Ascending Change
The Ascending Change Podcast features Jennifer Ayres, host, and co-Founder of Senscient. With over 20 years leading large-scale global transformation programs for Fortune 500 companies, her purpose is to help the conscious leader create meaningful and sustainable change by helping companies realize their most ambitious goals. The Ascending Change Podcast will highlight ideas, learnings, and stories about organizational and personal transformation, by featuring clients, and other notable leaders.
S6 E3 · Tue, September 10, 2024
How AI is Shaping the Leaders of Tomorrow
In this insightful episode, Jennifer Ayres sits down with Dr. Partha Ghosh, a renowned strategic problem-solver and leadership expert, to explore the evolving landscape of leadership in the AI-driven world. With over 40 years of experience guiding CEOs across 36 countries, Dr. Ghosh shares his unique perspectives on the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the new paradigms of leadership required for future success. Dr. Ghosh discusses the key components of leadership that are essential in this era of rapid technological advancement. He explains the importance of moving away from traditional command-and-control models towards a more humanistic approach that emphasizes creativity, intuition, and enlightened synergy. Learn how to cultivate intellectual, spiritual, and physical vectors within your organization to navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by AI. This episode is packed with practical advice for leaders looking to adapt their strategies and foster a culture of innovation, resilience, and positive change. Don't miss out on this opportunity to hear from one of the world's foremost thinkers on leadership and strategy. 0:00 - Introduction and Meet Dr. Partha Ghosh 1:29 - Leadership in the Fourth Industrial Revolution 4:04 - Enlightened Synergy and the Future of Leadership 6:13 - Managing AI Disruptions and Organizational Transitions 10:18 - Preparing Leaders for Change in the AI Era 16:08 - Workshops on Strategic Management, Innovation, and Leadership
S6 E2 · Tue, August 06, 2024
How AI is Transforming Creative Problem-Solving in Business
In this episode of Ascending Change, host Jennifer Ayres sits down with innovative AI expert Lori Mazor to explore how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing creative problem-solving in the business world. Lori shares her experiences and insights on integrating AI into businesses to enhance creativity and productivity. They discuss her book, Temperature: Creativity in the Age of AI , which examines the powerful role AI can play in driving business success while maintaining a human touch. Lori and Jennifer offer valuable perspectives on balancing structure and space, fostering innovation, and helping organizations thrive amid constant change. Tune in to learn how AI can unlock your workforce's potential and elevate the purpose and meaning of work. Lori Mazor's Book: Temperature Bonus 20% off any courses Use code: SENSCIENT20
S6 E1 · Tue, July 02, 2024
Why AI? Why Now? Understanding AI's Impact on Global Economy
Welcome to "Ascending Change," the newly rebranded podcast now aligns closely with our mission to elevate meaning at work and empower conscious leaders to foster positive and sustainable change. This series, we delve into the transformative potential of AI for business good. Join us as we explore how generative AI is set to revolutionize various industries by enhancing productivity and creating new opportunities for human workers. Through engaging discussions, expert insights, and cutting-edge research, we aim to equip leaders with the knowledge and strategies to navigate the AI-induced shifts in the global economy and labor market. Subscribe and follow us on your favorite podcast platforms to catch each episode where we address the challenges, opportunities, and ethical considerations of AI in business. Let's embark on this journey of change and innovation together.
S5 E14 · Tue, June 13, 2023
Concluding Season Five
Over season five of the Survive & Thrive podcast, the show has covered various topics necessary for facilitating a healthy and positive workplace culture, including managerial support, community initiatives, navigating inflation, and investing in staff to build a recession-resistant culture in times of economic uncertainty. In covering the importance of these themes, we emphasized the necessity of reimagining work culture and creating one that enables organizations not just to survive but also thrive. On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, host Jennifer Ayres concludes the season by revisiting some essential topics covered over recent shows. In addition, she shares the future developments for the podcast, which will take a brief pause in releasing episodes. The show will return with new installments by the end of this summer, and in the meantime will share announcements about upcoming additions to the series. Stay tuned! Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website
S5 E13 · Tue, May 30, 2023
Investing In Workplace Culture
A healthy workplace culture is vital for a business’s success. However, leadership staff must possess the resources necessary to guide their teams to meet the organization’s objectives. That said, companies can create a positive workplace culture by investing in support for their managerial staff so that they can lead their teams on the path to success. On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, host Jennifer Ayres discusses the impact of support for managers and staff on creating a healthy workplace culture. She dives into topics like the need for intentional culture shaping at a team level, the importance of cultural fluency in leadership, and the five hallmarks of a coaching-rich environment. People crave the opportunity to learn and grow, which means investing in training for team leaders and staff members can benefit a workforce team. Jen shares how development programs and learning solutions are necessary investments organizations must make to create coaching-rich environments and foster a healthy workplace environment. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website
S5 E12 · Tue, May 16, 2023
Supporting Management Staff
Creating a positive working environment is essential for supporting a team of engaged and productive employees. However, many leaders fail to recognize the importance of uplifting their management staff and providing them with the right resources to facilitate a healthy work culture for all. So how can leaders support their management staff through communication and connection? On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, host Jennifer Ayres shares how organizational leaders can uplift their management staff. Within the episode, Jen discusses how practices like maintaining open communication, expressing encouragement, setting realistic expectations, and providing resources to alleviate the symptoms of burnout can help management staff maintain high performance. By creating a culture of productivity and gratitude for management staff, leaders can build a better business model where every member of their organization can thrive. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website
S5 E11 · Tue, May 02, 2023
Community Initiatives And Company Culture
Incorporating gratitude within your business model can positively impact your company's spirit and work culture. But while giving back to your organization can enhance your team members' connection to purpose within the workplace, connecting your company to the community can also motivate and inspire your employees to further improve your company culture and brand. On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, host Jennifer Ayres shares how organizational leaders can work with their local community to help enhance their culture and build their brand. Today businesses and organizations face more expectations to participate in community initiatives and inspire societal change. In this episode, Jen discusses organizations' critical role in global leadership and how leaders can use this privilege to represent their businesses and build brands successfully. She also discusses ways leaders can begin their community-building journeys, the advantages community outreach can bring to their organization, and the impact and influence of community-based marketing. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website
S5 E10 · Tue, April 18, 2023
Navigating Inflation While Supporting Company Culture
As we face the financial realities of a potential economic recession, many small businesses are beginning to experience the effects of inflation and economic instability. However, company culture is always essential to company success. Businesses can retain a positive work environment and productive employees even during financial hardship. By cutting costs outside their team, small business leaders can still invest in their teams and experience the results of maintaining a solid and collaborative staff. On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, host Jennifer Ayres shares ways that small business leaders can navigate inflation without sacrificing company culture. She highlights the many creative ways that small businesses can handle the effects of inflation and what leaders should consider when laying the groundwork for their companies to thrive long-term. Additionally, Jen explains how adopting new modernized business resources can keep companies afloat. She discusses examples such as incorporating artificial intelligence, hiring independent contractors, networking, utilizing a remote or hybrid work model, and more! So tune in to learn more about these valuable strategies that allow teams to succeed for years to come. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website
S5 E9 · Tue, April 04, 2023
Creating A Recession-Resistant Culture
Last week’s podcast episode discussed why facilitating a healthy company culture can make your business more resistant throughout an economic recession. And with a potential recession looming, leaders must act now to support their teams and reach solutions. So, what are some tangible ways for workforce leaders to improve their workplace culture during financial uncertainty? On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, host Jennifer Ayres shares cost-effective ways for leaders to support their company culture throughout a recession. A healthy culture can prevent burnout, improve employee morale, and increase productivity even in challenging economic times. Jen explains how encouraging employees to take time off and recognizing their accomplishments shows that you value their contributions. Furthermore, ongoing training, mentorship programs, and promotion opportunities will empower your team and foster a culture of feedback and development. Finally, she explains the benefits of flexible schedules and 4-day workweeks for reducing costs, increasing employee engagement, and supporting a positive workplace culture.
S5 E8 · Tue, March 21, 2023
Prioritizing Company Culture Amid Economic Downturns
Company culture is key to surviving an economic downturn, and with a potential recession on the horizon, leaders must adjust their practices to ensure their teams can thrive. So how can leaders place focus on culture to prime their organization for future success? On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, host Jennifer Ayres discusses how leaders can support their organizations by creating positive change in their company culture. To ensure business survival during a recession, leaders must focus on the people within the organization and strengthen the connections and culture among the workforce members. Jen discusses this process and provides examples of success stories fueled by positive company culture. By strengthening the unity within the workforce, organizations can thrive and maintain resilience throughout times of uncertainty.
S5 E7 · Tue, March 07, 2023
Disability Inclusion in the Workplace
Hiring employees with impairments can be advantageous to a business, and according to USA Today, 25% of job seekers and current team members have a disability. So how can organizations practice a human-centric approach to leadership and support all of their staff members to succeed by promoting disability inclusion in the workplace? On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, host Jennifer Ayres discusses how employees with disabilities can be incredible assets to a company and workplace culture. She explains how leaders can focus on diversity inclusion to improve their organization and company culture. This can involve implementing accommodations for disabled staff members and making inclusivity a core company value. She also explains the benefits of hiring candidates with disabilities, including reduced employee turnover, higher productivity, a healthier work environment, and other advantages. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website
S5 E6 · Tue, February 21, 2023
Automating Your Onboarding
Work automation technology is gaining popularity across the business landscape and is known for saving people time and work. However, automated technology can also enable organizations to improve their company culture. Automated hiring systems are an example of this, as these solutions can be advantageous in onboarding new staff and building a better company culture among existing staff members. On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, host Jennifer Ayres shares the benefits of automating your hiring process and discusses how this practice can boost your company culture. From reducing the effort of traditional hiring to increasing efficiency in the recruitment process, there are many ways that automation can help companies streamline their onboarding and form stronger connections with their staff. Additionally, listen to the episode to hear more about how AI hiring technology can help leaders create a better company culture through bias-free hiring that supports diversity and inclusion, promotes better communication, and provides other great benefits. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website
S5 E5 · Tue, February 07, 2023
Cultivating Connections
Encouraging a sense of belonging at work among employees can lead to higher retention, engagement, and profits. One way for leaders to achieve this is by leveraging pride. When workers feel connected to their organization’s core values and mission, this pride can drive them to greater success. Therefore by using internal communication to express the company’s vision, leaders can help their team members feel connected to their work, team, and overall organization. On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, host Jennifer Ayres speaks on how leaders can cultivate connections between their workers and the organization’s mission. She provides ways that business leaders can communicate their organizational values and intentions to their team members to foster “belonging” within the workplace. In addition, leaders who use their company’s core vision can provide their staff with a sense of purpose, leading to increased productivity and engagement. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website
S5 E4 · Tue, January 24, 2023
The Importance Of Belonging In The Workplace
To achieve a sense of belonging within an organization, a person must feel seen, connected, supported, and proud. This can bring many advantages to the organization's success through employee engagement, performance, and other beneficial factors. However, with so many teams now leading remote workers or staff with hybrid schedules cultivating connections among dispersed members isn't always easy. So how can leaders build an environment on connection to create a culture of belonging for their organizational members? On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, host Jennifer Ayres discusses the importance of "belonging" in the workplace. She goes over the benefits of curating an environment built on connection and how leaders can encourage employees to feel connected within the workplace. In addition, Jennifer explains that leaders can foster belonging for their employees by utilizing bonding opportunities that promote team-building and inclusion. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website
S5 E3 · Tue, January 10, 2023
Recognize, Reward, Repeat: Motivating Through Recognition
Every organizational leader is looking for ways to increase their team's motivation, engagement, and overall productivity. But could the missing component to drive workforce success be applying leadership that encourages productivity and achievement through recognition? On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, host Jennifer Ayres is joined by guest Steve Van Valon, Partner with Concinnity and author of "The Search for Meaning at Work." Steve has built his career working with business leaders to support healthy, high-performance cultures through engaging leadership. Steve and Jennifer discuss how business leaders can influence teams to drive positive culture and organizational success. How Does Recognition at Work Affect the Organization? Introducing Steve Van Valen (0:04) Jennifer introduces her guest speaker, Steve Van Valen. Steve is a member of the Concinnity leadership team and helps to lead culture offerings and leave significant impacts on organizations that seek guidance on leading a healthy workplace of the future. Steve speaks of his passion for motivating people, managing teams in beneficial work environments and working with people to help shape healthy, high-performance cultures. The emotional impact of progress and purpose (6:11) Steve explains his belief that when it comes to purpose, people must multitask to be fulfilled at work. He built upon this idea within his book, where he identifies 11 different amplifiers of meaning that play a part at work. He explains that leaders can clarify organizational purpose for people in many ways and how doing so will enable their team members to derive meaning from it and reveal creative possibilities to lead with purpose. Steve and Jennifer discuss how emotion can drive motivation and can allow people to amplify their sense of purpose at work. How progress towards purpose creates meaning (10:40) Progress can be measured in many different ways. Steve explains how identifying and gaining clarity in an organization's purpose can help people recognize their progress and achievement. He goes on to discuss how having a sense of purpose at work can dictate whether someone has meaning, as progress toward purpose creates meaning. Engaging people in the workplace can, in turn, lead to progress and fulfillment since people are naturally wired to want to desire to make progress and to feel meaning and a sense of self-satisfaction through their work. The importance of loyalty, giving, and taking (15:33) People gain a sense of belonging when they are a part of a work team. However, a feeling of loyalty would require them to enjoy benefiting their organization and experience benefits from the company in exchange. According to Steve, this relationship is just one step toward gaining a spiritual sense of meaning from their work. He explains how organizations can
S5 E2 · Tue, December 27, 2022
Building Your Business With Gratitude
Every business leader wishes to see improvements in their organization. Increased productivity and employee retention rates are some examples of positive performance indicators that businesses strive for. But what if the trick to experiencing new signs of positive change in the future starts with displaying gratitude and appreciation today? On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, join host Jennifer Ayres as she discusses how business leaders can foster gratitude in the workplace. In this show, Jennifer explains how creating a healthy culture from the ground up and incorporating gratitude into your business’ foundation can benefit your organization -- and its members. So tune in to learn how supporting a company culture based on gratitude and employee recognition can do wonders for your organizational success. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website
S5 E1 · Tue, December 13, 2022
Culture Reimagined
Culture is integral to the success of an organization, and leaders should strive to build their businesses with culture in mind. But by reimagining ways to introduce, implement, and facilitate a work culture, leaders can better promote a beneficial culture that enables their organization to persevere and thrive. But what is culture reimagined exactly? On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, join host Jennifer Ayres as she kicks off season five by discussing how leaders can reimagine their work culture to implement positive change within their organizations. She explains why company culture is essential and how leaders should prioritize including positive culture within their business models. Reimagining culture is an action, not a concept, and Jen provides examples of ways that leaders can start from the ground up and rework their approach toward a reimagined culture. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website
Trailer · Tue, November 29, 2022
Season 5 Trailer
Work Culture defines more than just the organization ‘vibe’, it determines how successful teams will be working together. Work Culture is powerful. Let’s learn to harness it. How do you create a positive impact on work culture? On the Survive & Thrive podcast, host Jennifer Ayres delves into ways to facilitate change in your organization for conscious work culture and leadership. With over 20 years of advising leaders of larger and small organizations on realizing business results leading their teams through change and a healthy work culture, change management and transformation under her belt, Jen co-founded Concinnity to help companies evolve and elevate their leadership and ethics. Now, she shares her expertise with you - here on the Survive & Thrive podcast. Through research, guest interviews, and explorations of workplace trends, this show will teach you not just to survive, but to thrive in your career, culture, and company.
S4 E38 · Tue, October 04, 2022
Where are We?
Welcome back to Survive & Thrive podcast. Are you wondering where we are today? Well, we're doing a lot of work behind the scenes to get ready for our next season. We've had some really interesting feedback over the last four seasons and we're gearing up to bring you some special content in season five. So stay tuned. We'll be returning in early November. And until then, we'll be republishing some of our highlights and featured hits. Ciao!
S4 E37 · Tue, September 27, 2022
Season Four Wrap-Up
Season four of the Survive & Thrive podcast brought new guest speakers and tackled some essential topics regarding workforce leadership, the ever-changing professional landscape, company culture, and more. But what key concepts should you take away from this season? On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, host Jennifer Ayres goes through season four of the podcast and reflects on important messages and lessons within the episodes. Jennifer discussed many topics this season and spoke with various experts on everything regarding companies finding success in the future of work. So tune in to hear some of the most influential pieces of knowledge from Survive & Thrive! What important knowledge did we cover in Season 4 of Survive & Thrive? Flexibility and the Pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic caused many organizational leaders to rethink their operations and allow more flexibility for their workers. Hear Jennifer discuss her interview with Jessica Redford on organizations using technology to become more flexible and meet workforce challenges in 2022. Psychological Safety in the Workplace Psychological safety is vital for all members of an organization to feel comfortable, confident, and productive. Season four of the podcast featured several interviews on mental health and psychological safety, and Jennifer shares her thoughts on these topics in this episode. Mental Health and Avoiding Burnout Taking measures to maintain your mental health can help you avoid burnout from workforce stressors. Jennifer shares some knowledge from this season’s episodes about how practices like meditation can help with improving one’s mental health. Diversity and Inclusion Jennifer’s discussion with Kate Hall covered diversity and inclusion within the workplace and how organizations can make their workspaces more welcoming and humanizing. Hear Jennifer reflect on this and the importance of acceptance and understanding to fuel a positive work environment. Making Work a Safe Space Maintaining an inclusive environment can help the members of an organization thrive and accomplish more together. In episodes 34 and 36 of this season, Jennifer discussed inclusivity and fostering a safe and friendly environment in the workplace for disabled and LGBTQ+ members. The Importance of Company Culture Positive company culture can do wonders for an organization and enable it to survive the challenges that may occur in the future of work. Jennifer reflects on episode 18, where she and her guest, Devin Basinger, spoke on the importance of culture in the workplace. Employee Experience What does “employee experience” mean, and why is it so important for organizations? Jennifer and guest speaker Jess Podgajny discussed the employee experience, remote work, cultur
S4 E36 · Tue, September 20, 2022
Inclusivity Toward LGBTQ+ Members In The Workplace
Psychological safety is vital for all individuals to thrive in the workplace, but for members of communities that frequently experience harassment, practicing inclusivity is especially important. LGBTQ+ members can find relief in an inclusive and self-aware work environment. So how can leaders create an inclusive environment for their workers? On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, host Jennifer Ayres discusses some best practices to ensure that our companies and their cultures are inclusive. This includes practices like communicating acceptance through company values, using inclusive language within the workplace, and extending support to staff members. By practicing inclusivity, we, as leaders, can help our staff feel safe, keep our company culture healthy, and enable our organizations to thrive. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website
S4 E35 · Tue, September 13, 2022
“How To Win Friends And Influence People” As A Workforce Leader
The book "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie focuses on ways to generate positive relationships with others, to teach the practice of dealing with people and communicating with them effectively. So how can a book originally written in the 1930s help leaders improve their relationships and communication methods to help their teams thrive in the modern workforce? On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, host Jennifer Ayres discusses how lessons in communication, leadership, and people management can be timeless tools for leading workforce teams to success. In addition, she explains how listeners can interpret Carnegie's book in the current year to gain helpful information for managers and leaders to reap the benefits of effective communication and improved company culture. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website
S4 E34 · Tue, September 06, 2022
Change Management For Disability Inclusion
While physical or mental impairments are common among Americans, many employees do not feel comfortable disclosing their disabilities to their managers, which can cause detriment to the employees and the organization itself. However, organizational leaders can promote disability inclusion in the workplace by taking a human-centric approach to thoughtful change management. On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, host Jennifer Ayres discusses how leaders can use change management to promote disability inclusion in the workplace. By supporting staff members with disabilities through disability-inclusive practices, organizations can see numerous benefits, including more diversity, unique insights, and other advantages. Jennifer explains how organizational leaders can use change management to nurture their employees with disabilities and cultivate a productive and inclusive environment in the workplace. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website
S4 E33 · Tue, August 30, 2022
Company Culture And Organizational Success
Workforce leaders are responsible for managing their teams to carry out their tasks and achieve business goals. However, promoting a company culture focused on empathy, flexibility, and change management can help your team stay satisfied in their positions and united in the face of challenges. So how can leaders make changes to facilitate a more positive company culture? On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, host Jennifer Ayres is joined by guest Kate Hall to speak about company culture and leadership. Kate is a project leader primarily focused on change management at SingleStone Consulting. Kate has years of professional experience in consulting, through which she has worked with companies to help them through their business challenges. Jennifer and Kate share their thoughts on company culture, psychological safety, and the importance of change management to survive and thrive in the future of work. How Can Company Culture Impact Organizational Success? Introducing Kate Hall (00:38) Jennifer opens the episode by introducing Kate Hall, a project management professional who is well versed in the impact of maintaining a healthy company culture and creating connections in the workplace. Kate describes how over her last eight years of working with SingleStone Consulting, she developed skills to help companies focus on their real business challenges - often concerning company culture. Activating the Workforce (1:48) Activating a workforce can help individuals reach their full potential, bringing their co-workers and team along with them. Kate shares her thoughts on this, citing how the great resignation has shown the importance of company culture for activating the workforce. Since COVID-19, people have realized how short life is and are more focused now on spending time working in an environment where they feel valued. Therefore, company culture and team cultures are critical, now especially. The Importance of Culture (3:10) Kate knows the importance of culture and has witnessed it in her professional experiences as a workforce team member. She explains how failing to get to know fellow team members and their roles can damage company culture and discourage workers. As a result, workers can miss out on a feeling of unity within their teams, often leading to increased turnover. Building Relationships and Psychological Safety (5:32) Kate emphasizes the need for leaders to support the psychological safety of their teams by building relationships and trust with their team members. She shares a personal experience about a time when her company’s culture and strong relationship with her employer made her feel supported and valued. She and Jennifer speak on the importance of psychological safety in the workplace. Thriving Through Flexibility (8:29) Kate’s
S4 E32 · Tue, August 23, 2022
Leadership And Mental Health Management
Burnout affects many people throughout their careers, leading to the question, how can people move on from the psychological effects of work stress? While burnout can be challenging to manage, business leaders may be able to implement changes that will support their staff and themselves in recovering from and steering clear of burnout. With the right practices, teams can become more likely to succeed with improved mental health and a mindset optimized for transformative growth. On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, host Jennifer Ayres speaks about ways leaders can boost their employees' mental health and manage the emotional stressors brought on by their work. Jennifer covers therapeutic practices and leadership techniques like meditation, mindfulness, and other mental health tips and tricks. Listen to this episode to learn how leaders can make a difference in their staff's mental health, boost employee morale, and enable their employees to thrive. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website
S4 E31 · Tue, August 16, 2022
Mental Health And Burnout
Mental health is not always discussed openly in the business and the workplace. However, failure to appropriately manage mental barriers and stressors in professional settings can make it challenging to overcome them. Instead, people should be open about these topics and view these experiences as inspiration to drive growth and positive transformation. So how should leaders address struggles with mental health to benefit their entrepreneurial endeavors? On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, host Jennifer Ayres speaks about mental health in the workplace and how one can appropriately face issues with their psychological wellbeing in a way that will help them move forward and succeed. Leaders and entrepreneurs often experience work burnout, stress, and other mental health struggles due to their work, which can lead to additional problems in other areas of life. However, Jenn explains that leaders and entrepreneurs can view this discomfort as a sign to make a change and experience positive transformation. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website How to Make Stress Your Friend - Kelly McGonigal
S4 E30 · Tue, August 09, 2022
Female Entrepreneurs - Mental Health, Motherhood And More
Women have come a long way in the business world, but female entrepreneurs still face their own unique set of obstacles. As an increased number of women have turned to entrepreneurship in recent years, many still experience more challenges than male entrepreneurs. In addition, sexism against women in business still exists, with women of color especially facing discrimination, and the decision to have children can pose additional career obstacles for female entrepreneurs. So how can women manage their businesses to survive through these challenges? On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, host Jennifer Ayres discusses the challenges facing female entrepreneurs today. While women may face many unique obstacles in the business world, there are resources for female entrepreneurs to gain support. Jen shares her thoughts on the experience of running a business as a woman and ways that women can thrive in their entrepreneurial pursuits. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website
S4 E29 · Tue, August 02, 2022
A Mindset For Success
To succeed as an entrepreneur, you must put effort into your work - and yourself. Symptoms of poor mental health like burnout and stress can cause harmful effects in other areas of life, like their physical health, relationships, and even business pursuits. Leaders and team members alike rely on their mental well-being to support them and their overall progression through life. So, how can people maintain their mental health to support their entrepreneurial success? On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, host Jennifer Ayres is joined by guest Lance Knaub. Lance is currently the leader and business coach at Denali Consulting. He is a founder and partner at Breakthrough Physical Therapy and Fitness and even wrote a best-selling book called "The 4% Breakthrough" to help others reach entrepreneurial success. Together, Jen and Lance talk about cultivating and maintaining a mindset for success. How Can Mental Health Affect Your Entrepreneurial Pursuits? Introducing Lance Knaub (1:41) Jen introduces her special guest Lance Knaub of Denali Consulting. In addition to being a founder and partner at Breakthrough Physical Therapy and Fitness, Lance is an adjunct assistant professor at Rutgers University and has a best-selling book, "The 4% Breakthrough". Lance shares a little about your journey and how it's led him to his profession as an entrepreneur in the physical therapy business. Taking the Entrepreneurial Leap (3:14) Soon after graduating from physical therapy school, Lance and his wife Jody, also a physical therapist, were looking for a change in how they could deliver care to their patients. He explains what it was like for them to take the entrepreneurial leap, a business decision that would allow them to offer their preferred therapy practices. From then, he shares how he fell in love with entrepreneurship, grew his company, and used his knowledge and experience to help other entrepreneurs. Health Neglect and Burnout (5:10) While taking on the new challenges to support other entrepreneurs, Lance found himself with a problem that affects many entrepreneurs - burnout. He shares how his mental health struggles began to affect other areas of his life. Fortunately, he improved by engaging in personal development and learned how to help other entrepreneurs prevent burning out and stay healthy while scaling their businesses. The Connection Between Health, Personal Development, and Careers (7:49) According to Lance, health, personal development, and our careers are intrinsically connected. He explains this belief and how integrating your mental and physical health through your business pursuits is crucial to entrepreneurial success. Lance also shares more about his personal development journey and provides recommendations for how listeners can do their own soul searching to identify their priorities and cr
S4 E28 · Tue, July 26, 2022
Inside Out Leadership And Ethical Entrepreneurship
What does "purpose" mean for your company, your employees, and yourself? This is important as purpose is a necessary component of inside-out leadership. This purpose-driven leadership style can only occur when leaders understand and leverage their personal purpose and passions to guide their team and organization. By recognizing and aligning with their values, leaders can see great benefits for their organizations. On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, host Jennifer Ayres talks about inside-out leadership and how leaders can embrace their true purpose to improve their organizations, attract engaged staff members, and reach personal fulfillment. Jennifer shares her journey with personal fulfillment and explains how aligning with one's purpose can benefit not only themselves but also their team and business success.
S4 E27 · Tue, July 19, 2022
How Leaders Can Transform Company Culture With Gratitude
Company culture is a fundamental aspect of an organization, and promoting an attitude of gratitude among staff members can strengthen workplace culture and improve factors like productivity, retention, innovation, and more. Company culture is made up of the social aspects that define an organization, being the unique set of values, attitudes, behaviors, and practices shared by its members. So how can leaders incorporate gratitude into their company culture to positively impact their organization? On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, host Jennifer Ayres discusses the importance of promoting gratitude within their leadership principles to positively transform an organization’s company culture. Leaders who incorporate an attitude of gratitude within their organizations can positively influence aspects within the workplace by growing the unity of their company culture around this positive aspect. Jennifer explains different methods leaders can take to positively influence others with gratitude to help further strengthen and define their company culture.
S4 E26 · Tue, July 12, 2022
Cultivating The Employee/Employer Relationship
As more and more workers are leaving jobs that fail to provide them with a sense of meaning, it is more important than ever for leaders to appropriately assess what employees need to feel connected and fulfilled in the workplace. Data shows that when leaders build interpersonal relationships with their employees, they demonstrate an overall human-centric approach to leadership that contributes to feelings of connection and engagement from their staff. On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, host Jennifer Ayres speaks on how cultivating the employer/employee relationship can give workers a higher sense of purpose and support the success of their organization. Personalizing the relationship between leaders and employees lets staff know they are valued and can be incredibly opportunistic for an organization. Jennifer discusses strategies that employers can practice to better connect with their team, improve retention, and give employees a sense of purpose to help their companies grow and thrive. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website
S4 E25 · Tue, July 05, 2022
The Importance Of Purpose In Leadership
The pursuit and fulfillment of one's life purpose can significantly impact many areas of their life, especially for those in leadership roles. So how does such a personal aspect affect the success of leaders in business and organizational settings? On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, host Jennifer Ayres is joined by guest Robb Holman, CEO of global leadership consultancy Holman International. Robb has leadership expertise as an executive coach, global keynote speaker, best-selling author of three leadership books, and host of his podcast "Inside Out Leadership." Together, Robb and Jennifer share their thoughts on transformational leadership and the importance of purpose for leaders in the workplace. How Does Leader’s Purpose Affect the Organization? Introducing Robb Holman (00:21) Our host Jen introduces guest speaker Robb Holman, an internationally recognized and sought-after leadership professional. Robb has honed his skills in developing authentic relationships and supporting people in their paths to success by applying his Inside Out leadership philosophy and principles. Leader's Purpose and the Organization (5:55) How does the leader's purpose impact the organization? Jen and Robb discuss ways that leaders aligning with their purpose can help them find a sense of direction and positively affect the individuals they lead. Things to Consider to Determine Personal Purpose (7:28) Robb believes that when we truly understand or awaken to embrace our uniqueness and individual identity, we can better understand our purpose. Robb lists five practical areas that he believes leaders should consider to help them determine their purpose and embrace who they are. Purpose Before Goals and Accomplishments (10:34) People often prioritize their goals and accomplishments over their life purpose to achieve a sense of success and fulfillment. However, Robb explains why he believes that pursuing one's purpose should supersede everything else in life. Where to Start? (18:26) The first step in the journey toward aligning with your purpose is ensuring that your personal core values, strengths, passions, life, milestones, and gifts match how you live your life. Consistency, Intentionality, and Gratitude (22:21) According to Robb, consistency and intentionality are critical to leading others with passion, purpose, and enthusiasm. Additionally, living authentically and developing an attitude of gratitude can positively impact yourself, your team, and your organization. Meditation and Other Lifestyle Techniques (27:52) Robb and Jen speak on the many ways that people can work on rewiring their brains to adopt a more grateful and healthy perspective, which can lead to greater productivity. Human Beings Not Human Doings (
S4 E24 · Tue, June 28, 2022
Technology And The Employee Experience
Supporting a positive employee experience can provide various benefits for the success of staff members and their organizations. But, with new workforce and enterprise software solutions constantly being introduced to work environments, how does implementing this technology affect the employee experience? On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, join host Jennifer Ayres as she speaks on the importance of new technology for supporting the employee experience. While technological advancements are often adopted to improve work productivity, business leaders can also utilize these software systems to facilitate a positive employee experience for their workers. Within this episode, listeners can learn about how technology can improve their staff’s employee experience and benefit the overall success of their organizations. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website
S4 E23 · Tue, June 21, 2022
The New Grad Employee Experience
It is an undeniable fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has left lasting effects on the landscape of work and altered workforce leadership practices in years to come. So what can organizational leaders do to ease the transition for the next generation of workers? As recent graduates enter the post-pandemic labor pool, organizations may need to implement new strategies to support the employee experience for the future workforce. On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, join host Jennifer Ayres as she discusses the employee experience for new graduates entering the post-pandemic workforce. In recent years expectations for the employee experience have changed, requiring leaders to be strategic in attracting and retaining top talent among Gen Z professionals. This episode shares information and insights on how organizations can create a healthy work culture that is supportive of the recent graduate employee experience. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website
S4 E22 · Tue, June 14, 2022
The Impact Of Physical Space On Work
How can we improve our office space to benefit the employee experience, especially as many workers are taking on a hybrid or remote work structure? Now that people with remote or hybrid work structures have more flexibility on whether they go into the office and when they go in, employees will likely be more intentional about what work environments are attractive to them. On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, join host Jennifer Ayres as she focuses on how our physical workspace can impact our productivity, wellness, and more. After all, it is unknown whether there will even be office spaces in the future or whether the popularity of remote work and the high cost of rent will cause employers to decide against providing them. This episode addresses the possibilities of future workspaces and work structures and the aspects of work environments that can affect the employee experience. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website
S4 E21 · Tue, June 07, 2022
Employee Experience And The Future Of Work
How impactful is employee experience when it comes to the overall success of your organization? On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, join host Jennifer Ayres as she chats with her partner at Concinnity, Lisa Insley, about the employee experience and how it relates to the future of work. Lisa Insley specializes in Human Experience and Digital Transformation for Concinnity. She is an experienced leader in the digital space with expertise in developing strategies and team processes to deliver superior business outcomes. In this episode, Lisa provides her expert opinion on the employee experience, its relation to company culture, and how organizations can take steps to improve and support their workforce. Why is Employee Experience Important? Introducing Lisa (0:44) Jennifer introduces her partner Lisa Insley, to continue to expand the conversation around the employee experience as it relates to the future of work. Jen then has Lisa provide her own definition of an employee experience and what it means to her. Why Employee Experience Matters (3:08) The satisfaction of a workforce and a more positive employee experience is proven to make an impact on the ability of your organization to be successful. Jennifer and Lisa discuss why employee experience matters for companies and organizations. Company Culture and Principals Employee Experience and Company Culture (4:35) Workforce and company culture is an integral part of determining an employee's experience and positively impacting the success of the workforce. Lisa explains company culture's relation to employee experience and why it is easier for organizations to give their workforce a positive experience when they communicate a clear set of leading principles and values. A Beneficial Investment (6:38) A report by Gartner showed that employers who support the overall wellbeing of their employees see a 21% increase in their number of high performers. When members of a workforce feel supported, this facilitates a greater sense of overall wellbeing. Jennifer and Lisa discuss how organizations can invest in their staff by being intentional about their culture and promoting a positive employee experience. Leverage Feedback (8:09) Jennifer asks Lisa how organizations should consider methods for improving their culture and employee experience. Lisa explains that the first thing that organizations can do is figure out where they are in terms of employee sentiment and employee engagement. There are many methods for leaders to gain feedback from the employees on engagement and their employee experience, giving them a good sense of direction for moving forward. Intentionally Articulate Company Culture (12:20) To support a positive employee experience, organizations should articulate their company culture
S4 E20 · Tue, May 31, 2022
The Future Of Work In The Warehousing Industry
The warehousing industry has seen significant growth in recent years, and now with just the click of a button, you can have most items on your doorstep faster than ever. In addition, due to the growing popularity of retail structures, many changes have been implemented within the warehousing industry to refine and improve work processes. So, what can we learn from this industry, and how can you prepare your teams for the changes that it will soon face? On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, join host Jennifer Ayres as she discusses the warehousing industry and how it serves as an example of change and adaptability. Jennifer explains how economic trends have impacted this industry and how effective leadership is necessary for teams to survive and thrive throughout times of change. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website
S4 E19 · Tue, May 24, 2022
The Search For Purpose At Work
Everyone desires to fulfill their life purpose. As workers spend a lot of their time at their jobs, it can be challenging for them to find the time to pursue their purpose outside of the workplace. Fortunately, there are ways that organizational leaders can help their staff members achieve a sense of purpose within their professions, and reap the benefits that this can provide. So how can you support your staff members in their search for purpose at work? On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, join host Jennifer Ayres as she discusses the ways that leaders can support their staff members in identifying and fulfilling their purpose at work. Additionally, she explains the importance of supporting your workers search for purpose, and the ways in which this can have positive effects on your organization. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website
S4 E18 · Tue, May 17, 2022
Facilitating A Positive Work Culture
Does your workforce have a positive culture? On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, join host Jennifer Ayres as she speaks with Devin Basinger, SVP of People and Operations at H1. With his strong background as an operator, strategist, and people leader in entrepreneurial endeavors, Devin has learned how to support positive company culture intentionally and why it matters. As a leader at a company growing on a global scale, Devin has first-hand experience with the alignment of workforce culture with company values. In this episode, he shares expertise in management and consulting with listeners and explains why prioritizing company values, people culture, and a healthy work environment are essential for leading a successful organization. Why is Work Culture Important? Introducing Devin (1:34) Jennifer introduces Devin, who shares a bit about his professional journey, and his role and achievements working for H1. Focusing on People (3:46) Jennifer opens up today's discussion by focusing on the people aspect of Devin's profession. She speaks about the impact of facilitating a workforce culture that aligns with company values. Prioritizing Values Company Values Matter (4:40) COVID has greatly impacted our relationship to work and our priorities. Considering your company's values and how the behaviors you want to see in your workplace map to those values can help you create a more positive future workplace. Devin speaks about the values he prioritizes and how he implements those values to facilitate a healthy work environment. Scaling Culture (8:40) Devin and his company understand the reality of how positive culture is vital to a company. Furthermore, he elaborates on how imperative culture is and why it is essential to intentionally work on creating the right workforce culture. Integrating New Cultures (14:14) Every culture is different, and as younger generations move into the workforce, we may see that the prioritization of cultural fit increases. Finding the right cultural fit is about what you want your company to embrace regarding the behaviors and outcomes that leaders want to see. Devin shares his thoughts about hiring candidates while prioritizing workforce culture and how company culture played a role in his company's global expansion. Remote Work's Impact on Work Culture (18:22) Devin explains how remote work structures have impacted workforces, building a positive and respectful workforce culture, and the importance of conducting intentional culture work. Experiences and Influencers (20:08) Jennifer and Devin met while working on a project around change management. He describes how this and his other early experiences have influenced his perspective on culture and made him aware of the impact that positiv
S4 E17 · Tue, May 10, 2022
How To Improve Diversity In The Tech Industry
Improving diversity in the workforce is a work in progress for many industries, especially in the high-tech sector. Unfortunately, studies and statistics prove that the technology industry has a serious problem with workforce diversity, with vastly uneven employment rates for underrepresented members. This, along with unfair wage gaps for underrepresented individuals, can create damaging power and privilege imbalances in the workplace. So why is this such a significant issue for the tech sector, and what can be done to resolve it? On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, join host Jennifer Ayres as she explains the importance of maintaining a diverse workforce, the positive impact of diversity in the workplace, and methods for improving diversity in the tech industry. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website
S4 E16 · Tue, May 03, 2022
Why Employee Experience Matters And How To Improve It
Employee experience has become a hot-button topic recently, and for good reason. With study after study showing a positive employee experience and company culture leads to improved employee retention, easier recruiting, and even boosted production; it’s no wonder why it’s on everyone’s mind. But do you really know what employee experience means and how to ensure you have a good one? If not, you’re really missing out. On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, join host Jennifer Ayres as she explains what encompasses the employee experience, why it should matter to leaders and organizations, and some real-world tactics you can utilize to improve your employee experience to reap the rewards. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website
S4 E15 · Tue, April 26, 2022
Personalizing The Employee Experience
Like it or not, employment has changed over the course of the pandemic. Employees have been given a taste of flexibility and they aren’t eager to give it up. However, that shift in thinking toward the employee experience can be incredibly powerful for both employees and employers, if used correctly. On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, host Jennifer Ayres is joined by special return guest Jess Podgajny. You might remember Jess from the first season but she’s the founder and CEO of Lluna, a company dedicated to empowering teams through flexibility. Jennifer and Jess talk about the changing dynamics, how employers can use analytics to improve human resources, and why everyone should care about the employee experience. Improving The Employee Experience Reintroducing Jess Podgajny (0:59) This isn’t the first time Jess has been on the Survive & Thrive podcast but she shares a brief summary of her background and what she’s been up to since her last appearance. How has the pandemic changed work? (7:45) The pandemic brought flexibility to the workplace. Jess shares how that newly-found flexibility has impacted organizations like Lluna and shifted the power dynamics between employees and employers. Collecting and using analytics (14:12) Various surveys found organizations either aren’t utilizing analytics in human resources or aren’t doing it well. Jess explains what Lluna is doing to help these types of organizations collect and use that data appropriately. Employee experience: What it is and why you should care (18:30) Jess explains what “employee experience” really means and what it looks like for both employers and employees. She also shares her beliefs on why it matters so much. Giving employees agency (23:03) Jess shares an example of how allowing employees to have a choice in a matter can make all the difference. Where leaders should focus (26:06) Jess shares what she believes leaders and organizations can focus on to be better prepared -- and to better prepare their employees -- for the future. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website Inc - 55% of HR leaders struggle with ‘people analytics’ Inc - Global talent trends report Technically - Lluna and the future of work <a href="
S4 E14 · Tue, April 19, 2022
HR Trends: Reimagining Human Resources For The Future Of Work
Now that we’re slowly entering a post-pandemic world, we need HR to reflect what we’ve learned. Whether it’s a focus on the “human” part of Human Resources or the evolution we’ve seen in recruitment and employee retention, some HR trends are here to stay. On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, join host Jennifer Ayres as she takes a closer look at the HR trends that must be incorporated in the future of work. From mental health initiatives and health & safety to a need for agility and creativity, human resources has an opportunity to refocus, automate, and update to become a better resource for the most valuable part of a business: its people. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website
S4 E13 · Tue, April 12, 2022
Workforce Development Strategies: How To Level Up Your Workers And Business
While the last few years have taught us a rigid plan can be problematic in times of great change, scrambling to create a plan under pressure isn’t great either. With “The Great Resignation” in full swing, it’s clear organizations can benefit from effective workforce development strategies now more than ever. On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, Jennifer Ayres takes a closer look at workforce development, including what it encompasses, how to define your workforce goals, and how to incorporate strategies that will not only improve the lives of those you employees but your business as well.
S4 E12 · Tue, April 05, 2022
Upskilling Your Workforce
The Great Resignation has taught us that it isn’t quite as simple as hiring new employees to replace those that leave or fill skill gaps. Instead of trying to find the right outside candidate that has all the skills you require, upskilling your existing workforce could be the answer. On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, we’re diving into upskilling. From how it can help your bottom line to the ways it boosts morale and employee retention, upskilling -- and reskilling -- can save you time, money, and a lot of future headaches. We’ll continue to give you the tools necessary to not just survive, but thrive in the future of work. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website Bamboo HR - Average cost of onboarding employees Statista - Are you more or less productive working from home? Gallup - Retain your top talent, don’t hand them to competitors Gallup - This fixable problem costs U.S. businesses $1 trillion NetSuite - 50 employee turnover statistics to know today Survey Monkey - Why employees crave more training and how employers aren’t delivering it PWC - Hopes and fears 2021 PWC - Humanity, Innovation and radical progress in the post-COVID world
S4 E11 · Tue, March 29, 2022
How to Cultivate a Psychologically Safe Work Environment
Do your employees feel psychologically safe at work? On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, join host Jennifer Ayres as she chats with Dr. Amber Tichenor, CEO of TO BE Coaching + Consulting. With over 20 years in organizational strategy and consulting, Amber is well versed in helping leaders cultivate a healthy work environment. She has also done extensive research on rivalry between women in the workplace. With her background and research, Amber discusses how to identify and navigate this rivalry, as well as how to approach the organization about it. She breaks down how work cultures can either purposefully or accidentally erode psychological safety. Listen to this episode to hear what steps leaders and organizations can take to create a healthy and productive workplace. What is Psychological Safety? Introducing Amber (1:03) Jennifer introduces Amber, giving a quick overview of her professional experience. Amber gives further detail on her background and why she got into organizational psychology. Why psychological safety matters (5:14) As Amber notes, your safety -- physical, emotional, and psychological -- has an impact on your performance. Whether because of a toxic environment, bullying coworker, or demanding boss; if you don’t feel your best, you can’t give your best. Female Rivalry Female Rivalry in the Workplace (7:13) Many work environments and HR may not know how to handle female rivalry. Unfortunately, female rivalry hurts those being targeted, the entire team and the organization. More than just a “cat fight,” this type of behavior resembles bullying and usually stems from low self-esteem. Women who are targeted doubt themselves. Amber advises those who are bullied to document everything, so that they have proof of their story. How Can Leaders Help? (12:38) As leaders, we can mitigate this behavior. Prioritizing a healthy culture and implementing practices that support it is a great way to build bonds between peers. With training and policies, organizations can formally discourage or even punish poor behavior. Unfortunately, bullying in the workplace is more common than you may think. Approaching the Perpetrator (14:40) Amber shares her advice for approaching the perpetrator before going to HR. By calming yourself, you can better discuss the issue, look inward, or even step back and find the cause of the problems. Perhaps there is a cultural difference, miscommunication or an accident. Cultivating Safety Psychologically Unsafe (20:37) Little mistakes can snowball into a toxic work environment. Exclusion, stereotyping, and overly harsh punishment can lead to a psychologically unsafe workplace. When employees feel on edge, they disengage, decrease their work efforts, take their frustrations out on customers,
S4 E10 · Tue, March 22, 2022
Employee Well-Being And Wellness: What Are They And Why Do They Matter?
As a leader, it can be difficult to find the time to think about the mental, emotional, and physical struggles your staff is facing every day. However, not thinking about your employee well-being and wellness programs could be impacting your bottom line and making your life harder. Join host Jennifer Ayres on this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast as she discusses the difference between employee well-being and wellness and looks at the influence employee wellness and well-being programs have on important areas like attendance, productivity, staff turnover, and even the culture within your organization. Jennifer also shares some things you can start doing today to improve your employees’ wellness and well-being.
S4 E9 · Tue, March 15, 2022
How To Build Culture In A Hybrid Working Model
Workers want a hybrid work model, which means how you establish and maintain your organization’s culture is evolving. On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, join host Jennifer Ayres as she looks at how you can foster an inclusive culture in a hybrid work model. Jennifer looks at the most recent data and surveys that point to this workplace evolution. She details how things like empathy, dedication, creativity, and a sense of belonging should factor into your organization’s culture. From the hiring process to building community groups, this episode will teach you how you can improve your organization’s culture regardless of where your people work.
S4 E8 · Tue, March 08, 2022
How To Effectively Manage The Future Of Work
Being able to manage and adapt to changes can be the difference between your organization simply surviving or thriving. If the COVID-19 pandemic taught us anything, it’s that these changes are often unexpected and happen quickly, making effective change management even more important than you might have thought before. But as we see light at the end of that tunnel, what is change management’s role within the future of work? That’s what we’re discussing on this week’s episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast. Join host Jennifer Ayres as she explores where we’ve come with our workforce transformation and where our current trends in business and technology are likely to take us in the future. Jennifer also discusses how leaders can effectively implement change management methods and instill a team culture capable of surviving workforce changes.
S3 E7 · Tue, March 01, 2022
Building And Embracing The New, Flexible Workplace
As we continue our look at the “Future of Work,” the workplace remains a hot-button topic for many. More and more, studies have found that flexibility is what’s desired most from employees but how can organizations make that pivot successfully? Join hosts Jennifer Ayres and Lisa Insley as they talk with special guest Luke Thomas about the role technology will play in even the smallest aspects of the “Future of Work.” Luke has unique insights into remote working environments as the founder and CEO of Friday, a company offering a digital headquarters for company communications. Getting to know Luke Thomas: Introducing Luke Thomas (1:35) Lisa introduces Luke, who shares his background leading up to today, including some of his personal philosophies. Overcoming remote work pains (6:39) Luke had been struggling with the concept of wasting time traveling to the office when he could work remotely. But there are pain points he had to not only discover but overcome along his journey building his own company. The right place and the right time (7:22) Luke’s epiphone came at the right time, diving into remote work just before the pandemic hit, forcing everyone to scramble to catch up. What’s most important (8:10) Regardless of if the pandemic continues for much longer, it has already made a massive impact on the future of work. Luke shares his thoughts on what components are the most important and what everyone should be paying attention to as we look into the future. How to embrace remote work and flexibility: Supporting leaders (13:35) Remote work and flexibility as a whole can be intimidating to leaders who haven’t embraced it until now. Luke talks about what executives can do to set their leaders up for success and help everyone succeed. Using technology to improve culture and communication: Creating tools and systems (21:40) Lisa and Luke discuss how an organization decides to implement new tools and systems, and whether it’s a dedicated person for the role or if it’s a company-wide decision starting at the top. Building a culture in a digital-first way (28:00) What would an organization’s culture look like if technology was included from the start? Is it even possible? Luke shares his thoughts. Guiding principles: Principles to live by (34:10) Luke gives some of the principles he and his company live by. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website Science Alert - Zoom fatigue may finally have an explanation
S4 E6 · Tue, February 22, 2022
Workplace Inclusion: What Does It Look Like And How Does It Help?
Workplace inclusion was a hot topic in 2021 and it’s only becoming hotter in 2022. As prospective candidates focus more on looking for organizations that match their ideals, concepts like workplace inclusion is topping the list. However, it’s important we examine if we’re actually accomplishing anything as we get started in 2022. That’s precisely what host Jennifer Ayres looks at on this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast. Join Jennifer as she explains what an inclusive workplace is, what it looks like, and how it’s beneficial for both employees and employers. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website
S4 E5 · Tue, February 15, 2022
The Future Of Work: Flexibility
One of the biggest “Future of Work” questions facing employers around the world is how their employees will be working. There has been much discussion about remote work but the verdict appears to be in. According to several studies, workers want flexibility. On this special episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, host Jennifer Ayres is joined by Concinnity partner Lisa Insley to discuss exactly what those studies found and how flexibility is at the root of it all. Whether it’s benefits, schedule, or location; employees have gotten a taste of flexibility and don’t want to give it back. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website
S4 E4 · Tue, February 08, 2022
What Is Workforce Automation And Why Should You Care?
On this week’s episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, host Jennifer Ayres takes a closer look at workforce automation as a part of our ongoing series about the future of work. When people think of the word “automation,” robots and heavy machinery come to mind. But it might surprise you just how many daily workforce tasks can be aided or simplified by automation. With rapid advancements in recent years and a global pandemic putting new technology and processes at the forefront of our minds, workforce automation is something you need to be thinking about. Jennifer explores how workforce automation has evolved in recent years, the hopes and fears both organizations and employees are facing, and what it all means moving forward. This is a great peak at the emerging technologies fueling the continued transformation that is the future of work. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website McKinsey & Company - What 800 executives envision for the postpandemic workforce Zapier - The 2021 state of business automation Gartner - Gartner identifies three most common AI uses cases in HR and recruiting Salesforce - IT leaders fueling productivity with process automation PWC - Workforce of the future
S4 E3 · Tue, February 01, 2022
How A Simple "Thank You" Can Boost Employee Retention
The pandemic has dramatically impacted business and our everyday lives. "The Great Resignation" as it's been frequently called has seen millions of workers voluntarily leave their jobs, leaving organizations scrambling. As we continue our discussion about the future of work, it's time to think about employee retention and engagement in more interesting ways. On this episode of Survive & Thrive, host Jennifer Ayres discusses the need for rewards and recognition. By not recognizing your team, you might be driving them toward the door, which is likely the last thing you want. Jennifer goes over the statistics behind employee retention and explains why you should rethink how you recognize and reward your staff.
S4 E2 · Tue, January 25, 2022
Remote Work: What Will The Future Look Like?
On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, Jennifer Ayres takes you into the intricacies of remote work. She looks at remote work’s beginnings roughly a decade ago, how the present is coping with the sudden need to be remote overnight, and how the pandemic’s impact on remote work might carry into the future. If you’re struggling to keep up with the rapid changes in how and where work happens, this episode will teach you how workplaces have evolved over the years and help you get ahead of the shift to hybrid and fully-remote work cultures that might be the future.
S4 E1 · Tue, January 18, 2022
The Evolving Workplace: Building Something Better
The pandemic has changed how we work. As organizations adapt to a continuing pandemic, there needs to be thought put into how the workplace adapts with it. Hybrid and fully-remote workplaces are becoming more commonplace but organizations shouldn’t settle for replicating what they previously had. Instead, they need to think ahead and use this as an opportunity to build something better. To kick off season 4 of the Survive & Thrive podcast, Jessica Radford joins Jennifer Ayres to talk about the evolving workplace. Jessica is the Talent Acquisition Lead for consulting firm Slalom, giving her valuable insight not only into a growing business but how global organizations are adapting as well. The Evolving Workplace: Introducing Jessica (1:48) Jennifer introduces Jessica and they talk about her background, including how she got her start The shifting workplace (5:02) The pandemic changed how workplaces looked and as it continues on, organizations have been continuing to evolve their remote and hybrid work environments. Jessica shares what Slalom has done. Making work better (7:55) At the beginning of the pandemic, organizations were scrambling to adapt to a remote workplace. As time has gone on, the thinking shouldn’t be to replicate what we had but to make it better. Jessica and Jennifer talk about the things they’ve seen done to build a better work environment. What are people looking for now? (14:20) We’ve talked about it a lot already, but the pandemic helped put things into perspective for people, leading to what has been called the “Great Resignation.” Jessica and Jennifer detail what they’ve seen from talent as they look for new opportunities. How organizations are adapting (17:08) With the changing landscape, Jessica says organizations are looking ahead to the next 5, 10, and even 20 years to project how things will continue to change and what will be needed from talent to match those changes.
Trailer · Tue, January 11, 2022
Season 4 Trailer
It's nearly time for Season 4 of the Survive & Thrive podcast -- a podcast that brings you stories and perspective on how in change times, leaders and organizations can not only transform to survive, but thrive. This season, we're taking a closer look at the future of work. What will work actually look like in 6 months? A year? 5 years? 10 years? We'll be diving into topics like the hybrid work model, creating a sense of belonging, remote culture, diversity in the workplace, and so much more. With insights from experts in their respective fields, we'll explore how the future of work is changing for the better.
S3 E21 · Tue, January 04, 2022
Season 3 Wrap-up: Change Management
It’s the end of Season 3 of the Survive & Thrive podcast, which means it’s time to look back at what we learned. This season was all about change management -- Its role in an organization, why it’s necessary, and the impact it can have when done effectively. In this episode, host Jennifer Ayres takes a look back through the season at her discussions with guests about change management. From a change management definition and goals to how your people will impact change management processes, it’s an in-depth look at what makes effective change management work. Change management: Change management definition (1:18) Jennifer looks back at her episode with Tammie Pinkston to define change management. Change management goals (4:06) When undergoing change as a team and as an organization, it’s important to clearly define your goals and base decisions on how it impacts your goal. This season, Sasha Lund shared her belief that an organization’s success and goals are directly tied to its core values. Change management processes (5:45) Humans tend to not like change, even when it’ll help them. Glade Holman and Kevin Campbell shared their own insights on how people drive your change management processes. Change management tech (8:27) Technology is supposed to make our lives easier but some are reticent to accept new tech out of fear and misunderstanding. Earlier this season, Grant Riewe talked about how change management technology can help drive a human-centered experience and how the forcing of remote work throughout the pandemic might have impacted people’s perspectives. Change management people (13:14) The whole point of change management is helping guide people through changes, making the people themselves one of the most important aspects. Tammie Pinkston and Kevin Campbell each touched on why effective change management and authentic leadership are necessary. Thriving in change (15:57) Jennifer has been asking guests the three things leaders and organizations need in order to not just survive, but thrive in change. She shares some of her favorites from this season. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website
S3 E20 · Wed, December 29, 2021
Redefining Success Heading Into 2022
As we wrap up the third season of the Survive & Thrive podcast and we head into a new year, it's important to look at how we define success. The last couple of years have forced everyone to reflect on what's truly important, bringing a shift in priorities for many. That means we, as a society, should reexamine our definition of success. On this week's episode, Jennifer Ayres shares her thoughts on success, especially as it relates to your own happiness and satisfaction. Jennifer also shares her own personal goals and what she feels she needs to be successful.
S3 E19 · Tue, December 21, 2021
Navigating Change Through The Pandemic
The pandemic impacted everyone in some way but education was one of the most affected fields. That was especially the case for Matt Noble, an executive at Education First, who was ready to start a massive new project only to have the pandemic interfere. Join Jennifer Ayres on this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast as she talks with Matt Noble about his experiences overcoming with the challenges the pandemic threw at him and the lessons learned along the way. Introductions: Introducing Matt Noble (1:03) Matt introduces himself and shares his background. Change (3:33) Matt takes us back to the early months of 2020 and how things changed for him and his organization as the pandemic hit close to home. Overcoming challenges: Challenges (11:00) Matt talks about the challenges he faced in the early days of the pandemic. Support (13:14) With internal and external challenges, Matt had to not only support himself but his team in this time of chaos. Giving room to think (17:41) Instead of micromanaging his team and dictating to them a solution, Matt says he gave his team the room to explore what the solutions could be, empowering them to rise to the occasion. Surprises (20:23) Matt explains the things and people that surprised him throughout this experience. Pride (24:45) Out of everything he accomplished during the pandemic, Matt shares the thing he was most proud of. Thrive (27:08) Matt shares the three things he believes leaders can do to help their organizations not only survive but thrive in change.
S3 E18 · Tue, December 14, 2021
Leading Your Way To Success
In order for an organization to successfully enact change, it has to lean on its leaders to guide the way. A successful leader will be able to overcome their own unique challenges while managing to align all parties towards the common goal, handle resistance to change, and build good change effort. That’s a lot easier said than done. That’s why we’re proud to welcome Janet Ramey to this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast. Janet is a Principal at Sourcing Change where she helps drive transformation by designing, counseling, sourcing, and connecting the talent necessary to drive that change. Change management for leaders: Introducing Janet Ramey (1:03) Jennifer introduces Janet to the podcast, giving her background. Leading change (2:49) Having lived and worked across the globe, Janet explains what it’s been like for her to lead change and help leaders do the same. Challenges leaders face (4:53) Janet talks about the challenges leaders -- in particular -- face and how they can overcome them. Successfully leading through change: Leading through resistance (6:56) Change can be scary and humans will often have a kneejerk reaction to it, leading to resistance. Janet shares how leaders can help guide their team through that resistance. Successful leadership (9:49) Janet tells Jennifer about the times leaders have successfully led their teams through change to a positive outcome. Getting aligned (12:05) As Janet notes, you need to have alignment in order for a change to happen, no matter how detailed or effective the plan is on paper. She further explains how you can build that alignment within the organization. Developing successful change: Good change effort (14:22) We’ve heard about the things leaders should and shouldn’t do to guide their teams through change but what does a good change effort actually look like? Janet shares a story to explain. Stakeholder careabouts (18:33) Janet explains how she defines the term “stakeholder careabouts” and how it fits into change management. Identifying and reftifying negative impacts (19:42) Janet shares her advice on how to recognize and rectify impacts that may be disrupting your team in some way. Tracking readiness (21:41) Just because an organization can go through a planned change doesn’t necessarily mean they’re ready for it. Janet provides her thoughts on tracking metrics for a company’s readiness. Thriving: How to thrive (25:04) Janet gives her three pieces of advice for leaders and organizations that want to not just survive but thrive in change. Final thoughts (28:14) Janet shares her final thoughts on thriving thr
S3 E17 · Tue, December 07, 2021
Leading Through Change
Change starts at the top and works its way down. That’s why organizations need leaders who can effectively and efficiently guide their teams through changes. From showing empathy and building a great culture to handling resistance to change, your successes and challenges are likely defined by your leadership. To talk more about the importance of supporting leaders in an organization, Maria Janošíková joins us on this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast. Maria is a change management professional at Johnson & Johnson and has extensive experience in the industry, working across the globe, helping organizations manage their changes better. Change management principles: Introducing Maria Janosikova (1:10) Maria introduces herself and how she got into her current role as a change management professional at Johnson & Johnson. Getting into change management (2:39) Maria got into change management at a time when few had even heard of it. She shares how she got into change management as a career, including some stops in China, Russia, and the United States. Change management definition (6:59) Maria shares her views and definition of change management. Leading change: Empathy (10:20) As someone who has worked in multiple cultures across multiple countries, Maria chats about the universal need for empathy. Enacting change (12:34) Knowing the concepts behind change management is just one step but actually implementing them effectively is something else entirely. Maria describes the factors that need to be considered when enacting change. Helping your leaders (15:30) Leaders are people too and they need support as they learn and grow. Maria shares what leaders should do in times of change and how organizations can help their leaders effectively lead change. Resistance: Handling resistance (19:17) Every organization dreads resistance when there’s a major change but it’s something that can’t be ignored. That means leaders have to be prepared and known how to overcome that resistance in a healthy and effective way. Going beyond the conflict (22:31) It can be tempting to dismiss resistance. However, the issues may be more complicated than they seem. Maria believes it’s the leader’s job to find out the “why” behind the conflict. Thriving: Thriving in change (26:25) Maria gives her thoughts on what leaders and organizations can do to not just survive, but thrive in change. Managing a remote workforce (30:28) Remote working is becoming more normal thanks in part to the pandemic, leading to new and unique challenges as workforces become more global. As someone who has worked on a global scale, Maria shares her advice for leaders managing
S3 E16 · Tue, November 30, 2021
Marrying Technology And People In Business
The pandemic caused technology to advance a massive amount in a short period of time as organizations and people continued marching forward. While those advancements have created new work-from-home opportunities, it has made connecting with one another a lot tougher. So, how do we manage to put some more humanity back into a workplace that is becoming more independent and divided than ever before? Grant Riewe joins Jennifer Ayres and Samantha Collins on this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast to discuss how humanity and technology have to evolve in this new era of hybrid workforces. Introductions: Introducing Grant Riewe (1:56) Samantha and Jennifer introduce Grant to the podcast, providing some of his qualifications while he takes a deeper dive into his experience. Connections (4:56) Samantha and Grant crossed paths at Accenture. They share a little more about their personal connection. Technology + Humanity: Marrying technology and humanity (5:58) Certain technologies can actually help accelerate a human-centered experience as opposed to disrupting it. How can we marry this world of tech and people in business? Busy work (8:07) We all have those mundane tasks that we begrudge. Yet, they also help to make us feel more productive, confident, and can get the ball rolling. Samantha and Grant discuss how clearing that type of busy work can be more complicated than it first seems. Adapting (10:26) We’ve all had to adapt to new technologies relatively quickly within the last few years. Technology is forever changing and evolving to fit new needs and bring us in whole new directions. But how can leaders help their people adapt to those -- at times, quickly -- changing work environments? Belonging: Rate of change (16:46) Samantha recalls an important point about the rate of change. Technology divide (20:15) As organizations have been rolling out hybrid workforces, some are faring better than others. While the technology is there to pull this off, the culture and literacy might not always be founded yet. As the generational divide between those that want to return to work and those that don’t continues to grow, a tension grows with it. Developing a culture of belonging (24:29) Steve Van Valin has often spoken about intentionally creating a culture of belonging, which is especially poignant right now. That could be asking specific questions or setting aside time in a meeting to be human with one another to have those “water cooler” moments. The Great Resignation (26:57) We’ve previously covered the Great Resignation and how people are quitting their jobs at record rates in order to pursue something more meaningful to them. Even if they aren’t changing jobs, the
S3 E15 · Tue, November 23, 2021
How Gratitude Impacts You, Your Team, and Your Business
Now is the week of gratitude. For this special Thanksgiving episode, we chat about the social and emotional benefits of practicing gratitude. We cover what the research says and why gratitude is so important. Not only does gratitude impact you tremendously, but it can also bolster healthy relationships and overall work environment. Listen to the episode to learn more about ways you can show your gratitude this holiday season. Introductions: What is gratitude? (1:37) Jen defines gratitude and talks about its roots. She specifies what it means to her and how it can impact us. The Science of Gratitude: The Research (2:40) Jen dives into how gratitude impacts our happiness, according to scientists. Tips for Daily Gratitude (3:20) Jen shares tips on how to practice daily gratitude. Through writing down what you’re grateful for every day, you can shift your mindset and your happiness. Grateful Leaders: Your Relationships (4:47) Gratitude can not only impact you, but your relationships. Jen discusses how leaders that express gratitude can influence their team’s engagement, respectfulness, and retention. Thankful leaders are more likely to have the confidence of their team than ungrateful ones. Showing Gratitude (5:48) So, how can leaders show their gratitude? Jen chats about small and big ways you can practice your gratitude. She shares examples of how she expressed gratitude to her team and how that boosted morale and built better relationships during Covid. During the Holiday Season (7:27) If you’re looking to do more than just say thank you, Jen offers more involved ways to show gratitude. Drawing on a Glassdoor survey, employees feel more appreciated when given a choice in certain matters. How are you grateful? What Jen is grateful for (8:14) Before wrapping up, Jen shares what she’s grateful for this holiday season. She leaves on a quote that epitomizes why being thankful is so important. Links mentioned: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/gratitude https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284232798_The_Effect_of_Higher-Order_Gratitude_on_Mental_Well-Being_Beyond_Personality_and_Unifactoral_Gratitude https://positivepsychology.com/benefits-gratitude-research-questions/
S3 E14 · Tue, November 16, 2021
Managing M&As: The Human Side Of Mergers And Acquisitions
Mergers and acquisitions come with a ton of unique challenges and changes that must be planned for and well-executed in order to be successful. However, while most focus on the financial side of things, the human element of M&As can’t be ignored either. On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, we’re joined by Melanie Payne, the CFO at Syniti. Melanie has been one of my favorite people to go to when I’m stuck with a complex challenge. With a wealth of experience and insight, Melanie is the perfect person to talk about managing a M&A. Introductions: Introducing Melanie Payne (1:27) Jennifer introduces Melanie to the show, sharing some of the highlights from her career. The human component (4:52) While many companies spend a lot of time and money on the tech and financial portions of M&As, it’s imperative to also recognize the human side as well. Melanie talks about focusing on the human component. Navigating M&As: Leading through a M&A (8:54) Melanie gives her thoughts on how companies and leaders can help aid or hinder the process. Planning and managing ahead (11:35) With any M&A, you must not only account for the immediate changes but plan for 6 or even 12 months down the line. Melanie also details how different people can be at wildly different points in the journey. Potential challenges (13:12) Melanie outlines the other challenges that might crop up when organizations undergo a major change. Planning ahead during mergers and acquisitions: Empathy (14:35) If you’ve been following the show, you know empathy is a big theme of ours. But what does it look like in the workplace and how can leaders harness empathy while still being professional? Melanie provides her insight. Planning for resistance (16:22) While we all imagine our messages will be received with open arms, that isn’t always the case. Melanie says you should anticipate resistance and prepare solutions ahead of time. Planning ahead (18:59) Melanie shares some advice on what a 6- or 12-month plan would look like following initial integration. Experience: Most surprising (20:37) Given Melanie’s multitude of experiences in change management and within different organizations, she explains what’s surprised her the most. Why (21:55) Sometimes it can be easy to get caught up in the “how” when dealing with a change, but the “why” is what provides context. Melanie highlights the importance of “why” and what can happen when you dismiss it. Thriving (24:56) Melanie shares three pieces of advice she believes can help leaders and organizations not just survive but thrive in change.
S3 E13 · Tue, November 09, 2021
How The Automotive Industry Has Survived And Thrived Massive Changes
Every single industry was touched in some way by COVID-19. But few industries have seen as much upheaval and change as the automotive industry has over just the last two decades. What is it about that industry that has allowed them to quickly adapt and pivot as needed to not just survive but actually thrive? On this week’s episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, we’re joined by Ryan Gerardi, who has an extensive background in the automotive industry and is now a thought leader within the mobility tech and connectivity space. Ryan shares some of his experience working within the auto industry, what he’s seen during those important pivots, and where he expects things to go next. The ever-evolving automotive industry: Introducing Ryan Gerardi (1:54) Jennifer introduces Ryan, who shares some of his background and experience. Disrupting the automotive industry (4:27) Ryan talks about the true disruptions the auto industry faced before and after COVID-19, and how the market has changed as a result. COVID-19 and the automotive industry: The difference the internet has made (8:45) The automotive industry has changed so much over the last few decades, with the ubiquity of the internet perhaps being one of the biggest shifts to the car buying experience. The before times (10:27) Most industries have undergone a huge change during the coronavirus pandemic. But what did it look like prior to COVID-19? Ryan shares his experiences. Pivoting during COVID (12:21) Once the pandemic hit, the automotive industry -- just like every other industry -- had to quickly pivot hard and pivot well in order to survive. How to thrive (13:50) Ryan was recently on a panel for car gurus about the retail side of the auto industry adapting to disruption. He shares some of the key takeaways. Supply and demand (16:59) During the pandemic, there was a sudden boom for cars -- any cars but especially used ones. With new cars not being manufactured quick enough to meet demands, Ryan breaks down what happened and where the industry is headed now. Self-driving cars: The impact of self-driving cars (20:35) The latest and greatest technology to hit the auto industry involves self-driving cars. Jen wonders how that technology will change things. Thriving: What will the future bring? (24:00) With automation coming to consumer vehicles, will we even need to own a car in the future or will driving become more of a hobby than a necessity? How to thrive (27:43) During all this change, how did Ryan manage to not just survive, but thrive?
S3 E12 · Tue, November 02, 2021
Using Core Values To Find The Heart Of A Business
The heart of a business sounds like an abstract idea at first glance. But with employees leaving companies in droves as they search for purpose and meaningful work, knowing the core values and the heart of your business is more critical than ever. Joining the Survive & Thrive podcast this week is Sasha Lund. You might know her from her podcast “Legacy Talks” but she’s also the founder and CEO of Core Values Consulting. What better guest to have on to talk about finding and implementing core values and the heart of a business. Sasha explains how core values are important and ways organizations and leaders can empower those around them. Introductions: Jeff Bone’s background (0:51) Jeff -- the co-host for this episode -- shares some of the highlights from his career. Introducing Sasha Lund (2:42) Jennifer introduces Sasha to the show, who shares a bit of her background leading up to founding Core Values Consulting. How they all met (5:10) Jeff explains how he first met Sasha thanks to an amazing post on LinkedIn. Why did Sasha name her company Core Values Consulting? (7:13) Sasha can beautifully articulate the importance of establishing values and a company mission, to the point that it’s even in the name of her company. So how did she get to that company name? Creating culture: Identifying values (9:06) Sasha explains how she helps identify the type of values that create a culture that is healthy for the future. Finding purpose and the heart of the business: Nurturing an individual’s purpose (17:39) As we’ve covered before, more and more people are looking to find their purpose in work, making it a hot-button topic in organizations right now. Sasha explains how an organization or leader can help nurture an individual’s purpose while still maintaining company values. Heart of the business (21:20) Is your organization not realizing its full potential? It could be missing unrealized revenues if leaders aren’t considering the heart of the business in every decision made. And with disengaged workers and a labor shortage, not thinking about the heart of the business is a clear recipe for disaster. Core values: Implementing core values (26:49) Sasha emphasizes the necessary steps to find and implement core values in a family business. Negative core beliefs (27:41) Sasha shares an example of when a negative core belief impacted her work and life. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website Core Values Consulting - Website <a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/1848423" rel=
S3 E11 · Tue, October 26, 2021
How Organizations Can Embrace The Changing Future Of Work
The term “Future Of Work” is nothing new. However, the pandemic has accelerated timelines and brought about new realities that must be faced in order to not just survive but thrive. On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, Jennifer discusses what areas have seen the biggest cultural shifts, as employees rethink the traditional work model. She guides leaders on the ways to proactively embrace the new future of work, developing happier and healthier teams along the way.
S3 E10 · Tue, October 19, 2021
Navigating Change And Thriving Through Effective Leadership
Organizational leaders can be the driving force behind effective change. They can improve employee engagement and navigate a team through difficult change. However, with new working environments, leaders have to double down on building and maintaining relationships with their team members. Peter Hess joins Jennifer on the Survive & Thrive podcast to discuss the importance of leadership on change and how leaders can be more effective. Listen to Jennifer and Peter discuss effective leadership: Peter’s introduction (1:04) Jennifer introduces Peter and some of the projects they’ve worked on together. Peter details his experience and qualifications. Leading through change (3:34) Peter has noticed leadership has changed over the years. He believes leaders appreciate the role of people in helping achieve results as a team Engaging leaders (8:12) Peter shares what he’s seen from leaders that are truly engaged with a change and navigating their team through it. The “future” of work (13:58) With organizations struggling to adapt to unique challenges like hybrid work environments, Peter believes it’s even more important for leaders to build relationships with their teams. It can be as simple as making an effort to reach out and learning more about coworkers. What a leader can do to thrive in change (26:44) Peter gives several things leaders need to consider in order to not just survive, but thrive in change. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website
S3 E9 · Tue, October 12, 2021
Using Internal Podcasts To Drive Change And Improve Culture
On the Survive & Thrive podcast, we always talk about ways organizations can drive meaningful and sustainable change. But how do you actually implement those strategies and get the relevant information in front of your staff in a consistent and engaging way? For many organizations, internal podcasts have been the way. On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, Jennifer sits down with John Luckenbaugh and Matthew Stevens of My Podcast Agency -- the group that produces this very podcast -- to discuss how brand podcasts can be essential tools for change. Matt and John break down what an internal podcast is, the stats behind why they work so well, and how organizations should be thinking if they want to start up a podcast themselves. Listen to Jennifer, John, and Matt discuss internal podcasts: Introducing John and Matt (1:06) Jennifer introduces John and Matt from My Podcast Agency, who detail some of their experience. What is an internal podcast? (2:30) Matt breaks down how an internal podcast differs from an external one -- the type of podcast you’re likely listening to right now. He also Who uses internal podcasts? (4:30) John shares some of the organizations he’s helped produce an internal podcast and why they needed one in the first place. Podcasts are big business (5:59) Podcasting is a budding new medium but it’s growing rapidly at this point with millions upon millions of people listening in. Matt and John give some of the latest stats, including how internal podcasts and organizations pair so well. Using podcasts as a tool (12:51) Jennifer points out how the consistency, intimacy, and effectiveness of podcasts make it such a powerful tool when creating and implementing change initiatives. John and Matt share key employee engagement stats that prove your organization needs an internal podcast while everyone breaks down different use cases. Tactical considerations (33:16) If you’re thinking about setting up an internal podcast, Matt shares some of the things you need to consider -- from your goals to who is hosting the podcast. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website My Podcast Agency - Website Q’d Up Podcast on Podcasting
S3 E8 · Tue, October 05, 2021
Managing Return To Work Anxiety By Building A Sense Of Belonging
On this special episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, Steve Van Valin joins Jennifer Ayers to discuss the growing anxiety about returning to work and how to combat that. Businesses are still figuring out what the work structure even looks like as the pandemic continues on and that’s making both leaders and staff anxious. Whether your return to work is truly returning to the office, fully remote and flexible, or a hybrid work structure; knowing how to effectively communicate with your employees as the evolution of the workplace continues. Steve is the CEO and founder of Culturology, a company dedicated to designing and implementing culture strategies. He shares some of his insights and gives actionable steps to improve your company’s culture and how to build a sense of belonging during a stressful time. Listen to Jennifer and Steve talk about returning to work: Steve’s background and expertise (1:57) Steve shares a bit of his background and what his company, Culturology, does. The importance of belonging (2:38) Steve believes the ability to connect on ideas and have organic conversations is the most obvious impact as people return to work. But he points to a sense of belonging being the quieter but perhaps even more important factor to employee engagement during difficult times. Nurturing a sense of belonging (5:34) With a sense of belonging being so important, Steve gives a few ways leaders can begin cultivating that type of culture in their own staff members. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website Culturology - Website
S3 E7 · Tue, September 28, 2021
Building Empathy And Resilience With Positive Psychology
Empathy, resilience, and positivity are some of the foundational elements to building engagement and setting up success as a leader and organization. However, not every organization or leader truly values those three elements in the way they should. So, how do you build them into your change initiative, your business model, and your everyday life? On this week’s episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, Jennifer Ayers sits down with Rachana Bhide to discuss the organizational psychology behind building engagement. With her background in consulting and media, including working at Bloomberg, Rachana provides a unique take on how leaders can bolster their empathy, building resilience into the work model, and the power of positivity. Meeting Rachana Bhide: Rachana’s background (1:19) Jennifer introduces Rachana, who shares some of the highlights from her career and what she's been focused on recently. How can leaders utilize engagement (5:12) Through the lens of organizational psychology, Rachana looks at how leaders and organizations utilize engagement to successfully undergo a change. Navigating change with positive psychology: The challenges of helping navigate change (9:30) Rachana shares her experiences helping leaders and organizations navigate change, including the challenges she’s faced and the lessons learned from them. What is “appreciative inquiry?” (14:32) Let’s zero in on the phrase “appreciative inquiry” which Rachana just used and learn more about what she means by it. Using positive thinking and curiosity (17:52) Rachana believes curiosity can be a powerful tool. Building empathy and resilience: Helping leaders bolster their empathy (19:37) Empathy is at the heart of building a case for change. Rachana discusses exercises that can help leaders improve their own empathy. Building resilience (22:51) Resilience is another word that has been frequently mentioned in 2020 and 2021. Rachana speaks about the seventh tenet of our change management philosophy and how it points to how companies can build resilience into their work model. Thriving: 3 things needed to not only survive but thrive in change (28:20) Rachana gives three things leaders and organizations can do to not only survive but thrive in change. Rachana’s special project (33:45) Before wrapping up, Rachana tells us about a very special project she’s working on which encourages positive psychology.
S3 E6 · Tue, September 21, 2021
The Power Of Employee Engagement On Your Business
Only 36% of employees say they’re engaged in the workplace and it’s costing U.S. companies between $450 Billion - $550 Billion annually. It’s an area organizations need to improve upon immediately but how do they even get started, much less get buy-in throughout the entire organization? On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, Jennifer is joined by Houdad Javidnia to discuss the importance of employee engagement on your business and ways you can begin to improve it right now. Houdad comes to the Survive & Thrive podcast with a wealth of experience in this field, having worked at Johnson & Johnson and Capital One. He considers himself to be a communications and employee experience leader, making him the ideal person to talk about the value of employee engagement in business. The power of employee engagement: Houdad’s experience (1:03) Jennifer introduces Houdad and he shares some of his experiences in change management and business. How does the lack of employee engagement impact companies (5:28) With only 36% of employees engaged in the workplace, disengaged workers are costing U.S. companies hundreds of billions of dollars every year and limiting revenue growth. Houdad, who has worked with large corporations, shares his first-hand insight on the impact of employee engagement. Finding purpose and building belief: The challenges in finding purpose through change (8:35) Thinking about employee disengagement, Houdad relays the challenges he’s faced in helping companies find their purpose through change. Building belief (10:28) One of the lessons Houdad has learned over his career is something he calls “building belief.” Advice for leaders (12:46) We’ve talked so much on this podcast about the importance of leadership in times of change. Houdad shares some advice for leaders specifically. What “building belief” actually looks like (14:17) Houdad’s idea of “building belief” to give credit to change is brilliant but what does it actually look like within an organization? How can businesses accomplish it? Leadership alignment and buy-in: Leadership alignment (17:13) Even if you have a great plan, you can have trouble if you have hesitant or inconsistent leadership driving the change below them. Jennifer and Houdad discuss the importance of leadership alignment during a time of change. Using technology and analytics to drive change: Using technology to aid change (19:54) While technology has so many obvious uses in business, it can be a real force of good for your change as well. The importance of analytics (23:43) Analytics can reveal some truly incredible insights, not only the ones that we want to see but the ones we really want to ignore
S3 E5 · Tue, September 14, 2021
What Is Design Thinking And How Can It Help You Enact Change?
How do you realize positive and sustainable change? By better understanding the problems at hand and the people facing them. That’s what makes the design thinking strategy such a natural fit with change management. To talk about design thinking and how it can be a power for good in your efforts to enact change, Holly Chasan-Young joins me on today’s episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast. Holly is the founder and CEO of Wonderbolt Labs and has spent time at Capital One, doing product discovery and design strategy. Introducing Holly: Holly’s background (1:16) Jennifer introduces Holly, who shares her background and philosophy Using design thinking strategy: What is design thinking? (5:10) Holly explains what design thinking strategy is exactly and what it can accomplish. The human aspect (7:43) Design thinking pairs beautifully with organizational change, especially in larger organizations. Holly shares why she believes design thinking helps organizational transformation. The challenges (11:55) In her experience, Holly believes many companies barrel through a change rather than navigate it purposefully. Effectively communicating (13:23) Who addresses and manages change at your organization? Effectively communicating the change and strategy is imperative to having successful change management, according to Holly. Navigating change with design thinking: How leaders handled a difficult change (17:07) With her unique background and experiences, Holly tells Jennifer about a time in which a company faced a difficult change and how the leaders handled it. Trust (20:05) Trust is the most essential quality to a successful team, whether the company is struggling or flourishing. Holly dives a little further into how those leaders built trust, despite difficult circumstances. Implementing change: How to implement design thinking for growth (21:06) Holly explains how organizations can implement design thinking’s tools to help them grow and excel. Survive and Thrive (23:34) Holly shares three things a leader can do to not just survive change, but thrive in it.
S3 E4 · Tue, September 07, 2021
Let’s Talk About It: Impactful Leadership in Times of Change
On this special episode of Survive & Thrive, Jennifer Ayers discusses the recurring topics that come up with individuals from the podcasts or organizations she has worked with. In times of change, there is an abundance of opportunities for leaders to impact their organizations and employees. Changes: Re-evaluating time (1:02) With much change in the past 18 months, including the growing presence of work from home technology, Jennifer discusses the blurry lines between work and personal life. The Purpose of Work (1:34) As Jennifer notes, many people are questioning the purpose of work and making work shifts to feel more fulfilled. The Great Resignation (2:19) Jennifer delves into the reports and statistics on the millions of people leaving their corporate jobs. Leadership: The role of leaders (2:39) Leaders have a huge opportunity for influence in these times. Jennifer discusses the ways leaders can make an impact during these times. Help define goals (3:05) One way leader’s can make a difference is to help employees define goals. Goal setting with your team helps open communication and learn about each other's values. Ask your team for advice (4:04) Asking for advice can help build community and connections within your team Gratitude (5:30) At least once a week, gather your team and ask them 3 things they are grateful for. From small to large instances of gratitude, this can accomplish mood boosting, team bonding, and provide time to celebrate progress. Thriving: More heart in Business (7:15) Jennifer provides some book recommendations that can help you to work on bringing more heart into the business space. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website Welcome to the YOLO Economy - The New York Times
S3 E3 · Tue, August 31, 2021
Implementing Strategy: Finding More Success Through Flexible Leadership
Everyone loves a good strategy but it requires flexible and thoughtful leadership to actually implement it successfully. Not getting honest buy-in from your team is the quickest way to watch a great strategy fail, which can be the catalyst for a leadership change. On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, Glade Holman joins Jennifer Ayers to discuss implementing strategy in the real world. Glade is the managing director at LearningBridge and the Park LI Group, and has found building ownership and being flexible in his strategy to be the keys to success. Strategy: Glade Holman introduction (1:06) Glade shares his background and what he’s doing at LearningBridge and Park LI Group Implementing strategies (3:30) As Glade notes, strategy is fun to talk about but people often forget about the idea of implementation. He believes the analytical part of strategy is far more present than the human element. The human dimension (4:28) Glade details his perspective on the “human experience” and breaks it down into three parts. Applying strategies (6:34) Even the most brilliant strategy will likely fail if you don’t apply it correctly and if no one follows it. Glade shares stories about times when the strategy was there but implementation wasn’t. Creating buy-in: Building ownership (9:36) As Glade pointed out, there are only two ways to get ownership -- selling them on it or having them build it. He expands upon the idea of involving your team in order to help them through change. Commander’s Intent (10:26) A concept the army developed, Commander’s Intent gives people the agency to work towards a clear objective without a specific plan in place. Glad discusses how that same concept may appear in the workplace and what being transparent with your team can actually accomplish. Creating a community (14:43) Glade believes a community, not a group or club, is far better at helping your strategy survive and thrive over time. Leadership: What makes a great leader? (16:49) While some leaders might want to continue refining a strategy until it’s perfect, the great leaders want more buy-in. That means trading some flaws in the plan for far more ownership from the team because it’s their plan. The issues with the traditional leader role (17:55) The traditional leader role is defined by being stoic, solid, and having all the answers. But valuing transparency and community between the leader and their team is so much more effective, according to Glade. Communicating your strategy (20:51) You’ve gotten your team involved in your strategizing an you’ve developed an approach. But how do you talk about it and communicate this strategy. Glade points to
S3 E2 · Tue, August 24, 2021
The Power Of People During Times Of Change
You should never underestimate people. But tapping into the power of people during times of change is far easier said than done. Whether you’re building a compelling case for change, creating buy-in from leadership and below, or simply trying to build confidence; managing to drive your people forward takes a deft hand. Tammie Pinkston, the vice president of organizational change management at ISG, joins Jennifer to discuss the power of people on this week’s episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast. With more than 30 years working in change management, Tammie has seen its evolution and what things have continued to work. Powerful people: Introducing Tammie (0:58) Jennifer introduces Tammie and her experience working together. Tammie shares how she came up in the change management field and why she got into the field. Understanding change management (3:52) As Tammie notes, the field of change management is constantly evolving. That means it can be easy to underestimate the people at the center of the organizational change. The importance of understanding your people (5:56) Tammie gives a real-world example of a company that struggled to understand their people and details how important that is to successful change management. When things go wrong (7:34) If you don’t take the time upfront to understand your staff and their needs, wants, and concerns; you’re going to pay for it during implementation, according to Tammie. The processes of change: The Adkar model (10:57) Having been in change management for 30-plus years, Tammie has tried a bunch of different models but she keeps coming back to the Adkar model as the foundation. Future State model (14:47) Tammie points out a common challenge for most organizations and how the future state model can help people understand their roles and build both their confidence and competence. What does competence and confidence building look like? (15:52) Tammie gives an example of what building up competence and confidence looks like in the real world. Connecting and encouraging people (17:55) Many times, people are feeling friction both psychologically and professionally during a time of change. Tammie discusses the power of working with people and uplifting those that can naturally lead the group. Creating buy-in: Creating the compelling case for change (21:24) Before you can really start a change, you have to build a compelling case to even begin. Tammie explains how people will often fight for tools and processes they hate, simply because they’re familiar and comfortable with them. Success story (25:54) Tammie shares an excellent example of a client that wanted to dramatically change their ab
S3 E1 · Tue, August 17, 2021
Building The Case For Change Through Transparency And Empathy
No matter how big or small the change, the very first step is building the case for change. As we discussed in both Season 1 and Season 2, that means defining the purpose of the change and the reason people should care. In order to do that successfully and efficiently, you’ll need to get everyone on the same page and marching in the same direction with the same end goal in mind. Easier said than done, right? That’s the expertise of this week’s guest, Kevin Campbell, the CEO of Syniti, who joins Jennifer Ayers to discuss building the case for change. Kevin shares how he’s been able to relate to others and even find potential issues before they happen through transparency and empathy. If you’re building the case for change, Kevin’s experience and insights are sure to put you on the right path. Learning why a change is necessary: Introducing Kevin Campbell (3:29) Kevin introduces himself and shares some of the highlights from his career, as well as his experience in change management. The good, bad, and ugly in change (6:42) As someone who knows that people dislike the way things are as well as change, Kevin has dealt with a lot of people and a lot of changes. He shares the hard lessons learned along the way Understanding and empathizing: Understanding others (12:16) What you communicate and how you communicate to the rest of an organization can have a large impact on the change itself. Kevin explains his process of understanding others and how that influences his messaging. Empathizing with negative people (15:20) It can be easy to see every change from a place of excitement and hope but not every person is having a great day or is ready to commit to a change. Kevin puts himself in a bad mood on purpose to better understand how naysayers might look at things so he can better empathize and communicate with those people. Building the case for change: Building trust through transparency (18:38) Kevin has found that being transparent about the tension people have felt, he’s been able to diffuse it and build trust. Kevin explains how his authenticity and humility have only helped him as a leader. Building the case for change (22:02) If you’re building the case for change within an organization, what should you include in your messaging and how should you put it all together? Kevin shares the ingredients he feels are necessary. Finding common ground: Leadership challenges (25:46) Kevin details an example of encountering a challenge with leadership, forcing him to step in and make the call. He also explains how relying on a consensus sounds great but is often too slow for a fast-paced change. Thriving, not just surviving (28:56) Kevin relays what he believes will help businesses, leaders
Trailer · Tue, August 10, 2021
Survive & Thrive - Season 3 Trailer
Last season, the Survive & Thrive podcast took you through the eight tenets of change management. This season, we have some amazing guests and thought leaders on to discuss how they’ve applied these tenets to help their organizations navigate change in real-world scenarios. We’ll learn more about change management, employee engagement, empathy, resilience, building meaning, and so much more. While we’ve survived the pandemic, we now must learn to thrive in its wake.
S2 E9 · Tue, August 03, 2021
The 8 Tenets Of Successful Change Management: A Season 2 Recap
In Season 2 of the Survive & Thrive podcast, Jennifer Ayers took you through the 8 tenets to drive meaningful, impactful, and sustainable change in an organization. In our Season 2 recap, Jennifer reviews each tenet and recalls what past guests had to say. From defining the core pillars of change management and the importance of each to successfully navigating them in real-world scenarios, this season’s guests have brought special insight and experience that simply shouldn’t be missed. Listen to Jennifer discuss the tenets of change management: 1: Building the case for change (0:58) In the first episode, Lisa Insley joined the podcast to talk about building the case for change within an organization. As Jennifer notes, it’s defining the “why” and finding purpose. 2: Knowing your audience (4:43) In episode 2, Jeff Bone spoke about the power of compassion and its importance in truly relating to others. 3: Crafting meaningful messages (7:23) This is the point where you have to translate why you’re doing something to audiences while considering the context they’re receiving it. Jennifer was joined by Lisa Insley once again to discuss how organizations can improve their communication. 4: Bracing for impact (12:15) Even good changes can bring disruption. Though you can’t know every hurdle that will come up, you can take the necessary steps to identify the ones you can. Samantha Collins believes bringing different members of the organization into the fold through a change workshop, it helps everyone see how a proposed change impacts others. 5: Change plans (17:28) As Kristel Kurtz notes, a good plan is a great guide but, more importantly, it gives you a good foundation from which to pivot when needed. She also believes a plan gives you a better understanding of the business and all the moving parts to create a collaboration that is critical to successful change management. 6: Using metrics (21:32) No matter how great your plan is, you need to consistently be looking at the results to define success and failure, as well as when and what changes need to be made to make it more successful. Jigar Shah finds that through surveys and the right metrics, you can create a baseline, which is profoundly important. 7: Creating an organization ready for change (25:48) In this episode, Kelli Skaff provided some advice on how to establish a function that better positions an organization to respond rapidly to planned and unplanned changes, as well as how to lead the company through those changes. One of the most important parts of this is having the right sponsorship and establishing it in the right spot to have influence. 8: Recognizing and rewarding (28:44) This is one of Jennifer’s favorite tenets -- the power of simply recognizing and rewarding the traits you want to continue seeing. Steve Van Valin pointed out that having conversations is how
S2 E8 · Tue, July 27, 2021
Recognize, Reward, Repeat: Motivating Through Recognition
Learning how to motivate people is a foundational tenet of change management. You can’t create an organizational culture or deal with a sudden and unexpected change well if people aren’t properly motivated. While that might seem like an easy task, organizations get it wrong far too often. However, by recognizing and having empathy for what people are going through and rewarding the behaviors you want to see, you’re on the right path for motivation. To discuss motivation, Steve Van Valin joins Jennifer Ayers once again on the Survive & Thrive podcast. He gives real-world examples of positive and negative mindsets that can impact change, and how to properly motivate people to embrace change, alter the culture of an organization, or deal with a sudden and unexpected change. Listen to Jennifer and Steve discuss motivation: Introducing Steve Van Valin (2:42) Jennifer reintroduces Steve to the podcast. They go over some of the highlights from his career and his expertise. Positive experience with change (4:16) As Steve notes, sometimes leaders get in the weeds and forget to take a look at the bigger picture and how it impacts the company and brand. He believes connecting how a change will impact the bigger picture of the company is necessary to have a positive experience. Negative experience with change (6:36) Even the most positive people can recoil at a sudden or unexpected change. Though it can be easy to get down in the dumps about the perceived amount of extra work, Steve believes you should pause that initial reaction and see how the change truly impacts your workload. Creating a list of the things you don’t need to do or can wait is a helpful way of reestablishing where you really sit. Ways organizations can influence change (9:54) How will the change impact people? According to Steve, one of the best ways an organization can influence change is by informing people of how it will affect their lives. Jennifer believes simply recognizing what peoples’ needs are and having them tell you where they view potential issues can help stop mistakes before they happen and get better buy-in. How do you change hearts and minds? (14:03) Giving people confidence they can work through something is one of the best ways to changing someone’s heart and mind, especially when a change is presented. Teach them how to engage with one another and work through problems as a team, and they’ll feel they can handle it. The power of empowerment (19:46) Jennifer and Steve talk about the importance of empowering people, especially with the types of behaviors you want to see in the organization. Tactics (22:31) Though Steve acknowledges it’s a cliche, he believes you change culture “one conversation at a time.” Through years of experience, Steve has found that recognizing and praising the small things done really well instead of focusing on the big tasks can help
S2 E7 · Tue, July 20, 2021
Making It Stick: Creating An Organization Ready For Change
As we learned throughout the coronavirus pandemic, change is constant. So, how do you make changes stick? To do it right, you’ve got to start at the very beginning and create a change-adapted organization that can stay resilient. Kelli Skaff joins Jennifer Ayers on this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast to talk about how and why organizations should create an internal change management function. Kelli is a change management expert, handling major changes like system integration, finance process design, setting up shared-service models, and so much more. Listen to Jennifer and Kelli discuss creating an internal change management function: Introducing Kelli Skaff (2:09) Jennifer introduces Kelly and they talk about some of the things she’s done throughout her career. Experience (6:41) Kelli shares some of her own experiences with companies that have gone well and others that have struggled, detailing what went right and wrong. What has success looked like? (12:39) Kelli breaks down what successful change management looks and sounds like. From “toppling the ivory tower” to The benefits of having an internal change function (16:09) Jennifer and Kelli take a look at the value of an organization having an in-house change function and the areas that are needed to make it happen. Value (20:58) Kelli shares an example of an organization that found value in change management due to proper planning, asking the right questions, and having the right mindset. Where to place change management capabilities (25:51) Regardless of where in the organization an internal change management capability sits, having the sponsorship/backing of the entire organization to do what’s needed is key, according to Kelli. How to thrive (28:30) Kelli views surviving change as an organization that’s thinking of one initiative independently from the others. Kelli believes there are a few things an organization needs to do in order to truly thrive in change management. Road show (33:44) Kelli points to organizations needing a “road show” when creating a change management function in order to increase buy-in and get ideas brewing. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website Kelli Skaff - LinkedIn Kelli Skaff - Email
S2 E6 · Tue, July 13, 2021
Using Readiness Metrics To Gauge Progress And Find Problems
When implementing a change, how do you know if it’s successful or creating more problems than it’s solving? If you’re smart, you’re using change management metrics to gauge progress, what success looks like, how the change is impacting employees, and finding critical problems before they blow up in your face. On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, Jennifer Ayers is joined by Jigar Shah to discuss the importance of change management metrics and what organizational leaders should be measuring in the first place. Jigar is a strategic advisor at Concinnity, focusing on helping businesses accelerate growth through analyzing metrics. Listen to Jennifer and Jigar talk about change management metrics: Jigar’s introduction (1:42) Jennifer introduces Jigar and they discuss his background in business. Business transformation example (4:49) Jigar talks about a business transformation that didn’t go so well, discussing what went right and what went wrong. Readiness metrics needed for change (7:09) While Jigar notes that each transformation will require different metrics, he gives a few examples of things an organization might need to track to determine their readiness for change. Can you measure the readiness of an organization? (9:43) The coronavirus pandemic has altered the landscape dramatically but Jigar believes a company’s culture and how they view their employees will determine how ready an organization is for a change. Metrics included in a change program (12:44) Jigar believes tracking every metric to see how they change over time and then altering the strategy based on the data is the most important thing an organization can do, regardless of the metric. Best cases of change management (16:50) Jennifer and Jigar discuss an example of change management where consistent support from leadership and planning ensured things went smoothly. Analytics tips to consider (22:27) When considering a change and thinking about it all the way to completion, Jigar believes the combination of people, process, and technology are essential to drive better business results. If any one of those are off, the entire dynamic gets thrown off. How to survive and thrive during change (27:00) According to Jigar, measuring and celebrating success is an important part of not just surviving a change but thriving during it. He believes by highlighting moments of success and the people behind it, it increases faith in the change. Postface While not discussed in the podcast itself, right after the call, Jigar pointed out that one of Scott Galloway’s strategies for trillion dollar firms is ‘career accelerant’. That is the ability to attract and retain talent, which is a crucial strategy to compete now more than ever. Companies like Microsoft just spent $200M and gave everyone a $1,500 bonus for their pandemic efforts. This is just one exampl
S2 E5 · Tue, July 06, 2021
Using Change Plans To Chart The Course
Any well executed change begins with a great change plan. That’s what we’re discussing on this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast. Kristel Kurtz, a strategic advisor at Concinnity, joins Jennifer Ayers on this episode to discuss the importance of change plans in change management. A great change plan will think about the who, how, and why of a proposed change to have a better understanding of what will be needed and the potential hurdles along the way. Jennifer and Kristel break down why change plans are needed, what should go into one, and what blindspots organizations need to be conscious of when creating a change plan. Listen to Jennifer and Kristel talk about change plans: Kristel’s introduction and background (1:43) Jennifer introduces Kristel and they discuss her background. Examples of a change plan that worked (4:02) Kristel gives a real world example of a business enacting change. A Boston hospital was looking to expand but needed to better understand how international patients would be impacted by that change. Examples of change that failed (5:54) As Kristel notes, people typically want change to happen quickly but markets don’t often move as fast. She provides an example of a company that wanted to quickly dive into the “internet of things” only to find it took much longer for the market to truly emerge. Planning for change (8:18) Kristel believes plans help you feel grounded and provide a great foundation but, more importantly, gives you a safe spot to pivot from as things change. She gives a rundown of why plans are so important on three different levels. Do organizations plan for change? (13:19) While Kristel says organizations do plan for change, she believes they all do it at different points. What makes a good change plan (14:21) Kristel provides some of the key details that every change plan needs to have. Starting with the cross-functional or cross-market understanding The importance of being aligned around the change plan (16:05) Kristel gives a few examples of why an organization’s leadership has to be aligned around a change plan and what could happen if they aren’t. Resource blindspots for organizations (17:29) Kristel believes every organization is limited in resources but shares a few specific ones that often have the biggest impact. She also discusses how to manage those resources during the planning phase to get the results desired. Final thoughts (24:15) Kristel and Jennifer discuss some final thoughts that organizations and leaders have to remember when creating a change plan. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website
S2 E4 · Tue, June 29, 2021
Bracing For Impact: The Importance Of Thinking About Change Impacts
It can be so easy to view change from a distance and miss how that change impacts each and every person and facet of an organization. Not thoroughly thinking about how change impacts at the individual level can create additional challenges or even derail a project well before it’s finished. Samantha Collins, a Concinnity partner, joins Jennifer Ayers to define change impact and discuss its importance when planning a change within an organization. Listen to Jennifer and Samantha talk about change impacts: Samantha’s introduction and background (1:09) Jennifer introduces Samantha, who shares a bit of her background and how she eventually connected with Jennifer at Concinnity. Leading through change (2:29) Samantha provides some insight on leading an organization through change. What does change impact really mean? (4:40) As Samantha notes, change impact is the how, what, and why of change. Collecting change impacts (7:30) Samantha takes us through the key steps to collect change impacts and how to avoid some of the challenges that might come up. The output of change impacts (12:28) Change impacts are the foundation of any change management, as Samantha points out. Jennifer and Samantha discuss the importance of those change impacts and the difficulties of not doing them properly. When should you start thinking about change impacts (22:10) If you’re thinking about making a change in your organization, you should already be thinking about your change impacts. Samantha shares some real world examples. Doing it late (24:09) The best time to start thinking about your change impacts is at the very beginning. The next best time is right now. Samantha talks about how to start thinking and planning for your change impacts, no matter how close you are to deployment. Final thoughts (28:00) Samantha provides her final thoughts about the impacts of change management. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website Samantha Collins - LinkedIn
S2 E3 · Tue, June 22, 2021
Messaging Matters: The Impact Of Great Business Messaging On Change
No matter how big or small of a change, it can only really happen if you’ve got great business messaging in the first place. From perceived gaps in the plan to a lack of buy-in from leadership and staff, poor communication can create a host of issues that can make change management downright impossible. To discuss the merits of good business messaging and communication, Jennifer Ayers is joined once again by Lisa Insley. Lisa and Jennifer break down the importance of communication and how to be a better communicator. Listen to Jennifer and Lisa talk about business messaging: Lisa’s superpowers (1:39) If you listened to the first episode of this season of the Survive & Thrive podcast, you’ve already heard Lisa’s background. Back for a repeat session, Lisa gives another peak into why she has the insight she does. Most important things for corporate transformation (3:22) Lisa gives a quick recap of the few things that are the most important for any company that is looking to make a transformation. Being better at communication (4:11) As Lisa notes, a lot of opportunity for proper communication is being left on the table when creating change. She believes it’s critical for leaders to think about how they can help guide people through change and to properly communicate how it impacts people and the organization. Ways to communicate changes (11:08) Lisa and Jennifer discuss the ways to be effective when communicating. From creating and sharing a FAQ with the other leaders in the organization and creating a feedback loop to improve your messaging. Jennifer reflects back on an episode in season 1 that highlighted some unique perspective on improving communication. The importance of a call to action (16:13) Utilizing a call to action when enacting change provides some clarity to people while giving them a role and the feeling of it being a two-way street. Empathy in business messaging (17:32) Lisa believes having and showing empathy is essential in good communication. As she notes, empathy is best shown in your communication and actions, which can be powerful. Jennifer provides some tips to build empathy in your communications. Communication to enhance employee experience (19:17) Proper communication isn’t just useful for change management but for everything within a business. Jennifer and Lisa discuss how communication enhances the employee experience, which often has major ramifications. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website
S2 E2 · Tue, June 15, 2021
The Importance Of Knowing Your Audience When Enacting Change
Whether you’re in the initial planning stages or firmly in the middle of enacting change within your organization, knowing your audience is critical to success. If you don’t know who is being impacted and how; you’ll face major hurdles along the way and struggle to get the type of buy-in needed. On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, Jennifer Ayers is joined by Jeff Bone, a partner at Concinnity, to talk about the importance of knowing your audience. Listen to Jennifer and Jeff talk about knowing your audience: Jeff Bone introduction and background (1:14) Jeff is the special guest on this week’s episode. He shares some of his background, including his entrepreneurial start. Leading an organization through change (4:52) With Jeff’s experience both with startups and large corporations, he’s seen what it takes to lead an organization through change. As he notes, it all starts with awareness of things you feel intuitively. Knowing your audience (8:33) As Jennifer explains, one of the tenets of change at Concinnity is knowing your audience. Jennifer and Jeff discuss how simply listening can give you the insight to find out the real issues and what people actually need before giving a real-world example. The power of empowerment (13:23) Much like a large family, it can be difficult to find your voice so you need a leader to empower that. By knowing who is impacted and how; leaders can provide support and a voice to those with the expertise. The importance for emerging brands (15:54) While it’s easy to see how large organizations can benefit from knowing how your stakeholders are impacted and how they can help promote change, it’s equally important for emerging brands as well. Jeff explains how the constant motion of a young company can make it even tougher to relate to the audience. Intuition (19:05) As Jeff notes, sometimes we use our intellect and sometimes we use our gut. While you should always come prepared with your intellect, sometimes a situation calls for quick decisions using your intuition. Making sure your leadership is aligned (21:51) One of the most important aspects of knowing your audience is making sure leadership is aligned on the end goal. Jeff shares his thoughts on the subject and some tips to help get an organization’s leaders on the same page. How can organizations survive & thrive (25:48) Using his decades of insight, Jeff provides some thoughts on how leaders and organizations can not only survive a change but thrive. Links mentioned: Concinnity - Website Jeff Bone - LinkedIn
S2 E1 · Tue, June 08, 2021
Change Management: Building The Case For Change
In order to start enacting change, you have to build the case for change. No matter if it’s a positive or negative change, a small or large company, or anything in between; doing a little initial homework can put the right wheels in motion. In the first episode of Season 2, Jennifer Ayers is joined by Lisa Insley, a partner at Concinnity, to discuss how leaders can build the case for change and start guiding an organization through it. Listen to Jennifer and Lisa talk about building a case for change: Lisa Insley introduction Leading an organization through change (2:55) A large amount of Lisa’s career has been at times of great change. She shares what she’s learned along the way, including a specific example of a company that made big changes the right way. How to build a case for change (6:39) Lisa believes there are a few things you must have to make a truly compelling case for change. It all starts with identifying the core problem at hand and how it impacts people. Jennifer and Lisa walk us through examples of businesses seeing the positive and negative sides of change. Improving effort through change (17:03) As Lisa points out, when people feel heard and believe there’s an earnest effort, they tend to have more buy-in. Jennifer and Lisa talk about how empathy plays a major role when building a case for change. Transparency and healthy urgency (19:36) For any company thinking of enacting some type of large change, Lisa believes you need to be transparent about what’s happening and why in order to build much-needed trust throughout the process. She also thinks having a healthy sense of urgency helps to stop the organization from jumping ahead with the wrong ideas.
Trailer · Tue, June 01, 2021
Survive & Thrive - S2E0 - Coming Soon - An Overview of Eight Tenets to drive Change in an Organization
Welcome to Season Two! This season, my partners and I will walk you through eight tenets to drive meaningful, impactful, and sustainable change in an organization. Starting next week, we’ll explore each of these tenets at a high level over 8 weeks, and then, we’ll take a deeper dive into each one to really understand why it’s important and how to put some of these principals into practice. We’ll share some of our own personal experiences from the hundreds of clients we’ve helped and invite other professionals to our show to share their stories on what worked, what didn’t work, and what perspectives they can offer on the relevance of these tenants.
S1 E20 · Tue, May 25, 2021
What We Learned About Resiliency: A Survive & Thrive Season 1 Recap
After more than a year of the coronavirus pandemic, what have we learned? That’s the very question host Jennifer Ayers aims to answer as she looks back at the first season of the Survive & Thrive podcast. In the Survive & Thrive Season 1 finale, Jennifer takes a look back at the 19 guests and 19 stories she helped to tell in order to find the common themes and lessons learned. There was an amazing amount of resilience shown as people and businesses faced unprecedented crises due to COVID-19. But what makes up resilience and how can we nurture that trait after the pandemic is over and life returns to normal? With the help of previous guests, Jennifer figures out the truest meaning of the word and what it takes to be resilient in the face of great change. Act 1: Resilience Pleasantly surprised by people’s resiliency (1:15) As Dr. Partha Ghosh noted, the coronavirus pandemic was the true first world war for most people, affecting everyone in some way. Dr. Ghosh was surprised by the resiliency shown during the pandemic and lockdowns. Where does resilience come from? (2:26) While we all knew what resilience means, few had a true understanding of the word and how it relates to real life. Jennifer recalls back to her time with several guests to help figure out where that resilience comes from and what it looks like in business. Act 2: Purpose Defining purpose (4:33) Jennifer describes what purpose means to her and what tenants make it up. Being driven by your purpose (5:14) As Kirsten Curtis discussed in the very first episode, finding your purpose and letting it drive your actions can lead to amazing things. For some, that meant helping scale the supply chain for N95 masks or creating ventilators at a time when they were in high demand. Why is purpose so important in business (6:49) Finding a purpose might seem like something for the individual but businesses are beginning to recognize how much it impacts everything. Jennifer details several key facts that show how having a purpose makes a difference on the bottom line while highlighting a few interviews from throughout the first season to back it up. Act 3: Empathy The importance of empathy in business (12:30) Employees don’t feel a sense of commitment to help the organization if that same organization has not shown a sense of commitment to their well-being. Nearly every guest from this first season pointed to an increased need for empathy during this crisis but Steve Van Valin explained it best. Empathy in supporting employee needs (15:15) As the lockdown started, everything was brought into the home -- from kids’ schoolwork to business meetings. That spawned a need for changes in the work schedule and environment, and a need for companies to be far more empathetic. Rackspace executive Ed Skowronski and LLUNA CEO Jess Pagoni shared their insight on how this flexible and personalized wo
S1 E19 · Tue, May 18, 2021
Nurturing Our Sense Of Humanity In Order To Survive And Thrive
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was felt worldwide. But by looking at and learning from what happened and how people responded to it, we can get a far better idea of where to go from here. However, one thing that became obvious was the need to continue to nurture our sense of humanity and take better care of one another. On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, Jennifer Ayers sits down with world thought leader Dr. Partha Ghosh. Dr. Ghosh is known as an innovator of business and economic models, advising business and government leaders around the world. Jennifer and Dr. Ghosh discuss how the coronavirus highlighted the positive and negative sides of humanity, and what’s needed to not just survive but thrive as the pandemic comes to a close. Act 1: Preparation and action Dr. Ghosh’s background (1:24) Jennifer and Dr. Partha Ghosh discuss his education and experience, including working with governments and major corporations. Early days of the COVID-19 pandemic (4:24) Dr. Ghosh shares his insight and experience with the initial outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, both in developed and lower-income countries. He was shocked at how slowly developed countries were to respond to the pandemic. Dr. Ghosh’s personal experience (7:48) Dr. Ghosh details his experience finding out about the pandemic and lockdown. He explains how he used that time to think ahead and prepare. Act 2: Humanity The impact on work (10:43) As a teacher, not much changed for Dr. Ghosh. He simply transitioned to remote work, which the students adapted to quickly. For clients, Dr. Ghosh checked in to see how they were adjusting, which tightened some of those relationships. Renewed sense of humanity (13:37) One of the unintentional benefits of the pandemic is the reminder that everyone is human and potentially dealing with issues beyond our first sight. Dr. Ghosh explains his idea behind the “human care system” that includes taking care of each others’ physical, mental, and emotional needs. Act 3: Taking the next step Technology accelerated (21:11) Technology has taken a massive leap forward over the last year of the pandemic. But as Dr. Ghosh points out, there’s a need to think about things like the environment, spirituality, and the less fortunate at the same time. The weaker instincts of humanity (27:13) When Jennifer and Dr. Ghosh spoke months ago, he touched on the reality the pandemic has revealed the weaker instincts of humanity. Dr. Ghosh believes the pandemic has highlighted a pretty big divide, which could lead to much larger issues. Act 4: Surviving and thriving Biggest surprises (32:00) Just like most people, Dr. Ghosh was surprised by a few things during the pandemic; both good and bad. He was surprised by the resiliency and ingenuity that came about but was disappointed by humanity’s disobedience. Advice to leaders and organizatio
S1 E18 · Tue, May 11, 2021
Reducing Employee Burnout Through Wellness
No one is immune to stress and the effects it can have on the body and mind. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has been a major stressor for a lot of people, leading to a sharp increase in employee burnout as the lines between work and home have blurred. As both individuals and companies are beginning to pay closer attention to wellness, it’s imperative we discuss the importance of wellness -- both physical and mental -- and how to improve it. To provide her insight into wellness and share some things you can do to improve it, Danielle Day joins Jennifer and the Survive & Thrive podcast. Danielle holds a PhD in Integrative Physiology, is a former collegiate gymnast and aspiring weightlifter, and the founder of C-Health; giving her a unique perspective on the importance of wellness in business and our personal lives. Act 1: The beginning Danielle’s background and experience (1:44) Jennifer and Danielle share some of the highlights from her career. The leadup to the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown (3:47) Still working for uniQure, Danielle was in a meeting when the shutdown started. Despite a job that involved a lot of travel, Danielle suddenly had to get accustomed to working from home. Realizing the new reality (5:19) As the weeks of lockdown stretched on with no clear end in sight, a new reality set in for Danielle. She discusses what it was like dealing with the launch of a new and innovative treatment option for hemophilia when they couldn’t actually meet with anyone. How are you? (9:56) During the pandemic, Danielle asked her employees how they were doing instead of focusing solely on deliverables and work metrics. As many previous guests have found, taking an interest in you and your staff’s personal lives led to a new understanding of the difficulties many people faced balancing work and home life during the pandemic. Act 2: Finding new purpose A new perspective (12:25) So many people used the pandemic as a time of reflection and growth, and Danielle is no different, starting several new ventures including starting her own company. Danielle reflects how the coronavirus pandemic shaped her perspective on purpose. Better handling high-stress situations (19:39) Danielle’s company, C-Health, seeks to provide holistic self-care and boundary-setting strategies to maintain mental and physical health practices during high-stress periods. The pandemic was certainly one of those times. Danielle discusses some of the issues that plague people, especially women, and lead to employee burnout Act 3: Using wellness to decrease employee burnout Supporting employee wellness (24:41) As companies begin focusing more attention on their employees’ mental and physical wellness beyond just work itself, finding a way to properly support that can be difficult. What does it actually look like? As Danielle notes, it doesn’t have to mean needing a big block of ti
S1 E17 · Tue, May 04, 2021
The Power Of Introspection To Create Personal And Professional Growth
The COVID-19 pandemic was a time of change for everyone. But for Devin Basinger, it was an even bigger one as he decided to leave the company he founded and join another startup right as the pandemic was starting. On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, Jennifer Ayers is joined by Devin Basinger to talk about his experiences founding and eventually leaving his company Deep Bench, joining the startup H1, and how he’s applied the lessons he’s learned along the way to find personal and professional growth. Act 1: Tough decisions Devin’s background and experience (1:35) Jennifer and Devin give a brief synopsis of his background, including going to MIT, starting his own company, and his latest work. Career change (4:17) Right around the time the pandemic hit, Devin was thinking about a career pivot. A discussion with H1 about their growth expectations and his potential role in that helped him pull the trigger. Concerns about working remotely (5:45) As Devin was deciding to jump in with H1, he explains what was going through his mind. He had concerns about being able to make an impact working remotely, which turned out to be the norm as the pandemic hit, forcing employees to start working remotely. Act 2: Taking the leap Making a big change during a crisis (9:09) Moving from his own company to a new startup, Devin wasn’t taking nearly the type of risk you might think. He explains how the jump was a positive for him and his family, and how the early days of the pandemic impacted his new company. The entrepreneurial spirit (11:38) Devin isn’t a stranger to starting his own business, showing the entrepreneurial spirit that has been such a shining light for the country during the pandemic. But in order to carve a clearer path forward, Devin had to think about his future and plan accordingly. Applying lessons (13:59) It’s important to note how important trial and error can be in business. Devin has applied past experiences, especially the difficulties and lessons from founding his own company, to improve his current experiences. Following your gut (18:17) As Jennifer notes, following your heart and gut can be nerve-wracking at times but can also be incredibly rewarding. Devin believes his background has eliminated some of the fear that would have typically come with business decisions he’s making now. Act 3: Introspection and looking ahead Leaving Deep Bench (20:16) Devin showed great courage leaving behind his company after spending several years building it up. As he explains, it was his introspection that made it clear the company needed someone else at the helm. How to thrive (22:28) With his insight, Devin shares what he believes companies need to be doing in order to thrive, not just survive. Taking a look at the long-term picture and your own feelings is imperative to make the right decisions. Act 4: M
S1 E16 · Tue, April 27, 2021
Finding Purpose, Caring, And Building Trust
During the COVID-19 pandemic, people began to reflect more on their lives, their relationships, how they spend their time, and finding purpose in their work. While everyone dealt with a massive amount of change throughout the pandemic, having to quickly pivot in their personal and professional lives, there could be even more change on the horizon as people begin looking for new opportunities to do more meaningful work that aligns with their purpose. On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, Jennifer is joined by Dr. Robert Sicora to discuss finding purpose, cultivating a sense of care, and building trust. Robert is a leader in organizational development, the founder of Sicora Consulting, and the author of “Grab the Helm: Navigating with Purpose” giving him a ton of insight on finding purpose. Act 1: Pivoting at the start of the pandemic Robert’s background (1:28) Robert shares some of his professional experience, including when he decided to start his own company. Pivoting as the world shut down (3:01) Down in Arizona for business when things started to shut down, things happened quick and forced a change of plans. Instead of being in meetings, the company he was meeting shut their doors and started working remotely, seeing Robert get on a plane and heading back to Minnesota. Making the switch to remote work (4:52) Quickly pivoting to the crisis was a great decision that saw the bulk of their clients pivot along with them. But with much to do, Robert explains where his attention went first. How clients handled the pivot (6:04) With clients concerned about the usefulness of collecting data during a pandemic, it turned out to be a great decision. As Robert notes, it’s always a good time to collect data. Act 2: Navigating change successfully Creating strategies (9:02) Once the pandemic hit, timelines got shortened. Instead of looking months or even years down the line, organizations had to think in 30-day blocks. Patterns of the successful companies (10:11) As Robert saw during the pandemic, the successful companies checked in on their people, not just the work they were doing. Being authentic and having empathy were just some of the things he saw that built trust and softened the blows as they came. Helm (12:55) Jennifer and Robert talk about his book, “Helm” -- From how it came about to how it can help individuals navigate change. Change after the pandemic (16:25) With more time during the pandemic came more reflection. As people took the time to look at their lives, their relationships, and their work; they began to truly consider their purpose. That could lead to even bigger change once the pandemic is over. Act 3: Finding purpose Purpose, care, and trust (21:38) Robert identifies the three pillars that are necessary at an organizational level to ensure people can find their purpose and follow their passi
S1 E15 · Tue, April 20, 2021
Diversity Hiring: Elevating Women In The Workplace
While the COVID-19 pandemic was hard on just about everyone, it also helped provide some introspection. With so much upheaval over the last year in processes and even organizational hierarchy; many companies have been making strides to become more inclusive. However, not enough has been done to boost women’s voices, especially minority women, when thinking about diversity hiring practices. On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, Jennifer is joined by Trish Torizzo, the CEO of Triple Hill Consulting and Ascentiya. Trish shares her story, going from being the CIO at Hologic at the start of the pandemic to starting two companies of her own with a mission to help women in the workplace. Jennifer and Trish discuss the disappointing statistics, what’s needed to fix them, and why companies should be focusing their diversity hiring practices on getting more women into C-suite roles Act 1: Change on top of change Trish’s introduction and background (0:48) Jennifer and Trish go over some of the highlights from Trish’s career, including some of the companies she’s held an executive role at. Life as the pandemic hit (3:04) Trish details some of the hurdles she had to face immediately when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Quick change (4:30) With the need to implement changes in a matter of hours, not days, Trish got to work. She explains how she had to think, behave, and act differently in order to accommodate the quick changes. Personal change (5:22) Trish didn’t have to deal with change just in business but in her personal life as well. She explains how and why she left Hologic in order to form her own consulting company -- Triple Hill Consulting -- and a corporate advisory service -- Ascentiya. Act 2: Helping women Change the statistics (9:46) With some shocking statistics surrounding women in the workplace, Trish felt compelled to found her company Ascentiya to help change those numbers during a global pandemic. Focusing on diversity hiring (13:17) With so much upheaval over the last year, companies have found themselves scrambling to reorganize and restructure. Trish explains why companies should focus on diversity, especially bringing women into the C-suite. Act 3: Diversity hiring and working to become more inclusive Making the shift now (23:21) Trish believes those companies that now begin changing their perspectives and processes to help women in the workplace will reap the rewards. She details the key changes companies need to make in order to find and attract diverse talent. Coaching men in diversity (27:16) With Ascentiya, Trish coaches women in their careers and companies in finding diverse talent. However, she takes a slightly different approach when coaching men to create a more diverse workforce. That starts with improving the culture of a workplace. Act 4: Surviving and thriving A woman’s experience in the work
S1 E14 · Tue, April 13, 2021
Embracing Change: How Rackspace Handled The COVID-19 Pandemic
Whether we like it or not, change happens in life. Unfortunately, no one could have predicted the amount of change we’d all have to go through with the COVID-19 pandemic. On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, Ed Skowronski -- the vice president of solution services at Rackspace Technology -- joins Jennifer to discuss embracing change. Act 1: Introduction Introducing Ed and his background (1:32) Ed goes over his 25 years in technology, including some sage advice his mentor at IBM once told him. Embracing change (4:10) While Ed believes change is rarely comfortable, he dives right into it. He explains why he thinks people have to also start embracing change. Ed’s life before the COVID-19 pandemic (5:03) Even though Rackspace’s workforce was spread across the world, the pandemic changed how the company managed daily activities. However, Ed’s focus was on something larger. Act 2: Embracing change Responding to COVID-19 (8:48) With the pandemic in full swing, it was time to figure out how to keep moving forward. Ed details how Rackspace thought of their customers’ needs to understand where the potential pain points would be. Handling the pandemic’s biggest hurdles (13:25) The pandemic was a whirlwind of confusion. The unknowns of the pandemic were felt all the way down to a personal level. But at a company’s scale, the lack of information can cause the type of strife that’s difficult to manage. Ed explains how Rackspace focused on improving communication and employee wellness to handle the biggest hurdles from the pandemic. Act 3: Embracing change The rubber meets the road (16:03) In a world where everyone was trying to solve issues that didn’t previously exist, Ed’s initial theories got put to the test. Though there were plenty of challenges, there were some unexpected positives too. Employee wellness (20:01) As Ed explains, some of the company’s preconceived notions got flipped on their head. One such instance was that employees actually worked harder and for more hours at home, something they had never planned for. By watching closely at what was actually happening instead of relying on preconceived notions, Rackspace was able to better address issues before they became big problems. Act 4: Adapt and thrive Why was Rackspace able to adapt so well? (26:06) Ed believes that by implementing a plan, as well as properly communicating it to employees, Rackspace was able to adapt to the ever-changing pandemic. The biggest surprise (28:34) In a results-driven world that is often defined by productivity measurements, Ed was surprised by how pivotal things like employee wellness are as well. Ed believes companies have to start measuring those things and taking them seriously too. Ed’s advice for handling a crisis (30:40) With so many lessons learned throughout the pandemic, Ed offers his insight and advice
S1 E13 · Tue, April 06, 2021
What Is Change Management: The Science And Art Of Change
The coronavirus pandemic reinforced that the one constant in life is change itself. On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, Bas Zwart -- an executive at Johnson and Johnson -- joins Jennifer to discuss developing and implementing change management solutions. Bas’s experience in a variety of HR leadership roles has given him plenty of practice navigating teams through change. From determining what is change management to its role throughout the pandemic and even beyond, Bas’s insight is an invaluable tool for any business looking to be proactive about developing sustainable change programs to quickly pivot when required. Act 1: Change management Introducing Bas (1:07) Bas introduces himself and his experience in human resources, as well as his outlook on his job. Life before the pandemic (2:22) Bas details his typical daily schedule from before the coronavirus pandemic, including some of the challenges he had to tackle. What is change management and how did it change with the pandemic? (3:13) Bas believes change management is more of an art form than simply a discipline. He explains how change management changed when the pandemic started. Act 2: Using change management at the beginning of the pandemic The early days of the pandemic (5:58) With an early look at the coronavirus due to having offices all around the world, Bas talks about how he and his team were able to assist in Johnson and Johnson’s response. Communication is vital (7:25) Bas believes responding to any crisis begins with communication. Bas thinks mid-level leaders play a pivotal role in allowing employees to stay informed from a source they are already familiar with. Open-mic sessions (8:22) During the coronavirus pandemic, Bas and his team got those mid-level leaders together to hold open-mic sessions where they could disseminate information and have an open conversation. Having a dialogue allowed managers to share their thoughts and ask questions that pertained to them specifically. The art of change management (9:45) Bas believes going back to your values -- both personal and business -- is a core guiding principle. Johnson and Johnson let their credo become their “North Star” and define each decision. Act 3: The people side of change management Making everyone feel heard (13:05) How does a company as large as Johnson and Johnson ensure their people don’t feel lost during a crisis? Bas believes in the science and art of change management to create processes and subtlety in guiding leaders to deliver the right message. Surprising adaptations (14:57) Despite years of experience in change management, Bas was surprised by how people at Johnson and Johnson reacted to the pandemic. Whether it was how people adapted to the situation or the vulnerability they shared, the coronavirus pandemic helped people connect together and bond. Act 4: H
S1 E11 · Tue, March 23, 2021
Using Voice Technology To Create A Better Experience
Smart assistants are everywhere now -- in things like lightbulbs, speakers, headphones, and mobile devices. As people have begun to embrace and experiment with all that voice technology has to offer to their daily lives, the need for custom solutions to create a better human experience has come with it. That’s where this episode’s guests come in. On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, Jennifer is joined by Lisa Insley and Jason Fields. Lisa is a partner and expert in helping clients create a more compelling human experience at Concinnity while Jason is the chief strategy officer at Voicify. They talk about how the use of voice technology has boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as why brands should begin considering services like Voicify to not only embrace it but to create engaging experiences for their customers. Act 1: Voicify Introduction of Lisa and Jason (1:31) Jennifer introduces this week’s two guests, Lisa Insley and Jason Fields, allowing them to touch on their backgrounds and experience. What is Voicify? (4:44) As Jason notes, Voicify is effectively just a content management system for smart speakers. It allows brands and businesses to create engaging conversation-based apps and customize their voice app to offer a more engaging customer experience. Jennifer explains how the Survive and Thrive podcast employs the service to be more engaging for users. Pre-COVID and personal growth (7:35) Jennifer talks to Jason about how his life looked before the COVID-19 pandemic and how it changed along the way. For Jason, it was that forced time of reflection that helped him discover new priorities. Act 2: Getting used to voice technology and its benefits Transitioning during a crisis (11:14) Before the pandemic hit, Jason and his team had several exciting plans lined up, but that all changed in March. Jason talks about how the company made that transition as well as the importance of giving everyone -- employees and clients -- some time to breathe and collect themselves. Should you be using Voicify? (14:28) With the emergence of smartphones and smart speakers pairing with lockdown, more people than ever are engaging in some type of audio experience. While the growing interest in voice technology is one compelling reason for businesses to embrace it, Jason offers the logic behind using a service like Voicify to get started right now. Combatting people’s hesitancy to adopt new technology (19:06) Not everyone readily embraces new technology, especially when it’s still emerging. But Jason and Lisa explain why those uneasy to adopt voice solutions should reconsider. Where should you integrate voice? (23:22) As Jason notes, too many brands aren’t thinking about all the touchpoints they have with their customer base. He gives the roadmap for deciding which processes would be enhanced by using voice. Act 3: T
S1 E10 · Tue, March 16, 2021
Customized Employment: The Benefits Of Flexibility
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, the flexibility of a work-at-home schedule has been a welcome change for many employees as they try to handle both home and work. It’s also been a massive boon for employers, seeing their staff work more hours thanks to the increased flexibility. However, with companies opening back up, customized employment is in high demand and very much needed. Jess Podgajny joins Jennifer to talk about her new company LLUNA and how it’s making it easier for businesses to implement and manage customized employment options. From work schedules, take-home pay, time off, and so much more; Jess believes providing more flexibility to employees improves diversity and inclusion, employee happiness, and ultimately impacts recruiting and employee retention. Act 1: LLUNA Introduction (1:47) Jennifer introduces Jess Podgajny, who explains her background. What LLUNA does (3:24) LLUNA is a human resource technology platform with enables employers to offer employees the ability to customize employment arrangements. Jess and Jennifer discuss the various aspects LLUNA focuses on and how that can help employees. How LLUNA was born (5:29) Jess explains how she came to the idea that eventually formed LLUNA. Act 2: Starting a business in a pandemic How the pandemic has impacted LLUNA (7:32) Starting LLUNA just before the country shut down, Jennifer and Jess talk about how the coronavirus pandemic has impacted LLUNA, potentially for the better. Employment awakening (8:57) Jess believes the pandemic has helped employers realize they don’t have to have a rigid structure of working in an office building. Instead, she believes more companies are embracing their employees working from home. Workplace boundaries (10:25) While employees are actually working more now than before, Jess believes there have to be clear boundaries placed on hours in order to stop burnout and disengagement. Flexible work hours (11:17) Flexible work hours have been a staple of the service industry while the corporate world has been stuck in a rigid 9-5 mindset. However, with everyone trying to deal with the ramifications of the pandemic, people have struggled to stick to that structure. As Jess notes, companies are beginning to embrace an asynchronous work calendar. Jennifer shares from her own personal experiences, seeing a more flexible calendar lead to more trust and ease in the workplace. Employee experience (13:19) Jennifer and Jess talk about how LLUNA allows people customize their “employee experience.” From working hours to benefits and everything in-between, that personalization is helping both employees and employers reap the benefits. Act 3: Boosting Inclusion and employee retention through customized employment What can customized employment do for a company? (16:47) While the idea of an improved employee experience sounds great
S1 E9 · Tue, March 09, 2021
Employee Engagement: An Engaged And Happy Employee Is A Productive Employee
Getting your employees excited about making an impact is one of the best ways of creating a good working environment and company culture. However, not many organizations take advantage of employee engagement techniques -- especially during COVID-19 -- and are suffering as a result. An engaged employee feels like they’re being heard and they’re making a difference, making them happier. Happy employees tend to result in improved production and lower turnover. Jason Magidson joins Jennifer to discuss the merits of employee engagement and what you can do as a business owner or supervisor to cultivate it. Jason is currently a leader at AmeriHealth Caritas and is the author of several books, including his latest work “Engaged.” Act 1: Before the pandemic Jason Magidson introduction and background (0:50) Jennifer introduces Jason, touching on a few of the books he’s published, where he’s worked, and several of the companies he’s impacted. Jason shares some of the important projects he’s worked on throughout his career. Rapid deployment and setup (4:19) Jason shares one project he worked on at GlaxoSmithKline where they were able to set up a research and development space within just five weeks. He discusses the importance of the quick turnaround and the impact it has, especially in a crisis like the coronavirus pandemic. What was Jason doing at the start of the pandemic? (6:11) In March of 2020, Jason was working with vulnerable groups, promoting health equity for minority populations at AmeriHealth Caritas. Addressing employee engagement before the pandemic (8:31) The pandemic brought to light many of the issues Jason and his team were trying to address. Jason explains how the company had begun and accelerated an initiative to engage employees to help create ideas to boost efficiency as well as cultural characteristic to improve empowerment internally. Act 2: Employee engagement during COVID-19 The importance of employee engagement (11:43) As Jason notes, employees that aren’t engaged tend to be less productive. But when you create opportunities for them to make an impact, they thrive. Combatting company disengagement through difficult times (13:02) When going through a crisis, it can be difficult to find the time to improve employee engagement when it’s needed the most. However, Jason believes that by making staff more enthused to give their ideas and by making them a part of the solution, companies can boost enthusiasm and energy. How the shift to remote work has changed company dynamics (14:09) The pandemic has meant more people, and whole companies in some instances, have moved to remote working. Jason details how he’s seen those changes impact company dynamics. Fostering employee engagement (15:30) If you haven’t been promoting employee engagement at your company previously, now is the best time to start. If you’re just startin
S1 E8 · Tue, March 02, 2021
The Importance Of Organizational Culture And Its Impact On Your Business
Creating an organizational culture that fosters meaningful relationships, creativity, and creates motivation in business can be difficult in the best of times. But as the coronavirus pandemic has made clear, it can be even harder to do during a crisis. If your people weren’t questioning the value of their involvement in your company before, they’re certainly doing it now. Jennifer is joined by Steve Van Valin to talk about the importance of work culture and the impact it can have on things like production and retaining and acquiring talent. Steve is the author of the “Culture Narrative Strategy” and “Amplify,” which have helped guide leaders to motivate their teams through purpose and creating meaningful work. He shares some of his insight and tips on creating and improving your organizational culture. Act 1: Understanding and cultivating an organizational culture Steve Van Valin’s background (2:05) Jennifer introduces Steve, who talks about what he’s done throughout his career to cultivate a better work culture. What does organizational culture mean? (3:39) Steve and Jennifer each break down what they believe work culture actually means and what it looks like in an organization. Tending your work culture like a garden (5:32) Steve likens creating and nurturing an organizational culture to planting and harvesting a garden. You can’t simply state what your work culture is and have it blossom. It takes a real commitment and hard work to truly get the results you’re looking for. Act 2: The impact COVID-19 has had on work culture Weathering the storm (8:31) With the pandemic creating a whole host of new challenges, work culture was one of the first things to go for many businesses. Steve talks about what he’s seen from an organizational culture perspective as employees have been working from home and personal connections have been missing. The challenges of an ongoing pandemic (10:09) Jennifer shares some of the things she’s done at Concinnity to help improve employee connections, including virtual cocktail hours. Steve and Jennifer talk about how the ongoing pandemic and lack of personal connections have created weariness that is beginning to impact organizational culture. Act 3: Using COVID-19 to audit and improve your organizational culture Combating “Zoom Gloom” and re-energizing (12:22) Steve and Jennifer share some valuable tips for leaders to build and improve relationships and combat Zoom fatigue, which will improve your organizational culture. Using the pandemic to create/improve your organizational culture (17:52) As Jennifer points out, COVID-19 has, in some ways, made us more human. Our emotions are more powerful as positive things mean just a little bit more and negative issues impact us harder. Steve explains that now is the time to think about your work culture once again -- whether you need to create one or if your current organ
S1 E7 · Tue, February 23, 2021
Using Pizza To Help Small Businesses And Local Communities
The popular mobile app Slice had already been helping small businesses survive by giving them access to digital tools that only larger chains had the money to develop for themselves. But when COVID-19 hit, Slice’s commitment to local restaurants helped them not only survive but actually thrive when everyone needed them most. Jacqueline Meyer, the CPO at Slice, joins the Survive & Thrive podcast. She discusses her journey with the company, how they’ve managed to adjust to life during the coronavirus pandemic, and how Slice has helped small businesses and communities through new initiatives. Act 1: Joining Slice and getting thrown into a crisis Jacqueline Meyer introduction (1:07) Jennifer introduces Jacqueline and talks about how they met at Accenture. Versatility (2:23) Working in human resources, Jacqueline has been able to help people navigate major changes. What is Slice (3:10) Jacqueline talks about how Slice helps small restaurants stay relevant in a digital age by giving them access to online tools larger brands have built for themselves. Starting at Slice (5:13) Jacqueline began working at Slice early in 2020 before the pandemic officially became a pandemic. She talks about her role in the company and how both she and the company were impacted by COVID-19. The difficulties of international business (7:14) Though Slice’s customer base is in the United States, they have offices throughout Macedonia. The scattered offices presented some unique challenges for Jacqueline as Slice began working from home. Act 2: Commitment to help small business A commitment to small businesses (9:28) One thing Jacqueline loves about Slice and is working to retain is the company’s drive to help small businesses thrive. From the product itself to the workers both in the United States and Macedonia, Slice as a company is helping small businesses meet the growing demand for takeout. Re-investing (11:37) One of Slice’s newest initiatives is an accelerate program that allows small businesses to apply for a $15,000 investment to get access to digital tools to improve their companies. Thriving through partnership (12:34) Shops that partner with Slice have seen massive increases in order value and re-order rates, helping small businesses survive. Slice is continuing that by partnering with some shops to help them with marketing, logistics, and more so they can grow even larger and thrive. Act 3: Adapting and growing Helping front-line workers (15:02) Jacqueline discusses Slice’s creative campaign called “Pizza vs. Pandemic” to help small businesses connect with front-line workers. Through user donations, local businesses could deliver pizza to the country’s front-line workers to help during the pandemic. How can they adapt (17:57) Jacqueline believes it’s through a sense of purpose that Slice is able to so quickly pivot
S1 E6 · Tue, February 16, 2021
Using Business to Create Social Change - LXMI
How can businesses create a better world? Anna-Maja Björkenvall, the CEO of LXMI, discusses how their business model and supply chain are helping end global poverty and save the environment at the same time. Anna’s story is an empowering one, starting when she came to the United States with nothing but a suitcase to eventually becoming the CEO of LXMI after founder Leila Janah passed in 2020. She also details some of the difficulties she’s faced stepping into a new role at the same time the coronavirus pandemic hit, as well as how businesses should take a more focused approach to create social impact. Show Highlights: Anna-Maja Björkenvall introduction (0:44) Jennifer introduces Anna, the current CEO of LXMI. Coming to America (2:02) Anna came to the United States with little more than a suitcase and a dream. After living in England and Rome, Anna had a conversation with a stranger that prompted her to move to Miami despite having never been to the city or knowing anyone there. Joining LXMI and meeting Leila Janah (3:54) After earning a degree in psychology and marketing and earning her green card, Anna worked at a few companies before another life-changing move to New York. It’s there that Anna met and became friends with LXMI founder Leila Janah. Leila Janah’s background (4:44) Sadly, Leila passed away in 2020 at the age of 37, but she lived an impressive life. Jennifer talks about some of Leila’s remarkable accomplishments and Anna discusses Leila’s battle with cancer and ultimately her passing. Becoming LXMI’s CEO (7:10) As Leila went through treatment, Anna stepped in to run the company. Upon Leila’s passing, she was asked to remain and become the new CEO with Leila’s blessing. She explains her feelings on both Leila’s death and her own journey. New troubles: COVID-19 (8:05) A month after Leila passed away, Anna was hit with another career- and life-defining moment: The coronavirus pandemic. Anna shares the fears she had of trying to fill Leila’s shoes and the difficulty of handling everything in such a short timespan. Being open and authentic through a crisis (9:09) With so much turmoil in such a short period of time, Anna could have easily retreated or faked her way through. Instead, she was open and emboldened her team to be authentic and to share their emotions and thoughts during unprecedented times. The impact of the pandemic (9:45) Part of what makes LXMI such a unique brand is how they source and produce their products. LXMI’s supply chain comes directly from the source in places like Uganda, where they aim to end global poverty by paying at least three times the average local wage. But the pandemic created new challenges for those workers. Anna talks about what they’ve learned about those workers and the importance of creating sustainabl
S1 E5 · Tue, February 09, 2021
Transforming Elderly Care - Ai2
How is AI generating value for seniors, their care givers and families? Dan Brown, the President and CEO of Algorithmic Intuition, discusses the intersection of ai, healthcare innovation and quality of life. We explore how COVID has accelerated the need to invest in technologies and solutions to make remote patient monitoring more accessible to families and care providers in order to enhance not only the quality of life for elderly, patients, or individuals that need assisted care, but also for the safety of the care providers. A Concinnity podcast: https://concinnityus.com/perspectives
S1 E4 · Tue, February 02, 2021
The Future of Networking - Curious Reactor
How has COVID-19 impacted how we connect? Jenny Ro, the co-founder and CEO of Curios Reactor, discusses what the future of networking looks like. Given the current environment and pandemic, we explore a new perspective on curating specific relationships in a networking application. A Concinnity podcast: https://concinnityus.com/perspectives
S1 E3 · Tue, January 26, 2021
Minding the Ventilator Gap for Hospitals: Rapid Response - AES Controls
Bridging a major crisis during the early stages of the pandemic, Rick Salerno and Jamie Ahmed from AES Controls pivoted their business to address a shortage of respirators. Looking for help with executing the plan, they combined with Concinnity to help orchestrate all of the moving parts in order to deliver respirators to those who needed it the most. A Concinnity podcast: https://concinnityus.com/perspectives
S1 E2 · Tue, January 19, 2021
Creating a collaboration strategy: The evolution of work - Evolve IP
The evolution of working from anywhere. What's the future of work and how COVID-19 has made this imperative. With companies stumbling into these changes during the pandemic, Alana Moran and Evolve IP were able to help connect workplaces virtually. A Concinnity podcast: https://concinnityus.com/perspectives
S1 E1 · Tue, January 12, 2021
Resolving PPE shortages during COVID-19: Rapid Response - Project N95
Altering your life's plan to address a desperate problem in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic? Solve scaling and financial issues. Connect doctors on the front lines with PPE from suppliers, and stop people from dying over payment terms. This is what Kirsten Curtis did when she joined ProjectN95 - and found a mismatch in supply and demand. A Concinnity podcast: https://concinnityus.com/perspectives
Trailer · Mon, December 14, 2020
Survive & Thrive - Ep 0 - Coming Soon - A podcast highlighting stories of surviving and thriving in change
The Survive & Thrive podcast features Jennifer Ayres, host, and co-Founder of Concinnity. With over 20 years leading large-scale global transformation programs for Fortune 500 companies, her purpose is to help the conscious leader create meaningful and sustainable change by helping companies realize their most ambitious goals. The Survive & Thrive podcast will highlights ideas, learnings, and stories about organizational and personal transformation, by featuring clients, and other notable leaders.
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