Ascending Change

Mental health is not always discussed openly in the business and the workplace. However, failure to appropriately manage mental barriers and stressors in professional settings can make it challenging to overcome them. Instead, people should be open about these topics and view these experiences as inspiration to drive growth and positive transformation. So how should leaders address struggles with...

Women have come a long way in the business world, but female entrepreneurs still face their own unique set of obstacles. As an increased number of women have turned to entrepreneurship in recent years, many still experience more challenges than male entrepreneurs. In addition, sexism against women in business still exists, with women of color especially facing discrimination, and the decision to h...

To succeed as an entrepreneur, you must put effort into your work - and yourself. Symptoms of poor mental health like burnout and stress can cause harmful effects in other areas of life, like their physical health, relationships, and even business pursuits. Leaders and team members alike rely on their mental well-being to support them and their overall progression through life. So, how can people...

What does "purpose" mean for your company, your employees, and yourself? This is important as purpose is a necessary component of inside-out leadership. This purpose-driven leadership style can only occur when leaders understand and leverage their personal purpose and passions to guide their team and organization. By recognizing and aligning with their values, leaders can see great benefits for th...

Company culture is a fundamental aspect of an organization, and promoting an attitude of gratitude among staff members can strengthen workplace culture and improve factors like productivity, retention, innovation, and more. Company culture is made up of the social aspects that define an organization, being the unique set of values, attitudes, behaviors, and practices shared by its members. So how...

As more and more workers are leaving jobs that fail to provide them with a sense of meaning, it is more important than ever for leaders to appropriately assess what employees need to feel connected and fulfilled in the workplace. Data shows that when leaders build interpersonal relationships with their employees, they demonstrate an overall human-centric approach to leadership that contributes to...

The pursuit and fulfillment of one's life purpose can significantly impact many areas of their life, especially for those in leadership roles. So how does such a personal aspect affect the success of leaders in business and organizational settings? On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, host Jennifer Ayres is joined by guest Robb Holman, CEO of global leadership consultancy Holman In...

Supporting a positive employee experience can provide various benefits for the success of staff members and their organizations. But, with new workforce and enterprise software solutions constantly being introduced to work environments, how does implementing this technology affect the employee experience? On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, join host Jennifer Ayres as she speaks o...

It is an undeniable fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has left lasting effects on the landscape of work and altered workforce leadership practices in years to come. So what can organizational leaders do to ease the transition for the next generation of workers? As recent graduates enter the post-pandemic labor pool, organizations may need to implement new strategies to support the employee experienc...

How can we improve our office space to benefit the employee experience, especially as many workers are taking on a hybrid or remote work structure? Now that people with remote or hybrid work structures have more flexibility on whether they go into the office and when they go in, employees will likely be more intentional about what work environments are attractive to them. On this episode of the Su...

How impactful is employee experience when it comes to the overall success of your organization? On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, join host Jennifer Ayres as she chats with her partner at Concinnity, Lisa Insley, about the employee experience and how it relates to the future of work. Lisa Insley specializes in Human Experience and Digital Transformation for Concinnity. She is an...

The warehousing industry has seen significant growth in recent years, and now with just the click of a button, you can have most items on your doorstep faster than ever. In addition, due to the growing popularity of retail structures, many changes have been implemented within the warehousing industry to refine and improve work processes. So, what can we learn from this industry, and how can you pr...

Everyone desires to fulfill their life purpose. As workers spend a lot of their time at their jobs, it can be challenging for them to find the time to pursue their purpose outside of the workplace. Fortunately,  there are ways that organizational leaders can help their staff members achieve a sense of purpose within their professions, and reap the benefits that this can provide. So how can yo...

Does your workforce have a positive culture? On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, join host Jennifer Ayres as she speaks with Devin Basinger, SVP of People and Operations at H1. With his strong background as an operator, strategist, and people leader in entrepreneurial endeavors, Devin has learned how to support positive company culture intentionally and why it matters. As a leader...

Improving diversity in the workforce is a work in progress for many industries, especially in the high-tech sector. Unfortunately, studies and statistics prove that the technology industry has a serious problem with workforce diversity, with vastly uneven employment rates for underrepresented members. This, along with unfair wage gaps for underrepresented individuals, can create damaging power and...

Employee experience has become a hot-button topic recently, and for good reason. With study after study showing a positive employee experience and company culture leads to improved employee retention, easier recruiting, and even boosted production; it’s no wonder why it’s on everyone’s mind. But do you really know what employee experience means and how to ensure you have a good one? If not, you’re...

Like it or not, employment has changed over the course of the pandemic. Employees have been given a taste of flexibility and they aren’t eager to give it up. However, that shift in thinking toward the employee experience can be incredibly powerful for both employees and employers, if used correctly. On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, host Jennifer Ayres is joined by special retur...

Now that we’re slowly entering a post-pandemic world, we need HR to reflect what we’ve learned. Whether it’s a focus on the “human” part of Human Resources or the evolution we’ve seen in recruitment and employee retention, some HR trends are here to stay. On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, join host Jennifer Ayres as she takes a closer look at the HR trends that must be incorpora...

While the last few years have taught us a rigid plan can be problematic in times of great change, scrambling to create a plan under pressure isn’t great either. With “The Great Resignation” in full swing, it’s clear organizations can benefit from effective workforce development strategies now more than ever.  On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, Jennifer Ayres takes a closer l...

The Great Resignation has taught us that it isn’t quite as simple as hiring new employees to replace those that leave or fill skill gaps. Instead of trying to find the right outside candidate that has all the skills you require, upskilling your existing workforce could be the answer. On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, we’re diving into upskilling. From how it can help your bottom...

Do your employees feel psychologically safe at work? On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, join host Jennifer Ayres as she chats with Dr. Amber Tichenor, CEO of TO BE Coaching + Consulting. With over 20 years in organizational strategy and consulting, Amber is well versed in helping leaders cultivate a healthy work environment. She has also done extensive research on rivalry between...

As a leader, it can be difficult to find the time to think about the mental, emotional, and physical struggles your staff is facing every day. However, not thinking about your employee well-being and wellness programs could be impacting your bottom line and making your life harder. Join host Jennifer Ayres on this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast as she discusses the difference between...

Workers want a hybrid work model, which means how you establish and maintain your organization’s culture is evolving. On this episode of the Survive & Thrive podcast, join host Jennifer Ayres as she looks at how you can foster an inclusive culture in a hybrid work model. Jennifer looks at the most recent data and surveys that point to this workplace evolution. She details how things like empat...

Being able to manage and adapt to changes can be the difference between your organization simply surviving or thriving. If the COVID-19 pandemic taught us anything, it’s that these changes are often unexpected and happen quickly, making effective change management even more important than you might have thought before. But as we see light at the end of that tunnel, what is change management’s role...

As we continue our look at the “Future of Work,” the workplace remains a hot-button topic for many. More and more, studies have found that flexibility is what’s desired most from employees but how can organizations make that pivot successfully?  Join hosts Jennifer Ayres and Lisa Insley as they talk with special guest Luke Thomas about the role technology will play in even the smallest aspect...