In this episode, we speak with Michael Stanford about his journey from business schools to global leadership consulting, reflecting on the pivotal transitions that shaped his professional identity. Drawing on his doctoral research and his book Leadership Transition: How Leaders Turn Chaos into Growth, he explains why leadership transitions often feel like a “torture of the soul” and why tactical checklists fall short. Michael introduces a compass-based framework grounded in post-traumatic gro...

As we wrap up 2025, it’s the perfect moment to pause, reflect, and draw insights from some of the most inspiring conversations we’ve had this year on the Disrupt Your Career podcast. Throughout the year, we had the privilege of speaking with executives, thought leaders, authors, and coaches who generously shared their experiences of experimentation, resilience, reinvention, and purpose driven career choices: Celeste Warren, Stéphanie Daudier, Navid Nazemian, Bridget Farrands & Ian Hardie,...

In this episode, we speak with Navid Nazemian, executive coach and author of Mastering Executive Transitions. Navid shares insights from his career across seven industries and hundreds of C-suite clients, revealing why nearly 40% of executives fail in their first 18 months. He explains his Double Diamond framework for successful transitions, highlights the critical role of culture, politics, and soft skills, and explores gender gaps in executive support. Navid also discusses emerging trends a...

Many professionals work hard, deliver strong results, and uphold high standards—yet still feel their career progression slipping further out of reach. Traditional advice like “let your work speak for itself” or “play the game” often traps people between burnout and becoming someone they don’t want to be. But this cycle can be broken, allowing you to advance with clarity, integrity, and confidence. In this edition of Author Chat, Disrupt Your Career speaks with May Busch, Founder of Career Mas...

In a world where many leaders struggle to be seen and heard, Dr. Sheila Gujrathi offers a fresh approach. The Mirror Effect provides a practical roadmap for women and marginalized professionals to reclaim their power, navigate challenging environments, and thrive authentically. In this edition of Author Chat, Disrupt Your Career speaks with Sheila about her debut book, exploring her three-part framework—know yourself, understand your environment, and set yourself up for success—to help leader...

In this episode, we talk with Celeste Warren, Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion leader about her unconventional path from journalism to HR leadership and her impact as Merck’s Chief Diversity Officer. She shares candid insights on challenges faced, lessons learned from allies, and why equity is essential for thriving organizations. We also explore her new book, The Truth About Equity, her thoughts on the future of DEI, and her vision for workplaces where inclusivity and equity drive coll...

In this episode, Bridget Farrands and Ian Hardie open up about the twists and turns of their career and leadership transitions. Bridget reflects on stepping out of the corporate fast lane into a portfolio of advisory and board roles, while Ian shares lessons from moving across industries, countries, and cultures into top executive positions. Bridget also talks about her book Lost in Transition, which introduces a three-phase framework—Arriving, Surviving, and Thriving—to help leaders navigate...

Elizabeth Lotardo is a consultant, writer, and course creator who helps organizations build more purpose-driven and emotionally engaging workplaces. She works with companies like Hilton, DraftKings, and Thyssenkrupp, and her LinkedIn Learning courses have reached over 2 million learners. Elizabeth is the co-author of Selling with Noble Purpose and Leading Yourself, and writes regularly for Harvard Business Review. She holds a Master’s in Industrial & Organizational Psychology and is a fel...

Julia Milner is a professor of leadership at EDHEC Business School in Nice, France and has been named in the World’s Top 40 Business Professors under 40. She has extensive experience as a management consultant and coach working internationally with executives and organizations on how to create empowering leadership and organizational cultures. Julia is host of a YouTube channel on leadership and careers, and has given two Tedxtalks on how to be a great leader and how to turn regrets into chan...

Neil Courtis is the founder of Sensible Media, a London-based e-learning company focused on career advice for professionals. As Managing Director and Head of E-learning, he produces a high volume of high-quality webinars and online courses. An INSEAD MBA graduate, former parliamentary researcher and financial journalist covering central banks and regulation, Neil brings deep experience in translating complex ideas into accessible content. He also writes occasionally for the Financial Times ab...

Peter Attfield is a CHRO-level HR thought partner with a global track record in strategic business partnering and HR leadership across sectors and regions. He is the founder of The Inflection Point and APAC representative of The Talent Strategy Group. Most recently Chief Talent & Learning Officer at Jardine Matheson, he brings nearly four decades of experience in organisation transformation, talent management, and leadership development. A true global citizen, he has lived in 9 countries ...

In a world where striving for success often leads to overwhelm, Kathy Oneto offers a refreshing new approach. Sustainable Ambition redefines how we think about work and life—not as a balancing act, but as an opportunity to align our goals with what truly matters. In this edition of Author Chat, Disrupt Your Career speaks with Kathy Oneto about her book, Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work (Greenleaf Book Group, June 2025). Kathy introduces a practic...

Irina Cozma is an executive coach, speaker, trainer and consultant who helps professionals design more fulfilling career adventures. With a Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology and over 20 years of experience, she has coached hundreds of senior leaders and entrepreneurs across industries like tech, healthcare, and finance. An ICF-certified coach, Irina teaches at Purdue University, contributes to Harvard Business Review, and brings global insight from living and working in four countries. ...

Stéphanie Daudier is a specialist in workplace diversity and the founder of The Inspiration Lab. As an entrepreneur, she is dedicated to promoting senior inclusion in society and advancing gender equality in the workplace. With 30 years of experience in the corporate world across Europe and Asia, Stéphanie spent over 8 years living and working in Asia, including 4 years as an expatriate in Tokyo, Japan. A trained mathematician, she brings precision to her work and makes complex data both tang...

Sheila Buswell is the CEO and Co-Founder of Buswell Biomedical, a US Army veteran, and the author of Is This Seat For Me? After starting her career in engineering, she transitioned to entrepreneurship, driven by a mission to create innovative solutions that improve mobility and independence. Sheila is passionate about leadership and navigating our own journey toward overcoming imposter syndrome—topics she explores in her book and speaking engagements. She holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering ...

Dr. Naeema Pasha set up and led the World of Work (WOW) Institute at Henley Business School, which examines the future of work, including the ethical impact of AI on work, workers and workplaces. She is also a leading expert in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion leadership. Naeema has written and spoken extensively for publications such as BBC Worklife, Forbes and People Management Magazine on transformations in workplaces. She is co-author of Futureproof Your Career: How to Lead and Succeed in ...

Dr. Michelle Prince is a global leadership coach, HR tech advisor, and human capital consultant. A certified leadership coach since 2006 with a doctorate in management and organizational leadership, she helps professionals and organizations achieve transformational growth. Michelle has over 30 years of corporate HR experience and now runs her consulting firm, MPrince Consulting LLC. An advocate for sustainability and empowering people to thrive, she wrote the book ‘Creating Your Encore Career...

As the year comes to a close, we’re celebrating with a special Disrupt Your Career episode: a curated collection of the most inspiring and actionable career advice from our incredible 2024 guests. Over the past year, we’ve explored leadership, career transitions, and talent development with some of the brightest minds: Julia Goodman, Valerie Sutton, Octavia Goredema, Riet Grond, Asad Husain, André Martin, Carmen Wee, Sarah Wittman, Mosongo Moukwa, Joerg Staff, Ben Legg, and Isabel Berwick. ...

Isabel Berwick is host of the award-winning Financial Times 'Working It' podcast, about the workplace, leadership, management and the future of work. Isabel also writes a weekly newsletter covering all the latest work trends for FT subscribers. Her book, The Future-Proof Career, published in April 2024 has been a top ten Amazon bestseller in the careers category. An FT staff journalist for more than 20 years, she has held senior editing posts across the paper, most recently as editor of the p...

In today’s fast-paced, interconnected world, breakthroughs don’t come from individuals—they come from teams. And not just any teams, but diverse and inclusive ones. Andrés Tapia and Michel Buffet provide a revolutionary model that empowers teams to harness the full potential of diverse perspectives. In this edition of Author Chat, Disrupt Your Career speaks with Andrés Tapia and Michel Buffet about their book, The 5 Disciplines of Inclusive Teams: Unlocking Collective Power to Achieve Breakt...