Play It By Your Rules

E21 - PIBYR: How to Bring More Play Into Work; and Set Boundaries That Stick

As we transition from Leadership Insights to Play It by Your Rules, I’m delighted to welcome another inspiring leader for this in-between chapter. And what better topic than Play - fitting perfectly with where this podcast is headed.
This month, I talked with Diego Adame, Head of LEGO Ecosystem Collaboration at the LEGO Foundation. Diego’s career spans P&G, an MBA in International Organization Management, and more than a decade driving impact across sectors from nutrition at GAIN to creating global play initiatives at LEGO. Our paths have crossed more than once, and I’m thrilled to bring his story to you.
What stands out about Diego? His conviction that work should have space for play, and for boundaries.
In this conversation, we dig into:
The power of play - why it matters not only for kids, but also for adults, workplaces, and leadership.
Boundaries as non-negotiables - from keeping a private phone to deciding what you will - and won’t - compromise on.
Environments that enable or disable you - from incentive structures to toxic cultures, and why leaders must shape spaces where people thrive.
Challenges with clear outcomes - how defined goals at work or in sports help you build confidence and resilience.
A practical exercise for transitions - track what sparks joy for four weeks to clarify your own non-negotiables.
It’s a conversation about designing work and life on your terms - through play, clarity, and courage.
💡 Whether you’re navigating a career shift, figuring out your non-negotiables, setting boundaries at work, or stuck in an environment that drains you—this episode offers clarity and practical tools to move forward.
🎧 Listen now on Play It by Your Rules (formerly Leadership Insights) on all major podcast platforms - or search Meggi Rombach and hit follow!
Enjoyed this episode? Leave a review or share it with someone who needs to hear it. Your support helps spread the vibe.

E20 - PIBYR: How do you trade comfort for courage—and build a life that actually lights you up?

This month, Leadership Insights is becoming Play It by Your Rules  - and we’re kicking things off with a guest who’s done exactly that.
I’m talking to Erik Cooper—adventurist, leader, and trailblazer who walked away from New York agency life to help run two of the craziest horse races in the world.
Erik lived my wildest dream: the Mongol Derby, a 1,000 km race on semi-wild horses across the steppe. Today, he’s part of the team managing the Derby and Gaucho Derby, and the founder of Erik Cooper Adventures, leading remote horseback expeditions through Mongolia and Patagonia.
But this isn’t just a story about horses. It’s about risk, responsibility, and redefining what matters.It’s about facing fear, choosing freedom, and daring to live life on your terms.
In this episode, we talk about:
Why he left behind comfort and certainty in New York
What riding 30 horses in 10 days taught him about mindset, emotion, and grit
How near-disasters shaped his leadership and decision-making
 
Why embracing discomfort is essential for growth
How to take bold steps—even when you don’t have it all figured out
Whether you’re sitting in an office, plotting your next pivot, or just feeling stuck - this episode will challenge you to think braver, live bolder, and reconnect with what truly matters.
Practical, real, and a little wild—this is exactly what Play It by Your Rules is all about.
Tune in if you’re curious about:
Making unconventional life choices
Managing risk and finding your edge
Reinventing your career or life - your way
What leadership actually looks like when the stakes are high
Choosing discomfort with meaning over comfort without joy
Explore Erik’s world + follow the Mongol Derby live this week:📸Erik Cooper on Instagram
🐎The Mongol Derby 2025 - Race News
What rule are you ready to break?
🎧 Listen now on all major podcast platforms – just search: “Leadership Insights: Navigating Career and Life” (soon to be Play It by Your Rules) or Meggi Rombach and hit follow!
Enjoyed this episode? Leave a review or share it with someone who needs to hear it. Your support helps ripple these insights further.

Episode 19: The Enneagram: Why Your Old Patterns Still Run the Show – Leadership Insights with Inna Malaia

“Your patterns are not who you are—they're just what you learned to survive.”
In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Inna Malaia—leadership consultant, certified Enneagram practitioner, and founder of Bevel World—to explore why deep self-awareness is the first step toward meaningful leadership and career choices.
From job transitions to personal reinvention, Inna emphasizes the importance of knowing who you are before deciding where to go next. We unpack the Enneagram as a tool for reflection—not labeling—and how understanding your patterns can unlock more intentional choices, clearer communication, and deeper alignment in both life and work.
💡 In this episode, we explore:✔️ What the Enneagram is—its origins and key features✔️ Why inner work is essential before making outer changes✔️ How to lead (and live) with greater emotional awareness✔️ How Inna used the Enneagram to navigate her own transitions✔️ The power of naming your patterns to loosen their grip
Whether you're facing a career crossroads, stepping into leadership, or simply feeling the pull to understand yourself better—this episode is a call to pause, reflect, and realign.
🔗 Learn more about Inna’s work: Bevel World & her charity Bevel ON.
🎧 Listen now on all major podcast platforms - just search “Leadership Insights: Navigating Career and Life” or Meggi Rombach and hit follow!
🔹 Enjoyed this episode? Leave a review or share it with someone who needs to hear it. Your support helps spread these insights further.

Episode 18: Leap Before You Feel Ready – Leadership Insights with Heike Linnemann

“Leap even if it feels uncomfortable. Something greater will come out of it.”
In this episode of Leadership Insights, we meet Heike Linnemann, former Chief Marketing Officer, brand growth expert, and now an independent consultant helping businesses to unlock profitable, sustainable growth.
Heike's story is one of bold career pivots, intentional choices, and striking a balance between ambition and well-being. From rejecting a full-time job in Germany to launching her career in London to turning around a near-bankrupt company in Italy, Heike shares what it means to lead with vision, grit, and a human touch.
💡 In this episode, we explore:✔️ Why having a dream combined with intuition can be a powerful compass for bold career moves✔️ What it takes to leap from corporate to independent work, before you feel fully ready✔️ Uncomfortable truths about cross-sector moves, and how to navigate them effectively✔️ How to integrate work and life, with color-coded calendars that protect what matters✔️ The joy of learning something new, and why lifelong learning fuels a fulfilling career
Whether you're contemplating a leap, balancing parenthood and leadership, or figuring out your next chapter, Heike’s journey will inspire you to trust your gut, embrace imperfection, and define success on your own terms.
🔗 Learn more about Heike’s work: heikelinnemann.com
🎧 Listen now! Available on all major platforms. Just search “Leadership Insights: Navigating Career and Life” or Meggi Rombach and hit follow.
🔹 If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a review—it helps more listeners find us!

Episode 17: How to Make Your Voice Heard – Leadership Insights with Helen von Dadelszen

“Speaking up isn’t just about volume - it’s about alignment. When your message and energy match your values, people feel it.”
In this episode of Leadership Insights, we explore how to speak with intention with vocal coach and speaker trainer Helen von Dadelszen.
Originally from New Zealand and now based in Switzerland, Helen blends theatre, mindfulness, and leadership to help professionals use their voice with clarity and confidence. Her clients range from humanitarian leaders to researchers. She’s also the creator of Present Potential - a training platform focused on authentic presence, vocal control, and performance.
💡 In this episode, we explore:✔️ The 4 Ps of vocal impact: Pitch, Pace, Power, and Pause✔️ Why how you say something matters just as much as what you say✔️ The connection between body language and vocal delivery✔️ How intention shapes both your message and how people receive it✔️ Practical tips to regulate nerves, breathe better, and show up with presence
From Lion King impersonations to real-time coaching, we unpack the subtle yet powerful shifts that elevate your voice, and your leadership presence. You’ll even hear Helen coach me live!
Whether you’re a public speaker, team leader, or simply want to show up more confidently in meetings, this conversation will help you speak up, with purpose and on purpose.
🔗 Learn more about Helen’s work: https://academy.presentpotential.ch
🎧 Listen now! Available on all major podcast platforms. Just search Leadership Insights: Navigating Career and Life or Meggi Rombach and hit follow.
🔹 If this episode resonated with you, leave a rating and review—it helps more people find the podcast. And if you know someone who needs to hear this, send it their way. Let’s amplify what matters.

Episode 16: How to Trigger the Magical State of Flow - Leadership Insights Jean-Philippe Jacques

"Pausing is like adding salt to food; it brings out depth, balance, and texture." 
In this episode, I speak with Jean-Philippe Jacques, scientist-turned-mindfulness-trainer and co-director of Ressource Mindfulness, who has spent the past 30 years exploring meditation, flow, neuroscience, and leadership. Jean-Philippe, a former molecular biologist, humanitarian worker, and high-performance athlete brings a unique and deeply grounded lens to flow, leadership, and the human experience.
We explore what it means to work and lead with intention, presence, and authenticity, and how slowing down might just be the secret to performing at your best.
💡 Tune in to discover:✔️ The neuroscience of flow: how to reduce stress hormones and activate dopamine and serotonin✔️ Why mindfulness is a foundation and flow is the performance-enhancing result✔️ The power of the pause; even in high-stakes humanitarian missions✔️ How small daily practices can shift your mindset, your body, and your leadership✔️ Why flow is not about shortcuts; but about intentionality, awareness, and resilience
🌟 Plus:Jean-Philippe shares practical tips for accessing flow through posture, intention, and breath; and invites us to rethink success not as output, but alignment.
Whether you're facing burnout, decision fatigue, or just too much noise, this episode offers both science-backed strategies and a much-needed breath of calm clarity.
Key Ingredients of Flow:
Clear direction and a motivating challenge
The right balance between boredom and anxiety
Feedback and presence in the task
A conscious pause; through breath, intention, and emotional awareness
Reduced distractions and a slower brainwave state (yes, really)
🎧 Listen now!Available on all major podcast platforms, just search Meggi Rombach Leadership Insights or Navigating Career and Life.
🔹 Enjoyed this episode? Leave a rating and review; it really helps more people find the podcast.Don’t forget to subscribe/follow, and if it resonated with you, share it with someone who needs to hear it.
Let’s lead with more presence, purpose, and peace.

Episode 15: Spam, Scam or Just Not Relevant? – Leadership Insights with me, myself and I

“Is this a scam, a spam, or simply not for you?” 
In this special solo episode, I take the mic to explore a growing concern I’ve seen across LinkedIn: shady offers, suspicious connections, and too-good-to-be-true opportunities—especially when you're job searching and vulnerable.
But here’s the catch: the real question isn’t just whether it’s a scam. It’s whether it’s relevant and aligned with your goals. If it isn’t, I’d argue it doesn’t matter whether it’s a scam, a spam, or a valid offer—it’s just noise.
💡 Tune in to hear:✔️ Four real-life LinkedIn encounters—from fake headhunters to paid speaker slots✔️ How my mantra “Be open yet skeptical” helps me triage so-called opportunities✔️ Why we all need to clean up our LinkedIn connections (and how to start)✔️ How to protect your professional network—not just yourself—from low-trust actors✔️ The difference between followers and connections—and why it matters now more than ever
Whether you’re job hunting, building your brand, or simply navigating today’s noisy digital world, this episode offers practical steps to stay grounded, vigilant, and aligned.
🎧 Listen now!
🔹 Enjoyed this episode? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform—it really helps more people find the podcast.
Don’t forget to subscribe/follow so you never miss an episode, and if you found value in this conversation, share it with someone who could benefit! Your support makes all the difference in spreading these insights further.

Episode 14: Who Are You Beyond Your Job? – Leadership Insights with Nancy Bonamy

“It’s not about your next job—it’s about where you want to be in five years.” 🌟
In this episode, I sit down with Nancy Bonamy, a career transitions coach with deep experience in the humanitarian sector—and someone who understands how closely tied our identity can be to our work. From the ICRC to expat life to building her own coaching practice, Nancy brings clarity and compassion to the often messy, non-linear process of career change and re-evaluating who we are when our roles shift.
Whether you’re facing job cuts, burnout, or simply sensing a shift, Nancy shares practical advice for taking back control—because, as she puts it: you can’t outsource your career.
💡 Tune in to discover:✔️ Why clarity starts with where you want to be—not just what job to take next✔️ What UN and INGO professionals should consider when moving into the private sector✔️ How to highlight “invisible experience” (like parenting or volunteer work) as transferable skills✔️ Why you need to own your story—and how to talk about transitions with confidence in interviews✔️ How job transitions often raise deeper questions of identity—and how to navigate them
🌟 Plus: We explore a sailing metaphor for transitions—what it means to be caught in a storm, how to find your compass, and why having a north star matters. If you’re feeling lost at sea, this conversation will help you start navigating forward.
If you’ve ever questioned your next move or wondered whether you “deserve” to go for something more—this one’s for you.
🎧 Listen now!
🔹 Enjoyed this episode? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform—it really helps more people find the podcast.
Don’t forget to subscribe/follow so you never miss an episode, and if you found value in this conversation, share it with someone who could benefit! Your support makes all the difference in spreading these insights further.

Episode 13 : Don’t Say No for the World – Leadership Insights with Neha Thakkar

"Don’t reject yourself from opportunities—let the opportunity say no to you." 🌟
In this episode, I sit down with Neha Thakkar—a bold, curious, and deeply thoughtful leader whose journey spans satellite engineering, journalism, public policy, and global mobility. From growing up in a small town in India to working with top global organizations, Neha shares candid reflections on courage, privilege, and the importance of using our platforms to uplift others.
💡 Tune in to discover:
✔️ The mindset shift that propelled Neha from modest beginnings to Harvard and beyond✔️ Why failure wasn’t an option—and how that shaped her resilience and sense of purpose✔️ What it means to recognize your privilege and use it to open doors for others✔️ How to find your tribe—those who challenge, support, and help you grow
Throughout, Neha reminds us that your career doesn’t need to follow a straight line—and that being multi-passionate, or unconventional, can be your greatest strength.
If you’ve ever questioned your next move or wondered whether you “deserve” to go for something more—this one’s for you.
🎧 Listen now!
🔹 Enjoyed this episode? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform—it really helps more people find the podcast.
Don’t forget to subscribe/follow so you never miss an episode, and if you found value in this conversation, share it with someone who could benefit! Your support makes all the difference in spreading these insights further.

Episode 12: Own Your Energy, Shape Your Success – Leadership Insights with Dave Sheahan

"You are the architect of your own life. The choices you make today determine the success, energy, and fulfillment you experience tomorrow." 🌟
In this episode, I sit down with Dave Sheahan, a high-performance coach, speaker, and author who has spent 30 years helping athletes, entrepreneurs, and executives unlock their full potential. His expertise lies in mind-body health, peak performance, and building the discipline needed to create a successful and fulfilling life.
💡 Tune in to discover:
✔️ The Athlete’s Approach to Leadership – Why high performers in business should train like elite athletes.✔️ The Power of Daily Habits – Small, consistent actions that fuel long-term success.✔️ Mindset & Visualization – How seeing your success before it happens can transform your reality.✔️ Resilience & Adaptability – Why setbacks are inevitable, but mastering your reaction to them is what defines you.✔️ Sleep, Nutrition & Energy – Simple yet powerful strategies to improve your daily performance.
🌟 Plus: Dave shares practical strategies for humanitarians and professionals working in high-stress environments—how to prioritize sleep, nutrition, and mindset to stay resilient, maintain peak performance, and continue making an impact, even in the toughest conditions.
If you want to increase your energy, sharpen your focus, and take control of your personal and professional life, this episode is packed with actionable insights to get you there.
🎧 Listen now!
🔹 Enjoyed this episode? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform—it really helps more people find the podcast.
Don’t forget to subscribe/follow so you never miss an episode, and if you found value in this conversation, share it with someone who could benefit! Your support makes all the difference in spreading these insights further.