Ready to become a better leader? Join host, Yale School of the Environment lecturer Peter Boyd, as he interviews “connected leaders” from all around the world to learn more about what inspires them and how they stay connected to what matters most. Whether you’re a seasoned professional, just starting out, or at a fork in your leadership journey, this podcast is for you.
Looking to learn more about Connected Leadership? Check out Peter’s popular Connected Leadership course on Coursera.
From Learning to Leading | Brian Petula | From Corrections to Purpose: Leadership on the Frontline
In this inspiring episode of the Connected Leadership podcast, Peter Boyd sits down with Brian Petula a lawyer, entrepreneur, EMT, and Pennsylvania Department of Corrections officer, who shares his powerful journey from rural roots to a purpose-driven life of service. A former student of the Connected Leadership course, Brian reflects on how the course shaped his leadership style, the importance of living with purpose, and his frontline experience transforming lives in corrections. This conversation is a deep dive into authentic leadership, system change, and human potential.
From Learning to Leading | Laura Sievert Hesseltine | Continual Forward Progress
Laura Sievert Hesseltine is the Executive Director of Arts Quincy, the oldest arts council in the U.S., where she champions community engagement and cultural transformation. With a background in corporate marketing and a passion for creativity, Laura shares her journey from leading large-scale retail marketing campaigns to revitalizing the arts sector in rural Illinois. She discusses the power of the arts in shaping communities, the importance of making culture accessible to all, and how she applies business principles to nonprofit leadership. Laura also reflects on connected leadership, continuous learning, and how small, intentional steps can drive meaningful change.
Leading the Way | Jigar Shah | Driving Clean Energy Innovation Through Finance and Leadership
Jigar Shah, a trailblazer in clean energy finance, shares his insights on scaling sustainable technology and aligning capital with long-term impact. Drawing from his experience as the founder of SunEdison and leader of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office, Jigar discusses the challenges of commercializing clean energy solutions and the role of strategic leadership in accelerating the transition. He emphasizes the importance of financial innovation, building high-performing teams, and navigating industry shifts to drive lasting change. This episode offers valuable lessons on financing the clean energy future and leading with purpose.
Leading the Way | Jens Molbak | Harnessing Tri-Sector Innovation for Greater Impact
Jens Molbak, founder of Coinstar, WinWin, and NewImpact, shares his vision for leveraging tri-sector innovation aligning resources from businesses, nonprofits, and government to create systemic change. He discusses how his experience building Coinstar shaped his understanding of scalable impact and how NewImpact is pioneering a data-driven approach to solve complex societal challenges. Jens highlights the importance of collaboration across sectors, identifying underutilized assets, and shifting mindsets to unlock greater efficiency and innovation. This episode offers valuable insights on designing solutions that maximize shared value and create lasting social and economic benefits.
Leading the Way | Tarek Mouganie | Pioneer of financial inclusion in Africa
Tarek Mouganie is the founder of Affinity, a digital bank revolutionizing financial inclusion in sub-Saharan Africa. With a background in engineering, physics, and finance, Tarek’s journey has been shaped by his desire to build platforms that unlock human potential. In this episode, he shares how his experiences from growing up in Ghana to his academic path at Cambridge and Imperial College led him to create a banking solution for underserved populations. Tarek discusses the challenges of launching a bank, the impact of financial access on small businesses, and his personal evolution as a leader. He also reflects on his time as a Yale World Fellow, where he explored how to scale his mission while maintaining personal balance.
Learn on the Move | 3 of 5 | High-Performing, Purpose-Driven Teams
In this episode, Peter Boyd explores how the Connected Leadership Framework helps individuals maximize their impact within teams. Building on previous discussions of personal purpose and priorities, Peter delves into team dynamics how to bring a purpose-driven approach to work, establish clear priorities, and create a shared vision for success. He introduces key tools, including the strategy pyramid, to align team values, mission, and progress. The episode also covers leadership skills such as active listening, constructive feedback, and stakeholder mapping to enhance influence and drive organizational change. Whether leading formally or informally, listeners will gain insights on fostering collaboration, navigating challenges, and creating lasting impact.
• Guy Kawasaki’s “Art of the Start”: Cited for his idea that an organization’s purpose is more powerful as a short mantra rather than a long paragraph.
• Brené Brown’s “Atlas of the Heart”: Referenced when discussing the artistry of a map and the interaction between different layers of leadership.
• Harvard Business Review Article by Togle and Barso (2016): Cited in the context of team conflict, particularly differentiating between good and bad conflict, and the importance of shared values in team dynamics.
• Character.org’s VIA (Values in Action) Survey: Recommended as a personality assessment tool with strong academic underpinnings to help individuals identify their personal values.
• Quinn and Thacker’s Harvard Business Review Article: Cited as a source for creating a purpose-driven organization.
• Comedian Michael Jr.’s Video: Recommended for its insight into how knowing “why” behind a task can change how it is performed. Viewers are advised to watch from 1:25 for a sub-two-minute clip.
• “Connect” by David Bradford and Carl Robbins: Described as a helpful resource on interpersonal dynamics, suggesting that feedback can be given to anyone at any time if done correctly.
Yale professor, cognitive scientist and host of The Happiness Lab podcast – Dr Laurie Santos has created & taught Yale’s most popular course in history, The Science of Well-Being. Her Coursera version of the course by the same name, has attracted more than 4 million learners from around the world. In this episode, we discuss her own approach to the Purpose that drives her, her Priorities and goals; and how she is working to change the system.
Leading the way | Rafe Offer | International brand innovator and community builder
Rafe Offer is an entrepreneur and co-founder of global music start-up Sofar Sounds and his latest venture meeting better meetings – This and That. He has led international teams and innovation at some of the world’s best known brands – as a Global Marketing Director of Coca-Cola, Director of Global Marketing at The Walt Disney Company and a Director of Innovation for global drinks giant Diageo. In this episode, we discuss his journey from corporate executive to entrepreneur.
Leading the way | Michel Gelobter | (Lean) Startup warrior for social + environmental justice
Michel Gelobter is the Executive Director of the Yale Center for Environmental Justice. He is a lifelong environmental advocate, policy analyst, and entrepreneur. In this episode, we discuss his journey as a change-maker, champion for climate justice and how to make positive change.
Learn on the Move | 2 of 5 |You from Past to Present
In this episode, we’ll begin our connected leadership journey at the level of Self – you as a purpose-driven, connected leader. We will discuss how. to clarify and distill what really matters to you, create daily to-dos deeply connected to your purpose, and draw on a suite of tools to maximize your impact and use of time.