Beyond AI: Wisdom at Work (formerly Qonversations)

Guest Louise Mowbray, author of Relevant: Future-Focused Leadership, shares her insights on the changing nature of the workplace, the workforce, and work itself in this conversation with host Brian Gorman. 

Nada R. Sanders, co-author of The Humachine: AI, Human Virtues, and the Superintelligent Enterprise (Second Edition) joins host Brian Gorman to explore the integration of artificial intelligence into business. What emerges from the conversation are significant insights into how to successfully achieve the integration of Artificial Intelligence with humans as well as some of the ways in which even...

It may be that our old styles of communication in the workplace weren’t as effective as we thought. What is definitely true is, if we are continuing to communicate in those ways today, it is unlikely that they are being received in the way that we intend. Caroline Kealey, international consultant and trainer on corporate communication strategy joins host Brian Gorman to share what she has learned...

Jeff Sigel, author of The Middle Matters: A Toolkit for Middle Managers, shares the lessons that he has learned in his years of “middle management.” He defines the role of the middle – ranging from frontline leaders to just below the C-suite – as a blend of doing, leading, and influencing. In this conversation, Jeff and host Brian Gorman explore what it takes to be a successful middle manager. 

Gabe DeRita, a self-described “Goal Whisperer and Connections Nerd,” joins host Brian Gorman to share his unique insights on moving past superficial objectives and discovering goals that resonate deeply with our authentic selves. As a “Connections Nerd” Gabe thrives on helping others create deep, meaningful relationships and understand the dynamics of personal and professional connections. This re...

You are an incredible storyteller! We all are. In this episode, Donna Schwarz of Schwarz Consultants joins host Brian Gorman to discuss the importance of story, the role story plays in our relationships and our leadership, and what comprises an effective story. Donna also shares a simple framework that will allow you to craft powerful stories in minutes. You still don’t think you’re a good storyte...

What is the gift that fear brings? In this episode, Fletcher Ellingson, author of The Practice of Feeling Good: How to Upgrade Your Thinking and Live a Feelgood Life and host Brian Gorman explore ways in which we can take control of our thinking, what is at the core of fear, and much more. They also get into an important discussion on the universality of values and what is really important about t...

095: Toxic Leadership – Toxicity in leadership is contagious. In this episode, Sean Lemson, author of One Drop of Poison: How One Bad Leader Can Slowly Kill Your Company, points out that it doesn’t matter that most toxic behavior is not intentional; it’s impact drives up turnover while pulling down engagement, performance, and morale. Sean and host Brian Gorman explore different forms of toxic lea...

In this episode of Qonversations, host Brian Gorman talks with Betsy Salkind and Amy Warshawsky from BNA Mentor Coaching about the dynamic world of “leadership improv.” Improv, rooted in spontaneity and skillful listening, involves principles like saying "yes and," techniques such as “skillful interrupting,” and embracing mistakes. They emphasized the importance of frameworks and feedback in devel...

Hearing and listening are not the same, yet all too often, we act as if they are. Listening is a skill that can be, and deserves to be, intentionally developed. In this episode, Quantuvos coach, speaker, and workshop facilitator Bradley James Davies and host Brian Gorman discuss Bradley’s approach to “next level listening.” Bradley shares important “does and don’ts” of listening that his research...

One place that too many organizations continue to fall short is in their response to those who are differently abled. In this episode, accessibility expert Max Ivey (“the blind blogger”) joins host Brian Gorman to explore the ongoing challenges that those labeled “disabled” face and the costs that they, our organizations, and society pay. They also discuss ways in which providing accessibility can...

Author JD Dillon (The Modern Learning Ecosystem) and host Brian Gorman explore ways in which the shifting workforce requires changes in how learning is approached in the workplace. While the role of the Learning and Development (Training and Development) function isn’t diminished, how their services are delivered requires significant recalibration. Likewise, leaders at every level hold a significa...

It turns out that well being in the workplace is not about gym memberships and yoga breaks. It is about the organizational culture and the relationships that leaders have with those they are leading. In this episode, Scott Taylor, Professor of Organizational Behavior at Babson College, joins host Brian Gorman to shed light on the role leaders play in ensuring well being in the workplace and the im...

Discovery is a process, not an event. In her book "The Untapped Power of Discovery: How to Create Change that Inspires a Better Future," Karen Golden-Biddle shares her research on the discovery process as well as case studies on how to successfully make it an integral part of the change process. Karen and host Brian Gorman explore the discovery process at the heart of Karen's work in this thought-...

40% of Gen Z leave their jobs within 2 years, whether or not they have another job offer. As a leader, you can significantly beat these odds with your Gen Z employees. In this episode, Future of Work Expert Luke Goetting joins host Brian Gorman to share significant insights on Gen Z in the workplace, the unique value they bring, and what leaders can do to ensure that they remain engaged and produc...

One in five people in North America is living with a mental health issue. These are family members, friends, co-workers, team members, leaders. Mental health is a significant challenge in the workplace. And yet it is a challenge that too often goes unaddressed. In this episode, Christine Burych, founder of StarlingBrook, joins host Brian Gorman to discuss the challenges of mental health in work, t...

Born to a drug-addicted teenage mother, Victoria Pelletier's life could have turned out very differently. In this conversation with host Brian Gorman, she shares stories of the adversities she has faced and the choices she has made. As she learned early in life, sometimes our choices serve as well and sometimes they don't. But there is always choice and opportunity to change the path we are on. 

How do you differentiate your business from the competition? In this episode, Barry LaBov, Founder and CEO of LaBov and author of "The Power of Differentiation" joins host Brian Gorman to explore why differentiation is important, who it is important to, how to discover (not create) your differentiation, and how to leverage it. Whether you are a CEO, a team leader, or anything in between, there are...

Whether you call them mind traps, gremlins, saboteurs, or imposter syndrome, we all experience this. And we all can move beyond it. In this episode, Quantuvos coach Paula Halewski joins host Brian Gorman to explore the origins of mind traps, their impact on us and those in our lives, and how to move from the reactive path they put us on to a more intentional, responsive path, changing our mindset...

"Is your external environment moving faster than your internal environment?" With this question, Rich Alderton of High Performance Change makes the case for moving beyond change management and agility to create a culture of adaptability. Rich, the author of "Mastering Adaptability," joins host Brian Gorman to examine the importance of adaptability in today's disrupted world, what is required to be...

When you are an immigrant and your parents are factory workers, your journey to a professional career is not assured. In this episode, Juan Taveres joins host Brian Gorman to tell the story of his journey from the Dominican community in Washington Heights (New York City) to Syracuse University, the hospitality and non-profit industries, and now to entrepreneurship. Along the way, Juan shares how e...

If it's important for those you work with to do good thinking, bringing coaching skills into your conversations is key. In this episode, Claire Pedrick, Master Certified Coach, Founder of 3D Coaching, and author of "Simplifying Coaching" joins host Brian Gorman to explore the role that coaching skills can play in leadership, how and why to have coaching conversations, the importance of asking powe...

On this episode, guests Fred Mandell and Harvey Seifter, Founders of Creating Futures That Work, bring to life the relationship between art, science, and leadership. While leadership literature often cites research, it rarely links leadership to art. Yet, in their work, Harvey and Fred connect the three. Great artists are scientists as well; great leaders are both scientists and artists. Each of u...

Burnout. Multi-tasking. Ongoing, long-term stress. Running on autopilot. More and more, these are norms that leaders and their teams experience. In this episode, neurosurgeon Gary Simonds joins host Brian Gorman to discuss the neuroscience behind these leadership challenges, their impacts on our brains, and what we can do to address them.

We are not just products of nature and nurture. We all have the capability of redesigning ourselves not to be someone else, but to become more fully ourselves. In this episode, Shana Francesca joins host Brian Gorman to share her journey from growing up in a cult to becoming an interior designer to becoming a speaker, consultant, workshop facilitator, and "scholar of intentional & ethical leadersh...