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Shifting The Power Balance

Shifting The Power Balance

Von: Dwayne Smith
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Shifting the Power Balance is a workplace law and HR strategy podcast hosted by Dwayne Smith, a leading legal authority and experienced workplace attorney focused on navigating workplace conflict, reducing risk, and strengthening employee-employer relationships.

Created for business owners, C-suite executives, entrepreneurs, HR directors, and organizational thought leaders, this podcast addresses workplace harassment, HR violations, power dynamics, employee handbooks, and the real-world decisions that trigger legal exposure.

Each episode delivers practical guidance on:

  • Navigating workplace investigations and harassment claims
  • Managing employee relations before they escalate
  • Creating legally sound employee handbooks
  • Understanding power imbalances that lead to conflict
  • Reducing liability, insurance claims, and compliance risk
  • Creating productive and successful organizations by making each employee feel valuable

Clear insight. Real examples. Actionable leadership strategies for modern workplaces.

© 2026 Shifting The Power Balance Management & Leadership Ökonomie
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  • The Power of Connection - A Conversation with Kim McGownd

    The Power of Connection - A Conversation with Kim McGownd
    Jun 18 2026
    Episode 10 — The Power of ConnectionGuest: Kim McGownd | Consultant & Connector, KDM Partner Solutions LLCRuntime: 26 minutes 49 seconds EPISODE DESCRIPTIONWhat does it really mean to be a connector — and how can the right introduction at the right moment change everything?In this episode of Shifting the Power Balance, host Dwayne Smith sits down with Kim McGownd, Founding Partner of KDM Partner Solutions LLC and one of Kansas City's most strategically generous connectors. Kim takes us from the discipline of competitive gymnastics in small-town Missouri, to pioneering the natural pet food industry, to pressing 'reset' at 40 and building a firm rooted in trust, intentionality, and the quiet power of relationship.Kim and Dwayne explore the critical difference between networking and genuine connection, why stagnation is often a signal rather than a dead end, how power dynamics show up inside organizations, and what it takes to shift them. Kim's philosophy is simple but rare: the right person, at the right time, for the right problem changes everything. And she's built a career proving it.Whether you're an entrepreneur, a leader navigating organizational culture, or someone who knows it's time to make a bold move, this conversation will challenge you to stop collecting contacts and start building connections that actually move the needle. EPISODE TIMESTAMPS | TIME | TOPIC | 00:00 | Introduction — Meet Kim McGownd and KDM Partner Solutions | 02:57 | The Power of Connection vs. Networking: What's the Real Difference? | 05:54 | Lessons from Competitive Gymnastics: Discipline, Resilience, and Grit | 09:02 | Pioneering the Natural Pet Food Industry — A Woman Ahead of Her Time | 12:08 | The Impact of Personal Choices on Health, Mindset, and Business | 15:03 | Pressing Reset at 40: The Career Move That Changed Everything | 17:58 | Understanding Stagnation — How to Recognize It and Find Direction | 21:08 | Navigating Power Dynamics Inside Organizations | 23:56 | The Art of the Meaningful Introduction | 26:30 | Shifting the Power Balance: Final Reflections and Challenge to the Listener KEY TAKEAWAYS• Authentic connection and strategic networking are fundamentally different — one is transactional, the other is transformational.• The discipline and mental toughness learned in competitive athletics translate directly into business resilience and leadership.• Pioneering a market requires both conviction and the willingness to educate — Kim built consumer demand for natural pet food before the mainstream caught on.• Pressing 'reset' at 40 was not a setback — it was the best business decision Kim ever made, and it gave birth to KDM Partner Solutions.• Stagnation is a signal, not a sentence. Learning to recognize when you're stuck — and why — is the first step to moving forward.• Power dynamics are present in every organization. Those who understand them can navigate, influence, and ultimately shift them.• A great introduction is not just a referral — it's a curated, intentional act of trust that can change the trajectory of someone's business or career.• Women are expanding their presence in leadership, but the work of building authentic confidence and self-advocacy never stops.• Building relationships rooted in trust over transactions is a long game — and it's the only game worth playing. NOTABLE QUOTES | “Connecting the right people at the right time.” — Kim McGownd | “Networking is a tool to find opportunity — connection is how you build something that lasts.” — Kim McGownd | “Women are widening the gap in leadership — and the work is far from finished.” — Kim McGownd ABOUT THE GUESTKim McGownd — Consultant & Connector, KDM Partner Solutions LLCKim McGownd is the Founding Partner of KDM Partner Solutions LLC, a Kansas City-based strategic intermediary firm built on one powerful premise: the right person, at the right time, for the right problem changes everything. A competitive gymnast turned natural pet food pioneer turned connector-in-chief, Kim pressed 'reset' at 40 and built a practice rooted in trust-anchored relationships. She operates across a vetted network of 25+ partner organizations spanning cybersecurity, wealth management, regulatory compliance, legal services, and operations strategy. Kim is also a PGA HOPE Kansas City, MO Chapter Ambassador. CONNECT WITH KIM MCGOWNDLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kmcgownd/ — Connect with Kim on LinkedInWebsite: https://kdmpartnersolutions.com/ — KDM Partner Solutions LLC — Official SiteKDM About: https://kdmpartnersolutions.com/about — Learn more about Kim and KDM's approach ABOUT THE PODCASTShifting the Power Balance is hosted by Dwayne Smith, National Speaker, Leading Legal Authority, and workplace investigations expert. Each episode explores how individuals and ...
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    27 Min.
  • Building a Business from the Ground Up - Anoop Goyal

    Building a Business from the Ground Up - Anoop Goyal
    Jun 9 2026

    Summary

    In this episode, Dwayne Smith and Rudy Davis speak with Anoop Goyal. Goyal shares his journey from an engineer with patents to an entrepreneur, highlighting the creation of Network Counts, a digital business card app.

    Discover how his experiences in Kansas City shaped his approach to innovation, networking, and building a startup from the ground up.

    Chapters

    00:00 From Engineer to Entrepreneur: An Unconventional Journey

    07:12 The Birth of Network Counts: Identifying a Need

    12:11 Overcoming Obstacles: Trust and Growth in Entrepreneurship

    14:54 Future Aspirations: Scaling Network Counts Globally

    Resources

    Network Counts App - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/network-counts/id6448527922

    Anoop Goyal on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/anoopgoyal
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    14 Min.
  • KSU - Jerome Tang Update

    KSU - Jerome Tang Update
    May 14 2026


    In this follow-up episode, co-host Rudy Davis and attorney/host Dwayne Smith break down the legal landscape since Jerome Tang's for-cause firing from Kansas State. Topics include Tang's return to Baylor and how it affects his damages claim, the duty-to-mitigate argument, the comparator coaches, K-State's strongest and weakest arguments, the settlement dynamics, and key takeaways for HR professionals and high-profile employees.

    Timestamps:

    0:30 – Introduction & episode overview

    1:33 – Jerome Tang lands at Baylor: what happened after the firing

    2:46 – The for-cause firing explained

    3:16 – Tang's legal team and the threat of a lawsuit

    3:52 – How Tang's new job affects his legal case

    4:22 – Duty to mitigate damages: the financial math

    5:44 – What Tang could allege against K-State

    6:19 – The comparator coach: a two-week suspension for worse conduct

    7:59 – The football coach comparator (Chris Kleiman)

    9:03 – Contract consistency and the disparate treatment argument

    9:39 – K-State's defense: the unilateral authority argument

    11:36 – K-State's weakest argument

    12:22 – What K-State should have done differently

    12:56 – Timeline to resolution — and what happens if they can't settle

    13:33 – The potential hammer letter and what it signals

    14:40 – The bigger picture: NIL and institutional power

    15:12 – Who has the power right now

    16:59 – Takeaway for HR professionals and executives

    17:30 – Closing
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    18 Min.
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