In this episode of Inside the C-Suite, Christy sits down with Marnie Stockman and Nick Coniglio — leadership educators, authors of Lead It Like Lasso and The Business of You, and advocates for human-centered leadership.
Their message is simple.
Leadership starts with you.
Before strategy.
Before influence.
Before authority.
Self-awareness.
Marnie and Nick spent years inside corporate leadership roles before realizing something many organizations overlook: the biggest leadership gaps aren’t technical — they’re human.
Communication.
Self-reflection.
Character.
Accountability.
Vulnerability.
And the willingness to admit when you’re wrong.
This conversation explores what happens when leaders stop chasing the credential ladder and start investing in the value ladder — the personal growth that actually shapes how we lead.
Because teams don’t follow perfection.
They follow authenticity.
Nick shares how his own leadership mindset shifted when he realized defending every decision wasn’t leadership — growth was. Marnie discusses the importance of building cultures where leaders model reflection, learning, and emotional intelligence.
We unpack:
How leadership begins with self-reflection
Why character skills outweigh technical skills
The role vulnerability plays in building trust
Why hope can be more powerful than trust for followers
The importance of admitting when you're wrong
How failure can become one of leadership’s greatest teachers
Why investing in personal development changes leadership outcomes
The difference between the credential ladder and the value ladder
How leaders can align their values with the cultures they build
Marnie and Nick are also building Blue, an upcoming platform designed to help young adults develop life and leadership skills through guided, gamified self-reflection.
Because leadership development shouldn’t start in the boardroom.
It should start with understanding yourself.
As Nick says in the episode:
"Would you invest in you?"
The future of leadership belongs to those who can answer that question honestly.
00:00 Introduction to Leadership and Collaboration
01:33 The Journey of Marnie and Nick
05:15 Navigating Broken Systems
08:35 The Importance of Self-Reflection
12:06 Investing in Yourself
15:45 The Shift from Expertise to Human Skills
19:21 Vulnerability in Leadership
22:39 Learning from Failures
26:02 The Future of Leadership and Blue
| Connect with Us |
Follow Marnie Stockman:
LinkedIn – Marnie Stockman
Website – Lead It Like Lasso
Follow Nick Coniglio:
LinkedIn – Nick Coniglio
Website – The Business of You bridges the gap between personal and professional development with a toolkit.
Learn more about their books:
Lead It Like Lasso
The Business of You
(Marnie Stockman and Nick Coniglio are leadership educators and authors who focus on helping individuals develop character-driven leadership through self-awareness, reflection, and human-centered skills.)
Follow Inside the C-Suite:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/christyhoneycutt/
Subscribe on Spotify – Inside the C-Suite
Subscribe on Apple – Inside the C-Suite
Want to be on the show or know someone who would be a great guest?
Contact Form – Inside the C-Suite Podcast
Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network.
Sponsors
