Podcasts about jotform

In this episode, I'm joined by Nasser Jones, founder of the nonprofit Bending the AI Curve, for a powerful conversation about equitable innovation and what AI ethics looks like in practice for education and beyond. You'll also hear how bias, access, policy decisions, and tool overload shape who benefits from AI—and how schools and communities can take a more proactive, inclusive approach. If you want to help students and educators engage with AI thoughtfully, responsibly, and with equity at the center, this episode has you covered! Show notes: https://classtechtips.com/2026/02/20/ai-ethics-bonus/ Sponsored by Jotform: http://jotform.com/education/ Follow Nasser Jones on social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nasserkjones/ Follow Monica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classtechtips/  Take your pick of free EdTech resources: https://classtechtips.com/free-stuff-favorites/   

Disconnection doesn't usually explode—it leaks in through a thousand tiny moments until voices go quiet and energy fades. We sat down with leadership futurist and change strategist Melinda McCormack to chart a path back: a practical, human way to lead with empathy that drives performance without sacrificing people.Melinda shares her personal journey through loss alongside high-stakes corporate change, revealing how trauma and bias can make even the strongest leaders feel small and unseen. From those lived lessons comes PULSE, a five-step framework that turns empathy into action: clarify Purpose aligned to values, Unlock your emotional code to shift from reaction to response, Learn tools like vulnerability and humility, Shift with daily habits that stick, and Embrace change by balancing the heart that feels with the mind that leads. We dive into why emotional fitness is a trainable skill, how mirror neurons make culture contagious, and what leaders can do to create psychological safety so teams feel seen, heard, and valued.Expect clear, usable tactics you can try today. You'll hear how a single ten-second pause can flip a heated exchange, how to spot slow-burn disengagement before it becomes quiet quitting, and why “listening is the quiet art of influence.” We unpack triggers, cognitive biases, and the subtle ways meetings spiral into aggression and defensiveness—and we show how to bring them back to focus, trust, and useful outcomes. If you've ever wondered how to make empathy a competitive edge, this conversation gives you the map and the mindset to start.

In this episode, I'm joined by Richard Colosi, Instructional Technology Specialist and founder of EdTech Hustle, to explore low- or no-cost ways technology can save teachers time. You'll also hear how thoughtful automation, organization, and accessibility features can reduce daily friction and free up mental space for what matters most. If you want to work more efficiently while staying focused on students, this episode has you covered! Show notes: https://classtechtips.com/2026/02/13/save-teachers-time-bonus/ Sponsored by Jotform: http://jotform.com/education/ Follow Richard Colosi on social: https://x.com/RichardColosi Follow Monica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classtechtips/  Take your pick of free EdTech resources: https://classtechtips.com/free-stuff-favorites/   

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.—Berkay is a UX researcher with over eight years of experience, mostly in e-commerce and banking, working across both B2B and B2C. He has a bachelor's and a master's degree in product design and design research. His focus is on turning research into actionable insights, improving research processes and helping teams make user-centered decisions. Basically, reducing uncertainty. He also co-founded UXR Playground, Turkey's leading UX platform, where he runs trainings, workshops and mentorship programs. In a past role, he built and led a ResearchOps team, creating systems to make research more efficient and scalable.In our conversation, we discuss:* The eight-step framework Berkay uses for smooth, ethical participant recruitment, built from actual interviews and field work.* Why many researchers are flying blind with recruitment and how junior researchers often end up as accidental call center reps.* The most common screw-ups in screener surveys and how to write questions that don't sabotage your study before it starts.* How Berkay built a participant panel inside a 30-million-user company without a budget, and with legal breathing down his neck.* Why most panels fall apart after setup, and what to actually prioritize if you want yours to last longer than three studies.Some takeaways:* Ethics aren't optional. If you're collecting personal data, you're responsible for what happens to it. Berkay shares how one company got sued after leaking participant emails. It's not a footnote, it's a risk. Build ethics and legal compliance into your process from day one, or you'll learn the hard way.* Most companies are bad at recruitment and fixing it takes more than tools. Berkay got so fed up with watching junior researchers waste hours cold-calling participants that he turned the whole thing into a research study. The findings? A total lack of structure, zero shared frameworks, and a ton of internal guesswork pretending to be process.* Bad screener surveys kill good research. Asking “Do you use this app?” is a great way to recruit liars. Berkay shares simple but smart ways to avoid bias in screeners like using multi-select questions, hiding the research topic, and adding duplicate questions to sniff out lazy responses.* Building a panel sounds smart until you have to maintain it. Setting up a panel is the easy part. The real challenge is keeping the data clean, staying GDPR-compliant, and making participants feel like they're still part of something. Regular outreach (like quarterly surveys) and strong ties to your data team are non-negotiable.* A good panel is a cross-team operation. Berkay didn't just build a landing page and hope for the best. He brought in product, customer support, PMs, and data science from the start. If you want a panel that works across research needs and methods, it has to be owned across the company too.Where to find Berkay:* LinkedInStop piecing it together. Start leading the work.The Everything UXR Bundle is for researchers who are tired of duct-taping free templates and second-guessing what good looks like.You get my complete set of toolkits, templates, and strategy guides. used by teams across Google, Spotify, , to run credible research, influence decisions, and actually grow in your role.It's built to save you time, raise your game, and make you the person people turn to—not around.→ Save 140+ hours a year with ready-to-use templates and frameworks→ Boost productivity by 40% with tools that cut admin and sharpen your focus→ Increase research adoption by 50% through clearer, faster, more strategic deliveryInterested in sponsoring the podcast?Interested in sponsoring or advertising on this podcast? I'm always looking to partner with brands and businesses that align with my audience. Book a call or email me at nikki@userresearchacademy.com to learn more about sponsorship opportunities!The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, positions, or policies of the host, the podcast, or any affiliated organizations or sponsors. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.userresearchstrategist.com/subscribe

Ever feel like your team has more to give—and you can't quite unlock it? We dig into the uncomfortable truth that many leaders become bottlenecks without meaning to, then map a path to becoming a catalyst who unlocks energy, ownership, and momentum. With award-winning leadership and high performance coach Tracy Clark, we examine why strategy and skills (the “trunk”) only go so far, and how deeper work in mindset, self-awareness, and identity (the “roots”) drives real, sustained results.Tracy shows how to close the gap between intention and impact by starting in the mirror. We get tactical about identity—moving from “think differently” to “be differently”—through immersive play, a one-line identity anchor like “I am a determined catalyst,” and a simple pre-meeting reset that shifts your state on demand. We also unpack her three-part definition of play as intense curiosity, radical open-mindedness, and proactive experimentation. Expect practical moves: rule-flipping core assumptions, designing low-risk tests, and letting silence do the work so your team steps up.The conversation goes beyond personal change to collective momentum. We explore how to create a “team of catalysts” with shared behaviors that make independent thinking normal: surfacing tensions early, challenging assumptions weekly, shipping small experiments fast, and measuring learning alongside results. Along the way we connect empathy and deep listening to performance, drawing on ideas popularized by Chris Voss and the enduring truth that people remember how you make them feel.If you're ready to trade control for trust, certainty for curiosity, and busyness for leverage, this one's for you. Listen, choose your one-word identity for the week, and try the catalyst experiment in your next meeting. If it sparks an insight, share the episode with a leader who needs it, subscribe on your favorite podcast app or YouTube, and leave a review to help others find the show.

In this episode, I welcome back Naomi Church, founder of Growing Minds Consulting, to discuss how on demand professional development can simplify and strengthen professional learning using flexible, on-demand tools. You'll also hear practical strategies for moving beyond one-size-fits-all PD by building professional learning ecosystems that support educators when the need is real. If you want to design professional learning that's accessible, actionable, and actually leads to changes in practice, this episode has you covered! Show notes: https://classtechtips.com/2026/02/06/on-demand-professional-development-bonus/ Sponsored by Jotform: https://jotform.com/enterprise/education/ Follow Naomi Church on social: https://www.instagram.com/growingmindsconsulting/ Follow Monica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classtechtips/  Take your pick of free EdTech resources: https://classtechtips.com/free-stuff-favorites/   

Think you had a busy month but didn't move the needle? We unpack why progress often feels invisible and how to make it tangible by changing small behaviors that create big ripples. This solo cast stitches together January's standout insights on culture, pressure, change, influence, and feedback—then turns them into simple moves you can apply within 24 hours.We start with a hard truth from Bill Benjamin: your culture is revealed under pressure. When stress spikes, untrained emotional intelligence drops, shortcuts sneak in, and safety evaporates. We walk through practical ways to slow your cadence, protect standards, and keep access to reality. From there, Hugh Thomas reframes change as identity work, not a project plan. People grieve loss—of familiarity, status, and confidence—so leaders must acknowledge loss before asking for alignment. Expect clear prompts you can use to surface the real obstacles and rebuild commitment through honesty rather than false certainty.Next, Salvatore Manzi brings a candid reminder: good intent does not equal good impact. Influence lives in how you're received. We break down presence, pacing, and listening as the levers that lower threat and help your message land. Then we move into the Lead Better series on YouTube, where we de-risk feedback with brain-based insights and practical tools. You'll learn the micro yes to gain permission, the calibrate reality step to align perceptions, the SPI model to deliver clarity without judgment, and the close-the-loop move to lock agreements. Structure beats good intentions when trust is on the line.We close by turning reflection into action: give one real piece of feedback you've been avoiding, run one alignment conversation about “what good looks like,” or remove one piece of interference holding your team back. Leaders who win the year don't do more; they do what matters, more consistently. If these ideas hit home, subscribe, share with a leader who's ready to level up, and leave a quick review telling us which action you'll take today.Send us a textSupport the show✅ Follow The Leadership Project on your favourite podcast platform and listen to a new episode every week!

In this episode, I welcome back Dr. Krista Leh, instructional coach, former high school educator, and founder of Resonance Education, to explore what it really means to personalize learning resources through an SEL lens. You'll also hear practical examples of how teachers can use student interests, relationships, and even AI tools to make academic content more meaningful, motivating, and relevant for individual learners. If you're interested in personalizing learning resources in ways that feel doable, authentic, and impactful for students and families, this episode has you covered! Show notes: https://classtechtips.com/2026/01/30/personalizing-learning-resources-bonus/ Sponsored by Jotform:  https://jotform.com/enterprise/education/ Follow Dr. Krista Leh on social: https://www.instagram.com/resonance_ed/ Follow Monica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classtechtips/  Take your pick of free EdTech resources: https://classtechtips.com/free-stuff-favorites/   

What we often call “communication problems” are really clarity problems. Leadership communication coach Salvatore Manzi breaks down why smart ideas stall, why meetings favor fast talkers, and how leaders can make messages land, be remembered, and drive action. From start to finish, this episode focuses on practical moves you can try today.We explore hidden biases that shape conversations: delay bias that sidelines reflective thinkers, the spotlight effect that inflates self-judgment, and the curse of knowledge that turns expertise into confusion. Salvatore reframes Q&A as a relationship check, showing how to buy thinking time, reflect questions back, and structure discussions so both quick responders and slower processors contribute.Feeling nervous before speaking is normal. The episode covers reframing fear as excitement, using posture, breath, and focus to project confidence, and leveraging afformations to prime performance. You'll also learn to craft an emotional journey with cadence, pause, and tone, turn complex data into memorable metaphors, give specific feedback, and use context checks to keep your audience engaged.

Change rarely fails because people don't care; it fails because we misunderstand what drives behavior. With author and change leadership expert Huw Thomas, we dig into the real forces underneath stalled transformations: loss aversion, identity threats, and the quiet stories we tell ourselves that keep us clinging to the status quo. From childhood curiosity to adult routines, we unpack how our wiring prioritizes safety, why we catastrophize the unlikely, and how a few practical shifts can restore agency and momentum.Huw shares a candid look at navigating personal and professional change—moving countries, facing a health crisis, and reframing setbacks as stepping stones. We explore the messy middle of change and the identity tension it creates, including the classic “expert with the legendary spreadsheet” who resists a new system because it threatens who they are at work. Instead of erasing the old self, we talk about upgrading to version 2.0: preserving dignity, building new capability, and making the future identity feel real through micro-wins, visibility, and support.You'll learn concrete tools: pattern interrupts to test assumptions, emotional labeling to reduce intensity, future-self framing to re-anchor perspective, and success mapping that pairs a vivid destination with the true cost of inaction. We also preview why organizational change is so hard—scale, diversity, influence networks—and why technology and processes don't create value until humans believe they can, want to, and know how to use them. If you're ready to stop focusing on barriers and start steering toward the gaps, this conversation offers a clear, humane roadmap.If this sparked an insight, share it with one person who needs it, hit subscribe on your favorite podcast app or YouTube, and leave a review to help more leaders find the show. What's one small behavior you'll change this week, and what support will make it stick?

Are you wondering if launching an online skincare store could boost your esthetic practice and provide more convenience for your clients?Today, Andrea and Taleesa are going over the pros and cons of starting your own online skincare store and diving into whether they really think it's worth it for your business. . Listen to this episode to get the inside scoop on the challenges, benefits and real-world considerations like logistics, tech setup, and marketing when it comes to starting your own online store. If you enjoyed this episode please share, rate and review it! Also mentioned in today's episode: Benefits of starting an online store 5:35Challenges of starting an online store 9:04Who should be starting an online store? 14:50Shopify vs. Jotform 20:00When having an online store might not be worth it 27:02Links:Estie Social Suite:https://smithandcrawford.com/aesthetically-social-suite2026 Visibility Vault:https://smithandcrawford.com/visibility-vaultShow transcripts: https://smithandcrawford.com/notesEmail us: hello@smithandcrawford.comJoin our newsletter: https://smithandcrawford.com/newsletterhttps://calendly.com/smithandcrawford/30-min-strategy-session?back=1&month=2024-10https://calendly.com/smithandcrawford/aesthetically-discovery-call?back=1&month=2024-08https://smithandcrawford.com/

When tension spikes, leaders don't rise to the occasion; they fall to their default. Today we dig into those defaults with Bill Benjamin, co-author of The Last 8%, and unpack why smart, well-intentioned people either blow up or go quiet when it matters most—and how to do better without losing your edge.We start by naming the two patterns that quietly define culture under pressure: the messmaker who reacts with heat and the avoider who retreats to keep the peace. Bill explains the brain science behind both, from cortisol searing memories to the fear of social judgment that feels like physical pain. That lens changes everything: people remember you in the hard moments, not the easy ones. So we get practical. Bill shares SOS—Stop, Oxygenate, Seek information—as a simple, reliable way to step out of fight-or-flight, regain working memory, and turn certainty into curiosity. Small moves like a sip of water, open palms, or one deep breath can buy the six seconds you need to choose a better response.We then move into preparation for planned hard conversations. Clarify the exact last 8 percent you must say, set a positive intention that signals safety, and ask open questions so the other person talks first. You'll hear why many people self-diagnose if given space, how to draw out their last 8 percent, and how to model being coachable without giving up standards. We close with tactics to reset a reputation: share your growth edge with genuine vulnerability, invite real-time cues from your team, and follow up to measure progress. The result is a culture where people trade ego for empathy, certainty for curiosity, and silence for shared truth.If this sparked an insight, share it with one person who needs it. Subscribe on YouTube or your favorite podcast app, and leave a quick review to help more leaders find the show. Which are you under pressure—messmaker or avoider—and what last 8 percent will you tackle this week?

In this episode, I welcome back Tammy Musiowsky-Borneman, author, professional learning facilitator, and founder of Plan Z Education, to discuss future-proofing classroom technology through minimalist approaches and sustainable practices. You'll also hear practical strategies for evaluating digital tools, establishing healthy tech boundaries for students across grade levels, and avoiding the trap of chasing every shiny new platform or feature. Tune in to work smarter (not harder) by identifying which educational technology truly adds value to your teaching. Show notes: https://classtechtips.com/2026/01/09/classroom-technology-bonus/ Sponsored by Jotform: https://jotform.com/enterprise/education/ Follow Tammy ​Musiowsky-Borneman on social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tammyplanz/ Follow Monica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classtechtips/  Take your pick of free EdTech resources: https://classtechtips.com/free-stuff-favorites/   

A new year doesn't need a louder pep talk; it needs a clearer compass. We start 2026 by trading resolutions for direction and building a plan around identity, not intensity. Through honest reflection on 2025—what made us proud and what quietly drained us—we sketch a practical framework to design a year you'll be proud to live, not just survive.We walk through four anchors that hold everything in place: health and energy, leadership and impact, craft and learning, and family and life. For health, we focus on consistency and recovery so progress compounds without burnout. For leadership, we commit to showing up authentically—coaching more than controlling, preparing for meetings with intention, and closing each day with a five-question reflection that checks whether we acted in line with our values. For craft, we go for depth over volume: fewer projects, fully finished, and psychology learning translated into actionable tools. For family, we protect presence with simple rituals and honest capacity, so the people closest to us experience our attention, not our leftovers.Two levers make the whole system work: time and autonomy. Guard them and your habits stick; lose them and everything drifts. We close with a challenge: define your anchors, choose habits that survive low‑motivation days, and decide what you'll say no to so your yes actually counts. Along the way, we preview upcoming conversations on emotional leadership, behavior change, and clear communication, plus a new Lead Better video series turning practical psychology into tools you can use.If this resonated, subscribe, share it with someone who needs a reset, and tell us your 2026 anchors. What will you build by design this year?Send us a textSupport the show✅ Follow The Leadership Project on your favourite podcast platform and listen to a new episode every week!

Forget the “new year, new you” slogans. We trade hype for honesty and design a year that actually fits your values and energy. We start by reframing 2025 with a pride audit: the tough moments you handled with more grace, the people you helped, and the places you chose integrity over convenience. That grounding matters because leaders often spot gaps faster than growth, and without pride, we keep chasing the next milestone without ever arriving.From there, we run a clean truth audit—no shame, just ownership. What did you call important but never scheduled? Which habits drained your best energy? We unpack the long game and why consistency beats intensity. Drawing on Atomic Habits, we shift from outcome obsession to identity and systems: the real flex is the small habit you don't break. We explore the math of compounding and the mindset that keeps you steady when motivation fades.We also bring in a powerful lens on courage from Emmy-winning broadcaster and author Anne-Marie Anderson. Audacity isn't recklessness; it's aligned, season-aware boldness. You'll define one brave Q1 swing, then make it practical with the Three Wins Weekly framework—one win for work, one for health, one for relationships—and protect them with time blocks that match your natural rhythms. Add Michael Bungay Stanier's minimum viable start to break inertia, and layer Brendan Burchard's daily intentionality so you show up how your team needs: curious, inspiring, or decisive. We close with a tight 2026 plan: choose a compass word, pick three outcomes, build weekly systems and accountability, and lock in that audacious move.Ready to stop living by default and start living by design? Subscribe, share this with a colleague who needs a reset, and tell us your 2026 theme and your one bold swing. Let's build a year you're proud to live—one block, one habit, one courageous step at a time.Send us a textSupport the show✅ Follow The Leadership Project on your favourite podcast platform and listen to a new episode every week!

In this episode, I welcome back Michael Hernandez, educator, author, and consultant, to discuss rethinking assessments in the age of AI. You'll also hear Michael break down why students cheat, how to redesign assignments to be original and meaningful, and practical, low-lift strategies for helping learners document their process. If you want to create assessments that are rigorous, equitable, and AI-resilient, this episode has you covered! Show notes: https://classtechtips.com/2025/12/19/assessments-in-the-age-of-ai-bonus/ Sponsored by Jotform: jotform.com/enterprise/education/ Follow Michael Hernandez on social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-hernandez-21a8195/ Follow Monica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classtechtips/  Take your pick of free EdTech resources: https://classtechtips.com/free-stuff-favorites/   

Camera Roll for the Win - FAAF 244In this 244th episode, I share my daily reflection posted on BlueSky, TwiX @bryoncar and YouTube shorts @FreshAirAtFive, from December 15-19, 2025. Check out the WHOLE SPOTIFY PLAYLIST I put together with all the listens mentioned below:>>> bit.ly/E244FreshAirAtFivePlaylist 

Aytekin is the founder and CEO of JotForm, one of the most widely used no-code automation platforms in the world, serving more than 35 million users across education, healthcare, nonprofits, and small businesses. He's also the author of the Wall Street Journal and Publisher's Weekly bestselling book Automate Your Busy Work,00:00 – IntroductionFounder mindset, automation philosophy, and the future of work00:01 – Why Automate Your Busy Work Was Ahead of Its TimeNo-code, automation thinking before the AI boom01:09 – Building JotForm Before the AI Hype Cycle20 years of bootstrapping, slow growth, and real product-market fit02:29 – Forms as the Gateway to AutomationHow education, nonprofits, healthcare, and SMBs really work03:49 – From Forms to Workflows, Approvals, PDFs, and E-SignaturesDesigning automation for people without developers04:21 – Solo Founder Reality: Doing HR, Legal, Support, and Product AloneThe hidden cognitive cost of running everything yourself04:51 – Competing with Google Forms as a Bootstrapped FounderWhy automation and delegation became survival tools05:58 – Email Automation as Cognitive ReliefHow prioritization systems reduce stress and decision fatigue07:41 – Applying Automation Internally: Teams, CI/CD, and TestingWhy automation makes teams safer, not riskier08:10 – Designing Products Around How People Actually WorkFrom tools to systems thinking09:17 – Writing, Teaching, and Sharing Automation PrinciplesFrom Medium and Forbes to a bestselling book10:48 – Discovering the AI Revolution After Publishing the BookAutomation philosophy vs AI productivity tools11:16 – “People Aren't Overworked — They're Over-Busy”The psychology of modern work and burnout12:28 – Embodying Automation Principles Inside the CompanyScaling without chaos12:48 – Email Prioritization Systems That Actually WorkHow to design inboxes for executives and founders14:20 – Gmail Filters, Labels, and Decision AutomationSimple systems over complex tools16:59 – Automation as Stress Reduction, Not SpeedWhy missing important work causes burnout19:21 – Continuous Deployment and First-Day Code CommitsHow automation builds trust and confidence at scale21:12 – Why Automation Shouldn't Be FearedRisk reduction through systems22:08 – Internal Automation Lessons from JotForm's Engineering Culture23:01 – Future of Work: Policy, Strategy, and AIWEF, global work, and structural change24:32 – Does AI Kill Jobs or Create Better Ones?A real company case study25:02 – Deploying AI Support Without Laying Off EmployeesHow JotForm handled AI responsibly27:09 – Human-in-the-Loop AI SystemsWhy oversight matters more than hype28:19 – Training AI Through Documentation and FeedbackHow resolution rates improved from 25% to 75%31:01 – Improving AI Through Better Knowledge SystemsDocumentation as infrastructure32:36 – New Roles Created by AI AdoptionFrom support agents to AI evaluators33:29 – Multilingual AI Support at Global ScaleWhy AI enables inclusion, not just efficiency35:09 – Why JotForm Didn't Get AcquiredIndependence, focus, and long-term thinking39:29 – Focused Work, Fewer Hours, Higher LeverageRedefining productivity at scale41:06 – Evolution of JotForm Into a Full Automation PlatformFrom forms to AI agents and integrations42:09 – AI Agents Demo Discussion and Key TakeawaysReal use cases, real ROI46:18 – User Research at Massive ScaleLearning from 35 million users48:03 – Omnichannel AI Agents: Web, Instagram, Gmail, SalesforceTraining once, deploying everywhere49:35 – The Future of AI Agents as Digital EmployeesOne system, many touchpoints50:14 – Advice for Young Developers and FoundersHow to compete in the AI era50:49 – Growth Mindset Through Every Tech RevolutionFrom PCs to the internet to AI52:10 – Why This Is the Best Time to Be YoungOpportunities created by AI and no-code tools53:38 – Closing Reflections on Building, Learning, and PurposeA long-term view of work and life

Audacity isn't about being wild; it's about taking bold risks that are worth it for the season you're in. We sit down with three‑time Emmy Award‑winning sports broadcaster and author Anne‑Marie Anderson to unpack how leaders can move from second‑guessing to decisive action without ignoring reality. Anne‑Marie shares the simple test she uses to separate worth‑it risks from reckless moves, and why the outcomes you fear are almost never at the extremes your brain imagines.We get practical about failure, too. Anne‑Marie reframes rejection as data and shows how celebrating “misses” publicly builds trust and performance on teams. You'll learn how to name and disarm your inner critic, why small experiments beat grand plans, and how to choose challenges that stretch rather than shatter confidence. For anyone wrestling with imposter syndrome or highlight‑reel comparison, this is a grounded path back to action.Then we tackle the quiet twins that stall growth: time and money. Anne‑Marie breaks down the urgency fallacy and gives a repeatable approach to reclaiming your day with four focused 15‑minute blocks. We cover honest audits of calendars and bank balances, plus a re‑evaluation loop across career, health, and relationships so your progress matches what you actually value. The conversation closes with a powerful tool—the “front row.” Learn how to curate people who know your goals, push with care, and hold you to your commitments, and how a single clear ask can unlock surprising opportunities.If this resonated, tap follow, share this with a leader who needs a nudge, and leave a quick review to help more people find the show. Your next audacious move starts now—what's the one small swing you'll take in the next 24 hours?

What if the biggest barrier to helping young people wasn't funding — but paperwork? In this episode, we sit down with Alysia Lee, CEO and President of the Baltimore Children & Youth Fund (BCYF), to uncover how her team transformed a slow, manual grantmaking process into a fast, transparent, and automated system using Jotform Enterprise. Alysia shares how BCYF supports over 100 grassroots youth organizations each year and why outdated workflows were holding them back. She breaks down how switching to Jotform Enterprise helped them automate approvals, simplify reporting, collaborate across departments, and move millions in grant dollars faster — ensuring young people get access to high-quality programs without unnecessary delays. You'll learn: - How BCYF automated grant reviews, reimbursements, and compliance workflows - Why “one-click reporting” has been a game changer for public transparency - How flexible, youth-friendly forms made it easier for young people to apply for leadership roles - How staff across departments used Jotform to build better, more efficient processes - The real impact: more time for grantees to serve youth, less time stuck in bureaucracy If you're a nonprofit leader, grantmaker, public sector innovator, or operations professional, this episode offers a real-world look at how technology can streamline complex workflows and improve community outcomes.

Strategy isn't supposed to live in a slide deck. It should breathe in daily choices, team rituals, and the way people talk about their work. We sit down with Hans Lagerweij, author of The Why Whisperer, to unpack why 95 percent of employees can't state their company's strategy—and what leaders can do to fix it without adding more meetings or more slides.Hans introduces the Six C's of execution—clear communication, consistent reinforcement, cultural alignment, continuous improvement, collaborative engagement, and celebrating success—and shows how they turn plans into momentum. We dig into the reverse elevator pitch, a simple test that forces clarity: if you can't explain your strategy in 30 seconds, you aren't ready to roll it out. From there, we explore how to link the macro why (direction and purpose) to the micro why (the meaning behind each task and decision) so everyone can see their part in the bigger picture.We also tackle silos and misaligned incentives, revealing why functions often work at cross purposes and how shared objectives and cross-functional teams restore speed and trust. Hans shares practical ways to invite frontline ideas—idea boxes, listening forums, lightweight feedback loops—and how small, timely celebrations create pride and keep energy high. Instead of chasing buy-in, we make the case for shared ownership, where people help shape the how and feel responsible for results.If you're ready to turn strategy from an annual event into a daily habit, this conversation will give you the tools and language to start today. Subscribe, share this with a colleague who needs it, and leave a review to tell us which “C” you'll implement first.

Leadership lives in the moments people spend with you—every check-in, every decision explained, every hard conversation you choose to have. To celebrate 300 episodes, we pull together the clearest patterns from hundreds of leaders, psychologists, authors, and operators and turn them into practical moves you can use tomorrow.We start with meaning. People don't just want a job; they want to know why their work matters and who benefits. You'll hear how to connect the macro why of your team's purpose with the micro why behind tasks and decisions, so your people shift from compliance to care. From there, we go deep on emotional intelligence as modern table stakes: noticing and naming emotions, creating space to respond rather than react, and using empathy to choose actions that steady a room and strengthen trust.Culture comes into focus through our relationship with failure and feedback. High-performing teams don't dodge mistakes—they learn from them. We share a five-question daily reflection and the SBIA feedback framework to move from blame to systems and from avoidance to growth. We then explore diversity of thought and psychological safety as real performance levers: who gets heard, who gets interrupted, and how to reward healthy debate so inclusion becomes muscle, not motto. Finally, we highlight listening as a leadership superpower—reflecting back meaning, asking better questions, and helping people walk away clearer than they arrived.You'll also hear gratitude for the listeners, guests, and the team who make this community possible, plus a look at what's next: deeper psychology in leadership, real-world Q&A, and more ways to connect. If this conversation sparks something, share it with a leader ready to grow, hit subscribe, and leave a quick review to help others find us. What small action will you take this week to make someone feel seen, heard, and valued?Send us a textSupport the show✅ Follow The Leadership Project on your favourite podcast platform and listen to a new episode every week!

What kind of leader are you becoming: one who earns trust or one who enforces compliance? We take a clear-eyed look at leadership through four lenses—service, courage, resilience, and inclusion—drawing on highlights from Steve Fortunato, Jim Fielding, Kijuan Amey, and Stephanie Chung to turn big ideas into practical actions you can use this week.Steve's insights on service and storytelling show why facts inform but stories transform, helping teams reconnect to purpose and feel seen. Jim's journey across Disney and The Gap reveals how authenticity and empathy create safe speed during change, where people move faster because fear drops and clarity rises. Kijuan's post‑traumatic growth reframes adversity with a powerful line—losing sight without losing vision—reminding us to ask “What now?” and bounce forward with intent. Stephanie's ally leadership invites us to pay attention to our attention—what we reward and ignore—so we amplify quiet voices, embrace healthy conflict, and unlock the innovation that diverse teams naturally generate.Across these themes, the message is simple: leadership is human. Presence beats perfection when you show up to serve, listen, and adapt. You'll leave with four practical moves: share one authentic story that reconnects your team to purpose; lead with empathy by checking how people are doing, not just what they're doing; after setbacks, identify the next small step within your control; and intentionally invite a voice that hasn't been heard. We close with reflective prompts to help you align your actions with your values and build a culture where people don't just follow—you earn their belief.If this conversation sparked an insight, share it with a colleague, subscribe on YouTube or your favorite podcast app, and leave a quick review so others can find the show. Your support helps more leaders trade ego for empathy and certainty for curiosity.Send us a textSupport the show✅ Follow The Leadership Project on your favourite podcast platform and listen to a new episode every week!

What if the most powerful thing you did as a leader was to stop talking? Stephanie Chung—trailblazing aviation executive and author of Ally Leadership—joins us to show how silence, better questions, and intentional design turn diversity into decisions people own.We start with the hard truth: diverse teams win, but only when every voice is heard. Stephanie shares how she navigated a male-dominated industry and distilled what works into the EARN system: establish psychological safety, assure alignment, rally the troops with a compelling vision, and navigate the narrows when turbulence hits. We get specific about meeting design—who speaks, who gets cut off, and what to do in the micro-moments when someone says, “I see it differently.” You'll learn how to prep quiet voices before they walk into the room, use silence as a thinking tool, and move from leader-led solutions to team-generated plans that build real ownership.We also tackle the generational shift reshaping work. Younger teammates aren't anti-work; they're anti-waste. Stephanie challenges us to prioritize outcomes over optics, encourage healthy debate, and treat “Why do we do it this way?” as a design question, not a threat. The conversation stretches into sales leadership and customer value: teach your team how the business makes money, understand your customer's economics, and stop discounting—start unlocking value. Along the way, practical tactics like cross-department “walk a mile,” Amazon-style six-page memos, and three alignment questions make inclusion tangible and repeatable.

What would you do if you woke up and the world was dark? Kijuan Amey, an Air Force in‑flight refueling specialist with a promising path to the cockpit, opened his eyes after a crash to find he'd lost his sight. The story that follows isn't about platitudes—it's about rebuilding a life through faith, gratitude, and the unglamorous work of learning every step again.We dig into the pivotal shift from “why me” to “why not me,” and how that mindset turned blame into agency. Kijuan walks us through the hard basics—orientation with a white cane, mastering daily tasks, and honoring the process without skipping steps. Along the way, he shares how reflection at the gym, adaptive sports, and expert coaching revived confidence and expanded what seemed possible. The refrain “give it time” becomes a practical strategy: patience paired with action compounds into progress.Leaders will recognize themselves in the aviation checklist analogy: miss one step and outcomes can be catastrophic. We explore the power of reframing “have to” as “get to,” the role of community in sustaining momentum, and why vision is mental even when sight is gone. Expect insights on resilience, habits, mindset, and purpose that apply whether you're navigating trauma, leading a team, or training for your next milestone.If the idea of starting small and staying consistent resonates, this conversation will meet you where you are and challenge you to take the next step. Subscribe, share this episode with someone who needs a push, and leave a review with the one step you'll take this week. Your vision gets clearer with practice.

Feeling the pressure to have all the answers? You're not alone. Mick Spiers sits down with Jim Fielding—former senior executive at Disney, Fox, and DreamWorks, and author of All Pride No Ego—to explore why modern leadership rewards curiosity over certainty. Together, they unpack how to build teams that think bravely, speak freely, and perform under pressure.Jim takes us inside his pandemic pivot from corporate operator to coach and storyteller, revealing the ten leadership lessons he wishes he knew at 25. The conversation dives into the politicization of DEI and the real challenge leaders face today: teams are already diverse in background and thought. The true edge lies in creating workplaces where people feel safe, respected, and heard. Jim shares how leaders can adapt their language—focusing on community, collaboration, and belonging—while still holding managers accountable for the behaviors that drive inclusion.The episode also tackles the chill around free speech, the mechanics of psychological safety, and how leaders can navigate political diversity at work. Jim outlines a calmer, more thoughtful approach: slow down for facts, invite dissent on purpose, and turn meetings into engines of learning. From supporting employees through sudden policy shifts to encouraging civic participation without partisanship, this episode offers practical tools and a steady compass for leading with empathy, courage, and curiosity.

What if the fastest way to unlock performance isn't to lead louder, but to host better? We sit down with best-selling author Steve Fortunato to rethink leadership through the lens of hospitality—not the restaurant kind, the human kind. Steve reveals why so much “look at me” leadership creates a vicious cycle of entitlement, and how the host mindset flips the script to “look at you,” building trust, engagement, and shared ownership.We dig into three practical principles you can apply today. First, speak the good: start by changing the inner voice you lead from, then actively name strengths in colleagues, clients, and your company to counter negativity bias and build momentum. Second, honor the other: elevate dignity with real curiosity, mine for the gold, and apply what you learn through personalized recognition, better questions, and tailored support. Third, earn respect, don't expect it: stand in their shoes to understand pressures and constraints, and pursue reconciliation when things go wrong so relationships are restored, not just transactions.Throughout the conversation, Steve connects leadership and hospitality with vivid stories: power dynamics that make customers feel “lucky to be here,” the ecosystem of value that requires giving before getting, and how small hosting rituals—clear openings, inviting voices, pronouncing names right, closing loops—quietly transform culture. We close with a simple loop to keep you improving: celebrate what worked, then pick one thing to refine next time. If you're ready to trade performative heroics for meaningful hosting, this one will change how you run meetings, lead projects, and serve customers.

What if the hardest leadership skills are the most human ones? We pull together a month of conversations and share a playbook for leading with presence, purpose, and care—so people don't just survive at work, they come alive. From micro moments that create mattering, to authentic leadership that fits like your own skin, to change communication that removes uncertainty, to feedback that is firm and compassionate, the thread is clear: people follow care, not titles.We start with the power of mattering inspired by Zach Mercurio: making people feel seen, heard, valued, and needed. You'll hear practical ways to turn small interactions into a performance flywheel, including the underrated art of the second impression. Then we explore Matt Poepsel's path from imitation to authenticity, using a leadership credo and a values-behavior audit to align mission accomplishment with employee welfare. Expect takeaways for coaching new managers so they don't copy past mistakes but build a style they can sustain.We dig into change leadership with John Martinka's reminder that during mergers and acquisitions, the real asset is people. Learn how to communicate early, honest, and often; reframe fear into opportunity; and fill the rumor vacuum with clarity and hope. Finally, Jeff Hancher shows how feedback, delivered with care, transforms potential. We unpack the FEAR traps that block tough conversations and lay out a simple, repeatable approach to candid coaching that builds trust and accelerates growth.Walk away with three anchoring questions: who needs to hear they matter, how will you show up as your authentic self, and which honest conversation will you have today. If the ideas sparked something, tap follow, share this with a leader who needs it, and leave a quick review telling us which practice you'll try first.Send us a textSupport the show✅ Follow The Leadership Project on your favourite podcast platform and listen to a new episode every week!

What if the toughest conversation on your calendar is the very thing that unlocks respect, growth, and retention? We sit down with leadership expert and best-selling author Jeff Hancher to demystify feedback and turn a dreaded chore into a repeatable system for building high-trust, high-performance teams.Jeff shares a clear framework for setting expectations and choosing the right feedback style for the moment: directive when safety or standards are on the line, collaborative when you need ownership from a seasoned pro, and supportive when a proven performer hits a dip. We talk through common blockers—fear of fallout, emotional reactions, and not knowing how to start—and replace them with practical language leaders can use today. You'll hear how to earn the right to be candid through steady “deposits,” why annual reviews create blind spots, and how weekly one-on-ones become the engine of engagement.Along the way, Jeff's personal story shows the power of firm feedback delivered with care. A manager who held the line and held space changed his trajectory—and his loyalty—forever. We explore how to move from people pleasing to respect, how to ask questions that reveal self-awareness, and why withholding feedback is unfair to the person and the business. Expect simple phrases, a cadence you can sustain all year, and a playbook for confident, compassionate conversations that actually change behavior.Ready to trade avoidance for impact? Press play, then share this episode with a leader who avoids tough talks. If it resonated, follow the show, leave a quick review, and tell us which feedback style you'll try first. Your team will thank you.

Change hits like a wave, and most teams feel it first as fear. We sat down with M&A veteran John Martinka to unpack how to turn that fear into focus when ownership or leadership shifts. Our conversation gets practical fast: reframing uncertainty, rewarding continuity, and communicating with a steady cadence even when legal guardrails limit what you can say.We walk through the three‑legged stool of trust across employees, seller, and buyer, and why retention bonuses tied to time and performance protect both people and the deal. John explains why buyers invest in teams, not just contracts, and how smart leaders involve key talent early without spooking the organization. We also explore how shop‑floor ideas often hold the best growth levers, and how a new owner's curiosity plus targeted capital can unlock stalled improvements. From culture risk and turnover to customer stickiness and margin discipline, we connect the dots between people decisions and enterprise value.If you've been asked to present to a prospective buyer, you'll hear how to share the positive truth: clear wins, real risks, and where capital accelerates value, including measured adoption of AI that augments your team. Founders weighing an exit get a grounded checklist on valuation basics—profitability, growth, customer concentration, tenure, and owner dependency—and how to build a bench so the business thrives without a single linchpin.Ready to lead through change with confidence and calm consistency? Hit play, subscribe for more leadership deep dives, and share this episode with a colleague who's navigating a merger or transition. Your review helps more leaders find the show.Send us a textSupport the show✅ Follow The Leadership Project on your favourite podcast platform and listen to a new episode every week!

What if leadership isn't about pushing harder on performance, but about showing up with presence that energizes people and elevates outcomes? We sit down with Dr. Matt Poepsel—psychologist, Boston College professor, host of Lead the People, and author of Expand the Circle—to rewire how we think about leading in a world of AI disruption, remote ambiguity, and rising burnout. Matt shares how he moved from a “rubbish manager” copying others to a grounded leader who balances mission and people in equal measure, and he offers a practical path to do the same.We dig into the leadership craft: clarifying values, aligning actions, and noticing what energizes or drains each person on your team. Matt explains why awareness is a performance tool, not a luxury, and how small, intentional shifts—like redesigning meetings for different thinking styles—unlock better ideas, trust, and speed. You'll learn his outside-in/inside-out model: set intention by prioritizing customers and partners first, then take action by owning what you can control—your clarity, your cadence, your follow-through.From healing separation through vulnerability to transforming “teams of executives” into true “executive teams,” this conversation is packed with usable frameworks and grounded stories. We also explore how to build a shared values language, create meaningful team identity, and ask the question that changes everything: What is it like to experience you as a leader?If you're ready to replace autopilot with intention and expand your circle from self to team to system, this one's for you. Subscribe, share with a colleague who leads people, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway so we can keep raising the standard of leadership together.

What if the key to motivation and well-being isn't finding your purpose, but first believing you're worthy of having one? Zach Mercurio returns to The Leadership Project with a powerful insight: “It is almost impossible for anything to matter to someone who doesn't first believe that they matter.” He explains why many self-help books and engagement programs fall short — because they overlook the human need to matter and feel significant to others.In his new book The Power of Mattering, Zach reveals how feeling seen, valued, and needed drives our sense of purpose. When we feel we matter, we gain the confidence to add value — creating a cycle where feeling valued leads to contributing more. Yet in today's rushed, digital world, our ability to connect deeply has faded. As Zach says, “Hurry and care cannot coexist.”The solution lies in three simple habits: noticing others, affirming their impact, and needing them. These small acts cost nothing but can transform how people experience their worth. Zach challenges leaders to ask, “When you feel that you matter to me, what am I doing?” — and to do more of it. Because when people feel they matter, they do things that matter.

What if your culture is decided not by a manifesto, but by the conversation your frontline supervisor has at 9:12 a.m.? This solo deep dive distills September's standout lessons into a practical playbook you can use today—clear prompts, coaching moves, and values-in-action routines that turn intent into impact.We unpack five anchors. First, trust offered early and often is an accelerator: set a clear vision, step back without disappearing, and stay available to remove blockers. Next, listening is a skill, not a reflex. Using PAVE (paraphrase, admit, validate, empathize) and the four C's (conscious, committed, curious, compassionate), we design for shared meaning so two people don't leave the same meeting with different realities. Then we move to mattering: connect strategy to micro-whys, ask who benefits if we nail this work, and clear the path like a creator, not a victim of circumstances.Values earn their stripes when the pressure peaks. We show how to pre-commit to red lines, name the value most at stake before tough decisions, and choose behaviors that prove integrity in the room. Finally, we ground culture on the front line. Train supervisors to set expectations, coach in the open, and use curiosity-based postmortems that build judgment instead of blame. We also tackle the danger of silence; without timely updates, people write their own stories. Learn how to narrate the “no update yet” moments to protect trust.You'll leave with scripts to start better one-on-ones, practical questions for debriefs, and simple habits that make people feel seen, heard, and valued. If you're ready to strengthen your supervisor bench, make listening visible, and give trust on purpose, this playbook is your next step. Subscribe, share with a leader who needs it, and leave a review telling us which move you'll try first.Send us a textSupport the show✅ Follow The Leadership Project on your favourite podcast platform and listen to a new episode every week!

Have you ever noticed your team hesitating before sharing bad news? That pause often reveals the power distance leaders unintentionally create. In this conversation with Phillip B. Wilson, author of The Approachability Playbook and The Leadershift Playbook, we explore how unapproachable leadership sabotages effectiveness and silences truth.Phil explains how our brains default to the “villain assumption”—attributing negative intent to others while excusing our own actions with context. When paired with confirmation bias, this creates cultures where honesty is stifled. His antidote is the “hero assumption”: believing people fundamentally want to do great work and succeed. He shares his own humbling leadership lessons, including the moment a key team member refused to work for him despite his reputation.We also unpack Phil's Connection Model of approachability: creating the right space (being available), generating the right feeling (listening to understand), and taking the right action (following through). These simple but powerful practices shrink power gaps, build trust, and transform leadership impact. The most successful leaders aren't those with all the answers—they're the ones who create environments where people feel safe to bring forward problems, questions, and ideas.

In this episode of The Leadership Project, host Mick welcomes Tamara Jackson, founder of Beacon Ship and the Beacon Show. They delve into how belief, resilience, and gratitude translate into everyday leadership, creating meaningful impact, and the integration of faith into the workplace. Tamara shares her journey from a successful corporate career to entrepreneurship, inspired by a personal tragedy, emphasizing the importance of faith-driven decision making, and the GRASP framework (Gather, Reflect, Ask, Strategize, Proceed with Faith). The episode underscores the significance of being a beacon of hope, aligning personal values with professional actions, and striving for significance over mere success.

Aytekin Tank - founder & CEO of Jotform, host of the AI Agents Podcast, and bestselling author of Automate Your Busywork - shares how he grew Jotform from a developer's pain point into a 700‑person automation company serving 35M+ users. He explains why Jotform chose to replace itself with AI before someone else did, how users steered them from “AI that fills forms” to AI customer‑service agents, and why AI is the fourth tech revolution after PC, internet, and mobile. His north star: build tools that make people's lives easier and give them time back.What You'll Learn -Why “disrupt yourself with AI” is a defensible strategy for leadersJotform's evolution: Forms → Sign (e‑sign), Apps (no‑code mobile apps), Tables, workflowsReal support gains from AI agents (resolution rate jumps, faster response times, redeploying humans to higher‑value work)Practical channels working today: Gmail drafts, Instagram DMs, web chat, presentation agentsLeadership lessons: fix the bottleneck, ship MVPs, learn from customers, scale with curiosityBook Recommendations -Creative Selection - Ken KociendaThe Goal - Eliyahu GoldrattNo Man's Land - Doug TatumAbout Aytekin Tank -Founder & CEO of Jotform (2006 → 35M+ users). Host of the AI Agents Podcast. Bestselling author and regular contributor to Medium, Fast Company, and Entrepreneur. Began as a software developer in New York automating repetitive web forms - sparked the idea for Jotform. Expanded the platform with Jotform Sign, Jotform Apps, and Jotform AI Agents that help users complete forms, answer questions, and get instant, on‑brand support.Sign up to receive our weekly Curious Leadership newsletter: https://subscribe.monkhouseandcompany.comFollow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/monkhouse-and-companyhttps://www.linkedin.com/showcase/curiousleadershipSubscribe wherever you get your podcasts: https://link.cohostpodcasting.com/52495078-fc00-41b8-a42e-9371bb2fa3e0?d=sZwdKMGh4

What does it mean to truly thrive as a leader? Rand Selig, veteran investment banker and founder of Selig Capital Group, shares how he left Wall Street to design a firm—and a life—built on intention. By limiting his clients to five at a time, he created space to be present with family, serve his community, and still build an award-winning company.Rand highlights the difference between management and leadership. Management is about efficiency, but leadership ensures the ladder is leaning against the right wall. Leaders articulate the “why” that inspires people and then step aside to let talent thrive. His four career sabbaticals also reconnected him with purpose and prevented burnout.True leadership means living by values, not external expectations. Are you climbing the right wall? Do your people feel they get to work or that they have to? Thriving personally allows us to create the conditions for others to thrive as well.

In this episode, we dive into a hot topic that many speakers, trainers, and coaches grapple with: Should you put prices on your website? Of course, there are many pros and cons of displaying prices, so we unpack various strategies that can help you make the best decision for your business. Whether you're leaning towards transparency or prefer to keep things under wraps, the key is to make a decision that aligns with your business model and audience expectations. So grab your favorite beverage, tune in, and let's figure out together if listing prices is the right move for you!

What if the most powerful leadership skill isn't about what you say, but how deeply you listen? Julian Treasure, five-time TED speaker and author of Sound Affects, returns to The Leadership Project with a bold warning: the world's listening is fading, and the consequences are enormous. Miscommunication costs organizations trillions, yet only 8% of employees believe their leaders are good listeners.Listening isn't just hearing — it's a conscious skill shaped by culture, experience, and belief. Treasure shares practical tools like the PAVE method (Paraphrase, Admit, Validate, Empathize) to help leaders bridge divides and create real understanding. In today's noisy world of constant alerts and distractions, the ability to listen with presence has never been more vital.True breakthroughs happen in two places: deep, mutual listening or in silence. For leaders who want to inspire trust, boost engagement, and deliver results, mastering conscious listening may be the highest-leverage skill of all. Are you ready to move beyond hearing to truly understanding?

Want to hear about a specific topic on the show? Text us and we will consider it :)Ever wondered what separates a side hustle from a thriving cleaning business? Alexandria Reed's transformation from struggling single mom to successful entrepreneur with Pure Elegance Cleaning Company reveals exactly that.Alexandria takes us through her remarkable journey, from the early days of "Alexandria's Cleaning Company" to her strategic rebrand. She candidly shares how she initially charged just $160 for an entire move-out cleaning job—a price that makes her laugh now. The turning point came when Alexandria decided to position her business as a luxury service rather than just another cleaning option. Using AI to generate her new company name, she created a brand that resonates with clients who view professional cleaning as both essential and indulgent.What truly sets Alexandria's story apart is her embrace of digital transformation. She's implemented clever solutions like embedding JotForm on her website for streamlined quotes and using Google Forms for job applications to filter out less serious candidates. By leveraging Jobber's built-in features, she's eliminated the need for separate document signing services, saving both time and money. These practical innovations have allowed her business to operate more efficiently while presenting a more professional image to clients.Perhaps the most powerful takeaway from Alexandria's experience is the importance of boundaries. "Create boundaries. You wil https://www.maidsummit.com/ Up your cleaning game, join over 6000 Cleaning Business Owners most of whom are located here in the United States. Erica Paynter is the brains behind My Virtual Bookkeeper, a bookkeeping firm for cleaning companies, and the creator of Clean Co. Cash Flow Academy and the Clean Co. Collective. She's on a mission to help cleaning business owners make sense of their numbers without boring them to tears! Erica's all about turning messy books into profit-packed powerhouses. support@myvbk.com It can be crowed when trying to figure out who you are going to learn fromSupport the showThanks for tuning in to Cleaning Business Life, the show where we pull back the curtain on what it really takes to start, grow, and scale a thriving cleaning business without burning out. Every episode is packed with tips, stories, and strategies you can put to work right away—because you deserve a business that works for you, not the other way around. If you enjoyed today's episode, make sure to follow the podcast so you never miss a new release. And if you got value from this conversation, share it with another cleaning business owner who could use the encouragement and practical advice. Let's stay connected! You can find me online at:

Think about the best leader you've ever had – someone who trusted you, empowered your growth, and celebrated your successes. Now contrast that with the worst leader – the micromanager who left lasting scars. This gap defines William Davis' leadership philosophy, shaped by nearly four decades in corporate America. He reminds us that “leadership is deceptively simple, but simple doesn't mean easy.”Davis shares stories that bring this to life – from helping a young professional recover from toxic leadership to creating opportunities for team members to shine by presenting their own work. His message is clear: true leadership isn't about personal achievements but about building trust, creating safe environments, and lifting others to succeed.Leadership carries a profound responsibility, influencing not just work but mental health, family life, and society. With 78% of Americans believing corporate leadership is failing, the call is not for more leaders but better ones. This episode challenges you to reflect: are you creating a culture where people thrive, or just survive?

What happens when a critical student program loses its key staff right before onboarding season? For Kevin Todd, Program Director of TRIO Upward Bound, the answer was turning to AI. In this episode, Kevin shares how Jotform Presentation Agents transformed a staffing crisis into a breakthrough, enabling 100% self-onboarding for students and parents, saving more than 12 hours of manual work, and keeping the program on track to meet federal requirements. Discover how AI isn't just a buzzword — it's reshaping the way education programs operate under pressure. Tune in for insights on tech, productivity, and lessons learned from behind the scenes. ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ LINKS & RESOURCES

What if the mark of extraordinary leadership isn't found in having all the answers, but in asking the right questions? This eye-opening episode distills powerful insights from recent conversations with leadership experts Gary Cohen, Scott Burgmeyer, and Joe Davis—revealing a leadership framework built on curiosity, development, and generosity.Gary Cohen's journey from founding a company to growing it to 2,200 employees taught him a crucial lesson: leaders who constantly provide answers become organizational bottlenecks. The pivotal shift happens when leaders move from information-gathering to asking questions that empower others to think, act, and own solutions. This simple change transforms you from an answer-giver to a true multiplier, unleashing potential throughout your organization while satisfying people's fundamental needs for autonomy and recognition.Scott Burgmeyer adds another dimension by emphasizing that leadership isn't just about leading today's business—it's about consciously building tomorrow's leaders. His powerful personal journey reminds us that often we can't "read the label from inside the jar"—sometimes others see leadership potential in us before we recognize it ourselves. The true measure of leadership becomes not just what you accomplish, but who you develop along the way.Joe Davis completes this leadership trifecta with his concept of "generous leadership"—bringing vulnerability, authenticity, and genuine presence to your role. This approach isn't weakness; it's creating the psychological safety needed for teams to acknowledge mistakes, seek help, and collaborate effectively. Perhaps the most valuable gift? Your undivided attention—increasingly rare in our distracted world, yet precisely what makes people feel truly seen and valued.These insights are further enriched by glimpses into our new Psychology and Leadership series, exploring how understanding the brain's functioning transforms leadership effectiveness. From the astonishing case of Phineas Gage to recognizing how our unconscious patterns influence decisions, these psychological insights help us lead with greater intention and empathy.Ready to transform your leadership apSend us a textSupport the show✅ Follow The Leadership Project on your favourite podcast platform and listen to a new episode every week!

Leadership transformed through the power of giving – this is the core of our conversation with Joe Davis, former head of North America for Boston Consulting Group and author of The Generous Leader. With 37 years of leadership experience, Davis challenges the old command-and-control model and shows how generosity unlocks greater outcomes. As he puts it, "Leadership isn't about yourself, but about unlocking the capabilities of those with whom you work."His philosophy is built on seven pillars: connecting personally, listening generously, showing vulnerability, practicing inclusivity, serving as an ally, developing others, and recognizing contributions. Vulnerability, in particular, proves powerful. Davis notes, "I think 'I don't know' are three of the most powerful words any leader can use." Rather than weakening authority, honesty builds trust and sparks team creativity.The discussion also turns practical with lessons on timely, specific feedback. Davis recalls failing early in his career by saving feedback until year-end reviews, learning instead that coaching must be ongoing. Whether you lead a team or an entire organization, this episode offers actionable ways to elevate your impact through generosity. Which of the seven will you focus on first?

What if leadership isn't just about driving results today, but building tomorrow's leaders? Scott Burgmeyer, co-founder of the BecomeMore Group, introduces a simple equation: Performance = Potential – Interference. Instead of adding more strategies or tools, great leaders create breakthroughs by removing barriers — policies, processes, or even self-doubt — unlocking exponential growth.He emphasizes strategic thinking as a neglected but vital skill. In today's reactive culture, leaders must carve out time to reflect, starting with 10 minutes a week. By asking, What's working? What's not? What will I do differently? leaders can shift from busyness to clarity. Growth comes through the “squirm factor,” where discomfort fuels progress.Scott believes true leaders don't create followers, they create more leaders. By asking questions instead of always giving answers, they spark independence and transformation. His challenge: remove interferences, think deeply, embrace discomfort, and commit to developing leaders who develop leaders — because the future depends on it.

This episode is brought to you by Extreme Networks, the company radically improving customer experiences with AI-powered automation for networking.Extreme is driving the convergence of AI, networking, and security to transform the way businesses connect and protect their networks, delivering faster performance, stronger security, and a seamless user experience. Visit https://www.extremenetworks.com/ to learn more. JotForm began nearly twenty years ago as a simple online form builder.  Today, it has grown into a platform powering millions of users and has recently stepped into a new era of AI. In this episode, Aytekin Tank, founder and CEO of JotForm, shares the story of how the company pivoted from forms to launching AI Agents that are changing the way small and medium-sized businesses handle customer support and automation. Aytekin explains how JotForm's AI journey started as an internal experiment to fill out forms by voice, only to discover that most users wanted it for customer service. That insight sparked the creation of JotForm AI Agents, tools that don't just answer questions, but perform tasks, scale support teams, and transform the customer experience.  Beyond the technology, Aytekin outlines a bold vision of the future where every business, no matter the size, will have its own AI-powered agent available around the clock to schedule appointments, answer questions, and even process transactions.  This conversation explores how AI is reshaping customer service and why small businesses, nonprofits, and educators stand to benefit the most from this wave of innovation. Stay Updated: Craig Smith on X: https://x.com/craigss Eye on A.I. on X: https://x.com/EyeOn_AI (00:00) The Scale of JotForm Today and the AI Vision   (01:32) Aytekin's Journey: From Developer to Bootstrap Founder   (03:36) The Pivot: From Voice Forms to AI Customer Service   (05:25) Building and Launching JotForm AI Agents   (06:20) Using AI Internally: Cutting Tickets and Boosting Resolution Rates   (08:13) Why AI Agents Go Beyond Chatbots   (12:22) Demonstrating JotForm AI in Action   (21:40) The Tech Stack Behind JotForm's AI Agents   (24:59) Training and Teaching Your Own AI Agent   (33:27) Competition, Differentiation, and Market Strategy   (36:55) Why Small Businesses Need AI the Most   (38:24) The Future: Every Business With Its Own AI Agent   (40:19) Pricing, Growth, and Lessons in Scaling AI   (42:26) Slow Growth vs Explosive Scale and Lessons Learned   (43:55) Aytekin's Vision for AI in Business

Every leader knows the rush of validation when someone brings you a problem and you solve it on the spot. But Gary Cohen, founder of CO2 Coaching and author of Just Ask Leadership, learned that this habit can limit your team's potential and make you the organizational bottleneck. While growing his company from a $4,000 investment to 2,200 employees, he and his business partner became overwhelmed by constant questions. The solution wasn't giving faster answers—it was becoming question-askers instead of answer-givers.In interviews with over 100 exceptional leaders – from Fortune 500 executives to four-star generals – Cohen discovered they all had a moment where they shifted from being “the answer person” to “the question person.” For General Jack Chain, a promotion made him realize his role had fundamentally changed. For ConAgra's Mike Harper, moving from engineering to R&D forced him to lead experts whose knowledge far exceeded his own. These shifts inspired frameworks like the GPS model (Goal-Position-Strategy) for focused conversations and the PEAK model, which guides leaders through four questioning styles – Professor, Innovator, Judge, and Director – to spark breakthroughs.Cohen's most powerful insight is that most team members already know the answers. They don't need you to solve their problems—they need you to help them uncover solutions themselves. When they do, ownership skyrockets, and so does performance. The path to multiplying your leadership impact starts with changing your identity from “the teller” to “the asker.” Everything else follows from that transformation.

Send us a textIn this episode, the hosts discuss the recurring issue of flaky podcast guests, debate whether to allow repeat offenders back on the show, and reflect on how tattooing has evolved with the use of AI. They explore how AI is being used to create tattoo concepts, the ethics of copying designs, and new tools such as Photoshop's 'Harmonize' feature and JotForm's AI agent for managing client communications. The hosts also delve into the importance of learning the fundamentals of art rather than relying solely on AI, and share personal stories about freehand tattooing, perspective drawing, and sharing rough sketches with clients. This insightful episode offers a blend of humor, professional advice, and personal anecdotes in the world of tattoo artistry.Support the show

The courage to say "I don't know" might be the most powerful leadership trait in today's rapidly changing world. Through reflections on conversations with five remarkable guests, this episode explores what authentic leadership truly means in 2023 and beyond.Randy Lyman introduces us to the often-overlooked "third element" of success – the emotional and spiritual dimensions that complement our intellectual achievements. When leaders prioritize connection by asking "How are YOU going?" rather than just "How's the project going?", they create space for their teams to bring their whole selves to work. As Teddy Roosevelt wisely noted, "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."From Doug Zarkin, we learn that your internal culture inevitably becomes your external brand. The consistency between stated values and lived behaviors builds the trust that fuels brand loyalty. Jonathan Stutz reveals how belonging doesn't happen by chance but through intentional leadership where psychological safety is protected. His message resonates universally – we've all felt excluded at some point, and it feels terrible. People deserve workplaces where they feel seen, heard, and valued.Bill Zujewski offers crucial insights on leading through perpetual change, emphasizing that agility combines clarity, curiosity, and communication. His advice to normalize saying "I don't know yet, but let's figure it out together" transforms uncertainty from a weakness into a strength. Kelli Lester confronts the politicization of DEI, reframing inclusion not as a trend but as fundamental leadership responsibility.Across all conversations, certain themes emerge clearly: we need a return to authenticity over performative leadership, a recommitment to inclusion because it's right (not because it's trendy), and the balance of moving quickly without leaving people behind. The African proverb reminds us: "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." The world doesn't need more bosses – it needs more human leaders who create environments where everyone can contribute their best. What might change if you approached leadership with more curiosity, kindness,Send us a textSupport the show✅ Follow The Leadership Project on your favourite podcast platform and listen to a new episode every week!

If your team spends half its days searching for documents and filling out spreadsheets you built years ago, how long will it be before your competitors automate you out of business? Agility requires turning busywork into bandwidth so people can collaborate and think strategically instead of shuffling pixels. Today we're exploring how no-code platforms and AI-driven automation make that possible. To help me discuss this topic, I'm joined by Aytekin Tank, Founder and CEO of Jotform, and author of the book Automate Your Busywork. About Aytekin Tank I'm Aytekin Tank, founder and CEO of Jotform, host of the AI Agents Podcast, bestselling author, and automation enthusiast. When I was starting out as a software developer in the early 2000s, I worked for a media company in New York that constantly tasked me with coding web forms — like payment or contact forms. Tired of creating the same forms day after day, I was inspired to find a way to automate the process. So I created a tool that could do it for you. In 2006, Jotform was born, and just a year after launch I was able to hire my first employee. Since then, Jotform has grown into a powerful automation solution trusted by over 30 million users around the world. As a team, we've expanded our product offerings with more useful tools, like Jotform Sign for creating e-sign documents and Jotform Apps for building mobile apps without coding. We've also introduced Jotform AI Agents — intelligent, real-time agents that help users complete forms, answer questions, and get the support they need instantly, all while staying aligned with their brand. All of our products are made with one main goal in mind — making people's lives easier and freeing up time for them to spend where it matters most. Resources Jotform: https://www.jotform.com https://www.jotform.com The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Boston, August 11-14, 2025. Register now: https://bit.ly/etailboston and use code PARTNER20 for 20% off for retailers and brandsDon't Miss MAICON 2025, October 14-16 in Cleveland - the event bringing together the brights minds and leading voices in AI. Use Code AGILE150 for $150 off registration. Go here to register: https://bit.ly/agile150" Get a copy of Automate Your Busywork, the book by Aytekin Tank here: https://aytekintank.com/ Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.showCheck out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company