Better Experiences by Design™

Hosted by Susan Quinn

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Episodes

Latest episode

May 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Better Experiences by Design™ is a podcast series produced by circle S studio that highlights leaders across a variety of industries dedicated to delivering exceptional brand, employee, and client experiences.

Listen to episodes

30 recent

May 29, 2026Episode 3035 min

Stop Pitching, Start Persuading: The Science of Turning Conversations Into Clients with Tom Martin

In this episode of Better Experiences by Design, Susan Quinn sits down with Tom Martin—sales strategist, author of The Invisible Sale, and founder of the Painless Prospecting system—to explore why most business development efforts fail and what the science of persuasion reveals about getting to yes more often.Better Experiences by Design is a podcast series produced by circle S studio that highlights leaders across a variety of industries dedicated to delivering exceptional brand, employee, and client experiences. © circle S studio, 2026.

April 22, 2026Episode 2930 min

Own the Room: How Great Leaders Use Presence and Voice to Drive Organizational Growth with Eleni Kelakos

Better Experiences by Design is a podcast series produced by circle S studio that highlights leaders across a variety of industries dedicated to delivering exceptional brand, employee, and client experiences. © circle S studio, 2026.

March 19, 2026Episode 2851 min

The Discipline Behind The Markel Style of Leadership with Tom Gayner

In this episode of Better Experiences by Design, Susan Quinn speaks with Tom Gayner, CEO of Markel Group, about his perspective on what actually drives long-term success. Rather than a single bold move or a series of strategic pivots, it’s a set of principles, applied consistently over time. From learning leadership in his father’s office to helping scale a company to 22,000 people, Gayner’s approach is rooted in curiosity, discipline, and a deep belief in doing right by others.This episode is a powerful reminder that great companies aren’t defined by what they do — but by how consistently they live what they believe.Better Experiences by Design is a podcast series produced by circle S studio that highlights leaders across a variety of industries dedicated to delivering exceptional brand, employee, and client experiences. © circle S studio, 2026.

February 18, 2026Episode 2750 min

From $8B to $38B: The Leadership Discipline Behind Remarkable Growth with John Asbury

In this episode of Better Experiences by Design, Susan Quinn sits down with John Asbury, CEO of Atlantic Union Bank, to explore what it takes to transform a regional bank into a high-performing challenger brand in a rapidly consolidating industry.When John joined the bank in 2016, it faced a defining choice: grow with intention or be acquired. Instead of playing it safe, John and his board pursued what he calls “escape velocity” — scaling strategically to compete with large national banks while preserving the responsiveness of a community institution.But strategy alone doesn’t sustain growth. Culture does.Better Experiences by Design is a podcast series produced by circle S studio that highlights leaders across a variety of industries dedicated to delivering exceptional brand, employee, and client experiences. © circle S studio, 2026.

January 21, 2026Episode 2627 min

Unlocking Hidden Growth Through Strategic Storytelling with Stephen Steers

In this episode, we sit down with Stephen Steers, author, consultant, and keynote speaker, for a strategic conversation about growth, storytelling, and the value that’s already inside your existing client base.Stephen breaks down how organizations can find revenue growth without chasing new leads, simply by asking better questions, reframing client conversations, and making storytelling a strategic business practice rather than just a sales tool.He also explains why curiosity is one of the most underrated engines of growth, how to empower every team member to spot new opportunities, and why “selling less” often leads to more revenue and stronger client relationships.Better Experiences by Design is a podcast series produced by circle S studio that highlights leaders across a variety of industries dedicated to delivering exceptional brand, employee, and client experiences. © circle S studio, 2026.

December 17, 2025Episode 2525 min

2025 Leadership Insights from Better Experiences by Design

November 19, 2025Episode 2430 min

A Reality Check for Leaders: Are You Interpreting Data Correctly? (And AI Can't Do It For You.)

Artificial intelligence isn’t just reshaping marketing — it’s redefining how organizations learn, scale, and make smarter decisions. In this episode of Better Experiences by Design, Susan Quinn sits down with Jim Sterne, internationally recognized author, speaker, and founder of the Marketing Analytics Summit, to explore how generative AI, analytics, and human-centered strategy are converging to create meaningful customer experiences.Better Experiences by Design is a podcast series produced by circle S studio that highlights leaders across a variety of industries dedicated to delivering exceptional brand, employee, and client experiences. © circle S studio, 2026.

October 15, 2025Episode 2331 min

Is Strategic Thinking Your Comfort Zone or Danger Zone with Carla Johnson

In this episode of Better Experiences by Design, keynote speaker, author, and “Innovation Architect” Carla Johnson joins us to unpack how curiosity fuels strategy—and how teams can shift from tactical comfort zones to brave, exploratory thinking. Carla shares her “Curiosity Compass” and practical pre-work you can use to disrupt default patterns, plus facilitation moves that turn “no, because…” into “yes, and…”, creating cultures where ideas compound into real outcomes. She also explores how habits, environments, and cross-industry inspiration keep innovative thinking alive long after the workshop ends.Better Experiences by Design is a podcast series produced by circle S studio that highlights leaders across a variety of industries dedicated to delivering exceptional brand, employee, and client experiences. © circle S studio, 2026.

September 17, 2025Episode 2235 min

Competitive Pricing Strategies for Sustainable Business Growth with Casey Brown

Pricing isn’t just numbers on a page—it’s psychology, strategy, and confidence. In this episode, Susan Quinn sits down with Casey Brown, engineer turned Six Sigma black belt turned pricing expert, to explore how organizations can stop leaving money on the table and start charging what their work is truly worth.Casey shares her journey from spreadsheets at GE to becoming one of the most sought-after voices in pricing strategy. She explains why most businesses make pricing decisions out of fear rather than confidence, and how to flip the mindset so your pricing reflects the real value you deliver.From identifying the two right times to raise prices to shifting conversations into the customer’s language of value, Casey delivers actionable insights for leaders who want to be paid like they’re excellent—because they are.Better Experiences by Design is a podcast series produced by circle S studio that highlights leaders across a variety of industries dedicated to delivering exceptional brand, employee, and client experiences. © circle S studio, 2026.

August 21, 2025Episode 2142 min

Beyond the Numbers: Inside the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond with Sonya Waddell

How can we make complex economic data more useful and more human? In this episode of Better Experiences by Design, Sonya Waddell, Vice President and Economist of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, is revolutionizing the way economic data is presented to the public. With a focus on clarity, empathy, and accessibility, Sonya offers a fresh perspective on how economic research can better serve real people and real decision-makers.Better Experiences by Design is a podcast series produced by circle S studio that highlights leaders across a variety of industries dedicated to delivering exceptional brand, employee, and client experiences. © circle S studio, 2026.