The Balancing Act with Andrew Temte, PhD, CFA (Andrew Temte)

On our first episode, Andy discusses the variety of definitions for the word ego and how a “good” ego is essential to a balanced approach as a manager. We make sure to separate a “big” ego from a good one and how the ego will be the focal point for our nine episode season.

In our final episode of season one, Andy discusses the tenets of continuous improvement, as well as its application both in the work place as well as in our personal lives. He also dives into how a strong ego is essential for the adoption of a proper mindset for continuous improvement. He also introduces the concept of entropy and how it applies to the workplace.

On our second episode, we build on our discussion around ego to understand how managers, leaders, and others can strike the proper balance of vulnerability. Andy discusses how to leverage a strong ego to provide just the right amount of vulnerability to your employees.

On episode thirteen, Dr. Andrew Temte discusses the positives and negatives of duplicity in the workplace. Along with co-host Dan Strafford, he strives to explain how it applies to managers and what influence it may have on the workforce.

Continuing to build on themes from our fifth episode around self-awareness, Andy describes the key skills of being able to self-regulate and how those skills co-exist with being thoughtful. Self-regulation is key to allowing your thoughts and emotions be shared in a constructive matter and move your team forward.

On episode eleven of the Balancing Act, Dr. Andrew Temte shares his thoughts on stewardship. In discussing with co-host Dan Strafford, Andy breaks down his views on what makes a good steward and what responsibilities they have at work.

On our third episode, we discuss resilience and will build on the topics of ego and vulnerability from episodes one and two. Resilience is a topic that’s been receiving a lot of attention over the past year. We dive into how a strong ego can help aid being resilient and what role failure could and should play in the workplace.

Our previous six episodes have built to this one; a discussion around empathy in the workplace. Andy helps to separate out feeling sympathetic from empathetic and how managers need to balance empathy with leadership and drive. We also focus on acknowledging everyone's whole-self and what that brings to the work place.

Before a manager can build the emotional quotient of their team, they must first understand their own emotions. Episode number five discusses how managers, and employees, can work with their own self-awareness and how self-awareness centers around understanding the relationship between our emotions and our actions or behaviors.

On the tenth episode, Dr. Andrew Temte discusses the importance of mentorship in the workplace. He and co-host Dan Strafford also dive into the differences between coaching and mentorship, with both being important throughout your career.

In our eighth episode of the season, Andy draws a line between being curious and learning, both in the near term as well as across the course of your life. A leader with a truly "strong" ego can see that learning is never finished or done and must be promoted as an essential part of any business.

On our fourth episode, followership takes center stage. Andy discusses the balancing act between followership and leadership. He also focuses on how important it is to allow for talk time and collaboration in meetings. This is another key step in understanding the proper way to develop as a manager and in the workplace.

On episode twelve of the Balancing Act, Dr. Andrew Temte tackles a topic that he believes needs more attention: disengagement. Joining co-host Dan Strafford, Dr. Temte breaks down what it means to be disengaged at work and how that can hurt your company.

I'm so happy to announce that this week, we have Jennifer Livingston joining us on the show to talk all things communication. Jennifer is a former journalist and newscaster---her perspectives on the importance of getting communication right in the world of work are invaluable. Thanks, Jen!

This week, we travel virtually to the UK to catch up with Kate Lander, CEO at Ivy House London - experts in leadership development and behavioral change. Kate is also the former CLO for Fitch Learning and served as head of education for CFA Institute EMEA. We spend our time this week exploring the balancing acts that third-party leadership development firms play, Ivy House's unique approach, and engage in a start-stop-continue exercise for leadership development professionals. Tune into episode 111 to hear Kate's story, her 'rocket booster' moment, and her thoughts on all things leadership development.

https://www.andrewtemte.com/

On November 15, 2023, we recorded the podcast LIVE at The Main - an Event Space in downtown La Crosse. Neal Zygarlicke was the first guest that evening and We're so happy to introduce him to you. Neal is the CEO of the La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce, and also worked in internal audit at First Supply. Neal earned an MBA from Viterbo University, he's a servant leader, and is also an excellent public speaker. Tune into episode 118 to hear Neal's story, his 'rocket booster' moment, and his thoughts on the impact chambers of commerce are having on communities around the world.

https://www.andrewtemte.com/

Today I'd like to introduce you to Alli Berry. Alli is a respected thought leader in the areas of content marketing and search engine optimization (SEO) and has led omnichannel marketing initiatives at companies like The Motley Fool, The Arena Group, and Kaplan. Alli and I chat about the benefits and challenges of content marketing and peek behind the curtain into the world of SEO -- what it is, what it isn't, and how to cut through the noise. Alli also provides great advice to individuals who aspire to enter the field of omnichannel marketing. Tune into episode 133 to hear Alli's story, her 'rocket-booster' moment, and her thoughts on achieving excellence in content marketing and search engine optimization.

Join us as we set out on a new journey to explore the balancing acts that leaders play. This week, co-host Dan Strafford interviews Andy to get his perspectives on the most important balancing acts he's played throughout his 30+ year career. Today's topics include: work v. life, human v. technical skill, transparency v. duplicity, trust v. accountability, and giving v. taking.

This week on the show, we're taking a look at a new industry segment, at least for our show, the world of industrial water treatment! Trace Blackmore, owner of Blackmore Enterprises and host of Scaling Up H2O podcast joins us to help us understand more about how one of our most precious resources - water - is used in industrial applications around the world. Tune into episode 109 to hear Trace's story, his 'rocket booster' moment, and his thoughts on the world of industrial water treatment.

https://www.andrewtemte.com/

We're thrilled to introduce you to Satyam Kantamneni, chief executive of UX Reactor. In part 5 of our miniseries on the topic of data literacy, we focus on the importance of user centric design and how data literacy is essential to ensuring phenomenal customer experiences.

What happens when businesses don't take product design seriously? What are the benefits of investing in design resources? Why haven't we made more progress toward solving big societal challenges and how can solve them through innovation and design?

To help answer these questions, we have Todd Bracher joining us today on The Balancing Act Podcast. Todd is the founder of BetterLab, a science-based design platform addressing global challenges through innovative solutions. Todd’s work at BetterLab and his award-winning design firm BRACHER has transformed industries, creating impactful products for major brands worldwide.

Tune into episode 187 to hear Todd's story, his career "rocket-booster" moment, and his advice for business leaders on the benefits of investing in product design excellence.

Learn more about Todd Bracher at: https://www.toddbracher.com/  Learn more about Andrew Temte at: https://www.andrewtemte.com 

Paul Smith, the former CEO of CFA Institute joins Andy for the final episode in our Reskilling Revolution miniseries. In episode 35, we tap into Paul's extensive experience in the financial services industry to determine the key skills necessary for success across myriad industry groups.

It's "back to school" time for students around the world, so there's no better time for us to welcome Greg Marino to the show. Greg is a friend, former colleague, and the CEO of Kaplan North America, one of the world's premiere innovators in lifelong learning serving individuals, businesses, and educational institutions. Our conversation spans the balancing acts CEOs play, improving post-secondary educational access, and innovations in alternative pathways into the world of work. Tune into episode 105 to hear Greg's story, his 'rocket booster' moment, and his thoughts on the world of education and training.

Episode 28 extends our series focused on building trust and accountability in organizations. This week, Andy interviews Don Vanpool, former General Manager at GE Healthcare and former COO of Kaplan Professional to get his take through the lens of a seasoned operations professional.

What was it like to be a whistleblower and help expose what was happening at Theranos? How can a conflict-avoider find their voice? How can you navigate the balancing act between saying too much (the complainer) and saying too little (the pushover) at work?

To help answer these questions, we have Tyler Shultz joining us today on The Balancing Act Podcast. Tyler is a keynote speaker, venture partner at Verge HealthTech Fund, an Advisory Board Member at The Signals Network, former CEO/founder of Flux Biosciences, and was a research engineer and whistleblower at Theranos.

Tune into episode 181 to hear Tyler's story, his career "rocket-booster" moment, and his perspectives on cultivating courage, challenging conversations, and his experience as a Theranos whistleblower.

Learn more about Tyler Shultz at: https://www.tyler-shultz.com/  Learn more about Andrew Temte at: www.andrewtemte.com 

Lisa Morton, Founder and CEO of Roland Dransfield joins us this week to continue our conversation on the importance of communication in business. Lisa brings us her perspectives as the head of a global public relations firm and helps us tease apart the differences between internal versus external communications.

What is organizational culture? Why is culture so important to your business? How do business performance and workplace culture intersect? How can you make meaningful changes to your corporate culture? These are just a few of the questions I'll be exploring with my guests over the next few weeks in my workplace culture miniseries. My first guest is Eric Stone. Eric is founder and CEO of Clear Path Ventures, author of Jumpstart your Workplace Culture: A Roadmap for Igniting High Performance, and was a regional VP for Enterprise Holdings for over 26 years. Tune into episode 123 to hear Eric's story, his 'rocket-booster' moment, and his thoughts on the balance between culture and performance.

https://www.andrewtemte.com/

Education and future of work luminary, Brandon Busteed, joins us for Part 3 of our continuing series on the Reskilling Revolution. Brandon is Chief Partnership Officer at Kaplan North America and a former Senior Partner at Gallup where he focused his attention on skills and higher education. Brandon's insights on the topic are invaluable!

Join Dr. Andrew Temte as he continues the conversation on the topic of disengagement. Our host is joined by Tarlin Ray. They dive into a range of topics around disengagement in the workplace. Tune in to find out how Andy & Tarlin see disengagement truly influencing a work place and how managers can combat its reach.

Want to know what it means to be a UN Peacekeeper? How do humility and being a great leader go together? What's the difference between heroic and humble leadership?

To help answer these questions, we have Urs Koenig joining us today on The Balancing Act Podcast. Urs is an internationally renowned keynote speaker, bestselling author, and leading expert on humble leadership. He is a former UN military peacekeeper and a NATO military peacekeeping commander. He’s the author of Radical Humility: Be a Badass Leader and a Good Human.

Tune into episode 171 to hear Urs' story, his career "rocket-booster" moment, and his perspectives on heroic versus humble leadership.

Learn more about Urs Koenig at: https://www.urskoenig.com/ 

Learn more about Andrew Temte at: www.andrewtemte.com  

#humbleleadership #radicalhumility #unpeacekeeper #employeeengagement 

It's Megan Dusenbery this week on The Balancing Act Podcast! Megan is chief revenue officer at the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) and helps us understand the balancing acts that members of the c-suite play with a focus on how to break down barriers and obstacles to allow an empowered team to shine. Tune in to episode 90 to hear Megan's story, the key moment that put rocket boosters behind her career, and the balancing acts that members of the c-suite play each day.

This week, Andy and co-host Dan Strafford kick off a new miniseries on communication in the workplace. Most "Top Ten" lists of skills for the future put communication at or near the top---emphasizing the importance of getting communication right for all employees, not just members of the C-suite.

Our guest this week is Duane Barrett. Duane is THE guy in the caribbean to study with for accountancy and financial credentials like CPA and CFA. Duane shares his considerable expertise and insights with us as our second guest in our ongoing miniseries on building financial acumen in individuals and teams.

Episode 47 marks the introduction to our new miniseries on the topic of change and change management. Co-host Dan Strafford and I discuss why companies should have a plan to deal with change, the diversity and complexity of change managment curves, and specific tools leaders can deploy to reduce the negative effects of major organizational changes.

Lisa Gefen-Sicilian, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) at Kaplan North America, joins me for part 4 of our miniseries entitled "Nobody Wants to Work Anymore." From her vantage point as CAO of a major education company, Lisa has a multi-faceted view of the opportunities and challenges that surround today's market for talent.

Is earning a college degree the only path to a rewarding career? How can we build more pathways into the world of work? Are more diverse apprenticeship models the answer?

To help answer these questions, we have Ryan Craig joining us today on The Balancing Act Podcast. Ryan is a managing director at Achieve Partners–an education-focused private equity firm based in NYC. Ryan is also the author of Apprentice Nation: How the “Earn and Learn” Alternative to Higher Education Will Create a Stronger and Fairer America; A New U: Faster + Cheaper Alternatives to College; and College Disrupted. 

Tune into episode 176 to hear Ryan's story, his career "rocket-booster" moment, and his perspectives on the value of a college degree, apprenticeship models, and alternative pathways into rewarding careers.

Learn more about Ryan Craig at: https://www.achievepartners.com/index.html 

Learn more about Andrew Temte at: www.andrewtemte.com 

Simone Petrella, CEO and Founder of cybersecurity training and workforce development firm Cybervista, joins us for the final installment of our exploration of the skill of critical thinking. Simone is a unique talent and speaks to the topic from the perspective of technology and cybersecurity.

This week we have Roberto Reif joining Andy on the show. Roberto is founder and CEO of ScholarU - a start-up focused on education and training in data analytics. He is also the former executive director at data science bootcamp Metis. The conversation ranges from the balancing acts that founders and start-up leaders play to how to grow data analytics and literacy skills in today's workforce. Tune into episode 106 to hear Roberto's story, his 'rocket booster' moment, and his thoughts on the world of data analytics and literacy.

How can we live more fulfilling lives? What does it mean to live your 'why'? What are some of the biggest blockers to employee engagement?

To help answer these questions, we have David Martin joining us today on The Balancing Act Podcast. David is MIT educated, a founder, creator, investor, advisor, coach, mentor, business buyer, and found success early in his career at Oracle, SAP SuccessFactors, and SABA (aka Cornerstone). David and I went to high school together and I call him friend.

Tune into episode 167 to hear David's story, his "rocket-booster" moment, and his thoughts on living a rich, fulfilling life both personally and professionally.

Learn more about David at: https://www.david-c-martin.com/ 

Learn more about Andrew Temte at: www.andrewtemte.com 

We conclude our miniseries on the importance of planning for and managing change with our distinguished guest, Mehul Patel. Mehul is the former COO of PharmaCann and also has over 20 years experience as an executive in the education and marketing industries.

You're going to love my conversation with Allison Rutledge-Parisi in episode 97 of the show. Allison is former SVP of People Team at Justworks and has held chief human resources officer positions at The Met, Macmillan Learning, and Kaplan. Tune in to hear Allison's story, her 'rocket-booster moment,' and her thoughts on your company's most valuable asset - it's people resources.

Are you feeling stuck in your career? Do fear, uncertainty, and doubt overwhelm you? How can you embrace taking more calculated risks?

To help answer these questions, we have Anne Marie Anderson joining us today on The Balancing Act Podcast. Anne Marie is a three-time Emmy Award-winning broadcaster and keynote speaker. You’ve likely seen her in the play-by-play booth at major sporting events on prominent networks including ESPN, ABC, NBC, and FOX. Her first book, Cultivating Audacity - Dismantle Doubt and Let Yourself Win, is now available wherever books are sold.

Tune into episode 174 to hear Anne Marie's story, her career "rocket-booster" moment, and her perspectives on how to take more risk, get unstuck, and break through in your career.

Learn more about Anne Marie Anderson at: https://annemarieanderson.com/

Learn more about Andrew Temte at: www.andrewtemte.com 

It's our 100th episode this week on The Balancing Act Podcast!! To celebrate, we've selected a series of memorable moments from the first 99 episodes. Your time is valuable and we're grateful that you’ve chosen to spend 30 minutes each week. We’re all on a journey of personal and professional continuous improvement and we hope this show has added value to yours. Tune into episode 100 and meet a series of business leaders who share a common purpose -- to help individuals learn and grow.

Why don't we have the challenging conversations we need to engage in? Because they're hard. However, Jodi Wellman, Founder of coaching and consulting firm Four Thousand Mondays, reminds us that life is short and that we should live regret-free lives. Tune in for Jodi's insights on how to engage in challenging conversations and receive constructive feedback! 

Why is engaging in constructive conflict so difficult? Why do we avoid saying the things that need to be said? How can we build the skill of courage so we can have more meaningful conversations?

To help answer these questions, we have Justin Jones-Fosu joining us today on The Balancing Act Podcast. Justin is the CEO of Work. Meaningful., is a sought-after keynote/business speaker, and is the author of several books: The Inclusive Mindset, Your Why Matters Now, and his latest work is I Respectfully Disagree: How to Have Difficult Conversations in a Divided World.

Tune into episode 178 to hear Justin's story, his career "rocket-booster" moment, and his perspectives on courage, constructive conflict, and organizational transparency.

Learn more about Justin Jones-Fosu at: https://workmeaningful.com/ 

Learn more about Andrew Temte at: www.andrewtemte.com 

What is the Norwegian concept of Dugnad and how can it be applied in business? What's the benefit philosophical thinking for leaders? How can we reduce the skepticism that often accompanies a continuous improvement journey?

To help answer these questions, we have Anders Indset joining us today on The Balancing Act Podcast. Anders is a Norwegian-born philosopher, deep-tech investor, and former top athlete. He has been recognized by Thinkers50 as one of the leading thinkers in technology and leadership. Anders is the author of multiple books including The Singularity Paradox (2025), and The Viking Code (2024).

Tune into episode 168 to hear Anders' story, his "rocket-booster" moment, and his thoughts on the balancing act between driving hard for economic success and supporting a sense of community and cooperation in business.

Learn more about Anders at: https://andersindset.com/ 

Learn more about Andrew Temte at: www.andrewtemte.com 

This is the third and final installment from The Balancing Act Podcast - LIVE, which was recorded on November 15, 2023, at The Main in downtown La Crosse, Wisconsin. My guests today are Jake Erickson, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater La Crosse and BGC graduate Chad Wonderling, interim CFO of Salesloft in Atlanta, GA. The focus of our conversation is the benefits of mentorship and coaching in our homes and businesses. I encourage listeners to learn more about their local Boys & Girls Club and lend their support to this wonderful organization in the form of time, talent, treasure, or all of the above. Tune into episode 120 to hear Jake and Chad's stories and their thoughts on the value mentorship and coaching provide to any community.

https://www.andrewtemte.com/

We had so much fun recording the show LIVE! in early May. Today's episode is the first of three from that live event where we focus on women in business in my hometown of La Crosse, Wisconsin. My first guest from the Balancing Act Podcast - LIVE! is Betty Christiansen. Betty is the publisher of Coulee Region Women Magazine and I ask her about the balancing acts that magazine publishers engage in each day and how we can use traditional media to support the journies of women in our communities. Tune into episode 141 to hear Betty's story, her "rocket booster" moment, and her thoughts on publishing and supporting women in business.

https://www.andrewtemte.com/

Wow! This week we have Andrea Mainelli of Tyton Partners on the show to discuss change and change management through the lens of a mergers and acquisitions professional. Andrea also helps us understand what private equity is and breaks down some common misperceptions of the industry.

How can we help women in technology roles succeed? How can we get more girls and women interested in careers in technology? How can the skill of bravery be developed to help reduce stress, burnout, and ensure pay equity for women in tech? Today, we have Nicole Trick Steinbach joining us. Nicole is the "International Bravery Coach” and helps women in tech “Build Your Brave Career.” As you might expect, today, we’re going to focus on the value of coaching in the workplace with a particular focus on women in technology. Tune into episode 140 to hear Nicole's story, her "rocket-booster" moment, and her thoughts on how women can thrive in technology careers.

https://www.andrewtemte.com/

The second guest in our miniseries - The Balancing Acts Leaders Play - is Ed Overholt. Ed is a rising star in the engineering consultancy space and is regional director with Campos EPC - the leader in the energy infrastructure space. Ed holds the PE and PMP credentials, is a graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder, and is intensely focused on the success of his clients and his colleagues at Campos. Tune in to episode 88 to hear Ed's story, the key moment that put rocket boosters behind his career, and the balancing acts that he's playing as his career accelerates.

This week, we're traveling (virtually) to Melbourne, Australia to hear from Bessi Graham, co-Founder of Benefit Capital and host of Both/And with Bessi Graham. Bessi does a masterful job of helping us build competency in the area of engaging in and navigating challenging conversations. Thank you, Bessi!

Want to learn more about how to build and nurture your network AND glean key insights into the medium of podcasting? Billy Samoa Saleebey, co-founder and CEO of Podify and president and founder of Insight Media, joins us this week to help crack the code on all things podcasting and network development. In addition to his roles at Podify and Insight Media, Billy hosts the acclaimed podcasts InsightOut, For the Love of Podcast, and has just launched his newest show, ReLearned. Tune into episode 116 to hear Billy's story, his 'rocket booster' moment, and his thoughts on the world of podcasting, finding your voice, and building your network.

We started our journey to discuss three key future-facing skills back in late September, 2022. In episode 68, co-host Dan Strafford interviews Dr. Temte to set up the third and final skill in the list, that of data literacy. Tune in to learn about why improving data literacy in individuals and teams is so important and how to get started.

Kimo Kippen and Andy had a wonderful conversation regarding effective decision-making in episode 76 of the pod. Kimo comes to you with a wealth of experience navigating the corporate world and his insights into decision-making are invaluable. Mahalo, Kimo!

This week, we have Chuck Wachendorfer joining us to discuss the balancing acts leaders play through the lens of building strong client and interpersonal relationships. Chuck is president, sales distribution, and is an executive coach with leadership coaching, consulting, and business development services firm think2perform. Chuck also brings us over 16 years of experience leading teams in the wealth management space. Tune in to episode 96 to hear Chuck's story, his 'rocket-booster moment,' and his thoughts on the importance of relationship management.

This week on the show, I'd like to introduce you to Drexwell Seymour as the next guest in our ongoing series on The Balancing Acts Leaders Play. Mr. Seymour is a certified public accountant, managing partner of HLB TCI, and the former CEO for Cable & Wireless in Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI). Tune in for our discussion on the importance of giving back to the community, financial and business acumen, and his 2021 book, "Rise Up and Take Your Position."

What should hiring managers know about the employment priorities of Gen Z? How can we bust the myth that Gen Z is lazy? Is it really the case that "nobody wants to work anymore?"

To help answer these questions, we have Hannah Dannecker joining us on The Balancing Act Podcast! Hannah is managing partner at the Better Together Group of Companies, a portfolio of North American recruitment and staffing agencies. Hannah is also the author of Well $h!t: Time to Grow Up. Today we’re going to focus on learning more about Gen Z and the world of work.

Tune into episode 156 to hear Hannah's story, her "rocket-booster" moment, and her thoughts on demystifying Gen Z and their relationship with the world of work.

https://www.andrewtemte.com/

How do we encourage and increase the diversity of business faculty on college campuses? What is the purpose of The PhD Project? How do we encourage more high school graduates to consider careers in accounting?

To help answer these questions, we have Blane Ruschak joining us on The Balancing Act Podcast. Blane is the president of The PhD Project. The PhD Project encourages and supports historically underrepresented candidates on their journey to acquiring a PhD in business. Blane is also the former executive director of campus recruiting for KPMG in the U.S. 

Tune into episode 152 to hear Blane's story, his "rocket-booster" moment, and his thoughts on improving the diversity of business college faculty and solving the accountancy talent shortage.

https://www.andrewtemte.com/

Oliver Downer, Chief Information Officer at Gemini, joins us this week on the show to discuss the balancing acts that technology leaders play. Oliver helps us understand that perspective matters--especially in the area of technology--of which all modern businesses are reliant upon. Tune in to episode 92 to hear Oliver's story, his 'rocket-booster moment,' and his thoughts on the skills that technology leaders must hone.

What does the concept of self love have to do with being a great real estate broker? What's the most common mistake that new real estate brokers make? Why is self love so important to career success as a leader?

To help answer these questions, we have Kim Rogne joining us today on The Balancing Act Podcast. Kim is a keynote speaker, business coach, licensed real estate broker, and best-selling author of two books. Her latest work is For the Love of Self: Reshape Your Perception - Reach Your Potential.

Tune into episode 180 to hear Kim's story, her career "rocket-booster" moment, and her perspectives on what makes for a great real estate broker and the importance of self love to career success.

Learn more about Kim Rogne at: https://stan.store/KimRogne  Learn more about Andrew Temte at: www.andrewtemte.com 

What does the VP of supply chain do in a major organization? How can proper supply chain tactics enhance business resilience? Why is human skill development essential to effective supply chain operations?

To help answer these questions, we have Adam Malone joining us today on The Balancing Act Podcast. Adam is a leadership consultant and keynote speaker, aka, The Tenacious Operator. Adam is also the former VP of global supply chain at Asurion, so we’re going to be focusing our attention on leadership, operations, and supply chain issues.

Tune into episode 172 to hear Adam's story, his career "rocket-booster" moment, and his perspectives on resilient supply chains, and the value of building the skill of tenacity within organizations.

Learn more about Adam Malone at: https://thetenaciousoperator.com/ 

Learn more about Andrew Temte at: www.andrewtemte.com 

What's the most important thing a college graduate can do right now to set themselves up for success in a career in sales? How can a corporate warrior make the shift to entrepreneur and business founder? How can a late-stage career professional reignite the passion they once had for their work?

To help answer these questions, we have Ursula Mentjes joining us today on the Balancing Act Podcast. Ursula is a five-time bestselling author, award winning entrepreneur, business growth expert, and is the CEO of Ursula, Inc. in Minneapolis, MN. Our focus today is going to be on building sales expertise and entrepreneurship.

Tune into episode 189 to hear Ursula's story, her career rocket-booster moment, and her advice to pursue and achieve excellence in sales and entrepreneurship.

Learn more about Ursula at: https://www.ursulainc.co/  Learn more about Andrew Temte at: https://www.andrewtemte.com 

Amy Wong, Founder and CEO of leadership coaching firm Always on Purpose and author of Living on Purpose joins us in our continuing exploration of change and change management in business. Amy lends her perspectives and helps connect the dots between our need to manage change and ensure we're also focused on our personal purpose.

This week, we'd like to introduce you to Bharat Krishna, managing director at CITI Program - a global leader in online education with a focus on research, ethics, compliance, and safety training at over 2500 institutions worldwide. Bharat and Andy talk about the balancing acts leaders play in the field of medical ethics and compliance, and delve into the impact the recent uptick in mis/disinformation has had on the medical community and how we rebuild trust in science and medicine. Tune into episode 102 to hear Bharat's story, his 'rocket booster' moment, and his thoughts on medical ethics.

What is the Believe-Own-Learn-Design framework? What is a "belief conflict?" What holds you back from achieving your goals?

To help answer these questions, we have Leigh Burgess joining us today on The Balancing Act Podcast. Leigh is a former health care and education executive, is the founder of Bold Industries Group, and the author of Be BOLD Today.

Tune into episode 184 to hear Leigh's story, her career "rocket-booster" moment, and her perspectives on helping individuals and teams reach their full potential.

Learn more about Leigh at: https://leighburgess.com/  Learn more about Andrew Temte at: https://www.andrewtemte.com 

I'm so excited to introduce you to Joyce Schnur this week. Joyce is a friend, former colleague, and is SVP of Product at Kaplan in charge of all things financial services and real estate education. Her contributions to the topic of business acumen are significant.

Do we say what needs to be said, when it needs to be said? Engaging in challenging conversations and accepting constructive feedback is difficult for many of us, both at home and in the workplace. Want to improve your skill level in this area? Andy and Dan kick things off this week and Andy interviews coaches and trainers for their perspectives on the subject in this must-listen miniseries.

Decisions, decisions, decisions. They're an integral part of our experience as colleagues, leaders, and managers yet many struggle with effective decision-making. In the kick-off to our miniseries on decision-making, co-host Dan Strafford interviews Andy for his input on the topic. Thanks for listening!

How have modern corporate finance practices and principles changed the world of business? How do we improve the financial acumen of non-financial managers and business stakeholders? What's the most common misperception about the role the finance function plays in business?

To help answer these questions, we have Don Chew joining us today on The Balancing Act Podcast. Don is a world-recognized expert on corporate finance and author of The Making of Modern Corporate Finance: A History of the Ideas and How They Help Build the Wealth of Nations. He is the founding editor and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Applied Corporate Finance (JACF), a publication he started in 1988.

Tune into episode 182 to hear Don's story, his career "rocket-booster" moment, and his perspectives on building financial acumen and the role corporate finance plays in the world of business.

Learn more about The Making of Modern Corporate Finance with this insightful review from CFA Institute at: https://blogs.cfainstitute.org/investor/2025/01/31/book-review-the-making-of-modern-corporate-finance/  Learn more about Andrew Temte at: www.andrewtemte.com.

Are you living a purposeful life? In this special New Year 2024 episode, I walk listeners through my Personal Planning Guidebook. Instead of making New Year resolutions that have a low probability of becoming reality, invest in yourself through the development of your own personal plan. Why are you here? What's your vision for the future? What are the steps necessary to make significant progress toward your desired future state? Learn more in today's episode and download your FREE copy of my Personal Planning Guidebook now at www.andrewtemte.com/purpose.

Today we've got fellow podcaster and education thought leader Michael Palmer on the show to further explore the Reskilling Revolution. We specifically get into the preparedness of higher education institutions to affect meaningful change to support the Reskilling Revolution. He comes to the table with excellent advice for both individuals and leaders of colleges and universities as it relates to skills and work readiness.

To say we're excited about introducing you to this week's guest is a gross understatement! Jesse Jackson, Head of Consumer & Community Banking and Firmwide Operations New Joiner Experience at JP Morgan Chase joins us to discuss the work readiness of today's workforce, talent acquisition and the ongoing war for talent, and the relationship between learning & development and talent acquisition. Tune into episode 103 to hear Jesse's story, his 'rocket booster' moment, and his thoughts on the world of talent acquisition and work readiness.

To conclude our miniseries on the skill of business acumen, we have Ed Clark joining us this week. Ed is a fantastic business operator with multifaceted business experience. He is currently a Group President at Colibri and is responsible for Becker Professional Education, one of the world's largest accountancy education and training businesses.

This week, we're traveling virtually to Austria to catch up with sales and business coach extraordinaire, Simon Severino to engage in a conversation around entrepreneurship, sales skills, and cutting through the noise when selecting a third-party revenue growth partner. Simon is the founder of Strategy Sprints, GmbH, is a sought-after keynote speaker, and is the author of Strategy Sprints: 12 Ways to Accelerate Growth for an Agile Business. Tune into episode 117 to hear Simon's story, his 'rocket booster' moment, and his thoughts on sales and marketing excellence.

https://www.andrewtemte.com/

In the conclusion of our miniseries on the skill of financial acumen, we welcome Jason Palmer to the show. Jason is General Partner at New Markets Venture Partners and provides keen insights on the topic.

I'm thrilled to welcome Mickey McManus to show as our first guest in our miniseries on critical thinking. Mick provides us with perspectives from his vantage point as a leader in the field of design thinking.

Future of work thought leader, public speaker, and journalist Jared Lindzon joins us for part 3 of our miniseries entitled "Nobody Wants to Work Anymore," a continuing exploration of new attitudes toward work and the challenges surrounding today's labor markets. Jared's insights have been published in numerous publications including Fast Company, Toronto's The Globe and Mail, Time Magazine, the BBC, the New York Times, and many others.

How can we make disaster recovery planning a higher priority in business? How can we make the most out of the disasters we face? What are the benefits of disaster preparedness and planning?

To answer these questions, we have Patrick Hardy joining us today on The Balancing Act Podcast! Patrick is a disaster preparedness specialist, keynote speaker, and adventurer. He is currently president at Hytropy Disaster Management and is the author of Design Any Disaster: The Revolutionary Blueprint to Master Your Next Crisis or Emergency. I had so much fun meeting Disaster Patrick and I predict you will too!

Tune into episode 155 to hear Patrick's story, his "rocket-booster" moment, and his thoughts on taking the drudgery out of disaster planning and making it more effective.

Learn more about Patrick Hardy at: https://disasterpatrick.com/

Learn more about Andrew Temte at: https://www.andrewtemte.com 

Happy New Year! In the first episode of 2024, I'd like to introduce you to John Danaher. John is an advisor to several medical businesses, is the former president of medical and veterinary education at Adtalem Global Education, was president of Education and Global Clinical Solutions at Elsevier, and worked with me at Kaplan and served as president of the Schools of Health Sciences and Nursing at Kaplan University - now Purdue Global. The focus of our conversation is on the topic of medical education, nursing and physician shortages, the role of mentoring and coaching in the medical profession, and how to improve human (soft) skills in the physician and nursing workforce. Tune into episode 122 to hear John's story, his 'rocket-booster' moment, and his thoughts on  all things medical education.

In part seven of my miniseries on workplace culture, we have Teresa Vozza joining us. Teresa is the founder at Teresa Vozza Coaching and is the former CHRO at Allianz Partners in Toronto. She is a Coach Practitioner in Neurolinguistic Programming by the Association of Neurolinguistics Professionals and helps us think through the impact that work burnout can have on organizational culture. Tune into episode 129 to hear Teresa's story, her 'rocket-booster' moment, and her thoughts on the intersection between employee burnout and corporate culture.

How can leadership "magical thinking" impact business performance? How can leaders strike the appropriate balance between realism and big dreams for the future of their organization? What are the benefits of focusing on people when contemplating a merger or acquisition?

To help answer these questions, we have Jonathan Bennett joining us today on The Balancing Act Podcast! Jonathan is strategic advisor and executive coach at ClearlyThen in Peterborough, Ontario. He was also the founder and CEO of Canadian management consulting firm Laridae and is the author of seven books.

Tune into episode 161 to hear Jonathan's story, his "rocket-booster" moment, and his thoughts about leadership excellence in mergers and acquisitions.

Learn more about Jonathan at: https://clearlythen.com/.

Learn more about Andrew Temte at: www.andrewtemte.com.

Buy The Balanced Business on Amazon at:https://www.amazon.com/Balanced-Business-Organizational-Accountability-Workflows/dp/1637557507/

Buy Balancing Act on Amazon at:https://www.amazon.com/Balancing-Act-Teach-Mentor-Inspire/dp/1506276644/

#changemanagement #leadershipdevelopment

How can we make the prospect of a mid-career change less daunting? How can we improve educational pathways into careers in finance and investing for traditionally underserved populations? How can we build financial literacy in high school and college students? Today's episode is the second of three from The Balancing Act Podcast - LIVE!! recording session where we focused on women in business in my hometown of La Crosse, Wisconsin. My second guest from the Balancing Act Podcast - LIVE!! is Regina Siegel. Regina is the VP of Organizational Development at TrustPoint based in La Crosse, Wisconsin and comes to us with a wide variety of experiences, including the role of elementary school principal. We’re going to have so much to explore at the intersection of finance and education. Tune into episode 142 to hear Regina's story, her "rocket booster" moment, and her thoughts on the intersection between education and finance.

Why do so many of us avoid conflict? Why do leaders put up with the "genius jerks" that infect their corporate culture? What are the skills needed to get better results from engaging in challenging conversations?

To help answer these questions, we have Jonno White joining us today on The Balancing Act Podcast. Jonno is the Co-Founder of Clarity Group Global in Brisbane, Australia and is the author of Step Up or Step Out: How to Deal with Difficult People Even If You Hate Conflict. We’re going to be talking about constructive conflict and difficult conversations.

Tune into episode 185 to hear Jonno's story, his career "rocket-booster" moment, and his perspectives on challenging conversations and constructive conflict.

Learn more about Jonno at: https://www.consultclarity.org/  Learn more about Andrew Temte at: https://www.andrewtemte.com 

Want to hear directly from the founder of the organizational health movement? Want to improve your organization's culture? What sets the Table Group apart from other organizational and leadership consulting firms?

To help answer these questions, we have THE Patrick Lencioni joining us today on The Balancing Act Podcast! Patrick is a founder at the Table Group and is the pioneer of the organizational health movement. He is a world-renowned author with titles such as The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, The Advantage, and his most recent work, The 6 Types of Working Genius.

I can think of no better way to celebrate the release of our 150th episode than to introduce you to Patrick and engage in a discussion about how to build healthier organizations and the benefits of doing so.

Tune into episode 150 to hear Patrick's story, his career "rocket-booster" moment, and his thoughts on culture and organizational health.

Learn more about Patrick and The Table Group at www.tablegroup.com. 

Check out The 6 Types of Working Genius at www.workinggenius.com. 

Learn more about Andrew Temte at www.andrewtemte.com. 

How can we build financial literacy in underserved populations? How can our youth prepare for entry into the legal profession? How can we build pathways for underserved youth into careers in law?

To help answer these questions, we have Gina Zapanta joining us today on the Balancing Act Podcast. Gina earned her law degree at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, is partner and co-founder of ZA Lawyers, and is the founder of Empowered with Gina.

Tune into episode 147 to hear Gina's story, her career 'rocket-booster' moment, and her thoughts on careers in the legal profession and unlocking your potential through coaching and mentoring.

https://www.andrewtemte.com/

Over the next few months, we're going to be talking about three key future-facing skills. First in the list is financial acumen. Andy and co-host Dan Strafford kick things off with a discussion about everyone's role in understanding basic financial concepts and how learning them can lead to greater workplace success.

Charlie Cichetti joins us this week on the podcast to discuss all things green building! We even get into a conversation about ESG investing and why ESG is getting a bad rap in our hyper-polarized political environment. Charlie is the CEO of Green Building Education Services and is also CEO and co-founder of Sustainable Investment Group. Tune into episode 104 to hear Charlie's story, his 'rocket booster' moment, and his thoughts on the world of LEED and green building education.

This week we take you to The Netherlands (virtually) for the final conversation in our miniseries on Challenging Conversations. Paul ter Wal is an "International Human Capital Explorer" and leads Team Andare - an Employee Engagement Consultancy based in Zwolle, Netherlands. Paul's candid insights on how to navigate challenging conversations is the perfect capstone to this topic thread. Thank you for your contributions, Paul!

The first guest in our miniseries on financial acumen is Denise Probert. Denise is an exceptional teacher who holds a faculty position at The University of Colorado - Boulder. Denise is also the author and lecturer of several popular LinkedIn Learning courses on introductory accounting and finance.

What is The Haven on Main? How can communities around the country create more affordable housing opportunities for individuals with disabilities who have the ability to live independently? How can parents of children with disabilities balance their wish to provide continuing care with the desire to see their children become self-sufficient after reaching the age of majority?

To help answer these questions, we have Terry Cowgill joining us today on The Balancing Act Podcast. Terry owns Badger Smiles Dentistry, is a former Oktoberfest USA Festmaster, and sits on the board of Haven for Special People.

Tune into episode 173 to hear Terry's inspiring story, his career "rocket-booster" moment, and his perspectives on affordable independent living housing for individuals with disabilities.

Learn more about The Haven for Special People at: https://www.havenforspecialpeople.org/ 

Learn more about Andrew Temte at: www.andrewtemte.com 

Effective product management is central to a well-functioning business model, yet the concept of product management is ill-defined at best. In Episode 29, Andy explores this disconnect and its implications for building organizational trust with his guest, Danielle Chircop, Chief Product Officer at tech-ed giant, General Assembly.

How can leaders make coaching resources available for everyone in an organization? How can artificial intelligence be used to enhance coaching outcomes? 

To help answer these questions, we have James Lawrence joining us. James is the CEO and co-founder of Happy Companies. Happy delivers plug-and-play AI-enhanced coaching solutions and aims to revolutionize the world of work by empowering people, teams, and organizations.

Tune into episode 162 to hear James's story, his "rocket-booster" moment, and his thoughts about AI-enhanced coaching solutions that are woven into the flow of work.

Learn more about James and Happy Companies at: https://happycompanies.com/.

Learn more about Andrew Temte at: www.andrewtemte.com.

Want to know more about youth workforce development? How do we build alternative pathways to workplace success for the youth in our communities? How are organizations like Junior Achievement and the Boys & Girls Club in your region poised to help solve our workforce development challenges?

To help answer these questions, we have a special panel discussion to focus on workforce development and work readiness with a focus on girls and women in the world of work. To explore this topic, we’ve got Susan Peterson, Regional Director at Junior Achievement, and Joan Parke, COO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater La Crosse joining us.

Tune into episode 143 to hear Susan and Joan tell their stories and speak about all things life and workforce readiness.

https://www.andrewtemte.com/

In part five of my miniseries on workplace culture, I'm pleased to introduce you to Jack Skeels. Jack is CEO and founder at AgencyAgile, Inc. and author of Unmanaged: Master the Magic of Creating Empowered and Happy Organizations. During our conversation, we tap into Jack's expertise in the world of project management and how to turn project management into one of your organization's superpowers. Tune into episode 127 to hear Jack's story, his 'rocket-booster' moment, and his thoughts on the intersection between effective project management and your organization's culture.

As we continue our exploration of the skill of financial acumen, we tap into the vast well of experience Ian Schnoor brings to the conversation. Ian is the Executive Director of the Financial Modeling Institute and the Founder and CEO of The Marquee Group based in Toronto, Ontario.

How important are storytelling skills for entrepreneurs and business founders? What are the benefits of engaging with a start-up accelerator or incubator? What's the Amazon PRFAQ Framework and why does it matter?

To help answer these questions, we have Marcelo Calbucci joining us today on the Balancing Act Podcast. Marcelo is a founder, product and engineering leader, and an innovator with a passion for solving customers’ biggest pain points. He is also the author of The PRFAQ Framework: Adapting Amazon’s Innovation Framework to Work for You. We’re going to be talking about startups, entrepreneurship, and storytelling.

Tune into episode 188 to hear Marcelo's story, his career rocket-booster moment, and his advice for entrepreneurs and new business founders.

Learn more about Marcelo at: https://calbucci.com/  Learn more about Andrew Temte at: https://www.andrewtemte.com 

We begin the journey toward our next 100 episodes with Larissa Chaikowsky, US chief human resources officer and head, talent reskilling & acceleration at BMO. Larissa and Andy talk about the balancing acts Chief Human Resources Officers play and delve into innovations in talent acquisition that are being driven by the reskilling revolution. Other topics include the creation of alternative pathways into the world of work and improving equity and diversity within organizations. Tune into episode 101 to hear Larissa's story, her 'rocket-booster' moment, and her thoughts on all things talent acquisition.

What's your role in online data privacy? How can you turn your company's data into a competitive advantage? What is the Ethical Web Data Collection Initiative (EWDCI) and why does it matter to your business?

To help answer these questions, we have Neil Emeigh joining us today on the Balancing Act Podcast. Neil is the founder and CEO of Rayobyte. Rayobyte is a proxy and data collection company that helps companies gather data online at scale.

Tune into episode 164 to hear Neil's story, his "rocket-booster" moment, and his thoughts on all things data proxies and data privacy.

Learn more about Neil and Rayobyte at: https://rayobyte.com/

Learn more about Andrew Temte at www.andrewtemte.com

Mamie Kanfer Stewart joins me in episode six of our ongoing miniseries on corporate culture. Mamie is the founder and CEO of meeting effectiveness firm Meeteor, is co-author of Momentum: Creating Effective, Engaging, and Enjoyable Meetings, and is the host of the Modern Manager Podcast. In today's conversation, we explore the impact meetings can have on corporate culture. Can meetings actually be enjoyable? Tune into episode 128 to hear Mamie's story, her 'rocket-booster' moment, and her thoughts on the intersection between effective meetings and organizational culture.