In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, Chris Deaver, a people leader at Roblox and co-author of Brave Together, shares his experiences working with some of the most creative teams at Apple, Disney, and beyond. He dives into how co-creation and collaboration are key to overcoming the impossible. Chris also touches on the importance of humility, creativity, and empathy in leadership, offering insights on how to shape the future by co-creating with others. Tune in to hear about turning pain into power, reimagining the mundane, and building a culture that sparks creativity and connection.

TAKEAWAYS

• Collaboration and co-creation are crucial for achieving challenging goals, especially within innovative teams.

• Traditional, siloed work structures can lead to friction and burnout.

• Humility and empathy in leadership help to build stronger, more connected teams.

• By transforming meetings into collaborative, question-led experiences, leaders can increase engagement and creativity within their teams.

• Great companies see themselves as builders and prioritize creativity as a key driver of innovation.

• Personal challenges can be reframed into opportunities for growth and leadership.

• Success in the modern world isn't about being self-made, but about co-creating a future with others, emphasizing teamwork and shared goals.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 

🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ 

Host: Brandon Laws 📋 

his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.

Shastina Young has been heavily envolved with Xenium HR's equity team since its inception in 2018, starting with external consultants and evolving into an internal volunteer-based equity team structure. The organization operates through three main pillars: "Invest in Our People," "Look Beyond Our Four Walls," and "Cultural Belonging and Career Support."

TAKEAWAYS

• Xenium HR created a volunteer-based equity team with three focused subcommittees, each with specific missions and action items.
• Success comes from leadership buy-in combined with employee passion and ownership over initiatives.
• Regular, accessible programs like Zen Connects help maintain ongoing engagement with EDIB topics through voluntary participation and educational resources.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 

🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ 

Host: Brandon Laws 📋 

his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, Brandon Laws interviews Harvard professor Amy Edmondson, diving into the idea of "intelligent failure" and the importance of fostering psychological safety within teams. Edmondson, author of The Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well, shares insights on how stepping into unfamiliar territory often brings failure but also opens the door to critical learning experiences. Tune in to discover how leaders can cultivate an environment where employees feel empowered to take risks, address mistakes openly, and drive ongoing growth and innovation.

TAKEAWAYS

• Failure can lead to valuable insights if approached thoughtfully.

• Creating an environment where employees feel safe to voice concerns and admit mistakes is essential for fostering innovation and improvement.

• Teams that embrace failure as a learning opportunity are more likely to develop new ideas, improve processes, and grow from their experiences.

• Encouraging employees to take calculated risks without fear of judgment is critical to driving creativity and progress in the workplace.

• While fear can sometimes be helpful in dangerous situations, interpersonal fear in the workplace can stifle communication, prevent learning, and create unnecessary barriers.

• It’s important to take the time to reflect on failures holistically, gathering insights from all team members to understand what went wrong and how to improve.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 

🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ 

Host: Brandon Laws 📋 

his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.

Annie Oxenfeld discusses disaster preparedness for companies with multi-state employees. She emphasizes the importance of having contingency plans, flexible work arrangements, and support systems in place. The conversation covers communication strategies, employee assistance programs, and ways to maintain operations while prioritizing employee safety and well-being during natural disasters.

TAKEAWAYS

• Develop and regularly update disaster preparedness plans.
• Offer flexible work arrangements and support resources for affected employees.
• Integrate safety and disaster preparedness into company culture.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 

🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ 

Host: Brandon Laws 📋 

his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, host Brandon Laws sits down with Josh Durham, founder of Gamut Project Solutions, to explore his leadership philosophy and the importance of relationships in the workplace. Durham shares valuable insights on building trust and empathy while fostering psychological safety in the workplace and beyond. Listen in for practical advice on building meaningful relationships and leading with purpose.

TAKEAWAYS

• Relationships are the most important element of effective leadership.

• Self-awareness combined with personal development is essential to building meaningful connections.

• Without mastering key leadership principles such as communication, trust, agreements, and ownership, relationships within teams and organizations will struggle.

• Positive transformation can only occur when basic needs for survival and belonging are met.

• Adopting a positive mindset and spreading goodwill often results in building positive relationships.

• Successful negotiations go beyond facts and figures; they require empathy to understand the other person's broader circumstances.

• Leadership is more effective when leaders focus on guiding and empowering their team rather than trying to solve every problem themselves.

• Fostering trust and psychological safety in teams is best achieved through authentic, purpose-driven leadership, rather than relying on superficial or defensive leadership behaviors.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 

🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ 

Host: Brandon Laws 📋 

his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.

Nicole Blevins discusses key voluntary benefits trends for 2025. The conversation covers supplemental health benefits, legal plans, identity theft protection, life insurance, long-term care, and pet insurance. They emphasize the importance of offering diverse benefits to meet employee needs and retain talent, noting that 63% of employees would consider changing jobs for better benefits.

TAKEAWAYS

• Supplemental health benefits are gaining popularity due to increased awareness of health risks post-COVID, helping employees cover gaps in traditional insurance.
• Identity theft and cybersecurity protection are becoming more critical as data breaches increase, with employers considering adding these benefits to address employee concerns.
• Pet insurance is a rising trend, with many employers already adding this option to support employees who view pets as family members and want to ensure their care.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 

🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ 

Host: Brandon Laws 📋 

his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, entrepreneur and Speakers Alliance co-founder Terry Beard opens up about his journey from avoiding public speaking to becoming a confident leader in the speaking community. Terry shares how confronting his fear of the spotlight changed his life, helping him build the communication skills and confidence that have since empowered him to guide others on a similar path. Tune in for valuable insights into the transformative power of finding your own voice.

TAKEAWAYS

• Facing fears like public speaking can lead to significant personal and professional growth.

• Discovering and using your voice is the key to expressing yourself authentically and effectively in all areas of life.

• Authentic leadership means empowering others to face and conquer their own challenges.

• A support system is critical on their journey to overcoming fears.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 

🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ 

Host: Brandon Laws 📋 

his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.

In this episode, host Brandon Laws sits down with Dr. MH Pelletier, a leading expert in workplace psychology, to discuss insights from her new book, The Resilience Plan. Dr. Pelletier explains how burnout develops gradually, as exhaustion, cynicism, and declining performance set in. That’s why we must stay self-aware, recognizing early signs of overextension before it impacts our well-being. By creating a personalized strategic resilience plan grounded in individual values, we can proactively manage stress, preserve our mental health, and optimize workplace performance. Listen in to find out how fostering resilience at both the individual and organizational levels can lead to healthier, more effective teams and workplaces.

TAKEAWAYS

• Recognizing early warning signs like exhaustion, cynicism, and declining performance is key to preventing full burnout.

• High performers often overlook signs of overextension, but staying mindful of physical and emotional cues can help prevent long-term negative impacts on mental health.

• A personalized resilience plan must align with your core values to ensure it’s both practical and meaningful.

• Regularly incorporating small, actionable habits into daily routines can safeguard resilience and prevent burnout.

• Leaders who prioritize self-awareness and resilience set a positive example for their teams and are better equipped to handle workplace demands.

• Fostering resilience at individual, team, and organizational levels creates a healthier, more productive work environment.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 

🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ 

Host: Brandon Laws 📋 

his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.

Sit down with Scott Young, author of Get Better at Anything, to explore best practices for achieving mastery in the workplace. In this conversation, Young shares unconventional strategies for accelerating learning in today's tech-driven world, highlighting the importance of externalizing knowledge and prioritizing progress over perfection. Tune in for insight on ditching old habits and adapting to the ever-changing demands of a modern workplace. 

TAKEAWAYS

• Young highlights the importance of leveraging technology and innovative methods to accelerate the learning process in today’s fast-paced workplace.

• Sharing what you know with others is essential for growth and improving efficiency within teams and organizations.

• Focusing on continuous improvement, rather than striving for perfection, leads to better long-term results.

• Letting go of outdated practices is crucial to adapting and thriving in a rapidly changing work environment.

• Flexibility and openness to new approaches are key to navigating the challenges posed by evolving workplace demands.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 

🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ 

Host: Brandon Laws 📋 

his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, entrepreneur and Gen Z expert Kat Walsh sheds light on how organizations can better attract and retain Generation Z talent in a fast-evolving workforce. She debunks common Gen Z misconceptions and illuminates their desire for work-life balance, personal development, and purpose in the workplace. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of Gen Z so that, ultimately, you can realize further innovation and engagement in your business.

TAKEAWAYS

• Organizations often focus too much on skill-based job postings and overlook the importance of aligning their values with those of Gen Z.

• Gen Z places a high value on personal development, with 84% prioritizing learning and growth over job titles or promotions.

• Gen Z is known for seeking careers that align with their lifestyle and values.

• Innovation thrives when organizations encourage collaboration between Gen Z and older generations and leverage the unique strengths of each.

• Gen Z is known for their straightforward communication style and skepticism.

• Businesses that can adapt to Gen Z’s needs will be better positioned to attract and retain this growing workforce.

A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST 

🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR 🎙️ 

Host: Brandon Laws 📋 

his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.