Marliz Briano, Operations Manager at Cydcor, began her journey with the company six years ago as part of the compliance team. In this role, she oversaw agent onboarding and ensured ongoing regulatory compliance for representatives. As her responsibilities expanded, she transitioned into a leadership role, merging compliance with the service desk team to create a unified department focused on both compliance and operational support.

Marliz Briano, Operations Manager at Cydcor, shares how curiosity shaped her leadership journey. She opens up about the challenges of shifting from a hands-on doer to a leader who empowers others—and why that transition is harder than most people expect. We also dive into the power of hiring for culture fit, how a strong team environment fuels growth, and what it really means to live out a company’s vision instead of just talking about it.

Great leadership isn’t about knowing everything—it’s about being open to learning, adapting, and growing alongside your team. If you’ve ever struggled with stepping back, trusting your people, or figuring out how to create a culture where curiosity thrives, this episode is for you.

The People Strategy Podcast is proudly sponsored by the Leadership Development Program from Elevated Talent Consulting.

Are you supporting leaders who are new to people management? Transitioning into a leadership role requires more than just technical expertise—it’s about mastering time management, delegation, coaching, accountability, and change management.

This program empowers emerging leaders to develop their own leadership style while gaining the skills needed to lead with confidence. Partner with us to build stronger, more effective leaders.

Learn more and sign up today!

Vera Quinn is the CEO and President of Cydcor, a global provider of outsourced sales. In her role, she’s grown revenue by more than 35% and led the company’s retail and omnichannel expansion. Vera began her career in door-to-door sales and joined Cydcor over 25 years ago, serving in various roles, including Senior Vice President, Director of Operations, and COO.

When growing leaders, organizations must foster an environment where individuals can reach their utmost potential. Leadership programs often focus on technical skills rather than the personal growth necessary to inspire and guide others. How can organizations create a culture that fosters leadership from within?

Authentic leader Vera Quinn says that leadership is an internal endeavor that begins with self-awareness and authenticity. She emphasizes the importance of developing personal strengths before leading others, identifying talent within the organization, and implementing structured development plans. Vera believes that organizations thrive when they cultivate a culture of belief and support, helping employees step into leadership roles with confidence. By aligning leadership development with core values and continuous improvement, businesses can create lasting results.

In the latest episode of The People Strategy Podcast, Traci Austin invites Vera Quinn, the CEO and President of Cydcor, to talk about authentic leadership development. Vera shares team reflection exercises to learn from failure, how to become passionate about your role, and how to grow employees through focused people strategies.

The Leadership Development Program isn’t just about theory — it’s about tangible results.

Imagine understanding how you tick and its impact on how you lead. In our last cohort, participants realized they were leading others the way they needed to be led instead of how their team members needed to be led. This increased understanding and trust within the team resulted in a better work product.

The leadership program offers tailored training covering topics like employee engagement and accountability. Through this course, you will learn and practice ways to build trust with your team and organizational leaders.

Achieving personal and professional goals yields positive results! This program is your opportunity for new leadership to learn and practice the style of leadership that drives organizational success.

Learn more and sign up today!

Hannah McKitrick is the Founder and CEO of My Intuitive Health, which helps corporate leaders transform employee wellness through luxury culinary wellness retreats and mind-body cooking programs. She is also a Chapter President at The Dames, LLC, which empowers women managing six- and seven-figure businesses to scale through events and membership communities. As a board-certified holistic nutritionist, Hannah uses food, connection, and embodiment to inspire vibrancy, fulfillment, and alignment among organizations and teams.

Workplace fulfillment is often overlooked in favor of productivity metrics, leading to disengagement and burnout. Leaders who prioritize efficiency over employee well-being may find their teams lacking motivation and creativity. How can leaders integrate joy into the workplace to promote engagement and fulfillment?

According to leadership and wellness expert Hannah McKitrick, creating a fulfilling work environment begins with personal joy. Leaders who intentionally incorporate activities that bring them happiness — such as mindful breaks, meaningful conversations, or creative outlets — set a positive example for their teams. Hannah recommends starting each day with a reflection on small actions that can uplift personal energy, emphasizing that joy is contagious and can transform workplace culture. Encouraging team-building activities, such as culinary wellness retreats or virtual cooking experiences, can foster connection and inspiration within teams, driving both professional and personal growth.

In episode 200 of The People Strategy Podcast, Traci Austin welcomes Hannah McKitrick, the Founder and CEO of My Intuitive Health, to discuss how leaders can infuse joy into their daily routines and organizational culture. Hannah talks about her upcoming culinary leadership retreat with Traci, how to combine personal and professional fulfillment, and her key leadership strengths.

This episode is brought to you by Elevated Talent Consulting, a leading provider of comprehensive talent management solutions.

Whether you're looking to optimize your recruitment process, enhance employee engagement, or develop effective leadership strategies, Elevated Talent Consulting has the expertise to level up your team.

Discover how they can transform your workforce at elevatedtalentconsulting.com.

David Murray is the Co-founder and CEO of Confirm, a performance management system that enables CEOs to increase capital efficiency. As a product designer, he began his career as a Product Manager at Google, where he received the Google Founders Award and EMG Award for his work on Gmail.

Performance review metrics are often based on an arbitrary rating system that favors managers’ perceptions. This system focuses on numbers rather than employees’ tangible impacts, so top-performing team members aren’t recognized accordingly. How can leaders maximize employee performance reviews and recognition?

According to performance management optimizer David Murray, 15% of employees contribute to 50% of performance outcomes, while 5% create 50% of organizational challenges. Considering these statistics, David recommends developing a transparent performance management system in which managers set employee expectations about individual performance metrics. To identify high-performers, you can request feedback from each team member about who they go to for advice and who creates the most conflict. This can eliminate manager bias and ensure quiet contributors are recognized appropriately.

In this week’s episode of The People Strategy Podcast, Traci Austin hosts David Murray, the Co-founder and CEO of Confirm, to talk about improving organizations’ performance management systems. David discusses his tool that measures individual impact, his research on team development and performance, and how identifying personal and professional goals enhances performance reviews.

The Leadership Development Program isn’t just about theory — it’s about tangible results.

Imagine understanding how you tick and its impact on how you lead. In our last cohort, participants realized they were leading others the way they needed to be led instead of how their team members needed to be led. This increased understanding and trust within the team resulted in a better work product.

The leadership program offers tailored training covering topics like employee engagement and accountability. Through this course, you will learn and practice ways to build trust with your team and organizational leaders.

Achieving personal and professional goals yields positive results! This program is your opportunity for new leadership to learn and practice the style of leadership that drives organizational success.

Learn more and sign up today!

Philipp (Phil) Siegel is the Lead Product Manager at Maymont Homes, a full-service acquisition, renovation, and property management company. In his role, he drives customer-centric solutions using data-driven strategies. Before Maymont Homes, Phil held several leadership positions, including the Senior Technical Support Manager at Unanet and the Manager of Client Support Services at BrightEdge.

First-time leaders often direct their teams in ways that suit their personal styles and needs. However, leaders’ styles should support employee and organizational growth. How can you customize your leadership style to maximize results for the company?

Having managed teams in various software companies, Philipp (Phil) Siegel discovered the stark contrast between leading teams of two versus 15. When managing projects and people, one-on-one support and communication may not be practical for larger teams, so delegating tasks allows you to focus more on individual development. Effective leadership requires significant investments in your team, so Phil emphasizes balanced collaboration to move individuals forward within the organization.

In today’s episode of The People Strategy Podcast, Traci Austin talks with Philipp (Phil) Siegel, the Lead Product Manager at Maymont Homes, about aligning leadership with team behaviors. Phil describes the ideal leadership support for career development, how he navigates leadership without direct authority, and his perspective on AI for task delegation.

In today’s competitive landscape, retaining top talent is more critical than ever. By investing in the Team Retention program, experienced managers will learn effective leadership strategies, recruitment approaches, and onboarding techniques that will set your team up for success. Imagine creating an empowering employee journey that supports growth and collaboration from day one.

Learn more and sign up for our Team Retention Program today!

Embark on this transformative journey. Together, we can drive meaningful change and achieve unparalleled success.

Tim Sackett is the President of HRU Technical Resources, an IT and engineering contract staffing firm. With over 20 years of experience in talent acquisition and HR, he worked as a staffing director, recruiter, and HR manager at companies, including Applebees, ShopKo Stores, and Pamida. Tim has been named a Top 10 Global HR Influencer.

The rapid use of AI and other automated technology has created an epidemic of loneliness among employees. How can HR leaders leverage these tools to transform employee engagement and recruit new talent?

HR and talent executive Tim Sackett says rather than using AI solely to automate repetitive tasks, HR leaders can harness it to foster workplace relationships. This may involve having AI compile and summarize employee feedback or gather information about each individual to partner them with mentors or someone who complements their strengths. Tim also advises experimenting with recruitment tools like LinkedIn’s Hiring Assistant to streamline the hiring process and develop a fair, non-biased recruitment system.

In this week’s episode of The People Strategy Podcast, Traci Austin welcomes Tim Sackett, the President of HR Technical Resources, to chat about using technology to enhance team engagement and hiring. Tim shares how workplace relationships can foster personal and professional growth, his innovative solution to the talent crisis, and how AI can align team and organizational values.

In today’s competitive landscape, retaining top talent is more critical than ever. By investing in the Team Retention program, experienced managers will learn effective leadership strategies, recruitment approaches, and onboarding techniques that will set your team up for success. Imagine creating an empowering employee journey that supports growth and collaboration from day one.

Learn more and sign up for our Team Retention Program today!

Embark on this transformative journey. Together, we can drive meaningful change and achieve unparalleled success.

Adam Gruszcynski is the IT Director at Potawatomi Casino Hotel. He previously served as the venue’s Information Technology Security Manager, where he reduced cyber risk while securing team member and guest information. As a network and security expert, Adam was also a Network Administrator at Potawatomi Casino Hotel, where he supported network resources and secured IT system delivery.

When initiating organizational shifts, change management practices are crucial to prepare teams for changes to their daily work structures. How can you manage change without disrupting day-to-day operations? What strategies can you implement to ensure smooth transitions during these periods?

With experience initiating multiple changes within his team, Adam Gruszcynski emphasizes transparent and clear communication with all team members. Leaders should place each employee in roles according to their skills, facilitating trust to execute transitions effectively. He also recommends empathizing with employees as they navigate changes and addressing roadblocks and complaints with understanding before turning them into strategic action plans.

Tune in to another episode of The People Strategy Podcast’s Leadership Development series as Traci Austin hosts Adam Gruszcynski, the IT Director at Potawatomi Casino Hotel, to talk about change management techniques. Adam shares the leadership skills essential to change management, the four rules of organizational change, and how to cultivate accountability during the process.

The Leadership Development Program isn’t just about theory — it’s about tangible results.

Imagine understanding how you tick and its impact on how you lead. In our last cohort, participants realized they were leading others the way they needed to be led instead of how their team members needed to be led. This increased understanding and trust within the team resulted in a better work product.

The leadership program offers tailored training covering topics like employee engagement and accountability. Through this course, you will learn and practice ways to build trust with your team and organizational leaders.

Achieving personal and professional goals yields positive results! This program is your opportunity for new leadership to learn and practice the style of leadership that drives organizational success.

Learn more and sign up today!

Adam Gruszcynski is the IT Director at Potawatomi Casino Hotel. He previously served as the venue’s Information Technology Security Manager, where he reduced cyber risk while securing team member and guest information. As a network and security expert, Adam was also a Network Administrator at Potawatomi Casino Hotel, where he supported network resources and secured IT system delivery.

Problem-solving and critical thinking are essential skills for conflict resolution, yet they require problem-led leadership to execute. Leaders must navigate complex challenges while fostering collaboration and preventing team burnout. How can leaders refine these skills to drive actionable solutions and maintain a productive team environment?

While leaders and managers must direct their teams to identify the problem and its impact on the organization, they shouldn’t devise solutions. Instead, IT director Adam Gruszcynski suggests coaching your team to resolve the conflict by empowering them with critical thinking and problem-solving techniques. This may involve eliciting three diverse solutions and encouraging team members to think critically about the results or consequences. Communication and collaboration are essential to agreeing on viable solutions.

In the final episode of The People Strategy Podcast’s Leadership Development Series, Traci Austin and Adam Gruszcynski, the IT Director at Potawatomi Casino Hotel, discuss the interplay between conflict resolution, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Together, they explore strategies for prioritizing issues, ensuring transparent communication, and preventing team fatigue during prolonged problem-solving sessions.

The Leadership Development Program isn’t just about theory — it’s about tangible results.

Imagine understanding how you tick and its impact on how you lead. In our last cohort, participants realized they were leading others the way they needed to be led instead of how their team members needed to be led. This increased understanding and trust within the team resulted in a better work product.

The leadership program offers tailored training covering topics like employee engagement and accountability. Through this course, you will learn and practice ways to build trust with your team and organizational leaders.

Achieving personal and professional goals yields positive results! This program is your opportunity for new leadership to learn and practice the style of leadership that drives organizational success.

Learn more and sign up today!