ΒιΆΉΉϋΆ³΄«Γ½

20: From Compliance to Culture: How Real Leadership Development Sticks | Kellie Macpherson

Release Date:Β 

September 23, 2025

Release Date: Sept 23

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What does it really take to develop leaders who don’t just check boxesβ€”but truly transform teams and organizations? In this energizing episode, host Mickey Fitch-Collins sits down with Kellie Macpherson, Executive Vice President of Compliance and Risk Management at Radian Generation, for a candid look at building leadership programs that actually stick. From leveraging AI in compliance-heavy environments to practical coaching strategies and creating cultures of feedback and kindness, Kellie shares proven lessons from her work with technical and emerging leaders. If you want actionable insight on leadership pipelines, coaching moments, fostering innovation inside process-driven industries, and building trust-based cultures, this episode is for you.

What You’ll Learn:

  • How to encourage innovationβ€”even in the most compliance-heavy organizations.
  • Kellie’s favorite ways to leverage AI for technical writing and operational excellence.
  • The art of in-the-moment coaching: why real-time feedback and β€œexplaining the why” make lessons stick.
  • Best practices for developing technical experts into people leadersβ€”through modeling, permission, and soft-skill development.
  • Why kindness, respect, and relationship-building are non-negotiable values for sustainable leadership cultures.
  • How to assess coachability, navigate resistance, and create safe opportunities for new leaders to step up.
  • β€œBig rocks,” boot camps, and TED Talks: How Kellie plans a year of learning that supports talent at every level.

In This Episode:

  • 00:01 – ΒιΆΉΉϋΆ³΄«Γ½lcome & intro to The Learnit Lounge Β 
  • 01:40 – Meet Kellie Macpherson & her industry impact Β 
  • 02:44 – Encouraging innovation in compliance-driven environments Β 
  • 03:55 – Using AI tools to level up technical writing and efficiency Β 
  • 06:37 – Why business storytelling is key for technical teams Β 
  • 08:22 – Openness vs. protectionism in sharing knowledge Β 
  • 10:18 – Lessons from coaching emerging and underrepresented leaders Β 
  • 11:10 – Real-time feedback and building coaching relationships Β 
  • 12:41 – Relationship-building as the foundation for feedback Β 
  • 13:57 – Modeling feedback and soliciting β€œgentle honesty” Β 
  • 14:51 – Coaching technical experts into strong people leaders Β 
  • 16:51 – Infusing company values and soft skills Β 
  • 18:30 – Shifting hierarchical mindsets: assessing coachability Β 
  • 20:03 – Creating chances for new leaders to β€œown the room” Β 
  • 22:19 – How to resource, upskill, and coach emerging leaders Β 
  • 23:23 – Kellie’s strategy for planning a year of training and offsites Β 
  • 29:21 – β€œHold it loosely”: adapting learning to business realities Β 
  • 31:42 – Breaking silos with TED Talks and onboarding bootcamps Β 
  • 31:59 – The uncomfortable truth about leadership development Β 
  • 34:37 – Why leadership programs will never land for everyoneβ€”and why that’s OK Β 
  • 35:25 – How to connect with Kellie & keep the conversation going

About Kellie Macpherson

Kellie Macpherson is the Executive Vice President of Compliance and Risk Management at Radian Generation, where she oversees NERC (North American Electric Reliability Corporation) compliance and managed security services. With over 15 years of leadership experience in the renewable asset sector, Kellie has implemented over 200 compliance programs and completed 40+ NERC audits across all six regional entities. Known for her transparent, consultative approach and commitment to coaching the next generation of leadersβ€”especially women in underrepresented fieldsβ€”Kellie champions innovation, clarity, and kindness at every turn.

Resources Referenced:

  • on LinkedIn
  • (NERC)
  • (referenced as training content)
  • on LinkedIn

Want to Learn More?:ΜύΜύ

  • ΒιΆΉΉϋΆ³΄«Γ½bsite: www.learnit.com
  • Email: podcast@learnit.com
  • Follow us on and for more updates.

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