://www.courageofaleader.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyshoopriley

 

 

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcasts review

Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.


Teaser for Next Episode

Join us as we sit with Pat Broe who shares how leaders can support their teams’ mental wellbeing.

 

Mentioned in this episode:

The Inspire Your Team to Greatness assessment (The Courage Assessment)

https://courageofaleader.com/inspireyourteam/

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36 MIN
Redefining Resilience: Moving Beyond Survival to Growth | Russell Harvey
JAN 21, 2025
Redefining Resilience: Moving Beyond Survival to Growth | Russell Harvey

Russell Harvey, known as The Resilience Coach, shares valuable insights on building resilience as a mindset and a practical skill. He challenges us to see resilience not just as recovery from setbacks but as a way to grow, learn, and move forward with purpose. Russell explores how self-awareness, intentional reflection, and recognizing patterns in our behavior can help us better understand our emotional responses and develop strategies to manage them effectively.

Throughout our conversation, Russell emphasizes the importance of maintaining energy, building support systems, and staying connected to a clear purpose. He discusses how resilience is built through small, consistent actions and the ability to embrace challenges with a balanced perspective. His approach highlights the value of grounded optimism, strategic pauses, and leveraging our strengths to navigate uncertainty with confidence and clarity.

5 Key Takeaways:

  1. Spring Forward with Learning: Explore how resilience isn't about bouncing back but about learning and moving forward with purpose.
  2. Re-Energize Intentionally: Understand the difference between good tired and burnout, and learn how to recover effectively.
  3. Know Your Strengths: Discover how leveraging your natural strengths can fuel resilience and build confidence.
  4. Build Your Support Network: Learn why having trusted connections is essential for resilience and long-term success.
  5. Grounded Optimism: Explore how facing reality honestly creates space for true hope and meaningful action.

  

Resources Mentioned

The Inspire Your Team to Greatness assessment (the Courage Assessment)

How can you inspire our team to be more proactive, take ownership and get more done?

You demonstrate and empower The Courage of a Leader. In my nearly 3 decades of work with leaders, I’ve discovered the 11 things that leaders do – even very well-intentioned leaders do – that kill productivity.

In less than 10 minutes, find out where you’re empowering and inadvertently kills productivity, and get a custom report that will tell you step by step what you need to have your team get more done.

https://courageofaleader.com/inspireyourteam/

About the Guest:

Russell Harvey is a Resilience Coach, Facilitator, and Public Speaker with a mission to positively impact 100,000 people by 2025. With over 20 years of experience in Learning, Leadership, and Organisational Development, Russell helps individuals and teams build confidence, gain clarity, and drive positive change.

Using a strengths-based approach and positive psychology, Russell strikes a balance between being practical, creative, and supportive while challenging his clients to progress.

Outside of his coaching work, Russell is the Chair of Governors at a local primary school, a volunteer with Leeds Young Authors, and runs public speaking workshops for students.

https://www.theresiliencecoach.co.uk/

About the Host:

Amy L. Riley is an internationally renowned speaker, author and consultant. She has over 2 decades of experience developing leaders at all levels. Her clients include Cisco Systems, Deloitte and Barclays. 

As a trusted leadership coach and consultant, Amy has worked with hundreds of leaders one-on-one, and thousands more as part of a group, to fully step into their leadership, create amazing teams and achieve extraordinary results. 

Amy’s most popular keynote speeches are:

  • The Courage of a Leader: The Power of a Leadership Legacy
  • The Courage of a Leader: Create a Competitive Advantage with Sustainable, Results-Producing Cross-System Collaboration
  • The Courage of a Leader: Accelerate Trust with Your Team, Customers and Community
  • The Courage of a Leader: How to Build a Happy and Successful Hybrid Team

 

Her new book is a #1 international best-seller and is entitled, The Courage of a Leader: How to Inspire, Engage and Get Extraordinary Results.

http://www.courageofaleader.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyshoopriley

 

 

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the, podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcasts review

Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.

Teaser for Next Episode

Genevieve Retzlaff, the founder and CEO of Grow Better Together, explores leadership as a journey, focusing on self-awareness, trust, vulnerability, and creating space for growth and innovation.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Inspire Your Team to Greatness assessment (The Courage Assessment)

https://courageofaleader.com/inspireyourteam/

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34 MIN
Finding and Using Your Voice: How Everyone Can Empower Change | Melissa Lagowski
JAN 7, 2025
Finding and Using Your Voice: How Everyone Can Empower Change | Melissa Lagowski

Melissa Lagowski, founder of Big Buzz Idea Group, shares her passion for helping people embrace their voices as leaders, regardless of their role. She believes that when we speak up with intention, we foster stronger, more inclusive teams and organizations. Melissa encourages a mindset of curiosity and reflection, showing how thoughtful dialogue and intentional actions can lead to meaningful impact.

In our conversation, Melissa offers strategies for creating spaces where ideas can flourish and diverse perspectives are valued. She highlights the importance of building trust, preparing thoughtfully, and approaching discussions with care. Her insights remind us that leadership begins with small, consistent steps toward advocating for ourselves and others.

Highlights

1.    The Power of Curiosity: Discover how asking thoughtful, open-ended questions fosters deeper conversations and builds understanding.

2.    Timing Matters: Learn when and how to address sensitive topics for the greatest impact.

3.    Building Relationships: Find out how fostering genuine connections strengthens teams and creates trust.

4.    Reflect and Prepare: Explore how self-reflection and preparation can help you express your voice with confidence.

5.    Create Psychological Safety: Understand how to cultivate an environment where diverse perspectives are welcomed and valued.

  

Resources Mentioned

The Inspire Your Team to Greatness Assessment (the Courage Assessment)

How can you inspire our team to be more proactive, take ownership and get more done?

You demonstrate and empower The Courage of a Leader. In my nearly 3 decades of work with leaders, I’ve discovered the 11 things that leaders do – even very well-intentioned leaders do – that kill productivity.

In less than 10 minutes, find out where you’re empowering and inadvertently kills productivity, and get a custom report that will tell you step by step what you need to have your team get more done.

https://courageofaleader.com/inspireyourteam/

About the Guest:

Melissa Lagowski created Big Buzz Idea Group as a boutique agency to provide management, marketing and event services to nonprofits and associations. She launched the company in November 2004 so nonprofits would have an honest outsourcing partner. Melissa provides full operational support or a la carte services that will allow charitable organizations to run more effectively.

With 34 years of corporate and nonprofit experience, Melissa has consulted national organizations, managed local chapters, provided virtual office assistance to numerous NPOs, launched and executed large fundraisers, conceived innovative and lucrative new programming, coordinated client conferences, workshops dinners, and awards functions.

She manages consulting platforms, mastermind groups and virtual roundtables to assist nonprofits to become self-sufficient and proficient in management.

Her largest project to date is Ribfest Chicago, where she is responsible for every facet of the event including festival promotion, sponsorship development, entertainment booking and vendor procurement and management. The event now draws 70,000 people annually and was featured on Food Network’s “Eating America” with Anthony Anderson (2014).

Melissa is a member and Executive Director of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Chicago Area Chapter.

https://bigbuzzideagroup.com/

 

About the Host:

Amy L. Riley is an internationally renowned speaker, author and consultant. She has over 2 decades of experience developing leaders at all levels. Her clients include Cisco Systems, Deloitte and Barclays. 

As a trusted leadership coach and consultant, Amy has worked with hundreds of leaders one-on-one, and thousands more as part of a group, to fully step into their leadership, create amazing teams and achieve extraordinary results. 

Amy’s most popular keynote speeches are:

·     The Courage of a Leader: The Power of a Leadership Legacy

·     The Courage of a Leader: Create a Competitive Advantage with Sustainable, Results-Producing Cross-System Collaboration

·     The Courage of a Leader: Accelerate Trust with Your Team, Customers and Community

·     The Courage of a Leader: How to Build a Happy and Successful Hybrid Team

Her new book is a #1 international best-seller and is entitled, The Courage of a Leader: How to Inspire, Engage and Get Extraordinary Results.

http://www.courageofaleader.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyshoopriley

 

 

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcasts review

Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.

Teaser for Next Episode

Join us next time with Russell Harvey who shares how resilience is about springing forward with learning, using strengths, building support, and leading with purpose.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Inspire Your Team to Greatness assessment (The Courage Assessment)

https://courageofaleader.com/inspireyourteam/

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30 MIN
Transforming AI from Admin to Strategic Partner | Geoff Woods
DEC 17, 2024
Transforming AI from Admin to Strategic Partner | Geoff Woods

Geoff Woods, best-selling author and founder of AI Leadership, joins us to discuss how leaders can harness AI to enhance strategic thinking and decision-making. He challenges us to move beyond viewing AI as just a tool for routine tasks and instead embrace it as a thought partner that can help solve complex problems and amplify results. By applying the 80/20 rule, Geoff encourages leaders to focus AI on high-impact priorities that drive meaningful outcomes, unlocking new levels of performance and growth.

Throughout the conversation, Geoff shares actionable strategies to maximize AI's potential. By assigning specific roles to AI and using it as a thought partner, leaders can simulate feedback, anticipate challenges, and prepare for critical conversations. His approach empowers us to leverage AI as a strategic ally, enabling smarter, faster decisions while enhancing leadership capacity.

 

Highlights

1.    AI as a Thought Partner: Discover how rethinking AI as a collaborative partner can unlock new levels of strategic thinking and decision-making.

2.    Prioritize High-Impact Tasks: Explore how focusing AI on critical priorities can drive meaningful results and amplify your effectiveness.

3.    Role Assignment in Prompts: Learn how assigning roles to AI can create more tailored insights and solutions for complex challenges.

4.    Interactive AI Prompts: Uncover how engaging AI with thoughtful questions can lead to clearer, more accurate, and actionable outcomes.

5.    Continual AI Improvement: Find out how to refine AI’s capabilities by aligning its insights with real-world results, ensuring smarter support over time.

 

Resources Mentioned

Geoff’s Book – The AI-Driven Leader - https://a.co/d/eiBeM1Y

ChatGPT - https://chatgpt.com/ - Used for creating prompts, simulating scenarios, and role-playing to enhance leadership strategies.

Perplexity.ai - https://www.perplexity.ai/ - Highlighted for conducting AI-driven research with source citations, ensuring accuracy in results.

 

The Inspire Your Team to Greatness Assessment (the Courage Assessment)

How can you inspire our team to be more proactive, take ownership and get more done?

You demonstrate and empower The Courage of a Leader. In my nearly 3 decades of work with leaders, I’ve discovered the 11 things that leaders do – even very well-intentioned leaders do – that kill productivity.

In less than 10 minutes, find out where you’re empowering and inadvertently kills productivity, and get a custom report that will tell you step by step what you need to have your team get more done.

https://courageofaleader.com/inspireyourteam/

About the Guest:

Geoff Woods is the #1 international bestselling author of The AI-Driven Leader, host of the AI-Driven Leader podcast and the Founder of AI Leadership where he empowers leaders to harness AI, escape operational overwhelm, and think strategically to accelerate growth. As the former Chief Growth Officer of Jindal Steel & Power, his guidance helped their market cap grow from $750 million to over $12 billion in four years. He also co-founded the training and consulting company behind The ONE Thing, where he coached and advised companies with annual revenues from $10 million to $60 billion.

Best way for people to reach Geoff: gw@aileadership.com



About the Host:

Amy L. Riley is an internationally renowned speaker, author and consultant. She has over 2 decades of experience developing leaders at all levels. Her clients include Cisco Systems, Deloitte and Barclays.

As a trusted leadership coach and consultant, Amy has worked with hundreds of leaders one-on-one, and thousands more as part of a group, to fully step into their leadership, create amazing teams and achieve extraordinary results. 

Amy’s most popular keynote speeches are:

·     The Courage of a Leader: The Power of a Leadership Legacy

·     The Courage of a Leader: Create a Competitive Advantage with Sustainable, Results-Producing Cross-System Collaboration

·     The Courage of a Leader: Accelerate Trust with Your Team, Customers and Community

·     The Courage of a Leader: How to Build a Happy and Successful Hybrid Team

 

Her new book is a #1 international best-seller and is entitled, The Courage of a Leader: How to Inspire, Engage and Get Extraordinary Results.

http://www.courageofaleader.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyshoopriley

  

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcasts review

Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.

 

Teaser for Next Episode

How can finding your voice transform your leadership? Melissa Lagowski shares how curiosity, trust, and small steps can create big impact. Tune in for practical strategies and inspiration!

Mentioned in this episode:

The Inspire Your Team to Greatness assessment (The Courage Assessment)

https://courageofaleader.com/inspireyourteam/

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42 MIN