What separates great leaders from those who simply hold leadership titles? And how can organizations grow without sacrificing trust, communication, and culture?
In this episode of Growth Without Referrals, host Mark Ferguson sits down with Trish Higgins, founder of Mountain Leadership Advisory & Consulting, to explore what it really takes to develop effective leaders, build stronger organizations, and navigate change in an increasingly AI-driven world.
Drawing on her extensive corporate leadership experience, including serving as both a Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and Chief Operating Officer (COO), Trish shares lessons from her career and why she transitioned into leadership advisory and executive coaching.
In this episode, you'll discover:
- Why leadership development matters: How talented professionals are often promoted into leadership roles without the training needed to succeed.
- The power of relationships: Why trust, meaningful conversations, and consistent follow-up are essential to building lasting business relationships.
- Communication as a leadership skill: How ineffective communication, poor listening, and a lack of collaboration undermine organizational performance.
- Culture and accountability: Why hiring decisions, ethical leadership, and organizational values matter as businesses grow.
- Navigating difficult conversations: Trish's approach to giving feedback and making sure people are ready to receive it.
- Leadership across generations: Why effective communication requires understanding how different generations prefer to work and collaborate.
- AI and the future of leadership: How tools like Claude can automate work, improve efficiency, and free leaders to focus on higher-value activities.
- Avoiding burnout: The importance of setting boundaries, protecting personal time, and working intentionally.
A key takeaway: Technology can help us work faster, but trust, communication, and genuine human relationships remain essential to effective leadership.
Whether you're a CEO, business owner, executive, consultant, or emerging leader, this conversation offers practical insights into becoming a more effective leader while adapting to a changing business environment.
About Trish Higgins
Trish Higgins is the founder of Mountain Leadership Advisory & Consulting. With extensive experience in corporate leadership, operations, human resources, and organizational transformation, she helps executives and emerging leaders develop the skills, confidence, and communication capabilities needed to advance their careers and lead effectively.
Her work includes executive coaching, leadership development, organizational effectiveness, and helping leaders navigate change.
Connect with Trish Higgins
About Growth Without Referrals
Hosted by Mark Ferguson of Prestige Services Group, Growth Without Referrals features conversations with entrepreneurs, executives, and business leaders about building sustainable businesses, creating predictable growth, leveraging technology, and developing strategies that reduce dependence on traditional referral-driven business development.
Connect with Mark Ferguson
Prestige Services Group
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