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In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Lauren Tropeano about how companies can tap into the humanity of their people in the era of AI. Lauren Tropeano is the Chief People Officer at Docebo. She brings over 20 years of Human Resources expertise to Docebo, having led diverse, multinational teams for several global, high growth tech organizations. Prior to Docebo, Lauren was the Chief People Officer at Skillshare, a leader in creative learning, from 2022 to 2024. She also held several executive roles leading global People teams at tech companies such as DraftKings from 2018 to 2022, and Cogito, Pivotal Software and Dell/EMC prior. In those leadership roles, she led teams and organizations through several periods of rapid growth and transformation. She is also the founder of Destination People, a boutique human resources consulting firm. Lauren received her MBA from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and B.A. in Organizational Behavior from Boston College. Check out all of the podcasts in the HCI Podcast Network!
In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, we sit down with David Sperl, Head of HR for Advanced Visualization Solutions at GE HealthCare, to unpack how HR earns real business credibility by shipping outcomes, not PowerPoints, inside a heavily regulated, science driven environment.David explains why AI literacy must move from theory to hands-on practice, how microlearning and shared baseline tools help drive adoption, and why leadership advocacy is essential to scale change across technical, clinical, and commercial teams. He breaks down GE HealthCare's four stages of AI adoption, how communities of practice create demand pull, and why unlearning outdated mental models is now harder than learning new ones.Most importantly, he shares why user experience and friction removal are the real unlocks for AI in HR and business, and why the future of change isn't “change management”, it's change agility.
What happens when you slow down, ask better questions, and resist the urge to rush to answers? In this episode, Bob 'n Joyce model a real-time reflection that sparks insight, tension, and surprising clarity for the year ahead. Using curiosity and inquiry, they pose a series of powerful questions to one another—questions designed to disrupt familiar thinking and generate fresh insights and “aha” moments. What unfolds is a candid, in-the-moment assessment of their current reality, paired with the creative tension between where they are today and what they hope for in the year ahead. You'll hear the pauses, the uncertainty, and the less-than-polished responses that come with doing this work honestly. Fair warning: this is not an easy or comfortable exercise. But it is a meaningful one. The rewards of slowing down, asking better questions, and reflecting together—whether with a team or across an entire organization—are well worth the effort. Come on in. Grab a snack. Welcome!
Phil Koller studied the concentration and key man risks in a distribution business well-suited to him — and went for it.Register for the webinar:From W2 to Owner Mindset: How to Think About Your Take-Home Pay - TODAY!! - https://bit.ly/4r5RsI3Topics in Philip's interview:Preferred working in a small companyHis friend talked him into real estate, then ETAInspired by Rich Dad, Poor DadImportance of having his wife on boardPaused search due to upcoming second childBought Roman Enterprises, an automotive paint distributorInherited exactly 1 employeeDid door-to-door sales to learn marketManaged customer and supplier concentration riskDrew perseverance from grandfather's Holocaust survivalReferences and how to contact Philip:LinkedInRoman EnterprisesBen Jasper on Acquiring Minds: How to Buy a Manufacturer with $1m in Cash FlowJerod Pierce on Acquiring Minds: From SBA Loan to High 8-Figure Exit Download the New CEO's Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR:From this page or contact jenny@aspenhr.comWork with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:Pioneer Capital AdvisoryLearn more about Walker Deibel's done-with-you buy-side advisory:The Acquisition LabConnect with Acquiring Minds:See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with host Will Smith on LinkedInFollow Will on TwitterEdited by Anton RohozovProduced by Pam Cameron
Ray Rodriguez reveals how CW Matthews is revolutionizing construction culture by caring for the whole person, not just the worker. Discover why hiring a part-time pastor transformed their company and how faith-driven leadership is saving lives in an industry plagued by suicide and addiction. WHAT YOU'LL DISCOVER: ⚡️Why CW Matthews hired a part-time pastor after a workplace tragedy ⚡️How to lead with faith without forcing religion on employees ⚡️The shocking mental health crisis facing construction workers ⚡️Why caring for total human health matters more than productivity Ray Rodriguez has spent 30 years building HR culture at one of Atlanta's gold standard construction companies. His mentor taught him that faith should drive decisions and that people matter more than profits. Now as VP of Human Resources at CW Matthews, a 2,000-employee heavy highway contractor, Ray leads with the belief that employees aren't just assets, they're image bearers of God who deserve care for their mind, body, and spirit. WORK WITH DARON: ⚡️FREE: Jumpstart to Purpose ➡️ https://rb.gy/4qpsgb ⚡️BOOK: The Death of a Dream ➡️ https://rb.gy/a9ifwi ⚡️COACHING: Register ➡️ https://rb.gy/0is05k
Eric McDonald built CHP Paint Co.'s culture on a simple principle: you can't out-produce bad culture. After experiencing severe burnout in 2021, he made drastic changes—4-day work weeks, comprehensive benefits, employee recognition programs, and a two-week December shutdown. The results? Productivity increased, profitability soared, and December's "planned loss" became the strategic investment that transformed his entire year. Eric shares how to budget for culture and why bottom-line thinking beats chasing top-line revenue every time.Today's Podcast is brought to you by Red Key Solutions
What happens when a leader's greatest lesson comes from surviving a broken heart—literally? In this episode of the Build A Vibrant Culture Podcast, Nicole Greer sits down with Hanna Bauer, founder and CEO of Heartnomics, to explore a powerful, human-centered approach to leadership rooted in hope, empowerment, accountability, results, and trust.Hanna shares her extraordinary personal story—surviving childhood heart disease and undergoing a pioneering heart ablation procedure that changed the course of her life. That experience became the blueprint for her leadership philosophy: restore rhythm, reclaim human potential, and lead with both heart and precision.Together, Nicole and Hanna dive into Hanna's book, Hustle With Heart: 52 Mini Shifts to Maximize Your Impact, and explain why sustainable leadership transformation doesn't happen through massive overhauls—but through small, intentional daily shifts.If you're a leader who wants stronger culture, clearer accountability, and results that actually last—this conversation will energize and equip you.Vibrant Highlights:00:02:20 – 05:05 - Hanna shares how surviving childhood heart disease—and an experimental procedure—taught her the power of clear pathways, innovation, and learning through failure05:58 – 07:45 - Why great leadership requires both human-centered love and systematic excellence—and how leaders balance people, process, and performance.09:20 – 12:30 - Hope as a catalyst for change, momentum, and problem-solving—especially when solutions aren't obvious.13:20 – 15:05 - Why leaders unintentionally disempower teams—and how real empowerment fuels growth, learning, and confidence.25:45 – 30:17 - How trust starts with yourself, fuels delegation and innovation, and sustains long-term impact—even when results aren't immediately visible.Connect with Hanna!Hanna's website: www.heartnomics.comHanna's book: Hustle with Heart https://a.co/d/cTLuK62LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bauerhannaFB: https://facebook.com/hannad.bauerIG: https://www.instagram.com/hannabauer777/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heartnomicsFREE Assessment: https://heartnomics.com/assessments/#:~:text=challenges%20and%20goals.-,Assessment,-for%0AOrganizationsAlso mentioned in this episode: The Speed of Trust by Stephen M.R. Covey: https://a.co/d/64nCUzqThe Path by Laurie Beth Jones: https://a.co/d/2QEPT3u (for accompanying document, email nicole@vibrantculture.com)Listen at vibrantculture.com/podcast or wherever you get your podcasts!Book Nicole to help your organization ignite clarity, accountability, and energy through her SHINE™ Coaching Methodology.Visit vibrantculture.comEmail: nicole@vibrantculture.comWatch Nicole's TEDx Talk: https://youtu.be/SMbxA90bfXE
This Devotional address with Sister Jennifer E. Meredith was delivered on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 11:30 AM MST in the BYU-Idaho I-Center. Jennifer E. Meredith received a bachelor's degree in communications from Brigham Young University. She worked in Human Resources for Franklin Covey. Sister Meredith served as a mission leader with her husband in the Utah Salt Lake City South Mission. She has served as a presidency member in multiple church organizations and as a full-time missionary in the Argentina Salta Mission. President and Sister Meredith were married on June 6, 1998, in the Salt Lake Temple, and they are the parents of six children.
AlabamaBoth US Senators for AL join Senate GOP in seeking answers from MN Governor on the massive fraud going on his stateAG Marshall applauds appeals court ruling that sides with Amish in refusing immunization mandates in NYSoS Wes Allen reveals more details on the non citizens found on voter rollsAL Dept. of Human Resources now limiting use of EBT cards to in state purchases onlyAL Civil Appeals court rules in favor of ADPH and policies on birthing centersFormer Director of 911 services sues Montgomery leaders for discrimination19 counties given natural disaster status by USDA over recent drought effectsNationalPresident Trump signs EO that bans gain of function research and secret labsTrump talks about Iran and protests and potential action by USTrump admin eliminates Biden Era guidelines for banks and loan applicantsAG for MN now suing Trump admin for the surge of ICE agents in that stateUS State Dept has now revoked 100K foreign visas for 2025DOJ fires top attorney in VA office for refusing to charge James ComeyGrand Jury has issued subpoenas to Fed Reserve Chair Jerome PowellVA Secretary reveals major changes in 2025 to better serve veterans
In this episode of The Employee Success Podcast, Brian is joined by Luke Button and Nandi Thomas as they pull back the curtain on the humans behind Human Resources. From demystifying the role of an HR Business Partner at the University of Louisville to exploring how HR strengthens connection, they spotlight how their work helps build culture and community across our campuses. Listen to learn how HRBPs can shape everyday experiences, support employees, and strengthen our Cardinal community.Visit the UofL Human Resources website here: https://louisville.edu/hrSend a CARDGram: https://my.louisville.edu/employee-success-center/recognition/send-cardgram Check out all the incredible opportunities offered by the Employee Success Center here: https://louisville.edu/employeesuccess--Nandi Thomas is an experienced Human Resources professional with a career in the field since 2018. She currently serves as an HR Business Partner, where she provides strategic support and guidance to leaders and employees on organizational development, employee relations, performance management, and workforce planning. She currently supports all of HSC Campus and some of Belknap Campus including Kent School, School of Music, Law School, Arts and Sciences, Speed School and EVPRI. Outside of work, Nandi is committed to continuous growth and leadership development, reflecting her belief that HR is not only about policies and processes, but also about building environments where people thrive.Luke Button is an HR Business Partner for Operational and the majority of UofL Provost Based Units. He is a Human Resources professional with a focus in Human Resource Strategy consultation, People Analytics, Employee Relations, Compensation, and Total Rewards Administration. Luke consults with our Executive-level leaders in developing a People-Centered organization and developing empathetic and successful leaders and teams and creates data-driven solutions to enhance the employee experience and implement effective HR Strategy.
What's up everyone and welcome to The Corporate Bartender!Do you ever find yourself looking for clarity? Clarity of direction, clarity in communication, clarity in execution? Do you wish you could get your team in FLOW? If you have, you're in the right place!We've got Clara Capano on the program today. If you don't know Clara, stick around, she's pretty awesome.She's the founder and CEO of Capano Speaking & Training and she been featured on NBC, ABC, CBC, and many other three letter acronyms, she contributes to Forbes, and CEO Mom, and is featured on Season 3 of Amazon's Speak Up!What an amazing conversation with someone who fits right in with the TCB values! If you're ready, let's get some Clara-ty!If you want to skip straight to the interview, 4:06 is your spot!TCB Layout:0:00 - Show Open & Intro1:01 - Titles1:28 - Kickoff 4:06 - Clara Capano Interview49:19 - Wrap & CloseWebsite: https://www.claracapano.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claracapano/Join our community!https://the-corporate-bartender.mn.co/Theme Music by Hooksounds.comGood Feels Stories Copyright Paramount/CBS
I really enjoyed this conversation with Natalie and her mother, Mary, because it reminded me how an unstoppable mindset is often built quietly, over time, through creativity, learning, and persistence. Together, they share what it has been like to navigate life across generations while facing learning disabilities, health challenges, workplace adversity, and the constant need to adapt. We talk about Natalie's journey with attention deficit disorder and anxiety, how creative outlets like baking, art, music, and storytelling helped her find focus and confidence, and why returning to school later in life became an act of self-trust rather than fear. Mary's story adds another powerful layer. She reflects on growing up with low self-esteem, navigating male-dominated workplaces, and dealing with sexual harassment long before there were systems in place to address it. As a mother, artist, and professional, she shares what it means to keep moving forward while supporting her daughter's growth. Throughout our conversation, we explore accessibility, creative entrepreneurship, lifelong learning, and why accommodations and understanding still matter. I believe you will find this episode both honest and encouraging, especially if your own path has been anything but linear. Highlights: 00:00 – Hear how creativity and resilience shaped an unstoppable mindset across two generations.08:35 – Learn how attention deficit disorder and anxiety changed the way focus, learning, and confidence developed.14:33 – Discover why stepping away from a demanding career can open the door to new growth.21:23 – Understand how workplace sexual harassment leaves lasting effects long after it happens.35:16 – See why protecting and celebrating local artists became a personal mission.59:09 – Learn why accessibility, accommodations, and empathy still matter in everyday life. About the Guest: Mary Dunn: Mary was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. She was the only child of Norman and Lucille Rump. At a young age, she liked to draw and as she grew older she enjoyed painting. Her first painting was in oil and Mary was eleven years old. However, because of the expense of art supplies, it was difficult to pursue a continuous endeavor in that particular form of art. While in high school, nothing really exciting happened as Mary was on the shy side. She didn't belong to any groups and she really just wanted to graduate. She graduated in the upper third of her class. The most momentous part of the graduation was that Jeff Goldblum was also a graduate of her class. After graduation, Mary continued her education at The Pittsburgh Beauty Academy. There she studied cosmetology and acquired a teacher license. Although she never taught, she did work at a few different shops and also managed a shop. These experiences helped Mary to become less shy. At that time, she met her first husband and had two children. The marriage lasted for eleven years, and Mary was left with two small children. Mary realized that her background in cosmetology would not be sufficient to raise two small children. She decided to go to college. With the support of her parents, she was accepted to attend Carlow College which is now Carlow University. There she studied business and minored in theology. She almost minored in art, but she needed one more credit to have that as a minor. It was important for her to graduate in order to take care of her children. While in college she belonged to several organizations. One organization was an honor society called Delta Epsilon Sigma. There she became an assistant chair of the organization. The second organization was OASIS. The organization was for non-tradition students. She was vice-president during her senior year at Carlow. She graduated in 1991 cum laude. After Carlow, she found her first employment opportunity working the Equitable Gas Company as a “Technical Fieldman”. In this position, Mary would draft pipeline installations, work up costs for those installations, and fill in for supervisors when they went on vacations. The job was difficult as it had usually been filled by men prior to her. She was thrust into a job that she learned on her own and was subject to sexual harassment. At that time, sexual harassment was not spoken about. Mary didn't even realize that her peers were doing these things to her. When she supervised union personnel, they were nice and valued her expertise. However, when she returned to the office, more harassment continued. During that period, Mary decided to get a Master's Degree and enrolled in Carnegie Mellon's Heinz school of Public Management. Her classes were very valuable as she learned about leadership, information systems, and marketing communications. She graduated in 1996 with distinction. Even though after she graduated from CMU, she continued to be sexual harassed. She thought it might be a good idea to document the issues that made her position difficult. She began to take notes on these incidents. When she went to Human Resources, Mary was told that she should confront these people and tell them how she was feeling. Mary couldn't do that because she felt it would make matters worse. She applied for another position within the company. In 1997, Mary became Program Manager of Energy Technology. While there, Mary developed and implemented a marketing plan to promote the use of alternative fuels. As a Program Manager, Mary became a member of Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities which focused on alternative fueled vehicles. During this time, she became a board member and focused on grants and wrote the Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities Newsletter. In 1999, her position was eliminated at Equitable. In some ways, Mary was relieved about the elimination, but in other ways, it was the first time this ever happened to her. She was now remarried and was concerned about her children. It was very scary. Thankfully, Mary was not unemployed for long. She was hired at Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission as a Transportation Planner. In this position she implemented a newly designed client tracking system of their products and services that helped to increase revenue. Additionally, she worked on a communication plan to implement branding and crisis communications. Eventually, Mary became a Marketing/Communication Specialist for Southwestern Pennsylvania Communications. She was responsible for multi-media communications connected with branding. Mary designed logos for special projects, arranged special affairs, open houses and conferences. She remained a part of Pittsburgh Region Clean Cities. Mary additionally prepared presentations for executive management to deliver regarding the Joseph A. James Memorial Excellence in Local Government Achievement Award that recognizes a municipal government elected or appointed official in any local government, agency, or Council of Government for a lifetime of exemplary governance or management. Unfortunately, a new Executive was hired to replace the past Executive who had passed away. Because of this, our whole department was eliminated. After Southwestern, Mary was hired as the Manager of Administration and Human Resources for THE PROGRAM for Female Offenders. While at THE PROGRAM, Mary was responsible for maintaining the policies and daily operations in THE PROGRAM. She implemented a cost effective foodservice program, introduced staff ID cards and implemented the Windows NT network server and computer security using a Digital Subscriber Line which is a type of high-speed internet connection that uses existing copper telephone lines to provide internet access to three PROGRAM facilities. Additionally, Mary implemented a human resource database for directors and managers that targeted specific employment information. Mary maintained safety equipment and introduced a safe evacuation plan for her building.. Unfortunately, because THE PROGRAM was grant based and when it was time to acquire grant money much of the previous grants were not renewed and Mary lost her job. Mary eventually was hired by Roach and Associates, Inc. as a Project Manager. In this position, she negotiated oil and gas leases for exploration and productions of future gas wells in Clearfield County Pennsylvania. During this time, Mary was responsible for permitting activities with the state, county and federal agencies as well as prepared training seminars to meet pipeline safety regulations as per U.S. Department of Transportation, CFR49, Parts 192-193. Mary authored documentation regarding pipeline regulations for various housing authorities and gas production companies within Pennsylvania, West Virginia and New York. Besides working at Roach, Mary became part of the Transition Team for Peduto for Mayor of Pittsburgh. That was such a memorable experience as my team focused on some of the issues facing the newly elected Mayor. It was nice to be a part of change. After working ten years at Roach and Associates, Inc., Mary decided it was time to retire in 2015. While working at Roach, Mary began dabbling in art again. It had been quite a while since college and painting. But she began to work in pastels and eventually more in the line of acrylic painting. She became president of the Pittsburgh Pastel Artist League. She no longer is president of that group. Mary now belongs to the Pittsburgh Society of Artists where she was juried into the group. She has had her work display at The Galaxie in Chicago, Pittsburgh Technical Institute, Monroeville Library, Gallery Sim, Boxheart Gallery, Southern Allegheny Museum of Art, Saville Gallery in Maryland and various other galleries around Pittsburgh. Her Study in Pastels won an Award of Excellence from Southern Allegheny Museum of Art. Mary also came in second place in the Jerry's Artarama Faber Castel Contest. As time went on, Mary decided to focus more on her art work and began teaching students how to paint with Acrylic. She also began a YouTube channel, Pittsburgh Artist Studio, where she gave free art lessons in acrylic to future artists around the country. Unfortunately, Mary developed chronic back issues, and she had to give up her teaching. She has had two back operations to alleviate the pain, but the second operation really didn't help. It has caused more painful issues. Therefore, it is difficult for her to paint a long period of time. Currently, Mary devotes her time to illustrating her oldest daughter's books for children. The books are a series about a little boy's adventures in his life. Her books can be found on Amazon under her name “Nicole Leckenby”. Additionally, she has illustrated a book for her younger daughter, Natalie Sebula, entitled “The Many Colors of Natalie”. In conclusion, now that Mary is retired, she has had more time to work on different art projects a little at a time. She lives with her husband Steve and two dogs Grumpy and Sally. She belongs to a group of wonderful women who review Bible Psalms each week. Since my minor in theology, I do enjoy reading various books on different religious subjects. I am thankful for each day that I have and continue to work on the gifts God has given me. Natalie Belin: I am focusing on the arts. I am a creator with an ambitious attitude. I have no problem thinking BIG and dreaming BIG. While everyone else stays inside the lines, I boldly color outside the lines. Natalie resides near Pittsburgh, PA. She is 40 years old and loves adventures. Within these 40 years Natalie has experienced highs and lows. However, during the low points she was like water: adaptable, resilient, and always finding a way through. At toddler age, it was brought to the attention that she had high pressure in her eyes. However, nothing was really done about it because of her age. Typically, high pressures occur in older adults. After many years, one eye doctor took it seriously. He prescribed eye drops and finally recommended a laser technique to open the tear ducts. This alleviated the high pressure and since no eye drops have been needed. In 5 grade, she was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder. Her mother, Mary Dunn advocated for her until someone listened, and her teachers realized it was a real problem. Steps were taken to help Natalie focus more. As she grew older, it was important to do activities that helped her focus such as cheerleading and possible careers in culinary. Because of the importance of focusing, Natalie decided that culinary arts would be beneficial. Natalie graduated in October of 2004 from the Pennsylvania Culinary Institute with an associate's degree in Specialized Technology Le Cordon Bleu Program in Patisserie & Baking. While there, she was elected class president. The Pennsylvania Culinary Institute offered externships to various prestigious areas to hone the craft. Natalie's externship was at the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulpher Springs where she was ultimately hired. However, Natalie decided to return to Pittsburgh after a car accident. Natalie continued to work as a pastry chef for about five years. After, she decided to further her education, and Natalie graduated in December of 2023 from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities. Some of her academic achievements are National Society of Collegiate Scholars, National Society of Leadership and Success, Alpha Sigma lambda-Alpha Chi Chapter at the University of Pittsburgh, Delta Alpha PI Honor Society. During her academic life, Natalie became an Emmy nominated producer for Pitt to the Point (a class focusing on the news as well as behind the scenes of a news/magazine program that covers the City of Pittsburgh, the University of Pittsburgh regional campuses as well as national and international events.) Currently, Natalie is in a Graduate Certification Program which is also at the University of Pittsburgh. The Certification is in Sports, Entertainment, and Arts Law (SEAL). She hopes to use this program as a steppingstone to complete her master's degree in Sports, Entertainment, and Arts Law. In addition to the SEAL certification, one could say that Natalie is a woman of many colors. She works full-time as an Administrator for the Rehabilitation Science Program in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh. This is where she provides administrative support for general program management, advising and faculty. Another aspect of Natalie's many colors is writing. Several years ago, she wrote a poetry book called The Many Colors of Natalie. This is a book for 18+. There are several illustrations in the book that complement the poems. Mary Dunn, Natalie's mother, created the illustrations. In August of 2020, Natalie launched The Many Colors of Natalie Blog. She started this blog to give a new perspective to Pittsburgh other than being known for sports. This allows individuals the ability to educate themselves on different variations of Pittsburgh's art or artists as well as bringing awareness to the art scene. Natalie's motto is Love Art & Support Your Local Artist! Additionally, Natalie has been a model/actor since 2012. Most of her work consists of being an extra in various music videos and movies. Furthermore, she is an ambassador for Ambassador Sunglasses and Just Strong Clothing. Just Strong Clothing's Mission “We are a clothing brand on a mission to empower those who are not just strong for a girl, they are just strong. Whether you are an experienced lifter, a new starter or have simply overcome great adversaries in your life, the JustStrong community are here to empower and motivate you to never give up.” “Ambassador was formed to extract, refine, and exhibit the marriage between what was and what will be in fashion culture. When wearing Ambassador, you break the mold of the mundane to embrace your unmatched individualism.” Besides being an ambassador, Natalie became a Creative Percussion Artist in 2020. “Creative Percussion is a family-owned business, established in 2018, and run by husband-and-wife team, Kevin and Cheri Feeney.” Her picture is on the site as a CP percussion artist. Not only is Natalie a musician, but she dabbles in various mediums in art. Her mixed media piece Peace, Love, and Woodstock is currently in the Woodstock Museum located in Saugerties, New York. “The purpose for the Woodstock Museum is: To gather, display, disseminate and develop the concept and reality of Woodstock, encompassing the culture and history of a living colony of the arts, with special emphasis placed on the exhibition of self-sustaining ecological technologies. To encourage and increase public awareness of Woodstock by providing information to the general public through cultural events, displays of artifacts, outreach programs, communication media events and personal experiences, and to contribute, as an international attraction, to the cultural life and prosperity of our region; and to engage in all lawful activities in pursuit of the foregoing purposes.” Lastly, Natalie and her mother Mary Dunn started a side hustle several years ago. Mother and Daughter Collaboration (vending show name) is a great opportunity for Natalie to showcase her entrepreneurial skills in addition to her art. Their Etsy name is Maker's Collab Studio. In conclusion, Nat is excited for the future, and to see what is in store. She considers herself to be dynamic and resilient. Even those who know Natalie would say the same. Regardless of what she has been through, she keeps going. She realizes that the tough times eventually do end. In self-reflection, the “tough time” may have been a life lesson, or a possible steppingstone to what's next in her life. Only time will tell. Natalie will always be a supporter of the arts, and she will always create in some way. As Natalie ages, she sees the importance of advocating for the disabled. At one point in her life, she was embarrassed about sharing her learning disability because she felt that we live in a society where having a disability isn't necessarily welcomed and is frowned upon. Do not fear individuals who need special accommodations. Instead, educate yourself. Try being that individual who needs certain accommodations, and the accommodations are not provided or easily accessible. Progress has been made in educating the ignorant. However, there is more work that needs to be done. Ways to connect with Natalie & Mary**:** Blog website: Home - The Many Colors of Natalie Personal website: Home | natalie-sebula-belin Book of poetry: The Many Colors of Natalie: Written by: Natalie Belin - Kindle edition by Dunn, Mary, Leckenby, Nicole, Merlin, Grace, Palmieri, David. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com. Facebook: (1) Facebook Instagram: Natalie Sebula (@themanycolorsofnatalie) • Instagram photos and videos Etsy: MakersCollabStudio - Etsy About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog. Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/ accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/ Thanks 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 podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset . Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. Transcription Notes: Michael Hingson 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us. Michael Hingson 01:21 Hi everyone, and welcome to another edition of unstoppable mindset. We're doing something that we've done a few times before, and we get to do it again today. We have two people as guests on unstoppable mindset this time, mother and daughter, and that'll be kind of fun they have, between them, lots of experiences in art, but in all sorts of other kinds of things as well. They live in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, and I'm not going to say a whole lot more, because I want them to tell their stories. So I want you to meet Natalie bellen and her mother, Mary Dunn. So Natalie and Mary, both of you, welcome to unstoppable mindset. We're glad you're here. Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 02:03 Well, thank you for Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 02:03 having us. Yes, we're happy to be here. Thank you. Michael Hingson 02:06 Well, let's see. We'll start with mom. Why don't you tell us something about the early Mary growing up, and you know what? What life was like growing up? Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 02:18 Well, growing up, I was born in Pittsburgh. I was actually born on in the south side of Pittsburgh, and it was called St Joseph Hospital, and now it's an apartment building, but we lived here. I've lived here all my life. I lived in Hazelwood until I was about the age of three. Then we moved to Whitaker, Pennsylvania, and now I'm in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania. So it's like we hopped around a bit. Growing up in my family was a little bit difficult. I had been bullied quite a bit by my cousins, so it kind of like left you know how it does with bullying. You know, it's not like today. Of course, I didn't want to go out and do something terrible to myself. It's just that it left my self esteem very low, and I just kind of stayed and was by myself most of the time. So until I grew up, I graduated from high school, I went to West Midland, North High School, I graduated in the same class as Jeff Goldblum. Although I didn't know him, I knew that he was very talented. I thought he was more talented on a piano than he was with acting, but he is still he's still very good with the piano, with his jazz music, and that's basically it. I've been in West Mifflin now for she's been quite a bit Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 03:49 since I was in seventh grade, and now I'm 40 years old, so we've been here a long time. Michael Hingson 03:54 Yeah, so it's sort of like 3027 years or so, or 28 years? Yes, well, Natalie, tell us about you when it was like growing up in and all of that. Sure. Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 04:08 No problem. So I grew up in Whitaker for the most part, my yearly eight years, like until about fifth grade, I guess about like fifth grade, and then we moved, well, we just moved to a different house and whatever. Yeah, that when we moved for the second time, it was more in a neighborhood with kids, so that was, like, a lot more fun. And we played like tag and all that. So that my early years, I remember that like playing tags, swimming, I love, like skiing on the water, jet skis, stuff like that. Definitely. I loved running around. And I loved dance as a kid too, that was a lot of fun. Michael Hingson 05:00 Okay, and so you went to high school? Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 05:05 Oh, yeah, I went, Yes. I went to West Midland area high school, and I graduated in 2003 in 2004 I graduated from the Pennsylvania Culinary Institute as a pastry chef and part of the things that I had to do to graduate, I had to do, like, about a six month internship where I resided in white sulfur springs, West Virginia, and I got to do my externship at the Greenbrier, and that was pretty exciting, because it has quite the history. There. People love it there for Well, one of the things that sticks in my mind is Dorothy Draper, who decorated that resort. Her taste is very cool, because she went bold, like with flower print and stripes mixed together for wallpaper. There's stories in history behind the sulfur water there. And then most people might know the Greenbrier for their golf courses, for the golf course actually, or in history about the sulfur water Michael Hingson 06:26 now, you had high eye pressure for a while after you were born, right? Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 06:31 Oh, yes, the eye pressures. That's quite the story, let me tell you so at a very young age, like different doctors and eye doctors that I went to. They knew that I had high pressures, but they didn't seem like it was a big issue. But my mom had the inkling that I needed to go to a different doctor when I was like, I guess you Middle School, Michael Hingson 06:58 yeah, yeah, you were about now, was there a lot of pain because of the pressure. Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 07:02 I didn't even know was happening, so I wasn't in discomfort or anything. So they said, don't they kind of dismissed it. So I wasn't worried about it, Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 07:14 Neither was I. But you know, like eventually we did go to a doctor and he said, Oh, my goodness, you have these high pressures. And it's, it could be like glaucoma. We don't ever see that in a young person, you know, they haven't ever seen anything like that. He was just amazed by it. And go ahead, you can finish this. Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 07:36 Dr Al, I have so much respect for him, because he truly took care of my eyes for a very long time. I started seeing him in middle school, and I saw him up until, like my late 30s, and he I would see him quite frequently, because he would always monitor those pressures, because he knew the importance of that and how they could damage my eyes and I can lose my sight. So he always had me do like fields test eye pressure checks, because your pressures in your eyes can fluctuate throughout the day. So I would come in in like different times of the day to make sure they're not super high and stuff like that. He would prescribe me on different eye pressure medications like eye drops, because the they like the eye drops would help my eyes to it to regulate the pressures to a certain point, and then my eyes would get used to them, it seemed like, so then we would have to go to a different prescription. I caused that doctor a lot of stress, I think, because he was always thinking about my case, because it was so rare. And he went to a conference, actually, and brought that up at a conference, and at that conference, they said for me to get the laser, laser procedure done to Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 09:10 open the tear ducts. Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 09:12 Yeah, yeah. And luckily, that solved it. Michael Hingson 09:18 Wow, so you so the the tear ducts were, were small or not draining properly, correct? Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 09:26 Yeah, it was points where, like, if I wanted to cry, no tears would come Michael Hingson 09:31 out, no tears would come out. Well, yeah, yeah. Then you also discovered, or somehow you you learned about being Attention Deficit Disorder. Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 09:45 Yeah, so, um, when I was from like one or like, from kindergarten to third grade, I went to a Catholic school, and I didn't seem like there was anything. Being really wrong. But then when I went to a public school, I was really having a hard time grasping the material, and I would get really frustrated when I was at home trying to do the homework and I just wasn't understanding. I believe the educators there said like I was also behind, which could have been part of the issue. But my mom would like try to help me with my homework, and it was like Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 10:28 it was hard. She would, she would get so frustrated and throw the papers and just, you know it, because it was very difficult for her, and we really couldn't under I couldn't understand why. You know this was happening, because my, my other daughter, I never had issues like that with so we had, I guess we were told to go. Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 10:53 I think that was Miss Lenz in fifth grade. Yeah, she had me get tested for a learning disability, and with all the testing that was done with that, they said that I had attention deficit disorder. So whenever that diagnosis was made, I was able to get like teacher teaching aids to help me through tests to help me understand the curriculum a little bit better. Tutors did the counselor Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 11:28 I well they I did take her to get tested outside of school, and that's they actually told me some things that could help her with this. And then I went to the teachers, and the teachers, some of them, didn't, like, actually take this into consideration. They, they didn't really realize attention deficit disorder at that time. It was new. And so they, they kind of said, well, we don't, we don't believe in that or whatever. And I said, Well, can you just have her, like, sit up front, because she would pay attention more and she would focus better, because that's the problem she couldn't focus on. So it took a while, and then finally, the principal in the fifth grade, he had a meeting with the teachers us, and he actually was the one who brought that to their attention, that this is a problem, that attention disorder, you know, does occur, and some of it is hyper, just hyperactive disorder. So it luckily she didn't have that part of it, but it was the focusing, and we just got her more involved in things that she could learn how to focus. They recommended cheerleading, they recommended culinary school, and I think that really helped her to learn more on focusing. But she still has anxieties and things like that. It's still Michael Hingson 13:03 it's still there. So why culinary school? Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 13:07 So that is such a fun question. When my grandma used to watch me, she was very particular on what I was like watching. She didn't want me to watch anything like super crazy or out there. So I would always watch cooking shows, and I thought he was so unique, the different recipes and everything that these chefs were making. And I love some of their personalities, like emerald, he was always so hyper and loud, so fun. And it was interesting to see the different types of foods that they were creating that, like certain countries make. You know, I love Spanish food. It's so good. Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 13:55 She decided not to even get into that part. That was the thing. She wanted to be a pastry chef, yeah, Michael Hingson 14:02 something to be said for chocolate chip cookies. But anyway, go ahead. Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 14:07 Yeah, she makes a good one, too. At Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 14:10 this point, I don't even know why. What drew me to baking more than culinary I think the two different styles are cooking are very interesting, because like with cooking, you don't have to be so exact with the measurements and everything with certain things like the spices and stuff. If you don't like rosemary, you don't have to put it in there. But with baking, it's definitely more scientific. Have to be more accurate with the measurements of certain ingredients, like baking soda, because it's lavender and like, altitude will totally screw up your baking Yes, so many reasons that elevation is so important. So yeah, so Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 14:59 mine's to it. Or whatever, you know? Yeah, Michael Hingson 15:01 so you went and did an externship, and then what did you do? Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 15:06 So with the externship, I was there for a little bit over six months, I was officially hired, and I graduated from culinary school, but, um, I got in a car accident. So that's like, why left? So I was in baking professionally for about a total five years, and then I went back to school. Sorry, that's grumpy. Can you hear him barking? 15:36 I'm sorry. I'll go. No, no, it's fine. Michael Hingson 15:41 So why did you leave culinary? Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 15:43 Um, I was just ready for a change. Because I started working professionally when I was like 19, so by my mid 20s, I was just ready to go back. I mean, that is a very demanding field. You're working several hours. Um, you're working with all types of personalities, certain pressures, long days sometimes. And I was just ready to see what else was out there for me. Michael Hingson 16:12 So you went back to school to study, Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 16:15 yes, so my when I graduated in 2023 with my undergraduate degree, it was in humanities, and it focused on three areas of art, music, studio, arts and theater. The main focus was theater, okay? Michael Hingson 16:39 And so, what did you do with that? Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 16:42 So with that degree, I did several different things. I wrote a poetry book, which I provided a link so people can access if they would like to purchase it. I created a blog in 2020 called the many colors of Natalie, and I created a blog to help bring a different perspective to Pittsburgh, other than just it being a city for sports, because there's a lot of talented artists out there, and plus, like during a pandemic, that caused a lot of strain on a lot of things, and I was really worried about certain venues that were iconic here closing and completely wiping out the whole art industry here, you know. So, um, with that too, I also, um, I was doing music at the time as a percussionist, and that's when I got introduced to creative percussion products, and I was using that with the different performances that I was doing. And I ended up being one of their artists featured on their page, website or website, yeah. Okay, yeah, and I also volunteered at a local dance studio called Lisa de gorrios dance, and I got to work with the younger kids, and I did that for a couple years. So that was interesting to see what it was like to teach and put on performances. It's a lot of you get to see the behind the scenes and time management and stuff like that. Also, I'm thinking here for a second, sorry. How about, oh, we, my mom and I created an Etsy shop. So we started a few years ago, called Mother Daughter collaboration, a vending that was like our vending show name, and we did that for Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 18:56 we've been doing that for a while. Yeah, we, we put different products up. I kind of tend to do my artwork, and she puts up some things also in art, we have, we have interesting things like CD, telephone, covers, cases, purses, you know. And we're working on a new product now to to put on to the Etsy shop this year. We didn't do many vending shows. I had surgery last last year on my back, and I had a hard time recovering because it was pretty expensive. So we're hoping to get that going again this year, or towards the end of the year, when the Christmas shows start happening, Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 19:47 we did, um, create an Etsy shop called makers collab studio, and we were focusing more on that this year. Um, so we do have, like, a variety of different products. Um. Um, which I also provided the link to the Etsy shop. If anybody wants to check out our products and what we have, that'd be great if you stop checked out that. Michael Hingson 20:11 Yeah, my late my late wife, was a quilter and tried to run an Etsy shop, but people didn't want to pay any kind of real prices for handmade quilts, because they just thought that quilts should be, like, 50 or $75 and that just wasn't realistic. Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 20:30 But, well, that's, that's the trouble. What we're seeing also, yeah, we do, I do, like, we do t shirts and things like that too. But people it. I don't think people realize what's behind the whole process. No, or they don't care. No, you know, I mean, there's a lot involved as far as your equipment. When it was covid, I was, well, I'm retired, but I was working part time, and I was able to, you know, get what is it, you know, workers, whatever, yeah, you know, yes. And with that money, I actually bought like things to do, T shirts, like the heat press and different parts to like a cricket that we can do things with. And so, you know, like the things that you know, you still have to buy supplies, even with my artwork, it's so expensive anymore, when I first started back in, you know, when my kids grew up and they were on their own, where I really focused on it, and I can't believe the expense of it. You know, it's just, it's everything's expensive these days. So, yeah, really watch what you're doing and how you approach it too. You know, you can't spend a lot of money on things. We don't have, like, a whole backlog of products. I mean, we just do a few things and hope that the things that we make are sellers, you know, Michael Hingson 22:05 yeah, well, and I hope it, it can is more successful for you going forward. That's a useful thing. You You've done a lot Mary with with art over the years, but you've also had other, other kinds of jobs where you've worked for some pretty large companies, and you've been reading your bio, you faced some sexual harassment issues and things like that, haven't you? Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 22:29 Yes, yes, that was difficult boy, and I didn't realize that at the time I went to college late in life because I was getting divorced and I needed a job that I could take care of my family, my girls, and so I decided to go to college and my my mom and dad watched my kids while I went to school, which was nice. And the first job I had was with the gas company here, and I was called a technical Fieldman. And what I would do is, like, I would draw pipeline installations and the and sometimes I would fill in as a supervisor. When I filled in first as a supervisor, it was great. I mean, the guys were decent. We always came to a conclusion. I always trusted what they're you know what they would say about pipeline? Because I knew nothing about pipeline. It was all new to me. But when I would go back to the office, it was, it was just like crazy things that would happen. I mean, I won't go into detail, and I started writing these things down because I thought this just doesn't seem right, that these people are saying these things to me or doing these things to me. I had a nice little book of all these incidents that happened, and I went to the HR department, and they wanted me to confront these people in my office, to tell them how I felt. Well, that, to me, would have made everything worse, because that's just that, you know, kind of work environment. So luckily, I was, I was promoted into a job that lasted two years, and then my job was eliminated. So that was my first, my first thing with that was the only time I really had sexual harassment that was really bad. I went on to another which was the program for female Well, I worked for a university for a while, and then I went into the program for female offenders, which was really interesting work. I enjoyed that it was like people that were out on that needed to, that were like drug addicts and and they were looking for a new way. They had been in jail and this incarcerated, and they came into this. Program they had that was part of their incarceration or parole. They had to do this, this program, and that was so interesting. I mean, it was just heartfelt, because you just saw these people that were trying so hard to make a good life for themselves and not to go back to their original way of living. And unfortunately, that was all grant money. And that job ended also so that, you know, and I was a transportation planner, I did a lot of things, and then I ended up going back into the gas industry. I worked for an engineer, and we were working in the production side of everything. So he had drove to you wells, and we had leases, and I took care of those. And I liked that job for about 10 years. I stayed there, and then I I retired. I was getting tired of it at that point. Michael Hingson 26:02 Yeah. Why was your first why was your first job at the original gas company eliminated? Or when you were promoted and you said it was eliminated, yeah? Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 26:10 Well, that's what I like to know why it was eliminated. I think sometimes that job was just to keep me quiet. That's how I felt. I mean, I, I they, they knew that I was upset and that I didn't like what was happening. And I think it was just to keep me quiet, and they realized that that job wasn't going to last, but it was a marketing job. We were using different ways to use gas, alternative fuel vehicles, fuel cells, you know. So it was an interesting job, too, but it it didn't really have the supervisor we had was not really a person that pushed the product, you know. So that could have been the reason, too, that they eliminated a lot of that. Yeah, so I wasn't the only one that went I mean, there was another person in that at that time, and eventually that whole department was eliminated. Now that gas company, they sold all that off, and another gas company took it over and equitable. Still is EQT here, and they work, I think at this point, they work with the leases and things like that, and horizontal drilling, they call it. Michael Hingson 27:38 So now that you're retired, what do you do? Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 27:41 Well, for a while there, Michael Hingson 27:44 in addition to Etsy, yeah, for Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 27:47 a while, I was actually doing hair. I was my first, my first, I guess, employment type, or whatever. I went to beauty school, and I became a cosmetologist, and I also became a teacher in cosmetology. So when I first became all that the money wasn't so great. I worked my first job. I was so excited I had this job because I thought I was going to be making millions. You know, they they really pump you up in in beauty school that you're going to really succeed and you're going to make this money. Well, my first job, I worked over 40 hours at that job, and I only got $15 in my first pay. It was like we had to stay there the whole time until everyone was finished working. So the girls that had their clientele that they worked the whole day and into the evening, like till eight o'clock. Maybe we had to stay till eight o'clock. Even though I didn't have anybody to do. I might have had one person that day, yeah, so that that wasn't too I just worked at that for a few years, and then I decided to leave and take care of my family. Yeah, well, that that I went back to it when I retired, and it had changed significantly, making pretty good money. I was only working three days a week, and I did pretty well. But then my back. I had the issues with my back, and I couldn't go back to it, which really upset me. I really love that job. Michael Hingson 29:29 Well, things happen. Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 29:31 Yeah, it does. You know, I'm happy not to stay at home. I figured now that I'm actually 73 years old now, so I think I I should retire Michael Hingson 29:47 and enjoy my life a little. Well. So Natalie, you graduated in 2023 and so then what did you start to do? And what are you doing now? Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 29:57 So what I'm doing now is I'm. Still focusing on the Etsy shop, but I also got into a graduate certificate program, and this certificate is in sports entertainment and arts law, and I really hope to use this program as a stepping stone to complete my master's degree in the sports entertainment and arts law program. Michael Hingson 30:25 What exactly is a graduate certification program, as opposed to a master's degree? Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 30:32 So that's a great question. So the certificate program is like a newer program, and it's like the only one in the world, I'm pretty sure, that focuses on sports, entertainment and art. So it's like a newer, more modern type of learning program. And this certificate is a great stepping stone, and for me to check it out before I actually go in to the master's program. This is, like, my second week, and I love it so far, and all these classes that I'm doing, and if I keep my grades up and everything, will apply to the master's program if I get in. Michael Hingson 31:15 Okay, well, so Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 31:20 less credits than, like, what you would need for a master's program, and it's less I don't need a textbook. I have these things called nutshells, where I'm pretty sure, like, I'll be studying different types of cases or something like that through that. So it's like online stuff. Michael Hingson 31:43 The Okay? And how long do you think it will take you to complete that Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 31:49 the certification program should be about a year, and it's all online, okay? Michael Hingson 31:55 And how, how long have you been doing it so far? Just two weeks. Oh, so next August, yeah, yeah, yeah. And the hope is then you can use that to go forward and actually work toward getting a master's degree. Which, which sounds pretty cool, yeah, for sure. What do you want to do with it once you get a master's degree? Well, like Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 32:20 all those points like sports entertainment and arts, I think is Pittsburgh is a great city to represent all of those. And I hope to help represent like clients, maybe do like to protect their works and them as an artist. And I would like to hopefully get into paralegal work. That's what I'm focusing on right now. Michael Hingson 32:47 So is school pretty much full time for you these days? Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 32:51 No, it's still part time, and that's what I like love about this program, because, like all week, you'll be doing 10 hours outside of so I still work full time as an administrator in the SHRS program, and I am the administrator for Rehabilitation Science. So yeah, it's great to have like, bosses and everything that support me in my educational journey, because that makes my life a lot easier too. Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 33:26 Yeah, that's some great bosses. Michael Hingson 33:29 Well, it's good to have some people who tend to be a little bit more supportive. It helps the psyche when you get to do that. Yes, yeah. Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 33:39 Because the one thing that I noticed with this program, it is definitely more manageable, because, like the undergrad program, I did enjoy the process. For most parts, some of it was really challenging. But the undergraduate program, it was really hard for me to get late night classes. Most of those classes that I had to take were I had to be in person, so like late classes were pretty hard to get, but my bosses allowed me to take earlier classes so I could help finish the program faster, but I just had to make up that time. Right? Michael Hingson 34:28 When did you discover that you had artistic talent? Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 34:32 Um, I don't know if I ever really discovered that I had the talent, but I was very passionate at a young age, like when my mom was going back to school, I always loved watching her paint, because she had like the painting classes. I always thought so I like sit on the floor and watch her paint. And at a very young age, I was in the dance class. Do you remember the name? A France Dance School of Dance, France School of Dance. And I love dance class so much. I remember one time the dance school was closed because of a holiday, and I was, like, so upset, like, I didn't believe, like, the dance school was closed and I didn't understand, like, why I wasn't allowed to go. So they called the school and it went straight to, like, the answering machine so they could prove, like, it was closed and nobody was there. I was like, ready to show up. Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 35:30 She wanted to go, yeah. She was just about three or four when she was taking the dance classes at that time. Yeah. But then it became on, you know that they both the kids were involved, but I couldn't afford it anymore. Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 35:45 So dance is very expensive. Yeah? Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 35:48 Well, you know, like, at that time too, I was going to school, and I didn't have much of a salary, and I was living with my parents, so, I mean, and they were retired, so it was, like, very tight. Yeah, right. Michael Hingson 36:04 Well, it nice to have an enthusiastic student, you know, Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 36:13 so true. Well, Michael Hingson 36:15 so you've created the many colors of Natalie blog, tell me about that. Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 36:22 So I reach out to different artists that were that are located in Pittsburgh or at one time, working or living in Pittsburgh. So this is like musicians, photographers, actors and they, I I create questions for them, for them to answer in their own words, like advice that they would give, or funny stories that they had while working in the field. And that's that's the main point of the blog, because I want it to be a resource for people and for them to also see, like, why that genre is cool. And I think another reason that motivated me to create that blog is some people just don't see an importance to art, and I find that so offensive. Like, yeah, so I just wanted it to be as an educational type thing as well. Michael Hingson 37:28 How long has the blog been visible? Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 37:33 So it's been visible for about five, six years now, five years, yeah, and I did over like 50 some posts. Michael Hingson 37:45 Do you do that with consistency? Or So do you have one, like, every week or every three weeks, or every month, or something like that? Or how does that work? Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 37:53 So when I first started, I was consistent with the posts I don't ever leave my blog, like, not active for like a year. Like, I always try to post something, but it's a little more challenging to do a post. Like, every month, whenever I'm working, going to school, volunteering for different things, running the Etsy shopper, vending so I had to cut it back a little bit because that is just me running it. Michael Hingson 38:30 So you've also created a mixed media piece. First of all, what is a mixed media piece? Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 38:35 You want to explain Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 38:36 the mixed media? Oh, well, a mixed media is like different mediums. It could be paint, it could be pictures, and it's posted on a board, a canvas, or whatever it can be in a journal. You know, you just use various types of mediums. It could be using lace, it could be using fabric, it could be using, like I said, pictures, paper, and they call it mixed media. So she decided she wanted to create a mixed media. I had a huge canvas that was given to me. It was like 36 by 36 giant. It was huge, and I knew I couldn't do anything on that, because I don't paint big. I like to paint on smaller canvas, like an eight and a half by 11, or eight and a half by 14. So she, she decided she wanted to use that Canvas for something. But you go ahead and tell them. Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 39:38 So, um, whenever Woodstock had their 50th anniversary, and I believe that was around 2019 I had the opportunity to go to yaska's Farm and camp where the original campers from the very first Woodstock would stay in that. Campsite was like, right next to this yaska farms. So I took some pictures of it, like me with the yaska farm house. And so it was very inspirational to go to that because I was doing research on what Woodstock was, the original Woodstock. And what that was about, I talked to Uber drivers that were actually at the original Woodstock. Jimi Hendrix is one of my favorite musicians, and for him to not be there, I was like, so sad. Very sad. So with all the education experience. I needed to release that. And I took my mom, let me have that canvas, and like I created a mixed media giant collage, and I got that into the Woodstock Museum in Socrates, New York. Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 41:01 Wow, it's actually there now, Michael Hingson 41:04 yep. How long has it been there? Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 41:07 I believe got that in there? Yeah, about two years. Michael Hingson 41:13 Wow. So it's kind of almost a permanent piece there. Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 41:17 I hope so. I hope they keep it there for sure. What? Michael Hingson 41:21 What prompted them to be interested in having it there. Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 41:25 So I that piece was so giant, and I loved how it turned out, and I wanted that more than just in my house, my art pieces are very close to me, because that's like my soul and my work, and I want it out there to somebody who cares about it. So I reached out to Shelly nation, Nathan, because they, I believe, are the owners of the Woodstock Museum, and they were more than happy to have it. I had it shipped out there. And then, whenever the season was to reopen the museum, I went out there and visited it. And it's a very great it's a very cool place. Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 42:10 Recommend, yeah, she, she was interviewed by them, also, right? Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 42:14 Oh, yeah, we did go on a radio station. And that was also a cool experience, because I was never on a radio show at that time. Cool. Michael Hingson 42:25 Well, that's pretty exciting. I have not been to the Woodstock Museum, so that might be something to explore at some point when I get get back there next that'd Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 42:35 be great. Yeah, Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 42:37 all those things like, you know, like I grew up during that period, of course, I didn't go to the Woodstock. Original Woodstock wouldn't let me do that. I was only 16 at the time, and but I mean, you know, like, like looking back at that and and seeing how all those people were there, and not nothing terrible happened, you know, I mean, hundreds of 1000s of people, and nobody got hurt. Well, they might have passed out, maybe from things, but nobody was, like, shot or killed or and like today. I mean, you can't you're so afraid to do anything today, you don't know what's going to happen. And it just was a different time. And the musicians that were there. I mean, that music was is still good today. You know, it's it, it hasn't faded. And I wonder sometimes about today's music, if it will continue to be popular in years to come, or if it's just going to fade out. You know, we won't know that, and so well I won't be here, probably Michael Hingson 43:44 we won't know for a while anyway, yes, but I did hear on a radio station a rebroadcast of a lot of the Woodstock concerts that was kind of Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 43:56 fun. Yes, yes. Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 44:00 Sorry I didn't mean to cut you. Go ahead. Go ahead. When I was talking to like the Uber drivers and stuff like that, and people who were at the original Woodstock, it seems like they were reliving that experience when they were telling the stories. I mean, it was great. Michael Hingson 44:15 Yeah. Well, you play creative percussion. First of all, what is pre creative percussion? Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 44:23 So I actually have that written in some notes, what it actually is. So do you mind if I read off my notes? Michael Hingson 44:30 You're welcome to however you want to answer, perfect. Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 44:33 So I was asked to be a creative percussion artist in 2020 and creative percussion is a family owned business established in 2018 and run by husband and wife team, Kevin and Sherry Feeney. They're great. I've had the opportunity to talk to them very much a couple of times, and my pictures also on the site. Um. Uh, under like my stage name now is a Bulla. So if you scroll down spell that it's S, E, B as a boy, u as in unicorn, L, L as in Len and a is an apple. Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 45:16 Okay, what types of things, kinds Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 45:18 of there's various types of shakers that I played because of various bands that I was in, I was the percussionist, so I played tambourine and stuff. But like, they have uniquely shaped shakers, like there's the hatch shakers, which I love them. They had a baseball shaker, and these little golf ball shakers, and they all carry different sounds, and they really blended differently with the type of song that I was playing was playing, yeah, so it's cool, Michael Hingson 45:53 yeah, so interesting. So you you play them as part of being with a band, or what Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 46:01 for the most part, yeah, sometimes there was an acoustic band or just like a full band, and either way, I tried to have those pieces blend into the song. What I didn't learn when I was doing that is and an acoustic you really have to be on your game, because, like, if you mess up, like, people are gonna hear it more than if you're in a full band. So, yeah, right. Michael Hingson 46:38 So you do you still do that? Do you still play Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 46:42 at this time? I don't, um, just because I wanted to focus on other things, so I took a step back from that. Michael Hingson 46:51 Do you think you'll do more of it in the future, or Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 46:56 possibly, but like, that's how I am. I kind of just like, experience it, do it until I'm ready to move on to something else. Michael Hingson 47:04 So you flit, you flip from thing to thing, yeah, yeah, yeah. Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 47:10 So, like, if you ever follow me, you might just see, like, me evolving and just trying other things. Michael Hingson 47:19 Well, you're adventurous. Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 47:22 Yes, I love adventure. Michael Hingson 47:25 Nothing wrong with having an adventure in the world and getting to really look at things. So what are you doing now if you're not doing creative percussion and so on? Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 47:38 Well, for the last couple months, I was helping my mom recover from like the back surgery. And then I was I was focusing on my blog, just really paying attention to that, getting certain interviews, and then schooling, getting ready to go into the certificate program. Michael Hingson 48:05 So you think you're gonna go ahead Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 48:09 and I'm setting up the Etsy shop. Michael Hingson 48:13 So you're pretty excited about seal, the sports entertainment, art and law. Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 48:19 Yes, I'm very excited about that. I was very excited to get into the program. The professors are great. The whole programs like really good. The people involved in it, they seemed, they seem really organized and let me know what I need to do to get into the program. And they are really nice. If I have a question, they're happy to answer it. I love the curriculum, so I hope you go, Well, Michael Hingson 48:46 do you experience anything any more dealing with like attention deficit? Oh, 100% it still creeps up, huh? Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 48:55 Well, it's more anxiety than anything. But like this program, I think, is to help calm my anxiety with just different things that are set up. And like, how responsive the professors are and how nice they are. But my goodness, when I was in my undergraduate program, like I was really pushing myself, and I would like, of like, when 2020, came around in the pandemic, I needed to talk to my doctor and get on meds, like I could no longer not do that without meds. Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 49:29 Yes, she was, she was struggling. It was tough. Yeah. I mean, when I went for my Bachelor's, I I I wasn't working. She was working. When I went for my master's, I was working, but, and I know how hard that is, you know, trying to balance things, especially I was working at equitable at the time, and the things that I was going through and being, you know, filling in for supervisors was I. I was on call, like, 24 hours a day, and it, you know, like that was, I can see how difficult it is to do both. It's just, I know what she was going through there, and she goes through it, but she did well. She graduated sigma, sigma cum laude. Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 50:17 Yeah, I did get some honorary, like accolades for like, whenever I graduated. So that was pretty exciting, because the hard work did pay off. Michael Hingson 50:29 What do you think about studying and attending classes virtually as opposed to physically being in the room? Hybrid learning? Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 50:38 Some people may have an issue with that, but I personally, cause I was working full time and it was hard for me to get later classes, I preferred the online learning, but I understand, like some of the classes really did need me to be there, like the theater classes, and I was okay with that. I don't mind either, either or, but it just seems like online learning is more manageable. For me, it Michael Hingson 51:08 takes more discipline to to stick with it and focus on it, as opposed to being in the classroom. Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 51:14 Um, yeah, I agree, but I think which, which is not a negative thing, by the way. Oh, yeah, no, no, no, I totally understand, but I think, um, I forget what I was going with that. Michael Hingson 51:26 Sorry. Well, we were talking about the fact that more discipline dealing with, Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 51:33 Oh, yeah. Oh, that's right, thank you. It's just, um, I think if you truly want it, you're gonna put forth the effort in anything. You know, it's may not always be enjoyable, but like, if you want it, you'll put through it. You'll push through it, like with high school, my mom knows, just like from elementary to high school, like that curriculum, I was just not feeling it, but I knew I had to stick it out. I wanted to be a high school dropout. I voiced that many of times, but like, I knew if I wanted to get to culinary school, I had to really focus on my academics through then and just try to push through and just do it, do what I had to do to graduate. Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 52:19 Yeah, it's such a different environment to high school, I believe, you know, like I found that I really enjoyed college. I enjoyed my subjects. They went fast. The classes went fast. It was fast paced, but it was an I learned more. I you know, I think that slowness of the way that they do things in in the high school, it takes them like three weeks to get through one chapter, you know, and so it, it just, it just made it a big difference. And I, I wished I could continue to go to school. I think I was a really good student. Michael Hingson 52:59 I think one of the things about college is, and I've talked to several people who agree, is, you certainly learn from the courses that you take, but College offers so much more with with with the extracurricular activities, with the interaction with people, with The greater responsibility. College offers so many more life lessons if you take advantage of it, that really makes it cool. And I, I always enjoyed college. I liked it a lot. Natalie Belin & Mary Dunn 53:29 Yeah, yeah, I did too, I think with some of my challenges and frustrations, not only with my learning disability, but like the fact that
Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions. When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work.Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, LG or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.Devin: What is your superpower?Tom: I feel like my core superpower is convincing people to believe in my dreams and rallying them around.Most people view recycling as a public service, but the reality is that it is a business governed by the ruthless laws of economics. If the value of the material recovered doesn't exceed the cost to collect and process it, that item ends up in a landfill. This economic gap is exactly where Tom Szaky has built an empire.Recently, Tom Szaky, the CEO and founder of TerraCycle, shared insights on how he is tackling the world's garbage problem. His company isn't just a recycling firm; it is a supply chain innovator that figures out how to recycle the “unrecyclable,” from cigarette butts to dirty diapers.Tom explains the core issue with clarity. “The reality is most things in the world can be recycled. The difference is that recycling is not really a public service. It's run by for-profit companies.”He notes that aluminum cans are recycled because they are profitable. Conversely, complex items like coffee capsules cost more to process than the aluminum is worth. TerraCycle solves this by finding stakeholders—brands, retailers, and cities—willing to fund that gap.This model has proven incredibly successful. TerraCycle has been profitable for years and recently completed a Regulation Crowdfunding offering for TerraCycle US. They raised $5 million in less than 60 days.Investors are drawn to the company not just for its mission but for its financial discipline. Tom highlighted that previous investors have already received significant returns. “If you invested, say $1,000 in REG A back five years ago, you'd have already been paid somewhere between 17% and 20% of that invested capital in dividends.”Tom Szaky, Founder and CEO of TerraCycle, will be speaking at SuperGreen Live, sharing insights on sustainability, circular economy solutions, and rethinking waste at scale—register now at SuperGreenLive.orgTom challenges the old binary that you either make money or you do good. He believes purpose fuels business fundamentals. By locating his HQ in Trenton, New Jersey, he revitalizes an underserved community while gaining access to affordable real estate and a diverse talent pool.“Why should on one end we make money and on the other end give it away to NGOs to help save the world?” Tom asks. “Why can't those two concepts come together where you can invest in a profitable business whose core focus is making the world better?”TerraCycle is proving that you can indeed do both. By aligning profit with planetary health, Tom is showing a path toward a zero-waste world that makes economic sense.tl;dr:TerraCycle creates supply chains for hard-to-recycle waste by getting stakeholders to fund the cost gap.Recycling is an economic challenge because items are only recycled locally if they generate profit.Tom recently raised $5 million via Regulation Crowdfunding by demonstrating proven growth and consistent dividends.Purpose-driven business models can drive better economic fundamentals like lower costs and government support.Tom's superpower is rallying people around a vision by starting with a beautiful, impactful idea.How to Develop Rallying Believers As a SuperpowerTom describes his superpower as the ability to get others to see his vision and join him in executing it. It isn't just about salesmanship; it is about authentic conviction. He explains, “I feel like my core superpower is convincing people to believe in my dreams and rallying them around.” This ability allows him to mobilize diverse groups, from college interns to multinational corporations, to tackle massive global challenges like waste elimination.To illustrate this, Tom shared a charming story from his childhood. In second grade, he had a vision of folding thousands of origami cranes to create a decorative entryway for his bedroom. He started folding them at a table with four other classmates. He didn't force them to help; he just started doing the work with passion. Within two days, the whole table was folding cranes. By the end of the week, the entire class was involved. This early experience taught him that if you lead with action and a compelling idea, people will naturally want to be part of the journey.How to Develop This SuperpowerFor those interested in rallying people around a vision, Tom offers several insights that can help transform this into a skill:Start with a beautiful idea. The core concept should not just be about making money. It must be something that makes the world better, more beautiful, or more sustainable.Believe in it yourself. Authentic, unwavering belief in a dream is essential before expecting others to follow.Just start doing it. Action attracts others. By beginning the work, people will naturally gravitate toward the energy and vision.View profit as health, not the goal. While profit is necessary to survive, keeping the mission as the central focus ensures authenticity. This, in turn, attracts investors, employees, and partners who want to be part of something meaningful.Maintain clarity of vision. Instead of trying to fix everything at once, a focused approach on a specific area of expertise drives meaningful change.By following Tom's example and advice, rallying believers can become a powerful skill. With practice and effort, this superpower can enable individuals and organizations to achieve greater impact.Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!Guest ProfileTom Szaky (he/him):CEO/Founder, TerraCycleAbout TerraCycle: TerraCycle is an international leader in innovative sustainability solutions, creating and operating first-of-their-kind platforms in recycling, recycled materials, and reuse. Across 18 countries, TerraCycle is on a mission to eliminate the idea of waste and develop practical solutions for today's complex waste challenges. The company engages an expansive multi-stakeholder community, from Fortune 500 companies to schools and households, across a wide range of accessible programs and has raised millions for schools and nonprofits since its founding more than 20 years ago. To learn more about TerraCycle and join them on their journey to move the world from a linear economy to a circular one, please visit terracycle.com.Website: terracycle.comCompany Facebook Page: facebook.com/terracycleInstagram Handle: @terracycleOther URL: invest.terracycle.comBiographical Information: Tom Szaky is founder and CEO of TerraCycle, an international leader in innovative sustainability solutions, creating and operating first-of-their-kind platforms in recycling, recycled materials, and reuse. Across 21 countries, TerraCycle is on a mission to rethink waste and develop practical solutions for today's complex waste challenges. The company engages an expansive multi-stakeholder community across a wide range of accessible programs, from Fortune 500 companies to schools and individuals.In 2019, TerraCycle launched Loop, a circular reuse platform that enables consumers to purchase products in durable, reusable packaging. Loop is available in France, Japan, and the U.S., and is a key step in helping to end the epidemic of waste that is caused by “single-use” consumption. Tom and TerraCycle have received hundreds of social, environmental, and business awards and recognition from a range of organizations, including the United Nations, World Economic Forum, Fortune Magazine, Time Magazine, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.Tom is the author of four books: Revolution in a Bottle, Outsmart Waste, Make Garbage Great, and The Future of Packaging. Tom created, produced, and starred in TerraCycle's reality show, Human Resources, which aired on Pivot from 2014–2016 and is syndicated in more than 20 foreign markets on Amazon and iTunes.LinkedIn Profile: linkedin.com/in/tomszakySupport Our SponsorsOur generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today's advertisers include RISE Robotics, and Crowdfunding Made Simple. Learn more about advertising with us here.Max-Impact Members(We're grateful for every one of these community champions who make this work possible.)Brian Christie, Brainsy | Cameron Neil, Lend For Good | Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Hiten Sonpal, RISE Robotics | John Berlet, CORE Tax Deeds, LLC. | Justin Starbird, The Aebli Group | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Mark Grimes, Networked Enterprise Development | Matthew Mead, Hempitecture | Michael Pratt, Qnetic | Mike Green, Envirosult | Dr. Nicole Paulk, Siren Biotechnology | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Pearl Wright, Global Changemaker | Scott Thorpe, Philanthropist | Sharon Samjitsingh, Health Care Originals | Add Your Name HereUpcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.SuperCrowdHour, January 21, 2026, at 12:00 PM Eastern. Devin Thorpe, CEO and Founder of The Super Crowd, Inc., will lead a session on “From $10 to Impact: How Anyone Can Become an Impact Investor.” Drawing on his experience as an investment banker, impact investor, and community-building leader, Devin will explain how everyday people can start investing small amounts to support mission-driven companies while pursuing financial returns. In this session, he'll break down the basics of regulated investment crowdfunding, show how impact and profit can align, and share practical steps for identifying opportunities that create real-world change. As an added benefit, attendees can become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd for just $4.58 per month to receive an exclusive private Zoom meeting invitation with Devin, free tickets to paid SuperCrowd events, and the opportunity to directly support social entrepreneurs, community builders, and underrepresented founders.SuperGreen Live, January 22–24, 2026, livestreaming globally. Organized by Green2Gold and The Super Crowd, Inc., this three-day event will spotlight the intersection of impact crowdfunding, sustainable innovation, and climate solutions. Featuring expert-led panels, interactive workshops, and live pitch sessions, SuperGreen Live brings together entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and activists to explore how capital and climate action can work hand in hand. With global livestreaming, VIP networking opportunities, and exclusive content, this event will empower participants to turn bold ideas into real impact. Don't miss your chance to join tens of thousands of changemakers at the largest virtual sustainability event of the year. Learn more about sponsoring the event here. Interested in speaking? Apply here. Support our work with a tax-deductible donation here.Demo Day at SuperGreen Live. Apply now to present at the SuperGreen Live Demo Day session on January 22! The application window is closing soon; apply today at 4sc.fun/sgdemo. The Demo Day session is open to innovators in the field of climate solutions and sustainability who are NOT currently raising under Regulation Crowdfunding.SuperCrowd Impact Member Networking Session: Impact (and, of course, Max-Impact) Members of the SuperCrowd are invited to a private networking session on January 27th at 1:30 PM ET/10:30 AM PT. Mark your calendar. We'll send private emails to Impact Members with registration details.Community Event CalendarSuccessful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events.Join UGLY TALK: Women Tech Founders in San Francisco on January 29, 2026, an energizing in-person gathering of 100 women founders focused on funding strategies and discovering SuperCrowd as a powerful alternative for raising capital.If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 10,000+ changemakers, investors and entrepreneurs who are members of the SuperCrowd, click here.Manage the volume of emails you receive from us by clicking here.We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe
In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, we sit down with Kristen A. Pressner, Global Head of People & Culture at Roche Diagnostics UK & Ireland, to unpack why neurodiversity may be the single biggest untapped advantage in the post-AI workplace.Kristen explains why most organisations are sitting on “free upside”, talented people already inside the business who are not thriving because work was designed for one type of brain. She shares why only ~25% of employees feel psychologically safe, and why the line manager is the biggest determinant of whether neurodivergent employees thrive or merely survive.Most importantly, she reframes neurodiversity away from labels and diagnoses, and toward practical, human questions, how do you work best, what gives you energy, and what conditions help you shine, and why asking those questions changes performance, engagement, and learning at scale.
Amy Kickham, Executive Vice President & Chief Human Resource Officer at Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits, is a people first leader known for shaping culture with authenticity, empathy, & impact across the organization. In this interview she shares her personal journey, including the experiences that shaped her leadership style. Amy also reflects on motherhood, and how it has influenced her perspective on balance, ambition, & what it truly means to lead
Start 2026 strong by focusing on what matters most: developing yourself and your key leaders. Brian Nolan shares his personal development goal of completing a Half Ironman and explains why setting challenging goals creates the foundation for developing others. Using the field supervisor role as an example, he breaks down the three critical areas any key leader must master—emotional intelligence, financial management, and systems—to effectively develop their teams and drive business results.Today's Podcast is brought to you by The Sherwin-Williams Company
Selling a business is one of the biggest financial decisions an owner will ever make, and the right preparation can shape both the outcome and the next chapter of life. In this episode, Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, speaks with Gregg Schor, CEO of Protegrity Advisors, about what business owners need to understand before entering the mergers and acquisitions process. Gregg shares practical, experience-based insights into how different buyer types approach transactions and how sellers can position themselves well ahead of a sale to improve both financial and non-financial outcomes. Together, they walk through the typical Mergers & Acquisitions timeline and key decision points business owners should be prepared to navigate from early planning through closing. Gregg discusses: The different types of buyers in today's market, including strategic buyers, private equity firms, and family offices How seller goals influence deal structure, timing, and buyer fit The role of cash at closing, earnouts, and rollover equity in a transaction Why the best time to consider selling is often when the business is performing well What preparation really looks like, from financials and contracts to reducing owner dependency How the M&A process typically unfolds, from early planning through closing And more Connect with Gregg Schor: Protegrity Advisors LinkedIn: Gregg Schor gschor@protegrityadvisors.om (631) 285-3172 Connect with Larry Heller: (631) 248-3600 Schedule a 20-Minute Call Heller Wealth Management LinkedIn: Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, CPA YouTube: Retirement Unlocked with Larry Heller, CFP® About Our Guest: Gregg Schor is the CEO of Protegrity Advisors and has over 25 years of experience managing mergers and acquisitions, corporate development, legal, and human resources for companies of all sizes in a wide range of industries. He has previously held senior management positions at companies that have been acquired by IBM, Microsoft, and EMC, including Deputy and General Counsel, Senior Vice President of Corporate Development, Senior Vice President of Human Resources, and Director of European Operations. As a result, he brings a very unique perspective to Protegrity clients, having been on all sides of M&A transactions and in a variety of roles. Over the years, he has developed an extensive network of national and international relationships with public and private companies, private equity firms, family offices, search funds, and serial entrepreneurs, looking for businesses to acquire. He is on the boards of the Exit Planning Institute and the Alliance of Merger & Acquisition Advisors, and is a member of the Exit Planning Exchange (Long Island Chapters). Gregg received a J.D. from St. John's University School of Law and a Diploma on International and Comparative Law for study in Russia and Poland from the University of San Diego School of Law. He also completed the Mergers and Acquisitions Executive Education Program at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and the Certificate Program in Family Business Leadership and Governance from Cornell University.
Negotiate Anything: Negotiation | Persuasion | Influence | Sales | Leadership | Conflict Management
Stop waiting for your hard work to speak for itself — the silence may be exactly why you're being undervalued. In this masterclass edition of Negotiate Anything, elite voices come together to help you stop "negotiating down on yourself" before you ever reach the table. In this episode, you'll learn: The Power of Self-Advocacy: Heather Spillsbury, COO of 50/50 Women on Boards, reveals why even high-performing leaders underestimate their value — and how a "high-impact soundbite" can instantly elevate your presence to boardroom-ready. The "Mercenary" Mindset: Jasani Courtney, VP of Human Resources, reframes your career as a business transaction — where you intentionally sell your skills to the highest-value opportunity. Why Negotiation Isn't Risky: Discover why it makes zero sense for companies to pull offers simply because you negotiated. The Holistic Offer: Learn how to evaluate total compensation beyond salary — time off, benefits, retirement, and bonuses — so your job supports your life, not the other way around. Pre-Negotiation Marketing: Understand why negotiation starts long before the table, through consistent, authentic visibility of your value. Whether you're pursuing a promotion or a seat in the boardroom, this episode delivers the mindset shifts and practical strategies needed to advocate confidently and secure the compensation you deserve.
Joe Odell and his partner acquired a business with over $4m in earnings and lots of green flags. It went sideways fast.Register for the webinar: How to Present Your Deal for Maximum SBA Success - Jan 8th - https://bit.ly/4snUKHYTopics in Joe's interview:His blue collar, military backgroundVolunteering without pay for a consulting companyUltimately rejecting the tech industryFinding his search partner at business schoolSeeking out a complex businessDoing traditional search, on his wife's adviceAcquiring a home health adjacent companyPost-close cash crisisLosing a key sales repFatal “pen stroke risk”References and how to contact Joe:LinkedInGet a complimentary IT audit of your target business:Email Nick Akers at nick@inzotechnologies.com, and tell him you're a searcherDownload the New CEO's Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR:From this page or contact mark@aspenhr.comGet complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:Oberle Risk Strategies - Search Fund TeamConnect with Acquiring Minds:See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with host Will Smith on LinkedInFollow Will on TwitterEdited by Anton RohozovProduced by Pam Cameron
In today's episode, Bob ‘n Joyce reflect on the start of a new year and the importance of pausing to renew and reset our intentions. Many of us begin January with resolutions to improve our health, habits, and overall well-being. Thoughtful organizations do the same—taking time to reflect on what's working, what's not, and what truly needs to change. In organizational development, this process is often called a reset. Bob ‘n Joyce explore one proven methodology—the Future Search Conference—that helps teams and organizations step back, make sense of their current reality, and align around a shared and preferred future. Why does a structured approach to an organizational reset matter? Because good intentions alone rarely lead to lasting change. Most personal New Year's resolutions fade by Valentine's Day, and organizational change efforts face the same risk—many stall, lose momentum, or fall short of their goals. Whether you're setting personal intentions for 2026 or leading a team that needs a thoughtful reset, this episode offers practical insights to help turn reflection into meaningful action. Come on in. Grab a healthy snack. You're welcome here.
Liz Jamieson, founder of LJ People and former Head of Talent Acquisition at Amazon APAC, joins the Org Design Podcast to explore the emerging field of workforce architecture that integrates AI agents alongside human employees. Drawing on her 15 years of recruitment experience across 7,000 hires, Liz shares how organizations can strategically plan for a hybrid workforce where AI agents are managed similarly to human employees—complete with onboarding, training, performance reviews, and optimization. The conversation covers practical steps for mapping workflows, identifying automation opportunities, and deploying AI agents while maintaining transparency with teams. Liz introduces the concept of "Intelligence Resources" (IR) as an evolution of Human Resources, discusses the risks of shadow AI usage, and explains why org design is becoming everyone's responsibility as employees become "agent bosses." She emphasizes that AI augments rather than replaces human work, shifting focus to validation, collaboration, and critical thinking while agents handle repetitive tasks. Key topics include: workflow mapping as the foundation for agentic deployment, the need for enterprise-level AI governance, the emergence of Chief AI Officer roles, and why frontier firms are already seeing gains from strategic AI integration in their workforce planning. The Org Design Podcast https://www.functionly.com/org-design-podcast https://www.linkedin.com/company/orgdesignpodcast/ Functionly https://www.functionly.com https://www.linkedin.com/company/functionly/
Celeste Warren is the Founder and CEO of Celeste Warren Consulting, LLC, and a globally respected executive who has spent decades transforming how organizations lead and perform.A former C-suite leader at a top Fortune 50 company, Celeste led the Global Diversity & Inclusion Center of Excellence for over a decade—reshaping corporate culture, embedding inclusion into enterprise strategy, and setting new standards for leadership excellence.She has served as both Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer and Vice President of Human Resources across multiple divisions, leading enterprise-wide people strategies and navigating complex mergers and acquisitions with clarity and impact.Recognized internationally for her work in diversity, equity, and inclusion, Celeste believes—and demonstrates—that inclusion is not just the right thing to do, but a powerful business advantage.More Information: CRW DiversitySponsors: Become a Guest on Master Leadership Podcast: Book HereAgency Sponsorships: Book GuestsMaster Your Podcast Course: MasterYourSwagFree Coaching Session: Master Leadership 360 CoachingSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/masterleadership. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Is your company attracting the right people—or just filling seats and hoping for the best? In this episode of the Build A Vibrant Culture Podcast, Nicole Greer is joined by Dr. Myra Corrello, small business growth strategist and brand clarity expert, for a powerful conversation about the connection between marketing, leadership, and culture. Together, they explore how clarity attracts the right customers and the right employees, why storytelling is the currency of connection, and how leaders can align vision, hiring, engagement, and change management around a clear value promise.This episode is packed with practical insights for leaders, HR professionals, and business owners who want to build cultures where people feel connected, energized, and committed.Vibrant Highlights:00:05:41 - How grading past clients reveals the traits and behaviors leaders should screen for when hiring employees.00:10:38 - Why leaders must be ruthless about hiring the right people—and the powerful story of using unexpected voices in the interview process.00:15:31 - How storytelling and simple case studies help employees understand the vision, their role in it, and why their work matters.00:23:57 - Why stories outperform policies when it comes to engagement, expectations, and culture reinforcement.00:34:42 - How leaders should communicate change by prioritizing stakeholders, sharing the rationale early, and creating internal ambassadors.Connect with Dr. Myra:Website: https://myracorrello.com/Email: Myra@GrowWithMyra.comSubstack: https://myramallory.substack.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/myracorrello/FB: https://www.facebook.com/MyraCorrelloSmallBizSpeakerFor a FREE copy of "10 Stories Every Leader Needs To Tell" email nicole@vibrantculture.comAlso mentioned in this episode:The One Minute Manager by K Blanchard & S Johnson: https://a.co/d/cZUMEFwListen at www.vibrantculture.com/podcast or wherever you get your podcasts!Book Nicole to help your organization ignite clarity, accountability, and energy through her SHINE™ Coaching Methodology.Visit vibrantculture.comEmail: nicole@vibrantculture.comWatch Nicole's TEDx Talk: https://youtu.be/SMbxA90bfXE
This week, I'm joined by Melinda Underhill, the powerhouse VP of Human Resources at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, aka the largest event of its kind in the world. With over 36,000 volunteers, 109 committees, and a year-round operation, Melinda offers a behind-the-scenes look at how RodeoHouston runs like a well-oiled (and wildly passionate) machine. We talk about how they cultivate volunteer leadership, create accountability without burnout, and keep communication flowing across thousands of people. Melinda also shares her thoughts on leading with integrity, building family-first cultures, and the powerful role that celebration and recognition play in long-term success. This is a masterclass in people-first leadership, whether you're running a local booster club or the biggest rodeo in the world. Resources & Links: Peloton Dare to Lead by Brené Brown Join The Directory Of The West Get our FREE resource for Writing a Strong Job Description Get our FREE resource for Making the Most of Your Internship Get our FREE resource: 10 Resume Mistakes (and how to fix them) Get our FREE resource: How to Avoid the 7 Biggest Hiring Mistakes Employers Make Email us at hello@ofthewest.co Subscribe to Of The West's Newsletters List your jobs on Of The West Follow the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo: Follow on Instagram @rodeohouston Visit the website Connect with Jessie: Follow on Instagram @ofthewest.co and @mrsjjarv Follow on Facebook @jobsofthewest Check out the Of The West website Be sure to subscribe/follow the show so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Will Clive, Chief Human Resources Officer at LVT (LiveView Technologies), to unpack what it really takes to build high performing teams in fast growing, high pressure environments without burning people out or killing trust.Will breaks down why clarity beats control, and why the job of a leader is not to micromanage talent, but to make the destination so clear that teams can figure out the path themselves. He shares how outcome clarity, values driven leadership behavior, and removing low performance quickly are foundational to building real performance cultures.Most importantly, Will explains the hard trade offs leaders avoid, why keeping low performers quietly poisons teams, how recognizing and stretching top performers matters more than money alone, and why autonomy plus accountability is the only model that scales.
In this heartfelt year-end episode, Connected Families team members Stacy Bellward, Chad Hayenga, and Joe Dewey gather to reflect on a transformative year and share exciting plans for 2026 to continue to encourage you on your journey with intentional parenting. Along the way, they open up about their own families’ rhythms for reflecting on the year past and looking ahead. This episode has practical ideas you can try with your own family. Whether you’re curious about what’s next for Connected Families or looking for fresh ways to close out the year together, this episode has something for you. Key Takeaways: Ideas for family rhythms for year-end reflection Connected Families highlights from 2025 Looking forward to 2026 Mentioned in this Podcast: The Heart of Jesus, Dan Orland Book Connected Families Impact Stories Donate to Connected Families Connected Families Certified Parent Coach Program Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting! This podcast was made possible by members of The Table, whose monthly support creates a ripple effect of change for generations to come. We'd love to have you take a seat at The Table! Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents discover the show! Guest Bio: Joe Dewey is a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach. He has a Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering and has served in full-time ministry with Cru in Leader Development and Human Resources since 2010. He has been a certified life coach since 2017. These experiences and more have molded him to lead with solutions. Whether it comes to ministry or parenting, he finds clarity in the midst of complexity, providing win-win solutions. Chad Hayenga joined Connected Families in 2005. He is married to Carma and has three adult daughters and two sons-in-law. Chad oversees coaching and the Parent Coach Certification Program, which continues to grow in its reach across North America and worldwide. © 2025 Connected Families .stk-14eb4a5-inner-blocks{justify-content:center !important;}.stk-14eb4a5 {background-image:url(https://connectedfamilies.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/iStock-894693700-scaled.jpg) !important;padding-top:64px !important;padding-right:64px !important;padding-bottom:64px !important;padding-left:64px !important;}.stk-14eb4a5-container{background-color:#00000096 !important;}.stk-14eb4a5-container:before{background-color:#00000096 !important;}.stk-14eb4a5 .stk-block-hero__content{min-height:300px !important;max-width:400px !important;min-width:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-left:0px !important;}@media screen and (max-width:689px){.stk-14eb4a5 {background-position:center right !important;padding-top:30px !important;padding-right:30px !important;padding-bottom:30px !important;padding-left:30px !important;}} .stk-a848eca .stk-block-heading__text{color:var(--theme-palette-color-8, #ffffff) !important;}“Things began to change when…” .stk-945cf01 .stk-block-text__text{color:#FFFFFF !important;}Be part of the team that brings “aha” moments of grace to families. .stk-6b4031e .stk-button-group{flex-direction:row !important;}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-6b4031e .stk-button-group{flex-direction:row !important;}}@media screen and (max-width:689px){.stk-6b4031e .stk-button-group{flex-direction:row !important;}} .stk-9906cf2 .stk-button{background:#431c3b !important;}.stk-9906cf2 .stk-button:hover:after{background:#95848f !important;opacity:1 !important;}.stk-9906cf2 .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important;color:var(--theme-palette-color-8, #ffffff) !important;font-weight:600 !important;}.stk-9906cf2 .stk-button:hover .stk-button__inner-text{color:var(--theme-palette-color-8, #ffffff) !important;}@media screen and (max-width:999px){.stk-9906cf2 .stk-button__inner-text{font-size:21px !important;}}DONATE TODAY
Former pro bowler Mike Fagan bought a $2m bowling center with a plan to roll up and rejuvenate these legacy businesses.Topics in Mike's interview:His professional bowling careerConnecting with a bowling-specific brokerEconomic role of league bowlersThe decline of bowling in AmericaTraditional bowling vs BowleroBuying a traditional, older bowling alleyRunning leaner to pay down debtEmployee resistance to changeSuccess with online bookingsHis goal of managing remotelyReferences and how to contact Mike:LinkedInTenpins & MoreBowling Alone by Robert D. PutnamCarlo Santelli on Acquiring Minds: How to Buy a $13m Business with No PG, No InvestorsWebinar: Using a Sale-Leaseback to Buy a BusinessLearn more about Walker Deibel's done-with-you buy-side advisory:The Acquisition LabGet a complimentary IT audit of your target business:Email Nick Akers at nick@inzotechnologies.com, and tell him you're a searcherDownload the New CEO's Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR:From this page or contact mark@aspenhr.comConnect with Acquiring Minds:See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with host Will Smith on LinkedInFollow Will on TwitterEdited by Anton RohozovProduced by Pam Cameron
Welcome to 2026, a year I coin “The Year of Enterprise AI.” As you'll read about (and hear about) in our 2026 Imperatives launch, the coming year is all about AI moving from “assistants” to “agents” to “solutions.” And there are three big considerations to ponder. First, the cost of AI is skyrocketing, so we're going to have to focus on high-value use-cases and business-specific solutions. That's not to say AI assistants and meeting summaries are not valuable, but once you start paying by the token you're going to want to go deeper. As we discuss in our new Systemic HR AI Framework, we're sitting on billions of dollars of real business opportunities now, and they go far beyond individual assistants. (We call these Superagents.) And the cost of AI will accelerate this focus. Second, the data center buildout, energy costs, and political issues with data centers will matter. For corporate users this means understanding the underlying “costs” of AI usage (creating a single high powered image uses as much as 25% of the battery in your phone). I point this out to make you aware that these AI chatbots are not “free” – there are acres of computing campuses being built behind the scenes. And that means your “software providers” are turning into capital intensive companies. (And a new industry of data center companies may take over.) (For those of you in the energy industry, it's a wild time – almost as exciting as I've seen since my early days as an energy engineer during the OPEC Arab Oil Embargo in the late 1970s.) Third is the fast-changing issue of AI's accuracy, trust, and voracious appetite for data. As I discuss, the real opportunity for corporate AI is to take this problem head-on, and focus on your company's data quality, governance, human feedback, and data labeling. The big AI labs are struggling to reduce the “Jaggedness” of AI (it's strange ability to be really good at some things and totally dumb about others), and that encourages us to focus on narrow, domain-specific AI applications. And we all need to learn about RLHF (reinforcement learning with human feedback). Our experience with Galileo proves that an AI solution that focuses on a vertical domain can be infinitely more reliable and intelligent than a general purpose AI. But don't let me argue with Sam Altman, you'll have to figure this out yourself :-). We are launching our 2026 Imperatives research the third week of January, and there will be a special release of Galileo to accompany all the study. Our goal is not to give you a bunch of pithy predictions, but rather to give you a dozen hard-hitting “Must Do's” for the year ahead. I look forward to talking with many of your this coming year as we travel around the world, join us in January for the launch of our 2026 Imperatives research. Like this podcast? Rate us on Spotify or Apple or YouTube. Additional Information Imperatives for 2026: What's Ahead for Enterprise AI, HR, Jobs, And Organizations Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman's OpenAI (NYT bestseller, high... Chapters (00:00:00) - Three Challenges to AI in 2026(00:01:06) - The Cost of AI Infrastructure(00:06:03) - Sustainability in the AI Era(00:12:57) - The Big Story for Human Resources in 2026
Tato Corcoran packed a lifetime of learning (and tears) into 18 months when she left tech & bought a tiny manufacturer.Topics in Tato's interview:Connecting with sellers through direct mailHer “Say yes and figure it out later” approachDifficulty in hiring unskilled laborHow she solved her labor issueBeing a single woman in a male industryLearning Spanish to communicate with her employeesHemorrhaging money the first 8 monthsRaising prices 40% without losing customersThe difference between good growth and bad growthDoubling top line revenueReferences and how to contact Tato:Linkedintatohomes@gmail.comThe direct mail piece Tato used to reach business ownersDownload the New CEO's Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR:From this page or contact mark@aspenhr.comWork with an SBA loan team focused exclusively on helping entrepreneurs buy businesses:Pioneer Capital AdvisoryLearn more about Walker Deibel's done-with-you buy-side advisory:The Acquisition LabConnect with Acquiring Minds:See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with host Will Smith on LinkedInFollow Will on Twitter
In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, we sit down with Michael Burgess, Chief People Officer at Amey, to unpack what it really takes to build credibility, influence, and impact in HR when you don't start with privilege, pedigree, or permission.Michael shares his journey from leaving school at 16 and working as a farm labourer, to becoming a CPO responsible for people, culture, safety, and operations at scale. Along the way, he explains why hard work consistently beats talent, and why enjoying the work itself is the most underrated driver of long-term performance.Most importantly, he breaks down a deeply practical view of modern HR, why getting the basics right earns you the seat at the table, why listening without action destroys trust, and how widening the talent pool through second-chance hiring, apprenticeships, and prison-to-work pathways is not charity, but smart, future-ready leadership.
Live from the Southern Management Association conference in Greenville, SC, Frank hosts a special episode of The Busyness Paradox with guest Dr. Julie Hancock, Director of the People Center at the University of North Texas (https://cob.unt.edu/mgmt/tpc/index.html). With Paul “replaced by AI” for the day, the conversation explores the intersection of artificial intelligence and human resources—and what happens when algorithms meet employee lives. They tackle big questions:•Should we actually worry when AI isn't involved in hiring?•Can algorithms remove bias—or just learn new ones from us?•Does AI improve HR decisions, or simply automate bad ones faster?•What skills will the next generation need to thrive alongside AI?•How do we protect the “human” side of human resources?Along the way, they dive into:•The dangers of AI hallucinations (including fake meta-analyses and citations). •Students using ChatGPT in creative — and not-so-creative — ways.•HR's reputation as the “Grim Reaper” and how AI could make that worse. •Whether robots will eventually achieve citizenship, feelings, or just vacuum better.•Why prompt engineering may become the next big job field. This episode blends humor, real-world HR insight, and a live audience eager to jump into the discussion. If you care about work, people, ethics, or the future of HR, this one's for you.Come visit us at busynessparadox.com to see episode transcripts, blog posts and other content while you're there!
What if hiring leaders didn't take months?In this episode of 7-8 Figure Special Series, I interviewed John Pezoulas. Over the past 15 years, John has excelled in the recruitment industry, from scaling an Exec search firm, a staffing recruitment office or managing 14 National offices. In highly competitive markets in Executive Search (Marketing/Sales/HR) , and High Volume Staffing (Manufacturing/Hospitality/Construction/Industrial/Events/Telecom and International trade). John has consistently secured and managed large contracts with Fortune 1000 companies. He has also experience as a hiring manager, building his own teams of up to 300 headcount across 14 National offices with a $25M P&L. With a focus on open communication and a dedication to personal service, John has earned a reputation as a respected leader among both clients and peers. Outside of work John is busy raising his three beautiful children, Anastasia and, twins Pallas and Theodore. John volunteers with local immigrant and refugee groups to helping arriving newcomers transfer their professional skills, transition employment and adapt to their new home.A few words about the company: "Ready Set Exec average time to hire is now at 39 days with partnership searches in fiscal 2023-2024; with a 100% success rate on hires since company inception. We save you the opportunity cost by filing executive and revenue generating positions quickly with top 10% of talent. We specialize in filling executive and professional roles in Sales, Marketing, Human Resources, and Business Operations. Connect with me for full time or fractional talent for your organization. We can refer you to our network of 5000+ vetted fractional consultants to support your organization."Are you struggling to find the right executives — or just filling seats? Learn how to hire them!Check this out!Show Links:John Pezoulas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnpezoulas/Ready Set Exec Website: https://readysetexec.com/Book a call with Michelle: https://go.appointmentcore.com/book/IcFD4cGJoin our Facebook group for business owners to get help or help other business owners!The Business Ownership Group - Secrets to Scaling: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessownershipsecretstoscalingLooking to scale your business? Get free gifts here to help you on your way: https://www.awarenessstrategies.com/
Director of Human Resources Dr. Jose Ramirez
What's up everyone and welcome to The Corporate Bartender!If you know TCB (or SkyeTeam) you know that we're all about relationships. This episode is all about relationships. Why they matter, how to leverage them strategically, and just knowing when you've met 'one of your people!'We've got Jodie Goldberg on the program today. If you don't know Jodie, stick around, you won't be sorry.She's the founder and principal of Fleurish Consulting and she designs interactions that intentionally deepen relationships. She's also got an icebreaker activity that will knock your socks off. When I met Jodie, I knew she was 'one of our people' I say it all the time (maybe it's because we have such amazing guests), but man, this conversation is one of my FAVORITES of 2025! As Jodie likes to say, "come for the content, stay for the community" This one's a banger, and I just know you're gonna dig it!If you want to skip straight to the interview, 5:18 is your spot!TCB Layout:0:00 - Show Open & Intro1:04 - Titles1:33 - Kickoff 5:19 - Jodie Goldberg Interview58:14 - Wrap & CloseWebsite: https://www.fleurishconsultinginc.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodie-goldberg-14264663/Join our community!https://the-corporate-bartender.mn.co/Theme Music by Hooksounds.comGood Feels Stories Copyright Paramount/CBS
In this episode, Bob 'n Joyce explore key findings from Gallup's 2025 World Happiness Report. The United States experienced a notable decline, ranking 24th — its lowest position ever. The report highlights how social connection, financial wellbeing, emotional health, and physical wellness all play a critical role in overall happiness. While these findings may not come as a surprise, they should serve as a wake-up call for business leaders and OD practitioners. Unhappy employees don't just affect morale — they impact business results and workplace culture in very real ways. In the spirit of the season, we focus on what we can do to address chronic unhappiness, drawing directly from insights in the Gallup poll. What emerges are solutions that don't require big budgets or more time. In fact, small, subtle shifts by leaders — being fully present, asking thoughtful questions, and helping people feel seen and validated — can make a meaningful difference. On a personal level, we invite you, our listeners, to use this holiday season as a moment to pause, look around, and make someone's day. Kindness is contagious — and when it spreads, it lifts all of us. No better time to begin than now. Come on in, grab a snack. Welcome!
In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, we sit down with Jason Bloomfield, Global Head of Talent Acquisition Transformation at Ericsson, to unpack how a 149-year-old company is rebuilding HR by putting people before technology.Jason explains how a failed global HR tool rollout, what he openly calls the “tool of doom,” became the catalyst for a complete reset. Instead of adding more systems, Ericsson built a global feedback loop that turns employee sentiment into action, investment, and prioritised roadmaps.Most importantly, Jason shares why five-year plans no longer work, why the shelf life of strategy is now six months, and how HR, TA, and change leaders must build change agility, skills intelligence, and authentic empathy to stay relevant in an AI-driven world.
On this episode, Angela and Kristin talk the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to modern youth sports. They also discuss how parents can make the best decision for not only their child but whole family when it comes to this hot topic. Angela Nelson, EdD, BCBA, and Kristin Bandi, MA, BCBA, are Board Certified Behavior Analysts with expertise on human behavior and child development. They spend their days working with parents and caregivers of both typically developing children as well as children with learning, social, and behavioral challenges, or developmental disabilities. This podcast is brought to you by RethinkCare. If you need support as a parent or caregiver of a child, we encourage you to ask your Human Resources team if RethinkCare is a part of your employer-provided benefits. RethinkCare reaches millions of lives globally through partnerships with top organizations and Fortune 1,000 companies.
Talar Herculian Coursey is the GC and VP HR for ComplyAuto, a SaaS company serving auto dealerships in the US. Talar was previously the GC for Vista Ford and a file clerk, associate, and partner at the national labor and employment law firm, Fisher Phillips LLP. Talar is licensed to practice law in California and Utah. She is also a CIPP, CIPM, certified yoga instructor, certified life coach, and a retired dog walker. In this episode… Knowing the types of data a company collects is essential for building strong privacy and security practices. Many organizations collect a wide range of sensitive information, including financial data, identity documents, and data created through connected technologies. Employees often rely on text messages and mobile apps to communicate, creating touchpoints where sensitive information is shared with third parties. So, how can general counsels and privacy pros safeguard sensitive information while accounting for the risks introduced by third-party vendors? Protecting sensitive information starts with establishing policies and processes that reflect how data flows through an organization and understanding how teams communicate with consumers. That's why it's important to provide employees with secure, encrypted channels when communicating with customers. Customized training is equally important, and using gamification and tailored phishing simulations helps engage employees, deepen their understanding of the sensitive information they handle, and improve their ability to recognize potential privacy and security risks. By pairing these tools with training that is specific to the work environment, general counsels and privacy pros can help employees stay vigilant and reduce the likelihood of privacy and security incidents. In this episode of She Said Privacy/He Said Security, Jodi and Justin Daniels talk with Talar Herculian Coursey, General Counsel and Vice President of Human Resources at ComplyAuto, about managing privacy and security risk tied to data collection practices. Drawing on her experience in the automotive dealership industry, Talar explains why understanding the types of data companies collect is critical to building effective privacy and security programs. She explains how companies can strengthen their defenses through encrypted communication tools and customized employee training programs. Talar also outlines the significant risks posed by third-party vendors and offers practical tips for managing these risks.
HR compliance isn't just paperwork—it's what stands between your business and costly mistakes that can derail growth. In this conversation, Lisa DeMaria from Utopia Solutions breaks down the five most common HR misconceptions in trades businesses, from misclassifying workers to why your office manager can't do it all and the multi-state compliance traps that catch expanding companies off guard. This conversation gives you the roadmap to get HR right before problems show up at your door—protecting your business while creating the kind of culture that keeps great people around.Today's Podcast is brought to you by Boolean Automation
Christine Crouch, Senior Director of Learning at General Mills, joins Workplace Stories to discuss a massive shift in how one of the world's legacy food companies approaches talent development. General Mills has recently transitioned to a centralized and integrated learning model.In this episode, Christine lays out one of the clearest cases for centralization we have heard. While efficiency is a benefit, she argues that the true drivers are decision-making power and better data. By unifying the function, General Mills gains a stronger view of learning activity and business needs, creating the strategic infrastructure necessary for the future of work.You'll hear how Christine's team manages to be centralized without losing the "local feel" through a robust Learning Business Partner model. She also details how centralization unlocks the ability to correlate learning metrics with talent outcomes like retention and performance. Finally, Christine shares her philosophy on AI, not as a replacement for human connection, but as a tool to elevate the human side of learning.You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...[06:07] Background on General Mills and its culture.[07:00] The shift from decentralized to centralized L&D.[11:11] How to make centralization feel local to business stakeholders.[18:30] The Learning Business Partner model explained.[21:07] Correlating learning metrics with talent outcomes.[27:58] Managing "rogue purchases" in a centralized model.[34:20] Why AI will elevate, not replace, the human side of learning.[47:35] Piloting AI coaching tools like "Nadia".The Strategic Case for CentralizationFor many organizations, the move to centralize L&D is purely a cost-cutting exercise. However, Christine frames the shift at General Mills as a play for better data and strategic decision-making. A centralized function provides a unified view of the organization's needs, allowing L&D to prioritize investments that drive enterprise-wide capabilities rather than just solving isolated functional problems. As AI accelerates, this strong data infrastructure is what will allow the organization to distinguish between what people actually need to know versus what can be offloaded to technology.The Learning Business Partner ModelCentralization often brings the fear of losing touch with the business. General Mills solves this through the "Learning Business Partner" role, individuals who sit on the leadership teams of specific functions or segments but report back to the central L&D organization. These partners act as a bridge; they understand the HR strategy and business plans of their specific function while ensuring continuity with the broader enterprise goals. They are expected to be performance consultants first, identifying the root problems to solve rather than just taking orders for training.AI: Elevating the Human ElementChristine's approach to AI is grounded in optimism and human-centricity. She believes AI will not replace the human side of learning but elevate it. General Mills is actively piloting AI for tasks like personalization, automation, and coaching via a tool called "Nadia," which acts as an "always-on" coach. However, Christine emphasizes that deep skill building, like change leadership, still requires human connection, peer discussion, and the ability to "read the room," skills that AI cannot fully replicate. Connect with Christine CrouchChristine Crouch on LinkedIn Connect With Red Thread ResearchWebsite: Red Thread ResearchOn LinkedInOn FacebookOn TwitterSubscribe to WORKPLACE STORIES
In today's episode, Bob 'n Joyce unpack an article Joyce wrote years ago on a powerful OD technique she used to assess organizational wellness. Culture can feel fuzzy and hard to diagnose, but this simple inquiry tool makes it concrete, practical, and actionable for leaders, coaches, and OD practitioners. You'll hear when this tool is most valuable—such as during a leadership transition, when performance is slipping, or when an organization has lost its competitive edge—and then we walk through the roadmap step by step. Joyce's Diagnostic Roadmap Includes: Getting a Balcony Perspective 1. What's causing the distress? 2. What internal contradictions does that distress reveal? 3. What is the history behind those contradictions? 4. What perspectives or interests do I (or others) now represent that may be in conflict? 5. How might we, as a team or organization, be mirroring these broader dynamics? Identifying the Tolerable Range of Distress 6. How do we typically respond to disequilibrium—confusion, conflict, external threats, shifting roles? 7. When in the past has distress escalated to a breaking point? 8. What actions have senior leaders traditionally used to restore equilibrium, and what can I influence now? Patterns of Work and Work Avoidance 9. What work and work-avoidance patterns are showing up? 10. What do these patterns reveal about the real adaptive challenge? 11. What clues do leaders (often unintentionally) provide? 12. Which issues are ripe for action—and which may need ripening? There's a lot to unwrap (pun fully intended), so settle in, grab a healthy snack, and join us for a lively conversation on diagnosing culture in a way that actually helps organizations heal and grow.
In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, we sit down with Kristin Trecker, Chief People Officer at Visteon Corporation, to unpack what it really takes to build talent at the speed of disruption in a 100-year industry going through a 100-year change.Kristin explains why HR has to stop acting like an order taker and start operating like a product line manager, with a clear roadmap, clear customers, and a clear point of view. She shares how Visteon runs a six month product roadmap and pairs it with a capability and capacity plan, so talent decisions keep pace with the business.Most importantly, she breaks down the cultural shift behind it all, from calibrating performance around impact, to out-rewarding star performers, to rewriting HR's role entirely, replacing “business partner” with performance coach, and building a team that can debate, challenge, and drive change without politics.
The workplace in 2025 feels like it's moving at double speed. Federal contractors saw affirmative action requirements disappear virtually overnight. DEI programs have gone from top priority to barely mentioned in less than a year. AI is racing ahead of regulation, and states like Massachusetts are charting their own course while the federal government pulls in the opposite direction.Pete Wright sits down with Tom Jones and Kyle Pardo to make sense of it all. They walk through what the rollback of Executive Order 11246 means for employers still figuring out what they're required to track, how DEI is quietly shifting toward broader inclusion efforts, and why Massachusetts employers need to watch for changes to state average weekly wage calculations. The conversation also touches on what AI regulation might look like when the technology is evolving faster than lawmakers can keep up, and why remote work mandates are hitting morale harder than many leaders expected.But the biggest revelation comes from AIM's latest HR practices survey: for the first time in years, employee engagement and morale have become the number one priority for employers heading into 2026, surpassing even compensation. It's a signal that something fundamental has shifted in how organizations are thinking about their people. This episode offers a clear-eyed look at the year that was and what HR teams should be watching as they head into the next.AIM members can reach the HR Helpline at 800-470-6277 or helpline@aimnet.org for inquiries Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (EST). Email requests will be responded to within 24 hours. Links & NotesExecutive Order 11246 (Wikipedia overview) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_Order_11246 (historical context and 2025 repeal information)I-9 Central (USCIS) — https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central (comprehensive I-9 compliance guidance)Form I-9 (USCIS) — https://www.uscis.gov/i-9 (current form and instructions)Handbook for Employers M-274 — https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-resources/handbook-for-employers-m-274 (detailed guidance for completing I-9)Massachusetts Workers' Compensation Rates — https://www.mass.gov/info-details/minimum-and-maximum-compensation-rates (official state average weekly wage information)Massachusetts PFML 2025 Updates — https://www.fisherphillips.com/en/news-insights/massachusetts-employers-should-prepare-for-2026-paid-family-and-medical-leave-updates.html (state average weekly wage and benefit updates)State AI Legislation 2025 (Future of Privacy Forum) — https://fpf.org/blog/the-state-of-state-ai-legislative-approaches-to-ai-in-2025/ (comprehensive analysis of state AI laws)NCSL Artificial Intelligence 2025 Legislation — https://www.ncsl.org/technology-and-communication/artificial-intelligence-2025-legislation (tracker of AI bills by state)State AI Laws 2025 (White & Case) — https://www.whitecase.com/insight-alert/california-kentucky-tracking-rise-state-ai-laws-2025 (detailed breakdown of enacted state AI laws) AIM HR Solutions Training CatalogAIM members can reach the HR Helpline at 800-470-6277 or helpline@aimnet.org for inquiries Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (EST). Email requests will be responded to within 24 hours.
Send us a textThis week we're excited to talk with the talented college interns who joined us during the 2025 fall semester and learn more about the projects they tackled, and the valuable lessons learned along the way. We are proud to introduce Ariana Banhan from Georgia Tech, Christine Bonaparte from Emory University, Jaida Hayes from Clayton State University, Kiersten Harris from Georgia Military College, Nava Pidugu from Georgia State University, and Zeniya Lukonde from Spelman College. Also joining us is Mark Dock, Senior Manager of Human Resources here at DECAL. Support the show
Robert Gayden worked for over a year to buy a home care business. Revenue kept growing but the price remained the same.Register for the webinar: What Killed Deals in 2025 - TOMORROW!! - https://bit.ly/44r1pH5Topics in Robert's interview:Influence of his late fatherThe “go bigger” search philosophyAppeal of the home health care industry17-month acquisition processChoosing to operate “in the weeds” of the businessLeading with high expectationsFocusing on increasing salesAchieving 15% growth in 8 monthsWorking capital dynamics in home careInvesting in employeesReferences and how to contact Robert:LinkedInAizik Zimerman on Acquiring Minds: Founder Mode for ETA $6m to $25m in 3 YearsMorgan McCauley on Acquiring Minds: How to Buy a $2.5m Home Care BusinessDevin Fitzgerald on Acquiring Minds: Buying $5m of Revenue with $50k of EquityRobert Graham & Aaron Blick on Acquiring Minds: How to Build a Roll-Up to $60m RevenueJérôme Bouillon on Acquiring Minds: How to Buy & Double a Home Care AgencyGet a free review of your books & financial ops from System Six (a $500 value):Book a call with Tim or hello@systemsix.com and mention Acquiring MindsDownload the New CEO's Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR:From this page or contact mark@aspenhr.comGet complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:Oberle Risk Strategies - Search Fund TeamConnect with Acquiring Minds:See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with host Will Smith on LinkedInFollow Will on TwitterEdited by Anton RohozovProduced by Pam Cameron
This time of year can be incredibly hard for dentists and practice owners because there are so many decisions to make when it comes to showing appreciation for team members. Should I do cash, a gift card, or a bonus through payroll? How much should I pay my team members? Should I do an equal amount or vary the amounts based on longevity? If we do a Holiday party, should I pay the team for the hours? All of the questions and more are covered by Dr. Kuba and Bethany in this episode. The end of the year is an important time to show appreciation, but there is much to consider and weigh out. So, listen in! Previous Episodes Worth Revisiting:Creative Team Building IdeasThe Basics of Team Building
Tune in to hear Head of School, Dr. Mark Carleton, chat with Ashley Kennedy, PS Middle School Bible Teacher and Middle School Girls Associate Director at First Presbyterian Church (FPC), about her love for middle school students. This episode is now live and available for download on our People of PS Podcast. Ashley earned her Bachelor's degree in Human Resources from Texas A&M University, and decided to pair her desire to help people with middle school aged students. After graduating from college, Ashley quickly realized her true passion was investing in students and watching them grow. She currently serves as the Middle School Girls Associate Director at FPC and works part-time as a Bible teacher at PS—two roles that let her spend her days with the most joyful, hilarious, and big-hearted group of middle school girls. Ashley's work with students was heavily influenced by her many transformational years at Laity Lodge, an ecumenical retreat center in the Texas Hill Country, where she was both a camper and camp counselor. When she's not hanging out with girls, Ashley enjoys exploring The Heights and listening to audiobooks. Some of her favorite moments are walking through her neighborhood anticipating a new street or cozy corner to discover with coffee in hand listening to an audiobook. In everything she does, Ashley is eager to build community, cheer students on, and create spaces where girls feel seen, known, and deeply loved.
Scott Duncan endured brutal ups & downs — and personal depression — during his ownership of a doomed tool & die businessRegister for the webinar: How to Model an Investor-Backed Search Acquisition - TODAY! - https://bit.ly/3XysjZBTopics in Scott's interview:Wishing he had listened to his gutThe risk of EBITDA (vs. revenue) concentrationManaging highly skilled primadonnas Employee theftLosing key employeesLong sales cycles and fixed quotesForced Covid shutdownRazor and blade business modelFacing aggressive creditorsFiling Chapter 7References and how to contact Scott:LinkedInLearn more about Walker Deibel's done-with-you buy-side advisory:The Acquisition LabGet complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:Oberle Risk Strategies - Search Fund TeamDownload the New CEO's Guide to Human Resources from Aspen HR:From this page or contact mark@aspenhr.comConnect with Acquiring Minds:See past + future interviews on the YouTube channelConnect with host Will Smith on LinkedInFollow Will on TwitterEdited by Anton RohozovProduced by Pam Cameron
Ho, ho, ho! Welcome to our final episode of 2025, Besties. Unfortunately, due to our busy December schedules, we weren't able to lock down a time to record all together. That said, we were able to separately record some updates on SHRM and a few last remarks before we go into hibernation mode over the holidays. Who's re-watching Hot Frosty this year? SHRM lawsuit verdict Throwback to some of our holiday party do's and don'ts Updates on the future of HR Besties in 2026 and wishing you a restful holiday! Your To-Do List: Grab merch, submit Questions & Comments, and make sure that you're the first to know about our In-Person Meetings (events!) at https://www.hrbesties.com. Follow your Besties across the socials and check out our resumes here: https://www.hrbesties.com/about. Subscribe to the HR Besties Newsletter - https://hr-besties.beehiiv.com/subscribe We look forward to seeing you in our next meeting - don't worry, we'll have a hard stop! Yours in Business + Bullsh*t, Leigh, Jamie & Ashley Follow Bestie Leigh! https://www.tiktok.com/@hrmanifesto https://www.instagram.com/hrmanifesto https://www.hrmanifesto.com Follow Bestie Ashley! https://www.tiktok.com/@managermethod https://www.instagram.com/managermethod https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyherd/ https://managermethod.com Follow Bestie Jamie! https://www.millennialmisery.com/ Humorous Resources: Instagram • YouTube • Threads • Facebook • X Millennial Misery: Instagram • Threads • Facebook • X Horrendous HR: Instagram • Threads • Facebook Tune in to “HR Besties,” a business, work and management podcast hosted by Leigh Elena Henderson (HRManifesto), Ashley Herd (ManagerMethod) and Jamie Jackson (Humorous_Resources), where we navigate the labyrinth of corporate culture, from cringe corporate speak to toxic leadership. Whether you're in Human Resources or not, corporate or small business, we offer sneak peeks into surviving work, hiring strategies, and making the employee experience better for all. Tune in for real talk on employee engagement, green flags in the workplace, and how to turn red flags into real change. Don't miss our chats about leadership, career coaching, and takes from work travel and watercooler gossip. Get new episodes every Wednesday, follow us on socials for the latest updates, and join us at our virtual happy hours to share your HR stories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Welcome back, Besties! With the year coming to an end, we thought we'd highlight some of our most insane, unhinged and *facepalm* moments as HR professionals. Today's agenda: Toe sucking Flying dentures Nightmare startup Love square When HR saves the marriage Bovine piss The hidden Plan B The vaccine checker Ear licking Your To-Do List: Grab merch, submit Questions & Comments, and make sure that you're the first to know about our In-Person Meetings (events!) at https://www.hrbesties.com. Follow your Besties across the socials and check out our resumes here: https://www.hrbesties.com/about. Subscribe to the HR Besties Newsletter - https://hr-besties.beehiiv.com/subscribe We look forward to seeing you in our next meeting - don't worry, we'll have a hard stop! Yours in Business + Bullsh*t, Leigh, Jamie & Ashley Follow Bestie Leigh! https://www.tiktok.com/@hrmanifesto https://www.instagram.com/hrmanifesto https://www.hrmanifesto.com Follow Bestie Ashley! https://www.tiktok.com/@managermethod https://www.instagram.com/managermethod https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyherd/ https://managermethod.com Follow Bestie Jamie! https://www.millennialmisery.com/ Humorous Resources: Instagram • YouTube • Threads • Facebook • X Millennial Misery: Instagram • Threads • Facebook • X Horrendous HR: Instagram • Threads • Facebook Tune in to “HR Besties,” a business, work and management podcast hosted by Leigh Elena Henderson (HRManifesto), Ashley Herd (ManagerMethod) and Jamie Jackson (Humorous_Resources), where we navigate the labyrinth of corporate culture, from cringe corporate speak to toxic leadership. Whether you're in Human Resources or not, corporate or small business, we offer sneak peeks into surviving work, hiring strategies, and making the employee experience better for all. Tune in for real talk on employee engagement, green flags in the workplace, and how to turn red flags into real change. Don't miss our chats about leadership, career coaching, and takes from work travel and watercooler gossip. Get new episodes every Wednesday, follow us on socials for the latest updates, and join us at our virtual happy hours to share your HR stories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices