People First! with Morag Barrett

This week on People First, we’re joined by Julie Winkle Giulioni, a workplace growth champion and best-selling author. Julie helps leaders and organizations unlock talent and potential through meaningful career development. Her latest work, Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go: Career Conversations Organizations Need and Employees Still Want (now in its third edition), redefines how managers can support their teams in today’s fast-changing workplace.

Here are some key takeaways you won’t want to miss:

-03:00 From Elevator Operator Dreams to Career Champion: Julie shares her unconventional childhood aspirations and how they influenced her focus on career development.
-06:00 Beyond the Ladder: Julie explains why traditional career ladders are evolving and how opportunities within roles can offer transformative growth.
-12:00 Psychological Safety and Development: The critical role psychological safety plays in fostering meaningful development relationships in the workplace.
- 13:00 Developing at a Distance: Strategies for leaders to support the growth of remote and hybrid employees and avoid proximity bias.
-16:00 Human vs. AI: Julie underscores the enduring importance of human interaction in career conversations, even in an increasingly AI-driven world.

This episode offers a fresh perspective on career development, exploring how short, frequent, and intentional conversations can transform organizations. Julie’s insights challenge conventional approaches and inspire leaders to embrace development as an everyday practice.

This week on People First, we sit down with Jonathan Bennett, an advisor and executive coach specializing in helping purpose-driven leaders navigate their toughest challenges. With career-spanning roles as a CEO, board member, and founder, Jonathan brings a wealth of experience in social purpose, governance, strategy, and communications. His unique ability to listen deeply and craft breakthrough solutions makes him a trusted partner for leaders seeking clarity and impact.

Here are some key takeaways you won’t want to miss:

• 02:00 From Storyteller to Executive Coach: Jonathan shares his journey from childhood dreams of becoming a writer to a career in corporate leadership and coaching.
• 06:00 The Entrepreneurial Leap: Lessons learned from founding and growing a successful consulting firm, including navigating the highs and lows of business ownership.
• 10:00 The Power of Vulnerability: Why isolation at the top is common among leaders and how building trusted relationships can break through the barriers of loneliness.
• 16:00 Beyond the Surface: Jonathan explains how listening deeply and identifying the "story beneath the story" helps leaders uncover the real challenges they face.
• 21:00 Relationships at the Core: Jonathan highlights the vital role relationships play in scaling businesses, building trust, and sustaining personal and professional success.

This episode is an insightful exploration of leadership, resilience, and the profound impact of relationships on success. Jonathan’s wisdom offers actionable strategies for leaders to reconnect with their purpose and navigate the complexities of leading with authenticity.

This week on People First, we welcome Mary Ostafi, executive coach, speaker, and author of Coming into Consciousness: Living with Purpose, Loving with Passion, and Leading with Presence. Mary’s journey spans architecture, sustainability, and leadership, guiding people toward intentional lives rooted in authenticity and alignment. Her mission is to help individuals embrace conscious leadership for transformational growth, combining her systems approach with compassion and creativity.

Here are some key takeaways you won’t want to miss:

• 03:00 From Architecture to Coaching: Mary reflects on her early career, where designing meaningful spaces inspired her transition to helping people design lives they love.
• 07:00 A Journey of Reinvention: Mary shares her own career pivots and how leaders can embrace transitions with courage and clarity.
• 10:00 The Inspiration Behind the Book: Discover how Coming into Consciousness was born out of Mary’s personal reflections on purpose, passion, and presence.
• 15:00 Signals and Intuition: Mary encourages readers to notice the “signals” life sends and trust their intuition as a guide for fulfilling choices.
• 21:00 Relationships as a Mirror: Mary discusses the powerful role of relationships in self-growth and why cultivating a strong relationship with oneself is essential.

This episode offers powerful insights into intentional living, self-awareness, and the courage to lead with presence. Mary’s wisdom and approach to conscious living will inspire you to live with purpose and be unapologetically yourself.

And... don’t forget to check out our book!

You, Me, We: Why We All Need a Friend at Work (and How to Show Up As One!) The hardcover is available now! We've put our hearts into this exciting new book; we're sharing the insights of our research and experience as authors, best friends at work, and our leadership development programs around the world. You, Me, We is a book for leaders who want to improve― at leading, yes, but also at their lives. How so? By building deep, long-lasting relationships that set everybody up for success.

Get your copy here:

https://amzn.to/3NrQulV

This week on People First, we’re joined by Mary Olson-Menzel, the founder and CEO of MVP Executive Development. With over 30 years of leadership experience across industries like media, tech, and healthcare, Mary is an expert in helping individuals and organizations unlock their potential. She’s also a member of the Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches and the author of What Lights You Up? Illuminate Your Path and Take the Next Big Step in Your Career.

Here are some key takeaways you won’t want to miss:

1. 02:00 Mary’s Journey: From aspiring movie star to Olympic figure skater, Mary shares the twists and turns of her career journey and the lessons she learned along the way.
2. 08:00 The Pivot Point: Mary talks about the inspiration behind her book and how she developed a methodology to help people find joy and fulfillment in their careers.
3. 17:00 The Power of Networking: Mary provides tips on how to build a meaningful network, no matter where you are in your career, and why relationships are key to career success.
4. 21:00 The Journey of Writing a Book: Mary opens up about the challenges and rewards of bringing What Lights You Up? to life and how she hopes to inspire readers to pursue their passions.

This conversation is a must-listen for anyone looking to reignite their passion for their work or make a career pivot. Mary’s insights on finding what truly lights you up will leave you inspired and ready to take the next big step.

And... don’t forget to check out our book!

You, Me, We: Why We All Need a Friend at Work (and How to Show Up As One!) The hardcover is available now! We've put our hearts into this exciting new book; we're sharing the insights of our research and experience as authors, best friends at work, and our leadership development programs around the world. You, Me, We is a book for leaders who want to improve― at leading, yes, but also at their lives. How so? By building deep, long-lasting relationships that set everybody up for success.

Get your copy here:
https://amzn.to/3NrQulV

This week on People First, we welcome Lee Itzhaki, a seasoned professional with over 25 years in the high-tech industry. Lee has transitioned from product management and business development to a new passion—helping people forge stronger workplace relationships. As the founder of Loops, a groundbreaking platform, Lee aims to transform how we connect and collaborate at work, blending technology with the human element.

Here are some key takeaways you won’t want to miss:

• 05:00 The Manager Learning Curve: Lee reflects on his early struggles as a manager and how understanding the importance of relationships and engagement transformed his leadership approach.
• 08:00 Why Relationships Matter: Lee explains how workplace relationships, especially with direct managers, are crucial to employee retention and productivity.
• 13:00 Loops: The Relationship-Enhancing Tool: Discover how Loops helps teams maintain meaningful connections through reminders and personalized data, enhancing trust and collaboration.
• 16:00 Transitioning from Big Tech to Entrepreneurship: Lee discusses the challenges of launching a new platform and the critical role relationships played in his journey.

Seeking to enhance workplace relationships and foster a more engaged, productive team environment? Listen to this episode now!

And... don’t forget to check out our book!

You, Me, We: Why We All Need a Friend at Work (and How to Show Up As One!) The hardcover is available to preorder now! We've put our hearts into this exciting new book; we're sharing the insights of our research and experience as authors, best friends at work, and our leadership development programs around the world. You, Me, We is a book for leaders who want to improve― at leading, yes, but also at their lives. How so? By building deep, long-lasting relationships that set everybody up for success.

Get your copy here:

https://amzn.to/3NrQulV

This week on SkyeTeam’s People First, we sit down with the incredible Caroline Stokes, author of Elephants Before Unicorns and an expert on leadership development, technology, and sustainability. Caroline supports technology leaders in addressing relational and strategic challenges for organizational, societal, and environmental impact.

In this episode, Caroline discusses her journey from Singapore to a global career helping leaders embrace emotionally intelligent strategies and navigate the fast-paced world of technology, leadership, and sustainability.

Here are some key takeaways you won’t want to miss:

• 05:00 Early Career Reflections: Caroline shares stories from her childhood in Singapore and how a passion for travel shaped her ambitions.
• 08:00 Elephants Before Unicorns: The inspiration behind Caroline's book and why addressing the "elephants in the room" is critical before organizations can foster innovation and growth.
• 12:00 Onboarding Done Right: Caroline highlights the importance of structured 30-60-90 day plans for new hires and how organizations can set their teams up for long-term success.
• 23:00 Climate Change and Leadership: Caroline delves into how leaders must prepare for the impact of climate change on business and society, encouraging forward-thinking strategies to ensure long-term sustainability.

Dive in for a thought-provoking discussion on leadership, sustainability, and creating positive change in today’s world. Caroline’s insights will leave you rethinking how you lead and how we can all work together for a better future.

And...be sure to grab our book!

You, Me, We: Why We All Need a Friend at Work (and How to Show Up As One!) The hardcover is available to preorder now! We've put our hearts into this exciting new book; we're sharing the insights of our research and experience as authors, best friends at work, and our leadership development programs around the world. You, Me, We is a book for leaders who want to improve― at leading, yes, but also at their lives. How so? By building deep, long-lasting relationships that set everybody up for success.

Get your copy here:

https://amzn.to/3NrQulV

Get in touch with Caroline Stokes:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ocarolinestokes/

X: https://x.com/oCarolineStokes

In this episode of SkyeTeam's People First, we have a compelling conversation with Russel Lolacher, an international speaker and the founder and host of the podcast Relationships at Work. With nearly 25 years of experience in leadership and communication, Russell shares his deep insights into building meaningful relationships within organizations.

Here are some key takeaways you won't want to miss:

• 03:00 Presentations vs. Reporting: Russel emphasizes the importance of viewing presentations as performances, where you are the star, not the slide deck.
• 06:00 The Pivot to Internal Relationships: The moment Russel realized the importance of focusing on employee relationships just as much as customer service.
• 10:00 Culture vs. Bad Bosses: Russel challenges the idea that people leave jobs because of bad bosses alone, diving into the broader impact of organizational culture.
• 14:00 The Three Pillars of Leadership: Russel outlines his leadership philosophy, highlighting self-awareness, situational awareness, and communication as the keys to great leadership.
• 28:00 Trust in the Workplace: A deep dive into how trust is often misunderstood in organizations and its critical role in building healthy relationships.

In this series, we explore the people side of successful business and careers. We all have a story to share, a leadership journey we are experiencing. We'll be interviewing authors, business leaders, thought leaders, and people like you to uncover the latest ideas, resources, and tools to help you become more effective at work - and in life. As it turns out, the secret is cultivating winning relationships. Business is personal, and relationships matter!

And...be sure to grab our book!

You, Me, We: Why We All Need a Friend at Work (and How to Show Up As One!) The hardcover is available to preorder now! We've put our hearts into this exciting new book; we're sharing the insights of our research and experience as authors, best friends at work, and our leadership development programs around the world. You, Me, We is a book for leaders who want to improve― at leading, yes, but also at their lives. How so? By building deep, long-lasting relationships that set everybody up for success.

Get your copy here:

https://amzn.to/3NrQulV

Russel Lolacher Social Media Info

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russellolacher/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/relationshipsatwork/

This week on SkyeTeam's People First, we sit down with HR veteran Vanessa Patrick, Associate Dean for Research, Executive Director of Doctoral Programs (PhD and DBA), Professor of Marketing, and lead faculty member of the Executive Women in Leadership Program at the Bauer School of Business at the University of Houston.

In her new book, The Power of Saying No, Vanessa delves into the new science of saying no and introduces the ground-breaking concept of “empowered refusal”—a proven framework for saying no that puts you in charge of your life — and reveals some surprising secrets about the power of the word no.

Here are some key takeaways you won't want to miss:

• 04:16 The Pivot Point: Vanessa discusses the pivotal moment when she decided to pursue a career outside of medicine.
• 13:00 Power Dynamics: the challenges of saying no to peers vs. power.
• 20:30 Vanessa highlights the gender-specific biases that can influence how the "no" is perceived.

In this series, we explore the people side of successful business and careers. We all have a story to share, a leadership journey we are experiencing. We'll be interviewing authors, business leaders, thought leaders, and people like you to uncover the latest ideas, resources, and tools to help you become more effective at work - and in life. As it turns out, the secret is cultivating winning relationships. Business is personal, and relationships matter!

And...be sure to grab our book!

You, Me, We: Why We All Need a Friend at Work (and How to Show Up As One!) The hardcover is available to preorder now! We've put our hearts into this exciting new book; we're sharing the insights of our research and experience as authors, best friends at work, and our leadership development programs around the world. You, Me, We is a book for leaders who want to improve― at leading, yes, but also at their lives. How so? By building deep, long-lasting relationships that set everybody up for success.

Get your copy here:

https://amzn.to/3NrQulV

Additional information

Venessa Patrick’s LinkedIn profile is  https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessapatrick23/

• @vanpat23 (Instagram/Facebook)
• @vpatrick23 (twitter)

This week on SkyeTeam's People First, we sit down with HR veteran Joan Hobdin, founder of jdhInsights, LLC. With over 25 years shaping HR strategies across global organizations, Joan is a master at tailoring coaching to individual needs. Her focus on awareness, purpose, intent, and action has driven countless successes.

Joan's new book, The Leader’s Guide to Mastering Feedback, is the focus of our conversation. We delve into creating a feedback-friendly environment, navigating tough conversations with empathy, and delivering the right feedback at the right time.

Here are some key takeaways you won't want to miss:

• 07:53 The Power of Playful Feedback: Discover how genuine connection and care can transform feedback into a positive experience.
• 18:00 Feedback vs. Ghosting: Learn why open communication trumps avoidance.
• 20:00 Joan's Top Tip: Get practical advice to kickstart your feedback journey.

In this series, we explore the people side of successful business and careers. We all have a story to share, a leadership journey we are experiencing. We'll be interviewing authors, business leaders, thought leaders, and people like you to uncover the latest ideas, resources, and tools to help you become more effective at work - and in life. As it turns out, the secret is cultivating winning relationships. Business is personal, and relationships matter!

And...be sure to grab our book!

You, Me, We: Why We All Need a Friend at Work (and How to Show Up As One!) The hardcover is available to preorder now! We've put our hearts into this exciting new book; we're sharing the insights of our research and experience as authors, best friends at work, and our leadership development programs around the world. You, Me, We is a book for leaders who want to improve― at leading, yes, but also at their lives. How so? By building deep, long-lasting relationships that set everybody up for success.

Get your copy here:
https://amzn.to/3NrQulV

Connect with Joan Hobdin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joan-joni-hibdon/

Welcome to SkyeTeam's People First! This week, we're joined by two exceptional leaders: Paul Savardi, Chairman and CEO of Insperity, and Dr. Eli Jones. In their new book,  Making Differences Work, they combine their extensive experience to provide a powerful roadmap for building a company culture that drives extraordinary results.

Their concept of Commonality, Equality, and Cohesion expands on the core principles of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). It offers a practical framework for leaders tackling the challenges of creating a truly unified and inclusive work environment.

Here are some key takeaways you won't want to miss:

• 11:30 Unlocking the Secrets of Insperity's Culture: What makes Insperity's company culture unique and successful?
• 18:55 The Art of Course Correction: How to identify and address situations where your vision doesn't align with reality?
• 23:18 Evolving DEI Language: Discover how certain DEI terminology has lost its impact over time.
• 25:37 Investing in a culture of connection and belonging: What's in it for me?" This applies to individual employees, teams, and the entire organization.

In this series, we explore the people side of successful business and careers. We all have a story to share, a leadership journey we are experiencing. We'll be interviewing authors, business leaders, thought leaders, and people like you to uncover the latest ideas, resources, and tools to help you become more effective at work - and in life. As it turns out, the secret is cultivating winning relationships. Business is personal, and relationships matter!

And...be sure to grab our book!

You, Me, We: Why We All Need a Friend at Work (and How to Show Up As One!) The hardcover is available to preorder now! We've put our hearts into this exciting new book; we're sharing the insights of our research and experience as authors, best friends at work, and our leadership development programs around the world. You, Me, We is a book for leaders who want to improve― at leading, yes, but also at their lives. How so? By building deep, long-lasting relationships that set everybody up for success.

Get your copy here:

https://amzn.to/3NrQulV

Connect with Paul and Eli:

Paul Savardi LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-sarvadi/

Dr. Eli Jones LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eli-jones-4ba95125/