Mark Graban — My Favorite Mistake
Mark Graban is a serial author, consultant, and host of the podcast My Favorite Mistake. He’s written multiple books—including Lean Hospitals, Healthcare Kaizen, and Measures of Success—and helps leaders translate “lean” from a buzzword into practical, people-first improvement. Mark matters because he shows founders and operators how to make work easier so safety, quality, and productivity rise as outcomes—not as compromises.
Episode #287: Toi James
Toi James is the founder and CIO of Red Ink Enterprises, a boutique coaching and consulting firm focused on inclusive engagement and communications. After 20+ years in corporate public affairs, communications, and corporate education, Toi helps leaders and teams build connection through stories, words, and thoughtful dialogue—especially when topics are tough. Her work matters because better conversations create safer workplaces, stronger relationships, and real accountability.
Episode #257: Ashley Jones Part 2
Ashley Jones & Love Not Lost: Healing Grief Through Love and Connection Ashley Jones, founder of Love Not Lost, is on a mission to change the way we heal from grief. After experiencing the devastating loss of her daughter, Skylar, Ashley turned her pain into purpose by creating a non-profit that helps families and communities process loss with compassion, love, and meaningful connection. Her story is one of resilience, empathy, and entrepreneurship that’s transforming lives across the country. Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: Grief at work is a productivity issue. Ignoring it drives long-term performance losses; supporting healing improves outcomes across the board. Leadership sets the culture. Empathy and emotional openness only stick when they’re modeled from the top. Practical regulation tools win. Breath work, movement, sunlight, water, and mindful nutrition help move emotions through the body and restore focus. Name it to tame it. Expanding emotional vocabulary (beyond “happy/angry/sad”) boosts self-awareness and prevents reactive cycles. Systematize care. Weekly 1:1s, “pressure cooker” mapping, and clear values create safety so teams can be honest, adapt, and help each other. Watch the full episode now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxwXhXDRNjY Memorable Quote: “If you don’t address grief and let people heal, the long-term hit to your productivity will hurt your bottom line more.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Ashley Linkedin Globe Globe
Episode #167: Experts in Growth Leadership Consulting – Vivian Blade
Vivian Blade of Experts in Growth Leadership Consulting: Building Resilient Leaders That Thrive Vivian Blade is a nationally recognized leadership expert, speaker, and author who empowers leaders to become more resilient in the face of adversity. As the President and CEO of Experts in Growth Leadership Consulting, Vivian helps companies create stronger leaders and better workplaces—especially in today’s ever-shifting business landscape. With more than 20 years of corporate experience at giants like Humana and GE, she brings unmatched insight into navigating disruption and scaling with purpose. In Episode 167 of Clicks & Bricks, Vivian joins Ken to talk about her transition from corporate to entrepreneurship, how she overcame a layoff to build her thriving consulting firm, and the five powerful principles she teaches to help business leaders become “resilience ready.” Episode Takeaways: Corporate experience fueled her leap into entrepreneurship After nearly 13 years at GE, Vivian used her unexpected layoff as a launchpad to start her own business—despite being told entrepreneurship “wasn’t for her.” The five “Resilience Ready” principles Vivian breaks down the five core practices—Perspective, Purpose, Perseverance, Partnership, and Praise—that help leaders not just survive challenges, but thrive through them. Culture matters more than ever To attract and retain talent—especially Gen Z—leaders must create workplaces that foster growth, flexibility, and a shared entrepreneurial spirit. Leadership is emotional Vivian recommends mastering emotional intelligence as a foundational skill for any aspiring entrepreneur or leader. Her top book picks Atomic Habits by James Clear and Primal Leadership by Daniel Goleman are must-reads for developing daily discipline and emotional resilience. Want to get resilience-ready? Watch Vivian Blade’s full episode now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbLd2VUif9g Memorable Quote: “We all have a purpose—and we have to be courageous enough to take that first step.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Vivian Envelope Linkedin Globe
Episode #125: WorkplaceXperience Consulting – Leni Rivera
Leni Rivera, WorkplaceXperience Consulting: Creating Thriving Work Environments for the Modern Employee Leni Rivera is a workplace experience specialist, author, and founder of WorkplaceXperience Consulting. With a vibrant career spanning acting, interior design, and corporate real estate, Leni brings a unique perspective to creating office cultures where employees can truly thrive. In Episode 125 of Clicks & Bricks, she shares why building a meaningful workplace culture is the future of business success—and why companies that don’t evolve risk falling behind. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocSBkPkplcg&list=PL-aGDTmvrRSNUYOSG_x0JG7BNLmjoLWZs&index=59 Key Takeaways from the Episode: The post-pandemic world has shifted into an employee’s market—employers must create engaging work experiences to attract and retain talent. A thriving workplace experience is about designing environments where employees feel valued, productive, and happy. The Great Resignation showed that people will leave jobs that don’t prioritize their well-being and happiness. Hybrid work isn’t just about office vs. home—it’s about giving employees the autonomy to work where they thrive best. Technology and organizational design must catch up to the 21st century, moving beyond outdated industrial-era structures. Watch the full episode of Clicks & Bricks with Leni Rivera and learn how to reimagine your workplace culture for the future: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocSBkPkplcg&list=PL-aGDTmvrRSNUYOSG_x0JG7BNLmjoLWZs&index=59 Memorable Quote: If you’re going to force people into an environment where they can’t thrive, that’s inhumane. But when you create a workplace where they flourish, everyone wins. Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Leni Facebook X-twitter Linkedin Globe Youtube