Voices of Experience

When it comes to the in-stadium experience for the New England Patriots, Abbey Thistle is the quarterback. She calls the plays and puts people in a spot to succeed. But with rising ticket and concession costs, coupled with elevated fan expectations, it can be hard to get people off the couch and into the stadium. As the Senior Director of Fan Engagement and Development for the Patriots, Thistle has seen it all over the last decade. She’s helped host countless playoff games, won a Super Bowl or three, and worked to find ways to keep fans entertained at Gillette Stadium. On this episode of the Voices of Experience podcast, she shares a behind the scenes look at what it takes to produce an NFL game, how she’s innovating on fan engagement in an era of at-home streaming, and what advice she has for people looking to break into the sports and entertainment industry. Table of Contents • 1:14 The “quarterback” of the game day experience • 1:38 Mastering multitasking in real time • 3:03 Why the script goes out the window • 4:38 Everything fans don’t see behind the scenes • 7:08 The challenge of creating stadium atmosphere • 10:33 What Super Bowl week really looks like • 13:04 Lessons from the Savannah Bananas • 16:19 Finding a career in sports (starting at DU) • 21:04 When promotions go off the rails • 24:10 Show notes and credits

When it comes to building a career, titles and promotions only tell part of the story. The real impact often happens behind the scenes, in the way organizations develop people and align strategy. That is where Marisa Midyet thrives. She is a strategic HR leader who has led large-scale initiatives at global organizations like Johnson & Johnson and Apple, and now brings that experience to growing companies through her consulting firm, Rose Talent Co. On this episode of the Voices of Experience podcast, Marisa shares how HR can drive business success, why performance reviews often fall short and how to get them right, and what the future of work looks like in an era shaped by AI, flexibility and purpose. Table of Contents • 0:04 “It’s time for your performance review” • 1:14 Why HR strategy must align with business strategy • 2:07 What HR actually does (and why it matters) • 3:35 The decision to pursue an MBA • 5:17 Taking a risk on a J&J internship • 7:18 Leading through COVID and constant change • 11:32 Performance reviews: simplicity over complexity • 13:17 Starting a business and redefining success • 16:01 How AI is changing HR • 17:58 The future of remote and hybrid work • 21:24 “Don’t chase titles” • 22:38 Show notes and credits

Professional pickleball and professional banking aren't all that different, if you ask Chad Shane. The CEO of Canvas Credit Union builds culture like a coach would: leveraging a team's strengths and weaknesses, stressing collaboration, and finding the balance between cutting-edge technology and good old-fashioned hard work. Amid the rise in artificial intelligence, Shane is proud of the way Canvas has stuck to its values, prioritizing customer experience, a tight-knit staff and a close relationship with the broader community. On this episode of the Voices of Experience podcast, he reflects on his rise to the top position at Canvas, the skills he's had to develop and the approach he's taken to implement change.

Dioramas just don't cut it anymore for museums that want to keep new generations of kids interested in their collections. Instead, George Saunders has steered the Denver Museum of Nature and Science in a direction that has kept the 125-year-old institution relevant, in an age when almost anything in the world can be seen on a computer screen.On this episode of the Voices of Experience podcast, Saunders explains how his industry has changed—and how he's developed the mindset to make it happen. Table of Contents: 1:14 Life-changing executive coaching • 2:32 Creating the "10-year plan" • 3:14 "It's not just about making money" • 4:22 Developing a strong moral compass • 5:25 What people don't realize about museums • 7:07 Surviving COVID-19 • 9:56 Today's challenges for museums • 15:42 The career "identity crisis" • 18:10 Developing an innovative workforce • 19:41 What if you were an executive coach? • 21:35 Rebuilding community • 13:08 Show notes and credits