What if failure isn’t the end, but the gateway to your true identity?

Entrepreneur and storyteller Hussein Hallak shares how rejection, imposter syndrome, and honest feedback shaped the leader and creator he is today. From being overlooked for a creative director role in Dubai to rebuilding his life in Canada, Hussein’s story is one of radical ownership and reinvention.

In this episode, Hussein and Jenny explore:

🎨 How rejection and imposter syndrome became catalysts for reinvention
🧠 The power of storytelling as proof of value — and why Hussein started his LinkedIn newsletter during a career transition
📰 How that same instinct inspired Jenny’s CEO Corner newsletter, using storytelling to make complex, human work visible
💬 The leadership feedback that changed everything — when serial entrepreneur Rob Craig helped Hussein see the gap between good intentions and real impact
🌍 Why authenticity and connection matter more than titles or credentials
❤️ The lesson that not everyone will like you — and why that’s a sign you’re showing up as your true self

Whether you’re navigating change, redefining success, or learning to own your story — this episode is a masterclass in growth, humility, and the art of becoming who you already are.

🎧 Listen, reflect, and share.

Learn more about Hussein’s work at https://www.husseinhallak.com/

✨ Courage isn’t always loud — it’s the whisper that sparks change. ✨

In this week’s Tune Up Your Warrior episode, I sat down with Lindiwe Davis — Global Organizational Effectiveness and People Engagement Leader at Google, founder of FutureState Collective, and an award-winning culture shifter whose work continues to redefine what leadership looks like when it’s grounded in humanity, courage, and truth.

From her storytelling projects like A Stranger Down the Hall to her upcoming podcast They Tried It, Lindiwe’s voice is powerful and unshakable — proof that courage can be both gentle and fierce at the same time.

What she said about not letting others paralyze you into a little box — into these stereotypes just to make them feel comfortable about you — hit me hard. Because I’ve been there. I’ve felt that pressure to make myself smaller so others could stay comfortable. But the truth is, real change doesn’t come from shrinking. It comes from standing fully in who you are, even when the world isn’t ready for it.

Like Lindiwe, I’ve learned that courage means putting yourself on the line — your comfort, your promotion, even your stability — when you see something that isn’t right. It’s not about being an ally who notices what’s wrong. It’s about being a warrior — someone who won’t stop until it’s made right.

💡 My Takeaways from this Episode:

✨ Leadership comes with a cost — but silence costs more.

✨ Representation creates ripples that redefine belonging.

✨ Culture work is human work — values have to live in action.

✨ Courage is contagious — one act can ignite many.

Because as Lindiwe says, “Our inner thug is stronger than you think.” And for those who treat others badly? Karma always finds its way back. 😉

And I couldn’t agree more.

Learn more about Lindiwe here: https://www.lindiwedavis.com/

#TuneUpYourWarrior #CourageWhisperer #LeadershipWithIntegrity #CourageInAction #WarriorMindset #SystemsChange #HumanLeadership #RepresentationMatters #FutureStateCollective

Season Three of Tune Up Your Warrior kicks off with a conversation that feels both timely and deeply personal.

My guest is Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, a lifelong Ottawan and the leader of Canada’s capital at a moment of real change and opportunity.

Before entering municipal politics, Mayor Sutcliffe spent more than three decades as an award-winning journalist, entrepreneur, mentor, and community builder. He covered public life, built and led businesses, advised leaders across sectors, and served on boards that shape Ottawa’s social, cultural, and economic fabric.

Today, he brings that experience to city leadership with a focus on collaboration, clarity, and long-term impact. From accelerating housing supply and advancing the goal of ending youth homelessness by 2030, to working across levels of government to reduce barriers and modernize how cities operate, his approach centers on moving from arbitrary “no” to thoughtful “how.”

In this episode, we talk about:
• Leading through complexity when change takes time
• Why cross-sector collaboration matters more than ever
• Building trust in moments of uncertainty
• What it means to plan for the next generation, not just the next headline

This is a conversation about leadership that makes things make sense. About collaboration over criticism. And about building a future-ready city that reflects the people shaping it.

Whether you care about housing, community, leadership, or the future of cities, this episode invites you to listen, reflect, and stay curious about what’s possible when progress is grounded in people.

You can learn more about all the great work Mayor Sutcliffe is doing here: https://marksutcliffe.ca/