The Few Leaders

How to Transform Trauma into Leadership Success in 90 Days with Brian Bogert

In this episode of The Few Leaders, I sit down with Brian Bogert, whose journey from a life-altering childhood accident to becoming a leadership coach reveals powerful insights about human potential and resilience. We explore his revolutionary "embrace pain to avoid suffering" philosophy, examining how our instinct to avoid discomfort might be the very thing holding us back from meaningful growth. Through straightforward discussion, we unpack how unresolved past experiences - what Brian calls "trash from your past" - silently shape our leadership style and impact our decision-making. Whether you're a seasoned executive feeling stuck in patterns of control or an emerging leader seeking authentic growth, this conversation offers insightful strategies for transforming past experiences into purposeful leadership and creating sustainable behavioural change that truly lasts.Actionable Takeaway: Address one difficult situation this week instead of avoiding it.Identify your emotional triggers in professional settings - are they present-based or past-based?Examine whether your business decisions stem from strategy or control patterns.Monitor your energy levels daily - drain and fatigue often signal deeper issues.Challenge one inherited "should" belief and assess its alignment with your values.Practice neutral responses to feedback by acknowledging emotions first.Document misalignments between actions and priorities without self-judgment.Connect with Brian Bogert:Learn more about Brian BogertBrian on LinkedInBrian on FacebookBrian on InstagramBrian's PodcastConnect with Christian "Boo" Boucousis:Learn more about Christian BoucousisBoo on LinkedInBoo on InstagramBoo on YouTube

Cracking the Leadership Code with Alain Hunkins

What if the biggest mistake leaders make is believing they have to do everything themselves?In this episode of The Few LeadersPodcast, Boo sits down with leadership expert and author Alain Hunkins to explore why the old model of leadership is breaking down and what needs to replace it.Alain has spent more than two decades working with organisations around the world, helping leaders rethink how they lead teams, run meetings, and build cultures where people actually thrive. In this conversation, he shares why leadership today is less about command and control, and more about creating the right environment for people to succeed.Together, Boo and Alain unpack the shift from the traditional “doing leader” to the facilitative leader, and why understanding people, attention, and behaviour is becoming one of the most important skills in modern leadership.Actionable Takeaway: Why great leadership is about enabling others rather than proving yourselfThe surprising difference between good intentions and intentional leadershipHow meetings, technology, and constant busyness are quietly draining teamsSimple ways to build trust, connection, and psychological safety with your teamWhy self-awareness is one of the fastest accelerators of leadership growthIf you are leading a team, building a culture, or simply trying to become a better leader, this conversation will challenge how you think about leadership and give you practical ideas you can apply straight away.Because in today’s world, leadership is not about having all the answers.It is about creating the conditions where people can do their best work.Connect with Alain Hunkins:Learn more about Alain HunkinsAlain Hunkins on LinkedInBook a callConnect with Christian "Boo" Boucousis:Learn more about Christian BoucousisBoo on LinkedInBoo on InstagramBoo on YouTube

The Leadership Skill Nobody Talks About: Presence with Mike Lee

What if the biggest thing holding leaders back isn’t strategy or skill, but their ability to be present?In this episode of The Few Leaders Podcast, Boo sits down with Mike Lee, leadership coach, speaker, and former basketball performance specialist, to explore why presence might be the most underrated leadership skill of our time.After years working with elite athletes and high performers, Mike began to notice a pattern. The moments when people perform at their best, connect deeply with others, and lead effectively all happen in the same place. The present moment. Drawing from his personal journey with anxiety and depression, as well as decades in the world of sport and leadership development, Mike shares how awareness and attention shape the way we lead, perform, and build trust with others.Together, Boo and Mike unpack why high performers often struggle when they move into leadership, how distraction is quietly eroding leadership effectiveness, and why the strongest leaders focus less on control and more on connection.Actionable Takeaway:Why the present moment is where leadership, performance, and culture actually happenThe hidden challenge high performers face when they become leadersA simple rule that turns complaints into solutions inside teamsHow understanding what motivates people can transform the way you leadWhy forgiveness and self-awareness are powerful tools for leaders under pressureThis is a thoughtful and practical conversation about leadership in a distracted world and what it really takes to show up fully for the people you lead.If you want to lead with greater clarity, connection, and purpose, this episode will give you plenty to reflect on.Connect with Mike Lee:Learn more about Mike LeeMike Lee on LinkedInMike Lee on Facebook Mike Lee on YouTubeMike Lee on XMike Lee on InstagramConnect with Christian "Boo" Boucousis:Learn more about Christian BoucousisBoo on LinkedInBoo on InstagramBoo on YouTube

The Leadership Power Trap: Authority, Influence and the Shadow Side with Zoe Routh

Power is not the problem. Our relationship with it is.In this episode, leadership expert and author Zoë Routh joins Boo to unpack one of the most misunderstood forces in business today. From authority and influence to status and courage, Zoë breaks down how power really works inside individuals, teams and whole organisations.They dig into the uncomfortable bits too. Why so many leaders have an allergy to power. How good leaders slowly drift into tyrant or manipulator territory without noticing. And what to do when you feel stuck in the middle, squeezed between senior strategy and a disengaged team.You will hear practical ways to build influence without a big title, set your team up properly so you are not constantly cracking the whip, and make courageous decisions without blowing everything up. Zoë also shares why transparency shuts down toxic power games, and why playing the game ethically might be the first step to changing it.If you want to lead with more awareness, more courage and a lot less ego, this conversation will challenge you in the best way.Actionable Takeaway: Stop avoiding power and start redefining it as your ability to get meaningful things done.If you want more influence, work on being genuinely useful and offering insight that helps others think better.Build your courage in small steps, because every brave action strengthens your belief that you can handle bigger ones.Before you make a bold move, map the consequences and decide if you are prepared to live with them.Play the game ethically so you can earn the authority to change the rules that are not working.Get clear on your team’s purpose, results and responsibilities so you do not have to rely on nagging or pressure.Watch for the moment when confidence turns into control, because that is when leaders drift into their shadow side.Ask for feedback more often than feels comfortable, and treat it as data to grow rather than a verdict on who you are.Connect with Zoe Routh:Learn more about Zoe RouthZoe Routh on LinkedInZoe Routh on Facebook Connect with Christian "Boo" Boucousis:Learn more about Christian BoucousisBoo on LinkedInBoo on InstagramBoo on YouTube

The World Isn’t Moving Faster. You’re Just Drowning in Noise with Nik Badminton

The future is not moving faster. It is getting noisier.In this episode, futurist and “hope engineer” Nik Badminton joins the podcast to challenge the way we think about disruption, AI and modern leadership. Having advised organisations from global brands to government bodies, Nik teaches leaders how to lift their heads from today’s firefighting and start shaping what comes next.This is a conversation about designing the future instead of reacting to it. Nik explains why most so-called black swan events are actually things we saw coming, why innovation often moves at a glacial pace, and why organisations that build a clear vision of the future are far more likely to thrive.Nik also shares a personal turning point that changed the trajectory of his life and work, offering a reminder that leadership growth often starts beneath the surface.If you are serious about leading in uncertainty, cutting through distraction and preparing your organisation for the next decade, this episode will challenge how you think and sharpen how you act.The future will be shaped by those who choose to look ahead. The question is, are you one of them?Actionable Takeaway: Stop chasing speed and start filtering noise.Shape the future, or react to someone else’s.Turn hope into clear goals and shared action.Don’t confuse AI hype with real advantage.Use tech to simplify decisions, not complicate them.Spend less time firefighting and more time scanning the horizon.AI is a mirror. Your edge is what it can’t see.If you’ve always done it this way, question it first.Connect with Nik Badminton:Learn more about Nik BadmintonNik Badminton on LinkedInNik Badminton on Facebook Nik Badminton on YouTube Nik Badminton on XConnect with Christian "Boo" Boucousis:Learn more about Christian BoucousisBoo on LinkedInBoo on InstagramBoo on YouTube