In this episode, Michael Apollo speaks with Rudy Newbury, Chief Programs Officer at Taproot , about why effective leadership begins with a healthy relationship with oneself. Drawing on his experience in government, non-profits, Indigenous relations, children and family services, executive coaching, and organizational transformation, Rudy explores how self-awareness, healing, emotional regulation, and authentic relationships shape the way leaders show up.

We discuss practical approaches to cultivating presence, developing mid-level leaders through coaching, navigating conflict without becoming defensive, leading people through organizational change, and introducing AI in ways that protect human connection, confidentiality, and organizational values.

This conversation offers leaders practical ways to become more grounded, listen more deeply, create developmental relationships, and build cultures where people feel seen, heard, and understood.

Leading Minds Revealed with Michael Apollo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelapollo/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelapolloofficial/ Website: https://www.mindfulinstitute.org/leading-minds-revealed-podcast Newsletter: https://www.mindfulinstitute.org/leading-minds-revealed-podcast#section-1751049894114

Rudy Newbury Chief Programs Officer, Taproot Website: https://taproot.ca/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rudy-newbury-91716b77/

00:00 – Why healing and self-relationship matter in leadership 02:15 – Leadership as a practice of healthy relationships 03:00 – What it means to have a healthy relationship with yourself 04:15 – Practical first steps: journaling, reflection, and grounding 05:45 – How presence helps leaders move through overwhelm 07:40 – The impact of putting down distractions and becoming present 08:50 – Why leaders cannot take people somewhere they have not been 10:30 – Building genuine relationships across distributed teams 11:00 – Developing mid-level managers through a coaching culture 12:05 – Helping people feel seen, heard, and understood 13:00 – What prevents leaders from being fully present 14:15 – Using breathing and intentional pauses to begin meetings 15:35 – Leading organizational transformation alongside employees 17:30 – Creating developmental relationships at work 18:10 – Using AI to reduce administrative demands 19:15 – Addressing employee apprehension about AI 21:00 – Practices that strengthen grounded leadership 22:00 – Why silence is an essential leadership skill 23:30 – The importance of community, mentors, and wise advisors 24:30 – Lessons from Indigenous ceremony and healing practices 26:00 – Recognizing that wisdom exists throughout an organization 27:00 – Why leadership sometimes means knowing whom to follow 29:50 – Responding to conflict with curiosity instead of defensiveness 32:20 – How self-awareness changes behaviour in difficult moments 33:30 – Building a balanced and developmental relationship with AI 35:00 – Why human connection must remain the priority 37:15 – Where to begin with healing-centred leadership 38:25 – Setting clear intentions for coaching conversations 39:20 – Learning more about Taproot and Rudy’s work 40:30 – Leadership as deeply human work

#LeadingMindsRevealed #LeadershipDevelopment #ExecutiveLeadership #SelfAwareness #OrganizationalCulture