The Inspire Podcast

Hosted by The Inspire Podcast by the Humphrey Group

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178

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Oct 2026

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Hosted by Bart Egnal, President & CEO of The Humphrey Group, Inspire is THE podcast for anyone who wants to influence and lead others every time they speak. Each episode features a new guest who will share insights, stories and tips on how you can intentionally inspire others, both in work and in life. Our interviews skip the theory and provide you with practical advice to inspire others during every interaction. This first season includes insights from a former TOPGUN instructor, the CEO of a major North American Port, and our company's very own founder. Follow our page so you never miss an episode.

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November 4, 202644 min

S8 E15: Rethinking Value in the Age of AI with Dr Keith Keating

AI and rapid technological change are reshaping traditional career paths and creating new opportunities for professionals to rethink how they contribute and create value at work. In this episode of the Inspire Podcast, Bart Egnal speaks with Dr. Keith Keating, Chief Learning Officer at BDO Canada, thought leader, and keynote speaker, about the shift from a knowledge economy to a value economy and why lifelong learning is more important than ever. Drawing on his personal journey and the challenges he faced growing up, Keith explores how AI and other disruptions are redefining what organizations value and what it means to make a meaningful contribution. He makes the case that understanding, creating, and communicating value should be a priority for professionals at every level. Through practical examples and insights from his Value Obsession Framework, Keith offers a fresh perspective on how to approach your work, recognize opportunities to create value, and ensure the impact you make is understood and celebrated. Learn more about Keith at www.keithkeating.com Show notes: 00:30 Show Intro 01:06 Introducing Keith 02:11 Bart asks Keith to describe himself 02:25 Knowledge is useless unless it is shared 02:51 High school dropout 03:58 Father said, "You'd never amount to anything" 04:33 Periods of addiction and homelessness 05:10 Bart talks about the age of AI and "What is value?" 06:59 The shift that we're seeing 08:00 We live in a value economy 08:46 Bart reflects on how THG was in the knowledge business 10:30 Keith's experiences at BDO 10:59 Expertise is not enough — what are you doing with it? 12:08 Think more like an entrepreneur 13:33 How are people feeling about these changes? 14:18 Never stop learning! 15:05 Being a problem solver 16:20 Bart gives an example of a VP 17:44 The expert paradox 18:33 Four steps to value 18:55 Seeking out value 19:02 Finding the friction 20:28 Bart asks for an example of seeing smoke 20:55 Expense report example of adding value 24:37 Value is tricky because it is in the eye of the beholder 25:03 Value is contextual 25:21 Creating value = solving problems that matter 27:04 Measure the value 29:10 Client and customer value 29:31 Value creation compass 33:33 How should people think about measuring value? 35:40 Tell the story of your value 37:31 Articulate your value 40:26 Bart summarizes the conversation 41:19 Keep learning! 42:06 Where can people find more? 42:45 Thank-yous 43:05 Outro

October 20, 202641 min

S8 E14: Why Employees Disengage (and How Leaders Can Change the Experience) with Wahaj Awad

Only about 1 in 5 Canadian employees are engaged at work. So what’s causing so many people to check out, and how much of a difference can leadership really make? In this episode, Bart speaks with Wahaj Awad, Consultant with Humance and The Humphrey Group, about the everyday experiences that shape how people feel at work: a lack of support, limited growth opportunities, and a growing sense of isolation. Wahaj explores how leaders can make a meaningful difference by leading with intention, adopting a coaching mindset, and adapting their leadership style to the needs of their people. Through practical examples and leadership frameworks, Wahaj shows how small shifts in everyday leadership can help employees feel more supported, connected, and empowered to succeed. Bart and Wahaj also discuss why high performers don’t automatically become effective leaders, why delegating work isn’t the same as giving real ownership, and why leadership is something that has to be practised, not perfected. It’s a practical conversation about the small, everyday choices that can shape whether people simply get through work, or actually feel engaged in it. Additional Resources: Who's Got the Monkey?, a helpful resource on the difference between delegating tasks and delegating ownership. Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/OwNnydS-qw0?si=ppb6Yzd33e0jcywp Show Notes: 00:15 Show intro 00:53 Welcoming Wahaj 01:55 Bart discusses Humance and how they met 04:12 Bart asks: Why doesn't work bring more joy and fulfillment? 05:40 Wahaj on the broad topic of work satisfaction 05:52 In Canada, only 21% of people are engaged at work 06:37 The study of how to make work better 07:16 3 major trends in job satisfaction: 07:28 People feel unsupported 08:02 Some performance issues are actually environment problems 08:56 70% of employee engagement can be tied to the manager 09:24 2: People feel stuck and the great detachment 11:17 3: People feel lonely 12:15 Bart asks how remote work fits into this 13:36 It's not proximity, but rather intentional moments of connection 14:24 Bart asks: How can people get beyond disengagement? 15:05 A leader can't fix everything for people, but... 15:33 Bart reviews the stats on the importance of leadership 16:33 Thinking about leaders who have really affected you 17:17 "They believed in me" 17:53 Intention: What do you actually think your job is as a leader? 18:50 Leadership is a practice 19:19 Leaders often forget about that development piece 19:25 Firefighting vs. leading 20:18 High performers are promoted to leadership without the training 20:41 Individual contributor vs. leader 21:55 What does a leader's mindset look like in practice? 23:21 Success needs to start happening through other people 23:52 Resist the urge to always be the one with the answer 28:15 Employees need to feel ownership 30:08 Adaptability as a leader 30:24 There isn't one perfect leadership style for every situation 32:22 Autonomy is good when a person is ready for it... 35:08 Bart muses on the "obvious" nature of some of this 36:35 Pick one small thing and work at it... 39:01 Where can people find out more about this? 40:11 Thank-yous

September 29, 202643 min

S8 E13: The Secret to Building Trust in Relationships with Jordan Kajfasz

Trust is at the heart of every strong professional relationship, but it isn’t built overnight. It takes time, intention, and a willingness to invest in people long before you know what the payoff might be. In this episode of the Inspire Podcast, Bart speaks with Jordan Kajfasz, Vice President of Intermodal Sales and Marketing at CPKC, about how to intentionally build relationships rooted in trust. Drawing on his career at Maersk, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, and CPKC, Jordan shares how putting relationships first helped him build a global network and ultimately create significant opportunities throughout his career. Jordan explains what it means to earn the right to be trusted, why asking “How can I help?” can be so powerful, and how to strengthen relationships over time. He also explores what it takes to maintain trust once you’ve earned it, especially when things don’t go according to plan. Finally, Jordan and Bart discuss how relationship building has changed since COVID and in an increasingly digital and AI-driven world. While email, text, and video make communication easier, Jordan argues that nothing replaces genuine human interaction when it comes to building trust. Show Notes: 00:53 Introducing Jordan 02:18 Connection over bike riding 02:43 Bart introduces the idea of intentional effort to build relationships 03:45 Maersk training program 04:12 Building a strong network of colleagues across the world 05:49 What's more important, technical knowledge or relationships? 07:21 Vancouver Port Authority 08:09 Entire career in transportation 08:42 Connecting with the rest of the industry, including competitors 09:13 Stakeholder management 10:11 The gains and losses from moving on from a network 10:30 I don't think you lose connections if you keep watering the plant 11:46 For people starting a career 12:20 CP 12:47 Building relationships at CP 13:24 The business of supply chains and their relationships 14:18 Intermodal transportation 15:19 Bart brings up the idea of "trust" 15:33 Steps for building trust, earning the right to be trusted 16:13 It takes time to develop trust 18:11 Bart asks for an example of building trust before a long-term sale 18:40 Multi-year strategy 20:42 Decisions are made by more than one person 21:26 Investing time without a guarantee 22:19 Long-term perspective is what made his career thrive 24:42 One of the most powerful things, "How can I help?" 25:37 Bart brings it back to the example 25:55 Examples of how he would help prospective clients before a formal deal was made 26:53 Work at filling up the cup 27:13 How can you tell when trust-building is working? 27:36 When they start coming to YOU 27:53 The risk of not delivering when they come to you 28:46 The moment of the big sale 29:52 Bart asks about maintaining trust after the business relationship is established 30:22 The keys to maintaining trust over time 30:30 There will always be problems that arise 31:20 The key is owning it! 31:28 Put your hand up and say, yeah, there's a problem 31:54 Example of travel problems, the most frustrating thing is lack of communication 32:32 If there's something that's not going right, say it! 32:58 Bad news is not like wine 33:17 Bart breaks it down and summarizes it a bit 34:14 What has changed about relationship building post-COVID? 35:00 AI 35:49 The changing communications tech 36:53 Over time, communication has become less and less personal 37:09 Trust needs the personal 38:47 Nothing beats a conversation with someone 41:07 It's always win-win to put time into relationship building 42:25 Thank yous 42:53 Outro

September 15, 202639 min

S8 E12: What Really Drives Us with Stephen de Groot

What really motivates us? And why can some environments bring out the best in us while others slowly drain our energy? In this episode, Bart speaks with Stephen de Groot about his remarkable career journey, from working with prisoners to advising physicians, leaders, and other high performers, and what those experiences have taught him about human motivation. Stephen discusses the difference between motivation and inspiration, and why so few of us truly understand what drives and energizes us. He introduces his “CORE 4”: needs, values, goals, and strengths, and explains how paying attention to the moments when we feel most alive and fulfilled can reveal what matters most to us. With that understanding, we can intentionally create more of those conditions in our work and lives or recognize when an environment is no longer right for us. The conversation then turns to leadership. Stephen shares how leaders can uncover what motivates the people they lead, create the conditions for them to perform at their best, and recognize why the same approach will not inspire everyone. Filled with practical insights and stories from Stephen’s own journey, this episode offers a fresh perspective on human motivation, meaningful work and what it really takes to inspire ourselves and others. Check out Stephen's book, Getting to Better, here: https://gettingtobetter.com/ Show Notes: 01:11 Introducing Stephen 02:09 What inspiration and motivation mean 02:51 I get excited easily, I don't often get inspired easily 04:13 Life is already there, you just need to tune into it 05:43 Bart asks Stephen for his career/personal story 06:06 Growing up a twin and being attuned to people's emotions 06:42 Started with working with people who were unmotivated 07:01 Working with gang members in prisons 07:17 All people are motivated... but are they motivated in the way we want them to be? 08:06 "Safe, significant and situated" 10:39 Using magic tricks to connect 13:02 The three "S"s and the "CORE 4" 16:10 Outdated theories are still used in the corporate world 16:43 What does it mean to be "unmotivated"? 17:17 What needs were being met? 17:35 Great moments don't happen by accident 19:31 Happiness is fleeting: inspiration and meaning aren't 21:30 How do you go about finding out your "CORE 4" 23:31 Start with your personal life 23:50 Four questions to ask 23:55 Q: What needs are being met right now? 24:28 Q: What values are being aligned? 24:42 Q: What goals are being met? 24:54 Q: What strengths of mine are being leveraged right now? 27:12 What frustration and anger tell us 28:28 How does this apply to leadership development? 29:14 Best to approach it when things are going well 29:29 What part of the work do you like the most? 29:58 We're products of our environments and relationships 30:16 Interviewing for Core Four 33:32 Knowing people's Core Four directly impacts your ability to influence them 34:15 The Three P's 34:51 Promote - Predict - Prevent 35:45 Moral injury 36:42 Bart ties it up with thoughts about how self-awareness ties in 37:10 It's not as much work as you think it is 38:02 Thank yous 38:39 Outro

September 1, 202640 min

S8 E11: How to Create Psychological Safety in the Workplace with Dr. Julie Morris

In this episode, Bart welcomes Dr. Julie Morris to explore why psychological safety is so closely tied to employee engagement and high-performing teams. Julie shares her journey from earning a ThD in ethics at Duke to working in technology and ultimately at Glint, Microsoft’s employee engagement platform, where her work led her to explore psychological safety and what it looks like in practice. Drawing on that experience, Julie discusses the six pillars of employee engagement and explains how psychological safety is woven throughout them. She also shares insights from the psychological safety program she developed for managers, including three practical strategies leaders can use to foster it on their own teams. Along the way, Julie and Bart challenge common misconceptions about psychological safety and explore how leaders can create an environment where people feel comfortable speaking up, taking risks, and asking questions. At a time when people are asking more of their managers and leaders are looking for ways to create more engaged workplaces, this is an invaluable listen. Connect with Julie on LInkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliermorris/ Show Notes: 00:27 Show intro 01:04 Introducing Dr. Morris 02:07 Bart introduces the idea of psychological safety 02:36 Definition of psychological safety 03:09 Stats on psychological safety 05:03 Julie talks about her career path 05:44 What she was doing at Microsoft 06:52 What she discovered in the research at Microsoft 07:57 Psychological safety survey 08:15 If your org scores low on P.S., how do you improve? 09:38 Psychological safety - similar indicators as 'belonging' 10:29 What can managers do to foster this? 11:03 How did the program they developed work? 11:51 Experiences rolling out the program at Microsoft 12:09 Tapping into leaders' anxieties 13:17 Are people looking for managers with these skills? 14:18 What do people learn in this psych safety program? 14:43 Negative reactivity - characterized by knee-jerk reactions 15:18 Shutting people down 17:24 Were managers willing to change? 18:46 Adapting these strategies to your managerial style 19:56 Bart introduces example scenario of tough environment 21:20 Give yourself a buffer to cool down 22:34 Tip 2: Listen without agenda 23:27 Schedule regular check-ins 25:39 All that small talk really helps! 26:37 Beginning of timing/misalignment 27:06 Tip 3: Model the vulnerability you hope to see 28:03 If you want your team to take risks, show them vulnerability 28:32 What is the distinction between weakness and vulnerability? 30:23 How do you model vulnerability? 33:56 Bart recaps 3 points 34:17 Common misconceptions about psychological safety 34:40 "It's not my job to be your mom" 36:17 "I'm just not a believer in all this touchy-feely stuff" 38:32 Final advice 38:46 Stick with it! 39:23 Thank yous 39:34 Outro

July 28, 202637 min

S8 E10: Stop Faking Fine: What Every Leader Needs to Know About Burnout with Rabih El Khodr

In this episode, Bart speaks with Rabih El Khodr, author of The Way Out of Burnout, about what burnout really is, how to recognize it, and what it takes to overcome it. Drawing on research in psychology and neuroscience as well as his own personal experiences, Rabih challenges the conventional view that burnout is the result of working too hard, arguing instead that it often stems from the gap between our authentic selves and the roles we feel we need to play at work. Central to his work is the idea that burnout begins when we start following survival scripts, a concept he pairs with his F.L.O.W. Framework, a practical approach to identifying and changing the patterns that contribute to burnout. The conversation also offers valuable insights for leaders on how to spot burnout in their teams and support them before it becomes overwhelming. As the demands on leaders continue to intensify, Rabih's perspective offers a fresh approach to sustaining high performance without sacrificing oneself in the process. Get your copy of Rabih's book here: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0HCCKB9LF Watch his TEDx talk "Burnout Begins with a Script" here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il8L9CB8dsQ Show notes: 00:33 Show intro 01:10 Introducing Rabih El Khodr 01:37 The topic of burnout 02:04 What is burnout, and what do we get wrong about it? 02:29 Burnout is caused by "putting on an act" 03:01 Why some hardworking leaders don't burn out 04:05 Where did it all start? 04:09 Starting a career in marketing and communications 04:57 Multiple episodes of burnout throughout his career 05:22 How a lifetime of burnout led to the book 05:47 The realization that changed his perspective on burnout 06:17 The worldview that made burnout worse 06:31 The three unachievable objectives that drive burnout 06:53 The personal experiences that shaped his thesis 08:11 The panic attack in Istanbul 09:39 What are the signs you may be experiencing burnout? 09:52 Losing interest in the activities you once loved 11:39 What causes burnout? 11:58 Introducing survival scripts 12:17 How operating on autopilot leads to burnout 12:38 The cognitive theory behind burnout 13:02 Why burnout begins at the belief level 13:19 The scripts that lead us to burnout 13:23 The Three Cs 13:29 Composure 13:41 Connection 13:53 Control 14:06 The pressure leaders feel to be perfect 15:48 Why do some people burn out while others don't? 16:12 Robin Williams and the danger of unchecked survival scripts 17:34 Why self-awareness is the path out of burnout 18:51 The self-awareness gap: 95% vs. 10–15% 20:09 How can you develop greater self-awareness? 20:36 The PONI framework 20:46 Pause 20:55 Observe 21:01 Name the emotion 21:08 Integrate it 21:12 Applying PONI to a real-world situation 23:41 The survival mode of the modern era 24:11 Why leaders deserve more empathy 25:56 The FLOW framework 26:18 Understanding the flow state 26:41 The four-step FLOW process 26:48 Face your scripts 27:47 Applying FLOW to Rabih's own journey 28:46 Burnout isn't inevitable 29:31 When is it your script, and when is it simply too many hours? 30:31 The problem with many workplace wellness programs 31:37 Can bad bosses cause burnout? 35:02 Why self-awareness is the foundation of emotional intelligence 35:58 Where to learn more about Rabih's work 36:17 Final thoughts 36:36 Outro

July 14, 202637 min

S8 E9: The New Rules of Leadership Communication with Jennifer Gabriele

In this episode of the Inspire Podcast, Bart Egnal welcomes Jennifer Gabriele, Partner and National Leader, Leadership & Team Development at Humance and co-author of The Inspirational Leader. Drawing on insights from her research and work with leaders across Canada, Jennifer explores how leadership has evolved in the wake of COVID and what it takes to manage and inspire teams in today's workplace. She discusses the shift toward shared leadership, the importance of executive presence, and why authenticity matters more than charisma. Jennifer goes on to share practical lessons from her book, including the difference between clarity and certainty, the power of curiosity, cultivating excellence, and why managerial courage is critical for navigating difficult decisions. As a renowned executive coach and facilitator to many of Quebec's leading organizations and companies across Canada, Jennifer brings these ideas to life through real-world stories and actionable insights in a lively conversation between two people passionate about leadership communication. Show notes: 00:32 Show intro 01:10 Welcoming Jennifer 01:43 The Inspirational Leader 01:57 What's the book about and why did you write it? 02:13 What makes a great leader? 03:32 What is Jennifer's story that led her to Humance? 03:51 We brand companies but not humans. Why not? 04:25 Products have far fewer dimensions than a person 04:36 Coca-Cola example 05:41 Her practice before Humance: executive branding 06:00 Why some persuade and others don't 06:36 The move to Humance 08:40 Acquiring Lord Communication 09:21 Focus on managers and executives 11:35 Interviewing leaders for the book: what did you find? 12:48 Themes that emerged from her qualitative research 13:02 Misplaced nostalgia for the "good old days" 13:47 Shared leadership 14:10 The impact of COVID on work culture 14:28 The amount and quality of presence required 14:44 During COVID, managers thought they needed to be 24/7 present 15:32 Bart discusses the decline in deference 16:27 Society has changed, too 16:34 Shortage of labour 17:31 What does it mean to be an inspirational leader? 18:15 You don't need to speak like Barack Obama; you just need to walk the talk 19:28 Getting people to follow you 19:49 Authority doesn't work. People need to believe in you 19:58 Passive-aggressive resistance to directive-style leadership 20:47 Three rules for inspiring leadership 21:23 The importance of having communication goals 25:19 The difference between clarity and certainty 25:43 What is cultivating excellence? 25:58 If you want to be an inspirational leader, you can't be a know-it-all 26:50 Example of the curious leader 27:20 How does curiosity tie to cultivating excellence? 27:54 Setting a standard for what excellence looks like 28:13 Teasing out unrealistic expectations and perfectionism vs. a healthy pursuit of excellence 28:48 Try your best vs. try not to make mistakes 29:11 How can leaders communicate this? 29:38 Don't hide if you don't know something 29:51 Instead of "Why did you do this?" say "How do we fix this?" 30:55 Example of dealing with a high-performing but toxic employee 32:18 Managerial courage 33:33 You lose talent if you're not a courageous leader 34:13 What did you learn from writing The Inspirational Leader? 35:47 Thank-yous 36:10 Show outro

June 30, 202634 min

S8 E8: Curiosity Over Fear: Leading in the Age of AI with Stéphanie Butt Thibodeau

In this episode of the Inspire Podcast, Bart Egnal sits down with Stéphanie Butt Thibodeau, EVP Talent and Corporate Affairs at iA Financial Group, to explore how leaders and organizations can embrace artificial intelligence while keeping people at the center of transformation. She begins by sharing how AI has fundamentally reshaped her own work, helping her rethink long-established habits and increase productivity. She goes on to discuss how iA Financial Group is helping employees navigate the uncertainty surrounding AI by fostering curiosity, experimentation, and a culture of learning. Stéphanie offers practical advice for leaders and professionals at all levels on overcoming anxiety around AI, and embracing the opportunities and excitement it can bring to their work. Through practical examples, personal vulnerability, and insights into iA's organization-wide approach to learning, Stéphanie offers an honest and practical look at what it takes to lead through one of the biggest workplace transformations of our time. A must-listen for anyone navigating the opportunities and challenges of AI. Show Notes: 01:07 Introducing Stéphanie 01:38 Talk about what IA is and what they do 03:26 A bit about her bio and early years 04:21 Her comfort with and enjoyment of change 04:33 Junior Achievement 05:06 Recipe card holder example 05:36 Radio show 06:22 Becoming an accountant? 06:42 Switched to finance and international business 06:48 Her career start 07:31 What led her into HR? 08:31 Getting the job at IA 10:09 What is the IA way of managing people? 10:24 Being a learning organization 10:31 Creating conditions where employees can be their best 11:08 Bart asks for an example of the learning culture 11:21 The VP summit at IA 12:28 AI and its implications 12:47 Started off thinking of it as an operational efficiency thing 13:00 Allowing people to focus on where they can add the most value 13:28 How has AI affected Stephanie's work? 13:51 Changing the way she works — example: preparing presentations 14:20 It's about "unlearning" our ways of working 14:37 Using AI as a chief of staff 14:59 Copilot helps organize her day and key tasks 15:57 Copilot as a personal assistant 16:46 The anxieties associated with the introduction of AI in the organization 16:59 Choose curiosity over fear 17:34 Quote: AI won't replace humans, just humans who don't use AI 18:21 What advice would you give to people about AI? 18:50 It's all about mindset 19:38 How do you demonstrate the learning mindset? 22:24 What's next after adopting the mindset? 22:53 Practice using the tools 24:13 Bart talks about the Anthropic models 25:33 Advice #3 25:50 AI ambassador network 26:14 Hackathons 27:28 Creating the muscle around learning 29:12 Learning is not just an HR thing 30:11 Where will the adoption of AI go in the years to come? 31:30 What are your personal hopes for the future? 32:13 Thank yous and Bart sums up the takeaways 33:23 Outro

June 16, 202635 min

S8 E 7: What Every Leader needs to Know about Challenging Conversations with Sandra Bekas

Every leader knows how to have conversations. Far fewer know how to lead them. In this episode, Bart Egnal speaks with Sandra Bekas, Senior Learning and Development Manager at The Humphrey Group, about why conversations have become one of the most important leadership skills in today's workplace and how THG helps leaders prepare for and excel in these critical communication moments. Drawing on her background in language, rhetoric, cognitive science, and leadership development, Sandra shares insights into why conversations are where influence happens and why those moments have become more complex than ever. Sandra explains why conversations have become more frequent, more candid, and often more challenging as employees increasingly expect leaders to be more present, more transparent, and more accessible than ever before. She discusses the difference between routine and high-stakes conversations, why framing a conversation is critical to creating clarity and trust, and how leaders can guide discussions without becoming overly directive. The conversation also explores practical tools from The Humphrey Group's Art of Conversation program, including the ARC framework (Acknowledge, Refocus, Catalyze) for getting derailed conversations back on track. Whether you're navigating everyday discussions or pivotal leadership moments, this episode offers practical tools for communicating with greater confidence, clarity, and influence. Show Notes: 00:58 Introducing Sandra Bekas 01:41 Introducing the topic of conversations 02:37 What led you to this role? 02:50 Love of language 03:14 Thinking and language and emotion and how that shapes reality 03:37 Moving to Japan 04:14 Japanese different language structure 04:22 Maybe trim/cut this section? 05:52 Moved back to Canada - Canadian publishing 06:15 Majority of career in instructional design... 06:35 Joining HG 07:26 How have conversations reached this inflection point? 08:00 Post-COVID interactions 08:24 In-person and digital accessibility 09:10 Leadership conversations are now more fraught 10:18 COVID level-set us 10:45 Insert: the three A's 12:47 What is the new THG program? 13:14 The Art of Conversation program 13:25 The ability to dynamically influence others 13:49 Routine conversations vs. high-stakes conversations 14:15 Corporate conversations where you want to move the needle 14:43 How you present in the moment 15:01 How to exert your influence 15:42 What is framing and why is it important? 16:01 What is the purpose of this conversation? 16:33 Example: giving a poor performance review 17:44 Example: letting down people who didn't get the promotion 20:01 Summarizing 20:48 Introducing clarity in a meeting 21:22 Bart presents a challenging example of a situation that is hard to summarize 23:36 Getting derailed conversations back on track 24:56 A.R.C. 26:06 A: acknowledge 26:17 R: refocus 26:28 C: catalyzing question 30:16 You cannot script these moments 31:04 You can still be authentic when using these tools! 32:26 Where can people find out more?

June 2, 202635 min

S8 E6: The Future of Communication Training: Where AI Meets Human Facilitation with Rachel Cossar

In this episode of the Inspire Podcast, Bart Egnal speaks with Rachel Cossar, co-founder and CEO of Virtual Sapiens, about how AI is transforming leadership communication training. Drawing on her own journey from the professional world of ballet to expert in non-verbal communication, Rachel explains how her experience in performance and body awareness led to the creation of an AI-powered communication coaching platform. Together, Bart and Rachel explore why AI can be such a powerful complement to facilitated training and executive coaching, especially when it comes to practice, repetition, feedback, and accountability. They discuss their collaboration with The Humphrey Group, including how THG has trained the platform on their own IP and is integrating AI coaching into their programs to help participants build confidence and measure improvement over time. The conversation also examines the limits of AI, why human facilitation remains essential, and how the future of communication training will combine technology with human connection. A fascinating look at the evolving role of AI in helping people become more effective, authentic, and inspiring communicators. Learn more at https://www.virtualsapiens.co/ Show Notes: 00:19 Show intro 00:57 Introducing Rachel and Virtual Sapiens 02:29 Rachel’s background 02:48 Started off in ballet 03:17 Body awareness and presence 04:21 What dance training made her realize about office life 05:04 Starting her new career 05:26 Consulting with the hospitality industry 06:34 The “always on” nature of hospitality 07:23 Silent service 08:36 How this applies to executive and leadership development 09:06 How the COVID disruption changed her work and business 09:28 The idea for Virtual Sapiens 09:49 How do you take training and truly make it muscle memory? 10:55 Rapid adoption of video during COVID changed things 12:57 How did Virtual Sapiens come to be? 13:30 Initial product: a video sidekick coach 15:02 How did people respond to AI feedback? 15:53 People now have overly high expectations of AI 16:53 The complexities of video avatars 17:55 Why Virtual Sapiens was a natural fit for coaching firms 18:31 The asynchronous practice tool 19:26 How Virtual Sapiens fits with The Humphrey Group 19:47 The Humphrey Group’s “ELI” tool 20:13 Learners can see measurable improvements 20:49 Where is AI used best in facilitation and training? 21:44 Designing programs with more longevity 23:59 Scalable and concurrent learning 24:36 Why people find AI to be a safe space to practice 25:03 The fear of being judged 25:41 Why people prefer first reps with AI 26:23 Built-in accountability for learners 27:15 Post-facilitation tools and practice 29:36 Do people use it? 29:50 Why getting people on early is key 31:52 What is the future of Virtual Sapiens? 32:40 More task-specific LLMs 33:29 Where can people learn more