Why Conscious Leadership Is The Adaptation Portal To The Future Of Business

Описание: What if the leadership style that got you here… won’t get you through what’s coming next?

In this powerful episode of The Leadership Launchpad Podcast - The Legacy Edition, Susan Hobson and Tracey Allen sit down with Kelly Macdonald Forrest, Head of People, Culture and Leadership at Team Nokia, to unpack why and how leadership will have to adapt fundamentally to meet the level of change as we move into 2026 and beyond.

With over 23 years of global leadership experience across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, Kelly brings a rare 360-degree perspective on what truly drives high performance in complex, fast-changing environments. From rescuing high-risk projects to building cultures rooted in trust, accountability, and empathy, this conversation goes far beyond leadership theory and into what actually works under pressure.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why traditional leadership models are breaking down
The real gap between leadership theory and lived behavior
Why self-awareness is the foundation of adaptability
How emotional intelligence separates effective leaders from reactive ones
Why “this is just my leadership style” no longer works
How AI, disruption, and uncertainty are reshaping leadership expectations
The role of self-leadership in resilience, growth mindset, and performance
Why curiosity, vulnerability, and adaptability are the new leadership edge

This episode is a wake-up call for leaders navigating disruption, burnout, AI acceleration, and cultural change. If you’re serious about building trust, psychological safety, and future-ready teams, this conversation is essential listening.

About Kelly Macdonald-Forrest:
With 23 years in global telecoms, Kelly is an engineer-turned-executive who has led high-performing teams across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. Working on both the vendor and customer sides, she brings a true 360° view of the industry, plus senior leadership experience spanning HR, Finance, Supply Chain, and major Transformation.

Kelly is known for creating cultures of accountability, innovation, and trust, and for delivering results in some of the world’s most challenging markets. She’s also the go-to leader for rescuing sizeable projects from heavy losses and turning them into strategic wins.

Kelly is a people-first leader who combines empathy, careful listening, clarity and vision,bringing her teams and stakeholders with her, uniting them, driving change, and unlocking performance wherever she leads

Find Kelly Macdonald-Forrest
  / kelly-macdonald-forrest-30bb9039  

Find Susan Hobson, Founder & CEO of Elite High Performance, Top Leadership Coach & Author, at the following links:
https://www.elitehighperformance.com/...   / jumpstartliving  
  / susanlhobson  
  / susanlhobson  


Tracey Allen - Head of Real Estate at Nokia
  / tracey-allen-a70b95b  

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Timestamps
0:00 - 1:29 Introduction
1:30 - 3:18 What inspired the leadership journey
3:19 - 4:51 Leadership styles
4:52 - 6:46 Why copying other leaders never works
6:47 - 8:34 Adaptability in Leadership
8:35 - 10:11 Why conscious leadership is essential under pressure
10:12 - 16:51 Self-awareness gap in leaders
16:52 - 20:27 Leadership at a crossroads: 2026 and beyond
20:28 29:01 Empowerment over control in modern leadership
29:02 - 37:19 - Growth mindset as a leading indicator of success
37:20 - 40:44 What leadership must look like in 2026
40:45 - 43:15 - Conclusion