In this episode of Teamwork Sandbox, I’m joined by author and industrial-organizational psychologist, Marla Parker for a candid conversation on what it really means to lead with intention. We talk about the tension between showing up authentically and staying professional, how data can drive meaningful change (not just reporting), and what it takes to create workplaces where people feel seen—not just evaluated on their performance. We also get into the everyday challenges leaders face: navigatin...
Apr 08, 2025•26 min•Season 3Ep. 5
About This Episode: When working with your team, do you find yourself using more statements or questions? Research shows relational versus transactional leaders are far more effective when leading and managing their team. In this episode, I talk with leadership author, Bob Tiede about his book, Leading with Questions. He has been leading teams for decades and shares a wealth of knowledge focusing on the power of questions, and concludes our conversation by offering leadership secrets to crafting...
Feb 21, 2025•26 min
The future of work includes learning how to effectively manage hybrid teams, leading multi-generational employees and competing with other organizations for top talent. In this episode, I sit down with executive coach and consultant, Yanika Daniels to talk about best practices in leading teams, talent management, talent development, and recruitment. About Our Special Guest: Yanika S. Daniels is an accomplished Executive Coach and Consultant with over 20 years of expertise in leadership developme...
Jan 23, 2025•23 min
In this episode of Teamwork Sandbox , we dive into the evolving role of AI in the workplace with Jeff, an educator and AI researcher whose journey began with GPT-3. Jeff unpacks how leaders, team managers and anyone in the workplace can benefit from understanding AI's disruptive potential in both education and industry. He stresses the importance of mastering large language models, such as ChatGPT and Claude, and offers guidance on prompt engineering and data security—key skills that leaders can...
Nov 14, 2024•25 min•Season 4Ep. 2
About this Episode: In this episode, you will hear from Nick Heap, Ph.D., an experienced organization development consultant, as he shares insights into his newly developed strengths-based coaching model. He explains how this approach helps teams identify and leverage their strengths, envision future success, recognize opportunities, and develop actionable plans for improvement. Nick also discusses his vision of "naturalizing" Appreciative Inquiry, making it accessible to everyone by focusing on...
Oct 20, 2024•31 min•Season 5Ep. 2
Welcome to Teamwork Sandbox ! I’m Yolanda Fraction, and I’m excited to bring you my rebranded show focused on one of my passions—teamwork. Drawing on over 20 years of experience across industries like education, nonprofit, and corporate environments, I’ll be sharing insights on what it takes to build high-performing teams that thrive in today's hybrid and virtual workplaces. You’ll hear real stories and interviews with professionals, including managers and individual contributors, about how they...
Oct 17, 2024•17 min•Season 5Ep. 1
The holiday season is upon us, and it offers many an opportunity to reflect and enjoy time with loved ones, before starting the New Year. Are you unemployed? Are you underemployed? Are you simply seeking continuous improvement? This episode is for you! Our careers are constantly in need of reflection and retrospection. This episode encourages those who are unemployed while offering useful tips to those who are employed to seek out mentors, sponsors, and coaches so they may thrive in their profes...
Dec 23, 2023•22 min
They say, "the only thing constant is change." But, how do we operate a world filled with consistent change that never seems to end? How do we lead ourselves and sometimes, a team of people or organization through change? We must foster change champions, become change leaders ourselves and continue to find resilience while acknowledging, change is often immensely uncomfortable. In my new podcast episode, I focus on "Change Management and Digital Transformation with Change Consulta...
Dec 14, 2023•21 min
It seems like everywhere you look, people are talking about artificial intelligence or AI. Kirk Perry has been teaching people how to implement innovation and technology in infrastructures for the last 20 years. Kirk has worked in advertising, marketing, and product development. How might we learn to leverage AI as a tool or resource? If you use Siri or Alexa, you've already been using generative AI. In this episode, I talk with Kirk Perry about generative artificial intelligence (AI) and th...
Nov 16, 2023•23 min
This Fall, Kevin has been a keynote speaker at the Chief Learning Officer (CLO) Symposium and LTEN Learning Executive Series, a DevLearn panelist and more, and now, he's gracing us with his presence in this episode! He's a "Learning Detective" and he solves measurement mysteries. But, he's not only measuring impact, he's making an impact (in our global community)! Do you need to measure the impact of learning? He has 25+ years of experience doing this work! Check out th...
Oct 26, 2023•29 min
Are you in the midst of a career transition or career disruption? Career disruptions include everything from an organizational reorganization to a job layoff. How are you managing this time? In this episode, Amy Petrecick will encourage you to trust yourself and the professional expertise that you bring to the spaces where you show up. We also chat about developing and leveraging your consultative skills as a professional and getting stakeholder buy-in. Want to learn more about Amy? Amy is a sea...
Oct 20, 2023•18 min
Right now, do you feel like your best self, personally and professionally? What's holding you back from becoming your best self yet? What are the barriers to being well? In this episode, we celebrate World Mental Health Day by bringing on a corporate wellness expert and therapist who will discuss some of her personal and professional tips for achieving success. Whether you are a senior leader, individual contributor or people manager, your role requires that you be "well". Let'...
Oct 10, 2023•21 min
In this episode with Life Coach, Tanya Jaklis, ACC, CPC, ELI-MP , we discuss: - Women in transition, and aligning our core values to each season - Redefining what success means to us in each season of our lives - Going after dream opportunities WITHOUT experiencing burnout (overworking, saying yes when we want to say no, incorporating rest and play into our lives) - The mind and body connection - Work/life integration VS work/life balance Learn more about Tanya Jaklis and her work: www.tanyajakl...
Sep 13, 2023•26 min•Season 2Ep. 1
In this episode, we sit down with Kate Udalova , co-founder of 7Taps . 7 Taps is a microlearning tool that may be used to design and develop microlearning. We also peek into Kate's journey as an entrepreneur and ed-tech startup co-founder.
Aug 25, 2023•23 min
In this episode, I talk with career development expert and learning leader, Kason Morris. He's been in the learning field for over 15 years now, and is passionate about helping fellow learning professionals to drive their own career development journey. We talk about practical ways to get in the driver's seat and find career success. About Kason Morris: Kason [kay-sawn] Morris is a seasoned culture-driven, Learning, Talent, Organizational Development (L&OD) strategist and executor with an en...
Oct 03, 2021•21 min•Season 2Ep. 12
In this episode, Jonathan Carbin and I sit down to discuss the news and information that we absorb, and how it influences our thinking about learning and development, and our overall, worldview. Do you feel like you're in a L&D (learning and development) bubble? Are you only taking in news and information about learning and development? How do we expand our thinking, so that we cultivate diversity of thought in our personal and professional lives? Do you feel like it's a bit "noisy" on socia...
Sep 20, 2021•27 min
In this episode, I sit down to talk with a Futurist, Rita J. King . We talk about the return to the office, the importance of designing effective meetings and the Imagination Age. Rita created The Imagination Age , a framework to transition from the Industrial Era to the Intelligence Era. About Rita: Rita has been featured in The New York Times, Psychology Today, TIME, CNN, NPR, and many more mediums. She’s the Executive Vice President for Business Development at Science House , Co-founder of Mo...
Sep 13, 2021•27 min•Season 2Ep. 10
This episode is straight from my heart to yours. After Hours is a new branch of The L&D Lounge podcast that I'll be running, to talk about whatever is on my mind related to learning and development, my career insights, and life itself. This particular episode is for anyone out there who's in transition. I share my story with you of how I've transitioned from being an elementary teacher to being a learning and development professional. I also share my thoughts on ways that you might find that...
Sep 09, 2021•13 min•Season 2Ep. 9
In this fun episode, I sit down with one of my favorite people to talk to, Shannon Tipton, owner of Learning Rebels. She's headed to ATD ICE 2021 and I'm thrilled to be able to give you, the listener, a sneak peek from her upcoming conference session, "Drips, Bots and Blogs". If you're wondering what that unique title is all about, be sure to press that play button! This episode is power-packed with gems on how to move from traditional to non-traditional training. About Shannon Tipton and Learni...
Aug 28, 2021•24 min•Season 2Ep. 9
This episode is for anybody out there who is a leader. A leader is simply anyone who influences people, anyone who has followers. We're going to mix things up and give you a fresh, new way to rethink leadership. We're talking about the importance of love in leadership. You might be saying, "Huh, love in leadership?" That's right, love is needed in our workplaces, now more than ever! We're in the midst of a global pandemic, racial injustice, natural disasters all over the world, and we all need f...
Aug 16, 2021•27 min•Season 2Ep. 8
I'm a former elementary teacher. Sara Stevick, founder of TEACHING: A Path to Learning and Development is a former high school teacher. The community that she founded provides FREE support to teachers, to help them transition into learning and development (L&D). In this podcast episode, we talk about how teachers can successfully transition into learning and development. Sara provides practical advice based on her personal and professional experience making the leap! This episode is also for...
Aug 01, 2021•30 min•Season 2Ep. 7
In this episode, I talk with Dr. Britt Andreatta about the Hybrid Workplace report that she recently released with Voodle. Our conversation leads us to talk about how we've had to navigate workplace changes due to the pandemic and now, how we successfully return to the workplace. Visit TEACHING: A Path to Learning and Development to learn more about the free services and resources that are available to teachers looking to make the transition. Know that you're not alone, and good luck! About Dr. ...
Jul 13, 2021•32 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Join me in celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! But, let's remember that we should consider ways to support Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC's) year-round, not just during certain months, or on holidays. What's your role in supporting BIPOC's? What's your organization's role? Join me as I welcome Cynthia Pong, an award-winning career strategist, author, and coach to discuss practical ways that you and your organization can make this a conscious, year-round eff...
May 29, 2021•36 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Wow, y'all, it's been a year and a half since the pandemic started! Many of us have been facilitating virtual training throughout the pandemic, the work has not slowed down, if anything, it's ramped up as we looked to find creative, meaningful and effective ways to continue to deliver best in class learning experiences. In this episode of the L&D Lounge, I sit down with virtual training expert, Cindy Huggett to discuss virtual training burnout. Join us as she gives us tips, tools and strateg...
May 17, 2021•25 min•Season 2Ep. 4
What is virtual production? How do you know when you should have a virtual producer? Should you be your own virtual producer if you're a learning team of one? In this episode, I sit down with Kassy LaBorie to answer these questions and chat about her new book, "Producing Virtual Trainings, Meetings and Webinars" that focuses solely on virtual production. Whether you choose to be your own virtual producer, or to hire one to support you, this conversation will leave you with lots to think about an...
Feb 22, 2021•21 min•Season 2Ep. 3
What does it look like to be a Black or Brown learning and development professional in this day and age? Why do so few of us have a platform or voice in this field? In this episode, I reconnect with an old, familiar face, Deadra Welcome. I met Deadra while serving as the Director of Events with the Association for Talent Development's (ATD) Maryland chapter. Deadra is now on the board of directors with ATD Metro Washington D.C., where I'm currently a member. About Deadra: Deadra Welcome i...
Feb 16, 2021•33 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Based in the United Kingdom, the award-winning, John Hinchliffe joins me in our virtual lounge to talk about how he's used this devastating pandemic to uplift learning and development professionals. Have you ever wondered why you take to binge watching Netflix shows so much? Perhaps, it's the user experience, and what can learning and development professionals do to create meaningful and engaging, binge-worthy learning experiences? About John: Nominated for a COVID Champion Learning Award for hi...
Jan 27, 2021•33 min•Season 2Ep. 1
In this episode, Yolanda Fraction, M.Ed. talks with Nicole Papaioannou, PhD about the importance of a strong needs analysis, reflects on overcoming virtual training hurdles at the beginning of the pandemic and discusses the importance of partnering with your internal and external client to create an engaging learning product. About Nicole: Nicole Papaioannou, PhD is an instructional designer and performance-focused, training consultant. Her entire professional career has been focused...
Dec 16, 2020•21 min•Season 1Ep. 6
"Empathy is a recognition that the person in front of you has an experience that may be quite different from yours. It's not about a basic skill, it's not about a PowerPoint and it doesn't fit on a module. Let's take that E in e-Learning and include it to be empathic and to have empathy in that." - Elliott Masie About Elliot: This high-profile, special guest really doesn't need an introduction! He is a true GOAT (greatest of all time) in my book, he coined the term "e-Learning" in th...
Sep 20, 2020•37 min•Season 1Ep. 5
About Mike: Mike Taylor is more than your average, run of the mill learning consultant, he is someone who’s constantly scanning the horizons for what’s best in class in L&D. He’s a learning nerd who specializes in the intersection of learning, design, and technology. This episode will give you lots of learning and development “gold nuggets” in such little time. Mike possesses a wealth of knowledge in this field and generously gives away his knowledge and advice during this show....
Sep 17, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 4
