This episode features Myriam Vidalon, SVP of Culture & Workforce Transformation and Chief Diversity Officer at NielsenIQ.  We discussed how NIQ is embedding purpose into their culture, resulting in fulfilled, engaged teams with strong performance. 

🗝️ Three key takeaways: 

1️⃣ DEI is evolving, not disappearing. Performative DEI, where organizations just “check boxes,” is out. What matters now is authentically embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion into the fabric of company culture, driving real purpose and belonging.

2️⃣ Fulfillment is a performance strategy. When employees feel that their work is connected to a larger mission, engagement, and ultimately, performance, soar. NielsenIQ’s “Leading with Purpose” workshop is a great example of how helping teams discover their “why” fuels higher results.

3️⃣ Well-being is business-critical. Fulfillment and personal well-being are deeply intertwined. Leaders who prioritize these elements see better engagement, healthier workplaces, and measurable improvements in business performance.

Main takeaway:
When leaders embrace fulfillment as a core part of their strategy, not just a buzzword, they create engaged, high-performing teams ready for the future of work.

How is your organization embedding fulfillment and purpose into everyday work?

This episode is brought to you by the HR Leadership & Wellness Summit in Atlanta, GA, October 12-14. 

This invite-only experience brings together senior HR professionals from companies like Warner Bros., Morgan Stanley, Paramount, and more for three days of transformative conversations, strategic networking, and actionable insights.

Apply for a complimentary invitation to the HR Leadership & Wellness and Culture & Engagement Executive Summits in Atlanta, GA, October 12-14. https://bit.ly/lifefulfilledxopal 

Connect with Myriam Vidalon 

Website
LinkedIn

Connect with Bernie Borges

LinkedIn
Instagram
Website

Email: [email protected]
Fulfilled@Work™ LinkedIn Newsletter

Get in touch with Bernie to:
Explore hiring Bernie as a keynote speaker at your next event.
Explore a tailored presentation or workshop on Fulfillment Centric Leadership™.

Watch the Midlife Fulfilled Podcast on YouTube

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Old Bossa Twin Musicom
Suno

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This week, we're featuring Adele Currin, a relationship and communication coach, for a transformative conversation about the real skills we need for thriving, fulfilling relationships. Adele opens up about her own journey through the ups and downs of marriage, and how those experiences inspired her to help others navigate their own relationship challenges.

🗝️ Three key takeaways:

1️⃣ Emotional Regulation is Foundational: Learning how to identify, sit with, and manage our emotions is the first step to healthier interactions. Without emotional regulation, issues like resentment and anger can quickly build a wall between partners.

2️⃣ Personal Responsibility Changes Everything: Adele emphasized the importance of looking inward—not just at what the other person is doing “wrong,” but at our own habits, reactions, and opportunities for growth. Taking ownership is a skill that can transform relationship dynamics.

3️⃣ Communication is Multifaceted: It’s more than just speaking your mind. True communication means listening with empathy, expressing your needs clearly and without blame, and checking for understanding. Developing these habits (not just learning the concepts!) is key to real change.

Main takeaway: Mastering relationships requires the same commitment to practice and skill-building as any area of life. With focused effort on emotional maturity, responsibility, and communication, we can create stronger, more resilient partnerships.

Connect with Adele Currin
Website
LinkedIn
Instagram

Connect with Bernie Borges
LinkedIn
Instagram
Website

Fulfilled@Work Academy™ Masterminds

Email: [email protected]
Fulfilled@Work™ LinkedIn Newsletter

Get in touch with Bernie to:
Explore hiring him as a keynote speaker at your next event.
Explore a tailored presentation or workshop on Fulfillment Centric Leadership™.

Watch the Life Fulfilled Podcast on YouTube

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Old Bossa Twin Musicom
Suno

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This is a group episode featuring nine individuals who share authentic perspectives about the meaning of fulfillment in their lives. Host Bernie Borges emphasizes that fulfillment is deeper than happiness, connected to achievement or purpose, and "nearly always immutable." 

🗝️ Three key takeaways:

1️⃣ Redefining Success and Fulfillment for Personal Well-being: Several participants shared transformative journeys where they shifted their definition of success from external validations like titles, promotions, or societal expectations to more intrinsic values. Nishat Jones left corporate America after 25 years to find freedom, prioritizing time with family, energy, and control, now saying "yes to purpose and no to burnout". Shanté Smith-Daniels redefined success as peace of mind, moving away from a life that felt "automated" by checking all the "successful woman" boxes, to one where her business framework is "people, profits, peace of mind." Dr. Eboni L. Truss shared her "unbecoming movement," realizing that doing "everything right" for external approval didn't bring wholeness, leading her to get honest about shedding expectations and returning to who she was truly meant to be.

2️⃣ The Power of Authenticity and Self-Relationship: The importance of deep self-reflection and prioritizing one's inner self was a common thread. Sunette Sahlah shared that her most fulfilling relationship is with herself, a realization that came after navigating divorce, her daughter leaving for college, and a career pivot. She took a year-long sabbatical to travel and "found more of me," learning not to "outsource her joy" and to ensure her own cup is full. Loretta Monroe Calvin re-evaluated her legacy after her son expressed a wish that she "didn't work so much," leading her to become more intentional about balancing work with family, health, and faith, making adjustments to ensure her children see her enjoying life.

3️⃣ Intentionality and Impact Across Life's Pillars: Guests demonstrated how living with purpose and intentionality can lead to profound fulfillment, whether in personal health, family life, or professional endeavors. David Medansky, known as "the health guy," stays connected to his purpose by reminding himself that "excellent health can never be owned, it can only be rented," motivating him to help others achieve healthy lifestyles by providing simple, affordable plans and emphasizing consistency. Ivonne Fry highlighted that "we get one shot at this" and "every day is our chance to have an impact," detailing her work with Workforce Development Partners to help high school students find hope and pathways to success, believing one person can significantly influence culture. Brent Pohlman, a CEO, shared his company's success and growth by prioritizing "people first" (over process and technology), building a culture of gratitude and trust, and actively engaging with employees to align leadership with collective purpose.

Learn more about Fulfilled@Work™ Maste

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If you've ever found yourself dreading Mondays, this episode is for you. This week, host Bernie Borges opens up about his journey to career fulfillment. 

After hitting some of the traditional milestones, co-founding a startup, public accolades, and social media success, he quietly struggled with emptiness and misalignment. 

You'll discover how he reached his turning point and found his career fulfillment. 

Here are three key discussion points:

1️⃣ The Power of Values Alignment
Bernie reveals how identifying and aligning his life with his most important values empowered him to take the action he needed, resulting in a transformation from a hollow to a deeply rewarding career.

2️⃣ The Five Pillars of Fulfillment
Bernie introduces his unique framework: health, fitness, career, relationships, and legacy, emphasizing that you can’t focus on just one. True fulfillment means examining all five areas and understanding how they intersect.

3️⃣ Mastermind Support and Community Matter
Bernie's breakthrough came not just from self-reflection, but from realizing the value of a supportive community. That’s why he created the “Fulfilled@Work™ Mastermind” groups: small, guided cohorts (5 to 10 people) that offer coaching, peer support, and accountability to help you take concrete steps toward career fulfillment.

🚀 Main Takeaway:
Bernie's experience clarifies that fulfillment at work isn’t achieved with a sole focus on career, or alone. When you align your values and tap into a supportive community, you become more energized, focused, and confident both at work and in life.

Check out the waitlist for the next Fulfilled@Work™ Mastermind, as mentioned in the episode. Cohorts are limited and filling up fast. Early access and special pricing are available for waitlist members!

Connect with Bernie Borges
LinkedIn
Instagram
Website

Links to cool stuff. 

https://fulfilledatworkacademy.com/masterminds/

https://fulfilledatworkacademy.com/newsletter/

https://fulfilledatworkacademy.com/

Email: [email protected]

Get in touch with Bernie to:
Explore hiring him as a keynote speaker at your next event.
Explore a tailored presentation or workshop on Fulfillment Centric Leadership™.

Watch the Life Fulfilled Podcast on YouTube

Music attribution:
Old Bossa Twin Musicom
Suno

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This week Laurie-Ann Murabito  (episode 201) "hijacks" the episode by interviewing host Bernie Borges. Here are three key discussion points from the conversation:

1️⃣ Core Values as a Compass: We explored how Bernie's core values: faith, family, fun, fulfillment, finances, and fitness create a foundation for meaningful success and a fulfilled life. 

2️⃣ The Evolving Definition of Success: The discussion highlighted how Bernie defines success as his experiences aligned with his values, not just with career milestones or titles.

3️⃣ Fulfilled@Work Academy & Masterminds: Bernie described the Fulfilled@Work Academy’s mission to help leaders and professionals align personal fulfillment with career growth, and outlined the availability of mastermind groups designed to provide deeper, experiential learning and peer connections outside of one-off workshops.

Main takeaway: Living and leading through the lens of fulfillment is not only possible but necessary for lasting impact, personally and professionally. Bernie shared that he treasures the opportunity to build connections with listeners of the Life Fulfilled podcast across continents, thanks to the power of the podcast medium. 

Connect with Laurie-Ann Murabito
Episode 201 featuring Laurie-Ann Murabito
Website: Speak and Standout
LinkedIn
Instagram

Connect with Bernie Borges
LinkedIn
Instagram
Website

Episode 33: The Power of Regret with Daniel Pink

Fulfilled@Work Academy™ Masterminds

Email: [email protected]
Fulfilled@Work™ LinkedIn Newsletter

Get in touch with Bernie to:
Explore hiring him as a keynote speaker at your next event.
Explore a tailored presentation or workshop on Fulfillment Centric Leadership™.

Watch the Life Fulfilled Podcast on YouTube

Music attribution:
Old Bossa Twin Musicom
Suno

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This week Bernie welcomes Kevin Bradley, VP of Culture and Belonging at HUB International, for an eye-opening conversation about the evolution of belonging in the workplace, and how these shifts can deeply influence our personal fulfillment journeys.

Here are three key discussion points from our conversation:

1️⃣ Redefining Culture and Belonging: We explored how belonging at work isn’t just a “nice-to-have,” but an intentional focus on creating inclusive cultures where every individual feels they matter. It’s more than just a list of policies or DEI acronyms—it’s the actions that foster authentic connection.

2️⃣ The Importance of Internal Community: We dug into the distinction between “culture” and “community” within an organization. True community-building starts internally, with strong cultures that naturally lead to external impact and good corporate citizenship.

3️⃣ Work-Life Harmony Over Balance: We discussed the shift from striving for elusive “work-life balance” to seeking “work-life harmony.” Harmony means giving ourselves grace to adjust priorities—sometimes work, sometimes family—so our pillars of health, relationships, and legacy can coexist in real life.

Main takeaway: Fulfillment comes from creating environments at work and beyond, where people truly belong, can bring their whole selves, and impact one another for the better.

This episode is brought to you by the HR Leadership & Wellness Summit in Atlanta, GA, October 12-14. 

This invite-only experience brings together senior HR professionals from companies like Warner Bros., Morgan Stanley, Paramount, and more for three days of transformative conversations, strategic networking, and actionable insights.

Apply for a complimentary invitation to the HR Leadership & Wellness and Culture & Engagement Executive Summits in Atlanta, GA, October 12-14. https://bit.ly/lifefulfilledxopal 

Connect with Kevin Bradley 

Website
LinkedIn

Connect with Bernie Borges

LinkedIn
Instagram
Website

Email: [email protected]
Fulfilled@Work™ LinkedIn Newsletter

Get in touch with Bernie to:
Explore hiring Bernie as a keynote speaker at your next event.
Explore a tailored presentation or workshop on Fulfillment Centric Leadership™.

Watch the Midlife Fulfilled Podcast on YouTube

Music attribution:
Old Bossa Twin Musicom
Suno

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This week, Bernie Borges sat down with Bridget Dahlgren and Mike Irvine from Crystal D to explore a topic that’s shaping the future of business: the real impact of employee recognition and engagement.

Whether you’re a people leader, business owner, or just curious about what drives workplace fulfillment, here are three big takeaways from our conversation:

1️⃣ Employee Recognition is NOT Just a Perk
Bridget and Mike shared Crystal D’s own journey from “survival mode” to fostering a culture where recognition is at the core. By thinking of every employee as a “memory maker,” they’ve created an environment where people belong and thrive. The bottom line? Recognition is a key business strategy, not just a nice-to-have.

2️⃣ The Hidden Cost of Disengagement
Mike broke down the numbers: replacing an employee can cost twice their salary. Even a modest turnover rate can rack up millions in costs. Recognition programs not only cut these costs, they also boost morale, retention, and productivity. In one example, a local company reduced turnover by more than half and saw an 18% jump in productivity just by focusing on engagement.

3️⃣ The Future of Employee Recognition: Tech with a Human Touch
While technology (like AI) is making it easier than ever to recognize and engage teams, Bridget and Mike emphasized that meaningful connections matter most. Innovative tools and platforms can help, but true fulfillment comes from authentic human recognition, whether formal or informal.

Main Takeaway:
When businesses embrace employee recognition as a foundational strategy, they nurture a culture of fulfillment, loyalty, and standout performance. As Bernie summed it up: “Fulfillment is a performance strategy.” It’s good for people and it’s great for business.

Connect with Bridget Dahlgren and Mike Irvine

Cyrstal D Website
Bridget Dahlgren LinkedIn
Mike Irvine LinkedIn

Connect with Bernie Borges

LinkedIn
Instagram
Website

Email: [email protected]
Fulfilled@Work™ LinkedIn Newsletter

Get in touch with Bernie to:
Explore hiring Bernie as a keynote speaker at your next event.
Explore a tailored presentation or workshop on Fulfillment Centric Leadership™.

Watch the Life Fulfilled Podcast on YouTube

Music attribution:
Old Bossa Twin Musicom
Suno

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This week on the podcast, Bernie sits down with Michele A. Mathews, a powerhouse in HR, safety, and risk management, and the president of HR Tampa. Michele’s story is a testament to how unexpected life events can reshape not only our personal journeys but also how we strive to make a difference for others.

Here are three key highlights from our conversation:

1️⃣ Turning Trauma into Purpose
At just 10 years old, Michele suffered a freak accident resulting in temporary paralysis. Forced to step back from her original ambitions, she watched her father’s construction business up close, sparking her lifelong dedication to worker wellness, safety, and listening to those who often go unheard.

2️⃣ The Superpower of Active Listening
Michele credits her ability to tune in deeply, not just to words, but the intent behind them, as her “superpower” that shapes her leadership. She’s known for truly hearing people’s stories and concerns, making those around her feel valued and seen, which are traits that set her apart in both HR and life.

3️⃣ Impact Over Titles
Though she reached her goal as a chief HR and safety officer for a business, Michele found greater fulfillment running her own consultancy. By working with multiple organizations and directly impacting real people’s lives (sometimes life-savingly so), she pursues what she calls the “second paycheck,” the internal satisfaction of meaningful work.

Main Takeaway:
Michele’s journey is a powerful reminder that fulfillment isn’t just about titles or ticking off career boxes, it’s about purpose-driven impact, kindness, and using your unique story to lift others up.

Want to connect with Michele? All her links are in the show notes below!

Connect with Michele A. Mathews

Website
LinkedIn
Instagram

Connect with Bernie Borges

LinkedIn
Instagram
Website

Email: [email protected]
Fulfilled@Work™ LinkedIn Newsletter

Get in touch with Bernie to:
Explore hiring Bernie as a keynote speaker at your next event.
Explore a tailored presentation or workshop on Fulfillment Centric Leadership™.

Watch the Midlife Fulfilled Podcast on YouTube

Music attribution:
Old Bossa Twin Musicom
Suno

Text us your feedback on the podcast.

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On this episode Bernie welcomes Joanie Musser—an accomplished instructional designer, educator, and the host of the “Mindset to Learn” podcast—for a  vulnerable conversation.

🗝️ 3 key discussion points discussed: 

1️⃣ Childhood Dreams & Unforeseen Change
Joanie takes us back to her middle school years and athletic dreams, particularly her passion for speed skating and her hopes to compete in the Olympics. Her story takes a turn when her mother suffers a cerebral hemorrhage, dramatically changing Joanie’s family dynamics. Joanie was faced with adult responsibilities at a young age, navigating emotional challenges, and ultimately having to give up her skating aspirations.

2️⃣ The Power of Connection & Letting Go
A poignant moment comes when Joanie discovers her former skating partner, Jennifer Rodriguez, featured as an Olympic athlete in a school library book. While Joanie cheered Jennifer on from afar, reading about her journey brought up complex emotions—gratitude, longing, and what-ifs. 

3️⃣ Perspective, Growth, and Fulfillment
Joanie reflects on the lessons learned from carrying heavy family responsibilities as the eldest child. She speaks honestly about maturing quickly, making tough but necessary choices, and how these experiences gave her a deeper perspective on life. 

Main Takeaway:
Life’s detours—sometimes outside our control—can lead us to unexpected forms of fulfillment and personal growth. Joanie’s story is a testament to resilience, the importance of perspective, and the transformative power of vulnerability and connection. 

Connect with Joanie Musser
Website
Mindset to Learn Podcast
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn

Connect with Bernie Borges

LinkedIn
Instagram
Website

Email: [email protected]
Fulfilled@Work™ LinkedIn Newsletter

Get in touch with Bernie to:
Explore hiring him as a keynote speaker at your next event.
Explore a tailored presentation or workshop on Fulfillment Centric Leadership™.

Watch the Midlife Fulfilled Podcast on YouTube

Music attribution:
Old Bossa Twin Musicom
Suno

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On this episode, Bernie Borges sits down with Joe Weaver, the operations manager and program director at Salem Media Group’s Tampa studio. Joe shares the fascinating story of how a 30-second radio commercial sparked a major career pivot from installing tile to running multiple radio stations and FM translators. 

🗝️ 3 key points discussed: 

1️⃣ Say Yes & Stay Curious: Joe attributes much of his growth to always saying yes when opportunities knock, even before the question is finished. It’s a powerful reminder that openness to new roles (even the menial ones!) can lay unexpected foundations for your career.

2️⃣ Understand the Impact of Your Work: Joe’s life changed because of a single radio commercial. He encourages us to never underestimate the power of what we create. Our work can change lives in unseen ways, whether it’s a 30-second ad or a meaningful project.

3️⃣ Fulfillment Beats Titles: Joe finds deep fulfillment not just from “big” wins like meeting famous people, but from positive relationships and knowing he’s made a difference. He stresses being grateful for our circumstances, not comparing ourselves to others, and striving to be a blessing to those around us.

Main takeaway: No matter where your career takes you, pursue what you’re good at, choose gratitude, and remember that real success is about the impact you leave on people’s lives and the fulfillment you find in doing meaningful work.

Connect with Joe Weaver
Salem Media Group website
Joe Weaver LinkedIn
Twitter/X

Connect with Bernie Borges

LinkedIn
Instagram
Website

Email: [email protected]
Fulfilled@Work™ LinkedIn Newsletter

Get in touch with Bernie to:
Explore hiring him as a keynote speaker at your next event.
Explore a tailored presentation or workshop on Fulfillment Centric Leadership™.

Watch the Life Fulfilled Podcast on YouTube

Music attribution:
Old Bossa Twin Musicom
Suno

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