The Step UP - Where Leaders, Talent Managers and Leadership Development pros find expert tips for Leadership excellence
About the Podcast The Step Up brings together experts who help leaders elevate their impact. Each 45-minute episode features conversations with thought leaders, practitioners, and innovators who are changing how we think about leadership development and helping leaders step up their game. Why This Podcast Exists Throughout my career—from my time at organizations like Korn Ferry, Cargill, General Mills, and Buffalo Wild Wings to my current work as an independent leadership consultant—I've witnessed firsthand how leaders struggle during moments of change and transition and when learning higher-level skills. Work never slows down, and leaders often find themselves trying to grow while in the thick of daily demands. The Step Up is designed to provide practical wisdom and actionable strategies that busy leaders can implement immediately to enhance their effectiveness. What to Expect Each episode follows a two-part format: Part One: Leadership Journeys We explore our guest's background, expertise, and unique perspective on leadership development. You'll hear authentic stories about their experiences supporting leaders and the insights they've gained along the way. Part Two: Actionable Strategies Our guests share three specific, practical tools or approaches that you can apply to your leadership right away. We dig into each one, discussing how to implement it effectively in your unique context. Your Host Kent Kniebel brings over 20 years of experience in leadership development, talent management, and DEI consulting to each conversation. Drawing on his background in corporate HR roles and external consulting work, Kent guides discussions that bridge theory and practice, focusing on what really works in today's leadership landscape. Connect with Kent Have questions about the podcast or want to continue the conversation? Connect with Kent on LinkedIn or visit Kniebel Leadership Advisory to learn more about his work supporting leaders during critical transitions.
Episodes
Kyle Courtaway has over 25 years of experience working in all areas of strategic talent management including succession planning, high potential identification, competency alignment, performance management systems, executive coaching, 360° instrumentation, intact leadership team development, and key talent development. Kyle’s previous roles have included Learning and Development Consultant, Senior Leadership and Team Development Co...
Geoffrey M. Roche, MPA, is the son of a nurse, healthcare expert, diversity advocate, and education enthusiast, presently serving as the inaugural North America Director of Workforce Development at Siemens Healthineers. In this role, he leads all national workforce development strategy and partnerships to advance a sustainable future-ready healthcare workforce. Roche speaks often on healthcare workforce topics at global conferences...
Lorelei Whitney, CEO of Wave Leader Consulting, partners with business leaders to propel successful strategies and high performance through culture, change leadership, strategic talent management, and diverse, equitable and inclusive teams. Her balanced focus on people and drive for results, moves others to action. Her influential approach is business relevant and insightful, bringing a partnership that activates empowerment and cr...
Andy Storch is an author, consultant, coach, speaker and facilitator on a mission to get the most out of life and inspire others to do the same.
He is the author of the book, Own Your Career Own Your Life, which is designed to help professionals stop drifting and take control of their futures.
Andy is also the host of three podcasts, including The Talent Development Hot Seat; Own Your Career; and My NFT Journey. H...
Dr. Sarah Bridges, PhD, is the founder and leader of Bridges, with 25 years’ experience as a psychologist, executive coach, speaker, writer and leadership advisor. Dr. Bridges is known for offering challenging, yet practical, solutions to help people break through their own assumptions, discover their potential and build cohesive teams.
One of the key takeaways from our chat today is that it’s not about having a lack of resources; i...
Authenticity is the name of the game, and if you want to bring something to life, you can't go half idiot—you gotta commit 100%. In this episode, we dive into the art of going "all in" with our ideas, inspired by the worlds of improv and comedy. Our guest, Rick Lozano, shares his journey of merging music with leadership and talent development, illustrating how embracing our quirks can lead to genuine connections. We explore how lea...
Authenticity is the name of the game in leadership, and today we’re diving deep into what that really means. We're chatting with Kristine Engman, a total rockstar in building high-performing teams, and trust me, she’s got some solid gold nuggets of wisdom to share. We tackle the idea that being vulnerable as a leader can actually pack a punch in building trust and connection within your team—definitely easier said than done, right?...
Michael Stewart, for the past 25 years, has consulted to hundreds of organizations ranging from the Fortune 50 to small non-profits. He has partnered with numerous thought leaders and organizations including David Campbell, Marshall Goldsmith, Blanchard, CCL, Covey, Lominger, Korn/Ferry and others. He is known for data driven solutions that appeal to the strategic CEO, the strategic Human Resources leader, and the practitioner.
Mich...
JD Slaughter is a People and Talent Leader based in Arlington, VA. He is currently building a high performing organization at Huge. Previously he worked as a Consultant at Korn Ferry and CEB in Washington, DC.
JD is all about driving growth through a strong culture and smart people strategies. He has a solid track record in every aspect of the People function and knows how to build, roll out and scale talent strategies that engage p...
Speaker Teresa Sande is CEO and Founder of Mirror Mirror Strategies, and author of Find Your Fierce: Interrupt Imposter Syndrome and Own your Success. Before publishing her book and launching her firm, she had a successful 25-year career with global corporate experience as an executive at companies like Intel, Capital One, Cargill, and UnitedHealth Group. She has dedicated her career to supporting and building effective leader...
Al Dea is a speaker, entrepreneur, consultant, and podcast host. He advises leaders across industries to help them understand how the workplace is changing, and the implications for leading and growing people and organizations.
Drawing on his work advising the next generation of managers and leaders across diverse companies and industries ranging from Fortune 500 companies, non-profit organizations and emerging startups, Al spe...
Corey Criswell is the Chief Leadership Officer at Adeption. She brings 25+ years of experience in the field of adult development honed by consulting with companies around the globe and in a $100B, Fortune 30 company. Today we're talking about harnessing AI for Leadership Development.
Change is the predominant theme of today's discourse, as we delve into the intricate dynamics of leadership amidst a rapidly evolving landscape influen...
Steve is a story-shaping strategist and simulation architect—equal parts executive coach, instructional design expert, fantasy world-builder, and MMO tactician. By day, he coaches overworked tech leaders, design high-impact L&D systems, and architect enterprise learning tech stacks with surgical precision. By night, he authors things like superhero bars, criminal masterminds, and werewolf bartenders into richly imagined worlds.
...
Guest, Cecilia Stanton Adams, CEO, Organization and Leadership Development consultant at the Diversity Institute and Stanton Adams consulting deep dive today into the shift from "culture fit" to "culture contribution," and let me tell you, it's a game-changer! Instead of just asking how folks fit into the existing mold, we're all about figuring out how every individual can help propel the organization into the future. We've got the...
Nick Tasler is an organizational psychologist and a #1 best-selling author. Nick has helped hundreds of thousands of leaders around the world transform seasons of change into periods of unprecedented growth at the world’s most respected organizations.
Change is like the wild card in our lives, and if you’re looking to turn that chaos into a stepping stone for success, you’re in the right place! In today’s chat, we dive deep in...
Bri Flynn is an experienced HR and Talent executive with broad experience in human capital management, executive coaching, and operational leadership.
With more than two decades of experience leading Human Resources teams and Talent Development programs in both privately held and Fortune 500 companies, her strengths lie in designing workplace solutions that balance strategy, empathy, and impact to help individuals and organizations ...
Today’s guest is someone who’s made a career out of helping leaders not just level up—but stay coachable while they do it.
Kevin Wilde is an executive leadership fellow at the University of Minnesota and a lifelong student of what makes leadership stick. He brings over three decades of experience from the front lines of leadership development, including senior roles at General Electric and as the Chief Learning Officer at General Mi...
Kendall Harrell is a Minneapolis-based C-level HR leader with extensive experience across various industries. In his more than twenty years in human resources, he has helped organizations build, refine, and execute integrated talent strategies…and work in a good laugh from time to time.
An anchoring value of his is to “bring others along”. It informs the way he leads and how he inspires other leaders to do the same. He cares d...
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