Fringe by PeopleForward Network

Hosted by PeopleForward Network

Business Management EducationInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

154

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

About the show

Fringe is a collection of content to educate and inspire you on your leadership journey. Whether it's talent acquisition, well-being, or the future of work- Fringe by PFN has content to support you on your development journey.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 16, 202644 min

Belief | How Two Coaches Stay Grounded in Values While Leading Change

We're celebrating PFN's birthday by shining a light on the partners who have been part of our journey toward people-first leadership, meaningful work, and purpose-driven impact. This special feature from Coach to Coach with Brandon Miller captures the heart of their work and the shared mission that brings us together. Enjoy! — What drives you? Unlock the strength of Belief 💡 In this episode of Coach to Coach, Brandon Miller, Jana Cardona, and Kelly Merbler delve into the strength of Belief, exploring its significance in personal and professional contexts. They share personal stories, discuss the interplay between Belief and other strengths, and emphasize the importance of understanding values in coaching and leadership. The conversation highlights how Belief can drive action, influence leadership styles, and shape interpersonal dynamics within teams. Additional Resources: Listen to Coach to Coach wherever you get your podcasts! Connect with Brandon on LinkedIn Learn more about 34 Strong Subscribe to the PFN YouTube Channel for daily leadership insights! Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Learn more about PeopleForward Network Key Takeaways: Belief is a foundational strength that influences actions and decisions. Understanding personal values is crucial for effective coaching and leadership. Annual values checkups can help individuals align their actions with their Beliefs. Belief can serve as an anchor, providing stability in decision-making. The interplay between Belief and other strengths can enhance personal growth.

June 15, 202642 min

Living Life With Purpose... On Purpose With Steve White

We're celebrating PFN's birthday by shining a light on the partners who have been part of our journey toward people-first leadership, meaningful work, and purpose-driven impact. This special feature from Mo-ments of Experience with Geoffrey Smith captures the heart of their work and the shared mission that brings us together. Enjoy! — A former professional football player, a service dog named Poppy, and one decision on a mountain trail changed everything. 🐾 Geoffrey sits down with Steve White, founder of the PC, to explore what happens when healthcare becomes more than testing, treating, and managing decline. After years of battling post-concussion syndrome, seizures, lupus, and a medical system that left him feeling like he was "floating," Steve chose to fight for his health and then built a model designed to help others do the same. Together, Geoffrey and Steve dig into preemptive healthcare, trust, gratitude, team-based healing, and why caring for others may be one of the healthiest things we can do. This conversation is a powerful reminder that the smallest moments, a text of appreciation, a coach who believes, a dog who knows the way, can become the turning point that brings hope back. Additional Resources: Listen to Mo-ments of Experience wherever you get your podcasts! Subscribe to Mo-ments of Experience on YouTube! Connect with Geoffrey on LinkedIn Learn more at www.mo-mentsofexperience.com Subscribe to the PFN YouTube Channel for daily leadership insights! Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Learn more about PeopleForward Network Key Takeaways: Preemptive healthcare focuses on helping people avoid illness. Trust grows when patients understand the "why." Team, coaching, and mentorship fuel healing. Gratitude impacts giver, receiver, and observer. Purpose can become a pathway back to health.

June 11, 202643 min

Creating a Culture of Meaningful Work with Steve Perkins

We're celebrating PFN's birthday by shining a light on the partners who have been part of our journey toward people-first leadership, meaningful work, and purpose-driven impact. This special feature from Vibecast with Kristi Skutvik captures the heart of their work and the shared mission that brings us together. Enjoy! — Some of the most powerful culture work starts in the smallest moments. Kristi sits down with Steve Perkins, CEO and founder of Greenhouse Coaching, to explore how team norms shape the everyday vibe of work. Steve shares how his journey from a toxic workplace to a purpose-driven coaching business helped him see the deep connection between individual purpose, leadership, and organizational culture. Together, Kristi and Steve unpack simple but transformational practices like weekly sprint planning, intentional calendar blocks, and one-on-one meetings built around feedback, delegation, and development. This conversation is a reminder that great work vibes do not happen by accident. They are nurtured through rhythm, intention, and the courage to make the invisible visible. 🌱 Additional Resources: Listen to Vibecast wherever you get your podcasts! Subscribe to Kristi's YouTube for more Vibecast content! Learn more about Skutvik Consulting Subscribe to the PFN YouTube Channel for daily leadership insights! Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Learn more about PeopleForward Network Key Takeaways: Team norms create the everyday vibe of work. Culture grows through intentional micro moments. Feedback works best when it becomes a rhythm. Calendar blocks turn intentions into reality. Purpose-driven people thrive in healthy environments.

June 10, 202655 min

Legacy of Community: Jason Johnson shares how relationships make Metro National's purpose and values come to life

We're celebrating PFN's birthday by shining a light on the partners who have been part of our journey toward people-first leadership, meaningful work, and purpose-driven impact. This special feature from The Third Layer with Marshall Lockton captures the heart of their work and the shared mission that brings us together. Enjoy! — In this conversation, Jason Johnson, CEO of Metro National, shares the rich history of the family-owned real estate development company founded by his grandfather in 1954. He discusses the importance of building relationships in acquiring land, the vision of creating a 'city within a city', and the expansion into various sectors beyond retail. Jason emphasizes the significance of long-term thinking in real estate, especially during challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic. He also reflects on the dynamics of working in a family business, the transition of leadership from his father, and the collaborative effort to define and uphold the company's core values, which focus on integrity, trust, impact, and legacy. Additional Resources: Listen to The Third Layer wherever you get your podcasts! Connect with Marshall on LinkedIn Subscribe to the PFN YouTube Channel for daily leadership insights! Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Learn more about PeopleForward Network Key Takeaways: Metro National was founded in 1954 by Joe Johnson, starting with residential home building. The company has grown to encompass 10 million square feet of commercial real estate in Houston. Building strong relationships was key to acquiring the original 200 acres of land. Joe Johnson's vision was to create a 'city within a city' for community use. The company has expanded beyond retail to include healthcare, hospitality, and office spaces.

June 9, 202651 min

Unleash The Power Of Your People With Recognition And Feedback With Rob Catalano

We're celebrating PFN's birthday by shining a light on the partners who have been part of our journey toward people-first leadership, meaningful work, and purpose-driven impact. This special feature from The Unleashing Leaders Podcast with Lee Scott captures the heart of their work and the shared mission that brings us together. Enjoy! — Recognition is not a nice-to-have, it is one of the fastest ways leaders can build trust, momentum, and better employee experiences. Lee sits down with Rob Catalano, Chief Engagement Officer at WorkTango, to unpack how leaders can use feedback, recognition, and employee sentiment to create workplaces where people actually want to contribute. Rob shares how a career detour from marketing into employee experience shaped his passion for improving work lives, and why organizations need shorter feedback loops, more intentional recognition, and a deeper understanding of what motivates their people. From the power of specific, meaningful, and timely recognition to replacing blame with curiosity, this conversation gives leaders practical ways to make appreciation part of everyday culture. If you want to build a workplace where people feel valued, connected, and equipped to grow, this episode is your reminder that small moments of recognition can create lasting cultural change. Additional Resources: Listen to The Unleashing Leaders Podcast wherever you get yours! Attend Unleashing Leaders University! Sign up for our newsletter! Learn more about Unleashing Leaders Follow Unleashing Leaders on LinkedIn Connect with Lee on LinkedIn Follow Unleashing Leaders on Facebook Follow Unleashing Leaders on Instagram Subscribe to the PFN YouTube Channel for daily leadership insights! Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Learn more about PeopleForward Network Key Takeaways: Recognition works best when specific, meaningful, and timely. Employee sentiment reveals what people need to thrive. Strong leaders replace blame with curiosity. Feedback should happen continuously, not annually. Purpose helps employees connect work to meaning.

June 8, 202653 min

Cultivating Conscious Leadership with Charlie Saffro

We're celebrating PFN's birthday by shining a light on the partners who have been part of our journey toward people-first leadership, meaningful work, and purpose-driven impact. This special feature from Conscious Conversation with Amy Woodall captures the heart of their work and the shared mission that brings us together. Enjoy! — Can you build a successful business, lead with heart and ditch the burnout badge of honor? Amy reconnects with Charlie Saffro, founder of CS Recruiting and unapologetic champion of conscious leadership, for a candid, no-fluff convo about leading with purpose in a world obsessed with hustle. Charlie pulls back the curtain on what it really means to ditch performative grind culture and embrace human-first leadership. They get real about what happens when companies skip the small stuff (like remembering work anniversaries), why your team deserves more than a plaque, and how Charlie turned a moment of personal leadership failure into company-wide policy change. This episode is full of mic-drop moments, practical takeaways, and a refreshing reminder that leadership gets better when you stop trying to be everything to everyone, and just get real. 🎧✨ Additional Resources: Listen to Conscious Conversations wherever you get your podcasts! Join the "Conscious Conversations" Community! Sign Up for the Conscious Habit Newsletter Connect with Amy on LinkedIn Learn more about Conscious Habit Subscribe to the PFN YouTube Channel for daily leadership insights! Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Learn more about PeopleForward Network Key Takeaways: Authenticity beats hustle every time. Small acknowledgments make a big impact. People-first leadership needs real policies, not performative perks. You can lead with empathy and make tough business decisions. Mindful habits fuel sustainable leadership.

June 5, 202636 min

The Power of Purpose-Driven Leadership with Jeff Blade

We're celebrating PFN's birthday by shining a light on the partners who have been part of our journey toward people-first leadership, meaningful work, and purpose-driven impact. This special feature from Can't Stop the Growth with Chad Peterman captures the heart of their work and the shared mission that brings us together. Enjoy! — Leadership doesn't come with a perfect playbook, but Jeff Blade has spent decades learning what works by stepping into the unknown and leading with humility. Chad Peterman sits down with Jeff Blade, former CFO, CEO, board member, and advisor, to unpack what it really takes to lead organizations through growth, change, and complexity. From his early days in public accounting to C-suite leadership in public companies and private equity-backed businesses, Jeff shares why the best leaders ask better questions, build trust first, and understand that business is always human at its core. Jeff and Chad explore servant leadership, purpose-driven organizations, private equity partnerships, board governance, and the character traits that separate strong leaders from self-focused performers. For leaders who want to grow their business without losing sight of their people, this conversation is full of hard-earned wisdom and practical perspective. Additional Resources: Listen to Can't Stop the Growth wherever you get your podcasts! Connect with Chad on LinkedIn Subscribe to the PFN YouTube Channel for daily leadership insights! Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Learn more about PeopleForward Network Key Takeaways: Lead with humility before proving your expertise. Character matters more than technical skill. Great leaders serve before they direct. Purpose-driven organizations unlock exponential performance. Private equity partnerships must fit your values.

June 4, 202648 min

From Showing Up to Lifting Up: The Power of Supportive Leadership with Jen Marr

We're celebrating PFN's birthday by shining a light on the partners who have been part of our journey toward people-first leadership, meaningful work, and purpose-driven impact. This special feature from Show Up As a Leader with Dr. Rosie Ward captures the heart of their work and the shared mission that brings us together. Enjoy! — The future of leadership may come down to one simple question: "What can I do to support you today?" Rosie Ward welcomes back Jen Marr, CEO and Founder of Showing Up and author of the book "Lifting Up: The Transformative Power of Supportive Leadership." Together, they explore why human skills are no longer optional in a world shaped by AI, disruption, generational divides, and rising disconnection. Jen shares practical ways leaders can help people feel seen, supported, and valued without turning every conversation into something heavy or overly emotional. From the "five 80s" to the "two 10 rule," this conversation gives people-first leaders tangible tools to build trust, strengthen relationships, and create workplaces where people can truly flourish. 💛 Additional Resources: Get your copy of "Future-Proofing Leadership" Dr. Rosie Ward! Listen to Show Up As a Leader wherever you get your podcasts! Connect with Rosie on LinkedIn Learn more about Salveo Partners Subscribe to the PFN YouTube Channel for daily leadership insights! Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Learn more about PeopleForward Network Key Takeaways: Human connection is a critical leadership skill. Supportive leadership starts with small daily actions. People need to feel seen in struggle. Judgment blocks curiosity, trust, and growth. Leaders can support without fixing everything.

June 3, 202624 min

The Lens You Choose = The Life You Choose with Nikki and David Gregory

We're celebrating PFN's birthday by shining a light on the partners who have been part of our journey toward people-first leadership, meaningful work, and purpose-driven impact. This special feature from Addicted to Betterment with Nikki and David Gregory captures the heart of their work and the shared mission that brings us together. Enjoy! — Your thoughts are either working for you or quietly working against you. Nikki and David Gregory unpack the power of perspective and the daily practice of choosing the "good one" when life feels chaotic, heavy, or uncertain. From lost client deals to unexpected change, they explore how pausing, reframing, and asking better questions can shift fear into possibility. This conversation is a reminder for people-first leaders that mindset is not just personal, it ripples into how we lead, decide, recover, and show up. When you can catch the thought, choose gratitude, and reframe the moment, you create space for something better to emerge. Additional Resources: Listen to Addicted to Betterment wherever you get your podcasts! Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn Connect with David on LinkedIn Subscribe to the PFN YouTube Channel for daily leadership insights! Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Learn more about PeopleForward Network Key Takeaways: Perspective shapes peace, progress, and possibility. Pause before reacting to difficult moments. Reframe failure as a beginning, not an ending. Gratitude helps shift negative thought patterns. Choose thoughts that work for you.

June 2, 20261 hr 5 min

The Story Behind the Why: A conversation about leadership with Tony Hartsgrove

We're celebrating PFN's birthday by shining a light on the partners who have been part of our journey toward people-first leadership, meaningful work, and purpose-driven impact. This special feature from The Story Effect with Danielle Krischik captures the heart of their work and the shared mission that brings us together. Enjoy! — Most leaders talk about culture. Tony Hartsgrove built one by telling the truth, trusting the data, and refusing to separate business growth from human growth. Danielle Krischik sits down with Tony Hartsgrove, CEO of ODC Construction, the largest shell contractor in the Southeast, to unpack what it really takes to lead through growth, acquisition, risk, and change. Tony shares how ODC grew from roughly $20 million to $400 million in revenue, why data became the company's secret sauce, and how purpose only matters when leaders make it real through stories, behavior, and accountability. From childhood lessons and imposter syndrome to luck, ambition, people-first pay, and the "back work" leaders must do before asking teams to follow, this conversation is honest, sharp, funny, and deeply human. It is a reminder that leadership is not about pretending to have it all figured out. It is about caring enough to build something bigger than yourself. Additional Resources: Listen to The Story Effect wherever you get your podcasts! Connect with Danielle on LinkedIn Learn more at The Story Effect Subscribe to the PFN YouTube Channel for daily leadership insights! Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn Learn more about PeopleForward Network Key Takeaways: Purpose sticks when leaders make it personal. Data builds trust during major change. Growth requires risk, revenue, and courage. Your story shapes you, but doesn't define you. People-first leadership includes financial care.