On The Brink With Andi Simon

Hear how to transform your company by telling your story Suppose you have a great company with fantastic talent. Could speaking become a critical part of your marketing and business development strategy? Perhaps your team could tell your story, explain and enhance the value of your solutions, through the speaker circuit. Although it was difficult to do in-person speaking during the last two years of the pandemic, those times are fading into the background (as we all hope they do) and speaking has emerged once again as a very vital and viable way to tell your story. And that is what speaking is all about — crafting and sharing the right stories to propel your business forward through the voices of your talented leadership. Listen to Steve Markman tell you how he helps businesses do just that. Enjoy. Watch and listen to our conversation here Marketing your company and your brand through speaking engagements As the founder of Steve Markman Speaker Management, a public speaking specialty firm, Steve excels at pr

Hear how to really think about the conversations you're having What if you could see the world through a fresh lens? In today’s podcast, I interview Rose Fass, an author, a business executive, and an inspiration to me and to you. Rose has written one book and is on her way with her next one. Her first book, The Chocolate Conversation, focuses on how our conversations become who we are, what we hear, and how we build relationships. Great conversations help us craft clear messages, build a shared worldview, uncover concerns and uncertainties, and help you and others move forward together. As you listen to Rose and her own personal journey, you are going to rethink your own conversations, paying attention to both what you say and what others reflect on your thoughts. Listen in because there is so much to learn! Watch and listen to our conversation here Learning the lesson of resilience from a dandelion Rose tells the story of being a nine-year-old girl, walking home from school with her friends, a bit frustrate

Learn how to become the person you really want to be I met Linda Vettrus-Nichols through her lovely husband Terry Earthwind Nichols, with whom I've done two podcasts. Here is our most recent one. Linda brings you a different perspective on how you can take control of your life and become the person you have always wanted to be. She talks about her own journey and how she got to where she is now, as a coach, as a person really into thought leadership, and as someone who inspires people to do what they might otherwise not have done (like write a book in 30 days). Linda's a really special person to hear from. Listen in! Watch and listen to our conversation here It's not so bad to really love others, and love yourself a little too Linda is the CEO of Evolutionary Healer, a global transformational performance improvement company which she co-founded with her husband Terry. She calls herself “the queen of clarity” and believes that at the end of the day, love and solid relationships are all that matter. As a spiri

Hear how your organization should embrace change to grow   George Swisher is a former marketing entrepreneur and management consultant. He has a 15-year track record of improving company performance and shifting cultures to effective change management. He currently is co-founder and CEO of www.changeforce.ai, a software platform that helps leaders manage organizational change more precisely by analyzing the sentiment of company conversations in real time. A really interesting platform. Remember, I'm a corporate anthropologist who, like George, helps companies change, so I loved this interview. So will you. Watch and listen to our conversation here When you begin to change, things aren't all changing at the same time And you're not quite sure if it's moving at all, and sometimes you're moving a battleship with an oar. You're just hoping it's moving somewhere. But the technology which George has developed can identify where a culture is moving, which areas are strong and which are not.  First, he gathers data

Hear why a great customer experience means everything I am always excited to share a great woman’s story with you, our audience. Melissa Copeland is a great woman to know. She had a wonderful career, as so many women have had, only to discover that flying all over the world was not great for her family, or even herself. She pivoted and launched Blue Orbit Consulting, which allowed her to refocus her attention on clients closer to home and on projects dear to her heart—like improving customer interactions for her customers. Our conversations roam all around the challenges she, and I, see among our clients as their customers are changing, service expectations have dramatically shifted (where fast means right now), and staffing has become an uphill climb, to say the least. What to do? Call Melissa, who brings her expertise in organizational transitions and interpersonal growth and development to the task at hand. Clients love her approach, and I think you will as well. Enjoy.  Watch and listen to our conversatio

Hear how when teams work together, everybody succeeds You may have not paid much attention to the cultures inside law firms. Law firms are really no different than other firms. Some have strong cultures that seem to work smoothly. Others need a hand. One hand they often reach for is Amy Gardner, our interviewee in today's podcast. Amy is charming. A smart woman who has worked in law firms and now with them to help them reimagine their organizations and create teams that work better together than alone. In our conversation, you will hear ideas that are as relevant to your company or non-profit as they are to Amy’s clients. As we all try to navigate our new work culture, her story is well worth a listen.   Watch and listen to our conversation here It doesn’t matter what type of company you have today—you need strong collaborative teams that are looking to help each other succeed No longer can we all be competing for position, power and promotions. Today, we have to find ways to talk to each other, build relati

Hear how anthropology can send your business zooming to the top I love to read the Financial Times. It provides a very different perspective of the world from our US papers. As I was browsing recently, I came upon a story about Gillian Tett, FT's US Managing Editor, and her new book, Anthro-Vision. Curious as I am, my question was, What is a journalist doing writing a book about anthropology, and promoting AI (Anthropology Intelligence)? My joyful discovery was that Gillian is an anthropologist who became a journalist, a bit by chance and then by design. Her book is about the power of observation. Whether in Tajikistan as an aspiring anthropologist studying marriage rituals or reporting on a major conference before the financial crisis of 2008, she mastered the art of listening to the stories being told, the resistance to change that people demonstrate, and the wisdom an anthropologist can offer—if only others are willing to listen. As a fellow anthropologist, I am fascinated and I know you will be too. Enjoy

Hear how sleep affects every aspect of your work and your life I had the pleasure of meeting Riley Jarvis and learning all about his sleep program. Sleep doesn’t come easily to me—or to lots of people. And staying asleep is often a challenge. Riley struggled with his own health and well-being, then discovered that sleep was the answer to his health issues. As you listen to his story, you are going to want to know more. Definitely listen in enjoy! Watch and listen to our conversation here The way you live every day is closely connected to how you sleep every night. These two things are not separate or disconnected. How you prepare for sleep, quiet your mind and body, and move into a restful period is of critical importance to how well you will sleep. Listen to our discussion and learn more. Perhaps you too can find a solution to your well-being in Riley’s approach to sleep. You can get in touch with Riley via LinkedIn, his blog and his website The Sleep Consultant, or email him at riley@thesleepconsultant.com

Hear how to build a culture that values men and women  There are times when you are fortunate to meet exceptional women. Kim Graham Lee is one wonderful woman who is moving in a very important direction — how to build allyship for men and women. Kim is the CEO of Integrating Women Leaders (IWL) which is joining with Women Business Collaborative, of which I am a member, to conduct the first nationally-focused study to measure the practice of allyship with women in corporate America today. The primary focus of IWL's 2022 benchmark study is to take stock of where we are in building better cultures where men and women can support each other. This is truly groundbreaking...please plan to listen. Watch and listen to our conversation here When women are in leadership roles, companies do better Yet for women to move into corporate leadership roles is often a challenge. Women do not need to be “fixed.” Rather, they need business environments where they can bring their “whole selves” into the workplace, and find a cul

Hear how to discover what really matters to you At times, my podcast, On the Brink with Andi Simon, brings me guests whom I would never have had the opportunity to meet otherwise. Sumit Gupta is one such person. As you listen to his story, you too are going to say, “Wow.” What an interesting journey he has had. How has he been able to succeed, rethink himself and his career, focus on new directions, and succeed again? What does success mean, anyhow? He answers these and many more questions. Listen in! Watch and listen to our conversation here Ask yourself, “What does matter to me?” And then wonder if you are focused on those things and working toward actualizing them. Sumit is very interested in sharing with you his perspective and learnings about a deeper sense of what matters to each of us. He teaches us how to find that truth through our awareness of who we are and what is important to our well-being and our identity. Here are some of the areas we discuss:  Somatic awareness, somatic practices and somati

Hear how to find your own true happiness Each podcast is a story for our guest to share with you, our audience, so you can “see, feel and think” in new ways. Today’s podcast is with Rebecca “Becky” Morrison. She shares with you a recurring theme which we have found with many of our own clients: success is not what it is meant to be. Happiness, that thing we all aspire to achieve, is somewhere beyond the job, the career, and even the home life you have built for yourself and your family. But where is happiness? And how do you find it? Becky has great answers, which I know will speak to you. Watch and listen to our conversation here In our conversation, Becky and I talk about her discovering: Happiness is for every day, not just someday. Happiness is for everyone. You, yes YOU, were born to be happy. Happiness and challenge are NOT mutually exclusive. Happiness isn’t one-size-fits-all. You have your own happiness recipe which will change as your life does. Her recipe, captured in her book, The Happiness Reci

Hear how to create an environment where people love to work! I always enjoy talking with Terry Nichols (H.E. Amb. Terry Earthwind Nichols). We had a great conversation during our first podcast in January of last year. Today we discuss how Terry’s life story has taken him in many directions, leading him to a splendid place where he is helping people find their own way. After learning that he is a Native American, he began to see his own life through a fresh lens. In the U.S. Navy, he experienced a range of tests and challenges which led him to become an innovator and visionary. Now as a Visionary Strategist, Terry works with those seeking to change the way they and their businesses achieve success. Listen in and learn! Watch and listen to our conversation here Success not based on fixed goals but on a long-term appreciation of achievement During our podcast, Terry and I not only talk about his ideas around consortium, vision, achievement and what makes a good leader, we also touched on Evolutionary Healer, a

Hear how you can build wealth AND a happy life  Laura Rotter and I met through the Business Council of Westchester, a wonderful organization that brings together great people, men and women. Laura is the founder of True Abundance Advisors, a financial life planning and wealth management firm. As she tells you her life journey, her story will resonate with you. She is a great woman to interview and share her journey with our listeners. I know you will gain knowledge about yourself, your business, and what makes you truly happy. Are you living to work or working to live?   Watch and listen to our conversation here None of us find out what we “really” want to do at the beginning of our careers. We are on a journey. Along the way, we discover all the things that we love to do and those that aren’t in our wheelhouse. Laura did just that. She had many years of managing money for institutional investors, then found that her definition of abundance was shifting. She will tell you how that discovery happened for her—

Hear how to navigate change so you can grow and thrive Laurie Hirsch Schulz did something quite awesome: she left corporate life to pursue her calling as a coach and a champion for small businesses, particularly for women solopreneurs. She had a great job, only to discover that she had had enough. Sounds like a recurring theme among many of our podcast guests. They are talented women ready to steer their power and their energy in new directions. Laurie's creative genius is in seeing unmet needs in her markets and finding innovative ways to solve them—rather Blue Ocean style. So much to learn from her! Enjoy. Watch and listen to our conversation here We talk about the many different types of leaders Laurie works with: Career Explorers: Professionals who are ready to purposefully define what personal and career success means to them and build the path forward to get there.  Small Business Founders: Mission-focused entrepreneurs who are committed to building their businesses by harnessing opportunities in an e

Learn how to grow your business through your employees What is a great performance coach? Meet Kathy D’Agostino. Kathy and I met through the Business Council of Westchester where I was giving a talk about my book, Rethink: Smashing The Myths of Women in Business. Like so many women, Kathy had a great corporate job until it wasn’t such a great corporate job. Her passion was in coaching people. As she earned her professional certifications, Kathy realized that she had, indeed, found her calling. Her particular focus is helping leaders improve their employees' performance. Listen in, learn and share. Enjoy! Watch and listen to our conversation here A leader without great followers can't do a very good job leading an organization and sustaining its growth during these fast-changing times. But how do you grow your employees and make sure their skills are aligned with what is needed when this volatile business environment keeps shifting? Kathy has some great solutions. She talks with me about her approach, why it

Hear how to rethink your life's journey and find your purpose Meg Nocero has several books that reflect her own journey from grief to a meaningful life. Her latest book, Butterfly Awakens: A Memoir of Transformation Through Grief, takes you through her story which could easily be your own. How many of you are doing a job you thought was your purpose in life, only to realize that you are bored, frustrated, unfulfilled, and searching for something more meaningful? What do you do, deal with it or reach for another pathway? In our conversation today, Meg shares her own discovery about how she could do something that mattered more to her. She needed a crisis in her life, the loss of her mother, to be that catalytic moment propelling her forward. Maybe you are going through something similar? Have a listen. Watch and listen to our conversation here Are you living a life you really love? If not, there's a way to change it. You might not want to travel the same pathway that Meg Nocero has done. But you will learn a

Learn how you can reach or exceed your income goals! Jessica Yarborough brings to you, our listeners, her highly successful approach to helping consultants and businesses significantly accelerate their growth. Her process is an interesting one. In today's podcast, we talk about the challenges people face who have created courses or are selling low-end programs who are not reaching their income goals. Listen in and let’s think about how to help you build your sales, create long-term clients, and hit your income goals. Watch and listen to our conversation here What you can learn from listening to Jessica's story Research your clients Work with people with proven track records to bring you results Stay focused on the process. You can connect with Jessica on LinkedIn, Facebook, her website, her blog or her YouTube channel. About Jessica Yarborough Jessica is a Business Strategist and Growth Expert who specializes in advising entrepreneurs who want to build a business that's scalable, sustainable and wildly pro

Hear about the amazing innovations in our food supply You are going to love learning from Anne Greven. Anne is the Global Head of Food and Agribusiness Innovation and the FoodBytes! Platform at Rabobank. Our shared interests are all around change, specifically, how to create a new way to produce food at a time when agriculture is facing escalating crises in soil, water and the environment. In today’s podcast, you will listen to this amazing woman talk about her own personal journey and what she has learned as she moved up in the banking world. You just might leave feeling a little better about our planet, too. Watch and listen to our conversation here Some of the key topics Anne and I discuss include: How does a woman manage her career path in an industry that is both European and male-dominated? As a woman who spent 14 years as an executive at three banks, I particularly enjoyed listening to Anne's story and experienced many of the same challenges she has been able to overcome. Anne has a deep interest i

Hear about amazing innovations in our food supply! You are going to love learning from Anne Greven. Anne is the Global Head of Food and Agribusiness Innovation and the FoodBytes! Platform at Rabobank. Our shared interests are all around change, specifically, how to create a new way to produce food at a time when agriculture is facing escalating crises in soil, water and the environment. In today’s podcast, you will listen to this amazing woman talk about her own personal journey and what she has learned as she moved up in the banking world. You just might leave feeling a little better about our planet, too. Watch and listen to our conversation here Some of the key topics Anne and I discuss include: How does a woman manage her career path in an industry that is both European and male-dominated? As a woman who spent 14 years as an executive at three banks, I particularly enjoyed listening to Anne's story and experienced many of the same challenges she has been able to overcome. Anne has a deep interest in t

Hear how to overcome the difficulties that block change In our podcast today, Linda Coughlin and I get deep into a conversation about the challenges of working with organizations that need to change. You are going to love this interview. Lin is an expert on how to help companies rethink their processes and develop new ways to bring together new teams, engage different generations and successfully build new cultures, often from the merger of different organizations. As you'll hear, she and I are on the same page. Enjoy. Watch and listen to our conversation here Some of the ideas Linda and I discuss include: Why it is so hard for people to see what is right before them — one of my favorite topics. The power of culture to support an organization or undermine its initiatives. How to help people develop new solutions on their own, so consultants can build the trust that is needed to move an organization forward. About Linda Coughlin As Founder/President of Great Circle Associates, Linda and her firm provide int