Do Good To Lead Well with Craig Dowden

How do you move from playing it safe to truly amplifying your impact? In this week’s energetic episode, I welcome back Dianna Fioravanti, President of Kuhne + Nagel Canada and bestselling author of "Flip the Switch," for a candid exploration of what it takes to silence self-doubt and step into authentic leadership.

Dianna draws on her own setbacks and triumphs, revealing how even high performers can get stuck in fear or overthinking. Our conversation unveils her 6P model (person, purpose, passion, playbook, perseverance, partnership) as a roadmap for overcoming hesitation and achieving lasting transformation—not by becoming someone else, but by becoming more fully yourself. The stories and questions are deeply practical, designed to help listeners stop waiting for permission and start owning their voice.

If you’re looking for tools to foster self-trust, design a meaningful legacy, and build resilience, this conversation is a must-listen. Discover how to flip your own internal switch and how to help those around you do the same.

What You’ll Learn
- Start with self-leadership.
- Discover your purpose and passion — Learn the difference between what gives you direction and what fuels your energy.
- Create your playbook to move from insight to consistent action, especially when life gets tough.
- Cultivate perseverance so you can bounce back and keep moving forward.
- Give yourself (and others) permission to move
- Build partnerships and your “inner cabinet”—trusted allies who support, push, and celebrate you along the way.

Podcast Timestamps
(00:00) – What Does It Mean to Flip the Switch?
(06:45) – Overcoming Inner Barriers
(09:08) - The R.E.A.L. Model of Leadership
(12:17) – The 6P Model
(14:24) - Distinguishing Passion and Purpose
(17:21) - The Role of Core Values in Self-Leadership
(21:31) - Sustaining Passion and Rebounding from Setbacks
(24:30) - The Importance of a Personal Playbook
(29:29) - Giving Yourself Permission and Owning Your Voice
(36:40) - Self-Assessment and Identifying Your Switches
(41:19) - Building Partnerships and Your Inner Cabinet
(44:52) - One Switch Listeners Can Flip Today

KEYWORDS
Positive Leadership, Self-Leadership, Courage, Purpose, Organizational Culture, People-First Leadership, Personal Growth, Overcoming Fear, Avoiding Overthinking, Dealing with Perfectionism, Sustained Motivation, The Power of a Playbook, Core Values, Introspection, Passion, Resilience, Empathy, Authenticity, Legacy, Psychological Safety, Vulnerability, Partnership, CEO Success

What does authentic leadership mean amid rapid change and digital noise? On this week’s episode of the Do Good to Leac Well podcast, I speak with Laura Paglia, CEO of the Canadian Forum for Financial Markets, who draws from her experience leading Canada’s top financial markets think tank and decades in private practice to answer this question. Her answers challenge the myth that ethics are just slogans, showing how integrity and transparency must guide every decision, even with the toughest choices.

We also explore how to bring together diverse perspectives and contentious viewpoints, leveraging empathy without sacrificing progress and accountability. She also shares how she keeps herself and her team resilient by focusing on controllable outcomes. We also have a candid discussion about the impacts and opportunities of AI ranging from increased efficiency to navigating job disruption. Laura emphasizes the importance of maintaining our critical thinking and curiosity, even as technology transforms the informational and decision-making landscape.

The conversation closes with an empowering message focused on the importance of stepping back, not personalizing setbacks, and always bringing your best self to work and life. This is the key to transformational growth and success. Tune in for an insightful journey from personal values to organizational change.

What You’ll Learn
- Lead by example: ethics and integrity must be lived, not just discussed.
- Authenticity builds trust and effectiveness.
- Mistakes are learning opportunities—be honest, be open.
- Empathy, resilience, and perspective help navigate tough conversations and uncertainty.
- Prepare for change (especially AI), but keep critical human insight at the forefront.
- Value merit and reciprocity: invest in the people who uplift your organization.

Podcast Timestamps
(00:00) – Welcome to the Podcast
(04:06) – What Are the Essential Leadership Qualities?
(05:42) - Authentic Leadership & Integrity
(10:03) - Building Ethical Cultures
(13:34) – How Honesty, Diplomacy & Directness Can Co-exist
(17:51) - Openness About Mistakes and Uncertainty
(23:08) - Navigating Diverse Perspectives and Conflict
(26:03) - Empathy in Leadership
(31:38) - Personal and Organizational Resilience
(38:31) - AI Impact & Adaptation
(42:41) - Leading Through AI Uncertainty

KEYWORDS
Positive Leadership, Authenticity, Honesty, Ethics, Integrity, Organizational Culture, Communication, Transparency, Diplomacy, Emotional Intelligence, Listening, Empathy, Resilience, Adaptability, Self-Awareness, Continuous Learning, Meritocracy, Reciprocity, Teamwork, Empowerment, Critical Thinking, AI, Artificial Intelligence), Change Management, Personal Growth, Work-Life Balance, CEO Success

In this raw episode of Do Good to Lead Well, I welcome Tom Hardin, whose journey from Wall Street hedge fund analyst to one of the FBI’s most prolific informants is a powerful examination of what drives good people to cross ethical lines. Despite the widespread belief that corruption comes from major events, Tom outlines the subtle drift and rationalizations that can turn ambition into poor decisions.

Tom makes a compelling case that most people are far more vulnerable to contextual pressures than they would care to admit. In fact, he argues that the more confident we are in our belief that we are incorruptible, the more likely we are to make an ethical misstep. Through honest storytelling, the episode urges us to move beyond blaming or distancing ourselves, challenging us to ask better questions, reflect on our own values, and foster workplaces where psychological safety and true accountability can thrive.

For anyone seeking a deeply personal and vulnerable understanding of ethics, culture, and resilience, this conversation delivers practical tools for self-reflection, leadership, and building lasting trust. These heartfelt lessons matter at every level of business and life.

What You’ll Learn
- Why 80% of us are at risk of “moral drift” if we’re not vigilant
- The crucial difference between mistakes and choices
- Culture is what gets rewarded
- How leaders can spot and stop ethical slippage, starting with “the little things”
- The power of asking better questions—not just of your team, but of yourself
- Why honesty, humility, and self-forgiveness are the real superpowers in leadership

Podcast Timestamps
(00:00) – The Decision to Share a Profound Story of Vulnerability
(05:14) – Cheating is a Choice
(09:19) – Ownership, Shame, and the Challenges of Self-Forgiveness
(13:06) – Moral Drift and Rationalization
(16:35) – How to Spot Warning Signs
(24:05) – Culture, Values, and Leadership
(40:01) – Resilience and Redemption
(45:08) – Radical Listening
(48:22) – A Story of Hope and Personal Agency

KEYWORDS
Positive Leadership, Insider Trading, Behavioral Ethics, Organizational Culture, FBI Informant, Compliance, Self-Reflection, Vulnerability, Rationalization, Psychological Safety, Ethical Culture, Whistleblowing, Character Development, Integrity, Reputation vs. Character, The Peril of Incentive Structures, Ethical Decision-Making, Personal Values, Resilience, Redemption, Asking Clarifying Questions, Moral Drift, Organizational Justice, CEO Success

In this timely and important episode, Craig sits down with Lily Zheng, one of today’s leading voices on workplace transformation, to tackle the challenges and evolution of DEI. Lily brings both research-backed frameworks and real-world pragmatism, reflecting on how shifting from DEI to FAIR offers a practical way through current backlash and confusion.

Lily’s refreshing candor provides a thought-provoking and valuable frame to the conversation. They don’t shy from complexity, but treat hesitancy, fear, and failure as necessary parts of meaningful progress.

The episode is filled with practical advice, including tying every initiative to a real business problem, focusing on behaviors not buzzwords, and the need for every leader to own the responsibility for inclusion. Technology’s double-edged role is candidly discussed, warning leaders that AI will multiply both strengths and flaws.

At its core, this episode asks: how do we actually do better? Lily urges leaders to focus on “atomic units” of behavioral change, reminding us that real progress is messy, ongoing, and built one intentional action at a time.

What You’ll Learn
- The power and pitfalls of language in DEI work.
- Navigating the politicization of inclusion.
- Let data—not dogma—drive your priorities
- Move beyond ‘admiring the problem’: Replacing performative acts with real progress.
- Redefining representation: Beyond the numbers.
- Technology & AI: A double-edged sword.
- The power of atomic units of change.

Podcast Timestamps
(00:00) - Introduction to Lily Zheng and the Origin of the Book
(08:00) - Reframing DEI: Why Focus on Fairness?
(14:41) – Lessons in Leadership: DEI Backlash
(20:34) - From Performative to Problem-Solving DEI
(25:15) - Systemic Change & Diversity Leadership
(35:55) - Representation vs. Quotas and Building Trust
(43:04) - Technology, AI & Fairness Risks
(48:38) - FOFO: Fear of Finding Out and Organizational Reality
(56:14) - The Atomic Unit: Driving Change Through Behaviors

KEYWORDS
Positive Leadership, Fairness, DEI, Inclusion, Equity, Representation, Organizational Change, Systemic Change, Workplace Culture, Diversity, Performative DEI, Accountability, Unconscious Bias Training, Artificial Intelligence, Politics, Cultural Transformation, CEO Success

In this week’s episode of the Do Good to Lead Well podcast, I speak with Vanessa Druskat, a globally recognized expert in team performance and author of "The Emotionally Intelligent Team." Vanessa shares the inspiration behind her research, highlighting the gap between anecdotal advice and evidence-based practices for building successful teams. She discusses the importance of cultivating esprit de corps—meaning a sense of belonging, value, and psychological safety—within teams, and emphasizes that this must come from both leaders and team members.

Our conversation explores practical norms and routines that emotionally intelligent teams use, dispelling myths around individual emotional intelligence versus collective TeamEI. Vanessa provides actionable examples, such as brief check-ins, team charters, and structured feedback mechanisms, underscoring the need for leaders to be intentional, especially in remote or hybrid environments. Questions from the live audience explored topics such as the role of team charters, overcoming ineffective norms, and the courage required to embrace feedback and conflict constructively. The episode is packed with research-backed insights and practical strategies to help leaders create high-performing, emotionally intelligent teams.

What You’ll Learn
- Great teams do things differently… and intentionally.
- The importance of assessing your team’s norms (anonymous surveys work wonders!).
- Develop a charter and revisit it regularly.
- Make feedback part of your culture rather than a once-a-year event
- How to lead remote/hybrid teams effectively.
- Why you want to finish meetings with a Plus/Delta.

Podcast Timestamps
(00:00) – Welcome to the Podcast
(10:25) - Defining Team Emotional Intelligence vs Individual EQ
(19:56) - Common Team Norms: Good, Bad, and Misunderstood
(24:32) - Creating and Using Team Charters
(27:12) - Activities to Build Understanding and Belonging
(32:11) - Best Practices for Team Assessment
(36:54) - Feedback and Accountability in Emotionally Intelligent Teams
(41:20) - Constructive Conflict and Avoiding Sidebar Conversations
(49:33) - Emotional Intelligence in Remote and Hybrid Teams
(54:33) - Final Reflections

KEYWORDS
Positive Leadership, Emotional Intelligence, Team Emotional Intelligence, Team Norms, Self-awareness, Psychological Safety, Feedback Culture, Team Rituals, Team-Building, High-Performing Teams, Team Assessment, Team Charter, Remote Teams, Hybrid Teams, Collaboration, Accountability, Sense of Belonging, Respect, Onboarding, Team Effectiveness, CEO Success