Can having fun make you a stronger leader? Melissa sits down with longtime friend Tessa Bonhomme for a candid conversation about connection, team culture and finding joy in demanding environments. Drawing on Tessa’s experiences in team sports and Olympic training, they explore why humour and play matter, how shared challenges build trust and what it means to show up as someone’s best teammate.

In This Episode

• Why laughter and play can strengthen a team
• What competitive sport teaches us about trust and belonging
• Finding moments of connection during difficult work
• The difference between being a best friend and being a great teammate
• Leading through action, inclusion and everyday interactions

Connect with Our Guest

Tessa Bonhomme

Instagram and X: @Tessab25

Jocks and Jills Podcast: https://www.thepwhl.com/en/media/jocks-in-jills-podcast

Connect & Work with Melissa Cotesta

Melissa Cotesta is the host of The Unbuttoned Leader and founder of Authentic Exec. Explore her work on authentic, purpose driven leadership and how health, well being and human behaviour influence the way we lead.

Authentic Exec Website: www.authenticexec.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-cotesta

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissacotesta/

Online Menopause Clinic Website: https://www.virtualmenopauseclinic.com/

ATTEND THE WHOLE WOMAN SUMMIT | OCTOBER 24, 2026

Join Melissa Cotesta and women from across Northern Ontario in Sudbury for a day of practical conversations, expert led sessions and community connection focused on women’s health and well being. Topics include perimenopause, burnout, mental health, pelvic health, ADHD in women and healthy aging.

October 24, 2026 | 10:00 a.m., 4:00 p.m. | Natura Catering and Events, 1351D Kelly Lake Rd, Sudbury, Ontario.

Learn more and register: https://www.thewholewomanproject.com/

Note: This episode is for general education and does not replace individualized medical advice.

Subscribe to The Unbuttoned Leader and share this episode with someone who would benefit from the conversation.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hot flashes, changing cycles, disrupted sleep and a flood of conflicting advice: what do women actually need to know about menopause? Melissa speaks with Roberta Heale about the stages of the menopause transition, the wide range of experiences women report and the importance of informed, individualized care. They also discuss how menopause can affect daily life and work, and why practical support matters for both individuals and employers.

In This Episode

• Understanding premenopause, perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause
• Common symptoms and why experiences vary
• Questions to raise with a qualified healthcare professional
• How symptoms can influence sleep, work and well being
• Roberta’s virtual menopause care and workplace education offerings

Connect with Our Guest

• Roberta Heale | virtual menopause clinic and workplace programs - https://www.roberta-heale.com/
• Virtual Menopause Clinic: https://www.virtualmenopauseclinic.com/

Connect & Work with Melissa Cotesta

Melissa Cotesta is the host of The Unbuttoned Leader and founder of Authentic Exec. Explore her work on authentic, purpose driven leadership and how health, well being and human behaviour influence the way we lead.

Authentic Exec Website: www.authenticexec.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-cotesta

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissacotesta/

Online Menopause Clinic Website: https://www.virtualmenopauseclinic.com/

ATTEND THE WHOLE WOMAN SUMMIT | OCTOBER 24, 2026

Join Melissa Cotesta and women from across Northern Ontario in Sudbury for a day of practical conversations, expert led sessions and community connection focused on women’s health and well being. Topics include perimenopause, burnout, mental health, pelvic health, ADHD in women and healthy aging.

October 24, 2026 | 10:00 a.m., 4:00 p.m. | Natura Catering and Events, 1351D Kelly Lake Rd, Sudbury, Ontario.

Learn more and register: https://www.thewholewomanproject.com/

Note: This episode is for general education and does not replace individualized medical advice.

Subscribe to The Unbuttoned Leader and share this episode with someone who would benefit from the conversation.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when the life you've worked so hard to build no longer feels like your own? In this personal introduction, host Melissa Cotesta shares the experiences that shaped her approach to leadership, from her family's experience with childhood cancer and grief to a career studying health, people and organizations. She explains why she created Authentic Exec, wrote Lead the Shift and launched The Unbuttoned Leader: to explore the connection between physical well being, purpose, joy and the way we lead.

In This Episode

• The personal experiences behind Melissa’s leadership philosophy

• Why authenticity is more than saying what you think

• How grief, health and purpose can shape the way we show up

• Recognizing when achievement comes at the expense of connection and joy

• Questions to ask when your life and leadership feel out of alignment

Connect & Work with Melissa Cotesta

Melissa Cotesta is the host of The Unbuttoned Leader and founder of Authentic Exec. Explore her work on authentic, purpose driven leadership and how health, well being and human behaviour influence the way we lead.

Authentic Exec Website: www.authenticexec.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-cotesta

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissacotesta/

Online Menopause Clinic Website: https://www.virtualmenopauseclinic.com/

ATTEND THE WHOLE WOMAN SUMMIT | OCTOBER 24, 2026

Join Melissa Cotesta and women from across Northern Ontario in Sudbury for a day of practical conversations, expert led sessions and community connection focused on women’s health and well being. Topics include perimenopause, burnout, mental health, pelvic health, ADHD in women and healthy aging.

October 24, 2026 | 10:00 a.m., 4:00 p.m. | Natura Catering and Events, 1351D Kelly Lake Rd, Sudbury, Ontario.

Learn more and register: https://www.thewholewomanproject.com/

Note: This episode is for general education and does not replace individualized medical advice.

Subscribe to The Unbuttoned Leader and share this episode with someone who would benefit from the conversation.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.