Yavia Muñiz is a CEO, master barber, and successful business owner whose journey is a testament to the power of discipline, humility, and perseverance. His passion for barbering began at just 14 years old, when he started cutting hair and apprenticed for two years, developing both his technical skills and an understanding of customer service, marketing, and business operations.

Over the next decade, José Yavia Muñiz refined his craft while working in various barbershops, learning through experience, mentorship, and continuous education. By attending professional seminars and embracing guidance from industry experts, he elevated his skills as a stylist and built a reputation for excellence. His dedication eventually led him to open his own private studio, where he has earned the trust of a diverse clientele, including artists and musicians from both his home state and beyond.

Today, Yavia is the founder of "El Barberito", a brand he has successfully grown through strategic marketing, social media, and an unwavering commitment to professionalism. He combines modern technology—including appointment scheduling software, digital payment platforms, and sound financial management—with exceptional customer service to create an experience that motivates and inspires every client who sits in his chair.

Beyond building a successful business, Yavia is passionate about investing in the next generation of barbers and stylists. He is developing an industry expo that will bring together barber professionals, cosmetologists, accountants, and other experts to equip aspiring entrepreneurs with practical business knowledge. His message is simple yet powerful: **"Invest to progress."** Through his work, Yavia continues to build a lasting legacy of craftsmanship, leadership, and mentorship while pursuing his vision of expanding "El Barberito" and training future leaders to carry that legacy forward.

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In this episode of the Forged by Design Podcast, Daniel Badillo sits down with Billy Bennett, CEO and co-founder of Pyramid ODI (www.pyramidodi.com), to explore what it truly  takes to build organizations where both people and performance thrive. Drawing from more than three decades of experience in organizational development, Billy shares why sustainable success is never achieved through processes alone—it is created by developing the people who execute them.

The conversation centers on releasing human potential and transforming organizations into workplaces where employees are empowered, challenged, and equipped to perform at their highest level. Billy explains that exceptional organizations intentionally cultivate trust, communication, accountability, and leadership, creating environments where teams consistently outperform expectations rather than simply meeting them.

A key focus of the discussion is the Birkman Method, a powerful behavioral assessment that helps leaders better understand personality, communication styles, motivations, stress behaviors, and workplace needs. Billy explains how organizations can use these insights to improve collaboration, strengthen leadership effectiveness, resolve conflict, and place individuals in roles where they are most likely to succeed.

Daniel and Billy also discuss the importance of team building, coaching, and organizational mentoring. Rather than viewing coaching as correcting poor performance, Billy describes it as a process of unlocking hidden strengths and helping individuals grow into leaders capable of influencing others. Effective mentoring creates a culture of continuous learning, while coaching enables employees to become confident decision-makers who contribute greater value to their organizations.

Throughout the episode, Billy reinforces that organizational excellence begins with a commitment to customer value, integrity, relationships, and collaborative leadership. He shares how Pyramid ODI has helped organizations around the world navigate change, rebuild struggling operations, and develop high-performing teams by focusing on behavioral transformation instead of temporary fixes.

Listeners will leave with practical insights into how leaders can create workplaces where people are engaged, teams communicate effectively, and organizations continuously improve. Whether you are a business owner, executive, operations leader, or aspiring manager, this episode provides valuable lessons on developing stronger teams, empowering individuals, and building organizations that achieve lasting success.

Key Takeaways

• Why organizational success begins with developing people, not just improving processes.
• How the Birkman Method strengthens leadership, communication, and team effectiveness.
• The role of coaching and mentoring in unlocking individual and organizational potential.
• Strategies for building high-performing teams rooted in trust, accountability, and collaboration.
• Why empowering employees creates sustainable business results and exceptional customer value.
• How great leaders cultivate cultures where continuous improvement becomes part of everyday work.

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In this episode of the Forged by Design Podcast, Daniel Badillo welcomes Lee Peck, District Training Officer for the Columbia County School District Police, to discuss one of every community's greatest responsibilities: protecting its schools. Drawing on 17 years of law enforcement experience, including service as a School Resource Officer, Lee shares practical insights on emergency preparedness, leadership, and building safer learning environments where students and educators can thrive.

Lee reflects on the experiences that inspired his commitment to school safety and explains how his Master's degree in Public Administration shaped his approach to strategic planning, effective policy, and proactive leadership. Rather than focusing solely on responding to emergencies, he emphasizes prevention, preparedness, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

The conversation examines the evolving landscape of school safety. While school shootings have occurred worldwide, the United States continues to experience them at a much higher frequency. Lee discusses how modern law enforcement training has expanded beyond active shooter response to include comprehensive planning for medical emergencies, severe weather, fires, hazardous materials, mental health crises, reunification procedures, communication challenges, and many other critical incidents.

A central theme throughout the episode is that effective school safety depends on strong partnerships. Lee explains how educators, law enforcement, parents, students, counselors, and community leaders all play essential roles in creating safe schools. Built on trust, communication, and shared responsibility, these partnerships help identify concerns early, reduce risk, and strengthen coordinated responses during emergencies.

Drawing from his experience as a School Resource Officer, Lee highlights the importance of early intervention and relationship-building. Working closely with counselors and student support teams taught him that many situations can be addressed before they become law enforcement matters, creating a safer and more supportive environment for students.

The discussion also explores the human side of emergency preparedness. Through realistic training and regular drills, school personnel and officers develop the confidence, communication skills, and decision-making abilities needed to remain calm under pressure. Lee explains that successful emergency response depends as much on leadership and judgment as it does on procedures.

The interview concludes with practical advice for parents, educators, administrators, and community leaders, encouraging every community to invest in preparedness before a crisis occurs. Lee also discusses firearms training for new officers, emphasizing that professional policing requires not only marksmanship but also restraint, accountability, ethical decision-making, and a lifelong commitment to continuous training.

Ultimately, this episode delivers a powerful message: the safest schools are built long before emergencies occur. Through intentional leadership, comprehensive planning, ongoing training, and strong community partnerships, schools can create environments where students and educators feel secure, supported, and prepared. Lee Peck reminds us that true school safety is built not on fear, but on preparation, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to protecting the next generation.

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In this episode of Forged by Design, we sit down with Stacey Sharp, Infrastructure Engineer and Director of Information Systems, whose passion for technology began at just six years old programming on a TRS-80 computer. With more than three decades of experience in IT, Stacey shares how the industry has evolved—from early personal computers and Linux to cloud computing and modern manufacturing environments where 24/7 uptime is mission-critical.

Throughout the conversation, Stacey discusses the realities of disaster recovery, the importance of disciplined troubleshooting, when organizations should build custom solutions versus buying commercial software, and the lessons learned from leading large-scale cloud migrations. He also explains why documentation is one of the most overlooked yet valuable practices in IT and offers practical advice for the next generation of technology professionals. Whether you're an IT leader, engineer, or simply fascinated by the evolution of technology, this episode is packed with real-world insights from someone who has spent a lifetime building, solving, and innovating.

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Featured on the Forged by Design podcast, Bobbie D. Jackson is an accomplished trainer, speaker, consultant, coach, entrepreneur, and organizational change agent dedicated to helping individuals, educators, nonprofit organizations, and businesses achieve sustainable growth through professional development and strategic training. As Chief Executive Officer of Augusta Training Center LLC, she leads the development and delivery of innovative training solutions designed to strengthen leadership capacity, workforce effectiveness, organizational compliance, and program performance.

With a career built on service, education, and organizational improvement, Jackson has earned a reputation for creating engaging learning environments that empower professionals to maximize their potential. Her expertise spans training design, leadership development, coaching, consulting, early childhood education support, organizational effectiveness, and workforce development initiatives. Through her work, she helps organizations build stronger teams, improve operational outcomes, and foster cultures of continuous learning and excellence.

Known for her dynamic presentation style and practical approach to professional growth, Jackson is frequently sought after as a speaker and facilitator. She combines real-world experience with evidence-based strategies to help leaders navigate change, strengthen communication, and develop high-performing organizations. Her philosophy centers on empowering individuals and institutions to embrace innovation, adapt to evolving challenges, and achieve meaningful results.

Jackson's leadership and expertise have been highlighted through professional interviews and podcast appearances, including features on the Forged By Design podcast, where conversations focus on leadership, professional growth, entrepreneurship, and organizational success. Her insights reflect a commitment to helping others discover purpose, develop resilience, and create lasting impact within their communities and professions.

Sources
AGC Training Center, https://agctraining.com/
Bobbie Jackson LinkedIn Profile, linkedin.com/in/bobbie-jackson-ab43b651

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Featured on the Forged by Design podcast, Antonio Bradley (thebradleyrealestategroup.com) shared insights on creating wealth, developing the right mindset, and applying discipline to achieve long-term success. Together, Antonio and Jasmin are raising seven children and remain committed to serving their community through real estate, education, and leadership.

Antonio Bradley is a real estate investor, military leader, and co-founder of The Bradley Real Estate Group. With 16 years of military service—including 13 years of active-duty service in the U.S. Army and multiple combat deployments—Antonio has built his career on discipline, leadership, and service.

Since entering real estate in 2016, he has helped families buy, sell, and invest in real estate while also mentoring aspiring investors on home flipping and wealth-building strategies. Alongside his wife, Jasmin, Antonio leads a family-centered business dedicated to helping clients navigate life's biggest transitions with confidence.

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This podcast focuses on personal accountability, self-improvement, and achieving meaningful goals through intentional performance management. The speaker challenges listeners to reflect on three key questions:

1. What separates your performance from the average person?
2. How are you measuring your progress?
3. How do you hold yourself accountable when you fall short of expectations?

The central message is that success is not determined by activity alone but by measurable results. Just as organizations use performance appraisals, standards, and metrics to evaluate effectiveness, individuals should create their own systems for measuring growth and achievement.

The Importance of Personal Standards

A major theme is the distinction between goals and personal standards.

• Goals define what you want to achieve.
• Personal standards define the behaviors, habits, and disciplines required to achieve those goals consistently.

The speaker emphasizes that goals are temporary targets, while standards create lasting behaviors and shape identity. Personal standards influence daily decisions, create consistency, prevent performance decline, and help individuals operate from discipline rather than motivation.

Four Elements for Performing at Maximum Capacity

1. Establish a Standard

Success begins with creating your own benchmark rather than comparing yourself to others. Like businesses that establish policies and performance expectations, individuals need systems, routines, and disciplines that align with their desired outcomes.

The speaker uses the example of an athlete training for a four-and-a-half-minute mile. The goal alone is not enough; success requires a structured regimen of preparation, discipline, and consistent effort.

2. Invest in Yourself

The speaker argues that progress requires investment in three areas:

• Education: Continuously seek knowledge and wisdom that support your goals.
• Preparation: Apply what you learn and develop skills before opportunities arise.
• Passion: Stay engaged, overcome fear and distractions, and maintain enthusiasm for your vision.

A key lesson is that preparation should happen before opportunity appears.

3. Hustle with Purpose

Success requires action, persistence, and initiative. The speaker encourages listeners to stop procrastinating, create opportunities, build relationships, and make their goals visible to others.

A personal story illustrates this point: despite not having immediate opportunities to speak publicly, the speaker remained active, prepared, and visible. When an opportunity finally came, he was ready because he had consistently invested in his craft.

The lesson is simple: stay prepared even when nothing seems to be happening.

4. Conduct Personal Performance Appraisals

Just as organizations evaluate employee performance, individuals should regularly assess their own progress.

This includes:

• Measuring accomplishments and setbacks.
• Comparing results against established standards.
• Making adjustments where necessary.
• Holding oneself accountable for commitments and goals.

Regular self-evaluation ensures that actions remain aligned with long-term objectives.

Key Takeaways

• Productivity is measured by results, not activity.
• Personal standards are more important than temporary motivation.
• Consistent behaviors create lasting success.
• Investment in education, preparation, and passion leads to growth.
• Opportunities favor those who remain prepared.
• Self-accountability and regular performance reviews are essential for achieving goals.
• Success is not determined by external circumstances but by one’s readiness to execute when opportunities arise.

Overall Message

The podcast encourages listeners to stop merely staying busy and start intentionally managing their lives like high-performing organizations manage performance. By establishing personal standards, investing in growth, hustling with persistence, and regularly evaluating progress, individuals can create a disciplined framework that moves them toward their dreams and desired outcomes. The speaker concludes by encouraging listeners to consistently assess their goals throughout the year and commit to the habits and standards that produce lasting success.

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Dani Parks is a purpose-driven mental health advocate, certified life and teen coach, author, and community leader who has turned personal pain into purpose and life’s trials into a powerful testimony of healing, resilience, and hope. Through her lived experiences, faith, mindfulness practices, and commitment to self-care, Dani discovered the transformative power of healing from within—and now dedicates her life to helping women and teens do the same.

With authenticity, compassion, and vulnerability at the center of her work, Dani empowers others to prioritize their mental wellness, embrace their truth unapologetically, and walk confidently in their God-given purpose. She is passionate about creating safe, judgment-free spaces where individuals feel seen, heard, supported, and inspired to grow.

Through coaching, peer support groups, mentorship, and impactful public speaking engagements, Dani has inspired audiences both nationally and internationally with her transparent approach to healing, personal development, and emotional wellness. Her message encourages others to break cycles, overcome adversity, and reclaim their voice through intentional healing and self-discovery.

Dani is also the founder and host of Augusta’s Mental Health Saturdays for Teens, a free peer support initiative designed to help young people build resilience, strengthen emotional well-being, and find hope through community connection and open conversation. Her work continues to make a meaningful impact by equipping the next generation with tools for healing, confidence, and mental wellness.

As an author, Dani wrote A Girlfriend’s Guide to Breaking Through, an empowering and practical guide that explores the spiritual and personal power of fasting as a pathway to breakthrough, clarity, healing, and transformation.

Driven by faith and fueled by purpose, Dani Parks continues to use her voice, story, and platform to uplift others, advocate for mental health awareness, and inspire people everywhere to heal, grow, and thrive.

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In this episode, we welcomed Elliot Price, Augusta Regional Manager at Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP), and a seasoned leadership and organizational development expert with more than 41 years of experience teaching Quality Management Systems, communication, and leadership principles to organizations across industries.

Our conversation explored the human side of leadership, performance, and organizational growth. Elliot shared insights on why individuals must understand their personal “deep end of the pool” — identifying the areas where they possess true strengths and expertise versus areas where they only have surface-level familiarity. He emphasized that self-awareness is foundational to both personal effectiveness and long-term professional success.

We also discussed the challenge many professionals face in becoming overly consumed by work while neglecting relationships, personal growth, spirituality, and life outside the workplace. Elliot explained how maintaining balance creates healthier leaders, stronger decision-making, and more sustainable success over time.

A major theme of the discussion centered on communication and human behavior. Elliot shared how understanding different personality types can dramatically improve teamwork, leadership effectiveness, conflict resolution, and workplace collaboration. He reinforced that strong leaders learn to adapt their communication style to connect more effectively with others.

The conversation also explored empathy in leadership. Elliot discussed how great leaders learn to “walk in another person’s shoes” while still maintaining accountability and performance expectations. He explained that empathy is not weakness — it is the ability to understand perspectives, build trust, and create environments where people can perform at their best.

Another important topic was organizational change and resistance to uncertainty. Elliot provided practical insights into how leaders can introduce positive change in ways that reduce fear, encourage buy-in, and help people feel included in the process rather than threatened by it.
We also examined the evolution of leadership itself. Rather than leaders needing to have all the answers, Elliot emphasized the growing importance of asking thoughtful questions. He explained how curiosity, listening, and inquiry-driven leadership create stronger engagement, better problem-solving, and healthier organizational cultures. Elliot shared how leaders can apply this principle in today’s diverse and fast-paced workplaces by recognizing individual motivations, communication styles, and personal needs.

This episode delivers practical leadership wisdom, communication strategies, and timeless insights for anyone seeking to become a more effective leader, teammate, and human being.

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In this podcast, Daniel explains how informal workplace conversations—those casual discussions that happen in hallways, break rooms, parking lots, elevators, and conference rooms—can become valuable sources of innovation, organizational improvement, and strategic insight when handled properly.

Unlike formal meetings with agendas and structured objectives, informal conversations allow employees to speak more openly about projects, leadership concerns, operational challenges, new ideas, workplace frustrations, and future opportunities. While these discussions may appear casual, Daniel emphasizes that they often contain critical insights that can lead to process improvements, new business strategies, product development ideas, and organizational growth.

However, he also warns that informal conversations can become harmful if handled irresponsibly. He identifies four major risks:

1. Sharing sensitive information without context
   Casual discussions about financial strategies, restructuring, or market changes can create fear and confusion among employees if overheard without proper explanation. 
2. Gossip and harmful rumors
   Informal conversations driven by negativity or speculation can damage workplace culture, reduce trust, and increase employee anxiety. 
3. Taking credit for others’ ideas
   Since brainstorming often happens casually, unethical individuals may improperly claim ownership of ideas shared during informal discussions. 
4. Discussing confidential information with unauthorized individuals
   Sharing complex financial or operational information with people who lack the authority or understanding to interpret it can create misunderstandings and unrealistic expectations. 

Daniel then shifts focus to how organizations can positively capitalize on informal conversations. He offers four key recommendations:

• Document valuable ideas
  Important insights should be captured immediately and turned into action plans using structured follow-up systems such as PDCA (Plan, Do, Check, Act). 
• Promote a culture of positive change
  Organizations should avoid becoming trapped in “business as usual” thinking and instead encourage innovation, adaptability, and continuous improvement. 
• Involve the right people
  Teams should bring in individuals whose expertise and personalities complement the group while maintaining collaboration and trust. 
• Remain teachable
  Professionals must stay open to learning new technologies, methods, and practices in order to grow and remain effective leaders and employees. 

The overall message of the podcast is that informal conversations are far more influential than many organizations realize. When approached ethically and strategically, they can strengthen collaboration, uncover hidden opportunities, improve operational performance, and drive innovation throughout a company.

Daniel concludes by noting that businesses can learn important lessons from informal conversations, particularly regarding:

•  Operational inefficiencies 
•  Employee morale and workplace culture 
•  Communication gaps 
•  Process improvement opportunities 
•  Emerging organizational concerns and ideas 

The podcast ultimately encourages leaders and employees to listen carefully, communicate responsibly, and transform everyday conversations into actionable improvements that benefit the entire organization.

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