Podcasts about Deloitte

A best-selling author and internationally sought-after speaker and consultant, Michael Timms teaches practical leadership strategies that drive high-performance. He earned an M.B.A. from Utah State University, and was a consultant with Deloitte and an HR leader in the construction and manufacturing industries, prior to forming his own consultancy. Michael is the author of How Leaders Can Inspire Accountability and Succession Planning That Works. Links Watch the video and share your thoughts in the Zion Lab community How Leaders Can Inspire Accountability: Three Habits That Make or Break Leaders and Elevate Organizational Performance How to Claim Your Leadership Power | Michael Timms MichaelTimms.com Transcript available with the video in the Zion Lab community Highlights Michael talks about the principles of accountability within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The discussion focuses on how leaders can foster a culture of ownership and high performance among volunteers without relying on the traditional levers of corporate consequences. 00:01:46 – The Challenge of Motivation and Accountability 00:02:18 – Introduction of Michael Timms and His Expertise 00:02:53 – Michael Timms’ Background and Approach to Accountability 00:03:59 – Accountability in a Faith Context 00:04:32 – Defining Accountability 00:06:18 – Understanding Results in a Church Context 00:09:23 – Starting Points for Accountability in Organizations 00:11:06 – The Role of Leaders in Accountability 00:12:20 – Key Behaviors for Modeling Accountability 00:14:21 – Setting Expectations in Leadership 00:16:43 – Importance of Feedback and Communication 00:20:03 – Clarifying Purpose and Results 00:21:36 – Establishing Expectations for Team Dynamics 00:24:24 – Addressing Accountability Breakdowns 00:26:45 – Three Habits of Personal Accountability 00:29:02 – Motivating People in a Volunteer Organization 00:30:26 – The Power of Positive Feedback 00:32:12 – Giving Ownership to Team Members 00:34:12 – Scenarios for Accountability in Activities 00:39:17 – Handling Blame in Accountability Conversations 00:41:39 – Avoiding Micromanagement in Leadership Key Insights Redefining Accountability: Timms defines accountability as taking ownership of results and focusing on the actions necessary to achieve the right outcomes, rather than using it as a euphemism for blame or punishment. The Power of Modeling: Accountability begins with the leader; if those in positions of authority do not own their mistakes or seek feedback, others in the organization are unlikely to do so. Defining Results: In a faith context, “results” should be defined broadly—such as bringing people closer to Christ—and then distilled into specific goals, such as building testimonies or improving how members feel about their Sunday experience. Setting Clear Expectations: High-performing teams agree on general guidelines for how they will work together—such as preferred communication methods and response times—before diving into the work. Three Habits of Personal Accountability: Michael highlights three essential behaviors for leaders: avoiding blame, “looking in the mirror” to see how they contributed to a problem, and “engineering the solution” by fixing broken systems or processes. Motivation Through Ownership: Motivating volunteers is best achieved by giving them a say in outcomes, providing frequent positive feedback to trigger a sense of progress, and granting them true decision-making power within councils. Leadership Applications Requesting Feedback: Leaders can improve performance by sincerely asking those they lead for feedback on how to make it easier for them to achieve their goals. Systemic Problem Solving: When a task is not completed, Michael suggests leaders should ask “where did the process break down?” rather than “who dropped the ball?” to reduce defensiveness and improve future results. Standardizing Procedures: Implementing standard operating procedures for recurring events—such as meeting agendas or baptismal services—helps ensure consistency and reduces the mental load on volunteers. The award-winning Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Find Leadership Tools, Courses, and Community for Latter-day Saint leaders in the Zion Lab community. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Benjamin Hardy, Elder Alvin F. Meredith III, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Kirby Heyborne, Taysom Hill, Coaches Jennifer Rockwood and Brandon Doman, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 800 episodes. Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.

This encore presentation revisits our conversation with Natasha Miller Williams, a speaker and writer who brings data and insight together to advance the conversation about inclusion in the workplace. Together we explore a powerful idea: one person can challenge an established system.We talk about why systems inside organizations often continue long after they stop serving people well, and how leaders at every level can begin shifting them. Natasha introduces the S.E.E.R. approach: See, Expect, Express, Repeat. It offers a practical way to recognize unfair or unbalanced systems, speak up with clarity, and stay committed to change even when resistance appears.We also discuss the responsibility leaders have to create environments where people feel safe sharing perspectives that may be unpopular or overlooked. When leaders listen with empathy and act on what they hear, they strengthen trust and open the door for better decisions.This conversation reminds us that meaningful change often begins with one voice choosing to speak.Key HighlightsOne Voice Can Start Change – We explore how any leader, regardless of title, can challenge systems by speaking up and sharing a perspective that may not yet be represented in the room.Awareness Comes First – We learn why noticing whose voices are heard and whose are missing is the first step toward creating more balanced and inclusive systems.Clarity Drives Better Outcomes – We discuss the importance of knowing the outcome we expect when challenging a system so conversations stay focused on meaningful change.Communication Shapes Influence – We look at how understanding what others value helps us express ideas in ways that increase the chances they will be heard and acted on.Persistence Creates Momentum – We reflect on why challenging systems requires patience, support from others, and the courage to keep going when change takes time.About the Guest:Natasha Miller Williams is a speaker and a writer who brings data and insights together to advance the conversation on inclusion in the workplace. Her career has spanned many aspects of business, but what matters most to Natasha is finding ways to improve how we all relate to each other and the opportunities we can create for everyone.Natasha shares her perspective and research on belonging, self-expression, and organizational resilience at keynotes, panels and workshops. She's been a guest speaker for The Conference Board, Society for Human Resource Management, DiversityInc, DiversityMBA, Human Capital Institute, and many talent, inclusion and performance conferences.She is recognized as one of Crain's Notable DE&I Executives, DiversityMBA Magazine's Top 100 Executive Leaders and Top 100 Women of Influence. Natasha has been featured in several career and lifestyle magazines including Black Enterprise and SharpHeels. She sits on the editorial board for Training Industry Magazine and on the board of directors for the Village of Oak Lawn's Chamber of Commerce.About the Host:Amy L. Riley is an internationally renowned speaker, author and consultant. She has over 2 decades of experience developing leaders at all levels. Her clients include Cisco Systems, Deloitte and Barclays.As a trusted leadership coach and consultant, Amy has worked with hundreds of leaders one-on-one, and thousands more as part of a group, to fully step into their leadership, create amazing teams and achieve extraordinary results.Amy's most popular keynote speeches are:The Courage of a Leader: The Power of a Leadership LegacyThe Courage of a Leader: Create a Competitive Advantage with Sustainable, Results-Producing Cross-System CollaborationThe Courage of a Leader: Accelerate Trust with Your Team, Customers and CommunityThe Courage of a Leader: How to Build a Happy and Successful Hybrid TeamHer new book is a #1 international best-seller and is entitled, The Courage of a Leader: How to Inspire, Engage and Get Extraordinary Results.www.courageofaleader.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/amyshoopriley/Link mentioned in the podcastThe Inspire Your Team assessment (the courage assessment): https://courageofaleader.com/inspireyourteam/ Thanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to The Courage of a Leader podcast! If you got inspired and/or got valuable leadership techniques you can use from this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have questions or feedback about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new The Courage of a Leader podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which helps us ignite The Courage of a Leader in more leaders! Please take a minute and leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.Mentioned in this episode:The Inspire Your Team to Greatness Assessment (The Courage Assessment)https://courageofaleader.com/inspireyourteam/

Human Leadership in the Age of AI In this episode of the Breakfast Leadership Show, Michael sits down with Merry-Carole Powers, founder and CEO of Unicorn Creative, to explore what human leadership must look like in an era increasingly shaped by AI. Rather than framing AI as a threat, the conversation centers on grounding leadership in self-awareness, compassion, and personal development. Merry Carole shares why reconnecting with individuality, passion, and natural strengths is essential not only for effective leadership, but also for preventing burnout in high-performing environments. Together, they unpack how grounded leadership is becoming more critical as organizations navigate uncertainty, rapid change, and global disruption. Finding Your Unique Business Voice Merry-Carole dives deep into the idea that leadership and branding are no longer about what you do, but who you are. She explains how uncovering and expressing a unique personal and business voice creates stronger emotional resonance with clients, customers, and teams. This shift toward authenticity helps build healthier company cultures and more sustainable businesses. The discussion also highlights internal leadership, the practice of leading yourself first by understanding your values, motivations, and identity beyond titles or external expectations. Burnout emerges as a key theme, with Merry Carole emphasizing that self-knowledge and authentic expression allow people to align their work with what genuinely matters to them, reducing exhaustion and disengagement. Empowering Humanity Through Technology Michael and Merry Carole explore how AI and technology can be leveraged to support humanity rather than replace it. They discuss the importance of honoring individuality in the workplace, especially among younger generations who prioritize meaning, flexibility, and authenticity. Merry Carole shares her perspective on using AI to eliminate low-value tasks so people can focus on creative, relational, and purpose-driven work. Michael adds the concept of a “corporate bucket list” as a way for leaders to intentionally plan for innovation, culture-building, and future-focused initiatives. The episode closes with a reminder that time is more than money, and that human connection, including in-person interaction, remains irreplaceable when it comes to trust, creativity, and meaningful leadership. Key Themes: Human-centered leadership in the age of AI Identity, authenticity, and burnout prevention Using technology to create space for creativity and connection Leading yourself before leading others A timely conversation for leaders who want to scale impact without sacrificing humanity.   Merry Carole Powers is a recognized expert in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), as well as a creative leader with over two decades of experience shaping global brands and corporate cultures. As Creative Director for Sustainability, Purpose, and DEI at Deloitte, she led initiatives that embed human-centered values and inclusive practices into the core of business strategy. Her professional journey includes senior creative and content strategy roles at leading organizations such as Deloitte, Vanguard, and Leo / Publicis Worldwide, where she has driven brand awareness and innovative campaigns while championing individuality and purposeful impact. Powers is deeply passionate about empowering people to transcend societal labels and embrace their unique strengths. Her book, The Great Human Rebrand, challenges conventional thinking about identity and advocates for a more authentic, inclusive approach to personal and professional development. The book challenges our traditional approach to careers and life and offers a fresh perspective on how to navigate the complex landscape of modern business while maintaining a focus on humanity and unity. She is also the founder of Unicorn Kreative, a Philadelphia-based company dedicated to unlocking human and business potential through strategic storytelling, culture building, and purpose-driven creativity.  https://www.greathumanrebrand.com/  

Unsere beiden heutigen Gäste glauben daran, dass es auch noch in Zukunft Büros geben wird Sie hat ihre Karriere zunächst im Finanzsektor begonnen. Sie arbeitete bei Credit Suisse, KPMG, Deloitte und später in einer Bank als Head of Legal, Compliance & Risk Control: eine klassische Karriere im Finanz- und Beratungsumfeld, bis sie eine ungewöhnliche Entscheidung traf. Sie verließ diesen Weg noch einmal, um Innenarchitektur zu studieren. Heute verbindet sie zwei Welten: Businessverständnis und Raumgestaltung. Unser zweiter Gast startete seine Laufbahn bei Vitra, einem der weltweit bekanntesten Unternehmen für Arbeitsumgebungen. Dort lernte er die Welt von Bürokonzepten, internationaler Projektarbeit und Organisationsstrukturen aus nächster Nähe kennen. Später arbeitete er im Bereich Innovation Scouting und Business Development und beschäftigte sich intensiv mit Fragen rund um New Work, Zusammenarbeit und Organisationsentwicklung. Kennengelernt haben sich die beiden bei berry in Zürich und später dann Days With Us gegründet, ein Unternehmen, das Organisationen dabei begleitet, Arbeitswelten neu zu denken. Nicht nur aus der Perspektive von Möbeln oder Grundrissen, sondern als Zusammenspiel von Raum, Kultur und Zusammenarbeit. Seit mehr als acht Jahren beschäftigen wir uns in diesem Podcast mit der Frage, wie Arbeit den Menschen stärkt, statt ihn zu schwächen. Wir haben in über 540 Episoden mit fast 700 Persönlichkeiten darüber gesprochen, was sich bereits verändert hat und was sich weiter ändern muss. Warum braucht es für gute Arbeitsorte mehr als einen Möbelhersteller oder eine schöne Innenarchitektur? Wie entsteht aus einer gemeinsamen Idee ein Unternehmen, das Organisationen auf dem Weg in neue Arbeitswelten begleitet? Und warum werden wir auch in Zukunft Büros brauchen? Fest steht: Für die Lösung unserer aktuellen Herausforderungen brauchen wir neue Impulse. Wir suchen weiter nach Methoden, Vorbildern, Erfahrungen, Tools und Ideen, die uns dem Kern von New Work näher bringen. Darüber hinaus beschäftigt uns von Anfang an die Frage, ob wirklich alle Menschen das finden und leben können, was sie im Innersten wirklich wirklich wollen. Ihr seid bei On the Way to New Work – heute mit unseren beiden Gästen Jennifer Kossow und Yannick Müller. [Hier](https://linktr.ee/onthewaytonewwork) findet ihr alle Links zum Podcast und unseren aktuellen Werbepartnern

The Role of Executive Leadership in Shaping Company Culture and Preventing Burnout Source article:  https://www.breakfastleadership.com/blog/he-role-of-executive-leadership-in-shaping-company-culture-and-preventing-burnout In this Deep Dive episode, we unpack a foundational leadership truth: culture is not messaging. It is behavior at scale. And it begins with executive leadership. This conversation moves beyond surface-level engagement tactics and examines culture as strategic infrastructure. If you want to assess organizational health, do not start with the employee survey. Start with leadership behavior. What leaders tolerate, reward, ignore, and model becomes the company's operating system. Culture Is a Leadership Discipline Drawing on research from Gallup and McKinsey & Company, the discussion highlights a critical point: managers account for at least 70 percent of the variance in employee engagement, and organizations with performance-aligned cultures significantly outperform peers. Culture is not soft. It is structural. It is measurable. And it is directly tied to financial outcomes. The episode challenges the common executive mistake of delegating culture to HR. High-performing organizations treat culture as a leadership discipline, not a department function. The Mirror Effect and Emotional Contagion Leaders set the emotional climate of the enterprise. Referencing findings published by Harvard Business Review, the episode explores behavioral contagion. Executive emotional states cascade through teams. If leaders operate in chronic urgency, the organization mirrors urgency. If leaders model accountability, transparency, and regulation, those behaviors scale. A key theme emerges: executive nervous system management is not self-help language. It is performance strategy. If leadership is dysregulated, no wellness program will repair the culture. Incentives Reveal the Real Values Many organizations declare collaboration, innovation, or integrity as core values. Yet compensation and promotion systems often reward individual output at any cost. That misalignment is not a culture problem. It is a leadership integrity problem. Referencing research from Deloitte, the discussion reinforces that organizations with alignment between mission and business strategy demonstrate greater resilience during disruption. Vision, incentives, and modeled behavior must align. Without alignment, culture becomes performative. Psychological Safety as a Performance Lever The episode revisits insights from Google's Project Aristotle research, which identified psychological safety as the primary predictor of high-performing teams. Psychological safety is not politeness. It is accountability without fear. Leaders create this environment by: Admitting mistakes Inviting dissent Responding to failure with curiosity rather than blame You cannot scale performance without scaling trust. Burnout Is a Structural Signal Burnout is often misdiagnosed as an individual resilience issue. The episode reframes it as a culture metric. According to the World Health Organization, burnout is an occupational phenomenon resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. If executives create unclear priorities, constant urgency, unrealistic workloads, and low autonomy, burnout becomes predictable. Sustainable performance requires engineered capacity: Clear priorities Defined decision rights Normalized recovery Sustainable workload design Calm is not passive. Calm is controlled intensity. Top-Down Directional Clarity Building culture from the top does not mean command-and-control leadership. It means clarity. Exceptional leaders: Articulate a compelling vision Model required behaviors Design systems that reinforce those behaviors When executives abdicate culture design, informal power structures take over. Informal culture rarely aligns with long-term strategy. Executive Culture Audit The episode closes with a practical executive checklist: Are leadership behaviors consistent with stated values? Do incentives reward long-term thinking? Is psychological safety measurable? Are burnout indicators treated as operational metrics? Does communication cascade clearly? The organizations that will outperform in the next decade will not simply adopt AI or analytics. They will build resilient human systems. Culture is engineered. Performance is designed. Leadership behavior is the starting point. If this episode resonated, explore further insights in Workplace Culture and Burnout Proof, and visit BreakfastLeadership.com for additional executive-level analysis on sustainable high performance.

In episode 44 of The League, in this episode, Benoy Thanjan (Solar Maverick) and David Magid discuss the growing role of fuel cells powering AI data centers, including how companies like Bloom Energy are enabling on-site, reliable electricity using existing gas infrastructure. They also cover the U.S. Department of Energy's $26 billion loan program supporting major energy infrastructure projects, including nuclear and natural gas facilities. Benoy shares key insights from Intersolar North America in San Diego, highlighting major industry themes such as energy storage growth, distributed energy resources, AI-enabled energy software, automation in solar construction, and ongoing uncertainty around Foreign Entity of Concern (FEOC) guidance. Host Bio: Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, solar developer and consulting firm, and a strategic advisor to multiple cleantech startups. Over his career, Benoy has developed over 100 MWs of solar projects across the U.S., helped launch the first residential solar tax equity funds at Tesla, and brokered $45 million in Renewable Energy Credits (“REC”) transactions. Prior to founding Reneu Energy, Benoy was the Environmental Commodities Trader in Tesla's Project Finance Group, where he managed one of the largest environmental commodities portfolios. He originated REC trades and co-developed a monetization and hedging strategy with senior leadership to enter the East Coast market.  As Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners, Benoy crafted project finance solutions for commercial-scale solar portfolios. His role at Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund with 125 MWs of U.S. renewable assets, involved evaluating investment opportunities and maximizing returns. He also played a key role in the sale of the firm's renewable portfolio.  Earlier in his career, Benoy worked in Energy Structured Finance at Deloitte & Touche and Financial Advisory Services at Ernst & Young, following an internship on the trading floor at D.E. Shaw & Co., a multi billion dollar hedge fund. Benoy holds an MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from NYU Stern, where he was an Alumni Scholar. Connect with Benoy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benoythanjan/ Learn more: https://reneuenergy.com https://www.solarmaverickpodcast.com   Host Bio: David Magid David Magid is a seasoned renewable energy executive with deep expertise in solar development, financing, and operations. He has worked across the clean energy value chain, leading teams that deliver distributed generation and community solar projects. David is widely recognized for his strategic insights on interconnection, market economics, and policy trends shaping the U.S. solar industry. Connect with David on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmagid/  If you have any questions or comments, you can email us at info@reneuenergy.com.  

Online fraud has become one of the fastest-growing criminal enterprises on the planet. Deepfake fraud cases are surging, and Deloitte analysts project that generative AI-driven banking fraud alone could climb to roughly as much as $40 billion in the US alone by 2027.The problem is not just the volume. It's the architecture. These are no longer opportunistic scams—they are industrialized, AI-assisted operations, and the synthetic media tools that power them are becoming cheaper and more convincing by the month.A new report on deepfake financial fraud from Data & Society maps this threat. Justin Hendrix spoke to its authors, including:Alice Marwick, director of research at Data & Society, andAnya Schiffrin, co-director of the tech policy and innovation concentration at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs.

In this episode, we talk with Daria Rudnik — team architect, executive coach, author of Clicking, co‑author of The AI Revolution, and creator of Aidra.AI, an AI‑powered coach for leaders. With 15+ years of global leadership experience as a former Chief People Officer and Deloitte professional, Daria helps overloaded leaders redesign their teams so they're not the center of every decision.Together, we explore how leaders can distribute decision‑making, share cognitive load, and use AI to enhance — not replace — human judgment.During our time together, we discuss:Why today's complexity makes the old “heroic leader” model impossible.Use of intentional rituals to build trust and connection in remote teams.Why leaders must create many‑to‑many connections within the team — not just rely on one‑to‑one relationships.The cognitive risks of offloading too much thinking to AI.A step‑by‑step example of how to use AI properly.Why teams need AI norms.How leaders can responsibly experiment with AI without risking company data.What hybrid human‑AI teams may look like — and why clearly defining AI roles is critical.To learn more from Daria:Visit her websiteConnect with her on LinkedInExplore her books Clicking and The AI Revolution

Send a textYou were handed someone else's decision. 200 positions were eliminated, including yours. Now you are wondering if you must go back to school or start at the bottom. What if you did not have to start over? In this episode, Kele Belton interviews Madelyn Mackie, a certified career management coach who has helped clients land positions at Google, Facebook, Deloitte, and Kaiser. You will learn how to write your resume for the future, craft a career pivot narrative that shifts you from victim to visionary, and activate your network with strategic command.WHAT THIS EPISODE IS ABOUT Madelyn Mackie, founder of Madelyn Mackie and Associates, has spent her career helping professionals navigate major transitions. Her own journey moved from biochemistry research to professional theater to the C-suite of the American Red Cross. Her secret: she focused on how her skills could solve their problems, not on her past titles. In this 43-minute interview, Madelyn breaks down the Career Pivot Framework that eliminates the belief that you need a new degree to pivot your career.WHAT YOU WILL LEARNThe Green and Yellow Highlighter Exercise. Print a job posting. Highlight what you know in green and what you need to learn in yellow. If it is 60% green, you are ready for the role.The Workforce Reduction Script. A professional way to frame your departure: "XYZ organization had a workforce reduction. 200 positions were eliminated, including mine. Now I am taking my expertise in [keywords] to help your organization achieve [mission]."The Three LinkedIn Essentials. (1) Professional headshot, (2) Headline with job title, 3 to 5 skills, and a big metric, (3) Job descriptions with outcomes rather than just responsibilities.Networking with Specificity. Do not say "let me know if you see anything." Instead: "Can you refer me for this job by Friday?" or "Can you introduce me to these three people? Here is the email to copy and paste."WHAT YOU WILL ACTUALLY DO THIS WEEKBreathe First. Stop spinning on job boards. List everything you need to do and categorize them. Handle urgent items like health insurance before moving to LinkedIn.Run the Highlighter Audit. Find 3 to 5 job postings. Highlight your skills. If you hit the 60% green threshold, you are ready to apply.Identify Your Top 20. List past bosses, colleagues, and neighbors. Reach out with a specific ask rather than a general request.Update Your Headline. Use the formula: [Job Title] | [3-5 Skills] | [Big Metric Result].MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEMadelyn Mackie. Certified career management coach and nationally certified online profile expert.The STAR Method. Situation, Task, Action, and Results for interviews and resumes.AI Tools. ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude, and Perplexity for career research.Ignite Your Leadership Power Accelerator. Kele's 12-week group coaching program for women leaders. Join the Spring cohort!ABOUT YOUR HOST Kele Belton is the CEO of The Tailored Approach and a leadership communication coach. Through her podcast Communicate to Lead, which is ranked in the Top 10% of podcasts globally, she helps high-achieving women move from execution to strategic leadership during major career transitions.CONNECT WITH KELE:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kele-ruth-belton/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetailoredapproach/Website: https://thetailoredap

Why I Left a Six Figure Job to Build My Own Businesses For many people a high paying W2 job feels like the finish line. Stability, benefits, and predictable income create the sense that everything is under control. But comfort can quietly become a trap. In this episode, I share why I walked away from a safe CPA career at Deloitte and how building a side hustle eventually turned into multiple businesses. We talk about the hidden cost of waiting, the fear of judgment that keeps people from starting, and how opportunity compounds the same way money does. More importantly, we discuss how to build something on the side responsibly. Using your W2 as a foundation while creating momentum before making a bigger leap. If you have ever wondered whether you are capable of building something bigger than your current role, this episode will challenge how you think about risk, comfort, and freedom. Episode Timeline and Highlights 00:00 The comfort trap 01:30 Why W2 security can limit growth 04:00 The opportunity cost of waiting 06:30 Fear of judgment and failure 09:00 Building a side hustle strategically 12:00 Financial preparation before leaving 15:00 When betting on yourself becomes smart Key Takeaways • Comfort can slow down growth • Opportunity compounds with action • Side hustles build leverage over time • Strategic risk is different from reckless risk • Momentum is more powerful than perfection Quotables "The most dangerous place to be is comfortable." "Opportunity compounds just like money." "Your job can be the foundation, but freedom comes from ownership." If you feel stuck between security and possibility, remember this. You do not have to quit tomorrow. But you do have to start.

FOLLOW UP: EU INDUSTRIAL ACCELERATOR ACT REVEALEDThe EU Commission has unveiled the draft Industrial Accelerator Act, which is aimed at making Europe a powerhouse and self contained when it comes to green energy related industries, including automotive. To read more about the proposals, click this electrive article link here.By the fact that so much of the act is pointed inwards to EU countries, this has caused fear in the UK automotive industry that they will be penalised thanks to the idiocy of Brexit. Nissan has declared if there is not agreement on UK built cars then it will close Sunderland. Click this Autocar article for more.FEBRUARY 2026 NEW CAR REGISTRATION FIGURESSMMT released the new car registration figures for February 2026 and there was a surprising number of vehicles registered, with this being the best February since 2004. BEV market share is no where near where it needs to be as it sits at 22%, lower than last year, with the mandate requirement of 33%. SMMT called on the Government to urgently look at the mandate in the face of market reality. You can learn more, by clicking this SMMT article link here.TRIBUNAL SHOWS PUBLIC CHARGING VAT SHOULD BE 5%In a tax tribunal, Deloitte proved how the public charging VAT rate should only be 5%, using HMRC's own rules. The use, by an individual, of no more than 1000kWh over a month is classified as “personal use”. To go over this, using public charging, would be very difficult in a EV. To find out more, click this EV Powered article link here.TESLA EU CO2 POOL USERS DECLINEThe EU allows car companies to buy and sell CO2 credits so that companies can avoid hefty fines for not meeting average fleet levels. Tesla has benefited hugely from this, however that is now changing as Toyota and Stellantis leave their pool. If you wish to read more, click this electrive article link here.SUZUKI BUYS SOLID-STATE BATTERY FIRMSuzuki has bought Kanadevia, a company that has been developing solid-state batteries for 20 years. This is a great move by one of the smaller Japanese brands and if batteries can be made affordable at scale, this will help them be competitive or even steal a march on others. Click this electrive article link here, to read more.WRIGHTBUS SELLS 31 EBUSES TO THE ISLE OF WHITEWrightbus is providing 31 double decker electric buses for use on the Isle of White. Using funding from a combination of local and central government schemes, they will help move the islands public transport to being a cleaner service. You can read more by clicking this electrive article link here.ELECQ HIT BY CYBER ATTACKELECQ, a Chinese home and business smart charger company, has been hacked with customer details being accessed. They operate in the UK and Europe and have informed data protection organisations. The company state that their chargers and systems are working and are protected. For more on this story, click the link here from The Register.If you like what we do, on this show, and think it is worth a £1.00, please consider supporting us via Patreon. Here is the link to that CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE PODCASTNEW NEW CAR NEWS -Genesis GV60 MagmaGenesis has revealed their first performance car that we can buy, with the very orange GV60 Magma. Sharing a lot of the underpinnings with the Hyundai Ioniq 5N expect similar levels of go and stop. Click this EV Powered article link to read more.GM Specialty Vehicles UK launchedGM Specialty Vehicles UK will be importing the large and “luxury” models from the General Motors stables. Think along the lines of the Suburban, Cadillac Escalade and Chevrolet Silverado. The cars will be left hand drive but all requirements to be UK legal will be undertaken by dealership Clive Sutton. Click this Motoring Research article link for more.Lamborghini Lanzador killed offBefore the Lanzandor even made it to market, it has been killed off. The official statement is that it is due to a lack of customer demand for such a vehicle. But it was to share the underpinnings from Porsche but they canned their development meaning Lamborghini would not have anything to make the car from. Click this Motoring Research article to learn more.LUNCHTIME READ: THE GREAT DISGRACEHagerty supply the article we are recommending that you read this week, thanks to Jim Magill for suggesting it! The piece discusses the shocking state of our roads and how that has impacted people's desire to drive. Click the link here to read it for yourself.LIST OF THE WEEK: 25 OF THE COOLEST MID-ENGINED CONCEPT CARS THAT NEVER MADE PRODUCTIONTop Gear is where we are pointing you to for the List of the Week. And boy, is it a CRACKER! Check out 25 concept cars and try to pick on from this wonderful list. Click here to get overwhelmed by the options!AND FINALLY: CAR SONGSaturday Night Live has produced a song that shows the wider population have had enough with silly and dangerous door handles. Click this YouTube link to see for yourself.

Send us feedback or episode suggestions.Digital products no longer exist as standalone apps. They live inside complex ecosystems of interfaces, AI systems, legacy infrastructure, and workflows that all have to work together. In this episode of Patterns, Chris Strahl talks with product design leader Andi Rusu about what it takes to design reliable digital experiences in environments where multiple systems—and increasingly AI—are shaping how products behave.Drawing on experience at Disney, Sonos, Axon, and Microsoft, Andi explains why trust is becoming the central design challenge in modern product development. As AI becomes embedded in digital products, the job of design expands beyond crafting interfaces to shaping how complex systems behave, how decisions are made, and how users understand what's happening behind the scenes. The conversation explores how designers can balance abstraction and transparency, when friction actually improves the experience, and why human judgment still plays a critical role in building trustworthy AI-powered products.We'll explore:Why modern digital products behave more like ecosystems than individual apps, and how fragmentation across systems creates new design challenges for product teamsHow AI is becoming a new layer inside product development, influencing how workflows, decisions, and automation shape the user experienceWhy trust becomes harder to maintain in AI-driven products, especially when systems make decisions users cannot see or easily understandWhy human judgment still matters in AI-powered design, and how designers balance abstraction, transparency, and intentional friction to create reliable user experiencesView the transcript of this episode.Check out our upcoming events.If you want to get in touch with the show, ask some questions, or tell us what you think, send us a message over on LinkedIn.GuestAndi Rusu is a product design and research leader focused on creating user-centered experiences across complex product ecosystems. He has led design teams and initiatives at Disney, Axon, Sonos, Microsoft, and Deloitte, helping organizations deliver impactful digital products at scale. He has also taught experience design at Cornish College of the Arts, the University of Washington, and the School of Visual Concepts.HosttChris Strahl is the host of the Patterns podcast and a pioneer in modern digital product design and development. As the co-founder and CEO of Knapsack, he is a leading voice on how AI can fundamentally reshape the way teams design, build, and deliver digital products with a human-centered approachSponsorSponsored by Knapsack, the design system platform that brings teams together. Learn more at knapsack.cloud.

What if the future of leadership isn't louder, tougher, or more relentless - but more human? In this episode of Your Passion, Purpose and Personal Brand, Lisa McGuire sits down with leadership consultant Deb Mitchell, founder of KindShift, to explore why kindness, clarity, and courage are becoming the most powerful leadership advantages in modern organizations. After more than 20 years working inside Fortune 500 companies like Capital One, Deloitte, and Booz Allen Hamilton, Deb noticed a troubling pattern: high-performing women leaders weren't burning out because they lacked capability. They were burning out because they were carrying too much. Too much responsibility. Too much emotional labor. Too many expectations to keep performing while abandoning their own needs. In this conversation, Deb shares why kindness is not weakness, how courageous conversations build trust inside organizations, and why leadership is shifting from performance and control toward presence, empathy, and clarity. You'll also learn simple practices - like the power of the pause - that help leaders move from anxiety and over-functioning to grounded authority. If you're a high-achieving professional who feels "successfully stuck," this episode offers a powerful reframe for what leadership can look like when you stop performing and start leading from alignment. Because the leaders shaping the future won't be the ones holding onto old models of control. They'll be the ones brave enough to lead with humanity.   CONNECT WITH DEB JOIN THE KINDSHIFT COHORT - MARCH 30 https://inspired-consulting-solutions.kit.com/25d8199207 LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchelldebra/  CENTERLINE NEWSLETTER: https://inspired-consulting-solutions.kit.com/ KINDSHIFT WEBSITE: https://www.kindshift.us/    CONNECT WITH LISA "SO MUCH MORE" NEWSLETTER: https://www.thediyframework.com/so-much-more-subscribe  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamlisamcguire/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamlisamcguire LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-mcguire/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamlisamcguire/videos  

As a marketing leader, is your primary job to persuade human customers, or are you now preparing to negotiate directly with their AI agents? Agility requires marketing leaders to not only react to market changes, but to become the primary architects of that change within the enterprise. It's about transforming the marketing function from a cost center into the accountable growth engine for the entire business. Today, we are recording from eTail Palm Springs, and we're going to talk about the expanding, and frankly, more demanding role of the CMO. It's a topic that's front and center here at eTail, where many are discussing how marketing leaders must evolve beyond traditional brand stewardship to become true architects of change—driving cross-functional growth, owning the P&L impact of their investments, and steering the organization through continuous transformation. To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Ed See, Chief Growth Officer at Zeta Global. About Ed See As Chief Growth Officer, See leads the charge in accelerating the company's growth strategy. His priorities include deepening CMO and c-suite engagement, demonstrating the transformative potential of Zeta's AI-driven solutions, and helping businesses achieve measurable, high-impact marketing outcomes.  Bringing 30 years of practice to Zeta, Ed was most recently a Partner in McKinsey & Company's Growth Marketing & Sales practice, focused on helping companies drive growth through modern marketing. While at McKinsey, he worked with large companies to identify growth opportunities and increase the value of their relationships with customers and consumers. His expertise includes digital strategy, digital marketing, growth and marketing analytics, segmentation, and advertising and marketing technology. Over the course of his career, Ed has advised some of the world's major brands on how to apply new capabilities, analytics, and technology to improve their marketing and sales performance. Prior to joining McKinsey, Ed was a partner at Deloitte and held leadership roles at several other companies.   Ed See on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-see-496857/ Resources Zeta Global: https://www.zetaglobal.com The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://aglbrnd.co/r/2868abd8085a9703 Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code AGILE at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://aglbrnd.co/r/c43e68ce5cfb321e Drive your customers to new horizons at the premier retail event of the year for Retail and Brand marketers. Learn more at CRMC 2026, June 1-3. https://aglbrnd.co/r/d15ec37a537c0d74 Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://aglbrnd.co/r/faaed112fc9887f3 Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/35ded3ccfb6716ba Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

This week on The GovNavigators Show, Robert and Adam welcome Wynn Coggins, former Acting Secretary of Commerce and now Chief Growth Officer at Management Science and Innovation, for a candid conversation on leadership forged through crisis, transition, and 35 years of federal service.Wynn shares the lessons she's carried from her early days as a patent examiner through navigating COVID at the Department of Commerce, serving as Acting Deputy Secretary, and landing in the private sector at Deloitte before her current role. The throughline: surround yourself with people who challenge you, park your ego at the door, and build a culture where failing fast is a feature, not a flaw.Robert and Adam also cover the week's big news: the introduction of the Federal Loan System Modernization Act of 2026, a bill that would finally bring a single platform to manage the government's sprawling loan portfolio, and the escalating standoff between the Department of Defense and Anthropic, which has now prompted the White House to direct agencies to cancel contracts with the AI company. Plus: Microsoft's major takedown of a global phishing operation responsible for 30 million fraudulent emails a month.Show Notes:Federal Loan System Modernization Act of 2026Check out the The Lending Brief Podcast's new homeWhat's on the GovNavigators' Radar:Mar 12, 2026AFCEA NOVA Naval IT DayMar 17, 2026AGA Technology and Transformation SummitApr 22, 2026ACT-IAC Emerging Tech Demo Day (rescheduled from March 18)

Episode Summary: In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, Benoy Thanjan sits down with Hervé Billet, CEO and co-founder of Sunvoy, the first white-label customer portal and fleet management app built by solar installers for solar installers. Hervé shares his entrepreneurial journey, from helping design Belgium's first solar car to building and selling a solar installation company in the U.S., and now leading Sunvoy. The conversation covers what solar companies need to do to create long-term enterprise value, how branding and systems drive successful exits, and why clean accounting, process, and operational discipline matter if you want to sell a business. Benoy and Hervé also discuss how Sunvoy helps installers improve operations by bringing critical project and O&M data into one place, reducing time spent hunting for information and improving the customer experience. They also explore current solar industry trends, including the shift toward Third Party Ownership (“TPOs”) and leases, rising electricity prices as a driver of solar adoption, technology improvements in solar hardware and storage, and why installer-built software creates a real competitive advantage.   Biographies Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, solar developer and consulting firm, and a strategic advisor to multiple cleantech startups. Over his career, Benoy has developed over 100 MWs of solar projects across the U.S., helped launch the first residential solar tax equity funds at Tesla, and brokered $45 million in Renewable Energy Credits (“REC”) transactions. Prior to founding Reneu Energy, Benoy was the Environmental Commodities Trader in Tesla's Project Finance Group, where he managed one of the largest environmental commodities portfolios. He originated REC trades and co-developed a monetization and hedging strategy with senior leadership to enter the East Coast market. As Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners, Benoy crafted project finance solutions for commercial-scale solar portfolios. His role at Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund with 125 MWs of U.S. renewable assets, involved evaluating investment opportunities and maximizing returns. He also played a key role in the sale of the firm's renewable portfolio. Earlier in his career, Benoy worked in Energy Structured Finance at Deloitte & Touche and Financial Advisory Services at Ernst & Young, following an internship on the trading floor at D.E. Shaw & Co., a multi billion dollar hedge fund. Benoy holds an MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from NYU Stern, where he was an Alumni Scholar. Hervé Billet As the CEO of Sunvoy, I'm committed to empowering solar businesses with innovative technology that streamlines operations and enhances customer experience. Sunvoy is the first white-label customer portal and fleet management app, built by solar installers for solar installers. Our platform simplifies the complexities of running a solar business, enabling companies to scale efficiently with seamless integration and effortless results. Sunvoy offers powerful tools to manage solar fleets, automate communication, and deliver an exceptional customer journey, helping companies thrive in an increasingly competitive market. Previously, I served as the CEO of Ipsun Solar, where we revolutionized the residential and commercial solar market by enabling customers to own their power, reduce their utility bills, and add value to their properties through clean, renewable energy. Ipsun Solar, a B-Corporation, was known for its commitment to sustainability, being part of the Amicus and Amicus O&M networks, and serving as a certified Tesla Powerwall installer. Before venturing into the solar industry, I worked at Accenture, where I consulted with Fortune 500 companies, U.S. Federal agencies, and large non-profits. My projects included: Calculating Greenhouse Gas emissions for the U.S. Department of Energy Headquarters. Business development for Accenture's Sustainability Services. Leading digital implementation teams for organizations like Goodwill Industries International. Providing strategic support to global institutions such as the IMF, World Bank, UNICEF, United Nations, and U.S. Department of Labor. At 21, I co-founded my first company, Solar Team, an initiative to showcase the power of solar energy through solar-powered vehicles. This early venture sparked my enduring passion for renewable energy and continues to inspire my work today.   Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com  LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com Website: https://www.solarmaverickpodcast.com/   Hervé Billet Website: https://sunvoy.com/  Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/hervebilliet/      Please provide 5 star reviews      If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share the Solar Maverick Podcast so more people can learn how to accelerate the clean energy transition.    Reneu Energy Reneu Energy provides expert consulting across solar and storage project development, financing, energy strategy, and environmental commodities. Our team helps clients originate, structure, and execute opportunities in community solar, C&I, utility-scale, and renewable energy credit markets. Email us at info@reneuenergy.com to learn more.

Workforce reimagination is here. In 2026, the office of the CFO is moving from AI as a tool to a coworker. Recorded in Davos, this episode digs into the human side of transformation. We sit down with global leaders to unpack why the human in the loop is being rewritten and why change management has become a core executive capability. Mandi McReynolds talks with Costi Perricos, Global GenAI Business Leader at Deloitte, Dennis Woodside, CEO of Freshworks, and Dr. Márcia Balisciano, Board Member Foundation for the UN Global Compact and CSO of RELX, about what they're seeing on the ground as roles evolve from task execution to AI orchestration. In this episode: 04:00 Costi Pericos on agentic collaboration and why HR and AI are converging 13:10 Dennis Woodside on the execution gap and changing daily work habits 15:30 Marcia Balisciano on CFO leadership and becoming "chief environmental champions" 19:00 Conclusion: Why CFOs must architect the agentic future "I often say you'll learn without AI first so that one day you can be the human in the loop, coordinating and governing AI." — Costi Pericos, Deloitte Enjoy this episode? Find more at workiva.com/podcast/the-pre-read  

In Episode 301 of The Rainmaking Podcast, Scott Love interviews business development coach and author Doug Ott about his book The Business Development Shift and how lawyers, consultants, and other professional services providers can grow their practices through intellectual curiosity, trust, and consistency. Doug explains why the best business development strategy is not selling harder, but solving better by asking thoughtful questions, listening closely, staying visible, and building genuine relationships over time. He shares practical advice on how attorneys can improve client development, avoid passive networking habits, use stronger follow-up language, and make business development a daily habit even with a demanding billable schedule. This episode is packed with actionable insights. YouTube: https://youtu.be/0O-4XaeM9QM ----------------------------------------

Podcast del programa Imagen Empresarial transmitido originalmente el 5 de marzo del 2026. Conduce Rodrigo Pacheco Los entrevistados de hoy: Entrevista: Jorge Ponga, Socio de Capital Humano en Deloitte en Deloitte Spanish Latin America Tema: Redefinir el futuro del trabajo desde la sinergia humano-digital

MY NEWSLETTER - https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeJoin me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Brian O'Connor (https://x.com/BrianFOConnor).In this episode, I sit down with prolific entrepreneur Brian O'Connor to uncover how he walked away from a high-stakes corporate strategy job at Deloitte to build his own business empire. Brian reveals the exact breaking point that pushed him to leave the corporate world, it involves single-handedly saving his consulting firm $100 million and receiving a coffee gift card in return!We dive deep into the brutal reality of finding product-market fit, why traditional SWOT analysis is completely useless, and the secret corporate frameworks like the Choice Cascade that can help you create an unbeatable competitive advantage. Brian also shares the crazy story of managing 250 people while distributing billions in PPP loans during the pandemic, and how his journey ultimately led him to start a highly successful fractional CMO company and a unique staffing agency. If you want to know how to transition from a W2 employee to a thriving business owner, or how to navigate a highly competitive Red Ocean, you won't want to miss these insights.Questions This Episode Answers:Why is traditional SWOT analysis considered a waste of time for most businesses?What is the Choice Cascade, and how can it give you a massive competitive advantage?How do you know when you've truly found product-market fit?Should you prioritize deep strategy or raw execution speed when your business is making less than $1 million a year?How can rethinking your business model and adding an advisory component completely transform your customer retention?Enjoy the conversation!__________________________Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.__________________________MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98yApple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT__________________________This week we covered:00:00 Introduction to Brian's Entrepreneurial Journey01:23 Leaving the Corporate World02:10 Managing a Massive COVID-19 Project03:40 The Decision to Become a Fractional CMO05:48 Understanding Growth Strategy and Competitive Advantage07:42 The Choice Cascade Framework10:42 Strategic Choices for Business Success16:41 Balancing Strategy and Execution in Early-Stage Businesses20:47 The Evolution of Business Questions21:46 Balancing Confidence and Speed in Business Decisions22:07 Launching Business Units in Mexico: A Case Study24:51 The Role of Strategy and Execution in Small Businesses27:26 The Journey to Product-Market Fit30:44 The Importance of Positioning and Iteration34:56 Innovative Pricing Models in Talent Agencies38:58 Advisory Consulting as a Competitive Advantage

Traditional finance models are hitting a wall. This episode highlights a panel at Davos that gets straight to the engine room of the enterprise.  Jatin Dalal, Chief Financial Officer, Cognizant; Mike Rost, Chief Strategy Officer, Workiva; Jonathan Zanger, Chief Technology Officer, Check Point; and Jennifer Steinmann, Global Sustainability Business Leader, Deloitte gathered to talk about:  The ROI heresy: Why waiting for a fixed ROI is like using an obsolete map for a moving target  The 3x productivity jump: Why a 300% increase is the new starting point for AI  Security risks: Understanding white font attacks and AI doppelgangers in HR systems  Strategic insights: How predictive analytics and earth observation are changing risk valuation  Timestamps: 00:00—Multiplying traditional productivity by three  02:15—The Davos panel: AI promise and peril  04:10—Why ROI is an irrelevant measure for AI  05:40—Security alerts: The white font attack  07:15—The $3.8 trillion insight at stake  08:20—The Monday morning mandate  "Whatever you thought about traditional productivity multiplied by three at minimum, and that should be a starting point, not the end point." —Jatin Dalal, CFO of Cognizant  Find past conversations at workiva.com/podcast/the-pre-read 

For over 30 years, Robin has helped Investment Consultants, Retirement Plan Advisors, and recordkeepers better understand their competition, improve efficiency, elevate client service, and win new business. She began her career as a retirement plan sponsor in healthcare and manufacturing before moving into consulting roles with Deloitte and North Highland, and later serving as Head of Research at Ann Schleck & Co. Following its sale to fi360, she became a Senior Vice President overseeing the Fiduciary Score.In 2018, Robin founded WinMore Plans and relaunched the Practice Management Benchmarking Study for retirement plan advisors. Today, she partners with hundreds of advisory firms nationwide, providing benchmarking, coaching, win/loss analysis, and valuation services to help advisors implement practical growth strategies.In this episode, Eric and Robin Green discuss:Positioning the advisor as a true business partnerCapturing a history of plan accomplishmentsDelivering meaningful financial wellness supportClarifying contracts, data use, and rising expectationsKey Takeaways:Advisors should be treated as strategic partners, not just investment technicians. Committees can formalize this by adding a recurring Strategic Business Discussion as the first agenda item each year. This ensures the retirement plan aligns with the company's broader goals and workforce strategy.An important and very useful deliverable to consider; a concise document that tracks major milestones like fee reductions, vendor changes, and plan design improvements. This goes beyond an annual report by highlighting long-term strategic progress. It strengthens continuity during leadership turnover and supports the advisor's value in RFP situations.In many cases, employers now expect help for participants beyond the retirement plan itself. Advisors should support broader financial wellness, including debt, budgeting, and outside assets. For many participants, this may be their only access to professional financial guidance.Sponsors should review recordkeeper contracts to understand participant outreach and data usage. Decisions about who can contact participants must be intentional and documented. Advisors who provide strategic insight and participant-level impact will stand out in today's higher-expectation environment.“The plan sponsor, I want you to focus on your advisor as your business partner. Ask them, What am I missing? What else should we be doing here? And will you be my strategic business partner, not just tactical investment information?” - Robin GreenConnect with Robin Green:Website: https://winmoreplans.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robingreen/ Connect with Eric Dyson: Website: https://90northllc.com/Phone: 940-248-4800Email: contact@90northllc.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/401kguy/ The information and content of this podcast are general in nature and are provided solely for educational and informational purposes. It is believed to be accurate and reliable as of the posting date, but may be subject to change.It is not intended to provide a specific recommendation for any type of product or service discussed in this presentation or to provide any warranties, investment advice, financial advice, tax, plan design, or legal advice (unless otherwise specifically indicated). Please consult your own independent advisor as to any investment, tax, or legal statements made.The specific facts and circumstances of all qualified plans can vary, and the information contained in this podcast may or may not apply to your individual circumstances or to your plan or client plan-specific circumstances.The opinions expressed by guests are not necessarily agreed by, or the same opinions of 90 North Consulting or of Eric Dyson.

65% of respondents use free external GenAI in work or pay for the tool themselves, Deloitte's third GenAI pulse has found. Only 35% work for an employer that pays for their external GenAI. Despite this, the number of companies encouraging GenAI use has nearly doubled compared to 2024; nearly half (46%) of respondents work for a company that encourages the use of GenAI. In contrast to 2024, when less than one-quarter (24%) strongly agreed or agreed that their company encouraged its use. The findings come from Deloitte Ireland's third GenAI pulse survey as part of the Digital Consumer Trends report, where 1,000 people between the ages of 18 and 75 were surveyed in Ireland. The number of respondents who said their workplace has policies or guidance about the use of GenAI for work purposes has jumped. In 2025, just 19% of those surveyed said their company does not have a policy or guidance, but in 2024, 90% of employees reported a lack of guidance or policies. Talent remains the biggest challenge for embedding AI, with 84% citing skills gaps as the main barrier, according to additional Deloitte AI research published last week, which gathered views of C-suite leaders and directors in Ireland. Commenting on the report's findings, Lynn Guilbaud, Technology, Media & Telecommunications Leader in Deloitte Ireland, said: "Everyone has heard the expression people won't be replaced by AI, but will be replaced by people using it. This is why it's positive to see a growing number of organisations with policies and guidance around its use. This technology isn't just a tool; it's a game-changer that can revolutionise how we work, boosting efficiency, unlocking new levels of productivity and fundamentally transforming the competitiveness of organisations that embrace it. "But this won't happen overnight. To harness AI's potential, organisations need to invest in ongoing training and support, guiding their teams every step of the way." There is a clear gap between generations' GenAI use, despite awareness being high across age groups. The GenAI pulse survey shows more than 4 in 5 (83%) of Gen Zs and 76% of Millennials use GenAI, but this drops to just over half (57%) in Gen X and only one-in-three (33%) of those aged 60-75 years old. The most common reason to use the technology is for personal purposes (75%), followed by work (42%) and education (36%). The reasons for using GenAI are consistent with those reported in 2024, although there was a 12% increase in people using it to look up information (44% vs 56%). Searching for information, writing and editing emails, and generating ideas are the top three reasons GenAI is used. Since 2023, a consistent number of GenAI users (more than one-third) believe AI always produces factually accurate responses – 35% in 2023, 34% in 2024, and 34% in 2025. This is similar to the number of users who believe the technology's responses are unbiased – 31% in 2023, 28% in 2024, and 32% in 2025. 64% actively use AI tools. In contrast, 4 in 5 passively engage with GenAI, including web search summaries or AI-generated content on social media. Nearly two-thirds (62%) have noticed AI-generated web search summary and 64% AI-generated content on social media. 40% come across AI-generated news articles written by AI. Daily and weekly use of GenAI is nearly doubling year-on-year, while non-usage consistently drops. Daily Weekly Not used GenAI 2025 11% 21% 37% 2024 5% 13% 53% 2023 2% 7% 66% Colm McDonnell, Head of Technology, Media and Telecommunications in Deloitte Ireland, added: "Our Deloitte survey reveals a fascinating trend of young professionals leading the charge in adopting AI, highlighting the need for tailored training that speaks to different generations and skill levels. "While concerns around privacy and data security are valid, one way to manage these risks is by promoting the use of company-approved AI tools. With nearly two-thirds of respondents already using free or personally paid for AI platforms, its...

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli is joined by Jen Fisher, one of the most influential voices shaping how leaders think about work, wellbeing, and human sustainability. Jen is the former Chief Wellbeing Officer at Deloitte, where she spent more than two decades helping leaders confront burnout, redesign work, and rethink what success actually means inside large, complex organizations.The conversation centers on the ideas behind Jen's book, Hope Is the Strategy, and challenges a deeply held leadership assumption: that hope is soft, naive, or something leaders turn to only when plans fall apart. Instead, Jen reframes hope as a disciplined leadership capability, one that becomes essential when teams feel overwhelmed, uncertain, or quietly disengaged.Drawing on research, lived experience, and her work with senior executives, Jen explains why even the smartest strategies fail when people don't believe their work will lead to a better future. She explores how leaders unintentionally drain hope through silence, false certainty, or performative wellbeing efforts, and why truth, agency, and credibility matter more than optimism.The discussion also tackles the limits of traditional wellness programs, the growing tension leaders feel amid constant disruption and AI-driven change, and why many organizations are still solving the wrong problems. Throughout the episode, Jen offers a grounded, practical lens on what it really takes to lead human beings, especially when leaders themselves don't have all the answers.This is a thoughtful, candid conversation for CEOs and senior leaders who sense that something fundamental is missing in how organizations motivate, engage, and move people forward, and who want a more honest way to think about leadership in uncertain times.Actionable TakeawaysYou'll learn why hope is not a feeling or slogan, but a leadership capability that requires clarity, agency, and follow-through.Hear how even well-designed strategies break down when leaders can't articulate how change will improve people's lives.Discover why silence and false certainty erode trust faster than difficult truths ever will.Hear how leaders can acknowledge burnout and uncertainty without becoming pessimistic or paralyzed.Learn why most corporate wellbeing efforts fail to move the needle, and what they overlook about daily work design.Explore how hope and wellbeing reinforce each other and why neither can be treated as a standalone initiative.Hear why leading humans in an AI-enabled workplace requires skills most organizations never train leaders to develop.Learn how credible hope helps teams move forward even when leaders don't have clear answers or perfect plans.Connect with the Jen FisherJen Fisher LinkedInJen Fisher WebsiteHope Is the Strategy: The Underrated Skill That Transforms Work, Leadership, and WellbeingConnect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

International Women's Day is more than a calendar moment. It is a leadership opportunity. In this episode, we challenge ourselves to move beyond performative gestures and celebrate in ways that actually build visibility, confidence, and equity.We share four practical ways to recognize the women on our teams with intention and specificity. We reflect on whether they feel seen, heard, and valued. And we raise the harder questions about systems, opportunity, and fairness. Because celebration without structural awareness is incomplete.International Women's Day is a moment. What we choose to do with it can spark meaningful change.Key Takeaways:Intention Over Performance – Moving beyond surface-level gestures strengthens credibility and trust.Recognition That Builds Confidence – Specific acknowledgment increases impact and professional visibility.Normalizing Ownership of Value – Creating space for women to name their contributions builds confidence without apology.Peer Influence Matters – Colleague-to-colleague recognition reinforces belonging and belief.Celebration and Systems – Meaningful celebration requires examining equity in pay, advancement, and opportunity.Read more about International's Women's Day at https://www.un.org/en/observances/womens-dayResources MentionedThe Inspire Your Team to Greatness assessment (the Courage Assessment) - In less than 10 minutes, find out where you're empowering and inadvertently kills productivity, and get a custom report that will tell you step by step what you need to have your team get more done. Get it here: https://courageofaleader.com/inspireyourteam/You don't need to have all the answers to lead well. Get your copy of the Clarity Kit for just $17 to learn the five practices to bring more clarity, confidence and courage into your leadership - https://courageofaleader.com/the-clarity-kit/About the Host:Amy L. Riley is an internationally renowned speaker, author and consultant. She has over 2 decades of experience developing leaders at all levels. Her clients include Cisco Systems, Deloitte and Barclays.As a trusted leadership coach and consultant, Amy has worked with hundreds of leaders one-on-one, and thousands more as part of a group, to fully step into their leadership, create amazing teams and achieve extraordinary results.Amy's most popular keynote speeches are:The Courage of a Leader: The Power of a Leadership LegacyThe Courage of a Leader: Create a Competitive Advantage with Sustainable, Results-Producing Cross-System CollaborationThe Courage of a Leader: Accelerate Trust with Your Team, Customers and CommunityThe Courage of a Leader: How to Build a Happy and Successful Hybrid TeamHer new book is a #1 international best-seller and is entitled, The Courage of a Leader: How to Inspire, Engage and Get Extraordinary Results.http://www.courageofaleader.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/amyshooprileyThanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the, podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.

SME's face various challenges when adopting digital tools in Ireland, which is why empowering SMEs with accessible technology is critical to economic growth. A fast and  simple ERP can redefine the market dynamics for small business success and one man who knows all-out this is Morgan Browne founder and CEO  of Enterpryze. I recently caught up with Morgan to find out more.Morgan talks about his background, cloud erp solution, AI  and more.More about Morgan Browne:Morgan Browne is the Founder and CEO of Enterpryze and is a highly regarded member of SAP's Global Partner Executive Council and was a finalist in the EY (Entrepreneur of the Year Awards) in 2015.He spent a year studying Computer Science at the Institute of Technology Tallaght before catching the entrepreneurial bug. An avid businessman and technology enthusiast, Morgan Browne is passionate about helping SMEs succeed financially, and empowering them to achieve their full potential.With this in mind, Morgan purchased Milner Browne 10 years ago and developed it from a reseller business into a solutions company using SAP technology as a key platform provider.The Milner Browne Group develops business management software to help SMEs work smarter and more effectively, Milner Browne is a Deloitte best managed companies platinum member and a fast 50 finalist.In 2017, Morgan officially launched Enterpryze, the world's first mobile-first solution for SAP Business One.

The League Episode #43 – Show Notes In episode 43 of The League, Treasury has released initial guidance on Foreign Entity of Concern (FEOC) rules, reshaping tax credit eligibility, supply chains, and project financing across the clean energy industry. In this episode, Benoy Thanjan and David Magid break down what the guidance means for developers, investors, and manufacturers and provide a deep dive into the latest trends in New York's interconnection queues. Host Bio: Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, solar developer and consulting firm, and a strategic advisor to multiple cleantech startups. Over his career, Benoy has developed over 100 MWs of solar projects across the U.S., helped launch the first residential solar tax equity funds at Tesla, and brokered $45 million in Renewable Energy Credits (“REC”) transactions. Prior to founding Reneu Energy, Benoy was the Environmental Commodities Trader in Tesla's Project Finance Group, where he managed one of the largest environmental commodities portfolios. He originated REC trades and co-developed a monetization and hedging strategy with senior leadership to enter the East Coast market.  As Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners, Benoy crafted project finance solutions for commercial-scale solar portfolios. His role at Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund with 125 MWs of U.S. renewable assets, involved evaluating investment opportunities and maximizing returns. He also played a key role in the sale of the firm's renewable portfolio.  Earlier in his career, Benoy worked in Energy Structured Finance at Deloitte & Touche and Financial Advisory Services at Ernst & Young, following an internship on the trading floor at D.E. Shaw & Co., a multi billion dollar hedge fund. Benoy holds an MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from NYU Stern, where he was an Alumni Scholar. Connect with Benoy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benoythanjan/ Learn more: https://reneuenergy.com https://www.solarmaverickpodcast.com   Host Bio: David Magid David Magid is a seasoned renewable energy executive with deep expertise in solar development, financing, and operations. He has worked across the clean energy value chain, leading teams that deliver distributed generation and community solar projects. David is widely recognized for his strategic insights on interconnection, market economics, and policy trends shaping the U.S. solar industry. Connect with David on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmagid/  If you have any questions or comments, you can email us at info@reneuenergy.com.  

A global survey from Deloitte shows business leaders expect about 10% of roles to be fully automated within the next year. One school tackling AI head-on is Westlake Girls' High School on Auckland's North Shore. Its 'Futures Education' and AI lead, Susana Tomaz spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Fernanda Rocha nos habla sobre un nuevo proyecto para catalogar el contenido generado por humanos y el contenido creado por inteligencia artificial.Jon Black nos comparte los retos del emprendimiento y el freelancing que todos los que quieran emprender deberían conocer.Te platicamos sobre una técnica creativa practicada por Bill Gates y Albert Einstein: "la soledad deliciosa".Y para nuestros Patreon, revisamos el nuevo libro de Jen Fisher, exejecutiva de Deloitte, titulado: "La esperanza es la estrategia".

Brought to you by the Founders Unfiltered podcast by A Junior VC - Unscripted conversations with Indian founders about their story and the process of building a company. Hosted by Aviral and Mazin.Join us as we talk to Mazin about his journey and the experiences that shaped his path.He shared how A Junior VC evolved from a simple newsletter into a thriving community and eventually a fund, along with the lessons he learned along the way.We also dived into his journey of hosting the AJVC Unfiltered podcast alongside Aviral, and the conversations and insights that came from it.Mazin completed his BSE and MSE from University of Michigan and later pursued his MBA from INSEAD.Over the years, he worked across global organizations including Deloitte, Emirates NBD, and Pfizer.He is currently a Senior Product Manager at Agoda.

The State of AI in the Enterprise report from Deloitte found 36% of the 3000 organisations it surveyed expect at least 10% of roles to be fully automated within a year. Deloitte New Zealand AI Institute Director, Dr Amanda Williamson spoke to Corin Dann.

Father Sal records his final episode as a bachelor, we launch our new Couch Potatoes Top Chef recap series, and then we head straight to Santa Monica for one of the most ambitious meals in Los Angeles: SELINE.Chef Dave Beran's winter tasting menu is structured around the idea of “outside” and “inside” — cold, memory, warmth, progression. We break down the sunflower sequence disguised as cod, the venison tartare that had us laughing mid-bite, the short rib slider moment, and whether SELINE is already operating at a Michelin-star level.Then we zoom out.We unpack the James Beard Foundation's State of the Restaurant Industry report, produced with Deloitte, and talk about what it actually says: volatility as the new norm, alcohol sales declining, guests spending less per visit, full dining rooms that still aren't profitable, and the widening gap between consumer expectations and restaurant economics. Oh, and here's that New School report we keep referencing. After that, Chef's Kiss / Big Miss returns — our recurring segment where we call balls and strikes on LA food culture:Sqirl flips to dinnerThe “restaurant monologue” backlashPizza losing ground to Mexican and Asian cuisineAnd a few takes that might ruffle feathersIn Part 2, we sit down with Laurent Vernhes (founder of Tablet Hotels) and Tito Melega of MVA.wine — a 600-member wine collective that blind tastes 50–60 wines in Tuscany and only selects six. No filler inventory. No mass distribution. Just curation and scarcity.And if you're interested in becoming an MVA member - a.k.a. a Vinefinder - the first 20 listeners to sign up get a $50 discount on their first collection with code "LAFOOD"Powered by Acquired Taste

▶️ Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardatherton-firsthuman/   Is hope naïve or is it the missing ingredient in modern leadership? In this episode of Being Human, I speak with Jen Fisher, former Chief Wellbeing Officer at Deloitte and author of Hope Is the Strategy. After experiencing severe burnout herself, Jen discovered that hope isn't wishful thinking — it's a measurable, actionable skill grounded in research. We explore why burnout may actually be a symptom of hopelessness, how leaders unintentionally kill hope through language and behaviour, and why cultivating agency, multiple pathways, and honest truth-telling transforms culture. Jen shares practical tools, including hope audits, hope spotting, and the power of vulnerability in leadership. We discuss: Burnout as a crisis of hopelessness What real hope actually means Leadership language that builds or kills hope Practical tools to cultivate hopeful cultures Links: Jen's Website

Episode Summary: In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, host Benoy Thanjan sits down with H.G. Chissell, Founder and CEO of AEG ("Advanced Energy Group"), live from DistribuTech 2026 in San Diego. H.G. shares how AEG convenes utilities, regulators, agencies, corporates, and community leaders to turn urgent climate and grid challenges into action through a “competitive collaboration” model built around 12-month goals and 90-day sprints. They discuss why trust and affordability are emerging as defining issues of the energy transition, how human-centered outcomes can accelerate adoption, and what it takes to drive real progress across complex stakeholder groups.   Biographies Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, solar developer and consulting firm, and a strategic advisor to multiple cleantech startups. Over his career, Benoy has developed over 100 MWs of solar projects across the U.S., helped launch the first residential solar tax equity funds at Tesla, and brokered $45 million in Renewable Energy Credits (“REC”) transactions. Prior to founding Reneu Energy, Benoy was the Environmental Commodities Trader in Tesla's Project Finance Group, where he managed one of the largest environmental commodities portfolios. He originated REC trades and co-developed a monetization and hedging strategy with senior leadership to enter the East Coast market. As Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners, Benoy crafted project finance solutions for commercial-scale solar portfolios. His role at Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund with 125 MWs of U.S. renewable assets, involved evaluating investment opportunities and maximizing returns. He also played a key role in the sale of the firm's renewable portfolio. Earlier in his career, Benoy worked in Energy Structured Finance at Deloitte & Touche and Financial Advisory Services at Ernst & Young, following an internship on the trading floor at D.E. Shaw & Co., a multi billion dollar hedge fund. Benoy holds an MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from NYU Stern, where he was an Alumni Scholar. H.G. Chissell H.G. Chissell is the Founder and CEO of Advanced Energy Group (AEG), a stakeholder engagement and action platform that convenes utilities, regulators, policymakers, corporations, and community leaders to accelerate the energy transition. Over the past decade, he has built AEG into a nationally recognized forum for collaborative problem-solving, using a unique “competitive collaboration” model that transforms urgent climate, grid, and infrastructure challenges into 12-month action plans supported by 90-day implementation sprints. Before founding AEG, H.G. worked in leadership consulting and architecture, experiences that shaped his focus on designing human-centered frameworks that inspire accountability, trust, and measurable outcomes. His work has helped catalyze cross-sector initiatives in cities across the United States, advancing solutions in areas such as infrastructure resilience, affordability, grid optimization, and community-centered decarbonization. H.G. is also the founder of the Carbon Leadership Forum (CarbonLEAP) fellowship program, which connects emerging professionals with industry leaders to support real-world climate action projects while developing the next generation of energy transition leaders. Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com  LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com Website: https://www.solarmaverickpodcast.com/       H.G. Chissell     Website: https://aeg.team/     Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/hgchissell/     AEG events:  https://luma.com/aeg   Please provide 5 star reviews      If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share the Solar Maverick Podcast so more people can learn how to accelerate the clean energy transition.    Reneu Energy Reneu Energy provides expert consulting across solar and storage project development, financing, energy strategy, and environmental commodities. Our team helps clients originate, structure, and execute opportunities in community solar, C&I, utility-scale, and renewable energy credit markets. Email us at info@reneuenergy.com to learn more.            

"Marketing is required in any business, and the marketing landscape is constantly changing. You have to evolve with it." In this episode, Heather and Jess Shirra break down what it actually looks like to evolve with the marketing landscape without burning yourself out or throwing money at strategies that don't move the needle in your unique business. This is a real conversation about the identity shift that comes with hiring a team, the weight of holding the bigger pieces alone, and why bringing in the right marketing leadership at the right time can change everything. If you've ever felt the pressure to "figure it out" yourself, questioned your strategy, or wondered whether you're investing in the right things, this episode will challenge how you think about growth, support, and building a business that honors your lifestyle, not just your revenue goals. What to listen for: ✨ The identity shift and initiation that come with hiring a team for your business ✨ How the heaviness of holding the bigger pieces can negatively impact your work ✨ Understanding the right hiring order for team members, and finding their best role "The CMO role is almost like having insurance for your marketing budget and marketing efforts. Someone inside your business is making sure you're not wasting money, spending too much, or focusing on the wrong thing,s and that every single little bit of energy, effort, revenue, like budget is being directed towards the most needle-moving things." ✨ Hiring a Chief Marketing Officer who honors your lifestyle and goals ✨ Why you need a marketing strategy and a dedicated lead-generation funnel ✨ The importance of asking for support in advance so you don't expect instant ROI "If you have a strong CMO, what that person will do is hear your ideas and then think about that in the bigger picture of where we're going, and this thing actually does make sense, or it's going to actually make that other thing faster or better." ✨ The importance of having a solid marketing strategy in place, even if you're new ✨ Building self-trust and navigating the lack of ethics in online marketing ✨ Understanding there's no one right way to market a business About Jess Shirra: Jess Shirra is a Fractional CMO and the founder of The CMO Office, where she partners with 7- and 8-figure creators and brands to bring them the clarity, direction, and leadership they've been missing in their marketing.  Over her 15-year career, she's led marketing for global brands like Lululemon, Pottery Barn, Strava, and Deloitte, and has supported top creators including Jenna Kutcher, Lori Harder, and Vanessa and Xander Marin. Jess' superpower is her ability to cut through the noise and help founders understand what their businesses truly need to grow. Connect with Jess: Website: https://www.thecmooffice.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marketing.by.jess  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicashirra/  *** For those of you who are ready to stop feeling drained, overextended, and out of alignment… join me for a one-on-one Time & Energy Audit, a focused session designed to help high-achieving women uncover what's draining them, clarify what truly matters, and create a simple plan that fits their life. We'll pinpoint your biggest time + energy leaks, identify the top areas to focus on for quick momentum, and map out exactly what to let go of so you can reclaim your energy, your time, and your joy. Ready to make your time work for you without adding more to your plate? Book a Time & Energy Audit: https://heatherchauvin.com/audit Apply for the next Coaching Cohort: https://heatherchauvin.com/apply Not ready for 1:1? Join the membership (cancel anytime): https://heatherchauvin.com/membership

What does it take to revitalize a 150-year-old company? Jim's guest this week, Conny Kalcher, has done it twice. First at LEGO during its historic turnaround, and now at Zurich Insurance as their Group Chief Customer Officer, where she's proving that empathy is not a soft skill but a strategic advantage. Conny spent 33 years at LEGO, where she helped navigate one of the most dramatic brand turnarounds in modern business history. Then in 2019, she joined Zurich Insurance, a company with over 200-country reach and a $100 billion market capitalization, to lead global customer loyalty and advocacy at a time when trust and humanity matter more than ever. And since joining, Conny has helped drive millions of new customers, a 35% increase in brand value, and measurable improvements in satisfaction and retention.This is a conversation about renewing legacy brands, leading cultural transformation, and proving that empathy is not just good for people, it's good for business.—Learn more, request a free pass, and register at iab.com/newfrontsPromo Code for free access: CMOPODNEW26*Note: promo code is exclusive for brand and agency, brand marketers and media buyers. IAB reserves the right to cancel any registrations that don't meet this criterion. —This week's episode is brought to you by Deloitte and IAB.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the final episode of AI360, Head of Applied AI at Deloitte, Jim Rowan, and Rohan Gupta reflect on recent breakthroughs in AI and what's next, including how companies can ensure success with AI.

Fear is expensive. In 2025, manufacturers delayed billions in capital projects because anxiety, not data, drove business decisions.But 2026 is different. Tax incentives expire mid-year, borrowing costs are down, and the hard data shows CapEx accelerating at 3-4%. The companies acting on facts while others remain frozen are the ones positioned to gain market share, capture expiring tax benefits, and pull ahead.This episode comes to you live from the A3 Forum 2026, where the message is clear: 2026 isn't about waiting for certainty. It's about preparing for complexity with multiple strategies, acting on hard economic data, and recognizing that technology will solve the labor shortage. You'll hear why geopolitics can no longer be ignored and why every manufacturing company needs dedicated monitoring and scenario-based planning to navigate constant disruption. We dig into why America's $1+ trillion manufacturing investment boom is creating career opportunities that rival the tech industry and why the outdated narrative around manufacturing jobs is costing the industry the next generation of talent. Plus, we explore how automation and robotics are becoming the central solution for critical challenges and how theme park robotics taught the industry the power of asking “how” instead of “no”.In this episode, find out:Why 2026 is transitioning from a year of uncertainty to a year of complexityHow to become a value-added partner instead of a transactional sellerHow America's $1+ trillion manufacturing investment is rebuilding domestic capabilityWhy manufacturing careers now offer competitive tech-level salariesWhy 92% of manufacturing CEOs prioritize smart manufacturing as their top growth strategyThe impact of expiring tax incentives on CapEx decision-making urgencyWhy AI has shifted from hype to practical implementation questionsHow theme park robotics pioneered human-robot collaboration and safety standardsWhy the answer should be "how" instead of "no" when facing unconventional challengesEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It's feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:“We are in a manufacturing revolution, but most people don't realize it yet. More importantly, America is starting to learn how to rebuild and manufacture its own goods. We are starting the process to build and AI is a tool that will help close that chasm.” – Bob Little“If 2025 was marked as a year of uncertainty, I think we are now far enough into the process to recognize that it's transitioning to a year of complexity in 2026. You have to be prepared for a variety of different scenarios. You have to treat it almost like war gaming, if you think about it.” – Alex Chausovsky, “92% of manufacturing CEOs interviewed by Deloitte said smart automation or smart manufacturing...

#790 What if the easiest way to grow your business was hiding in plain sight — your existing customers? In this episode, host Brien Gearin welcomes back Brian O'Connor, ex-Deloitte consultant, founder of TalentHQ, and three-time MU guest, to dive deep into the power of customer success. Learn how businesses of all sizes — from SaaS companies to local service providers — can drive massive growth by retaining clients, generating referrals, collecting more reviews, and increasing lifetime customer value. Brian also shares how he helps companies hire top-tier talent from Latin America at a fraction of U.S. prices, and why the Customer Success Manager might be the most overlooked (and most profitable) role in your business. Whether you're just starting out or scaling fast, this episode will help you unlock more revenue — without chasing new leads! (Original Air Date - 6/26/25) What we discuss with Brian: + Customer success vs. customer service + Retention, referrals, and renewals + How SaaS pioneered customer success + Reoccurring vs. recurring revenue + Upselling through relationship building + Why reviews drive local business growth + Hiring top talent in Latin America + Small business roles to outsource + Automating follow-up for repeat sales + Customer success for online communities Thank you, Brian! Subscribe to Brian's newsletter at ⁠OutlierGrowth.com⁠. Follow Brian on social media @thebrianfoconnor. Email Brian at brian@talenthq.co. Watch the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠video podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ of this episode! To get access to our FREE Business Training course go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MillionaireUniversity.com/training⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. To get exclusive offers mentioned in this episode and to support the show, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠millionaireuniversity.com/sponsors⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Entrepreneur and EOS implementer Sid Joshnani joins me to unpack what really happens when a business grows fast, becomes dangerously dependent on one client, and nearly collapses under its own fragility.Most business stories skip the middle — the sleepless payroll nights, the rejected credit cards, the clients who stretch payments while you carry 35 salaries on your back. This episode doesn't.Sid shares how his IT services company grew to $3 million in revenue — with one client representing 75% of it — and how that concentration nearly pushed him into bankruptcy. We walk through the tension of chasing late payments from large corporations, the anxiety of holding only $150 in the corporate checking account, and the uncomfortable realization that dependence kills leverage.From there, the conversation turns tactical.Sid explains how discovering EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) helped him move from firefighting to systems thinking. We break down pipeline discipline, activity-based metrics, hiring dedicated sales leadership, understanding unit economics, and why the ability to walk away from a deal only comes when you've architected your business not to need it.We also explore the emotional side: leaving Deloitte for entrepreneurship, briefly returning to consulting to survive, moonlighting to stay afloat, and the psychological weight of carrying other people's livelihoods.This isn't a glamorized founder story.It's a candid conversation about de-risking your business before it de-risks you.The lesson isn't avoiding struggle.It's building a company that can survive it.TL;DR* Client concentration risk can destroy otherwise profitable businesses* Large companies use extended payables as a financing tool — small vendors absorb the pain* The best negotiation position is not needing the deal* Revenue diversification creates leverage* Activity-based metrics matter more than lagging financial indicators* Cash in the bank is stability — not vanity* Unit economics must work before operating systems can scale them* Discipline and consistency outperform bursts of motivation* Entrepreneurship isn't freedom — it's responsibilityMemorable Lines* “The best way to negotiate a deal is to not need it.”* “When one client is 75% of your revenue, you don't own a business — you own a risk.”* “Big companies use small vendors as a finance tool.”* “Discipline and consistency always win.”* “You can't scale chaos — you have to systematize it first.”GuestSid Joshnani — Entrepreneur, EOS implementer, and Founder & CEO of RecrudoFormer MSP owner who rebuilt after near collapse and now helps companies implement EOS while also leading a staffing company connecting founders with offshore talent in the Philippines and Latin America.

Episode Summary: Robots Are Building Solar Farms Robots Are Building Solar Farms: How Cosmic Robotics Is Transforming Utility-Scale Construction In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, host Benoy Thanjan sits down with James Emerick, Co-Founder and CEO of Cosmic Robotics, to explore how autonomous robotics are changing the way utility-scale solar is built. Cosmic Robotics is developing an autonomous vehicle with an industrial robotic arm that installs PV modules on to racking, reducing labor intensity while improving safety and predictability on job sites. James shares why module installation is one of the most labor-intensive and OSHA recordable injury-prone tasks in solar construction and how robotics can help crews work faster and safer. They also discuss the company's approach to deploying robots in the field, using real-world data to improve performance, and expanding into adjacent tasks like QA/QC and other construction applications over time. The conversation also touches on the broader drivers accelerating automation, including labor constraints, tighter project economics, and the surge in behind-the-meter power needs from data centers and AI infrastructure.   Key Takeaways Robotics can reduce crew size while maintaining or improving daily module install throughput • Safety is a primary driver, not just cost, since module install has high injury exposure • Well-scoped tasks like module placement are a practical path to field-ready autonomy • The long-term opportunity is a broader robotics platform for solar and adjacent infrastructure   Biographies Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, solar developer and consulting firm, and a strategic advisor to multiple cleantech startups. Over his career, Benoy has developed over 100 MWs of solar projects across the U.S., helped launch the first residential solar tax equity funds at Tesla, and brokered $45 million in Renewable Energy Credits (“REC”) transactions. Prior to founding Reneu Energy, Benoy was the Environmental Commodities Trader in Tesla's Project Finance Group, where he managed one of the largest environmental commodities portfolios. He originated REC trades and co-developed a monetization and hedging strategy with senior leadership to enter the East Coast market. As Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners, Benoy crafted project finance solutions for commercial-scale solar portfolios. His role at Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund with 125 MWs of U.S. renewable assets, involved evaluating investment opportunities and maximizing returns. He also played a key role in the sale of the firm's renewable portfolio. Earlier in his career, Benoy worked in Energy Structured Finance at Deloitte & Touche and Financial Advisory Services at Ernst & Young, following an internship on the trading floor at D.E. Shaw & Co., a multi billion dollar hedge fund. Benoy holds an MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from NYU Stern, where he was an Alumni Scholar.   James Emerick James Emerick is the Co-Founder and CEO of Cosmic Robotics, a construction equipment company building autonomous equipment for utility-scale solar. Cosmic's first product is an autonomous vehicle with an industrial robotic arm that installs PV modules on racking to make solar construction faster, safer, and more predictable.   Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com  LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com Website: https://www.solarmaverickpodcast.com/       James Emerick     Website: https://www.cosmicrobotics.com/     Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesemerick/   Please provide 5 star reviews      If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share the Solar Maverick Podcast so more people can learn how to accelerate the clean energy transition.    Reneu Energy Reneu Energy provides expert consulting across solar and storage project development, financing, energy strategy, and environmental commodities. Our team helps clients originate, structure, and execute opportunities in community solar, C&I, utility-scale, and renewable energy credit markets. Email us at info@reneuenergy.com to learn more.   Solar Maverick Happy Hour During Intersolar San Diego on Feb 18th https://luma.com/7v50llsn            

In this episode of Plugged Into Public Health, three second-year MHA students reflect on their summer internship experiences and the lessons they are carrying forward into their administrative fellowships. Matt Mathew shares his experience at UCHealth in Colorado, where he worked across multiple service lines including trauma, oncology, cardiovascular, and neuro/spine. He discusses leading Lean Six Sigma process improvement efforts and learning to manage ambiguity in executive-facing projects. Hattie Dukes spent her summer at Allina Health in the Twin Cities, working in continuing care. Her projects ranged from writing a business plan for an inpatient rehabilitation expansion to exploring housing solutions for long-stay patients. She reflects on the importance of engaging frontline staff and advocating for her own learning. Meg Yellepeddi interned at Deloitte in Chicago, supporting a large-scale electronic health record implementation. She discusses project management in consulting, organizational change management, and the importance of communication and collaboration in healthcare leadership. The episode closes with advice for first-year MHA students preparing for internship applications and highlights where each student will begin their administrative fellowship next year. A transcript of this episode will be available here soon. Have a question for our podcast crew or an idea for an episode? You can email them at CPH-GradAmbassador@uiowa.edu You can also support Plugged in to Public Health by sharing this episode and others with your friends, colleagues, and social networks. #publichealth #MHA #summerexperience #internship #fellowship #mastersdegree #healthadministration #graduatedegree #realworldexperience #iowacity

With the Olympics bringing the world together once again through sport, we're sharing an episode worth revisiting that feels especially timely.This week, join us as we reach into the vault to share an episode captured live at the Adobe Summit in Las Vegas in March 2025. Jim was joined on stage by Emily Silver, SVP, Chief Marketing, eCommerce & Athlete Experience Officer at Dick's Sporting Goods, the $13 billion revenue retailer. Dick's was founded by Dick Stack in 1948 with his first product line, bait and tackle. Today, Pittsburgh based Dick's Sporting Goods has more than 850 stores and a variety of other experience centers and platforms, all focused on sports, and is a major partner of Team USA and the official sporting goods retail provider for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.Emily has worked at Dick's for about 18 months after spending over 16 years at PepsiCo in about nine different roles. Her CEO, Lauren Hobart, was appointed Dick's CMO in 2011 and previously held that role for several years.Tune in for a personal conversation that speaks to the positive influence of sports, something we as a community have been reminded of through watching the Olympic and Paralympic Games this year.—This week's episode is brought to you by Deloitte.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Work is making people sick, and quick fixes are not enough. In this episode, I'm joined by Jen Fisher, former Chief Wellbeing Officer at Deloitte, to talk about why wellbeing isn't a perk but a business imperative. We break down why burnout is often rooted in systemic issues and hopelessness, how middle managers shape our daily mental health, and why hope and an understanding of the human nervous system may be the most underrated leadership skills of all. Tune in to rethink what wellbeing means and what it takes to lead with hope right now. Check out our sponsors: Northwest Registered Agent - Protect your privacy, build your brand and get your complete business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes! Visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/achieverfree Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to http://shopify.com/anxiousachiever Talkiatry - Head to http://talkiaitry.com/achiever and complete the short assessment to get matched with an in network psychiatrist in just a few minutes. Working Genius - Take the working genius assessment today and get 20% off with code ACHIEVER at working http://genius.com Brevo - Meet brevo, the all in one marketing and CRM platform built to help you connect with customers, boost engagement and grow your business smarter. Go to brevo.com/achiever and use code ACHIEVER50 for 50% off.  In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 Why wellbeing is more than mental health benefits. 06:00 How burnout led Jen to pioneer the Chief Wellbeing Officer role. 13:00 What does “wellbeing at work” mean? 19:30 The ROI of fixing workplace culture. 23:00 Why does AI make us so anxious?  26:00 Why wellbeing must be part of organizational strategy. 30:00 How constant disruption dysregulates employees. 33:15 What is the definition of a successful leader? 37:15 What workplace data misses about human outcomes. 40:30 The #1 thing employees want from leaders. 46:00 Why middle management is the make-or-break layer. 51:00 Incentives drive culture more than values. 58:15 How to build a wellbeing role inside your organization. Resources + Links Get your copy of Jen's book - Hope Is The Strategy Read Jen's article: “The Wellbeing Imperative: What I Learned Pioneering the Chief Wellbeing Officer Role” Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube  Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Jen: on LinkedIn @jenfisher + Instagram @jenfish23

The League Episode #42 – Show Notes In episode 42 of The League, David Magid and Benoy Thanjan break down major developments shaping power markets, grid modernization, and clean energy investment. David highlights PJM's proposed emergency capacity auction featuring 15-year contracts, a potential game changer for project finance and new generation. He also covers Massachusetts' vehicle-to-grid pilot, signaling early progress toward virtual power plants. Benoy shares insights from DistribuTech, where AI-driven load growth, microgrids, and grid resiliency dominated conversations. He also reports from the Cleantech Forum, where venture capital is becoming more cautious and capital efficiency is now critical for startups. The big picture: the energy transition continues, but market signals, grid constraints, and tighter capital are reshaping how projects get built and financed.   Host Bio: Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, solar developer and consulting firm, and a strategic advisor to multiple cleantech startups. Over his career, Benoy has developed over 100 MWs of solar projects across the U.S., helped launch the first residential solar tax equity funds at Tesla, and brokered $45 million in Renewable Energy Credits (“REC”) transactions. Prior to founding Reneu Energy, Benoy was the Environmental Commodities Trader in Tesla's Project Finance Group, where he managed one of the largest environmental commodities portfolios. He originated REC trades and co-developed a monetization and hedging strategy with senior leadership to enter the East Coast market.  As Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners, Benoy crafted project finance solutions for commercial-scale solar portfolios. His role at Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund with 125 MWs of U.S. renewable assets, involved evaluating investment opportunities and maximizing returns. He also played a key role in the sale of the firm's renewable portfolio.  Earlier in his career, Benoy worked in Energy Structured Finance at Deloitte & Touche and Financial Advisory Services at Ernst & Young, following an internship on the trading floor at D.E. Shaw & Co., a multi billion dollar hedge fund. Benoy holds an MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from NYU Stern, where he was an Alumni Scholar. Connect with Benoy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benoythanjan/ Learn more: https://reneuenergy.com https://www.solarmaverickpodcast.com   Host Bio: David Magid David Magid is a seasoned renewable energy executive with deep expertise in solar development, financing, and operations. He has worked across the clean energy value chain, leading teams that deliver distributed generation and community solar projects. David is widely recognized for his strategic insights on interconnection, market economics, and policy trends shaping the U.S. solar industry. Connect with David on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmagid/  If you have any questions or comments, you can email us at info@reneuenergy.com.  

In this episode, I'm joined by Bill Briggs, CTO at Deloitte, for a straight-talking conversation about why so many organizations get stuck in what he calls "pilot purgatory," and what it takes to move from impressive demos to measurable outcomes. Bill has spent nearly three decades helping leaders translate the "what" of new technology into the "so what," and the "now what," and he brings that lens to everything from GenAI to agentic systems, core modernization, and the messy reality of technical debt. We start with a moment of real-world context, Bill calling in from San Francisco with Super Bowl week chaos nearby, and the funny way Waymo selfies quickly turn into "oh, another Waymo" once the novelty fades. That same pattern shows up in enterprise tech, where shiny tools can grab attention fast, while the harder work, data foundations, APIs, governance, and process redesign, gets pushed to the side. Bill breaks down why layering AI on top of old workflows can backfire, including the idea that you can "weaponize inefficiency" and end up paying for it twice, once in complexity and again in compute costs. From there, we get into his "innovation flywheel" view, where progress depends on getting AI into the hands of everyday teams, building trust beyond the C-suite, and embedding guardrails into engineering pipelines so safety and discipline do not rely on wishful thinking. We also dig into technical debt with a framing I suspect will stick with a lot of listeners. Bill explains three types, malfeasance, misfeasance, and non-feasance, and why most debt comes from understandable trade-offs, not bad intent. It leads into a practical discussion on how to prioritize modernization without falling for simplistic "cloud good, mainframe bad" narratives. We finish with a myth-busting riff on infrastructure choices, a quick look at what he sees coming next in physical AI and robotics, and a human ending that somehow lands on Beach Boys songs and pinball machines, because tech leadership is still leadership, and leaders are still people. So after hearing Bill's take, where do you think your organization is right now, measurable outcomes, success theater, or somewhere in between, and what would you change first, and please share your thoughts?   Useful Links Connect With Bill Briggs Deloitte Tech Trends 2026 report Deloitte The State of AI in the Enterprise report

This week on a replay episode, Traci welcomes Bianca Best to discuss what actually stops burnout and why values alignment matters more than sleep, exercise, or vitamins.Bianca Best is a globally recognized speaker, author, and strategist whose career includes collaborations with Google, Amazon, Deloitte, Barclays, and Unilever. She's dedicated to empowering professionals to achieve extraordinary results without sacrificing their health or happiness. Her book Big Impact Without Burnout offers actionable strategies to help leaders align purpose with performance while thriving sustainably.(00:00) Meet Bianca and What This Episode Is Really About(03:11) From Side Hustle to Entrepreneurship: How the Burnout Cycle Started(08:14) Why Your Last Burnout Happened in 2015—And What Changed(10:30) The Missing Piece Nobody Talks About(15:10) That Feeling in Your Gut That Something's Wrong(22:08) Energy Management as Your Foundation(24:16) Why Where You Work Actually Matters(26:24) How Gender Changes the Burnout Equation(30:32) What the Workforce Is About to Look Like(34:27) The One Question That Changes Everything About Your CareerThis conversation will change how you think about your career, your values, and what burnout really costs you. If you're feeling stuck between ambition and exhaustion, this is for you. Connect with Bianca Best: Website: BiancaBest.com  Book: Big Impact Without Burnout (endorsed by Arianna Huffington)Connect with Traci: https://linktr.ee/HRTraci Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you listen. Share this with someone on your team who's running on empty.Disclaimer: Thoughts, opinions, and statements made on this podcast are not a reflection of the thoughts, opinions, and statements of the Company by whom Traci Chernoff is actively employed.Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products or services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

The Deal You Never Knew Existed. Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://theultimatepartner.com/ebook-subscribe/ Check Out UPX: https://theultimatepartner.com/experience/ In this deep dive, Jay McBain reveals the harsh reality of the “28 Moments” in a modern B2B buying journey, using a multi-million dollar SAP deal at AstraZeneca as a wake-up call for vendors. He explains how traditional marketing leads are failing in the “decade of the ecosystem,” where trusted partners like NTT and SoftwareOne are winning deals in “light blue” partnership moments months before a customer ever downloads an ebook. If you aren’t visible in the seven-layer stack or collaborating with the partners who hold the customer’s trust, you aren’t just losing the deal—you're losing the entire market. https://youtu.be/NO-P6X2dTAo?si=8e_sVesqvwaC0M-E Key Takeaways Most vendors lose major deals without ever knowing a transaction was even taking place. The average considered purchase involves 28 distinct moments of research and influence before a sale. Trusted partners often close the deal in the “middle moments” months before the money is actually spent. Traditional marketing leads (MQLs) are often too “flimsy” compared to deep partner-led relationships. Winning in the ecosystem requires being part of a “seven-layer stack” of integrated technology and services. Data-sharing platforms like Crossbeam and Workspan are now essential to seeing the “invisible” pipeline. If you're ready to lead through change, elevate your business, and achieve extraordinary outcomes through the power of partnership—this is your community. At Ultimate Partner® we want leaders like you to join us in the Ultimate Partner Experience – where transformation begins. Key Tags: 28 Moments, Jay McBain, Ecosystem Strategy, AstraZeneca SAP Deal, Seven Layer Stack, B2B Buying Journey, Partner Ecosystem, NTT, SoftwareOne, Channel Strategy, Buyer Intent, Informa TechTarget, Collaborative Selling, Crossbeam, Partner Tap, Workspan, Marketplace Tracking, Co-selling, Tech Integration, Revenue Architecture, Pipeline Growth, Trusted Advisor, Digital Transformation, SAP Optimization, Microsoft AWS Competition. Transcript: [00:00:00] Jay McBain: So if you’re a vendor trying to get into that seven layer stack and you don’t have that relationship, or you don’t have the knowledge that NTT or software one is going in, this will have been a deal that would’ve never hit your pipeline and you’ll have no knowledge. So you will have lost this deal without knowing there was a deal. [00:00:19] Vince Menzione: We’ve been talking 28 moments, but you have a slide. I thought we’d spend some time here because, you know, every conversation with you is about 28 moments, but you finally took the time to analyze one of your deals or one of the deals that was going on with one of your clients and come up with the 28 moments. [00:00:36] Vince Menzione: I thought we’d spend a little time here because this journey slide is a wake up call. Uh, it’s, it’s, it’s all around. Why, why we need to think about all of those. Points we need to think about communities and analysts and marketplaces and proof of concepts and architecture and everything else. I thought maybe you’d take us through this a little bit. [00:00:53] Vince Menzione: ’cause this was for a client, AstraZeneca, by the way. This was, uh, if you don’t know this, ICI Americas was the precursor of mm-hmm. AstraZeneca. It was the first SAP customer in North America. [00:01:03] Jay McBain: Nice. I did [00:01:04] Vince Menzione: not know that. That’s why Microsoft and SAP both headquartered. In that area, near nearby, that client. [00:01:10] Vince Menzione: That’s, uh, news, new news. [00:01:11] Jay McBain: And by the way, this is an SAP deal we’re looking at. Yeah. Uh, so two things here. One is that, um, while I was declaring the decade of the ecosystem, you know, spending time with you and Boca, in between that time we got acquired. Canals, which was Latin for channel, got acquired by oia, part of Informa TechTarget, part of this bigger informa company, which is a Fortune 100 company outta the uk. [00:01:32] Jay McBain: Fantastic. You know, we’re part of this massive organization that is really around buyer intent. How, you know, a tech target and, uh, running hundreds of magazines like Information Week and Computer Week that customers and partners read running hundreds of events, the biggest events on the planet. [00:01:49] Vince Menzione: Crazy [00:01:49] Jay McBain: in B2B, like Black Hat and all these things are run by [00:01:52] Vince Menzione: Yeah, [00:01:53] Jay McBain: informa. [00:01:53] Jay McBain: So it’s got this massive mountain of data. About the 28 moments. So when you start to think if you’re a CMO and you start to think about the early moments, you, you think about somebody reading an ebook or, um, going to a, a webinar or going onto a LinkedIn live just like this one. Yeah, going to a major event and getting a pair of socks from you. [00:02:13] Jay McBain: Um, but anything early in the journey. These are the m qls. These are the things that I need enough of them to be credible before I hand them over to my sales team. ’cause I don’t wanna be laughed out of the room. Hey, they read an ebook. They must, AstraZeneca must be buying millions of dollars of stuff. [00:02:27] Vince Menzione: Traditional marketing lead. [00:02:29] Jay McBain: Traditional marketing lead. So they’re a bit nervous about sharing that. And then later on, the sales motions, the demos and all the progression of the sales. This was the two decades before us, the decade of sales, decade of marketing. But the 28 moments, just to take a step back, if you haven’t heard, it is just a considered purchase. [00:02:46] Jay McBain: It’s about psychology, human psychology. When you go and buy a car, second most expensive thing that you will purchase you on average will go through 28 moments getting ready for that purchase. Some people go through two moments and they just drive to the Cadillac dealership to see Larry, who’s been selling Cadillacs to the family for 80 years. [00:03:04] Jay McBain: Yep. Some people spend 58 moments. That’s probably me. [00:03:07] Vince Menzione: That’s you, a, [00:03:08] Jay McBain: you know, going through all the depreciation, watching every YouTube video, you know, going to the end of the earth. But the average is 28. So you start to think about this, this is the same buying a car considered purchase, that you would buy a million dollars in software. [00:03:21] Jay McBain: From Microsoft or SAP. So when you look at these moments, you start to think, you know, how is you before you buy that car, downloading the invoice price, downloading this month’s backend rebates. Should I buy it in January? Should I buy it in February? All these decisions you make before you get to that dealership, you’re smarter than the salesperson, smarter than the sales manager. [00:03:39] Jay McBain: You know what 5,000 people bought the car for within 50 miles of you? I mean, you’re just so smart. You actually don’t need the dealership anymore. Just Carvana to me, hand me the keys. Exactly. But now in buying technology, hardware, software services, customers are getting this smart. And here’s all the moments they take to get this smart. [00:03:57] Jay McBain: But the thing we always had in mind in this decade of the ecosystem was the 96% there are trusted people. Yeah. Spending decades building that trust that come in in critical moments. They’re not marketing moments, they’re not sales moments. They are fully partnership moments. Yeah. And they’re on this slide in light blue. [00:04:15] Jay McBain: So if you were to look at this deal and, and somebody in marketing is finding these eBooks and webinars and they think there might be something, AWS got a direct hit on their website. So there’s something brewing at AstraZeneca. It, it might be in, it’s a big pharmaceutical company, so you’re probably spending millions of dollars if something’s brewing. [00:04:31] Jay McBain: Yep. But guess what? At the same time, in December on this six month journey. Partners come in with five different paid projects, consulting, advisory design projects, and in this case it was NTT software one, Yash and uh, ISV was there. Yep. But NTT won three different. Deals right at that critical stage. It wasn’t Accenture, it wasn’t Deloitte, NTT at this particular department of AstraZeneca had spent the decades building those relationships. [00:04:58] Jay McBain: So they were the one, and they won critical part of this. And so that’s when the deal is won. And it’s not at April when the money’s being spent. Yeah, it’s, it’s not in March when a couple more ISVs joined the mix, that seven layer stack that solves this particular problem, it was right there. So if you’re a vendor trying to get into that seven layer stack and you don’t have that relationship, or you don’t have the knowledge that NTT or software one is going in, this will have been a deal that would’ve never hit your pipeline and you’ll have no knowledge. [00:05:30] Jay McBain: So you will have lost this deal without knowing there was a deal, which makes up again, the majority of your tam. [00:05:34] Vince Menzione: Yeah. [00:05:35] Jay McBain: But what if I did have this agentic ability to see this deal coming, and I’m a cybersecurity company, I’m just competing for layer five of the deal, but I know that it’s all happening in December. [00:05:46] Jay McBain: So the two things that jump out on this particular slide is one, they don’t just show up in December. [00:05:51] Vince Menzione: Yeah, [00:05:51] Jay McBain: this went closed one in their Salesforce CRM in August, September, well, before the customer ever read an ebook. So now you’re not dealing with a flimsy MQL. You’re dealing with a couple of great, you know, top partner 1000 sized firms. [00:06:09] Jay McBain: One of them is a partner, 30 firm. [00:06:11] Vince Menzione: Exactly. [00:06:12] Jay McBain: That is absolutely going into and earning hundreds of thousands of dollars in services to guide the customer to a millions of dollars in purchase. And, and you can imagine in that boardroom. With A CMO saying, Hey, I got this stuff here. And the head of channels or partnerships saying, no, no, this is real. [00:06:32] Jay McBain: Here’s the names, faces, and places. Yeah. And here’s how it’s happening. And this is exactly, this is the Gantt chart, this is the show up, this is the project, this is the outcome. This is exactly how it’s playing out. Now if I could go back and the board and the C-suite should be asking us, well, how many more deals like this can you see? [00:06:50] Vince Menzione: Yeah. [00:06:51] Jay McBain: If our TAM is, you know, how many billions of dollars? Could you double our pipeline by seeing more of these middle moments? And if we got a couple of months to spend with these partners before they get in front of the customer, could they build more of our portfolio into the deal so we’re not just layer five, maybe we’re layer three and layer five. [00:07:10] Vince Menzione: This slide screams at me. Integr Tech integration Cha. A partner channel integration of tech, uh, whether it’s Crossbeam, whether it’s Partner Tap, whether it’s work span, or any of these other technologies, tackle any of these technologies that are tracking marketplace, that are tracking partner to partner, co-selling. [00:07:30] Vince Menzione: Getting the integration points. The only way to really understand the situation here, because this is a multinational company. Yeah. It’s being touched at all PO points around the globe. And to understand who’s calling who, who’s influencing who, and getting a real view, you know, a uber view of what that looks like is super important. [00:07:47] Jay McBain: It is. And you know, if I’m trying to sell like a cross beam or partner tab or work span or something into my executive team, I’m just showing them this slide. [00:07:54] Vince Menzione: Exactly. [00:07:54] Jay McBain: Would you like to know about this deal? Like you see, October is the start of the timeline here. Would you like to know about this deal in August, September? [00:08:00] Vince Menzione: Yep. [00:08:01] Jay McBain: Would you like to know about it automatically? Again, we’re not waiting for somebody, a human in a cubicle to go fill out a form. We’re not waiting for them to call somebody at our in, in a cubicle at our company. Yeah. We’re literally age genically sharing platforms, and so when this triggers that AstraZeneca and now triggers in our CRM system as well, our team on AstraZeneca gets notified and it gets notified in September before the 28 moments even starts. [00:08:27] Jay McBain: This, the power of this, of doubling, tripling your pipeline and then winning a bigger yield, a bigger percentage of that pipeline. This is the holy grail of our industry, and no one’s gonna get to a hundred percent. You’re not gonna have a hundred percent of your tam covered by your pipeline. No one’s gonna win a hundred percent of that. [00:08:43] Jay McBain: But again, we only have to be 10 or 20% better than our competitors and we need to start moving on this now. [00:08:50] Vince Menzione: So your imperative for the partners here, well everyone watching here today, I mean, this screams to me build your ecosystem strategy in such a strong and succinct way. What else would you say to them? [00:09:00] Jay McBain: I mean, the second thing that jumps out, you see two AWS direct touches here. This is something that this would be inbound. This AWS would see this deal in their pipeline. [00:09:09] Vince Menzione: Yeah. [00:09:10] Jay McBain: Because the customer came to them. AWS lost this deal. Crazy. So Microsoft won this deal. I, I mentioned Microsoft outgrowing AWS Yeah. [00:09:19] Jay McBain: ’cause in this particular case, NTT and Software One and Yash came in with Microsoft. Yeah. To solve an SAP optimization, Microsoft, and, you know, seven layer deal. So whether you’re in AWS, whether you’re in Microsoft, whether you’re anywhere else in this industry, you’re thinking like, you’re not gonna probably overtake what happens in December. [00:09:39] Jay McBain: These are the most trusted, smartest people in the room. And whatever happens in those projects is the seven layer stack the customer’s gonna buy in March, April. So I, I start to think about this and go, I need to win. ’cause NTT has a wonderful relationship with AWS. [00:09:55] Vince Menzione: They do, [00:09:56] Jay McBain: I mean, partner of the year level. [00:09:57] Jay McBain: I mean, they’ve got 10,000 people certified. I mean, there’s just a, you know, there’s no one at AWS that, um, you know, would take a, a loss here because it’s a wonderful relationship. And Software One, they [00:10:09] Vince Menzione: go back to Microsoft actually 30, 40 years though they do. They were Dimension data before that. Yeah. [00:10:14] Vince Menzione: And they have the long hit Legacy And Software One. Software one as well. You, [00:10:19] Jay McBain: you know, well Software one is Microsoft’s biggest reseller, uh, in Europe. And now with Crayon, you know, one of the biggest in the world. So I would be nervous if I was looking at this and saw Software one coming in with NTT and watching these things take place if I were able to see this back in September, October and work with these companies. [00:10:38] Jay McBain: That’s where kind of Microsoft came into the picture. And this never hit Microsoft’s pipeline. No Microsoft salesperson ever worked on it, but millions of dollars came to Microsoft. Yeah. Uh, out of this deal. So there are examples of where Microsoft gets touched and AWS wins the deal. So this isn’t meant to say that it happens in every case, but it’s meant to say data rules the future, and agent ai, the ability to plumb in these boxes. [00:11:00] Jay McBain: Working with Informa tech, target people that can plumb in the boxes for you with third party data, helping you with the light blue boxes. We gotta be obsessed over these light blue boxes. [00:11:11] Vince Menzione: It’s incredible. The Ultimate Partner Winter Retreat is gonna be here in the Boca Studio. This is the third year that we’re gonna be here in Boca. [00:11:21] Vince Menzione: This is always a favorite of our community members, our executive members, our sponsors and speakers. We’ll all be here in the studio, which is a really intimate setting. We can see upwards of 40, 50 people. Uh, we’ll be hosting an incredible dinner at the Boca Resort overlooking the golf course. That’s an incredible property and, uh, we’d love to have you join us. [00:11:45] Vince Menzione: Thank you for being part of the ultimate Partner community, and I hope to see you this year at one of our events. Thank you.

Stats drive scores, but stories stir souls." This philosophy, born in the radio booths of Singapore and driven by a transition from comfort to total disruption, has delivered over $2 billion in transformational impact for global executives.In this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, Chris Shambra sits down with Jay Kiew, a world-renowned keynote speaker, author, and change strategist who has navigated the halls of power at firms like Deloitte and TELUS. But this isn't a conversation about corporate efficiency or digital roadmaps. This is a deep dive into "Change Fluency"—the adaptive capacity to translate life's most difficult disruptions into our greatest opportunities.Jay shares his raw and inspiring journey as a half-blind cancer survivor who "lost it all" before finding his true calling. We explore how change isn't something that happens to you, but something that can happen through you when you move from a mindset of survival to one of co-creation and possibility10 Memorable Quotes:"Stats drive scores, but stories stir souls.""Change fluency is the individual's adaptive capacity to translate challenges into opportunities.""Our greatest innovation isn't what we create, but how we create together.""If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." "The goal isn't to control change but to sit in it with fluidity.""Transformation doesn't have to be scary or happen to you, but instead it can happen through you.""The language of change is the only language that will matter in an era of AI.""He held space for me when I couldn't hold space for myself.""Shift your focus from what is present to what is possible.""The world is going through a hard time, but you can write the playbook to get through it." 10 Key Takeaways:Defining Change Fluency: It is the "language of change" required as we head into the space of artificial intelligence.The Four Change Mindsets: Your reaction to disruption depends on whether you view change as a threat or opportunity, and whether you are proactive or stuck.Active Presence: True leadership requires leaning in to observe non-verbal cues and naming emotions rather than just being a passive observer.The Power of Co-Creation: Based on the concept of Ubuntu, the episode explores why working together yields superior, more sustainable results despite the time and emotional complexity involved.Strategic Foresight: To discover what is possible, leaders must combine scenario planning with "futurist thinking" to see threats and opportunities from different vantage points.Strategy as Sacrifice: Design thinking requires the courage to say "no" and cut off current business units or emotional attachments to focus on one North Star.The "What If?" Framework: Innovation begins with the ability to ask hypothetical questions that challenge current constraints, a skill Jay learned from his father during difficult times.Relational Gratitude: Jay highlights the importance of individuals like Brian Chang, who provide empathetic space during "dark moments" without being deflective.Sitting in the Tension: Change Fluency isn't about control, but the capacity to sit in complexity and uncertainty with fluidity.Human-Centric Innovation: Digital disruption is a people opportunity; leaders must bridge the gap by helping team members find personal attachment to their mission.About our Guest: Jay KiewFounder & CEO, Change FluentJay Kiew is a multifaceted entrepreneur, keynote speaker, author, and expert in organizational and behavioral change. With 15 years of experience in organizational transformation and innovation strategy, he has driven over $2 billion in transformational impact across hundreds of organizations and top executives. He is the author of Change Fluency: Nine Principles to Navigate Uncertainty and Drive Innovation, which serves as the framework for his global consulting and keynote engagements.Jay's perspective on resilience and change is deeply rooted in his personal journey as a half-blind cancer survivor; diagnosed with retinoblastoma as an infant, he underwent the removal of his left eye. After immigrating to Canada from Asia and growing up in Vancouver, he became the world's youngest Distinguished Toastmaster at the age of 19. Today, he is a father of two daughters and lives in Brooklyn with his Shiba Inu, Brooklyn. Jay is renowned for his ability to help leaders move from a mindset of certainty to one of curiosity, teaching them to "speak the language of change" in an increasingly complex and uncertain world.