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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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Laura Venezia - Compassionate Leadership Lessons
Episode 185
Monday, 15 September, 2025
Get ready for an inspiring conversation with our host Cathleen O’Sullivan and Laura Venezia, an educational leader whose passion for nurturing others has taken her across the U.S., China, Hong Kong, and now Germany. In this episode of Legendary Leaders, Laura reflects on her early love of teaching, the challenges and lessons of working internationally, and how her commitment to kindness and inclusion continues to guide her as a leader. She shares practical advice on balancing technology with real connection, building collaborative relationships, and embracing those everyday moments that can have a lasting impact. Laura also talks about her shift from teacher to leader, learning to let go of needing approval, and the importance of staying true to your values when leading yourself and others. Episode Timeline: 00:00 Introduction 08:11 Discovering passion in early education 15:48 Building a unique identity within a multicultural school setting 17:38 Spontaneous move to China, culture shock in education, and risks of individual learning over collaboration 26:02 Using tech wisely while embracing curiosity and unscripted teachable moments 32:15 Making space for curiosity and role modeling openness 37:33 Transition through COVID, values-driven community in Germany, and leadership journey 42:11 Leadership as guiding others, building trust, and creating safe spaces 45:43 Finding alignment through support, self-reflection, and feedback 52:34 Growth through uncertainty, shifting from classroom teacher to school-wide leader 55:41 Embracing authenticity and letting go of control 59:47 Asking better questions, listening deeply, and creating presence in family life Key Takeaway: Purpose Over Performance: Laura highlights that leadership in education and beyond is about nurturing kind and authentic people, not just chasing results. Role Modelling and Connection: Laura explains why our behaviour as leaders matters most, from how we manage emotions to how we build relationships. Knowing Yourself: Laura and Cathleen talk about the importance of understanding your own values and letting go of the need for approval in order to grow as a leader. About Laura Vinezia: Laura is an experienced educational leader with over 20 years experience in early childhood education. Her career has taken her across the globe, with impactful roles in schools in the United States, China, Hong Kong, and now Germany, where she continues to inspire and lead. Passionate about the foundational years of learning, Laura is deeply committed to nurturing young minds and hearts. Her work is guided by a clear and meaningful purpose: to help “make good people.” Through her leadership, she strives to create inclusive, thoughtful, and compassionate learning environments that support the growth of both children and educators. Connect with Laura: Business: lis.school LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-venezia X/Twitter: @LauraVCole Connect: Find | Cathleen O’Sullivan Business: https://cathleenosullivan.com/ Email: cmc@cathleenmerkelcoaching.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathleen-merkel/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legendary_leaders_cathleenos/ Youtube: FOLLOW LEGENDARY LEADERS ON APPLE, SPOTIFY OR WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTS Connect: Find | Cathleen O’Sullivan Business: www.cathleenmerkel.com Email: cmc@cathleenmerkelcoaching.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/cathleen-merkel-2b0991151 Instagram: www.instagram.com/cathleenmerkel Twitter: twitter.com/CathleenMerkel7 SUBSCRIBE TO THIS PODCAST ON APPLE PODCASTS.
