Episode Description:

What if wellness wasn't just a perk, but a leadership necessity?

In this Working Forward Conversations episode, Nikki Lewallen Gregory and Jason Cochran flip the script on workplace wellness, diving deep into why wellness is a non-negotiable requirement for modern leadership. From morning meditations and mid-day workouts to setting boundaries and asking for help, they share personal rituals and team-wide practices that fuel sustained capacity and impact. Get a behind-the-scenes of how People Forward Network lives out people-first values, with wellness baked into every level: micro (individual), mezzo (team), and macro (world-changing mission).

Whether you're burned out or building a better culture, this convo offers a fresh, energizing perspective on leading well by living well.

Additional Resources:

Join the PFN Community!

Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason on LinkedIn

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Key Takeaways:

• Define wellness clearly for yourself and your organization.
• Micro habits shape sustained leadership and personal energy.
• Team rituals protect energy and promote shared accountability.
• Modeling self-care encourages psychological safety and trust.
• Wellness supports impact beyond profit.

Episode Description:

How do we move from "just a job" to truly purposeful work in the middle of massive AI-driven disruption?

Nikki and Jason tackle this question and unpack sobering data on disengagement, talk candidly about seasons of life and changing priorities, and introduce two practical tools that help people assess where they are and what needs to change: the Life Wheel and the Purpose Gap Matrix.

Through real stories from their own team and a generational lens on AI's impact, they challenge both leaders and individuals to own their 50%, design work that fits who they are today, and stop waiting for employers to define their future. If you're dreading Mondays, feeling underutilized, or unsure how AI will affect your role, this conversation is a clear, compassionate call to get back in the driver's seat.

Additional Resources:

Join the PFN Community!

Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason on LinkedIn

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Key takeaways

• Most employees lack purpose; leaders and individuals must change that.
• Life Wheel clarifies priorities across changing life seasons and roles.
• Purpose Gap Matrix reveals misalignment between strengths, rewards, and work.
• AI disruption demands proactive learning, experimentation, and career ownership.
• Organizations should design flexible cultures that support purposeful work.

In this conversation, AI leaders Beth White and Vince Freeman break down what is actually happening inside companies as they attempt to adopt AI. They explore why so many pilots fall short, how individual employees are often ahead of organizational strategies, and why success depends less on tools and more on mindset, literacy, and culture.

They share practical insights on building AI strategy with purpose, including who should be involved, how to identify the right problems to automate, and why HR plays a critical role in workforce transformation. The discussion highlights the importance of empowering people, creating trust, and moving beyond traditional cost metrics to understand where AI creates the most value.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Beth on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitebeth/

Connect with Vince on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vince-freeman-55ba152/

Join the PFN Community!

Watch the Working Forward Podcast on YouTube!

Connect with Jason on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-d-cochran/

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peopleforward-network/posts/?feedView=all

Learn more about PeopleForward Network: https://peopleforwardnetwork.com/

• Most AI pilots fail because companies jump in without clear goals or realistic timelines.
• Smaller, focused use cases with the right tools lead to faster wins.
• Real impact is in operational efficiency, not just sales or revenue.
• Adoption improves when employees trust the process and see how AI helps their role.
• Success should measure productivity, agility, and growth, not just cost savings.

What if chasing profit is actually killing your team's potential? 🎯

Nikki and Jason unpack one of PeopleForward Network's most powerful culture codes: Purpose Over Profit. They explore what happens when teams stop measuring success in dollars and start designing work around meaning, strengths, and alignment.

From sharing candid team experiences, like skipping 4:30 AM workouts for midday movement guilt-free, to building a results-first, flexibility-driven culture, this episode challenges leaders to rethink how we define and pursue success 🧭.

Whether you're climbing the ladder, leading others, or reevaluating your own path, this conversation is packed with stories and strategies to help you shift focus from hustle to heart ❤️.

It's not just about how much you earn, it's about how deeply your work matters.

Additional Resources:

Join the PFN Community!

Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason on LinkedIn

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

Key Takeaways:

• Purpose fuels performance more than profit ever will.
• Work-life integration drives meaningful work culture.
• Great leaders connect roles to individual purpose.
• Team alignment requires clear, shared outcomes.
• Purpose evolves through life's changing seasons.

this conversation, Micah Remley, CEO of Robin, shares insights on the importance of unplugging from technology, the art and science of building great teams, and the impact of AI on the workplace. He discusses the challenges of remote work, the necessity of embracing adversity, and the role of HR in shaping AI strategies. The conversation emphasizes the value of in-person interactions and the need for balance in hybrid work environments, highlighting the importance of community and connection in achieving personal and professional growth.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Micah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/micah-remley-b6430740/

Join the PFN Community!

Watch the Working Forward Podcast on YouTube!

Connect with Jason on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-d-cochran/

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peopleforward-network/posts/?feedView=all

Learn more about PeopleForward Network: https://peopleforwardnetwork.com/

• Unplugging from technology can lead to better balance and perspective.
• Building great teams requires intentionality and understanding of situational needs.
• Remote work has led to lower happiness levels among employees despite higher engagement.
• Embracing adversity is essential for personal and professional growth.
• AI is transforming the workplace, but it requires adaptation and learning.

Ever been stuck in a "meh" moment, unsure if it's a yes or a no? 😬

Nikki and Jason dive into a fun, fired-up convo about making bold, aligned decisions, personally and professionally. From saying no without guilt to spotting red flags in client partnerships and making hiring choices that truly light up your team, they cover it all.

Nikki also shares powerful takeaways from Mel Robbins' "Let Them" philosophy and the Why.OS framework that keeps the PFN team living and leading with radical intentionality.

Tune in if you're ready to lead, live, and love like every decision is a full-body "Hell Yes!" 💥

Additional Resources:

Join the PFN Community!

Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason on LinkedIn

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

• Know your why to guide clear decisions.
• Energy alignment outweighs obligation every time.
• Misaligned clients drain culture and results.
• Right person, right seat is essential.
• Intentionality drives meaningful culture and impact.

In this episode, Jason Cochran interviews Bob Dalton, a tech founder and community expert, discussing the intersection of technology and community. Bob shares his journey from starting a blanket company to addressing homelessness and emphasizes the importance of localism and community in a tech-driven world. They explore the impact of technology on human connection, the need for community in workplaces, and the future of community-building in the face of AI advancements. Bob advocates for authentic connections and the necessity of community for survival in today's society.

Additional Resources:

Follow Bob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobxdalton/

Join the PFN Community!

Watch the Working Forward Podcast on YouTube!

Connect with Jason on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-d-cochran/

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peopleforward-network/posts/?feedView=all

Learn more about PeopleForward Network: https://peopleforwardnetwork.com/

• Bob Dalton's journey began with a personal experience that led him to address homelessness.
• Localism is crucial for societal change and should be prioritized over nationalism and individualism.
• Technology has created a divide, leading to isolation and addiction to digital platforms.
• Community is essential for mental health and combating addiction in a tech-driven society.
• Building authentic connections is vital for personal and professional growth.

What if your AI tools were more like teammates than tech? AI isn't coming for your job, it's coming to take the busywork off your plate.

Jason and Nikki crack open how the PeopleForward Network team is weaving AI into their daily workflows without ditching what makes them... them. F

rom using ChatGPT for parenting convos to building sales proposals, onboarding guides, and culture content, they're showing how AI can augment your team, not replace it.

Expect lightbulb moments and a roadmap for using AI to go further faster while keeping your values and people at the center 💡

Additional Resources:

Join the PFN Community!

Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason on LinkedIn

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

• AI is a co-pilot. Use it to enhance, not replace, human work.
• Start small. Experiment with everyday tasks before scaling.
• Input matters. Better prompts lead to better, more authentic outputs.
• Culture comes first. Align AI use with your company's values.
• Free up time. Let AI handle the mundane so people can focus on meaningful work.

In this episode of Working Forward, Amy Bayer shares her personal journey through burnout, career reinvention, and the slow, intentional process of rediscovering purpose.

From leading global employer brand initiatives to stepping away in search of alignment, Amy offers a vulnerable look at what it means to listen to your body, trust your instincts, and let go of what no longer serves you. She and Brent discuss how strengths like Empathy and Connectedness guided her path, the power of sabbaticals, and the questions that helped her begin again — on her terms.

Additional Resources:

Connect with Amy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-bayer-812ba8104/

Join the PFN Community: https://community.peopleforwardnetwork.com/sign_up?request_host=community.peopleforwardnetwork.com&user%5Binvitation_token%5D=43bbc5f192b8ac515b0c44bdfac7951d8cc7fc72-4b4aa546-ba57-4904-b9fb-2ced53e9af12#email

Watch the Working Forward Podcast on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@Jason.Cochran

Connect with Jason on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-d-cochran/

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peopleforward-network/posts/?feedView=all

Learn more about PeopleForward Network: https://peopleforwardnetwork.com/

Key Takeaways:

- Burnout often begins when we ignore our body's quiet signals in pursuit of productivity. - Sabbaticals aren't escapes — they're opportunities to reflect, heal, and realign. - Letting go of identity tied to work is one of the hardest and most liberating parts of growth. - Strengths like Empathy and Connectedness can serve as both compass and anchor in transition. - Working forward means redefining success on your own terms — slowly, intentionally, and honestly.

What if your team could get more done in less time? ⏳ In this Community Conversation, Nikki and Jason flip the traditional "hours worked" mindset on its head, championing the power of results over clock-watching.

They share why it's time to ditch the outdated 9–5 mentality, how to unlearn habits that hold us back, and why role clarity + goals + KPIs are the secret trio for driving real impact. 🚀

From experimenting with a four-day work week to harnessing AI for smarter workflows, this episode is packed with practical strategies, fresh perspectives, and a few personal stories that'll make you rethink your relationship with time.

Whether you're a leader or a team member, you'll walk away ready to work sharper, not harder, and maybe even earn yourself that extra day off.

Additional Resources:

Join the PFN Community!

Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason on LinkedIn

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn

Learn more about PeopleForward Network

• Measure success by results, not hours worked.
• Use role clarity, goals, and KPIs to guide focus.
• Unlearn outdated time-based work habits.
• Leverage AI to boost efficiency and flexibility.
• Cut low-value tasks to create space for impact.