The Legendary Leaders Podcast Podcast Por Cathleen O'Sullivan – Growth Accelerator for Leaders arte de portada

The Legendary Leaders Podcast

The Legendary Leaders Podcast

De: Cathleen O'Sullivan – Growth Accelerator for Leaders
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Welcome to the Legendary Leaders podcast series! This podcast aims to inspire thousands and thousands of people to start living their best lives! My podcast guests will be sharing their own personal paths to success, the moments when they may have hit a wall that turned into their biggest breaking point, and we will be sharing some top tips on how to proactively create some exciting changes in your life. These leaders will be talking about how they started their journey, what inspired and drove them, along with the challenges they had to overcome along the way to get to where they are now, having achieved a more content and balanced life. The podcasts will cover an array of topics from the importance of selfcare and mindset, through to bravery and authenticity, and the importance of building communities and support networks. I have interviewed leaders who have all taken varied and interesting paths, from content creators, journalists through to designers, coaches, musicians and actors a business mentors, speakers and many, many more. They all faced tough challenges which served as motivation to live their best lives yet! I hope you enjoy listening to my series of podcasts as much as I have done creating them, and I really hope you take away lots to inspire, encourage and motivate you on your journey to becoming a Legendary Leader.Cathleen O'Sullivan (Merkel) Economía Exito Profesional Gestión y Liderazgo Liderazgo
Episodios
  • Why “Being a Cow” Taught Me the Best Leadership Lessons of My Life

    Why “Being a Cow” Taught Me the Best Leadership Lessons of My Life
    Aug 5 2025

    Have you ever found yourself stuck in the cycle of trying to be the “perfect” leader (always switched on, always in control) only to end up burned out and disconnected? In this solo episode of Legendary Leaders, Cathleen O'Sullivan shares what happened when she finally let go of performing leadership and started showing up as herself.

    From moments of self-doubt to the awkward reality of what she calls being a “cow at work,” Cathleen opens up about the pressures we put on ourselves to look like we’ve got it all together. She talks honestly about the impact it had on her well-being, her team, and her work and what changed when she chose presence over perfection. If you're feeling the weight of doing it all, or just wondering if there’s a more human way to lead, this episode is for you.



    Episode Timeline:

    00:00 Introduction

    04:59 Leadership thrives in authenticity; burnout taught me to lead from presence, not performance.

    09:15 I wanted to lead as me with flaws, feelings, tired days and all.

    13:06 You can’t lead well in survival mode

    14:45 The power of saying “I’m not quite on today”

    16:55 Rethink feedback and self-leadership



    Key Takeaways:

    • Authenticity over perfection: Cathleen talks honestly about moving from trying to lead perfectly to simply showing up as herself. Letting go of the pressure to always have it together helped her build real trust with others even on the messy days

    • Burnout changed everything: Working non-stop to meet impossible standards left Cathleen burnt out and disconnected. That low point pushed her to slow down, get honest with herself, and start leading with more care and clarity

    • The SPACE method makes it practical: Cathleen shares a simple five-part tool to lead with more presence, not performance.



    Connect:

    Find | Cathleen O’Sullivan

    Business: https://cathleenosullivan.com/

    Email: cmc@cathleenmerkelcoaching.com

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathleen-merkel/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legendary_leaders_cathleenos/

    FOLLOW LEGENDARY LEADERS ON APPLE, SPOTIFY OR WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTS
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    20 m
  • Kyle McDowell - Start with We: Leading without Ego

    Kyle McDowell - Start with We: Leading without Ego
    Jul 22 2025
    What does it really mean to lead with authenticity and move from “I” to “We” in today’s ever-evolving workplace? In this episode of Legendary Leaders, host Cathleen O’Sullivan is joined for a second time by Kyle McDowell, bestselling author of Begin With We, speaker, leadership coach, and former Fortune 10 executive. They talk about what’s changed since his book came out, how toxic cultures take hold, and why leading with principle matters more than ever. Episode Timeline: 1:38 Kyle’s mission: moving from “I” to “We” in leadership 03:13 Cathleen invites listeners to reflect on their own leadership style and authenticity. 08:38 Kyle opens up about his long-standing experience with imposter syndrome. 12:16 The fine line between confidence and cockiness 15:31 Kyle shares his anti “fake it till you make it” stance 18:26 The continued growth of Kyle’s book, Begin With We, and teases a second book. 23:03 The value of clear, jargon-free communication in leadership 26:24 How empathy and practical advice guide Kyle’s evolution as a leader. 39:09 The challenges and impact of growing polarisation and toxicity in workplaces. 01:06:46 Kyle names his struggle with obsessing over details and how he balances strengths and weaknesses. Key Takeaways: Real Leadership Starts with Principles: Kyle and Cathleen talk about what it really means to lead with values. For Kyle, it’s about shifting from “I” to “we” and living out a set of clear, practical principles. Toxic Cultures Can’t Always Be Fixed: They unpack what toxicity can look like, from one bad boss to a whole system. Kyle shares why it’s important to know when you can create change and when it’s time to walk away. Doubt Happens, lead anyway: Both Cathleen and Kyle open up about imposter syndrome and how it shows up, even years into their careers. Kyle explains how he uses self-doubt as a check-in rather than a barrier. About Kyle McDowell: Former Fortune 10 Executive turned inspirational speaker, bestselling author and leadership coach Kyle McDowell is on a quest to create cultures of excellence and reignite leaders’ passion and purpose. With nearly three decades of experience leading tens of thousands of employees at some of America’s biggest firms, McDowell’s philosophy is rooted in his trademarked principles, The 10 WEs. While today’s workforce is plagued with uncertainty and apathy, his strategy is simple - Begin With WE. McDowell’s mission is clear: crush the deep-rooted dysfunctions so many organizations passively accept. During his incredibly successful run in corporate America, McDowell’s leadership legacy was born from delivering superior results, empowering leaders, and driving massive cultural transformations. His Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller, Begin With WE, delves into the root causes of business dysfunction, offering a remedy through The 10 WEs framework. Rather than outsourcing solutions or ignoring cultural challenges, McDowell elevates leaders and sparks massive change within organizations by adopting a mindset that prioritizes “WE” over “I,” “you,” or “me.” McDowell’s insights have earned him invitations to speak at prestigious business, educational, and nonprofit institutions, and his expertise has been featured in major national publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Inc. Magazine. Connect with Kyle: Instagram: www.instagram.com/kylemcdowellinc/ TikTok :www.tiktok.com/@kylemcdowellinc YoutTube: www.youtube.com/@kylemcdowellinc Facebook: www.facebook.com/KyleMcDowellInc X: x.com/KyleMcDowellInc LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kylemcdowellinc Website: www.kylemcdowellinc.com Connect: 
 Find | Cathleen O’Sullivan Business: https://cathleenosullivan.com/ Email: cmc@cathleenmerkelcoaching.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathleen-merkel/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legendary_leaders_cathleenos/ FOLLOW LEGENDARY LEADERS ON APPLE, SPOTIFY OR WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTS.
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    1 h y 19 m
  • Michael Frantl - Building a Strong Workplace Culture

    Michael Frantl - Building a Strong Workplace Culture
    Jul 8 2025

    Get ready for a thoughtful and down-to-earth conversation with our host, Cathleen O’Sullivan and guest is Michael Frantl, Global Lead for Culture, Engagement, and Performance Solutions at Novo Nordisk about what really shapes strong leadership and why culture matters more than ever. With a career that’s taken him across the US, UK, and Scandinavia, Michael shares his real-world experience of building workplace cultures that go beyond posters and buzzwords.

    Together, they talk about leading with trust, creating space for belonging, and the small, everyday actions that bring values to life. Michael also reflects on the role of optimism, why control doesn’t build connection, and how to make culture feel genuine wherever you work. If you’re building a team, leading change, or just trying to show up more intentionally, this episode is for you.

    Episode Timeline:

    00:00 Introduction

    04:36 Life since we last met: moves, parenthood, and big shifts

    06:03 Taking the leap, moving to Denmark and starting fresh

    10:50 Balancing positivity and reality in leadership

    14:09 From rush to reflection: Building quiet moments Into busy days

    19:48 Lessons from the family construction business

    30:58 Listening to understand: what philosophy taught me about dialogue

    39:09 Building workplaces that support people and results

    52:06 The power of focus and consistency in culture work

    01:03:26 Practical steps for organizations tobBring values to life



    Key Takeaways:

    • Culture is about what you do every day: Michael and Cathleen stress that company culture isn’t just about posters or slogans. It’s about how people act and interact every day.

    • Positivity Matters, but keep it real: Michael talks about finding joy in small moments and connecting with others, but also warns against ignoring challenges.

    • Leading with intention and space: Move away from micromanaging to truly supporting people. Listening, clear communication, and giving teams room to grow are key.



    About Michal Frantl:

    Michael is a Global Culture, Engagement, & Performance Solutions Lead at Novo Nordisk, based in Copenhagen Denmark. He is an experienced people and culture professional with a focus on culture building and measurement, leadership development/coaching, and employee engagement who has worked across international offices both in house and as an external consultant.

    Originally from Wisconsin in the US, he has lived in the US, UK, Sweden, Italy, and Denmark and has a Masters degree in Organizational Behaviour from Birkbeck, University of London.

    Connect with Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelfrantl/

    Connect: 


    Find | Cathleen O’Sullivan

    Business: https://cathleenosullivan.com/

    Email: cmc@cathleenmerkelcoaching.com

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathleen-merkel/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legendary_leaders_cathleenos/

    FOLLOW LEGENDARY LEADERS ON APPLE, SPOTIFY OR WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTS.
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    1 h y 11 m
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