The Positive Effect Podcast | S4 Episode 5 Overview

Join host April Sabral and special guest Ron Thurston—2× best-selling author and workforce strategist—as they explore the role of pride in today’s digital workforce. In this episode, April and Ron dive into how pride shapes employee engagement, impacts the evolving job market, and drives organizational culture in virtual environments. Discussing insights from Ron’s latest book on leadership and team dynamics, they uncover practical strategies for leaders to cultivate a sense of pride among remote and hybrid teams while creating a lasting positive ripple throughout their organizations.

Episode Highlights:

• Host & Guest Backgrounds: April Sabral, seasoned leadership coach, introduces Ron Thurston, accomplished author who has helped shape modern workforce practices.

• Pride in a Digital Workforce: Explore what it means to foster genuine pride when employees are dispersed—covering remote collaboration, virtual recognition, and maintaining company values online.

• Job Market Trends: Ron shares data-driven perspectives on how the digital transformation is reshaping the job market, affecting talent acquisition, retention, and upskilling priorities.

• Author Insights & Book Excerpts: Get an inside look at Ron’s writing process and key takeaways from his new book, designed to guide leaders in cultivating engaged, purpose-driven teams.

• Building a Positive Ripple: Learn actionable tips for creating a positive ripple effect—sparking cultural momentum that enhances productivity, reduces turnover, and elevates employee satisfaction across all levels.

Whether you’re a manager navigating remote leadership, a talent professional studying workforce trends, or a curious listener seeking inspiration, this episode offers practical advice on building pride and purpose in the digital age. Tune in for thought-provoking dialogue, real-world examples, and expert guidance from two leaders committed to making a lasting positive ripple in today’s job market.

Check out more about Ron @www.ronthurston.com

Join April Sabral as she sits down with Phillip Rosado—successful Author and Salon Owner—to uncover the secrets of building a thriving salon business without sacrificing your personal happiness. In this episode, Phillip shares his journey from penning best-selling books on leadership to creating a boutique salon that prioritizes both profitability and well-being. Discover actionable strategies for:

• Salon Owner Success: Learn proven techniques for attracting loyal clients, setting competitive pricing, and optimizing salon operations.

• Entrepreneurship in Beauty: Gain insights on how to stand out in a crowded beauty industry, from branding and marketing to mastering social media.

• Author’s Perspective: Hear how Phillip’s writing process and published works on personal growth and leadership fuel his salon’s culture and customer experience.

• Work-Life Balance: Explore practical tips for protecting your mental health, managing stress, and maintaining energy—so your passion for hairstyling never leads to burnout.

• Small Business Growth: Understand key financial planning, hiring best practices, and client-retention methods that drive sustainable revenue.

Whether you’re a seasoned salon owner or dreaming of opening your first beauty studio, this episode delivers expert advice on growing a profitable salon while preserving the joy that inspired you to become an entrepreneur. Tune in for a candid conversation on entrepreneurship, self-care, and crafting a salon legacy that reflects your values and vision.

Buy his BOOK HERE https://amzn.to/4mNBG2U

In this episode of The Positive Effect, I sit down with Lubna Nejjar, a branding expert who has mastered the art of building successful and impactful brands. Lubna shares her secret master tools for crafting brands that not only stand out but also create a lasting ripple effect in their industries.

From her personal journey in business to the transformative work she does with her clients, Lubna unveils why branding is more than just a logo—it’s about strategy, storytelling, and emotional connection. She dives into the core elements of brand success, offering practical insights on how businesses can elevate their identity, build trust, and drive long-term growth.

Whether you're a retail executive, entrepreneur, or business owner, this episode will inspire you to think differently about your brand’s potential. Tune in to discover how a strong brand foundation can amplify your success and why the brands that make the biggest impact are the ones built with purpose.

🎧 Listen now to learn how to craft a brand that truly matters!

You can connect with Lubna @HERE or at www.thelubnanajjar.com

I had the pleasure of interviewing Dana Goldberg, who is an experienced retailer and Founder of the Bungalow Agency.

Dana's career started over three decades ago and has been fueled by passion, skill, and her ability to drive sales through the curation of product placement and creating exciting places for her customers to shop.

This is an interesting and insightful episode where April Sabral Founder of The Positive Effect Transformational Training chats it up with Dana about all things retail.

Follow Dana @thebungalowagency on IG

In this episode, I talk about practical ways to improve employee morale and what most employees want from their boss.

After a few years' break, I am back with a new podcast and a refreshed outlook. I have trained over 5000 leaders in the past five years, and one thing remains the same.

Conversations and how we communicate matter more than ever.

With a new book on the horizon, let's talk about leadership.

Whether you manage a small or more significant team, you are dealing with similar issues, such as how to hire, train, and retain a team that is as passionate about your business as you are.

Learn more at www.aprilsabral.com

This episode was really fun!

Kit has an extensive career as a retail operator, and brings her leadership experience to the show. Learn how to lead, coach and so much more in this episode and if you want to hire her to write, I highly recommend her. Kit has pivoted to a freelance writer and is very passionate about sharing stories and more.

Released in late 2020, Ron Thurston wrote the Amazon #1 best-selling book RETAIL PRIDE as the indispensable guide for every retail employee, manager, and multi-store leader looking to accelerate their potential and grow their career. 

The impact of Positive Leadership needs to be celebrated and shared; it is the number one driving force of successful companies in my experience.

You can purchase his book here on AMAZON directly.

Lynn Mione is a seasoned retail leader who enormously impacted the people and businesses she leads. In this interview, Lynn shares her most memorable mentors and what she learned from them. She also shares some wisdom about growing from a Sales Person to a Senior Vice President, who now owns her own consulting practice.

After a couple of decades of leading retail brands and teams, Lynn is now public speaking, coaching, and consulting, taking all of her knowledge of running her own wine bar and building a business to assist others who dream of owning a business.

You can reach Lynn at www.lynnmione.com and by calling her on 516 974 3599.

We enjoyed Lynn's energy and mentorship during this lively, positive discussion with host April Sabral.

Laura Ravo is an amazing Leader, she leads with Grit & Grace and shares the power of humility in this episode of the positive effect. Laura is about to release her first leadership book, I highly recommend you connect with her here on LinkedIn to be notified when it is released. It is an amazing book full of heartfelt stories and shares her story and leadership journey through retail. Laura shares in this episode, that it's not about being right, it's about doing the right thing. This may not always be easy but it is necessary today as we lead through one o what she says the biggest resets in history.

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Enjoy this episode, I am sure you will feel enlightened and inspired to do more and be more after hearing Laura's story.

You can also watch it on YOUTUBE here.

Learn more about retailu.ca HERE