Heal Podcast - Lily Patrascu

What You’re Missing To Become A Better Leader - Crispin Thompson and Lily Patrascu

Crispin Thompson · April 3, 2026

Executive Coach · Leadership · Artificial Intelligencein

Interview with Crispin Thompson

What You’re Missing To Become A Better Leader - Crispin Thompson and Lily Patrascu

Podcast: Heal Podcast - Lily Patrascu

April 3, 2026 · 43 min

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What You’re Missing To Become A Better Leader - Crispin Thompson and Lily Patrascu

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Key topicsStalled — Why Strong Managers Stop Rising After the PromotionCrispin Thompson has watched strong managers get promoted and then quietly stop rising, across 25 years running large international teams at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, TaskUs, and QSC. Companies assume the promotion proves the person is ready; he argues it is the moment they are most exposed, handed a bigger room with no work done on how they show up in it. Through The Leadership Studio he coaches leaders past the perfectionism and self-doubt that keep them quiet, using his own missteps as the raw material. Listeners leave able to spot the newly promoted people going silent on their teams, and what to do before a good manager becomes a lost one.Why Global Companies Fail When Leadership Stays LocalToo many multinationals treat overseas managers as tokens rather than true leaders-and the damage shows up in disengagement, attrition, and stalled growth. Crispin has seen this firsthand leading teams in Mexico, Poland, Romania, and across Europe: when talent outside headquarters isn’t developed and trusted, companies lose both loyalty and productivity. He explains why leadership pipelines must extend beyond the home office, and how investing in cultural nuance turns potential friction into an advantage. With practical strategies for spotting emerging leaders globally and making promotions meaningful, Crispin shows how companies can move past tokenism to build cultures where people everywhere feel seen, valued, and ready to lead. Token Gesture — Why Your Best People Abroad Stop Raising Their HandsCrispin Thompson has led teams in Mexico, Poland, Romania and across wider Europe, and he keeps seeing the same pattern: overseas managers promoted for appearances while the real decisions stay at headquarters. The cost shows up later as disengagement, attrition and stalled growth in the markets a company most needs to win. He walks through how to spot emerging leaders far from the home office, make their promotions mean something, and turn cultural nuance from friction into an edge. Listeners leave knowing why their strongest people abroad have gone quiet, and what to change before they leave.View all topics →

About Crispin Thompson

Global Leadership Coach Helping Professionals Get Heard and Take Ownership

25+ years Leadership experience5 countries Multicultural teams ledFortune 100 Former technology executivePublished author The Human Advantage

Crispin Thompson has spent more than twenty-five years shaping how people lead, communicate, and grow. In senior roles at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, TaskUs, and QSC, he managed large international teams and drove major transformation programs—experiences that revealed how easily careers stall when strong managers are promoted without the confidence or presence to step fully into leadership.

That observation became the foundation for The Leadership Studio, where Crispin helps leaders bridge the gap between how they see themselves and how others experience them. His coaching focuses on practical shifts that carry real weight in the room: learning to project calm under pressure, making decisions when information is incomplete, and moving past the perfectionism that undermines confidence. He often draws on his own missteps or on vivid historical examples, turning abstract ideas into stories and exercises that leave a lasting mark.

Leading multicultural teams across Mexico, Poland, Romania, India and the U.S. also shaped his perspective. He saw firsthand how cultural nuance can either unlock connection or create disconnection, and how organizations that neglect leadership development outside headquarters risk losing trust and talent. That global view continues to inform his work, alongside his service on the Make-A-Wish® Central & South Texas Governing Board, which deepened his belief that leadership is ultimately about service.

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About this episode

Leadership Strategist Shares What You’re Missing To Become A Better Leader -Crispin Thompsonand Lily Patrascu

Crispin Thompson is a leadership strategist, coach, and speaker with nearly 30 years of experience guiding professionals to maximize their impact and influence.

He explains that becoming a better leader starts with introspection, understanding your strengths and weaknesses, and being open to feedback from mentors, coaches, and the people you lead. Crispin emphasizes overcoming imposter syndrome by recognizing the times others have believed in you and building self-confidence through action rather than just “faking it.”

He highlights the importance of communication, focusing on voice, persona, and content to ensure your message is heard, understood, and acted upon. Crispin advises leaders to define their own style, lean into their strengths, and bridge the gap between potential and performance for lasting impact.

About The Guest

Crispin Thompson is the Founder of The Leadership Studio and a leadership strategist with nearly 30 years of experience driving transformation inside the global technology sector. A former Fortune 100 executive, he built and led cross-functional teams through large-scale digital, financial, and operational change translating high-level strategy into real-world execution that delivered measurable results.

Today, Crispin helps leaders close the gap between how they see themselves and how others experience them. Known for his hands-on, people-first approach, he specializes in executive presence, decision-making under pressure, and developing leaders who can guide teams through complexity with clarity and confidence. His work blends operational rigor with human insight, equipping organizations to grow sustainably while strengthening culture and performance.

Off the clock, Crispin is a devoted father, enthusiastic traveler, and self-described mediocre golfer, a reminder that leadership, like life, is best practiced with balance and humility.

For More Info About Crispin Thompson, visit:

Website: https://leadership-studio.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crispinthompson/

Digital portfolio: https://www.guestsonair.com/profile/crispin-thompson

Timestamp

00:00 The Hidden Gap in Leadership

00:48 Meet Crispin Thompson Why You Should Listen

02:05 The Number One Thing Leaders Are Missing

04:10 Why Self Awareness Alone Is Not Enough

07:05 How Others Really Experience You as a Leader

10:12 The Cost of Misalignment in Leadership

13:18 Feedback Most Leaders Never Hear

16:40 Building Trust Through Real Alignment

20:05 The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership

23:32 Leading Through Change and Uncertainty

27:10 Common Leadership Mistakes Even at the Top

30:45 How to Close the Leadership Gap

34:20 Transforming Teams Through Better Leadership

38:05 Final Advice for Becoming a Better Leader

41:10 Key Takeaways and Closing Thoughts

About The Host

Lily Patrascu is an ultra-creative book publisher and personal brand strategist for thought leaders, CEOs, luxury influencers. As an influencer, bestselling author, copywriter, global speaker, she supports busy entrepreneurs to find their message and share it with millions of people.

Feel free to connect with me or find out more about my book publishing/influential entrepreneur events/speaking/ projects here: https://linktr.ee/lilypatrascu & https://www.lily.global I am launching a few collaborative books: on property wealth strategies, confidence, millionaire secrets, health tools, AI, and seeking influencers with large communities to promote their expertise with the books. I can help you write/ghostwrite and publish your books in 90 days. Message me (Lily) on +447557351222 to collaborate.

If you want to be featured on this podcast, and you're a successful entrepreneur able to share about how you grew your company, book your spot here: http://www.lily.global/podcast -

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Heal Podcast with Lily Patrascu is your go-to space for discovering tools and insights to heal your mind, body, and soul. In each episode, Lily Patrascu interviews a diverse lineup of experts—from spiritual healers and health practitioners to health coaches and alternative medicine doctors—who bring their wisdom, experience, and unique healing modalities to help you achieve balance and wellness.

Guest: Crispin Thompson