Still Evolving

What happens when the pressure to move faster starts getting in the way of good leadership? Jerome Stewart has spent decades leading marketing teams through technology shifts, organizational change, and high-growth environments. Now, as he steps into a new leadership role following his company's IPO, he is navigating another major transformation: the rapid rise of AI. In this conversation with Dr....

When the Moment Changes, You Have to Change With It The strengths that carried you to this point in your career won’t necessarily be the ones that prepare you for what comes next. Dr. Amy Athey sits down with David Quackenbush, longtime advisor to executive teams navigating disruption, for a conversation about adaptability, problem‑solving, leadership, and the courage required to evolve as the wor...

The skills that got you to where you are today may not be the skills that carry you into your next chapter. Dr. Amy Athey sits down with Mike Houston, Partner and U.S. CEO of LLYC, for a conversation about adaptation, ambition, leadership, and the willingness to become someone different as your career evolves. Mike's journey from rural Michigan to senior leadership roles has been shaped by curiosi...

What if the trait that helped you become successful is also the thing quietly holding you back? Dr. Amy Athey sits down with Jennifer Stanley, Partner at McKinsey & Company, for a candid conversation about high achievement, sustainable performance, and the hidden cost of always operating at maximum effort. Jennifer shares the twists and turns of a nonlinear career that included major personal...

What if confidence isn't something you need before taking the leap, but something you build by taking it? Dr. Amy Athey sits down with Andrea Vardaro Thomas, Managing Director at Forvis Mazars, to explore what it really means to take courageous action when you don't feel completely ready. Drawing from a career spanning finance, operations, consulting, IPOs, transformation, and executive leadership...

What if the strongest advantage a leader can create isn't something you can put on a balance sheet? For Jan Færch, building high-performing teams starts with something many organizations underestimate: social connection . After more than 30 years of managing teams across countries and cultures, Jan has learned that people are far more likely to stay, perform, and thrive when they genuinely enjoy t...

When everything feels urgent, great leaders know what actually matters. In a world filled with notifications, headlines, meetings, opinions, and constant demands for attention, the ability to separate signal from noise has become one of the most important leadership skills. Dr. Amy Athey sits down with Sam Espinosa, a partner and national practice leader at Mercer, to explore how clarity, composur...

What if the problem isn't your schedule, but the way you've been taught to think about it? For years, leaders have been told to pursue work-life balance, yet many find themselves feeling stretched thinner than ever. This week, Dr. Amy Athey sits down with John Wells, President of RAPP US, to challenge that mindset and explore a more sustainable approach to leadership, performance, and fulfillment....

The best leaders don't always have the right answers. They know how to ask better questions, adapt to the people in front of them, and communicate with clarity when the stakes are high. This week, Dr. Amy Athey sits down with global business executive Harsha Imrapur to explore what leadership looks like across cultures, industries, and high-pressure environments. Drawing from years of leading inte...

Technology changes. Great leadership doesn't. As AI reshapes marketing and the workplace at an unprecedented pace, the leaders who thrive won't simply be the ones with the best tools. They'll be the ones who know how to build trust, develop people, and create teams that can adapt to constant change. This week, Dr. Amy Athey is joined by Jenny Riley, Chief Growth Officer at RTM Engineering Consulti...

Leadership isn't tested when everything is going according to plan. It's revealed in moments of uncertainty, crisis, and vulnerability. This week, Dr. Amy Athey sits down with executive leader Tino Mantella, whose career has spanned nonprofit organizations, technology, executive search, and strategic leadership. From leading organizations through financial uncertainty and community crises to scali...

The future doesn't belong to the people with the most information. It belongs to the people who know how to ask the right questions. As artificial intelligence transforms every industry, many leaders are wondering what skills will actually matter most. This week, Dr. Amy Athey sits down with Aaron Crews to explore why curiosity, critical thinking, and better questions are becoming the new competit...

High-performing sales teams aren't built on instinct alone. They're built by combining data, deliberate development, and leaders who know how to unlock human potential. In this episode of Still Evolving , Dr. Amy Athey sits down with sales growth executive Stephanie Broadright to explore what truly separates top-performing sales organizations from the rest. Stephanie shares why capability matters...

High performance isn't about pushing harder. It's about knowing when to recover so you can perform when the moment matters most. The leaders who sustain excellence over years aren't simply working longer hours. They're building systems that allow them to stay sharp, adaptable, and ready under pressure. Why Recovery Is a Leadership Skill In this conversation, Dr. Amy Athey sits down with David Wald...

What if the secret to high performance isn't a hack, but a commitment to doing the fundamentals exceptionally well? In this conversation, Dr. Amy Athey sits down with Chris Kowalewski to explore the power of clarity, accountability, and preparation in leadership. Drawing from decades of experience leading high-performing teams, Chris shares why concise communication matters, how great leaders take...

What if the biggest thing standing between you and your next level is the fear of taking the leap? In this episode of Still Evolving , Dr. Amy Athey sits down with Joy Jarrett, Chief Marketing Officer at Guidehouse, for a powerful conversation about leadership, mentorship, courage, and navigating disruption in an era of constant change. Joy shares how authentic connection, trust, and a commitment...

Everyone says they need AI, but very few can answer the most important question: for what? In this episode of Still Evolving , Dr. Amy Athey sits down with technology executive and consultant Dan Ortman to explore the gap between AI hype and meaningful business transformation. Drawing on his experience as both a CIO and trusted advisor, Dan shares why organizations often rush into AI adoption with...

What separates leaders who thrive under pressure from those who break under it? In this episode of Still Evolving, host Dr. Amy Athey sits down with former college athlete and executive leader Michael  to explore the powerful overlap between sports psychology, leadership, and personal growth. From mental toughness and composure to confidence, preparation, and adaptability, Michael shares how the l...

Crisis does not just test leadership. It reveals who we really are. In this episode of Still Evolving , Dr. Amy Athey sits down with Dustin Seale to explore what leadership looks like when the old playbook no longer works. From suddenly stepping into leadership after personal tragedy to navigating global disruption during COVID and war, Dustin shares the deeply human lessons that shaped the way he...

What if the thing making you successful is also the thing quietly burning you out? In this episode of Still Evolving , Dr. Amy Athey sits down with entrepreneur and leadership strategist Brittany Greenfield to unpack the hidden cost of perfectionism in leadership, business, and high performance. From missed opportunities and burnout to delegation struggles and the fear of “getting it wrong,” Britt...

What if the best leaders aren’t the ones with all the answers? In this episode, Dr. Amy Athey sits down with Chad Hesters to unpack what leadership really looks like in high-pressure, uncertain environments. Drawing from his experience across the military and global business, Chad shares why traditional “be right” leadership fails when complexity rises and how self-awareness, humility, and team dy...

What if the real edge in leadership isn’t strategy, but how you think about people? In this episode of Still Evolving , Dr. Amy Athey sits down with entrepreneur Doug Locke to unpack his unconventional journey from consulting boardrooms to building a thriving biotech-focused organization. What started as a leap to help his father turned into a discovery of entrepreneurship, resilience, and redefin...

What if the best leaders stopped trying to have all the answers? In this episode, Manny shares his journey from operational roles to leading strategy and transformation, revealing how adaptability, perspective, and curiosity shaped his leadership style. Through personal insights and real-world experience, he breaks down what it truly takes to lead in times of uncertainty. Key takeaways: Why curios...

What if your biggest leadership advantage is something you’re not using enough? Michael Chiock, global supply chain leader and Managing Partner at AlixPartners, shares how growing up as the son of immigrants shaped his approach to leadership, resilience, and empathy. From learning to meet people where they are to building a trusted circle that tells him the truth, Michael offers a grounded and pra...

What happens when the pressure doesn’t come one at a time, but all at once? In this episode, Dr. Amy Athey sits down with sales leader Laura Nardella to explore what it really takes to keep showing up when personal and professional demands collide. From navigating high-stakes leadership roles to facing an unexpected breast cancer diagnosis, Laura shares how she learned to lead, perform, and stay g...