Modern Mentor

Rachel sits down with DEI strategist Lily Zheng for a candid conversation on the future of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. They explore why real progress depends on focusing less on performative programs and more on outcomes that drive lasting change.

Transcribed - Published: 29 April 2025

Some work relationships feel easy. And some… don’t. When a relationship feels rocky—even without a big conflict—there’s a path to a more collegial working relationships, even if you never become best friends.

Transcribed - Published: 22 April 2025

Rachel sits down with Bonnie Davis, co-founder of HuWork, to answer your questions about building more human-centered workplaces. You’ll also hear how Bonnie and her co-founder built HuWork by combining their corporate experience, research, and coaching backgrounds along with why celebrating strengths is key to sustainable change.

Transcribed - Published: 15 April 2025

Everyone’s motivation dips sometimes. But when it does, we often default to the wrong solutions. Here’s how to get curious, not critical, and reignite your inner spark in some of the most common situations.

Transcribed - Published: 8 April 2025

You want to run an offsite for you team. You're craving the connection, the alignment, the levity and the action plan. You just don't know where to begin. Well, it's here. You begin here.

Transcribed - Published: 1 April 2025

In this insightful conversation, executive coach Jerry Colonna joins The Modern Mentor Podcast to explore the transformative power of empathy in leadership. He shares lessons from his work with top executives, his experiences with Startup Podcast, and his perspective on fostering belonging in the workplace.

Transcribed - Published: 25 March 2025

Tired of always fixing what’s broken? What if instead, you focused on what’s working well and built from there? Today, we’re talking about using an Appreciative Inquiry approach to problem-solving in the workplace. Let’s shift from frustration to forward momentum.

Transcribed - Published: 18 March 2025

Low morale seems to be rampant in the workplace today. So many people are feeling it - without a sense of empowerment (or budget) to change it for the better. But there are plenty of no-cost ways to drive morale in the right direction. Today let’s talk about 7 of my favorites.

Transcribed - Published: 11 March 2025

Rachel welcomes bestselling author AJ Jacobs, known for his immersive "method writing" approach. They discuss how curiosity, gratitude, and risk-taking can reignite creativity and combat workplace burnout. From living biblically for a year to becoming the healthiest person alive, AJ shares how diving deep into new experiences fuels his work and how you can apply the same principles to rediscover your spark.

Transcribed - Published: 4 March 2025

What does kindness really mean in a business context, and how can it drive retention, culture, and success? Linda Cohen, The Kindness Catalyst, joins the Modern Mentor podcast to explore the tangible impact of kindness in leadership, how it differs from simply being nice, and actionable strategies to create a more engaged and motivated workforce.

Transcribed - Published: 25 February 2025

Ever feel like your ideas get ignored while someone else says the same thing and gets immediate buy-in? It’s not about speaking louder—it’s about how you position your idea. Here’s how to get people to listen—and act—on what you have to say.

Transcribed - Published: 18 February 2025

Struggling to stand out on LinkedIn? Rachel welcomes Danielle Hughes, Chief Personality Officer, to discuss how to build a genuine personal brand without oversharing. She shares tips on how to showcase your personality professionally, make meaningful connections, and grow your career with confidence.

Transcribed - Published: 11 February 2025

The world of work isn’t slowing down, and success isn’t just about working harder—it’s about working smarter. Here are five essential skills to cultivate for sustained success in today’s workplace.

Transcribed - Published: 4 February 2025

Employee engagement surveys often highlight frustration with career development. Here’s how to shift the conversation and create more satisfaction—without relying on promotions alone.

Transcribed - Published: 28 January 2025

Team challenges can feel overwhelming to tackle head-on. Here’s how leaders in a recent Activation Bootcamp found ways to infuse small but meaningful relief into their teams—without trying to fix everything.

Transcribed - Published: 21 January 2025

Burnout isn’t just about working too much. It’s also about working in the wrong ways. Here are five things to stop doing now to reclaim your energy and focus.

Transcribed - Published: 14 January 2025

Success doesn’t come from waiting for the stars to align—it comes from taking action. Here’s how to channel your inner entrepreneur to create your best year yet.

Transcribed - Published: 7 January 2025

In today’s disconnected world, building connection at work can feel like an uphill battle. But small, intentional actions can make all the difference. Let’s explore some fresh ways to bring people closer—no forced team bonding required.

Transcribed - Published: 30 December 2024

The end of the year is the perfect time to step back and assess where you are in your career. Are you on the path you want to be on? Are you growing in the ways that matter? Let’s do a career audit and set you up for success in 2025.

Transcribed - Published: 23 December 2024

Activation is the experience of being both deeply productive and engaged. And we all deserve to feel it. Good news is we have the power to create that experience for ourselves. Learn how to get the ball rolling.

Transcribed - Published: 17 December 2024

Setting resolutions as we look toward a new year - a fresh start - is so tempting. And yet the likelihood of failure is super high. Here’s a fresh approach to setting yourself up for meaningful success in the new year. Zero resolutions required.

Transcribed - Published: 10 December 2024

We know professional development is important - for performance and engagement. But when time and budgets are tight, how can we make it happen? Stick around and find out.

Transcribed - Published: 3 December 2024

Self-awareness is more than just knowing who you are. It’s having the insight to fully leverage your strengths and to flex your style in any moment to amplify your impact. Learn how to understand yourself and use that knowledge for good.

Transcribed - Published: 26 November 2024

Rachel talks with Amanda Perez Leder, conflict resolution specialist about how unresolved conflict can undermine an organization’s mission and how timely, facilitated conversations to foster healthier, value-driven environments. Their discussion offers practical strategies for turning workplace disagreements into growth opportunities.

Transcribed - Published: 19 November 2024

A blow to our confidence can throw us off our game if we let it. But there are ways to wallow and ways to recover. Let’s choose to recover.

Transcribed - Published: 12 November 2024

Public speaking remains a top source of anxiety for so many adults. There are strategies anyone can use to dial the anxiety back and the confidence up.

Transcribed - Published: 5 November 2024

Innovation doesn’t just happen by accident. It’s driven by intentional habits that anyone can cultivate, whether you’re leading a team or working as an individual contributor. Today, we’ll break down the habits that can help you spark new ideas and keep them flowing.

Transcribed - Published: 29 October 2024

Former Barstool Sports CEO Erika Ayers Badan joins the show to share insights from her new book "Nobody Cares About Your Career: Why Failure Is Good, the Great Ones Play Hurt, and Other Hard Truths." She discusses the importance of embracing challenges and taking responsibility for your career growth.

Transcribed - Published: 22 October 2024

Rachel explores common leadership blind spots that appear across various industries. She highlights issues like ineffective meetings, lack of commitment to professional development, inconsistent communication, and failing to foster meaningful connections in hybrid workplaces.

Transcribed - Published: 15 October 2024

Organizational change today is rampant. Non-stop. And organizations are frankly failing at leading their teams through it. Today let’s talk about the 5 biggest reasons for failure in change, and how to do it better.

Transcribed - Published: 8 October 2024

Rachel sits down with Mamie Kanfer Stewart, host of The Modern Manager podcast, to dive deep into the art of leading effective and enjoyable meetings. From pinpointing desired outcomes to empowering participants, Mamie shares her wisdom on transforming meetings into productive, collaborative sessions that energize teams. They also explore when not to hold meetings and tips for navigating the hybrid meeting world.

Transcribed - Published: 1 October 2024

In today’s competitive job market, having the right skills is critical—but it’s also important to show how those skills stand out. That’s where micro-credentials come in. In this episode, we’ll explore how stacking micro-credentials can help you stay relevant, build a niche skill set, and open doors in your career.

Transcribed - Published: 24 September 2024

Rachel sits down with Vijay Pendakur, the author of The Alchemy of Talent: Leading Teams to Peak Performance. The two dive into an engaging discussion about leadership, team dynamics, and the actionable strategies presented in Vijay's book. They discuss insights on navigating workplace challenges and building high-performing teams, plus a behind-the-scenes look at how even the most well-planned conversations can hit a few bumps in the road.

Transcribed - Published: 17 September 2024

Communicating is something we all do daily. But for all our efforts, we’re not always maximizing its impact. Let’s talk about ways to make our communication more meaningful.

Transcribed - Published: 10 September 2024

Imposter syndrome, for many, is a real challenge. But it’s overcomable. And today I’d love to share my secrets for keeping it at bay.

Transcribed - Published: 3 September 2024

Rachel interviews executive coach Beth Messich about the importance of setting clear boundaries and prioritizing effectively to manage workplace overwhelm. They discuss strategies for preserving resources, both for the company and personally, while staying focused on what truly matters.

Transcribed - Published: 27 August 2024

Saying hard things at work is hard. Sometimes we avoid saying them at all. Sometimes we say them in ways that damage our personal brand. But there’s always a middle ground. Let’s talk about some of the things we all struggle to say and find ways to say them better.

Transcribed - Published: 20 August 2024

What does a Chief People Officer believe we can all be doing more – and less – of in order to achieve the most important things? This interview with Chief People Officer, Maureen Cawley delivers some actionable tips and answers.

Transcribed - Published: 13 August 2024

Resilience and agility. These are buzzwords we hear all the time. But what do they actually mean? What tangible things can we do to drive up our own capabilities? And why are they actually so important?

Transcribed - Published: 6 August 2024

During an Activation bootcamp, a cohort of leaders workshopped the challenges they were having reducing their teams’ overwhelm. Here are just some of the early solutions they implemented.

Transcribed - Published: 30 July 2024

Many of us are carrying too much stuff in our brains – meetings, ideas, to-do’s. We mean well, but we’re failing to leave space for the creativity and productivity that awaits us. Learn the what, why, and how of cognitive offloading to give your mind the space it needs to do its best work!

Transcribed - Published: 23 July 2024

Carewashing - the process of companies implementing wellness programs and benefits that sound good, but fail to address real problems - is holding us all back from success. Learn how to address and reverse the trend.

Transcribed - Published: 16 July 2024

Many of us have been taught labels are a bad thing. And they can be. But they can also be the key to success if we understand how to use them effectively and for good.

Transcribed - Published: 9 July 2024

There are so many conversations we know we should be having—the hard, the awkward, the uncomfortable. But we put them off for fear of making things worse. It’s time to have that conversation. Here’s a simple framework to help make it a win for everyone.

Transcribed - Published: 2 July 2024

Too many companies are relying on Employee Engagement surveys to save the day. But just the opposite is happening. So what can we do instead?

Transcribed - Published: 25 June 2024

We know, generically, we should be living in a season of curiosity, always asking questions. But is it really important to be doing this? And if so, how can we actually do it well?

Transcribed - Published: 18 June 2024

A listener asked Modern Mentor for strategies on how to change a toxic workplace culture. Here are 5 actions that listener might take.

Transcribed - Published: 11 June 2024

Kevin Kelly, author of the new book Irreplaceable, delivers his insights around how a workplace can be designed to draw us in, to drive connection, innovation, and outstanding results.

Transcribed - Published: 4 June 2024

There are some really common challenges in the workplace. But in many cases we’ve been trying the same solutions for years. And often without results. So…maybe it’s time for a new approach?

Transcribed - Published: 28 May 2024

We all know the importance of continuous learning. But classes and certifications aren’t the only way. There are plenty of ways we can – and should – be learning, to round out our skills and knowledge. Let’s discuss some today.

Transcribed - Published: 21 May 2024