Innovating Leadership: Co-Creating Our Future

S8-Ep21: Achieving Employee-Centric Leadership - A Leader’s Food for Thought

Guest: Heather Krentler  
Employees want to be heard. They want to know their employer wants the best for them. Continental Services heard – and worked hard to innovate their company culture to fully focus on the employee journey.  Heather Krentler, Continental’s chief administrative officer, joins host Maureen Metcalf to explore Continental’s employee-led culture and how it came to be; the changes made not just to engagement, but sourcing the best talent in the first place; and how leaders embraced the new employee-centric culture.  The results have been remarkable: a happy staff really does lead to a pleasant bottom line!
Here's what Heather and Maureen cover:
How part of the Great Resignation and Quiet Quitting stem from people – your staff – asserting more control over their lives;
Why compensation doesn’t cut it as the only benefit to retain a valuable employee; and
Why the best ideas tend to come from the front line, not the back office.
See an excerpt from this interview on YouTube at https://bit.ly/Heather-YT .  
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on Twitter:  @IL_Institute .
 
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
What Your Team REALLY Thinks…in Real Time – with Greg Moran
Leading with Care in a Tough World – with Bob DeKoch & Phil Clampitt
Joy at Work! – with Roxanne Brown & Edward Cook
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RESOURCES:  
You can learn more about the employee-centric initiatives Heather and her team have created at ContinentalServes.com .
Or contact Continental via LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/continental-services-michigan/ .
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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
Associate Producers Extraordinaire: Luigi Morelli & Connor Carson  
CONNECT WITH US:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Innovativeleadership
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership
Twitter: @InnoLeader
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovativeleadershipinsitute/
Website: InnovativeLeadership.com
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!
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About Our Guest:  
Heather Krentler is the Chief Administrative Officer for Continental, a food management company that specializes in “Food Your Way”: providing flexible food solutions for a flexible workforce.  After fifteen years in advertising and media, Heather transitioned to the food industry in 2017 and has been dedicated to building consultative and collaborative centralized services for a rapidly growing enterprise ever since, including Human Resources, Marketing, Systems Management, Risk Management, Loss Prevention, and Project Management.  She brings a passion for service to the table and specializes in leadership development and change management as a Gallup-Certified Strengths-Based Coach.

S9-Ep1: The Job I Love to Hate: It’s Never Too Late to Upgrade Your Career!

Guest: Tammy Alvarez
You shudder when Monday rolls around. You dread checking overnight work messages on your phone when you wake up. Yup: it’s easy to find yourself in a career you don’t love, and not know how to get out.
Take heart! Tammy Alvarez has been there. She found her way out…and now coaches people to help them forge the path to careers they actually love. She shares some of her tips with host Maureen Metcalf in this episode. One key mindset: think of your career as a business, and you are its CEO. If you’re still searching for the job that brings you joy, these tips from Tammy and her Career Winners Circle -- a comprehensive collection of coaching and training programs designed to strengthen leaders to grow their careers quickly and sustainably – will help!
Here's what Tammy and Maureen cover:
How to determine what parts of working can still make you passionate about a job,
Why it’s never too late to switch jobs or careers – even as you near retirement, and
Saying goodbye to quiet quitting as the leader of your team!
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on Twitter:  @IL_Institute .
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
- Career Sponsorship and Being Sponsor Ready – with Ricky Robinson & Keith Powell
- Finding Meaning, Joy, & Purpose in What You Do – with Paul Gibbons
- The Career Toolkit: Essential Skills for Success No One Taught You – with Mark Herschberg
  
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RESOURCES:  
Learn more about Tammy’s career coaching firm at CareerWinnersCircle.com. You can also connect with Tammy on LinkedIn here.
The book Maureen mentioned – Leadership 2050 – to which she contributed is available here.  
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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko  
Podbean Guru: Luigi Morelli
CONNECT WITH US:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Innovativeleadership
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership
Twitter: @InnoLeader
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovativeleadershipinsitute/
Website: InnovativeLeadership.com
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!
 
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About Our Guest:  
Meet Tammy Alvarez, CEO and founder of Career Winners Circle: a comprehensive collection of coaching and training programs designed to strengthen leaders to grow their careers quickly and sustainably.
Her spirited “Break all the Rules” approach blends decades of C-Suite experience on Wall Street with a pragmatic, results-based coaching style. She helps business professionals like you create impact so you can love every Monday morning again! 
She is an inspirational coach, trainer, and epic storyteller who delivers transformative learning experiences for her global client base. She believes the heart of every successful business is leaders who inspire courage.

S8-Ep23: How to Harness Honesty

Peter Kozodoy was peeved at the number of lying, dishonest managers, CEOs, and other leaders he had to contend with.  So he analyzed honesty…and found that honest leaders not only do better, but their teams function better, too.  Peter discusses:
How to use strategic brutal honesty to improve far more than morale: it improves sales, marketing, recruiting, and so much more;
The simple 2-question technique that teaches us how to shake off self-limiting talk that prevents us from success; and
How to use honesty like a Jedi mind-trick to spark creativity, resolve interpersonal conflicts, and become a more effective and empowered leader.
Peter’s book is Honest to Greatness.  
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
- To Be Honest: Lead with the Power of Truth, Justice, & Purpose - with Ron Carucci
-  The Power & Promise of Generation Z, Part 1 – with AnneMarie Hayek
- The Power & Promise of Generation Z, Part 2 – with AnneMarie Hayek
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn . We're on Mastodon, Facebook, and Twitter, too!  
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RESOURCES:  
Peter’s book, Honest to Greatness, is available here.
He also has more information on his websites: PeterKozodoy.com and HonestToGreatness.com .
Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can follow her there at https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureenmetcalf/ .
She’s also written several award-winning books on leadership development. Your can peruse and purchase them here: https://amzn.to/3C4eSX0 .
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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
CONNECT WITH US:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Innovativeleadership
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership
Twitter: @IL_Institute
Mastodon: @InnoLeader
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovativeleadershipinsitute/
Website: InnovativeLeadership.com
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!
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About Our Guest:  
Peter Kozodoy is the award-winning author of Honest to Greatness, an Inc. 5000 serial entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, and business coach who works with organizations and their leaders to help them overcome self-limiting bullsh*t and use honesty to achieve greatness. His articles on leadership and entrepreneurship have appeared in Forbes, Inc., HuffPost, PR Daily, and more. He holds a BA in economics from Brandeis University and an MBA from Columbia Business School, and lives in Puerto Rico with his wife and their spoiled dog. To strike up an honest conversation, visit PeterKozodoy.com.

S8-Ep33: Growing a Powerhouse City - Leading Together

Guest: Kenny McDonald
It takes a village to raise a city.  That twists traditional wisdom, but it’s true: no one leader can improve an urban landscape alone.  It takes a group of leaders in public and private partnership. When they’re united by one vision, their city can grow into a powerhouse.  Kenny McDonald oversees that for Columbus, Ohio – a city that’s launched into a bold future…most recently, as the site for Intel’s newest, largest chip plant.  As president of the Columbus Partnership, McDonald upholds and advances the shared vision of the city’s CEOs.  In this episode, he shares how that works so effectively – and what other urban leaders can learn from the Partnership’s example.  
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
- Hot Topics: A Prime Minister's Perspective with Kim Campbell
- Growing Up Biden: Family Lessons on Leadership with Valerie Biden Owens
- Empowering Women for the Prosperity of Nations with Amanda Ellis & Augusto Lopez-Claros
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn . We're on Mastodon, Facebook, and Twitter, too!  
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RESOURCES:  
Information on Kenny’s organization, the Columbus Partnership, awaits at ColumbusPartnership.com. If you have specific questions, e-mail info@ColumbusPartnership.com .
Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can follow her there at https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureenmetcalf/ .
She’s also written several award-winning books on leadership development. Your can peruse and purchase them here: https://amzn.to/3C4eSX0 .
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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
CONNECT WITH US:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Innovativeleadership
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership
Twitter: @IL_Institute
Mastodon: @InnoLeader
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovativeleadershipinsitute/
Website: InnovativeLeadership.com
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!
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About Our Guest:  
Kenny McDonald serves as the third president and CEO of the Columbus Partnership, a civic organization of Columbus’ top business leaders. The Partnership was founded in 2002 to improve the economic and cultural base of Central Ohio. McDonald is responsible for leading strategies focused on diversity and equity, growth and development, and business and civic innovation, in order for the Columbus Region to achieve its vision to become the most prosperous metropolitan area in the United States.
He brings more than 25 years of experience working with metropolitan economies in Savannah, Georgia;, Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Charlotte, North Carolina. He also spent seven years as a global site location advisor for Fluor Corporation.

S8-Ep38: The Power of Passion & Perseverance - Four Levels of Grit

Guest: Jim Ritchie-Dunham  
There’s more to grit than determination – a whole lot more.  Knowing that can help you harness this incredible power of passion and perseverance.
Building on the work of Angela Duckworth and her seminal book, guest Jim Ritchie-Dunham shows how there are four levels of grit in an organization...an insight which dovetails neatly with his own work in ecosynomics.  Leaders often unknowingly determine how it cascades through various parts of their business – but because they’re not aware of it, they may be reinforcing the wrong kind for a particular department, team, or employee.  That results in inefficiencies, lower staff engagement, and the loss of talent.  But all of that can be boosted when grit is recognized and deftly applied.  Dig in to a deeper understanding of grit with Jim Ritchie-Dunham and host Maureen Metcalf!  
In this episode, you’ll learn:
The four lenses for viewing and identifying the grit in your team, and throughout your organization
The unstated social agreements you have with every single person you work with, and
How the best leaders see grit in their teams.
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn .  We’re on Mastodon, Facebook, and Twitter, too!
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
The Science Behind Our Yes! - with Jim Ritchie-Dunham
The Good Fight: Using Productive Conflict - with Liane Davey
Mental Toughness: How to Embrace Stress for Greater Success - with Col. Deb Lewis
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovativeleadershipinsitute/ . We're on Mastodon, Facebook, and Twitter, too!  
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RESOURCES:  
Jim's book, Ecosynomics: The Science of Abundance, is available here. He also co-wrote Managing from Clarity.
Jim also blogs regularly at https://jimritchiedunham.wordpress.com/ .
You can learn more about his Institute for Strategic Clarity at ISClarity.org .
Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can follow her there at https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureenmetcalf/ .
She’s also written several award-winning books on leadership development. Your can peruse and purchase them here: https://amzn.to/3C4eSX0 .
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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
Podbean Guru: Luigi Morelli
CONNECT WITH US:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Innovativeleadership
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership
Twitter: @IL_Institute
Mastodon: @InnoLeader
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovativeleadershipinsitute/
Website: InnovativeLeadership.com
Like this episode? Leave us a review and rating!
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About Our Guest:  
Jim is president of the Institute for Strategic Clarity, and is affiliated with Boston College, Harvard, EGADE Business School, and UPMadrid. He wrote Ecosynomics (2014) & co-authored Managing from Clarity (2001). He blogs regularly at jlrd.me. He has a BSPE (UTulsa), MIM (Thunderbird), MBA (ESADE), and PhD Decision Sciences (UTAustin).

S8-Ep41: What Your Team REALLY Thinks...in Real Time!

Guest: Greg Moran
"Good afternoon, staff. I'm listening."
If only your boss truly listened, like Frasier Crane! The reality is most folks high up the chain have little clue about what the front line -- and the customers the front line interacts with -- are thinking. As the staff at one major company said, "They're not even listening to us."
The solution is easy. Slack, Teams, and other chat channels have replaced the watercooler as your company's own internal social media. Listening to those conversations reveals a wealth of information...and solutions to boost your team's and customers' experiences. As an example, guest Greg Moran discusses the basics of how Aware's AI system finds trending topics without intruding on privacy.
In this episode, you’ll learn:1. There's a big difference between monitoring employees and listening to them
2. How listening -- directly and via AI -- gives people a voice in the head office; a voice not filtered by management, and3. How to maintain individuals' privacy while keeping a finger on the pulse of your team.
 
Other episodes with Greg Moran:
Evolving Leadership to Navigate Disruption
The New Role of Leadership in a Hybrid Workplace
Watch this video excerpt from this podcast
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovativeleadershipinsitute/ . We're on Mastodon, Facebook, and Twitter, too!  
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RESOURCES:  
The website for Greg's company, Aware, is: www.awarehq.com .
Greg's blog is at https://www.awarehq.com/blog/author/greg-moran .
Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can follow her there at https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureenmetcalf/ .
She’s also written several award-winning books on leadership development. Your can peruse and purchase them here: https://amzn.to/3C4eSX0 .
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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
Podbean Guru: Luigi Morelli
CONNECT WITH US:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Innovativeleadership
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership
Twitter: @IL_Institute
Mastodon: @InnoLeader
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovativeleadershipinsitute/
Website: InnovativeLeadership.com
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!
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About Our Guest:  
Greg Moran is a C-level digital, strategy and change leadership executive with extensive global operations experience. He led corporate strategy for Ford and designed the plan that Alan Mullaly used to turn around the company. Greg held C-level IT positions in app dev, infrastructure, and core banking applications at Ford, Nationwide Insurance, and Bank One/JPMC, respectively. He began his career in consulting with Arthur Andersen Accenture, working across industries with 100 companies over the course of a decade. He is passionate about leadership and culture, and displays that passion as COO at software company Aware – and shares it by teaching part time at Ohio University.

S8-Ep53: 5 Trends to Know: Leadership in 2023

Turning the tables, Christopher Washington -- the provost and Executive Vice President at Franklin University – interviews our host, Maureen Metcalf, on the top five trends leaders will contend with in 2023.  The key it to lead with a scientist's mindset, experimenting and creating opportunities to help your organization navigate the destabilizing effects of the trends, and to take advantage of the opportunities they create.In this episode, you’ll learn:1. How will issues of sustainability and energy security impact businesses?
What are the implications of inflation and food insecurity on your workforce, and your ability to retain employees?3. Is your internal training creating outdated leaders?
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovativeleadershipinsitute/ .  We’re on Mastodon, Facebook, and Twitter, too!
 
 
Other episodes you'll enjoy:
Do No Harm: Ethics for Leaders with Terri O’Fallon
Facing Uncertainty: It’s VUCA with Christopher Nolan
Expecting the Unexpected: VUCA in Action at Red Roof with George Limbert
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovativeleadershipinsitute/ . We're on Mastodon, Facebook, and Twitter, too!  
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RESOURCES:  
Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can follow her there at https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureenmetcalf/ .
She’s also written several award-winning books on leadership development. Your can peruse and purchase them here: https://amzn.to/3C4eSX0 .
Christopher Washington writes on Medium at https://drchristopherwashington.medium.com/ and with the Forbes Nonprofit Council at https://councils.forbes.com/forbesnonprofitcouncil .
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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
Podbean Guru: Luigi Morelli
CONNECT WITH US:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Innovativeleadership
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership
Twitter: @IL_Institute
Mastodon: @InnoLeader
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovativeleadershipinsitute/
Website: InnovativeLeadership.com
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!
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About Our Guest Host:  
Dr. Christopher Washington is a tireless supporter of global leadership development, designer of accessible, inclusive and relevant education, and champion for the role of universities in workforce development. He serves as the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs for Franklin University. Dr. Washington takes an active role in his local community by serving on the International Visitors Council and on the U.S. Global Leadership Coalitions Ohio Advisory Council. He is a member of the Forbes Nonprofit Council,is the immediate past Chair of the Board of Directors of the Washington D.C.-based Global Ties U.S., and is on the America 250 International Task Force.

S8-Ep52: Do No Harm: Ethics for Leaders

Guest: Terri O'Fallon
Few leaders set out to harm others – but it can happen despite our best intentions. The key is to look outward from our decisions to all the ripple effects they generate.
And the best way to look outward is to look inward!
It’s hardly a secret that our emotions affect our cognition. Our guest, Terri O’Fallon, founder of Stages International, reveals in this episode that identifying and naming our emotions helps us become better leaders, and increases our sense of well-being. With host Maureen Metcalf, Terri delves into the concept of 'developmental ethics' to challenge leaders to embrace their emotions, actively seek out potential harm, and practice adaptability for the greater good with generous spirit.
Here's what Terri and Maureen cover:
How do emotions influence leadership and how can leaders ensure they are doing no harm?
What are the benefits of recognizing and labeling emotions, both positive and negative?
How can leaders cultivate generosity of heart when faced with competitive situations?
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Other episodes you'll enjoy:
- The Power of Praise: Making People's Performance Positive
- Democracy: Are We a Brittle Twig or Supple Bamboo?
- Informed Leadership: The Power of Trauma
 
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovativeleadershipinsitute/ . We're on Mastodon, Facebook, and Twitter, too!  
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RESOURCES:  
Terri's company, Stages International, is on the web at
StagesInternational.com .
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OUR PODCAST TEAM:  
Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf
Editor & Producer: Dan Mushalko
Video & Graphics Editor: Devon Mushalko
Podbean Guru: Luigi Morelli
 
CONNECT WITH US:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Innovativeleadership
YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership
Twitter: @InnoLeader
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovativeleadershipinsitute/
Website: InnovativeLeadership.com
Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!
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About Our Guest:  
Terri O'Fallon Ph.D. has focused the last 16 years on learning and change in human systems as an applied researcher. She has worked with hundreds of leaders studying the interventions that most effectively result in developing leaders who can effectively implement change. She has her PhD in Integral Studies from the California Institute of Integral Studies. She and Kim Barta have created STAGES International, an organization that focuses on how the STAGES developmental model can support insights into our own growth as people, leaders, guides, coaches, and the kind of impact these insights can have on our influence in human collectives.

S8-Ep50: Encore Facing Uncertainty: It’s VUCA

Featured Guest: Chris Nolan
One look at the headlines on any given day makes it clear: the world is UNclear. How can an organization navigate through the volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity to survive – much less succeed? By understanding VUCA, a concept developed by the Pentagon in 1987 to give our military an edge in chaos. Filmmaker Chris Nolan joins Maureen Metcalf to share how this military technique directly applies to businesses and non-profits – information drawn from his new documentary and book: It’s VUCA!.
For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on Mastodon: @InnoLeader .
Resources:
You can watch Chris' documentary, It's VUCA, here .

S7-Ep5: Democracy: Are We a Brittle Twig or Supple Bamboo?

Featured Guest: Matt Qvortrup
As a political scientist, Matt studies democracy – its evolution, and particularly how democracies decline.  He shares his perspective on the rise of populism across the world, how that leads to un-democratic leaders, then answers the question, “Is American democracy a brittle twig or a supple bamboo?”  He offers solutions, too; every strong democracy in history thrived on disparate points of view – and leaders who welcomed diverse opinions.

S6-Ep52: Leadership Trends for 2021 and Beyond

Featured Guest: Christopher Washington
Christopher Washington joins Maureen to discuss the Leadership Trends for 2021 and Beyond.

S8-Ep32: Retaining Is Cheaper than Recruiting: Recruiter.com’s CEO on Hiring for Keeps

Featured Guest: Evan Sohn
Having trouble filling positions? Brace yourself: the Great Resignation is morphing into the Job Hopper Economy. Evan Sohn, the CEO of Recruiter.com, is in a unique position to see beyond the simplistic explanations of TV pundits. He joins host Maureen Metcalf to share his big-picture view of the state of hiring today…and where it will be tomorrow. Lesson 1: “Money solves all problems” is a pre-pandemic thought that no longer applies. Employees are looking further; in addition to equitable pay, they’re looking for meaningful benefits and companies with conscience. They want their hard work to contribute to more than this quarter’s P&L statement. And they’re willing to hop to the jobs that provide it. Or they job hop to maintain personal freedom and engagement. Whatever the reasons, the talent pool is changing – and your hiring and work culture need to change with it. Evan explains how, as he provides the history of Recruiter.com .