Interaction

In this episode of Interaction, host John Kandray speaks with Nicholas Bird, the Director of Learning and Development at American Tire Distributors, where he leads initiatives that support sales teams, enterprise leadership development, and organizational learning strategies. Nicholas shares a unique perspective on how combining technology, AI, and human-centered leadership can accelerate learning...

In this episode of Interaction, host John Kandray speaks with Rebecca Perrault, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Culture, and Sustainability at Magnit, where she leads initiatives that help organizations create inclusive environments for both full-time and contingent workers. Rebecca brings a wealth of experience in DEI, organizational culture, and people development, sharing how le...

In this episode of Interaction, host John Kandray speaks with Kirt Morris, the former Global Chief Diversity Officer at Merkle, where he led initiatives that strengthened diversity, equity, inclusion, and organizational culture. Kirt brings a rich perspective on how servant leadership, psychological safety, and curiosity drive both personal and professional growth. Through his experiences in DEI l...

Join John Kandray on the Interaction Podcast as he sits down with Zane Syed, a seasoned IT sales leader with over 20 years of experience in banking and software solutions. In this engaging conversation, Zane shares his journey from individual contributor to leadership, revealing the key skills, mindset, and emotional intelligence required to lead high-performing teams effectively. Discover insight...

In this episode of Interaction Podcast, host John Kandray sits down with Christine Wolf, Director of Learning and Development, to explore how neuroscience, empathy, and emotional intelligence shape modern leadership and organizational culture. Christine shares his expertise in leadership development, employee engagement, and culture-building, offering a unique perspective on how understanding the...

In this episode of Interaction, host John Kandray speaks with Joseph Machicote, a seasoned HR executive, cultural engineer, and author, with over 30 years of experience across hospitality, talent development, diversity leadership, and executive HR roles. Joseph shares how culture can be intentionally designed and treated as a core business function rather than a vague set of values on a wall. He d...

In this episode of the Interaction Podcast, host John Kandray sits down with Esayas Wureta, leader of inclusion, belonging, and community impact at CSAA Insurance Group, for a deep and thoughtful conversation on culture, leadership, and what it truly takes to build people-driven organisations. Esayas shares how inclusion and belonging are not just internal initiatives, but essential drivers of bus...

In this episode of Interaction, host John Kandray speaks with James Hutson, Chief AI Researcher for Human-Centered AI at Lindenwood University, about how artificial intelligence is reshaping work, education, and what it means to remain human in a rapidly automated world. James brings deep insight into the concept of human-centered AI, challenging the dominant efficiency-first mindset shaping most...

In this episode of Interaction, host John Kandray speaks with Christopher Lee Johnson, the Chief Diversity Officer at Frost Brown Todd, where he leads strategic initiatives that strengthen inclusion, equity, and organizational culture. Christopher brings a rich perspective on how curiosity—the willingness to ask, explore, and challenge assumptions—drives both personal and professional growth. Thro...

In this episode of Interaction, host John Kandray speaks with Wendy Bradford, a mission-driven Human Resources Executive known for shaping inclusive, high-performing workplaces and leading people-centered transformation. With a career defined by resilience, strategic insight, and a deep commitment to human potential, Wendy shares her personal and professional journey — one marked by growth, challe...

In this episode of Interaction, host John Kandray speaks with Heather Stewart, the Director of Employee Learning and Development at College of the Canyons, where she leads initiatives designed to strengthen employee growth, engagement, and organizational culture. Heather brings a powerful perspective on how a people-focused approach can elevate performance, build trust, and create meaningful impac...

In this episode of Interaction, host John Kandray sits down with Keith Powers, an experienced Executive Coach and Leadership Advisor, to explore how transparency in leadership fuels trust, team alignment, and sustainable growth. Keith shares valuable insights on creating open communication cultures, handling tough conversations with honesty, and building teams that thrive on accountability and mut...

In this insightful episode of Interaction, host John Kandray welcomes Dr. Frank Gonzalez, a respected Leadership Coach and Organizational Psychologist, to discuss how leaders can navigate chaos with honesty, positivity, and authentic connection. Dr. Gonzalez shares practical strategies on maintaining clarity and integrity in times of uncertainty, fostering trust within teams, and turning disruptio...

In this episode of Interaction, host John Kandray speaks with Robert Resnick, a leading Leadership Development Expert and Executive Coach, to explore how leadership simulations are transforming the way people learn, grow, and lead. Robert shares his expertise on using experiential learning tools and simulation-based training to build real-world leadership skills. From creating safe spaces for lead...

In this powerful episode of Interaction, host John Kandray is joined by Dr. Kristal Walker, a distinguished Thought Leader, Keynote Speaker, and Learning & Development Expert, to unpack what it truly means to champion organizational culture and lead proactively in an era of constant change. Dr. Walker shares her insights on how great leaders cultivate learning mindsets, empower teams through i...

In this episode of Interaction, host John Kandray speaks with Timothy Tolino, the Global Director of Benefits, Mobility, and Wellness at Hunter Douglas, where he leads large-scale employee programs that support an evolving global workforce. With extensive experience designing benefits and wellness strategies across borders, Timothy offers a unique viewpoint on how workplaces have transformed not j...

In this powerful and insightful conversation, John Kandray sits down with Elyssa Campo, Director of Diversity Equity and Inclusion at Ceres, to discuss how to develop, implement and measure strategic DEI initiatives across talent management, event planning, programming and talent development.  Connect with Elyssa on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elyssacampo/ I hope you enjoyed this episode...

In this episode, we sit down with Necko Fanning, a DEI and Culture Leader, writer, and editor whose career has been dedicated to driving meaningful organizational change through inclusion, empathy, and storytelling. With over a decade of experience leading diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) initiatives, Necko brings a thoughtful perspective on how companies can navigate change, bui...

In this inspiring conversation, John Kandray sits down with Peter Mostachetti, Senior Director of Employee Experience, Learning, and Inclusion at Ipsy. They discuss Peter’s journey, his approach to building inclusive workplace cultures, and how employee experience and continuous learning are shaping the future of work. Tune in to hear insights on leadership, authenticity, and creating environments...

In this inspiring conversation, John Kandray sits down with Christine Alba Quaranto, Director of Learning and Talent Development, to explore the impact of effective leadership development and learning strategies in today’s workplace. Christine shares her insights on aligning corporate initiatives with talent programs, fostering a culture of continuous growth, and designing engaging training that m...

In this episode, John Kandray sits down with Malaika Serrano, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) at Guild Education. Malaika shares her journey of building and scaling an award-winning enterprise learning and inclusion function at a high-growth startup, and how she leverages AI to design strategies that strengthen leadership pipelines, expand learner capabilities...

In this powerful and insightful conversation, John Kandray sits down with Alex Zeitz, Head of International Operations, Resiliency, and Inclusion at Virgin Voyages. Alex shares how Virgin Voyages is redefining the culture of cruising by prioritizing inclusion, belonging, and accessibility—not just for guests (“sailors”) but also for its diverse crew of nearly 100 nationalities. From eliminating vi...

In this dynamic conversation, John Kandray welcomes Lillian Evans—Director at the Train to Flu Institute at SUNY Oswego and CEO of “Just a Little Bit”—to unpack what authentic inclusion and equity really mean in modern workplaces. Lillian dives into the tension between generational expectations, the real meaning of belonging, and why diversity work must go deeper than surface-level DEI checkboxes....

In this powerful episode, John Kandray is joined by John Bryson, Senior Director of Learning and Development at Rangam Consultants, to discuss how organizations can create cultures of empathy, inclusion, and psychological safety. With decades of experience in disability employment and neurodiversity advocacy, Bryson shares practical strategies for transforming workplaces—especially in how leaders...

In this episode, John speaks with Steve Sorenson, Senior Director of Learning and Culture at Johnsonville. The conversation offers a rare, inside look at how Johnsonville is operationalizing its mission to develop people’s “God-given talents” in a modern business context. Steve shares powerful stories about leading with vulnerability, coaching through discomfort, and holding high standards without...