Leadership Story Talks | Hidden Patterns That Shape How We Lead Under Pressure with Logan Yonavjak Artwork

Narativ Leadership Story Talks

Leadership Story Talks is a podcast hosted by Jerome Deroy, CEO of Narativ, and Julienne Ryan, business author, communication and HR specialist, and frequent Narativ training contributor.In each episode, Jerome and Jules discuss the practices that engage, motivate, develop, retain, and attract people to businesses, whether these are your customers or your employees. Their principles and tools are based on real world stories that leverage listening and storytelling to become a better leader and management professional.

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Narativ Leadership Story Talks

Leadership Story Talks | Hidden Patterns That Shape How We Lead Under Pressure with Logan Yonavjak

June 15, 2026 • Narativ Inc

0:00 | 40:52

“People are always judging you and making assessments of you. Wouldn’t you like to know a better proxy of what most people are thinking rather than just walk around not knowing?” — Logan Yonavjak

In this episode of Leadership Story Talks, we sit down with entrepreneur, impact investor, and Founder Readiness Institute CEO Logan Yonavjak for a fascinating conversation about leadership capacity, human development, and the hidden patterns that shape how we lead under pressure.

Drawing from her background in impact investing, psychology, and leadership assessment, Logan shares how a pivotal moment in high school — and an unexpected question from a mentor — helped shape the trajectory of her life and career. From wilderness leadership experiences in the Southwest to building AI-powered tools that analyze leadership readiness, this conversation explores what it really means to grow as a leader in increasingly complex environments.

Together, we discuss why self-awareness is often missing in professional development, what organizations overlook when promoting leaders, and how AI might help us better understand not just what people say — but what they leave unsaid.

You’ll Hear:

How a single question from a mentor changed Logan’s life direction
Why leadership breakdowns often happen under pressure and complexity
The concept of “capacity” vs. credentials in leadership
How AI can identify patterns — and even “negative space” — in communication
Why many organizations struggle to support leaders as they grow
The role of Jungian psychology and adult developmental theory in leadership assessment
How self-awareness and coachability impact long-term success
Why storytelling, listening, and leadership development are deeply connected
The difference between personality assessments and measuring developmental capacity
Logan’s vision for using AI to support more conscious and effective leadership

Resources & Links:

Here's a link to the LISTENING LAB

Narativ’s online course in partnership with New Mexico State University Global Campus:
Lead With Your Story (self-paced, on-demand course)
Podcast listeners get 25% off - Use code NARATIV → Register Here

Learn more about how to leverage Narativ’s storytelling method for your pitch and sales team: Download our free e-book, or you’re welcome to schedule a free 15-minute call with Jerome.

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EMAIL Jerome@narativ.com
LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/company/narativ-inc
TWITTER @narativ

Buy Julienne’s book here