Momentum: Real Talk for Leaders

About Momentum: Real Talk for Leaders

In today’s fast-moving world, success isn’t just about having a big vision—it’s about executing it. Turning bold ideas into small, meaningful actions. Balancing heart and mind, navigating uncertainty, and building momentum in business and life. Each episode explores the intersection of business and society, breaking down complex ideas into relatable, tangible, and practical insights you can apply immediately. With engaging conversations, debates, and insights, we challenge conventional wisdom, push boundaries, and spark the future of leadership and business strategies.

Publisher

Sidekick

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

13 May 2025

Latest episode

28 Jul 2026

Latest episodes

22 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   28 Jul 2026

   The Art of Facilitation IRL with Britt Grundy

   You’ve prepared the agenda, gathered the right people, and planned every detail—so why does the conversation still go nowhere? In this episode, Bonny is joined by her Sidekick colleague Britt Grundy to unpack the art and science of facilitation. Together, they explore why great facilitation is far more than running a meeting or following an agenda. From designing meaningful experiences and reading the room to knowing when to abandon your plan in service of the group, they share practical lessons from years of facilitating leadership teams, strategy sessions, and organizational change. Whether you're leading meetings, workshops, or everyday conversations, this episode will help you create more engaging discussions that lead to better decisions and stronger momentum. Key Takeaways: ➡️ Facilitators Create the Conditions, Not the Answers. Great facilitators aren't the center of attention—they're subtle referees who guide the conversation, balance participation, and help the group unlock its collective intelligence. ➡️ Obsess Over the Outcome, Not the Agenda. A well-designed agenda provides direction, but it should never become a script. Prepare deeply enough that you can confidently adapt the approach to what the group needs in the moment. ➡️ Facilitation Is Both an Art and a Science. Proven methods, adult-learning principles, and thoughtful session design create the structure. Presence, curiosity, judgment, and the ability to read the room bring that structure to life. ➡️ Prepare. Practice. Reflect. Strong facilitators are developed through experience. Prepare intentionally, look for opportunities to practice, and reflect after every session on what worked, what didn’t, and what you would change next time. Listener Challenge: Before your next meeting or session, ask yourself: “What outcome do we need to leave with?” Then design the conversation around achieving that outcome—not simply completing the agenda. Afterwards, take five minutes to reflect: What worked? Where did the group get stuck? What would you do differently next time? Because becoming a better facilitator isn’t about finding the perfect framework. It’s about intentionally improving every time you step into the room. Resources / Tools ➡️ Learn how to validate and acknowledge in conversations (https://pennytremblay.com/how-to-validate-and-acknowledge-in-conversations/) ➡️ Design your next learning experience using the tell, show, do, review method (https://maestrolearning.com/blogs/tell-show-do-review/) ➡️ Apply these five tips (https://sapro.moderncampus.com/blog/5-easy-tips-to-make-you-an-all-star-facilitator) to become a better facilitator Our Guest Britt Grundy (https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittneygrundy/) Consultant. Facilitator. Problem Solver. Britt is one of our Sidekicks—a consultant and facilitator who helps leadership teams, project teams, and organizations navigate everything from process mapping, design thinking, and team development to solving complex business challenges. Drawing on a background in research, business analytics, process improvement, and human-centered design, she brings a thoughtful balance of structure and curiosity to every engagement. Whether she's designing a strategic workshop or helping a teamwork through a difficult challenge, Britt is passionate about creating the conditions for people to think differently, collaborate effectively, and leave with clarity, ownership, and momentum. Our Co-Hosts Bonny van Rest (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnyvr/) Strategic Thinker. Bold Challenger. Grounded Visionary. Bonny is a strategist, facilitator, and co-founder of Sidekick Consulting who believes momentum is built in the middle of the mess. With a background as a CMO and over a decade of experience across startup and corporate environments, she’s known for her sharp thinking, no-nonsense mindset, and ability to turn big ideas into grounded action. Bonny brings a calm presence, clear direction, and just the right amount of edge to move things forward—with intention. Production by PRCPRN Studio (https://prcptn.com/). Directed by Giuliana DiBonaventura (https://www.linkedin.com/in/giuliana-dibonaventura-148a69132/)

2. 

   8 Jul 2026

   A 19,341-Foot View: Leadership Lessons from Kilimanjaro

   What if the biggest leadership breakthrough of your career didn't happen in the boardroom, but on the side of a mountain? In this episode, Bonny is joined by Spencer West and Alex Meers to explore how climbing Kilimanjaro transformed the way they think about leadership, success, and what truly matters. Although Bonny climbed the mountain just months ago and Spencer and Alex made the journey over a decade earlier, they discovered remarkably similar lessons—about identity, vulnerability, purpose, and perspective. Together, they unpack why stepping away from the noise of everyday life can help leaders reconnect with themselves, lead with greater humility, and build momentum that lasts. Key Takeaways ➡️ Leadership Is Bigger Than Achievement. The best leaders don't define themselves by titles or accomplishments. When you strip away your role, what's left is your purpose, your values, and the impact you have on those around you. ➡️ Vulnerability Is a Leadership Strength. Great leaders don't pretend to have all the answers. Asking for help, trusting others, and letting go of the myth of the self-made leader creates stronger teams and deeper trust. ➡️ Slow Down to Speed Up. Perspective doesn't come from working harder. It comes from creating intentional space to quiet the noise, try something new, and reconnect with the inner voice that's often drowned out by the demands of everyday life. Listener Challenge Create your own Micro-Kilimanjaro moment. Over the next 30 days, intentionally do one thing that takes you out of your normal routine. It doesn't have to be climbing a mountain. Take a solo hike, learn a new skill, spend a day without technology, or revisit something that brings you joy. Give yourself the space to gain perspective and ask: Who am I when my title, achievements, and to-do list are stripped away? Then head to our LinkedIn page and tell us: What's your Micro-Kilimanjaro? We'll choose one response that inspires us and send the winner a copy of Spencer West's newest book, Breaking Free. Our Guests Spencer West (https://www.spencer2thewest.com/) Author, speaker, content creator, and globally recognized disability advocate, Spencer West has inspired audiences around the world with his story of resilience, purpose, and possibility. In 2012, he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro to raise awareness and funds for clean water projects in East Africa, proving that our greatest limitations are often the stories we tell ourselves. Today, through his writing, speaking, and advocacy, Spencer continues to challenge conventional thinking about leadership, vulnerability, and living a life of impact. Alex Meers (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-meers-7728b868/) Alex Meers is an organizational development strategist with more than 13 years of experience across leadership, HR, and organizational effectiveness in the non-profit, private, and public company sectors. After recently navigating burnout and a significant career transition, Alex has found himself returning to the lessons he first learned on Kilimanjaro—offering a thoughtful perspective on identity, recovery, and redefining success beyond work.Key Takeaways: Our Co-Hosts Bonny van Rest (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnyvr/) Strategic Thinker. Bold Challenger. Grounded Visionary. Bonny is a strategist, facilitator, and co-founder of Sidekick Consulting who believes momentum is built in the middle of the mess. With a background as a CMO and over a decade of experience across startup and corporate environments, she’s known for her sharp thinking, no-nonsense mindset, and ability to turn big ideas into grounded action. Bonny brings a calm presence, clear direction, and just the right amount of edge to move things forward—with intention. Production by PRCPTN Studio (https://prcptn.com/). Directed by Giuliana DiBonaventura (https://www.linkedin.com/in/giuliana-dibonaventura-148a69132/)

3. 

   9 Jun 2026

   From Big Vision to Bold Results IRL with Nithya Ramachandran

   Most leaders know where they want to go. The real challenge is getting everyone else moving in the same direction. We often think leadership is about setting a vision. But as Nithya Ramachandran argues, that's only the beginning. In this episode of Momentum, we explore the balancing act between vision and execution, ambition and adaptability, strategy and action. Drawing on her experience leading the next chapter of growth at T1, Nithya shares how bold goals become tangible progress through adaptive planning, clear communication, and disciplined execution. We also unpack why leadership doesn't have to be lonely at the top, the power of the visionary-integrator partnership, and why transparency is less about sharing everything and more about sharing what matters. Key Takeaways: ➡️ Leadership Is a Balancing Act. Great leaders hold two seemingly opposing ideas at the same time: a bold vision for the future and a practical plan for today. Ambition creates direction, but momentum comes from breaking it down into tangible, manageable steps. ➡️ Leadership Doesn't Have to Be Lonely. The strongest leaders don't carry the vision alone. Whether it's a Visionary-Integrator partnership, a trusted leadership team, or even a fire fighter and Smoky the bear, momentum is built through complementary strengths, not heroic individual effort. ➡️ Transparency Is About Relevance, Not Volume. Not everyone needs to know everything. Effective leaders tailor communication to what people need to understand, decide, and act on. Clarity comes from providing the right information to the right people at the right time. ➡️ Adaptive Planning Beats Perfect Planning. Strategy is a hypothesis, not a prediction. The most effective leaders set a clear direction, test assumptions, evaluate progress regularly, and adjust based on what they learn. Quarterly reflection and iteration aren't signs of changing course—they're how organizations stay committed to the destination while evolving the route. Listener Challenge: This week, think about where you might be oversharing information in the name of transparency. As leaders, we often assume that more information creates more alignment. But transparency isn't about telling everyone everything. It's about providing people with the information they need to make decisions, take action, and do their best work. Take a look at your recent communications, meetings, or updates. Are you sharing information because it's helpful, or simply because it's available? How could you tailor your message to better meet the needs of your audience? Sometimes clarity comes not from saying more, but from saying less. Resources / Tools ➡️ Start your next planning cycle with the principles of adaptive planning.   (https://nobl.io/changemaker/an-adaptive-approach-to-the-strategic-planning-process/) Our Guest Nithya Ramachandran (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nithyaramachandran/) Nithya is a visionary leader at T1 and one of the co-founders of Sidekick. Nithya is known for her energetic, creative thinking, but also for helping organizations turn big ideas into concrete organizational movement. Nithya lives this tension every day: balancing blue-sky ambition with the practical reality of leading people through change. Her work at T1 offers a tangible case study of what it actually takes to make vision stick. Our Host Bonny van Rest (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnyvr/) Strategic Thinker. Bold Challenger. Grounded Visionary. Bonny is a strategist, facilitator, and co-founder of Sidekick Consulting who believes momentum is built in the middle of the mess. With a background as a CMO and over a decade of experience across startup and corporate environments, she’s known for her sharp thinking, no-nonsense mindset, and ability to turn big ideas into grounded action. Bonny brings a calm presence, clear direction, and just the right amount of edge to move things forward—with intention. Production by PRCPTN Studio (https://prcptn.com/). Directed by Giuliana DiBonaventura (https://www.linkedin.com/in/giuliana-dibonaventura-148a69132/)

Who has been a guest on Momentum: Real Talk for Leaders

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Micaëlla Riché
• Hugh Lawson
• Ok Ikejiani
• Israel Diaz

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

5.0 / 5

10 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 14 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

15

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32