Episodes

118: Free Birds Revolution – 1 of 2: Miles Everson, CEO of MBO Partners and author of Free Birds Revolution: The Future of Work and the Independent Mind of a Free Bird, doesn’t mind challenging conventional thinking. And when he does, he has the data, and the examples, to support what he is saying. In this episode of Qonversations, Miles and host Brian Gorman explore Part 1 of Miles’ book, focusing on the six forces driving a larger and larger portion of the workforce, including the best and the...

At nine pages, this may be the smallest business book you ever read. That said, it is also one worth re-reading from time to time. In changing the label from “introverts” to “quiet people,” Luke Tobin opens our eyes to the many powers that these individuals bring to the workplace, and to life more generally. Luke, author of The Power of Quiet People (In a World That Favours Loudness), focuses on seven such powers. In this episode of Qonversations, Luke and host Brian Gorman (both of whom identi...

Sometimes, we can be our own best teachers. We’ve all had leaders we trust, and those we don’t. If we’re lucky, we’ve had leaders we would follow anywhere, and those we would avoid at all costs the next time around. We’ve all had leaders that nurture us and do everything possible to help us grow and succeed, and leaders who want to ensure their own place on the organization chart by holding us down. Reflecting on our leadership experiences and comparing it to our own leadership approach can be e...

The prevailing organizational design model remains the top-down org chart. While some have made adjustments (removing layers, adding “matrixed” relationships), It continues to remain an industrial-age approach to structuring and leading organizations. In today’s episode, Jeffrey Beeson, author of Network Leadership, brings a refreshingly new approach to organizational design and leadership. He and host Brian Gorman explore networked organizations and networked leadership. Drawing on network scie...

Morag Barrett (SkyeTeam.com) joins host Brian Gorman to explore the importance of establishing person-to-person relationships across the workplace. Morag shares the results of years of research globally, including “the four yesses.” “Can I count on you?” “Can I depend on you?” “Do I care about you?” and “Do I trust you?” Reflect on someone you have worked with that you would answer yes to each of those four questions. How would you describe that person? What can you learn from that reflection? W...

Retired Navy SEAL Commander, corporate CEO, and author Marty Strong returns to discuss his recently published book, Be Different: How Navy Seals and Entrepreneurs Bend, Break, or Ignore the Rules to Get Results! Marty and host Brian Gorman explore what it means to be different and why it is so important in today’s turbulent and ever-changing world. Marty Strong is a combat veteran of the U.S. Navy SEAL Teams and holds an undergraduate degree in Business Administration and a graduate degree in M...

Despite continuing calls to “return to work,” there is growing evidence that the relationship of people to their work, the nature of that work, and the workplace itself are continuing to change. Guest Serena Diamond and host Brian Gorman bring their decades of experience in organizational change management and leadership to the fore as they look at the impact that these shifting forces are having on what is required to successfully lead change today. Serena Diamond is the founder of Diamond Sol...

In his 2015 TEDx talk “Stop Managing, Start Leading,” now viewed over 2.5 million times, Hamza Khan was prescient in how he described the future of leadership. A great deal of how he led then and continues to lead today became common practice during the pandemic. Today, we hear calls to reverse some of those trends. In this episode, Hamza joins host Brian Gorman to revisit that TEDx talk, trace the changes in leadership over the last decade, and discuss what the future of leadership holds. Hamz...

“I think growing up…stuttering was a massive advantage.” Michael Thompson didn’t think so at the time, but looking back, he realizes it now. In this episode, Michael and host Brian Gorman explore a few of the many lessons that Michael has to offer in his book Shy By Design. Michael tells the story of why he chose to enter sales, and how he responded when, as the new leader of a sales team one of members walked out of the first team meeting he was leading because he didn’t want to work for a stut...

While we too rarely acknowledge it, neurodiversity is already in the workplace. Whether one accepts the data that 20% of the workforce is neurodiverse, or the much higher 52% self-reporting in Gen Z, it is important to become intentional about addressing neurodiversity in the workplace. Stina Borth joins host Brian Gorman to address how to interview neurodivergent individuals, how to set them up for success, and some of the benefits of creating a more neurodiverse team. Every leader can benefit ...

DeVon Hankins journey went from a farm in rural Missouri to college to Washington, DC, Toyota, state and city government, and even passed through the enlisted and officer ranks of the US military. In this episode, Devon joins host Brian Gorman to share her stories and the leadership lessons she has learned, lessons that are important to every leader today. DeVon is CEO of Ascension Strategies (info@ascensionstrat.com, https://www.ascensionstrat.com). Brian is the founder and leadership coach at...

Luis Hernandez, host of The Wayfinder Show, was a real estate agent when the financial crisis of 2008 hit. It cost Luis his job and his home but helped him find running. In this episode, Luis and host Brian Gorman explore Luis’ journey into running, the lessons he has learned, and how they have helped in turning his life around. This is a personal story and one worth reflecting on. What is your version of “running for success?”

There are numerous ways an organization can be blocked from achieving its potential. In this episode, Jurriaan Kamer, author of Unblock: Clear the Way for Results and Develop a Thriving Organization, joins host Brian Gorman to discuss three of these: unblocking strategy, unblocking ownership, and unblocking meetings.

The ability to lead across cultures is important to every leader today, whether or not you are leading across borders. In this episode, Quantuvos coach Carmela O’Flaherty joins host Brian Gorman to explore the challenges of cross-cultural leadership and to offer approaches to mitigating those challenges.

The future isn’t what it used to be. In this episode, Marty Strong, retired SEAL commander, corporate executive, and author of Be Visionary: Strategic Leadership in the Age of Optimization, makes the case for visionary leadership at all levels, and in all parts, of organizational life. He and host Brian Gorman discuss the focus on optimization found in most organizations, and how that leaves them unprepared for the inevitable opportunities and disruptions that are on the horizon.

What is your experience with networking events? For many of us, the experience is rarely what we had hoped it would be, nor are the results. In this episode, Rob Giardinelli, founder of Intentional Networking provides insights to both networkers and leaders as to how to get the most out of these events.

You may well see yourself in the life being lived by Stephanie Woodward. Stephanie, author of The Big Scale Back: Success and Balance by Your Own Design, joins host Brian Gorman to describe a work life with few boundaries and many sacrifices. Steph lives a different life now; during this episode she describes why and how she learned to bring both success and balance into her life.

Guest Louise Mowbray, author of Relevant: Future-Focused Leadership, shares her insights on the changing nature of the workplace, the workforce, and work itself in this conversation with host Brian Gorman.

Nada R. Sanders, co-author of The Humachine: AI, Human Virtues, and the Superintelligent Enterprise (Second Edition) joins host Brian Gorman to explore the integration of artificial intelligence into business. What emerges from the conversation are significant insights into how to successfully achieve the integration of Artificial Intelligence with humans as well as some of the ways in which even now, organizations are heading down the wrong path.

It may be that our old styles of communication in the workplace weren’t as effective as we thought. What is definitely true is, if we are continuing to communicate in those ways today, it is unlikely that they are being received in the way that we intend. Caroline Kealey, international consultant and trainer on corporate communication strategy joins host Brian Gorman to share what she has learned about the changing ways of communication in today’s workplace.

Jeff Sigel, author of The Middle Matters: A Toolkit for Middle Managers, shares the lessons that he has learned in his years of “middle management.” He defines the role of the middle – ranging from frontline leaders to just below the C-suite – as a blend of doing, leading, and influencing. In this conversation, Jeff and host Brian Gorman explore what it takes to be a successful middle manager.

Gabe DeRita, a self-described “Goal Whisperer and Connections Nerd,” joins host Brian Gorman to share his unique insights on moving past superficial objectives and discovering goals that resonate deeply with our authentic selves. As a “Connections Nerd” Gabe thrives on helping others create deep, meaningful relationships and understand the dynamics of personal and professional connections. This reflective conversation offers insights for all of us on finding and connecting to our purpose, as wel...

You are an incredible storyteller! We all are. In this episode, Donna Schwarz of Schwarz Consultants joins host Brian Gorman to discuss the importance of story, the role story plays in our relationships and our leadership, and what comprises an effective story. Donna also shares a simple framework that will allow you to craft powerful stories in minutes. You still don’t think you’re a good storyteller? That’s a story you are telling yourself! Change the story and build your storytelling mastery.

What is the gift that fear brings? In this episode, Fletcher Ellingson, author of The Practice of Feeling Good: How to Upgrade Your Thinking and Live a Feelgood Life and host Brian Gorman explore ways in which we can take control of our thinking, what is at the core of fear, and much more. They also get into an important discussion on the universality of values and what is really important about them.