The Change Leader Mindset, and Leading with Courage | Ep 19
In this episode of Change Leadership Conversations, Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta is joined by David Donaldson for a wide-ranging conversation on courageous leadership, the evolving nature of change, and how to lead when the path isn’t yet visible.
With decades of experience leading leadership development and transformation initiatives across sectors, David shares powerful stories, from his early entrepreneurial days to his work in national safety, aviation, and leadership training to explore what it really means to lead change.
Together, they unpack the mindset shift from managing change to leading it, and why real change leadership requires vision, emotional intelligence, and the ability to sit with ambiguity.
In This Episode:
Why leading change means creating paths that don’t exist yet
How entrepreneurial thinking prepares leaders for disruption
What AI adoption reveals about resistance, readiness, and leadership mindsets
Why real communication goes far beyond emails and training plans
Guest Bio
David Donaldson is a leadership development expert, VP & Partner at LPI Canada. With a background in change management, entrepreneurship, and aviation safety, David brings a grounded yet visionary perspective to leadership and transformation. He currently works with a global learning and leadership institute and is known for his experiential facilitation and thought-provoking analogies.
Resources & Links:
Connect with David Donaldson on LinkedIn
Connect with Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta on LinkedIn
Learn more about the Change Leadership Training and Programs
Explore upcoming Change Leadership Conference events
