Unpacked with Ron Harvey

We talk with Hanna Hasl-Kelchner about why fairness at work is a leadership issue that shapes trust, health, and performance. We break down the hidden “unwritten rules” that drag down engagement and share practical ways leaders can build a fairer culture without treating work like a transaction.  • fairness as a social contract that drives results  • why power shifts can make good leaders less cur...

In this episode of Unpacked with Ron Harvey, Ron sits down with Sebastian Page, money manager, marathon runner, and author of The Psychology of Leadership , for a candid conversation about what actually separates good leaders from great ones. After 25 years in finance and after publishing scientific research in quantitative finance, Sebastian turned his attention to a different kind of question: w...

What does it take to walk away from a stable, high-paying career and bet everything on yourself? In this episode of Unpacked, host Ron Harvey sits down with Giuseppe Grammatico, franchise consultant, author, and host of the Franchise Freedom podcast, to unpack the real story behind leaving Wall Street to become a business owner. Just three days after launching his first business, Giuseppe found ou...

What if the reason your strategy keeps failing has nothing to do with the strategy itself? On this episode of Unpacked with Ron Harvey, Ron sits down with Brooke Dukes, CEO and founder of BMB Consulting, international bestselling author, and a leader with over 24 years of experience in behavioral science, neuroscience, and human design. Brooke has worked with billion-dollar companies, fortune 500...

We sit down with entrepreneur and speaker Ken Miller to talk about identity, truth, and the hard work of rebuilding a life after addiction, incarceration, and years of being stuck. We unpack what leadership really requires when you are scaling a business, earning trust, and trying to stay resilient in public and in private.  • Ken’s background from foster care to Ivy League to incarceration and en...

Ron Harvey sits down with Kenneth Givens II, Senior Project Manager at Miller Valentine Construction and published author, for a candid conversation about the leadership habits that separate good managers from truly great ones. Kenneth shares the moment he realized he was building robots instead of leaders — and the mindset shift that changed everything. Key topics and takeaways from this episode:...

In this episode of Unpacked with Ron Harvey , Ron sits down with George Pesansky, author of Super Performance and president of My Blended Learning, a consulting firm he's led for 17 years. George brings a rare blend of military service, corporate leadership, and entrepreneurship to a conversation that challenges everything most organizations believe about performance, feedback, and growth. He...

We sit down with Kimberely D. Brown to talk about the kind of leadership that’s forged through high standards, hard pivots, and showing up with character. She shares how self-awareness, trust, and relationships shape her path from banking and affordable housing to CDFI lending and community impact. • tough leaders with high expectations shaping long-term excellence  • learning yourself through 20s...

Natasha Kehimkar, CEO and founder of Malida Advisors, joins Ron Harvey to challenge common leadership assumptions and share what actually moves organizations forward. In this episode: The 5-year plan myth: The real strategic horizon has always been 18–24 months — organizations just never fully committed to five years. Vision and mission provide stability; strategy must stay nimble. Leaders are fre...

Ron Harvey explores people-first leadership with advisor and entrepreneur Diana Barbiani, tracing her journey from Croatia to San Diego and the lessons that shaped her approach to business, trust, and community. She shares why relationships—not tools—fuel team performance and customer loyalty, and offers practical guidance for founders: leveraging SBDCs, anticipating business phases, hiring for va...

In this episode of Unpacked with Ron Harvey, Ron sits down with Bency Beals, founder of Ignite Leadership Solutions, for an honest and energizing conversation about what it truly means to lead — starting with yourself. Bency breaks down why self-awareness is the foundation of every leadership role, whether you're in corporate America, running your own business, or serving your community. They...

We talk with Brad about shifting from command and control to caring, values‑driven leadership that scales through relationships, mentors, and clear expectations. From cloud migrations and crisis drills to vendor turnarounds and weekly check‑ins, the tools are simple and the results are durable. • career path from Accenture partner to higher‑ed CIO • relationships and mentoring as the engine of cha...

We explore how integrity, empathy, and accountability turn promotions into real leadership. Jim shares his six pillars, the nightly question that keeps him honest, and tactics that earn trust at work and at home. • moving from contributor to leader without a roadmap • why integrity is non negotiable and how to live it • direct truth paired with compassion in feedback • authoritarian past versus co...

We explore why teams stall when they judge new ideas through old failures and how leaders turn resistance into ownership with role clarity, questions, and communication. We share practical ways to scale beyond hero culture, use AI for insight, and lead through ambiguity without losing the team. • naming the trap of forward-looking through the past • reframing change vs transition to lower friction...

We explore how leadership is a disposition, not a position, and show practical ways to build trust, empower teams, and use AI without losing judgment. Ash shares tools for developing new leaders, designing inclusive meetings, and growing through small daily risks. • redefining leadership beyond titles and org charts • everyday habits for trust through clean agreements • empowering with curiosity o...

We explore how leadership lives beyond titles and why stoic principles like amor fati help convert setbacks into action. Becky shares practical tools to build trust, define integrity, and value process over short-term wins while keeping communication clear and useful. • Leadership as a lifestyle not a title • Difference between authority, power and leadership • Amor fati as action under pressure •...

We explore how character and competence turn titles into true leadership, why trust is built on observable behaviors, and how humility accelerates growth across five generations at work. Todd Davis shares practical ways to measure integrity, make feedback safe, and lead for results without clinging to old rules. • leadership as a choice grounded in character and competence • four cores of credibil...

We explore how AI can shift leaders from reacting to burnout to preventing it, using clear data that makes coaching measurable and culture more humane. Oli Johnson shares a candid burnout story, then breaks down practical tools that help leaders protect performance. • AI’s impact on preventative health and performance  • The real cost of burnout to teams and the bottom line  • Early warning signs...

We explore how modern leaders balance high expectations with genuine care to drive results without losing people. Kory Kogan of FranklinCovey shares practical tools to build, extend, and restore trust, plus how one-on-ones and feedback retain talent. • generational shifts and development-first expectations • retention as the new recruitment • expect a lot, care a lot leadership mindset • trust as...

We unpack the illusion of authenticity at work and offer a practical, humane path to showing up as your best self while building a resilient team identity. Elaine shares research, stories, and tools that connect identity, culture, and performance in a world moving fast. • redefining authenticity as impact-aware presence  • mapping identities to values and operating principles  • practicing the pau...

We sit down with Lexington Health VP Lara Lotmore to unpack the real work of leadership: presence over perfection, influence over control, and culture over slogans. From mentorship and conflict to AI and talent pipelines, Lara shares practical ways to build trust and keep teams strong. • choosing organizational leadership for real-world impact • leading through fatigue with presence and grace • me...

We talk with retired superintendent JR Green about turning a “graveyard for superintendents” into a destination district by putting culture, courage, and accountability first. We unpack faith over fear, family support, collaboration over competition, and the difference between authority and leadership. • JR Green’s path from assistant superintendent to 12-year superintendent tenure • Why “scared m...

What if the core of effective leadership isn’t what you know, but how deeply you care? In this episode, we sit down with Janisha Thomas, Chief Human Resources Officer at The Ritedose Corporation, to explore a practical, people-centered blueprint for leading through growth, maintaining high standards with empathy, and anchoring decisions in values when pressure mounts. • founding insight that peopl...

In this episode, Ron talks with entrepreneur and Vistage chair Jim Bramlett about the mindset shifts modern leaders need—moving from command-and-control to coaching, embracing vulnerability, and leaning on peer support instead of leading alone. Jim shares lessons from seven startups, emphasizing the importance of being coachable, hiring for culture over skill, and listening across generations to b...

We explore why values outlast achievements and how to lead under pressure without compromising integrity. Andy Crocker shares lessons from aerospace, the five core values in his book The Unconditionals, and practical ways to grow through failure, mentor well, and adopt AI responsibly. • defining success as values alignment not outcomes • integrity in data, decisions and trust • love at work as res...