Speak In Flow

Hosted by Melinda Lee

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Oct 2026

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About the show

How loud is your inner critic? Would you love to silence the inner critic and develop the skills to Speak in Flow? After a decade of studying the state of flow, Melinda Lee has found the actionable and practical steps for heart-centred leaders to develop their communication confidence. Melinda helps leaders like you overcome their fear of public speaking and transform self-doubt into confidence & freedom, so they can exponentially increase their impact with heart and ease. We all have an internal dial of authentic strength, and when we learn to turn it up in spite of our circumstances, people feel and hear us, and our world changes. That is the power of our voice. When we Speak in Flow: · We feel free to be ourselves. · We speak from the heart. · We can connect with our audience · We feel more in alignment with our purpose. · Other people are attracted to us, and more opportunities show up! There are many ways to manifest authority, abundance and influence. What I stand for and love doing is empowering others to get in touch with their heart, tune into their intuition, and communicate their truth. This is Speak in Flow.

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October 22, 202631 min

The Leadership Rule That Works at Every Company Size

Companies change, and markets shift, but some leadership principles stay the same. In this conversation, Melinda Lee sits down with Kian Alavi, the co-founder and CEO of Mazlo. He talks about the principles that have stayed the same at every stage of his company's growth, explaining why these principles are the key to getting around the “founder's trap.” Basically, when every decision still goes back to the CEO, a team built on trust, ownership, and the right people can carry the mission without you in every room. In This Episode, You Will Learn: Your Inbox can be a Red Flag “If you've got great people on your team, you should be getting fewer emails or having an easier time managing them.” A constant stream of requests that need your response is a symptom of an organization built around one person. Why You Can’t Let Go The honest answers behind micromanagement are not trusting the person, not setting them up to succeed, and not being clear on what you’re asking and why. “It won’t get done right unless I do it” is almost always false. Delegation vs. Ownership “If you’re delegating appropriately, you’re actually shipping their work to them.” The difference between handing over a task and handing over responsibility shapes whether work gets done well, quickly, and without follow-up. Also, a task that needs chasing usually signals misalignment, not a motivation problem. The Right People and the Courage to Move Quickly “The CEO's job is to be fierce and defend and protect their team.” Why keeping an ill-fitting person in a role costs the whole team, how a great person can still be a bad fit, and why acting early is a form of respect for everyone involved. _________________________________ In a startup, one hire can represent 5-20% of your entire team. A bad hire can cost 15,000–30,000 and result in months of lost momentum. In our latest article, we explain how to hire based on your company's stage, develop a hiring process that surpasses gut feeling, and take action quickly when a candidate isn't the right fit. _________________________________ About the Guest: Kian Alavi is the co-founder and CEO of Mazlo, the financial infrastructure for nonprofits and fiscal sponsors. Mazlo brings banking, payments, and accounting into one platform built specifically for the back office of a sector representing 1.5 million U.S. nonprofits. Today, Mazlo serves nonprofits across 47 states and has surpassed a quarter billion dollars in funding volume in under two years. Its platform removes up to 90% of the manual reconciliation work that burdens finance teams, automatically enforces fund restrictions, and replaces month-end guesswork with real-time financial visibility. Connect with Kian Alavi: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kianalavi/?isSelfProfile=false Website: https://www.mazlo.com/ Mazlo’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mazlo-official/ Fun Facts: 👨‍👧‍👦 Dad of two 🥾 Enjoys hiking and biking ⚽ Coaches youth sports 🌱 Mentors young adults _________________________________ About Melinda: Melinda Lee is a Presentation Skills Expert, Speaking Coach and nationally renowned Motivational Speaker. She holds an M.A. in Organizational Psychology, is an Insights Practitioner, and is a Certified Professional in Talent Development as well as Certified in Conflict Resolution. For over a decade, Melinda has researched and studied the state of “flow” and used it as a proven technique to help corporate leaders and business owners amplify their voices, access flow, and present their mission in a more powerful way to achieve results. She has been the TEDx Berkeley Speaker Coach and worked with hundreds of executives and teams from Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Caltrans, Bay Area Rapid Transit System, and more. Currently, she lives in San Francisco, California, and is breaking the ancestral lineage of silence. Website: https://speakinflow.com/ Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/speakinflow Instagram: https://instagram.com/speakinflow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpowerall Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.

October 15, 202626 min

How Union Negotiations Reveal the Real Cost of Misalignment

“Alignment” may sound like a buzzword until it results in a strike, diminished performance, or unachieved goals. In this episode, Yvonne Cheng, a member benefits consultant at the California Teachers Association, joins Melinda Lee to discuss what effective alignment looks like in practice. With her experience representing a union of over 310,000 members and two decades in corporate retail leadership, Yvonne offers valuable insights into achieving alignment when the stakes are high. In This Episode, You Will Learn: Alignment Starts With Listening, Not Assuming Why the first step to successful leadership, whether running a company or representing 310,000 educators, is listening to what people actually need rather than assuming you already know. What Happens When Alignment Breaks Down “If they're aligned together, everything could go so much more smoothly.” How misalignment between a school district and its local union escalated into strikes lasting up to twelve days, and what that disruption reveals about the real cost of unresolved disagreement. The CEO Who Knew Her Name “I really felt seen and heard.” A personal story from two decades in corporate retail on the difference between managers who communicated expectations clearly and those who didn't, and how that gap directly shaped success or failure on the job. Shared Understanding as the Real Goal Why alignment doesn't require everyone to agree on everything, but does require a genuine channel for disagreement, perspective, and feedback to be heard and acted on before it turns into disruption. _____________________________________________ Your training isn't wrong when it's built. It's outdated by the time it arrives. The half-life of a technical skill is now less than 2.5 years, and static courses can't keep up. Read our latest article to learn how to upgrade your training and increase your ROI. _____________________________________________ About the Guest: Yvonne Cheng is a benefits professional with more than 10 years of experience in benefits, customer experience, partnerships, and program development. She currently works at the California Teachers Association in the Member Benefits Department, where she helps CTA members access valuable resources, programs, and services that support their financial, personal, and professional well-being. Connect with Yvonne Cheng: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvonne-cheng-67a3038/ Fun Facts: 🎤 Has been to over 12 Backstreet Boys concerts _____________________________________________ About Melinda: Melinda Lee is a Presentation Skills Expert, Speaking Coach, and nationally renowned Motivational Speaker. She holds an M.A. in Organizational Psychology, is an Insights Practitioner, and is a Certified Professional in Talent Development as well as Certified in Conflict Resolution. For over a decade, Melinda has researched and studied the state of “flow” and used it as a proven technique to help corporate leaders and business owners amplify their voices, access flow, and present their mission in a more powerful way to achieve results. She has been the TEDx Berkeley Speaker Coach and has worked with hundreds of executives and teams from Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Caltrans, Bay Area Rapid Transit System, and more. Currently, she lives in San Francisco, California, and is breaking the ancestral lineage of silence. Website: https://speakinflow.com/ Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/speakinflow Instagram: https://instagram.com/speakinflow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpowerall Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcast review. Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.

October 8, 202637 min

How This CEO Uses AI to Eliminate 70% of His Meetings

AI is automating the paperwork, the reviews, the endless status meetings. So what's left for leaders to do? Sugata Sanyal, founder and CEO of ZINFI, with over three decades of experience, joins Melinda Lee to make the case that AI isn't replacing leadership, but giving teams a 360-degree view that was impossible a year ago. This episode is a must-listen for anyone wondering what leadership actually looks like once AI takes over the busywork. In This Episode, You Will Learn: From Reviews and Meetings to Human Conversations Why AI can eliminate 60-70% of the reviews and status meetings that used to dominate a leader's calendar, and what that time should be redirected toward instead. Alignment Starts With Knowing Who You Serve “A company is a contract through which we work for customers in the end.” Why the first step to organizational alignment isn't a strategy document, it's making sure every team member, technical or not, understands exactly who they're serving and why. From Paperwork to Peoplework “Companies are like families.” Why the real opportunity in this shift isn't efficiency for its own sake, it's giving leaders back the time to notice when a customer or an employee is struggling, something no AI agent can replace. Leading Yourself Through Change “I gotta create a new mirror, and I gotta create that.” Why leading a team through transformation starts with a leader's own willingness to admit what they built yesterday may no longer be relevant, and how identifying early adopters inside the organization accelerates everyone else's ability to change. ________________________________________ Employees forget 70% of what they learn within 24 hours. So why does most corporate training still run on one-and-done courses? Read our last article to learn the real cost of outdated training, and how to fix it. ________________________________________ About the Guest: Sugata Sanyal is the founder and CEO of ZINFI, an enterprise software platform that helps Fortune 100 and mid-market companies manage and grow their partner and reseller networks. With over three decades of experience at Honeywell, Philips, and Dell SonicWALL, Sugata has built a career around solving complex industry problems in ways that create hundreds of new jobs and opportunities. Connect with Sugata Sanyal: LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/sugatasanyal/ Website: http://www.zinfi.com/ Fun Facts: 💻 Believes everyone should spend at least an hour a day learning on YouTube 🤝 Co-founded East Bay Founders, a nonprofit community of 1,600+ founders, CXOs, and contributors 📚 Draws leadership philosophy from Yuval Noah Harari's Sapiens _________________________________ About Melinda: Melinda Lee is a Presentation Skills Expert, Speaking Coach and nationally renowned Motivational Speaker. She holds an M.A. in Organizational Psychology, is an Insights Practitioner, and is a Certified Professional in Talent Development as well as Certified in Conflict Resolution. For over a decade, Melinda has researched and studied the state of “flow” and used it as a proven technique to help corporate leaders and business owners amplify their voices, access flow, and present their mission in a more powerful way to achieve results. She has been the TEDx Berkeley Speaker Coach and worked with hundreds of executives and teams from Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Caltrans, Bay Area Rapid Transit System, and more. Currently, she lives in San Francisco, California, and is breaking the ancestral lineage of silence. Website: https://speakinflow.com/ Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/speakinflow Instagram: https://instagram.com/speakinflow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpowerall Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.

October 1, 20267 min

Why Operationally Strong Companies Still Lose Major Accounts

You've built a successful company, hired the right people, earned your clients' trust. But standing at the top of the mountain doesn't mean you get to stay there. In this solo episode, Melinda Lee breaks down why so many strong, operationally sound companies start sliding backward the moment growth accelerates, and why AI is making that slide faster, not slower. In This Episode, You Will Learn: Success Isn't a Plateau, It's a Direction Why building a successful company doesn't guarantee you stay there, and how shifting markets, moving talent, and accelerating AI are forcing every organization to either keep climbing or start sliding. The Warning Signs of a Company Starting to Slide How operationally strong companies lose momentum when priorities multiply, departments start pulling in different directions, and growth quietly becomes dependent on just a few key people. The LMA Test: Can Your Leaders Tell the Same Story? “If they cannot share the same story, your client is going to feel that disconnect.” Misalignment at the leadership level shows up first in front of your biggest opportunities, and what it costs when it does. Three Phases to Move From Scattered to Aligned “Communicate what matters, communicate it often, so your people move forward together.” How leadership teams identify the priorities that matter most, take clear ownership of specific outcomes, and hold each other accountable, without depending on a few people to keep everyone on track. ____________________________________________ Every leadership team thinks they communicate well, until growth exposes the gaps. We show you why communication isn't a soft skill, it's the system that determines whether your company scales or stalls. Read our blog to get insights from people who have already lived through the process and succeeded. ____________________________________________ About Melinda: Melinda Lee is a Presentation Skills Expert, Speaking Coach, and nationally renowned Motivational Speaker. She holds an M.A. in Organizational Psychology, is an Insights Practitioner, and is a Certified Professional in Talent Development as well as Certified in Conflict Resolution. For over a decade, Melinda has researched and studied the state of “flow” and used it as a proven technique to help corporate leaders and business owners amplify their voices, access flow, and present their mission in a more powerful way to achieve results. She has been the TEDx Berkeley Speaker Coach and has worked with hundreds of executives and teams from Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Caltrans, Bay Area Rapid Transit System, and more. Currently, she lives in San Francisco, California, and is breaking the ancestral lineage of silence. Website: https://speakinflow.com/ Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/speakinflow Instagram: https://instagram.com/speakinflow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpowerall Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcast review. Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.

September 24, 202626 min

Why 60% of Your Employees Are Financially Stressed

Financial stress is a taboo topic at work. Nobody talks about it, even though financial compensation is usually the main reason people show up in the first place. But staying silent doesn't make the problem disappear, it just makes it bigger. In today's episode, Lara Brecher, Senior Manager for Success and Growth at Balance Financial Wellness, joins Melinda Lee to unpack why financial stress is one of the most overlooked drivers of disengagement, absenteeism, and lost productivity in the workplace. In This Episode, You Will Learn: Financial Stress Is a Leadership Issue, Not Just a Personal One Why financial wellness should be treated as an employee benefit alongside physical and mental health, and how stress that starts at home follows employees into the workplace, shaping their concentration, decision-making, and engagement. The Invisible Struggle Behind “Disengagement” “What barriers might this person be carrying that we can help remove?” Why financial stress is often invisible to leaders, and how reframing the question from “why isn't this employee more engaged” to what's really going on can transform how you support your team. Understanding Your Team's “Money Scripts” Why managing money isn't about intelligence or motivation, but about the deeply personal beliefs, habits, and “money scripts” people develop long before their first paycheck, and how these unconscious biases shape financial decisions at every level of an organization. Listen First, Then Act “No one organization can solve complex challenges alone.” Why the first step for any leader is asking employees what they're actually experiencing rather than assuming the answers, and how partnering with financial wellness organizations creates a stronger, more resilient workforce. ___________________________ Everyone obsesses over commission structure. Uncapped vs. capped. Tiered vs. residual. Accelerators vs. flat bonus. But the plan almost never dies on the formula. It dies on the explanation. If your reps can't tell you how their next deal maps to their next paycheck, you have a communication problem. And it's costing you revenue. Read our latest article, “How Commission Strategies Turn Employees Into Owners,” to fix the communication gap. ___________________________ About the Guest: Lara Brecher is the Senior Manager, Partner Growth and Success at Balance Financial Wellness, a nonprofit dedicated to making financial wellness accessible to everyone. With nearly 20 years of experience in community development and partner relations, Lara has built her career around a single mission: helping people navigate financial systems that weren't built for them. At Balance, she partners with employers, healthcare organizations, financial institutions, and community groups to bring one-to-one financial coaching and education to the people who need it most. Her work is grounded in the belief that financial wellness isn't just about money, it's connected to mental health, workplace engagement, and long-term organizational success. Connect with Lara Brecher: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lara-brecher-4621a039/ Fun Facts: • 👩‍👧‍👧 Mother to two tiny humans and two fluffy cats • 🌉 Lives in Oakland, CA • 🧘 Loves yoga and hiking ___________________________ About Melinda: Melinda Lee is a Presentation Skills Expert, Speaking Coach, and nationally renowned Motivational Speaker. She holds an M.A. in Organizational Psychology, is an Insights Practitioner, and is a Certified Professional in Talent Development as well as Certified in Conflict Resolution. For over a decade, Melinda has researched and studied the state of “flow” and used it as a proven technique to help corporate leaders and business owners amplify their voices, access flow, and present their mission in a more powerful way to achieve results. She has been the TEDx Berkeley Speaker Coach and has worked with hundreds of executives and teams from Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Caltrans, Bay Area Rapid Transit System, and more. Currently, she lives in San Francisco, California, and is breaking the ancestral lineage of silence. Website: https://speakinflow.com/ Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/speakinflow Instagram: https://instagram.com/speakinflow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpowerall Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcast review.

September 17, 202634 min

Why small decisions kill business value

How does a decision stick when priorities and how to accomplish them change every day, creating an environment of hostility and confusion? Michael Bush, founder of GrowthWays and creator of the Guardrailing Framework, has spent over 25 years helping CEOs and leadership teams answer exactly that question. In this episode of the Speak In Flow Podcast, Melinda Lee unpacks Michael's powerful framework for strategic decision-making. This episode is essential listening for any leader who understands that good decisions don't happen by accident. In This Episode, You Will Learn: Start with the Destination in Mind "If you don't know where you're going, it makes it really difficult to even set off in a direction." Instead of reacting to what's in front of them, high-performing organizations start by defining the end game, down to the date, the dollar amount, and the buyer. The Power of “Good Decisions” “Good decisions mean they hurt no one, they add value to lives and to the business, and you really can't go wrong if you keep it that simple.” Michael breaks down what makes a decision “good” vs. “bad” and why the golden rule still applies in the boardroom. Short-Term Goals, Frequent Rewards When everyone in the organization knows the goal, miracles happen. Michael shares real-world examples of how open-book management and company-wide bonuses turned struggling companies around faster than anyone anticipated. Breaking Down Silos “If you can't trust a coworker or your boss, it makes it really hard to be effective, because you're always watching your back rather than doing your job.” The organizations that struggle are the ones with silos, cults of personality, and leaders who say they have an “open-door policy” but punish anyone who challenges them. ___________________________________ Commission strategy is a leadership decision, not a finance afterthought. The formula matters, but the formula only works if people actually understand it. Read our latest article, "How Commission Strategies Turn Employees Into Owners” to boost your team's productivity. ___________________________________ About the Guest: Michael Bush is the founder of GrowthWays Partners and creator of the Guardrailing® Framework, a decision-making methodology that helps leaders build more valuable businesses aligned with what matters most. With over 25 years of experience, Michael has raised over $200 million in growth capital and been involved in transactions exceeding $325 million in enterprise value. He previously served as President and CEO of Ganeden, leading its global expansion and acquisition by Kerry Group. Today, he advises founders, CEOs, and investors on growth strategy, leadership, and exit readiness. Connect with Michael Bush: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelbush/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/GrowthWays-Partners/61560996898333/# Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growthwayspartners/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GrowthWaysPartners Other Important: https://substack.com/@michaelbushsf GrowthWays Website: https://www.growthways.com/ Fun Facts: 🎸 Musician who donates show proceeds to charity 🧘 Certified meditation instructor 👨‍👧‍👧 Father of three daughters 🎭 Performs improv comedy with his wife ___________________________________ About Melinda: Melinda Lee is a Presentation Skills Expert, Speaking Coach, and nationally renowned Motivational Speaker. She holds an M.A. in Organizational Psychology, is an Insights Practitioner, and is a Certified Professional in Talent Development as well as Certified in Conflict Resolution. For over a decade, Melinda has researched and studied the state of “flow” and used it as a proven technique to help corporate leaders and business owners amplify their voices, access flow, and present their mission in a more powerful way to achieve results. She has been the TEDx Berkeley Speaker Coach and has worked with hundreds of executives and teams from Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Caltrans, Bay Area Rapid Transit System, and more. Currently, she lives in San Francisco, California, and is breaking the ancestral lineage of silence. Website: https://speakinflow.com/ Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/speakinflow Instagram: https://instagram.com/speakinflow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpowerall Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcast review.

September 10, 202635 min

How to Protect Employee Morale During Budget Cuts

Being motivated when there's a lack of external incentives is hard. So how do you manage to keep your employees motivated during hardships? In this episode of the Speak in Flow podcast, Melinda Lee sits down with Laurice Gonzalez, Principal Financial Analyst at San Francisco Public Works, to explore what truly drives employee engagement when budget cuts, hiring freezes, and uncertainty are the new normal. In This Episode, You Will Learn: The Truth About Motivation in Hard Times "Let's just call it what it is." Why accepting and naming difficult realities, rather than sugarcoating them, is the first step toward building trust and protecting employee morale when budgets tighten and uncertainty looms. Communication as the Foundation of Trust “Clarity builds trust… when communication is hindered, people start filling in the gaps.” How inconsistent or withheld information leads employees to create their own (often worse) narratives, and why transparency, even about hard truths, actually strengthens organizational culture. The Cadence of Consistency Why consistent, predictable communication creates a sense of security, and how follow-ups and Q&A opportunities reinforce transparency over time. The Power of Purpose Over Paychecks “When you help people realize the meaning behind their roles, it ignites accountability.” Why connecting daily work to a “North Star” purpose is one of the most effective (and free) ways to reignite engagement when external rewards are limited. ____________________________________________ How can you improve your employees' working conditions if you don't know what's bothering them? The reality is that a good work environment and feeling heard have a greater impact on employee retention than we realise, particularly during tough times for the company. Read our latest article, "How to Make Every Employee a Brand Representative," to learn the best strategies and frameworks for getting honest feedback from your employees. ____________________________________________ About the Guest: Laurice Gonzalez is a Principal Budget Analyst at San Francisco Public Works, where she bridges financial strategy and people operations. Born and raised in the Philippines, she moved to the Bay Area in 2013 and has built a diverse career spanning advertising, the tech industry, the Superior Court of California, and now public service. At SF Public Works, she has led initiatives in employee engagement, strategic planning, process improvement, and operations budget, always with a focus on how people, operations, and strategy intersect to drive organizational success. Connect with Laurice Gonzales: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurice-gonzales/ Fun Facts: 🐕 Weekend dog mom to Paeng, who claims most of her free time 🌿 Has more houseplants than she's willing to admit 🎨 Loves painting florals and botanicals 📖 Happiest with a good book, acrylic paint, and a quiet weekend ____________________________________________ About Melinda: Melinda Lee is a Presentation Skills Expert, Speaking Coach, and nationally renowned Motivational Speaker. She holds an M.A. in Organizational Psychology, is an Insights Practitioner, and is a Certified Professional in Talent Development as well as Certified in Conflict Resolution. For over a decade, Melinda has researched and studied the state of “flow” and used it as a proven technique to help corporate leaders and business owners amplify their voices, access flow, and present their mission in a more powerful way to achieve results. She has been the TEDx Berkeley Speaker Coach and has worked with hundreds of executives and teams from Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Caltrans, Bay Area Rapid Transit System, and more. Currently, she lives in San Francisco, California, and is breaking the ancestral lineage of silence. Website: https://speakinflow.com/ Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/speakinflow Instagram: https://instagram.com/speakinflow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpowerall Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcast review. Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.

September 3, 202625 min

How to Align Your Leadership Team in 30 Days

In any company, the main focus is always to “get the job done,” and training and development efforts are often limited to technology and instrumental labor. This can hinder efficiency, especially as the company grows. In this episode, Melinda Lee sits down with M.K. Palmore, founder of Apogee Global RMS, to discuss why communication is the most overlooked strategic tool in business today. Drawing on his 30+ years of experience in enterprise risk and cybersecurity, M.K. explains why breakdowns in execution almost always come back to people. In This Episode, You Will Learn: The Holistic Approach to Risk Why cybersecurity, technology, and process failures are almost never the real problem, and how looking at the “seams” between people, process, and technology reveals the hidden cracks in your organization. Why Overcommunication Is Your Superpower “Sometimes it's okay to reiterate the same message every month. It's not rote; it's resetting expectations.” How the best leaders keep strategy alive by saying it over and over, and why repetition is the key to real alignment. The Mid-Management Breakdown Your executive team may understand the vision, but if your mid-level managers don't live and breathe it, your strategy dies at the execution layer. Learn where the breakage really happens and how to fix it. Investing in People That Might Leave “What happens if you invest in your leaders and they leave? What happens if you don't?” Why developing your people, even if it means preparing them for opportunities outside your company, is the single highest-return investment you can make, and how it creates a culture of loyalty that brings talent back stronger. –––––––––––––––––––––––––– We all know the drill: fill out the feedback form, say the “right” things, and move on. Your employees are lying to you, not out of malice, but out of fear. Most organizations are swimming in “safe” feedback while the real issues fester underneath. The solution isn't more surveys, it's a fundamental shift in how you communicate. Read our latest blog post. "How to Make Every Employee a Brand Representative" and learn the pillars of a feedback culture. –––––––––––––––––––––––––– About the Guest: M.K. Palmore is the Founder and Principal Advisor of Apogee Global RMS, an enterprise risk management firm built on his founding thesis that cyber, physical, and human capital risk are no longer separable but a single interconnected system, the Nexus of Risk. Over a 35-year career spanning the U.S. Marine Corps, the FBI, Palo Alto Networks, and Google Cloud, M.K. has led cybersecurity and risk initiatives at the highest levels of national security and global enterprise. Today, he advises organizations on integrated risk management, speaks internationally, and hosts The Risk Apogee podcast. Connect with M.K. Palmore: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mkpalmore/ Website: www.apogeeglobalrms.com Fun Facts: ⚓ Marine to FBI: Served as a U.S. Marine Corps officer before becoming an FBI Special Agent and earning his SWAT Operator certification. 💡 AI & Cloud Insider: Held senior roles at Palo Alto Networks and Google Cloud, giving him a front-row seat to enterprise AI and cloud-scale security. 📖 Student of Leadership: Believes leadership is a lifelong discipline, and the best leaders never stop learning. –––––––––––––––––––––––––– About Melinda: Melinda Lee is a Presentation Skills Expert, Speaking Coach, and nationally renowned Motivational Speaker. She holds an M.A. in Organizational Psychology, is an Insights Practitioner, and is a Certified Professional in Talent Development as well as Certified in Conflict Resolution. For over a decade, Melinda has researched and studied the state of “flow” and used it as a proven technique to help corporate leaders and business owners amplify their voices, access flow, and present their mission in a more powerful way to achieve results. She has been the TEDx Berkeley Speaker Coach and has worked with hundreds of executives and teams from Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Caltrans, Bay Area Rapid Transit System, and more. Currently, she lives in San Francisco, California, and is breaking the ancestral lineage of silence. Website: https://speakinflow.com/ Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/speakinflow Instagram: https://instagram.com/speakinflow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpowerall Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcast review.

August 27, 202624 min

Executive Presence Born from Crisis

Before everyone dives into fall planning, this month, we’re revisiting some of our favorite conversations that every executive should have fresh in their mind! A terrifying moment of personal crisis can become the catalyst for reclaiming your sense of purpose. Many think that being courageous is an innate trait, when in reality, this is an ability born from resilience. Karla Yepez, HR Director for aerospace manufacturer Trio Manufacturing, embodies this truth. In this episode of the Speak in Flow podcast with Melinda Lee, Karla shares how she hit rock bottom and the mindset shift that not only brought her back but solidified her mission to lead with humanity. In This Episode, You Will Learn: The Power of a Pivot “I had to take a really hard look in the mirror and remind myself who I am.” Karla’s journey reveals that our deepest challenges often prepare us for our greatest callings. When fear paralyzed her, she drew strength from a lifetime of overcoming adversity, realizing, "I was not made to break." The Effect of Curiosity “I didn't just file the file, I would read.” Long before her director title, Karla’s innate curiosity and willingness to ask questions transformed a simple filing job into a launching pad for her career. Her story is a testament to how a learning mindset can turn any role into an opportunity. What Your Darkest Moment Reveals “I was deteriorating, but inside I was still functioning.” The crisis that forced Karla to confront who she was under pressure, was a leader who, despite crumbling internally, never abandoned her duty to her team. The “Human” in Human Resources “Bring back human to human resources.” Build a culture you want to be in, you must embody the principles of empathy and justice, proving that the strongest organizations are built on a foundation of genuine human connection. About the Guest: Karla Yepez is the Director of Human Resources at Trio Manufacturing, Inc., a world-class leader in precision manufacturing for the aerospace and defense sector. Beginning her career in an entry-level filing job, Karla's innate drive to learn and help others propelled her into an unexpected HR role during a crisis. Karla is a passionate advocate for building cultures where people feel valued, protected, and connected to a purpose larger than themselves. Fun Facts: 🚀Mission-Driven Pride: She feels a deep, personal connection to her work, knowing that the components her company produces are essential to U.S. national defense. This isn't just a job; it's a contribution to the freedoms she cherishes. 🫘Chipotle to Boardroom: Before leading HR, Karla applied the customer service principles she learned at Chipotle to her early office jobs, proving that foundational skills translate everywhere. 🎓Driven by Mentorship: She attributes much of her success to the mentors who saw her potential, from the VP who noticed her curiosity while filing to the founders of Trio, who provided security and guidance. About Melinda: Melinda Lee is a Presentation Skills Expert, Speaking Coach, and nationally renowned Motivational Speaker. She holds an M.A. in Organizational Psychology, is an Insights Practitioner, and is a Certified Professional in Talent Development as well as Certified in Conflict Resolution. For over a decade, Melinda has researched and studied the state of “flow” and used it as a proven technique to help corporate leaders and business owners amplify their voices, access flow, and present their mission in a more powerful way to achieve results. She has been the TEDx Berkeley Speaker Coach and has worked with hundreds of executives and teams from Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Caltrans, Bay Area Rapid Transit System, and more. Currently, she lives in San Francisco, California, and is breaking the ancestral lineage of silence. Website: https://speakinflow.com/ Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/speakinflow Instagram: https://instagram.com/speakinflow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpowerall Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcast review. Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.

August 20, 202618 min

Why Every Employee is a Salesperson

Before everyone dives into fall planning, this month, we’re revisiting some of our favorite conversations that every executive should have fresh in their mind! In this episode, host Melinda Lee welcomes Ernie Bray, a dynamic entrepreneur and CEO of AutoClaims Direct (ACD), to discuss Ernie's personal communication journey to overcome stage fright and the critical role of communication in driving sales. Ernie shares his insights on how leaders can cultivate effective communication within their teams, the importance of adaptability in sales, and why every employee, not just the sales team, plays a vital role in representing the company. In This Episode, You Will Learn: Aligning Your Team Through a Cohesive Message Sales isn’t just for the sales team. Ernie discusses how involving employees in content creation, social media videos, and customer interactions strengthens brand consistency and communication across the entire company. Preparation and Practice are Non-Negotiable Success in sales doesn’t come from winging it. Ernie explains how structured role-playing and handling objections in advance help teams deliver a clear and confident message. Leadership That Inspires Action Great leaders don’t delegate and disappear, they lead by example. Ernie reveals how active involvement in sales and communication fosters motivation, alignment, and company-wide advocacy. Adapting to a Changing Business Landscape What worked last year might not work today. It's tough, but it's something every company that's been around for a while knows. Ernie talks about why being able to adapt and keep learning is key to staying ahead in a market that's changing quickly. Memorable Quotes: "As a business owner, you have to be the best salesperson in your company. That doesn't mean doing all the pitches, but it does mean being the champion of your message." “Every interaction with a customer is a chance to communicate, and the better you are at it, the more you elevate your company.” “You don’t know it all, there’s always something new to learn about communication and leadership.” Connect with Ernie Bray LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erniebray/ About the Guest: Ernie Bray is a dynamic entrepreneur, CEO, and business strategist known for his high-energy leadership and innovative approach to sales, marketing, and business growth. As the CEO of AutoClaims Direct (ACD), he has led the company to be recognized six times on the Inc. 5000 list and three times on Entrepreneur Magazine’s "Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America." Fun-facts: Ernie has competed in over 35 endurance races, including half-Ironman triathlons, marathons, and open ocean swims. He can still sink NBA-range three-pointers like a pro. He has also been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur, TechCrunch, HuffPost, and more. About Melinda: Melinda Lee is a Presentation Skills Expert, Speaking Coach, and nationally renowned Motivational Speaker. She holds an M.A. in Organizational Psychology, is an Insights Practitioner, and is a Certified Professional in Talent Development as well as Certified in Conflict Resolution. For over a decade, Melinda has researched and studied the state of “flow” and used it as a proven technique to help corporate leaders and business owners amplify their voices, access flow, and present their mission in a more powerful way to achieve results. She has been the TEDx Berkeley Speaker Coach and has worked with hundreds of executives and teams from Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Caltrans, Bay Area Rapid Transit System, and more. Currently, she lives in San Francisco, California, and is breaking the ancestral lineage of silence. Website: https://speakinflow.com/ Facebook: h ttps://m.facebook.com/speakinflow Instagram: https://instagram.com/speakinflow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpowerall Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcast review. Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.