Super Powered: Leadership, Strategy, Decision Making & Peak Performance - Stories & Strategies from World-Class Performers for Executive Success

Ever feel overwhelmed when everything seems to be changing at once?
Donna Dupont transforms that chaos into clarity using systems thinking. She spots patterns others miss and finds leverage points in complex situations that can transform how leaders make decisions under uncertainty.
With over 25 years helping organisations navigate complexity—from H1N1 and Ebola responses to NATO climate security projects—Donna brings battle-tested frameworks from the front lines of crisis management. She's won 7 government awards for excellence in policy and strategic planning, plus recognition for her award-winning research on "Anticipation in Emergency Management."
This isn't just theory though. Donna openly shares how she went from being naturally anxious to building comfort with uncertainty through deliberate practice. Her practical approach to breaking free from mental prisons will change how you see challenges and opportunities around you.
Key Talking Points:
The "boundary principle" that prevents teams getting lost in complex systems—and why one military syndicate succeeded whilst another struggled without it
How to take inventory of your discomfort zones and identify three key drivers of change that concern you most
The counter-intuitive reason to share extreme scenarios—not because you believe they'll happen, but to surface hidden assumptions about the future
Why anticipation in emergency management was just 24-48 hours, but extending time horizons could prevent repetitive crises
The mindset assessment that determines whether teams focus on threat mitigation or opportunity leverage

Links & Resources:
Donna's website: purplecompass.ca
LinkedIn: Donna Dupont
Book recommendation: "Thinking in Systems" by Donella Meadows

Today's Exercise: The Systems Pattern Scanner
This practice helps you identify hidden patterns and feedback loops in your personal or professional challenges. It builds awareness of what drives complexity whilst revealing potential intervention points.

Steps to Apply:
Choose one turbulent situation in your life (start small, not global challenges)
Ask: What's driving this pattern's growth or persistence?
Identify potential cascading consequences if it continues
Explore: Can you slow down what's driving it?
Consider: How might you mitigate the consequences to bring more balance?
Look for feedback loops—where effects become new causes
Practice this lens weekly until systems thinking becomes natural

Strategic Storyteller Newsletter:
This episode explores how mental models shape what we see as possible futures—and how challenging those assumptions opens new strategic options. For more insights on breaking limiting beliefs and reframing complex challenges, join my free 'Strategic Storyteller' newsletter at robdwillis.com/newsletter. Each week includes practical storytelling frameworks, personal insights, and curated resources from the podcast—all delivered in a 3-minute read.

Ever wondered how barbers get complete strangers to open up within minutes?
Tom Davies has mastered this art whilst cutting hair across continents. From serving in the military to building a loyal following as "Yorkshireman Abroad" on TikTok, he's learned to connect with everyone from closed-off Russians to addiction-struggling regulars.
Working at an upscale English-speaking barbershop in Berlin—one of Europe's most diverse cities—Tom spends 45 minutes with each client, transforming awkward silences into meaningful conversations. His counter-intuitive approach has helped him navigate cultural barriers, language differences, and deeply personal moments, all whilst holding sharp tools near people's heads.
This isn't just about haircuts—it's about the psychology of human connection and how the right question can unlock anyone.
Key Talking Points:
The game-changing question "What don't you like about your hair?" that gets clients talking faster than traditional approaches
Why reading the room matters more than being chatty—including when to offer complete silence
How to navigate difficult conversations, from addiction struggles to war trauma, without overstepping boundaries
The "work question" strategy that turns small talk into meaningful connections every time
Why being a barber in Berlin taught him that everyone needs someone to listen, especially men

Links & Resources:
Tom's TikTok: @YorkshiremanAbroad
• Instagram: @YorkshiremanAbroad
• St. Leonard's Barbershop (Berlin): @stleonardsbarbershop
• Book Recommendation: It Begins With You: The Nine Hard Truths About Love by Jillian Turecki

Today's Exercise: The Work Question Strategy
This simple conversation starter helps you connect with anyone by tapping into something they're genuinely expert in—their daily work experience. It works because people spend most of their waking hours at work, making them natural experts who can teach you something
Steps to Apply:
Ask "What do you do for work?" as your opening question
Listen for emotional cues—do they love it, hate it, or sound neutral?
If they love it: Ask what specifically they enjoy or what they're working on
If they hate it: Ask what they'd rather be doing or what hobbies they're passionate about
If neutral: Dig into the details—"What does that actually involve day-to-day?"
Look for connection points from your own experience, however small
Let their energy guide whether to go deeper or pivot to other topics

Strategic Storyteller Newsletter
Tom's approach to reading people and asking the right questions mirrors the psychology behind compelling storytelling—both require understanding what really matters to your audience. For more insights on connecting through conversation and crafting narratives that resonate, join my free 'Strategic Storyteller' newsletter at robdwillis.com/newsletter.
Each week includes practical storytelling frameworks, personal insights, and curated resources from the podcast—all delivered in a 3-minute read.

Ever wonder why some people can walk into any room and instantly connect with strangers?
Ian Rowland has spent 40 years mastering this exact skill. As a professional explainer who's worked with everyone from the FBI to Google to Coca-Cola, he's discovered that most of us squander 99% of the potential in our conversations.
From being a member of the Magic Circle to becoming a freelance writer with four decades of experience, Ian understands the power of attention and human connection. His new book "People Joy" reveals the difference between passive autopilot conversations and active, intentional ones that create genuine connections.
This isn't about manipulation or sales tricks—it's about authentic curiosity and generosity that transforms how people feel after meeting you. Ian shares practical frameworks that help you move from overlooked to memorable, whether you're networking, interviewing, or simply ordering coffee.
Key Talking Points:
The three foundations that transform conversations: how you feel about people, yourself, and conversations themselves
Why "reading the room" isn't mystical—it's 200,000 years of human evolution working for you
The "10-second smile challenge" that creates practice opportunities with service industry heroes daily
How genuine appreciation for others naturally leads to unexpected benefits and connections
The counter-intuitive approach of treating every interaction as a chance to make someone's day better

Links & Resources:

Ian's Website: ianrowland.com
Book: "People Joy"
LinkedIn: Ian Rowland

Today's Exercise: The 10-Second Smile Challenge
This simple practice builds your conversation skills while brightening others' days. It develops your ability to connect authentically and notice the impact of genuine attention.
Steps to Apply:
Set a mental challenge when meeting someone new or familiar
Aim to elicit a smile or laugh reflex within the first 10 seconds
Use genuine warmth, eye contact, and attentive energy
Keep score throughout your day—how many smiles did you create?
Start with a goal of three smiles per day
Practice with service industry workers, colleagues, and strangers
Focus on authentic appreciation rather than trying to get something

Strategic Storyteller Newsletter:
Ian's approach to genuine curiosity and attention mirrors the power of authentic storytelling in business. For more insights on connecting through stories that create real impact, join my free 'Strategic Storyteller' newsletter at robdwillis.com/newsletter. Each week includes practical storytelling frameworks, personal insights, and curated resources from the podcast—all delivered in a 3-minute read.

Ever wonder why some companies thrive with clear direction whilst others stumble despite having brilliant strategies?
Alex Brueckmann has cracked the code on turning organisational purpose into measurable strategic advantage through his Nine Elements of Organisational Identity framework.
As a Wall Street Journal bestselling author of "The Strategy Legacy" and strategy facilitator working with billion-dollar companies across continents, Alex helps C-suite executives move beyond generic mission statements to create authentic identity that drives every decision. His approach has guided organisations with thousands of employees through complete strategic transformations.
This isn't just theory from an ivory tower. Alex openly shares how leaders often get trapped in tactical thinking because it feels manageable, and reveals why even the most beautifully designed strategies fail when they hit the reality of company culture and leadership capability.
Key Talking Points:
Why starting with tactics instead of identity leads to strategy confusion and planning paralysis
The Nine Elements framework that every sustainably successful organisation needs in place
How a billion-dollar global company with thousands of employees struggled to implement their "perfect" strategy
Why resistance during strategy implementation often means people care deeply about something being threatened
The critical question every leader must ask: "Am I an accidental leader or do I actually want to lead?"

Links & Resources:
Alex's Website: brueckmann.ca
LinkedIn: Alex Brueckmann
Book: "The Strategy Legacy - How to Future Proof a Business and Leave your Mark"
Book Recommendation: "The Power of Regret" by Dan Pink
Recommended Reading: "Power and Prediction" on AI's impact on society

Today's Exercise: The Retirement Vision
This forward-looking exercise helps you make decisions today that align with your long-term purpose and desired life outcome. It transforms how you approach daily choices by connecting them to your ultimate vision.
Steps to Apply:
Transport yourself mentally to your retirement age
Visualise exactly where you want to be living physically
Picture how you want to spend your days in detail
Consider what kind of life would give you the most meaning
Work backwards to identify what decisions today support that vision
Begin making choices with that future life in mind
Notice how this clarity brings more purpose to current decisions

Strategic Storyteller Newsletter:
Alex's insights on connecting purpose to measurable impact perfectly illustrate how the best leaders turn abstract concepts into concrete business advantages. For more frameworks on translating vision into tangible results, join my free 'Strategic Storyteller' newsletter at robdwillis.com/newsletter. Each week includes practical storytelling frameworks, personal insights, and curated resources from the podcast—all delivered in a 3-minute read.

Ever felt stuck waiting for opportunities to find you?
Andy Storch transformed his approach by recognising that career success isn't about going it alone—it's about strategically building relationships that open doors. From his first job at 15 through to becoming an author, speaker, and founder of multiple successful ventures, every major opportunity came through his network.
Andy runs the Talent Development Think Tank community and hosts the Talent Development Hot Seat podcast with over 500 episodes and 500,000 downloads. He's moved from consulting at BTS to building his own speaking business whilst relocating from the US to Barcelona, proving you can design the career and life you want through intentional relationship building.
What makes Andy's approach refreshing is his honesty about the loneliness epidemic affecting modern professionals and why traditional networking feels so uncomfortable. He shares practical frameworks for building genuine relationships rather than just collecting business cards, plus the systems that help busy professionals maintain meaningful connections over time.
Key Talking Points:
Why humans are social creatures by evolution but modern life has created an "epidemic of loneliness" despite being more connected than ever
The counter-intuitive truth that "owning your career" doesn't mean doing everything on your own—every job Andy's had since age 15 came through connections
How to escape the business card-throwing networking trap by building one genuine relationship at a time, whether virtually or in person
The strategic approach to reconnecting with existing contacts and identifying new people to meet, including aspirational connections in your field
Why giving value first (even simple restaurant recommendations) matters more than formal systems, and how to avoid the "LinkedIn pitch trap"

Links & Resources:
Andy's Website: andystorch.com
Book: Own Your Career Own Your Life
Free Resources: andystorch.com/bonus
Podcast: Talent Development Hot Seat
LinkedIn: Andy Storch
Book Recommendation: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Community: Talent Development Think Tank

Today's Exercise: The Strategic Outreach Challenge
This two-part challenge helps you reconnect with existing contacts whilst building new strategic relationships. It removes the awkwardness by providing clear frameworks for both scenarios.
Steps to Apply:
Reconnect with 3 existing contacts: Scroll through your phone contacts, stop randomly, and pick someone you haven't spoken to in 6+ months
Send a simple message: "Hey [name], I was thinking about you and haven't talked in a while. Hope you're doing well!"
Connect with 3 new people on LinkedIn: Search for your job title or aspirational role (e.g., "Director of Finance")
Send personalised connection requests: "Hi [name], I see you work in [field]. I also work in [field] and I'm looking to connect with other professionals in our space to learn from them. Would you be interested in connecting and having a chat sometime?"
Follow up within a week: If they accept, suggest a brief virtual coffee to get to know each other

Strategic Storyteller Newsletter:
Andy's insights on building authentic professional...