Shows
The Talent Forge: Shaping the Future of Training and Development with Jay JohnsonThe Power of We: Building Connection in Corporate Culture with Kyle McDowellHave you ever achieved success but felt empty inside? Kyle McDowell's journey from corporate executive to leadership visionary offers a roadmap for anyone feeling disconnected in their professional life.After spending decades climbing the corporate ladder, managing 30,000 employees, and multi-billion dollar P&Ls, Kyle found himself in a state of profound apathy. The turning point came with a shocking realization: what he had perceived as respect from his team was actually fear. This revelation sparked a transformational journey that would not only reshape his career but his entire approach to life.For anyone responsible for...2025-06-2751 minThe Talent Forge: Shaping the Future of Training and Development with Jay JohnsonTransforming Learning Through AI-Powered Job Shadows with Frank FuscoEver watched someone masterfully perform a task and thought, "I wish I could understand exactly what they're doing and why"? In today's episode of The Talent Forge, we explore the revolutionary approach Silicon Society is taking to transform workplace learning through AI-powered job shadowing.Frank Fusco, a fascinating founder with roots in both liberal arts and computer science, shares how his journey through humanitarian work, bootcamp education, and software development led to a breakthrough realization: traditional learning approaches are fundamentally flawed in today's rapidly changing world. As Frank explains, "We're not built for even a six-month curriculum...2025-06-2043 minThe Talent Forge: Shaping the Future of Training and Development with Jay JohnsonClarity, Communication, and Co-Pilots: The New Skills for an AI-Powered Workplace with Fahed BizzariThe AI revolution is reshaping how we work, learn, and create—yet 81% of professionals feel anxious about this transformation. Why? Many have been avoiding the inevitable, creating what Fahed Bizzari calls "heads in the sand" that are now being forced into the open as AI capabilities expand exponentially.Fahed shares his journey from achieving the "4-hour workweek" back in 2006 to experiencing an existential crisis when ChatGPT outperformed his own engineering capabilities in minutes rather than days. This pivotal moment led to his realization that our value isn't diminished by AI—it's multiplied when we embrace it properly. Thro...2025-06-1352 minThe Talent Forge: Shaping the Future of Training and Development with Jay JohnsonBeyond Training: The Art of Speaking Leadership's Language with Traci AustinWhy does executive leadership often fail to see the value in talent development initiatives? Traci Austin of Elevated Talent Consulting reveals the critical disconnect between HR professionals and the C-suite that's creating frustration on both sides.The conversation explores specific techniques for gaining trust in challenging industries where vulnerability isn't welcome, including the one question that transforms any training session: "What would make this hour a good use of your time?" This simple approach demonstrates respect while opening the door to meaningful engagement.Whether you're in HR, talent development, or leadership, this episode provides the...2025-06-0641 minThe Talent Forge: Shaping the Future of Training and Development with Jay JohnsonLeading Through Change: Succession Planning at Scale with Ernesto GómezWhat happens when nearly 150 leadership positions need to be filled simultaneously due to a wave of retirements? For Ernesto Gómez, former VP of Human Capital at Grupo Alpha and CHRO at Sigma Alimentos, this wasn't a hypothetical scenario—it was the challenge that defined his career transition from business leader to HR innovator.Ernesto shares how he approached this daunting succession planning challenge by reframing it as an innovation problem rather than a traditional HR issue. With no formal HR background but extensive business leadership experience, he crafted a comprehensive talent development strategy involving partnerships with eli...2025-05-3050 minThe Talent Forge: Shaping the Future of Training and Development with Jay JohnsonUnleashing Your Inner Champion: How Mindset Drives Success with Nicky BillouNikky Billou takes us on an extraordinary journey from post-revolution Iran to becoming a champion for freedom and human potential. As a Christian immigrant fleeing religious persecution, Nikky's early experiences shaped his profound understanding that freedom isn't just political—it's the essential foundation for entrepreneurship, creativity, and human flourishing.Drawing wisdom from his late father's example, Nikky shares the transformative lesson that became his life's mission: "Your job is to see greatness in people and show it to them." This philosophy has guided him through writing ten books (including two New York Times bestsellers), hosting hundreds of po...2025-05-2328 minThe Talent Forge: Shaping the Future of Training and Development with Jay JohnsonThe Psychology of Presence: How to Connect and Influence Through Body Language with Richard ReidRichard Reid takes us on a fascinating journey from his classics degree and IT consulting days to his current role as a psychologist working with executives and organizations. The discussion opens with a counterintuitive insight: being too polished in your presentation style can actually make people distrustful. Instead, Richard advocates for finding that sweet spot between authentic self-expression and professional delivery. Whether you're looking to enhance your presence as a trainer, develop stronger connections with your team, or simply communicate more effectively, Richard's insights offer a refreshing blend of psychological depth and practical application. His em...2025-05-1641 minThe Talent Forge: Shaping the Future of Training and Development with Jay JohnsonBridging Cultures: How Understanding Differences Improves Business Outcomes with Sanjyot DunungCultural intelligence has become the hidden competitive advantage in today's global business landscape. When your teams can navigate the subtle nuances of cross-cultural communication, everything from customer satisfaction to operational efficiency improves dramatically.Sanjyot Dunung brings her fascinating journey from banker to cultural anthropology expert to this episode, sharing how her unique background—born in India but raised in Chicago—provided the perfect foundation for helping organizations bridge cultural divides. What sets this conversation apart is the emphasis on measurable business impact. Cultural training isn't presented as a nice-to-have diversity initiative but as a strategic imper...2025-05-0944 minThe Talent Forge: Shaping the Future of Training and Development with Jay JohnsonDigital Overwhelm in the Workplace with Dr. Craig MattsonThe digital workplace isn't just changing how we work—it's fundamentally altering how we communicate, learn, and connect. After spending years interviewing dozens of Millennial and Gen Z professionals, Dr. Craig Mattson uncovered surprising patterns in how people cope with the constant barrage of platforms, tools, and digital expectations.While popular advice suggests digital minimalism as the solution, Mattson's research reveals a more nuanced reality. For most professionals, simply using fewer tools isn't an option. Instead, developing what he calls "digital flexibility" proves far more effective—the ability to navigate between different communication modes depending on the situ...2025-05-0236 minThe Talent Forge: Shaping the Future of Training and Development with Jay JohnsonThe 86% Solution: Why Accountability Partners Transform Goal Achievement with Aaron HeltonWhat if the leadership development initiatives you're pouring resources into aren't delivering measurable results? In this eye-opening conversation with Aaron Helton, leadership consultant and author, we uncover the science behind truly effective coaching and development programs—and it's all in the numbers.The statistics are startling: people with accountability partners achieve their goals 86% of the time versus just 16% for those going it alone. That's a 70% difference that directly impacts your organization's bottom line. Aaron breaks down how replacing senior executives can cost up to 400% of their annual salary, transforming a modest investment in coaching into a massive RO...2025-04-2536 minThe Talent Forge: Shaping the Future of Training and Development with Jay JohnsonBeyond Visualization: The Mind-Body Connection That Changes Everything with Dominika StaniewiczCould your brain be lying to you? What if everything you thought about motivation and training is fundamentally flawed? In this eye-opening conversation with Dominika Staniewicz, we dive deep into how neuroscience is revolutionizing corporate training and personal development.Drawing from her extensive background as an HR director, career coach, and advisor to the Polish president on education standards, Staniewicz reveals how neuroencoding—a practical application of neuroscience—creates lasting behavioral change by rewiring the brain. Unlike traditional visualization techniques that only engage the visual cortex, neuroencoding involves practicing scenarios with full body engagement before they happen, allo...2025-04-1846 minThe Talent Forge: Shaping the Future of Training and Development with Jay JohnsonThe Dance of Authentic Leadership: Embracing Your Whole Self at Work with Dr. Jennifer NashDr. Jennifer Nash takes us on a profound journey into what it truly means to lead with humanity in today's complex workplace. Drawing from her background in piano, dance, foreign languages, and eventually the automotive industry, she shares how these seemingly divergent paths converged to form her unique leadership philosophy.Nash reveals the powerful concept behind her book "Be Human, Lead Human," explaining that authentic leadership begins with recognizing that people—not products or services—create organizational value. She articulates how organizations function best when viewed as spaces where people both work and evolve as human beings, rath...2025-04-1152 minThe Talent Forge: Shaping the Future of Training and Development with Jay JohnsonThe Elite Mindset: Transforming How Athletes and Executives Reach Their Peak with Gary ChupikWhat separates truly exceptional performers from the merely talented? According to mental performance coach Gary Chupik, it's not motivation, talent, or even discipline—it's self-leadership.Drawing from his extensive work with professional athletes and high-performing executives, Chupik challenges conventional thinking about performance psychology. While most focus on fixing weaknesses, he advocates for a strength-based approach that identifies what's working well and replicates it. This shift in perspective—from the "training room" of mental health to the "gym" of mental performance—reveals hidden reservoirs of potential in even the most accomplished individuals. Meet the Host 2025-04-0447 minThe Talent Forge: Shaping the Future of Training and Development with Jay JohnsonStrategic Storytelling: The Key to Transformational Training with Aleya HarrisHow do you turn mandatory corporate training from a dreaded box-checking exercise into an engaging experience that actually changes behavior? The answer lies in strategic storytelling.In this eye-opening episode, Aleya Harris, a strategic storytelling consultant, reveals how the same storytelling frameworks used in marketing can revolutionize leadership development and corporate training. Drawing from her background as a marketing executive and entrepreneur, Aleya shares how she accidentally discovered the power of storytelling in building high-performing teams and authentic leadership.Whether you're designing onboarding programs, leadership development initiatives, or mandatory compliance training, this episode offers practical...2025-03-2837 min