Jennifer Langton is the Senior Vice President of Health and Innovation, from the NFL, where she led all initiatives to improve player safety. Her work has played a major role in reducing concussions and transforming how the NFL approaches health, safety, and performance.

But Jennifer’s story starts long before. As a star lacross athlete at the University of Virginia, in her sophomore year, she faced a devastating one-two punch: she lost her mother to cancer and suffered a career-ending knee injury. Everything that had grounded her disappeared. The journey back from that shaped the empathetic, connection-driven leader she is today.

In our conversation, Jennifer talks about how she brought those life lessons into her professional world—from her early career in finance, to launching innovation initiatives at the NFL during a time of intense public scrutiny over concussions.

We dive into how she built support for bold ideas inside a tradition-heavy organization, the leadership philosophy that helped her succeed in a male-dominated industry, and the importance of aligning personal purpose with professional mission.

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites:

al4ep.com

jenniferlangtoninc.com

Additional Guest Links:

LinkedIn:linkedin.com/in/jenniferlangton

Instagram: @jenny_langton

Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo

Dino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneo

Podcast Instagram – @al4edp

Podcast Twitter – @al4edp

Podcast Facebook: facebook.com/al4edp

Music

Susan Cattaneo: susancattaneo.bandcamp.com

Elitzur Bar-Asher Siegal is a professor, linguist, and leader based in Israel. In our conversation, we explored two extraordinary initiatives he is leading in response to the ongoing crisis in Israel and Gaza. The first is Humanitas, a coalition of all the humanities deans in Israel working together to reimagine the role of universities and the humanities in shaping engaged citizens. The second is Middle Meets, a grassroots initiative that brings together Israeli, Palestinian, and American students to engage in honest, often difficult conversations.

We also discussed how Elitzur’s lifelong study of ancient languages has shaped his thinking about leadership and humanity. He shared how, in studying civilizations long gone, he’s come to understand both the commonality and fragility of human experience—and how that awareness fuels his commitment to dialogue, education, and healing.

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites:

al4ep.com

elitzurbarashersiegal.huji.ac.il

Additional Guest Links:

Middle Meets: innov-humanities.huji.ac.il/middle-meets

Support Middle Meets: afhu.org/middle-meets

Middle Meets Facebook: facebook.com/people/Middle-Meets/61562913084622

Instagram: @middle_meets

Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo

Dino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneo

Podcast Instagram – @al4edp

Podcast Twitter – @al4edp

Podcast Facebook: facebook.com/al4edp

Music

Susan Cattaneo: susancattaneo.bandcamp.com

Greg Larkin is am entrepreneur, author, and founder of the executive community Punks & Pinstripes, a curated executive community that gathers people who, as he says, are trying to climb their second mountain. Greg’s view of what defines success is a little different. And it is heavily shaped by his personal history. He found success very quickly, by being the first person to predict the 2008 subprime mortgage melt down. That early success skyrocketed him into high-profile roles — but also into a cycle of ego, addiction to recognition, and a sense of disconnection from his true self.

In our conversation, Greg walks us through how he hit that breaking point and what came after — the tough reflection, the discomfort of leaving the prestige behind, and the journey toward doing work that truly aligned with who he is. We talked about the difference between surviving and thriving, about leadership that comes from experience versus theory, and about building authentic community in a world obsessed with status.

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites:

al4ep.com

punksandpinstripes.com

Additional Guest Links:

Contact at:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/punks-pinstripes

Greg LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gregilarkin

Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo

Dino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneo

Podcast Instagram – @al4edp

Podcast Twitter – @al4edp

Podcast Facebook: facebook.com/al4edp

Music

Honest Mechanik: honestmechanik.bandcamp.com

Today's guest is Ron Browning, the CEO of IntelliBright, a performance-based digital marketing agency. Ron’s career is characterized by entrepreneurship, digital innovation, and a fierce commitment to accountability.

We talked about his unique journey—starting with his first business while still in grad school, diving into the early days of the dot-com boom (and bust), and ultimately launching IntelliBright, which he has now successfully led for over 16 years. Ron shared the key leadership lessons he learned from navigating both entrepreneurial highs and corporate frustrations, and how those lessons shaped the culture and values of IntelliBright.

He also offered some powerful insights on the importance of data-driven decision making, the value of clarity in communication, and how dressing the part can sometimes make all the difference.

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites:

al4ep.com

intellibright.com

Additional Guest Links:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ronrbrowning

Instagram:

Twitter:

Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo

Dino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneo

Podcast Instagram – @al4edp

Podcast Twitter – @al4edp

Podcast Facebook: facebook.com/al4edp

Music

Susan Cattaneo: susancattaneo.bandcamp.com

Natasha Braginsky Mounier is currently the co-chair of Girls Are Investors, a UK charity, and is a member of several boards. Prior to that, she had a remarkable career in investment management, covering Russia and emerging markets at Capital Group, where she retired from as a partner.

We talked about her unique journey. She emigrated to the US from the Soviet Union and went on to become a leader in finance at a time when the field wasn’t always welcoming to women. She shared what helped her thrive in male-dominated environments, how she built resilience, and skills she developed through her unconventional path — starting as a regional analyst rather than a sector specialist — and how those skills helped her navigate high-stakes investment decisions in volatile markets.

In the second half of our conversation, we explored her leadership work around ESG investing, and her current role as Co-Chair of Girls Are Investors — a UK-based nonprofit working to improve gender diversity in the investment industry by inspiring and supporting the next generation of women investors.

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites:

al4ep.com

Girls Are Investors: gainuk.org

Additional Guest Links:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/natasha-braginsky-mounier-62525721/

Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo

Dino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneo

Podcast Instagram – @al4edp

Podcast Twitter – @al4edp

Podcast Facebook: facebook.com/al4edp

Music

Susan Cattaneo: susancattaneo.bandcamp.com

Rishad Tobaccowala is one to the visionaries in the world of marketing and advertising – he founded some of the early digital marketing agencies and has covered several C-level roles for Publicis. Today, he comes back to discuss his latest book, Rethinking Work.

In our conversation, we dive into the five seismic shifts reshaping the workplace, how technology—including AI—is redefining the nature of jobs, and why the traditional concept of employment may soon be obsolete. Rishad shares his unique insights on leadership in this evolving landscape, the importance of adaptability, and how companies can thrive by fostering an ecosystem of talent rather than just managing employees.

We also explore what individuals—whether they are seasoned executives or just starting out —can do to stay relevant and successful in a world where the future of work is being rewritten in real-time.

To hear about Rishad's career and his other book, check out his previous appearance on the show.

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites:

al4ep.com

rishad.substack.com

Additional Guest Links:

Website: rethinking-work.io

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rishadtobaccowala

Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo

Dino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneo

Podcast Instagram – @al4edp

Podcast Twitter – @al4edp

Podcast Facebook: facebook.com/al4edp

Music

Susan Cattaneo: susancattaneo.bandcamp.com

Joseph Rainone is the CEO of Ubique Group, a private equity owned furniture company. Joseph has spent over 30 years working in consumer product companies, making his way from a analyst to manager all the way to CEO.

In our conversation, Joseph shares invaluable insights on leadership, including his “Three H’s of Leadership” framework—Humble, Hungry, and Happy—a powerful approach to building high-performance teams. He also discusses the realities of running a private equity-backed company, the lessons he learned navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, the advantages of running a fully remote company, and why leadership can sometimes feel lonely at the top.

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites:

al4ep.com

The Three Hs of Leadership Article

Additional Guest Links:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/joseph-rainone-3879a8120/

Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo

Dino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneo

Podcast Instagram – @al4edp

Podcast Twitter – @al4edp

Podcast Facebook: facebook.com/al4edp

Music

Susan Cattaneo: susancattaneo.bandcamp.com

Dina Denham Smith, is an exectuive coach with an extensive background in leadership, spanning private equity, consulting, and high-growth startups, and she has a deep passion for the intersection of business and psychology.

In our conversation, she shares her journey from management consulting to private equity and eventually to coaching. We also discuss her upcoming book, *Emotionally Charged: How to Lead in the New World of Work*, which explores the evolving emotional demands on leaders and provides actionable strategies based on science and real-world experience.

We dive deep into leadership, emotional labor, and the balance between authenticity and professional expectations. Plus, we touch on her experience working alongside her husband in their family business, the unique challenges of blending work and personal relationships, and how leaders can better manage emotions—both their own and their teams'.

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites:

al4ep.com

dinadsmith.com

Additional Guest Links:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dina-denham-smith/

Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo

Dino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneo

Podcast Instagram – @al4edp

Podcast Twitter – @al4edp

Podcast Facebook: facebook.com/al4edp

Music

Susan Cattaneo: susancattaneo.bandcamp.com