We were lucky to have time with Tim Sackett, CEO of HRUTech.com, author of The Talent Fix Volume 2: A Leader's Guide to Recruiting Great Talent, who was named a Top Global HR & Recruitment Influencer by HR Executive, about the intersection of companies needing Catalysts and the current state of Talent Acquisition. From Tim’s personal philosophy of saying ‘yes’ to his advice that Catalyst executives surround themselves with executors, to why the “soft skills” of Catalysts are essential - we know you’ll gain wisdom and inspiration from this conversation! Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

We dive into an engaging chat with the dynamic Louis Gump, President of Cambian Solutions and a beacon of innovation in the business world. Known for his impactful leadership and forward-thinking strategies, Louis brings a rich history of transforming major companies like The Weather Channel and CNN through technology and innovation. In this episode, Louis unpacks his philosophy on making big changes within large organizations and the essential role of catalysts in driving growth and sparking innovation. He discusses the unique challenges and strategies of leading change, emphasizing the importance of rallying diverse teams around common goals. His insights into nurturing an innovative culture and leveraging cross-functional collaboration to propel business growth are particularly enlightening. Louis also shares his journey from pioneering digital media solutions to penning his book, The Inside Innovator, providing a fascinating look at how he merges his tech-savvy with strategic business thinking. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation that’s both inspirational and practical. Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode, Shannon Lucas, co-CEO of Catalyst Constellations, speaks with corporate punk rocker, Greg Larkin, known as the "Anthony Bourdain of Business" and founder and CEO of Punks and Pinstripes. Like Anthony Bourdain, Greg keeps it real as he authentically shares his story about moving up the career ladder while worrying about losing his true punk rock self. Greg talks about his belief in the importance of "business punks" in driving change, especially during crucial moments of disruption or organizational crisis. He shares how his amazing track record of success was based partly on the ability to pitch outcomes rather than ideas or visions. He explores strategies for navigating and overcoming the corporate immune response system, based on some hard learned lessons. Greg outlines exit strategies for those who find themselves as catalysts in environments resistant to change, including walled gardens, bear hugs, spin-offs, leaving, and transforming from within. He critiques "state-sanctioned" innovation efforts as often being mere lip service and stresses the importance of genuine empowerment and support for Catalysts. You won't want to miss this real, raw conversation. Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode, we hear from Ritu Kapur, Head of Digital Biomarkers at Verily. The theme throughout our conversation is about the need, skills, and support required to bring people along on the journey to manifest our vision. She shares, It's not about the technology or innovation, creating change is all about people. Her advice to up and coming Catalyst? "It's not all about you!" Early on in our careers, especially for women in more technical industries, Catalysts have the feeling that we have to prove our worth and impact all the time. But at some point in your career, you realize that you can't create change all alone. You have to bring people along on the journey. So being able to identify shared value and help others shine is a great way to realize your vision. While, at the same time, as we grow our leadership capabilities, it's about letting those around you that you've been cultivating, to stand in their own power, giving them the chance to succeed or learn new lessons. It's about not overfunctioning for those around us, while letting them flourish. Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode, Amy Kaufman (Senior Advisor, Talent Strategies, CEO Leadership Alliance Orange County - CLAOC) talks about the profound impact of embracing one's role as a Catalyst in leadership and transformation efforts. Amy discusses how she applied her understanding of the core elements of fire – that she was exposed to from her husband Mike, a retired firefighter – to her understanding of being a Catalyst. She explains how Catalyst can embody the elements needed to sustain a fire - fuel, heat, or oxygen - during the transformative process. Each Catalyst can embody one element or even all three at any given time. Amy shares how this realization helped her drive more effective and accelerated change. Amusingly, Amy also calls out the need for sand in the fire management process – as a way to temper the burn or slow down the burnout. Join us to explore how Amy's journey and insights into Catalyst leadership can inspire others to “ignite” change and navigate the challenges of transformation with confidence and self-awareness. Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode, we connected with Minette Norman, former Vice President of Engineering Practice at Autodesk, and author of The Psychological Safety Playbook and The Boldly Inclusive Leader, shares how two key skills really helped transform her leadership capabilities along her journey. Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode, we had the great honor of connecting with James Andrews, an 'Innovation Artist' and founder at Creator Mode Studios, whose career and journey have been so mindblowing it's hard to convey. Celebrated for elevating artists like Nas, Destiny's Child and The Fugees at Columbia Records in the early 90's, he now drives innovation at Creator Mode Studios and as an angel investor at Authenticated Ventures. But that doesn't begin to capture the myriad ways James is driving change. He explains how the art of diplomacy has helped him achieve his vision of change; creating a shared value in the diagram for the artists, the execs and the listeners. He talks about how he learned the skill of being able to flow "from Harvard to Harlem" or "from jersey to suit" to bring people along on the journey. Sprinkled in, he brings a healthy dose of curiosity and deep listening skills to supercharge his diplomacy skills. And while he really has "done it all", he also shares incredibly vulnerably and authentically about the areas of self-discovery he's still exploring along with the support structures he's cultivated around him to support him on his journey (like a black men's group or a daily gratitude practice). Check out this movie. Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode, ultra Catalyst Sean Kitzmiller, Design Strategy Lead at TIAA, talks about the powerful gift to yourself, as well as others, when you combine radical inclusion with the power of being open to different approaches. Sean's story is full of anecdotes about things he's learned from interns that he's mentored. Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of "Move Fast. Break Shit. Burn Out.", we're joined by Sneha Shah, EVP, Head of New Business Ventures. Sneha, with over two decades of experience in building high-growth global data and FinTech businesses, delves into the critical skills of curiosity and storytelling in driving change. She shares her journey, highlighting how curiosity fuels her ability to foresee industry trends and innovate, while storytelling allows her to emotionally connect with others, bringing them along on the transformative journey. Sneha's approach to being an effective Catalyst involves not just foreseeing necessary changes but effectively engaging others in the process. She also reflects on the importance of grounding in personal values to remain effective and true to one's goals amidst the inevitable challenges one encounters in the change making process. This episode is a treasure trove of insights for anyone looking to drive change! Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Join us in this inspiring episode as we chat with Marilia Bezerra, Chief Programs Officer at the IKEA Foundation. Marilia brings a unique perspective, blending self-care with the zeal for global change. She shares how tackling social, environmental, and economic challenges is a marathon, not a sprint, requiring a balance of dedication and self-care. Diving into her early days at the Foundation, Marilia recounts her intense first 30 days, filled with nearly 40 meetings, to deeply connect with her team and stakeholders. She highlights the importance of self-awareness and simple grounding rituals, like stepping away from your desk and going shoeless, to stay rooted amidst rapid global shifts. Marilia passionately argues against the 'lone hero' narrative, advocating for a collective journey in making the world a better place. Tune in for a thoughtful conversation on balancing urgency with tranquility in the quest for meaningful change. Original music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lynz Floren⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.