The Pivot Experience Podcast

What happens when a leader’s greatest strength becomes the very thing holding the team back? In this Lead Better replay from The Pivot Experience, host Abram Moon sits down with Peter Lopez for a powerful conversation on The Leadership Bottleneck—the moment when a high-capacity leader becomes the primary decision-maker, problem-solver, and source of direction for everyone around them. In fast-pace...

Serving People, Not Just Chicken with Chick-fil-A Operator Josh Carter What does it take to build a high-performing business without losing sight of the people who make it possible? In this episode of The Pivot Experience Podcast, Alex Seale sits down with Chick-fil-A Owner/Operator Josh Carter for a candid conversation about leadership, culture, and the responsibility that comes with influencing...

What happens when talent meets purpose—but life teaches you to value the things success can’t buy? In this episode of The Pivot Experience, host Alex Seale sits down with SaulPaul — a 1-time Grammy-nominated producer, 2-time Grammy-nominated artist, and 4-time TEDx speaker — for a powerful conversation about life beyond the spotlight. From the stages and recognition to the quieter moments that sh...

In this special live recording of The Pivot Experience Podcast, host Alex Seale sits down with Quin Gregory, Kris Reynolds, and Carli Graves for an engaging conversation about entrepreneurship, leadership, and the realities of building a business. Recorded during the Beaumont Youth Advisory Session, this episode offers students and listeners a behind-the-scenes look at the journeys that shaped eac...

Burnout doesn’t always look like collapse. Sometimes it looks like competence on autopilot. In this Lead Better Replay, we unpack a reality that many high-capacity leaders quietly experience: continuing to produce results while internally running on empty. Strong leaders often push through exhaustion, masking depletion with performance. The numbers may still look good, but the presence, clarity, a...

What does it take to build something that lasts—across cultures, continents, and generations? In this powerful episode, we sit down with Amos, founder of the Camp Ohana Foundation, to unpack the heart behind a movement that has transformed the lives of children around the world. What started in 2008 with a spark of vision has grown into a global initiative bringing education, creativity, and conne...

What does it take to lead with clarity when your career spans radically different worlds? In this episode of The Pivot Experience Podcast, we sit down with Angela Reed, a seasoned leader whose journey includes influential roles across brands and industries like Chick-fil-A, Porsche, Sony Pictures, and education. Angela brings a rare perspective on what actually translates across leadership context...

Hard conversations are part of leadership—but most leaders were never taught how to have them well. In this Lead Better replay, Kyle Bowen joins us to unpack what actually makes conversations “hard,” why so many leaders avoid them, and the real cost of staying silent. We explore the internal work leaders need to do before stepping into a difficult conversation, common mistakes like sugarcoating fe...

Change is inevitable—but how leaders respond to it is what defines their impact. In this Lead Better replay, we’re joined by Chris Lipscomb, who shares his personal leadership journey—from starting in Chick-fil-A’s Leadership Development Program to making the courageous pivot into coaching. Chris opens up about the internal signals that told him it was time for change, the fears he had to face, an...

What does an unguarded player in a basketball game have to do with leadership? During a recent game with my daughter, a simple question stopped me in my tracks: “Why isn’t that player being guarded?” The answer wasn’t about laziness or missed assignments—it was about awareness. The team knew the player, understood the situation, and conserved their energy where it mattered most. In this episode, I...

In this Lead Better replay, Michael Nathanial Brown unpacks why leadership—not results—is the true heartbeat of a thriving organization. He shares how values-based leadership builds trust, strengthens culture, and drives sustainable performance. You’ll also gain practical strategies to re-energize teams, balance high expectations with genuine inspiration, and lead in a way that helps people—and re...

What’s up TPE family! It’s been a while, but we ARE BACK! This a replay our free monthly Lead Better. On this month’s session, we had the opportunity to connect with LDP Bryan Baldwin! Bryan is a full time husband, father, and an exception leader! Bryan unpacks his journey through the program while bringing his family along for the fun! You definitely don’t want to miss this episode! Please be sur...

In this Lead Better replay we had the opportunity to host Bryan Baldwin, a Chick-fil-A LDP participant whose journey is marked by grit, growth, and grace under pressure. Bryan opens up about what led him to pursue the Leadership Development Program, how his mindset has evolved over the past two years, and the pivotal moments that have shaped his leadership. From navigating cross-country assignment...

What happens when your team competes against Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos for a once-in-a-lifetime NASA contract—and loses? For aerospace leader and author Andy Croker, that setback became a defining moment. In this episode, Andy takes us behind the scenes of the NASA Human Landing System project and into the emotional and professional turbulence that followed. Rather than being defined by outcomes, A...

What if the path to the top isn’t straight up—but sideways? In this episode of The Pivot Experience, we sit down with Kathy Kirchner, Senior Vice President at Zayo, whose unconventional journey from small-town Montana to leading 11,000+ employees across global telecom giants is proof that success doesn’t follow a script. Kathy opens up about her early years working three part-time jobs to pay off...

What makes a leader truly great—and why do so many fall short? In this episode of The Pivot Experience Podcast, we sit down with leadership expert, speaker, and mentor William C. Davis, author of How to Lead Without Just Managing and Building Genuine Relationships. With decades of experience spanning corporate, academic, military, and government sectors, William has studied the successes and failu...

Everett O’Keefe, Wall Street Journal and USA Today #1 bestselling author, has helped leaders publish over 200 bestselling books. In this episode, he unpacks why publishing is one of the most powerful ways to amplify influence, safeguard your message, and build a lasting legacy. 🔥 Why Listen: If you’ve ever thought about writing a book, this conversation will spark inspiration and show you where t...

What does it take to turn setbacks into strengths, and positivity into measurable performance? In this episode of The Pivot Experience Podcast, we sit down with Alfredo Borodowski, a seasoned leadership coach who has guided executives for over 30 years. Alfredo’s journey includes both high-level successes and a deeply personal public setback that reshaped his approach to resilience, leadership, an...

n Part 1, we heard how Joseph Martinez, guided by his coach Javonna Roach, laid the foundation for his Chick-fil-A LDP journey through intentional actions and mindset shifts. Now in Part 2, the conversation goes deeper—into the advanced coaching process, the tough growth moments, and the strategies that ultimately helped Joseph secure his spot in the Leadership Development Program. 💡 In this sess...

What does it really take to move from potential to placement in a Leadership Development Program (LDP)? In Part 1 of this exclusive conversation, Joseph Martinez and his coach Javonna Roach dive into the first steps of his journey—unpacking the intentional actions and mindset shifts that set the stage for LDP success. 💡 In this session you’ll learn: How Joseph began identifying and closing leader...

In this episode of The Pivot Experience Podcast, we sit down with Hanna Bauer, CEO of HEARTnomics Enterprises, to explore how leaders can transform adversity into a catalyst for resilience and sustainable success. Building on themes from our recent conversation with Will Taylor about resilience, Hanna takes us deeper into the connection between daily habits, strong culture, and organizational well...

What does it take to lead one of the nation’s most trusted nonprofit service organizations through exponential growth while staying rooted in mission and integrity? In this episode of The Pivot Experience Podcast, we sit down with Howard Pearl, CEO of CARS (Charitable Adult Rides & Services). With over 30 years in the C-suite and a Harvard Business School OPM background, Howard has steered CAR...

In this power-packed episode, Godwin Ukaa joins Alex, Javonna, Ashley, Neftali, and Abram to share practical leadership wisdom rooted in his experience with LDP and years of developing others. 🔑 Top Takeaways Self-leadership drives team leadership: Use weekly rhythms, focused calendars, and essentialism to stay sharp. “Basket to bucket” development: Build trust by giving small responsibilities be...

In this episode of The Pivot Experience, we sit down with Jamie Schwartzman, Chief Creative Strategist of Flux Branding, whose 25-year journey in branding is a masterclass in identity-driven leadership. Jamie has helped companies transform confusion into clarity—not through flashy marketing tactics, but by uncovering the soul of a brand and expressing it with integrity. Jamie shares how his signat...

In this episode, we sit down with Ernesto J. Gómez, former VP of Human Capital at Grupo Alfa, where he led leadership development and people strategy across a workforce of 83,000. With a career spanning executive operations and people-first transformation at billion-dollar enterprises, Ernesto brings a rare blend of operational grit and human-centered leadership. We dive into his groundbreaking bo...