9 to 5 Joy Podcast

Feeling stuck in a culture rut? You're not alone! In this episode, Mapi and Christine  sat down to spill the tea on everything they learned from their case study series. The conversation uncovers some real gems about building a workplace where people actually want to come to work. Our conversation is a bit of a road trip, starting with recognizing that something is broken to investing in a cul...

In this episode, we sit down with Geri Ewing, the Director of the Clean Product Value Chain’s Central Support Group. Geri exemplifies exceptional leadership by candidly sharing what it means to lead through challenging times. She opens up about receiving feedback on her leadership and team that was initially hard to accept, even leading her to briefly consider retirement. However, instead of retre...

Are you born a chief joy officer or do you become one? Is joy leadership a natural trait, or can it be learned? This episode of the 9 to 5 Joy podcast dives into the nature vs. nurture debate of Joyful Leaders. Mapi and Christine explore the question: Do our backgrounds push us towards joy or away from it, and how does that impact our leadership style? They analyze past guests who embody a passion...

Join us as we chat with Robert Cadena, CEO and Co-founder of Lean Solutions Group, a company that is supporting over 500 U.S. based companies with logistics through satellite offices with over 900 employees. Robert’s authenticity is on blast in this episode, he shares the surprisingly simple driving force behind his success: helping people. He'll reveal how focusing on the details that matter...

In this episode, Mapi travels to Colombia for a conversation with Lean Solutions Director, Kristell Pardo. Kristell shares her journey of professional evolution within a company. She has seen the company go from 100 employees to over 10,000 employees. A huge part of this success is that the culture not only champions the growth of employees  but also integrates employees' contributions into a...

n this episode, Mapi and Christine reflect on insights from their chat with Wesley Hitchcock, highlighting the importance of “taking the next best step” and practicing humility in cultivating joy. Wes's philosophy underscores that joy doesn't require perfection but is built through small, intentional acts - whether it's uplifting a colleague, bringing humor into meetings, or rememberin...

In this episode, we meet Wes Hitchcock, a well-being expert and consultant at a global consulting firm, who shares his journey from battling performance anxiety which eventually led to an anxiety attack and bout of hives. These highly personal experiences informed him as he explored well-being deeply, eventually guiding others in his organization. He emphasizes the value of understanding how excel...

Let's debrief! Mapi and Christine sit down and reflect on their conversation with Reeve and Gary from Denso. They discuss the importance of viewing competitive marketplace challenges as opportunities to improve culture. Denso's joy journey highlights the significance of experimentation and pushing ourselves outside of our comfort zone to reach our goals. We hope you will join us for this c...

In this episode, Reeve Rummel, Director at DENSO, and Gary Best, Senior Manager, sit down to talk with us about taking ownership of culture, stand-up meetings, and little cards that lead to big conversations. In our first case study, Reeve and Gary discuss their journey at DENSO, encountering marketplace challenges that led to opportunities for cultural shifts. As part of that journey, they both t...

In this mini episode, we debrief about our conversation with Sheene Eizemendez and that pursuing a culture of Joy is not just about meeting an HR requirement and that while it impacts the bottom line, that cannot be the driving motivation. We also share a sneak peak into our plans for next season, which we are SO excited about. Listen in!

Join us in this episode as we chat with Sheena Elzmendez from the Well Biz, bringing over 20 years of coaching experience to the table. She shares practical insights on creating joyful workplaces, highlighting that joy is more than just a checkbox. Sheena emphasizes the need for genuine efforts in improving workplace culture for everyone. When organizations commit to this journey, the result is ha...

In this episode, Mapi and Christine debrief about their conversation with Morris Copeland, Chief Community Services Officer of Miami-Dade County. It was a privilege to sit down with someone who has made such a tremendous impact on our community and on so many lives. It was easy to find things that we loved about that conversation. Chief Copeland exudes love, joy, vision, and clarity wrapped in a b...

In this extraordinary episode. We get the Joy of a true heart to heart with Morris Copeland Chief Community Services Officer of Miami-Dade County. Morris shares with us his journey that started at gunpoint, and putting his own life in danger. This experience put into motion a change that lead to hope. Eventually with the help of his family and community that hope turned to a life of leadership, se...

In this episode, Mapi and Christine reflect on the heart-centered work environment of Menlo Innovations where well-defined systems empower a culture of collaboration. Our visit to Menlo has become  a vivid example of what a joyful workplace looks, sounds, and feels like. The series of episodes around Menlo Innovations goes beyond a recounting of experience; it's an exploration of the inspirati...

Explore a workplace where joy triumphs over profit. Join Lisa Ho, Project Manager, and Anika Gidley, High-Tech Anthropologist at Menlo Innovations, as they share their firsthand experiences. Lisa shares her experiences bringing babies to work to mastering realistic time estimations, Anika's early career journey unfolds in an environment that encourages high-level contributions and learning fro...

In this conversation, Mapi and Christine sit down with Rich Sheridan, CEO and Chief Storytelling officer of Menlo Innovations. Rich shares his story of deciding to build a workplace where he is excited to come to work every day. A place where every decision, interaction, and process points to Joy derived from doing good work and seeing that work delight the people it’s intended to serve. From hiri...

In this episode Mapi and Christine take the time to share our gratitude for you! and you! and you! We are so thankful for our audience, our guests, each other, and the growth journey of the 9 to 5 Joy podcast. Listen in, we hope it inspires to share your gratitude with the people you are grateful for.

In this episode we explore the art of listening and engage in a meaningful debrief on the real-world implications of this practice in the workplaceMapi shares her insights into implementing the Strengths Finder tool to empower individuals at work and enhance project assignments. Meanwhile, Christine opens up about the experience of giving students a voice in the classroom, and navigating and respo...

Assistant Superintendent Erin Rathke is exactly the type of leader we want in the districts where children attend school. In this episode she shares her journey from aspiring teacher to joy-builder in schools, emphasizing the simple truth that kids hold the key to Joy. Erin provides straightforward advice for educators and leaders on finding and spreading joy. if you have worked in a school, sent...

Join us as we explore heart-centered leadership and its transformational impact on your organization. LuAnne, our expert guest, reveals how to harness strengths and passions using tools like Strengths Finder and The Passion Test, but emphasizes the need for a commitment to practice change. Discover how aligning human potential with organizational roles can boost engagement and productivity. Consid...

In this episode Christine and Mapi reflect on their conversation with Nicole Vazquez, COO of Refresh Miami. As a seasoned leader and entrepreneur, she gave us a lot to think about in our conversation with her. We talk about how to be all in even when it’s hard or we are faced with a task that is less than joyful. We also spend some time thinking about big decisions and processes. As with other epi...

Spoiler Alert! Nicole is announcing her next big decision in this episode.  In this episode we sit down with Nicole Vasquez, Chief Operating Officer of Refresh Miami. Nicole’s journey is impressive but it’s her authenticity and love for people that make her a joy to be around. As she shares her story we see yet again that joy at work is closely related to purpose and going all in on something that...

In this thought-provoking episode, join hosts Mapi and Christine as they step into the role of students and dive deep into conversation. Together, they explore the wisdom shared by Professor Soltero on the subject of cultivating joy in one's career. The episode takes a close look at the pivotal questions: what should we start, what should we stop, and what should we continue in our professiona...

Join us for a captivating conversation with Rafael Soltero, a sales expert and Florida International University professor. who shares his insights on how finding Joy in the world of sales translates into finding Joy anywhere. Rafael emphasizes the importance of embracing discomfort and challenges, which can lead to growth and connection. He also encourages us to reflect on what we should start, st...

In this episode, Christine and Mapi reflect on their conversation with Vivianne Bohorques. The story Vivianne shared was so compelling because it demonstrated her courage to stray from the “traditional” career journey and not just encounter joy but seek it out. Mapi and Christine discuss their journeys and how they continue to refine how they want to contribute to the world around them. But the mo...