Leadership Launchpad

In this enlightening episode of Making Better, our guest Patrick MacKelvie delves into the intricacies of remote work and asynchronous communication. They discuss the importance of empowering teams, setting clear expectations, and fostering a culture of trust in a remote setting. Key topics include the challenges of communication in remote work, the significance of humility in leadership, and the...

In this episode of Making Better, we are joined by Geoffrey Roche, North American Director of Workforce Development at Siemens and National Healthcare Practice Executive Advisor at Core Education PBC. Geoffrey delves into the critical challenges facing the healthcare industry, such as workforce shortages and the need for more robust apprenticeship programs. Key discussions highlight the importance...

Join us on Making Better for an insightful chat with Vanessa Alzate, CEO of Anchored Training. In Episode 070, Vanessa dives into the transformative power of TikTok-inspired training content. We explore how to captivate learners by repurposing traditional training into brief, impactful videos that mirror the engaging essence of social media trends. Vanessa shares practical case studies, addresses...

In this illuminating episode of Making Better, hosts Matt Gjertsen and Mark Fogel dive into the pivotal role of debriefing and feedback in shaping a productive corporate culture. They explore the necessity of separating individual performance from personal worth, and the significance of healthy conflict in learning from failures. Drawing on their military backgrounds, the duo emphasizes the high s...

Join us this episode for an insightful dialogue with focus expert Curt Steinhorst. As a strategist in workplace attention and productivity, Curt dissects the pitfalls of a distraction-ridden office environment and the counterproductive nature of constant interruptions. We delve into improving HR functions, redesigning company culture to value deep work over immediate response, and Curt's personal...

Dive into a compelling discussion with Heather Burright, founder of Skill Masters Market, in this week's episode of Making Better. Heather enlightens us with her experiences shifting from the national nonprofit space to becoming a consultant. We explore the importance of learning in nonprofits, the challenges of talent development, and the innovative use of competency models. With Heather's expert...

Join us in this gripping episode of Making Better, featuring the intrepid Matt Kuta. From F-15 pilot to space company pioneer, Kuta delves into his transition to founding Voyager space, sharing invaluable lessons on decision-making, leadership, and the thrilling venture of constructing Starlab, a commercial successor to the International Space Station. Discover how his military and financial exper...

- In this engaging episode of Making Better, Matt Gjertsen sits down with the insightful Lauren Waldman, an expert with an impressive background in neuroscience from Harvard, Duke, and Johns Hopkins. They delve into the intricacies of learning design, the remarkable human brain, and the underutilized connection between neuroscience and professional development. Lauren shares her wisdom on the vita...

Join us on Making Better as we sit down with Mendel Erlenwein, the CEO of Previva Health Group, who shares his transformative journey in healthcare leadership and talent development. In episode 064, Mendel discusses the delicate balance of responsibility and authority, the early challenges of hiring and learning from mistakes, and the significance of aligning individual strengths with organization...

Join us in an enlightening chat with Seyka and Brian Mejeur, co-founders of Ad Astra, focused on recruiting top talent for the space and clean tech sectors. We discuss the talent launch system and the unique challenges of hiring for specialized industries. They stress the importance of passion over resumes and tackling the disconnect between talent acquisition and development. Discover the value o...

In episode 062 of Making Better, we explore the intersection of learning and technology with the insightful Jennifer Sutherland from Trustwave. Jennifer shares her rich, varied journey in various industries and the value of diverse experiences in driving innovation. Host Matt Gjertsen and Jennifer discuss the critical role of human knowledge in nuanced situations and the importance of building str...

Join us on this week's episode of Making Better as we sit down with the insightful Kathy Mandato. Kathy delves into the intricacies of HR and the significance of fostering a culture that's synced with your company’s mission. We discuss the transition from traditional perks to business-aligned benefits, considering the ever-evolving job market. You'll gain insights into the importance of data-drive...

In this compelling episode, Matt Gjertsen engages with the insightful Tonille Miller, author of "The Flourishing Effect" and Ext founder. They delve into diagnosing and tackling organizational challenges, beyond surface-level symptoms. Tonille unveils her intricate process of interviews and data analysis to unearth underlying issues for true change. They explore concepts like the new employee-empl...

Join us on this week's episode of Making Better as we dive into an enlightening discussion with talent development expert Stephen Mostrom. With the recent collapse of Silicon Valley Bank as a backdrop, Stephen shares valuable insights on the real risks of the corporate world and the hidden opportunities in entrepreneurship. Discover the importance of a 'develop daily' mindset and the power of adap...

Join us on this week's episode of Making Better as we welcome Jill Schulman, an inspiring former Marine Corps officer and expert in applying positive psychology to leadership development. In our enlightening dialogue, we delve into the essential components of fostering a thriving workplace—asking for help, helping others, and nurturing positive connections. Jill shares her transition from the phar...

Join us as we dive into an insightful dialogue with Rachel Lyons, executive director of Space for Humanity. With her inspiring transition from industrial to aerospace engineering, Rachel shares her deep-seated passion for space exploration and the transformative power it holds for humanity. We touch on the importance of emotional intelligence and self-awareness in leadership, the personal growth n...

Join us on Making Better as host Matt Gjertsen sits down with Megan Galloway, a seasoned expert in learning and development. Megan shares her insights from transitioning HR strategies to the frontlines of fast-paced companies. We delve into the critical role of culture strategic planning in cultivating real behavioral change within organizations. Discover Megan's tactics for earning executive buy-...

In this episode of the Making Better podcast, we talk with Ana Smith, the Chief Learning Officer of BrightFlare Performance Solutions. A veteran of companies like Microsoft, GE, and American Express, Ana specializes in helping senior leaders manage the human side of digital transformations. In this episode we talk about a wide range of subjects from career planning and resilience to the importance...

In this episode, host Matt Gjertsen has a personal conversation about the motivation behind creating Better Everyday Studios and the Making Better podcast. He shares his optimism for the future of talent development and emphasizes the importance of continuously pushing the boundaries of individual, team, and organizational capabilities. Matt discusses his ambitious goals for the podcast in 2024, w...

In this special year-end episode of Making Better, we dive into the transformative lessons learned in 2023 with a lineup of dynamic industry leaders. From Matthew Daniel's work to build new workplace skills to Sarah Cannistra's fateful embrace of change, our guests reflect on growth and strategy. We hear about aligning passion with business needs, the shift from expert to facilitator, and the cour...

Prepare to be propelled into a realm where personal growth meets the stars in episode 52 of "Making Better." Join us as Lorettaa Hidalgo Whitesides shares the "most helpful skill for success,"—letting go of resentments, a process she calls "getting off it." She unveils her unique 8-week Space Kind Leadership Training program, focused not on accolades, but on nurturing self-love, daily joy, and dee...

Betty Dannewitz shares her story on today's episode how she broke into AR, the untapped potential it holds for the learning industry, and her hands-on experience with tools like Zapper. We’ll explore the challenges AR faces, its comparison to the rise of e-learning, and the innovative ways it can be integrated with learning management systems. We'll also touch on Betty’s passion for karaoke and ho...

This week’s episode is an amazing conversation with Billy Saleebey, a great friend of mine. Billy is the former Head of Global Sales & Product Training and is currently CEO and Co-Founder of Podify, a podcast production company, and is the host of the business podcast Insight Out. During this conversation we talk about his career, the most common insights that move people forward and how to cr...

Welcome to Making Better, the podcast dedicated to creating a better world through individual and organization development. I'm your host, Matt Gjertsen, and today we're having a deep-dive conversation on episode 49 with our remarkable guest, Andy Storch. Andy is an inspiring author, speaker, facilitator, and a master at connecting people. In his quest to inspire people to be intentional with thei...

Ryan Findley is a strategist, product leader, designer (product & learning experience), and lifelong educator. He is currently the Chief Learning Strategist at Learn to Win, a learning platform focused on delivering more actionable and focused-learning experiences. In this discussion we touch on Ryan’s time leading learning programs in Africa and what technology can do to improve learning outc...