What does it really take to learn the skills needed to build and scale a business? In this episode, entrepreneur JP Forno, founder and CEO of Meteor, shares his journey from employee to business owner. He explains how curiosity, experimentation, and sustained drive helped him grow into the role step by step

The conversation explores learning as an active process rooted in action and reflection, not passive information consumption. JP discusses how embracing mistakes, staying curious, and executing consistently shaped his leadership style and supported Meteor’s growth.

JP also unpacks his philosophy on hiring: focusing less on credentials and more on qualities like critical thinking, initiative, coachability, and integrity. While technical skills can be taught, mindset and hunger are much harder to instill in your employees.

This episode is a candid look at entrepreneurship, lifelong learning, and building teams that scale—perfect for leaders, aspiring founders, and anyone curious about how skills are truly developed in the real world.

You can learn more about JP Forno and Meteor here: https://www.trymeteor.com/en/

We all say trust matters, but how many of us actually go first? In this episode, we talk with Dr. Michelle Reina about what it really means to build trust, especially when it’s been broken. Michelle challenges a common leadership trap: waiting for others to “prove” they can be trusted. Instead, she argues, trust begins with you — your willingness to take the first step, extend openness, and model the behavior you want to see.

This episode explores what makes trust so fragile in today’s workplaces, and how leaders can build it back stronger. You’ll hear about the three dimensions of trust (Character, Communication, and Capability), why trust is both behavioral and emotional, and how to rebuild it after it’s been lost. Michelle shares real tools and frameworks from her upcoming book The Art of Trust Building, including:

• The Individual Trust Scale, a self-assessment that reveals how your actions build or compromise trust.

• How leaders can measure and strengthen trust to drive engagement and performance.

• The seven steps to healing trust after a breakdown.

• Why vulnerability and courage are inseparable from leadership.

This is a conversation for every leader who’s ever struggled to rebuild a relationship, repair a team, or restore faith after a tough season. Trust isn’t a one-time achievement — it’s a daily practice. And when leaders model it first, the results ripple through entire cultures.

Dr. Michelle Reina is a researcher, author, and co-founder of Reina Trust Building®, where she and her husband, Dr. Dennis Reina, have spent more than 35 years studying the behavioral science of trust. Their work has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Fortune, The New York Times, CNN, and CNBC. Their forthcoming book, The Art of Trust Building, releases January 2026, with pre-orders available November 2025.

Learn more at reinatrustbuilding.com.

Parenthood is both a personal milestone and a professional advantage. In this episode, authors Mason Donovan and Mark Kaplan share insights from their book "The Parenthood Advantage," and explore how becoming a parent shapes leadership, resilience, and workplace culture.

They unpack the realities many parents face: navigating the “nesting” stage before leave, the emotional challenges of the “fourth trimester,” and the often-overlooked “returnship” back to work. Along the way, they address cultural biases like the motherhood penalty and fatherhood bonus, and reveal how supportive policies can turn potential setbacks into powerful opportunities for growth. Mason and Mark also highlight how leaders and companies can reframe parenthood as an asset rather than a liability.

This episode is for anyone interested in creating workplaces that truly support caregivers—and for parents ready to see their experience as a superpower, not a setback.

Mason Donovan and Mark Kaplan are thought leaders, consultants, and co-authors of The Inclusion Dividend and The Parenthood Advantage. Their work focuses on building inclusive workplaces and challenging cultural norms that hold organizations back.

You can find more about their book here: https://theparenthoodadvantage.com/

What if discomfort wasn’t something to avoid?

In this episode, Shawn Hunter and Michelle Braden dive into the heart of what it really means to stretch yourself beyond your comfort zone—and why that’s essential for meaningful progress. They share personal stories and powerful frameworks for evaluating growth, navigating fear, and leading with empathy.

You’ll hear insights like:

- Why “just a little” progress each day matters more than you think

- How a 90-day self-challenge transformed Michelle’s leadership style

- What to ask yourself before making a big leap

- And the surprising difference between motivating others and overwhelming them

Whether you're pushing for the next level in your career or mentoring someone who is, this conversation will help you rethink what success looks like, and how to own your path forward.

What if building a neuro-inclusive workplace wasn’t just the right thing to do—but the smartest? In this episode, we dive into the real meaning of neurodiversity and why it’s reshaping how companies think about hiring, culture, and success.

Our guest shares their personal journey of discovering they were neurodivergent and how that insight now drives their approach as an employer. From redefining job interviews to building environments where every brain thrives, we explore the practical steps organizations can take to support neurodivergent talent.

You’ll hear thoughtful answers to questions like:
- What does it mean to be neurodivergent?
- How can organizations build neurodiversity into their talent pool?
- And why should you design accommodations that help everyone?

Pam Seplow’s story isn’t just about bouncing back—it’s about boldly stepping into something better. When a corporate layoff ended one chapter, it sparked an unexpected journey through consulting, entrepreneurship, and personal reinvention.

Pam shares how launching a sandwich shop with her brother became a crash course in growth, values, and curiosity. She reflects on trading titles for purpose, using intuition as a compass, and why success today means joy, meaning, and impact, not just metrics.
This episode is for anyone asking, “What’s next?” and ready to build a life that feels as good as it looks. As Pam reminds us, reinvention isn’t a milestone. It’s a mindset.

Pam Seplow, founder of PS SQUARED Advisors, is a talent strategist, recognized thought leader and a coach with a successful career as a Human Resources and Talent Management executive.

You can find her at https://pssquaredadvisors.com/

In this conversation, Lorne Novolker shares his journey from selling computer training on audio tapes to leading a global learning company. Along the way, he reveals the real (and messy) truths about entrepreneurship: the constant pivots, the long-game mindset, and the unseen hard work behind "overnight success."

Key insights include how to build trust with clients, the art of "slow-boiling" innovation into change-resistant cultures, why "playing the long game" beats chasing quick wins, and how the best leaders combine authenticity with business discipline.

Key Takeaways:
• Build trust first — innovation follows.
• Growth rarely looks like a straight line.
• Celebrate small wins to fuel long-term success.
• Stay authentic; people can smell pretense.
• Never underestimate the power of relationships.

You can learn more and connect with Lorne here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorne-novolker/

Ever felt like you’re making it up as you go? Good. That’s how great leaders are made.

In this episode, we sit down with Tamar Elkeles—former CLO at Qualcomm and an L&D legend—to talk about bold moves, scrappy thinking, and what it really takes to lead in a resource-constrained environment. She talks about solving problems before you're asked to, contributing more than you cost, and taking the kind of risks that actually drives change.

Budget or not, Tamar reminds us that resourcefulness is a superpower— and if you want something badly enough, you’ll find a way to make it happen. From rethinking L&D’s role in the business to leaning into AI, startups, and innovation, her advice is real, actionable, and energizing. This episode is your reminder: you don’t need to have it all figured out to lead with impact.