Think personal branding is about self-promotion? Think again.

In this episode of Executive Connect, host Melissa Aarskaug sit down with Alan McLaren, co-founder of Strata Originals and trusted advisor to more than 600 CEOs, to redefine what personal branding really is. Alan explains why visibility is not about ego, marketing, or chasing attention, but about leadership, service, and trust at scale.

This conversation dismantles the fear executives feel about putting themselves out there and replaces it with a practical, human-centered framework for building influence without the ick factor. If you are a CEO, founder, or senior leader who knows visibility matters but has been avoiding it, this episode will show you why your leadership brand may be your most undervalued asset.

What You Will Learn

• Why personal branding is really leadership branding
• How visibility builds trust, influence, and opportunity
• The real cost of staying invisible as a leader
• How to overcome fear without feeling self-promotional
• Why service eliminates the ick factor
• How CEOs build relationships at scale
• What authentic content actually looks like
• Why consistency matters more than perfection
• How AI will change branding and why humanity still wins

Chapters

(0:01) Why personal branding is misunderstood
(1:26) The pivot that changed Alan’s career
(2:55) Leadership is not about you
(4:44) Reframing personal branding as leadership branding
(6:55) The hidden risks of staying invisible
(9:14) How to get past fear and the ick factor
(11:33) The breakthrough moment for most CEOs
(13:48) Content that builds trust, not clicks
(16:55) What to do with only 20 minutes a week
(19:48) How clarity unlocks unexpected opportunities
(22:57) Why the CEO sets the leadership tone
(25:33) Lessons Alan learned building his own brand
(27:25) Using fear as a growth signal
(29:40) AI, authenticity, and the future of branding
(32:07) How leaders should start today
(33:54) How to connect with Alan McLaren

Guest Bio

Alan McLaren is the co-founder of Strata Originals and a leadership branding strategist who has coached more than 600 CEOs and senior executives. With a background spanning agency leadership, public companies, and executive coaching, Alan helps leaders move from invisibility to influence by building trust-driven personal brands rooted in service and authenticity.

Connect With Alan McLaren
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanmclaren
Company: https://strataoriginals.com

Connect With Executive Connect
Website: https://www.executiveconnectpodcast.com
YouTube: Executive Connect YouTube Channel
LinkedIn: Melissa Aarskaug
Instagram: @executiveconnectpodcast
TikTok: @executiveconnectpodcast
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What happens when technology moves faster than our ability to govern it?

In this episode of Executive Connect, host Melissa Aarskaug sits down with Wendell Wallach, widely known as the godfather of AI ethics, to examine the risks no one wants to talk about as artificial intelligence and emerging technologies scale at unprecedented speed. Wendell shares decades of insight from advising global institutions, shaping policy conversations, and helping leaders think beyond innovation toward responsibility.

This conversation challenges the assumption that smarter machines lead to better outcomes. Wendell explains why the most dangerous risks are not futuristic superintelligence, but near-term failures in governance, accountability, and human judgment. If you are leading innovation without clear guardrails, this episode will change how you think about progress.


What You Will Learn

• Why the greatest AI risks are already here

• How surveillance, deepfakes, and automation threaten trust

• Why ethical decision-making cannot be fully delegated to machines

• The difference between regulation and governance

• Where leaders become dangerously overconfident with AI

• Why humans must remain accountable for life-impacting decisions

• How unchecked innovation creates hidden systemic risk

• The ethical tradeoffs leaders must confront now, not later

Chapters
(0:00) Why AI ethics began before AI headlines
(1:41) Near-term risks versus superintelligence fears
(2:20) Surveillance economies and deepfake reality
(3:53) When technology slips beyond human control
(5:33) Unexpected risks from combined technologies
(7:06) Financial collapse as a warning sign
(10:13) Why machines do not understand morality
(11:35) The limits of teaching ethics to AI
(14:47) Where machines cannot replace human judgment
(20:02) Which decisions require a human signature
(22:44) Why leaders underestimate AI risk
(26:20) The pressure to deploy AI without understanding it
(30:30) Governance versus regulation explained
(33:09) Who pays the price when governance fails
(36:18) Global coordination and AI inequality
(41:15) Why international competition escalates risk
(44:18) Human dignity in an automated world
(48:35) Tradeoff ethics and unintended consequences
(53:51) Lessons from self-driving and autonomous systems
(1:00:48) How the godfather of AI ethics earned the title
(1:09:19) The one question every leader must ask
(1:12:17) Where to explore Wendell Wallach’s work


Guest Bio

Wendell Wallach is a philosopher, ethicist, and internationally recognized authority on the ethics and governance of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. He is the co-author of Moral Machines and the author of A Dangerous Master, and has advised governments, global institutions, and technology leaders on responsible innovation for over two decades.


Connect With Wendell Wallach
Website: https://wendellwallach.com
Books
A Dangerous Master: https://www.sentientpublications.com/book/a-dangerous-master
Moral Machines: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/moral-machines-9780195374049
IEEE Report on AI Governance: https://ethicsinaction.ieee.org
YouTube: Wendell Wallach AI Ethics


Connect With Executive Connect
Website: https://www.executiveconnectpodcast.com
YouTube: Executive Connect YouTube Channel
LinkedIn: Melissa Aarskaug
Instagram: @executiveconnectpodcast
TikTok: @executiveconnectpodcast
Facebook: Executive Connect

Strong communication is not about sounding smart. It is about being understood.

In this episode of Executive Connect, host Melissa Aarskaug sits down with Arjun Buxi, Executive Communication Coach and Founder of Culture of Speak, to break down what real executive presence looks like in today’s workplace. As communication becomes more fragmented through technology, remote work, and constant distractions, leaders must learn how to speak with clarity, empathy, and authority without overcomplicating their message.

Arjun explains why insight matters more than vocabulary, how authenticity builds trust, and why structured communication helps leaders stand out in noisy environments. This conversation is practical, grounded, and especially valuable for leaders who feel their ideas are not landing the way they should.

What You Will Learn

• Why executive presence cannot be faked
• How clarity beats complexity in leadership communication
• The difference between sounding smart and being insightful
• How empathy and authenticity reduce workplace conflict
• Why structure matters more than delivery
• How leaders can communicate strategically without overwhelming others
• Practical ways to build credibility and authority in meetings
• How to advocate for yourself without arrogance

Chapters
(0:00) Why insight matters more than vocabulary
(0:22) Communication as connection, not performance
(1:24) Building a culture of strong communication
(2:42) How leadership communication has changed
(3:28) Empathy and authenticity in modern leadership
(5:12) What conflict really looks like at work
(7:29) Task conflict versus relational conflict
(10:05) What executive presence really means
(10:37) Why simple language builds authority
(13:21) Structuring messages people remember
(16:26) The cost of distraction in communication
(17:12) Why writing beats typing for clarity
(20:08) The power of in-person communication
(22:12) Reciprocity and trust in leadership
(24:46) Strategic communication and company values
(27:21) Why clarity saves time and energy
(31:22) Advocating for yourself with confidence
(33:07) How to connect with Arjun Buxi

Guest Bio

Arjun Buxi is an Executive Communication Coach and the Founder of Culture of Speak. He works with leaders, executives, and organizations to improve clarity, credibility, and presence in high stakes communication. Arjun is the author of Communication Means Talking Together and specializes in helping professionals communicate with authority while staying authentic and human.

Connect With Arjun Buxi
Website: https://cultureofspeak.com
LinkedIn: Arjun Buxi


Connect With Executive Connect
Website: https://www.executiveconnectpodcast.com
YouTube: Executive Connect YouTube Channel
LinkedIn: Melissa Aarskaug
Instagram: @executiveconnectpodcast
TikTok: @executiveconnectpodcast
Facebook: Executive Connect

How do high-income professionals and accredited investors actually diversify their wealth without relying only on Wall Street or single rental properties?

In this episode of the Executive Connect Podcast, Bryan sits down with Lane Kawaoka, author of The Wealth Elevator, to break down how experienced investors think about cash flow, risk, diversification, and tax strategy at scale. Lane shares how he transitioned from engineering into large-scale investing, why diversification across time horizons matters, and how sophisticated investors evaluate deals beyond marketing projections.

This conversation is designed for executives, engineers, and high earners who want to move past basic investing advice and understand how real wealth is built through disciplined deal selection, conservative underwriting, and long-term strategy.

What You Will Learn:

• How wealthy investors diversify beyond single asset classes
• Why most portfolios are not truly diversified
• How accredited investors evaluate deals differently
• Why conservative assumptions matter more than projections
• How time horizons affect real returns
• Cash flow vs appreciation during market downturns
• When real estate stops being scalable
• How high earners think about taxes and income reduction

Episode highlights:
(01:10) From civil engineer to full-time investor
(02:36) What the Wealth Elevator framework actually means
(04:00) How wealthy investors invest off Wall Street
(05:38) Accredited vs. non-accredited investing explained
(07:34) How to evaluate risk-adjusted returns
(09:52) Why conservative underwriting matters
(12:50) Cash flow vs appreciation in market cycles
(15:30) Why time horizon manipulation changes returns
(17:15) Building a true diversification pipeline
(19:22) Real estate vs oil and gas vs private equity
(21:12) How investor relationships really work
(23:57) Why small checks can damage long-term access
(26:02) Taxes, depreciation, and oil and gas strategies
(29:11) Advice for high-earning corporate executives
(31:51) How to connect with Lane Kawaoka

Lane Kawaoka, PE, is a prominent real estate investor, author, and host of the top-rated podcast The Wealth Elevator. A former civil engineer with a background in industrial engineering and construction management, he pivoted from a traditional W-2 career to building a massive real estate portfolio focused on passive income. 

CONNECT with Lane:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lanekawaoka/
Web: https://thewealthelevator.com/

🔗 CONNECT WITH EXECUTIVE CONNECT
Website: https://www.executiveconnectexperience.com/
Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExecutiveConnect 
Subscribe on Newsletter: https://www.executiveconnectexperience.com/join/
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If you like the content please do share, subscribe and like the channel. Tune in to the complete episode on the channel under podcasts. For more visit - executiveconnectpodcast.com

The future of work is not coming someday. It is already reshaping how leaders think, decide, and grow.

In this episode of Executive Connect, host Melissa Aarskaug sits down with Carlee Wolfe, a transformation leader who has guided organizations through hypergrowth, crisis, and reinvention at Hyatt Hotels, Under Armour, and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. Carlee brings a grounded, human perspective to leadership in a rapidly changing world where uncertainty, AI, and constant disruption are the norm.

Together, we explore how leaders can invest in tomorrow while still managing today, how curiosity drives clarity instead of chaos, and why long-term growth depends on intentional learning, energy protection, and strong relationships. This conversation is practical, reflective, and deeply relevant for leaders navigating change without losing themselves in the process.

What You Will Learn

• Why leaders do not need all the answers to lead effectively

• How curiosity creates clarity instead of chaos

• Ways to invest in the future while managing present demands

• How to build a learning culture without exhausting teams

• How AI can support rapid learning and leadership growth

• The three C’s framework for career and leadership transitions

• How to build a personal board of directors that supports long-term success

• Why sustainable growth is an endurance journey, not a sprint

Chapters
(0:00) Leadership in a world of uncertainty
 (0:18) Why the future of work is already here
 (1:29) Lessons from transformation at global brands
 (3:47) Leadership decisions in the age of AI
 (4:49) Investing in the future while managing today
 (5:46) Curiosity as a leadership advantage
 (7:37) Building learning cultures without burnout
 (10:07) Rapid learning and skill evolution
 (12:08) Using AI to support development and focus
 (14:09) Energizing teams instead of exhausting them
 (17:01) The three C’s framework for growth
 (19:41) Leading with curiosity and clarity under pressure
 (22:11) Building a personal board of directors
 (27:24) Making relationships meaningful, not transactional
 (33:05) Protecting energy during long-term transformation
 (38:45) Navigating the messy middle
 (41:02) Final leadership reflections
 (42:11) How to connect with Carlee Wolfe

Guest Bio

Carlee Wolfe is a leadership and transformation consultant with deep experience guiding organizations through growth, disruption, and reinvention. She has held senior leadership roles at Hyatt Hotels, Under Armour, and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. Carlee specializes in leadership development, workforce evolution, and helping individuals and teams navigate change with clarity and confidence.

Connect With Carlee Wolfe
LinkedIn: Carlee Wolfe
 Website: hhttps://aceandarrowconsulting.com/

Connect With Executive Connect
Website: https://www.executiveconnectpodcast.com
YouTube: Executive Connect YouTube Channel
LinkedIn: Melissa Aarskaug
Instagram: @executiveconnectpodcast
TikTok: @executiveconnectpodcast
Facebook: Executive Connect

Why does retirement feel more like a threat than a reward for today’s leaders?

Executives are living longer, staying sharper, and still want to contribute but the traditional retirement model was never designed for this reality. In this episode of the Executive Connect Podcast, Melissa Aarskaug sits down with Anne deBruin Sample, CEO of Navigate Forward, to unpack why retirement has become a broken system for modern leaders and what a better next chapter actually looks like.

They explore why organizations are losing critical wisdom, how forced exits damage both leaders and companies, and what purpose-driven transitions can look like when done intentionally. This conversation reframes retirement as a transition, not an ending, and offers a new way to think about legacy, flexibility, and meaningful work later in life.

If you are questioning what comes next after decades of leadership, this episode will change how you think about retirement forever.

Watch more in our Leadership & Executive Strategy playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxrYeIuZ_iIdG85fZi23XegEIpzAypDF1

What You’ll Learn:

• Why the traditional retirement model no longer works for modern leaders
• The hidden fear many executives feel as retirement approaches
• Why purpose matters more than money or leisure in later career stages
• How organizations are losing critical wisdom through poor transitions
• What the unretirement movement reveals about leadership longevity
• How to design a flexible next chapter without losing identity or impact
• Why mentoring and fractional roles are shaping the future of work

Episode highlights:
(2:30) The History and Failure of Retirement
(5:30) The Rise of Unretirement
(8:00) Purpose vs Leisure in Later Careers
(10:15) Succession vs Transition Mistakes
(13:00) The Wisdom Drain Companies Ignore
(16:30) Mentorship and Knowledge Transfer
(19:30) Designing a Meaningful Next Chapter
(22:00) Identity, Community, and Letting Go
(26:00) Reframing Retirement as a New Beginning
(30:35) Final Thoughts and How to Connect

Anne deBruin Sample is an experienced business and HR leader, and the CEO and owner of Navigate Forward. Anne has an enviable track record of leading business-building transformation and developing top talent. Anne has engaged her passion for helping leaders find new destinations during times of transition. As both a Corporate client and an individual client of Navigate Forward, she is a strong believer in the power and impact of transition coaching and leadership development.

Connect with Anne:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annedebruinsample/
Web: https://www.navigateforward.com/

CONNECT WITH EXECUTIVE CONNECT
Website: https://www.executiveconnectexperience.com/
Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExecutiveConnect
Subscribe on Newsletter: https://www.executiveconnectexperience.com/join/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/my-executive-connect/

What actually powers modern life, and why does oil and gas still matter more than most people realize?

In this episode of Executive Connect, host Bryan Hancock sits down with John Casiano, an independent consulting geologist based in San Antonio, to unpack how geology drives oil and gas investments, energy security, and the global economy. John explains how petroleum geology works in real terms, from identifying source rocks to understanding pay zones, fracking, and horizontal drilling.

The conversation also tackles the energy transition, the realities of renewables, the role of infrastructure, and why oil and gas remain essential for everything from manufacturing and transportation to emerging technologies like AI and data centers. If you want a grounded, technical, and practical perspective on energy without political spin, this episode delivers.

What You Will Learn

• How geologists evaluate oil and gas prospects
• The difference between conventional and unconventional drilling
• What fracking actually does inside the rock
• Why Texas remains a global energy leader
• How infrastructure and private land ownership shape production
• The real limits of renewable energy today
• Why future energy demand is accelerating, not slowing down

Chapters
(0:00) Why oil and gas still power modern life
(0:23) Meet John Casiano and his geology background
(2:00) San Antonio’s role in the oil and gas industry
(3:59) What geologists actually do on oil and gas projects
(6:27) Field operations, safety, and modern drilling technology
(10:32) Conventional vs unconventional drilling explained
(13:25) Fracking, porosity, and horizontal wells
(15:40) Why Texas dominates oil and gas production
(18:54) Energy transition myths and global demand
(22:00) Oil, renewables, and the future of energy
(26:16) Career paths and opportunities in geology
(28:04) Final thoughts on energy, economics, and reality

Guest Bio
John Casiano is an independent consulting geologist with over a decade of experience in the oil and gas industry. Based in San Antonio, he has worked extensively in exploration, operations, and unconventional resource development. John holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in geology and a master’s degree in operations management, and he is passionate about energy education, mentorship, and responsible resource development.

Connect with John Casiano
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncasianogeo/

Connect With Executive Connect
Website: https://www.executiveconnectpodcast.com
YouTube: Executive Connect YouTube Channel
LinkedIn: Melissa Aarskaug
Instagram: @executiveconnectpodcast
TikTok: @executiveconnectpodcast
Facebook: Executive Connect

What if burnout isn’t a personal failure but a broken system?

In this episode of the Executive Connect Podcast, Melissa sits down with Michael Allison, a Marine and Purple Heart recipient turned entrepreneur, to unpack what it truly means to lead under pressure.

Michael shares how battlefield experiences shaped his approach to leadership, why clarity and conviction matter more than charisma, and how founders and executives can build identity-driven systems that prevent burnout before it starts. This conversation goes beyond motivation and gets practical about decision-making, culture, resilience, and sustainable scale.

If you’re building something meaningful in a high-stakes environment, this episode offers a grounded, real-world blueprint for leading with strength and integrity.

What You’ll Learn

• How burnout is often a system failure, not an individual weakness
• Why identity-driven leadership creates clarity under pressure
• How to design repeatable systems that reduce chaos and decision fatigue
• The role of conviction in decisive, high-trust leadership
• How leaders can build resilience before stress breaks the organization

Episode highlights:
(1:27) Michael Allison’s battlefield experience and leadership clarity
(3:41) Translating combat decision-making into business leadership
(6:56) Identity-driven leadership explained
(8:22) Rediscovering leadership identity under pressure
(12:12) Preventing burnout while scaling fast
(14:42) Break the bottle, protect the house framework
(17:24) Common leadership mistakes during high stress
(19:21) Leadership re-entry during growth and transition
(24:26) Turning adversity into a scaling advantage
(28:49) Culture as an operational system
(32:42) The three pillars: clarity, creativity, conviction
(35:25) Final leadership principles from Michael Allison

Michael Allison is a Marine and Purple Heart recipient turned entrepreneur, leadership strategist, and founder of the Adversity Leadership Institute. Drawing from firsthand experience in combat and business, Michael helps leaders build identity-aligned systems that drive clarity, resilience, and sustainable growth. His work focuses on decision-making under pressure, burnout prevention, and creating cultures that scale without breaking people.

🔗 Connect with Michael Allison
Website: https://michaelwallison.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iammichaelwallison/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iammikewallison/

🔗 CONNECT WITH EXECUTIVE CONNECT
Website: https://www.executiveconnectexperience.com/
Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExecutiveConnect
Subscribe on Newsletter: https://www.executiveconnectexperience.com/join/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/my-executive-connect/

🎧 SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ro/podcast/the-executive-connect-podcast/id1816477167
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1zggDnblvD9Pa0Nn37o1TD?si=JVvZfm5rTryxJZh6nlO6yQ

Avoiding hard conversations might feel safer, but it quietly limits growth, trust, and leadership effectiveness.

In this episode of the Executive Connect Podcast, host Melissa Aarskaug sits down with Jen Hardy to unpack why difficult conversations trigger fear at a nervous system level and how leaders can learn to regulate themselves before trying to influence others.

Jen shares her journey from results-driven athletic coaching to emotionally intelligent leadership, explaining why vulnerability is not weakness and why clarity begins with self-regulation. Together, they explore how psychological safety, emotional awareness, and intentional communication frameworks allow leaders to navigate conflict without losing authority or trust.

This episode is a practical guide for executives who want stronger teams, healthier cultures, and conversations that actually move people forward.

Key Takeaways

• Why avoiding conflict shuts down logical thinking and decision-making
• How nervous system regulation impacts leadership communication
• The difference between vulnerability and oversharing
• Why emotional safety is required before clarity can exist
• How to lead difficult conversations without losing authority
• Simple frameworks leaders can use to reduce defensiveness and resistance
• Why courage, not certainty, drives long-term leadership growth

Timestamp Chapters
(00:00) Why logic fails without emotional safety
(01:10) From performance coaching to conscious leadership
(03:30) Vulnerability versus weakness in leadership
(05:55) Self-regulation before difficult conversations
(07:26) Psychological safety and communication breakdowns
(10:04) Leading with strength and transparency
(12:54) Conflict, courage, and growth in modern teams
(15:26) Tools for navigating high-stress conversations
(17:24) Pre-framing communication for better outcomes
(21:43) Why uncertainty creates leadership growth
(23:39) Supporting leaders through emotional mastery
(25:03) Final leadership reflections

About the Guest

Jen Hardy is the COO at the Academy of Motive Action, where she supports high-stress professionals through communication, emotional literacy, resilience, and self-mastery. With a background in athletics, education, and executive coaching, Jen helps leaders transform discomfort into clarity and connection.

Connect With Jen Hardy
Website: https://motivaction.academy/home-614511
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/the-jenhardy/

Connect With Executive Connect
Website: www.executiveconnectpodcast.com
YouTube: Executive Connect YouTube Channel
LinkedIn: Melissa Aarskaug
Instagram: @executiveconnectpodcast
TikTok: @executiveconnectpodcast
Facebook: Executive Connect

Leadership is not just about vision, strategy, or charisma. It is about the emotional footprint you leave behind.

In this episode of Executive Connect, host Melissa Aarskaug sits down with leadership strategist and cultural transformation expert, Founder & CEO of A3 Culture Lab, Andrea Wanerstrand to explore why emotional awareness is now one of the most critical leadership skills.

Andrea explains how leaders unintentionally create stress, confusion, and fear through tone, energy, and emotional inconsistency, even when their intentions are good. She breaks down the science behind emotional intelligence, how the nervous system shows up at work, and why people remember how leaders make them feel more than what they say.

This conversation is a practical guide for leaders who want stronger trust, higher engagement, and better performance without burning out their teams or themselves.


What You Will Learn

• Why emotional awareness drives trust and loyalty
• How leadership energy creates ripple effects across teams
• The difference between being nice and being kind
• How emotional intelligence improves clarity and execution
• Why stress kills creativity and innovation
• How to reset your energy between meetings
• The real ROI of leading with empathy

Chapters

(00:00) Why leadership is emotional, not positional
(02:45) How leaders unintentionally create fear and confusion
(06:30) The ripple effect of unmanaged energy
(10:20) Emotional intelligence explained simply
(15:40) Navigating tough conversations with clarity
(20:30) Why micromanaging destroys confidence
(26:10) Consistency, trust, and psychological safety
(32:00) The myth of separating work and personal emotions
(38:10) Feedback, presence, and emotional accountability
(44:30) Leading with empathy in an AI driven world
(50:20) Final reflections and how to connect


Guest Bio

Andrea Wanerstrand is a leadership strategist and cultural transformation expert who helps executives build emotionally intelligent organizations. Her work focuses on self awareness, trust, nervous system regulation, and high performance leadership.

Connect with Andrea Wanerstrand

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreawanerstrand/
Website: https://a3culturelab.com


Connect With Executive Connect

Website: https://www.executiveconnectpodcast.com
YouTube: Executive Connect YouTube Channel
LinkedIn: Melissa Aarskaug
Instagram: @executiveconnectpodcast
TikTok: @executiveconnectpodcast
Facebook: Executive Connect