What comes to mind when you hear the word INFLUENCE? Think about people who have influenced you in the past – and what it was about their approach that you found persuasive. Elaina Zuker has studied this topic for decades. It’s her specialty and her passion, and you’ll come away with important insights about influencing others at work and at home. Elaina is President of Elaina Zuker Associates, a management training and consulting firm in Montreal. She’s an expert in the area of Influence and th...
Oct 03, 2023•50 min•Ep. 245
If you were dealing with personal challenges, such as a special needs child or being caretaker of an aging parent, would you feel comfortable sharing them with your boss? Andrea Grant had both situations, and her answer was a resounding NO. In this conversation, you’ll find out why and how her life experiences led to the work she’s doing today. Andrea leads the growth and expansion efforts for the Human Capital division of FutureSense. She partners with organizations to design and execute critic...
Sep 26, 2023•45 min•Ep. 244
Being voted a “Best Place to Work” doesn’t happen by accident. Aaron Wilmot shares what’s he learned about creating the kind of culture where people are excited to come to work and put forth their best efforts. He points out several leadership behaviors that are key to this environment, including the investment of time in getting to know people and what’s important to them. Aaron is the Vice President of People and Talent at AgentSync, one of the Best Places to Work in Denver. Aaron has been wor...
Sep 19, 2023•35 min•Ep. 243
When you think of change management, do you imagine a process that takes months or years? Think again. Angela Priest is an extraordinarily skilled facilitator whose 3-day workshops produce immediate and lasting impact. You’ll be inspired as you hear Angela describe her approach, where she involves the right people and gets buy-in from key influencers. You’ll want to take notes to capture all the valuable ideas she shares. Angela is a seasoned executive and operational strategist with a 20-year t...
Sep 12, 2023•43 min•Ep. 242
Is it possible to create a high-trust environment and achieve ambitious business outcomes at the same time? J.C. Lapierre describes how professional services giant PwC is doing just that with its Trust Leadership Institute. You’ll be inspired by J.C.’s enthusiasm for this important project and her passion for her role as a leader. J.C. serves as Chief Strategy and Communications Officer for PwC, based in the firm’s Boston office. A visionary leader, J.C. creates strategy and collaborates with le...
Sep 05, 2023•50 min•Ep. 241
Which leadership skills and strengths are important for entrepreneurs in order to build a successful business? Geoffrey Kent shares the ones he needed to use, and they’re the same ones he advises every business leader to develop. You’ll be mesmerized by the stories Geoff tells to illustrate his points. Geoff has been a serial entrepreneur for more than 40 years. As a result of his own experiences, he’s developed a comprehensive methodology to help entrepreneurs build their own unique, customized...
Aug 29, 2023•49 min•Ep. 240
One of the most important strengths of an effective leader is empathy. But where do leaders learn this skill when they often feel driven by KPIs and ROIs? Emily Harper describes a compelling approach that Villyge is taking to develop empathic leaders in the context of supporting employees around significant life events. Emily Harper is the Chief Operating Officer of Villyge. It’s a people-first platform that upskills managers in the power of empathic leadership. Emily joined Villyge to redefine ...
Aug 22, 2023•40 min•Ep. 239
Did you know that Stephen R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People , was working on another book before he died in 2012? The book is called Live Life In Crescendo: Your Most Important Work is Always Ahead of You . His co-author was his daughter Cynthia Covey Haller, and she was committed to see the book through to publication. This took several years because of all the stories she included as examples of the “Crescendo Mentality.” In this unforgettable conversation, Cynthia ta...
Aug 11, 2023•46 min•Ep. 238
In your role as a leader and in other areas of your life, what kinds of habits have prevented you from being as effective as you’d like to be? My guest Gregg Vanourek has studied and written about these leadership derailers and common traps of living, and we cover several of them in this conversation. Gregg runs Gregg Vanourek LLC, a training and development firm, and teaches at the University of Denver and Stockholm Business School. He helps people with leadership, personal growth, and life des...
Aug 08, 2023•50 min•Ep. 237
Black women are under-represented in the C-suite. That’s a reality that Dr. Mechelle Roberthon has seen first-hand, and she’s on a mission to turn that around. This is a must-listen interview if your organization is committed to ensuring diversity at all levels, including top executive positions. Michelle shares important insights from her dissertation research and describes specific actions organizations can take to ensure opportunities for diverse representation at top leadership levels. Mento...
Aug 01, 2023•44 min•Ep. 236
Do you faithfully hold weekly 1-1 meetings with each member of your team? Jeremy Barr explains why this is the most important thing you can do as a leader. In this fast-paced conversation, Jeremy shares lots of nuggets about leadership that he’s learned from his various executive roles and now teaches to company founders, business owners, and leaders. He’s on a mission to have a positive impact on 3 billion people, and you’ll be fascinated to learn the approach he’s taking to reach that audaciou...
Jul 21, 2023•45 min•Ep. 235
What would happen if everyone in an organization adopted a collaborative approach to working together? Lloyd Fickett has facilitated such transformations scores of times over the past 20+ years with a set of 5 practices he created called The Collaborative Way. In this powerful conversation, Lloyd explains each one and describes the benefits that individuals, teams, and entire companies experience as a result of living these practices. Lloyd founded Lloyd Fickett & Associates, Inc. in 1983, a...
Jul 18, 2023•53 min•Ep. 234
Do the words “Compassion” and “Accountability” seem like opposites to you? My guest Dr. Nate Regier views them as such an important pairing that his new book, Compassionate Accountability: How Leaders Build Connection and Get Results , as well as his work with clients, focus on addressing them together. In this interview we discuss the three elements that bring these words together. Be ready to take notes, or even better, buy the book because Nate shares so many practical strategies in it. Nate ...
Jul 11, 2023•37 min•Ep. 233
Description How do you help people feel valued in a huge organization like Amazon? Omar Halabieh shares what he does on an ongoing basis to connect with his team members and help them understand the contribution they’re making. You’ll enjoy Omar’s enthusiasm as he describes his commitment to being a true servant leader to others. Omar is Director of Technology at Amazon Payment Services. In this role he’s responsible for delivering simple, trusted, and affordable payment solutions for customers ...
Jun 30, 2023•42 min•Ep. 232
Do you consider yourself a nonlinear thinker…or do you know someone who is? Perry Knoppert, aka Dr. Octopus, shares important insights that all of us need to hear in order to better understand these individuals. They are often seen as “curious misfits,” and many of their talents are overlooked in the workplace. This is a must-listen episode for everyone. We have all been guilty of judging or even cancelling others because they don’t think and act the way 80% of the rest of us do. Perry is an art...
Jun 20, 2023•54 min•Ep. 231
The Command & Control approach to leadership is obsolete, and there’s a powerful replacement for it: Trust & Inspire. Steven M. R. Covey is passionate about helping leaders adopt this far more effective way of leading others, and he brought this enthusiasm to our conversation. You will be inspired as he describes all the benefits of a leadership model that’s focused on helping people grow even as they are held accountable for results. Stephen is the New York Times and #1 Wall Street Jour...
Jun 13, 2023•53 min•Ep. 230
As a college freshman, Marcus Engel was blinded and nearly killed after being struck by a drunk driver. Through hundreds of hours of reconstructive surgery, months of rehab, and adapting to a completely new world, Marcus remained committed to his goals: return to college and recapture life. Marcus accepted and embraced the challenge. The life lessons he learned on this unexpected journey are now the guiding forces that inspire hundreds of thousands every day. He is the co-founder of the I’m Here...
Jun 02, 2023•42 min•Ep. 229
What if Human Resources served as a critical business partner, where the team functioned as a revenue center? Amy Dufrane describes examples of companies where this is happening and the resources HRCI provides to help HR professionals gain a seat at the table. Amy is the CEO of two important organizations tied to human resources. The first is HRCI, which is the world’s premier credentialing and learning organization for the human resources profession. Amy is responsible for guiding this multi-mi...
May 30, 2023•48 min•Ep. 228
Do you expend energy trying to make others wrong so you can be right? Rich Habets is a master of facilitating powerful discussions 1-1 and with teams by asking questions and not making anyone wrong. In this conversation, he shares what he does to guide clients to look within and listen for the gold in what others say. Rich is the founder and lead coach at Insight, Inc. Over the past 14 years, he’s dedicated himself to empowering more than 6,000 individuals and collaborating with more than 30 wor...
May 23, 2023•45 min•Ep. 227
Is there something you’d love to have but think it’s impossible for you to achieve? Listen to this inspiring conversation with Kimberly Wiefling, and you’ll likely see ways that you can, in fact, create what you want. Along the way, you’ll discover how the best leaders build trust with their teams through vulnerability. Kimberly is the founder of Wiefling Consulting, and cofounder of Silicon Valley Alliances. She’s also the author of the globally popular book Scrappy Project Management: The 12 P...
May 16, 2023•44 min•Ep. 226
A big complaint in most companies is the amount of time wasted in meetings. If that’s been your experience, too, this episode is a must-listen. Amy Casciotti, Vice President of Human Resources at TechSmith Corporation, explains how they’ve created an innovative approach that’s eliminated the need for people to meet at the same time. You’ll learn how their Async-First environment has saved time and increased productivity. TechSmith is a software company with a mission to empower people to create ...
May 09, 2023•35 min•Ep. 225
When high achievers get promoted, they actually need to learn to be leaders in four different areas: Up, Across, Team and Self. Mark J. Silverman describes how he works with Rising Leaders to raise their awareness—and effectiveness—in each of these situations. You’ll get practical tips on what to say and do to achieve the results you and the other person want. When he was working for fast-growing tech startups, Mark generated more than $90,000,000 in sales. He achieved this by bringing together ...
May 02, 2023•44 min•Ep. 224
A positive culture where people feel valued and empowered doesn’t happen by accident. Tim Lupinacci, CEO and Chair at Baker Donelson, has been intentional about creating one by developing a five-year vision, then getting buy-in and commitment from everyone in the law firm. Tim Lupinacci leads more than 1,300 individuals in 22 law offices across the Southeastern US. Tim is presently leading the firm’s five-year BakerVision 2028 strategy and its Diversity & Inclusion Compact. A life-long leade...
Apr 25, 2023•38 min•Ep. 223
How do you hire, onboard and get the best results in a virtual workplace? Dr. Ronald Beach knows it takes a combination of communication skills, setting clear expectations, and taking time to create a strong relationship with each person on the team. He shares many useful tips from his two books, The Virtual Divide and The Virtual Bridge . Ron is an Organizational Sociologist with a Ph. D. in Organization and Management. He’s now at the University of Arizona Global Campus, where he serves as the...
Apr 18, 2023•46 min•Ep. 222
Do you ever struggle to find joy in your life? My guest Cordelia Gaffar is a master of guiding clients to discover the joy within, and that’s why she has the title, Ultimate Joy Goddess. Through her own life experiences (which include many years in the corporate world followed by being a mother of 6 children and homeschooling for 18 years), Cordelia now serves as an executive transformation coach. She helps clients learn to nurture themselves by using a process she calls Four Mind Alignment. Cor...
Apr 11, 2023•43 min•Ep. 221
Description Want some inspiration and practical tips for surmounting obstacles in your life? You’ll get both from Jill Tietjen, who shares stories about the adversity faced by several of the 50 women featured in her latest book, Over, Under, Around, and Through: How Hall of Famers Surmount Obstacles . Jill is an author, international speaker, and an electrical engineer. After more than 45 years in the electric utility industry, her professional focus is now on women’s advocacy, worldwide. She sp...
Apr 04, 2023•43 min•Ep. 220
Have you ever wondered what would happen if an org chart were flipped, so it was an upside-down triangle? Meet Nick Gallo. He and his brother Giovanni are Co-CEOs at Ethico, and they’ve accomplished this by putting their clients at the top of the pyramid. Nick Gallo is Chief Servant and Co-CEO of Ethico, a company that provides human resource, compliance and ethics solutions that serve 8 million employees in over 100 countries. He has the distinction of being the only millennial CEO of a complia...
Mar 28, 2023•43 min•Ep. 219
Have you ever had a boss who challenged you because they saw your long-term potential? Geoffrey Roche was lucky enough to work for a CEO who led him that way, and her influence is reflected in the way he leads his own teams today. You’ll take away ideas that can help you be that kind of leader to others. Geoffrey is the son of a nurse, as well as a future of work and education expert. The combination of healthcare and higher ed represents a common thread throughout his professional career, which...
Mar 21, 2023•46 min•Ep. 218
Do you know someone who struggles at work or at home because of neurodiversity or executive functioning challenges? If so, you’re going to find this interview with Michelle Raz extremely valuable! You’ll learn what you can do to support them, whether they’re an employee on your team or a family member. Michelle is a certified career coach and the owner of Raz Coaching where she works with neurodiverse professionals. She helps them shift from feeling like a misunderstood outsider to feeling like ...
Mar 14, 2023•38 min•Ep. 217
Many companies are struggling with how to structure work, and some are requiring everyone to return to the physical building. Yet remote and hybrid teams are here to stay. Kevin Eikenberry shares practical tips from his new book, The Long-Distance Team , on making these teams successful. Kevin is an expert on this subject, not only because he’s written the book, but also because he’s been leading a long-distance team himself for more than 25 years. He explains how to consciously design teams, de...
Mar 07, 2023•40 min•Ep. 216
