Shawn Bushway has a PhD in economics and public policy from the Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon University and has spent his career in criminology, where he has been recognized as a Distinguished Scholar for the Division of Corrections and Sentencing and a Fellow of the American Society of Criminology. He has published two books and over 100 peer-reviewed articles in journals.

Mentioned on the Show

• Learn more about the Bushway Opportunity Score: https://www.bushwayopportunityscore.com/
• Connect with Shawn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawn-d-bushway-91a1494a

Timestamps

(00:00:00) — Shawn Bushway joins O'Brien McMahon on People Business.

(00:03:12) — What’s the origin story for how you got into criminology?

(00:05:41) — As a culture in the US, how have our beliefs around crime and criminals changed over time?

(00:08:49) — Do foreign countries have other sentiments about criminals? 

(00:12:49) — What are the misconceptions and what is the reality around recidivism?

(00:26:47) — Which factors should you look for in recidivism?

(00:35:38) — What about white collar crime? Is there a higher risk to hiring someone to a white collar job who has committed a white collar crime?

(00:43:30) — The Bushway Opportunity Score: helping employers make solid decisions in hiring

(00:45:31) — What factors can be considered for offenders in the hiring process? 

(00:49:55) — Once these people get hired, are they materially the same as every other employee, or are there differences—maybe positive or negative?

(00:56:12) — Closing thoughts and encouragements

Radhika Dutt draws on 25 years of experience across industries, continents, and sizes of organizations to write, speak, and consult on innovation and change. Her experience has taught her that goal-setting systems often produce the opposite of what they promise: short-termism, performance theater, and cultures that prioritize looking good over doing good work. In this conversation, she offers an alternative.

Mentioned on the Show

• Get Radhika’s free toolkit to help you switch to puzzle-solving in your business: https://www.radicalproduct.com/toolkit/#OHLToolkit
• Connect with Radhika Dutt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/radhika-dutt
• Learn more about Radhika Dutt on her website: https://rdutt.com/

Timestamps
(00:00:00) - Welcoming Radhika Dutt to People Business 

(00:03:02) – What is the history of goal setting?

(00:06:15) – Is the problem OKRs or SMART goals or goal setting in general?

(00:22:02) – Why doesn’t traditional goal-setting work?

(00:24:42) – How do institutional incentives fit into your new framework?

(00:29:16) – If goal setting doesn’t work, what does? 

(00:34:12) – How frequently do leaders need to review and work on this new framework?

(00:36:22) – What about goals for individuals? Does goal setting work for people’s individual goals?

(00:37:11) – How does puzzle-solving work in a service-related business?

(00:40:09) – Do traditional metrics have any role in the puzzle-solving framework?

(00:49:39) – How sustainable is using puzzle-solving over traditional goals?

(00:53:51) – Using vision statements in the process of solving puzzles in business

(00:55:08) – What are the drawbacks of using a puzzle-solving approach over traditional goal setting?

(00:57:28) – Get Radhika’s free toolkit to develop the puzzle-solving approach for your business

Neal Foard spent more than 25 years in advertising and marketing, creating award-winning campaigns for global power brands like Budweiser, Lexus, and Nokia. Most recently, Neal has gained a following on social media for his inspirational videos about the kindness of everyday people.

Mentioned on the Show

• Learn more about Neal Foard at his website: https://www.nealfoard.com/
• The "Gen Z" video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiz6-pIYfaE
• Connect with Neal on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neal-foard
• Neal’s storytelling course is Storyfire, find it here: https://www.storyfire.net/

Timestamps
(00:00) - Meet Neal Foard on this week's People Business

(03:16) - How did you begin telling stories on social media? 

(05:07) - How did you become so good at storytelling?

(10:04) - What is your process for capturing stories?

(21:07) - How can professionals use storytelling in everyday work situations?

(32:34) - How do humor and vocabulary work in storytelling?

(48:47) - The one thing. 

(56:34) - How do stories enhance business presentations?

Recognized in Crain's New York Business Notable Leaders in Real Estate and ranked the #1 Real Estate Broker in New York and New York State and #14 in the Nation for 2022, Bianca currently manages a $10B real estate portfolio for Nest Seekers International. She is the star of Selling the Hamptons on HBOMax, CEO and founder of The Masters Division and Managing Director for Nest Seekers Development Marketing, and author of Mastering Intentions: 10 Practices to Amplify Your Power and Lead with Lasting Impact.

Mentioned on the Show

• Connect with Bianca on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/biancadalessio
• Learn more about Nest Seekers and Bianca’s role in The Masters Division: https://www.nestseekers.com/agent/bianca-dalessio/
• Read Bianca’s book Mastering Intentions: https://a.co/d/cVlGRkg

Timestamps
(00:00) – Introducing Bianca D'Alessio on People Business.

(02:04) – Why did Bianca dedicate her book to a professor and what role did he play in her story?

(06:28) – What is the book Mastering Intentions, 10 Practices to Amplify Your Power and Lead With Lasting Impact about? What do you hope people get out of the book?

(08:15) – What does it mean to “always make the ask”?

(12:44) – How can leaders get authentic feedback from teammates? 

(16:34) – Hiring: what techniques do you use to find (and qualify) teammates? 

(25:05) – How do you approach sales?

(32:19) – How do you handle losses (not getting the sale, setbacks, failures)?

(33:45) – What is your goal-setting process?

(37:56) "How does that translate to the team? Because I imagine you bring somebody and you're like, I want you to hit some numbers."

(41:03) – Working for sales, but not being money motivated 

(45:09) – How to balance “going with the flow” and directing and capturing and enhancing drive 

Micah Remley is the CEO of Robin, a leading workplace management platform revolutionizing hybrid work. He brings 20+ years of experience scaling high-growth technology companies. At Robin, Micah drives innovation in hybrid work solutions, enabling employees to seamlessly reserve office resources while fostering collaboration and productivity.

Mentioned on the Show

• Find Micah Remley of Robin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/micah-remley-b6430740
• Learn more about Robin, the office optimization software: https://robinpowered.com/about

Timestamps

(0:00) – Welcome to People Business.

(1:58) – Meet Micah Remley. What is Robin and what is office optimization?

(07:26) – Are companies still struggling with return to work policy or has the dust settled?

(10:35) – What is the justification for requiring employees to return to the office?

(19:17) – How are companies enforcing stricter in-office attendance requirements?

(23:16) – What’s working with structuring office time versus remote work?

(26:00) – How do we build a sense of community at work?

(31:49) – What office layouts, amenities, and equipment are popular right now?

(38:09) – What data should companies use to make decisions about office space?

(46:25) – Executive presence: Why is it important for executives to be in the office?

(46:27) – What about office optimization are you sick of talking about?

Jeremy Dubow is Prosperity Partners’ Chief Executive Officer. He manages the company and is responsible for its strategic direction, growth initiatives, and talent development. 

Mentioned on the Show:

• Find Jeremy Dubow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremydubow/
• Jeremy Dubow’s profile on the Prosperity Partners website: https://www.prosperityllc.com/personnel/jeremy-dubow/
• Listen to the People Business episode with John Block, CEO of Unity Partners: https://peoplebusinesspodcast.com/johnblock/

Timestamps

(00:00:00) – Introducing Jeremy Dubow on People Business

(00:03:13) – What is Prosperity Partners and what have you been through in the last 12-18 months?

(00:05:40) – How did you want to conduct your business that differed from the traditional “Big Four”?

(00:10:13) – Entrepreneur mindset: What’s the biggest surprise about running a business? 

(00:12:22) – How do you deal with hardships and setbacks in business?

(00:17:17) – What is it really like to be in business with a private equity firm?

(00:22:57) – What is your current strategy for recruiting and attracting talent? How does your business model work with today’s professionals? 

(00:28:42) – Culture and fit: what are the processes and challenges of integrating acquisitions?

(00:38:20) – How are effective teams created in these conditions? 

(00:44:47) – What role does offshoring play in your strategy and how does that impact company culture? 

(00:48:50) – What is the purpose of business?

Chuck Wisner has spent 30 years as a trusted advisor, coach, and teacher in communication, human dynamics, and leadership excellence. He has worked with leaders and their teams in Fortune 200 companies. He also trained in mediation and worked as a senior mediator affiliated with the Harvard Mediation Program at the Harvard Law School, and later, was associated with MIT’s Center for Organizational Learning. His book, The Art of Conscious Conversations – Transforming How We Talk, Listen, and Interact, explores how to heighten our awareness and become more conscious in our conversations.

Mentioned on the Show

• Learn more at Chuck Wisner’s website: https://www.chuckwisner.com/
• Get Chuck’s book, The Art of Conscious Conversations: https://a.co/d/hfPRSmK
• Connect with Chuck on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuck-wisner
• Listen to the People Business interview with Charles Feltman, author of The Thin Book of Trust: https://peoplebusinesspodcast.com/charlesfeltman/

Timestamps
(02:53) - What is the ‘ontology of language’?

(06:02) – The impact of worldview on the language we use. What is a ‘master story’?

(09:33) – How can we let go of worldviews or change a master story?

(13:15) – How can we contend with negative views of ourselves?

(15:54) – Opinion vs fact: What questions can we ask ourselves about the stories we tell?

(21:34) – How can we break negative patterns and form healthy, positive new patterns?

(24:47) - The four questions: how to explore our thinking during our reactions

(34:27) - Collaboration and collaborative conversations: What makes for good collaborators?

(43:18) - "Conversations are the one human universal tool that we share."

As founder of Lapin International, David Lapin advises executives worldwide on how to align business strategy with character and corporate culture with purpose. He is the author of Lead by Greatness and a practicing Rabbi. Raised in apartheid-era South Africa, David helped draft one of the world’s first formal corporate ethics codes. He now lives in Israel and travels frequently to the U.S. for client engagements.

Mentioned on the Show

• David Lapin’s company, Lapin International: https://www.lapininternational.com
• Learn more about the Lapin Leadership Fingerprint: https://lapininternational.com/lapin-leadership-fingerprint-lp/
• David’s book: Lead by Greatness – https://amzn.to/4kxb7gU 
• Connect with Rabbi Lapin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidlapin
• Lapin International on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/lapin-international/ 

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• Connect with O’Brien McMahon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/obrienmcmahon/
• Learn more about O’Brien: https://obrienmcmahon.com/

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Timestamps

(00:00) – Welcome to People Business

(02:14) – What’s it like being a Rabbi and working in the business world?

(06:00) – What kind of role does a Rabbi have outside of a temple? 

(10:36) – How does your expanded cultural perspective shape your work as a Rabbi?

(24:16) – What does Judaism say about business?

(28:07) – How does business build a healthy community?

(37:29) – How can we best be of service to others?

(41:38) – Purpose: Is finding our purpose a worthy pursuit or a distraction?

(51:32) – Do “better people” enjoy more success? What does it mean to be a better person?

(56:28) – What qualitative improvements can be expected when people are working ethically and aligned with purpose?

(58:08) – Final thoughts and how to contact David Lapin and Lapin International.

Kassi Kincaid is a leading expert in creative leadership. She is a speaker, trainer, and author committed to helping people leverage their creativity to lead with greater impact and innovation. As the visionary behind Book Days — an international children’s literacy initiative — Kassi has seen how creative thinking can turn small ideas into global movements. Her journey from building a grassroots literacy project to inspiring professionals across industries fuels her mission: to equip leaders and teams with practical creativity frameworks that spark innovation, increase engagement, and drive meaningful change. 

Mentioned on the Show

• Kassi Kincaid’s website: https://www.kassikincaid.com/
• Learn more about Book Days: https://www.bookdays.org/
• Connect with Kassi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kassi-kincaid-speaker
• The Edge of Creativity by Kassi Kincaid: https://a.co/d/hSVLMqN
• Listen to Kassi’s podcast: https://pod.link/1714322040

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• Connect with O’Brien McMahon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/obrienmcmahon/
• Learn more about O’Brien: https://obrienmcmahon.com/

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Timestamps

(00:00) Welcome to People Business.

(00:19) Meet Kassi Kincaid: Creative Leadership Expert

(05:06) How do you define creativity?

(10:15) How did the Book Days initiative come about?

(14:55) Creativity in kids vs. adults.

(19:06) Intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation.

(27:05) What role does rest play with creativity?

(35:24) How do we bring creativity into our workplaces? 

(42:50) Is creativity something that can be learned?

(52:55) How can creativity improve our work success?

(55:05) Contacting Kassi and final thoughts on creativity.

Internal communication strategist Alejandra Ramirez is a veteran culture builder with nearly two decades of experience helping organizations align message with meaning. She founded ReadyCultures to help leaders communicate in ways their teams can hear, trust, and act on. 

Mentioned on the Show

• Connect with Alejandra Ramirez on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/malejandraramirez
• Learn more about Alejandra’s internal communications firm, Ready Cultures: https://www.readycultures.com/
• Get Alejandra’s worksheet explaining her Head, Heart, Hands approach: https://www.readycultures.com/3h-framework
• Tim Ferris’ interview with Walter O’Brien (inspiration for the show, Scorpion): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQ6IcUoXpzU

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• Connect with O’Brien McMahon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/obrienmcmahon/
• Learn more about O’Brien: https://obrienmcmahon.com/

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Timestamps

(00:00) Welcome to People Business.

(02:44) Meet Alejandra Ramirez of Ready Cultures.

(04:30) What is a “third culture” and what communication challenges does that bring?

(08:01) Are there best practices in internal communications?

(17:52) What do managers need to know about delivering bad news?

(20:48) How can companies uphold a communication strategy and be transparent?

(25:50) How can companies have effective communications?

(28:33) Why is social connection so important?

(29:05) Why is it important to know our ‘why’?

(29:37) The importance of “EQ” at work.

(33:30) How do leaders get coached in communications?

(36:59) What does good preparation look like?

(40:25) Who delivers the news, especially bad news?

(51:38) How can company culture be created?

(54:38) How to contact Alejandra Ramirez and Ready Cultures.