Transformation Unfiltered

Summary: This episode is a masterclass in leading transformation without gutting the soul of the organization. Elizabeth unpacks how to honor identity, bring stakeholders along early, and make smart, reversible bets (pilots!)—all while balancing business outcomes with human realities. Elizabeth Lepkowski is a Chief Learning Officer operating at the intersection of strategy, learning, and culture....

Summary: Dr. Victoria “Dr. V” Mattingly is an organizational psychologist, keynote speaker, and author of Act Like an Ally / Work With an Ally —a two-in-one book that helps allies and partners build trust-based relationships that close inequality gaps at work. She blends candid stories with science-backed tactics to move companies beyond checkbox DEI into lasting culture change. We all know people...

Summary: Ralph Kellogg is the Chief Human Resources Officer at Lutheran Family Services (Omaha, NE), an adjunct instructor (Bellevue University; University of Nebraska at Omaha), a mentor with HRAM, and the founder of Connection Points Consulting. He’s a published writer (Forbes, HR Gazette, SHRM Blog), a TEDx Omaha speaker, and a frequent presenter at regional and national HR conferences—bringing...

Summary: TJ Lintz is an HR and organizational development executive with deep experience in talent, transformation, and building high-performing teams. He currently serves as a senior HR leader at Doka USA and holds graduate degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. TJ has just released a book he has contributed a chapter to; Leaders as Architects of Change: Designing Organizations for Connecti...

Summary: Kate Manahan is the Chief People Officer at BusPatrol , an AI-powered safety tech company keeping kids safe on and around school buses. She previously led People & Culture at Built Technologies and spent 15 years at Bridgewater Associates shaping a feedback-driven culture. Off the field, she’s a mom of three, softball coach, and Little League board member—aka a CPO at work and at home...

Summary: Nicole Dubois is a nonprofit executive leader and CHRO with 19+ years building people systems and developing leaders. She’s also the author of Unparalyzed , a memoir she first published under the pseudonym “Danielle M. Bryan” before choosing to stand fully in her story. I sat down with Nicole to unpack a career shaped by courageous pivots: the “principal’s office” meeting that launched he...

Summary: Kim Allain is a senior HR executive and culture leader known for human-centered, research-informed practice. She leads organizational transformation, leadership development, and change initiatives rooted in the belief that workplaces should elevate people—not deplete them. What do you do when you’re “promoted” into a layoff? Kim tells the story of being handed a surprise reduction-in-forc...

Summary: Erica Coffey is a teacher, coach, and people leader with two decades of experience helping schools, companies, and nonprofits build cultures of inclusion, equity, and belonging. She creates brave spaces for real dialogue so people feel seen, valued, and able to grow. This one starts with a gut punch: “I don’t trust you, and I’m not sure about your commitment.” Erica walks us through how s...

Summary: Jessica Wagner Keliher is a seasoned HR executive and executive leadership coach across biotech and life sciences, previously serving as Chief People Officer at Cartesian Therapeutics and SVP of Talent Management at Novavax. Her core belief: kindness—practiced with intention—is a leadership advantage under pressure. Leading change will cost you something—but it doesn’t have to cost you yo...

Summary: Author spotlight! At 29, Cedrick realized he was broke, buried under “$10-a-month” decisions and payday loans. A single seminar flipped the script: change the mindset, change the money, change the generations. In this conversation, we unpack the shift from impressing “the guy at the red light” to living on purpose, paying off debt, retiring at 50, and building wealth that outlives you. Ce...

Summary: A newly promoted HR leader in a struggling distribution center “rubber-stamps” a disciplinary action and then discovers HR got it wrong. Regina walks through how she owned the mistake, repaired the harm, and used it to overhaul investigations, re-balance the safety committee, rebuild trust, and turn a fear-based culture into a commitment-based one. Regina Ross is EVP, Chief People & O...

Summary: From burnout and back-to-back family crises to a panic attack that changed everything—Kelly Kuecker’s story is one of survival, surrender, and stepping into her power. In this raw and revealing conversation, Kelly opens up about the cost of perfectionism, the pressure to “do it all,” and the surprising shift that led her to the biggest role of her career. Chapters: 00:00 The Dilemma: Taki...

Summary: What happens when your biggest critic is you ? In this raw and reflective conversation, Selyn Hong shares the messy, defining moments that pushed her from law to HR, from obligation to intention. We talk about the moment she dropped out of college to reconnect with her estranged father, how she redefined what it means to “play it safe,” and why fear can actually be a compass. This episode...

Summary: What happens when two things that feel opposite are both true? In this conversation, Keri opens up about navigating a new executive role while moving through a divorce—holding professional composure at work and real, messy feelings at home. We unpack how she leveraged support systems, practiced grace, and built confidence she didn’t know she had—without oversharing or hiding who she is. K...

Summary: Early in her career, Melissa was steering a major system implementation when the unthinkable happened: the go-live slipped and then slipped again. In this episode, we unpack how things went sideways, the vendor dynamics that masked risk, and the leadership moves that turned a multi-department fire drill into a stronger, smarter program. Melissa Turley is a globally experienced HR executiv...

Summary: What do you do when your subject-matter expert walks out during an acquisition and hundreds of market-sensitive trades are on the line? In this candid conversation, Lauren shares how she shifted from panic to a repeatable playbook—mapping stakeholders, designing smart escalation paths, and preparing teams to operate confidently amid ambiguity. If you’ve ever led through change, this one h...

Summary: Dr. Gina Anderson, CEO of Luma Brighter Learning, joins the podcast to discuss the power of resilience and mindset shifts in the entrepreneurial journey. Sharing her own experiences of overcoming multiple grant rejections, Dr. Anderson illustrates how failure can fuel confidence and spark innovative thinking. She emphasizes the importance of letting go of assumptions and seizing unexpecte...

Summary: Dr. Jim chats with Kelsey Arico, head of client experience and brand engagement at The Axela Group. They look into early career challenges, focusing on navigating leadership without authority and the power of self-advocacy. Discover how embracing assertiveness, honing critical questioning skills, and quieting self-doubt accelerates career growth. Ideal for anyone seeking to develop their...

Summary: Join Alexa Beavers as she welcomes Amanda Smith, Chief Human Resources Officer at Vision Innovation Partners. Amanda shares her journey of overcoming career struggles and the importance of self-advocacy, especially after moving across the country for a job opportunity that didn’t materialize. Discover how Amanda learned to give herself permission to aspire to more and the lessons she gath...

Summary: Ben Madden is a veteran HR exec (nearly 20 years) known for scaling teams, integrating acquisitions, and leading people operations through complex change. He served as SVP of HR at The Ambit Group, helping drive growth, two integrations, and a successful sale in 2022, and he’s an active leader in the NOVA SHRM community. I brought Ben on because real leadership isn’t about keeping the pea...

Summary: What happens when your biggest critic is you ? In this raw and reflective conversation, Selyn Hong shares the messy, defining moments that pushed her from law to HR, from obligation to intention. We talk about the moment she dropped out of college to reconnect with her estranged father, how she redefined what it means to “play it safe,” and why fear can actually be a compass. This episode...

Summary: Lilith Kirsh is a globally experienced HR executive and board advisor who has led people strategy and organizational transformation across the US, UK, France, and West Africa. With a sharp focus on ethical leadership, DEI, and sustainable business growth, she currently serves as Head of HR at Royal White Cement and advises multiple boards committed to inclusive governance. In this episode...

Summary: Stacey Harris is a seasoned HR leader (24+ years) across HR management, benefits, talent acquisition, payroll, and HRIS. She’s known for calm, measured leadership in high-stakes moments—and for building teams where it’s safe to “say the thing” even when titles are in the room. In this episode, Stacey walks through a “messy moment” at a nonprofit with an international footprint: a senior e...

Summary: In this conversation, we go from “cringeworthy communicator” to “compassionate collaborator.” Jenifer unpacks how one hard piece of feedback became a turning point, why listening is a leadership skill (not a soft skill), and how to deliver feedback with both courage and care. If you lead people—or want to—this is a tactical masterclass in executive communication you can actually use. Jeni...

Summary: Natalie Garamone, owner and Principal Consultant of 180, joins Craig Beavers to share her transformative journey from CEO to consultant. Natalie sheds light on overcoming imposter syndrome, finding authenticity in leadership, and the power of mindfulness. She emphasizes the importance of self-belief, honest communication, and peer support in navigating organizational challenges. Discover...