What makes people trust a leader in today’s world?

In this episode of The Leadership Toolkit, Mike Phillips is joined by Jess Jensen, founder of Co-pilot Communications and former leader with experience at Microsoft, Qualcomm, and Adidas.

Jess shares how leaders can build a stronger personal brand, why executive presence matters more than ever, and why people trust people more than brands.

Mike and Jess discuss:

• How Jess helped create one of the first Adidas Facebook pages

• The leap from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship

• How to know if you have an entrepreneurial mindset

• Why authenticity matters more than perfection

• The role of AI in leadership communication

• How to build your personal brand before you need it

🧰 Tools of the Trade: Top Takeaways You Can Use

1️⃣ Build your personal brand before you need it. Do not wait until you launch a business, seek a promotion, or face a transition. Start building trust and visibility now.

2️⃣ People trust people more than brands. Leaders who share real stories, real experiences, and a clear point of view create stronger influence than polished corporate messaging.

3️⃣ Stop chasing perfection. Authenticity and consistency matter far more than trying to appear flawless. The leaders who win are the ones willing to show up and improve over time.

4️⃣ Use AI as a tool, not a substitute. Let it help you organize ideas, move faster, and sharpen your message, but make sure your content still sounds like you.

5️⃣ Think like a builder. Entrepreneurial leaders constantly ask, “How could this be better?” They look for gaps, create solutions, and take action instead of waiting for permission.

If you are a leader, entrepreneur, manager, or business owner who wants to communicate more effectively and build greater influence, this episode is packed with practical insights you can use right away.

Contact Information:

Jess Jensen

Links: CopilotCommunications.comLinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin.com/in/JessicaKJensen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Mike Phillips

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠mike@TheLeadshipToolkit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin.com/in/LeadTheTeam⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠@LeadershipTLT⁠

YouTube: ⁠YouTube.com/@MikePhillips

Credits:

Hosted by Mike Phillips

Produced by The Leadership Toolkit Team

Guest: Jess Jensen, your leadership copilot and branding magician

Watch more episodes of the Leadership Toolkit at https://spotify.TheLeadershipToolkit.com

If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a 5-star review!

Make sure you share this as a resource with friends and colleagues. Thank you for watching and listening!

* Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests on this show are solely those of the guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the host, producers, or any affiliated parties. The host and production team make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information discussed by guests on the show. Listener discretion is advised.

*** Affiliate Disclaimer: Some of the links listed go to my websites and some are affiliate links that may generate me a sales commission if you make a purchase.

What separates a good leader from one people never forget? In this episode of The Leadership Toolkit, Mike Phillips is joined by two great friends of the show—Mike Ashie (Leadership With Mike) and Jim Burgoon (Lead With Jim)—for a powerful, real-world conversation on transformative leadership.

This isn’t about titles, authority, or short-term results. It’s about becoming the kind of leader who changes people at the identity level—not just their performance.

Together, they break down:

• The difference between positional, transactional, and transformative leadership
• Why changing belief matters more than changing behavior
• How culture is created through experience—not just intention
• The importance of courageous conversations and honest feedback
• Why resilience in leadership sets the tone for your entire team

Plus, Mike introduces his 4 Pillars of Transformative Leadership:

✔ Identity Before Activity

✔ Culture Over Control

✔ Courageous Conversations

✔ Resilience in Action

🧰 Tools of the Trade

1. Lead Identity First - Develop who your people are becoming, not just what they’re producing.
2. Define Culture Through Experience - Your team believes what they experience, not what you say.
3. Have the Conversation - Avoiding hard conversations delays growth—for everyone.
4. Model the Response - Your reaction to adversity becomes your team’s blueprint.
5. Build Belief, Not Just Behavior - Confidence and ownership create long-term transformation.

If you’re leading a team—or want to become a better leader—this episode will challenge you to look inward, take ownership, and grow the people around you.

Because at the end of the day…
Leadership is not about leaving a mark. It’s about leaving people better.

Special Guests:

Mike Ashie – Leadership With Mike
https://www.youtube.com/c/LeadershipwithMike

Jim Burgoon – Lead With Jim
https://www.youtube.com/c/LeadWithJim

Mike Phillips

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠mike@TheLeadshipToolkit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin.com/in/LeadTheTeam⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠@LeadershipTLT⁠

YouTube: ⁠YouTube.com/@MikePhillips

Credits:

Hosted by Mike Phillips

Produced by The Leadership Toolkit Team

Guests: Mike Ashie & Jim Burgoon

Watch more episodes of The Leadership Toolkit at https://spotify.TheLeadershipToolkit.com

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a 5-star review!

Make sure you share this as a resource with friends and colleagues.

Thank you for listening!

* Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests on this show are solely those of the guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the host, producers, or any affiliated parties. The host and production team make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information discussed by guests on the show. Listener discretion is advised.

*** Affiliate Disclaimer: Some of the links listed go to my websites and some are affiliate links that may generate me a sales commission if you make a purchase.

What separates elite performers from everyone else?

In this episode of The Leadership Toolkit, host Mike Phillips sits down with internationally recognized mental performance coach Gary Chupik to explore the mindset, discipline, and self-leadership required to perform at the highest levels in business, sports, and life.

Gary has coached athletes, executives, and high performers connected with organizations such as the Houston Texans, Washington Huskies, Stanford University, Seattle Mariners, Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing, and many others. Drawing from both sports psychology and leadership development, he shares practical strategies that leaders can apply immediately to build confidence, maintain focus, and improve performance.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What mindset really is and how it shapes behavior
• Why confidence is built through preparation and proof
• The Win the Day framework for building daily momentum
• Why success is directional, not positional
• The difference between positivity and true optimism
• Why self-leadership is the foundation of elite leadership

If you want to perform at a higher level, build confidence, and develop the discipline of elite performers, this conversation delivers practical insights you can apply immediately.

Contact Information:

Gary Chupik

Website: https://www.EliteMindsetNation.com/

One Day Elevate: https://www.OneDayElevate.com/

LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/GaryChupik

Mike Phillips

Email: mike@TheLeadershipToolkit.com

LinkedIn: https://LinkedIn.com/in/LeadTheTeam

Twitter: https://x.com/LeadershipTLT

YouTube: https://YouTube.com/@MikePhillips

Credits:

Hosted by Mike Phillips

Produced by The Leadership Toolkit Team

Guest: Gary Chupik, Elite Mindset Coach and Leadership Mastermind!

Watch more episodes of The Leadership Toolkit at:
https://spotify.TheLeadershipToolkit.com

If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a 5-star review.

Make sure you share this as a resource with friends and colleagues.

Thank you for watching and listening!

* Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests on this show are solely those of the guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the host, producers, or any affiliated parties. The host and production team make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information discussed by guests on the show. Listener discretion is advised.

*** Affiliate Disclaimer: Some of the links listed go to my websites and some are affiliate links that may generate me a sales commission if you make a purchase.