Unserious

It's no secret that the gap between stated company culture and the reality of the employee experience can be enormous. And we've all been there when the employee survey rolls back around with no real change from the last one. In this Upshots episode, designer and executive Leonardo De La Rocha returns to Unserious to share real ways to take action on company culture with tangible actions and measurable outcomes, zeroing in on the pivotal role of managers in transforming company culture from the inside out."It sucks to work at a company where you bought into the culture and then it's just not there. If your company's promising something and doesn't deliver on it, employees are going to be looking elsewhere so they can find that." - Leonardo De La RochaPDF cheat sheet @ https://bit.ly/upshotsdelarochaConnect with Leonardo on LinkedIn, on Instagram at @delar0cha, or check out his Adobe Portfolio.Follow Unserious in your podcast app, at unserious.com, and on Instagram and Threads at @unserious.fun.

Uncertain times have a tendency to stop us in our tracks. But marketing leader and mental health advocate Andrew J. Coate posits that life may be more ambiguous than not and offers a practical and effective approach for managing ourselves during times of flux. Embracing the situation might not just be a matter of survival, but can even be a catalyst for growth and opportunity!"Look at ambiguity as a chance to gain instead of a chance to lose. These kind of moments are the best opportunity to grow, to test, to learn, to stretch yourself, to figure out something new, to try things." - Andrew J. CoateCheat sheet @ https://bit.ly/upshotscoateConnect with Andrew on LinkedIn or follow on Instagram at @andrewjcoate and @maggieandscooch.Follow Unserious in your podcast app, at unserious.com, and on Instagram and Threads at @unserious.fun.

The "sophomore slump" is a notorious curse for artists who set high expectations with the debut. Luckily here at Unserious, our expectations for season 2 were just to keep shining the light on more brilliant people and their wonderful ideas - and we were not disappointed! In this season closer, J.B. and Molly are joined by producer Micah to look back at favorite moments and surprises from the season before the long form podcast takes a little break.Follow Unserious in your podcast app, at unserious.com, and on Instagram and Threads at @unserious.fun.

Work and life are often defined by milestone moments. But getting to the top of the mountain is only halfway; we need to plan for and manage energy to get all the way back down safely. In this Upshots episode, product and marketing leader and founder of PRUXM,  Natala Menezes, shares her insights for keeping the momentum post-launch. From setting strategic post-launch goals to the necessity of a dedicated follow-through team, we're lending you the compass to navigate the often-overlooked yet crucial descent from launch day's summit."We often focus on launch day, but that is not actually what makes your business or product successful. It's the before and after." - Natala Menezes Cheat sheet @ bit.ly/upshotsmenezesFor all things product, user experience, and marketing, you can connect with Natala on LinkedIn and pruxm.ai.Follow Unserious in your podcast app, at unserious.com, and on Instagram and Threads at @unserious.fun.

The journey to finding your own leadership voice is very personal and can be wildly confusing. Yes, it’s about authenticity, but it takes a long time to figure ourselves out.  Dr. Vignetta Charles is the CEO of ETR, which is committed to improving health outcomes and advancing health equity for youth, families, and communities, and is a lifelong advocate and leader in healthcare equity. She's also a childhood friend of J.B. and Molly. In this episode, the group reunites to discuss the factors of cultivating a leadership voice that resonates with authenticity and compels change. "My personal voice as a leader has been about trying to uplift complicated truths [and] have people lean into that complication as the gift that it is.” - Dr. Vignetta CharlesConnect with Vignetta on LinkedIn and learn more about ETR at etr.org.Follow Unserious in your podcast app, at unserious.com, and on Instagram and Threads at @unserious.fun.

In today's lean and efficient corporate world, the traditional mentor-mentee relationship may feel like a thing of the past. But in this Upshots episode, Kim-Long Nguyen, an operations leader in Asia and Europe, lowers the stakes through targeted conversations with leaders or peers. Kim-Long's approach of low pressure conversations on specific topics can blossom into valuable mentorships - or fall by the wayside with no harm done. This is a must-listen for anyone aiming to advance their professional journey through strategic support of their community."In this day and age, it's really hard to get people to commit so I'd rather get small doses of yeses before you officially become mentor and mentee.” - Kim-Long NguyenCheat sheet @ bit.ly/upshotsnguyen You can connect with Kim-Long on LinkedIn or follow her travel and business content on Instagram and TikTok. Follow Unserious in your podcast app, at unserious.com, and on Instagram and Threads at @unserious.fun.

For many, a mother is the original mentor and manager in the job of life. The foundational lessons we learn in those early days at home quietly leave an imprint on our professional behaviors and relationships. The management of motherhood is hard enough, and moms who also work outside the home rarely get the rest they need or deserve. In this episode,  J.B. speaks with Laura Krafka, operations powerhouse and author of The Human Side of Motherhood, to unpack the many parallels along the way to guiding children and grown-ups to find their purpose and potential."I see that greatness in people... if I can figure out how to best support them, they're going to reach their potential... farther than I even imagined that they could." - Laura KrafkaConnect with Laura on LinkedIn or laurakrafka.com. The Human Side of Motherhood is available on paperback or audio/Kindle. Follow Unserious in your podcast app, at unserious.com, and on Instagram and Threads at @unserious.fun.

The thing about feedback is that we're often not open or trusting enough to give or receive it — as much as our culture statements might say otherwise. Having a structured method for advice and feedback is key to transforming teams into circles of confidants that accelerate growth. In this Upshots episode, Chase Harden, Lead Facilitator and head of Matching at Sidebar introduces the Chair of Focus, a surprisingly effective method for feedback that unlocks potential and cultivates a culture of transparency, empathy, and continuous improvement."This approach of providing live and candid feedback while the receiver is off-camera nurtures an environment of openness, honesty, and trust." - Chase HardenCheat sheet @ bit.ly/upshotsharden Connect with Chase on LinkedIn and check out Sidebar at sidebar.com.Follow Unserious in your podcast app, at unserious.com, and on Instagram and Threads at @unserious.fun.

When we set out last year to explore how creative people make outsized impact during times of rapid change, generative AI was shaping up to be a huge part of the conversation.  We have a lot of questions, an underlying sense of uncertainty, maybe even dread. But ready or not, here it comes. In this episode, we're inspired by Manjula Nadkarni, a creative powerhouse and co-founder of Yuni, a personal, multi-modal AI for creative people. Manjula shares empowering points of view on how creative people can use generative AI in a way that expands human potential while safeguarding the originality that defines us. "Creativity isn't just about what you make, it's about how you're inspired to think. It's always about people and I don't think that's going to change.” - Manjula NadkarniCheck out Yuni at hiyuni.coFollow Unserious in your podcast app, at unserious.com, and on Instagram and Threads at @unserious.fun.

The practice of vision writing can be challenging yet profoundly rewarding for personal and professional growth. In this Upshots episode, Jennifer Kattula, General Manager of Global Marketing at Microsoft Advertising shares her secrets to not just getting it done, but having fun. Jennifer's approach is an annual personal tradition of vision writing alongside family, turning this introspective activity into an enjoyable and meaningful ritual. Whether it's shaping the future of your career, focusing on family, or enhancing personal well-being, Jennifer's insights will help you prioritize what truly matters, enabling you to turn your dreams into actionable realities."These are ambitious and exciting and inspirational things... A vision should energize you and allow you to reconnect with what's important to you.” - Jennifer KattulaCheat sheet @  https://bit.ly/upshotsjenkattulaConnect with Jennifer on LinkedIn.Follow Unserious in your podcast app, at unserious.com, and on Instagram and Threads at @unserious.fun.