Insight at Work with Ken Blackwell

IN THIS EPISODE: We’re going to start 2023 with Hope, specifically Valerie Hope. Valerie brings a truly global approach to leadership and building diverse, inclusive and equal work cultures. For Valerie it starts with curiosity and she shares how her early life as a self-proclaimed “military brat” and global traveller taught her the skills she now. shares with her clients. The conversation is wide ranging just like her perspectives and has a little something for everyone. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Being a curious and creative learner has set Valerie Hope apart as an accomplished leadership coach and professional speaker. Since having traveled to more than 30 countries and having lived with more than 400 host families, she learned that life is the best teacher and the human being living it, as the star pupil. For the past 25 years, Valerie has been called to inspire and activate global leaders to become more conscious, connected, and creative. As her coaching clients and audience members gain clarity of purpose, become bold and authentic in their self-expression, they tout fulfilling careers, more meaningful relationships, and experience a sense of aliveness. Her group workshops and one-on-one sessions are designed to go beyond concepts and data points, to shine a light on what has heart and meaning. She’s honed her coaching and speaking craft throughout the Americas and Europe through work in and for major companies and organizations such asHyatt Hotels and Resorts, Up With People, Etsy, Salesforce, University of California at Berkeley, and Anheuser Busch.  In 2018, she stumbled into entrepreneurship and is now the CEO of her company, Connect to Joy, LLC.Valerie received her executive coaching certification from UC Berkeley and holds a B.A. in Public Relations and Spanish from the University of Alabama. She is a native Spanish speaker from the Republic of Panama. These days, you can find Valerie expressing her playful side on the tennis court, on the improv stage, and singing in a community choir. This former military brat calls Dallas home and she has the cowboy boots to prove it. SHOW NOTES: Connect with Valerie on:  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/valeriehope  Twitter: ValerieVHope her website:  valeriehope.com or on YouTube: youtube.com/c/ConnecttoJoy INSIGHT AT WORK PODCAST THEME MUSIC: Our theme music is composed by Chris Lucca, Jr.. You can listen to more of Chris’ work at http://chrisluccamusic.com  You can also connect with him on Twitter: @Flipluka and on Instagram: @_flipluka.music_ ABOUT THE HOST: Ken Blackwell is a speaker, trainer, facilitator and executive coach. His focus is on creating a more human workplace. His firm InKlaritas, based in Princeton, NJ, works with teams and leaders in companies in the U.S. around the world. You can find out more about InKlaritas at: www.InKlaritas.com, follow him on Facebook at Ken Blackwell, Speaker and  connect with Ken on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennethjblackwell/ (make sure to mention you listen to the podcast).

Today is the winter solstice, the darkest day of the year. Today is also a turning point. In this short "Insight Bite" episode, Ken shares a thought for using these dark hours to begin a transformation that will spark our growth in the year to come.

IN THIS EPISODE: In the US, it’s the time of the year when we celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday and are grateful for the many blessings of the past year. Ken suggests a particular focus for this year’s reflections in this short, “Insight Bite” episode. INSIGHT AT WORK PODCAST THEME MUSIC: Our theme music is composed by Chris Lucca, Jr.. You can listen to more of Chris’ work at http://chrisluccamusic.comYou can also connect with him on Twitter: @Flipluka and on Instagram: @_flipluka.music_ ABOUT THE HOST: Ken Blackwell is a speaker, trainer, facilitator and executive coach. His focus is on creating a more human workplace. His firm InKlaritas, based in Princeton, NJ, works with teams and leaders in companies in the U.S. around the world. You can find out more about InKlaritas at: www.InKlaritas.com, follow him on Facebook at Ken Blackwell, Speaker and connect with Ken on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennethjblackwell/ (make sure to mention you listen to the podcast).

N THIS EPISODE: On the podcast, we tend to focus on our present-day goals for work, but what about our goals for post-work? What kind of life do we want to live after we leave the workplace? Today’s guest, Tara Nolan, builds on her background as a pilot and logistics officer for the US Air Force to help people see the whole picture of both their work, and post-work, lives and build a financial plan that makes sense. The key is “understanding the mission” and putting goals ahead of tools. While the topic is money, there’s also some great insights about problem-solving, connecting and finding clarity that have universal application.  ABOUT OUR GUEST: Tara Nolan Tara Nolan is a money strategist who supports entrepreneurs and professionals, who have limited time due to business and family demands, achieve and retain the lifestyles they want.  Since starting her company, she has been obsessed with helping people feel good about their finances. It’s hard when they are stressed about money, and she loves helping people find that good feeling in their belly when they are in control of their money situation. Tara combines finance, her background in strategic military planning and a focus personal development to create transformational financial plans.  She shares her philosophy and approach to money in her book, “Money Moves: Change where your money lives and change how your financial world grows”. SHOW NOTES: Learn more about Tara on the web at: www.nolanfinancialpartners.com Find Tara’s book on Amazon: “Money Moves: Change Where Your Money Lives, Change How Your Financial World Grows” INSIGHT AT WORK PODCAST THEME MUSIC: Our theme music is composed by Chris Lucca, Jr.. You can listen to more of Chris’ work at http://chrisluccamusic.com  You can also connect with him on Twitter: @Flipluka and on Instagram: @_flipluka.music_ ABOUT THE HOST: Ken Blackwell is a speaker, trainer, facilitator and executive coach. His focus is on creating a more human workplace. His firm InKlaritas, based in Princeton, NJ, works with teams and leaders in companies in the U.S. around the world. You can find out more about InKlaritas at: www.InKlaritas.com, follow him on Facebook at Ken Blackwell, Speaker and  connect with Ken on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennethjblackwell/ (make sure to mention you listen to the podcast).

IN THIS EPISODE: Many of us are aware of Google’s Project Aristotle which discovered a key characteristic of high performing teams was a climate of  “psychological safety” - that team members could speak up and share opinions without fear of any kind of reprisal or repercussion. Neuroscience backs this up - we do our best thinking when we feel safe and are working in an environment of trust. But feeling safe goes beyond just the ability to express thoughts and opinions, it extends to other aspects of our lives such as culture and identity.  Today’s guest, Tim Mousseau, has spent the last 10 years researching what makes people feel unsafe and how to create frameworks and boundaries that lead to safe work cultures. This is a deeper and more personal conversation than we’ve had in while and Tim shares some great insights that will change how you think about the workplace. ABOUT OUR GUEST: As a male survivor of sexual violence and harassment, Tim Mousseau has spent the last ten years studying prevention to create frameworks that help communities overcome sexual assault and individuals set boundaries to maintain feelings of safety. As an HR speaker and researcher, Tim is studying how managers and employees define safe work cultures. This research builds off his past work on how different generations define feelings of safety and how to prevent workplace harassment. Tim has spoken in over five counties to over 450 organizations, including Fortune 1000 companies, professional sports teams, and Congressional offices. SHOW NOTES: Find Tim on the web at: timmousseau.com INSIGHT AT WORK PODCAST THEME MUSIC: Our theme music is composed by Chris Lucca, Jr.. You can listen to more of Chris’ work at http://chrisluccamusic.com  You can also connect with him on Twitter: @Flipluka and on Instagram: @_flipluka.music_ ABOUT THE HOST: Ken Blackwell is a speaker, trainer, facilitator and executive coach. His focus is on creating a more human workplace. His firm InKlaritas, based in Princeton, NJ, works with teams and leaders in companies in the U.S. around the world. You can find out more about InKlaritas at: www.InKlaritas.com, follow him on Facebook at Ken Blackwell, Speaker and  connect with Ken on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennethjblackwell/ (make sure to mention you listen to the podcast).

N THIS EPISODE: We often think about burnout from an overwhelmed, overworked, and stressed out perspective. Today’s guest, Cait Donovan, suggests we also look at another source - boundaries, and the resentments caused when those boundaries are violated. She walks us through her own journey of burnout and boundaries and shares helpful lessons for all of us to have more resilient, balanced and healthy lives. Our conversation also touches on some eastern philosophy and neuroscience and how they impact our experience and responses to burnout. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Cait Donovan is one of New York City’s leading burnout experts, host of “Fried – The Burnout Podcast,” and author of the book "The Bouncebackability Factor". Cait offers 1:1 coaching, corporate workshops, and keynotes - all with a focus on ending burnout culture. She has been featured on podcasts and online magazines such as “Forbes”, “NPR,” “Thrive Global,” “The New York Post”, as well as quoted in Oprah Magazine. SHOW NOTES: Connect with Cait and learn more on her website.  Get a copy of her book, The Bouncebackability Factor. Listen to the latest episode of Fried: The Burnout Podcast with Cait Donovan. INSIGHT AT WORK PODCAST THEME MUSIC: Our theme music is composed by Chris Lucca, Jr.. You can listen to more of Chris’ work at http://chrisluccamusic.com  You can also connect with him on Twitter: @Flipluka and on Instagram: @_flipluka.music_ ABOUT THE HOST: Ken Blackwell is a speaker, trainer, facilitator and executive coach. His focus is on creating a more human workplace. His firm InKlaritas, based in Princeton, NJ, works with teams and leaders in companies in the U.S. around the world. You can find out more about InKlaritas at: www.InKlaritas.com, follow him on Facebook at Ken Blackwell, Speaker and  connect with Ken on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennethjblackwell/ (make sure to mention you listen to the podcast).

IN THIS EPISODE: For many, the topic of finances can feel confining and burdensome, certainly not freeing and uplifting. Today’s guest, Mackey McNeil, helps us break through some of the limiting thoughts about finances that can hold us back and limit our ability to not only become more prosperous but get more enjoyment out of life. Mackey will share how to achieve success and abundance utilizing the 3 Freedoms of Prosperity: Money freedom, Time Freedom, and Freedom from Worry. She is the author of several award-winning books, including “The Intersection of Joy and Money” and “The Prosperity Handbook”. ABOUT OUR GUEST: MACKEY McNEILL, CPA, PFS is the founder of MACKEY, a family business financial coaching firm that helps business owners achieve the three freedoms of prosperity:  money freedom,  time freedom  and freedom from worry.  Mackey is the author of several award-winning books, including, The Intersection of Joy and Money and The Prosperity Playbook.  She has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Money,USA Today as well other major media. In addition to helping business owners prosper, her passions include sustainable living, gardening, cooking, fly fishing and adventuring. SHOW NOTES: To connect with Mackey on the web: Mackey Advisors and on LInkedIn. INSIGHT AT WORK PODCAST THEME MUSIC: Our theme music is composed by Chris Lucca, Jr.. You can listen to more of Chris’ work at http://chrisluccamusic.com  You can also connect with him on Twitter: @Flipluka and on Instagram: @_flipluka.music_ ABOUT THE HOST: Ken Blackwell is a speaker, trainer, facilitator and executive coach. His signature practice is "rescuing Accidental Leaders and Dysfunctional Teams". His firm InKlaritas, based in Princeton, NJ, works with teams and leaders in companies in the U.S. around the world. You can find out more about InKlaritas at: www.InKlaritas.com and connect with Ken on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennethjblackwell/.

N THIS EPISODE: Can we make stress a friend, or at least keep it from being a foe or an enemy?  Today’s guest, Deb Lewis would like to challenge our thinking about stress and encourage us to look at it from a different perspective. Deb is no stranger to stress. As one of the first female candidates to graduate from West Point and then as a leader in combat, Deb understands the impact of stress on performance. In this episode, she shares her experiences, perspective, and several tools so we can pivot and instead of being crushed by stress, we can actually use it to our advantage. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Colonel Deb Lewis is a West Point graduate from its first class with women. A retired Army Colonel and Harvard MBA, Deb commanded three US Army Corps of Engineer Districts, including a $2.1B reconstruction program in combat. She survived the 9/11 Pentagon attack while serving on the Joint Staff antiterrorism team. Colonel Deb’s experiences leading while under fire inspired her unique 'Mentally Tough Women' (MTW) program to help women (and enlightened men!) handle more stress - not de-stress - and put it to work for them. Set in Hawai’i, her latest book titled "Why is Pono not Pono Today?” helps kids of all ages make better choices by using fun cartoons and characters to reveal the secret to handling stress. SHOW NOTES: Connect with Deb on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/MentallyToughWomen/ Deb’s Author Page on Amazon: amazon.com/author/deblewis Go to her website and check out her 2 free stress courses: www.mentallytoughwomen.com Read about Deb in Hawaii’s Star Advertiser Magazine:  https://lnkd.in/geB_rPb9 INSIGHT AT WORK PODCAST THEME MUSIC: Our theme music is composed by Chris Lucca, Jr.. You can listen to more of Chris’ work at http://chrisluccamusic.com  You can also connect with him on Twitter: @Flipluka and on Instagram: @_flipluka.music_ ABOUT THE HOST: Ken Blackwell is a speaker, trainer, facilitator and executive coach. His signature practice is "rescuing Accidental Leaders and Dysfunctional Teams". His firm InKlaritas, based in Princeton, NJ, works with teams and leaders in companies in the U.S. around the world. You can find out more about InKlaritas at: www.InKlaritas.com and connect with Ken on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennethjblackwell/.

N THIS EPISODE: While “Me Too” and other movements had done tremendous good in amplifying the stories and voices of women who have not been treated fairly in the workplace, there may be a hidden cost. Researcher Kori Reed explores gender equality in the workplace and as she surveyed male leaders across the country she began to notice a trend.  Many men, while wanting an inclusive workplace culture where men and women can both thrive, were nonetheless so uncertain about crossing the line from an innocent comment to a harassment complaint that they would avoid any conversation on gender equity altogether. These would be champions, men in power who could make a difference in leveling the playing field, are instead silencing themselves and essentially taking themselves out of the game. Kori and I discuss her findings, explore the state of the gender conversation in the human workplace, how to create safe spaces for dialogue and how we can collectively move toward the ultimate goal of “better together”. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Driven by a purpose to align people to see things in new and creative ways for good, Kori thrives at the intersection of people, insights, and organizational goals. An agile and relatable communicator, she values authentic dialog that enables people to find clarity in the chaos, connect with others, and change the world in meaningful ways. With more than 25 years of experience working in large, complex, Fortune 500 organizations, Kori has navigated large-scale change management communication; created an integrated, award-winning signature companywide program; and built communication strategies to align stakeholders on challenging issues.   In the process, she earned progressive management duties at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Quaker Oats, PepsiCo, and Conagra Brands -- where she became a Vice President, working across the company in employee and community engagement under the umbrella of corporate social responsibility. Driven by a passion for the people side of process, management and culture, Kori also worked in Human Resources at Compass Minerals, a salt mining company, as Director Employee Experience and progressed to the Senior Director of Talent and Organizational Development.  A lifelong learner, Kori is certified in Change Management, Human Resources, DISC Communication Styles and DISC Teams, and more. Adept amid chaos, Kori also wrote a book on the wisdom and humor of work, life, and family balance. SHOW NOTES: Connect with Kori: on LinkedIn, Twitter and on her Amazon author page. Ken and Kori discussed Akira Kurosawa’s 1950 Classic Rashomon INSIGHT AT WORK PODCAST THEME MUSIC: Our theme music is composed by Chris Lucca, Jr.. You can listen to more of Chris’ work at http://chrisluccamusic.com  You can also connect with him on Twitter: @Flipluka and on Instagram: @_flipluka.music_ ABOUT THE HOST: Ken Blackwell is a speaker, trainer, facilitator and executive coach. His signature practice is "rescuing Accidental Leaders and Dysfunctional Teams". His firm InKlaritas, based in Princeton, NJ, works with teams and leaders in companies in the U.S. around the world. You can find out more about InKlaritas at: www.InKlaritas.com and connect with Ken on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennethjblackwell/.

IN THIS EPISODE: Almost all of us see the wisdom in having a diversified financial portfolio, it’s smart investing not to have all your eggs in one basket. But what about the portfolio of our lives? Rarely do we think about the value in diversifying our lives and careers - not only to minimize risk, but also to create opportunities. The upside potential isn’t just monetary, there are mental wellness and life experience benefits as well. Today’s guest Carl Seidman applied his financial acumen to his career and began diversifying his life by retiring at age 32! There’s more to the story of course - Carl and I discuss that and the current state of career and life management. It’s another great conversation, listen in! ABOUT OUR GUEST: Carl Seidman is a trusted business advisor specializing in financial planning & analysis (FP&A), business strategy, and finance transformation. He works with Fortune 500 corporations and middle-market companies, helping establish effective FP&A practices, processes, and teams. At the same time, he brings finance professionals greater control over their careers by helping them build their competence and confidence while eliminating time-wasting activities and mistakes. Carl’s FP&A development methodologies and curriculums have been implemented by many leading companies as part of their financial leadership development programs (FLDPs) for top talent and emerging leaders. Carl also serves as a CFO advisor and management consultant to entrepreneurial businesses throughout North America and Europe and assists them with strategic financial planning, value enhancement, and revitalization.  Carl is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) has earned other professional credentials including the Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), CIRA, CFF, CFE, CGMA, and AM (Accredited Member in business valuation), and was a 2020 National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA) 40 Under Forty honoree.  He lives in Chicago with his wife and twin sons. SHOW NOTES: You can learn more about Carl on his website: https://seidmanfinancial.com INSIGHT AT WORK PODCAST THEME MUSIC: Our theme music is composed by Chris Lucca, Jr.. You can listen to more of Chris’ work at http://chrisluccamusic.com  You can also connect with him on Twitter: @Flipluka and on Instagram: @_flipluka.music_ ABOUT THE HOST: Ken Blackwell is a speaker, trainer, facilitator and executive coach. His signature practice is "rescuing Accidental Leaders and Dysfunctional Teams". His firm InKlaritas, based in Princeton, NJ, works with teams and leaders in companies in the U.S. around the world. You can find out more about InKlaritas at: www.InKlaritas.com and connect with Ken on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennethjblackwell/.

IN THIS EPISODE: As we move closer towards a more human workplace, leadership will need to evolve along side it. The days of a distant and disconnected leader are fading away. Today, leaders need to be in touch with their people and understand what is impacting them in, and out, of the workplace. That means leaders will need to take their interpersonal communication and awareness of human dynamics to a much deeper level.  To understand how leaders can adapt to this changing landscape, I’ve asked today’s guest, Patricia Bravo, to speak with us about Empathic Leadership. Patricia is a consultant who has worked with many Fortune 500 companies in the Bio/Pharma, Energy, Technology and Financial Services industries. She equips everyone from emerging leaders to seasoned executives with targeted approaches, techniques and tools to accelerate their performance as Empathetic Leaders.  In our conversation, we’ll talk about some of those approaches and techniques and discuss how small changes and investments as small as 10 minutes of time can transform the relationship between leader and team member and remove obstacles to performance. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Patricia Bravo equips leaders with targeted approaches, techniques and tools to accelerate their performance as Empathetic Leaders. Leveraging her strength in facilitation, she develops and facilitates leadership programs for leaders ranging from emerging leaders to seasoned executives.  The programs Patricia designs and facilitates accelerate leader capability in the areas of leading with empathy, team development and resilience.  Patricia enjoys using her talent management experiences gleaned at Fortune 500 companies such as Starbucks Coffee, to shape the leadership landscape of the future. While working at Starbucks, Patricia designed a leadership academy program, led multiple organizational design projects and led a team that managed talent management activities for the West Coast store development business unit. She also led a portfolio of large projects including: executive immersion, performance management and succession planning. Patricia’s consulting work has included many Fortune 500 clients in the Bio/Pharma, Energy, Technology and Financial Services industries.  She has successfully worked with leaders holding titles from Manager to Senior Vice President. She teaches undergraduate courses in Managing Teams and Human Resources at University of Washington, Bothell and leadership courses for professionals at UCLA Extension. She frequently speaks on the topic of Empathetic Leadership and is author of a chapter on Empathy as a Vehicle to Authentic Leadership and Followership in Latin America in Authentic Leadership and Followership: International Perspectives. SHOW NOTES: To connect with Patricia: check out her website: https://bravoforyou.com  You can also connect with her on LinkedIn. INSIGHT AT WORK PODCAST THEME MUSIC: Our theme music is composed by Chris Lucca, Jr.. You can listen to more of Chris’ work at http://chrisluccamusic.com  You can also connect with him on Twitter: @Flipluka and on Instagram: @_flipluka.music_ ABOUT THE HOST: Ken Blackwell is a speaker, trainer, facilitator and executive coach. His signature practice is "rescuing Accidental Leaders and Dysfunctional Teams". His firm InKlaritas, based in Princeton, NJ, works with teams and leaders in companies in the U.S. around the world. You can find out more about InKlaritas at: www.InKlaritas.com and connect with Ken on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennethjblackwell/.

IN THIS EPISODE: Throughout history, organizations have had to adapt to survive. That is especially true in these challenging times. Often it is the ability of leaders to adapt, to change, to pivot – that enables these organizations to not only navigate distruption but to thrive in it. Today’s guest, Marcia Daszko, works with leaders to challenge their thinking so they can realize results they’ve never before achieved. For more than 25 years, she has passionately been guiding strategic innovation and transformation in Fortune 500 corporations and private start-ups; school districts, government agencies; and non-profits. She is a best selling author of Pivot, Disrupt, Transform: How Leaders Beat the Odds and Surviveand the co-author of Turning Ideas into Impact: Insights from 16 Silicon Valley Consultants.  In our conversation, we discuss the traits pivotal leaders need to create the environments for their people to contribute and be their most creative. These pivotal leaders focus on not just problem solving, but asking the questions that will take their organizations into the future so they can create new products, new solutions, new services and new markets.  We’ll also discuss the importance of knowing the “why” behind your organization’s reason for existence. It’s a robust conversation so let’s get to it.  ABOUT OUR GUEST: Marcia is an inspiring speaker who will provoke your thinking and elevate it for bold action. She is a Catalyst for Strategic Leadership, Transformation and Innovation. She speaks to and works with leaders to challenge their thinking to realize results never before achieved. For more than 25 years, she has passionately been guiding strategic innovation and transformation in Fortune 500 corporations and private start-ups; school districts, government agencies; and non-profits. Marcia has taught Graduate management and marketing classes at six universities across the U.S. She is a best selling author of Pivot, Disrupt, Transform: How Leaders Beat the Odds and Survive and the co-author of Turning Ideas into Impact: Insights from 16 Silicon Valley Consultants. She was invited to write a chapter about leadership in the book: Organizational Project Management. SHOW NOTES: Connect with Marcia: Web: https://www.mdaszko.com/  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marciadaszko  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marciadaszkoassociates/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarciaDaszko  INSIGHT AT WORK PODCAST THEME MUSIC: Our theme music is composed by Chris Lucca, Jr.. You can listen to more of Chris’ work at http://chrisluccamusic.com  You can also connect with him on Twitter: @Flipluka and on Instagram: @_flipluka.music_ ABOUT THE HOST: Ken Blackwell is a speaker, trainer, facilitator and executive coach. His signature practice is "rescuing Accidental Leaders and Dysfunctional Teams". His firm InKlaritas, based in Princeton, NJ, works with teams and leaders in companies in the U.S. around the world. You can find out more about InKlaritas at: www.InKlaritas.com and connect with Ken on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennethjblackwell/.

IN THIS EPISODE: In Today’s conversation, we’ll be talking about creating inclusive cultures with my guest Bernadette Smith. Bernadette is CEO of Equality Institute and an award-winning author of three books. Her fourth book, Inclusive 360 – Proven Solutions for an Equitable Organization, has just been released and is available through your favorite bookseller. We’ll follow her journey into activism, understand that Inclusion is for everyone and the importance of creating spaces where everyone can feel safe, not only inside of the organization but on the client side as well. Bernadette shares how to overcome DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) overwhelm by learning to ask better questions, becoming better listeners and maintaining a solutions-focused approach.  She also shares her “ARC” methodology (Ask, Respect, and Connect) for gaining clarity and building more inclusive cultures and organizations. It’s a great conversation with a lot of thoughtful take-aways, I hope you get as much out of it as I did. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Bernadette Smith is CEO of Equality Institute and an award-winning author of three books. Her fourth book, Inclusive 360, has just been released. Her work has been featured in USA Today, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Fast Company. She's appeared on CNN, the Today Show, the BBC, and National Public Radio. Bernadette was named one of Chicago’s Notable LGBTQ Executives by Crain’s Chicago Business. SHOW NOTES: To connect with Bernadette: Website: www.theequalityinstitute.com  On LinkedIn If you’d like a copy of her new book: Inclusive 360 To get a copy of the ARC Method tip sheet go to: www.theequalityinstitute.com/arc INSIGHT AT WORK PODCAST THEME MUSIC: Our theme music is composed by Chris Lucca, Jr.. You can listen to more of Chris’ work at http://chrisluccamusic.com  You can also connect with him on Twitter: @Flipluka and on Instagram: @_flipluka.music_ ABOUT THE HOST: Ken Blackwell is a speaker, trainer, facilitator and executive coach. His signature practice is "rescuing Accidental Leaders and Dysfunctional Teams". His firm InKlaritas, based in Princeton, NJ, works with teams and leaders in companies in the U.S. around the world. You can find out more about InKlaritas at: www.InKlaritas.com and connect with Ken on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennethjblackwell/.

IN THIS EPISODE: Technology is an inextricable part of our modern life. While it can often be a help, it can sometimes be a hinderance.  Today’s guest, Terry Brock, brings a passion for technology, that he combines with a sense of history, and real-world business strategies.  Terry is more than a technology trends expert. He’s a speaker, virtual presenter, interviewer, published author, and coach who packs everything he touches with solid business strategies meant to build relationships and improve the bottom line. In today’s episode, Terry and I discuss: The critical factor in adopting technology the right way  The best approach to learn new tools and applications Using technology to more effectively communicate with broader and more diverse audiences, and to how better leverage your presentation skills As well as some new trends in technology that you’ll want to have on your radar I’m excited to have Terry here today as my guest. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Terry Brock brings a passion for technology, a sense of history, and real-world business strategies for success to your event, whether it is in-person or virtual. Terry Brock is more than a technology trends expert. He’s a speaker, virtual presenter, interviewer, published author, and coach who packs everything he touches with solid business strategies meant to build relationships and improve the bottom line. Terry continues to bring this knowledge to his audiences when speaking and sharing state-of-the-art ideas applied with fun, entertainment, and powerful applications. Terry earned an MBA in marketing and is focused on real-world business applications. He leverages his background in journalism and education in live presentations all over the world including the United States of America, Mexico, England, Australia, Russia, Ireland, China, Japan, Thailand, Argentina, Indonesia, Nigeria, Singapore, Bermuda, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, and even Texas! As a virtual presentation expert, Terry is able to break the bonds of distance and time to serve clients in a way that makes them feel as though they are in the room with him. SHOW NOTES: To connect with Terry: TerryBrock.com Terry’s free 5K course for creating compelling content: 5K course   INSIGHT AT WORK PODCAST THEME MUSIC: Our theme music is composed by Chris Lucca, Jr.. You can listen to more of Chris’ work at http://chrisluccamusic.comYou can also connect with him on Twitter: @Flipluka and on Instagram: @_flipluka.music_ ABOUT THE HOST: Ken Blackwell is a speaker, trainer, facilitator and executive coach. His signature practice is "rescuing Accidental Leaders and Dysfunctional Teams". His firm InKlaritas, based in Princeton, NJ, works with teams and leaders in companies in the U.S. around the world. You can find out more about InKlaritas at: www.InKlaritas.com and connect with Ken on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennethjblackwell/.

IN THIS EPISODE: The workplace is a focus here on the Insight at Work podcast. So it’s especially thrilling have an expert on the workplace as a guest. Simone Fenton Jarvis is a colleague from the UK, she is a Workplace Consultancy Director, formerly with Ricoh now with Relogix. Simone's work hones in on the employee experience and its impact on organizational performance.  Simone is passionate about creating human-centric workplaces that can drive a world where the organization becomes the vehicle for people and societies to flourish; resulting in us all leaving the planet in a better place than when we arrived.  She is an active speaker, blogger and the author of the new book: “The Human-Centric Workplace: Enabling people, communities and our planet to thrive”. In today’s conversation we cover a lot of ground, including: ·      Bringing your “full self” to work ·      The changing nature and configuration of the workplace and how personalizing workspaces can help maximize effectiveness ·      The changing relationship between employees and organizations – what are the new expectations? The new balance between work and life? The evolution from a parent-child relationship to an adult to adult one. ·      The shift to people over profits ·      And the move from focusing on “culture fit” to “culture add” ABOUT OUR GUEST: Simone is passionate about creating human-centric workplaces to drive a world where the organisation becomes the vehicle for people and societies to flourish; resulting in us all leaving the planet in a better place than when we arrived. Simone's work hones in on employee experience and the impact on organisational performance, data gathering and delivering change and business improvement in relation to culture, space, process and technology. Waking up every day on a mission to make a difference she is a fellow of IWFM and the Chair of the IWFM Workspace Special Interest Group, she sits on the editorial committee for Facilitate Magazine and Facilities Management Journal. An active speaker and blogger in key areas: Human Centric Workplaces - Mental Health - Leadership - Culture - Technology - Ways of Working - Diversity and Inclusion. She’s the author of the new book: “The Human-Centric Workplace: Enabling people, communities and our planet to thrive”. SHOW NOTES: To connect with Simone: Twitter - Simone Fenton-Jarvis (@ChiefWorkplace) LinkedIn - Simone Fenton-Jarvis BSc MBA FIWFM You can find Simone’s book at: The The Human-Centric Workplace: Enabling people, communities and our planet to thrive INSIGHT AT WORK PODCAST THEME MUSIC: Our theme music is composed by Chris Lucca, Jr.. You can listen to more of Chris’ work at http://chrisluccamusic.com  You can also connect with him on Twitter: @Flipluka and on Instagram: @_flipluka.music_ ABOUT THE HOST: Ken Blackwell is a speaker, trainer, facilitator and executive coach. His signature practice is "rescuing Accidental Leaders and Dysfunctional Teams". His firm InKlaritas, based in Princeton, NJ, works with teams and leaders in companies in the U.S. around the world. You can find out more about InKlaritas at: www.InKlaritas.com and connect with Ken on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennethjblackwell/.  

  Greater inclusion in the workplace won’t happen by itself. It will require strong, dedicated leaders with focus and persistence to shift organizational cultures and create more human workplaces.  To understand how leaders can begin this journey towards greater inclusion, I’ve invited Gena Cox to the podcast. Gena is an organizational psychologist, executive coach, and professional speaker. She is the author of the forthcoming book, “Leading Inclusion” which provides a roadmap for leaders who want to build inclusive organizations.  In this episode, we discuss the importance of how leaders show up in the workplace and the messages they consciously, and sometimes unconsciously, send to their people. We look at how organizational leadership impacts inclusion as well as how leadership is itself impacted in return by an inclusive workplace. We also explore how we can measure progress and the steps each one of us need to take to move towards more inclusive cultures within our organizations. Gena Cox, Ph.D., is an organizational psychologist, executive coach, and professional speaker. She is the author of the forthcoming book, “Leading Inclusion” which provides a roadmap for leaders who want to build inclusive organizations. For 25+ years, Gena has advised corporate executives in some of the world’s most successful and admired companies, including Mastercard, Hitachi, Scotiabank, NYULangone, American Express, Tech Data, Hershey, The Rock Family of Companies (including Quicken Loans), and Raymond James Financial. Gena has helped hundreds of leaders build more positive organizational cultures and become more effective in their leadership interactions with employees, regardless of their human variations. Gena knows her clients are making progress when ALL their employees say they feel respected at work. SHOW NOTES: To connect with Gena: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/genacox Web: www.feelshuman.com Read her recent Harvard Business Review article on inclusion: https://hbr.org/2021/05/5-strategies-to-infuse-di-into-your-organization INSIGHT AT WORK PODCAST THEME MUSIC: Our theme music is composed by Chris Lucca, Jr.. You can listen to more of Chris’ work at http://chrisluccamusic.com  You can also connect with him on Twitter: @Flipluka and on Instagram: @_flipluka.music_ ABOUT THE HOST: Ken Blackwell is a speaker, trainer, facilitator and executive coach. His signature practice is "rescuing Accidental Leaders and Dysfunctional Teams". His firm InKlaritas, based in Princeton, NJ, works with teams and leaders in companies in the U.S. around the world. You can find out more about InKlaritas at: www.InKlaritas.com and connect with Ken on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennethjblackwell/.

IN THIS EPISODE: This episode I speak with Susan Fitzell, an expert in neuro-diversity about the challenges of incorporating and accommodating a neuro-diverse workforce into the modern workplace. The reality is that neuro-divergent workers have always existed but we’re only now gaining an awareness and appreciation of their impact – and the need to adapt the way that we lead and manage. Susan shares some tips and strategies to support neuro-divergent thinkers and help bring out their best work. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Susan Fitzell For over 30 years, international speaker, author, coach, Susan Fitzell has worked closely with educators, students, and high performing employees to discover their personal learning preferences so they can learn fast and achieve more. She zeros in on what motivates employees so they can get their job done and break through self-imposed limitations. She inspires and motivates audiences with her practical, productive, and efficient learning strategies as well as her positive, uplifting approach. Her philosophy is, “Can’t is a four-letter word!” Believe you CAN and do GREAT things by using your talents and strengths. She’s a black belt in kickboxing and a student of kung fu. Her family prides themselves in being geeks and her two adult children have both earned degrees in mechanical engineering using the strategies that she shares with her clients. SHOW NOTES: Connect with Susan: On the Web at:  susanfitzell.com  and  LearnFastAchieveMore.com On Twitter at: @susanfitzell On LInkedIn at: in/susanfitzell/ INSIGHT AT WORK PODCAST THEME MUSIC: Our theme music is composed by Chris Lucca, Jr.. You can listen to more of Chris’ work at http://chrisluccamusic.com  You can also connect with him on Twitter: @Flipluka and on Instagram: @_flipluka.music_ ABOUT THE HOST: Ken Blackwell is a speaker, trainer, facilitator and executive coach. His signature practice is "rescuing Accidental Leaders and Dysfunctional Teams". His firm InKlaritas, based in Princeton, NJ, works with teams and leaders in companies in the U.S. around the world. You can find out more about InKlaritas at: www.InKlaritas.com and connect with Ken on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennethjblackwell/.

IN THIS EPISODE: In a more Human workplace, it’s critical to be an effective communicator and be able to connect with your audience whether that’s one person or many.  Today we get an international perspective from Christine Morley. Christine is an expert in presentation and negotiation skills and learning how to influence others. For over 30 years, Christine has helped hundreds of senior executives from Fortune 500 companies be more memorable and have greater impact on their audiences. She is one of only four, and the first woman, in France to earn the CSP or (Certified Speaking Professional) designation.  Christine is direct and outspoken, and gets right to the heart of an issue. In our conversation, we talk about the keys to effective communication.  How to connect with your audience, by speaking with the brain in mind. And how to shape a message so that it’s easily understood and digested. She also gives us some tips on building our personal brand and how to create an effective 7 Second Pitch so others can quickly know who we are, what we do, and who we help. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Christine Morlet, CSP is a Professional Keynote Speaker and keynote speaking coach, member of the Global Speakers Federation. She is one of four, and the first female, speaker to earns the CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) designation in France. Her experience includes 30 years of success in international influencing skills: negotiations, public speaking and leaders' coaching of fortune 500 companies, (among others) Peugeot, Millipore-Merck, Mars Chocolates, Capsugel, Pfizer Inc … Christine has helped hundreds of senior executives to improve their presentation & negotiation skills to create much better impact and become memorable. Her customers say that she can transform average communicators into uncontested leaders and basic negotiators into top earning superstars! SHOW NOTES: To connect with Christine on her website and learn more about her here. INSIGHT AT WORK PODCAST THEME MUSIC: Our theme music is composed by Chris Lucca, Jr.. You can listen to more of Chris’ work at http://chrisluccamusic.com  You can also connect with him on Twitter: @Flipluka and on Instagram: @_flipluka.music_ ABOUT THE HOST: Ken Blackwell is a speaker, trainer, facilitator and executive coach. His signature practice is "rescuing Accidental Leaders and Dysfunctional Teams". His firm InKlaritas, based in Princeton, NJ, works with teams and leaders in companies in the U.S. around the world. You can find out more about InKlaritas at: www.InKlaritas.com and connect with Ken on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennethjblackwell/.

IN THIS EPISODE: When I came up for the title for the “Insight at Work” podcast I had two ideas in mind: 1)    That we would be able to explore various insights about work and the ways in which people approach problems and challenges in the workplace. - and - 2)    To also examine how insight might be at work within us.  To explore how we approach living and working and the personal decisions that we make throughout this journey we call Life.   Today's episode is in that second category.  My guest Tom McManimon had a life that was on a particular trajectory. And then a series of events from 9/11 to losing his job, and a life threatening medical emergency, led him to reassess his life, his priorities and the direction of his career.  Tom talks frankly and straightforwardly about his experiences and sometimes in stark detail.  That might bother some but I think it gives a visceral realness and impact to his story.  It's a very candid conversation about true work-life balance: about what's important in life, how to maintain perspective and one's belief in oneself. And the important need for the time and space to be able to make the decisions that are right for us. It demonstrates that for all our planning and all our intentions, sometimes life pushes us onto a new path. Tom has had an incredible journey. And is incredibly gracious in sharing it with us. I think you're going to get a lot out of this conversation, perhaps you'll even stop for a moment and think about your life's journey with some new insight. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Tom is an award-winning art director/creative director, writer, positioning strategist, musician, and veteran creative director. Tom has led award-winning statewide and national campaigns, created re-branding efforts for large multi-national companies, and led countless company start-ups to ongoing success. His work has been recognized with CLIO, ANDY,TELLY, PRINT Magazine, and various Advertising and Design show awards. Tom is a nationally recognized branding expert whose background reflects extensive experience in strategic brand identity, project management and creative development across b-to-b and consumer marketing landscapes. He brings experience and skill across all media including Logo & Identity, Print and Broadcast Advertising, Display, Collateral Design, Direct Mail and Web, Digital & Interactive Development. Tom has managed creative campaign development, talent, photo shoots, web, TV film & video productions of all size and scope —supporting the marketing and branding needs of Philadelphia Insurance Companies, Prudential Mortgage Capital Company, Brown & Brown, The US Department of Agriculture, Talksoft, Inc., American Reinsurance, Westinghouse, Cushman & Wakefield, StewartXerox, and many other B2B and Professional services companies in Education, Financial Services, Science &Technology, Law Firms, Healthcare, and more. Tom's current gig splits time between running STIMULUSBRAND COMMUNICATIONS, the branding and advertising firm he founded in 2002 and speaking appearances. "My agency reflects my passion. It's in my DNA. My speaking is about changing the way people think, feel and act in ways that can change their lives." Tom McManimon (TMac) is a published author and professional speaker delivering keynotes and professional presentations to companies and business organizations. Recent talks were titled: "The Position Player" and "To rebrand or not to rebrand. How to know." He recently published two books: one on personal branding (The Stuff That Sticks) and Brand Positioning, (The Position Player), both available on Amazon.com. Tom's also delivers motivational talks entitled: Winning Through Crisis, Addiction: Going To The Well, and On Purpose. SHOW NOTES: To connect with Tom visit him on the web: www.StimulusBrand.com  and  www.TMacSpeaks.com  INSIGHT AT WORK PODCAST THEME MUSIC: Our theme music is composed by Chris Lucca, Jr.. You can listen to more of Chris’ work at http://chrisluccamusic.com  You can also connect with him on Twitter: @Flipluka and on Instagram: @_flipluka.music_ ABOUT THE HOST: Ken Blackwell is a speaker, trainer, facilitator and executive coach. His signature practice is "rescuing Accidental Leaders and Dysfunctional Teams". His firm InKlaritas, based in Princeton, NJ, works with teams and leaders in companies in the U.S. around the world. You can find out more about InKlaritas at: www.InKlaritas.com and connect with Ken on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennethjblackwell/.

IN THIS EPISODE: If like me, you'd like to be a little more productive, a bit more focused, and maybe a little less overwhelmed - this episode is for you.  My guest today is Don Khouri. Don is a speaker, author, and executive coach with advanced degrees in Human Development, Organizational Behavior, and Human and Organizational Systems.  He’s written a book for people who struggle with too much to do and not enough time titled, “When to Say Yes, The Five Steps to Protect Your Time”. In this episode we discuss why we say Yes more often than we should. The importance of intentionality, priorities and values. The problem with to-do lists, and my favorite, the Myth of Multitasking. We also talk about the power of delegation and what happens to our time when accountability falls short. It’s a jam-packed episode with lots of great tips and ideas. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Don Khouri is a speaker, author, and executive coach.  He is a PhD in Human and Organizational Systems.  He holds a Master’s Degree in Human Development from Fielding Graduate University and an MBA in Organizational Behavior from Boston University.  His Bachelor’s degree is from Babson College, voted the top school in the U.S. in entrepreneurship. He is writing a book for people who struggle with too much to do and not enough time. It will be released in Fall 2021 and is titled, When to Say Yes, The Five Steps to Protect Your Time.   SHOW NOTES: To connect with Don check out his websites:  www.khouricc.com www.donkhouri.com www.whentosayyes.com   INSIGHT AT WORK PODCAST THEME MUSIC: Our theme music is composed by Chris Lucca, Jr.. You can listen to more of Chris’ work at http://chrisluccamusic.com  You can also connect with him on Twitter: @Flipluka and on Instagram: @_flipluka.music_   ABOUT THE HOST: Ken Blackwell is a speaker, trainer, facilitator and executive coach. His signature practice is "rescuing Accidental Leaders and Dysfunctional Teams". His firm InKlaritas, based in Princeton, NJ, works with teams and leaders in companies in the U.S. around the world. You can find out more about InKlaritas at: www.InKlaritas.com and connect with Ken on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennethjblackwell/.