The Balancing Act with Andrew Temte, PhD, CFA

In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, Andy speaks with Suzie Bishop, vice president of product development at The Center for Leadership Studies — the global home of the Situational Leadership® Model — and co-author of the newly released Situational Leadership®: The Model for Leading Others, Navigating Change, and Unlocking Performance.  A Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coach who has spent more tha...

Why do so many brilliant, accomplished leaders freeze the moment the stakes get highest — losing the room before they’ve said a single word?  In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, Andy speaks with Kathryn Janicek — a 3x Emmy Award-winning executive presence strategist, former TV news producer, and founder of Janicek Performance Group, where she coaches Fortune 500 leaders for their highest...

What if building a thriving book of business didn’t require working more hours, chasing leads, or scrambling to get yourself out there — but simply getting better at the conversations you’re already having?  In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, Andy speaks with Deb Feder — founder of Feder Development and author of the Client Conversation Series, including After Hello and her latest, Migh...

After 250 episodes of the Balancing Act podcast, the host becomes the guest. Producer Nick Temte steps out from behind the glass to interview his dad — and usual host — Andy Temte, in a milestone conversation about where the show started, what 250 episodes have taught him, and where it’s all going. Dr. Andrew (Andy) Temte, CFA, is an author, musician, and the former CEO of Kaplan Professional Educ...

What if the metrics you’re chasing — the downloads, the likes, the impressions — are quietly steering your business in the wrong direction?  In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, Andy speaks with Tom Schwab — founder and CEO of Interview Valet and author of Podcast Guest Profits. A U.S. Naval Academy graduate and engineer who found his way into marketing, Tom brings a systems mindset to on...

What if the conversations your team isn’t having are costing you more than the ones it is?  In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, Andy speaks with Gustavo Razzetti — culture change instigator, CEO of Fearless Culture, and bestselling author of Remote, Not Distant, Stretch for Change, and his new book Forward Talk: The Bold New Method For Getting Teams Unstuck.  Gustavo introduces the conce...

What if the corruption of great companies isn’t an ethics problem at all — but a design problem?  In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, Andy speaks with Eric Ries — creator of the Lean Startup methodology, and New York Times bestselling author of The Lean Startup and The Startup Way. His new book, Incorruptible: Why Good Companies Go Bad and How Great Companies Stay Great, argues that corp...

What if everything you've been told about resilience is wrong?  In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, host Andy speaks with Jay Abbasi — CEO and founder of The Conscious Professional, former Tesla leader, and international keynote speaker who has coached leaders at Google, Amazon, and Wells Fargo. After his father’s sudden passing in 2014 woke him up to the costs of living on autopilot, Ja...

Thoughtload — not workload — is what’s breaking your team. In this conversation, Dr. Liane Davey explains why, and what leaders can actually do about it. Dr. Liane Davey is an organizational psychologist, New York Times bestselling author, and co-founder of 3COze Inc., where she advises executive teams at companies like Amazon, Walmart, TD Bank, and Sony PlayStation. Known as the Teamwork Doctor,...

What does cognitive science actually tell us about how adults learn at work — and why are most corporate learning programs still built on myths?  In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, Andy speaks with Dr. Tessa Forshaw — cognitive scientist, co-founder of the Next Level Lab at Harvard University, and co-author of Innovation-ish: How Anyone Can Create Breakthrough Solutions to Real Problems...

What if the biggest untapped resource in your organization is the energy your team members are holding back?  In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, host Andy speaks with Dave Garrison—CEO and co-founder of Garrison Growth, Harvard MBA, former CEO of NETCOM On-Line Communication Services (one of the first public internet companies), and author of The Buy-In Advantage: Why Employees Stop Car...

What if the answer to the skills gap isn’t competing for talent—but developing it before graduation?  In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, host Andy Temte speaks with Stephanie Reisner—President and CEO of GPS Education Partners and co-author of Make School Work: Solving the American Youth Employment Crisis Through Work-Based Learning.  Andy and Stephanie dig into the mindset shift from b...

How do you calm an angry person in 90 seconds or less—without defending yourself, explaining, or arguing back?  In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, host Andy Temte speaks with Doug Noll—a trial lawyer turned peacemaker, award-winning mediator, and author of De-Escalate: How to Calm an Angry Person in 90 Seconds or Less. Doug is also the co-founder of the Prison of Peace project, where he...

What happens when a nurse-turned-speechwriter has a eureka moment in a big-box store and decides to reinvent the way America cleans? In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, host Andy Temte talks with Monica Nassif—the founder of Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day and Caldrea—about building brands rooted in authenticity, disrupting a $30 billion market, and knowing when to let go of the business you buil...

Fear-based leaders are forming networks—and they’re not hiding anymore. In this return episode of the Balancing Act podcast, host Andy Temte sits down with CEO coach and author Kate Lowry to unpack practical tools for navigating toxic leadership without losing yourself in the process. Kate Lowry is a CEO coach, venture capitalist, and author based in Silicon Valley. She developed her expertise on...

Why do leadership titles make it harder — not easier — to talk about mental health at work?  In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, host Andy Temte speaks with Melissa Doman, MA — organizational psychologist, former mental health therapist, and author of Yes, You Can Talk About Mental Health at Work and her new book, Cornered Office: Why We Need to Talk About Leadership Mental Health. Melis...

How does a 16-year-old immigrant from Nigeria end up leading global trade marketing at Bose Corporation? In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, host Andy Temte speaks with Bolaji James — Head of Global Trade Marketing & Retail Operations at Bose and a proud member of the very first cohort of the Kaplan Leadership Program. Bolaji shares the story of how a persistent transfer advisor and...

What does authentic leadership communication look like in the age of AI? In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, Andy speaks with Allison Shapira—opera singer turned keynote speaker, Harvard Kennedy School lecturer, and bestselling author of Speak with Impact and AI for the Authentic Leader.  Allison shares her career rocket-booster moment—quitting a prestigious consulting job on day three t...

In this episode of The Balancing Act Podcast, Andy sits down with Chris Deaver, the co-founder of BraveCore and the "quiet force" behind leadership initiatives at Apple and Disney. Chris shares how he helped these global giants navigate massive growth by moving away from "rock star" individualism toward a culture of co-creation. Discover how to move beyond efficiency and effectiveness to embrace a...

In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, host Andy speaks with Rachel Shaw, a nationally recognized ADA expert and president of Shaw HR Consulting, about the complexities of disability accommodation in the workplace. They discuss the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and the cultural challenges surrounding these laws.  Rachel shares her personal journ...

In this episode of The Balancing Act podcast, host Andy speaks with Misty Heggeness - co-director of the Kansas Population Center, an associate professor of economics at the University of Kansas, and author of Swiftynomics: How Women Mastermind and Redefine Our Economy.  They discuss Misty's journey in economics, her passion for increasing women's representation in the field, and her innovative te...

In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, Dr. Eugene Manley discusses his journey in STEMM education, the importance of diversity in the workforce, and the challenges of healthcare equity. He emphasizes the need for mentorship, early engagement in science for underrepresented populations, and the critical role of patient advocacy in addressing systemic biases in medical research.  Dr. Manley i...

In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, host Andy speaks with Jason P. Carroll, a leadership strategist and entrepreneur, about the importance of self-awareness, the costs of bad hiring decisions, and the innovative Aptive Index assessment tool.  They discuss the challenges of current pre-hire assessments, the role of technology in improving hiring practices, and the significance of understa...

In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, Andy speaks with Rob Van Craenenbroeck, co-founder of Culture@Work, about the importance of organizational culture transformation. They discuss the unique approach of Culture@Work, the challenges organizations face in defining and maintaining their culture, and the impact of AI on work dynamics.  Rob shares insights on mentorship for HR professionals a...

In this episode of the Balancing Act podcast, Andy speaks with Michelle Reina, an expert in organizational trust. They explore the significance of trust in the workplace, the common pitfalls that lead to its erosion, and the essential role of leadership in fostering a high-trust culture.  Michelle shares her journey in trust building, practical steps for leaders and mid-level managers, and the imp...