What's Up At Work?

Meet Pat Ghilani, a culture-driven leader who believes the strongest organizations are built by creating a sense of belonging, reinforcing a shared identity, and giving people something bigger than themselves to represent.

As CEO of MRI Software, Pat leads a company that began in Cleveland and has grown into a global organization with nearly 5,000 employees serving customers in approximately 135 countries. Throughout MRI’s growth, he has focused on building a culture people genuinely want to be part of—proving that strong organizational identity and shared experiences can help companies thrive through changing technologies, economic conditions, and global expansion.

Pat’s leadership journey is defined by his candid, people-focused approach to business. From his belief that work and life are deeply connected to his philosophy of getting employees excited to “wear the jersey,” Pat shares practical lessons on building cultures that feel authentic rather than manufactured in a boardroom.

Leading a global organization requires more than establishing corporate values and expecting employees to follow them. Pat explains why culture must be reflected in everyday behavior, how rituals and traditions help reinforce a shared identity, and why consistently celebrating an organization’s mission and values helps people feel connected to the larger team.

In this episode of What’s Up at Work?, Pat joins host Sam Clyde Schroeder to discuss building an authentic workplace culture, leading with transparency, creating employee buy-in, and maintaining a strong organizational identity through growth and change.

He also shares insights on navigating uncertainty, scaling a company across different countries and cultures, embracing AI as a tool for greater productivity, identifying true culture fit, and why employees who choose to leave and later return can be one of the strongest indicators of a healthy workplace.

Tune in to hear Pat’s perspective on leadership, workplace culture, transparency, employee belonging, global growth, AI, organizational identity, and why the strongest cultures give people a reason to proudly wear the jersey.

Episode Highlights & Timestamps

Meet Tom Williams, a purpose-driven leader who believes the strongest organizations are built through clear strategy, engaged people, and leadership that puts people first.

As the former Chairman and CEO of Parker Hannifin, Tom led more than 60,000 employees while guiding one of the world's largest manufacturers through a period of growth and transformation. Throughout his tenure, he focused on creating a culture centered around safety, employee ownership, financial strength, and purpose—proving that investing in people drives lasting business performance.

Tom's leadership journey spans decades of executive experience, where he developed a reputation for combining strategic thinking with a people-first approach. From defining the strategic themes that shaped his time as CEO to creating a company-wide purpose that united employees around a common mission, Tom shares practical lessons on building organizations that perform at the highest level.

Leading an organization of Parker Hannifin's size required more than setting financial goals. Tom explains why engaging employees, measuring culture, empowering ownership, and consistently communicating priorities helped create an environment where people felt connected to both their work and the company's long-term success.

In this episode of What's Up at Work?, Tom joins host Sam Clyde Schroeder to discuss defining your leadership legacy, creating cultures built on trust and accountability, and why leaders should focus on developing great people before anything else.

He also shares insights on the power of strategic focus, the relationship between employee engagement and business results, building organizational purpose, making difficult leadership decisions, and the lessons he learned from leading one of Northeast Ohio's most successful companies.

Tune in to hear Tom's perspective on leadership, organizational culture, employee engagement, strategic decision-making, purpose-driven business, and why great leaders measure their success by the success of the people around them.

Episode Highlights & Timestamps

Meet Dalithia Smith, a people-first leader who believes confidence, continuous learning, and strategic thinking are the keys to helping organizations thrive through change.

As Chief Human Resources Officer at Oatey, Dalithia leads people strategy for an organization focused on growth, innovation, and long-term success. Her work centers on helping employees develop the confidence, judgment, and capabilities needed to navigate an increasingly complex workplace shaped by emerging technologies, evolving business models, and constant change.

Dalithia’s leadership journey extends beyond the corporate world. In addition to leading HR at Oatey, she recently earned her PhD from Case Western Reserve University and serves as an instructor, combining real-world executive experience with evidence-based research. Her unique perspective allows her to bridge the gap between academic insights and practical business leadership.

Leading people strategy in today's environment requires far more than managing policies and procedures. Dalithia shares how understanding business strategy, building trust across all levels of an organization, and creating psychologically safe workplaces help organizations develop resilient teams that can adapt and perform through uncertainty.

In this episode of What’s Up at Work?, Dalithia joins host Sam Clyde Schroeder to discuss responsible AI adoption, the importance of critical thinking and human judgment, and why organizations must invest in employee development as technology continues to evolve.

She also shares insights on the evolving role of HR as a strategic business partner, including the importance of strong CEO-CHRO relationships, evidence-based decision making, employee engagement, and building cultures where transparency and trust drive long-term success.

Tune in to hear Dalithia’s perspective on leadership, lifelong learning, organizational culture, AI, mentorship, and why developing people remains one of the most important investments any organization can make.

Episode Highlights & Timestamps

Meet Dr. James Voos, the leader behind one of the most expansive sports medicine programs in the country, connecting professional sports, healthcare innovation, youth athletics, research, and community wellness across Northeast Ohio.

As Chair of Orthopedic Surgery at University Hospitals and Head Team Physician for the Cleveland Browns, Dr. Voos oversees a growing network that now supports more than 80 local high schools, professional sports organizations, and thousands of student athletes throughout the region. His work extends far beyond the sidelines, helping build systems that improve athlete safety, increase access to healthcare, and create opportunities for the next generation of medical professionals.

Dr. Voos’ path to Cleveland is as unique as the program he’s built. Growing up on a farm in Kansas, training at the world-renowned Hospital for Special Surgery, and later running a private orthopedic practice gave him experience not only in medicine, but also in leadership, entrepreneurship, and the business side of healthcare.

Leading a sports medicine program at this scale requires far more than treating injuries. Dr. Voos shares how building strong community relationships, investing in personalized care, and developing a culture-focused team have helped University Hospitals grow from supporting four local schools to more than 80 across Northeast Ohio.

In this episode of What’s Up at Work?, Dr. Voos joins host Sam Clyde Schroeder to discuss building healthcare partnerships that impact entire communities, creating pipeline opportunities for future physicians, and using innovation to improve athlete safety at every level of sports.

He also shares insights into the UH Haslam Sports Innovation Center, where University Hospitals partners with emerging companies to develop and test new technologies in sports medicine, from athlete safety tools to startup investments that are now gaining national attention.

Tune in to hear Dr. Voos’ perspective on leadership, mentorship, culture-building, innovation, and why investing in people and community has been central to building a world-class program in Northeast Ohio.

Timestamps & Topics

In this episode of What’s Up at Work?, host Sam Clyde Schroeder sits down with Brian Barren, President of Business Operations for the Cleveland Guardians, to talk about what it really takes to lead behind the scenes of a professional sports organization.

While fans see what happens on the field, Brian oversees nearly everything else—from revenue growth and fan experience to talent strategy, culture, and community impact. His role offers a rare look at how a major sports franchise operates as both a team and a business.

What makes Brian’s perspective especially compelling is the path that brought him there. After more than two decades at Procter & Gamble, he made the leap into Major League Baseball, bringing with him a deep background in strategy, sales, and organizational leadership. He shares how those business fundamentals translated into a completely different industry, and where they didn’t.

Brian also reflects on one of the organization’s most defining moments: the transition from the Cleveland Indians to the Cleveland Guardians. He shares how leadership approached the decision, the importance of listening to community insight, and what it took to guide both employees and fans through meaningful change.

In this conversation, Sam and Brian discuss how the Guardians approach leadership in a small-market environment, what it takes to build a high-performing culture, how they measure success beyond the scoreboard, and why investing in people and community remains central to long-term growth.

Timestamps & Topics

Timestamps & Topics

Is building a truly great workplace about perks and policies? Or about showing up and listening to the people who make the work happen?

Meet Cindy Torres Essell, Chief People Officer at Heinen’s, the family-owned grocery company serving communities across Northeast Ohio. Cindy’s path to leadership didn’t follow a straight line, but each chapter shaped how she leads today: with curiosity, empathy, and a deep respect for her frontline teams.

In this episode, Cindy shares how she works to connect corporate offices and stores under one associate-first culture. From spending days in the warehouse and production facilities to rethinking schedules so parents can be there when their kids get off the bus, she shows that culture doesn’t happen in a conference room, it happens by meeting people where they are.

She and host Sam Clyde Schroeder talk about what it means to learn the business from the inside out, why flexibility matters more than ever, and how stepping into a new challenge at Heinen’s became the most meaningful experience of her career.

Tune in to hear how Cindy is helping Heinen’s strengthen community, empower associates, and continue a tradition of care from store floor to leadership table.

01:00 Introductions

02:00 Cindy’s background and path to HR

04:00 The Heinen’s offer

08:00 The First 90 Days

09:00 Creating unity across departments

12:00 Improving flexibility for associates

15:00 Avoiding burnout  

21:00 Performance management and providing feedback  

27:00 Becoming the Board Chair of Jumpstart

30:00 HR Hot Seat; Staying true to yourself, Heinen’s must-haves, diving in

Meet Austin Merk, President of Universal Oil, a nearly 150-year-old, 100% employee-owned organization. Universal Oil is a distributor of fuels and industrial lubricants serving customers across construction, manufacturing, and transportation, right here in Cleveland.

In this episode, Austin shares what it looks like when a new leader takes the helm of a long-standing company and starts shaping its culture for the future. His story shows that building a great workplace doesn’t have to be complicated; small, intentional steps that bring people together and make work enjoyable can spark real lasting change.

He joins host Sam Clyde Schroeder to talk about how an ownership mindset drives employee engagement, why food is the great equalizer (yes, that includes company cook-offs!), and how bold moves, from tattoos to grand proposals, reflect a culture of trust and taking risks.

Tune in to hear how Austin is helping Universal Oil keep its roots strong while fueling a new era of leadership and culture.

Timestamps

• 01:00 Introductions
• 01:30 Austin’s background and original life path
• 03:00 Proposing at a Cleveland Guardians game
• 05:00 The benefits and consequences of risk-taking
• 06:00 Advocating for yourself, “Closed mouths don’t get fed”
• 07:00 Leading a 150-year-old company, and ‘We’ve always done it this way”
• 09:30 People-first culture and ESOP definition and benefits
• 12:30 Bringing people together and creating culture
• 13:40 Using food as a culture builder and equalizer, company cookoffs and employee engagement
• 16:30 Making small, intentional changes and listening to employees
• 19:20 Growing in confidence as a young leader, being patient
• 21:00 The ability to ask dumb questions, wear it on your sleeve
• 23:00 I didn’t come this far to only come this far, the job is never done
• 24:30 Being a first-time NorthCoast 99 Top Workplace winner 
• 27:30 Building out HR and engaging within the company 
• 30:00 HR Hot Seat: Big Blue Nation, tattoos, bread pudding

ERC: yourerc.com

Universal Oil: universaloil.com

What if your DEI work came with a revenue target, developed your next leaders, and grew the business at the same time?

Kevin Clayton, Executive Vice President & Chief Impact and Equity Officer at the Cleveland Cavaliers, joins host Sam Clyde Schroeder to show how DEI has become a core business strategy. Kevin breaks down equity as fixing systems like feedback, hiring, promotions, and compensation so people can do their best work. He shares how the Cavs tie impact to revenue scorecards, develop a leadership bench through the IDEAL Team, and steady culture after a tough playoff exit.

We also dig into player-led community impact (including a scholarship partnership with Donovan Mitchell’s foundation and Huntington Bank), supplier diversity that gives back, the data behind theme nights, and why the right retail strategy moves real merchandise and fan engagement.

Timestamps
00:00 Intros & why “diversity as a lens” beats “diversity as a program”
01:00 Kevin’s path from P&G sales to people & culture
03:05 Defining terms: diversity, inclusion → belonging; equity as system-leveling
05:10 The systems view: feedback, hiring, promotions, pay, and why people aren’t the “problem”
06:20 “Leverage diversity as a business strategy”: tying impact to growth and KPIs
08:05 Examples: supplier diversity, demographic retail strategy, authentic theme nights
10:00 What the data showed (and why Pride/Women’s/Heritage nights lift merch & engagement)
12:00 Culture during losing seasons: the 90-day assessment and launching the IDEAL Team
16:10 Retention gaps for women/POC → EmpowHer TMRG and external leadership opportunities
18:20 Renaming HR to People & Culture: signals, scope, and shared ownership of culture
20:00 Leading through a playoff exit: grief, recovery rituals, and end-of-season recognition
24:00 Player voice to impact: passion mapping, foundations, and a SPIDACARES x Huntington x Cavs scholarship
26:00 HR Hot Seat highlights: leading from the front and the rear; everyday acts of courage

Links:

• ERC: https://www.yourerc.com
• Cleveland Cavaliers: https://www.nba.com/cavaliers

She talks with host Sam Clyde Schroeder about simple ways to tell when work is merely uncomfortable versus truly unmanageable, how to design wellness efforts that actually help, what Gen Z needs to thrive, and how to better support working parents.

Timestamps

• 00:00 Welcome and why mental health shows up in performance, retention, and leadership
• 01:00 Meet Dr. Lisa Damour and her focus on turning emotion into action
• 03:00 What science says about stress and anxiety, and why that matters for managers
• 05:00 A clear definition of mental health, feelings that fit the moment and healthy coping
• 07:00 Generational differences, setting expectations without dismissing concerns
• 10:00 What good wellness programs look like, real tools that aid recovery
• 11:30 The strength training idea, growth requires stress and planned recovery
• 14:30 Gen Z at work, culture, mentorship, and why in-person time still matters
• 17:00 Helpful stress versus harmful stress, preventing chronic overload and burnout
• 27:00 Working parents, the role of sleep, technology’s upsides and downsides, peer groups

If this conversation helps you build a healthier workplace, please follow or subscribe to What’s Up at Work? Your feedback helps other leaders find the show.

Links

• ERC: https://www.yourerc.com
• Dr. Lisa Damour: https://drlisadamour.com