The Pivot Experience Podcast

Everett O’Keefe, Wall Street Journal and USA Today #1 bestselling author, has helped leaders publish over 200 bestselling books. In this episode, he unpacks why publishing is one of the most powerful ways to amplify influence, safeguard your message, and build a lasting legacy.

🔥 Why Listen:

If you’ve ever thought about writing a book, this conversation will spark inspiration and show you where to begin.

What does it take to turn setbacks into strengths, and positivity into measurable performance? In this episode of The Pivot Experience Podcast, we sit down with Alfredo Borodowski, a seasoned leadership coach who has guided executives for over 30 years. Alfredo’s journey includes both high-level successes and a deeply personal public setback that reshaped his approach to resilience, leadership, and legacy.

Together, we explore how positive psychology can drive results in high-stakes environments, why adaptability is the hidden engine of sustainable culture, and how leaders can practically apply Alfredo’s powerful equation: Positivity + Purpose = Peak Performance.

From reframing challenges as growth opportunities to creating cultures where setbacks become launching pads for innovation, Alfredo brings actionable wisdom for leaders navigating uncertainty. Whether you’re leading a team under pressure or building a resilient organization for the long run, this conversation will give you fresh tools, deep insights, and one final challenge to strengthen your leadership journey.

n Part 1, we heard how Joseph Martinez, guided by his coach Javonna Roach, laid the foundation for his Chick-fil-A LDP journey through intentional actions and mindset shifts.

Now in Part 2, the conversation goes deeper—into the advanced coaching process, the tough growth moments, and the strategies that ultimately helped Joseph secure his spot in the Leadership Development Program.

💡 In this session you’ll discover:

• The coaching process that made the biggest difference

• How Joseph pushed through barriers and refined his leadership

• Practical strategies to position yourself (or others) for LDP success

🚀 If Part 1 showed you the starting line, Part 2 reveals the finish line—and the lessons learned along the way.

What does it really take to move from potential to placement in a Leadership Development Program (LDP)?

In Part 1 of this exclusive conversation, Joseph Martinez and his coach Javonna Roach dive into the first steps of his journey—unpacking the intentional actions and mindset shifts that set the stage for LDP success.

💡 In this session you’ll learn:

How Joseph began identifying and closing leadership gaps

Early coaching insights that shaped his growth

The foundational mindset shifts that prepared him for what was next

🚀 Don’t miss this powerful beginning—Part 2 will take the conversation even deeper

In this episode of The Pivot Experience Podcast, we sit down with Hanna Bauer, CEO of HEARTnomics Enterprises, to explore how leaders can transform adversity into a catalyst for resilience and sustainable success.

Building on themes from our recent conversation with Will Taylor about resilience, Hanna takes us deeper into the connection between daily habits, strong culture, and organizational well-being. She shares how her mission at HEARTnomics is helping companies evolve into resilient powerhouses by aligning values, mission, and systems for real impact.

Drawing from her hands-on experience with the Baldrige Excellence model, John Maxwell’s leadership principles, and Lean Six Sigma, Hanna provides practical strategies leaders can use to turn challenges into growth opportunities. Her insights reveal how organizations can nurture their people without sacrificing results or profitability—and why resilience is more than survival; it’s about creating the conditions for teams to truly thrive.

If you’re a leader navigating turbulent times and looking for ways to strengthen your team’s culture, communication, and fulfillment, this conversation is packed with wisdom and actionable takeaways.

What does it take to lead one of the nation’s most trusted nonprofit service organizations through exponential growth while staying rooted in mission and integrity? In this episode of The Pivot Experience Podcast, we sit down with Howard Pearl, CEO of CARS (Charitable Adult Rides & Services).

With over 30 years in the C-suite and a Harvard Business School OPM background, Howard has steered CARS into becoming a powerhouse in nonprofit support—returning over $600 million to more than 10,000 partners, from grassroots community groups to household names like St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Under his leadership, CARS has expanded into real estate gifts, launched “On the Go” senior transportation services across 25 states, and earned both ISO 9001 certification and the 2024 BBB Torch Award for Ethics.

In this conversation, Howard unpacks the leadership principles that have guided high-stakes decisions, the role of innovation in expanding services, and the practical lessons nonprofits can adopt to create sustainable funding models. He also shares insights on cultivating a culture of trust, building scalable relationships, and balancing strategic growth with a deep heart for service.

If you’re a nonprofit leader, executive, or simply someone passionate about how values-driven leadership can transform communities, this episode offers invaluable takeaways.

In this power-packed episode, Godwin Ukaa joins Alex, Javonna, Ashley, Neftali, and Abram to share practical leadership wisdom rooted in his experience with LDP and years of developing others.

🔑 Top Takeaways

Self-leadership drives team leadership: Use weekly rhythms, focused calendars, and essentialism to stay sharp.

“Basket to bucket” development: Build trust by giving small responsibilities before big ones.

Coach or Correct: Feedback isn’t about being nice—it’s about being clear and kind.

Teach it, then let them teach it: True leadership development comes through duplication.

Trust is everything: Without it, vision and execution fall apart.

⚡ Bonus Highlight

Godwin’s “Tug of War” leadership choices—Empathy vs. Accountability, Innovation vs. Consistency—will challenge how you think about growth and culture.

🎧 Listen now to get re-centered on what matters most: leading yourself well so you can lead others better.

In this episode of The Pivot Experience, we sit down with Jamie Schwartzman, Chief Creative Strategist of Flux Branding, whose 25-year journey in branding is a masterclass in identity-driven leadership. Jamie has helped companies transform confusion into clarity—not through flashy marketing tactics, but by uncovering the soul of a brand and expressing it with integrity.

Jamie shares how his signature IDEA Method has guided organizations through pivotal seasons, helping them find their voice, align their values, and create lasting impact. His approach to branding mirrors the same grace-based leadership that The Pivot Experience stands for—one rooted in authenticity, understanding, and transformation.

In this conversation, you’ll hear Jamie unpack:

Why every brand is a leadership story waiting to be told

How clarity of identity drives business success

The connection between grace, growth, and great branding

Whether you're a founder, creative, or leader in transition, Jamie's insights will inspire you to lead with purpose and build something that truly matters.

🎧 Listen now and discover how branding, when done with heart, becomes one of the most powerful tools in leadership.

In this episode, we sit down with Ernesto J. Gómez, former VP of Human Capital at Grupo Alfa, where he led leadership development and people strategy across a workforce of 83,000. With a career spanning executive operations and people-first transformation at billion-dollar enterprises, Ernesto brings a rare blend of operational grit and human-centered leadership.We dive into his groundbreaking book, Regrowth, which unpacks how businesses can overcome stagnation by reigniting growth through their people. Ernesto shares actionable insights on leadership alignment, organizational mindset, and how to turn human capital into your company’s greatest growth engine.💡 Whether you’re scaling a team or recalibrating culture, this conversation offers a playbook for growing not just your business—but your people.“Regrowth delivers an insightful recipe for leaders to not just grow their businesses, but also to grow their most valuable asset – their people.” – Brian Myers, Founder, Curvejumper; Former Senior Managing Director, Accenture

Resilient leadership isn’t just about weathering the storm — it’s about growing stronger because of it.

In Part 2 of our Lead Better conversation with Chick-fil-A Operator Will Taylor, we dive deeper into the rhythms, mindsets, and habits that help leaders and teams bounce back better. Will shares how he’s built a culture that doesn’t just survive adversity, but thrives through it.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Daily habits that build long-term resilience

• How to support your team emotionally and strategically through tough seasons

• Why your personal well-being is essential to sustainable leadership

• How resilience impacts both performance and people development

If you’re looking to lead with more grit, grace, and groundedness — this is the episode for you.