Transformational Thinkers with Sara Sheehan

In this episode of Transformational Thinkers, Sara Sheehan and guest Victoria Pelletier discuss what it takes to lead with strength, vulnerability, and clarity in today’s evolving business landscape. Victoria addresses a critical tension in modern organizations: the balance between people, process, and data. While data integrity is essential, she emphasizes that organizations cannot afford to wait for perfect systems before moving forward with innovation. Leaders must act strategically while continuing to refine their data foundations. Victoria reflects on what she has had to unlearn over time, including the outdated belief that leaders must suppress vulnerability. Instead, she highlights the importance of showing up authentically, while continuing to work on personal growth areas such as patience and self-awareness. She and Sara also talk about decision-making under pressure, and Victoria shares a defining moment during a series of acquisitions. Faced with conflicting data and intuition, she chose to trust her instincts about retaining key talent. That decision preserved significant client relationships, reinforcing the importance of balancing analytics with human insight. Over time, Victoria developed deeper relationships with the team, which is critical for high-stakes account development efforts. In discussing the human side of leadership, they dive into how personal experiences shape executive performance. Victoria candidly shares challenges related to family, mental health, and identity, underscoring that resilience is not just a professional competency but a deeply personal journey. Victoria describes confidence versus ego as a fine line that requires continuous self-awareness and humility. Leaders must learn to communicate their value clearly while remaining grounded and open to growth. A critical leadership mistake she highlights is the tendency to make exceptions for high performers who violate company values. These exceptions, while often rationalized, can erode trust and damage organizational culture over time. Victoria also outlines what signals readiness for greater responsibility: high performance, a willingness to stretch beyond comfort zones, and the ability to embrace failure as part of growth. She emphasizes that leaders must actively develop their people, not just drive results. Victoria shares her mindset of being “unstoppable” and maintaining a no-excuses approach to achieving goals. She reinforces that growth happens in discomfort and that leaders must be willing to step into uncertainty. As the conversation closes, Victoria and Sara reflect on legacy and long-term success. They challenge the traditional focus on titles and financial outcomes, emphasizing instead the importance of impact, relationships, and the kind of person a leader becomes. True success is measured by the lives influenced and the culture created, not just the results delivered.  Key Moments: 00:00:00 – The Role of People, Data, and AI in Business Transformation Victoria discusses the balance between people, process, and data, and why leaders cannot wait for perfect data before leveraging AI effectively. 00:01:18 – What Leaders Must Unlearn to Evolve A candid reflection on unlearning outdated leadership behaviors, including suppressing vulnerability and the ongoing challenge of developing patience. 00:02:44 – High-Stakes Decision Making: Logic vs Intuition Victoria shares a pivotal acquisition story where trusting her instincts over pure data preserved long-term business value. 00:05:21 – The Personal Weight Leaders Carry An honest look at how personal challenges, including family and mental health, shape resilience and leadership perspective. 00:06:25 – Emotional Intelligence Under Pressure Victoria explains how emotions surface first under stress and how she has learned to manage her reactions professionally. 00:07:32 – The Cost of Delayed Decisions A deeply personal story about delaying a major life decision and the lessons it taught about confidence, timing, and self-trust. 00:09:43 – Confidence vs Ego in Executive Leadership Exploring the fine line between self-assurance and ego, and the importance of feedback and humility in leadership growth. 00:12:14 – The Hidden Leadership Mistake That Erodes Culture Why making exceptions for high performers can damage trust and undermine organizational values. 00:14:38 – Identifying High-Potential Talent What signals indicate someone is ready for greater responsibility, including their performance, curiosity, and resilience. 00:16:57 – Building Courage and Operating in Discomfort Victoria shares her “unstoppable” mindset and why growth happens outside of comfort zones. 00:19:35 – The Impact of Failure on Leadership Identity A discussion on how public failure can shape or hinder leaders and the importance of resilience. 00:23:31 – Rethinking Success, Legacy, and What Truly Matters Victoria challenges traditional definitions of success, emphasizing people, relationships, and long-term impact over titles and financial outcomes.   About Victoria Pelletier: Victoria Pelletier is a transformational C-suite executive, board director, keynote speaker, and author known for driving business growth, leadership excellence, and cultural transformation across global organizations. With more than two decades of senior leadership experience, she has held executive roles in complex, high-growth environments, where she has led large-scale transformations and delivered measurable business results. A passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, Victoria is widely recognized for her bold, no-excuses leadership style and her commitment to helping individuals and organizations reach their full potential. Through her speaking, writing, and advisory work, she empowers leaders to elevate performance, embrace resilience, and lead with authenticity in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape. __ Resources discussed in this episode: “The Leadership Transition Guide” by Victoria Pelletier YouTube: "Embracing Healthy Resilience” by Victoria Pelletier __ Contact Victoria Pelletier: Website: Victoria-Pelletier.com Victoria Pelletier’s books Victoria Pelletier on LinkedIn Victoria Pelletier on YouTube: VictoriaPelletierUnstoppable Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting: SaraWSheehan.com Sara Sheehan on LinkedIn Meet with Sara Submit Questions or Feedback to Sara Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Transformational Thinkers, Sara Sheehan interviews Nick Jain, CEO of Eagle Rock CFO, an analytically driven firm leveraging AI to transform financial operations, HR functions, and strategic decision-making. Nick is a seasoned CEO known for his expertise in scaling businesses. Eagle Rock CFO is using AI as a central offering to drive client organizational growth.  Nick begins by revealing one of the earliest indicators of business decline: a lack of urgency and productivity within teams, resulting in stagnation. When employees are no longer fully engaged, it often signals deeper operational or market misalignment. He emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between internal execution issues and external market shifts, noting that leaders must act decisively before problems appear in financial metrics, emphasizing the need to make positive ROI decisions daily. At the core of Nick’s scaling philosophy is a simple but powerful principle: every decision must generate positive incremental return on investment. Financial performance is his most important indicator of business health. Sara and Nick discuss leadership under pressure. Nick shares his personal leadership challenges, particularly the intricacies of stepping into organizations with established leadership cultures and making unpopular decisions for long-term value creation. He underscores that effective CEOs must prioritize outcomes over approval, especially during periods of transformation. A central theme of the episode is Nick’s approach to risk. Rather than relying on intuition, he applies a quantified, probability-based framework to evaluate decisions. Leaders must assess expected value while also considering path dependency, ensuring that no single decision eliminates their ability to continue operating and competing. Sara and Nick then explore the transformative power of AI in business. Through Eagle Rock CFO’s proprietary platform, Nick demonstrates how AI-based systems can analyze vast datasets, identify profit opportunities, and surface risks in real time. What traditionally required dozens of hours of manual analysis can now be completed in seconds, delivering actionable insights to businesses across industries. The platform identifies overlooked opportunities such as pricing strategies, operational inefficiencies, and even risk exposures like missing insurance coverage. By reviewing diverse data sources, the system continuously generates recommendations designed to improve profitability and resilience. Nick also introduces a paradigm shift in how AI should be used. Rather than asking narrow, task-based questions, leaders should adopt open-ended prompts such as “How do we make this business better?” This approach allows AI to think more holistically, uncovering insights that traditional workflows might miss. Nick argues that tomorrow’s leaders must combine analytical rigor with technological fluency, as AI becomes central to decision-making and organizational design. He highlights the growing accessibility of advanced intelligence, enabling even small businesses to leverage capabilities once reserved for large enterprises. The conversation takes a deeper turn as Nick reflects on the societal implications of AI. While it drives efficiency and growth, it also raises profound questions about meaning, work, and human connection. As AI impacts positions, individuals, and certain forms of interaction, leaders must grapple with the broader impact AI has on the workforce and communities. Additionally, Nick highlights there has been a huge reduction in cost to use AI in all use cases, workflows, and applications for businesses of all sizes, paving the way for a significant increase in AI use, adoption, and impacts to the future of work. The episode concludes with a forward-looking perspective on leadership, growth, and the importance of adapting to an AI-driven world while maintaining a focus on human value and purpose. Key Moments: 00:00:01 Early Warning Signs of Business Stagnation Nick Jain reveals the earliest behavioral indicators that a company is about to stall and why leaders must act before financial metrics decline. 00:00:33 Internal vs External Causes of Business Decline Learn how to diagnose whether performance issues stem from internal execution or external market shifts and the strategic decisions each requires. 00:01:31 The Power of Positive Incremental ROI Discover Nick’s core scaling principle: making daily decisions that generate positive return on investment and compound long-term business growth. 00:02:32 Leading Through Unpopular Decisions Why effective CEOs must prioritize long-term value over being liked and how to navigate leadership resistance during transformation. 00:05:37 Quantifying Risk and Making Smarter Bets A data-driven framework for evaluating risk, expected value, and decision-making that keeps businesses in the game. 00:06:50 The Leadership Habit Most CEOs Overlook How continuous learning, reading, and intellectual curiosity create a long-term competitive advantage for executives. 00:07:58 How AI is Replacing Traditional CFO Work Explore how AI-powered platforms deliver real-time financial insights, automate analysis, and scale decision-making across organizations 00:09:45 Turning Data Into Profit and Risk Mitigation Real-world examples of how AI uncovers hidden revenue opportunities and identifies critical risks most leaders overlook. 00:27:06 Rethinking AI Impact: From Task Execution to Strategic Thinking Asking AI better, more open-ended questions unlocks deeper insights and transforms business performance. 00:23:00 The Future of Back Office Functions with AI How AI is reshaping finance, HR, and operations by rebuilding processes from the ground up rather than replicating human workflows. 00:30:10 Scaling Lessons: Data Visibility and Decision Making Key patterns from scaling multiple companies, including the importance of data observability and eliminating opinion-based decisions. 00:39:16 The Hidden Risk of AI: Meaning, Work, and the Future of Humanity A thought-provoking discussion on how AI  impacts purpose, human connection, and the future role of work in society.   About Nick Jain: Nick Jain is the CEO of Eagle Rock CFO, a tech-enabled fractional CFO firm that leverages autonomous AI to help businesses improve profitability, optimize operations, and scale intelligently. With experience scaling companies across multiple industries, Nick brings a highly analytical approach to leadership, risk management, and decision-making. Nick has an MBA from Harvard Business School and investment experience with Bain Capital private equity and Greenlight public equities. __ Resources discussed in this episode: Claude Code “Moby Dick” by Herman Melville “Paradise Lost” by John Milton __ Contact Nick Jain | Eagle Rock CFO Website: EaglerRockCFO.com Nick Jain on LinkedIn Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting: SaraWSheehan.com Sara Sheehan on LinkedIn Meet with Sara Submit Questions or Feedback to Sara Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this thought-provoking episode, Sara Sheehan delivers a strategic and human-centered perspective on artificial intelligence and its impact on business, leadership, and society. She emphasizes that AI is not autonomous. It reflects the priorities and decisions of those who design and deploy it. The Transformation of Work Requires Human Leadership AI is reshaping how work is structured across industries. However, the true challenge is not automation. It is ensuring that humans remain in control of how work is defined and valued. Sara highlights that leading organizations will: Design roles where AI enhances human capability Maintain human authority in ethical and complex decision-making Prioritize long-term value creation through people development As routine tasks become automated, human value shifts toward leadership, creativity, trust building, and ethical governance. Education Must Evolve to Develop Leaders To support this shift, education systems must prioritize: Critical thinking and adaptability Leadership and communication skills Ethical reasoning and responsible AI use Sara reinforces that developing capable, self-aware leaders is essential for navigating an AI-integrated future. Economic Systems Require Active Human Stewardship AI will unlock unprecedented productivity, but economic outcomes will depend on how leaders design systems around it. Key leadership responsibilities include: Building sustainable business models Encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation Strengthening the link between business success and community well-being Healthy economies are not automatic. They are intentionally created and sustained by leaders. Preserving Human Agency in an AI-Driven World One of the greatest risks is over-reliance on AI systems. Sara stresses that humans must retain accountability and decision-making authority. Organizations must: Ensure transparency in AI systems Develop leaders who can interpret and challenge AI outputs Reinforce cultures that value human judgment Agency is not preserved by default. It requires disciplined leadership and continuous awareness. Redefining Meaning and Purpose Beyond Work As AI reshapes traditional career structures, individuals must actively define meaning and purpose. Sara explores how fulfillment will increasingly come from: Relationships and community engagement Creative and intellectual pursuits Personal values and deeper philosophical foundations Organizations that support the whole person will build stronger, more engaged teams. Adapting to Rapid Change with Resilience The pace of change is accelerating, placing new demands on individuals and organizations. To thrive, leaders must focus on: Continuous learning and reinvention Mental and physical well-being Strong community connections and support systems Resilience is built through both individual capability and collective strength. __ Key Moments 00:00:03 Introduction to AI Leadership and Human Responsibility Sara Sheehan introduces the core theme of leading in an AI-driven world, outlining why human decision-making, values, and leadership will define the future of business transformation. 00:02:13 The Five Biggest Concerns in an AI-Driven World An overview of the key challenges facing humanity, including workforce disruption, economic shifts, and the need for intentional leadership in AI integration. 00:02:50 AI and the Transformation of Work Explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping jobs and why leaders must design roles that elevate human contribution rather than replace it. 00:03:40 The Evolving Role of Human Skills in Business Why leadership, creativity, trust building, and ethical governance are becoming the most valuable skills in an AI-powered economy. 00:04:33 Rethinking Education for the Future of Work How education systems must evolve to develop adaptable, self-aware leaders with critical thinking and AI integration skills. 00:05:30 Supporting Workforce Performance and Well Being The importance of executive coaching, leadership development, and wellness programs in sustaining performance during rapid technological change. 00:06:00 Designing Economic Systems in the Age of AI Why economic growth, entrepreneurship, and community stability depend on human stewardship and intentional system design. 00:06:56 The Role of Business Leaders in AI Integration How CEOs and executives must take responsibility for aligning AI adoption with long-term talent development and organizational strength. 00:08:00 Preserving Human Agency and Decision Making A critical look at maintaining human oversight, accountability, and transparency in AI-driven environments. 00:09:25 Leadership, Critical Thinking, and AI Governance Why leaders must challenge AI outputs, reinforce organizational values, and build cultures that prioritize human judgment. 00:10:30 Redefining Meaning and Purpose Beyond Work How individuals and organizations must cultivate purpose through community, relationships, and values in a shifting work landscape. 00:12:07 Building Resilience and Adapting to Rapid Change Strategies for continuous learning, mental wellness, and community connection to thrive in an accelerating AI-driven world. __ Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting: SaraWSheehan.com Sara Sheehan on LinkedIn Meet with Sara Submit Questions or Feedback to Sara Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. 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What if the key to unlocking innovation and leadership performance is as simple as movement? In this compelling episode of Transformational Thinkers with Sara Sheehan, Sara welcomes Joel Heath, entrepreneur, innovator, and CEO of FluidStance, a company focused on creating products that bring movement into the workplace. Joel shares his transformative journey from concept to company, illustrating how his innovative leadership is reshaping our understanding of workplace culture and education. As we explore the challenges many face in static environments, Joel candidly reflects on his experiences as a father witnessing his son’s transition from a playful preschool to a rigid kindergarten. This pivotal moment ignited his passion for creating products that promote movement and enhance creativity. Joel set out to design solutions that restore dynamic movement in modern workspaces. The result was FluidStance, a brand built on the belief that physical movement fuels cognitive performance, emotional engagement, and innovative thinking. He highlights the critical role of innovation in fostering environments that empower employees, emphasizing how physical activity can lead to greater productivity and a thriving workplace culture. One of the most powerful frameworks he discusses is the 70-20-10 innovation model, which allocates resources across three strategic areas. Seventy percent should focus on the core business that drives revenue today. Twenty percent should support adjacent innovations that expand existing offerings. Ten percent should fund transformational ideas that shape the long-term future. Throughout our conversation, we touch on essential themes such as the delicate balance between innovation and operational stability, the importance of teamwork, and the cultivation of a culture that embraces both performance and play. Joel’s insights into leadership excellence and transformational leadership provide valuable lessons for executives and aspiring leaders alike, offering a roadmap for navigating the complexities of organizational growth and business transformation. We also delve into the challenges of over-innovation and the necessity of emotional intelligence in leadership. Joel’s perspective on maintaining a dynamic balance in life and business serves as a clarion call for all leaders striving for real-world change. He shares actionable strategies for enhancing communication in leadership and optimizing talent, ensuring that organizations not only adapt but thrive in extraordinary times. This episode is a treasure trove of insights for anyone interested in change management, employee empowerment, and the transformative power of creativity in the workplace.  Joel emphasizes the value of what he calls the one percent rule, intentionally safeguarding a small portion of time dedicated to reflection, exploration, and renewal. This protected time often leads to breakthrough ideas and deeper clarity for leaders. Join us as we uncover the innovative leadership strategies that can help you and your organization master change management and achieve audacious goals. This episode offers a powerful perspective for leaders embracing innovation, driving meaningful change, and facilitating business growth in a rapidly evolving business landscape. If you are ready to rethink how leadership, creativity, and performance intersect, this episode will challenge you to move forward in new ways. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn from one of the brightest business executives in the world. Key Moments: 00:00:00 – Movement Sparked the Business A personal pain point led to FluidStance—and a new way of thinking about work and performance. 00:01:40 – The Problem with “Sit to Focus” Why traditional environments suppress energy, creativity, and human potential. 00:03:20 – Why Movement Improves Thinking How physical movement unlocks better ideas, clarity, and collaboration. 00:04:45 – When You Lose Your Creative Edge Joel shares how stillness in corporate life drained his energy—and how he reclaimed it. 00:05:50 – Entrepreneur vs. Artist Mindset Why embracing creativity changed how Joel leads, builds, and innovates. 00:08:10 – Creativity Needs Structure The balance between big ideas and execution—and why both are essential. 00:09:10 – The Athlete Mindset in Business Applying performance metrics and discipline to long-term business success. 00:10:25 – The Truth About Building FluidStance Early wins, scaling challenges, and lessons from growing a product company. 00:12:40 – The Danger of Too Many Ideas Why over-innovation creates chaos—and how focus drives real growth. 00:15:35 – The 70-20-10 Growth Framework A proven model for balancing core operations, expansion, and future innovation. 00:20:30 – Designing Workplaces That Move How to create environments that support physical, emotional, and intellectual flow. 00:22:35 – Avoiding Chaos or Stagnation Finding the balance between innovation and stability without burning out. 00:24:20 – Why Play Is a Leadership Advantage How play, movement, and shared experiences strengthen teams and ideas. 00:28:30 – The 1% That Drives Performance Protecting energy, recovery, and meaningful moments for sustained success. 00:36:15 – Grit, Growth, and What Leaders Leave Behind Redefining grit and embracing dynamic balance as the true legacy of leadership. About Joel Heath: Joel Heath is a consumer brand and product architect, front-end innovator, and CEO. He develops insight-led strategies that shape category-defining products, reposition brands, and drive growth with purpose. He is the Founder and CEO of FluidStance, and he also advises companies in the biotech and outdoor categories. FluidStance is reimagining the workplace by bringing movement, energy, and well-being into static environments. Joel is also taking on select fractional and board roles where he can contribute to brand, product, and growth strategy within his leadership role. Previously, he helped lead the turnaround of Teva as part of the Deckers Brands (NASDAQ: DECK) leadership team. His first successful exit was an experiential brand agency in Vail, Colorado, where they created campaigns for Volkswagen, Native Eyewear, Payday Candy Bars, and Sports Illustrated. Joel conceived of and created the GoPro Mountain Games, the largest outdoor adventure event in the world, broadcast on NBC and CBS. In addition to athletic events, the GoPro Mountain Games include a mountain photography competition, adventure film school, film festival, interactive exhibition, live music, and mountain lifestyle parties.  Joel works as a strategic advisor, helping organizations clarify their why, develop disruptive product concepts, and build authentic connections with their audiences. His leadership spans startups, global brands, and purpose-driven organizations, with a focus on long-term value creation. Beyond business, he is a founding board member of First Descents, a nonprofit that delivers life-changing outdoor experiences for young adults surviving cancer and other serious health challenges. __ Resources discussed in this episode: The 70-20-10 Innovation Framework “Grit” by Angela Duckworth __ Contact Joel Heath | FluidStance: Website: FluidStance.com Joel Heath on LinkedIn Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting: SaraWSheehan.com Sara Sheehan on LinkedIn Meet with Sara Submit Questions or Feedback to Sara Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the key to thriving in the age of AI lies not in reducing your workforce but in empowering it? In this solo episode of Transformational Thinkers with Sara Sheehan, host Sara Sheehan delves into the often-overlooked truth about the role of employees amidst the rise of agentic AI systems and AI oversight. Agentic AI systems do not simply automate tasks. They reshape the economics of work, speed, scale, and consequence. While many leaders focus on cost reduction and role replacement, Sara makes a compelling case that AI transformations actually increase the strategic importance of employees. Why? Because autonomous systems amplify whatever infrastructure they inherit. Broken workflows, poor data governance, unclear decision rights, and cultural fragmentation do not disappear with AI. They accelerate. This episode walks through the ten highest impact contributions employees make during an agentic AI transformation. Listeners will gain insights into leadership excellence and transformational leadership, discovering how to foster a workplace culture that nurtures employee empowerment and talent optimization. Sara shares real-world change stories that highlight the transformative power of viewing AI oversight not as a workforce reduction tool but as a workforce multiplier that enhances human capabilities. This episode is packed with change management strategies and innovative leadership insights that will inspire leaders to embrace a growth mindset and cultivate creativity within their teams. The Ten Highest Value Human Contributions in an AI Transformation 1. Conducting Rigorous Process Reviews Before automation, employees surface hidden inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and failure points. They map how work truly happens, not how it appears in documentation. For CEOs, this is margin protection and scalability engineering. 2. Data Cleanup and Governance AI systems are only as reliable as the data they consume. Employees safeguard decision infrastructure through data normalization, ownership definition, and governance discipline. This is enterprise risk management in action. 3. Human Oversight of Autonomous Systems Autonomous systems introduce a new category of risk: invisible error at machine speed. Employees monitor outputs, detect anomalies, manage model drift, and intervene in high-impact decisions. Oversight enables controlled acceleration rather than uncontrolled exposure. 4. Exception Handling and Contextual Judgment Business reality is complex and dynamic. Employees protect value at the boundaries where AI struggles, including ambiguous ethical situations, regulatory shifts, and strategic trade-offs. Automation scales the process. Humans scale judgment. 5. Training and Refining AI Agents Employees transform generic AI into a proprietary advantage. Through feedback loops, domain corrections, and system refinement, they align AI capabilities with competitive context. 6. Cross-Functional Translation Agentic AI transformations often stall due to silos. Employees who bridge operations, finance, legal, IT, and customer experience create coherence. They translate technical capability into business outcomes and reduce political drag. 7. Identifying High Value Automation Opportunities Not all automation creates ROI. Employees closest to the work distinguish between high-leverage opportunities and novelty projects. Their insight strengthens capital allocation discipline. 8. Driving Change Adoption and Cultural Stability AI adoption is psychological as much as technical. Employees stabilize performance during uncertainty by modeling new behaviors and reducing resistance through understanding. 9. Risk Detection and Ethical Safeguards Bias, compliance conflicts, and unintended consequences can scale rapidly in AI environments. Employees serve as early detectors, integrating human values and organizational norms into governance frameworks. 10. Continuous Improvement and System Evolution An agentic AI transformation is not a project with an end date. It is a continuous capability shift. Employees drive iterative refinement, integration expansion, and performance optimization, ensuring AI becomes a compounding advantage rather than a depreciating tool. As you listen, consider how you can implement these innovative leadership approaches, communication strategies and change management techniques to engage your stakeholders effectively. Whether you are a CEO, CHRO, or a leader in human resources, this episode offers invaluable perspectives on navigating the future of work and driving organizational change. Sara leaves leaders with a powerful question: The issue is not how many roles AI will replace. The issue is how to maximize the unique value humans contribute alongside autonomous systems. High-performing organizations treat employees as co-architects of transformation. They elevate people into roles as designers of intelligent workflows, stewards of data integrity, governors of autonomous systems, and guardians of judgment and ethics. AI may redefine industries. But organizations that win will deliberately cultivate the human capabilities that AI cannot replicate: contextual reasoning, ethical discernment, adaptive thinking, and strategic judgment. Technology transforms organizations. People determine whether that transformation creates enterprise value or destroys it. If you are serious about AI-driven business transformation, AI oversight, workforce strategy, and sustainable competitive advantage, this conversation will reshape how you think about human capital in the age of autonomous systems. __  Key Moments: 00:00:01 Introduction: Agentic AI Transformation and the Future of Workforce Strategy 00:01:36 Chapter 1: Business Process Optimization for Scalable AI Implementation 00:02:47 Chapter 2: Data Governance and Data Quality Management in Enterprise AI Systems 00:03:53 Chapter 3: AI Governance and Human Oversight in Autonomous Systems 00:04:50 Chapter 4: Human Judgment in AI Decision Making and Exception Management 00:05:38 Chapter 5: Training, Prompt Engineering, and AI System Optimization for Competitive Advantage 00:06:33 Chapter 6: Cross-Functional Leadership in Enterprise AI Transformation 00:07:26 Chapter 7: Strategic Automation Planning and High ROI AI Use Cases 00:08:16 Chapter 8: Change Management Strategy for AI Adoption and Workforce Transformation 00:08:39 Chapter 9: Ethical AI, Risk Mitigation, and Compliance in AI-Driven Organizations 00:09:40 Chapter 10: Continuous Improvement and AI System Evolution for Long-Term Business Growth 00:10:29 CEO Strategy: Human AI Collaboration as a Competitive Advantage 00:11:05 Closing: AI Workforce Transformation and Enterprise Value Creation __ Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting: SaraWSheehan.com Sara Sheehan on LinkedIn Meet with Sara Submit Questions or Feedback to Sara Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. 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In this episode, host Sara Sheehan welcomes Jed Ayres, the visionary CEO of ControlUp, a leader at the forefront of digital employee experience and autonomous IT operations. Jed reflects on his early years owning and operating a hotel and restaurant, where performance feedback was immediate and ruthless. These formative experiences shaped his servant leadership philosophy, which emphasizes empathy, accountability, and trust as the foundation of high-performing organizations. Jed’s unique journey reveals invaluable lessons in leadership excellence and transformational leadership.Jed explains how the shift to remote and hybrid work during the pandemic revealed a critical gap in traditional IT operations. While companies spent years prioritizing customer experience, employee digital experience lagged behind. This lag created friction, anxiety, and lost productivity. From that, Jed led the evolution of ControlUp from a deep technology platform into a cutting-edge, unified digital employee experience solution. As organizations navigate the complexities of the digital employee experience, understanding the human element becomes essential. He clarifies the difference between managing technology performance and managing employee experience, highlighting how real-time telemetry, automation, and AI eliminate repetitive troubleshooting and dramatically lower ticket volumes. Gartner predictions support this shift, suggesting organizations that fail to adopt these platforms risk falling behind operationally and competitively.Sara and Jed discuss how AI transforms IT from a reactive cost center into a strategic enabler. By using real-time data contextualized around individual employees, AI can identify issues, recommend fixes, and even remediate problems. This not only reduces operational drag but also frees IT teams to focus on higher-value strategic work. Jed also addresses common misconceptions about DEX, urging organizations to prioritize core IT operational efficiencies before venturing into HR aspects. This strategic alignment is crucial for fostering an environment where talent can thrive, ultimately leading to organizational growth and innovation in leadership.From a leadership perspective, Jed emphasizes that successful digital workplace transformation requires executive sponsorship, cross-functional collaboration, and cultural readiness. Successful organizations formalize digital employee experience at the board level, invest in dedicated ownership, and commit to long-term partnerships rather than isolated tool deployments. With these accelerating changes in how we work, Jed emphasizes the urgent need for seamless technology experiences that empower employees and enhance productivity. This episode is not just a conversation; it’s a clarion call for transformational thinkers to embrace change management strategies that cultivate workplace culture and enhance communication in leadership.The episode posits a bold prediction: In the near future, manual troubleshooting will be viewed as reckless and wasteful. Autonomous IT operations powered by AI will become the standard, fundamentally reshaping how organizations operate and how leaders think about productivity and human potential. Don't miss out on this opportunity to engage with one of the industry's leading voices in business transformation. Tune in to Transformational Thinkers with Sara Sheehan and discover how to transform challenges into opportunities for growth and success. __About Jed Ayres: Jed Ayres brings vast experience in leading multinational software organizations to ControlUp, successfully executing strong organic and inorganic growth strategies, building groundbreaking leadership teams, executing strong partnerships, and expanding internationally. Most recently, Ayres served as CEO of IGEL, where he was instrumental in its acquisition by TA Associates and positioning it as a market leader. Prior to that, Ayres was responsible for the strong growth in category leader AppSense (acquired by Ivanti) and held executive leadership positions with MCPc (acquired by Logicalis), MTM Technologies, and GE Capital IT Solutions.  Key Moments:00:00:01 – Welcome and Introduction to Jed Ayres00:01:30 – Hospitality Roots and the Servant Leadership Mindset00:03:00 – Why Digital Employee Experience Became a Strategic Imperative00:04:45 – The Hidden Cost of Poor Technology Experiences at Work00:06:20 – Optimization vs Monitoring in Digital Employee Experience00:08:10 – From Legacy IT Tools to Real Time Data and Automation00:10:00 – Why AI Is Perfect for Eliminating Repetitive IT Work00:12:45 – Reframing DEX as a Business Outcome for CEOs and Boards00:15:30 – Tool Consolidation and the Financial Impact of Automation00:18:00 – Cutting Through Data Noise with AI Driven Insights00:20:15 – Frontline Workers, Brand Experience, and Digital Friction00:23:20 – Common Misconceptions About Digital Employee Experience00:26:15 – DEX as the Gateway to Autonomous Endpoint Management00:29:45 – Leadership, Trust, and Empowerment in Transformation00:45:10 – A Bold Prediction for the Future of Work and IT Operations__ Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with SaraSubmit Questions or Feedback to Sara Contact Jed Ayres | ControlUp:Website: ControlUp.comLinkedIn: JedAyres Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. 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Susan brings a grounded, real-world perspective shaped by years of advising organizations through challenging employee relations, legal exposure, and leadership capability gaps. With the rise of wage and hour claims, understanding local laws has never been more crucial for companies expanding their workforce across state lines. This conversation is a clarion call for CEOs and CHROs to take proactive measures in addressing employee relations concerns, emphasizing the importance of timely action and thorough investigations when challenges arise. This episode is essential listening for executives who want to future-proof their organizations by strengthening managers and building cultures that balance performance, empathy, and accountability. Sara addresses how, as workforces have become increasingly distributed, HR complexity has accelerated. Susan Levi explains why expanding across state lines introduces significant compliance risk, particularly around wage and hour laws and leave requirements. She emphasizes that many organizations underestimate these challenges and that proactive due diligence is now a leadership requirement rather than an HR afterthought.They discuss employee relations and highlight why ignoring issues, especially when high performers are involved, creates outsized legal and cultural risk. Susan explains why leaders must investigate concerns promptly with accurate documentation and resist the temptation to just move problems elsewhere within the organization. Addressing issues directly, even when uncomfortable, is critical to protecting both people and the business.Recruiting and retention remain front-line concerns for CEOs, and Susan shares why behavioral interviewing consistently outperforms hypothetical questioning by ensuring better cultural fit and significantly reducing employee turnover. Discover how to implement these transformational insights to foster a thriving workplace culture that empowers employees and aligns with your strategic goals. To retain top performers, she dives into the significance of stay interviews, a powerful tool for retaining top talent, and stresses the need for organizations to understand what keeps their employees satisfied, engaged, and empowered.With four generations now active in the workforce, leadership expectations around flexibility, feedback, and growth are colliding. Susan explains why flexibility has shifted from a perk to a business necessity in professional roles and why output, not micromanagement, is the standard for high-performing organizations. Sara and Susan urge leaders to adapt their management styles to cultivate a growth mindset within their teams.Susan and Sara discuss why poor manager capability is one of the most common drivers of disengagement and turnover. New managers often struggle with feedback, coaching, and difficult conversations, not due to lack of intent, but lack of training. Investing in foundational management skills is one of the best moves organizations can make. Susan identifies how HR leaders can combat change fatigue through transparency and visible progress, and stresses that clear communication focused on why changes are being made is a necessity. Looking ahead, she identifies two critical shifts leaders must make to future-proof HR: moving from reactive to proactive people practices and streamlining HR systems to create more seamless employee experiences. This episode also addresses the integration of AI into HR processes, cautioning against over-reliance on technology without human oversight.Tune in for real-world change stories and innovative leadership strategies that will empower you to master change management and drive organizational growth. This episode is not just about insights; it's about transforming challenges into opportunities for thriving in extraordinary times. Join us for a journey of transformation that will elevate your understanding of employee relations, employee engagement techniques, and organizational change leadership. Don't miss out on this opportunity to enhance your leadership development and become a transformational thinker! About Susan Levi: Susan Levi is the Founder of Jinji HR, a human resources consulting firm known for navigating complex employee relations, compliance challenges, and leadership development issues. Susan partners closely with CEOs and leadership teams to reduce risk, strengthen manager capability, and modernize HR practices to support sustainable growth.Susan received her PsyD in Organizational Management and Consulting from Phillips Graduate University and received a M.A. and B.A. degree in Psychology from Pepperdine University and the University of California, Irvine, respectively. She holds her SPHR and PHR certifications from the HR Certification Institute.Susan has experience providing HR solutions to both for-profit and non-profit employers in a wide range of industries. Susan leverages this experience and understanding to develop solutions that are not only compliant but also align with industry best business practices, and help support employees with their HR needs.When Susan is not working, she enjoys attending tap class, golfing, and spending time with her family and pomeranian, Sage. Key Moments:00:00 Introduction to Today’s HR Reality00:40 Meet Susan Levi of Jinji HR01:09 The Rise of Complex HR and Compliance Cases02:51 Why Ignoring Employee Issues Creates Legal Risk03:52 High Performers and the Cost of Looking the Other Way05:35 Recruiting for Speed and Culture Fit in a Distributed Workforce06:04 Behavioral Interviewing as a Competitive Advantage08:10 Stay Interviews and Building Sticky Engagement10:11 Growth Paths Beyond the Management Track12:19 Leading Across Four Generations in the Workforce13:35 Flexibility, Feedback, and Modern Performance Expectations15:03 Preparing New Managers for Leadership Conversations18:27 Responsible AI Use in HR and Recruiting23:52 Managing Change Fatigue Through Transparency28:27 Future Proofing HR Through Proactive Strategy and Process Simplification__Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with SaraContact Susan Levi | JinjiHR:Website: JinjiHR.comLinkedIn: SusLevi Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. 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In this enlightening episode of Transformational Thinkers, host Sara Sheehan sits down with Brad Stewart, the visionary founder of Music Mogul AI and CEO of Stewart Entertainment Agency, to unpack why the traditional music industry business model is fundamentally broken and how technology is creating a more efficient, artist-first future.Throughout our conversation, we touched on the essence of transformational leadership and the importance of efficiently nurturing personal relationships within the music business. Brad emphasizes that while technology like Music Mogul AI can streamline processes, the human element remains indispensable. He shares how his platform not only provides tools for efficiency but also offers mentorship and consulting services, ensuring artists are well-equipped to navigate their careers.With over 20 years inside the music industry, Brad explains how streaming economics, agency structures that are becoming outdated, and some fragmented systems have eroded artist revenue streams while increasing workload and burnout. He shares firsthand insights into the issues that plague artist management, booking, and marketing, and why the advice on simply “working harder” is no longer a viable strategy for independent artists trying to build sustainable careers.Brad and Sara discuss Music Mogul AI, a groundbreaking software solution that revolutionizes how artists manage their bookings, marketing, and overall business operations. This innovative platform is not just about automation; it's about empowering artists to become efficient, reclaiming their time, and optimizing their revenue streams. Brad's insights into the economic challenges of the music industry highlight the critical role of data-driven decision-making in today’s landscape, making this episode a must-listen for anyone invested in business transformation. Built specifically for independent artists, bands, DJs, and agencies, the platform uses efficient AI agents to handle repetitive administrative work, streamlining touring and promotions, surfacing actionable data insights, and dramatically improving time-to-revenue. The result brings forward greater clarity and control, and long-term career management for creators navigating a fast-changing music industry.Whether you’re an artist, manager, label executive, or business leader interested in how AI in the music industry is driving real-world transformation, this conversation offers a clear, data-driven look at where music industry technology is heading, and how early adopters can gain a lasting advantage.About Brad Stewart: With nearly 2 decades of experience in booking international touring acts, Stewart has worked with many amazing talents, such as icons Leon Russell and Ten Years After; blues giants Bobby Blue Bland and Walter Trout; jam scene heroes like Marc Ford (former lead guitarist of the Black Crowes), The Heavy Pets, Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band, Monophonics, and the Honey Island Swamp Band.Along the way, Stewart earned a reputation as a professional with integrity, a strong work ethic, and the vision to promote a positive evolution of change in booking operations. Since Brad started as a hard-core music fan, the very foundation of Stewart Entertainment is based on his empathy for artists and his assistance for them to flourish.  He was exposed to all types of roots and rock music while growing up in Mississippi and understood early on that music exerts a strong gravitational pull. Armed with a degree in marketing, he moved to Charlotte, NC, scouring the landscape for a music business position that would allow him to work with and for artists in a meaningful way. He found that at Intrepid Artists. “I took on a lot of responsibility very quickly, handling booking for a large roster of artists in the northeast United States and Canada. Ultimately, he became steeped in every aspect of the business.  Nashville’s burgeoning music scene dictated Stewart’s move from Charlotte and made Music City the perfect home for Stewart Entertainment, LLC. “I see a tremendous opportunity today for artists who have trustworthy human resources in place.” Chapters:00:00:02 Why the Music Industry Is Broken00:00:56 Streaming Economics and Artist Leverage00:04:52 Challenging the Traditional Agency Model00:06:12 The True Unit Economics of Music00:07:13 Burnout and the Talent Drain00:09:20 Music Mogul AI and Time to Revenue00:11:59 Who Music Mogul AI Serves00:14:01 AI Agents for Booking and Marketing00:22:03 The Management Agent and Business Planning00:29:56 Turning Creative Data Into Signal00:32:42 Focused Product Strategy and Tradeoffs00:37:01 The Future of Music, AI, and Scale__Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with SaraContact Brad Stewart | Music Mogul AI | Stewart Entertainment Agency:Brad Stewart personal site: BradStewart.siteStewart Entertainment Agency: StewartEntertainment.netMusic Mogul AI: MusicMogulAI.comLinkedIn: Music-Mogul-AI Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. 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What if the key to unlocking your true potential lies in setting audacious goals that stretch your capabilities beyond the ordinary? In this enlightening episode of Transformational Thinkers with Sara Sheehan, we dive deep into the transformative power of bold goal-setting and its pivotal role in driving organizational growth and business transformation. Sara Sheehan, an expert in leadership excellence and change management, shares her insights on how these ambitious targets are not merely about bravado—they are essential for fostering innovation and achieving real-world change.Sara outlines practical principles for crafting bold yet actionable goals that resonate with your core values, encouraging you to make them significant enough to inspire progress and require the development of new skills. She explains why aspirational goals serve as a North Star and are far more than simply motivational slogans. Audacious goals clarify direction, spark innovation, filter distractions, and push leaders out of mediocrity. They demand evolution from leadership to elevate their organizational performance. Discover how to break down your audacious goals into manageable milestones that not only drive employee empowerment but also cultivate a resilient mindset essential for thriving in extraordinary times. Sara emphasizes the importance of daily habits, such as visualization and gratitude, to maintain focus and motivation on your journey toward transformational success. Sara shares high-performance routines like time blocking, prioritizing high-gain tasks, and seeking executive coaching that help leaders build a culture of accountability. Embracing such routines will strengthen the organizational ecosystem and maintain momentum in leadership transformation. Sara outlines a goal decomposition blueprint that maps backwards from future outcomes and helps CEOs and founders align daily actions with long-term strategy. This approach supports sustainable business growth, strategic planning, and consistent execution. By integrating these practices into your routine, you can foster a workplace culture that embraces innovation in organizations and nurtures talent optimization.As the episode unfolds, Sara issues a clarion call for listeners to embrace the challenge of setting their own audacious goals. This is your opportunity to embark on a journey of transformation that not only enhances your leadership capabilities but also inspires those around you. Join us as we explore transformational stories and business transformation insights that illustrate the profound impact of creative leadership in action.Whether you are a CEO, CHRO, or a leader in any capacity, this episode of Transformational Thinkers with Sara Sheehan will equip you with the tools and inspiration needed to master change management and leverage your goals for maximum impact. Tune in and take the first step towards a future where you not only meet your goals but redefine what success truly means. In This Episode:[00:02]: Welcome to Transformational Thinkers[00:29]: The Case for Thinking Bigger[01:45]: Principles for Setting Audacious Goals[03:15]: The Goal Decomposition Blueprint[04:24]: Mindset Mastery for Exponential Results[06:04]: Daily Habits of Audacious Leaders[08:24]: Aligning Culture and Ecosystem[09:34]: Your Audacious Goal Challenge__Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with Sara Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Transformational Thinkers, host Sara Sheehan breaks down the core principles from Dr. Benjamin Hardy’s new book, The Science of Scaling. In two key parts, both contained in this episode, she reveals how founders can achieve 10X growth by transforming their mindset, identity, and leadership standards. Sara explores Hardy’s Frame–Floor–Focus framework: an evidence-based playbook designed for founders and CEOs ready to think exponentially. In part one, Sara dives into the science of scaling according to Hardy, explaining why the biggest constraint in any business is the founder’s current identity. Sara details how to set impossible goals that align with your future self, eliminate low-value activities, and simplify operations. She highlights the role of Super Whos, as Hardy names them, the high-performance team members and partners who can accelerate progress and level up capability. Super Whos are critical to success because they support founders in ruthless elimination, simplification, operational excellence, as well as achieving impossible goals.In part two, Sara explores the deeper mindset transformation required to scale effectively. She talks about everything from Hardy’s future self-visualization to the 10X decision filter. We learn how to raise standards, complete a toleration audit, and adopt time compression strategies that force innovation and clarity. When auditing tolerations, it’s key to identify areas of the business that hinder the founder’s growth or impede strategic alignment.  Sara emphasizes that scaling isn’t about doing more; it’s really about becoming a leader capable of building the next version of the company.Packed with actionable tools, this episode is vital for founders, CEOs, and transformational thinkers ready to scale from the inside out and create a business aligned with visionary outcomes. Tune in to discover how you can thrive together with your team and achieve the extraordinary.Don't miss this opportunity to empower your leadership journey and gain the tools needed for effective business and mindset transformation. Join us in this episode of Transformational Thinkers with Sara Sheehan, where we challenge the status quo and unlock the potential for growth and innovation in your organization. __Resources discussed in this episode:“The Science of Scaling: Grow Your Business Bigger and Faster Than You Think Possible” by Dr. Benjamin Hardy and Blake Erickson__Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with Sara__ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Did you know that nearly 70% of large-scale transformation efforts fail? In this enlightening episode of Transformational Thinkers with Sara Sheehan, host Sara Sheehan, a seasoned change management consultant and executive coach, dives deep into the critical necessity of mastering change capability for CEOs and C-suite leaders. As the landscape of business transformation evolves, traditional models are proving to be outdated, and Sara advocates for a more agile, human-centric approach that prioritizes leadership excellence and employee empowerment.Throughout the episode, Sara emphasizes that successful change management is not merely a project; it’s a transformative mindset that requires authentic leadership involvement and a culture of adaptability. With compelling data and real-world change stories, she illustrates how organizations equipped with strong change management capabilities significantly increase their likelihood of achieving project objectives and strategic alignment.By introducing cohort-based change management training, Sara makes a clarion call for leaders to engage in tailored training programs that address specific business challenges. This innovative approach not only fosters organizational growth but also accelerates return on investment, making it an essential strategy for any CEO, CHRO, or business leader committed to thriving in today’s dynamic environment.Join us as we explore the fascinating intersection of transformational leadership and effective change management strategies. Sara shares invaluable insights from her extensive experience in executive coaching and consulting, offering listeners a chance to understand the pivotal role of education in mastering change management. With a focus on talent optimization and stakeholder engagement, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to enhance their leadership pipeline and drive measurable transformation.As the episode wraps up, Sara invites leaders to take the next step by scheduling a discovery call to discuss bespoke private cohorts designed to elevate their organizations. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from the best and discover how to become a transformational thinker in your own right. Tune in to Transformational Thinkers with Sara Sheehan and unlock the secrets to successful business transformation today! __Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with Sara Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Are you ready to unlock the transformative power of artificial intelligence for your business? Join host Sara Sheehan in this enlightening episode of Transformational Thinkers with Sara Sheehan as she engages with AI expert Dilip Dubey, who unveils the profound impacts AI can have on leadership excellence and organizational growth. This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating the complexities of business transformation in a rapidly evolving landscape.Dilip challenges the common misconceptions that surround AI, asserting that it is not merely another disruptive technology but rather a fundamental shift that can redefine how businesses operate. There are two main applications for AI that he outlines: automation and innovation. How can AI improve automation and lead innovation? That’s the question every business leader needs the answer to in order to understand why AI is the key to their business optimization. With his extensive knowledge, he shares real-world change stories highlighting how AI enhances efficiency, drives innovation, and creates measurable business value across various industries. This conversation is an invaluable resource for leaders seeking to master change management and embrace innovative leadership strategies.Throughout their discussion, Dilip emphasizes the importance of adopting a proactive mindset towards AI. He advises leaders to initiate high-value, low-complexity projects that can quickly demonstrate tangible benefits. This approach not only fosters employee empowerment but also aligns with tailored change management training that can elevate your organization’s performance. As the conversation unfolds, Dilip addresses common fears regarding job displacement, illustrating how AI can augment human capabilities rather than replace them. This perspective is crucial for organizations aiming to thrive together in a competitive market.Case studies of companies that used AI to double EBITDA, focusing on ROB (return on business) instead of ROI, and assuring employees that AI augments but does not replace humans are themes that Dilip shares. He has witnessed and spearheaded the power of AI to drive business efficiency to greater success, and he shares his extensive knowledge with Sara and listeners in this episode.While Dilip notes that ethical use and bias prevention are critical themes in AI adoption, when designed responsibly it also has the power to correct systemic inequalities. Human governance will always be required to weed out existing bias. But with oversight intact, AI has the power to redefine entire business models and create new opportunities that don’t exist today.  As the episode draws to a close, Dilip provides practical advice for leaders on fostering an AI-friendly culture and leveraging data effectively. He emphasizes that embracing AI as a strategic initiative is essential for remaining competitive and relevant. This episode is packed with insights that will resonate with CEOs, CHROs, and any stakeholders looking to enhance their leadership alignment and drive organizational change through innovative solutions.Don’t miss this opportunity to gain expert insights and actionable strategies that can transform your approach to AI and business transformation. Tune in to Transformational Thinkers with Sara Sheehan and discover how to lead your organization through the complexities of change management while maximizing the potential of artificial intelligence. Listen now to equip yourself with the knowledge and tools needed for effective executive development and strategy implementation.  About Dilip Dubey: Dilip Dubey is a pioneer in artificial intelligence with a deep passion for understanding its promise and complexities. As a founder, CEO, patent-holding inventor, mentor, coach, and investor, he has created and scaled multiple AI companies, generating over $500 million in shareholder value. Dilip's work spans a wide range of sectors, driving transformation and delivering AI-driven value while making a meaningful impact on society. His involvement in initiatives such as Inventrepreneur.me reflects his commitment to using AI and innovation to eradicate poverty and foster gender equality. Dilip remains dedicated to leveraging AI as a powerful tool for business evolution and societal change. __Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with SaraContact Dilip Dubey:Website: Dubey.aiLinkedIn: Dilip-Dubey-aiEmail: [email protected] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the secret to unlocking unparalleled employee engagement lies not in metrics, but in the profound simplicity of respect? Join host Sara Sheehan as she dives deep into this transformative idea with author John Guaspari in the latest episode of Transformational Thinkers with Sara Sheehan. In his compelling book, "If Engagement is the What, Then Respect is the How," Guaspari challenges conventional wisdom, urging leaders to rethink their approach to workplace culture.Throughout this enlightening discussion, Guaspari reveals how respect serves as the bedrock of employee engagement and organizational success. Many leaders mistakenly prioritize quantifiable metrics over the essential intangibles that shape workplace dynamics. By emphasizing the interconnectedness of respect, trust, empowerment, and engagement, he illustrates why respect is the most crucial and controllable factor in fostering a thriving organizational culture.Are you aware of the common misconceptions that CEOs hold about respect and employee engagement? Guaspari sheds light on how miscommunication can erode trust and disrupt team dynamics, leading to a disengaged workforce. This episode is a must-listen for any leader seeking to enhance their team's morale, productivity, and employee satisfaction by genuinely considering others.Guaspari shares practical insights and real-world examples from his extensive experience in leadership development, demonstrating how even small changes in leadership behavior can yield significant improvements in employee satisfaction. Discover actionable strategies to cultivate a culture of respect, ensuring that engagement becomes an ongoing process rather than a mere checkbox activity.This episode serves as a powerful reminder that authentic engagement is built on a foundation of respect, trust, and empowerment. If you're a CEO or leader looking to navigate the complexities of workplace culture, tune in to gain valuable perspectives that can transform your organization.Don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of the industry's thought leaders. Engage with us, share your thoughts, and discover how you can apply these insights to your own organization. Join the conversation and transform your leadership approach today! About John Guaspari: Since the mid-1980s, John Guaspari has helped leaders increase the level of employee engagement throughout their organizations.John is the author of six previous books on the topic, including the best-selling "I Know It When I See It" and "The Value Effect: A Murder Mystery About the Compulsive Pursuit of the Next Big Thing". His writing credits also include seven training videos (one of which is the best-selling "Time: The Next Dimension of Quality") as well as hundreds of articles and columns for a broad range of business publications. His new business book is "If Engagement is the What, Then Respect is the How".John has worked with clients in scores of industries and has delivered over a thousand engagement-related presentations, seminars, and workshops for public and client-specific audiences alike. In the process, he has gained an enviable reputation for his ability to unravel complex subject matter and communicate it in the kind of accessible and engaging way that leads to real learning. Said another way, he knows how to be engaging about engagement.Long before entering the world of consulting, John began his professional career as an aerospace engineer, after which he went on to hold senior management positions in widely varying functions such as marketing, sales support, customer support, quality, organizational effectiveness, and leadership development.__Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with SaraContact John Guaspari:Website: JohnGuaspari.comLinkedIn: John GuaspariNew Book: “If Engagement is the What, Then Respect is the How: Hard-Learned Lessons from Dealing with Those Pesky Intangibles, a.k.a. 'The Soft Stuff’” by John Guaspari__ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Are you ready to transform your organization's approach to innovation and intellectual property? Join host Sara Sheehan in this enlightening episode of Transformational Thinkers with Sara Sheehan, where she dives deep into the mind of Daniel Shulman, Intellectual Property (IP) Attorney at Vedder Price in Chicago, and a leading expert in intellectual property and innovation. Daniel is a former chief IP counsel for a large manufacturing company and also serves as an adjunct law school professor of legal writing. In a world where the pace of change is relentless, fostering a culture of innovation is no longer optional; it's essential for survival and growth. Shulman reveals that innovation should not just be a buzzword but a core value that permeates every level of corporate culture.Throughout their engaging conversation, Sara and Daniel explore the often-overlooked steps that leaders must take to empower their workforce and create an environment where innovative ideas flourish. Shulman emphasizes the importance of recognizing and supporting those who contribute to innovation, suggesting that organizations can leverage intellectual property not merely as a defensive tool, but as a powerful asset for competitive advantage. This shift in perspective can lead to groundbreaking solutions and significant business success.Listeners will gain practical strategies that can be implemented immediately, such as training employees on innovation methodologies, fostering open communication channels, and recognizing contributions to innovation—whether through formal programs or informal gestures of appreciation. Shulman advocates for a collaborative approach, highlighting the need for multidisciplinary teamwork to drive innovative solutions that can address complex challenges.This episode is packed with valuable insights for executives and leaders who are eager to cultivate a self-sustaining culture of innovation within their organizations. With a focus on humility and openness to new ideas, Shulman encourages leaders to step back and allow their teams to take the reins in the innovation process. The conversation serves as a crucial reminder that innovation is not a one-time effort but a continuous journey that requires commitment and vision.Don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of the foremost thinkers in the field of intellectual property and innovation. Tune in to Transformational Thinkers with Sara Sheehan and discover how you can transform your organization into a powerhouse of creativity and innovation. Your path to fostering a thriving culture of innovation starts here!  About Daniel Shulman: Daniel Shulman is a Shareholder at Vedder Price and a member of the firm’s Intellectual Property group in the Chicago office.Mr. Shulman’s practice focuses on all aspects of intellectual property acquisition, monetization and enforcement, including complex patent litigation, trademark litigation, copyright litigation, trade secret litigation and all aspects of patent and trademark prosecution and portfolio management. Mr. Shulman also focuses on complex commercial matters, advertising disputes before courts and the National Advertising Division of the Better Business Bureau, products liability, antitrust matters and enforcement of restrictive covenants. Mr. Shulman brings over 12 years’ experience as Chief IP Counsel for multibillion-dollar companies holding thousands of worldwide patents and trademarks. While in-house, Mr. Shulman developed licensing strategies for the licensing in and out of next-generation technologies, managed due diligence processes for the acquisition and disposition of patents, and advised on litigation and defensive strategy relating to litigations. He managed an entire global patent and trademark portfolio for the North American operations of consumer products companies having over $12 billion in annual revenue while developing strategic technology areas to drive company innovation, directing innovation and patent filing and protecting their global patent portfolio through strategic interaction with foreign patent counsel. Mr. Shulman was named one of the Top Forty Lawyers Under 40 in Illinois in 2013 by the Law Bulletin, Managing IP Top In-House IP Star every year from 2015 through 2018, and received the First Chair Award Top In-House Intellectual Property Counsel in 2015, 2016 and 2018. Managing IP also recognized him as an “IP Star for Illinois” in the 2023 edition of individual practitioner IP Star rankings for Patents, Trademarks, Copyright, Designs and Transactions. He was also recognized in the 2024 edition of Managing IP’s List of IP stars as a Patent and Trademark star. Mr. Shulman was recognized by Best Lawyers in America in the Patent Law category for 2023 and 2024, Litigation – Intellectual Property in 2024 and Litigation – Patent in 2024. Additionally, he was ranked in all three of these categories in 2025 and 2026. Mr. Shulman was also named a Leading Lawyer in 2024 and 2025 for Advertising & Media Law, Copyright & Trademark Law, Intellectual Property Law and Trade Secrets/Unfair Compensation Law.__Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with SaraContact Daniel Shulman:Website: VedderPrice.com/Daniel-H-ShulmanLinkedIn: Daniel-H-Shulman__ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Transformational Thinkers, Sara Sheehan welcomes Alykhan Jetha (AJ), the CEO of Marketcircle and Daylite, to the show. Daylite is a software that works in the Apple ecosystem, a productivity CRM that Alykhan is expanding to include time tracking and invoicing for a holistic package. He talks with Sara about how he funded Marketcircle, his company’s growth trajectory, and his thoughts on the necessity of adapting to growth and change.Alykhan and Sara discuss why focusing on the employees and staff who are innovative and open to change is so important for company growth. Adaptability and malleability are important assets to cultivate. Alykhan shares insights from times when conventional leadership wisdom was at odds with his own insight as CEO, and how he followed his instincts for the benefit of the company. His experiences as a leader display versatile thinking and careful consideration of his team.Clarifying the why of what he’s doing is a key step for Alykhan in making sense of fast-moving business scenarios. Sara learns how he forms a strategic roadmap for his executives and staff, the way leaders need to think ahead to understand transformation, and how he assesses future mindsets like AI in relation to his company. Alykhan is clear about his personal beliefs and habits, the ones that ground him in his organizational style, and he explains how he guides his staff and himself away from burnout with support and clear communication. About Alykhan Jetha: Alykhan Jetha (AJ) is an entrepreneur, bootstrapper, underdog, and President & CEO of Marketcircle, the company behind Daylite, an award-winning Mac CRM empowering small business owners, entrepreneurs & bootstrapping builders across the globe.Alykhan was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo (called Zaire back then) – and his family was expelled for being of East Indian descent. They left their home and spent time in Brussels before coming to Canada with nothing but the clothing on their backs.Alykhan studied computer hardware in college and found a love for programming. He founded Marketcircle, a software company developing award-winning business apps for the Mac, iPhone & iPad, after thousands of hours working late into the night. He built the original company as a dotcom, but by the time he had drawn the attention of Silicon Valley’s biggest venture capital firms, the dotcom bubble had burst. He pivoted – and eventually became the SaaS product they are today.He is humbled to have been featured in the Financial Post, Globe & Mail, Yahoo! Finance, and numerous Mac-industry media outlets. He is passionate about lean entrepreneurship and process-driven startup growth. For Alykhan, the “9 to 5” is an artificial construct. __Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with SaraContact Alykhan Jetha:Website: daylite.appLinkedIn: AlykhanJethaInstagram: @marketcircle__ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Transformational Thinkers, Sara Sheehan welcomes Balki Kodarapu, a fractional CTO, Gen AI advisor, and SaaS scale-up expert. Balki shares how he helps startups grow from $100K to $40M ARR, avoid the “feature factory” trap, and build outcome-driven engineering teams. His specialty is creating clarity out of chaos—turning bottlenecks, missed deadlines, and organizational confusion into scalable systems and high-performing teams. He explains his strategies and insights to Sara. Balki reveals why every startup needs a clear engineering roadmap, how to use OKRs and scorecards effectively, and why focus is the most underappreciated growth lever. Balki also discusses modern hiring practices and breaks down how his four pillars of engineering excellence - modular architecture, automated testing, compliance, and observability - help teams create the necessary focus on the right things.To shift teams from a “feature factory” mindset, Balki encourages leaders to focus on impact rather than just outputs. Balki shares his leadership philosophy: first building trust with teams by working alongside them and even shipping code himself as a CTO. He sees the fractional CTO role growing in importance and advises founders to seek leaders with both hands-on technical depth and strategic understanding across multiple company stages. This episode shines a light on how to effectively lead through change.About Balki Kodarapu: Balki Kodarapu is a fractional CTO who helps SaaS and GenAI startups scale from $100k to $50M ARR—without burning through budgets or momentum. He has led six startups through hyper-growth, raised over $160M, delivered multiple exits, and built GenAI products that power pharmacists, care navigators, and Fortune 100 tech-support teams.Balki specialize in stepping into chaos—engineering bottlenecks, missed ship dates, org confusion—and turning it into clarity, velocity, and meaningful business results. Over the past 9 years, he’s led engineering at six companies (including two successful exits), often wearing every hat: hands-on EM, coach of other engineering leaders, and strategic Head of Engineering.He has a relentless focus on developer effectiveness and scalable systems, plus a firm belief that high-performance starts with human performance. He pushes every team he works with to carve out 15+ hours/week for learning, reflection, and growth. He wakes up excited about what mission-focused engineering teams can create with the right clarity, culture, and autonomy.Outside of work, Balki mentors engineers, engineering leaders, youth nonprofits, jokes around with his golden retriever Finn, and devours an unreasonable number of podcasts and books. If you care about building better teams, scaling smarter, or surviving the startup trenches— he has stories, scars, and context-rich lessons to share.__Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with SaraContact Balki Kodarapu:Website: YourCTOin.usLinkedIn: Balki Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Transformational Thinkers, Sara Sheehan welcomes Eduardo Briceño, a keynote speaker, behavior change partner, and co-founder and CEO of Mindset Works, to the show to discuss the performance paradox. Eduardo explains this as being so focused on performance that we lose sight of learning and asking questions about what makes our performance effective. He discusses his book “The Performance Paradox” and the differences between the learning zone and performance zone with Sara.Great performers, according to Eduardo, give the best performance they can on stage, but behind the curtains, they are doing hours of experimenting, trying new strategies, soliciting feedback, and learning. Performance without integration of learning leads to stagnation. Eduardo’s TED Talk “How to Get Better at the Things You Care About” highlights the need to alternate between the learning and performance zones for true improvement.      Sara’s conversation with Eduardo explores many of his teachings and strategies, including creating a safe space to experiment, the value of not just preaching continuous improvement, but creating an authentic learning culture, and why there is a need to reframe mistakes and errors into essential progress steps. Eduardo uses many examples of devoted high performers like Beyonce to illustrate the benefits of re-watching one’s performance to learn from it, and explains why learning and performing are not opposing forces but ones that should be integrated. This episode will change the way we view growth and mindset as related to our performance output.About Eduardo Briceño: Eduardo Briceño is a keynote speaker, facilitator, and behavior change partner who guides many of the world’s leading companies in developing cultures of continuous improvement, innovation, and high performance. His TED talk, “How To Get Better At The Things You Care About,” and his TEDx talk, “The Power of Belief,” have been viewed more than ten million times. His book, The Performance Paradox: Turning the Power of Mindset into Action, won multiple awards. His work has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Big Think, Business Insider, Entrepreneur, Fast Company, Forbes, Inc., Quartz, and others.Earlier in his career, Eduardo was the co-founder and CEO of Mindset Works, the pioneer in growth mindset development services, which he started with Stanford professor Carol Dweck and which he led for over a decade. Prior to that, he was a venture capital investor with the Sprout Group and served on several for-profit and non-profit boards. Before that, he was an investment banking analyst with Credit Suisse. He is a Pahara-Aspen Fellow, a member of the Aspen Institute’s Global Leadership Network, and an inductee in the Happiness Hall of Fame.Originally from Caracas, Venezuela, Eduardo holds bachelor’s degrees in economics and engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, as well as an MBA and M.A. in education from Stanford University. Most importantly, he continues to enjoy lifelong learning every day.— Resources discussed in this episode:“The Performance Paradox: Turning the Power of Mindset Into Action” by Eduardo Briceño__Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with SaraContact Eduardo BriceñoWebsite: briceno.comLinkedIn: eduardo-briceno__ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sara Sheehan welcomes guest Mark Gordon, Founder and CEO of Integrated Go-To-Market Solutions, to the show for a conversation about blending psychology into scaling companies and how he positively re-energizes relationships with clients. Through his company, IGTMS, Mark helps startups and mid-market companies align scattered sales into one revenue-generating machine. He talks with Sara about his career journey, the challenges of entrepreneurship, and how lessons learned from playing rugby have stayed with him.What motivates people is a foundational interest of Mark’s, and that fascination with people and his college psychology major drove Mark to the philosophies that guide his company today. How can we create a place where people will do the best work they’ve ever done? Mark pulled lessons from sports and from business school in addition to psychology to answer that question. People are generally trying their best, which is a belief Mark uses in his coaching techniques. Finding people who want to get better every day and creating an environment where they can do their best is the essence of his principles.        Mark’s history with rugby has informed his life in and out of work, and he shares stories that illustrate some of the lessons learned. Sports teams teach us to understand leadership, according to Mark, and people’s trust in the aptitude of their leader is what compels them to follow. Sara finds out which books inspire Mark, his thoughts on entrepreneurship, and client success stories that illustrate how he achieves significant results. He shares his Core Four foundational views and how he guides salespeople to greater revenue in this compelling episode about motivation and successful business scaling.About Mark D. Gordon: Mark Gordon is a veteran sales coach, growth strategist, and founder of Integrated Go-To-Market Solutions (IGTMS). Known for blending psychology with practical GTM strategies, Mark has helped thousands of sales professionals and scaled multiple companies into eight-figure successes. He specializes in cutting through misalignment to build high-performing, revenue-driving systems for B2B founders.— Resources discussed in this episode:Jim Collins books“Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance” by Angela Duckworth__Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with SaraContact Mark GordonWebsite: igtms.comLinkedIn: MarkDouglasGordonInstagram: @MarkDGordon__ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sara Sheehan welcomes guest Rashesh Doshi, Managing Director of Talent Corner, to the podcast to explore his HR business and the fantastic growth his business has experienced. Rashesh details the growth in numbers and explains how their franchise partners add to the growth and are supported. They also discuss how the Stanford Seed Transformation Program is positively impacting Talent Corner as a team and Rashesh personally. It’s due to this reinvigoration that Rashesh is looking to expand Talent Corner out of India into nine other markets with the assistance of Stanford. Sara finds out part of the scaling plan for such an aspirational goal and talks about many of Rashesh’s guiding principles. The franchise partners Talent Corner that brings in are welcomed into a robust training program, and are supported by a 27-member in-house team. Rashesh further explains that franchise partners are focused on servicing, not generating new business, so they are taking care of existing clients, which has helped the company’s growth in referrals. The Stanford Seed Transformation Program is also a key part of Rashesh’s scaling strategy, as their support has added to the team’s understanding of their company’s capabilities and is supporting the goal of expanding into nine new areas.      Sara discusses Rashesh’s transformation plan for balancing the company’s scaling goal with caring for partners and employees, and Rashesh stresses that the entire team has a part in the journey; it isn’t just him leading from the front. As he moves into this new chapter, Rashesh says he’s been learning to listen better and how that’s incorporated into the coaching within the company. His passion for networking has been a key motivator for his success as well, and the sharing of insights is something he cherishes. About Rashesh Doshi: He joined the company in 2004 and expanded the recruitment and business development teams. He came up with a Franchise Model which is extremely strong & effective. Today, Talent Corner is one of the Companies which has run the franchise business expansion plan for many years & has brought loads of success to its partners and to Talent Corner.He is focused on being responsible for the strategic growth of the company.He believes in the Philosophy of “Plan More, Think Longer & Once Decided Act Fast”.Rashesh is a Member of BNI (Business Networking International), Round Table India and Mr. Harsh Mariwala’s (Marico Industries) PSR Project – Ascent.— Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with SaraContact Rashesh DoshiWebsite: TalentCorner.inLinkedIn: RasheshDoshiYouTube: @TalentCorner Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sara Sheehan welcomes guest Jim Carlough, a business strategist, author, and speaker with over 30 years of leadership experience, to the podcast for a conversation about how leaders are developed. Jim talks about his career journey and what makes for good leadership, highlighting insights from his book “The Six Pillars of Effective Leadership: A Roadmap to Success”. Sara and Jim focus on specifically discussing the two pillars of integrity and empathy as they relate to powerful leaders. Jim’s philosophy on empathy includes an obligation to lead employees and teams with compassion and camaraderie. Jim shares advice from his current role as a Chief Sales Officer and offers a glimpse into the future of growth he envisions for his company. His other focus is leadership and helping people become better leaders, which is the impetus for writing his book “The Six Pillars of Effective Leadership”. Sara learns that while Jim envisioned the book as being written for corporate America, he’s had a great deal of success with the book being popular among superintendents and teachers in schools. Of the six pillars, Jim claims integrity is the non-negotiable pillar because transparency and integrity are vital for building trust with teams and organizations.    Better leaders are developed in part by getting in among the team being led. Jim notes that true camaraderie and integrity can’t be built “if you sit behind a closed door and sit behind a computer and just send emails to people all day”. He discusses stories from his own leadership experiences with Sara, highlighting the necessity of connection and empathy as cornerstones of effective leadership. Jim’s insights inspire thought on how leadership can be developed with people as the focus, and offer sound advice on what can be done to see greater success. About Jim Carlough: Jim is a graduate of Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey, with a degree in Psychology. He is an accomplished executive with experience in the C-suite and EVP/VP with over 30 years of expertise in driving explosive growth and profitability for healthcare and healthcare technology organizations ranging from start-ups to large-scale enterprises. With a demonstrated history of success in building high-performance teams, revitalizing struggling portfolios, and leading successful M&A integrations. A strategic leader capable of energizing and transforming any organization.Jim is also a professional public speaker and published author. Speaking has been part of his professional responsibilities for a large portion of his career.__Resources discussed in this episode:“The Six Pillars of Effective Leadership: A Roadmap to Success” by Jim Carlough“Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage” by Alfred Lansing— Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with SaraContact Jim CarloughWebsite: JimCarlough.comLinkedIn: JimCarloughMSEmail: [email protected]: JimCarloughMS__ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this solo episode, Sara Sheehan offers a message on unlocking the power of customized change management training, a strategic investment for CEOs. Success hinges on the ability to effectively manage business change, so investing in a private, customized version of a Mastering Change Management course is a key step for leadership teams. Sara breaks down all the ways in which customized training is an essential part of a successful transformation and details exactly how a private course would work.There are six reasons, explained by Sara, on why a change management course is so essential for CEOS navigating complex projects. One, it is tailored specifically to suit the company investing in it. Two, it enhances leadership alignment and capability. Three, it builds organizational capacity for change, even in this era of constant disruption. Fourth, it speeds up change adoption and reduces employee resistance. Five, it’s scalable for long-term growth. And sixth, it cultivates a stronger organizational culture.What does such a customized course look like? How is it built? Sara breaks it down into steps: 1. Initial consultation, 2. Customized content development, 3. Interactive workshops, and 4. Ongoing support. In navigating complex projects, change, and business transformation, there’s no greater toolkit to invest in than a carefully-tailored course designed to keep the leadership and team on track and engaged while key growth happens. Sara makes a compelling case for using this long-term strategy to achieve a business advantage.About Sara Sheehan: Sara’s professional career includes working with leaders in Fortune 100 companies and top-tier firms. She offers expert change management strategies to help businesses navigate complex transformations. Through her 25+ years of experience, she supports executives in developing change capability, in developing more leaders at more levels of the organization, and in creating high-performing teams. Sara’s knowledge spans change, organization design and effectiveness, talent development, training, marketing, business building, and business development.— Resources discussed in this episode:Sara Sheehan Calendly— Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with Sara  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sara Sheehan’s guest in this episode is R.T. Custer, co-founder and CEO of Vortic Watch Company and Colorado Watch Company. R.T. transforms antique American pocket watches into one-of-a-kind wrist watches through Vortic Watch Company, and with Colorado Watch Company, will be building the most American-made watches at scale available today. Sara talks with R.T. about how he identified his calling in converting pocket watches, surviving a crippling lawsuit early in his entrepreneurship, loyal customers, and where he’s headed next. R.T. discusses launching on Kickstarter and shipping watches to customers a year and a half later. Vortic scaled from shipping 100 watches to 200, and R.T. realized due to how the restoration of antique pocket watches works, he would face a maximum capacity of roughly 400 watches a year. This led to the formation of his Colorado Watch Company brand to address the ability to create quality American-made watches at scale. He and Sara talk about sourcing the antique watches, the market for wrist watches, and the triumph of surviving the 2017 lawsuit that he calls the hardest thing he’s ever done.The lessons R.T. has learned from his entrepreneurial ventures are many and varied. He shares how he learned that people want to invest in momentum and how he realized that momentum and being the visionary for his company can only come from him. Sara learns about R.T.’s Angel investing, plans for the Colorado Watch Company scaling, why R.T. feels such a connection to military service, and the intricacies of antique pocket watches. This episode is a fascinating glimpse into a very niche entrepreneurial venture that is being scaled through an additional brand without sacrificing the original vision. Sara takes listeners deep into R.T.’s inspirational journey. About R.T. Custer:R.T. Custer is a multi-passionate entrepreneur, speaker, and guide supporting founders through community, connection, and mentorship. As the CEO of Vortic Watch Company, the Chief Revenue Officer of Carter & Custer Agency, and the co-host of Fast Foundations Mastermind, he knows what it takes to build a successful business and drive impact. He wholeheartedly believes that you can live a life of wealth and freedom when you’re not afraid to take risks, and he uses his platform to empower founders to step into their worth.R.T. is also deeply passionate about his work as an Angel Investor and Advisor in consumer product companies through his video podcast, “Products Worth Talking About”. He is a sought-after speaker and podcast guest, especially after launching a 2nd YouTube show called “Custer & Wolfe, Building a Watch Company” with his business partner, Tyler Wolfe, to document everything that goes into building an American manufacturing company. R.T. has proven that it is possible to enjoy life to the fullest while building wealth, and he wants to share everything he’s learned so that you can enjoy the same freedom.Most importantly, R.T. is a partner to Lindsay Roselle and the father of two boys, Sawyer and Wesley. They live in Fort Collins, Colorado, where they run their collective 5 businesses, chase their kids and two dogs around, and spend their (minimal) free time golfing, working out, drinking whiskey, and hanging out with friends and family. — Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with SaraContact R.T. Custer | Vortic Watch Company / Colorado Watch Company:Vortic Website: VorticWatches.comColorado Website: ColoradoWatchCompany.comR.T. Custer: Website: RTCuster.comLinkedIn: RTCusterInstagram: @rtcuster  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sara Sheehan’s guest in this episode is Dr. Kerriann Greenhalgh, CEO and Chief Science Officer of KeriCure Medical. Kerriann shares the story of how she fell in love with chemistry and came to a place where she developed her own wound barrier and infection care skin spray, KeriCure. KeriCure is a revolutionary medical product and contains a nanopolymer technology that Kerriann worked to develop for topical wound care. Sara learns the history of its development and how Kerriann is using her knowledge and KeriCure to change the lives of children, adults, and pets everywhere. When Kerriann discovered she had a natural aptitude for and enjoyment of chemistry, she obtained her PhD working in a lab focused on a nanoparticle, nanopolymer drug delivery system. While the lab focused on internal applications, Keriann focused on topical usage, and KeriCure was born. KeriCure spray is an acrylate polymer, which means it has the same elasticity and stretch as skin. It works to seal wounds, scrapes and rashes while disinfecting, reducing pain, and keeping bacterial infection at bay while the wound heals. Sara and Kerriann discuss the varied use cases for KeriCure, from kids to sporting events to military packs, and explore both how portable the spray is and how easy it is to use. The difficulties inherent in FDA approval, marketing, online sales, and everything else entrepreneurs face are part of Kerriann’s story as well. She talks about expansion, creating a prescription-strength formula of KeriCure, as well as a pet and animal formula and what her plans are for the future of her creation. This is a fascinating look into a woman-led and created business that has a profoundly helpful impact on everyday lives.  About Dr. Kerriann Greenhalgh: Dr. Kerriann Greenhalgh is a wife, mom and the inventor behind KeriCure Medical’s technology. Dr. Greenhalgh received her Bachelor’s in biochemistry and a PhD in organic chemistry from the University of South Florida. She was an initial member of MiMedx Inc. (later MiMedx Group) as lead of R&D and product development, and successfully submitted the company’s first 510k to the FDA for a collagen surgical mesh. Her experiences working on projects at the FDA, Homeland Security, US Army Medical Research Center, and with industry leaders, including Battelle and Constellation, have given her the insights on how to successfully develop and launch critical need products. She has been an invited reviewer for multiple NIH grant review panels, scientific journals, and is an established author and contributor to many medical and scientific journals and publications. Dr. Greenhalgh has over half a dozen patents, including many for the KeriCure technology, and is a frequent keynote and guest speaker at symposiums and conferences. Dr. Greenhalgh brings unique expertise to KeriCure as the CEO and Chief Science Officer and has dedicated her life to bringing safe, natural, and effective skin and wound care products to the world.— Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with SaraContact Dr. Kerriann Greenhalgh:Website: KeriCureMedical.comStore: KeriCure.comLinkedIn: kerriann-greenhalgh-548b7813  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sara Sheehan’s guest in this episode is Laura Patterson, Co-Founder and President of VisionEdge Marketing and author of “Fast-Track Your Business”. Sara and Laura discuss what prompted her to write her latest book and the themes it addresses. Laura delves into what customer-centric means to her and why it’s key to growth strategies. From software that assists companies in finding individualized success measures to what she’s learned from mistakes in business, Laura provides an insightful look into how she built her success. One of the driving themes of Laura’s book, and her career, is the idea of being customer-centric. She uses a term called “the circle of traction” to illustrate how to create a customer and then find ways to keep them and grow their value. She and Laura talk about eliminating random acts to focus on deliberate, customer-centric approaches to business instead. Laura shares where to source insights and data for clients, and marketing software platforms that she recommends. She weaves her customer-centric approach into all the questions that drive research; by focusing on what the customer needs, the data sourced will drive growth that is specifically tailored to creating and sustaining customers. Laura asks ‘How do we help our people grow’ when contemplating future choices in order to maintain focus on investing in people. The lessons she’s learned and advice she has to share are invaluable for any business looking to grow and foster greater customer success.  About Laura Patterson: No newcomer to customer-centricity and its accelerators (performance management and operational excellence), Laura’s passion for customer-centricity, as the definitive growth engine, started at Motorola in the ‘90s. During her corporate career, she’s held the roles of director of customer marketing and brand strategy, customer relationship manager, customer marketing initiative lead, and customer loyalty architect.Laura is an award-winning author. Her fourth book is Fast-Track Your Business: A Customer-Centric Approach to Accelerate Growth. She has won 12 thought leadership awards including Most Powerful Thought Leaders to Follow. Laura holds numerous marketing certifications and received a patent for her performance management software. She is also a peer-reviewed researcher and is a trusted advisor to CXOs and board members.Growth is in her DNA. As president and co-founder of VisionEdge Marketing, Laura has helped grow 250+ companies worldwide and of all sizes. Most of her customers have been in the B2B space in these industries: technology, cybersecurity, financial services, manufacturing software, and medical devices/bioscience.Laura is a medal-winning triathlete and brings high energy to everything she does. She lives in Austin, TX where she is Mom to Riley, a toy Aussie. She is a superfan of hummingbirds and maintains a garden to attract them. She keeps her Zen with Yoga and reenergizes with a long run.— Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with SaraContact Laura Patterson:Website: VisionEdgeMarketing.comLinkedIn: LauraPattersonVEMBook: “Fast-Track Your Business: A Customer-Centric Approach to Accelerate Market Growth” by Laura Patterson  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sara Sheehan’s guest in this episode is Samuel Hale, the CEO and Co-Founder of Nurish’d. Sam discusses the evolution of Nurish’d, a digital health and nutrition platform that connects users with registered dietitians and personalized meal planning, assisted by AI. Sam tells Sara about his career journey and how he originally launched as a ready-to-eat meal prep company before transitioning into Nurish’d. Sam shares how his platform now optimizes meal plans that align with users’ health profiles, dietary preferences, and wellness goals. Sam’s entrepreneurial path demonstrates a strategic pivot from food production to healthtech innovation. His proprietary AI system automates dietary recommendations while preserving the key human element of dietitian-led consultations. His leadership in this nutrition-as-a-service model has helped expand Nurish’d from Canada into the U.S., especially in states leveraging the 1115 Medicaid waiver for medically tailored meals. Sam’s mission is the idea that “if we eat well, we feel well.” The food as medicine movement is supported through Nurish’d, offering evidence-based nutrition plans to manage chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, and kidney disease. The platform also partners with insurance providers and telehealth integration, delivering meals and virtual care to users with covered conditions. Sam tells Sara his future goals are to expand Nurish’d’s role in preventive health, supporting food-insecure populations, and collaborating with benefits providers to make healthy eating accessible at scale. About Samuel Hale: In a world where diet often dictates our health, Sam Hale believes in a holistic approach, where wellness is about a sustainable lifestyle that fosters individual health and well-being. He is driven by the vision to transform our relationship with food, seeing it not just as sustenance but as a tool for longevity, illness prevention, and overall well-being.This belief led Sam to establish Nurish'd, a platform partnering users with registered dietitians and leveraging AI to integrate personalized nutrition seamlessly into our daily lives by connecting users to healthy meals that best fit their lifestyles and goals. If we eat well, we feel well.Through innovation and commitment, we can harness the ability to improve our health profiles, enhancing our well-being. Sam strives to create a ripple effect of health awareness, empowering individuals and organizations to make informed choices toward a healthier future. — Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with SaraContact Samuel Hale:Website: Nurishd.ioLinkedIn: Samuel-Hale-94539779  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sara Sheehan’s guest in this episode is the president and founder of Frame of Mind Coaching and Journal Engine Software, Kim Ades. Kim uses journal-based coaching in her direct coaching style with clients; she tells Sara exactly what that is and how she came to develop it. Following a life-altering divorce, Kim’s focus became helping others build emotional resilience to thrive despite challenges. She and Sara discuss how introspection and writing can reframe experiences, and how that shift can impact client success. Kim founded Frame of Mind Coaching to empower people to focus on their thought patterns instead of external behaviours. She developed a unique journaling software to facilitate a journaling-based coaching method that helps her reflect on client writing to aid in uncovering their limiting beliefs. Through this method, Kim finds she can go past typical performance metrics to target the root of thought processes. It’s in this way that sustainable growth and emotional intelligence are unlocked.Sara and Kim talk about the value of self-awareness and emotional clarity. This especially applies to entrepreneurs and executives who are under constant pressure. Kim’s unique coaching philosophy highlights the idea that success is truly driven by mindset more than circumstances. Kim is a pivotal voice in the world of leadership development and personal transformation. She has a proven track record in helping clients overcome adversity, and she openly shares her philosophy and insights with Sara. About Kim Ades: Kim Ades, MBA, is a serial entrepreneur who, after a decade running a simulation-based assessment firm, sold her company and briefly worked for a local coaching company. She left after 8 months, believing she could offer better coaching. Kim felt the prevailing coaching model was flawed, intuitively realizing that driven leaders needed to understand the link between their thoughts and outcomes rather than being “held accountable.”In 2004, Kim founded Frame of Mind Coaching®, focusing on helping leaders maximize their potential and live fulfilling lives. She also created the Frame of Mind Coaching® Certification program to teach leaders effective coaching techniques. _Resources mentioned in this episode:Great Leaders are Great Coaches course— Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with SaraContact Kim Ades:Website: FrameOfMindCoaching.comWebsite: JournalEngine.comEmail: [email protected]: @coachkimades  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sara Sheehan’s guest in this episode is AI Strategist, Digital Transformation Leader, and founder of AIboration, Nicole Hilgenkamp. Nicole discusses AI and how it is more than just an IT function; it is a transformative force in business. The new role of Chief AI Officer reflects the cross-functional nature of AI and Nicole explains why dedicated leadership is required to integrate AI across entire organizations. Ensuring that it is embraced to ensure a future-ready company is essential. Nicole shares strategies for AI integration and recommendations on how to stay updated on AI developments through focused newsletters, by joining communities, and through experimenting with tools like Perplexity. She advocates for leaders to champion AI from the top down so a culture where employees are encouraged to use AI safely and creatively is fostered. Mindset shifts are key to using AI in the promotion of self-awareness and personal growth.  Sara and Nicole look ahead to agentic AI, which are AI systems capable of decision-making and functioning as digital team members. Such systems will change the structure of organizations and put humans in charge of overseeing AI agents in customer service or sales roles. Nicole advises that everyone upskill to avoid being left behind, and urges the adoption of AI now, being mindful of bias and data protection, and committing to lifelong learning. About Nicole Hilgenkamp:Nicole is a digital transformation leader with the world's largest companies, where she leads enterprise scale AI and digital transformation across global operations. She is also the founder of AIboration, an AI consulting firm that helps businesses implement generative AI.Nicole is an optimist who believes people and technology can work better together. With a background in sociology, she has always been fascinated by how people group, interact, and adapt—whether in organizations, markets, or digital spaces.Her work revolves around structuring chaos—helping businesses use technology to improve processes, enhance collaboration, and drive results. Nicole sees patterns in people, systems, and data, making sense of complexity and turning it into strategy._Resources mentioned in this episode:“The AI-Driven Leader: Harnessing AI to Make Faster, Smarter, Decisions” by Geoff Woods’The Neuron newsletter— Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with SaraContact Nicole Hilgenkamp:Email: [email protected]  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sara Sheehan’s guest in this episode is Chris Brown, Partner and CTO of Wow Remote Teams, a connection service for companies in need of virtual professional employees. Chris explains the benefits of staffing from Latin America and discusses his company’s vetting and recruitment processes with Sara. Chris believes in the positive impact nearshore staffing creates for businesses and explores how it impacts the local economy for the better.Chris breaks down Wow Remote Teams’ sourcing process for Sara. He details the questions asked of the employers, such as what skill level and type of person they’re looking for, as well as what budget they have. While the company maintains a huge database of talent, it also turns to an outbound model and works in larger hiring networks, like LinkedIn. The process is thorough and considers many factors vital to company success.  Sara and Chris discuss creating a team culture despite every team being remote, the truly borderless global talent economy, how the prevalence of internet connections benefits everyone, and how AI and AI positions drive the market. Chris highlights how communication with remote employees differs from those in the office, but stresses how an open company culture combats the differences and facilitates flow. Chris sheds a light on how nearshore and remote services are very much the future for a lot of staffing needs.About Chris Brown:With 20 years of software development, business automation, and digital marketing expertise, Chris Brown proudly serves as the Partner & CTO of Wow Remote Teams. He has helped cultivate a rich technology roadmap that powers the Wow Remote recruitment processes to streamline and optimize staffing operations, guaranteeing efficiency and precision in candidate selection._Resources mentioned in this episode:Goldbelly— Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with SaraContact Chris Brown:Website: WowRemoteTeams.comLinkedIn  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sara Sheehan’s guest in this episode is Dr. Danny Brassell, a highly sought-after speaker, trainer, coach, and author. Danny has spoken to over 3500 audiences worldwide and authored 19 books. He talks to Sara about his latest book, “Leadership Begins with Motivation” and the life journey which has brought him to his current position. Danny believes in education and his mission is to infuse joy back into education in the workplace. Danny shares a summary of his career path going back 30 years where he started as a journalist before becoming a teacher, then a professor. He credits becoming a Christian and beginning a public speaking business on the side to avoid bankruptcy for propelling him to his present success. Danny explains how strategy and storytelling form the backbone of the company, The Well-Crafted Story Workshop, which he co-founded with Coach Jimmy Hays Nelson.  Sara and Danny dive into why a well-told story is the foundation of a great speech, what shaped a client’s journey from complete inexperience to a daily audience of 6000 people, and how to find the heart of the story being told. Danny tells three powerful stories from his book, “Leadership Begins with Motivation” and emphasizes the impact the right tale can have upon an audience. Danny praises the greatness of reading, touching on the reading engagement program he runs, and stresses that adults need to be modelling good reading for children. The episode is engaging and upbeat, driven by the positivity and motivation of Danny Brassell.   About Danny Brassell:For nearly three decades, Dr. Danny Brassell has served as an educational advisor to students ranging from preschoolers to rocket scientists. While he has held a variety of titles and worked with leaders from a variety of fields and disciplines, Danny has always considered himself first and foremost a teacher.A recognized authority on leadership development, motivation and communication skills, Danny has been honored consistently for his strategic intellect and practical solutions. Audiences rave about Danny’s ability to deliver meaningful and memorable messages that are applicable for individuals within all levels of organizations. A gregarious, sought-after author, speaker and business consultant, Danny is characterized by friends, colleagues and clients as one of the most insightful, powerful and compassionate individuals in business today. Thousands, from small business owners to corporate executives, have enjoyed his energetic, interactive and informative presentations._Resources mentioned in this episode:“A Game of Thrones” by George R. R. Martin“Living with a SEAL” by Jesse Itzler“The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald“The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion” by Beth Brower— Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with SaraContact Danny Brassell:Website: FreeStoryGuide.comWebsite: DannyBrassell.comBook: “Leadership Begins with Motivation” by Dr. Danny BrassellLinkedInYouTube  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sara Sheehan’s guest this episode is Noah Healy, the founder of Coordisc, who joins Sara to discuss his work in market design and game theory. Noah, who has a background in nuclear engineering and software development, developed a new system called Coordinated Discovery Markets (CDMs). He explains what the technology aims to do in regards to creating efficient marketplaces. His system, inspired by mathematical problem-solving, allows markets to function with much less data processing compared to traditional financial markets, and he illustrates how this makes transactions more efficient and transparent.Noah shares the challenges he faced in bringing his innovation to market. He has been involved in a lengthy patent process, which has included legal battles with the U.S. Patent Office. Bureaucratic pushback forced him to take his case to a federal court. But despite the setbacks, he talks about how he is actively working on projects in Sweden and Kenya, exploring how his technology could be applied in emerging markets like bamboo trading and carbon credits. Sara and Noah explore how he envisions his technology revolutionizing global markets, significantly boosting economic wealth, and finding applications in agriculture, commodities, and resource extraction. His goal is to establish new marketplaces that leverage CDMs to create more stable and fair pricing mechanisms. Noah also touched on artificial intelligence and automation, broader implications of such advances. His conversation with Sara emphasizes that technology is reshaping industries in ways that challenge traditional beliefs and that embracing these shifts carefully is key to sustainable progress.About Noah Healy:When Noah looks at the common thread that runs through all of his professional experiences, it is clear that he loves to combine mathematics with technology to produce game-changing solutions. His inspiration came from his formal education, work experience and the breakthrough innovations developed by Alan Turing (and Frege and Church before him). Turing imagined machines with amazing computational power and ultimately brought them to life. His innovations tipped the scales of WWII and set the stage for the information revolution – of which Noah is an active part.Early in his career, Noah used computational mathematics and software development capabilities to develop automations that boosted internal productivity, drove client efficiencies and improved regulatory compliance. Most recently he founded Coordisc and developed CDM, a technology product that has the potential to completely reorder the global financial system. CDM establishes a better exchange market for commodities by conducting all trades at market-clearing prices with radically improved price discovery, lower total cost of transactions and the elimination of hedging needs. Only a fraction of current tradeflow can get this product off the ground and prove its power. From there, CDM can be scaled rapidly.It is not lost on Noah that he has an enormous responsibility to produce algorithmic technology products that drive results, but also protect ethics and morality. One does not need to look beyond recent financial crises or their Facebook feeds to see that our rush for more powerful technology has eroded our civic, political, cultural and societal systems. He views himself as an “algorithmist with a conscience” and uses tools such as game theory to design products ethically. — Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with SaraNoah Healy | Coordisc:Website: coordisc.comLinkedIn  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sara Sheehan’s guest in this episode is Dr. Rob Lion, professor of Human Resource Development at Idaho State University and a speaker and consultant. Dr. Lion has over 20 years of experience with leadership development and improving performance. Sara and Dr. Lion talk about what his method of professional development looks like and how he works with clients in actionable ways. Rob also explains his work with athletic identities and research into transitioning athletes into workplaces with greater ease.Dr. Lion talks about his newfound drive to embrace more peace in his everyday life through researching Daoism. He strives for greater balance in life. One of the things he discusses with Sara is how achieving more peace and self-awareness in his personal life flows into his professional work and influences it for the positive. Much of his work is in motivating people and Rob dives into how motivation works and what he needs of himself to impart it to others.Sara and Dr. Lion’s conversation reveals how Rob got involved in his athletic research, what the impetus behind it was, and how he identified and studied the variables that could contribute to athletes struggling when transferred to workplaces. Rob details how the skills athletes possess can work for or against them if not developed correctly for the new environment. Sara explores self-awareness, leadership development, who Rob’s ideal client is, and why he convinces organizations that without doing the necessary work they’re one bad hire away from a problem. The episode is a fascinating and enlightening deep dive into Dr. Lion’s personal and professional life and drive.About Dr. Rob Lion:Dr. Rob Lion (pronounced “Lee-own”) is a professor of human resource development at Idaho State University and a dynamic speaker, consultant, and business owner with over 20 years of experience in workplace culture, leadership development, and performance improvement. He specializes in helping clients build human-centric, sustainable systems and initiatives that align organizational needs with employee well-being, driven by the belief that “work should fuel the human spirit, not drain it.”As the co-founder of Black River Performance Management, Rob draws on his extensive background in human behavior, the psychology of work, opportunity recognition, and relationship development to advise business owners and executives. He has a wealth of ownership experience across industries including food and beverage, personal fitness, and business development, and has dedicated over a decade to economic growth through a community-focused lens.Rob is recognized for crafting people-first solutions that enhance workplace culture. His approach integrates sustainable and strategic performance improvement practices, empowering individuals and organizations to build effective teams and networks. His students and clients appreciate his innovative methods and creative approaches to enhancing workplace practices.In addition to his teaching and research, Rob collaborates with leaders to develop clarity in their planning and leading processes. He emphasizes the importance of a people strategy, recognizing that even the most robust strategic plans are merely ambitions without an adequate understanding of staff talents and organizational attributes. His evidence-based frameworks provide rigor to decision-making, addressing challenges related to data utilization, staffing, succession planning, and employee engagement.Rob’s expertise also includes helping organizations prepare for the future, ensuring that their plans are actionable and informed by the latest research in psychological and behavioral sciences. He is committed to building robust systems that support organizational goals by leveraging existing assets and fostering open communication at all levels.Outside of his professional pursuits, Rob enjoys travel, fly fishing, and mountain biking. His passion for empowering individuals and transforming organizations makes him a highly sought-after thought leader in his field.— Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with SaraDr. Rob Lion Website: BlackRiverPM.comLinkedIn  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sara Sheehan’s guest in this episode is Tamara Myles, a professor, researcher, author, and speaker who specializes in helping people unlock the power of meaningful work. She combines research in Positive Psychology with understanding human organizational challenges to assist companies in creating a workplace full of connection and fulfilment. Tamara shares over two decades of expertise with Sara as they explore themes from her new book, “Meaningful Work”. Tamara explains the positive benefits and importance of having meaningful work in our lives. Not only organizational benefits but personal ones like feeling more fulfilled with a greater sense of belonging. What Tamara’s research has shown is that nearly 50% of our experience of meaning at work is related to what our leaders do or don’t do. She and Sara discuss how meaningful work as imparted by leaders needs to address the Three C’s: community, contribution, and challenge.Sara and Tamara speak to how the Three C’s offer meaning at work to each generation, explore what each one looks like in action, and highlight beautiful examples of each one in practical application. How feedback is given and what details are offered add additional meaning for the recipient, and simple things like that can have a great positive impact. Tamara explains concepts like character strengths and the findings of her research that both drive her work and inspire her upcoming co-authored book. This episode is a guide to the necessity of finding or creating meaningful work for fulfilled lives.About Tamara Myles:As a speaker, author, professor, and entrepreneur, Tamara specializes in blending the art and science of human flourishing with practical strategies that drive innovation, resilience, and growth. Her mission is simple: to unlock the power of meaningful work to build cultures where people feel connected, challenged, and fulfilled.For over two decades, Tamara has worked with leaders at organizations like Microsoft, KPMG, Best Buy, and MassMutual delivering engaging workshops, keynotes, and trainings that yield measurable business results. Her work combines pioneering research in Positive Psychology with a deep understanding of organizational challenges like employee engagement, retention, and productivity.She is also the co-author of "Meaningful Work: How to Ignite Passion and Performance in Every Employee" (April 2025, PublicAffairs). This book brings together research and actionable strategies to inspire leaders to cultivate meaningful work at every level of their organization.At Boston College, Tamara teaches future leaders about the science of flourishing organizations, and as a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, she continues to study how meaningful work drives performance and well-being. Her research—the first rigorous academic study of leadership practices that increase meaning at work—has been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, and USA TODAY.She believes workplaces are the key to human flourishing. When leaders make work meaningful, they unlock potential—not just for individuals, but for entire organizations.__Resources discussed in this episode:VIA Character Strengths surveyCliftonStrengths Assessment— Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with SaraTamara Myles Website: TamaraMyles.comTamara Myles on LinkedInBook: “Meaningful Work: How to Ignite Passion and Performance in Every Employee” by Wes Adams and Tamara MylesBook Website: MakeWorkMeaningful.com   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sara Sheehan’s guest in this episode is Barry LaBov, a two-time Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award winner and the founder of LABOV Marketing Communications and Training. Barry LaBov shares his career journey with Sara, explaining how he learned through the jobs he held before coming to the position he’s in today. Barry’s book, The Power of Differentiation, speaks to the main focus of his company and Sara learns how Barry views every company as having a distinctiveness that sets them apart.Barry began his career journey in music. As a rock musician who ran a jingle company, he wasn’t particularly looking for a career in marketing. He describes his business as “an accident” that was born out of necessity. He sold the jingle company and moved on to the marketing and training career he has today. He shares with Sara that the focus of his company is helping his clients find the one or two unique things they offer that none of their competitors can touch, and that’s what makes his clients, and by extension, his company successful.Sara and Barry explore the concept of differentiation and discuss how working with the right clients is an important part of success. Barry says “Saying no should happen far more than saying yes to any client that walks up to you”. He talks about delivering a difference, how he realized that his book needed to be about improving brand differentiation, and why his book is largely about how 50 different companies transitioned from look-alike commodities to originality of appeal that launched success. This episode encourages finding the unique differences that set our businesses apart in the hearts and minds of customers.About Barry LaBov:Barry LaBov is the founder and CEO of LABOV Marketing Communications and Training. He is a two-time Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year recipient and an inductee into the Entrepreneur of the Year Hall of Fame. He is also a Better Business Bureau Torch Awards for Ethics recipient. Under his leadership, LABOV Marketing Communications and Training has received the Indiana Growth 100 Award six times, was named Small Business of the Year and recognized as one of the Best Places to Work in Indiana. Additionally, LABOV’s client work has been honored with nearly 100 national and regional awards.Barry has authored or co-authored over a dozen business books, including his forthcoming book, The Power of Differentiation, which will be published by Indigo River and distributed through Simon & Schuster. In the book, he shares experiences and actionable recommendations for leaders seeking to differentiate their brands and products. He has also written over 100 business articles on a range of topics, including brand re-engineering, customer loyalty, employee engagement, training strategy, dealer/distributor network performance and much more. Barry has been interviewed as a subject matter expert on CNBC, Fox Business and in several videos and podcasts.__Resources discussed in this episode:“The Power of Differentiation: Win Hearts, Minds, and Market Share” by Barry LaBov— Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with SaraBarry LaBov | LABOV Marketing Communications and TrainingWebsite: BarryLaBov.comWebsite: LABOV.comLinkedInInstagram  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sara Sheehan talks about how success in business is not accidental but the result of clarity, focus, and execution. Central to this journey is the idea of setting aspirational goals. Sara explores aspirational goals through the lens of cutting-edge neuroscience and practical business strategy to uncover how our brains respond to ambitious goals and how those targets stimulate the brain’s reward system. She details the balance of how challenging and feasible the goal should be to properly motivate us.David Rock PhD, a thought leader in neuroscience and author of “Your Brain at Work” has uncovered exactly how our brains respond to aspirational goals. Sara uses his research and her own experience to lay out the journey of crafting aspirational goals, examining both why they’re important strategically and scientifically, and how to ensure they are designed effectively. Planning makes a goal transformative, otherwise, as she states, “An aspirational goal without a roadmap is just a wish”.In this episode, Sara walks us through the necessary steps of the journey with a smartly designed map. She explains the key points as being Aspirational Goals Beyond the Ordinary, The Strategic Advantages of Aspirational Goals, The Neuroscience of Goal Setting, Creating Your Aspirational Goals, Building the Action Plan, The Role of Coaching, and The Ripple Effect. Using her insight, aspirational goals become the concrete building blocks of a successful business.__Resources discussed in this episode:“Your Brain at Work” by David RockDr. David Rock__Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with Sara  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sara Sheehan discusses the importance of conquering mindset to overcome fear and define success in today’s episode. She splits the conversation into three key parts, touching on How to Stay Driven and Motivated, Overcoming or Minimizing Fear, and Defining Success as a Leader. In each part, Sara examines why mindset is such an important component of success and how to master each step by asking important questions and paying attention to goals. Sara shares the inspiration she drew from a continuing education course by James Garrett, called “Brain By Design” and points out that sometimes teaching can continue to reveal new insights as we revisit it over and over. How do we master dread? We confront it to get more comfortable with the thing we dread. How do we take risks? We start with the courage to put ourselves out there. Mindset determines the direction of our energy and action and Sara offers guidance on how to change and develop our mindset in new ways. This quote from Carol Dweck sums up the episode nicely: “A growth mindset is the belief that all abilities are trainable. Nothing is fixed. That we can change anything from intelligence to creativity to athleticism through persistent and adaptive effort.” The words we need to keep in mind are mindset, consistency, commitment, courage, and success. Practice what we fear and consider success as something that grows and evolves in ways Sara highlights in this episode.This episode is step 2 from my free ebook on my website:  7 Steps to Thrive in the New World__Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with Sara   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sara Sheehan’s guest in this episode is Jeremy Fischbach, CEO of Happy, a mental health company providing frictionless, non-clinical support for people in demanding environments. Happy supports large organizations like hospitals and the Department of Defense and operates by eliminating barriers to accessing emotional support. Jeremy drew on his background in psychology and law, as well as his personal difficulties accessing mental health support, to develop Happy. He tells Sara exactly how his innovative approach prioritizes accessibility and impact.Jeremy’s personal struggles and dissatisfaction with the time-consuming and inaccessible nature of mental health support led him to envision a system where emotional support was readily available and proactively offered. He focused on creating a frictionless system with a platform where users find emotional support without facing complicated processes. Sara explores how Happy’s model addresses a growing need among people who feel disconnected from support.Sara and Jeremy discuss Happy’s high adoption rates and clinical-level effectiveness, the real-time emotional support offered, and how it enhances employee engagement. Despite struggles with disrupting traditional and digital mental health systems, Jeremy highlights the importance of continuing to challenge old models and assumptions. Happy’s success highlights the need for compassionate, accessible, and innovative mental health solutions that make user experience the priority.About Jeremy Fischbach:Jeremy Fischbach is the Founder of Happy, whose mission is to create a more supportive culture by expanding access to the essential ingredient of mental health and by teaching and inspiring people to better emotionally support each other. Prior to Happy, Jeremy was the CEO of Myne, which built interactive educational and sports analytics software that leveraged users’ psychographic data to improve performance. Jeremy has a psychology degree from Princeton and a J.D. from NYU.— Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with SaraJeremy Fischbach | HappyWebsite: FrictionlessMentalHealth.comJeremy Fischbach on LinkedInEmail Jeremy  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sara Sheehan talks about the power of authenticity in leadership in today’s episode. Authenticity is about leading in a genuine way, with transparency and in alignment with personal values and the organization’s mission. She breaks down exactly what authentic leadership looks like and how it sets executives apart by making them trusted and effective.  Sara shares five core components that define authenticity in leadership: The Core of Authentic Leadership, Why Authentic Leaders Are More Trusted, The Competitive Advantage of Authentic Leadership, How to Cultivate Authentic Leadership, and Authenticity as a Catalyst for Change. She breaks down each core value into directive steps that examine how to incorporate it into daily leadership. The ways in which authentic leadership improve how an executive is viewed are many, but it’s not simply a perspective change. It’s a change to the way in which an executive operates. Authentic leadership understands alignment between words and actions, it shows that vulnerability is strength, and it cultivates open and frequent communication. As Sara unpacks authentic leadership, she reveals a path to a more genuine way of leading that will effect sincere change with repercussive benefits to the organization as a whole.  __Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with Sara  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sara Sheehan’s guest in this episode is Kevin Wilkins, CEO of Trepwise, a New Orleans-based strategy firm that has worked with over 550 purpose-driven organizations. Kevin talks with Sara about what life events changed his career path and why Trepwise is such an important step for him. They explore what it takes to build a sustainable business in the present day and what leaders need to know. Kevin describes moving his family to New Orleans 4 and ½ years after Hurricane Katrina had hit after his wife got a great job offer. Once in the city, he began to look at how nonprofits had sprung up to assist New Orleans after Katrina but how despite the money flowing in, they were all vying for same funding and not many had a sustainable plan. That ultimately led him to found Trepwise. He unpacks what Trepwise is designed to do and how it functions, especially amongst the specific needs of New Orleans. Sara and Kevin talk about the driving motivation behind Trepwise and the human-centred approach Kevin focuses on taking. He points out that not only has he learned a great deal about nonprofit business and sustainability in that format but that the work he’s doing has taught him a lot and brought him immense personal satisfaction when goals for child welfare or improvement initiatives are realized. Kevin’s passion for his work and the city he lives in is evident throughout and his vision, through Trepwise, has created a sustainable foundation for many organizations wanting to help.About Kevin WilkinsKevin N. Wilkins is the Founder and CEO of Trepwise, a growth consulting firm with a mission to unlock the potential of purpose-driven organizations by aligning people, process, and vision.Kevin moved to New Orleans in 2010 and served as Entrepreneur-in-Residence and COO for The Idea Village from 2011 – 2013. His experience working closely with entrepreneurs in the New Orleans area led him to launch Trepwise in 2013. With more than 30 years of experience in corporate and private ventures, Kevin has built a strong team of consultants at Trepwise who collectively have worked with over 500 organizations within private and public sectors, nonprofits, and foundations.Kevin has also served on several nonprofit boards, currently for YPO Louisiana, Tulane Hillel, Institute of Mental Hygiene, City Year New Orleans, Touro Synagogue, Collegiate Academies, Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, The Foundation for Science and Mathematics Education, and formerly for Louisiana Children’s Museum, Pelican Bomb, Propeller: A Force for Social Innovation.Kevin is a graduate of Dartmouth College and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, as well as holding executive leadership positions with Procter & Gamble, Fidelity Investments, and State Street Research & Management. In addition, Kevin is a lead mentor for the national Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program and a mentor to startups in the Spark10 accelerator program based in India.— Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with SaraKevin Wilkins | Trepwise Strategy ConsultingWebsite: Trepwise.comKevin Wilkins on LinkedIn  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sara Sheehan examines how to create a positive company culture based on guidance from Daniel Coyle’s book The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups. She identifies the three fundamental skills that Coyle singles out as key to sustaining a strong organizational culture - building safety, sharing vulnerability, and establishing purpose - and discusses how each skill improves team performance when implemented.  Sara gets in-depth into how each of the three skills affects company culture for the better. Building safety allows teams to perform well because their members feel safe, connected, and supported. Sharing vulnerability may seem counterintuitive to high performance but Sara reveals that in truth it leads to deeper trust. Establishing a purpose comes through sharing a defined mission and values. Everyone should feel guided by a clear and shared understanding of why they do the work they do.Far from being merely theoretical, Sara shares how these foundational skills would look in operation through the example of a fictional company putting them into practice. She then follows up with real-world success stories from an unnamed client of hers. Having already used these skills to guide real clients to better results, Sara’s sharing of Coyle’s book and examination of what it means in practice becomes an invaluable tool for unifying companies into a positive culture.— Resources discussed in this episode:“The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups” by Daniel Coyle__Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with Sara  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sara Sheehan focuses on change management in this episode, stressing that CEOs in today’s fast-paced business world must view change not as an exception but as an expectation. Managing the changes facing an organization, whether it be a digital transformation or a large-scale merger, is the crucial element that makes or breaks the success of the endeavour. Sara outlines why mastering change management is so vital and how to approach prioritizing that management. Research from McKinsey & Company reveals that approximately 70% of large-scale transformation projects fail to achieve their goals and one of the primary reasons is a lack of focus on the human side of change. Effective internal change management empowers the humans of the organization to lead the change, rather than relying on external consultants. Sara explores the most critical steps in mastering change management by sharing a 9-step approach for every CEO to consider. Speaking from expertise and knowledge, Sara names the 9 steps: 1) Establish the groundwork. 2) Secure the right resources and build the team. 3) Engage and align stakeholders. 4) Create a robust change network. 5) Assess and prep the ground. 6) Create the vision and plan messaging. 7) Mitigate business impacts. 8) Cultivate behavioral change. 9) Empower talent and execute strategy. Sara explains in detail how each step benefits an organization’s transformation and allows the CEO to build a sustainable change with minimal disruption.— Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with Sara  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sara Sheehan’s guest in this episode is Sid Mohasseb, the "Entrepreneur Philosopher." Sid is a twice-bestselling author of two books: 'You Are Not Them: The Authentic Entrepreneur's Way,' and The Caterpillar's Edge: Evolve, Evolve Again and Thrive in Business.' He is also a university professor at both engineering and business schools. A two-time TED speaker, an advisor to Fortune 500 leaders, and an innovation thought leader who has built multiple companies and invested in many more. Sid and Sara Sheehan explore and discuss many interesting mindset issues facing entrepreneurs today, both in business and in life in general. Using the analogy of a caterpillar's transformation into a butterfly, Sid illustrates how gradual evolution is the key to personal and professional growth—change doesn’t happen overnight. Sid also explores the employer-employee relationship and the novel approach called the "whole life balance", where understanding the reasons behind employees' decisions takes precedence over a narrow focus on outcomes. His insights highlight how the mindset shapes how we define success, approach risks, and navigate leadership challenges. Sara Sheehan and Sid also emphasize the importance of self-awareness, trust, and listening as foundations for success in all areas of life.Sid also shares his plans to launch an academy aimed at fostering personal development and entrepreneurial growth. This new venture will feature short videos on topics like fear, resilience, and finding one's reasons, designed to provoke thought and inspire continuous improvement. Sid invites listeners to join him on this journey of transformation and to stay connected for future updates on the academy’s progress.About Sid MohassebFrom a very young age, Sid learned not to leave change to chance. At 7, he learned to be self-sufficient in treating the genetic blood disorder (Hemophilia) he suffered from. At 14, he learned to balance intellect and humility and published his first book of poetry. At 16, he convinced his parents that his future must be shaped in America and migrated to the US without his family. Working through engineering school, he learned that self-sufficiency begins with selflessness; to succeed one must be able to continually deliver value to friends, family and society.Embracing his entrepreneurial talents, at 21, Sid started and exited his first company while at college. Pursuing his curiosity about the purpose of life, he explored various spiritual and philosophical schools of thought. At 25, he taught comparative Eastern and Western philosophy. Sid’s professional career was built on being a trusted advisor. At 27, he became the youngest partner of a national management consulting firm serving Fortune 500 clients.Early in his career, Sid realized that trust, flexibility, agility and authenticity are the cornerstones of progress. During the next three decades, he supported large-scale acquisitions, and acted as the principal investor and operator in company turnarounds. As a serial entrepreneur, Sid founded and led several early-stage and hyper-growth companies from inception to acquisition. Many times over, he shouldered the responsibility for meeting payroll and wrote checks to acquire or invest in companies; learning to think both like an investor and a founder; facing, accepting, and overcoming his share of failures and successes in ideas and ventures. Along the way, Sid learned that the wounds of failures are the pathways to our next best version. Resources discussed in this episode:You Are Not Them: The Authentic Entrepreneur's Way by Sid MohassebThe Caterpillar’s Edge by Sid Mohasseb“From Reason to Profit” Forbes Article by Sid Mohasseb— Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with SaraSid Mohasseb | The Entrepreneur Philosopher:Website: caterpillaredge.comInstagram: SidMohassebX: SidMohassebLinkedin: Sid Mohasseb  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sara Sheehan’s guest in this episode is CEO of Diversity in Luxury, Luxury Weekly News Podcast and Elizabeth's Cake Emporium, Elizabeth Solaru. Elizabeth is a luxury business consultant, author, and a world-renowned cake artist. Her clientele is high-end and royal now but she didn’t start in luxury, she started as a microbiologist and headhunter. Sara Sheehan learns all about how Elizabeth started her companies, found such wealthy clients, and the advice she offers in her new book, The LUXPreneur.While working as a headhunter, Elizabeth relieved stress by reconnecting with her early love of baking and indulging in cake-making as a side hustle. When business in London collapsed in 2008, she decided to launch her luxury cake business instead of going back to headhunting. It was through cold-calling that she connected with a planner who worked for the late Queen Elizabeth, and the Queen became Elizabeth’s first high-end order. How Elizabeth built from that first order and scaled out into celebrities, other royals, and high-end brands, is her story of hard work, determination, and taking the lessons learned along the way to heart. Sara Sheehan and Elizabeth Solaru discuss creative ways to scale businesses and why every entrepreneur needs a financial planner they trust deeply. Elizabeth shares the five pillars of building a business brand that she writes extensively about in her book: storytelling, perception, customer experience, having an incredible product, and vision. She speaks on the importance of diversity, specifically diversity in luxury, and how writing her book has prompted her to dream about something big to do with books in the future. Sara Sheehan’s talk with Elizabeth Solaru is a fascinating glimpse into how luxury brands work, how to reach them, and practical advice that business owners need to know.About Elizabeth Solaru: Elizabeth started her first multi-award winning business with a secondhand mixer and £40 in the bank. Over the years, through creativity and sheer hard work, she built it up into a world-renowned business brand called ELIZABETH'S CAKE EMPORIUM.She serves Ultra High Networth Individuals (UHNWI) and royal families in a world of discretion, confidentiality, press embargos, and Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs).Elizabeth has also collaborated with many luxury brands including Harrods, Oscar de la Renta, and Fendi. She has been called a pioneer in the industry, and her work has appeared in Vogue, Tatler, HELLO!, Martha Stewart, Wedluxe, and The Telegraph.There have also been personal appearances on the BBC, Sky Living’s “Who’d be a Billionaire” and she has consulted on films such as Sony Columbia’s “My Best Friend’s Wedding.”__Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with SaraContact Elizabeth Solaru:Website: ElizabethSolaru.comWebsite: LuxuryBusinessEmporium.comElizabeth Solaru on LinkedIn“The LUXPreneur: How to start and build a successful luxury brand” by Elizabeth Solaru  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sara Sheehan’s guest in this episode is Alan Lazaros, Business Coach, Consultant, Trainer, and CEO of Next Level University. Alan’s approach to coaching comes from the heart, from lessons he learned through his personal life experiences, and has become an honest approach to inspiring, motivating, and educating people on what it truly takes to get to the next level in their lives and ambitions. Alan shares his story and thoughts on transformational thinking with Sara.The revelations that came to Alan through losing his father to a fatal car accident and then surviving a terrible car accident himself brought him to the realization of his purpose; to assist people in re-tooling and reinventing themselves to achieve a greater level of success in their futures. He learned a lot about leadership through founding his business and guiding his team, and those internal lessons also enriched his coaching. He shares one of his most important principles, which is to ensure that a client’s goals are in alignment with who they really are.Sara Sheehan and Alan Lazaros discuss Alan’s identified path to success and why self-awareness is what dictates how people will spend the three resources allotted to everyone in the human condition: time, effort, and money. Alan breaks down how our perceptions of ourselves and what we do dictate, to a large extent, who and what we become, and that it’s through habits and measurements of our progress that we achieve success. Sara learns more about Alan’s current work, his future business goals, and what he’s in the process of creating to achieve those goals. This conversation will inspire and transform the way we think about our ambitions.About Alan Lazaros: With a powerful combination of technical expertise and business acumen, Alan is a Business Coach, Consultant, Trainer, and Speaker specializing in helping businesses maximize their growth, impact, and profitability online. He believes in a heart-driven but NO BS approach to inspiring, motivating & educating others on what it REALLY takes to get to the next level.At age 2, Alan’s father passed away in a car accident. At age 26, after getting into a nearly fatal car accident himself, he questioned everything he was doing in life. He questioned who he was and the choices he was making. He was at an all-time low.Filled with regret, Alan searched for answers and found two of the brightest lights he had ever seen. The first bright light was a book by Bronnie Ware entitled, “The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying,” and the second was a Ted Talk by Tony Robbins. Both of these resources helped Alan find his way and guided him to make the choice of going ALL IN on self-improvement to design a life of meaning and purpose. On this self-improvement journey, Alan has learned he believes in a heart-driven but NO BS approach to inspiring, motivating, and educating others on what it REALLY takes to get to the Next Level.Today, Alan is proud to say it is his mission to help others create a life full of both success and fulfillment. He learned the hard way how empty success without fulfillment is and how limiting fulfillment without success is as well. Today, he leads a global team of 21 people, and he’s quickly approaching his 10,000 hours of speaking, podcasting, training, and coaching individuals from all walks of life.— Resources discussed in this episode:“Emotional Intelligence 2.0” by Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves“Atomic Habits” by James Clear“Measure What Matters” by John Doerr__Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with SaraContact Alan Lazaros:Website: NextLevelUniverse.comEmail: [email protected]: Next Level UniversityLinkedIn  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sara Sheehan’s guest in this episode is Dr. Bruno R. Cignacco, an international business consultant, TEDx speaker, and best-selling author. For over thirty years Dr. Cignacco has advised and trained hundreds of companies on trade activities and social marketing. His latest book, “The Art of Compassionate Business” examines the long-held assumption that employees are and should be treated like commodities and customers perceived as difficult. Bruno instead explores the need for humanity and healthy relationships not just with employees but with customers and shareholders as well. Businesses frequently resort to operating only on the quantitative outputs of a company, which can be measured, instead of qualitative values such as compassion, generosity, and engagement. Dr. Cignacco challenges the assumption that humanistic love has no place in business. He asserts the many benefits of humane and compassionate dealings with the people who comprise the workplace. The benefits become quantitative when they turn the workplace into a supportive environment that fosters a sense of safety and innovation where employees and customers feel valued, and when the fear of losing jobs, money, or status can be pushed aside.  Sara Sheehan and Dr. Bruno Cignacco discuss how organizations have stepped away from operating with any degree of love or care for the people who create and sustain their success, why the need to embrace seeing people as humans deserving of empathy and support is so great, and the overall benefits to the paradigm shift that’s needed. Bruno shares what is required to change the cold approach of businesses and how to embrace a more compassionate engagement with people. There is room for humanistic love in business, and it can help an organization flourish.  About Dr. Bruno Cignacco:Dr Bruno Roque Cignacco (PhD) is an international business consultant, TEDx speaker, lecturer, and best-selling author. For over 30 years, he has advised and trained hundreds of companies on international trade activities and social marketing. He is a university professor at different institutions in the UK. He is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA - UK). He is also the author of business and personal development books published in different languages. His new best-selling book is titled “THE ART OF COMPASSIONATE BUSINESS. MAIN PRINCIPLES FOR THE HUMAN-ORIENTED ENTERPRISE" (Routledge). His TEDx talk titled "The art of compassionate business" at Bonn Square Salon (Oxford, UK) has been viewed thousands of times. This specialist has delivered countless talks and training at a myriad of organisations, such as  YPO (Mexico), Hult University, NCC Education in Manchester (UK),  HKU SPACE (Hong Kong), University of Wollongong (Australia), Karachi Institute of Economics & Technology (Pakistan), Federation of Small Businesses UK, Jaipur Rugs (India), University of London,  Guizhou University of Finance and Economics (China),  Centre for Sustainable Action, Edinburgh Napier University,  University of Bahrein,  The University of Law (UK),  Bicol University (The Philippines), Kamara Youths,  DUAL Group (Howden Group Holdings),  ASM Institute of professional studies (India),  Deloitte (Denmark), and Bath Royal Literary & Scientific Institution (UK), among hundreds of other institutions worldwide.— Resources discussed in this episode:“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen R. Covey“The art of compassionate business with Bruno Cignacco” TEDX BonnSquareSalon__Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with SaraContact Bruno Cignacco:Website: BrunoCignacco.comBook: “The Art of Compassionate Business: Main Principles for the Human-Oriented Enterprise” by Dr. Bruno R. CignaccoLinkedIn   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sara Sheehan’s guest in this episode is Terry Tucker, a speaker, international podcast guest on the topic of motivation, and author of “Sustainable Excellence: Ten Principles to Leading Your Uncommon and Extraordinary Life”. Terry has a storied history including working as a marketing executive, hospital administrator, and SWAT hostage negotiator, in addition to surviving cancer. Sara and Terry talk about his books, his cancer journey, and why communication and connection are vital to living extraordinary lives. Our job doesn’t always have to embody our purpose, which is a lesson Terry learned through living and now widely shares. He stresses that we should lean into our soul’s purpose to fulfill our lives. He also learned the secrets to effective communication through his time as a hostage negotiator and explains why the 7% how you communicate, 38% words you say, and 55% body language and expressions formula is so important to consider. Of course, a large part of communication is listening and that leads to greater connection, which Terry says is his greatest focus in life currently.  Sara Sheehan and Terry Tucker explore how to foster deeper connections and why those connections are so important to both life and success. Terry reflects on his cancer journey by discussing how life will always bring us challenges and adversity and that it’s how we rise from adversity and what we learn from it that defines us going forward. Sara Sheehan learns that Terry wouldn’t change the course of his life because he believes cancer made him a better person and that his next book will focus on being of service to ourselves, our families and friends, and our communities. This motivational episode is not to be missed. About Terry Tucker:Terry Tucker is a sought-after speaker who believes in the power of a good story to motivate, inspire, and encourage others to lead their uncommon and extraordinary lives.By combining his twelve-year cancer journey with his diverse business, athletic coaching, and law enforcement expertise, he delivers compelling yet relatable presentations for conferences, virtual events, panels, meetings, and seminars.Terry is the Founder of Motivational Check LLC and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from The Citadel and a Master's degree from Boston University. He has been an NCAA Division I college basketball player, a marketing executive, a hospital administrator, a customer service manager, a SWAT Hostage Negotiator, a business owner, a high school basketball coach, and a cancer warrior.He is the author of the book Sustainable Excellence, Ten Principles To Leading Your Uncommon and Extraordinary Life. Terry has been featured in Authority, Thrive Global, and Human Capital Leadership magazines. In addition, he is quoted in the new book, Audaciousness, Your Journey To Living A Bold And Authentic Life by Maribel Ortega and Helen Strong— Resources discussed in this episode:“Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection” by Charles Duhigg“The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt“Do Hard Things” by Steve Magness__Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with SaraContact Terry Tucker:Website: MotivationalCheck.comBook: “Sustainable Excellence: Ten Principles To Leading Your Uncommon And Extraordinary Life” by Terry TuckerLinkedInYouTube  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sara Sheehan’s guest in this episode is Linda Fisk, the Founder and Chairwoman of LeadHERship Global, a community of unstoppable women enhancing their leadership blueprint and embracing their power. Linda is an award-winning CEO, TEDx speaker, best-selling author, keynote speaker, and university professor. She talks with Sara about the goals and successes of LeadHERship Global, the power of women, and what she sees coming up in her future. Linda found her genius work by being part of leadership organizations that allowed her to meet other inspirational leaders. Leaders coming together who align against a particular challenge or issue create a greater impact and accelerate success. This understanding and love for leadership alignment translated into creating the global community of LeadHERship Global where she found like-minded leaders collaborating for a supportive community where women have access to the same privileges and benefits that men benefit from. Sara Sheehan and Linda Fisk discuss how LeadHERship Global ushers members into high-powered C-Suite positions or inspires them to start their own businesses, why sustainable impact and giving back are a vital part of what they work on, and the partnership with She Talks that provides a speaker summit only for women. Linda shares her own story and the goals and ambitions that drive her forward, including an opportunity called The InvestHER Fest to connect entrepreneurs to investors. What Linda has to say is enlightening and deeply inspirational. Her devotion to the betterment of opportunities for women and the desire to uplift all women into impactful change will challenge us all to realize our best potential. About Linda Fisk:Linda Fisk is a multi-award-winning leader, keynote speaker, podcast host, TEDx speaker, best-selling author and university professor dedicated to amplifying and extending the success of other high-calibre business leaders. She is the CEO of LeadHERship Global, a community of unstoppable women enhancing their leadership blueprint and embracing their power to be the best version of themselves- in work and life. As Chairwoman of LeadHERship Global, Linda supports and guides ambitious, creative women to move in the direction of their purpose, their mission and their dreams with powerful connections, critical support, practical tools and valuable resources to show up, speak up and step up in their careers and personal lives.— Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with SaraContact Linda Fisk:Website: LeadHERshipGlobal.comEmail: [email protected] Fisk LinkedInLeadHERship Global LinkedInLeadHERship Global Instagram  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sara Sheehan’s guest in this episode is Ashley Graham, CEO and founder of The Conscious Publicist. Ashley advocates for purpose-driven businesses and their potential to create positive change which she talks about in depth with Sara. She discusses her motivation for PR and assisting clients in increasing their reach and impact through the carefully curated services she offers. Ashley’s sense of strategy and leadership shine in this conversation. Through sharing a bit of her personal story, it becomes clear that Ashley has always been drawn to utilizing her extroverted skill set and ability to define thought leadership for the benefit of others. She has an extensive history of PR and marketing so The Conscious Publicist and her desire to empower women in business were a match made in entrepreneurial heaven. Ashley describes how she creates value for her clients through the detailed packages she has to offer.  In this episode, Sara Sheehan and Ashley Graham reflect on Ashley’s guidance of Sara in her publicity journey and how the impact of Ashley’s knowledge greatly aided in Sara’s success. They break down the importance of the market research and the tracking resources Ashley accesses for her clients, how podcasts work to get their messages to a whole new audience, and some of Ashley’s aspirations for the future of her business. What comes across is a business with a clear purpose and a founder, in Ashley, who cares greatly about how thought leadership can benefit the growth of her clients.About Ashley Graham:Ashley Graham is a publicist, entrepreneur and thought leader who is widely acknowledged for her approach to business and leadership. Ashley has sharp business acumen and a passion for innovation, which has helped her navigate the complexities of entrepreneurship to become a trailblazer in her industry.Ashley's exceptional leadership skills and commitment to excellence have been the driving force behind her business. She is dedicated to fostering diversity and empowering women in business, which can be seen in the success and growth of her enterprise. Her strategic advisory, decision-making, and forward-thinking approach have earned her accolades for her contributions to the business world.Apart from being a business founder, Ashley Graham is also a highly respected PR and thought leadership advisor. Her extensive experience provides valuable insights and guidance to individuals and organizations seeking to enhance their influence and impact. Ashley's ability to navigate the dynamic landscape of PR, media, and thought leadership reflects her deep understanding of industry trends and commitment to driving meaningful change.— Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with SaraContact Ashley Graham:Website: TheConsciousPublicist.comPodcast: The Conscious Publicist with Ashley GrahamAshley Graham on LinkedIn  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sara Sheehan’s guest in this episode is Gary Simon, CEO of Modern Finance Forum and FSN Talent and highly sought-after lecturer. Gary talks about exactly what the Modern Finance Forum and FSN Talent are about and what they’re accomplishing. He explains what some of the contemporary discussions on finance centre on between the professionals on the forum and how the members research issues that impact the finance function. Membership in the Modern Finance Forum is strictly controlled and members align specifically with finance in career and knowledge. Gary explains that their goal is to expand knowledge that impacts finance and expand engagement, noting that while membership is curated, the results of discussion and research are publicly published and available to everyone. Because the membership user base is 60% EMEA, 25% North America, and 15% AsiaPac, they address global issues and innovations affecting worldwide finance. In this episode, Sara Sheehan and Gary Simon discuss what finance transformation means to different people and the impact of modern innovation and processes on the finance function. Gary describes some of the topics the forum tackles, from the data issue and data governance to cyber security and what security implications new systems like Copilot introduce. Gary also touches on AI, the value of human creativity and originality, sustainability and the overconsumption of resources in the growth of data and computing, and his goals for the forum. The insight and knowledge Gary share are not to be missed.About Gary Simon:Gary Simon is in the "Top 10" most viewed Leaders profiles on Linkedin in the UK.He is a highly sought-after lecturer and trusted provider of 'thought leadership'​ and analysis about finance and business systems for CFOs around the world. He is a Fellow of the British Computer Society; a Chartered IT Professional; a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales; a Graduate of Queen Elizabeth College (now Kings) London University and the author of four books on financial software and information systems.He addresses thousands of finance professionals annually about the issues and challenges affecting the CFO’s role. The bulk of Gary Simon’s professional experience has been as a senior consulting partner with Deloitte, one of the largest professional services organizations in the world. His field of expertise is information strategy, performance management and financial reporting systems working at the Board level with global 2,000 companies, large public sector organizations and central government as well as spells in the mid-market. After almost 17 years as a consulting partner, he set up his own highly successful publishing house FSN Publishing Limited in 2005 and works extensively as a popular market analyst, running FSN's popular Modern Finance Forum on LinkedIn for more than 56,000 CFOs around the globe. __ Resources discussed in this episode:“Every time you talk to ChatGPT it drinks 500ml of water; here’s why” by Priya Singh for Business Today September 12, 2023— Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with SaraContact Gary Simon:Website: FSNTalent.comThe Modern Finance ForumGary Simon on LinkedInEmail: [email protected]  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sara Sheehan shares an episode containing three messages about mindset approaches. The three approaches collectively yield an attainable vision of transformational leadership. Drawing on her years of experience, Sara’s passion for building long-term relationships and delivering business results gives this episode a timely impact. Transformational leadership has never been as important as it is now. The three mindset approaches Sara lays out involve resilient leadership, the learning leader, and aligning vision with action. Resilient leadership is about transforming challenges into opportunities. Not all leadership navigates smooth waters, storms will be encountered. How does a leader handle storms gracefully? The learning leader and aligning vision with action address qualities that a good leader must cultivate to realize success.In this episode, Sara’s advice encompasses the necessity of continuous education, what that education involves, how to cultivate a clear and compelling vision, and how to align goal setting with that vision. While Sara acknowledges that all leaders are individuals and every organization will need different strengths at different times, transformational leadership will always involve resilience, growth, and the alignment of vision and goals. Knowing how to approach these mindsets and make them work for each organization is part of the legacy of effective leadership. — Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with Sara  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sara Sheehan’s guest in this episode is Sri Chellappa, Co-Founder and CEO of Engagedly and host of the People Strategy Leaders Podcast. Sri Chellappa talks about Engagedly and the purpose behind its development while highlighting the importance of employee engagement and the right kind of performance management. Developing and maintaining talent requires a transparent and interactive approach which Sri elaborates on for Sara. In his previous work in IT consulting, Sri discovered that many employees were not feeling appreciated or recognized for the right roles in advancement, and many of them didn’t understand where their organization was headed. Engagedly was created to fill that gap: to assist organizations in delivering better engagement at every level of employee and management. While software alone cannot solve the problem, it can provide a platform and guidance from which organizations can become more employee-centric. And that is what Sri believes is the necessary future of workplaces.In this episode, Sara Sheehan and Sri Chellappa discuss what transparency means within an organization, how true transparency builds trust with employees, the pros and cons of performance evaluations, and why they both believe mentoring and coaching are necessary components to success. Sri has a lot of practical insight into employee-centric thinking and how to best use performance reviews for employee improvement and relations with the company overall. He sees the trends in Engagedly and also talks about what businesses are facing on his podcast. The wisdom shared here is invaluable to moving a company towards more meaningful engagement at all levels of the organization.About Sri Chellappa:Sri Chellappa is the CEO/President and Co-Founder of Engagedly, an AI-enabled people strategy platform software that redefines performance appraisals by simplifying and incorporating elements of employee engagement and development into the performance review process.A passionate entrepreneur and leader in building high-performance organizations that care about their people, Sri brings over 20 years of experience in leading organizations in software development and consulting in the U.S to his current role. Having developed an extensive amount of experience from managing teams in his previous roles at EY and Capgemini, Sri understands the value of investing in employees and the overall impact it not only has on their individual performance but the success of the company. As a result, he continues to use his leadership skills to make influential decisions that will impact employees, helping them to stay engaged and develop the talent that they need to succeed and advance in their careers.With a unique background in technology, people management, health IT and film writing, directing, and production, Sri brings a diverse set of experiences across industries and specialties to build highly engaged organizations.Career Highlights:Author of the book: “The Black Book of Agile Project Delivery with Distributed Teams”Writer/Director/Producer of 6 Feature Films distributed theatrically and via Netflix, NBCUniversal, Fox International, Showtime, Amazon Prime, Sky, and various international channels.__ Resources discussed in this episode:“The Performance Management Revolution” by Peter Cappelli and Anna Tavis, from HBR October 2016— Contact Sara Sheehan | Sara Sheehan Consulting:SaraWSheehan.comSara Sheehan on LinkedInMeet with SaraContact Sri Chellappa:Website: Engagedly.comPodcast: People Strategy Leaders PodcastLinkedIn  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.