In this episode of the Leaderful Podcast, Pablo is joined by leadership coach and fractional COO Tina Mathas. Together, they unpack the deeply human side of startup scaling—from control and ego to purpose, burnout, and how hard it is to let go of your “business baby.”

Drawing on decades of combined experience, Tina and Pablo explore what keeps founders from scaling effectively, and why bringing in a fractional COO can be a game-changer. You'll hear real stories of founders hitting their limits, the importance of reconnecting to values, and why “being nice” can sometimes be a leadership liability.

They also share how fractional roles—when done right—can bring clarity, structure, and renewed focus to growing teams, and how trusted advisors can serve as the mirror founders often need to move forward.

🔍 Also covered in this episode:

• What ego and fear have to do with founder burnout
• The value of trusted advisors vs. tactical consultants
• How misaligned values create friction—and how to fix it
• What it really means to “fall back in love” with your business
• The difference between people-pleasing and service-oriented leadership
• Signs it might be time to bring in a fractional COO

Whether you’re running a fast-growing startup or supporting one from the inside, this episode is filled with hard truths and compassionate strategies to help you grow—without losing yourself along the way.

In this episode of the Leaderful Podcast, Jeff and trusted advisor Denyelle Fraser sit down with Dr. Christen Behzadi—anesthesiologist turned DEI strategist and founder of IIC Firm—for a rich, honest conversation on what it really takes to create inclusive, high-functioning teams in today’s complex organizational climate.

Dr. Behzadi shares how her intercultural experience and early advocacy shaped her transition into equity work, and why she believes true DEI success starts with organizational maturity—not media trends or token efforts. Together, they unpack what readiness really looks like, why passive leadership is so harmful, and how methodical, diagnostic approaches can create lasting change.

You’ll hear how Dr. Behzadi strategically assesses organizations before engaging, why she avoids “identity deep dives” until the groundwork is laid, and how equity work done wrong can cause more harm than good.

🔍 Also covered in this episode:

• The backlash against DEI—and what’s fueling it

• How to assess if your organization is actually ready for equity work

• The link between team connection and sustainable DEI outcomes

• Why power, not identity, should be the starting point for equity training

• How leaders can reduce harm by understanding their role power

• The importance of maturity, not urgency, in long-term DEI success

Whether you're a DEI consultant, a team leader, or an executive navigating the future of inclusive leadership, this episode offers sharp insights and grounded strategies to help you do this work well—and do it right.

In this episode of the Leaderful Podcast, Jeff is joined by Nogol Madani—engineer turned workplace culture strategist and founder of Glee Factor—for a deep dive into psychological safety and why it matters more than ever.

Nogol shares her journey from engineering to exploring what makes teams thrive, and how a pivotal moment sparked her obsession with inclusion, team dynamics, and performance. Together, she and Jeff explore what psychological safety really is (and what it’s not), how it impacts learning and innovation, and how leaders can create conditions for candor, trust, and contribution.

You’ll hear practical tips for fostering psychological safety in meetings, rituals to open space for team voices, and the subtle habits that either build or erode trust on teams. Plus, Nogol shares why human skills are more important than ever in the age of AI—and how leaders can embrace intentional, human-centred transformation.

🔍 Also covered in this episode:

• Common myths about psychological safety

• What to look for in teams with low safety

• Simple meeting rituals that boost trust

• The connection between inclusion and innovation

• Why culture work is all about daily behaviors, not big pronouncements

Whether you're a CEO, a people manager, or just curious about creating better team environments, this episode offers real-world strategies to bring psychological safety from theory to practice.