Description:
In this episode of The Builders Podcast, Matt sits down with Isioma Utomi, leadership development consultant and founder of Catalyst Experience Solutions, to unpack what it really takes to help people succeed at work — not just perform tasks.
Isioma’s journey began in engineering and process improvement, where she learned that behind every efficient system are people who make it work. Over time, her curiosity about what drives success led her to create the PEER Framework — a practical model built around four core pillars: Priorities, Education, Enablement, and Relationships.
Through this framework, she helps leaders and organizations think intentionally about how they work, grow, and win. The conversation dives into how leadership is less about authority and more about designing environments where people thrive. From starting workshops during COVID to building a full-fledged consultancy, Isioma shares her story of transformation, responsibility, and purpose.
Her insights remind us that success isn’t an accident — it’s built through clarity, systems, and genuine human connection.
Key Takeaways:
- Success starts with self-awareness. Understanding your purpose and priorities sets the foundation for everything else.
- Leadership is design. The best leaders intentionally create systems and cultures that help people succeed.
- Relationships matter most. Professional growth is built on authentic connection and collaboration.
- Enablement is the modern differentiator. Technology, habits, and environment shape performance as much as skills do.
- Courage creates clarity. Taking the leap — from corporate to entrepreneurship — often leads to deeper purpose and alignment.
A thoughtful, human-centered conversation about building leaders who don’t just adapt to change — they design it.
Isioma Utomi
Isioma Utomi is a highly sought-after leadership development consultant. She is the CEO of Catalyst Experience Solutions and founder of the Performance Upgrade Lab, a coaching platform to develop agile leaders. She advises entrepreneurs and executives on how to work smarter to achieve their goals.
With a background in implementing Lean Six Sigma methodology in Fortune 500 companies, Isioma combines a collaborative approach with data-driven best practices to empower future-ready leaders.
A Salzburg Global fellow, Isioma actively champions diversity within the business and tech communities – supporting the achievement of sustainable development goals through value creation and economic empowerment. She also spearheads impactful events like the Women Who Launch summit at Lagos Startup Week, amplifying the voices of women in the African startup space.
Isioma was recognized in the Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) Class of 2023 Global Top 100 List in support of the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent.
She has a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from Boston University, Masters in Digital Media from Northeastern University and a Certificate in Entrepreneurial Management from the Enterprise Development Centre, Pan-Atlantic University.
THE MEAT OF IT!
1. Origin Story: From Engineering to Empowerment
- Early career in manufacturing and process improvement
- Discovering the human side of efficiency — how systems impact people
- COVID as the turning point to build something new
2. The Birth of the PEER Framework
- How reflection and experimentation shaped her leadership model
- Defining the four pillars: Priorities, Education, Enablement, and Relationships
- Helping individuals align purpose with performance
3. Leadership as Design
- Moving from individual success to organizational systems
- How leaders can intentionally “design” environments that help people thrive
- Empowering teams through autonomy, collaboration, and shared responsibility
4. Building Catalyst Experience Solutions
- Starting with small workshops and testing the idea in real time
- Lessons learned from launching during uncertainty
- Shifting from solo workshops to a structured leadership consultancy
5. The Human Side of Growth
- The courage to leave corporate stability
- What leadership really looks like when you’re responsible for others’ livelihoods
- Building trust and culture through collaboration and empathy
6. The Bigger Picture: Designing Work for Success
- Why relationships are the most underestimated success factor
- How technology, habits, and mindset shape modern leadership
- The evolving future of work and leadership development
Check out these related Episodes:
- Episode 246: Ed Oyama -The Power of Simple Videos: Building Trust and Clarity in Business
- Episode 244: Tiffany Slowinski – Stop Guessing: Data-Driven Hiring & Team Management
- Episode 240: Madi Waggoner – Scale Without Burnout: Leadership, Infrastructure, Fuel & Team Building
