We're celebrating PFN's birthday by shining a light on the partners who have been part of our journey toward people-first leadership, meaningful work, and purpose-driven impact.

This special feature from Hello Hello with Alyssa Rogers captures the heart of their work and the shared mission that brings us together. Enjoy!

—

Some leaders don't need the spotlight to make a big impact. They show up through steady service, strong relationships, and a genuine commitment to helping others succeed.

Alyssa sits down with Jay Newcomb, General Manager of Talbert Building Supply in Clarksville, Virginia, for a warm conversation about community, customer care, family, and what it means to lead from behind the scenes.

Jay shares how he unexpectedly found his way into the lumber industry, what sets Talbert apart, and why service starts with truly knowing your customers. From building supplies and home trends to supply chain challenges and family life, Jay brings humility, humor, and heart to every part of the conversation.

This episode is a reminder that great leadership is often simple, personal, and consistent: do the right thing, give it 100%, and help the people around you succeed.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Alyssa on LinkedIn

Listen to Hello Hello wherever you get your podcasts!

Subscribe to the PFN YouTube Channel for daily leadership insights!

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Key Takeaways:

• Service begins with knowing your customers personally.
• Community involvement builds stronger business relationships.
• Trying something new can change everything.
• Great leadership often happens behind the scenes.
• Family and humility keep success grounded.

We're celebrating PFN's birthday by shining a light on the partners who have been part of our journey toward people-first leadership, meaningful work, and purpose-driven impact.

This special feature from How'd They Do That? with Skot Waldron captures the heart of their work and the shared mission that brings us together. Enjoy!

—

Selling does not have to feel like selling. Sometimes, the most powerful business development strategy is simply becoming someone people trust, remember, and want to work with.

Skot sits down with Tonille Miller, organizational psychologist, management consultant, executive coach, and author, to unpack how she built a thriving consulting and coaching business through authentic relationship-building instead of traditional sales tactics. Tonille shares how curiosity, generosity, and a "co-elevative" mindset helped her grow a powerful network, attract clients organically, and create work that feels aligned rather than forced.

For coaches, consultants, and people-first leaders who want to grow their business without feeling sleazy, this conversation is a reminder that value comes first, trust compounds, and the best opportunities often come from the relationships you nurture long before you need them.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Skot on LinkedIn

Listen to How'd They Do That? wherever you get your podcasts!

Subscribe to the PFN YouTube Channel for daily leadership insights!

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Key Takeaways:

• Build relationships before you need opportunities.
• Lead with value, not a sales pitch.
• Authentic connection can outperform traditional selling.
• Daily networking habits create long-term momentum.
• Alignment attracts the right clients.

We're celebrating PFN's birthday by shining a light on the partners who have been part of our journey toward people-first leadership, meaningful work, and purpose-driven impact.

This special feature from Unlocked with Skot Waldron captures the heart of their work and the shared mission that brings us together. Enjoy!

—

Work can either drain people or deepen their sense of purpose. It's time to design workplaces that do the latter.

Skot sits down with Mindy Honcoop, founder of Agile in HR and longtime people leader, to explore what it really means to put humans at the center of business strategy. With over 20 years in HR leadership, Mindy shares why organizations must move from reactive problem-solving to proactive, people-first design, especially when it comes to role clarity, onboarding, culture, employee experience, and organizational alignment.

Together, Skot and Mindy unpack how leaders can listen better, ask better questions, and connect the employee story to the customer story. From reducing workplace churn to creating emotional loyalty, this conversation is a powerful reminder that when people feel seen, supported, and connected to purpose, organizations thrive.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Skot on LinkedIn

Listen to Unlocked wherever you get your podcasts!

Subscribe to the PFN YouTube Channel for daily leadership insights!

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Key Takeaways:

• Put people at the center of strategy.
• Proactive leadership creates healthier workplace cultures.
• Employee stories reveal the real problems.
• Loyalty grows when people feel deeply cared for.
• Small, curious questions can spark meaningful change.

We're celebrating PFN's birthday by shining a light on the partners who have been part of our journey toward people-first leadership, meaningful work, and purpose-driven impact.

This special feature from The Shift with Mindy Honcoop and Marnie Robbins captures the heart of their work and the shared mission that brings us together. Enjoy!

—

Change is coming fast, and managers are feeling every ounce of it.

Marnie and Mindy sit down with Ali Merchant, founder of All-In Manager and author of "The All-In Manager", to unpack what leaders are missing in the rush toward AI transformation. Ali brings a grounded, people-first perspective on why managers cannot keep being treated as the catch-all solution for engagement, transformation, culture, and performance without meaningful support.

Together, they explore why AI adoption is not just a tech rollout, but a change management and culture challenge. From "modeling over mandates" to psychological safety, shadow AI, blameless retrospectives, and the power of discernment, this conversation is a practical reminder that the future of work still depends on deeply human leadership.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Mindy on LinkedIn

Connect with Marnie on LinkedIn

Learn more about AltHR

Listen to The Shift wherever you get your podcasts!

Subscribe to the PFN YouTube Channel for daily leadership insights!

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Key Takeaways:

• Managers need support, not more pressure.
• AI transformation requires trust and dialogue.
• Model AI adoption before mandating it.
• Psychological safety fuels experimentation and learning.
• Discernment is the new leadership superpower.

We're celebrating PFN's birthday by shining a light on the partners who have been part of our journey toward people-first leadership, meaningful work, and purpose-driven impact.

This special feature from Working Forward with Jason Cochran captures the heart of their work and the shared mission that brings us together. Enjoy!

—

The future of work won't be decided by AI alone. It will be shaped by whether we choose real connection over artificial convenience.

Jason sits down with Bob Dalton, founder of Sackcloth & Ashes and LOCL, to explore why community may be the most important leadership strategy of the next decade. Bob shares the personal story that led him to build a mission-driven blanket company, how localism became his lens for societal change, and why leaders must move from building audiences to creating true communities.

Together, Jason and Bob unpack the rising tension between technology and humanity, the danger of isolation in a screen-addicted world, and the urgent need for proximity, shared purpose, and real-life connection. For people-first leaders, this conversation is a wake-up call: the brands, workplaces, and communities that survive will be the ones built with conviction, authenticity, and human connection at the center. 💡

Additional Resources:

Listen to Working Forward wherever you get your podcasts!

Connect with Jason on LinkedIn

Subscribe to the PFN YouTube Channel for daily leadership insights!

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Key Takeaways:

• Community is becoming essential for human survival.
• Local connection can counter digital isolation.
• Followers are not the same as community.
• AI should amplify humanity, not replace it.
• Conviction matters more than a good concept.

We're celebrating PFN's birthday by shining a light on the partners who have been part of our journey toward people-first leadership, meaningful work, and purpose-driven impact.

This special feature from The CultureCon Podcast with Nick Lombardino and Zach Blumenfeld captures the heart of their work and the shared mission that brings us together. Enjoy!

—

In a world starving for real connection, what if the answer is as simple and as radical as pulling up more chairs? 🍽️

Nick and Zach sit down with Tim Jones, Founder and Executive Director of Longer Tables, to explore how shared meals can break down barriers, spark belonging, and remind us what it means to truly see one another.

Tim shares the heart behind Longer Tables and why the table has become such a powerful symbol in his work. From creating spaces where job titles are left behind to helping leaders model vulnerability first, this conversation is a masterclass in building cultures where people feel safe, valued, and fully human. Along the way, Nick, Zach, and Tim reflect on memorable meals, meaningful leadership, and the moments that stay with us long after the table is cleared.

If you care about connection, belonging, and leading people in a more human way, this episode will leave you challenged, encouraged, and ready to set a longer table.

Additional Resources:

Listen to The CultureCon Podcast wherever you get your podcasts!

Subscribe to CultureCon's YouTube channel!

Connect with Zach on LinkedIn

Connect with Nick on LinkedIn

Learn more about CultureCon

Subscribe to the PFN YouTube Channel for daily leadership insights!

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Key Takeaways:

• Belonging begins when leaders model vulnerability first.
• Shared meals create space for deeper human connection.
• Job titles often block authentic relationships at work.
• Presence and storytelling help people feel truly seen.
• Great leaders set tables, not just agendas.

We're celebrating PFN's birthday by shining a light on the partners who have been part of our journey toward people-first leadership, meaningful work, and purpose-driven impact.

This special feature from Coach to Coach with Brandon Miller captures the heart of their work and the shared mission that brings us together. Enjoy!

—

What drives you? Unlock the strength of Belief 💡

In this episode of Coach to Coach, Brandon Miller, Jana Cardona, and Kelly Merbler delve into the strength of Belief, exploring its significance in personal and professional contexts. They share personal stories, discuss the interplay between Belief and other strengths, and emphasize the importance of understanding values in coaching and leadership.

The conversation highlights how Belief can drive action, influence leadership styles, and shape interpersonal dynamics within teams.

Additional Resources:

Listen to Coach to Coach wherever you get your podcasts!

Connect with Brandon on LinkedIn

Learn more about 34 Strong

Subscribe to the PFN YouTube Channel for daily leadership insights!

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Key Takeaways:

• Belief is a foundational strength that influences actions and decisions.
• Understanding personal values is crucial for effective coaching and leadership.
• Annual values checkups can help individuals align their actions with their Beliefs.
• Belief can serve as an anchor, providing stability in decision-making.
• The interplay between Belief and other strengths can enhance personal growth.

We're celebrating PFN's birthday by shining a light on the partners who have been part of our journey toward people-first leadership, meaningful work, and purpose-driven impact.

This special feature from Mo-ments of Experience with Geoffrey Smith captures the heart of their work and the shared mission that brings us together. Enjoy!

—

A former professional football player, a service dog named Poppy, and one decision on a mountain trail changed everything. 🐾

Geoffrey sits down with Steve White, founder of the PC, to explore what happens when healthcare becomes more than testing, treating, and managing decline. After years of battling post-concussion syndrome, seizures, lupus, and a medical system that left him feeling like he was "floating," Steve chose to fight for his health and then built a model designed to help others do the same.

Together, Geoffrey and Steve dig into preemptive healthcare, trust, gratitude, team-based healing, and why caring for others may be one of the healthiest things we can do. This conversation is a powerful reminder that the smallest moments, a text of appreciation, a coach who believes, a dog who knows the way, can become the turning point that brings hope back.

Additional Resources:

Listen to Mo-ments of Experience wherever you get your podcasts!

Subscribe to Mo-ments of Experience on YouTube!

Connect with Geoffrey on LinkedIn

Learn more at www.mo-mentsofexperience.com

Subscribe to the PFN YouTube Channel for daily leadership insights!

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Key Takeaways:

• Preemptive healthcare focuses on helping people avoid illness.
• Trust grows when patients understand the "why."
• Team, coaching, and mentorship fuel healing.
• Gratitude impacts giver, receiver, and observer.
• Purpose can become a pathway back to health.

We're celebrating PFN's birthday by shining a light on the partners who have been part of our journey toward people-first leadership, meaningful work, and purpose-driven impact.

This special feature from Vibecast with Kristi Skutvik captures the heart of their work and the shared mission that brings us together. Enjoy!

—

Some of the most powerful culture work starts in the smallest moments.

Kristi sits down with Steve Perkins, CEO and founder of Greenhouse Coaching, to explore how team norms shape the everyday vibe of work. Steve shares how his journey from a toxic workplace to a purpose-driven coaching business helped him see the deep connection between individual purpose, leadership, and organizational culture.

Together, Kristi and Steve unpack simple but transformational practices like weekly sprint planning, intentional calendar blocks, and one-on-one meetings built around feedback, delegation, and development. This conversation is a reminder that great work vibes do not happen by accident. They are nurtured through rhythm, intention, and the courage to make the invisible visible. 🌱

Additional Resources:

Listen to Vibecast wherever you get your podcasts!

Subscribe to Kristi's YouTube for more Vibecast content!

Learn more about Skutvik Consulting

Subscribe to the PFN YouTube Channel for daily leadership insights!

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Key Takeaways:

• Team norms create the everyday vibe of work.
• Culture grows through intentional micro moments.
• Feedback works best when it becomes a rhythm.
• Calendar blocks turn intentions into reality.
• Purpose-driven people thrive in healthy environments.

We're celebrating PFN's birthday by shining a light on the partners who have been part of our journey toward people-first leadership, meaningful work, and purpose-driven impact.

This special feature from The Third Layer with Marshall Lockton captures the heart of their work and the shared mission that brings us together. Enjoy!

—

In this conversation, Jason Johnson, CEO of Metro National, shares the rich history of the family-owned real estate development company founded by his grandfather in 1954. He discusses the importance of building relationships in acquiring land, the vision of creating a 'city within a city', and the expansion into various sectors beyond retail. Jason emphasizes the significance of long-term thinking in real estate, especially during challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic. He also reflects on the dynamics of working in a family business, the transition of leadership from his father, and the collaborative effort to define and uphold the company's core values, which focus on integrity, trust, impact, and legacy.

Additional Resources:

Listen to The Third Layer wherever you get your podcasts!

Connect with Marshall on LinkedIn

Subscribe to the PFN YouTube Channel for daily leadership insights!

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Key Takeaways:

• Metro National was founded in 1954 by Joe Johnson, starting with residential home building.
• The company has grown to encompass 10 million square feet of commercial real estate in Houston.
• Building strong relationships was key to acquiring the original 200 acres of land.
• Joe Johnson's vision was to create a 'city within a city' for community use.
• The company has expanded beyond retail to include healthcare, hospitality, and office spaces.