Heliona Insight: Thriving in Leadership

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Scott Havens, Partner at HUB International, brings a unique vantage point from decades of working with companies of 100+ employees on their healthcare benefits, technology integration, and executive strategy.

As someone who runs nine executive peer groups, sits on multiple boards, and works directly with CEOs, CFOs, and HR leaders, Scott has seen firsthand what ...

What if the real cause of quiet quitting isn’t disengaged employees but disconnected leadership?

In this episode of Heliona Insight, I sit down with Dr. Leigh Anne Taylor Knight, a respected executive leader, education advocate, and culture strategist, to unpack the ripple effects of leadership behavior on workplace culture.

We explore how employee disengagement often mirrors the clarity, care, and consistency (or lack thereof) model...

In this episode of Heliona Insight, I sit down with Amber Miller Manning, CEO of The Miller Group, to talk about what it really takes to retain great people in one of the hardest industries: insurance.

Amber shares how she and her team have built a culture that holds a remarkable 90% employee retention rate—by centering communication, care, and consistency at every level of leadership.

We talk about the emotional reality of leading d...

In the final episode of our special series, The Manager Crisis, I sit down with Ashley Kera, a workplace strategist, leadership coach, and former manager of 100+ early-career professionals to unpack what the data misses and what real managers are facing on the ground.

With a background in clinical psychology and a decade leading talent operations, Ashley brings clarity to the messy middle: the tension between performance expectation...

How do you put people first when you’re responsible for the bottom line? 

In this episode of Heliona Insight, we sat down with Ryan Martin, CFO and senior executive, to tackle the uncomfortable truth many C-suite leaders face: managers are burning out at record rates and that burnout is quietly costing companies more than they realize. 

Ryan shares his perspective on why people strategy and financial strategy are more connected than ...

If managers are the bridge between strategy and execution, what happens when the bridge starts to crumble? 

In this special second episode with returning guest Dr. Katie Gaebel, we kick off a new 3-part Heliona Insight series called The Manager Crisis. Katie, researcher, speaker, and culture strategist, joins me to unpack Gallup’s 2025 State of the Global Workplace report, with a focused lens on the manager crisis outlined between p...

How do you build a workplace people don’t want to leave?

In this episode of Heliona Insight, we sat down with Jon Hile, Executive Director of the Kansas City Public Schools Education Foundation, to explore what mission-driven organizations can teach the private sector about engagement, retention, and trust.

With a background spanning public education, social impact, and systems leadership, Jon shares how values-based decision-making,...

If we’re going to build healthier workplaces, we have to treat culture as more than just a buzzword.

In this episode of Heliona Insight, I sit down with Dr. Katie Gaebel, Vice President of People & Culture & Co-founder at Iconoclast Advisors, and a leadership strategist with deep roots in higher ed, executive development, and organizational transformation.

Katie brings clarity to what workplace culture really is: a human scie...

What does it take to lead with purpose after life throws its biggest curveballs?

In this episode of Heliona Insight, we sit down with James Estes, a military veteran and former corporate leader who once managed a team of 750 at Verizon. Now the owner of a successful franchise with The Brothers That Just Do Gutters, James opens up about his journey—from military service to surviving a heart attack and PTSD, and becoming a foster pare...

What does it take to rise through the ranks and lead with purpose?

In this episode of Heliona Insight, host Ebrima "Abraham" Sisay sits down with Matt Linski, Kansas City Market President for Bank of America, to unpack his journey from intern to executive. With over 21 years at the company, Matt shares how internal growth, talent development, and authentic leadership have shaped not only his own trajectory but the culture of one of ...

Massage therapy isn’t just about relaxation, it’s about healing, trust, and human connection. But what if I told you that the same principles that make a great massage therapist also make a great leader?

My guest today, Celeste Aguirre, has built a thriving career in massage therapy over the last 17 years, working in spas, franchises, and chiropractic offices before launching My Massage Studios, a business designed not just to serve...

In this powerful return to Heliona Insight, Dr. Michael Maclin—Superintendent of the Special School District of St. Louis County—joins us once again to dive deeper into the conversation that started it all: Inclusion.

Last time, Dr. Maclin left us with a message that resonated across industries: “DEI is not a department; it’s a mindset.” In this follow-up conversation, we explore what that mindset looks like in action—especially now...

Burnout isn’t just about feeling tired, it’s about feeling empty. And yet, in workplaces everywhere, we continue to push ourselves past our limits, treating exhaustion as a badge of honor.

In this special episode of Heliona Insight, I’m doing something different. I’m sharing a short clip from a documentary I produced about burnout in the workplace and diving into what it really means, why it happens, and what we can do to stop it.

If...

What does it take to get unstuck and lead bold transformation? In this episode of Heliona Insight, we’re joined by Monica Cohen, newly appointed CEO of the American Cider Association and a seasoned leader with over 30 years of experience, including C-suite leadership at a $20 billion global food and beverage company, Dairy Farmers of America.

Monica shares her journey as a fearless innovator and bold decision-maker, from managing an...

How do you scale a business from 3 offices to 23 across four states while fostering a thriving culture of growth and empowerment?

In this episode of Heliona Insight, we sit down with Jeremy Fry, Owner and CEO of Fry Orthodontics and Catalyst Dental Partners, to explore his journey as a leader and entrepreneur.

Jeremy shares how he built a culture where long-term professional growth thrives, empowered his teams with Kaizen principles...

In this episode of Heliona Insight, we sit down with Damion "Coach D" Brown, Certified Mental Performance Coach and Co-Founder of Triumph Performance Institute, to explore the power of mental resiliency in navigating the future.

With over 20 years of experience coaching athletes, executives, and high performers, Coach D shares his strategies for building mental toughness, thriving under pressure, and unlocking peak performance.

From...

How do you create a healthy workplace culture that drives success while avoiding the common pitfalls of leadership?

Elizabeth McJimsey Souder, Founder and Principal Advisor of What’s Next Biz, brings her expertise as a corporate attorney and business advisor to explore the power of aligning values, managing conflict, and fostering transparency.

In this episode, Elizabeth unpacks the famous phrase 'Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast'...

In this episode of Heliona Insight, we sit down with Merideth Rose, President and CEO of Cornerstones of Care, to explore what it takes to lead a 150-year legacy into the future.

From managing a team of 1,300 during the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy to now transforming lives through compassionate leadership, Merideth’s journey is a testament to resilience, vision, and equity.

Join us as Merideth shares her insights on leading with t...

What does it take to lead companies across 80 countries, manage over 40 acquisitions, and deliver four successful exits? Seth Deutsch, Founder and CEO of Samson Partners Group, joins Heliona Insight to share his incredible journey of scaling businesses from $25M to $2B in revenue.

In this episode, Seth reveals the grit and strategies behind his success, how he navigates high-stakes challenges, and the importance of building teams wi...