Today, we're excited to dive deep into the world of organizational culture and employee experience with our special guest, Janina Norton, the Group Head of Culture at AXA. This episode explores Janina's wealth of experience in culture transformation, employee engagement, and hybrid working.

We discuss

• AXA's strategies for cultural measurement and transformation
• Their innovative "We Care" program aimed at employee well-being
• The importance of authenticity and purpose in maintaining a strong organizational culture
• Valuable advice on crafting effective employee surveys and turning insights into meaningful actions that drive real impact in the workplace

Janina is Group Head of Culture at AXA with core priorities focused on bringing thought leadership and strategic direction on matters relating to employee listening and culture measurement, culture transformation, employee experience and hybrid working. She has deep professional expertise in topics spanning across organisational transformation, inclusion and diversity, employee experience, global culture measurement and employee listening and leadership development. Janina has led on employee engagement strategies and initiatives across multiple sectors, including insurance, asset management, international mining, and arts.

Janina is passionate about building organisations that enable their people to be the best that they can and which leverage the power of diverse perspectives. She seeks to create work cultures which energise, inspire and reward the contributions of their people in alignment with the organisations goals and purpose. Janina firmly believes in applying a bottom-up method – actively seeking the voice and involvement of those who are on the frontline - in tandem with iconic, top-down initiatives. Her approach is driven by a strong conviction that the customer experience is directly influenced by the quality of the employee experience. Janina was recognised in 2022 within People Management’s list of 50 UK champions as an individual providing outstanding employee experience in their organisation and/or actively working to prioritise and transform their EX.

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In this bonus Q&A with Prudence, she shares:

1. Her proudest moment and biggest failure in her career so far
2. A trend that she is following in Talent Development right now
3. The biggest challenge she sees in Talent Development today
4. Books that have made a big impact on her life
5. One piece of career advice she has for you

Prudence Pitter is a CHRO, Global Keynote Speaker, Board Member, and experienced business executive with over two and a half decades of progressive Human Resource leadership experience across several industries. She has worked extensively with Boards of Directors, leadership teams, and various business leaders in optimizing the culture, morale and productivity of their workforces. In addition, she has successfully and personally managed mergers and acquisitions, openings and closings, union negotiations, building and relocating corporate headquarters operations, associate communications, public and community relations as well as building and restructuring HR teams.

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Today we're diving deep into the intricate world of workplace wellness and employee well-being with our special guest, Prudence Pitter. Prudence, the Global Head of HR for Amazon Web Services (AWS) overseeing sectors like Auto Manufacturing, Healthcare, and Life Sciences, brings over 20 years of rich HR experience to the table.

In this episode, we'll explore:

• The profound impact of personal connections in the workplace
• The significance of genuine concern from leaders
• The power of vulnerability in building strong teams
• Challenges of mental health, both in our personal lives and within the organizational framework
• Effective strategies like gratitude practices, employee assistance programs, and innovative wellness initiatives

Join us as Prudence shares her personal journey of managing her son's mental health challenges and how it shaped her focus on creating supportive work environments. We'll also delve into successful wellness practices at AWS, from no-meeting days to running clubs, and discuss how leaders can lead by example to foster a culture of well-being and resilience.

Prudence Pitter is a CHRO, Global Keynote Speaker, Board Member, and experienced business executive with over two and a half decades of progressive Human Resource leadership experience across several industries. She has worked extensively with Boards of Directors, leadership teams, and various business leaders in optimizing the culture, morale and productivity of their workforces. In addition, she has successfully and personally managed mergers and acquisitions, openings and closings, union negotiations, building and relocating corporate headquarters operations, associate communications, public and community relations as well as building and restructuring HR teams.

Connect with Andy Storch here:

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In this bonus Q&A with Frank, he shares:

1. His proudest moment and biggest failure in his career so far
2. A trend that he is following in Talent Development right now
3. The biggest challenge he sees in Talent Development today
4. Books that have made a big impact on his life
5. One piece of career advice he has for you

Frank Kellenberg has more than 20 years of leadership experience in various operational and strategic HR roles in international companies, including Hewlett Packard, Siemens, Ingram Micro, adidas, and Novartis.

Having worked for global organizations across Europe, Frank Kellenberg built his experience in culture, D&I, leadership development, talent management and organization development. He has a passion to drive innovation & change to help people & organizations to transform themselves to achieve goals. At the same time, he combines strategic and people-oriented thinking with a focus on operational excellence.

Frank has an MBA in Business Psychology and also holds a Master's Degree in Adult Education.

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Today’s episode delves into rehumanizing work within organizations, featuring our esteemed guest Frank Kellenberg, the Global Head of Culture and Inclusion at Sandoz. With over 20 years of leadership experience in international HR roles for companies like Hewlett Packard, Siemens, and Adidas, Frank brings a wealth of knowledge on leadership development, talent management, and the critical role of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in fostering a thriving company culture.

In this episode, Frank shares:

• His perspectives on the importance of human connections in a technology-driven workplace
• The necessity of open and authentic communication from leaders
• The challenges of adapting to different cultural environments
• How Sandoz, a global leader in generic and biosimilar medicines, is navigating its cultural transformation post-independence from Novartis
• The human leadership model, emphasizing trust, self-determination, and growth
• Strategies for implementing effective leadership training programs.

We also touch on the future of work and the essential skills of empathy and communication in an increasingly automated world. Join us as we uncover practical insights to help leaders build human-centric workplaces where every employee feels valued and connected.

Frank Kellenberg has more than 20 years of leadership experience in various operational and strategic HR roles in international companies, including Hewlett Packard, Siemens, Ingram Micro, adidas, and Novartis.

Having worked for global organizations across Europe, Frank Kellenberg built his experience in culture, D&I, leadership development, talent management and organization development. He has a passion to drive innovation & change to help people & organizations to transform themselves to achieve goals. At the same time, he combines strategic and people-oriented thinking with a focus on operational excellence.

Frank has an MBA in Business Psychology and also holds a Master's Degree in Adult Education.

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In today's episode, we delve into the transformative power of self-compassion in leadership with our recurring guest, Massimo Backus—an esteemed executive coach and author of Human First, Leader Second. Together, Andy and Massimo explore why self-compassion is a vital, yet often overlooked, skill for effective leadership, challenging the traditional emphasis on emotional toughness.

Massimo, who has been on the podcast multiple times, brings fresh insights from his new book and shares practical frameworks for incorporating self-compassion into daily leadership practices.

They discuss:

• The challenges leaders face in being kinder to themselves
• How this mindset shift can improve long-term resilience and team dynamics
• The importance of mindfulness, creating mental space, and balancing professional decorum with authenticity

This episode is packed with actionable advice, real-life examples, and the latest research to help leaders at all levels enhance their well-being, performance, and relationships within their organizations. So, whether you’re managing a team or trying to navigate your own career journey, this episode offers invaluable tools for driving sustainable success through self-compassion.

Massimo built his successful executive coaching practice based on the radical idea that self-compassion is a leadership epiphany. It is radical because it is in direct opposition to the traditional leadership orthodoxy that you have to become less of a human to be a better leader. Now through his coaching practice, group facilitation, speaking and the launch of his upcoming book Human First, Leader Second, Massimo is taking his message of self-compassion to the C-suites of the Fortune 1000.

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In this bonus Q&A with Brandon, he shares:

1. His proudest moment and biggest failure in his career so far
2. A trend that he is following in Talent Development right now
3. The biggest challenge he sees in Talent Development today
4. Books that have made a big impact on his life
5. One piece of career advice he has for you

Brandon Birkmeyer is a former Coca-Cola and Apple Media Director with over twenty year of experience in marketing at the Big Five advertising agencies in New York City and Los Angeles advising top FORTUNE 100 companies on brand strategy. Brandon also produces and hosts a top-five branding podcast and YouTube channel called Brands On Brands.

in 2024, Brandon wrote the book, Front & Center Leadership - How Leaders Use Personal Branding to Stand Out and How You Can Too, to help corporate employees and entrepreneurs stop getting overlooked and start using their personal brands to stand out in their lives and businesses. Brandon is now a sought-after personal branding coach, author, podcaster, and speaker.

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In today's episode, Brandon Birkmeyer shares his expertise on the transformative power of personal branding and its critical role in career advancement.

Brandon discusses:

• The importance of shifting the talent development mindset to include personal growth and self-awareness, alongside traditional job-related skills
• His "four laws of leadership," emphasizing the need for clear goals and intentional actions to build a strong personal brand
• How companies can support employees in building their brands, ultimately leading to greater recognition and success
• Recognizing and overcoming reluctance in leadership
• Practical steps for standing out in corporate environments through effective communication and networking

Brandon Birkmeyer is a former Coca-Cola and Apple Media Director with over twenty year of experience in marketing at the Big Five advertising agencies in New York City and Los Angeles advising top FORTUNE 100 companies on brand strategy. Brandon also produces and hosts a top-five branding podcast and YouTube channel called Brands On Brands.

In 2024, Brandon wrote the book, Front & Center Leadership - How Leaders Use Personal Branding to Stand Out and How You Can Too, to help corporate employees and entrepreneurs stop getting overlooked and start using their personal brands to stand out in their lives and businesses. Brandon is now a sought-after personal branding coach, author, podcaster, and speaker.

Connect with Andy Storch:

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Join us at the Talent Development Think Tank Conference

Connect with Brandon Birkmeyer:

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