Unstuck with Jay Abbasi

Reinvention doesn’t have to begin with quitting. It begins with curiosity. Meet Terrence. He’s a successful senior vice president with a good salary, a wife, two young kids, and plenty of responsibility. But lately, his work feels transactional. His team seems disconnected, his calendar is packed, and he can’t shake the feeling that something is missing. He doesn’t want to blow up the life he’s built. He also doesn’t want to wake up 10 years from now wishing he’d taken a chance. In this episode, Jay sits down with Jeff Pelaccio, longtime executive, speaker, and host of The Corporate Couch. Together, they explore how to recognize when it’s time for a change, reinvent yourself before circumstances force you to, and build relationships that can open doors you never expected. Notable Quotes “You control how you show up.” — Jeff Pelaccio “The more people you know, the more people you can help.” — Jeff Pelaccio “If your job was 30% better than it is now, would you stay or leave?” — Jeff Pelaccio “You always need to look at it and reinvent and rethink things.” — Jeff Pelaccio About Our Guest Jeff Pelaccio is a longtime executive, speaker, and host of The Corporate Couch, a podcast exploring the human side of leadership, careers, resilience, and reinvention. After navigating nine involuntary career transitions himself, Jeff brings a unique perspective to career change and job searching. His work encourages people to strengthen relationships, control what they can control, and approach career transitions with curiosity rather than desperation. Resources & Links Jeff Pelaccio Website – https://thecorporatecouch.podbean.com/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffpelaccio/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/jeffpelaccio Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jeffpelaccio/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@TheCorporateCouch-x7u Jay Abbasi Website – https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Join Us Next Time On Friday, Jay dives deeper into something he once resisted but has come to see as one of the most valuable tools for building a career or business: networking. Jay shares the strategies that have worked for him and his clients to build genuine relationships without making networking feel transactional. Whether you’re in corporate, an entrepreneur, or building something of your own, you’ll learn how to connect with people, add value, and create opportunities that can accelerate your career or business.

Great leaders don’t pretend to be calm. They learn how to become calm beneath the surface. In this solo episode, Jay challenges a leadership lesson he learned early in his career: “Be like a duck.” While a duck appears calm above the water while paddling furiously underneath, Jay explains why this approach can lead to inauthenticity, overwhelm, and a disconnect between what leaders show and what they actually feel. Instead, Jay encourages leaders to “be the water” and shares seven ways to build genuine calm and composure from within. From pausing and slowing down to breathing, practicing mindfulness, staying curious, walking away, and collaborating with others, this episode offers a practical framework for responding to pressure without pretending it isn’t there. Notable Quotes “You want to establish that sense of calm and composure at a deeper level mentally and emotionally so that you can respond to it rather than react.” — Jay Abbasi “To be like the water, you have to learn how to slow down to then speed up.” — Jay Abbasi “To me, leadership is really about curiosity.” — Jay Abbasi “As leaders, we can sometimes feel very lonely. You feel very siloed.” — Jay Abbasi Resources and Links Jay Abbasi Website: https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Join Us Next Time On Monday’s episode, you’ll meet Terrance, a senior vice president at a national logistics company who feels like his work has become transactional and has lost his passion for what he does. Jay is joined by Jeff Pelaccio, longtime executive leader, speaker, and host of The Corporate Couch, to explore how leaders can reconnect with what matters, build resilience through uncertainty, and find the courage to reinvent themselves without losing everything they’ve built.

Just because AI can do it doesn’t mean it should. Meet Michelle. She’s a VP of HR trying to keep pace with a CEO who moves fast. One week it’s AI, the next it’s retention, then recruiting. Everyone expects Michelle to solve problems, protect the culture, and pick up the pieces when something breaks. She wants to stop reacting to the latest priority and start helping shape what comes next. In this episode,, Jay sits down with Naomi Titleman, former CHRO of American Express Canada, ex-Deloitte consultant, and trusted advisor to HR leaders. Together, they explore how to use AI without surrendering critical thinking, why leaders need to solve the problem before choosing the technology, and how to lead people through rapid change. Notable Quotes “We need to dial into our critical thinking at every juncture.” — Naomi Titleman “Is this an AI moment or is this a my brain moment?” — Naomi Titleman “If I am, I’m going to start with my brain first.” — Naomi Titleman About Our Guest Naomi Titleman is a former CHRO of American Express Canada, ex-Deloitte consultant, and trusted advisor to HR leaders navigating the future of work. Through future foHRward, Naomi helps organizations and HR leaders navigate transformation, strengthen their people strategies, and prepare for the changing workplace. Her work explores the intersection of AI, leadership, culture, and the human skills organizations need to thrive through change. Resources & Links Naomi Titleman future foHRward Website – https://www.futurefohrward.com/who-we-are LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomititlemancolla/ future foHRward LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/future-fohrward/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/futurefoHRward/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/futurefohrward/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@foHRsightpodcast Jay Abbasi Website – https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Join Us Next Time On Friday, Jay shares an analogy he’s used for years about the duck and the water and what it can teach us about leading through pressure and change. Drawing from his early mistakes as a new manager and his experience coaching leaders at major organizations, Jay explores how great leaders remain composed on the surface while navigating the challenges underneath. You’ll learn how to guide your team through change, achieve at a high level, and keep your people engaged along the way.

When coaching isn’t working, it may be time to stop talking about the work and start talking to the person. In this solo episode, Jay explores what to do when you’ve coached, given feedback, shown empathy, and nothing seems to work. Drawing from a memorable leadership exercise at Tesla, he shares how leaders can move beyond surface-level conversations and create a “moment of truth” with a difficult employee. Jay also breaks down his EPIC framework, Example, Pause, Impact, and Change or Continue, to help leaders balance empathy with accountability. From slowing down and choosing the right tone to knowing when it may be time to involve HR, this episode offers a practical approach for navigating difficult conversations while still giving people every opportunity to succeed. Notable Quotes “What you have to do in that moment is to have that moment of truth.” — Jay Abbasi “I believe we should always be empathetic.” — Jay Abbasi “It's okay to acknowledge how they feel and shift the conversation over to the performance and what you're expecting.” — Jay Abbasi “If they're not excelling, if they're not happy or they're not able to do the job well, there's a better job out there for them.” — Jay Abbasi Resources and Links Jay Abbasi Website: https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Join Us Next Time On Monday’s episode, you’ll meet Michelle, a VP of HR at a national home services company who feels drained by the relentless pace of new technology and AI. Jay is joined by Naomi Titleman, former CHRO of American Express Canada, ex-Deloitte consultant, and founder of Future Forward, to explore how leaders can stop reacting to constant change and start shaping the future of work before it gets shaped for them.

Before you blame the next generation, look in the mirror. Meet Robert. After 25 years in hospital leadership, he’s frustrated. Younger nurses seem distracted, overwhelmed, and resistant to feedback. His usual leadership strategies aren’t working, and turnover keeps rising. For years, Robert blamed the next generation. Now he’s wondering if he’s the one who needs to adapt. In this episode, Jay sits down with Tim Elmore, bestselling author, leadership expert, and founder of Growing Leaders. Together, they explore how leaders can replace generational stereotypes with curiosity, connect with Gen Z, and develop younger employees instead of simply judging them. Notable Quotes “They want work to feel fun, but be challenging.” — Tim Elmore “Don’t think control, think connect.” — Tim Elmore “Don’t think tell, think ask.” — Tim Elmore “If we can combine high expectation and high belief, we now have a magical formula that will work with this next gen.” — Tim Elmore About Our Guest Tim Elmore is a bestselling author, leadership expert, and founder of Growing Leaders. For decades, he has studied generational trends and helped leaders better understand, connect with, and develop emerging generations. Tim has written more than 40 books and spoken to hundreds of thousands of people around the world. His work helps organizations bridge generational gaps, strengthen leadership, and prepare younger people to thrive in their careers and lives. Resources & Links Tim Elmore Website – https://www.timelmore.com/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothyelmore/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/drtimelmore Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/tim_elmore Threads – https://www.threads.com/ X – https://x.com/timelmore YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@TimElmoreInc Jay Abbasi Website – https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Join Us Next Time On Friday, Jay tackles what to do when you’ve tried to connect, listen, coach, and support an employee, but nothing seems to work. He shares an eye-opening exercise from his learning and development days and explores how to be both kind and honest when someone continues to show a lack of motivation. You’ll learn how to have the conversation that may finally help someone respond, without becoming overly harsh or overly accommodating.

There’s a difference between a difficult leader and a toxic one. Do you know how to spot it? In this solo episode, Jay shares a personal story from his time at Tesla to explore the difference between a difficult leader and a truly toxic one. Drawing from an experience he has rarely discussed in detail, he breaks down seven warning signs that can help you determine whether a challenging leadership situation is manageable or something more harmful. From a bad reputation and lack of curiosity to playing favorites and publicly shaming others, Jay explains the behaviors that can reveal a deeper leadership problem. If you’ve ever questioned whether a leader is simply difficult or genuinely toxic, this episode offers a practical framework to help you recognize the signs, protect yourself, and decide when it may be time to create distance. Notable Quotes “You always have to start by accepting what is.” — Jay Abbasi “If the reputation of this leader is one that is quite negative, you need to take that data seriously.” — Jay Abbasi “If the person seems to be pretty careless about it and they don't show any remorse or ownership, that's a sign.” — Jay Abbasi “The common denominator is that we have a leader who lacks self-awareness.” — Jay Abbasi Resources and Links Jay Abbasi Website: https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Join Us Next Time On Monday’s episode, you’ll meet Robert, a leader struggling to motivate and connect with a younger member of his team. Jay is joined by Tim Elmore, bestselling author, leadership expert, and founder of Growing Leaders, to explore how leaders can bridge generational differences, let go of assumptions, communicate more effectively, and develop great talent across generations.

A difficult boss makes work harder. A toxic boss causes harm. Meet Adrina. She’s a successful senior director who loves her work, but something has changed. Her CEO’s constant criticism and subtle comments have slowly chipped away at her confidence. Meetings are quieter, people second-guess themselves, and Adrena has stopped looking forward to Mondays. She doesn’t hate her career. She just feels like she’s losing herself in it. Today, Jay sits down with Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett, organizational psychologist, bestselling author, and keynote speaker. Together, they explore how to distinguish a difficult boss from a toxic one, recognize the warning signs, and know when it may be time to walk away. Notable Quotes “A truly toxic boss does not think they’re toxic.” — Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett “You can’t coach the toxicity out of someone.” — Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett “A difficult boss does not want to cause harm.” — Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett “Who you work for can impact your joy or your misery.” — Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett “People’s advice who have gotten out of a toxic boss is, ‘I wish I had quit sooner.’” — Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett About Our Guest Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett is an organizational psychologist, bestselling author, keynote speaker, and expert on toxic leadership and workplace wellbeing. Her research explores the impact toxic bosses can have on employees and organizations, including eight toxic boss personas featured in her book, I Wish I’d Quit Sooner. Her work helps people recognize harmful workplace patterns, protect their wellbeing, and make better decisions about their careers. Resources & Links Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett Website – https://drlaura.live/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurahambley/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/drlaura.live Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Dr.Laura.whereworkmeetslife/ X – https://x.com/drlauralive YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@dr.laurawhereworkmeetslife TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@drlaura.live Jay Abbasi Website – https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Join Us Next Time On Friday, Jay shares a story he’s never fully told before: why he really left Tesla. Drawing from his own experience with toxic leadership, Jay explores how to recognize the difference between a difficult leader and a toxic one, what happens when an unhealthy environment starts changing who you are, and how to know when it’s finally time to walk away.

The best leaders don’t solve every problem. They empower others to solve them. In this solo episode, Jay explores a common leadership trap: playing the hero. Drawing from his own experience as a leader, he explains why constantly answering questions, solving problems, and swooping in to save the day can unintentionally prevent your people from becoming more resourceful and capable. Jay shares seven practical strategies for shifting from the hero to the captain, from pausing before jumping in and assuming people’s brilliance to asking better questions, seeking advice, acting on suggestions, and spotlighting others. If you want to empower your people, build greater trust, and stop carrying everything on your shoulders, this episode offers a practical path forward. Notable Quotes “The hero is the firefighter, the person who solves every problem, who's ready to swoop down and save the day.” — Jay Abbasi “The captain is empowering their people to do the work.” — Jay Abbasi “Don't just ask the single surface question, go beyond that.” — Jay Abbasi “You are a person of influence. Take that responsibility seriously and be sure that you are giving other people the spotlight.” — Jay Abbasi Resources and Links Jay Abbasi Website: https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Join Us Next Time On Monday’s episode, you’ll meet Adrena, a senior director at a consulting firm who feels numb, unsupported, and uninspired by a manager whose leadership includes constant criticism and passive-aggressive communication. Jay is joined by Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett, organizational psychologist, keynote speaker, and bestselling author, to explore how to recognize the difference between a difficult season and a toxic environment, and find your way back to work you once loved.

Motivation doesn’t create action. Action creates motivation. Meet Melissa. She stares through the windshield at the county administration building, overwhelmed by the demands of work, family, and being the person everyone turns to when things fall apart. She loves helping people, but she has become so focused on carrying everyone else's problems that she has forgotten to make space for herself. In this episode, Jay sits down with Angela Davies, founder of Mind Your Grit and Leadership and Wellbeing Consultant. After experiencing severe burnout and panic attacks firsthand, Angela now helps leaders and organizations maintain high performance while prioritizing wellbeing. Together, they explore why wellbeing is the foundation of sustainable performance, how to stop playing the hero, why perfectionism can become a protective mechanism, and the truth about motivation: action creates motivation. Notable Quotes “Motivation doesn't come before action. Action creates motivation.” — Angela Davies “Perfectionism is a protective mechanism.” — Angela Davies “Downsize, don't delete.” — Angela Davies “What is your version of a rich life?” — Angela Davies About Our Guest Angela Davies is the founder of Mind Your Grit and a leadership and wellbeing consultant who helps leaders and organizations create sustainable high performance without sacrificing wellbeing. After experiencing severe burnout and panic attacks during her own corporate career, Angela studied psychology and began exploring how wellbeing, resilience, and grit can work together to help people perform at their best without burning out. Resources & Links Angela Davies Website – https://www.mindyourgrit.com/about LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelardavies Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/mind.your.grit YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@workandwellnesspod Jay Abbasi Website – https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Join Us Next Time On Friday, Jay dives deeper into the difference between being the hero and being the captain. If you're constantly putting out fires, solving everyone else's problems, and carrying too much on your shoulders, this episode will explore how to step out of hero mode and become the captain of your own ship. Jay will share personal stories from his time at Tesla and lessons from coaching hundreds of leaders at Fortune 100 companies to reveal what really works.

The best of Unstuck may still be ahead of us. After 200 episodes of Unstuck, Jay looks ahead to what’s next. In this solo episode, he shares five areas he wants to explore more deeply as the podcast evolves, along with the types of experts and leaders he hopes to bring into future conversations. From AI and neuroscience to real-world corporate leadership, peak performance, and generational differences, Jay explores where Unstuck could go next and why these topics matter for leaders navigating a rapidly changing world. Most importantly, he invites you into the conversation: What would help you most in your life and career right now? Notable Quotes “We shouldn't take AI as the replacement for leadership and communication.” — Jay Abbasi “I want to pair that with people who are actually there in the midst of it right now.” — Jay Abbasi “There are people who dedicate their lives to human performance and high performance, and we can learn a ton from those folks.” — Jay Abbasi “I want you to be on this journey with me. We're shoulder to shoulder here.” — Jay Abbasi Email Jay! Jay would love to hear from you. Share your feedback, suggest topics or guests you’d like to hear on Unstuck, and let him know how we can make the podcast even better. Your input helps shape where the show goes next. Email Jay: [email protected] Resources and Links Jay Abbasi Website: https://jayabbasi.me/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayabbasi/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayabbasi_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejayabbasi/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayabbasipodcast Join Us Next Time On Monday’s episode, you’ll meet Melissa, an HR director at a public agency who is the person everyone turns to when things fall apart. Between work, three kids, and everything she takes on for others, she’s completely drained. Jay is joined by Angela Davis, founder of Mind Your Grit and a leadership and well-being consultant, to explore how leaders can stop carrying everyone else’s weight and recognize that taking care of themselves isn’t stepping away from leadership, it’s what makes them great leaders.