Uncommon Leadership Podcast By Michael Hunter Uncommon Change LLC cover art

Uncommon Leadership

Uncommon Leadership

By: Michael Hunter Uncommon Change LLC
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Practical conversations with real leaders about the small shifts, strengths, and experiments that help Uncommon Heroes build calm, resilient, human‑centered teams. Each episode tackles the real challenge beneath most leadership struggles: when people don't share the same understanding of what's true, what matters now, or what's next, everything feels harder than it should. Misalignment isn't just frustrating — it quietly drains momentum, muddles priorities, and creates friction no process fix can solve. Uncommon Leadership is your companion in clearing that fog. Through candid stories and constellation-guided perspectives, you'll learn how the most grounded leaders create a shared reality inside their teams — the kind that stabilizes priorities, unlocks clarity, and turns decision-making from a grind into a flow. The result? Work gets lighter. Focus steadies. Alignment stops being an aspiration and starts becoming the natural byproduct of leading like a human. If you're ready to build the kind of team where everyone sees the same sky and knows which stars matter most, you're in the right place.2022–2024 Career Success Economics Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • How to Find Your Purpose When You're Ready to Quit ft. Patrick Farran

    How to Find Your Purpose When You're Ready to Quit ft. Patrick Farran
    Apr 1 2026
    It is easy to spend an entire career in tech scaling products, hitting deadlines, and climbing the ladder-- only to wake up one day feeling completely misaligned. Your body starts keeping score. You experience burnout. Self-sabotage. And the quiet realization that you are leading in a system that wasn't built for who you truly are. In this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast, Michael Hunter sits down with Dr. Patrick Farran, Founder of Ad Lucem Group, TEDx speaker, and expert in organizational transformation, to discuss the profound difference between simply managing a team and leaving a lasting legacy. Drawing from deeply personal stories, including the inspiring resilience of his father, an iconic teacher who transformed a devastating injury into a lifelong calling, Patrick unpacks how leaders can navigate the chaos of modern business by rooting themselves in purpose. This conversation moves beyond standard management advice to explore: the emotional, human core of our careersdecoding the signals your intuition is sending youhow to map out what truly brings you fulfillmentand how to create a work environment where both you and your team can lead authentically. Episode Chapters 0:00 - Introduction: Welcome to Uncommon Leadership 1:45 - The Power of Legacy 8:30 - Victor Frankl, CrossFit, and the Power of Knowing Your Why 12:15 - How to Recognize Career Misalignment 15:40 - The Map of Meaningful Work (or How to Find Fulfillment at Work) 22:10 - Creating a User Manual for Your Leadership Style 27:50 - Appreciative Inquiry: Solving Problems with an Abundance Mindset 34:20 - The Magic Question That Unlocks Team Possibility 37:45 - The Ultimate Alignment Exercise If you are a highly analytical leader feeling the friction of a purposeless grind, this episode will give you the tools to step out of the chaos, reconnect with your why, and unleash the Uncommon Hero you already are. Subscribe to the Uncommon Leadership Podcast for weekly conversations on navigating the quiet complexity of human systems at work. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp9vaDKz5TI7gaWKLc801Dw Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple- https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/uncommon-leadership/id1654637165 Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/2BkXGceaZgVWxGQCXcrmgj Brought to you by Uncommon Teams About the speakers Patrick Farran | Guest Speaker Patrick Farran, Ph.D., is the Founder and CEO of Ad Lucem Group, a TEDx Speaker, and co-author of The Intentional Executive. With 25+ years of experience across Fortune 100s and startups—and an academic background teaching at Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business—Patrick bridges the gap between organizational strategy and human engagement. He helps tech leaders and executives navigate complex change, overcome resistance, and achieve breakthrough results through values-driven, strengths-based leadership. Connect with Patrick & Ad Lucem Group: Website: adlucemgroup.comRead the Book: The Intentional ExecutiveFree Resource: Download the "Succeed From Day One" Executive GuideAssess Your Team: Take the Peak Performance Assessment Work with Patrick: Schedule a Free Executive Strategy Session Michael Hunter | Podcast Host Michael Hunter is an Executive Coach, Consultant, and Author of The Resilient Tech Leader. With over three decades of experience at companies like Microsoft and Salesforce, his career has followed a simple progression: he started by debugging code, spent years debugging teams, and now helps leaders learn how to debug themselves. He helps analytical tech leaders navigate the quiet complexity of their organizations, proving that the most important systems in tech aren't written in code—they're written in people. Connect with Michael Hunter: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/humbugreality/Website: https://uncommonteams.com/Newsletter: https://uncommonteams.com/newsletter-archive/Read the book: https://uncommonteams.com/resilient-leader-workbook/Work with Michael Hunter: https://uncommonteams.com/work-with-me/ #michaelhunter #uncommonteams #leadership #podcast
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    44 mins
  • How Leaders Spot Team Problems Before They Explode ft. Oksana Kovalchuk

    How Leaders Spot Team Problems Before They Explode ft. Oksana Kovalchuk
    Mar 25 2026
    As a leader (especially in tech), you're constantly expected to have every answer, fix every issue, and carry the full weight of decisions. But what if you don't need to solve every problem or know everything to lead effectively? Real leadership means recognizing when questions reveal deeper issues, using vulnerability to ease tension, and encouraging your people to find their own solutions. In this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast, I, Michael Hunter, talk with Oksana Kovalchuk — Founder & CEO of ANODA (a top-rated UX design agency recognized by Clutch in 2025) — who started coding at age 5, survived big outsourcing giants, and built her own agency where connection beats rigid control. Together, we dive into: The mirror neurons hackHow to avoid the "fix everything" trapThe golden rule that reshapes hiring and organization cultureWhy life is too short for bad UX and relationships More than just theories — these are hard-won lessons from people who've faced the full storm of tech growth, team friction, and founder weight, and come through with greater ease and authenticity. If you're a founder, tech leader, or anyone building teams who feels the weight of having to know/fix it all, this episode offers uncommon insights that make you rethink your current leadership style. Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome & Episode Intro 00:45 – Introducing the guest: Oksana Kovalchuk 01:08 – Integrating your whole self into your leadership style 12:50 – Why Leaders Don't Need to Solve Every Problem 14:30 – The Discount Method 17:00 – Pushing Teams to Become Leaders 19:20 – Vision, Strategy & the Founder's Role 26:51 – Vulnerability & Mirror Neurons to Reduce Stress 50:59 – When Silly Questions Signal a Deeper Problem 56:26 – How to Connect with Oksana + 10% Discount Offer 57:53 – Closing Thoughts: Life Is Too Short for Bad UX Tune in now: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp9vaDKz5TI7gaWKLc801Dw Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple- https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/uncommon-leadership/id1654637165 Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/2BkXGceaZgVWxGQCXcrmgj Brought to you by Uncommon Teams Speaker Bios Michael Hunter Michael Hunter is the host of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast and the founder of Uncommon Teams. He works with leaders to align personal fulfillment with business success, building authentic, resilient teams that thrive amid complexity. Through conversations that explore vulnerability, adaptability, and human-centered leadership, Michael helps professionals move beyond surviving challenges to truly flourishing. Connect with Michael Hunter: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/humbugreality/Read more about his work: https://uncommonteams.com/The Resilient Tech Leader: https://uncommonteams.com/resilient-leader-workbook/Work with Michael Hunter: https://uncommonteams.com/work-with-me/ Oksana Kovalchuk Oksana Kovalchuk, Founder & CEO of ANODA (Top UX Design Agency by Clutch 2025), brings 18+ years of software development and UI/UX leadership. Oksana specializes in elevating startups — helping them focus on strategy while building remarkable digital products and high-performing teams through measured, human-centered design. Connect with Oksana Kovalchuk: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oksanakovalchuk/Read more about his work: https://www.anoda.mobi/Work with Oksana Kovalchuk: https://cal.com/anoda/anoda-linkedin-meeting [ Oksana Kovalchuk is generously offering the Uncommon Leadership community 10% off her services for first-time clients. Use the code UNCOMMON2025 to start your journey with Anoda today!]
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    59 mins
  • How Do You Lead When AI Is Changing Everything? ft. Gila Lee Adato

    How Do You Lead When AI Is Changing Everything? ft. Gila Lee Adato
    Mar 18 2026
    In a world where the old playbooks no longer apply — where artificial intelligence is reshaping how we think, work, and lead — what is the real competitive advantage for a tech organization? It's not more data. It's not a better tech stack. It's emotional clarity. Because in a world where no one has the full answers, certainty is an illusion. And the leaders who thrive aren't the ones with all the answers — they're the ones who can discern. In this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast, I sit down with Gila Lee Adato — attorney, AI leadership advisor, and founder of Glowbal AI — to explore what it means to lead from inner authority in an era of exponential disruption. Episode Breakdown: Why the loudest voice in your head is often not your wisest oneThe difference between external advice and inner authorityHow does quietly compartmentalizing yourself at work drain energyWhy fear is often biology — not real dangerThe hidden cost of outsourcing your decisionsWhat decision sovereignty actually looks like in leadershipHow to partner with AI without losing your identityWhy clarity, not certainty, is the modern-day leadership advantage If you're a founder, executive, or high-performing professional navigating uncertainty, identity shifts, or the rise of AI, this conversation will challenge how you think about leadership itself. Because maybe the real work isn't adapting to change. It's learning how to choose — consciously. And maybe even have some fun along the way. Tune in now! Was this conversation worth your time? If yes, please give us a thumbs up and subscribe to the Uncommon Leadership Podcast Series. Get notified on YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp9vaDKz5TI7gaWKLc801Dw Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple- https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/uncommon-leadership/id1654637165 Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/2BkXGceaZgVWxGQCXcrmgj Presented By: UncommonChange Meet the Speakers Gila Lee Adato Gila Lee Adato is the Founder of Glowbal AI and a mentor to visionary leaders navigating the intersection of artificial intelligence, identity, and human potential. An attorney with a deep corporate and regulatory background, Gila has spent over a decade operating at executive levels — including serving as General Counsel, COO, and CCO — advising organizations through complexity, compliance, and large-scale transformation. Today, she works with founders, high-performing professionals, and forward-thinking leaders who know AI isn't just another productivity tool — but a force for clarity, creativity, and enduring legacy. She is also the creator of the AI for Leaders Summit Series and host of a weekly radio show exploring the future of AI, leadership, and human expansion. Connect with Gila Lee Adato: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gilaleeadato/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gilaleeadato/?hl=en Website: https://glowbalai.com/ Michael Hunter Michael Hunter is the founder of Uncommon Teams, where he partners with technology leaders and founding teams to build organizations that achieve meaningful results with clarity, confidence, and resilience. With more than three decades in technology and leadership, Michael's work sits at the intersection of human potential, organizational effectiveness, and sustainable performance. Through coaching, facilitation, and advisory work, he helps leaders create uncommon teams — environments where authenticity, trust, and adaptability enable both business success and personal fulfillment. Michael is also the host of the Uncommon Leadership podcast and author of The Resilient Tech Leader, where he explores how leaders can move beyond survival and cultivate cultures that thrive amid constant change. Connect with Michael Hunter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/humbugreality/ Website: https://uncommonteams.com/ Book: https://uncommonteams.com/the-resilient-tech-leader/ [ Self-Trust, Identity Integration, and Leading Consciously in the Age of AI, Tech vs. Touch, Decision Sovereignty, Fear vs biology, Inner knowing vs External noise, Uncommon Leadership Podcasts, Michael Hunter, Resilient Tech Leader, Gila Lee Adato, Glowbal AI, Leaders Summit Series]
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    42 mins
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