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The Legendary Leaders PodcastAuthor: Cathleen O'Sullivan Growth Accelerator for Leaders
Welcome to the Legendary Leaders Podcast! This show aims to inspire you to start living your best life! My podcast guests will be sharing their own personal paths to success, the moments when they hit a wall that turned into their biggest breaking point, and we will be sharing some top tips on how to proactively create some exciting changes in your professional and personal life. Our guests, who are all leaders in their own rights, will be talking about how they started their journey, what inspired and motivated them, along with the challenges they had to overcome in order to get to where they are now, having achieved a more content and liberated life. All episodes will cover an array of topics from the importance of self-care and mindset, through to bravery and authenticity, and the importance of building communities and support networks. I have interviewed leaders who have all taken varied and interesting paths, from content creators, journalists through to designers, coaches, musicians as well as actors, business mentors, speakers and many, many more. They all faced tough challenges which served as motivation to live their best lives yet! Please enjoy listening to this series of podcasts as much as I have done creating them, and I really hope you take away lots to inspire, encourage and motivate you on your journey to becoming a Legendary Leader. Language: en Genres: Business, Careers, Entrepreneurship Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Michael Frantl - Building a Strong Workplace Culture
Episode 180
Monday, 7 July, 2025
Get ready for a thoughtful and down-to-earth conversation with our host, Cathleen O’Sullivan and guest is Michael Frantl, Global Lead for Culture, Engagement, and Performance Solutions at Novo Nordisk about what really shapes strong leadership and why culture matters more than ever. With a career that’s taken him across the US, UK, and Scandinavia, Michael shares his real-world experience of building workplace cultures that go beyond posters and buzzwords. Together, they talk about leading with trust, creating space for belonging, and the small, everyday actions that bring values to life. Michael also reflects on the role of optimism, why control doesn’t build connection, and how to make culture feel genuine wherever you work. If you’re building a team, leading change, or just trying to show up more intentionally, this episode is for you. Episode Timeline: 00:00 Introduction 04:36 Life since we last met: moves, parenthood, and big shifts 06:03 Taking the leap, moving to Denmark and starting fresh 10:50 Balancing positivity and reality in leadership 14:09 From rush to reflection: Building quiet moments Into busy days 19:48 Lessons from the family construction business 30:58 Listening to understand: what philosophy taught me about dialogue 39:09 Building workplaces that support people and results 52:06 The power of focus and consistency in culture work 01:03:26 Practical steps for organizations tobBring values to life Key Takeaways: Culture is about what you do every day: Michael and Cathleen stress that company culture isn’t just about posters or slogans. It’s about how people act and interact every day. Positivity Matters, but keep it real: Michael talks about finding joy in small moments and connecting with others, but also warns against ignoring challenges. Leading with intention and space: Move away from micromanaging to truly supporting people. Listening, clear communication, and giving teams room to grow are key. About Michal Frantl: Michael is a Global Culture, Engagement, & Performance Solutions Lead at Novo Nordisk, based in Copenhagen Denmark. He is an experienced people and culture professional with a focus on culture building and measurement, leadership development/coaching, and employee engagement who has worked across international offices both in house and as an external consultant. Originally from Wisconsin in the US, he has lived in the US, UK, Sweden, Italy, and Denmark and has a Masters degree in Organizational Behaviour from Birkbeck, University of London. Connect with Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelfrantl/ Connect: Find | Cathleen O’Sullivan Business: cathleenmerkel.com Email: cmc@cathleenmerkelcoaching.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathleen-merkel/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legendary_leaders_cathleenos/ FOLLOW LEGENDARY LEADERS ON APPLE, SPOTIFY OR WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTS.
