Best Peoplefirst Podcasts (2026)

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From Burnout to Bold Influence: Transforming Stress, Emotion, and Energy into Leadership Presence with Andrea Wanerstrand 27:01

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15d ago27:01

27:01

Most of us were taught to “check emotions at the door.” Turns out… your nervous system never got that memo. In this week’s People First! episode, I sit down with Andrea Wanerstrand, a leadership strategist and founder of A3 Culture Lab, who helps leaders shift from burnout to bold influence. We talk about: 💭 The three brains you bring to every conv…

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Permission To Be You: Discover Your Passion, Embrace Your Purpose, And The Life You're Meant To Live With Alaina Love 29:23

2M ago29:23

29:23

This week, Morag welcomes back Alaina Love—CEO of Purpose Linked Consulting, co-author of The Purpose Linked Organization, and author of the inspiring new book Permission to Be You. A former scientist and global HR executive turned leadership coach, Alaina blends psychology, purpose research, and personal storytelling to guide leaders and individua…

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The Science of Leadership: Nine Research-Backed Ways to Expand Your Leadership Impact with Margaret Moore, MBA & Jeffrey Hull, PhD 34:27

2M ago34:27

34:27

In this special two-for-one episode, Morag welcomes back Dr. Jeffrey Hull—Executive Director at the Institute of Coaching, Harvard Medical School Affiliate—and leadership scientist and coach Margaret Moore, co-founder of the Institute of Coaching and CEO of Wellcoaches Corporation. Together, they unpack their new book, The Science of Leadership: Ni…

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Manage Yourself to Lead Others: Why Self-Awareness is the Foundation of Great Leadership with Magaret C. Andrews 28:31

3M ago28:31

28:31

By Morag Barrett & SkyeTeam

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Hiring For Skills Alone Isn't Enough: How to Humanize Hiring (and get it right) in a Tech-Driven World with David S. Cohen 30:54

3M ago30:54

30:54

We’re excited to welcome back David Cohen—globally recognized thought leader, executive coach, and author of Selecting the Best: Fostering a Workforce Driven by Values for Lasting Success. With over 30 years of experience advising leaders and organizations on five continents, David brings a clear message: skills may get you hired, but values determ…

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The Human Operating System: How to Reclaim Connection, Overcome Self-Sabotage, and Lead with Courage with Dr. Rosie Ward 30:46

4M ago30:46

30:46

This week, Morag is joined by Dr. Rosie Ward—CEO of Salveo Partners, award-winning author and podcast host, and fierce advocate for rehumanizing workplaces. Rosie’s new book, Future Proofing Leadership: Navigating Change and Disruption to Thrive in an Uncertain World, explores how to upgrade our “faulty programs,” break free from self-protective pa…

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Want to be an Inclusive Leader? The Daily Habits That Build Trust, Equity, and Truly High-Performing Teams with Jonathan Stutz 30:43

4M ago30:43

30:43

This week, Morag is joined by Jonathan Stutz—President of Global Diversity Partners, Inc., former leader at Amazon, Microsoft, and Zulily, and co-author (with Eddie Pate) of Daily Practices of Inclusive Leaders: A Guide to Building a Culture of Belonging. With over 25 years of experience in leadership, Jonathan shares how inclusion is not a “progra…

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When Ambition Gets Disrupted: Why your next breakthrough might start with a fallow period, not a promotion with Meredith Waters 34:31

5M ago34:31

34:31

In this episode of People First, Morag is joined by Meredith Waters—high-performance coach, transformational strategist, and founder of Thriving at Water’s Edge. With over two decades in high-stakes global leadership, including post-conflict zones and climate-vulnerable regions, Meredith has developed the Resilient Ambition Framework to help indivi…

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You Are Your Greatest Work: It's Time To Stop Performing Success And Start Living Your Opus with Janine Mathó 32:07

5M ago32:07

32:07

This week, we welcome award-winning global learning executive and author Jeanine Mathó to People First. Jeanine shares her deeply personal journey from the height of corporate success through burnout and loss — only to emerge with a powerful new vision for what lasting success can truly look and feel like. In this conversation, Jeanine introduces h…

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The Psychology of Connection at Work: The Science Behind Connection, and What Leaders Can Do About It Today Dr. Bobbi Wegner 24:38

6M ago24:38

24:38

We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Bobbi Wegner—psychologist, Harvard lecturer, and founder of GROOPS—to People First!. With her unique blend of clinical and organizational psychology, Bobbi shares how leaders can evolve from taskmasters to team coaches by leveraging simple psychological tools that drive connection, performance, and well-being. In a wor…

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You’re the Boss: Now What? Power, Pressure, and Leading with Losing Yourself with Sabina Nawaz 33:50

6M ago33:50

33:50

This week, Morag sits down with Sabina Nawaz—executive coach, former Microsoft executive, and author of You Are the Boss: Become the Manager You Want to Be and Others Need. Sabina brings a sharp, compassionate lens to the messy reality of leadership—especially how pressure, not power, causes even the best bosses to behave badly. From lessons learne…

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Leadership Isn't One-Size-Fits-All: Using Situational Leadership ® To Build Trust, Flexibility & Results with Suzie Bishop 26:55

6M ago26:55

26:55

We’re excited to welcome Suzie Bishop, Vice President of Product Development at the Center for Leadership Studies and member of the Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches community. In this episode, Suzie shares how the timeless model of Situational Leadership is being reimagined for today's workplace—and why trust, adaptability, and honest feedback loops …

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Any Dumbass Can Do It: Why Dumbassery Might Be Your Leadership Superpower with Garry Ridge 30:54

8M ago30:54

30:54

We’re thrilled to welcome back Garry Ridge, Chairman Emeritus of WD-40 Company and author of Any Dumb Ass Can Do It. Known for his bold authenticity and signature Aussie wisdom, Garry dives into how embracing “dumbassery” is actually the key to unlocking great leadership, building cultures of belonging, and sending people home happy. With stories r…

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Emotionally Charged Leadership: Managing Emotions, Stress, and Leadership Expectations in Today's Workplace with Dina Denham Smith 31:20

9M ago31:20

31:20

In this episode of the People First Podcast, we sit down with executive coach Dina Denham Smith to explore the power of emotional agility in leadership. Dina shares how leaders can navigate change with confidence, break free from stress patterns, and foster genuine emotional awareness at work. From managing toxic positivity to understanding the min…

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Small Hinges, Big Results: Transform Toxic Culture to High Performance with Dr. Joey Faucette 30:42

10M ago30:42

30:42

This week on People First, we’re joined by Dr. Joey Faucette, a culture architect, certified executive coach, and best-selling author of Work Positive in a Negative World: Team Edition. Dr. Joey helps organizations shift from a toxic “Kevin Culture” to a positive work culture that fuels engagement, productivity, and profits. His insights have been …

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Better Together: Building Relationships that Drive Success with Dave MacDonald 27:58

10M ago27:58

27:58

This week on People First, we welcome Dave MacDonald, Owner and President of Better Together Group. Built on Zig Ziglar’s philosophy—"If you help enough other people get what they want, you will get what you want"—Better Together Group helps businesses increase productivity and profitability by hiring the right people while ensuring job candidates …

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The Power of People: Connecting Culture with Revenue with Mindy Honcoop 25:43

11M ago25:43

25:43

This week on People First, we welcome Mindy Honcoop, a seasoned people leader, HR advisor, and the founder of Agile in HR. With over 24 years of experience optimizing organizational success, Mindy helps leaders align culture with revenue strategy through advising, workshops, and speaking engagements. Here are some key takeaways you won’t want to mi…

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The Art of Listening: Why Voice, Preparation, and Connection Make all the Difference with Stephen George 21:44

11M ago21:44

21:44

This week on People First, we welcome Stephen George, a seasoned voice actor, audio professional, and broadcast producer with more than a decade of experience in the field. As a key member of Twin Flames Studios, Stephen has helped countless authors bring their words to life through expertly produced audiobooks. His mission? To guide authors throug…

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Transforming How We Leave Jobs: Why the Two Weeks Notice is Outdated and What to Do Instead With Robert Glazer 29:12

12M ago29:12

29:12

This week on People First, we’re thrilled to welcome back Robert Glazer, founder and chairman of Acceleration Partners, a global leader in partnership marketing, and a best-selling author. Robert’s new book, Rethinking Two Weeks Notice: Changing the Way Employees Leave Companies for the Better, reimagines how professional relationships can end with…

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The Courage to Shine: Discover your inner power, polish your brilliance, and lead with confidence with Heather R. Younger 27:55

12M ago27:55

27:55

This week on People First, we’re thrilled to welcome Heather Younger back to the show! Heather is the CEO of Employee Fanatix, a TEDx speaker, a three-time best-selling author, and a LinkedIn Learning course partner. Her latest book, The Art of Self Leadership: Discover the Power Within You and Learn to Lead Yourself, is a guide to uncovering your …

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From silos to synergy: the power of co-development action learning with Nathalie Sabourin and Ron Cheshire 31:52

1y ago31:52

31:52

This week on People First, we welcome Nathalie Sabourin and Ron Cheshire, co-authors of the groundbreaking book Co-Development Action Learning for Business. Drawing from decades of leadership and coaching expertise, Nathalie and Ron share how their CAL (Co-Development Action Learning) methodology is transforming the way leaders and teams innovate, …

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How to have career conversations employees want with Julie Winkle Giulioni 22:52

1y ago22:52

22:52

This week on People First, we’re joined by Julie Winkle Giulioni, a workplace growth champion and best-selling author. Julie helps leaders and organizations unlock talent and potential through meaningful career development. Her latest work, Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go: Career Conversations Organizations Need and Employees Still Want (now in its…

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Navigating Leadership Isolation: A Journey of Leadership and Listening with Jonathan Bennett 30:35

1y ago30:35

30:35

This week on People First, we sit down with Jonathan Bennett, an advisor and executive coach specializing in helping purpose-driven leaders navigate their toughest challenges. With career-spanning roles as a CEO, board member, and founder, Jonathan brings a wealth of experience in social purpose, governance, strategy, and communications. His unique…

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Coming into Consciousness: Living with Purpose, Loving with Passion, and Leading with Presence with Mary Ostafi 26:00

1y ago26:00

26:00

This week on People First, we welcome Mary Ostafi, executive coach, speaker, and author of Coming into Consciousness: Living with Purpose, Loving with Passion, and Leading with Presence. Mary’s journey spans architecture, sustainability, and leadership, guiding people toward intentional lives rooted in authenticity and alignment. Her mission is to …

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What lights you up? Discover your path to taking the next big step in your career with Mary Olson-Menzel 25:16

1y ago25:16

25:16

This week on People First, we’re joined by Mary Olson-Menzel, the founder and CEO of MVP Executive Development. With over 30 years of leadership experience across industries like media, tech, and healthcare, Mary is an expert in helping individuals and organizations unlock their potential. She’s also a member of the Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches a…

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From High-Tech to a Human Touch, How HeyLoops Strengthens Workplace Relationships with Lee Itzhaki 29:36

1+ y ago29:36

29:36

This week on People First, we welcome Lee Itzhaki, a seasoned professional with over 25 years in the high-tech industry. Lee has transitioned from product management and business development to a new passion—helping people forge stronger workplace relationships. As the founder of Loops, a groundbreaking platform, Lee aims to transform how we connec…

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Elephants Before Unicorns: the crucial mistake in onboarding your new talent that everyone's ignoring with Caroline Stokes 30:29

1+ y ago30:29

30:29

This week on SkyeTeam’s People First, we sit down with the incredible Caroline Stokes, author of Elephants Before Unicorns and an expert on leadership development, technology, and sustainability. Caroline supports technology leaders in addressing relational and strategic challenges for organizational, societal, and environmental impact. In this epi…

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Relationships at Work with Russel Lolacher 34:49

1+ y ago34:49

34:49

In this episode of SkyeTeam's People First, we have a compelling conversation with Russel Lolacher, an international speaker and the founder and host of the podcast Relationships at Work. With nearly 25 years of experience in leadership and communication, Russell shares his deep insights into building meaningful relationships within organizations. …

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The Power of Saying No with Vanessa Patrick 26:34

1+ y ago26:34

26:34

This week on SkyeTeam's People First, we sit down with HR veteran Vanessa Patrick, Associate Dean for Research, Executive Director of Doctoral Programs (PhD and DBA), Professor of Marketing, and lead faculty member of the Executive Women in Leadership Program at the Bauer School of Business at the University of Houston. In her new book, The Power o…

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The Essential Guide to Feedback with Joan Hibdon 25:26

1+ y ago25:26

25:26

This week on SkyeTeam's People First, we sit down with HR veteran Joan Hobdin, founder of jdhInsights, LLC. With over 25 years shaping HR strategies across global organizations, Joan is a master at tailoring coaching to individual needs. Her focus on awareness, purpose, intent, and action has driven countless successes. Joan's new book, The Leader’…

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Making Differences Work: A People Centric Approach to Work with Paul Savardi & Dr. Eli Jones 36:34

1+ y ago36:34

36:34

Welcome to SkyeTeam's People First! This week, we're joined by two exceptional leaders: Paul Savardi, Chairman and CEO of Insperity, and Dr. Eli Jones. In their new book, Making Differences Work, they combine their extensive experience to provide a powerful roadmap for building a company culture that drives extraordinary results. Their concept of C…

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Be Human, Lead Human: Human Connection is the Cornerstone of Organisational Performance with Dr. Jennifer Nash 34:37

1+ y ago34:37

34:37

This week, we're joined by Dr. Jennifer Nash, a leadership consultant and executive advisor who helps leaders and organizations prioritize people to power performance. Dr. Nash advocates for a radical shift in leadership thinking and practice in her new book Be Human, Lead Human, How to Connect People and Performance. With only 12% of employees exp…

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The Mentally Strong Leader: Habits to Regulate Emotions, Thoughts, and Behaviors with Scott Mautz 25:22

1+ y ago25:22

25:22

This week, we welcome Scott Mautz, an expert in mental strength, peak performance, change, employee engagement, and leadership. In his book, The Mentally Strong Leader, Scott discusses how to regulate emotions, thoughts, and behaviors to achieve exceptional outcomes. Scott describes mentally strong leaders as a calm presence amid chaos, exercising …

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The Self-Employed Life: Strategies That Create Sustainable Success with Jeffrey Shaw 42:24

1+ y ago42:24

42:24

This week, Morag interviews Jeffrey Shaw, a leading voice for self-employed business champions! Jeffrey is a bestselling author (LINGO and The Self-Employed Life: Business and Personal Development Strategies That Create Sustainable Success), a TEDx speaker, and a guiding light for entrepreneurs. Drawing from his own journey, Jeffrey shares business…

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The Passionpreneur: Unleash the Entrepreneurial Spirit of a True Leader with Moustafa Hamwi 31:16

2y ago31:16

31:16

This week on People First!, Morag chats with Moustafa Hamwi, a bestselling author who's an expert in a wide range of fields, from executive coaching to yoga and adventure sports. They delve deep into the world of the "passionpreneur," exploring how passion + purpose unleashes the entrepreneurial spirit of a true leader, why so many people struggle …

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Glad We Met! The Art and Science of 1:1 Meetings with Steven Rogelberg 30:24

2y ago30:24

30:24

Tired of unproductive meetings? This week, we're joined by Steven Rogelberg, a leading expert on meeting effectiveness from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Steven shares research-backed strategies to transform your meetings from time-wasters to efficient, engaging, and inclusive experiences for everyone. While achieving meeting nirva…

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In Her Own Voice, A Woman's Rise to CEO with Jennifer McCollum 27:27

2y ago27:27

27:27

This week, Morag and Jennifer McCollum, CEO of Linkage, a SHRM company, discuss her career journey, research, and her book In Her Own Voice: A Woman's Rise to CEO: Overcoming Hurdles to Change the Face of Leadership. Episode Chapters: 5:28 - Why this book; why now? 10:20 - Understanding clear roles people play in leadership 16:59 - How the inner cr…

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Unleashing the Power of Executive Coaching with Scott Osman & Jacquelyn Lane 30:19

2y ago30:19

30:19

This week, Morag, Scott Osman, and Jacquelyn E. Lane from the 100 Coaches Agency discuss guiding ideals that can propel a leader’s impact far beyond themselves. Episode Chapters: 6:28 - Jacquelyn's Realization: Everything is About People 9:13 - Leadership is Collaboration 13:02 - Inspiration Behind Becoming Coachable 16:30 - Being Open to Change, T…

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People First - How Teams Can Collaborate and Lead Innovation with Atif Rafiq 27:27

2y ago27:27

27:27

This week, Morag and Atif Rafiq discuss how teams can collaborate and lead innovation! Episode Chapters: 0:00 - Show Open 1:30 - Growing Up 2:36 - Career Arc 5:39 - Role of Relationships 8:50 - Decision Sprint Book Discussion 13:49 - Common Pitfalls 16:13 - Clarifying the Problem 17:36 - The Role of AI 24:26 - Conclusion and Wrap Welcome to SkyeTea…

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Lead With Your Strengths with Jim Collison 29:27

2+ y ago29:27

29:27

This week, Morag and Jim Collison from the Gallup Organization discuss leading with your strengths, and leveraging the CliftonStrengths profile. Episode Chapters: 0:00 - Show Open 1:50 - Growing Up 3:35 - How Relationships Matter 5:09 - Advice for Connection 9:25 - Adults Don't Change A Whole Lot 12:39 - WTF is Woo? 18:00 - Leveraging CliftonStreng…

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Beyond D&I: Leading Diversity with Purpose and Inclusiveness with Kay Formanek 28:15

3y ago28:15

28:15

Kay is founder and CEO of KAY Diversity & Performance B.V., a global company committed to embedding diversity of talent into the transformational purpose of companies so as to unleash more creativity, more innovation, more growth, more engagement and better financial outcomes. Kay's roots are in South Africa where she worked with companies to trans…

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Essential Skills for Success That No One Taught You with Mark Herschberg 27:20

3y ago27:20

27:20

Mark Herschberg is the author of The Career Toolkit: Essential Skills for Success That No One Taught You and creator of the Brain Bump app. From tracking criminals and terrorists on the dark web to creating marketplaces and new authentication systems, Mark has spent his career launching and developing new ventures at startups and Fortune 500s and i…

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Developing Cross-Cultural Awareness & Skills with Dr. Rajesh Kumar 27:41

3y ago27:41

27:41

Dr. Kumar is an expert in International Business Strategy and Cross-Cultural Management. Originally from India, Dr. Kumar has lived and worked in the United States, U.K., Denmark, France, Finland, Netherlands, and New Zealand. Through personal experience and academic study, he has developed a deep appreciation and awareness of the importance of the…

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The IDEA Mindset and Self-Discovery in your Career Journey with Dr. Gary Crotaz 30:29

3y ago30:29

30:29

Join me and Dr. Gary Crotaz, Chief Engagement Officer of KultraLab, a behavioural science and technology organization that accelerates your strategy by igniting the spark that empowers your workforce. An executive and mindset coach specialized in strengths-centered leadership and change, my 5* rated book 'The IDEA Mindset' is a self-reflective coac…

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Lessons from the Red Wagon: Memory Making & Leadership at Radio Flyer with Robert Pasin 27:12

3y ago27:12

27:12

In Roberts own words: When I was 5 years old, I visited Radio Flyer for the first time and fell in love with this company and what it means to people. My grandpa, a poor Italian immigrant created the first wagon in his Chicago garage in 1917. Today, Radio Flyer is an iconic brand that holds a special place in people's hearts because it instantly tr…

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Work Smart: Brain, Behavior, Creativity, & the Future of Work with Dr. Jennie Byrne 24:56

3y ago24:56

24:56

Dr. Jennie Byrne lives to connect the dots between people and ideas in new and unexpected ways. She is a clinical translator between segments of our complex health system - clinicians, finance, operations, data, technology, research. Clients have called her a triple threat because: 1) Clinical Experience - nearly two decades of clinical experience …

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You are Enough: Becoming the Best Version of Yourself with Charlene Wheeless 31:34

3y ago31:34

31:34

Charlene Wheeless is a renowned communications visionary, mother, author, and speaker with more than three decades of experience in corporate communications and executive leadership. Today, Wheeless combines her extensive knowledge of leadership and communications with her skill managing adversity to help others learn to retain authenticity, in lif…

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Pivot to Clarity: Get Clear, for You. Be Clear, for Others with Lori Michele Leavitt 25:40

3y ago25:40

25:40

Join me in my conversation with Lori Leavitt. "𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦. 𝘉𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵—𝘺𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦. 𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦, 𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭. 𝘐𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘢…

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Relationships to Infinity: The Art & Science of Keeping in Touch with Jason Levin 26:34

3y ago26:34

26:34

In Jason's own words: In the summer of 1990, I was a rising high school sophomore playing football and baseball in Randolph, New Jersey. 1990 was economically challenging, and the recession was not kind to my family. My father lost his job (the only one he ever had since graduating college), and it was a tough time for the household. At the time, I…

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The Power of Clarity with Ann Latham 25:57

3+ y ago25:57

25:57

Welcome to SkyeTeam's People First! In this series, we explore the people side of successful business and careers. We all have a story to share, a leadership journey that we are experiencing. We'll be interviewing authors, business leaders, thought leaders, and people like you to uncover the latest ideas, resources, and tools to help you become mor…