We are not just products of nature and nurture. We all have the capability of redesigning ourselves not to be someone else, but to become more fully ourselves. In this episode, Shana Francesca joins host Brian Gorman to share her journey from growing up in a cult to becoming an interior designer to becoming a speaker, consultant, workshop facilitator, and "scholar of intentional & ethical leadership & living." The lessons that Shana shares are ones that we all can benefit from both professionally and personally.

In his book "The 9th Stratum: Your Guide to High Performance," author Aaron Salko provides insights that everyone from the frontline to the C-suite can benefit from. During this episode, Aaron and host Brian Gorman examine the importance of being personal growth driven, disciplined in self-evaluation, altruism motivated, and goal driven in achieving high performance. The skills behind these traits, along with the psychological and physiological factors that make them so important, are also addressed.

"To be effective, leaders need to draw on the C's: competencies, commitment, and character." Bill Furlong, co-author of "The Character Compass: Transforming Leadership for the 21st Century," joins host Brian Gorman to discuss what is meant by "character," what makes character so important in today's organizations, and the elements that comprise it. Character is about personal presence, how you show up. With intention and practice, it can be developed.

How do you avoid plateauing out as a leader? Aaron Trahan, Founder of Mindset Performance coaching, spent more than a decade researching that question. In this episode of Qonversations, Aaron and host Brian Gorman discuss the three "outs" Aaron has identified and how any leader can apply each of these in raising their performance: out-prepare, out-work, and out-learn. As Aaron explains, these are not leaders who are on the job 24/7. It is the mindset they bring, and how they live into their roles and relationships, that make the difference.

Relationships at work advocate Russel Lolacher joins host Brian Gorman to explore leadership through the lens of relationships. Successfully moving from industrial age leadership to the digital/post-Covid environment requires leaders who understand, leadership is about people.

In today's environment, DEI has once again become a topic of focus for business. Some organizations are cutting back or totally eliminating their DEI programs as others re-commit to building an environment in which every employee feels that they belong and that they have a voice. In this episode, Steve Yacovelli, author of "Pride Leadership: Strategies for the LGBTQ+ Leader to be the King Or Queen of Their Jungle," joins host Brian Gorman to explore the shifting landscape of DEI as well as the business - and human - benefits such programs offer.

Challenge is a constant in our lives. Resilience is the force that moves us through it. In this episode, Linda Hoopes, author of "Prosilience: Building Your Resilience for a Turbulent World," CEO of Resilience Alliance, and Quantuvos Advisor, joins host Brian Gorman for a practical discussion of resilience. Among the topics explored are the impact that resilience has in all areas of our lives; the energies that fuel resilience; and the ways that leaders can leverage - or disempower - the resilience of those in their teams.

"People are our most valuable asset." Yet the only place people show up in an organization's financial statements is in expenses. Dave Bookbinder, Executive Director of Valuation Services for Haefele Flanagan, is working to change that. In this episode, Dave joins host Brian Gorman to discuss the challenges of accounting for people as well as the importance of doing so.

Don't judge a book by its cover. While "Level Up: Rise Above the Hidden Forces Holding Your Business Back" sounds like a book for entrepreneurs, it is so much more. Co-author Lara Hodgson, who wrote "Level Up" with Stacey Abrams, joins host Brian Gorman to discuss those aspects of leveling up that might be called "the hidden forces holding you back." Wherever you are in life, there are important lessons in this conversation.

In his book Team Habits: How Small Habits Lead to Extraordinary Results, Charlie Gilkey writes, "No matter your role in the company, you have the power to change your team's habits." Charlie joins host Brian Gorman to explore several of the habits that, if changed, will make a significant difference in the lives of those on your team, the impact of your team on the business, and the success that the business is able to achieve. Along the way, he discusses why even changing the habits of individual contributors can change how businesses are led and what they can accomplish.