What does real leadership look like in a world obsessed with celebrity, conflict, and short-term wins? In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Saji Madapat, a global transformation architect, author, and cultural myth-maker whose work spans Fortune 10 boardrooms, geopolitical strategy rooms, and ancient ritual traditions of Southern India. With more than 30 years of experience across 40+ countries, Saji brings a rare and provocative perspective on what leadership has become and what it must return to if we are to navigate the economic, social, and cultural disruptions of our time.

This episode is an invitation for founders, CEOs, entrepreneurs, and conscious leaders to rethink what they are building, who they are becoming, and how they are leading in the Creative Age.

What You Will Learn:

Why modern leadership has shifted toward celebrity and conflict, and how that shift is eroding trust, stability, and long-term impact.

How the core leadership qualities of charisma, confidence, and character have been diluted in today’s short-term, attention-driven culture.

What it truly means to lead from behind and why this approach is essential in knowledge-based and people-powered organizations.

How short-term “hunter” mindsets undermine organizational resilience during economic and cultural disruption.

Why building sustainable, values-driven organizations requires patience, foresight, and a long-term leadership horizon.

How historical leaders modeled strength without performative leadership or ego-driven authority.

What Eastern leadership philosophies reveal about endurance, diagnostics, and long-term nation and business building.

Why surrounding yourself with people who challenge your thinking is critical for innovation and conscious leadership.

How leaders can prepare their organizations to weather uncertainty, volatility, and systemic change.

Why character-based leadership outlasts charisma when markets shift and crises emerge.

Resource:

Saji Madapat

LinkedIn

Leading Visionaries Podcast

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Creative Age Consulting Group

What if the fastest way to scale isn’t doing more, but touching less. In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Max Lewis, author of Who Is Max Lewis? Max went from selling mangoes as a kid to building a propane tank exchange business that ultimately sold for $37 million.

This episode is a masterclass for founders, CEOs, and visionaries who feel capped by their own effort and are ready to step into the next version of leadership.

What You Will Learn:

Why vision is often developed through experience and small wins rather than arriving fully formed at the beginning.

How staying the “single point of failure” quietly limits growth no matter how hard you work.

Why the transition from operator to owner requires a complete identity shift, not just better systems.

How learning to “not touch anything” becomes the most uncomfortable and necessary leadership upgrade.

Why hiring friends may feel supportive early on but can cap the long-term potential of a business.

How intentional thinking time becomes a strategic advantage for solving bigger problems and scaling faster.

Why asking questions like what a $25M business owner knows clarifies exactly what you need to learn next.

How learning just enough about a subject allows you to hire the right experts without becoming one yourself.

How role playing reveals what your team does when you are not present and gives you the power to coach proactively.

Why investing in education compounds forever because knowledge is something you never lose.

How designing your physical environment can keep your vision, focus, and priorities aligned daily.

What it looks like to scale through coaching, training, and trust instead of effort and exhaustion.

Resource:

Max Lewis

Instagram

Book: Who is Max Lewis?

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What does it mean to lead when your path doesn’t follow a straight line—and your vision unfolds in seasons rather than deadlines? In this episode of the Leading Visionaries, host Anjel B. Hartwell sits down with Lori A Andrus, creator of the Stone Speak Oracle and Journey Jewels Sacred Adornments, the founder of the Sanctuary Circle Community, and host of the Luminary Life Podcast. Lori shares her personal visionary journey. Rather than choosing a traditional healer’s path, Lori followed a quieter inner calling, allowing her gifts to emerge organically through art, jewelry, and eventually sacred tools that now serve people around the world.

This episode is an invitation to trust your timing, honor your body’s wisdom, and lead in harmony with the earth rather than in opposition to it.

What You Will Learn:

What it looks like to follow a nontraditional leadership path without forcing clarity too soon.

Why saying yes to your gifts can create tension in relationships and how to navigate that with compassion.

How self-leadership becomes the foundation for leading others authentically.

Why honoring personal rhythm and cycles leads to more sustainable impact and less burnout.

Why healing often happens before we recognize ourselves as healers.

How entrepreneurship can unfold organically rather than through rigid business models.

What it means to trust divine timing when bringing a vision into the world.

Why pauses and delays are often preparation, not failure.

The internal shifts required before a soul-led offering is ready to be shared publicly.

How to discern when to push forward and when to allow space for integration.

Why investing in aligned support can be essential when personal networks cannot meet you there.

How group containers and mentorship accelerate growth without bypassing the messy middle.

What it means to lead in harmony with the earth rather than in opposition to it.

How to listen to the body as a guide for decision-making and leadership.

Why visionary leadership often requires redefining success on your own terms.

How to remain committed to your vision even when outcomes are uncertain.

Why trusting yourself is an act of leadership that opens possibility for others.

How honoring your inner wisdom strengthens confidence, clarity, and direction.

What it truly means to live and lead a soul-aligned life.

Resource:

Lori A Andrus

Website

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Creative Age Consulting Group