What happens when you achieve everything you thought you wanted in your career, only to realize it was never really what you wanted?My guest today, Adrianne Largo, had what many would consider a highly successful corporate career. Great success at Kraft Foods, Recipe Foods including a VP title and several other impressive corporate roles.She was checking all the boxes, achieving success, and meeting the expectations of those around her. But deep down, something was missing. She realized she had spent much of her career fulfilling other people's expectations rather than following what truly lit her up.So, she made a courageous decision to change direction.Today, Adrianne is an accredited coach who has found tremendous purpose and fulfillment in helping others grow, learn, and unlock their potential. She's gone all in, leaving her corporate career behind to focus 100% on building Largo Coaching.In our conversation, we explore what it takes to redefine success on your own terms, find the courage to make a major career change, and discover the work that truly energizes you.We also dive into the fascinating art of coaching. Adrianne shares how asking great questions, listening deeply, and even noticing subtle shifts in body language, like a client's shoulders tensing, can lead to powerful breakthroughs.Adrianne's story is a wonderful reminder that success isn't just about climbing the ladder. It's about making sure the ladder is leaning against the right wall.If you've ever wondered whether you're living your own version of success or someone else's, this episode is for you.https://www.largocoaching.com/

What if I told you that one of the most important skills for success in your career and life is also one of the things holding so many of us back?

I'm talking about communication.

Growing up, I was incredibly shy. If you had told my younger self that one day I'd be speaking on stages around the world, I would have thought you were crazy!

That's why I was so excited to speak with today's guest, Molly Tschang.

Molly's story is remarkable. Born to immigrant parents, she was painfully shy growing up and didn't speak English until she was five. Yet she went on to build an impressive corporate career before discovering her passion for helping people find their voice.

Today, she's a globally recognized communication expert, TEDx speaker, and founder of Say It Skillfully.

And get this! She's co-authored a book with Marshall Goldsmith, one of the world's most legendary executive coaches, featuring a foreword by Ken Blanchard and an epilogue by Alan Mulally, the former CEO of Ford.

Think about that! From a painfully shy little girl who struggled to find her voice to writing a book alongside one of the world's most respected executive coaches.

Three lessons from her book really resonated with me:

1. Your voice matters. Use it! How often do we have something valuable to contribute but hold back? Molly reminds us that communication is a skill we can learn and develop. Confidence doesn't always come before action. Sometimes it comes because we take action!

2. Think Me, You, We. I love this simple framework. ME: How am I showing up? YOU: Am I considering the other person's perspective? WE: How can we achieve a better outcome together? Three simple questions that can transform how we approach important conversations.

3. It's not about winning the argument. It's about winning together. Great communication isn't about proving you're right. It's about listening, being curious, building trust, and finding a way forward together.

In today's conversation, we'll explore Molly's incredible journey and how we can all become more confident communicators, navigate difficult conversations, and build stronger relationships.

Because here's what I believe: Finding your voice can change your career, your relationships, and ultimately, how you feel about Mondays.

Molly, welcome to the Love Mondays Podcast!

💬 Talk to strangers! What?????

We've been told not to for most of our lives but that is exactly what Pete Bombaci is telling us to do. In a world where we are so digitally connected, many of us are lonely and need social connection.

Check out my conversation with Pete: The Love Mondays Podcast - Pete Bombaci - Project GenWell

💡 Pete shared a story from 2003 where a massive power outage led to a street party. It was a huge insight for him. The neighbours did not know each other until they were forced to go outside because there was no power or internet. What about a world like today where many of us are on our phones all the time! Even walking across the street!

I love the work Pete is doing to help build social connections in our world. On campuses, in offices and in our communities.

He founded Project GenWell and is helping us address the loneliness epidemic. https://genwell.ca/

What can we do about it? Talk to people - initiate the conversation! Say hi, ask them what they are most excited about……connect.

Is it easy? No. It is much easier to stay on our phones and keep our airpods on but that doesn’t help us build our connections.

😀 So, today, smile at the person you are walking by, say hello to the neighbour, talk to the person in the seat beside you.

A couple of weeks ago I tried this at the U of T and I asked 1500 students to introduce themselves to their neighbour. The energy was electric!

Thanks to Joe Oswald for the re-introduction to Pete. I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation!

🙏Continue doing great work Pete!

& to you my friend…..please talk to a stranger (not any stranger but those who you think can benefit from a connection). It takes all of us to initiate and build a more connected world.

🎙️ Welcome to the Love Mondays Podcast!

I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with legendary Canadian journalist Diana Swain.

Diana spent 33 years at CBC News, won Best News Anchor three times, covered three Olympic Games, served as Executive Producer of The Fifth Estate and ultimately became Managing Editor overseeing CBC’s investigative programs. She has also received an honorary doctorate from BCIT. Quite the career! 👏

But here’s what really struck me...

Even Diana Swain experienced the “Sunday Scaries.”

📱 Two cell phones.

📅 Working seven days a week.

⚡ The pressure to always be “on.”

Today, Diana is in a very different chapter of her life. Through her work as an executive coach, she has built a life where she loves Mondays AND the other six days of the week.

We talked about the importance of making time for the people and things that matter most, while intentionally prioritizing recreation, recovery and recharge time.

We also dug into some of the incredible skills Diana developed during her career as an investigative journalist, news anchor and senior leader, and how we can apply them in our own careers:

👀 How to read a room and disarm your audience

📖 The power of storytelling and always keeping your audience in mind

3️⃣ Why the Rule of 3 is such a powerful communication tool

💬 How to navigate challenging conversations effectively

🎯 How to communicate with poise, presence and credibility

I have always been struck by Diana’s ability to communicate with such calmness and credibility. What I appreciated even more after our conversation was how kind, humble and engaging she is.

This was an enlightening conversation with one of Canada’s most respected journalists, and there are so many lessons here for anyone who wants to become a stronger communicator and leader.

Grab a coffee ☕ and enjoy the conversation!

And as always... here’s to Loving Mondays! ❤️

This week, I’m excited to feature AI on the Love Mondays Podcast.

A few years ago, my partner Paul told me about ChatGPT and LLMs (large language models). I had no idea what train was pulling out of the station. 🚂

Fast-forward a few years, and that train has definitely left the station. I’m glad I jumped onboard — and I continue to be amazed by the potential of AI.

I was fortunate to meet Hina and Sana Mian — the “AI Twins.” They are two amazing professionals and human beings who have gone deep into AI and are passionate about helping individuals and teams use it to multiply their potential.

In this episode, we talk about:

🤖 AI made simple — what it is and why it matters

✖️ The multiplication effect — how AI can amplify what we already do well

⏰ Winning back our time — using AI to spend less time on low-value work and more time on what matters

🚀 Getting started — how all of us can become more confident experimenting with AI

And perhaps my favourite part: Hina and Sana are so much fun.

Their energy, curiosity and excitement about what’s possible are contagious.

If you’re excited about AI, nervous about AI, or still wondering what all the fuss is about, I think you’ll enjoy this conversation.

Welcome aboard. 🚂

What if your team could become dramatically better with just four minutes after every important meeting?In this episode of the Love Mondays Podcast, I sit down with Robert "Cujo" Teschner—former F-22 fighter pilot, author of Debrief to Win, keynote speaker, and leadership expert.I first met Cujo while speaking at Kent State University, where I had the chance to watch his opening keynote. His story, his humility, and his approach to leadership immediately stood out.After an extraordinary military career and a courageous battle with colorectal cancer, Cujo has dedicated his second career to helping organizations build high-performing teams through one simple but powerful practice: the debrief.In this conversation we discuss:✈️ Lessons from flying the F-22📘 The story behind Debrief to Win🎯 Why elite teams improve faster than everyone else💬 How to create honest conversations without blame🤝 Why high-performing teams spend time together🚀 Leadership lessons that apply in every boardroom⭐ Top Gun vs. Star Wars (we had to ask!)One of my favourite moments is Cujo's story about a near-fatal flying mission where his team spent just four minutes debriefing after landing. No blame. No defensiveness. Just a commitment to learning before the next mission.Imagine bringing that mindset into your next leadership meeting.If you enjoyed this conversation, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who wants to build stronger teams and better leaders.Thank you, Cujo, for your remarkable service and for continuing to inspire leaders around the world.

What does it take to build a workplace where people genuinely love Mondays?

In this episode of the Love Mondays Podcast, Ron Monteiro sits down with Vanessa Judelman—leadership expert, executive coach, author of Mastering Leadership, and founder of Mosaic People Development—to discuss leadership, communication, accountability, and creating high-performing teams.

Vanessa shares why she truly loves Mondays and explains why we are all the CEO of our own careers. Rather than waiting for the perfect job, she encourages us to be intentional about creating meaningful and fulfilling work.

In this conversation you'll learn:

Why taking ownership of your career changes everything

Vanessa's 4C Leadership Framework:

Culture

Clarity

Coaching

Communication

How leaders can create cultures where people thrive

The importance of thoughtful recognition

Practical tips for navigating challenging conversations

Why sales is really about adding value to others

Leadership one-liners you'll never forget—including "No agenda, no attenda."

Whether you're a leader, aspiring leader, or simply looking to make your Mondays—and every other day—more meaningful, this episode is filled with practical insights you can put into action immediately.

About Vanessa Judelman

Vanessa is the Founder of Mosaic People Development, where she helps leaders and organizations strengthen communication, develop high-performing teams, and build exceptional workplace cultures through coaching, training, and keynote speaking.