Can Kindness Be Your Competitive Advantage?
Ask For Change
With Special Guest: Michael Neece, President of Our Future Is Kind and Co-Founder of the Human Summit In a marketplace driven by quarterly results, relentless urgency, and constant disruption, kindness rarely makes the shortlist of competitive strategies. But what if it should? In this episode of Ask for Change, Meridith sits down with international bestselling author and kindness researcher Michael Neece to challenge the assumption that soft skills are secondary skills. Michael makes a compelling, data-backed case that kindness is not niceness - it's the foundation of psychological safety,...
info_outline
The Secrets to Leading in Uncertainty
Ask For Change
With Special Guest: Ken Hartley, Certified Speaking Professional and Author of Calling the Presidents History doesn't repeat itself - but it does offer a playbook. In this episode of Ask for Change, Meridith welcomes speaker and author Ken Hartley, whose new book goes where most business books don't: straight into the leadership crucibles of every U.S. president to extract timeless lessons on navigating uncertainty, change, and crisis. What made Washington lay down power when no one in history had done it before? What can Harry Truman's first days in office - inheriting a world war he knew...
info_outline
Doing Meaningful Work
Ask For Change
With Special Guest: Justin Jones-Fosu, Speaker, Author, and Founder of the Work Meaningful Foundation Most leaders are chasing meaningful work. Justin Jones-Fosu argues they've got it backwards - meaningful work isn't something you find, it's something you create. In this deeply personal and strategically powerful episode of Ask for Change, Meridith sits down with speaker, author, and accidental foundation-starter Justin Jones-Fosu to explore what it actually takes to thrive - not just survive - in a world of relentless uncertainty and change. Justin's journey is anything but linear: from...
info_outline
Strategizing for Wealth in the Age of Uncertainty
Ask For Change
With Special Guest: Elke Rubach Episode Description Uncertainty has a way of paralyzing financial decisions, and doing nothing is often the most expensive choice. In this episode, Meridith Elliott Powell is joined by wealth strategist Elke Rubach to discuss how individuals and families can regain control of their financial future, even in volatile times. Elke shares why clarity, ownership, and planning matter more than ever, and why wealth management is about far more than investments. From cash flow and risk protection to legacy planning and financial literacy, this conversation breaks down...
info_outline
Closing the Information Gap
Ask For Change
With Special Guest: Dr. Mary Kelly Technology is advancing faster than most organizations are prepared for, and it is creating a dangerous and often invisible risk. In this episode, Meridith Elliott Powell sits down with economist and leadership expert Dr. Mary Kelly to uncover the growing information and knowledge gap inside today’s workforce. As companies rush to cut costs and adopt AI, they are unintentionally losing critical experience, institutional knowledge, and leadership continuity. Dr. Kelly explains why this is not a recession problem but a succession problem, and why short-term...
info_outline
Decoding What's Making You Tired, Wired, & Burned Out
Ask For Change
Special Guest: Anna Liotta Episode Description Stress is no longer occasional. It is constant. And if leaders are honest, many are running on empty while trying to inspire confidence in everyone else. In this powerful episode, Meridith Elliott Powell sits down with Hall of Fame speaker and generational expert Anna Liotta to unpack what is really happening inside our bodies when uncertainty accelerates. Anna introduces the concept of the vagus nerve and explains why nervous system regulation may be the most overlooked leadership skill in today’s marketplace. When change is moving at record...
info_outline
Mentorship as a Competitive Advantage
Ask For Change
With Special Guest: Colleen Stanley Episode Description In a marketplace defined by disruption and disengagement, mentorship is no longer optional. It is a strategic advantage. In this episode, Meridith Elliott Powell welcomes emotional intelligence expert and bestselling author Colleen Stanley to explore why mentorship is one of the most underutilized leadership tools today. Together, they challenge the outdated belief that mentorship must be formal, time-consuming, or hierarchical. Instead, Colleen reframes mentorship as something that can happen in moments, conversations, and daily...
info_outline
The Psychology of Influence
Ask For Change
With Special Guest: Jake Stahl Episode Description Influence is not about persuasion tactics. It is about understanding how people actually make decisions. In this episode, Meridith Elliott Powell is joined by sales neurostrategist Jake Stahl to unpack the psychology behind influence, communication, and behavior change. Jake explains why most people speak to the wrong version of their audience and how leaders and sales professionals can learn to communicate at the brain level. From nonverbal signals to reframing conversations, this episode offers a deeper look at what it really means to own...
info_outline
The Bold Move You Need To Own Your Life
Ask For Change
With Special Guest: Amy Lessinger Staying stuck is a decision, even when it does not feel like one. In this episode, Meridith Elliott Powell sits down with former RE/MAX President Amy Lessinger to discuss what it truly takes to create transformation in your career, leadership, and life. Amy introduces the concept of the irreversible step, the moment where you stop hedging, stop waiting for certainty, and fully commit to what comes next. Through powerful stories and practical insight, she explains why ownership, truth, and decisive action are the foundation of meaningful change. This episode is...
info_outline
The Power of Trusting Your Own Voice
Ask For Change
With Special Guest: Dr. Cindy McGovern Too many leaders know what they want to say but never give themselves permission to say it. In this episode, Meridith Elliott Powell is joined by Dr. Cindy McGovern, known as the First Lady of Sales, to explore why so many capable, accomplished professionals struggle to trust their own voice. Dr. McGovern introduces the idea of internal permission and explains how unseen influences, past conditioning, and internal narratives quietly hold people back. From boardrooms to everyday conversations, this lack of permission creates hesitation, regret, and stalled...
info_outlineWith Special Guest: Justin Jones-Fosu, Speaker, Author, and Founder of the Work Meaningful Foundation
Most leaders are chasing meaningful work. Justin Jones-Fosu argues they've got it backwards - meaningful work isn't something you find, it's something you create. In this deeply personal and strategically powerful episode of Ask for Change, Meridith sits down with speaker, author, and accidental foundation-starter Justin Jones-Fosu to explore what it actually takes to thrive - not just survive - in a world of relentless uncertainty and change. Justin's journey is anything but linear: from nearly getting fired while working in HR, to forgiving an absent father, to building schools in Ghana, he's a living case study in the power of choice, ownership, and intentional meaning-making. He introduces listeners to the research-backed framework of Job Crafting and his own "Choose, Commit, Cultivate" model - practical tools senior leaders can use to stop letting uncertainty happen to them and start creating outcomes with intention. This episode hits differently for leaders who feel the weight of what's happening in the world right now and are searching for a way to move forward with clarity and purpose. If you're tired of chasing and ready to start creating, this conversation is your next step.
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/iworkmeaningful/ (Justin Jones-Fosu)