"Michael Stausholm is the CEO and founder of Sprout World, the first plantable pencil. He started his career in shipping, spent over a decade working across Asia in the garment industry, and along the way developed a deep perspective on leadership, culture, and responsibility in business. Eventually, that journey led him to build Sprout World, a company built around a simple idea: what if the products we use every day didn’t become waste, but something new instead?

In our conversation, we talk about what he learned early in his career managing teams in very different cultural environments, how that shaped his approach to leadership, and why he believes in giving people freedom while still providing clear direction. We also get into the practical side of building a purpose-driven business, from making decisions about production to balancing commercial success with doing things the right way."

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites:

al4ep.com

sproutworld.com

Additional Guest Links:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michaelstausholm/

Corporate Links

Linktree: linktr.ee/sproutworld

TikTok: @sproutworldofficial

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/sprout-europe

Instagram: @sproutworldofficial

Facebook: facebook.com/sproutworldofficial

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

Today's guest is Carlo Giannone, a graduate student and teaching assistant at the Harvard Kennedy School, researcher in geopolitics and economics, and founder of the podcast Finanza, Pizza e Mandolino.

Carlo shares how growing up in Sicily shaped his early interest in economic inequality and public service, and how that led him to study economics at Bocconi, the London School of Economics, and Harvard. He reflects on the role of economics and policy in addressing structural challenges and creating opportunity.

The conversation explores Carlo’s leadership experiences across student organizations, alumni networks, and international initiatives. He discusses the importance of representing diverse perspectives, building trust in institutions, and ensuring that leadership remains grounded in the needs of the people it serves.

Dino and Carlo also examine practical aspects of leadership development, including balancing high standards with psychological safety, leading in voluntary environments, and maintaining authenticity while making decisions. Carlo shares lessons from his time in consulting and student leadership roles, highlighting listening, emotional intelligence, and creating environments where people can contribute at their best.

Finally, Carlo outlines his motivation to pursue a path that combines private sector experience with a long-term commitment to public service, with a focus on contributing to better policy and governance.

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites:

al4ep.com

Additional Guest Links:

Finanza Pizza e Mandolino Podcast

On Spotify

On Apple Podcasts

Instagram: @finanzapizzamandolino

Youtube: youtube.com/@FinanzaPizzaMandolino/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/carlogiannone

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

Celeste Warren spent 28 years at Merck, where she rose to become Vice President and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer. Since retiring from Merck, she founded Celeste Warren Consulting, where she continues to advise organizations on leadership, culture, and inclusion. Together with her two children, she also co-founded Destination STEM, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting students pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Celeste has been widely recognized for her work in diversity and inclusion, and she is the author of a new book titled The Truth About Equity: What It Really Is, What It Isn’t, and Why Everybody Wins When They Get It Right.

In our conversation, Celeste shares the personal story that first shaped her perspective on equity and leadership, growing up as the daughter of the first Black teacher, principal, and superintendent in his school district. We also explore her unexpected path into human resources, the lessons she learned about leadership early in her career, and why servant leadership and situational leadership are so critical for building successful teams.

Finally, we spend time breaking down what diversity, equity, and inclusion actually mean in practice, why the concepts are often misunderstood, and how leaders can approach them in a thoughtful and practical way inside their organizations.

Contact Dino at: dino@al4ep.com

Websites:

CRWDiversity.com

al4ep.com

Additional Guest Links:

Contact at:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/celestewarrenllc

Instagram: @crwdiversity

YouTube: youtube.com/@celestewarren-equity

Authentic Leadership For Everyday People / Dino Cattaneo

Truth About Equity Book on Amazon: mybook.to/TruthAboutEquity

Dino on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinocattaneo

Podcast Instagram – @al4edp

Podcast Twitter – @al4edp

Podcast Facebook: facebook.com/al4edp

Music

Susan Cattaneo: susancattaneo.bandcamp.com