Can your past become the foundation for powerful leadership?
In this thought-provoking mashup, host Denis Gianoutsos is joined by Denice Torres and Kevin Dedner, two leaders whose greatest lessons came not from boardrooms but from lived experience.
Denice, a former janitor who rose to the C-suite at Johnson & Johnson, shares how being underestimated helped her see others more clearly and lead with compassion. Kevin, now a mental health advocate and CEO, reflects on a moment of reckoning as a teenager that reshaped his values and purpose.
Together, they unpack the real work of leadership: embracing your story, building confidence in others, and showing up with presence, not pretense.
If you’re leading through change, challenge, or reinvention, this episode is for you.
EP 213 – Denice Torres: Leading from the Margins to the Boardroom
- Rising from a steel-town janitor job to executive leadership
- How one sponsor shifted her trajectory and gave her self-confidence
- Leadership as service: helping others feel seen, valued, and empowered
- Letting go of ego to truly lead with heart
EP 216 – Kevin Dedner: Purpose, Pressure, and Personal Growth
- A life-threatening experience that demanded a new direction
- Why conscious leadership begins with reflection
- Honoring his 104-year-old grandmother as his most powerful leadership model
- The invisible influence of everyday leaders and legacy through action
Key Quotes:
“Leading others is such a privilege, we have the ability to help others be seen, and when they’re seen, they can flourish.” – Denice Torres
“We’re always leading, someone’s always watching us, we’re teaching valuable lessons just by the things we do daily.” – Kevin Dedner
“It comes down to not just what we say, but how we treat people as leaders. One word, one conversation, it can change someone’s life.” – Denis Gianoutsos
The 10 Proven Ways to Lead and Thrive in Today’s World – FREE Executive Guide Download https://crm.leadingchangepartners.com/10-ways-to-lead
Connect with Denis:
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.LeadingChangePartners.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/denisgianoutsos
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisgianoutsos/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipischanging/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DenisGianoutsos
