

Geeks, Geezers, and Googlization Show
Ira S Wolfe
If you think this is just another podcast, think again. We are the voice of the most important crucial conversations confronting business leaders and people today. Our goal is to bring you ways to reimagine tomorrow and explore the impact and convergence of business, technology, and people.
Recognized as one of the top all-time leadership and management podcasts (Goodpods), top leadership podcast (Podcast Tonight), top 1.5% of all podcasts (Listen Notes), Top 100 podcast (Chartable) to mention a few!
Recognized as one of the top all-time leadership and management podcasts (Goodpods), top leadership podcast (Podcast Tonight), top 1.5% of all podcasts (Listen Notes), Top 100 podcast (Chartable) to mention a few!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 16, 2021 • 45min
Jobs, Labor, and What to Expect in 2022
Making the right business (and personal) decisions heading into 2022 can be freaking terrifying! We want certainty and predictability. We’re experiencing “VUCA-fatigue” from all the Volatility-Uncertainty-Complexity-Ambiguity). We’re hungry for facts and answers. Unfortunately facts these days get lost in the noise, misinformation, and abundance of bulls***. That’s why in one of our most favorite Geeks Geezers Googlization episodes each year, we’re excited to welcome the experts from ITR Economics and this year we get to talk with Jackie Greene, Vice President of Economic and an “Economics Geek.” Here's why it's so important you pay attention to what Jackie has to say: ITR Economics holds the remarkable distinction of being the oldest privately held forecasting firm in the country (USA) and most accurate with a forecasting accuracy rate of 94.7% since 1985! Their employment forecast accuracy is even higher than that - 99% in most years. What’s ahead for jobs and hiring? Will businesses still struggle to fill open positions? Will workers continue to quit jobs and reshuffle careers? Beyond the threat of COVID and its variants, what economic and labor trends should we be watching? Are we headed for more growth or a recession? Which industries will see the most growth or contraction? How will the Infrastructure Bill impact us, who will benefit, and when? What you’ll learn here is there is no going back to normal or magic bullet solutions. But there is a way to make smarter decisions heading into 2022 and that starts right here. It’s time to click play.

Dec 9, 2021 • 46min
Thinking About A Career Change? Start Here!
If you’re thinking that the first place to start a career change is your resume, think again. On this week's episode of the GGG Show, we're thrilled to welcome expert career transition coach, Amy Sanchez, of Swim Against The Current. And she has a tip for you: if the first thing you do before changing jobs is to get your resume ready, history will likely repeat itself! With the Great Awakening in full swing, many folks are seeking out greener pastures in their professional lives. The movement is jaw-dropping with 2/3 of American workers reflecting on their purpose and 1/2 reconsidering the work they do. Simply put - most people are looking to make better career choices and do work they enjoy. Talk about the #shifthittingyourplans! Amy suggests this: While listening to our inner voice may be a critical first step, having an advisor or coach to help you navigate those uncharted career waters is not only helpful and recommended. After all, this is one of the most important decisions we all make in our lives - so we better get it right. Amy helps business leaders clarify and pursue their ideal career path and hone their leadership style so they can maximize their happiness, impact, and earning potential. Among the many things we'll discuss with Amy are her 5 questions to ask if you're thinking about a career change. Please join us as we explore how to find work and careers we enjoy in a very VUCA-world!

Dec 1, 2021 • 47min
Reimagining the Future of Education
Schools are opening back up but education will never be the same. Let’s start with a record number of teacher vacancies, alarming quit rates, and 1 out of 9 high schools that produce more dropouts than graduates. What changes are needed? Like teachers, answers are in short supply. But our guest today Dr. Kevin Berkopes of Crossroads Education and his team are tackling this issue head-on by researching, testing, and incubating disruptive concepts in education to prepare students for the future of work. He offers up one of the most innovative approaches you can hardly imagine - outsourcing education as a service! While the world is re-imagining the future of work, we must also reimagine the future of education. We are excited and grateful to welcome special guest, Dr. Kevin Berkopes to The Geeks, Geezers, Googlization Show “stage.” Join us as we explore how to reimagine the future of education to meet the demands of tomorrow!

Nov 24, 2021 • 48min
Rocky Road to Hybrid Work
The much anticipated post-pandemic return to work has gotten off to a very rocky start. Getting hybrid work to work it seems is definitely tougher than going all-in on in-person or all-remote. A recent survey conducted by BambooHR revealed that one in three (37%) office workers actually said they feel worse being in the office than they did at their lowest point during remote work—and we can all remember some pretty low lows from the past year. Making all-or-none decisions as well as the wrong hybrid model creates a Catch-22 for employers: force employees to report back to their desks and some will quit. Close the office and others will jump ship. It seems flexibility has soared to the top of employee demands almost overnight, catching companies flat-footed without a playbook. What's the right recipe to get the best of both worlds? How can your company reap the benefits of hybrid work and avoid the headaches? Scott Hirsch, a co-founder of TalentMarketplace, joins Geeks Geezers Googlization to explore the future of hybrid work and share a few tips on finding the perfect hire. Scott is a young entrepreneur with passions that lie in enabling business processes through the innovative use of technology. He met his business partners while at Simon Frasier University, and with $3,000 the three of them started TalentMarketplace. Their goal is to help companies find the best talent and help candidates find the perfect job.

Nov 17, 2021 • 47min
Reimagine Your Tomorrow with Life-Work Integration
It’s your choice. What will it be in 2022? There is no get-out-of-jail-free card to escape uncertainty. Change is accelerating and there is no pause button. Our Geeks Geezers Googlization Show guest this week is no stranger to the show. Keith Campagna, long-term listeners might remember, was the 1st GGG co-host, before leaving to pursue his 2 life passions - sales and life-work integration. Keith shares why work-life balance just isn’t enough anymore and why we need to cancel our "default factor." He is transforming how employers create value for their employees and workers find positivity, productivity, and personal satisfaction, as well as changing how the HR tech world grows revenues with The ROI Shop.

Nov 11, 2021 • 49min
How Hybrid Employee Experience Works
On the Geeks, Geezers, & Googlization Show as we welcome Gil Cohen, Founder of Employee Experience Design, to discuss the changing demand conditions from employees. R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out what it means to me! Employees may not be singing this classic hit to their employers, but they're certainly telling them what they want and need in many other ways. Forty percent of the American workforce is expected to quit their current jobs by the end of the year even without another offer in hand (McKinsey Q3 report). 90% of workers would trade money for purpose in the work that they do (Betterup) 51% want better work-life integration (McKinsey) 59% leave work feeling exhausted (SHRM) 30% dread going to work (SHRM) 26% do not feel emotionally safe at work (SHRM) 30% say their workplace culture makes them irritable at home (SHRM) Simply put...employers are swinging but missing employee expectations and employees are #swipingleft. Add to this the shrinking world population and expectation for many baby boomers to soon retire and the conclusion is clear. The pendulum is currently full tilt on the increasing demand-side while the supply side is dwindling. To get more employees to #swiperight, leaders must work with employees to create a clear and compelling Employee Experience plan. If you're a leader who's unsure what Employee Experience is and how to develop a plan for it, this episode's for you!

Nov 7, 2021 • 49min
Staying Power, Becoming a MAGNET to Keep Employees
The Great Resignation is in full bloom. Quitting your job is no longer a black mark on your resume but a badge of honor on social media. No one should be surprised because complicated relationships rarely last very long. And yet up until just recently, most employers barely heard or intently ignored the shrill cries of employees: "Why don't my bosses care about me?" or "Why is it so hard for my company to listen to what I really need?" A quick fix is elusive but immediate change is essential if employers are to stem the turnover tsunami. Listen to this episode as we tackle this issue with Workforce #Retention expert, Cara Silletto. Cara literally wrote the book employee retention: “Staying Power - Why Your Employees Leave and How to Keep Them Longer.” Let's face it. Employees are pushing back. After years of lip service to employee engagement and well-being, “enough is enough.” Something's got to give, and as the past few months have shown, work still can’t get done without workers. As employers brace for an unprecedented surge of more demands, higher wages, better opportunities, and “The Great Reset.” During this episode, Cara reveals her best practices for becoming a M.A.G.N.E.T. brand for employment and tips to close the derisive gap between managers and employees.

Oct 27, 2021 • 49min
9 Notable Leadership Skills of The Future Leader
Leadership expectations are being transformed every second of every day. What has become painfully clear is that the leadership skills of yesterday won't solve or even manage the problems of tomorrow. To find the skills and mindsets that leaders will need to successfully navigate a never-normal VUCA world, Jacob Morgan interviewed the top CEO's around the world (140 +) for his latest best-selling book, The Future Leader. Geeks Geezers Googlization is excited to welcome Jacob on this episode of The Geeks, Geezers, & Googlization Show. Jacob reveals what he calls The Notable 9 - 4 mindsets and 5 skills - that leaders need to adopt in order to thrive in the future of work. Here’s a glimpse into what you’ll hear. First, leaders will need to shift their approach and their organizations to a whole new world of work. The truth is that people are making different choices about what they do when they work, and where they work. As evidenced by the recent record-high quit rates, it now takes more than a paycheck to get employees to show up day after day. The workplace is expected to be a center of learning and offer a sense of purpose and well-being. This is one reason why 90 percent of employees have indicated they'd sacrifice money for meaning in the work they do. What can you do to make sure you get things right? Tune in. The Future Leader journey starts right here. Favorite quote: "Nobody likes the journey to Disneyland but everyone loves Disneyland when we get there."

Oct 21, 2021 • 44min
Dare to Dream, Connect Purpose and Work
We all have dreams. But the fact is that 7.5 out of 10 people have experienced loss, trauma, or betrayal and if people don’t transform that energy, they transmit it. Many of these people become leaders of organizations! Over the last 18 pandemic months, there has been a lifetime supply of loss, trauma, and betrayal. The choice all of us need to make is whether we become victims or spur a transformation. This is a defining moment for employers. The employer-employee relationship is on trial. Will you succumb to The Great Resignation or shift to The Great Awakening. Mckinsey's Q3 report indicates that in many organizations their future is trending toward more nightmare than dream: 40% of employees are likely to leave their current job in the next 3-6 months even if they don't have another opportunity in hand. The challenge confronting leadership at this moment is the growing chasm between the jobs people are doing and the sense of fulfillment coming from it. Jonathan Dunn and his Dream Leader Institute live at this intersection of work and fulfillment. He believes dreams are the guides in creating those healthy connections that bring meaning and purpose to the work we do in our lives. Join us on this episode as we dare to dream how we fix broken workplaces and spark the fires of meaning and purpose to live our best lives and make our best contributions in the world. What is in your life that isn’t making you happy? What is the common denominator in your life that is not working? How to align your peoples’ dreams with your company purpose? Dare to Dream. Start with this conversation.

Oct 6, 2021 • 48min
Can Design Thinking Solve Your Hiring Woes?
With labor markets in freefall, there is no other business function that requires as much reimagination as recruitment and hiring. Can design thinking solve your organizations’ hiring woes and help companies fill their talent pipeline? Jodi Brandstetter, an ardent and passionate fan of design thinking, thinks so. In this week’s episode, you’ll learn what design thinking is and why Jodi feels it might just be the catalyst to transform your talent acquisition strategies. Before starting her own company Lean Effective Talent Strategies, Jodi worked as a Director of Talent Acquisition and is the author of the book Hire by Design.