In this episode, we connect with Chuck Patrick, Head of Strategic Program Management at AXIS Capital. Chuck shares his journey and how he has carved out a unique role helping executives turn transformative ideas into reality. He emphasizes the "Mobilization of Great Ideas," guiding leaders through the process of moving from vision to execution and iteration. Chuck discusses how great Catalysts excel at getting others to embrace change by viewing the organization as an ecosystem, building trust, and surrounding themselves with individuals who think differently. He underscores the importance of relationships in driving change, noting that successful Catalysts leverage their networks and build strong, trust-based connections to facilitate transformation. Chuck also delves into the challenges of implementing change, emphasizing the difficulty in maintaining momentum and energy throughout the process. Initial enthusiasm often wanes, making it crucial to monitor organizational dynamics and pay attention to personal resilience. He highlights the importance of separating work from personal life and engaging in activities that recharge him, like reading and exercising. By maintaining a balanced perspective and not overly identifying with his job, Chuck effectively navigates the ups and downs of organizational change. Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In our conversation with Patrick Vanbrabandt, CEO of the Carya Group, he shares his journey from a self-described "extreme nerd" to a leader deeply focused on understanding and empowering people. Patrick reflects on his early passion for technology and how it evolved into a fascination with how people work together and achieve success. This shift in focus led him to realize that technology should serve people, not the other way around. Over time, this perspective became central to his leadership style. He discusses the importance of responsibility and autonomy in driving innovation. Patrick explains how the Catalyst Program within his company has empowered employees by giving them the freedom to pursue their ideas with minimal oversight. This autonomy, coupled with a strong sense of responsibility, has significantly contributed to the company's growth and success. Patrick also touches on the delicate balance of steering transformation while minimizing disruption. He emphasizes the power of vision and consistency, noting that while it's crucial to stay the course, it's equally important not to pivot too quickly. Instead, he advocates breadcrumbing—bringing people along with change over time. This approach ensures that people are on board and reduces resistance to change. Patrick's insights offer valuable lessons on how leaders can successfully navigate the complexities of organizational transformation by focusing on people, maintaining a clear vision, and empowering their teams. Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

This episode features Deborah Reuben, CEO of TomorrowZone, as she shares her experiences leading transformative change in the commercial equipment finance and leasing industry, an area often resistant to innovation. Deborah emphasizes the importance of a human-centered approach to innovation. She explains that while technology plays a crucial role, the success of any transformation depends on bringing people along in the process. Deborah believes that considering the human side of change is essential to achieving lasting and impactful results. She also discusses the challenges of loneliness as a Catalyst, particularly in industries where the voice of the status quo is strong. Deborah highlights the importance of finding support from other Catalysts outside her organization, which has been crucial in maintaining her momentum and drive. She shares how connecting with like-minded innovators globally has provided her with the inspiration and community needed to continue pushing forward. Deborah’s insights are a powerful reminder that transformative change requires not only a strategic vision but also a deep understanding of the human elements involved and the support of a strong, external network of Catalysts. Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this insightful episode, Alexis Haass, former Chief Sustainability Officer at Arcadis and a seasoned leader in sustainability, shares her journey and lessons learned about driving transformative change in large organizations. Reflecting on her time at Adidas, Alexis highlights the importance of having strong allies. Building relationships with leaders who share your vision can drive significant change, such as adopting 100% recycled polyester. Allies not only provide support but also help push the agenda forward when progress stalls. A critical aspect of Alexis's approach is translating vision into business language. She underscores the need to align sustainability initiatives with business objectives, crafting compelling stories that connect the larger mission with concrete outcomes. For example, Adidas’s success with a shoe made from recycled ocean plastics showcased how sustainability can resonate with both the business and consumers. Alexis also stresses the importance of recalibrating your message depending on the audience and making others win. By spotlighting the contributions of others, Catalysts can build a supportive network and make change more sustainable as others take ownership of the process. Her insights serve as a powerful reminder that while the journey of a Catalyst can be challenging, strategic vision, strong allies, effective storytelling, and a focus on collective success are key to driving lasting change. Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode, we are thrilled to welcome Susie Coelho, a best-selling author, television personality, lifestyle expert, and entrepreneur, who is currently the founder and CEO of Susie Coelho Enterprises. Susie’s journey, marked by her incredible drive and resilience, showcases her ability to reinvent herself and succeed in diverse fields. Susie emphasizes that hard work and necessity are critical drivers of success. She never borrowed money from anyone, relying solely on her ability to generate income and create opportunities. This mindset, instilled by her immigrant background, underscores the importance of working diligently to make one's mark and achieve financial independence. Susie's journey is a testament to her adaptability. She transitioned from being a model to an actress, and then to opening a store on Melrose Avenue after a divorce created the need for money to pay the mortgage. Susie shared the details of reinventing herself after taking time to raise her son. She conducted a “listening tour” with friends to identify her strengths and passions, which led her to establish a personal brand, combining elements of Oprah’s inspiration and Martha Stewart’s style. Susie successfully built a lifestyle brand and company that gained widespread recognition. Susie demonstrates the power of courage and persistence, and her ability to sense the right timing has often led to her success. As she moves forward with her next venture, she firmly believes that "the best is yet to come," – both for herself, and as a central message she will be sharing with others - inspiring others to strive towards their future goals. Her new phase is deeply aligned to what we found in research we did for our Catalyst Leadership Trust, that Catalysts never really retire, they move into their ‘third 3rd’ of their career focusing on projects that fill their souls. Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode, we sit down with Scott Kirsner, CEO of Innolead. Scott shares his journey from his early days being a Catalyst at the Boston Globe, where he helped build the newspaper’s first website, to founding Innolead in 2013. Since launching InnoLead, Scott has had his finger on the pulse of the latest trends and insights about corporate innovation. In this conversation, Scott shares some key takeaways from their latest research,"The Future of the Innovation Team" including innovators' top challenges: driving revenue growth, increasing agility, and adopting new technologies like AI. He highlights the importance of acting on gathered insights within large organizations, which is something we know you do Catalysts! “The problem in large companies is not the gathering signal and understanding what's happening. It's the doing something about it.” Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In our latest episode, we feature Ashley Alebiosu, Manager of CxO Experiences at Salesforce and recipient of the 2024 Salesforce SWN Women of Impact Award. Ashley is renowned for her relentless drive to achieve and her exceptional ability to get things done, even when it feels like she's doing "too much." Her journey highlights the importance of balancing high-impact action with moments of reflection to see the bigger picture. Ashley shares her experiences and strategies for maintaining this balance, revealing how she pulls back to evaluate her broader goals and ensures her efforts are aligned with her vision. Her story is an inspiring testament to the power of combining relentless action with strategic introspection to drive meaningful change. Tune in to learn from Ashley's journey and discover how you, too, can balance doing "too much" with the wisdom to reflect and recalibrate. Listen and get ready to be inspired by a true Catalyst in action Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In our latest episode, we talk with Marianthe Evangelidis, Director of Sustainable Finance & Investment at LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group), where we discuss how knowing yourself and your values can help you evaluate opportunities, make decisions and lead you to your most fulfilled life. Marianthe shares the courageous decision to embark on a two-year sabbatical with her husband, sailing from the UK to New Zealand, which was driven by their shared values of adventure, learning and sustainability. This sabbatical was not just a break from work but a deeply aligned step with her personal values and purpose, allowing her to engage in sustainability projects and community building on remote islands. Rather than feeling this time away from the office set her career back, Marianthe translated her experiences into roles more aligned to her values upon her return. In addition, Marianthe discusses empathy as a crucial tool to drive change, helping her bring others along on her journey and highlights the importance of senior sponsorship in driving successful projects, stating that having senior support is crucial for implementing change effectively. "You had a lot of enthusiasm. You had a lot of people wanting to work towards making a success. But you do need that senior sponsorship to actually move things quickly as well." Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In our latest episode, we chat with Renee Henze, the Chief Sustainability Officer at IFF (International Flavors and Fragrances). Renee highlights the powerful intersection of work and personal passion. She describes her journey into sustainability as an unexpected opportunity to combine her professional expertise with her deep commitment to the environment. For example, she recounted her role at DuPont, where she was involved in creating sustainable practices for salmon farming. This role allowed her to pursue her passion for environmental sustainability while driving innovation in the industry​. Renee also discusses two of her biggest challenges as a Catalyst executive: pushing through organizational resistance and keeping up with market shifts. She emphasizes the importance of relying on data and customer-driven needs to advocate for change effectively. By understanding market dynamics and being adaptable, she has led her teams through significant transformations​​. Renee underscores the importance of empathy in leadership. She explains that focusing on the needs at every level of the business and bringing empathy into leadership makes one more effective. By understanding and addressing the human aspects of change, she has built trust and aligned team efforts toward common goals. Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In our latest episode, we chat with Jackye Clayton, VP of Talent Acquisition and DEIB at Textio, and Katee Van Horn, Chief People Officer at Web Pros – who are the acclaimed hosts of the Inclusive AF podcast. Jackye and Katee discuss their journeys as Catalysts for change in DEIB, highlighting the importance of transparency, resilience, and meeting people where they are to overcome resistance and drive meaningful transformation in organizations. They emphasized creating inclusive environments and leveraging discomfort to achieve impactful results. Katee Van Horn, Chief People Officer at WebPros, shared her experiences of stepping into challenging roles and pushing organizational boundaries to improve employee experiences. She emphasized the significance of operating in the gray areas and bringing the team along as Catalysts, encouraging them to make mistakes, learn, and grow. Jackye Clayton, VP of Talent Acquisition and DEIB at Textio, recounted her unconventional path to leadership. Despite not having a college degree, she leveraged relationships and took on roles she wasn’t initially qualified for, demonstrating resilience and adaptability. Her journey underscored the importance of leaning into discomfort, breaking norms, and continuously iterating to achieve impactful results. Both guests discussed the critical role of transparency and clear communication in navigating resistance. They stressed the need for organizations to create inclusive environments where everyone feels they belong. The conversation also touched on the backlash against DEIB initiatives, with Jackye and Katee advocating for meeting people where they are and bringing them along on the journey towards equity and inclusion. Their insights remind us that pushing past resistance often involves a combination of self-advocacy, allyship, and a willingness to challenge the status quo. By doing so, leaders can foster a diverse workforce that collaborates effectively and drives more powerful, innovative outcomes for the organization. Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.