“What does it mean to lose yourself? And more importantly...what does it take to find your way back?”

These were the questions echoing in my mind long after sitting down with Stephen McGown, a South African whose story isn’t just remarkable, it’s transformational.

Stephen’s journey from banker to hostage to international speaker isn’t just a tale of survival. It’s a mirror. One that forces us to look at the lives we’re living and ask: Am I truly free?

Before his abduction by Al-Qaeda in Timbuktu, Stephen was already wrestling with that quiet dissatisfaction many of us carry. He had grown up on a farm, grounded in simplicity and grit, but had ended up in a high-rise banking career that never quite fit. So he did what many dream of but few dare...he took off on a motorcycle adventure across Africa, searching for meaning beyond spreadsheets and city traffic.

That journey ended abruptly in the Sahara Desert, where he was held hostage for nearly six years.

Six years.

No phone. No calendar. No distractions. Just silence, sand, and survival.

And yet, this is where Stephen found himself.

He spoke about learning to track time through the rhythm of nature, by moonlight, by the migrations of birds, by the soft bloom of desert flowers. He spoke of peeling away the noise of life, the endless comparisons, the busyness that so often numbs us. “When all that noise settles down,” he told me, “you start to get in contact with things.”

That line has stayed with me. Because isn’t that what many of us crave...contact? With something real. With ourselves.

What struck me most was how Stephen chose to frame his captivity. He didn’t just survive it, he transformed it. He called it a sabbatical. A chance to go back to his 18-year-old self and ask, “Who was I before the world told me who I should be?”

And that right there is where the heart of his story lies. Not in the extremity of what he endured, but in the quiet bravery of what he reclaimed.

His message is deceptively simple, and yet deeply profound: Be authentic.
Not the fastest. Not the smartest. Just you. Anything else, and you’ll lose yourself. You’ll live a life that looks fine on the outside but feels empty on the inside.

Stephen’s story isn’t just about him. It’s about all of us.

It’s about the invisible prisons we build careers that drain us, relationships that shrink us, expectations that slowly erase us. And it’s about the courage it takes to break free, to look inward, to start again.

When he returned home, a friend told him: “Don’t compare yourself to us we’re more screwed up than you are.”

I laughed when he said that. But there’s truth in it.

Stephen walked through hell and came out whole. Not because he had a map but because he learned to listen to the compass inside him. The one we all have, even if it’s been buried under years of noise.

If his story teaches us anything, it’s this

Sometimes, you have to lose everything to find what truly matters.
And sometimes, the desert...real or metaphorical, is where your freedom begins

What does Renaissance-era innovation have to do with modern leadership? Everything, according to global keynote speaker and executive coach Jean-Marie DiGiovanna. Drawing from her remarkable journey scaling a tech start-up from 90 to 4,000 employees and navigating cultural nuances across continents, Jean-Marie reveals how traditional command-and-control leadership is failing today's organizations.

At the heart of this conversation is a profound insight: we're experiencing a rebirth of leadership. Just as the historical Renaissance followed the Black Plague with an explosion of art, science, and human potential, our post-COVID world demands a leadership approach that honours humanity, fosters psychological safety, and unleashes innovation. Jean-Marie expertly unpacks the five principles of Renaissance Leadership that can transform any organization: asking new questions, honouring diversity, connecting to innovate, magnifying value, and acting with accountability.

The discussion delves into practical challenges facing today's leaders—from scaling culture during rapid growth to adapting leadership styles across different cultural contexts. Jean-Marie shares powerful strategies for building accountability without micromanagement, recognizing team members in ways that resonate with their individual preferences, and creating environments where people bring their full selves to work. Her three simple questions that transform accountability represent a game-changing approach any leader can implement immediately.

Whether you're leading a start-up, managing teams across cultural divides, or simply seeking to evolve your leadership approach for our changing world, this conversation offers rare insight from someone who has mastered both the technical and human dimensions of organizational excellence. Discover why curiosity might be your most powerful leadership tool and how asking different questions can lead to breakthrough innovations your teams are waiting to deliver.

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Ever been caught in the grip of procrastination, watching the hours slip away as your keyboard lies untouched? Meet Peter, a tech entrepreneur turned anti-procrastination crusader, whose journey from distraction-prone programmer to best-selling author is nothing short of inspiring. As we sit down with him, Peter spills the secrets of a stable business, the importance of a resilient team, and how shifting focus from technology to mindset catalyzed his success. He even tackles the double-edged sword of writing a book on procrastination while wrestling with ADHD, a challenge that led him to practical strategies for productivity and a happier life.

This episode isn't just a success story; it's a toolbox for anyone looking to harness their potential and prioritize what truly matters. Peter's reflections on his early days—ditching computer games for code—illustrate how recognizing and redirecting talent can spark a fulfilling career. Those strategies that helped him write a book that's topping charts in 24 languages and is number one in the Czech Republic? He lays them out for us, promising not just a boost in productivity but also a path to a more balanced, enjoyable life. Join us for an engaging conversation with Peter, where every minute spent is a step toward conquering your own to-do list—and maybe even that pesky habit of putting things off.