Your Working Life with Caroline Dowd-Higgins

Your Working Life is an award-winning podcast series hosted by career and professional development author, speaker, and influencer, Caroline Dowd-Higgins. Featuring candid interviews with luminaries in the career, leadership, entrepreneurship, and wellness fields, listeners will benefit from wisdom about how to navigate life and career. Well-known personalities and industry experts including Tiffany Cross, Whitney Johnson, Guy Kawasaki, Melissa Daimler, and Marcus Buckingham give their personal take on how to thrive in your career. The podcast features a diverse array of experts with a special emphasis on female leaders, authors, and entrepreneurs.

How to Reject Competition and Unlock Success with Ruchika Malhotra 11/16/2025

The Secure Leader with Jaime Goff 11/06/2025

This Isn’t Working with Meghan French Dunbar 10/30/2025

Unblock Your Leadership with Muriel Wilkins 10/26/2025

Discover How to Be Yourself at Work with Claude Silver 10/16/2025

Goldie Chan Helps Introverts Harness Their Strengths to Thrive 10/10/2025

How Leaders Can Show Up as Allies with Julie Kratz 10/05/2025

Build Teams That Outperform the Rest with Vanessa Druskat 09/25/2025

Discover How to Connect with Anyone Anywhere with Rachel DeAlto 09/19/2025

Manage Yourself to Lead Others with Margaret C. Andrews 09/12/2025

Discover How to Combat Bias in Recruiting with Jenn Tardy 09/05/2025

Epic Disruptions with Scott Anthony 08/29/2025

The Lasso of Truth with Josephine Palermo 08/24/2025

Working Well with Lesley Cooper 08/16/2025

The Life-Changing Solution for Reducing Employee Stress, Improving Well-being, and Working Smarter w/ Juliet Schor 08/11/2025

Learn the Secrets of Successful Virtual Communication with Andrew Brodsky 08/03/2025

Learn the Secrets of Successful Virtual Communication with Andrew Brodsky On this episdoe of Your Working Life, Caroline talks to , an award-winning business professor and management consultant at The University of Texas at Austin's McCombs School of Business. Andrew specializes in virtual communication and workplace technology, and wrote a new book called "PING: The Secrets of Successful Virtual Communication". He and Caroline talk abbout his actionable framework for mastering modern workplace interactions across all communication platforms. Social Media/Links: Read ' Music credits for this episode: Week Thirteen by Ben von Wildenhause, Free Music Archive (CC BY) Week Thirteen by Ben von Wildenhause, Free Music Archive (CC BY) Social Media/Links: · Book Link for 'Ping: The Secrets of Successful Virtual Communication: · LinkedIn: · Personal Website: · Ping Group: PING: The Secrets of Successful Virtual Communication by Award-Winning Professor and Virtual Communication Expert Andrew Brodsky, PhD We’ve all been there—sitting through a meeting that could’ve easily been an email. And that email? Maybe it should have been a quick voice note. And your camera? It’s okay to turn it off. In fact, sometimes it’s even better. Andrew Brodsky—a Harvard Business School doctoral graduate, award-winning business professor, management consultant, and expert in virtual communication at The University of Texas at Austin—has dedicated his career to unraveling the intricacies of virtual communication. Diagnosed with cancer as a teenager, his treatment led to a lifelong immune deficiency, which has resulted in years of his life being confined primarily to the virtual realm. This personal experience has given him a unique understanding of the challenges and nuances of communicating from a distance. In his forthcoming book, (Simon Element/Simon Acumen; February 11, 2025), Brodsky explores the complexities of modern workplace interactions and provides an actionable framework for mastering virtual communication. His research shows how to make the most out of communication technology from video calls to instant messaging, offering practical strategies for navigating all workplaces from in-person to remote and everything in-between. Featuring compelling stories, insights from top business leaders, and Brodsky’s groundbreaking research on virtual communication tools, PING is the essential guide to mastering virtual communication—enhancing productivity, amplifying influence, and forging deeper connections. Andrew Brodsky is an award-winning professor, management consultant and virtual communications expert at the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin. Poets&Quants selected Andrew as one of the “World’s 40 Best Business School Professors Under 40.” He is an expert in workplace technology, communication and productivity and serves as the CEO of Ping Group. Andrew earned a PhD in organizational behavior from Harvard Business School and BS from The Wharton School. He currently lives with his wife and two rescue dogs in Austin. /episode/index/show/ab86f711-aaf0-44b0-8574-6923e29229ad/id/37430870

The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes with Dr. Sunita Sah 07/24/2025

The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes with Dr. Sunita Sah is an award-winning professor at Cornell University and an expert in organizational psychology. She leads groundbreaking research on influence, authority, compliance, and defiance. A trained physician, she practiced medicine in the United Kingdom and worked as a management consultant for the pharmaceutical industry. She currently teaches executives, leaders, and students in healthcare and business. Dr. Sah is a sought-after international speaker and consultant, advisor to government agencies, and former Commissioner of the National Commission on Forensic Science. Her multidisciplinary research and analyses have been widely published in leading academic journals and media entities including The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Harvard Business Review, and Scientific American. She lives with her husband and son in New York. DEFY: The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes How many times have you wanted to object, disagree, or opt out of something—but ended up swallowing your words, shaking your head, and just going along? In her groundbreaking new book, DEFY, a former physician and award-winning organizational psychologist Dr. Sunita Sah delves deep into why the pressure to comply is a corrosive and often invisible force in our society. With her own revelatory research, she radically transforms our idea of defiance from a misunderstood negative trait into a crucial, positive force for personal and societal change. Taking us through her five stages of defiance, Dr. Sah equips readers with the tools to unleash the power of a “True No.” At the core of DEFY is a profound analysis of why we often say yes when we shouldn’t, and how to say no when it matters most. Drawing on her story as a woman scientist of color, as well as her original research and insights from multiple disciplines including psychology, ethics, law, medicine, organizational behavior, sociology, and philosophy, Dr. Sah reveals the critical need to rediscover our core values. She explores how we are neurologically, psychologically, and socially pressured to comply, and what we can do to train ourselves for conscientious resistance and reclaim our agency. Social: LinkedIn: IG: TikTok: Facebook: Music credits for this episode: Orion-Instrumental by Mindseye, Free Music Archive (CC BY) /episode/index/show/ab86f711-aaf0-44b0-8574-6923e29229ad/id/37430710

Embracing Uncertainty with Margaret Heffernan 07/22/2025

Embracing Uncertainty with Margaret Heffernan produced programmes for the BBC for 13 years. She then moved to the US where she spearheaded multimedia productions for Intuit, The Learning Company and Standard&Poors. She was Chief Executive of InfoMation Corporation, ZineZone Corporation and then iCast Corporation, was named one of the “Top 25” by Streaming Media magazine and one of the “Top 100 Media Executives” by The Hollywood Reporter. The author of six books, Margaret’s third book, Willful Blindness: Why We Ignore the Obvious at our Peril was named one of the most important business books of the decade by the Financial Times. In 2015, she was awarded the Transmission Prize for A Bigger Prize: Why Competition isn’t Everything and How We Do Better, described as “meticulously researched…engagingly written…universally relevant and hard to fault.” Her TED talks have been seen by over 13 million people and in 2015 TED published Beyond Measure: The Big Impact of Small Changes. In 2020, she published Uncharted: How to map the future, which quickly became a bestseller and was nominated for the Financial Times Best Business Book award, was one of Bloomberg’s Best Books of 2021 and was chosen as the “Medium Best of the Best” business book. 2025 saw the publication of Embracing Uncertainty: How Writers, Musicians and Artists Thrive in an Unpredictable World, described as ‘a timely, insightful book’, Heffernan highlights what it takes to excel in turbulent times.’ In 2024, she was inducted into the Thinkers50 Hall of Fame, in recognition of her lasting impact on management thinking. She is a Professor of Practice at the University of Bath, Lead Faculty for the Forward Institute’s Responsible Leadership Programme and, through Merryck & Co., mentors CEOs and senior executives of major global organizations. She chairs the board of DACS and is a parish councillor. Synopsis of her recent book: Embracing Uncertainty: How writers, musicians & artists thrive in an unpredictable world. Most people hate and fear uncertainty. It causes such stress and anxiety that we often choose certain surrender over doubt, becoming passive, dependent, addicted—and more anxious than ever. Doubling down on the certainties promised by technology and micro-management only makes things worse, leaving no opportunity for innovation, adaptation or invention. Artists live with uncertainty constantly—but instead of waiting for the future, they run towards making it, with agency and freedom. What can we learn from them, about facing a future that grows more uncertain daily? At a time when organizations of all kinds crave innovation but complain their people lack creativity and initiative, the arts have never been so essential to our future. We may not all be artists, but we can learn to think like them. Margaret Heffernan makes a compelling argument for the vital integration of art into all aspects of our lives and for artists to guide us with their stamina, freedom and endurance. “At a time when algorithms promise to extinguish all doubt, Heffernan makes a compelling case for uncertainty as humanity's greatest resource.” — Daniel H. Pink, author of The Power of Regret and Drive. Social media: X: Bluesky: Music Credits for this episode: Spores-Instrumental by Mindseye, Free Music Archive (CC BY) /episode/index/show/ab86f711-aaf0-44b0-8574-6923e29229ad/id/37430615

The Flexibility Paradigm with Manar Morales 07/14/2025

The Flexibility Paradigm with Manar Morales is a national thought leader and visionary on building human-centered workplace cultures at the intersection of diversity, flexibility, and well-being. As the Founder & CEO of the , Manar is on a mission to empower organizations to unlock their full potential by creating inclusive environments, implementing effective flexible work strategies, and prioritizing holistic employee well-being. A sought-after speaker, author, and trusted advisor, Manar brings a wealth of expertise from her background as an employment litigator and adjunct faculty member at Georgetown University. She is the author of (Georgetown University Press, January 2025), which provides a roadmap for building adaptive, resilient organizations that bring out the best in their people. Manar is a recent recipient of the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award and is a member of the President’s Council of Cornell Women and the International Women’s Forum. Book promotional info: In The Flexibility Paradigm, Manar Morales presents a revolutionary framework for creating human-centered workplaces that drive both business success and employee well-being. Drawing from 17 years of experience advising hundreds of organizations, Morales demonstrates how flexibility is not just a policy or pandemic trend, but a business imperative that drives talent retention, productivity, and competitive advantage. The book introduces the Flex Success® Framework, a proven roadmap for implementing holistic flexibility that encompasses where, when, and how long people work. Through compelling case studies and practical guidance, Morales shows how organizations can move beyond "return to office" debates to create meaningful workplace experiences that enable both people and businesses to thrive. Perfect for leaders navigating the future of work, this groundbreaking book provides concrete strategies for transforming organizational culture and achieving measurable business results through strategic flexibility implementation. Here are some things we can cover in our conversation: ● The intersection of flexibility, inclusion, and well-being in creating successful workplaces of the future ● Why the old command-and-control leadership paradigm no longer serves today's workforce ● How organizations can move beyond "return to office" debates to create meaningful experiences that drive engagement and innovation ● Practical strategies for implementing flexibility that benefits both people and business outcomes ● Real success stories from organizations that have transformed their cultures through holistic flexibility Social media links: ● Manar's LinkedIn ● The Diversity & Flexibility Alliance's LinkedIn: ● Hashtags we typically use for the book: #FutureOfWork #WorkplaceCulture #Leadership #Flexibility /episode/index/show/ab86f711-aaf0-44b0-8574-6923e29229ad/id/37401260

The Quiet Burn with Lynn Blades 07/04/2025

The Quiet Burn with Lynn Blades Lynn Blades episode: Minimal Brain Activity by Unheard Music Concepts (source: Free Music Archive) (CC BY) Lynn Blades, author of , is the founder of Legacy Leadership, an executive leadership consultancy, and a dedicated DEI advocate. She has strived to cultivate a 21st-century leadership workforce that truly reflects the diversity of our society. RECOGNIZING AND PREVENTING BURNOUT Demanding Careers Should Not Overshadow Health And Well-Being Women face numerous challenges in their careers – dealing with sexist and demeaning work environments, juggling work and family obligations, struggling to achieve parity with their male colleagues – all of which require having the necessary physical and emotional capacity to maintain one’s self-esteem. Lynn Blades has spent decades advising women in Fortune 500 companies and independent businesses. An executive leadership coach, her message is clear: it’s time to rewrite the rules. In THE QUIET BURN: The Ambitious Woman’s Guide To Recognizing And Preventing Burnout, Blades offers practical tools to help women recognize and prevent burnout and empower them to reclaim their lives – such as the power of saying no, practicing guilt-free self-care, and silencing self-doubt. She provides insights, supported by case studies and exercises, that empower readers to: • Make better choices • Find their voice • Understand that they deserve the best Blades’ clients comprise a diverse group, of primarily women, who are fatigued from being undervalued, unheard, burdened with excessive stress, and expected to effortlessly juggle everything. “My aspiration for this book is to herald a new chapter in your life, centered around the themes of self-respect, rejuvenation, reinvention, resilience, and self-love,” she says. When Blades first encounters clients, they are emotionally and physically exhausted. This applies to women who adeptly manage a six-figure household with the same finesse as a multi-million-dollar business yet still find themselves questioning their self-worth. All genders will benefit from THE QUIET BURN. The book contains advice on living a fulfilling life, self-respect, effectively communicating needs, and recognizing the peril of ignoring personal well-being. Life involves compromises, but that should not compromise one’s physical and emotional health. While failures teach valuable lessons, sacrificing health is not a sustainable solution. Blades urges readers to take steps to discover where they stand on self-care, and includes a thought-provoking Self-Care Check-In. Caring about the right things involves prioritizing what truly matters, making deliberate choices aligned with values, and taking effective action. By eliminating what doesn’t matter and focusing on what is important, wasting time and energy on unimportant things can be avoided. This leads to a sense of fulfillment and reduces negative emotions like stress and anxiety. Identifying core values allows women to concentrate on family, friends, achievement, wisdom, kindness, or equity. She also stresses the importance and power of saying no. Oftentimes, saying yes creates unnecessary stress and anxiety. “Embracing your inner ‘no’ is about establishing healthy boundaries,” Blades writes. “When faced with an uncertain request, take a pause. Reflect on it to gain a broader perspective before committing.” Throughout the book there are QR codes that lead to videos of Blades sharing additional information and advice. Reflecting On The Power Of No is one of the impactful videos. Readers are encouraged to craft an action plan to boost self-awareness and identify rising stress in challenging moments before it overwhelms. Blades shares techniques that allow responding thoughtfully rather than reacting impulsively: • Consider moments when boundaries have been compromised by individuals or situations • Think about how those compromises made you feel. Were you hurt, ashamed, embarrassed, angry? • Considering the responses to the above questions, how could you have better handled the situation for a more favorable outcome THE QUIET BURN is a wake-up call to genuine self-awareness, when women embrace their power, recognizing their value to society and their potential to bring about change. It points the way to a future where class, gender, and race no longer serve as barriers. When women unite and collaborate, they can become a formidable force. Once they establish a strong foundation and stand together, they will be the agents of change they want to see in the world. Social media: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/ab86f711-aaf0-44b0-8574-6923e29229ad/id/37284000

How to Succeed in Business without Really Crying with Tom Johnstone 06/27/2025

How to Succeed in Business without Really Crying with Tom Johnstone After graduating from Boston’s Emerson College in 1985, Tom headed west to work in the film and television industry. In Hollywood, he honed his writing skills through the trials and tribulations of episodic TV, animated series, screenplay options, and game shows for over two decades. When the feast or famine lifestyle of a Hollywood Writer became too sporadic for his maturing life (He had grown to enjoy eating two to three times a day – every day), he took a job at a call center to make ends meet. After his first day on the phones, his manager asked him to stop. He was terrible at the entry-level position. Tom got easily frazzled, had no focus, and was simply in the wrong role. But rather than look to another company to find his niche, Tom looked inward to learn more about himself and the industry that didn’t want him. Tom leveraged his findings to change himself and the work environments he occupied. Climbing the corporate ladder one rung at a time, Tom evolved into an innovative leader with a proven track record for success and effective team building. Over the past 25 years, he has worked at every level in the call center industry - from clerk to Senior Director. He’s hired thousands, promoted hundreds, and fired somewhere in between - building trust, friendships, and Best Practices along the way. His personal approach of meeting business needs by pairing them with the drives of individuals’ passions has taken him around the world building call centers, making friends, and enjoying an industry that initially asked him to just stop. Tom has now returned to his roots as a professional writer, crafting his book, “How To Succeed In Business Without Really Crying,” a tried-and-true business approach based on personal stories that captivate, educate, and entertain. Suggested questions/topics for discussion: 1. Tell everyone a little about your book, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Crying.” What motivated you to write this book, the format you chose, and why? 2. Can you give us an example of a personal story you share in your book, and how that translates into a Business Best Practice. 3. You mentioned building your own culture, and your book has a section about deciding when to rock the boat or just jump ship. Can you expand on that? 4. Talk a little bit more about building a corporate subculture. What does that look like? 5. Building a corporate subculture requires openness and embracing change – and not everyone will always be on the same page. How do you manage change to be as inclusive and as successful as possible? 6. You just spoke about getting to know your stakeholders and your book goes into some detail about the different types of personalities in the workplace. Why is that important? 7. Your book also broaches knowing when to walk away from a position – and how to do that not only for yourself, but for the potential “greater good.” Can you talk about that? 8. What do you want people to take away from your book and experiences? Social media: · LinkedIn: · Book Purchase: · Facebook (Book page): · Midwest Book Review: · Donovan Review: · Book Notions Review: /episode/index/show/ab86f711-aaf0-44b0-8574-6923e29229ad/id/37185245

How to Be a Likeable Badass with Alison Fragale 06/18/2025

How to Be a Likeable Badass with Alison Fragale Alison Fragle episode: Distances by Beat Mekanik (source: Free Music Archive) (CC BY) ALISON FRAGALE, PhD Speaker. Professor. Compulsive Organizer. Website Newsletter ALISON FRAGALE is the Mary Farley Ames Lee Distinguished Scholar of Organizational Behavior at the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina. Her scholarship has been published in the most prestigious academic journals in her field, and featured in prominent media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Financial Times, Boston Globe, and Inc. She is the author of the book, Likeable Badass: How Women Get the Success They Deserve, published by Penguin Random House on September 3, 2024. A sought-after keynote speaker and trusted advisor, she lives in Chicago with her family. Questions/topics to discuss: What is the difference between power and status? Why is status more important? What is the definition of a Likeable Badass and why is it the key to managing your status? You believe “don’t worry about what other people think of you” is bad advice. Why should we care? What are some of the limiting mindsets that have a negative impact on someone’s status? How does status affect your ability to be paid your worth or promoted at work? What are “other promoters” and how can someone get more of them? In the book, you share dozens of likeable badass tactical approaches. Can you share a few of your favorites? What do you hope readers will learn from this book? Book promo info: A science-backed, easy-to-implement playbook for getting the respect, power, and influence you’re due, even when the odds are stacked against you. Throughout my years of research, speaking gigs, and mentoring, I’ve been bombarded with questions from women of all stripes — from rising stars to those in the C-suite. How do we get credit for both likeability and competence? How can we get the recognition we deserve, negotiate like a boss, and navigate the intricate dance of office politics without losing our sanity or the respect of our peers? Well, my friends, the answers are here, and they’re served up in Likeable Badass. Based on my twenty years of work studying power, status, and perceptions, I know one thing is true: No fancy title, degree or achievement is going to get us the rewards we deserve if it doesn’t impact how others perceive us. So, I’m pulling back the curtain on decades of science to reveal what all successful women have in common — they have found their unique way to show up as a likeable badass. All we need to do is follow their lead. Yes, I’m a professor, but this book is not a dry, academic read. It’s a delightful blend of behavioral science and life hacks — think of it as your secret weapon for conquering the workplace. I’ve woven together solid research, practical advice, and kick-ass stories from a diverse group of women who’ve paved their own paths to success. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, Likeable Badass is your go-to guide for evidence-based strategies, sprinkled with a dash of inspiration and humor. It’s not just a book; it’s your ticket to a fulfilling career and a seat at the table. Endorsement: “The ultimate guide for women to achieve their goals. Drawing on her brilliant research and extensive experience, Alison Fragale reveals how to overcome the tradeoff between likeability and competence. But it’s not just for women—it’s a must-read for anyone who wants to be a better colleague, mentor, parent, or partner to half the population.” —Adam Grant Social media: Hashtag - #LikeableBadass /episode/index/show/ab86f711-aaf0-44b0-8574-6923e29229ad/id/37063280

Learn How to Be an Unstoppable Entrepreneur with Lori Rosenkopf 06/14/2025

Learn How to Be an Unstoppable Entrepreneur with Lori Rosenkopf Lori Rosenkopf is the Simon and Midge Palley Professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. As Vice Dean for Entrepreneurship, she serves as Wharton’s faculty director for Venture Lab, Penn’s home for student entrepreneurs, and also their San Francisco campus. In a prior role as Vice Dean of Wharton’s Undergraduate Division, she introduced a new curriculum and developed experiential classwork in the tech sector. For over thirty years, Rosenkopf has taught entrepreneurship and management of technology to more than 20,000 high schoolers, undergraduates, MBAs, and executives, connecting these learners to many of the most entrepreneurial alumni at Wharton and Penn through treks, panels, and classes. Rosenkopf was named a Best Undergraduate Professor by Poets and Quants, and has received multiple awards for her teaching, including Wharton’s prestigious David Hauck Award for Distinguished Teaching. Rosenkopf has published more than thirty articles on technological communities and social networks in top management journals, and she is a Fellow of the Academy of Management. Rosenkopf received her PhD in Management of Organizations from Columbia University, her MS in Operations Research from Stanford University, and her BS in Operations Research and Industrial Engineering from Cornell University. She worked as a systems engineer at AT&T Bell Laboratories and Eastman Kodak between her degrees. Rosenkopf lives in Philadelphia with her partner, Allan, and their dog, Winston. Book: (April 22, 2025) UNSTOPPABLE ENTREPRENEURS 7 Paths for Unleashing Successful Startups and Creating Value through Innovation By Lori Rosenkopf Discover your own path to entrepreneurship and make your mark in the world In a world where entrepreneurship often seems to be driven by tech prodigies and venture-backed unicorns, many aspiring entrepreneurs find themselves wondering: “What if I don’t fit the stereotype of a Silicon Valley wunderkind? Is there a place for me in this landscape?” In Unstoppable Entrepreneurs, Lori Rosenkopf, Vice Dean of Entrepreneurship at The Wharton School, shatters these limiting perceptions, revealing a diverse array of entrepreneurial paths that are open to anyone with the drive to create value through innovation. Drawing from her thirty-year career and interactions with more than 20,000 students, Rosenkopf offers a compelling roadmap for entrepreneurial success. From Amy Errett’s disruption of the hair care industry with Madison Reed to Jarrid Tingle’s mission to diversify venture funding through Harlem Capital, the book showcases a rich tapestry of founders who have carved their own unique paths. These inspiring stories reveal that entrepreneurship is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor, but a realm of possibilities limited only by one’s imagination and determination. In Unstoppable Entrepreneurs, readers will discover: + 7 distinct entrepreneurial paths, from disruptors to intrapreneurs; + The 6 Rs of entrepreneurial success; + Insights for navigating the inevitable setbacks and challenges; + Strategies for overcoming biases and obstacles in securing funding and support; and + Tools for developing an entrepreneurial mindset, regardless of background or industry. Entrepreneurs play a crucial role in driving innovation and economic growth. Among them are a special breed of individuals often referred to as "unstoppable entrepreneurs" - individuals with a relentless drive, unwavering determination, and an unshakeable belief in their vision. These unstoppable entrepreneurs are not deterred by challenges but instead see them as opportunities for growth and learning. They possess a unique resilience that propels them forward, even in the face of adversity. Their willingness to take risks, think outside the box, and push boundaries sets them apart in the business world. Empowering these unstoppable entrepreneurs is essential to shaping the future. By providing them with the resources, support, and network they need, we can catalyze their impact and accelerate their journey towards success. These individuals are the drivers of change, the creators of new opportunities, and the visionaries shaping tomorrow's business landscape. Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur with a groundbreaking idea, a seasoned business owner looking to scale, or an employee seeking to drive innovation within your organization, this essential read will challenge your assumptions, unleash your entrepreneurial potential, and inspire you to make your mark in the world. /episode/index/show/ab86f711-aaf0-44b0-8574-6923e29229ad/id/37009900

The Roadmap to Money and Love with Abby Davisson 06/09/2025

Finding Meaningful Work with Tamara Myles & Wes Adams 05/29/2025

Finding Meaningful Work with Tamara Myles & Wes Adams Distances by Beat Mekanik, via Free Music Archive (CC BY) Wes Adams is the CEO of SV Consulting Group. He partners with Fortune 500s and scaling companies to develop high-impact leaders and design operating structures that support high performing teams. He is also a positive psychology researcher at the University of Pennsylvania where he studies the leadership practices and organizational structures that help employees thrive. He lives in Atlanta, GA. Tamara Myles is a speaker, author, professor, and entrepreneur specializing in the science of human flourishing at work. She helps leaders and organizations like Microsoft, KPMG, and MassMutual unlock the power of meaningful work to drive peak performance, innovation, and resilience. A faculty member at Boston College and a researcher and instructor at the University of Pennsylvania, Tamara’s work challenges assumptions about work, showing that when leaders make work meaningful, they create thriving teams and lasting impact. She lives in Concord, Massachusetts. Book: We’re in the middle of the most significant transformation in work in over a century. Whether it’s remote work, the rise of burnout and “quiet quitting,” or the changing values and priorities of employees, leading an organization has never been more complex. But through all this, a single factor remains the core driver of fulfilled, high-performing teams—their belief that their work has meaning. In Meaningful Work, Wes Adams and Tamara Myles, advisers to some of the world’s most successful companies, leverage the science of positive psychology to show leaders why and how to make meaning the cornerstone of leadership practice. It is a practical playbook based on decades of research, including their own groundbreaking multi-year study of meaning at work, and stories from leaders you already admire and others that will surprise and inspire you. The book reveals that high engagement, happiness, productivity, and financial performance from employees are all outcomes of helping them find meaning at work. And that every job can be meaningful when leaders create a workplace culture that focuses on the three Cs: Community, Contribution, and Challenge. Whether you lead a team of call center workers, care professionals, cycling instructors, or corporate executives, this book will show you how to take small actions each day to inspire passion and performance in every employee. Questions/topics: What is meaningful work and why is it so important? What are the biggest misconceptions about meaningful work? How can leaders create an environment where employees can find meaningful work? How does the “Three C” framework (Community, Contribution and Challenge) factor into meaningful work? How can leaders address employees’ different generational or cultural needs when it comes to meaningful work? How does meaningful work help a company’s bottom line? What happens to an organization that fails to offer meaningful work? Why is the onboarding process so crucial in creating an environment for meaningful work? What’s your prediction for meaningful work in the future? /episode/index/show/ab86f711-aaf0-44b0-8574-6923e29229ad/id/36772165

Redefining the Successful Rainmaker with Karen Freeman 05/24/2025

Redefining the Successful Rainmaker with Karen Freeman Karen Freeman is Chief Product Officer at DCM Insights and one of the authors of the Activator research published in Harvard Business Review, titled "What Today's Rainmakers Do Differently." That article was named one of HBR’s top 10 reads of 2025. At DCMi, she is one of the global faculty and responsible for the company’s training products and diagnostics. She has delivered the Activator research and training programs across the globe to clients in the legal, consulting, accounting, and talent advisory sectors. Before joining DCMi, Karen was head of digital & analytics learning for generalist consultants at McKinsey & Company. She led a team upskilling roughly 17,000 consultants globally in topics including advanced analytics modeling, leading digital transformations, and agile methodology. Prior to McKinsey, Karen spent 13 years at Corporate Executive Board (CEB) in research and learning & development roles. There, she led three best practice membership organizations, developing insights, advice, and benchmarks for Global 1000 functional heads in marketing, sales, and customer service. Much of the company's highest-impact research was spearheaded by the teams that Karen created. Several were published in Harvard Business Review and became the subject of two best-selling business books (The Challenger Sale and The Effortless Experience). Later, as Head of CEB University, Karen oversaw development and delivery of training sessions for more than 10,000 participants worldwide in sales, insight & advisory, and corporate roles. Karen has an A.B from Harvard and an MBA from MIT, plays cello and piano, and currently lives in Arlington, VA with her husband and two children. Book promo: Today’s professional services sector faces sharp declines in client loyalty. And the “trusted advisor” model, once the gold standard in business development, no longer stands up to rapidly changing client expectations. A groundbreaking new study - The Rainmaker Genome Project – surveyed nearly 3,000 partners at professional services firms in law, accounting, consulting, executive search, investment banking, and PR, and revealed five profiles in business development (Experts, Confidants, Realists, and Activators). : What Today's Rainmakers Do Differently (HBR Press, 5/20/25) reveals why only one of these profiles—the Activator—consistently drives growth and profitability to win, retain, and grow client relationships in today’s disruptive environment. Co-Authors: Matthew Dixon, Rory Channer, Karen Freeman, Ted McKenna The authors explore the keys to winning and growing relationships: · Behaviors: characterized by Commit, Connect, and Create. · Habits: engagement strategies from developing relationships to managing stakeholders. · Mindsets: self-determined, resilient, and focused on client needs. · Pivot Points: optimizing key moments like initial contact, pitching, negotiation, and navigating setbacks to build stronger relationships. Activators deeply embed business development strengths into their daily workflow, proactively leverage their networks and deliver value to clients—ensuring longer-lasting, more engaged relationships while preventing uncertain client buying behaviors. Socials: /episode/index/show/ab86f711-aaf0-44b0-8574-6923e29229ad/id/36697770

Naval Wisdom and Sea Stories for Leaders with Mark Fava 05/17/2025

How to Succeed When the Career Ladder Breaks with Kweilin Ellingrud 05/08/2025

How to Succeed When the Career Ladder Breaks with Kweilin Ellingrud Kweilin Ellingrud episode: Glass Structures by Unheard Music Concepts, via Free Music Archive (CC BY) Kweilin Ellingrud is McKinsey's Chief Diversity Officer and a director of the McKinsey Global Institute, based in Minneapolis. As a senior partner at McKinsey, she has led research on the topics of gender equality, racial equity, generative AI, the future of work, and global competitiveness. She also serves clients in financial services across strategy and operational transformations. She is the co-author of with fellow McKinsey senior partners Lareina Yee and María del Mar Martínez. Book Promo: The broken rung is more pervasive than the glass ceiling in holding women back from career success. Three McKinsey senior partners offer strategies for overcoming it and fulfilling your potential. Women around the world do extremely well when it comes to their education. They graduate at higher rates than men and have higher average GPAs. But then a strange thing happens: upon entering the workforce, they immediately lose their advantage. When the first promotions come around, the slide continues. For every 100 men promoted to manager, only 81 women overall and 77 women of color get promoted. This is what McKinsey senior partners Kweilin Ellingrud, Lareina Yee, and María del Mar Martínez call "the broken rung," and its effects compound throughout women's careers, causing them to fall behind at the start and keeping them from catching up. In this groundbreaking book, the authors reveal the problem's underlying cause: while about half of a person's lifetime earnings come from education and half from work experience, men get more value from their experience than women do. It is also here, in one's work experience, that the solution lies: women need to build their "experience capital" to level the playing field and maximize their earning potential. The book combines over a decade of research, personal conversations with more than fifty remarkable leaders, and the authors' own rich experiences as leaders at McKinsey. They weave data on the potential pitfalls with inspiring and instructive stories of women who have climbed over the broken rung using strategies that increased their experience capital. Leaders and companies must do more to address gender inequalities in the workplace. But you don't have to wait. The Broken Rung is your guide, right now, for moving up the career ladder and reaching your full potential at work. Questions or topics of discussion: What is the broken rung? How does it compare to the glass ceiling? What is experience capital? How does it impact one's ability to advance in their career and increase their earnings? What advice do you have for young women looking for their first entry level job? You recommend making frequent job moves early in one's career to gain experience capital. Do you advise changing companies or roles within an organization? Why is it important? You highlight the dangers of the broken rung to those in the first few years of their career, but you reveal it's never too late in one’s career to gain experience capital. How can women accelerate their well-established careers? How can women make motherhood an experience capital escalator? Why is it often seen as a career derail? What questions should women ask themselves to help accelerate their career and build experience capital? What do you hope readers take away from this book? Social media: /episode/index/show/ab86f711-aaf0-44b0-8574-6923e29229ad/id/36490805

Lessons Learned from 50 Years as an Entrepreneur with Steve Bennett 05/05/2025

Lessons Learned from 50 Years as an Entrepreneur with Steve Bennett Steve is a visual artist whose work has been displayed in numerous galleries, juried exhibitions, and prestigious corporate art spaces. He’s planning on transitioning to full-time artist from managing the creative side of a web design firm he founded 25 years ago. Previously, Steve had engaged in numerous careers: media training, tech journalism, book writing (he penned more than 50 solo titles and collaborations, including a million-copy, bestselling parenting book). He was also the founder of a successful ad agency and founder of numerous ill-conceived small businesses that failed miserably. Prior to striking out on his own, Steve had intended to become an academic in the field of ancient Chinese science and technology. But after receiving his masters in East Asian studies from Harvard, he decided that academia was not for him. From the outside, his professional life seems to be a maze of disparate paths; from the inside, it’s all logical stepping stones. Topics: What I’ve Learned from 50+ years of Making a Living as an Entrepreneur 1. “Accidental” vs “intentional” transitions; riding the currents vs steering the boat. 2. Being receptive to career/entrepreneurial opportunities—even when you’re not looking for one. My train station metaphor. 3. ABN: Always Be Networking! Networking as a “long-tail” activity. 4. Don’t believe that if you do what you love the money will follow. It often doesn’t. 5. Hope and blind optimism are not strategies for success. Get real. 6. Everyone fails along the way. Failure is a great teacher. But it still sucks. If failure will rock your self-esteem, travel a safer path. 7. Retirement is a four-letter word. Wearing out vs rusting out. Think encore career. 8. Choosing visual arts as an “encore” career entails unique challenges. The solution: treat it like any other kind of business in terms of promotion and marketing, tactics, and strategies. Social media: LinkedIn: IG: X: /episode/index/show/ab86f711-aaf0-44b0-8574-6923e29229ad/id/36436060

Define Your Success with Strategic Storytelling with Anjali Sharma 04/29/2025

Define Your Success with Strategic Storytelling with Anjali Sharma Anjali Sharma The music used in this episode is Upstream Color by Mark Wilson X Source: Free Music Archive (CC BY) Website: Anjali Sharma is the founder of Narrative: The Business of Stories and is one of the most sought-after keynote speakers trusted by international brands seeking guidance on finding, developing, and using their stories to make a dynamic change happen. Sharma works with private and government organizations to determine what their individual and unique business challenges are, and by incorporating story skills, she crafts individualized solutions to help solve those challenges. She is based in Singapore. Anjali Sharma introduces leaders and ambitious influencers to the Who, Why and How of strategic storytelling in business, enabling them bring about change and drive corporate success by telling exactly the right story in the right way. Book: In today's connection economy, the most successful leaders inspire their people with purpose and meaning. Powerful corporate storytelling can mobilise people around an organisational objective in a way that a focus on market share never will. Be it a digital transformation or a diversity and inclusion initiative, corporate change needs the support of the people in that organisation in order to stick. Yet, while all stories can move people to take action, storytelling isn't a one size fits all. The most effective influencers learn to flex their narrative based on the audience's time or their level of expertise. A story that works on the stage doesn't work in the boardroom A story that works in the boardroom doesn't work in a team meeting A story that works in a team meeting doesn't work in a one-to-one conversation A story that works in one-to-one conversation doesn't work in sales... Socials: LinkedIn: Twitter: Instagram: /episode/index/show/ab86f711-aaf0-44b0-8574-6923e29229ad/id/36314190

Your Working Life with Caroline Dowd-Higgins

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