Amy Lewin: Why HALF of Founders Want to Quit their Startups (Replay)

“It can be difficult for people to know who they can speak to about it,” says Amy Lewin, of entrepreneurs who are unhappy in their own companies.  Amy is the Editor at Sifted, a media platform focused on Europe’s startup ecosystem and she joins The Conscious Entrepreneur podcast to discuss a survey Sifted recently posed […]

Honest Conversations, Compassionate Leadership, and Real Accountability with Marc Lesser

Traditional leadership models tend to choose between kindness and clarity. Zen teacher and executive coach Marc Lesser argues that’s a false dichotomy. In this episode, Sarah sits down with Marc to unpack the concept of compassionate accountability — or in Marc’s preferred language, alignment with caring. It’s the core of modern Entrepreneurship and Business leadership: […]

Don’t Feed the Critic. Train the Coach: How to Rewire Negative Self-Talk and Lead Better

Entrepreneurship demands resilience, but too many founders rely on pressure and self-criticism as their fuel. Mike Robbins joins Sarah Lockwood to unpack why most business leaders treat self-worth as a scoreboard metric, praising achievement while ignoring wellbeing. He draws a clear line between recognition (results-based approval) and appreciation (inherent value), making the case that positive […]

Bootstrapped, Purpose-Driven, and On Fire: The Product Invention of LavaBox

Born on whitewater, built in an ammo can, Lavabox is Josh Thurmond’s proof that instinct and grit can power a bootstrapped business that gives back and keeps rivers wild. What does it take to move from a design patent invention built in your garage to a product company trusted by tens of thousands? How do […]

The Simplest (and Cheapest) Way to Keep Your Best People

Employee recognition might sound obvious, but why do so many leaders miss it in practice? Dr. Bob Nelson joins Sarah Lockwood to explains why low-cost recognition ideas often matter more than paychecks or perks when it comes to real employee motivation.  How do you create loyalty from day one with a new hire? What’s the […]

10X Accountability Updates From Alex Raymond

Alex Raymond, founder of Amplify and creator of the Conscious Entrepreneur Summit, returns to share what’s happened since he set a bold goal on stage: turning Amplify into a $3M business in two years. Inspired by Dr. Benjamin Hardy’s “10x Is Easier Than 2x” and “The Science of Scaling,” Alex explains how “pathways thinking” has […]

From Pushy to Magnetic: How ‘Never Ask for the Sale’ Flips Sales Culture

Sue Heilbronner, serial entrepreneur and conscious leadership executive coach, believes the strongest businesses are built when sales feel less like chasing and more like alignment. Joining Sarah Lockwood in this episode, she introduces the idea of “passionate ambivalence,” a values-based sales mindset that pairs genuine enthusiasm for your work with the ability to detach from […]

How Giving Back Shapes Great Leaders with Snooze COO Brianna Borin

Philanthropy can change the way we think about business when it’s treated as part of the culture rather than an afterthought. How does a company grow stronger when it gives back to the community that supports it? And how can service outside of work shape the kind of leader someone becomes? Sarah Lockwood talks with […]

Success, Life Satisfaction & Service

True fulfillment as an entrepreneur often begins the moment you step outside yourself and give back. Sarah Lockwood shares a personal reflection on her uncle, Ralph Junker, who quietly gave blood every two weeks for nearly twenty years. It was never mentioned at his funeral or in his obituary, yet it may have been the […]

Right-Sizing with Care: Layoffs, Furloughs, and Rehiring Best Practices

Layoffs, furloughs, and rehiring after downsizing are decisions that press on both the head and the heart. Sarah Lockwood talks with Peggy Shell, the CEO of Creative Alignments, about the reality of leading a team through moments when survival means making choices no leader wants to make. Peggy shares how her company moved from furloughs […]