Your Business Greatness

Simone Sloan hosts Gretchen Gagel, a mechanical engineer with an MBA and PhD in leadership, shares her transformative journey from being the first female operations manager at Ralston Purina to becoming a construction industry pioneer and advocate for women leaders. This episode explores her evolution from "covering" her identity to authentically leading, her founding of the Internationa...

In this episode of Your Business Greatness, host Simone Sloan welcomes Laura Sicola, a cognitive linguist, communication coach, and three-time TEDx speaker, to discuss how communication shapes organizational culture, trust, and results. Laura shares her journey from public school teacher to university faculty member to corporate communication coach, emphasizing that the fundamental challenge acros...

 "Before you help anyone else, your child, your colleague, stranger next to you, put your own oxygen mask first. And it's not selfish. It's just survival logic." We explore why toxic workplace cultures persist despite widespread awareness of solutions like servant leadership  skills and creating psychological safe environments.  We explore root causes like middle managers operati...

Brad Englert, author of  Spheres of Influence: How to Create and Nurture Authentic Business Relationships , discusses his 40-year career spanning 22 years at Accenture and eight years as Chief Information Officer at the University of Texas at Austin. He reveals how intentional relationship-building became his competitive advantage, transforming organizational cultures through trust, transparency,...

This episode explores the critical connection between organizational culture and business performance, challenging the misconception that culture is merely superficial "ping pong tables and branded water bottles." Hosts Simone Sloan and Rich Batchelor, along with guest Mark Roberts, CEO of MyHR Department, examine how culture, defined as shared beliefs, behaviours, and norms, directly impacts empl...

Karena Bell, CEO and founder of ProfitLinz, joins host Simone Sloan to discuss her journey from corporate technology roles at Fortune 500 companies to building a specialized financial consulting firm. She shares how her experience managing large-scale projects at Chrysler, Volkswagen, and Perot Systems revealed significant untapped profit opportunities that traditional consulting models missed. Sh...

In this episode of Your Business Greatness, host Simone Sloan welcomes Courtney De Ronde, CEO of Forge Financial and Management Consulting, to discuss her evolution from CPA and auditor to scaling consultant and coach. Drawing on 20 years as a CPA and 15 years in business leadership, Courtney shares how she developed the Simple Scale-Up System by reverse-engineering her firm's success across finan...

This episode explores AI transformation in organizations with Sam Sharma, CEO of Elevate AI Tech, alongside hosts Simone Sloan and Rich Batchelor. The conversation addresses the critical gap between rapid technology deployment and the slower human adaptation required for successful AI adoption. Rather than viewing AI as a technology problem, the discussion frames it as a behavioural and leadership...

In this episode, Host Simone Sloan speaks with Yuriy Boyechko, Founder and CEO of  Hope for Ukraine    (HFU), about how his organization is redefining what it means to run a nonprofit. Rather than following a traditional charity model, HFU operates with the discipline and strategy of a business, focused on measurable outcomes and efficiency. After a decade in media and entertainment, YB launched H...

Hosts Simone Sloan and Rich Batchelor explore the growing strain on people managers in a workplace defined by nonstop change, hiring pauses, and competing priorities that stretch capacity beyond what is sustainable. They unpack how constant operational demands crowd out time for reflection and planning, leaving managers to make reactive decisions that often compromise quality. The episode highligh...

In this episode of Your Business Greatness, host Simone Sloan focuses on the critical skill of giving effective feedback in the workplace. She shares a three-step framework for delivering feedback that focuses on observable behaviours, explaining their impact, and collaboratively discussing solutions. Through a detailed case study,  Simone illustrates how avoiding feedback can escalate small probl...

In this episode of Your Business Greatness, host Simone Sloan and co-host Rich Bachelor welcome Christina Van Sickle, Director of Professional Practice at the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. The conversation explores the world of nonprofit board governance, discussing the motivations for joining boards, the crucial differences between operational and strategic roles,...

In this episode, host Simone Sloan welcomes Mike Perlow, Founder of Perlow Productions ( www. PerlowProductions.com ). He is a self-described "unintentional entrepreneur," who shares his journey from a 17-year career in TV Sportscasting to launching his company. He discusses how his broadcasting background, including shooting, writing, editing, and interviewing thousands of people, laid the founda...

“If non-profits cannot figure out why their important, just like pack up, go home, and do something else”   In this episode, host Simone Sloan and co-host Rich Bachelor from Your Choice Coach welcome Peter Heller, Founder of Heller Fundraising Group, to discuss nonprofit fundraising strategies and capital campaigns. Peter shares insights from over 30 years of experience and 20 years leading his fi...

In this episode, host Simone Sloan, Founder of Your Choice Coach, engages guests John Cororan, Managing Director at Merritt Walsh Associates, LLC and Rich Bachelor, Change Management Consultant, in a deep discussion on optimizing business strategies within nonprofit organizations. John, with his decades of experience, emphasizes the importance of treating nonprofits as businesses to maximize impac...

In this engaging episode of "Your Business, Greatness," host Simone Sloan converses with communications catalyst, Dia Bondi. The discussion touches on the importance of finding one's voice and leading with it, as well as how Dia helps individuals such as CEOs and founders develop and enhance their leadership voices through workshops and programs. Dia also shares her journey from the fitness indust...

In this episode, host Simone Sloan talks with Etty Burke, Organizational Psychologist, about her book Aaron the Different: A Story of Courage, Belonging, and Acceptance. Themes discussed include addressing bullying and acceptance. Etty shares her inspiration to write the book and inspires readers to embrace their uniqueness, build meaningful connections, and contribute to a kinder, more inclusive...

In this episode, Simone Sloan, an executive strategist, discusses diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) with Eric Sarver, an employment and business law attorney. They explore the definitions of DEI, its misconceptions, and its significance in today's evolving workplace. The conversation highlights the legal challenges and evolving scenarios concerning DEI initiatives as well as how they can bene...

In this podcast episode, host Simone Sloan speaks with Tom Schwab, a military veteran and the Founder and CEO of Interview Valet . They discuss the impact of introversion in business leadership. They emphasize the importance of building genuine client relationships through conversations. Tom shares his journey from a corporate engineer to a podcast marketing pioneer and highlights how authentic co...

In this podcast episode, hosted by Simone Sloan, the conversation focuses on the role and impact of public relations (PR) in technology-driven businesses. The episode features two guests: Doyle Albi, CEO of Comprise Agency, and Melissa Christensen, Vice President of Strategic Relations at Comprise. We discuss the importance of storytelling in translating complex technical specifications into compe...

In this episode of "Your Business, Greatness," host Simone Sloan interviews Scott Jarred, CEO of INVST, who shares his inspiring journey from poverty to financial freedom. The conversation covers various aspects of financial management, personal growth, and entrepreneurial strategies. Scott discusses the importance of having a purpose and taking control of one's financial destiny by understanding...

In this podcast episode, Simone Sloan interviews Mike Murphy, a seasoned growth leader with significant experience as a C-level executive in healthcare and insurance. Mike shares his career journey and how it led to the formation of Sunstone Management Advisors, which focuses on increasing the enterprise value of healthcare and insurance companies. They discuss the challenges of innovation in heal...

In this enlightening episode of "Your Business, Greatness," host Simone Sloan welcomes Whitney Hahn, a seasoned business guide and CEO of Provoke Better. Together, they delve deep into the essence of business dynamics, leadership challenges, and the therapeutic journey of transformation that leaders embark on, highlighting the critical role of culture in business success and personal ful...

In this insightful episode of "Your Business Greatness," host Simone Sloan delves into the essence of effective leadership and the mechanics of fostering highly functional teams. Simone, an executive strategist and founder of Your Choice Coach, explores various leadership styles, the art of persuasion, and strategies for continuous growth in leadership roles. She underscores the importan...

In this empowering episode of "Your Business Greatness," host Simone Sloan engages with Antonio Garrido, author of "My Daily Leadership" and founder of My Daily Leadership development organization. Together, they delve into Antonio's vast experience in leadership roles and his passion for transforming leaders to achieve their utmost potential, aiming to inspire 1 million le...