Personal relationships rarely make it onto a leadership development programme. And yet, as Maya sees regularly in her coaching work, what's happening at home has a profound impact on what's happening at work.In this episode - the first of two conversations - Maya is joined by executive relationship strategist Katarina Polonska to explore the relationships outside work that shape so much of how leaders show up.What you'll learn:Why high achievers can be particularly vulnerable to relationship breakdownThe deeper emotional drivers behind ambitionWhat to do when couples counselling doesn’t workYou can connect with Katarina Polonska at www.katarinapolonska.com and on the Successfully in Love podcast.As usual, connect with Maya at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/And subscribe to her YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1For all other info, visit the website www.mayagudka.com 

As we reach the midpoint of the year, Maya shares her end-of-June review - a series of personal reflection questions designed to help you recalibrate before the second half of the year begins.Maya works through the questions throughout the episode, reflecting on what's gone well, what she worried about that turned out not to matter, and what she wants the rest of the year to look like.You’ll find out Maya’s personal reflections, her thoughts on the next phase of her life, and learn the key questions you can use for your own mid-year review. Don’t forget to subscribe to the YouTube Channel for all the video episodes and short clips https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1As usual, connect with Maya at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/For all other info, visit the website www.mayagudka.com 

You might already be pretty good when it comes to your food habits. But do you know what's actually working - and what could give them a refresh without a huge amount of extra effort?In part two of this conversation with Adam Kingl, co-author of Executive Eats: The Cookbook for a Better Working Life, Maya and Adam get into the practicalities. Whether you're in the office, working from home or travelling, they look at what sustained energy actually requires - and the specific foods and habits that support focus, concentration and performance throughout a long working day.What you'll learn:The foods that got written off - and what the science actually saysThe specific foods that improve focus, mood and decision-making during the work dayExecutive Eats: The Cookbook for a Better Working Life is out on 16th June 2026 and is available now to pre-order from all major online book retailers.You can catch up on part one of the conversation https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/K7t1uue1X3b: Adam Kingl is an author, educator, keynote speaker and consultant affiliated with a number of leading business schools including London Business School, Imperial College and UCL School of Management. Executive Eats is his third book, following Next Generation Leadership and Sparking Success. You can connect with Adam at https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-kingl/. Find out more at https://adamkingl.com/ As usual, connect with Maya at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/And subscribe to her YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1For all other info, visit the website www.mayagudka.com 

What if food could do more than just fuel you - what if it could change how effective your leadership is?Adam Kingl joins Maya to talk about his new book, Executive Eats: The Cookbook for a Better Working Life - a first in the cookbook world. It speaks to something both Maya and Adam encounter regularly in their work with leaders: not enough energy, focus that isn't where it needs to be, and the ever-present threat of burnout.In this conversation, Adam talks about how food can support sustained energy, focus, concentration, emotional regulation and even creativity - and the practical side of making that work in real life. They cover flavor profiles, batching, building block recipes, and how to use cooking to reduce stress rather than create more of it.What you'll learn:The ten performance states a leader wants to be in at work - and how to use them as a starting point for changing how you eatHow one simple building block recipe can become dozens without significantly more effort or skillExecutive Eats: The Cookbook for a Better Working Life is out on 16th June 2026 and is available now to pre-order from all major online book retailers.Adam Kingl is an author, educator, keynote speaker and consultant affiliated with a number of leading business schools including London Business School, Imperial College and UCL School of Management. Executive Eats is his third book, following Next Generation Leadership and Sparking Success. As usual, connect with Maya at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/And subscribe to her YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1For all other info, visit the website www.mayagudka.com 

Organisations all over the world are having the same conversation right now - ‘how do we use AI fast enough to stay competitive without creating complete chaos?’ In this second conversation with AI governance and cybersecurity expert Dr Adeel Shaikh Muhammad, Maya explores the risks that leaders and teams are underestimating and discusses whether we should be wary or optimistic about the future of AI in organisations.What you'll learn:The key risks in using AI leaders need to be aware of and the minimum protections you should have in placeThe various ways AI expert Dr Adeel Shaikh Muhammad personally uses over 20 AI toolsHow to bring your team on board with AI - including those who are resistant or feel it isn't for themDr Adeel Shaikh Muhammad is a cybersecurity strategist, AI governance expert and global speaker with over 16 years of experience in information security. He is the author of two books bridging AI innovation and ethical leadership - "AI-Driven Transformation of Security Operations Center (SOC)" and "AI and Us: The Ethical Choices" - and is currently completing his doctorate in the same space.You can connect with Dr Adeel Shaikh Muhammad at https://www.linkedin.com/in/shadeel/As usual, connect with Maya at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/And subscribe to her YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1For all other info, visit the website www.mayagudka.com 

AI is provoking all sorts of reactions right now - fear, excitement, overwhelm, scepticism. But Maya argues we're asking the wrong questions. Instead of debating whether AI is good or bad, what if we asked what excellent actually looks like?In this episode - the first of two conversations - Maya is joined by AI governance and cybersecurity expert Dr Adeel Shaikh Muhammad. Together they explore what separates high-quality AI leadership from noise and hype, why a lot of organisations are approaching AI backwards, and what the best teams are doing differently.What you'll learn:The 6 AI tools leaders should be using todayWhat genuinely AI-embedded teams are doing differentlyDr Adeel Shaikh Muhammad is a cybersecurity strategist, AI governance expert and global speaker with over 16 years of experience in information security. He is the author of two books bridging AI innovation and ethical leadership - "AI-Driven Transformation of Security Operations Center (SOC)" and "AI and Us: The Ethical Choices" - and is currently completing his doctorate in the same space.You can connect with Dr Adeel Shaikh Muhammad at https://www.linkedin.com/in/shadeel/As usual, connect with Maya at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/And subscribe to her YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1For all other info, visit the website www.mayagudka.com 

What do you do when you’re putting effort into a meaningful goal, but there’s no visible sign that anything is happening?If you’re in the ‘messy middle’ phase of a career change, business journey, fitness goal, or personal transformation, this episode from Maya Gudka will help you to stay committed to your goals when progress feels invisible and motivation dips. You’ll discover / learn:Why SMART goals can kill your progressThe subtle mindset shift to make your goal attainment inevitableThe fun secret to making goal progress sustainable long termAs usual, connect with Maya at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/And subscribe to her YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1For all other info, visit the website www.mayagudka.com 

We've all experienced the never-ending to-do list that keeps you busy - too busy to dedicate time to the needle-moving, strategic work. In this episode, Maya shares four practical ways to declutter your work to-do list, drawing on what has actually worked for her clients inside organisations. If you’re a reliable high achiever who consistently delivers on everything asked of you - this episode is a must watch. What you'll learn:A foolproof way of deciding what actually belongs on your to-do listThe conversations you need to have that help you take back control of your timeAs usual, connect with Maya at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/And subscribe to her YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1For all other info, visit the website www.mayagudka.com 

We've all been in that meeting where one person dominates the conversation and you can feel the rest of the group disengaging - but nobody quite knows how to interrupt. A listener wrote in asking exactly how to handle this, particularly when hierarchy is involved.In this episode, Maya walks through a set of practical tools, from setting things up before the meeting begins, to what to actually say in the moment when you need to step in.You’ll also learnThe technique Maya uses at the start of every meeting that makes interrupting (when necessary) frictionlessSimple tricks to set up a meeting in a way that won’t get derailed A word-for word example of what to say when you interruptAs usual, connect with Maya at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/And subscribe to her YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1For all other info, visit the website www.mayagudka.com 

We know that goals can create focus, momentum and progress. But what happens when that same focus starts to narrow your thinking or drain your energy?Rather than pushing harder or resetting everything, Maya explores a different approach - stepping back just enough to reconnect with your goals in a way that refreshes you.Ambition isn’t abandoned - instead you’ll hear when to ease off, when to rely on your systems, and when doing less might create more progress.What You’ll Learn:Three ways to address periods of low motivationHow Maya has tweaked her morning routine to carry her forward with minimal effortYou can listen to the episodes on Goal-Free Living with Stephen Shapiro here. Part One, Part Two. As usual, connect with Maya at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayagudka/And subscribe to her YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MayaGudka?sub_confirmation=1For all other info, visit the website www.mayagudka.com