Move Fast. Break Shit. Burn Out.

In this episode, Theresa Caragol—founder and CEO of AchieveUnite—shares her journey as a Catalyst leader transforming how companies grow through trust, partnerships, and culture. With over 20 years of global experience and a track record of leading 12 acquisitions, Theresa offers hard-won insights on building alignment in times of major change.A key theme in the conversation is the human side of transformation. Theresa emphasizes that success in M&A and partnerships depends on trust, communication, and co-creating a “joint North Star.” She shares practical techniques, including the use of the PQi (Partnering Quotient Index), a science-backed model for activating Catalyst profiles like Energizers and Harmonizers to build high-performing teams.Theresa also opens up about a career-defining moment that challenged her to seek out tough feedback—a lesson that shaped her leadership and inspired the creation of tools like her Difficult Conversations Template, which helps leaders engage in change with clarity and empathy.From leading billion-dollar alliances to teaching emotional intelligence in boardrooms, Theresa blends strategy and humanity in everything she does. Her advice: build trust, listen deeply, and lead with heart.This episode is filled with actionable wisdom for anyone navigating growth, integration, or cultural transformation. Tune in to hear how Theresa Caragol is reshaping leadership through the power of connection.Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode, we sit down with Paul L’Estrange, former CTO of Mars and PVH Corp, to explore the critical role IT plays in large-scale transformation—and what it takes for Catalyst leaders to drive change while keeping the core business performing. Paul shares powerful insights on the importance of having great #2s and team members who can bring the organization along on the journey, ensuring that transformation isn’t just visionary but executable.We dive deep into listening as a strategic advantage, particularly paying attention to those who can help manage risk across the change spectrum. Paul also highlights a key leadership challenge: engaging and inspiring those who "keep the lights on" rather than chase the next big innovation. His solution? Spotlighting their work and showing their impact to the broader organization.When it comes to thriving as a Catalyst executive, Paul shares four essential lessons:1️) Put yourself in luck’s path—seek opportunities where your Catalyst skills can drive meaningful change rather than waiting for the perfect role.2️) Know when to move on—if the organization isn’t ready for the transformation you envision, don’t stay too long.3️) Don’t get caught up in process—even in IT, focus on who you’re benefiting, and the "how" will follow.4️) Find mentors who guide, not dictate—seek those who will help you identify what needs to be done but give you space to find your own best approach.This conversation is packed with wisdom for any Catalyst leading transformation in complex organizations. Tune in to hear Paul’s firsthand experience and practical strategies for making bold change happen—without breaking what already works.Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode, we sit down with John Bryson, Senior Vice President of Startup Services and Venture Banking at Banc of California, to explore his unconventional Catalyst journey—one that has been anything but linear. Inspired by Wayne Gretzky’s famous advice to “skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been,” John shares how his career has been shaped by a series of strategic pivots, each driven by an intentional process of testing hypotheses about emerging market shifts.From the early days of his career in media and entertainment—where he boldly pitched a move into digital media before his company even recognized its potential—to his current leadership in venture banking, John reveals the mindset and strategies that have helped him drive change from the bleeding edge. He highlights three critical lessons for Catalysts looking to influence and lead transformation:- Do the hard work first – Build deep credibility by excelling in your current role.- Make the business case – Connect your vision to the metrics and priorities that matter to decision-makers.Test hypotheses intentionally – Design experiments that create value and generate learning for everyone.John’s insights remind us that the Catalyst path often requires moving across industries, creating new roles, and facing plenty of rejection before breaking through. And when you do get that “yes”? John suggests one of the most powerful things you can ask is: “Why did you say yes?”—so you can double down on what works.Join us for this inspiring conversation as we explore how Catalysts can navigate uncertainty, challenge the status quo, and create meaningful impact by skating toward the future.

In this episode, we sit down with Megan Noel, Global President of Corporate Affairs at Golin, to learn more about the critical role of communications in leading change. She shares a powerful lesson from her mentor:“Create a B-level strategy with an A-level execution plan.”Megan emphasizes that many companies struggle to clearly articulate their strategy, making it difficult for employees—especially change leaders—to succeed. We explore how effective change-makers bring others along by crafting messages that resonate with a wide range of stakeholders helping everyone align with the top organizational goals. Megan shares how AI can help reduce the heavy lift of hyper-personalizing communications, discussing how it can help leaders better understand different audiences, build empathy, and refine messaging for maximum impact.Megan reveals a Catalyst’s secret weapon: internal communications teams. In organizations successfully driving transformation, these teams do more than amplify messages—they stay attuned to current priorities and timing, offering strategic insights that help Catalysts focus, prioritize, and execute with precision.Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode, we sit down with Elizabeth Manning, Change Management Leader, to explore her unconventional path from professional dancer to corporate change leader. With a natural talent for dot-connecting and systems thinking, Elizabeth found herself in the rigid, highly regulated world of big pharma—where generalist capabilities were often overlooked. Yet, as she helped leaders navigate complex challenges, her strategic value became undeniable.Elizabeth’s journey highlights the power of creating your own Catalyst role. Early on, she recognized that having an HR Business Partner who understood her skills and potential was essential to breaking through. She continuously solved problems beyond her formal remit, refining her language to align with the C-suite’s priorities. Eventually, she found an executive sponsor in the Chief Medical Officer, who saw her unique ability to drive strategic transformation and created the perfect Catalyst role for her: Strategic Initiatives Lead—a position designed to tackle the company's biggest, most complex challenges.Elizabeth’s story is a masterclass in how Catalysts can carve out meaningful roles within organizations by:Defining their role in alignment with executive priorities – Clarity in how your work creates business value is key.Finding a mentor or sponsor – Someone who understands your strengths and advocates for you when you're not in the room.Developing self-awareness of your superpowers – Knowing what sets you apart helps you lean into your strengths.Translating your value in a way the organization understands – Speaking the language of leadership makes all the difference.Join us as Elizabeth shares how she navigated resistance, built strategic alliances, and ultimately shaped a role that allowed her to create a lasting impact. If you’re a Catalyst looking to find your place in a complex organization, this conversation is for you!Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode, we sit down with Thomas Knoll, Head of Innov8rs CoLab, who has spent years bringing together innovation and intrapreneurship communities. Tommy dives into the crucial importance of understanding an organization's "tolerance for change"—especially how much support truly exists at the C-suite level. We explore his thought-provoking article, "Does Your Organization Have a Failure Policy?", unpacking the significance of setting clear failure guardrails within organizations. Through contrasting examples like SpaceX and Boeing, we discuss how intentionality around failure policies can drive innovation, learning, and long-term success. Whether you're leading change or looking to foster a culture of smart risk-taking, this conversation is packed with actionable insights.Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this insightful conversation, we sit down with Jessica Crow, a seasoned change management expert, to explore how the field of change management is evolving to meet the demands of today’s fast-paced world. Jessica shares her perspective on emerging trends, emphasizing the shift towards a more iterative, human-centered approach—one that not only drives business outcomes but also prioritizes the well-being of employees who lead and embrace change.Jessica offers two crucial insights for navigating today’s change landscape. First, the concept of “self-leadership,” which encourages individuals to stay fully resourced, set boundaries, and build resilience to navigate the relentless pace of transformation. Second, she highlights the critical role of organizational culture, stressing that leadership must champion cultural shifts to enable true adaptability and long-term success.Throughout our discussion, Jessica outlines the four essential power skills that every change leader must cultivate to thrive in this evolving space:Connection – Building authentic relationships and trust across teams.Commitment – Staying focused on long-term goals despite inevitable roadblocks.Collaboration – Encouraging diverse perspectives and co-creating solutions.Compassion – Leading with empathy to support those navigating change.Tune in to gain actionable insights and fresh perspectives on how to embrace change with agility, empathy, and purpose in today's dynamic business environment.Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this thought-provoking episode, we sit down with Jan Sedlacek, a self-described "black sheep" of Catalysts, to explore the hard truths about driving transformation within large organizations. In his early career, he experienced "Move Fast. Break Shit. Burn Out." Jan shares really authentically and vulnerably about a really tough moment in his life where he felt like he really failed and experience trauma (see article below). This informed the work he does now, which starts with really deep listening about the appetite for change in organizations.He provocatively compares many large-scale change initiatives to "cleaning the letter T on the Titanic as it’s going down," urging Catalysts to get clear on where they can truly succeed—whether in their current role or somewhere new. Jan lays out a practical framework for assessing whether an organization is positioned for meaningful change, highlighting three critical factors:A clear strategy and visionGenuine top-level commitment and mandatesA realistic runway to execute changeOne of his biggest insights? How you organize your organization is just as crucial as how you execute transformation. If you’re a Catalyst struggling to navigate corporate inertia—or wondering if it’s time to move on—this episode is packed with actionable wisdom you won’t want to miss.Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In a world where traditional recruiting processes often fall short, how can leaders rethink talent acquisition to unlock exceptional potential?Matt Alder, strategic consultant, author, and host of Recruiting Future, one of the most popular talent acquisition podcasts globally, shares how his catalytic drive to “fix recruiting” propelled him to create his blog, launch his podcast, and reshape the industry conversation.Matt encourages Catalysts to embrace self-awareness, recognizing that traditional hiring processes may not highlight their unique strengths. By reflecting on how they drive change and presenting tangible impacts, Catalysts can better navigate the system. He also questions entrenched norms, such as outdated recruitment practices and the five-day workweek, urging leaders to rethink how work is structured for the future.Whether you’re challenging outdated systems or seeking to amplify innovation in your organization, Matt’s story highlights the power of curiosity, boldness, and questioning the status quo.Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In an industry rocked by constant disruption, how can leaders harness the forces of change rather than be swept away by them? In this episode, Christy Soukhamneut, Chief Lending Officer at University Federal Credit Union, shares her perspective on navigating the accelerating pace and scale of change with the wisdom of water as a guiding metaphor. Change is inevitable—it moves with or without us. But by being intentional, we can direct its flow, shaping how and where it leads.Christy emphasizes the importance of bringing others along on the journey, ensuring that all stakeholders have a voice—not only to achieve the best possible outcomes but also to drive real engagement and buy-in. Recognizing that Catalysts often operate at a relentless speed, she also shares small but powerful intentional life hacks, like her yoga practice and workouts, that help her stay recharged and resourced enough to lead change.Whether you're leading change in your organization or simply looking for ways to sustain your energy, this conversation offers invaluable insights on balancing momentum with mindfulness.Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.