Daily Influence

In Episode 747 of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores a challenge many leaders and organizations unknowingly create for themselves: moving too fast. Speed is often celebrated in business. Faster decisions. Faster responses. Faster execution. Faster growth. But speed without clarity comes at a cost—and often that cost isn’t visible until later. In this episode, Brian breaks down the hidden operat...

What does it really take to move from survival mode into a life of confidence, purpose, and personal ownership? In this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Arti Agarwal, full-time Product Manager at Accenture and founder of Empowering Minds, Transforming Souls. Arti shares her deeply personal journey from growing up in a traditional Indian middle-class family and losing...

In Episode 745 of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores a leadership challenge that many executives, owners, and managers are experiencing—but very few are openly discussing: leadership fatigue. Leadership is often described through performance, decision-making, accountability, and vision. But behind all of those responsibilities sits something less visible—the emotional and mental weight leaders...

In this inspiring episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Paula Cofresi-Silverstein—licensed clinical social worker, EMDR therapist, educator, and artist—to explore a life shaped by resilience, cultural identity, and creative expression. From navigating childhood adversity to pioneering bilingual education programs in Chicago, Paula shares how she transformed early trau...

In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores one of the most difficult leadership challenges in business today: how to create accountability without creating resentment. Every business says it wants accountability. Owners ask for it. Managers expect it. Teams demand it from leadership. Yet accountability is often where workplace relationships begin to break down. Why? Because accountab...

In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores one of the most misunderstood topics in leadership and business: organizational culture—what it is, how it forms, and why it rarely comes from mission statements or branding alone. Culture is not built through slogans written on a wall. It is built through repeated behavior, leadership consistency, accountability, communication, and the stan...

In this inspiring episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Dr. Audra Bullock, former NASA electrical engineer and founder of Friends of Foster Care, whose journey proves that true impact begins when we choose to act. After a powerful moment watching a child in the foster care system share his desire for a family, Audra’s path shifted from engineering excellence to human-cente...

Credibility Is Built in Small Moments | Daily Influence with Brian Smith In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores why credibility is rarely built during big presentations, major decisions, or public wins—but in the small, ordinary moments people experience every day. Leadership credibility is shaped through consistency, follow-through, accountability, communication, and the way lea...

What does it truly mean to lead with intention—and create lasting, positive influence? In this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with executive coach, leadership consultant, and coaching pioneer DJ Mitsch, founder of Pyramid Resource Group and the Healthcare Coaching Institute. With over three decades of experience and as a founding leader in the coaching industry, DJ share...

Join Brian Smith on this special revisit to Episode 218 of Daily Influence as we honor Memorial Day with a heartfelt and reflective message. 🇺🇸❤️ In this brief yet powerful episode, Brian shares: - The significance of Memorial Day and why it’s one of the most important days of the year 🌟 - A reminder to pause and express gratitude for the ultimate sacrifices made by those who fought for our freed...

In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores the leadership reality that trust is not created through words, slogans, or emotional moments alone. Trust is a lagging indicator — the result of repeated behaviors, consistent communication, accountability, operational discipline, and responsible influence over time. Drawing from the principles of SMART Management, SMART Communication, and...

What if visibility wasn’t about self-promotion—but about creating meaningful impact? In this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Jill Lublin, world-renowned publicity expert, international speaker, and four-time bestselling author, to explore how visibility, credibility, and kindness work together to elevate both business success and positive influence. With over 25 year...

In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores the critical connection between organizational goals and daily leadership behavior — and why even strong strategies fail when human behavior does not align with the mission. Drawing from the principles of SMART Management, SMART Communication, and The I in Team Series, Brian explains how culture, accountability, communication, and operationa...

What does it truly mean to influence others in a way that lasts a lifetime? In this powerful episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Louis Silverstein—former Dean of Columbia College Chicago, distinguished professor, and lifelong educator whose impact has shaped generations of students, leaders, and communities. Drawing from decades of experience, Louis shares how his e...

In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores the powerful leadership concept of Excellence Without Drama — and why true organizational maturity is rarely loud, emotional, or chaotic. Drawing from the principles of SMART Management, SMART Communication, and The I in Team Series, Brian discusses how high-performing leaders and organizations create accountability, discipline, and operatio...

In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores one of the most misunderstood concepts in leadership and organizational culture: neutrality. Many leaders believe staying silent, delaying decisions, or avoiding conflict protects balance and professionalism. In reality, neutrality is rarely neutral. Drawing from the principles of SMART Management, SMART Communication, and teachings from The...

What happens when success on paper no longer aligns with your purpose? In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Kim Egger, Founder and CEO of Treasures in Heaven Property Management, to explore her powerful transition from a 25+ year career in commercial banking to building a purpose-driven business rooted in faith, service, and impact. After a life-changing heal...

In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian S. Smith explores the concept of Decision Velocity — the ability for leaders and organizations to make clear, responsible decisions with confidence, consistency, and accountability. Many businesses do not struggle because they lack intelligence, talent, or opportunity. They struggle because hesitation becomes cultural. Slow decisions create organizational...

What does it really take to move from surviving life to intentionally shaping it? In this powerful episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Dr. Andrea Hogan—psychology professor, speaker, and “The Golfing Professor”—to explore how we bridge the gap between what we know and how we actually live. Drawing from both her professional expertise and deeply personal experiences,...

In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian S. Smith explores the leadership principle of Clarity Before Speed and why sustainable organizational performance begins with understanding, alignment, and intentional communication — not urgency, panic, or constant motion. Modern organizations are under pressure to move faster than ever before. Faster communication. Faster decisions. Faster growth. But ma...

In this revisit to episode 298 of The Daily Influence, Brian Smith dives into one of the most significant challenges facing modern teams: how to bridge the generational gap using technology. As organizations grow increasingly diverse in age, older generations may feel left behind by the tech-savvy younger workforce. Brian explores how leveraging collaboration tools like Slack, project management p...

What if burnout isn’t a motivation problem but a systems problem? In this powerful episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Jennifer Hendricks-Fogg, advocate, speaker, and founder of the Logan Strong Foundation, to explore how resilience, caregiving, and intentional leadership reshape what success really looks like. After her son Logan was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor at...

Join Brian Smith on this revisit of episode 214 of The I in Team Series and your Daily Influence as we dive into the evolving world of the fractionalized work environments and how leaders can approach it with empathy. 🌍✨ In this episode, Brian discusses: - The rise of the fractional economy and how people are embracing multiple streams of income 💼💡 - The impact of shorter attention spans and f...

What does it take to truly change a life? In this powerful episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Lyndsey C. Wilson, CEO of First Star, a national nonprofit dedicated to supporting youth impacted by the foster care system. Lyndsey shares how her personal experiences, leadership journey, and deep commitment to service have shaped her approach to responsible influence, leader...

In this revisit to episode 413 of Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores the root cause of motivation and how understanding the "why" behind our objectives can transform the way we set goals, develop strategies, and implement tactics. He discusses how applying root cause analysis—a method often used for problem-solving—can help leaders and teams align their efforts intentionally rather than...