What does it take to build a brand people actually believe in? Sean Barnes and Nader Safinya explore culture branding, executive coaching, and the future of leadership in a post-COVID world.

Podcast Show Notes – Episode 249 | 09.30.2025

Episode Title: Nader Safinya & Sean Barnes   

Key Moments

0:00 - Introduction to Nader Safinya and Black Ribbit

1:05 - Welcome to The Way of the Wolf

1:33 - Culture branding and its challenges

2:42 - The impact of COVID-19 on workplace dynamics

5:10 - Employee vs. customer experience disconnect

6:02 - Importance of strategic questioning in business

7:22 - Company culture and job seeking

10:18 - Executive career transition coaching

13:20 - Implementing culture branding solutions

17:36 - Job descriptions tailored to lifestyle choices

21:51 - Quantifying culture: surveys and financial metrics

24:08 - Measuring workforce engagement qualitatively and quantitatively

25:52 - Rise of coaching and consulting post-pandemic

28:45 - Differentiation in coaching and consulting

29:03 - AI's role in human harmony

33:09 - Wealth redistribution and educational initiatives

35:42 - Networking events' impact on business

37:03 - Addressing toxic workplaces

38:02 - Communication's role in culture branding

41:24 - Balancing passion with practicality in leadership

44:33 - Black Ribbit's origins and leadership development

49:19 - The importance of early branding

51:17 - Vision for Black Ribbit's future growth

53:18 - Collaborative leadership and industry improvement

54:14 - Final thoughts on leadership and growth

55:22 - Closing remarks and thanks

Key Takeaways

1. Culture branding bridges the gap between what a company says and what it does, aligning employee and customer experiences seamlessly.


2. Effective communication and human-centered design in the workplace can transform company culture and positively impact employees' lives, creating a ripple effect beyond the office.


3. Redistributing wealth and leveraging AI requires careful consideration of human skills and education to ensure a balanced and harmonious future.

Guest: Nader Safinya

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadersafinya/

Website: http://blackribbit.com/

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/frog-talk/id1738770860

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Yugp87LUkJiRLDeZTtiSO

Host: Sean Barnes

Website:

https://www.wolfexecutives.com  

https://www.seanbarnes.com

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanbarnes/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/wolfexecutives

https://www.linkedin.com/company/thewayofthewolf/

LinkedIn Newsletter:

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7284600567593684993/

The Wolf Leadership Series:

https://wolfexecutives.com/wolf-leadership-series/

YouTube:

youtube.thewayofthewolf.com

Twitter:

https://x.com/the_seanbarnes

https://x.com/wolfexecutives

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/the_seanbarnes

https://www.instagram.com/wolfexecutives

https://www.instagram.com/the_wayofthewolf

TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@the_seanbarnes

Email: Sean@thewayofthewolf.com

Audible:

https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Way-of-the-Wolf-Podcast/B08JJNXJ6C

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/2BTGdO25Vop3GTpGCY8Y8E?si=ea91c1ef6dd14f15