Andrea Wenburg from Voice of Influence discusses the impact of others on your decision-making process. She emphasizes the importance of listening, reflecting, and acknowledging the influence of others' words on your thoughts and actions. Wenburg explores the value of validating others' perspectives, even if you do not ultimately agree with their suggestions, and highlights how this validation can encourage future sharing and diverse viewpoints. She underscores that embracing others' input is a gift that strengthens communication and fosters mutual respect.

In this episode of the Voice of Influence Podcast, Andrea interviews Mike Picard, the Executive Director and Head Coach for Envy Volleyball Club. Mike shares his journey from being a volleyball parent to establishing a successful non-profit volleyball club. He discusses his coaching philosophy focused on building confidence and strength in young players, the rapid growth of Envy Volleyball Club, and the impact of creating a positive and supportive community for young athletes. Mike also highlights the importance of passion and investment in making a lasting influence. Mike Picard is a Navy veteran, holds an MBA, and is the owner of American Structures Company. He was named USA Volleyball Youth Coach of the Year in 2022.

In this episode of the Voice of Influence podcast, Andrea Wenburg interviews Samantha Pesek, a 2008 Olympic silver medalist and NBC women's gymnastics analyst for the 2024 Olympics. Samantha shares her journey from a young gymnast motivated by her athlete parents and a competitive household to achieving her Olympic dreams. She discusses the intense mental and physical challenges of gymnastics, the importance of confidence, and her transition into sports broadcasting. Samantha also talks about founding Beam Queen Bootcamp to empower young gymnasts and the critical role of parents in nurturing their children's aspirations. This episode explores themes of resilience, mental health, confidence building, and the power of positive self-talk.

Respect is the foundation of effective leadership, strong organizational culture, and employee well-being. But what does respect truly mean, and how can leaders create an environment where employees feel valued and empowered?

In this episode, Andrea interviews Kristie Rogers, Assistant Professor of Management at Marquette University and researcher on respect and identity at work. Kristie shares insights from her groundbreaking research, including her work with Televerde—a company employing incarcerated women in Arizona—to explore how respect impacts performance, retention, and personal growth.

Join Andrea and Kristie for a deep dive into the concepts of owed respect (respect granted to all employees) and earned respect (respect based on individual contributions), and discover actionable ways to foster respect in any organization.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Kristie's Path to Researching Respect: How her experience in sports broadcasting and her curiosity about workplace dynamics inspired her journey.
• The Importance of Respect: Why respect is the #1 desire among employees—and why so many people feel they aren’t receiving it.
• Owed vs. Earned Respect: A simple framework for understanding and balancing these two forms of respect.
• Lessons from Televerde: How respect transformed the lives of incarcerated women, reduced recidivism, and improved workplace outcomes.
• Practical Applications: How leaders can recognize their own blind spots and cultivate respect to boost employee engagement and performance.
• Respect and Voice: The connection between respect and an employee’s willingness to speak up and contribute ideas.

Episode Links:

• Harvard Business Review Article: Do Your Employees Feel Respected? by Kristie Rogers
• Learn More About Televerde: Televerde Website
• Episode Transcript: Available at voiceofinfluence.net/336

In this episode of the Voice of Influence podcast, Andrea shares an inspiring in-person interview with Alice Atemo, the founder of Overcoming Faith Schools in Western Kenya. The episode provides an in-depth look at Alice's story, her humanitarian efforts to rescue and educate vulnerable children, and the challenges and triumphs faced along the way. Andrea and Alice discuss how the school started, its growth over the years, and its current needs, including the push for a medical van and further support for the children. Listeners are encouraged to get involved by visiting tucklets.org to support this noble cause.

In this episode, Andrea Wenburg shares how you can find your inner voice in the midst of a busy schedule. She discusses how scattered leaders can create confusion and anxiety within a team, emphasizing the need for leaders to process their thoughts in silence before sharing them. Andrea introduces the VOICE model, which includes Vision, Offer, Initiative, Curiosity, and Empathy, as a framework for intentional and powerful communication. She also provides a practical exercise of asking three questions after meetings to help individuals find their inner voice and communicate with more influence.

In this episode of the Voice of Influence podcast, host Andrea invites Daniele Moomey, Director of Client Success, to delve into her extensive experience leading remote and global teams. Danielle discusses the nuances of managing remote teams, including the importance of building relationships, understanding cultural differences, and ensuring constant communication. She shares insights on how empathy and personal connections can enhance team engagement and productivity, and recounts specific strategies she used to motivate and connect with team members across different countries.