Claim OwnershipGreat Minds: People and Culture
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Hosted by EVP of People & Culture, Ren Akinci. The Great Minds People & Culture podcast dedicated to exploring the art of intentional leadership during times of change.
37 Episodes
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In this Episode Ren Akinci sits down with Claude Silver to discuss her new book Be Yourself at Work. Together, they explore the moment Claude knew this book needed to be written, the healing and emotional bravery behind it, and the parts of herself she once hid but now embraces.
Erin Fabio joins Ren Akinci for a candid conversation on what it takes to build and scale a marketing agency as a woman in an industry still catching up. They get into early barriers, pivots, leadership evolution, and the unfiltered realities facing female founders today
In this episode Ren Akinci speaks with Morana Bakula, President and CEO of Bond Brand Loyalty. In this conversation, Morana shares what sets Bond apart in the loyalty and customer experience space, offers an inside look at The Loyalty Report — the agency’s annual industry benchmark — and reflects on how brands can evolve to meet rising customer expectations. She also opens up about her journey as a first-generation immigrant leading a fast-growing agency into its next chapter.
Is deleting social media comments just “good housekeeping”? Madeline Krasno didn’t think so. Her alma mater, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, deleted her posts about animal testing, leading her to file a lawsuit in 2021. Though a district court initially dismissed the case, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the decision in 2025, ruling the censorship unconstitutional. In this episode, Madeline shares how she turned her experience into leading Justify, a nonprofit supporting current and former lab workers.
In this episode, Ren Akinci sits down with Nathan Friedman, Co-President and Chief Marketing Officer of Understood.org, to explore the intersection of creativity, inclusion, and business strategy. Nathan shares how his personal journey with learning and thinking differences shaped his career and fuels his passion for building a more inclusive world.
We dive into insights from Understood’s recent study on neurodivergence in the creative industry, unpack the tension between valuing “different thinking” and actually supporting neurodivergent talent, and explore the untapped market potential of neurodivergent consumers.
This Week on Great Minds: People & Culture
Ren Akinci is joined by Professor Joseph Fuller, a leading expert on workforce strategy from Harvard Business School. Together, they dive into why so many companies still treat talent like a spot-market transaction, how employers can reframe community colleges as strategic partners, and what it will take to move from degree-based to skills-based hiring. It’s a timely conversation for any leader rethinking how to build a more resilient and future-ready workforce.
After returning from her own parental leave to find her team struggling and her career momentum stalled, Allison Whalen knew this wasn’t just a personal challenge—it was a systemic issue. That insight led her to launch Parentaly, a company helping employers turn parental leave into a strategic advantage rather than a career disruption. In this episode, Allison joins, Ren Akinci, to talk about what most companies get wrong about parental leave, how to support both managers and employees through the process, and why leave isn’t just a benefits issue—it’s a leadership and retention issue. We also dig into the real impact of career disruption on working parents and explore practical, proven strategies that organizations can use to do better.
For Earth Day, Ren Akinci sat down with Natalie Flores, founder of NourishLA, a community-powered nonprofit tackling food waste, hunger, and local sustainability in Los Angeles. In this episode, Natalie shares how she turned a crisis into a catalyst—launching NourishLA during the pandemic to connect surplus food with families in need.
We talk about what it takes to lead during natural disasters like California’s wildfires, how she’s addressing homelessness through community support, and the powerful lessons she’s learned scaling a volunteer-driven organization. Natalie’s story is a masterclass in purpose-driven leadership—on the ground, in the garden, and at the table.
If you’re constantly running on empty, pushing through stress, or telling yourself you’ll “catch up on sleep later”—this episode is for you. This week, Ren Akinci is joined by Ahna de Vena, a Sleep and Performance Specialist who has spent over 20 years helping high-performing leaders and teams rethink their relationship with rest.
We explore how sleep impacts executive decision-making, emotional regulation, and long-term performance. You’ll learn why burnout is often the result of mismanaged recovery, what healthy sleep hygiene actually looks like in today’s always-on world, and how trauma—even subtle or unspoken—can quietly disrupt our ability to rest.
On this Episode of Great Minds: People & Culture, Ren Akinci speaks with Debbie Dyson, CEO of OneTen, about how the organization is helping employers break away from outdated hiring practices by removing four-year degree requirements and focusing on skills. They talk about what it really takes to drive change inside companies, how to get leadership aligned, and the role of upskilling and community partnerships in building long-term career paths. For anyone thinking seriously about equity, access, and the future of work, this conversation lays out the work that still needs to be done—and how to get there.
In this episode of Great Minds, Ren Akinci sits down with Melani (Walker) Dziire, who made the bold decision to leave behind a high-powered executive career to pursue a completely different path. Melani shares what inspired her to take the leap, the biggest obstacles she faced, and how she prepared—both practically and mentally—for such a major transition. We discuss the emotional and professional challenges of reinventing oneself, from navigating identity shifts to building credibility in a new industry.
In this episode of Great Minds, Ren Akinci sits down with Lisette Arsuaga, co-founder of AIMM and Co-CEO of DMI Consulting, to explore how brands can drive meaningful impact through cultural authenticity and inclusive marketing. They discuss AIMM’s role in providing guidance and data to help marketers remain competitive, the importance of equity in investment and metrics-driven strategies, and how agencies and brands can foster innovation in today’s dynamic landscape.
In this episode, our host Ren Akinci speaks with Diana Brooks, founder and CEO of THE 3RD EYE, who, at a young age, was told that women couldn’t succeed in her career choice. Taking those words to heart, Diana shifted her path, ultimately finding her place as a trailblazer in the advertising industry. She shares how she built a company rooted in innovation and inclusivity, the challenges she faced as a young entrepreneur, and her strategies for navigating change while empowering diverse talent. This episode is a powerful reflection on resilience, leadership, and redefining possibilities.
In our latest podcast episode, we speak with Rebecca Minor, MSW, LICSW (she/her/they), a queer clinician, consultant, and educator specializing in the intersection of trauma, gender, and sexuality. As the founder of Prism Therapy Collective and adjunct faculty at Boston University School of Social Work, Rebecca shares insights on developing inclusive policies, addressing privacy concerns, and supporting trans and gender-expansive individuals in various settings. Don’t miss this conversation on fostering inclusivity and understanding in both professional and personal environments.
The advertising industry faces an annual turnover rate of 27%, costing companies their talent, creativity, and momentum. On this episode, Ren Akinci speaks to Brad Simms, Founder & CEO of GALE, about how his agency has tackled this challenge with investing $1M dollars in learning, training and development initiatives. From dedicated career coaches to an in-house training platform and accelerator programs, GALE’s investment in people has led to a remarkable 86% retention rate. Brad shares how prioritizing employees not only fosters growth but drives long-term business success.
On this episode, Ren Akinci and Dr. Lori Watson discuss how leaders can effectively respond to societal incidents that impact employees, creating a safe and inclusive workplace. They explore essential strategies for open discussions on race, balancing inclusivity with free speech, and building a lasting commitment to racial equity in organizations.
On this episode Ren Akinci speaks to Kumi Croom, the first Managing Director at Duncan Channon. Kumi has been a trailblazer in leading the agency’s equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts, building initiatives to recruit and retain BIPOC talent and creating a culturally conscious approach to their creative work. From launching the EDI Group to establishing a Black/African American Culture Practice, Kumi is truly redefining what inclusive leadership looks like in advertising.
In this episode, Ren Akinci speaks with Doug Thornell, the CEO of SKDK, one of the top political advertising and public affairs agencies, about shaping political campaigns and building company culture. As the election year heats up, we discuss the challenges of creating impactful political ads, staying agile, and fostering equity and inclusion within the firm. Tune in for insights on leadership, innovation, and navigating the fast-paced world of political campaigns.
On today’s episode, Ren Akinci is joined by Evin Shutt, the CEO of 72andSunny, as they celebrate a major milestone: 72andSunny 20th anniversary. Evin was the first hired employee at 72andSunny 18 years ago and has been leading the brand as CEO for the past four years. Tune in as Evin shares her journey from delves into the leadership values that have guided her career and helped shape 72andSunny into the creative powerhouse it is today.
In this episode, Ren Akinci is joined by Ben Cicchetti, Vice President of Corporate Marketing at InfoSum and a passionate advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. Together, they discuss the importance of fostering true LGBTQ+ inclusion in the workplace and explore how support for LGBTQ+ colleagues must extend beyond Pride Week.
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