In this episode, Curtis Jenkins dives into the concept of Human ROI—how leadership, talent, and organizational design can dramatically amplify enterprise value. Elisa Mahendra, a seasoned human capital strategist and creator of the Human ROI Framework, shares insights on transforming workforce strategy amidst rapid change and AI disruption.

Chapters:

00:00 - Why organization design, LOD, takes the longest in M&A integrations and how ego and complexity are hurdles

01:20 - Introduction to Curtis Jenkins and guest Elisa Mahendra, creator of the Human ROI Framework

02:20 - Elisa's journey from accidental HR to enterprise value advocate and her work with private equity firms

03:37 - The origins of the Human ROI concept, rooted in finance and talent development

06:28 - The role of enterprise and investor value in individual and organizational contributions

07:34 - How to articulate impact and value to hiring managers and investors

09:06 - Building systems that make value visible at organizational and individual levels

10:50 - Framing impact with the 'so what' question for resumes and performance reviews

12:30 - The importance of quantifying results and understanding intangible value (culture, engagement)

14:02 - Making it easier for managers and recruiters to see your impact

15:20 - Deep dive into the Human ROI framework: variables that drive and erode enterprise value

16:38 - Layoffs, AI's impact, and how individuals can demonstrate their ROI in volatile times

18:24 - Elisa's naming of 'Human ROI' as a unifying framework connecting all her work

20:12 - Talent capacity, leadership leverage, and ecosystem design as pillars of durable value

22:26 - The concept of force multipliers in organizational impact and investor perspectives

23:52 - Managing organizational change during M&A and the importance of systemic ecosystem design

27:23 - Challenges in rapid org design, data gaps, and balancing immediate impact with long-term stability

30:19 - Navigating legal, cultural, and footprint considerations in global organization restructuring

32:22 - Defining the ripple effect: Who is the true recipient of Human ROI—individual, organization, or ecosystem?

33:49 - Elisa emphasizes scaling impact in organizations over individual efforts when possible

36:13 - Building ecosystems to sustain valuable change through intentional design and community leverage

37:44 - Effective change management: beyond communication and training to behavior and systemic adaptation

40:54 - Elisa’s upcoming book 'Power to Rise' and her framework for career and life reset

44:43 - The 'Power' model: Pause, Own, Work, Engage, Rise—tools for reclaiming agency during transition

50:00 - Recognizing scams and AI-enabled fraud in job searches and personal branding

51:20 - The profound impact of mentoring and helping individuals grow, even in small moments

54:02 - Supporting women during maternity leave and how vulnerability influences career resilience

55:44 - Connecting community, trust, and authentic conversations in professional relationships

58:03 - How to connect with Elisa Mahendra and continue the conversation

If this episode resonated with you, take the next step and connect with our guest, Elissa Mahendra. She shares powerful insights on owning your career with clarity, confidence, and community—and this is just the beginning of the conversation.

Reach out to Elissa directly at elissa.mahendra@gmail.com, connect with her on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/emahendra/, or learn more about her work at https://www.elissamahendra.com.

Keep an eye out for her upcoming debut book, Power to Rise: 5 Steps to Own Your Career with Clarity, Confidence & Community, launching this fall.

This episode is brought to you by Thinkific. If you’re ready to turn your knowledge into a course or build a scalable learning business, visit https://www.thinkific.com to get started.

In this episode, Jennifer Speciale shares her insights on turning vague career visions into concrete executive realities. Whether you're an aspiring leader or an experienced executive, learn how strategic questioning, authentic storytelling, and mindset shifts can unlock your next career chapter.

Chapters

00:00 Managing client interviews: assessing strategic thinking and leadership presence

01:14 Introduction and episode overview: from vague goals to targeted executive roles

01:31 Jennifer's background: from executive recruiter to career designer

02:23 Her insider perspective on hiring and leadership in top tech companies

03:05 How observing Amazon’s hiring process shaped her coaching approach

04:43 The power of coaching to unlock candidates’ confidence and authenticity

05:21 Finding fulfillment by helping clients realize their unique value

06:24 The pivotal moment of recognizing her own “specialness” and traits that led to success

08:00 Jennifer's journey from aspiring doctor to recruiter and coach

09:29 Her unique approach: teaching clients to fish and build confidence openly

11:05 Becoming unapologetic about career goals and designing your own tribe

12:16 Prototyping roles and navigating layoffs strategically

13:10 How clients struggle with articulating value and Jenny's process for clarity

15:03 The importance of storytelling and understanding failures as learning experiences

16:17 Guiding clients to communicate their impact simply and effectively

18:26 Focus on executive candidates and tailoring coaching for leadership levels

20:45 Strategies for senior leaders to articulate their contributions to boards and stakeholders

22:24 How appearing "easy to work with" can inhibit career growth

23:38 The importance of setting boundaries and managing perceptions at work

27:48 Overcoming insecurities and clarifying goals to avoid being overused or undervalued

28:37 Techniques to illustrate workload and ask for strategic opportunities

30:49 Jennifer’s three-step coaching framework: diagnostics, branding, transition & agility

32:23 How to prepare clients for strategic interviews and assess leadership qualities

35:10 Asking powerful questions to uncover true needs of hiring managers

37:07 The importance of interview control, curiosity, and asking insightful questions

39:32 Being authentic and aligning your messaging with your true self during interviews

42:45 Navigating ambiguity and assessing cultural fit in roles

44:05 Impactful client stories: from layoffs to fulfilling health tech innovations

46:43 The reward of helping clients find unexpected career pathways

47:13 The challenges CEOs face with AI and digital transformation

50:08 Managing corporate governance and external pressures around AI investments

51:55 Upcoming group programs for peer learning and collective growth

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to connect with our guest, Jennifer Speciale, and continue the conversation. Jennifer is an executive leadership coach and former executive recruiter who helps senior leaders turn vague career visions into concrete roles and measurable business impact.

You can reach Jennifer directly and schedule a discovery meeting here:

https://calendly.com/jenniferspeciale-executiveleadership/discovery-meeting?month=2026-02, connect with her on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferspeciale/

, or learn more about her work at www.jenniferspecial.com.

This episode is sponsored by LinkedIn Learning, a leading platform for professional development with thousands of courses to help you grow your skills and advance your career. Learn more at https://www.linkedin.com/learning.

In this episode, Curtis Jenkins hosts estate planning expert Rick Durfee Jr. to explore how thoughtful legal and family strategies can create lasting wealth and protect family relationships across centuries. Whether you're starting fresh or planning for future generations, this conversation provides actionable insights to secure your legacy.

Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction: Why estate planning matters for family legacy

02:14 - Rick Durfee’s background and approach: Beyond just transferring wealth

05:08 - Protecting family relationships and avoiding disputes

09:28 - Unique differentiators of Durfee Law Group: Creating incentives and preventing litigation

10:59 - Making wealth last for 500 years through proper structuring

17:03 - Family councils and involving children in financial decision-making

21:23 - Talking about money, death, and family values openly

27:13 - Entry-level estate planning documents for young adults

38:48 - Protecting assets in marriage and separation scenarios

43:41 - Starting now: The importance of early action

45:38 - Visual tools: Diagrams for complex estate plans

49:00 - The personal impact of helping families: Lessons learned

52:15 - How to connect with Rick Durfee and access resources

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to connect with our guest, Rick Durfee, and continue the conversation. Rick is the founder of Durfee Law Group and shares valuable insights on estate planning, legacy building, and creating trust structures that protect families and businesses.

You can reach Rick directly at rick@durfeelawgroup.com, connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickdurfee/, or learn more about his work at https://www.durfeelawgroup.com/.

Rick is also promoting his new book, Trust Issues. To go deeper into the concepts from the book, you can download a free companion workbook here: https://www.durfeelawgroup.com/trust-issues-bonus.

This episode is sponsored by ConvertKit, a powerful email marketing platform designed for creators who want to grow their audience and build meaningful relationships with their subscribers. Learn more at https://convertkit.com.