Wired to Work | Neuroscience, Psychology & Leadership

In this episode, Jess talks with Chelsea Colwell-Pasch about leading with empathy, kindness, and clarity — even when the conversations get hard. From navigating tough moments with heart to holding space without losing accountability, they explore how real leadership isn’t about being the loudest in the room — it’s about being the most human.

• (00:00:03) - Unlocking Your People
• (00:00:59) - In the Elevator With Pat Robertson
• (00:02:09) - Your View on Kindness at Work
• (00:06:13) - Teaching Kindness as Work
• (00:13:25) - How to Have a Heart-to-Heart Conversation
• (00:20:28) - Being respected and valued in the workplace
• (00:28:45) - Chelsea on Her Agency
• (00:31:53) - Conflict of Interest: Three Things
• (00:37:43) - Contact 3CA

Onboarding doesn’t have to mean endless PowerPoints or a “sink or swim” experience. In this bonus Q&A edit, Jess breaks down how to streamline the process—using checklists, templates, e-learning, and structured check-ins—to set new hires up for success without draining your time. Whether you’re scaling fast or just trying to bring more structure to your team, Jess shares practical tips for building an efficient, people-first onboarding system.

• (00:00:00) - A Question For The Amazing Roz
• (00:00:20) - Mail Bag Question #271
• (00:00:32) - Onboarding and Probationary Period

Great sales isn't about driving the deal—it's about riding shotgun.

In this episode, Jess sits down with Susan Englehutt to unpack why successful salespeople let their buyers take the wheel. From emotional intelligence and genuine empathy to navigating buyer dynamics with authenticity, Susan shares how rethinking the sales process as a journey you're taking together—not a race you're trying to win—leads to better conversations, stronger relationships, and growth that sticks.

• (00:00:00) - Unlock Your People: Sales Podcast
• (00:01:00) - How to Transform the Sales Process
• (00:04:12) - The Real Value of Relationship in Sales
• (00:09:35) - The Change in the Sales Process
• (00:11:17) - The Salesperson's Place
• (00:13:23) - In the Elevator With Sales Teams
• (00:17:13) - Coaching with Empathy
• (00:20:04) - How to Get a Technical Person to Lead
• (00:25:08) - Does the Need for More Salespeople Matter?
• (00:31:29) - We Can't Find Enough Salespeople
• (00:34:25) - Top Executives on How To Sell to Customers
• (00:34:58) - Another Question From the Mail Bag
• (00:35:28) - Onboarding our New People
• (00:39:33) - Onboarding

In this first-ever Just Ask Jess mailbag episode, Jess answers listener questions on merging company cultures, making 360 feedback actually useful, and dealing with confusing leadership. It’s all about clarity, communication, and what really gets in the way of teams working well together.

• (00:00:00) - Interviewing Your People
• (00:00:50) - Interviewing Just Ask Jess
• (00:01:23) - Merger & Acquisitions: The Culture
• (00:06:25) - What are you doing to allow people to say goodbye to the old
• (00:09:18) - What are 360s and Are They Worth It?
• (00:12:24) - Questions for the Blind
• (00:12:42) - How to Deal With a Boss Who Changes His Mind
• (00:18:15) - Mailbag
• (00:19:19) - Talking Sales

In this bonus mini-episode, Jess answers a tough leadership question: what do you do when a team member is deflated after missing out on a promotion? She walks through how to open the door to a compassionate follow-up conversation, and shares how the SCARF model (from the NeuroLeadership Institute) can help leaders understand and respond to emotional triggers like uncertainty, status, and fairness. #podcast #humanresources #hr #management #entrepreneurship

• (00:00:00) - How to Help Someone Get the Promotion They Deserve
• (00:02:14) - 5 Trauma Points That Make People Unhappy

Running a business with family isn’t for the faint of heart. In this episode, Jess talks with Jeff McAloon, co-CEO of The Smart Energy Company, about what it takes to lead alongside his brother. From trust and tough conversations to knowing when to lean in (and when to back off), they explore how strong relationships can power strong leadership — especially when family is part of the equation.

• (00:00:00) - Unlocking Your People
• (00:00:58) - Welcome to the Podcast
• (00:02:04) - In the Elevator With My Brother
• (00:02:48) - How a Partner Changes Their Life
• (00:07:18) - In the Elevator With Mark
• (00:08:20) - Does a Co-CEO Make the Right Decisions?
• (00:12:08) - The Importance of Trust in Organizational Conversations
• (00:12:59) - Discussing Co-CEO Culture
• (00:17:04) - The Culture of Scaling
• (00:18:27) - Having a Personality Assessment?
• (00:22:42) - Smartergy: The Farm Experience
• (00:25:45) - Where's the Passion in Your Career?
• (00:30:52) - What Have Been the Differences Between Being an Entrepreneur and a Corporate
• (00:33:46) - Jeff Bezos on the Power of Belief
• (00:35:28) - How to Give Bad News to a Friend
• (00:39:50) - How to Get Through a Unhappy Employee Talk
• (00:41:45) - Ask Jess Scenarios

In this bonus Q&A edit, Jess tackles a big question many leaders face today: How do you build culture when no one’s physically together? From creating intentional “triggers” that replace watercooler chats, to using recognition, leadership presence, and virtual touchpoints to keep teams connected, Jess shares practical strategies for sustaining culture and engagement in remote-first organizations.

• (00:00:04) - Question of the Day
• (00:00:30) - How Do You Build a Remote Company Culture?
• (00:02:44) - The Importance of Leadership Presence
• (00:03:01) - Leadership Presence and the Culture
• (00:03:48) - Part 2 of 6: Cultural issues
• (00:09:16) - Working remotely with a remote team

In this episode, Jess talks with Tom Hickey, CEO of Wedgewood Insurance, about the messy, meaningful work of leadership. From scaling a team without a playbook to building trust that sticks, Tom shares what he’s learned his decades-long career. Leading with heart, staying curious, and figuring it out one honest conversation at a time

• (00:00:00) - Unlocking Your People: Leadership and Culture
• (00:01:29) - Tom Munn
• (00:02:25) - Wedgwood CEO on People, Culture and Leadership
• (00:09:02) - How to Ask the Lead Why They Want to Lead
• (00:12:41) - In the Elevator With Steve Jobs
• (00:13:13) - What are some of the pitfalls of new leaders?
• (00:19:27) - Small Businesses and the culture
• (00:24:21) - In the Elevator With Businesses
• (00:24:45) - Getting People to Believe in Their Values
• (00:26:56) - How Do You Ensure a Good HR Team?
• (00:31:09) - Employee Relations: The Role of HR in a Company
• (00:36:22) - Jess on Self-Advancement
• (00:38:06) - Question of the Day
• (00:38:32) - How Do You Build a Remote Company Culture?
• (00:40:46) - Leadership With a Lead
• (00:41:51) - Is culture part of the business?
• (00:47:17) - Working Remotely

In this mini-episode, Jess answers the question of how to set clear expectations and accountability across teams. She shares insights on the importance of documenting goals, defining ownership, and maintaining open communication to prevent misunderstandings. Jess also highlights the role of organizational values in shaping behavior and performance management, and introduces a self-serve program designed to help individuals strengthen their skills in managing team dynamics and accountability.

• (00:00:00) - Setting Clear Expectations Across Teams
• (00:05:17) - Tools and Strategies for Accountability

In this episode, Jess talks with Pierre Battah about what it really means to lead with presence. From the myth of employee engagement to the quiet power of one-on-one conversations, they unpack why people check out at work — and how to bring them back in, one real connection at a time.

• (00:00:00) - Welcome to Season Two
• (00:01:49) - The Importance of Employee Engagement
• (00:03:36) - Understanding Engagement vs. Satisfaction
• (00:07:54) - Misconceptions About Engagement
• (00:10:56) - The Role of Surveys in Measuring Engagement
• (00:14:35) - Driving Substantive Change in Organizations
• (00:18:11) - The Human Side of Leadership
• (00:21:07) - Coaching as a Leadership Tool
• (00:25:40) - Balancing Leadership Styles
• (00:29:58) - The Manager as Coach
• (00:34:07) - Investing in Leadership Development
• (00:39:40) - Creating Better Workplaces
• (00:45:07) - Final Tips for Engagement