The Optimized Workplace

The United States is on the brink of a significant population shift driven by aging baby boomers, changing birth rates, and immigration patterns. But is the American workforce ready for this transition? Join me in this week’s episode as I interview Dr. Patty Delgado, an experienced industrial-organizational (I/O) psychologist and the founder and CEO of The Bridgify Group. Dr. Patty is also a co-fo...

Are you struggling to navigate today’s modern workplace?  Join us on this episode of The Optimized Workplace as we dive into the transformative power of diversity and inclusion with Sally Helgesen, renowned leadership coach and diversity expert.  Today, Sally shares invaluable insights on how embracing diversity isn't just a goal but a necessity for any organization looking to thrive. From red...

Are your team members not fully engaged with each other at work? It’s a common challenge in any workplace, but the solution might be less conventional than you might think. ( Hint: It’s not team building.) In this week’s episode, I have the pleasure of sitting down with Alexandra Suchman, CEO and co-founder of Barometer XP. Barometer XP is a company that leverages games to spark insightful convers...

How should leaders in a hybrid work environment approach training and development for themselves and their employees? In this week’s episode, we are joined by author, speaker, and leadership expert Tara Powers. Her programs have earned her the prestigious Top 10 Leadership 500 award by HR.com and a bronze award from Brandon Hall for Best Results from a Leadership Program. Today, Tara shares her in...

How crucial are today’s transportation infrastructures and innovations in shaping the future of work? In this week’s episode of The Optimized Workplace, I’m excited to have Greer Johnson Gillis on the show. Greer is the senior vice president and chief infrastructure and development officer for the Jacksonville Transportation Authority or JTA.  JTA is an independent state agency with over 700 emplo...

What are those organizational DEI initiatives really for? Where is your organization at with its DEI efforts? Join us in this week’s episode of The Optimized Workplace as Melina Cordero, a former corporate executive turned DEI innovator and advocate, shares her transformative journey and insights on DEI and workplace wellness. Today, we’ll dive into the complexities and importance of DEI in the wo...

With organizations requiring employees to return to work post-pandemic, how can you prepare your workforce to thrive through the changing complexities of today’s modern workforce? Join me and Cheryl Brown Merriwether, Executive Director at ICARE or International Center for Addiction and Recovery Education, as we discuss transformative mental health strategies in the workplace. This conversation de...

Being healthy isn’t determined just by your body mass index (BMI).  In this week’s episode of The Optimized Workplace, I sit down with Cameron Haines, the visionary behind the innovative technology called Mobile Body Scans. Mobile Body Scans is an Australian-based health tech and service company dedicated to providing a comprehensive body composition analysis to health and fitness professionals, i...

How many of you feel like your dream job is taking away the life of you? Learning AND working take a lot of brain work. And doing it almost every day is a sure way to burn yourself out. So why not infuse creativity and fun at work? In this week’s episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Monica Kang, founder & CEO of InnovatorsBox, author of Rethink Creativity and Have You Seen My Frien...

In a busy modern workplace, unlocking the untapped human potential of employees is a transformative journey, and leaders have a more significant role to play in this endeavor. So, in this week’s episode of The Optimized Workplace, I am joined by Ana Melikian, a human potential expert, keynote speaker, and cancer survivor. With her extensive research, life experiences, and two decades of work in hu...

We all have a part to play when it comes to climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. But how can anyone and everyone be involved in solving these pressing environmental issues?  Join me and Dr. Bryan O. Buckley, Director of Health Equity Initiatives at the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and adjunct assistant professor at the Georgetown University School of Medicine, as we dive...

The pandemic underscored the importance of prioritizing health and well-being. However, how cities and state governments tackle the challenges of advancing health beyond traditional healthcare is a crucial question. In this latest episode of The Optimized Workplace, we have the opportunity and pleasure to interview Dr. Shawnte Elbert. Dr. Elbert is a contributing faculty member for Walden Universi...

How does mindful leadership impact today’s workplaces and organizations? In this episode of The Optimized Workplace, I am excited to share the stage with Amy McCae, founder of Creative Wellness, who aims to help industry leaders reduce stress and overwhelm through mindfulness-based coaching and training. Today, Amy shares her wellness journey and how she founded Creative Wellness after spending ne...

Culture is the most powerful tool in driving performance at work. But how can leaders be culture champions and effectively lead their teams? In this episode of The Optimized Workplace, I’m excited and honored, at the same time, to speak with Mark Miller, former Chick-fil-A VP of High Performance Leadership, co-founder of Lead Every Day, and author of the bestselling book Culture Rules. Today, Mark...

Why is workforce well-being important? How does the WellTeamCulture© program impact workplace wellness? In this special episode of The Optimized Workplace, Aerobodies’ Marketing and Business Development Manager, Courtney Fickes, interviews The Optimized Workplace host and Aerobodies CEO, Fran Dean-Bishop. With over two decades of experience working with athletes and semi-pro athletes, Fran has tur...

A people-centered employee retention strategy is critical to keeping your top talent from leaving your company. And our guest for today is the perfect resource person for this topic. In this week’s episode, I sit down with Vanessa Cacho, a brilliant business and human resource consultant, to talk about future-proofing your workforce through retaining and developing great talent. Throughout her car...

As an African-American woman, being able to achieve so much in a male-dominated industry is no easy feat. And this week’s guest is a testament to that. In this week’s podcast episode, I’m fortunate enough to be joined by Chief Tiffanye Wesley, a celebrated leader, trailblazer, speaker, trainer, influencer, wife, and mom of four. Tiffanye is a 30-year veteran of the Arlington County Fire Department...

With the recent pandemic, most people resist returning to the office or adjusting to the hybrid work setup. As a result, they feel more disconnected from their organization than ever.  So, how do you bring that life back to your organization or team? Enter the HEART© Coaching Methodology. This holistic coaching methodology by Tassos Kotzias aims to make you feel H olistic, E mpowered, A ccepted, R...

How well do you trust your skincare products?  In today’s modern age, where you can easily buy almost everything off the shelf, it’s easy to look past what’s inside the lotion or makeup you’re wearing. But today’s guest has challenged that and was able to launch a thriving and unique skincare company that promotes wellness, self-care, environmental sustainability, and better consumer values. Today...

How can teams broaden their horizons and step into leadership roles? In today's episode, Chris Whaley is joining us to delve into his distinctive coaching methodology – utilizing escape rooms to unlock up-and-coming leaders' potential and foster exceptional team growth. Drawing from his extensive experience at Philips, a leading global healthcare medical device and solutions company, Chris...

High stress levels, burnout, and turnover are among the key issues organizations grapple with today.  These issues have a detrimental impact on both organizational performance and leadership effectiveness. And this is where executive coaching comes in. In this episode, we are joined by J.R. Flatter, an esteemed International Coaching Federation (ICF) accredited coach, specializing in leadership de...

In today's episode, we are joined by the founder and CEO of Mindset Strategies, Chantelle Fitzgerald, to discuss mindfulness for leaders and its impact on workplaces. Mindset Strategies is a leadership development firm focusing on mindfulness, emotional intelligence, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Chantelle's company works with individuals and organizations to uncover blind spots and un...

In today's episode, we're lucky enough to be joined by Tatum Crews, a leader in the health and wellness industry and CEO of The Covery Wellness Spa. The Covery Wellness Spa is a non-invasive wellness company established in 2019. It aims to support and restore its clients' well-being through innovative treatments to help them look, feel, and perform better. With her background in fitnes...

In today's episode, we're fortunate to be joined by Serafine Lilien, ergonomist and owner of Ergo Arts, a provider of ergonomic assessments and services. As an ergonomist who has performed more than 18,000 individual ergonomic assessments over the last 20 years, Serafine has worked tirelessly to help maximize employee productivity, health, and well-being using ergonomic principles. Today,...

In today's episode, we were joined by the founder, designer, and CEO of Maika, Viola Sutanto. Maika is a brand that creates thoughtfully-designed, sustainably-made bags and accessories for multi-tasking, empowered, and stylish women. Currently, Maika has partnered with Make-A-Wish America with a mission to spread joy and hope in every purchase made from the Maika X Make-A-Wish collection. Toda...