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.

In this episode of The Leadership Toolkit, host Mike Phillips sits down with RJon Robins, cofounder and CEO of How To Manage Enterprises, to break down one of the most overlooked leadership skills in business: clear thinking.

RJon leads an award-winning eight-figure company that helps entrepreneurs and law firm owners scale their businesses from startup to multimillion-dollar operations. In this conversation, he shares powerful insights from working with hundreds of business leaders and introduces a simple but revealing framework that helps expose the thinking errors that quietly sabotage organizations.

At the center of this discussion is a deceptively simple question: Is your business being driven by truth, lies, mistakes, or BS?

RJon explains the critical differences between these concepts and how confusion between them leads to poor leadership decisions, broken marketing strategies, hiring mistakes, and financial problems. He also introduces a practical leadership test that helps you quickly identify weak assumptions before they become costly mistakes.

You will also hear about the seven core parts of every business, why the owner’s mindset is the most important component of success, and why a truly successful business must serve the owner financially, personally, and professionally.

If you are an entrepreneur, business owner, or leader trying to grow your organization while making better decisions, this episode will challenge your thinking and equip you with practical tools to lead more effectively.

🧰 Tools of the Trade: Key Leadership Insights from This Episode

• The 7 parts of every business and how leaders must keep them aligned
• Why a business should serve the owner, not trap them in a job
• The difference between truth, telling the truth, mistakes, and lies
• What BS in business decision making actually looks like
• The powerful “Why or How do you know?” test leaders can use to expose weak assumptions

This conversation is packed with practical leadership insights and powerful mindset shifts that every entrepreneur should hear.

Contact Information:

Rjon Robins

Website: HowToManage.com

LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/RjonRobins

Check out the book!: https://www.truthliesmistakesorbs.com/theleadershiptoolkit

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: Rjon Robins, Business Clarity Architect and Professional BS Detector

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.

In this episode of The Leadership Toolkit, Mike Phillips sits down with Pete Steege, founder of B2B Clarity and author of Radical Clarity, to unpack the real leadership challenge in the age of AI.

As inboxes flood, automation accelerates, and content becomes easier to produce than ever before, one truth is emerging:

The most human leaders will win.

Pete shares powerful insights for Accidental CEOs and growth-focused executives who want to scale without losing clarity, culture, and trust.

Inside this episode:

• The AI trap that is quietly derailing leadership focus
• Why clarity is the foundation of sustainable business growth
• The three leadership pillars: authenticity, intentionality, and generosity
• How to uncover your company culture instead of manufacturing one
• Why trust, not technology, will determine the next era of business success
• How CEOs should think about AI as a tool, not a strategy

If you are a founder, CEO, executive leader, or growth-minded professional navigating rapid change, this conversation will challenge and equip you.

🧰 Tools of the Trade: Top Takeaways You Can Use

1️⃣ Uncover Your Culture. Don’t Manufacture It. - Strong cultures are not created in a conference room with a clever mission statement. They are uncovered by peeling away distractions and rallying around the true purpose of the business.

2️⃣ Shift from Explaining What You Do to Why It Matters - Technical leaders often lead with features, functions, and capabilities. Customers and teams respond to meaning.

3️⃣ Lead with the Three Pillars: Authenticity, Intentionality, Generosity - Pete’s framework is simple but powerful:

➣ Authenticity: Say what you will do and do what you say.

➣ Intentionality: Stop reacting. Choose your priorities.

➣ Generosity: Focus first on the value delivered, not the value extracted.

4️⃣ Be the Boss of AI, Not the Victim of It - AI is a tool. It is not your strategy. It should serve your clarity, not replace it.

5️⃣ Model Culture Under Pressure - Culture is not revealed in good quarters. It is revealed in tough ones. If you preach value but discount under pressure, your team learns the real rule.

Because in a world of automation, clarity and humanity are your competitive edge.

Contact Information:

Pete Steege

Website: b2b-clarity.com

LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/PeteSteege

Twitter: X.com/petesteege

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: Pete Steege, CEO Clarity Strategist and Author of Radical Clarity

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.

In this powerful episode of The Leadership Toolkit, Mike Phillips sits down with leadership expert and author William Davis to unpack one of the biggest issues facing organizations today: the confusion between management and leadership.

After spending 38 years in corporate America, William shares why most companies promote functional success but fail to develop real leadership ability. The result? Broken trust, disengaged teams, and leaders who focus more on metrics than people.

Together, Mike and William dive into:

• The true difference between leadership and management

• Why “your team is not your competition”

• How to lead beyond your direct reports using the “hemisphere” mindset

• The importance of communicating the “why” behind the work

• How to measure leadership success beyond financial KPIs

• The biggest leadership mistake most managers make today

William emphasizes that leadership is not about title, pay, or control. It is about the growth, care, and development of people. When leaders focus on genuine relationships, accountability, and psychological safety, teams flourish and organizations thrive.

If you are an executive, manager, entrepreneur, or aspiring leader who wants to build trust, improve retention, and create a healthier culture, this conversation is packed with actionable insight.

Contact Information:

William Davis

Website: WilliamCDavis.net

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/WilliamCharlesDavis

Mike PhillipsEmail: ⁠⁠⁠⁠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: William Davis

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 if resilience is not a personality trait, but a trainable skill

In this episode of The Leadership Toolkit, host Mike Phillips sits down with Dr. Andrew Wittman, former U.S. Marine infantry veteran, law enforcement officer, federal agent, and creator of the Inner Armor system, to unpack what it truly means to build mental toughness in high-stress environments.

From protecting national leaders to training elite military operators, Andrew brings battlefield-tested insight into the boardroom. In this powerful conversation, he breaks down how leaders can control their emotional responses, dominate their biology, and develop discipline that outlasts motivation.

In this episode, you will discover:

• Why your brain processes 11,000,000 bits of information but only acts on 126
• The 20-minute rule that can transform conflict and decision-making
• Why willpower fails and biology wins
• How to lead calmly when everything feels chaotic
• The difference between being results-driven and process-driven
• What it means to be the “CEO of You”

If you are a business leader, executive, sales professional, entrepreneur, or team builder looking to improve performance under pressure, this episode will challenge you and equip you with practical tools you can apply immediately.

Resilience is not random. It is built. And it starts with self-leadership.

Contact Information:

Andrew Wittman

Website: GetWarriorTough.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/Andrew-D-Wittman

YouTube: YouTube.com/@GetWarriorToughMedia

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: Andrew Wittman

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.

In this episode of The Leadership Toolkit, host Mike Phillips is joined by Jim Saliba, executive leadership coach, former tech VP, and host of the Building Legendary Leaders podcast

This episode centers on a powerful and timely leadership idea: how to lead like a CEO without needing a new title.

Jim shares what he learned moving from individual contributor to executive leadership inside a multibillion-dollar tech organization, and what he now teaches directors, VPs, and senior leaders who feel stuck in constant firefighting mode. Together, Mike and Jim unpack why many leaders get promoted but never make the mindset shift from doing the work to leading the system that produces results.

In this conversation, you will learn:

• Why leadership promotions often happen without training and how to take ownership of your growth

• The critical difference between accountability and ownership

• Why fixers and doers struggle to reach the strategy table

• How to delegate effectively without dumping responsibility

• Why asking better questions creates stronger leaders and better teams

• How small leadership experiments build momentum and confidence

If you are a manager, director, or senior leader who feels busy but not impactful, this episode will help you rethink how you lead right where you are.

Contact Information:

Jim Saliba

Website: jamessaliba.com

Free Book Offer: jamessaliba.com/freebook

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jamessaliba

Mike Phillips

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠mike@TheLeadshipToolkit.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin.com/in/LeadTheTeam⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠@LeadershipTLT⁠

YouTube: ⁠YouTube.com/@MikePhillips

Hosted by Mike Phillips

Produced by The Leadership Toolkit Team

Guest: Jim Saliba, leadership mastermind and ownership expert

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!

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* 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 which may generate me a sales commission if you make a purchase.