Talent Empowerment with Tom Finn

Viktor Bullain, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of LeggUP, and I, Tom Finn, Co-Founder and CEO of LeggUP, share our entrepreneurial journey from our time at USC to the founding of our company. We discuss the challenges we faced in transitioning from corporate roles to entrepreneurship, the original vision for LeggUP, and the lessons learned from early setbacks. We explore the importance of resilience and the strategic pivots we made to enhance our company’s coaching solutions.

This podcast is powered by LeggUP, the platform that transforms workforce health and productivity through our innovative combination of AI technology and human expertise. Click here to learn more: https://www.leggup.com/

Subscribe to the Talent Empowerment Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@TomFinnovation 

📌TALKING POINTS

05:37 - From Corporate Roles to Entrepreneurship

12:48 - The Original Thesis for LeggUP

20:50 - Lessons Learned from Early Challenges

22:06 - Navigating Remote Collaboration

30:14 - Supporting the Team During Political Unrest in Belarus

39:39 - Resilience in Entrepreneurship

45:34 - Capital Efficiency in a Changing Market

49:14 - Leveraging AI for Scalable Coaching Solutions

55:54 - The Future of Digital Health and Performance

🌟ABOUT VIKTOR BULLAIN

Viktor Bullain is a highly experienced professional with a background in architecture and business administration. Currently, working as the Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at LeggUP Inc., Viktor has a history of holding key positions in various companies such as Globalcoa.ch, Turner Construction Company, Vico Software, and Graphisoft. Throughout their career, Viktor has focused on implementing and developing strategies for agile project delivery, virtual design and construction, and lean construction methodologies. Viktor's work has been instrumental in creating learning organizations and driving digital transformation within the companies Viktor has been a part of.

🔗CONNECT WITH VIKTOR

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/viktor-bullain-leggup/ 
• Website: https://www.leggup.com/ 

🔗CONNECT WITH TOM

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tomfinnovation/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomfinnovation/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TomFinnovation/ 
• X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/tomfinnovation 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tomfinnovation 
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/TomFinnovation/ 
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tomfinnovation

🎙️ABOUT THE PODCAST

Every week on the Talent Empowerment Podcast, Tom Finn, the dynamic Co-Founder and CEO of LeggUP, ventures into the minds of trailblazing CEOs, HR executives, and talent development savants from various industries to dive deep into their career paths, dissect their strategies for growing people-first culture in their organizations, and uncover how they’re driving talent innovation.

Next Thursday, Viktor Bullain, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of LeggUP, and I, Tom Finn, Co-Founder and CEO of LeggUP, share our entrepreneurial journey from our time at USC to the founding of our company. We discuss the challenges we faced in transitioning from corporate roles to entrepreneurship, the original vision for LeggUP, and the lessons learned from early setbacks. We explore the importance of resilience and the strategic pivots we made to enhance our company’s coaching solutions.

This podcast is powered by LeggUP, the platform that transforms workforce health and productivity through our innovative combination of AI technology and human expertise. Click here to learn more: https://www.leggup.com/

Subscribe to the Talent Empowerment Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@TomFinnovation 

Shirley Engelmeier, CEO and founder of Inclusion, Inc., discusses the evolution of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) over the past 30 years and the challenges faced in the present day. She highlights the importance of creating a culture of inclusion in businesses and addresses the pushback against DEI. She emphasizes the need for organizations to communicate the business benefits of DEI.

This podcast is powered by LeggUP, the all-in-one talent development solution that combines seamless onboarding, assessments, tailored development plans, and high-impact coaching, to elevate your teams. Click here to learn more: https://www.leggup.com/

Subscribe to the Talent Empowerment Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@TomFinnovation 

📌TALKING POINTS

03:19 - Key Milestones in the Evolution of DEI

07:04 - The Pushback Against DEI: Disinformation and Fringe Ideologies

08:29 - The Business Benefits of DEI and the Importance of Communication

19:24 - The Removal of Equity from DEI Frameworks

25:37 - Educating and Finding Common Ground for DEI

30:15 - Moving Forward: Business-Centric Approach to DEI

🌟ABOUT SHIRLEY ENGELMEIER

Shirley Engelmeier, founder of InclusionINC, has been a DEI thought leader for over 25 years, helping Fortune 500 companies and emerging organizations build inclusive cultures to drive business success. Her expertise in leveraging inclusion to boost engagement, productivity, and innovation is widely recognized. With credible research, she addresses the recent anti-DEI pushback, advocating for well-reasoned approaches that enhance business strategies and meet evolving customer needs. 

🔗CONNECT WITH SHIRLEY

• Website: https://www.inclusion-inc.com/ 
• Shirley’s book ‘Deliberate Disruption’: https://a.co/d/97F0sCi 

🔗CONNECT WITH TOM

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tomfinnovation/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomfinnovation/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TomFinnovation/ 
• X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/tomfinnovation 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tomfinnovation 
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/TomFinnovation/ 
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tomfinnovation

🎙️ABOUT THE PODCAST

Every week on the Talent Empowerment Podcast, Tom Finn, the dynamic Co-Founder and CEO of LeggUP, ventures into the minds of trailblazing CEOs, HR executives, and talent development savants from various industries to dive deep into their career paths, dissect their strategies for growing people-first culture in their organizations, and uncover how they’re driving talent innovation.

Next Thursday, Shirley Engelmeier, CEO and founder of Inclusion, Inc., discusses the evolution of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) over the past 30 years and the challenges faced in the present day. She highlights the importance of creating a culture of inclusion in businesses and addresses the pushback against DEI. She emphasizes the need for organizations to communicate the business benefits of DEI.

This podcast is powered by LeggUP, the all-in-one talent development solution that combines seamless onboarding, assessments, tailored development plans, and high-impact coaching, to elevate your teams. Click here to learn more: https://www.leggup.com/

Subscribe to the Talent Empowerment Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@TomFinnovation

Mike Harbour, President of Harbour Resources and leadership development expert, shares his insights on leadership training and development in the healthcare industry. Mike also discusses the challenges faced by mid-level leaders, such as the shortage of workers and the lack of purpose in their work. He highlights the significance of effective communication and the need for leaders to model good communication skills.

This podcast is powered by LeggUP, the all-in-one talent development solution that combines seamless onboarding, assessments, tailored development plans, and high-impact coaching, to elevate your teams. Click here to learn more: https://www.leggup.com/

Subscribe to the Talent Empowerment Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@TomFinnovation 

📌TALKING POINTS

04:18 Balancing Assertiveness with Kindness and Empathy

07:10 Managing Financial Motivation vs. Putting Goodness Out in the World

10:06 Helping New Leaders Model the Right Way to Cut Expenses

13:15 Challenges Faced by Mid-Level Leaders in Today's Market

18:29 The Importance of Effective Communication in Leadership

23:19 Building a Leadership Brand and Changing the Status Quo

29:02 Developing the Next Evolution of the US Healthcare System

34:02 Strategic Planning and Preventive Leadership

🌟ABOUT MIKE HARBOUR

Mike Harbour founded Harbour Resources with one mission - to help build great leaders.

Starting his own personal and leadership development with 12 years in the US Army and then entering corporate America- Mike has coached, interviewed and mentored tens of thousands of leaders since 1999. Mike has worked alongside John Maxwell, Quint Studer and many more well-known experts in the leadership development industry.

🔗CONNECT WITH MIKE

• Website: https://www.harbourresources.com/ 

🔗CONNECT WITH TOM

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tomfinnovation/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomfinnovation/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TomFinnovation/ 
• X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/tomfinnovation 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tomfinnovation 
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/TomFinnovation/ 
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tomfinnovation

🎙️ABOUT THE PODCAST

Every week on the Talent Empowerment Podcast, Tom Finn, the dynamic Co-Founder and CEO of LeggUP, ventures into the minds of trailblazing CEOs, HR executives, and talent development savants from various industries to dive deep into their career paths, dissect their strategies for growing people-first culture in their organizations, and uncover how they’re driving talent innovation.

Next Thursday, Mike Harbour, President of Harbour Resources and leadership development expert, shares his insights on leadership training and development in the healthcare industry. Mike also discusses the challenges faced by mid-level leaders, such as the shortage of workers and the lack of purpose in their work. He highlights the significance of effective communication and the need for leaders to model good communication skills.

This podcast is powered by LeggUP, the all-in-one talent development solution that combines seamless onboarding, assessments, tailored development plans, and high-impact coaching, to elevate your teams. Click here to learn more: https://www.leggup.com/

Subscribe to the Talent Empowerment Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@TomFinnovation 

Shawn Day, founder of Hire Lead Chill, discusses the impact of AI on recruitment, the unique challenges of blue-collar hiring, and the innovative business model he developed to provide recruitment services at a lower cost. Shawn emphasizes the importance of building relationships and understanding the needs of both clients and candidates in the recruitment process. He also shares insights on leadership and the importance of aligning personal and professional goals.

This podcast is powered by LeggUP, the talent development platform that matches professionals with expert coaches to help them achieve their career goals. Click here to learn more: https://www.leggup.com/

Subscribe to the Talent Empowerment Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@TomFinnovation 

📌TALKING POINTS

02:00 - Impactful Changes in Recruitment Today

06:07 - The Business Model of Hire Lead Chill

26:07 - Perception Leadership

37:10 - Designing the Life You Want

🌟ABOUT SHAWN DAY

Shawn is a seasoned entrepreneur with over 35 years of experience navigating the small business world. After a brief stint in the corporate world, he embarked on his entrepreneurial journey, founding Daycorp Mortgage and later, Phcs Inc., a cleaning company that flourished under his leadership.

Through the highs and lows of small business ownership, Shawn honed his craft, eventually joining forces with the acquiring company of Phcs Inc. In this role, he led expansion efforts, guiding the company through strategic acquisitions and innovations.

In 2016, Shawn's focus shifted to revolutionizing recruitment, a challenge he embraced with his signature humility and determination. As word of his success spread, small business owners across the country sought his guidance, turning to him and his team for recruitment solutions that challenged industry norms.

Today, Shawn continues to apply his entrepreneurial spirit and passion for service to empower small businesses and their leaders, sharing his insights and expertise with those seeking to navigate the complexities of entrepreneurship.

🔗CONNECT WITH SHAWN

• Linktree: https://linktr.ee/hireleadchill 

🔗CONNECT WITH TOM

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tomfinnovation/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomfinnovation/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TomFinnovation/ 
• X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/tomfinnovation 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tomfinnovation 
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/TomFinnovation/ 
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tomfinnovation

🎙️ABOUT THE PODCAST

Every week on the Talent Empowerment Podcast, Tom Finn, the dynamic Co-Founder and CEO of LeggUP, ventures into the minds of trailblazing CEOs, HR executives, and talent development savants from various industries to dive deep into their career paths, dissect their strategies for growing people-first culture in their organizations, and uncover how they’re driving talent innovation.

Next Thursday, Shawn Day, founder of Hire Lead Chill, discusses the impact of AI on recruitment, the unique challenges of blue-collar hiring, and the innovative business model he developed to provide recruitment services at a lower cost. Shawn emphasizes the importance of building relationships and understanding the needs of both clients and candidates in the recruitment process. He also shares insights on leadership and the importance of aligning personal and professional goals.

This podcast is powered by LeggUP, the talent development platform that matches professionals with expert coaches to help them achieve their career goals. Click here to learn more: https://www.leggup.com/

Subscribe to the Talent Empowerment Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@TomFinnovation 

Nathaniel Harding, Managing Partner of Cortado Ventures, discusses venture capital and investing in the mid-continent region. He emphasizes the importance of personal relationships and proximity in the investment process, especially for founders outside of traditional tech hubs. He also discusses the challenges of raising capital and the criteria they look for in potential investments.

This podcast is powered by LeggUP, the talent development platform that matches professionals with expert coaches to help them achieve their career goals. Click here to learn more: https://www.leggup.com/

Subscribe to the Talent Empowerment Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@TomFinnovation 

📌TALKING POINTS

06:39 Creating Opportunities in Underserved Markets

12:24 Investment Criteria and Value-Add

26:53 Stacking the Deck for Success

36:36 The Challenges and Rewards of Being a VC

🌟ABOUT NATHANIEL HARDING

Nathaniel Harding is Managing Partner of Cortado Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm investing in growth-driven technology companies. He is also Board Member for Antioch Energy. He is an accomplished senior executive, entrepreneur, technologist, thought leader, and community advocate. Nathaniel was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, and a Most Admired CEO in Oklahoma by the Journal Record. Previously, he and his partner developed a midcontinent resource play which they sold in 2013 for $120M. His broad areas of expertise include operational strategy, financial modeling, statistical analysis, leveraging big data, connecting science with commercial strategy, energy, fundraising, and public speaking.

🔗CONNECT WITH NATHANIEL

• Company Website: https://cortado.ventures/ 

🔗CONNECT WITH TOM

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tomfinnovation/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomfinnovation/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TomFinnovation/ 
• X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/tomfinnovation 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tomfinnovation 
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/TomFinnovation/ 
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tomfinnovation

🎙️ABOUT THE PODCAST

Every week on the Talent Empowerment Podcast, Tom Finn, the dynamic Co-Founder and CEO of LeggUP, ventures into the minds of trailblazing CEOs, HR executives, and talent development savants from various industries to dive deep into their career paths, dissect their strategies for growing people-first culture in their organizations, and uncover how they’re driving talent innovation.

Next Thursday, Nathaniel Harding, Managing Partner of Cortado Ventures, discusses venture capital and investing in the mid-continent region. He emphasizes the importance of personal relationships and proximity in the investment process, especially for founders outside of traditional tech hubs. He also discusses the challenges of raising capital and the criteria they look for in potential investments.

This podcast is powered by LeggUP, the talent development platform that matches professionals with expert coaches to help them achieve their career goals. Click here to learn more: https://www.leggup.com/

Subscribe to the Talent Empowerment Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@TomFinnovation