Think all great salespeople are born talkers with years of experience? Think again.

Matt Poepsel chats with Jim Speredelozzi, who flips the traditional sales script on its head. Jim shares how he went from 90-day quitters to building a thriving 150-person sales team, all by focusing on mindset, process, and hiring based on who people are, not just what they've done.

You’ll hear how he uses science to build strong sales teams, why being a "business therapist" might be your ultimate sales superpower, and what every new sales manager needs to know before stepping into leadership.

Whether you're scaling a team or rethinking how you coach your people, Jim’s practical, people-first wisdom is guaranteed to leave a mark.

From Our Sponsor:

The Predictive Index (PI) is an award-winning talent optimization platform that aligns business strategy with people strategy for optimal business results. More than 60 years of proven science, software, and a curriculum of insightful management workshops make PI the solution for any company looking to design great teams and culture, make objective hiring decisions, foster engagement, and inspire greatness in their people anywhere in the world. More than 10,000 clients and 480+ partners use PI—including Nissan, Citizens Bank, Subway, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Omni Hotels—across 90+ countries. Learn more at predictiveindex.com.

Additional Resources:

Listen to the original episode on Lead the People

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Key Takeaways:

• Sales is a teachable skill, not innate talent.
• Hire for behavior and mindset, not experience.
• Mindset determines long-term sales success.
• Great sellers often become great leaders.
• One-on-ones are sacred for employee development.

Think one wellness strategy works for everyone? Think again.

Dr. Patricia Grabarek and Dr. Katina Sawyer unpack why “one size doesn’t fit all” when it comes to supporting your people. From co-creating personalized plans to avoiding quick-fix blanket solutions, they share how leaders can better meet employees where they are, without judgment or assumptions.

Through real stories and research-backed insights, Patricia and Katina show that when leaders invest in truly understanding their people, they unlock loyalty, performance, and lasting wellbeing 🌱.

Additional Resources:

Grab your copy of "Leading for Wellness"

Listen to the original episode

Listen to the Leading for Wellness Podcast

Connect with Patricia on LinkedIn

Connect with Katina on LinkedIn

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

• Wellness is unique and shifts over time.
• Person-centered planning builds trust and commitment.
• Co-creating solutions strengthens leader-employee relationships.
• Leaders must avoid assumptions and judgments.
• Employee goals should guide support and development.

🎙️ What if your podcast did more than talk… what if it built a movement?

Nikki and Eric spill the tea on how podcasting can be way more than a mic and a message. It can be the heartbeat of a thriving community. 💓

They dive into how turning listeners into collaborators flips the script from one-way content to two-way connection. From building online spaces where fans become friends, to leveraging strategic partners who fuel momentum, this episode explores how B2B brands can transform podcasting into a powerful growth engine.

If you're dreaming of deeper engagement, natural referrals, and next-level impact, this one's your blueprint.

Additional Resources:

Join the PFN Community

Subscribe to PFN’s YouTube Channel!

Connect with Eric on LinkedIn

Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

• Community fosters two-way engagement beyond podcast audio.
• Strategic partners expand reach and operational capacity.
• Podcast communities can drive significant new revenue.
• Audience relationships deepen with ongoing interaction.
• You can't build thriving community alone, collaboration is key.

What if your podcast could be more than just content, and actually become your best sales and marketing engine?

In this live episode from CultureCon® 2025, Nikki and Eric share their secret playbook for turning podcasts into powerful business growth tools.

From claiming your niche and attracting the right guests, to creating inbound momentum and unlocking sponsorship opportunities, they reveal how podcasting, done with intention, can drive brand awareness, new relationships, and even revenue.

Whether you’re podcast-curious or looking to maximize your current show, this conversation proves that podcasting isn’t just about downloads… it’s about results. 🚀

Additional Resources:

Join the PFN Community

Subscribe to PFN’s YouTube Channel!

Connect with Eric on LinkedIn

Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

• Define your niche first. Clarity on your ICP drives podcast success.
• Podcasting fuels business development. Guests become authentic connections.
• Lead with value. Invitations beat cold outreach every time.
• Make CTAs meaningful. High-value offers spark inbound engagement.
• Monetize strategically. Sponsorships can turn podcasts into revenue streams.

What happens when a startup founder discovers that leading people is a completely different job than building products? 🚀

Matt sits down with Adam Burke, former Chief Strategy Officer at The Predictive Index and former co-founder of Charma, to unpack the messy, exciting journey of scaling from a handful of teammates to hundreds.

From the awkward leap into managing managers to designing tools that make leadership easier, Adam shares how intentionality, structure, and even a little science can transform how we lead.

Whether you’re growing a team or just stepping into leadership for the first time, this conversation will leave you with fresh ideas for making management less chaotic and more human 💡.

From Our Sponsor:

The Predictive Index (PI) is an award-winning talent optimization platform that aligns business strategy with people strategy for optimal business results. More than 60 years of proven science, software, and a curriculum of insightful management workshops make PI the solution for any company looking to design great teams and culture, make objective hiring decisions, foster engagement, and inspire greatness in their people anywhere in the world. More than 10,000 clients and 480+ partners use PI—including Nissan, Citizens Bank, Subway, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Omni Hotels—across 90+ countries. Learn more at predictiveindex.com.

Additional Resources:

Listen to the original episode on Lead the People

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Key Takeaways:

• Scaling requires new leadership skills beyond individual contribution.
• Managing is a discipline, not a side task.
• Daily tools help make best practices stick.
• Remote and hybrid work demand intentional connection.
• Behavioral science personalizes leadership impact.

What happens when a farm girl from small-town Iowa becomes the CFO of a fast-growing real estate company? That’s the journey of Tanya Betts, and in this episode of the Haverchat Podcast, she opens up about the twists, turns, and lessons learned along the way.

From nearly 25 years at American Athletic to making the leap to Haverkamp, Tanya shares what it really feels like to start over after decades in one place, why mentorship shaped her leadership style, and how she’s learned that true leadership is about lifting others up.

This episode is a reminder that career growth, like life, is less about speed and more about staying true to what matters most.

Additional Resources:

Listen to Haverchat Podcast!

Connect with Todd on LinkedIn

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

• Leadership is about helping others grow.
• Career changes can be challenging but rewarding.
• Mentors leave lasting professional and personal impact.
• Culture depends on both people and processes.
• Stewardship and integrity guide lasting success.

What if your job respected your life as much as you respect your job? Dr. Patricia Grabarek and Dr. Katina Sawyer dive into a radical (but necessary) idea: work should support your life… not consume it. 💡

They unpack what it means to be a "boundary bouncer”:leaders who fiercely protect their team’s time, values, and wellbeing like VIPs behind a velvet rope. From dodging late meetings that creep into T-ball practice to honoring dog walks even when your boss is terrified of dogs, Patricia and Katina keep it real while serving up actionable insights.

Tune in to learn why respecting boundaries isn't just good for wellness, it’s rocket fuel for performance. 🚀

Additional Resources:

Grab your copy of "Leading for Wellness"

Listen to the original episode

Listen to the Leading for Wellness Podcast

Connect with Patricia on LinkedIn

Connect with Katina on LinkedIn

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

• Great leaders act as “boundary bouncers,” protecting personal time.
• Respecting boundaries means enforcing them, not just acknowledging them.
• Trust grows when leaders value life outside of work.
• People balance work and life differently. Know their style.
• Documenting boundaries builds clarity and respect.

What if the very things you believe make you a good leader are actually holding you back? In this episode of “Leading Adam with Adam Binkerd,” things get real… and personal.

With no guest in the studio, Adam Binkerd and Erica Crabtree take the mic to explore one of the most overlooked aspects of leadership: the subconscious norms we’ve inherited from society, our upbringing, and past experiences.

From the belief that “leaders should always have the answers” to the classic “if you want it done right, do it yourself,” they unpack how these hidden scripts quietly shape the way we lead, and often sabotage the human experience at work.

Adam shares powerful insights drawn from hundreds of coaching sessions and his own journey through addiction and recovery, giving this episode a raw, refreshing honesty you don’t always get in leadership conversations.

If you're a people-first leader who wants to grow beyond the surface level, this episode is your permission slip to dig deeper.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Adam on LinkedIn

Listen to Leading Adam with Adam Binkerd

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

• Most leadership missteps are unintentional and driven by subconscious norms.
• Common beliefs like “leaders must have the answers” often backfire.
• Blanket team corrections can harm morale more than help.
• Self-awareness is more powerful than immediate action.
• Our past experiences quietly shape how we lead today.

What if the best workplace recognition strategy has been wagging its tail or purring at your feet this whole time? 🐾

David Martin uncovers the surprising power of pet perks and what our furry friends can teach us about recognition. While most workplace programs focus on achievements, pets remind us of something deeper: unconditional acknowledgment for simply being ourselves. 🐕🐈

From the science behind oxytocin and stress relief, to real stories of pet-related benefits like 24/7 virtual vet care and lost pet recovery, David explores how organizations can boost loyalty, engagement, and culture by embracing the whole person.

This isn’t just about cute office dogs… it’s about rethinking recognition in a way that’s authentic, human, and lasting.

Additional Resources:

Subscribe to the podcast: Perk Up: A Pet Benefits Podcast

Connect with David on LinkedIn

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

• Recognition should value who people are, not just what they do.
• Pets provide proven mental health benefits that boost focus and creativity.
• Pet perks show organizations value the whole person.
• These benefits strengthen engagement, retention, and authentic connections.

In this episode of “Lead the People,” host Matt Poepsel welcomes AmberLyn Bryant, People & Culture Director at Keyrenter Denver, to explore how behavioral insights and intentional culture-building elevate employee experiences.

Drawing from her own evolution through toxic to thriving workplaces, AmberLyn shares how data-driven tools like the Predictive Index are transforming how teams communicate, onboard, and grow.

Learn how a personalized approach to leadership and employee reviews is not just a “nice to have,” but a strategic advantage for scaling organizations. This episode is a roadmap for HR professionals and people-first leaders who want to turn culture into a catalyst for performance.

From Our Sponsor:

The Predictive Index (PI) is an award-winning talent optimization platform that aligns business strategy with people strategy for optimal business results. More than 60 years of proven science, software, and a curriculum of insightful management workshops make PI the solution for any company looking to design great teams and culture, make objective hiring decisions, foster engagement, and inspire greatness in their people anywhere in the world. More than 10,000 clients and 480+ partners use PI—including Nissan, Citizens Bank, Subway, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Omni Hotels—across 90+ countries. Learn more at predictiveindex.com.

Additional Resources:

Listen to the original episode on Lead the People

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Key Takeaways:

• Self-awareness tools accelerate personal and team growth.
• Scalable culture needs personalized, structured systems.
• Quarterly reviews drive alignment and reduce bias.
• Behavioral data enables tailored leadership.
• Strong HR-business partnerships fuel better outcomes.