Podcasts about c suite

Diana Brandl  is a longtime C-Suite assistant, and host of the Executive Office Insights podcast.In this spotlight episode, Diana interviews Samantha Cox, former EA to Sir Richard Branson.Show Notes -> leaderassistant.com/356 --In-person meeting planning can be a lot to manage. That's where TROOP Planner comes in. TROOP Planner is built to make life easier for busy assistants like yourself. Whether you're organizing an executive offsite, department meeting, or team retreat, TROOP keeps it simple, fast, and organized.Visit leaderassistant.com/troop to learn more! --Are you ready to level up? Enroll in The Leader Assistant Academy at leaderassistant.com/academy to embrace the Leader Assistant frameworks used by thousands of assistants. --Eliminate manual scheduling with YouCanBookMe by Capacity's booking links, automated reminders, and meeting polls. Sign up for a FREE trial -> leaderassistant.com/calendar.More from The Leader Assistant... Book, Audiobook, and Workbook -> leaderassistantbook.com The Leader Assistant Academy -> leaderassistantbook.com/academy Premium Membership -> leaderassistant.com/membership Events -> leaderassistantlive.com Free Community -> leaderassistant.com/community

In this episode, Robin Merttens is joined by Dr Thomas Kuhnt (HDI Global SE), Ed Ackerman (Qover) and Vincent De Ponthaud (AXA) for a rare C-suite perspective on Agentic AI — what it is, how it's being deployed and why senior leaders are walking a tightrope between bold innovation and operational risk. Agentic AI promises transformative value, but for decision-makers at the top, it also brings real uncertainty. What do you build vs. buy? How do you prove ROI? And how do you prevent over-trusting agents that are inherently probabilistic? In this conversation, Thomas, Ed and Vincent share: Why Agentic AI is different from past tech trends and why this one feels real The cultural and leadership challenge of balancing excitement with governance How AXA and HDI are enabling safe experimentation at scale across complex organisations How Qover is building 20+ AI agents to automate claims micro-tasks — and when they build vs. buy What customers really think about AI agents  and why nearly none opt out The risks of shadow AI and why IT needs to move faster than ever Why “human in the loop” is flawed and how user trust in AI could become a blind spot What's missing: industry standards, agent evaluation tools and new roles like “agent managers” The case for cautious iteration, deep collaboration and constant re-evaluation Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning.

In this episode of the Power Producers Podcast, host David Carothers sits down with Aaron Puchbauer, a contestant on Season 3 of The Protégé. Aaron's journey to insurance is unique—he spent 15 years as a healthcare executive before a corporate restructuring led him to pivot into the world of risk management. They discuss how Aaron's background as a C-Suite buyer gives him a unique advantage in selling to decision-makers, why he sends meeting agendas in advance, and how he utilizes AI to prep for appointments. If you are a new producer looking to differentiate yourself, or a veteran looking to refine your process, Aaron's "buyer-first" perspective is invaluable. Key Highlights: From Healthcare Executive to Insurance Producer Aaron Puchbauer shares his transition from a 15-year career in hospital administration to becoming an independent insurance agent. He explains how the desire to control his own destiny and provide stability for his family (specifically his son with autism) drove him to an industry where effort equals equity. The Buyer's Perspective: Winning the Meeting Having spent years on the other side of the table fielding pitches from vendors, Aaron knows exactly what decision-makers hate—and what they respect. He details his strategy of sending a proposed agenda well in advance of the meeting, asking the prospect to strike or add items. This simple step establishes respect for the prospect's time and differentiates him from the "show up and throw up" competition. Boots on the Ground: Physical Risk Assessment Aaron and David discuss the necessity of "walking the walk" during a prospect visit. Aaron shares a recent experience inspecting a restaurant where he checked everything from the walk-in coolers to the Ansel system (fire suppression). By physically inspecting the risk, he identified misclassifications and coverage gaps that the incumbent agent missed entirely. Leveraging AI for Sales Preparation Aaron reveals how he uses ChatGPT to prepare for sales calls. By prompting the AI to act as the business owner (e.g., a restaurant owner) and asking it to generate likely objections and questions, he walks into meetings prepared for the specific operational concerns of that industry. The Power of "Walking Away" David emphasizes a lesson that usually takes new producers years to learn: the ability to spot a "fool's errand." They discuss a specific case where a prospect's data was so disjointed (impossible liquor sales vs. gross receipts) that it required a hard conversation about whether the account was even insurable, highlighting the importance of underwriting on the front end. Connect with: David Carothers LinkedIn Aaron Puchbauer LinkedIn Kyle Houck LinkedIn Visit Websites: Power Producer Base Camp Imming Insurance Agency Killing Commercial Crushing Content Power Producers Podcast Policytee The Dirty 130 The Extra 2 Minutes

When trust is thin and every decision still rolls up to you, the week between Christmas and New Year can feel disorienting. You're not off, but you're not fully on either. Your executive team slows down, emails pile up, and your brain keeps asking, “Should I be doing something right now?” This episode explains why that tension is normal—and how to use it strategically.In this episode, you'll learn:- Why forcing clarity or decisions during this decompression period leads to fatigue, not insight.- How to create mental space for strategic thinking without rushing resolutions.- A simple exercise to capture your persistent thoughts without judgment, letting real insight emerge naturally.- How to protect yourself from burnout while giving your executive team room to regroup.- How to use this pause to enter January with focus, perspective, and energy.This episode is for C Suite leaders, VPs, and Division Presidents of $50M–$750M organizations who are tired of carrying all the thinking while their teams slow down.Happy Holidays and a strong New Year! Take advantage of this quiet period to pause, recharge, and set yourself and your team up for success.

As 2025 wraps up, I've been reflecting on the lessons learned—both the challenges and the wins. This year brought huge personal and professional shifts, from moving into what feels like our "forever home," navigating unexpected family bereavements, and making some big strategic choices in my business. After six incredible years, The C Suite ® will see its final cohort in 2026.  Why? Two big reasons: Capacity: Major new projects (like the Expert Services Directory and growing corporate consulting commitments) need the kind of focus and energy the C Suite once did. Copyright: After increasing issues with plagiarism and protecting intellectual property, it's time to wind down this program with intention and integrity. But don't worry! There will still be opportunities for in-person training (like Converting Corporates in March) and smaller, targeted courses. The Expert Services Directory is Thriving If you're aiming to sell to organisations in the UK next year, now's the time to get listed. The Directory is driving real, qualified inbound leads and partnerships—and will soon be subject to VAT (so grab your spot before the price goes up!). The Podcast Remains! Great news: the Selling to Corporate® podcast isn't going anywhere. Expect more tour episodes, actionable sales tips (think: choosing CRM systems, proposal templates, and more), and a brand-new sponsor you'll recognise. I also wanted to share a few key takeaways that might help you as you think about your own direction for the coming year: Embrace Change, Even When It's Hard: Whether it's personal upheaval or shifting business models, leaning into transitions can reveal what matters most—and push you to make braver decisions. Protect Your Genius: Intellectual property is hard-won and worth defending. This year, I chose to sunset the C Suite to focus on new projects and safeguard my work from plagiarism—a reminder for all creators to stand firm in honoring your expertise. Community & Consistent Action Matter: I'm grateful for the incredible support network—professionally and personally—that's made all the difference this year. Consistency in sales activity, not just marketing, drives results and opens doors for growth, even in tough times. Whatever 2026 holds for you, I hope you're able to recognise your own growth, set bold new priorities, and keep taking consistent action!  Wherever you are—may your festive season be filled with rest, reflection, and readiness for an amazing 2026. Thank you for being here and cheers to the next chapter!

As entrepreneurs and CEOs, how can we continuously develop our leadership skills?This episode features Ryan Hawk, an author, advisor, keynote speaker who is on a mission to make people like you become smarter leaders. He's also the host of the Learning Leader Show, a podcast about helping leaders become more effective.Key topics that Bill and Ryan explore in this episode:- Ryan's personal story of growing up in Ohio and learning leadership skills through sports.- Surrounding yourself with people from diverse backgrounds to gain perspective and become a better person.- Listening to others and gaining a more profound understanding of their perspectives.- Struggling with celebrating accomplishments.- The impermanence of past accomplishments.- Intentionally practicing gratitude to shift your mindset.- Starting and ending meetings with positive news to create a more optimistic atmosphere.- Ryan's experience in corporate America and pursuing an MBA.- The audacious goal of impacting millions of business leaders before retiring.- The importance of self-care and fueling yourself to be effective in leading others.- Continuous learning.- Seeking permission before leading or teaching others.- The importance of permission in building fruitful relationships.Thanks to Ryan Hawk for being on the show!Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanhawk12/Listen to Ryan's podcast, The Learning Leader Show: https://learningleader.com/Buy one or all three of Ryan's books: "Welcome to Management," "The Pursuit of Excellence," and "The Score That Matters": https://amzn.to/4eBcethBill Gallagher, Scaling Coach and host of the Scaling Up Business podcast, is an international business coach who works with C-Suite leaders to achieve breakthrough growth.Join Bill in the Growth Navigator Coaching Program: https://ScalingCoach.com/workshopBill on LinkedIn: https://www.LinkedIn.com/in/BillGallBill on YouTube: https://www.YouTube.com/@BillGallagherScalingCoachVisit https://ScalingUp.com to learn more about Verne Harnish, our team of Scaling Up Coaches, and the Scaling Up Performance Platform, which includes coaching, learning, software, and summit. We share how the fastest-growing companies succeed where so many others fail. We help leadership teams with the biggest decisions around people, strategy, execution, and cash so that they can scale up successfully and beat the odds of business growth.Did you enjoy today's episode? If so, then please leave a review! Help other business leaders discover the Scaling Up Business Podcast so they, too, can benefit from the ideas shared in these podcasts.Subscribe via Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3PGhWPJSubscribe via Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3PKe00uBill on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/billgall/Bill on Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/billgall

Today, on the C-Suite for Christ Podcast, we sound the spiritual alarm: “Keep your lamps lit!”—because darkness is sprinting, comfort is killing vigilance, and the Bridegroom is coming.Paul M. Neuberger leads the charge, calling out comfort, compromise, and cancel culture infecting boardrooms and sanctuaries alike. Ten virgins, one Bridegroom, a midnight reckoning—some were ready, most were not. In a world addicted to ease and entertainment, will you build a business and lose your soul, chase success but miss holiness, plan for retirement but forget eternity?This episode pulls no punches. The stakes are sky-high: lukewarm faith, cultural conformity, spiritual sleepwalking. Jesus is still Lord. The world may demand silence, but now is the hour to shine, to stand, to burn.What will YOU do when spiritual midnight strikes? Buckle up. This one's raw, real, and rooted in Matthew 25."In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." –Matthew 5:16Episode Highlights:05:56 – Keeping your lamp lit isn't a poetic idea, a cute Christian slogan, or a soft spiritual encouragement. It's a command. It's a lifestyle. It's a battle stance. And it represents the difference between those who endure and those who fall away, those who overcome and those who collapse, those who walk in the light and those swallowed up by the darkness.13:07 – And when Christ returns, he isn't coming back for a lukewarm, apathetic, half awake people. He's coming for those whose lamps burn fiercely through the darkness. Darkness, no matter the cost. When Jesus delivered the parable of the ten virgins, he wasn't warning about minor inconveniences or small spiritual setbacks. He was describing catastrophic consequences. The kind that determine eternal destiny. The kind that destroy families, the kind that end ministries. And the kind that leave believers blindsided in the moment that they least expect it. An unlit lamp is not just a dim spiritual life. It's a dangerous spiritual life. It's a life vulnerable to deception, seduction, confusion and collapse. It's a life without discernment, without spiritual power, without clarity. When the lamp goes out, so does the ability to recognize truth from lies, conviction from emotion, God's voice from the world's noise.22:42 – And nothing threatens compliance more than a believer whose lamp burns without apology. Why does the world want your lamp extinguished? Because a lit lamp reveals the emptiness of their definitions of identity. Because a lit lamp exposes the foolishness of their arguments. Because a lit lamp confronts the lies they want normalized.Connect with Paul M. NeubergerWebsite

Welcome to RIMScast. Your host is Justin Smulison, Business Content Manager at RIMS, the Risk and Insurance Management Society.   In this last episode of 2025, Justin interviews Morgan O'Rourke and Hilary Tuttle of RIMS Risk Management magazine on the most impactful risks of 2025 and what's expected in 2026. They discuss the difficulty of reporting on the rapid pace of risk change. Morgan and Hilary discuss the most impactful natural events of 2025: wildfires in California and Canada, Hurricane Melissa, and flooding. They discuss the economic risks posed by the unusual tariff changes in 2025 and how supply chains and inflation are affected. These risks are covered in the Q4 edition of RIMS Risk Management magazine online now.   Morgan and Hilary will return for the first episode of 2026, launching on January 5th.   Key Takeaways: [:01] About RIMS and RIMScast. [:17] About this episode of RIMScast. This is our final episode of 2025, and who better to spend it with than Morgan O'Rourke and Hilary Tuttle of RIMS Risk Management magazine? [:44] We will discuss some of the top risk management stories of 2025 and what they might mean for 2026. They will rejoin us for the first episode of 2026! But first… [:55] RIMS-CRMP and Some Prep Courses. The next virtual prep course will be held on January 14th and 15th, 2026. These are virtual courses. Links to these courses can be found through the Certification page of RIMS.org and through this episode's show notes. [1:12] RIMS Virtual Workshops are coming up. On January 21st and 22nd, Chris Hansen returns to deliver the course, "Managing Worker Compensation, Employer's Liability and Employment Practices in the US". [1:26] The full schedule of virtual workshops can be found on the RIMS.org/education and RIMS.org/education/online-learning pages. A link is also in this episode's notes. [1:38] RIMS members always enjoy deep discounts on the virtual workshops. [1:48] The RIMS-CRO Certificate Program in Advanced Enterprise Risk Management is hosted by the famous James Lam. This is a live virtual program that helps elevate your expertise and career in ERM. [2:01] You can enroll now for the next cohort, which will be held over 12 weeks from January through March of 2026. Registration closes on January 5th. Or Spring ahead and register for the cohort that will be held from April through June, 2026. Registration closes on April 6th. [2:20] Links to registration and enrollment are in this episode's show notes. [2:27] On with the show! The annual Year in Risk Review edition of RIMS Risk Management magazine is now available. Visit RMmagazine.com for more information. [2:39] I wanted to dive deeper into some of the pages and the stories that made major headlines in risk management this year. Morgan and Hilary are rejoining us as part of our annual tradition. [2:54] We're not just looking back; we're also going to talk about how these events should be some warning signs and provide some extra insight for risk managers around the world. [3:05] Interview! This is our final episode of the year, and we're going out with a bang with two of my favorite people! [3:12] Morgan O'Rourke and Hilary Tuttle, welcome back to RIMScast! [3:23] Justin saw Morgan and Hilary, just a month ago in Seattle, at the ERM Conference. Morgan says it was raining the whole time, but it was a good conference. It was well-attended, and everybody enjoyed themselves, and the attendees got a lot out of it. It was a great event! [3:51] Hilary also thought it was great! The turnout was fantastic! There was some great feedback on a lot of the sessions. There were some packed rooms! People seemed pleased with the programming. Hilary didn't see the sun until she left, but she enjoyed the city! [5:12] Morgan and Hilary's goal for attending the ERM Conference is to gather good ideas for articles. They look for presenters who might be good content contributors in other formats. They look to get a sense of what is new and what is emerging. [5:24] Morgan and Hilary talk to members about what they're seeing in practice and what's concerning to them. Morgan says if there's a packed room for a session, it's clearly a topic that's resonating, which bumps it to the top of the list of things to pursue, since there's interest in it. [6:17] Justin notes that Morgan's always there in the sessions with pen and paper. He's old school! [7:36] Morgan says the hardest part of reporting on risk is the breadth of the risks they cover. Everything has a lot more nuance and a lot more effect. This incident happened, which had 57 knock-on effects. [7:47] Morgan explains why distilling that down to something that makes sense in article form is a huge challenge and compares writing about risk to the experience risk managers have with everything they deal with. [8:10] Morgan says that, at the end of the year, spotlighting the year in risk coverage is a challenge. How do you get the entire economic, geopolitical situation down to 200 words? [8:37] Hilary says the velocity of change is a challenge when covering risk. Unlike in everyday news coverage, they have to add an amount of value or takeaways for a reader who is looking to do something about risk. Developing that value, at the speed of risk, is particularly challenging. [9:15] Hilary continues. Crises are compounded now. You can't ignore a lot of those factors that make a crisis a bad issue. Hilary cites hurricanes, rapid intensification, which is a knock-on effect of climate change, lax building codes, and people building more in certain regions. [9:38] Hilary says you have to add so many layers to explain why this crisis is happening now. It becomes a lot more challenging to figure out how it impacts insurance. You have to take into account different exclusions or the way the policies are created. There are a lot of moving parts. [10:04] Morgan says, It's not just your picture. It's the picture of your suppliers and your customers, who might be across the country or around the world. All of their risks become your risks or, at least, will impact your business. [10:33] Justin compliments the digital layout of RIMS Risk Manager magazine. He speaks of how Morgan and Hilary go to RIMS events looking for inspiration for content and content contributors. [11:05] Morgan says, We're only as good as the information we've learned through the people we've met, or what we've read. We're not practicing risk managers. Hearing from experts who deal with it every day is the strongest way to get good content that resonates with our readers. [12:17] Morgan says wildfires were probably the most costly insured loss of 2025. Hilary says that earthquakes were the most costly in terms of the loss of life. The LA fire was the largest single economic loss. There are lots of expensive homes in Southern California. [13:26] Canada has had wildfires raging almost non-stop for two or three years. Wildfires are no longer secondary perils. They're a prime source of loss. Severe convective storms, in the aggregate, probably caused more damage than wildfires this year. [14:04] Hilary says severe convective storms have been in the top 10 for seven out of the last 10 years. Morgan says this was one of the top convective storm years. In natural disasters, you're not looking just at hurricanes and earthquakes, but also fires, floods, and more. [14:32] Hilary talks about secondary factors, like tremendous wind events in California, increasing the rate at which fires spread, making containment difficult. Things were moving fast. A lot of buildings were burning. It took three weeks to put out two of the largest fires. [15:05] Canada faced different challenges. All but two provinces had record, above-average fire seasons. Some fires impacted remote areas where getting people out is logistically extremely difficult. Seventy-something First Nations communities had to be evacuated. [15:35] If you're dealing with areas that are largely only accessible by air, getting communities of people out for long periods is logistically very challenging, with a devastating human impact. They're very different fires. [15:52] Hilary says it was quite a year. Morgan ties it back to the impact of climate change. It starts with drought, and it's exacerbated by winds. Then you've got these weird things that pop up where Mother Nature says, Hey, I've got a weird twist for you! [16:13] Quick Break! RISKWORLD 2026 will be held from May 3rd through the 6th in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. RISKWORLD attracts more than 10,000 risk professionals from across the globe. It's time to Connect, Cultivate, and Collaborate with them. Booth sales are open now! [16:35] General registration and speaker registration are also open right now! Marketplace and Hospitality badges will be available starting on March 3rd. Links are in this episode's show notes. [16:50] Let's Return to Our Interview with Morgan O'Rourke and Hilary Tuttle! [17:11] Some of the fires Canada experienced this year were zombie fires, also called holdover fires, or overwintering fires. They can live in the soil under the snow until it gets warm, the snow melts, and they reignite. Some of the fires of 2025 were started in 2023. [16:23] Hilary believes those holdover fires were in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Northwest Territories, and up North. Holdover fires are most common in the Arctic Circle. [18:43] Morgan and Hilary believe that's a good example of things that will happen more frequently with climate change, affecting a larger number of people than before. [19:15] Morgan says convective storms are tornadoes and thunderstorms. Hilary adds that it has to do with the pressure front that leads to forming them. Outbreaks of many tornadoes in a couple of days wreak havoc in the U.S. Midwest. [20:06] Morgan says the highest intensity of a tornado is EF5. There was an EF5 tornado in North Dakota for the first time in 10 years. It touched down in a place where there were not a lot of people. [20:35] Hilary says we're seeing increasingly severe convective storms and inland flooding losses. Severe storms are flooding areas that weren't thought of as being at risk of flooding. [20:50] The more we build into these plains with high-value properties, the more damaging convective storms are getting. The storms are also getting worse. We're also seeing increasingly damaging hail. That's a severe convective storm issue, as well. [21:27] Morgan says climate change makes things more intense and widespread. Morgan says his favorite climate change after-effect was the attack of the jellyfish this year. [21:57] There were multiple instances of French nuclear power plants being taken offline by giant swarms of jellyfish clogging the coolant intake lines. Europe had a super-hot summer. Water temperatures rose, which increased jellyfish activity and presence. [22:26] There were so many jellyfish, they ended up in places they shouldn't be. France generates 70% of its electricity through nuclear power. If nuclear power plants are taken offline, it's not just a minor annoyance. [22:51] If you're a company during a blackout, you don't care that it was jellyfish. You're still not in business for the time that you don't have power. Suddenly, this climate change effect is now a part of a disaster preparedness plan because of climate change. You have to plan for jellyfish. [24:43] Hurricane Melissa was another storm with widespread flooding and enormous insured losses. Morgan notes that 2025 was a relatively low-activity season from the standpoint of how many hurricanes made landfall. [25:18] Melissa was the most damaging and probably accounted for 90% of economic losses and loss of life. It did billions of dollars' worth of damage. [25:33] There were three Category 5 Hurricanes this year; four is the record, but they mostly went out into the ocean; they didn't do anything. That doesn't mean it's always going to happen. If one storm hits the right place, you're in trouble. [26:07] It was an active storm season for Jamaica. It only takes one storm in your area to be an active season for you. [26:25] Hilary says Melissa is a textbook case of some of the perils of rapid intensification. It got much worse very quickly. The fact that we've seen such a proportion of Category 5 storms is a pattern that is concerning. [26:57] They discussed rapid intensification in the hurricane outlook for the season. Hurricane Erin also occurred this year. It intensified quickly, but it didn't cause a lot of damage. Your lead time is less when a storm intensifies quickly. [27:32] Morgan says it's important to get things in order before storms hit because you may not have the time to do it when it's mid-season. You don't know where or when a storm will hit. [27:50] Wikipedia calls Melissa the costliest storm in Jamaican history, at $10 billion in damage, 102 fatalities, 141 injuries, and 27 missing. [28:38] A Final Break! The Spencer Educational Foundation's goal to help build a talent pipeline of risk management and insurance professionals is achieved, in part, by its collaboration with risk management and insurance educators across the U.S. and Canada. [28:57] Spencer awards undergraduate, graduate, Ph.D., and Pre-Instructor of Practice Scholarships to students enrolled at an accredited college or university in the U.S. and Canada, and physically studying in either location. No remote coursework eligibility from other locations. [29:14] Including part-time, graduate scholarships to risk management and insurance professionals continuing their education. [29:20] Since 1980, Spencer has invested more than $11.1 million in the scholarship program with awards to over 1,700 students. More than 85% of Spencer's scholarship recipients remain in the industry to this day. [29:35] They've got undergraduate scholarships, full-time Master's scholarships, part-time Master's scholarships, pre-dissertation Ph.D. candidates, doctoral candidates, and pre-instructor of practice scholarships all open now. The application deadline is January 31st, 2026. [29:57] Visit SpencerEd.org/scholarships. You'll find the different application buttons. See the link in this episode's show notes for more information, giving you some extra homework to do over the holiday break, if you are taking a holiday break! [30:14] Let's Return to the Conclusion of Our Interview with Morgan O'Rourke and Hilary Tuttle!  [30:46] Justin mentions that tariffs in 2025 affect 90% of U.S. imports. That's a supply chain management issue and an ERM issue. Tariffs themselves are an issue. [31:16] What Morgan connects most to tariffs is the uncertainty they create, especially in the way they've been implemented this year. Tariffs are promised, then the terms are changed, creating uncertainty. What level of costs will businesses absorb or pass on to customers? [31:50] Morgan says those things make the business landscape unstable. Tariffs in April would be better than 57 different announcements that change the picture every other week and tend to tank the stock market. [32:20] Morgan says Goldman Sachs estimated in September that 55% of the incurred costs have been passed to consumers, depending on the business. Once it impacts your customers, you've got less revenue coming in. It's an unstable environment. [32:47] Hilary contrasts this year's tariffs with past tariffs. Usually, it's a "set it and forget it" situation. Hilary calls this year's tariffs erratic and confusing. The scale and the frequency of change are unprecedented. [33:31] Morgan says you can feel it when you go to the store. That's not helping from a personal standpoint or a business standpoint. Justin speaks of shrinkflation. [33:47] Tariffs are going to affect inflation. Nobody wants that. [34:22] Hilary speaks of alternate supply chains that are in more friendly tariff environments. Some of the items in your products are going to be different. Some of your processes will be different. You don't know if you're also going to be getting inferior products. [34:52] Morgan says it's not as simple as saying just get a new supplier. That's an operational shift from procurement, on. Hilary says, hopefully, you won't have to do product safety testing or environmental impact studies, or reporting around your supply chain. [35:09] Morgan notes that some raw materials may only be available in five countries, like a rare earth mineral. [35:32] Justin asks if this is explored in depth in the Q4 edition of RIMS Risk Management magazine. Hilary says we are not talking about rare earth minerals in that issue. Morgan is working on figuring out how we can cover that, perhaps, in 2026. [35:53] Morgan is fascinated by this topic. There are limited deposits of things. The broader point is that if you're affected by tariffs and you're trying to change suppliers or sources, you may not have all the options. [36:12] Hilary says it is a situation where the risk is very much there, but the management or mitigation of it is not necessarily something you can do much about. Only so many places make cobalt. Morgan adds, There are only so many mines out there. [36:31] Justin says, The Q4 edition of RIMS Risk Management magazine is out now. This is the last episode of 2025. We're going to have you back to discuss a little bit more in the first episode of 2026. [37:01] Morgan's parting words: "I'm just glad you're listening. I'm glad you're listening. I'm glad you're reading. I'm glad you're here. I feel like it's a privilege to keep writing for you, talking to you, so hopefully, we continue to do that in the new year. Everybody, be safe and happy." [37:14] Hilary's parting words: "Thanks for making it through another year!" [37:18] So, we're going to have you back in January, and we'll pick up there, probably with some cyber and some Data Privacy Day kick-off, January 5th, 2026. [37:35] Special thanks again to Morgan O'Rourke and Hilary Tuttle of RIMS Risk Management magazine and the RIMS Publications Department for joining us on RIMScast. They will rejoin us for the first episode of 2026. That will launch on January 5th. [37:52] Mark your calendar and subscribe to RIMScast through your podcasting app of choice! Visit RMmagazine.com to check out The Year in Risk edition of Risk Management magazine. That's the Q4 edition. This is reporting from the best in the profession. [38:12] You can't get any better than RIMS Risk Management magazine. [38:17] Plug Time! You can sponsor a RIMScast episode for this, our weekly show, or a dedicated episode. Links to sponsored episodes are in the show notes. [38:44] RIMScast has a global audience of risk and insurance professionals, legal professionals, students, business leaders, C-Suite executives, and more. Let's collaborate and help you reach them! Contact pd@rims.org for more information. [39:01] Become a RIMS member and get access to the tools, thought leadership, and network you need to succeed. Visit RIMS.org/membership or email membershipdept@RIMS.org for more information. [39:18] Risk Knowledge is the RIMS searchable content library that provides relevant information for today's risk professionals. Materials include RIMS executive reports, survey findings, contributed articles, industry research, benchmarking data, and more. [39:34] For the best reporting on the profession of risk management, read Risk Management Magazine at RMMagazine.com. It is written and published by the best minds in risk management. [39:47] Justin Smulison is the Business Content Manager at RIMS. Please remember to subscribe to RIMScast on your favorite podcasting app. You can email us at Content@RIMS.org. [39:59] Practice good risk management, stay safe, and thank you again for your continuous support!   Links: RIMS Risk Management Magazine: Year In Risk Edition | Feature Article Facilitating Risk-Based Decision Making | Virtual Workshop | March 4‒5, 2026 RIMS-CRO Certificate Program In Advanced Enterprise Risk Management | Jan‒March 2026 Cohort | Led by James Lam RISKWORLD 2026 Registration — Open for exhibitors, members and non-members! Reserve your booth at RISKWORLD 2026! The Strategic and Enterprise Risk Center RIMS Diversity Equity Inclusion Council RIMS Risk Management magazine | Contribute RIMS Now Spencer Educational Foundation Scholarships | Submission Deadline Jan. 31, 2026 RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) | Insights Series Featuring Joe Milan! Upcoming RIMS-CRMP Prep Virtual Workshops: RIMS-CRMP Exam Prep | January 14‒15, 2026,  9:00 am‒4:00 pm EST, Virtual Full RIMS-CRMP Prep Course Schedule See the full calendar of RIMS Virtual Workshops "Managing Worker Compensation, Employer's Liability and Employment Practices in the US" | Jan. 21‒22, 2026   Upcoming RIMS Webinars: RIMS.org/Webinars   Related RIMScast Episodes: "Mid-Year Update 2025: RIMS Legislative and Risk Management News" "James Lam on ERM, Strategy, and the Modern CRO" "The Evolving Role of the Risk Analyst" "Presilience and Cognitive Biases with Dr. Gav Schneider and Shreen Williams" "Risk Rotation with Lori Flaherty and Bill Coller of Paychex" "Risk Quantification Through Value-Based Frameworks"   Sponsored RIMScast Episodes: "Secondary Perils, Major Risks: The New Face of Weather-Related Challenges" | Sponsored by AXA XL (New!) "The ART of Risk: Rethinking Risk Through Insight, Design, and Innovation" | Sponsored by Alliant "Mastering ERM: Leveraging Internal and External Risk Factors" | Sponsored by Diligent "Cyberrisk: Preparing Beyond 2025" | Sponsored by Alliant "The New Reality of Risk Engineering: From Code Compliance to Resilience" | Sponsored by AXA XL "Change Management: AI's Role in Loss Control and Property Insurance" | Sponsored by Global Risk Consultants, a TÜV SÜD Company "Demystifying Multinational Fronting Insurance Programs" | Sponsored by Zurich "Understanding Third-Party Litigation Funding" | Sponsored by Zurich "What Risk Managers Can Learn From School Shootings" | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog "Simplifying the Challenges of OSHA Recordkeeping" | Sponsored by Medcor "How Insurance Builds Resilience Against An Active Assailant Attack" | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog "Third-Party and Cyber Risk Management Tips" | Sponsored by Alliant   RIMS Publications, Content, and Links: RIMS Membership — Whether you are a new member or need to transition, be a part of the global risk management community! RIMS Virtual Workshops On-Demand Webinars RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy RIMS Strategic & Enterprise Risk Center RIMS-CRMP Stories — Featuring RIMS President Kristen Peed!   RIMS Events, Education, and Services: RIMS Risk Maturity Model®   Sponsor RIMScast: Contact sales@rims.org or pd@rims.org for more information.   Want to Learn More? Keep up with the podcast on RIMS.org, and listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.   Have a question or suggestion? Email: Content@rims.org.   Join the Conversation! Follow @RIMSorg on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.   About our guests: Morgan O'Rourke, RIMS Director of Publications and Risk Management Magazine Editor in Chief Hilary Tuttle, Managing Editor, Risk Management Magazine   Production and engineering provided by Podfly.  

In this episode, Bob 'n Joyce explore key findings from Gallup's 2025 World Happiness Report. The United States experienced a notable decline, ranking 24th — its lowest position ever. The report highlights how social connection, financial wellbeing, emotional health, and physical wellness all play a critical role in overall happiness. While these findings may not come as a surprise, they should serve as a wake-up call for business leaders and OD practitioners. Unhappy employees don't just affect morale — they impact business results and workplace culture in very real ways. In the spirit of the season, we focus on what we can do to address chronic unhappiness, drawing directly from insights in the Gallup poll. What emerges are solutions that don't require big budgets or more time. In fact, small, subtle shifts by leaders — being fully present, asking thoughtful questions, and helping people feel seen and validated — can make a meaningful difference. On a personal level, we invite you, our listeners, to use this holiday season as a moment to pause, look around, and make someone's day. Kindness is contagious — and when it spreads, it lifts all of us. No better time to begin than now. Come on in, grab a snack. Welcome!

In this episode of the EY CFO Outlook podcast, Marc Van Huet, CFO of Calor Ireland joins host, Dearbhail McDonald, to talk about building a modern finance engine, why a private, family-owned structure creates space to innovate, and the role LPG and BioLPG can play for rural homes, hotels and industry on the journey to net zero. He also shares the cultural lessons he's learned in Ireland, the value of a diverse team, and why a good culture is built in small daily choices.Marc Van Huet's road to CFO began behind the glass walls of an iconic Louis Vuitton store in Singapore, where a particular project taught him about relationship between customer experience and process discipline. That experience sparked an early interest in how strong brands connect with people, something that continues to guide his work today. Marc's career has taken him across several industries and leadership roles, from working with entrepreneurs to managing financial and project teams within SHV and beyond. Now, as the youngest CFO featured on the EY CFO Outlook podcast, Marc brings that same focus on people, growth, and innovation to Calor Ireland.They also discuss: Marc's early career and the importance of customer service.Key lessons learned from working with entrepreneurs and across multiple industries.The modern CFO: freeing the month-end “engine” to focus on value; AI and process mining in financeCalor's ambition to grow while leading Ireland's energy transition.How being part of a global family business supports innovation and investment.Why culture and teamwork matter in modern leadership.

  What happens when a high-powered executive, responsible for scaling multi-billion dollar companies, is asked by her 10-year-old: "What does that money actually mean to us?"   In this deeply insightful episode, we sit down with Irene Liu, founder of Hypergrowth GC and former Chief Financial and Legal Officer at Hopin. Irene shares her journey from the Department of Justice to the front lines of the AI revolution, where she now advises the California Senate on AI safety.   We explore the "Politics of the C-Suite," the necessity of high EQ in leadership, and why Irene decided to step out of the "survival mode" of corporate life to define what "enough" looks like for her family.   In this episode, we dive deep into: Resilience born from crisis: how working in finance in Manhattan during 9/11 shaped Irene's mental fortitude. Navigating layoffs with humanity: whether you are the one being let go, the one left with survivor's guilt, or the executive making the difficult calls. The art of the pivot: effective strategies for transitioning from public service and government roles into the private sector. The AI frontier: a sobering look at the "Empire of AI," the global race for innovation, and the urgent need for safeguards to protect children and vulnerable populations. The path to the C-Suite: the two key qualities you need to transition from "just a lawyer" to a business leader. "More Mommy" vs. "More Money": how to evaluate career choices through the lens of family values and the "seasons of life." Owning your growth: Why you shouldn't let your employer drive your career, and the importance of self-investment and building a genuine community.   Connect with us: Learn more about our guest, Irene Liu, on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ireneliu1/.   Follow our host, Samorn Selim, on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/samornselim/. Get a copy of Samorn's book, Career Unicorns™ 90-Day 5-Minute Gratitude Journal: An Easy & Proven Way To Cultivate Mindfulness, Beat Burnout & Find Career Joy, at https://tinyurl.com/49xdxrz8. Ready for a career change?  Schedule a free 30-minute build your dream career consult by sending a message at www.careerunicorns.com. Disclaimer:  Irene would like our listeners to know that her views expressed in this podcast are her own and do not represent those of any referenced organizations.

What would your future self thank you for starting today?In this solo episode, Bill walks you through his personal strategy for designing a fulfilling and productive year before the new year hits. He shares how carving out time between Thanksgiving and mid-December creates the perfect window to slow down, reflect, and set intentional direction for the coming year.Topics explored in this episode:(01:00) Create Space Before the New Year*The week after Thanksgiving is an ideal time to reflect on your year.*Flip through your calendar. Does anything stand out? *What went well, and what do you wish had gone differently?(06:25) Set Your Future Vision*Reset your mind and body to prepare for what's ahead.*Imagine your life 10 years out. What does it look like? *Get clear on your purpose, values, health, hobbies, and what truly matters.(16:00) Build a Plan with Realistic Cadence*Start with the end in mind. *What daily habits could move you toward your long-term vision?*You don't need a perfect plan, just a system that helps you recommit.Bill Gallagher, Scaling Coach and host of the Scaling Up Business podcast, is an international business coach who works with C-Suite leaders to achieve breakthrough growth. Join Bill in the Growth Navigator Coaching Program: https://ScalingCoach.com/workshop Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.LinkedIn.com/in/BillGallBill on YouTube: https://www.YouTube.com/@BillGallagherScalingCoach Visit https://ScalingUp.com to learn more about Verne Harnish, our team of Scaling Up Coaches, and the Scaling Up Performance Platform, which includes coaching, learning, software, and summit. We share how the fastest-growing companies succeed where so many others fail. We help leadership teams with the biggest decisions around people, strategy, execution, and cash so that they can scale up successfully and beat the odds of business growth. Did you enjoy today's episode? If so, then please leave a review! Help other business leaders discover Scaling Up Business with Bill Gallagher so they, too, can benefit from the ideas shared in these podcasts.Subscribe via Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3PGhWPJSubscribe via Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3PKe00uBill on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/billgall/ Bill on Twitter/X: https://x.com/billgall

In today's episode, Bob 'n Joyce unpack an article Joyce wrote years ago on a powerful OD technique she used to assess organizational wellness. Culture can feel fuzzy and hard to diagnose, but this simple inquiry tool makes it concrete, practical, and actionable for leaders, coaches, and OD practitioners. You'll hear when this tool is most valuable—such as during a leadership transition, when performance is slipping, or when an organization has lost its competitive edge—and then we walk through the roadmap step by step. Joyce's Diagnostic Roadmap Includes: Getting a Balcony Perspective 1. What's causing the distress? 2. What internal contradictions does that distress reveal? 3. What is the history behind those contradictions? 4. What perspectives or interests do I (or others) now represent that may be in conflict? 5. How might we, as a team or organization, be mirroring these broader dynamics? Identifying the Tolerable Range of Distress 6. How do we typically respond to disequilibrium—confusion, conflict, external threats, shifting roles? 7. When in the past has distress escalated to a breaking point? 8. What actions have senior leaders traditionally used to restore equilibrium, and what can I influence now? Patterns of Work and Work Avoidance 9. What work and work-avoidance patterns are showing up? 10. What do these patterns reveal about the real adaptive challenge? 11. What clues do leaders (often unintentionally) provide? 12. Which issues are ripe for action—and which may need ripening? There's a lot to unwrap (pun fully intended), so settle in, grab a healthy snack, and join us for a lively conversation on diagnosing culture in a way that actually helps organizations heal and grow.

Spiritual Leadership: How to Inspire by Being Inspired   Most leaders try to think their way to clarity — only to get stuck in anxiety, over analysis, and pressure. In this episode, Dr. Yosi Amram reveals a different approach: using the wisdom in your body, not the noise in your mind. His story moves from trauma, military service, and a meteoric rise as a tech CEO… to a spiritual awakening that shattered his identity and led him into a lifetime of inner work.   Key Points with reflection prompts: Your Body Doesn't Lie. Your Ego Does. Your body gives you truth signals long before your mind is ready to accept them. Reflection: Where in your life do you feel tension when you say something you "should" believe Slowing Down Isn't Weak — It's Leadership. "Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast." Reflection: Where is rushing keeping you from clarity Spiritual Intelligence (SQ) Complements Emotional Intelligence. Qualities like humility, presence, purpose, gratitude, and compassion directly correlate to better leadership outcomes. Reflection: Which SQ quality is calling for your attention right now? Awakening Isn't Pretty — It's Disorienting. Yosi's awakening experience triggered a manic episode, cost him his company, and yet became the doorway to his purpose. Reflection: What painful event in your life later revealed itself as guidance? The Future Will Reward Heart, Not Hustle. AI can mimic empathy — but it can't feel. Human connection, presence, creativity, and compassion will define the next era of meaningful work. Reflection: What human quality do you want to cultivate intentionally?   Money Learning from Yosi Amram: Yosi's early money story began with parents who fled Iraq with nothing, rebuilding their lives from tents and scarcity. From that foundation he learned that money creates opportunity — it's what allowed him to attend MIT and Harvard through the support of a relative. But he also learned that money is psychologically loaded: it carries the weight of our upbringing, our fears, our beliefs about success, and our ego. As he shared, our bodies tell the truth while our egos distort it — and that shows up in financial decisions too. When leaders chase money for validation, status, or urgency, they climb ladders against the wrong wall. But when they slow down, get grounded, and lead from inner alignment, money becomes a tool for purpose rather than identity.   Key Takeaway: The deeper truth you're seeking isn't outside of you — it's in your breath, your body, and your willingness to slow down long enough to hear it.   Bio: Yosi Amram, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist, a CEO leadership coach, a best-selling and award-winning author, and a pioneeing researcher in the field of spiritual intelligence. Previously the founder and CEO of two companies that he has led through successful IPOs, Yosi has coached over 100 CEOs many of whom have built companies with thousands of employees and revenues in the billions.  With engineering degrees from MIT, an MBA from Harvard, and a Ph.D. in Psychology from Sofia University, his pioneering research in the field of spiritual intelligence, has received over 1000 citations.  As a C-Suite, Amazon, and B&N best-selling author of the Nautilus Book Award Gold Medal-winning Spiritually Intelligent Leadership: How to Inspire by Being Inspired, Yosi is committed awakening greater spiritual intelligence (SI) in himself and the world. Yosi is also the founder of several non-profits, including trueMASCULINITY.org, Engendering-Love.org, and AwakeningSI.org.   Links: Website:  https://yosiamram.net     Non-profit: https://awakeningsi.org/  LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yosiamram/  Free SI Assessment: https://intelligensi.com/  Psychology Today Blog: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/spiritual-intelligence  IG: https://www.instagram.com/awakeningspiritualintelligence/   Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Spiritually-Intelligent-Leadership-Inspire-Inspired/dp/1960583697  SILeadership: http://spirituallyintelligentleadership.com  Youtube.com: https://www.youtube.com/@awakeningspiritualintelligence   Where in your life is your body telling you a truth your mind keeps trying to ignore — and what would change if you trusted that inner wisdom?   If this episode opened something for you, share it with someone who's growing and subscribe to Richer Soul for more conversations on purpose, clarity, and inner transformation.   #SpiritualIntelligence #LeadershipDevelopment #InnerWisdom #EgoWork #Mindfulness #YosiAmram #PurposeDrivenLife #SelfAwareness #ConsciousLeadership #RicherSoul   Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@richersoul Richer Soul Life Beyond Money. You got rich, now what? Let's talk about your journey to more a purposeful, intentional, amazing life. Where are you going to go and how are you going to get there? Let's figure that out together. At the core is the financial well-being to be able to do what you want, when you want, how you want. It's about personal freedom! Thanks for listening!   Show Sponsor: http://profitcomesfirst.com/   Schedule your free no obligation call: https://bookme.name/rockyl/lite/intro-appointment-15-minutes   If you like the show please leave a review on iTunes: http://bit.do/richersoul   https://www.facebook.com/richersoul http://richersoul.com/ rocky@richersoul.com   Some music provided by Junan from Junan Podcast   Any financial advice is for educational purposes only and you should consult with an expert for your specific needs.

Welcome to RIMScast. Your host is Justin Smulison, Business Content Manager at RIMS, the Risk and Insurance Management Society.   In this episode, Justin interviews Joseph A. Milan, Ph.D., about the core philosophy or mindset for risk managers, the definition of acceptable risk, and how acceptable risk changes, depending on the organization's culture, strategy, or industry. Joseph shares his view on common mistakes and how biases can lead to gut decisions that are the least effective solutions. Justin and Joseph discuss Joseph's upcoming two-day virtual seminar, "Facilitating Risk-Based Decision Making", on March 4th and 5th, and how participants should prepare for it. Finally, Joseph shares closing thoughts for those in one-person risk departments. Listen for thoughts on how to keep the gut reaction out of decision-making.   Key Takeaways: [:01] About RIMS and RIMScast. [:17] About this episode of RIMScast. Our guest is Joseph Milan, Ph.D. You know him from the RIMS CRMP Insights Series. [:40] As one of our virtual instructors, he's here to discuss his own risk philosophies ahead of the RIMS Virtual Workshop on March 4th and 5th. He'll be leading "Facilitating Risk-Based Decision Making". But first… [:54] RIMS-CRMP and Some Exam Prep Courses. The next virtual prep course will be held on January 14th and 15th, 2026. These are virtual courses. Links to these courses can be found through the Certification page of RIMS.org and through this episode's show notes. [1:12] RIMS Virtual Workshops are coming up. On January 21st and 22nd, Chris Hansen returns to deliver the course, "Managing Worker Compensation, Employer's Liability and Employment Practices in the US". [1:26] The full schedule of virtual workshops can be found on the RIMS.org/education and RIMS.org/education/online-learning pages. A link is also in this episode's notes. [1:38] RIMS members always enjoy deep discounts on the virtual workshops. [1:48] The RIMS-CRO Certificate Program in Advanced Enterprise Risk Management is hosted by the famous James Lam. This is a live virtual program that helps elevate your expertise and career in ERM. [2:00] You can enroll now for the next cohort, which will be held over 12 weeks from January to March of 2026. Registration closes on January 5th. Or Spring ahead and register for the cohort that will be held from April to June, 2026. Registration closes on April 6th. [2:20] Links to registration and enrollment are in this episode's show notes. [2:25] On with the show! Today, we will discuss facilitating risk-based decision-making with our friend Joseph Milan, Ph.D. He is the Principal at J.A. Milan & Associates and is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Colorado. [2:43] He is a RIMS CRMP Commissioner. You get a lot of his insights from the RIMS CRMP Insights Series. A link is in this episode's show notes. In this dialog, we will get a preview of his upcoming workshop, "Facilitating Risk-Based Decision Making", on March 4th and 5th. [3:02] But we're really going to get into Joe's risk philosophies, which are the sorts of things the RIMScast audience can use as they develop their careers and as they move into higher positions, ascend the corporate ladder, or become a department of one. [3:20] Interview! I've known him for years, and I'm so glad to finally be saying… [3:22] Joseph Milan, welcome to RIMScast! [3:41] Justin notes that he and Joseph have recorded so many things through the years, but not RIMScast. Joseph says it's great to be back with Justin, and on this medium, and he looks forward to sharing more information with Justin and all the RIMS members. [4:21] Joseph shares his RIMS history. It started in the olden times of 2005 when he got involved in a committee Carol Fox set up, called at the time the ERM Development Committee, now known as the RIMS Strategic and Enterprise Risk Management Council. [4:46] Then Joseph started helping with curriculum development and in-person professional development, before COVID. [4:58] After COVID, Joseph has been involved not only in delivering seminars but, as a commission member for the RIMS-CRMP, helped develop that curriculum and governance structure. Joseph has been involved with RIMS in different ways over the years. [5:12] There's a good chance that someone listening to this podcast will think, Hey, I know that guy! I recognize that voice! [5:26] Joseph is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Colorado, Denver. He's been active in the Risk Consulting Space since 2008, doing projects that range from simple commercial insurance placements to complex ERM implementations. He brings a unique perspective. [6:02] Joseph teaches at the University of Colorado Business School. He helped develop a course on Enterprise Risk Management. ERM is truly becoming a mature discipline. Joseph thinks RIMS is establishing a global presence for ERM. Justin credits Joseph, in part, for that. [7:05] When Justin saw that Joseph was going to host a two-day workshop, March 5th and 6th, "Facilitating Risk-Based Decision Making", he said, Let's get Joe on the show and end 2025 with a great interview with him. [7:38] Joseph says the course is, in many ways, the pinnacle of risk management as a discipline. If we think about the domains and components of the RIMS-CRMP, the fifth domain within the CRMP is about supporting risk-based decision-making. [8:06] This is a two-day seminar that takes a deep dive into that space. Joseph says it's the most fun, advanced, and interactive. It's the task that requires the best blend between the technical and the so-called soft skills. It's really exciting. Joseph is looking forward to it. [8:28] Joseph hopes a lot of the audience listening to this podcast will take enough of an interest to spend the 14 or 15 hours — it seems like a lot, but it goes fast! There are breaks. [8:52] When Joseph leads a course, he takes questions live. His approach is dynamic and flexible in terms of making sure that people get what they expect from the seminar. [9:05] Joseph says crunching numbers is super important. The assumption for this seminar is that these are advanced practitioners who can do number crunching or hire somebody to do it. The number crunching is important because it sets the foundation for control limits. [9:23] Number crunching sets the foundation for being able to answer questions about risk philosophy. [9:34] Core philosophy is risk philosophy. Risk philosophy comes from definitions of risk appetite and risk tolerance, and being able to operationalize those definitions in simple statements, in plain language, tied to the control limits that come from the number crunching. [10:00] With a good amount of work, within any organization, a risk professional and a team of people dedicated to risk and ERM should be able to put those definitions into action. [10:31] In the context of an advanced risk management or ERM seminar, when we talk about risk, it's always also about opportunity. [10:46] The simplest definition of acceptable risk is that which fits within the risk philosophy of the organization, within risk appetite and risk tolerance, and supports the organization in terms of its pursuit of objectives. [11:04] It's almost always about higher profitability, more money in for-profit companies. Non-profit companies describe it differently. Maybe it's focusing on providing more service, which is a proxy for getting more money. [11:19] It's about remaining a going concern and achieving goals. That's the simple definition: fitting within risk appetite and risk tolerance. [11:52] Joseph says it's constantly about finding balance. It's not just about the most influential senior leader, the risk leader, or the ERM leader. [12:05] It's also about the risk owners within the organization and how they fit into the strategic direction of the organization: growth vs. stability. Maybe it's an organization in distress and is focusing on retrenchment and building up a balance sheet to be able to redirect itself. [12:27] It's in that space that a lot of times, there is an unintentional lack of organizational risk competency. That can contribute to not just conflict, but also misunderstandings about what's acceptable, in terms of taking on risk in pursuit of objectives. [12:49] Communication is something we focus on in the seminar "Facilitating Risk-Based Decision Making" quite a bit. [12:58] It is in the soft space of actively listening and identifying triggers in terms of perception of risk that have a huge impact on the decisions that an organization takes in risk and opportunity. It is challenging and time-consuming, but done correctly, it's super worthwhile! [13:27] Quick Break! RISKWORLD 2026 will be held from May 3rd through the 6th in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. RISKWORLD attracts more than 10,000 risk professionals from across the globe. It's time to Connect, Cultivate, and Collaborate with them. Booth sales are open now! [13:49] General registration and speaker registration are also open right now! Marketplace and Hospitality badges will be available starting on March 3rd. Links are in this episode's show notes. [14:04] Let's Return to Our Interview with Joseph Milan! [14:14] Joseph Milan will be hosting a workshop, "Facilitating Risk-Based Decision Making", on March 4th and 5th. Registration closes March 3rd. Justin says there is nobody better than Joseph to host this RIMS workshop. Joseph has a wide range of experience. [15:14] A risk practitioner may focus more on the traditional space, insurance. Joseph says ERM will not supersede traditional risk management. [16:06] A common mistake is that risk practitioners tend to get distracted by what they think are big numbers, but which pale in comparison to the big picture on the balance sheet. [16:36] A good solution to that mistake is to find influential people in the organization who are plugged into financial planning, analysis, and budgeting, with a long connection to the organization, to help put things in perspective and answer questions about acceptable risk. [17:09] Does it fit within the organization's risk appetite and tolerance? Answering those questions quantitatively can be fairly easy in terms of doing analysis and providing conclusions about expected total losses, frequency, and severity. [17:33] The more important question is, is that acceptable, and does it fit within what executive leadership expects in terms of the stability of the financial performance of the company? [17:44] The mistake is in overemphasizing or overestimating the importance of certain quantitative components of a risk program that oftentimes might not be that important. Conversely, there might be something much less visible that needs more attention. [18:12] You have to know your audience, and you need to know what their emotions are, what motivates them, and what might trigger them. It's a bad idea to follow your gut, but it happens all the time. One of the main reasons it happens is because of emotion. [18:44] If you see weird, irrational things happening, often, it ties back to a personal experience that the President, CEO, or CFO had many years ago. You might have an operator who went through Hurricane Katrina and is super sensitive to that type of hazard risk. [19:11] Justin shares the impact Hurricane Sandy had on his home and on his parents' home, which was destroyed. The flooding gutted the area. Looking back, Justin will always have NatCat insurance. Justin is still traumatized by it. [19:53] Joseph emphasizes communication and knowing your audience. An organization may want to do ERM or take its insurance program to the next level. Some spaces trigger reactions and emotions. [20:31] It takes time to figure out an unwritten organizational culture. [21:18] Strategy impacts the perception of risk, what's acceptable in terms of risk, and what the upper and lower control limits are. Where does strategy come from? Joseph says strategy comes from vision, mission, and execution. [21:42] Strategy comes from various places. It could be external market forces. It could be the result of a merger or an acquisition, or a series of mergers and acquisitions. The executive leadership team may have to look around and ask themselves, Who are we? What are we doing? [22:08] The first company that hired Justin, in 20 years, has been acquired twice, and people who had been lifers are being shown the door. [22:46] Joseph says, In M&A, there is a huge impact on morale. Without a clear communication plan, backed up by action, things can get inefficient and expensive very quickly. [23:17] A Final Break! The Spencer Educational Foundation's goal to help build a talent pipeline of risk management and insurance professionals is achieved, in part, by its collaboration with risk management and insurance educators across the U.S. and Canada. [23:36] Spencer awards undergraduate, graduate, Ph.D., and Pre-Instructor of Practice Scholarships to students enrolled at an accredited college or university in the U.S. and Canada, and physically studying in either location. No remote coursework eligibility from other locations. [23:53] Including part-time, graduate scholarships to risk management and insurance professionals continuing their education. [23:58] Since 1980, Spencer has invested more than $11.1 million in the scholarship program with awards to over 1,700 students. More than 85% of Spencer's scholarship recipients remain in the industry to this day. [24:15] They've got undergraduate scholarships, full-time Master's scholarships, part-time Master's scholarships, pre-dissertation Ph.D. candidates, doctoral candidates, and pre-instructor of practice scholarships all open now. The application deadline is January 31st, 2026. [24:36] Visit SpencerEd.org/scholarships. You'll find the different application buttons. See the link in this episode's show notes for more information, giving you some extra homework to do over the holiday break, if you are taking a holiday break!. [24:53] Let's Return to the Conclusion of My Interview with Joseph Milan! [25:01] Justin had Jim Swanke as a guest on International Podcast Day, from the University of Wisconsin, Madison's Wisconsin School of Business. He mentioned he has a real passion for being an educator for risk management students. [25:25] Jim Swanke encourages students to lean into technology and AI as a proofreader and a time-saving tool, to help go through contracts, claims, and things like that. That was on the captive insurance side. [25:50] Justin asks Joseph for his take on AI. Joseph encourages students to go all in on it. It's the future. It is not going away. [26:04] Joseph's clients are asking him about AI because they're looking for opportunities to increase efficiency. Is there a way we can reduce the time it takes to do "fill in the blank"? [26:17] When you look at the top risk management information systems, the first and second place, Origami and Riskonnect, are spending a lot of time and money looking for any opportunity to leverage AI to make the broader risk management process more efficient. [26:42] Joseph gives the example of analytics. It takes a couple of seconds to do a multiple linear regression analysis. The hard part is collecting the data to support the analysis. If you can leverage AI to collect, clean, and organize data, that is something you should do, with caution. [27:09] We know that large language models tend to occasionally hallucinate. To have a non-sentient black box to have a hallucination as it's cleaning your data for analysis is a little bit of a scary thing. Fortunately, we humans are still around to check these machines. [27:33] Joseph says the shortest answer is that AI is not going away. It needs to be embraced carefully. The process fundamentals that we have been thinking about, doing, and teaching about for years are the same. They will not change. [28:03] Joseph will be leading the "Facilitating Risk-Based Decision Making" virtual workshop for RIMS on March 4th and 5th. It's a two-day course with six or more hours each day. [28:32] Joseph says it's a seminar that focuses on the advanced implementation of risk solutions. We will not be doing calculations, analytics, or analysis. [28:50] We're assuming that everyone is showing up with a deep and broad understanding of not only definitions of potential risk and opportunity, but also a solid foundation in the analytical space. [29:02] This is more about thinking about how bias influences individual, group, and social perceptions and recommendations, in terms of risk. [29:17] Participants should bring an open mind and an understanding of the importance of soft skills in the space of supporting risk-based decisions. [29:31] Some of the listeners may already have read this book, but Joseph recommends it again, Thinking, Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman. It is the foundation for the seminar. [29:43] Joseph says, the book takes a deep dive into the "caveman" forces that influence intuitive, gut-reaction decisions, and how gut reactions can be a very unhelpful approach for the systematic, slower decisions that need to be made regarding complex risk. [30:09] Joseph recommends reading the book. He says it will provide you with a much better foundation for the seminar, and it's a book you will keep going back to throughout your career. [30:23] Justin says, It's been such a pleasure to see you again. I've got links to the RIMS-CRMP Insights Series that you did for us. There is plenty of Joseph Milan content here on RIMS.org. [30:50] Joseph's last words for listeners: The first message is to be committed to the hard work that goes into cleaning, organizing, and setting the stage. It's part of being a good risk manager. [31:52] Beyond that, a lot of what we talk about in the ERM space has to do with leveraging existing resources and breaking down silos. Find influential, knowledgeable people in your organization who can help with different cultural components and a lot of the tactical things. [32:14] They might be able to help you find shortcuts as you take on different implementations and initiatives within the risk space within your company. [32:30] Justin says, I look forward to seeing you again, in 2026, virtually, and/or in person. Thank you so much for all your time and for being so generous with your knowledge. [32:46] Special thanks again to Joseph Milan for joining us here on RIMScast. His virtual workshop is "Facilitating Risk-Based Decision Making". Enrollment closes on March 3rd for the two-day course, which will be held on March 4th and 5th. A link is in this episode's show notes. [33:07] Joseph will also lead the Pre-RISKWORLD two-day workshop, "Captives as an Alternate Risk Financing Technique," on-site in Philadelphia on May 2nd and 3rd, 2026. We will provide a registration link when it's available. Mark your calendar and learn from one of the best! [33:28] Plug Time! You can sponsor a RIMScast episode for this, our weekly show, or a dedicated episode. Links to sponsored episodes are in the show notes. [33:56] RIMScast has a global audience of risk and insurance professionals, legal professionals, students, business leaders, C-Suite executives, and more. Let's collaborate and help you reach them! Contact pd@rims.org for more information. [34:13] Become a RIMS member and get access to the tools, thought leadership, and network you need to succeed. Visit RIMS.org/membership or email membershipdept@RIMS.org for more information. [34:30] Risk Knowledge is the RIMS searchable content library that provides relevant information for today's risk professionals. Materials include RIMS executive reports, survey findings, contributed articles, industry research, benchmarking data, and more. [34:46] For the best reporting on the profession of risk management, read Risk Management Magazine at RMMagazine.com. It is written and published by the best minds in risk management. [35:00] Justin Smulison is the Business Content Manager at RIMS. Please remember to subscribe to RIMScast on your favorite podcasting app. You can email us at Content@RIMS.org. [35:11] Practice good risk management, stay safe, and thank you again for your continuous support!   Links: "Facilitating Risk-Based Decision Making" | Virtual Workshop | March 4‒5, 2026 RIMS-CRO Certificate Program in Advanced Enterprise Risk Management | Jan‒March 2026 Cohort | Led by James Lam RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) | Insights Series Featuring Joe Milan! RISKWORLD 2026 Registration — Open for exhibitors, members, and non-members! Reserve your booth at RISKWORLD 2026! The Strategic and Enterprise Risk Center RIMS Diversity Equity Inclusion Council RIMS Risk Management magazine | Contribute RIMS Now Spencer Educational Foundation Scholarships | Submission Deadline Jan. 31, 2026 RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy | RIMS Legislative Summit SAVE THE DATE — March 18‒19, 2026 Upcoming RIMS-CRMP Prep Virtual Workshops: RIMS-CRMP Exam PrepJanuary 14‒15, 2026, 9:00 am‒4:00 pm EST, Virtual Full RIMS-CRMP Prep Course Schedule See the full calendar of RIMS Virtual Workshops "Managing Worker Compensation, Employer's Liability and Employment Practices in the US" | Jan. 21‒22, 2026   Upcoming RIMS Webinars: RIMS.org/Webinars   Related RIMScast Episodes: "James Lam on ERM, Strategy, and the Modern CRO" "The Evolving Role of the Risk Analyst" "Presilience and Cognitive Biases with Dr. Gav Schneider and Shreen Williams" "Risk Rotation with Lori Flaherty and Bill Coller of Paychex" "Risk Quantification Through Value-Based Frameworks"   Sponsored RIMScast Episodes: "Secondary Perils, Major Risks: The New Face of Weather-Related Challenges" | Sponsored by AXA XL (New!) "The ART of Risk: Rethinking Risk Through Insight, Design, and Innovation" | Sponsored by Alliant "Mastering ERM: Leveraging Internal and External Risk Factors" | Sponsored by Diligent "Cyberrisk: Preparing Beyond 2025" | Sponsored by Alliant "The New Reality of Risk Engineering: From Code Compliance to Resilience" | Sponsored by AXA XL "Change Management: AI's Role in Loss Control and Property Insurance" | Sponsored by Global Risk Consultants, a TÜV SÜD Company "Demystifying Multinational Fronting Insurance Programs" | Sponsored by Zurich "Understanding Third-Party Litigation Funding" | Sponsored by Zurich "What Risk Managers Can Learn From School Shootings" | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog "Simplifying the Challenges of OSHA Recordkeeping" | Sponsored by Medcor "How Insurance Builds Resilience Against An Active Assailant Attack" | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog "Third-Party and Cyber Risk Management Tips" | Sponsored by Alliant   RIMS Publications, Content, and Links: RIMS Membership — Whether you are a new member or need to transition, be a part of the global risk management community! RIMS Virtual Workshops On-Demand Webinars RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy RIMS Strategic & Enterprise Risk Center RIMS-CRMP Stories — Featuring RIMS President Kristen Peed!   RIMS Events, Education, and Services: RIMS Risk Maturity Model® RIMS Risk Maturity Model®   Sponsor RIMScast: Contact sales@rims.org or pd@rims.org for more information.   Want to Learn More? Keep up with the podcast on RIMS.org, and listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.   Have a question or suggestion? Email: Content@rims.org.   Join the Conversation! Follow @RIMSorg on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.   About our guest: Joseph A. Milan, Ph.D.   Production and engineering provided by Podfly.  

" The key here is not perfection, it's all about just doing the very best we can in the current state of our life." Chief, in our last episode of 2025, I'm going to share with you the exact end of year review process I've refined over more than two decades that gives me clarity, alignment, and meaningful progress. You can complete this on your own or with your partner, but in the Council of Chiefs we take it further by building a full Executive Playbook that guides both your career and life.

Solving the Agile Executive Support Problem There is a statistic in the Agile community: the number one reason Agile initiatives fail is a lack of executive support. We see this stat, we nod our heads, and then we proceed to complain that leadership just “doesn’t get it.” But CEOs and executives aren’t sitting around wondering how to make YOU and your team more effective. They are worried about revenue, market share, and survival. If you don’t have executive support for your initiative, it's not because they don’t care; it's because you haven't given them a compelling reason to care. Executive support is something WE have to take responsibility for soliciting. The problem is that most Agile practitioners have zero experience driving high-stakes conversations with people in power. We are great at talking to teams, but we freeze up when it comes to the C-Suite. So, how do you fix this? You don’t do it by waiting for the next quarterly review to make your case. You do it by practicing in public. The “Muscle” of Influence Speaking to power is a skill, not a talent. Like any muscle, it needs resistance training to grow. You need to get in the habit of having a strong point of view on what Agile success actually looks like, and you need to start marketing that opinion aggressively. Here’s what I did. I took a specific, tactical approach to building this muscle: Start doing LinkedIn Lives. This isn’t about getting “likes.” It is about two critical outcomes: Clarifying Your Message: When you commit to broadcasting your expertise, you force yourself to articulate your thoughts clearly. You stop hiding behind jargon and start speaking in value. Building an Audience that trusts you: By hosting a platform, you create a space where you can invite leaders, stakeholders, and people of influence to join you. It changes the dynamic. You are no longer the person begging for five minutes of their time; you are the host offering them a spotlight. Stop Wishing for Executive Support. Claim it. If you want executive support, stop treating Agile like a methodology and start treating it like a product you have to sell. When you market your POV publicly, you build credibility. You build trust. Most importantly, you practice the art of holding your ground in a conversation. By the time you actually need to pitch an initiative or ask for executive support to your internal leadership, you won’t be nervous. You will have had that conversation a dozen times already on your livestreams. Don’t wait for permission to be a leader. Turn on the camera, state your case, and build the executive support you need to change minds and create Agile success. If you liked this episode, you might also like: Episode 228 – Agile Has Lost The Script Episode 230 – The Difference-Makers How To Revive Agile (And Your Career **FORGE GENESIS IS HERE** All the skills you need ot stop relying on job postings and start enjoying the freedom of an Agile career on YOUR terms. First cohort starts in Jan 2026 https://learning.fusechamber.com/forge-genesis **THE ALL NEW FORGE LIGHTNING** 12 Weeks to elite leadership! https://learning.fusechamber.com/forge-lightning **JOIN MY BETA COMMUNITY FOR AGILE ENTREPRENEURS AND INTRAPRENEURS** The latest wave in professional Agile careers. Get the support you need to Forge Your Freedom! Join for FREE here: https://learning.fusechamber.com/offers/Sa3udEgz **CHECK OUT ALL MY PRODUCTS AND SERVICES HERE:** https://learning.fusechamber.com **ELEVATE YOUR PROFESSIONAL STORYTELLING – Now Live!** The most coveted communications skill – now at your fingertips! https://learning.fusechamber.com/storytelling **JOIN THE FORGE*** New cohorts for Fall 2025! Email for more information: contact@badassagile.com **BREAK FREE OF CORPORATE AGILE!!*** Download my FREE Guide and learn how to shift from roles and process and use your agile skills in new and exciting ways! https://learning.fusechamber.com/future-of-agile-signup We’re also on YouTube! Follow the podcast, enjoy some panel/guest commentary, and get some quick tips and guidance from me: https://www.youtube.com/c/BadassAgile ****** Follow The LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/badass-agile ****** Our mission is to create an elite tribe of leaders who focus on who they need to become in order to lead and inspire, and to be the best agile podcast and resource for effective mindset and leadership game. Contact us (contact@badassagile.com) for elite-level performance and agile coaching, speaking engagements, team-level and executive mindset/agile training, and licensing options for modern, high-impact, bite-sized learning and educational content.

What is neuro-symbolic AI, and how can it help businesses generate value in new ways?     If generative AI is a productivity engine, then neuro-symbolic AI promises to be the growth engine that turns data into business value. But what is this technology, and why should C-Suite leaders move quickly to explore its potential?     Join Ivan Pollard and guest Jeff Schumacher, Growth Platforms leader at EY-Parthenon, to find out how neuro-symbolic AI differs from other AI, how it avoids problems of inaccuracy and bias, and what we can learn from "Moneyball."      For more from The Conference Board:  Is AI Delivering? The ROI on AI  AI Search and Its Impact on Marketing  Learning for the Future: Preparing Organizations and Workers for AI Disruption 

There's a narrative we've been sold all year: "Move fast and break things." But a new 100-page report from the Future of Life Institute (FLI) suggests that what we actually broke might be the brakes.This week, the "Winter 2025 AI Safety Index" dropped, and the grades are alarming. Major players like OpenAI and Anthropic are barely scraping by with "C+" averages, while others like Meta are failing entirely. The headlines are screaming about the "End of the World," but if you're a business leader, you shouldn't be worried about Skynet—you should be worried about your supply chain.I read the full audit so you don't have to. In this episode, I move past the "Doomer" vs. "Accelerationist" debate to focus on the Operational Trust Gap. We are building our organizations on top of these models, and for the first time, we have proof that the foundation might be shakier than the marketing brochures claim.The real risk isn't that AI becomes sentient tomorrow; it's that we are outsourcing our safety to vendors who are prioritizing speed over stability. I break down how to interpret these grades without panicking, including:Proof Over Promises: Why FLI stopped grading marketing claims and started grading audit logs (and why almost everyone failed).The "Transparency Trap": A low score doesn't always mean "toxic"—sometimes it just means "secret." But is a "Black Box" vendor a risk you can afford?The Ideological War: Why Meta's "F" grade is actually a philosophical standoff between Open Source freedom and Safety containment.The "Existential" Distraction: Why you should ignore the "X-Risk" section of the report and focus entirely on the "Current Harms" data (bias, hallucinations, and leaks).If you are a leader wondering if you should ban these tools or double down, I share a practical 3-step playbook to protect your organization. We cover:The Supply Chain Audit: Stop checking just the big names. You need to find the "Shadow AI" in your SaaS tools that are wrapping these D-grade models.The "Ground Truth" Check: Why a "safe" model on paper might be useless in practice, and why your employees are your actual safety layer.Strategic Decoupling: Permission to not update the minute a new model drops. Let the market beta-test the mess; you stay surgical.By the end, I hope you'll see this report not as a reason to stop innovating, but as a signal that Governance is no longer a "Nice to Have"—it's a leadership competency.⸻If this conversation helps you think more clearly about the future we're building, make sure to like, share, and subscribe. You can also support the show by ⁠buying me a coffee.And if your organization is wrestling with how to lead responsibly in the AI era, balancing performance, technology, and people, that's the work I do every day through my consulting and coaching. Learn more at https://christopherlind.co.⸻Chapters:00:00 – The "Broken Brakes" Reality: 2025's Safety Wake-Up Call05:00 – The Scorecard: Why the "C-Suite" (OpenAI, Anthropic) is Barely Passing08:30 – The "F" Grade: Meta, Open Source, and the "Uncontrollable" Debate12:00 – The Transparency Trap: Is "Secret" the Same as "Unsafe"?18:30 – The Risk Horizon: Ignoring "Skynet" to Focus on Data Leaks22:00 – Action 1: Auditing Your "Shadow AI" Supply Chain25:00 – Action 2: The "Ground Truth" Conversation with Your Teams28:30 – Action 3: Strategic Decoupling (Don't Rush the Update)32:00 – Closing: Why Safety is Now a User Responsibility#AISafety #FutureOfLifeInstitute #AIaudit #RiskManagement #TechLeadership #ChristopherLind #FutureFocused #ArtificialIntelligence

Episode Summary: The era of "Vibe Revenue"—valuations built on demos and FOMO—is officially over. In this special episode, we dissect a critical new report on Proving AI ROI Beyond Benchmarks. With OpenAI's GPT-5.2 Pro pricing reaching a staggering $168.00 per million output tokens, the days of treating intelligence as a cheap commodity are gone.We break down the "Great Chasm" facing the C-Suite: the gap between technical capability and actual profit. We also introduce the three defensive metrics you must track in 2026 to survive: Cost Per Successful Outcome (CPSO), Revenue Per Agent (RPA), and Agentic Workflow Displacement Rate (AWDR). Plus, we explain how Composite AI and Intelligent Model Routing can reduce your blended costs by up to 99%.Key Topics:The "Vibe Revenue" Bubble: Why 2025's "Gold Rush" mentality is crashing into economic reality.The GPT-5.2 Shock: Analysis of the "Pro" model pricing ($21 input / $168 output) and why it kills "vibe" adoption.Metric 1: CPSO (Cost Per Successful Outcome): Moving from "cost per token" to "cost per result".Metric 2: RPA (Revenue Per Agent): Treating AI agents as employees with quotas to measure top-line growth.Metric 3: AWDR (Agentic Workflow Displacement Rate): Measuring the % of tasks fully offloaded to AI, not just "assisted".The Solution: How Composite AI and Intelligent Model Routing allow you to use Llama-3 for easy tasks and GPT-5.2 only when necessary.The Audit: How to map your "Perceive-Act-Reason" loops to find high-ROI workflows.Links & Resources:Read the Paper: https://djamgatech.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Proving-AI-ROI-Beyond-Benchmarks.pdfKeywords: xVibe Revenue, AI ROI, Cost Per Successful Outcome (CPSO), Revenue Per Agent (RPA), Agentic Workflow Displacement Rate (AWDR), GPT-5.2, Intelligent Model Routing, Composite AI, AI Economics, Etienne Noumen, AI Unraveled

Welcome back to AI Unraveled, your strategic briefing on the business impact of artificial intelligence.Today, we are doing something different. We are skipping the daily news cycle to focus on a single, massive piece of research that just dropped from a powerhouse team at Stanford, Princeton, Harvard, and the University of Washington that proposes the first proper taxonomy for Agentic AI Adaptation.If you are building or scaling agent-based systems, this is your new mental model. The researchers argue that almost all advanced agentic systems—despite their complexity—boil down to just four basic feedback loops. We explore the "4-Bucket" framework (A1, A2, T1, T2) and explain the critical trade-offs between changing the agent versus changing the tools.Key Topics:Intro: Why "learning from feedback" is the definition of adaptation.The Definition: What actually counts as "Agentic AI"?Bucket A1 (Agent + Tool Outcome): Updating the agent based on whether code ran or queries succeeded.Bucket A2 (Agent + Output Eval): Updating the agent based on human feedback or automated scoring.Bucket T1 (Frozen Agent + Trained Tools): Keeping the LLM fixed while optimizing retrievers and external models.Bucket T2 (Frozen Agent + Agent-Supervised Tools): Using the agent's own signals to tune its toolkit.Trade-offs: Cost vs. Flexibility in modern system design.Links & Resources:Read the Paper: Adaptation Strategies for Agentic AI Systems (GitHub): https://github.com/pat-jj/Awesome-Adaptation-of-Agentic-AI/blob/main/paper.pdfKeywords: Agentic AI, AI Taxonomy, AI Research, Stanford AI, Princeton AI, Large Language Models, LLM Agents, Reinforcement Learning, Tool Use, RAG, A1 A2 T1 T2, AI Adaptation, Etienne Noumen, AI Unraveled.

In this inspiring episode of The Brand Called You, Dr. Oleg Konovalov — known as the “Da Vinci of Visionary Leadership” — discusses how leaders can rise above the noise, break free from chaos, and lead with clarity and purpose. Discover why clarity is the new currency of success in a world addicted to distraction.00:40- About Dr Oleg KonovalovOleg is a global thought leader. He's a business educator, a consultant and a C suite coach.He's the author of his latest book titled Beyond Chaos.

Welcome to AI Unraveled (December 12, 2025): Your daily strategic briefing on the business impact of AI.Today on AI Unraveled, we break down the escalation in the model wars as OpenAI rushes GPT-5.2 to market to counter Google's Gemini 3. We also analyze the massive copyright lawsuit Disney just handed to Google, Rivian's strategic pivot to proprietary AI chips, and the new space race between Bezos and Musk to build orbital data centers. Plus, why the Financial Times believes the "Hyperscale" bubble might burst in favor of specialized industrial AI.Strategic Pillars & Topics

Welcome to AI Unraveled (From December 08 to December 14th, 2025): Your daily strategic briefing on the business impact of AI.This week on AI Unraveled, we recap a massive week in artificial intelligence. The landscape shifted dramatically as Disney chose sides—inking a $1B deal with OpenAI while slapping Google with a cease-and-desist. We break down the release of GPT-5.2, Meta's strategic pivot away from open source, and the new "space race" to build orbital data centers. Plus, the US government approves Nvidia sales to China (with a catch), and Runway unveils its General World Model.Key Topics :

Album 7 Track 24 - From Bottle Sorter to C-Suite w/Jim TrebilcockIn this episode of Brands, Beats and Bytes, hosts DC and LT sit down with beverage industry legend Jim Trebilcock, the former Chief Commercial Officer and CMO of Dr. Pepper Snapple Group and Keurig Dr. Pepper. This isn't just a marketing conversation; it is a masterclass in resilience and business strategy from a man who started his career sorting bottles and driving a delivery truck in a parking lot.Jim pulls back the curtain on some of the most pivotal moments in beverage history. He reveals the "Tracks of My Tears" story behind 7UP's decline against the juggernaut of Sprite, details the high-stakes negotiation where Dr. Pepper almost lost the College Football Playoff sponsorship to Coca-Cola , and shares the humbling lesson of his biggest product failure, 7UP Gold.Packed with hard truths about the "self-inflicted" irrelevance of modern CMOs and the dangers of the "LinkedIn Factor," this episode is essential listening for anyone who wants to understand the art of the deal, the science of execution, and the power of humble leadership.Key Takeaways: The "Ground Up" AdvantageThe 7UP vs. Sprite Case StudyThe "Self-Inflicted" CMO CrisisThe "LinkedIn Factor"A Billion-Dollar Negotiation LessonEmbracing FailureStay Up-To-Date on All Things Brands, Beats, & Bytes on SocialInstagram | Twitter

When you walk into the C-suite, everything about selling changes. This episode unpacks why traditional pitching falls flat - and why outcome-based selling is the strategy that separates trusted partners from everyone else. In this conversation, Harry Kendlbacher sits down with Ed See, Chief Growth Officer at Zeta Global, to break down the mindset shift sellers must make when engaging senior decision makers. From consultative selling, sales curiosity, and the courage to drop your own agenda, to the rising role of AI in sales and navigating enterprise buying groups - this episode gives you a complete framework for modern executive selling.

How do you run a year-end strategy offsite that's focused, fun, and actually gets resultsIn this episode, Bill is joined by strategic advisor Dan Clifford to walk you through how to plan and execute a high-impact annual strategy session offsite. From pre-planning to post-event execution, Dan shares his years of business knowledge with the audience today. Whether you're a founder, CEO, or senior leader, this conversation will help you rethink your next big planning meeting and make sure it drives real outcomes for the new year to come. You'll learn how to choose the right environment for deep thinking, gather and synthesize the right data before you meet, build an agenda that creates clarity and momentum, and ensure your team actually follows through long after the offsite ends.Topics explored in this episode:(03:25) The Pre-Planning Stage*If it's not on the calendar, it doesn't exist.*Find a good off-site location that has both indoor and outdoor options.. *Don't just go through ‘the motions' of an agenda; schedule downtime, walks, and thinking time.*Think about what success would look like at the end of the event.(19:05) The Pre-Meeting Stage*If you have more than 8 people in the room for year-end planning, you need to hire a facilitator.*Get your data and numbers together, as well as a company-wide survey on what's working and what's not.*Bill likes to use AI to summarize the data collected and offers some tips on how to leverage this fully.*With a critical meeting like this, set the expectation with senior leadership that there will be no laptops and no cellphones.(41:40) The Agenda*Start with big-picture thinking, then narrow into what the action plan looks like.*What resources do you currently have vs. what you need to achieve your BHAG?*Walk out with 3–5 big priorities.*Bill likes to start with good news, human connection, and a bit of play before the big-picture strategy conversations begin.(31:35) The After*Don't just set it and forget it. Schedule weekly follow-up meetings to keep momentum.*Focus on Q1 for now; don't try to forecast Q2-Q4 yet. A lot can change in 90 days.*Don't be afraid to use AI to help you along this process! Thanks to Dan Clifford for being on the show!Connect with Dan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danclifford/Bill Gallagher, Scaling Coach and host of the Scaling Up Business podcast, is an international business coach who works with C-Suite leaders to achieve breakthrough growth. Join Bill in the Growth Navigator Coaching Program: https://ScalingCoach.com/workshop Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.LinkedIn.com/in/BillGallBill on YouTube: https://www.YouTube.com/@BillGallagherScalingCoach Visit https://ScalingUp.com to learn more about Verne Harnish, our team of Scaling Up Coaches, and the Scaling Up Performance Platform, which includes coaching, learning, software, and summit. We share how the fastest-growing companies succeed where so many others fail. We help leadership teams with the biggest decisions around people, strategy, execution, and cash so that they can scale up successfully and beat the odds of business growth. Did you enjoy today's episode? If so, then...

What happens when the franchise you built, the one that looked wildly successful from the outside, starts quietly falling apart behind the scenes?In this powerful conversation, entrepreneur and author Ciara Stockeland shares the unfiltered truth about the rise and unraveling of her retail franchise brand, including the moment she sensed something was wrong long before anyone else did. From early wins and national recognition to a full-blown franchise mutiny, lawsuits, overwhelming debt, and ultimately bankruptcy, Ciara takes us inside the emotional and financial reality that most founders never talk about. Her transparency about identity, pressure, intuition, and accountability is rare and deeply needed in franchising today.Ciara also reveals the turning point that helped her rebuild a profitable business from day one, why paying yourself is non-negotiable, and how understanding your numbers will save you from the traps that take down so many emerging brands. Whether you're franchising today or still deciding if you should, this episode is a masterclass in avoiding the biggest (and most expensive) mistakes founders make.Ciara Stockland is a third-generation entrepreneur, profit strategist, speaker, and author of The Inventory Genius and Profit Genius. After franchising her first retail brand and later building and selling a first-to-market wholesale subscription box in just 18 months, she now coaches inventory-based business owners nationwide. Ciara works alongside her husband in their C-Suite consulting program, helping founders restructure operations, improve profitability, and regain control of their businesses.Connect with Ciara:Website - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/Inventory Genius - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/bookstoreProfit Genius - https://www.ciarastockeland.com/bookstoreEpisode Highlights:Ciara's entrepreneurial roots and early businessesThe transition from founder to franchisor and the blind spots that hurt herEarly warning signs that something was wrongThe franchise mutiny and the unraveling that followedLawsuits, mounting debt, and losing her homeRebuilding from scratch (and what she did differently)Why profitability must come before growthHow failing publicly reshaped her identity and purposeThe importance of understanding numbers as a founderPaying yourself and breaking harmful small-business mythsConnect with Tracy Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracy-panase/ JBF LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbfsale JBF Franchise System - https://jbfsalefranchise.com/ Email: podcast@jbfsale.com Connect with Shannon Personal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonwilburn/ JBF LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbfsale Website - https://shineexecutivecoaching.com/ Email - shannon@shineexecutivecoaching.com

If you've ever wondered what it really looks like to lead a fast-growing business or team with heart, humor, and humanity, today is your masterclass.Annalee Hagood-Earl is the CEO and co-founder of Bash Creative Inc. Under her leadership, Bash has become a magnet for some of the biggest names in the world—not just because of its stunning creativity and flawless execution, but because people can feel the company's values in every interaction.Annalee's not just talking about values—she lives them. She's led her team through seasons of explosive growth and through moments when, as she puts it, “the bottom dropped out.” And she's done it all while staying grounded in empathy, transparency, and joy. In our conversation, we dig into building a thriving business while investing in your team's self-development, what it looks like to lead through uncertainty, and how to redefine success by what your team feels while they're producing, not just what they produce. We also dive into some golden leadership lessons: the difference between values and ideals, why Annalee insists on hiring people smarter than herself, what she learned from her worst managers, and why she and her business partner went through a kind of leadership couples counseling to make their company stronger.It's like she ticked every box in my Five Pillars of Effective Empathy, and the results on her culture, retention, and revenue speak for themselves.To access the episode transcript, go to www.TheEmpathyEdge.com, search by episode title.Listen in for…Why reinvesting a headcount into developing your team means they can grow instead of relying on past experiences and traumasWhy you should consider counseling with your business partners, your C-Suite, and other leadersWays you can walk the talk and model self-awareness, joy, and learning Why allowing your people to be who they are means they can get further, faster How communication and transparency will take you a long way on so many levels"We take a lot of time to interview and recruit. We're looking for aligned values, not aligned ideals. I want people with different perspectives on my team. I want to learn from them." — Annalee Hagood-EarlEpisode References: Follow the Founder: https://followthefounder.co/ The Empathy Edge podcast: Claude Silver: Leading with Heart at Vayner MediaAbout Annalee Hagood-Earl, Founder & CEO, Bash Creative, Inc.Annalee Hagood-Earl is the CEO and co-founder of Bash Creative Inc., an agency known for designing world-class events and experiences for global brands. Guided by both her company and personal values, Annalee has led her team through seasons of explosive growth as well as times when the bottom dropped out. Under her leadership, Bash has attracted some of the largest companies in the world as clients — not just for its creativity and execution, but because its values-driven approach creates trust and a culture people can feel. This commitment to values has even inspired clients to reflect on their own, discovering alignment they hadn't previously articulated. Annalee speaks internationally on values-based leadership and how aligning values with action inspires resilience, clarity, and lasting impact.From Our Sponsor:Keynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game-changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross Connect with Annalee:Bash Creative: bash-creative.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/hagood-earl-annalee-78848a6Instagram: instagram.com/bashcreativeConnect with Maria:Get Maria's books: Red-Slice.com/booksHire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake the LinkedIn Learning Courses! Leading with Empathy and Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Results as a Leader LinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaFacebook: Red SliceKeynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariarossGet your copy of The Empathy Dilemma here- www.theempathydilemma.com

Did you know that 40% of executives fail in their new roles within the first 18 months…and it's rarely due to lack of technical skills? In this insightful conversation, you'll hear from Navid Nazemian, an executive transition coach and author of Mastering Executive Transitions. He shares the real reasons leaders derail during role changes and what can be done to dramatically improve their odds of success. Navid describes the cultural, political, and interpersonal challenges that make or break new leaders. You'll learn why transitions take far longer than the often-cited 90 days, and how his “Double Diamond Framework” helps executives cut derailment risk and accelerate productivity by more than half. Whether you're moving into a new role or coaching others who are, this episode gives you a practical roadmap to make your next transition a true success. Navid has been ranked as the #1 Executive Coach for 3 years by CEO Today. He's a leading authority on executive transitions and leadership impact. Navid is the author of the international bestseller Mastering Executive Transitions: The Definitive Guide. His focus is on supporting senior leaders as they transition into new roles, and he's a trusted advisor to C-level leaders worldwide. He brings to his work 20 years of HR leadership across five countries and six industries.  You'll discover: Why 40% of executives fail in new roles—and how to avoid itThe critical difference between executive coaching and transition coachingHow the Double Diamond Framework shortens time to impactThe five C's every executive should master before day oneWhy pre-boarding is the secret weapon of successful leadersCheck out all the episodesLeave a review on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meredith on LinkedInFollow Meredith on TwitterDownload the free ebook Listen Like a Pro

In today's episode, Bob ‘n Joyce are joined by Alfredo Borodowski for an energizing and insightful conversation on positivity, resilience, purpose, and happiness. Alfredo takes us on a journey through the evolution of positive psychology—from its early days 25 years ago to today—showing how the science of positivity can transform people and organizations. Alfredo's passion for human fulfillment and doing good is a much-needed message in today's world. One of his great gifts is making the complex simple and the abstract concrete and actionable. He also shares his personal struggle with mental illness and how that challenge revealed his life's purpose. Grab a pen and notebook—this episode is packed with practical ideas you can use immediately.' A Sample of Today's Conversation • The 24 character strengths at the core of what motivates each of us. • Why understanding and applying your signature strengths makes you nine times more likely to achieve fulfillment and high performance. • How purpose, pleasure, and strengths intersect to unlock full potential. • Why objectives end but purpose never does. • A simple definition of purpose: Giving the best of yourself for the benefit of others. • The Purpose Factor—an assessment that provides a 50-page personalized description of your life's purpose. • The four factors companies need to thrive in the future: self-confidence, hope, optimism, and resilience (also known as Psychological Capital). About Our Guest Alfredo Borodowski, PhD, MSW, is an organizational consultant and positive psychology expert who has devoted his career to guiding organizations through profound cultural shifts. He brings practical, immediately applicable strategies to every engagement. Alfredo's Upcoming Book: The Human Upgrade: The New Resilient Leadership for Peak Performance in the AI Revolution In this powerful new book, Alfredo Borodowski shows how individuals, teams, and entire organizations can thrive—rather than just survive—amid rapid technological change. Day-to-day routines, AI-driven disruption, global uncertainty: all turn into opportunities when you harness clarity, purpose, resilience, and mental focus. Through real stories, neuroscience-informed practices, and practical exercises, The Human Upgrade offers a roadmap for building adaptive minds, purposeful workplaces, and high-performing lives. It's for athletes, executives, creators — anyone who wants to turn pressure into possibility. Expected release: early 2026 (pre-order available at positiveab.com).

Today, we're joined by West Stringfellow, currently VP of Product at Blackhawk Network and former VP of Innovation at Target. In this episode, West shares: * How he went from stealth startups to leading innovation at a company with over $77 billion in annual sales * The methods he uses to manage up and influence leadership in order to achieve the outcomes necessary to create successful organizations time and time again * The bold move that accelerated his Target career, which included hand-delivering over 300 copies of his innovation proposal to every executive at their Minneapolis HQ, even catching the attention of Target's CEO * An inside look at how Blackhawk is thinking about AI and digital transformation by cultivating “culture carriers” to champion AI Links West's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weststringfellow/ Blackhawk Network: https://blackhawknetwork.com/ HowDo: https://howdo.com/about/ Chapters 00:00: Introduction 01:17: West's career journey 02:08: Project Goldfish and West's startup background 05:43: Making product and strategy decisions at Target 06:25: West building a Techstars Startup Accelerator 08:39: How West's work at Target inspired his startup, HowDo 09:44: How did West "manage up" at Target? 17:05: An introduction to Blackhawk 21:02: Digital transformation with gift cards 23:44: How Blackhawk is using AI 30:29: Big AI wins 33:09: Conclusion Follow LaunchPod on YouTube We have a new YouTube page (https://www.youtube.com/@LaunchPodPodcast)! Watch full episodes of our interviews with PM leaders and subscribe! What does LogRocket do? LogRocket's Galileo AI watches user sessions for you and surfaces the technical and usability issues holding back your web and mobile apps. Understand where your users are struggling by trying it for free at LogRocket.com (https://logrocket.com/signup/?pdr). Special Guest: West Stringfellow.

Welcome to RIMScast. Your host is Justin Smulison, Business Content Manager at RIMS, the Risk and Insurance Management Society.   In this episode, Justin interviews Andréia Stephenson, BSc SIRM, Enterprise Risk Analyst at London Metal Exchange, about her shift from a Bachelor of Science in biology to a risk analyst and risk professional. Andréia speaks of her passion for data and the importance of communicating at all levels of your organization. She regards working for different organizations with good leaders as a way to learn risk frameworks and gain foundational knowledge. She shares views on how risk analysts can influence risk culture. She also tells how she uses AI as an assistant. Listen for thoughts on building a risk-aware culture by asking leaders the right questions.   Key Takeaways: [:01] About RIMS and RIMScast. [:17] About this episode of RIMScast. Our guest today is Andréia Stephenson, BSc SIRM, Enterprise Risk Analyst at London Metal Exchange. She will discuss her career and the evolving role of the Risk Analyst. But first… [:43] RIMS-CRMP and Some Exam Prep Courses. From December 15 through the 18th, CBCP and RIMS will present the RIMS-CRMP Exam Prep Boot Camp. [:53] Another virtual course will be held on January 14th and 15th, 2026. These are virtual courses. Links to these courses can be found through the Certification page of RIMS.org and through this episode's show notes. [1:07] During the interview with Andréia, you will hear her reference the RIMS CRO Certificate Program in Advanced Enterprise Risk Management, which is hosted by the famous James Lam. Andréia is an alum of the program. [1:23] You can enroll now for the next cohort, which will be held over 12 weeks, from January through March of 2026. Registration closes on January 5th. Or Spring ahead and register for the cohort held from April through June of 2026. Registration closes on April 6th. [1:39] Links to registration and enrollment are in this episode's show notes. [1:46] Justin shares that RIMS suffered a tremendous loss in December. Chief Membership Experience Officer, Leslie Whittet, with RIMS for almost three years, tragically passed away due to injuries she sustained in an accident. She was walking her dog when she was struck by a truck. [2:18] Some of the RIMS staff, including CEO Gary LaBranche, knew Leslie from years prior. We are all shocked and saddened. Leslie was a remarkable association leader with 30 years of experience. [2:33] Gary LaBranche had the privilege of working alongside Leslie Whittet at the Association for Corporate Growth for nine years. For the last three years, Justin has had the pleasure of working with her at various RIMS events and seeing her weekly on our remote calls. [2:50] Leslie was always a source of positivity, inspiration, and creativity. She was just a wonderful person who will be deeply missed. Her memory is certainly a blessing. [3:03] RIMS will celebrate her memory at the Chapter Leadership Forum in Orlando in January. If you have any questions, please contact Josh Salter, jsalter@RIMS.org. Tributes are pouring in on LinkedIn and various networking groups. [3:22] If you have memories and photos you'd like to share, we encourage you to do so to honor her memory. [3:29] It wasn't easy to speak these words or read them, so I want to take a brief moment of silence to honor Leslie before we go any further. [3:44] On with the show! Our guest today is Andréia Stephenson. She comes to us all the way from London, where she's an Enterprise Risk Analyst for the London Metal Exchange. [3:57] You may know her a little bit from some promotional videos we've done on social media, promoting the James Lam CRO Certificate Course. In getting to know her, I was struck by how enthusiastic she was about her role as a Risk Analyst for years. [4:14] Many risk professionals begin as risk analysts; others, like Andréia, can make a thriving career of it. She's here to share some tips on how to do that, where ERM fits into the mix, and where she believes the role of the risk analyst will be going in the near future. Let's get started… [4:36] Interview! Andréia Stephenson, welcome to RIMScast! [4:47] Andréia may sound familiar to you because she did a testimonial on LinkedIn for RIMS for the James Lam CRO Certificate course. Justin says she was great to work with. That's how she and Justin met, and that's why she's here. [5:19] Justin notes that his voice is lower from "shouting" during the ERM Conference. Andréia looks forward to the RIMS ERM Conference 2026. [6:09] Andréia shares an overview of her career. She started at O.R.X., an operational risk data exchange association, where she learned all the principles of risk management. It gave her a strong background in operational risk. [6:36] From there, she went to London to go into a second-line risk management function as an analyst at a wealth management investment firm, then she went to a small investment bank, then to another wealth management firm, and now, to the London Metal Exchange. [7:00] They were all analyst roles, primarily operational risk, but also enterprise risk management. Risk has been part of her life for the last 10 years. The foundation was set by O.R.X. She holds the company close to her heart. [7:28] Andréia loves data. It's incredibly important for driving analysis. She says any analyst who doesn't love data is not an analyst! Data structure and data quality are very important for risk analysis, or any analysis. You need to love data to be able to do good risk management. [8:13] Andréia says that working in different organizations is important for risk management. It helps you connect the dots between the components of a risk management framework. [8:28] When Andréia started at O.R.X., she understood all the components, but she didn't join the dots until she went into the industry, hands-on, in the deep end, trying to figure out an RCSA, a KRI, or a KPI. Then, all the components of risk management started to make a bit more sense. [8:53] Andréia has always been fortunate to have worked with several exceptional leaders, each of whom had a kind of superpower in risk management that influenced her approach and understanding of risk. [9:07] Andréia's first manager at O.R.X. was tough and meticulous. She had a deep understanding of corporate governance and the boundaries between the risk types: strategic, financial, and non-financial. [9:22] At the time, Andréia didn't really appreciate how valuable the discipline was. She didn't understand yet. In hindsight, it gave her a strong foundation. Another CRO she worked with taught her the importance of communication in risk. [9:46] Aside from his technical ability, he understood stakeholder management at every level of the organization and how to translate the risk concepts for different audiences and build alignment. [10:00] Then she had a head of risk who was incredible with data, with an exceptional ability to quantify risk using analytics and evidence. Having a science degree, numbers were not Andréia's strongest area, but working with someone who pushed her helped her to become stronger. [10:25] Andréia thinks that working in risk in different organizations can help you build those thoughts. [10:32] Andréia has a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Bath in England. She's happy she decided not to pursue biology and took the risk road, instead. [10:55] Justin tells of recently having Kellee Ann Richards-St. Clair on the show. She's on the RIMS Strategic and Enterprise Risk Management Council. Kellee Ann started in Chemistry.l She moved into Energy and Power and became the de facto ERM Manager for her organization. [11:15] Kellee Ann and Andréia channelled other areas of knowledge to apply them to risk. For Andréia, the statistical side of biology has been helpful in risk management. James Lam states in his CRO Certificate program that risk is probability and statistics. Risk management isn't easy. [12:19] Andréia believes that legacy tools and practices fall short when they are disconnected from the organization's purpose, vision, mission, and strategic objectives. GRC systems have different modules: an RCSA module, a budding issue module, and an incident module. [12:49] Andréia hasn't seen a system that can connect the dots well. Risk practitioners don't always know how to connect the dots, either. An RCSA becomes isolated from the risk itself because people don't understand the context of those risks. [13:17] Working with business senior leaders to understand the context of your organization will help you to provide more valuable use of those tools and practices. [13:32] Andréia explains RCSA. It stands for Risk and Control Self-Assessment. It's a thought process. You sit down to understand what's most important to you, how much you care about it, and what you have in place to protect what's most important to you. [13:55] Andréia says the way we try to document that thought process is quite heavy. The industry requires that process to be complicated. Andréia recommends simplifying it. [14:20] To simplify it, have a process that's more sensible. The industry requires you to do assessments for inherent risk and residual risk. First, determine if a risk is important to you. If it's not important, why are you assessing it? [15:09] Andréia thinks the industry makes it difficult by requiring organizations to assess risks in a certain way, when it doesn't actually make sense. Managers have to have the courage to say it doesn't make sense for the organization, let's try a simpler approach. [15:34] Andréia uses screens, but sometimes pen and paper will do. Having that brainstorming session with the business really helps in trying to understand the purpose of what you do for your organization and where you fit in the strategic purpose of the firm. [15:51] What is most important to you, as opposed to thinking of everything that could go wrong? Risk is not only about negative outcomes but also about opportunities. [16:09] Quick Break! RISKWORLD 2026 will be held from May 3rd through the 6th in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. RISKWORLD attracts more than 10,000 risk professionals from across the globe. It's time to Connect, Cultivate, and Collaborate with them. Booth sales are open now! [16:31] General registration and speaker registration are also open right now! Marketplace and Hospitality badges will be available starting on March 3rd. Links are in this episode's show notes. [16:44] Let's conclude our Interview with Andréia Stephenson! [17:14] Beyond documenting risk, Andréia thinks a risk analyst can shape an organization's risk-aware culture by asking questions. The quality of the questions they ask helps drive culture. [17:31] When an analyst consistently probes assumptions, highlights all the inconsistencies they find, or asks what this means in practice, that behavior encourages others to think more critically about risk and about what they are doing. [17:50] Good questions change behaviors. They prompt people to pause and reflect rather than to operate in autopilot, which we all sometimes do. [18:04] Andréia says analysts can contribute by making risk information simpler, clearer, and more accessible, looking for ways to simplify their reports and focusing on the most important things, day-to-day, for their objectives, and having a less bureaucratic process. [18:41] Andréia suggests having the courage to speak up when processes don't make sense in the second line of defense to help as much as possible the first line. [18:51] Risk analysts can influence and change behavior by building truthful and meaningful relationships with people, caring about the business, listening to the business units, taking their feedback to heart, and helping them to change the difficulties they encounter in risk. [19:19] Andréia works in the second line of defense. She works with a lot of first-line business units. For them, it's a burden when the risk team, the CRO, or the processes change. The risk analyst needs to help them minimize that burden. It's important to be conscious of that. [19:57] Andréia says when she goes into a new organization, the first thing she does is to understand the current state. What risk practices do they have? How do they operate? After a month, she has figured out how the organization is and how they make decisions. [20:17] When she has a suggestion, Andréia puts herself on the line for it. More often than not, it has worked out positively because she had good managers who could listen to her ideas for improvement. [20:41] If something doesn't make sense, you have to be true to yourself and say this process is lengthy, or this document is enormous; let's try to simplify it. Never be afraid of providing views for improvements, so long as you have one and have thought about it. [21:16] Andréia believes in passion for what you do. You need to be passionate, and if you're not, find your passion. For Andréia, it has always been to be a professional analyst and risk professional. That passion, in turn, drives your curiosity. [21:40] Look for ways to improve and learn. Working hard is really important, even with AI. Working hard drives good results. Data literacy is very important. Understand the basic principles of data and the basic tools that allow you to do data analysis. [22:04] Think, pause, and reflect. What does that data mean? What do those patterns mean? [22:10] Andréia stresses communication. She says she's still working on her communication skills. She is very direct at work. Sometimes that directness can seem abrupt. If something doesn't make any sense, she will put her hand up and say, This doesn't make any sense! [22:41] Having the soft skill to be able to communicate at all levels of the organization is important. That will set an analyst apart. [23:33] Andréia says AI is everywhere. She uses AI all the time for work and for her personal life. In her experience, AI is most powerful as a sounding board, a thought partner, and a colleague. It helps you explore ideas, structure problems, and challenge assumptions. [24:07] The analyst is the one who provides context and judgment. AI can help you generate lots of possibilities, but it can't decide what makes sense for your organization or for you. A critical mindset is very important. [24:25] Analysts need to treat AI as an extension of their thinking process, not as a replacement for it. You are the Quality Control. You are always the one accountable for the output. AI doesn't understand your business, your culture, or your strategic priorities, but you do. [24:48] There's always the risk that if you rely on AI without applying your own insight, the output will sound sort of right but not add any value. It may be technically correct, but contextually useless. [25:12] If analysts don't know how to extract, refine, and apply what the tool gives them, it won't move the needle in a meaningful way. [25:21] Analysts should work in different places, understand what a good framework is, get certifications, work with risk professionals, work to think about problems you haven't come across before, use critical thinking, and use AI to help perform the mechanical parts of your job. [25:51] Always rely on your judgment, your relationships, and your understanding of the business you are in. [26:04] Justin shares that philosophy. He uses AI as a sounding board, to help him if he's stuck on an idea, to help him expand it. If he likes it, he'll go with it. He takes the output as a template and refines it. [26:31] Andréia says it's almost like having an assistant. If it gives you something different than what you asked for, you can restate your question. [26:41] Justin's daughter is getting into advanced math in middle school. He doesn't remember a lot of it. He's asked ChatGPT to help him come up with math questions for his daughter. It has been invaluable for that. [27:20] Andréia uses it for formulas in Excel. She says, You still have to know what you want. You can prompt it to help you remember how to do something. Justin says you need the foundational knowledge. [27:45] Andréia says foundational knowledge is what will set people apart in their profession, whatever profession it is. She would much rather know what she knows than have AI do something and not feel comfortable with it. The foundation is really important. [28:08] Special thanks again to Andréia Stephenson for joining us here on RIMScast! Keep an eye out for her on LinkedIn in those super cool CRO Certificate Program promotional videos. [28:21] Remember, we have two more cohorts coming up, one in January and one in April. Links are in this episode's show notes.  [28:29] Plug Time! You can sponsor a RIMScast episode for this, our weekly show, or a dedicated episode. Links to sponsored episodes are in the show notes. [28:57] RIMScast has a global audience of risk and insurance professionals, legal professionals, students, business leaders, C-Suite executives, and more. Let's collaborate and help you reach them! Contact pd@rims.org for more information. [29:15] Become a RIMS member and get access to the tools, thought leadership, and network you need to succeed. Visit RIMS.org/membership or email membershipdept@RIMS.org for more information. [29:33] Risk Knowledge is the RIMS searchable content library that provides relevant information for today's risk professionals. Materials include RIMS executive reports, survey findings, contributed articles, industry research, benchmarking data, and more. [29:49] For the best reporting on the profession of risk management, read Risk Management Magazine at RMMagazine.com. It is written and published by the best minds in risk management. [30:03] Justin Smulison is the Business Content Manager at RIMS. Please remember to subscribe to RIMScast on your favorite podcasting app. You can email us at Content@RIMS.org. [30:15] Practice good risk management, stay safe, and thank you again for your continuous support!   Links: RIMS-CRO Certificate Program In Advanced Enterprise Risk Management | Jan‒March 2026 Cohort | Led by James Lam RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) RISKWORLD 2026 Registration — Open for exhibitors, members, and non-members! Reserve your booth at RISKWORLD 2026! The Strategic and Enterprise Risk Center RIMS Diversity Equity Inclusion Council RIMS Risk Management magazine | Contribute RIMS ERM Special Edition 2025 RIMS Now RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy | RIMS Legislative Summit SAVE THE DATE — March 18‒19, 2026 Statement on the passing of RIMS Chief Membership Experience Officer Leslie Whittet Upcoming RIMS-CRMP Prep Virtual Workshops: "CBCP & RIMS-CRMP Exam Prep Bootcamp: Business Continuity & Risk Management" December 15‒18, 2025, 8:30 am‒5:00 pm EST, Virtual RIMS-CRMP Exam PrepJanuary 14‒15, 2026, 9:00 am‒4:00 pm EST, Virtual Full RIMS-CRMP Prep Course Schedule See the full calendar of RIMS Virtual Workshops   Upcoming RIMS Webinars: RIMS.org/Webinars   Related RIMScast Episodes: "James Lam on ERM, Strategy, and the Modern CRO" "RIMS ERM Global Award of Distinction 2025 Winner Sadig Hajiyev — Recorded live from the RIMS ERM Conference in Seattle!" "Presilience and Cognitive Biases with Dr. Gav Schneider and Shreen Williams" "Risk Rotation with Lori Flaherty and Bill Coller of Paychex" "Energizing ERM with Kellee Ann Richards-St. Clair" "Talking ERM: From Geopolitical Whiplash to Leadership Buy-In" with Chrystina Howard of Hub "Tom Brandt on Growing Your Career and Organization with ERM" "Risk Quantification Through Value-Based Frameworks"   Sponsored RIMScast Episodes: "Secondary Perils, Major Risks: The New Face of Weather-Related Challenges" | Sponsored by AXA XL (New!) 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RIMS Virtual Workshops On-Demand Webinars RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy RIMS Strategic & Enterprise Risk Center RIMS-CRMP Stories — Featuring RIMS President Kristen Peed!   RIMS Events, Education, and Services: RIMS Risk Maturity Model®   Sponsor RIMScast: Contact sales@rims.org or pd@rims.org for more information.   Want to Learn More? Keep up with the podcast on RIMS.org, and listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.   Have a question or suggestion? Email: Content@rims.org.   Join the Conversation! Follow @RIMSorg on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.   About our guest: Andréia Stephenson, BSc SIRM, Enterprise Risk Analyst, London Metal Exchange   Production and engineering provided by Podfly.

Despite the challenging economic landscape and wave of layoffs across many sectors, finding exceptional senior talent remains a challenge, and many employers are making it worse for themselves. Trust has eroded with lengthy interview processes, poor candidate experience, and misaligned employer branding are pushing top talent away. With as many as one in four workers set to be over 55 by 2031, age-related biases are also causing employers to overlook exactly the experience they need The best insights always come from looking at things from the job seeker's point of view, and that is precisely the insight my guest this week can offer us. Loren Greiff, Founder of Portfolio Rocket, is a career strategist for C-Suite executives. In our conversation, she reveals how top candidates assess roles, what builds and destroys trust in executive hiring, and why your process might be filtering out your best prospects. The frameworks Lauren discusses will also be very relevant to TA leaders navigating their own career moves. In the interview, we discuss: The current state of the market Cutting through the noise Identifying urgent and expensive problems Use of AI in the executive job search The hidden cost of age bias Highlighting the trust issue Ability, agility, and adaptability The future of careers and jobs Follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Follow this podcast on Spotify.

Jess Lindgren is a longtime C-Suite assistant, and host of the Ask an Assistant podcast. In this Ask an Assistant spotlight episode, Jess talks about laptop bags for the EA on the go.Show Notes -> leaderassistant.com/353--In-person meeting planning can be a lot to manage. That's where TROOP Planner comes in. TROOP Planner is built to make life easier for busy assistants like yourself. Whether you're organizing an executive offsite, department meeting, or team retreat, TROOP keeps it simple, fast, and organized.Visit leaderassistant.com/troop to learn more! --Eliminate manual scheduling with YouCanBookMe by Capacity's booking links, automated reminders, and meeting polls. Sign up for a FREE trial -> leaderassistant.com/calendar.More from The Leader Assistant... Book, Audiobook, and Workbook -> leaderassistantbook.com The Leader Assistant Academy -> leaderassistantbook.com/academy Premium Membership -> leaderassistant.com/membership Events -> leaderassistantlive.com Free Community -> leaderassistant.com/community

Esteemed Colleague Bianca reached out to ask about getting an invite to a high-level holiday party.  xo Jess Join me live every week for the Monday Club inside the Leader Assistant community on Circle! Jess Lindgren 4465 E Genesee Street STE 114 Syracuse, NY 13214 Join the newsletter if you're feeling fancy: Substack | Click Here Patreon is another fancy option: Patreon | Click Here I always love to hear from you: askanassistant.com Book a 1:1 with me: jesslindgren.com/coaching

We don't sugarcoat eternity… We expose it. We don't tiptoe around the stakes… We name them: heaven or hell, life or death, victory or regret.We don't bow to comfort, compromise, or cancel culture… We charge into the fire, because Christ is King and the boardroom belongs to Him.Welcome to episode 167 of the C-Suite for Christ podcast, where Paul M. Neuberger pulls zero punches. Today's rally cry is clear: eternity hangs in the balance, and the road is narrow—few will walk it, but only the faithful survive it.Paul M. Neuberger confronts the culture head-on: “Salvation is free, but following Jesus will cost you everything.” He dismantles easy Christianity, exposes lukewarm faith, and calls out a church obsessed with comfort instead of conviction.The cost? Criticism. Rejection. Sacrifice.The truth? Jesus didn't call us to a wide, easy road. He called us to full surrender. The world applauds the crowd—God crowns the courageous.What will you do when YOUR narrow road comes calling?Are you ready to deny yourself, take up your cross, and walk where few dare to go?Buckle up. This one's raw, real, and rooted in the Word.Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. –Matthew 7:13-14 Episode Highlights:04:56 – Culture says the narrow road is judgmental. Culture says the narrow road is old fashioned. Culture says the narrow road is intolerant. Culture says the narrow road is hateful. Culture believes every road leads to heaven unless you believe that one road doesn't. But Jesus didn't say the road is narrow because he wanted to exclude people. The road is narrow because truth is narrow. The road is narrow because holiness is narrow. The road is narrow because obedience is narrow. The road is narrow because sin can't travel with you. The road is narrow because your will must die on that road. The road is narrow because Christ is the only way. And only has never been a popular word. Today, the wide road dominates American Christianity. It's in prosperity preaching, it's an entertainment preaching. It's in the God wants you be happy movement. 13:27 – The narrow road is narrow because Christ is the gate and Christ is not optional. The narrow road is also marked by fruit. Jesus said this in Matthew 7:20, by their fruits you will know them. That means the narrow road produces visible evidence, repentance, righteousness, compassion, purity, generosity, faithfulness, boldness, courage and obedience. And perhaps the clearest marker of the narrow road is this. It changes you. Not your personality, your identity, not your preferences, your priorities, not your feelings, your foundation. The Narrow road is not something you admire, it's something you walk. And those who walk it are unmistakably different from the world. Not because they're better than anyone else, but because Christ has made them new. 29:59 – You can't stay on the narrow road accidentally. You can't stay on the narrow road passively. You can't stay on the narrow road on spiritual autopilot. You stay on it intentionally or you drift off of it inevitably. So how does the disciple stay anchored? If you like lists, boy, you love this episode because here's another one for you. How do you stay anchored on the narrow road?Connect with Paul M. NeubergerWebsite 

Ambition can be a powerful force—but when myths and missteps fuel it, the climb to the top can feel more like a trap than a triumph. In this episode, we pull back the curtain on executive leadership and ask: What's really behind the chase for the title? - Why would anyone actively pursue C-Suite roles? - What are the wrong reasons to chase the C-suite—and how can you spot them before they derail your path? - What did we think mattered in landing the role, only to discover it didn't? - And when the pressure peaks, have we ever considered walking away? What made us stay? This episode hooks aspiring leaders early with honest reflections and hard-earned wisdom. If you've ever wondered whether the title is worth the trade-offs, this conversation is for you.

Success is in the eyes of the beholder. For projects, that means winning over the top decision makers in the C-suite. How can project management office leaders best share project progress with executives? How can you better engage the C-suite to manage their POVs? We discuss this with Douglas Pulini, PMP, PMI-PMOCP, head of the strategic management office at SPC Brasil in São Paulo, and Stephan Wohlfahrt, PMI-ACP, DAVSC, PMP, head of the project management office at Bosch Mobility in Stuttgart, Germany. Key themes00:56 The C-suite's role in project success02:33 How PMO leaders decide what information to share with executives05:24 Ways to engage executives to benefit project success10:26 Choosing how to best present project updates to the C-suite14:28 Must-have skills for PMO leaders to effectively manage stakeholder perceptions

What if chasing “having it all” is exactly what's making you miserable?In this episode, Bill challenges what “having it all” means and explores what actually creates sustainable happiness for high-performing leaders. He shares moments from when he had money, success, and recognition, but still felt empty, and explains why joy often comes from subtraction of things. Topics explored in this episode:(03:40) Success Without Joy Is Emptiness*Bill reflects on hitting financial and professional milestones; yet still feeling a strange emptiness. *Challenge the belief that: achievement = happiness. *External wins don't always translate to internal satisfaction.(07:15) Why the Gratitude Advice Doesn't Always Work*Break “Thanksgiving” into two core practices: Thanks (appreciation) and Giving (generosity).*Start with gratitude for team members, family, and yourself.*Let go of expectations, and express that through generous action.(10:50) The Secret Might Be: Wanting Less*True happiness often comes from removing things, not adding more. *Reconsider the idea of “having it all.” *Creating fewer goals for yourself actually might be the real key to fulfillment.Bill Gallagher, Scaling Coach and host of the Scaling Up Business podcast, is an international business coach who works with C-Suite leaders to achieve breakthrough growth. Join Bill in the Growth Navigator Coaching Program: https://ScalingCoach.com/workshop Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.LinkedIn.com/in/BillGallBill on YouTube: https://www.YouTube.com/@BillGallagherScalingCoach Visit https://ScalingUp.com to learn more about Verne Harnish, our team of Scaling Up Coaches, and the Scaling Up Performance Platform, which includes coaching, learning, software, and summit. We share how the fastest-growing companies succeed where so many others fail. We help leadership teams with the biggest decisions around people, strategy, execution, and cash so that they can scale up successfully and beat the odds of business growth. Did you enjoy today's episode? If so, then please leave a review! Help other business leaders discover Scaling Up Business with Bill Gallagher so they, too, can benefit from the ideas shared in these podcasts.Subscribe via Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3PGhWPJSubscribe via Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3PKe00uBill on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/billgall/ Bill on Twitter/X: https://x.com/billgall

Welcome to another edition of This Week in Work, where Chartered Occupational Psychologist Leanne Elliott and business owner Al Elliott break down the latest news on people, culture, and behavioral science. This week, we look at the direct, measurable impact of toxic culture and unpack the new anxieties surrounding Artificial Intelligence. Plus, in our Truth or Lies segment, we dive deep into the science behind 'faking it 'til you make it'.

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Stop making million-dollar decisions alone. Hampton gives you a personal board of eight vetted founders in your city who meet monthly to tackle your hardest problems. Find your group: joinhampton.comEveryone wants to know what founders really earn, but most of the numbers out there are either outdated or just plain wrong. We gathered fresh data from 150+ high-performing founders, and the results reveal just how differently they think about paying themselves. Some take home millions, others nothing at all, and the logic behind those decisions says more than the numbers themselves.Here's what we talk about:8% of founders take no salary at all — why? (and whether they'd do it again)The sweet spot for founder take-home pay: how much is too much?C-Suite compensation breakdown: who's earning what, and where bonuses explodeLifestyle vs. legacy: how founders think about cash flow vs. long-term exitsIndustry winners: finance, pets, and healthcare dominate earningsThe one funding stage where founders earn the leastNon-salary perks: credit card hacks, expense runs, 401(k) tricks, and company-backed loansA rare peek into the creative (and sometimes questionable) ways founders make it worth their whileCool Links:Hampton https://www.joinhampton.com/Lower Street https://www.lowerstreet.co/Sponsors:Get a team of AI agents that run compliance for you at delve.co/moneywiseAchieve your dream body with dailybodycoach.com/moneywiseTame your taxes today at https://olarry.com/Chapters:(1:37) Base Salaries(3:14) Founders Who Pay Themselves Nothing(3:56) Salary Distribution and High Earners(4:34) Additional Payouts and Bonuses(5:11) Two Types of Founders: Reinvesting or Cashflow(6:14) Take Home Pay by Net Worth(7:18) C-Suite Salaries and Bonuses(8:43) Industry Salary Breakdown(9:24) Highest and Lowest Paying Industries(10:03) Compensation by Funding Stage(10:52)  Creative Compensation StrategiesThis podcast is a ridiculous concept: high-net-worth people reveal their personal finances. Inspired by real conversations happening in the Hampton community.Your Host: Jackie LamportNot really the host, but the producer.Wrote this sentence.

How can we help recruiters advocate for us in a tough job market? According to people industry veteran Christy Honeycutt, our guest in episode 353, it starts with being kind and translating your experience into something a recruiter can understand. And even more importantly, it takes practice. In part 2 of our discussion with Christy, she translates deep experience in talent acquisition and recruitment that gives us insight into the current job market. You'll hear more details about the nuances of RPOs (recruitment process outsourcers), the difference between job hugging and job abandonment, and the importance of personal branding and differentiation. Stay until the end when Christy shares her reasons for turning down C-suite positions and how clarity on her long-term goals is carrying her forward into what's next. Now that you've heard someone model it for you, how will you translate your own experience? If you missed part 1 of our discussion with Christy, check out Episode 352 – People First: Systematizing Go-to-Market for Your Role with Christy Honeycutt (1/2). Original Recording Date: 09-30-2025 Topics – A Deeper Look at Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO), Translating Your Experience with 3 Wins, Bad Actors and Leadership in the People Industry, Today's Job Market and Life Outside the C-Suite 2:56 – A Deeper Look at Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) When it comes to RPO (recruitment process outsourcing), is this a one-size-fits-all approach, or does it show up differently depending on what a company needs? In Christy's experience, most RPO organizations offer services like executive search, but they may offer full RPO, which usually involves hiring more than 500 people per year. Normally an RPO brings a mix of skills to the table. A client may want the RPO to take only talent acquisition or may want to control offer management, but they may want the RPO to take everything (attracting new talent, offer management, coordinating with HR for new employee onboarding). “If a company wants it a certain way, they can stop it at a certain point…. But most RPOs, full RPOs, is attraction to offer accepted and then it tees over to the HR team.” – Christy Honeycutt John has worked for companies where the recruitment or talent acquisition personnel were marked as contractors in the internal global address book but had company e-mail addresses. Would this mean the personnel are contracting directly with a company or working through an RPO? Christy says it could be either scenario. When she managed an RPO earlier in her career, they were most successful when the client encouraged the RPO to brand as the company. Someone might indicate they do recruitment for a specific company on LinkedIn but be an employee of an RPO. Christy tells us how important it is for the RPO to understand an organization's mission, vision, benefits, and culture because the RPO is often attracting talent and selling people on why they should apply and interview. “When you think about recruitment and talent acquisition, regardless, it's a lot of marketing because you've got a really cool position and you've got to find the perfect fit.” – Christy Honeycutt 5:55 – Translating Your Experience with 3 Wins Right now, recruiters and talent acquisition professionals have a distinct challenge. Many resumes look the same because candidates are using AI tools. “What people think is helping set them apart is actually making them look more similar. So now you've got recruiters and talent acquisition; they don't know if these are fake resumes. They don't know if they're real. And they're getting on the call with these people and finding out they are fake; they don't have any of this requirement.” – Christy Honeycutt Christy shares a little secret about learning recruitment. She gives the example of a recruiter needing to recruit for an executive level role in technology. Recruiters are encouraged to seek out and find the C-players to practice asking them questions, understand nuance, and grasp the terminology. This is a training exercise. Following this process, a recruiter would then have more credibility once they speak to the A-players they actually want to hire. “What I would encourage is if you are a C-player, you're not going to know it. Just be kind and know that the person you're talking to has never held a technical role (probably, most likely)…and might not understand half the stuff that you guys do. The acronyms aren't going to be the same. Just be gracious with them because the more you can help them translate your experience, the better you're going to be positioned to get you over the line…. They don't want to talk to 10 people to get 1 hire. They want to talk to 3 people to get a hire…. And remember that the TA, HR, recruiters, whatever you want to call them…there's a pretty good chance that they want to help you and that they're doing the job because they like people. And I think they get a bad rap.” – Christy Honeycutt Christy tells us about something called a slate (a group of 3-5 individuals who apply for a job that a recruiter will go and interview). Recruiters are using AI to help filter through applications. “The biggest thing I can tell you is be your own person. Be your own, authentic person. Have your stories of how you've shown up and shown out…. I tell everybody for every job that you've worked at, you need to have 3 wins…. Figure out…your top things that you accomplished at each role and have that and be ready to speak to it. And then…ask questions. Interview them too…. Make sure it's a culture fit for you.” – Christy Honeycutt Christy says things like the great resignation and quiet quitting are just behaviors that get repeated over time. Right now, there is a fearful state of job hugging. “We're job hugging. No one is hugging a job. People are trying to stay employed in the market. That's all it is.” – Christy Honeycutt Christy says if you are staying somewhere because you have a job and are not happy, figure out how to make yourself happy by determining it is not a fit, understanding your passions, and beginning your exit plan. “Companies are not our families. They are going to let us go. It's going to come down to the business.” – Christy Honeycutt It's important to keep the human element in mind if we are seeking a new role (the human element on both sides). Christy tells the story of a senior recruiter who called her about a conversation with a job candidate, and Christy knew the person was burned out, bored, and curious. “High performers are always open minded and curious, but if you fall in that category, figure it out sooner than later so you're not burning yourself out because then you're in a very dangerous situation. That job hugging is going to be job abandonment. You're going to get to boot. It's not going to be the other way around. It's just kind of level setting with your psyche.” – Christy Honeycutt 11:28 – Bad Actors and Leadership in the People Industry Going back to recruiters getting practice and experience from interviewing candidates, Nick looks at this from the lens that everyone needs at bats to gain experience. Though it may be batting practice for a recruiter, it is also practice for the candidate. We don't practice interviewing very often. Christy agrees it is practice on both sides and emphasizes that kindness is key. She's had multiple conversations with recruiters who didn't understand why a hiring manager did not want a specific candidate. We might never know all the effort a recruiter put into promoting us with a hiring manager. Some recruiters, however, should not be in their roles. Christy tells us about a time in her career when she was referred to as “The Kraken.” Christy managed a tight team of talent acquisition professionals who respected and loved her as a boss. They knew she had high expectations of her team. Christy's team members would have to launch programs for global clients within 30-60 days sometimes, for example. “So, my team had to be kind of like special ops because we managed the globe, and it was high pressure.” – Christy Honeycutt As she progressed in her career, Christy would be given individuals who were not performing on other teams. Before managing someone out of the business, Christy always gave people a chance to redeem themselves because until she met the person and they worked for her, she was only hearing one side of the story. Christy recounts being asked to join an RPO to clean it up. She met with each recruiter to understand the key metrics and performance indicators. Christy tells us that for any job opening (or job requisition) a recruiter was carrying at this time, they should be submitting 3-5 candidates for each job, and a manager would expect this within 2 weeks of the job opening. There was a specific recruiter who only submitted 2 candidates per week across 15 job openings, and Christy recounts the performance conversation with this person. “There are some people that are in roles that they shouldn't be that take advantage and kind of sit back….” – Christy Honeycutt As people gain seniority in talent acquisition and recruitment, sometimes you deal with people's egos. This is the exception and not the rule. John mentions it would probably be difficult to coast based on one's reputation in talent acquisition. Based on the metrics for success and open job requisitions, it should be obvious who is doing well and who isn't. Christy says this goes back to leadership. Maybe these individuals never had a boss who would hold them accountable. “If we go back to managers and leaders, most of them aren't trained, and a lot of them want to be liked.” – Christy Honeycutt Christy is the daughter of a Marine. This means the mission gets accomplished no matter what with the fewest amount of casualties. It's her job as the leader of a team to keep them focused on the mission and accomplishing it. Removing someone from the team may be the best option to keep the rest of the team on track in accomplishing a mission. “You're only as strong as your weakest link, so if your weakest link is not holding themselves accountable and respecting their team, then they're putting everybody else's jobs at risk. And unfortunately, there are bad actors in every industry, in every role, in every organization…and we've all seen them. They are like cancer. They really hurt retention. They hurt elevation. They are usually the ones taking credit, taking too long at lunch, whatever the case may be…we've all seen them…. It all comes down to behaviors.” – Christy Honeycutt Christy thinks leaders want to be liked and are afraid of having a complaint filed against them. For example, people might file a complaint because they were not doing their job and their manager held them accountable for not doing it. “It's weird to be in the people industry for so long because it's just behaviors. It's just humans.” – Christy Honeycutt Before someone shows up for work, we have no idea what may be going on in their life outside work. Christy encourages us to meet one another with more grace. “Those of you out there, if you're lucky enough to have a job and be employed, do the job. Because there's a lot of people that don't that will come in and do a better job than you. Honor yourself, honor your employer, and show up. But unfortunately, there's bad actors.” – Christy Honeycutt John directs the conversation back to hiring cycles. He has heard it's beneficial to apply for a job opening quickly and to be in the first wave of candidates but didn't really think about the why behind it. Christy tells us this varies based on the position, the job requirements, location, salary, and other factors. In fact, recruiters often have to reset unrealistic expectations from hiring managers (i.e. what a specific role salary should be). “If you think about a client and them opening a position, they probably needed that position 30 days before it was ever approved. So, there's already a ticking time on the recruiter whether that's fair or not because in the manager's mind that role opened the second they thought they needed it. Not when they requested it, not when it got approved, but when they realized in their brain, ‘I need this position filled,' that's when the clock starts for them. So, it's an unfair disadvantage for a recruiter.” – Christy Honeycutt Listen to Christy's description of a best-in-class 4-week process from job opening to making the right candidate an offer. 20:45 – Today's Job Market and Life Outside the C-Suite If we look at this through the lens of the current job market, how much do recruiters need to sell candidates on roles when there are hundreds of applications to sort through for a single job opening? “Tech is like recruitment, like marketing. It's always the first to go…until they realize…it went, and we need it. So, it's a boomerang effect with those industries…always has been, always will be.” – Christy Honeycutt Christy tells the story of being at the HR Tech conference with a young lady who was recently laid off from a tech company. This person walked from booth to booth and began networking with people in search of new roles and was able to leverage Christy to get some introductions. She had 5 interviews over the course of the 3-day event. “In the job market today, with recruiters not able to tell if it's an AI resume or not, with them being overloaded with a vast amount of resumes…the best thing that anybody can do is make sure that your personal brand is on point. Make sure that whatever it is that you're doing…you're sharing, you're engaging your community, and that you're seen doing it.” – Christy Honeycutt Christy was part of the same tech startup mentioned above and also lost her job. But she had been working on her personal brand before that happened. Christy was speaking at events, sharing with her community, doing podcasts, and doing many go-to-market things on behalf of her employer. Christy's heart goes out to others in her field who have been out of work for multiple years. Within 3 days of losing her role, Christy was offered 3 different C-suite positions. She turned them all down. “I've had that moment where I've realized that where I want to go and where I am are 2 different places…. If I put my focus on something, my energy is going to flow in that direction, and I need to make sure that's the direction I want to go…. Do I want to go be c-suite and kill myself for the next 4 years? …But the reason that gave me confidence is I'm 3 days without a job. I've got several job offers. And I realized, they don't care how I work with them. They just want to work with me, so why don't I go out on my own?” – Christy Honeycutt, on the internal discussions she's having after encountering job loss Christy understands she's in a gifted place only because she put in the work of giving back to her community before she was in a tough spot. Her efforts include things like hosting Inside the C-Suite and doing free mentoring and coaching for others. “It's because of all the goodwill I've done. My community paid it back tenfold. So set yourself apart in whatever it is that you're doing…. Where we are today is you have to have a differentiator, or you're going to be sitting on the shelf for 5 years.” – Christy Honeycutt Christy mentioned previously that it's lonely when someone takes a C-suite role. How did her conversations with executives on Inside the C-Suite together with her experience in talent acquisition and recruitment impact her decision to not take a C-suite role? Christy knows that she doesn't do anything halfway. If she were to take a C-suite role, she would be working 80 hours per week and traveling nonstop. Christy and her partner want to slow the pace down for their family, take time to travel, and do more purposeful things. She shares a story about Matthew McConaughey wanting to make the shift from romantic comedies to more serous roles to illustrate a shift of priority and focus. “Yeah, it crossed my mind. But it does not align with my long-term goal…. I realized I have a choice. You know, the universe has brought a lot of stuff to me. Is it because it's meant for me, or is it noise?” – Christy Honeycutt Christy has shown up, given to her community in a visible way, and found her voice. But taking a C-suite role right now is not where she wants to be. Some of the job offers Christy received came from people who had been on her podcast. Christy tells more of the story of being at HR Tech and the reactions people in the industry had to her being on the market. Christy plans to continue conversations with those people about ways they can work together moving forward. “I'm really good at certain things, which you guys have broken down and helped me understand. I repeatedly get asked for those things, and those are the things I like to do. So why not go do that? Why not go be a consultant and do the things that I really like to do for people and not do the things I don't like to do…? …I can just go do the fun stuff that they need my specialization in.” – Christy Honeycutt Christy wants to stay true to herself and honor the decision to increase bandwidth for her family. Many of the C-level executives Christy speaks to on her podcast love what they do, but they've had to learn to put themselves first. “I hear this more often than not. When they first start their organization, it's business business business. Their health fails. Their family fails. So, the ones that actually made it and recovered through that little spike and actually make it out on the other side very quickly flip to ‘take care of my body (my temple), my soul, my family, then my business. It's a battle for them.” – Christy Honeycutt At the time of this recording, Christy is thinking of starting her own firm, so she hopes she can take it slow enough to avoid these pitfalls. When we decide to slow the pace and do more of what we enjoy, can reflecting on those 3 wins from each previous job help us be confident that we can still get those wins without running at a hectic pace? Did Christy do this when thinking about what she wanted to do? Christy says she did not think about these for herself even though it would be her coaching to others in need of advice. “What I found interesting is that when you're looking for an answer, if you actually open your eyes, it's right there. It plays back to you. It plays back to you in conversations you have with people…. You often say what you need and what you want and where you're at, but you don't comprehend it. But if you hear someone you love, that you trust, repeat it back to you…it's almost like it gives you permission to accept it.” – Christy Honeycutt Sometimes instead of giving people advice, we need to act as a mirror and reflect back what they've said. Christy didn't need a C-level title. She doesn't need to go do something to prove she can do it. She's already done it. Christy understood she was ready for something different, even if it's a little bit scary to consider going out on one's own. “It's scary to put yourself out there like that, but if you don't, you'll never know. I'd rather try and fail and learn than regret and not know.” – Christy Honeycutt If you want to follow up with Christy on this conversation, you can find here: On LinkedIn On her website On the podcasts she hosts – Inside the C-Suite and StrategicShift Mentioned in the Outro Do you have 3 wins from each job or at least the past several jobs you've held? And do you know the stories that go along with these? There are prerequisites that must be met before we can speak to our wins in an interview. It starts with documenting our accomplishments on a regular basis. Consider what the 3 wins are from your accomplishment list. Maybe you have more than 3 or need to use a different set of 3 based on a job to which you're applying. Consider writing the story that goes with each win. It could be a resume bullet, but think of it as more detailed and something you can share in an interview. This is part of drafting a career narrative like Jason Belk suggested in Episode 284 – Draft Your Narrative: Writing and Building a Technical Portfolio with Jason Belk (2/2). We should not only write the draft but gain practice sharing the stories verbally in interviews, possibly conversations with our manager, and maybe even in conversations with industry peers at networking events (if and when appropriate). This is an iterative process! We like looking at conversations with recruiters as opportunities to practice telling our win stories. In the discussion with Christy, we heard about her experience losing a job. In Christy's case she had been giving to her network long before this happened in a very visible way. Maybe you are doing this in a less visible way. Consider documenting that work, but make the overall intent to help others and impact people positively. It will pay off later when you need help. Christy shared an exercise in finding clarity. She knew a C-suite role would not match the pace that was aligned with what her family wanted. It wasn't just about personal ambition. Remember to check out Christy's podcasts, Inside the C-Suite and StrategicShift. Contact the Hosts The hosts of Nerd Journey are John White and Nick Korte. E-mail: nerdjourneypodcast@gmail.com DM us on Twitter/X @NerdJourney Connect with John on LinkedIn or DM him on Twitter/X @vJourneyman Connect with Nick on LinkedIn or DM him on Twitter/X @NetworkNerd_ Leave a Comment on Your Favorite Episode on YouTube If you've been impacted by a layoff or need advice, check out our Layoff Resources Page. If uncertainty is getting to you, check out or Career Uncertainty Action Guide with a checklist of actions to take control during uncertain periods and AI prompts to help you think through topics like navigating a recent layoff, financial planning, or managing your mindset and being overwhelmed.

Tom Kay says the industry is at an inflection point — with technology, talent, and consumer expectations all shifting at once. Tom describes how facilities can shape the customer experience every day, and has never been more essential. The teams who embrace data, modern tools, and continuous upskilling will lead the next chapter of the built environment. Welcome to Elevating Brick and Mortar. A podcast about how operations and facilities drive brand performance.Today, we talk with Tom Kay, managing partner at Efficio Advisors. Efficio partners directly with CEOs and boards to cut through distraction, mitigate risks before they surface, and unlock sustainable growth.TIMESTAMPS01:18 - About Tom04:20 - Advising the industry12:34 - Is FM misunderstood?18:00 - The talent gap31:00 - The impact of new tech45:35 - Future thinking52:42 - Where to find Tom53:09 - Sid's takeawaysSPONSOR:ServiceChannel brings you peace of mind through peak facilities performance.Rest easy knowing your locations are:Offering the best possible guest experienceLiving up to brand standardsOperating with minimal downtimeServiceChannel partners with more than 500 leading brands globally to provide visibility across operations, the flexibility to grow and adapt to consumer expectations, and accelerated performance from their asset fleet and service providers.LINKS:Connect with Tom on LinkedInConnect with Sid Shetty on LinkedinCheck out the ServiceChannel Website Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

She's a leader who unexpectedly finds herself running a company, but isn't sure it is the right role for her long-term. Host Muriel Wilkins coaches her through defining what she can do versus what she wants to do, the level of responsibility she truly wants, and what might lie at the heart of her current discomfort.

In this episode, I share lessons from a powerful C‑Suite for Christ event that reminded me how vital it is for leaders to stay spiritually fueled. Inspired by Paul Neuberger's message, we'll explore three principles of stewardship — Appreciate, Activate, and Authenticate — and how they can transform both your leadership and your faith. From cultivating gratitude, to boldly using your God‑given gifts, to living with authentic integrity, these truths challenge us to lead with purpose and courage. I'll also reflect on Moses' journey and what it teaches us about trusting God fully. Tune in to be encouraged, equipped, and reminded that when we put faith first, God moves in amazing ways through our leadership and our lives.

Forget the old playbook. The linear career ladder — degree, loyalty, promotions, retirement — is gone for good. Today's market doesn't reward tenure, job titles, or waiting your turn. It rewards adaptability, strategic width, and leaders who can go deep without staying narrow. If you're still measuring success by promotions instead of progress, you're playing a game that no longer exists.   The real cost of staying ladder-minded Three years. That's the average tenure of a C-Suite leader today. The skills that got you hired five years ago? Already trending obsolete. And in a market moving this fast, the only real job security is the kind you build yourself — through range and relevance.   In this episode: • Why the old equation “progress = promotion” is keeping leaders stuck • The rise of the T-Shaped leader — and why depth alone is now a liability • How adaptability replaced tenure as the top hiring metric • The difference between strategic width and being a generalist • Why projects, not positions, drive credibility in a skills-based market • How to communicate your value on LinkedIn in seconds — the new résumé reality   A real before/after transformation Before: A seasoned executive with deep expertise and a standout vertical — but no visible width. Their experience ran deep, but it looked narrow from the outside. Then: They reframed their story around strategic width, showcasing cross-functional experience, adjacent skills, and project-based wins. After: They moved from being overlooked as “too specialized” to being the standout candidate who could bridge data, strategy, tech, and communication. Their search accelerated — and so did their offers. That's the power of becoming T-Shaped: not more skills, but the right adjacent ones.   Timestamps (0:00) – Intro (1:13) – Why skills-based hiring is a different market entirely (3:37) – What killed the traditional career ladder (5:20) – Ladder vs. lattice: why upward-only thinking no longer works (8:09) – Depth + breadth: the new definition of progress (10:02) – What a T-Shaped leader actually looks like (14:01) – Strategic width vs. generalist thinking (19:18) – How to show your T-Shape on LinkedIn (21:52) – Projects that signal adaptability (26:41) – The 3-question audit for staying relevant (28:48) – How to strengthen and deepen your T-Shape   The takeaway The market doesn't reward ladder climbers anymore. It rewards leaders who stay sharp, multidimensional, and adaptable. The ladder is dead. The lattice won. Build the shape that gets you hired next.   Connect with Today's Guest, Raina Gandhi LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rainagandhi/ Website: https://www.rainagandhi.com/   Subscribe to Career Blast in a Half Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/career-blast-in-a-half/id1670977528?i=1000735380994 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3b3kSamj8RbTNNgOg5E5oi?si=6d74e695780f4780 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpGM7j8croBkkZ4bLqN7DOQ/   About Career Blast in a Half A third of our lives is spent working. Career Blast, In a Half is your 30 minutes of weekly simple, powerful and actionable career fuel to keep your success track no matter where you are in your career or what's to come next. Hosted by career strategist Loren Greiff.   Work with Loren Join the 30-Day BLAST Program: https://www.portfoliorocket.com/our-programs Connect with Loren: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorengreiff/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/portfoliorocket/   Leave us a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and let us know what career topics you'd like us to cover!

What does it really mean for people to feel like they matter in the workplace?In this episode, Zach Mercurio unpacks why mattering is the missing piece in most workplace cultures and how leaders can foster it. He also explores how a sense of value and contribution drives engagement, innovation, and retention. Zach is on a mission to make work and life more meaningful. As an author, researcher, and speaker, he helps leaders create environments where people feel valued. Topics explored in this episode: (02:15) The Science of Mattering* How mattering influences employee performance and well-being.* Why recognition alone isn't enough to make people feel valued.(10:40) Workplace Disconnection* The hidden costs of employees feeling like they don't matter.(18:55) The Role of Leaders in Creating Mattering* Mattering shouldn't be just an HR initiative—it's a leadership responsibility.(28:30) Purpose vs. Mattering* Why having a sense of mattering is more foundational than purpose.* Case studies of companies that have built cultures of mattering.(47:20) Building a Mattering-Centric Culture* The three key components of a workplace where people feel they matter.Thanks to Zach Mercurio for being on the show! Learn more about Zach: https://www.zachmercurio.com/Get Zach's book: The Power of Mattering: How Leaders Can Create a Culture of Significance: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D8XMWCLJ Connect with Zach on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachmercurio Bill Gallagher, Scaling Coach and host of the Scaling Up Business podcast, is an international business coach who works with C-Suite leaders to achieve breakthrough growth. Join Bill in the Growth Navigator Coaching Program: https://ScalingCoach.com/workshop Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.LinkedIn.com/in/BillGallBill on YouTube: https://www.YouTube.com/@BillGallagherScalingCoach Visit https://ScalingUp.com to learn more about Verne Harnish, our team of Scaling Up Coaches, and the Scaling Up Performance Platform, which includes coaching, learning, software, and summit. We share how the fastest-growing companies succeed where so many others fail. We help leadership teams with the biggest decisions around people, strategy, execution, and cash so that they can scale up successfully and beat the odds of business growth. Did you enjoy today's episode? If so, then please leave a review! Help other business leaders discover Scaling Up Business with Bill Gallagher so they, too, can benefit from the ideas shared in these podcasts.Subscribe via Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3PGhWPJSubscribe via Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3PKe00uBill on Facebook:

Download for Mobile | Podcast Preview | Full Timestamps Older Twitch VODs are now being uploaded to the new channel: https://www.youtube.com/@CastleSuperBeastArchive Behold: GABECUBE Can AI replace the C-Suite please? Infinite Actually Just Means 4 Years Live Action Zelda's Cosplay Problem One Guy So Toxic, He Crashed The Deadlock Servers Rabbids Were An Industry Plant Watch live: twitch.tv/castlesuperbeast Exclusive $45-off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/SUPERBEAST. Promo Code  SUPERBEAST Level up your game and get 10% off @TurtleBeach with code CASTLE at http://turtlebeach.com/castle #turtlebeachpod Take advantage of Ridge's Biggest Sale of the Year and GET UP TO 47% Off by going to https://www.Ridge.com/superbeast #Ridgepod Go to http://uncommongoods.com/SUPERBEAST to get 15% off your next gift! The Steam Hardware family officially expands in early 2026. Steam Controller. Steam Machine. Steam Frame. Halo Infinite Operation: Infinite First images from the live-action Legend of Zelda movie, in theaters May 7th, 2027 The Super Mario Galaxy Movie | Official Trailer destiny 2 put out a star wars DLC but said 'it's just an homage, no star wars characters in it NieR: Automata creator Yoko Taro says he's actually been working on a lot of projects recently, it's just that they got cancelled midway Horizon Steel Frontiers Developers Used AI 'Extensively' Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is littered with AI art slop, because your $70 means nothing anymore After South Korean publisher Krafton announced it's transforming into an "AI first" company, it's now offering employees voluntary resignation Krafton CEO allegedly asked Chat-GPT to help him find a way out of paying Subnautica 2 devs their bonuses because he wanted to avoid the 'professional embarrassment' of being seen as a 'pushover'