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This week on the show, All-In Front Row Dads member Dave Powders pulls out a decade of notes and shares the 5 best lessons he's learned in 10 years of brotherhood. These are the tips that have made him a better father, a better husband, and a more present man at home. Short, practical, and worth your time. What you'll hear in this episode: Tip 1: Your calendar reflects your priorities. From Adam Stock. Why looking at your week tells you the truth about where your attention actually goes. Tip 2: When you take care of yourself, you're better equipped to take care of your family. From Jay Papasan. Why the Miracle Morning, sleep, meditation, and small habits compound into a better dad. Tip 3: The Family Board Meeting. From Jim Sheils. Why a one-on-one day with each kid every 90 days might be the most impactful thing you do as a parent. Tip 4: Ask your kids at night, "What was the best part of your day?" A simple question that helps them go to sleep lighter and opens up the conversation you didn't know they needed. Tip 5: You're not just responsible for your actions. You're responsible for your reactions. From Adam Stock. The meditation practice that grew Dave's EQ and changed how his kids talk to each other. About the Front Row Dads Brotherhood: Front Row Dads is a community of family men with businesses, not businessmen with families. We've spent the last 10 years building the resources, frameworks, and brotherhood that help dads win at home and at work. If you're ready to be in the room with men who get it, learn more at frontrowdads.com. One More Thing: We just dropped a curated list of the best family games from our community. Card games, board games, dinner table games, and after-dinner favorites. All vetted by 300+ Front Row Dads who play with their families. Free download here: frontrowdads.com/games
Send us Fan MailCharisma gets too much credit and clarity gets ignored. We sit down with executive coach and leadership development expert Marissa McCourry to unpack what actually creates influence when the stakes are high: knowing which lever to pull, and doing it consistently when things feel fast, messy, and uncertain.We walk through Marissa's “seven levers” framework, built from academic research, enterprise leadership development, and years of coaching Fortune 500 leaders. First, we get honest about what leadership is (and what it isn't): not a title, not prescriptive authority, and not “having all the answers.” From there we dig into self-leadership levers like inner wisdom (calm and decision quality under pressure), values-based leadership (your moral compass in chaos), and strategic confidence (moving without perfect data and escaping analysis paralysis).Then we shift to leading others: your internal brand and the reality of what your team experiences day to day, plus how anonymous 360 feedback can surface the truth without eroding trust. We also make the case for emotional intelligence as the multiplier lever, because EQ determines your relational impact and whether people feel safe enough to speak up. Finally, we connect leadership to execution, including vocal precision in communication and the hidden strengths that are often sitting right under your nose.If you're a founder, manager, or executive working on leadership development, executive presence, communication, and high-performance execution, this is a practical playbook you can apply immediately. Subscribe, share it with a leader who needs it, and leave a review with the lever you're going to pull first.Support the show
What happens when walking into a room means absorbing every ounce of tension, distress, and unsaid emotion inside it?Many of us are taught that great leadership requires carrying the emotional weight of our teams. We step in to smooth things over, fix conflicts that aren't ours to solve, and mistake constant rescue missions for true connection. The result isn't better leadership, it is exhaustion.In this episode, Amy sits down with global emotional intelligence and empathy expert Dr. Melissa Robinson-Winemiller to map out a clear blueprint for protecting your energy without shutting out your humanity. Drawing from her raw pivot point out of a toxic workplace environment and later experiencing those same broken patterns in other work spaces, Dr. Melissa shares the definitive distinction between reading a room and taking responsibility for it.This conversation is a radical reframe on human connection. You will discover how to stand in your own power, deploy data-backed perspective-taking, and implement the boundaries necessary to stop treating everyone else's distress as your circus to fix.Moments That Create Momentum:The "Not My Circus" Rule: Why walking into a room and feeling everyone else's tension isn't a gift, it's a boundary failure that is secretly draining you.The Revenue Shield: The deeply unsettling reason why elite organizations intentionally protect toxic high-performers and narcissists.The Empathy Illusion: Dr. Melissa shares why empathy is passive, and how jumping straight into "fixing" things actually triggers misplaced, destructive compassion.The Danger of Being "Nice": Why standard corporate manners are often just a mask for insincerity, and the reason true kindness requires telling the ugly truth.The Self-Rescue Mandate: Why launching into service for others before mastering self-empathy is a fast track to destroying your own career.About the Guest:As professional musician, Dr. Melissa Robinson-Winemiller worked with major talent such as Ray Charles, David Ogden Stiers, and Mannheim Steamroller. But cold and toxic leadership eventually robbed her of a career that was 30+ years in the making. However, that incident inspired Dr. Melissa to transform leadership as we know it by redefining the one element that most leaders miss: empathy. Today, she's an international bestselling author, Editor's Pick TEDx speaker, EQ and empathy coach, and leading voice on emotional intelligence and empathy. She's known for blending lived experience, academic depth, and a sharp, data-driven approach that not only makes sense but demystifies how empathy translates to better productivity, innovation, and profit. Her mission is to invite everyone to approach empathy as a strategic skill for every human-centric action, not only for others but also for ourselves, and to step up in the way the future of leadership demands.https://eqviaempathy.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-melissa-a-robinson-winemiller-author-speaker-trainerhttps://www.instagram.com/empathyqueen.eqhttps://www.youtube.com/@TheEmpathicLeaderhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaoXSEWeILo&t=63shttps://geni.us/TheEmpathicLeaderAbout Amy:Amy Lynn Durham, known by her clients as the Corporate Mystic, is the founder of the Executive Coaching Firm, Create Magic At Work®, where they help leaders build workplaces rooted in creativity, collaboration, and fulfillment. A former corporate executive turned Executive Coach, Amy blends practical leadership strategies with spiritual intelligence to unlock human potential at work.She's a certified Executive Coach through UC Berkeley & the International Coaching Federation (ICF) In addition, Amy holds coaching certifications in Spiritual Intelligence (SQ21), the Edgewalker Profile, and the Archetypes of Change . In addition to being the host of the Create Magic At Work® podcast, Amy is the author of Create Magic At Work®, Creating Career Magic: A Daily Prompt Journal and the founder of Magic Thread Media™. Through her work, she inspires intentional leadership for thriving workplaces and lives where “magic” becomes reality.Connect with Amy:https://createmagicatwork.net/https://www.linkedin.com/company/create-magic-at-workhttps://www.facebook.com/112951637095427https://www.instagram.com/createmagicatworkhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnEm4h3fUgaq8qgvZpz6dGgThanks 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 follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or 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 are enjoying the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Mentioned in this episode:This show was brought to you in part by the Magic Thread Media Network. To learn more visit: https://magicthreadmedia.com/
The 7 Principles of Successful Partnering in the Age of AI Subscribe to our Newsletter:https://theultimatepartner.com/ebook-subscribe/Check Out UPX:https://theultimatepartner.com/experience/ In this engaging session, Vince Menzione reflects on his extensive career transitioning from direct enterprise sales to building massive channel ecosystems, while unveiling the seven core operating principles essential for modern partnering. Highlighting tectonic industry shifts—from the PC and Cloud eras to the current AI revolution—Vince explains how traditional playbooks are becoming obsolete and why adopting a growth mindset, modeled by leaders like Satya Nadella, is critical for survival. He delves into the rising importance of hyperscaler marketplaces and co-selling, urging leaders to cultivate adaptability (AQ), emotional intelligence (EQ), and mutual trust to thrive in this rapidly changing tech landscape. https://youtu.be/5n8dqiamnmE Key Takeaways Traditional industry playbooks are outdated almost immediately due to the rapid acceleration of AI and market changes. Implementing a “growth mindset” is a foundational operating principle that can transform corporate culture and drive massive valuation increases. Executive commitment and clarity of vision are mandatory for aligning an entire organization around successful partnering. Building a strong brand story and maintaining a maniacal focus on OKRs turns strategic vision into executed results. The technology landscape has experienced massive tectonic shifts from the PC era to the Cloud, Mobile, and now AI, requiring high adaptability (AQ). Mutual trust remains the non-negotiable foundation for any successful professional relationship or partnership. 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 Vince Menzione, growth mindset, Satya Nadella, channel building, tech ecosystem, tectonic shifts, AI revolution, co-selling strategies, hyperscaler marketplaces, organizational alignment, executive commitment, OKRs execution, AQ strategy, mutual trust, B2B technology Transcript [00:00:00] Vince Menzione: Because I think we’re all paralyzed by AI and all the changes that are going on in our world, and playbooks are no longer good because they’re outdated the week after they come out. [00:00:12] Vince Menzione: We just came back from Ultimate Partner live in Bellevue, Washington, where we hosted incredible leaders for two amazing days. Come join us for this next session where we explore the tectonic shifts we’ve all been seeing. What a list. Oh my gosh. I gotta tell you, I was just going back this morning and, and looking to see first of all the number, the sheer number is incredible. [00:00:36] Vince Menzione: But look at, look at all these top executives. These are, these are like market movers. The game changers. These are people that are doing more in our world, in our ecosystem than most others. And we are very fortunate to have the representation from these organizations. From these leaders in the room, and we try to curate an event that is more than a, a sales pitch. [00:01:00] Vince Menzione: We’re, in fact, we, we’re not a sales pitch. We’re all about, you know, helping you achieve more. And we try to frame that around operating principles. So, uh, a little bit of a roadmap lately. I mean, this started out like how did we get here in like, maybe five spots along the way. But, uh, for those of you who don’t know me and my background, and I’ve had an incredible career, I’ve been very blessed. [00:01:20] Vince Menzione: I did a startup that we grew from 6 million to 125 million. Went public on the Toronto Exchange. I’m still friends with the CEO, by the way. Helped, helped him grow and exit that company. Uh, I then followed one of the leaders there to go do a turnaround with Golden Gate Capital, and we took that and that’s where I built my first channel. [00:01:37] Vince Menzione: I went from doing enterprise sales as a direct seller, direct sales leader, VP to then going to building a channel. During nine 11, uh, this company was selling rugged notebook computers. Our biggest competitor was not a US company, and I spent a lot of time on Capitol Hill. I met with several congressmen and senators at a time when people did that, and they talked to each other. [00:01:58] Vince Menzione: And, uh, I built a channel. I got its a GSA schedule, and I understood. So I understood intuitively, even from that point in my career, how to move, how to shift from direct selling to building a channel, building a business around that. We became the growth engine of the company. One of my partners was one of the largest defense contractors, general Dynamics. [00:02:19] Vince Menzione: They had the big contract if you were selling to the US Army. And I knocked down the door basically and said, you got a partner with us. And that’s how we got the relationship established. And they wound up buying us for like 10 x what Golden Gate Capital had had spun us out for. And then Microsoft recruited me. [00:02:36] Vince Menzione: And for almost 10 years I was the GM of public sector partner strategy. And so I was, I was there and we’ll talk about Satya and other things, but I was there when we started the cloud. I was there when we pivoted the business from the old model and working with OEMs and trying to, to do things a different way to the cloud and co-selling and things like that. [00:02:56] Vince Menzione: And, uh, had a great experience. And then when I left I was like, oh, I’m just gonna go work for another big tech company. I started a podcast. I had a friend who said, you should do a podcast on partnering. You know a lot about this more than you probably think you do. And almost 10 years ago, I started a podcast in a spare bedroom. [00:03:13] Vince Menzione: And you know, it, it was, it built a following and there’s a lot of work, by the way, people, a lot of people do podcasts today. It was a lot of work for those of you. I congratulate anybody doing that. Uh, I went back inside for two years because I felt like I needed to go back into a big corporate environment. [00:03:29] Vince Menzione: And then I left during COVID and I learned a lot being at a big corporation about how hard it was to partner. Like it’s still hard. I don’t know how many people in the room feel this way. I know, I know the numbers are much better and Jay will talk through the numbers, but it’s not easy and a lot of organizations don’t understand it. [00:03:47] Vince Menzione: And that’s what we talk about here and we try to help people to achieve more and how to, how to get that mindset in the right place. But anyway, so. We started, we started doing the podcast after COVID, it took off. We did an event. Uh, there’s actually four of the five people that did partner. We called it Partner Mastermind. [00:04:06] Vince Menzione: We did an event about four years ago, uh, separately. And that led to Ultimate Partner. And it’s a long, the long history in the last four years of 10 events, like it’s been an incredible blast. And I want to thank each of you for being along this, this incredible ride with us as we continue to grow and expand. [00:04:24] Vince Menzione: We’ve been doubling every year for the last four years and um, I feel very blessed to be part of this. So I did wanna spend a minute with you on this. I don’t like the drain this slide, but I do wanna identify what I believe are seven operating principles of what makes successful partnering. And you know, you might say there’s eight, you might say there are other things I think about principles as opposed to tactics. [00:04:50] Vince Menzione: Tactics are transactional. They’re temporary and a point in time, and it’s how you respond and react to a situation. Principles are things you take with you, and that’s what we hope to do at Ultimate Partner. Take those things with you and then, then apply some of the things to the tactics that we need to have. [00:05:06] Vince Menzione: And so we talk about growth mindset. Uh, you know, depending on where you stand about Microsoft, these days, when this guy came in, stock was $36 a share. Okay. It’s in the four hundreds now. It was up to over 500 not long ago. He applied a different mindset. The first three things he did, Le got a copy of Carol Dweck’s book about mindset. [00:05:28] Vince Menzione: Growth mindset versus fixed mindset. Uh, he brought in Dr. Michael Vet, who’s a leading sports psychologist, like in, in the industry, who was the Seattle Seahawks sports psychologist. Mike’s been a podcast guest of mine. I’ve been to his studio. Um, and then he, we, he, he changed, he, he brought down, he took down the walls of the way Microsoft operated because leaders fought with each other. [00:05:51] Vince Menzione: They competed with each other for resources, for monetization, for everything. And he changed the mindset. Nobody’s a perfect CEO, but if I was to say to you who I think the best CEO of the last 10 years were, I’d give it to Saja Nadella, but it’s about mindset. It’s about changing or having the right mindset and applying that growth mindset to a successful partner. [00:06:12] Vince Menzione: Executive commitment, I talked about that. Other organizational will go nameless, but if you don’t, you can have the CEO down to the selling floor. Everyone needs to speak partnering, like in order to get it right in an organization. The whole company, the resources, the investments, the alignment, all has to align around partnering. [00:06:32] Vince Menzione: Executive commitment is incredible. Tony Saan took a small MSP to a half a billion dollar exit, took them to go, uh, Google Partner of the Year, seven straight years in a row. I think they’re eight this year. Uh, but Tony’s a good friend of mine. He is also been a guest on the podcast and, uh, somebody I’ve admired and worked with. [00:06:50] Vince Menzione: This is Dr. Michael Dravet. We talk about clarity, like once you get your mindset, once you get executive commitment, you then need to determine like how, what’s the vision? How do we drive success together? You need to turn, you need to know internally how to go do that. Then you lock arms with another organization and then you apply it to that partnership. [00:07:10] Vince Menzione: So that’s incredibly critical. Then, then you gotta do everything right? Like I always kid around about my days at Microsoft, we’d have these incredible meetings with leaders. They’d come meet with us at partner conference. I would literally go back to back for several days in the room. Slide deck after slide deck. [00:07:27] Vince Menzione: We’re high fiving at the end. [00:07:29] Vince Menzione: We’re gonna go do it [00:07:31] Vince Menzione: six months later. Crickets. Nothing happens, right? This happens a lot in partnering. Unfortunately, like we, we set up the right situation. We line everybody. We’re gonna go execute, we’re gonna drive results. You have to apply maniacal, focus, OKRs, everything to everything you do. [00:07:48] Vince Menzione: You need to apply. And by the way, you’re gonna hear from a lot of leaders here that do this type of work. So this is incredibly, uh, critical to success, brand and story. Like I wanna work with Microsoft. There’s gonna be probably 40 plus Microsoft leaders in the room, some of ’em sitting here and around the room. [00:08:06] Vince Menzione: How do you do that? Right? This is Ducks Raymond S. Good friend of mine at Point. I knew at point when they were just starting out. Scott Sackett is here. He’ll be up on stage. Uh, this man was expert on brand and story. Learn from people that are successful, how to be successful yourself, if you wanna be a top partner, if you wanna grow your business, whether you’re working with Microsoft, Google, Amazon, or any of the other partners in this room. [00:08:30] Vince Menzione: You need to be very clear about your brand, articulate it well, and drive a story against that. And that’s really super critical for success. And then once we do all those things, we start driving a flywheel of success. Aaron Feiger and some of the other people in the room, Reese Barry, are gonna be talking about how they do that. [00:08:47] Vince Menzione: They will help these organizations be successful. Pick putting that stake in the ground and driving it. And then what happens is after you drive this incredible success, what does my partner do? My tech giant, the company I’ve been working with, they go change everything. The market changes, the dynamics change. [00:09:05] Vince Menzione: This thing in November of 2022 called AI Happens, Chad, GBT hits the market. How do I respond and react to that? I need to be adaptable. I need to drive an AQ strategy on top of my EQ and iq, and we’ll talk more about that. So these are the operating principles, and we lay it out as a, as a diagram. And by the way, you see mutual trust. [00:09:26] Vince Menzione: Trust has to be in every room without trust, you have no partnerships, without trust, you have no business success. Like you can get buy in business, you can get buy in life, but trust is foundational. And I was very blessed to have that like grain ingrained in me as a young boy. Uh, so that’s our, that’s our operating principles. [00:09:48] Vince Menzione: Um, I’m working on a book right now. It’s almost done though. We’re, we’re talk, we’ll talk about that more, but that’s, that’ll be in the book. Um, and then we’ve been talking about tectonic shifts and I don’t know who said it first, Jay or, or me, but I know who you said it in the studio several years ago. [00:10:04] Vince Menzione: Jay’s been in our, our Boca studio many, many times. But we’ve been talking about tectonic shifts and Oh my gosh, right? So think about, I want everybody to think about this for a second. If you’ve been around tech for a while. We’ve gone through several, like these 10 year phases, the PC era, the cloud era, the well, the cloud. [00:10:23] Vince Menzione: We had client server, pc, client server, we had cloud, we had mobile, and now we hit ai. Those eras all took a period of time, right? They didn’t happen overnight. Like there was a trend like five, six years, seven years, maybe eight years, and then COVID happened, and I believe that COVID was the acceleration point because. [00:10:44] Vince Menzione: We were all forced to do things we didn’t do before. People went out and bought PCs that didn’t have them. Kids had to learn from home. Healthcare was administered tele telehealth, we didn’t do telehealth before. We had like 5% of the population to telehealth before that, uh, our work environment changed, right? [00:11:02] Vince Menzione: We were doing Zoom calls or teams calls back when I was at Microsoft Days, but the world started doing it. Our life started to change. That’s why being in the room places like this is so important. And so that really has accelerated everything. And this, you know, all these things have been accelerating over time and these are significant shifts. [00:11:22] Vince Menzione: We have the three leaders of the three marketplace organizations coming on stage here. Uh, the three hyperscalers, because marketplace went from, we were talking about it like, this is really cool. You need to go do it. A few years ago. So Microsoft lowering the rates on it, and then everything changed and then everybody started accelerating and it became the fungible token. [00:11:43] Vince Menzione: ’cause we used to, we used to partner, we used to take spreadsheets and put ’em up against each other and try to figure out deals and fax copies of deals that came in and say, we want credit for this one. And then Marketplace became a way to create a fun non fungible token. And really drive your success. [00:11:59] Vince Menzione: And so we have all the leaders that are running marketplaces in this room, by the way. So this is gonna be like the most incredible rich conversation. Co-selling. Co-selling is a, you know, a non-starter day. You have to co-sell it. People, we used to do vendor channel, which means I had somebody selling my stuff that’s not happening anymore. [00:12:19] Vince Menzione: And Jay, we’ll talk about the seven seats at the table. But this is all, these are all the things that have been changing. And of course, ai. I think that we are sitting here and I, I, I’ll share, and I’m stressing this, like this is, you need to be in this room because you’re gonna hear from leaders about what the next steps are. [00:12:35] Vince Menzione: ’cause I think we’re all paralyzed by AI and all the changes that are going on in our world and playbooks are no longer good because they’re outdated the week after they come out. So I need to, I need to follow this in real time. I think this is super important that you do, and it’s why we exist and it’s why this time is like no other. [00:12:53] Vince Menzione: I think, you know, we said maybe a generation, maybe it’s a lifetime in terms of the shifts that we’re seeing. So I, I kind of started here and I wanted to end here, uh, just because the light doesn’t go out. That’s what it’s all about. And this is it. This is it for me, right? This is my, my last run. I’m not gonna go work for a company after this. [00:13:16] Vince Menzione: I’m not gonna go into become a consultant. And I want this truly to be like special. And I want you to all feel like you’re part, you are part of it, and however much you wanna lean in and be part of it in the future, we want to grow this in the right way. I, I feel that we have an a unique opportunity. [00:13:34] Vince Menzione: Because we’re not a vendor, we’re not selling anything. I feel like we’re a platform. We’re that we’re that lighthouse and others can come in that are experts and I feel like more and more of ’em are showing up. And you know, the PDG guys did a great job today and others in the room and people that have been friends and supporting us for for years as on that sponsor slide. [00:13:56] Vince Menzione: And so we just want to continued this journey with each of you. Um, and so I want your feedback on what we’re doing. I want, I love your support. I love your passion. I love the fact that you’re still here in the room talking with, with or being here, listening to me today. Um, this is, that lighthouse is, you can see these pictures. [00:14:15] Vince Menzione: These are all family photos. Um, we go to that lighthouse, not because it’s a lighthouse, but uh, it happens to be like a landmark in our town. And, uh, it’s kind of cool. And actually the re Joe Namath has owns the restaurant across from the lighthouse, so we, we’ve got to see him a couple of times, which is kind of cool. [00:14:34] Vince Menzione: But I, I, I, I was posting this lighthouse when I started the podcast. And I was, yeah. ’cause that’s where I live and it’s my hometown. And I think about Dakota Rings and I think about other things. But, um, this is what matters. This is what matters is helping others. And we all are gonna need each other in this world because AI is gonna change our lives. [00:15:00] Vince Menzione: And dramatically it’s, I I think this is a once in a lifetime thing. But I think having people that you trust and being in the room with others where you can learn and grow and adapt, adaptability is so important. So, um, analog is the new digital as my, my good friend Gary V now says. And I think there’s this huge opportunity around what we do as ultimate partner to help everybody reach their pinnacle to everybody. [00:15:26] Vince Menzione: Be the ultimate partner. And I want to thank you for coming. I want your, thank you for your support, friendship, love. And, uh, you’re just an incredible group. Thank you. [00:15:41] Vince Menzione: Until next time, we’ll see you in person. Hopefully at our next event.
Show Notes: The conversation opens with an overview of the consulting market, mentioning the impact of interest rates, private equity, and AI on the industry. Chad shares his background, including his career at Deloitte Consulting, Bain, and Charles Aris, and the focus of his strategy recruiting practice. Chad explains the shift in Charles Aris's business from Fortune 500 strategy placements to private equity and portfolio companies. He details the types of roles his team places, including general strategy, chief of staff, transformation, and integration roles. Four Phases in the Consulting Industry Chad highlights the growth of private equity and its impact on the consulting market, including the increase in demand for consulting services. Chad outlines the four phases the consulting market has gone through over the past 24 months: downturn, rebound, downturn, and growth. Chad explains the impact of higher interest rates and tariffs on the consulting market, leading to reduced investments and consulting services. AI Growth Phase Chad discusses the rebound in 2025 due to lower interest rates and private equity adapting to the new normal. He highlights the current growth phase driven by AI and the understaffing of consulting firms due to previous downsizing. Chad emphasizes the candidate-driven market and the increased demand for consulting services, particularly in AI and go-to-market initiatives. Private Equity Chad identifies private equity and services firms (white and blue collar) as the two primary industries with high demand for consulting services. Chad explains the growth of private equity and its focus on due diligence and value creation initiatives. Chad discusses the impact of AI on due diligence, including commercial, operational, and technology due diligence. He highlights the demand for consulting services in white and blue collar services firms, driven by private equity investments. Areas of High Demand Chad transitions to discussing functional areas with high demand, starting with AI. Chad identifies AI as the number one functional area with high demand, focusing on increasing productivity and refocusing employees on high-value interactions. Chad explains the two types of AI consultants: AI strategists and AI implementers, and their roles in AI enablement. Chad discusses the importance of AI in various consulting projects and the need for consultants to embrace AI. Chad highlights the demand for go-to-market consulting initiatives, including CRM redesign, sales process redesign, and AI-powered territory optimization. Chad emphasizes the importance of understanding AI from a go-to-market perspective and the increasing demand for AI expertise. The Role of Transformation Consultants in PE Chad shares two AI use cases: an AI tool for a large international bank to automate research tasks and an AI sales planning platform for a pharmaceutical organization. Chad explains how AI automates repetitive tasks, allowing humans to focus on high-value interactions. Chad discusses the role of transformation consultants in private equity, emphasizing the need for a track record of getting things done, strong EQ, and analytical skills. Chad highlights the importance of influencing without direct authority and the analytical competencies required for transformation roles. Maximizing Opportunities Chad provides tips for client development with private equity firms, recommending reaching out to portfolio operations teams and deal partners. Chad identifies supply chain optimization and manufacturing footprint optimization as areas with declining demand due to the shift towards growth initiatives. Chad emphasizes that while some areas may have softened, there is still demand in most specialties. Chad discusses the relatively easy process of filling board roles and the limited demand for board searches. Chad advises independent consultants on positioning themselves to transition back to global firms, recommending reaching out to former colleagues and partners. Chad concludes by encouraging consultants to embrace AI and stay updated with market trends to maximize their opportunities. Timestamps: 03:48: Chad Oakley's Introduction 23:14: Market Overview 31:08: Consulting Market Phases and Current Trends 39:47: Industries and Functions with High Demand 47:19: AI and Go-to-Market Consulting Demand 55:24: AI Use Cases and Transformation Roles 1:03:43: Declining Demand Areas and Board Roles This episode on Umbrex: https://umbrex.com/unleashed/651-current-state-of-the-consulting-market-in-2026/ Unleashed is produced by Umbrex, which has a mission of connecting independent management consultants with one another, creating opportunities for members to meet, build relationships, and share lessons learned. Learn more at www.umbrex.com. *AI generated timestamps and show notes.
Your Next Best Step: Helping Small Business owners build a plan for a brighter future
It was 2020. The world had just flipped upside down, and Andrea Mancuso's older brother was in the ICU with COVID. Andrea had a master's in therapeutic intervention. Fourteen years as a school psychologist in the New York City public schools. A whole career built on clinical skills and helping people through hard things. And in those few days, she lost access to every bit of it. She was just afraid, wondering what was going to happen. After three days, she sat up and told herself: you're either going to navigate this pandemic like this — which is no good for you or anybody else — or you're going to do something different. That was the day Intentional Healing and Wellness was born. In this episode of Amuse Bouche Leadership Bites, Theresa sits down with Andrea — licensed mental health counselor, leadership coach, and the person who's helped Theresa through plenty of her own challenges — to talk about the part of leadership nobody hands you a handbook for. They get into why entrepreneurship is personal development on steroids, why leading other people is the easy part and leading yourself is the work, and Andrea's premise that time does not heal all wounds — intention does. She shares the 82-year-old client who hired her at 80 because he was tired of feeling like he wasn't good enough. Andrea breaks down emotional intelligence as the EQ advantage — the leading predictor of leadership success that almost nobody can actually name the skills of — and makes the case for radical responsibility: stop waiting for your employer to develop you and invest in yourself, because success leaves clues. And there's the car. Are you in the driver's seat with the windows down and your music on — or in the back seat, waiting to see who gets in, how fast they drive, and whether they even show up? Here's the real question this one leaves you with: what's the thing that already popped into your mind — the one that needs your attention? Because the moment you give it attention, you set yourself free. Key Takeaways: • Leadership isn't really about your relationship with other people — entrepreneurship taught Andrea it's about how you lead yourself. • It's harder NOT to do the inner work. Convincing yourself it's too hard to look keeps you stuck at a ceiling you don't belong at. • Time does not heal all wounds — intention does. The wound that's already on your mind is the one asking for attention. • Emotional intelligence is the leading predictor of leadership success, yet it's made up of 15 skills almost no one can name. That gap is the EQ advantage. • Flexibility is one of those EQ skills — and we're rarely the best judge of our own. We see ourselves one way; the people around us see something else. • Radical responsibility: don't outsource your growth to your employer's training budget. Invest in yourself — coaching, therapy, even just the book — because success leaves clues. • Hard skills get you hired; human skills make you a leader. Andrea saw it as a school psychologist — high EQ predicted who'd be fine far better than IQ ever did. • You're not just the writer of your story — you're the director, the producer, and the lead. Living as if life happens to you is riding in the back seat. • When you promote someone, clarity and training aren't optional. You can't hand someone a 'handbook of excellence' and expect them to know how to lead. Timestamps / Chapter Markers: 00:01 Meet Andrea Mancuso 01:20 Who Andrea is: Intentional Healing and Wellness, leadership + midlife coaching 01:55 14 years as a school psychologist — the one part of life she thought she had figured out 03:20 The golden handcuffs — the NYC package she felt committed to 04:00 2020: her brother in the ICU, and losing access to every skill she had 04:32 After three days Intentional Healing and Wellness is born 05:01 September 2021: pulling the plug and jumping fully into entrepreneurship 05:35 The program that started it all: Momentum Education, July 2016 06:55 Forget Tony Robbins — just become an entrepreneur (personal development on steroids) 08:10 The reframe: leadership is about how you lead yourself 08:16 Why entrepreneurs hide instead of being themselves 12:23 The lie that keeps you at your ceiling 13:31 "I can't believe I was afraid of this. I wish I did it sooner." 15:26 Two layers of stuff: the original wound plus everything we used to avoid it 15:55 The 82-year-old client and the premise: time doesn't heal all wounds, intention does 17:57 The car ride: driver's seat vs. back seat, and the double whammy of self-abandonment 23:14 "I didn't know what brought me joy" — Brooklyn grit and rediscovering joy in midlife 25:22 The corporate pivot: layoffs, AI, and managers handed an old playbook 27:44 Emotional intelligence: the leading predictor no one can name (15 skills, no hands up) 30:34 Radical responsibility: stop waiting for your employer to develop you 37:37 IQ vs. EQ: the students whose soft skills told her they'd be just fine 40:38 Lightning round questions for Andrea 45:13 What she's most grateful for 47:06 Where to find Andrea If Andrea named the thing that's been sitting on your mind — hit subscribe, share it with someone who's been running from their own work, and leave a review so more leaders find their way here. And if something came up while you listened, send her a message — she'd love to hear from you.
Send us Fan MailThe sermon for Sunday, June 21, 2026, carries two messages: the first is on Father's Day from the mother of Legacy church, its co-founder, Shanda Miller; followed by Week 4 in our series called The Fracture, which looks at disruptive and dysfunctional patterns. Today we examined Leviathan.Learn more about Legacy Church: https://www.legacychurchint.org/Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/legacychurchohFollow us on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@LegacyChurchOHSow into what we're doing: legacychurchint.org/give#TheFracture #leviathan #dads #dad #fathers #fathersday #GodIsMyDad #asheissoareweinthisworld #asheissoareweinthisworld #unveiled #conscience #sons #manifestsons #union #legacychurchoh #newcreation #jesus #church #jesuschrist #gospel #transfigured #revelator #apostle #deathless #immortality #believe #bible #creator #godisgood #grace #hope #sermonshots #sermonclips #holyspirit #love #godislove #kingdom #peace #freedom #facebook #memes #truth #inspiration #motivationalquotes #vibes #positivevibes #christ #jesuslovesyou #russellbrand #jordanbpeterson #joerogan #atm #tommymiller #soulintelligence #EQ #emotionalintelligence Support the show
科技浪潮持續推進,投資機會不只在科技巨頭,也延伸至全球供應鏈。野村全球科技多重資產策略,聚焦美國創新、亞洲製造與關鍵供應鏈,搭配全天候債券策略,迎向下一波成長動能。投資一定有風險,基金投資有賺有賠,申購前應詳閱開說明書。*搶占科技先機看這裡: https://fstry.pse.is/95rpfu ——以上廣告由 Firstory 與【月城南廣告】共同執行—— 加入會員,支持節目: https://richlife.firstory.io/join留言告訴我你對這一集的想法: https://open.firstory.me/user/clh1qknlp0h0s01w286nq3i04/comments歡迎您用一杯咖啡支持我持續創作 : https://pay.soundon.fm/podcasts/a11a2120-4bc4-4fb2-813b-135bd96e5868「布姐的交誼廳。陪你聊人生聊職場」Line 社群https://reurl.cc/36NWEL(密碼:love)本集重點:【穿對】找到獨一無二的隱形名片專屬色彩分析: 由陳麗卿老師親自拿上百塊色布,為每個孩子精準驗出屬於自己的春夏秋冬四季膚色屬性 。實用工具色卡: 孩子會獲得專屬色卡,並在課堂中實際練習流行雜誌的配色與服裝搭法,拒絕盲目跟風花錯「實驗費」 。驚人的執行力: 孩子學成後甚至會盯著媽媽衣服的顏色要求「斷捨離」;更有學員出國逛 Outlet 時因為沒帶色卡,自發性地拒絕盲目消費 。2. 【說對】拒絕句點!有邏輯結構的口語表達學校沒教的 6 大公式: 學院教務長夏老師規劃「名人金句法」、「驚人數據法」、「曲折故事法(英雄旅程)」等結構,並教導列點 123 的說話邏輯,讓孩子說話聽起來聰明又有說服力 。克服恐懼與抗拒: 原本極度抗拒上台講話的小女生,在充滿安全感與團隊榮譽的氛圍下,第二天就主動舉手為小組爭取分數,回家後還自發練習影片錄製到深夜 。3. 【做對】從儀態與餐桌禮儀看見體貼三天三種餐桌實戰: 營隊包含正式中餐圓桌、披薩分食服務到最後一天的西餐禮儀 。除了拿筷子(夾花生比賽)與刀叉技巧,更核心的是教孩子「觀察周遭、照顧他人感受」 。肌肉記憶與體態優化: 針對低頭族或因發育而駝背的孩子,儀態老師教導如何挺起胸膛,讓優雅大方的體態刻進骨子裡 。神級投資報酬率: 有學員女兒回家後在年夜飯上展現優雅吃相與貼心服務,阿公高興到不僅紅包加碼,更霸氣承諾 2026 年所有追星費用都由阿公全額贊助 。4. 營隊核心:充滿安全感與愛的流動混齡分組的領導力: 刻意將 12-17 歲大小孩子混組,讓年幼的向大哥哥大姐姐學習,年長的則學習領導統御與照顧他人 。正向肯定文化: 透過老師與同儕之間自發性書寫的「讚美卡」,看見彼此身上的亮點與溫暖 。催淚的ending: 透過盲猜 5 歲前的照片帶來歡樂,再由父母寫下「愛的話語祝福卡」,讓正值青春期的孩子在台下感動落淚,深刻感受到自己是被全然接受與支持的 。5. 【同場加映】大人的全方位人生必修課形象管理學院針對成人也開設了各為期兩天的精華課程,完美對應「穿、說、做」:穿: 「EQ寶典」個人穿着管理 。說: 精準有結構的「口語表達」訓練 。做: 「表裡如一」全方位人際互動美學(涵蓋商場、社交、兩性與東方用餐會商談的智慧餐桌禮儀來賓 陳麗卿形象管理學院惠娟老師學院官網:https://www.perfectimage.com.tw/青春花漾|青少年禮儀課程https://www.perfectimage.com.tw/class/teenager/
In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward sits down with award-winning speaker and trainer Chris Danilo to explore the skills that technology can't replace.As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the workplace, many educators are asking the same question: What makes humans irreplaceable?Together, Carla and Chris dive into the human skills that will matter most in the years ahead, why emotional intelligence may become one of the most valuable professional assets we have, and what leaders and educators need to be focusing on right now.This conversation might challenge some assumptions, spark a few questions, and leave you thinking differently about the future of our profession.Because in an AI-powered world, being more human may be the advantage we need most.CHRIS DANILOChris is an award-winning speaker and trainer for the early childhood workforce. He trains ECE leaders and educators on Human Skills like compassionate detachment, self-management, and emotional intelligence that make a real difference in how teams work together.He uses high-energy, roll-up-your-sleeves, experiential workshops to make professional development turn into action.He's worked with organizations in Child Care Aware and Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) groups around the US.LINKSWebsite: chrisdanilo.com/newsletter InstagramLinkedInYouTubeSeed TrainingBooksEmotionally Charged: How to Lead in the New World of Work — Dina Denham Smith & Alicia A. Grandey Oxford University Press · Penn State announcement · Author site Co-written by Penn State psychology professor Alicia Grandey (one of the world's leading researchers on emotional labor) and executive coach Dina Denham Smith. Equips leaders with evidence-based tools for emotional skills at work: emotional labor, authenticity, stress and recovery, emotion regulation, self-compassion. Includes the authors' BRAVE technique (Breathe, Recognize, Accept, Verbalize, Engage) and frameworks like compassionate detachment drawn from caring professions. Especially relevant for ECE directors and center owners managing emotional load on their teams.Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ — Daniel Goleman Amazon ·The 1995 book that introduced the concept of emotional intelligence to a mass audience. Goleman argues that EQ matters as much as IQ for success in relationships, work, and well-being, and outlines five core skills — self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills — that can be taught and cultivated.Researchers & AuthorsDr. Alicia Grandey — Penn State Penn State faculty page · Workplace Emotional Labor and Diversity Lab Professor of Psychology at Penn State and one of the original architects of the modern research literature on emotional labor — the work of regulating your emotions on the job. 25+ years of peer-reviewed research, with multiple papers in the top 1% for citation impact. Co-author of Emotionally Charged. Essential reading for anyone trying to understand why caregiving work — including ECE — is so emotionally taxing.Dina Denham Smith — executive coach and leadership consultant DinaDSmith.com · Book site Founder and CEO with 20+ years coaching senior leaders at companies like Adobe, Netflix, and Stanford. Co-author of Emotionally Charged with Alicia Grandey, bridging the academic research on emotional labor into practical leadership tools.SUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE. See you next week! shape their early years.CONNECT WITH CARLAThe ECE Latte LoungeEmail Newsletter: Click Here Website: carlatheece.comInstagram: @carlatheece
Send us Fan MailEmotional intelligence isn't something you either have or you don't. It's a skill. And it might be the most important one you can build when you're navigating divorce, co-parenting, and figuring out who you are on the other side of a relationship.Kristen Harcourt — business coach, speaker, podcast host, and emotional intelligence expert — joins Alex and Amanda to talk about what EQ actually looks like in practice: how to regulate your emotions in real time during a difficult co-parenting conversation, how to spot self-abandonment in dating after divorce, why the goal isn't to stop having emotions but to stop reacting to everything, and how self-compassion is the foundation of all of it. She also shares her own experience going back into the dating world after 25 years and what that journey taught her about attachment styles, boundaries, and choosing herself first.Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by our podcast guest are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or the podcast. We value diverse perspectives and aim to provide a platform for thoughtful discussion and exploration of different ideas.Got any comments, suggestions or queries? We'd love to hear from you! DM us on Instagram @dirty.laundry.podcast to be featured on one of our upcoming episodes. Also, don't forget to rate and review our show on your favourite podcast player.
In this episode of Nerdy Bitz: TL;DL (Too Long; Didn't Listen), The Reverend Tracy takes a deeper look at one of the most fascinating concepts discussed during our recent fatherhood conversations: Normative Male Alexithymia.What happens when boys grow up in environments where emotional expression is discouraged, emotional vocabulary is limited, and vulnerability is treated as weakness? According to psychologist Ronald Levant, many men may develop difficulties identifying, understanding, and communicating their emotions—not because they don't have feelings, but because they were never taught the language needed to express them.The Reverend Tracy explores the origins of Normative Male Alexithymia, the cultural messages that contribute to it, and the neuroscience behind why emotional habits become deeply ingrained over time. From "man up" and "walk it off" to households where feelings were rarely discussed, this episode examines how emotional suppression can become a learned survival strategy that follows people into adulthood.Along the way, you'll discover why emotional literacy should be viewed as a learnable skill rather than a personality trait, how alexithymia differs from a lack of emotion, and why difficulties with emotional awareness can impact relationships, parenting, communication, conflict resolution, and mental health.Most importantly, The Reverend Tracy challenges listeners to move beyond blame and shame toward understanding and growth. Drawing connections to emotional intelligence (EQ), The Reverend Tracy offers practical strategies for developing emotional awareness, including expanding emotional vocabulary, practicing self-reflection, and learning to identify feelings with greater precision.Whether you're a parent raising boys, a man trying to better understand your own emotional world, or simply someone interested in psychology and human behavior, this episode provides a compassionate and thought-provoking exploration of a topic that affects far more people than most realize.Because you can't fluently speak an emotional language nobody taught you—but you can learn it. And together, we can do a better job teaching it to the next generation.Support Friends Talking Nerdy on Patreon.As always, we wish to thank Christopher Lazarek for his wonderful theme song. Head to his website for information on how to purchase his EP, Here's To You, which is available on all digital platforms.Head to Friends Talking Nerdy's website for more information on where to find us online.
Slow Down and Question the Stories Controlling Your ChoicesWhy Do Stories Take Hold?I start by recalling a high school memory: there was someone I admired from afar but convinced myself was out of reach. The story I told myself then—“she'll never go out with me”—seemed so logical at the time that I never even tried to ask. This early lesson stuck with me in surprising ways as I got older. It wasn't just a high school crush; the same pattern resurfaces even in adulthood.For example, more recently, I hesitated to invite a high-profile guest to the podcast. The old narrative returned: “they're too important, they won't respond.” When I examined it, though, I realized it was just that—a narrative with no real evidence behind it. I didn't know they would say no. I wasn't rejected; I simply made up a story and acted as though it were already true.How Our Brains Protect UsReflecting further, I notice how often these inner stories are about keeping us safe. Our brains, in many ways, are doing their job—shielding us from pain or disappointment. But there's a danger in allowing this protective instinct to overrule reality. When self-doubt or insecurity becomes the main script running in our minds, we risk accepting fiction as fact.I encourage you to take a step back and observe the impact these stories have on your own life. Whether it's at home, at work, or in your personal relationships, these internal narratives can hold us back, sometimes for years. The good news is that none of this is set in stone; we all have opportunities to pause and question our assumptions.The Challenge and Reward of QuestioningI share a more personal example—the story I internalized during childhood about abandonment. Because of experiences in my early life, I unknowingly carried this fear into adulthood. It took decades before I finally challenged the belief that every relationship could end in abandonment. It wasn't easy—changing these ingrained stories takes real effort, and our minds are adept at convincing us their version is the truth.Still, through intentional reflection and curiosity, I was able to recognize that while abandonment can happen to anyone, living in constant expectation of it was no longer serving me. When we allow ourselves to slow down and really look at these stories, we can often separate fact from feeling, and open ourselves to new possibilities.Moving from Fear to IntentionWhether it's the hesitation to send a podcast invitation or deeper wounds from our past, the pattern is the same: the stories feel real and comfortable, sometimes more so than the possibility of a positive outcome. Our brains resist new evidence, preferring what's familiar and “safe.” That's why it's so important to confront these narratives with intention and, above all, self-compassion.I'm not here to lecture on brain science, but I am passionate about the importance of being intentional—slowing down, getting curious, and treating disappointment as another temporary guest, not as a permanent state. If we can listen to our disappointment, even give it a “microphone,” we may gain the courage to move past it. Over time, this builds new neural pathways—new patterns that support healthier thinking and richer relationships.Tips for Managing the Inner NarrativeBefore wrapping up, I offer a few practical suggestions:Slow Down: Find moments in your day to quiet your mind. Turn off music during your commute, take a few deep breaths, or carve out five minutes for reflection. Finding mental stillness, even briefly, makes space for honest questioning.Question Without Judgment: Take an inventory of your thoughts. Ask yourself, “Is this story really true? Why do I believe it? Is it serving me?” It's not about whether you're good or bad for believing a story, but whether it's true and helpful now.Validate and Adjust: Not every story we tell ourselves is false. Some have value and should remain part of our worldview. The key is to ensure they're valid, not self-limiting myths.Throughout the episode, I reflect on how our value systems shift as we age. As children, what truly matters is straightforward—family, close friends, relationships. But as we grow and life becomes more complex, outside influences (career, money, status) compete for top billing. Our internal stories often reinforce these shifting priorities, sometimes to our detriment.The Lasting Impact of Our StoriesAs I close, I return to a conversation with a client who realized while watching his children that the simplest values often matter most. It's a reminder that the stories we tell ourselves don't just affect us—they shape our relationships and what we pass on to others. By continually examining and updating these stories, we honor what's genuinely important.In each episode, Jeff and Eric will talk about what emotional intelligence, or understanding your emotions, can do for you in your daily and work life. For more information, contact Eric or Jeff at info@spiritofeq.com or visit their website, Spirit of EQ.You can follow The Spirit of EQ Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Android, or on your favorite podcast player.New episodes are available on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays every month!Please review our podcast Music from Uppbeathttps://uppbeat.io/t/roo-walker/deeperLicense code: PEYKDJHQNGSZXDUEhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/Spirit of EQWe hope you enjoy the podcast. Hopefully, you're tuning in on a regular basis. We'd love it if you would give us a great review on whatever platform you're listening to the podcast. It's so appreciative and helps us as we try to get more exposure for the work we do and the episodes that we publish. We're grateful to you as a listener. Secondly, our content is for educational purposes only. It's not intended by any stretch to diagnose or treat anything that may be occurring in your life or anyone else's life that you may be connected to through the podcast. And as always, we look forward to the next time that we're together. Take care.Mentioned in this episode:Thanks for listening to Spirit of EQThis podcast was created to be a tool to primarily help you to discover and grow your EQ. Science and our own lived experiences confirm that the better we are at managing our emotions, the better we're going to be at making decisions. Which leads to a better life. And that's something we all want. We're glad that you've taken the time today to listen. We hope that something you hear will lead to a breakthrough. We'd really appreciate a review on your podcast platform. Please leave some comments about what you heard today, as well as follow and subscribe to the podcast. That way, you won't miss a single episode as we continue this journey.
In this episode, Dr. Robyn McKay talks with Heather Quick, founder and CEO of Florida Women's Law Group, about helping women navigate divorce with clarity, confidence, and support.This episode explores: • Heather's journey into divorce law • Why women stay in or leave unhealthy relationships • Navigating divorce with confidence and clarity • The importance of financial wellbeing • How trusted legal support can make all the differenceThis conversation is a reminder that every woman deserves the freedom to choose a future that honors her wellbeing, dignity, and self-worth.Your healing potential isn't blocked—it's simply misdirected. Understanding exactly where you are in the journey from burnout and moral injury toward identity, authorship, and calling is crucial. That's why I've created the KNOWN 90-minute Personality Intensive—to give you precise clarity on your personality and the next right steps in your healing.Book your KNOWN session here →Love what you're hearing? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts!Heather Quick is the founder and CEO of Florida Women's Law Group, where she leads the firm's vision and strategy while helping women navigate divorce and family transitions with clarity and support.A graduate of Stetson University College of Law, she began her career as a prosecutor before founding the firm in 2006. Outside of law, Heather is also a certified yoga instructor, author, and podcast host.Connect with Heather Quick:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherbquick/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heatherquick_/ Learn more about Florida Women's Law Group:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/4womenlaw/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/4womenlaw/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq20tDugi9N2Sgvf13RUh6Q About Dr. Robyn McKayDr. Robyn McKay is an award-winning psychologist and authority on spiritual intelligence, informed by Catholic mysticism and counseling psychology. Her work bridges clinical rigor, personality research, and identity-level transformation.With more than 20 years of practice and study, she is known for helping gifted, high-functioning women read burnout as information rather than failure, accurately name moral injury, reclaim original identity, and return to work as calling—the co-creative contribution they were made for.Dr. Robyn McKay holds a PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Kansas and is the co-author of the award-winning book Smart Girls in the 21st Century. Her work focuses on human development, positive psychology, and spiritual intelligence, drawing deeply from the Catholic intellectual and mystical tradition.Robyn advises high-EQ executives and leaders at Fortune 500 companies, as well as elite performers in entrepreneurship, sports, and entertainment. She is sought after for her ability to meet people where they are—and for her discernment in navigating the intersection of ambition, identity, and calling.Robyn is a coach, speaker, and advocate who enjoys hiking in Sedona with her husband and their dog, Cooper Mack.Connect with Dr. Robyn McKay:LinkedIn: Robyn McKay, PhDFacebook: Dr. Robyn McKayInstagram: @burnoutisdataTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@burnoutisdataBook Your 90-min IntensiveKnown. 90-min private intensive
Stop being the hero, start building heroes.The strongest leaders aren't the ones who solve every problem. They're the ones who develop others to solve problems without them.In this episode, Dex explores why high-achieving professionals often become the bottleneck in their teams, the hidden costs of being indispensable, and five practical ways to build ownership, initiative, accountability, and leadership capacity in others, for a team that excels.----------------------------------- Resources:Leadership Performance Coaching https://go.dexrandall.com/leadershipDex AI Coach https://app.coachvox.ai/share/dexrandallConfidential. Expert. Free. Your Leadership Performance Partner.For even more TIPS see FACEBOOK: @coachdexrandallINSTAGRAM: @coachdexrandallLINKEDIN: @coachdexrandallYOUTUBE: @dexleadercoachSee https://linktr.ee/coachdexrandall for all links
I am obsessed with emotional intelligence. It is something I have always done naturally without knowing what it was called. Emotional intelligence, or EQ, measures your capacity to understand, perceive, and manage emotions, your own and other people's. While IQ measures cognitive and logical ability, EQ measures your capacity for interpersonal success. Higher emotional intelligence is linked to better stress management, more satisfying relationships, and greater leadership potential at work. The eight traits in this episode are how higher EQ shows up in real life, and they are all skills you can practice to raise yours at any age. Read the show notes for today's episode at terricole.com/839
Most high performers don't get passed over because of what they know. They get passed over because of how they lead. In this episode, Dr. Bushra Khan makes the case that emotional intelligence isn't a soft skill, it's the strategic operating system every leader needs right now, especially as AI reshapes what work looks like. In this conversation, she breaks down: Why 'be more strategic' on a performance review usually means something specific and fixable. How influence actually works in the brain, and why title alone won't get people to go above and beyond. A concrete KPI approach for measuring emotional intelligence that most organizations aren't tracking yet. Timestamps [00:00:42] Emotional intelligence as the operating system for the future of work [00:02:30] Why 'soft skills' is out — and 'strategic skills' is in [00:03:10] How technical experts plateau: the real meaning of 'not strategic enough' [00:05:47] What 'be more strategic' is actually code for [00:07:26] Micromanagement as a symptom of not knowing how to teach others [00:09:09] The Peter Principle in action: when great individual contributors struggle to lead [00:12:19] Why title doesn't equal influence — and what builds rapport instead [00:16:55] Integrity in leadership: what it looks like when leaders actually walk the walk [00:17:15] How to give feedback that makes people better, not defensive [00:19:57] Measuring emotional intelligence: the KPI framework most orgs are missing Guest Bio: Dr. Bushra Khan is a founder, educator, and leadership expert with over 15 years of experience in organizational development and adult learning. With a doctorate in Educational Leadership, deep research in emotional intelligence alongside global experts, and the creation of a top-rated executive leadership program (clients include Google, Government of Canada, and ERCOT), her impact is both measurable and deeply human. Dr. Khan helps high-performing professionals strengthen their strategic capabilities, lead with integrity, turn their expertise into meaningful influence, and shape their leadership philosophy. She describes her work as a calm, compelling signal in the noise — a space where leaders come for clarity, rising professionals see possibility, and organizations recognize that emotional intelligence isn't a nice-to-have: it's the operating system for the future of work. Brought to You by Paylocity Paylocity is the fastest growing unified platform for HR, Finance, and IT. Paylocity brings your people, processes, and data together in one place so HR leaders can spend less time managing systems and more time doing the work that actually moves their organizations forward. Learn more at paylocity.com Keywords: emotional intelligence, EQ, leadership, strategic skills, soft skills, HR leadership, performance management, people management, coaching, micromanagement, influence, integrity, feedback, AI and leadership, KPIs, organizational culture, future of work, Dr. Bushra Khan, HR Mixtape, Paylocity
Low Value Mail is a live call-in show discussing current events, politics, conspiracies and much more.Every Monday night at 7pm ETSupport The Show:
Helen Calvin didn't take a straight line to the CEO seat at Buildout — and she'll be the first to tell you that's exactly the point. In this episode, host Jenna Hille and Helen cover the real reason CRE has lagged on tech adoption, why the brokers with the highest EQ are about to pull away from the pack, and Helen's controversial take on women-only events that might just make you rethink how inclusion actually works. Plus the mentor advice she wishes she'd heard 15 years ago and why she thinks CRE has the most resilient entrepreneurial community of any industry she's worked in.
Clement Manyathela speaks to Richard Cullinan, Founder & CEO of Eq4M who shares on how to better regulate one's emotions in the workplace. They also touch on the importance of improving communication, productivity, and keeping professional relationships. The Clement Manyathela Show is broadcast on 702, a Johannesburg based talk radio station, weekdays from 09:00 to 12:00 (SA Time). Clement Manyathela starts his show each weekday on 702 at 9 am taking your calls and voice notes on his Open Line. In the second hour of his show, he unpacks, explains, and makes sense of the news of the day. Clement has several features in his third hour from 11 am that provide you with information to help and guide you through your daily life. As your morning friend, he tackles the serious as well as the light-hearted, on your behalf. Thank you for listening to a podcast from The Clement Manyathela Show. Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 09:00 and 12:00 (SA Time) to The Clement Manyathela Show broadcast on 702 https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/XijPLtJ or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/p0gWuPE Subscribe to the 702 Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/v5mfetc Follow us on social media: 702 on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 702 on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 702 on X: https://x.com/Radio702 702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What if the pricing function isn't just a specialty discipline—but one of the best training grounds for future CEOs? Ryan Walter, Partner at Jennings Executive Search and author of The Pricing Talent Playbook, joins Mark to explore the evolution of pricing careers, what separates great pricing leaders from average ones, and why pricing may soon become a recognized pathway to the CEO role. Ryan draws on his experience recruiting pricing talent and leading pricing teams across retail, manufacturing, data products, and industrial businesses. If you're building a pricing career, hiring pricing talent, or wondering how AI is reshaping the profession, this episode offers a glimpse into where pricing is headed next. Why you have to check out today's podcast: Discover why pricing may become a legitimate path to the CEO role. Learn why pricing transformations often fail despite strong strategy. Understand how AI is changing pricing talent expectations and why curiosity may now be more important than technical expertise alone. "My prediction is that the pricing function is going to end up being a path to CEO." — Ryan Walter Topics Covered: 01:00 – From Professional Musician to Pricing Leader. Learn why the skills required in professional music translated surprisingly well into pricing leadership. 03:05 – The Rare Combination Every Great Pricing Professional Needs. Why pricing success requires both IQ and EQ—the ability to work with complex data while influencing executives, sales teams, and non-technical stakeholders. Ryan explains why finding both traits in one person is surprisingly rare. 05:05 – The EQ Problem Pricing Professionals Must Solve. Mark and Ryan discuss why being right isn't enough. Learn how great pricing leaders simplify complexity, build trust, and communicate insights in ways that drive action instead of resistance. 06:50 – Why Ryan Wrote The Pricing Talent Playbook. Ryan explains the motivation behind his new book and why pricing leaders need more guidance on talent, team building, interviewing, and career development—not just pricing models and strategy. 09:20 – The Hidden Reason Pricing Transformations Fail. A fascinating hiring story reveals how a successful pricing leader was undermined when executive priorities shifted. Learn why organizational support often matters more than technical pricing expertise. 11:30 – What AI Is Changing About Pricing Right Now. Ryan shares examples of pricing leaders using AI to perform customer profitability analysis, strategic planning, and complex investigations in hours instead of weeks. The discussion moves beyond productivity into AI as a strategic thought partner. 14:30 – The New Hiring Question Every Pricing Candidate Should Expect. More companies are now evaluating AI readiness during interviews. Ryan explains what hiring managers actually want to hear—and why curiosity matters more than having the perfect answer. 17:00 – Why Pricing Professionals Change Jobs More Often. Many pricing leaders thrive on building functions, driving change, and solving messy problems. Ryan explains why some professionals leave after creating momentum—and why that's often a feature, not a flaw. 19:15 – The Two Pricing Archetypes. Are you the builder or the operator? Ryan breaks down the two common pricing career paths: the change agent who loves creating order from chaos and the operator who excels at maintaining and evolving mature pricing functions. 22:00 – Why Pricing Could Become a Path to CEO. The episode's biggest idea. Ryan explains why pricing professionals gain unusually broad exposure to strategy, systems, finance, customers, and operations—and why that experience mirrors many responsibilities of a CEO. Key Takeaways: [on pricing talent and skills ] "You need to be able to do the math and deal with the data and build models and figure out how systems work. But you also need to speak to non-technical folks in a way that they understand what your model is doing." – Ryan Walter [on pricing talent and skills ] "It's not just how to do math. It's helping as a thought partner to come up with [pricing] strategy." – Ryan Walter [Communication & Influence ] "You can't tell the sales leader about the R-squared. You have to simplify that down." – Ryan Walter People & Resources Mentioned: Jennings Executive Search – Executive search firm specializing in pricing and commercial leadership recruitment. The Pricing Talent Playbook – Ryan's new book focused on pricing talent, career development, and building pricing organizations. Connect with Ryan Walter: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-walter3141/ Email: ryan@jenningsexec.com Connect with Mark Stiving: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stiving/ Email: mark@impactpricing.com
(0:00) Intro *Reference to the Boardroom Governance Summit at Limerick Lane Cellars, Healdsburg, California (Aug 26-27, 2026) (2:12) About the podcast sponsor: The American College of Governance Counsel. (2:59) Start of interview. (4:00) Origin Story of Emily, and Stewardship (6:15) From Engineer to CEO (7:14) Companies that she led: Elo Touch Systems (97-00), Capstone Turbine (02-03), Apexon (04-07) and NovaTorque (09-17). (9:50) Changing geopolitics of manufacturing (10:49) First Boards and Public Company Lessons (first board experience in Japan) "The soft skills are the hard part to do." (15:48) On serving in private VC-backed boards. "If you know one board, you know one board. I mean, they are all so different." (22:43) On serving in non-profit boards. "It's one of the best possible ways to get governance experience." (26:20) CEO Mistakes (32:03) Board Succession for leadership and skills. (35:33) Board Evaluations Done Right (37:41) What Makes Great Directors. *reference to Leading Edge Stewardship, by Linda Riefler and Mayree Clark (Stanford Women on Boards). "Asking the right question, at the right time, in the right way." (39:57) AI and the Boardroom. (46:16) Innovation Versus Oversight. "The goal is informed oversight without operational interference" (49:34) Teaching Governance to Stanford Students (52:17) Boards need to have a long-term orientation in this short-term world. (52:34) Books that have greatly influenced her life: The Bible Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty, by Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson (2012) The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (1846) (54:12) Her mentors. "[T]hey told me things I needed to hear in a way that I could hear them because it's easy to get defensive." (55:38) Quotes that she thinks of often or lives her life by. "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.' by Margaret Mead. (56:43) An unusual habit or an absurd thing that she loves. (57:30) The living person she most admires in governance: Bob Joss. Emily Liggett serves on the boards of Ultra Clean Technology and Materion Corporation. She also serves as Lecturer at Stanford GSB, where she teaches corporate governance and board leadership. You can follow Evan on social media at:X: @evanepsteinLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/epsteinevan/ Substack: https://evanepstein.substack.com/__To support this podcast you can join as a subscriber of the Boardroom Governance Newsletter at https://evanepstein.substack.com/__Music/Soundtrack (found via Free Music Archive): Seeing The Future by Dexter Britain is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License
Send us Fan MailJune 14, 2026, message from apostle Tommy Miller, senior pastor, Legacy Church, Ohio. Recorded live.Absalom is a pattern that represents justified dysfunction — pain or offense that has been made acceptable rather than brought to healing. Week 3 of our series exploring patterns that disrupt and subvert kingdom culture.Learn more about Legacy Church: https://www.legacychurchint.org/Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/legacychurchohSow into what we're doing: https://www.legacychurchint.org/give#theFracture #absalom #jezebel #sacredbiology #biodivine #asheissoareweinthisworld #unveiled #conscience #sons #manifestsons #fathers #union #legacychurchoh #newcreation #jesus #church #jesuschrist #gospel #transfigured #revelator #apostle #deathless #immortality #believe #bible #creator #godisgood #grace #hope #sermonshots #sermonclips #holyspirit #love #godislove #kingdom #peace #freedom #memes #truth #inspiration #motivationalquotes #vibes #positivevibes #christ #jesuslovesyou #russellbrand #jordanbpeterson #joerogan #atm #tommymiller #soulintelligence #EQ #emotionalintelligence Support the show
>> Fill out this short survey to get entered to win all sorts of epic prizes to celebrate 500 episodes. >>Get the FREE Mental Golf Playbook >>Read Your Brain Swings Every Club Today I'm excited to welcome back Dr. Izzy Justice—a sports neuroscientist, author of 8 books including his latest, Your Brain Swings Every Club. His first time on in 2023 was a game changer as he helped you understand the concepts in GYRA Golf (one of my favorite mental golf books ever). Dr. Justice has spent over 30 years studying emotional intelligence (EQ) in sports and has trained more than 300 coaches across golf, football, basketball, and endurance sports. He's also a serious athlete himself, having completed over 40 triathlons, including 8 Half Ironmans and 5 full Ironmans. When you listen to this episode, you will learn: Why heads up putting is a bad idea. How to pick targets from tee to green. Why you need to digital detox to let your brain relax. The importance of picking targets early in your routine. The practice keys to get your range game to the golf course. How the process of picking targets actually relaxes your brain. How highlight videos before bed can help you improve your swing. And so much more. WICKED SMART GOLF Apply for 1:1 performance coaching with Michael (limited spots available) Wicked Smart Golf Academy To Lower Your HDCP Fast: The FASTEST way to play consistent golf. Join the Wicked Smart Golf Newsletter and get 5 FREE practice plans. Recommended Products Speed Train With Rypstick: The #1 speed trainer to add 10+ yards in 40 days or less (use code WICKEDSMART to save 20%) Shot Pattern: The best golf GPS + stat tracking to help you manage your round and make better decisions (20% off w/my link). Think Like a Pro with DECADE Golf: The #1 course management system to think like a pro (use code WICKEDSMART to save 20%). Master Mobility & Flexibility with Golf Forever: The best way to work on your golf fitness at home or the gym, with easy to follow plans & app (use code "WICKEDSMART" to save 15%). Use HackMotion for Better Ballstriking: The best wrist trainer in golf and become your swing coach (use code WICKEDSMART to save 5% on your investment). Speed Train with HiiTs Driver: Developed by 3X WLD Champion, Fast Eddie, this hittable driver will help you add distance while hitting balls (use code "WICKEDSMART" to save 10%). Wicked Smart Golf Books Play better FAST with the Wicked Smart Golf Trilogy on Amazon or Audible. Simplify "golf fitness" with my book, The Wicked Smart Golf Fitness Formula on Amazon. Or, listen to it on Audible. Follow Wicked Smart Golf Follow on TikTok Follow on Instagram Subscribe on YouTube
In this episode of Overcoming Distractions, Dave sits down with Mark Steiner, founder of the powerhouse event marketplace GigSalad. After receiving a life-changing ADHD diagnosis at age 57, Mark looked back on his journey from a New Jersey theater actor to a highly successful CEO. They dive deep into the unique mechanics of the ADHD brain in business, exploring how unconventional paths can breed massive professional success. Entrepreneurship and ADHD: The Reality of Late Diagnosis: Mark shares his personal journey of discovering his ADHD later in life after his daughter was diagnosed, highlighting how common it is for adults to finally make sense of their lives decades into their careers. EQ Over IQ: Mark emphasizes that high emotional intelligence (EQ) and "street smarts" are critical for building a flourishing company culture, far outweighing traditional MBA or textbook knowledge. Non-Negotiable Systems for Success: To sustain a thriving, bootstrap company for over 20 years, Mark relies on hiring people who complement his weaknesses, delegating autonomy completely, and protecting his calendar for essential solitary decompression time. · Build a Culture of Autonomy: Avoid micromanaging your team. Plant the overarching vision, give your employees a "long leash" with plenty of freedom, and act as their ultimate cheerleader while they execute. · Acknowledge and Map Your Social Window: Recognize that even if you are an extrovert who thrives at conferences or in boardrooms, you likely have a "four-to-six-week window" before you need dedicated, solitary decompression time to reset. · Practice Extreme Self-Mercy: Forgive yourself for the tangents, the oversharing, and the inevitable administrative blemishes. Mark attributes true professional freedom to showing up as your authentic self without "shape-shifting" or masking. You can find GigSalad here: https://www.gigsalad.com/
Dumhetens tidsalder?Morgenbladet brukte nylig 11 sider på dette spørsmålet.Vår kollektivt målte IQ har nemlig falt de siste 30 årene, etter hundre år med oppgang.Hva om det ikke er en krise, men en kursendring?Hva om det ikke handler om fall, men om et skifte? Fra IQ til EQ. Fra matematisk presisjon til romslig, rotete menneskelighet?I denne episoden får du forskningen bak emosjonell intelligens.Hva om vi omsider er på vei et mer menneske- og naturvennlig samfunn?
"The new owners of Fender since 2020 are attempting to own the copyright on the Stratocaster body. A German court has taken them part of the way but most experts don't believe it will hold up to scrutiny. Nonetheless, Fender has sent Cease and Desist letters to multiple guitar makers telling them to stop production, call back orders and destroy stock. Fender may have just committed brand suicide because history is not on their side."
The things that scare us – especially in the context of MBA essays – are often the things that make us feel vulnerable, uncertain, or insecure. In short, things that force us to take our armor off and be vulnerable. Vulnerability in business school essays also offers you a powerful opportunity to connect with your reader, demonstrate self-awareness and/or EQ, and – most importantly – tell a really memorable and compelling story about yourself. In this episode we talk about how to choose an essay topic offers these opportunities for candor and vulnerability, including sharing a range of examples and categories of essays that might be a good fit for you. This is a must for anyone interested in writing their MBA essays more boldly and more authentically.
Understand yourself and others better. These affirmations boost your EQ, helping you communicate more effectively and build deeper, more meaningful connections. Unwind now with our positive sleep affirmations podcast. Our soothing affirmations relax the mind and prepare the body for rest. Hit play, and drift into Good Sleep... Listen to more positive sleep affirmations by subscribing to the audio podcast in your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-sleep-positive-affirmations/id1704608129 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3OuJvYoprqh7nPK44ZsdKE And start your morning with Optimal Living Daily! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/optimal-living-daily-mental-health-motivation/id1067688314 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1hygb4nGhNhlLn4pBnN00j?si=ca60dcfd758b44b4 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In Part 1, Tom Kelly walked us through how EVONA scaled from four founders to 80 recruiters in three years, then deliberately cut back to 30 — and per-head revenue doubled. In Part 2, he hands over the framework that explains how he manages the leaner team. And it starts with a number most agency owners have never been forced to confront. If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, listen to that one first — it sets up everything Tom unpacks here. Brought to you by Atlas. The AI-first recruitment platform that captures every candidate conversation automatically. Atlas customers report 40%+ EBITDA growth and 80%+ increase in monthly billings. Get your exclusive listener offer at recruitwithatlas.com. Tom segments every sales team into four brackets. The top 10% who don't care about anyone else — they just want to bill. The next 20% who aspire to be that top performer. The bottom 10% who were never going to make it. And then the middle 60%. The bracket nobody manages correctly. Because the middle 60% don't measure themselves against the top performers. They measure themselves against the bottom 10%. As long as they're doing enough not to be the worst person on the team, they think they're fine. That's the bracket quietly sinking most agencies, and most owners can't see it because they manage everyone on the team the same way. The second framework Tom hands over is the activity benchmark EVONA uses to define elite. 25 interviews on a rolling four-week period. Reverse engineered from a 12-to-1 interview-to-placement ratio, the number means a recruiter hitting it consistently is doing two placements a month at minimum. Drop below 25 and Tom is direct — you are not fit to play at the top level. Tom also unpacks why he would hate to be running a big recruitment company right now. AI governance is about to break the firms that can't police what their recruiters are doing with dashboards, prompts, and outreach automation. LinkedIn is heading into a tidal wave of AI-driven spam. Vertical platforms are about to replace the way candidates look for jobs. And recruitment is now an IQ-over-EQ game — the people leveraging the tools and staying sharp are pulling away from everyone else. He opens the conversation with the moment that built all of this. Tom had a stutter so bad as a kid he was afraid to pay a phone bill. He chose recruitment specifically because it would force him onto the phone every day. That fear is the engine behind eight years of building EVONA — and the reason "evolving" is the company's core value. Tom closes with the books that shaped him (the Rockefeller Habits, Ronnie Wood, Alex Ferguson on man management), why Claude is the tool changing how he thinks, why he's not crazy about Bullhorn, and the one piece of advice he'd give every recruiter facing the next 18 months. Don't be a lone wolf. What You'll Learn: - The four-bracket framework Tom uses to manage every sales team, and why the middle 60% is the bracket quietly sinking most agencies - The 25-interview rolling 4-week benchmark that defines elite at EVONA, and the ratio behind it - Why Tom says recruitment is now IQ over EQ, and what that shift means for average recruiters - The vertical-platform shift coming for LinkedIn, and how candidates will find jobs in the next two years - Why a stutter became the engine of Tom's career, and what that says about the recruiters who succeed - The tools, books, and habits that shape Tom's leadership at EVONA Connect with Tom Kelly: LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/evonatom/ Email — tom@evona.com EVONA — https://evona.com
Mixing Music with Dee Kei | Audio Production, Technical Tips, & Mindset
In this episode, Dee Kei breaks down how he actually thinks about mixing vocals — and it's probably not what you'd expect. Before touching a plugin, an EQ, or a compressor, the most important step is understanding the intention behind the song. Is it a club banger or an intimate bedroom record? A polished pop vocal or something raw that's supposed to feel that way? Dee explains why blindly applying mixing techniques without reading context is the number one mistake engineers at every level make.From there, he dives into the fundamentals: how low-mids shape intimacy versus energy, why most beginners over-de-ess their vocals, when heavy compression works in your favor and when it fights the song, and how vocal placement in the mix is determined by the density and genre of the track. He also gets real about something not enough people talk about — the rise of intentionally "rough" sounding mixes that are racking up streams, and what that means for how you serve your clients.Whether you're a bedroom producer mixing your first song or a working engineer looking to sharpen your instincts, this episode will shift how you approach every vocal session.SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PATREON FOR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT!SUBSCRIBE TO YOUTUBEJoin the ‘Mixing Music Podcast' Discord!HIRE DEE KEIHIRE LUHIRE JAMESFind Dee Kei and Lu on Social Media:Instagram: @DeeKeiMixes @MasteredbyLu @JamesParrishMixesTwitter: @DeeKeiMixes @MasteredbyLuThe Mixing Music Podcast is sponsored by Izotope, Antares (Auto Tune), Sweetwater, Plugin Boutique, Lauten Audio, Filepass, & CanvaThe Mixing Music Podcast is a video and audio series on the art of music production and post-production. Dee Kei, Lu, and James are professionals in the Los Angeles music industry having worked with names like Odetari, 6arelyhuman, Trey Songz, Keyshia Cole, Benny the Butcher, carolesdaughter, Crying City, Daphne Loves Derby, Natalie Jane, charlieonnafriday, bludnymph, Lay Bankz, Rico Nasty, Ayesha Erotica, ATEEZ, Dizzy Wright, Kanye West, Blackway, The Game, Dylan Espeseth, Tara Yummy, Asteria, Kets4eki, Shaquille O'Neal, Republic Records, Interscope Records, Arista Records, Position Music, Capital Records, Mercury Records, Universal Music Group, apg, Hive Music, Sony Music, and many others.This podcast is meant to be used for educational purposes only. This show is filmed and recorded at Dee Kei's private studio in North Hollywood, California. If you would like to sponsor the show, please email us at deekeimixes@gmail.com.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Tim Cook has said his final “Good morning” and WWDC 2026 is underway – so Roberto and Jon are here to walk you through what Apple actually announced and what it will mean for your everyday tech life.This keynote felt very different: Apple grouped features across iOS, macOS, iPadOS, tvOS and visionOS instead of the usual OS‑by‑OS tour, and the focus was firmly on real users rather than developers. Roberto and Jon start with the “Golden Gate” opening skit and the handover to John Ternus before diving into the big story of the event: Apple Intelligence and the complete rebuild of Siri on a brand‑new foundation.You'll hear how Apple has made Siri far more conversational, better at understanding what's on your screen and in your apps, and more capable of using your personal context – all while keeping processing on‑device where possible and leaning on private cloud compute when it can't. They talk through practical examples, like asking Siri to find an address buried in a text, plan a night out from your calendar and messages, or fix hundreds of weak passwords automatically so you actually get around to updating them.Roberto and Jon also break down device support and caveats. iPhone 11 and newer will benefit, but the most advanced Apple Intelligence features and custom Siri voices are limited to the latest devices, selected M‑series Macs, recent Apple TV 4K models and newer Apple Watch Ultras. They discuss what that means if you're trying to decide whether to upgrade hardware or let your existing iPhone get a new lease of life in September.Beyond AI, they highlight the quality‑of‑life improvements that might matter even more day to day: faster app launches and AirDrop, seamless Wi‑Fi to 5G hand‑off so you're not constantly toggling radios, better search in Mail, more inclusive shared photo libraries with non‑Apple users, and custom EQ for the latest AirPods. Vision Pro owners get special attention too, with the ability to turn spatial photos into full environments and new ways Roberto can virtually “re‑fit” clients from his workshop images.There's also a quick look at enhanced parental controls and child‑safety tools, plus Apple's new Image Playground and spatial reframing features – including the big question of what happens to “truth” in photography when AI can subtly re‑angle and clean up your memories. Finally, they consider how Apple One and iCloud+ tiers might gate some Apple Intelligence capabilities, and whether either of them will still need third‑party AI subscriptions like ChatGPT once all this ships.If you're wondering whether to install the betas, budget for new hardware, or simply wait for the public release, this episode will help you work out your next move after WWDC 2026. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, Dr. Robyn McKay introduces an ancient Catholic practice that completely reframes what meditation is actually for. Drawing from her return to Catholicism and her discovery of Ignatian meditation, she explores what it means to stop chasing outcomes in your spiritual practice and simply be with God instead.This episode explores:What Ignatian meditation is and where it comes fromHow to use biblical imagination to insert yourself into scriptureWhy this form of meditation offers no big aha momentThe difference between meditation for outcomes and meditation for communionHow the wellness industry keeps us chasing spiritual highs that never lastThe Catholic practice of offering your suffering as a prayerWhy allowing is not passive but an active choice to make meaningHow Ignatian meditation differs from mindfulness and guided meditationWhat it means to be an active participant in your own healing and spiritual growthYou have been trying to let go. What if the move is not just to release it, but to actively offer it, and trust that it has been received?Your healing potential isn't blocked—it's simply misdirected. Understanding exactly where you are in the journey from burnout and moral injury toward identity, authorship, and calling is crucial. That's why I've created the KNOWN 90-minute Personality Intensive—to give you precise clarity on your personality and the next right steps in your healing.Book your KNOWN session here →Love what you're hearing? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts!About Dr. Robyn McKayDr. Robyn McKay is an award-winning psychologist and authority on spiritual intelligence, informed by Catholic mysticism and counseling psychology. Her work bridges clinical rigor, personality research, and identity-level transformation.With more than 20 years of practice and study, she is known for helping gifted, high-functioning women read burnout as information rather than failure, accurately name moral injury, reclaim original identity, and return to work as calling—the co-creative contribution they were made for.A PhD in counseling psychology from the University of Kansas, Robyn's academic formation is rooted in vocational psychology and the psychology of gifted and talented people across the lifespan—a body of work she contributed to as co-author of the award-winning Smart Girls in the 21st Century: Understanding Talented Girls and Women (2014). That foundation extends into positive psychology, creativity research, and optimal human development, and culminates in the study of spiritual intelligence. Where mainstream wellness culture borrows loosely from spiritual concepts, Robyn draws from a more exacting source—the Catholic intellectual and mystical tradition, and the saints who mapped the interior life long before psychology had a name for it.Robyn advises high-EQ executives and leaders at Fortune 500 companies, as well as elite performers in entrepreneurship, sports, and entertainment. She is sought after for her ability to meet people where they are—and for her discernment in navigating the intersection of ambition, identity, and calling.Her work is delivered through private retainers, intensives, keynote addresses, corporate trainings, and small group labs. Outside of her practice, she is an advocate and steward for wild horses, and can most often be found hiking the red rocks of Sedona with her husband of ten years and their goldendoodle, Cooper Mack.Connect with Dr. Robyn McKay:LinkedIn: Robyn McKay, PhDFacebook: Dr. Robyn McKayInstagram: @burnoutisdataTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@burnoutisdataBook Your KNOWN 90-min Intensivehttps://robyn-mckay.myflodesk.com/known
Understand yourself and others better. These affirmations boost your EQ, helping you communicate more effectively and build deeper, more meaningful connections. Unwind now with our positive sleep affirmations podcast. Our soothing affirmations relax the mind and prepare the body for rest. Hit play, and drift into Good Sleep... Listen to more positive sleep affirmations by subscribing to the audio podcast in your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-sleep-positive-affirmations/id1704608129 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3OuJvYoprqh7nPK44ZsdKE And start your morning with Optimal Living Daily! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/optimal-living-daily-mental-health-motivation/id1067688314 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1hygb4nGhNhlLn4pBnN00j?si=ca60dcfd758b44b4 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Most companies hire and promote based on IQ and productivity — but what if emotional intelligence is the real driver of lasting success? In this episode of Anatomy of Success, Steve Wolinhaus breaks down the nine defining behaviors of emotionally intelligent people and why identifying them can transform your team, your leadership, and your organization. Inspired by his father — a pioneer in championing EQ long before it was mainstream — Steve makes a compelling case for why emotional intelligence is the rarest and most valuable skill in today's workplace, and why so many companies are consistently promoting the wrong people. In this episode, you'll discover the 9 things emotionally intelligent people do: Manage stress in healthy ways that don't bleed into the workplace Stay assertive without being obnoxious — and set firm boundaries with toxic people Communicate feelings clearly without being defensive or accusatory Avoid taking things personally and let thoughts settle before responding Refuse to be vindictive and release negative emotions instead of holding grudges Own their mistakes and focus on solutions rather than blame Lead with genuine empathy and consider the impact of their words on others Take full responsibility for their personal and professional outcomes Operate with confidence and thick skin — without needing external validation Whether you're hiring, building a team, or working on your own personal growth, this episode will give you a clear framework for recognizing and developing emotional intelligence where it matters most.
Send us Fan MailSunday, June 7, 2026, message from apostle Tommy Miller is Week 2 in the series called The Fracture, where we are examining patterns that distort peace, fracture trust, damage culture and pull people out of connection, identity and healthy family systems.Not all patterns are loud. "Jezebel is loud and not allowed." Jezebel is unauthorized power.Introduction of Legacy's senior pastor by evangelist-apostle-pastor-teacher Bobby Shane Brooks, with us in the house from Georgia. Learn more about Legacy Church: https://www.legacychurchint.org/Sow into what we're doing: https://www.legacychurchint.org/give#jezebel #patterns #sacredbiology #biodivine #asheissoareweinthisworld #unveiled #conscience #sons #manifestsons #fathers #union #legacychurchoh #newcreation #jesus #church #jesuschrist #gospel #transfigured #revelator #apostle #deathless #immortality #believe #bible #creator #godisgood #grace #hope #holyspirit #love #godislove #kingdom #peace #freedom #memes #truth #inspiration #motivationalquotes #vibes #positivevibes #christ #jesuslovesyou #russellbrand #jordanbpeterson #joerogan #atm #tommymiller #soulintelligence #EQ #emotionalintelligence Support the show
Does your man suffer from low "EQ"?
Most entrepreneurs and business leaders are missing the huge potential of AI because they're stuck in deterministic thinking—or risking catastrophic mistakes by ignoring probabilistic tools. Christian Torres, founder of Stark Analytics, shares his extraordinary journey from solitary confinement to pioneering decision models that leverage AI's full power. He reveals how small businesses can build their own AI "advisory boards"—inspired by the masters like Edison and Carnegie—to pressure-test ideas, surface unseen opportunities, and make smarter decisions in real time.In this episode, you'll discover: How a decade in prison became Christian's forge for mastering analytics and AI-driven decision-making. Why today's shift from deterministic spreadsheets to probabilistic AI tools is a game-changer for leaders. The emerging roles of AI orchestrators and human collaborators—and why emotional intelligence (EQ) becomes more critical than ever. Practical frameworks for building AI-powered decision systems that cut costs, increase agility, and avoid costly errors. How to leverage multiple AI tools to create a “shadow cabinet” of expert personas that challenges your assumptions—just like Napoleon Hill's invisible counselors. You'll learn why ignoring these changes risks falling behind in a fast-evolving landscape. Those who embrace the new AI paradigm can pressure-test ideas, innovate faster, and set the stage for a future where human intuition and AI's probabilistic insights work hand-in-hand. Whether you're a startup founder, executive, or curious thinker, this episode is essential listening to understand how AI can elevate your decision-making—not replace it.Christian Torres is the founder of Stark Analytics and a pioneer in decision intelligence systems. His insights come from a mix of real-world experience and cutting-edge AI strategy, helping him craft scalable, actionable frameworks for businesses at all levels.If you're ready to ditch outdated models, harness the true potential of AI, and prepare for the disruptive wave shaping industries—this conversation is your roadmap. Don't get left behind—listen now and start building your AI-powered future today.
In this episode, Rory speaks with Bill Walton, founder of Bill Walton Sales Training, about how professionals can grow their businesses by embracing a more human-centered approach to sales in the age of AI. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience working with Fortune 500 companies and professional service firms, Bill explains why emotional intelligence, curiosity, and authentic conversations are becoming more important than ever. He shares practical strategies for building a repeatable sales process, leveraging subject matter experts effectively, telling compelling client stories, and generating referrals without feeling salesy. Bill also discusses the challenges facing today's seller-doers, why energy management may be more important than time management, and how professionals can create stronger client relationships by leading with empathy and value. Want to know how to sell without sounding like a salesperson? Curious why EQ may be a bigger competitive advantage than AI? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this practical conversation with Bill Walton.
Renegade Thinkers Unite: #2 Podcast for CMOs & B2B Marketers
The title is Chief Marketing Officer. The CMOs who earn the most influence put Chief first. They're not in the room just to deliver a marketing update. They're there to help the executive team make sense of what matters most, navigate tough decisions, and shape where the company goes next. In this episode, Drew talks with Kathie Johnson (Nintex), Lorie Coulombe (Equity Shift), and Allyson Havener about peer leadership inside the executive team. They explore how CMOs build trust, surface business issues, and strengthen credibility across the C-suite. In this episode: Kathie shares why peer leadership starts when a CMO owns more than the marketing plan and helps surface gaps across the business Lorie gets into the trust, EQ, and one-on-one relationship building that make healthy disagreement possible at the executive level Allyson breaks down how finance fluency, customer insight, and a clear read on the sales cycle build stronger executive credibility Plus: How peer leadership starts with the issues a CMO is willing to surface Why connecting dots across functions comes with the job How strong CMOs bring customer context into business decisions For CMOs ready to lead as true executive peers, this episode shows how to earn trust, surface what matters, and lead first as a business leader. For full show notes and transcripts, visit https://renegademarketing.com/podcasts/ To learn more about CMO Huddles, visit https://cmohuddles.com/
Transformation is hard. To be successful, it has to be human. That's what Julie Anixter and Dan Hill mean by Business Change that Works from the Inside Out. The guests they bring forward have one thing in common - a level of mastery and a passion for making a difference. As cohosts of this new program, Julie and Dan bring a wealth of experience and credentials. Julie comes from a lineage of Chicago entrepreneurs and has built her career at the intersection of strategy, design, and enterprise change. Through work for and collaborations with individuals (Tom Peters, Seth Godin, Scottie Pippen) and organizations (The US Military, P&G, Chanel, Morgans Hotels, AIGA), among others, she has been on the front lines of innovation and co-creation. That's her calling card. As in Dan's case, her blue-chip clients span multiple sectors. Dan's signature mark has been following Daniel Goleman's lead in applying emotional intelligence (EQ) to business issues, using Dr. Paul Ekman's facial coding research tool to capture and quantify emotional responses, radically transforming market research. He's considered a pioneer in emotional branding. He's also applied his craft in pro sports and current events, and served as a commentator on national TV, exploring how U.S. presidential candidates communicate and connect. Dan has authored 10 books, notably Emotionomics, a top ten selection by Advertising Age. This episode introduces Dan and Julie for who they are…first and foremost as individuals devoted to making the business world both more humane and productive - the foundation for a culture that can sustain a real transformation. Listen to this episode, and you'll learn about their guiding principles and how they see this podcast and their other current initiatives as the capstones to their respective careers. Real Transformations: Business Change That Works from the Inside Out is co-hosted by Julie Anixter and Dan Hill, PhD, entrepreneurs with deep experience as corporate change agents, devoted to helping companies make continuous change work for everyone through clarity and connection. To learn about their keynote talks, workshops and labs, check out Real-Transformation.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
In Episode 143, James and Gary discuss the many types of handheld microphones, including what they're designed to do, how to properly use them, different pickup patterns, and much more. The Church Sound Podcast is sponsored by DiGiCo and Shure.Check out co-host James Attaway's worship audio academy at www.attawayaudio.com/academy, and also visit our new Instagram page @churchsoundpodcast. James is the author of the Live Mixing Field Guide, a quick-start guide to EQ, compression and effects. Find more from him on the Attaway Audio YouTube Channel and at AttawayAudio.com. Reach him on IG @attawayaudio or contact him via email here.Help insure that techs have a clear target for a winning mix with the free guide “How to Lead Your Church Sound Team” by James, and get a walkthrough on setting up virtual sound check on your console with his “Virtual Sound Check Challenge”.Co-host Gary Zandstra has worked in church production as an AV systems integrator and as a manufacturer's rep for more than 35 years. Go here to check out Gary's extensive library of articles on ProSoundWeb.
"Sony Music Publishing confirmed an agreement to acquire Blackstone's Recognition Music Group catalog for $3.5 billion. The Red Hot Chili Peppers just sold their catalog for $300 million. Other Funds are raising billions to start buying. These buyers are called Music Rights Funds. I became interested in how these Funds actually made money. How does one invest and can I sell my own music. I have the answers for you."
"It is no secret that music contracts can be rather brutal on artists. Often the stories focus on not getting paid but there is also the interesting idea of a lawsuit ordering a musician to fill his or her contract and record what we are calling a court ordered album. We have multiple examples plus one where the band was paid NOT to record an album."
"The New York Times released their 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters list a short while ago. I know online lists usually have some click bait to start conversation but this list was overtly egregious. Not for who was on it. It was who was left off. We will go over the list and play some artists that should have been on there."
Building Emotional Intelligence to Unlock Everyday HappinessWe hear about it all the time, right? Especially that old phrase from the Declaration of Independence: “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” It sounds almost like happiness is this thing at the end of a rainbow—a big quest that we're all supposed to be on.But here's my take, and it's what I spend this episode unpacking: I don't think happiness is some mysterious thing we have to hunt for. I actually believe it's right in front of us, closer than we realize. In fact, sometimes the hardest part is not finding it, but recognizing that we actually have the ability to choose it—right now, right where we are.I'm a big believer in getting help when you need it. If happiness feels miles away, you're not alone. There are days when it feels almost impossible to get there. That's okay. Asking for support or seeking help doesn't mean you're failing at this.One big thing I talk about in the episode is how much we let our circumstances decide our mood. Whether it's the news, your job, or relationships, it's easy to let outside events call the shots on how happy we feel.I get personal, too. I share about the time my son had a near-fatal car accident—the kind of situation that flips life upside down and fills your days with more fear and uncertainty than anything else. Some days were absolutely miserable, and there's no pretending otherwise. But even in those dark times, I found small moments of happiness—things like noticing the color of the fall leaves on my walks around the hospital. I had to make a conscious choice to look for those little bright spots when everything else seemed bleak.That's become my go-to move: a playbook for happiness, you could say. Over the years, I realized that choosing happiness isn't just something you do when life is good; sometimes, you need it most when things are tough, or even just kind of dull.Our brains are not always on board with this idea! We're wired to spot problems and threats, not to go looking for things that make us happy. Those negative stories our minds tell us can feel pretty convincing.Emotional intelligence really helps here. I talk about skills like consequential thinking and recognizing patterns—these are tools that let us slow down and actually decide how we want to respond, not just react.It's important to keep in mind that happiness isn't a destination you reach and then you're just done. Life will always have its ups and downs, good days and bad. So instead of waiting around for everything to finally be perfect, I encourage myself (and you) to keep making that choice every day. It may sound like hard work, but I promise it's worth it.Another tip I share is about building new neural pathways in your brain. If you're someone who ties happiness to outside circumstances, you can actually train yourself to do it differently over time—just like taking the new expressway instead of the old backroads.3 Key Takeaways:Happiness Is a Daily Choice, Not a Destination - As I share at 08:38, real happiness isn't something to wait for or chase endlessly; it's a conscious decision made, even amidst adversity.Circumstances Shouldn't Dictate Creative Fulfillment - Using examples like market volatility and personal challenges (05:02), I highlight the pitfalls of tying happiness to external conditions.Build New Neural Pathways Through Intentional Practice - By developing emotional intelligence and forming new habits (23:49), you can train yourself to focus on intrinsic rewards, resilience, and gratitude. This mindset shift boosts both well-being and creative consistency.In each episode, Jeff and Eric will talk about what emotional intelligence, or understanding your emotions, can do for you in your daily and work life. For more information, contact Eric or Jeff at info@spiritofeq.com or visit their website, Spirit of EQ.You can follow The Spirit of EQ Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Android, or on your favorite podcast player.New episodes are available on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays every month!Please review our podcast Music from Uppbeathttps://uppbeat.io/t/roo-walker/deeperLicense code: PEYKDJHQNGSZXDUEhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/Spirit of EQMentioned in this episode:Thanks for listening to Spirit of EQThis podcast was created to be a tool to primarily help you to discover and grow your EQ. Science and our own lived experiences confirm that the better we are at managing our emotions, the better we're going to be at making decisions. Which leads to a better life. And that's something we all want. We're glad that you've taken the time today to listen. We hope that something you hear will lead to a breakthrough. We'd really appreciate a review on your podcast platform. Please leave some comments about what you heard today, as well as follow and subscribe to the podcast. That way, you won't miss a single episode as we continue this journey.
If you have emotions, this episode is for you...
IQ is a commodity now. AI can out-think, out-research, and out-process almost anyone in the room. So what is left?In this episode, John shares a conversation with Colleen Stanley, bestselling author and founder of Sales Leadership Development, to talk about the two things that AI cannot replicate — emotional intelligence and meaningful mentorship. Colleen has spent decades proving that EQ is not a soft skill, it is a revenue skill. And her new book, Be the Mentor Who Mattered, makes the case that the next generation of leaders cannot go it alone.They get into why self-awareness is the mega skill every sales leader needs to develop, how to give feedback without triggering defensiveness, and why the best mentorship rarely comes from a formal program. If you lead a team, coach reps, or are trying to figure out what your competitive edge looks like in a world of AI, this one is for you.Want to build the skills that hold up in any market? Visit www.jbarrows.com and learn how you can Make It Happen.What You'll LearnWhy self-awareness is the mega skill and how to actually develop itHow to give feedback using empathy followed by assertivenessWhy the best mentorship happens informally, not through assigned programsHow one conversation from the right person can change your entire trajectoryWhy mentorship cultures produce two times the profit of those without themHow to find a mentee instead of waiting to be asked to be a mentorColleen Stanley is president of SalesLeadership, a sales development firm specializing in the integration of emotional intelligence, sales, and sales leadership skills. She is the author of three books, Emotional Intelligence For Sales Success, now published in eight languages, Emotional Intelligence For Sales Leadership, and Growing Great Sales Teams.Connect with Colleen Stanley:Website: https://www.salesleadershipdevelopment.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleenstanleysliYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ColleenStanleySalesLeadershipGrab your Free Corporate Sales Training Resources: https://www.salesleadershipdevelopment.com/resources/John Barrows is a sales trainer, speaker, and founder of JB Sales with over 25 years of experience in the industry. He has made hundreds of cold calls a week, led startups to acquisition, and trained high-performing teams at companies like Salesforce, LinkedIn, Amazon, and Okta. Through JB Sales, John focuses on practical sales execution—helping reps fill pipeline, close deals, and build trust with buyers in today's AI-driven sales environment.Connect with John Barrows:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbarrows/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnmbarrows/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@johnmbarrowsCheck out John's Membership: https://go.jbarrows.com/Join John's Newsletter: https://www.jbarrows.com/newsletter
Women Leaders Overcome Self-Doubt: The Power Quotient Framework That Changes Everything (2026) Executive Summary: 68% of women in tech experience imposter syndrome, yet most have never been taught to fight it strategically. Former IBM VP Shelmina Babai Abji shares her Power Quotient (PQ) framework — a proven system for silencing the inner critic, amplifying your voice of courage, and advancing your leadership career. Quick Takeaways: 68% of women in tech report imposter syndrome — tech is the most affected industry (Hays, 2025). Your "Power Quotient" (PQ) is the ability to intentionally choose an empowering response over a disempowering one. The voice of fear is doing its job — your job is to feed your voice of courage louder reasons to act. For every 100 men promoted to first manager, only 81 women make the same leap (McKinsey, 2025) — PQ is a competitive differentiator. Showing your worth is a continuous journey of competence, confidence, relationships, and personal branding — not a one-time event. Sixty-eight percent of women in tech experience imposter syndrome. Let that number land. That means more than two out of every three talented, qualified women sitting in engineering meetings, VP offices, and C-suite strategy sessions are secretly wondering if they belong there. And according to a KPMG survey of 750 female executives, 75% of senior women leaders have experienced imposter syndrome at some point in their careers — with 85% saying they believe it's widespread in corporate America. Yet almost no one teaches women what to do about it — strategically, systematically, and permanently. I'm Sabrina Braham, MA, MFT, PCC — executive leadership coach with over 30 years of experience, and host of the Women's Leadership Success Podcast, now with over 950,000 downloads and ranked in the top 1.5% of podcasts globally. In Episode 162, I sit down with Shelmina Babai Abji — TEDx speaker, former IBM Vice President, angel investor, and author of Show Your Worth — for one of the most powerful and practical conversations I've ever had on this podcast. Shelmina grew up in poverty in Tanzania, put herself through school across three countries, walked into a room of 2,000 engineers where no one looked like her, and still became one of the highest-ranking women of color in IBM's history — overseeing teams that generated over $1 billion in annual revenue. Her secret? A framework she calls the Power Quotient. If you're a woman leader in tech or any competitive industry who is battling negative mental chatter, fear of speaking up, or the relentless whisper that says you're not qualified enough — this episode is for you. Why Self-Doubt Is Hitting Women Leaders Harder Than Ever in 2026 The data tells a story that is urgent and personal. A 2025 Hays survey of more than 8,000 professionals found that 68% of women in tech experience imposter syndrome — and that approximately one-third say these feelings grow more intense as their careers advance, not less. Tech is now the single most-affected industry in the entire workforce. This is not a personal failing. It is a structural reality. As Shelmina describes it, when you look around a room and see no one who looks like you, no one who sounds like you, no one who grew up like you — your brain does exactly what it is designed to do: it searches for evidence that you belong, finds little, and generates doubt. "I walked into a room of 2,000 engineers," Shelmina recalls, "and I realized there was not one person that looked like me. Not one person that spoke like me. And I started undermining my own capabilities, underestimating my own worth." The compounding problem is this: according to the McKinsey Women in the Workplace 2025 report, women represent 49% of entry-level employees — yet by the time you reach the C-suite, fewer than 29% of those seats belong to women. For every 100 men promoted to their first manager role, only 81 women make the same leap. The "broken rung" is real, and self-doubt is one of the forces that keeps it broken. The cost of unchecked self-doubt is not just personal — it is organizational. Women who silence themselves in meetings, decline stretch assignments, or step back from promotions because they do not feel "ready" are costing their companies their most strategic asset: authentic, experienced, high-EQ leadership. The good news? Shelmina's own career is proof that the cycle can be broken — and the tool she used is available to every woman listening right now. Introducing the Power Quotient (PQ): Your Most Underused Leadership Asset Most leaders are familiar with IQ (intellectual intelligence) and EQ (emotional intelligence). Shelmina introduces a third: PQ — Power Quotient. "We own the power to intentionally pick an empowering response to a disempowering stimulus, whether that stimulus is internal or external. That's your PQ. And the internal stimulus must be taken care of first, before we can fight the external." This is not a motivational concept. It is a cognitive framework with three operating principles: PQ Principle 1: Recognize the Voice of Fear — Without Obeying It The voice of fear is not your enemy. It is doing exactly what it evolved to do: keep you in your comfort zone. The moment you recognize that the whisper saying "they'll find out you don't belong" is just a voice — not a fact — you reclaim agency over it. Shelmina's turning point came during her first year at a major tech employer. She was sitting in a meeting, holding back an idea. Then she watched someone else state her exact idea — and receive praise for it. "That was the first time I recognized that my ideas do matter," she says. "And once I had that inner victory, everything changed." Try This Now: The next time you catch yourself editing an idea before you say it, ask: "Is this my voice of fear or my voice of courage speaking?" Name it. That naming alone is the beginning of PQ. PQ Principle 2: Feed Your Voice of Courage With Reasons Courage is not the absence of fear. It is acting despite fear — and it grows when you actively give it ammunition. Shelmina calls this "feeding your voice of courage," and it is a deliberate, intentional practice. In her case, the reason was visceral: "If I didn't speak up, they would not extend my visa. My dream of lifting my family out of poverty would be over." That reason was more powerful than her fear. Your reason does not need to be that dramatic — but it does need to be real to you. Effective reasons to feed your voice of courage include: The impact your idea could have on your team or clients The career advancement that depends on your visibility The women who will follow in your footsteps if you blaze this trail The competencies you will build only by speaking up and stretching PQ Principle 3: Make Your Voice of Courage Louder Than Your Voice of Fear This is the practice. Not silencing fear — but systematically amplifying courage until it drowns fear out. "I made my voice of courage louder than my voice of fear," Shelmina says, "by feeding it reasons why I should do something, as opposed to reasons why I shouldn't." This maps directly to what 2026 executive presence research identifies as the core of leadership gravitas: decisiveness under pressure and emotional self-regulation. Leaders who can redirect internal narratives in high-stakes moments are the ones who get promoted, trusted, and retained. How to Show Your Worth Without Waiting to Be Noticed One of the most actionable insights from Shelmina's work is this: showing your worth is not self-promotion. It is a strategic practice of continuously positioning yourself to contribute higher and higher value — and then ensuring the right people have a front-row seat to that contribution. "Show your worth, in the context of my book, is the value you contribute towards the success of your organization," Shelmina explains. "The recognition that I have something to contribute is the beginning of understanding your worth. And then the journey is: how do I continuously position myself to contribute more?" This has four dimensions that mirror 2026's most sought-after leadership competencies: Competencies — continuously building the skills that drive organizational outcomes Confidence — the deep-seated self-trust that comes from doing hard things and surviving them Relationships — intentionally building the four key relationships (boss, peers, mentors, sponsors — covered in Part II) Personal branding — ensuring your value is visible, not just felt Worth is not static. It is not something you either have or you don't. "The more competent you become," Shelmina says, "the higher the value you create." It is a compounding cycle — and it begins the moment you decide your ideas matter. Overcoming Negative Mental Chatter: A Framework for Women in Tech Negative mental chatter — the constant inner voice of "I'm not smart enough, I'll sound stupid, they'll find out" — is the presenting symptom of an unchecked voice of fear. Shelmina identifies it as the single biggest barrier she sees in her work with women leaders, and she is specific about how to address it. Step 1: Externalize It Treat negative mental chatter the way you would treat a notification on your phone: notice it, acknowledge it, then decide whether to engage. The chatter loses power the moment you observe it rather than inhabit it. Step 2: Name the Fear Underneath Is it fear of failure? Fear of judgment? Fear of stepping outside your comfort zone? Fear of being seen as someone who doesn't belong? Naming the specific fear collapses it from a fog into a manageable object. You can work with a named fear. You cannot work with a fog. Step 3: Reframe the Outcome "There is no such thing as failure," Shelmina says. "There are only various degrees of success." Every stretch assignment, every meeting where you spoke up and it didn't land perfectly, every project that didn't go as planned — these are data....
The quest for "artificial empathy" is a central theme in AI Valley. Gary Rivlin discusses how "personality engineers" fine-tune bots like Pi to be kind, conversational, and admit ignorance. Unlike IQ-focused models, these bots use flattery and human traits to mimic genuine connection. Rivlin predicts AI will soon serve as emotional companions or affordable therapists for those who cannot pay for human professionals. However, this development creates friction, as Microsoftbuilds its own EQ-heavy rivals to compete with OpenAI's products. Even tools like Anthropic's Claude demonstrate distinct "attitudes," proving that while bots reflect training data, they are increasingly sophisticated human-like assistants. (6/8)1903 LA