Leadership in Quarters: 15-Minute Culture Insights

Welcome to Episode 34 of Leadership in Quarters: Interview Series. My name is Josh Seldin and today I'm interviewing Lisa Friscia. A little about Lisa: Lisa Friscia is a strategic advisor and fractional Chief People Officer who fixes the systems underneath the symptoms. When teams are burned out, decisions stall, or performance slips, she designs the operating infrastructure that holds the organization together. A former classroom teacher, founding principal, and Chief People Officer, Lisa partners with founders and leadership teams to design clear decision rights, strong talent systems, and execution rhythms that scale. Her work helps organizations move from reactive firefighting to sustainable performance. She writes All Things Talent, a practical publication for founders and operators who want to build high-performing organizations without burning out their people. She believes the best-run organizations are not the ones that hustle hardest. They are the ones built right. During this episode, we discuss how people can be thrown into leadership roles, especially as people leaders, without the proper skillset or training. So often we take our highest executors and founders and take them from technical ownership to people management. How we expect people to do this without the proper support and training is a mystery, but one we begin to uncover in our discussion. You can connect with Lisa through any of the links below: LinkedIn: / lisafriscia Her Website: francaconsulting.com Her Newsletter: https://lisas-newsletter-e68d0b.beehi... For any questions, or if you're interested in being a guest, please email me at leadinquarters‪@gmail.com‬. Artwork by: Adam Powell Royalty Free Music: https://www.bensound.com License code: WKPF4WFRB2XO0EQS Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

Welcome to Episode 33 of Leadership in Quarters: Interview Series. My name is Josh Seldin and today I'm interviewing David Cicerchi. A little about David: David is a Leadership Aperture Coach who specializes in helping leaders expand their capacity to navigate the today's fast-changing complex world, make better decisions under pressure, and build stronger, healthier cultures. He works in the field of vertical leadership development and partners with the telos institute in their flagship leadership development program called The Vertical Frontier, coaching leaders across corporate environments to develop two essential capacities: range — the ability to widen their aperture— and wisdom — the ability to deploy the aperture that most effectively meets the needs of the situation. David helps leaders move beyond reacting on autopilot so they can respond with clarity, presence, and maturity — especially in VUCA organizational contexts, where things are volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous. He's also a second-degree black belt in Aikido, the martial art of peace, and integrates that embodied practice into his leadership work — helping leaders stay centered under pressure, handle conflict productively, and lead with grounded strength. During this episode, we discuss how similar to a camera, leadership can widen and narrow their aperture depending on the situation and need of the business, and the team. Whether it's a narrow aperture for focused decision making, or a wide aperture to step back and focus on big picture, each approach is important and critical to a healthy culture. You can connect with David through any of the links below: LinkedIn: / davidcicerchi The telos institute: https://www.thetelosinstitute.com/lea... His website: www.evolutionaryemergencecoaching.com For any questions, or if you're interested in being a guest, please email me at leadinquarters‪@gmail.com‬. Artwork by: Adam Powell Music: Bensound.com/royalty-free-music License code: IXKVF9KQAVOF4YZF Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

Welcome to Episode 32 of Leadership in Quarters: Interview Series. My name is Josh Seldin and today I'm interviewing Nicola Knobel. A little about Nicola: Nicola is a New Zealand-based author, risk and safety leader, and neurodivergent advocate. She works at the intersection of leadership, psychological safety, and inclusion, drawing on her background in health and safety, risk governance, and law. Nicola is also the author of Unmasking Leadership, where she explores how neurodivergent leaders are reshaping the future of work. During this episode, we discuss neurodiversity and how we can make our workplace more inclusive. We come to the realization that there are neurodiverse people already in our organizations, we may just not know it yet, and how we show up as a leader and the culture we build can make or break any semblance of trust we try to build. You can connect with Nicola through any of the links below: LinkedIn: / nicolaknobel Instagram: / nicola.knobel Youtube: / @nikiknobel Her website: www.nicolaknobel.com For any questions, or if you're interested in being a guest, please email me at leadinquarters‪@gmail.com‬. Artwork by: Adam Powell Music by Bensound.com License code: EDB40LGNNHFZILZQ Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

Welcome to Episode 31 of Leadership in Quarters: Interview Series. My name is Josh Seldin and today I'm interviewing Dr. Christie McMullen. A little about Dr. McMullen: Dr. Christie McMullen is a podcaster, best selling author, CEO but more importantly she is a wife, mother, avid bootcamper, friend, and joy creator. She helps make work fun because people quit things that aren't fun! During this episode, we discuss something that is UNHEARD OF in the workplace, and that's FUN. We talk about overall human interactions, how we can use that to get the best out of our people by latching onto the human side, and of course, how to make work fun! As we've drifted from saying the words "work" and "fun" in the same sentence, it is entirely possible to have both things existing together, and Dr. McMullen gives us a glimpse on how that's done. You can also connect with Dr. McMullen through any of the links below: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-christie-mcmullen/ Instagram: @drchristiemcmullen Her books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B08FF317FP?ccs_id=946f8019-0fe7-491f-9171-5082a44b7a08 For any questions, or if you're interested in being a guest, please email me at leadinquarters‪@gmail.com‬. Artwork by: Adam Powell Music by: https://www.bensound.com License code: PF8UTSWXRMDT8NLW Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

Welcome to Episode 30 of Leadership in Quarters: Interview Series. My name is Josh Seldin and today I'm interviewing Jaime Mann. A little about Jaime: Jaime Mann is a leadership keynote speaker and certified coach who helps leaders strengthen their self-leadership so they can lead others with clarity, confidence, and connection—especially under pressure. With a background in psychology and over two decades of real-world leadership experience in high-stress environments, Jaime blends research, storytelling, and straight talk to challenge how we think about leadership. She's known for delivering high-energy, practical keynotes that leave audiences thinking differently—and behaving differently—long after the event ends. During this episode, we discuss the topic of leadership habits. We talk about how a leader's habits can directly influence the culture they are trying to build. It becomes so obvious to anyone walking into the room to "feel" the type of culture that exists, and different environments and sectors have different stereotypes and history to overcome. Want leadership that works in the real world — not just on paper? Visit www.jaimemann.com to learn more about Jaime's keynotes and speaking work. You can also connect with Jaime through any of the links below: LinkedIn: / theamaryllisproject Her Website: www.jaimemann.com For any questions, or if you're interested in being a guest, please email me at leadinquarters‪@gmail.com‬. Artwork by: Adam Powell Music I Use: Bensound.com/royalty-free-music License code: CZYY2S10IWKWUOYD Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

Welcome to Episode 29 of Leadership in Quarters: Interview Series. My name is Josh Seldin and today I'm interviewing Dr. Rosenna Bakari. A little about Dr. Bakari: Dr. Ro-Zee-na Ba-car-ri is a psychologist, educator, and leadership business consultant who designs and delivers emotional wellness programs for individuals and organizations seeking sustainable performance and human-centered workplaces. Her newly released book, Seven Exits: Leaving Behind What No Longer Serves You, offers a grounded, practical path to lasting personal change—and it serves as the foundation for her transformational courses and consulting work.and consulting work. During this episode, we discuss the topics in her book, The Seven Exits. We discuss each Exit, how they intertwine and how holding on to them and never "exiting" holds us back from growth. This episode reinforces the idea that personal growth is professional growth, and who we are today took us to where we are, but may not be enough to take us to where we are going. You can connect with Dr. Bakari through any of the links below: LinkedIn: / truthlieswork TikTok: / truthlieswork Instagram: / truthlieswork YouTube: / @truthliesandwork X: https://x.com/truthlieswork For any questions, or if you're interested in being a guest, please email me at leadinquarters‪@gmail.com‬. Artwork by: Adam Powell Music by https://www.bensound.com/free-music-f... License code: P4THZD0DPTTUMZY9 Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

Welcome to Leadership in Quarters: Interview Series. My name is Josh Seldin and today I'm interviewing Toni Will. A little about Toni: Toni Will is the General Manager of the Kalamazoo Wings men's professional hockey team, leading at the executive level in one of the most male-dominated industries in sports. Based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, she is also a leadership coach and speaker who works with high-achieving women and men to build clarity, confidence, and sustainable success while living alcohol-free. Toni is a TEDx speaker, host of the Women In… podcast, and creator of the empowHER Conference, held annually in Kalamazoo. A two-time Ironman athlete and two-time Guinness World Record holder, she is the author of Rebellious Success, releasing August 2026. During this episode, we discuss being someone in the room who is different from everyone else. We know it happens, and often this person feels like an outcast. Toni helps us understand that it's not just okay, but extremely beneficial to be untraditionally authentic, and be the real you. We discuss how you should bring your whole self to work, whether you're the same as everyone else or not. You can connect with Toni through any of the links below: Facebook: Toni Lentini Will Facebook: toniwillofficial Instagram: @toniwillofficial Instagram: @imtoniwill LinkedIn: Toni Lentini Will And her website: https://www.toniwill.com/ For any questions, or if you're interested in being a guest, please email me at leadinquarters‪@gmail.com‬. Artwork by: Adam Powell Music by https://www.bensound.com License code: WK2OUU7WOR6AOYGK Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

Welcome to Episode 27 of Leadership in Quarters: Interview Series. My name is Josh Seldin and today I'm interviewing Kurt Uhlir. A little about Kurt: Kurt Uhlir is a senior operating executive who has been directly involved in more than 60 funding rounds and exits, working in the trenches with leadership teams as companies scale through real inflection points. He is a global keynote speaker, trusted by organizations and leaders on some of the largest stages in the world. Kurt is widely recognized as a leading expert in high-performing servant leadership. Unlike many who teach leadership from a distance, he actively leads teams every day, applying these principles inside operating companies. His work focuses on helping people and organizations win at work and at home, and his guidance has been sought by thousands of leaders - from individual contributors navigating life and leadership to senior executives and even the President of the United States. During this episode, we discuss the importance of culture through clarity, consistency and creating momentum across functions. We talk about how important visions and plans are to an organization, and how to prioritize where needed while still enabling and energizing teams, doing what's needed to prevent the creating of silos across functions. Business can sometimes be a war, and to win the war and not just the battle, it takes the entire multi-functional team working together to achieve the company's goal. You can connect with Kurt through any of the links below: LinkedIn: / kurtuhlir His Website: https://ceonetweavers.org/kurt-uhlir/ Two of his articles: https://kurtuhlir.com/growth-vs-scale/ https://kurtuhlir.com/definitive-guid... And a profile of Kurt: https://ceonetweavers.org/kurt-uhlir/ For any questions, or if you're interested in being a guest, please email me at leadinquarters‪@gmail.com‬. Artwork by: Adam Powell Music by https://www.bensound.com License code: ZN6SZGIBRK0U1YDK Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

Raymond E. Foster is a leadership author, educator, and civic leader whose work bridges real-world decision-making with timeless principles of character, accountability, and service. A former law-enforcement professional and longtime leadership instructor, Raymond is the author of nine books including The Temple Within and Chasing the Surge: Ten Thousand Rides into the American Night, and co-author of Leadership: Texas Hold 'em Style, a widely used leadership book that examines judgment, risk, and responsibility through lived experience rather than abstract theory. He currently serves in senior leadership roles across civic and nonprofit organizations, including Rotary, the Chamber of Commerce, and Freemasonry, where he is known for mentoring emerging leaders and building high-trust institutions. Whether writing, teaching, or leading in the community, Raymond focuses on one central question: how ordinary people make sound decisions under pressure—a theme he explores in Leadership: Texas Hold 'em Style, where poker and card playing become a practical metaphor for leadership in the real world. During this episode, we discuss the the topic of how the game of Texas Hold 'em relates to leadership. Inspired by his book "Leadership: Texas Hold 'em Style" we discuss the interconnectivity of the card game, to how we show up as leaders, and influence, support and empower our teams. For any questions, or if you're interested in being a guest, please email me at leadinquarters‪@gmail.com‬. Artwork by: Adam Powell Music I Use: Bensound.com/royalty-free-music License code: FN4QHNK2YFLDJYIV Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

During this episode, we discuss the the topic of Purpose. We review what purpose is, and why it's so important for people to lead and live with purpose. From burnout, to fulfillment and a sense of self, igniting one's purpose is essential to a healthy culture, and Hanna gives us the tools to do just that. Artwork by: Adam Powell Music I use: https://www.bensound.com License code: VJ7NXZ0EMLNL2PWP Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

During this episode, we discuss the importance of supporting women leaders in the workplace. Whether it's through mentorship, or seeking your own success through the success of others, Angeline teaches us how we can go about leading, lifting and empowering women. More importantly, she discusses how small acts of empowerment can create ripple effects throughout the organization. Artwork by: Adam Powell Music I Use: https://www.bensound.com/free-music-f... License code: OBZDXBLWRYDEMYD5 Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

During this episode, we discuss Radhika's OHLA framework, and how KPIs and OKRs have worn out their welcome in the professional world. We discuss the importance of puzzle setting and puzzle solving, as opposed to goal setting. What sets this apart is the freedom and autonomy it gives the team, a different type of control for the leader and nothing but opportunity for the business. Artwork by: Adam Powell Music by https://www.bensound.com License code: EOVRL7UXCBA7CRO4 Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

During this episode, we discuss Simone's REAL Method, a confidence building framework that applies to both your personal and professional life. Inspired by her climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro, this REAL Method puts things into perspective to give you the clarity and confidence you need as a leader. Artwork by: Adam Powell Music: https://www.bensound.com/free-music-f... License code: 4UTKLYBLJ9QMKT79 Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

During this episode, we discuss the importance of values based leadership. We explore our own values, and discuss how people can recognize what their own values are. We then dive into the ever so complicated situation of when your workplace's values don't match your own, what you can do, and what you should do to stay true to yourself. Artwork by: Adam Powell Music: Bensound.com/royalty-free-music License code: JLG6R4EBQ8ZK0NRU Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

During this episode, we discuss how to build a high trust culture, and what the make up of that culture is. Whether it's gaining the trust of others by controlling the toxic leader in the organization, or hearing everyone on both sides of the courtroom and doing what's best for the individual, and not the bottom dollar, the focus of the organization is to lay the foundation of trust. Artwork by: Adam Powell Music: Bensound License code: B4SLZJUHTGEMNNEM Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

During this episode, we discuss how to find your voice as a leader. So often we are new to our jobs, whether it's because we are right out of school, or we've decided to take our career in a different direction. While doing this, it's important to learn how to find your voice as a leader, full of authenticity, relationship building and clear communication. Aleksandra let's us in on the approaches we should keep in mind as we go through this journey. Artwork by: Adam Powell Music I Use: https://www.bensound.com/free-music-f... License code: 3PTGFFFE1HVNWE6D Artist: : Nick Petrov

We have enough issues today with others not believing in us, but we also don't do ourselves any favors when we have Self Limiting Beliefs. When we consantly question our ability, or allow ourselves to be the butt of a joke that is the expense of how others see our capability, we are limiting our own beliefs. We need to write a story with strong beliefs, beliefs in ourselfs and what we bring to the table. That's what today's episode is about. Cover Art: a.p.e.e.z.y Royalty Free Music from Tunetank.com Track: New Beginnings by Romanov_Studio https://tunetank.com/track/1209-new-beginnings/

During this episode, we talk about the importance of High Performance Cultures. These days we don't have the luxury to have lackluster organizations. People want a healthy culture they can be a part of, where they are invested in to perform at the highest level they can be. In this episode, we learn how to create high performance cultures, and the importance of doing so. Artwork by: Adam Powell Music by Bensound.com License code: AJCNL3BK7ADBTUVJ Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

During this episode, we talk about the importance of Leadership Development. In the world we live in today, people are thrown into leadership positions without a second thought. But are they ready? Have we done our part to ensure they are trained, qualified and their capability built before we let them go lead and coach others? Leadership Development is a critically important topic that we must be intentional about, and begin doing to support our culture. Artwork by: Adam Powell Music by Bensound License code: UMVEQR8OBO2O0UGM Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

During this episode, we talk about the Six Principles to Get Unstuck, and how to take back control of your life. Aron helps us understand that unintentionally, life gets away from us and we get stuck. We learn that it's important to trigger on the fact that we are stuck, and then do something about it. Using these Six Principles will help us take back control of our lives, get us unstuck, and bring us to a place of being happy and content with life, both professionally and personally. Artwork by: Adam Powell Music: bensound.com License code: 7VPB46DJGPLQFNDZ Artist: : Marcus P.