Transformation Unfiltered

Summary:

This episode is a masterclass in leading transformation without gutting the soul of the organization. Elizabeth unpacks how to honor identity, bring stakeholders along early, and make smart, reversible bets (pilots!)—all while balancing business outcomes with human realities.

Elizabeth Lepkowski is a Chief Learning Officer operating at the intersection of strategy, learning, and culture. She oversees education programs, clinical standards and guidelines, and publications—translating complex, stakeholder-heavy work into real-world impact.

Chapters:

00:00 – When change feels like an identity loss

04:00 – The messy middle of transformation (and why it’s worth it)

08:00 – Balancing business decisions with relationships that matter

12:00 – Onboarding into a storm: listening tours and context gathering

16:00 – Mapping stakeholders and sequencing engagement

20:00 – The inner circle: finding trusted truth-tellers

24:00 – Rethinking “how things have always been done”

28:00 – Culture as a constraint—and an accelerant

32:00 – Pilots, reversibility, and creating safety for change

36:00 – Lessons learned: courage, feedback, and the long game

Host Alexa Beavers: linkedin.com/in/alexabeaverspmp

Guest Elizabeth Lepkowski : linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-ball-lepkowski

Executive Producer Jim Kanichirayil: linkedin.com/in/drjimk

Music Credit: "Lost in Dreams" by Kulakovka

Summary:

Dr. Victoria “Dr. V” Mattingly is an organizational psychologist, keynote speaker, and author of Act Like an Ally / Work With an Ally—a two-in-one book that helps allies and partners build trust-based relationships that close inequality gaps at work. She blends candid stories with science-backed tactics to move companies beyond checkbox DEI into lasting culture change.

We all know people who call themselves allies. This conversation is about how to act like one—especially when ego and “policy” collide. Dr. V shares a painful early-founder moment: sending a “standard” NDA that created hidden barriers for a prospective Black partner, then doubling down instead of listening. Together we unpack what real allyship requires—trust first, partnership always, and action over labels.

Chapters:

00:00 — Labels vs. Actions: What “ally” really means

02:00 — The NDA misstep: when policy becomes a barrier

07:00 — Partnership over performance: allyship in action

10:00 — Trust first, paperwork later

16:00 — “Privilege” without the eye-roll: a clearer definition

22:00 — Allyship is behavior, not identity

30:00 — The flip-book: Act Like an Ally / Work With an Ally

34:00 — How to connect with Dr. V

35:00 — Closing: earn the label

Host Dr. Jim: linkedin.com/in/drjimk

Guest Dr. Victoria Mattingly: linkedin.com/in/vpmattingly

Executive Producer Shannon Cornelison: linkedin.com/in/shannon-cornelison-9aa8b8248

Creative Advisor Dr. Jim Kanichirayil: linkedin.com/in/drjimk

Music Credit: "Lost in Dreams" by Kulakovka

Summary:

Ralph Kellogg is the Chief Human Resources Officer at Lutheran Family Services (Omaha, NE), an adjunct instructor (Bellevue University; University of Nebraska at Omaha), a mentor with HRAM, and the founder of Connection Points Consulting. He’s a published writer (Forbes, HR Gazette, SHRM Blog), a TEDx Omaha speaker, and a frequent presenter at regional and national HR conferences—bringing a candid, human-first lens to inclusion, culture, and mental health at work.

Ralph takes us inside a merger-era nightmare: after a manager pushes him to disclose his sexual orientation, he’s assured support—then quietly cut during consolidation. What follows is a raw look at betrayal, survival-mode overperformance, anxiety and panic attacks, and the hard-won clarity that your worth isn’t your output. The conversation doubles as a playbook for anyone navigating acquisitions, identity, and mental health at work.

Chapters:

00:00 — The moment everything flipped (news delivered; shock, grief, and silence)

05:00 — The interrogation (manager pushes a disclosure; “I’m an ally”)

10:00 — No legal protection, real fear (working while bracing for the axe)

16:00 — The Monday meeting (projects re-assigned → “there won’t be a place for you”)

21:00 — Getting help (diagnosis; CBT; meds; reframing)

27:00 — Authenticity beyond output (bring the whole human, set boundaries)

35:00 — How to reach Ralph (open invite to continue the conversation)

Host Dr. Jim: linkedin.com/in/drjimk

Guest Ralph Kellogg: linkedin.com/in/ralphkellogg

Executive Producer Shannon Cornelison: linkedin.com/in/shannon-cornelison-9aa8b8248

Creative Advisor Dr. Jim Kanichirayil: linkedin.com/in/drjimk

Music Credit: "Lost in Dreams" by Kulakovka

Summary:

TJ Lintz is an HR and organizational development executive with deep experience in talent, transformation, and building high-performing teams. He currently serves as a senior HR leader at Doka USA and holds graduate degrees from the University of Pennsylvania.

TJ has just released a book he has contributed a chapter to; Leaders as Architects of Change: Designing Organizations for Connection and Resilience in Times of Uncertainty, now available on Amazon and other online retailers. The book explores how leaders can intentionally design organizations that foster trust, connection, and resilience—especially in moments of uncertainty and change.

In this episode, TJ shares a defining moment from his leadership journey—walking into a high-stakes meeting to pitch a nationwide transformation and being stopped just minutes in. What could have been a career-derailing moment became one of his most powerful learning experiences. TJ reflects on how being challenged around stakeholder alignment reshaped the way he leads, builds consensus, and creates space for others to contribute. Together, we explore imposter syndrome, the power of listening, and how true leaders turn moments of tension into opportunities for collective brilliance.

Chapters:

00:00 — The “big room” and early jitters

02:00 — Set-up: a high-stakes transformation and pitch

10:00 — Designing a North America–wide training rollout

13:00 — The sting and the lesson (CEO lets the moment teach)

17:00 — Quieting imposter syndrome; start the one-on-ones

26:00 — Use silence; call people in

31:00 — Results: six-month tour and culture shift

35:00 — Where to find TJ + 2026 book teaser

Host Alexa Beavers: linkedin.com/in/alexabeaverspmp

Guest TJ Lintz: linkedin.com/in/tjlintz

Executive Producer Shannon Cornelison: linkedin.com/in/shannon-cornelison-9aa8b8248

Creative Advisor Dr. Jim Kanichirayil: linkedin.com/in/drjimk

Music Credit: "Lost in Dreams" by Kulakovka

Summary:

Kate Manahan is the Chief People Officer at BusPatrol, an AI-powered safety tech company keeping kids safe on and around school buses. She previously led People & Culture at Built Technologies and spent 15 years at Bridgewater Associates shaping a feedback-driven culture. Off the field, she’s a mom of three, softball coach, and Little League board member—aka a CPO at work and at home.

Your first big-room at-bat doesn’t come with a safety net. Kate shares how she was tapped to lead Total Rewards overnight, walked into a skeptical boardroom, and learned to swap “have the answer” for “find the best answer.” We break down buying time without bluffing, over-preparing for credibility, the power of one-on-one syndication before the meeting, and the twin engines of career acceleration: a champion who speaks for you and an internal mantra—“you are wildly capable.”

Chapters:

00:00 — First big-room at-bat: fear, stakes, and mindset

03:00 — “You’re in charge now”: thrown into Total Rewards

09:00 — Buying time without bluffing; over-preparing for credibility

12:00 — Sponsor power: the 15-minute pause that changed the room

18:00 — Politics → people dynamics: empathy as operating system

22:00 — Don’t get defensive: the assertive + open-minded balance

26:00 — Career acceleration: why “not knowing” gets less scary

28:00 — Connect with Kate (LinkedIn) + host takeaway

Host Dr. Jim: linkedin.com/in/drjimk

Guest Kate Souza Manahan: linkedin.com/in/katesouzamanahan

Executive Producer Shannon Cornelison: linkedin.com/in/shannon-cornelison-9aa8b8248

Creative Advisor Dr. Jim Kanichirayil: linkedin.com/in/drjimk

Music Credit: "Lost in Dreams" by Kulakovka

Summary:

Nicole Dubois is a nonprofit executive leader and CHRO with 19+ years building people systems and developing leaders. She’s also the author of Unparalyzed, a memoir she first published under the pseudonym “Danielle M. Bryan” before choosing to stand fully in her story.

I sat down with Nicole to unpack a career shaped by courageous pivots: the “principal’s office” meeting that launched her into HR leadership, a mid-life health diagnosis that reframed everything, and the decision to drop the mask and claim her work under her real name. This one’s a masterclass in moving forward without perfect certainty—and why you can’t lead while hiding.

Chapters:

00:00 – The mask: why she published under a pseudonym (and what changed)

07:00 – Mixed feelings, sponsorship, and choosing the leap

09:00 – The mantra: be afraid—but move anyway

14:00 – Divorce, MS, and writing Unparalyzed

19:00 – “You can only be one person”: unmasking at work and beyond

28:00 – Telling the team, dropping the pseudonym, leading more openly

32:00 – Where to find the book + closing reflections

Host Alexa Beavers: linkedin.com/in/alexabeaverspmp

Guest Nicole Dubois: linkedin.com/in/nicole-dubois-24568510

Executive Producer Shannon Cornelison: linkedin.com/in/shannon-cornelison-9aa8b8248

Creative Advisor Dr. Jim Kanichirayil: linkedin.com/in/drjimk

Music Credit: "Lost in Dreams" by Kulakovka

Summary:

Kim Allain is a senior HR executive and culture leader known for human-centered, research-informed practice. She leads organizational transformation, leadership development, and change initiatives rooted in the belief that workplaces should elevate people—not deplete them.

What do you do when you’re “promoted” into a layoff? Kim tells the story of being handed a surprise reduction-in-force and how she refused the default playbook—opting for a research-backed, human-first path that protected trust and strengthened the business. We unpack what actually happens to culture after layoffs, why the “psychological contract” matters, and practical ways leaders can make hard changes without breaking their people.

Chapters:

00:00:00 – The “battlefield promotion” into a layoff

00:04:00 – Why default RIFs backfire: trust, culture, and long-tail risk

00:07:00 – Psychological contract 101: what leaders break (often unknowingly)

00:10:00 – Research that changed the plan: alternatives to compulsory cuts

00:18:00 – Sequencing the comms: clarity, criteria, and support

00:22:00 – What happened next: outcomes and org response

00:30:00 – Building resilient culture after hard changes

00:34:00 – Playbook recap: decisions, messaging, and metrics to watch

Host Dr. Jim: linkedin.com/in/drjimk

Guest Kimberly Allain: linkedin.com/in/kimberlygallain

Executive Producer Shannon Cornelison: linkedin.com/in/shannon-cornelison-9aa8b8248

Creative Advisor Dr. Jim Kanichirayil: linkedin.com/in/drjimk

Music Credit: "Lost in Dreams" by Kulakovka

Summary:

Erica Coffey is a teacher, coach, and people leader with two decades of experience helping schools, companies, and nonprofits build cultures of inclusion, equity, and belonging. She creates brave spaces for real dialogue so people feel seen, valued, and able to grow.

This one starts with a gut punch: “I don’t trust you, and I’m not sure about your commitment.” Erica walks us through how she absorbed that hit, recalibrated, and then flipped the power dynamic—without nuking her career. We dig into stalled promotions, performative optics, sponsor/mentor strategy, and a simple decision tree that saved her sanity: recalibrate or exit.

Chapters:

00:00 – Recalibrate or Exit? The framing that sets the tone.

03:00 – The Stall After a Master’s Checking every box and still stuck.

06:00 – No One-on-Ones, No Plan Owning development when leadership won’t.

12:00 – “I Don’t Trust You” The meeting that changed everything.

16:00 – The Retreat & The Three M’s External fuel for an internal shift.

19:00 – Doors Open, Perspective Shifts From “stuck” to trajectory.

30:00 – Lessons & Limits Knowing when it’s them, not you.

33:00 – My Wrap Action bias, non-negotiables, next steps.

Host Dr. Jim: linkedin.com/in/drjimk

Guest Erica Coffey: linkedin.com/in/erica-coffey-ba862917

Executive Producer Shannon Cornelison: linkedin.com/in/shannon-cornelison-9aa8b8248

Creative Advisor Dr. Jim Kanichirayil: linkedin.com/in/drjimk

Music Credit: "Lost in Dreams" by Kulakovka

Summary:

Jessica Wagner Keliher is a seasoned HR executive and executive leadership coach across biotech and life sciences, previously serving as Chief People Officer at Cartesian Therapeutics and SVP of Talent Management at Novavax. Her core belief: kindness—practiced with intention—is a leadership advantage under pressure.

Leading change will cost you something—but it doesn’t have to cost you yourself. In this conversation, we unpack how Jess stepped into the head of HR role after a traumatic leadership exodus, co-created mission, vision, and values with the entire company, and learned to protect herself, her energy, and the work while navigating resistance.

We get specific about building your tribe (early adopters and converted skeptics), pre-briefing known critics, and using intentional kindness and relationships to earn the benefit of the doubt in high-stakes moments.

Chapters:

00:00 – The real cost of leading change (why it hurts and how to carry it)

03:00 – The messy moment: leadership exits, new CEO, and an HR rookie in the hot seat

06:00 – Mission → Values → Practices: co-creating culture with employees

09:00 – Into the spotlight: facilitating offsites and all-hands with shaky knees and steady relationships

15:00 – Protect yourself, energy, and work: perspective as armor

21:00 – Tactical support: executive coach, mentors, and your inner circle

27:00 – Navigating constraints: honesty, boundaries, and mutual clarity

28:30 – Connect with Jess + closing thoughts

Host Alexa Beavers: linkedin.com/in/alexabeaverspmp

Guest Jessica Wagner Keliher: linkedin.com/in/jessicakeliher

Executive Producer Shannon Cornelison: linkedin.com/in/shannon-cornelison-9aa8b8248

Creative Advisor Dr. Jim Kanichirayil: linkedin.com/in/drjimk

Music Credit: "Lost in Dreams" by Kulakovka

Summary:

Jessica Wagner Keliher is a seasoned HR executive and executive leadership coach across biotech and life sciences, previously serving as Chief People Officer at Cartesian Therapeutics and SVP of Talent Management at Novavax. Her core belief: kindness—practiced with intention—is a leadership advantage under pressure.

Leading change will cost you something—but it doesn’t have to cost you yourself. In this conversation, we unpack how Jess stepped into the head of HR role after a traumatic leadership exodus, co-created mission, vision, and values with the entire company, and learned to protect herself, her energy, and the work while navigating resistance.

We get specific about building your tribe (early adopters and converted skeptics), pre-briefing known critics, and using intentional kindness and relationships to earn the benefit of the doubt in high-stakes moments.

Chapters:

00:00 – The real cost of leading change (why it hurts and how to carry it)

03:00 – The messy moment: leadership exits, new CEO, and an HR rookie in the hot seat

06:00 – Mission → Values → Practices: co-creating culture with employees

09:00 – Into the spotlight: facilitating offsites and all-hands with shaky knees and steady relationships

12:00 – Daggers & doubt: managing personal cost and staying human under fire

15:00 – Protect yourself, energy, and work: perspective as armor

18:00 – Feel it to lead it: vulnerability, processing big emotions, and showing up authentic

21:00 – Tactical support: executive coach, mentors, and your inner circle

24:00 – Alignment conversations: how do you want me to show up? setting expectations up-front

28:30 – Connect with Jess + closing thoughts

Host Alexa Beavers: linkedin.com/in/alexabeaverspmp

Guest Jessica Wagner Keliher: linkedin.com/in/jessicakeliher

Executive Producer Shannon Cornelison: linkedin.com/in/shannon-cornelison-9aa8b8248

Creative Credit Dr. Jim Kanichirayil: linkedin.com/in/drjimk

Music Credit: "Lost in Dreams" by Kulakovka