In this episode of Unlock Your Leadership with Dr Gary Crotaz, we sit down with world-renowned psychiatrist, executive coach and author Dr Mark Goulston to trace his extraordinary journey — from suicide-prevention and hostage negotiation, to the boardrooms of global organisations — and explore his signature framework: the Michelangelo Leadership (or Michelangelo Mindset). In our wide-ranging conversation you’ll hear: How Goulston’s early work with suicidal patients and his technique of “surgical empathy” gave him a unique lens on leadership crisis. The core idea of the Michelangelo Mindset: subtract the unnecessary, reveal the potential. What this approach means for modern leaders navigating complexity, disruption and change. Practical questions you can use to apply this mindset in your team, organisation and next leadership moment. Whether you’re a senior executive, an emerging leader or someone committed to leading with greater human impact, this episode will give you a fresh lens and actionable ideas for how to become the kind of leader who “sculpts” rather than just “manages”. Discover how Goulston draws on his decades of working with extreme human moments (including helping “people who are too far gone” choose life) to show how leaders can “see the angel in the marble and carve until they set it free” — i.e., remove what isn’t serving, unleash what’s possible, and lead with empathy, clarity and purpose. Originally recorded for The Unlock Moment podcast.
In this episode of Unlock Your Leadership with Dr Gary Crotaz, we sit down with world-renowned psychiatrist, executive coach and author Dr Mark Goulston to trace his extraordinary journey — from suicide-prevention and hostage negotiation, to the boardrooms of global organisations — and explore his signature framework: the Michelangelo Leadership (or Michelangelo Mindset).
In our wide-ranging conversation you’ll hear:
How Goulston’s early work with suicidal patients and his technique of “surgical empathy” gave him a unique lens on leadership crisis.
The core idea of the Michelangelo Mindset: subtract the unnecessary, reveal the potential.
What this approach means for modern leaders navigating complexity, disruption and change.
Practical questions you can use to apply this mindset in your team, organisation and next leadership moment.
Whether you’re a senior executive, an emerging leader or someone committed to leading with greater human impact, this episode will give you a fresh lens and actionable ideas for how to become the kind of leader who “sculpts” rather than just “manages”.
Discover how Goulston draws on his decades of working with extreme human moments (including helping “people who are too far gone” choose life) to show how leaders can “see the angel in the marble and carve until they set it free” — i.e., remove what isn’t serving, unleash what’s possible, and lead with empathy, clarity and purpose.
Originally recorded for The Unlock Moment podcast.