5 Minutes with Andy
Each month, 5 Minutes with Andy delivers quick, impactful lessons on leadership, communication, and business strategy. Hosted by Virtual, Inc. CEO Andy Freed, who brings over 25 years of experience in business operations and leadership, the podcast offers engaging insights on a wide range of topics—from the rise of AI and hybrid workspace communication to corporate citizenship and social impact. With every episode, you'll gain memorable insights and actionable strategies for tackling leadership and management challenges—all while having fun. Join Andy to laugh, learn, and get inspired!
Episodes
Andy sits down with Ashley Costello, Head of Virtual’s Technology Consortia and Standards Practice, to talk about the Five Disciplines of Healthy Consortia —Virtual’s new framework and advisory program that helps leadership teams evaluate organizational effectiveness, identify improvement opportunities, and build actionable growth plans.
Andy and Ashley cover:
- Why many leaders struggle to clearly assess their organization’s perf...
From global conferences to high-stakes board meetings, Virtual has supported more than 1200 events across 35 countries — often without anyone knowing they are there. And that’s by design. In this episode, Andy shares what it takes to deliver great events — and how Virtual helps drive success for its clients.
He covers:
- Why events are back — and bigger than ever.
- The three essential elements for event success.
- Virtual’s approach...
From a hospital nursery to the hallways of Virtual, Andy explores how every role contributes to something bigger — and why it’s a leader’s job to help people see that connection.
Andy Shares:
- The number one thing that keeps employees engaged — and why leaders must lean into it.
- A quiet moment that helped him see the impact of Virtual’s work in a new light.
- How leaders can help every team member understand the value of their con...
In this episode of 5 Minutes With Andy, Virtual, Inc. CEO Andy Freed explains why the best leaders don’t just talk — they make space for others to join the conversation. Drawing on a theme from his upcoming book, Lead Like The Boss, Andy shows how sharing the mic turns passive listening into active participation — whether it’s a one-on-one, a board meeting, or a conference.
Andy covers:
- When to stop talking — and start listening.
- ...
In this episode of 5 Minutes With Andy, CEO Andy Freed previews a core leadership lesson from his book Lead Like the Boss: The Bruce Springsteen Framework for Elevating Your Leadership—revealing what leaders can learn about communication from Bruce Springsteen’s most important concert instrument.
Andy discusses:
- How the “think, feel, do” process sets the stage for effective communication.
- Why putting yourself in your audience’s sh...
In this episode of 5 Minutes With Andy, CEO Andy Freed explains why every organization needs a clear central message that people can remember and repeat—like the chorus of a great pop song.
Andy discusses:
- Why talking points fall short.
- How the message triangle helps leaders communicate clearly and consistently from any angle.
- What makes a strong central message—and how you know when you’ve nailed it.
In this episode of 5 Minutes With Andy, CEO Andy Freed shares how a 30-second “thank you” early in his career shaped how he leads — and why small moments often make the biggest impact.
Andy discusses:
- Why the true promise of leadership lies in creating moments that motivate and inspire others.
- How being present and intentional in everyday interactions is at the heart of great leadership.
- Why telling someone they matter can shape ho...
In this episode of 5 Minutes With Andy, Virtual, Inc. CEO Andy Freed shares why having fun at work is serious business—and a core part of his leadership strategy for building trust, inspiring creativity, and driving results.
Andy discusses:
- Why fun should be part of your company values and leadership approach.
- How prioritizing fun in the workplace can strengthen teams and spark innovation.
- Practical ways to weave fun into your ...
In this episode of 5 Minutes with Andy, Virtual, Inc. CEO Andy Freed shares how the best leadership moments often happen behind the scenes — when leaders step back and create space for others to lead.
Andy discusses:
- Why leaders are always “on stage”, even in quiet, everyday moments.
- How the greatest act of leadership is growing more leaders.
- Simple, intentional ways to help others step up and shine.
In this episode of 5 Minutes with Andy, Virtual, Inc. CEO Andy Freed shares one of his most personal leadership lessons yet — how the way we talk about failure, especially to ourselves, shapes the kind of leader we become.
Andy discusses:
- Why the stories we tell ourselves about failure matter more than the failures themselves.
- How reframing failure is essential to growing, communicating, and leading with impact.
- What his own “loser...
In this episode of 5 Minutes with Andy, Virtual, Inc. CEO Andy Freed shares his top tips for hiring smarter—and explores one of the most common mistakes leaders make when identifying talent.
Andy shares:
- Why grit, adaptability, and character matter just as much as what’s on a resumé.
- The value of hiring “native speakers” of emerging technology – who can put it to use right away.
- How leaders can rethink the hiring process to identif...
In this episode of 5 Minutes with Andy, Virtual, Inc. CEO Andy Freed reflects on key takeaways from the TED 2025 conference in Vancouver—where the theme of “humanity reimagined” sparked big questions about the future of AI, leadership, and what it means to be human.
Andy shares:
- Why imperfection may be humanity’s greatest strength in the face of artificial intelligence.
- How stories of resilience, progress, and courage can reframe...
In this episode of 5 Minutes with Andy, Virtual, Inc. CEO Andy Freed explores how data is reshaping organizational strategy—and how leaders can use it to improve decision-making, drive engagement, and uncover opportunities they might otherwise miss.
Andy shares:
- Why data is now just as essential to organizational success as people, process, and technology.
- How everyday data points—like member logins and renewal delays—can reveal ...
The best leaders never stop learning. In this episode of 5 Minutes with Andy, Andy shares why leadership learning isn’t limited to books or formal courses—it’s about finding lessons everywhere you go. Whether it’s a concert, a TV show, or a detail store aisle, there’s always something new to learn if you’re paying attention.
“Look at every change as an opportunity.” –Andy Freed, Virtual, Inc. CEO
In this episode of 5 Minutes with Andy, Virtual, Inc. CEO Andy Freed shares his playbook for navigating change as a leader— with curiosity and confidence.
🎧 Andy covers:• Why curiosity is one of your best tools as a leader.• How bringing in tech “native speakers” can help your organization adapt smarter.• The importance of honoring what already works.
In this episode of 5 Minutes with Andy, Virtual, Inc. CEO Andy Freed highlights five tech trends every leader should have on their radar—from quantum computing to cybersecurity and blockchain.
🎧 Andy explores:• Why quantum computing is coming faster than you might expect.• How emerging tech is creating new cybersecurity challenges. • Practical tips to help your organization embrace new technology and adapt to change.
In this episode of 5 Minutes with Andy, Virtual, Inc. CEO Andy Freed makes the case that “you’re not going to lose your job to AI, you’re going to lose your job to someone who knows how to use AI.” With “AI everywhere”, the real challenge for leaders isn’t whether to adopt AI, but how to integrate it effectively within their organizations.
🎧 Andy explores:
- The rapid evolution of AI and its growing impact on organizations.
- Why l...
In this episode of 5 Minutes with Andy, Andy Freedsits down with Bill Sellers, Executive Director of the National History Academy, to explore how leaders can apply lessons from history to navigate today’s challenges and inspire their organizations.
🎧 Andy and Bill discuss:• How history serves as a valuable tool for leadership.• The importance of historical context when applying lessons to modern challenges.• Why biographies of hist...
When you step in front of an audience—whether it’s your company, your team, or a conference—every moment matters. In this episode, Virtual, Inc. CEO Andy Freed shares lessons from Virtual’s recent company all-hands meeting and breaks down the Think, Feel, Do framework for impactful communication.
🎧Listen in and discover:
- Why every presentation is a performance—and how to own the moment.
- How storytelling connects your employees wi...
What sets great leaders and organizations apart? It’s not just results—it’s how they achieve them. In this episode of 5 Minutes with Andy, CEO Andy Freed shares insights from Virtual’s journey to show how leading with values drives success and inspires greatness.
Andy discusses:
- Why corporate values are more than words on paper.
- How values guide a company’s decisions and long-term success.
- The role of generosity, innovation...
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