In this episode of the GDA Podcast, Gail Davis and Kyle Davis sit down with Michelle Gielan, former national CBS News anchor turned positive psychology researcher and bestselling author, to explore how the way we communicate can influence happiness, resilience, and performance.

Michelle shares the science behind positive psychology and practical ways to put it into action at work and at home. She explains how shifting conversations from problems toward solutions, expressing support for others, and changing the way we respond to stress can help create more positive and productive environments.

Key topics include:

• How a positive, optimistic, and resilient mindset can improve performance
• Using the “power lead” to start conversations with something positive and meaningful
• Moving conversations from simply identifying problems to exploring solutions
• Why specific, authentic recognition can strengthen trust and workplace culture
• How expressing a positive mindset can help counter negativity within a team
• Changing your response to stress by staying cool under pressure and taking a small, meaningful “now step”

Michelle’s message is a reminder that positivity isn't about ignoring challenges or being happy all the time. It's about responding to challenges in a way that helps us feel more empowered, connected, and ready to take action.

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Michelle Gielan to your next event.

In this episode of the GDA Podcast, Kyle Davis sits down with Diana Kander, serial entrepreneur and innovation expert, to explore how curiosity can help organizations better understand their customers, challenge assumptions, and create a stronger culture of innovation.

Diana explains why experience and success can sometimes make businesses overly confident in what they think customers want. She shares how asking better questions, listening with genuine curiosity, and running small experiments can uncover opportunities that assumptions alone often miss.

Key topics include:

• Why curiosity is the foundation for innovation
• Identifying points of tension between your business and your customers
• Asking questions that uncover what customers actually value instead of guessing what they want
• Using small experiments to test assumptions before investing significant time or money
• Empowering employees to continually question how their work could be improved
• Fighting confirmation bias by actively looking for evidence that challenges what you believe

Diana’s message is a reminder that innovation doesn't always start with a big idea. It starts with staying curious, questioning what you think you know, listening closely to your customers, and continually looking for ways to improve.

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Diana Kander to your next event.

In this episode of the GDA Podcast, Kyle Davis sits down with Daymond John, entrepreneur, founder and CEO of FUBU, Shark Tank star, and bestselling author, to explore entrepreneurship, branding, innovation, and the mindset behind building a successful business.

Daymond shares how he turned an underserved market into the beginnings of FUBU, what Shark Tank has taught him about entrepreneurship, and why success still comes back to strong business fundamentals. He also discusses his then-new book, Rise and Grind, and what he learned by studying the daily habits and routines of high performers.

Key topics include:

• How identifying an underserved community helped Daymond build FUBU
• Turning customers into genuine brand ambassadors
• What Shark Tank taught Daymond about entrepreneurship and evolving business models
• Why successful entrepreneurs build a strong “rejection muscle” and keep moving forward
• Creating a culture where ideas and innovation can come from every level of an organization
• The habits, routines, and goal-setting practices behind Rise and Grind

Daymond’s message is a reminder that success isn't dependent on having unlimited resources or someone else opening the right door. It comes from understanding your market, staying focused on the fundamentals, taking action, learning, and continuing to move forward.

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Daymond John to your next event.

In this episode of the GDA Podcast, Gail Davis and Kyle Davis sit down with Polly LaBarre, bestselling author, speaker, and founding member of Fast Company, to explore how organizations can become more adaptable, innovative, and engaging in a rapidly changing world.

Polly shares what she has learned from studying progressive organizations around the world and explains why experimentation is one of the most powerful tools for driving change. She explores how leaders can create environments where people have the freedom to test ideas, learn from failure, share work in progress, and contribute their full potential.

Key topics include:

• Using small, frequent experiments to make organizations more adaptable
• Reframing failure as an opportunity to learn, iterate, and improve
• Why sharing work in progress can create greater transparency and collaboration
• Giving people closer to the customer more freedom and authority to make decisions
• Balancing constant change and innovation with time to reset and recharge
• Using purpose and deeply held values to guide everyday decisions and create meaningful differentiation

Polly’s message is a reminder that creating a more innovative organization isn't about having all the answers. It’s about building a culture where people can experiment, learn, adapt, and use a shared sense of purpose to guide what comes next.

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Polly LaBarre to your next event.

In this episode of the GDA Podcast, Gail Davis and Kyle Davis sit down with Carey Lohrenz, the first female F-14 Tomcat fighter pilot in the U.S. Navy, to explore what her experience operating in high-pressure environments can teach us about leadership, courage, and high performance.

Carey shares lessons from the demanding path to becoming a Naval Aviator and explains how those principles translate to today's workplace. From planning and adapting to taking action before everything is perfect, she explores how leaders can help their teams navigate uncertainty, learn from setbacks, and keep moving forward when there is no guaranteed path to success.

Key topics include:

• Carey’s journey to becoming the first female F-14 Tomcat fighter pilot in the U.S. Navy
• Why you sometimes have to raise your hand before you feel completely ready
• Using planning, briefing, execution, and debriefing to help teams adapt quickly
• Why “80% is good enough” when progress matters more than perfection
• Learning from failure, controlling what you can control, and continuing to move forward
• Staying curious, avoiding complacency, and continually working toward excellence

Carey’s message is a reminder that fearless leadership doesn't mean eliminating fear. It means being willing to pursue difficult goals, prepare for uncertainty, and take action even when you don't have every answer.

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Carey Lohrenz to your next event.

In this episode of the GDA Podcast, Gail Davis and Kyle Davis sit down with Josh Linkner, entrepreneur, venture capital investor, author, and professional-level jazz guitarist, to explore how creativity and innovation can help organizations adapt, solve problems, and stay competitive in a rapidly changing world.

Josh explains why innovation doesn't have to mean reinventing an entire industry. Instead, he encourages people at every level of an organization to practice “everyday innovation”—small, creative changes that improve the way we lead, collaborate, serve customers, and get work done. He also shares what organizations can learn from startups, including embracing responsible risk, experimenting with new ideas, and using a clear vision as a compass when there isn't a map to follow.

Key topics include:

• What business leaders can learn about improvisation, collaboration, and adaptability from jazz
• Why diversity of thought and perspective can lead to more creative solutions
• Making innovation accessible through small, everyday improvements
• Creating a culture where people feel safe to experiment, take responsible risks, and learn from failure
• Why leaders should run small experiments, quickly abandon what isn't working, and build on what is
• Looking outside your own industry to borrow ideas and uncover fresh approaches

Josh’s message is a reminder that innovation isn't reserved for startups, CEOs, or massive breakthroughs. When people are empowered to think creatively, challenge familiar approaches, and make small improvements every day, innovation can become part of how an entire organization operates.

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Josh Linkner to your next event.

In this episode of the GDA Podcast, Kyle Davis sits down with Elizabeth Lombardo, Ph.D., clinical psychologist and author, to explore how our mindset shapes the way we handle stress, setbacks, relationships, and success. Elizabeth explains why everyone has an inner critic and how learning to manage that voice can help us change the way we think and respond.

Elizabeth shares how a patient she met during her postdoctoral training changed her perspective on happiness by showing her the power of focusing on what remains rather than what has been lost. She also explains how stress can narrow our perspective, why negative thought patterns can become automatic, and how intentionally practicing new ways of thinking can help us create healthier patterns.

Key topics include:

• How our inner critic can influence the way we think, perform, and respond to stress
• Why perspective and focus play such an important role in happiness
• Rewiring negative thought patterns by consistently practicing new ways of thinking
• Viewing setbacks as data instead of personal failures
• Building unconditional self-worth that isn't dependent on achievement or other people's approval
• Recognizing and overcoming imposter syndrome and negative self-talk

Elizabeth’s message is a reminder that the way we think isn't fixed. By becoming more aware of our inner critic, shifting our perspective, and intentionally practicing healthier thought patterns, we can change how we experience challenges and how we show up for ourselves and others.

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Elizabeth Lombardo, Ph.D. to your next event.

In this episode of the GDA Podcast, Gail Davis and Kyle Davis sit down with Seth Mattison, founder and Chief Movement Officer of FutureSight Labs, to explore workforce trends, generational dynamics, workplace culture, and how organizations can prepare for the future of work.

Seth shares how the relationship between employers and employees is becoming more fluid and why creating a great employee experience matters regardless of how long someone stays with an organization. He also explores the growing tension between traditional hierarchies and more connected, networked ways of working—and why leaders need to balance the strengths of both.

Key topics include:

• Why the employee experience can directly influence the customer experience
• Creating a strong culture in an increasingly fluid workforce
• Balancing traditional hierarchies with more connected, networked ways of working
• Why organizations need both fresh perspectives and experienced voices
• Leading with humility, abundance, and presence
• Creating a culture where people feel comfortable questioning assumptions and challenging the way things have always been done

Seth’s message is a reminder that organizations can honor what made them successful without holding on so tightly that they miss what’s coming next. Preparing for the future requires leaders to stay flexible, question old assumptions, and remain open to new ways of working.

Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing Seth Mattison to your next event.