Second Crack — The Leadership Podcast
Leadership Consultant Martin Aldergard and Executive Coach Gerrit Pelzer explore everyday leadership dilemmas and paradoxes. Get ready for thought-provoking questions which invite self-reflection and help you grow as a leader. More info: https://secondcrackleadership.com
Executive Presence: What Makes Leaders Truly Influential?
Why do some leaders inspire confidence and trust, while others struggle to make their voices heard, even when they have excellent expertise and a strong track record?
In this episode we explore executive presence: what it means, why it matters, and how leaders can develop it.
Executive presence often becomes a topic when talented professionals are considered for promotion. They may be technically brilliant and consistently deliver results, yet receive feedback that they are not quite ready for the next level. But executive presence matters far beyond career advancement. It also plays a...
Who's Leading: You or Your Nervous System? – with Carolyn Hart
“Your nervous system walks through the door before you do.”
We like to think that how we show up as leaders is largely a conscious choice. We prepare, set our intentions, choose our words, and try to behave in ways that reflect the kind of leader we want to be. But what if something else is already happening before we say a word?
And what if some of the challenges we experience as leaders are not about lacking skills, mindset, or experience, but about what is happening in our nervous system?
In t...
Risk in Action – Fear, Trust and the Courage to Move Forward | With Jim Massey
If you already know what the right decision is, what's really stopping you from taking it?
Most leaders don't struggle because they lack information. More often, they hesitate because something less visible gets in the way.
In this episode, we welcome back leadership author, former Chief Sustainability Officer, and executive advisor Jim Massey. Building on the ideas from his new book Risk in Action, we explore why risk is often misunderstood—and why the biggest barriers to leadership are rarely external.
Jim offers a thought-provoking novel perspective: risk is no...
Leading Across Cultures and Business Realities with Jia Hou
In this episode, we welcome Jia Hou, a global business leader who has spent the past fourteen years helping industrial companies grow across Europe and Asia. Drawing on her experience spanning markets, organizations and regional businesses, Jia shares why business challenges are rarely just about culture. Instead, they are about leading across different business realities, decision-making logics and systems of execution.
Highlights
The discussion begins with the concept of "China Speed"—a term that has attracted increasing attention in Europe. Jia challenges the common assumption that it is simply about moving faster. Instead, she ex...From Chemist to Executive Coach: What Leaders Can Learn from a Non-Linear Career
Many leaders reach a point in their career where something feels slightly "off" — even when, on paper, everything looks successful. In this episode, Gerrit Pelzer shares his personal professional journey: from studying chemistry and earning a PhD, through senior leadership roles in the chemical industry (including several years as an expat in Thailand), to eventually becoming an executive coach.
Rather than telling a story for its own sake, this conversation uses Gerrit's journey as a case study for leadership reflection. Together, Martin and Gerrit explore what leaders can learn from moments of dissonance, gradual realization, an...
The Inner Development Goals: Building Resilient Leadership for a Complex World
In this episode, we return to the updated Inner Development Goals (IDG), and reflect on what has changed, why it matters and how IDG is now even more relevant for leaders that want to develop resilient leadership.
Why IDG matters
Today leaders are not primarily challenged by 'technical problems' where clear solutions exist. Instead they face adaptive challenges in an increasingly complex, interconnected, and fast-moving world.
IDG answers: What inner capacities do leaders need in order to lead resilient, human-centered organisations in this complex environment?
5 dimensions...
The Inner Development Goals 2.0 - Bringing Forgiveness into Leadership
In this episode, we explore forgiveness as an essential yet often overlooked capacity in leadership. Inspired by the updated Inner Development Goals 2.0, which now include forgiveness, we ask what it really means to forgive in a corporate context — and why it might be one of the strongest acts a leader can take.
We look at how resentment and hurts drain energy, how unresolved conflicts hold teams back, and how forgiveness can help rebuild trust and release energy for growth and collaboration. And we challenge the idea that forgiveness is a sign of weakness — and rather requires strength, self-awareness, and...
Good Leaders in Turbulent Times − with Martin Farrell
In this episode we explore what it means to lead with authenticity, courage, compassion and wisdom when the pressure is on. Our guest, Martin Farrell, author of Good Leaders in Turbulent Times, shares insights from six decades working for and with civil society organizations including the Red Cross and Save the Children.
Through the metaphor of coffee roasting—the “second crack” that releases a bean’s full flavor—Martin reminds us that it’s often the heat of turbulence that helps leaders grow, if they have the courage to face it.
Highlights
The heat t...Stop Telling, Start Learning: Five Steps to People-Powered Change
So often leaders tell people what to do, expecting change to follow. But real, lasting change happens when people understand, process, and make sense of change for themselves. In this episode, we dive into the "Power of learning” as a key to leading change and transformation.
We share a practical, five-step approach that every leader can use to involve people, spark motivation, and create ownership of change. It’s about moving from telling to engaging, from compliance to commitment — and putting people at the center of transformation.
Highl...
Executive Coaching Lessons from 15 Years: Who You Are Is How You Lead
As a senior leader, you've achieved significant success. But how do you keep evolving into the best leader you can be—and is executive coaching the right lever?
In this special 49th episode of Second Crack, co-hosts Gerrit Pelzer and Martin Aldergård take a candid look at the purpose and value of executive coaching. Marking his 15th anniversary in the field, Gerrit shares his core philosophy: coaching is about helping leaders create the conditions in which people—including the leaders themselves—can be their best, not just do thei...
Expat Leadership: The Untold Truths Behind the Adventure
An international assignment often promises adventure and accelerated career growth. And while an expatriate experience can be life-enriching and fulfilling, it also comes with challenges and unexpected surprises few people talk about.
In this episode of Second Crack – The Leadership Podcast, hosts Gerrit Pelzer and Martin Aldergård draw on their decades of experience leading, coaching, and consulting abroad. Each having lived and worked in Asia for over 20 years, they offer candid insights into the unique rewards and hidden challenges of taking on international assignments.
Moving beyond surface-level excitement, they explore c...
Leadership Under Pressure with Michael Andrei – Former Professional Volleyball Team Captain
What can the high-stakes world of professional sports teach us about leadership in the corporate world?
In this episode, we are joined by Michael Andrei, former German National Volleyball Player and Team Captain of the SWD Powervolleys Düren. Michael now serves as the team's Athletic Coach and works with individuals and organizations as a Personal Trainer and Motivational Coach.
Together, we explore the striking parallels between leading on the court and leading in the boardroom. Drawing f...
What Can Leaders Learn from a Clown? With Janolof Elander
We explore an unexpected but powerful source of leadership insight: the art of clowning. Together with our guest, Janolof Elander, we dive into how the presence, vulnerability, and connection practiced by clowns can help us become more human-centered and authentic leaders.
We invite you to step back and explore how being fully present — even in chaos or uncertainty — opens the door to trust, connection, and transformation.
🌟 The Main Principle of Clowning
“Don’t try to be funny.”
This might feel unintuitive, but clowning isn’t about jokes. It’s about presence, b...
Leadership Under Pressure: What to Do When It Feels Too Much
Even the most seasoned leaders face moments when their work feels overwhelmingly difficult—when self-doubt creeps in, motivation fades, and the usual strategies to "push through" no longer seem to work. In this episode of Second Crack – The Leadership Podcast, we explore what to do when leading starts to feel truly hard.
Join us as we reflect on the emotional, mental, and physical toll that leadership challenges can take—especially in today's volatile and high-pressure corporate environments. We talk about how to recognize when it's time to take a break versus when persistence might carry you through. And we...
The Leadership Challenge Of Promotions － How To Make The Right Call
Promoting the right people is one of the most critical decisions a leader can make—but all too often, internal promotions don’t work out as expected.
In this episode, we explore the most common mistakes in internal promotions—and, most importantly, how to avoid them. We discuss:
The mistake of confusing past performance with future potentialThe lack of clarity and transparency about what’s truly needed for the next-level role—beyond the job descriptionHow the Performance-Potential Matrix can help you take a more structured a highly effective approach to successi...Re-THINKING Leadership: Exploring the Inner Development Goals
How we think as leaders profoundly shapes our ability to navigate complexity, make sense of challenges, and involve others. In this episode, we explore the "Thinking" dimension of the Inner Development Goals (IDG) and why developing our thinking skills is crucial for long-term success. We share insights on how leaders can expand their perspectives, avoid oversimplifications, and strengthen their ability to make sense of complex challenges.
1. Complexity Awareness
Leaders are often great at solving ‘technical’ challenges; however complex, adaptive, challenges require a different approach. We discuss why awareness of complexity is key.
Transformation and the Power of Involvement - with Ilkka Mäkitalo
We continue to explore how to make corporate transformation more successful by more intentional and meaningful involvement of employees.
In this episode, we’re joined by Ilkka Mäkitalo, founder of Howspace, to explore how leaders can create better involvement that taps into collective intelligence, leverages technology, and fosters deeper engagement.
Key Themes
1. Engage Thoughtfully and Intentionally
Involvement isn’t just about participation; it’s about designing thoughtful interactions. Ilkka emphasizes collaboration design, ensuring processes facilitate meaningful two-way dialogue rather than one-way communication. A well-structured dialogue fosters ownership...
Why Leaders Need to Know About the Brain: An Audiobook Special
In today’s episode, we present a free audio version of Gerrit Pelzer's chapter Soft Skills Through the Lens of Hard Science: Insights into Why Leaders Need to Know About the Brain from the book Brains Inspiring Businesses.*
In this chapter, Gerrit highlights three essential insights every leader should know about the brain:
Each brain is unique—this influences motivation and the conditions under which people can be their best.
Emotions drive all our actions, including at work—yet they’re often overlooked in the corporate world.
Lessons From Women In Leadership − With Dr. Melanie Maas-Brunner and Evelyn Chau
In this episode we explore a timely and vital question: What can women bring to leadership that men can't? Joining us are two accomplished women leaders from traditionally male-dominated industries: Dr. Melanie Maas-Brunner, a former BASF board member, and Evelyn Chau, a director in the global banking industry. Together we dive into the unique contributions women bring to leadership, the challenges, and what we can all learn from a more diverse approach to leadership.
KEY MESSAGES AND LESSONS
Authentic Leadership
Melanie and Evelyn stress the importance of authenticity...
Successful Transformation - With People at the Heart of Change
We explore how to achieve success in corporate transformation.
The discussion starts with the fact that many organisations still seem to rely on traditional top-down approaches, despite evidence that this method leads to disengagement, resistance to change, and change fatigue.
We conclude that there is a need for organisations to rethink their approach to transformation by putting people at the heart of the process. This means inviting people to co-create at scale, tapping into the collective intelligence of the organisation. Important is also to address both the rational and emotional side of change. Technological advancements, like AI...
What Can Leaders Learn from Horses? With Ed Renshaw
Gerrit Pelzer and Martin Aldergård delve into an unexpected but insightful theme: what leaders can learn from horses. Joined by guest Ed Renshaw, an executive coach with expertise in equine-assisted leadership development, they explore the parallels between interacting with horses and leading people, providing a unique perspective on leadership dynamics.
Highlights:
Purposeful Leadership: Horses, like people, respond to clear, authentic leadership. Ed explains how horses mirror human energy and intentions, offering leaders immediate feedback on their behavior. Horses thrive under purposeful direction, and this mirrors what human teams e...
Intuition in Leadership - with Dr. Charlotte Tamason
In this episode, we explore the power and importance of intuition in leadership with Intuition Coach Dr. Charlotte Tamason. Intuition is often an underestimated aspect of leadership, yet it plays a crucial role in decision-making, fostering innovation, and navigating complex situations.
Episode Highlights
Achieving More by Wanting Less: Contentment in Leadership
In a corporate environment, leaders are expected to be achievement-oriented and drive results. However, the relentless pursuit of goals can lead to exhaustion and burnout. Often, both leaders and employees miss out on enjoying the process while working towards the organization’s future vision.
In this episode, Martin Aldergård and Gerrit Pelzer explore how leaders can find a balance between feeling content in the present moment while maintaining a drive for future aspirations.
Key Points:
2:55 - The Importance of Purpose: When your work aligns with your deeper purpose in life, it...
Develop Leadership Resilience - with Enrico Cañal Bruland
Join us in a conversation with Enrico Cañal Bruland, GM&VP of a multinational pharmaceutical company, where we discuss how to develop resilience in leadership.
Reflecting on professional and private challenges, Enrico shares 3 factors that have helped him become a calmer, more balanced, and better version of himself. And as a result, becoming a more resilient leader, supporting his team and fostering a positive, forward-looking mindset, during difficult times.
Curiosity - the ability to approach challenges as learning opportunitiesEmpathy - being empathetic to others in times of difficulties, b...Leading Change in a Foreign Country - Leadership Lessons from Noah Shepherd
In this episode, we talk with Noah Shepherd about leading change in a foreign country. We tap into his 30+ years of experience as a leader and executive in Asia.
Our conversation covers three key success factors for leading change:
It's not a raceInvolve everyoneTailor your communication to each audienceWhile this certainly can be seen as common knowledge, there is a lot to learn from Noah's deep experience and the stories he is sharing. He provides practical examples and insights, leading to significant improvements in people turnover, accident rates, product quality, and customer...
Mastering Assertiveness in Leadership － with Rachel Goodwin
In this episode we delve into the vital leadership skill of assertiveness. With guest Rachel Goodwin, a UK-based leadership coach with a specialisation in assertiveness and supporting women in the workplace, we explore how leaders can balance assertiveness to avoid being too soft, or overly aggressive.
We discuss behavioural patterns including passive, aggressive, and passive-aggressive styles, and the role of skilful assertive communication in achieving win-win situations and impact as a leader.
We also cover practical exercises for developing assertiveness, such as role-playing and self-reflection on em...
Beyond Silos: Navigating Organizational Boundaries, with Dr. Jürgen Scherer
In this episode, we explore how to navigate organisational boundaries. As enterprises expand, silos and barriers often emerge, hindering collaboration across units, functions, and regions. However, adept leaders understand that success comes from bridging such boundaries, both within and outside the organisation.
Join us as we delve into this vital leadership topic with our valued guest, Dr. Jürgen Scherer, a seasoned leader renowned for his expertise in navigating boundaries in global organisations.
Key Moments
Introduction to Dr. Jürgen Scherer [02:32]
Understanding why organizational Boundaries exist [04:34]
...
The GAPS Grid: How to Accelerate Your Development as a Leader
In today's episode, we delve into the GAPS Grid, a dynamic tool designed to propel your leadership journey forward. Crafted by David B. Peterson, the GAPS Grid offers a structured approach to self-reflection, fostering clarity and alignment crucial for impactful leadership.*
At its core, the GAPS Grid is a straightforward 2-by-2 matrix. You can visualize it by clicking here: https://bit.ly/GAPS-Grid. The 'G' quadrant represents Goals & Values, prompting introspection into what truly matters in your life. We explore reflection questions to unearth your core values and aspirations, e...
Coaching Skills for Leaders And How to Overcome the Obstacles
Applying coaching skills as a leader is one of the best ways to develop people and boost employee engagement. And in fact, many leaders have attended "coaching skills for leaders" or "manager as a coach" trainings. Why then, we might ask, is not everyone in every organisation fully engaged, yet. Is coaching not working, after all?
We are convinced coaching does work, but there are factors that keep leaders from applying them.
What is coaching?
Coaching should not be seen as a remedy to fix underperformance. Coaching is not about telling...
How to Motivate People: A Practical Guide for Leaders
Leaders often ask us, “How can I motivate my team?” or “How do I enhance employee engagement?”. Unfortunately, there is no simple answer, as motivation is a highly individual and complex subject.
But the challenge of motivating people is also what makes life interesting as a leader. Wouldn’t it be boring if we were all like robots, needing three pushes of a button, to be motivated?
Nevertheless, there are common motivational “themes”, or guidelines, that every leader can benefit from.
Key moments
[04:37] A common misconception is that people ar...
Leadership Transitions: How to Hit the Ground Running in Your New Role
Embarking on a more senior executive role in your career can be very rewarding, yet it also poses several challenges. In this episode, we delve into the intricate dynamics of leadership transitions, uncovering strategies to make a profound impact in your new leadership position from the get-go.
[3:10] Understanding the nuances of your new role compared to your previous one is pivotal. Letting go of familiar tasks and delegating these can prove challenging, especially if you excelled in those tasks and now must entrust them to individuals with less experience or lower s...
Strategy that Works: Insights from a 12-Month People-Centered Project
In this episode, we share insights from a 12-month project where we involved all executives, managers and employees in shaping and implementing a new vision and strategy for growth. The project resulted in re-energizing and motivating 700 people at a large chemical manufacturing plant, fostering not only business expansion but also fortifying a sense of ownership and teamwork across the site.
Key takeaways
Approach vision and strategy as a process, implementation includedInvolve people in co-creating the vision & strategy to cultivate a sense of ownership and use the collective intelligence of the organisationWhile the process requires...How Transparency Makes a Difference in Leadership - with Adam Horne
In this episode we keep exploring the topic of trust in leadership, today from the perspective of openness and transparency. We are joined by Adam Horne, the co-founder of OpenOrg, a company on a mission to rebuild trust by bringing transparency to the world of work.
We know that being open and transparent as a leader is key to build trust. An article in Harvard Business Review reports 76% higher employee engagement, and Gallup statistics shows 21% higher profit margin, compared to the average transparent company. So what can you do as a leader and what are...
360 Degree Feedback: A Welcome Punch in the Gut for Leaders
A 360 Degree Feedback may be the most powerful leadership development tool you will ever use — if you use it correctly.
Feedback holds the key to successful leadership development. Despite our well-intentioned endeavours, our actions may not always align with our intentions in the eyes of others. The most successful leaders understand how they are perceived by others and adjust their actions and manage perception accordingly.
Receiving candid feedback is not always pleasant, but it invariably provides you with an opportunity to improve and develop as a...
Leadership in Complex Times — with Anu Rathninde, APAC President, Johnson Controls
Join our conversation with Anu Rathninde, the APAC President of Johnson Controls, and take-away an easy-to-remember guide for how to tackle complexity as a leader. Apply the steps in the “SIILA”-model and directly understand what you need to address, and create positive transformation in your organization.
As a leader, you are expected to deliver predictable results and you are held accountable. It might be tempting to base your decision-making on control and assumed certainty. Yet, an organisation, with its people and stakeholders, is a complex adaptive system that doesn’t operate like a...
Success Redefined: Exploring the Power of Happiness in Organisations with Dr. Tho Ha Vinh
Tho Ha Vinh (bio below) found that one root cause for suffering is our current economic system based on competition and the fundamental contradiction of endless economic growth and the reality of a finite planet.
It is an illusion that happiness and satisfaction come from more consumption. In effect, the ever-increasing consumption is destroying the planet and thus the very foundation of our human lives.
The goal of economic growth must be to to satisfy legitimate human needs through goods and services. These goods and services are just a part of what enhances h...
Can, Care, Do: How to Build Trust and Spark Action — with Jim Massey, CSO
We are joined by Jim Massey, Chief Sustainability Officer at Zai Lab, and former global Vice President of ESG at AstraZeneca. Jim shares his experience as a global sustainability leader, and how he is using the Can, Care, Do model to lead transformation in the healthcare industry. Jim is also the author of the newly launched book "Trust in Action".
Listen and gain insights on how you can build trust: the foundation of all positive action and change. And as always, we end with a few reflection questions for...
Self-Awareness for Leadership Success － with Dr. Nia Thomas
From our experience in executive coaching and leadership development we see again and again that self-awareness is absolutely mission critical for self-development and personal growth. And of course, we can ask the question: Is there a link between a leader's self-awareness and his or her leadership effectiveness?
To help us answer this question, we have a great guest on the show, Dr. Nia Thomas.
Key moments
[05:19] Nia shares what triggered her curiosity about leadership and self-awareness
[08:04] Most important findings from Nia’s res...
Genuine Dialogue: Key to Effective Leadership
On the one hand, ‘every leader knows’ that it’s important to make all voices heard in an organisation, diversity and inclusion is critical. On the other hand, it’s still not uncommon to experience meetings where only a minority of participants is talking. And why is it so difficult to truly listen to opposing viewpoints?
It has a lot to do with dialogue. In this episode we go deeper into the practice of genuin dialogue, its benefits and challenges. And, as always Gerrit and Martin have very different entry-points. Gerrit is sharing his personal observat...
The Charms and Challenges of Leading Sustainability - with Anthony Watanabe
In this episode, we interview Anthony Watanabe, Chief Sustainability Officer of Indorama Ventures, a 20-billion dollar chemical company with 140 manufacturing sites worldwide and 26,000 employees. Anthony shares his experience of leading sustainable transformation at scale, and as we will see, there are both charms & challenges to the job.
Key moments
[05:00] How Anthony “wonderfully accidentally” discovered sustainability and started his 20+ year career in the field.
[10:00] Charms and challenges of leading sustainability. Including the “mainstreaming” of sustainable transformation and the increasing demands on trans...
