Transform Your Workplace

This podcast episode explores how "radical listening" transforms leadership by focusing on intentional connection rather than performative techniques. Dr. Christian van Nieuwerburgh and Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener explain that radical listening requires internal quieting, purposeful attention, and genuine curiosity to overcome modern workplace distractions.   TAKEAWAYS Radical listening is an intenti...

Rob Shallenberger discusses his book "Do What Matters Most," explaining how implementing three key habits—creating personal visions, setting specific goals, and practicing pre-week planning—can dramatically increase productivity while reducing stress. These practices help people design intentional lives rather than defaulting to reactivity and chaos.   TAKEAWAYS Creating written personal visions f...

In this bonus podcast episode, Brandon Laws catches up with Nicole Blevins, who recently returned from maternity leave and stepped into a new role as Director of HR Services at Xenium HR. Nicole candidly shares her experience transitioning to parenthood, the challenges of balancing work and family responsibilities, and the significance of paid family leave. Despite the challenges of returning to w...

In this Transform Your Workplace episode, host Brandon Laws interviews Dr. Rosalind Chow about her book "The Doors You Can Open." They discuss the critical difference between mentorship and sponsorship, with Chow explaining that sponsors talk about you to others while mentors talk to you directly. Using Kim Ng's MLB breakthrough as an example, Chow emphasizes how sponsorship requires trust and can...

Jennifer Moss discusses her book "Why Are We Here? Creating a Work Culture Everyone Wants," exploring how the pandemic triggered a collective existential crisis about work. She emphasizes that meaningful workplace cultures can be built through small, intentional practices rather than major overhauls, focusing on hope, purpose, and community to combat burnout and disengagement in today's rapidly ch...

In this episode of "Transform Your Workplace," host Brandon Laws interviews Loren Sanders about her book "Empathy is Not a Weakness and Other Stories from the Edge." Sanders shares her journey from being a toxic leader to understanding the power of empathy in the workplace. She discusses how empathy strengthens trust, reduces turnover, and increases engagement, while offering practical strategies...

Melody Wilding discusses her book "Managing Up," explaining how employees can effectively navigate relationships with those in power. She covers critical conversations about alignment, understanding workplace communication styles, setting boundaries, giving upward feedback, and leaving jobs gracefully. Wilding emphasizes these skills are essential in today's workplace where manager relationships s...

Matty Berryessa, Executive Director of Serendipity Center, shares his journey from a difficult upbringing to leading a therapeutic school for students with complex needs. Drawing parallels between supporting students and staff, he implements trauma-informed practices focused on emotional safety, trust, and predictability. Despite resource constraints, Matty maintains boundaries between work and ho...

What makes people stay—and thrive—at work? Career & Culture Strategist Aoife O'Brien joins Brandon Laws of Xenium HR to explore how leaders can build environments where people feel valued, safe, and energized. From toxic cultures to values-driven leadership, Aoife shares practical strategies from her Happier at Work framework and offers a glimpse into her upcoming book, Thriving Talent. If you're...

In this energizing episode of Transform Your Workplace, keynote speaker and author Peggy Sullivan delivers a much-needed wake-up call for today's overwhelmed professionals. Sharing insights from her book Beyond Busyness: How to Achieve More by Doing Less, Peggy explores the hidden costs of glorifying busyness. Through heartfelt stories, she challenges leaders to rethink their priorities and model...

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, leadership expert Kevin Eikenberry shares powerful insights on navigating change with confidence. He emphasizes that flexibility is the key to effective leadership in uncertain times, challenging leaders to break strong habits, balance outcomes with people, and make smarter decisions. If you want to sharpen your leadership approach and learn how to lead...

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, host Brandon Laws sits down with Nikki Innocent, a leadership coach and DEI consultant, to explore the human side of workplace culture. Nikki shares a pivotal moment from her corporate career that ultimately led her to question workplace norms and advocate for more transparent, human-centered leadership. From addressing workplace toxicity to embracing m...

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, host Brandon Laws sits down with global executive coach and author Sabina Nawaz to discuss the unseen pressures of leadership and how they can unknowingly change the way we lead. Drawing from her own experience as a former Microsoft executive, Nawaz shares how relentless pressure—not power—can corrupt even the most well-intentioned leaders. Through prac...

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, Siri Chilazi breaks down how small, practical changes can make hiring and workplace culture more fair and effective. She challenges the idea that bias training alone fixes workplace inequities and instead shows how data-driven tweaks can lead to real results. Chilazi also dives into common hiring biases, the power of accountability, and why companies th...

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, Mark Mohammadpour, Founder and Chief Well-Being Officer at Chasing the Sun, challenges the idea of enterprise-wide culture, emphasizing that workplace wellness is built at the team level. He argues that true well-being goes beyond perks—it's about creating an environment where employees feel valued and supported. "Is my life better because I work here?"...

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, Emmy-winning sports broadcaster Anne Marie Anderson challenges us to rethink audacity — not as arrogance, but as the courage to take bold risks. She shares how a life-changing moment early in her career pushed her to stop waiting and start saying "yes" to adventure, opportunity, and growth. In this eye-opening discussion, Anderson proves that real succe...

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, Maria Ross unpacks insights from her book The Empathy Dilemma, all about how leaders can balance performance, people, and personal boundaries without sacrificing success. She debunks myths about empathy, explains its bottom-line impact, and shares practical ways to build a thriving, high-performing workplace. Tune in to learn how empathy can be your mos...

In this episode, host Brandon Laws sits down with Dr. Christie Smith, the author of  Essential: How Distributed Teams, Generative AI, and Global Shifts Are Creating a New Human-Powered Leadership . They explore how traditional leadership models are falling short and how combining human insight with AI is driving faster growth, deeper engagement, and a new set of power skills. The discussion highli...

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, host Brandon Laws welcomes Robert Glazer to discuss his groundbreaking book, Rethinking Two Weeks' Notice. Glazer challenges outdated norms surrounding employee transitions, advocating for open communication, mutual respect, and structured programs that benefit both employees and employers. With real-life examples and actionable insights into fostering...

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, Michelle Gladieux, author of Communicate with Courage, explores the four hidden challenges of effective communication and shares practical strategies for overcoming them. From embracing vulnerability to balancing authority and empathy, this conversation is packed with actionable insights to help you communicate with authenticity and purpose.    TAKEAWAY...

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, Charles Feltman unpacks the dynamics of trust in the workplace, sharing insights from his book, The Thin Book of Trust. With decades of experience coaching leaders and teams, Charles discusses how trust is built through small actions, how to repair it when it's broken, and why it's essential for productivity and well-being. Don't miss this engaging conv...

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, host Brandon Laws speaks with WEX leaders Melanie Tinto and Karen Stroup about the transformative impact of AI on employee benefits. Melanie shares strategies for simplifying open enrollment and building employee confidence through accessible education, while Karen highlights WEX's innovative AI tools, including the Benefits Admin AI Assistant and perso...

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, host Brandon Laws sits down with James Lawrence, Co-Founder and CEO of Happy, about the game-changing role of AI in employee development. Lawrence breaks down how AI can help shift the focus from mundane tasks to creative work, making life easier for us all. He also shares how Happy uses behavioral science and AI to scale coaching, improve manager-emplo...

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, host Brandon Laws wraps up his conversation with Josh Durham, founder of Gamut Project Solutions, on the Foundational Five framework for leadership and growth. Josh reflects on lessons from his years in commercial construction and emphasizes the importance of "daring greatly" by embracing failure and taking thoughtful, measured risks. With insights on f...

This podcast episode discusses balancing workplace flexibility with accountability. HR expert Nicole Blevins addresses how managers can handle situations where employees use flexible work arrangements while maintaining performance standards. She emphasizes the importance of clear communication, regular performance discussions, and addressing issues promptly rather than letting them fester.   TAKEA...