“It’s not about the intensity of what you do, it’s about the intention.” That guiding belief runs through Ryan Soares’ life, from backcountry skiing to hang-gliding launches to building global practice fields where leaders experiment, stumble safely, and discover what elevates their people. In this episode of Missing Conversations, hosts Heather Neely and Amy Vodarek sit down with Ryan, founder of Soares Consulting, to explore how an adventurous spirit, deep empathy, and hands-on learning help leaders design psychological safety, embrace conflict as fuel, and turn missing conversations into trust and momentum. Listen in for practices you can use to align vision, grow your team’s capacity, and move with intention in every leadership moment.

01:37: From athlete to banker to leader, Ryan finds his true passion: developing people to reach their best. 10:15: Experiential learning defined: act, reflect, apply, turning insight into real results. 14:51: The overlooked question that uncovers what truly drives your team. 17:24: How curiosity about others’ emotions unlocks stronger conversations and sharper leadership presence. 23:48: Designing learning that reaches every learner, not just a few. 25:11: The core of experiential learning: building psychological safety so leaders see what they couldn’t before. 26:49: Why embodiment is central to effective leadership. 28:27: Conflict as a growth engine: how leaders can harness it productively. 31:54: Practicing and mastering the skill leaders most avoid: having missing conversations. 36:58: The one word that inspires experimentation, learning, and growth across teams. 38:42: Levels of skill, conversation, and empathy every leader must navigate. 39:53: Inside Soares Consulting: global practice fields where leaders elevate one another. 41:48: Small tune-ups, big returns: how leaders grow even when it feels unnatural. 45:24: Leading with adventure: how Ryan’s spirit (and his dad’s influence) shaped his leadership path. 50:29 Final takeaway: leadership isn’t about intensity; it’s about intention, and moving in the world for others’ good.

Leadership cannot be downloaded. It must be lived.

🎧 Listen now to learn how to turn everyday moments into practice fields that build stronger teams and better results.

About Ryan Soares

Ryan brings 20+ years of global leadership development and coaching experience, designing transformative, experiential programs that challenge leaders to think differently and lead with purpose. Known for his dynamic facilitation, he fosters trust, dialogue, and growth. Outside of work, Ryan pursues a life of adventure with his family in California.

You can connect with Ryan here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-soares-acc-70a88975/

About Altus Growth Partners

At Altus, we partner with CEOs and leadership teams who are serious about growth and willing to engage in new kinds of conversations to produce better results.

We care deeply about helping leaders and teams collaborate more effectively, navigate complexity with confidence, and foster a culture where people thrive. It’s in these environments that challenges are met with curiosity, people bring out the best in one another, and progress is anchored in shared purpose.

Because when leaders and teams are truly working together, they expand what’s possible and the meaningful impact they can make in their lives, their organizations, and the world around them.

You can find Altus Growth Partners on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/altus-growth-partners/

About the Book

Growing Groups Into Teams: How do you turn a group of individuals into a highly effective, productive team? Growing Groups Into Teams is an unusually useful book written by a team of generative consultants and coaches who have helped thousands of groups become effective teams.

Through real-life stories combined with pragmatic advice, this book strengthens your ability to see what’s needed and take effective action:

• What two promises turn a group into a team.

• How to engage people to make those promises.

• How to invite responsibility and accountability.

• How to include and inspire people across differences.

• How to build and rebuild trust, and more!

Regardless of how productive your teams are today, the insights in this book will help you grow to the next level to drive your business or organization forward. Order your copy today!

Order from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Growing-Groups-into-Teams-Real-life-ebook/dp/B0CJLC23VS

Order directly: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?l8SxF4Aexn9gq08iz7jFBbwutleujrftoZ2wAOFzCVH

If you're looking to expand your leadership influence, shift your results, and develop a highly engaged, accountable team, we’d love to talk to you. Schedule a conversation with an Altus Team Member here: https://calendly.com/prollin-altusgrowth/zoom-video-30-min.

Follow us on social media: https://www.linkedin.com/company/altus-growth-partners https://www.facebook.com/AltusGrowth https://www.instagram.com/altusgrowthpartners/

Keywords:

#Leadership #ExperientialLearning #PsychologicalSafety