Dr. Carla Fowler, an MD PhD and executive coach, shares her background and journey into executive coaching. She discusses her interest in performance and achievement from a young age and how it led her to start her own coaching practice. Dr. Fowler defines performance science as the collection of ideas and research that help individuals achieve their goals. She highlights two key principles of performance science: brutal focus and cultivating power. Brutal focus involves translating dreams into actionable goals and identifying the most important tasks to drive progress. Cultivating power involves developing the ability to start and sustain efforts towards a goal, as well as continuously improving and iterating on one's approach. In this conversation, Carla Fowler, MD PhD, discusses the principles of performance science and how they can be applied to personal and professional growth. The 90-90-90 principle emphasizes the importance of consistent effort and starting early on the journey to success. Overcoming imposter syndrome and fear of failure is crucial for taking action and achieving goals. Reflecting on past challenges can provide insights into what works and what doesn't. Brutal focus involves prioritizing the most important tasks and not getting caught up in perfectionism. Learning to relish uncertainty is key to embracing growth and new opportunities.

In Ep. 34 The EQ Gents had the absolute privilege to sit down with James Lawrence, Co-Founder and CEO of Happy, a company whose mission is to help business leaders accelerate company performance at scale. Through Happy’s AI-based technology platform, companies have found a solution that supercharges communication, collaboration, and productivity.

Join us as James dives into a myriad of very relevant and important topics with the Gents, starting with his own personal journey as a rising founder and ceo, and how he recommends companies solve the challenges they face when it comes their people day in and day out.

In this episode, Sameer and Ismail deep dive into a universal issue that folks at all levels of an organization deal with on a daily basis. That is dealing with difficult coworkers, whether its your boss, peer or subordinate, a difficult coworker can cause leaders a tremendous amount of stress as they navigate their day to day work life.

Ismail and Sameer will share personal anecdotes and most common reasons why difficult employees often end up winning in the battle between whats right for the individual and whats right for the larger organization.

Episode 33 is packed with useful tips and tricks on overcoming the challenges of dealing with difficult coworkers through empathy, understanding, and flexing your emotional intelligence to deescalate your next difficult encounter.

In this episode, Sameer and Ismail had a fantastic conversation with Grant ‘Upbeat’ Bosnick! Grant definitely lived up to his name by bringing an infectious energy and a ton of useful insights to share with our audience. ‘Upbeat’, as he commonly goes by, is an author, leadership & team expert, professional musician, keynote speaker, and Managing Director of YES (Your Empowering Solutions), a boutique HR consultancy.

Grant ‘Upbeat’ Bosnick has been a resident of Singapore and Asia for over 25 years and has consulted and spoke at 100+ Fortune 500 and FTSE 100 clients spanning 45 countries and 6 continents.

Sameer and Ismail were very lucky to have Ani Naqvi on our podcast this week! Ani, has had 4 near-brushes with death including a cancer diagnosis, and surviving one of the deadliest natural disasters in human history, the Asian Tsunami of 2004. Ani has leveraged these experiences to find her true purpose in life, and is now determined to help others become their best self and live their best life.

In this conversation, Sameer and Ismail discuss the significant role emotional intelligence plays in a leader’s ability to make good decisions.

Ultimately, decision-making is an art that requires the proper mix of data, rationality, and a little bit of good old-fashioned gut-instinct. In this episode, the EQ Gents will dive into how enhancing your EQ will transform you into boss decision-maker.

In this conversation, Sameer and Ismail speak with Kachelle Kelly, an expert in emotional intelligence (EQ) and leadership. They discuss the importance of EQ and its adoption in various communities, particularly the black community. Kachelle introduces the concept of a fifth element in EQ specifically for the black community. They explore the impact of trauma on emotional intelligence and the challenges faced by black individuals in the workplace. The conversation highlights the need for understanding and support for the black community and the role of EQ in bridging cultural differences.

This conversation explores the difference between idealism and optimism and how they interplay in leadership. Idealism is defined as a belief in perfect possibilities and striving for utopia, while optimism is defined as expecting the best even in challenging times. The conversation emphasizes the importance of balancing idealism and optimism to be an effective leader. It discusses how idealism can motivate teams by providing a grand vision, while optimism can motivate teams by instilling positive energy. The impact of idealism and optimism on decision-making is also explored, highlighting the need for a realistic approach. The role of emotional intelligence in bridging the gap between idealism and optimism is discussed, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and empathy. The conversation concludes with a call to action for leaders to reflect on their own approach and understand the perspectives of others.

In EP 27 of the Emotional Intelli-Gents Podcast the EQ Gents had the pleasure of sitting down with Adrian Koehler, leadership engagement expert and senior partner at the executive coaching firm, Take New Ground. Adrian coaches execs and entrepreneurs in the art of science of leadership for themselves, their teams, and clients to create new, unprecedented results and experience fulfillment in their work.

Adrian’s constant pursuit of people and experiences that push him closer to the edge is the way he has always lived his life. His diverse career history and the anecdotes he shares in this episode are evidence of his unique approach to coaching.

During this episode we hit on a bunch of really interesting topics like:

• The Role of Crisis in Personal Growth

• Outward Mindset and Leadership

• The Influence of Past Experience

• The Fear of Vulnerability

• The Journey to Authenticity

In EP26 the EQ Gents dig into a well-known inhibitor for many aspiring leaders looking to propel their careers. A concept or term that was popularized by Dr. Valerie Young’s research in the 1970’s called ‘Imposter Syndrome’ or ‘Imposterism’.

In this episode, our co-hosts will take a deep dive into Imposter Syndrome, specifically how it shows up and detrimental impacts unchecked Imposter Syndrome can have on one’s mental health and career performance. No doubt, the EQ Gents have had their own personal battles with Imposter Syndrome which they share throughout this enlightening episode.

In EP25 the EQ Gents look back on the year where it all started, 2023.

The episode, which marks the last of 2023, is intended to serve as a pause for our co-hosts as they recap 2023 and look forward to what’s to come in 2024. The episode touches on a number of different topics, all resonating around a common theme, the journey of starting a leadership podcast centered around emotional intelligence, and the successes and challenges that came with it.

The conversation explores the themes of authenticity, trust, and emotional intelligence in various contexts, including leadership, parenting, and employee development. In this episode, we discuss the importance of being authentic and trustworthy as leaders, and the potential pitfalls of being overly positive or performative.

David touches on the concept of the arc of justice, which relates to the idea that the arc over time in a relationship will tend towards intimacy rather than anger.

Our workforce is more diverse than ever before. This diversity extends beyond race and religion. As generations converge in the modern workplace, we see a large ideological range and sweeping differences in worldviews. Episode 23 of the Emotional Intelli-Gents Podcast focuses on why leaders must show an active interest in and engage on topics to gain a greater understanding of their team-members as people, beyond the scope of their jobs.

In this episode of the Emotional Intelli-Gents Podcast, hosts Ismail and Sameer delve into the intersection of emotional intelligence and leadership. A key focus is the idea that good leaders are fiercely loyal to their team members, a trait they suggest might be underrated. By showing up for their teams, leaders can build trust, confidence, and a sense of accountability. Topics also covered include recognizing moments for demonstrating loyalty, the dangers of being overly loyal, and the significance of psychological safety within a team. Long-term solutions and mutual commitment underscore their views on successful leadership.

In this Episode, we cover a myriad of really interesting topics with our special guest, Joshua Freedman. The Episode taps into how Joshua’s company, 6 Seconds’, data-driven approach to determine the psyche of today’s workforce.

In this episode, we delve into the complexities of FOPO, a modern-day phenomenon amplifying our innate fears of judgment from others. We explore its evolutionary roots, highlighting the human instinct to seek societal acceptance. We share our personal encounters with FOPO, emphasizing how it has influenced various aspects of our lives, including this very podcast journey as well as discuss the exacerbating role of social media in the age of constant feedback loops and digital validation. This episode touches upon the spectrum of FOPO's impact, from workplace dynamics to individual decision-making. We also offer insights and strategies for listeners to identify, confront, and potentially overcome this looming fear, advocating for self-awareness and genuine self-expression.

Ismail and Sameer are joined by a very special guest on Episode 19 of the Emotional Intelli-Gents Podcast, Mr. Bill Carson.  Bill Carson dives deep into topics that are very near and dear to his life’s work as a resilience coach, emotional and social intelligence coach, and well-being coach.  The podcast episode centers on how employers can meet the demands of today’s workforce with effective upskilling for psychological risk management, and sharing practical ways leaders can implement mental health first aid into their leadership approach.  

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of emotional intelligence with Tara Renze, who is an author, emotional intelligence practitioner, entrepreneur, speaker, blogger, and thought leader. Tara shares her personal journey, the importance of self-awareness, and how to set "butterfly goals" to achieve your dreams. Whether you're looking to improve your leadership skills or simply understand yourself better, this episode is packed with insights that can change your life.

In this episode, Ismail and Sameer sit down with Dr. Kristin Neff, pioneer researcher and renowned expert in the field of self-compassion. Dr. Neff is an associate professor at the University of Texas-Austin, in their Department of Educational Psychology. She is author of several books such as The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook, Fierce Self Compassion and Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself.” Dr. Neff is the co-founder of the non-profit Center for Mindful Self-Compassion and has been credited with the first academic studies on the topic of Self-Compassion. Her TedX talk on the topic of self-compassion has nearly 3 million views on YouTube to date.

In this episode, Ismail and Sameer speak with Jordan Tivers, LCSW, CGP, an individual and group psychotherapist in private practice in Chicago. Jordan shares insights about his clinical practice where he treats primarily other psychotherapists and people in leadership positions, coaching founders, high-venture employees, and new managers to cultivate stronger social and emotional intelligence skills.