In this episode of The Leaderful Podcast, we sit down with Janet Livingstone, an Internal Family Systems-informed coach and facilitator with global experience helping leaders develop emotional intelligence, navigate complexity, and unlock deeper self-awareness. Drawing on her work across cultures and industries (from Central Europe to Asia), Janet shares a rich perspective on how leadership is shaped by context, identity, and the unseen inner dynamics we all carry.

This conversation moves beyond surface-level leadership advice and into the inner world of leaders: the parts of ourselves that drive behaviour, the emotions we avoid, and the patterns that quietly shape our teams.

Together, we explore how developing emotional intelligence isn’t a solo pursuit, but a collective, relational practice - and how leaders can create the conditions for more honest, human, and effective collaboration.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why emotional intelligence is a foundational (and learnable) leadership skill
• How Internal Family Systems (IFS) can help leaders understand their inner “parts” and patterns
• The impact of culture and history on leadership styles and assumptions
• Why self-awareness is a team sport, not an individual exercise
• How leaders can shift from “expert” to facilitator to unlock team intelligence
• Creative approaches to team development, including role play, somatic awareness, and even music

If you’re a leader navigating complexity, culture, or change - and are ready to look inward as a path to leading outward more effectively - this episode offers both practical insight and a powerful reframe of what leadership really requires.

Learn more about The Co. → a leadership development opportunity for impact-conscious and power-curious leaders.