Summary:

What do you do when your hospitals flood, 160 employees go missing, and you realize there’s no playbook? You rewrite the rules. Austin Maggard shares how Appalachian Regional turned two back-to-back disasters into a culture-defining transformation and why HR became the backbone of resilience.

Chapters:

00:00 – Generational workforce shifts at ARH

03:23 – What rural healthcare really looks like

06:52 – Why documenting culture became mission-critical

10:14 – Chick-fil-A vs. McDonald’s: A service consistency lesson

13:42 – How Disney influenced ARH’s culture strategy

17:00 – The 2022 flood: 160 employees unaccounted for

20:28 – Helicopters, horseback, and healthcare chaos

24:05 – The emotional toll and operational breakdown

27:32 – What the second flood exposed: A trust gap

31:03 – “This wasn’t a logistics failure. It was a leadership one.”

34:40 – Building a distribution system for disaster relief

37:56 – How HR became the heart of recovery

41:22 – Turning pain into process: Making resilience portable

45:00 – Aligning every decision to the culture statement

48:14 – Final reflections on leadership, humility, and legacy

Host Alexa Beavers: linkedin.com/in/alexabeaverspmp

Guest Austin Maggard: linkedin.com/in/amaggard

Executive Producer Jim Kanichirayil: linkedin.com/in/drjimk

Music Credit: "Lost in Dreams" by Kulakovka

Summary:

What do you do when your first leadership role comes with a nightmare boss, a team looking to you for protection, and zero playbook for managing up? Elda shares how she learned to “zoom out” instead of “head down” her way through the storm and why finding allies, mentors, and perspective is the real career insurance policy.

Chapters:

00:00 – When your first leadership role comes with a nightmare boss

03:10 – The pressure of managing peers and managing up

06:45 – Why her old strategy stopped working as a manager

09:30 – The turning point: realizing she needed allies

12:15 – Building relationships beyond your department

15:40 – The mentor she wishes she’d had

18:20 – How “zooming out” changes your career trajectory

21:00 – Staying power in one organization for 20+ years

Host Dr. Jim Kanichirayil: linkedin.com/in/drjimk

Guest Elda De La Pena: linkedin.com/in/elda-de-la-pena-86ab7416

Executive Producer Jim Kanichirayil: linkedin.com/in/drjimk

Music Credit: "Lost in Dreams" by Kulakovka

Summary:

What would you do if a direct report brought a hidden diary of grievances to your boss? Julie Deane lived it. In this episode, she opens up about a moment that could have derailed her career but instead reshaped it. With help from a wise boss and a lot of humility, Julie transformed a tough confrontation into the cornerstone of her leadership style.

Chapters:

00:00 - The Diary That Changed Everything

04:15 - An HR Wake-Up Call

07:30 - The Power of a Supportive Boss

12:05 - Ambition vs. Burnout

18:45 - Making Things Right with Travis

22:15 - Building Unity, Not Division

25:10 - Final Lessons: Tone, Trust, and Time

Host Alexa Beavers: linkedin.com/in/alexabeaverspmp

Guest Julie Deane: linkedin.com/in/jdeanekc

Executive Producer Jim Kanichirayil: linkedin.com/in/drjimk

Music Credit: "Lost in Dreams" by Kulakovka

Summary:

Discover how Matthew Anderson, HR Director at Rio Grande, transformed his approach to leadership by embracing criticism and incorporating his artistic creativity. From launching a performance management system to achieving a 90% engagement survey response rate, learn how Matthew's unique perspective and open-minded approach have led to significant success in his career. In this episode, Matthew shares valuable insights on how to involve skeptics, build trust, and leverage diverse opinions to enhance business outcomes. Tune in to hear how his journey from art school critiques to HR leadership has shaped his innovative and inclusive leadership style.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction: The Role of Criticism in Art and Business

02:50 Matthew Anderson's Career Journey

03:46 The Big Project: Performance Management System Rollout

04:44 Facing the Silence: Initial Reactions and Self-Reflection

05:40 Learning from Mistakes: Engaging Skeptics and Critics

15:47 Building Trust and Engagement

27:01 Personal Insights: Art and Leadership

30:06 Conclusion: Embracing Differences and Letting Go of Ego

Host Alex Beavers: linkedin.com/in/alexabeaverspmp

Guest Matthew Anderson: linkedin.com/in/matthew-anderson-9828392b

Executive Producer Jim Kanichirayil: linkedin.com/in/drjimk

Music Credit: "Lost in Dreams" by Kulakovka

Summary:

Join Alexa Beavers as she welcomes Amanda Smith, Chief Human Resources Officer at Vision Innovation Partners. Amanda shares her journey of overcoming career struggles and the importance of self-advocacy, especially after moving across the country for a job opportunity that didn’t materialize. Discover how Amanda learned to give herself permission to aspire to more and the lessons she gathered from navigating career challenges. This conversation explores themes of ownership, authenticity, and courage in professional growth, offering insights into finding the right path and embracing one's unique journey.

Chapters:

0:00

Advocating for Yourself: Lessons from Amanda Smith's Career

3:14

Career Setbacks and Personal Growth in a Cross-Country Move

9:05

Balancing Single Motherhood and Career with Resilience

11:23

The Costs of Not Advocating for Yourself at Work

13:23

Advocating for Yourself in Career Development and Growth

19:38

Finding the Right Shade of Green in Your Career

21:38

Authenticity, Passion, and Self-Advocacy in Career Development

24:04

Embracing Opportunities and Growth in Unexpected Career Paths

27:07

Embrace Authenticity and Self-Advocacy in Your Career Journey

30:14

Amanda Smith Shares Unfiltered Advice on Transformation Unfiltered

Host Alexa Beavers: linkedin.com/in/alexabeaverspmp

Guest Amanda Smith: linkedin.com/in/amandatatesmith

Executive Producer Jim Kanichirayil: linkedin.com/in/drjimk

Music Credit: "Lost in Dreams" by Kulakovka

Summary:

Angie Collins shares her journey navigating the challenges of a new role in the banking industry. Facing a manager focused on short-term sales, Angie discusses her approach to building long-term client relationships and aligning her methods with personal values and organizational missions. Dr. Jim highlights how Angie's strategy—presenting solutions, being mission-driven, tapping into empathy, and maintaining authenticity—was instrumental in her success and offers insight into managing career challenges and professional growth. Tune in to learn effective career navigation strategies from Angie's experience.

Chapters:

0:00

Navigating Career Challenges with Short-Sighted Managers

3:31

Transitioning from Property Management to Banking Challenges

6:37

Balancing Client Needs and Sales Goals in Banking

11:08

Navigating Challenges Through Core Values and Managerial Insight

13:36

Transforming Management Focus from Short-Term Sales to Long-Term Success

15:27

Staying True to Values Leads to Success in New Industries

16:50

Staying True to Values in the Workplace

18:51

Building Long-Term Client Relationships in Private Banking

21:19

Effective Strategies for Managing Your Manager

Host Dr. Jim: linkedin.com/in/drjimk

Guest Angie Collins: https://professionals.townebank.com/angie-collins-eacafba831d9

Executive Producer Jim Kanichirayil: linkedin.com/in/drjimk

Music Credit: "Lost in Dreams" by Kulakovka

Summary:

Traci Wills joins Alexa Beavers to discuss the personal journey from feeling undervalued in her career to recognizing her own worth and power. Traci shares insights on the challenges of the "Black tax," the weight of self-doubt, and the impact on mental and physical health. She reveals how motherhood was a turning point, driving her to embrace her strengths, demand alignment in her professional life, and focus on authenticity. This episode explores the transformation from self-sacrifice to prioritizing self-care and balance in life and career.

Chapters:

0:00

Breaking the Cycle of Self-Sacrifice at Work

2:38

Tracy Wills on Leading Transformation and Building High-Performing Teams

4:54

Overcoming Invisibility and Embracing Authenticity in Corporate America

15:03

The Physical and Emotional Toll of Overwhelming Stress

19:30

Harnessing Adversity and Affirmations for Personal and Professional Growth

25:03

Focus on What Matters Most for Personal Fulfillment

29:38

Harnessing Personal Power Through Passion and Self-Belief

37:19

Embracing Authenticity and Self-Worth in Personal Journeys

Host Alexa Beavers: linkedin.com/in/alexabeaverspmp

Guest Traci Wills: linkedin.com/in/traci-wills-8540701

Executive Producer Jim Kanichirayil: linkedin.com/in/drjimk

Music Credit: "Lost in Dreams" by Kulakovka

Summary:

Hillary Wilson shares her transformative journey in leading organizational change in a global pharmaceutical company. Struggling with persuasion tactics, she discovered a new way of leading through curiosity and self-awareness. Hosted by Alexa Beavers, this episode delves into the inner work that powers effective leadership. As Hillary highlights the importance of collaboration and tapping into collective strengths, listeners learn about embracing courage, leveraging diverse inputs, and finding purpose-driven leadership. Ideal for those looking to enhance their change management skills and personal growth.

Chapters:

0:00

Unlocking Transformation Through Self-Awareness and Purposeful Leadership

3:48

The Limits of Persuasion in Professional Growth

5:17

Transforming Pharma Culture: Bridging Medical and Commercial Teams

11:07

Embracing Growth and Learning in Change Management

12:51

Transforming Leadership Through Curiosity and Collaboration

18:57

Executive Coaching as a Catalyst for Personal Growth

20:46

Recognizing and Adjusting Overused Strengths for Personal Growth

22:58

Deepening Self Awareness for Career Fulfillment and Joy

29:24

Embracing Curiosity and Courage for Personal and Professional Growth

31:28

Discovering Purpose and Courage Through Personal Transformation

Host Alexa Beavers: linkedin.com/in/alexabeaverspmp

Guest Hillary Wilson: linkedin.com/in/hillarymarywilson

Executive Producer Jim Kanichirayil: linkedin.com/in/drjimk

Music Credit: "Lost in Dreams" by Kulakovka