SHIFT with Elena Agar

In today’s conversation, Elena sits down with Saad Bin Shafiq, a relentless serial entrepreneur whose journey takes us from a tiny Himalayan village in Pakistan to scaling companies, overcoming failures, and building innovative products in the heart of the tech world. Saad shares how he went from selling peanut butter sandwiches as a kid, to navigating scholarship life abroad, working every job im...

In this episode, Elena sits down with Matt Gjertsen, founder of Better Everyday Studios and former SpaceX learning and development leader—who also happens to be an Air Force veteran and pilot. Together, they dive into the world of talent and leadership development, exploring what really makes effective training stick in corporate environments (and why most companies are still getting it wrong!). M...

In this episode, Elena reconnects with Andy Lipshultz, a dynamic voiceover talent whose professional journey is anything but ordinary. Andy—who previously joined the podcast a couple of years ago—shares his experience navigating career changes across vastly different industries, from the music business and banking to technology and now, a thriving independent voiceover career having voiced commerc...

Welcome to another episode of the Shift with Elena Agar Podcast! In today’s conversation, host Elena sits down with Andrew Barry, founder of Curious Lion, to dig into the evolving world of people, talent, and learning in the workplace. Andrew shares his journey from corporate life at KPMG in South Africa and the U.S. to the bold leap of starting his own company focused on transforming how individu...

Welcome back to the Shift with Elena Agar Podcast! In today’s episode, Elena sits down with Candice Mitchell, a powerhouse in the world of talent and learning development. Candice shares her unique journey into the L&D space, highlighting how she chose the field from the very beginning—unlike many who “fall into” the profession. With 18 years of experience building talent strategies across org...

Welcome back to another episode of Shift with Elena Agar Podcast! Today, Elena sits down with Damon Lembi, CEO of Learnit, to explore the art of personal reinvention and leadership through change. From living the dream as a Division 1 baseball star to weathering career-ending injuries and building a thirty-year legacy in the learning and development industry, Damon shares the pivotal moments that...

Welcome back to Shift with Elena Agar! In today’s episode, Elena sits down with Dr. Michael Durnin—a dynamic leader whose journey spans college football coaching, higher education administration, and a deep commitment to mentoring others through life’s inevitable chaos. Together, they dive into the art of navigating challenges and setbacks, sharing practical strategies and personal stories that re...

Welcome back to Shift with Elena Agar Podcast! In this episode, Elena sits down with Janelle Miller Moravek, an executive director, mental health advocate, and seasoned nonprofit leader who unexpectedly found her calling in the world of behavioral health. Together, they dive into the complexities of accessing mental health care, exploring why the behavioral healthcare system can be so fragmented a...

On this episode of the Shift with Elena Agar Podcast, Elena welcomes Mariam Matin, an inspiring entrepreneur and the founder of Forward, for an in-depth conversation on the realities of today’s job market and the world of social impact careers. Mariam shares her personal journey from her early fascination with building things as a kid, to corporate roles in digital marketing and product management...

On this episode of Shift with Elena Agar, we welcome back Aysha Alawadhi for a powerful conversation about transformation in the people and HR space. It’s been over two years since Aysha ’s last appearance, and a lot has changed—both in her personal journey as a mom and in her approach to holistic wellbeing and talent development. Elena and Aysha dive into insights from the recent Unleash Conferen...

Welcome back to the Shift with Elena Agar Podcast! In today’s episode, Elena sits down with Steven Puri—an accomplished entrepreneur whose career has taken him from engineering and Academy Award-winning film production to tech startups and, most recently, wellness innovation as the founder of the Sukha Company. Steven shares his unique journey from coding in his childhood, to producing special eff...

Welcome back to the Shift with Elena Agar Podcast! In this episode, Elena sits down with Nana Twumasi, an accomplished publisher with a rich background in both editing and building imprints within the book industry. Nana shares her fascinating journey from aspiring novelist and photo researcher to leading her own publishing imprint, Balance, under the Hachette Book Group umbrella. Together, they d...

Welcome back to the Shift with Elena Agar Podcast! In this episode, Elena reconnects with Millree Williams, a certified career and retirement coach, for an eye-opening conversation about what it really means to transition into retirement in today’s rapidly changing world. As more baby boomers cross the traditional retirement age—and as economic shifts and workplace uncertainties push some to consi...

In this episode of Shift with Elena Agar, we welcome the insightful Zeev Wexler, a digital marketing expert with over 20 years of experience. Zeev discusses the transformative power of AI and its rapid integration into our daily lives, emphasizing the shift from mere technological curiosity to essential tool for efficiency and growth. He shares his journey into AI, starting with his fascination fo...

On this episode of Shift with Elena Agar, we welcome Scott Zimmerman, a seasoned entrepreneur with over three decades of experience in sales and the life insurance industry. Join Elena and Scott as they explore Scott's journey from holding minimum wage jobs to discovering his passion for sales through a transformative training camp he attended at the age of 19. They delve into the crucial role...

Welcome to the latest episode of the Shift with Elena Agar Podcast, where we're diving deep into the art of leadership with our distinguished guest, retired Lieutenant Colonel Oakland McCulloch. With over 40 years of dedicated service in the Army, Oak brings a wealth of experience and insights into leadership that are not only earned but also shared through his book, "Your Leadership Legacy: Becom...

In this episode, we're joined by the inspiring Bofta Yimam, a trailblazing journalist and Emmy-winning news anchor. Bofta shares her journey from being a first-generation American captivated by the world of journalism to becoming a prominent leader in the field. Despite challenges like breaking into the competitive world of broadcast news and landing her first job, Bofta's relentless pursu...

In this episode of the Shift podcast, we sit down with Brandon J. Hurst, a dynamic entrepreneur and franchise owner with a unique journey from his Southern upbringing in Atlanta to the bustling streets of Brooklyn, New York. Elena dives deep into Brandon's inspiring story, exploring his early sparks of entrepreneurship and his love for leadership. Brandon shares how his unexpected path from as...

In this enlightening episode of the Shift with Elena Agar Podcast, we are joined by the insightful Rob Lion, a professor at Idaho State University and an expert in leadership development and high performance. Rob shares his academic and professional journey, shedding light on the intricacies of talent acquisition, the psychology behind workplace performance, and the critical elements that contribu...

Welcome to this episode of the Shift with Elena Agar Podcast, where we're diving into an inspiring journey with our guest, Chidi Asoluka. Growing up as the child of Nigerian immigrants in New Jersey, Chidi was expected to follow the traditional career paths of a doctor or lawyer. Despite his early interests in poetry and storytelling, a serendipitous encounter during a job interview shifted hi...

In this episode of the Shift with Elena Agar Podcast, host Elena Agar sits down with Jerry Chen, a young entrepreneur who is transforming the landscape of mentorship through his innovative platform, Latte. Jerry shares his inspiring journey from contemplating a traditional finance career to catching the entrepreneurial bug, fueled by his own experiences in mentorship programs. The conversation del...

Welcome to another riveting episode of the Shift with Elena Agar Podcast! In this episode, I dive deep into the world of emotional intelligence with the incredible guest - Nada Lena Nasserdeen, Founder of Rise Up For You. In this episode, Nada shares her transformative journey from being an international performer to becoming a thought leader in emotional intelligence. Discover how soft skills sha...

Welcome to another exciting episode of the Shift with Elena Agar Podcast! 🎙️ In this episode, I chat with Devin Sizemore, a dynamic entrepreneur whose career journey spans from marketing agencies to the creation of an innovative cat cafe. Devin shares insights from his early years, revealing how his innate entrepreneurial spirit has driven him toward diverse ventures. Key topics discussed in this...

In this episode of "Shift with Elena Agar Podcast," Elena sits down with Kristin Kenney, a renowned strategist and the secret weapon for many leaders. Throughout their conversation, Kristin delves into her unique career journey, influenced by her upbringing with a logical, strategic father in military intelligence and an accomplished therapist mother. She shares how she transitioned from...

In this episode, we are joined by our special guest, Dr. Laura Gallaher, where she dives into the complexities of her journey in organizational psychology and the power of self-awareness and self-acceptance. In this episode, Laura shares her fascinating career path, from her academic pursuit of psychology to her impactful work with leaders at NASA following the Columbia shuttle accident. Discover...