🎙️ In the season finale of Bad Meetings, host Erika McKellar sits down with Dr. James Chitwood, leadership expert and author of Leadership is Not Enough, for a masterclass on transforming bad meetings into powerful opportunities for engagement and connection. Together, they explore the 50-50 meeting structure, how communication shapes organizational culture, and practical ways to create psychological safety in teams. Dr. Chitwood shares candid stories of meeting failures, lessons learned, and actionable strategies to elevate leadership and team dynamics. If you're ready to lead better, communicate effectively, and build a culture of trust, this is the episode you can't miss.

In this episode of the Bad Meetings podcast, host Erika McKellar welcomes Safwan Al Turk, a seasoned business leader who blends business strategy with healthy living. Safwan shares his experience working with global giants like Procter & Gamble, Samsung, and Nestle, and dives deep into one of his most memorable bad meeting moments. He reflects on cultural missteps in high-level corporate meetings and offers valuable insights on avoiding similar mistakes in your professional life. Safwan also talks about how mental fitness, self-awareness, and personal challenges such as mountaineering and silent retreats have shaped his leadership style.

In this episode of the Bad Meetings podcast, host Erika McKellar is joined by Johan Grönstedt, VP of Howwe Technologies and author of The Execution Revolution. Johan shares his extensive experience in strategy execution and common pitfalls in meetings, offering insights from his 15 years of consulting. They dive deep into the problems that arise when leadership teams have too many priorities and how data-driven insights can solve this. Johan also touches on how bad meetings can derail execution efforts, offering solutions to streamline goals and focus on behavior-based results. Whether you're a leader struggling with executing strategies or just looking to fix your meeting culture, this episode is packed with actionable tips to drive meaningful change.

In this episode of the Bad Meetings podcast, host Erika McKellar welcomes Amanda Reill, an ICF-certified coach and executive ghostwriter. They dive into Amanda's personal story of navigating toxic leadership and the challenges of working under a narcissistic boss. The conversation covers the emotional and mental toll of such leadership, practical steps to recognize narcissistic traits, and the importance of setting boundaries. Amanda also shares how she rebuilt her career in writing and coaching, while offering actionable tips on how to protect yourself and recover from toxic environments.

In this episode of the Bad Meetings Podcast, host Erika McKellar welcomes leadership coach and speaker Malcolm Larri. With over 25 years of experience, Malcolm shares his insights into leadership, managing change, and building high-functioning teams. Malcolm emphasizes the importance of managing both control and influence in leadership, alongside tools like neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) to enhance communication. The conversation explores how even awkward or difficult meetings can provide valuable lessons for personal and professional growth.

In this episode of the Bad Meetings Podcast, host Erika McKellar sits down with Genna Kane-Gryziec, a seasoned professional in talent acquisition and executive coaching, to discuss the impact of bad meetings on workplace dynamics and personal well-being. Genna shares a deeply personal experience where a poorly managed meeting left her blindsided, questioning her professional reputation and ultimately leading to her departure from the company. The discussion highlights the importance of empathy, thoughtful communication, and effective feedback in leadership. Erika and Genna offer actionable insights on how to handle difficult conversations, the role of vulnerability in professional growth, and the critical need for proper management training to prevent toxic work environments.

In this episode of the Bad Meetings podcast, host Erika McKellar interviews Jason Loomis, the Chief Information Security Officer at Freshworks, about his experiences with improving meeting productivity. They discuss common pitfalls in meetings, such as unproductive discussions and the challenge of prioritizing risks in cybersecurity. Jason shares strategies like enforced time boxing and ensuring active participation from remote attendees to make meetings more efficient and engaging.

Erika McKellar chats with Dr. Elena Emma, a crisis coach, entrepreneur, and educator with a passion for humanizing organizations. They discuss Elena's journey from financial controlling to coaching, her innovative diagnostic tools for organizations, and the challenges of entrepreneurship.

In our first episode of the Bad Meetings podcast, host Erika McKellar invites executive advisor Satu Ahlman to share insights on transforming unproductive executive meetings into opportunities for greatness. They discuss common pitfalls in executive meetings and explore actionable strategies to improve communication, team performance, and leadership skills.