In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Alexandria Agresta about why the workplace needs more fun!

Disco balls. DJ decks. Dancing queens. Alexandria Agresta brings it all. As the World’s First DJing Speaker, she fuses the insight of a TED Talk with the electricity of a music festival to deliver her groundbreaking keynote, The Business Party. Her mission is simple: to spark the next wave of bold leadership and transform the workplace into a WOWplace, where possibility, creativity, and fun take center stage. Now, let’s get this party started!

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In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Simon T. Bailey about his recent book, Resilience@Work: How to Coach Yourself Into a Thriving Future.

Simon T. Bailey is the world’s leading expert in Brilliance. His groundbreaking research, State of Working America Report Thriving in Resilience and Brilliance, solidifies his insights in his 11th book, Resilience@Work: How to Coach Yourself Into a Thriving Future. With Disney Institute as his launchpad, he’s left an indelible mark on 2,400 plus organizations in 54 countries, including American Express, Deloitte, Visa, Signet Jewelers, and Taco Bell. He has made a remarkable impact on 120,000 professionals who’ve experienced his pioneering courses on the LinkedIn Learning platform. He’s also been recognized as Success Magazine’s Top 25, alongside Brené Brown, Tony Robbins, and Oprah Winfrey, as well as being on leadersHum Top 200 Power List.

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In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Jess Ringgenberg about career stagnation and identity shifts.

Jess Ringgenberg, PCC, is a researcher, former Fortune 500 biotech leader, and mother of two with deep expertise at the intersection of caregiver strategy, leadership, and advocacy. She is the Founder & CEO of ELIXR, a workforce advisory firm on a mission to make caregivers in the workplace impossible to ignore—turning a hidden risk into a driver of retention, performance, and growth. Jess also spearheaded The Science of Modern Motherhood™, a national study redefining how organizations support parents and mothers across the career continuum. A recognized voice in the care economy, she has spoken at government summits, national conferences, and partnered with organizations including Microsoft, Southwest Airlines, and Hilti.

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In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Jess Ringgenberg about career stagnation and identity shifts.

Jess Ringgenberg, PCC, is a researcher, former Fortune 500 biotech leader, and mother of two with deep expertise at the intersection of caregiver strategy, leadership, and advocacy. She is the Founder & CEO of ELIXR, a workforce advisory firm on a mission to make caregivers in the workplace impossible to ignore—turning a hidden risk into a driver of retention, performance, and growth. Jess also spearheaded The Science of Modern Motherhood™, a national study redefining how organizations support parents and mothers across the career continuum. A recognized voice in the care economy, she has spoken at government summits, national conferences, and partnered with organizations including Microsoft, Southwest Airlines, and Hilti.

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In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Christian Muntean about his new book, "Train to Lead." 

Christian Muntean has helped hundreds of businesses rapidly grow, increase profitability, and expand impact. He primarily works with entrepreneurial business leaders who are scaling their businesses or preparing for exit or succession. He partners with owners, boards, and executive teams as they make game-changing decisions. Christian is the author of three popular books, with the most recent being Train to Lead. He is a frequent guest on podcasts and has been a contributor to Forbes.com. Christian lives in Anchorage, Alaska with his wife and three active children. He enjoys woodworking and practices Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

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Abstract: This article examines the evolution from T-shaped to V-shaped professional competency models in response to rapidly changing workplace demands. While T-shaped professionals combine deep expertise in one domain with broad knowledge across multiple areas, V-shaped professionals develop graduated depth across adjacent domains, creating a more fluid transition between specialization and generalization. Drawing on empirical evidence and theoretical frameworks, this paper analyzes the drivers behind this shift, its organizational and individual impacts, and evidence-based strategies for developing V-shaped capabilities. Case studies across technology, healthcare, and consulting sectors demonstrate how organizations are successfully cultivating V-shaped talent to enhance adaptability, innovation, and cross-functional collaboration. The article concludes with a framework for building sustainable talent development systems that foster professional versatility in an increasingly complex business environment.

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Abstract: This article examines the evolution from T-shaped to V-shaped professional competency models in response to rapidly changing workplace demands. While T-shaped professionals combine deep expertise in one domain with broad knowledge across multiple areas, V-shaped professionals develop graduated depth across adjacent domains, creating a more fluid transition between specialization and generalization. Drawing on empirical evidence and theoretical frameworks, this paper analyzes the drivers behind this shift, its organizational and individual impacts, and evidence-based strategies for developing V-shaped capabilities. Case studies across technology, healthcare, and consulting sectors demonstrate how organizations are successfully cultivating V-shaped talent to enhance adaptability, innovation, and cross-functional collaboration. The article concludes with a framework for building sustainable talent development systems that foster professional versatility in an increasingly complex business environment.

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In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Kyle Samuels about diversifying your talent pipeline.

Kyle Samuels is the founder and CEO of Creative Talent Endeavors (CTE), a retained executive search firm known for helping organizations identify and hire the leadership talent that drives growth, transformation, and long-term value. Under Kyle’s leadership, CTE has been recognized twice on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies and was named the #4 fastest-growing company in Charlotte. What sets Kyle apart is a deep commitment to authenticity, candor, and alignment. Whether he’s partnering with a founder making their first executive hire or a global enterprise reshaping its leadership bench, Kyle brings a direct, empathetic, and values-driven approach to every search. His work is grounded in the belief that hiring the right leader isn’t just about a resume — it’s about long-term fit, trust, and shared purpose. Kyle is also the creator of Fairantee™, a value-based pricing search algorithm that uses data to determine the price of a search, not an arbitrary percentage like most search firms use. This makes using executive search more transparent and equitable.

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In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Andy Lange about the evolving role of HR leaders.

Andy Lange, MBA, PMP®, SHRM-SCP, is the Senior Vice President of People at Take Command, bringing over 15 years of combined HR, executive leadership, and operational experience. Prior to his current role, Andy served as CEO for seven years and as a partner and general manager, where he led business operations, talent strategy, and organizational growth. His career blends hands-on HR leadership with executive-level insight, enabling him to build scalable people programs that align with business objectives. Andy’s practical, real-world approach to helping HR leaders elevate their strategic impact through modern benefits strategies has been shared through speaking and editorial opportunities for BenefitsPro, HRSouthwest, business.com and SHRM.

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Ab DeWeese is a a serial entrepreneur, AI educator, and author of Essential AI: Your All-in-One QuickStart to Using AI in Business and the Workplace. He’s also the creator of CollabChat AI, a platform designed to help teams work with AI—and each other—to produce better, more reliable results. In this conversation, we’re diving into what HR leaders need to know about collaborative AI: how it reduces risk, strengthens decision-making, and helps people stay at the center of innovation. 

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