Jim Haudan is a world-renowned leader and company culture expert, and was the founder and former CEO and President of Root Inc, which was acquired by Accenture in 2021. Jim talks about why employees are engaged everywhere in life but work (and how to change that), what he means by the need for "hard lines, guidelines, and no lines" in the workplace…

Mike Lynch is a well-known Diversity Strategist & Practitioner, Speaker, Coach, Facilitator, and HR & DEIAB Consultant. In this episode, Mike addresses the criticality of white men being actively involved in DEI, how to create a culture of “speaking up”, what it means to go “all in” vs just being an ally, the power of conversation in driving change…

Susan Schmitt Winchester picks up where she left off last week in Part 1. Listen as she shares a vulnerable story about how she was triggered at work as a senior executive and how she handled it, how just because you’re damaged doesn’t mean you’re doomed, the power and importance of self-acceptance, and much more.…

In the most emotional, vulnerable, and raw episode of 2024 so far, the CEO and Founder of Healing At Work, Susan Schmitt Winchester, joins Joel on the podcast. Formerly the CHRO at Applied Materials, and also the former CHRO for Rockwell Automation, Susan discusses being an "Adult Survivor of a Damaged Past" (and how you can figure out if you are o…

The charming, elegant, inspiring Donnebra McClendon (Global Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Dayforce) explains the key trait in effective leadership, the person who will supercharge your career the most (and how to find them), the importance of reading, how believing in the goodness of people can lead to forgiveness and growth, and much…

I this juicy episode, Joel sits down to talk with Monigo Saygbay-Hallie, Chief People Officer at Checkers and Rally Drive-In Restaurants. Monigo describes her work in driving industry-shattering retention improvements in a fast-food dining environment, how to create a sense of belonging in your company, the power of love and care at work, how to go…

John Boudreau might just be the most intelligent individual to grace the Frontline Industry Podcast. You will learn more in these 48 minutes than you may learn at any other time in your week. Take a listen to learn more about how: People can (and should be) be THE competitive advantage for organizations. Many leaders lack the necessary frameworks a…

She's the founder and CEO of the Devon Group and one of the most widely respected voices in HR. In this episode, Jeanne Achille covers topics like 1) how to have effective communication and boundaries at work, 2) prioritizing employees’ holistic wellbeing, 3) positive trends in workplace tech that you should consider, 4) the dynamics of working wit…

Meg Bear, former President and Chief Product Officer at SAP SuccessFactors, a leading HR software company, joins us on this new episode. She shares her efforts to bridge opportunity gaps, advocates for embracing diversity with courage, and discusses leveraging individual strengths for collective impact. Key Highlights: Embrace diversity and be brav…

Thomas is a VC investor, noted former executive at SAP SuccessFactors, and ongoing advisor of top HR tech companies. In this episode, Thomas discussed the origin story of his lifelong learning (he has more degrees than a thermometer), whether or not we should view the explosion of AI through a doomsday lens, the criteria VCs use when investing in a…

Influencers are everywhere these days, and Steve Goldberg is a leading influencer in the HR Tech space. He joins Joel to talk about his unusual childhood, the impact of losing his family at 33 years old, how HR can deliver strategic value to their organizations, and much more. Don't miss mentions of Al Sharpton, blind mountain climbing, and money l…

J.J. Cutler, Partner at Heidrick and Struggles, joins Joel for his second time around on the podcast. In this episode J.J. shares: 1. The key to managing someone older than you 2. What the “clay layer” of management is in your company and why it matters (HUGELY important to understand and work through) 3. What you can learn from his mistakes throug…

The legendary Monica Rothgery (first woman to become COO for KFC in the US) literally wrote the book on frontline leadership. In this episode, Monica: Unveils a sneak peek into her brand new book written directly to frontline managers. She gives her Top 2 reasons you should become a restaurant GM The REAL secret to reducing your turnover (shocker!)…

If you care at ALL about customer experience, you must listen to this episode. Joe Pine is an internationally acclaimed author, speaker, and management advisor to Fortune 500 companies and startups, and he obsesses over customer experience. He write books about it. He lectures about it. It's his claim to fame. You won't want to miss this episode, a…

Joining the podcast is Derek Tufts, VP of HR at SpartanNash, a food solutions company committed to fostering a people first culture, with over 17,000 associates! Derek gives his best advice on: 1) How to stand out to get promoted 2) The importance of active listening 3) Heartwarming stories about fatherhood 4) How to choose to see the best in other…

In this final 2023 episode, Joel has a meaningful, heartfelt conversation with the delightful Esther Lee, VP of Global Learning and Development at McCann WorldGroup. For Joel, this episode is one of his absolute favorites in 2023. Esther gets vulnerable and talks about a hard situation that made her cry for weeks as a special ed teacher in the Bron…

Listen in to the HR powerhouse, Mike Catanzaro, Chief People Officer at CSC ServiceWorks. Mike reflects on several leadership lessons we can glean from Punxsutawney Phil (yes, the groundhog), the core trait he seeks in a CEO, the impact of being vulnerable with employees about his mental health challenges, and much more.…

Jeff Belloli, VP of Human Resources for AEG Presents (one of the largest live music companies in the world) shares his story and unique pivot from pro tennis to HR, how his background in professional athletics differentiates him in his field, the power of meditation that you just might want to try yourself, and much more.…

Joel interviews the man, the myth, the retail legend Wes Dudley. Wes is the VP of Customer Experience at Broad River Retail, which owns and operates Ashley HomeStores throughout the Carolinas and Georgia. Wes talks about his take on mentorship, what being a Memory Maker means at Broad River and how that defines the jobs of his employees, the future…

James Cope is the principle consultant for Phillips Consulting Group. In this podcast, James talks about how “people” are his North Star, the difference makers in manufacturing; he challenges us to consider how financial accounting falls short of treating employees as people, how to create the right environment to truly unlock employee potential, h…

Chris Malone in an award-winning author, speaker, thought-leader, strategic adviser and C-level growth executive with experience serving multiple Fortune 500 companies. In this episode, Chris unveils the solutions to the time pressures faced by short staffed healthcare providers, the cost of focusing too much on efficiency, an incredible story of S…

Joel has a delightful chat with John Garrett, the Catalyst For Culture Change, comedian, award winning author, podcast host, and keynote speaker. Garrett discusses how he helps organizations bring out the human behind the job title, how to authentically connect with your employees, the power of show and tell at work, the untapped potential of your …

In this incredibly insightful episode, Joel speaks with Daryl Travis, Founder and CEO at Brandtrust, a brand consultancy offering a more human way to build brands and create meaningful change. Daryl explains why humans don’t really know what they want and how that influences buying behavior and employee experience, why we all keep our Apple device …

During this heartfelt conversation, Joel talks with Scott Schultz. He's a speaker, executive coach, and facilitator who empowers people to unlock and architect their impact. Scott discusses emotional intelligence and it’s importance for leaders, the huge problem with negative self talk, identifying your core values and truly living them out, and a …

Joel has an impactful conversation with Troy Morrison, President of North Texas Bells, a 2200 employee quick service restaurant company based in Texas, a big company with a small company feel. Troy shares about his move to franchise owner at 47 years old, his passion for helping people help themselves, the importance of a purpose driven life and wh…

Joel has a vulnerable discussion with Gary Magenta, Chief Pot Stirrer at The Magenta Mix, where Gary helps leaders and organizations "cut through the BS", get real, and redefine what success looks like for leaders, teams, and customers. Gary talks about why leaders should talk what they suck at with their teams, how to build trust quickly, the epid…

Joel talks with the innovative Jason Radisson, Founder and CEO of Shift One, a company on a mission to solve the world's largest employment gaps with technology. Jason talks about major demographic macro trends in frontline workplaces, how AI plays into the future of frontline work and tech, his experience with hiring 5000 people a week, his lifelo…

Joel sits down with McLain Hoogland, President of Hoogland Restaurant Group, the largest Marco’s Pizza Franchise in the country. McLain talks about his family history of owning the iconic Family Video, the massive Blockbuster competitor with over 800 locations in the Midwest at its peak, how being a Marine impacts the way he views young employees a…

In this meaty episode, meet James O’Reilly, CEO of Smokey Bones, meat heaven for meat lovers, the masters of meat, specializing in good food, good drinks, and good times. James expounds about the restaurant industry leaders he looks up to, the importance of transparency during crisis, the qualities he looks for in employees, the failure he learned …

The unforgettable Justin Patton is an award winning author, speaker, and executive coach. In this powerful episode, he explains what can be your biggest competitive advantage as a leader, what the most honest part of the body is (and it's surprising), how to diagnose if you need an executive coach, why so many jerks become company leaders, the best…

Joel has a delightful conversation with the charming Bobbi Capps, Regional Vice President of the West Region of Aramark Workplace Hospitality. Bobbi talks about the important three C’s in her world, what she’s learned about leadership through working in management roles since she was 17, opening her own restaurant, her rapid ascension at Aramark an…

In our inaugural episode for 2023, Joel chats with Said Elkhodary, SVP of Professional Dining at Elior North America, one of the world’s leading operators in contract catering and support services. Said reveals the pivot he made from mechanical engineering to the service industry at the beginning of his career, he reflects on the biggest challenges…

Joel wraps up the 2022 podcast season with a meaningful conversation with Barb Rooney, SVP of Lodging, Spa and Owner Services at Boyne Resorts. Barb talks about running Big Sky Resort lodging at just 24 years old and the painful but important learnings she experienced, how her change-agent personality has evolved over the years, the important trans…

Joel continues his talk with Davin Salvagno, the globally recognized inspirational speaker and author known for connecting purpose, people, and performance. Learn about the “ROI” of focusing on purpose in your company, but how it’s also not the most important reason to pursue it, fulfilling dreams as the number one KPI at a multi-billion dollar com…

Joel has a deep and meaningful conversation with Davin Salvagno, the globally recognized inspirational speaker and author known for connecting purpose, people, and performance. We hear a lot about “purpose”, but what does purpose really mean? Davin reveals the answer, and the businesses and leaders who are living out purpose well like WD-40 and Cos…

On our first two-guest episode, Joel has a candid chat with Josh Sevick, President of The Grounds Guys, and John Dobelbower, Director of Franchise Development at The Grounds Guys, a Neighborly company. Hear about the hard life lesson that changed John’s career path, the Code of Values that guides their company culture and is reviewed daily by their…

Joel has a wonderful conversation with the iconic and inspiring Jennifer Lemcke, CEO of Weed Man, an international network of locally owned and operated lawn care businesses across Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. Jennifer talks about the family story of Weed Man, her powerful life purpose, the importance of active listening as a l…

Joel sits down for a transformational discussion with Jeff Oddo, owner and CEO of City Wide Facility Solutions, providing over 20 facility solutions, from handyman services to janitorial to parking lot repairs. Jeff shares the divine intervention of Mr. Cho, who inspired their pivot to the franchise model, leading his household how he leads his bus…

Joel has a deep discussion with Jackie Ishimaru Gachina, owner of Gachina Landscape Management, one of the most awarded landscape companies in the Bay Area. Jackie shares the incredible challenge of taking over the business when her husband passed, creating a strong culture and winning mentality at the frontlines tied to tangible reward, what she’s…

Joel has an incredibly engaging talk with Mary Miller, author, speaker, and CEO of JANCOA, a commercial cleaning company run by her, her husband, and soon the next generation. Through efforts to create an environment to attract the best in the industry, they created The Dream Manager program, popularized by Matthew Kelly's bestselling book by the s…

This week Joel sits down with Jarrett Walters, President and COO of Hawaiian Building Maintenance, to hear him talk about how basketball created authentic relationships with his employees, how he builds company culture across islands and locations, the way bolstering middle management transformed his business, what motivates him, and much more.…

Joel sits down with the delightful Heidi Buske, Transformation Leader at Cargill, the largest privately owned company in the US. Heidi discusses why she loves manufacturing, ho w to create a “winning culture and community” in your company, how losing her best friend at work showed her the power of work relationships, the negative feedback she recei…

Joel chats with Jeff Engel, CEO of Location Tech Inc, a software platform providing precise locations 3-dimensionally inside and around buildings to track people, processes, devices, and equipment. Jeff talks of his Navy Seal days and the lessons learned, some stories never before told in the civilian world, he shares his driven approach to life, h…

Dennis Jenkins joins the show to lay out his motivations and priorities as a man, a leader, and a business owner. Dennis is President of ABC Home and Commercial Services of DFW, providing high-quality, effective pest control services in Texas since 1949. Dennis shares who he is outside of work, how ABC’s unparalleled sense of purpose has led to dee…

On this vulnerable and raw episode, Joel speaks to Edie Freeman, SVP of HR at Thompson Hospitality, the large minority-owned and family-run company that is redefining the art of hospitality. Edie shares her passions outside of work, her deep desire to help people be heard and develop them, her pursuit of boundaries and balance at home and at work, …

Joel continues his discussion with Patty Lopez-Calleja, Chief Experience Officer and SVP of Strategic Initiatives at Fiesta Restaurant Group. Patty shares the one thing she wants her in-store teams to know, their unique investment in frontline leadership development, creating a highly customizable employee experience, more about their forward-think…

In this exciting two-part episode, Joel talks with Patty Lopez-Calleja, Chief Experience Officer and SVP of Strategic Initiatives at Fiesta Restaurant Group, parent company of Pollo Tropical, the 138 location restaurant chain headquartered in Miami. Patty discusses creating an actual people-first culture, she reveals the secret and quiet ways they …

On this fiery episode, Joel speaks with the energetic Shannon Coomes, President of Hill Fire Protection, the leading provider of inspection, testing, maintenance, repairs and 24 hour emergency service for fire sprinkler systems. Shannon ruminates about how being raised by a single mom impacted her personally and professionally, the challenge of reb…

Joel sits down with Josh Bickford, EVP of Strategic Initiatives and 4th generation owner of Clyde’s Donuts, a 102 year old donut manufacturer in Chicago-land. Josh talks about the family legacy and fun culture of Clyde’s, creatively involving the frontlines in ideation, how he wants to be an enabler for frontline employees, the joy of making a prod…

This is Part 2 of last episode, where Joel talks with Ryan Bond, CPO at Thrive Restaurant Group. In this powerful culmination, Ryan discusses helping Thrive employees flourish both at home and at work, the number one thing frontline associates need, how Thrive recognizes employees differently, his powerful message for struggling leaders, his passio…