In this special guest episode of Leadership & Motivation Unleashed, we welcome an incredible guest, Donna Cranston—the Founder and Executive Director of Defenders of Freedom, a nonprofit that's saving veterans' lives and assisting them in their transition to civilian life.

 Donna shares with us her inspiring journey of leadership and giving. We learn valuable leadership lessons that go beyond numbers and spreadsheets—and focus on true impact. You'll hear about the challenges and the solutions Donna found along the way to do good and enable others to do good themselves.  

Tune in for a moving episode about work that truly matters and leading with a courageous heart.

▶️ Saving Veterans' Lives by Leading with a Courageous Heart with Donna Cranston:

• [03:15] Donna's journey of helping Veterans in any way she could
• [16:01] How Donna ended up founding the Defenders of Freedom
• [21:37] Donna's experience learning how to run a nonprofit
• [23:51] 2 things that will allow you to handle any crisis or cause 
• [28:06] The challenge of getting the right people on the board
• [33:00] The decision to transition into treating Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• [45:10] A lesson in courageousness and curiosity
• [48:06] Focusing on helping each individual instead of on the numbers
• [52:38] Leading from the front with a courageous heart

Resources:

Learn more about the cause and help save veterans' lives today. Go to defendersoffreedom.us 

Would you like to ask a question, offer feedback, or request a topic for a future episode? Fill out this one-question form.

Notable Quotes from Saving Veterans' Lives by Leading with a Courageous Heart with Donna Cranston:

“ I realized that most people support our troops, they just didn't know how to do it. So, I started Defenders of Freedom really as an avenue to connect the community to our troops and let everyone have a piece in being able to say thank you to our troops.” - Donna Cranston

"I always say all the mistakes I made, it didn't matter because it was all coming from my heart of gratitude for what they were doing for our country." - Dona Cranston

Connect with Donna Cranston:

📱 Follow Donna Cranston on LinkedIn.

💻 Check out Donna Cranston's website.

Connect with Your Hosts:

📱 Follow Patrick Law on LinkedIn.

📱 Follow Rachel Book on LinkedIn.

🎥 Follow Leadership & Motivation Unleashed on YouTube.

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In this guest episode, we welcome Amy Philbrook, Executive Vice President and Head of Service at LPL Financial. From navigating layoffs to leveraging AI, we explore practical strategies to future-proof our relevance in the workplace, empower leaders and employees, and lead through uncertainty, with  curiosity, courage, and kindness.

Throughout her career, Amy has spent time building businesses, running revenue, service, and operations organizations, and also in HR. What Amy brings to the table reflects the point of view of employees, middle management, and leaders from across the organization.

▶️ Future-Proof Your Relevance in Today's Fast-Changing Workplace with Amy Philbrook:

• [03:16] Meet the velvet hammer, Amy Philbrook
• [07:28] A different way to think about layoffs
• [11:08] Navigating capacity pinch points
• [13:50] How leaders can prepare their workforce for the future
• [19:44]  How AI will transform the role of middle management
• [25:51] The power of curiosity in surviving a changing workplace
• [29:27] A simple hack to  future-proof your relevance
• [36:37] A broader view of HR and its role in the business
• [40:40] Lightning Round: Favorite leader, book recommendations, proudest accomplishment

Resources:

Check out Sahil Bloom's newsletter, the Curiosity Chronicle.

Watch our favorite Ted Lasso scene here.

The two books every leader should read: Principles by Ray Dalio and The Creative Act by Rick Rubin.

Would you like to ask a question, offer feedback, or request a topic for a future episode? Fill out this one-question form.

Notable Quotes from Future-Proof Your Relevance in Today's Fast-Changing Workplace with Amy Philbrook:

“ The role of a leader is the role of a learner, I think today at every level, in every company.” - Amy Philbrook

“ You will not survive if you are intellectually lazy. If the value you create can be replicated by a machine learning model in an app, then you are no longer relevant or of value. But if you can use the capacity that model frees up to be insanely curious, that's where you're gonna uncover hidden value.” - Amy Philbrook

Connect with Amy Philbrook:

📱 Follow Amy Philbrook on LinkedIn.

Connect with Your Hosts:

📱 Follow Patrick Law on LinkedIn.

📱 Follow Rachel Book on LinkedIn.

🎥 Follow Leadership & Motivation Unleashed on YouTube.

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In this special guest episode of Leadership & Motivation Unleashed, we sit down with former college football star and sales leader turned entrepreneur, Adam Gunn. From overcoming a career-ending injury to building a career at Stryker and launching a company in the fast-evolving NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) space, Adam’s story is one of grit, purpose, and people-centered leadership.

Adam shares how athletes bring unique and transferable strengths to the business world, and how leaders can tap into these talents to build stronger, more diverse teams. Whether you're a hiring manager, former athlete, or just curious about how leadership shows up across industries, this episode is packed with insight.

▶️ From the Football Field to the Boardroom: Hiring Diverse Talent from Untapped Pipelines with Adam Gunn:

• [03:26] Meet Adam Gunn: former athlete, sales leader, and NIL entrepreneur
• [06:51] What is NIL and how is it changing college athletics?
• [11:16] Transferable skills from sales to entrepreneurship
• [13:02] The complexity of NIL
• [15:21] Why athletes make exceptional team members
• [23:33] The transfer portal and its implications for athlete development
• [27:58] Hiring diverse talent from untapped pipelines
• [30:10] Inside Stryker’s values and leadership culture
• [33:53] How Adam broke into medical sales as a student-athlete
• [36:24] Lightning Round: Best leader, proudest achievement, biggest lesson

Resources:

Would you like to ask a question, offer feedback, or request a topic for a future episode? Fill out this one-question form.

Notable Quotes from From the Football Field to the Boardroom: Hiring Diverse Talent from Untapped Pipelines with Adam Gunn:

“If it's solely on one individual or a group of people that all think, look, and feel the same way, you're going to be very single-sided and limited in terms of your ideas, your innovation, and all the thoughts, decisions, and solutions that are driven from your company.” - Adam Gunn

“ You can't be average as an athlete. If you're average, you're going to sit the bench. You have to be extraordinary, and that translates perfectly into the work world, where they push themselves to learn more, to be better, and to take in everything they possibly can to be the best version of themselves.” - Adam Gunn

Connect with Adam Gunn:

📱 Follow Adam Gunn on LinkedIn.

💻 Check out Adam Gunn’s website.

📧 Send Adam Gunn an email.

Connect with Your Hosts:

📱 Follow Patrick Law on LinkedIn.

📱 Follow Rachel Book on LinkedIn.

🎥 Follow Leadership & Motivation Unleashed on YouTube.

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In this special guest episode of Leadership & Motivation Unleashed, we’re joined by Steve Davis, co-founder of My Next Stage, a platform built to help experienced professionals thrive in a changing workforce.

Together, we unpack a critical and under-discussed issue: ageism in the workplace - its often unintentional nature, how it's built into systems, and what we can all do about it.

Steve shares wisdom from his career in recruiting and talent strategy at major firms, including Goldman Sachs, Bloomberg, and Broadridge, and reflects on the persistent misconceptions around older workers’ adaptability, cost, and leadership potential.

▶️ Ageism in Hiring & the Future of Experienced Workers:

• [03:26] Meet strategic talent acquisition leader Steve Davis
• [06:16] The systemic challenges experienced professionals face
• [09:31] Contributing factors to unintentional age bias
• [13:58] Resume tactics and interview pitfalls for older job seekers
• [17:11] The workforce is aging fast – what the numbers tell us
• [20:51] Tactics older professionals can use to stay competitive
• [25:11] Rethinking employment models
• [29:39] How assumptions about runway and retirement limit hiring
• [33:18] Lightning Round: Favorite leader, biggest mistake, top achievement
• [40:39] Takeaways for both job seekers and business leaders

Resources:

E26: Career Ladder vs. Career Lattice: The Value of Experiential Learning

Would you like to ask a question, offer feedback, or request a topic for a future episode? Fill out this one-question form.

Notable Quotes from Ageism in Hiring & the Future of Experienced Workers with Steve Davis:

“ A lot of people are asking the same question: how do I make my experience matter in a world that seems to value youth and learning agility?” - Steve Davis

“ Ageism is everywhere. Around 90% of workers over 40 say that they've experienced ageism in the workplace.” - Steve Davis

Connect with Steve Davis:

📱 Follow Steve Davis on LinkedIn.

💻 Check out Steve Davis’s website.

Connect with Your Hosts:

📱 Follow Patrick Law on LinkedIn.

📱 Follow Rachel Book on LinkedIn.

🎥 Follow Leadership & Motivation Unleashed on YouTube.

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Produced by Ideablossoms

In this episode of Leadership & Motivation Unleashed, we’re joined by Olivia Cream - former Coast Guard, corporate HR executive, and now a thriving entrepreneur. Olivia shares hard-earned lessons from her time in uniform, her leadership journey through corporate America, and her bold pivot to coaching and fractional HR consulting.

This episode dives deep into the power of values-driven leadership, the unspoken dynamics of female rivalry in leadership, and what it really means to be an HR co-pilot instead of an order taker. Olivia gets real about ethical dilemmas, calling out wrongdoing, and why leadership is never about you.

If you’re navigating corporate politics, looking to grow your leadership identity, or wondering what good HR support should actually look like, this one’s for you.

▶️ Leading with Integrity: Courage, Culture & the Real Role of HR with Olivia Cream:

• [01:56] Meet Olivia Cream: Engineer, Coast Guard vet, corporate exec turned entrepreneur
• [05:24] Leadership lessons from the Coast Guard
• [08:35] How to respond to ethical challenges as a leader
• [14:11] Good vs. bad leadership - what you can learn from both
• [18:04] The complicated truth about female leaders in power
• [21:39] Healing from toxic leadership & building resilience
• [27:34] Olivia’s career pivot into HR
• [31:56] What real HR partnership looks like: metrics, strategy, and people
• [35:34] Lightning Round: controversial opinions, favorite leaders, must-read books

Resources:

My Sister’s Shoulders

E12: Tips for HR Professionals and Business Leaders to Foster Better Collaboration

Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink & Leif Babin

Would you like to ask a question, offer feedback, or request a topic for a future episode? Fill out this one-question form.

Notable Quotes from Leading with Integrity: Courage, Culture & the Real Role of HR with Olivia Cream:

“ There are HR leaders that are now becoming CEOs of businesses. That is how deep you have to understand your business to be an effective HR leader.” - Olivia Cream

“ You have to figure out what kind of leader you want to be. And you have to stand by those principles.” - Olivia Cream

Connect with Olivia:

📱 Follow Olivia Cream on LinkedIn.

💻 Check out Olivia Cream’s website.

Connect with Your Hosts:

📱 Follow Patrick Law on LinkedIn.

📱 Follow Rachel Book on LinkedIn.

🎥 Follow Leadership & Motivation Unleashed on YouTube.

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Produced by Ideablossoms

In this episode of Leadership & Motivation Unleashed, we open up about pivotal mistakes that nearly derailed our careers and the transformative lessons we learned in the process. From unchecked ego to over-compartmentalizing your identity at work, we explore how ambition, pride, and even loyalty can sometimes backfire without the right mindset.

If you've ever wondered what blind spots may be holding you back or how to defend your values and still build a successful career, this episode is a must-listen.

▶️ Top Career Mistakes Holding You Back in the Workplace:

• [01:51] Staying open to feedback
• [11:26] The consequences of ignoring workplace relationships
• [14:53] Over-compartmentalizing at work
• [18:41] Pride and ego in the workplace
• [22:45] Owning your (and others') mistakes
• [26:13] Taking a stand to be recognized versus because it means something

Resources:

Would you like to ask a question, offer feedback, or request a topic for a future episode? Fill out this one-question form.

Notable Quotes from Top Career Mistakes Holding You Back in the Workplace:

“Speak up to defend your values and the values of the company when you see decisions being made or people being treated in ways that are in conflict with that. ” - Rachel Book

“Don't allow yourself to be derailed because you think you're smarter than everybody around you. ” - Patrick Law

Connect with Your Hosts:

📱 Follow Patrick Law on LinkedIn.

📱 Follow Rachel Book on LinkedIn.

🎥 Follow Leadership & Motivation Unleashed on YouTube.

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Produced by Ideablossoms

Careers are often shaped by luck, opportunity, and a willingness to say yes, not just upward promotion. In this episode of Leadership & Motivation Unleashed, we’re diving into the concept of the career lattice versus the traditional career ladder. 

We explore the different career paths individuals can take, how to leverage diverse experiences, and the importance of saying yes to new opportunities. You’ll learn how to navigate your career with both strategic planning and openness to unexpected opportunities.

If you're navigating your next career move, this episode is a must-listen.

▶️ Career Ladder vs. Career Lattice: The Value of Experiential Learning:

• [01:51] Career lattice vs. a career ladder
• [02:37] The role of luck and opportunity in career development
• [05:25] What you gain from “lateral” experience
• [08:59] Embracing projects even if they feel risky or outside your lane
• [15:01] Three types of career planning personalities
• [18:04] The “stacked career” and hybrid experience roles
• [23:46] The future of work: Why AI makes cross-functional insight more valuable
• [25:16] Owning your risks, failures, and your story

Resources:

Would you like to ask a question, offer feedback, or request a topic for a future episode? Fill out this one-question form.

Notable Quotes from Career Ladder vs. Career Lattice: The Value of Experiential Learning:

“ If you don't take advantage of some of these opportunities, you may not unlock those relationships, those opportunities to be visible, or those experiences to acquire new skills. ” - Rachel Book

“  The more things you have to draw from to help you be successful from an experience perspective, the better off you'll be.” - Patrick Law

Connect with Your Hosts:

📱 Follow Patrick Law on LinkedIn.

📱 Follow Rachel Book on LinkedIn.

🎥 Follow Leadership & Motivation Unleashed on YouTube.

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Produced by Ideablossoms

Do you really need a college degree to succeed? Is that piece of paper the ultimate key to leadership roles, corporate credibility, and career advancement? 

Not necessarily.

In this episode of Leadership & Motivation Unleashed, we discuss the value of a college education versus real-world experience. We share personal stories and actionable insights for individuals charting their own career paths and for hiring managers looking to broaden their talent pool.

▶️ College Degree Optional – Rethinking Success and Hiring in Modern Workplaces:

• [02:46] Patrick’s non-traditional education journey as someone who “didn’t care” about education initially 
• [08:32] Why traditional degrees aren't the only path to professional success
• [15:12] Rachel’s non-traditional bachelor's degree
• [17:39] The rise of skills-based hiring and what it means for job seekers and employers
• [21:32] The dangers of credential bias in hiring
• [29:19] The lack of apprenticeship opportunities in the United States
• [32:54] Practical advice for both employers and candidates on widening talent pipelines and finding purpose

Resources:

Take a look at the unique ways to get a degree mentioned in this episode:

• Purdue Global
• Newlane University
• CLEP (College-Level Examination Program) exams

Would you like to ask a question, offer feedback, or request a topic for a future episode? Fill out this one-question form.

Notable Quotes from College Degree Optional – Rethinking Success and Hiring in Modern Workplaces:

“People accumulate experiences and skills and talents throughout so many different ways. ” - Rachel Book

“ Don't think that degree is going to get you anything. Your heart gets you everything. ” - Patrick Law

Connect with Your Hosts:

📱 Follow Patrick Law on LinkedIn.

📱 Follow Rachel Book on LinkedIn.

🎥 Follow Leadership & Motivation Unleashed on YouTube.

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Produced by Ideablossoms

Today’s episode of Leadership & Motivation Unleashed is a conversation on the impact of mergers and acquisitions on workplace culture. There has been a lot of research on this topic over many years, and one Harvard Business Review article even said that most mergers and acquisitions fail because the people aspect is simply not considered enough.

We’re discussing the significance of the people aspect in mergers and acquisitions, and providing actionable advice for leaders navigating these challenging transitions.

▶️ The Impact of Mergers and Acquisitions on Workplace Culture:

• [02:13] The people aspect of mergers and acquisitions
• [07:50] Understanding the value of your employees
• [10:42] Integrating cultures and the impact on clients
• [15:05] Leadership through mergers and acquisitions
• [19:58] Creating calm during unsteady times
• [24:41] Preparing a people plan
• [25:55] Informing employees why an acquisition is taking place
• [27:33] Creating cohesion and collaboration among new teams

Resources:

Create cohesion and collaboration among teams with Groops: https://www.joingroops.com/

Would you like to ask a question, offer feedback, or request a topic for a future episode? Fill out this one-question form.

Notable Quotes from The Impact of Mergers and Acquisitions on Workplace Culture:

“ If you're putting together project teams, purposely put a mix of people from the different companies so that they all learn from each other and appreciate each other's value.” - Rachel Book

“ It's up to the individual leader to add human value into the equation.” - Patrick Law

Connect with Your Hosts:

📱 Follow Patrick Law on LinkedIn.

📱 Follow Rachel Book on LinkedIn.

🎥 Follow Leadership & Motivation Unleashed on YouTube.

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Produced by Ideablossoms

 It takes every type of person to make a team, department, or company successful. So, in this episode of the Leadership & Motivation Unleashed Podcast, we’re tackling the intricate dynamics of managing different types of employees within the workplace - from top performers to average workers.

We discuss the value of different types of performers, the impact of favoritism and recognition in the workplace, and strategies for motivating average performers to enhance overall team productivity. We also address the importance of understanding individual motivations and creating an inclusive environment where everyone knows where they stand.

▶️ Understanding Workplace Dynamics: Top Performers Vs. Average Workers:

• [01:57] The role of different types of employees
• [05:45] Not everyone aims to be a top performer
• [06:49] Assessing employee value
• [08:02] Different standards and treatment for top employees
• [11:57] Pushing people to be a top performer when they’re not ready
• [17:50] Performance-based recognition strategies 
• [24:20] Work is a privilege and a responsibility

Resources:

Would you like to ask a question, offer feedback, or request a topic for a future episode? Fill out this one-question form.

Notable Quotes from Understanding Workforce Dynamics: Star Performers Versus Average Workers:

“Not every job needs a star player, and for sure not every team needs a cast of all star performers. ” - Rachel Book

“Leadership is putting teams of people together that balance each other out, no matter what the noise is from the outside.” - Patrick Law

Connect with Your Hosts:

📱 Follow Patrick Law on LinkedIn.

📱 Follow Rachel Book on LinkedIn.

🎥 Follow Leadership & Motivation Unleashed on YouTube.

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Produced by Ideablossoms