the Learn-It-All™ podcast

Building an Extraordinary Company Culture: Leadership Lessons from NetApp's Transformation 

Is your organization struggling to maintain high performance and strong culture during challenging times? How do you create a workplace where people don't just show up for a paycheck, but genuinely care about the company's success and each other? 

In this illuminating episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast, Tom Mendoza, former President of NetApp, discusses how authentic leadership, clear communication, and unwavering values can transform an organization's culture and drive extraordinary results. He shares his remarkable story of leading the NetApp through the dot-com crash and watching their stock plummet from $156 to $6. Despite this crisis, under his leadership, the company not only survived but grew from $800 million to $6 billion in revenue and was named the #1 company to work for in America. 

 This Episode Covers: 

• Why the "death by a thousand cuts" approach to layoffs destroys morale, and how NetApp's leadership handled necessary cuts with transparency and dignity 
• The power of making 20 brief appreciation calls daily to recognize employees doing great work and how this practice spread organically throughout the organization 
• How to handle high-performing employees with toxic attitudes, including a practical technique for evaluating employee performance using the "strengths vs. areas of improvement" test 
• The five essential elements of NetApp's culture: attitude, candor, catching people doing something right, leadership over management, and embracing change 
• Why empowering employees to take risks and supporting them even when they fail is crucial for innovation and growth 
• The importance of treating departing employees with respect and appreciation, as it significantly impacts how current employees view the organization 
• The value of creating a culture where people put the company's needs before individual interests without sacrificing personal growth and fulfillment 

Episode Highlights:

(00:00:00) Introduction to Tom Mendoza – Damon welcomes Tom and sets the stage for a conversation on leadership, culture, and resilience.

(00:03:00) Leading Through the Dot-Com Crash – Tom recounts how NetApp navigated a stock drop from $156 to $6 and the leadership decisions that helped the company rebound.

(00:10:30) The Power of Culture and Employee Loyalty – How NetApp built a culture where employees stayed, even in the toughest times, and why trust in leadership matters.

(00:16:00) Recognizing Employees and Leadership Through Service – Tom shares his philosophy on catching people doing something right and the impact of a simple thank-you call.

(00:27:00) Five Key Leadership Principles – Tom discusses the pillars of a great culture, including attitude, candor, recognition, leadership, and embracing change.

(00:42:00) Encouraging Risk-Taking in Organizations – How leaders can create an environment where employees feel safe taking risks and driving innovation.

(00:50:00) Lessons on Leadership, Family, and Legacy – Tom reflects on the lessons he hopes to pass on to his children and what makes a great leader in today’s world.

About Tom: 

Tom Mendoza was instrumental in transforming NetApp from a startup to a multi-billion-dollar enterprise over his 25-year career. As President from 2000 to 2008 and later as Vice Chairman, he led the company through remarkable growth, increasing revenue from $600,000 to $1 billion in just six years. Mendoza championed values-based leadership and a high-performance culture, which helped NetApp earn the #1 spot on Fortune’s Best Companies to Work For list in 2009. A sought-after speaker on corporate culture, Mendoza frequently lectures at leading institutions such as Stanford, Harvard, and Notre Dame, where he endowed the Mendoza College of Business.  

Resources Referenced: 

Contagious Success: Spreading High Performance Throughout Your Organization 

by Susan Lucia Annunzio 

Dave Botterell’s GoFundMe for Haiti 

John Kotter, Harvard Business Review author 

Notre Dame University Business School 

Tom Mendoza on LinkedIn 

NetApp 

Palo Alto Networks 

Sequoia Capital 

University of Miami Country Day School 

Collegiate School New York 

The Economist 

Podcast Contact Information:

Website: www.learnit.com

Email: [email protected]

Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates.

Welcome to The Learn-It-All Podcast’s 11 Skills AI Will Never Replace-- our new 11-part special series exploring the essential human skills that AI cannot replicate. With the start of the new year, we’re all facing unprecedented technological disruption and workplace transformation. To help you thrive in this new landscape, we’ve leveraged a study from MuchSkills that analyzed data from 28,000 professionals to identify the capabilities that will make you irreplaceable in an AI-enhanced workplace.  

Each week, we'll dive deep into one critical skill, providing you with actionable strategies, expert insights, and Learnit’s proprietary frameworks to future-proof your career. This series isn't just about adapting to change – it's about mastering the unique human abilities that will define leadership success in the age of AI. 

Self-Awareness: The Critical Leadership Skill That Grows More Important as You Rise 

Are you a successful leader who's risen through the ranks, only to find yourself wondering if you've lost touch with how you impact others? In today's AI-driven world, technical skills can be automated - but authentic leadership presence can't be replicated. 

This episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast’s 11 Skills AI Will Never Replace series tackles one of the most fundamental yet overlooked leadership skills: self-awareness. Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins shares her personal journey from burnout to breakthrough, revealing how self-awareness helped her pivot from a 20-year career in higher education to find renewed purpose. Through candid discussion with host Damon Lembi, she outlines practical steps for developing greater self-awareness and explains why this skill is essential for building trust, driving innovation, and leading effectively in today's rapidly evolving business landscape. 

This Episode Covers: 

• Why higher-level leaders often mistakenly believe they can stop focusing on self-awareness when the opposite is true 
• How lack of self-awareness can lead to wasted years in the wrong role and diminished impact across an organization 
• The critical connection between self-awareness and building authentic trust with both employees and customers 
• Practical techniques for regular self-reflection, including end-of-week emotional check-ins and decision journals 
• Why younger generations particularly value authentic, self-aware leadership when choosing employers 
• The relationship between emotional regulation and effective leadership 
• How to recognize when your emotions are signaling the need for a career pivot 

Episode Highlight:

(00:00:00) Introduction to Self-Awareness – Damon and Mickey introduce the importance of self-awareness, particularly in leadership, and the role it plays in building trust.

(00:03:00) The Dangers of Poor Self-Awareness – Mickey shares the negative impacts of lacking self-awareness, including burnout and wasted career years.

(00:08:00) Mickey’s Story: From Burnout to Breakthrough – Dr. Mickey discusses her personal journey through career transformation and how self-awareness helped her pivot to a new path.

(00:12:00) Practical Tips for Enhancing Self-Awareness – Damon and Mickey explore actionable steps for regular self-reflection, including emotional regulation and decision journaling.

(00:21:00) Self-Awareness in Leadership – The conversation shifts to how leaders can model self-awareness for their teams, emphasizing the impact on organizational culture and trust.

(00:30:00) Developing Self-Awareness in a Fast-Paced World – Mickey and Damon discuss why self-awareness is more crucial now than ever, particularly in an AI-driven world.

About Damon: 

Damon Lembi is a 2x bestselling author, the host of The Learn-It-All Podcast, and CEO of Learnit – a live learning platform that has upskilled over 2 million people. Drawing from his prior baseball career, Damon brings an athlete’s perspective to leadership. Through his journey, he has gained invaluable insights into what helps organizations grow, how great leaders learn, and why learn-it-all companies outpace their competitors every time.  

About Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins 

Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins is a dynamic leadership development expert who serves as a Leadership and Professional Development Facilitator at Learnit. With a PhD in Leadership in Higher Education from Northcentral University focusing on middle manager self-efficacy, her expertise spans performance management, program development, and equity initiatives, while her high-energy approach has proven effective in leading teams across educational institutions and technology companies. 

 Resources Referenced:  

MuchSkills   

The Learn-It-All Leader: Mindset, Traits, and Tools by Damon Lembi  

 Michael Hyatt's planning system and planner  

Farnam Street's decision journal methodology 

Learnit's emotional intelligence workshops (Enhance Your Emotional Intelligence and Strengthen Your Relationships) 

Podcast Contact Information: 

Website: www.learnit.com 

Email: [email protected] 

Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates. 

Can your management style unknowingly create the very problems you're trying to solve?  

In this enlightening episode of The Learn-It-All Leader Podcast, Carey Davidson introduces the Five Archetypes system, an innovative approach to understanding human behavior and organizational dynamics based on ancient Chinese medicine. Unlike traditional personality assessments that put people in fixed boxes, Davidson's framework offers a fluid, growth-oriented method for improving leadership, communication, and change management. Through real-world examples and practical applications, she demonstrates how leaders can use this system to break through team dysfunction, enhance presence, and create more harmonious, productive workplace relationships. 

This Episode Covers: 

• How the Five Archetypes (Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood) represent different approaches to leadership and problem-solving, each with distinct strengths and potential pitfalls 
• A powerful case study of how understanding these archetypes helped transform a dysfunctional sales team after traditional consulting had failed for two years 
• Why your most comfortable leadership behaviors might be creating resistance and disconnection in your team members who lead with different archetypes 
• Practical techniques for using the system to deliver difficult news, manage change, and maintain innovation under pressure 
• The critical importance of recognizing when your primary archetype is creating barriers to effective leadership and team harmony 
• Why current personality assessment tools can limit growth by putting people in fixed categories rather than encouraging adaptability 
• How to bridge communication gaps between different archetypes, particularly in sales and customer relationships 

Episode Highlights: 

(00:00) Introduction to Carey Davidson – Damon introduces Carey and her innovative Five Archetypes framework. 

(01:15) The Origin of the Five Archetypes – Carey explains how ancient Chinese medicine inspired her system for understanding human energy and behavior. 

(05:30) Breaking Down the Archetypes – Carey introduces the five archetypes: Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood, and how they interact in individuals and teams. 

(09:00) The Power of Growth and Change – Carey discusses why her system focuses on growth rather than labeling, helping people adapt and thrive. 

(12:33) Practical Applications in Teams – Carey shares how she has helped organizations use the archetypes to resolve conflicts and improve communication. 

(17:00) Building Compassion Through Awareness – Carey emphasizes the role of self-awareness and empathy in reducing judgment and fostering collaboration. 

(21:30) Personal and Professional Transformation – Carey provides examples of how understanding archetypes can create harmony and unlock potential. 

(33:18) Final Thoughts on the Archetypes – Damon and Carey wrap up with key takeaways for leaders, teams, and individuals looking to embrace change and connection. 

About Carey: 

Carey Davidson is a pioneering leadership expert who developed the Five Archetypes system, transforming ancient Chinese medicine principles into a modern framework for organizational and personal growth. As the former HR leader at Columbia University and Executive Director of CARING at Columbia's Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Davidson saw firsthand how traditional personality assessments often failed to create lasting change. This insight led her to found Tournesol Wellness in New York City, where she combined cutting-edge science with time-tested wisdom to create a revolutionary approach to understanding human behavior and relationship dynamics.  

The author of The Five Archetypes: Discover Your True Nature and Transform Your Life and Relationships, Davidson has shared her expertise with organizations including Microsoft, Starbucks, Tony Robbins, and Yale University, helping leaders break through entrenched patterns to create more innovative, harmonious, and productive workplaces. 

Resources Referenced: 

Carey on LinkedIn 

Carey’s Website 

The Five Archetypes: Discover Your True Nature and Transform Your Life and Relationships   by Carey Davidson  

Doug Conant (mentioned as previous podcast guest) 

Take the 5 Archetypes Assessment here.  

Podcast Contact Information: 

Website: www.learnit.com 

Email: [email protected] 

Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates. 

Leadership Lessons from a Ghostwriter to the Greats: Why Being Second Fiddle Can Lead to First-Class Success 

Are you frustrated trying to climb the corporate ladder by always pushing to be number one? What if the fastest path to success is actually through helping others succeed first? 

In this illuminating episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast,  Chris Widener, former ghostwriter for leadership legends John Maxwell, Jim Rohn, and Zig Ziglar, shares his unconventional path to becoming a leadership expert and bestselling author.    

Drawing from his remarkable journey from troubled youth to trusted advisor of business titans, Widener reveals how serving as "second fiddle" to industry giants ultimately created more opportunities, influence, and success than trying to be the star of the show. He explores the power of authentic leadership, the importance of personal revival in addressing today's societal divisions, and practical wisdom on everything from parenting to professional growth. 

This Episode Covers: 

• Why the key difference between success and failure isn't the absence of obstacles but the presence of perseverance 
• How asking "How can I help you?" instead of "Will you help me?" opened doors to working with leadership legends 
• The counterintuitive career strategy of being an excellent "number two" that led to greater influence and opportunity 
• Why showing appropriate vulnerability and weakness as a leader actually increases your influence and effectiveness 
• The importance of allowing people, especially your children and employees, to follow their own path rather than forcing them into your vision 
• A practical approach to developing original thought leadership by dedicating just 15 minutes daily to focused thinking 
• Why personal and spiritual revival is essential for addressing today's deep societal divisions 

Episode Highlights: 

(00:00) Introduction to Chris Widener – Damon introduces Chris, highlighting his incredible journey and leadership expertise. 

(01:30) Defining Leadership Success – Chris shares his insights on perseverance and its role in separating great leaders from the rest. 

(05:30) From Struggles to Success – Chris recounts his early life challenges and how they shaped his career and leadership philosophy. 

(09:00) Lessons from Zig Ziglar and Jim Rohn – Chris discusses how working with these legendary figures taught him humility, curiosity, and servant leadership. 

(12:33) Being a Voice, Not an Echo – Chris introduces his life motto and explains how leaders can cultivate original thought and vision. 

(17:00) Transparency in Leadership – Chris shares the importance of showing vulnerability and building trust within teams. 

(21:30) Mentorship and Legacy – Chris reflects on his mentors and offers advice for fostering meaningful mentor-mentee relationships. 

(33:18) Final Thoughts on Leadership – Damon and Chris wrap up with actionable advice for listeners looking to grow as leaders and individuals. 

About Chris: 

Chris Widener is a globally recognized leadership expert who built his career by first serving as the trusted second-in-command to industry legends. As ghostwriter for John Maxwell's nationally syndicated column and co-author of Jim Rohn's million-copy bestseller Twelve Pillars, Widener gained unique insights into the minds of leadership giants. He later co-hosted Zig Ziglar's television show and grew his own publishing company into a major success, selling 50,000-75,000 personal development program sets monthly through Costco and Sam's Club. A Wall Street Journal #2 bestselling author, Widener has written 25 books and speaks to elite business audiences including Microsoft, GE, and Harvard Business School. 

Resources Referenced: 

Chris Widener on LinkedIn 

Chriswidener.com (Email: [email protected]) 

The Coming American Revival: The Biblical Blueprint for Igniting a Nation's Soul by Chris Widener 

The Angel Inside: Michelangelo's Secrets for Following Your Passion and Finding the Work You Love by Chris Widener  

Twelve Pillars by Jim Rohn and  Chris Widener  

The Art of Influence: Persuading Others Begins With You by Chris Widener  

Slouching Towards Gomorrah: Modern Liberalism and American Decline by Robert H. Bork 

The Fred Factor: How Passion in Your Work and Life Can Turn the Ordinary into the Extraordinary by Mark Sanborn  

Zig Ziglar 

Mars Candy Company 

NBBJ Architecture Firm 

Podcast Contact Information: 

Website: www.learnit.com 

Email: [email protected] 

Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates. 

Welcome to The Learn-It-All Podcast’s 11 Skills AI Will Never Replace-- our new 11-part special series exploring the essential human skills that AI cannot replicate. With the start of the new year, we’re all facing unprecedented technological disruption and workplace transformation. To help you thrive in this new landscape, we’ve leveraged a study from MuchSkills that analyzed data from 28,000 professionals to identify the capabilities that will make you irreplaceable in an AI-enhanced workplace.  

Each week, we'll dive deep into one critical skill, providing you with actionable strategies, expert insights, and Learnit’s proprietary frameworks to future-proof your career. This series isn't just about adapting to change – it's about mastering the unique human abilities that will define leadership success in the age of AI. 

Authentic Leadership: Building Trust Through Transparency and Vulnerability 

Are you struggling to maintain authority while being open and genuine with your team? In today's AI-driven workplace, authentic leadership has never been more crucial - yet many leaders wrestle with finding the right balance between vulnerability and confidence. 

In this episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast, Learnit’s CEO Damon Lembi and leadership development expert and Learnit workshop leader Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins, Ph.D. explore how authentic leadership transforms team dynamics and organizational culture.  

Through real-world examples and practical strategies, they examine why leaders who are "learn-it-alls" rather than "know-it-alls" create stronger teams, build trust, and improve retention. If you’re looking to enhance your leadership effectiveness while maintaining your authority and presence, you won’t want to miss this episode!    

 This Episode Covers: 

• Why "know-it-all" leadership creates distance and erodes trust, leading to low morale, fear, and ultimately higher turnover 
• The four key components of authentic leadership: emotional intelligence, relational transparency, values-based decisions, and balanced decision-making 
• How to maintain authority while being vulnerable by setting clear boundaries and combining openness with confident decision-making 
• The importance of closing the "information gap" through strategic transparency to prevent employees from making negative assumptions 
• Why naming your authentic leadership behaviors out loud builds trust and demonstrates intentionality 
• Real-world examples of how authentic leadership transformed team dynamics from fear-based to trust-based relationships 
• The critical balance between sharing enough information to build trust while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries 

About Damon: 

Damon Lembi is a 2x bestselling author, the host of The Learn-It-All Podcast, and CEO of Learnit – a live learning platform that has upskilled over 2 million people. Drawing from his prior baseball career, Damon brings an athlete’s perspective to leadership. Through his journey, he has gained invaluable insights into what helps organizations grow, how great leaders learn, and why learn-it-all companies outpace their competitors every time.  

About Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins 

Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins is a dynamic leadership development expert who serves as a Leadership and Professional Development Facilitator at Learnit. With a PhD in Leadership in Higher Education from Northcentral University focusing on middle manager self-efficacy, her expertise spans performance management, program development, and equity initiatives, while her high-energy approach has proven effective in leading teams across educational institutions and technology companies. 

Resources Referenced: 

The Learn-It-All Leader: Mindset, Traits, and Tools by Damon Lembi 

Good Decisions Equal Success: Stop Decision Anxiety and Start Taking Action  by Kandis Porter and Damon Lembi  

MuchSkills  

The Learn-It-All Podcast Episode 88 with Craig Dowden 

Larry Levine  

Meredith Bell 

Podcast Contact Information: 

Website: www.learnit.com 

Email: [email protected] 

Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates. 

Are you frustrated by employees who seem disengaged and unmotivated? You can get your team to truly care about their work beyond just collecting a paycheck. 

 In this illuminating episode, culture expert Dr. Jessica Kriegel challenges conventional wisdom about workplace culture and shares data-driven insights on what actually drives employee engagement and business results. Together with host Damon Lembi, she explores how leaders can create cultures that drive measurable outcomes by focusing on beliefs rather than actions. Drawing from extensive research, including a groundbreaking study with Stanford University, Jessica explains why many popular approaches to culture fall short and reveals surprising findings about what truly makes organizations successful. From debunking generational stereotypes to sharing practical strategies for leading remote teams, this episode offers fresh perspectives on building high-performing cultures in today's evolving workplace. 

This Episode Covers: 

• Why focusing on employees' beliefs rather than just their actions leads to sustainable behavior change and better results 

• The surprising finding that "adaptable" cultures outperform other culture types by 4x in revenue growth 

• How public recognition should link specific actions to cultural beliefs and measurable results 

• Why generational stereotypes are destructive and unsupported by data - including research showing older workers adopt workplace technology at the same rate as younger ones 

• The importance of leaders modeling accountability instead of just demanding it from others 

• Why forcing employees back to offices can signal resistance to adaptability and potentially harm culture 

• Three key benefits of remote work: broader talent access, increased trust through flexibility, and more outcome-focused management 

Episode Highlights:

(00:00) Introduction to Dr. Jessica Kriegel – Damon introduces Jessica and her expertise in workplace culture and leadership. 

(01:35) Why Beliefs Matter More Than Actions – Jessica explains the concept of the “Results Pyramid” and how leaders can shift beliefs to drive sustainable behavior change. 

(05:30) Stories and Recognition – Jessica highlights the importance of storytelling and recognition as tools for building alignment and engagement. 

(09:00) Shaping a Culture of Accountability – Jessica shares actionable advice on fostering accountability at every level of an organization. 

(12:33) The Adaptability Advantage – Jessica discusses her research on why adaptable cultures outperform rigid ones, especially in rapidly changing industries. 

(17:00) Feedback and Leadership – Jessica emphasizes the value of asking for and acting on feedback to create trust and collaboration. 

(21:30) Lessons from Oracle and Culture Partners – Jessica reflects on her experiences shaping culture at Oracle and her work at Culture Partners. 

(33:18) Final Thoughts on Culture and Leadership – Damon and Jessica wrap up with key takeaways for building belief-driven organizations. 

About Jessica: 

Dr. Jessica Kriegel is Chief Scientist of Workplace Culture at Culture Partners, where she leads research and strategy to help Fortune 500 companies transform their organizational cultures. With over 15 years of experience, including a pivotal decade at Oracle during their cloud transformation, she has worked with prominent organizations like Lockheed Martin, Bank of America, and the Federal Reserve. Dr. Kriegel developed the "Culture Equation," a data-driven model that aligns organizational purpose, strategy, and culture to deliver measurable results. She holds a doctorate in Human Resources Development from Drexel University and an MBA, bringing academic rigor to her practical approach. A sought-after keynote speaker and author of Unfairly Labeled Dr. Kriegel's insights on workplace culture have been featured in major media outlets, including CNBC, Wall Street Journal, and Forbes. 

Resources Referenced: 

Dr. Jessica Kriegel on LinkedIn 

Jessica’s Website 

Culture Partners  

Unfairly Labeled: How Your Workplace Can Benefit from Ditching Generational Stereotypes  

by Jessica Kriegel  

"This Week in Culture" newsletter on LinkedIn 

Cascades: How to Create a Movement that Drives Transformational Change by Greg Satell  

Oracle 

Thrive Market 

REI (discussed as culture example) 

Podcast Contact Information: 

Website: www.learnit.com 

Email: [email protected] 

Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates. 

Are you struggling to build a team that takes true ownership of their work? How do you transition from being hands-on with every decision to empowering others to drive results?  

In this episode, former p rofessional soccer player turned tech entrepreneur Lyle Adams shares his journey from walking on at Wake Forest University to becoming one of Uber's first 100 employees and founding Spry, a fast-growing athletic compliance platform. Through his experiences as an athlete, early Uber employee, and founder, Lyle provides invaluable insights on building high-performing teams, maintaining authenticity during organizational challenges, and the power of curiosity in driving professional growth. His unique perspective bridges the worlds of elite athletics and business leadership, offering practical wisdom on delegation, talent development, and creating a culture of ownership. 

 This Episode Covers: 

• Why curiosity is the fundamental trait that enables both athletic and business success 
• How to transition from being the technical expert to an effective leader who empowers others 
• The importance of being authentic and transparent with your team during organizational challenges 
• Why hiring people smarter than you is key to scaling yourself as a leader  
• How to create a culture of ownership vs. "renters" in your organization 
• The critical balance between remote work flexibility and in-person collaboration 
• Why great leaders should aim to make only 8 major strategic decisions per year 

Episode Highlights: 

(00:00) Introduction to Lyle Adams – Damon introduces Lyle and his remarkable journey from professional soccer to tech entrepreneurship. 

(02:46) Walking On at Wake Forest – Lyle shares his story of perseverance and earning a spot on one of the nation’s top soccer programs. 

(09:29) Winning a National Championship – Lyle reflects on the camaraderie and culture that drove his team to victory. 

(14:34) Life as a Professional Athlete – Lyle discusses the challenges of transitioning from college to the pros and lessons learned along the way. 

(22:44) From Soccer to Tech – Lyle talks about his transition to the corporate world and the pivotal moments that led him to Uber. 

(28:58) The Uber Experience – Lyle recounts his time as one of Uber’s first 100 employees and the lessons learned from scaling a global game-changer. 

(39:43) Founding Spry – Lyle explains the inspiration behind Spry, its mission, and how it empowers student-athletes in the NIL era. 

(46:17) Advice for Founders – Lyle offers practical tips on leadership, delegation, and staying focused as a startup founder. 

(54:26) Reflections on Fatherhood – Lyle shares his experiences as a new dad and the lessons he’s learning from this exciting chapter of life. 

(56:05) Where to Connect with Lyle – Lyle shares how listeners can reach out and learn more about Spry. 

About Lyle: 

Lyle Adams, Founder and CEO of Spry, a leading athletic compliance platform serving over 200 customers, brings a unique blend of elite athletics and tech industry expertise to his role. As one of Uber's first 100 employees, he spent six years in key leadership positions helping scale the company's operations and analytics capabilities. Before his successful transition to tech, Lyle was a professional soccer player in Major League Soccer, having earned his spot as a walk-on at Wake Forest University where he led the team to a national championship. His journey from professional athlete to tech executive and entrepreneur culminated in founding Spry, where he leverages his comprehensive experience to revolutionize NIL technology for athletic departments and student-athletes. 

Resources Referenced: 

Spry  

Lyle Adams on LinkedIn  

Podcast Contact Information: 

Website: www.learnit.com 

Email: [email protected] 

Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates. 

Welcome to The Learn-It-All Podcast’s 11 Skills AI Will Never Replace-- our new 11-part special series exploring the essential human skills that AI cannot replicate. With the start of the new year, we’re all facing unprecedented technological disruption and workplace transformation. To help you thrive in this new landscape, we're excited to be partnering with MuchSkills, a platform that helps companies identify and track their employees' skills.

Together, we've analyzed data from 28,000 professionals to identify the capabilities that will make you irreplaceable in an AI-enhanced workplace. Each week, we'll dive deep into one critical skill, providing you with actionable strategies and expert insights to future-proof your career. This series isn't just about adapting to change – it's about mastering the unique human abilities that will define leadership success in the age of AI.

Master the Art of Deep Listening: A Critical Leadership Skill AI Can't Replace

Are your listening skills truly as strong as you think they are? In an era of constant digital interruptions and mounting pressure to multitask, most leaders overestimate their listening abilities. In fact, according to research from The Workforce Institute,* 86% of employees feel they are not heard "fairly or equally," and 63% believe their voice has been ignored by their employer or manager. 

In this episode, host Damon Lembi and leadership expert Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins dive deep into the often-overlooked power of authentic listening. They explore why most leaders think they're better listeners than they are and reveal practical strategies to elevate your listening from a basic communication skill into a leadership superpower that drives better decision-making, stronger relationships, and improved team performance.

* https://www.ukg.com/workforce-institute

This Episode Covers:

• Why traditional "hearing and responding" fails to capture the full scope of effective listening, and how to evolve beyond surface-level communication
• The E.A.R. framework (Engagement, Attunement, Respect) for developing superior listening skills that build trust and foster innovation
• Common listening pitfalls that even experienced leaders fall into, including "listening to fix" instead of understanding
• How the "closeness communication bias" causes leaders to demonstrate their worst listening behaviors with their closest team members
• The critical connection between listening quality and decision-making effectiveness
• Practical techniques for assessing and improving your listening skills, including specific feedback strategies
• The often-overlooked impact of non-verbal presence on listening effectiveness, especially in virtual environment.

Episode Highlights: 

(00:00)Introduction to Listening as a Superpower – Damon and Mickey discuss the importance of mastering the skill of listening to thrive in the modern workplace.

(03:30) The Importance of Empathy in Listening – Mickey shares a personal story illustrating the difference between listening to fix problems and listening to understand.

(06:30) Listening as a Core Leadership Skill – They highlight how listening is crucial not only for leaders but for everyone in the workplace to foster connection and innovation.

(10:15) Common Listening Pitfalls – Mickey talks about distractions, interrupting, and judgment as common barriers to effective listening.

(17:00) The EAR Model of Listening – Mickey breaks down the components of the EAR model: Engagement, Attunement, and Respect, and how they can improve your listening skills.

(24:00) How Listening Enhances Decision-Making – The conversation shifts to how being an active listener leads to better, more informed decisions in the workplace.

About Damon

Damon Lembi is a 2x bestselling author, the host of The Learn-It-All Podcast, and CEO of Learnit – a live learning platform that has upskilled over 2 million people. Drawing from his prior baseball career, Damon brings an athlete’s perspective to leadership. Through his journey, he has gained invaluable insights into what helps organizations grow, how great leaders learn, and why learn-it-all companies outpace their competitors every time. 

About Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins

Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins is a dynamic leadership development expert who serves as a Leadership and Professional Development Facilitator at Learnit. With a PhD in Leadership in Higher Education from Northcentral University focusing on middle manager self-efficacy, Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins is a dynamic leadership development expert who serves as a Leadership and Professional Development Facilitator at Learnit. With a PhD in Leadership in Higher Education from Northcentral University focusing on middle manager self-efficacy, her expertise spans performance management, program development, and equity initiatives, while her high-energy approach has proven effective in leading teams across educational institutions and technology companies.

Resources Mentioned: 

Learnit’s “Make Listening Your Superpower” Workshop 

Learnit’s EAR Model of Active Listening ebook

The Learn-It-All Leader by Damon Lembi

MuchSkills

The Learn-It-All Podcast Episode with Doug Conant

Podcast Contact Information:

Website: www.learnit.com

Email: [email protected]

Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates.

Transforming Your Leadership with AI: Beyond Writing Better Emails 

Are you struggling to leverage AI meaningfully in your organization while your competitors surge ahead? What if you could use AI to make million-dollar strategic decisions instead of just writing better emails? 

In this compelling episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast , Geoff Woods, author of The AI-Driven Leader, shares how leaders can transform their relationship with AI from a simple assistant to a powerful strategic thought partner. Drawing from his experience leading AI initiatives at a global steel company and interviewing 200 executives, Woods reveals practical frameworks for using AI to enhance strategic thinking, make better decisions, and drive organizational growth. He demonstrates through real case studies how leaders can use AI to solve complex business challenges - from restructuring international debt to cutting millions in operating costs in minutes rather than months. 

This Episode Covers: 

• Why most leaders are using AI for low-value tasks when they could be applying it to strategic decision-making that drives 80% of results 
• A practical framework for crafting effective AI prompts using Context, Role, Interview, and Task (CRIT) 
• How one CEO used AI to find a solution to save his company from bankruptcy by understanding Japanese cultural nuances in ways a human consultant might have missed 
• The stark reality from Woods' research: while 100% of executives say AI is the future, less than 5% have taken meaningful action 
• Why hiding AI use creates a toxic culture, and how leaders can foster an environment where AI enhancement is celebrated 
• A powerful case study of how Boston Consulting Group consultants achieved 40% higher quality work in 25% less time using AI 
• The critical distinction between being a thought leader who directs AI versus abdicating leadership to AI 
• How to use AI to bulletproof strategic plans and challenge business assumptions that could be holding you back 

Episode Highlights:  

(00:00) Introduction to Geoff Woods – Damon introduces Geoff, highlighting his leadership expertise and focus on AI-driven strategy. 

(01:30) Shifting the Mindset About AI – Geoff discusses how leaders can redefine their relationship with AI as a thought partner. 

(05:00) Lessons from Technological Disruption – Geoff shares parallels between historical disruptions and the AI revolution. 

(09:00) Building Strategic AI Prompts – Geoff introduces his “context, role, interview, task” framework to get meaningful results from AI. 

(12:33) The Role of Leaders in Driving AI Adoption – Geoff emphasizes why leaders must champion AI adoption to future-proof their organizations. 

(17:00) Creating an AI Board of Advisors – Geoff explains how to customize AI tools to complement leadership styles and business needs. 

(21:30) Real-World Applications of AI – Geoff provides examples of how AI is being used to solve complex business challenges. 

(33:18) Preparing for the Future – Damon and Geoff discuss how organizations can integrate AI into their strategies to remain competitive. 

About Geoff: 

Geoff Woods is a pioneering force in AI-driven business leadership and organizational transformation. As the former Chief Growth Officer of Jindal Steel & Power, a 100,000-person global organization, he drove market cap growth from $750M to $12B in just four years by implementing strategic AI initiatives. Earlier in his career, Woods partnered with bestselling author Gary Keller to build and scale The ONE Thing's business operations, where he advised companies ranging from $10M to $60B in revenue. After witnessing AI's transformative potential in late 2022, he founded AI Leadership, where he now helps executives leverage AI for strategic decision-making rather than just tactical efficiency. His expertise is captured in his book The AI-Driven Leader, which distills insights from his extensive work with hundreds of executives implementing AI-driven leadership practices. 

Resources Referenced: 

Geoff Woods on LinkedIn 

The AI-Driven Leader: Harnessing AI to Make Faster, Smarter Decisions by Geoff Woods  

AIleadership.com - Free crash course on AI prompting 

The AI-Driven Leader Podcast 

10x Is Easier Than 2x: How World-Class Entrepreneurs Achieve More by Doing Less by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy  

Weekly newsletter at AIleadership.com 

Podcast Contact Information: 

Website: www.learnit.com 

Email: [email protected] 

Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates. 

From Sports Media to Leadership: How Caring Transforms Business Results 

Are your team members giving their all, or just doing the minimum? The difference often comes down to one crucial factor: whether they feel genuinely cared for by their leader. In this episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast, former sports media executive Chris Gargano shares powerful insights from his 33-year career working with elite athletes and sports organizations, revealing how authentic care and connection drive superior performance. 

Drawing from his extensive experience with the Oakland Raiders, San Francisco Giants, and New York Jets, as well as his current work teaching leadership at NYU and running leadership development programs, Gargano explores how continuous learning, curiosity, and genuine care for people create environments where teams excel. He breaks down specific techniques for better listening, more effective meetings, and building trust - while explaining why command-and-control leadership fails in today's workplace. 

This Episode Covers: 

• Why continuous learning sets legendary performers like Kobe Bryant, Joe Montana, and Tiger Woods apart - and how leaders can apply this mindset 
• How leaders can demonstrate authentic care through intentional actions like active listening, note-taking, and asking meaningful follow-up questions 
• The critical difference between having leadership skills and truly wanting to lead people 
• Practical techniques for reading the room and adjusting your leadership approach in real-time 
• Why vulnerability and admitting what you don't know builds rather than diminishes trust 
• How to use storytelling effectively as a leadership tool to inspire and connect 
• The measurable business impact of showing genuine care versus purely transactional leadership 

Episode Highlights:

(00:00) Introduction to Chris Gargano – Damon introduces Chris, highlighting his career in sports and leadership development. 

(01:30) Lessons from Elite Athletes – Chris discusses how continuous learning sets legends like Kobe Bryant and Joe Montana apart. 

(05:00) Leadership and Curiosity – Chris shares how his journalism background taught him to ask better questions and connect with people. 

(09:00) Are Leaders Born or Made? – Chris explores the balance between innate traits and learned leadership skills. 

(12:33) The Importance of Self-Awareness – Chris explains why leaders must reflect on their impact and adapt their approach. 

(17:00) Connecting with Teams – Chris provides practical tips for leaders on building trust and fostering an inclusive environment. 

(21:30) Storytelling in Leadership – Chris discusses how to use stories to inspire and align teams with a shared vision. 

(33:18) Navigating Generational Differences – Chris offers advice on engaging and communicating with diverse age groups in the workplace. 

(45:00) Final Thoughts on Leadership – Damon and Chris wrap up with insights on how caring for your team leads to better business outcomes. 



About Chris: 

Chris Gargano brings over three decades of experience working alongside elite athletes and championship teams to his leadership development practice. As a senior executive, he led content departments for the Oakland Raiders, San Francisco Giants, and New York Jets, where his teams earned 14 Emmy awards. During his tenure with the Giants' front office, the team won three World Series championships, giving him firsthand exposure to high-performance leadership in action. While serving as an executive, Gargano earned his master's degree in leadership studies from St. Mary's College of California and began teaching leadership at NYU. After developing a successful leadership workshop program for the Jets, he founded Gargano Leadership in 2023 to help organizations build stronger leaders. He currently teaches at NYU and Montclair State University while hosting "Keep the Line Moving," a podcast featuring conversations with prominent leaders across industries. 

Resources Referenced: 

Chris Gargano on LinkedIn 

Gargano Leadership on LinkedIn 

Gargano Leadership  

Keep the Line Moving Podcast 

Eva Rose Daniel (public speaking expert mentioned) 

Podcast Contact Information:   

Website: www.learnit.com 

Email: [email protected] 

Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates.