Episodios
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Hybrid work was supposed to be the future—but it’s feeling more like a tug-of-war.
Wayne Turmel, co-author of The Long-Distance Leader, has spent two decades studying how we lead across distance—and what falls apart when we don’t. In this episode, Wayne explains why most return-to-office plans are more negotiation than strategy, how unexamined proximity bias silently shapes promotions, and why hybrid leadership isn’t about place—it’s about intentionality.
Whether you’re managing global teams or trying to avoid burnout-by-Zoom, this conversation will help you rethink what modern leadership actually requires—and how to do it without micromanaging or burning people out.
Key Highlights of Our Interview:
Leadership Before Location: The First Rule of Remote Work
“If you’re a weak leader in person, remote will make it worse. Hybrid just exposes the cracks faster.”
Genghis Khan Didn’t Need WebEx—You Don’t Need Chaos
“Leading from afar isn’t new. But today, we confuse tech tools with leadership itself.”
Proximity Bias: The Promotion No One Talks About
“People in the office get more attention—whether we mean to favor them or not. That’s not strategy. That’s inertia.”
Why Hybrid Isn’t Really Hybrid
“Three-day compromises aren’t hybrid strategies. Most companies are just seeing how far they can push before people quit.”
Deep Work, Loud Offices, and Cake in the Break Room
“Don’t bring people back just to distract them. Save the office for coaching, collaboration, and trust-building.”
Synchronous vs. Asynchronous: It’s About Time (Literally)
“If you’re clocking in remotely on someone else’s schedule, you’re not working hybrid—you’re just working differently.”
Amazon, Turnover, and the Future of Micromanagement
“With 150% annual churn, maybe it’s not a location problem. Maybe it’s a leadership one.”
High Finance vs. High Flexibility
“Jamie Dimon’s playbook may work for Wall Street. But others are asking: does it have to be that way?”
_________________________
Connect with us:
Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Wayne Turmel--Chief Change Officer--
Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligence
for Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,
Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.
15 Million+ All-Time Downloads.
80+ Countries Reached Daily.
Global Top 3% Podcast.
Top 10 US Business.
Top 1 US Careers.>>>150,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<
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The way we communicate is changing—but what does that mean for the humans doing the talking?
Dr. Juliana Schroeder, associate professor at UC Berkeley Haas, has spent her career unpacking how we perceive other minds—both human and machine. In this episode, she breaks down how AI isn’t just reshaping tech—it’s reshaping the psychology of communication itself. From virtual assistants to algorithmic bias, and from voice cues to power dynamics, Juliana offers a grounded look at what we gain (and risk losing) as AI enters our social and professional lives.
For executives, educators, and anyone raising kids in a world of voice bots and Zoom calls, Juliana’s insights are both sobering and empowering: technology may evolve, but the need for mindful, human-centered interaction is here to stay.
Key Highlights of Our Interview:
The Mind Behind the Mind: Why She Studies Perception
“Humans can’t read minds—but we act like we can. I study how we form beliefs about others’ thoughts and feelings—and where those beliefs go wrong.”
From Hard Science to Human Behavior
A former physics student, Juliana fell in love with psychology’s messier questions: persuasion, power, and decision-making.
Alexa, Am I in Charge?
“When we treat virtual assistants like humans, we start to feel powerful. That shift can change how we act—sometimes for the worse.”
The Confirmation Bias Trap of AI
“LLMs like ChatGPT often reflect what we say, not what we need. They’re agreeable by design—and that creates a unique kind of echo chamber.”
Medium Matters: Why Voice Beats Text
“Text strips out nuance. Voice restores it. If you want to be seen as warm, competent, or persuasive—don’t rely on email.”
Hiring, Algorithms, and the Need for Transparency
“When high-stakes decisions get outsourced to black-box AI, people rebel. We still want a human in the loop.”
Designing Better Conversations—With Humans and Machines
What if your AI pushed back? Juliana imagines future assistants with ‘sass’ to counteract human overconfidence.
What Leaders Should (Still) Master
“Great communicators don’t just speak—they switch modalities when needed. They know when to email, when to Zoom, and when to step away.”
More Tech ≠ Better Talk
“Too many tools can backfire. The best leaders know how to reduce distraction and amplify meaning—whether talking to humans or machines.”
_________________________Connect with us:
Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Juliana Schroeder, PHD--Chief Change Officer--
Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligence
for Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,
Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.
15 Million+ All-Time Downloads.
80+ Countries Reached Daily.
Global Top 3% Podcast.
Top 10 US Business.
Top 1 US Careers.>>>150,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<
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Confidence might be the most overused word in leadership—but Lucy Gernon is here to give it teeth.
After two decades in the pharmaceutical world, Lucy faced a moment of reckoning when a family tragedy pushed her to stop waiting and start living on her own terms. Now, as a multi-award-winning executive coach and founder of the Executive Presence Blueprint, she helps high-achieving women get out of their own heads—and into positions of power.
In this episode, Lucy opens up about overcoming self-doubt, people-pleasing, and the inner critic that once held her back. From side hustle strategies to emotional intelligence and inclusive leadership, she shares what it really takes to build confidence that lasts—not the kind that sounds good on Pinterest, but the kind that actually gets you promoted.
Key Highlights of Our Interview:
From Science to Stage: A Career Rewired by Purpose
“Even as a microbiologist, I always loved people more than Petri dishes.”
The Wake-Up Call: When Life Says ‘Go Now’
“When my father-in-law died suddenly, I realized: I was living to please others, not myself.”
Why She Stopped Quoting Gurus and Started Trusting Herself
“I used to borrow quotes—until a coach said, ‘What about your frameworks?’ That changed everything.”
The Confidence Myth, Debunked
“It’s not about being loud. It’s about being certain—in your voice, your value, your vision.”
Motherhood, Mortgages, and Making It Work
“I didn’t leap blindly—I side-hustled, saved, tested, and built. Strategy beats spontaneity.”
What Executive Presence Looks Like Now (Hint: Not a Guy in a Suit)
Harvard data, leadership shifts, and why charisma, inclusion, and vision matter more than ever.
Her Signature Framework for Female Leaders
Gravitas, communication, appearance—and the one trait that still tops them all: confidence.
Learning to Let Go: Why Clients Must Do the Work
“It’s not my job to fix someone. The right clients are ready to act, not just listen.”
AI and Coaching: Collaborators, Not Competitors
“I use AI every day—to refine frameworks, spark ideas, and scale tools. But human connection? That’s irreplaceable.”
_________________________
Connect with us:
Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Lucy Gernon--Chief Change Officer--
Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligence
for Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,
Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.
15 Million+ All-Time Downloads.
80+ Countries Reached Daily.
Global Top 3% Podcast.
Top 10 US Business.
Top 1 US Careers.>>>150,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<
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What happens when the dream job turns into a corporate casualty?
Benedikt Oehmen spent nearly two decades at Blizzard—first as a support staffer, then a beloved team leader—only to watch the company’s gamer-first culture erode after its merger with Activision. When layoffs came, it wasn’t just a paycheck he lost. It was identity, community, and certainty.
But Benedikt didn’t stay stuck. He pivoted from game development to career redevelopment—first coaching his own team through grief and transition, then launching a business to guide others through the same.
In this episode, he shares his powerful “Big Three” framework—Be Kind, Be Present, Be Open—along with practical tools for anyone facing layoffs, career upheaval, or a post-corporate identity crisis. It’s not just theory—it’s lived wisdom from someone who’s been there.
Key Highlights of Our Interview:
Blizzard Beginnings: From Physics to Warcraft
“I took a semester off physics to try working at Blizzard… 17 years later, I was still there.”
When Work Feels Like Family—Until It Doesn’t
“It wasn’t just a job. We played together, worked together, partied together. And then came the layoffs.”
Culture Clash: When Epic Games Turn Into Earnings Reports
“After the Activision merger, all we heard was: how do we make more money?”
Career Plot Twist: Coaching Instead of Collapsing
“I stayed to help my team transition. That’s when I discovered coaching—and myself.”
No More Overlords: Why He Chose Life After Layoffs
“I didn’t want to keep making rich people richer. I wanted to help geeks like me take back control.”
The Big Three: A Framework for Reinvention
Be Kind. Be Present. Be Open. Simple words, real results.
Mistakes = Learning in Disguise
“Writing a book felt impossible—until I reframed it. Not ‘write a book.’ Just ‘become a person who writes daily.’”
From Grief to Growth: Why Change Can Still Be Kind
“It’s okay to mourn the past. But if you listen to your future self, you’ll start moving again.”
______________________
Connect with us:
Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Benedikt Oehmen
--Chief Change Officer--
Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligence
for Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,
Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.
15 Million+ All-Time Downloads.
80+ Countries Reached Daily.
Global Top 3% Podcast.
Top 10 US Business.
Top 1 US Careers.>>>150,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<
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Ian Myers isn’t here to give you startup hacks—he’s here to tell the truth.
At just 26, he became a CEO. By 30, he’d built Oceans, a $10 million agency connecting skilled professionals in Sri Lanka with U.S. startups. But his story isn’t a straight line—it’s an open map. From literature to venture capital, Japan to New York, success and failure, Ian has treated life like a Tintin adventure: follow the clues, embrace the chaos, and keep going.
In this conversation, we dig into what really fuels a global entrepreneur—from Buddhist philosophy to a bias for action—and how Ian’s building a future-of-work company that’s human-first, not hype-driven. For anyone rethinking college, career paths, or the AI takeover, Ian offers something rarer than advice: perspective.
Key Highlights of Our Interview:
Tintin Over Tech Bros: Why Curiosity Beats Calculation
“My role model isn’t Musk or Zuck—it’s Tintin. He’s fearless, inquisitive, and always exploring something new.”
Zen and the Founder’s Mind
“Buddhism taught me how to stay grounded through chaos. That mindset shaped how I lead.”
LinkedIn Paralysis Is Real. Here’s What to Do Instead.
“People tell me, ‘My classmate’s a VP already—I’ve failed.’ That thinking’s toxic. Just follow what’s interesting.”
Ageism, Across Borders
“In Japan, your age trumps your ideas. It pushed me toward entrepreneurship.”
Oceans: Talent Without Borders
“We embed Sri Lankan professionals into U.S. startups—not as temps, but as core team members.”
AI, Hype, and the Reality Check
“Yes, AI is impressive. But like every tech wave, adoption will take longer than people think.”
The Diversity Dilemma: Who Gets a Seat at the (Remote) Table?
“We’ve turned down clients who wanted ‘an attractive female EA.’ We hire for skill, not stereotypes.”
Don’t Overplot Your Life.
“The world’s chaotic. You won’t chart a perfect course. Just keep moving—and recalibrate as you go.”
___________________________
Connect with us:
Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Ian Myers--Chief Change Officer--
Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligence
for Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,
Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.
15 Million+ All-Time Downloads.
80+ Countries Reached Daily.
Global Top 3% Podcast.
Top 10 US Business.
Top 1 US Careers.>>>150,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<
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For the first time, the Chief Change Officer podcast returns to its birthplace—Hong Kong—to spotlight local artist and community builder May Yeung.
From doodling on walls at age two to sculpting giant dim sum steamers for public exhibitions, May’s journey is anything but typical. She swapped Goldman Sachs for gallery spaces, battled cancer with faith (and clay), and now leads Art of My Family, a charity that brings art, healing, and heritage to underprivileged youth across Hong Kong. Whether it’s mental wellness programs, intergenerational education, or marine-themed installations made from recycled shells, May turns every life experience into a canvas for good. Bonus: her baby son Archer makes a surprise guest appearance—arguably stealing the show.
Key Highlights of Our Interview:
Draw First, Write Later: A Childhood in Color
“I drew on walls before I could write my name… by twelve, I knew I’d be an artist.”
When Music Shapes the Clay
From piano lessons with Hong Kong’s top musicians to dance-sculpture mashups, May’s art listens before it speaks.
The Goldman Pivot: Finding Purpose Through CSR
“I helped organize community art after Hurricane Sandy. That’s when the impact bug bit.”
From Cancer to Conviction: The ALT of Art
“Faith, feeling alive, touching lives—cancer gave me a new mission, not just new scars.”
Archer Joins the Show: A Toddler-Sized Shift in Artistic Purpose
“Motherhood made me realize: my art must nourish the next generation—his and others’.”
Dim Sum, Ping Pong, and Bamboo Dreams
From Chinese checkers to handmade steamers, May’s art honors Hong Kong’s everyday beauty.
‘What If’ and ‘Blossom Love’: Sculpting Global Conversations
“What If” made her the first Asian sculptor to exhibit at Rockefeller Chapel; “Blossom Love” built a cultural bridge between Hong Kong and the Netherlands.
Why ‘Art of My Family’ Isn’t Just a Name
May’s nonprofit uses art to serve mental health, sustainability, and inclusion—with the three C’s: co-design, co-create, co-learn.
Mission: Teaching Artists Who Teach From Life
“I’m not just instructing—I’m modeling the mess, joy, and resilience of the creative path.”
______________________Connect with us:
Host: Vince Chan | Guest: May Yeung--Chief Change Officer--
Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligence
for Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,
Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.
15 Million+ All-Time Downloads.
80+ Countries Reached Daily.
Global Top 3% Podcast.
Top 10 US Business.
Top 1 US Careers.>>>150,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<
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Vince Jeong isn’t your typical edtech founder—and this isn’t your typical training conversation.
After immigrating to Canada at 12 and learning English from scratch, Vince chased uncertainty across five continents and a dozen careers—from McKinsey to NGOs in Tanzania to Latin American startups. That winding path led him to one insight: real learning happens when real people engage together, not alone.
Now as CEO of Sparkwise, he’s scaling live group learning in ways that mirror the best of Harvard and McKinsey—without the tuition price tag or talent filters. In this episode, we unpack how Vince is reimagining adult learning for corporations, creators, and communities alike. If you’re bored to tears by lifeless courses and stale corporate training, tune in for a vision that makes learning social again.
Key Highlights of Our Interview:
Immigrant Experience 101: Rebuilding Myself at Age 12
“Moving from Korea to Canada without speaking English forced me to rediscover who I was.”
Curiosity Beats Certainty: The Career Built by Exploration
“I chased the unknown—Tanzania, Colombia, consulting—because experience is the only way to find what matters.”
Why Group Learning Beats Solo Slides
“Learning isn’t about dumping information. It’s about building shared understanding in real time.”
From Stage to Startup: Live Group Dynamics Are in My DNA
“I hosted live shows on Korean TV, emceed weddings, and ran workshops—I’ve always brought people together.”
Scaling Harvard-Style Learning Without the Harvard Price
“We’re making elite-level training experiences accessible to more people—without compromising quality.”
Human > Hashtag: Rebuilding Community That’s More Than Skin Deep
“Social media gave us networks, not connection. We’re creating the space for meaningful group interaction again.”
Partners in Impact: Who Sparkwise Was Built For
“Our tools are for those who want richer learning—or want to scale what they offer without losing touch.”
The Content Wake-Up Call: AI Can’t Replace Real Dialogue
“Content’s getting commoditized. The future lies in how we apply, discuss, and activate it together.”
__________________________________
Connect with us:
Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Vince Jeong--Chief Change Officer--
Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligence
for Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,
Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.
15 Million+ All-Time Downloads.
80+ Countries Reached Daily.
Global Top 3% Podcast.
Top 10 US Business.
Top 1 US Careers.>>>150,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<
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Sienna Jackson, the CEO of Nortera.io, walks us through her unexpected shift from entertainment executive to impact strategist. Rather than chasing a title, she followed a thread—registering an LLC, collecting ideas, and finally stepping into work that aligned with her values. Now, she’s helping professionalize the field of social impact by focusing on measurable outcomes, not slogans. From impact modeling to cross-sector coalitions, Sienna shows how complex change starts behind the scenes—with better systems, shared language, and a refusal to settle for surface-level good.
Key Highlights of Our Interview:
When Pivoting Isn’t a Plan—but a Pattern
“I just said, ‘I’m doing social impact now.’ But it was a pattern—an arc I had been on for a while.”
She slowly started buying domains, registering an LLC, and collecting ideas. By 2020, she sent one email—“I’m doing social impact now”—and launched into a new chapter that was already quietly in motion.
Why ‘Impact’ Needs More Than Good Intentions
“Impact is the net positive change rendered as a direct and material result of your actions.”
She calls out the performative fluff in corporate social messaging—empty slogans with no metrics behind them.
Building the Back-End of Good
“I learned about logic models, stakeholder analysis, systems mapping… It’s data modeling, it’s survey design.”
Armed with two master’s degrees, Sienna dove deep into IMM—impact management and measurement. She joined Social Value US to help professionalize the field with standards, surveys, and frameworks.
Coalitions, Not Silos
“The left hand often doesn’t know what the right hand is doing. I see my role as making connections.”
Sienna flags a recurring problem: siloed thinking. Her strength lies in speaking both, creating coalitions where collaboration and systems alignment make real change possible.
Everyone Has a Piece of the Puzzle
“Go find the people who are already doing the work—and support them. That’s where the results come from.”
You don’t have to start the movement; just roll up your sleeves and help those already in it.
___________________________
Connect with us:
Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Sienna Jackson--Chief Change Officer--
Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligence
for Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,
Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.
15 Million+ All-Time Downloads.
80+ Countries Reached Daily.
Global Top 3% Podcast.
Top 10 US Business.
Top 1 US Careers.>>>150,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<
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From film sets to SaaS, Sienna Jackson has lived through more than one reinvention. A two-time founder, former entertainment executive, and current tech CEO, she joins Chief Change Officer to break down what it means to build, to create, and to change—on your own terms.
In Part 1, she shares what it was really like working in the music and production trenches at the Weinstein Company, how she navigated a high-glamour industry with clear-eyed curiosity, and why she never let a job title define her.
But it’s her unfiltered take on generative AI that steals the show. Sienna dismantles the hype, calling it what it is: regurgitated content dressed as intelligence. From energy waste to algorithmic bias, she unpacks the hidden cost of convenience—and why human storytelling still matters.
Key Highlights of Our Interview:
From Red Carpets to Real Work
“All the Quinton Tarantino films, all the Oscar Batty films… Project Runway… I also worked on our internal music catalog… and it would just be usually me and Richard for most of that run.”
Curiosity > Career Ladder
“I thought I was going to be the rebel… I was doing things during the Arab Spring… I also reported on the honor killing of one of my classmates when I was 16.”
AI ≠ Creativity
“Some people will say AI-generated art is art. And I think that’s a misnomer… Art is an action. It’s something that you do. It reflects technical skill that you have to develop over time.”
The Hidden Cost of ‘Smart’
“There are human beings at the other end of the pipeline… being paid pennies on the hour to train chatbots… it uses up 10 to 30 times more energy.”
Garbage In, Garbage Out
“GenAI will reify or reinforce patterns… there’ve been significant issues with algorithmic bias on the axes of race… who gets an insurance policy or not.”
___________________________
Connect with us:
Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Sienna Jackson--Chief Change Officer--
Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligence
for Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,
Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.
15 Million+ All-Time Downloads.
80+ Countries Reached Daily.
Global Top 3% Podcast.
Top 10 US Business.
Top 1 US Careers.>>>150,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<
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Brian Sims, the CEO of Agenda PAC, walks us through what it was really like inside the halls of power—getting his mic cut on the House floor, confronting closeted anti-LGBTQ colleagues, and learning the limits of both strategy and ego. Now in the private sector, he’s using data to fight back—not with louder voices, but with smarter ones.
Key Highlights of Our Interview:
When the Mic Goes Dead
“I got half a word out. Then it cut. They didn’t even pretend it was technical.”
No Friends Across the Aisle
“They all voted against us—100% of the time. Colleagues? Yes. Friends? Absolutely not.”
Losing the Big Fights
“I wrote the Equal Pay Act. I wrote the state’s Marriage Equality bill. Neither passed. And I had to learn: that’s not failure—it’s legacy work.”
Arrogance vs. Strategy
“I thought just being bold was the answer. It wasn’t.”
A New Way to Win
“Now I use data to expose the gap—between what voters want and how leaders behave.”
Fighting Dirty ≠ Fighting Back
“There’s a difference. And it matters. You can run into the fire without lighting yourself on fire.”
Change the Decision Makers, Not Just Their Minds
“Every single thing I’ve ever cared about gets better when more women, more people of color, and more LGBTQ people hold power.”
_______________________________
Connect with us:
Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Brian Sims--Chief Change Officer--
Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligence
for Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,
Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.
15 Million+ All-Time Downloads.
80+ Countries Reached Daily.
Global Top 3% Podcast.
Top 10 US Business.
Top 1 US Careers.>>>150,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<
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From a military childhood to a college football captain, Brian Sims didn’t exactly grow up in activist circles. But a fiercely independent mother and a slow-burning coming-out story set the stage for something bigger.
In Part One, Brian, the CEO of Agenda PAC, opens up about finding his voice, leaving law for civil rights work, and eventually winning his first election—becoming the first out gay man elected to Pennsylvania’s state legislature.
Key Highlights of Our Interview:
Raised by Leaders
“Both my parents were lieutenant colonels. I grew up on army bases, but my mom was always the only woman in uniform.”
Confidence Is Contagious
“She wasn’t arrogant. She just always knew who she was.”
Coming Out Through Brotherhood
“My football teammates asked if I was gay… and then wrapped me in the most awkward but beautiful kind of love.”
A Gay Job and a Day Job
“I had a law firm paycheck. But my soul work? LGBTQ civil rights.”
Why He Ran
“I couldn’t change their minds. So I ran to change the people holding the power.”
David vs. Goliath
“She’d been in office since I was three years old. I beat her by 233 votes.”
_______________________________
Connect with us:
Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Brian Sims--Chief Change Officer--
Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligence
for Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,
Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.
15 Million+ All-Time Downloads.
80+ Countries Reached Daily.
Global Top 3% Podcast.
Top 10 US Business.
Top 1 US Careers.>>>150,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<
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In this final installment, Gen X executive coach Jennifer Selby Long goes deep on the real decision behind office politics: should you stay or should you go?
Drawing from decades of experience guiding leaders through complex change, she lays out the subtle dynamics that determine whether a culture is salvageable—or just stuck. From the hidden toll of hybrid models to bosses who subtly push out high performers, Jennifer offers tools for cutting through confusion. And with a memorable framework inspired by civil rights leader Clarence Jones, she helps listeners evaluate not just what they want—but whether the system they’re in will ever let them have it.
For Gen Xers caught in the gray area between loyalty and realism, this episode offers clarity with no illusions.
>>Why Toxic Cultures Repeat
“People leave a bad boss… only to land in a similar situation.”
Jennifer explains how unaddressed internal patterns can reappear in new jobs—and what to do before making another move.
>>Hybrid Work, Hidden Agendas
“If your team isn’t working together in person, politics won’t disappear—they’ll just change form.”
She discusses the tradeoffs of hybrid workplaces and how physical distance can mask, not eliminate, power struggles.
>>When the Best Performers Leave
“I’ve seen bosses quietly engineer ways to push out brilliant people.”
Jennifer and Vince unpack the dynamic where insecurity—not excellence—shapes who gets to stay.
>>Conflict is Not the Enemy
“Most people waste time fighting battles that could’ve been solved with a conversation.”
She breaks down how conflict-avoidance fuels politics—and why stepping back to understand styles and misalignment is essential.
>>Clarence Jones’ Test for Staying or Leaving
“You won’t prevail unless the powerful majority sees that what you want is in their interest.”
Jennifer shares hard-earned political wisdom: how to evaluate whether your values and goals can survive the system—or if it’s time to walk.
_________________________
Connect with us:
Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Jennifer Selby Long--Chief Change Officer--
Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligence
for Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,
Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.
15 Million+ All-Time Downloads.
80+ Countries Reached Daily.
Global Top 3% Podcast.
Top 10 US Business.
Top 1 US Careers.>>>150,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<
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In this third installment with Gen X executive coach Jennifer Selby Long, we zoom in on one of the messiest, most misunderstood realities of modern work: office politics.
Jennifer breaks down why politics often stem less from individual egos and more from structural dysfunction, emotional disconnection, and leadership blind spots—especially in hybrid teams. She explains how outdated views of leadership, chronic misalignment, and even cost-cutting decisions like slashed T&E budgets can quietly poison team trust. But this isn’t just a takedown—Jennifer arms listeners with a real-world playbook to navigate power struggles without becoming part of the problem.
For seasoned professionals tired of performative team building and empty culture talk, this episode reframes politics not as inevitable—but as solvable.
>>Politics ≠ Power-Hungry People
“The majority of leaders are not political animals.”
Jennifer challenges the stereotype that all office politics are about ego—revealing how misaligned strategy and trust gaps often create dysfunction.
>>Remote Work’s Invisible Cost
“You might not feel like getting on that plane… but complex decisions require in-person time.”
She explains how budget cuts, virtual distance, and hybrid habits are quietly damaging team cohesion.
>>Toxic by Design
“I’ve worked with clients who were pretty mercenary at first… but some became the most dedicated leaders.”
What happens when cold-blooded management isn’t an accident—but a strategy?
>>Five Moves to Navigate a Political Culture
“Stop venting. Start observing.”
Jennifer offers a practical five-step approach to surviving—and even reshaping—a political workplace, starting with curiosity, not complaints.
>>Why Some People Don’t Struggle with Politics at All
“There’s a portion of the population just wired to be unbothered by it.”
From temperament to neural wiring, she explains why some Gen Xers are naturally equipped to handle the drama without burnout.
_________________________
Connect with us:
Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Jennifer Selby Long--Chief Change Officer--
Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligence
for Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,
Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.
15 Million+ All-Time Downloads.
80+ Countries Reached Daily.
Global Top 3% Podcast.
Top 10 US Business.
Top 1 US Careers.>>>150,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<
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Jennifer Selby Long is no stranger to messy transformations. With three decades of experience in executive coaching, digital change, and tech leadership, she helps seasoned professionals navigate the personal minefield that comes with professional change.
In this second installment, Jennifer dives deep into neuroscience-backed insights on why we sabotage ourselves—and how to stop. She breaks down how our brains are wired for fear, how to spot the voice of the “judge,” and how misplaced loyalty to bad bosses or toxic companies keeps people stuck. But she doesn’t stop at analysis—she arms Gen Xers with tactical empathy, reframing techniques, and political savvy to make their next move smarter.
Because in a world where everyone’s changing, the winners aren’t the loudest—they’re the most self-aware.
>>The Science of Self-Sabotage
“Those negative voices? They’re not you. They’re old neural pathways—and you don’t have to obey them.”
Jennifer explains how childhood-formed saboteurs derail adult decision-making—and what to do about it.
>>How Judgment Blocks Reinvention
“If you’re judging yourself or others, the judge neural network is in charge—and it’s contagious.”
Learn how to spot the “inner judge” sabotaging your growth and weaken its grip before it wrecks your next chapter.
>>Escape the Bad Boss Loop
“Most people don’t leave bad bosses—they recreate them.”
Jennifer outlines five traps professionals fall into when trying to escape toxic leadership—and how to break the cycle for good.
>>Office Politics Without Selling Your Soul
“You’re not imagining it—some power games are real. But empathy is your best defense.”
From defensive email habits to managing power dynamics with grace, Jennifer offers non-sleazy tactics for Gen X leaders navigating messy org charts.
>>Redefining What ‘Winning’ Looks Like
“Change that sticks often doesn’t look like the win you planned—but it’s the win you needed.”
A fresh lens on how to reframe wins, even if they come in smaller, slower, or stranger packages than you expected.
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Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Jennifer Selby Long--Chief Change Officer--
Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligence
for Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,
Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.
15 Million+ All-Time Downloads.
80+ Countries Reached Daily.
Global Top 3% Podcast.
Top 10 US Business.
Top 1 US Careers.>>>150,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<
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Jennifer Selby Long has spent 30 years helping leaders navigate change—long before “change management” became a buzzword.
In this episode, the Gen X executive coach reflects on how she stumbled into her calling during the early days of IT transformation, and why emotional intelligence—not just operational efficiency—is what drives successful digital change. Drawing from her own career pivots and coaching experiences, Jennifer explains how change must be mastered on a personal level before it can be led across an organization.
For Gen Xers who’ve seen multiple waves of tech disruption and economic downturns, her story reminds us: experience isn’t old news—it’s the operating system for modern leadership.
>>The Accidental Change Manager
“I became an accidental change manager in the early 90s.”
Jennifer shares how a basic IT training request exposed a deeper problem—one that launched her decades-long journey into change leadership.
>>Coaching Tech Leaders Through the Chaos
“We help leaders win at change.”
From digital transformation to cybersecurity to user experience, Jennifer explains why leadership—not just management—is the biggest missing link in most change initiatives.
>>A Gen X Career Rooted in Both People and Process
“I kept trying to do stable things, but the change kept coming at me.”
She describes how she went from resisting change to becoming its strategic champion—shaped by trial, error, and real-world messiness.
>>The Power of Performance Psychology
“Coaches aren’t therapists. They’re here to help you win.”
Her earliest coaching experience came from a sports psychologist—and that mindset still guides how she supports high performers today.
>>Understanding the Natural Process of Personal Change
“There are three stages: endings, transition, and new beginnings.”
Jennifer walks us through Bill Bridges’ model of change—and how leaders often forget their teams are still at the beginning when they’ve already moved on.
_________________________
Connect with us:
Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Jennifer Selby Long--Chief Change Officer--
Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligence
for Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,
Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.
15 Million+ All-Time Downloads.
80+ Countries Reached Daily.
Global Top 3% Podcast.
Top 10 US Business.
Top 1 US Careers.>>>150,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<
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In Part 3, Waverly Deutsch steps into her latest role: founder of Wyseheart, a coaching firm designed to help the most overlooked founders build ventures that last. Focused on meaningful business, not unicorn exits, she brings her full career of coaching, teaching, and hard-won insight to early-stage leaders across age, gender, race, and identity.
For Gen Xers who aren’t ready to “retire,” this is a playbook for doing your best work—on your terms, with your values, and no need for external approval.
>>What Retirement Really Means to Her
“Retirement means you no longer have to work to cover basic necessities… but you work because you want to.”
Waverly explains why Wiseheart was never about building a high-growth company, but creating space for meaningful work in the next chapter of life.
>>Who Wiseheart Is Really For
“I might have a session with you and turn you down as a client.”
She describes her ideal clients: early-stage founders with strong ideas and potential—but she’s selective, because she coaches from belief, not obligation.
>>Opening Access Where Systems Don’t
“I want to make myself available to people who don’t always have access to someone like me.”
Waverly shares how Wiseheart is designed to serve women, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, rural, and underestimated founders who often face systemic barriers.
>>LGBTQ+ Advocacy Through Data and Action
“You can ask: do you choose to publicly identify as an LGBTQ+ founder?”
She calls out the data gap and cultural risks still facing LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs—and how her work with StartOut aims to help change that.
>>Advising Older Entrepreneurs With Realism
“You may have to go back to the work that got you there.”
She offers grounded advice to Gen X and Baby Boomer entrepreneurs who face ageism and cost-cutting—and encourages them to translate wisdom into flexible, consulting-based careers.
_________________________
Connect with Us:
Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Waverly Deutsch--Chief Change Officer--
Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligence
for Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,
Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.
15 Million+ All-Time Downloads.
80+ Countries Reached Daily.
Global Top 3% Podcast.
Top 10 US Business.
Top 1 US Careers.>>>150,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<
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In Part 2, Waverly Deutsch opens up about her decades at Chicago Booth, where she helped founders refine not just their business models but their ability to lead. She discusses how emotional connection strengthens logic, why confident delivery isn’t enough, and how AI is changing but not replacing human insight.
For Gen Xers mentoring across generations or rethinking their own leadership, this episode is a reminder: great guidance begins with deep listening.
>>Coaching Across the Confidence Spectrum
“Some people came in over-confident. Some barely made eye contact.”
She explains how coaching required tailoring—not templating—entrepreneurs’ thinking.
>>Why Love Belongs in Leadership
“If you can’t connect with your idea, why should anyone else?”
Waverly talks about the human element most founders overlook when presenting.
>>Building Trust Across Generations
“EMBAs bring wisdom. Undergrads bring fire.”
She shares the challenge—and joy—of coaching both seasoned execs and young dreamers.
>>Relearning Her Own Leadership
“Coaching taught me how much I still had to unlearn.”
She reflects on what working with thousands of students revealed about her own blind spots.
>>AI Is Here—Now What?
“AI can write your pitch. But can it build your conviction?”
She discusses how tech is changing communication—and why human trust still drives every great pitch.
_________________________
Connect with Us:
Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Waverly Deutsch--Chief Change Officer--
Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligence
for Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,
Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.
15 Million+ All-Time Downloads.
80+ Countries Reached Daily.
Global Top 3% Podcast.
Top 10 US Business.
Top 1 US Careers.>>>150,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<
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We meet Waverly Deutsch not as a Chicago Booth professor or coach for entrepreneurs, but as a real human navigating career decisions in a world that often asks us to pick between passion and practicality.
From falling in love with theater to entering computer science as one of only three women in a class of 30, Waverly’s story is one of blending head and heart across every career twist. She shares the real story behind leaving academia for Forrester Research, breaking down in a meeting and still making her case, and learning how to navigate gut instinct and logic without losing either.
For Gen Xers raised on rules, she shows what it means to rewrite your own—with emotional truth and strategic clarity.
>>Two Majors, One Mindset
“I ended up with two majors—one in theater and one in computer science.”
Waverly explains how her early passions—performance and programming—formed a lifelong blend of emotion and logic.
>>Early Outsider, Early Awareness
“There were three or four women in a class of 30.”
She shares what it was like being one of the only women in computer science, and how that shaped her views on identity and acceptance.
>>Teaching as a Lifelong Thread
“I knew that what I wanted to do was teach. That was truly my calling.”
From undergrad to her PhD in theater history, teaching remained her throughline—even as industries changed.
>>Forrester and the First Real Pivot
“I was employee number 27.”
She tells the story of joining Forrester Research during its startup phase, helping it scale through the internet boom, and falling in love with entrepreneurship.
>>The Crying Meeting
“George, I can cry and think at the same time.”
Waverly recounts the pivotal moment when she stopped hiding her emotions at work—and started integrating her whole self into how she leads.
_________________________
Connect with Us:
Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Waverly Deutsch--Chief Change Officer--
Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligence
for Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,
Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.
15 Million+ All-Time Downloads.
80+ Countries Reached Daily.
Global Top 3% Podcast.
Top 10 US Business.
Top 1 US Careers.>>>150,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<
-
Dominic Carter, CEO of the Carter Group, shares how a personal frustration with his aging parents’ care became a long-term mission: building real, user-driven aging tech in one of the world’s oldest—and most demanding—markets. From human-centric research to venture studio development, Dominic shows how Gen Xers can lead the future of aging by solving the problems we’re all going to face. This isn’t just eldercare innovation—it’s preemptive, practical system design.
For those over 50 building what comes next, this episode is a field guide to action rooted in empathy, not hype.
>>From Personal Wake-Up Call to Business Blueprint
“I wanted better options for my parents—and for myself one day.”
Dominic shares how watching his parents’ struggle with aging became the catalyst for a venture into real, human-first aging innovation.
>>Aging Tech Isn’t Just for the Elderly
“Aging begins at 50—and the opportunity starts there.”
He reframes aged tech not as a niche, but as a massive, underserved market hiding in plain sight.
>>Start with the User—or Don’t Start at All
“If you don’t listen, you’ll waste time, money, and trust.”
Dominic explains why most aging tech fails: founders fall in love with ideas, not problems—and skip the hard part: listening.
>>Culture Is More Than Geography
“The cultural gap between 55 and 75 is as wide as the one between Japan and the West.”
He unpacks why aging solutions must be co-designed with users—and adapted not just to national cultures, but age-based subcultures.
>>Building Credibility One Win at a Time
“Get the use case. Prove the value. Then scale.”
Dominic outlines his venture studio strategy—prioritizing two user-validated products (a friction-reducing linen set and a wearable tremor device) to establish proof before expansion.
______________________
Connect with us:
Host: Vince Chan | Guests: Dominic Carter--Chief Change Officer--
Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligence
for Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,
Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.
15 Million+ All-Time Downloads.
80+ Countries Reached Daily.
Global Top 3% Podcast.
Top 10 US Business.
Top 1 US Careers.>>>150,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<
-
Dominic Carter, the CEO of the Carter Group, didn’t become an aging tech founder by chasing trends—he got there by building slowly, listening deeply, and surviving the kind of early burnout that forces reinvention.
In Part 1, he shares how moving to Japan, launching businesses, and failing hard shaped the systems-thinking approach that now powers his work on aging innovation. This isn’t a startup story—it’s a Gen X blueprint: steady, lived, built from purpose long before it had a name.
>>Leaving, Burning Out, Coming Back
“I opened a Tokyo office at 24—and broke myself in the process.”
Dominic talks about how early success nearly ruined him, and why walking away was the start of everything good that followed.
>>A Life Rebuilt Through Listening
“Research made me better—not just at business, but at understanding people.”
He shares how market research and consulting sharpened his ability to listen deeply and solve real problems over time.
>>No Pivot. Just Evolution.
“Every business I built grew from the one before it.”
Dominic explains how his work in research, media, and software wasn’t a series of pivots—it was a slow, deliberate build toward relevance.
>>Staying in Japan by Choice
“I could’ve gone home—but Japan became the place I wanted to change from.”
He reflects on the emotional pull of Japan and how the country’s demographic trajectory mirrored something deeper he was starting to feel.
>>When Profit Isn’t the Point
“I’ve never been obsessed with money. I’ve been obsessed with meaning.”
Dominic explains why mission-aligned work—not exits—has always been his driver, even if it meant a longer, less glamorous path.
______________________
Connect with us:
Host: Vince Chan | Guests: Dominic Carter--Chief Change Officer--
Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligence
for Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,
Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.
15 Million+ All-Time Downloads.
80+ Countries Reached Daily.
Global Top 3% Podcast.
Top 10 US Business.
Top 1 US Careers.>>>150,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<
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