Podcasts about own your career

In this episode, Njabulo Mashigo shares how deliberate culture work has helped make Vodacom South Africa the number one top employer in the country three years running, a first in that market. Njabulo is HR Executive Director at Vodacom South Africa, the largest market in the Vodafone Group, and describes herself as a people strategist and culture evangelist. Across 24 years and three industries, from Unilever to South Africa's National Treasury and the JSE to Heineken, she has developed a clear view that culture is not something that simply happens to an organization. It can be orchestrated, measured, and treated as a strategic asset. She and Andy open on the tension facing large companies right now, the pressure to keep growing while cutting costs, and why HR has a role on both sides of that without becoming the hangman.Njabulo explains how her team documents the lived experiences of specific groups inside the business and turns that into an action plan, how they expanded their listening beyond the annual engagement survey, and how data on attrition revealed a leaking bucket problem with retaining women that attraction numbers had masked. She also shares Vodacom's approach to AI, from early instincts to block the tools to running AI immersions in HR, why leader resistance is usually about confidence rather than unwillingness, and how their firelighters hold leadership accountable from the grassroots. Throughout, she makes a practical case for connecting people patterns directly to business results.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.Connect with Njabulo Mashigo: LinkedIn

Want to become a morning person but can't make it stick? In this episode I'm breaking down exactly how I trained myself to actually enjoy waking up early, and why I don't think it has anything to do with motivation. We're talking about why your morning routine actually starts the night before, how to stop relying on willpower, and the small shifts that make getting up early feel effortless instead of like a fight with yourself every single day.What I cover:

In this episode, Alex Zubko shares what she is seeing inside organizations trying to make AI transformation actually work. Alex has been in the AI trenches since 2022, when she pivoted a company into AI right as ChatGPT launched, and she now works with private equity firms, fintech companies, and beyond, doing everything from education to hands-on consulting to executive coaching. She and Andy dig into the gap between the headline statistics on AI usage and what is really happening, and why making a tool available is not the same as people using it. Alex lays out her three Ts, training, time, and tools, and explains why organizations that skip any one of them will not see the adoption or the returns they expect.Alex and Andy also explore the pressure CEOs feel from their boards, and the irony that the leaders asking the biggest strategic questions about AI are often the ones using it least. She unpacks the J curve of productivity, why treating AI like a new intern is a more useful mental model than treating it like software, and why so many teams struggle to hand work to AI when their own processes were never written down. The conversation covers what the best companies are doing, from ambassadors and centers of excellence to hackathons and channels where people share AI fails, and closes with practical guidance for L&D professionals on leading by example, anchoring AI change in the organization's mission and values, and remembering that the human judgment is the whole point.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.Connect with Alex Zubko: LinkedIn | alextalksai.com

In this episode, Antonia Bowler shares how her organization approached AI adoption by putting people first. Antonia is a people leader at Exclaimer, a private equity backed software company, where she has led an AI enablement effort grounded in psychological safety and the human side of the technology. She and Andy explore why trust has to come before adoption, how the company countered the common fear that employees are training their own replacements, and why being vocal about issues like the environmental impact of AI matters to the people you are asking to experiment. Antonia is refreshingly transparent about where they are on the journey, from a low pressure first sprint that took adoption from forty-five percent to ninety-seven percent, to the champions, e-learning, and showcasing that made it happen.Antonia and Andy also dig into the widening productivity divide between heavy AI users and those hanging back, the leadership layer that is easy to skip and expensive to miss, and the risk of quietly outsourcing your own critical thinking to the tools. She unpacks the idea of the human in the loop, the thinking behind their AI Careers Month, and why framing AI fluency as a portable, career building skill answers the question every employee is really asking: what's in it for me. It is an honest, practical conversation for anyone leading AI enablement inside a real organization.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.Connect with Antonia Bowler: LinkedIn

If your job title feels like your entire life - or you're afraid to change careers because of what you might lose - this episode is for you. 4.5 years after leaving corporate, I'm sharing what it really took to separate who I am from what I do for work. We'll talk about why we tie self-worth to work, why career changes can feel like identity crises, and how to build a meaningful life outside your job. You'll learn how to stop leading with your title, take your hobbies seriously without monetizing them, and create more freedom in your career and life.If this resonates, check out my book Own Your Career for more guidance!!

In this episode, Shawn Vanderhoven shares what he learned researching how the best leaders help their teams focus in a relentlessly distracting world. Shawn is a longtime partner at the Wiseman Group, where he leads the executive development practice, a collaborator on the New York Times bestseller Multipliers, and the author of the new book Pause: How to Lead Brilliant Work in a Busy World. After hundreds of interviews, the finding surprised him: the leaders who create the most space for deep work are the ones who tap the brakes, treating pauses like a performance pit stop that makes sustained speed possible. He and Andy unpack the Red Queen effect, why so many teams end the day full of activity and short on impact, and why productivity turns out to be a social issue rather than a personal one.Shawn walks through the practical behaviors behind the research, including how leaders help teams choose among too many competing priorities, why growth conversations belong on the monthly agenda, and how to surface the hidden workload that never makes the board. He explains the difference between giving permission to focus and sponsoring it, why inviting dissent leads to more confident trade-offs, and shares the one habit any leader can start this week: tune in before you jump in. It is a conversation about slowing down just enough to do work that actually matters.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.Connect with Shawn Vanderhoven: LinkedIn and visit his website: www.pausebook.co

In an ever-changing marketplace, career currency won't be job titles or resumes, says Angela Finlay. “It's the skills we bring to the table that will be the most critical piece” of career development and growth.Angela is a Chief Human Capital Strategist, Fractional and Interim Chief HR Officer with over 25 years leading talent strategy inside Fortune 150 enterprises, global organizations, and growth stage companies. She is the author of Skill Stacking: Taking Ownership of Your Career in Changing Times.In this conversation with Daniel and Peter, Angela discusses the importance of individual skills in the age of AI–and why organizations need to broaden how they look at hiring new talent. “It's not just job titles,” she says. “I want to know everything I can about you and what you've done and projects and volunteer things you've done and all of these other outside activities that allow me to start to look at you from a skill level perspective.”Tune in to learn:The five types of skills to stackThe simple tool to help you recognize and articulate your skillsWhy the gig economy is a good thing–and how leaders can lean into it effectivelyAngela suggests that anyone can start to contribute to creating a skills-based marketplace by intentionally listing skills developed across every area of life. When we start to think about skills across the five stacks, “we'd be amazed at what we do and what we actually bring to the table, that will never show up on our resume.”Questions, or comments? E-mail us at podcast@stewartleadership.com—Sign up for Stewart Leadership's newsletter: https://stewartleadership.com/newsletter/—Resources and LinksWindward Human Capital Management websiteAngela Finlay LinkedInSkill Stacking: Taking Ownership of Your Career in Changing Times (Amazon link)Stewart Leadership Insights and Resources6 Career Goal Strategies Every Leader Needs in Uncertain Times5 Tools to Own Your Career and Inspire EngagementStrategic Resilience in the Age of AI (Podcast)Leading in the Age of AI (Podcast)10 Questions to Develop the Best Individual Action PlanThe New Business Imperative: Career Development (White Paper)The Top Four Leadership Potential IndicatorsLEAD NOW! Skills for Creating Purpose as a Manager8 Skills Every Middle Manager Needs to DevelopThe Coming Manager Shortage: 7 Moves Every Leader Must Make Now3 Tips for Leading Through the AI Digital Transformation—#leadership #podcast #leadershippodcast #leadershipdevelopment #careers #careerdevelopment #StewartLeadership #LeadershipGrowthPodcastIf you liked this episode, please share it with a friend or colleague, or, better yet, leave a review to help other listeners find our show, and remember to subscribe so you never miss an episode. For more great content or to learn about how Stewart Leadership can help you grow your ability to lead effectively, please visit stewartleadership.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube. 

In this episode, Heather Burright shares what she has learned building learning and development programs for the nonprofit sector. Heather is the founder of Skill Masters Market and host of the Learning for Good podcast, with more than 15 years in L&D and a niche helping nonprofits and associations build the training their missions deserve. She combines instructional design expertise with change management principles to create real behavior change rather than course completions. Heather and Andy explore what makes L&D in the nonprofit world genuinely different, from training volunteers and community members to navigating federated structures where the national office supports local organizations it does not actually manage, and why influence and buy-in matter more there than authority ever could.The heart of the conversation is Heather's argument that training is too often treated as the goal when the real goal is change. She explains why L&D professionals should see themselves as change agents rather than training factories, walks through a seven month learning experience she designed that finally made a struggling team feel heard, and shares how she approaches skills analysis, competency models, and AI readiness. She also offers practical advice on building trusting stakeholder relationships, asking better questions instead of absorbing other people's stress, and the identity shift that helps talent development professionals earn genuine credibility.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.Connect with Heather Burright: LinkedIn

In this episode, Christa Hill shares what she has learned moving teams from AI resistance to real capability. Christa is the founder of Tacit Edge and creator of an AI readiness framework used by organizations across Canada and beyond. A product leader turned educator, she works at the intersection of AI literacy, leadership development, and workforce transformation. She and Andy dig into what she calls the messy middle of AI adoption, the place organizations land after the licenses are handed out and there is no plan for what comes next. Christa makes the case that there are no product problems, only people problems, and that adoption moves at the speed of trust, not the speed of technology.Christa walks through her mindset first framework and the sequence she takes teams through: mindset, then skill set, then tool set, and why buying tools before doing the other two is a costly mistake. She unpacks the most common sources of resistance she hears, the trap of judging AI by free tools, why leaders cannot delegate their own literacy, and how weak AI policies are usually a symptom of leadership that has not built any. The conversation also covers what companies getting this right actually do differently, the shift toward flatter organizations, and a round of Smash or Pass on the AI tools everyone is using right now.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.Connect with Christa Hill: LinkedIn | tacit-edge.com

Career ownership is not optional. Paul Goudreault spent more than 40 years in environmental consulting and engineering, serving as CEO of two multinational firms, before distilling those lessons into a practical book for professionals at every stage.Goudreault, founder of Enorine Partners and author of "Own Your Career: No One Else Will", walks through his ADAPT Career Lifecycle model, a five-stage framework covering the full arc from acquiring foundational skills to transitioning into retirement or reinvention. He and host Sean Grady discuss why most professionals never truly take ownership of their careers, how to identify the right mentor inside and outside your organization, and why your professional brand determines how much freedom you earn at work.The conversation covers the difference between a coach and a mentor, how AI is reshaping entry-level roles in environmental consulting, the transferability of project management skills across industries, and why relationship-building remains the one thing technology cannot automate. Goudreault also shares career personality types, from the traditionalist to the entrepreneur, and explains how understanding your type helps you choose the right roles and organizations.His second book, "Own the Life You Deserve", is now available in audiobook format. Both titles are available on Amazon by searching Paul Goudreault. Visit SeanKGrady.com to see the entire catalog of episodes to listen to or watch. #EnvironmentalPodcast #CareerDevelopment #EnvironmentalConsultingTAGS:career lifecycle model, ADAPT model, career ownership, environmental consulting careers, EHS career advice, career mentorship, professional branding, career development podcast, environmental engineering podcast, project manager career growth, how to find a mentor, career personality types, AI in environmental consulting, career reinvention, work life balance consultingCHAPTERS:0:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome2:02 Why Paul Goudreault Wrote the Book4:00 The ADAPT Career Lifecycle Model Explained11:20 How to Level Up at Any Career Stage15:40 The Importance of Being Coachable18:45 Building Your Advisory Team25:00 Career Personality Types29:30 Investing in Yourself Throughout Your Career36:30 Staying Current with Technology and AI41:30 Networking as a Long-Term Career Investment44:20 How to Find the Right Mentor48:30 Personal Brand vs. Professional Brand51:30 Dress for Success and First Impressions54:30 Understanding Your Organization's Strategy56:30 Making Your Mark and Leaving a Legacy58:30 Goudreault's Training Program and Book Links

In this episode, Julie Stone shares how she is reinventing learning and development for a 50,000 person workforce as Group Vice President and Chief Learning Officer at TTEC, a global customer experience company operating in 22 countries. With a background in linguistics that shapes how she thinks about the way humans learn, Julie explains why practice, spaced repetition, and real feedback are the elements most training programs have been missing for decades, and how AI simulated practice finally solves for them. She walks through how letting frontline agents rehearse live customer conversations with AI builds confidence, shortens training duration by around 20 percent, and speeds up time to proficiency, all without the awkwardness of traditional role plays.Julie and Andy also dig into the bigger picture of AI in the enterprise: the proprietary wizard suite her team built to redesign the entire curriculum discovery, design, and development process, the redesign of jobs and workflows that comes with it, and why she believes L&D is now mission critical rather than optional. She makes the case for L&D professionals becoming work design architects, explains why skills are the new currency inside organizations, and offers practical advice for anyone trying to build a skills-based approach or drive real AI adoption on their team.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.Connect with Julie Stone: LinkedIn

In this episode, Joshua Remerowski shares how he went from a temp truck driver at FedEx to Vice President of Learning & Development at SRS Distribution, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Home Depot, where his team has built award-winning training for sales performance and innovation. Drawing on his frontline roots, Joshua makes the case that credibility in talent development is earned by doing the work — getting into the field, talking to real people, and listening to the voice of the customer rather than relying on surveys or academic models. He explains why measuring impact is non-negotiable, how most L&D teams talk themselves out of it, and how rigor around measurement builds the trust that turns talent leaders into genuine business partners.Joshua and Andy also dig into co-creating programs alongside leaders, why frontline and middle managers are the most forgotten yet most influential layer in any organization, and how pushing executive teams out of their comfort zone (think gamified learning and Wild West-themed HR escape rooms) drives real engagement. The conversation closes on a growing challenge Joshua calls the death of critical thinking — how over-reliance on AI is producing lazy, half-baked work, and what leaders can do to keep their teams thinking, questioning, and pressure-testing ideas.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.Connect with Joshua Remerowski: LinkedIn

In Part 2 of a two-part episode, Dr. Rob Orman joins Dr. Andrea Austin to discuss the profound changes in emergency medicine, the importance of intentional joy, and powerful coaching frameworks that help physicians navigate reactivity and complexity. Rob shares a powerful passage from his book Supernormal about the Drama Triangle, discusses career ownership versus renting, and offers insights on redesigning medical education with mindfulness and awareness at the center. This episode is filled with immediately applicable tools for clinicians, leaders, and anyone seeking to create space in high-stakes moments. They discussed: How emergency medicine has changed profoundly since COVID Finding and creating joy in medicine through intentional practices Owning vs. renting your career The Drama Triangle and staying “above the line” Cognitive empathy and declining invitations to drama Powerful reset phrases: “Good.” and “I wish it wasn't this way, but it is this way.” Redesigning medical education with meditation and listening skills Coaching tools that translate from one-on-one sessions to clinical practice

Lead is a verb, says today's guest, John Zorbini.John is a successful executive coach, consultant, speaker, facilitator, and adjunct professor and long-time colleague of the Stewart Leadership team. For 30 years, John has held various leadership roles for three of Wisconsin's largest employers, spending 25 of those years in the Chief Human Resources Officer position.In today's conversation, Daniel, Peter, and John take an in-depth look at the fundamentals of leadership and what it takes to succeed in a leadership role.Tune in to learn:How leadership is more like a reliable Ford pickup than a shiny new FerarriThe valuable practice from medicine that can drive leadership successThe one thing all engaged employees have in commonUltimately, John says, if leaders can't connect and inspire their people, they'll struggle to deliver results. “If you can't inspire commitment, everything else is going to be pretty meaningless,” he says.Questions, or comments? E-mail us at podcast@stewartleadership.com—Sign up for Stewart Leadership's newsletter: https://stewartleadership.com/newsletter/—Resources and Links:John Zorbini LinkedInJohn Zorbini Bio at Stewart LeadershipStewart Leadership Insights and Resources:John Zorbini resources at Stewart LeadershipLEAD NOW! Leadership Development Model5 Ways to Inspire Your Team10 Tips to Inspire Commitment5 Tools to Own Your Career and Inspire EngagementHow to Create a Strong Digital Executive PresenceBuying Hands and Feet6 Tips to Support Remote and Hybrid Team Well-Being6 Tips to Make 1:1 Meetings More Effective—#leadership #podcast #leadershippodcast #leadershipdevelopment #StewartLeadership #LeadershipGrowthPodcastIf you liked this episode, please share it with a friend or colleague, or, better yet, leave a review to help other listeners find our show, and remember to subscribe so you never miss an episode. For more great content or to learn about how Stewart Leadership can help you grow your ability to lead effectively, please visit stewartleadership.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube. 

In today's episode I'm talking about AI fluency and why becoming AI fluent is quickly becoming essential for your future career.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

In today's episode I'm talking about AI fluency and why becoming AI fluent is quickly becoming essential for your future career.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

In today's episode I'm talking about the recent SpaceX IPOI hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

In today's episode I'm talking about the recent SpaceX IPOI hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

In today's episode I'm talking about dealing with hotter weather or any circumstances you don't like. I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

In today's episode I'm talking about dealing with hotter weather or any circumstances you don't like. I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

It's Wednesday, June 10, 2026. We've all been there: you look at the clock, convince yourself you have "plenty of time" for one last thing, and end up sprinting frantically through a crowded terminal. Today, I'm pulling back the curtain on a painful, frustrating, and incredibly embarrassing mistake I made on our recent weekend trip to Madrid. It cost me $120, three hours of precious time, and a heavy dose of parental pride. We're diving into the psychological trap of "Time Optimism," the hidden anxiety of arriving early, and the strict reality of European train travel.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

In this episode, Tatiana Goldberg shares insights from more than 20 years in HR, talent management, and leadership development. She explores how the employer-employee relationship is evolving, why career growth has become the most important retention factor, and how organizations must rethink talent mobility, leadership development, and performance management in a rapidly changing world.Tatiana also discusses the impact of AI on early-career talent, the importance of business acumen for talent professionals, and why performance management systems are among the strongest drivers of organizational culture. Throughout the conversation, she emphasizes that behind every business challenge lies a talent challenge—and that talent leaders sit at the center of business success.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.Connect Tatiana Goldberg: linkedin

Send us Fan MailWhat if the biggest risk to your career isn't getting laid off, but assuming someone else is responsible for your growth?For years, many professionals were told that if they worked hard, stayed loyal, and delivered results, their company would invest in their development and help them advance. Today's workplace looks very different.With AI reshaping jobs, organizations cutting budgets, and professional development often treated as optional, waiting for someone else to guide your growth can leave you stuck, overlooked, and vulnerable.In this episode, I challenge the outdated belief that your employer is responsible for your career development. I share why taking ownership of your growth is one of the most important leadership decisions you can make and how investing in yourself can create opportunities that waiting never will.We also explore why consuming endless free content is not enough to move your career forward. Podcasts, newsletters, YouTube videos, and AI tools can provide valuable insights, but real career advancement comes from implementation. Knowledge without action rarely produces results.To help you make smarter professional development decisions, I introduce a practical framework built around three key criteria: relevance, application, and proximity. Whether you're considering a conference, coaching program, certification, mastermind, or membership community, this framework will help you determine what is most likely to create meaningful return on your investment.If you're a mid-career professional who feels undervalued, underutilized, or uncertain about what's next, this episode will help you rethink how you approach your professional growth and position yourself for future opportunities.In This Episode, You'll Learn:Why career growth is shifting from company-led development to personal ownershipHow budget cuts often make development optional while performance expectations remain unchangedWhy AI is increasing the value of strategic thinking, leadership, and higher-level problem solvingThe hidden cost of doing nothing and why standing still can make you easier to replaceWhy implementation matters more than consuming more free contentThe three criteria for evaluating professional development opportunities: relevance, application, and proximityHow to choose the right development container for your current career stageHow to confidently answer the interview question, "What are you doing to develop yourself?"This Episode Is Perfect For:Mid-career professionals seeking career clarityLeaders who want to increase their impact and visibilityProfessionals feeling stuck, overlooked, or underutilizedJob seekers navigating a competitive job marketAnyone looking to future-proof their career in an AI-driven workplaceKey TakeawayNo company cares more about your career than you do. The professionals who continue to grow, advance, and create opportunities for themselves are the ones who take ownership of their development. Your future success depends less on what your employer provides and more on what you choose to invest in yourself.Support the showIf this episode resonated with you and you want more support in how you SHOW UP for your career and life, I want to invite you to join the SHOW UP Leadership Lab. This is my group membership program where you'll get the clarity and support you need to SHOW UP more impactfully and effectively in your life and career. Visit https://johnneral.com/showup to join. Please leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts here.Connect with John on LinkedIn here.Get John's New Mid-Career Journal on Amazon here.  Follow John on Instagram @johnneralcoaching. Subscribe to John's YouTube Channel here.  

It's Wednesday, June 10, 2026. We've all been there: you look at the clock, convince yourself you have "plenty of time" for one last thing, and end up sprinting frantically through a crowded terminal. Today, I'm pulling back the curtain on a painful, frustrating, and incredibly embarrassing mistake I made on our recent weekend trip to Madrid. It cost me $120, three hours of precious time, and a heavy dose of parental pride. We're diving into the psychological trap of "Time Optimism," the hidden anxiety of arriving early, and the strict reality of European train travel.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

It's Wednesday, June 10, 2026. I just wrapped up an incredible week at an HR conference in Porto, Portugal, and the message from the corporate world is loud and clear: AI transformation is no longer a pilot project—it is the main event. But as organizations rush to scale productivity, a massive counter-trend is emerging. Today, we look at the critical role of human leadership in an automated world, the growing backlash against "AI slop," and a personal story about how a single, spontaneous coffee chat years ago turned into a lifelong friendship and an Airbnb co-living setup this week.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

It's Wednesday, June 10, 2026. I just wrapped up an incredible week at an HR conference in Porto, Portugal, and the message from the corporate world is loud and clear: AI transformation is no longer a pilot project—it is the main event. But as organizations rush to scale productivity, a massive counter-trend is emerging. Today, we look at the critical role of human leadership in an automated world, the growing backlash against "AI slop," and a personal story about how a single, spontaneous coffee chat years ago turned into a lifelong friendship and an Airbnb co-living setup this week.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

It's Wednesday, June 10, 2026, and I am coming to you from a park right outside a stunning castle in the middle of Milan, Italy. Yesterday, I told you about a conference that didn't quite hit the mark, but today is all about the wins. I'm sharing how a little bit of "LinkedIn flirting"—otherwise known as public, professional appreciation—landed me a free, world-class Italian lunch, a phenomenal new network contact, an upcoming podcast guest, and potential business collaborations. Plus, I'm pulling back the curtain on my exact "Conference Capture" AI workflow that allows me to stay 100% present during keynotes.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

It's Wednesday, June 10, 2026, and I am coming to you from a park right outside a stunning castle in the middle of Milan, Italy. Yesterday, I told you about a conference that didn't quite hit the mark, but today is all about the wins. I'm sharing how a little bit of "LinkedIn flirting"—otherwise known as public, professional appreciation—landed me a free, world-class Italian lunch, a phenomenal new network contact, an upcoming podcast guest, and potential business collaborations. Plus, I'm pulling back the curtain on my exact "Conference Capture" AI workflow that allows me to stay 100% present during keynotes.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

I don't remember a single bowl of the rice my mom made me growing up. That's exactly what's wrong with how most personal brands write and speak right now. Take the free Idea to IP Assessment: A short diagnostic that scores your expertise across 8 areas and shows you exactly where it's ready to become intellectual property you can package, sell, and scale. Find your single biggest next move in about 3 minutes: https://quiz.mikekim.com Work with me 1:1: Private Advisory for experts and operators who want a strategic partner for their brand, message, and IP — with direct access to me. Three ways in: The Intensive (7-day accelerator), The Sprint (90-day strategy sprint), and The Advisory (6-month partnership). Application here: https://mikekim.com/advisory Get my books: You Are the Brand (Wall Street Journal bestseller) — my book on personal branding and building a business around your name, your message, and your expertise: https://amzn.to/4gjyZFN Own Your Brand, Own Your Career (with Andy Storch) — personal branding for career professionals who want to take ownership of their career from the inside out: https://amzn.to/4uQjit6 Subscribe to my newsletter: The Mike Kim Letter, a weekly letter on personal branding, messaging, and building a meaningful business in a post-AI world. Less about what you know, more about how you think. Subscribe here: https://mikekim.com/newsletter Social Media Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikekim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikekimtv/

It's Wednesday, June 10, 2026, and I am coming to you from a park right outside a stunning castle in the middle of Milan, Italy. Yesterday, I told you about a conference that didn't quite hit the mark, but today is all about the wins. I'm sharing how a little bit of "LinkedIn flirting"—otherwise known as public, professional appreciation—landed me a free, world-class Italian lunch, a phenomenal new network contact, an upcoming podcast guest, and potential business collaborations. Plus, I'm pulling back the curtain on my exact "Conference Capture" AI workflow that allows me to stay 100% present during keynotes.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

It's Wednesday, June 10, 2026, and I am coming to you from a park right outside a stunning castle in the middle of Milan, Italy. Yesterday, I told you about a conference that didn't quite hit the mark, but today is all about the wins. I'm sharing how a little bit of "LinkedIn flirting"—otherwise known as public, professional appreciation—landed me a free, world-class Italian lunch, a phenomenal new network contact, an upcoming podcast guest, and potential business collaborations. Plus, I'm pulling back the curtain on my exact "Conference Capture" AI workflow that allows me to stay 100% present during keynotes.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

It's Wednesday, June 10, 2026. I'm coming to you from a beautiful park in Milan, Italy, reflecting on a wild, mixed-bag of a trip. Over the last few days, I experienced the absolute peak of cycling freedom at Lake Como and the frustrating reality of a hyped-up international conference that didn't quite deliver. Today, we're talking about the "End-of-Life Regret" framework, taking calculated risks on new events, and how to find the silver lining when a business trip goes sideways.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

It's Wednesday, June 10, 2026. I'm coming to you from a beautiful park in Milan, Italy, reflecting on a wild, mixed-bag of a trip. Over the last few days, I experienced the absolute peak of cycling freedom at Lake Como and the frustrating reality of a hyped-up international conference that didn't quite deliver. Today, we're talking about the "End-of-Life Regret" framework, taking calculated risks on new events, and how to find the silver lining when a business trip goes sideways.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

It's Wednesday, June 10, 2026. If you've noticed a quiet feed for the last few weeks, it's because I've been deep in a transitional period, reimagining the future of my business. Markets change, technologies evolve, and true career ownership means knowing when to pivot. Today, I'm pulling back the curtain on my business transition, why I shut down a community I ran for six years, how I'm turning Claude into my bluntest business consultant, and a fun personal milestone with my daughter in Madrid.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

It's Wednesday, June 10, 2026. If you've noticed a quiet feed for the last few weeks, it's because I've been deep in a transitional period, reimagining the future of my business. Markets change, technologies evolve, and true career ownership means knowing when to pivot. Today, I'm pulling back the curtain on my business transition, why I shut down a community I ran for six years, how I'm turning Claude into my bluntest business consultant, and a fun personal milestone with my daughter in Madrid.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

Two sisters from rural Appalachia wrote the playbook they wish they had.What does it actually take for a woman to lead herself forward when no one handed her a roadmap? That question sits at the heart of this conversation, and the answer is more honest, more practical, and more urgent than most career advice you have heard.Self leadership is not a title you earn or a milestone you reach. It is a daily practice, and for women navigating careers that were not designed with them in mind, it may be the most important skill no one ever taught them. This episode of The Power Lounge is for every woman who has ever felt stuck, invisible, or like she was playing by rules she was never given.Kelly Mooney is a three-time author, speaker, gender equity advocate, and founder of Equipt Women. She spent over two decades leading the nation's largest independent digital agency, became Chief Experience Officer of North America at IBM, and has served on three public company boards. Her sister and co-founder Katy Mooney is a certified leadership and performance coach whose clients include Walmart, Meta, and Lululemon. Together they are the co-authors of UP! The Playbook for Every Woman on the Rise, available June 2nd.Key TakeawaysSelf leadership has to come before everything else because when you change the way you think about yourself and what you want, every choice that follows becomes different.Women often wait for permission to pursue something bigger, ask for more, or take up space. A big part of moving forward is writing yourself that permission slip.Your career is a series of choices, and not choosing is also a choice. Recognizing that truth, even when the system is not working in your favor, is where your power starts coming back.Visibility with senior leaders is not about politics. It is strategy. Research shows that for every sponsor advocating for you behind closed doors, your chances of promotion increase by 10 percent.There is no one path and no one pace. Careers span 40 to 50 years, which means you cannot have your foot on the pedal all the time. The only shoulds that matter are the ones you decide for yourself.Kelly Mooney said, "I want her to know that she has more power within her than she realizes to create the career and life she desires."Host Amy Vaughn said, "Self leadership is not a title you earn. It is a practice that you choose."Timestamps00:00 Welcome to The Power Lounge01:12 Introducing Kelly and Katy Mooney02:43 Growing up as two of ten kids in rural Appalachia05:05 The arc of UP and why self leadership comes first07:59 What coaching reveals about women who feel stuck or invisible09:31 Owning your choices even when the system is broken15:18 Finding your fit. The four dimensions framework21:57 Self leadership in the middle of a big transition24:47 Tuning into head, heart, and gut as centers of intelligence33:23 Getting in the game and the unwritten rules of the workplace39:14 No shoulds. Staying on your own mat and practicing non-comparison47:08 Power round. The hardest rule to learn and what moving up means now52:31 Audience Q and A. Keeping entrepreneurial momentum while working a 9 to 5Connect with Kelly and KatyBook: https://equiptwomen.com/upWebsite: https://equiptwomen.comNewsletter: https://equiptwomen.com/get-equiptInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/equiptwomanTogether Digital: https://togetherindigital.comSupport the show

There's a gap between people who grow in their careers and people who wait to be grown. This episode is for anyone sitting in that gap, wondering why the effort isn't translating. Elizabeth Barber has a clear answer and it has nothing to do with working harder. Elizabeth and Bryce dig into workplace autonomy, practical innovation, and what it actually looks like to take ownership of your visibility, your decisions, and your career trajectory. This isn't motivational talk, it's operational. Elizabeth brings frameworks she's used inside real organizations, and she doesn't sugarcoat what it takes. This episode is for professionals who are done waiting and leaders who want to build teams that don't need to be rescued. About Elizabeth: Elizabeth Barber is an operations leader specializing in customer experience, scalable systems, and practical AI adoption. A U.S. Navy veteran, she's known for bringing clarity, structure, and a no-fluff approach to leadership and execution. She works at the intersection of AI, software, communications, operations, and leadership. Connect with Elizabeth on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethbarber/ What We Cover: Elizabeth's background and the through line from Navy service to operations leadership What "own your agency" actually means in a workplace that rewards waiting Momentum over permission, making decisions without waiting to be rescued Practical AI adoption: small steps, real outcomes, and what doesn't make the cut Why clarity beats cleverness in communication and leadership How to stay visible and active in your own career planning Where to find Elizabeth and what she's working on now Key Takeaways: Visibility is active, not passive if you're hoping someone notices, you've already lost ground The filter for any tool or process: does it reduce friction and improve outcomes? Use it. If not, cut it Shipping at 80% is a strategy, not a shortcut waiting for perfect keeps you invisible Clear communication is a leadership skill bullets, white space, and a direct call to action will outperform clever copy every time You can build systems that support your growth without waiting for an org chart to give you permission  

Andy Storch sits down with leadership development expert Vic Smith to unpack what truly makes great managers and high-performing workplace cultures. Drawing from leadership development experience at Nike, Google, and Amazon, Vic shares why most leadership training programs fail, how organizations can actually drive behavior change, and why investing in managers is now a business imperative. The conversation explores modern leadership challenges, the impact of AI on management, culture transformation, coaching conversations, career development, and the critical role managers play in employee engagement and retention. If you lead people, build leadership programs, or work in learning & development, this episode is packed with actionable insights for building stronger leaders in today's evolving workplace.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.Connect with Vic Smith: LinkedIn

My best friend's fiancée said yes last month. Nobody at the engagement party called it a conversion. Holding an audience is a relationship. Like a real human one, it takes three completely different skills. Take the free Idea to IP Assessment: A short diagnostic that scores your expertise across 8 areas and shows you exactly where it's ready to become intellectual property you can package, sell, and scale. Find your single biggest next move in about 3 minutes: https://quiz.mikekim.com Work with me 1:1: Private Advisory for experts and operators who want a strategic partner for their brand, message, and IP — with direct access to me. Three ways in: The Intensive (7-day accelerator), The Sprint (90-day strategy sprint), and The Advisory (6-month partnership). Application here: https://mikekim.com/advisory Get my books: You Are the Brand (Wall Street Journal bestseller) — my book on personal branding and building a business around your name, your message, and your expertise: https://amzn.to/4gjyZFN Own Your Brand, Own Your Career (with Andy Storch) — personal branding for career professionals who want to take ownership of their career from the inside out: https://amzn.to/4uQjit6 Subscribe to my newsletter: The Mike Kim Letter, a weekly letter on personal branding, messaging, and building a meaningful business in a post-AI world. Less about what you know, more about how you think. Subscribe here: https://mikekim.com/newsletter Social Media Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikekim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikekimtv/

I was scrolling old photos of my masterminds and events on my phone when a question surfaced. Did I actually do right by the people who crossed my path? Here are three words for anyone in the business of helping people navigate these feelings: Wasted, spent, and offered. The third is the one very few of us ever name. Take the free Idea to IP Assessment: A short diagnostic that scores your expertise across 8 areas and shows you exactly where it's ready to become intellectual property you can package, sell, and scale. Find your single biggest next move in about 3 minutes: https://quiz.mikekim.com Work with me 1:1: Private Advisory for experts and operators who want a strategic partner for their brand, message, and IP — with direct access to me. Three ways in: The Intensive (7-day accelerator), The Sprint (90-day strategy sprint), and The Advisory (6-month partnership). Application here: https://mikekim.com/advisory Get my books: You Are the Brand (Wall Street Journal bestseller) — my book on personal branding and building a business around your name, your message, and your expertise: https://amzn.to/4gjyZFN Own Your Brand, Own Your Career (with Andy Storch) — personal branding for career professionals who want to take ownership of their career from the inside out: https://amzn.to/4uQjit6 Subscribe to my newsletter: The Mike Kim Letter, a weekly letter on personal branding, messaging, and building a meaningful business in a post-AI world. Less about what you know, more about how you think. Subscribe here: https://mikekim.com/newsletter Social Media Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikekim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikekimtv/

Andy Storch sits down with Sanjit Kaur to discuss how modern HR leaders can drive business transformation through culture, leadership development, and intentional employee experience. Sanjit shares her journey from frontline contact center roles into executive HR leadership, emphasizing the importance of understanding the business, speaking the language of leadership, and aligning people strategy with organizational growth.Throughout the conversation, Sanjit explores how Cox Automotive is transforming its HR function through technology modernization, inclusive people practices, leadership development programs, and investment in future workforce skills. She highlights the importance of creating safe spaces, empowering middle managers, building a strong learning culture, and preparing employees for the evolving impact of AI and digital transformation. The discussion ultimately centers on one key message: intentional cultures and continuous learning are essential for building engaged teams and future-ready organizations.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.Connect with Sanjit Kaur: LinkedIn

It's Wednesday, May 13, 2026. I'm coming to you from a sun-drenched plaza in Barcelona after a morning of journaling, coffee, and a serendipitous run-in with a friend. Today, we're talking about "Social Surface Area." Why does living in a walking city feel so different from living in a driving city? We explore the biological spark of the "unplanned encounter" and how to manufacture that feeling even if you're stuck in suburban traffic.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

It's Tuesday, May 13, 2026. Let's get real for a second: life doesn't always go according to the business plan. I've been feeling some frustrations lately—business isn't exactly where I want it to be. But today's reminder is for me as much as it is for you: There are no "good" or "bad" events, only the perspectives we choose to wrap around them. We're diving into the Stoic discipline of controlling the one thing that can't be imprisoned: your mindset.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

It's Friday in Barcelona, and what started as a social game of paddle (padel) on a rooftop court turned into a masterclass in how the ego can sabotage our own happiness. Today, I'm breaking down a heated altercation that happened between courts and why "standing your ground" often costs you far more than you realize. We're looking at the literal "math of an argument" and how to recognize when your ego is about to overcharge you.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

It's Wednesday, May 13, 2026. Today, I'm revisiting a topic that struck a chord with many of you: the razor-thin line between confidence and arrogance. Inspired by a recent entry in The Daily Stoic (April 7th), we explore why the most dangerous thing you can do for your career—and your happiness—is to stop being a student. We discuss Epictetus's warning against "arrogant opinion" and why changing your mind is actually a sign of elite leadership, not weakness.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

It's Thursday, May 7, 2026. If you started the year with a list of big, audacious goals and now, in early May, you're looking at that list wondering what happened—welcome to the club. I'm getting honest today about my own "slippage" over the last few weeks. Between training for the Traka bike race, falling down the AI rabbit hole, and restarting Spanish lessons, my podcast and book progress took a backseat. Today, we talk about how to stop the guilt spiral and perform a "Priority Audit" to decide what stays, what goes, and what gets postponed.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

It's Tuesday, May 12, 2026. Yesterday, we talked about the practical, high-efficiency side of AI—how it saved me five hours of research in a single morning. Today, we're zooming out. We are currently living through what many call the Fourth Industrial Revolution. While past technological leaps (like the steam engine and the automobile) destroyed old jobs only to create millions of unimaginable new ones, there is a growing debate: Is AI different? We're exploring the "Horse Poop" analogy, the rise of AGI, and what it means for the future of human work.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

It's Tuesday, May 12, 2026. If you've been listening lately, you know I'm falling deep into the AI rabbit hole—and for good reason. Yesterday, I tackled a project that usually takes me five hours of manual grinding (or $70+ in VA fees) and knocked it out in 15 minutes using Claude. I'm sharing the exact workflow I used to organize a VIP dinner for an upcoming HR conference in Portugal, and why I'm seriously considering shifting my business toward AI consulting.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

It's Tuesday, May 5, 2026. I just got back from Girona after finishing the Traka 100, the biggest gravel bike race in Europe. When I signed up months ago, 100 kilometers (60 miles) felt like an impossible stretch for a "sprinter" like me. Today, I'm breaking down the raw experience of the race, how I shaved nearly an hour off my practice time in just one week, and why you should sign up for that "scary" challenge—even if you aren't sure you can finish.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

Andy Storch speaks with Angus Nelson about why many high-performing leaders feel stuck in today's fast-changing environment, despite having the experience and capability to succeed. They explore how traditional approaches like pushing harder and doing more are no longer effective as pressure, complexity, and expectations continue to rise. Angus explains that the real challenge is not effort, but internal capacity, and how an outdated “operating system” shaped by past experiences can limit how leaders think, respond, and perform.The conversation also dives into the role of identity and mindset in leadership growth, emphasizing that success at the next level requires becoming a different version of yourself. In addition, they highlight the importance of nervous system regulation, showing how stress and reactivity can impact decision-making and communication. Together, these insights offer a practical perspective on how leaders can stay clear, adapt to change, and perform more effectively under sustained pressure.I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.Connect with Angus Nelson: LinkedIn