Sometimes, the path into Organizational Development begins with a single moment. A moment where someone recognizes potential and opens the door to something more.

In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson sits down with Yolanda Fraction, author of Joyful Workplaces, to explore how that moment shaped her journey and how it continues to influence the way she approaches leadership, learning, and development.

What begins as a personal story expands into a deeper conversation about how growth actually happens in organizations. Together, they explore how adults learn, how environment shapes experience, and how curiosity becomes a powerful driver in creating meaningful and lasting development.

At the heart of this conversation is a simple and powerful idea: Joyful workplaces are created through intentional design, thoughtful leadership, and a deep understanding of the people at the center of the work.

This episode offers a grounded perspective on what it means to support growth in real time while building environments where individuals can think, reflect, and contribute in meaningful ways.

To learn more about Yolanda’s work and her book Joyful Workplaces, connect with her here:

• ORDER JOYFUL WORKPLACES: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GRG5FJ84
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yolanda-fraction/
• Website: https://www.yolandafraction.com

Yolanda Fraction's Bio:

Yolanda Fraction is a Senior Organization Development Consultant at Johns Hopkins University and a doctoral student in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. With over 20 years of experience spanning higher education, government, nonprofits, and corporate environments, she helps leaders and teams navigate change, foster human-centered workplaces, and build cultures where people and performance thrive. She is the host of the Teamwork Sandbox podcast and an emerging author on joyful workplaces. Yolanda is passionate about translating evidence-based insights into practical strategies that inspire transformation.

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• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-pearson
• Pearson & Pearson LLC: www.pearsonpearson.llc
• E-Mail: [email protected]

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What happens when Organizational Development Professionals apply their own principles to their own organization? 

In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson sits down with members of the executive team from the St. Louis Organizational Development Network — Ryan McCrea, Aaron Adams, and Joani Alsop — to explore how STL-ODN moved from survival mode to sustained momentum. 

This conversation goes beyond networking and professional development. It unpacks what intentional strategy, structured operating rhythms, succession planning, mentoring systems, sponsorship development, and regional focus actually look like in practice. 

The STL-ODN team shares: 

• How they clarified strategy and separated tactical work from strategic work
• Why co-creating their mission and vision with members mattered
• How mentoring became both a development tool and a pipeline for leadership continuity
• The importance of financial sustainability in nonprofit professional communities
• How they built succession visibility with a president-elect model
• What it takes to protect momentum without overextending the organization

This episode is a real-world case study in systems thinking, resilience, and human-centered leadership within a volunteer-run organization.
 
If you’re part of a professional association, an internal OD team, or a leadership group trying to move from “just keeping it afloat” to thriving with intention, this conversation offers practical insight and encouragement.
 
Connect with the Executive Team

Ryan McCrea
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rmccrea

Aaron Adams
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronadams82

Joani Alsop
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanialsop

Visit the St. Louis Organizational Development Network Websites and Consider Supporting the Organization!

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/st-louis-organizational-development-network-stl-odn
• Website: https://www.stlodn.org

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CONNECT WITH KENNETH:

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-pearson
• Pearson & Pearson LLC: www.pearsonpearson.llc
• E-Mail: [email protected]

TO ORDER "THE FLOW OF FIVE TIERS":
Buy The Flow of Five Tiers: A Framework for Structuring High-Functioning Organizations (20% Off)

THE 1:1 PATHFINDING SESSION
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• Heather & Edward Allen Roth 4th Foundation for Arts in Medicine (HEAR 4 FAM) Fund

What actually happens after the survey closes, the insights are delivered, and the change initiative officially “launches”?

In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson sits down with Dr. Jason Guttadauria, founder of JSG Advisory and widely known as “Dr. Irrelevant,” to unpack why so many well-intentioned change efforts stall and what it really takes to move from insight to sustained impact.

Jason shares the story behind his “Dr. Irrelevant” moniker and how it reflects a deeper truth in organizational work: credentials and models matter far less than what actually improves the employee experience. Together, they explore the gap between listening and action, the limits of top-down change, and why organizations struggle when insights are treated as endpoints instead of starting points.

The conversation dives into real-world examples of hybrid top-down and bottom-up change, the role of behavior in sustaining transformation, and why the popular “seventy percent of change fails” narrative may be doing more harm than good. Jason also introduces the idea of “light-touch coordination” and explains how change becomes more durable when employees help shape it rather than receive it.

This episode is for Organizational Development practitioners, I-O psychologists, HR leaders, and anyone responsible for turning feedback into action. If you’ve ever wondered why change feels exhausting, episodic, or disconnected from the people doing the work, this conversation offers a grounded, human-centered perspective on what comes next.

CONNECT WITH JASON ON LINKEDIN: www.linkedin.com/in/jasonguttadauria

VISIT THE JSG ADVISORY LLC WEBSITE: https://www.jsgadvisoryllc.com

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CONNECT WITH KENNETH:

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-pearson
• Pearson & Pearson LLC: www.pearsonpearson.llc
• E-Mail: [email protected]

TO ORDER "THE FLOW OF FIVE TIERS":
Buy The Flow of Five Tiers: A Framework for Structuring High-Functioning Organizations (20% Off)

THE 1:1 PATHFINDING SESSION
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• Heather & Edward Allen Roth 4th Foundation for Arts in Medicine (HEAR 4 FAM) Fund

Applying for a job shouldn’t feel like shouting into a void. Yet for many candidates today, the recruitment process is defined by silence, redundancy, rigid requirements, and being ghosted after investing real time and effort. Organizations claim they can’t find talent, while candidates quietly opt out of systems that feel dismissive and disconnected from human reality.

In this solo episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson takes a hard look at what’s broken in modern recruitment -- and why this is not a candidate problem, but a systems problem. From bloated job descriptions and preferred qualifications treated as requirements to algorithmic screening and months-long interview cycles with no closure, the hiring process has drifted away from the people it’s meant to serve.

This episode challenges Organizational Development Professionals and I/O Psychologists to step into their responsibility as systems thinkers and designers. 

It's important to note that not all recruitment processes are broken -- some organizations still balance efficiency with human interaction -- but those examples are becoming the exception rather than the rule.

The question is simple and uncomfortable: if your organization says it can’t find talent, but your recruitment system is quietly repelling it, what exactly needs to change?

This is not an episode about blame. It’s an invitation to rethink what we’ve normalized -- and to decide what kind of systems we’re willing to keep defending.

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CONNECT WITH KENNETH:

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-pearson
• Pearson & Pearson LLC: www.pearsonpearson.llc
• E-Mail: [email protected]

TO ORDER "THE FLOW OF FIVE TIERS":
Buy The Flow of Five Tiers: A Framework for Structuring High-Functioning Organizations (20% Off)

THE 1:1 PATHFINDING SESSION
https://calendly.com/kenneth-pearson/pathfinding-session

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• Heather & Edward Allen Roth 4th Foundation for Arts in Medicine (HEAR 4 FAM) Fund

In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson is joined by Dr. Katina Sawyer, co-founder of Workr Beeing, Associate Professor of Management and Organizations at the Eller College of Management, and co-author of Leading for Wellness: How to Create a Team Culture Where Everyone Thrives.

Together, they explore the deeper meaning of workplace wellness - beyond programs, perks, and initiatives - and uncover how true well-being is built through leadership behavior, team culture, and daily interactions. Dr. Sawyer shares the research and real-world insights that inspired her book, discussing why so many wellness efforts fail to take root, how leadership directly shapes the health of an organization, and what OD professionals can do to align evidence-based practice with human-centered care.

From redefining what it means to thrive at work, to rethinking the role of leadership in shaping wellness, this episode offers a refreshing, research-informed perspective on how organizations can move from performative gestures to authentic, sustainable cultures of care.

If you’re an OD professional, leader, or HR practitioner ready to rethink what well-being truly looks like inside organizations, this is a conversation that will challenge and inspire your practice.

Connect with Dr. Katina Sawyer:
🔹 LinkedIn: Katina Sawyer, Ph.D. | LinkedIn

🔹 Website: https://workrbeeing.com/

🔹 Book: Leading for Wellness: How to Create a Team Culture Where Everyone Thrives - https://workrbeeing.com/book ... and available wherever books are sold.

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CONNECT WITH KENNETH:

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-pearson
• Pearson & Pearson LLC: www.pearsonpearson.llc
• E-Mail: [email protected]

TO ORDER "THE FLOW OF FIVE TIERS":
Buy The Flow of Five Tiers: A Framework for Structuring High-Functioning Organizations (20% Off)

THE 1:1 PATHFINDING SESSION
https://calendly.com/kenneth-pearson/pathfinding-session

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS & AFFILIATES

• Heather & Edward Allen Roth 4th Foundation for Arts in Medicine (HEAR 4 FAM) Fund

In this episode of Unboxing OD, host Kenneth Pearson sits down with Dr. Sy Islam - Co-Founder and Vice President of Consulting at Talent Metrics, and Associate Professor of Psychology at Farmingdale State College - to explore the art and science of leadership development.

Dr. Islam shares his insights on how organizations can better support middle managers, why data-driven decisions need a human lens, and how integrity in action separates good leaders from great ones. Together, they discuss the quiet challenges of leadership transitions, the psychology behind motivation and self-efficacy, and the importance of building leadership programs that actually sustain impact over time.

You’ll also hear how pop culture - from the Marvel Cinematic Universe to Avatar: The Last Airbender - can serve as a creative bridge for teaching timeless lessons about courage, ethics, and the complexity of leading others.

Whether you’re an OD practitioner, L&D professional, or simply a leader navigating organizational change, this conversation offers grounded, practical insights you can apply immediately.

ABOUT DR. SY ISLAM

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sislam/
Website: www.talentmetrics.io

Links to Books:
Leaders Assemble! Leadership in the MCU
Elements of Leadership: Lessons from Avatar the Last Airbender

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CONNECT WITH KENNETH:

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-pearson
• Pearson & Pearson LLC: www.pearsonpearson.llc
• E-Mail: [email protected]

TO ORDER "THE FLOW OF FIVE TIERS":
Buy The Flow of Five Tiers: A Framework for Structuring High-Functioning Organizations (20% Off)

THE 1:1 PATHFINDING SESSION
https://calendly.com/kenneth-pearson/pathfinding-session

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS & AFFILIATES

• Heather & Edward Allen Roth 4th Foundation for Arts in Medicine (HEAR 4 FAM) Fund

In this episode of Unboxing OD, I sit down with Jenn Stevens, an Organizational Development leader whose path into this work is anything but conventional. From firefighter to yoga studio owner to executive coach and L&D leader in tech, Jenn’s story reflects a career stitched together by one consistent thread: a deep commitment to people. 

We talk about what it really means to “hustle with heart” - bringing both drive and presence into the work. Jenn shares why presence is the true differentiator in leadership, how she’s built teams with a 100% promotion rate, and the simple but powerful practices that sustain real development: weekly one-on-ones that never get canceled, rotating leadership opportunities, and strengths-based stretch assignments that let people grow into their potential. 

This isn’t just theory. Jenn gets candid about the difference between checking the box on development and actually investing in people, why advocating behind closed doors matters, and how the advice to “lead from the seat you’re in” transformed her approach to ownership and leadership. 

If you’re looking for a grounded, human perspective on how to develop leaders at every level, this is a conversation worth listening to. 

Connect with Jenn Stevens:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenn-stevens-ms/
• Website: https://presenceod.com/ 

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CONNECT WITH KENNETH:

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-pearson
• Pearson & Pearson LLC: www.pearsonpearson.llc
• E-Mail: [email protected]

TO ORDER "THE FLOW OF FIVE TIERS":
Buy The Flow of Five Tiers: A Framework for Structuring High-Functioning Organizations (20% Off)

THE 1:1 PATHFINDING SESSION
https://calendly.com/kenneth-pearson/pathfinding-session

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS & AFFILIATES

• Heather & Edward Allen Roth 4th Foundation for Arts in Medicine (HEAR 4 FAM) Fund

In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson is joined by Marcus Dudley, leadership and organizational consultant, executive coach, professor, and CEO of Mammoth Leadership and Organizational Development. With over three decades of experience spanning the military, sports, nonprofits, and business, Marcus brings a direct, no-fluff perspective on what modern leaders need most. 

The conversation explores why so many leadership development programs fall short, the importance of strategic clarity, and how to spot and eliminate “performance drag” — the invisible weight that slows leaders and teams down. Kenneth and Marcus also discuss the overlap and distinction between management and leadership, the ripple effects of stress and growth from workplace to home, and why understanding AI has become a critical leadership skill. 

Whether you’re an OD practitioner, an HR leader, or simply someone curious about what makes leadership effective in today’s world, this episode offers practical insights grounded in real-world experience. 

Connect with Marcus Dudley: 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcusdudley/
  
  
• Website: www.mammothdevelopment.com
  
  
• Modern Leadership Scorecard: https://modernleadership.scoreapp.com
  
  
• Book Mammoth Success: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FHBZR3RG

Support the show

CONNECT WITH KENNETH:

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-pearson
• Pearson & Pearson LLC: www.pearsonpearson.llc
• E-Mail: [email protected]

TO ORDER "THE FLOW OF FIVE TIERS":
Buy The Flow of Five Tiers: A Framework for Structuring High-Functioning Organizations (20% Off)

THE 1:1 PATHFINDING SESSION
https://calendly.com/kenneth-pearson/pathfinding-session

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS & AFFILIATES

• Heather & Edward Allen Roth 4th Foundation for Arts in Medicine (HEAR 4 FAM) Fund

In this episode of Unboxing OD, Kenneth Pearson sits down with Colonel Chris Ritchie, retired United States Marine Corps officer and Director of Human Resource Development at Auburn University. Across his career, Chris has led organizations from small teams to global commands and now designs leadership and performance development programs that reach thousands of employees. 

Their conversation explores the shift from success to significance -- how true leadership lives not in accolades, but in the invisible medals we earn when we connect with others, build trust, and help people discover their own purpose. Together, they reflect on performance development as a human-centered practice, the role of reflection in leadership, and the ways small choices leave lasting traces. 

Learn more about Chris’ book The Invisible Medal: Leading with a Higher Purpose at www.invisiblemedal.com

Connect with Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-richie-usmc/

This is an episode about values, presence, and impact -- reminding us that the legacy we leave isn’t written in titles, but in the lives we touch along the way. 

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CONNECT WITH KENNETH:

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-pearson
• Pearson & Pearson LLC: www.pearsonpearson.llc
• E-Mail: [email protected]

TO ORDER "THE FLOW OF FIVE TIERS":
Buy The Flow of Five Tiers: A Framework for Structuring High-Functioning Organizations (20% Off)

THE 1:1 PATHFINDING SESSION
https://calendly.com/kenneth-pearson/pathfinding-session

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS & AFFILIATES

• Heather & Edward Allen Roth 4th Foundation for Arts in Medicine (HEAR 4 FAM) Fund

This episode of Unboxing OD is something different. Instead of frameworks or methodologies, Kenneth offers a deeply personal reflection told in five movements -- exploring the hidden labor of showing up at work while holding parts of ourselves back, the unspoken space between people, and the truths we carry but often leave unsaid. 

Across these movements, Kenneth reflects on what it means to return to ourselves and to each other, and the quieter legacies we leave behind in the trace of our presence. 

If you’ve ever felt yourself negotiating between the role you play at work and the person you truly are, or if you’ve carried the quiet ache of words left unspoken, this episode may meet you where you are. 

Support the show

CONNECT WITH KENNETH:

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-pearson
• Pearson & Pearson LLC: www.pearsonpearson.llc
• E-Mail: [email protected]

TO ORDER "THE FLOW OF FIVE TIERS":
Buy The Flow of Five Tiers: A Framework for Structuring High-Functioning Organizations (20% Off)

THE 1:1 PATHFINDING SESSION
https://calendly.com/kenneth-pearson/pathfinding-session

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS & AFFILIATES

• Heather & Edward Allen Roth 4th Foundation for Arts in Medicine (HEAR 4 FAM) Fund