Let's Talk, People with Emily Frieze-Kemeny

Giving feedback can be hard. Avoiding it makes things even harder. It's time to do the hard thing and have that feedback conversation. In this episode of Let's Talk, People, Emily sits down with Wanda Shoer, Chief Learning Officer at Sanofi, a global pharmaceutical and healthcare company, to talk about one of the most important, and most avoided, leadership responsibilities: giving feedback.They unpack how to give feedback that's clear, timely, and grounded in growth not fear. From focusing on observable behaviors (not assumptions) to reinforcing belief in a person's ability to improve, the conversation offers practical strategies for making feedback feel like an investment in someone's development. They explore how strong leaders use feedback to unlock potential, not just correct mistakes, and how clarity and specificity can drive accountability without micromanagement.If you've ever avoided a feedback conversation or felt stuck between honesty and empathy, this one's for you.As an added bonus, head to arosegroup.com/resources to grab your complementary guide to having difficult feedback conversations. Timestamps: [00:07:58] – Why Feedback Feels Risky Wanda explores the emotional weight of giving feedback and why fear of embarrassment, shame, or misinterpretation often keeps leaders silent.[00:16:20] – Feedback Is the Job, Not a Bonus Emily and Wanda discuss how giving feedback isn't “extra”, it's core to leading well. When done with clarity and care, it builds trust, ownership, and alignment.[00:25:14] – Focus on Behaviors, Not Labels Why the best feedback avoids assumptions about intent and instead centers on what was observed, experienced, and actionable.[00:35:45] – Growth-Oriented Feedback, Not Fear-Based Wanda shares how to shift the culture of feedback from one of fear to one of possibility, where improvement is expected and supported.[00:44:00] – Unlocking Potential Through Strengths The episode closes with a conversation about leading through strengths, creating clarity, and helping team members feel accountable without micromanagement.Access the episode transcript.Join the Conversation: This year we're taking audience questions! Send in your toughest people management and leadership challenges, and we'll anonymize them and tackle them in an upcoming episode. Email Abigail on our Let's Talk, People team with your situation as a written note or voice memo to abigail@arosegroup.com.Connect with Emily Frieze-Kemeny on LinkedIn and Instagram or explore her work through AROSE Group's website.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Let's Talk, People in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this...

Communication isn't a soft skill—it's a crucial leadership skill.In this episode of Let's Talk, People, Emmy-winning journalist turned executive communications coach, Jane Hanson, joins Emily to unpack what it really takes to communicate with clarity, presence, and influence in today's distracted, high-stakes world.They dig into what “executive presence” actually means (and what it doesn't), why being present is one of the most underrated leadership tools, and how to use storytelling to drive buy-in.From navigating virtual meetings to inspiring confidence under pressure, Jane offers tactical advice, powerful reminders, and a little tough love for leaders ready to up their communication game.Timestamps:[00:10:51] – Presence Over Performance: Jane explains why true communication starts with presence, and how to train yourself to drop in, cut the noise, and connect in real time.[00:18:19] – How to Run a Meeting People Actually Want to Join: Jane shares her formula for virtual team meetings that are clear, concise, and engaging, including her rule for cameras on and how to build real connection in the first five minutes.[00:23:12] – Stop the Monologue: Matching Message to Medium: How to know when to use a live meeting versus a written update and why so many managers misuse meeting time.[00:29:09] – If You Want to Be Heard, Tell a Story: Jane shares how storytelling, not just data, helps managers communicate upwards in a way that resonates and drives change.[00:32:38] – Executive Presence, Redefined: Forget gravitas. Jane unpacks the real components of executive presence from confidence and clarity to calm in a crisis, and how leaders can build it intentionally.Access the episode transcript.Join the Conversation: This year, we're taking audience questions! Send in your toughest people management and leadership challenges, and we'll anonymize them and tackle them in an upcoming episode. Email Abigail on our Let's Talk, People team with your situation as a written note or voice memo to abigail@arosegroup.com.Connect with Emily Frieze-Kemeny on LinkedIn and Instagram or explore her work through AROSE Group's website.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Let's Talk, People in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts. It helps others discover the show.Thanks for listening to Let's Talk, People!

Leadership in this moment of divisiveness means making space for complexity—without getting lost in it.In this episode, Emily is joined by Vince Marigna, CEO of Breakthrough Collaborative, to explore how leaders can navigate uncertainty, hold space for difference, and guide teams through today's increasingly divisive environment.Together, they dig into what it really means to lead during destabilizing times—when institutional change is constant, political opinions are charged, and team members are carrying vastly different lived experiences into work. Vince shares practical tools like guiding principles, practicing responsible transparency, and the art of listening without assuming.If you've ever felt caught between protecting your people and supporting your organization's decisions—or struggled to stay grounded while holding space for others—this is an honest, deeply human conversation you won't want to miss.Timestamps:[00:05:08] – When Problem-Solving Isn't the Answer: Vince shares a formative lesson from his sister that reshaped his leadership approach—sometimes the most powerful move is to ask, not solve.[00:13:07] – Leading with Influence Over Control: As CEO of a federated organization, Vince breaks down how to lead with influence, not authority—and why listening to local context while providing the structure for collective succeed is essential.[00:22:30] – Principles for Navigating Divisiveness: From political tension to personal values, Vince outlines how Breakthrough uses guiding principles and shared values to unify teams during charged times.[00:33:30] – Responsible Transparency: Vince and Emily explore how leaders can acknowledge hard truths without destabilizing their teams and how to determine what's the right level of transparency for the moment. [00:43:30] – From Competence to Genius: In his closing reflection, Vince names the pattern he's working to break as a leader — spending too much time in the zone of competence, and not enough in his zone of genius.Access the episode transcript.Join the Conversation: This year we're taking audience questions! Send in your toughest people management and leadership challenges, and we'll anonymize them and tackle them in an upcoming episode. Email Abigail on our Let's Talk, People team with your situation as a written note or voice memo to abigail@arosegroup.com.Connect with Emily Frieze-Kemeny on LinkedIn and Instagram or explore her work through AROSE Group's website.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Let's Talk, People in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts. It helps others discover the show.Thanks for listening to Let's Talk, People!

Human-centered design isn't just for product teams. It's a tool every leader should have in their back pocket.In this episode, Emily is joined by Iris McQuillan-Grace—actor-turned-educator-turned-global head of employee experience—to explore how leaders at every level can use human-centered design to unlock better ways of working.Iris shares how design thinking principles like empathy mapping, design sprints, and employee personas can help managers resolve challenges and reimagine team cultures—this is not about waiting on a full-scale transformation.If you've ever felt stuck in the middle—between your team's needs and your organization's demands—this episode offers a practical path forward. You don't have to have all the answers. You just need the right questions.Timestamps:[00:10:47] – What Is Human-Centered Design, Really? Iris defines the concept in clear, accessible terms—and explains why many leaders think they're doing it when they're actually not.[00:13:49] – Mapping the Employee Experience: Iris walks through how to map user journeys and build employee personas to design smarter, more inclusive systems.[00:20:15] – Applying Human-Centered Design as a Manager: Emily and Iris respond to real manager dilemmas—demonstrating how tools like empathy mapping and co-creation can transform disengaged or siloed teams.[00:37:14] – From Stuck to Empowered: The episode closes with a reflection on agency, empathy, and the simple power of helping people get out of their own way.Access the episode transcript.Ready to lead Human-Centered Design Sprints with Your Team? Head to arosegroup.com/resources to grab your free copy of our HCD Design Sprint Guide for Managers. While you're at it, we'll throw in some additional complementary resources because we care about you and your team's success!Join the Conversation: This year we're taking audience questions! Send in your toughest people management and leadership challenges, and we'll anonymize them and tackle them in an upcoming episode. Email Abigail on our Let's Talk, People team with your situation as a written note or voice memo to abigail@arosegroup.com.Connect with Emily Frieze-Kemeny on LinkedIn and Instagram or explore her work through AROSE Group's website.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Let's Talk, People in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts. It helps others discover the show.Thanks for listening to Let's Talk, People!

Leadership today is like an extreme sport, requiring stamina, adaptability, and emotional resilience. Diane Gherson, former Chief Human Resources Officer at IBM, Harvard professor, and current advisor to CEOs and CHROs, joins Let's Talk, People to break down the realities of toxic leadership—and how organizations can define it, detect it, and dismantle it.This episode goes beyond the buzzword. Diane and Emily unpack what “toxic” really means, why ambiguity does more harm than good, and how managers at every level can foster healthier, more sustainable team cultures. From the psychology of burnout to the risks of unchecked power, it's a timely conversation for anyone leading in today's high-stakes environment.If you've ever struggled to tell the difference between a tough boss and a toxic one—or felt unsure how to respond to a culture that's slowly becoming corrosive—this one's for you.Timestamps:[00:07:46] – Leadership as an Extreme Sport: Diane explores the toll of nonstop work and how treating leadership like an extreme sport reframes the importance of recovery, sleep, and emotional regulation.[00:17:15] – A Clearer Definition of Toxic Leadership: Diane shares a definition of toxic leadership grounded in behaviors—disrespectful, unethical, abusive, ruthless, and non-inclusive—and shares why intention shouldn't override impact.[00:27:08] – Buffering Your Team from a Toxic Leader: What do you do when toxicity is above you? Diane and Emily offer practical strategies for managers who are protecting their teams from a senior leader's harmful behavior.[00:39:03] – Team Resets and Culture Ownership: The conversation closes with insights on how to reset team dynamics, even midstream, and why shared ownership of culture is essential to navigating difficult moments.Access the episode transcript.Join the Conversation: This year we're taking audience questions! Send in your toughest people management and leadership challenges, and we'll anonymize them and tackle them in an upcoming episode. Email Abigail on our Let's Talk, People team with your situation as a written note or voice memo to abigail@arosegroup.com.Connect with Emily Frieze-Kemeny on LinkedIn and Instagram or explore her work at AROSE Group.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Let's Talk, People in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts. It helps others discover the show.Thanks for listening to Let's Talk, People!

Leading today is like managing Russian nesting dolls—layer upon layer of complexity, from geopolitical shifts to workplace expectations. Mel Steinbach, Chief Business Officer and Chief People Officer at MasterClass, joins Let's Talk, People to unpack how leaders can navigate the paradoxes of modern leadership.In this engaging and refreshing episode, Mel and Emily candidly explore how leaders can redefine power, set clear expectations, and build a culture where both performance and wellbeing thrive. If you've ever felt caught between supporting employee growth and managing burnout, this conversation will challenge you to rethink our current approaches and equip you with insights to lead with curiosity and clarity amidst these challenges.Timestamps:[00:07:04] – Leadership as Russian Nesting Dolls: Mel introduces the layers of change leaders must navigate, from macro-level disruptions to team and individual challenges.[00:16:14] – The Social Media Effect on Career Growth: How social recognition is fueling the promotion obsession, and why leaders must set realistic expectations for career progression.[00:24:00] – The Power of Curiosity in Leadership: Mel and Emily discuss why curiosity is the most critical leadership skill—not just for strategy, but for unlocking team performance and engagement.[00:33:48] – Making AI Your Intern, Not Your Replacement: Mel shares how leaders can shift mindsets around AI, treating it as a tool for removing tedious tasks rather than a threat to jobs.Access the episode transcript.Join the Conversation: This year we're taking audience questions! Send in your toughest people management and leadership challenges, and we'll anonymize them and tackle them in an upcoming episode. Email Abigail on our Let's Talk, People team with your situation as a written note or voice memo to abigail@arosegroup.com.Connect with Emily Frieze-Kemeny on LinkedIn and Instagram or explore her work through AROSE Group's website.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Let's Talk, People in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts. It helps others discover the show.Thanks for listening to Let's Talk, People!

What if the key to transforming businesses and leadership isn't just strategy, but kindness—paired with math? In this powerful conversation, James Rhee—Harvard-trained lawyer, private equity investor, former CEO of Ashley Stewart, Johnson Chair of Entrepreneurship at Howard University, and author of Red Helicopter—shares how he led a remarkable business turnaround by prioritizing relationships, trust, the right measures, and systemic thinking, proving that profitability and humanity are inherently one.James challenges outdated business norms, from traditional accounting to leadership styles that overlook the emotional realities of work. He makes a compelling case that the leaders of the future must be fluent in connectedness, willing to rethink what truly drives success, and committed to fostering agency in their people. If you've ever felt that work should be more meaningful, more human, and more sustainable, this episode will equip you with the inspiration and practical tools you need to reclaim your agency and drive change.Timestamps:[00:02:00] – The Power of Kindness and Math: James Rhee explains why kindness and math are the foundation of effective leadership and how they shaped his turnaround strategy at Ashley Stewart.[00:16:14] – Rethinking Business Metrics: James describes how traditional accounting fails to measure what truly drives sustainable success and challenges leaders to track retention, wellbeing, actuarial data, and other overlooked indicators of performance.[00:24:38] – Kindness as a Teachable Skill: James defines kindness as a combination of agency, free will, and determination, reinforcing that it's not a passive trait but an active leadership skill that can be taught and embedded into business practices.[00:34:17] – Leadership as Systems Thinking: James shares why small, intentional changes—like improving store lighting—can drive cultural and financial transformation, proving that leadership is about connectedness and long-term impact.Access the episode transcript.Join the Conversation: This year we're taking audience questions! Send in your toughest people management and leadership challenges, and we'll anonymize them and tackle them in an upcoming episode. Email Abigail on our Let's Talk, People team with your situation as a written note or voice memo to abigail@arosegroup.com.Connect with Emily Frieze-Kemeny on LinkedIn and Instagram or explore her work through AROSE Group's website.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Let's Talk, People in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts. It helps others...

How do you keep your team engaged when everything around them is changing? We know we are accountable for engagement—but what happens when your organization is in flux, and uncertainty is the norm? Should leaders give themselves a pass, or is there a way to keep employees motivated even in the midst of disruption and uncertainty?In this episode of Let's Talk, People, I sit down with Marta Callao Molina, Citibank HR executive and former global head of Talent and Leadership Development at IBM, to unpack the realities of leading through change. Marta shares the hard truths and practical strategies leaders need to engage their teams with authenticity, transparency, and trust—even when times are tough.Timestamps:[00:06:34] – Leading Through Change: Why engagement matters most when organizations are in transition.[00:19:20] – What to Do When Engagement Scores Drop: Marta's advice for leaders facing lower engagement scores.[00:25:10] – Building Stronger Relationships with Your Team: The impact of trust, listening, and adapting to individual needs.[00:31:08] – Small but Powerful Leadership Moves: Simple ways to create a more engaged, motivated team.Access the episode transcript.Join the Conversation: This year we're taking audience questions! Send in your toughest people management and leadership challenges, and we'll anonymize them and tackle them in an upcoming episode. Email Abigail on our Let's Talk, People team with your situation as a written note or voice memo to abigail@arosegroup.com.Connect with Emily Frieze-Kemeny on LinkedIn and Instagram or explore her work through AROSE Group's website.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Let's Talk, People in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts. It helps others discover the show.Thanks for listening to Let's Talk, People!

Fear is a constant force in our work lives—whether it's fear of failure, job insecurity, or financial anxiety, these worries shape how we show up and perform. In this episode, I sit down with Farnoosh Torabi, one of America's leading personal finance experts, host of the Webby winning podcast, So Money, and four-time author, to explore our role as leaders in helping people deal with their fears… or not. how managers can help employees navigate fears while still driving success.Farnoosh will shift your relationship with fear from something negative we try to avoid to a source of guidance and wisdom. As leaders, we need to be aware of how fear impacts the people we lead. Together, Farnoosh and I dive into the hidden fears people won't always voice—from imposter syndrome to money struggles—and what leaders can do to acknowledge and address them, while maintaining boundaries, and fostering a supportive and equitable workplace.If you're a leader looking to build trust, boost engagement, and help your team thrive in times of uncertainty, this episode delivers fresh perspectives and actionable takeaways you won't want to miss.Timestamps:[00:03:40] Fear as a Protector: Farnoosh shares a childhood story of the power of fear to keep us safe. [00:10:01] Getting Laid Off & Turning Fear Into Opportunity: Farnoosh shares her story of being laid off in 2009, and how this propelled her career into what it is today.00:26:30] The Role of Leaders in Advocacy for Employees: Emily and Farnoosh discuss how managers can advocate and offer alternative career path opportunities to support.[00:35:31] Navigating Tough Conversations About Pay Raises & Financial Stress: Emily and Farnoosh offer practical guidance on setting boundaries while leading with empathy.[00:45:27] Managing Your Own Fears as a Leader: Emily and Farnoosh discuss how to balance vulnerability with what's appropriate to share with our employees and how to consider the impact we can have as leaders.Access the full episode transcript.Check out the recommended resource Of Color, a financial wellness platform that can be offered as a benefit to employees. Join the Conversation:This year we're taking audience questions! Send in your toughest people management and leadership challenges, and we'll anonymize them and tackle them in an upcoming episode. Email Abigail on our Let's Talk, People team with your situation as a written note or voice memo to abigail@arosegroup.com.Connect with Emily Frieze-Kemeny on LinkedIn and Instagram or explore her work through AROSE Group's website.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Let's Talk, People in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get

Onboarding – Get them a laptop, take them to lunch, and wish them luck? Or could it be the pivot movement that sets the course for someone's success? In this episode, I sit down with Cameron Kinloch, CFO of Weights & Biases, to break down why onboarding is a critical factor in team success, speed to productivity, and long-term engagement.With experience spanning Wall Street and Silicon Valley, Cameron shares how great onboarding goes beyond checklists—it's about setting the right conditions for alignment, authenticity, and high performance from day one. Together, we outline practical, high-impact strategies, from 30-60-90 day plans and leadership "user manuals" to understanding learning styles and leveraging the team's collective support.If you're a leader looking to strengthen your team, scale your impact, and create a culture where employees thrive from day one, this episode is for you.Timestamps:[00:04:45] Cameron emphasizes that onboarding is a critical leadership responsibility, not just an HR task. [00:20:06] Cameron and Emily recommend practical tools to use in onboarding like a 30-60-90 Day Plan, a User Manual, and Team Agreements. [00:26:22] Emily and Cameron discuss the delicate balance between a new hire integrating into an existing team and the team adapting to the strengths of the new hire.[00:33:35] Emily and Cameron recommend strategies like ongoing check-ins to help maintain the momentum of successful onboarding.Access the full episode transcript.Check out the book recommended in the episode The Power of Moments by Chip and Dan Heath.Join the Conversation:This year we're taking audience questions! Send in your toughest people management and leadership challenges, and we'll tackle them in an upcoming episode. Email Abigail on our Let's Talk, People team with your situation as a written note or voice memo to abigail@arosegroup.com.Connect with Emily Frieze-Kemeny on LinkedIn and Instagram or explore her work through AROSE Group's website.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Let's Talk, People in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts. It helps others discover the show.Thanks for listening to Let's Talk, People!

As extreme weather events continue to happen all around us, what responsibility do we have as managers and leaders in caring for our employees while needing to drive performance? What can we do as managers in organizations to take action and support climate change initiatives? These are just a few of the big questions we tackle in this episode with Josh Dorfman, a serial climate entrepreneur, Co-founder of Plantd, and CEO of Supercool, who shares stories of resilience, innovation, and hope from the frontlines of climate solutions. Together, we unpack how leaders can foster a sense of agency, drive positive change within their organizations, and inspire action even amidst daunting challenges. If you're a leader looking for practical insights and a dose of optimism about the state of our planet, this episode is for you.Timestamps:[00:10:30] Josh discusses how innovation and climate solutions are scaling up worldwide, giving leaders and teams reasons to feel optimistic about the future.[00:14:45] Emily and Josh dive into the delicate balance leaders must strike between supporting employees through personal and global crises while ensuring work moves forward.[00:22:18] Josh shares practical advice for managers on empowering employees to advocate for sustainable change and how to align initiatives with organizational goals.[00:35:05] Emily and Josh have a candid discussion on how leaders can effectively manage passionate team members, guide difficult conversations, and model behaviors that inspire collective action.Access the full episode transcript.Join the Conversation:This year we're taking audience questions! Send in your toughest people management and leadership challenges, and you will get free advice and coaching from Emily. Email Abigail on our Let's Talk, People team with your situation as a written note or voice memo to abigail@arosegroup.com.Connect with Emily Frieze-Kemeny on LinkedIn and Instagram or explore her work through AROSE Group's website.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Let's Talk, People in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts. It helps others discover the show.Thanks for listening to Let's Talk, People!

Leaders often feel like they have set a clear strategy and vision, yet often their team's performance falls short of their expectations. In this episode, Emily will walk you through a robust exercise that you can use with your team to help you achieve higher performance on strategic goals. The exercise begins with a reflective “look back” to refuel your team members, an energizing “look ahead”, followed by an execution model called The SAIL Framework, a tool Emily has developed and tested across a vast array of organizational settings and teams. Access the complimentary exercise at arosegroup.com/resource to follow along and implement the exercise with your team to drive great alignment, action, and growth.Timestamps:[00:36] – Why Leaders Struggle with Team Performance[02:22] – The “Look Back”: Filling Buckets and Building Confidence[05:42] – The “Look Ahead”: Energizing Your Team for Future Opportunities[08:53] – The SAIL Framework: Sensing, Aligning, Implementing, Learning[13:38] – Aligning Stakeholders for Success: Enlisting, Enabling, Engaging[16:34] – Implementing with Clarity and Purpose[17:54] – Learning for Continuous Improvement and InnovationJoin the Conversation:This year we're taking audience questions! Send in your toughest people management and leadership challenges, and you will get free advice and coaching from Emily. Email Abigail on our Let's Talk, People team with your situation as a written note or voice memo to abigail@arosegroup.com.Access the episode transcript.Thanks for listening to Let's Talk, People!Connect with Emily Frieze-Kemeny on LinkedIn and Instagram.Explore Emily and her team's work through AROSE Group's website and on AROSE Group's LinkedIn page.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Let's Talk, People in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a positive rating and review. It really helps others discover the show.

Have you ever struggled with how to coach someone on “fitting in” at work? You might even struggle with the idea of having to fit in. Is it equitable and inclusive? Fitting in and adapting to the culture at work is emotionally charged and complicated…which is why we wanted to unpack it on this episode of Let's Talk, People. In this episode, I'm joined by Jason Trujillo, the Vice President of Operational Excellence for Global Supply Chain at Stanley Black & Decker and the former global head of Leadership and Learning at IBM, to discuss the concept of “uncovering”, inspired by Kenji Yoshino's work and book on “Covering.” Timestamps:[00:00:33] - Jason shares his unique journey to leadership. [00:10:38] - Jason explains the concept of “covering” and its relevance to inclusion, diversity, and belonging in the workplace.[00:25:07] - Emily and Jason discuss their approach to coaching a team member on what to share. [00:33:29] - Emily and Jason offer guidance on managing unhealthy and unhelpful feedback from leadership while setting up team members for success.[00:41:42] - Emily and Jason explore when it's appropriate to be transparent as a leader about personal challenges while maintaining professional boundaries.[00:48:52] - Jason and Emily wrap up the episode with reflections on showing up authentically, fostering a culture of inclusion, and recognizing what it may take to be “successful” in different environments.Access the episode transcript.Thanks for listening to Let's Talk, People!Connect with Emily Frieze-Kemeny on LinkedIn and Instagram.Explore Emily and her team's work through AROSE Group's website and on AROSE Group's LinkedIn page.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Let's Talk, People in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a positive rating and review. It really helps others discover the show.

Many of us, as leaders, learned that strong performance looked like more. Whether it was more long hours, more deliverables, more effort, more intensity, we did it to succeed. But what if we've had it all wrong? What if over-efforting is exactly why we are not getting to the business results we are pushing for? In this episode, we'll look at how constant hustle might be harming productivity—and how we can pivot to operate in a more productive and healthier way. Timestamps:[00:01:11] – The Struggle of Hustle Culture[00:04:22] – Why Do We Keep Pushing?[00:07:10] – Creating Space for Honest Dialogue[00:10:35] – Building Reflection into SuccessAccess the episode transcript.Thanks for listening to Let's Talk, People!Connect with Emily Frieze-Kemeny on LinkedIn and Instagram.Explore Emily and her team's work through AROSE Group's website and on AROSE Group's LinkedIn page.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Let's Talk, People in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a positive rating and review. It really helps others discover the show.

If you've ever experienced managing someone difficult at work, it can be really exhausting, confusing, and emotionally charged. It can leave you questioning whether you did something wrong and baffled at how it went so sideways. You're not alone. We've been there, struggled, and learned, hence the purpose of this episode... In this episode of Let's Talk, People, I sit down with clinical psychologist, Dr. Emily Haseltine, as we explore effective ways to navigate difficult interpersonal dynamics at work. You'll leave the conversation with practical tips like: Setting clear expectations for the workAcknowledging the feelings but not taking the baitLearning to hold multiple truthsRedirecting the conversation to the facts/dataDoing our own self work and taking care of our wellbeingWe even cover topics like managing up when you have a difficult boss and the role of your team in managing difficult people. Timestamps: [00:00] – Introduction to Dr. Haseltine and the Topic[04:00] – Understanding Narcissistic Tendencies[12:00] – Strategies for Handling Difficult Individuals[22:00] – Managing Up and Workplace Politics[35:00] – Final Advice and Episode Wrap-UpThanks for listening to Let's Talk, People!Access the episode transcript.Connect with Emily Frieze-Kemeny on LinkedIn and Instagram.Connect with Emily and her team on the AROSE Group website and on AROSE Group's LinkedIn page.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Let's Talk, People in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a positive rating and review. It really helps others discover the show.

Do you find yourself frustrated with your organization's performance? Not getting the results you had expected? Yeah, we all struggle with this. The question is what part is them and what part of the equation is us? In every relationship, we exchange momentum—just like a tennis rally. As leaders, the way we manage this exchange with our teams can significantly impact their performance. If you're not seeing the results you want from your team, it might be time to reflect on the role you're playing in that dynamic. In this episode, we will gain an understanding of our role in driving high performance and productivity to boost team success. Access the episode transcript.Thanks for listening to Let's Talk, People!Connect with Emily Frieze-Kemeny on LinkedIn and Instagram.Explore Emily and her team's work through AROSE Group's website and on AROSE Group's LinkedIn page.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Let's Talk, People in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a positive rating and review. It really helps others discover the show.

If you are anything like me, my soul needs more stories that show the world that leading with kindness, humility, and respect is the answer. On this episode, Amy Zuckerman, the former SVP of Human Resources, Americas for FERRAGAMO shares the untold story of the iconic brand's success. It will challenge your perspective on what it takes to lead and give you tangible actions you can take to activate your organization's greatest potential.In this episode, we will talk:The importance of matching people's strengths and passions to the work, which translates to incredible results How leadership becomes culture when you put practices and rituals in place- e.g. recognition programs and career pathing Balancing human needs and motivations with the needs of the businessThat when the CEO and CPO/CHRO are aligned, you can drive great positive changeThanks for listening to Let's Talk, People!Connect with Emily Frieze-Kemeny on LinkedIn and Instagram.Connect with Emily and her team on the AROSE Group website and on AROSE Group's LinkedIn page.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Let's Talk, People in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a positive rating and review. It really helps others discover the show.

Any fans of the show Succession? Nice! This episode has literally nothing to do with it.In this episode of “Let's Talk, People”, we are going to nerd out hard on Succession Planning, why it is essential and essentially flawed.After running succession planning for global organizations and helping our clients address succession gaps, it was time for us to have some straight talk about how to make succession planning reliable, impactful, and equitable.In this episode, we will talk:Succession data and insights- what info you really need and how to increase the accuracySuccession factors we often forget that are crucialHow to plan for an unknown future Thanks for listening to Let's Talk, People!Access the episode transcript.Connect with Emily Frieze-Kemeny on LinkedIn and Instagram.Connect with Emily and her team on the AROSE Group website and on AROSE Group's LinkedIn page.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Let's Talk, People in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a positive rating and review. It really helps others discover the show.

Not all of us take the same path to leadership, and that is a beautiful thing. On Let's Talk, People, we believe in introducing you to new role model leaders, the people who help us see ourselves. In this episode, you will get to know Lee Harrison, Chief Operations Officer (COO) at Joe Coffee Company. If you are a New Yorker you know Joe Coffee, and if you don't, you likely know the restaurateur, Danny Meyer and Union Square Hospitality Group, whose backing of Joe Coffee speaks for itself. In this episode, we will follow Lee's journey to leadership and tackle the challenge of how to scale your leadership impact and culture as your organization grows. Key Topics and Timestamps:(04:38) - Lee's unique journey to leadership(14:04) - Scaling helpful leadership behaviors (reference to Harvard Business School's Dr. Snook and his leadership work)(19:21) - Getting the hiring process right using scorecards and committees (25:28) - Creating structure that enables and empowers rather than constricts(32:27) - Ethical Business Council for inclusive decision-making (39:30) - Positive business impacts of a values-driven approachThanks for listening to Let's Talk, People!Access the episode transcript.Connect with Emily Frieze-Kemeny on LinkedIn and Instagram.Connect with Emily and her team on the AROSE Group website and on AROSE Group's LinkedIn page.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Let's Talk, People in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a positive rating and review. It really helps others discover the show.

We all fear losing our best people, and rightly so. Top performers, especially strong leaders, drive a disproportionate degree of success within organizations.CNBC reported that over 60% of employees consider leaving their jobs at any given time, and the percentage is significantly higher for Gen Z and Millennials. With continued downsizings and restructurings, fears around job stability are heightened, causing our best people to take that call.Instead of declaring defeat, complaining about the newer generations to the workforce, or throwing around retention money, let's make a plan!In this episode, Heather Dolan, SVP of Challenger, Grey, & Christmas, Inc., a leading expert in outplacement and leadership transitions, and I divulge the secrets to retaining your best people using AROSE Group's “Four Ps to Retention" framework - a strategic approach that examines retention through four critical lenses: Purposeful, Probative, Prerogative, and Proactive. This framework guides you in crafting an effective plan to keep your top talent engaged and committed.Head to arosegroup.com/resources to grab your copy of the Four Ps Framework as you listen to the episode.(02:33) - The Four Ps to Retention(03:57) - Purposeful(06:43) - Probative(14:27) - Prerogative(19:40) - ProactiveThanks for listening to Let's Talk, People!Access the episode transcript.Connect with Emily Frieze-Kemeny on LinkedIn and Instagram.Connect with Emily and her team on the AROSE Group website and on AROSE Group's LinkedIn page.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Let's Talk, People in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a positive rating and review. It really helps others discover the show.

There is no better learning than real practical applications. In this episode, our leadership team at AROSE Group role model in real time giving group feedback. We know giving feedback makes us uncomfortable in all realms of our lives, and you might be thinking, “Why in the world would I want to participate in group feedback?” As you will see from our recorded group feedback session, when done right, it is anything but scary and uncomfortable. It is uplifting, supportive, and amplifies performance. That's why we call this exercise the Amplifier Effect because we believe that the power of the team is to amplify the impact of each team member, and a group feedback session does this best. (01:14) - The Amplifier Effect(03:25) - The Amplifier Effect: Shine(14:33) - Check in during the process(18:23) - The Amplifier Effect: Share(22:17) - Go slow to go fastThanks for listening to Let's Talk, People! Download your copy of the guide to The Amplifier Effect exercise for the complete four part exercise at arosegroup.com/resources.Access the episode transcript.Connect with Emily Frieze-Kemeny on LinkedIn and Instagram.Connect with Emily and her team on the AROSE Group website and on AROSE Group's LinkedIn page.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Let's Talk, People in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a positive rating and review. It really helps others discover the show.

Just when we thought that AI would disintermediate us at work, we've found that AI might have a way to bring us closer together. In this episode, the co-founder of The Real Human Project and serial entrepreneur, Noah Godfrey, shares his latest venture, an AI tool that interviews participants to help share their human stories in a podcast episode format. We will discuss how AI can give us what we have been longing for at work- the space to really understand each other, what has shaped us, and what makes us tick so we can improve engagement, team performance, and collaborate to achieve amazing results, together. Get ready to see AI from a totally different vantage point, one that is humanizing. Show Timestamps:(04:10) - Introduction to Noah Godfrey and Real Human(08:06) - Leaders need to demonstrate vulnerability(10:07) - Noah describes learning empathy(15:40) - Solving leadership challenges through connection and sharing(17:54) - Flow and Psychological Safety(23:04) - Humanity, Technology, and ProductivityThanks for listening to Let's Talk, People!Explore More:Listen to Emily's full interview on the Real Human Project with AI Bot Sam as she shares about the real things that make her human.Share your own story at realhuman.io. Use code LETSTALK at checkout for a $50 discount. Watch Francis Frie's TED Talk on building and rebuilding trust.Access the episode transcript.Connect with Emily Frieze-Kemeny on LinkedIn and Instagram.Connect with Emily and her team on the AROSE Group website and on AROSE Group's LinkedIn page.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Let's Talk, People in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a positive rating and review. It really helps others discover the show.

Yes, the bar has been raised at work when it comes to inclusion, belonging, and team performance. Leaders are expected to know how to navigate interpersonal dynamics, build inclusive teams, be authentic, yet not say the wrong thing. And that is a good thing! However, if you are anything like us, you are likely going to make a mistake or two or even worse let fear keep you from trying. So it's time we choose to get comfortable being uncomfortable together.In this episode we will unpack what it takes to lead when the stakes and emotions are high. I am joined by two leading experts in our field, Susan Rivers, PhD, who is Co-Founder of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and the Chief Scientist of iThrive Games, and Justin Scott Campbell, ACC , who is a diversity, equity, and inclusion thought leader, trainer, coach and a professor. This is a conversation about the human dynamics at work that you won't want to miss.(03:18) - The challenges in interpersonal relationships and team dynamics that leaders face(09:33) - Ways to bring play and connection into the workplace(15:04) - Inclusion and making time for conversation and connection(25:19) - Making agreements(30:31) - It starts with self-work(38:42) - Creating safe conditions for learning and opennessThanks for listening to Let's Talk, People!Access the episode transcript.Connect with Emily Frieze-Kemeny on LinkedIn and Instagram.Connect with Emily and her team on the AROSE Group website and on AROSE Group's LinkedIn page.If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to Let's Talk, People in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a positive rating and review. It really helps others discover the show.

Do you have what it takes to be a leader? In this candid episode of 'Let's Talk People,' Emily tests the waters of what it truly means to lead in ever-evolving circumstances. She poses a compelling question: Do we genuinely have what it takes to lead today? Reflecting on her experiences, she dissects how most of us stumbled into leadership roles and navigate through the complex equation of responsibility and talent. Emily brings to light intriguing data suggesting only 10% of us are naturally born with leadership traits, inviting us to reassess how we measure our success. Join Emily on this journey that aims to redefine the meaning and methods of effective leadership. Access the episode transcript.Timestamps:(08:18) - The Self-Reflection of Leadership(12:53) - Seeking Feedback for Professional Growth (0:16:00) - Nurturing Leadership and Building Strong Teams(0:24:36) - Context and Results in LeadershipConnect with Emily on LinkedInCheck out Emily on InstagramCheck out Arose Group's website

Join us on this episode where Emily, with remarkable transparency, delves into her intriguing career journey. She discusses how her life shifted from eyeing a law career to falling into HR at Morgan Stanley, eventually becoming a trusted advisor to high-level executives on Wall Street. Emily lets you in on her unique, deep-rooted fascination for helping people navigate their lives, which led her on a path of developing comprehensive people strategies. Tune in for an insightful look into Emily's dedication to her craft and grasp practical nuggets from her wealth of experience. Access the episode transcript.Timestamps:(01:16) - Impacts of Leadership on Business Success (08:30) - Dimensions of Leadership and Personal Journey (13:35) - Expanding Professional Skills and Consultancy (17:18) - Building a Business(22:44) - Building a Movement⁠Connect with Emily on LinkedIn⁠⁠Check out Emily on Instagram⁠⁠Check out Arose Group's website

Join Emily, the vibrant and multilayered host of this podcast, in our premier episode as she explores transformative leadership and culture change. Guiding CEOs, HR leaders, and anyone in search of growth, Emily reshapes how we look at business. Drawing upon personal experiences, she emphasizes a balanced blend of compassion with results and productivity with humanity. Whether you're a senior HR professional, visionary CEO, or an aspiring leader, this episode offers enriching discussions that reach beyond work lives and resonate with anyone keen on keystones of leadership and culture. Tune in and embark on an empowering journey with EmilyAccess the episode transcript.Timestamps:(02:38) - Creating Permission and Freedom in Organizations(08:58) - Creating a Joyful Movement for Living⁠Connect with Emily on LinkedIn⁠⁠Check out Emily on Instagram⁠⁠Check out Arose Group's website

Welcome to Let's Talk, People with Emily Frieze-Kemeny, Where you come to get real about work!What if we could create a future of work that isn't just about survival, but truly thriving? That's the question we're grappling with on Let's Talk, People. Your host, Emily, founder of AROSE Group, has spent her career as a talent leader working with some of the world's top organizations, like Morgan Stanley, IBM, Avon, and Scholastic. Now, she's turning her attention to an even bigger stage: all of you! It takes all of us to create a new way of working, and for that matter living. Together, we'll navigate some of the toughest challenges at work, from systemic issues to personal obstacles. Access the episode transcript.Connect with Emily on LinkedInCheck out Emily on InstagramCheck out Arose Group's website