In this episode of the Voice of Influence podcast, host Andrea interviews Tobias Sturzen, a culture change expert and co-founder of Heart Management. Tobias shares his journey from growing up in a religious cult to becoming a leading advocate for cultural health in organizations. They discuss his new book, You Can Culture, is aimed at helping leaders create thriving cultures.

Tobias shares from his own experience in a cult and emphasizes the importance of humility, vulnerability, and practical steps for leaders to reflect on and solicit feedback to build healthier workplaces. He also touches on recognizing toxic behaviors, the significance of systemic issues in organizations, and strategies for ensuring ethical integrity and sustainable cultural practices. Tobias highlights the challenges and importance of soliciting honest feedback within teams and the role of leaders in fostering an environment where people feel safe to speak up.

In this episode of the Voice of Influence podcast, host Andrea interviews Joe Byerly, a combat arms officer with over 20 years of experience, founder of the blog and podcast From the Green Notebook, and co-author of 'My Green Notebook: Know Thyself Before Changing Jobs.' Joe shares the origin and evolution of his 'green notebook' practice, which began as a tool for taking notes in the military and grew into a method for daily reflection and leadership development. Joe discusses his journey from being anonymous in his writing to becoming comfortable sharing his thoughts publicly, and how his love for reading and writing has shaped his leadership approach. He highlights the importance of understanding and managing friction in leadership, his experiences with military training, and the crucial role of self-awareness. As Joe prepares to transition to civilian life after retiring from the army, he reflects on his plans to continue helping others through writing and sharing his insights on leadership.

In this episode of the Voice of Influence podcast, host Andrea interviews Penny Zenker, a renowned speaker, business strategy coach, and expert on productivity, also known as the Focusologist. Penny discusses her new book, 'The Reset Mindset,' which builds on Carol Dweck's growth mindset concept by introducing real-time adaptability through feedback loops. Penny shares her personal journey, highlighting key reset moments and practical techniques for managing priorities, dealing with constraints, and maintaining intentionality. The conversation also delves into overcoming self-doubt and leveraging challenges as opportunities for growth. She emphasizes the importance of embracing change, improving communication, and fostering a culture of constructive feedback to enhance personal and professional productivity.

Penny Zenker (aka The Focusologist) is an international speaker, business strategy coach, and

one of America’s leading experts in the psychology of productivity to eliminate distraction,

perfectionism, and self-sabotage to maximize results in every area of your life and business.

By the time she was thirty-one, Penny founded, developed, and sold her first multimillion-dollar business in Zurich, Switzerland. Her first book, The Productivity Zone, was an instant Amazon bestseller, and her TEDx talk, “The Energy of Thought,” has gained international attention and impact with more than one million views. Today she’s here to talk about her new book “The Reset Mindset.”

In this episode of the Voice of Influence podcast, Andrea interviews Heath Mello, former state senator and current President and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce. Heath discusses his journey into public service, starting from his aspirations in elementary school through various roles in higher education and government. He emphasizes the importance of civic engagement and consensus-building, shares his thoughts on the impact of social media on public service, and describes the challenges and rewards of his current role. Additionally, Heath provides insights on the economic and workforce development efforts in the Omaha area, and offers advice on facilitating difficult conversations and building consensus.

Heath Mello, former state senator and higher education executive, assumed the role of President & CEO at the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce in August 2023. In this capacity, he oversees day-to-day operations, emphasizing economic development, public policy, and workforce partnerships across an eight-county region. Additionally, Mello serves on the Nebraska Highway Commission and various committees, leveraging his extensive legislative experience. Previously, he held leadership roles at the University of Nebraska System and Metropolitan Community College. Mello, a native of Omaha, holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

In this episode of the Voice of Influence podcast, Andrea interviews Patrick Nelson, a decorated military veteran and author of 'Frontline Leadership: How to Eliminate Complacency and Build All-in Engagement.' They discuss Patrick's extensive military background, his transition to becoming a professional speaker and trainer, and the release of his new book. Patrick shares powerful personal stories, including a harrowing incident in Afghanistan that shaped his views on leadership and safety, and offers insights on leading by example, cultivating a culture of accountability, and the importance of self-awareness in leadership. He also addresses motivating teams, especially in high-risk industries, and gives advice to young adults on finding their purpose. The conversation provides practical leadership strategies and emphasizes the impact of influence over positional authority.

Patrick has gained both local and national accolades for his military service, aca­demic career, and work as a professional speaker and trainer including being named the inaugural NFL-Tillman Military Scholar. He is an experienced leader that spent nearly seven years in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper and completed three combat deployments leading soldiers. His military awards include the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart Medal. He is the author of “Front-Line Leadership: How to Eliminate Complacency and Build All-Il Engagement.”

In this episode of the Voice of Influence Podcast, host Andrea reflects on watching women’s sports take off to new heights, highlighting notable stories like that of DeWanna Bonner. Andrea draws connections between women's achievements in sports and the importance of recognizing and supporting humanity in the workplace. She emphasizes the need for employers to be adaptable and supportive of their employees' personal lives, advocating for ongoing experimentation and open communication to foster a thriving, engaged, and loyal workforce. The episode underscores the value of human connection and flexibility in achieving high performance and innovation.

In this episode of the Voice of Influence podcast, Andrea interviews Anthony Taylor, CEO of SME Strategy. Anthony, a seasoned facilitator of strategy sessions across North America, shares insights from his extensive experience. They discuss the importance of strategic planning, the difference between strategy, strategic initiatives, and strategic planning, and the critical elements of ensuring alignment within an organization. The conversation covers the impact of the pandemic on strategic planning, the common causes of resistance to strategic planning, and the elements that make vision and mission statements effective. Anthony emphasizes the importance of ongoing communication, the role of adaptability in strategic systems, and offers advice for those looking to have a voice of influence in their organization.

In this episode of the Voice of Influence podcast, Andrea interviews Randy Hain, President of Servium Partners and co-founder of the Leadership Foundry. Randyboasts a 30-plus-year career in senior leadership roles, corporate talent, and executive search, and is a highly sought-after executive coach, leadership consultant, and author of 10 books. During the episode, Randy discusses his journey influenced by his mother to help people connect fully with others, work, and the world. He emphasizes the significance of authenticity, having a moral compass, and the need for substantive writing and conversations in today’s noisy world. Randy also touches on the essence of credibility, the value of failing for growth, the importance of mentoring, and the impactful role of special needs individuals in personal and professional life. The episode concludes with Randy’s advice on having a voice of influence by being authentic and staying true to one's convictions.

Randy Hain is the president of Serviam Partners and co-founder of the Leadership Foundry. With a successful 30+ year career in senior leadership roles, corporate talent, and executive search, he is a sought-after executive coach and leadership consultant for senior leaders and their teams at some of the best-known companies in the U.S. He is a devoted family man, the author of 10 books and active in serving the causes he cares about.