Lead the People

By Matt Poepsel, PhDBusiness Entrepreneurship Management

Lead the People episodes

July 31, 2025#132: From Invisible to Invaluable: Building Cultures of Significance with Zach Mercurio
Start with our free behavioral assessment. Go to trypi.com/ltp .

What happens when people don’t feel seen, needed, or valued at work? In this episode, author and researcher Zach Mercurio joins Matt Poepsel for a powerful conversation on mattering — the often-missing ingredient in modern leadership.
They explore why recognition isn’t enough, how to build cultures where people feel irreplaceable, and what happens when leaders prioritize purpose over pressure. From simple check-ins to intentional affirmation, Zach shares research-backed habits that help people feel noticed, affirmed, and essential — every single day.
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:
Zach Mercurio Author, The Power of Mattering: How Leaders Can Create a Culture of Significance: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachmercurio/
Follow Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattpoepsel/
Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peopleforward-network/posts/?feedView=all
Learn more about PeopleForward Network: http://www.peopleforwardnetwork.com/
Key Takeaways:
People don’t just want to succeed — they want to matter.
Mattering isn’t a feeling, it’s a result of being noticed, affirmed, and needed.
High-performing cultures are built on trust, not just metrics.
You don’t need a title to lead — you just need to make someone feel seen.
Small, intentional acts of care can change how people see themselves — and their work.

Experience it for yourself at trypi.com/ltp .
34 min
July 24, 2025#131: Why Being Proactive About Mental Health Changes Everything with Stephen Sokoler
Start with our free behavioral assessment. Go to trypi.com/ltp .

In this conversation, Stephen Sokoler unpacks the evolving definition of mental health and its impact on the modern workplace. As founder and CEO of Journey, Stephen challenges the outdated, reactive approach to mental well-being and calls for a proactive, daily integration of mental health practices into both our personal and professional lives.
He explores the mental cost of multitasking, the illusion of balance, and how burnout stems from environments that ignore the emotional lives of employees. From the stigma of older generations to the openness of today’s workforce, Stephen emphasizes how leadership can foster cultures of trust, support, and psychological safety.
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:
Stephen Sokoler Stephen is the Founder & CEO of Journey, the leading proactive mental health solution for modern companies: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephensokoler/
Follow Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattpoepsel/
Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peopleforward-network/posts/?feedView=all
Learn more about PeopleForward Network: http://www.peopleforwardnetwork.com/
Key Takeaways:
Mental health isn’t about fixing what’s broken — it’s about strengthening what’s already working.
The workplace should support your well-being every day, not just after burnout hits.
Multitasking isn’t efficiency — it’s emotional self-sabotage.
Leaders who model emotional openness create cultures of trust and resilience.
Proactive mental health is the new baseline for sustainable performance.

Experience it for yourself at trypi.com/ltp .
29 min
July 17, 2025#130: Transforming Toxic Management with Marcel Schwantes
Start with our free behavioral assessment. Go to trypi.com/ltp .

In this conversation, Marcel Schwantes discusses the profound effects of toxic management on personal health and workplace dynamics. He emphasizes the need for humane leadership characterized by empathy, kindness, humility, advocacy, and trust. The discussion highlights the importance of understanding love in leadership and how it can transform organizational culture. Marcel shares insights from his experiences and research, advocating for a shift from transactional to relational leadership practices that prioritize employee well-being and engagement.
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:
Marcel Schwantes is a speaker, author, acclaimed executive coach, and an Inc. Magazine Contributing Editor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcelschwantes
Follow Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattpoepsel/
Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peopleforward-network/posts/?feedView=all
Learn more about PeopleForward Network: http://www.peopleforwardnetwork.com/
Key Takeaways:
Toxic management can lead to severe health issues.
Empathy in leadership fosters trust and connection.
Organizations often view employees as mere functions.
Leadership must evolve to meet the needs of modern workers.
Love in leadership is about actionable care for others.

Experience it for yourself at trypi.com/ltp .
33 min
July 10, 2025#129: Why Most People Never Reach The Next Level with Jason Feifer
Start with our free behavioral assessment. Go to trypi.com/ltp .

Why do some people rise while others stay stuck, even though they’re just as talented?
In this episode, we sit down with Jason Feifer, editor-in-chief of Entrepreneur Magazine and host of the Problem Solvers podcast, to uncover why most people unconsciously sabotage their own growth — and how to stop.
This conversation is packed with insights for anyone who feels like they’ve plateaued, burned out, or outgrown their current role. Whether you’re a founder, creator, or just someone with big goals — this one’s going to hit.
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:
Jason Feifer, Editor in Chief, Entrepreneur magazine: https://www.jasonfeifer.com/
Follow Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattpoepsel/
Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peopleforward-network/posts/?feedView=all
Learn more about PeopleForward Network: http://www.peopleforwardnetwork.com/
Key Takeaways:
You never outgrow the fundamentals — you just forget how much they matter.
Rehearsing isn’t for amateurs — it’s how pros stay sharp.
Every new level of success demands a new version of you.
If you can’t maintain it, it’s not worth building.
Do the things only you can do — and delegate the rest.

Experience it for yourself at trypi.com/ltp .
26 min
July 03, 2025#128: How AI + Human Decision Making Beats AI Alone when Hiring with Scott Parish
Start with our free behavioral assessment. Go to trypi.com/ltp .

Scott Parish is the founder and CEO of HireGuide. Before that, he helped build LinkedIn Jobs & ATS.
In this episode, Matt sits down with Scott to explore how AI is revolutionizing the hiring process. Scott introduces a game-changing concept: shifting focus from "quality of hire" to "quality of hiring decision" - and explains why this distinction could transform how organizations approach talent acquisition. From the staggering reality that 25% of managers regret their hiring decisions to how AI can capture 1000x more structured data than traditional methods, this conversation reveals practical strategies for making interviews faster, fairer, and twice as predictive. Scott also addresses the critical balance between leveraging AI's power while preserving the human connection that makes great hiring decisions possible.
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.
Key Takeaways
Shift Your Focus. Move from measuring "quality of hire" (which includes factors outside TA control like management and compensation) to "quality of hiring decision" (which focuses on process, content, and data quality that recruiters can actually control).
Human + AI Beats AI Alone. The most effective approach isn't replacing human decision-makers with AI, but using AI as a "copilot" - similar to how the best chess players with AI outperform AI alone.
AI Enables Hyper-Personalization. Modern AI can create truly customized interview content by incorporating company websites, job descriptions, and specific organizational values, moving beyond generic templates to genuinely tailored assessments.
Connect with Scott
Website: Hireguide.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottcparish/

Experience it for yourself at trypi.com/ltp .
30 min
June 26, 2025#127: How Asking for Help Transforms Teams and Results with Dr. Rosie Ward
Start with our free behavioral assessment. Go to trypi.com/ltp .

Dr. Rosie Ward is a fierce advocate for humanity who is sought-after to help rehumanize workplaces that free, fuel, and inspire people to bring their best selves to work and home each day. She serves as CEO and Founder of Salveo Partners, which was awarded the 2024 Stellar Business Award for best business consulting in the United States, and focuses on future-proofing organizations by strengthening culture and equipping leaders and teams to show up courageously and more effectively navigate change and disruption.
Top 3 Takeaways
Fear Not. Leaders often isolate themselves due to fear of vulnerability and outdated beliefs that leadership means having all the answers.
Know the Costs. Going it alone creates costly ripple effects: decreased efficiency, stifled innovation, and missed growth opportunities for entire teams.
Lead the Way. Modeling vulnerability as a leader creates psychological safety and stronger team connections, not weakness.
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.
From the Source
"We tend to have a fear of vulnerability and, you know, that's uncertainty, risk and emotional exposure."
"You set the tone for psychological safety on your team by modeling vulnerability."
"We cannot be comparing our behind the scenes to someone else's highlight reel."
"When we let our humanness show, we connect on a human level and other people see our humanness."
"Instead of ‘help’, say, ‘How can I support you?’ because it feels more equal than that implication that you're less than, you're weaker."
"We grow through those challenges... and when we don't bring people in, we lose creativity. We lose that innovation."
"This is not a solo journey. We're neurobiologically hardwired for connection."
Connect with Rosie
Show Up as a Leader (podcast): https://drrosieward.com/my-podcast/
Future-Proofing Leadership: What it Takes to Thrive Amidst Change and Disruption (whitepaper): https://salveopartners.com/future-proofing-leadership-white-paper/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rward
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drrosieward/

Experience it for yourself at trypi.com/ltp .
29 min
June 19, 2025#126: Leadership Lessons From California Pizza Kitchen with Shannon Kirk
Start with our free behavioral assessment. Go to trypi.com/ltp .

Currently serving as the Chief People Officer at California Pizza Kitchen, Shannon is an experienced HR executive with over 20 years in the hospitality and tech industries. Known for driving change, fostering resiliency, and spearheading innovations through a people-centric approach, she has a proven track record of enhancing organizational culture and performance. In addition to her current role, she is also the Vice-President of the Kindness Fund at CPK, a 501(c)(3) peer-to-peer giving program supporting employees in need.
Top 3 Takeaways
Get Ready. Resilience is about problem-solving and reaction to challenges. Leaders should build it by focusing on related competencies like communication, emotional intelligence and proactive problem-solving.
Stack it Up. Effective accountability requires three layers: individual clarity about expectations, team accountability toward shared goals and leadership that addresses negative behaviors quickly.
Seek Harmony. Balance stability and innovation by recognizing team members' natural roles as innovators, implementers, or communicators and fostering awareness of these strengths.
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.
From the Source
"Resilience at its simplest form is problem solving and also your reaction to challenges. So as an individual or an organization, what it does is it strengthens your approach and your perspective to problems."
"Leaders have to model these behaviors, so they have to be transparent about the problems that we're dealing with, involve others in the problem solving. So you're teaching your organization how to become problem solvers."
"You have to be aware of yourself as an organization. Look to make sure that you're not self-inflicting your own problems and creating your own crises and expecting the answer to be employee resilience."
"We have to define what vulnerability is not. It's not weakness. Vulnerability, what that does is it brings a human into leadership. It makes leaders approachable, and that's how you build trust."
"You're really so strong as yourself, but you're stronger as a team... when you empower others around you, when you involve them in this, you get to such a stronger place."
"Everybody's voice matters. Everyone's perspective matters. And so when you give people that sense of empowerment and they feel safe to express that... you've gotta model the behavior that you wanna see as a leader."
"Who you are outside of work is just as important as who you are inside. And if you respect that as a leader, you get so much more."
Connect with Shannon
Website: http://www.cpk.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-kirk-8464463

Experience it for yourself at trypi.com/ltp .
24 min
June 12, 2025#125: Why Most New Managers Struggle (and how to set them up for success) with Ashley Herd
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Ashley Herd is the founder of Manager Method, a business focused on empowering managers with practical tools to lead effectively. With a background as a General Counsel and Head of HR, Ashley has a unique perspective on balancing legal considerations with people management. She's passionate about making leadership development accessible and impactful, helping managers create positive ripple effects within their teams.
Top 3 Takeaways
Know Why. Most managers fail because they lack basic people skills training, not because they're bad people. Organizations too often promote top performers without teaching them how to manage different personalities.
Send Help. HR teams want to provide manager training but they lack capacity, not capability. They're stretched thin with compliance work and need scalable, ready-to-use training resources.
Join Forces. The best management training comes from internal leaders partnered with external speakers. Combining expert content with internal context creates the most impactful learning experience.
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.
From the Source
"The problem that I've seen is that people don't get training on the skillset that it is to manage all of these different personalities. You may actively avoid [poor performers] or you just don't work with them as much because you are put on high potential projects."
"What I sometimes say to people is management, why it's so different is if you're trying to figure out what it's like to be a manager is go look at or join your local community Facebook group, and you may think like, how is this person a human being that is walking within the same radius as me?"
"The biggest gap really is a time perspective. HR is a cost center and so it's never gonna be, or rarely ever going to be staffed as it probably should be. The number one priority for HR frequently in reality is compliance."
"It's really often basic free things that people can do to be that good manager. You can build those muscles when you have the right tools of understanding what motivates people."
"I don't want to be a road warrior. Really, people want to hear from the manager. What I love is hearing from HR teams that they had people that said, ‘I didn't want to take this training, but I really liked that.’"
Connect with Ashley
Website: www.managermethod.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyherd

Experience it for yourself at trypi.com/ltp .
30 min
June 05, 2025#124: Maintain Human Connection While Leveraging Technology with Naomi Titleman
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Naomi Titleman Colla is Co-Founder of future foHRward Inc. (futurefoHRward.com), whose mission is to empower Human Resources (HR), and all leaders of the future to make work better through their weekly newsletter (foHRsight), podcast (the foHRsight podcast), and private community for Sr. HR Leaders (foHRsight+).
Naomi is also Founder of Collaborativity Inc., a Toronto-based consultancy focused on driving progressive talent strategy in this new world of work. She has proven success leading teams and collaborating with senior executives and Boards of Directors to develop and implement creative strategies to maximize employee engagement and ultimately drive business impact.
Top 3 Takeaways
Proceed with caution. You should pressure-test AI outputs and maintain healthy skepticism while leveraging automation for efficiency.
Take back time. By automating repetitive tasks, you can gain time to focus on coaching, empathy and personalized team experiences.
Now’s your chance. As AI handles technical work, you need to develop humanistic leadership skills to add value beyond your technical expertise.
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.
From the Source
"Humans still think that it's cheating if you use AI, and we really have to get over that in order to use it in the best way possible."
"Using AI actually enables you to focus more on the human side if you take some of that repeatable task. That admin stuff and really focus on building those connections with your team."
"Critical thinking is a skill that we need in all aspects of our life and just apply that to AI."
"We're in inning one of a million inning game, and so the tools are not perfect. They're never going to be perfect, but they're going to certainly evolve."
"Leadership development is the number one thing organizations can do right now in a real meaningful way."
"Taking the robot out of the human leaves the human to do what they do best."
"You can't just throw this brand new technology on people's laps and ask them to learn it in their spare time. You have to give them the opportunity to learn."
Connect with Naomi
Website: futurefoHRward.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomititlemancolla/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/futurefohrward/

Experience it for yourself at trypi.com/ltp .
24 min
May 29, 2025#123: How to Overcome Fear and Live More Courageously with Dr. Mary Poffenroth
Start with our free behavioral assessment. Go to trypi.com/ltp .

Dr. Mary Poffenroth is a scientist, professor, and fear/courage researcher. From being adopted at birth to being a first generation college student to her first day at NASA and beyond, Mary has dedicated her life to understanding how best to do scary things. Her work has been featured in Forbes, TIME, Science, TED, Entrepreneur, Cosmopolitan, the Wall Street Journal, SUCCESS Magazine, and Fast Company. Mary has three master’s degrees (biology, psychology, science communication) & a PhD in psychology. Mary shares some of her best stories and strongest courage building, fear fighting neurohacks in her book Brave New You: Strategies, Tools, and Neurohacks to Live More Courageously Every Day.
Top 3 Takeaways
Open Up. Fear shuts down our prefrontal cortex, disrupting creativity and problem-solving abilities, which is why managing fear is essential for innovation and leadership.
Fact vs. Fiction. There's a critical difference between factual fears (immediate dangers) and fictional fears (stories we tell ourselves), with the latter being more insidious to our wellbeing.
At Ease. The RAIN method (Recognize, Assign, Identify, Navigate) offers a practical framework to identify fear responses and implement neurohacks that can calm your brain's fear response.
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.
From the Source
"If we don't take care of our fear stuff, we can't innovate. We can't be creative. We can't solve complex problems."
"Fictional fear can have a grain of truth, just like a really good fiction book could be based on true events... But it's not true in the moment, and it's not true in totality."
"It's biologically impossible not to feel fear... All those goals and dreams are going to be on the other side of being afraid, because it means you're doing something new."
"We parent like we were parented, we lead like we were led, we teach like we were taught. Unless we put in the energy and the time and the effort to do something differently."
"With AI and technology, things aren't going to get slower. Things are going to get faster and faster and faster. It's easy to really freeze up and feel overwhelmed if you don't have these tools in place."
Connect with Mary
Website: http://hellobravenewyou.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marypoffenroth

Experience it for yourself at trypi.com/ltp .
39 min

About Lead the People

From the publisher's feed

Lead The People is your guide to unlocking your true potential as an authentic leader. Hosted by Dr. Matt Poepsel—The Godfather of Talent Optimization—this podcast dives deep into the art and science…