What if the secret to great leadership isn’t more strategy—but more soul?

In this episode of No Limits Leadership, I’m joined by Valerie Sandjivy, a global leadership mentor and founder of Ellipsis. With over 20 years of experience across France, the U.S., and Asia, Valerie helps C-suite leaders and entrepreneurs master the inner and outer game of leadership by balancing structure and soul, logic and intuition, discipline and play.

We explore how to communicate across cultures, lead across five generations, and unlock your team’s full potential by combining emotional intelligence with visionary structure. Valerie’s insights on presence, neuroscience, and energetic balance offer a radically refreshing approach to what leadership looks like today.

If you're building high-performing teams in a fast-changing world—this conversation is your blueprint.

Topics & Timestamps:

• (00:15) Intro to Valerie Sandjivy: Global leadership experience + intuitive coaching
• (03:24) Why cross-cultural leadership is a communication superpower
• (07:50) How traveling sharpens leadership presence and awareness
• (10:40) Asking better questions and leading shoulder-to-shoulder
• (13:06) The challenge and opportunity of leading across five generations
• (18:42) What Gen Z wants from work—and how leadership must evolve
• (22:01) Beyond money: Why purpose, authenticity, and creation matter
• (26:17) The mindset shift from survival to innovation and play
• (30:33) Using neuroscience to rewire leadership habits and behavior
• (37:25) Masculine vs. feminine energy in leadership—and how to balance them
• (46:49) The most powerful leadership question you’re not asking

Guest Links:

Valerie Sandjivy's Website: ellipses.us.com
Includes her free leadership assessment and additional resources.

executive coaching, leadership development, team accountability, coaching culture, middle managers, high-performing teams, leadership communication, onboarding systems, questions for leaders, leadership podcast, self-leadership, culture-building, lead yourself first, Ken Proctor, Sean Patton, No Limits Leadership

If you're a growth-minded executive, founder, or team leader looking to build a high-trust, high-performance culture—this episode is for you.

Ken Proctor is an executive coach and former CEO who helps organizations turn middle managers into culture carriers. In this conversation, we unpack how leaders can drive accountability, engagement, and retention not by giving better answers—but by asking better questions.

You’ll learn:

• Why most companies break in the middle—and how to fix it
• The “three-question rule” that will transform how you listen and lead
• How to onboard team members in a way that builds loyalty from day one
• A simple framework for managing up, down, and across your organization

Whether you're coaching a team, scaling a business, or developing leaders—you’ll walk away with practical tools to lead with more curiosity, clarity, and impact.

🔊 Listen now and learn how to lead smarter—not just harder.

Ken's Website: https://kennethproctor.com/

Ken's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/proctorken/

executive coaching, leadership development, team accountability, coaching culture, middle managers, high-performing teams, leadership communication, onboarding systems, questions for leaders, leadership podcast, self-leadership, culture-building, lead yourself first, Ken Proctor, Sean Patton, No Limits Leadership

What if your team could recite your mission without looking it up—and actually believe in it?

In this powerful episode, Sean sits down with retired Air Force Squadron Commander and leadership expert Alex Ramos to unpack one of the most underrated tools for building high-performance culture: a six-word mission that lives in your team’s hearts, not just your handbook.

They explore how Alex used this strategy—what he calls a VisMis—to align diverse teams, inspire belief, and create buy-in from the ground up. You’ll learn why simplicity scales, how belief beats compliance, and what it means to lead as the voice of your mission.

Sean and Alex also dive into:

• Why middle managers are the most overwhelmed and under-equipped layer in your org
• The three elements every leader needs to make high-stakes decisions
• How to transform safety, innovation, and morale through culture clarity
• The difference between communicating and connecting with your team
• Why leadership is more than a role—it’s a spiritual journey

If you're ready to create a culture that actually lives your values, this episode is your blueprint.

🎧 Listen now and discover the six words that can transform your leadership—and your team.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Leadership and Background
07:02 The Role of an Aerospace Physiologist
12:11 Challenges Faced by Middle Managers
20:29 Defining Leadership and Its Spiritual Journey
27:24 The Power of Simplicity in Leadership
34:41 The Dark Side of Meaningful Leadership
44:11 Excellence in High-Pressure Environments

executive coaching, leadership development, team accountability, coaching culture, middle managers, high-performing teams, leadership communication, onboarding systems, questions for leaders, leadership podcast, self-leadership, culture-building, lead yourself first, Ken Proctor, Sean Patton, No Limits Leadership