The Strategic Pause

In this reflective episode, hosts Jill Parish and Katrina Kennedy look back on their first season of the podcast, sharing insights, lessons learned, and plans for future episodes. They explore the value of reflection, the evolution of their content, and the importance of authenticity and fun in their work. Keywords podcast reflection, learning and development, episode review, host insights, future...

In this episode, Katrina Kennedy and Jill Parish explore the ins and outs of partnering with consultants, sharing their diverse backgrounds, experiences, and insights on how organizations can maximize these relationships for success. Keywords consulting, organizational development, leadership training, organizational change, consulting relationships Key topics When to partner with a consultant and...

In this episode, Jill Parish and Katrina Kennedy explore what organizations are doing right in leadership development, emphasizing the importance of external expertise, strategic investment, and reflection in cultivating effective leaders. Keywords leadership development, organizational growth, external expertise, reflection, leadership programs, team building, conflict resolution, organizational...

Join Jill Parish and Katrina Kennedy as they explore the journey of writing a book, from childhood dreams to the realities of publishing. Discover practical insights on proposal writing, deadlines, editing, and marketing, along with inspiring stories of perseverance and passion. keywords book writing, publishing, author journey, editing process, book marketing, reflection activities, nonfiction bo...

In this episode, Jill Parish and Katrina Kennedy discuss the nuances of networking and attending conferences. They share personal experiences, strategies for engagement, and the importance of reflection after attending events. The conversation highlights innovative formats for conferences, the dynamics of networking, and how to create genuine connections with others. They also explore effective co...

The episode features a fun game of 'This or That' where Jill and Katrina share their preferences and experiences. The game covers a range of topics from pet preferences to travel choices and food favorites. Each preference is discussed in detail, providing insight into the personal tastes and choices of the speakers. Takeaways This or That game encourages conversation Personal preferences and expe...

The conversation delves into the importance of reflection as an active process that is closely tied to creativity, learning, and productivity. It explores reflection in the context of travel, storytelling, community, and organizations, highlighting its impact on personal and professional development. Takeaways Reflection is an active process Reflection and creativity are closely tied Reflection is...

The conversation explores what it truly means to build community — examining how contribution shapes belonging, and where gathering ends and real community begins. It touches on the unique dynamics of workplace community, the link between strong teams and genuine connection, and how the nature of work itself can either nurture or erode the bonds between people. From learning and development to soc...

The conversation covers the preparation and impact of learning experiences, the PAFR strategy, the importance of strategic pauses, measuring impact, structuring learning experiences, creating outlines and guides, challenges in training, and the value of training. The conversation also touches on the need to elevate the training profession and concludes with a humorous sign-off. Takeaways Preparati...

The conversation delves into childhood reading experiences, the impact of fiction on empathy, and the diverse book preferences and reading habits of the speakers. Takeaways Impactful childhood books Different reading preferences

The conversation delves into the challenges of defining the learning and development profession, the day-to-day activities, the meaning of work, the profession's impact on society, and a reflective conclusion on the nature of work and its significance. Takeaways The struggle to define the learning and development profession The importance of the 'why' in what we do

The first episode of The Strategic Pause podcast kicks off with Katrina and Jill sharing the story of how they met and became friends. They discuss the importance of the strategic pause, share their KPIs for the podcast, and explore the meaning of the strategic pause in various contexts. Additionally, they define their professions and introduce the cast of characters in their lives. Takeaways Impo...