Chief Change Officer

Part One I’m joined by none other than Erika Ayers Badan, the current CEO of Food52—a leading innovator in the food, cooking, and home space. Before her time at Food52, Erika was the first-ever CEO of Barstool Sports, and her career spans across media, marketing, and tech, with roles at companies like Fidelity, Microsoft, AOL, and Yahoo. But let me be clear—this isn’t about interviewing someone with big titles. On my show, I bring on guests who are willing to share real, lived stories. And Erika has no shortage of those. In fact, she’s gathered so many lessons along the way that she decided to write her first book, titled No One Cares About Your Career. When I saw that title, I knew I had to develop a two-part series featuring Erika. In this episode, we’ll dive into the book—why she wrote it, why now, and why this title. Plus, we’ll unpack some key nuggets of wisdom, including five simple things anyone can do to succeed at work. In the next episode, Erika will open up about her life and career experiences—her upbringing, her parents, her leadership approach, and even her thoughts on toxic work cultures. And here’s something you won’t hear in other interviews: What career advice would Erika give her own two middle and high school-aged kids, especially in today’s rapidly changing world? Episode Breakdown: 0:38—A special 2-part series on Erika’s book, career, life, and more 4:40—Revisiting the Roots: A Walk Down Memory Lane to Discover the Past’s Impact on the Present 8:25—The Brutal Truth Behind ‘No One Cares About Your Career’—How Did Erika Land on That Mic-Drop of a Title? "Nobody's coming to help you. It's up to you to save yourself, grow yourself, push yourself, teach yourself." 12:04—What Sparked the Inspiration Behind Writing the Book? 18:17—What Makes This Book a Game Changer in a Sea of Career Guides? 21:36—Who Is This Book Really For? Unpacking the Audience Behind the Pages "Just because you went to Princeton doesn't mean you have to go work in finance. A lot of times people get caught up in what everyone else thinks they should do. That's the lore. What everyone else thinks they should be and the reality is that nobody's really thinking about you that much. You should do what makes you happy and tell everyone else to jump off a cliff." 25:45—30 Years, 5 Simple Lessons: How to Succeed at Work Without the Overwhelm Connect with us: Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Erika Ayers Badan ______________________ Chief Change Officer: Make Change Ambitiously. Experiential Human Intelligence for Growth Progressives Global Top 3% Podcast on Listen Notes World's #1 Career Podcast on Apple Top 1: US, CA, MX, IE, HU, AT, CH, FI 1.8 Million+ Downloads 50+ Countries --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.20 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1% Podcast.Top 5 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>180,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Gallup’s “State of the Global Workplace” estimates that low employee engagement costs the global economy a staggering $8.9 trillion. That’s 9% of global GDP—basically, the price of fixing our collective mood. So, how do we boost engagement? Greg Morley says it’s all about fostering a sense of belonging and inclusion. Greg, one of our early guests in Season One (Episode Ten), has been a long-standing leader in HR and DEI at powerhouses like Moet Hennessy, Disney, and Hasbro. Now, with his debut book “Bond: Belonging and the Keys to Inclusion and Connection,” he shares his battle-tested insights on building engaged, thriving teams and cultures in multicultural organizations. Episode Breakdown: 2:25—From Season One to Season Three: Is Greg Aging Like Fine Wine or Just Getting More Engaging? 5:35—Belonging in the Workplace: Why It’s Easier to Find a Unicorn Than Foster Connection These Days "Individuals are more and more isolated because of social media. Social media has this double edged way of impacting people; it makes us much more connected, but much less connected." "Many people don't have safe places outside of work, and it's a responsibility of employers to create a place that's a safe place to work." 13:02—The Domino Effect of Disconnection: How Losing Belonging Hurts Everyone (Even Your Coffee Breaks) 19:07—Greg’s Take on DEI: Leading Like a Maestro in the Symphony of Work "It's a matter of appreciating the differences in the workforce. Trying to get the best out of the people so that they feel included." 23:00—Ideas Are Cool, But Leadership Involvement Is Where the Magic Happens 32:50—DEI in the Age of “Woke”: Navigating the Cultural Rollercoaster 36:41—East vs. West in DEI: Same Symphony, Different Instruments "What I found in Asia is, it is a more collective environment with a collective culture. We really do need to start with the stories of people in the organization rather than starting with the KPI that we want to achieve." "If it's Hong Kong culture, or it's Japanese culture, then build out from that versus saying, we're gonna have 50 percent target on gender. And then we cascade that to the whole organization, which is more of a Western way of approaching something." Connect with us: Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Greg Morley ______________________ Chief Change Officer: Make Change Ambitiously. Experiential Human Intelligence for Growth Progressives Global Top 3% Podcast on Listen Notes World's #1 Career Podcast on Apple Top 1: US, CA, MX, IE, HU, AT, CH, FI 1.8 Million+ Downloads 50+ Countries --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.20 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1% Podcast.Top 5 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>180,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Every day, it seems like you can’t escape news of layoffs, corporate downsizing, or restructuring. Today’s guest, Benedikt Oehmen, has been directly impacted by it. Benedikt spent 17 years with Blizzard, a market leader in creating epic gaming experiences. In today’s workplace, loyalty to employers—or even employers’ loyalty to employees—feels like a relic of the past. So, how was that experience for him? For the most part, it was positive and enjoyable. But then, things shifted. Hearts were broken. Hopes were shattered. Now, Benedikt is turning that experience into something powerful. He’s built a full-time practice to help others navigate similar challenges of layoffs and downsizing, offering a shift in mindset and sharing the principles from his book, where he lays out his “Big Three” strategies for stepping out of the shadows and moving on—better, faster, and stronger. Episode Breakdown: 2:53—From Physicist to Gamer at Blizzard 5:13—From 17 Years of Loyalty to Facing Layoffs: When Blizzard Prioritized Profit Over People “I started with Blizzard in 2005, and by 2018, after 13 years, the focus had shifted from creating epic experiences for gamers to just making more money.” 13:51—Breaking Free from the Corporate Overlord: Coaching Passionate Geeks on Their Own Terms “Bound to a corporate overlord who tells me what to do and where my priorities are. And all my efforts basically go towards making rich people even richer in a sense." 19:38—From Panic to Possibility: How to Flip Career Transitions into Exciting New Opportunities 24:21—Learning in Disguise: How the “Big Three” Turns Mistakes into Milestones “Being kind to me is all about self-acceptance, embracing the good things in our life and not looking at what we think we are missing.” 29.38—From Five Minutes a Day to a Finished Book: How Tiny Steps Lead to Big Wins 35:47—From Kindness to Saving the World: An Elevator Pitch for a Life-Changing Book (tiny.cc/Big-Three-Goodies) -- "the Art of Meaningful Change" is freely available for download “It’s like a tabletop that we built ourselves with different aspects, and we choose how we want to play our game of life on top of that tabletop.” 39:37—Self-Compassion Isn’t Selfish: Why You Need to Put On Your Oxygen Mask First “It is in a sense egotistical, but egotistical in service of helping others.” 43:54—Nuggets of Wisdom for Navigating Layoffs: From Setback to Bounce Back “Be aware of that mindset. If you’re in the mindset of ‘this is the end of the world,’ then that’s where your reactions and thoughts will lead you.” Connect with us: Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Benedikt Oehmen ______________________ Chief Change Officer: Make Change Ambitiously. Experiential Human Intelligence for Growth Progressives Global Top 3% Podcast on Listen Notes World's #1 Career Podcast on Apple Top 1: US, CA, MX, IE, HU, AT, CH, FI 1.8 Million+ Downloads 50+ Countries --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.20 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1% Podcast.Top 5 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>180,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our youngest guest is in the house today! I started this show in Hong Kong, and I run this show in Hong Kong. I’m originally from Hong Kong, talking to guests from every corner of the world. Yet, so far, I haven’t interviewed any guest from right here in Hong Kong. Today, that changes. I’m excited to bring a local guest to the studio—May Yeung, founder of the charity Art of My Family, a teaching artist, a cancer survivor, a mother to a 11-month-old cute boy. May has experienced many life changes over the years, and she’s determined to use the power of art, in her own way, to change lives and create an environmentally sustainable, mentally healthy, and socially inclusive society here in Hong Kong. Hong Kong is not just about business, finance, and money. May has chosen a different path to do well and do good. And as a side note: we’ve got our youngest guest ever—May’s 11-month-old son—joining us on the show, so don’t go away! Episode Breakdown: 3:17—From Wall Scribbles to Ceramics: A Childhood Steeped in Art “From the time I was around two years old, I would draw on walls before I could even write my name. By five, my father and I were creating ceramics together. At age 12, my fascination with dadaism and pop art gave me the conviction to become an artist.” "I met Professor Jeff Oppenheimer who gave a lecture on integrating art into daily life, and daily life into art, and the contents of this lecture really helped to form the framework and direction of my art to this day." 6:00—Where Art Meets Music: How Music Has Influenced Her Art Creation 8:41—From Crunching Numbers to Crafting Impact: How Finance Led May to Art and Social Change 11:20—Faith Over Fear: How Battling Cancer Transformed a Perfectionist into a Celebrator of Life’s Small Wins "I think the cancer experience really let me feel a greater sense of conviction to serve the underprivileged" 16:25—Art for Archer: How Motherhood and Heritage Shape Her Creations 18:09—Dim Sum and Chinese Checkers: Weaving Hong Kong’s Culture into Every Piece of Art 21:34—Memorable Art Pieces “What If” and “Blossom Love”: Sculpting Bridges Between Cultures and Endless Possibilities 23:19—From Corporate CSR to Creative Compassion: The Birth of Art of My Family 30:00—May’s Life Mission to Inspire the Next Generation: The Three C’s of Art Education and the Role of a Teaching Artist Connect with us: Host: Vince Chan | Guest: May Yeung ______________________ Chief Change Officer: Make Change Ambitiously. Experiential Human Intelligence for Growth Progressives Global Top 3% Podcast on Listen Notes World's #1 Career Podcast on Apple Top 1: US, CA, MX, IE, HU, AT, CH, FI 1.8 Million+ Downloads 50+ Countries --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.20 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1% Podcast.Top 5 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>180,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Christopher Quek wants to be his own man. In this episode and the last, I talk to Chris, a third-generation member of a well-established family business in Singapore. Against his father’s expectations, he left the family business and his home country to pursue entrepreneurship in Malaysia, where he became an e-commerce entrepreneur. Upon returning to Singapore, he sold his inheritance to raise the setup capital for his venture capital firm TRIVE. We explore his journey of transformation in two parts. Last episode focuses on his pursuit of his own identity—his desires, his actions, the why and the how. In this episode, we’ll dive into his current work as a VC investor, building up the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Singapore and Southeast Asia. We’ll discuss the legacy he hopes to create for his country and the region; and we’ll explore his expectations for his children as a father at age 46. Episode Breakdown: 0:34—Setting the stage and the tone for this and the next episode 2:23—Kicking off with a big question: Is Singapore still relevant after 50 years? Here's an entrepreneurial view "In 2015, when Singapore celebrated its 50th birthday as a nation. Singapore evolved itself out of necessity where it built a whole nation, a workforce of engineers, scientists, bankers, lawyers, doctors, specialists. We started losing a whole generation of entrepreneurs." 7:11—Bridging the Generation Gap: How to Turn ‘Parents’ Old Ways’ into a Future-Proof Family Business "I actually have a network of over 300 family business owners across Southeast Asia. And there's always this common themes that starts first.  Number one, how do I talk to my parents? How do I have a good working relationship with my parents and a family relationship back at home?  Number two, I don't like the way that my parents are doing things and I need to transform this business. How do I convince my parents that I can transform this business as well?" 11:04—Turning Spare Millions into Family Business Magic: The Synergy Cycle of Tech, Money and Southeast Asian Economy "Everyone gets to have food on the table. What we didn't realize that what this family business did was that it took that technology, have more food, more quantity, and decided to sell it cheaper to a poorer province, where those villagers were now able to obtain more quantity of food for their families." 21:35—Breaking the Patriarchal Mold: How Self-Development Earned Me My Father’s Respect "My father has been an Asian patriarch with an iron fist. He now talks to me about the side businesses that he's doing. He asks me as his advisor and no longer sees the son on whom he used to look down." 25:41—Still Figuring It Out: The Never-Ending Saga of Self-Discovery "I still believe that I'm evolving. I'm still learning more in terms of understanding my identity." 28:27—Fatherhood and Fortune: What’s the Game Plan for Your Next Generation, Chris? "Anybody who wants to help the next generation is to be a mentor of values rather than a mentor of processes." Connect with us: Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Christopher Quek ______________________ Chief Change Officer: Make Change Ambitiously. Experiential Human Intelligence for Growth Progressives Global Top 3% Podcast on Listen Notes World's #1 Career Podcast on Apple Top 1: US, CA, MX, IE, HU, AT, CH, FI 1.8 Million+ Downloads 50+ Countries --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.20 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1% Podcast.Top 5 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>180,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Christopher Quek wants to be his own man. In this episode and the next, I’ll be talking to Chris, a third-generation member of a well-established family business in Singapore. Against his father’s expectations, he left the family business and his home country to pursue entrepreneurship in Malaysia, where he became an e-commerce entrepreneur. Upon returning to Singapore, he sold his inheritance to raise the setup capital for his venture capital firm TRIVE. We’ll explore his journey of transformation in two parts. This episode focuses on his pursuit of his own identity—his desires, his actions, the why and the how. In the next episode, we’ll dive into his current work as a VC investor, building up the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Singapore and Southeast Asia. We’ll discuss the legacy he hopes to create for his country and the region; and we’ll explore his expectations for his children as a father at age 46. Episode Breakdown: 0:34—Setting the stage and the tone for this and the next episode 3:13—Father’s Furious Expectations: When a Third-Gen Heir Sneaks Out of the Family Business "I couldn't stand all the pollution that the manufacturing plant was producing. And finally, after three days, I sneaked back to Singapore and my father saw me. He got angry. He shouted at me." 7:35—Family Education 101: Learning P&L Over Dinner with Dad, Where Burgers Come with a Side of Calculating Profits "He would take me out to restaurants. And he forced me to start calculating out the revenues. He will start telling me like, what do you think is the expenses behind this? And I had to start learning a profit and loss statement just by that very visible conversation itself." 10:36—Beyond the Textbook: How Mentorship Shaped Chris' Evolution "I'm a product of my mentors in my life. So I'm the number two and number three mentors were also very successful businessmen." 16:30—Owning My Identity: Mr. Quek or Just Mr. Quek’s Son? "There was already a trigger point in my value system that was I going to continue as a the next generation of business owners to continue polluting, just to make money for the sake of money." 20:59—Finding My Way: From Circumstances to Self-Fulfilment "It was more of circumstances and situations and opportunities that just appeared.  If you ask me like some certain crossroads in my life, for example, heading off to Malaysia instead of China I felt that was the right thing to do." 23:14—The Adventure of Self-Discovery: Uncovering Hidden Layers of Yourself at Every Stage "Give you a little bit of the element of what at every stage is about really discovering yourself, which is really an exciting journey. You don't realize that you have actually a lot of things about yourself that you haven't discovered. " Connect with us: Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Christopher Quek ______________________ Chief Change Officer: Make Change Ambitiously. Experiential Human Intelligence for Growth Progressives Global Top 3% Podcast on Listen Notes World's #1 Career Podcast on Apple Top 1: US, CA, MX, IE, HU, AT, CH, FI 1.8 Million+ Downloads 50+ Countries --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.20 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1% Podcast.Top 5 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>180,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A one-of-a-kind, Double Vince episode is here! Vince Chan hosting Vince Jeong from Sparkwise. Vince J takes us on a wild ride—from navigating the immigrant experience at 12, to shaking up the corporate training world with an edtech revolution. From discovering a passion for people development to scaling the unscalable in adult learning. Whether it’s cracking the code on real human connections in a digital age or bringing McKinsey-level training to your fingertips, this episode is packed with hard-won wisdom and sharp insights that will leave you inspired to level up your own journey. Episode Breakdown: 1:53—Immigrant Experience 101: Learning English and Rediscovering Myself at Age 12 3:50—Learning by Doing: The Best Way to Discover What You Really Want. Why Theorizing Only Gets You So Far. “I’ve often found that you can only really discover and learn your true preferences by gaining first-hand experience. Theorizing only gets you so far.” 13:14—Bringing McKinsey’s Gold Standard to Everyone: The Spark Behind Creating an EdTech for Live Group Learning “At McKinsey, people fought to get onto training programs. It was interactive, engaging, and team-based. I thought that’s what corporate training looked like everywhere—until I saw the difference in other organizations.” 17:09—From TV Host to Startup Boss: The Founder-Market Fit of Live Group Learning “Throughout my life, I’ve just been involved in a lot of things that involve live groups. I used to be on TV in Korea, hosting live shows and facilitating conversations.” 18:55—Differentiation Value to Create: Scaling the Unscalable "What we're doing is we're taking that experience that today can only be accessed by really privileged settings and making it much more accessible to many more people through technology." 23:04—Rebuilding Stronger Community: Foster Real Connections Beyond Social Media’s Shallow Bonds “We create an environment where people solve problems together that are realistic but fictitious, which helps them engage deeply without having to be vulnerable from the get-go.” 27:24—Partners in Crime: Those Who Crave Rich Interactions or Scale Quality Learning at a Bargain 30:24—Turning Idle Content into Action: Beating AI with Human-to-Human Engagement for Deeper Learning “There’s a lot of idle content out there today, and simply reading is rarely the best way for people to actually understand those concepts.” Connect with us: Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Vince Jeong ______________________ Chief Change Officer: Make Change Ambitiously. Experiential Human Intelligence for Growth Progressives Global Top 3% Podcast on Listen Notes World's #1 Career Podcast on Apple Top 1: US, CA, MX, IE, HU, AT, CH, FI 1.8 Million+ Downloads 50+ Countries --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.20 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1% Podcast.Top 5 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>180,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you were the host of this show, how would you define the following guest? Our first guest from Belgium: Sihame El Kaouakibi. She’s a Moroccan immigrant, a burnout and bankruptcy survivor, a parliamentarian, a champion of diversity and inclusion, the creator of Women Leaders OS, and a women’s leadership coach. She is all of these and more. But beyond these identities, what truly captivates me are the experiences that have shaped these transformations. Some people thrive in politics, others in stability. Sihame thrives in adversity. She describes herself as more than resilient—she’s anti-fragile. I see Sihame as someone who has learned, over time, to turn adversity into an advantage. It’s not an inborn talent; it’s something nurtured and developed. How? Tune in and find out now. Episode Breakdown: 02:15—Burnt Out, Bankrupt, and Back in Business “I went from being burnt out, confused, overwhelmed, and even bankrupt to now being in the best shape of my life—physically, mentally, and professionally.” 5:56—Validation Detox: Kicking the Need for External Approval “Without success, without my work, without external validation and recognition, I felt like nothing. I felt nobody.” 11:42—Politics 101: When Ego Meets Reality “I made an ego-driven decision, and it was a messiah complex, believing I had everything—like potential and talents to drive change.” “I wasn’t aligned with my values and beliefs anymore. So my lesson is if you feel you have to give up on your principles, quit.” 21:59—Thriving vs. Surviving: Why “You’re Not Stuck, You’re Just in the Wrong Pot” Applies to Your Career “The most liberating decision can be to move on and find your tribe, find your environment where you can thrive.” “Sometimes it’s better to accept the rejection than feeling stuck. Rejection can be redirection, and it’s sometimes better to just leave.” 25:41—Operating System for Women Leaders: How to Handle Life’s Curveballs Without Crashing “My mission is to help 1 million women turn life challenges into life changes for the better. These women want to break through in their careers, but they want to do it without the burnouts.” “Women still lack internal beliefs and also support systems. So it starts really with women deciding that they are worthy and willing to change.” 43:46—Success Isn’t Always Instagram-Pretty: The Ugly Side of the Hustle “There’s so much about glamorized success, but there is always another side. People you envy might be in deep pain, even if they are millionaires or have social status.” Connect with Us: Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Sihame El Kaouakibi ______________________ Chief Change Officer: Make Change Ambitiously. Experiential Human Intelligence for Growth Progressives Global Top 3% Podcast on Listen Notes World's #1 Career Podcast on Apple Top 1: US, CA, MX, IE, HU, AT, CH, FI 1.8 Million+ Downloads 50+ Countries --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.20 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1% Podcast.Top 5 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>180,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What happens when sports stars hang up their jerseys and dive into the business world? James Hilovsky believes franchising is the perfect play for athletes’ second acts. A former baseball player, James has 35 years in the franchise game, especially in the restaurant world. Now, he’s a franchise matchmaker, pairing retired NFL and NBA athletes with their ideal franchise ventures. James sees athletes and franchisees as kindred spirits: both thrive on rules, take calculated risks, and turn failures into lessons. In this episode, he shares his playbook for helping athletes and everyday folks make successful business transitions. Plus, he dishes out advice for anyone eyeing the franchise field. Episode Breakdown: 00:32—Introduction: Rundown of today’s episode 02:47—From Baseball Dreams to Business Teams “When I was growing up, I was a baseball player. I was actually in the minor leagues for the Philadelphia Phillies. And unfortunately, my career was very quick—I got hurt and then was done.” 10:02—Playing by the Playbook: Franchising and Sports Parallels “The franchisor is going to give you the playbook. Here’s the playbook. Here’s how to set up the business. Here’s the equipment you need. Athletes are especially good at following the playbook.” 15:53—From Super Bowl Glory to Mental Health Advocacy “I had a former NFL player, a Super Bowl winner, who transitioned from his own wine business to a mental health franchise, aiming to help those with addiction issues and concussions. His goal was to put one in every NFL city.” 22:11—Winning Traits: Risk-Taking, Coachability, and Leadership in Athletes “They are able to take that risk, take that coaching, and then they’re also able to lead their team or their employees into the franchise system.” 27:25—Ego Check: Navigating Passion and Pride in Franchising “Ego is definitely one that has to be held in check. The great thing about a franchisor is they’re looking out just for the business.” 32:36—Failing Forward: Athletes’ Tolerance for Failure in Business “Athletes are used to failure. Not every athlete succeeds at every game. In baseball, if you’re a 300 hitter, that’s outstanding. That means you failed 7 times out of 10.” 37:20—Key Advice for Non-Athletes: The Importance of a Good Franchise Broker “Always look for a franchise broker. Talk with them, see if they’re a fit for you, and check their website and LinkedIn posts to understand the type of person they are.” 43:21—The Joy of Matchmaking: Guiding Clients to Their Perfect Franchise “Knowing that they’re on this new journey and I just feel so good knowing that I’ve helped them in a small bit of finding that right match.” Connect with Us: Host: Vince Chan | Guest: James Hilovsky ______________________ Chief Change Officer: Make Change Ambitiously. Experiential Human Intelligence for Growth Progressives Global Top 3% Podcast on Listen Notes World's #1 Career Podcast on Apple Top 1: US, CA, MX, IE, HU, AT, CH, FI 1.8 Million+ Downloads 50+ Countries --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.20 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1% Podcast.Top 5 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>180,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Conquering Her Darkest Period: From Psychology Major to Parliament Victory On this week's episode of “Chief Change Officer,” Pei Ling Tin, the youngest elected Parliamentarian, recounts some of the darkest moments of her journey from being a psychology major to winning the general election. She discusses how facing biases related to age and gender has made her more resilient, both in terms of stamina and ability. Wondering about her secret sauce to success? Connect with Us: Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Tin Pei Ling ______________________ --Chief Change Officer-- Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself. Open a World of Deep Human Intelligence for Growth Progressives, Visionary Underdogs, Transformation Gurus & Bold Hearts. 6 Million+ All-Time Downloads. Reaching 80+ Countries Daily. Global Top 3% Podcast. Top 10 US Business. Top 1 US Careers. >>>100,000+ subscribers are outgrowing. Act Today.<<< --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.20 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1% Podcast.Top 5 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>180,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.