Build a Vibrant Culture Podcast

What does it really take to build a life well lived and a successful career? Marty Holleran spent over 25 years as a corporate officer at GE working alongside Jack Welch, ran a three billion dollar global business, and was CEO five times, and he says it all comes back to character.In this episode of the Build a Vibrant Culture Podcast, Nicole Greer sits down with Marty Holleran, author of A Life Well Lived, to talk about the leadership lessons, integrity, and family moments that shaped a career spanning GE, multiple CEO roles, and decades of executive coaching.In this episode, you'll learn:- How his mother's intentional parenting built self confidence and leadership skills into her four sons- What Jack Welch taught him about toughness, risk, and driving performance at GE- Why correcting people in private, not in public, usually gets the better result- The night he resigned from a CEO track rather than compromise his integrity, walking away from millions- How his family's fight for his grandchildren became the true story behind the book The Cure and the film Extraordinary Measures (starring Harrison Ford)- Why Marty believes legacy has nothing to do with money- What he asks every CEO he mentors before he'll talk strategy with themThis episode is perfect for leaders, business owners, and teams looking to build stronger character, integrity, and resilience into their leadership.Topics covered include: leadership development, executive coaching, character and integrity, legacy, work culture, business leadership, CEO mentoring, resilience, and work-life balance.Connect with Marty Holleran: Marty is active on Facebook and LinkedIn and welcomes people to reach out. https://www.linkedin.com/in/marty-holleran-0106249/His book, A Life Well Lived, is available wherever books are sold. The Build a Vibrant Culture Podcast helps leaders improve work culture, communication, and business performance through real-world leadership strategies and practical insights. Click here to view the episode transcript. Learn more about training, coaching, and courses at https://vibrantculture.comConnect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/build-a-vibrant-culture-nicole-greer/For speaking inquiries: https://vibrantculture.com/speaker-kit-request/Download our training catalog: https://vibrantculture.com/catalog-request/Want to be a guest? Send your request to [email protected]

Want to close the skills gap on your team without a four-year degree or a six-figure training budget? This episode breaks down how flexible, human-centered professional development builds stronger leaders at every level.In this episode of the Build a Vibrant Culture Podcast, Nicole Greer sits down with three leaders from UNC Charlotte's School of Professional Studies: Anna Mullen (Business Development Director, Corporate Training and Executive Education), Taylor Faulkner (Program Director, HR and Learning & Development), and Krystle Kunnathur (Program Director, Leadership Development). Together, they dig into how certificate programs, corporate training, and a lifelong learning mindset help leaders and organizations close the skills gap, beat burnout, and build a vibrant culture.This conversation covers work culture, organizational culture, leadership development, communication, career growth, AI in the workplace, and the flexibility adult learners need to actually thrive.In this episode, you'll learn:Why communication and emotional intelligence are still the biggest skill gaps in the workplace, no matter how advanced the technology getsHow flexible, human-centered programs help adult learners push past fear, financial barriers, and busy schedulesWhy AI should be a tool, not a crutch, and how human judgment keeps it in checkWhat UNC Charlotte's new Certified Financial Planner certificate means for organizations building out financial planning talentHow one fire and EMS system built leadership development directly into its promotion processThe two qualities Anna, Taylor, and Krystle each believe future leaders need mostThis episode is for HR leaders, learning and development professionals, and anyone building a team of lifelong learners who wants to invest in their people (and in themselves).Topics covered include: Work culture, organizational culture, leadership development, professional development, certificate programs, workforce development, career growth, AI in the workplace, and burnout.Connect with Anna Mullen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-mullen-88921a81/Connect with Taylor Faulkner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-faulkner-a80552260/Connect with Krystle Kunnathur: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krystle-kunnathur/Bonus: Nicole is co-hosting a free live webinar with UNC Charlotte, Leading Without Authority: How to Influence, Inspire, and Lead From Where You Are, September 14, 2026, at 12:00 PM Eastern. Register: https://charlotte-edu.zoom.us/webinar/register/7217827384850/WN_GsHNcxOSRTGv6zqxXS4eJA#/registrationThe Build a Vibrant Culture Podcast helps leaders improve work culture, communication, and business performance through real-world leadership strategies and practical insights. Click here to view the episode transcript. Learn more about training, coaching, and courses at https://vibrantculture.comConnect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/build-a-vibrant-culture-nicole-greer/For speaking inquiries: https://vibrantculture.com/speaker-kit-request/Download our training catalog: https://vibrantculture.com/catalog-request/Want to be a guest? Send your request to [email protected]

Michael J Lopez helps organizations make change actually stick, which is one of the hardest problems in businessIn this episode, Nicole Greer sits down with Michael, founder of Michael J Lopez Consulting and author of Change: The 6 Science-Backed Strategies to Transform Your Brain, Your Body, and Your Behavior, to unpack the neuroscience behind why change is so hard and what it actually takes to build habits and culture that last.Michael has spent over 20 years guiding Fortune 500 leaders at companies like Entergy, Clorox, Vanguard, and Meta through major transformations. He is also the lead researcher behind Rethinking Change Management 2026, a national workforce study on why change initiatives keep failing.In this episode, you'll learn:Why roughly 47% of what you do every day is habit, and what that means when you want to changeThe six science-backed strategies behind lasting change: Shift environment, initiate movement, embrace stress, create focus, generate repetitions, and reward effortWhy "Quitter's Day" happens every January, and how to avoid itHow the anterior midcingulate cortex (the brain's "air traffic control center") grows stronger every time you do something hardWhy culture designs itself, whether you're intentional about it or notThis episode is perfect for leaders, business owners, and teams who want to build habits and culture that actually stick.Topics include change management, the neuroscience of habits, organizational culture, leadership development, resilience, and employee motivation. The Build a Vibrant Culture Podcast helps leaders improve work culture, communication, and business performance through real-world leadership strategies and practical insights. Click here to view the episode transcript. Connect with Michael J Lopez at https://www.michaeljlopez.coach/Learn more about training, coaching, and courses at https://vibrantculture.comConnect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/build-a-vibrant-culture-nicole-greer/For speaking inquiries: https://vibrantculture.com/speaker-kit-request/Download our training catalog: https://vibrantculture.com/catalog-request/Want to be a guest? Send your request to [email protected]

Selecting the words you use and how you use them can make a huge difference in building more trust and loyalty on your team. This episode breaks down why your chosen words shape how people feel, perform, and why they stay.Nicole Greer welcomes Genice DeCorte, President and CEO of HealthShare Credit Union in Greensboro, North Carolina, to explore how intentional communication builds trust, loyalty, and a stronger workplace culture. With nearly four decades of experience leading credit unions, Genice shares hard-won lessons on feedback, consistency, and connection that any leader can apply.This conversation dives into key topics like leadership communication, employee feedback, organizational culture, and team accountability. You’ll learn how words shape how people feel about their work and their leader.In this episode, you'll learn:Why a two-minute text or handwritten note can outlast a paycheck in people's memoryA simple feedback framework Genice calls the Celebratory C3Why one-on-one lunches with her team changed how she leadsHow to communicate consistently across a growing organizationWhy explaining the "why" behind policies builds buy-in instead of resentmentThis episode is for leaders, managers, business owners, and professionals who want to improve communication, strengthen organizational culture, and build a workplace where people feel valued. The Build a Vibrant Culture Podcast helps leaders improve work culture, communication, and business performance through real-world leadership strategies and practical insights. Click here to view the episode transcript. Learn more about training, coaching, and courses at https://vibrantculture.comConnect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/build-a-vibrant-culture-nicole-greer/For speaking inquiries: https://vibrantculture.com/speaker-kit-request/Download our training catalog: https://vibrantculture.com/catalog-request/Want to be a guest? Send your request to [email protected]

Struggling with burnout on your team, or in your own work? In this episode of the Build a Vibrant Culture Podcast, Nicole Greer sits down with entrepreneur and author Mitch Russo to share the simple mindfulness method he used to turn around a burned-out team, plus lessons on resilience, ethics, and purpose-driven leadership.Mitch built a software company in his garage and sold it for eight figures, then went on to build a $25 million company alongside Tony Robbins and Chet Holmes. He is a two-time Inc Magazine Entrepreneur of the Year nominee and the author of four books, including his latest, Sacred Profits: From Meditation to Domination.In this conversation, you will learn:The simple mindfulness method Mitch used to fix burnout on his sales team The real difference between resilience and stubbornness Mitch's framework for building organizational culture from the ground up Why embracing your uniqueness is key to sustainable success How ethical decision-making and heart-based leadership build trustThis episode is for leaders, business owners, and teams who want practical tools to fight burnout and build a stronger, more resilient culture.Connect with Mitch:Website: https://mitchrusso.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchrusso/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialmitchrussoThe Build a Vibrant Culture Podcast helps leaders improve work culture, communication, and business performance through real-world leadership strategies and practical insights. Click here to view the episode transcript. Learn more about training, coaching, and courses at https://vibrantculture.comConnect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/build-a-vibrant-culture-nicole-greer/For speaking inquiries: https://vibrantculture.com/speaker-kit-request/Download our training catalog: https://vibrantculture.com/catalog-request/Want to be a guest? Send your request to [email protected]