How to Handle Power and Ego in the Boardroom | Jonathan Bennett
Download MP3If you’ve ever wished leaders would stop acting like robots and start acting like humans, this episode is your new masterclass.
Leadership advisor, entrepreneur, and board director Jonathan Bennett joins Angela to unpack the real skills great leaders rely on: conflict resolution, culture-building, deep listening, emotional intelligence, and how to actually show up as a human in the room — even when things get messy.
You’ll learn the tools Jonathan uses with executives around the world, including:
• How to handle difficult conversations without freezing, shutting down, or blowing things up
• Why “what have you already tried?” is the most powerful leadership question you’re not asking
• How emotional triggers, somatic reactions, and old patterns shape how we lead
• Why good governance is relational — not just procedural
• How to run better meetings, build trust, and create space for real connection
• What young leaders can do right now to build board experience
• Why most conflict isn’t actually about you (and how to use that to your advantage)
Key Questions Answered:
How do great leaders handle conflict without making things worse?
How can you stay curious instead of defensive in hard conversations?
What’s the difference between emotional triggers and actual problems?
How do somatic reactions (freeze/fight/flight) impact leadership?
What does healthy conflict look like in teams and boardrooms?
How can leaders build trust and psychological safety?
How do you develop deep listening skills and avoid hijacking meetings?
What makes a board effective — and what destroys its culture?
How can new leaders get their first board seat?
Why is “what have you already tried?” a game-changing question for managers?
This episode cuts the fluff and gets real about leadership, culture, conflict, courage, and becoming the kind of leader people actually want to follow.
Key Themes:
Human-centered leadership
Conflict resolution and communication
Deep listening skills
Emotional intelligence for executives
Somatic responses and self-awareness
Trust, culture, and psychological safety
Governance and relational board leadership
Coaching, advising & navigating hard situations
Decision-making and meeting effectiveness
Leadership development and self-growth
Learn More About Jonathan:
Podcast: https://clearlythen.com/listen
Website: clearlythen.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bennettjonathan/
Mentioned in this Episode:
A League of Their Own (film) – quote “It’s supposed to be hard. If it were easy, everyone would do it.”
Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast – popular business quote
AI note-taking tools: Fathom (Angela’s mention): https://www.fathom.ai/
AI note-taking tools: Granola (Jonathan’s mention): https://www.granola.ai/
Angela’s blog about hobbies: https://www.angelagillnelms.com/why-doing-many-things-at-once-might-be-the-smartest-move-you-ever-make/
Keywords:
leadership skills
conflict resolution for leaders
emotional intelligence at work
how to handle difficult conversations
leadership communication
deep listening skills
culture and leadership
leadership coaching
executive coaching tools
how to lead meetings
leadership psychology
building trust at work
board governance
relational governance
leadership advice
leadership vs management
psychological safety
leadership development tools
becoming a better leader
how to show up authentically
conflict management strategies
#Leadership #ExecutiveCoaching #ConflictResolution #CultureMatters #LeadershipDevelopment #EmotionalIntelligence #BoardGovernance #HumanCenteredLeadership #BadassLeadersPodcast #AngelaGillNelms #JonathanBennett
Social Media Channels:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bebravebebadass/podcasts
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/73Dg8OQ7SqtGtSiCWQUfLB?si=c17c0f1abe29446f
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/badass-leaders-podcast-brave-hearts-brave-conversations/id1788987881
Audible: https://www.audible.com/podcast/Badass-Leaders-Podcast-Brave-Hearts-Brave-Conversations-Badass-Leaders/B0DS2CQL9V?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badassleaderspodcast/
Twitter: https://x.com/BALeadersPod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baleaderspod
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/badass-leaders-podcast2
Want to be a Podcast Guest?
If you are interested in being a guest on the podcast, email brave@angelagillnelms.com.
Learn more about the podcast at www.BadassLeadersPodcast.com.
Leadership advisor, entrepreneur, and board director Jonathan Bennett joins Angela to unpack the real skills great leaders rely on: conflict resolution, culture-building, deep listening, emotional intelligence, and how to actually show up as a human in the room — even when things get messy.
You’ll learn the tools Jonathan uses with executives around the world, including:
• How to handle difficult conversations without freezing, shutting down, or blowing things up
• Why “what have you already tried?” is the most powerful leadership question you’re not asking
• How emotional triggers, somatic reactions, and old patterns shape how we lead
• Why good governance is relational — not just procedural
• How to run better meetings, build trust, and create space for real connection
• What young leaders can do right now to build board experience
• Why most conflict isn’t actually about you (and how to use that to your advantage)
Key Questions Answered:
How do great leaders handle conflict without making things worse?
How can you stay curious instead of defensive in hard conversations?
What’s the difference between emotional triggers and actual problems?
How do somatic reactions (freeze/fight/flight) impact leadership?
What does healthy conflict look like in teams and boardrooms?
How can leaders build trust and psychological safety?
How do you develop deep listening skills and avoid hijacking meetings?
What makes a board effective — and what destroys its culture?
How can new leaders get their first board seat?
Why is “what have you already tried?” a game-changing question for managers?
This episode cuts the fluff and gets real about leadership, culture, conflict, courage, and becoming the kind of leader people actually want to follow.
Key Themes:
Human-centered leadership
Conflict resolution and communication
Deep listening skills
Emotional intelligence for executives
Somatic responses and self-awareness
Trust, culture, and psychological safety
Governance and relational board leadership
Coaching, advising & navigating hard situations
Decision-making and meeting effectiveness
Leadership development and self-growth
Learn More About Jonathan:
Podcast: https://clearlythen.com/listen
Website: clearlythen.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bennettjonathan/
Mentioned in this Episode:
A League of Their Own (film) – quote “It’s supposed to be hard. If it were easy, everyone would do it.”
Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast – popular business quote
AI note-taking tools: Fathom (Angela’s mention): https://www.fathom.ai/
AI note-taking tools: Granola (Jonathan’s mention): https://www.granola.ai/
Angela’s blog about hobbies: https://www.angelagillnelms.com/why-doing-many-things-at-once-might-be-the-smartest-move-you-ever-make/
Keywords:
leadership skills
conflict resolution for leaders
emotional intelligence at work
how to handle difficult conversations
leadership communication
deep listening skills
culture and leadership
leadership coaching
executive coaching tools
how to lead meetings
leadership psychology
building trust at work
board governance
relational governance
leadership advice
leadership vs management
psychological safety
leadership development tools
becoming a better leader
how to show up authentically
conflict management strategies
#Leadership #ExecutiveCoaching #ConflictResolution #CultureMatters #LeadershipDevelopment #EmotionalIntelligence #BoardGovernance #HumanCenteredLeadership #BadassLeadersPodcast #AngelaGillNelms #JonathanBennett
Social Media Channels:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bebravebebadass/podcasts
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/73Dg8OQ7SqtGtSiCWQUfLB?si=c17c0f1abe29446f
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/badass-leaders-podcast-brave-hearts-brave-conversations/id1788987881
Audible: https://www.audible.com/podcast/Badass-Leaders-Podcast-Brave-Hearts-Brave-Conversations-Badass-Leaders/B0DS2CQL9V?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badassleaderspodcast/
Twitter: https://x.com/BALeadersPod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baleaderspod
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/badass-leaders-podcast2
Want to be a Podcast Guest?
If you are interested in being a guest on the podcast, email brave@angelagillnelms.com.
Learn more about the podcast at www.BadassLeadersPodcast.com.
Creators and Guests
Host
Angela Gill Nelms
Angela Gill Nelms is a founder, board leader, podcaster, and award-winning entrepreneur with a career spanning SaaS, medical devices, biotech, and clinical research. She builds high-impact teams and organizations rooted in culture, resilience, and strategic execution—helping innovators move ideas from lab to market and leaders grow with intention. She hosts three podcasts that reflect her mission to elevate leadership and accelerate biomedical innovation: Badass Leaders Podcast, Holy Shift! Biomedical Breakthroughs Shaping Tomorrow, and Recovery Advocate Network: Coffee & Conversation. Across each show, Angela creates space for honest conversations that drive impact, reduce stigma, and shape the future of leadership and health. A Georgia Tech Academy of Distinguished Alumni honoree and INC 500 award recipient, Angela serves on multiple boards across innovation and mental health ecosystems. Outside of work, she’s beekeeping, blacksmithing, turning wood, or training—6× IRONMAN and lifelong advocate for humans being human.
Producer
Katie Hart
Katie Hart is the Senior Client Relations Manager and Executive Podcast Producer at The AGN Group, where she leads podcast production, brand strategy, and client experience from concept to launch. Equal parts creative and operational powerhouse, she guides clients through branding, recording, and distribution while ensuring every detail runs seamlessly. Known as a customer experience magician, Katie is passionate about making every client and guest feel seen, supported, and celebrated—delivering a five-star experience that amplifies bold stories and builds meaningful impact.
