What makes a leader truly future fit in a world where AI can attend your meetings, interview your staff, and even write your next LinkedIn post?

In this lively and thought-provoking conversation, futurist and best-selling author Michael McQueen joins Sadhana Smiles to unpack what it really means to stay relevant, human, and adaptable as technology reshapes the way we lead and work.

They explore everything from Gen Z’s reluctance to take on leadership roles, to why “culture is caught, not taught,” and how real trust is built in a world full of deepfakes and digital avatars. Michael shares why the best leaders of tomorrow will blend confidence, conviction, and curiosity — and how to lead with both head and heart in the age of AI.

Please enjoy this conversation with the insightful and always entertaining Michael McQueen.

What makes a leader truly future fit in a world where AI can attend your meetings, interview your staff, and even write your next LinkedIn post?
In this lively and thought-provoking conversation, futurist and best-selling author Michael McQueen joins Sadhana Smiles to unpack what it really means to stay relevant, human, and adaptable as technology reshapes the way we lead and work.
They explore everything from Gen Z&rsquo;s reluctance to take on leadership roles, to why &ldquo;culture is caught, not taught,&rdquo; and how real trust is built in a world full of deepfakes and digital avatars. Michael shares why the best leaders of tomorrow will blend confidence, conviction, and curiosity &mdash; and how to lead with both head and heart in the age of AI.
Please enjoy this conversation with the insightful and always entertaining Michael McQueen.

Welcome to Future Fit Leadership a podcast for emerging and experienced leaders to learn, grow and become future fit! 

There has been a global shift in how we lead people. Traditional models are being challenged, and our workplaces are now dynamic. 


In this podcast you will hear and connect with leaders, CEO’s and change makers who will challenge the status quo and share their future ready strategies to unlock your growth. 


No matter where you are on your leadership journey this podcast will give you practical ideas and tools to help you think outside the square and become a change maker in your industry. 

Future Fit leadership is your place for bite sized learning, for time poor executives.

Contact Sadhana Smiles via email: sadhanasmiles@realchange.com.au

Or connect on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sasmiles/

Welcome to Future Fit Leadership a podcast for emerging and experienced leaders to learn, grow and become future fit! 
There has been a global shift in how we lead people. Traditional models are being challenged, and our workplaces are now dynamic. 
 In this podcast you will hear and connect with leaders, CEO’s and change makers who will challenge the status quo and share their future ready strategies to unlock your growth. 
 No matter where you are on your leadership journey this podcast will give you practical ideas and tools to help you think outside the square and become a change maker in your industry. 
Future Fit leadership is your place for bite sized learning, for time poor executives.
Contact Sadhana Smiles via email: <a href="mailto:sadhanasmiles@realchange.com.au">sadhanasmiles@realchange.com.au</a> 
Or connect on LinkedIn <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sasmiles/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/sasmiles/</a>

Future ready leadership strategies to unlock your growth

Future Fit Leadership

Welcome to Future Fit Leadership a podcast for emerging and experienced leaders to learn, grow and become future fit! 

There has been a global shift in how we lead people. Traditional models are being challenged, and our workplaces are now dynamic. 

In this podcast you will hear and connect with leaders, CEO’s and change makers who will challenge the status quo and share their future ready strategies to unlock your growth. 

No matter where you are on your leadership journey this podcast will give you practical ideas and tools to help you think outside the square and become a change maker in your industry. 

Future Fit leadership is your place for bite sized learning, for time poor executives.

Contact Sadhana Smiles via email: sadhanasmiles@realchange.com.au

Or connect on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sasmiles/

We are excited to announce our partnership with Future Leadership and this podcast will sit in their Future Exchange Community where as leaders, CEO's, Directors and executives you can access content, events, live streams and connect with your peers. To join the community click on the following link, membership is free. 

https://community.futureexchange.global/groups/official

**Future Fit Leadership acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we record this podcast and we pay our respect to elders - past, present and emerging. We extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

-- 

This is a Guide Your Light Network Production | Podcasts with Purpose

www.guideyourlightnetwork.com

Welcome to Future Fit Leadership a podcast for emerging and experienced leaders to learn, grow and become future fit! 
There has been a global shift in how we lead people. Traditional models are being challenged, and our workplaces are now dynamic. 
In this podcast you will hear and connect with leaders, CEO’s and change makers who will challenge the status quo and share their future ready strategies to unlock your growth. 
No matter where you are on your leadership journey this podcast will give you practical ideas and tools to help you think outside the square and become a change maker in your industry. 
Future Fit leadership is your place for bite sized learning, for time poor executives.
Contact Sadhana Smiles via email: <a href="mailto:sadhanasmiles@realchange.com.au">sadhanasmiles@realchange.com.au</a> 
Or connect on LinkedIn <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sasmiles/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/sasmiles/</a> 
We are excited to announce our partnership with Future Leadership and this podcast will sit in their Future Exchange Community where as leaders, CEO's, Directors and executives you can access content, events, live streams and connect with your peers. To join the community click on the following link, membership is free. 
<a href="https://community.futureexchange.global/groups/official" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://community.futureexchange.global/groups/official&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1683848489703000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2f0TqhapHFy9zLTwwgyebz">https://community.futureexchange.global/groups/official</a>
**Future Fit Leadership acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we record this podcast and we pay our respect to elders - past, present and emerging. We extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
-- 
This is a Guide Your Light Network Production | Podcasts with Purpose
<a href="http://www.guideyourlightnetwork.com">www.guideyourlightnetwork.com</a>

 From Expert to Explorer: Rethinking Leadership in the Age of AI with Michael McQueen

Crisis is rarely the headline. It is the quiet gap between what happens and how leaders respond. And few people understand that gap better than Stephanie Craig, President of Kith, former political insider, and the woman some call the Olivia Pope of crisis communications.

In this conversation, Stephanie takes us from her childhood in the Canadian Arctic to the halls of the US and Canadian Senates, and into the real world moments where reputation, trust, and clarity can make or break a business.

We talk about the biggest mistakes leaders make in the first 24 hours of a crisis, why most organisations still underestimate their stakeholders, and how clarity and trust create strategic speed when it matters most. Stephanie shares practical, human advice for every leader. Build your crisis core team before you need it. Understand who your people are and how they communicate. Know what you stand for when the pressure hits.

This is a conversation about leadership that is calm, conscious, and ready for the world as it truly is.

Please enjoy this episode of Future Fit Leadership with Stephanie Craig.

Crisis is rarely the headline. It is the quiet gap between what happens and how leaders respond. And few people understand that gap better than Stephanie Craig, President of Kith, former political insider, and the woman some call the Olivia Pope of crisis communications.
In this conversation, Stephanie takes us from her childhood in the Canadian Arctic to the halls of the US and Canadian Senates, and into the real world moments where reputation, trust, and clarity can make or break a business.
We talk about the biggest mistakes leaders make in the first 24 hours of a crisis, why most organisations still underestimate their stakeholders, and how clarity and trust create strategic speed when it matters most. Stephanie shares practical, human advice for every leader. Build your crisis core team before you need it. Understand who your people are and how they communicate. Know what you stand for when the pressure hits.
This is a conversation about leadership that is calm, conscious, and ready for the world as it truly is.
Please enjoy this episode of Future Fit Leadership with Stephanie Craig.

The Olivia Pope of Real Life: Crisis Lessons with Stephanie Craig 

In this episode, I sit down with the brilliant and very grounded Jenny Stilwell, a woman who has spent her life helping businesses move from surviving to scaling. Jenny has led companies through complexity, run her own advisory firm, and written the book The 7 Percent Club, which reveals why only a small number of businesses ever grow past two million in revenue.

What I love about Jenny is how honest she is about the messy middle of leadership. She talks about that awkward moment when you step up for the first time and suddenly discover you have no reference point for the role you have just taken on. She shares how founders often choke their own growth by holding onto everything, and how letting go is more like a dance of trust and release than a single decision.

We go deep into the traps that stop businesses from scaling. Complexity that creeps up quietly. Early team members who suddenly find themselves drowning under bigger titles. Capability gaps. Shiny object syndrome. And the hard truth that you cannot grow if you are still operating like the scrappy startup you once were.

Jenny also breaks down why knowing your numbers is not optional. It is the backbone of every decision you make. Margin, ratios, revenue per employee, wage to sales, client insights, operational indicators. She brings it all alive in that way only Jenny can. Practical, plain speaking, and instantly usable.

And of course, she answers our Future Fit Leadership questions. Adaptability. Strategic thinking. Emotional intelligence. And a powerful reminder that AI is shifting the ground under our feet faster than many leaders realise.

This is a conversation packed with clarity, humanity, and a few reassuring laughs about the things we all struggle with. If you are leading a business, scaling a team, or trying to find your footing in a world full of moving parts, you will love Jenny’s wisdom.

In this episode, I sit down with the brilliant and very grounded Jenny Stilwell, a woman who has spent her life helping businesses move from surviving to scaling. Jenny has led companies through complexity, run her own advisory firm, and written the book The 7 Percent Club, which reveals why only a small number of businesses ever grow past two million in revenue.
What I love about Jenny is how honest she is about the messy middle of leadership. She talks about that awkward moment when you step up for the first time and suddenly discover you have no reference point for the role you have just taken on. She shares how founders often choke their own growth by holding onto everything, and how letting go is more like a dance of trust and release than a single decision.
We go deep into the traps that stop businesses from scaling. Complexity that creeps up quietly. Early team members who suddenly find themselves drowning under bigger titles. Capability gaps. Shiny object syndrome. And the hard truth that you cannot grow if you are still operating like the scrappy startup you once were.
Jenny also breaks down why knowing your numbers is not optional. It is the backbone of every decision you make. Margin, ratios, revenue per employee, wage to sales, client insights, operational indicators. She brings it all alive in that way only Jenny can. Practical, plain speaking, and instantly usable.
And of course, she answers our Future Fit Leadership questions. Adaptability. Strategic thinking. Emotional intelligence. And a powerful reminder that AI is shifting the ground under our feet faster than many leaders realise.
This is a conversation packed with clarity, humanity, and a few reassuring laughs about the things we all struggle with. If you are leading a business, scaling a team, or trying to find your footing in a world full of moving parts, you will love Jenny&rsquo;s wisdom.

Lessons from the 7% Club on how to scale your business beyond $2m  - Jenny Stilwell 

When the FBI knocked on Kevin McCarthy’s door one morning in 2002, everything he thought he knew about integrity, loyalty, and trust shattered. What followed was a federal conviction for a crime he didn’t mean to commit, spending 33 months in prison that changed his life forever.

In this deeply human conversation, Kevin shares how good people can make bad choices, what blind spots really look like in leadership, and how to rebuild your life and your sense of self when everything falls apart. From the moment the FBI entered his home to the lessons learned behind prison walls, Kevin’s story is one of self-awareness, humility, and the power of owning our mistakes.

He reminds us that leadership isn’t about perfection it’s about perspective. It’s about learning to see what we once couldn’t, and finding integrity in the space between moral intent and legal reality.

This is a conversation about humanity, not hierarchy. Please enjoy this powerful story with Kevin McCarthy.

When the FBI knocked on Kevin McCarthy&rsquo;s door one morning in 2002, everything he thought he knew about integrity, loyalty, and trust shattered. What followed was a federal conviction for a crime he didn&rsquo;t mean to commit, spending 33 months in prison that changed his life forever.
In this deeply human conversation, Kevin shares how good people can make bad choices, what blind spots really look like in leadership, and how to rebuild your life and your sense of self when everything falls apart. From the moment the FBI entered his home to the lessons learned behind prison walls, Kevin&rsquo;s story is one of self-awareness, humility, and the power of owning our mistakes.
He reminds us that leadership isn&rsquo;t about perfection it&rsquo;s about perspective. It&rsquo;s about learning to see what we once couldn&rsquo;t, and finding integrity in the space between moral intent and legal reality.
This is a conversation about humanity, not hierarchy. Please enjoy this powerful story with Kevin McCarthy.

From Expert to Explorer: Rethinking Leadership in the Age of AI with Michael McQueen

Future Fit Leadership

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